============================================ || || 3rd August 2022 || || News of Lincolnshire Wildlife || || LNU Website: http://lnu.org/ || Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist? || Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lincsnaturalists/ || ============================================ 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]. 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: A visit to Chambers Farm Wood 1st August began with an adult Roe Deer [doe] crossing Hoop Lane south to north at TF138743 09.15hrs. Meadows and woods looked green despite the dry weather but cracks are appearing in the ground. The lane up to the car parks is open. Drive with care as it is not tarmacked. The road edge has quite a steep slope. There are passing places. We've a message from Annette Faulkner for Bat Information this week. Please help if you can. Scroll down for more on this. She also sent a Tick reminder: SPALDING It's tick time! Yesterday evening I discovered a tick buried in my calf, safely removed today, after going on the internet to find how to do it. I'm not sure how long it had been there, with two possibilities of where picked up, but ticks lie in wait in long grass and other vegetation, waiting to pounce. They can, of course, carry disease. With the number of deer around, and particularly muntjac, which will sneak into gardens, they definitely need being aware of. UK faces 'significant' shortage of farmland by 2030 - reminder: Note this article was dated 2014 - but is still interesting and relevant. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-28003435 It related to a local campaign on solar farms: Villagers in Hatton plead 'no solar on farmland' https://www.lincolnshireworld.com/news/environment/villagers-in-hatton-plead-no-solar-on-farmland-3773239 Continue to stay informed on current Co-19 and 'flu policy, adapting appropriately to future changes at indoor meetings and in the field. If you have any event postponements or changes please let us know. Check the LNU events web page for updates or cancellations: https://lnu.org/meetings/ This week's links to Lincolnshire and wildlife-related news stories. More general links in "..and finally ..." at the end of the Bulletin Lincolnshire ceremony to remember Bomber Command men and women https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-62323473 Global pandemic fears on islands hit by bird flu https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-62350879 Countryside crime rise linked to cost-of-living crisis https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-62381648 Lilia Valutyte: Man accused of murdering girl, 9, appears in court https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-62377658 Spalding farm sees earliest sunflower crop in over a decade https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-62334814 Spalding: Pigeon feeding could result in a fine https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-62354264 Tattershall Castle: Pioneering building may have inspired Hampton Court https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-62334869 More disruption for East Midlands region's rail travellers https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-62306141 Lincolnshire water pipeline planned to tackle shortages https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-62320031 Grantham: More than 25 arson attacks in town in recent week https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-62339001 Cleethorpes: Rescues spark RNLI warning over sea inflatables https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-62319280 Mobile Medical Cover ambulance service suspended for a second time https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-62305447 Wild bee hives: become a bee watcher rather than a bee keeper https://www.gardensillustrated.com/feature/wild-bee-hives-matt-somerville/ Flying Ant Days - BWARS "The study is current, and we would really appreciate any reports." https://www.bwars.com/content/flying-ant-days-we-need-your-data Thank you to all who sent in interesting news links, wildlife events info and species reports. Please keep your information coming. Roger old.museum@yahoo.co.uk - note - my best address for emails. *** Weather Forecast *** https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#? 