======================================== || || 19th 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Editor writes: Earlier hot weather has become more unsettled with sunny spells and showers. This change may well be reflected in your observations. Please let us have your reports for next week's Bulletin. Bats for example. We have had remarkably few observations this year. LNU Meetings. Scroll to full details in section 11 below. Or click: https://lnu.org/meetings/ Next Meeting: Saturday 12th August Boothby Wildlands (all day) collecting https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/2023-08-15-boothby-wildlands-rewilding-project-saturday-19th-august-all-day/ Workshops: "Pond Dipping for Adults " with Sam Reast, 25th August. Booking essential. Places are in demand. https://lnu.org/meetings/workshops/ Exhibition at Joseph Banks Centre Horncastle Horse Fair.. Runs 6th July - 15th September. https://horncastlejbc.info/events/ Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service events https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/events/ Helen Gamble writes: 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 Suggestions for reports 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/ Mini Wetlands... How a mini-wetland revolution could help UK wildlife beat the heat and boost urban biodiversity https://www.wcl.org.uk/mini-wetland-revolution-could-help-uk-wildlife-beat-the-heat.asp The Bugs Matter 2023 survey season - 1 June - 31 August. https://www.buglife.org.uk/get-involved/surveys/bugs-matter/ BWARS' Hornet survey - have you 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 Bob Sheppard sent in the following updates:.. Loch of The Lowes Ospreys Both osprey chicks have now fledged from their nest. Young female osprey PF4 took to the skies for her maiden flight around the loch on Sunday 9 July at 10:07am. Taking a courageous leap from her large nest she landed back safely on it a few minutes later. The second chick, PF5 spent a great deal of time squealing, flapping, helicop- tering and jumping about from the nest to a perch and back again, before flying off at 9:47am on Thursday 13 July. https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/watch-wildlife-online/loch-of-the-lowes-webcam/ The peregrine chicks at St James' Church, Louth have all fledged. No more reports now from this site until next spring. The birds can be seen high up on the church by visitors with binoculars. Len Pick Trust Owl-box Camera The two barn owl chicks at Bourne's Len Pick Trust tower are thriving despite the male doing very little provisioning of the nest. The female is very diligent and often spends two or three hours at night hunting to feed her family. I suspect the male has another female nearby which would explain his general absence from the tower. Most nights he turns up once, usually with a mouse. He then mates with the female! The chicks are now more than three weeks old. 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: King Charles to mark 80th anniversary of Dambusters raids https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-66238756 Firefighters tackle blaze at former hotel in Barton https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-66242088 Amateur photographer snaps pink grasshopper in Lincoln https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66223183 Lincolnshire Police warn on bad driving as tourists flock to county https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66202011 Large solar farm planned near Boston in Lincolnshire set for approval https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66224583 Wild pig attacks dog causing serious injuries in Norfolk https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-66200666 Grantham's Ross Edgely makes second attempt at longest non-stop lake swim https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66190832 Airbase asylum plans: High Court gives permission to councils' challenge https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-66200404 Climate change plan will leave UK unprepared, advisers warn https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-66148239 The flower mix that wild bees really need https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/4d3aa1bb2d234adb949e5f2ddc1625ed 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 *** World records hottest day for third time in a week https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-66120297 https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#? 