=========================================== || || 12th October 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: compare past years... 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Greenwich Mean Time: The clocks go back on 30 October at 2am. https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/when-do-clocks-go-back With possible winter power cuts being mentioned, you may want to think ahead. This piece by Northern Powergrid is a helpful start. https://www.northernpowergrid.com/what-to-do-in-a-power-cut Check the LNU events web page for updates or cancellations: https://lnu.org/meetings/ The Wolds Fungi Group. Details of Forays - Autumn 2022 is given below for October and November. Please let Paul Nichol know if you plan to attend so he knows who to expect. This week's links to Lincolnshire and wildlife-related news stories. More general links in "..and finally ..." at the end of the Bulletin. Direct action not ruled out by conservation groups over nature policies https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-63207619 West Lindsey: Solar farms plans 'catastrophic' - council boss https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-63172174 Biscathorpe: Egdon Resources oil drilling plan examined at appeal https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-63172647 Big Butterfly Count: Sightings worryingly low, say UK conservationists https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-63164826 Conservation: Explosion in frog numbers after mass pond digging https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-63206140 Bird flu: Poultry in Norfolk, Suffolk and parts of Essex to be kept indoors https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-63183942 Lincoln Cathedral: Chapel dedicated to emergency services fallen https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-63201031 Lincoln: Life-sized figures of Falklands heroes on display https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-63145601 Lincoln CCTV captures man's near miss at level crossing https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-lincolnshire-63148321 Lincoln: Third A46 road sign blunder sees Immingham renamed https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-63131739 Apple boom: Why community orchards are on the rise https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-63160292 UK defies climate warnings with new oil and gas licences https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-63163824 Ceredigion: Warning as seal pup dies after being scared by dogs https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-63160121 Fishing nets being recycled to help save the sea - short clip https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/science-environment-63178387 Great Yarmouth: Authority bans planting of 'hazardous' fruit trees https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-63156505 Please stay informed on current Co-19 and 'flu advice, adapting appropriately to future changes at indoor meetings and in the field. If you have any event postponements or changes please let us know. Thank you for all the interesting news links, wildlife events information and useful species reports. Please keep your information coming in. Roger old.museum@yahoo.co.uk - note - my best address for emails. *** Please Support Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union *** You will find "good causes" listed in every LNU Bulletin in Section 8. Local wildlife charities like the LNU do need supporters and welcome new members. If you are not yet an LNU member please would you consider the possibility of joining? https://lnu.org/join-the-lnu/ *** The Greater Lincolnshire Nature Partnership newsletter arrives *** The newsletter will give our Partners and Supporters insight into the recent work of the GLNP, including projects and upcoming events, as well as relevant news from the GLNP and our Partner organisations. If you would like to keep up to date with the Partnership, follow the link below to subscribe to our newsletter or connect with us on social media. https://linktr.ee/GLNPnature We look forward to sharing all things GLNP with you! Best wishes, The GLNP team Contact in case link does not work: Emily Todd: emily.todd@glnp.org.uk *** Weather Forecast *** https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#? 