========================================= || || 7th June 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: Several readers have commented on the relatively low numbers of insects being seen, in the countryside, gardens and on our car windscreens. Is anyone participating in Buglife's "Bugs Matter" survey? A very intriguing survey idea. See: The Bugs Matter 2023 survey season begins on 1 June - 31 August. https://www.buglife.org.uk/get-involved/surveys/bugs-matter/ LNU Meetings. Scroll to full details in section 11 below. Or click: https://lnu.org/meetings/ Next Field Meeting: Trent Port Wetland - Sunday 25th June (afternoon) https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/2023-06-25-trent-port-wetland-sunday-25th-june-afternoon/ Louth Peregrines http://www.louthperegrines.org.uk/video.html Loch of The Lowes Ospreys - 2 chicks doing well... https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/watch-wildlife-online/loch-of-the-lowes-webcam/ Len Pick Trust Owl-box Camera Bob Sheppard wrote on 1st June: Still four eggs this morning so it looks like a final clutch size. https://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project/ BWARS' Hornet survey - please can you help? 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) The Big Meadow Search (BMS) is a citizen science project which aims to encourage people to record plants in an area of grassland of their own choice. The BMS species tick list is based on the National Plant Monitoring Scheme grassland indicator species, plus additional species of interest from meadows and grasslands - but all plants found should be recorded, whether on the BMS species list or not. Any type of species-rich grassland can be searched. If it’s not public access land, make sure to get permission! Our website has lots more information, and you can enter your findings directly there. www.bigmeadowsearch.co.uk This year’s BMS will run from June 1st until August 31st. This week's mostly-local news stories: Black-winged stilts breed for first time in Lincolnshire https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-65825200 D-Day veteran Les Budding, 97, tells of first-wave role https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-65815672 Humber lifeboat station leaves Spurn Point after 213 years of rescues https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-65781749 Manby Airfield: Horseboxes set ablaze at former RAF site https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-65788692 Kyra King: Father admits losing control of dog that killed baby https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-65778360 Dambusters' dog grave move harmful to heritage, group warns https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-65774839 'Extinct' butterfly species reappears in UK https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65804939 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/ *** Exhibition at Joseph Banks Centre *** George Edward Lodge. Celebrated naturalist, taxidermist and painter. Born in Horncastle 1860. Runs to June 30th. Well worth a visit! https://horncastlejbc.info/events/lodge/ *** Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service *** During 2023, the Lincolnshire Wolds AONB celebrates its 50th anniversary. We are running 50 events for 50 years, details on: https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/events/ *** Lincoln Cathedral Peregrines *** https://lincolncathedral.com/peregrines/ "Volunteer opportunities available for people who are passionate about wildlife and conservation. Lincoln RSPB is running a Peregrine Watch at Lincoln Cathedral. All weekends in June and July. Prior experience is not necessary, enthusiasm is more important." For more information contact Gwen M Randall - Volunteer Coordinator: gwen.randell@ntlworld.com Weather Forecast https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#? 