=========================================== || || 24th November 2021 || || News of Lincolnshire Wildlife || || LNU Website: || http://lnu.org/ || ============================================ In this issue..... 1. Information, events, news and requests 2. Wildlife Highlights from Rare Bird Alert 3. Wildlife reports from around the county 4. NNRs including RSPB and LWT Reserves/Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe 5. Bardney Limewoods NNR - including Chambers Farm Wood 6. Other Reserve Reports and Highlights 7. Sending in Reports - contributors please read! 8. Contact information 9. Notes about these wildlife reports 10. Bulletin publicity policy 11. Events Diary 12. ...and finally..... don't miss the links... ============================================ Reports here are open and are available to county recorders of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union, the Lincolnshire Bird Club and Lincolnshire Environmental Record Centre [LERC]. Text versions of past Wildnews Bulletins from Feb 2009 http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union or any associated organisations. Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. ============================================ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. Information, events, news and requests ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Editor writes: I hope you did not find my brief reminder about the LNU meeting last Saturday too disorientating! Thanks to all who attended or watched on Zoom. A fascinating talk by Tim Sparks of the UK Phenology Network on how our seasons are changing. We had decided to go ahead with the meeting as that would be what Richard Chadd would have wanted us to do. LNU members will soon be receiving "Transactions" including a substantial paper by Richard on Invasive Species. I am still reflecting on the moving live-streamed funeral service for Richard on Tuesday 23th. I noted some 80 people watched it on-line. Thinking of changing seasons, it seems we are in for a "touch of winter" and this means the possibility of the arrival of winter migrants like the winter thrushes, bramblings or waxwings. Your reports will be welcome. Nice page by Andy Neilson. https://www.lrwt.org.uk/blog/andy-neilson/winter-birds-uk If you have a local starling roost site now's the time to visit it, but be there by 3.30pm when they usually start arriving. We saw a great one last week. https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/starling-murmurations Here is this week's selection of links to Lincolnshire and other wildlife-related news stories, mostly local. I hope you find something of interest. Please click. The success of Hedgehog Street https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/the-success-of-hedgehog-street/ Rutland's annual Birdfair announces permanent cancellation https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-59393474 Roxby: Winterton residents call for more action on tip smells https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-59348519 Humber bridge plans to remove toll booths https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-59389637 'Meaningful action' needed as rising sea levels destroying region's homes - E Yorks https://www.itv.com/news/calendar/2021-10-29/meaningful-action-needed-as-rising-sea-levels-destroying-regions-homes Northumberland harvest mice release hailed as a success - NWT https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-59385038 Gift of the fungi: Mushrooms - yes, mushrooms - could help save the world https://www.britmycolsoc.org.uk/education/news/gift-fungi-mushrooms-yes-mushrooms-could-help-save-world Mushrooms as medicine: fungi’s powerful healing potential https://www.growwilduk.com/blog/mushrooms-medicine-fungis-powerful-healing-potential Gamebird Releasing and Management in the UK - GWCT pdf report: https://www.gwct.org.uk/media/1251254/Gamebird-Releasing-Report-2021.pdf Solving the mysteries of the countryside, from hair ice to cramp balls https://www.countrylife.co.uk/nature/solving-the-mysteries-of-the-countryside-from-hair-ice-and-cramp-balls-to-pillow-mounds-and-the-sheepwash-with-a-16ft-drop-234858 Bird flu: HN51 outbreak in North Yorkshire confirmed - Thirsk https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-59375069 Avian flu: Two birds found dead at Chasewater Country Park https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-59358625 Second bird flu outbreak discovered in Essex https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-59365535 More links in "..and finally ..." Weather Forecast https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ Yellow warning of wind affecting East Midlands https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings# Sunday 7 - 21 Dec "Spells of rain and possibly strong winds are likely across the north, these inter- spersed