============================================ || || 2nd August 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Roger writes: Thanks to Phil Porter for editing this issue. Thanks also to the 70% of readers who clicked on their LNU Bulletin last week! Earlier hot weather has become more unsettled with sunny spells and showers.. This change may well be reflected in your observations. Please let us have your reports for next week's Bulletin. Have you done your Big Butterfly Count yet? https://bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org/ LNU Meetings. Scroll to full details in section 11 below. Or click: https://lnu.org/meetings/ Next Meeting: Saturday 12th August Boothby Wildlands (all day) collecting https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/2023-08-15-boothby-wildlands-rewilding-project-saturday-19th-august-all-day/ Workshops:  "Pond Dipping for Adults " with Sam Reast, 25th August. Booking essential. Places are in demand. https://lnu.org/meetings/workshops/ Exhibition at Joseph Banks Centre Horncastle Horse Fair.  Runs 6th July - 15th September. https://horncastlejbc.info/events/ Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service events https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/events/ Helen Gamble writes: We would be grateful if you could spare a few minutes to fill in the "Have Your Say" questionnaire. Your answers are important to us and will help the Partnership to prepare the next statutory Management Plan for the Lincolnshire Wolds AONB, and how we can all help protect and enhance the special qualities of the area. https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/news/have-your-say Suggestions for reports or research: Please look out for solitary bee Anthidium manicatum David Sheppard writes: Keep an eye out for the solitary bee Anthidium manicatum. It is quite large, about the size of a honey bee but flatter, less cylindrical, and more like a leaf- cutter bee. It is easy to spot because it has a row of yellow spots along each side of the abdomen. In gardens, it is particularly fond of Stachys lanata (Lambs tail) and other labiates from which it gathers the woolly fibres to line its nest cells. Hence these bees are also known as Wool Carder Bees. Its flight is distinctive and its behaviour easily recognisable once you have seen it. Although harmless to us, it is quite aggressive and will pick a fight with foraging bumblebees. I have records from throughout Lincolnshire but I am sure that it more abundant than the records indicate. Please contact David on: d.a.sheppard@btinternet.com  or via: https://lnu.org/specialists/ants-bees-and-wasps/ Photo from Bumblebee Conservation: https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/woolcarderbee/ Mini Wetlands... How a mini-wetland revolution could help UK wildlife beat the heat and boost urban biodiversity https://www.wcl.org.uk/mini-wetland-revolution-could-help-uk-wildlife-beat-the-heat.asp The Bugs Matter 2023 survey season - 1 June -  31 August. https://www.buglife.org.uk/get-involved/surveys/bugs-matter/ BWARS' Hornet survey - have you seen any? 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 The Big Meadow Search (BMS) - June 1st until August 31st. The BMS is a citizen science project which aims to encourage people to record plants in an area of grassland of their own choice.  Our website has lots more information, and you can enter your findings directly there. www.bigmeadowsearch.co.uk Len Pick Trust Owl-box Camera Last Friday the youngest chick starved to death in the nest and the adult female ate the body the next day! Nothing goes to waste in the natural world. The remaining chick is five weeks old today and looks strong, but the quantity of prey being brought in is very variable. We had hoped for the annual glut of mice as the combines got to work but the inclement weather has delayed that in the Fens. https://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project/ BTO Cuckoo Tracking project - signs of movement south: https://www.bto.org/cuckoos This week's mostly-local news stories: Watch ‘epic’ moment three whales breach in unison [Not local!] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-us-canada-66333690 River Witham weed growth cancels Boston Rowing Marathon event https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66363111 New rules for parking could be introduced in Lincolnshire towns https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66363608 Paddleboard warning after rescues off Lincolnshire coast https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66361202 John Flynn writes- This may be of interest for the Wildnews Bulletin. It's excellent and now on You Tube. The recording of last night's entoLIVE webinar Mass Marine Die-offs: Searching for the Cause of These Events in Northeast England has now been uploaded to YouTube and is available to view for those that missed the live event or would simply like to re-watch it. You can view the video via the link below. https://youtu.be/9ZW6B9t-XPw Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbeFlKCmJl3h05j4dc9bu1Q Contribute towards the entoLIVE GoFundMe campaign: https://gofund.me/a699e0df Keiron Brown Biological Recording Company 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/ *** Weather News and Forecast *** World records hottest day for third time in a week https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-66120297 https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#? 5 - 14 Aug 2023 "Unsettled conditions persist into the start of this period, with sunshine and showers, locally heavy and slow moving at times, along with the risk of more prolonged outbreaks of rain through the weekend for some. Winds generally light to moderate, but strong at times on windward coasts, with temperatures generally rather cool and below the seasonal average by day. Beyond this, changeable conditions are likely to dominate through the rest of this period. Showery conditions are likely at times, along with the risk of longer spells of rain. However, some drier and brighter interludes are also possible, which may become slightly more likely by the end of this period. Often breezy, especially earlier in the period. Temperatures are likely to continue to be mostly below average." *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** Full Moons 2023 - Full Moons 2023 - There are 2 Full moons in August! Next one is: 31 August - Blue Moon - a supermoon https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/full-moon-calendar Euclid: 'Dark explorer' opens its eyes on the cosmos https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-66365074 August's Night Sky: https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/blog/astronomy/night-sky-highlights-august-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/ Augusts's Night Sky: https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/blog/astronomy/night-sky-highlights-august-2023 Perseid Meteors peak 12-13 August https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/perseid-meteor-shower-guide-uk-when-where-to-see 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/ *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Area Groups webpage *** Please let me have your "plugs" for coming events. https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/area-groups SCUNTHORPE AND BRIGG LOCAL GROUP of The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Our "Children's Fun Day at Messingham Sand Quarry Nature Reserve" takes place this year on Wednesday, 9th August, 10am to 4pm. (OS: 112, GR: SE 908 032, Map Ref: 62) THERE IS NO CHARGE. ALL ARE INVITED, NO MATTER WHAT AGE. We organise this fun day during the early part of the summer holidays to provide some experience and learning of nature for our younger generations through activities like bug hunting, pond dipping, nature walks and bird watching, all followed by a quiz with a reward for all who take part. We hope they will be inspired to care for all nature throughout their lives. Please wear suitable footwear as wet weather causes very muddy and soft parts on the tracks around the reserve. This will be our last outdoor event before we start again with indoor illustrated talks on Thursday, 14th September. *** Seal and Birdwatching Cruises into The Wash *** Jeremy Eyeons writes: The South Lincs RSPB Group programme of : Seal and Birdwatching Cruises into The Wash. For 2023 twelve cruises have been scheduled to take place, aboard The Boston Belle, at various sailing times, ending on 23rd October. All cruises start and end at Boston Marina, 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 STAYING SAFE Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. Heat-health Alert service https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/seasonal-advice/heat-health-alert-service 