========================================= || || 10th May 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: Hopefully Plantlife's "No Mow May" will get enthusiastic support again this year. The yellow rattle here is looking good! Cowslips too. https://www.plantlife.org.uk/campaigns/nomowmay/ Thanks to Phil Porter for editing this week's bulletin. As Phil and I are collaborating please keep sending your reports to me for now, cc to Phil if you wish. Otherwise I'll forward them to him as necessary. LNU Meetings. Scroll to full details in section 11 below. Or click: https://lnu.org/meetings/ Next Field Meeting: Wild Wrendale (Rewilding Project) – Sunday 21st May (Afternoon) https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/2023-05-21-wild-wrendale-rewilding-project-sunday-22nd-may/ Exhibition - Joseph Banks Centre - George Edward Lodge. Celebrated naturalist, taxidermist and painter - born in Horncastle 1860. Runs to June 30th and well worth a visit! https://horncastlejbc.info/events/lodge/ Heads up for Meteors: The Eta Aquariids are active from 19 April to 27 May. They peaked 6 May. Clear skies! Please help with BWARS' Hornet survey - 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 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 writes: https://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project/ This week's links to Lincolnshire and wildlife-related news stories... Red Arrows' pride at representing Lincolnshire at Coronation https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-65513289 Royal Standard carrier to 'duck' at Westminster Abbey doors https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-65499960 Dead fin whale removed from Bridlington beach https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-65508713 Inspection reveals extent of Lincoln's Glory Hole path damage https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-65498396 Mutilated rare hen harrier found near Cumbrian border https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-65494829 16th May BBMF Flight commemorate 80th anniversary of Op Chastise https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles/battle-of-britain-memorial-flight-commemorate-80th-anniversary-of-op-chastise/ More links in "...and finally ..." at the end of the Bulletin. Thank you to everyone who sent something in. It really helps. Roger old.museum@yahoo.co.uk - note - my best address for emails. Joining Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union If you are a member, please give the LNU a "plug " to others. https://lnu.org/join-the-lnu/ Weather Forecast https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#? 11-13 May Sunny spells and scattered, potentially heavy and slow-moving, showers Thursday. Low cloud and early morning fog Friday and Saturday will gradually clear to sunny spells. Gentle winds. Temperatures around average. 13-22 May This period begins with more settled conditions across much of the country, although still a chance of a few isolated showers. Thicker cloud arriving into the northwest brings some longer spells of rain and drizzle here, setting up a broad north/south split. While this cloud and rain looks to potentially sink southeast, there is uncertainty as to how quickly it will displace the high pressure across southern parts, to bring some patchy rain here at times. This split looks likely to remain, staying generally unsettled to the north while drier, brighter conditions are more likely to the south, although there is a risk of showers at times. Winds generally light but increasing from the northwest at times, which will see the strongest winds. Temperatures close to, or slightly above average. For Astronomers and Sky-watchers The Eta Aquariids are active from 19 April to 27 May, but peak from midnight to dawn on 6 May. Around 50 meteors per hour are expected. https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/eta-aquariid-meteor-shower-2023-when-where-see-it-uk May's Night Sky: https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/blog/astronomy/night-sky-highlights-may-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 have released details of their 2023 programme of “Seal and Birdwatching Cruises into The Wash”. For 2023 twelve cruises are scheduled to take place, aboard “The Boston Belle”, at various