========================================= || || 25th January 2023 || || News of Lincolnshire Wildlife || LNU: http://lnu.org/ | || Please email Editor on: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk || ============================================ 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: Interesting news links below, plus an "owls and birds of prey" report from Bob Sheppard not to be missed! Many interesting local events and wildlife news. and how to spot visible comet C/2022 E3 ZTF. Don't miss the links at the end in "and finally". LNU Meetings: updates for Indoor Meetings 2023 https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/ This week's links to Lincolnshire and wildlife-related news stories. Far Ings starling murmuration caught on camera https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-humber-64317935 BBC Winterwatch uses RSPB Minsmere volunteer's bittern film https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-64347305 The Magical World of Moss - BBC Four - Wednesday, 1 February, 2023 https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2023/05/magical-world-of-moss Seal pup rescued after spotted outside Hemsby kebab shop https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-64360816 Shellfish deaths possibly caused by new disease - report https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-64346633 Crab deaths on UK coast may be caused by unknown disease https://www.newscientist.com/article/2355786-crab-deaths-on-uk-coast-may-be-caused-by-unknown-disease-finds-report/ Tim Peake: My Journey To Space The Engine Shed, University of Lincoln Sunday 19 Mar, 2023 - 19.00 hrs. Details and tickets: https://engineshed.co.uk/events/view/tim-peake-my-journey-to-space/17327 Council sees huge spike in complaints about mould https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp4qpn01gkdo Guardian...the massive crime scandal behind the UK’s rubbish https://uk.yahoo.com/news/gaze-bins-horror-massive-crime-060017241.html Big Garden Birdwatch. This takes place 27-29 January 2023! https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatch/ More links in "..and finally ..." at the end of the Bulletin. Thank you for the interesting news links. Please keep them coming. Roger old.museum@yahoo.co.uk - note - my best address for emails. 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. Joining Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union If you are a member, please 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#? 30 Jan - 8 Feb "Likely cloudy with occasional rain or drizzle in the south at first on Monday. Clearer in the north with sunny spells interspersed with a few showers, this extending south through the day. Windy in the north and east but lighter winds elsewhere. Temperatures around normal for the time of year. Into mid-week, frontal systems are expected to spread from the northwest. These could bring some periods of prolonged rainfall or heavier showers to the north, with the risk of gales here. However any wet weather weakening as the fronts move southwards. Parts of the south could remain mostly dry, while the north may see more wet and windy weather further into the period. Temperatures varying between mild, especially in the north, and cool, with a frost risk remaining." For Astronomers and Sky-watchers Spot the Comet: "A sharp but very welcome cold snap last week meant that many UK observers enjoyed their first views of Comet C/2022 E3 ZTF, and were able to see with their own eyes the comet that observers in other parts of the world have been enjoying. " https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/comet-c-2022-e3-ztf/ Winchcombe meteorite: Is this the UK's most important fireball? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-leicestershire-64223820 Britain's Tim Peake retires from European astronaut corps https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-64346185 Light pollution: Huge fall in stars that can be seen with naked eye https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-64321824 Amazing JWST images show a nebula shaped by a multi-star system https://www.newscientist.com/article/2355798-amazing-jwst-images-show-a-nebula-shaped-by-a-multi-star-system/ Space and astronomy highlights in 2023 from The Royal Observatory https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/space-astronomy-highlights-2023 Meteor Showers 2023 https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/meteor-shower-guide Cosmic Links... for more information... http://rogerparsons.info/cosmic.html