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 26/7 18 Spoonbills and 2 Spotted Redshank on Tennyson's Sands, Gibraltar Point 27/7 Osprey over main lake, West End GPs, Baston+Langtoft Pits 5 Spoonbills on Reedbed, 2 Spotted Redshanks, Frampton Marsh Short-eared Owl over beach, Gibraltar Point Black Tern offshore, Sutton-on-Sea Alpine Swift flew NW over Saltfleetby St Peter Black Tern, Anderby Creek 28/7 10 Black-winged Stilts 4 ads 6 juvs, 23 Spoonbills, 9 Spotted Redshanks, Little Gull, Frampton Marsh Wood Sandpiper on lagoons, Gibraltar Point Caspian Gull flew north past Mablethorpe Quail male singing, Red Hill, Stenigot 29/7 4 Black-wnged Stilts ad m, f + 2 juvs, Garganey on North Scrape, Frampton Marsh 9 Spoonbills, 3 Spotted Redshanks, Gibraltar Point Quail male singing, Red Hill, Stenigot 30/7 4 Black-winger Stilts, as m, f + 2 juvs, Black Tern, Little Stint, Short-eared Owl, Frampton Marsh 30 Spoonbills from Prospect Hide, Alkborough Flats 31/7 2 Little Stints on Reedbed Lagoon, Frampton Marsh. Wood Sandpiper, Freiston Shore Cattle Egret on Sea View washlands, then flew south, Wood Sandpiper on scrape at Rimac, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Caspian Tern for 15 minutes, then flew off, Toft Newton Reservoir 1/8 2 Little Stints, 2 Spoonbills, little Gull, 2 Spotted Redshanks, Frampton Marsh Redwing, Long-eared Owl in East Dunes, Wood Warbler north of Aylmer Avenue, 2 Wood Warblers trapped and ringed in East Dunes, Gibraltar Point Wood Sandpiper from Prospect Hide, Alkborough Flats 2/8 9 Black-winged Stilts, Frampton Marsh ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. *** Hedgehog Advice *** https://hedgehogcare.org.uk/ https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/ *** Bat rescue instructions *** Annette Faulkner 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. British Bugs (Hemiptera) - online identification https://www.britishbugs.org.uk/index.html Mike's Insect Keys: illustrated identification aids for insects 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. *** 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 27/7 Hedgehog adult visited at 10.55. [trailcamera] Yellow-cracking "Suede" bolete, Xerocomus subtomentosus on lawn, 1 large "gone-over" specimen, one small and perfect. Several since. Hedgehog adult on camera: 03.02, 03.08, 03.15, 03.45hrs BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 26th July Phil and Mary Porter I found a male Hornet Hoverfly, the largest British hoverfly and the first we have seen in the garden or anywhere else. It fed for several minutes on a globular purple-red Allium, its bright yellow face, orange and chestnut abdomen and orange-shaded wings were magnificent! Our gang of cheery House Sparrows based in the front hedgerow have deserted us completely. This is the first time this has happened in our 20 years at Bardney. 28th July Mary found a Dusky Sallow moth on Marjoram flowers. It was very faded but still most attractive in various shades of buff/pale brown and made a nice picture for her. It used to turn up when I had a moth-trap out years ago, but this is a first for the garden since then. 30th July A Willow Emerald Damselfly pitched on Phlox plants right outside the kitchen window and Mary photographed that as well. We have had one or two for the past 3 years. Our very expensive anti-squirrel feeder (that shuts off the food by dropping down to block off the food source) has put most of the birds off as well since its debut 3 days ago. Only one Greenfinch and the latest Blue Tit brood have risked a feed so far. Even the squirrels haven’t re-appeared. BOSTON My Garden TF 338441 Tracey Lenton I have been observing moths in July: Several different types of moth seen at dusk, I have been unable to identify some of them. Plume most probably common plume, Silver Y seen feeding on white bindweed flowers, Small Magpie, White moth with horizontal rows of grey/black speckles, possibly a Common White Wave, having checked my moth book and internet for identification  I made reports on the Big Butterfly Count: Holly blue and Gatekeeper (26th July) and Red admiral (21st, 23rd July)   29/07/2023 I have heard swifts on some evenings but not seen due to cloud. Today the sky was clear and saw swifts in the morning and again later in the evening when I counted at least 15 from video footage... beautiful to watch...such freedom. Also in the last week: Hedgehogs continue to visit the garden nightly. Red tailed bees on thistle. Toadflax brocade caterpillars have disappeared and the plants have new shoots growing already. BOSTON Maud Foster Drain  TF 333 441 - TF 334 440 Tracey Lenton 18/07/2023 Morning walk 2 Mallard juveniles together, possibly the two I have seen previously. 