============================================ || || 16th February 2022 || || News of Lincolnshire Wildlife || || LNU Website: http://lnu.org/ || LNU Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist? || Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lincsnaturalists/ || ============================================ 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 Bulletin 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. They are available to county recorders of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union; the Lincolnshire Bird Club and Lincolnshire Environmental Record Centre [LERC]. You can refer to text versions of past Wildnews Bulletins from Feb 2009 here: 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: Met Office Severe Warnings - rain and wind expected https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings Important reminder. Please share this information. Postponement of LNU Species Recording Meeting: Sat 19th February 2022. The Species Recording Meeting has been postponed due to the Covid situation. A new date in the Summer is being investigated. Further details will follow. https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/2019-02-09/ Remember that Covid guidelines may change event arrangements at short notice. Please continue to stay informed about new advice on Co-19 and 'flu. Adapt to any changes accordingly at indoor meetings and with groups on reserves/in the field. If you have any event postponements or changes to announce please let me know. LWT guidelines: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/coronavirus I expect a new provider to take over our Postoffice Broadband on 18th February. Some disruption of email is possible, starting at 20.00hrs. I apologise for any lack of responses /acknowledgements during this short interval. I've not seen any recent Hedgehog signs here yet, but Mike Skinner asked me what the current advice was on feeding hedgehogs in winter. It a qualified "Yes - if it's still being eaten." according to "Hedgehog Street". See: https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/should-i-keep-feeding-hedgehogs-over-winter/ Here is this week's selection of links to Lincolnshire and wildlife-related news stories. I hope you find something to interest and entertain. More general links in "..and finally ..." Glorious photos of garden-variety wildlife vie for international prize - New Scientist https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25333730-200-glorious-photos-of-garden-variety-wildlife-vie-for-international-prize/ Ingoldmells private beach sale sees owner awash with offers https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-60336497 Norfolk seals: Prof Ben Garrod left 'disgusted' at dog attack https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-60347478 How 8 million trees have already been brought down this winter https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-60348947 Pembrokeshire: Hundreds of dead birds seen falling from sky https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-60345914 Progress with the Fenland Flora in 2021 - "Botany in a time of Covid" - Owen Mountford https://bsbi.org/fenland Plantlife: Spring into action with Plantlife https://www.plantlife.org.uk/uk/discover-wild-plants-nature/spring-into-action Benefits of healthy hedgerows: PTES https://hedgerowsurvey.ptes.org/the-benefits-of-healthy-hedgerows Hedge lifecycle https://hedgerowsurvey.ptes.org/hedge-management-cycle History of hedgerows poster https://ptes.org/hedgerow/a-history-of-hedgerows/ Banned bee-killing pesticide to be used on English sugar beet in 2022 - BirdGuides https://www.birdguides.com/news/banned-bee-killing-pesticide-to-be-used-on-english-sugar-beet-in-2022/ Seed savers' quiet revolution - The Ecologist https://theecologist.org/2022/feb/10/seed-savers-quiet-revolution Spring Bees - Discover Wildlife https://www.discoverwildlife.com/how-to/identify-wildlife/how-to-identify-spring-bees/ London Beekeepers Association useful webpage of what's in flower month by month. https://lbka.org.uk/flowers_month.html Sheffield Beekeepers helpful pollen identification chart. http://www.sheffieldbeekeepers.org.uk/tools/pollen-chart/ Please keep your emails coming. Thank you to all contributors have who sent in interesting news links, wildlife events info and species reports. Very welcome. Roger old.museum@yahoo.co.uk - note - this is my best address for emails please. *** Weather Forecast *** https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ 18-27 February "...Looking to become increasingly unsettled through the start of this period, feeling cold with sunny spells and wintry showers to the north, while central and southern areas are expected to be cloudier with some rain, potentially heavy. Perhaps some disruptive winds accompanied by rain and short lived snow by the end of the week " *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** Paul Money tells me that his Night Scenes book and monthly Night Sky webpage are being discontinued. He says: "...after over 21 years I decided to call