========================================= || || 28th 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: Clip of our garden badger on LNU Twitter page... https://twitter.com/i/status/1671431971258486785 Message from Phil Porter: Please note that the Hoverfly workshop on Saturday 1st July is fully booked. LNU Meetings. Scroll to full details in section 11 below. Or click: https://lnu.org/meetings/ Wilder Doddington (Rewilding Project) – Saturday July 15th (all day) https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/2023-07-15-wilder-doddington-rewilding-project-saturday-july-15th-all-day/ The Bugs Matter 2023 survey season - 1 June - 31 August. https://www.buglife.org.uk/get-involved/surveys/bugs-matter/ Loch of The Lowes Ospreys Bob Sheppard writes: If you haven't checked in on the Loch of Lowes ospreys lately you're in for a surprise. The chicks are massive, thanks to a high protein diet of fish. They will soon be exercising their wings ready for the big trip to Africa. https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/watch-wildlife-online/loch-of-the-lowes-webcam/ Bob writes: The Louth peregrines are doing well. Three of them have fledged and can be found at various high points on the Church. One found its way to the ground this week but is now safely back with its siblings. One of the chicks didn't grow as quickly as his sisters and gave cause for concern. Happily he is progressing well and the adults are feeding him. Whether he fledges successfully remains to be seen. The camera has now been switched off until next year. Len Pick Trust Owl-box Camera Bob writes: The barn owls in the Len Pick Trust nest box are thriving. We already have two chicks, the second hatched eighty hours after the first, a long time for a barn owl! The third hatch won't be long. Barn owls are having a fairly poor year in parts of South Lincolnshire but there are encouraging signs from our monitoring in Mid and North Lincs. https://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project/ BTO Cuckoo Tracking project - any signs of movement south yet? https://www.bto.org/cuckoos BWARS' Hornet survey - have to seen any? ID photos are here: https://www.bwars.com/wasp/vespidae/vespinae/vespa-crabro To submit a record: https://www.bwars.com/content/submit-sighting-vespa-crabro-hornet The Big Meadow Search (BMS) - June 1st until August 31st. The BMS is a citizen science project which aims to encourage people to record plants in an area of grassland of their own choice. 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: Minke whale spotted leaping from water in Scarborough - watch https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-66030719 Glastonbury: Red Arrows share footage of festival flypast - watch https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-lincolnshire-66018346 Seagull caught on camera swallowing a whole squirrel - Telegraph https://uk.yahoo.com/style/seagull-caught-camera-swallowing-whole-140000507.html Armed Forces Day: Battle of Britain Memorial Flight aircraft grounded https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-66002596 Caribbean WW2 veteran recalls role in RAF's Dambusters Squadron https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-65967254 Scheme to curb cannabis fumes could be rolled out across Lincolnshire https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-65986060 Plans for RAF Kirton in Lindsey to be site of 350 new homes https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-65973530 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 *** Horncastle Horse Fair.. Runs 6th July - 15th September. https://horncastlejbc.info/events/ *** Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service *** During 2023, the Lincolnshire Wolds AONB celebrates its 50th anniversary. There are 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#? Sunday 2 July to Tuesday 11 July A changeable start to July, with a mix of sunny spells, rain and scattered showers, some thundery, the latter two most probable towards north-western regions. Strong winds, potentially gales, are expected in northern areas but more moderate breezes elsewhere. Temperatures around average for mid-summer, potentially slightly warmer in the south and slightly cooler in the north. These conditions are expected to continue deeper into the period, with the south and east most likely to see the driest weather, while the north and west may experience the heaviest and most frequent rains