============================================ || || 17th February 2021 || || 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 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, hints, tips and requests ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Editor writes... *** There is some winter yet to come, but as temperatures start to rise we can start recording first flowering dates and spring sightings, adding to our understanding of Phenology - those cyclic and seasonal natural events. Spring flowers, insects, amphibians, birds, reptiles and bats have a tale to tell. Your observations, please. Weather Forecast: 2 - 16 Mar "Temperatures are predicted to be a little below average at the start of the period, slightly increasing the chances of cold spells occurring. During this time there looks to be an increased likelihood of overnight frosts and a risk of wintry hazards, such as snow and ice. " https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ Please send in your wildlife reports via the Bulletin or to the appropriate LNU recorder[s] if you prefer: https://lnu.org/specialists/ [If unsure on this, see section 7. "Sending in Reports - contributors please read!"] To email me please use the recommended address: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk Here is a selection of links from topical local to national and international news stories and articles sent in by fellow-readers. Your contributions keep the Bulletin interesting so please keep them coming! More links in "...and finally..." How to identify early spring blooms - Discover Wildlife https://www.discoverwildlife.com/how-to/identify-wildlife/how-to-identify-early-spring-blooms/ Murmurations above supermarket 'wow' shoppers - Norfolk https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-norfolk-56084376 Baby born safely in Grimsby hotel car park - Car Park Charlie https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-56073944 Lincolnshire Wildlife Park: Thousands tune in to watch parrot hatch online https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-56027903 Lincolnshire coast: Birds die after disinfectant washed up on beaches https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-56043417 Sutton on Sea: £6m development plan for Colonnade site submitted https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-56081761 Covid-19: Exmouth bird tweet prompts rule-break fines for twitchers https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-56075391 "Over 1,000 reports relating to hare coursing have been made to police in the last three months, compared to 1,048 in the whole of last year's season." https://thelincolnite.co.uk/2021/02/hare-coursers-stay-away-dispersal-order-after-spike-of-1000-incidents-in-3-months/ HS2: Aerial footage shows what London to Birmingham route looks like now https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-56045071 Beavers reintroduced to parts of England and Wales https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-56016930 Edinburgh aims to become sanctuary for swifts as numbers decline https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-56009892 Stonehenge: Did the stone circle originally stand in Wales? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-56029203 Watch again on iPlayer: Stonehenge - The Last Circle Revealed https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000s5xm/stonehenge-the-lost-circle-revealed Storm Darcy: Bewick's swans return to Gloucestershire https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-56034858 Coronavirus: Bat scientists find new evidence https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-55998157 "Ravens - Intelligent Rascals of the Skies - Free Documentary Nature" on YouTube https://youtu.be/D6s3u0624P8 This trippy timelapse of mushroom fruiting is the best thing you'll see today https://www.zmescience.com/other/videos/this-trippy-timelapse-of-mushroom-fruiting-is-the-best-thing-youll-see-today/ Follow Yorkshire's example on protecting peatland or risk failing on climate action https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/politics/follow-yorkshires-example-protecting-peatland-or-risk-failing-climate-action-wildlife-trusts-warn-3129903 Norfolk Naturalists' events pages: http://norfolknaturalists.org.uk/wp/events-page/ and past presentations: http://norfolknaturalists.org.uk/wp/past-presentations/ To help us find some more readers, please try the "forward to a friend" link at the end of the Bulletin. You can also direct people to: https://lnu.org/publications/wildnews-bulletin/ Tip: If possible avoid forwarding on your individual Bulletin to others. Best to use the