============================================ || || 27th 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 best for the 2024. It would be great to start the New Year with a good county-wide spread or reports. News of meetings and events will be of interest to readers too. 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: Appeal after Baumber St Swithin's Church eagle lectern stolen https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-67752181 Sizewell C nuclear plant project upheld by Court of Appeal https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-67773752 DNA sleuths solve mystery of the 2,000-year old corpse https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-67755415 Almost identical numbers of environmental charity supporters vote Conservative as Labour – and majority of Wildlife Trust supporters may switch their votes at next election. https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/news/polls-show-nature-policies-affect-general-election Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust marks anniversary with £1m appeal https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-67591794 Rainbow clouds spotted in the East for first time since 2016 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-67795856 Ørsted to press ahead with world’s largest offshore wind farm in North Sea https://www.ft.com/content/4d3cc6d4-f479-4607-9574-63e320af80ff Coronation standard bearer Francis Dymoke dies, aged 68 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-67802651 Grimsby Nunny's Farm shuts for winter due to flooding https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-67776552 Sweyn Forkbeard: The legend of the Viking king 'killed by a ghost' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-67687031 International Bomber Command Centre celebrates record year https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-67790716 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#? 27 Dec - 9 Jan Outlook for Friday to Sunday: Breezy with sunny spells and mostly dry Friday, winds easing overnight with a patchy frost developing. Becoming breezy again Saturday with outbreaks of rain, sunny spells and isolated showers Sunday. On New Year's Eve it's most likely that colder conditions will filter southwards across the UK, bringing some wintry showers to north facing coastlines. However, these colder conditions may not reach the far south, where it could remain slightly milder than average, breezy and at times wet. Into early January, it is likely that mobile westerly winds will attempt to push across the UK, bringing milder conditions, rain and strong winds. On the interface between the milder and colder conditions some snowfall is possible, this is most probable on high ground, but it is not impossible it could fall to low levels at times. Thereafter, it is unclear whether mild air will reach all areas for a time, or the colder conditions will hold on, especially in the north. *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** Full Moons 2024 https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/full-moon-calendar January's Night Sky: Highlights. https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/blog/astronomy/night-sky-highlights-january-2024 Strange and mysterious clouds over UK https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/av/35475301 Some stars may have small black holes at their core — and we should be able to find them https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/stars-black-holes-center/ *** 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 20/12 Glossy Ibis in flight over Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James Hen Harrier, Willow Tree Fen Probable Rough-legged Buzzard flew over Kate's Bridge, 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, Scaup on reedbed, Water Pipit on wet grassland, Frampton Marsh 2 Snow Buntings on beach, Gibraltar Point 4 Waxwings at Amos Way, Sibsey 4 Water Pipits in flooded field north of Rimac car park, Saltfleetby/ Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR Hen Harrier, Scopwick Waxwing at Canwick road Trading Estate, Lincoln 13 Waxwings. Fairfield Industrial Estate, Louth 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 Cattle Egret Alkborough Flats 21/12 Lesser Yellowlegs 1w by visitor centre car park, Scaup on Reedbed, Frampton Marsh 22/12 Hen Harrier ringtail, Willow Tree Fen 4 Scaup on Reedbed, Frampton Marsh 3 Shorelarks at north end of beach, 2 Snow Buntings, 2 Waxwings at south end of West Dunes opposite Yacht Club, Gibraltar Point 32 Snow Buntings on beach at Crook Bank, 3 Water Pipits in flooded field north of Rimac, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe NNR 3 Waxwings on wires, Grayson Way, Washingborough 23/12 Hen Harrier ringtail at Renew's Drove, Deeping High Bank Hen Harrier ringtail, Willow Tree Fen Hen Harrier ringtail, Water Pipit, 3 Scaup on Reedbed, Lesser Yellowlegs 1w by visitor centre car park, 3 Water Pipits in flooded field north of Rimac, Frampton Marsh 4 Shorelarks on beach, 2 Long-tailed Ducks on sea, Gibraltar Point Scaup flew past, 2 Velvet Scoters, Great Northern Diver, Gibraltar Point Waxwing in garden, Mablethorpe 4 Water Pipits in flooded field north of Rimac, Saltfleetby/Theddlethore Dunes