============================================ || || 23rd 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: We very much enjoyed a drive through the little village of Edlington last week. Their snowdrops were looking stunning. It's still well worth a drive-by. https://www.lincolnshireworld.com/news/people/snowdrop-festival-returns-3561233 2 members of the LNU Exec went to Whisby on Saturday just in case anyone had missed the news of the cancellation of the Species and Recorders Meeting. I am pleased to say we seemed to have reached everyone and no apologies were needed! A new date for this meeting will be announced soon. We are working on the mailing for the LNU AGM coming up on 12 March 2022. https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/2019-03-02/ Please continue to stay informed on advice about Co-19 and 'flu. Adapt to any changes accordingly at indoor meetings and with groups on reserves/in the field. Check the LNU events web page for updates on cancellations if you are not sure. If you have any event postponements or changes to announce please let me know. LWT guidelines: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/coronavirus 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 ..." Woman dies and two men injured in Lincolnshire caravan fire - Donna Nook https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-60453548 Police investigation after bones found in Lincolnshire park - Boston https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-60452534 Storm Eunice: Owl rescued from fallen tree - Grimsby https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-60446440 Hedgehog population plummets in UK countryside, research suggests https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-60436607 Look at a Lichen - The Wildlife Trusts https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/blog/guest/look-lichen A year of British garden wildlife - Natural History Museum https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/british-garden-wildlife.html 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/ 27 February - 8 March "...Winds strengthening from the west, with a risk of severe gales in the far north and northwest on Sunday and into Monday. However, away from this, the south and east are likely to see largely dry conditions at first, with sunny or clear spells. The rest of the period is likely to see changeable conditions with many areas seeing a mixture of wet and dry weather as well as strong winds at times..." *** 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 *** Grantham Peregrine-cam *** Live peregrine cameras on St Wulfram's Church, Grantham can be viewed at: https://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk/site/index.php/sightings/peregrine-project Bob Sheppard says viewers will notice a couple of changes this year. He has made an extra nesting tray for the west side and installed a roof on the east side tray. These were installed recently with help from three peregrine enthusiasts. We now also have a date and time digital display in line with other UK cameras. The peregrines have not raised chicks at Grantham for many years but most years they turn up and show promising signs of breeding including scraping in the gravel and displaying. Occasionally they lay eggs and, rarely, hatch some chicks, but it is a long time since they fledged any. Fingers crossed for this season but they obviously have an alternative nest site in the area, most likely in a quarry or similar. Our grateful thanks are due to the Lincolnshire Bird Club who funded the cameras. *** 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 *** State of Britain's Hedgehogs 2022 - Hedgehog Street https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/state-of-britains-hedgehogs-2022/ https://hedgehogcare.org.uk/ https://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/found-a-hedgehog/ https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/ *** 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 *** 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 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 