and showers. That said, some showers and thunderstorms are possible further south and east too. Temperatures likely to remain around average, but may feel cooler in wetter areas. For Astronomers and Sky-watchers Full Moons 2023 https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/full-moon-calendar July's Night Sky: https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/blog/astronomy/night-sky-highlights-july-2023 Space and astronomy highlights in 2023 from The Royal Observatory https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/space-astronomy-highlights-2023 Aurora Watch - when Northern Lights might be seen in the UK: https://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/ Stellarium - open source and very useful https://stellarium.org/ “Seal and Birdwatching Cruises into The Wash” Jeremy Eyeons writes: The South Lincs RSPB Group programme of : “Seal and Birdwatching Cruises into The Wash”. For 2023 twelve cruises have been scheduled to take place, aboard “The Boston Belle”, at various sailing times, ending on 23rd October. All cruises start and end at Boston Marina, last for about five hours, and on average approximately 60 bird species are seen on each trip. Full details at: www.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire All cruises are by advance ticket only, which, once again, can be obtained from Blackfriars Arts Centre in Boston [01205-363108}, or online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/blackfriars Ticket prices for RSPB members are £22 (adult) and £10 (child under 16). Non-RSPB members £25 and £11-50. Any queries please contact Blackfriars (as above) or email Jeremy Eyeons: jerry200433@hotmail.com *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Area Groups webpage *** Please let me have your "plugs" for coming events. https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/area-groups *** 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/ 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 18/6 Late report [on 21st] of Marsh Warbler singing at Alkborough Flats but no sign since! 21/6 2 Black-winged Stilts, Spoonbill on Reedbed Scrape, 3 Spotted Redshanks, Frampton Marsh 4 Wood Sandpipers, Manby Flashes, Manby Turtle Dove along Occupation Lane, Walesby 22/6 6 Black-winged Stilts (m, f + 4 young), 2 Spoonbills, Frampton Marsh Wood Sandpiper, Freiston Shore Quail over Scopwick 3am identified from sound recording 5 Wood Sandpipers, Manby Flashes, Manby 23/6 6 Black-winged Stilts (m, f + 4 young), Frampton Marsh Wood Sandpiper, Gibraltar Point Wood Sandpiper, Manby Flashes, Manby 24/6 Spotted Redshank, Frampton Marsh Marsh Warbler singing near roundhouse, Anderby Creek Wood Sandpiper, Manby Flashes, Manby 25/6 3+ Black-winged Stilts, m, f +young, 5+ Spoonbills, 2 Spotted Redshanks, Frampton Marsh Montagu's Harrier from Wash Viewpoint for 2nd day, 10 Spoonbills, Spotted Redshanks, Gibraltar Point Wood Sandpiper, Manby Flashes, Manby Long-tailed Duck offshore, Wolla Bank 26/6 10+ Black-winged Stilts, 7+young, Wood Sandpiper, 3 Spoonbills, 2 Spotted Redshanks, Frampton Marsh Wood Sandpiper, Teal Lake, Whisby Nature Park 27/6 6+ Black-winged Stilts, 2+young, 3 Spoonbills, Spotted Redshank, Frampton Marsh 17 Spoonbills at Jackson's Marsh, Gibraltar Point Osprey flew west over Manby Flashes, Manby 28/6 Quail male singing last night on saltmarsh at south end, 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. LINCOLN BYPASS and BOURNE near BASTON Sandra Bisset I reported in the middle of May about some badger roadkill on the Lincoln bypass, on which I regularly travel but not daily. Since that report, on the bypass between the Damon’s roundabout (Doddington Road) and the Carholme roundabout (A57) I have seen 1 badger, 1 fox, 1 muntjac and 2 deer roadkill. 2 days ago on the A15, south of Bourne near Baston I saw a deer roadkill. *** 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 23/6/2023 Cinnabar Moth searching garden for ragwort - unsuccessfully! Sneaked a look in the hedgehog nest box today and it was empty. Looked as if for some time as far as I could tell. Food in feeding station untouched too and no hedgehogs caught on camera recently. BOSTON My Garden TF 338441 Tracey Lenton 24/06/2023 There has been some new activity in and around the pond: One froglet. A newt and several, I think, baby newts. Hopefully I can confirm that in time. In the evening there were at least 8 moths flitting around the pond surface occasionally one