========================================= || || 26th April 2023 || || News of Lincolnshire Wildlife || LNU: http://lnu.org/ || || Please email Editor on: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk || ============================================ 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]. Compare earlier years. 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Phil and Roger write: Welcome to this week's digest of news, events, reports and information about Lincolnshire's natural history. We have been working through how best to integrate our two computers to get the bulletin done. If we have missed anything out in the process we apologise! LNU Meetings. Scroll to full details in section 11 below. Or click: https://lnu.org/meetings/ Next Field Meeting: Castle Bytham LWT Reserve – Saturday 29th April (all day) https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/2023-04-29-castle-bytham-lwt-reserve-saturday-29th-april-all-day/ Please help with BWARS' Hornet survey - ID photos are here: https://www.bwars.com/wasp/vespidae/vespinae/vespa-crabro To submit a record: https://www.bwars.com/content/submit-sighting-vespa-crabro-hornet Loch of The Lowes Ospreys Bob Sheppard writes: The breeding ospreys at Loch of Lowes now have a full clutch of three eggs. We now have a long wait before any chicks hatch as the adults incubate for 37 days. https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/watch-wildlife-online/loch-of-the-lowes-webcam/ Len Pick Trust Owl-box Camera Bob Sheppard writes: There are very few reports coming in about early nesters so it could still be around the end of the month before we see any eggs. https://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project/ This week's links to Lincolnshire and wildlife-related news stories... No Mow May - are you doing it? https://www.plantlife.org.uk/campaigns/nomowmay/ Corrected link - sorry about that! Wild beaver spotted in west Wales garden after couple set up camera https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-wales-65266858 National Trust submit revised plans for Belton House car park https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-65320824 Heavy police presence at RAF Scampton asylum protests https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-65359578 Anger as Cleethorpes hits detectorists with £100 fines https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/apr/22/will-they-fight-them-on-the-beaches-anger-as-cleethorpes-hits-detectorists-with-100-fines Large-scale solar farm plans examined by Planning Inspectorate https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgr12m9qrr1o King Charles coronation: RAF aircraft rehearse flypast https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-65392351 Sheffield scientists call for ban on artificial grass https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-65375197 More links in "...and finally ..." at the end of the Bulletin. Thank you to everyone who sent something in. It really helps. Roger old.museum@yahoo.co.uk - note - my best address for emails. Joining Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union If you are a member, please give the LNU a "plug " to others. https://lnu.org/join-the-lnu/ Reminder: On-line Biological Recording events coming up: entoLIVE is a webinar series that showcases invertebrate research (covering inverts from terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments). There will be 40 talks this year and they are all free to attend, with a fair few of them about biological recording or citizen science monitoring projects. Full programme of events: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/cc/entolive-webinars-74679 Weather Forecast https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#? 28 April - 7 May "Cloudy on Friday with rain in places, some of this heavy. Rather mild in the south but staying colder in the north with the odd wintry shower possible. Windy across the far north and perhaps also the English Channel. Milder conditions spreading northeastwards as we head into the weekend. Unsettled showery conditions persisting for many, particularly in northern areas, but becoming drier in more southern parts later. Moving into May, we may see a spell of more settled weather developing, with predominantly dry conditions across the UK. However, there could be some rain and strong winds in places at first, mainly in northern and western areas. Overall, temperatures will likely be below average to start in the far north but will increase to slightly above average through the period." For Astronomers and Sky-watchers Earth-directed Explosion on the Sun - Spaceweather May's Night Sky: https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/blog/astronomy/night-sky-highlights-may-2023 Space and astronomy highlights in 2023 from The Royal Observatory https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/space-astronomy-highlights-2023 Aurora Watch - when Northern Lights might be seen in the UK: https://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/ Stellarium - open source and very useful https://stellarium.org/ “Seal and Birdwatching Cruises into The Wash” Jeremy Eyeons writes: The South Lincs RSPB Group have released details of their 2023 programme of “Seal and Birdwatching Cruises into The Wash”. For 2023 twelve cruises are scheduled to take place, aboard “The Boston Belle”, at various sailing times, starting on 13th April and ending on 23rd October. All cruises start and end at Boston Marina and last for about five hours, and on average approximately 60 bird species are seen on each trip. Full details at: www.