23 July - 1 Aug 2023 "Generally unsettled conditions are expected for much of this period, as low pressure, initially centred close to the UK, drifts to the northeast with time. The first couple of days are likely to see outbreaks of rain or showers, some heavy and thundery, along with windy conditions for the time of year. As the low clears to the northeast and with high pressure expected to lay to the southwest of the UK, it is likely that the UK will often sit a in a north or northwesterly airstream for the remainder of July. Further showers or perhaps longer spells of rain are likely at times, often accompanied by a brisk breeze, and with temperatures generally close to or a little below average." *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** James Webb telescope image dazzles on science birthday https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-66179323 Full Moons 2023 - There will be 2 Full moons in August! Next one: 1 August - Sturgeon Moon - supermoon 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 Perseid Meteors peak 12-13 August https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/perseid-meteor-shower-guide-uk-when-where-to-see 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/ *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Area Groups webpage *** Please let me have your "plugs" for coming events. https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/area-groups *** 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 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 11/7 10 Spoonbills, Frampton Marsh 1 Black-winged Stilt near old car park, Wood Sandpiper, Little Gull, Gibraltar Point 12/7 Wood Sandpiper from Marshland Hide, Garganey, Frampton Marsh Wood Sandpiper, Gibraltar Point Quail male singing at RAF Digby, SSE on Lincoln 13/7 8 Black-winged Stilts, 4 ads and 4 young, 2 Spoonbills on Reedbed, Frampton Marsh 5 Spoonbills opposite beach car park on Tennyson's Sands, Redwing, Gibraltar Point 14/7 1 Black-winged Stilt, Spotted Redshank, 2 Spoonbills, 1s Little Gull, Frampton Marsh Wood Sandpiper opposite beach car park on Tennyson's Sands, 5 Spotted Redshanks, 9 Spoonbills, Gibraltar Point 3 Quails, all males, singing at Red Hill, Stenigot Wood Sandpiper [heard only], Teal Lake, Whisby Nature Park 15/7 10 black-winged Stilts, 4 ads + young, 11 Spoonbills and Spotted Redshank on Reedbed, Little Stint, Frampton Marsh Wood Sandpiper opposite beach car park on Tennyson's Sands, Gibraltar Point 16/7 10 black-winged Stilts, 4 ads + 6 young, 12 Spoonbills, 5 Spotted Redshanks, American Wigeon ecl drk and Little Stint from East Hide, Frampton Marsh 10.813 Swifts flew south, Gibraltar Point Possible Baltic Gull , nominate form "fuscus" on beach between outfalls, 2 2s Caspian Gulls, Mablethorpe Probable Baltic Gull , nominate form "fuscus" at Teal Lake, Whisby Nature Park. then flew SW 17/7 13 Spoonbills, 11 Black-winged Stilts, 5 ads 2 juvs, 4 young, young on North Scrape, American Wigeon ecl drk from East Hide, Frampton Marsh Little Gull on lagoons, Tree Pipit flew south over, Spotted Redshank, Gibraltar Point Possible Baltic Gull, nominate form "fuscus" on beach between outfalls, 2 Caspian Gulls, Mablethorpe Caspian Gull, Saltfleetby NNR 17 Spoonbills, Alkborough Flats 18/7 10 Black-winged Stilts, 2 ads, 2 juvs and 4 young, 1 Spotted Redshank, 1 Spoonbill, Wood Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh 2 Wood Sandpipers both juvs, Baston + Langtoft Pits 4 Spoonbills, Gibraltar Point Garganey, Teal Lake, Whisby Nature Park ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 13/7/2023 20+ swifts hunting over us over at 2030hrs. 14 , 16 and 19/7/2023 Hummingbird Hawk moth on lavender BARDNEY GARDEN Grid ref TF 117 701 Mary and Phil Porter From Friday 14th July to Tuesday 18th July 2023 Butterfly numbers have increased but, sadly no peacock butterflies and only one small tortoiseshell. Many red admirals, in excess of 20, some on buddleia, but mostly on marjoram. One or two commas, a holly blue, about 10 gatekeepers, x1 meadow