============================================ || || 22nd December 2021 || || News of Lincolnshire Wildlife || || LNU Website: || http://lnu.org/ || ============================================ In this issue..... 1. Information, events, news 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 Farm Wood 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, events, news and requests ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Editor writes: This will be a Yuletide edition of the Bulletin so I wish you Happy Christmas and Waes Hael, to which your response should be "Drink Hael!" Needs no translation. We have passed the Solstice so it won't be too long before the days lengthen again. Special good wishes and thanks go to the fantastic Donna Nook LWT team for their remarkable seal-watch duties. There is a good selection of links this week which I hope will compensate a bit for any Christmas restrictions. Don't forget the more national and international links at the end in "and finally"! If anyone needs to announce cancellations, postponements or Zoom presentations, do feel free to send updates for the Bulletin. If/when/as any LNU changes are necessary these will go onto the LNU website, Twitter and Facebook accounts and in the Bulletin. Meanwhile stay aware of current Covid-19 advice and adapt personal precautions as necessary. Preventative measures can and may well change yet again. https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus Here is this week's selection of links to Lincolnshire and other wildlife-related news stories, mostly local. I hope you find something to interest and entertain. More general links in "..and finally ..." Big Garden Birdwatch 2022 - date for your diary 28 to 30th January. https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatch/ Covid: Haxey Hood game decision delayed due to pandemic. Next year? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-59666537 Bird-flu: UK chief vet issues plea amid surge in HN51 cases https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-59741925 Lincs Rivers Trust, Floating Pennywort Project Progress Floating Pennywort Treatment 2020 – 2021: https://lincsrivers.org.uk/floating-pennywort-project-progress/ The Fens East Peat Partnership to benefit from Government funding https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/news/fens-benefit-government-funding-kickstart-restoration-peatlands Seal pup freed from hole after three-hour rescue in Nofolk - quick clip https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-norfolk-59745242 Woman calls Lincolnshire Police to complain about not being kissed. What??? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-59727375 Largest-ever millipede fossil found on Northumberland beach - Wow! https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-59734747 Piel Island: Search on for landlord to run pub and island. Live the dream? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-59719181 Natural Histories tardigrades - BBC sounds. Many excellent programme here. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b08vy0yb Top ten trees Woodland Trust https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-59578144 "Corvids!" What's the difference between a raven and a crow? https://www.zmescience.com/science/difference-crow-raven-feature/ Mercury pollution: Fish recover quickly when water is no longer contaminated https://www.newscientist.com/article/2301462 British or Irish reached remote Faroe Islands before Vikings https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-59683287 Do keep using the "forward to a friend" link at the end of the Bulletin. It's best to avoid forwarding your individual Bulletin to others. Use that secure link or you can simply direct people to this link: https://lnu.org/publications/wildnews-bulletin/ If you are not yet an LNU member and would like to become one, you will be very welcome to join and support the effort. The webpage is: https://lnu.org/join-the-lnu/ A big thank you to all contributors who send in interesting news, events info and species reports. Please keep them coming. Roger old.museum@yahoo.co.uk - note - this is my best address for emails please. *** Weather Forecast *** https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ Doubts now about the earlier speculation about Christmas snow. Who knows? Friday to Sunday: Cloudy with light rain on Christmas Eve, heavy rain overnight. Risk of snow early Christmas Day then bright and sunny. Snow possibly returning on Boxing Day, but low confidence. Sunday 26 - 4 Jan "This period remains somewhat uncertain in detail, but generally sees a split between colder air to the north and milder air to the south. Snow showers are looking to continue across far northern areas... perhaps some mainly light rain or snow for southern locations." *** Reminder: Bat rescue instructions *** Annette Faulkner writes... If you find a grounded bat please don’t try and release it. Put it in an escape proof box - remember, a pipistrelle can get out of a hole the size of your thumb nail - wearing gloves or using a cloth to pick it up with, and phone us on 01775 766286. We’ll do the rest. Annette writes: Bats should all now be in hibernation, and I was very pleased to see the early November frosts that would have led to their prompt hunkering down, but now nights have warmed up again and are largely frost free, meaning that some bats have not gone into deep enough torpor and have even been reported out at dusk: there were the records last week from Saltfleetby-Teddlethorpe, we’ve had a record from 14 Dec from Boston, almost certainly a pipistrelle, and what is likely to have been a noctule at Heighington on 15 Dec. This is not good news. They need to pile on a lot of weight in the autumn to see them through the winter, and if they don’t do that, or they arouse from torpor during the winter and go out foraging, it costs more energy to fly than they can replace with the sparse insects they can catch out there, meaning they lose yet more weight, so if you see a day or dusk flying bat do please record it. Coincidentally, on 8th Dec we had two local bat calls, one from West Pinchbeck and one from Gosberton, both pipistrelles.  One was hibernating and fell down when an outdoor structure was moved to put up Christmas lights, the other turned up on someone’s kitchen floor (and no cat to bring it in). Both were underweight for the time of year, both are being fed up and should be ready for release soon to go back into hibernation with, one hopes, rather better chances of survival. And of course if you do find a grounded bat please follow the instructions elsewhere in the Bulletin [above] and one of us will take it into care. Finally, a big thank you to everyone who has sent in bat records this year. They will be collated with date, location and grid reference and passed the Lincolnshire Environmental Records Centre in the New Year. *** Future of LNU Bulletin - a message from the Editor *** I am still hunting for someone interested in taking on the Editorship of the Bulletin. This is not exactly urgent but it is an issue that is not going to go away. For anyone who is OK with a computer and likes writing it is a satisfying task. It would be well suited to someone retired or for other reasons has a bit of free time to offer. The tasks: Manage subscriber list - say 15 minutes pw. Update archive on web weekly = 10 minutes. Prepare next Bulletin in text, say 20 minutes to prepare/set up initial draft. Then you will receive/read/respond/acknowledge/correct/insert the contributions as they come in - variable - say 2-3 hours a week. Depends. Proof read txt version then upload to Mailchimp, format, edit and re-proof. Checking links work, mail it out and monitor - say 2-3 hours on mailing day. Dealing with general reader correspondence is perhaps 1- 2 hours per week. Say approx 8 hours per week in total. Please email me on old.museum@yahoo.co.uk if you have any thoughts or questions. You may find it useful to look at the Mailchimp website. https://mailchimp.com/ *** Next LNU [Indoor] Meeting *** 'The new Birds of Lincolnshire: trials and tribulations in data recording.' LNU/Lincolnshire Bird Club talk by Phil Espin. 2pm - Saturday January 29th 2022 Education Centre, Whisby Nature Park Free to attend. All welcome. There is a £2 parking charge. More information, including whether an indoor meeting is available on Zoom: https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/ *** Recording with "irecord"*** More and more people are using irecor. It is recommended by the LNU as the most appropriate platform for on-line recording. It has the best validation and feedback. Please look at the website. While you are there why not create an account so you are set up and ready to try? Comments will be welcome. https://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/ *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** December Night Sky! Paul Money's 'Monthly Night Sky' webpage will be found on: http://www.astrospace.co.uk/Astrospace/monthly-sky/monthlynightsky.html Comet Leonard (C/2021 A1) surprised astronomers [on 21st] when it suddenly brightened 10-fold. The surge might signal a fragmentation event in the comet's core. Leonard is once again visible to the naked eye in the sunset sky near Venus. [Clouds permitting!] See: https://spaceweather.com/ Meteor Shower Guide 2021: Quadrantids 3-4 January.... https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/meteor-shower-guide *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Area Groups webpage *** https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/area-groups *** Lincoln Area Group LWT *** Richard Davidson writes: "New speaker for our Lincoln Area Group