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire All cruises are by advance ticket only, which, once again, can be obtained from Blackfriars Arts Centre in Boston [01205-363108}, or online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/blackfriars Ticket prices for RSPB members are £22 {adult} and £10 (child under 16). Non-RSPB members £25 and £11-50. Any queries please contact Blackfriars (as above) or email Jeremy Eyeons: jerry200433@hotmail.com *** BTO Cuckoo Tracking project *** Joe and JAC are back!!!! 24th April. https://www.bto.org/cuckoos *** Hedgehog Advice *** https://hedgehogcare.org.uk/ https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/ *** South Ormesby Estate. Open weekend 20-21 May *** Guided walks running throughout the weekend, as well as a range of fantastic stalls, entertainment, food, and games. https://www.southormsbyestate.co.uk/tour/ *** Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service *** Helen Gamble writes During 2023, the Lincolnshire Wolds AONB celebrates its 50th anniversary. We are running 50 events for 50 years, details on: https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/events/ We also have a special edition of Wolds News. If you’d like paper copies contact aonb@lincswolds.org.uk *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Area Groups webpage *** Please let me have your "plugs" for coming events. https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/area-groups *** Grimsby And Cleethorpes Area Group LWT *** www.grimsbywildlifetrust.org.uk Carolyn Davis writes: On Saturday 29th April 2023 you are invited to join the Grimsby and Cleethorpes Area Group of LWT for a 'Birds and Bluebells Walk' in Bradley and Dixon's Woods near Grimsby with Graham Hicks. Meet Graham at 8am in the car parking area of Bradley Woods. Grid Ref. TA 244058. You are advised to wear suitable outdoor clothing and stout footwear. This is a free event however donations will be welcomed for the Trust. For further information contact: Graham Hicks 07979 089890 Details also on our website www.grimsbywildlifetrust.org.uk  We are also on Facebook. *** South Lincs RSPB Group *** www.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire *** RSPB Lincoln Local Group *** https://www.lincolnrspb.org.uk/events.htm *** RSPB Grimsby Local Group *** https://group.rspb.org.uk/grimsby/ STAYING SAFE Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. Bird flu updates: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bird-flu-avian-influenza-latest-situation-in-england 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 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 their pager reports. A big thank you from us all. Readers interested in a pager - 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 19/4 Spotted Redshank on Wader Pit, 14 Little Gulls, Arctic Tern, 10 Bar-tailed Godwits flew through, Baston + Langtoft Pits 11 Bar-tailed Godwits over Willow Tree Fen Alpine Swift over Marsh Farm reservoir then flew north over reedbed, Frampton Marsh Spotted Redshank, Freiston Shore Velvet Scoter drk flew south past, ringtail Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl, Black Redstart fem/1w male at visitor centre, Gibraltar Point 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, Carrington, over fields SE of Stickney 5 Little Gulls on North Lake, Black-necked Grebe on pit near reserve entrance, Woodhall Spa Airfield Caspian Gull, Iceland Gull, Novatis Ings, Pyewipe 20/4 2 Bar-tailed Godwits on Wader Pit, Grey Plover flew NE, Spotted Redshank on eastern short of Wader Pit, Baston + Langtoft Pits Dotterel in field just west of outer sea wall, with 250 Golden Plover, Wainfleet Range, RAF Wainfleet Black Redstart fem/1w male at visitor centre, Short-eared Owl, Gibraltar Point Black-necked Grebe on south lake, 2 Common Scoters, 1 drk, on North Lake, Woodhall Spa Airfield Black Kite flew between River Trent and Power Station cooling towers, Cottam. 