Stellarium - open source and very useful https://stellarium.org/ Len Pick Trust Owl-box Camera Several days without an owl in residence - then one seen roosting on Monday 23rd Jan at 04.25hrs. Keep watching. https://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project Bob Sheppard writes: Birds of prey ringing totals for 2022. I thought your readers might be interested in our annual ringing totals for owls and birds of prey in Lincolnshire in 2022. The numbers are generally lower than other years because my colleague Alan Ball had a couple of wrist injuries, which put him out of action for much of the summer, so I had to pull out all the stops to get round the Drainage Boards and EA schemes. Our main focus is to monitor the barn owl and little owl boxes. Kestrels are picked up as we go along because they tend to nest above the barn owls in many of our purpose built two chamber pole boxes. Lincolnshire has more barn owls and little owls than anywhere else in the UK because of the habitat here. The number of barn owls varies from year to year due to the fluctuation in short tailed vole populations. Since 1977 the ringing data has added enormously to our knowledge of raptor and owls. We know where they go, how long they live, how faithful they are to their breeding sites and much more. In recent years the main advances in our knowledge has come from nest box cameras. Barn Owls 505. Little Owls 150 Tawny Owls 46 Long Eared Owl 1 Marsh Harriers 4 Sparrowhawks 6 Kestrels 228 Peregrines 11 Total 951. Since our records began in 1977 we have ringed 18684 of these particular species. In the past we have also ringed other raptor and owl species, which we didn't encounter in 2022, such a Montagu's Harrier, Goshawk, Common Buzzard, Rough Legged Buzzard, Red Kite, Merlin, Hobby and Short Eared Owl. Hedgehog Advice https://hedgehogcare.org.uk/ https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/ Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Area Groups webpage Please let me have your "plugs" for coming events. https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/area-groups *** Boston Area Group LWT *** Gill Walsh writes: Talk - Romania - Transylvania, Danube Delta and Dobrogea by Gill Walsh Thursday 9th February at 7.30pm Centenary Methodist Church Red Lion Street Boston PE21 6NY Admission is free but there will be a retiring collection. Refreshments will be served in the interval Non members welcome *** Grimsby and Cleethorpes Area Group LWT *** Carolyn Davis writes: Spring in the Cairngorms On Monday 13th February 2023 you are invited to join the group at our next indoor meeting where the excellent Geoff Lee will give an illustrated talk "Spring in the Cairngorms" and will be talking about the nature reserves along the River Spey. This will take place in Grimsby Town Hall DN31 1HU and begins at 7.30pm. Admission £3, all are welcome. Raffle and refreshments available. For further details contact Jennie Redpath 01472 502858 Bird Walk at Humberston Fitties On Saturday 25th February 2023 you are invited to join us on a morning bird walk at Humberston Fitties with Graham Hicks. Meet Graham at 8am in the Yacht Club car park Grid Ref. TA 332061. This is a free event however donations will be welcomed for the Trust. You are advised to wear suitable outdoor clothing and stout footwear and bring binoculars if you have them.  For further information contact  Graham Hicks 07979 089890. There are details of both these events on our website www.grimsbywildlifetrust.org.uk and on our Facebook page. *** RSPB Lincoln Local Group *** https://www.lincolnrspb.org.uk/events.htm *** RSPB Grimsby Local Group *** https://group.rspb.org.uk/grimsby/ The RSPB Grimsby Local Group won't be holding an Indoor Meeting in February. Instead, the Group will be hosting a 'Zoom' talk on Monday 20th February 2023 at 7.30pm. 'Wild Fell' by Lee Schofield Lee is the RSPB's site manager at Haweswater, an idyllic spot that the RSPB maintains in partnership with the landowner - water company, United Utilities. This illustrated talk covers the highs and lows during the transformation of the site into a place for nature, a place for water and a place for people! The Zoom link to the talk will be emailed to usual circulation list about a fortnight beforehand. It is then just a question of following the instructions in that email if you want to take part. If you would like to take part but are not on the circulation list, please contact me [Martin Francis] as soon as possible at martin.francis2@ntlworld.com Do not be put off by Zoom. Our