============================================ || || 27th July 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: Noted flying ant events? Don't forget to report them. "The study is current and they would really appreciate any reports." https://www.bwars.com/content/flying-ant-days-we-need-your-data Thursday 28th July, 7.30pm - Joseph Banks Society President's Lecture. The President of the Sir Joseph Banks Society, Professor Libby John, will give a farewell lecture on the topic of "decolonising botany" on Thursday 28 July 2022 at the Isaac Newton Lecture Hall on the campus of the University of Lincoln at 7.30pm. "Free to attend/no need to book" For more details see www.joseph-banks.org.uk The JBS would warmly welcome our support at this significant event. The Lincolnshire Environmental Awards 2022 is open for entries! Deadline for entries: Sunday 31 July 2022 https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/lincs-environmental-awards Continue to stay informed on current and also Co-19 and 'flu, 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 Edge of England by Derek Turner review - a love letter to Lincolnshire https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/jul/23/edge-of-england-derek-turner-review Sibsey Trader Windmill reaches major restoration milestone https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-62240763 Water company to stop fluoridation in Lincolnshire for a year https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-62283867 UK faces 'significant' shortage of farmland by 2030 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-28003435 Villagers in Hatton plead 'no solar on farmland' https://www.lincolnshireworld.com/news/environment/villagers-in-hatton-plead-no-solar-on-farmland-3773239 Climate change: UK cities warned of wildfire risk https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-62253581 Boston flats fire started by cigarette says fire service https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-62270465 Fire destroys eight vehicles parked outside Lincolnshire flats https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-62264286 Fire damages 33 hectares at Springwatch's Wild Ken Hill https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-62237798 Fire breaks out in Kent field https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-62279837 Surrey 'major incident' declared as grass fire ignite https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-62283667 Lincoln Cathedral: Man injured after falling from tower https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-62240632 The English toads making their homes in the treetops https://www.countrylife.co.uk/nature/the-english-toads-making-their-homes-in-the-treetops-and-baffling-researchers-at-cambridge-245571 DECIDE recording tool butterflies. Anyone know about this? https://decide.ceh.ac.uk/info/decide_info 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#? 1 - 10 August "Changeable conditions are expected for many at the start of the week, with outbreaks of light rain across central and southwestern parts. Meanwhile, the north and many southern areas may see mainly dry and bright conditions. The changeable regime will continue further into the week ...with cloud and outbreaks or rain likely in the west and northwest. Temperatures will likely trend above average in the south and closer to normal in the north. Most areas may see some rain or showers towards the end of the period... Generally near normal temperatures for the north... " *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** Nasa's James Webb telescope reveals millions of galaxies https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-62259492 Neutron stars: New telescope detects dead suns colliding https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-61911047 More helicopters look set to fly on Mars https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-62234196 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/ *** Reminder: Bat rescue instructions *** Bat note 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/ *** National Whale and Dolphin Watch Weekend - 23rd and 31st July *** Dave Miller writes: National Whale and Dolphin Watch Weekend is this year being held between 23rd and 31st July. Richard Doan will be carrying out sea watches at the North Sea Observatory on Saturday 30th July and at the Round-and-Round hide, Anderby Creek on the Sunday 31st July. The usual times are 10 - 4. Please come along for as much, or as little, as you can. You can also carry out your own sea watches at a time convenient for you. Please let us know your findings. For a copy of the NWDW report form contact: Dave Miller dmiller@lincstrust.co.uk See: https://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/nwdw/ *** 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 20/7 Cattle Egret ad in cattle field south of Baston Fen reserve Gull-billed Tern [view from road] and Cattle Egret on Wader Pit, Baston + Langtoft GPs Caspian Gull juv, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James 12 Spoonbills, 3 Spotted Redshanks, 4 Arctic Terns flew south, Gibraltar Point Spoonbill flew south over Anderby Creek 20 Quails calling, Withcall Stilt Sandpiper ad, Wood Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, 25 Spoonbills, Alkborough Flats 21/7 Gull-billed Tern [view from road] on Wader Pit, Baston + Langtoft GPs 14 Spoonbills, Frampton Marsh Quail male singing in field between Somerby Road and Hurn Wood, SSW of Ropsley Stilt Sandpiper from prospect hide, 20 Spoonbills, 8 Spotted Redshanks, Alkborough Flats 22/7 Cattle Egret juv on Wader Pit, Baston + Langtoft GPs Spoonbill on Jackson's Marsh, Gibraltar Point 5 Little Terns, Whisby Nature Park Stilt Sandpiper from prospect hide, 22 Spoonbills, 3 Spotted Redshanks, Alkborough Flats 23/7 Cattle Egret, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James Russian White-fronted Goose, Fillingham Lake Arctic tern briefly, Whisby Nature Park Spoonbill at Sailing Pit, Barton-upon-Humber GPs Stilt Sandpiper from Prospect Hide,4 Spotted Redshanks, Alkborough Flats 24/7 16 Spoonbills, Little Stint, Hen Harrier reported over wet grassland - flew north, Curlew Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper east of sea bank car park, Frampton Marsh Wood Sandpiper, Freiston Shore 2 Quail males singing, West Halton Stilt Sandpiper from Prospect Hide, 19 Spoonbills, Alkborough Flats 25/7 Stilt Sandpiper ad from Prospect Hide, 19+ Spoonbills, Alkborough Flats 26/7 Whooper Swan on Wader Pit, Baston & Langtoft GPs 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 3 Spoonbills on the Mere, Gibraltar Point Stilt Sandpiper ad from Prospect Hide, 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 - Bob Sheppard writes: 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. ABBEY FARM, BARDNEY TF111706 25/7/2022 Phil & Mary Porter Just north of the Bardney Abbey site, there are 4 mature Horse Chestnut trees about 25 meters tall which have always been badly affected by the brown mines of the Ohridella moth since its appearance, but this year they seem to completely free from mines. I can't remember when I last saw a Horse Chestnut all-green at this time of year. I am not sure if there is still time for mines to appear. More generally, it seems striking how completely Rowans in the village have been desiccated by the drought and heat, compared to most other trees. Of course, planted trees are usually at a disadvantage compared with naturally germinated ones but it also illustrates how Rowans, whilst obviously British, are ill-adapted to the hottest and driest areas when conditions become extreme. BARDNEY - The Green R & A Parsons TF120694 Hedgehog 23.29hrs drinking 22/7: 00.35hrs and 01.16hrs BST Hedgehog passing through garden 24/7: 02.17hrs BST Hedgehog entering box: 25/7: 23.24hrs out 23.34 and 26/7: 04.11 out 04.13 Hedgehogs in and out of box [wio th food] : 26/7 at 22.49 in -22.58hr outs; 27/7 at 00.07, 00.11 in, 00.20 out. 01.26 in, 02.22 in and 00.37 hrs BOSTON GARDEN (TF326426) 22/07/2022 Kathleen Pearson I recorded the highest ever number of Long-tailed Tits in the garden when 15 were counted. Probably there were even more in the garden today (23/07/2022), but the number in constant movement between the trees made accurate counting impossible. I have had a pleasant return to the garden this year with two small bats flying every night. I assume they were Pipistrelle. HANWORTH COUNTRY PARK Phil Porter TF045665 21st/7/2022 I had a great hour and a half at this public-access fishing holiday site west of Potterhanworth. There were very large areas of thickly wild-flower seeded grassland and fishing ponds which, although not scenic, were clothed with narrow strips of a very surprising wealth of emergent native plants given its function; in particular, Blunt-flowered Rush, Jointed Rush, Common Spike-rush, False Fox Sedge and Branched Bur-reed enlivened with Purple Loosestrife, Yellow Loosestrife, Water Figwort, Gypsywort and a very attractive white- flowered patch of Hairy Willow-herb amongst beds of the normal pink. Normally all the flowers found in this sort of site are planted in low variety but there was an original agricultural stock pond on the site and perhaps its flora was spread around when more were dug. In this mixture I saw the vividly yellow and black hoverfly Chrysotoxum bicinctum and tiny, slender Sphaerophoria scripta. Unfortunately, all of the damselflies seemed to be Blue-tailed which might indicate that ponds have low water quality, perhaps not surprising if there is a high number of large bottom-feeding fish. They were certainly turbid. This damselfly has the highest tolerance of difficult conditions. The more recently dug ponds were also well vegetated and flanked with areas of disturbed soil where pioneer plants such as Bristly Ox-tongue, Teasel, Weld and Melilot (both White and either Tall or Ribbed) and these nectar-rich species attracted Painted Lady, Red Admiral and Common Blue butterflies, although only 2-3 of each. Gatekeeper and Meadow Browns were the most frequent butterflies. One of these ponds was being pumped into another and three Oystercatchers and a Lapwing were on the muddy edges. Elsewhere large banks of excavated soil at the site margins had strong flushes of the vigorous growers; Spear and Creeping Thistles, docks and Mugwort that were attracting a range of insects but as usual these days, not in very large numbers even at the height of the summer. All this wild growth is apparently to be left uncut and would act as a refuge against rough weather. The expanses of recently seeded ground still had a lot of flowers despite the extreme heat of a few days ago, but seeding had certainly been advanced. Knapweed was probably the commonest plant (I hesitate to specify as there were several distinct forms including those with flowers resembling Greater Knapweed, a sure sign of commercial seed) with Yarrow, Sainfoin, Tufted Vetch, Scorpion-weed (Phacelia), and Oxeye, among others. At least 50 Goldfinches rose from one corner of these fields. Sweeping for flies with the permission of the management, I inadvertently caught a Six-banded Clearwing moth which was photographed and released, and saw an Essex Skipper close enough to see its black-tipped antennae, the