with showers and periods of more settled weather. Temperatures will be varied overall with longer mild spells being punctuated by shorter colder spells, with some wintry weather also possible with a risk of snow and ice in the north. " Bear in mind Covid guidelines could change. Please continue to stay informed on any changes in information and advice on Co-19 and 'flu and adapt precautions accordingly at meetings and in groups on reserves or in the field. See: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/coronavirus Next LNU [Indoor] Meetings: 'The new Birds of Lincolnshire: trials and tribulations in data recording.' LNU/Lincolnshire Bird Club talk by Phil Espin. Saturday January 29th 2022 Education Centre, Whisby Nature Park Free to attend. All welcome. There is a £2 parking charge. More information, including whether an indoor meeting is available on Zoom: https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/ Recording with "irecord" More and more people are using irecord, which is recommended by the LNU as the most appropriate platform for on-line recording, with the best validation and feedback. It's the way we are going for many Taxa. Please look at the website and while you are there why not create an account so you are set up and ready to try? https://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/ Reminder: If you are not yet an LNU member and would like to become one, you will be very welcome to join and support the effort. The webpage to visit is: https://lnu.org/join-the-lnu/ Please keep using the "forward to a friend" link at the end of the Bulletin. It's best to avoid forwarding your individual Bulletin to others. Use that secure link or you can simply direct people to this link: https://lnu.org/publications/wildnews-bulletin/ A big thank you to all the regulars who send in news, events info and species reports. Please keep them coming. Roger old.museum@yahoo.co.uk - note - this is my best address for emails please. *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** November Night Sky! Paul Money's 'Monthly Night Sky' webpage will be found on: http://www.astrospace.co.uk/Astrospace/monthly-sky/monthlynightsky.html Meteor Shower Guide 2021 https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/meteor-shower-guide *** Useful Hedgehog Links *** https://hedgehogcare.org.uk/ https://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/found-a-hedgehog/ https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/ *** Reminder: Bat rescue instructions *** Annette Faulkner writes... If you find a grounded bat please don’t try and release it. Put it in an escape proof box - remember, a pipistrelle can get out of a hole the size of your thumb nail - wearing gloves or using a cloth to pick it up with, and phone us on 01775 766286. We’ll do the rest. *** STAYING SAFE *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. Please stay aware of updated Covid-19 advice and adapt personal precautions accordingly as understanding and measures "evolve" and perhaps change. See: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus Road works and hold-ups https://roadworks.org/ Met Office Severe Warnings https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings Met Office Severe Weather E-mail Service - worth signing up for this. http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/guide-to-emails EasyTide http://easytide.ukho.gov.uk/EasyTide/EasyTide/index.aspx Environment Agency Flood Warnings - Lincolnshire https://flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/warnings?location=lincolnshire Environment Agency Flood Information/Floodline - sign up if a high risk area. http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/default.aspx ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 17/11 Kittiwake 1 flew west over Long Bennington 2 Ruddy Shelducks on inland on 1st pit of Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James Hen Harrier male, 7 Little Gulls, 8 Snow Buntings, Short-eared Owl, Gibraltar Point 5 Snow Buntings, Velvet Scoter, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Scaup fem, Bittern, Whisby NP 18/11 Short-eared Owl, 2 Hen Harriers 1 male, Jack Snipe, Spotted Redshank, Cattle Egret in sheep field, 3 Snow Buntings over, Frampton Marsh Cattle Egret, Freiston Shore Black-throated Diver on sea, 64 Little Gulls flew south, Hen Harrier male, Gibraltar Point 2 Hen Harriers, ad male and ringtail, over saltmarsh, Rimac 19/11 Water Pipit, Baston Fen Scaup fem on eastern pit, Tallington Lakes 2 Hen Harriers, 1 male, 15 Twite, 52 Snow Buntings on beach south of Crook Bank, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe 3 Short-eared Owls, Lapland Bunting flew over East Dunes, Gibraltar Point Bittern on Grebe Lake, Whisby NP 20/11 Little Stint, Short-eared Owl, Great Northern Diver at River Witham mouth, Frampton Marsh Black Redstart