NNR Tundra Bean Goose in field with Pink-footed Geese, south of Whitton 24/12 Long-eared Owl in gully at Main Lake, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James Waxwing at Barrowby west of Grantham Lesser Yellowlegs 1w by visitor centre car park, Frampton Marsh 2 Waxwings, 2 Great Northern Divers flew south, Gibraltar Point NNR 20 Waxwings by Jet petrol station, Bridge Road, Gainsborough Russian White-fronted Goose with Greylag Geese, East Halton Marshes 25/12 11 Common Cranes, Willow Tree Fen 3 Long-eared Owls from hide, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James Lesser Yellowlegs 1w by visitor centre car park, Frampton Marsh 7 Waxwings near North Building, Water Pipit, Gibraltar Point NNR 12 Waxwings by Jet petrol station, Bridge Road, Gainsborough 26/12 1+ Hen Harrier ringtail, Willow Tree Fen Russian White-fronted Goose at West Pit, Long-eared Owl from hide, Deeping Lakes 7 Waxwings at north end of Queen's Road, Bourne Lesser Yellowlegs 1w, Frampton Marsh Red-necked Grebe flew south past, 3 Long-tailed Ducks, Slavonian Grebe on sea, Gibraltar Point Smew ad, Great Northern Diver, Shag, Covenham reservoir 2 Waxwings by Jet petrol station, Bridge Road, Gainsborough 27/12 Willow Tree Fen Russian White-fronted Goose at West Pit, Long-eared Owl from hide, Deeping Lakes 3 Waxwings south of Main Street, then flew off, Normanby 6 Waxwings by Jet petrol station, Bridge Road, Gainsborough 28/12 Willow Tree Fen 11+ Bewick's Swans in fields east of churchm Deeping St Nicholas. Deeping Lakes Queen's Road, Bourne Lesser Yellowlegs 1w in visitor centre car park, Frampton Marsh 22 Waxwings in berry tree along Scredington Road, Helpringham 3 Waxwings, Sutton on Sea 2 Waxwings by Jet petrol station, Bridge Road, Gainsborough ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 R + A Parsons 26/12/2023 A walk south on The Viking Way today towards Soprthrey, - clear and sunny and very little wind. 2 local ravens flew over to perch on their favourite evergeen tree. 3 brown hares in a field were playing. Walking back we passed several dog walkers and their cheerful dogs. https://www.visitlincolnshire.com/things-to-do/viking-way/ BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 Mary Porter 22nd December When the high winds started on Wednesday 20th, I started to notice a young kestrel flapping about the garden, generally quite low as if it couldn’t lift off. We hardly ever get kestrels as the garden is quite enclosed. It was obviously not coping and seemed to be around the bird feeders hoping for a lucky snack. However, the resident songbirds didn’t seem that bothered by it which was unusual. I noticed it every day. On Friday 22nd, I was startled to find a newly-killed headless rat on top of our alpine trough. It was draped over the plastic trays which protect the bulbs beneath from the resident squirrels. Obviously the work of a local cat. I left it where it was to see if anything came back for it. The kestrel spent the day flapping aimlessly around the feeders again, to know avail. They aren’t known to be carrion feeders, but I hoped it would spot the rat. Just by chance I looked out the window at the right time to see the kestrel perched on top of the trays. I managed to photograph it through the window. I just looked away for a second and saw it fly away. Had it taken the rat? I rushed outside and…yes! It had! I hoped it would be soon snoozing in a tree with a full stomach and would be flying strongly in the morning. Over the next few days I did in fact catch glimpses of a kestrel flying high and strongly across the back garden in the strong winds. Quick research on the internet did confirm that, yes, indeed, kestrels will take carrion when conditions are bad, and high winds must surely affect their precision hovering. FRITHVILLE TF298489 Margaret Westcott I was so interested in Brenda's records for gardenbutterflysurvey.org that I thought I would add my own for 2023. Overall, it was a good year here, despite the agricultural desert around our garden and small wood. A legume ley mix in the next field attracted many Large and Small Whites, and kept them away from my broccoli - great! For some reason, the Brimstone caterpillars were less preyed upon and many grew to the final instar. We had the next generation nectaring on runner beans in September. Here are the maximum day counts for each species:- Brimstone 4 Comma. 4 Gatekeeper. 4 Green-veined White. 5 Holly Blue. 4 Large Skipper. 1 Large White. 14 Meadow Brown. 5 Orange-tip. 3 Painted Lady. 1 Peacock. 27 Red Admiral. 18 Ringlet. 5 Small Copper. 3 Small Skipper. 2 Small Tort. 2 Small White. 2 Speckled Wood. 7 SOUTHREY Water Rail Way TF138663 Phil and Mary Porter 25th December To be honest, there weren’t a great many birds to be seen close-up on our walk downstream from Southrey station, just a few small flocks of fieldfares and redwings stood out, but on the fen west of the Witham we could see Whooper Swans on grassland in the distance and hear their muted bugling conversations constantly especially when small parties flew in the join the flock. We estimated the flock at about three hundred birds. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 13th – 19th 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 131223 – A group of whooper swans flew noisily south over Sea View at dusk. 141223 – 4 redwing flew south over Sea View in the morning. 