secure "Forward to a Friend" link at the end of each issue, please. Roger old.museum@yahoo.co.uk - note - this is my best address for emails please. *** Covid-19 Noticeboard *** Please stay aware of updated government advice and adapt your personal precautions accordingly as the understanding and measures "evolve". See: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus NHS About Coronavirus [COVID-19] https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19 "All LNU meetings are cancelled" policy continues. When eventually judged safe, we will announce any plans for resumption of LNU events through the Bulletin, the LNU Twitter feed and LNU meetings webpages. https://lnu.org/meetings/ The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's policy on Coronavirus, Covid-19. https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/coronavirus Events/activities for Love Lincs Plants remain suspended until further notice. https://twitter.com/LoveLincsPlants RSPB: map for which reserves and facilities you can 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 Please let us know of any local Covid-related developments 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. *** Bird Flu Watch *** Game birds culled in Leven after second bird flu outbreak https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-56046156 How to spot avian influenza (bird flu), what to do if you suspect it, and measures to prevent it. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu also - specifically in wild birds: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu#wild-birds-in-england *** Humber Nature Forum *** Jackson Sage writes: We have another Humber Nature Forum event coming up on the 25 February, looking at advances in avian tracking technology. I've provided some information below: Humber Nature Forum - Thursday 25 February: 10 am - 12 noon. Join us for a talk on Avian Tracking Technology around the Humber Estuary, with presentations from the Humber Management Scheme and the Hull Ornithology Research Cluster. Please follow the link to register. https://www.humbernature.co.uk/news/post.php?s=2021-01-25-humber-nature-forum-avian-tracking-technology *** Hedgehogs on Roads: The Problems and Solutions (Natural History Live) *** Field Studies Council. Tue 23, March 2021 14:00 - 15:00 " Natural History Live events are free online natural history talks, comprising a 30-40 minute talk from either an FSC member of staff or a guest speaker, followed by a question and answer session. We host them on Zoom and we will send out joining instructions on the day of the event." More information: https://www.field-studies-council.org/shop/courses/hedgehogs-nhl2020/ *** Lincolnshire Show Dates for the diary - Show returns for 2021 *** "It’s been a difficult year for everyone, but we can’t wait to welcome you back to the Showground on 23 & 24 June... We are now busy planning as there will be a few changes to the usual format to ensure we are fully Covid-19 compliant. More details will be announced soon, so please save the date!" https://lincolnshireshow.co.uk/media/news/2020-12-15/the-lincolnshire-show-returns-for-2021 [Editor adds: Given the ever-changing Covid pandemic - please keep checking the website!] *** Moth Night 2021 Dates for the diary - Planning ahead *** Moth Night 2021 takes place over the three nights of 8th - 10th July. The theme for the 2021 event is Reedbeds & Wetlands. Please let us know if you are planning anything. www.mothnight.info *** Grimsby and Cleethorpes area group LWT cancellation *** Carolyn Davis writes: Due to the ongoing situation with the COVID-19 pandemic the Grimsby & Cleethorpes Area group LWT have taken the decision to cancel the rest of their indoor and outdoor meetings up to and including April 2021. *** South Lincs RSPB Social Group Cruise programme *** Jeremy Eyeons writes: The South Lincs RSPB Group announce that , due to the current pandemic and general uncertainty, they are unable to offer any more information or proposed sailing dates about a 2021 Cruise programme. However the Group can announce that the Boat Owners have decided that the “Boston Belle” will not be available for the foreseeable future for ANY cruises. It will however be replaced by a smaller boat with a smaller capacity [compared to the Boston Belle]. Please keep checking the website where we will publish further information when we have it. https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire/ *** STAYING SAFE *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. 