it a day." We offer him a huge thank you for his encouragement and enthusiasm. Thanks, Paul. Some alternative space links: Jodrell Bank Monthly Night Sky Guide http://www.jb.man.ac.uk/astronomy/nightsky/ BBC Eyes to the skies - 2022 is shaping up to be an excellent year for astronomy https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/feeds/60085546 Royal Observatory highlights for 2022 https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/space-astronomy-highlights-2022 *** 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. Wear gloves or use a cloth to pick it up with. Phone us on 01775 766286. We’ll do the rest. *** Hedgehog Links *** https://hedgehogcare.org.uk/ https://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/found-a-hedgehog/ https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/ *** Nocturnal Bird Song remarks: *** Stuart Britton writes: Gail's comments re a bird singing in the early hours reminded me of one incident on New Years Day in the 1990's. I was walking home in Market Rasen at about 2a.m. after finishing a 6pm-2am shift as a Police Officer. I was nearly home near De Aston School and heard a Robin singing near a street light. I had a close look and saw it in a flowering cherry tree singing its' heart out. I have heard them singing at all hours when patrolling on foot on night duty - something Police Officers used to do in the rural areas! *** Cyprus in Spring" - RSPB Grimsby Local Group *** The next meeting of the RSPB Grimsby Local Group will take place on Monday 21st February 2022 at 7.30pm at Holy Trinity Parish Hall, Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes, DN35 7LH At our first in-person meeting for 2 years, the talk will be "Cyprus in Spring" by Graham Catley Graham is a well-known and respected Lincolnshire birder, professional photographer and ornithological consultant who has visited the Group several times before. As well as being Lincolnshire County Recorder for ten years, Graham has been a contributor to all of the Lincolnshire bird reports from 1969, and to many other publications. His photographic credits include regular publication in journals such as British Birds, and he has been well placed in many prestigious photography competitions. With several spring trips to the island of Cyprus, which has a rich bird population and plays host to many more species on spring migration, Graham has built up a fine library of photos of the birds of this exceptional area. This promises to be a fascinating and illuminating talk. This talk will be open to everybody. You do not need to be a member of the RSPB to attend. Entry is £4, payable at the door. Light refreshments and a raffle will be available. Obviously, measures will be taken to minimise the risk of spreading the Covid virus, and you should not attend if you are exhibiting symptoms of the virus, or have been in close contact with somebody known to have the virus. I look forward to seeing you at the meeting Martin Francis - Leader, RSPB Grimsby Local Group" *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Area Groups webpage *** https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/area-groups Please let me have your "plugs" for coming events that may interest readers *** LWT Bourne Area Group. *** Barnack Hills & Holes NNR - Chris Gardiner - 18th February Meeting at Bourne Methodist Hall 7.30pm On Friday 18th February, Chris Gardiner will be speaking to us about Barnack Hills and Holes National Nature Reserve. Chris was formerly Natural England's warden for this fantastic site which is noted for its pasqueflowers but also has a wealth of other wildlife and a fascinating history. A donation of £2.50 is requested from adults, children free. Chris will also be bringing a selection of 2nd hand natural history books priced from £1 upwards so it's also a chance to add to your collection.  *** Lincoln LWT *** Richard Davidson Lincoln Area Group Talk February 17th: Rivers: Nature's Calendar An update by the Nature's Calendar team on this groundbreaking Citizen Science project, which monitors signs of the changing seasons and the effects of weather and climate on wildlife. At Whisby Nature Park in the Lafarge Education Building starting at 7.30 pm. Admission £2.50. Refreshments are provided. Advice from the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust is to wear a mask while attending and we will also need to take contact details for Test and Trace purposes, etc. *** Seal and Birdwatching Cruises 2022 - South Lincs RSPB Group *** 14 cruises have been arranged for 2022, at various sailing times, starting on 8th April and ending on 22nd October. All cruises are aboard “The Boston Belle”, last for 4/5 hours, and start [and return] at Boston's Grand Sluice Lock, sailing up The Haven, into The Wash and also along The Welland. 64 bird species on average have been previously seen per cruise. Full details as regards dates, sailing times, costs, booking arrangements etc can be found at https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire/ STAYING SAFE Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. 