at visitor centre, Slavonian Grebe on sea, Gibraltar Point 7+ Snow Buntings on outer beach, Cleethorpes Coast Purple Sandpiper on Humber shore, Far Ings 21/11 Scaup fem on pit by Barholm Road, Tallington Lakes Ruddy Shelduck, East Pit, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James Short-eared Owl, Hen Harrier, Frampton Marsh Little Auk flew north then landed on sea, 6 Pomarine Skuas flew past, 5 Little Gulls, Caspian Gull, Short-eared Owl, Gibraltar Point Glaucous Gull on beach by outfall, 2 Sooty Shearwaters, 2 Long-tailed Ducks on sea, Mablethorpe Pomarine Skua south past Sutton-on-Sea 10 Pomarine Skuas, 2 Great Northern Divers, Black-throated Diver, Red- necked Grebe, Manx Shearwater, Long-tailed Duck, Puffin, Purple Sandpiper, Chapel Point 2 Pomarine Skuas flew past Huttoft Car Terrace Lapland Bunting on beach, 21 Snow Buntings, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Purple sandpiper on Humber shore, Far Ings 22/11 Little Auk flew south past, Great Northern Diver on sea, Mablethorpe Red-necked Grebe at River Witham mouth, Hen Hariers male, Frampton Marsh Leach's Petrel flew north past, 3 Little Auks, Red-necked Grebe, 2 Little Gulls, 2 Velvet Scoters, 3 Great Northern Divers, Snow Bunting, Long-eared Owl at East Dunes, Long-tailed Duck flew past, Hen Harrier, Gibraltar Point Snow Bunting flew north, 2 Great Northern Divers, Long-tailed Dick, Huttoft Car Terrace 3 Whooper Swans, Huttoft Pit 2 Little Auks, 2 Long-tailed Ducks flew north, Great Northern Diver, Sutton-on-Sea 23/11 Cattle Egret at Deeping High Bank north of Gull Farm, Deeping St Nicholas Hen Harrier on saltmarsh, Short-eared Owl, Frampton Marsh 2 Short-eared Owls, Gibraltar Point Black Redshart fem/1w male near Scopwick Hen Harrier male over Alderfen, Wroot 24/11 Water Pipit on Low Wash pools, Baston Fen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3. Wildlife news from around the county ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** The Roger Goy Column *** Remembering Roger Goy's wildlife information work and drop-in sessions at the Queen in the West pub! *** Links "not to be missed" *** Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog: excellent photos and information. http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ Lincs Bird Club - latest sightings: superb website https://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk/site/index.php/sightings/latest-news Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch - check the latest sightings: https://butterfly-conservation.org/in-your-area/lincolnshire-branch/lincolnshire-latest-sightings BTO tracked cuckoos: latest updates. https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/cuckoo-tracking-project ROAD KILLS? PLEASE LET US KNOW. Every drive is a transect! Hedgehogs? Badgers? Otters? Reports welcome. BARDNEY village, near the centre Grid ref TF 118 695 Mary Porter 21st November 2021 Large hedgehog road kill. It wasn’t there on 20th so it must have been active that night. *** Find the Grid Reference - don't forget - it's important *** Grab a Grid Reference: https://www.bnhs.co.uk/focuson/grabagridref/html/index.htm UK Grid Reference Finder: http://www.gridreferencefinder.com/ *** County Wildlife Reports From Readers *** Thanks to our regular contributors across the county. Much appreciated. We rely on readers to send in their observations and we welcome records from everyone, experts or beginners. Please keep your reports coming. BARDNEY - The Green R+A Parsons TF120694 18/11 Our feral chimney honeybees were flying and 4 ? White/Buff-tailed bumblebee queens were working Mahonia flowers on Church Road. Too distant to ID. BARDNEY GARDEN Grid ref TF 117 701 Mary and Phil Porter 17th November 2021 Small tortoiseshell butterfly on yellow buddleia flower. It then fluttered down onto autumn leaves on the ground in the sunshine, where it seemed to be vibrating or shivering. I had to look that one up. Butterflies do indeed shiver in order to try and warm up their muscles. Two harlequin ladybirds. One on a window frame, completely wrapped up in a spiders web, the other trundling along the same area oblivious to possible danger. These are the first harlequins we have seen all year, with most sightings being 7 spots. I seemed to have been plagued by wasps, I assume common wasps, while gardening. I was near some last-remaining ivy flowers which I’m sure they were using. At one point a deep buzz behind me suddenly stopped and I ran into the house waving my arms around in a very undignified manner (I had a wasp trapped down my back last summer and it stung me 7 times before I managed to get it out). I flung off my jacket and a very large queen wasp wobbled off it, closely followed by a smaller wasp. I managed to get them both safely out the house in a more calm fashion! BOSTON 22/11/2021 Roy Pearson A single Grey Wagtail at the Forty Foot