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. http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/default.aspx Lyme Disease - would you spot the symptoms? https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lyme-disease/ *** February Night Sky *** Paul Money's 'Monthly Night Sky' webpage will be found on: http://www.astrospace.co.uk/Astrospace/monthly-sky/monthlynightsky.html NOTE that due to COVID 19 the 2021 edition of Night Scenes will only be available as a pdf or kindle and produced in 2 parts covering 6 months each. http://www.astrospace.co.uk/nightscenes/ns-current.html [Editor adds: I am finding this on-line version very useful.] UAE Hope mission returns first image of Mars https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-56060890 The camera capturing Mars' craters and canyon https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-55943374 Meteor Shower Guide 2021 - no major showers this month. https://skyandtelescope.org/observing/best-meteor-showers-in-2021/ A beginner’s guide to meteor showers https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/a-beginners-guide-to-meteor-showers/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/ 9/2 5 Knot at Wader Pit, Baston+Langtoft GPs Russian White-fronted Geese, Huttoft Marsh 2 Little Gulls, both 1w between Wolla Bank and Chapel Observatory 10/2 Knot at Wader Pit, Baston+Langtoft GPs Short-eared Owl over marsh, Marston sewage works Water Pipit flew east, Pale-bellied Brent Goose on Tennyson's Sands, Russian White-fronted Goose, dead Little Auk, Gibraltar Point 2 Bitterns, 3 Water Pipits on New Pits, Jack Snipe, Spotted Redshank on Target Pit, Far Ings 11/2 13 Bewick's Swans, 8 ads, with 315+ Whooper Swans in field, 2 Turnstones flew over, SE of Deeping St Nicholas 2 Bitterns, Whisby Iceland Gull juv at river mouth, Rimac 2 Bitterns, Far Ings 12/2 20 Bewick's Swans all ads with 62 Whooper Swans, at Tongue End in field NE of Baston Red-throated Diver on River Welland, Deeping High Bank, NNW of Crowland Shag 1w on River Welland opposite New Road, Deeping High Bank, NE of Deeping St Nicholas Hen Harrier, Gibraltar Point 2 Bewick's Swans with 65 Whooper Swans, Manby Flashes 2 Bitterns, Far Ings Glaucous Gull juv, 2w Iceland Gull, Cross Marsh on main lagoon, Stallingborough 13/2 Ring-necked Duck, main lake by island, Scaup 1w drk, Tallington Lakes Red-throated Diver Shag 1w on River Welland opposite New Road, Deeping High Bank, NE of Deeping St Nicholas Shag 1w on River Welland, Deeping High Bank, Deeping St Nicholas Bean Goose sp, Freiston Shore Water Pipit, Gibraltar Point Smew 1w drk, Barton-upon-Humber GPs [sic] Scaup 1w drk, Main Lake. Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James 14/2 19+ Bewick's Swans all ads in oilseed Rape field south of Baston Fen Ring-necked Duck 1w fem, main lake by island, Scaup 1w drk, Tallington Lakes Red-throated Diver as downstream of Crowland Bridge, Shag on river downstream of Green Bridge, Deeping High Bank NNW of Crowland 5 Russian White-fronted Geese with Greylag Geese, 2 Great White Egrets, Manby 15/2 Red-throated Diver as downstream between Crowland Bridge and Gull Farm Deeping High Bank NNW of Crowland 18+ Bewick's Swans all ads with Whooper Swans, at Tongue End in field NE of Baston Hen Harrier male in roost, Gibraltar Point 6 Russian White-fronted Geese, Manby Flashes 20 Snow Buntings, Jack Snipe, in beach, Theddlethorpe 16/2 Scaup 1w drk, Tallington Lakes Red-throated Diver ad at Deeping High Bank SW of Crowland Bridge, W of Crowland Scaup 1w drk. Main Lake, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James 2 Hen Harriers, Gibraltar Point Smew drk, Whisby ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 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 Useful Hedgehog Links https://hedgehogcare.org.uk/ http://caddingtonhedgehogs.blogspot.com/ https://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/found-a-hedgehog/ https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/ ROAD KILLS? PLEASE LET US KNOW. Every drive is a transect! Hedgehogs? Badgers? Otters? Reports welcome. Chris Manning writes: Otter road kills... It would be helpful if readers would continue to report otter road kills and sightings to help build up relevant data. Carcases may be sent to: https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/otter-project [Alas our local EA team no longer support the project by paying for transport.] Potential Bovine TB Hotspot Area [PHA] - Lincolnshire Wolds "If you find a dead badger or wild deer carcase within the PHA, please report this to the Animal and Plant Health Agency [APHA] via the Defra Rural Services Helpline 03000 200301. They will need the following details: 1. The location of the carcase to assess whether it falls within the PHA and in order to find