brown and x2+ ringlets. Many small grasshoppers in the long grass. A common hawker dragonfly patrols the garden most days. A pair of blue damselflies were mating by the pond, but I didn’t get a good view to confirm which species. We were introduced to a new species to the garden by Richard Davidson, who quickly spotted a green mesh web spider, Nigma walckenaeri , on our evergreen honeysuckle. It’s apparently new to the UK since the 1990’s. Another new species was kite-tailed robberfly, which we found on a window inside the house. On the evening of 18th July, there was a hummingbird hawkmoth working the pink honeysuckle. BOSTON My Garden TF 338441 Tracey Lenton 12/07/2023 Evening look around the garden Candy striped spider, very well camouflaged on white musk mallow Hoverflies feeding on thistle and white bryony Silver Y moths x 2 on valerian 13/07/2023 7 am Partner saw hedgehog out and about in the daylight, seemed ok and then observed it with leaves in its mouth ?nesting or bedding 14/07/2023 Raining all day. Saw a froglet in the grass around the pond 21:51 Hedgehog eating food left out. Still a regular visitor. 22:15 Went out to check if hedgehog still around to hear much snuffling, another had arrived and one circling around the other in mating ritual 15/07/2023 Toadflax brocade caterpillars still evident 16/07/2023 One adult frog Red Admiral x 1 BOSTON My Garden TF 338441 Tracey Lenton 18/07/2023 Between 9 and 10 pm Much snuffling going on in my back garden, eventually able to see 2 hedgehogs amongst the undergrowth in addition to my regular visitor who was at the food bowl. CHAMBERS FARM WOOD Grid ref TF158743 Limewoods Watch Group – Mary Porter Saturday 15th July 2023 With high winds and thunderstorms forecast we stuck to the main picnic area by the main car park and the Butterfly Garden, managed by Butterfly Conservation volunteers. We had warm, sunny intervals and a very light scattering of rain. As the picnic area is unkempt, it provided a great habitat for invertebrates. My expertise is limited, so, forgive me for descriptions and types rather than species! Hoverflies (several species), wasps (several species), butterflies: meadow brown, ringlet, white, gatekeeper, small skipper, red admirals. Silver Y moth, mating weevils, hunting spiders with egg sacs, male bush cricket, female green cricket, x1 possible conehead (“It has very kind eyes”, said a child), possible fire beetle, many 7 spot ladybirds, black shield bug with orange spots, a pair of mating weevils, x2 snails, one banded. Shield bug nymph on nettle. As we only had three children, we did a careful dip of the pond and found many dragonfly nymphs, all various sizes, all looked like chasers, and several newt tadpoles, as well as small water beetles FAR INGS Angela Buckle 16th July 2023. Far Ings. Hedge bindweed, Lesser burdock, Mugwort, Knot grass, Black nightshade, Canadian golden rod, Day lily, Fennel, Elecampane, Green shieldbug. RED HILL Angela Buckle Flowers. 13th July, 2023 Red Hill. Field scabious, Kidney vetch, Betony, Field bindweed, Greater knapweed, Meadow cranesbill, Musk mallow, Common toadflax, Harebell, Ladies bedstraw, Rest harrow, Agrimony, Marjoram, Small scabious, Goats beard, Tufted vetch, Yellow-wort, Yarrow, Common lizard. Marbled white butterfly, Small copper, Meadow brown, Small skipper, Six spot burnet. SEDGE HOLE CLOSE LWT Nature Reserve Steve Hiner 14/07/23 Blackbird x 1 Blue Tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 1 Chiffchaff x 1 Dunnock x 1 Jackdaw x 2 Robin x 1 Swallow x 15 Wood Pigeon x 4 Gatekeeper x 12 Green-veined White x 4 Meadow Brown x 8 Ringlet x 9 Small White x 6 Small Magpie Moth x 1 SOUTHREY RIVERBANK Grid ref TF 143 661 Mary and Phil Porter Tuesday 18th July 2023 The long stand of buddleia on one side of the path had very few visitors last year, but we found at least x10 red admirals, (many on teasel) some gatekeepers in quite good numbers, x1 painted lady, x1 small tortoiseshell, as well as MANY small whites, at least 100+ which were particularly on marjoram. Birds heard included a yellowhammer on the opposite bank, a sedge warbler, wrens and song thrush. THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 05/07/23 Barn Owl x 1 21:30hrs Blackbird x 2 Blue Tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 