would settle on a pond iris leaf. I took a video of one and identified it as Small china mark. There are Toadflax brocade caterpillars on the purple toadflax plants. I counted 10 at various stages of growth including a very tiny one. CLEETHORPES Cleethorpes. Grid Reference? TA322074 Angela Buckle 24th June 2023. Goats beard, Sea lavender, Greater sea-spurrey, Common cats ear, Glasswort, Sea purslane, Sea arrow grass, Birdsfoot trefoil, Sea wormwood, Sea wormwood, Sea plantain, Sea blight, Ladies bedstraw, Evening primrose, Prickly saltwort, Spear leaved orache, Sea beet, Sea aster Haresfoot clover, Knot grass, Weld, Melilot, Bur Chervil, Rest harrow, Meadow sweet, Common sorrel, Red bartsia, Greater plantain, Hedge bindweed, Creeping thistle, Crow garlic, Yarrow, Hedge mustard, Scarlet pimpernel, Feverfew, Spear thistle, Narrow leafed ragwort, Field bindweed, White campion, Canadian fleabane, Purple toadflax, Curled leaved dock, Lesser meadow rue, Prickly lettuce, Horsem radish, Selfheal, Creeping cinquefoil, Hop trefoil, Mugwort, Rosebay willowherb, Knotted hedge parsley, Hare's tail grass. Butterflies. Ringlet, and Meadow brown.  HORKSTOW SE 987179 Jenny Haynes 21 June 2023 Two adult (m&f) great spotted woodpeckers on sunflower heart feeder with juvenile on branch nearby. First time we’ve seen the family together. Coal tit spotted in the Christmas tree. Several juvenile goldfinches also around. Other birds include: blackbird, wren, dunnock, chaffinch, greenfinch, robin (adult and juvenile), blue, great and longtailed tit, stock dove, wood pigeon, rook and pheasants. We had a small cricket, possibly wood cricket due to its size, on our bathroom wall. No idea how it got there as the bathroom is on the first floor, except it was close to an open window which is surrounded by ivy. Couple of sightings of red admiral butterfly too. KETTLETHORPE Kettlethorpe 25/16/2023 Alison Brownlow Leaf cutting bees laying in bamboo canes of my minibeast hotel. A slim black bee slightly smaller than a honey bee. Most of the canes have been filled with soil by Red mason Bee. WILLINGHAM WOODS Willingham Woods. Grid Reference? TF137874 Angela Buckle 19th June 2023. Bee orchid, Common spotted orchid, Meadow vetchling, Green flowered helleborine, Goats beard, Tufted vetch, Hedge woundwort, Water figwort. Ringlet Butterfly WOOLSTHORPE BY COLSTERWORTH SK92/24 Jane Ostler June 20th- 27th 2023 Gall: Alongside a lane the sloes on the Blackthorn are swollen and white, a condition caused by a fungal gall. These ‘pocket plums are abundant this year. In Flower: Early Marsh Orchid. A single flower on an estate verge managed for its limestone plants after the discovery of Bee Orchids. The species not noted before in the 20yrs since records kept. Giant Hogweed: a single plant on a roadside verge on edge of village, taller than the person photographing it and still thrusting upwards. The meadow on the Nature Trail has abundant, extra tall Oxeye Daisies above the flowering grasses and the first flowers on Common and Greater Knapweeds, Field and Small Scabious. Yellow Rattle and Bird’s Foot trefoil, Hop Trefoil and St John’s Wort have been flowering since end of May and Musk Mallow is at its best. Insects: On 25th June 2023 on the Nature Trail the first Marbled White Butterflies with Meadow Browns, Ringlets, speckled wood, Small Copper and Cinnabar Moths. From a garden photos of a Humming Bird Hawk Moth and a Magpie Moth. Reptiles: In the heatwave there have been several sightings of lizards in gardens with stone walls and grass snakes at ponds. Birds: Sightings dominated in gardens by parents feeding young. A Robin with a single fledgling transferring grubs from newly dug ground to where its offspring was sitting on a post. Young Starlings and Greenfinch imitating adults probing for grubs in the lawn or teasing seeds from mouse eared hawkweeds. Exhausted male blackbirds feeding fat worms to fat offspring. Young Greater spotted woodpeckers at feeders with their parents. A blue Tits nest cleared from a box after use consisted of a base layer of moss and then entirely filled with a dense mat of the dog’s hair combings. Hedgehogs: Young hedgehogs have been found in gardens in a poor state, probably suffering from dehydration. Looked after on advice from an overworked hedgehog hospital ‘some recovered overnight but two died on the second day . ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 21st – 27th 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 210623 - Hummingbird hawkmoth on the wing at Sea View. Wood sandpiper flew over Rimac car park, calling, late afternoon. Red-veined darter dragonfly patrolling over Rimac scrape. Cuckoo between Sea View and Rimac. 230623 - Adult grey partridge with 4 young in dunes near Sea View. 240623 - Plants in flower now include marsh helleborine, common spotted orchid, creeping and marsh thistle, common and lesser centaury, common figwort, restharrow and common valerian. Weasel hunting near Sea View. 35 lapwing on Paradise lagoon and evening flight of 20 curlew over Sea View to roost near the Haven. 250623 - A max temperature of 29.0 degrees centigrade was noted. Greenshank flying high over Sea View. Several hundred swift flew south early evening. A vocal whimbrel flew south over Mablethorpe North End. 260623 - Kingfisher along the Eau outfall. Brief, but heavy shower during the afternoon gave 0.1mm of ppt. 2 red kite flew south over Mablethorpe North End. Male banded demoiselle in MOD pond north of Churchill Lane. Going north over the sea early evening were 7 common scoter, a Mediterranean gull and 30 gannet, going south were an Arctic tern, a fulmar, 25 sandwich tern and lots of black- headed gulls, including the first of this years juveniles being noted. 270623 - Ringlet near Sea View, 5 black-tailed godwits on Paradise lagoon. Cuckoo flew south over the dunes at Churchill Lane. Cetti’s warbler singing at Churchill Lane car park. A light southerly movement of swifts through the day. Flowers now include pyramidal, common spotted and bee orchids, marsh helleborine, swathes of lady's bedstraw, viper’s bugloss, and common century. Dragonflies now include common and ruddy darters. Butterflies on the wing: small skipper, large skipper, small white, common blue, small tortoiseshell, red admiral, ringlet, small heath, meadow brown. Other local reserves 260723 – Muckton Wood – Ringlet butterflies on the wing. 270623 – Toby’s Hill – Cinnabar moths and caterpillars, meadow brown, ringlet and small skipper butterflies. Southern marsh orchids, lady’s bedstraw, lesser centaury and privet in flower. Blackcap and chiffchaff singing. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. Sunday 23 July Saturday 19th August Sunday 17th September Saturday 21 October ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The NNR includes the following sites: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chambers Farm Woods (comprises Ivy Wood; Little and Great Scrubbs Woods; Minting Wood; Hatton Wood, Hatton Plantation and Minting Park; and also three areas of grassland: Little Scrubbs Meadow and extension), Small Meadow and Big Meadow. Since all have their own management plans, please give the actual location when reporting). College Wood; Cocklode & Great West Woods; Hardy Gang Wood; Newball Wood; Rand Wood; Scotgrove Wood; Southrey Wood and Wickenby Wood. Many of these include both areas of ancient woodland or important grassland. Many are also designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Records which provide a six-figure grid reference are of particular value to the Forestry Commission. Other woods included in the NNR but without public access: Stainfield Wood; Stainton & Fulnetby Woods (access by public bridle way only). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. OTHER RESERVE REPORTS AND HIGHLIGHTS. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Links to "Other Reserves" are welcome. South Humber Heritage Trail, Alkborough Flats - LWT leaflet - downloadable https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/sites/default/files/2018-04/south_humber_heritage_trail_alkborough.pdf Monks Wood Ashing Lane Nature Reserve https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/monks-wood-ashing-lane-nature-reserve/ Tattershall Carrs https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/tattershall-carrs/ Mareham Pastures Local Nature Reserve https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/mareham-pastures-local-nature-reserve/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7. SENDING IN BULLETIN REPORTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The purpose of the Bulletin is to encourage biological recording in Lincolnshire. We aim to increase the number of people reporting observations to Recorders or via i-record. https://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/ The Bulletin is a FREE service. We ask you to provide reports, questions, news or relevant