it, if it’s suitable for collection. This could be an OS grid reference, longitude-latitude co-ordinates, the what3words address (tapping on the exact square where the carcase is located), a postcode or enough detail to precisely locate the carcase 2. Whenever possible an assessment of the condition of the carcase because decomposing or extensively damaged carcases are not suitable for post mortem examination." *** 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 12/2/2021 Redwing under feeder in garden 10am approx. [AP] Later spotted flying from garden into a Lime tree on The Green 11.30 approx perching there for 15 minutes in the sunshine. [RP] 12 noon - 2pm. 3 Redwings feeding on holly berries in garden, challenged briefly by a song [not mistle] thrush at about 1pm. 13/2 3 Redwings foraging in next door churchyard [AP] Species this week: Carrion Crow 1 Jackdaw - 6-8 Starling 12+ Black-headed Gull - 12+ Collared Dove 2 Woodpigeon 2 Dunnock 1 House Sparrow 12 Robin 2 Blackbird 2 m+f Redwing 3 Mistle Thrush Blue tit 2 BLANKNEY lan Lazenby [Alan noticed his Jan. report was for 2020, of course it was for 2021!] Blankney Fen TF125627 10/02/21 Stone Chat male and female on Reed Mace and Phragmites growing in ditch. In field next to house 2 Grey partridge, 200 Wood pigeon, 6 Stock Dove, and 2 Pied wagtails which have not been seen since autumn and nest in the garden most years. In the garden around bird feeder 6 Reed Buntings, 5 Green finch, 1 House sparrow a rare passing visitor, 1 Tree Sparrow rare after mass exodus in autumn. 2 Robin, 2 Blue tits, 1 Great Tit, 3 Dunnock, 1 Wren, 2 Carrion Crow. A male Sparrow Hawk flew by the feeder and took I think a Dunnock, an hour or so later a Female dashed through without success. At TF1162 near to Car Dike 1 Grey Herron disturbed as the car went by. 11/02/21 TF125627 garden. After coldest night of the year at the garden feeder 1 Brambling returned after a few days absence. The 30 plus year old large Alder tree next door is in full flower, masses of yellow catkins dropping little yellow balls in the wind onto our path. TF132623  Morning very cold but sunny, little snow in ploughed field channels, a female Hen Harrier was mobbing a buzzard which was perched in top of a gas pipe line marker post. T he Buzzard ducked and flapped a few times but would not budge and the Harrier flew off towards Tanvats. A lone Meadow Pipit perched on a sod nearby for a good view. TF1363 4 Buzzards were circling low over Tanvats. TF137633 > 50 Lapwings were in a flooded but frozen part of a field. TF133632 4 Roe deer hid amongst Phragmites occasionally standing or sticking their heads up. TF124632 another group of 4 Roe Deer near to Metheringham Delph bank lay down out of the wind presumably to absorb any suns heat. 12/02/21 TF0561 Metheringham Heath Road (on our way from a Covid jab not on a jolly) a Red Kite floated over perhaps eyeing the 2 Pheasant road kills on the grass verge. BOSTON TF326426 13/02/2021 Kathleen Pearson A Redwing was in the garden this morning. Unusually this was on the ground feeding on a fatball that had fallen onto the ground. With the snow, a larger than usual number of daily species has occurred in the garden, with seventeen species being counted on the eleventh. These were House Sparrow, Robin, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Long-tailed Tit, Dunnock, Starling, Wren, Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Black-headed Gull, Carrion Crow, Goldfinch, Collared Dove, Greenfinch, Magpie and Great Tit. HUTTOFT Jane Pennington TF511762 (my garden) 11/2/2021 Song thrush heard 12/2/2021 Great spotted woodpecker 1 13/2/2021 Chaffinch 1 Goldfinch 1 On teasel from 2-4.30pm Pheasant 1 m. Sparrowhawk 1 14/2/2021 Woodcock 1 On woodchip path in garden at 2.15pm Great spotted woodpecker 1 NOCTON Jerry Gunner 16/2/2021 Last week we saw quite a lot of different birds on our dog walks along the Car Dyke but today virtually nothing apart from two skylarks though woodpeckers drumming, chaffinches and robins calling made for a merry background soundtrack. There was one common moorhen on the dyke itself but it scooted out of sight when it saw us. Each day of last week we saw and heard a flock of whooper swans in the field the other side of the hedge that borders the sheep pasture alongside which the path runs. For three days of the week they were quite close but today they’d moved back out in to the field about 600m away. On Wednesday and Thursday there was a flock of perhaps 30 meadow pipits in the pasture which was nice surprise. They moved along as we drew alongside and decamped to the hedge until we were safely past. On Thursday a flock of sheep was penned at the corner of the field back up the hill from Wasps Nest towards Potterhanworth and a mixed flock of fieldfares and red wings was on the ground near them. The next day the sheep had gone but there were a lot of fieldfares and a pair of stonechats with the male very brightly coloured. TOBY'S HILL - SALTFLEET Carla Clover. 