============================================ || || 30th September 2020 || || News of Lincolnshire Wildlife || || LNU Website: || http://lnu.org/ || ============================================ In this issue..... 1. Information, tips and requests 2. Wildlife Highlights from Rare Bird Alert 3. Wildlife reports from around the county 4. NNRs including RSPB and LWT Reserves/Saltfleetby'Theddlethorpe 5. Bardney Limewoods NNR - including Chambers Wood Farm 6. Other Reserve Reports and Highlights 7. Sending in Reports - contributors please read! 8. Contact information 9. Notes about these wildlife reports 10. Bulletin publicity policy 11. Events Diary 12. ...and finally..... don't miss the links... ============================================ Reports here are open and are available to county recorders of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union, the Lincolnshire Bird Club and Lincolnshire Environmental Record Centre [LERC]. Text versions of past Wildnews Bulletins from Feb 2009 http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union or any associated organisations. Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. ============================================ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. Information, hints, tips and requests ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Editor writes... *** Thank you to everyone who sent in reports, stories, news and links. These make the Bulletin much more useful and encourages others to "have a go". Your Autumn observations will be welcome. Weather forecast: "An unsettled period, with plenty of showers and some occasional longer spells of rain across much of the country." https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ Please tell others about the Bulletin or use the useful "forward to a friend" link at the end of every edition. It would be good to expand the network. You can also direct people to: https://lnu.org/publications/wildnews-bulletin/ Last week I watched the Netflix Docudrama, "The Social Dilemma" which described algorithms and harvesting, targeting and use of our data in social media etc. This review in The Guardian gives some idea of the concerns. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/sep/19/the-social-dilemma-a-wake-up-call-for-a-world-drunk-on-dopamine It inspired me to start to try an ethical search engine called Ecosia which is strict about tracking rules and plants a tree every time you click! See: https://info.ecosia.org/what If you enjoy seeing and identifying fungi, you may find the following link helpful - though there is no easy shortcut or quick-fix to their identification! Fungi Families/Types Identity Parade https://www.first-nature.com/fungi/ I had a note from Fungi Recorder, Ray Halstead, to say: "I have just confirmed a Lincolnshire record of Tuber aestivum, the summer truffle." Ray says if you are doing any groundwork in your gardens, especially if you have broadleaved trees present, preferably beech, then it’s worth looking out for them. https://www.first-nature.com/fungi/tuber-aestivum.php Ray adds: "Battarrea phalloides has turned up at Bloxholme Wood. I was there last Sunday, 20th, and found one sporophore, (fruitbody), in bare soil adjacent to an old broad-leafed tree stump. That’s three colonies in Lincolnshire now." https://www.first-nature.com/fungi/battarrea-phalloides.php NHBS have a sale on, so if you are thinking of getting a bat detector, trail camera, or other exciting and useful scientific kit, visit: https://www.nhbs.com/wildlife-equipment-sale You may also be wondering whether it's time to get an RBA pager. The Rare Bird Alert website tells you more about their pager, online & phone options. https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk Please let us know of any local Covid-related changes readers might need to hear about. Wildlife organisations wishing me to publicise any alterations or new guidelines are welcome to get in touch with updates for the Bulletin. Covid-19-related information: Please stay aware of government advice and adapt your personal precautions accordingly as the pandemic changes. https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus "All LNU meetings are cancelled" policy continues. When eventually judged safe to do so, we will announce any resumption of LNU events through the Bulletin, the LNU Twitter feed and LNU meetings webpages. https://lnu.org/meetings/ Events/activities for Love Lincs Plants remain suspended until further notice. https://twitter.com/LoveLincsPlants The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's policy on Coronavirus, Covid-19: Gives details of which LWT reserves are open and other advice and information. https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/coronavirus RSPB: map for which reserves and facilities you can now access. https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/rspb-news/news/stories/coronavirus/reserve-reboot/ Forestry England’s coronavirus guidance: