======================================== || || 26th 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: Thanks to Phil Porter for editing this issue. Thanks also to the 70% of readers who clicked on their LNU Bulletin last week! 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. Have you done your Big Butterfly Count yet? https://bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org/ 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 The Loch of Lowes ospreys have had another successful year. The youngsters are not seen so often on the nest now having explored the loch and found favourite perches. Let's hope they have a successful trip to Africa and return in a couple of years to the UK. We shall resume this blog next year when, hopefully, the adults will arrive back safely to their nest in Perthshire. 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 Last Friday the youngest chick starved to death in the nest and the adult female ate the body the next day! Nothing goes to waste in the natural world. The remaining chick is five weeks old today and looks strong, but the quantity of prey being brought in is very variable. We had hoped for the annual glut of mice as the combines got to work but the inclement weather has delayed that in the Fens. 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 tours Lincolnshire on first visit to county as monarch https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66292690 Skegness climate protesters draw giant postcard to PM on beach https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66250942 Rare Black-winged Kite spotted in Norfolk Broads https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-66242894 Roman settlement found at Healing housing development site https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-66246156 First archaeological dig at Sleaford Castle for 160 years https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66247879 Hare coursers banned from Lincolnshire and dogs seized https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66267299 Sleaford MP demands action to halt spread of solar farms https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66268615 Biscathorpe: Decision still awaited on oil drilling appeal https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66273246 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#? 29 July - 7 Aug 2023 "The conditions for the end of July are expected to remain unsettled, a theme which is likely to continue into early August as well. Widespread showers are probable across the UK throughout the period with northern areas likely to see the heaviest of these, some of which may also turn thundery. More persistent spells of rain may develop as well, especially in western elevated regions, replacing some of the showers. A risk of strong winds and some gales in coastal areas; inland, winds more likely to be light to moderate. Drier interludes with some sunny spells are possible during the period, with a greater likelihood in south-eastern regions as we move into August. Feeling generally cool for the time of year, though perhaps a touch warmer in sheltered areas." *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** Full Moons 2023 - There will be 2 Full moons in August! Next one: 1 August - Sturgeon Moon - a 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 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 18/7 Osprey flew south over, 2 little Stints on Tennyson's Sands, Gibraltar Point 19/7 19 Spoonbills on Reedbed, Frampton Marsh 3 Ruddy Shelducks, 25 Common Scoters, on mudflats, Whitton Island 20/7 Wood Sandpiper juv at Wader Pit, Baston + Langtoft Pits 10 Black-winged Stilts, 4 ads, 2 juvs , 4 young, 18 Spoonbills on Reedbed, Marsh Harrier over Reedbed, Little Stint and Garganey on Middle Scrape, Spotted Redshank, Frampton Marsh 4 Spotted Redshanks and 2 Stints [both ads] on Tennyson's Sands, Gibraltar Point 10 Spoonbills from Prospect Hide, Alkborough Flats 21/7 16 Spoonbills on Reedbed, 10 Black-winged Stilts, 4 ads, 2 juvs, 4 young, Little Stint, Frampton Marsh Little Stint and, Spotted Redshank on lagoons, Gibraltar Point 22/7 16 Spoonbills on Reedbed, 10 Black-winged Stilts, 4 ads, 2 juvs, 4 young, Little Stint, Frampton Marsh 2 Little Stints and, 4 Spotted Redshanks on lagoons, Gibraltar Point 23/7 14 Spoonbills on Reedbed, 10 Black-winged Stilts, 4 ads, 2 juvs, 4 young, Black Tern, 2 Little Stints, Frampton Marsh Roseate Tern, Cut End, River Witham Mouth 24/7 16 Spoonbills, 10 Black-winged Stilts, 4 ads, 2 juvs, 4 young, Black Tern, Little Stint, Frampton Marsh Caspian Gull ad, Novatis Ings, Pyewipe 3 Ruddy Shelduck, Read's Island 25/7 10 Black-winged Stilts, 4 ads, 2 juvs, 4 young, Black Tern, 21 Spoonbills on Reedbed, Little Stint, Frampton Marsh Caspian Gull off Sea View car park, Mablethorpe Caspian Gill on beach outside Butlins, Ingoldmells 26/7 4 Spoonbills and Spotted Redshank on Tennyson's Sands, Gibraltar Point ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 21/7 Hummingbird Hawk Moth Butterflies: Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Gatekeeper, Holly Blue, Small and Large Whites. Big Butterfly Cont 13.45 on 26/7/2023 Small White 2; Meadow Brown 2; Comma 1; Silver-Y 1. BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 20/7 Phil and Mary Porter A Blackcap continues to sing quite strongly in and around the garden, and a Hummingbird Hawk-moth was at Buddleia and Phlox. One of the Woodpigeons in the garden has taken to semi-permanently perching on the roof of a free standing wooden bird table and barely moves when we walk past these days. A Jackdaw, of which we have hosted a family, flew in to the feeder. The pigeon leant over from above and made such vigorous stabbing attacks that the corvid flew off. In contrast over the years, and especially in spring, we generally find that Woodpigeons are thoroughly dominated by Collared Doves when it comes to territorial disputes. The Doves have taken a battering from the local Sparrowhawks during the year. 25/7 When the sun was shining, there was plenty of butterfly activity, but the sunny periods were quite short and rain and thunder rolled in at the end of the day. Red Admirals 10+ Meadow Browns 6 Ringlet 1 Peacock 3+ Comma 1 Small White 