========================================= || || 21st 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: Thanks to Phil Porter for preparing this week's Bulletin. Phil Porter writes Lincolnshire Naturalists Union committee members will be manning a table with display items in the Lincolnshire Trust tent in the conservation area at The Lincolnshire Show on Wednesday/Thursday 21st/22nd June. They will be happy to chat about wildlife recording in the county and to highlight the field meetings programme. Readers have commented on the 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/ Annette Faulkner writes: A quick SOS. A reminder to all readers, as we struggle to survive the heat. We’re not the only ones. Please make sure you put out plenty of water for birds, ground-based mammals and flying ones. Bats drink on the wing, so keep bird baths filled up, ponds topped up and so on. Bats certainly can get desperately dehydrated and if too far gone can’t be revived, as their kidneys pack up. Many thanks, 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/ Loch of The Lowes Ospreys - 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: There will now be a quiet month whilst we await the hatching of the chicks in early July. The female will incubate these eggs night and day. The male will be responsible for bringing her food every night. The weather will play a big part in how successful he is. 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) This year’s BMS will run from June 1st until August 31st. 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 week's mostly-local news stories: In pictures: Robber flies win insect photo competition https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-65876963 Bee-eaters make historic return to breeding site in Norfolk https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-65910074 Wildlife lovers' joy at Bempton Cliffs summer bird spectacle https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-65904518 2 jailed for illegal Lincolnshire waste site https://www.gov.uk/government/news/2-jailed-for-illegal-lincolnshire-waste-site Lincolnshire solar farm plans on display https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-65892021 Three RAF Hercules perform UK flypast to mark retirement https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-65894443 While humans were in strict lockdown, wild mammals roamed further https://theconversation.com/while-humans-were-in-strict-lockdown-wild-mammals-roamed-further-new-research-207351 Young's Seafood Grimsby site closure proposal puts 285 jobs at risk https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-65913682 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#? June 21st-July 4th Wednesday: Fine start with warm sunshine, however cloud quickly building through the morning. Isolated showers developing, perhaps heavy and with the odd rumble of thunder, before easing through the afternoon. Most places remaining dry, however. Maximum temperature 25 °C. Tonight: Any remaining showers largely fading overnight. Then dry with light winds and clear skies, and perhaps the odd patch of mist developing in prone spots by dawn. Minimum temperature 14 °C. Thursday: Another mostly dry day with warm sunny periods and light winds. A few showers will likely break out again, and one or two could be heavy and thundery. Maximum temperature 27 °C. Outlook for Friday to Sunday: Fine start Friday with very warm sunshine, but turning hazy later. Early cloud breaking to sunny spells on Saturday and Sunday. Feeling very warm and humid, perhaps hot in places. UK long range weather forecast Sunday 25 Jun - Tuesday 4 Jul Prolonged sunshine for many southern and eastern regions to begin the period; however northern and western areas are more likely to be cloudier with occasional rain, which may turn heavy for some. Northern areas are also more likely to see stronger winds than of late. It is expected to remain very warm to hot throughout inland areas, but coastal regions may see lower temperatures as a result of some sea breezes. A similar pattern is likely to continue into early July with more unsettled weather across the north. Showers, some thundery, should not be discounted further south but, generally, southern and central parts of the UK are likely to retain the driest and brightest conditions. Temperatures likely to remain above average, with very warm or hot conditions probable at times. 