========================================= || || 11th January 2023 || || News of Lincolnshire Wildlife || || LNU Website: http://lnu.org/ || ============================================ In this issue..... 1. Information, events, news and requests - mostly local. 2. Wildlife Highlights from Rare Bird Alert. 3. Wildlife reports around the county - contributions welcome... 4. NNRs, RSPB and LWT Reserves/Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe. 5. Bardney Limewoods NNR - Chambers Farm Wood. 6. Other Reserve Reports - links and highlights. 7. Sending in Bulletin Reports - contributors please read! 8. Contact information - recorders and specialists... 9. Notes about these wildlife reports. 10. Bulletin publicity policy. 11. Events Diary - what's on. 12. ...and finally. Mostly national/international wildlife stories. ============================================ Reports here are open. They are available to county recorders of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union; the Lincolnshire Bird Club and Lincolnshire Environmental Record Centre [LERC]. Compare earlier years. Past Bulletins archive [text] from 2009: http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union or associated organisations. Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. ============================================ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. INFORMATION, EVENTS, NEWS AND REQUESTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Editor writes: Lots of news/information this week. Scroll down for more. Reminder LNU Indoor meeting: Saturday January 14th 2023 - 2pm start Departed Glory: The Great Bustard and other lost birds of Lincolnshire. LNU/Lincolnshire Bird Club talk by Phil Espin. This talk will be delivered at the Lafarge Education Centre, Whisby Nature Park. You can watch via Zoom. See this link for details, and the Zoom meeting link. https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/lnu-lincolnshire-bird-club-joint-talk-by-phil-espin-saturday-january-29th-2022/ LNU Meetings: updates for Indoor Meetings 2023 https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/ This week's links to Lincolnshire and wildlife-related news stories. Dazzling photographs of flocking flamingos https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25634203-800-dazzling-photographs-of-flocking-flamingos/ Mallard Pass Solar Farm: Public asked for views https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-64175468 Lincolnshire: Radar masts plan to monitor coastal storms https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-64192780 Lincolnshire artist recreates Stonehenge from own kidney stones https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-64217088 Haxey Hood in triumphant post-Covid return https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-64192619 Bird of prey poisonings pose risk to people say Lincolnshire Police https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-64225792 Five arrested after hare coursing reported 'all over county' - police https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-64208065 Lincolnshire Police: 200 arrests in Christmas drink and drug driving purge https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-64187762 Lincolnshire hospital trust boss warns of 'perfect storm' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-64163478 Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire air ambulance sees busiest ever year https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-64156639 Animal lover wanted for Skegness seal rescue job https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-64153742 Big Garden Birdwatch. This takes place 27-29 January 2023! https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatch/ More links in "..and finally ..." at the end of the Bulletin. Please stay informed on Co-19 and 'flu advice. Adapt appropriately to future advice at indoor meetings and in the field. If you have any event postponements or changes please let us know. What is known about new Covid variant XBB.1.5? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-64164306 Thank you for all the interesting news links, wildlife information and useful species reports. Please keep them coming. Roger old.museum@yahoo.co.uk - note - my best address for emails. Joining Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union If you are not yet an LNU member please consider the possibility of joining. Click for the application form. If you are a member, please give the LNU a "plug " to others. https://lnu.org/join-the-lnu/ Weather Forecast https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#? 