========================================= || || 17th 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: The BBMF Lancaster flew over Bardney village at about 20.00hrs on 16th. A sharp shower dispersed the small crowd that had gathered to watch the commemorative fly past. 5 swifts were feeding over us as we waited. If you are planning a visit to Horncastle be aware: The River Bain bridge closes for a month for works. Check: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-65495296 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/ Celebrate National Nature Reserves Week at Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes National Nature Reserve with fantastic guided walks! Details further down this page... Spaces must be booked in advance To book, e-mail: SaltfleetbyTheddlethorpeNNR@naturalengland.org.uk To find out more visit: www.NNRweek.com 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 have 2 chicks, 15 & 16th. Awaiting No 3 https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/watch-wildlife-online/loch-of-the-lowes-webcam/ Len Pick Trust Owl-box Camera - no eggs yet! Keep checking! https://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project/ This week's links to Lincolnshire and wildlife-related news stories... Watch: Dambusters: Lancaster soars over Lincolnshire Bomber Command memorial https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-lincolnshire-65616277 Events mark 80th anniversary of Dambusters raids: 16 and 17 May 1943. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-65581885 Dambusters: Their own story - 3 minute listen - Radio Lincolnshire https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0fnfj6g Lincolnshire Dambusters memorial unveiled on 80th anniversary https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-65595165 Skidbrooke beekeeper quits after 'professional' thieves strike again https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-65552726 Arrest over theft of Skegness RNLI lifeguards' quad bikes https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-65571319 Stolen Lincoln Cathedral rose bushes recovered by police https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-65536074 Dambusters' dog grave could move due to RAF Scampton asylum plan https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-65555760 Horncastle iguana rescued from tree after escaping via cat flap https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-65558803 South Somercotes swans killed and eggs stolen https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-65557339 Lincoln archaeological dig expected to unearth 'significant finds' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-65533101 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/ *** Celebrate National Nature Reserves Week *** Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes National Nature Reserve - fantastic guided walks! Guided Walks 23rd May - Amazing Amphibians - 10am-12noon 24th May - Butterflies, Dragonflies & Day-Flying Moths - 10am-12.30 hrs 26th May - What's That Bird - 9am-11am 29th May - Family Exploration Day - 14:00-16:30 hrs Meet - Rimac Car Park Meet: Rimac Road, Louth, LN11 7TS (nearest postcode) What3Words: ///outdone.broke.sprouting Spaces must be booked in advance To book, e-mail: SaltfleetbyTheddlethorpeNNR@naturalengland.org.uk To find out more visit: www.NNRweek.com *** 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/ *** Exhibition at 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/ *** 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/ Weather Forecast https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#? 21-30 May "On Sunday, cloud and intermittent rain over Scotland and Northern Ireland may spread into some parts of northwest England and maybe Wales later. Otherwise, a fine day for many with warm sunshine, although feeling cooler in the far southeast with a brisk breeze. Through next week and the beginning of the following week, the overall settled theme will continue with predominantly fine and dry weather for most. The northwest of the UK is most likely to see periods of cloud and rain, with some spells of unsettled weather also possible in the far southeast. Winds generally light, although possibly stronger in the far northwest and far southeast. Temperatures for most are likely to be above average during the day, although most likely closer to average in the far southeast." For Astronomers and Sky-watchers A powerful M9.6-class solar flare erupted from behind the sun's southeastern limb on May 16th, just percentage points weaker than X-class. ...The blast heralds a hidden but active sunspot, which could turn toward Earth later this week https://spaceweather.com/ The Eta Aquariids are active from 19 April to 27 May. 