=========================================== || || 7th December 2022 || || News of Lincolnshire Wildlife || || LNU Website: http://lnu.org/ || ============================================ In this issue..... 1. Information, events, news and requests - mostly local. 2. Wildlife Highlights from Rare Bird Alert. 3. Wildlife reports around the county - contributions welcome... 4. NNRs, RSPB and LWT Reserves/Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe. 5. Bardney Limewoods NNR - Chambers Farm Wood. 6. Other Reserve Reports - links and highlights. 7. Sending in Bulletin Reports - contributors please read! 8. Contact information - recorders and specialists... 9. Notes about these wildlife reports. 10. Bulletin publicity policy. 11. Events Diary - what's on. 12. ...and finally. Mostly national/international wildlife stories. ============================================ Reports here are open. They are available to county recorders of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union; the Lincolnshire Bird Club and Lincolnshire Environmental Record Centre [LERC]. Compare earlier years. Past Bulletins archive [text] from 2009: http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union or associated organisations. Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. ============================================ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. INFORMATION, EVENTS, NEWS AND REQUESTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Editor writes: Will we get snow this week? Looking at the forecasts some snow showers are seeming likely. Snow Buntings have been seen along the coast from East Halton Skitter, Donna Nook, Tetney, Saltfleetby, and Gibraltar Point. There are reports of Waxwings at Barton-upon-Humber, North Somercotes and Great Gonerby. Winter thrushes can be seen across the county. Have you noticed the number of squabbling male blackbirds! Donna Nook Seal Count: 021222 – 2039 pups, 1498 cows, 498 bulls Weekends can get very busy. We would advise you to visit mid-week. For correct and up to date information on visiting, and for the weekly seal count, please check the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust website or the Donna Nook Warden pages on Facebook and Twitter. https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook LNU Meetings: updates for Indoor Meetings 2023 https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/ This week's links to Lincolnshire and wildlife-related news stories. Bright-eyed tree frog wins ecology photo prize https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-63838418 Lincoln Christmas Market attracts more than 300,000 visitors https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-63842052 BBC Repair Shop: Cleethorpes woman plays mum's restored cornet https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-63863673 Lincolnshire-wide hare coursing dispersal order issued https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-63852147 Lincoln Council warned going green will be costly https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-63810108 Louth: Bike park plans approved despite objections https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-63823450 Hull University student died after suspected spider bite - inquest https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-63831602 Royal Navy digs out world's most remote post office from Antarctic snow https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-63849546 Isles of Scilly: Humpback whale makes comeback https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-cornwall-63840151 Suffolk RSPB says cables plan will 'damage' nature reserves https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-63836152 Plan to cull grey squirrels in north Devon coastal woodland https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-63823788 Nature-based farming-subsidies scheme given green light https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-63826740 More links in "..and finally ..." at the end of the Bulletin. Please stay informed on Co-19 and 'flu advice. Adapt appropriately to future advice at indoor meetings and in the field. If you have any event postponements or changes please let us know. Thank you for all the interesting news links, wildlife events information and useful species reports. Please keep your information coming in. Roger old.museum@yahoo.co.uk - note - my best address for emails. *** Please join the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union - click for form *** If you are not yet an LNU member please consider the possibility of joining. If you are a member, please remember to give the LNU a "plug " to others. https://lnu.org/join-the-lnu/ *** Weather Forecast *** https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#? 