16-25 October "At the start of the period, clear or sunny spells are expected, interspersed with some showers that could be heavy and potentially thundery at times. These could also occasionally merge into longer spells of rain, especially in western areas. Through the rest of the period, the changeable weather is likely to persist as several bands of rain move across the country. In between these, some sunshine is possible along with occasional showers. The west is likely to see the greatest amount of rainfall, whereas the east will remain drier on average. Temperatures generally near normal throughout this period, though some chilly nights are possible. Winds are expected to be strong in association with the passing fronts, with t he risk of coastal gales in the northwest. " *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** Royal Observatory, Greenwich , says: In autumn 2022 the clocks will go back on 30 October at 2am. https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/when-do-clocks-go-back The Orionid meteor shower will peak on the night of 21-22 October between midnight and dawn. However, if you're looking you should be able to see the shower for several days either side of this 'maximum' date. https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/orionid-meteor-shower-2022-when-where-see-it-uk "One of the biggest sunspots in years has just rotated over the sun's northeastern limb. The appearance of the dangerous sunspot could herald two weeks of high solar activity. https://spaceweather.com/ For UK Aurora data see: https://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/ Heads up for a partial Solar Eclipse on Tuesday 25th October - 10.00 - 12.00hrs. https://www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/online/solar-eclipse-october-2022-uk-live-stream 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/ *** Len Pick Trust Owl-box Camera *** Bob Sheppard writes: On October 1st the Len Pick Trust barn owls returned to the tower to roost. Both adults can now be seen regularly during daylight hours. The stock dove, which was sitting two eggs, has now disappeared https://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project *** Chambers Farm Wood - Butterfly Garden *** The volunteers at the Butterfly Garden meet on the first and third Tuesday of the month from February to November. We have our last Tuesday of gardening this year on 1st November. It's a great opportunity to meet other gardeners and wildlife enthusiasts, and to work in a lovely setting. If you are interested in joining us, we would welcome new volunteers. Just pop along for a chat, or contact Margaret Westcott, 01205 750719. We are meeting on Tuesday 18th October, 9.30 - 3pm. https://butterfly-conservation.org/in-your-area/lincolnshire-branch/chambers-farm-wood-butterfly-garden *** Hedgehog Links *** https://hedgehogcare.org.uk/ https://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/found-a-hedgehog/ https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/ *** Bat advice from Annette Falkner *** Annette writes: 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. *** The Wolds Fungi Group - Programme of Forays Autumn 2022 *** Anyone thinking of attending any of the forays should contact Paul Nichol beforehand please, so he has a rough idea of who may be turning up. pnichol20@gmail.com The aim of field meetings is to have an enjoyable day out looking for and learning how to identify mushrooms & toadstools that are to be found in Lincolnshire and to record the fungi and understand their ecology. Our records will be passed onto the County recorder for fungi and further to National databases. Foraging for edible fungi is not an aim of the group. Forays start at 10.00am and last for 2 to 3 hours. Please bring along a plastic box (no carrier bags!) if you wish to collect specimens a penknife is useful for removing fungi on wood and a culinary fork for prizing specimens out of the litter. Some sort of hand lens is always useful as is a note book to record your observations. A list of our records for a foray will be provided for those who want them. Saturday Oct. 29th Walesby Moor, Market Rasen. Meet and park at Grid ref TF114908 which is beyond Walesby Woodland Caravan Park. Carry on past the caravan park for about 200m and car park on left. Saturday Nov 5th Theddlethorpe dunes, Theddlethorpe St Helen. Meet in the car park at the end of Brickyard Lane TF482891 Post code LN12 1NR *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Area Groups webpage *** Please let me have your "plugs" for coming