outfall into the River Witham. First I’ve seen here for several years. CAMSHAW'S WOOD R + A Parsons 19/11/2021 Fungi: Flush of Wood Blewits and Clouded Agarics: also Amethyst Deceivers and Stalked Puffballs. HORKSTOW SE987179 21 November 2021 Jenny Haynes Two returnees spotted in my garden today: a pied wagtail and a female goldcrest. We’ve also had an influx of goldfinches, meaning the feeders are going down quicker than of late. Other birds include: chaffinch, wren, greenfinch (although there are fewer of these than in past years), blackbird, dunnock, blue tit and great tit, both of the latter in smaller numbers than previously. Mustn’t forget the wood pigeons and pheasants! HUTTOFT Jane Pennington TF511762 (my garden) 18/11/2021 Magpie 1 Pheasant 1 21/11/2021 Wren 1 23/11/2021 Chaffinch 1 Dunnock 1 Great tits 4 SOUTHREY WOOD Grid ref TF 132 682 Mary Porter 18th November 2021 Several common darter dragonflies flying low over the main ride in the sunshine. A jay calling. With no acorns this year, it may have been after beech mast? It was in an area with beech trees. When I got back to the car, it had at least 10 harlequin ladybirds, all in different “colourways” wandering across it’s surface. I had recently been parked at the Wildlife Trust’s headquarters in Horncastle, where I know they often have many. Had they hitched a ride from there or fallen out of trees in the wood? I brushed those off that I could see, but when I got home to Bardney, it seems I had trans- ported some back to our garden. So, they can certainly hang on to a car surface at around 30 mph! WOOLSTHORPE-BY-COLSTERWORTH SK923247 Week beginning 15th November 2021 Jane Ostler Garden Eriophyes pyri - Pear Leaf Blister mite. Gall on fallen leaves of one of pear trees Eriophyes erineus - Walnut Blister mite. Tree less heavily galled than last year After first hard frost hundreds of winter gnats on sunny morning dancing above the lawn. Buff tailed and Carder Bees still out in sunshine on morning of 22/11/21 Brief appearance of Red Admiral on Aster was on 14th November,2021 A mature female frog found between plant pot and wall A single siskin, but still no finches at bird feeders Great Spotted woodpecker has been on nut feeder A Jay was a surprise visitor to the bird table. Out of its woodland habitat , and with its brilliant blue feathers at the top of the wing, a crest blown up in the wind, it seemed very exotic. A pile of cherry stones under the tree were all neatly holed at one end, probably by Blue Tits On several nights a Tawny Owl calling, but with no reply Three young Hedgehogs at neighbours still about and will need care if they are to put o n enough weight to survive hibernation. In tall grass under the apple trees a single Egg Yellow Fungus (Bolbitius vitillinus), looking as its name suggests like an egg yolk ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jane Pennington writes: Donna Nook was lovely but cold - even just a bit further north than Huttoft! It was also pretty busy for mid-week as there was a coach trip so we didn't get to the end of the viewing area! I suppose I saw 75 or so according my photos (out of abut 400, I think) but I didn't count them while I was there! 17/11/2021 TF420999 Donna Nook Grey seals - very many. Weekly seal update from Donna Nook Bulls 365, cows 1,219 and pups 968. Following the closure last year, Donna Nook has been incredibly busy. We’ve therefore updated our FAQs in preparation for a very busy weekend. If you’re thinking about visiting, please consider if you could visit during the week or even wait until next year. https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook/weekly-update Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR Report 17th – 23rd November 2021 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett, Ruth Taylor and Owen Beaumont. Daily news and wildlife sightings: Note: This week saw the daytime temperatures fall from mid-teens reaching 16.0 degrees C on the 19th to 9.25 degrees C on the 21st. 151121 - A count of 234 curlews roosting on Theddlethorpe foreshore 171121 - A fine male hen harrier hunting over the saltmarsh, plus short-eared owl and at least 4 marsh harriers. 1 small tortoiseshell and 1 peacock butterfly in Churchill Lane area today during a sunny spell hitting 12.0 degrees C. A tundra bean goose flew south with a small group of pink-footed geese. Woodcock, 2 goldcrest and brambling at Crook Bank with the occasional siskin still migrating south. 191121 - The importance of saltmarsh creeks and gullies must never be underestimated. Raptors use these to fly along in the hope of disturbing an unsuspected prey item. Harriers and short-eared owls tend to fly several metres above them, quartering the ground back and forth. Kestrels hover high above and merlin fly fast, determined, low to the ground. This afternoon a male sparrowhawk flew fast along a main channel, hugging it close as it went, sometimes disappearing as it flew below ground level to appear again further along the channel. One wonders the efforts which these birds of prey go to to catch a prey item over a saltmarsh. 