============================================ || || 30th 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: Please send in your reports and contributions for next week's Bulletin. here's something you might like to look out for. Records welcome... I had the following information from PTES. Record roadkill sightings this autumn. The annual Mammals on Roads survey underpins wildlife conservation, and can be done on a smartphone   Wildlife charity People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) is calling for volunteers to record any sightings of roadkill via a free app, in a bid to aid wildlife conservation.   From late August onwards, families, friends or colleagues travelling by road across England, Scotland and Wales can take part by simply downloading PTES’ free Mammals on Roads app ahead of their journey, and recording any roadkill spotted from their car, coach or campervan.   No prior experience is needed and anyone can join in. The app has colourful illustrations and audio information about which species you might see, and whether it’s a hedgehog, fox or badger, counting mammal road casualties can tell conservationists about numbers in the wider landscape. To take part, search for Mammals on Roads on the App Store or Google Play. LNU Meetings. Scroll to full details in section 11 below. Or click: https://lnu.org/meetings/ Field Meeting: Saturday 9th September Rimac, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe (all day) collecting https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/2023-09-09-wolla-bank-pit- chapel-pit-chapel-six-marshes-lwt-reserves-saturday-9th-september-all-day/ Note that the site has been changed from Wolla Bank/Chapel Pit in order to avoid the digital parking payment system which some members may not be able to use. The link given above will provide the new arrangements despite using the original url. The Rimac car park (https://w3w.co/named.cats.repaying) provides free parking and facilities. The start time is as before. Heritage Open Days 2023 - Heritage Lincolnshire - 8-17th September https://www.heritagelincolnshire.org/heritage-open-days Len Pick Barn Owl Camera. Owl camera unavailable 27 August 2023 Unfortunately, a problem has manifested itself with the Owl Cam feed. We are working on a fix and we hope to resolve the problem as soon as possible. BTO Cuckoo Tracking project - Trent is moving east - 18 Aug 2023 This week's mostly-local news stories: Popeye the blind Mablethorpe seal dies 27 years after beach rescue https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66614858 Work starts on £29m Humber estuary flood defence scheme https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-66619349 Grantham water pipe replacement work due to begin - A52 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66615737 Franklin expedition: Portraits of doomed Arctic explorers go to auction https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-66620402 The 1945 Franklin Expedition: E C Coleman http://rogerparsons.info/franklin.html Humberston Fitties paddleboarders rescue dog stranded by high tide https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-66593368 Lincoln: Shrub-planting to mark Ukrainian Independence Day https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66594343 Portable cabins brought in for RAF Scampton asylum plan https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66614244 Chapel St Leonards: Girl, 6, saved from inflatable drifting out to sea https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66593420 Boston travellers move on from illegal town centre camp https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66605132 Lincolnshire: Beekeeper's concern over wasp numbers https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66583681 Lincoln Steampunk festival returns to city streets https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66605940 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. Suggestions for reports or research: The Bugs Matter 2023 survey season - 1 June - 31 August. https://www.buglife.org.uk/get-involved/surveys/bugs-matter/ The Big Meadow Search (BMS) - June 1st until August 31st. www.bigmeadowsearch.co.uk Collaboration opportunity: 3D scanning fungi for research Harry Fancy [PlantGang]  writes: I’m Biochemistry graduate from Bristol University now running a project trying to immortalize the world's plant and fungal specimens digitally within immersive scientific 3D models, aiming to bring rare and inspiring moments of biodiversity to people across the globe... I was wondering if any of your members are fungal photographers and data recorders, as if these members might be interested in being a part of this first of its kind research