earlier Zoom talks have been very successful, and a number of participants have used Zoom for the first time. The Group's next Trip is on Sunday 26th February 2023 to Rufford Park and Sherwood Forest - more details nearer the time 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. Martin Francis Group Leader - RSPB Grimsby Local Group" STAYING SAFE Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. Bird flu: 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 10/1 Hen Harrier ringtail in roost, Short-eared Owl, at Willow Tree Fen 2 Bewick's Swans at Shillaker's Farm, from Counter Drain Drive, Tongue End Hen Harrier, ringtail Tetney Marshes 10+ Bewick's Swans all ads, with Whooper Swans west of Westwoodside in field north of B1396 by Sanderson's Bank 11/1 Hen Harrier ringtail in roost, 2 Cattle Egrets, 21 Goosanders, Willow Tree Fen, Hen Harrier, Frampton Marsh 9 Snow Buntings on Beach, Gibraltar Point 7+Velvet Scoters on sea with Common Scoters, Mablethorpe Hen Harrier, RAF Wainfleet Short-eared Owl, Digby 10+ Bewick's Swans all ads, with Whooper Swans west of Westwoodside in field north of B1396 by Sanderson's Bank 12/1 Hen Harrier ringtail in roost, Willow Tree Fen 2 Slavonian or Black-necked Grebes landed on sea, Gibraltar Point Hen Harrier male, Frampton Marsh 16 Snow Buntings, Saltfleetby Iceland Gull juv at Novartis Ings, Pyewipe 11 Bewick's Swans all ads, with Whooper Swans west of Westwoodside in field north of B1396 by Sanderson's Bank Pager records on hold - pending repairs. Pager back in action: 17/1 Hen Harrier male, Frampton Marsh Water Pipit, Short-eared Owl, Gibraltar Point 2 Hen Harriers, 1 male, Saltfleetby 2 Hen Harriers 1 male, c30 Twite, Horseshoe Point 18/1 Kittiwake ad between Fen Bridge and New Road, Deeping High Bank, Deeping St Nicholas 8 Bewick's Swans on reedbed, Frampton Marsh Hen Harruier, Rimac 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese with Dark-bellied Brent Geese in winter wheat field near Saltfleetby 10 Russian White-fronted Geese off Marsh Lane near Winter's Pond, East Halton Skitter 11 Bewick's Swans all ads, with Whooper Swans west of Westwoodside in field north of B1396 by Sanderson's Bank 19/1 8 Bewick's Swans on reedbed, 7 Russian White-fronted Geese at Marsh Farm, Frampton Marsh 2 Tundra Bean Geese, Waxwing along Mill Pond Road, then flew south, Gibraltar Point Lapland Bunting at Wainfleet Range, RAF Wainfleet 20/1 6 Russian White-fronted Geese, ringtail Hen Harrier, Frampton Marsh 12 Snow Buntings, Gibraltar Point 13 Bewick's Swans all ads, with Whooper Swans west of Westwoodside in field north of B1396 by Sanderson's Bank 21/1 Bewick's Swan with Whooper Swans, East Lake, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James 6 Russian White-fronted Geese, 5 Bewick's Swans, Hen Harrier male, Frampton Marsh 2 Tundra Bean Geese with Pink-footed Geese, 12 Snow Buntings, Hen Harrier over Old Saltmarsh, Gibraltar Point Short-eared Owl, Sandilands 22/1 2 Hen Harriers, 1 male, Terrington Marsh [nr Sutton Bridge] Bittern, Far Ings 12 Bewick's Swans all ads, with Whooper Swans west of Westwoodside in field north of B1396 by Sanderson's Bank 23/1 Hen Harrier ringtail in roost, Willow Tree Fen Short-eared Owl, 7 Russian White-fronted Geese, Frampton Marsh 6+ Bewick's Swans all ads, with Whooper Swans west of Westwoodside in field north of B1396 by Sanderson's Bank Water Pipit, East Halton Skitter 24/1 8 Bewick's Swans with Whooper Swans, 2+ Twite, Holbeach Marsh 7 Russian White-fronted Geese, 7 Bewick's Swans, Frampton Marsh Twite, 2 Hen Harriers, Donna Nook 13 Bewick's Swans, Hen Harrier male west of Westwoodside in field north of B1396 by Sanderson's Bank 25/1 Great Northern Diver juv, Covenham reservoir 9 Bewick's Swans west of Westwoodside in field north of B1396 by Sanderson's Bank ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog: http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ Lincs Bird Club: https://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk/site/index.php/sightings/latest-news Butterfly Conservation - Lincolnshire Branch: https://butterfly-conservation.org/in-your-area/lincolnshire-branch/ Which moth species might be on the wing tonight in your area? https://butterfly-conservation.org/moths/whats-flying-tonight Atlas of the terrestrial and semi-aquatic Mammals of Lincolnshire by C. J. Manning, LNU Mammal Recorder. Download /print off. https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/mammalatlas.pdf VC54 North Lincolnshire Plant List - LNU Paul Kirby has produced a list of all the vascular plant & stonewort