============================================ || || 6th December 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/months. Past Bulletins archive [in 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: A thank you to Phil Porter for his work on the Bulletin this week. Heads up for.... Geminids meteor shower peaks on the night of 14 and 15 December 2023 the last full moon of 2023 is the Cold Moon 27th December This week's mostly-local news stories: Yorkshire Water makes record £1m charities donation over pollution https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-67564782 Lincolnshire snow described as freak event by council https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-67615970 East Yorkshire sees influx of hungry short-eared owls from Scandinavia https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-67588238 Trafalgar Square Christmas tree arrives at Port of Immingham https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-67590719 Dambusters raid airman's gallantry medal sells for £105k https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-67592104 Plan for £2m Lincolnshire caravan park to house foreign farm workers https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-67570962 Flood defences on the Lincolnshire coast could be in need of repair sooner than previously thought https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-67614331 More links in "...and finally ..." at the end of the Bulletin. Thanks to all who sent in news, reports and contributions this week. Roger old.museum@yahoo.co.uk - note - my best address for emails. *** Weather News and Forecast *** https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#? 10-19 December 2023 "This period is likely to often be unsettled with areas of low pressure tracking northeastwards close to or over the UK. This means bands of rain moving in from the west or southwest, interspersed with brighter showery conditions. As such, the wettest weather is likely to be across western high ground, though all parts could see some heavy rain at times. There is a greater than normal likelihood of periods of very windy weather too. Potential for a drier spell of weather to develop for a time around mid-month, particularly in the south, with frost and fog more prevalent. Overall, a relatively mild period for the UK, with above average temperatures more likely than not, especially so in the south and west. " *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** Watch aurora data come in - and hope for clear skies: https://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/  Geminids meteor shower peaks on the night of 14 and 15 December 2023 https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/geminid-meteor-shower-uk-dates-how-to-see  Last full moon of 2023 - the Cold Moon 27th December https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/full-moon-calendar  Full Moons 2023 https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/full-moon-calendar December's Night Sky: Highlights. https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/blog/astronomy/night-sky-highlights-december-2023 *** Grimsby and Cleethorpes Area Group LWT *** Carolyn Lovely writes: “Birds and Wildlife of the Western Cape Province of South Africa”. On Monday 11th December we will be holding our next indoor meeting where, Garry Steele will be talking about bird life and unique flora around Cape Town and birds, flora and mammal fauna in South African National Parks. This will take place in Grimsby Town Hall DN31 1HX and starts at 7.30pm. Entry £4, all are welcome. This month we will be celebrating the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's 75th Anniversary with a special cake and will have a shared table of refreshments. There will be a raffle and pre-owned natural history books for sale in aid of the Trust. For further information please contact Jennie Redpath 01472 502858 or visit our website www.grimsbywildlifetrust.org.uk  We are also on Facebook. *** Boston Area Group LWT *** Gill Walsh writes: Talk – “Wildlife of The North Yorkshire Moors National Park” by Geof Lee Thursday 14th December at 7.30pm Centenary Methodist Church, Red Lion Street, Boston, PE21 6NY Free admission but there will be a retiring collection. Refreshments will be served in the interval. Non members are welcome. Jeremy Eyeons wrote ***The SOUTH LINCS RSPB GROUP*** have released details of their 2024 “Seal and Birdwatching” cruises aboard “The Boston Belle”. There are twelve cruises organised for 2024, starting on 5th April and ending on 24th October. Full details are on our website, including