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 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 ***Scunthorpe and Brigg Local Group - Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust *** Keith Scarrott wrote On Sunday next the 25th June we have our Messingham Sand Quarry Open Day. We start at 10am and the team will be there until 4pm providing activities such as bird watching, bug hunting, and pond dipping wherever possible depending on the conditions on the day. Also there will be a stall with books, magazines and leaflets available to take away. A member from the headquarters of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust will also be present for people to join the LWT. Do come and join us and enjoy exploring this lovely reserve which can be found off the B1400 road between Messingham and Kirton Lindsey, map reference for the gate is SE 908 032 which is almost below an electricity pylon. There will be an "OPEN DAY" sign to indicate the entrance from which a short rough track leads to a car park. *** Grimsby And Cleethorpes Area Group LWT *** www.grimsbywildlifetrust.org.uk *** 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/ 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.com 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. 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 13/6 Osprey flew NE over Baston + Langtoft Pits, Honey Buzzard fem flew south over East End Night Heron flew to Woodland Waters, appeared to land behind trees at east end, Ancaster 6 Black-winged Stilts [m, f and 4 young] on Middle Scrape, Osprey flew south over Sea Bank car park, 2 Spoonbills, Frampton Marsh wood Sandpiper, as Spotted Redshank, Manby Flashes Curlew Sandpiper, Anderby Marsh 2 Night herons flew north over Laceby Road, Grimsby 14/6 2 Spotted Redshanks at Wader Pit, Purple Heron flew NE from SW corner of west end,Baston + Langtoft Pits Black-winged Stilt, Spotted Redshank, Frampton Marsh 3 Spoonbills, Convolvulus Hawk Moth, Gibraltar Point Quail male singing in barley field NE of sewage works, Scopwick Curlew Sandpiper, Anderby Marsh 2 Quails [singing males] at Red Hill, Stengot 15/6 Spoonbill flew east over Molesey Mill, Market Deeping 3 Night Herons, ads, flew northwest towards Langtoft West End pits 4 Spoonbills, 2 Little Gulls on Tennyson's Sands, Gibraltar Point Marsh Warbler singing at Churchill Lane in hedge in field south of coastguard cottages. 16/6 Kittiwake ad flew north over Baston +Langtoft Pits 2 Black-winged Stilts, Spoonbill, Little Gull, Spotted Redshank, Frampton Marsh Spoonbill, Freiston Shore Turtle Dove singing, SE side of Market Rasen 17.6 Wood Sandpiper, Manby Flashes 18/6 Rannoch Looper moth trapped, Baston Honey Buzzard male flew east over Heath's Meadows, WSE of Burgh le Marsh 8 Spoonbills, Short-eared Owl, Gibraltar Point 2 Norfolk Hawker dragonflies, Ness Lake, Far Ings 19/6 6 Black-winged Stilts, m, f and 4 young, Frampton Marsh 2 Turtle Doves flew south, 5 Spoonbills flew south over, Gibraltar Point Honey Buzzard flew south over Mablethorpe 19/6 6 Black-winged Stilts, m, f and 4 young, Frampton Marsh 2 Turtle Doves flew south, 5 Spoonbills flew south over, Redwing, Gibraltar Point Honey Buzzard flew south over Mablethorpe 20/6 White-winged Black Tern as flew east, Huttoft Bank Pit 6 Spoonbills 1 juv, 3 Spotted Redshanks, Gibraltar Point 21/6 2 Black-winged Stilts, Spoonbill on Reedbed Scrape, Frampton Marsh ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3. WILDLIFE NEWS FROM AROUND THE COUNTY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Find the Grid