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 - rain and wind expected 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. 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 8/2 Cattle Egret on north bank of Counter Drain near Windmill Corner, Baston Fen Cattle Egret by South Fen Road, Tongue End, on Counter Drain ESE of Bourne 2 Bewick's Swans, both ads, Deeping Lakes, the flew south, Deeping St James 3 Spotted Redshanks, 2 Little Stints north of sea bank, Short-eared Owl and Hen Harrier male over saltmarsh, Frampton Marsh 4 Pale-bellied Brent Geese with 5000 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Freiston Shore 57 Twite on edge of saltmarsh from seal viewing path, Donna Nook Hen Harrier male, Gibraltar Point White-tailed Lapwing beyond windpump at end of Marsh Lane on Winter's Pond, 2 Water Pipits, Short-eared Owl at Halton Marshes, East Halton Skitter 9/2 Cattle Egret by South Fen Road, Tongue End, on Counter Drain ESE of Bourne Little Sting on Middle Scrape, 2 Spotted Redshanks, Short-eared Owl, ringtail Hen Harrier, Frampton Marsh 19 Snow Buntings at south end of beach, Gibraltar Point 2 Long-tailed Ducks on sea, Purple Sandpiper by concrete posts on beach, Mabelthorpe 14 Common Cranes flew over Riseholme c50 Twite on edge of saltmarsh from seal viewing area, Donna Nook White-tailed Lapwing beyond windpump at end of Marsh Lane on Winter's Pond, East Halton Skitter 10/2 Red-breasted Goose ad with Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 11 Water Pipits, 2 Hen Harriers, Short-eared Owl, Gibraltar Point White-tailed Lapwing beyond windpump at end of Marsh Lane on Winter's Pond, East Halton Skitter 11/2 Long-eared Owl at Mail Lake from track to hide, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James Scaup Fem, Tallington Lakes Ring-necked Duck, west end Langtoft GPs, Bewick's Swan ad on Wader Pit, Baston + Langtoft Pits Little Stint, Frampton Marsh c20 Snow Buntings, Millennium Ridge, Red-breasted Goose ad on Tennyson's Sands with Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Gibraltar Point 2 Long-tailed Ducks, 4 Velvet Scoters, on sea off outfall, Mablethorpe Black Redstart, RAF Digby 12/2 3 Spotted Redshanks, 2 Little Stints, Hen Harrier male, Frampton Marsh Red-breasted Goose ad on Jackson's Marsh then flew off with Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 18 Snow Buntings, 2 Velvet Scoters flew past, Gibraltar Point White-tailed Lapwing beyond windpump at end of Marsh Lane on Winter's Pond, East Halton Skitter 13/2 Ring-necked Duck, Baston + Langtoft GPs 2 Spotted Redshanks, Frampton Marsh Red-necked Grebe, Great Northern Diver, Red-breasted Goose ad on Jackson's Marsh with Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Gibraltar Point Spoonbill ad, Alkborough Flats Bittern, Far Ings Cattle Egret in horse paddock just east of Messingham Sand Quarry 14/2 Red-breasted Goose ad on Jackson's Marsh with Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Black-throated Diver on sea, Gibraltar Point Purple Sandpiper at outflow pipe, 6 Velvet Scoters flew north, Mabletholrpe Spoonbill ad, Alkborough flats White-tailed Lapwing beyond windpump at end of Marsh Lane on Winter's Pond, East Halton Skitter 15/2 2 Hen Harriers, 1 male, Little Stint on Middle Scrape, Short-eared Owl, Spotted Redshank, Frampton Marsh Red-breasted Goose ad on Jackson's Marsh with Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Great Northern Diver flew SE past, Gibraltar Point Cattle Egret in horse paddock east of Messingham Sand Quarry, White-tailed Lapwing beyond windpump at end of Marsh Lane on Winter's Pond, East Halton Skitter 16/3 Little Stint, Hen Harrier ringtail over saltmarsh, Frampton Marsh 3 Velvet Scoters on sea, Mablethorpe ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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" *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. Bourne Barn Owl Webcam: Bob Sheppard says: Camera is now off pending installation of the new one. 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? You can find out easily using ‘What’s Flying Tonight’. https://butterfly-conservation.org/moths/whats-flying-tonight 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. *** 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 9/2/2022 and again on 10/2 and now seen daily. Blue tit - 2+ on nut feeder and fat balls. Seems regular now. 10/2 Robin on fat block feeder - not seen this here before. Report from Ray Halstead of Raven seen flying SE over our house early pm. 15/2 24+ House sparrows also and 12+ Starlings on feeders. HORKSTOW SE987178 10 February 2022 Jenny Haynes Each evening for the last week or so, we’ve been watching a flock of finches, (impossible to say which as they’re silhouetted against the setting sun) doing their version of a murmuration, landing on a tree across the road then instantly taking off and flying around again and coming back. During the day the seem to spend most of their time in a large laurel bush in my garden, where I hear them they chattering away. 14/2 Update: They are all goldfinches! HUTTOFT