========================================= || || 5th July 2023 || || News of Lincolnshire Wildlife || LNU: http://lnu.org/ || || Please email Editor on: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk || ============================================ In this issue..... 1. Information, events, news and requests - mostly local. 2. Wildlife Highlights from Rare Bird Alert. 3. Wildlife reports around the county - contributions welcome... 4. NNRs, RSPB and LWT Reserves/Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe. 5. Bardney Limewoods NNR - Chambers Farm Wood. 6. Other Reserve Reports - links and highlights. 7. Sending in Bulletin Reports - contributors please read! 8. Contact information - recorders and specialists... 9. Notes about these wildlife reports. 10. Bulletin publicity policy. 11. Events Diary - what's on. 12. ...and finally. Mostly national/international wildlife stories. ============================================ Reports here are open. They are available to county recorders of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union; the Lincolnshire Bird Club and Lincolnshire Environmental Record Centre [LERC]. Compare earlier years. Past Bulletins archive [text] from 2009: http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union or associated organisations. Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. ============================================ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. INFORMATION, EVENTS, NEWS AND REQUESTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Roger writes: The "Hoverfly Workshop" on 1st July went well. See Phil Porter's report below. Next: "Pond Dipping for Adults " with Sam Reast, 25th August. Booking essential. Places are in demand. Hoverfly Workshop - Phil Porter reports. Seven people attended my LNU Hoverfly workshop held at Whisby NP Education Centre on 1st July 2023. The presentation addressed the recognition of 20 distinctive hoverflies that are widespread and common and can reliably be identified in the field at least to generic level by those who wish to extend their basic familiarity with a popular group of conspicuous flies whose national press coverage ensured that they avoid the negative public opinion of flies in general. Details of their varied larval biology were prompted by a ‘lockdown trend’ towards increased interest in providing breeding habitat for those species requiring wet organic sites. ‘Hoverfly lagoons’ are now a recognised ‘on-line’ subject, with a large variety of interpretations. Lesser-known larval niches addressed included thistle stems, tree rot-holes and compost heaps, as well as looking for larvae amongst aphid colonies. Next we considered a small number of flies from various families which are almost sure to be found by the most casual of searching, such as the Noon Fly, the Common Tachina and Picture-winged flies Finally, the party ventured outside to look or hoverflies around the Education Centre but although Richard Davidson found a handsome Xanthogramma pedisequum (Superb Ant-hill Hoverfly), the weather was a little too gusty and cool for the insects to be out and about in numbers. The attendees were supplied with a list of up-to-date references, especially Steven Falk’s formidable Flickr site where you can be absolutely sure that the wildlife photographs are correctly named. https://www.flickr.com/photos/63075200@N07/collections/ Suggestions for Readers to report or research: Please look out for solitary bee Anthidium manicatum David Sheppard writes: Keep an eye out for the solitary bee Anthidium manicatum. It is quite large, about the size of a honey bee but flatter, less cylindrical, and more like a leaf- cutter bee. It is easy to spot because it has a row of yellow spots along each side of the abdomen. In gardens, it is particularly fond of Stachys lanata (Lambs tail) and other labiates from which it gathers the woolly fibres to line its nest cells. Hence these bees are also known as Wool Carder Bees. Its flight is distinctive and its behaviour easily recognisable once you have seen it. Although harmless to us, it is quite aggressive and will pick a fight with foraging bumblebees. I have records from throughout Lincolnshire but I am sure that it more abundant than the records indicate. Please contact David on: d.a.sheppard@btinternet.com or via: https://lnu.org/specialists/ants-bees-and-wasps/ Photo from Bumblebee Conservation: https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/woolcarderbee/ Phil Porter adds: BARDNEY 4th July 2012 Wool Carder Bee in the garden TF117700 today, recognised by quite large size, short but broad body, yellow dots along side of dark abdomen and conspicuously whitish tarsal segments. It was within a couple of feet of a Stachys lanata