Reference - don't forget - it's important Grab a Grid Reference: https://www.bnhs.co.uk/focuson/grabagridref/html/index.htm UK Grid Reference Finder: http://www.gridreferencefinder.com/ *** Links "not to be missed" *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. *** Hedgehog Advice *** https://hedgehogcare.org.uk/ https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/ *** 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. A16 NORTH OF FAIRFIELD INDUSTRIAL ESTATE ROUNDABOUT 16:06:2023 Peter Crick 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 17/6/2023 Adult badger in garden at 12.09hrs Hedgehog at 12.37 and 01.18hrs 18/6 Cinnabar Moth in "No Mow May" area of garden. 19/6 - 11.55 - Hedgehog in under front gate 20/6 - 12.19 - Hedgehog our under front gate. BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 18th June Phil and Mary Porter At least 4 Orange-tip larvae, mostly small, on seed pods of Dame’s Violet and the same number on Garlic Mustard. We have lots of Honesty but no caterpillars found in short search. Also 2 Red Admirals and a Cinnabar moth. 20th June Mary had a woodpecker bonanza early in the morning with 2 Great Spotted (1 a juvenile) and an adult female Green which investigated the turf within 15 ft of the French windows. Later, she saw two again, a female feeding from apple tree branches and passing items to the juvenile; also a Chiffchaff sang briefly. I found Albugo candida mould on old Honesty leaves/stems; also Pear Rust Gymnosporangium sabinae on pear leaves. Unfortunately(?) we have a large and handsome Juniper tree which is the intermediate host for this fungus but it doesn’t seem to cause any real harm. Also saw the first for the year of Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus baltiatus, Sphaerophoria scripta and Eupeodes luniger. A much more unusual garden occurrence was the Snipe-fly Chrysopilus cristatus. BISCATHORPE 11th June Stuart Britton At 4a.m.on Sunday several Mid Lincs Ringing Group ringers went to the artificial Sand Martin Bank at Biscathorpe and caught the adults leaving. Any nestlings that were big enough were ringed. 9 unringed adults and 31 ringed birds were processed. The majority of the ringed birds were ringed as nestlings at the site which adds provenance to the species breeding site faithfulness. An adult female was originally ringed as a nestling on July 14th 2019 and has been trapped every year as a breeding female with the exception of 2020. We will be returning to the site in a couple of weeks to ring outstanding nestlings. CHAMBERS WOOD 17th June, 2023. Angela Buckle Greater spearwort, Water plantain, Common fumitory, Scarlet pimpernel, Oxe-eye daisy, Meadow cranesbill, Hedge woundwort, Marsh thistle, Tufted vetch, Nipplewort, Yellow rattle, Phacelia, Borage, Common spotted orchid, Black medick, Red valerian, Field poppy, Water figwort, Ragged robin, Creeping thistle, Spear thistle, Enchanter's nightshade, Common valerian, Dyers greenweed, Meadow vetchling, Greater burnet, Agrimony, Meadow sweet, Tormentil, Birds foot trefoil, Waters avens, Black bryony, Self heal, Common knapweed, Heath bedstraw, Betony, Saw-wort, Just one Butterfly orchid. Butterflies Marsh fritillary, Small skipper, Clearwing Moth on Blackcurrant CLEETHORPES  TA 300069 16:06:2023 Peter Crick Mullein caterpillars x 3 On Buddleia (not seen here before, largest 5cm) FAR INGS 18th June 2023 Angela Buckle Curled leaved doc, Lesser spearwort, Water mint, Bog pimpernel, Brookweed, Bee orchid, Bladder campion, Rough chervil, Lucerne, Water spearwort, Water speedwell, Prickly lettuce, Common knapweed, Pyramid orchid, Perforate St-John’s wort, Hedge bedstraw, Fairy flax, Meadow vetchling, Creeping cinquefoil, Hedge woundwort, Tufted vetch, Butterflies. Small blue, Speckled wood, Meadow brown, Ringlet. MARKET RASEN TF114882. 