11 - 20 June "Plenty of dry weather with a good deal of sunshine continuing for most. An area of showers likely moving in from the southwest. These possibly heavy and thundery at times, perhaps most likely across the south and west. This area likely to make progress northeasterly across much of the UK through the weekend but low confidence around exact details of this progression, plus the degree of activity. Temperatures generally widely very warm, locally hot, and becoming humid especially in the south and southeast. Winds generally light or moderate for most areas. Later, most likely plenty of fine and settled weather with sunny and clear conditions for many parts. Likely to be warmer than normal for much of the UK. Risk of showers, possibly heavy and thundery, especially in southern parts." For Astronomers and Sky-watchers Full Moons 2023 https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/full-moon-calendar June's Night Sky: https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/blog/astronomy/night-sky-highlights-june-2023 Summer Solstice: Wed, Jun 21, 2023 3:57 PM https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/summer-solstice Stonehenge Skyscape - intriguing.... https://www.stonehengeskyscape.co.uk/ 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 *** Grimsby And Cleethorpes Area Group LWT *** www.grimsbywildlifetrust.org.uk Carolyn Davis writes: On Saturday 17th June you are invited to join the Grimsby & Cleethorpes Area Group on a Warbler Walk in Cleethorpes Country Park with Graham Hicks where we hope to hear/identify as many as 8 warbler species. Meet Graham at 8 am in the Cleethorpes Country Park car park Grid Ref TA 306066. You are advised to wear suitable outdoor clothing and stout footwear and bring binoculars if you have them. This is a free event however donations will be welcomed for the Trust. For further information contact Graham Hicks mobile 07979089890 or email g.hicks7@ntlworld .com You can also visit the Grimsby & Cleethorpes Area Group LWT website www.grimsbywildlifetrust.org.uk and we are on Facebook. *** South Lincs RSPB Group *** www.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire *** RSPB Lincoln Local Group *** https://www.lincolnrspb.org.uk/events.htm *** RSPB Grimsby Local Group *** https://group.rspb.org.uk/grimsby/ Martin Francis writes: The RSPB Grimsby Local Group's next Indoor Meeting is on Monday 19th June at 7.30pm - After a brief AGM, Phil Espin, Chairman of the Lincs Bird Club, will give an illustrated talk with the title "Great Bustard and other lost birds of Lincolnshire" The talk takes place at Holy Trinity Parish Hall, Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes, DN35 7LH. A map showing the location of the Hall can be found on our website. Entry for everybody is £4, payable at the door. Light refreshments and a raffle will be available The next 'car share' Trip is on Sunday 25th June to Far Ings and Alkborough Flats- if you would like to go, please contact Sally Prescott at sally.prescott142@btinternet.co All the Group's activities are open to everybody - you do not need to belong to the RSPB, or to have attended Group Meetings to take part. We look forward to seeing you at the Indoor Meeting and/or on the Trip Martin Francis Group Leader - RSPB Grimsby Local Group" STAYING SAFE Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. 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 31/5 10 Black Terns on T-Junction Pit, viewed from hardstanding on Cross Road, Baston + Langtoft Pits Red-necked Phalarope on reservoir, Freiston Shore Short-eared Owl, Garganey, Gibraltar Point 3 Little Stints, Anderby Creek 1/6 Black Tern at Wader Pit, Baston + Langtoft Pits Marsh Warbler by circular trail,Chapel Six Marshes Garganey drk on East Pit, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James 3 Black Terns, drk Garganey on North Scrape, Frampton Marsh Short-eared Owl, 2 Glossy Ibises circled over reserve, Gibraltar Point Little Stint, Anderby Creek Marsh Warbler male singing north of car park, Wolla Bank 5 Black Terns on South Lake, Sanderling on North Lake Woodhall Spa Airfield 2 Black-winged Stilts from north side hide, Fiskerton Fen 2 Black Terns, Covenham reservoir 2/6 Black Tern at Wader Pit, Baston + Langtoft Pits - view from hard-standing on Cross road. Garganey drk on East Pit, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James 2 Short-eared Owls, Gibraltar Point 2 Marsh Warblers by circular trail, Chapel Six Marshes 3/6 Montagu's Harrier drifted west over SE corner, Bourne Wood Sandpiper, Garganey drk, Frampton Marsh Short-eared Owl, Marsh Warbler singing by