========================================= || || 14th 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: Readers will be sad to learn of the death of Colin Faulkner on 4th December. A respected, highly-regarded Lincolnshire naturalist. A friend to many of us. Our thoughts will be with Annette. A brief announcement can be read here: https://www.legacy.com/uk/obituaries/spaldingtoday-uk/name/colin-faulkner-obituary?pid=203376078 Past issues of Transactions A large number of historic issues of Transactions, dating from the early 1900s to the 2000s have recently been un- earthed in the archives. There are no complete runs, but if you are looking for specific issues to fill gaps in your collection or would like to start your own run, these are available free of charge as long as you happy to collect. There is some urgency to regain the space in the archives before Christmas so if you're interested, please email Charlie at charlie@cucaera.co.uk as soon as possible with the issue(s) you're interested in and we can have a look to see if there are any available. Any issues not found new homes will have to be recycled. Donna Nook Seal Count: 1870 pups, 968 cows, 541 bulls. Total number of pups born this year: 2181, an increase on the 2021 total of 2134. The number of seals visible is now falling daily as adults return to the sea and the older pups make their way out for the first time. 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. Last surviving Dambuster Johnny Johnson dies aged 101 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-63899393 Lincolnshire pavement parking is blighting lives - councillor https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-63954583 Humber: New tugs join fleet to keep super tankers moving https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-63894617 North East Lincolnshire: Peak-time ban on traffic near primary schools https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-63915040 Spalding: Fences installed to deal with rat problem removed https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-63928390 Lincoln Cathedral evacuated after man gets on roof https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-63917855 Lincoln Cathedral: Man charged over cafe break-in https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-63907597 Lincoln: Man jailed over cathedral cafe break-in https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-63913930 Grantham: Illegal tobacco stashes seized from shops' secret hides https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-63904376 Scunthorpe gang jailed over £1.2m 'chop shop' racket https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-63870606 Water companies "letting down" customers and the environment https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-63901698 Should we put a price on nature? Video - with the Royal Society https://www.bbc.co.uk/ideas/videos/should-we-put-a-price-on-nature/p0dl4kx3 Fossils reveal the dinosaur era's changing insect soundscape https://www.newscientist.com/article/2351116-fossils-reveal-the-dinosaur-eras-changing-insect-soundscape/ 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 information and useful species reports. Please keep them coming. Roger old.museum@yahoo.co.uk - note - my best address for emails. Please join the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union If you are not yet an LNU member please consider the possibility of joining. Click for the application form. 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#? 18 - 27 December "On Sunday, outbreaks of rain, sleet or snow spreading northwards. Rain, heavy and prolonged at times, will spread from the southwest, with a transient risk of snow, especially in higher areas. Most parts becoming much milder than of late by the end of the weekend. Into the start of next week, turning cooler again with showers, heavy at times, across the north and northwest and some rain in the far south. Drier, brighter conditions likely in between. The remainder of the period carries some uncertainty, but less cold and more changeable conditions seem more likely, especially in southern areas. Meanwhile, further north, we stand a greater chance of colder weather along with some wintry showers being more prevalent." For Astronomers and Sky-watchers Blinded by the light: how skyglow pollution is separating us from the stars https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/dec/11/blinded-by-the-light-how-skyglow-pollution-is-separating-us-from-the-stars 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 *** 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 its 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. *** 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. 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. 