10 - 19 December "Cold weather is expected to continue through at least the first part of this period, with widespread and locally severe overnight frosts. Many coastal regions will see periods of wintry showers, with snow most likely on high ground but perhaps also to lower levels at times in these areas. Inland areas, by contrast, should see more in the way of fine and dry weather with the potential for some crisp, sunny days, although more limited spells of rain, sleet or snow cannot be ruled out. As time goes on, there is an increasing chance of milder air spreading from the southwest bringing longer periods of rain, with the potential for more widespread snow for a time on its leading edge, but low confidence as to when this might occur." *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** How to see the Geminid meteor shower 14-15th December https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/geminid-meteor-shower-uk-dates-how-to-see The path of comet ZTF - https://www.cometwatch.co.uk/bright-comets-of-2022/ https://www.cometwatch.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/comet-c2022-e3-ztf-finder-chart.jpg Cosmic Links... for more http://rogerparsons.info/cosmic.html Stellarium - open source and very useful https://stellarium.org/ *** Len Pick Trust Owl-box Camera *** A pair of owls is in residence. https://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project *** Hedgehog Advice *** https://hedgehogcare.org.uk/ https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/ *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Area Groups webpage *** Please let me have your "plugs" for coming events. https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/area-groups *** Boston Area Group LWT *** Gill Walsh writes: Talk - Wildlife and History of The Fens by Geof Lee Thursday 8th December at 7.30pm Centenary Methodist Church Red Lion Street Boston PE21 6NY Admission is free but there will be a retiring collection. Refreshments will be served in the interval Non members welcome *** Grimsby and Cleethorpes Area Group LWT *** Carolyn Davis writes: Deadly, delightful or a whole load of rot - Fungi that grow on trees. On Monday 12th December 2022 you are invited to join us at our next indoor meeting when Paul Nichol will be giving an illustrated presentation about fungi. This will take place in Grimsby Town Hall DN31 1HU and starts at 7.30pm. Admission £3, all are welcome. With it being our December meeting there will be shared festive refreshments for all to enjoy. Tea and coffee will also be available. For further information contact Jennie Redpath 01472 502858. *** Lincoln LWT *** Richard Davidson writes: Lincoln Area Group Talk December 15th: Wilder Doddington An illustrated talk by Isobel Wright about this exciting project to re-wild the Doddington Hall estate near Lincoln and substantially increase it's biodiversity. Isobel is the Project Officer. At Whisby Nature Park in the Lafarge Education Building starting at 7.30 pm. Admission £2.50. Refreshments provided but donations of seasonal food to consume on the evening would be gratefully accepted. *** The Scunthorpe and Brigg Local Group LWT *** Keith Scarrott writes: There has been a change to our final meeting for the year on Thursday, 8th December. Unfortunately, Calvin Taylor-Lee is unable to come to give his "Wildlife Photography" talk and so our well-known local wildlife recorder John Davison has kindly offered to give his illustrated talk on "Bears in North America". John is widely travelled and is able to inform us, along with his special images, of wildlife in various parts of the world. He tells us here about a recent visit to North America. We meet at 7.30 pm in St Hugh's Church Hall, Ashby Road, Scunthorpe, DN15 2AG, which is opposite the Brumby (Applegreen) Service Station near the cross-roads of West Common Lane and Ashby Road. There is a £2.50 entry charge to the meeting which includes seasonal refreshments at the mid-talk break. There is a small, free car park at the Church and also parking on the nearby Ashby Road. *** RSPB Grimsby Local Group *** The RSPB Grimsby website https://group.rspb.org.uk/grimsby/ The RSPB Grimsby Local Group's next Indoor Meeting is on Monday 19th December at 7.30pm Steve Lovell will give an illustrated talk about "The Somerset Levels" Steve is a well-known local nature guide who has given us a number of well- received talks before, so this talk is sure to be interesting, informative and well-presented. The talk takes place at Holy Trinity Parish Hall, Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes, DN35 7LH. A map showing the location of the hall can be found on our website, Home - Grimsby Local Group (rspb.org.uk) Entry for everybody is £4, payable at the door. Light refreshments (with something of a festive flavour!) and a raffle will be available The next 'car share' trip is not until February 2023 - details will be available at a later date All the Group's activities are open to everybody - you do not need to belong to the RSPB, or to have attended Group Meetings to take part. We look forward to seeing you at the Indoor Meeting Martin Francis Group Leader - RSPB Grimsby Local Group" STAYING SAFE Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. Bird flu: What is it and what's behind the outbreak? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-63464065 Defra advice to the general public is to leave corpses alone and report the findings - but that landowners should dispose of birds themselves. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bird-flu-latest-situation-avian-influenza-prevention-zone-declared-across-great-britain Lyme Disease reminder https://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/zoonoses-data-sheets/lyme-disease.pdf 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 - sign up. 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 https://www.gov.uk/sign-up-for-flood-warnings ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 29/11 2 Snow Buntings flew over Scopwick - from sound recording 3 Little Auks flew past Mablethorpe Little Auk, 3 Snow Buntings, Spotted Redshank, Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Tetney Slavonian Grebe, Great Northern Diver, Snow Bunting, Velvet Scoter, Covenham reservoir 3 Bewick's Swans at Alderfen ENE of Wroot. Scaup 1w drk at Waters' Edge Country Park, Barton-upon-Humber 19 Russian White-fronted Geese off Marsh Lane in winter wheat field west of Winter's Pond, East Halton Skitter 30/11 4 Tundra Bean Geese, Freiston Shore Black-throated Diver flew south past, male Scaup on Wainfleet Haven, Snow Bunting on beach, Hawfinch in plantation, 2 Hen Harriers, Gibraltar Point Lapland Bunting flew over Crook Bank, 11 Snow Buntings on beach, Jack Snipe, Great Northern Diver flew north, Saltfleetby 3 Bewick's Swans with 100 Whooper Swans, Alderfen, Wroot 1/12 Red-flanked Bluetail SW of West Pit in small wood, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James Hen Harrier fem flew towards The Wash, Scaup in mouth of Wainfleet Haven, Black-throated Diver flew north past, Gibraltar Point Velvet Scoter juv, Slavonian Grebe, juv Great Northern Diver, Covenham reservoir 3 Caspian Gulls all 1w, Novartis Ings, Pyewipe 19 Russian White-fronted Geese [4 ads] in field NW of creek, Halton Marshes, East Halton Snow Bunting over East Halton Skitter 3 Bewick's Swans with 100 Whooper Swans, Alderfen, Wroot 2/12 Red-flanked Bluetail SW of West Pit in small wood, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James Velvet Scoter juv, Slavonian Grebe, juv Great Northern Diver, Covenham reservoir 2 Common Scoters both drks, Millennium Green, North Hykeham pits 2+ Caspian Gulls both 1w, Iceland Gull, Novartis Ings, Pyewipe Waxwing by Sailing Pit, then flew off, Barton-upon-Humber pits 3/12 16 Tundra Bean Goose towards Walpole St Andrew, Sutton Bridge 3 Little Gulls past, 22 Snow Buntings on beach, Gibraltar Point 4 Waxwings in garden, North Somercotes Velvet Scoter juv, Slavonian Grebe, Great Northern Diver, Covenham reservoir 19 Russian White-fronted Geese off Marsh Lane in winter wheat field west of Winter's Pond, East Halton Skitter Long-tailed Duck, Bagmoor Lake, Bagmoor 4/12 Hen Harrier ringtail, over saltmarsh, Frampton Marsh 5/15 6 Common Cranes in field by cover crop near Gull Farm, Deeping High Bank, Deeping St Nicholas Scaup, 1w drk, 1w fem, Long-eared Owl, Main Lake, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St Nicholas 6 Waxwings, High Street/Pond Street junction, Great Gonerby Little Stint, Frampton Marsh 1 Snow Bunting on beach, Short-eared Owl flew in from sea, Arctic Redpoll at outer dunes with Linnets, 32 Snow Buntings, 2 Great Northern Divers flew south, Scaup in mouth of Wainfleet Haven, Gibraltar Point Short-eared Owl, Black Guillemot offshore, Huttoft Bank 2 Little Auks, Pomarine Skua ,3 ad Little Gulls, Puffin, Short-eared Owl flew in off sea, Chapel Six Marshes Velvet Scoter juv, Slavonian Grebe, Covenham reservoir 2 Snow Buntings by seal warden's hut, Donna Nook 6/12 6 Common Cranes in field near Gull Farm, Deeping High Bank, Deeping St Nicholas Short-eared Owl at Huttoft Car Terrace ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3. WILDLIFE NEWS FROM AROUND THE COUNTY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** The Roger Goy Column *** Remembering Roger Goy's wildlife information work and drop-in sessions. Roger died on 6th March 2009 at the age of 61. *** 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/ *** Links "not to be missed" *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. Len Pick Trust Barn Owls https://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog: http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ Lincs Bird Club: https://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk/site/index.php/sightings/latest-news Butterfly Conservation - Lincolnshire Branch: https://butterfly-conservation.org/in-your-area/lincolnshire-branch/ Which moth species might be on the wing tonight in your area? https://butterfly-conservation.org/moths/whats-flying-tonight Atlas of the terrestrial and semi-aquatic Mammals of Lincolnshire by C. J. Manning, LNU Mammal Recorder. Download /print off. https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/mammalatlas.pdf VC54 North Lincolnshire Plant List - LNU Paul Kirby has produced a list of all the vascular plant & stonewort taxa with records on the MapMate botanical database for VC54, North Lincolnshire, at the end of January 2017. Download this on: https://lnu.org/specialists/vascular-plants/ Record Pool - recommended by Ashley Butterfield An easy way to record your amphibian and reptile species records. https://www.recordpool.org.uk/index.php ROAD KILLS? PLEASE LET US KNOW. Every drive is a transect! Hedgehogs? Badgers? Otters? Reports welcome. *** 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 welcome records from everyone, experts or beginners. Please keep your reports coming. BARDNEY - The Green TF120694 R & A Parsons w/o 4/12/2022 2 Small Tortoiseshells hibernating in bedroom. Carrion Crow 8 Jackdaws Robin Wren - searching around wheelie bins Blackbird m Blue tit Wood Pigeon - 6+ Collared Dove - 4 Domestic pigeon - 4 Local flock of Black-headed gulls - 20+ House Sparrows - 12+ Starlings - 12+ BOSTON GARDEN (TF326426) November 2022 Kathleen Pearson I was able to do the BTO Garden BirdWatch on all 30 days in November. The number of species was low at 17 and similarly were the totals per species except for the three in double figures - Woodpigeon, House Sparrow and Goldfinch. There is a steady decline in birds owing to developments taking place in respect of an increase in the size of the roundabout on the A16 behind the garden. Birds:- Robin 1, Woodpigeon 15, Blackbird 2, House Sparrow 11, Goldfinch 12, Collared Dove 1, Blue Tit 2, Magpie 2, Great Tit 2, Greenfinch 1, Dunnock 1, Carrion Crow 2, Chaffinch 2, Long-tailed Tit 7, Wren1, Sparrowhawk 1 and Black-headed Gull 2. CARLTON LE MOORLAND Carlton le Moorland SK909581 Jeremy Hutchinson 04/12/22 Pair of Redwings feeding on Pyracantha berries in garden 5/12/22 The Linnets in the Ahiflower field which I mentioned recently have been joined over the last few days by up to 200+ Starlings. At dusk I heard a Little Owl calling, the first for months. 6/12/22 there were no Starlings, but in the middle of the day a large number of Fieldfares + a few Redwings were feeding on the ground in this field. GRIMSBY GRID REF TA265095 Joyce Attia 6th December 2022 1st December. We've had bluetits, great tits, house sparrows. Also a robin and 2 dunnocks actually using the feeder, usually they pick up the bits from the ground. A male blackbird picking up the fallen seed. Walked up the riverbank, a small tree had lost most of its leaves and there were a flock of about a dozen long tailed tits. I watched them for a while, then they flew off with high pitched whistling... lovely to see them. 2 pied wagtails on the river wall. 2nd December. Walked up river. 2 pairs of adult swans with busking attitude. I expected a fight, but eventually they backed off. 3rd December. Walk up Humber bank at Barton. Called in at Wildlife Centre, they've got some feeders, a number of blue tits on them. On the way back there was quite a large hawk hovering above the reeds. It stayed for a long time hovering in front of us. Eventually it dived and came back up with a small rodent in its claws. I know they have to eat but I always feel sorry for the prey. 5th December. Walk down riverside, took some swan/duck food. Within seconds I was surrounded by pigeons and black headed gulls and the mallards were coming up the banks. Then one of the swans came up and stood on the wall waiting for food and pecking at anything that came near, they were absolutely starving. 6th December. Emptied the bird feeder onto the path. A couple of woodpigeons soon made short work of it. Cleaned the bird bath. I read somewhere that putting a ping-pong ball in the water stops it freezing over. I need to get some. LANGFORD LOWFIELDS Langford Lowfields 18/11/2022 SK821601. Brenda Edlington 36 species including 2 whooper swans , great white egret from the bank overlooking phase 3 NETTLEHAM Nettleham TF 005756. Brenda Edlington Two blackbirds – male and female – squabbling beak to beak over the seeds dropped from the bird feeder. They only stopped when they got too close to the pond and fell in! Garden butterfly survey 2022 A disappointing year for butterflies – no explosions of small tortoiseshells, peacocks and red admirals as in previous years. After the extremely hot weather small tortoiseshells and peacocks all but disappeared. Max numbers at any one time and the month Brimstone 2 (March) Comma 2 (Jul) Common blue 1 (Jul) Gatekeeper 5 (Jul) Green-veined white 2 (May, Jul, Aug) Holly blue 2 (Jul) Large white 2 (Jul, Aug, Sep) Meadow brown 