sailing times, starting on 13th April and ending on 23rd October. All cruises start and end at Boston Marina and 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 *** BTO Cuckoo Tracking project *** Joe and JAC are back!!!! 24th April. https://www.bto.org/cuckoos *** Hedgehog Advice *** https://hedgehogcare.org.uk/ https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/ *** South Ormesby Estate. Open weekend 20-21 May *** Guided walks running throughout the weekend, as well as a range of fantastic stalls, entertainment, food, and games. https://www.southormsbyestate.co.uk/tour/ *** Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service *** Helen Gamble writes 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/ We also have a special edition of Wolds News. If you’d like paper copies contact aonb@lincswolds.org.uk *** 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 13th May 23 you are invited to join the group for a morning walk at Tetney Blow Wells Nature Reserve looking for birds and wildlife. Meet Graham at 8am outside St Peter and St Paul Church Tetney. Grid Reference TA 317009. Please 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 07979 089890. Details also on our website www.grimsbywildlifetrust.org.uk We are also 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 15th May at 7.30pm - Geof Lee will give an illustrated talk with the title "Isle of Purbeck" Geof is an excellent photographer and an accomplished speaker who has visited us before. This talk will be about an area of Dorset which includes Brownsea Island and has a wide range of habitats. As a result, a large variety of plants and animals are found there 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, Home - Grimsby Local Group (rspb.org.uk) 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 21st May to Potteric Carr- 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 *** Lincoln LWT *** Richard Davidson writes Lincoln Area Group Talk May 18th: Wildlife of the Tees Valley Geof Lee takes us on a journey up the River Tees valley from its mouth to the source looking at the many nature reserves along the way. At Whisby Nature Park in the Lafarge Education Building starting at 7.30 pm. Admission is £2.50 which includes refreshments in the interval. We'll then be taking a break over the summer before returning again with new talks from September onwards. 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 3/4 Blue-winged Teal, Little Stint, on Marsh Farm grassland, Spoonbill, 3 Wood Sandpipers, Frampton Marsh 3 Dotterel over East Dunes, Gibraltar Point 2 Black-winged Stilts, Kirkby on Bain GPs 4/4 Wood Sandpiper, Willow Tree Fen Black Tern at Wader Pit, Wood Sandpiper, 2 Spoonbills flew low east over, Baston + Langtoft Pits 4 Wood Sandpipers, 2 Black-winged Stilts on wet grassland SW of car park, Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Little Stints, Frampton Marsh Pied Flycatcher, Short-eared Owl, Gibraltar Point Wood Sandpiper, 141 Ruff, Anderby Marsh, Anderby Creek 2 Black-winged Stilts, Hartsholme Country Park, Lincoln 85 Ruff, Alkborough Flats 5/4 Black Tern on spit at Wader Pit, Baston + Langtoft Pits 2 Wood Sandpipers, 3 Black-winger Stilts on North Scrape, 2 Little Stints, Curlew Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh Purple Heron flew in off sea then inland, Gibraltar Point Wood Sandpiper, Garganey, 141+ Ruff, Anderby Marsh, Anderby Creek Garganey drk at Paradise Pool, south of Saltfleet Haven, SE of Saltfleet Garganey drk, Rimac Pallid or Montagu's Harrier ringtail flew north over Donna Nook, also reported flying over rape field then landed out of view, Horse Shoe Point. 6/5 Blue-winged Teal drk at Marsh Farm grassland from Cross Bank, 3 Little Stints from Sea Bank car park, 2 Black-winged Stilts on Middle Scrape, Garganey drk, 3 Wood Sandpipers from car park on wet grassland, Frampton Marsh Short-eared Owl, Anderby Creek Great Northern Diver on south side, Covenham reservoir 7/5 Arctic Tern at Wader Pit, Roseate Tern at Embryo Angling Pits, then lost to view, Baston + Langtoft Pits Blue-winged Teal drk at Marsh Farm grassland from Sea Bank, Little Stint, 3 Wood Sandpipers from car park, drk Garganey, 2 Black-winged Stilts on Middle Scrape, Short-eared Owl over saltmarsh, Spotted Redshank on reservoir, Frampton Marsh Long-eared