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" *** RSPB Lincoln Local Group *** THE RSPB Lincoln website https://www.lincolnrspb.org.uk/events.htm Thursday 12 January 2023 meeting, INDOOR MEETING Shetland: Britain's Northern Edge by Jack Perks. After spending a month living in Shetland, Jack was able to see and photograph its fantastic wildlife, from puffins, gannets, skuas, divers and orcas. Sponsored by Carol Harvey in memory of her husband Alan Harvey. 7.30 pm in the Robert Hardy Building, Bishop Grosseteste University, Longdales Road, Lincoln LN1 3DY. Admission charge for RSPB members and students £4, for members of the public £5, please pay on the door. Fiona McKenna Committee member RSPB Lincoln 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 their pager reports. A big thank you from us all. Readers interested in a pager - 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 Sorry about the slip back to "/11" last week - corrected here! 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 Lapland Bunting flew from marsh viewpoint, Velvet Scoter flew south, Gibraltar Point Short-eared Owl at Huttoft Car Terrace 7/12 6 Common Cranes in field near Gull Farm, Deeping High Bank, Deeping St Nicholas 2 Waxwings near entrance to main car park, Gibraltar Point Great Northern Diver flew past Goxhill Hooded Crow flew north past, 8 velvet Scoter on sea, Mablethorpe Velvet Scoter juv, Slavonian Grebe, Covenham reservoir 2 Waxwings in rowans in garden, North Somercotes 8/12 2 Waxwings briefly at south end of West Dunes then flew north, Gibraltar Point 2 Velvet Scoters [4 ad drks] on sea at Golden Sands, Mablethorpe 9/12 2 Long-eared Owls at Main Lake, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James 11 Snow Buntings on beach, 3 Hen Harriers from Wash Viewpoint, 2 Short-eared Owls, Gibraltar Point 10/12 Cattle Egret as east end, Baston Fen Caspian Gull at Middlemarsh Wetlands, west of Skegness - late report Velvet Scoter juv drk, Great Northern Diver, Covenham reservoir 11/12 18 Snow Buntings on beach, Gibraltar Point 18 Snow Buntings on beach, Saltfleetby Velvet Scoter juv drk, 1w drk Scaup, Great Northern Diver, Covenham reservoir Snow Bunting on outer beach, Cleethorpes 19 Russian White-fronted Geese [4 ads] off Marsh Lane in field west of Winter's Pond, East Halton Skitter 12/12 5 Twite, Holbeach Cattle Egret, in field opposite Windmill Farm caravan park, Baston Fen 13/12 Caspian Gull at Middlemarsh Wetlands, west of Skegness Cattle Egret on A52 verge near Spanby, south of Sleaford Hen Harrier male over fields north of North Somercotes ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 9/12/2022 Pied Wagtail Robin Starlings 10 - 30 Jackdaw 8-12 Carrion Crow 1 Woodpigeon 8 Collared Dove 1 Blackheaded Gull 4-24 11/12 Also seen... Blackbird m Blue Tit 2+ Great Tit 2 Goldfinch feeding on lavenders Pied Wagtail CARLTON LE MOORLAND Carlton le Moorland SK909581 10/12/2022 Jeremy Hutchinson Raven Red Kite circling over southern end of village just above rooftop height also 11/12/22 Hill Holt Wood, Norton Disney SK862605 Party of 6 Ravens seen flying over the wood. HOLYWELL LAKE WeBS Holywell Lake 10th December 2022 1045 – 1215 Ian Misselbrook with Dave Roberts Little Grebes 24 Grey Heron 1 Mute Swans 2 Greylag Geese 10 Mallard 92 Wigeon 52 Teal 3 Shoveler 6 Gadwall 20 Tufted Duck 18 Coot 4 Moorhen 18 Black-headed Gulls 5 Kingfisher 1 Grey Wagtails 2 Buzzard 1 HORKSTOW SE987179 Jenny Haynes 12 December 2022 A small flock of about twenty starlings appeared across the road today. A rare sight around here. The garden is full of finches, chaffinch, goldfinch and to a lesser extent greenfinch, as well as blackbirds, blue and great tits and a solitary coal tit, Robin, wren and dunnocks. Have also seen an occasional great spotted woodpecker as well as the ubiquitous wood pigeons. A few refugee pheasants have appeared, keeping out of the way of the local shoot! SEDGE HOLE CLOSE LWT Nature reserve Steve Hiner 06/12/22 Blackbird x 2 Blue Tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 1 Fieldfare x 120 Jackdaw x 4 Pink-footed Goose x 112 east over Redwing x 52 Robin x 1 Wood Pigeon x 4 12/12/22 Blackbird x 4 Black-headed Gull x 3 over Blue Tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 2 Dunnock x 1 Fieldfare x 130 Goldfinch x 2 Grey Partridge x 4 Jackdaw x 4 Magpie x 2 Gredwing x 88 Robin x 1 Wood Pigeon x 4 THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 05/12/22 Barn Owl x 1 Blackbird x 6 Carrion Crow x 1 Chaffinch x 4 Dunnock x 1 Fieldfare x 250+ Goldfinch x 4 Great Tit x 2 Kestrel x 1 Lesser Redpoll x 7 Magpie x 4 Mallard x 4 over Pink-footed Goose x 150 east over Thurnholmes Red-legged Partridge x 4 Redwing x 125 Robin x 1 Tawny Owl x 1 01:15hrs Wood Pigeon x 4 06/12/22 Long-tailed Tit x 14 Tawny Owl x 5 calling 01:15hrs 08/12/22 Tawny Owl x 5 calling 02:10hrs 10/12/22 Blackbird x 15 Black-headed Gull x 15 over Thurnholmes Blue Tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 2 Dunnock x 1 Fieldfare x 320 Goldfinch x 4 Grey Partridge x 9 Greylag Goose x 23 over Thurnholmes Kestrel x 2 Magpie x 2 Redwing x 130 Robin x 