============================================= || || 24th July 2019 || || News of Lincolnshire Wildlife || || LNU Website: || http://lnu.org/ || ============================================ In this issue..... 1. Information, tips and requests 2. Wildlife Highlights 3. Wildlife reports from around the county 4. NNRs including RSPB and LWT Reserves 5. Bardney Limewoods NNR 6. Other Reserve Reports and Highlights 7. Sending in Reports - contributors please read! 8. Contact information 9. Notes about these wildlife reports 10. Bulletin publicity policy 11. Events Diary 12. ...and finally..... ============================================ Reports here are open and are available to county recorders of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union, the Lincolnshire Bird Club and Lincolnshire Environmental Record Centre [LERC]. Text versions of past Wildnews Bulletins from Feb 2009 - 10 years worth! http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union or any associated organisations. Please use the "forward to a friend" link at the end of every LNU Bulletin. We really need your help with building up reader numbers. ============================================ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. Information, hints, tips and requests ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Editor writes... *** Check weather warnings - thunderstorms still expected. https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings It's International Bog Day this Sunday (28th) https://bogday.org/ Why not sign up for Steven Heathcote's Bryophytes course, focusing on Sphagnum Mosses - August 31st. Also see the YWT website: https://www.ywt.org.uk/nature-reserves The present warm spell should have boosted butterfly numbers and helped you to enjoy your butterfly count. I feel sure readers will be able to explain the difference between a moth and a butterfly - or can you? See: https://butterfly-conservation.org/news-and-blog/you-say-butterfly-i-say-moth It has been a great year for hazel nuts and if lucky you may find some open shells that give a clue to the identity of the eater. You might even find signs of a dormouse. Don't forget to report it if you do. See: https://www.discoverwildlife.com/how-to/identify-wildlife/how-to-identify-wildlife-feeding-signs/ A selection of topical links follows. Click any that catch your eye. I may well have meant them for you. Painted lady butterfly influx needs people to count them https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-49041006 Big Butterfly Count: Which common UK species to look for https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-49041006 Rare butterflies thrive at Derbyshire's Hoe Grange Quarry https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-49029941 Birds and insect species are heading north in the UK as climate warms https://www.newscientist.com/article/2210236 Great Ponton debate over Lincolnshire chicken farm plans https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-49044530 Combination of noctilucent clouds and bioluminescence. Mind boggling. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-49035205 Vast sand scheme to protect Norfolk coast https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-48965715 Extinction threat to overlooked species https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-49005876 Len Pick Trust Owlcam - "the Owl feed has nearly achieved 50,000 hits this season with visitors from the four corners of the world." http://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project/4593449091 More links in "...and finally..." Please help to keep the information interesting by sending in your contributions for next week: wildlife sightings, articles, events, questions and news - anything you feel would be useful for other readers to see. Roger old.museum@yahoo.co.uk *** LNU Events Diary *** LNU events are listed below in section 11. For LNU meetings, see: https://lnu.org/meetings/ [Note: Unless otherwise stated, Indoor Meetings are held on Saturdays at the Whisby Education Centre, Whisby Nature Park, Moor Lane, Thorpe on the Hill, Lincoln and start at 2pm.] Next meeting: Glebe Farm, East Keal (including Keal Carr LWT Reserve and SSSI) – southwest of Spilsby Saturday 10th August 2019 All day event with evening moth/bat session Access courtesy of Alec Coney Farms Ltd and Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Last LNU visit in 1988 10.00 start and then again from 13.00. Evening session starting from 20.15. Meet and park at Glebe Farm TF378649 which is at end of track off minor road (last road on left as you head north out of East Keal on A16). Nearest postcode: PE23 4HA. NB. No mains available for moth traps. Nearest public toilets in Spilsby. Some marshy areas and steep slopes. Habitats: Grassland, marsh, ponds, wet woodland, scrub and hedgerows. Leader: Brian Hedley 07989 665794 brian_hedley@hotmail.com Whisby Natural History Workshops 2019 - have you signed up