6 - 15 August " Most places are likely to see mainly settled weather at the start of this period, with a mix of cloud and sunny spells across the country. However, cloud and outbreaks of rain will spread across northern areas on Saturday. Isolated showers may affect the north through the weekend and into Monday. Temperatures near normal. The dry weather is likely to persist further into the period, becoming more widespread in the north. Still the chance of some periods of organised rain in the north at times. Temperatures becoming widely near normal... " *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** You may not have seen this latest mind-boggling photo in New Scientist. https://www.newscientist.com/article/2331880-jwst-has-released-a-striking-new-image-of-the-strange-cartwheel-galaxy/ Our Place in Space: Midsummer Common to Waterbeach, Cambridge https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-events/our-place-in-space-midsummer-common-to-waterbeach-cambridge/ Jodrell Bank Monthly Night Sky Guide http://www.jb.man.ac.uk/astronomy/nightsky/ SkyatNight month-by-month guide to locating the planets throughout 2022 https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/skills/astronomy-guide-viewing-planets-night-sky/ Stellarium. The FREE open source planetarium for your computer. http://stellarium.org/ *** Important Bat Information request from Annette Faulkner *** Dear Readers, we need your help. I've been looking at the Helpline bat call statistics for this year, with particular reference to the last three weeks, and the contrast between the first two weeks and the last one is striking. From 10 July to 23 July we took a total of 28 calls from across the county, with concentrations on the heatwave days. Since then, between 23 and 29 July we had none, and from then until yesterday (1 August) we've had just four. Of these last, one was a brown long-eared mangled by a cat, a second was a juvenile brown long-eared that had got into difficulties with a gap in a building and subsequently died, and the other two were pipistrelles, at least one of which was severely dehydrated - as were many of the earlier ones. Is this lack of bat calls good news or bad news? It's certainly unprecedented for this time of year, when there is usually a steady trickle throughout the weeks. Here's where you can help. Sunset this week is around 8.45 to 9.00, depending on where you live in the county. Can you go out about 20 minutes after sunset and just see whether you are seeing a bat or two in your garden, particularly if you are used to seeing them regularly, and then post the result on next week's Bulletin, with the time you first spotted your bat(s). I'll then collate the results and report back. Bat reminders from Annette Falkner: Bats can't easily survive dehydration. They drink on the wing, so if you have a bird bath do keep it topped up (the birds need it too), and if not a large flat dish, such as a plant pot saucer, placed high up and out of the way of cats, could serve the same purpose. There are a lot of young juveniles around at the moment, just learning the ways of their world, so a water source could be a life saver for them. 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. Bat reports are always welcome: details and Grid References please. *** Hedgehog Links *** https://hedgehogcare.org.uk/ https://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/found-a-hedgehog/ 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 *** RSPB Grimsby Local Group *** The RSPB Grimsby Local Group has a new website https://group.rspb.org.uk/grimsby/ *** Seal and Birdwatching Cruises 2022 - South Lincs RSPB Group *** 14 cruises have been arranged for 2022, at various sailing times, starting 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: 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 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 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 26/7 Whooper Swan on Wader Pit, Baston & Langtoft GPs 14 Spoonbills, Little Stint, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 5 Spotted Redshanks, Frampton Marsh - very late report 28th Spoonbill on Tennyson's Sands. Gibraltar Point Caspian Tern flew south past Anderby Creek 2 Spoonbills flew over Rimac, possible Pacific Golden Plover, Short-eared Owl, Saltfleetby/Theddlethortpe Garganey, Bardney GPs Stilt Sandpiper ad from Prospect Hide, Alkborough Flats 27/7 6 Spoonbills on East Pit, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St Nicholas then flew along River Welland 3 Spoonbills on the Mere, Gibraltar Point Stilt Sandpiper ad from Prospect Hide, Spotted Redshank, 8 Spoonbills, Alkborough Flats 28/7 12 Spoonbills, 6 Spotted Redshanks, Curlew Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh 18 Spoonbills and Spotted Redshank on Tennyson's Sands, Wood Sandpiper, Gibraltar Point Quail male singing, West Halton - late report 30th Stilt Sandpiper ad from Prospect Hide, Alkborough Flats 29/7 29 Spoonbills, 2 Little Stints, 14 Spotted Redshanks on South Scrape, Pectoral Sandpiper, Wood