=========================================== || || 10th 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: Thank you for the useful bat reports we have received. Mary Porter Publishes her Book! 'Dragons of Doggerland'. The Lincolnite on 'Dragons of Doggerland': https://thelincolnite.co.uk/2022/08/dragons-of-doggerland-lincoln-woman-to-launch-her-first-childrens-book/ Mary is a regular Bulletin contributor and known to many readers from her work with the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust and her ongoing voluntary work as a Wildlife Watch leader. She's volunteer RM at Fiskerton Fen with Phil. If interested see: https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Mary-Edwards-Porter/Dragons-of-Doggerland/27537274 Be aware of hot weather ahead: UK heatwave: UK set for new heatwave as temperatures head to 35C https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-62468842 UK heatwave: Heat health-alert to begin across England https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-62472926 Flying Ant Days - BWARS Noted any flying ant events? Several events have been seen this week. Professor Elizabeth Liz Duncan says: "The study is current, and we would really appreciate any reports." https://www.bwars.com/content/flying-ant-days-we-need-your-data How to spot the 2022 Perseid meteor shower that will peak on Saturday 13th https://www.newscientist.com/article/2332806-how-to-spot-the-2022-perseid-meteor-shower-that-will-peak-on-saturday/ 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: Wildfires double as hot weather continues https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-62478613 Wildlife under stress as dry spell shrinks rivers - Chalk Streams https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-62465805 From badgers to bumblebees: how drought is affecting Britain's wildlife https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/aug/03/from-badgers-to-bumblebees-how-drought-is-affecting-britains-wildlife Spalding: House 'wiped out' after bonfire spreads https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-62461709 Lincolnshire Police StreetSafe scheme receives 200 reports https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-62466456 Thatch price hike 'could force homeowners to sell' - Lincolnshire https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-62464669 Woodland Trust 2022 Tree of the Year contenders revealed https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-62466806 France [Beluga] whale: Hopes fading for lost mammal stuck in River Seine https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-62453347 Breaking news - it died today. 10th RSPB wants urgent probe into crab deaths off north-east coast https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-62466265 Ospreys: Chicks born to county's first recorded breeding pair - North Yorks https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-62436432 Nature-friendly farming does not reduce productivity, study finds https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/aug/03/nature-friendly-farming-does-not-reduce-productivity-study-finds The Big Buzz National Pollinator Conference & Fringe - September 2022 https://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/big-buzz-national-pollinator-conference-Fringe-2022 Country diary: My eye is caught by a leveret, tiny and still https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/aug/06/country-diary-my-eye-is-caught-by-a-leveret-tiny-and-still 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#? 13 - 22 August "The start of this period will see dry and sunny spells for most with temperatures very warm or hot. Temperatures remaining above average but trending downward. More changeable weather prevails through this period, with heavier showers or thunderstorms with clear spells possible across many areas. The north may see generally more rainy conditions. Temperatures remain warm or very warm. Towards the end of this period, we may see a return to more settled conditions, bringing dry and sunny weather. " *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** UK Mars rover will have to aim for the Moon https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-62327231 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. Shows meteor shower radiants, http://stellarium.org/ *** 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 *** Here's how to save hedgehogs during the heatwave https://www.countryliving.com/uk/wildlife/countryside/a22544349/how-to-save-hedgehogs-during-heatwave/ 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 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 Garganey juv drk, Wader Pit, Baston + Langtoft GPs - late report 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, Wood