yet? In partnership with the Lincolnshire Naturalists Union. At Whisby Nature Park near Lincoln, in the Lafarge Education Building from 12.00 pm until 4.00 pm. Free of charge. Prior booking essential via Richard Davidson on 01522 525725 or Email rel.davidson@btinternet.com Find out more about the various subjects from our local experts. Places are limited due to the number of microscopes available. Odonata workshop is now fully booked up. The other workshops all have a number of places available. Odonata - August 3rd - Fiona McKenna and Grahame Hopwood - fully booked. Bryophytes, focusing on Sphagnum Mosses - August 31st - Steven Heathcote Leafminer Moths - October 5th - Colin Smith Slugs - October 26th - Chris de Feu Fungi - November 2nd - Ray Halstead *** July Night Sky *** Paul Money's 'Monthly Night Sky' webpage will be found on: http://www.astrospace.co.uk/Astrospace/monthly-sky/monthlynightsky.html Perseid meteor shower Fri 9 Aug – Wed 14 Aug 2019. The Perseids start to show in mid July, peaking early to mid August. https://www.popastro.com/main_spa1/meteor/perseids/ I have just registered there is a transit of Mercury in November - Nov 11 at 15:20UT. [Universal Time = GMT] A date for our diaries. Mercury transits are less dramatic than those of Venus, but still fascinating and exciting. If you intend trying to observe it you will need to prepare a safe way to look at the Sun. https://www.popastro.com/main_spa1/transit-of-mercury-2019/ *** National Whale and Dolphin Watch Weekend - volunteers needed *** Dave Miller writes: Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th August we will be running watches from the Round- and-Round hide and North Sea Observatory for National Whale and Dolphin Watch Weekend. If you are around come along and lend your eyes to the sea. DMiller@lincstrust.co.uk *** Scunthorpe Museum Society Natural History and Geology Section *** http://scunthorpemuseumsociety.btck.co.uk/ *** Grimsby & District RSPB *** http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/grimsby For more information, contact Martin Francis (Group Leader) at martin.francis2@ntlworld.com (preferred) or on (01472) 883436 *** Lincoln RSPB *** http://www.lincolnrspb.org.uk/ *** South Lincs RSPB Group *** Jeremy Eyeons writes: The South Lincs RSPB Group has released the dates of their 2019 BIRDWATCHING AND SEAL CRUISES aboard The Boston Belle, into The Wash. Details can be found at: https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire/ Full details of the 2019 cruise programme can be found at- https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire/news/459075/ *** LWT Reserves *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/reserves *** LWT Get Involved page - including Area Groups *** https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT *** www.grimsbywildlifetrust.org.uk On Saturday 27th July 2019 the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust invite you to join them on a morning bird walk at Freshney Bog with Graham Hicks. Meet at 8am at St. Michael's Church, carpark off Great Coates Road, Grimsby, DN34 4ND. Grid Ref. TA 240092. Please wear suitable outdoor clothing and stout footwear and bring binoculars if you have them. This is a free event however donations will be welcomed for the Trust. For further details contact Graham Hicks - 07979 089890. On Friday 2nd August 2019 the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust invite you to join us at a Bat and Moth Evening in Cleethorpes Country Park with experts Julie Ellision and Adrian White. Meet in the car park area at 8.40 pm. Grid Ref. 306067, nearest postcode DN35 0TG. There will be a short talk by Julie and Adrian followed by a walk in the park hoping to detect bats led by Julie. Meanwhile Adrian will set up his moth trap so hopefully by the time the walkers return there will be some moths to see. Please bring a small torch and a folding seat and wear suitable outdoor clothing and stout foot wear. Donations will be welcomed for the Lincolnshire Bat Group and the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust. Strictly bookings only through Julie Ellison - 07586293860 / 07791803189 or email julie@julieellison.co.uk On Sunday 4th August 2019 the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust invite you to join them on a morning bird walk in Irby Dales with Graham Hicks. Meet at 8am outside St. Andrew's Church, Irby on Humber, near Grimsby. Grid Ref. TA 196049. Nearest postcode DN37 7JR. Please wear suitable outdoor clothing and stout footwear and bring binoculars if you have them. This is a free event however donations will be welcomed for the Trust. For further details contact Graham Hicks - 07979089890. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: Rare Bird Alert website: http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/ [Please mention the Bulletin if you decide to subscribe.] 