Owl at dawn, Short-eared Owl, Montagu's Harrier ringtail at south end, Gibraltar Point Subalpine Warbler spp. trapped and ringed, - probably Western Subapline warbler in scrub, Saltfleet Haven Probable Montagu's Harrier at RAF Wainfleet 8/5 3 Black-winged Stilts in NW corner, Little Gull flew over Wood Sandpiper in car park, 2 Wood Sandpipers on wet grassland near car park, Little Stint, 2 Pale-belied Brent Geese, Frampton Marsh Red-spotted Bluethroat male at Seacroft off esplanade along saltings edge, Red-rumped Swallow flew south over Mill Hill, Gibraltar Point Curlew Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Anderby Creek Pallid Harrier ringtail flew north over Crook Bank, Saltfleetby NNR 9/5 3 Black-winged Stilts on Middle Scrape, Frampton Marsh 1s male Hen Harrier, [NOT a Pallid Harrier] Elm House Farm, Saltfleetby NNR 2 Common Cranes flew SE over Riseholme ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. British Bugs (Hemiptera) - online identification - NEW https://www.britishbugs.org.uk/index.html Mike's Insect Keys: illustrated identification aids for insects - NEW https://sites.google.com/view/mikes-insect-keys/ Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog: http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ Lincs Bird Club: https://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk/site/index.php/sightings/latest-news Butterfly Conservation - Lincolnshire Branch: https://butterfly-conservation.org/in-your-area/lincolnshire-branch/ Which moth species might be on the wing tonight in your area? https://butterfly-conservation.org/moths/whats-flying-tonight Atlas of the terrestrial and semi-aquatic Mammals of Lincolnshire: https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/mammalatlas.pdf VC54 North Lincolnshire Plant List - LNU Paul Kirby's list of all the vascular plant & stonewort taxa with records on the MapMate botanical database for VC54, North Lincolnshire, at the end of January 2017. Download this on: https://lnu.org/specialists/vascular-plants/ Record Pool - an easy way to record your amphibian and reptile species records. https://www.recordpool.org.uk/index.php ROAD KILLS? PLEASE LET US KNOW. Every drive is a transect! Hedgehogs? Badgers? Otters? Reports welcome. *** County Wildlife Reports From Readers *** Thanks to our regular contributors across the county. Much appreciated. We rely on readers to send in their observations and welcome records from everyone, experts or beginners. Please keep your reports coming. MORKERY WOOD SK95/17 Jane Ostler 4/5/23 Some sunshine but cold wind Plants in flower. Seen from pathways. Dandelions abundant but Coltsfoot almost over and seeding. Herb Robert, Cow Parsley, Bluebell, Water Avens, Wood Forget-me-not, Ground Ivy, Bugle, Lords and Ladies, Greater Stitchwort, Early dog violet, Sweet Violet, Common dog Violet, Garlic Mustard, Primrose, Barren Strawberry, Wild Strawberry, Wood Anemone, Germander speedwell, Pendulous Sedge. One Norway Maple still in flower, others forming fruit. First Hawthorn out but Blackthorn now over. A single mature oak was in flower with young leaves emerging, whilst others just beginning to leaf. Butterflies Brimstone (l male only), Apart from 8 Peacocks all other species were either singletons or in only twos or threes. Orange Tips, Small Whites, Green veined White, a pair of Small Tortoiseshells in a mating dance. Birds were notable by their absence Mostly contact calls rather than song – A brief snatch of the chiffchaff. Blackbirds and pheasants. Red Kite circling above. Plucked feathers of a pigeon on the path looked like the work of a sparrowhawk. WOOLSTHORPE-BY-COLSTERWORTH SK92/24 Jane Ostler 1-8th May 2023 Flowering Plants I have discovered an unexpected bonus of growing wild flowers for wildlife in the garden. Confined at present to a motor scooter I am unable to visit some of my favourite sites but can enjoy their flowers as they emerge – at present this is particularly woodland plants like Violets, Garlic Mustard, Wild Arum, Bluebell, Red Campion, Greater Stitchwort, Wood Anemone, Sweet Woodruff and Primrose Butterflies  The following are all in low numbers and most first sightings a little later:- Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma (1st on 29th April), Brimstone, Small White, Green Veined White (1st on 29th