2 Mute swans together. Insect life was busy on the flowers, notably bees and hoverflies. In flower was bindweed - white and pink and white striped, common mallow, dandelion, plantain (ribwort), thistle, white dead nettle. Brambles fruiting. GRIMSBY TA265095 Joyce Attia 31st July 2023 In the garden this last week Butterflies - meadow brown, small tortoiseshell, holly blue, lots of small whites, a number of mint moths, 7 spot ladybirds. A lot of white-tailed bees on two patches of lavender, they seem to be making up for the shortage earlier on in the spring. The wood pigeons are back, though I don't know what's happened to the collared doves, I haven't seen them for weeks. The black backed gulls are still around and one or two herring gulls. They are noisy during the night. My early morning blackbird alarm seems to have stopped now. I thought the goldfinches had gone but there was one on the feeder this morning, he's not afraid of me, I sat outside with a coffee just a few feet away. He stayed for ages, unlike the lovely little family of great tits who just grab a seed and fly off. On the river there are two swan families, one with 8 cygnets, they are 12 weeks old now and growing some white feathers.  The other family has just 2 cygnets, they look to be a two or three weeks younger and are still downy. NOCTON FEN LANE TF071654 1/8/23 Phil & Mary Porter Old Lady moth on the road surface, rather battered. A Kestrel was in the area making a huge amount of noise but we never caught sight of it to see what all the fuss was about. Buzzards also vocal. SEDGE HOLE CLOSE LWT Nature Reserve Steve Hiner 25/07/23 Blackbird x 2 + 4 fledged young Blue Tit x 2 + at least 4 fledged young Carrion Crow x 1 Chaffinch x 2 Chiffchaff x 1 adult with at least 4 fledged young Goldfinch x family party of at least 7 Greenfinch x 1 Great-spotted Woodpecker x 1 Great Tit x 2 Jackdaw x 2 Robin x 1 Swallow x 12 Wood Pigeon x 2 Rabbit x 2 Green-veined White x 4 Holly Blue x 1 Meadow Brown x 15 Red Admiral x 1 Ringlet x 11 Small White x 2 Speckled Wood x 1 SPALDING Allotment TF228218 Annette Faulkner 21/7/23 Silver Y x 1 Cinnabar caterpillars on ragwort   Garden TF245217 1/8/23 Cinnabar caterpillars. Where have all the moths gone?  I have no curtains in the kitchen, but haven’t seen a single moth at the lighted window throughout the whole of July, when I seem to recall from my old moth trapping days that July was a peak month for them.    Juvenile bats are now ‘students’ learning to be independent.  We’ve had a few pipistrelle casualties already, all underweight.  With their hunting skills not yet quite as expert as their mothers’, with a shortage of insects it is harder for them to get enough to eat, but if they get too underweight they finish up on the ground or low on a wall, where if they’re lucky someone finds them, or otherwise a cat or other predator gets them, or they simply starve to death.  Do keep your eyes open!  If found please follow the instructions in the Bulletin. THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 18/07/23 Barn Owl x 1 21:05hrs Ghost Moth x 1 male Yellow-tail moth x 1 19/07/23 Blackbird x 4 Chaffinch x 1 Goldfinch x 4 Grey Partridge x 2 Kestrel x 1 Pied Wagtail x 1 Robin x 1 Stock dove x 1 Swallow x 2 Tree Sparrow x 9 Whitethroat x 1 adult and at least 3 fledged young Wood Pigeon x 4 Comma x 2 Green-veined White x 5 Meadow Brown x 3 Ringlet x 1 Small White x 32 20/07/23 Green-veined White x 10 Meadow Brown x 4 Red Admiral x 3 Small White x 10 Silver Y x 3 Brown Hawker x 1 21/07/23 Barn Owl x 1 adult and possibly 2 young 23/07/23 Early Thorn moth x 1 24/07/23 Holly Blue x 1 25/07/23 Swift x 31 passing over Thurnholmes Green-veined White x 2 Large White x 2 Meadow Brown x 11 Red Admiral x 3 Ringlet x 6 Small Tortoiseshell x 2 Small White x 4 Speckled Wood x 1 27/07/23 Barn Owl x 1 01:50hrs Blackbird x 20+ Goldfinch x 6 Greenfinch x 1 Grey Partridge x 2 Pied Wagtail x 1 feeding young Robin x 2 lots of fledged young Swallow x 15 Tree Sparrow x 7 Willow Warbler x at least 4 fledged young  Wood Pigeon x 4 Yellowhammer x 1 Green-veined White x 4 Holly blue x 1 Meadow Brown x 4 Peacock