plant but didn’t show any interest in it. LNU Meetings. Come along. Scroll to full details in section 11 below. Or click: https://lnu.org/meetings/ Wilder Doddington (Rewilding Project) – Saturday July 15th (all day) https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/2023-07-15-wilder-doddington-rewilding-project-saturday-july-15th-all-day/ Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service Helen Gamble writes: We have passed the halfway stage of our ‘50 for 50’ events! So far, we have engaged with over 2,200 people at shows, events, talks and walks; working with partners such as local farmers, businesses, communities & specialists, we’ve showcased all the hard work to a wider audience. There’s still time to take part and learn more about the special features that make t he Lincolnshire Wolds AONB such a unique protected landscape. Visit our events page for opportunities to take part. https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/events/ We would be grateful if you could spare a few minutes to fill in the ‘Have Your Say’ questionnaire. Your answers are important to us and will help the Partnership to prepare the next statutory Management Plan for the Lincolnshire Wolds AONB, and how we can all help protect and enhance the special qualities of the area. https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/news/have-your-say The Bugs Matter 2023 survey season - 1 June - 31 August. https://www.buglife.org.uk/get-involved/surveys/bugs-matter/ BWARS' Hornet survey - have to seen any? ID photos are here: https://www.bwars.com/wasp/vespidae/vespinae/vespa-crabro To submit a record: https://www.bwars.com/content/submit-sighting-vespa-crabro-hornet The Big Meadow Search (BMS) - June 1st until August 31st. The BMS is a citizen science project which aims to encourage people to record plants in an area of grassland of their own choice. Our website has lots more information, and you can enter your findings directly there. www.bigmeadowsearch.co.uk Exhibition at Joseph Banks Centre Horncastle Horse Fair.. Runs 6th July - 15th September. https://horncastlejbc.info/events/ Bob Sheppard sent in the following updates:.. Louth Peregrines: The small peregrine chick at Louth did a mini fledge last Friday and ended up grounded on a low wall facing Westgate! It was safely returned to the walkway. In the face of adversity he has overcome all the odds. No one knows why he was so far behind his sisters. He was so small he couldn't be ringed when his siblings were. Like many things in the natural world it will remain a mystery! The camera is now switched off at Louth. Loch of The Lowes Ospreys The two Loch of Lowes osprey chicks are huge and the adult female has to roost at night on a branch on the edge of the nest as there is no room left for her. Some of the fish being brought in by the diligent male are huge. Their favourite appears to be trout. https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/watch-wildlife-online/loch-of-the-lowes-webcam/ Len Pick Trust Owl-box Camera More mystery at Bourne with the ongoing saga of the Len Pick barn owls. Readers will remember we have two healthy chicks, two unhatched eggs and a stock dove egg which rolled across the nest chamber and was adopted by the female barn owl! More than ten days have passed since the second chick hatched so it looks as though the remaining two barn owl eggs are not viable. As for the stock dove egg, who knows? The odds must be heavily against it hatching. There is also a possibility the male isn't bringing in enough prey. On Monday he visited the nest with a mouse at 11pm and wasn't seen again that night. The female eventually left the chicks unguarded for two spells, eventually catching a mouse herself. It is very rare in the barn owl world for mum to leave tiny young, especially as she left them at one point for an hour and four minutes! So we continue to watch with bated breath this ongoing saga. The harvest cannot come soon enough for the owls for there will then be a brief glut of mice. https://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project/ BTO Cuckoo Tracking project - signs of movement south... https://www.bto.org/cuckoos This week's mostly-local news stories: Planting to support butterfly and moth caterpillars - Gardens Illustrated https://www.gardensillustrated.com/garden-advice/planting-butterfly-moth-larvae/ Rauceby: Six weeks of disruption as road is repaired https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66087024 Birthday cards boost for 104-year-old ex-Bletchley Park worker https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66000020 RAF Scampton: Dambusters' dog grave move debated at meeting https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66098422 