April), Orange Tip(1st on 29th April) Holly Blue (4th May) On Nature Trail 3rd May Speckled Wood (The solitary bee Andrena haemorrhea was first out in my garden on 3rd May Birds Although there are lots of us looking for the return of house martins and swallows the lack of these is a real concern. Only a single male swallow has been seen, on a number of occasions in the vicinity there was a nest last year and only two house martins nests are reported occupied, with a small group flying possibly associated with this. First cuckoo Twyford Wood 23/4/23, First swifts flying above garden on 8/5/23 FRITHVILLE TF298489 Pete and Margaret Westcott 08.05.23 Out with the sunshine on Friday came 4 Brimstones, 3 males fighting over 1 female, more eggs now on our Alder Buckthorn. Orange-tip males traverse the garden at high speed, inspecting any and every butterfly. Two freshly emerged Speckled Woods sit low in the damp grass. Surprises often just land on the house wall. Yesterday came a Red Cardinal beetle, and this morning, a Garden Carpet moth. Along the road, the verges bloom with Cow Parsley, Charlock and Hoary Cress. In the shorter sward grows Germander Speedwell. Two Roe Deer anxiously bound out of sight, while at home, the leveret lounges in its favourite spot and bees decide to swarm into a disused chimney. WATER RAIL WAY Southrey towards Stixwould TF138663 to TF151656 Phil and Mary Porter 6/5/23 On a warm day albeit with threatening clouds that thankfully did not rain, we had a very pleasant morning walk downstream from Southrey station. There was a good range of plants in flower all along the footpath, but with the now-expected paucity of insects. The former shunting area is always very closely cropped by rabbits and primarily clothed by a prostrate mat of Common Storksbill and Doves-foot Cranesbill, with Thyme-leafed Sandwort here and there. Tucked in against the Hawthorn hedge was a dense clump of Green Alkanet where annual leaf-fall has enriched the soil. From the pumping station onwards the grass verges are more fertile but still grazed by rabbits and presumably also by deer, and Common Corn Salad, Ground-ivy and Field Mouse-ear started to feature. Other flowering plants noted were Field Forget-me-not, Germander Speedwell, Common Field Speedwell, Cowslip, Bulbous Buttercup, Red Campion and Wintercress. Singing birds included Wren, Linnet, Cetti’s Warbler, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Sedge Warbler, single Stock Dove (others only seen), Yellowhammer, Robin and Song Thrush, but the most frequent were Whitethroat and Blackcap. A Cormorant cut a comical figure with wings spread out to dry high up on one of the electricity cables near the pub opposite, looking uneasy in the slight breeze. The real treats involved a basking Lizard on the station brickwork, and a Grass Snake crossing the river towards us. On the way back, a Vole species scurried across the footpath right in front of our border Terrier, Bonny. Luckily, she was on a lead, or that would have been its last move for sure. BARDNEY VILLAGE TF120695 Phil and Mary Porter 7/5/223 Our first Swifts over the village, about 5-6. 8/5/23 A Lesser Whitethroat sang in a dense hedgerow on the edge of the village. Also a Willow Warbler and a Blackcap singing off Abbey Road. We have seen a lot of Thale Cress growing at the foot of walls and cracks in hard surfaces. It has also been a good year for the related Whitlow Grass in the village. BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 Phil + Mary Porter 9/5/23 Our second Large Red Damselfly of the year rose from the garden pond, and Mary photographed a mating pair of Holly Blue butterflies resting on a hawthorn bush which also drew my attention to several Hairy Shieldbugs on surrounding vegetation. BARDNEY - The Green TF120694 R & A Parsons 7/5/2023 Observed resident m Pied Wagtail taking nesting material into the woodshed! Both m and f now very active around the site, seen 8/5 and again 9/5. https://birdfact.com/birds/pied-wagtail/nesting 8/5/2023 2+ Hedgehogs filmed on trail camera: 2.52, 2.59 [with LH smudge], 3,45, 4.26 and 437hrs. 9/4 2 Swifts over at 16.15hrs Hedgehog discovered in nest box! Later filmed emerging and returning and visiting feeding station at 21.58, 21,19 10.43 and on 10/5 at 12.40. SNAKEHOLME PIT TF116715 R & A Parsons 7/5/2023 Speckled Wood - 2 "interacting" Holly Blue - passing through? 