events. https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/area-groups *** Lincoln LWT *** Richard Davidson writes: Lincoln LWT Area Group Talk October 20th: Woodhall Spa Airfield - The First Five Years An illustrated talk by Kevin James about the first five years of Woodhall Spa Airfield as a nature reserve and the wildlife that is now thriving there. Kevin is the warden for Woodhall Spa Airfield and several other nature reserves in the area. At Whisby Nature Park in the Lafarge Education Building starting at 7.30 pm. Admission £2.50. Refreshments are provided. *** Scunthorpe and Brigg Local Group of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust. *** Keith Scarrott writes: Our October meeting is on Thursday, 13th October, starting at 7.30 pm when we have a visit by Geoff Lee to give an illustrated talk about "The Norfolk Broads". We meet in the St Hugh's Church Hall, Ashby Road, Scunthorpe, DN15 2AG, which is opposite the Applegreen filling station near West Common Lane/Ashby Road crossroads. There is a £2 admission charge to the meeting which includes light refreshments at the mid-talk break. There is a small, free car park at the Church and also parking spaces on the roadside nearby. *** RSPB Grimsby Local Group *** The RSPB Grimsby Local Group has a new website https://group.rspb.org.uk/grimsby/ Martin Francis writes: The next Indoor Meeting is on Monday 17th October at 7.30pm - Matthew Capper, RSPB Grimsby Local Group's next Indoor Meeting is on Monday 17th October at 7.30pm. Matthew Capper will give an illustrated talk about "Florida - the Sunshine State" The talk takes place at Holy Trinity Parish Hall, Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes, DN35 7LH Entry for everybody is £4, payable at the door. Light refreshments and a raffle will be available There will be a Trip to Spurn Point (Kilnsea) on Sunday 23rd October. Travel to Spurn Point is by 'car share' so if you would like to go, just contact Sally Prescott : sally.prescott142@btinternet.com or 01472 840142) to let her know that you would like a lift, or that you have a spare seat(s), and for more details of the meeting place and time. All the Group's activities are open to everybody - you do not need to belong to the RSPB, or to have attended Group Meetings to take part. We look forward to seeing you at the Indoor Meeting and/or on the Trip Martin Francis Group Leader - RSPB Grimsby Local Group" *** Seal and Birdwatching Cruises 2022 - South Lincs RSPB Group *** 14 cruises have been arranged for 2022, at various sailing times, 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 - sign up. http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/guide-to-emails EasyTide http://easytide.ukho.gov.uk/EasyTide/EasyTide/index.aspx Sewage pollution of beaches SAS link: https://www.sas.org.uk/map/ Environment Agency Flood Warnings - Lincolnshire https://flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/warnings?location=lincolnshire Environment Agency Flood Information/Floodline - sign up https://www.gov.uk/sign-up-for-flood-warnings ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2. WILDLIFE HIGHLIGHTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Bird News from Rare Bird Alert *** Rare Bird Alert has kindly given permission to reproduce 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 4/10 3 Little Stints, Frampton Marsh Yellow-browed Warbler trapped and ringed, Gibraltar Point 2 Rock Pipits on east side, Toft Newton reservoir 5/10 Jack Snipe from reedbed Hide, Frampton Marsh Great Northern Diver, Grey Phalarope flew south past, Spotted Redshank, Cattle Egret on Croft Marsh, from Jackson's Marsh, Gibraltar Point 6/10 Snow Bunting, Gibraltar Point 2 Curlew Sandpipers, Spotted Redshank, Novartis Ings, Pyewipe 7/10 6 Little Stints, Cattle Egret in field south of main car park, Frampton Marsh Yellow-browed Warbler with Long-tailed Tits at Sykes' Farm, Gibraltar Point Lapland Bunting, Saltfleet Curlew Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, Novartis Ings, Pyewipe 8/10 8 Little Stints, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 7 escaped Red-breasted Geese, 2 ads +3 juvs, both ads ringed, Frampton Marsh Snow Bunting, Spoonbill flew south over, Ring Ouzel, Twite, Gibraltar Point Purple Sandpiper on south bank, Little Stint on east bank, Covenham reservoir 9/10 7 Little Stints, Curlew Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh Yellow-browed Warbler at Sykes' Farm, Snow Bunting flew south, Gibraltar