18th July Garganey on Croft Marsh, 4 Spoonbills on Tennyson's Sands, Curlew Sandpiper, Short-eared Owl, Gibraltar Point 4 Black-necked Grebes, 2 ads + 2 young, 3 Little Stints, 5 Spoonbills, 4 Spotted Redshanks, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 2 Short-eared Owls, Frampton Marsh 15 Spotted Redshanks, Alkborough Flats 12 Little Gulls flew north past Anderby 2 Garganey, Freiston Shore 2 Quail males singing between Hallington and Donnington-on-Bain Caspian Gull ad, Trent Port Wetlands west of Marton 19th July Serin flew over Mill Hill, Wood Sandpiper on Tennyson's Sands, 2 Spoonbills, Short-eared Owl, 2 Spotted Redshanks, Gibraltar Point Long-billed Dowitcher, 4 Black-necked Grebes, 2 ads + 2 young, 7 Spotted Redshanks, Curlew Sandpiper, 5 Little Stints, 3 Spoonbills, 2 Short-eared Owls, 4 Black-necked Grebes, 2 ads + 2 young, Little Stint, 2 Garganey, Turtle Dove, Frampton Marsh 20th July 2 White-rumped Sandpipers, Long-billed Dowitcher ad, 4 Spoonbills, 3 Curlew Sandpipers, 2 Short-eared Owls, 4 Spoonbills, Little Gull, 8 Spotted Redshanks, Frampton Marsh Sandwich Tern, Nettleton Holiday Park, Caistor 2 Wood Sandpipers and 2 Garganey on Jackson's Marsh, 3 Spoonbills and Little Stint on Tennyson's Sands, Spotted Redshank, Gibraltar Point 3 Garganey, fem +2 juvs, Alkborough Flats 21st July 2 White-rumped Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher ad, 2 Little Stints, 4 Black-necked Grebes, 2 ads + 2 young, Curlew Sandpiper, Garganey, Short-eared Owl, 4 Spoonbills, Turtle Dove, Frampton Marsh Temminck's Stint, Paradise Pool south of Saltfleet Haven 3 Spotted Redshanks on Tennyson's Sands, Short-eared Owl, 4 Spoonbills, Gibraltar Point 22nd July 2 White-rumped Sandpiper ad, Long-billed Dowitcher ad, 4 Black-necked Grebes, 2 ads + 2 young, 4 Spoonbills, Turtle Dove, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, 4 Spoonbills, Frampton Marsh Wood Sandpiper, Marston Sewage Works 2 Spotted Redshanks and 8 Spoonbills on Tennyson's sands, 2 Spoonbills flew south, Curlew Sandpiper flew south, Gibraltar Point Quail male singing, barley field 1m west of Withcall, Donnington on Bain 23rd July 3 Spotted Redshanks and 3 Spoonbills, 1 on Tennyson's Sands, 2 on Jackson's Marsh, 2 Garganey of Croft Marsh, Wood Sandpiper flew north, Short-eared Owl, Gibraltar Point 2 White-rumped Sandpiper ad, 4 Black-necked Grebes, 2 ads + 2 young, Little Stint, Short-eared Owl, 4 Spoonbills, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, 6 Spotted Redshanks, Frampton Marsh 24th July Long-billed Dowitcher ad, 2 White-rumped Sandpiper ad, Black-necked Grebes, 2 ads + 2 young, 3 Curlew Sandpipers, 4 Spoonbills, Wood Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh 2 Wood Sandpipers, Freiston Shore 2 Spoonbills, Short-eared Owl, Spotted Redshank, Gibraltar Point ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3. Wildlife news from around the county ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** 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/ *** The Roger Goy Column *** Remembering Roger Goy's wildlife information work. http://www.bbc.co.uk/lincolnshire/content/articles/2005/08/30/nature_sightings_feature.shtml NORTH RAUNCEBY North Rauceby TF 025460 21/07/2019 Jeremy Hutchinson Red Kite ROAD KILLS? PLEASE LET US KNOW. Every drive is a transect! 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 we welcome records from everyone, experts or beginners. Please keep your reports coming. DON'T FORGET - TIME FLIES! Please include the year in your reports in case they are copied and thus lose their context. BARDNEY - The Green TF120694 R and A Parsons 19/7/2019 Grasshopper - brown - 20mm long - probably field grasshopper Giant Horse Fly - 15mm - ID'd as Tabanus autumnalis by Phil Porter from photos. Released on 20th and flew off purposefully towards Abbey Road. https://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/large-marsh-horsefly More: https://naturalhistorymuseum.blog/2016/05/27/tabanidae-horseflies-curator-of-diptera/ BASSINGHAM Bassingham Jeremy Hutchinson SK 910595 22/07/2019 Numerous insects attracted to Spear Thistle flowers, including: Brown Hairstreak (first for me) Holly Blue Common Blue Longhorn Beetle Rutpela maculata (another first for me) Blue Damselflies BOSTON (Garden) 20/07/2019 Kathleen Pearson A very good week just ended for the amount of species recorded in the garden by the A16. Birds with highest totals seen together:- Blue Tit 2, Starling 9, Goldfinch 4, House Sparrow 4, Collared Dove 3, Woodpigeon 4, Blackbird 4, Greenfinch 4, Dunnock 2, Carrion Crow 3, Magpie 2, Robin 1, Song Thrush 1, Great tit 3, Chaffinch 2, Jay 2, Wren 1, Jackdaw 2, Sparrowhawk 1, Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 and Long-tailed Tit 2. Butterflies:- Gatekeeper, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Comma, Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Brimstone, Red Admiral, Holly Blue and Small Tortoiseshell. Other records:- Grey Squirrel, Hedgehog and Cinnabar Moth. CARLTON LE MOORLAND Carlton le Moorland Jeremy