3 (Jul) Orange tip 2 (May) Painted lady 1 (Jun, Jul) Peacock 3 (Jul) Red admiral 2 (Sep) Ringlet 4 (Jul) Small white 5 (Aug) Small tortoiseshell 5 (Jul) Speckled wood 2 (Aug) Hedgehogs have been caught on the trail camera from 17 March until 20 November. At least 4 different ones of varying sizes seen, including one very small one in November from a late litter. One hedgehog box has been filled with leaves so I presume it is occupied by a hibernating hedgehog. NORTON DISNEY  Norton Disney Jeremy Hutchinson SK 89319 58723 2/12/22 Raven in field of sheep near River Witham. Pair of Stonechats on riverbank between the above and Bassingham. WHISBY Whisby Nature Park 25/11/2022 SK 910 663 Brenda Edlington 37 species seen including Brambling - a party in the trees on the NE corner of Grebe Lake next to the field Bullfinch Fieldfare Gadwall Goldcrest Goldeneye Great crested grebe Little grebe Pochard Redwing Shoveler Teal Wigeon WOOLSTHORPE AND COLSTERWORTH SK92/22 Jane Ostler 28/11/22 _ 3/ll/22 On 28/11/22 at 9a.m. on a misty morning with temperature at only 8C, a Queen Bumble Bee active on the Mahonia which has had a blaze of yellow flowering spikes for weeks. On the same day I noted that now the wind had finally blown off the leaves and their exceptionally vivid autumn colours, the flowers of the winter cherry (Prunus autumnalis)were revealed. These are normally found coming out on the bare branches. A tulip tree put in as part of amenity planting at roadside on new estate in the 1990s flowered within 10 years though it was once said that these trees, on the edge of their northern range in Lincolnshire, took up to 50 years to flower. This year when the apricot coloured leaves fell the remains of the flowers could be seen on the higher branches. Opposite our house the walnut tree was one of the last to lose leaves, except for some new green growth. It has had a good year for nuts and few of the pouch gall which it carried last year. The Sweet Chestnut near it was planted at the same time but the walnut now towers above it. The squirrels are busy collecting abundant chestnuts. Many species of fungi seem to be only just recovering from the drought. For example Yellow Stainer in abundance this week but not seen till then. A grass snake found dead in grassland, caught out perhaps by the cold weather when an extended warm November suddenly turned cold. Flocks of redwing and fieldfare feeding on apples which grow from discarded cores on the Nature Trail and blackbirds back in gardens finishing off the berries. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. NNRs and NATURE RESERVES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's policy on Coronavirus, Covid-19 includes details of LWT reserves and other advice and information: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/coronavirus Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog: http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ LWT Reserves List: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/nature-reserves-list 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 Visitor Leaflet - Natural England http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/38015?category=59026 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR Report 30th November – 6th December 2022 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Matt Blissett, Ruth Taylor, Owen Beaumont. Daily news and wildlife sightings: 301122 - Three common snipe flying east high over dunes. 22 whooper swan seen leaving Rimac foreshore in the morning. 11 snow bunting flew in-off the sea and landed on the beach at Mablethorpe North End. A movement of divers offshore in the morning included one Great Northern Diver which flew north. 52 cormorant between the Haven area and sea, plus 7 red-throated diver offshore. At least one twite heard with linnet on the saltmarsh at Brickyard Lane. 011222 - Raven calling over Elm House, kingfisher along the Eau Outfall, 5 marsh harriers over the saltmarsh, 91 redshank on Rimac scrape and short-eared owl hunting nearby, barn owl hunting near Sea View. Amongst the hedgerows near Sea View birds flitting through included 8 great tits, 4 blue tits, 5 long-tailed tits, 8 green finch, 3 yellow hammers, 27 blackbirds and 3 fieldfare all within 15minutes. 021222 - Paradise lagoon 52 shoveler, 6 gadwall and a single tufted duck. 10 pintail with 200 teal and 150 wigeon on Rimac saltmarsh lagoon. 3 bullfinch in the willow boundary hedge south of Rimac, and 3 snow bunting on the foreshore out from the old MOD track. 550 pink-footed goose feeding in winter wheat fields bordering the NNR near Churchill Lane. 031222 - Single woodcock, great spotted woodpecker, 7 redwing, 1 song thrush and at least 12 blackbirds near Sea View. A goldeneye flew over the sea and landed with a group of common scoter. 041222 - Three fieldfare with small group of blackbirds feedings hawthorn berries in hedgerow near Sea View. 051222 – A group of whooper swan flew over Sea View in the evening. 