2 Goldfinch x 7 Kestrel x 1 Pied Wagtail x 1 adult and 2 fledged young Robin x 1 Stock Dove x 1 Sand Martin x 20+ with Swallows and Swifts Swallow x 30+ in mixed noisy flock over paddocks Swift x 18 with Swallows and Sand Martins Tree Sparrow x 1 feeding second brood in stables nest box Willow Warbler x 1 Wood Pigeon x 4 Comma x 1 Green-veined White x 40 Meadow Brown x 19 Red Admiral x 4 Ringlet x 4 Small Tortoiseshell x 2 Small White x 26 Moths around security light; Clouded Border x 1 Common Footman x 1 Dark Arches x 1 Ghost Moth x 1 female Light Emerald x 1 Yellow-tail x 1 06/07/23 Common Tern x 1 Owston Ferry Warping Drain 10/07/23 Barn Owl x 1 07:45 hrs Blackbird x 1 Carrion Crow x 1 Chaffinch x 2 Common Buzzard x 2 Dunnock x 1 Goldfinch x 6 Great Tit x 1 feeding young in nest box Kestrel x 1 Pied Wagtail x 1 Robin x 1 Skylark x 2 Stock Dove x 1 Swallow x 12 + 5 fledged young roosting in stables Swift x 35 Tree Sparrow x 1 Wood Pigeon x 6 Green-veined White x 32 Meadow Brown x 8 Red Admiral x 5 Ringlet x 18 Small Tortoiseshell x 6 Small White x 4 Moths arond security light; Common Footman x 1 Silver Y x 3 Yellow-tail x 1 Brown Hawker x 1 11/07/23 Common Pipistrelle x 1 22:15hrs (45hz) Six-spot Burnet x 1 Yellow shell x 2 12/07/23 Comma x 1 Green-veined White x 8 Meadow Brown x 4 Red Admiral x 8 Ringlet x 13 Small White x 39 13/07/23 Blackbird x 2 Blue Tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 4 Common Buzzard x 1 Dunnock x 1 Goldfinch x 4 Great Tit x 1 + at least 4 fledged young Greenfinch x 3 Jackdaw x 2 Kestrel x 1 Linnet x 2 adults + at least 2 fledged young Magpie x 1 Robin x 1 Swallow x 20 Swift x 32 Tree Sparrow x 2 Willow Warbler x 1 Wood Pigeon x 6 Yellowhammer x 1 Comma x 1 Green-veined White x 21 Meadow Brown x 8 Red Admiral x 2 Ringlet x 16 Small Tortoiseshell x 1 Small White x 28 Moths around security light; Common Footman x 1 Ghost Moth x 1 female Tellow-tail x 2 16/07/23 Barn Owl x 1 22:15hrs All together at the same time on my one Buddleia bush; Comma x 2 Red Admiral x 27 Small Tortoiseshell x 2 17/07/23 Barn Owl x 1 07:30hrs Blackbird x 10+ Blue Tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 1 adult with at least 5 fledged young Goldfinch x 2 Great Tit x 2 adults, 4 fledged young Greenfinch x 1 adult with at least 3 fledged young Linnet x 2 adults with at least 2 fledged young Robin x several adults with at least 9 fledged young around paddocks Skylark x 2 Stock Dove x 1 fledged young in nest box Swallow x 16 Tree Sparrow x 11+ fledged young in my hedgerows Wood Pigeon x 5 Yellowhammer x 1 adult with 3 fledged young Gatekeeper x 14 Green-veined White x 10 Large White x 2 Meadow Brown x 2 Red Admiral x 6 Ringlet x 3 Small Tortoiseshell x 2 Small White x 14 18/07/23 Barn Owl x 1 21:05hrs Roe Deer x 1 Ghost Moth x 1 male Yellow-tail x 1 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. NNRs and NATURE RESERVES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's pages [2021] on Coronavirus, Covid-19 includes details of LWT reserves and other advice and information: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/coronavirus Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog: http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ LWT Reserves List: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/nature-reserves-list RSPB Frampton Marsh: http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE DUNES NNR including DONNA NOOK ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 12th – 18th 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 120723 – A rabbit appeared at Sea View with a stoat hanging on to the back of its neck, it was dead about a minute later. The stoat had a quick drink then lifted up the rabbit and shuffled forwards until out of sight. Amazing to see the power of this ferocious little hunter. 130723 – Turtle dove seen around Rimac. Grasshopper warbler singing Rimac south and little ringed plover on Rimac scrape. Hooded crow seen flying out onto the saltmarsh at Sea View. 2 Manx shearwater flew south over the sea in the morning, 73 Sandwich tern (2 juveniles) and 6 common tern flew north. 120 common scoter, 8 guillemot and a red-throated diver on the sea. Spotted redshank flew north, 2 whimbrel flew south and 2 golden plover landed on the beach. 