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, 3 Little Gulls flew 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, Bittern, Frampton Marsh Red-breasted Goose ad on Jackson's Marsh with Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 28 Little Gulls flew south past, Gibraltar Point 10+ Velvet Scoters on sea off outfall, Purple Sandpiper on beach at outflow pipe, Mablethorpe Cattle Egret in sheep field, Goxhill 17/2 Red-breasted Goose ad on Tennyson's Sands with Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Gibraltar Point 5 Velvet Scoters, Great Northern Fiver flew north, 1 Purple Sandpiper still at beach outfall, Mablethorpe 18/2 White-tailed Lapwing beyond windpump at end of Marsh Lane on Winter's Pond, East Halton Skitter 19/2 Great Northern Diver at Cut End, River Witham Mouth, SE of Boston Red-necked Grebe flew south past, Slavonian Grebe, Velvet Scoter, 25 Snow Buntings, on beach, Glossy Ibis flew over visitor centre, Gibraltar Point Glossy Ibis flew north over Anderby Marsh 20/2 No reports 21/2 Long-eared Owl at Main Lake from track to hide, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James Red-breasted Goose ad with c720 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, male Hen Harrier, at Wainfleet Range SW of Gibraltar Point Glossy Ibis in horse paddock just north of Chapel Pit, Chapel Six Marshes Bittern at Grebe Lake, Whisby Hen Harrier male, Aklborough Flats White-tailed Lapwing beyond windpump at end of Marsh Lane on Winter's Pond, East Halton Skitter 22/2 3 Little Stints, Frampton Marsh Red-necked Grebe flew south past, Puffin, Gibraltar Point Glossy Ibis in horse paddock just north of Chapel Pit, Chapel Six Marshes White-tailed Lapwing beyond windpump at end of Marsh Lane on Winter's Pond, East Halton Skitter 3 Snow Buntings, Mablethorpe 23/2 Purple Sandpiper 1w on beach at outflow pipe, 3 Snow Buntings on beach, Mablethorpe Glossy Ibis in horse paddock just north of Chapel Pit, Chapel Six Marshes Cattle Egret in Horse Paddock east of Messingham Sand Quarry ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. APLEY, FIELD TO S. OF HARDY GANG WOOD. John Hiscox Feb 20 2022 Egyptian Goose x 2, Little Egret x 14 (yes, fourteen) BARDNEY - The Green R+A Parsons TF120694 17/2 Dunnock hunting below hollybush. BOSTON TF338441 Tracey Lenton 23-02-2022 Blackbird male and female, feeding Dunnock x2 seen flying in conifer hedge, much singing, fed from the bird food put out on the ground alongside the male blackbird On neighbouring TV aerials: Starling x1 Wood pigeon x1 CLEETHORPES TA 300069 21. 02. 2022 Peter Crick I’ve kept bee boxes for many years now and was checking the garden after all the wind and wet when I noticed there was an exit hole... I can only think it hatched during the rather warm spell of late. Certainly the earliest hatch I can recall. Maybe other people have had the same? Also, last year saw the least amount of cells filled for a long time. Things were looking good with a lot of cells being prepare, only for them not to be used. [Photo available] HOLYWELL LAKE 17th February 2022 1340 -1500 Ian Misselbrook Little Grebes 10 Little Egret 3 Grey Heron 1 Mute Swans 2 – both cobs Greylag Goose 25 Canada Goose 39 Mallard 42 Wigeon 66 – high count again Gadwall 28 – a good count Teal 8 Shoveler 2 – both drakes Tufted Duck 24 Coot 1 Moorhen 25 Black-headed Gulls 9 Grey Wagtail 1 Pied Wagtails 16 – lots of flies around the sheep grazed SSSI limestone pasture Dunnocks 2 Robins 4 Blackbirds 2 Mistle Thrush 1 Goldcrest 1 Blue Tit 8 Great Tit 2 Long-tailed Tits 4 Starling 1 Woodpigeon 15 Jackdaw 10 Carrion Crow 8 Goldfinch 4 Siskin 1 Grey Squirrels 3 NETTLEHAM TF009753 Brenda Edlington 12/2/2022 A new bird for the garden – a heron by the side of our small pond. A wildlife pond with no fish (I have seen a fat frog by torchlight this month), he flew off quickly. Takes the total of different species seen since 1985 up to 56, not counting flyovers. The total includes waxwings (1986 and 1996), fieldfare, redwing, brambling, bullfinch (not seen for many years), goldcrest, redpoll, siskin, marsh/willow tit (again not seen for many years). A sparrowhawk