3+ m Brimstones Peacock 4m and 1f Orange Tips Chiffchaffs singing well. 3 Mallards GOSLINGS CORNER R & A Parsons 8/5/2023 Good display of Wild Garlic and Bluebells Speckled Wood Very wet underfoot in places with muddy areas suffering "poaching". SEDGE HOLE CLOSE LWT Nature Reserve Steve Hiner 26/04/23 Blackbird x 2 Blackcap x 1 Blue Tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 4 Chiffchaff x 1 Dunnock x 1 Goldfinch x 1 Great Tit x 2 Greenfinch x 1 Jackdaw x 2 Pied Wagtail x 2 Robin x 1 Skylark x 1 Swallow x 2 Willow Warbler x 1 Wood Pigeon x 4 Yellowhammer x 3 Yellow Wagtail x 1 Rabbit x 4 04/05/23 Blackbird x 1 Blackcap x 1 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 1 Chiffchaff x 1 Great-spotted Woodpecker x 1 Great Tit x 1 Jackdaw x 2 Skylark x 2 Swallow x 3 Wood Pigeon x 4 THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 19/04/23 Barn Owl x 1 around nest box 01:50hrs Blackbird x 3 Chaffinch x 2 Chiffchaff x 1 Common Buzzard x 1 Goldfinch x 2 Linnet x 2 Robin x 1 Red-legged Partridge x 2 Skylark x 2 Stock Dove x 1 on nest Wood Pigeon x 4 Holly Blue x 1 20/04/23 Barn Owl x 02:15hrs Green-veined White x 1 23/04/23 Cuckoo x 1 Green-veined White x 1 24/03/23 Barn Owl x 1 12:30hrs Blackbird x 1 Carrion Crow x 1 Chaffinch x 1 Chiffchaff x 1 Common Buzzard x 1 Goldfinch x 4 Great Tit x 2 Greenfinch x 2 Greylag Goose x 1 over Heron x 1 over Kestrel x 1 Linnet x 2 MaPied Wagtail x 2 Red-legged Partridge x 2 Robin x 1 Skylark x 2 Tree Sparrow x 4 Willow Warbler x 1 Wood Pigeon x 4 Yellowhammer x 1 Yellow Wagtail x 1 25/04/23 Barn Owl x 1 01:15hrs Blackbird x 1 Blue Tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 4 Chiffchaff x 1 Common Buzzard x 1 Dunnock x 1 Goldfinch x 4 Great Tit x 1 Grey Partridge x 2 Greylag Goose x 2 over Jackdaw x 1 Linnet x 2 Magpie x 2 Mallard x 2 over Pied Wagtail x 2 Robin x 1 Sedge Warbler x 1 Skylark x 2 Stock Dove x 1 fledged young from nest box in chicken run Whitethroat x 1 Willow Warbler x 1 Wood Pigeon x 6 Yellow Wagtail x 2 Speckled Wood x 1 26/04/23 Tawny Owl x 1 01:35hrs 27/04/23 Tawny Owl x 1 01:50hrs 28/04/23 Barn Owl x 1 08:10hrs SE792003 30/04/23 Barn Owl x 1 01:15hrs lots of Cowslips this year around our paddocks and yard in new areas from previous years. 01/05/23 Barn Owl x 1 01:50hrs Blackbird x 1 fledged young seen plus several more (2 broods) heard in background Blackcap x 1 Black Kite x 1 flying at height of about 30' South West over Thurnholmes 14:50hrs Blue Tit x 1 Carrion Crow x 2 + 1 on nest Chaffinch x 3 Chiffchaff x 1 Cuckoo x 1 Dunnock x 1 Goldfinch x 4 Greylag Goose x 2 over Grey Partridge x 2 Heron x 1 Jackdaw x 2 Kestrel x 1 Magpie x 2 Mallard x 3 over Pied Wagtail x 1 Robin x 2 Skylark x 2 Stock Dove x 3 Swallow x 2 Tawny Owl x 1 calling 01:20hrs Tree Sparrow x 6 Whitethroat x 1 Willow Warbler x 1 Wood Pigeon x 6 Wren x 1 Yellowhammer x 2 Yellow Wagtail x 2 04/05/23 Holly Blue x 1 Bee Fly Bombylius major x 1 05/05/23 Barn Owl x 2 14:20hrs Common Pipistrelle x 2 21:30hrs (45hz) my first for year 08/05/23 Barn Owl x 1 01:20hrs Common Pipistrelle x 2 01:20hrs (45hz) first Yellow Rattle flowers in paddock 09/05/23 Barn Owl x 1 01:30hrs Blackbird x 2 Blackcap x 1 Blue Tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 1 on nest Chaffinch x 1 Chiffchaff x 1 Common Buzzard x 1 Dunnock x 1 Goldfinch x 4 Great Tit x 2 Greenfinch x 1 Heron x 1 over Jackdaw x 2 Kestrel x 1 Grey Partridge x 2 Mallard x 2 Pied Wagtail x 1 Robin x 1 on nest Stock Dove x 2 Skylark x 2 Tree Sparrow x 4 Whitethroat x 1 Willow Warbler x 1 Wood Pigeon x 6 Yellowhammer x 4 Yellow Wagtail x 2 Orange Tip x 1 male  Peacock x 2 Small Tortoiseshell x 1 Small White x 2 Garden Carpet moth x 1 A15 by WADDINGTON AIRFIELD, travelling south. Approx SK998647 4/5/23 Annette Faulkner Stoat ran across road in front of car, travelling west to east. Fortunately just missed it. SPALDING Garden TF245218 Annette Faulkner 7/5/23  Male orange – tip. We do have one of its food plants, garlic mustard/ aka Jack by the Hedge in the garden – though it is pretty invasive. SPALDING 9/5/23 Annette Faulkner While walking home – Holly blues at TF248234 and TF248225 GRIMSBY TA265095 Joyce Attia 10th May 2023 My blackbird alarm clock is getting earlier, 03.59 hrs this morning. A walk down