into 3D scanning fungi with associated scientific metadata, their experience with photography should make them great 3D scanners! This is since we’re able to process captured image/video datasets of fungal specimens from your members cameras or smartphones into 3D models using 3D technologies (photogrammetry and NeRFs). Further information about this and the project can be found on our website and guide to getting started with specimen 3D scanning. Please feel free to reach out to me at harry@plantgang.xyz to get involved! Links found here: https://www.plantgang.xyz/ https://www.notion.so/plantgang/Guide-to-capture-for-PlantGang-720f03157ff9493baa671be2d9c9c01c Investigating Seasonality of Otter Breeding in Britain, Using Newspaper Articles, Camera Trap Footage and Photograph Data. Kirsten Oliver writes: I am a postgraduate student at Edinburgh Napier University working with researchers at the university’s Centre for Conservation & Restoration Science and Findlay Ecology Services to investigate breeding seasonality in European otters, Lutra lutra. The aim is to improve our understanding of this vulnerable species and contribute to a evidence-base for survey and conservation efforts. We are trying to obtain information from a wide array of sources across the UK. We would very much appreciate help on this. I am looking for participants to take part in my research and if you agree I would appreciate any photographs or camera trap footage that you may possess which shows a female otter with her cubs from any year. It is important the cubs are with mum so I can estimate the birth date based on their size compared to mum. I only require one photo of the family, not multiple. If you record a family over an extended period, I would appreciate either the earliest images you have, or those that best show the relative size of the young compared to the mother. Alongside the photograph or footage, I need the date (month and year) and location where the family was seen. Grid reference coordinates or “what three words” location will be preferable; however a rough location (town, or postcode) will be sufficient if those are not available. You may withdraw from this research study at any time. If you can help, please respond to my below email address, and title the email “Otter Helper” and I will happily send further instructions on how to submit your picture/footage. All the information you give will be stored safely and secured in a password controlled hard drive account which will be accessible to myself and my Supervisors Dr Patrick White (Edinburgh Napier University, Otter Specialist group member) and Dr Melanie Findlay (Findlay Ecological Services, Otter Specialist group member). The information you give will be entirely anonymous and your information will be kept confidential. There will be no way to identify you in any report of the research findings. If you have any questions about the research, feel free to contact me or my supervisors. Researcher: Kirsten Oliver, 40504684@live.napier.ac.uk 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 *** https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#? 1 - 10 Sept 2023 "Friday is likely to see some outbreaks of rain or showers for many areas, although the far north of Scotland, and perhaps southeast England, may stay drier. Through the weekend, high pressure may build which should allow most places to become drier, with some sunny spells developing in places. Temperatures are likely to be near average, although increasing slightly in sunnier spells, compared to previous days. Further ahead, although uncertainty increases, generally changeable conditions may resume, with northern and western areas most prone to this, while southern and eastern areas are more favoured to hold onto some drier, brighter spells. However, occasional showers or spells of rain are still possible here. Temperatures are most likely to be around average overall." *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** Chandrayaan-3: India lunar rover Pragyaan takes a walk on the Moon https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-66601996 Full Moons 2023 The next one is: 31 August - Blue Moon - a supermoon. https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/full-moon-calendar Saturn showing well from 27th: cloud permitting. https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/space-astronomy-highlights-2023 Septembers Night Sky: https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/blog/astronomy/night-sky-highlights-september-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 cruises for 2023 are going well and we have had some bookings from people who have read the Bulletin! So all good! 