and kestrel have both flown into windows but recovered after being left in a box in a quiet place – silhouettes now in place on the windows. A moorhen was spotted sitting on the fence although we’re a little way from the pond and beck! NETTLEHAM - signs of spring... Washdyke Lane, Nettleham TF 00270 75178 Su Colman 18/02/22 First pair of corvids sitting together on a nest, establishing their ownership Washdyke Lane, Nettleham SK 99891 75248 Su Colman 19/02/22 First blackthorn flowers on a hedge Mill Hill, Nettleham TF 01176 75295 Su Colman 19/02/22 Small tortoiseshell butterfly awake on the floor in the house, transported to the garage, where the temperature is cooler and more even SEDGE HOLE CLOSE LWT Nature Reserve Steve Hiner 17/02/22 Blackbird x 2 Blue Tit x 4 Carrion Crow x 4 Chaffinch x 2 Dunnock x 2 Fieldfare x 9 Goldfinch x 2 Great Tit x 2 Jackdaw x 2 Robin x 1 Wood Pigeon x 4 Rabbit x 6 21/02/22 Blackbird x 5 Blue Tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 8 Dunnock x 1 Fieldfare x 4 Goldfinch x 2 Great Tit x 4 Jackdaw x 4 Magpie x 2 Pied Wagtail x 2 Redwing x 12 Robin x 1 Wood Pigeon x 6 THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 12/02/22 1st Hawthorn leaves out at Thurnholmes 13/02/22 Blackbird x 4 Black-headed Gull x 28 over Thurnholmes Blue Tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 1 Chaffinch x 4 Cormorant x 1 over Thurnholmes Dunnock x 2 Goldfinch x 6 Great Tit x 2 Greenfinch x 1 Greylag Goose x 3 over Thurnholmes Grey Partridge x 1 Little Egret x 1 low over Thurnholmes Magpie x 2 Pied Wagtail x 2 Robin x 2 Stock Dove x 2 Tree Sparrow x 6 checking out nest boxes Wood Pigeon x 6 14/02/22 Blackbird x 3 Black-headed Gull x 25 in fields around Thurnholmes Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 7 Common Buzzard x 1 Dunnock x 2 Fieldfare x 8 Goldfinch x 6 Greylag Goose x 7 over Thurnholmes Grey Partridge x 6 Little Egret x 1 SK795978 Magpie x 2 Pied Wagtail x 2 Robin x 2 Stock Dove x 2 Tree Sparrow x 6 Wood Pigeon x 8 16/02/22 Little Egret x 1 SK732995 20/02/22 Barn Owl x 1 calling 01:15hrs Blackbird x 6 Black-headed Gull x 65 in fields around Thurnholmes Blue Tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 15 Common Buzzard x 1 Dunnock x 1 Fieldfare x 11 Goldfinch x 4 Greylag Goose x 5 over Thurnholmes Kestrel x 1 SK789977 Lapwing x 175 SK795978 Lesser Redpoll x 12 Magpie x 2 Mute Swan x 2 Owston Ferry Warping Drain Oystercatcher x 2 over Thurnholmes, calling Pied Wagtail x 2 Red-legged Partridge x 3 Redwing x 15 Robin x 1 Skylark x 2 singing high over Thurnholmes Stock Dove x 2 Tree Sparrow x 4 Wood Pigeon x 4 1st Daffodil flowering in orchard (last years first was 19/02/21) WHISBY Brenda Edlington 3/2/2002 Whisby Nature Reserve SK 911 661 A selection of birds seen, 30 species in all Bittern 1, opposite hide 1, at the head of the narrow spit of land Bullfinch 3f 1m near bridge to Teal Lake Gadwall Goldeneye Great created grebe Great white egret (on Grebe Lake and later on Teal Lake) Little grebe Long-Tailed tit Pochard Shoveler Teal Wigeon 11/2/2022 Dead badger by roadside Lincoln Road, Nettleham approx. SK 995749 WOOLSTHORPE-BY-COLSTERWORTH SK923247 - corrected layout from last week. 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. 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. 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... The secret life of bumblebees: Fighting queens, pollinating tomatoes, and the males who 'stay out all night, get drunk on nectar and look for sex' https://www.countrylife.co.uk/nature/the-secret-life-of-bumblebees-fighting-queens-pollinating-tomatoes-and-the-males-who-stay-out-all-night-get-drunk-on-nectar-and-look-for-sex-217115 Fossil of largest Jurassic pterosaur found on Skye https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-60407928 Algae versus the superbugs https://thebiologist.rsb.org.uk/biologist-features/algae-versus-the-superbugs These impressive trees can absorb microplastics through their roots https://www.zmescience.com/science/these-impressive-trees-can-absorb-microplastics-through-their-roots/ ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/