Dolphins, whales and seals not protected by UK government, report finds https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-66042461 Duncan Baker wants Norfolk beach dog ban to help seals https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-66046567 Humans hundreds of times 'deadlier' than sharks https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-66058976 Trees felled by Plymouth Council can’t be moved after birds nested in trunks https://uk.yahoo.com/news/trees-felled-plymouth-council-t-150139043.html More links in "...and finally ..." at the end of the Bulletin. Thank you to everyone who sent something in. It really helps. Roger old.museum@yahoo.co.uk - note - my best address for emails. Joining Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union If you are a member, please give the LNU a "plug " to others. https://lnu.org/join-the-lnu/ *** Weather News and Forecast *** UK weather: hottest June since records began - Met Office https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-66084543 Weather satellite captures lightning spectacle across Earth https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-66081621 https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#? 9 - 18 July: "After early showers or thunderstorms clear the northeast on Sunday, the start of this period is likely to see unsettled conditions established across the country with scattered showers or longer outbreaks of rain, most frequent towards the west. Showers may be heavy and thundery at times. Often breezy, especially towards the west. Temperatures are expected to be generally near average, perhaps a little above average in any sunny spells. Further into this period, the generally unsettled theme is likely to continue, with rain or showers at times, along with some short lived drier and brighter interludes. Often breezy, with daytime temperatures generally around average, locally a little below. Towards the end of the period, there are signs that conditions may start to become slightly less unsettled. " *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** Average sunspot number in June 2023 hit a 21-year high. Solar Cycle 25 has shot past its predecessor, Solar Cycle 24, and may be on pace to rival some of the stronger cycles of the 20th century. Full story @ https://spaceweather.com/ Euclid: Europe's 'dark explorer' telescope launches https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-66066710 Full Moons 2023 https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/full-moon-calendar July's Night Sky: https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/blog/astronomy/night-sky-highlights-july-2023 Space and astronomy highlights in 2023 from The Royal Observatory https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/space-astronomy-highlights-2023 Aurora Watch - when Northern Lights might be seen in the UK: https://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/ Stellarium - open source and very useful https://stellarium.org/ “Seal and Birdwatching Cruises into The Wash” Jeremy Eyeons writes: The South Lincs RSPB Group programme of : “Seal and Birdwatching Cruises into The Wash”. For 2023 twelve cruises have been scheduled to take place, aboard “The Boston Belle”, at various sailing times, ending on 23rd October. All cruises start and end at Boston Marina, last for about five hours, and on average approximately 60 bird species are seen on each trip. Full details at: www.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire All cruises are by advance ticket only, which, once again, can be obtained from Blackfriars Arts Centre in Boston [01205-363108}, or online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/blackfriars Ticket prices for RSPB members are £22 (adult) and £10 (child under 16). Non-RSPB members £25 and £11-50. Any queries please contact Blackfriars (as above) or email Jeremy Eyeons: jerry200433@hotmail.com *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Area Groups webpage *** Please let me have your "plugs" for coming events. https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/area-groups STAYING SAFE Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. Heat-health Alert service https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/seasonal-advice/heat-health-alert-service Bird flu updates: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bird-flu-avian-influenza-latest-situation-in-england Lyme Disease reminder https://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/zoonoses-data-sheets/lyme-disease.pdf Road works and hold-ups https://roadworks.org/ Met Office Severe Warnings https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings Met Office Severe Weather E-mail Service - sign