Jane Pennington TF511762 (my garden unless otherwise advised) 7/2/2022 Greenfinch 2 11/2/2022 Chaffinch 2 Dunnocks 2 14/2/2022 Pheasant 1 Woodpigeon 1 MORKERY WOOD SK955192 Jane Ostler 10/2/22 ‘Picnic’ area near entrance gate. Only plants in flower Hazel (male and female flowers) and no fungi on the fallen logs. No bird song or sight of any birds so I looked for signs of life in a couple of handfuls of sycamore leaf litter. This is what I found:- Sycamore Tar Spot, Rhytisma acerinum – most leaves had several growths. Remains of a mite sycamore gall, probably Aceris pseudoplatani which forms a patch of glandular hairs under leaf Common Shiny Woodlouse, Oniscus asellus 3 kinds of snail, all less than 2mm and the most numerous of anything found. Hairy Snail, Trichia hispida Door Snail, Clausilia bidentata Glass Snails? 4 kinds of spiders, again all very small (no mites or harvestmen) 1 black pupal case 1 springtail 1 dipteran larva homopteran bug s aphids flea beetles There is therefore much that I couldn’t identify but an exercise which demonstrated the diversity of life. WOOLSTHORPE-BY-COLSTERWORTH SK923247 Jane Ostler Garden 10/2/22 Tree Bumblebee, Bombus hypnorum Out on winter honeysuckle for first time this year. The Bufftailed Bumblebee has only been seen once since 2/1/22. In spite of hundreds of Crocus thomasinianus in flower not a single honeybee has been seen. Following the note about night-time bird song I went out to listen and sure enough on 10/2/22 at 8p.m. a robin was singing (but then we do have a street light opposite.) During the day blackbirds, chaffinch, blue tit, song thrush all singing. Herons by river in a pair (displaying?) have also been seen with nesting material.   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. NNRs and NATURE RESERVES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's policy on Coronavirus, Covid-19 includes details of which LWT reserves are open and other advice and information: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/coronavirus RSPB Reserves: RSPB Frampton Marsh & Freiston Shore are listed as Open. https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/rspb-news/news/stories/coronavirus/reserve-reboot/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ See: Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog. http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ LWT Top Reserves: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves LWT Reserves List: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/nature-reserves-list RSPB Freiston Shore https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/freistonshore/ RSPB Frampton Marsh http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE DUNES NNR including DONNA NOOK http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/saltfleetby-theddlethorpe-dunes https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/38015?category=59026 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR Report ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 British Native Trees - Woodland Trust https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/native-trees/ 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. 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. 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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nature Reserves - Lincolnshire County Council https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/coast-countryside/nature-reserves Nature reserves in North Lincolnshire https://www.northlincs.gov.uk/planning-and-environment/local-nature-reserves/ 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 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 Website *** 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/ *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/ https://twitter.com/LincsWildlife *** Lincs Bird Club Website *** http://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk 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 *** http://www.joseph-banks.org.uk https://twitter.com/sirjosephbanks *** Lincolnshire Bat Group website *** http://www.lincsbatgroup.co.uk/ *** Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch *** http://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html https://twitter.com/BC_Lincolnshire *** Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service *** http://www.lincswolds.org.uk *** Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project *** https://lincolnshirechalkstreams.org/ *** Lincsbirders *** http://www.lincsbirders.org/ https://twitter.com/lincsbirders *** 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 Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. *** 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 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/ Downloads of LNU books are available on: https://lnu.org/publications/books/ *** 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. This is for VC54, North Lincolnshire, at the end of January 2017. You can download this on: https://lnu.org/specialists/vascular-plants/ Recording with "irecord" https://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/ More and more people are using irecord. It is recommended by the LNU as the most appropriate platform for on-line recording. Tried it yet? Feedback welcome. The FSC are offering a virtual introductory irecord course in February. https://www.field-studies-council.org/shop/courses/discovering-irecord-2022/ https://twitter.com/FieldStudiesC 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, Pseudoscorpions, Harvestmen 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 It's 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. 