only skipper I noticed. Unfortunately for me, flies were very thin on the ground which seems to be the norm just at the moment. I hope to construct a fuller plant list in time for this site to enhance its reputation. There is a café for refreshment. FAR INGS Angela Buckle 24th July.2022 Far Ings. Common fleabane, Teasel, Lesser burdock, Lucerne, Evening primrose, Great mullein, Horseradish. Galls. Pea gall on rose. Read stem gall. Rosette gall on willow. SAXBY Saxby all Saints Church SE992166 Jenny Haynes 25 July 2022 Out on a walk this afternoon I sat down in the shade and watched two Hummingbird Hawkmoths feeding on a Buddleia along with a Red Admiral. WOOLSTHORPE-BY COLSTERWORTH SK92/22 In the garden and on the Nature Trail there have been swarms of insects for the first time this year - but sadly not the diversity. On 18th July with temperatures in the high thirties a bathroom window left open when a light was left on resulted in all the white surfaces being covered in small gnats which were also on the doors of the landing and the sides of the stairs. Equally unpleasant have been 'hatchings' of greenbottle flies which have crawled out of the ventilators. On the same day going out to check on what seemed to be wasps circling round the plum tree discovered a whole food chain of insects on a tree with no flowers and fruit in an early unripe stage. There were wasp mimic hoverflies possibly feeding on the honeydew left by numerous greenfly which were drawing on the sap from the leaves . The ladybirds were feeding on the greenfly and some of the wasps appeared to have insect larvae in their jaws. Another centre of activity was the pond with drinking and bathing birds, whirligig beetles and water boatman on the surface. A visiting Southern Hawker Dragonfly and a Grass Snake curled up on a clump of damp vegetation. A Moth trap set on 14th July collected 200 specimens of 63 species including the spectacular Scarlet Tiger. The Marjoram in flower in the garden is full of Bumble- bees - mainly Buff-tailed and Red-tailed but no Honey Bees at all. Red Admiral Butterflies this week on the dark purple buddleia and Holly Blues in the shade of the Ivy. Although many of the garden flowers have gone to seed early the native species in the drying out pond are doing well  Purple Loosestrife is attractive to the white Butterflies and Wasps are pollinating the Water Figwort. Water Mint and Bogbean are in flower. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 20 - 26th July 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: Note: A very welcome spell of rain in the form of showers on the 22nd, 23rd and 24th giving 3.4mm of precipitation. The cumulative total this year January - July 26th is 218.9mm where the average for January - July since 2012 at Sea View is 323.5mm. 200722 - Common lizard at Sea View, tawny owl calling in the evening at Sea View and small bat flying in the area. Up to 8 red kite flew south past Brickyard Lane late morning, including a group of 5 birds together. 3 little ringed plover and 8 kestrel at Rimac. 210722 - Juvenile cuckoos in the dunes at the north and south end of the NNR. A Mediterranean gull, 30 oystercatcher and 2 whimbrel flew south at Crook Bank. 3 green sandpiper and a snipe on House's Field. 220722 - Single great spotted and green woodpeckers around Sea View. 230722 - Swift movement noted in the evening and carrying on until dark. 240722 - 2 common snipe feeding on the edge of water near Sea View, noticeable southerly movement of swifts over Sea View during early morning. Over 3000 swift flew south in around half an hour early morning. 250722 - 2 adult avocets with 3 well grown young on Sea View washlands, plus 3 common snipe and a single green sandpiper. At least 2 red kite around Sea View and Rimac. 2 whimbrel, 5 little ringed plover, 2 green sandpiper and a juvenile cuckoo at Rimac. 3 common sandpiper and a turnstone at Paradise Lagoon per John Clarkson. 260722 - Single red kite and 4 whimbrel over Sea View, both flying west. A young green woodpecker in sycamores at Sea View. 2 little ringed plover and a green sandpiper at Rimac. A mobile red kite was seen around Sea View and Rimac throughout the day. Juvenile cuckoo at Sea View. Short-eared owl seen in the dunes mid-morning. Steady movement of sandwich tern and gannet offshore early morning. Butterflies seen over recent days: large, small, green-veined whites, small copper, small skipper, small tortoiseshell, speckled wood, red admiral, peacock, painted lady, wall, hedge brown, ringlet, meadow brown, holly blue, common blue, comma and brimstone. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 *** Roger Favell - soft bounce 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... Wildlife photography: Magic of Skomer's puffins captured https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-62235145 Bird flu: People to avoid 23 small Scottish islands https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-62250459 When did humans start making art and were Neanderthals artists too? https://www.newscientist.com/article/2328736-when-did-humans-start-making-art-and-were-neanderthals-artists-too/ Explore great offers on entomology field guides in the NHBS sale https://www.nhbs.com/field-guide-sale Sallow-shoot piercer moth discovered in Lanarkshire nature reserve is a Scottish first https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/in-your-area/lanarkshire/unusual-moth-discovered-lanarkshire-nature-27533196 Nottingham with two sheriff's? https://theconversation.com/revealing-nottinghams-secret-history-through-augmented-reality-187314 ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/