https://www.forestryengland.uk/article/coronavirus-visitor-guide National Trust in Lincolnshire... https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/days-out/regionmidlands/in-and-around-lincolnshire-and-south-nottinghamshire Here is a selection of links to topical local and national stories and articles sent in by fellow-readers. More links for you "...and finally..." Canadian Bear (tweet) video - very considerate! You must watch! https://twitter.com/ProfCaryCooper/status/1307029424634761216 Sir David Attenborough spent lockdown 'listening to birds' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-54317603 Rare bone-eating 'bearded vulture' spotted in Norfolk https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-54342198 Lincolnshire Wildlife Park: Swearing parrots removed from view https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-54340425 The Life of a Squirrel Tracker – 7 Years in the Making, 2013 – 2020 — Creature Candy https://www.creaturecandy.co.uk/blog-creature-candy/2020/9/22/the-life-of-a-squirrel-tracker-7-years-in-the-making-2013-2020 Moths: Intricacies of UK's under-threat insects https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-54167602 British wasp guide: how to identify common species https://www.countryfile.com/wildlife/insects-invertebrates/british-wasp-guide-how-to-identify-common-species-lifecycle-and-why-wasps-sting-in-autumn/ NatureSpot on Spiders: https://www.naturespot.org.uk/taxonomy/term/19515 UK butterflies need more shady spots or risk dying to climate change https://www.zmescience.com/science/butterflies-uk-climate-change-extinction-26425/ Thanks again for the contributions and sightings this week. Much appreciated. Please keep them coming. Roger old.museum@yahoo.co.uk - note - this is my best address for emails please. STAYING SAFE Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. NHS About Coronavirus [COVID-19] https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19 Check for road works and hold-ups. Lots about. https://roadworks.org/ Met Office Severe Warnings - check https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings Met Office Severe Weather E-mail Service - why not sign up? http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/guide-to-emails EasyTide http://easytide.ukho.gov.uk/EasyTide/EasyTide/index.aspx Environment Agency Flood Information/Floodline - sign up if at risk. http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/default.aspx Lyme Disease https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lyme-disease/ *** October Night Sky *** Paul Money's 'Monthly Night Sky' webpage will be found on: http://www.astrospace.co.uk/Astrospace/monthly-sky/monthlynightsky.html Meteor Shower Guide 2020. Next big ones: Draconids max 8-9 October, Orionids max 21-22 October . See: https://www.rmg.co.uk/discover/explore/how-to-see-meteor-showers-key-dates ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2. Wildlife Highlights ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Bird News from Rare Bird Alert *** Rare Bird Alert has kindly given permission to reproduce reports. A big thank you from us all. Interested readers should have a look at the RBA website: http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/ [Please mention the Bulletin if you decide to subscribe.] 22/9 Yellow-browed Warbler north of Tennyson's Sands, Spoonbill, Spotted Redshank, Gibraltar Point Lapland Bunting on Roads Farm grassland, 5 Little Stints, 7 Curlews, Frampton Marsh Black-necked Grebe, Anderby Creek Great White Egret on farmland near Humberston Fitties Great White Egret, Boultham Mere Yellow-browed Warbler, Sea View Farm, Saltfleetby 23/9 Grey Plover flew over Long Bennington airfield. 6 Curlew Sandpipers, Little Stint, Killingholme Haven Pits 2 Little Stints, both juvs, 2 Spoonbills, 16 Curlew Sandpipers, 9 Spotted Redshanks, Frampton Marsh Probable Lapland Bunting, towards Cut End, Freiston Shore Yellow-browed Warbler, 1 at Gibraltar Road north of Tennyson's Sands, 1 at plantation, probable Lapland Bunting flew over Wash viewpoint, Ring Ouzel, East Dunes, 6 Spotted Redshanks, Gibraltar Point 24/9 2 Little Stints, Frampton Marsh Great White Egret. Boultham Mere Yellow-browed Warbler, in sycamores by car park, Sea View, Saltfleetby Pomarine Skua south past, 2 Lapland Buntings, 2 Great White Egrets, Water Pipit over Sykes Farm, Spotted Redshank, Gibraltar Point 25/9 Sabine's Gull past, 3 Long-tailed Skuas, 223 Bonxies, 194 Arctic Skuas, Short-eared Owl Gibraltar Point 20 Little Gulls, 6 Arctic Terns, Pomarine Skua, Huttoft Car Terrace 13 Little Gulls past Chapel Point 7 Little Gulls, Purple Sandpiper, 63 Arctic Skuas, 3 Arctic Terns, Sooty Shearwater, Sutton on Sea 26/9 32 Sooty Shearwaters flew past, 2 Pomarine Skuas past, Scaup, Black Tern 2 Little Gulls, Huttoft Car Terrace Pomarine Skua, Wolla Bank Long-tailed Skua south past, ad Roseate Tern, 7 Sooty Shearwaters, Leach's Petrel past, Blue Fulmar, Black Tern, 18 Little Gulls, 3 Arctic Terns, Chapel Point 2 Long-tailed