061222 - Flock of 17 redwing flew out of scrub near Sea View, 8 fieldfare over and at least 6 marsh harriers hunting over the saltmarsh late afternoon. A small movement of red-throated diver offshore, with 25 flying north in the first hour of daylight, and 3 eider flew south. At least 3 velvet scoter with 200 common scoter at Mablethorpe North End. Chiffchaff calling around Sea View farm. Other local reserves 021222 – Donna Nook Seal Count: 2039 pups, 1498 cows, 498 bulls 021222 – Donna Nook: 2 short-eared owl hunting over saltmarsh. 051222 – Donna Nook: 2 snow bunting seen close into seal viewing area plus 30 twite. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. BARDNEY LIMEWOODS NNR These cover a huge area. Records from them are one of the main inputs to management planning and the protection of rare/scarce and critical species. Reports always welcome. The history of the Lincolnshire Limewoods https://www.forestryjournal.co.uk/features/19111877.lincolnshire-limewoods/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Forestry Commission visitor advice: https://www.forestryengland.uk/article/coronavirus-visitor-guide Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch. https://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html Chambers Farm Wood - Butterfly Garden https://butterfly-conservation.org/in-your-area/lincolnshire-branch/chambers-farm-wood-butterfly-garden Lincolnshire Dormouse Group You can get in touch via lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com Gemma Watkinson writes: Winter coppicing dates 2022-2023 Saturday 17th December Sunday 15th January Saturday 11 February Sunday 12th March Throughout the winter we meet at 10am at the Wood Centre at Chambers Farm Woods. We carry out coppicing in the woodland and box maintenance and cleaning, and always welcome new volunteers. Tools are provided. If anyone wants to know more, they can get in touch at 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. Many are also designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest. 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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Links to "Other Reserves" are welcome. Coastal Wildlife of North East Lincolnshire https://www.discovernortheastlincolnshire.co.uk/things-to-do/nature-and-wildlife/ South Humber Heritage Trail, Alkborough Flats - LWT leaflet - downloadable https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/sites/default/files/2018-04/south_humber_heritage_trail_alkborough.pdf New haven for wildlife on shores of Humber Estuary in North East Lincolnshire https://thelincolnite.co.uk/2022/08/new-haven-for-wildlife-on-shores-of-humber-estuary-in-north-east-lincolnshire/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7. SENDING IN BULLETIN REPORTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The purpose of the Bulletin is to encourage biological recording in Lincolnshire. We aim to increase the number of people reporting observations to Recorders. The Bulletin is a 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! Please help us to help you. 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. It 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. CONTACTS AND USEFUL WEBSITES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CONTACTS LIST Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. *** Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union *** LNU 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 Downloads of LNU books are available on: https://lnu.org/publications/books/ LNU webpage on the Officers and Executive Committee https://lnu.org/about/officers-executive/ *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust *** https://twitter.com/LincsWildlife *** Lincs Bird Club Website *** https://twitter.com/Lincsbirding LBC County Bird Recorder Phil Hyde - County Recorder, Lincs Bird Club recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk *** The Sir Joseph Banks Society *** https://twitter.com/sirjosephbanks *** Lincolnshire Bat Group website *** http://www.lincsbatgroup.co.uk/ *** Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch *** https://twitter.com/BC_Lincolnshire *** Lincsbirders *** https://twitter.com/lincsbirders *** Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project *** https://lincolnshirechalkstreams.org/events/ *** 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.com FIGHTING WILDLIFE CRIME Wildlife Crime https://www.lincs.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/wc/wildlife-crime/ SPECIES IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. LNU Recorders and Specialists: https://lnu.org/specialists/ Downloads of LNU books are available on: https://lnu.org/publications/books/ Recording with "irecord" https://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/ irecord is recommended by the LNU as an appropriate platform for on-line recording. 