============================================ || || 2nd June 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: Like many readers worried about the cold and wet weather we have been looking for signs of eggs hatching and chicks being fed. On the morning of 30/5 there was a distinct "gear change" in robin behaviour - going from only occasional visits to the nest to a frenzy of insect hunting. We had marked "interesting plants" in our lawn with 12 bamboo canes to make sure we would remember to avoid these when we eventually mow our "conservation area". The robins regard this as a helpful idea and are now patrolling the grass cane by cane in their search for food. The beans have been planted out and another "bright idea" was to scatter some hedgehog food on the ground near them, instead of using slug pellets. You will see the logic. The trail-camera confirmed this was a promising strategy, as we filmed 2 hedgehogs together on 30th at 00.22hrs. It's the first time this year to see more than one and they certainly seemed to be getting along. There is a partial solar eclipse for the UK/Ireland on June 10th. Start: 10.09hrs - Mid 11.16hrs - end 12.28hrs. Safe viewing only, please! If you don't have eclipse glasses or a solar filter for a telescope, stand near a broadleaved tree and look at the dappling of the sunlight on the ground. The spots are from the gaps in the leaves, each one acting like a pin-hole camera. If lucky you will see dozens of little images of the crescent sun projected - images of the eclipse in progress. Weather Forecast: 6 - 15 June " ...temperatures will trend towards the milder side of average with the chance of some very warm or hot spells at times. Into the following week, a trend towards more settled and dry conditions overall, however this accompanied by a risk of some showers and longer spells of light rain developing at times... " 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 fellow-readers. Hopefully there's something for everyone. Your contributions keep the Bulletin interesting so please keep them coming! More links in "...and finally..." Glorious Spoonbills https://community.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/b/natureshomemagazine/posts/glorious-spoonbills Urban wildlife showdown between fox and badger - watch! https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-humber-57287272 Seal with bin bag wrapped round neck freed into wild - short clip https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-norfolk-57287575 Wally the Walrus moves from Tenby to Padstow https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/wally-the-walrus-moves-from-tenby-to-padstow-t9x99ccc3 And then.... Wally the walrus 'hit by boat' on reaching France - the story continues. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-57282281 Wanted: Caretaker to look after uninhabited Scottish island - dream job? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-57282018 Norton Disney: Animal rendering plant plans questioned https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-57254178 Young's Seafood fined over worker's hand mangled in fishcake machine https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-57244070 The war against snails: can gardeners ever win? https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/may/26/war-against-snails-can-gardeners-ever-win To help us find some more readers, please try the "forward to a friend" link at the end of the Bulletin. Tip: If possible avoid forwarding on your individual Bulletin to others. It's best to use the secure link at the end of each issue. You can also direct people to: https://lnu.org/publications/wildnews-bulletin/ Thank you for all the contributions. Please keep your reports coming. 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. You may also find different organisations have specific advice to offer 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. See: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus NHS About Coronavirus [COVID-19] https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19 LNU 2021 field meetings - May - 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 Events/activities for Love Lincs Plants remain suspended until further notice. 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. *** Covid-19: Lincolnshire Show cancelled for second year *** The event was due to take place on June 23 and 24 2021. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-56340942 *** South Lincs RSPB Social Group Cruise programme cancelled for 2021 *** Jeremy Eyeons writes: It is hoped that we can restart the cruises in 2022. Full details are always available on our website https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire/ *** Useful Hedgehog Links *** https://hedgehogcare.org.uk/ https://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/found-a-hedgehog/ https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/ *** Bourne Barn Owls online *** Bob Sheppard writes: The barn owls in the Len Pick Trust owl tower are still keeping us waiting for a first egg. https://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project/4593449091 *** Peregrine Webcams *** https://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk/site/index.php/information/lbc-articlebloglist/638-peregrine-project-2 *** The Loch of Lowes ospreys *** https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/watch-wildlife-online/loch-of-the-lowes-webcam/ *** The season of Zoom talks offered by the RSPB Grimsby Local Group continues *** Another illustrated talk which will take place at 7.30pm on Monday 21st June 2021. "Tango Birding in Argentina: Andes to the Atlantic" - A Zoom Talk by James Lowen. Norfolk-based James Lowen is an award-winning author and photographer who specialises in natural history, conservation and travel. He has written 13 books and he regularly contributes to newspapers and magazines. In this talk, James draws on three years of living and birding in Argentina to guide us round the whole of South America's second-biggest country. From the Andes to the Atlantic Ocean, and from the mighty jungle-shrouded waterfalls of Iguazu to the remoteness of Tierra del Fuego, we will travel in search of the mythical hooded grebe, swarms of glittering humming- birds and the gargantuan greater rhea. The talk is open to everybody. You don't need to belong to the RSPB, or have attended Group Meetings. And don't be put off by Zoom. It is easy to use, you don't need any special equipment like a camera or microphone - just an internet connection, and we may be able to offer help if you request it. To find out the arrangements for getting a link to the talk, please email me at martin.francis2@ntlworld.com before 8pm on Thursday 17th June, stating that you saw the information in the LNU Bulletin. Martin Francis Leader - RSPB Grimsby Local Group' *** Burkinshaw's Covert Open Day Wednesday 30th June 2021 *** Humber Nature Partnership is organising an rare open day at Burkinshaw's Covert, a Local Wildlife Site adjacent to Lindsey Oil Refinery at North Killingholme which has recently been bought from Total by Prax. The site is a 38ha private woodland which has been actively managed for wildlife by Humber Conservation Volunteers for over 10 years, including over 5ha of conservation grassland and specially constructed, fish-free ponds maintained for amphibians and freshwater invertebrates. The woodland is gradually being converted from largely poplar and sycamore plantations to mixed broadleaves managed on a Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF Regime). In the last three years the original 18th Century game covert which stands on the ridge and furrow of the remains of the mediaeval ridge field system is being actively managed for the first time since at least the Second World War. It now has an extensive network of woodland rides which make it good for access and for wildlife too. It is almost 6 years since the LNU last visited the site and to visit again please book with Alan Jones at Humber Nature Partnership alan.jones@humbernature.co.uk as the site is secure and like everywhere Covid19 restrictions have to be managed. *** 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. *** Garden Bird SOS *** Stuart Britton comments: Blue Tits try to coincide egg hatching with the emergence of Oak Tortrix Moth caterpillars. They also feed other insects to the young and suet from fat balls will have no detrimental effect. The only food not to put out is whole peanuts as they could choke the young. I have monitored hundreds of broods of Blue and Great Tits and they are very susceptible to unseasonable cold weather and prolonged periods of rain which we are experiencing now. I think they are hatching early this year but there does not appear to be a lot of caterpillars about. No matter how hard you can try to help there will inevitably be fatalities. *** 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 *** June Night Sky Paul Money's 'Monthly Night Sky' webpage will be found on: http://www.astrospace.co.uk/Astrospace/monthly-sky/monthlynightsky.html "The Summer Solstice occurs on June 21st. Summer officially begins in the Northern Hemisphere whilst Winter begins in the Southern Hemisphere... "There is a partial solar eclipse for the UK/Ireland on June 10th." Start: 10.09hrs - Mid 11.16hrs - end 12.28hrs. Safe viewing only, please! 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.] New dark matter map reveals cosmic mystery https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-57244708 Nasa releases spectacular new picture showing heart of the Milky Way https://uk.yahoo.com/news/news/nasa-releases-spectacular-picture-showing-172756656.html Mars: Nasa's Perseverance rover's first 100 days in pictures - stunning! https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-57233756 Meteor Shower Guide 2021 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/ For RBA articles: https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/RealData/Articles.asp 26/5 Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, 2 Spoonbills, 3 Short-eared Owls, Black-necked Grebe, Frampton Marsh Spoonbill, Freiston Shore 5 Little