15-24 Jan "Much of this period is likely to be unsettled, with showers or longer spells of rain sweeping across the country, these most likely across the north and west. On Sunday, as temperatures become increasingly cooler, these showers are likely to become wintry across the north. A temporary spell of milder conditions is possible across the south midweek, however by the end of the week, most areas should see a return to below average temperatures. These cooler conditions are likely to allow the wintry showers to return, bringing an increasing likelihood of snow across northern regions down to lower levels. Fresh and breezy winds are often likely, becoming stronger at times with a risk of gales. " For Astronomers and Sky-watchers Space and astronomy highlights in 2023 from The Royal Observatory https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/space-astronomy-highlights-2023 Meteor Showers 2023 https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/meteor-shower-guide Cosmic Links... for more information... http://rogerparsons.info/cosmic.html Stellarium - open source and very useful https://stellarium.org/ Len Pick Trust Owl-box Camera A pair of owls is in residence. Sometimes... https://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project Hedgehog Advice https://hedgehogcare.org.uk/ https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/ Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Area Groups webpage Please let me have your "plugs" for coming events. https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/area-groups *** Boston Area Group LWT *** Gill Walsh writes: Talk - Gibraltar Point, Birds and Migration by Kevin Wilson Thursday 12th January at 7.30pm Centenary Methodist Church Red Lion Street Boston PE21 6NY Admission is free but there will be a retiring collection. Refreshments will be served in the interval Non members welcome *** Grimsby and Cleethorpes Area Group LWT *** Carolyn Davis writes: Residents and Winter Visitors Walk at Covenham Reservoir. On Saturday 14th January 2023 you are invited to join us on a residents and winter bird walk at Covenham Reservoir Grid Reference TF 349955 with Graham Hicks. Meet Graham at 8am in the main entrance car park. Please wear suitable outdoor clothing and stout footwear and bring binoculars if you have them. This is a free event however donations will be welcomed for the Trust. For further information contact Graham Hicks 07979 089890 or by email graham.hicks@standguide.co.uk. *** Lincoln LWT *** Richard Davidson Lincoln Area Group Talk January 19th: The Wildlife of Cape Province, South Africa The wildlife and flora of Cape Province in South Africa is very diverse with much of it found nowhere else in the world. An illustrated talk by Garry Steele based on a wildlife watching holiday there a few years ago. At Whisby Nature Park in the Lafarge Education Building starting at 7.30 pm. Admission is £2.50 which includes refreshments in the interval. *** RSPB Lincoln Local Group *** THE RSPB Lincoln website https://www.lincolnrspb.org.uk/events.htm INDOOR MEETING Thursday 12 January 2023 meeting, Shetland: Britain's Northern Edge by Jack Perks. After spending a month living in Shetland, Jack was able to see and photograph its fantastic wildlife, from puffins, gannets, skuas, divers and orcas. Sponsored by Carol Harvey in memory of her husband Alan Harvey. 7.30 pm in the Robert Hardy Building, Bishop Grosseteste University, Longdales Road, Lincoln LN1 3DY. Admission charge for RSPB members and students £4, for members of the public £5, please pay on the door. Fiona McKenna Committee member RSPB Lincoln Local Group *** RSPB Grimsby Local Group *** https://group.rspb.org.uk/grimsby/ The RSPB Grimsby Local Group won't be holding an Indoor Meeting in January. Instead, the Group will be hosting a 'Zoom' talk on Monday 16th January 2023 at 7.30pm. "Birds and Wildlife of Lundy' by Andrew Cleave Andrew is a frequent lecturer to National Trust and RSPB groups, and has also run courses on dormouse conservation and ecology. He is a committee member of the Lundy Field Society and is presently involved with a survey of the island's flora. Andrew was appointed MBE in 1995 for services to Environmental Education. The Zoom link to the talk will be emailed to usual circulation list about a fortnight beforehand. It is then just a question of following the instructions in that email if you want to take part. If you would like to take part but are not on the circulation list, please contact me as soon as possible at martin.francis2@ntlworld.com Do not be put off by Zoom. Our earlier Zoom talks have been very successful, and a number of participants have used Zoom for the first time. The Group's next Trip is on Sunday 26th February 2023 to Rufford Park and Sherwood Forest - more details nearer the time All the Group's activities are open to everybody - you do not need to belong to the RSPB, or to have attended Group Meetings to take part. Martin Francis Group Leader - RSPB Grimsby Local Group STAYING SAFE Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. Bird flu: Defra advice to the general public is to leave corpses alone and report the findings - but that landowners should dispose of birds themselves. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bird-flu-latest-situation-avian-influenza-prevention-zone-declared-across-great-britain 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 3/1 Hen Harrier ringtail at Willow Tree Fen, WSE of Pode Hole, WSS of Spalding 2 Bean Geese, probably Tundra Bean Geese, as Marsh Farm, south of visitor centre, Frampton Marsh 10 Snow Buntings. Scaup fem on Tennyson's Sands, Gibraltar Point Great Northern Diver juv, Covenham reservoir 9 Bewick's Swans with Whooper Swans west of Westwoodside in field north of B1396 by Sanderson's Bank 4/1 Long-eared Owl at Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James 2 Hen Harriers 1 male at saltmarsh, Holbeach Red-necked Grebe offshore, Salvonian Grebe, fem Scaup Jackson's Marsh, 2 Tundra Bean Geese, with 2,500 Pink-footed Geese, on Tennyson's Sands, Gibraltar Point Lapland Bunting near Neptune's Hut, Snow Bunting, Saltfleetby 2 Water Pipits, Rimac Waxwing at Halton Avenue/Weelsby Road junction in Miller + Carter car park, Grimsby Iceland Gull juv at Novartis Ings, Pyewipe 18 Russian White-fronted Geese still off Marsh Lane as Winter's Pond, East Halton Skitter 9 [6+ all ads] Bewick's Swans with Whooper Swans west of Westwoodside in field north of B1396 by Sanderson's Bank 5/1 Long-eared Owl roosting on island, Main Lake, at Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James Kittiwake ad briefly on main lake, Tallington Lakes Hen Harrier male, 5 Russian White-fronted Geese, Frampton Marsh 2 Tundra Bean Geese on Croft Marsh, Gibraltar Point 2 Short-eared Owls over Sandilands Golf Course, Huttoft Car Terrace, Huttoft Bank Iceland Gull juv, Caspian Gull 1w, at Novartis Ings, Pyewipe 9 Bewick's Swans all ads, with Whooper Swans west of Westwoodside in field north of B1396 by Sanderson's Bank 1 Russian White-fronted Goose still off Marsh Lane as Winter's Pond, East Halton Skitter 6/1 13 Snow Buntings at Crook Bank, 10 Twite, 3 Hen Harriers 1 male Rimac Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Water Pipit, East Halton Skitter 9 Bewick's Swans all ads, with Whooper Swans west of Westwoodside in field north of B1396 by Sanderson's Bank 7/1 9 Snow Buntings on beach, Slavonian or Black-necked Grebe flew past, Gibraltar Point 3 Hen Harriers 1 male, Rimac Great Northern Diver juv, Covenham reservoir 3 Russian White-fronted Geese still off Marsh Lane as Winter's Pond, East Halton Skitter 14 Bewick's Swans all ads, with Whooper Swans west of Westwoodside in field south of B1396 by Sanderson's Bank 8/1 Water Pipit, Hen Harrier ringtail from Wash viewpoint, 2 Tundra Bean Geese, Gibraltar Point 11+ Snow Buntings, 15+ Twite at Neptune's Hut, Crook Bank, Saltfleetby American Wigeon drk on scrape, Fiskerton Fen Scaup, Whicby Nature Park 19 Russian White-fronted Geese still off Marsh Lane as Winter's Pond, East Halton Skitter 14 Bewick's Swans all ads, with Whooper Swans west of Westwoodside in field south of B1396 by Sanderson's Bank 9/1 Hen Harrier ringtail in roost at Willow Tree Fen, WSE of Pode Hole, WSS of Spalding 7 Russian White-fronted Geese, 2 Hen Harriers 1 male, Frampton Marsh Scaup fem at Tenysson's Sands, 9 Snow Buntings, Gibraltar Point 12 Twite, south of Neptune's Hut at Crook Bank, Saltfleetby 2+ Velvet Scoters on sea, Mablethorpe American Wigeon drk on scrape, Fiskerton Fen 3 Common Cranes flew SE over Marton Great Northern Diver juv, Covenham reservoir 19 Russian White-fronted Geese still off Marsh Lane as Winter's Pond, East Halton Skitter 4 Bewick's Swans all ads, with Whooper Swans west of Westwoodside in field north of B1396 by Sanderson's Bank 10/1 Hen Harrier ringtail in roost, Short-eared Owl, at Willow Tree Fen, WSE of Pode Hole, WSS of Spalding 2 Bewick's Swans at Shillaker's Farm, from Counter Drain Drive, Tongue End 10+ Bewick's Swans all ads, with Whooper Swans west of Westwoodside in field north of B1396 by Sanderson's Bank ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3. WILDLIFE NEWS FROM AROUND THE COUNTY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Roger Goy Column Remembering Roger Goy's wildlife information work and drop-in sessions. Roger died on 6th March 2009 at the age of 61. 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. Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog: http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ Lincs Bird Club: https://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk/site/index.php/sightings/latest-news Butterfly Conservation - Lincolnshire Branch: https://butterfly-conservation.org/in-your-area/lincolnshire-branch/ Which moth species might be on the wing tonight in your area? https://butterfly-conservation.org/moths/whats-flying-tonight Atlas of the terrestrial and semi-aquatic Mammals of Lincolnshire by C. J. Manning, LNU Mammal Recorder. Download /print off. https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/mammalatlas.pdf VC54 North Lincolnshire Plant List - LNU Paul Kirby has produced a list of all the vascular plant & stonewort taxa with records on the MapMate botanical database for VC54, North Lincolnshire, at the end of January 2017. Download this on: https://lnu.org/specialists/vascular-plants/ Record Pool - recommended by Ashley Butterfield An easy way to record your amphibian and reptile species records. https://www.recordpool.org.uk/index.php ROAD KILLS? PLEASE LET US KNOW. Every drive is a transect! Hedgehogs? Badgers? Otters? Reports welcome. *** County Wildlife Reports From Readers *** Thanks to our regular contributors across the county. Much appreciated. We rely on readers to send in their observations and welcome records from everyone, experts or beginners. Please keep your reports coming. BARDNEY - The Green TF120694 R & A Parsons w/o 9/1/2023 Blue Tit 2 Great Tit 1 Pied Wagtail 1 Blackbird 1 Robin 1 singing Starling 12 Jackdaw 5 Carrion Crow 1 Woodpigeon 4 Collared Dove 2 Blackheaded Gull 12 BOSTON GARDEN (TF326426) December 2022 Kathleen Pearson In December, I was able to do the BTO Garden BirdWatch on 29 days. The number of species recorded was quite low at 18.  Four of them occurred in groups of, or exceeding, double figures -House Sparrow 10, Goldfinch 13, Woodpigeon 17 and Starling 21. An unusual high number of Black-headed Gulls occurred on one day when 8 landed to feed on the lawn. A Sparrowhawk was a regular visitor. Birds recorded:- Great Tit 2, Blue Tit 3, Woodpigeon 17, Blackbird 4, House Sparrow 10, Carrion Crow 1, Chaffinch 2, Robin 2, Greenfinch 2, Goldfinch 13, Collared Dove 1, Dunnock 2, Long-tailed Tit 8, Sparrowhawk 1, Black-headed Gull 8, Starling 21, Herring Gull 1 and Wren 1. BOSTON GARDEN (TF326426) 07/01/2023 Roy Pearson Following an incredibly heavy rainstorm this afternoon, a Male Blackcap paid a visit to some fatballs in the garden. 08/01/2023 Roy Pearson Two Sparrowhawks are now using our garden, both female and male. They have taken to waiting on the fence within two metres of the kitchen window. They cannot get into the centre of the bush, so I am hoping the Blackcap moves through thick bushes to get to the food. FAR INGS Angela Buckle 8th January 2023 Gorse Winter Flowering Cherry The first Celandine in flower SEDGE HOLE CLOSE LWT Nature Reserve Steve Hiner 04/01/23 Blackbird x 4 Blue Tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 2 Collared Dove x 2 Common Buzzard x 1 Cormorant x 1 over Dunnock x 1 Fieldfare x 4 Goldcrest x 1 Kestrel x 1 Magpie x 3 Redwing x 4 Robin x 1 Starling x 7 Stock Dove x 1 Wood Pigeon x 3 A15 SLEAFORD - WADDINGTON David Smith TF059476 - TF001644 appox. Barn owls x3 07/01/2023 22.30 Lincoln bypass TF008720 Fox adult x1 07/01/2023 22.30 SPALDING Annette Faulkner Blackbird singing from a rooftop, London Road, Spalding this afternoon, 10 Jan. 2023. A pretty scratchy song, to the point that at first I wondered what it was – but then saw it. THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 01/01/23 Barn Owl x 1 calling 01:35hrs Blackbird x 7 Black-headed Gull x 25 over Thurnholmes Blue Tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 4 Chaffinch x 2 Common Buzzard x 1 Cormorant x 6 over ThurnholmesDunnock x 1 Fieldfare x 17 Goldcrest x 1 Goldfinch x 8 Great Tit x 2 Grey Partridge x 3 Jackdaw x 6 Kestrel x 1 Magpie x 1 Mallard x 4 over Thurnholmes Pink-footed Goose x 250+ flying north, high over Thurnholmes Redwing x 17 Robin x 1 Rook x 34 in fields around Thurnholmes Starling x 24 Tawny Owl x 1 01:50hrs Tree Sparrow x 4 Wood Pigeon x 6 Wren x 1 03/01/23 Blackbird x 11 Black-headed Gull x 12 over Thurnholmes Carrion Crow x 1 Chaffinch x 4 Common Buzzard x 1 Dunnock x 1 Fieldfare x 25 Goldfinch x 2 Great Tit x 2 Jackdawx 7 Kestrel x 1 Magpie x 2 Mallard x 6 over Thurnholmes Mute Swan x 2 Owston Ferry Warping Drain Pink-footed Goose x 150+ North West over Thurnholmes Redwing x 21 Robin x 1 Sparrowhawk x 1 male Tawny Owl x 1 calling 01:10hrs Wood Pigeon x 2 05/01/23 Barn Owl x 1 08:00hrs Common Buzzard x 1 Kestrel x 1 08/01/23 Barn Owl x 1 20:00hrs Lapwing x 35 north over Thurnholmes Long-tailed Tit x 14 09/01/23 Barn Owl x 1 08:05hrs Blackbird x 6 Black-headed Gull x 