meeting" December 16th 2021: "Out of the Darkness" An illustrated talk by Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust president and wildlife photographer Geoff Trinder on people, landscapes and wildlife. At Whisby Nature Park in the Lafarge Education Building starting at 7.30 pm. Admission £2.50. Refreshments are provided and there will also be a raffle. Advice from the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust is to wear a mask while attending and we will also need to take contact details for Test and Trace purposes, etc. Apologies to anyone looking forward to the talk by our original speaker. It may reappear again at some point in the next 12 months! *** Boultham Park Wildlife and Conservation Talks *** Boultham Park will be hosting talks by a range of experts in their field throughout December and January in the Linkage Education Centre. There will be 4 talks covering a range of topics, from managing wetland habitats, to building a thriving community green space from scratch, taking place on a Thursday from 6pm. There will be a small fee of £3.00 on the door, and free refreshments for all attendees. To guarantee a seat, please email us at Boultham.Park@lincoln.gov.uk or call 01522 873607, we hope to see you there! Information from Richard Davidson, who adds: The talks are in the Boultham Park Education Centre which is off Rookery Lane, Lincoln. More information: http://www.boulthampark.co.uk/wildlife-and-conservation-talks/ *** Useful Hedgehog Links *** https://hedgehogcare.org.uk/ https://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/found-a-hedgehog/ https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/ *** STAYING SAFE *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. Bear in mind Covid guidelines may change. Please continue to stay informed about new information and advice on Co-19 and 'flu. Adapt your precautions accordingly at indoor meetings and in groups on reserves or in the field. See: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/coronavirus Road works and hold-ups https://roadworks.org/ Met Office Severe Warnings https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings Met Office Severe Weather E-mail Service - worth signing up for this. http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/guide-to-emails EasyTide http://easytide.ukho.gov.uk/EasyTide/EasyTide/index.aspx Environment Agency Flood Warnings - Lincolnshire https://flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/warnings?location=lincolnshire Environment Agency Flood Information/Floodline - sign up if a high risk area. https://www.gov.uk/sign-up-for-flood-warnings ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/ For RBA's excellent articles: https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/RealData/Articles.asp Grey Phalarope 1w, Great Northern Diver, Shag, Snow Bunting, Covenham reservoir Bittern, Far Ings 14/12 unconfirmed/possible Rough-legged Buzzard, Bishop Norton NW of Glentham Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh 5 Long-tailed Ducks on sea at forth end, 2 Velvet Scoters, Purple Sandpiper on beach, Mablethorpe 25 Snow Buntings between Crook Bank and Brickyard Lane, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe 12 Snow Buntings in dunes near Lookout pub, Winthorpe Bittern at Butterley's Pit [viewed thru' fence], Mill Green at Pike Drain, North Hykeham 2 Great Northern Divers, Snow Bunting, 2 Shags, Covenham reservoir 15/12 Hen Harrier male, Wainfleet Range, Wainfleet 25 Snow Buntings, 2 Great Northern Divers, Red-necked Grebe flew south, Gibraltar Point 5 Long-tailed Ducks on sea off Seal Sanctuary, 2 Velvet Scoters, Mablethorpe 2 Great Northern Divers, 2 Shags, fem Scaup, Covenham reservoir Possible Rough-legged Buzzard north of Caenby Corner - flew towards Atterby Bittern, Far Ings 16/12 Siberian Chiffchaff along east side of sewage works, Deeping St James Little Stint, Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Frampton Marsh Short-eared Owl, Sandilands 4 Long-tailed Ducks off Seal Sanctuary, 2 Velvet Scoters, Mablethorpe 2 Short-eared Owls over farmland west of Lincoln Lane, Sturton by Stow Black Redstart at St Wulfram's Church, Grantham Great Northern Diver, Shag, Covenham reservoir Purple Sandpiper, Cleethorpes Lesser Yellowlegs on River Humber, Goxhill Water Pipit, 2 Short-eared Owls, East Halton Skitter 17/12 - no data 18/12 Short-eared Owl along South Drove, Deeping High Bank, Deeping St Nicholas Little Stint, Frampton Marsh Possible Iceland or Glaucous Gull flew over Marston 19/12 Smew Redshead, Deeping High Bank, Deeping St Nicholas 2 Great Northern Divers, both juvs, Shag, Covenhan reservoir 8 Russian White-fronted Geese with Greylag Geese, Trent Port, WSW of Marton 20/12 Short-eared Owl, Baston Fen Hen Harrier, Frampton Marsh Possible Thayer's Gull flew south past Gibraltar Point c30 Twite, Donna