Gibraltar Road north of sailing club, Gibraltar Point Marsh Warbler singing by circular trail, Chapel Six Marshes Curlew Sandpiper, Spoonbill, Little Stint, Anderby Marsh Serin male in garden, [2nd day] Thorganby 4/6 Wood Sandpiper, 2 Spoonbills, Jack Snipe, Frampton Marsh Short-eared Owl on post in NE corner of Old Saltmarsh, Gibraltar Point Marsh Warbler singing by circular trail, Chapel Six Marshes Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Anderby Marsh 5/6 Possible Rough-legged Buzzard drifted east, Willow Tree Fen Marsh Warbler singing by circular trail, Chapel Six Marshes Garganey drk, Woodhall Spa Airfield Quail flew over Scopwick 3.33am [identified by sound recording] Serin in garden, Thorganby 6/6 6 Black-winged Stilts (male, fem and4 young) on scrape, 2 Black Terns flew NE over Marsh Farm reservoir, Frampton Marsh 2 Little Stints, Curlew Sandpiper, Anderby Creek 7/6 Short-eared Owl, Spoonbill flew towards lagoons, Gibraltar Point Curlew Sandpiper, 3 Little Stints, Anderby 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/ *** BTO Cuckoo Tracking project *** https://www.bto.org/cuckoos *** 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. Road Kill Jenny Haynes 27 May 2023 A1077 TA051217 Badger *** 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 1.6.2023. 12 Fledgling starlings at bird feeder - what a performance! 2/6 12+ Garden Snails "aestivating" in house ventilation box. 3/6 Hedgehog on camera at 12.11; 01.10 and 02.03 hrs. Goldfinch on birdbath. Lesser Black Backed Gull visited briefly - for fat scraps! Holly Blue. 4/6 Small flock of Long-tailed tits across garden am. 2 Buzzards circling 1.00hrs on thermal, high about the garden, 5+ Swifts feeding. 5/7 Wagtail male seen west side of house - first time for some days. 6/6 Wagtail m foraging in garden. Much juvenile starling activity! 7/6 Hedgehog videoed at 2.17am BOSTON GARDEN MAY 2023 Kathleen Pearson In May I was able to do the BTO Garden BirdWatch on all 31 days. During the month 20 species were recorded, the most interesting of which was a female Great Spotted Woodpecker which came on numerous occasions each day collecting food for its nestlings. The commonest bird was Starling with a group of 23 in the garden on one occasion. Birds recorded were:- Blackbird 6, Goldfinch 4, Woodpigeon 6, House Sparrow 5, Long-tailed Tit 6, Wren 2, Dunnock 2, Great Tit 2, Carrion  Crow 1, Lesser Black-back Gull 2, Starling 23, Robin 2, Herring Gull 4, Collared Dove 2, Blue Tit 3, Chaffinch 1, Greenfinch 5, Song Thrush 1, Black-headed Gull 1 and Great Spotted Woodpecker 1. Butterflies were:- Small Tortoiseshell, Small White, Holly Blue, Orange-tip, Brimstone and Peacock. BOSTON GARDEN 02/06/2023 Kathleen Pearson A total of 87 Starlings were feeding on suet cake and fat balls and clustering on the lawn this morning which was by far the largest group ever recorded. Quite a large proportion of them were this year’s birds. CARLTON LE MOORLAND Carlton le Moorland SK909581 Jeremy Hutchinson 1/6/23 18/5/23 Two Cuckoos were heard calling at the same time; one to the west of the village (the usual direction), but also one to the east. This was the first time for years (to the best of my knowledge) that this has happened. 23/5/23 Red Kite flew over heading north-east. Green Woodpecker heard calling most days in recent weeks. Swift/Swallow/House Martin numbers remain low, but House Martins have rebuilt last year's nest on our neighbours' house, and are showing signs of doing the same on ours. Last year was the first in 45 that we had no nests: it is not so many years that we had 10 or more nests between the two houses. Recently there has been a large number of recently-fledged Starlings around the village, many more than usual, for reasons that aren't obvious. A recent walk revealed a good crop of Sloes on the Blackthorn in many places, but oddly the immature fruits are an unusually pale sulphur-yellow colour, and the majority of them are distorted in shape, a common one resembling miniature bananas, others like broad beans. A very high proportion of the fruits are affected, but I've no idea of the cause Any ideas? I have seen a large number of queen Wasps this spring, and also 3 queen Hornets, a personal record: what impressive creatures! GRIMSBY TA265095 Joyce Attia 6th June 2023 27th May 2 goldfinches, one on nyger seed and one on sunflower hearts. Pair of swans and 8 cygnets on river outside back gate 28th May Lots of swallows feeding over the river and the trees. In the evening 4 swifts. 