5 cattle egret in pony paddock next to Rimac entrance. 124 dark-bellied brent goose and 400 pink-footed goose on Elm House Farm. 151223 – 25 snow bunting on the foreshore at Crook Bank. Drake pintail with other wildfowl on Sea View Washlands. At least 2 water pipit feeding in flooded field north of Rimac car park with pied wagtails. 2 water rail and a Cetti’s warbler Rimac reedbed. 2 woodcock flew over Rimac dunes at dusk, and 5 cattle egret again in pony field at Rimac entrance. Chiffchaff at Brickyard Lane. 150 brent goose and 400 lapwing at Elm House Farm. 161223 - 51 little egrets on saltmarsh, at least 35 redwing in bushes nearby, green woodpecker at Sea View and 260 lapwing flying high over Elm House Farm. 3 water pipits feeding with 24 pied wagtails on the edge of flooded grassland near Rimac car park. 26 snow bunting on the foreshore at Crook Bank. Chiffchaff and several siskin in the Brickyard Lane area. 171223 - Ringtail hen harrier hunting over the far dunes next to the saltmarsh and flew north, marsh harrier in the area. 23 snow bunting on Crook Bank foreshore. Water pipit in flooded field north of Rimac car park, 3+ cattle egret with livestock. 15 whooper swan went to roost on Rimac lagoon at dusk. 181223 – 4 water pipit together on flooded grassland next to Rimac car park, male and female stonechat in the dunes nearby. 4 cattle egret in the pony paddock at Rimac entrance. 40 fieldfare flew south-west over Sea View. 300+ lapwing and 120+ dark-bellied brent goose seen on Elm House Farm from the main road. Woodcock in the dunes south of Crook Bank in the evening. 191223 - Pair of stonechats on the edge of Sea View washlands which is looking particularly good at the moment with a mix of several hundred wildfowl, mainly teal, fewer wigeon and shoveler. 2 tufted ducks on the Eau. 3 marsh harriers hunting over the saltmarsh. 4 water pipit and 2 stonechat in field north of Rimac car park. Another stonechat and 4 fieldfare in the dunes at Rimac. 5 cattle egret again at Rimac entrance. Single bean goose flew south along the foredunes with c50 pink-footed goose mid-afternoon. Green woodpecker calling in the dunes at Brickyard Lane, where 19 pied wagtail were on the saltmarsh. c400 pink-footed goose flew from roost to Elm House Farm in the morning, where 201 dark-bellied brent goose (48 juveniles) and 1 pale-bellied brent goose feeding. Other Local Reserves 151223 – Donna Nook: Seal Count: Pups 1343, Cows 235, Bulls 270. Total pups born this season so far 2199. Seal numbers reducing daily as they head out to sea. Fieldfare and redwing feeding on sea buckthorn and hawthorn berries. Increasing numbers of lapwing out on the saltmarsh. Flocks of linnet and twite flying between saltmarsh and fields behind the dunes. "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. 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... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Human-driven extinction of bird species twice as high as thought, study says https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/dec/19/human-driven-extincition-of-bird-species-twice-as-high-as-thought-study-says-aoe Can seabirds hear their way across the ocean? Our research suggests so https://theconversation.com/can-seabirds-hear-their-way-across-the-ocean-our-research-suggests-so-215945 Reindeer have a secret superpower that helps them find food the dark Arctic winter https://www.zmescience.com/science/reindeer-have-a-secret-superpower-that-helps-them-find-food-the-dark-arctic-winter/ Could dinosaurs be the reason humans can’t live for 200 years? https://theconversation.com/could-dinosaurs-be-the-reason-humans-cant-live-for-200-years-219435 Five things you probably have wrong about the T rex https://theconversation.com/five-things-you-probably-have-wrong-about-the-t-rex-220011 France split over environmental effects of Christmas trees https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-67781387 British Museum signs £50m funding deal with BP https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-67766191 Five new soft-furred hedgehog species discovered https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-67780254 Best pied flycatcher breeding season in a decade https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8v2qz8mg6vo Amazon drought: 'We've never seen anything like this' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-67751685 Iceland volcano: 'We're always worried our village will disappear from map' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-67770649 Why Iceland's Reykjanes volcano eruption won't cause disruption https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-67762273 Thousands of turtles in Peru saved from trafficking https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-67771166 Grouse shooting in Scotland has an alarming death toll – and not just for game birds https://theconversation.com/grouse-shooting-in-scotland-has-an-alarming-death-toll-and-not-just-for-game-birds-219932 NOAA scientists link exotic metal particles in the upper atmosphere to rockets https://csl.noaa.gov/news/2023/388_1016.html Mail Fails: None this week. ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/