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 *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Area Groups webpage *** Please let me have your "plugs" for coming events. https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/area-groups *** 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. *** Grimsby And Cleethorpes Area Group LWT *** www.grimsbywildlifetrust.org.uk Carolyn Davis writes: On Saturday 27th May the Grimsby and Cleethorpes Area Group LWT invite you to join them for a very early walk to listen to the dawn chorus in Weelsby Woods, Grimsby with Graham Hicks. Grid Reference TA 282078. Meet Graham in the car park at 5am. 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 please contact Graham Hicks 07979 089890 or check 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 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. 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 10/5 Osprey flew south over Baston Pits 2 Little Stints, 2 Curlew Sandpipers on Marsh Farm Grassland, Garganey drk on North Scrape, 2 Black-winged Stilts on Middle Scrape, 2 Spoonbills, Frampton Marsh Garganey. Freiston Shore Ring Ouzel from Wash Viewpoint, Short-eared Owl, Gibraltar Point 11/5 3 Black-winged Stilts on scrapes, Pink-footed Goose, Curlew Sandpiper on wet grassland north of Sea Bank car park, Garganey on Marsh Farm grassland from Cross Bank, Frampton Marsh Blue-winged Teal drk on reservoir, drk Garganey, Freiston Shore Pied Flycatcher trapped and ringed, Gibraltar Point 12/5 Little Stint, Frampton Marsh Blue-winged Teal drk and Temminck's Stint on reservoir, 2 drk Garganey, Freiston Shore 3 Spoonbills, Temminck's Stint at Jackson's Marsh, Gibraltar Point Garganey drk on flood by River Great Eau, Withern Caspian Gull 1w, Novartis Ings, Pyewipe 13/5 Wood Sandpiper on pool briefly, then flew west, Willow Tree Fen Little Stint, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, drk Garganey, Frampton Marsh Blue-winged Teal drk on reservoir, 2 drk Garganey on wet grassland, Turnstore on lagoon, Freiston Shore Red-backed Shrike trapped and ringed in East Dunes, Short-eared Owl over north end of Old Saltmarsh, Hen Harrier ringtail, Gibraltar Point Sing Ouzel in scrub north of Crook Bank, Wood Sandpiper on saltmarsh, then flew north, Brickyard Lane,Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes Hen Harrier male between Worlaby and Bonby 14/5 2 Garganey, from viewing area, Willow Tree Fen 2 Wood Sandpipers on pool by steps to Sea Bank, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 4 Spoonbills, Little Stint, Frampton Marsh 2 drk Garganey, Blue-winged Teal drk on north bank of reservoir/wet grassland, Freiston Shore Red-backed Shrike re-trapped in East Dunes, then on Rock Ridge, 3 Temminck's Stints at Tennyson's Hide, Pied Flycatcher at north end of East Dunes, one also reported at West Dunes, Hawfinch flew south along West Dunes, Wood Sandpiper on lagoon, Hen Harrier ringtail from wash Viewpoint, Spoonbill, Gibraltar Point 15/5 Short-eared Owl, Temminck's Stint on Moat Scrape, Woodlark near Visitor Centre, Turtle Dove, Red-backed Shrike in West Dunes, Gibraltar Point 2 Night Herons along the river Great Eau between Sea View and Rimac, Salthfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR 16/5 1+ Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Little Stints, Frampton Marsh Temminck's Stint from Harvey's hide, Short-eared Owl, Gibraltar Point Lesser Scaup drk, west of river Great Eau on south pool Also reported on Sea View Washlands south of Sea View Farm, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR Garganey drk at Manby Flashes, Manby OPsprey flew north over Trent Hide, Great White Egret flew West, Alkborough Flats 17/5 3 Little Stints, American Golden Plover ad male with Golden Plovers at Marsh Farm NW corner. Frampton Marsh [Don't park near reservoir!] Temminck's Stint from Harvey's Hide, Short-eared Owl, Spoonbill, Gibraltar Point Lesser Scaup drk on Washlands south of Sea View Farm, 2 Night Herons on Great Eau, the flew south, Kentish Plover on beach then flew north with 50 ringed Plover, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR 3 Dotterel in field between Louth Canal and sea wall, "from path near large pipes" Tetney Lock ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. *** 