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: 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/ https://twitter.com/GLNPnature *** 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/ https://twitter.com/FieldStudiesC BioLinks Courses – Field Studies Council https://www.field-studies-council.org/biolinks-courses/ *** InsideEcology *** Online Magazine for Ecologists, Conservationists and Wildlife Professionals https://insideecology.com/ *** NHBS *** Should you need natural history equipment or books, a good place to start is: https://www.nhbs.com/ *** Bird Friendly Coffee Shade-grown from RSPB *** https://birdandwild.co.uk/ Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. *** Love Lincs Plants*** https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/what-we-do/love-lincs-plants NHM Final report on LoveLincsPlants goes online This report along with previous progress reports can be viewed/downloaded from the LNU website. https://lnu.org/lincolnshire-plants-past-and-future/ Love Lincs Plants: Herbarium Hub 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 For the Geologists... Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. Lincolnshire Geodiversity Group https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/discovering/geology-1 *** The Geology of Lincolnshire - downloadable LNU book *** https://lnu.org/publications/books/the-geology-of-lincolnshire/ *** 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. [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, 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. *** 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 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. Please refer to the LNU website for details of any Zoom arrangements for watching online. Indoor Meetings 2022: https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/ Species Recording Meeting - under review Overview and highlights of the past years recording provided by the county recorders. Arrive at 12 noon for a chance to catch up with recorders; it will finish at 4pm. 12 noon – 19th February 2022 Annual General Meeting – 12th March 2022 2pm – Followed by the Presidential Address by Owen Mountford Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. 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/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ....and finally..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails Last Week *** None. Advice is: If your Service provider can't or won't allow the Bulletin through, use a free email account instead. In the event of a mail failure ask me for the error report to pass on to your "Help Desk". I am glad to help. ....and finally... Beaver Dams Help Wildfire-Ravaged Ecosystems Recover Long after Flames Subside https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/beaver-dams-help-wildfire-ravaged-ecosystems-recover-long-after-flames-subside/ Neanderthal extinction not caused by brutal wipe out https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-60305218 Ancient chalk sculpture is 'most important prehistoric art' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-60341377 Country diary: Ravens are my new noisy neighbours https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/feb/04/country-diary-ravens-are-my-new-noisy-neighbours Country diary: a swirl of rooks and jackdaws, maybe 1,000 or more https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/feb/03/country-diary-a-swirl-of-rooks-and-jackdaws-maybe-1000-or-more Country diary: A pair of goldcrests arrive like tiny sunbeams https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/feb/08/country-diary-a-pair-of-goldcrests-arrive-like-tiny-sunbeams Country diary: The waddling wood pigeon is more shrewd than it appears https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/feb/09/country-diary-the-waddling-wood-pigeon-is-more-shrewd-than-it-appears Country diary: A dozen cormorants, hunting in a pack https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/feb/12/country-diary-a-dozen-cormorants-hunting-in-a-pack Country diary: The day I made eye contact with a sparrowhawk https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/feb/14/country-diary-the-day-i-made-eye-contact-with-a-sparrowhawk Country diary: Return of the butterscotch humbugs https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/feb/15/country-diary-return-of-the-butterscotch-humbugs ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/