============================================ || || 17th March 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... *** Heads up - I am planning to have a "occasional weed" of the Bulletin mailing list to unsubscribe anyone no longer reading their Bulletins. Regular readers ought to be safe! If anything goes awry, please let me know. It's interesting looking back on the Bulletins of the year past to see how experience and understanding of Covid-19 has developed. The Bulletin of 11th March 2020 said: "A note on Covid-19 has been added to "STAYING SAFE" section. If at some point you should decide to cancel a Wildlife event you are welcome to ask me to include a cancellation note in the Bulletin.... "...As the Covid-19 situation becomes clear we will use the Bulletin, the LNU website and Twitter to let you know of any changes/cancellations to proposed activities. Any changes will reflect the current NHS advice." Bulletins from then on contain updates on changes and cancellations and the eventual emergence of on-line talks and meetings. Not a year any of us will forget in a hurry! Precautions, postponements and cancellations really started on 18th March 2020: http://rogerparsons.info/bulletin2020mar18.txt To review our Covid year you can visit: http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html Weather Forecast: 21 - 30 March "There is a continued risk of frosts and localised fog patches on clear nights. However, unsettled conditions will gradually move in from the northwest through this period. " https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ Please send in your wildlife reports via the Bulletin or to the appropriate LNU recorder[s] if you prefer: " If it's worth seeing it's worth reporting!" 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..." Lincolnshire councils consider onshore wind to cut emissions https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-56335232 Curlew: Urgent work needed to save 'loved' endangered bird https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-56370427 Hundreds of sewage leaks detected thanks to AI https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-56351501 Public to help scientists ID Yorkshire bottlenose dolphins https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-56375604 Climate change: 'Forever plant' seagrass faces uncertain future https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-56378397 Exclusive Family Sleepovers - The Deep https://www.thedeep.co.uk/deep-experiences/exclusive-family-sleepovers Nottingham Trent University peregrine falcon nest marks 20th anniversary https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-nottinghamshire-56347070 Cat missing for 20 years spent final years with owner. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-56372714 NHBS Backlist Bargains sale https://www.nhbs.com/ The Life Scientific - all available episodes https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b015sqc7 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. Thank you for all the contributions. Please keep your reports coming. 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 "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: 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 *** Covid-19: Lincolnshire Show cancelled for second year *** "One of the UK's best known agricultural shows has been cancelled due to coronavirus concerns for the second year. Lincolnshire Show organisers said uncertainty over restrictions for large events and the timetable for easing lockdown meant they could not go ahead. The event, which attracts 60,000 visitors, was due to take place on June 23 and 24." https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-56340942 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. *** Love Lincs Plants "Great Lives" Lectures to sign up for... *** Aidan Neary writes: Thanks to Sue Fysh for coordinating a great series of Great Lives talks over the coming months that highlight the importance of plants in our lives. Weds 17th March. 7-8.30pm. Our first of 2021 will be delivered by Ian Jackson, Senior Lecturer in Phrarmacology & Therapeutics at @UniLincoln, to give an online talk on Herbal Medicine. To sign up: https://twitter.com/LoveLincsPlants/status/1368958597653291011 *** Bourne Barn Owls are Back online*** Bob Sheppard is hoping for a better year for the barn owls in the Len Pick tower at Bourne. Last year was the worst ever recorded in Lincolnshire for this species! The combination of flooding, followed by drought, decimated the voles, so most owls failed at the young chick stage. Many adults didn't even attempt to lay at all. Things look much better this year with farmers reporting high vole numbers. This usually results in a good breeding year for owls, kestrels, foxes, badgers, etc. The camera is now live 24/7. https://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project/4593449091 *** Bat records please *** Annette Faulkner writes: In another week or two bats will start properly emerging from hibernation. For the first few weeks after they emerge from hibernation in mid to late March bats dip in and out of torpor, depending on the weather and the food supply. We always get a few calls over March and April of underweight bats that have only just made it through the winter, and if predators haven’t got there first we feed them up, get them going again, wait for a decent night and release them. So do keep your eyes open. 