Skuas past , Pomarine Skua past, Sutton-on-Sea 2 Lapland Buntings, Yellow-browed Warbler in east Dunes, Ring Ouzel, Mealy Redpoll flew north, Jack Snipe on Mere, 2 Sooty Shearwaters flew north, 11 Pomarine Skuas past, Hen Harrier, Gibraltar Point 10 Bean Geese sp flew over, Little Stint, 11 Spotted Redshanks, Little Gull, 10 Spoonbills, Frampton Marsh Yellow-browed Warbler in sycamores near car park toilet, Normanby Hall Country Park White-tailed Eagle over Alkborough Flats 27/9 Grey Phalarope offshore, Ring Ouzel, Gibraltar Point 2 Pomarine Skuas flew north past, Sooty Shearwater, Black Tern, Velvet Scoter offshore, Short-eared Owl, Croft Marsh, Ring Ouzel, Yellow-browed Warbler in East Dunes, + Ring Ouzel, Yellow-browed Warbler in West Dunes, Ring Ouzel in plantation, Gibraltar Point 2 Little Stints, 2 Spoonbills, Great White Egret, ringtail Hen Harrier, Whinchat, 2 Spotted Redshanks, Frampton Marsh 28/9 2 Curlew Sandpipers, Great White Egret, 6 Little Stints, 12 Spotted Redshanks, 2 Spoonbills, Frampton Marsh Black-throated Diver flew north past, drk Velvet Scoter, Sutton-on-Sea Yellow-browed Warbler south of tower Hide, Anderby Creek 6 Yellow-browed Warblers, 6 Ring Ouzels, Garganey, Firecrest in plantaton, Water Pipit flew over Sykes Farm, Short-eared Owl, Gibraltar Point Great White Egret, Deeping High Bank, Deeping St Nicholas 2 Purple Sandpipers on beach at outfall, Mablethorpe Caspian Gull juv at Trent Port Wetlands, WSE of Marton 29/9 Yellow-browed Warbler, in scrub north end of Marsh Yard car park, Anderby Creek 3+ Yellow-browed Warblers, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe NNR 2 Yellow-browed Warblers at Sea View, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe NNR Great White Egret, Boultham Mere 11 Sooty Shearwaters flew past, 2 Little Gulls, Chapel Point Mealy Redpoll, Ring Ouzel, ringtail Hen Harrier, 2 Spotted Redshanks, Jack Snipe, Water Pipit at Croft Marsh, Gibraltar Point 9 Little Stints, 2 Spotted Redshanks, Frampton Marsh ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3. Wildlife news from around the county ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** The Roger Goy Column *** Remembering Roger Goy's wildlife information work and drop-in sessions at the Queen in the West pub! http://www.bbc.co.uk/lincolnshire/content/articles/2005/08/30/nature_sightings_feature.shtml Reader question: Marion Ellis writes: My next door neighbour collects up horse chestnuts [conkers] to distribute around her flat, under settees, on top of wardrobes etc. because she is terrified of spiders. She has been told they discourage spiders. Is there any evidence this works? Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog: http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ Bird Club - latest sightings: https://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk/site/index.php/sightings/latest-news Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch. Latest sightings: https://butterfly-conservation.org/in-your-area/lincolnshire-branch/lincolnshire-latest-sightings BTO tracked cuckoos: https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/cuckoo-tracking-project ROAD KILLS? PLEASE LET US KNOW. Every drive is a transect! Hedgehogs? Badgers? Reports welcome. LANGWORTH 27.09.20 Ian Dunn TF049 758 Roe (doe) A158 200 metres Sudbrooke side of Langworth crossing. SCOTHERN Dunholme Road, Scothern TF 02863 77906 David Smith 28/09/2020 08.45 Weasel crossing road with small kill *** Find the Grid Reference - don't forget - it's important *** Grab a Grid Reference: https://www.bnhs.co.uk/focuson/grabagridref/html/index.htm UK Grid Reference Finder: http://www.gridreferencefinder.com/ Chris Manning writes: Please remember to use grid refs, If a recorder doesn't, it not only adds work but must invariably loose accuracy DON'T FORGET - TIME FLIES! Please include the year in your reports in case they are copied and thus lose their context. Include the time too if relevant - e.g. for Bat records. *** County Wildlife Reports From Readers *** Thanks to our regular contributors across the county. Much appreciated. We rely on readers to send in their observations and we welcome records from everyone, experts or beginners. Please keep your reports coming. BARDNEY - The Green TF120694 R & A Parsons 24/9/2020 Substantial starling flock in village, using the Post Office roof and an adjacent house roof, and sometimes the church tower, for gatherings. I estimate it as 100 now. 28/9 Picked up 8+ lots of Hedgehog droppings from lawn! Camera going out tonight. Result: No hedgehog caught on trail camera night of 28/29th. HOLYWELL LAKE WeBS Holywell Lake Ian Misselbrook 24th September 11.00 -12.20 22 Little Grebes 1 Cormorant 1 Grey Heron 2 Little Egrets 2 Mute Swans 2 Canada Geese 4 Wigeon 62 Mallard 1 Teal 14 Moorhens 1 Kestrel 9 Woodpigeons 1 Stock Dove 1 Kingfisher 1 Green Woodpecker 6 Jackdaws 4 Carrion Crows 2 Marsh Tits 8 Blue Tits 1 Great Tit 7 Long-tailed Tits 2 Chiffchaffs 1 Goldcrest 1 Swallow 2 House