21/4 Knot on eastern shore of Wader Pit, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits on Wader Pit, Baston + Langtoft Pits Spotted Redshank in field south of reserve, Baston Fen 2 Little Gulls and Bar-tailed Godwit, on East Pit, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James Little Gull ad on reservoir, Frampton Marsh Dotterel at south end near prison, Freiston Shore Hawfinch flew south over Sea View, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes Great Northern Diver, ad Little Gull, Covenham reservoir 22/4 Spotted Redshank in field south of reserve, Baston Fen Bar-tailed Godwit in field south of Greatford Cut, West Deeping Little Gull ad, Toft Newton reservoir Possible Black Kite flew inland, Grimsby 11 Little Gulls flew south along River Humber, Halton Marshes, East Halton Skitter 23/4 Short-eared Owl by Cross Drain, Turnstone flew thru Wader Pit, Arctic Tern flew thru, Baston+Langtoft Pits Little Gull ad on East Pit, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James Little Gull from East Hifde, Frampton Marsh Common Scoter, 4 Arctic Terns, Great Northern Diver, Covenham reservoir Ring Ouzel, Firecrest, 3 Spoonbills, Anderby Creek 3 Black Terns briefly, flew east along Humber, Alkborough Flats, 24/4 Ring Ouzel male at freshwater marsh, Hen Harrier flew north over, Gibraltar Point Hoopoe in garden, then flew off, South Cockerington Great Northern Diver, 4 Arctic Terns, Covenham Reservoir 25/4 Garganey drk, on pool by parking area, Hen Harrier ringtail, Short-eared Owl, Spoonbill flew east, Willow Tree Fen Short-eared Owl, Gibraltar Point Temminck's Stint on reservoir, Turtle Dove male singing, in scrub by car park, Frampton Marsh 2 Turtle Doves on Dukes Head Lane, Spilsby Spoonbill on Humber, Waters' Edge Country Park Barton-upon-Humber Short-eared Owl on foreshore, Far Ings 26/4 Garganey drk, on East Pit, Willow Tree Fen Turtle Dove, 4 Spoonbills, Frampton Marsh Ring Ouzel, 2 Spotted Redshanks, Gibraltar Point Garganey drk, Covenham reservoir Common Crane flew north over Marton ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3. WILDLIFE NEWS FROM AROUND THE COUNTY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Find the Grid Reference - don't forget - it's important Grab a Grid Reference: https://www.bnhs.co.uk/focuson/grabagridref/html/index.htm UK Grid Reference Finder: http://www.gridreferencefinder.com/ *** Links "not to be missed" *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. British Bugs (Hemiptera) - online identification - NEW https://www.britishbugs.org.uk/index.html Mike's Insect Keys: illustrated identification aids for insects - NEW https://sites.google.com/view/mikes-insect-keys/ 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: https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/mammalatlas.pdf VC54 North Lincolnshire Plant List - LNU Paul Kirby's list of all the vascular plant & stonewort taxa with records on the MapMate botanical database for VC54, North Lincolnshire, at the end of January 2017. Download this on: https://lnu.org/specialists/vascular-plants/ Record Pool - 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. LINCOLN BYPASS Between Carholme and Skellingthorpe roundabouts (What 3 names….files.ranch.bookshop) Sandra Bisset Tuesday 18th April and still there 19th. Badger (juvenile) - 2. (Some few hundred yards apart) *** 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 TF120694 R & A Parsons Hedgehogs: 2 caught on trailcamera: 22/4 - "Clean" and "Stripey" 12.47hrs [Stripey]; 02.49hrs [Clean]; 04.32 [Stripey] - went into feeding box. BARDNEY R&A Parsons 25/3 Hedgehog visiting feeding box 04.06hrs Bardney Garden TF117700 12/4/23 Phil and Mary Porter We were delighted to see a Tree Sparrow on our feeders. This species has declined tremendously from a point 15 years ago outnumbered House Sparrows in the garden. Bardney Garden TF117700 14/4/23 Phil and Mary Porter Mary saw a Goldcrest feeding in front of the kitchen window in a border retaining the remains of tall herbaceous plant. This admittedly untidy border has a lot of feeding opportunities for small birds. This is the first occurrence with use since the demise of a very tall Leyland Cypress a severe storm. Jackdaws performing ungainly gyrations trying to feed on a suet block. Bardney Garden TF117700 16/4/23 Phil and Mary Porter The warmest day of the year so far brought out our first Holly Blue and Green-veined White plus Brimstone. A Blackcap started singing today. Mary found a Green Shieldbug, a Slender Groundhopper, and, much less welcome, a Lily Beetle. We have had our first queen Wasps during the last few days, and there was an abundance of 7-spot Ladybirds among thick patches of Red Campion seedlings. We are still seeing a Long-tailed Tit at the bottom of the garden and hope that there might be a nest there. Finally, after our first Swallow had swooped by, a Raven flew quite low over the garden showing its graduated tail-shape and ‘cronking’. Bardney Garden TF117700 18/4/23 Phil and Mary Porter Another Swallow today, a noisy local Green Woodpecker, still c.6-8 of Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Chaffinch, plus our regular 15 or so House Sparrows. Happy to see the pair of Long-tailed Tits again, but if they are nesting in the garden they are being pretty discrete about it. Jackdaws are absolutely piling sticks into a TV aerial bracket under eaves of the next-door roof, as they used to do in our chimney before we put a cowl over the pot. Robin, 3+ Blackbirds, 2+ Starlings, Blue and Great Tits, bathing Dunnock nearby singing Song Thrush and 2 soaring Buzzards completed the bird list. 2 queen Wasp were trying to get into the house. A very dark bee, with loads of yellow pollen was foraging at the flowers of Yellow Archangel. Mary noticed a lot of 7-spot Ladybirds and active Centipedes, but the only butterflies were a Brimstone an a few unidentified Whites. BOSTON (TF326426) 24/04/2023 Kathleen Pearson A Whitethroat was in the garden today. They are quite a surprise in the garden. BROUGHTON WOODS Broughton Woods. 