25 over Thurnholmes Carrion Crow x 4 Dunnock x 1 Fieldfare x 15 Goldfinch x 4 Great Tit x 2 Grey Partridge x 4 Jackdaw x 2 Kestrel x 1 Moorhen x 2 Owston Ferry Warping Drain  Mute Swan x 2 Owston Ferry Warping Drain  Redwing x 29 Robin x 1 Wood Pigeon x 4 Mole hills starting to appear around paddocks 10/01/23 Barn Owl being chased across paddocks 07:45 by Tawny Owl, Barn Owl was making alarmed calling noises but the Tawny remained silent. WOOLSTHORPE Woolsthorpe by Colsterworth SK 923247 Jane Ostler 1-7th January 2023 Garden unless otherwise indicated New Year’s Day 2002 was the warmest on record at 16C. The list of ‘weeds’ in flower in the garden was longer than usual with eight species. This year found only White Dead Nettle and unlike last year no Bumble Bees on it. Winter flowering garden plants grown especially for insects are all out:- Yellow Coronopus and Jasmine, White Streptococcus and Winter Honeysuckle the first Hellebores, blue Rosemary. The snowdrop Galanthus nivalis not out yet and where the Winter Aconites are recorded each year seems to be scratched up. (By mice or a squirrel?) Inspecting some shrub prunings I found a single green caterpillar. In January 2007 I noted that a wren found one deep inside the leaf bases of iris leaves and “beat it into a long thin shape before eating it.” In my own and neighbouring gardens the most frequent visitors have been blackbirds. Eight males squabbling over bruised apples thrown out from the apple store in the shed are possibly migrants from the north who may try to establish territory and stay to breed. In the lanes and fields jackdaws are in pairs, rooks are returning to their nesting sites in the day . Magpies are more frequent than ever, often now in pairs but rarely visiting gardens. Moles, after the rains are moving to higher ground often on banked roadside verges. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. NNRs and NATURE RESERVES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's policy on Coronavirus, Covid-19 includes details of LWT reserves and other advice and information: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/coronavirus Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog: http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ LWT Reserves List: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/nature-reserves-list RSPB Frampton Marsh: http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE DUNES NNR including DONNA NOOK http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/saltfleetby-theddlethorpe-dunes https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook Visitor Leaflet - Natural England http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/38015?category=59026 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR Report 4th – 10th January 2023 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Matt Blissett, Ruth Taylor, Owen Beaumont, Phil Hyde, Geoff Williams and Chris Atkin Daily News and Wildlife Sightings Note: Very mild to the start of the new year with a maximum of 13.5 degrees centigrade on the 3rd. Near gale force south-westerlies on the 4th with a gust of 43.3mph recorded. 040123 Paradise lagoon: 53 shoveler and 7 gadwall. Late afternoon 680 brent geese flew west from the Haven towards land beyond Elm House Farm. Lapland bunting, snow bunting, jack snipe, 2 stonechat, water rail, 100 skylark, 35 yellowhammer, 80 linnet, 15 meadow pipit and 11 reed bunting in the dunes south of Crook Bank. 350+ dunlin on the beach near Brickyard Lane. 050123 Paradise lagoon: 18 gadwall and 33 tufted duck, 2 black-tailed godwits on the Eau Outfall. Single small bat on the wing late evening near Sea View. 692 brent geese (including 134 juveniles and 1 pale-bellied brent) feeding on fields west of Elm House farm, but regularly seen flying over the NNR. Jack snipe on the saltmarsh out from Rimac. 060123 2 barnacle geese with 1600+ pink-footed geese on Elm House Farm. 2 twite with linnet on the foreshore near Crook Bank plus 10 snow bunting. 400+ dunlin, 16 grey plover and 20+ sanderling between Crook Bank and Brickyard Lane. 5 woodcock in the dunes Rimac south. 080123 Male marsh harrier over saltmarsh, 15 little egrets, ringtail hen harrier hunting over Rimac freshwater marsh and a single male goosander flying south overhead, green woodpecker at Sea View and at least 1000 lapwing flying over Elm House Farm. 15 twite and 50+ yellowhammer south of Crook Bank. Barn owl in the dunes at Churchill Lane. 090123 At least 120 teal enjoying early morning sun on the bank of the Great Eau Outfall. Hazel with a good show of catkins in the shelterbelt opposite Paradise wood. Red kite over the saltmarsh at Sea View. 10+ twite at Crook Bank, feeding with 60 linnet, 9 snow bunting and 50 yellowhammer on the foreshore edge. Barn owl hunting in the dunes at Sea View and Rimac, which has been seen regularly for the last week. C1600 pink footed geese on Elm House Farm. 1 Cetti's warblers sub song in Churchill Lane area, 1 MoD area and 1 near Rimac. Great tit in song Churchill Lane area. Other Local Reserves 090123 Donna Nook: The majority of seals have now headed to the sea. 2 ravens, barn owl and several skeins of pink-footed geese flying over from a north easterly direction. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. BARDNEY LIMEWOODS NNR These cover a huge area. Records from them are one of the main inputs to management planning and the protection of rare/scarce and critical species. Reports always welcome. The history of the Lincolnshire Limewoods https://www.forestryjournal.co.uk/features/19111877.lincolnshire-limewoods/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Forestry Commission visitor advice: https://www.forestryengland.uk/article/coronavirus-visitor-guide Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch. https://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html Chambers Farm Wood - Butterfly Garden https://butterfly-conservation.org/in-your-area/lincolnshire-branch/chambers-farm-wood-butterfly-garden Lincolnshire Dormouse Group You can get in touch via lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com Gemma Watkinson writes: Winter coppicing dates 2023 Sunday 15th January Saturday 11 February Sunday 12th March Throughout the winter we meet at 10am at the Wood Centre at Chambers Farm Woods. We carry out coppicing in the woodland and box maintenance and cleaning, and always welcome new volunteers. Tools are provided. If anyone wants to know more, they can get in touch at 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. South Humber Heritage Trail, Alkborough Flats - LWT leaflet - downloadable https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/sites/default/files/2018-04/south_humber_heritage_trail_alkborough.pdf New haven for wildlife on shores of Humber Estuary in North East Lincolnshire https://thelincolnite.co.uk/2022/08/new-haven-for-wildlife-on-shores-of-humber-estuary-in-north-east-lincolnshire/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. 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 vary, depending on what I am doing. It usually goes out on Wednesdays/Thursdays in time for the weekend. Please e-mail in contributions as early as possible, to: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8. CONTACTS AND USEFUL WEBSITES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CONTACTS LIST Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union LNU Website: http://lnu.org/ LNU Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist? LNU Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lincsnaturalists/ LNU e-mail: info@lnu.org Downloads of LNU books are available on: https://lnu.org/publications/books/ LNU webpage on the Officers and Executive Committee https://lnu.org/about/officers-executive/ Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust https://twitter.com/LincsWildlife Lincs Bird Club Website https://twitter.com/Lincsbirding LBC County Bird Recorder Phil Hyde - County Recorder, Lincs Bird Club recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk The Sir Joseph Banks Society https://twitter.com/sirjosephbanks Lincolnshire Bat Group website http://www.lincsbatgroup.co.uk/ Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch https://twitter.com/BC_Lincolnshire Lincsbirders https://twitter.com/lincsbirders Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project https://lincolnshirechalkstreams.org/events/ South Lincolnshire Flora Group https://bsbi.org/south-lincolnshire-v-c-53 The Wolds Fungi Group Contact Paul Nichol via email pnichol20@gmail.com Lincolnshire Dormouse Group Contact: lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com FIGHTING WILDLIFE CRIME Wildlife Crime https://www.lincs.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/wc/wildlife-crime/ SPECIES IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. LNU Recorders and Specialists: https://lnu.org/specialists/ Downloads of LNU books are available on: 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. LNU 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. d.a.sheppard@btinternet.com Lincolnshire Mammals Chris Manning, 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 Bat rescue instructions: 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 us on 01775 766286. We'll do the rest. 