Martins 3 Pied Wagtails 1 Grey Wagtail 2 Wrens 4 Dunnocks 7 Robins 4 Chaffinches 5 Goldfinches 2 Siskins 1 Grey Squirrel 1 Migrant Hawker Dragonfly 4 Large White Butterflies It is quite early for Siskins but there has obviously been a big influx during the last month or so with flocks at Freiston Shore last month and on the Pembrokeshire cliffs last week. HUTTOFT TF511762 (my garden) Jane Pennington 16/9/2020 Tawny owls 2 - calling at 2am 18/9/2020 Common blue damselfly 1 Common darter 2 19/9/2020 Southern hawker 1  - ovipositing 20/9/2020 Common green shield bug 1 27/9/2020 Common green shield bug 1  - in lounge Squirrel 1 - in oak, seems to be staying around LIMEWOODS Goltho Wood, Great West Wood, Black Plantation, Thistle Storr Wood TF 113 778 – TF122 756 See section 5 - Bardney Limewoods REEPHAM TF040738 Catherine Wilson 23.09.20 I have had a suspicion that there was a hedgehog about in my garden but no regular sightings of droppings or other definite signs. However my gardener was clearing an area under some shrubs that had not been touched for some time and noticed a mound under the edge of some weed-preventing fabric. We concluded, much to my delight, that it could only be a hedgehog nest, so retreated and left it alone. Sadly there was a dead (road-kill) hedgehog on the other side of the road just a short distance away, so my delight was muted! However, I shall keep my eye on the mound and hope to see signs of use. Meanwhile for at least a year I have had a field vole living under and around some slabs at the edge of my pond. This is very close to the ground feeder I fill every day with bird seed and the vole regularly comes out to feed on what the birds have left. It scuttles to and fro very quickly and is a delight to watch. I have only ever seen one at once but can’t be sure it is the same one every time. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. NNRs and Reserves including RSPB and LWT ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RSPB Reserves: https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/freistonshore/ http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh/ LWT Reserves http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/reserves https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/far-ings https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/gibraltar-point ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RSPB Frampton Marsh & Freiston Shore are listed as Open. https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/rspb-news/news/stories/coronavirus/reserve-reboot/ The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's policy on Coronavirus, Covid-19 includes details of which LWT reserves are open and other advice and information: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/coronavirus See: Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog. http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE DUNES NNR including DONNA NOOK http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/saltfleetby-theddlethorpe-dunes https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/38015?category=59026 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR Report 21st – 29th September 2020 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett, Ruth Taylor and Owen Beaumont. Daily news and wildlife sightings: Note - Strong winds from a northerly sector with gusts observed near Sea View of NW 46.4mph on the 25th, NW 43.1mph on the 26th and NW 33.9mph on the 27th. There was also a heavy spell of rain with 17.6mm recorded on the 24th and 18.2mm on the 25th. 220920 – Sea View and Rimac: 98 meadow pipit, 4 blackcap, 1 stonechat, 1 whinchat, 2 yellow wagtail, 1 grey wagtail, 1 yellow-browed warbler, 2 chiffchaff, 2 marsh harrier, 4 buzzard. 230920 - Skein of 67 pink-footed geese flying from roost near Haven outfall over saltmarsh. 240920 - At Sea View: female bullfinch, 1 goldcrest, 4 chiffchaff, 2 blackcap, 1 yellow- browed warbler, 3 siskin, 8 redpoll, 3 swallows over. 260920 - Single stonechat near Paradise wood, 150 pink-footed geese over Sea View. 4 whooper swans flying south along the coast. Between Brickyard Lane and Churchill Lane: 6 chiffchaffs, 1-2 blackcaps, 2 Redpolls. 270920 - Single swallow over the saltmarsh, 2 brambling at Sea View, at least 100 teal on Rimac lagoon with 14 mallard and 24 wigeon, 3 common snipe flushed from saltmarsh and 1 possible jack snipe. On the foreshore: 12 snipe, 2 jack snipe, 5 rock pipit, 1 snow bunting, c420 pink foot geese, c280 canada geese. Mablethorpe seawatch: 72 wigeon, 12 teal, 1 goldeneye, 1 pintail, 9 whooper swan, 1 little gull, 1 Mediterranean gull 1, 3 arctic skua, 2 great skua. 280920 - In the Sea View area: 20 blackbirds, 6 song thrushes, 3 redwing, 2 goldcrests plus blackcap and chiffchaff; 4 common snipe seen flying over the saltmarsh. A barred warbler was seen at Sea View pecking at apples before moving off. 80 lapwing flying north over Elm House Farm. Several skeins of pink-feet heard during the day. C50 chaffinch, 3 goldcrest, 1 ring ouzel, 2 brambling, 3 great spotted woodpecker, 3 reed warbler, 2 blackcap. 