x 1 Red Admiral x 4 Small Tortoiseshell x 2 Small White x 4 Latticed Heath moth x 1 28/07/23 Green-veined White x 13 Holly Blue x 6 Meadow Brown x 6 Red Admiral x 6 Small White x 8 Dusky Sallow x 1 Ruby Tiger x 1 Silver Y x 1 Yellow Shell x 1 31/07/23 Barn Owl x 1 22:55hrs House Martin x 4 Swift x 35 WOOLSTHORPE BY COLSTERWORTH SK 92/23 12-30 July 23 Jane Ostler Fungi The wet weather has encouraged species which often develop in late summer, this includes Giant Puffballs in grassland and Ink-caps along the Nature Trail Flowering Plants On a field margin Poppies with paler, more orange petals than the Common Poppy were checked via their seed capsules – this confirmed that they were the Long-headed Poppy.  With them were the blue flowers of Chicory, most likely to be from seeds when this plant was grown as a forage plant. The very similar Blue Sow-thistle has taken over the sides of a jitty leading to Woolsthorpe Manor. An old stone house had it as a garden plant until two years ago when alterations were made for an extension. Rosebay Willowherb is living up to its reputation of thriving on burnt sites by flourishing where there were fires last year. On the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust’s Woolsthorpe Roadside Nature Reserve the grass, as everywhere has grown much longer this year but the Scabious and Knapweeds reach above them in abundance. Insects In my garden in the last two weeks Red Admirals are now more abundant than Commas, small Tortoiseshell or Peacocks. The first of the new brood of Holly Blues appeared on 20th July and there are now numerous Small and Large Whites. Just one Painted Lady seen.. On the Nature trail there were still some Marbled Whites seen, when it wasn’t raining, last week. As many as 4 Humming Bird Hawk Moths were on the remaining flowers of Honeysuckle and a single Silver Y Moth. Sunflowers were covered in Bumble Bees (Buff Tailed) and Hoverflies, including the Marmalade Fly on 27/7/23 but no Honey Bees. On the same warm and humid day there was an emergence of flying Ants from the lawn, but not in the numbers of last year. Frogs. This year’s froglets have left the open water of ponds, seeking cover in the daytime in surrounding vegetation One exception has chosen to spend its time at an ornamental fountain, away from the wildlife pond. Birds. On 12th July, after watching them each morning for weeks just after dawn the sky above the garden was empty of Swifts. However in Colsterworth Swifts were seen several days later in the vicinity of the church where they nest. Since then, there have been a number of occasions when large numbers of swifts have been seen very high in the sky, travelling south at speed. House Martins have reared second broods but Swallows have not. In fact, two previous nesting sites were not revisited this year and there have been very few sightings of any swallows this year. Wet grass fields alongside the upper reaches of the Witham have 5 regular Grey Herons visiting. Grey Wagtails have nested near a riffle where they feed on emerging insects. Kingfishers have moved downstream and are only glimpsed as a flash of blue through the marginal shrubs and trees. Hedgehogs. There are so many gardens now reporting on their hedgehogs. Many gardens are linked to allow passage over a wider area. One garden has six based with them, others have web cams to watch them at night. Two were left without a parent, too young to survive in spite of care given on the advice of a Hedgehog hospital. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. NNRs and NATURE RESERVES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's pages [2021] 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  12th – 18th July 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 There is an opportunity for 2 people to work as residential volunteers, helping the wardens with their seal season and winter work programme from October for a six month period. Closing date for applications 14th August. https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/volunteering-opportunities/residential-volunteer-x2-0 Note: From the 9th onwards until the end of July there were waves of weather fronts driven in on a south-westerly airstream giving unsettled days of sunshine and rain. Total rainfall for the month was 82.4mm. 270723 – Wood sandpiper and greenshank on Rimac scrape. 