Point Jack Snipe in Teal Lake, Whisby Nature Park Little Stint on east side, Purple Sandpiper on south side, Covenham Reservoir Curlew Sandpiper near jetty on mudflats, Snow Bunting by drain outfall on sea wall, Immingham Spotted Redshank, Jack Snipe on saltmarsh, Novartis Ings, Pyewipe 10/10 Short-eared Owl, Wainfleet Range, RAF Wainfleet 5 Little Stints, Curlew Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh Yellow-browed Warbler by cycle track by Tennyson's sands, Cattle Egret flew in off sea, Snow Bunting, Woodlark, 2 Twite, Gibraltar Point Snow Bunting on south side, juv Little Stint, Rock Pipit, Covenham reservoir Hawfinch over Riseholme Lane Spotted Redshank, Jack Snipe on saltmarsh, Novartis Ings, Pyewipe 11/10 Curlew Sandpiper, 3 Little Stints, Short-eared Owl over saltmarsh, Frampton Marsh Spotted Redshank. Gibraltar Point Curlew Sandpiper, Huttoft Bank Pit Curlew Sandpiper juv, Spotted Redshank, Novartis Ings, Pyewipe ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3. WILDLIFE NEWS FROM AROUND THE COUNTY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** The Roger Goy Column *** Remembering Roger Goy's wildlife information work and drop-in sessions. Roger died on 6th March 2009 at the age of 61. *** Find the Grid Reference - don't forget - it's important *** Grab a Grid Reference: https://www.bnhs.co.uk/focuson/grabagridref/html/index.htm UK Grid Reference Finder: http://www.gridreferencefinder.com/ *** Links "not to be missed" *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. Len Pick Trust Barn Owls - pair of owls now in residence. https://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog: http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ Lincs Bird Club: https://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk/site/index.php/sightings/latest-news Butterfly Conservation - Lincolnshire Branch: https://butterfly-conservation.org/in-your-area/lincolnshire-branch/ Which moth species might be on the wing tonight in your area? https://butterfly-conservation.org/moths/whats-flying-tonight Atlas of the terrestrial and semi-aquatic Mammals of Lincolnshire by C. J. Manning, LNU Mammal Recorder. You can download and print off a hard copy or view it online. https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/mammalatlas.pdf VC54 North Lincolnshire Plant List - LNU Paul Kirby has produced a list of all the vascular plant & stonewort taxa with records on the MapMate botanical database. This is for VC54, North Lincolnshire, at the end of January 2017. Download this on: https://lnu.org/specialists/vascular-plants/ Record Pool - recommended by Ashley Butterfield as an easy way to record your amphibian and reptile species records. https://www.recordpool.org.uk/index.php ROAD KILLS? PLEASE LET US KNOW. Every drive is a transect! Hedgehogs? Badgers? Otters? Reports welcome. *** County Wildlife Reports From Readers *** Thanks to our regular contributors across the county. Much appreciated. We rely on readers to send in their observations and welcome records from everyone, experts or beginners. Please keep your reports coming. BARDNEY - The Green R & A Parsons 8/10/2022 Small bat in garden 18/.45hrs. Temperature 13C. [No detector - probably Pipistrelle.] CARLTON LE MOORLAND Carlton le Moorland SK909581 06/10/2022 Jeremy Hutchinson Chiffchaff singing! CHAMBERS FARM WOOD Chambers Farm Wood Butterfly Garden TF 147 740 Margaret Westcott 04.10.2022 Hygrocybe conica (Blackening Waxcap) These beautiful, brightly coloured little fungi were growing in a small troop in one of the flower beds. The gardeners saw, amongst other things, 5 species of butterflies, 2 dragonfly species, unidentified sawfly larvae, and a Red Kite. For anyone able to visit, the Michaelmas daisies are looking spectacular at the moment. HOLYWELL LAKE WeBS Holywell Lake Ian Misselbrook and Dave Roberts 9th October 2022 1050 -1210 Mallard 34 Tufted Duck 7 Teal 11 Wigeon 1 Little Grebes 20 Little Egrets 4 Coot 3 Moorhen 23 Mute Swan 2 Greylag Geese 78 Canada Geese 103 Cormorant 1 Grey Heron 1 Kingfishers 4 - a site record for my WeBS LT Tits c 20 Blue Tits Wren Dunnock Robin Rooks Jackdaws Pied Wagtails 2 Red Kite 1 Sparrowhawk 1 Woodpigeons Chiffchaff 1 Chaffinch 1 HORKSTOW SE987179 Jenny Haynes 10 October 2022 Small white butterfly in my garden today. For the past couple of weeks, we’ve had huge numbers of pink foot geese flying over, to and from the mud flats on the Humber at Reeds Island. Often heard before