the river side a couple of days ago, the ebennet (cow parsley) is flowering, summer's here. A pair of swans with 8 cygnets, they look to be 3 or 4 days old. I don't know what happened to the swan on the island, I was told there were 11 cygnets but I've never seen them. There was a mallard with 5 ducklings, tiny things being harassed by a male. Last year there were lots of ducklings, but they were mainly male, I wonder if the males are a bit bigger and stronger and survive better. There was a blackbird singing his heart out in a tree, I had to sit on the wall and listen to him, I was soon joined by a couple of dog walkers also enjoying the beautiful morning. On the way back there was a peacock butterfly and a swallow who flew so close that I felt the draught. In the garden this week we have had the usual sparrows, a robin, 3 great tits yesterday (I think one was a juvenile), a dunnock, a robin, the chiff chaff seems to have stopped singing, the woodpigeons are still here, they do make a mess. I thought I heard a goldfinch but it might have been wishful thinking. There are some little bees on the pulmonaria, and the allium which is so attractive to the bees will soon be flowering. BOSTON Maud Foster Drain  TF 333440 - TF 335430 Tracey Lenton 07/05/2023 Very warm and sunny. A walk between the swimming pool bridge and sluice gates to check on t he Mallard ducklings. Saw three different families in all: One of 2 ducklings, perhaps the family I saw last weekend reduced to 2, with male as well as female adult One of 5 and one of 11 All chicks have down still so still quite young and with their female parent. I might have seen a Kingfisher, they do inhabit this area, a flash of bright blue seen flying over the water. BOSTON My Garden TF338441 Tracey Lenton 7th May 2023 Hedgehog visits the garden nightly. First seen 5th April with a larger hog who was circling around it, thereafter alone and before 10pm. I put out food every night which gets eaten, it visits later now as lighter nights so I haven't seen much of it. Most recent sighting was 5th May at 03:45 (woke up and couldn't sleep!) also heard the dawn chorus start at 04:20 and saw a bat fly in, out and round the garden for about 5 minutes. MESSINGHAM Angela Buckle Messingham nature reserve 2nd May 2023 Red deadnettle, Common chickweed, Spring beauty, Field mouse-ear, Ivy leaved speedwell, Ground ivy, White deadnettle, Cowslip, Thale cress, Cuckoo flower, Bog bean, Marsh marigold, Water crowfoot, Great stitchwort, Dovesfoot cranesbill, Meadow saxifrage, Gorse, Marsh violet, Bluebell, Marsh horsetail,  Common storksbill  Hairy bittercress. Fungi, Scarlet elfcup. Orange tip butterfly. Roe deer. FAR INGS Angela Buckle Far ings. 7th May.2023 Meadow buttercup, Wood avens. Cow parsley, Wild mignonette, Smooth sow-thistle, Fine leaved sandwort, Borage, Common vetch, Fiddleneck, Valerian red and white, Bugloss, Fungi Conic morel. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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  3rd – 9th May 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 - very warm and humid on the 5th giving rise to thunder and brief very heavy spells of rain. 030523 - Great white egret flew south over the saltmarsh. Cetti’s warbler singing at Crook Bank and an arrival of whitethroats to the area in recent days. Fieldfare at Mablethorpe North End. 8 house martin and 4 swallow over Rimac scrape. 040523 - Brambling flew south at Brickyard Lane. 6 ruff, little ringed plover, 2 oystercatcher, redshank and pink-footed goose on scrapes adjacent to the dunes south of Crook Bank. Wheatear Elm House Farm. 050523 - Paradise lagoon: 8 tufted duck, 3 gadwall, 3 teal, 3 coot and 11 mute swans. Common sandpiper on edge of Eau near Sea View and 2 whimbrel on saltmarsh. Drake garganey on Paradise Lagoon. Greenshank and common sandpiper on the Eau outfall and a greenshank next to Rimac car park. 060523 - Pair of pochard on Paradise lagoon, 5 whimbrel on the saltmarsh. Resulting from the rain and rise in water level of the Eau Sea View washland (south side of river) is flooded where there were 2 pairs of lapwing and a pair of oystercatcher. Single spoonbill flying south over Rimac, 2 wheatears on dunes nearby. Cetti’s warbler singing south of Churchill Lane and a reed warbler singing at Brickyard Lane. 2 marsh harrier drifted south over Crook Bank. Stonechat pair, female cuckoo, goldcrest and wheatear in the dunes at Crook Bank south. Light southerly movement of hirundines plus some finches and 2 yellow wagtail. 