Hutchinson SK909581 23/7/2019 Butterflies/moths seen recently Privet Hawk Moth Magpie Moth Holly Blue Comma Brimstone Small Tortoiseshell Speckled Wood Red Admiral Peacock Meadow Brown Large Skipper GRIMSBY TA265095 JOYCE ATTIA 21st July 2019 15.20 hrs Along the river bank - There are 2 broods of swans, one with 5 cygnets and one with nine cygnets. The moorhens seem to be late this year, we saw one nest with 5 eggs ( very well hidden) about 6 weeks ago, I managed to head off the council workmen who were about to strim the river bank. They had looked around but had missed them. Nothing seemed to come of them, but now there is a brood of 6, all different sizes. This often puzzled me but I've found out that they lay one egg a day and they take 22 days to hatch, which explains it. The turtle is still there lazing about in the reeds. I haven't seen the water vole any more. There have been a number of butterflies, mainly ringlets and meadow browns with the occasional small tortoiseshell and the inevitable large white. TF511762 (my garden) HUTTOFT Jane Pennington 15/7/2019 Ringlets 4 16/7/2019 Holly blue 2 Southern hawker 1 - emerging from larva case 17/7/2019 Bats 3 or 4 - 9.30pm Common darter 1 Small tortoiseshell 1 Tawny owl 1 - heard at 1am Wasp 1 - type unknown - a scratching sound led me to the wasp on an old door currently used to fill a gap along the garden fence and I have since learnt the term 'rasping wood fibres', which is what it was doing. 19/7/2019 Blue-tailed damselfly 1 - trapped in greenhouse and subsequently rescued  Forest bug 1 21/1/2019 Pheasant 1 Wrens 2 THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 17/07/19 Comma x 1 Green-veined White x 2 Meadow Brown x 15 Painted Lady x 2 Peacock x 2 Red Admiral x 3 Ringlet x 9 Small Skipper x 1 Small Tortoiseshell x 7 Hummingbird Hawkmoth x 1 rescued from conservatory 18/07/19 Painted Lady x 2 Peacock x 2 Red Admiral x 4 Small Tortoiseshell x 9 19/07/19 Blackbird x 3 fledged young Blue Tit x 2 Common Buzzard x 1 SK775995 Swallow x 17 Tree Sparrow x 27 + 2 nests ready to fledge Wood Pigeon x 4 Common Shrew x 1 SK792988 21/07/19 Comma x 1 Meadow Brown x 5 Painted Lady x 2 Red Admiral x 3 Ringlet x 4 Small Skipper x 2 Small Tortoiseshell x 9 23/07/19 Blackbird x 2 Blue Tit x 2 Chaffinch x 1 Greenfinch x 2 Swift x 29 Tree Sparrow x 2 adults and several juveniles in and out of nest boxes (2 x second broods) Wood Pigeon x 4 Yellowhammer x 1 Comma x 2 Green-veined White x 1 Large White x 2 Meadow Brown x 2 Painted Lady x 2 Peacock x 2 Red Admiral x 5 Ringlet x 4 Small Skipper x 2 Small Tortoiseshell x 11 Small White x 15 Tawny Shears moth x 1 Common Blue Damselfly x 1 Blue-tailed Damselfly x 3 Geotrupes stercorarius x 1 (Clare Holmes) found in horse droppings, no chemical wormers are used on the horses. Meadow Grasshopper x 5 WOOLSTHORPE-BY-COLSTERWORTH SK/92/24 Jane Ostler July 2019 FLOWERING PLANTS Chicory has appeared with Crown Vetch on a verge alongside the Manor House. Greater Knapweed and Field Scabious are attracting the butterflies and both Hedge and Lady's Bedstraw have produced large plants and are much in evidence on the Verges. NON-FLOWERING PLANTS Both Giant Puff Balls and Field Mushrooms appeared in one garden. INSECTS July has been marked by a series of invasions. First black beetles after the oil seed rape was cut. Then the first day of the corn harvest (winter barley)was marked by hundreds of thunder flies (thrips) which stuck to our faces and climbed under picture frames. On Saturday, 13th July migrant White Butterflies arrived. We thought we had escaped them this year but within a few days were removing their eggs from the sprouting broccoli, which already had a covering of whitefly. On Tuesday 16th July at Swayfield I saw from the village hall windows about 20 Whites seeming to fly purposefully over a grass field towards gardens. Happily Painted Ladies have been with us, in gardens, on verges and on the Nature Trail since the beginning of the month. Ringlets are now the most numerous butterflies on the Nature Trail with lots of Meadow Browns still flying and the first Gatekeepers seen in the second week in July. Few Speckled Woods this month. Small and Large Skippers and Small Heath , an occasional Small Copper with Six Spot Burnet and Cinnabar Moths add to the variety. New emergences of Red Admirals, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock and one Comma reported from gardens. Every day there is a procession up and down the trunk of a crab apple tree in my garden as ants collect from the greenfly that they milk. On 23rd July (at 3p.m. Temp 30C) I was astonished to see what looked like a cascade of water droplets shooting up from between the slabs in the front garden. It was composed of flying ants and this continued for 8 minutes. An hour later they were being swept up from a neighbour's kitchen floor. Other sightings have been Common Green grasshoppers and Southern Hawkers Dragonflies on the Woolsthorpe Roadside Nature Reserve. BIRDS Every morning at around 6a.m. aboout 30 Swifts can be seen from our bedroom window, sweeping in wide arcs as they feed. 10 minutes later they are joined by a Red Kite flying low and I suspect visiting gardens. The landfill site, which has provided these birds with regular food for several years is now closed. Last on the scene, but still as regular are a pair of buzzards, circling high and occasionally uttering a mewing sound, said to foretell rain. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. NNRs including RSPB and LWT Reserves - reports always welcome ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RSPB Reserves: http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/collections/thewash_northnorfolk.aspx https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/ https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/freistonshore/ http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh/ LWT Reserves: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/reserves ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FAR INGS NNR https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/far-ings Reports welcome..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GIBRALTAR POINT NNR https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/gibraltar-point Reports welcome..... See: Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog. http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 - 23rd July 2019 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett and Ruth Taylor. 020719 - Last cuckoo heard calling was on 2nd July and last one seen on the 9th. 4 pairs with territories across the reserve equal to previous years. 060719 - Whimbrel began their return migration from 6th July, with small groups being heard most days. 080719 – First emerald damselflies at Churchill. 100719 – Hobby, regular sparrow hawk and great-spotted woodpecker. 140719 - Up to 100 swifts seen circling and feeding in the high summer clouds on several days this week. 6 black-tailed godwit on Paradise lagoon. 160719 - Common and Sandwich tern, Arctic skua, gannet, common scoter, black-tailed godwit, spotted redshank, greenshank, marsh harrier, common buzzard and sparrowhawk. 200719 - Juvenile cuckoo near Sea View, 2 common sandpipers on Paradise lagoon and at Rimac a juvenile wheatear plus a turtle dove flying south. 210719 - At Paradise lagoon a Temminck’s stint [per comms Geoff Williams], 2 common sandpipers and a single black-tailed godwit. Later in the evening the Temminck’s stint still there plus 1 greenshank, 3 lapwing, 4 redshank, 2 avocets a nd 31 pied wagtails. 220719 - 3 common sandpipers, 2 greenshank and a Mediterranean gull with 71 black-headed gulls at Paradise lagoon. 230719 - On Paradise lagoon were 3 common sandpipers, 1 green sandpiper and the Mediterranean gull with 102 black-headed gulls. Late evening at least 70 sandwich terns feeding out from the Haven and a single grasshopper warbler heard and seen at Rimac. The spell of warm, at times hot (29.5? on the 22nd), sunny weather has bought out a good range of butterflies including holly blue, common blue, brown argus, peacock (good numbers), red admiral, painted lady, small tortoiseshell, comma, hedge brown, meadow brown, small heath, small copper, small and Essex skippers, green veined white and small white. Single humming bird hawk moths around Sea View on the 22nd and 23rd. Flowers include: lady’s bedstraw, restharrow, vipers bugloss, marsh helleborine, meadow- sweet, common centuary, harebell, sea lavender, various hawkbits and marsh thistle. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. BARDNEY LIMEWOODS NNR These cover a huge area, and records from them and records from volunteer recorders are one of the main inputs to management planning and the protection of rare/scarce and critical species. Reports always welcome. https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/limewoods/visit/woods-and-nature-reserves/127031.article https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/limewoods/get-involved/ Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch https://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html The Hazel Dormouse https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/cy/node/35 Lincolnshire Dormouse Group The group still meets over winter to carry out essential coppice management of the wood and maintenance activities and anyone is welcome to come along and help. Just get in touch via lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com Gemma Watkinson adds: "Since the previous reintroduction, dormice have become well dispersed throughout Chambers Farm Woods, which is fantastic as it shows they have adapted and settled into their new surroundings. To ensure these populations continue to thrive, each woodland will require ongoing woodland management, which is something The Lincolnshire Dormouse Group and the local team at Forestry England have been doing successfully since 2002. Dormouse can only be disturbed and handled by those that are licenced by Natural England. The group always welcomes visitors to join us when we carry out box check surveys to continue to monitor the dormouse population. We have box checks scheduled for the following dates. Saturday 17th August Saturday 21st September Sunday 20th October Anyone interested should email lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Reports welcome. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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, which are designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and non-designated areas. Since managing the SSSI areas carries particular responsibilities to Natural England, 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. Examples: SNIPE DALES https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/snipe-dales WHISBY https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/whisby WILLOW TREE FEN https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/willow-tree-fen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Reports welcome... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7. Sending in reports to Roger Parsons ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The purpose of the Bulletin is to encourage biological recording in Lincolnshire. We hope to increase the number of people reporting observations to LNU Recorders and improve the quality of reports, as well as the quantity and the geographical coverage. In return for this 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! Mailing times vary, depending on what I am doing. The Bulletin usually goes out on Thursdays or Fridays in time for the weekend. Please e-mail in contributions as early as possible, to: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk 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.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8. Contact Information & Useful Websites ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. *** Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union Website *** http://lnu.org/ LNU Twitter feed https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist? LNU e-mail: info@lnu.org A full list of LNU Country Recorders is given on the website. A list of all the articles contained in Transactions (Transactions page) and a list of the Presidents (Officers page) is also available. LNU Bursaries: The LNU offers bursaries for natural history courses. The upper limit is £250. If you would like to apply for a bursary for an FSC [or similar] course please contact Richard Chadd on: richard.chadd@environment-agency.gov.uk *** Love Lincs Plants - Updates from the Partnership *** To view the LWT project page go to: LoveLincsPlants Webpage: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/what-we-do/love-lincs-plants Love Lincs Plants Twitter feed https://twitter.com/LoveLincsPlants Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union Twitter feed https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist? Natural History Museum Twitter feed https://twitter.com/nhm_botany?lang=en Sir Joseph Banks Society http://www.joseph-banks.org.uk/news-events/lincolnshire-plants-project/ Lincoln University School of Life Sciences blog https://lifesciences.sites.lincoln.ac.uk/2016/09/30/heritage-lottery-funding-to-safeguard-lincolnshire-plants/ Also see: *** Collections Dataset - LNU "historic specimens" *** Chris Manning writes: Project Officer Kath Castillo at NHM has improved the accessibility of the LNU historic specimens; creating a collections ‘dataset’ on the NHM Data Portal. All of of the specimens that have been processed and digitised to date can now be viewed here: http://data.nhm.ac.uk/dataset/lincs-plants The digital herbarium sheet image data for the LNU historic specimens, plus associated images i.e. the newspaper packets, together with images for the contemporary Lincs specimens will all be pulled into the dataset as and when these are integrated into the museum’s EMu collections management system. It’s a fantastic online resource so please take the time to have a look through it. If you have any questions on this please get in touch with Kath at k.castillo@nhm.ac.uk or Fred Rumsey at f.rumsey@nhm.ac.uk *** The Flora of Lincolnshire by Joan Gibbons - downloadable book *** https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/the-flora-of-lincolnshire-e-joan-gibbons.pdf *** VC54 North Lincolnshire Plant List *** Editor adds: Paul Kirby has produced a list which details all the vascular plant and stonewort taxa with records on the MapMate botanical database for VC54, North Lincolnshire, at the end of January 2017. You can download this on: https://lnu.org/specialists/vascular-plants/ *** Botanical Group in South Lincs *** Contact: Sarah Lambert, who writes: We'd be happy to welcome new people, experienced or not, particularly if they are located towards the northern part of the vice