4 stonechats in the Brickyard Lane area. 2 guillemots close inshore and around 15 Common Scoter with few immature Gannets flying north. 290920 - Single yellow-browed warbler and goldcrest at Sea View and another yellow- browed warbler with 3 goldcrests and 7 blue tits in Paradise wood. On Paradise lagoon 15 mallard, 81 teal, 2 wigeon, 3 shoveler and 63 black-headed gulls, 200 pink-footed geese flew south. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. BARDNEY LIMEWOODS NNR These cover a huge area, and records from them and records from volunteer recorders are one of the main inputs to management planning and the protection of rare/scarce and critical species. Reports always welcome. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Forestry Commission says: "We are open and ready to welcome you" https://www.forestryengland.uk/article/coronavirus-visitor-guide Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch. See: https://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html The Hazel Dormouse https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/cy/node/35 Lincolnshire Dormouse Group You can get in touch via lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com Limewoods Goltho Wood, Great West Wood, Black Plantation, Thistle Storr Wood TF 113 778 – TF122 756 Ian Dunn 27.09.2020 Mammals Brown hare Roe doe (Thistle Storr Wood) Birds Buzzard x 1 Carrion crow x 10 Jackdaws x 14 Jay x 1 Kestrel x 3 (2 appeared to be a pair, with the larger female dropping on to something in the grass, the male hovering a couple of metres above her before shooting off in the wind) Magpies x 8 Peasant (cock) x 1 Swallow x 1 Woodpigeon x 11 In Flower (Mainly Remnants) Betony Birdsfoot trefoil Bristly oxtongue Common nipplewort Common selfheal Cuckoo pint (red berries) Dandelion Lesser knapweed Meadow buttercup Meadowsweet Oxeye daisy Ragwort Red clover Yarrow Wild carrot Butterflies Large white x 1 Insects 5 spot ladybird Another interesting ladybird in the seed cage of a wild carrot plant – didn’t feel like disturbing it just to satisfy my curiosity. Subsequently identified from photo as H. axyridis var succinea ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The NNR includes the following sites: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chambers Farm Woods (comprises Ivy Wood, Little and Great Scrubbs Woods, Minting Wood, Hatton Wood, Hatton Plantation and Minting Park, and also three areas of grassland: Little Scrubbs Meadow (and extension), Small Meadow and Big Meadow. Since all have their own management plans, please give the actual location when reporting); College Wood, Cocklode & Great West Woods, Hardy Gang Wood, Newball Wood, Rand Wood, Scotgrove Wood, Southrey Wood and Wickenby Wood. Many of these include both areas of ancient woodland or important grassland, which are designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and non-designated areas. Since managing the SSSI areas carries particular responsibilities to Natural England, records which provide a six-figure grid reference are of particular value to the Forestry Commission. Other woods included in the NNR but without public access: Stainfield Wood; Stainton & Fulnetby Woods (access by public bridle way only) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. OTHER RESERVE REPORTS AND HIGHLIGHTS. LWT Top Reserves: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's policy on the Coronavirus, Covid-19 plus details of any LWT reserves which are now open and the related advice and information: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/coronavirus LWT Reserves List: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/nature-reserves-list ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7. Sending in reports to Roger Parsons ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The purpose of the Bulletin is to encourage biological recording in Lincolnshire. We hope to increase the number of people reporting observations to Recorders and improve the quality and quantity of reports and the geographical coverage. In return for this FREE service, we ask you to provide reports, questions, news or relevant articles from time to time. Descriptive pieces are welcome - you don't have to stick to lists! When sending in reports please follow this layout to save re-editing: Place Name: IN CAPITALS with Grid Reference if you have it. Your Name: Real names please, not aliases. Put it in each time, for each location Date: Species list [Alphabetical?] & numbers [and observations?] e.g. Blackbird - 24 [And please, no home-grown abbreviations. Species Names in full.] Bulletin mailing times vary, depending on what I am doing. The Bulletin usually goes out on Wednesdays/Thursdays in time for the weekend. Please e-mail in contributions as early as possible, to: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8. Contact Information & Useful