Sandpiper, Gibraltar Point Stilt Sandpiper ad from Prospect Hide, Spoonbill, Alkborough Flats 3/8 Garganey juv drk, Wader Pit, Baston + Langtoft GPs 35 Spoonbills, 9 Spotted Redshanks, Curlew Sandpiper ad, 3 Little Stints on Middle Scrape, Black Tern juv from bottom car park, Frampton Marsh 23 Spoonbills on Tennyson's Sands, Spotted Redshank on Jackson's Marsh, Gibraltar Point Stilt Sandpiper ad from Prospect Hide, Spoonbill, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, Alkborough Flats 4/8 6 Curlew Sandpipers from sea wall viewpoint, Frampton Marsh 20 Spoonbills on Tennyson's Sands, Gibraltar Point 5 Spoonbills from Prospect Hide, Spotted Redshank, Alkborough Flats 5/8 Garganey, Baston Fen 25 Spoonbills, Pectoral Sandpiper from reedbed, 4 Curlew Sandpipers, Hen Harrier male, Frampton Marsh 20 Spoonbills on Tennyson's Sands, Gibraltar Point 2 Short-eared Owls south of haven Bank, Saltfleet Osprey, Thoresby Bridge, Tetney Lock 6 Black-winged Stilts, 2 ads, Messingham Sand Quarry 6/8 27 Spoonbills, 5 Curlew Sandpipers, Pectoral Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh 5 Spotted Redshanks, Freiston Shore Pied Flycatcher at plantation, Gibraltar Point Common Crane in field near woodland, East Kirkby Little Stint on main flash, Little Gull, Manby Flashes Black Tern off Donna Nook 5 Black-winged Stilts, ad + 2 juvs, Messingham Sand Quarry 7/8 Garganey, Wader Pit, Baston and Langtoft GPs Long-eared Owl at East Dunes, Black Tern offshore - flew south, Gibraltar Point Little Stint on main flash, Manby Flashes 8/8 Garganey, Wader Pit, Baston and Langtoft GPs Wood Sandpiper, 27 Spoonbills, Frampton Marsh 4 Spoonbills on Tennyson's Sands, Gibraltar Point Little Stint, Manby Flashes Curlew Sandpiper ad, Killingholme Haven 9/8 38 Spoonbills, 8 Spotted Redshanks, Wood Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh Pied Flycatcher, Turtle Dove singing, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe 10/8 Temminck's Stint on East Pit, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James, then no further sign 3 Spoonbills flew south past Gibraltar Point ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 9/8/2022 at 18.15hrs approx. Frenzy of whirling gulls over the village centre - probably after flying ants. 3/8 - 55kHz bat [Pipistrelle] echolocating over garden at 21.15hrs to 21.45hrs. 4/8 - no bats heard 21.15-21.30hrs 6/8 - bats 55kHz, heard 21.20-21.35hrs, then a break with later visits 22.00hrs. 7/8 - bat 55kHz - brief signal at 21.05hrs - then silence 8/8 - bat 55kHz - active hunting in garden - 21.12-21.30 - 3 passes, later signal 10.00hrs. 9/8 - no bats heard 21.45-22.00hrs Hedgehog on camera: into/out of box with food 3/8: 23.11hrs [in], 23.20hrs [out] 4/8: 01.15hrs, 03.69hrs [in], 04.05hrs [out] 5/8: 22.09, 22.44 [in], 22.20 [in] 6/8: 00.03 [in], 00.13 [out], 00.15, 00.16, 00.17 [in], 00.18 [out], 00.26 [in], 00.27, 01.34, 01.23 [in], 01.23 [out], 02.43, 03.24 [out], 03.25 [in], 03.47 [in] 03.48 [out] Summarised: in-out counts as one visit... 00.00-0059hrs = 6 visits; 01.00-01.59hrs = 2 visits; 02.00-02.59hrs = 1 visit; 03.00-03.59hrs = 1 visit. Summarising visits from now on for 1 hour slots: 6/8: 23.00-23.59hrs = 3 in and out 7/8: 00.00-00.59hrs = 4 01.00-01.59hrs - 1 only 02.00-02.59hrs = 4 Camera near drinking bowl. 7/8: 23.25-23.29hrs; 23.57-23.59hrs 8/8: 23.25-23.29hrs 23.57-23.59hrs 9/8: 22.28-22.31hrs [drinking], 22/55 10/8: 00.22-00.26hrs [drinking], 00.54hrs, 4.10-04.13hrs [drinking] BARDNEY GARDEN Grid ref TF 117 701 Mary and Phil Porter 4th August 2022 and the following week I was delighted to find a "common blue" butterfly on marjoram and managed to get a good photo. On closer inspection, we looked it up and it was indeed a brown argus, a first for the garden! The week continued to delight, with a regular hummingbird hawkmoth feeding mostly on pink phlox, and still a good number of gatekeeper butterflies. Other butterflies included a few peacocks, one or two small tortoiseshells, red admirals, one brimstone, some whites, one comma, meadow browns, one or two holly blues. Marjoram moths are still around. They seem to have been with us all summer! Two blue-tailed damselflies have been laying eggs in the pond, a single blue damselfly and a large dragonfly has been zooming about, too fast for positive identification. Regular sightings of a small hedgehog have been captured on the camera and a young fox was nosing about on the night of the 6thAugust, at 12.30am. We had a look for bats and only spotted a maximum of two at any one time. Numbers of bats have been steadily decreasing over the years. I normally suffer badly from mosquito bites, but we have seen literally one or two around. There can't be much for the bats to eat. The birds have been very busy on the