19th April, Angela Buckle Bluebells, Celandines, Moshatel, Red campion, Dogs mercury, Ground ivy, Ivy-leaved speedwell, Dog violets, Chickweed, Spring beauty, Lords and ladies, Shepherd's purse, Wood anemone, Bugle, Primroses, Strawberry, Wood sorrel, Spotted lords and ladies, Ransoms, Small white butterfly, Speckled wood. CARLTON LE MOORLAND Carlton le Moorland SK909581 Jeremy Hutchinson 24/4/23 First Cuckoo calling, the earliest I have heard for years. 20 + House Martins seen (not by me) feeding over a local farm reservoir. 25/4/23 First Holly Blue (NB saw one in Nottingham area on 18/4). First Speckled Wood KETTLETHORPE Kettlethorpe SK847757 24/04/2023 Alison Brownlow Heard a cuckoo ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 19th – 25th April 2023 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Matt Blissett, Ruth Taylor, Owen Beaumont, Cliff Morrison and Dean Nicholson. Thank you to all other contributors. Daily News and Wildlife Sightings 190423 - Grasshopper warbler reeling at Rimac. A lone fieldfare flew south over the southern end of the NNR. Whimbrel, 41 curlew and 1 snipe on scrapes south of Crook Bank. 200423 - 10 whimbrel feeding on the saltmarsh. Butterflies on the wing around Sea View: speckled wood, green hairstreak, comma, peacock and orange tip. Grasshopper warbler reeling at Rimac and 2 avocet on Rimac scrape. In song at Rimac south were a cuckoo, 2 sedge warbler, blackcap, 3 whitethroat, 3 willow warbler, 7 chiffchaff. An emergence of green hairstreak butterflies with sightings along the NNR. Lesser whitethroats in song at Brickyard Lane and holly blue butterflies seen nearby. 210423 - 12 whimbrel spooked by a marsh harrier over the saltmarsh. Single wheatear at Elm House Farm (per comms Alan Miles). Common scurvy grass in flower on the saltmarsh. A hawfinch flew low south over Sea View with a greenfinch. 11 whimbrel on the saltmarsh out from Sea View, where a cuckoo flew north over the dunes. 220423 - Single house martin, sand martin and 3 swallows over Sea View, great spotted woodpecker, green woodpecker and great spotted woodpecker, 7 brambling nearby. Sea View washlands: 2 marsh harriers over causing 7 lapwing to take to the air which included the orange flagged bird last seen on 11th March. Male garganey on the edge of the Eau. Orange tip, large white and cinnabar moth in flight at Sea View. 3 whimbrel and 2 bar-tailed godwit on Brickyard Lane saltmarsh. 2 little ringed plover and a jack snipe on Crook Bank foreshore. 1 wheatear on the foreshore at Brickyard Lane and 2 at Churchill Lane. 3 Cetti’s warbler in song between Churchill Lane and Brickyard Lane and a cuckoo heard at Brickyard Lane. 4 grasshopper warbler reeling with 3 on the foreshore edge near Churchill Lane and 1 by the car park. A fulmar flew north over the sea. Green sandpiper flew high north-west over the dunes and a yellow wagtail flew south. 230423 - Willow warbler at Sea View and Sedge warbler nearby on the edge of the Eau. Cetti’s warbler, 2 grasshopper warbler, 4 willow warbler, 5 whitethroat, 6 blackcap, 2 song thrush and 3 swallows between Churchill Lane and MOD. At least 5 wheatear just off the NNR on the old Theddlethorpe gas terminal site. A spoonbill flew east over Elm House Farm. 240423 - 3 groups of whimbrel, 20 birds, on the saltmarsh. Female ring ouzel at Sea View, stayed briefly before flying off west. 250423 - Lesser whitethroat in song near Sea View, pair of common snipe showing some signs of display at Sea View washland, female green wood- pecker Sea View,16 whimbrel on saltmarsh near Rimac and a single one in nearby pasture field, pair common buzzard over. Holly blue on the wing at Sea View. Paradise lagoon: 2 avocets. Male pied flycatcher near Brickyard Lane in the afternoon sun. Several swallows flying around at Rimac. Butterfly species recorded across the site: brimstone, small white, holly blue, peacock, red admiral, comma, green hairstreak, speckled wood and small tortoiseshell. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Forestry Commission visitor advice: https://www.forestryengland.uk/article/coronavirus-visitor-guide The history of the Lincolnshire Limewoods: https://www.forestryjournal.co.uk/features/19111877.lincolnshire-limewoods/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch: https://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html Chambers Farm Wood - Butterfly Garden - gardening dates and times: https://butterfly-conservation.org/in-your-area/lincolnshire-branch/chambers-farm-wood-butterfly-garden Lincolnshire Dormouse Group You can get in touch via lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com Gemma Watkinson writes: Here are the dates for the summer nest box checks. As always, we meet at 9.30am in the Chambers Farm Woods car park, by the wood centre/volunteer hut. Anyone interested can get in touch at lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com for more information. Sunday 21 May Saturday 24 June Sunday 23 July Saturday 19th August Sunday 17th September Saturday 21 October ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Links to "Other Reserves" are welcome. MiddleMarsh Wetlands, Skegness: https://www.birdguides.com/sites/europe/britain-ireland/britain/england/lincolnshire/middlemarsh-farm/ 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 Grainthorpe Haven https://www.birdguides.com/sites/europe/britain-ireland/britain/england/lincolnshire/grainthorpe-haven/ Cress Marsh, Stallingborough https://www.birdguides.com/news/new-wetland-takes-shape-in-lincolnshire/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 or via i-record. https://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/ 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 may vary. 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: https://lnu.org/publications/books/ LNU Officers and Executive Committee: https://lnu.org/about/officers-executive/ Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust: https://twitter.com/LincsWildlife Lincs Bird Club: 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: 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 Wildlife Crime https://www.lincs.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/wc/wildlife-crime/ SPECIES IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. LNU Recorders and Specialists: https://lnu.org/specialists/ Downloads of LNU books: https://lnu.org/publications/books/ Recording with "irecord": https://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/ irecord is recommended by the LNU as an appropriate platform for on-line recording. 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. Email: d.a.sheppard@btinternet.com Lincolnshire Mammals Chris Manning, Email: 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 Faulkner on 01775 766286 Email: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com Bat rescue instructions. 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, and phone me on 01775 766286. 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: http://www.glnp.org.uk/ Greater Lincolnshire Nature Partnership newsletter: https://linktr.ee/GLNPnature Contact in case link does not work: Emily Todd: emily.todd@glnp.org.uk Natural England: http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ NHBS: Natural history equipment or books. https://www.nhbs.com/ NHM - Final report on LoveLincsPlants: https://lnu.org/lincolnshire-plants-past-and-future/ Collections Dataset - LNU "historic specimens": http://data.nhm.ac.uk/dataset/lincs-plants The Flora of Lincolnshire by Joan Gibbons: downloadable LNU book For the Geologists... Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. Suggestions for Geology news, events or new useful links always welcome. 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 BGS webpage: Earthquakes around the UK last 60 days: http://www.earthquakes.bgs.ac.uk/earthquakes/home.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10. BULLETIN PUBLICITY POLICY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. [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 *** We will post any changes to LNU events in 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: https://lnu.org/meetings/ Summer programme - Field meetings Saturday 29th April Castle Bytham (all day) LLP collecting Sunday 21st May Wild Wrendale Sunday 25th June Trent Port Wetland Saturday 15th July Wilder Doddington (all day) LLP collecting Saturday 12th August Boothby Wildlands (all day) collecting NOTE CHANGE OF DATE FROM 19th Saturday 9th September Wolla Bank Pit, Chapel Pit & Chapel Six Marshes LWT Reserves (all day) (LLP collecting?) Sunday 15th October Langholme Wood and Haxey Turbary LWT Reserves ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ...AND FINALLY... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails Last Week *** None ....and finally... How 'rewiggling' Swindale Beck brought its fish back https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-65341994 Recent, rapid ocean warming ahead of El Niño alarms scientists https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-65339934 Britons who keep gardens green should get council tax cut, study suggests https://uk.yahoo.com/style/britons-keep-gardens-green-council-060037308.html Accelerating melt of ice sheets now 'unmistakable' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-65317469 Heatwave: Is India ready to deal with extreme temperatures? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-65299807 ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/