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 Natural History and Geology Section of the Scunthorpe Museum Society Keith Scarrott writes: Our first meeting for the new "indoor meetings" season takes place on Monday, 11th September. It is also our first open meeting in our new venue at the Old Brumby United Church, Ashby Road, Scunthorpe, DN16 2AQ, starting at 7.15pm. CARING FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE AND MITIGATING CLIMATE CHANGE. Four speakers who will tell us about their work on different aspects related to this title. Kayley Rankin, local "Tree and Woodland Creation Officer" for "The Conservation Volunteers", on the TCV values and community involvement and volunteers in local projects and partnership with Humber Forest tree planting initiatives. Hayley Little, the "Humber Forest Project Officer", will coordinate her talk with Kayley's by discussing Community Forestry, funding for land owners within Humber Forest, and how they ensure "Right Tree in the Right Place". Matthew Cox, local "Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust North West Lincolnshire Warden", will look at the habitats and ecosystems of some Nature Reserves, management challenges and species with changing weather patterns. Andy Jayes, "Native Oyster and Sea Grass Restoration Officer for the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust", will be describing methods for planning, engagement, restoration and monitoring during the 5 year Wilder Humber" project. All are welcome at out meetings. There is no entry charge. A donation bowl is provided to help meet our expenses. There will be a mid-talk "comfort break". Light refreshments will be available for a small charge. For further details please contact Keith Scarrott on 01724 762098. South Lincs RSPB Local Group Jeremy Eyeons writes: “The Birds In Your Garden" A slideshow/talk by Chris Andrews [of The South Lincs RSPB Group and Visitor Experience Manger at RSPB Frampton Marsh and Freiston Shore}. 19th October 2023 , 7pm for 7-30pm, till about 9pm. At The Old Kings Head, Kirton PE20  1EG. More details at https://group.rspb.org.uk/southlincolnshire/ Grimsby/Cleethorpes RSPB Brian Patterson writes: Our first talk of the new season is: Monday 18th September at 7.30pm on The Top Hill Low Nature Reserve. The talk will be given by the Tophill Low Assistant Nature Reserve Warden, Amy Watsham. The talk will be held at The Holy Trinity Parish Hall (Corpus Christi), Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes, DN35 7LH The group’s first car share trip of the season is to Gibraltar Point. Details of Meeting Place and Time from Sally Prescott Tel: (01472) 840142 or Email: sally.prescott142@btinternet.com Wednesday 27th September 2023 Lincs WLT Gibraltar Point, Guided walk with Warden, 9.30am start 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 23/8 3 Pied Flycatchers, Little Stint, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, Wood Sandpiper flew over, Gibraltar Point Little Stint on Rimac scrape; 3 Wood Sandpipers, Garganey on Sea View washlands, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe 24/8 Little Stint on Paradise Pool, south of Saltfleet Haven; 5 Wood Sandpipers on Rimac scrape; 4 Black Terns on foreshore, all juvs, juv Little Gull, Black Stork in flight towards River Welland, 5 Black-winged Stilts, 3 ads, 2 juvs, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe 2 Black Terns on beach, 7 Black terns flew south past, Bittern on Tennyson's Sands, Gibraltar Point 25/8 5 Little Stints, 6 Curlew Sandpipers, Wood sandpiper, Frampton Marsh 3 Bee Eaters flew south over, Wood Warbler, 3 Wood Sandpipers, Long-eared Owl at East Dunes, 5 Black Terns offshore, Gibraltar Point Roseate Tern on beach, then flushed, Sandilands Black-necked Grebe, south end, Covenham reservoir Pied Flycatcher in garden, Grimsby 26/8 2 Short-eared Owls and Black Stork juv from Sea Bank, 8 Little Stints, 5 Curlew Sandpipers, Wood Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh Short-eared Owl, Kentish Plover at Shorebird Sanctuary [late report,] Gibraltar Point Curlew Sandpiper on Paradise Pool south of Saltfleet Haven 2 Wood Sandpipers on Rimac scrape, 5 Spotted Redshanks, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes Spotted Crake from River Trent bank, Alkborough Flats 27/8 Osprey at west end of Deeping Lakes viewed from River Welland bank, Deeping Lakes 3 Curlew Sandpipers, 7 Little Stints, Wood Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh 20 Spoonbills, Gibraltar Point Curlew Sandpiper, Manby Flashes 2 Wood Sandpipers on Rimac scrape, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes 2 Black Terns flew past Sutton on Sea Osprey flew east over Tetney Lock Wood Sandpiper on lagoon at Cress