1 Tawny Owl x 4 calling 01:25hrs Tree Sparrow x23 Wood Pigeon x 4 Wren x 1 Yellowhammer x 1 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 7th – 13th December 2022 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Matt Blissett, Ruth Taylor, Owen Beaumont, Phil Hyde, Geoff Williams and Chris Atkin Daily news and wildlife sightings: Note: The spell of cold weather continued with days of freezing fog, moderate to severe frosts and daytime temperatures remaining in single figures. A ground frost of -10.75 degrees centigrade, air frost of -6.5 degrees centigrade was recorded at Sea View on the 13th. The maximum for the 12th was 0.5 degrees centigrade. Ponds and areas of open water on the NNR are frozen and the Eau Outfall had a covering of slushy ice on the 13th. 071222 – A hooded crow flew north over the sea at Mablethorpe in the direction of the NNR. 60 redwing feeding on buckthorn berries south of Brickyard Lane. Redpoll at Brickyard Lane car park. 081222 - 5 flocks of winter thrushes, mainly fieldfare flying north over Sea View. Flock of 66 golden plover with 73 lapwing at Elm House Farm. An increase in winter thrushes in the local area, with flocks of redwing and fieldfare flying NW in the morning. Counts of 85 fieldfare north of MOD and 200 redwing at Brickyard Lane. 30 sanderling, 200 dunlin, 180 redshank, 18 bar-tailed godwit and 18 grey plover on the foreshore. 1000 common gull and 235 curlew roosting on the foreshore between Churchill Lane and Crook Bank in the evening. 091222 - Mid-morning hundreds of mainly redwing and fieldfare flying north, green woodpecker calling near Paradise. 340 curlew on the foreshore in the afternoon. Over 1000 pink-footed goose flew off the foreshore at Rimac. 101222 - The cold spell during the past few days continues with hard ground frosts and moderate air frosts. Paradise lagoon 100% ice cover with 51 shoveler and 1 lapwing. A kingfisher flew along the Eau. 248 curlew on the foreshore and 2 woodcock flew in-off the sea. 10 yellowhammer on the outer dunes at Crook Bank and 3 in the outer dunes at Brickyard Lane. 85 fieldfare flew north at Brickyard Lane and chiffchaff and goldcrest in willows nearby. On Elm House Farm were 2200 pink-footed goose, 18 curlew and 70 lapwing. 111222 – 18 snow bunting on the foreshore near Crook Bank. 121222 – Woodcock in the dunes at Brickyard Lane and a water rail calling at Churchill Lane. Thrushes including redwing, fieldfare and blackbird remain in the dunes, feeding on frozen berries and scraping through vegetation piles. 131222 - Paradise lagoon 100% ice cover and 21 shoveler on ice. Many blackbirds and occasional fieldfare and redwing remain in the Sea View area. 4000 pink-footed goose flew off the frozen foreshore. Cetti’s warbler singing at Brickyard Lane. Movement of thrushes NW in the morning, with flocks of redwing, fieldfare and blackbird all flying over the dunes. Other local reserves 091222 – Donna Nook: Seal count: 1870 pups, 968 cows, 541 bulls. Total number of pups born this year: 2181, an increase on the 2021 total of 2134. The number of seals visible is now falling daily as adults return to the sea and the older pups make their way out for the first time. 121222 – Donna Nook: Very vocal in the fog were brent and pink-footed geese. 131222 – Donna Nook: A group of 19 whooper swans flew inland closely followed by a group of 9. The scrub is full of birds such as long tailed tits, starlings, magpies and winter thrushes, many feeding on the hawthorn and sea buckthorn berries. A red kite flew over. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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! P lease 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 in 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... Thor: Walrus sighting at Calshot beach extremely rare, expert says https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-63940472 Chester Zoo celebrates birth of endangered Malayan tapir https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-63904655 Reverse nature's decline or there is no future - UN https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-63883298 What impact will planned new UK coal mine have on carbon emissions? https://www.newscientist.com/article/2350696-what-impact-will-planned-new-uk-coal-mine-have-on-carbon-emissions/ Biodiversity: 'Magical marine species' pushed toward extinction https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-63911045 Biodiversity: What is a mass extinction and are we causing one? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-63875331 Country diary: The many uses of the grey willow https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/dec/09/country-diary-the-many-uses-of-the-grey-willow Country diary: The tiniest contender for the king of birds https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/dec/10/country-diary-the-tiniest-contender-for-the-king-of-birds ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/