10 whooper swans on the sea, 12 yellowhammer and a short-eared owl in the dunes at Crook Bank. 52 snow bunting reported on the foreshore. 211121 - 3 Lapland bunting and 51 snow bunting reported on the foreshore. First winter glaucous gull on Mablethorpe beach before flying north towards the NNR. 2 sooty shearwater and 2 goosander north, 90 kittiwake south and at least 2 long-tailed duck with scoter raft on the sea. 221121 - An immature goldeneye was present with 11 tufted ducks on Paradise lagoon plus 16 mallard, 14 shoveler, 161 teal and a single little grebe. In the adjacent pasture field 11 curlew were feeding. Female merlin and 5 marsh harriers over saltmarsh and 5 whooper swans on Rimac lagoon late afternoon. A long-tailed duck with common scoter at the south end of NNR where a manx shearwater flew north. 5 whooper swans to roost on Rimac lagoon. 1200 pink footed goose flew over in the evening and at least 25 magpies roosted in the outer dune scrub. 2 Cetti's warbler and a barn owl at Rimac. 231121 - Immature goldeneye present on Paradise lagoon and 12 shoveler, 12 tufted ducks, little grebe, 3 common snipe and a black-tailed godwit plus teal and mallard. At Churchill Lane there are still some insects active with common darter dragonflies, small tortoiseshell butterfly, buff tailed bumblebee and various flies on the wing. A goldeneye flew north over the sea. 60 snow bunting flew over Crook Bank. 300 mixed small waders roosting on the beach. Birds seen in recent days on the NNR include: 52 snow buntings, 3 Cetti's warblers, 142 sanderling, 280 dunlin, 2 short eared, 2 barn owls, 1 peregrine, 2 stonechats, 5 woodcocks and 3 water rails heard. Donna Nook 191121 – Weekly seal count: 968 pups, 1219 cows, 365 bulls. Flocks of lapwings, twite and increasing numbers of starlings moving over the salt marsh. Curlew and little egrets seen daily. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. BARDNEY LIMEWOODS NNR These cover a huge area, and records from them and records from volunteer recorders are one of the main inputs to management planning and the protection of rare/scarce and critical species. Reports always welcome. The history of the Lincolnshire Limewoods https://www.forestryjournal.co.uk/features/19111877.lincolnshire-limewoods/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ British Native Trees - Woodland Trust https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/native-trees/ The Forestry Commission advice: https://www.forestryengland.uk/article/coronavirus-visitor-guide LWT Reserves List: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/nature-reserves-list Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch. See: https://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html Lincolnshire Dormouse Group You can get in touch via lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com *** Lincs Dormouse Group update *** Gemma Watkinson writes: The winter work party dates for this winter are below. Sunday 21st November Saturday 18th December Sunday 16th January Saturday 19th February Sunday 20th March We meet at 10am at the wood centre car park, and normally stay until around 3pm with a packed lunch break. All tools are provided, but recommend to bring your own work gloves/ gardening gloves if you have them. Please note that Forestry England have still not opened the toilet facilities at Chambers. We have a lot of winter tasks to catch up on including box repairs and replacements, cutting back a few of the pathways that have become overgrown and coppicing work as part of the management of Ivy Wood. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The NNR includes the following sites: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chambers Farm Woods (comprises Ivy Wood, Little and Great Scrubbs Woods, Minting Wood, Hatton Wood, Hatton Plantation and Minting Park, and also three areas of grassland: Little Scrubbs Meadow (and extension), Small Meadow and Big Meadow. Since all have their own management plans, please give the actual location when reporting). College Wood, Cocklode & Great West Woods, Hardy Gang Wood, Newball Wood, Rand Wood, Scotgrove Wood, Southrey Wood and Wickenby Wood. Many of these include both areas of ancient woodland or important grassland, which are designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and non-designated areas. Since managing the SSSI areas carries particular responsibilities to Natural England, records which provide a six-figure grid reference are of particular value to the Forestry Commission. Other woods included in the NNR but without public access: Stainfield Wood; Stainton & Fulnetby Woods (access by public bridle way only). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. OTHER RESERVE REPORTS AND HIGHLIGHTS. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ South Humber Heritage Trail, Alkborough Flats - LWT leaflet https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/sites/default/files/2018-04/south_humber_heritage_trail_alkborough.pdf ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7. Sending in reports to Roger Parsons ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The purpose of the Bulletin is to encourage biological recording in Lincolnshire. We hope to increase the number of people reporting observations to Recorders and improve the quality and quantity of reports and the geographical coverage. In return for this FREE service, we ask you to provide reports, questions, news or relevant articles from time to time. Descriptive pieces are welcome - you don't have to stick to lists! When sending in reports please follow this layout to save re-editing: Place Name: IN CAPITALS with Grid Reference if you have it. Your Name: Real names please, not aliases. Put it in each time, for each location Date: Species list [Alphabetical?] & numbers [and observations?] e.g. Blackbird - 24 [And please, no home-grown abbreviations. Species Names in full.] Bulletin mailing times vary, depending on what I am doing. The Bulletin usually goes out on Wednesdays/Thursdays in time for the weekend. Please e-mail in contributions as early as possible, to: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8. Contact Information & Useful Websites ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. *** Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union Website *** http://lnu.org/ LNU Twitter feed https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist? LNU Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lincsnaturalists/ LNU e-mail: info@lnu.org A full list of LNU Country Recorders is given on the website. LNU Recorders and Specialists: https://lnu.org/specialists/ Downloads of LNU books are available on: https://lnu.org/publications/books/ *** Love Lincs Plants *** 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: Herbarium Hub Aidan Neary writes: we have launched our online herbarium knowledge hub today to help external organisations to develop their own herbarium. Lots of useful information, including instructional videos on plant collection (Jack Perks film) and a Mounting Guide video by NHM’s Kath Castillo as well as links to equipment and materials. See: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/what-we-do/love-lincs-plants/herbarium-hub https://twitter.com/LoveLincsPlants/status/1457735102046384133 *** Collections Dataset - LNU "historic specimens" *** All of the LNU specimens that have been processed and digitised to date can now be viewed here: http://data.nhm.ac.uk/dataset/lincs-plants *** The Flora of Lincolnshire by Joan Gibbons - LNU downloadable book *** https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/the-flora-of-lincolnshire-e-joan-gibbons.pdf *** VC54 North Lincolnshire Plant List - LNU *** Paul Kirby has produced a list which details all the vascular plant and stonewort taxa with records on the MapMate botanical database for VC54, North Lincolnshire, at the end of January 2017. You can download this on: https://lnu.org/specialists/vascular-plants/ *** CONTACTS LIST *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/ *** Lincs Bird Club Website *** http://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk LBC County Bird Recorder Phil Hyde - County Recorder, Lincs Bird Club recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk *** The Sir Joseph Banks Society *** http://www.joseph-banks.org.uk *** Lincolnshire Bat Group website *** http://www.lincsbatgroup.co.uk/ *** Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch *** http://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html *** Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service *** http://www.lincswolds.org.uk *** Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project *** http://www.lincswolds.org.uk/chalk-streams/lincolnshire-chalk-streams *** Lincsbirders *** http://www.lincsbirders.org/ *** South Lincolnshire Flora Group *** https://bsbi.org/south-lincolnshire-v-c-53 *** The Wolds Fungi Group *** Contact Paul Nichol via email pnichol20@gmail.com *** Lincolnshire Dormouse Group *** Contact: lincsdormousegroup@gmail.co FIGHTING WILDLIFE CRIME *** Rural Crime Officer *** Pc 160 Nick Willey Force Wildlife, Rural Crime Officer nicholas.willey@lincs.pnn.police.uk OFFICE: 01522-731897 MOBILE: 07768-501895 PAGER: 07654-330877 Related Webpages: Lincolnshire Police Advice on Hare Coursing - we can expect post-harvest coursing. https://www.lincs.police.uk/reporting-advice/wildlife-and-rural-crime/hare-coursing/ Rural Crime News https://www.lincs.police.uk/reporting-advice/wildlife-and-rural-crime/ SPECIES IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. LNU Recorders and Specialists: https://lnu.org/specialists/ *** LNU Sawflies, Bees, Wasps and Ants Recorder *** Dr. David Sheppard Willing to examine specimens or check photos (bear in mind only a relative few of the 300+ species in the county are identifiable using photos). d.a.sheppard@btinternet.com *** Lincolnshire Mammals *** Chris Manning, Chris.LincsDeer@gmail.com For current records please refer to the Atlas of the terrestrial and semi-aquatic Mammals of Lincolnshire by C. J. Manning, LNU Mammal Recorder. You can download and print off a hard copy or view it online. https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/mammalatlas.pdf Spiders and... - Imogen Wilde Regional Co-ordinator (RC) and Mentor for Lincolnshire for the British Arachnological Society (BAS). Email: Imogen@imogenwilde.co.uk *** Lincs Amphibian and Reptile Group *** The Lincolnshire ARG (Amphibian & Reptile Group) Contact: Ashley Butterfield : learningoutdoors@btinternet.com Please have a look at https://www.recordpool.org.uk/index.php for an easy way to record your amphibian and reptile species records. You can send any records to Ashley Butterfield (Lincolnshire Amphibian and Reptile Recorder) at LearningOutdoors@btinternet.com *** Local Bat Helpline *** Grounded bats, bat problems, advice and information. Contact Annette and Colin Faulkner on 01775 766286 Email: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com Bat rescue instructions: If you find a grounded bat please don’t try and release it. Put it in an escape proof box - remember, a pipistrelle can get out of a hole the size of your thumb nail - wearing gloves or using a cloth to pick it up with, and phone us on 01775 766286. We’ll do the rest. *** Confidential Bat Records *** You may send confidential bat records direct to Annette Faulkner on: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com *** Slug ID Help *** Chris du Feu will help with slug identification. Tel: 01427 848400 Email: chris@chrisdufeu.force9.co.uk *** Non-Marine Molluscs *** Alex Pickwell is the LNU Recorder for Non-marine Molluscs Email: mrapickwell@gmail.com When asking for help: Please give the the very best information you can provide. If you are not sure, ask what is needed from you to confirm identification. Photographs are helpful but not every species can be identified from a photograph. When asked for further details, get back to them promptly. Don't forget a thank you for the help. That is always welcomed. USEFUL WILDLIFE LINKS Please copy and paste URLs if necessary. *** Lincs Environmental Records Centre *** Greater Lincolnshire Nature Partnership (of which LERC is a part) http://www.glnp.org.uk/ *** Natural England *** http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ *** Lincolnshire Environmental Awards *** www.lincsenvironmentalawards.org.uk *** Field Studies Council *** Bringing Environmental Understanding to All https://www.field-studies-council.org/ *** InsideEcology *** Online Magazine for Ecologists, Conservationists and Wildlife Professionals https://insideecology.com/ *** NHBS *** Should you need natural history equipment or books, a good place to start is: https://www.nhbs.com/ *** Bird Friendly Coffee Shade-grown from RSPB *** https://birdandwild.co.uk/ For the geologists... Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. *** Lincolnshire Geodiversity Group *** https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/discovering/geology-1 *** Lincolnshire Geology - The Wolds AONB *** https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/discovering/maps/geology *** Cracking up in Lincolnshire - our roads - Geological Society *** https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/Geoscientist/Archive/March-2014/Cracking-up-in-Lincolnshire *** The Geology of Lincolnshire - downloadable LNU book *** https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/the-geology-of-lincolnshire-h-h-swinnerton-and-p-e-kent.pdf *** British geology maps - now free to explore on web *** http://www.bgs.ac.uk/opengeoscience/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9. Notes about these wildlife reports ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We do our best to ensure accuracy in our reporting but these records are sent in by a variety of reporters, from complete beginners to professionals. They therefore vary in reliability and in a few instances may be difficult or impossible to verify. If further information is needed please contact: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk Bulletins are sent to Recorders at Lincolnshire Environmental Records Centre [GNLP] , Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union and Lincolnshire Bird Club. [Note: Where plants are reported, this is usually because they have been seen and identified in flower.