Marsh, Healing - no general access 28/8 24 Spoonbills on reedbed, Black Stork still circling over saltmarsh towards River Welland, 4 Little Stints, 5 Curlew Sandpipers, 2 Wood Sandpipers, Frampton Marsh Roseate Tern flew past, Black Tern, 72 Arctic Skuas, Puffin, Caspian Gull, 18 Spoonbills on Tennyson's Sands Little Stint juv, Gibraltar Point Long-tailed Skua ad flew north past Anderby Creek 29/8 22 Spoonbills, 2 Spotted Redshanks, Curlew Sandpiper, Gibraltar Point Caspian Tern over Woodhall Spa Airfield 2 Caspian Gulls both juvs, flew north past Sea View Car Park, 2 Little Stints, 6 Curlew Sandpipers, Wood sandpiper, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes 30/8 Pectoral Sandpiper on reedbed lagoon, Black Stork juv, 2 Garganey, 38 Spoonbills, 14 Spotted Redshanks, 131 Yellow Wagtails, 128 Ruff, 12 Curlew Sandpipers, 8 Little Stints, Frampton Marsh 2 Curlew Sandpipers at Manby Flashes Curlew Sandpiper, Gibraltar Point 3 Wood Sandpipers on Rimac scrape, Spotted Redshank, Saltfleetby/ Theddlethorpe Dunes ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. Harvestmen of Britain and Ireland https://harvestmen.fscbiodiversity.uk/ 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. FERRY LANE, SOUTHREY TF 1365 6760 Phil & Mary Porter 25th August Roadkill 2 Toads *** County Wildlife Reports From Readers *** Thanks to our regular contributors across the county. Much appreciated. We rely on readers to send in their observations and welcome records from everyone, experts or beginners. Please keep your reports coming. ABBEY ROAD, BARDNEY TF 1175 6996 25th August Phil Porter Small (c.15cm.) Grass Snake dead on footpath. It had been moved away within five minutes by something, but Mary and I re-found it nearby on 28th. BARDNEY - THE GREEN TF120694 R+ A Parsons The Old Museum, The Green, Bardney TF120694 LN3 5TY 18/8/2023 22/23/9/2023 Bats detected echolocating at 44, 50 and 55kHz between 20.30 -22.00hrs on 23/8. 2-3 individuals seen flying low over garden. Hedgehog on trailcam, 21.07 and 10.46 on 23/8; 03.14 on 24/8. Small tortoiseshell in garden 1300hrs and 16.00hrs 24/8 Bats detected echolocating 22.00hrs at 44, 50 and 55kHz. Hedgehog on trailcam: 22.03 and 22.32hrs. Plant record. 25/6/2023 A Parsons Canadian Fleabane on The Green against our garden wall. Identified A Parsons, confirmed P. Porter. https://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/canadian-fleabane 26/7 Very low frequency bat signal at 22.00hrs. 20kHz bursts Raven over pm, flying east. A. Parsons. Mason Bee: Pristine Osmia bicornis female resting on outside window sill Photo taken. https://bwars.com/bee/megachilidae/osmia-bicornis 27/8 Butterflies - mainly Red Admirals, excitedly examining the fruiting fig tree next door! Ripe fruit! Anne has spotted Tansy growing in Bardney. There's a lot on the road to Baumber too. I recall Tansy Tart was a medieval delicacy. Recipe for Tansy pancakes and why we don't intend to eat them! https://www.eatweeds.co.uk/tansy-pancakes BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 Phil & Mary Porter 23rd August At least 1 newly-fledged Blackbird calling today, the first for a long time. 29th August It is worth noting that having invested in two expensive squirrel-proof bird-feeders recently, we have found that after a long period of them being treated with the greatest suspicion by the birds, we now have more greenfinches than we can ever remember, with 6 at a time feeding regularly on sunflower hearts…..and no squirrels! FISKERTON FEN TF 0847 7195 Phil & Mary Porter 27th August Roesel’s Bush Cricket Willow Emerald Damselfly Green Woodpecker Bullfinch Lesser Water-parsnip (in quantity) Vapourer Moth larva on Dogwood GRIMSBY TA265095 Joyce Attia August 28th 2023 There's been a lot of blue tit and great tits activity around the feeders in the garden over the last few days. I haven't seen the gold finches for ages, I expect there is plenty of food out in the countryside at present. There's not much butterfly activity, but lots of bees on the oregano blossom. I walked down the river side this morning. The eight cygnets are beginning to split up from their parents now, but don't anyone tell me that these swans are mute, one was pitifully crying after his family, cheep, cheep, cheep. Then a lady told me that there were lots of feathers on the bank side, she was concerned that a swan had been attacked. But it was the spot where the cygnets do their preening, it was mostly downy feathers. On the way back I fed the squirrels, three very friendly youngsters. The mallards have almost got their adult plumage now and there are three new families of moorhens. A pair with 2 chicks, a couple of days old and a bit further down the river another pair with 2 chicks about