============================================ || ||   20th 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: We wish LNU members and Bulletin readers the very best for Christmas and look forward to seeing some Yuletide reports next week. There are interesting things about, such as waxwings. The last full moon of 2023 is the "Cold Moon", 27th December! Don't miss the Limewoods Dormouse Group Report in section 5 below! Next Bulletin is the last of 2023 - so please send in contributions. A thank you to Phil Porter for his work on the Bulletin this week. Phil and I have been co-editing. We will keep up this arrangement for now - with Phil drafting the content while I do the mailing. In this way I can cover for Phil where necessary. Please will you send in your news and reports to both of us for the time being.  Phil's email is:philporterento@outlook.com This week's mostly-local news stories: Deer road deaths on the rise warns wildlife group https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgl49de4y3xo Rare daytime footage captures Lincolnshire beavers on camera - clip https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-lincolnshire-67722639 Theddlethorpe nuclear waste site: Informed decision needed, says council https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-67716286 Lincolnshire Christmas food waste to power thousands of homes https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-67715909 Two arrests in Lincolnshire after 1,000 cannabis plants found https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-67751947 Lincoln agrees to transfer artefacts to county council https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-67703733 Clarkson's Farm star Kaleb Cooper awards Boston student £3,000 grant https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-67747307 North Lincolnshire: Cash available for D-Day 80th events https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-67726338 Lincolnshire fire service issue log burner warning https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-67726457 Plans to transform Sandilands golf course into wildlife haven approved https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-67707961 Lincoln's Donald the duck goes missing from Brayford Lake https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-67706459 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. Phil's email is:philporterento@outlook.com *** Weather News and Forecast *** https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#? 23 Dec - 1 Jan "On Saturday, a band of rain sinks erratically south, perhaps wintry over hills. To the north, a colder showery airmass, these wintry in places, mainly over high ground, and milder conditions further south. The Christmas period is most likely to start with a colder, showery, northerly airflow in situ across much of the country, perhaps with the exception of the far south, bringing some snowfall, mainly across hills in the north. This interlude likely to be short-lived, before a milder, westerly flow returns, which may lead to a risk of some transient snow to lower levels for a time. A continuation of this pattern most probable towards New Year's Eve, with the majority of cloud and rain likely across the west, and drier, brighter conditions more probable in the east." *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** Shetland is first UK spaceport for vertical rocket launches https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-67741864 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 *** Lincoln LWT *** Richard Davidson Lincoln Area Group Talk December 21st : The Cranes at Willow Tree Fen For our Christmas meeting David Cohen (ex Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust chairman) will give an illustrated talk about the history of Common Cranes in the UK and their welcome return to Lincolnshire after 400 years. Donations of seasonal food to consume at the meeting would be very welcome! Also although, sadly, Dragons are long since extinct in Lincolnshire, Mary Porter will tell us about her new childrens’ adventure book and the Dragons that used to be found living off the Lincolnshire Coast. Copies of her book ‘Dragons of Doggerland’ will be available for purchase at the meeting. https://www.mary-edwards-porter.co.uk/Doggerland.html The event is at Whisby Nature Park in the Lafarge Education Building starting at 7.30 pm. Admission is £2.50 which includes refreshments in the interval. *** Grimsby and Cleethorpes Area Group LWT *** Carolyn Lovely