Nook Siberian Chiffchaff, North Hykeham 2 Great Northern Diver both juvs, Shag, Covenham reservoir 21/12 2 Hen Harriers over saltmarsh, Frampton Marsh Long-tailed Duck flew north past Gibraltar Point Waxwing near Willow Road/Fir Road junction briefly, Stamford 4 Long-tailed Ducks on sea, 2 Velvet Scoters, Puffin flew north, Mablethorpe Russian White-fronted Goose ad flew NW with Pink-footed Geese over North Hykeham 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, then flew east, Toft Newton Reservoir ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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! *** Links "not to be missed" *** If you have a local starling roost site now's the time to visit it, but be there by 3.30pm when they usually start arriving. You need a "gate code" for visiting Woodhall Spa Airfield. Check the relevant page here: "Know before you go" https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/starling-murmurations Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog: excellent photos and information. http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ Lincs Bird Club - latest sightings: superb website https://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk/site/index.php/sightings/latest-news Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch - check the latest sightings: https://butterfly-conservation.org/in-your-area/lincolnshire-branch/lincolnshire-latest-sightings BTO tracked cuckoos: latest updates. https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/cuckoo-tracking-project Want to know which moth species might be on the wing tonight in your area? You can find out easily using ‘What’s Flying Tonight’. https://butterfly-conservation.org/moths/whats-flying-tonight ROAD KILLS? PLEASE LET US KNOW. Every drive is a transect! Hedgehogs? Badgers? Otters? Reports welcome. *** 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/ *** 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 R+A Parsons TF120694 20/12/21 2 Dunnocks in garden CARLTON LE MOORLAND SK 90901 57907 22/12/21 Jeremy Hutchinson Watched a Great Spotted Woodpecker land in an Oak in the grounds of the former vicarage, to be followed shortly after by a second. They seemed to be ill at ease with one another, and made both churring sounds and a fluting note which I've never heard GSWs make before. A little later I heard drumming from a row of Oaks a few hundred yards away, which I thought was unusual at this time of year(?). HEIGHINGTON, LINCOLN TF027695 John Nickson 15/12/2021 Bat. Unidentified out this late afternoon. The bat seemed bigger than a pipistrelle. It was flying along the stream at tree top height. Someone could hear the one we saw the other night. That is part of the description for noctule bat. I did not see it come down to water level. It flew up and down a few times then disappeared further up stream. Annette Faulkner comments: Even with that blurred first photo definitely not a pipistrelle – and not a Daubenton’s either – they fly low over the water and not above tree tops. My guess would be a noctule – big, fast, high-flying bats that fly in the open in big curves, sweeps, straight lines, with a 15” wingspan and narrow wings – about the same size as a swift. This warm weather is bringing them out again. Bad news when there’s not much to eat. HOLYWELL LAKE WeBS Holywell Lake Ian Misselbrook 20th December 2021 0950 -11.25 Canada Geese 12 Mute Swan 2 Shoveler 3 Gadwall 22 Wigeon 24 Mallard 103 Teal 4 Tufted Duck 26 Moorhen 22 Little Grebe 10 Kingfisher 2 Grey Wagtail 1 Stock Dove 1 - singing Woodpigeons 4 Great -spotted Woodpecker 2 Green Woodpecker 1 Jackdaw 11 Carrion Crow 6 Raven 2 Starlings 18 Blue Tits 10 Great Tts 4 Long-tailed Tits 8 Nuthatch 1 Wrens 3 Dunnock 1 Blackbirds 4 Fieldfares 32 Redwings 2 Mistle Thrush 2 Robin 7 Siskins 15 Chaffinch 8 HUTTOFT Jane Pennington TF511762 (my garden) 15/12/2021 Goldfinch 2 Long-tailed tits 4 17/12/2021 Dunnock 1 18/12/2021 Blackbirds 6 Wren 1 20/12/2021 Blackbirds 8 on rowan Chaffinch 2 m&f Goldfinch 6 on teasel and lavender Sparrowhawk 1 21/12/2021 Blackbirds 8 Goldfinch 3 on teasel Great spotted woodpecker 1 on trunk of dead apple tree Wren 1 LINCOLN SK 986718 David Smith 15/12/2021 17.30 Adult fox in grounds of the county hospital - apparently unconcerned by traffic leaving the car parks STAPLEFORD SK 88218 57963 21/12/21 Jeremy Hutchinson Pleased to have seen an all-too-rare flock of 30 approx Lapwings flying around the gravel workings, and also a small covey of Common Partridges in a field nearby. A Little Owl can be seen on most days perched on the stub of a fallen branch on an old Oak by the roadside nearby. WADDINGTON 21st December 2021 Peter Wilson 3-15pm approx 200 geese flew over Waddington in a westerly direction. 