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. *** Hedgehog Advice *** https://hedgehogcare.org.uk/ https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/ *** BTO Cuckoo Tracking project *** Joe and JAC are back!!!! 24th April. https://www.bto.org/cuckoos British Bugs (Hemiptera) - online identification https://www.britishbugs.org.uk/index.html Mike's Insect Keys: illustrated identification aids for insects https://sites.google.com/view/mikes-insect-keys/ Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog: http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ Lincs Bird Club: https://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk/site/index.php/sightings/latest-news Butterfly Conservation - Lincolnshire Branch: https://butterfly-conservation.org/in-your-area/lincolnshire-branch/ Which moth species might be on the wing tonight in your area? https://butterfly-conservation.org/moths/whats-flying-tonight Atlas of the terrestrial and semi-aquatic Mammals of Lincolnshire: https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/mammalatlas.pdf VC54 North Lincolnshire Plant List - LNU Paul Kirby's list of all the vascular plant & stonewort taxa with records on the MapMate botanical database for VC54, North Lincolnshire, at the end of January 2017. Download this on: https://lnu.org/specialists/vascular-plants/ Record Pool - an easy way to record your amphibian and reptile species records. https://www.recordpool.org.uk/index.php ROAD KILLS? PLEASE LET US KNOW. Every drive is a transect! Hedgehogs? Badgers? Otters? Reports welcome. *** County Wildlife Reports From Readers *** Thanks to our regular contributors across the county. Much appreciated. We rely on readers to send in their observations and welcome records from everyone, experts or beginners. Please keep your reports coming. BARDNEY - The Green TF120694 R & A Parsons 10/5/2023 Pied Wagtail pair still very active. f Sparrowhawk flew over garden. 2 Swifts over Holly blue seen 4 times - passing through. Hedgehog caught on trailcam: 23.17, 23.31 11.5 Hedgehog caught on trailcam: 0.08, 0.12. Holly Blue passing through. 4 Swifts over Hedgehog caught on trailcam: 03.54, 03.56, 04,28,04.32hrs 16/5 Hedgehog caught on trailcam: night of 15th/16th May 10.48; 10.54; 11.38; 11.39 and 12.38 x2; 02.23/02.24. BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 15/5/23 Phil Porter A 7-spot Ladybird was fixed to a leaf astride the cocoon of its parasite wasp Dinocampus coccinellae. Mary photographed an adult Dock Bug Coreus marginatus , one of the Squashbug family, and also a fly Tachina fera whose larvae parasitise caterpillars. BOSTON My Garden TF 338441 Tracey Lenton 13th May 2023 This morning I had the first sighting of a young Blackbird, quite well grown, being fed by the male parent. Male and female blackbird feeding separately on their own on other occasions. On 14th May 2 youngsters were seen, again being fed by dad. On 15th May around 8 am: 2 young Blackbirds feeding independently of parents ? same ones as weekend, ongoing monitoring. At lunchtime, I heard some noise to discover 2 young starlings in the tree, one went on the feeder to eat the kibbled peanuts I put out. In the garden, the Bryony has begun flowering, it is quite rambling but it has beautiful, small, creamy-yellow flowers which attracts many insects. Daisies in the lawn and Forget-me-nots putting on a lovely display of blue. 15th May 2023 Outside on patio where I put out food: 21:25 Hedgehog came to feed 23:30-23:55: 2 Hedgehogs snorting loudly and walking around each other then separated, 1 then seen eating 16th May 2023 Holly blue butterflies have been in the garden for around the last 10 days, feeding on forget-me-not flowers, as was a Comma this morning. Large sized Buff tailed bumblebee and smaller (worker?) of the same on cotoneaster buds BOSTON Maud Foster Drain TF 333440 - TF 334433 Tracey Lenton Sunday 14th May 2023 5:20-5:50 pm The drain was quite quiet, a warm, sunny late afternoon visit to check on the ducklings. 2 Mallard drakes were resting on a fisherman's stage, further along, 2 had ventured out of the water and were standing on the path! Later 3 or 4 went flying swiftly down the drain, settled on the water then flew off seemingly in a chase? It was only on the return walk that I saw one family of mallard ducklings, one female with 7 offspring, growing in size and swimming quite fast! Looking back on my videos from today, there was a male and female Mallard on a stage and what I think is one or two older ducklings hidden mostly by female. Heard a Moorhen. 