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. *** Bird Flu Watch *** 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 *** Bumblebee sightings, please *** David Sheppard writes: With the increase in temperature, insects will become active and Bumblebees will be some of the most noticeable. Bumblebee queens have been in hibernation since last autumn and will soon be buzzing about seeking nectar to build up their energy reserves, quartering the ground looking for nesting sites and then seeking pollen to feed their first brood. Records of Bumblebees will be very welcome. Whilst it is often not possible to see any colour pattern on the buzzing silhouette, if you can get close enough to make a positive identification that would be great. The earliest Bumblebees are likely to be: Bombus lucorum (yellow & black banded with a white tail) Bombus terrestris (yellow & black banded with a buffish tail) Bombus pratorum (yellow & black banded with an orange tail - and usually conspicuously smaller than the others) Bombus lapidarius (black with a red tail) Bombus hypnorum (brown and black with a white tail) could be about as well. If you do manage to get close enough to see the colour pattern, have a look for any pollen on the back legs. The pollen is likely to be yellow and is easy to spot. If the bee is collecting pollen, she must have established a nest and is gathering pollen to feed her young. Please send your records to David Sheppard at d.a.sheppard@btinternet.com *** Peregrine Webcams *** Bob Sheppard has recommended a couple of Lincolnshire peregrine webcams. They are at St Wulfram's Church, Grantham and St James' Church, Louth. Throughout the breeding season these cameras can be accessed 24/7. Hopefully we shall have eggs around the end of this month. Already we have seen encouraging signs the birds are getting ready. There is a picture link to both sites on the LBC home page. https://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk/site/ *** 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/ *** 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 *** 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/ *** 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. *** 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/ *** March 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.] Scientists unlock mysteries of world's oldest 'computer' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-56377567 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/ The site has interesting articles. See: https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/RealData/Articles.asp Identifying Geese? Good WWT page. https://www.wwt.org.uk/discover-wetlands/wetland-wildlife/uk-geese/ 10/3 2 Russian White-fronted Geese, both ads, Baston+Langtoft GPs Cattle Egret at Custom Road/Hards Lane junction at industrial estate, Frognall Gannet ad flew over Sturton by Stow 11/3 Cattle Egret at Custom Road/Hards Lane junction at industrial estate, Frognall 17 Russian White-fronted Geese, Frampton Marsh 30 Russian White-fronted Geese at Croft Marsh, Caspian gull 1w, Gibraltar Point Water Pipit, Anderby Marsh Mealy Redpoll with 80 Lesser Redpolls, Doddington Park 12/3 Cattle Egret at Custom Road/Hards Lane junction at industrial estate, Frognall Wheatear, on saltmarsh, 17 Russian White-fronted Geese, Frampton Marsh Sand Martin, Woodhall Spa Airfield 24+ Russian White-fronted Geese, Fiskerton Fen 13/3 2 Russian White-fronted Geese, both ads, with Greylag Geese, in field on east side, Baston+Langtoft GPs 14/3 Cattle Egret at Custom Road/Hards Lane junction at industrial estate, Frognall 11+ Russian White-fronted Geese, Frampton Marsh Black-necked Grebe, Cut End, river Witham mouth. SE of Boston 2 Russian White-fronted Geese, both ads, with Greylag Geese in field on east side, Baston+Langtoft GPs Rock Pipit, Marston sewage works, then flew north 2 Scaup, 1 drk, Alkborough Flats 15/3 30 Russian White-fronted Geese on Tennyson's Sands, Short-eared Owl, 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, Gibraltar Point 16 Russian White-fronted Geese, Wheatear, Frampton Marsh 16/3 2 Russian White-fronted Geese, both ads, in beet field on east side, Baston+Langtoft GPs 30 Russian White-fronted Geese, Frampton Marsh 2 White Wagtails, Sand Martin, Toft Newton