articles from time to time. Descriptive pieces are welcome. You don't have to stick to lists! Please help us to help you. When sending in reports please follow this layout to save re-editing: Place Name: IN CAPITALS with Grid Reference if you have it. Your Name: Real names please, not aliases. Put it in each time, for each location Date: Species list [Alphabetical?] & numbers [and observations?] e.g. Blackbird - 24 [And please, no home-grown abbreviations. Species Names in full.] Bulletin mailing times may vary. It usually goes out on Wednesdays/ Thursdays in time for the weekend. Please e-mail in contributions as early as possible, to: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8. CONTACTS AND USEFUL WEBSITES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CONTACTS LIST Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union LNU Website: http://lnu.org/ LNU Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist? LNU Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lincsnaturalists/ LNU e-mail: info@lnu.org Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust: https://twitter.com/LincsWildlife Lincs Bird Club: https://twitter.com/Lincsbirding LBC County Bird Recorder recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk The Sir Joseph Banks Society: https://twitter.com/sirjosephbanks Lincolnshire Bat Group: http://www.lincsbatgroup.co.uk/ Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch: https://twitter.com/BC_Lincolnshire Lincsbirders: https://twitter.com/lincsbirders Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project: https://lincolnshirechalkstreams.org/events/ South Lincolnshire Flora Group: https://bsbi.org/south-lincolnshire-v-c-53 The Wolds Fungi Group: Contact Paul Nichol via email: pnichol20@gmail.com Lincolnshire Dormouse Group: Contact: lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com FIGHTING WILDLIFE CRIME Wildlife Crime https://www.lincs.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/wc/wildlife-crime/ SPECIES IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. LNU Recorders and Specialists: https://lnu.org/specialists/ Downloads of LNU books: https://lnu.org/publications/books/ Recording with "irecord": https://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/ irecord is recommended by the LNU as an appropriate platform for on-line recording. Sawflies, Bees, Wasps and Ants Recorder Dr. David Sheppard Willing to examine specimens or check photos. Bear in mind only a relative few of the 300+ species in the county are identifiable using photos. Email: d.a.sheppard@btinternet.com Lincolnshire Mammals Chris Manning, Email: Chris.LincsDeer@gmail.com Spiders, Pseudoscorpions, Harvestmen Imogen Wilde Regional Co-ordinator (RC) and Mentor for Lincolnshire for the British Arachnological Society (BAS). Email: Imogen@imogenwilde.co.uk Amphibians and Reptiles Ashley Butterfield The Lincolnshire ARG (Amphibian & Reptile Group) Email: LearningOutdoors@btinternet.com Local Bat Helpline Grounded bats, bat problems, advice and information. Contact Annette Faulkner on 01775 766286 Email: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com Confidential Bat Records You may send confidential bat records direct to Annette Faulkner on: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com Slug ID Help Chris du Feu will help with slug identification. Tel: 01383 669 124 Email: chris.r.dufeu@gmail.com Non-Marine Molluscs and other Freshwater Invertebrates Alex Pickwell is the LNU Recorder for Non-marine Molluscs Email: mrapickwell@gmail.com When asking for help: Please give the the very best information you can provide. If you are not sure, ask what is needed from you to confirm identification. Photographs are helpful but not every species can be identified from a photograph. When asked for further details, get back to them promptly. Don't forget a thank you for the help. That is always welcomed. USEFUL WILDLIFE LINKS Please copy and paste URLs if necessary. Lincs Environmental Records Centre: http://www.glnp.org.uk/ Natural England: http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ NHBS Natural history equipment or books. https://www.nhbs.com/ NHM Final report on LoveLincsPlants: https://lnu.org/lincolnshire-plants-past-and-future/ Collections Dataset - LNU "historic specimens": http://data.nhm.ac.uk/dataset/lincs-plants The Flora of Lincolnshire by Joan Gibbons: downloadable LNU book For the Geologists... Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. Suggestions for Geology news, events or new useful links always welcome. Lincolnshire Geodiversity Group: https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/discovering/geology-1 Geology - the Collection: https://www.thecollectionmuseum.com/explore/geology Geology of the Lincolnshire Wolds: https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/special-features/geology The Geology of Lincolnshire: downloadable LNU book ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9. NOTES ABOUT THESE WILDLIFE REPORTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We do our best to ensure accuracy in our reporting. However, records are sent in by a variety of reporters; from complete beginners to professionals. They may vary in reliability and occasionally may be difficult or impossible to verify. If further information is needed please contact: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk Bulletins are sent to Recorders at Lincolnshire Environmental Records Centre [GNLP] , Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union and Lincolnshire Bird Club. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10. BULLETIN PUBLICITY POLICY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When sending in reports, e.g. unusual plants, please report any sensitive news directly to recorders. Not the Bulletin. We don't want to spoil things with untimely or unwise publicity. Thank you. Please respect the interests of wildlife and site owners if you report on national networks. Interest in wildlife is not a licence to act irresponsibly or thoughtlessly to landowners, who may well be partners in important conservation work. [Remember: Views expressed in the Bulletin do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of the LNU or associated organisations. In particular this applies to such agencies, especially charities, taking a political stance.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 11. LNU EVENTS DIARY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** LNU Events *** We will post any changes to LNU events in the Bulletin; the LNU Twitter feed; LNU Facebook page and LNU meetings webpage. Please refer to the LNU website for details of any Zoom arrangements for watching online. LNU Meetings: https://lnu.org/meetings/ Summer programme - Field Meetings Saturday 15th July Wilder Doddington (all day) LLP collecting Saturday 12th August Boothby Wildlands (all day) collecting NOTE CHANGE OF DATE FROM 19th Saturday 9th September Wolla Bank Pit, Chapel Pit & Chapel Six Marshes LWT Reserves (all day) (LLP collecting?) Sunday 15th October Langholme Wood and Haxey Turbary LWT Reserves Whisby Natural History Workshops Arranged in partnership by the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust (Lincoln Area Group) and the Lincolnshire Naturalists Union. At Whisby Nature Park near Lincoln, in the Lafarge Education Building from 13.00 pm until 4.30 pm. Free of charge. Refreshments included. Prior booking essential via Richard Davidson on 01522 525725 or Email rel.davidson@btinternet.com. Find out more about the various subjects from our local experts. Places are limited. 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 *** mikebpark jeremy.scottbolton ...and finally... Climate change: World way off target to end deforestation https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-66013854 Silver-studded blue butterflies return to former Norfolk home https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-65965312 Monarch butterfly's spots help it migrate - study https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-65952022 Minke whale spotted in waters off Cardigan Bay for first time in ten years https://uk.news.yahoo.com/minke-whale-spotted-off-cardigan-092248715.html Just two people – the tiny Cornish island where nature is thriving https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jun/22/you-notice-how-full-of-life-it-is-how-looe-island-became-a-wildlife-success-story-aoe Rewetting England’s lowland peat could help meet emissions target, says study https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jun/20/rewetting-englands-lowland-peat-could-help-meet-emissions-target-says-study Orca rams into yacht off Shetland in first such incident in northern waters https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jun/21/orca-rams-yacht-off-shetland-first-such-incident-northern-waters ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/