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10. The Bulletin's publicity policy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We sometimes withhold details of rare or endangered species. Please point out any sensitive or "tricky" reports of this kind. Sensitive data should go directly to county recorders, please. https://lnu.org/specialists/ When sending in reports, e.g. unusual plants, it will be good if you can report any sensitive news directly to recorders rather than via the Bulletin please, as we don't want to spoil things with untimely/unwise publicity. Thank you. Please respect the interests of wildlife and site owners if you report on national networks. Interest in wildlife is not a licence to act irresponsibly or thoughtlessly to landowners, who may well be partners in important conservation work. *** Codes of Conduct *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. BSBI Code of Conduct https://bsbi.org/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/BSBI-Code-of-Conduct.pdf Code of Conduct for Responsible Collecting of Fungi http://www.davidmoore.org.uk/Assets/fungi4schools/Reprints/Pickers_code.pdf RSPB's birdwatchers' code https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/read-and-learn/watching-birds/code/ [Remember - views expressed in the Bulletin do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions on the LNU or associated organisations. In particular this applies to such agencies, especially charities, taking a political stance.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 11. LNU Events Diary For LNU meetings also see https://lnu.org/meetings/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** LNU Events - Important updates *** We will post any changes to LNU events through the Bulletin, the LNU Twitter feed, LNU Facebook page and LNU meetings webpage. For details and any necessary subsequent updates or changes please visit: LNU Website: https://lnu.org/meetings/ LNU Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist? Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lincsnaturalists/ Whisby Natural History Workshops See: https://lnu.org/meetings/workshops/ Prior booking essential via Richard Davidson on 01522 525725 or Email rel.davidson@btinternet.com. Places are limited. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ....and finally..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails Last Week *** None this week. Advice is: if your Service provider or network can't or won't allow the Bulletin through, use a free email account instead. In the event of a mail failure I will be happy to send you the error report to pass on to your "Help Desk". Just ask. ....and finally... And Now There's Sharks In The Thames... https://www.thehandbook.com/and-now-theres-sharks-in-the-thames/ An artist and a writer visited the English seaside during the pandemic – this is what they found https://theconversation.com/an-artist-and-a-writer-visited-the-english-seaside-during-the-pandemic-this-is-what-they-found-169590 House sparrow population in Europe drops by 247m https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/16/house-sparrow-population-in-europe-drops-by-247m Europe and the UK’s vast shipments of banned, bee-killing ‘neonics’ https://unearthed.greenpeace.org/2021/11/18/revealed-europe-and-the-uks-vast-shipments-of-banned-bee-killing-neonics/ Thames Water fined £4m after Oxford sewage leak https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-59351696 Red crabs swarm across roads and bridges in Australia https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-australia-59324637 Barcelona tackles roaming wild boar problem https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-europe-59352740 More than a thousand trees to be planted in north Northamptonshire https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-59341367 New found Ocean Hotspot Draws Millions of Migrating Birds Each Year https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/newfound-ocean-hotspot-draws-millions-of-migrating-birds-each-year/ Lincs: Country diary: Autumn gales aren’t unusual, but this one is different https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/19/country-diary-autumn-gales-arent-unusual-but-this-one-is-different Nothing sparks the imagination like fungi foraging https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/22/nothing-sparks-the-imagination-like-fungi-foraging Country diary: The autumn frog croaks as night draws in https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/23/country-diary-the-autumn-frog-croaks-as-night-draws-in Country diary: In rural Britain, some signs are more polite than others https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/24/country-diary-in-rural-britain-some-signs-are-more-polite-than-others ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/