reservoir 17/3 Cattle Egret in paddock opposite Pearce's Farm, Stowgate, west of Crowland ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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! Roger died on the 6th March 2009. https://funeral-notices.co.uk/notice/Roger+Goy/1980090 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 11/3/2021 Raven "worrying" a Buzzard overhead at 17.10hrs. Carrion Crow with slipped oar 10 Jackdaws 20+ Starlings 12+ Black-headed gulls 2m 1f Blackbirds 2 Robins 2 Blue Tits 12+ House sparrows 1 Dunnock Woodpigeon 4 Collared Dove 4 Grey Squirrel on bird fat. BARDNEY - The Green TF120694 14/3/2021 A Parsons Hairy-footed Flower Bee - (Anthophora plumipes) male. Dead in washing-up bowl. These sometimes find their way into our kitchen this time of year. CARLTON LE MOORLAND Jeremy Hutchinson Carlton le Moorland SK909581 4/3/2021 At about 10.00 a Fox ran at speed out of an allotment entrance only 15m or so in front of me around a garden hedge and into a large field. Despite running after it I could see no trace of it in the field. 7/03/2021 Buzzard flying display, presumably territorial, stooping then shooting upwards and after a short pause repeating the performance, while being watched by (presumably) a female. Another Buzzard drifted over but was quickly shooed off, not particularly aggressively. 11/03/2021 A friend was fishing on the Witham in the Aubourn/Thurlby area when an Otter swam past, the first he's seen during the 50 years or so he has been fishing there. In April 2020 he found the partly-eaten remains of a sizeable Eel which appeared to have been caught by an Otter. 15/03/2021 Blackcap singing near garden, by far the earliest I've ever heard. A very large queen wasp was released from our conservatory. On a general note, Greenfinches have been very few and far between around here for some time, but during the last few weeks I have been seeing them daily, up to four at a time. CLEETHORPES TA 300069 15.03.2021 Peter Crick Buff tail Bumble Bee, large, busily searching long rough grass on river bank. Hawthorn in flower, my first this year Two Bee boxes re-sited in the garden after spending the winter hanging in the garage to keep dry. COLLEGE WOOD R & A Parsons 15/3/2021 2 Buzzards seen in flight, one more heard in area. HOLYWELL LAKE - WeBS Holywell Lake 14th March 2921 Ian Misselbrook Pheasant 2 Canada Geese 27 Greylag Geese 10 Mute Swans 3 Gadwall 16 Wigeon 103 - a site record Mallard 24 Teal 4 Tufted Duck 18 Stock Doves 2 Woodpigeons c 25 Moorhen 18 Coot 3 Little Grebe 5 Black-headed Gulls 53 Grey heron 2 Little Egret 2 Red Kite 1 Buzzard 2 Jackdaw 12+ Rooks c 35 Carrion Crow 4 Blue Tit 2 Great Tit 2 Coal Tit 2 Long-tailed Tit 2 Goldcrest 2 Wren 2 Blackbird 4 Fieldfares c 50 Mistle Thrush 1 Robin 3 Dunnock 2 Pied Wagtail 29 – an extraordinary site record. All appeared to be of the British race. Chaffinch 2 Greenfinch 3 Siskin 2 HUTTOFT Jane Pennington TF511762 (my garden except where advised otherwise) 4/3/2021 Great spotted woodpecker 1 Greenfinch 2 6/3/2021 Bombus terrestris 1 - 11am (Recorder advised) 7/3/2021 Roe deer 4 TF522764 9/3/2021 Bombus terrestris 1 with pollen (Recorder advised) 11/3/2021 Black headed gulls 6 TF522820 (in Broadway car park) KETTLETHORPE Kettlethorpe SK 848 749 Alison Brownlow 14/03/2021 Frog spawn 16/03/2021 Toads gathered in pond, no spawn yet LINWOOD WARREN LWT Reserve TF129875 Richard Fox 06.03.2021 Great Crested newt in pond Muntjac in butterfly meadow NETTLEHAM TF014752 David Smith 16/03/2021 20.00 2 foxes - ? vixen and cub. Cub possibly had injury to hind leg but looked well otherwise. On well-lit street in gardens. WOOLSTHORPE-BY-COLSTERWORTH SK92/94 Jane Ostler March 9th -15th 2021 Plants in Flower. Primroses and Sweet Violets in hedgerows, but no other species of violets noted yet. The first Coltsfoot recorded on 11th March but no Blackthorn seen with open flowers. Lungwort is out on the Roadside Nature Reserve. In the garden Red Deadnettle is in flower and Daisies are out on the lawn. Pussy Willow is showing silver but the catkins are not open yet. Amphibians. Frog spawn first reported from two local ponds, both on 11th March. Birds. On the Roadside Nature Reserve a pair of Bullfinches, a bird not often recorded here. A pair of kite displaying above them. Mammals New molehills in the fields as they moved to higher ground after the rain. A Muntjac photographed in a garden. Hares ‘boxing’ in the fields. Lambs out in the fields from the 8th of March. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 March 2021 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett, Ruth Taylor and Owen Beaumont. Daily news and wildlife sightings: Note - gale force south-westerlies all day on the 11th with a gust of 60.8mph recorded mid-day and very strong, cold north-westerlies on the 16th with a gust of 38.0mph noted. 100321 - 26 little egrets feeding on the saltmarsh. 