ticket prices, booking arrangements, sailing times and dates etc.. Booking is essential. https://group.rspb.org.uk/southlincolnshire/ STAYING SAFE Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. Covid advice and Services: https://www.nhs.uk/covid-19-advice-and-services/ 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 28/11 20 Snow Buntings reported on outer beach, Cleethorpes 29/11 2 Long-eared Owls, in gully at Main Lake, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James Hen Harrier ringtail over saltmarsh, Spoonbill, Frampton Marsh Hen Harrier male, Water Pipit, Gibraltar Point 15 Waxwings, Fishtoft 4 Snow Buntings at Marsh Yard, Huttoft Bank 6 Short-eared Owls at Huttoft Car Terrace, 6 Little Auks flew north past, 4 Velvet Scoters, Huttoft Bank Great Northern Diver in NW corner, Purple Sandpiper behind water tower on steps, Smew drk, Covenham reservoir Waxwing, Tetney Lock 2 Hen Harriers, Tetney Marshes 30/11 Hen Harrier ringtail. 9 Common Cranes, Willow Tree Fen Short-eared Owl, Tongue End, Baston Fen Scaup fem on Main Lake, Mealy Redpoll in birches by car park, Tallington Lakes 5 Bewick's Swans, Spoonbill, Shorelark on wet grassland by sea wall, Frampton Marsh 15 Waxwings at Tesco car park, Boston 3 Waxwings in garden near King's Arms, Kirkstead, Woodhall Spa 4 Waxwings along Cemetery Road, flew towards village centre, North Somercotes Scaup fem near tower, Smew ad drk, Great Northern Diver, Purple Sandpiper on south side, Covenham reservoir Waxwing, Searby, ESE of Brigg c50 Waxwings by Bradley Pitches, then dispersed, Grimsby Hen Harrier ringtail over rough grassland, Trent Port 1/12 2 Long-eared Owls, in gully at Main Lake, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James Lesser Yellowlegs juv on South Scrape, Frampton Marsh 4 Great Northern Divers on sea, Gibraltar Point 9 Waxwings at Tesco car park, Boston Smew ad drk, Great Northern Diver, Covenham reservoir 2/12 Scaup 1w fem on Main Lake, Tallington Lakes 3 Long-eared Owls, in gully at Main Lake, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James 3 Waxwings at Tesco car park, Boston Great Northern Diver, Purple Sandpiper on west wall, Smew ad drk, fem/1w drk Scaup, Covenham reservoir Lapland Bunting in front of warden hut, Donna Nook c11 Snow Buntings on outer beach, Slavonian Grebe on lake at Cleethorpes Country Park, Cleethorpes Red-throated Diver on Ski Pool, Barrow Haven 3/12 5 Waxwings at Tesco car park, Boston Lapland Bunting in from of warden hut, Hen Harrier, Donna Nook Red-throated Diver at west bank of waterski pit, Barton-upon- Humber GPs 4/12 1+ Long-eared Owls, in gully at Main Lake, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James 5 Common Cranes in flooded field right of entrance, Willow Tree Fen Glossy Ibis at West Lake, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James 5 Waxwings at Tesco car park, Boston Lesser Yellowlegs juv, on grassland, Spoonbill on reedbed, Frampton Marsh Great Northern Diver on sea, 5 Snow Buntings along shore, Gibraltar Point Velvet Scoter on sea off Mablethorpe Hen Harrier, Saltfleetby NNR 5/12 9 Bewick's Swans with Whooper Swans, at Renew's Drove, Deeping High Bank Long-eared Owl, Main Lake, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James 9 Common Cranes, ringtail hen Harrier, Willow Tree Fen Long-tailed Duck, Velvet Scoter flew south, Little Gull flew north, Gibraltar Point 6/12 1 Common Crane heard north of Wader Pit, Baston + Langtoft Pits Glossy Ibis on Reedbed, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James Scaup 1w drk on Reedbed, Frampton Marsh 3 Waxwings in hawthorn at north end, Gibraltar Point Smew ad drk, Great Northern Diver, Covenham reservoir 2 Great Northern Divers, Toft Newton reservoir 12 Waxwings, Station Road, Burgh-le-Marsh Waxwing, Alkborough Flats ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. 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 Record Pool - an easy way to record your amphibian and reptile species records. https://www.recordpool.org.uk/index.php 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/ 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 INDOORS TF117700 Mary Porter Week beginning 29th November 2023 With the arrival of the cold weather, the house invertebrates took the opportunity to be more mobile with the heating on. I caught several large, very active "Daddy Long legs" Pholcus phalangioides  spiders during the week. I can cope with them when they sit in their webs, but not when they are on the move. They usually stay in a covered glass during the night and then I release them in front of the garage door, from where