1 lone Mute swan who rested a short while to nap in the middle of the water The midges were hovering over the water in huge numbers, being hoovered up by the ducks and noticed ripples from fish on 2 occasions The far bank has hawthorn bushes white with blossom, on the pathside the bank is covered with the white umbels of cow parsley (Are bennets a Lincolnshire term for it, I know it as "oo bennet" not sure of spelling "ubennet" ?? I was interested to hear it mentioned last week as "ebennet" FAR INGS Angela Buckle. Far Ings, 14th May 2023. Yellow rattle, Common sorrel, Flag iris, Ribwort plantain, Field horsetail, Sea milkwort, Red clover, Birdsfoot trefoil, Common gromwell, Thyme- leaved speedwell, Tway-blade, Mouse-eared hawkweed, Bugloss, Ragged robin, Phacelia, Hedgerow cranesbill, White flowered doves foot cranesbill, Lesser trefoil, Small flowered cranesbill. FISKERTON FEN TF083718 14/5/23 Phil & Mary Porter Good news was the arrival of some quality summer birds at the site; we heard Cuckoo, Lesser Whitethroat and Garden Warbler quite quickly, all singles. Three Reed Warblers followed later. Sedge Warblers and Whitethroats had increased to four, but the only Cetti’s Warbler was on the far bank of the river outside the reserve. A Song Thrush was singing strongly near the carpark and Swallows were taking an interest in the hide roof again. There were some good patches of Field Pepperwort on the banks of the North Delph and an Azure Damselfly was on the wing when the sun came out. In the warmth, there were suddenly about 10 predatory Empis tessellata flies on hawthorn blossom, including one carrying a prey item as a courtship present for a female, and the hoverfly Rhingia campestris with an orange abdomen and protruding mouthparts was flying low in the undergrowth. The North Delph and the Barlings Drain continue in a very turbid condition that seems to have been prevalent for the last couple of years, prior to which they ran clear most of the time. FRITHVILLE TF298489 9-15.05.2023 Pete and Margaret Westcott I have been reading Ronald Blythe 'Such a May! Rosy apple-blossom, Van Gogh rape, diving swallows, psychedelic bluebells.' Among the lush meadow grass lurk Tortoise Beetles, Cassida rubiginosa and Cassida vibex. Their larvae carry excrement on their spines, very interesting! Common Blue Damselflies are emerging, airborne, scissoring to safety. Swallows swoop in a circuit along the dyke, aerial Hoover's. The first mint moths appear, Small Purple and Gold, Pyrausta aurata, along with a Large Red-tailed Bumblebee, and Cinnabar Moths. GRIMSBY TA265095 Joyce Attia 17th May 2023 10th May. Blackbird singing at 03.56 hrs. I love to hear him, he's on the chimney. Raining hard, but hasn't deterred pigeon in bird bath. She's cleaning all her feathers, under the wings, around her neck and chest and back. When she's finished I have to change the water, it's so oily (as well as poop) 2 dunnocks on the ground Great tit on the feeder. 13th May. Walk along Humber bank at Barton. On the way, lovely journey, all the horse chestnut trees are in blossom, lots of may flowers, ebennet along sides of road, beautiful time of year. Cold easterly wind while walking, managed to limp up to the wildlife centre. Someone has planted lavender alongside the steps up to the bank. There are carpets of daisies and doves foot cranesbill, and again ebennet (cow parsley) and every hawthorn is in blossom. There's a little bench surrounded by hawthorns and cow parsley, it smells beautiful, it also attracts flies and diving swallows. 15th May, Blackbird on garden path pecking at the cracks and the wall, I wondered if I'd got ants but I think it's just spiders. 16th May, 19.30hrs Sitting in the garden, hoping to see or hear the Lancaster bomber. Cheeky juvenile great tit came to the feeder right at my side. I saw 2 Swifts, the first ones I've seen this year. There were a number of 7 spot ladybirds, one white tailed bee and 2 ginger ones with striped tails. HORKSTOW SE987170 Jenny Haynes 16 May 2023 I heard a cuckoo this evening, first time for many years. SOUTHREY WOOD TF136683 13/5/23 Phil & Mary Porter A large dense patch of Lily of the Valley, several hundred strong, only about 20% flowering. We believe that this is a recent strong increase. The area is also being colonised by Bracken. At TF136679 the woodland edge path has developed a mini-meadow of the delicate Wood Melick, one of my favourite grasses which makes another favourite, Quaking Grass, look almost cumbersome. It was mixed with flowering Greater Stitchwort and Pignut. Nearby