seen. STANTONS PIT Stantons Pit NR and pools across the road Ian Misselbrook 1220-1230 Little Egret 1 Grey Heron 2 Mute Swans 5 (3 cygnets) Mallard Little Grebes 2 Moorhens 4 Coot 2 LT Tits 10 Blue Tits Wrens Robins Blackbird Woodpigeons Carrion Crow Kestrel Chiffchaffs 2 Red Fox ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Len Pick Trust Barn Owls - pair owls seen in box 7.00 hrs on 30/9/2022 https://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project 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 5th – 11th October 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: 051022 - Single swallow flew south over Sea View. 061022 - Tawny owl and chiffchaff calling at Sea View. Sea View washland: 36 teal and 1 shoveler. 2 marsh harriers and a peregrine hunting over the saltmarsh, single swallow south and 2 whooper swans flying south. Butterflies on the wing around Sea View: large white, red admiral, common blue, small tortoiseshell, wall brown and small copper. Weasel hunting near Sea View. 2 raven flew north with rooks over Brickyard Lane, where 6 goldcrest were in the dunes. Peregrine over the saltmarsh at Sea View. 2 magpie roosts on the NNR were counted at approximately 60 and 30 birds. 2 brent geese at Saltfleet Haven. 071022 – 2 swallows flew south over Churchill Lane and a house martin at Brickyard Lane. Wheatear on the track at Elm House Farm. 10 whooper swans flew south over Saltfleet Haven. 081022 - 2 stonechats in scrub north of Sea View, single goldcrest with long-tailed tit flock and common sandpiper on Great Eau Outfall. Firecrest in the dunes at Brickyard Lane. Groups of 5 and 12 whooper swans resting on the foreshore early morning. 8 brent geese and 7 whooper swans seen from Saltfleet Haven. At least 2500 pink-footed goose in the local area. Butterflies seen in Churchill Lane area: 8 fresh red admirals all on ivy in one area, 1 comma, 3 speckled wood, 2 small whites, 1 wall. 2 small bats at dusk. 091022 - A very high morning spring tide flooded all the foreshore up onto lower foredunes. Single goldcrest and stonechat noted near Sea View. Butterflies on the wing during midday at Sea View: common blue, green-veined white, large white, red admiral, wall, small copper and speckled wood plus a single hummingbird hawkmoth. 20 goldcrest and a ring ouzel in the dunes at Brickyard Lane and a slight increase in redwing numbers. Estimated 2500 pink footed geese leaving roost on foreshore. 101022 - 3 pintail with wigeon on the saltmarsh at am high tide. 4 marsh harriers hunting over the saltmarsh, short-eared owl nearby and a peregrine harassing at least 500 teal disturbed off Rimac lagoon. A group (siege) of 7 grey herons flew over Sea View in a westerly direction. 4 twite on the foreshore at the south end of the NNR. Around Crook Bank were 4 stonechat, 2 jack snipe and a painted lady butterfly. Tree sparrow at Brickyard Lane. 111022 - Paradise lagoon: 54 mallard, 4 short-eared owls flew from dune edge near Paradise wood and 2 more from scrub near Sea View. 20 lapwings over the area and a single great spotted woodpecker at Sea View. 3 whooper swans flew south over the beach and a ruff flew south. 5 buzzard and 2 raven seen circling over Brickyard Lane. Butterflies Churchill Lane area: 7 red admiral, 3 small white, 2 speckled wood, 2 small tortoiseshell, 1 comma also 3 species of bumblebees. 4 siskin flew over. 2 snipe at Rimac. Other Local Reserves 081022 – Elm House Farm: 3 wheatear, 3 common buzzards,1 stonechat, 34 pink footed geese, 1 stonechat and 2 kestrel. 091022 – Donna Nook: Single swallow flying south 111022 – Legbourne Wood: Nuthatch ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. BARDNEY LIMEWOODS NNR These cover a huge area. Records from them are one of the main inputs to management planning and the protection of rare/scarce and critical species. Reports always welcome. The history of the Lincolnshire Limewoods https://www.forestryjournal.co.uk/features/19111877.lincolnshire-limewoods/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Forestry Commission visitor advice: https://www.forestryengland.uk/article/coronavirus-visitor-guide Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch. https://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html 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: last one 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/ On the LNU webpage on the Officers and Executive Committee you will see some new names. Several experienced