1st June Goldfinch on feeder 2 great tits on sunflower seeds Female chaffinch on feeder Single bat over the garden just after sunset. 2nd June 2 adult goldfinches, 1 juvenile. 1 great tit. Goldfinch perched on nyger seed feeder for at least 20 mins, occasionally taking seed. I began to wonder if it was ill, then it flew down onto the water bowl, had a drink and sat there for a while, looked alert. Bat in the evening again. 4th June Male and female chaffinch, they go to the sunflower hearts then fly up onto the fence to wipe their beaks. 4 goldfinches on feeders and one swinging on the washing line. Dunnock and starlings on the ground. 5th June Robin on the tree singing his heart out. I recorded it, and when I played it back he came down to see where it was coming from. I switched it off, it was a mean trick to play. There have been quite a lot of Holly blue butterflies and the little mint moths this week. HORKSTOW SE987170 Jenny Haynes 30 May 2023 A wren feeding a young one was seen in my garden today. A male great spotted woodpecker visits the bird feeders regularly and I’m fighting a losing battle to keep magpies off the fat balls, which the tree sparrows like. I bought a squirrel proof feeder to no avail! In addition we had a visit by a jay, first time we’ve seen one here. SEDGE HOLE CLOSE LWT Nature Reserve Steve Hiner 05/06/23 Blackbird x 1 Blackcap x 1 Carrion Crow x 4 Dunnock x 1 Jackdaw x 2 Magpie x 2 Robin x 1 Skylark x 2 Swallow x 6 Tree Sparrow x 6 Wood Pigeon x 4 Wren x 1 Chimney Sweeper x 6 Yellow Shell x 1 SOUTHREY - WATER RAIL WAY 4/6.2023 Had a 1-2 hour walk along the River Witham [Water Rail Way] this afternoon south from Southrey village. Large "drifts" of pink petals from the Hawthorn were scattered on the track, looking like a "Stop The Oil" protest. Perhaps it was in a botanical way! ? Quite a lot of plants in flower but few insects seen other than Odonata [dragonflies and damselflies] - near the river and drains. I counted 6 bumblebees on the entire walk, plus 5 Brimstones, a Common Blue, and Small White butterfly. 5 swifts were feeding overhead along with a few swallows and martins. No insects splatted on the windscreen going or coming back. Sustrans Water Rail Way link: https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-other-routes/water-rail-way/ STICKNEY TF322568 Gail Cartwright 27th May 2023 Bat x 1 2nd May 2023 Bats x2 around Medlam Bridge TF322568 my garden Female Barn Owl and Male Barn Owl on nest box at the back of my garden Lovely to know there is a chance of chicks this year, fingers crossed, it's been a year or two. THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 24/05/23 Barn Owl x 1 02:10hrs Common Pipistrelle x 2 22:00hrs (45hz) Brimstone x 3 males Green-veined White x 2 Orange Tip x 1 male Small White x 2 29/05/23 Barn Owl x 1 07:30hrs + 2 calling 01:20hrs Blackbird x 3 adults and lots of fledged young around paddocks Blackcap x 1 Carrion Crow x 1 Chaffinch x 1 adult and at least 3 fledged young Cuckoo x 1 Dunnock x 1 Goldfinch x 6 Grey Partridge x 2 (nest with 14 eggs) Jackdaw x 2 Kestrel x 1 Little Owl x 1 calling 01:00hrs Magpie x 2 Mute Swan x 2 adults with at least 3 very small young, Owston Ferry Warping Drain Pied Wagtail x 1 + 1 feeding 2nd brood Robin x 3 very large young in nest in my fruit cage which is (supposedly) bird proof Red-legged Partridge x 2 Skylark x 2 Stock Dove x 2 Swallow x 6 Tawny Owl x 2 calling 01:10hrs Tree Sparrow x 4 + 2 broods in nest boxes being fed Wood Pigeon x 6 Wren x 1 Yellowhammer x 1 Yellow Wagtail x 1 Common Pipistrelle x 2 22:00hrs (45hz) Small White x 3 Orange Swift x 1 Silver-ground Carpet x 1 Silver Y x 1 White Ermine x 1 male 31/05/23 Swift x 2 (my first for year) 01/06/23 Hedgehog x 1 SK813999 (Paul Snow) 04/06/23 Barn Owl x 1 calling 01:20hrs Blackbird x 1 Blackcap x 1 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 6 fledged young Goldfinch x 4 Grey Partridge x 2 Kestrel x 1 Little Owl x 1 calling 01:15hrs Mallard x 3 over Thurnholmes Oystercatcher x 4 