14th June Stuart Britton This morning my wife and I found 17 Bee Orchids on the grass verge on a 15 year old development in Market Rasen known as the Ridings . RIVER WITHAM at MEADOW LANE, NORTH HYKEHAM SK955651 18th June Phil and Mary Porter Acting on a recommendation, we visited this spot to see Banded Demoiselles and we were not disappointed! Many were visible from the bridge and having walked a very short distance in the muggy overcast weather, we estimated maybe 100 males were flying, with a few females being pursued by 10 or more at a time, and one pair in tandem. Whilst by no means crystal clear, the river water looked in reasonable condition by the standards of the day. Three Lapwings were in flight over an adjacent field. SEDGE HOLE CLOSE LWT Nature Reserve Steve Hiner 08/06/23 Blackbird x 1 Blackcap x 1 Carrion Crow x 2 Chiffchaff x 1 Jackdaw x 4 Magpie x 1 Robin x 1 Skylark x 1 Swallow x 4 Willow Warbler x 1 Wood Pigeon x 2 Wren x 1 Chimney Sweeper moth x 8 14/06/23 Blackbird x 1 Blue Tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 1 Chiffchaff x 1 Dunnock x 1 Green Woodpecker x 1 Jackdaw x 6 Pied Wagtail x 1 Robin x 1 Skylark x 2 Willow Warbler x 1 Wood pigeon x 2 Meadow Brown x 1 Small White x 2 Chimney Sweeper x 14 first Great Burnet flowers out SOUTH THORESBY 16 06 23 Tuesday, 20 June 2023 at 15:20:49 BST, > wrote: John Walker MBE Rob Scott and I walked around South Thoresby local nature reserve, sightings included bee orchid 26, southern marsh orchid 14, early marsh orchid 4, and pyramidal orchid 3. Also lots of lady’s mantle, teasel, various scrub and planted native trees , our first ever visit to this 30 acres ex landfill site. Also on same date a walk down small lane to Brinkhill TF375 730 roadside verge ( PRV?) a count of 197 pyramidal orchids. SPALDING TF245218 7/6/23 Annette Faulkner Garden carpet moth in house THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 07/06/23 Blackbird x 4 Blackcap x 1 Blue Tit x 2 Chaffinch x 2 Chiffchaff x 1 Dunnock x 1 Goldfinch x 7 Greenfinch x 1 Grey Partridge x 2 Magpie x 2 Pied Wagtail x 1 feeding young Robin x 1 Skylark x 2 Stock Dove x 1 Swallow x 6 Swift x 4 Tawny Owl x 2 calling 01:30hrs Tree Sparrow x 2 broods being fed in nest boxes Willow Warbler x 1 Wood Pigeon x 4 Wren x 1 09/06/23 Barn Owl x 1 01:45hrs Blackbird x 6 Carrion Crow x 1 Chaffinch x 2 Common Buzzard x 2 Dunnock x 1 Goldfinch x 3 Greenfinch x 1 Heron x 1 over Thurnholmes Jackdaw x 7 Kestrel x 1 Robin x 1 Skylark x 2 Tree Sparrow x 4 Wood Pigeon x 4 White Ermine x 1 12/06/23 Moths around security light; Common Swift x 1 Ghost Moth x 1 male, 1 female Small Magpie x 1 Yellow Shell x 1 during daytime in paddock 13/06/23 Barn Owl x 1 22:00hrs Blackbird x 6 Blue Tit x 2 Chaffinch x 1 Common Buzzard x 2 Dunnock x 1 Goldfinch x 2 Little Owl x 1 SK791977 Oystercatcher x 4 over Thurnholmes, calling Pied Wagtail x 1 Robin x 1 Skylark x 2 Swallow x 8 Swift x 1 Tree Sparrow x 6 Willow Warbler x 1 Wood Pigeon x 6 Common Pipistrelle x 2 21:55hrs (45hz)14/06/23 Clouded Buff moth x 1 male disturbed during daytime from grassland 16/06/23 Cuckoo x 1 moths around security light; Cinnabar x 1 Small Magpie x 1 White Ermine x 1 20/06/23 Barn Owl x 1 01:15hrs Blackbird x 1 Blue Tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 1 Chaffinch x 1 Goldfinch x 4 Greenfinch x 1 Grey Partridge x 2 Herring Gull x 1 over Thurnholmes Jackdaw x 6 Pied Wagtail x 1 Robin x 4 fledged young in barn Skylark x 2 Stock Dove x 1 on nest with 3rd brood in chicken run Willow Warbler x 1 Wood Pigeon x 6 Meadow Brown x 1 Small White x 2 Common Emerald x 1 Yellow Shell x 2 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 SSI Report 7th – 13th 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 Ruth Taylor writes – Note: A few brief spots of rain fell during the afternoon of the 17th and during the night enough to give a trace of ppt in the rain gauge. Pressure of 1016 millibars on the 18th was the lowest since 10th May, again 1016 millibars. Heavy downpours of rain gave 20.4mm on the 18th. The wind direction had finally moved to the SW on the 19th after 22 days of cold, fresh winds from a N-E sector. 