=========================================== || || 21st July 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 a Met Office Yellow Warning for heavy rain in the East Midlands, Sat/Sun. https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings Thanks to everyone who opened their Bulletin this week and for your encouraging interest in so many of the links. We look forward to seeing you at LNU field meetings, but as things might change at short notice in response to the Covid risk do please keep checking the LNU Website/Twitter/Facebook pages for the latest news. Butterfly Conservation's Big Butterfly Count this year runs 16th July to the 8th August . See: https://bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org/ Lincolnshire Environmental Awards 2021 Groups that want to enter will have to submit their entries by 31st July 2021. For further information see: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/lincs-environmental-awards Weather Forecast - 25 July - 3 August "A turn to more unsettled weather throughout this period. Sunday remains unsettled across England and Wales, with scattered and slow-moving showers and thunderstorms. ...Monday and Tuesday sees further scattered and heavy (possibly thundery) showers, especially in the east of the UK " https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ Here is the week's selection of links from topical local to national and international news stories and wildlife-related articles sent in by Bulletin readers. I hope there's something for everyone. Your contributions keep the Bulletin interesting so please keep them coming! More links in "...and finally..." England heatwave: Giant hail in Leicestershire damages cars https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-57909700 Wally the walrus gets his own pontoon https://metro.co.uk/2021/07/13/wally-the-walrus-gets-a-pontoon-after-wreaking-havoc-on-scilly-isles-14923305/ Covid: Spalding clubbers 'hugged and kissed' as venue reopened https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-57887701 New Waltham severed foot: Police seek help from female amputees https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-57840846 Plan to restore Skegness Pier to 'former glory' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c41y44348lro A hibernating dormouse - Sound and vision blog - vintage https://blogs.bl.uk/sound-and-vision/2021/07/recording-of-the-week-a-hibernating-dormouse.html Farne Islands: Puffins see visitors return after 18 months - short clip https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science_and_environment Tweedmouth Cemetery: The dilemma of dealing with graveyard badgers https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-57901530 Flitwick residents attacked by swooping bird of prey https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-57853325 If/as events gradually resume, please keep referring to the relevant Covid-related websites below to check the latest information from the LNU and other organisations. You may pick up changes you should know about. To help find more readers, please use the "forward to a friend" link at the end of the Bulletin. If possible avoid forwarding your individual Bulletin to others. It's best to use this secure link. You can also direct people to: https://lnu.org/publications/wildnews-bulletin/ Thank you for your contributions this week. 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". Advice may change at short notice. See: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus NHS About Coronavirus [COVID-19] https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19 LNU 2021 field meetings up to October are now provisionally booked. For details and any necessary subsequent updates or changes please visit: https://lnu.org/meetings/ The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's policy on Coronavirus, Covid-19. https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/coronavirus 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 alterations or new guidelines are welcome to get in touch with updates for the Bulletin. Just ask. The City of Lincoln Council intends for the 2021 Christmas Market to go ahead, subject to government restrictions, from 2-5 December. You may like to make a mental note of this decision, whether or not you hope to attend or avoid it. *** Useful Hedgehog Links *** https://hedgehogcare.org.uk/ https://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/found-a-hedgehog/ https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/ *** Purring Wasps *** Carol Massen writes: We have a wasps nest underneath our lounge floor. They come and go through an air brick. They make the most wonderful ‘purring’ sound both during the day and right up until dusk. The first time I heard it I thought that next door’s cat had got behind the settee! The reason for my email is that I have failed to find out how and why they make this sound. (A trawl on the internet produces a depressingly large amount of hits for wasps nest removals). I wondered if perhaps it was to do with air flow or temperature control within the nest. Editor adds: Have a read and listen to this! In the depths of a wasp nest. https://blogs.bl.uk/sound-and-vision/2018/11/in-the-depths-of-a-wasp-nest.html *** Starting a Wolds Fungi Group *** Paul Nichol writes Have you an interest in Mushrooms & Toadstools or would you like to begin an interest and learn how to identify those delights that you see springing up on your lawn or when you are out and about? If so, then you might be interested to know about a new group that will start this autumn to provide opportunities to join forays not just to identify fungi but also to contribute to the recording of fungi that occur in the county. You do not need to have any experience or knowledge of fungi, beginners are most welcome. All that is needed is an interest in joining a small group who will organize walks to a variety of habitats during which participants will be introduced to the Fungi Kingdom and helped by experienced members will begin to develop skills in not only identification but also the ecology and conservation of this fascinating group. Forays will take place sometimes midweek sometimes at weekends and be for 2-3 hours probably commencing in early September and be based in the wider Wolds area. Should you be interested then Paul Nichol would be delighted to hear from you and provide further details, email pnichol20@gmail.com *** Bourne Barn Owls online *** Bob writes: Our barn owl family is complete - July 17th 2021 At 7.35am today the fifth egg hatched. There is a mountain of prey beside the female so the chicks won't go hungry. Things will be quiet for a few days, but once the chicks open their eyes they will become more active. They are totally dependent on the hen bird to brood them as they can't regulate their own body heat yet. https://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project/4593449091 *** Butterflies of Lincolnshire - copies still available *** This work brings together much previously unpublished data and information concerning the changing fortunes of the butterfly species found within this large county. Told through a series of diverse chapters covering the status of 64 species historically known to have occurred here, this is an entertaining and highly personal account of the county's lepidoptera, full of facts, anecdotes, conjecture and just a hint of controversy, including details of illicit releases and the seemingly conflicting ethics of the conservation organisations and certain maverick introductionists. The scope of this work will appeal to both amateurs and experts - it is unlikely that anyone reading this book will not find themselves enlightened, educated, and learning something new about these beautiful winged insects and their history in the second largest county of England. Review and details: https://www.dispar.org/reference.php?id=175 Available direct from the author @ £21.95 + £4.00 p&p. Please contact Pete Smith on ps.petesmith@outlook.com for details of how to order a copy. *** National Whale & Dolphin Watch. 2021 - will you be helping? *** Dave Miller writes: It is that time of year again – National Whale & Dolphin Watch – a national survey that we have been involved in since 2011. https://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/nwdw/ As last year, at the moment we can’t use this as an "event" but it would be great to get some data from Lincolnshire. I am planning on doing sea watches on 31st July from Chapel Point and 1st August from Anderby Creek. You are more than welcome to join me, as long as there is not too many of us, or carry out your own sea watch. You can spend as long or as little as you can manage, it all helps. Let’s hope for great weather and huge pods of cetaceans! If you are planning your own watch please do fill out the registration form and send to Sea Watch and please copy me in. You can email me for a copy of their form on. dmiller@lincstrust.co.uk *** Bat reports - please keep them coming *** Annette Faulkner writes... Reminder: 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. *** 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 *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** July 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 Meteor Shower Guide 2021 https://skyandtelescope.org/observing/best-meteor-showers-in-2021/ Delta Aquariids - July 29 Perseids - Aug. 12 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/ For RBA's excellent articles: https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/RealData/Articles.asp 13/7 14 Spoonbills, Wood Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, Frampton Marsh 17 Spoonbills, 1 on Jackson's Marsh, 16 on Tennyson's Sands, Roseate Tern, Gibraltar Point 1+ Quail male singing west of Scopwick 14/7 14 Spoonbills, 4 Wood Sandpipers, 3 Spotted Redshanks, Ruddy Shelduck, Short-eared Owl, Gibraltar Point 12+ Spoonbills, 3 Spotted Redshanks, Gibraltar Point Little Gull flew past Anderby Quail male singing west of Scopwick 15/7 16 Spoonbills, Frampton Marsh 11 Spoonbills, 3 Spotted Redshanks, Gibraltar Point 2 Common Cranes, Branston Island by Bardney Lock, NW of Bardney 16/7 14 Spoonbills, 2 Wood sandpipers, Short-eared Owl, Ruddy Shelduck, Frampton Marsh 11 Spoonbills on Tennyson's Sands, Gibraltar Point 17/7 12 Spoonbills, fem Ruddy Shelduck, Turtle Dove, 3 Spotted Redshank, Great White Egret, 2 Short-eared Owls, Frampton Marsh White Stork flew over Spalding 18/7 Black-necked Grebe east end of Wader Pit, Baston + Langtoft GPs 15 Spoonbills, Wood Sandpiper, ad Curlew Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh 7 Spoonbills on Jackson's Marsh, Gibraltar Point Wood Sandpiper, Toft Newton Reservoir 3 quail males singing between Donington on Bain and Withcall 16 Spoonbills, Glossy Ibis, 11 Spotted Redshanks, Alkborough Flats 19/7 Black-necked Grebe east end of Wader Pit, Baston + Langtoft GPs Pacific Golden Plover on Middle Scrape then flew towards The Wash, 14 Spoonbills, 2 Spotted Redshanks, fem Ruddy Shelduck, Little Gull, Short-eared Owl, Frampton Marsh 17 Spoonbills, Wood Sandpiper flew north, Short-eared Owl, Gibraltar Point Spoonbill, Great White Egret, Paradise Lagoon, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe, 20/7 Black-necked Grebe juv, Wader Pit, Garganey, Baston + Langtoft GPs Pacific Golden Plover, 16 Spoonbills, Curlew Sandpiper on Middle scrape, 7 Spotted Redshanks, Short-eared Owl on saltmarsh, Frampton Marsh 7 Spoonbills on Tennyson's Sands, Gibraltar Point ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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! A Butterfly Note from Jerry Gunner His Imperial Majesty alive and well in Potterhanworth Woods On my daily walks along the Car Dyke at Potterhanworth Woods I often see butterflies and wonder what they are. On the 8th of July 2021 I convinced myself I’d seen a single Silver-washed Fritillary flitting about on the footpath but by the time I got my phone out to try and take a picture it had gone. Fast forward to Wednesday July 14th, 2021. At about 11am I stopped the car at my normal parking spot where Barff Road turns right into Foxes Drain; before I had let the dogs out I noticed two very unusual butterflies. At first I thought they were White Admirals, an insect I know lives in the woods but remembering my failure a week earlier to snap the fritillary I got my phone ready before I got out of the car. I managed two hasty snaps of one of the two before it and the other flew away much more quickly than I could follow on foot. Zooming in on the image on my phone I could see that whatever the butterfly was it wasn’t a White Admiral. Again I was stumped but this time I had an image to aid my investigations! When I got home I looked up the beast in my trusty 1993 edition of ‘Collins Complete Guide to British Wildlife’. This had on the same page as the White Admiral the Purple Emperor which was undoubtedly what I’d photographed but, in 1993 at least, was well out of range. I then went to ‘Butterflies of Lincolnshire – A Modern History’ by Peter Cawdell and Pete Smith, a book I’d bought from Pete Smith himself after having seen it mentioned in this very Bulletin. In the book Pete devotes an entire chapter to what he calls His Imperial Majesty explaining how the Purple Emperor has established itself across the region and has also been reintroduced into Chambers Farm Wood. I sent him the image and he confirmed that it was indeed a male Purple Emperor. Coincidentally he’d been in Potterhanworth Woods