they scuttle inside. When the ice and snow started, I thought this was rather cruel, so kept them until the 4th December when it was much warmer. I always find it fascinating that they make the best of a bad job and construct webs inside the glass and then patiently wait. Meanwhile, on the evening of 2nd December, whilst covering up the indoor plants in our unheated conservatory, I found a cellar slug (Limacus species) cruising along the door frame. The temperature in there at that time was 5 degrees C. Again, as it was so cold, I didn't want to put it out, but left it in a jam-jar, covered with a recycled plastic pot, on the kitchen overnight. In the morning I was dismayed to find it obviously has the same Houdini-like qualities as its distant cousin, the octopus. A slug-trail along the kitchen worktop gave the game away and we haven't found it since. I had hoped to have a better look at it to see if it was a green or yellow one. An over-wintering mosquito sitting on the lounge wall (unknown sp.) completes the trio of invertebrates. I caught that and popped it in the shed.  BOSTON GARDEN Kathleen Pearson November 2023 I did BTO Garden BirdWatch on all days during November. There were problems due to several months work on the A16 roundabout behind the garden. As a result, the small copse adjoining us has gone together with many trees across the road and bird numbers have fallen. Monthly species used to be around 20, but have dropped to 16. The highest number of birds recorded at one time was 7 Woodpigeons. Birds recorded:- Carrion Crow 3, Collared Dove 2, Goldfinch 5, Dunnock 2, Blue Tit 3, Great Tit 2, Woodpigeon 7, House Sparrow 6, Robin 1, Chaffinch 2, Wren 1, Magpie 4, Greenfinch 2, Blackbird 2, Jackdaw 1, Sparrowhawk 1. A Red Admiral was recorded on one day. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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  29th November – 5th December 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 Note: The cold spell during the past few days gave some minor flurries of powdered snow grains and wet snow falling on frozen ground. Frosts were moderate to hard reaching a ground minimum of -8.5 degrees centigrade and air -4.5 degrees centigrade on the 2nd. The maximum day time temperature for the 2nd and 3rd was 3.0 degrees centigrade. Temperatures gradually rose from the 4th and a thaw observed. 291123 - Dead pygmy shrew found at Sea View. 25 whooper swans on Rimac lagoon, 2 cattle egrets and green woodpecker on Sea View washlands. 22 snow bunting on the beach at Mablethorpe North End, where 3 velvet scoter were with the larger group of common scoter on the sea. 3 cattle egret and 3 buzzard at Rimac. 6 reed bunting and 4 yellowhammer north of Brickyard Lane. 10 yellowhammer at Crook Bank. Jack snipe and black-tailed godwit on freshwater scrapes bordering the dunes south of Crook Bank. 301123 – Jack snipe and woodcock on the saltmarsh at Brickyard Lane. 30 adult and 6 juvenile whooper swan on field adjacent to the dunes south of Rimac. 011223 - Paradise lagoon: 6 gadwall. 5 cattle egrets amongst cattle in Sea View washlands and 7 common snipe flew off in the surrounding area. Cattle egret flew north over the dunes at Brickyard Lane. Peregrine seen catching and eating a wader on the beach at Churchill Lane.   021223 - Brambling and great spotted woodpecker at Sea View, stonechat near Paradise, 4 cattle egrets feeding amongst cattle near Sea View. 2 skeins of pink-footed geese flying south, at least 200 birds. Mix of golden plover (50 plus), lapwing (60 plus) and curlew (30) on Elm House Farm. 9 snipe on the saltmarsh at Brickyard Lane. 041223 – 30 adult and 6 juvenile whooper swan again on fields bordering the dunes south of Rimac. Cattle egret with livestock in the dunes at Rimac. 2 goldcrest and 20 redwing Rimac south. Flooded areas of Elm House Farm busy with birds: 2 short-eared owl, 1600 pink-footed goose, 200 wigeon, 180 lapwing, 80 redshank, 800 starling. 051223 - Paradise lagoon: 13 gadwall, 25 shoveler, 4 mallard and 140 teal. Other local reserves 011223 –Donna Nook: Seal count – Pups 2056, Cows 1559, Bulls 500. 021223 – Donna Nook: Lapland bunting, 6 rock pipit and 2 raven from the viewing area. 051223 – Donna Nook Pyes Hall realignment: 875 teal, 670 wigeon, 243 shelduck, 117 mallard, 243 dunlin, 8 oystercatcher, 4 snipe, 8 curlew, 7 little grebe, 17 black-tailed godwit, 43 skylark, 5 reed bunting, hen harrier and merlin. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. BARDNEY LIMEWOODS NNR ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ These cover a huge area. 