10 Gatekeeper 6 Small Skipper 2 Large White 1 Small Tortoiseshell 2 CARLTON LE MOORLAND SK909581 17/7/23 Jeremy Hutchinson Female Blackbird gathering nesting material, rather late in the season! The absence of Swifts that I mentioned in my last report lasted for 10+ days, since when they have returned but not done much of the low-level chasing/screeching around the rooftops. Last night (24/7) I saw approx 25 flying high in a loose group, the most I have seen here this year. 20/7/23 Discovered an active Wrens' nest in the Ivy on the front of the house when one of the adults landed only a couple of feet from where I was standing: shortly after it had disappeared into the Ivy it was clear from the piping sounds that there were young in the nest. By 22/7 they had fledged and were scattered around the garden: the furious rattling from the parents alerted me to the presence of a female Sparrowhawk in our apple tree. 25/7/23 Several Green Woodpeckers landed in the large willows next to my allotment and began to 'shout' loudly to the point at which it grated on me. This lasted for what seemed like ages, so I moved to obtain a better look at what was going on, and eventually noticed a Tawny Owl pressed against one of the willow trunks. The racket carried on for some time, then ceased: he owl was still there, but presumably the woodpeckers had moved on. I presume that these are the same Green Woodpeckers which have been heard, and occasionally seen, every days for some weeks now, more often than I can ever recall. At least one is a juvenile, but it is hard to be certain because they are so difficult to see amongst the greenery at this time of the year. On a general note, we have numbers of both butterflies and hoverflies this year. We grow many nectar-bearing plants for the insects, and this seems to be having the desired effect. Not only are the hoverflies numerous, but we have seen many different species; unfortunately I cannot identify most of them. Butterflies recently include the following: Red Admiral, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper (very numerous), Holly Blue, Common Blue, Comma, Speckled Wood, Brimstone, Large and Small Skipper, and of course the Whites. Earlier today I noticed a Meadow Brown behaving oddly; on closer examination I found that a wasp had hold of it from beneath and appeared to be trying to bite off its head. I flicked off the wasp, but it soon came back and bit off a wing, whereupon both insects vanished into the vegetation. I have never before seen a wasp attack a butterfly. Another novel thing I saw recently was a Red Admiral chasing away a bumblebee which had landed close to it; it later landed on my shoulder, then my wife's later in the day: very odd. A Barn Owl has been seen in the evenings recently, as well as during the day at the nest box in a barn on a few occasions, but whether there is a brood I am not sure. Still only one sighting of a Hobby in the area. We still have Chiffchaff, Yellowhammer and Song Thrush singing. HORKSTOW SE 987179 25 July 2023 Jenny Haynes Butterflies are more in evidence now it’s stopped raining and warmed up a bit. They include: Gatekeeper, meadow brown, red admiral (several), small tortoiseshell, comma (two) and several of the whites which I’m unable to identify. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 There is an opportunity for 2 people to work as residential volunteers, helping the wardens with their seal season and winter work programme from October for a six month period. Closing date for applications 14th August. https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/volunteering-opportunities/residential-volunteer-x2-0 190723 - 2 juvenile little ringed plover and a green sandpiper on Rimac scrape. 5 grasshopper warbler reeling between Rimac and MOD. A group of 500 starling over the saltmarsh around Sea View. 90 Common scoter flew north over the sea and 3 eider flew south. 200723 - Short-eared owl at Saltfleet Haven. 210723 - 3 green sandpiper and a female wigeon on Sea View washlands. Young common lizard at Sea View and a snipe flew over. 230723 - Little ringed plover and common sandpiper on Rimac scrape. 7 whimbrel flew high west over Rimac and another 4 flew south. A common snipe also flew south. 150+ terns offshore, mostly sandwich with some common/arctic mixed in. 17 species of butterfly recorded during the Lincolnshire Butterfly Conservation open day, including 4 wall brown and 3 painted lady. Small red-eyed damselfly around dipping pond platform at Rimac. 240723 - 9 whimbrel flew in, off the sea at Rimac, circled over the dunes gaining height and flew inland. 2 southern hawker and a privet hawk moth at Churchill Lane. 2 painted lady at Mablethorpe North End, along with increased numbers of small white, small tortoiseshell and red admiral. 250723 – Red admirals and curlew flying around Sea View. Butterflies - small skipper, Essex skipper, common blue, brown argus, small, green-veined and large whites, speckled wood, red admiral, small tortoiseshell, peacock, painted lady, comma, wall brown, gatekeeper, meadow brown, ringlet, holly blue 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: 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... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ...and finally... Stranded Western Isles whales may have been helping pregnant female https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-66260172 Deadly global heatwaves undeniably result of climate crisis, scientists show https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/jul/25/deadly-global-heatwaves-undeniably-result-of-climate-crisis-scientists-attribution Young country diary: Helping a hedgehog make a home https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jul/22/young-country-diary-helping-a-hedgehog-make-a-home Avian flu outbreak confirmed at vital seabird colonies in Wales https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/20/avian-flu-outbreak-confirmed-vital-seabird-colonies-wales New North Sea oil and gasfields will emit as much carbon as 14m cars, report says https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jul/24/new-north-sea-oil-and-gas-licences-emissions-greenpeace-government-uk ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/