naturalists have agreed to join, for which we are very appreciative. https://lnu.org/about/officers-executive/ *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust *** https://twitter.com/LincsWildlife *** Lincs Bird Club Website *** https://twitter.com/Lincsbirding LBC County Bird Recorder Phil Hyde - County Recorder, Lincs Bird Club recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk *** The Sir Joseph Banks Society *** https://twitter.com/sirjosephbanks *** Lincolnshire Bat Group website *** http://www.lincsbatgroup.co.uk/ *** Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch *** https://twitter.com/BC_Lincolnshire *** Lincsbirders *** https://twitter.com/lincsbirders *** Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project *** https://lincolnshirechalkstreams.org/events/ *** South Lincolnshire Flora Group *** https://bsbi.org/south-lincolnshire-v-c-53 *** The Wolds Fungi Group *** Contact Paul Nichol via email pnichol20@gmail.com *** Lincolnshire Dormouse Group *** Contact: lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com FIGHTING WILDLIFE CRIME 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. 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 Spiders, Pseudoscorpions, Harvestmen Imogen Wilde Regional Co-ordinator (RC) and Mentor for Lincolnshire for the British Arachnological Society (BAS). Email: Imogen@imogenwilde.co.uk Amphibians and Reptiles Ashley Butterfield The Lincolnshire ARG (Amphibian & Reptile Group) Email: LearningOutdoors@btinternet.com Local Bat Helpline Grounded bats, bat problems, advice and information. Contact Annette 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/ Natural England http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ InsideEcology - Online Magazine for Ecologists, Conservationists and Wildlife Professionals https://insideecology.com/ NHBS Should you need natural history equipment or books: https://www.nhbs.com/ NHM Final report on LoveLincsPlants 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. Scottish fossil revealed to be pterodactyl ancestor https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-63146271 Britain's first geological map, published in 1815 by William Smith https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/first-geological-map-of-britain.html BGS Geology Viewer https://geologyviewer.bgs.ac.uk/ Lincolnshire Geodiversity Group https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/discovering/geology-1 Geology - the Collection https://www.thecollectionmuseum.com/explore/geology Geology of the Lincolnshire Wolds https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/special-features/geology The Geology of Lincolnshire - downloadable LNU book 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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ...AND FINALLY... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails Last Week *** None. 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... Newbridge: Crashed owl outline discovered on patio doors https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-63214628 Wildlife deserts nature reserve known as Europe's Amazon https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-63011640 Dredging in crucial habitat sparks row over UK marine protected areas https://www.newscientist.com/article/2341218-dredging-in-crucial-habitat-sparks-row-over-uk-marine-protected-areas/ Specieswatch: the truth about the earwig https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/oct/05/specieswatch-the-truth-about-the-earwig King Charles should attend climate summit, COP26 president says https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-63136131 Rare woodpecker returns to Dorset 'due to organic farming' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-63158903 Country diary: The awful relief of seeing gannets in flight https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/oct/07/country-diary-the-awful-relief-of-seeing-gannets-in-flight 'Humble' worm saliva can break down tough plastic https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-63125144 Country diary: Let pine martens work their magic in the Peak District https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/oct/04/country-diary-let-pine-martens-work-their-magic-in-the-peak-district In pictures: Easter Island statues damaged by fire https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-63167941 ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/