Websites ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. *** Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union Website *** http://lnu.org/ LNU Twitter feed https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist? LNU e-mail: info@lnu.org A full list of LNU Country Recorders is given on the website. LNU Recorders and Specialists: https://lnu.org/specialists/ Downloads of LNU books are available on: https://lnu.org/publications/books/ A list of all the articles contained in Transactions (Transactions page) and a list of the Presidents (Officers page) is also available. LNU Bursaries: Why not apply for one? The LNU offers bursaries for natural history courses, or for identification materials (e.g. books or online resources) to help recording in any group of plants, animals or fungi in Lincolnshire. The upper limit is £300. You do not need to be a member of the LNU to apply, but it would help. The LNU would, however, expect you to put your newly facilitated skills into practice and derive some Lincolnshire records. If you would like to apply for a bursary for an FSC [or similar] course, or to buy books to help you, please contact Richard Chadd on: richard.chadd@environment-agency.gov.uk *** Love Lincs Plants *** Events and activities for Love Lincs Plants remain suspended until further notice. To view the LWT project page go to: LoveLincsPlants Webpage: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/what-we-do/love-lincs-plants Love Lincs Plants Twitter feed - active... https://twitter.com/LoveLincsPlants LLP Project Partners and related links: Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union Love Lincolnshire Plants: A plant archive for future generations https://lnu.org/lincolnshire-plants-past-and-future/ LNU Twitter feed https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist? Natural History Museum Twitter feed https://twitter.com/nhm_botany?lang=en Sir Joseph Banks Society Dr Anke Timmermann FLS discusses Joseph Banks’ florilegium https://www.joseph-banks.org.uk/ Lincoln University School of Life Sciences https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/lifesciences/ https://lifesciences.sites.lincoln.ac.uk/2016/09/30/heritage-lottery-funding-to-safeguard-lincolnshire-plants/ *** Collections Dataset - LNU "historic specimens" *** All of of the specimens that have been processed and digitised to date can now be viewed here: http://data.nhm.ac.uk/dataset/lincs-plants *** The Flora of Lincolnshire by Joan Gibbons - downloadable book *** https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/the-flora-of-lincolnshire-e-joan-gibbons.pdf *** VC54 North Lincolnshire Plant List *** Paul Kirby has produced a list which details all the vascular plant and stonewort taxa with records on the MapMate botanical database for VC54, North Lincolnshire, at the end of January 2017. You can download this on: https://lnu.org/specialists/vascular-plants/ *** Botanical Group in South Lincs *** Webpage says: "Following Government guidance and in the interests of health and safety, this year's field meetings are cancelled ... until further notice. For further information please contact your County Recorder(s). " Contact: Sarah Lambert: sarah.lambert7@ntlworld.com Also see: http://bsbi.org/south-lincolnshire-v-c-53 *** BSBI Website: *** https://bsbi.org/ *** Natural History Museum - Botany Collections *** https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/collections/botany-collections.html *** CONTACTS LIST *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/ *** Lincs Bird Club Website *** http://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk LBC County Bird Recorder Phil Hyde - County Recorder, Lincs Bird Club recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk *** The Sir Joseph Banks Society *** http://www.joseph-banks.org.uk *** Lincolnshire Bat Group website *** http://www.lincsbatgroup.co.uk/ *** Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch *** http://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html *** Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service *** http://www.lincswolds.org.uk *** Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project *** http://www.lincswolds.org.uk/chalk-streams/lincolnshire-chalk-streams *** Lincsbirders *** http://www.lincsbirders.org/ FIGHTING WILDLIFE CRIME *** Rural Crime Officer *** Pc 160 Nick Willey Force Wildlife, Rural Crime Officer Force Dog Training Establishment Lincolnshire Showground. Grange-De-Lings. Lincoln nicholas.willey@lincs.pnn.police.uk OFFICE: 01522-731897 MOBILE: 07768-501895 PAGER: 07654-330877 Related Webpages: Lincolnshire Police Advice on Hare Coursing https://www.lincs.police.uk/reporting-advice/wildlife-and-rural-crime/hare-coursing/ Rural Crime News https://www.lincs.police.uk/reporting-advice/wildlife-and-rural-crime/ SPECIES IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. When asking for help: Please give the the very best information you can provide. If you are not sure, ask