county! sarah.lambert7@ntlworld.com Also see: http://bsbi.org/south-lincolnshire-v-c-53 *** CONTACTS LIST *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/ *** Lincs Bird Club Website *** http://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk 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 Contact 01507 528223 enquiries@joseph-banks.org.uk *** Lincolnshire Bat Group website *** http://www.lincsbatgroup.co.uk/ *** Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch *** http://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html *** Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service *** http://www.lincswolds.org.uk *** Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project *** http://www.lincswolds.org.uk/chalk-streams/lincolnshire-chalk-streams *** Lincsbirders *** http://www.lincsbirders.org/ FIGHTING WILDLIFE CRIME *** Rural Crime Officer *** Pc 160 Nick Willey Force Wildlife, Rural Crime Officer Force Dog Training Establishment Lincolnshire Showground. Grange-De-Lings. Lincoln nicholas.willey@lincs.pnn.police.uk OFFICE: 01522-731897 MOBILE :07768-501895 PAGER : 07654-330877 Related Webpages: Hare coursing https://www.lincs.police.uk/reporting-advice/wildlife-and-rural-crime/hare-coursing/ STAYING SAFE Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. *** Check for road works and hold-ups: *** https://roadworks.org/ *** EasyTide *** http://easytide.ukho.gov.uk/EasyTide/EasyTide/index.aspx *** Met Office Severe Weather E-mail Service *** http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/guide-to-emails *** Environment Agency Flood Information/Floodline *** http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/default.aspx SPECIES IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. 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 welcome. *** Botany *** Botanical Group in South Lincs Contact: Sarah Lambert, who writes: We'd be happy to welcome new people, experienced or not, particularly if they are located towards the northern part of the vice county! sarah.lambert7@ntlworld.com Also see: http://bsbi.org/south-lincolnshire-v-c-53 *** British Bryological Society *** http://www.britishbryologicalsociety.org.uk/ *** What's That Butterfly? *** http://butterfly-conservation.org/ http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/index.php *** Identifying Dragonflies *** http://www.british-dragonflies.org.uk/content/uk-species *** How to Identify Bees *** http://www.bwars.com/ http://bumblebeeconservation.org/ 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 Mink/Otter reports are of interest and can be sent via the Bulletin. Mammal Atlas You can download and print off a hard copy or view it online. http://www.glnp.org.uk/our-publications/biodiversity/projects-and-reports.php *** Spiders *** Imogen Wilde Regional Co-ordinator (RC) and Mentor for Lincolnshire for the British Arachnological Society (BAS). Imogen@imogenwilde.co.uk *** Lincs Amphibian and Reptile Group *** The Lincolnshire ARG (Amphibian & Reptile Group) For further information and to submit records contact: Ashley Butterfield learningoutdoors@btinternet.com *** Local Bat Helpline *** Grounded bats, bat problems, advice and information. Contact Annette and Colin Faulkner on 01775 766286 or e-mail: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com *** 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 or e-mail: chris@chrisdufeu.force9.co.uk *** Non-Marine Molluscs *** Alex Pickwell is the LNU Recorder for Non-marine Molluscs Email: alex.pickwell@environment-agency.gov.uk USEFUL WILDLIFE CONTACTS Please copy and paste URLs if necessary. *** Lincs Environmental Records Centre *** Greater Lincolnshire Nature Partnership http://www.glnp.org.uk/ (of which LERC is a part) Contact: charlie.barnes@glnp.org.uk or for more general queries: info@glnp.org.uk *** 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/ *** 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/ *** Life on the Verge and Wildflower Meadow Network Project *** http://www.lifeontheverge.org.uk/ For the geologists... *** British geology maps - now free to explore on web *** http://www.bgs.ac.uk/opengeoscience/ *** UKGE - Geological Supplies *** https://www.ukge.com/ The Geology of Lincolnshire - downloadable book https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/the-geology-of-lincolnshire-h-h-swinnerton-and-p-e-kent.pdf A Building Stone Atlas of Lincolnshire - British Geological Survey pdf https://www.bgs.ac.uk/downloads/start.cfm?id=2885 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9. Notes about these wildlife reports ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We do our best to ensure accuracy in our reporting but these records are sent in by a variety of reporters, from complete beginners to professionals. They therefore vary in reliability and in a few cases may be difficult or impossible to verify. If further information is needed 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. 