taxa with records on the MapMate botanical database for VC54, North Lincolnshire, at the end of January 2017. Download this on: https://lnu.org/specialists/vascular-plants/ Record Pool - recommended by Ashley Butterfield An easy way to record your amphibian and reptile species records. https://www.recordpool.org.uk/index.php ROAD KILLS? PLEASE LET US KNOW. Every drive is a transect! Hedgehogs? Badgers? Otters? Reports welcome. *** County Wildlife Reports From Readers *** Thanks to our regular contributors across the county. Much appreciated. We rely on readers to send in their observations and welcome records from everyone, experts or beginners. Please keep your reports coming. BARDNEY - The Green TF120694 R & A Parsons w/o 23/1/2023 Blue Tit 2 Great Tit 1 Pied Wagtail 1 Blackbird 3 m Robin 1 singing Starling 12+ Jackdaw 8+ Carrion Crow 1 Woodpigeon 6+ Collared Dove 2 Blackheaded Gull 30+ BARDNEY GARDEN Grid ref TF 117 701 Mary and Phil Porter Wb 22nd January 2023 The freezing, hard ground and icy conditions meant the bird feeders and water bowls were very popular in the garden. The pied wagtail has been down, when normally it finds our garden too enclosed. As soon as water was in the bowls the birds were in. Water was as popular as the food. A kestrel has been hovering over the garden. X1 male redpoll, feeding with the goldfinches X1 male great spotted woodpecker Around x30 goldfinches X8+ greenfinches X6+ chaffinches X10+ blackbirds MANY house sparrows, around 20+ Robins singing at dawn and dusk, and off and on during the day (approx. three) One blackbird singing One or two dunnocks One wren Approx three starlings X6+ jackdaws X1 crow X6+ long-tailed tits X4+ blue tits X2+ great tits X4+ woodpigeons X3 collared doves X1 stock dove Two male tawny owls calling at night Muntjac deer barking out the front Since changing the bird-feeders to all-metal ones, we have had the odd brief visit by one grey squirrel, when we had been getting three regularly demolishing the feeders BOSTON Maud Foster Drain Bargate Bridge TF 33166 44553 to Sluice gate TF 33527 43097 17th-21st January 2023 Tracey Lenton I have walked along the Maud Foster drain in sections (between bridges) over the course of the week noting the birdlife on the water. A cold and frosty week but sunny. Cormorant, single one day, 2 one day Gulls in mixed groups, in winter plumage, some adult some immature: black-headed, herring, lesser black-backed, reference RSPB Bird book Mallard, most seen was 5 male 4 female at one time Moorhens, single and in twos Mute swan, single, 2 and on one day 3 on the water then flew overhead. CARLTON LE MOORLAND Carlton le Moorland SK909581 Jeremy Hutchinson 18/1/2023 GS Woodpecker drumming over the last few days GRIMSBY TA265095 Joyce Attia 23rd January 2023 Walk up riverside, 2 pairs of swans about 20 yards away from each other all with wings raised, expected a standoff but it didn't happen. When I c ame back they had each gone separate ways. Quite a lot of moorhens, there were 2 or 3 broods last year, they did well. 19th January. The bird feeder is in demand today 9 house sparrows, robin, great tits, blue tits, 2 dunnocks, male and female blackbirds. 21st January. I found some nuts and raisins left over from Christmas, we were never going to eat them so chopped them up small for the birds. The nuts soon went but it was 2 days before they would touch the raisins, then 3 starlings came and ate them.. 22nd January. Absolutely frozen all over. Bird bath froze as fast as I could fill it. Filled up bird feeder, threw a couple of handfuls of mixed seed out for ground feeders. 2 woodpigeons, a few feral pigeons , starlings, male and female blackbirds. Looking out of bedroom window can see a cormorant diving, but doesn't look as if he caught much. 23rd January.  Bluetits, sparrows, starlings, 2 woodpigeons, 2 collared doves, M and F blackbirds, robin. Still no sign of goldfinches. HALTON HOLGATE Janet Harwood 18/1/2023 There seem to be two - a pair? - of ravens in Halton Holegate, which is quite surprising -the last time I saw some was in the Lake District. HOLYWELL LAKE Holywell Lake 21st January 2023 10.45 -1315 Ian Misselbrook Rabbit 1 Grey Squirrels 2 Canada Geese 38 Coot 5 Cormorant 1 Gadwall 30 Grey Heron 1 Greylag Geese 34 Kingfisher 1 Lapwing 45 -on the pastures around the lake Little Grebes 22 Mallard 45 Moorhen 32 Mute Swans 3 Shoveler 2 (pair) Teal 22 Wigeon 75 Carrion Crow 2 Jackdaws 12 Black-headed Gulls 7 Buzzard 1 Gey Wagtails 2 (pair) Ravens 2 Red Kite 1 Sparrowhawk 1 – male with Blackbird in talons Blackbirds 6 Blue Tits 2 