what is needed from you to confirm identification. Photographs are helpful but not every species can be identified from a photograph. When asked for further details, get back to them promptly. Don't forget a thank you for the help. That is always welcome. LNU Recorders and Specialists: https://lnu.org/specialists/ *** LNU Sawflies, Bees, Wasps and Ants Recorder *** Dr. David Sheppard Willing to examine specimens or check photos (bear in mind only a relative few of the 300+ species in the county are identifiable using photos). d.a.sheppard@btinternet.com *** Lincolnshire Mammals *** Chris Manning, Chris.LincsDeer@gmail.com Mink/Otter reports are of interest and can be sent via the Bulletin. Mammal Atlas - download and print off a hard copy or view it online. https://glnp.org.uk/admin/resources/mammalatlas.pdf *** Spiders *** Imogen Wilde Regional Co-ordinator (RC) and Mentor for Lincolnshire for the British Arachnological Society (BAS). Imogen@imogenwilde.co.uk *** Identifying British bugs - an online identification guide *** https://www.britishbugs.org.uk/gallery/heteroptera/Pentatomoidea/pentatomoidea.html *** Lincs Amphibian and Reptile Group *** The Lincolnshire ARG (Amphibian & Reptile Group) Contact: Ashley Butterfield learningoutdoors@btinternet.com Please have a look at https://www.recordpool.org.uk/index.php for an easy way to record your amphibian and reptile species records. Or you can send any records to Ashley Butterfield (Lincolnshire Amphibian and Reptile Recorder) at LearningOutdoors@btinternet.com Please include Species, Date, Time, Location, numbers as a minimum (Other useful information includes Temperature and Weather conditions.) *** Local Bat Helpline *** Grounded bats, bat problems, advice and information. Contact Annette and Colin Faulkner on 01775 766286 or e-mail: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com *** Confidential Bat Records *** You may send confidential bat records direct to Annette Faulkner on: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com *** Slug ID Help *** Chris du Feu will help with slug identification. Tel: 01427 848400 or e-mail: chris@chrisdufeu.force9.co.uk *** Non-Marine Molluscs *** Alex Pickwell is the LNU Recorder for Non-marine Molluscs Email: alex.pickwell@environment-agency.gov.uk USEFUL WILDLIFE CONTACTS Please copy and paste URLs if necessary. *** Lincs Environmental Records Centre *** Greater Lincolnshire Nature Partnership (of which LERC is a part) http://www.glnp.org.uk/ Contact: charlie.barnes@glnp.org.uk or for more general queries: info@glnp.org.uk *** Hedgehog Links *** https://hedgehogcare.org.uk/ http://caddingtonhedgehogs.blogspot.com/ https://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/found-a-hedgehog/ https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/ *** Natural England *** http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ *** Lincolnshire Environmental Awards *** www.lincsenvironmentalawards.org.uk The Lincolnshire Environmental Awards have now been cancelled for 2020 and will resume in 2021, all being well. *** Field Studies Council *** Bringing Environmental Understanding to All https://www.field-studies-council.org/ *** InsideEcology *** Online Magazine for Ecologists, Conservationists and Wildlife Professionals https://insideecology.com/ *** NHBS *** Should you need natural history equipment or books, a good place to start is: https://www.nhbs.com/ For the geologists... *** Lincolnshire Geodiversity Group *** https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/discovering/geology-1 *** British geology maps - now free to explore on web *** http://www.bgs.ac.uk/opengeoscience/ *** UKGE - Geological Supplies *** https://www.ukge.com/ *** The Geology of Lincolnshire - downloadable book *** https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/the-geology-of-lincolnshire-h-h-swinnerton-and-p-e-kent.pdf *** British Geological Survey at Keyworth *** https://www.bgs.ac.uk/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9. Notes about these wildlife reports ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We do our best to ensure accuracy in our reporting but these records are sent in by a variety of reporters, from complete beginners to professionals. They therefore vary in reliability and in a few instances may be difficult or impossible to verify. If further information is needed please contact: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk Bulletins are sent to Recorders at Lincolnshire Environmental Records Centre [GNLP] , Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union and Lincolnshire Bird Club. [Note: Where plants are reported, this is usually because they have been seen and identified in flower.