up. http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/guide-to-emails EasyTide http://easytide.ukho.gov.uk/EasyTide/EasyTide/index.aspx Environment Agency Flood Warnings - Lincolnshire https://flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/warnings?location=lincolnshire Environment Agency Flood Information/Floodline - sign up. https://www.gov.uk/sign-up-for-flood-warnings ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2. WILDLIFE HIGHLIGHTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Bird News from Rare Bird Alert *** Rare Bird Alert has kindly given permission to reproduce their pager reports. A big thank you from us all. Readers interested in a pager - have a look at the RBA website: http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/ For RBA's excellent articles: https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/RealData/Articles.asp 27/6 6+ Black-winged Stilts, 2+young, 3 Spoonbills, Spotted Redshank, Frampton Marsh 17 Spoonbills at Jackson's Marsh, Gibraltar Point Osprey flew west over Manby Flashes, Manby 28/6 11 Black-winged Stilts, 8 young, Spotted Redshank, 6 Spoonbills, Frampton Marsh Quail male singing last night on saltmarsh at south end, Gibraltar Point 29/6 6 Black-winged Stilts, 2 + young, Wood Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, 5 Spoonbills, Frampton Marsh 10 Spoonbills on Tennyson's Sands. Gibraltar Point Wood Sandpiper at Manby Flashes Wood Sandpiper, Huttoft Bank Pit Little Swift by path NW of prospect hide, 8am-8.05am but no further sign since 8/17am, Alkborough Flats 30/6 5 Spoonbills at reedbed, Frampton Marsh Wood Sandpiper reported, Huttoft Bank 1/7 5 Black-winged Stilts (fem + 4 young), 7 Spoonbills, 4 Spotted Redshanks, Frampton Marsh 3 Spotted Redshanks, Gibraltar Point 2/7 6+ Black-winged Stilts (2 + 4 young) 9 Spoonbills, Frampton Marsh Wood Sandpiper at Tennyson's Sands, 6 Spotted Redshanks, Gibraltar Point Ring-necked Duck reported, Boultham Mere 3/7 3 Wood Sandpipers, Gibraltar Point 4/7 9 Spoonbills on Reedbed from visitor centre, 9 Black-winged Stilts, 4 ads + 5 young, on North Scrape, 9 Spotted Redshanks, Red-necked Phalarope on Middle Scrape, Little Gull, Frampton Marsh 5/7 3 Spoonbills, Red-necked Phalarope, 9 Black-winged Stilts, 4 ad + 5 young, Frampton Marsh ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. British Bugs (Hemiptera) - online identification https://www.britishbugs.org.uk/index.html Mike's Insect Keys: illustrated identification aids for insects https://sites.google.com/view/mikes-insect-keys/ Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog: http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ Lincs Bird Club: https://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk/site/index.php/sightings/latest-news Butterfly Conservation - Lincolnshire Branch: https://butterfly-conservation.org/in-your-area/lincolnshire-branch/ Which moth species might be on the wing tonight in your area? https://butterfly-conservation.org/moths/whats-flying-tonight Atlas of the terrestrial and semi-aquatic Mammals of Lincolnshire: https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/mammalatlas.pdf VC54 North Lincolnshire Plant List - LNU Paul Kirby's list of all the vascular plant & stonewort taxa with records on the MapMate botanical database for VC54, North Lincolnshire, at the end of January 2017. Download this on: https://lnu.org/specialists/vascular-plants/ Record Pool - an easy way to record your amphibian and reptile species records. https://www.recordpool.org.uk/index.php ROAD KILLS? PLEASE LET US KNOW. Every drive is a transect! Hedgehogs? Badgers? Otters? Reports welcome. *** 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 Hummingbird Hawk Moth working lavender in garden: 26/6 at 16.00hrs and 27/6 at 14.30hrs Bat signals at 23.45hrs on 29/6/2023 - over garden. 21kHz [Noctule?] and 40kHz [Nathusius' Pipistrelle?] 30/6 Lepisma saccharina [silverfish] in kitchen! https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/invertebrates/other-insects/silverfish 1/7 Red Kite scrutinising garden, quite low, for several minutes. 13.20hrs. Hirundines very agitated! 