feeders, and they include a family of goldfinches, long tailed tits, blue tits, great tits, great spotted woodpeckers (x2 juveniles), chaffinches and a few greenfinches. Some very scraggy blackbirds are around, plus some young ones. Wrens, dunnocks, and robins are present. The robin started singing on 6th August, something I always equate with autumn. BARDNEY GARDEN Grid ref TF 117 701 Mary and Phil Porter 7th August 2022 A small number of flying ants taking off from the edge of a concrete slab where it joins the lawn. 8th August 2022 A larger nest of ants taking flight about 20 feet away from the one yesterday, also from the edge of a concrete path adjoining the lawn. Although it didn't look like hundreds of individuals, there must have been flying ants around locally as, within about ten minutes, we had a few dozen gulls going around on a thermal over the garden. They were obviously after the ants! BOSTON (TF326426) 05/08/2022 Roy Pearson A Hobby was circling over the garden before flying off towards Frampton. BOSTON (TF326426) Kathleen Pearson We have kept watch each evening so far this month for bats using the garden. The results are as follows:- 01/08/22. 1 at 21:30 05/08/22. 1 at 21:10 and again 1 at 21:20 06/08/22. 1 at 21:15 08/08/22. 1 at 21:10. BOSTON TF338441 My garden Tracey Lenton 04/08/2022 22:40 3 hedgehogs in the garden foraging, one snorting quite noisily! BOSTON TF338441 My garden Tracey Lenton 05/08/2022 Silver-Y moth had flown in the house, caught and released 06/08/2022 Having a good summer for dragonflies and damselflies. Continue to see most days and happy to report similar species to previous 2 years when I first started recording. Female Willow Emerald damselfly late evening, seen on 7th August in 2020 Least carpet moth in the house late evening Interesting to hear about swifts last week. I haven't seen any this week (writing 07/08/2022), my last video film of them was 28th July 2022 when I counted 11 (my house overhead) previous count on 18th July 2022 was 24. Something to monitor next year. HEIGHINGTON TF025695 John Nickson 3rd August 2022 Pipistrelle First seen at 21:15 at least three individuals over our and neighbouring gardens. HUTTOFT Jane Pennington TF511762 (my garden unless otherwise advised) 3/8/2022 Bat sp. 3 Likely pipistrelle. Noticed them at 9.20pm and saw 2 flying and crossing over each other twice and then just before I thought they'd moved on I saw 3 in a row! There's a largish pond at the bottom of the garden and although the water is going down, hopefully they know it's there! NETTLEHAM HEATH TF 00114 76392 04/08/22 14:10 Su Colman & Mark Townsend Red kite over field margin - the first we have seen north of Lincoln ROPSLEY centre Catherine Brown 99252 34392 3 August 2022 21.00 - 21.30 Several bats seen hunting in amongst the trees and occasionally drinking from the garden pond. Very approximate numbers: 5 -15, species unknown but Brown long eared bat seen in daylight in a previous year. About the same number of bats we had seen on previous evenings before the very hot 2 days. However, despite it having been a hot day, fewer were drinking from the pond than before. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 27th July - 2nd August 2022 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Matt Blissett, Ruth Taylor, Owen Beaumont. Daily news and wildlife sightings: Note: An additional 10.2 mm of rain fell on the 30th and 31st giving a total of 19.0mm (0.75 inches) for July. The average daily maximum temperature was 23.27 degrees centigrade, the highest recorded since 2012. Rainfall at Churchill on the 2nd August 4.5mm. 270722 - Single turtle dove flying south over Rimac, 2 adult avocets with 3 young at Sea View washlands. 2 juvenile cuckoo at Rimac and 6 kestrel over the dunes and saltmarsh. 3 little ringed plover, 1 dunlin and 1 lapwing utilising the remaining water on Rimac scrape. 280722 - On the bank of the Eau near Paradise 2 common sandpipers, young green woodpecker near Sea View. 290722 - juvenile cuckoo flew over Churchill Lane 310722 - Two whimbrel over the saltmarsh and both great spotted and green wood- pecker around Sea View. 010822 - 18 wall brown at Rimac and 11 between Churchill Lane and Brickyard Lane. Butterflies seen small and large whites, green-veined white, small copper, small tortoise- shell, Essex and small skipper, small heath, common and holly blues, gatekeeper, meadow rown, ringlet, speckled wood, comma, brown argus, wall, painted lady, red admiral and peacock. Willow emeralds seen at Churchill and adjacent to Great Eau north end on NNR. 020822 - great spotted woodpecker at Sea View Note: A colour-ringed sandwich tern marked at Scolt Head, Norfolk, in 2016 had also been recorded in France and the Netherlands before being seen at Crook bank on 17/07/22 Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR Report 3rd-9th August 2022 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Matt Blissett, Ruth Taylor, Owen Beaumont, Phil Hyde, Geoff Williams and Chris Atkin Daily news and wildlife sightings: 020822 - Hummingbird hawkmoth at Sea View. 030822 - Party of 6 swifts, south, over Sea View. On the Great Eau were 14 redshank, 4 black-tailed godwit, 2 curlew, 2 common sandpiper and 2 little egret. 