sandpiper over, Frampton Marsh 16 Spoonbills and 4 Spotted Redshanks on Tennyson's Sands, Gibraltar Point 3 Arctic Terns opposite Scallow Grove Farm, Messingham Sand Quarry Stilt Sandpiper ad from Prospect Hide, 8+ Spoonbills, 2 Spotted Redshanks, Alkborough Flats 30/7 44 Spoonbills, Temminck's Stint, 2 Little Stints, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, Pectoral Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh 18 Spoonbills, Wood Sandpiper, Gibraltar Point 7 Spoonbills, Stilt Sandpiper ad from Prospect Hide, Wood Sandpiper, Alkborough Flats 31/7 2 Garganey both juvs on Wader Pit, Baston + Langtoft GPs Turnstone as on East Pit, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James 25 Spoonbills, Pectoral Sandpiper, 3 Little Stints, 14 Spotted Redshanks, 4 Curlew Sandpipers, Frampton Marsh 16 Spoonbills, 2 Spotted Redshanks, Gibraltar Point Stilt Sandpiper ad from Prospect Hide, 2 Spoonbills, Alkborough Flats 1/8 Garganey juv, Wader Pit, Baston + Langtoft GPs 15 Spoonbills, Black Tern juv from bottom car park, 5 Curlew Sandpipers, Little Stint, 10 Spotted Redshanks on South Scrape, Frampton Marsh 16 Spoonbills, Curlew Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper on the Mere, Gibraltar Point Black Tern ad flew north past Mablethorpe Quail male singing in wheat field SW of Tetford Arctic Tern opposite Scallow Grove Farm, Messingham Sand Quarry Curlew Sandpiper ad, Spotted Redshank, Killingholme Haven Stilt Sandpiper ad from Prospect Hide, Spoonbill, Alkborough Flats 2/8 Quail in field west of playing field, Langtoft Black Tern from bottom car park, 13 Spoonbills, 3 Little Stints 1 ad on Middle Scrape, Frampton Marsh 30 Spoonbills on Tennyson's Sands, Gibraltar Point Stilt Sandpiper ad from Prospect Hide, Spoonbill, Alkborough Flats ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3. WILDLIFE NEWS FROM AROUND THE COUNTY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** The Roger Goy Column *** Remembering Roger Goy's wildlife information work and drop-in sessions. *** Find the Grid Reference - don't forget - it's important *** Grab a Grid Reference: https://www.bnhs.co.uk/focuson/grabagridref/html/index.htm UK Grid Reference Finder: http://www.gridreferencefinder.com/ *** Links "not to be missed" *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. Len Pick Trust Barn Owls https://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project Loch of Lowes Osprey Webcam https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/watch-wildlife-online/loch-of-the-lowes-webcam/ 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? What's Flying Tonight. https://butterfly-conservation.org/moths/whats-flying-tonight 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 R & A Parsons TF120694 Hedgehog activity - trailcam: 27/7: 23.30hrs, 23.36hrs [into box], 23.38hrs [out] 23.47hrs [into box] 28/7: 0041hrs 29/7: 23.37hrs [into box] 23.46hrs [out], 00.00hrs [in] 30/7: 00.05hrs [out], 00.45hrs [in], 0049hrs, 01.15hrs, 03.16hrs [in], 03.20hrs [out] 31/7: 00.26hrs, 0109hrs, 01.11hrs 31/7: 22.06hrs [in] 1/8: 02.40hrs [in], 02.49hrs [out] 1/8: 01.12hrs [in], 02.35hrs. 2/8/2022 Significant bat hunting activity in garden - 2+ 55kHz signal 21.25hrs - 22.00hrs. BAUMBER Walled Garden R & A Parsons 29/7/2022 TF208753 In walled garden on walk around pond. Well worth a visit! Butterflies: Comma 12; Peacock 3; Red Admiral 6; Painted Lady 2; Small White 4; Meadow Brown 2. https://www.walledgardenbaumber.co.uk/ BOSTON GARDEN (TF326426) July 2022 Kathleen Pearson In July I did the BTO Garden BirdWatch on 28 of the 31 days. The number of species was 20 in quite small numbers apart from Long-tailed Tit 15 and Starling 26. However 10 butterfly species occurred. Birds recorded:- Blackbird 3, Blue Tit 4, House Sparrow 3, Great Tit 3, Goldfinch 4, Collared Dove 2, Dunnock 2, Long-tailed Tit 15, Robin 3, Chaffinch 1, Greenfinch 3, Woodpigeon 5, Starling 26, SongThrush 1, Stock Dove 2, Herring Gull 3, Blackcap 1, Carrion Crow 3, Lesser Black-backed Gull 1, and Pied Wagtail 1. Butterflies:- Peacock, Holly Blue, Small White, Large White, Tortoiseshell, Comma, Brimstone, Red Admiral, Green-veined White, Gatekeeper and Specked Wood. Other records:- Bat (believed Pipistrelle) 2, Blue-tailed Damselfly,  Brown Hawker and Common Darter. A hedgehog was regularly in the garden. BOSTON TF338441 My garden Tracey Lenton Over the last week dragonflies seen flying daily, in numbers up to 6 on one occasion, from morning earliest 9:30am until dusk latest 9pm. Unable to identify accurately as in flight but were large and could have been migrant hawkers which I usually see in my garden. 