writes: Birding by Numbers On Monday 8th January 2024 the Grimsby and Cleethorpes Area Group LWT will hold their next indoor meeting where Matthew Capper, the Trust's Head of Public Engagement, will be giving an illustrated talk 'Birding by Numbers'. Matthew will be talking about his passion for birds and his conservation career. This will take place in Grimsby Town Hall DN31 1HX and starts at 7.30pm. Admission £4, all are welcome. Raffle and refreshments will be available. For more 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 - Mammals Of Lincolnshire by Chris Manning Thursday 11th January 2024 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. *** Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust *** In the run up to GWCT’s Big Farmland Bird Count 2-18 February 2024 we’ll be running free webinars to help learn the basics about how to identify farmland birds. https://www.gwct.org.uk/eventbooking?eventNodeId=28877 *** South Lincs RSPB Group *** Jeremy Eyeons writes: The South Lincs RSPB Group has 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 12/12 Russian White-fronted Goose with Greylag Geese, Wader Pit, Baston + Langtoft pits Lesser Yellowlegs juv, 2 Scaup, 1w drk + fem, on Reedbed, Frampton Marsh 14 Waxwings, 2 Water Pipits, Slavonian Grebe flew past, Gibraltar Point NNR Shag, Rock Pipit, Covenham reservoir c 20 Waxwings on Bridge Road by JET petrol station, Gainsborough 9 Waxwings flew south over Anderby Creek 12 Snow Buntings at Marsh Yard, Huttoft Bank 13/12 5 Waxwings in rowans just north of St Guthlac's Church, then flew north, Market Deeping Lesser Yellowlegs juv, 2.Scaup 1w drk + fem on Reedbed, Spoonbill, Frampton Marsh 4 Waxwings at West Keal SW of Spilsby 21 Waxwings on Bridge Road by JET petrol station, Gainsborough 9 Waxwings in town centre, Barton-upon-Humber - late report 14/12 Hen Harrier ringtail, Willow Tree Fen Lesser Yellowlegs juv in visitor centre car park, 2.Scaup 1w drk  + fem on Reedbed, Hen Harrier ringtail over saltmarsh, Frampton Marsh Caspian Gull, Long-tailed Duck offshore, Velvet Scoter, Gibraltar Point NNR 6 Waxwings, Lancaster Avenue, Horncastle c12 Waxwings on Bridge Road by JET petrol station, Gainsborough 17 Waxwings at Doggett Road, Cleethorpes Hen Harrier ringtail, Trent Port 15/12 Glossy Ibis flew NW over, 3 Long-eared Owls in gully at Main Lake,  Deeping Lakes Lesser Yellowlegs juv in car park by visitor centre, Frampton Marsh 4 Shorelarks at north end, 10 Waxwings: 9 by visitor centre car park, 1 flew south over Mill Hill. 2 Long-tailed Ducks on sea, 2 Velvet Scoters off north end, Gibraltar Point NNR 3 Waxwings at Lincolnshire Wildlife Park, Friskney 2 Water Pipits north of car park in flooded field, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR 25 Snow Buntings on beach at Crook Bank car park,   Saltfleetby NNR 15+ Waxwings on wires at Granson Way, Washingborough 7+ Waxwings at Aldi, Lea Road, Gainsborough 20 Waxwings on Bridge Road by JET petrol station, Gainsborough Waxwing near church in birch, Donnington-on-Bain 19 Waxwings at Doggett Road, Cleethorpes 16/12 14 Waxwings in West Dunes, 4+ Shorelarks along beach at north end, Gibraltar Point NNR Lesser Yellowlegs juv by visitor centre car park, Frampton Marsh c25 Waxwings, 4 Shorelarks at north end of Greenshank Creek, Gibraltar Point 26 Snow Buntings on beach east of Crook Bank car park, Saltfleetby NNR c12 Waxwings flew north over garden, North Thoresby 6 Waxwings, Louth Great Northern Diver, Toft Newton Reservoir 9+ Waxwings on Bridge Road by JET petrol station, Gainsborough Waxwing at Daggett Road, Cleethorpes 3 Waxwings in Heron Foods car park, Barton-upon-Humber Scaup 1w drk. on Winter's Pond, Russian White-fronted Goose, East Halton Marshes Hen Harrier ringtail, East Halton Skitter c20 Waxwings flew west over car park, Alkborough Flats 17/12 2 Water Pipits, Hen Harrier ringtail, Willow Tree Fen 2 long-eared Owls, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James 23+ Mealy Redpolls will Lesser Redpolls along Greatford Cut, Langtoft Hen Harrier male over saltmarsh, Holbeach Marsh Scaup imm on Reedbed, Lesser Yellowlegs juv by visitor centre car park, Frampton Marsh Black-throated Diver flew south, Waxwing in East Dunes, Gibraltar Point 23+ Snow Buntings on beach east of Crook Bank, Saltfleetby NNR 4 Waxwings at North Street, Market Rasen 9 Waxwings opposite Louth Tyre Services Ltd, Louth Smew ad drk, Covenham reservoir 23 Waxwings on Bridge Road by JET petrol station, Gainsborough Waxwing at Daggett Road, Cleethorpes 18/12 Hen Harrier