2 green sandpiper near Churchill Lane. Yellow wagtail and a steady flow of hirundines over Rimac. 040822 - A good day for butterflies when the daytime maximum reached 24.5 degrees centigrade with 19 species recorded in the dunes of the reserve, 14 at Sea View. At least 4 willow emerald damselflies at Sea View. 4 common sandpiper and 2 kingfisher on the Great Eau. A roost of 830 black-headed gull on Theddlethorpe beach, 7 red-breasted merganser flew north. 6 snipe, 1 whimbrel, 1 greenshank and 1 green sandpiper on Sea View Washland. 2 buzzard over Rimac and a hobby seen hunting meadow pipits to the north of the NNR. 050822 - Paradise lagoon remains completely dry with 76 black-headed gulls, 9 common gulls and 29 lapwing at rest on the baked mud. Green woodpecker calling from Paradise wood. 4 redshank, 5 common snipe and 1 green sandpiper at Sea View wetlands. 2 emperor dragonflies on the wing at Sea View. Evening: over saltmarsh single short-eared, 12 whimbrel and 2 barn owls nearby. 2 short-eared owl hunting near Saltfleet Haven. 1 avocet on the Great Eau. 060822 - 13 whimbrel spooked by female marsh harrier over saltmarsh, single kingfisher flying along Eau near Paradise. 18 species of butterfly recorded during a Lincolnshire Butterfly Conservation field trip to the dunes. Some high counts included 68 wall brown seen between Sea View and Brickyard Lane and 17 brown argus around Rimac. At least 50 migrant hawkers, 1 brown hawker and 7 willow emerald seen around Rimac. 2 short-eared owl again hunting over the north end of the NNR. 070822 - Mediterranean gull with black-headed gulls on Paradise lagoon, 2 common sandpipers along the Eau outfall, 30+ black-tailed godwits flew NE over Sea View. Single holly blue and humming bird hawkmoth at Sea View. 28 redshank, 2 curlew and 12 common sandpiper and 1 green sandpiper on the Great Eau. Good numbers of butterfly seen again, including 20 brown argus between Churchill Lane and Brickyard Lane. 080822 - Immature cuckoo at Churchill Lane. 090822 - 2 lesser whitethroats near Sea View. Pied flycatcher in willows south of Rimac. 63 lapwing on Paradise Lagoon. 250 redshank, 2 greenshank, 12 dunlin and 7 common sandpiper on the Great Eau. 3 little ringed plover, 1 redshank and 1 lapwing on Sea View Washland. The 3 small bats continue to be seen regularly around Churchill Lane car park area over past week Other local reserves: 080822- Muckton Wood: Raven flew over and a family of spotted flycatchers were feeding in the trees. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. Iceland Volcano Eruption Update; New Eruption Begins at Geldingadalir, Lava Flows from a Fissure https://youtu.be/PBtFLZiSmWg Bird fossils dating back 50 million years gifted to National Museums Scotland https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-62456601 Lincolnshire Geodiversity Group https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/discovering/geology-1 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/ 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. [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... Word of Mouth A Murmuration of Starling - listen... https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0019z0j North tree planting project hoped to absorb 600,000 tonnes of CO2 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-62432822 UK sports clubs boost biodiversity by letting nature go wild on their grounds https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jul/31/the-crowd-goes-wild-as-sports-clubs-bring-nature-off-the-bench-aoe Country diary: The joy of wildlife walks is 'many eyes see more' https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/aug/02/country-diary-the-joy-of-wildlife-walks-is-many-eyes-see-more Plastic pollution: Birds all over the world are living in our rubbish https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-62407026 Great Barrier Reef sees record coral cover, but it is highly vulnerable https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-62402891 'Change is coming': Meet the Englishman prepping for climate apocalypse in an old German barracks https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/aug/06/change-is-coming-meet-the-englishman-prepping-for-climate-apocalypse-in-an-old-german-barracks ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/