110321 - Sheltering against the gale force SW were 65 curlew huddled amongst vegetation on the edge of Paradise lagoon. 120321 - On Paradise lagoon: 16 tufted duck, 10 curlew feeding in adjacent field. 140321 - Paradise lagoon: 2 avocets, 2 gadwall, 10 teal, curlew 4, mallard 5, shoveler 2. Saltfleet Haven 173 cormorants, 18 Brent geese, 5 pink-footed geese and 2 European white-fronted geese, 1 peregrine and 24 little egrets on the saltmarsh. A relatively quiet foreshore WeBS count with the highlights being a peregrine sitting on the beach and a largely leucstic dunlin with a small wader flock. A grey heron flew west over the beach. A single small bat flying at dusk around Churchill Lane. 150321 - At Rimac were 4 stonechat and 7 water pipit, the latter gathering near the fresh- water marsh in the evening. On the small section of Sea View washland seen from the dunes were 58 pied wagtails in a pre-roost gathering. A single small bat flying at dusk around Churchill Lane. White violets in flower at Sea View and 16 smooth newts in ponds. 160321 - Two avocets on Rimac lagoon. 170321 – Cetti’s warbler singing and a total of 122 cormorants on foreshore. Other local areas and reserves 150321 – Muckton Wood: nuthatch calling and great spotted woodpecker drumming. Legbourne Wood: nuthatch and female tawny owl calling, great spotted woodpecker drumming, violets in flower in the car park and coltsfoot on the bank along the old railway. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 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 Don't miss Mark Spencer on The Life Scientific - "How plants solve crimes." https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000sz1m Those involved in the planning and development of Love Lincs Plants will remember the important help and advice Mark gave in the initial stages of the project. 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 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/ 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/ *** 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 update *** As the Covid 19 risk remains high the Executive had taken the decision to cancel the first two meetings and (hopefully) postpone the AGM to July/August/September 2021. March 27th AGM - Cancelled Brian Hedley writes: I've put the 'confirmed' (subject to various caveats) field meetings onto the LNU Facebook ...and onto the LNU website." https://www.facebook.com/lincsnaturalists/ https://lnu.org/meetings/ 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 notifed last week - but 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 genuine mail failure I will be happy to send you the error report to pass on to your "Help Desk". Just ask. ....and finally... It's time to figure out how to deal with the face mask waste https://www.zmescience.com/science/its-time-to-figure-out-how-to-deal-with-the-face-mask-waste/ "What is a bird" -- an entire museum captured inside a book https://www.zmescience.com/reviews/books/what-is-a-bird-an-entire-museum-captured-inside-a-book/ Translucent glass frogs use a never before seen novel form of camouflage https://www.zmescience.com/science/glass-frogs-edge-diffusion-camo-0532/ The secret life of fungi: how they use ingenious strategies to forage underground https://theconversation.com/the-secret-life-of-fungi-how-they-use-ingenious-strategies-to-forage-underground-156610 'Dancing lights' reduce pesticide use by 50% https://www.zmescience.com/other/great-pics/it-may-look-like-an-art-show-but-these-dancing-lights-reduce-pesticide-use-by-50/ Daddy longlegs: there is one piece of information every child will know https://www.theguardian.com/environment/commentisfree/2021/mar/09/daddy-longlegs-there-is-one-piece-of-information-every-child-will-know Country diary: male wood pigeon has one thing on his mind https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/03/country-diary-male-wood-pigeon-has-one-thing-on-his-mind Country diary: hare today, and tomorrow https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/08/country-diary-hare-today-and-tomorrow Country diary: a pheasant can take care of itself https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/11/country-diary-a-pheasant-can-take-care-of-itself The fight for the Galápagos: ecologists seek bigger reserve as fishing fleets circle https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/12/galapagos-marine-reserve-plan-ecologists-ecuador-fishing-industry Country diary: the beavers are busy – but elusive https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/12/country-diary-the-beavers-are-busy-but-elusive Sun, sea and perfect crowd-free sands on the Lincolnshire coast https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2021/mar/13/chapel-point-lincolnshire-coast-secret-britain-holidays ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/