there were colonies of Climbing Corydalis just coming into flower. The verges of Southrey Lane were studded with Bulbous Buttercup. WOOLSTHORPE BY COLSTERWORTH SK923247 Jane Ostler Garden 16.5.23 The Early Morning Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa) which has been seen out, in sunshine, at the base of a stone wall, now has its parasitic Nomad bee in the same area. The tubes of the bee hotel are almost all empty as the Mason Bees (Osmia rufa) have emerged. There is the opportunity to watch as they lay eggs and fill and seal off the tubes again. The adults have been seen feeding on the Mahonia flowers. This year we have not seen the volcanoes of sand left by the Tawny mining bee (Andrena fulva) nor seen any adults on the flowers of the gooseberry bushes, now in fruit. I have not noted another mining bee, the grey haired Andrena cineraria in the garden but it is again nesting on a south facing bank of the Nature Trail. As many as 8 Bee flies have been seen in the back garden, choosing tubular flowers like comfrey to feed from. Blackbirds, Dunnocks, Blue Tits Chaffinch which have nests in the garden are all feeding families. Worms in the wet weather are readily available but Blue Tits must be hard put to find insect food for their young. Not even an abundance of aphids this year. Young and very noisy jackdaws, are thriving in a neighbour’s owl box but the Woodpigeons at the top of our larch tree have abandoned what was left by the winds of the few assembled sticks. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 26th April – 2nd May 2023 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Matt Blissett, Ruth Taylor, Owen Beaumont and Cliff Morrison. Thank you to all other contributors. Daily News and Wildlife Sightings Note: The Sea View area was on the edge of a severe thunderstorm which tracked north of Louth and then towards Grimsby. This gave a deluge of rain in around 15 minutes with thunder and lightning. In that time 9mm of rain recorded at Churchill and 12.7mm at Sea View. 100523 – 5 swifts and a hobby flew south over Rimac. 110523 – Sea View washlands - drake garganey, 5 teal, 8 tufted duck, 11 mallard, 2 shoveler, 2 shelduck, 81 black-headed gulls, 4 oyster- catchers and 1 greenshank. Also 5 lapwing in area plus 2 chicks and a pair of redshank showing territory tendencies in same locality. Butterflies around Sea View red admiral, holly blue, orange tip, large white, brimstone and wall brown. 2 whimbrel flew over Brickyard Lane and 2 pairs of avocet around the saltmarsh lagoon also at Brickyard Lane. Blue-tailed and azure blue damselfly on the wing. 35 kittiwake flew south past Mablethorpe early evening. 120523 – Strong, cold northerlies gusting 32.3mph. On saltmarsh 119 wood pigeon feeding amongst short vegetation. Turtle dove near Brickyard Lane. 130523 – Single sandwich tern flew north offshore. Ring ouzel in dune scrub north of Crook Bank and a marsh harrier flew south. Common sandpiper, 2 avocet, 2 oystercatcher, curlew and pink-footed goose on scrapes south of Crook Bank. On the saltmarsh out from Brickyard Lane were a wood sandpiper, 4 little ringed plover, 3 ringed plover, 5 avocet, lapwing and 2 shelduck. Male house sparrow at Sea View, first one seen for at least two years, they use to be resident and breeding. 140523 - Sea View washland - Oystercatcher on nest, pair redshank breeding, adult lapwings continuing to keep vigilance over at least 4 chicks. Pair of gadwall and coot with two chicks on Paradise lagoon. 150523 – 2 Night herons on edge of Eau near Sea View. Hobby hawking around Rimac early evening and 2 whimbrel flew west over Sea View washland. Turtle dove near Brickyard Lane. 2 pairs of avocet and 2 pairs of shelduck around the saltmarsh lagoon at Brickyard Lane. 2 barnacle geese flew in from the north and landed on scrapes south of Crook Bank. House sparrow seen in the dunes at Crook Bank; an unusual sighting for that area. A good count of at least 18 wall brown between Rimac and Sea View late afternoon. 160523 – Single kingfisher and common sandpiper along Eau near Sea View and a lesser scaup with tufted ducks on Sea View washland. Coal tit at Brickyard Lane. Green woodpecker at Rimac. 