2 male red-veined darters patrolling over Rimac scrape. 1173 individual butterflies of 16 species recorded during a butterfly transect of Rimac. 130723 – 6 Manx shearwater flew north over the sea in the evening. 140723 – Wood sandpiper flew south along the tide line in the morning. 6 sand martin feeding on insects over the beach. 160723 – 1500 swift flew south throughout the day, interestingly far fewer than were recorded at sites to the north and south. 18 whimbrel flew west and another 10 flew south early evening. 3 Manx shearwater and 2 Arctic tern flew north over the sea. 150 common scoter, razorbill, 2 guillemot and 3 red-throated diver on the sea. Going south over the sea in the morning were: curlew 4, whimbrel 3, ringed plover 2, dunlin 59, redshank 22, sanderling 16, black-tailed godwit 2, golden plover 25, oystercatcher 11, knot 55, guillemot 11, razorbill 2, Sandwich tern 10, common tern 2, lesser black-backed gull 15, gannet 300+, Manx shearwater 1, common scoter 35; and north went 15 Sandwich tern, Mediterranean gull and 5 Manx shearwater. 170723 – The first juvenile cuckoo of the year seen between Churchill Lane and Brickyard Lane. Green woodpecker at Sea View. 2 Caspian gull, yellow-legged gull and a Baltic-type gull all seen on the beach just south of the reserve boundary at Mablethorpe. 8 little tern fishing offshore from Rimac early evening, then seen roosting on the outer beach at high tide. A yellow-legged gull also on the beach early evening. Newly emerged female ruddy darter dragonfly basking in the sun at Sea View. 180723 – Green woodpecker at Sea View. Willow emerald damselflies seen throughout the week. Butterflies include: small skipper, Essex skipper, large skipper, brown argus, large white, small white, green-veined white, peacock, small tortoiseshell, comma, speckled wood, red admiral, gatekeeper, meadow brown, ringlet and small heath. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 dates: August 1st and 15th 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. Next dates: 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. The Anthropocene: Canadian lake mud 'symbolic of human changes to Earth' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-66132769 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 Boothby Wildlands (Rewilding Project) – Saturday 12th August (all day) NOTE CHANGE OF DATE FROM 19th https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/2023-08-15-boothby-wildlands-rewilding-project-saturday-19th-august-all-day/ 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 Find out more about the various subjects from our local experts. Places are limited. https://lnu.org/meetings/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. 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 *** jeremy.scottbolton ...and finally... Mammal and dinosaur found ‘locked in mortal combat’ from 125m years ago https://uk.yahoo.com/news/mammal-dinosaur-found-locked-mortal-150000384.html Entire pod of 55 whales dies after mass stranding on Lewis https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-66215683 Experts probe one of UK's worst whale strandings https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-66220239 Cromer: Brazen pigeons spotted snooping in peregrine nest https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-66153441 'Alarming and unprecedented' Irish bird flu warning https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cglyrzx8rz7o Project to restore fish population creates a bypass https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-66187833 BBC News: Birds get revenge by using anti-bird spikes in nests https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-66163943 Butterfly count to gauge impact of extreme weather https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-66196541 Country diary: A nesting woodcock is the ultimate acceptance of our wildlife garden https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jul/10/country-diary-a-nesting-woodcock-is-the-ultimate-acceptance-of-our-wildlife-garden Country diary: Summer jobs on the farm are becoming autumn jobs https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jul/13/country-diary-summer-jobs-on-the-farm-are-becoming-autumn-jobs ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/