Gulls, on Croft Marsh, Golden Oriole fem/1s male flew south, 2 Turtle Doves, Gibraltar Point 27/5 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 3 Spoonbills, 3 Black-necked Grebes, Short-eared Owl, Little Gull, Frampton Marsh 2 Little Gulls at Croft Marsh, Gibraltar Point Purple Heron 1s, Rimac Quail singing, ID from recording, Scopwick Osprey flew NW over Humber, Immingham 28/5 4 Little Gulls at Croft Marsh, Gibraltar Point Black-necked Grebe, Short-eared Owl. 3 Little Gulls, Frampton Marsh Short-eared Owl, Huttoft Bank Pit 29/5 Little Gull on flood by car park, Spoonbill, Cattle Egret on Marsh Farm Grassland from cross track - flew south, Black-necked Grebe, 2 Spoonbills, 2 Little Gulls, Short-eared Owl, Frampton Marsh 3 Little Gulls on Croft Marsh, 2 Spoonbills, Gibraltar Point Quail male singing near Anderby Creek 2 Bee-eaters reported over Chapel St Leonards Turtle Dove, Stone Curlew in outer dunes then flew north, Rimac Osprey reported - flew over Donna Nook Golden Oriole male singing on hilltop, Alkborough Flats 30/5 Cattle Egret reported, 2 Spoonbills, Frampton Marsh 2 Little Gulls on Croft Marsh, Gibraltar Point Glossy Ibis on flash by river bank, 5 Spoonbills, Great White Egret, Alkborough Flats 4 Bee Eaters flew south over Normanby towards Flixborough 31/5 Little Gull, 2 Short-eared Owls, Spoonbill, Frampton Marsh 3 Little Gulls, 4 Spoonbills on Jackson's Marsh, Short-eared Owl, Gibraltar Point Quail male at Tathwell, south on Louth 1/6 Rose-coloured Starling, Holbeach garden Spoonbill, Little Stint, Freiston Shore Spoonbill, Little Stint, Frampton Marsh 3 Spoonbills on Jackson's Marsh, 2 Little Gulls on Croft Marsh, Gibraltar Point possible Squacco Heron flew over Kirkby-on-Bain pits 2 Turtle Doves, Rimac 1/6 Bee Eater flew over observatory, 2 Spoonbills on Jackson's Marsh, Little Gull, Croft Marsh, 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! Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog: http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ Bird Club - latest sightings: https://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk/site/index.php/sightings/latest-news Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch - latest sightings: https://butterfly-conservation.org/in-your-area/lincolnshire-branch/lincolnshire-latest-sightings BTO tracked cuckoos: https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/cuckoo-tracking-project ROAD KILLS? PLEASE LET US KNOW. Every drive is a transect! Hedgehogs? Badgers? Otters? Reports welcome. Chris Manning adds: 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.] *** 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 A Parsons 19/5/2021 am Possible Walnut Orb Weaver Spider - Nuctenea umbratica I'm pleased to report that Imogen Wilde has now confirmed this from a photograph. "Yes, this looks like Nuctenea umbratica or The Walnut Orb Weaver, a female. They are flattened dorso-ventrally because they often live behind bark or slats in fencing. " http://srs.britishspiders.org.uk/portal.php/p/Summary/s/Nuctenea+umbratica BARDNEY - The Green TF120694 R & A Parsons 27/5/2021 Egyptian Geese on roof of St Lawrence's Church, Bardney. I spotted a pair of these on the tower and roof on the church. 06.20hrs. Last time they visited [23/3 ] they did not stay for long. Photo taken. 28/5/2021 Hedgehog adult caught on trailcam 01.50hrs 29/5/2021 Hedgehog on trailcam at 02.22 and at 03.14. 4 Brown Hares to south of Bardney in beet field approx TF123689 Holly blue seen on 12 occasions. Brimstone. 30/5 2 adult hedgehogs on camera at 00.22hrs approx. 7am - robin activity in garden now indicates they are feeding a brood. 31/5 Adult hedgehog on camera 01.30hrs. I think we know the routine now! BARDNEY Back Lane TF115692 Steve Green 30/5/21 9.30pm 2 Roe Deer male and female in field behind gardens BOSTON (TF326426) May 2021 Kathleen Pearson I was able to do the BTO Garden BirdWatch on all 31 days in May. It was a very poor month with only 17 species occurring. These were also in very small numbers with only 8 Starlings being the biggest group seen. No gulls were present in May and quite unusually no Magpies were seen. I wonder if they have been forced out of the garden by the frequent presence of two Carrion Crows. Not in the count but a Buzzard and a Hobby were seen flying over the garden. Birds recorded:- Woodpigeon 4, Blackbird 4, House Sparrow 4, Dunnock 3, Blue Tit 2, Robin 2, Wren 1, Greenfinch 2, Goldfinch 4, Great Tit 1, Carrion Crow 2, Collared Dove 2, Starling 8, Chaffinch 2, Blackcap 1, Sparrowhawk 1 and Song Thrush 1. Butterflies:- Speckled Wood, Peacock, Small White, Large White, Holly Blue, Orange-tip, Brimstone. A Long-tailed Field Mouse was also recorded. FAR INGS Angela Buckle 31st May 2021. Flowers: Button weed, Lesser sea spurrey, Sea milkwort, Sea arrowgrass, Woody nightshade, Dog rose, Madder, Foxgloves, Silverweed, Southern marsh orchids, Celery leafed buttercup, Pellitory of the wall. HORKSTOW SE Jenny Haynes 26 May 2021 Bats flying tonight around my house. One flew right up to the window! NOCTON area Jerry Gunner Sumer is i-cumin