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10. The Bulletin's publicity policy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We sometimes withhold details of rare or endangered species. Please point out any sensitive or "tricky" reports of this kind. Sensitive data should go directly to county recorders, please. Please respect the interests of wildlife and site owners if you report on national networks. Interest in wildlife is not a licence to act irresponsibly or thoughtlessly to landowners, who may well be partners in important conservation work. *** Codes of Conduct *** BMS Code of Conduct for Responsible Collecting of Fungi https://www.britmycolsoc.org.uk/mycology/conservation/code-conduct BSBI Code of conduct for picking, collecting, photographing and enjoying wild plants https://bsbi.org/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/Code-of-Conduct-v5-final.pdf Butterfly Conservation: Policy on collecting, breeding and photography https://butterfly-conservation.org/sites/default/files/2018-10/BC%20Policy%20on%20collecting%2C%20breeding%20and%20photography%202018.pdf RSPB's birdwatchers' code https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/read-and-learn/watching-birds/code/ [Remember - views expressed in the Bulletin do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions on the LNU or associated organisations. In particular this applies to such agencies, especially charities, taking a political stance.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 11. LNU Events Diary For LNU meetings also see https://lnu.org/meetings/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Field Meetings generally start at 12 noon for 1.00pm, but please check the website details for each event. Indoor Meetings are normally held in Lincoln at the Whisby Education Centre at Whisby Nature Park. Indoor meetings start at 2pm, with both members and non- members welcome to attend. Next Meetings: "All LNU meetings are cancelled." We will update you if/as situation changes. Field Meetings: CANCELLED https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/ Whisby Workshops - CANCELLED. https://lnu.org/meetings/workshops/ Whisby Natural History "drop-in" sessions - CANCELLED https://lnu.org/meetings/drop-in-sessions/ Indoor Meetings 2020 https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ....and finally..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails Last Week *** Mail fails: 9 mail fails to customers on Plus.com. Again. ....and finally... Readers have a wide range of interests which I try to reflect in the news and information given in the Bulletin. You can help with suggestions for future links. Hide etiquette in the age of COVID-19 https://www.birdguides.com/articles/comment/hide-etiquette-in-the-age-of-covid-19/ Bomber Command centre launches winter survival appeal https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-54294957 Yorkshire 'supercell' storm covers region in hail https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-54294152 Whale sightings off the Yorkshire coast spark calls for super trawler ban https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-54269845 Coronavirus infection: Is there a North-South divide in England https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/54250626 Test your tree general knowledge - Discover Wildlife https://www.discoverwildlife.com/quizzes/test-your-tree-general-knowledge/ How to lay a hedge - Gardens Illustrated https://www.gardensillustrated.com/garden-design/how-to-lay-a-hedge/ Was there a real Granny Smith who first cultivated the apple that bears her name https://www.countrylife.co.uk/food-drink/curious-questions-was-there-a-real-granny-smith-who-first-cultivated-the-apple-that-bears-her-name-218546 'The Spitfire made everyone who sat in the aircraft’s tiny cockpit feel great, feel godly' https://www.countrylife.co.uk/gardens/gardening-tips/the-spitfire-made-everyone-who-sat-in-the-aircrafts-tiny-cockpit-feel-great-feel-godly-a-eulogy-to-the-spitfire-80-years-on-from-its-finest-hour-218514 More than 450 whales stranded in Tasmania in one of world's largest recorded stranding events https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/sep/23/more-than-450-whales-now-stranded-in-tasmania-after-rescuers-discover-pod-of-200-dead Beaked whale stays underwater for record-breaking 3 hours and 42 minutes https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/beaked-whale-stays-underwater-88432/ Country diary: it is not just the pretty stinkbugs who are going scrumping https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/sep/10/country-diary-it-is-not-just-the-pretty-stinkbugs-who-are-going-scrumping Country diary: strewn corpses point to an eight-legged killer https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/sep/04/country-diary-strewn-corpses-point-to-an-eight-legged-killer Specieswatch: celebrating the weasel, the UK's tiny hunter https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/22/specieswatch-celebrating-the-weasel-the-uks-tiny-hunter Country diary: oaks drop their antlers in a dramatic fashion https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/sep/23/country-diary-oaks-drop-their-antlers-in-a-dramatic-fashion ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/