2 turtle dove at the south end of the dunes, 2 yellow wagtail south and a little ringed plover on Brickyard Lane saltmarsh. After 60mm of rainfall in April and 40mm so far this month water levels are reasonably high with swathes of colourful flowers in the dunes including: Storksbill, cranesbill, field mouse-ear, cowslip, ground ivy, germander speedwell. dandelions, bugloss, red dead nettle, whitlow grass and hawthorn (mayflower). Sea pink also on the saltmarsh. Butterflies seen over past week: Brimstone, red admiral, peacock, holly and common blues, small copper, small heath, small and green veined whites, orange tip, green hairstreak, speckled wood, wall , small tortoiseshell and brown argus. Odonanta seen over past week: Large red, azure, common blue and blue-tailed damselflies, hairy and four spotted chaser dragonflies. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: June dates: 6th and 20th. https://butterfly-conservation.org/in-your-area/lincolnshire-branch/chambers-farm-wood-butterfly-garden Lincolnshire Dormouse Group You can get in touch via lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com Gemma Watkinson writes: Here are the dates for the summer nest box checks. As always, we meet at 9.30am in the Chambers Farm Woods car park, by the wood centre/volunteer hut. Anyone interested can get in touch at lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com for more information. 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. South Humber Heritage Trail, Alkborough Flats - LWT leaflet - downloadable https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/sites/default/files/2018-04/south_humber_heritage_trail_alkborough.pdf Monks Wood Ashing Lane Nature Reserve https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/monks-wood-ashing-lane-nature-reserve/ Tattershall Carrs https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/tattershall-carrs/ Mareham Pastures Local Nature Reserve https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/mareham-pastures-local-nature-reserve/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7. SENDING IN BULLETIN REPORTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The purpose of the Bulletin is to encourage biological recording in Lincolnshire. We aim to increase the number of people reporting observations to Recorders or via i-record. https://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/ The Bulletin is a FREE service. We ask you to provide reports, questions, news or relevant articles from time to time. Descriptive pieces are welcome. You don't have to stick to lists! Please help us to help you. When sending in reports please follow this layout to save re-editing: Place Name: IN CAPITALS with Grid Reference if you have it. Your Name: Real names please, not aliases. Put it in each time, for each location Date: Species list [Alphabetical?] & numbers [and observations?] e.g. Blackbird - 24 [And please, no home-grown abbreviations. Species Names in full.] Bulletin mailing times may vary. It usually goes out on Wednesdays/ Thursdays in time for the weekend. Please e-mail in contributions as early as possible, to: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8. CONTACTS AND USEFUL WEBSITES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CONTACTS LIST Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union LNU Website: http://lnu.org/ LNU Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist? LNU Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lincsnaturalists/ LNU e-mail: info@lnu.org Downloads of LNU books: https://lnu.org/publications/books/ 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 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... Electromagnetic fields from power lines are messing with honeybees https://www.newscientist.com/article/2373396-electromagnetic-fields-from-power-lines-are-messing-with-honeybees/ Flash flooding: Major incident declared after heavy rain in south https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-65542510 Yorkshire's reservoirs recover from 2022 heatwave https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-65537314 Country diary: Rabbits, rabbits, everywhere https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/may/15/country-diary-rabbits-rabbits-everywhere Intensive farming is biggest cause of bird decline in Europe, study says https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/may/15/intensive-farming-is-biggest-cause-of-bird-decline-in-europe-study-says How nature’s larder is depleted by foraging https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/may/15/how-natures-larder-is-depleted-by-foraging See a prize-winning photograph of mating golden-tabbed robber flies https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25834380-200-see-a-prize-winning-photograph-of-mating-golden-tabbed-robber-flies/ ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/