ringtail,Trent Port 4 Shorelarks on beach at north end, Snow bunting,  37 Waxwings  flew south over Gibraltar Point NNR 4 Water Pipits in flooded field north of Rimac car park, 4 Cattle Egrets, Hen Harrier ringtail, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR 4 Waxwings in sycamore at The Ridings, Market Rasen Smew as drk, Great Northern Diver, Covenham Reservoir Caspian Gull 2w at Cress Marsh Lane. Stallingborough Waxwing in park behind Coomb Briggs Primary School, Immingham 19/12 7 Waxwings, Burgh-le-Marsh 20/12 Probable Rough-legged Buzzard flew over Kate's Brisge, Baston Waxwing, East End garden briefly, Langtoft 4 Mealy Redpoll at Greatford Cut east of Kind Street, Langtoft Lesser Yellowlegs 1w, by visitor centre car park, Frampton Marsh 4 Water Pipits in flooded field north of Rimac car park, Saltfleetby/ Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR Smew ad drk, Great Northern Diver, Covenham reservoir Great Grey Shrike by bridleway, Wilder Donnigton 3 Waxwings at Doggett road/Rymer Place junction, Cleethorpes 5 Waxwings, Heron Foods on High Street, Barton-upon-Humber ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. FISKERTON FEN TF083718 Phil Porter 15th December A late afternoon walk, probably too near to roosting time, but in bright conditions. Nothing on the water. There were about 20 fieldfares and a few redwings in the dense hedgerow at the eastern boundary and as usual several wood pigeons. A water rail squealed from the pit reedbed. As sometimes happens there seemed to be an almost complete lack of small passerines, and only blackbird, robin and a vocal wren crept onto the list with singletons, but as I say, it was too late in the day. HOLYWELL LAKE Ian Misselbrook 17th December 2023 11.54 -1300 Little Grebe 17 Little Egret 1 Grey Heron 1 Pink-footed Goose – 1 in with the flock of Canada Geese Hybrid Greylag x Canada Goose Canada Geese 26 Greylag Geese 9 Shoveler 2 – pair Gadwall 26 Mallard 51 Teal 16 Wigeon 26 Tufted Duck 22 Coot 2 Moorhen 25 Mistle Thrush 6 Fieldfare 1 Blackbird 5 Robin 1 Dunnock 1 Wren 3 Blue Tit 4 Coal Tit 2 Marsh Tit 1 Great Tit 2 Long-tailed Tit 6 Raven 4 Carrion Crow 5 Jackdaw c 30 Rook 8 Woodpigeons Buzzard 2 Red Kite 1 Kestrel 1 Chaffinch 4 Goldfinch 4 Greenfinch 1 Siskin 2 NETTLEHAM TF 005756 Brenda Edlington A disappointing year for butterflies in my garden. My records were for the Garden Butterfly Survey. (gardenbutteflysurvey.org if anyone’s interested in adding counts.) 81 daily counts between 22 March – 10 November Highest total count – red admirals. Very low numbers of small tortoiseshells; peacocks down on previous years. Good numbers of gatekeepers and holly blues compared to other years. June was very hot and dry with only about 21 mm of rain and July extremely wet with approx 155 mm, which didn’t help. Max no at any one time, months in which the max occurred and total for the daily counts carried out Brimstone 2 (Mar, Jul, Aug) 26 Comma 2 (Sep, Oct) 31 Common blue 1 (Aug, Sep) 3 Gatekeeper 6 (Jul) 23 Green-veined white 4 (Jul) 25 Holly blue 3 (Aug) 35 Large white 3 (Sep) 41 Meadow brown 3 (Jun, Jul) 17 Orange tip 1 (Apr, May, Jun) 10 Painted lady 1 (Aug) 1 Peacock 5 (Aug) 18 Red admiral 7 (Aug, Sep) 55 Ringlet 1 (Jul) 3 Small skipper 1 (Jun) 1 Small tortoiseshell 2 (Aug) 11 Small white 4 (Jul) 36 Speckled wood 1 (May, Jul, Aug, Sep) 18 Most records – Red admiral Unknown whites 51 First butterfly of the year - brimstone 22 March. Last butterfly of the year red admiral 10 Nov on late buddleia flowers SEDGE HOLE CLOSE LWT Nature Reserve SK 793 996 Steve Hiner 30/11/23 Blackbird x 1 Black-headed Gull x 2 over Blue Tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 4 Fieldfare x 36 Goldcrest x 1 Jackdaw x 4 Redwing x 25 Robin x 1 Wood Pigeon x 6 Wren x 1 06/12/23 Barn Owl x 1 08:10hrs Blackbird x 9 Black-headed Gull x 25 over Blue Tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 4 Chaffinch x 4 Fieldfare x 49 Goldcrest x 1 Great Tit x 2 Jackdaw x 15 Redwing x 28 Robin x 1 Starling x 4 Wood Pigeon x 4 14/12/23 Blackbird x 7 Carrion Crow x 4 Chaffinch x 2 Dunnock x 1 Fieldfare x 23 Goldcrest x 1 Goldfinch x 2 Jackdaw x 6 Redwing x 9 Robin x 1 Wood Pigeon x 4 Grey Squirrel x 1 THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 29/11/23 Blackbird x 3 Common Buzzard x 1 Fieldfare x 58 Goldfinch x 6 Magpie x 1 Redwing x 28 Robin x 1 Stock Dove x 2 Wood Pigeon x 6 30/11/23 Common Buzzard x 1 Kestrel x 1 and Merlin x 1 in aerial combat over Thurnholmes 05/12/23 Barn Owl x 1 20:30hrs Blackbird x 21 Black-headed