in… Spring is officially over and according to the old song the cuckoo changes his tune in June. Well he hadn’t changed it by seven o’clock this morning Tuesday June the first. Walking along the Car Dyke by Potterhanworth woods I heard a cuckoo out in the murk towards Bardney. I noticed the call getting louder and louder and then it, a male, flew within 50 yards of me and landed in the top of an oak tree. A minute or so later I realised I could hear another one coming from the same direction and soon two more cuckoos, flying close together, went into the woods about 150 yards from me. I imagine one of the three was a female looking to lay eggs in the many warbler nests on the fen but I know very little about cuckoo habits and I didn’t have a good view of the second pair’s colouration. The morning was eventful in other ways too and the sight of yellow water irises growing in the Car Dyke, in bright sunshine before the morning mist returned was wonderful. Two muntjac galloping towards me on the main street in Potterhanworth was an unusual sight! At home at least two jackdaw families have young in the chimney pots and a pair of stock doves have started hanging around the bird feeders and even perching on top of it to give excellent views of the magnificent luminescent plumage. Less welcome but no less beautiful were one adult and two or three juvenile magpies that made the garden their home on several mornings during the last week. It was fascinating to watch one of the juveniles hammering away at a dropped bird feeder and actually denting the wire. The clucking of the magpies was very noticeable at first light, which I could have done without! The buzzards continue to be mobbed by jackdaws and two brown hares were in the field next to the house on Thursday. Two male green finches on sunflower heads were a first for months. SPALDING Mick Todd 26/05/21 While standing in the yard at work, I could hear a cuckoo calling, it was obviously close by and I finally spotted a pair flying overhead towards the cemetery. A work colleague, who was driving tractor on our trial grounds next to the A16 Spalding by-pass, observed a hobby flying low to the ground over the field he was working in. STAINFIELD WOOD TF115720 Steve Green 31/5/21 9pm 2 Roe Deer fawns trying to cross road from wood to mother in field opposite TWYFORD WOOD SK953224 Jane Ostler 29/6/21 On the first summery day of the year, with sunshine and temperature 22C, headed for the Butterfly Reserve Area. Butterflies. A few Grizzled Skippers and rather more Dingy Skippers were still about after a late emergence this year. Green Hairstreak picked out as it swayed on long grass, the light catching its green underwings. The first Holly Blue of the season was flying high in the Hawthorn and Common Blues were low on the ground amongst the lime- stone plants. A Green-veined White was picked out by its underwing veins fromseveral Orange Tips which have been flying on the better days for several weeks. A Brimstone looked as if it was newly emerged and so from eggs laid this year. Plants in flower in the woodland included Greater Stitchwort, Bugle, Water Avens, Hawthorn, Mouse-ear Hawkweed, Guelder, White Comfrey and Wood Forget me Not. Wild Strawberry and Bird’s Foot Trefoil were adding colour in the cleared areas. A Spurrey flowering on the edge of a path puzzled me at first as I mistook it for Lesser Sea Spurrey (Spergularia marina) which is found locally on roadsides surviving in the salt on the roads. Closer inspection however found that it was Sand Spurrey (Spergularia rubra) which is not salt dependant.. WATER RAIL WAY CYCLE PATH BETWEEN FIVE MILE AND WASHINGBOROUGH TF040713 John Nickson 29th May 2021 - 11:50 Cuckoo seen and heard. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 26th May – 1st June 2021 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett, Ruth Taylor and Owen Beaumont. Daily news and wildlife sightings: Note: Total rainfall recorded at Sea View was 97.2mm (3.83 inches) which was the second wettest May since 1993 when NNR records became available. The wettest May was in 2000 with 107mm. 260521 – A female siskin at bird feeder, Sea View. 270521 - 2 whimbrel on the saltmarsh. Mallard with young on Paradise lagoon and interesting to note on a nearby fence a great spotted woodpecker was working its way along the fence posts collecting food before flying off into an adjacent wood. Family party of long-tailed tits at Sea View. On the saltmarsh during the evening high tide were: 2 whimbrel, 13 curlew, 8 redshank, 1 great white egret, 14 little egret, 9 mallard, 17 shelduck and hunting over were: sparrowhawk, hobby and marsh harrier. 280521 - Along a 1200m stretch of Mar Dike, bordering Elm House farm, 7 reed warblers, 1 sedge warbler and 2 reed bunting plus a water vole was heard to plop into the water. A pair of lapwing mobbed a male marsh harrier as it flew over the adjacent grassland. 2 great white egrets on the freshwater marsh at Rimac and 5 whimbrel on the saltmarsh. Small elephant hawkmoths on the wing. 290521 - Mid-morning a stone curlew flew from the edge of the saltmarsh, landed briefly a short distance away on the edge of the outer dune from Rimac before flying off in a northerly direction and was lost out of sight as it flew over Saltfleet. 