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. For good advice for ALL nature-watchers see the RSPB's birdwatchers' code https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/read-and-learn/watching-birds/code/ and BTO's pdf: https://www.bto.org/sites/default/files/u10/downloads/taking-part/health/bwc.pdf [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/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Field Meetings generally start at 12 noon for 1.00pm, but please check the website details for each event. Our indoor meetings are normally held in Lincoln at the Whisby Education Centre at Whisby Nature Park. Indoor meetings start at 2pm, with both members and non- members welcome to attend. There is an annual recorders’ meeting, where we review the wildlife highlights of the previous year and to leaven the Annual General Meeting the honorary president gives a presentation on his or her particular interest in wildlife and this is reproduced in full in ‘The Lincolnshire Naturalist‘. This too starts at 2pm but attendees gather from noon to socialise. Next Meetings: https://lnu.org/meetings/ Glebe Farm, East Keal (including Keal Carr LWT Reserve and SSSI) – Saturday 10th August 2019 Boston Cemetery – Sunday 8th September 2019 Moor Farm LWT Reserve and SSSI – Sunday 13th October 2019 Whisby Natural History Workshops In partnership with the Lincolnshire Naturalists Union. At Whisby Nature Park near Lincoln, in the Lafarge Education Building from 12.00 pm until 4.00 pm. Free of charge. Prior booking essential via Richard Davidson on 01522 525725 or Email rel.davidson@btinternet.com Find out more about the various subjects from our local experts. Places are limited due to the number of microscopes available. Odonata - August 3rd - Fiona McKenna and Grahame Hopwood Bryophytes, focusing on Sphagnum Mosses - August 31st - Steven Heathcote Leafminer Moths - October 5th - Colin Smith Slugs - October 26th - Chris de Feu Fungi - November 2nd - Ray Halstead ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ....and finally..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails This Week *** Mail fails: Colin Green - hard bounce alanatthirteen - soft bounce If ever your Bulletin does not arrive, please let me know. Text copies of current and past Bulletins can be found on: http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html Reminder: Please check and make sure that your account on Mailchimp does have your GDPR email consent box ticked and that your name/details are as you want them to be. If in any doubt, this is what you do: 1. Scroll to the end of any Bulletin and click on "update subscription preferences". 2. Look at the "Marketing permissions" section. Your email box should have a tick. 3. If is doesn't, please give it a tick. Then please click on "Update Profile". That's it. If there are difficulties when doing this, send an email to old.museum@yahoo.co.uk If ever you decide you don't want to receive the Bulletin any longer there is an easy- to-use "Unsubscribe" link to click at the end of every Bulletin. You can sign up again if you miss us. ....and finally.... RNLI warning over 'Storm Loch Ness' monster hunt https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-49070362 Iceland pilot whales: Dozens of dead mammals found beached https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-49048652 Russia alarmed by large fall in bee populations https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-49047402 Battle for clean air is sending our gardens to new heights https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/13/living-walls-bloom-cities-tackle-air-pollution River Stour runs dry in drought in Constable Country https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-49048532 Cigarette butts in soil hamper plant growth, study suggests https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-49044422 Radical farming system banking on trees https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/13/pigs-radical-farming-system-trees-climate-crisis Lincolnshire Coronation Meadow with Harry Turner of Louth had a 6 minute slot on BBC Gardeners' World Episode 18 (17/7/2019). The relevant clip is at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07h3hm8 Country diary: one small step, but one giant leap for insect-kind https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/16/country-diary-one-small-step-but-one-giant-leap-for-insect-kind#comment-131169226 Lincolnshire - Country diary: if they're not tadpoles what are these little wrigglers? https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/19/country-diary-miniature-tadpole-lookalikes-mosquitos-stamford-lincolnshire Country diary: spectacular moths are the dark stars of the forest https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/20/country-diary-hawk-moths-dark-stars-of-the-forest-wythers Your "and finally" links will be welcome. ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/