Gull x 31 in flooded fields around Thurnholmes Blue Tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 2 Dunnock x 1 Common Buzzard x 1 Fieldfare x 125 Goldcrest x 3 Goldfinch x 4 Golden Plover x 29 over Thurnholmes Jackdaw x 4 Kestrel x 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull x 4 over Thurnholmes Magpie x 2 Redwing x 62 Robin x 1 Starling x 35 Wood Pigeon x 4 13/12/23 Blackbird x 17 Black-headed Gull x 6 over Thurnholmes Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 3 Common Buzzard x 2 Fieldfare x 62 Goldcrest x 2 Goldfinch x 4 Jackdaw x 2 Kestrel x 1 Lesser Redpoll x 7 Magpie x 2 Mallard x 2 fields around Thurnholmes Redwing x 31 Robin x 2 Woodcock x 1 Wood Pigeon x 6 House Mouse x 2 Weasel x 1 SK787988 18/12/23 Blackbird x 8 Blue Tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 2 Common Buzzard x 4 Cormorant x 1 over Thurnholmes Fieldfare x 150 Kestrel x 1 Long-tailed Tit x 28 Redwing x 60 Robin x 3 Starling x 120 Tawny Owl x 2 calling 01:50hrs Wood Pigeon x 6 Wren x 1 House Mouse x 3 Wood Mouse x 1 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ No report this week. It's often a very busy week at the Reserve. No doubt a substantial report will arrive by the end of the year. Meanwhile our thanks and appreciation go to the Donna Nook "Seal Team" for their efforts this season. "Weekly Pupdate" https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook/weekly-update ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: 20th February 2024 https://butterfly-conservation.org/in-your-area/lincolnshire-branch/chambers-farm-wood-butterfly-garden Lincolnshire Dormouse Group Gemma Watkinson writes: The next winter session will be on Sunday 21st January 2024 In the winter we start at 10am, meeting at the same location, in the wood centre car park at Chambers Farm Wood. Future dates for winter sessions for your diary: Saturday 17th February 2024 Sunday 17th March 2024 "Over the whole of the 2023 survey season we had 39 individually marked dormice, some being recaptured, and marked mice were seen a total of 47 times. There were another 68 sightings of dormice which had not been fur clipped, though some of these may have also been recaptures. This year, September and October recorded the highest numbers of dormice for a single check – a bumper 36 dormice were recorded across Ivy Wood East, Little Scrubbs and Minting Triangle in the September box check. So we seem to have a pretty decent population in Chambers Farm Woods. We recorded dormice in Ivy West, for the first time this year in the October check, with 3 recorded, but no dormice were recorded in Minting Far End this year. One dormouse was recorded in Goslings in the September check. A record number were recorded in Little Scrubbs, with 15 individuals in the October check. Most other years we have recorded only a small number of dormice in this part of the wood." 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. Pliosaur discovery: Huge sea monster emerges from Dorset cliffs https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-67650247 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: None this week. How a colonial trip to Palestine spurred modern ornithology https://theconversation.com/how-a-colonial-trip-to-palestine-spurred-modern-ornithology-and-left-it-with-imperial-baggage-219267 The top 7 dinosaur discoveries of 2023 https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/the-top-7-dinosaur-discoveries-of-2023/ Iceland volcano erupts on Reykjanes peninsula https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-67756413 Queensland floods: Airport submerged and crocodiles seen after record rain https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-67740978 Fourteen killed in Argentina as storm brings 150km/h winds https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-67745451 Scotland's climate 'changing faster than expected' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-67752167 Diverters installed at Hexham farm after rare bird fatalities https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-67726959 Noisy nuisance or natural wonder? Why there's no easy answer to seagulls https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-67376147 Spider-hunting wasp caught on camera paralysing its prey in Scotland https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-67681842 Ancient peat bog makes 'remarkable' recovery https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c72y18pvwxwo ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/