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 Spiders, Pseudoscorpions, Harvestmen Imogen Wilde Regional Co-ordinator (RC) and Mentor for Lincolnshire for the British Arachnological Society (BAS). Email: Imogen@imogenwilde.co.uk Amphibians and Reptiles Ashley Butterfield The Lincolnshire ARG (Amphibian & Reptile Group) Email: LearningOutdoors@btinternet.com Local Bat Helpline Grounded bats, bat problems, advice and information. Contact Annette 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. Wear gloves or use 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: 01383 669 124 Email: chris.r.dufeu@gmail.com 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/ Greater Lincolnshire Nature Partnership newsletter: If you would like to keep up to date with the Partnership, follow the link below to subscribe to our newsletter or connect with us on social media. https://linktr.ee/GLNPnature Contact in case link does not work: Emily Todd: emily.todd@glnp.org.uk Natural England http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ InsideEcology - Online Magazine for Ecologists, Conservationists and Wildlife Professionals https://insideecology.com/ NHBS Should you need natural history equipment or books: https://www.nhbs.com/ NHM Final report on LoveLincsPlants This report along with previous progress reports can be viewed/ downloaded from the LNU website. https://lnu.org/lincolnshire-plants-past-and-future/ 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 - downloadable LNU book For the Geologists... Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. Suggestions for Geology news, events or useful links always welcome. BGS Geology Viewer https://geologyviewer.bgs.ac.uk/ Lincolnshire Geodiversity Group https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/discovering/geology-1 Geology - the Collection https://www.thecollectionmuseum.com/explore/geology Geology of the Lincolnshire Wolds https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/special-features/geology The Geology of Lincolnshire - downloadable LNU book BGS webpage: Earthquakes around the UK last 60 days http://www.earthquakes.bgs.ac.uk/earthquakes/home.html BGS 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. However, records are sent in by a variety of reporters; from complete beginners to professionals. They may vary in reliability and occasionally 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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10. BULLETIN 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, please report any sensitive news directly to recorders. Not the Bulletin. We don't want to spoil things with untimely or 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. [Remember: Views expressed in the Bulletin do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of the LNU or associated organisations. In particular this applies to such agencies, especially charities, taking a political stance.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 11. LNU EVENTS DIARY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** 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. Please refer to the LNU website for details of any Zoom arrangements for watching online. LNU Meetings: updates for Indoor Meetings 2023. https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/ The changing nature of the Covid situation may mean alterations or cancellations at short notice, so check back regularly and keep an eye on Twitter and Facebook for updates. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ...AND FINALLY... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails Last Week *** None. ....and finally... Beaver pair turn dry ground in Norfolk into thriving habitat https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-63798776 Sonar used to detect underwater beaver burrows https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-63811995 Study shows New Forest pine martens successfully breeding https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-63821752 Cranes fledge young on Suffolk coast for the first time https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-63799152 Anger as mature trees felled along Nottinghamshire rail route https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-63809662 Birmingham trees deliver nearly £4m of health benefits https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-63808426 Devon and Cornwall beaches '100% compliant' with bathing standards https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-63805785 Scotland's bloodsucking pests have mixed fortunes https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-63795038 Russia: Bodies of 2,500 seals found along Caspian Sea coast https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-63852395 ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/