Dunnock 1 Goldcrests 3 G S Woodpecker 1 Great Tits 2 Long-tailed Tits 4 Pheasants 3 Redwings 22 Robins 2 Rooks – lots Stock Doves 2 Treecreeper 1 Woodpigeons 3 Wrens 2 Song Thrush 1 WINTERTON Alice Nunn 18/1/2023 A quick note to say that I have spotted Winter Aconites (the little yellow ones) in flower in my Southern aspect back garden in Winterton N Lincs on 16th Jan. This is pretty much par for the course over the last few years, maybe a day or so earlier? This year they seem to have beaten the snowdrops, but that isn't always the case. WOOLSTHORPE BY COLSTERWORTH  SK922/24 Jane Ostler 9-22 January 2023 This period almost completely hard frosts at night and not thawing during day. On 9th winter aconites and violets noted in my garden and on 10th on Old Post Lane. Lesser Celandine also out on Old Post Lane and on Water Lane. Spurge Laurel flowers in bud on Nature Trail by this date. Violets out on field side. Two hazel trees found with female flowers out – but butchers broom not even showing flower buds. Gorse on verge with plenty of flowers out. Blackbirds continue to squabble over the apples on the lawn but ignore house sparrows feeding amongst them. Finding a green caterpillar amongst the prunings of a shrub, reminded me of a note made in 2007 of one being found in the base of iris leaves by a wren. It beat it into a long shape before swallowing it whole. A blue tit visiting a hole in a stone wall used last year as a nesting site for blue tits, could have been considering it for this purpose again. On the other hand it could have been looking for spiders . Some of the smaller birds have joined those of the crow family in courtship behaviour. Two robins on a garden feeder were not being aggressive. One was leaning back at what seemed an uncomfortable angle, to display his red breast to full advantage. The other, with an equally red breast seemed to have no interest, pecking at a fat ball, but with one eye on the display. A brief song from a blackbird early on a sunny morning. The promiscuous dunnocks , with their apologetic twitterings are the most constant sound. By the River Witham two little egrets and a heron are regular feeders. A jack snipe, always reluctant to fly got up from below a walkers feet – it straight flight (compared to the larger snipe) helping to distinguish it The frosty fields show up the figures of hares. Two chasing a third on 21st January. A muntjac reported to be with another which looked very young – a demonstration that these deer breed throughout the year.. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 18th – 24th January 2023 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett, Ruth Taylor and Owen Beaumont. Daily News and Wildlife Sightings The continued frosty mornings have seen an increase in Blackbird numbers this week. Birds are coming to the east coast in readiness for returning to mainland Europe. At Coastguard gardens numbers increased from 9 to over 18, most of which are males. 180123 - Single peregrine, male marsh harrier, ringtail hen harrier and male hen harrier hunting over the saltmarsh late afternoon. Eight twite seen near Crook Bank. Nearby the reserve 794 dark bellied brent have been seen which included 138 juvenile birds and 2 pale bellied brents. 190123 - Last few days of hard frosts has seen open water bodies frozen and wildfowl moved on. At least 200 wigeon on the floodbank of the Great Eau near Sea View. 21 blackbirds at the Sea View feeding station and at least 30 frequenting another feeding area to the south. At Sea View great spotted woodpecker and 3 siskin nearby, plus 2 male bullfinch flying high overhead. 200123 - Paradise lagoon 90 percent ice cover but 5 gadwall on the only bit of open water. On the saltmarsh, off Rimac, at least 200 redshank, 11 pintail flew off with mallard, a mixed flock of mainly linnets with goldfinches totalling some 250 birds, 11 common snipe and 2 marsh harriers. Male blackcap at Churchill. 210123 - Another hard frost, Paradise lagoon remains well frozen but 11 gadwall and 7 shoveler on small area of water, Great Eau at Sea View has a least 300 wildfowl being mainly wigeon. Little owl calling in hedgerow near Churchill and at least 280 curlew at roost on an area after a falling tide. 220123 - A wonderful sight of 152 whooper swans roosting on Rimac foreshore lagoon. Also on Rimac foreshore grey and brown hen harrier plus a marsh harrier in the area. Over 4500 pink feet flying West over Sea View from their roosting area to feeding areas inland. The wintering pink feet geese numbers holding steady at c 4500. 