29/07/2022 Made some recordings for the Big Butterfly Count for Butterfly Conservation: Holly blue, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell One blue-tailed damselfly resting on flower stem. Identified from camcorder image with BDS website. CHAMBERS FARM WOOD R & A Parsons 1/8/2022 Adult Roe Deer [doe] crossing Hoop Lane south to north at about TF138743 at 09.15hrs. TF147743 Butterflies seen : Small White 12+; Meadow Brown 6-12; Gatekeeper 6; Painted Lady 1; Peacock 2; Red Admiral 4-6; Silver-washed Fritillery 1. https://www.forestryengland.uk/chambers-farm-wood CARLTON LE MOORLAND Carlton le Moorland SK909581 Jeremy Hutchinson 3/8/2022 Arrived home on 28 July after a few days away to find that our Swifts had already departed. Years ago they used to arrive around 7 May and leave on 7 August, but in recent years they have begun to appear later and leave earlier: has anyone else observed this? However on Sunday 31 July I did notice a small number of them in Bassingham, but I have noticed before that that the Swifts there seem to arrive and depart at slightly different times. The good news is that their numbers had increased significantly by mid-July from the very low number of those which returned in May. On the butterfly front we have larger numbers than usual of Gatekeepers, but the Meadow Browns, which were numerous a few weeks ago, have now dwindled to very few. A few second-generation Holly Blues have been around since mid-July, but numbers of Peacocks, Commas, Red Admirals and Tortoiseshells have been low as yet. We recently saw an immature Bush Cricket (seldom seen here) on the leg of a garden table and as we watched a wasp (not sure of species) grasped and stung it. The wasp tried to carry it off, but dropped it, no doubt too large for it. Unfortunately the cricket did not survive. Most days a Green Woodpecker can be heard calling, but we seldom see it. Recently there has been an explosion in the numbers of Flea Beetles, which are ruining the Nasturtiums in one of our three hanging baskets: why just one of the three is a mystery. I cannot recall them having been a problem with Nasturtiums before this year. They have also devastated the leaves on the Mooli and Radish plants on my allotment, which is not unusual in dry summers such as this. FAR INGS Angela Buckle 31st July 2022 Far Ings. Water mint, Water plantain, Autumn hawkbit, Devilsbitscabious. GRASBY Angela Buckle Grasby woods. 26th July 2022 Butterfly. Silver-washed fritillary. GRIMSBY TA265095 Joyce Attia 2nd August 2022 July 13th. Emperor dragonfly in garden. Single bat 10pm July 14th. Evening. Swifts, very high up, at least 20. Just realised why no black backed gulls breeding this year. The house where they were have capped off the chimneys. The collared doves are back in the garden, a pair on the fence. July 15th. One collared dove, one goldfinch on feeder. July 16th. One collared dove, sparrows on feeder, female blackbird picking up fallen seed. July 18th. Walk down Riverside at 07.15. Adult and juvenile swans splashing around, bathing, juveniles trying their wings. There are still 11, thank goodness . I've seen reports of a roadkill cygnet. How can anyone hit a swan? Even the cygnets are as big as a cat or small dog. Over the hot weekend we've kept changing the water in the various birdbaths, dishes and saucers. Even the woodpigeon sits in the middle of the bath. Not seen much activity on feeders, just the gulls crying on chimney pots. July 21st Female blackbird pecking at lawn, there's nothing there, far too dry. I put some meal worms out on the path, she enjoyed those. July 22nd Mint moths on thyme.. Went to Rimac. The flood plain where the notice says "Deep Water" is dried up, just a small amount of water in the middle and the cows lying around it. Some of the other ponds are almost dry. No birds to be seen/heard. Everything is dry. Plants: restharrow, vipers bugloss, yellow rattle, purple vetch, bulrush, blackberries, birdsfoot trefoil, scabious, ladies bedstraw, ling. Butterflies: Large and small whites, small heath, gatekeeper, cinnabar moth. July 23rd. Walk down the river. Single swan is still alone. Lots of tiny thunderflies. Purple loosestrife is beautiful. July 24th. Beautiful rain!! Cleared old plants in garden. Lots of spiders and ladybirds. July 27th Swifts above the street, screaming. Tried to explain to a neighbour that they are endangered but didn't seem interested. July 30th Neighbour sent text to say a swan was on the pavement alongside our busy road. It was our single cygnet from 2020. Reports said that he had been fighting. He had obviously been driven off by the male with the eleven cygnets.  