14/06/23 – Siskin flew north over Brickyard Lane. Hobby around Rimac early evening and a green sandpiper dropped onto Rimac scrape in song. Banded demoiselle at Sea View. Blue-eyed-grass in flower. 15/06/23 - 2 painted ladies on viper’s bugloss and meadow brown near Rimac, scattering of bee orchids in the area. Adult avocets with 2 fresh chicks, adult lapwings and young, no presence of shelduck and young. Redshank very much agitated with marsh harrier flying over all at Sea View washlands. Marsh warbler singing just south of Churchill Lane early afternoon. 18 common scoter and 7 shelduck south over the sea early evening and 7 oystercatcher and 6 gannet flew south. Banded demoiselle at Rimac. 16/05/23 - Now in flower: eyebright, fairy flax, quaking grass, creeping cinquefoil, dog rose, elder, bittersweet and hemlock. 10 lapwing flew south over Churchill Lane. 17/06/23 - Paradise lagoon: 12 lapwing, 1 green sandpiper. 18/06/23 – At least 2 juvenile stonechat in outer dune scrub at Crook Bank. Some movement over the sea early morning, with 5 razorbill, fulmar, 20 sandwich tern, 44 common scoter and 28 gannet seen. 19/06/23 - Single green sandpiper and gadwall on Sea View washlands plus an adult redshank with 1 chick and another pair of adults with 2 chicks. A movement of raptors noted: honey buzzard, 6 common buzzard, hobby, 2 red kite, 2 sparrowhawk, 3 kestrel seen over the dunes at Mablethorpe North End. 400+ common swift also noted flying south throughout the afternoon. Female banded demoiselle in the dunes at Sea View. 20/06/23 – Avocets with 2 young on Sea View washland. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: July dates: 4th and 18th. https://butterfly-conservation.org/in-your-area/lincolnshire-branch/chambers-farm-wood-butterfly-garden Lincolnshire Dormouse Group You can get in touch via lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com Gemma Watkinson writes: Here are the dates for the summer nest box checks. As always, we meet at 9.30am in the Chambers Farm Woods car park, by the wood centre/volunteer hut. Anyone interested can get in touch at lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com for more information. 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 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 Phil Porter writes Lincolnshire Naturalists Union committee members will be manning a table with display items in the Lincolnshire Trust tent in the conservation area at The Lincolnshire Show on Wednesday/Thursday 21st/22nd June. They will be happy to chat about wildlife recording in the county and to highlight the field meetings programme. 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... Adela Cragg writes; 38 Dormice released into a woodland at NT Calke Abbey, Derbyshire https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/lrvt0f3nynvzawx7bf1gj/h?dl=0&rlkey=usr38ig16oc45x14vsdchp67u Ash sawfly: Invasive insect threatens NI's native trees https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-65884272 Wildcats to be released in secret Scottish sites in effort to avoid extinction https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jun/15/wildcats-to-be-released-secret-scottish-sites-effort-avoid-extinction Last chance to see Birdoswald Hadrian's Wall Roman bathhouse https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-65902075 Trees found growing at record altitudes up Scotland's Munros https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-65903065 Anglian Water TV advert banned due to sewage pollution record https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-65897853 One of Britain’s largest sunken forests reveals its secret https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jun/16/one-of-britains-largest-sunken-forests-reveals-its-secrets-aoe Country diary: A female goosander is left to defend her ducklings alone https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jun/16/country-diary-a-female-goosander-is-left-to-defend-her-ducklings-alone ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/