the same age, and a pair with 4 very newly hatched chicks. Unfortunately there are a lot of predators, tiny chicks don't stand much chance. GRIMSTHORPE CASTLE GROUNDS TFO4/22 Jane Ostler 23/08/23 The area adjacent to the castle and including the walled gardens is worth a visit for its trees alone. The oldest English Oak (Quercus robur) have acorns covered in large Knopper Galls. The intermediary host Turkey Oak (Quercus cerris) is in the woodland between the walled gardens and the castle. The ancient Holm Oaks (Quercus ilex) have a good crop of acorns. Their growth habit and the shape of their leaves vary so much I wonder if they are different varieties. There are few juvenile type leaves with their spiky edges on any of the trees looked at. The Walnuts (Juglans regia) now have large green fruits particularly abundant on a shady tree on the edge of the lawn. The Indian Bean Tree(Catalpa bignonioides) by contrast doesn’t fruit but this year there are a few flowers struggling to survive. The Judas Tree (Cercis siliquastrum) still hasn’t decided to be a tree or a bush. Earlier in the year it had beautiful lilac- coloured flowers but in August one of the leggy branches from the base is keeling over. The female Maidenhair Tree (Ginko biloba) is at its best with dense fan-shaped leaves. No smell of fruits permeating through though. Another curiosity is Japanese Red Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica). This old tree has had scrub cleared from round its base. Extraordinary, huge curved branches growing low to the ground from the main trunk look like elephant’s tusks. Within the walled garden the Mistletoe so abundant on the apple trees, is thriving and in fruit. More than can be said for some of the trees. A poor apple year everywhere but the old trees, gnarled and pruned back seem to have deteriorated this year. Walking back towards the castle this is a good time to separate out the Small leaved Lime (Tilia cordata) from the Common Lime (Tilia x europaea) Not only the base shape of the leaves and the orange tufts of hairs at the intersection of the veins on the underside of the leaves, but the fruits which are neither hairy nor ridged). In the fruit and vegetable garden it was sad to see the Medlar trees, so well maintained and shaped over the years are dying. Along the herbaceous borders, Red Admirals, Bees covering the Sedums, the dragonfly Sympetrum striolatum. On the lawns young Pied Wagtails and House Martins above the Castle. MOOR FARM LWT Reserve R + A Parsons 27/8/2023 Walk round reserve: Fungi are getting going including Earth Balls, Yellow Russulas, a Birch Boletus, Suede Boletus. Good bryophyte site too. Several Speckled Woods and a [Common] Blue butterfly. RIVER BAIN CONINGSBY TF 21862 57934 Les Binns 17:37 23 Aug 23 Goosander (Mergus merganser) - 1 female, paddling west. SEDGE HOLE CLOSE LWT Nature Reserve  Steve Hiner Blackbird x 1 Blue Tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 4 Great-spotted Woodpecker x 1 Green Woodpecker x 1 Jackdaw x 2 Collared Dove x 2 Robin x 1 Swallow x 17 Starling x 54 Wood pigeon x 4 Meadow Brown x 2 Red Admiral x 2 Small White x 2 Speckled Wood x 5 Common Darter x 12 Southern Hawker x 1 THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 15.08.23 Heron x 1 Owston Ferry Warping Drain (Clare Holmes) Common Pipistrelle x 1 21:20hrs (45hz) 16.08.23 Blackbird x 3 Blue Tit x2 Common Buzzard x 3 Goldfinch x 4 Kestrel x 1 Little Owl x 1 calling 01:30hrs Robin x 1 Stock Dove x 2 on nests Swallow x 7 Wood Pigeon x 4 Green-veined White x 2 Large White x 2 Peacock x 1 Red Admiral x 1 Small White x 4 Speckled Wood x 2 Southern Hawker x 1 18.08.23 Tawny Owl x 1 calling 01:50hrs moths around security light; Lesser Swallow Prominent x 1 Ruby Tiger x 2 21.08.23 Barn Owl x 1 03:15hrs Blackbird x 6 Blue Tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 2 Common Buzzard x 1 Goldfinch x 4 Jackdaw x 2 Kestrel x 1 Pied Wagtail x 1 Robin x 4 Starling x 37 Swallow x 29 including 5 fledged young roosting in stables Tree Sparrow x 4 Wood Pigeon x 4 Wren x 1 fledged young  Green-veined White x 4 Large White x 1 Meadow Brown x 2 Peacock x 2 Red Admiral x 6 Small White x 4 Speckled Wood x 2 Emperor Dragonfly x 2 23.08.23 Heron x 3 west over Thurnholmes, calling Common Blue x 1 male Green-veined White x 6 Meadow Brown x 1 Red Admiral x 4 Small Copper x 1 (my first for year, very poor year for this species for me) Small Tortoiseshell x 1 Canary-shouldered Thorn moth x 1 Hairy Shieldbug x 1 25.08.23 Barn Owl x 1 03:05hrs Blackbird x 6 Blue Tit x 7 Chaffinch x 2 Chiffchaff x 1 Goldfinch x 7 Kestrel x 1 Robin x 1 Red-legged Partridge x 7 Swallow x 17 Stock Dove x 2 Tawny Owl x 3 fledglings, 1 adult. All calling and showing well in