Eventually he was safely helped back to the water. HORKSTOW SE987179 Jenny Haynes 26 July 2022 Lesser Stag Beetle on garden wall.? Butterflies in my garden include Comma and Wall as well as Red Admiral, Peacock (the first for months), Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Large and Small White. The bats have been flying too. SEDGE HOLE CLOSE LWT Nature Reserve Steve Hiner 02/07/22 Blackbird x 4 Blue Tit x 1 Carrion Crow x 4 Chaffinch x 1 Dunnock x 1 Goldfinch x 2 Greenfinch x 1 Jackdaw x 2 Kestrel x 1 Magpie x 2 Pied Wagtail x 2 Robin x 1 Swallow x 15 Tree Sparrow x 4 Wood Pigeon x 2 STICKNEY TF322568 Stickney Gail Cartwright Report - 30th July 2022 Birds in general have been scarcer this year, the swallows were about a month later than usual, they made a nest but it was wrecked quite quickly by something, maybe Magpies or Jackdaws. We have loads of Jackdaws, more than usual, and the swallows didn't stick around sadly. Also no Bluetits this year, there have been 1 or 2 Great Tits since the Jackdaws went away but all the other birds, including Sparrows, are in short supply although we have seen a Woodpecker a few times. I did see a Redpoll? just 1 (a small bird with a red patch on its head) I have been wondering if it is just us or if others have found the same. THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 23/07/22 Barn Owl x 1 22:00hrs 27/07/22 Barn Owl x 1 01:50 hrs Blackbird x 15+ Blue Tit x 4 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 1 Dunnock x 1 Goldfinch x 9 Greylag Goose x 12 over Thurnholmes Grey Partridge x 2 adults, 8 young Kestrel x 1 Magpie x 2 Pied Wagtail x 1 Robin x 3 Stock Dove x 1 on neest in box, chicken run Swallow x 22 Swift x 4 Tree Sparrow x 8 Wood Pigeon x 4 Wren x 8 Yellow Wagtail x 2 adults with 4 fledged young Yellowhammer x 1 Brimstone x 1 male Green-veined White x 4 Large White x 1 Speckled Wood x 2 28/07/22 Heron x 3 calling flying north, high over Thurnholmes Swallow x 21 Whitethroat x 1 adult with 3 fledged young Brimstone x 1 male Small White x 1 30/07/22 Sedge Warbler x 1 landed exhausted in our back garden, flew off after a rest. 31/07/22 Blackbird x 6 Blue it x 2 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 2 Common Buzzard x 3 circling high, calling, over Thurnholmes Dunnock x 1 Goldfinch x 8 Greenfinch x 1 Kestrel x 1 Pied Wagtail x 2 Robin x 1 Stock Dove x 1 adult with 2 young in nest box in chicken run Swallow x 8 Tree Sparrow x 8 Wood Pigeon x 2 Wren x 1 with food in beak Field Vole x 8, appeared after paddock was mown for hay Common Blue butterfly x 1 Green-veined White x 2 Large White x 1 Meadow Brown x 4 Red Admiral x 1 Small White x 4 Orange Swift x 1 Yellow Shell x 4 disturbed by day, flying from meadow to Hawthorn hedge WOOLSHORPE-BY-COLSTERWORTH SK92/22 Jane Ostler 27-31st July 2022 An abundance of Butterflies - On Nature Trail Meadow Area: Common Blue over 12 of them on 31st July. In garden at least two pairs of Holly Blues seen most days. In both areas Meadow Browns (rather worn) , Gatekeepers and Ringlets. Small Heath on Nature Trail and on Woolsthorpe RNR. Peacock in garden. On 27/7/22 the first Brimstone and since then two or three each day. Large Whites throughout (and probably overlooked Small Whites.) The Marjoram has been covered in Buff-tailed Bumble Bees: 15 counted on 27/7/22. On RNR and in Meadow Nature Trail clouds of juvenile grasshoppers put up as you walk through the grass - to be identified later as they mature. Unusually at the pond several Brown Hawker Dragonflies. Used to seeing them working along hedges, even some distance from water. The flower garden has never looked more bedraggled as species have flowered and rapidly seeded in the heat and in a drought the water has to go for the fruit and veg. The passerine birds spend much of the day in the cool base of the vegetation surrounded by food (seeds and insects) coming out for drinks from bird bath and a good splash about in the pond. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 follows ... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 - worth a read: 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 Lincolnshire Dormouse Group You can get in touch via lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com *** Lincs Dormouse Group update *** Gemma Watkinson writes: I have set the nest box check dates with Forestry England: Saturday 20th August Sunday 18th September Saturday 22nd October We meet at 9.30am for the box checks, and anyone interested in joining us on a box check should get in contact via email 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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/ *** 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 *** Lincsbirders *** http://www.lincsbirders.org/ https://twitter.com/lincsbirders *** Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project *** https://lincolnshirechalkstreams.org/ Events page: 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 *** 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 SPECIES IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. LNU Recorders and Specialists: https://lnu.org/specialists/ Downloads of LNU books are available on: https://lnu.org/publications/books/ Recording with "irecord" https://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/ More and more people are using irecord. It is recommended by the LNU as an appropriate platform for on-line recording. *** 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. This is for VC54, North Lincolnshire, at the end of January 2017. Download this on: https://lnu.org/specialists/vascular-plants/ 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 Amphibians and Reptiles 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: 01383 669 124 Email: chris.r.dufeu@gmail.com Non-Marine Molluscs Alex Pickwell is the LNU Recorder for Non-marine Molluscs Email: mrapickwell@gmail.com When asking for help: Please give the the very best information you can provide. If you are not sure, ask what is needed from you to confirm identification. Photographs are helpful but not every species can be identified from a photograph. When asked for further details, get back to them promptly. Don't forget a thank you for the help. That is always welcomed. USEFUL WILDLIFE LINKS Please copy and paste URLs if necessary. *** Lincs Environmental Records Centre *** Greater Lincolnshire Nature Partnership (of which LERC is a part) http://www.glnp.org.uk/ https://twitter.com/GLNPnature *** 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, a good place to start is: https://www.nhbs.com/ NHM Final report on LoveLincsPlants This report along with previous progress reports can be viewed/ downloaded from the LNU website. https://lnu.org/lincolnshire-plants-past-and-future/ Collections Dataset - LNU "historic specimens" All of the LNU specimens that have been processed and digitised to date can now be viewed here: http://data.nhm.ac.uk/dataset/lincs-plants The Flora of Lincolnshire by Joan Gibbons - downloadable LNU book 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 Building Stones of Greater Lincolnshire https://glnp.org.uk/images/uploads/services/geodiversity-strategy/building-stones-web.pdf Geology of the Lincolnshire Wolds https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/special-features/geology 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. 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 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 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 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. LNU Meetings 2022: https://lnu.org/meetings Charlie Barnes writes: 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. For more details on the times and locations see the website at: https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/ Field Meetings: 14th August: Elsham Chalk Quarry LNR 18th September: Old Bolingbroke Castle and Sow Dale LWT Reserve 9th October: Epworth Turbary LWT Reserve (Annual Fungus Foray) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ...AND FINALLY... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails Last Week *** Steve Hindley - soft bounce - Message could not be delivered to recipient. Roger Favell - soft bounce - Delivery was aborted after 32 minutes 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... Eye-popping fossil fish found in cattle field - Gloustershire https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-62336876 Protesters 'devastated' as '450-year-old' Somerset oak felled https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-62377342 UK government to hold back data on state of biodiversity in England https://www.newscientist.com/article/2331542-uk-government-to-hold-back-data-on-state-of-biodiversity-in-england/ Climate change: UK sea level rise speeding up - Met Office https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-62322574 Pollution: 'Forever chemicals' in rainwater exceed safe levels https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-62391069 Driest July in England since 1935 - Met Office https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-62382703 40ḞC heatwave may have killed 1000 people in England and Wales https://www.newscientist.com/article/2331349-40c-heatwave-may-have-killed-1000-people-in-england-and-wales/ Climate change: More studies needed on possibility of human extinction https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-62378157 ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/