2 sandwich terns with herring gulls near Saltfleet Haven. 310521 - Great white egret with 3 little egrets on the saltmarsh, 2 short-eared owls hunting over the area and a hobby over Rimac. Between Sea View and Churchill Lane were a grey heron, Cetti's warbler and 4 cuckoos. Also: 5 wall brown, 6 small heath, brown Argus and 2 common blue. 010621 - Single brimstone and cinnabar moth on the wing at Sea View. Hunting over the saltmarsh during late evening were: marsh harrier, kestrel, short-eared owl and nearby over Rimac; hobby and sparrowhawk. Sea thrift is now in flower on the saltmarsh. Flowers now include: southern marsh orchid, yellow flag iris, elderflower, forget-me-not, field mouse ear. Odonata in increasing numbers: azure blue, blue tailed and large red damselflies, four spotted chaser dragonfly. Butterflies include: green hairstreak, brimstone, wall, small and green veined whites, speckled wood, small heath, peacock, brown argus, common blue and orange tip. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 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/ Find a Wood - Woodland Trust: https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/find-woods/ 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 Find a Wood - Woodland Trust: 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. 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 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 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 - 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 Force Dog Training Establishment Lincolnshire Showground. Grange-De-Lings. Lincoln nicholas.willey@lincs.pnn.police.uk OFFICE: 01522-731897 MOBILE: 07768-501895 PAGER: 07654-330877 Related Webpages: Lincolnshire Police Advice on Hare Coursing https://www.lincs.police.uk/reporting-advice/wildlife-and-rural-crime/hare-coursing/ Rural Crime News https://www.lincs.police.uk/reporting-advice/wildlife-and-rural-crime/ SPECIES IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. Some identification links: The NHBS Guide to UK Wild Flower Identification https://www.nhbs.com/blog/uk-wild-flower-identification BSBI: Plant ID: getting started https://bsbi.org/plant-id-getting-started LWT Life on the Verge Wildflower Guide https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/sites/default/files/2018-03/North_Lincs_wildflower_id_guide_nle.pdf 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/ 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 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 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 Lincolnshire Environmental Awards are to be relaunched this year with substantial prizes! Groups that want to enter will have to submit their entries by 31st July 2021. The finals will be a much simpler affair at Whisby Nature Park on the afternoon of Saturday 25th September. For further information see: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/lincs-environmental-awards *** 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 *** 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. 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: "Several workshops to be held at Whisby Nature Park are being prepared for the Autumn (September to November). They will be on a variety of subjects. Further details will be announced in due course on the LNU website and on future LNU Emails." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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... Donkeys to help re-establish rare wild flower in Devon https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/may/31/donkeys-to-help-re-establish-rare-wild-flower-in-devon Garden bird feeders are boosting blue tit numbers – but leaving other species hungry https://theconversation.com/garden-bird-feeders-are-boosting-blue-tit-numbers-but-leaving-other-species-hungry-161568 Scottish blue tits mostly survive on food from garden bird feeders https://www.newscientist.com/article/2278510-scottish-blue-tits-mostly-survive-on-food-from-garden-bird-feeders/ Galápagos tortoise found alive is from species thought extinct https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-57253471 How much Nature is left in Scotland? https://community.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/b/scotland/posts/stark-warning-for-newly-elected-msps We tracked male honeybees for two years to find out where they look for sex https://theconversation.com/we-tracked-male-honeybees-for-two-years-to-find-out-where-they-look-for-sex-161520 Mud cylinders reveal humans' impact on Earth began earlier than we thought https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-57273664 Hair waste from salons recycled to mop up oil spills on sea shores https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/may/29/hair-waste-from-salons-recycled-to-mop-up-oil-spills ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/