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 Alex Pickwell is the LNU Recorder for Non-marine Molluscs Email: mrapickwell@gmail.com When asking for help: Please give the the very best information you can provide. If you are not sure, ask what is needed from you to confirm identification. Photographs are helpful but not every species can be identified from a photograph. When asked for further details, get back to them promptly. Don't forget a thank you for the help. That is always welcomed. USEFUL WILDLIFE LINKS Please copy and paste URLs if necessary. Lincs Environmental Records Centre Greater Lincolnshire Nature Partnership (of which LERC is a part) http://www.glnp.org.uk/ Greater Lincolnshire Nature Partnership newsletter: If you would like to keep up to date with the Partnership, follow the link below to subscribe to our newsletter or connect with us on social media. https://linktr.ee/GLNPnature Contact in case link does not work: Emily Todd: emily.todd@glnp.org.uk Natural England http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ InsideEcology - Online Magazine for Ecologists, Conservationists and Wildlife Professionals https://insideecology.com/ NHBS - Should you need natural history equipment or books: https://www.nhbs.com/ NHM - Final report on LoveLincsPlants This report along with previous progress reports can be viewed/ downloaded from the LNU website. https://lnu.org/lincolnshire-plants-past-and-future/ Collections Dataset - LNU "historic specimens" All of the LNU specimens that have been processed and digitised to date can now be viewed here: http://data.nhm.ac.uk/dataset/lincs-plants The Flora of Lincolnshire by Joan Gibbons - downloadable LNU book For the Geologists... Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. Suggestions for Geology news, events or new useful links always welcome. BGS Geology Viewer https://geologyviewer.bgs.ac.uk/ 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 BGS webpage: Earthquakes around the UK last 60 days http://www.earthquakes.bgs.ac.uk/earthquakes/home.html BGS British geology maps - now free to explore on web http://www.bgs.ac.uk/opengeoscience/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We sometimes withhold details of rare or endangered species. Please point out any sensitive or "tricky" reports of this kind. Sensitive data should go directly to county recorders, please. When sending in reports, e.g. unusual plants, please report any sensitive news directly to recorders. Not the Bulletin. We don't want to spoil things with untimely or unwise publicity. Thank you. Please respect the interests of wildlife and site owners if you report on national networks. Interest in wildlife is not a licence to act irresponsibly or thoughtlessly to landowners, who may well be partners in important conservation work. [Remember: Views expressed in the Bulletin do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of the LNU or associated organisations. In particular this applies to such agencies, especially charities, taking a political stance.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 11. LNU EVENTS DIARY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** LNU Events - Important updates *** We will post any changes to LNU events in the Bulletin; the LNU Twitter feed; LNU Facebook page and LNU meetings webpage. Please refer to the LNU website for details of any Zoom arrangements for watching online. LNU Meetings: updates for Indoor Meetings 2023. https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/ The changing nature of the Covid situation may mean alterations or cancellations at short notice, so check back regularly and keep an eye on Twitter and Facebook for updates. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ...AND FINALLY... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails Last Week *** None ....and finally... Buzzworthy: bees’ minds show remarkable depth and richness https://www.zmescience.com/reviews/books/buzzworthy-bees-minds-show-remarkable-depth-and-richness/ Old photograph album reveals 'remarkable era' in Goole's history https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-64173445 Whitehaven coal mine: Friends of the Earth to launch legal fight https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-64165419 Lützerath: German coal mine stand off amid Ukraine war energy crunch https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-64187212 US approves world’s first vaccine for declining honey bees https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-64180181 Climate change: Europe and polar regions bear brunt of warming in 2022 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-64213575 Urban lizards have gene mutations that help them adapt to city life https://www.newscientist.com/article/2353966-urban-lizards-have-gene-mutations-that-help-them-adapt-to-city-life/ ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/