16/02/21 Carcass of a Polecat found on Toby's Hill in Saltfleet. WOOLSTHORPE-BY-COLSTERWORTH SK92/24 Jane Ostler February 8 – 14th 2021 Trees Snowed in for a week with only area able to walk the Woolsthorpe Road which has been cleared and gritted. My planned review of parish trees was restricted to this. In the 1950s a schoolboy wrote about the line of ash trees along its length. Now there are only three – one near the western boundary covered in ivy and minus several limbs and two near the River Witham which have been cared for by pruning. The losses have been mainly due to 5 housing developments where there had prev ously been fields. The crescent opposite our house had preservation orders on two mature ash trees. Probably due to concreting round the base of the trees they were later declared unsafe and felled. They were replaced by a Sweet Chestnut (which has survived being vandalised) and a walnut. The latter which has grown remarkably rapidly from a tree cultivated by local children is now a magnificent specimen recently confirmed as not a threat to the nearest property. Also on the Woolsthorpe Road all the small garden trees on what were once all council houses have gone. The council cleared the small spaces which came down to the road so that cars could be parked. It wasn’t long before many houses had more than one vehicle. The trees are gone and cars are parked all along the road. A week ago I found that lichens on trees on Woolsthorpe Road, just beyond the built up area were all those found where the air is polluted. This is undoubtedly because of increased traffic. Mature trees would mitigate this. At present the walnut tree which I can see from my front window is doing its best for the environment and for the bird visitors. Birds Various phone calls this week asking me to identify, from descriptions, strange bird visitors to the garden. I don’t advise this method of identification, especially when it depends on a non-birder like myself. Eventually I realised that the birds in question were fieldfares, their wild food gone and apples were prescribed. A single one turned up in my own garden. Mammals. Hares seen out in fields covered in snow by the more adventurous walkers. Lots of activity as they chased each other (no boxing yet) and made themselves hollows in the snow to which they returned at intervals. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. COASTAL NNRs and Nature Reserves ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Top Reserves: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 10th – 16th February 2021 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett, Ruth Taylor and Owen Beaumont. Daily news and wildlife sightings: Note: Dusting of powdered snow overnight on 10th, 15mm on concrete. 12th - no fresh snow overnight but snow from earlier still lying in patches, wind veered to a bitterly cold south-easterly and a gust of 26.3mph recorded. 13th - bitterly cold south-easterlies continue with a gust of 40.3mph recorded giving a wind chill of -7.0 degrees C, 14th - bitterly cold SE continue with a gust of 34.1mph recorded giving a wind chill of -5.4 degrees C, patches of snow lying in hollows and sheltered areas. 15th - no frost for several days, less snow lying in hollows, becoming mild. 16th - no snow lying, maximum daytime temperature 11.25 degrees C. 10021 - Single woodcock and mistle thrush near Sea View, grey hen harrier over saltmarsh, 26 golden plover on edge of saltmarsh near Rimac and a green woodpecker flew out of scrub to land on saltmarsh. 110221 - Grey hen harrier hunting over saltmarsh, merlin over outer dunes, green wood- pecker flew from out of scrub near Rimac to land further away on saltmarsh, barn owl hunting over dunes near Sea View. At Sea View: 1 barn owl, 1 kestrel and 2 woodcock. Flooded lower fields at Sea View providing feeding areas for curlew and lapwing. 120221 - Jack snipe flew from saltmarsh near Rimac lagoon, adult yellow-legged gull amongst hundreds of gulls, mainly black-headed and common, foraging on washed up shellfish in and around Haven Outfall. 2 woodcock near Sea View and 50 shoveler on the Eau near Sea View washland. 3 grey partridge and 1 marsh harrier at Donna Nook. 1 barn owl hunting along roadside to Elm House Farm fields, Saltfleetby. 