over Thurnholmes Pied Wagtail x 2 Robin x 1 on nest in barn, yong fledged from nest in fruit cage Skylark x 2 Stock Dove x 2 Swallow x 6 Tree Sparrow x 2 nest boxes full of ready to fledge young appearing at the entrance hole Tawny Owl x 2 calling 01:35hrs Wood Pigeon x 8 Yellowhammer x 1 Yellow Wagtail x 2 Setaceous Hebrew Character x 1 White Ermine x 2 Hairy Dragonfly x 1 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. NNRs and NATURE RESERVES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's policy on Coronavirus, Covid-19 includes details of LWT reserves and other advice and information: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/coronavirus Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog: http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ LWT Reserves List: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/nature-reserves-list RSPB Frampton Marsh: http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE DUNES NNR including DONNA NOOK ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/saltfleetby-theddlethorpe-dunes https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook Visitor Leaflet - Natural England: http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/38015?category=59026 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR Report 31st May – 6th June 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: The bitterly cold winds off the North Sea continued during the first week of June giving an average day time temperature of 14.8 degrees centigrade. Same period last year it was 17.75 degrees centigrade. The heavy drizzle on the 6th was the first precipitation recorded in the rain gauge since May 20th. 310523 – Spotted flycatcher in dune scrub near Crook Bank car park. Common sandpiper, 2 little ringed plover and 2 greenshank on scrapes south of Crook Bank. Avocet pair nesting on the saltmarsh at Brickyard Lane where a lapwing pair now have young. 010623 - Black tern over Paradise lagoon. Some light wader movement over the sea in the evening, with 22 sanderling, 4 avocet, 10 ringed plover and a little ringed plover flying north, as well as a single gannet. 020623 - Pair of shelduck with 10 very young ducklings on Sea View washlands. 7 greenshank, 4 curlew, 5 oystercatcher, 4 avocet and 2 little egret on Rimac lagoon. Peregrine flew west over the dunes at Rimac. Tawny owl seen in daytime roost in trees at Sea View. Male wheatear at Elm House Farm. 050623 - Yellow wagtail at Sea View washlands and Cetti’s warbler calling nearby. 6 little ringed plover, including 3 newly hatched juveniles and a redshank on scrapes south of Crook Bank. Great white egret flew north then back south over the dunes at the south end of the NNR. A light southerly movement of swallows over the dunes throughout the morning. Young tawny owl calling at 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 June date: 20th. 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. Saturday 24 June 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 Downloads of LNU books: https://lnu.org/publications/books/ Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust: https://twitter.com/LincsWildlife Lincs Bird Club: https://twitter.com/Lincsbirding LBC County Bird Recorder Phil Hyde - County Recorder, Lincs Bird Club recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk The Sir Joseph Banks Society: https://twitter.com/sirjosephbanks Lincolnshire Bat Group: 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 Sunday 25th June Trent Port Wetland 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. Hoverflies (and other distinctive Diptera) – Phil Porter 1st of July 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 *** None ...and finally... Bird flu: Belfast nature reserve closed after suspected outbreak https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-65799313 Conservationists tackle decline of Scottish coastal species https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-65799584 Are tornadoes in the US getting worse? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-us-canada-65700588 Solar panels - an eco-disaster waiting to happen? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-65602519 ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/