280723 – Green and wood sandpipers on Sea View washlands along with a female wigeon. Wood sandpiper, greenshank, redshank and 2 little ringed plover on Rimac scrape, 5 spoonbill flew north over Rimac. 60 auks (mostly razorbill) offshore from Mablethorpe North End, where a whimbrel flew south and 8 curlew flew north. 2 arctic skua out from Saltfleet Haven. A few meadow pipit seemingly heading south over the dunes. Male southern migrant hawker near old MOD base. Willow emerald at Sea View, green woodpecker daily. 310723 – Summer plumage cattle egret flew off Sea View washlands and continued south. Green woodpecker in the dunes around Rimac. Greenshank, little ringed plover, wood sandpiper and green sandpiper on Rimac scrape. 5 arctic skua mobbing terns offshore from Rimac. On the foreshore around Churchill Lane were 740 black-headed gull, 34 common gull, 18 herring gull, 40 great black-backed gull, 17 sandwich tern, 120 curlew, 6 bar-tailed godwit, 2 greenshank, 38 shelduck and 12 cormorant. 010823 – Juvenile cuckoo between Sea View and Rimac. Wood sandpiper, little ringed plover and greenshank still on Rimac scrape in the morning. 2 snipe and a green sandpiper on Sea View washlands. 2 snipe and 6 lapwing flew west at Rimac, where at least 2 arctic skua were offshore. 2 whimbrel flew vocally over Sea View. Single common sandpiper, avocet, lapwing and 3 shoveler on Paradise lagoon and on the Eau Outfall 2 common sandpipers, 4 lapwing and 3 little egrets. On foreshore c740 black headed gulls, 122 curlew. In dunes 2 Cetti's warbler in song and 2 sparrowhawk. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: Next date: August 15th 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. Next dates: 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. 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 Monks Wood Ashing Lane Nature Reserve https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/monks-wood-ashing-lane-nature-reserve/ Tattershall Carrs https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/tattershall-carrs/ Mareham Pastures Local Nature Reserve https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/mareham-pastures-local-nature-reserve/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust: https://twitter.com/LincsWildlife Lincs Bird Club: https://twitter.com/Lincsbirding LBC County Bird Recorder:  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 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 and other Freshwater Invertebrates 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/ 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. The Anthropocene: Canadian lake mud 'symbolic of human changes to Earth' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-66132769 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Boothby Wildlands (Rewilding Project) – Saturday 12th August (all day) NOTE CHANGE OF DATE FROM 19th https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/2023-08-15-boothby-wildlands-rewilding-project-saturday-19th-august-all-day/ 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 Whisby Natural History Workshops Find out more about the various subjects from our local experts. Places are limited. https://lnu.org/meetings/workshops/ Arranged in partnership by the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust (Lincoln Area Group) and the Lincolnshire Naturalists Union. At Whisby Nature Park near Lincoln, in the Lafarge Education Building from 13.00 pm until 4.30 pm. Free of charge. Refreshments included. Prior booking essential via Richard Davidson on 01522 525725 or Email rel.davidson@btinternet.com. Pond Dipping for Adults - Sam Reast 26th of August Harvestmen - Imogen Wilde 7th of October Owl & Other Bird Pellets - Garry Steele 28th of October Bryophytes - Steven Heathcote 4th of November ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ...AND FINALLY... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ...and finally... The truth about heat pumps and the power needed to run them https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-66359093 Will the Gulf Stream really collapse by 2025? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-66289494 Avian flu warning to tourists as birds face 'catastrophe' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-66313266 Europe weather: How heatwaves could forever change summer holidays abroad https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-66340261 ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/