070523 - 8 common swifts, north over Sea View, 5 whimbrel on saltmarsh. Butterflies included red admiral, wall brown, green hairstreak and brimstone near Sea View. On Sea View washlands: 2 broods of lapwings with 3 chicks each, single greenshank and 2 avocets. Probable ringtail pallid harrier flew south over the foreshore at Brickyard Lane. Four-spotted chaser dragonfly on the wing. 080523 - Sea View washlands: 2 greenshank, 3 ruff, 24 black-tailed godwits, 5 avocets, drake garganey and 2 broods of lapwings. 19 curlew flew out to sea and swallows moving south over the dunes. Female merlin over the saltmarsh and a redwing in scrub north of Sea View. Whinchat at Mablethorpe North End. 090523 - Make garganey on Sea View washlands, 4 black-tailed godwits, 2 avocets, 2 greenshank and 2 broods of lapwings but only 2 chicks each seen. Single siskin over Rimac car park and a single redwing in willows between Rimac and Churchill Lane. A late hen harrier flew over Elm House Farm. 3 green hairstreak butterflies seen at Rimac. 3 small bats, large red damselfly and four-spotted chaser seen over recent days around Churchill Lane. Other Local Reserves 050523 – Legbourne Wood: Chiffchaff, black cap, garden warbler, great- spotted woodpecker, buzzard flew over, speckled wood, holly blue, peacock, small white, comma, brimstone butterflies. Small bat flying around catching insects. Carpet of bluebells.   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: https://butterfly-conservation.org/in-your-area/lincolnshire-branch/chambers-farm-wood-butterfly-garden Gardening date for May is 16th. New volunteers always welcome. 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 21 May 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. MiddleMarsh Wetlands, Skegness: https://www.birdguides.com/sites/europe/britain-ireland/britain/england/lincolnshire/middlemarsh-farm/ 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 Grainthorpe Haven https://www.birdguides.com/sites/europe/britain-ireland/britain/england/lincolnshire/grainthorpe-haven/ Cress Marsh, Stallingborough https://www.birdguides.com/news/new-wetland-takes-shape-in-lincolnshire/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/ LNU Officers and Executive Committee: https://lnu.org/about/officers-executive/ 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. entoLIVE is a webinar series that showcases invertebrate research (covering inverts from terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments). There will be 40 talks this year and they are all free to attend, with a fair few of them about biological recording or citizen science monitoring projects. Full programme of events: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/cc/entolive-webinars-74679 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 Bat rescue instructions. Annette 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. 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/ Greater Lincolnshire Nature Partnership newsletter: https://linktr.ee/GLNPnature Contact in case link does not work: Emily Todd: emily.todd@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 21st May Wild Wrendale 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ...AND FINALLY... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails Last Week *** None ....and finally... DNA from 25,000-year-old tooth pendant reveals woman who wore it https://www.newscientist.com/article/2371898-dna-from-25000-year-old-tooth-pendant-reveals-woman-who-wore-it/ Scotland's wildcat on brink of extinction - research https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-65473244 Climate change: life in ocean ‘twilight zone' at risk from warming https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-65460128 Butterfly species named after Lord of the Rings villain Sauron https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-65515790 Locusts produce an odour to try to put other locusts off eating them https://www.newscientist.com/article/2372029-locusts-produce-an-odour-to-try-to-put-other-locusts-off-eating-them/ ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/