230123 - 280 curlews on foreshore and a flock of 109 curlew, south, past Crook Bank. Single woodcock flew from dunes. and a male blackcap. In shelter belt near Sea View 9 redwing and a single goldcrest. Brown and grey hen harrier, male marsh harrier and barn owl hunting over saltmarsh. 240123 - Between Churchill and Brickyard a charm of 14 goldfinches, 2 bullfinches, single redpoll and a blackcap. A total of at least 60 blackbirds at three local feeding stations between Sea View and Brickyard with up to 30 chaffinches. Great spotted woodpecker drumming and green woodpecker yaffling in the Sea View area. Other Local Reserves 230123 – Donna Nook: The last 5 grey seal pups left the Stonebridge viewing area for the North Sea. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 2023 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. 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7. SENDING IN BULLETIN REPORTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The purpose of the Bulletin is to encourage biological recording in Lincolnshire. We aim to increase the number of people reporting observations to Recorders. The Bulletin is a FREE service. We ask you to provide reports, questions, news or relevant articles from time to time. Descriptive pieces are welcome. You don't have to stick to lists! Please help us to help you. When sending in reports please follow this layout to save re-editing: Place Name: IN CAPITALS with Grid Reference if you have it. Your Name: Real names please, not aliases. Put it in each time, for each location Date: Species list [Alphabetical?] & numbers [and observations?] e.g. Blackbird - 24 [And please, no home-grown abbreviations. Species Names in full.] Bulletin mailing times vary, depending on what I am doing. It usually goes out on Wednesdays/Thursdays in time for the weekend. Please e-mail in contributions as early as possible, to: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8. CONTACTS AND USEFUL WEBSITES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CONTACTS LIST Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union LNU Website: http://lnu.org/ LNU Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist? LNU Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lincsnaturalists/ LNU e-mail: info@lnu.org Downloads of LNU books are available on: https://lnu.org/publications/books/ LNU Officers and Executive Committee https://lnu.org/about/officers-executive/ Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust https://twitter.com/LincsWildlife Lincs Bird Club 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 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: 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. Email: d.a.sheppard@btinternet.com Lincolnshire Mammals Chris Manning, Email: 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: http://www.glnp.org.uk/ Greater Lincolnshire Nature Partnership newsletter: 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 https://lnu.org/lincolnshire-plants-past-and-future/ Collections Dataset - LNU "historic specimens" 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 new 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... Bee-harming pesticide use given emergency authorisation https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-64380762 Red squirrels number on the rise in Scotland, survey finds https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-64358926 The ancient trees at the heart of a case against the Crown https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-63980557 River Drina: 'Embarrassment' of beauty spot's plastic waste https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-europe-64361714 Portuguese man-of-war warning after Dorset beach sightings https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-64364653 Government falling 'far short' on environmental targets https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-64321622 Project to map Dorset's ancient sunken holloways https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-64322794 Oyster mushroom fungus uses nerve gas to paralyse and eat tiny worms https://www.newscientist.com/article/2355065-oyster-mushroom-fungus-uses-nerve-gas-to-paralyse-and-eat-tiny-worms/ Australia's 'Toadzilla': Record-breaking cane toad found in Queensland https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-64341453 Young country diary: Worship the mud! https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jan/21/young-country-diary-worship-the-mud ------ ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/