10 minutes later approx another 50 flew over in same direction but my wife reported that the second ones flew around in a circle. She was outside and I didn’t see this manoeuvre, only saw them flying west and then came indoors. WOOLSTHORPE BY COLSTERWORTH SK92/24 Jane Ostler On December 15th sent two photos of moths from a neighbour at SK922246:- December Moth and Dark Chestnut After several mild nights he had put out his moth trap and was surprised by having a catch at all. The Dark Chestnut was rather sombre looking but the December Moth was beautifully marked in Chestnut colours a male with its magnificent feathery antennae spread. Just what was needed on these dark days. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. NNRs and Nature Reserves ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 RSPB Reserves: RSPB Frampton Marsh & Freiston Shore are listed as Open. https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/rspb-news/news/stories/coronavirus/reserve-reboot/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ See: Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog. http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ LWT Top Reserves: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves LWT Reserves List: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/nature-reserves-list RSPB Freiston Shore https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/freistonshore/ RSPB Frampton Marsh http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Weekly seal update from Donna Nook https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook/weekly-update Remember to read our FAQs : Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR Report 15th – 21st December 2021 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett, Ruth Taylor and Owen Beaumont. Daily news and wildlife sightings: 151221 - Peacock butterfly flying across Coastguard garden in sun 12 degrees C and a peacock butterfly in flight at Crook Bank. 161221 - Amongst the wildfowl on Paradise lagoon: a pair of gadwall, 36 curlew feeding in the adjacent field. 842 pink foot geese feeding on Elm House farm grassland. 4 long- tailed duck, 3 velvet scoter, 700 common scoter and a shag on the sea at the south end. Barn owl, water rail and 2 Cetti’s warbler at Rimac in the evening. 191221 - Single jay in hawthorn bush near Paradise wood. 201221 - Wildfowl on Paradise lagoon included a minimum of 34 shoveler, 21 mallard plus 3 greylag geese; 3 barnacle geese flew over, south. An hour’s seawatch at Mablethorpe North End produced 210 red-throated diver, a velvet scoter and a gannet flying north 211221 - Paradise lagoon: 6 gadwall, 19 mallard, 10 tufted duck, 35 shoveler, 52+ teal and 79 black-headed gulls, at least 230 dark-bellied brent geese were flying over the area. 42 whooper swans flying off NNR roost and c2600 pink foot geese leaving foreshore roost. Puffin and 169 red-throated diver north over the sea in 35 minutes. 4 long-tailed duck and 2 velvet scoter on the sea with 800 common scoter. 51 whooper swan and 28 mute swan feeding on fields adjacent to the NNR Donna Nook 171221 – Weekly seal count: 272 bulls, 234 cows, 1075 pups. 2119 pups born in 2021 so far. 3 turnstones seen. 211221 – Large flocks of lapwing, oystercatcher, starlings and brent geese feeding on the saltmarsh. Black-tailed godwits at Pye’s Hall realignment area. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 history of the Lincolnshire Limewoods https://www.forestryjournal.co.uk/features/19111877.lincolnshire-limewoods/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ British Native Trees - Woodland Trust https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/native-trees/ The Forestry Commission advice: https://www.forestryengland.uk/article/coronavirus-visitor-guide LWT Reserves List: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/nature-reserves-list Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch. See: https://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html Lincolnshire Dormouse Group You can get in touch via lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com *** Lincs Dormouse Group update *** Gemma Watkinson writes: The winter work party dates for this winter are below. Sunday 21st November Saturday 18th December Sunday 16th January Saturday 19th February Sunday 20th March We meet at 10am at the wood centre car park, and normally stay until around 3pm with a packed lunch break. All tools are provided, but recommend to bring your own work gloves/ gardening gloves if you have them. Please note that Forestry England have still not opened the toilet facilities at Chambers. We have a lot of winter tasks to catch up on including box repairs and replacements, cutting back a few of the pathways that have become overgrown and coppicing work as part of the management of Ivy Wood. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ South Humber Heritage Trail, Alkborough Flats - LWT leaflet https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/sites/default/files/2018-04/south_humber_heritage_trail_alkborough.pdf ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lincsnaturalists/ 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/ *** Love Lincs Plants *** https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/what-we-do/love-lincs-plants Love Lincs Plants: Herbarium Hub Aidan Neary writes: we have launched our online herbarium knowledge hub today to help external organisations to develop their own herbarium. Lots of useful information, including instructional videos on plant collection (Jack Perks film) and a Mounting Guide video by NHM’s Kath Castillo as well as links to equipment and materials. See: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/what-we-do/love-lincs-plants/herbarium-hub https://twitter.com/LoveLincsPlants/status/1457735102046384133 *** Collections Dataset - LNU "historic specimens" *** All of the LNU 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 - LNU downloadable book *** https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/the-flora-of-lincolnshire-e-joan-gibbons.pdf *** VC54 North Lincolnshire Plant List - LNU *** 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/ *** 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/ *** South Lincolnshire Flora Group *** https://bsbi.org/south-lincolnshire-v-c-53 *** The Wolds Fungi Group *** Contact Paul Nichol via email pnichol20@gmail.com *** Lincolnshire Dormouse Group *** Contact: lincsdormousegroup@gmail.co FIGHTING WILDLIFE CRIME *** Rural Crime Officer *** Pc 160 Nick Willey Force Wildlife, Rural Crime Officer 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. 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 For current records please refer to the Atlas of the terrestrial and semi-aquatic Mammals of Lincolnshire by C. J. Manning, LNU Mammal Recorder. You can download and print off a hard copy or view it online. https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/mammalatlas.pdf Spiders, Pseudoscorpions, Harvestmen Imogen Wilde Regional Co-ordinator (RC) and Mentor for Lincolnshire for the British Arachnological Society (BAS). Email: Imogen@imogenwilde.co.uk 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. You can send any records to Ashley Butterfield (Lincolnshire Amphibian and Reptile Recorder) at LearningOutdoors@btinternet.com Local Bat Helpline Grounded bats, bat problems, advice and information. Contact Annette and Colin Faulkner on 01775 766286 Email: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com Bat rescue instructions: If you find a grounded bat please don’t try and release it. Put it in an escape proof box - remember, a pipistrelle can get out of a hole the size of your thumb nail - wearing gloves or using a cloth to pick it up with, and phone us on 01775 766286. We’ll do the rest. *** 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 Email: chris@chrisdufeu.force9.co.uk Non-Marine Molluscs Alex Pickwell is the LNU Recorder for Non-marine Molluscs Email: mrapickwell@gmail.com 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 welcomed. USEFUL WILDLIFE LINKS 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/ *** Natural England *** http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ *** Lincolnshire Environmental Awards *** www.lincsenvironmentalawards.org.uk *** Field Studies Council *** Bringing Environmental Understanding to All https://www.field-studies-council.org/ BioLinks Courses – Field Studies Council https://www.field-studies-council.org/biolinks-courses/ *** 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/ *** Bird Friendly Coffee Shade-grown from RSPB *** https://birdandwild.co.uk/ For the geologists... Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. *** Lincolnshire Geodiversity Group *** https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/discovering/geology-1 *** Lincolnshire Geology - The Wolds AONB *** https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/discovering/maps/geology *** Cracking up in Lincolnshire - our roads - Geological Society *** https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/Geoscientist/Archive/March-2014/Cracking-up-in-Lincolnshire *** The Geology of Lincolnshire - downloadable LNU book *** https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/the-geology-of-lincolnshire-h-h-swinnerton-and-p-e-kent.pdf *** British geology maps - now free to explore on web *** http://www.bgs.ac.uk/opengeoscience/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. https://lnu.org/specialists/ When sending in reports, e.g. unusual plants, it will be good if you can report any sensitive news directly to recorders rather than via the Bulletin please, as we don't want to spoil things with untimely/unwise publicity. Thank you. 