130221 - Two woodcock near Paradise and between there and Sea View in shelter belt areas a mix of at least 30 blackbirds and a few redwing. Yellowhammer and pied wagtail at Sea View and a woodcock flew from dunes near Rimac. An adult Mediterranean gull was with c3000 gulls on the tide line between Crook Bank and Churchill Lane. 140221 - Grey hen harrier over saltmarsh. At Sea View 15 goldfinches, 6 long-tailed tits, pied wagtail,13 blackbirds plus robins, great and blue tits all around the feeding station. Going north offshore were 4 eider, a common scoter and a great crested grebe. 4 common scoter on the sea at the south end of the NNR. 150221 - Of note from WeBS section Theddlethorpe to Saltfleet Haven were: 612 dunlin, 116 knot, 34 ringed plover, 29 sanderling, 1 turnstone, 53 shoveler, 234 wigeon, 172 teal, 1 marsh harrier and 2 hen harriers. Tawny owl heard calling near Sea View at mid-day. Late afternoon were 20 adult and 7 immature whooper swans plus 12 Brent geese on Rimac lagoon. Approximate counts of 3000 waders and 3500 gulls on the foreshore between Churchill Lane and Crook Bank. These included 2050 dunlin, 255 sanderling, 9 ringed plover, 680 knot, 24 grey plover, 30 bar-tailed godwit and a jack snipe. Gulls were difficult to count in the mist but approximate counts of 1200 black-headed gull, 1100 herring gull, 920 common gull and 45 great black-backed gull. 20 snow buntings were bathing with dunlin in the recently thawed foreshore pools at Crook Bank. 160221 - 2 woodcock near Sea View and another flew from scrub near Paradise and 3 gadwall on the lagoon. At Donna Nook: 1 male hen harrier, 60 twite, 300 brent geese, 3500 knot, 1300 dunlin, 380 bar-tailed godwit, 170 oystercatcher, 70 curlew, 9 grey plover, 5 turnstone and 1 spring usher moth. Other Local Reserves 120221- Roosting at Manby flashes in the evening were: 65 whooper swan and 2 adult Bewick’s swan. One of the bewick’s had a colour ring and was ringed in Atlantic Russia as an adult in 2018. This is the first re-sighting. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 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 The Hazel Dormouse https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/cy/node/35 Lincolnshire Dormouse Group You can get in touch via lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Reserves List: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/nature-reserves-list ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/ 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. 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 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/ *** 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/ *** 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/ Police are escorting suspected hare coursers out of the county, after a rise in incidents. BBC 11th Feb "Over 1,000 reports relating to hare coursing have been made to police in the last three months, compared to 1,048 in the whole of last year's season." https://thelincolnite.co.uk/2021/02/hare-coursers-stay-away-dispersal-order-after-spike-of-1000-incidents-in-3-months/ SPECIES IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. Useful identification links: Butterfly guide to part of Europe including Britain - free to download https://assets.vlinderstichting.nl/docs/0b095bc2-0387-4785-9f7e-5f7a987b3468.pdf Fungi Families/Types Identity Parade https://www.first-nature.com/fungi/ 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 Ladybirds https://www.naturespot.org.uk/taxonomy/term/19357 Naturespot on Spiders https://www.naturespot.org.uk/taxonomy/term/19515 Naturespot on Beetles https://www.naturespot.org.uk/beetles Identifying British bugs - an online identification guide https://www.britishbugs.org.uk/gallery/heteroptera/Pentatomoidea/pentatomoidea.html LNU Recorders and Specialists: https://lnu.org/specialists/ 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 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. *** Spiders *** Imogen Wilde Regional Co-ordinator (RC) and Mentor for Lincolnshire for the British Arachnological Society (BAS). 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. 