torch light  Wood Pigeon x 4 Wren x 1 Holly Blue x 1 Red Admiral x 4 Small White x 6 27.08.23 Moths around security light; Canary-shouldered Thorn x 1 Red Underwing x 1 28.08.23 Common Blue x 1 Green-veined White x 2 Large White x 1 Red Admiral x 6 Small Tortoiseshell x 1 Small White x 1 Speckled Wood x 1 Common Darter x 3 29.08.23 Barn Owl x 1 01:15hrs Blackbird x 2 Blue Tit x 4 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 1 Chiffchaff x 1 Collared Dove x 2 Goldfinch x 7 Greenfinch x 1 Great Tit x 1 Magpie x 2 Robin x 4 Stock Dove x 1 Swallow x 22 Tawny Owl x 1 calling 01:30hrs Tree Sparrow x 7 Wood Pigeon x 4 Wren x 1 WATER RAIL WAY, SOUTHREY TF146660 Phil & Mary Porter 30th August A short morning walk southwards started with finding pure white-flowered Common Storksbill in the rabbit-grazed turf next to Southrey platform, clearly not the relatively common types of Dove’s-foot Cranesbill which is also common there but had long since stopped flowering. There was a group of young Rabbits out on the grass there which is most unusual. Another small inhabitant was Buck’s-horn Plantain which I hadn’t noticed before. Mary heard a Siskin fly past and there were noisy Swallows flying round the pumping station, maybe on the point of starting to move on. In the longer vegetation, we saw a Small Copper butterfly and a well-established clump of Common Toadflax was in flower. Bullfinches called from the hedgerow. The river side of the path is thick and dense with grasses and brambles but these were no barrier to Field Bindweed which was in full flower for large stretches including patches of attractively pink-flushed varieties, and one area of Hedge Bindweed with much larger trumpets. Having reached a pathway down to the Engine Drain footbridge the floating Broad-leafed Pondweed again attracted the possible Water Cricket but too far away to advance our previous sighting, also a Pond-skater. There were a few Migrant Hawker dragonflies and a group of one each of Common Emerald, Common Blue and Blue-tailed damselflies. The drain itself looks a little better than it did earlier but much of the water plant growth is a lot thinner than in recent years. Amphibious Bistort was in flower at the edge of the channel. On the way back, we picked a few blackberries for a pie and 3 Willow Warblers emerged from the row of Buddleias, also a Peacock butterfly. WILLINGHAM WOODS Steve Hiner & Clare Holmes Blackbird x 2 Blue Tit x 4 Chaffinch x 6 Common Buzzard x 1 Great Tit x 1 Green Woodpecker x 1 Jackdaw x 4 Nightjar x 1 'churring' male 20:15hrs Swallow x 7 Tawny Owl x 2 calling 20:30hrs Common Frog x 1 adult + 1 thumbnail sized 'froglet' ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Visitor Leaflet - Natural England: http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/38015?category=59026 http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/saltfleetby-theddlethorpe-dunes https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR Report  23rd – 29th August 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 230823 – Osprey between Saltfleet Haven and Rimac. 4 little ringed plover, 4 ruff, little stint, snipe, 3 green sandpiper, 3 spotted redshank, greenshank, 3 wood sandpiper and a garganey on Rimac scrape. 400+ black-headed gull in flight over Rimac feeding on a large hatching of flying ants. 10 ruff, 1 snipe, 3 avocet, 7 dunlin, 2 curlew, common sandpiper and a wheatear at Paradise Lagoon. Garganey with teal on Sea View washlands. Yellow wagtail flew south. 240823 - Kingfisher along the Eau near Sea View. 5 little ringed plover, little stint, 2 snipe, 2 green sandpiper, 3 spotted redshank, 5 wood sandpiper, 13 little egret on Rimac scrape. 2 greenshank, ruff, 4 green sandpiper and 3 whimbrel on Rimac saltmarsh/lagoon. Little stint on Paradise Lagoon. Juvenile little gull, 4 black tern and juvenile kittiwake with 1000+ gulls and terns out from Rimac (including 400 sandwich terns and 250 common/arctic tern). 3 arctic skua and 100+ auks offshore. 250823 - Garganey at Sea View washlands. Paradise lagoon: 5 common gulls, 93 black-headed gulls, 1 lesser black-backed gull, 35 lapwing, 24 redshank, 3 ruff and 1 common snipe. Kingfisher along the Eau near Sea View. 2 raven at Elm House Farm. 3 spotted redshank, 2 wood sandpiper and 5 little ringed plover on Rimac scrape. 4 swift flew south. 6000 mixed black-headed/common gull on Theddlethorpe foreshore in the evening. 80+ auks and 20 common scoter on the sea. 2+ arctic skua and 2 pomarine skua mobbing terns, which includes 4 little terns. 