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 *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. BSBI Code of Conduct https://bsbi.org/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/BSBI-Code-of-Conduct.pdf Code of Conduct for Responsible Collecting of Fungi http://www.davidmoore.org.uk/Assets/fungi4schools/Reprints/Pickers_code.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/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** LNU Events - Important updates *** We will post any changes to LNU events through the Bulletin, the LNU Twitter feed, LNU Facebook page and LNU meetings webpage. Please refer to the LNU website for details of any Zoom arrangements for watching online. Indoor Meetings 2022 https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/ 'The new Birds of Lincolnshire: trials and tribulations in data recording.' LNU/Lincolnshire Bird Club talk by Phil Espin. 2pm - Saturday January 29th 2022 Species Recording Meeting Overview and highlights of the past years recording provided by the county recorders. Arrive at 12 noon for a chance to catch up with recorders; it will finish at 4pm. 12 noon – 19th February 2022 Annual General Meeting – 12th March 2022 2pm – Followed by the Presidential Address by Owen Mountford For details and any necessary subsequent updates or changes please visit: LNU Website: https://lnu.org/meetings/ LNU Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist? Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lincsnaturalists/ Whisby Natural History Workshops See: https://lnu.org/meetings/workshops/ Prior booking essential via Richard Davidson on 01522 525725 or Email rel.davidson@btinternet.com. Places are limited. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ....and finally..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails Last Week *** None this week. Advice is: If your Service provider or network can't or won't allow the Bulletin through, use a free email account instead. In the event of a mail failure I will be happy to send you the error report to pass on to your "Help Desk". Just ask. ....and finally... Hawthorn on Scottish beach named tree of the year 2021 https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/dec/14/hawthorn-on-scottish-beach-named-tree-of-the-year-2021 Country diary: The boulevard of bullfinches always delivers https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/dec/15/country-diary-the-boulevard-of-bullfinches-always-delivers Lincs: Country diary: Even the darkest days of the year begin with fiery light https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/dec/17/country-diary-even-the-darkest-days-of-the-year-begin-with-fiery-light Country diary: Fieldfares perch as if awaiting instruction https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/dec/22/country-diary-fieldfares-perch-as-if-awaiting-instruction Pet sounds: dogs’ favourite Christmas songs revealed. Who'd have thought? https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/dec/15/pet-sounds-dogs-favourite-christmas-songs-revealed Dozens of dead and ill puffins wash up in Orkney https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-59666771 Dolphin is filmed performing underwater 'HEADSTAND' off Scottish coas https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10312375/ The Twelve Birds of Christmas - RSPB Scotland https://community.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/b/scotland/posts/the-twelve-birds-of-christmas Heartbreak over 'failed' bid to remove Gough Island's mice https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-59673823 Acid grassland housing redevelopment must go ahead - council https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-59660331 Solar parks could act as life rafts for bumblebees and other pollinators https://www.zmescience.com/science/solar-parks-bumblebees-pollinators-26462423/ Dead White-tailed Eagles test positive for bird flu https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/Dead_White_tailed_Eagles_test_positive_for_bird_flu.aspx Airborne DNA used to detect insect species in breakthrough for ecologists: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/dec/13/airborne-dna-used-to-detect-insect-species-in-breakthrough-for-ecologists Poland's border wall will cut Europe's oldest forest in half https://theconversation.com/polands-border-wall-will-cut-europes-oldest-forest-in-half-173735 Did you know that you have flies to thank for your favourite festive box of chocs https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/flies-are-saving-your-chocolate-cravings.html The latest Tree of Life genome to be sequenced of the UK bisetose emerald-bottle https://wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/6-344 and more info' on the fly here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/63075200@N07/sets/72157656430033373/ ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/