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 *** 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/ BioLinks Courses – Field Studies Council https://www.field-studies-council.org/biolinks-courses/ A Bulletin reader is currently doing their irecord course: https://www.field-studies-council.org/shop/courses/discovering-irecord-3/ *** 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 RSPB's birdwatchers' code https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/read-and-learn/watching-birds/code/ BSBI Code of Conduct https://bsbi.org/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/BSBI-Code-of-Conduct.pdf [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 message for LNU members *** Précis of Nick Tribe's announcement on future events - full text in 7th Oct Bulletin. http://rogerparsons.info/bulletin2020oct07.txt As the Covid 19 risk remains high the Executive has taken the decision to cancel the first two meetings and (hopefully) postpone the AGM to July/August/September 2021. i.e. January 16th joint talk with Lincolnshire Bird Club February 27th Recorders’ meeting March 27th AGM The Executive will explore dates in the summer for the AGM. ...If a delayed AGM is not possible, the Executive is happy to remain in post until March 2022. We have considered alternatives such as an online AGM, but none appear to be workable. We hope to publish a summary of the accounts in the Spring 2021 Communiqué and should be able to update members on the delayed AGM at that time. Any queries about the accounts can be sent to Chris Manning. The Executive continues to be active via email and telephone and is monitoring the situation with an eye on the 2021 field meeting programme. As with the AGM, the Union may be able to run some field meetings in 2021. If you have any questions, please contact Richard Chadd or Nick Tribe." LNU Officers & Executive https://lnu.org/about/officers-executive/ Richard Davidson says of the Whisby Workshops: "All are cancelled for this year. I am hoping to run them this time next year if at all possible, but that depends on whether something approaching normal life has returned by then." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ....and finally..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails Last Week *** 10 customers of plus.com had their Bulletins "bounced" this week as possible "spam". This unfortunate blockage has happened several times before and as an antidote I may have to reduce the number of "hotlinks" included in future Bulletins. ....and finally... Carlisle to Settle train removes dangerous icicles in tunnel https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-56026374 Watch "UK National Parks in 100 Seconds https://youtu.be/-zDNMgeeQrc Ancient hunter-gatherer seashell resonates after 17,000 years https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-56017967 'UK first' moonflower to bloom in Cambridge - for 12 hours only https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-56023597 Monogamous cockroaches practice minor cannibalism out of love https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/monogamous-cockroaches-practice-minor-cannibalism-out-of-love/ How and what do bats hear? – Inside Ecology https://insideecology.com/2021/01/08/how-and-what-do-bats-hear/ Vampire bat adopts orphan baby bat after untimely death of its mother https://www.newscientist.com/article/2267108-vampire-bat-adopts-orphan-baby-bat-after-untimely-death-of-its-mother/ Survey shows more wildflowers in bloom during January than ever before – Inside Ecology https://insideecology.com/2021/01/26/survey-shows-more-wildflowers-in-bloom-during-january-than-ever-before/ Love in the time of lockdown – no apparent boom for breeding songbirds – Inside Ecology https://insideecology.com/2020/12/18/love-in-the-time-of-lockdown-no-apparent-boom-for-breeding-songbirds/ Spider legs build webs without the brain's help – providing a model for future robot limbs https://theconversation.com/spider-legs-build-webs-without-the-brains-help-providing-a-model-for-future-robot-limbs-153561 Transparent wood is coming, and it could make an energy-efficient alternative to glass https://theconversation.com/transparent-wood-is-coming-and-it-could-make-an-energy-efficient-alternative-to-glass-154981 Birdwatch: golden plovers flash across the winter sky https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/10/birdwatch-golden-plovers-flash-across-the-winter-sky Britain's endangered willow tit needs vast area to thrive, research finds https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/11/britains-endangered-willow-tit-needs-vast-area-to-thrive-research-finds Country diary: spooked by the starlings as they rushed all around me https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/12/country-diary-spooked-by-the-starlings-as-they-rushed-all-around-me BBC Sounds : The Life Scientific - listen https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/b015sqc7 BBC 2 Winterwatch new series - catch up. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000rh17 BBC's Perfect Planet series - catch up. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p08xc2lh ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/