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 date: probably February 2024 https://butterfly-conservation.org/in-your-area/lincolnshire-branch/chambers-farm-wood-butterfly-garden Lincolnshire Dormouse Group Gemma Watkinson writes: You can get in touch via lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The NNR includes the following sites: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chambers Farm Woods (comprises Ivy Wood; Little and Great Scrubbs Woods; Minting Wood; Hatton Wood, Hatton Plantation and Minting Park; and also three areas of grassland: Little Scrubbs Meadow and extension), Small Meadow and Big Meadow. Since all have their own management plans, please give the actual location when reporting). College Wood; Cocklode & Great West Woods; Hardy Gang Wood; Newball Wood; Rand Wood; Scotgrove Wood; Southrey Wood and Wickenby Wood. Many of these include both areas of ancient woodland or important grassland. Many are also designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Records which provide a six-figure grid reference are of particular value to the Forestry Commission. Other woods included in the NNR but without public access: Stainfield Wood; Stainton & Fulnetby Woods (access by public bridle way only). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. OTHER RESERVE REPORTS AND HIGHLIGHTS. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Links to "Other Reserves" are welcome. Your suggestions, please. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 iRecord. 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: 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/ Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Trust: https://lincolnshirechalkstreamstrust.org.uk/ 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 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. Lincolnshire Badger Group https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093647842292 or get in contact via our email lincolnshirebadgergroup@hotmail.com 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/ The Flora of Lincolnshire by Joan Gibbons: downloadable LNU book Atlas of the terrestrial and semi-aquatic Mammals of Lincolnshire: https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/mammalatlas.pdf For the Geologists... Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. Independent - Geology: https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/geology Lincolnshire Geodiversity Group: https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/discovering/geology-1 Geology - the Collection: https://www.thecollectionmuseum.com/explore/geology Geology of the Lincolnshire Wolds: https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/special-features/geology The Geology of Lincolnshire: downloadable LNU book https://lnu.org/publications/books/the-geology-of-lincolnshire/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 unwise or untimely 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 *** https://lnu.org/meetings/ https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ...AND FINALLY... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mail Fails: Giant pangolins are now being helped back from the brink https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/dec/05/once-thought-extinct-giant-ground-pangolins-helped-back-from-brink-kenya-aoe Fossil in amber shows male mosquitoes may have been bloodsuckers too https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/oldest-mosquito-fossil/ Boy, 14, died after eating poisonous yew tree berries – inquest https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-67612361 Raw sewage 'cover-up' at Windermere World Heritage Site https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-67567323 Rise in English bathing sites rated unfit to swim https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-67593143 New nature plan aims to restore the East Yorkshire environment https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-67590918 Cumbria snow: Power disruption continues after major incident https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-67611117 Attenborough ship encounters mammoth iceberg https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cl7p9577ekko How scientists are fighting climate-fuelled disease https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-67591422 Why iconic trees are so important to us – and how replacing those that fall is often complicated https://theconversation.com/why-iconic-trees-are-so-important-to-us-and-how-replacing-those-that-fall-is-often-complicated-218064 ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/