4/7 at 2.20am - no bats detected. BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 23rd June Phil & Mary Porter While we were sitting on the lawn with a cup of tea each under the shade of a large cherry tree, a Kestrel dropped steeply into a flower-bed about 10 meters away, but left immediately without a catch. Later Mary spotted a Hummingbird Hawk-moth but it left straight away, despite looking as if it might feed at evergreen Honeysuckle, and we didn’t see it again. She also came across a new brood of several Wrens just out of the nest. Our ornamental tree Gledits ia ‘Sunburst’ has always suffered from galls on its youngest leaves caused by the midge Dasineura gleditchiae (why the spelling anomaly, I have no idea). These do spoil the look of the tree, and could easily be pruned out, but as the maggots increase in size, the blue tits in the garden have learned that they are worth seeking out. Soon, the tree will have several blue tits dangling on the tips the slender new twigs like Christmas decorations while they rip at the galls to get their meal, a case of adaptability in using an exotic food source. The midge was introduced from central North America along with the tree. 26th June Mary had a pleasant surprise when she glanced up to see a male Banded Demoiselle sitting on a leaf about four feet away through the kitchen window. A Robin was feeding at least one youngster and the family of Wrens was still going strong. 27th June A blackcap was singing on the edge of the garden. BOSTON June/July 2023 Roy Pearson We have had a number of recent cases where a local Sparrowhawk is killing a number of birds (usually Starlings) in the garden. This is particularly noticed in the bird often colliding with the kitchen window with loud bangs and leaving marks before flying off with the prey, otherwise without hearing the collision we would not know about it. To work out why this should be is quite beyond me. CARLTON LE MOORLAND Carlton le Moorland SK909581 Jeremy Hutchinson 4/7/23 Where have the Swifts gone? On 30th June I saw a dozen or so (the most I have seen here at once this year) hunting over the south end of the village, but I have hardly seen one since. I can only presume that the cool, windy weather might have something to do with it. Similar situation in Bassingham: has this been noticed elsewhere? We've recently been visited by a pair of Hedgehogs (the only pair seen for some time). 2/7/23 Painted Lady feeding on Creeping Thistle flowers (first sighting this year. 17/6/23 Pair of Hummingbird Hawk Moths feeding on Pink Valerian, not seen since. Occasional sightings of Small(?) Skippers, a few Meadow Browns and the odd Comma. FAR INGS Angela Buckle Far Ings. 2nd July 2023. Melilot, Spear thistle, Water figwort, Water mint, Great willow herb, Agrimony, Sea plantain, Hop trefoil, Ladies bedstraw, Red bartsia, Musk mallow, Small scabious, Bristly oxtongue, Hedge bedstraw, St john's-wort, Yellow-wort, Betony, Crown vetch, Agrimony, Tufted vetch, Narrow leaved ragwort, Blue water speedwell, Banded demoiselle. SEDGE HOLE CLOSE LWT Nature Reserve Steve Hiner 22/06/23 Blackbird x 1 Chiffchaff x 1 Dunnock x 1 Goldfinch x 4 Greenfinch x 1 Jackdaw x 4 Magpie x 2 Robin x 1 Skylark x 1 Song Thrush x 1 Swallow x 6 Swift x 1 Wood Pigeon x 4 Yellowhammer x 1 Pygmy Shrew x 1 Meadow Brown x 39 Large Skipper x 1 Chimney Sweeper x 1 Silver Y x 1 Ladies Bedstraw in flower 29/06/23 Blackbird x 1 Blue Tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 1 Chiffchaff x 1 Jackdaw x 4 Pied Wagtail x 1 Robin x 1 Skylark x 1 Swallow x 12 Swift x 4 Wood Pigeon x 2 Wren x 1 Yellowhammer x 1 Green-veined White x 9 Meadow Brown x 39 Ringlet x 18 Small White x 21 Banded Demoiselle x 1 male THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 21/06/23 Blackbird x 2 Blue Tit x 2 Chaffinch x 1 Common Buzzard x 1 Goldfinch x 6 Greenfinch x 1 Greylag Goose x 17 Owston Ferry Warping Drain Grey Partridge x 2 Jackdaw x 4 Magpie x 2 Mallard x 1 Pied Wagtail x 1 Robin x 1 Skylark x 2 Stock Dove x 1 on nest Swallow x 7 Wod Pigeon x 6 Yellowhammer x 1 Yellow Wagtail x 1 Meadow Brown x 3 Yellow Shell x 1 Azure Damselfly x 2 Southern Hawker x 1 27/06/23 Barn Owl x 1 07:30hrs Blackbird x 2 Blue Tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 1 Chaffinch x 1 Common Buzzard x 1 Goldfinch x 4 Jackdaw x 2 Kestrel x 1 Robin x 4 fledged young in barn Skylark x 1 Stock Dove x 1 Tree Sparrow x 5 Willow Warbler x 1 Wood Pigeon x 6 Yellowhammer x 1 Common Pipistrelle x 2 22:00hrs (45hz) Green-veined White x 2 Red Admiral x 1 Small White x 1 Brimstone Moth x 1 Mullein caterpillar x 4 on Figwort Yellow Shell x 1 Azure Damselfly x 2 28/06/23 Green-veined White x 28 Meadow Brown x 37 Red Admiral x 3 Small Tortoiseshell x 1 Small White x 17 Brimstone Moth x 2 Mullein Catterpillar x 4 on Figwort Setaceous Hebrew Character x 2 Swallow-tailed Moth x 1 White Plume Moth x 1 29/06/23 Green-veined White x 18 Meadow Brown x 44 Red Admiral x 3 Ringlet x 8 Small Tortoiseshell x 1 Small White x 39 Currant Clearwing x 1 Silver Y x 2 Yellow Shell x 1 Emerald Damselfly x 1 Common Blue Damselfly x 2 02/07/23 Barn Owl x 1 20:15hrs Blackbird x 2 Blue Tit x 1 Carrion Crow x 1 Chaffinch x 1 adult and at least 3 fledged young Dunnock x 1 Goldfinch x 4 Grey Partridge x 2 Kestrel x 1 Pied Wagtail x 2 Robin x 1 adult with at least 3 fledged young in the barn Skylark x 2 Swallow x 13 including 1 sat on nest in stables Swift x 9 Tree Sparrow x 1 feeding second brood in nest box Wood Pigeon x 6 Common Pipistrelle x 1 22:30hrs (45hz) WILLINGHAM WOODS Angela Buckle Willingham woods, 29th June 2023. Self heal, Nipplewort, Water pepper, Hedge bindweed, Common ragwort, Goats beard, Meadow sweet, Corn spurrey, Birds foot, Parsley piert, Greater plantain, Foxglove, Field pansy,Honeysuckle, Hedge woundwort, Rough chervil, Enchanters nightshade, Wood dock, Spearthistle, Hop trefoil, Butterflies. Speckled wood, Small skipper. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 27th June – 4th July 2023 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Matt Blissett, Ruth Taylor, Owen Beaumont, Cliff Morrison and Dean Nicholson. Thank you to all other contributors. Daily News and Wildlife Sightings Note: Rainfall for June 26.3mm (1.04 inches) at Sea View and the majority of this was recorded on the 18th with 20.4mm. 280623 - 58 lapwing and 1 avocet on Paradise Lagoon. 55 Common Scoter on the sea and 50 sandwich tern offshore from Brickyard Lane. 290623 - Red-veined darter on the easy access trail adjacent to Rimac scrape. 3 ginger crowned juvenile marsh harriers over Rimac reedbed. A busy butterfly transect starting in late morning sun - 717 recorded inc 351 skipper sp, 3 gatekeeper, 282 Meadow brown, 41 ringlet, 33 small heath. 300623 - 55 black-tailed godwit, 72 lapwing and 8 redshank on Paradise Lagoon. 010723 - Strong and drying south-westerlies all day. A gust of 43.3mph recorded near Rimac in the afternoon. With the dry weather continuing open water areas now drying up. Sea View washlands are now devoid of open water apart from just a few small areas but nothing significant. Twelve lapwing there at rest in the area. In excess of 1000 swift flew south over Mablethorpe North End by mid- morning. Whimbrel flew south over Churchill Lane. Red-veined darter still on Rimac trail. 020723 - Silver-washed fritillary seen near Churchill Lane. Redstart in the dunes just north of Brickyard Lane. 030723 - 3 Mediterranean gull on the beach at Mablethorpe North End. 3 curlew flew south and a summer plumage red-throated diver on the sea. Red-veined darter looking worn, but still on the trail at Rimac. Tawny owl flying around Sea View during daylight hours. 040723 - Hedge brown and comma on the wing near Sea View. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Forestry Commission visitor advice: https://www.forestryengland.uk/article/coronavirus-visitor-guide The history of the Lincolnshire Limewoods: https://www.forestryjournal.co.uk/features/19111877.lincolnshire-limewoods/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch: https://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html Chambers Farm Wood - Butterfly Garden - gardening dates and times: Next July date: 18th. https://butterfly-conservation.org/in-your-area/lincolnshire-branch/chambers-farm-wood-butterfly-garden Lincolnshire Dormouse Group You can get in touch via lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com Gemma Watkinson writes: Here are the dates for the summer nest box checks. As always, we meet at 9.30am in the Chambers Farm Woods car park, by the wood centre/volunteer hut. Anyone interested can get in touch at lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com for more information. Sunday 23 July Saturday 19th August Sunday 17th September Saturday 21 October ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The NNR includes the following sites: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chambers Farm Woods (comprises Ivy Wood; Little and Great Scrubbs Woods; Minting Wood; Hatton Wood, Hatton Plantation and Minting Park; and also three areas of grassland: Little Scrubbs Meadow and extension), Small Meadow and Big Meadow. Since all have their own management plans, please give the actual location when reporting). College Wood; Cocklode & Great West Woods; Hardy Gang Wood; Newball Wood; Rand Wood; Scotgrove Wood; Southrey Wood and Wickenby Wood. Many of these include both areas of ancient woodland or important grassland. Many are also designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Records which provide a six-figure grid reference are of particular value to the Forestry Commission. Other woods included in the NNR but without public access: Stainfield Wood; Stainton & Fulnetby Woods (access by public bridle way only). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. OTHER RESERVE REPORTS AND HIGHLIGHTS. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Links to "Other Reserves" are welcome. South Humber Heritage Trail, Alkborough Flats - LWT leaflet - downloadable https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/sites/default/files/2018-04/south_humber_heritage_trail_alkborough.pdf Monks Wood Ashing Lane Nature Reserve https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/monks-wood-ashing-lane-nature-reserve/ Tattershall Carrs https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/tattershall-carrs/ Mareham Pastures Local Nature Reserve https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/mareham-pastures-local-nature-reserve/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7. SENDING IN BULLETIN REPORTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The purpose of the Bulletin is to encourage biological recording in Lincolnshire. We aim to increase the number of people reporting observations to Recorders or via i-record. https://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/ The Bulletin is a FREE service. We ask you to provide reports, questions, news or relevant articles from time to time. Descriptive pieces are welcome. You don't have to stick to lists! Please help us to help you. When sending in reports please follow this layout to save re-editing: Place Name: IN CAPITALS with Grid Reference if you have it. Your Name: Real names please, not aliases. Put it in each time, for each location Date: Species list [Alphabetical?] & numbers [and observations?] e.g. Blackbird - 24 [And please, no home-grown abbreviations. Species Names in full.] Bulletin mailing times may vary. It usually goes out on Wednesdays/ Thursdays in time for the weekend. Please e-mail in contributions as early as possible, to: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8. CONTACTS AND USEFUL WEBSITES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CONTACTS LIST Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union LNU Website: http://lnu.org/ LNU Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist? LNU Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lincsnaturalists/ LNU e-mail: info@lnu.org Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust: https://twitter.com/LincsWildlife Lincs Bird Club: https://twitter.com/Lincsbirding LBC County Bird Recorder recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk The Sir Joseph Banks Society: https://twitter.com/sirjosephbanks Lincolnshire Bat Group: http://www.lincsbatgroup.co.uk/ Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch: https://twitter.com/BC_Lincolnshire Lincsbirders: https://twitter.com/lincsbirders Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project: https://lincolnshirechalkstreams.org/events/ South Lincolnshire Flora Group: https://bsbi.org/south-lincolnshire-v-c-53 The Wolds Fungi Group: Contact Paul Nichol via email: pnichol20@gmail.com Lincolnshire Dormouse Group: Contact: lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com FIGHTING WILDLIFE CRIME Wildlife Crime https://www.lincs.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/wc/wildlife-crime/ SPECIES IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. LNU Recorders and Specialists: https://lnu.org/specialists/ Downloads of LNU books: https://lnu.org/publications/books/ Recording with "irecord": https://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/ irecord is recommended by the LNU as an appropriate platform for on-line recording. Sawflies, Bees, Wasps and Ants Recorder Dr. David Sheppard Willing to examine specimens or check photos. Bear in mind only a relative few of the 300+ species in the county are identifiable using photos. Email: d.a.sheppard@btinternet.com Lincolnshire Mammals Chris Manning, Email: Chris.LincsDeer@gmail.com Spiders, Pseudoscorpions, Harvestmen Imogen Wilde Regional Co-ordinator (RC) and Mentor for Lincolnshire for the British Arachnological Society (BAS). Email: Imogen@imogenwilde.co.uk Amphibians and Reptiles Ashley Butterfield The Lincolnshire ARG (Amphibian & Reptile Group) Email: LearningOutdoors@btinternet.com Local Bat Helpline Grounded bats, bat problems, advice and information. Contact Annette Faulkner on 01775 766286 Email: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com Confidential Bat Records You may send confidential bat records direct to Annette Faulkner on: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com Slug ID Help Chris du Feu will help with slug identification. Tel: 01383 669 124 Email: chris.r.dufeu@gmail.com Non-Marine Molluscs and other Freshwater Invertebrates Alex Pickwell is the LNU Recorder for Non-marine Molluscs Email: mrapickwell@gmail.com When asking for help: Please give the the very best information you can provide. If you are not sure, ask what is needed from you to confirm identification. Photographs are helpful but not every species can be identified from a photograph. When asked for further details, get back to them promptly. Don't forget a thank you for the help. That is always welcomed. USEFUL WILDLIFE LINKS Please copy and paste URLs if necessary. Lincs Environmental Records Centre: http://www.glnp.org.uk/ Natural England: http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ NHBS Natural history equipment or books. https://www.nhbs.com/ NHM Final report on LoveLincsPlants: https://lnu.org/lincolnshire-plants-past-and-future/ Collections Dataset - LNU "historic specimens": http://data.nhm.ac.uk/dataset/lincs-plants The Flora of Lincolnshire by Joan Gibbons: downloadable LNU book For the Geologists... Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. Suggestions for Geology news, events or new useful links always welcome. Lincolnshire Geodiversity Group: https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/discovering/geology-1 Geology - the Collection: https://www.thecollectionmuseum.com/explore/geology Geology of the Lincolnshire Wolds: https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/special-features/geology The Geology of Lincolnshire: downloadable LNU book ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9. NOTES ABOUT THESE WILDLIFE REPORTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We do our best to ensure accuracy in our reporting. However, records are sent in by a variety of reporters; from complete beginners to professionals. They may vary in reliability and occasionally may be difficult or impossible to verify. If further information is needed please contact: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk Bulletins are sent to Recorders at Lincolnshire Environmental Records Centre [GNLP] , Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union and Lincolnshire Bird Club. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10. BULLETIN PUBLICITY POLICY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When sending in reports, e.g. unusual plants, please report any sensitive news directly to recorders. Not the Bulletin. We don't want to spoil things with untimely or unwise publicity. Thank you. Please respect the interests of wildlife and site owners if you report on national networks. Interest in wildlife is not a licence to act irresponsibly or thoughtlessly to landowners, who may well be partners in important conservation work. [Remember: Views expressed in the Bulletin do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of the LNU or associated organisations. In particular this applies to such agencies, especially charities, taking a political stance.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 11. LNU EVENTS DIARY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** LNU Events *** We will post any changes to LNU events in the Bulletin; the LNU Twitter feed; LNU Facebook page and LNU meetings webpage. Please refer to the LNU website for details of any Zoom arrangements for watching online. LNU Meetings: https://lnu.org/meetings/ Summer programme - Field Meetings Saturday 15th July Wilder Doddington (all day) LLP collecting Saturday 12th August Boothby Wildlands (all day) collecting NOTE CHANGE OF DATE FROM 19th Saturday 9th September Wolla Bank Pit, Chapel Pit & Chapel Six Marshes LWT Reserves (all day) (LLP collecting?) Sunday 15th October Langholme Wood and Haxey Turbary LWT Reserves Whisby Natural History Workshops Arranged in partnership by the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust (Lincoln Area Group) and the Lincolnshire Naturalists Union. At Whisby Nature Park near Lincoln, in the Lafarge Education Building from 13.00 pm until 4.30 pm. Free of charge. Refreshments included. Prior booking essential via Richard Davidson on 01522 525725 or Email rel.davidson@btinternet.com. Find out more about the various subjects from our local experts. Places are limited. Pond Dipping for Adults – Sam Reast 26th of August Harvestmen – Imogen Wilde 7th of October Owl & Other Bird Pellets – Garry Steele 28th of October Bryophytes – Steven Heathcote 4th of November ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ...AND FINALLY... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails Last Week *** mikebpark jeremy.scottbolton ...and finally... Bee swarm moved from bin of Glasgow city centre bar https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-66048694 Honey bees nested in our chimney for over a year https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-65857118 Flu hits breeding rate of UK's largest bird of prey https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-66051875 Stowaway African huntsman spider found in Edinburgh suitcase https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-66043577 Climate change: Deforestation surges despite pledges https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-66013854 ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/