on the same day albeit a little later. He confirmed that he’d seen White Admirals and Silver-washed Fritillaries but no Purple Emperors. Apparently my sighting was the first record of Purple Emperors in the woods and as if that wasn’t enough I am now satisfied that I did indeed see a Silver-washed Fritillary. Four links "not to be missed" 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: on their way south. https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/cuckoo-tracking-project 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 TF120694 R & A Parsons 15/7/2021 2 identifiable hedgehogs on trail camera at 0148 and 0229. [Mr Clean and Mr Dirty!] Bat spp also captured at 02.37 16/7 5 Goldfinches seen in the evening - possibly our 2 regulars plus this year's chicks. 17/7 Single bat 21.45 - 22.00hrs echolocating intermittently at approx 50kHz in short bursts - probably Common Pipistrelle Hedgehogs on trailcam - at least 2 individuals distinguished at: 17/7 22.27 22.33 23.53 and 23.54 Then 18/7 at: 00.20 00.56 [Mr Dirty] 01/19 19/7/2021 Meadow brown inspecting our "No Mow May" area. 20/7 Hedgehog in garden at 22/50 and 23.24hrs [trailcam] BOSTON Saturday 17th July morning A five mile walk through the Rosebery Meadows estate to Wyberton High Bridge, along the Black Slice Trail to Hubbert's Bridge and back along the top of the bank. Great crested grebe Cormorant Mute swans with 6 cygnets Greylag geese about 50 Gadwall Mallard Kestrel Pheasant Moorhen Coot Lapwing Black-headed gull Lesser black-backed gull Herring gull Common tern Feral pigeon Woodpigeon Collared dove Swift Swallow Blackbird Song thrush Sedge warbler Blue tit Magpie Jackdaw Rook Carrion crow Starling House sparrow Chaffinch Greenfinch Goldfinch Linnet Yellowhammer Roe deer Blue-tailed damselfly Meadow brown Gatekeeper Small white Green-veined white Small tortoiseshell FAR INGS Angela Buckle, 18th July 2021, Day-lily orange, Procumbent pearlwort, Branched burweed, Bugloss, Water crowfoot. HUTTOFT TF511762 (my garden) Jane Pennington 14/7/2021 Gatekeepers 2 South hawker 1 15/7/2021 Bat sp. 1, 10pm, likely Common pipistrelle at 45kHz 16/7/2021 Common darter 1 Small whites 1 17/7/2021 Bats sp. 2 10pm, likely Common pipistrelle at 45kHz Comma 1 Red admiral 1 ovipositing on nettle 18/7/2021 Bat sp. 1 10pm, likely Common pipistrelle at 45kHz Large whites 2 19/7/2021 Bats sp. 2 9.40-9.50pm, likely Common pipistrelle at 45kHz 20/7/2021 Willow Emerald Damselfly (Lestes (Chalcolestes) viridis) - a male, and pale pterostigma and anal appendages. Photos available. Common darters 2 REDHILL Angela Buckle, 16th July 2021, Kidney vetch, Maiden pink, Harebell, Marjoram, Rest harrow, Greater knapweed, Goats beard, Betony, Hoary plantain, Milkwort, Dwarf thistle, Field scabious, Small scabious, Pyramidal orchids, Eyebright, Musk mallow, Pignut, Yellow-wort, Common centaury, Fairy flax, Salad burnet, Vipers bugloss, Bladder campion, Hounds tongue, Field bindweed, Scarlet pimpernel, Field madder, Heath bedstraw, Meadow clary, Cluster bellflower, Giant Bellflower, Common toadflax, Wild basil. ROXTON WOODS Angela Buckle, 17th July 2021, Enchanters nightshade, Broad-leaved helleborine, Black bindweed, Small balsam, Greater swinecress, Redshank, Lemon balm, Gromwell. SEDGE HOLE CLOSE LWT Nature Reserve Steve Hiner 15/07/21 Blackbird x 1 Blue Tit x 4 Carrion Crow x 2 Tree Sparrow x 6 Robin x 1 Swallow x 5 Wood Pigeon x 4 Yellowhammer x 1 Green-veined White x 4 Large White x 1 Meadow Brown x 29 Red Admiral x 1 Ringlet x 21 Small Tortoiseshell x 1 Brown Plume Moth x 1 SOUTHREY WOOD R&A Parsons 15/7/2021 Amanita sp - possibly Amanita excelsa - 3 fruiting bodies Deer - probably Roe - barking for some minutes. Considerable badger and some mole signs of activity. STAINFIELD BECK TF108732 R&A Parsons 18/7/2021 - late am Banded Demoiselle - Calopteryx splendens 5 Green Damselfly - Lestes sponsa 1 THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 08/07/21 Blackbird x 6 Greenfinch x 1 Mute Swan x 2 Owston Ferry Warping Drain Robin x 1 Swift x 32 Tree Sparrow x 5 Willow Warbler x 1 Wood Pigeon x 12 Wren x 1 Meadow Brown x 35 Ringlet x 12 Small Tortoiseshell x 2 Small White x 2 09/07/21 Common Buzzard x 1 Jackdaw x 6, very vocal on house roof Large Skipper x 6 Large White x 1 Meadow Brown x 52 Ringlet x 21 Small Skipper x 3 Small Tortoiseshell x 8 Small White x 3 Blue-tailed Damselfly x 1 Roesel's Bush-cricket x 1 10/07/21 Rhagonycha fulva x 8 on Hogweed Stictoleptura rubra x 1 female on Yarrow 11/07/21 Barn Owl x 1 01:30hrs