42 ringed plover on the high tide. At Sea View: poplar hawk-moth and Clifden Nonpareil (blue underwing) were caught in a moth trapping session and between Sea View and Paradise; common and soprano pipistrelles and a noctule were detected and sopranos were detected foraging along the Great Eau. 260823 - Rimac scrape: 15 little egrets, 1 juvenile little ringed plover, 1 wood sandpiper and 3 spotted redshanks busily feeding, and difficult to swallow, one young fish in a shallow area of water. Garganey at Sea View washlands. 224 redshank, 84 lapwing, 4 ruff, 87 black-headed gull and 19 common gull on Paradise Lagoon. Also on Paradise Lagoon early evening: curlew sandpiper, greenshank, spotted redshank and snipe. Great skua (also called Bonxie) chasing birds in Saltfleet Haven. Green woodpecker at Paradise Wood. 270823 - Sea View washlands: 2 garganey with 5 teal. Paradise lagoon: 1 greenshank, 88 lapwing, 216 redshank, 2 ruff, 1 common snipe, 1 dunlin, 133 black-headed gulls, 8 common gulls and 9 teal, 1 common sandpiper and 2 grey wagtails on Eau nearby. Green woodpecker at Mablethorpe North End. Grey wagtail and siskin flew north over Brickyard Lane, 3 yellow wagtail flew south. Cetti’s warbler singing at Brickyard Lane. 9 migrant hawker dragonflies in the Churchill Lane area. 280823 - Small numbers of mixed flocks of great tit, blue tit, chiffchaff, willow warbler, common whitethroat and blackcap moving through the scrub and trees around Sea View. 320 redshank, 4 sand martin and green woodpecker at Paradise Lagoon. Wood sandpiper on the dipping pond at Rimac. Out from Brickyard Lane in the evening; 230+ sandwich tern, 190+ common/arctic tern, 3 arctic skua, 230+ auks, red-throated diver, 7 teal and 3 common scoter. 290823 - Single common sandpiper on the Eau outfall and 3 ruff with lapwing and redshank on Paradise lagoon. Sea aster in flower on the saltmarsh. Garganey on Sea View washlands. 3 wood sandpiper, 3 spotted redshank, little ringed plover and dunlin on Rimac scrape. Butterfly numbers have fallen markedly over recent days. Most elders laden with ripe fruit. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Chambers Farm Wood - Butterfly Garden - gardening dates and times: Next dates: September 5th and 19th 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: 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. Your suggestions, please. 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. Fossilised reptile poo contains 200-million-year-old parasites https://www.newscientist.com/article/2386267-fossilised-reptile-poo-contains-200-million-year-old-parasites/ 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 Saturday 9th September Rimac/Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe 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. Harvestmen - Imogen Wilde 7th of October Owl & Other Bird Pellets - Garry Steele 28th of October - Fully booked! Bryophytes - Steven Heathcote 4th of November ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ...AND FINALLY... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ...and finally... Warning of potentially increasing threats from ticks https://theconversation.com/ticks-are-becoming-a-growing-health-risk-in-the-uk-heres-why-211764 Hogfish changes colour to match its background – even after death! https://www.zmescience.com/science/oceanography/hogfish-light-detection-skin/ New insights into Velociraptor https://www.zmescience.com/feature-post/natural-sciences/geology-and-paleontology/dinosaurs/velociraptor/ Pollution rules could change to ease housebuilding https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-66642878 Waterfall and woodpecker among Low Barns photo display https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-66532562 Loch Ness Monster: Hundreds join huge search for Nessie https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-66614935 Wisbech farm claims UK record-breaking year for watermelons https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-66609773 Curlews: Cumbria farmer awarded for helping endangered birds https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-66603909 Dolphin spotters shaken by Ceredigion porpoise killing https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-66589355 Weed-choked pavements anger residents as ‘rewilding’ divides UK towns and cities https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/aug/26/civic-wars-break-out-over-rewilding-town-centres-age-of-extinction Lax post-Brexit trade rules pave way for invasive species to come to Britain https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/aug/25/post-brexit-trade-rules-invasive-species-britain-eu-soil Put ‘pest’ animal species on the pill, don’t cull them, says scientist https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/aug/27/put-pest-animal-species-on-the-pill-dont-cull-them-says-scientist ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/