Blackbird x 4 Blue Tit x 6 Carrion Crow x 2 Common Buzzard x 1 fledged young Jackdaw x 2 Kestrel x 1 fledged young Magpie x 2 Oystercatcher x 2 over Thurnholmes Pied Wagtail x 1 Robin x 1 Stock Dove x 1 Tree Sparrow x 6 Wood Pigeon x 4 Wren x 1 Common Pipistrelle x 2 21:35hrs (45hz) Field Vole x 1 Brimstone x 1 male Large Skipper x 4 Large White x 1 Meadow Brown x 36 Ringlet x 14 Small Tortoiseshell x 18 Small White x 2 Speckled Wood x 1 Cinnabar moth x 1 Common Footman x 3 Dark Arches x 1 Smoky Wainscot x 1 Yellow Shell x 2 12/07/21 Common Buzzard x 1 Little Owl x 1 Swift x 17 Harlequin Ladybird larva x 1 on Hogweed seed head (Sam Hiner) 14/07/21 Blackbird x 2 Chaffinch x 1 Common Buzzard x 1 Kestrel x 1 fledged young Goldfinch x 4 Tree Sparrow x 6 Yellowhammer x 1 Common Pipistrelle x 2 22:35hrs (45hz) Gatekeeper x 3 Green-veined White x 1 Large Skipper x 1 Meadow Brown x 55 Ringlet x 15 Small Tortoiseshell x 3 Black-tailed Skimmer x 1 male Blue-tailed Damselfly x 4 Rutpela maculata x 1 16/07/21 Common Pipistrelle x 1 22:20hrs (45hz) Green-veined White x 4 Large White x 1 Meadow Brown x 63 Red Admiral x 1 Ringlet x 20 Small Tortoiseshell x 12 Hummingbird Hawkmoth x 1 on Buddleia Yellow shell x 2 Azure Damselfly x 1 Blue-tailed Damselfly x 2 Common Blue Damselfly x 4 18/0721 Common Blue (butterfly) x 1 Essex Skipper x 5 Gatekeeper x 2 Green-veined White x 3 Large Skipper x 1 Meadow Brown x 43 Ringlet x 10 Small Tortoiseshell x 15 Small Skipper x 3 Small White x 2 Speckled Wood x 2 Smoky Wainscot x 1 20/07/21 Blackbird x 2 Blue Tit x 6 Carrion Crow x 1 Goldfinch x 4 Greenfinch x 1 Jackdaw x 4 Kestrel x 1 fledged young Magpie x 2 Oystercatcher x 2 over Thurnholmes Pied Wagtail x 1 Robin x 1 Stock Dove x 1 Swallow x 15 Swift x 12 Tree Sparrow x 6 including 2 on 3rd broods in nest boxes Wood Pigeon x 6 Wren x 1 Yellowhammer x 1 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR Report 14th – 20th July 2021 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett, Ruth Taylor and Owen Beaumont. Daily news and wildlife sightings: Note: The recent spell of very hot weather gave soaring daytime temperatures reaching 27.25 degrees C on the 17th. A short sharp shower of rain on the afternoon of the 20th gave 0.5mm of ppt, prior to that the last rainfall recorded was eight days ago on the 12th. 130721 - Paradise lagoon: 3 common sandpipers, 2 green sandpipers, 16 redshank, 4 greenshank and amongst the black-headed gulls was a colour ringed bird 2APV being white digits on a red darvic. Short-eared owl hunting over the saltmarsh. 140721 - 2 adult avocets with 3 immature birds on Paradise lagoon and a female tufted duck with 1 juvenile was on the Great Eau opposite Paradise wood. The colour ringed black-headed gull 2APV was ringed at Milton Landfill Site, Cambridgeshire on 12th February 2013. 160721 - Paradise lagoon: 8 dunlin, 2 redshank, 4 tufted duck, 3 common sandpipers, 4 green sandpipers, 2 teal, 3 coot, 48 mallard plus 2 broods of 6 and 7, 10 lapwing, 1 common gull, 2 pied wagtails. Short-eared owl over saltmarsh. 170721 - 3 small bats over Sea View late evening. Hedge brown on the wing. 180721 - 2 commas and single painted lady and peacock at Sea View. 190721 - On Paradise lagoon: 6 little egrets, 1 great white egret, 1 spoonbill, 28 redshank, 1 dunlin, 1 black-tailed godwit, 32 black head gulls, 1 common gull, 20 lapwing, 2 moorhen, 40 mallard,1 green sandpiper, 2 common sandpipers and 1 little grebe. Pair of redshank remain with two well developed immature birds. 200721 - Paradise lagoon: great white egret, 4 little egrets,1 common sandpiper, 3 green sand piper, 1 common snipe, 7 dunlin, 4 little ringed plover, 7 pied wagtails and 2 Egyptian geese. Flowers: sea lavender, meadowsweet, honeysuckle, marsh helleborine and lesser meadow-rue. Butterflies: a notable decline in most species, some by c 80% seen on the annual garden butterfly counts. Species seen on the NNR: comma, peacock, small, green veined and large whites, large and small skipper, small copper, small tortoiseshell, ringlet, meadow brown, small heath, painted lady and red admiral. Birds: a notable increase in waders, gulls and terns on foreshore as autumn migration begins, and gannets common scoter, sandwich and common terns seen passing offshore. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Forestry Commission advice: https://www.forestryengland.uk/article/coronavirus-visitor-guide British Native Trees - Woodland Trust https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/native-trees/ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Find a Wood https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/find-woods/ 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 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/ 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. https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/what-we-do/love-lincs-plants Love Lincs Plants Twitter feed - active... https://twitter.com/LoveLincsPlants *** 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/ 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. Some identification links: The NHBS Guide to UK Wild Flower Identification https://www.nhbs.com/blog/uk-wild-flower-identification British Native Trees - Woodland Trust https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/native-trees/ 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/ 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 welcomed. *** 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. Atlas of the Mammals, Reptiles and Amphibians of Lincolnshire and South Humberside Johnson, M. - Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union. 1982. [Some of these data are historical and should not be taken to indicate their occurrence today! There have been status changes since this analysis, with species being both lost and gained.] https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/atlas-of-the-mammals-reptiles-and-amphibians.pdf 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 For Lincolnshire bat information, see: https://glnp.org.uk/news/bitterns-bats-and-newts-mapped-for-first-time *** 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 Ashley writes: 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 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 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 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 - changing - contact editor. 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/ 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 *** 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/ *** 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 *** 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/ *** UKGE - Geological Supplies *** https://www.ukge.com/ *** 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. 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. https://lnu.org/specialists/ 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 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/ [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 update *** "LNU 2021 field meetings - May - October are now provisionally booked." We will confirm plans for resumption of LNU events through the Bulletin, the LNU Twitter feed, LNU Facebook page and LNU meetings webpage. 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/ Richard Davidson says of the Whisby Workshops: "I have five workshops lined up at Whisby Nature Park in the autumn. These are as follows - Yellow Asteraceae Flowers - led by Sarah Lambert on September 18th Plant Pressing - led by Sue Fysh on September 25th Sawflies - led by David Sheppard on October 9th Lichens - led by Mark Seaward on October 16th Dissecting Owl Pellets - led by Garry Steele on November 20th" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ....and finally..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails Last Week *** Julie Ellison - soft bounce - Host or domain name not found. 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... Country diary: banking on a beetle bonanza https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jul/17/country-diary-banking-on-a-beetle-bonanza Country diary: ‘hedge’ is too small a word for these wild Cornish giants https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jul/19/country-diary-hedge-is-too-small-a-word-for-these-wild-cornish-giants My Lab Unlocked: Professor Petra Oyston at Porton Down https://thebiologist.rsb.org.uk/meet-our-members/my-lab-unlocked-professor-petra-oyston-at-porton-down Using plastic waste to help solve sand shortages https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57832425 Benjamin Jesty: The unsung hero of vaccination - Dorset https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-57460445 Green Investment scheme for Greater Lincolnshire wins Government backing https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/news/green-investment-scheme-greater-lincolnshire-wins-government-backing ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/