========================================= || || 24th 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: I'm enjoying the snippets about Lincolnshire plant names. A neighbour used to refer to goose grass as "Pull Gut". It is good to get some more bat records this week. I must get out the bat detector! Thank you for your reports and news. Please keep them coming. Don't miss updates on Peregrines, Ospreys and Barn Owls below. LNU Meetings. Scroll to full details in section 11 below. Or click: https://lnu.org/meetings/ Next Field Meeting: Trent Port Wetland - Sunday 25th June (afternoon) https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/2023-06-25-trent-port-wetland-sunday-25th-june-afternoon/ 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 Louth Peregrines Bob Sheppard writes: There is good news from Louth. The peregrines on St James' Church have four healthy chicks. Peregrines in many parts of the UK have had a hard time this year. There have been weather problems as the chicks hatch and the constant threat of bird flu is never far away. Let's hope the Louth birds can steer clear of all this and fledge their young successfully. There is excellent footage 24/7 at http://www.louthperegrines.org.uk/video.html Loch of The Lowes Ospreys - 2 chicks doing well... https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/watch-wildlife-online/loch-of-the-lowes-webcam/ Len Pick Trust Owl-box Camera Bob Sheppard writes: After a long wait we finally have some action at the Len Pick barn owl tower in Bourne. https://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project/ The female laid her first egg on Sunday afternoon. Barn owl breeding across Lincolnshire is generally very late this year. This is usually down to a lack of prey in the early Spring. The second egg is already overdue but there is no sign of it yet! 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 This week's links to Lincolnshire and wildlife-related news stories... Outdoor festival celebrates 'stunning' Lincolnshire Wolds https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-65649068 Arrests for hare-coursing offences up in Lincolnshire https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-65689276 Musician brings bagpipes back to Lincolnshire - Louth https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn0ep6l71g4o Cleethorpes £75m salmon farm plans consultation to begin https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-65626273 North Yorkshire Council backs calls for shellfish die-off public inquiry https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-65636360 Restrictions in place after bird flu outbreak - Scunthorpe https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3g732j481go Dambusters' dog: Lincolnshire council archaeologists oppose grave move https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-65627070 Paintings by Grimsby grocer Herbert Rollett to be auctioned https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-65671916 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 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 *** 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/ *** Lincoln Cathedral Peregrines *** I have received the following note from Richard Davidson: "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#? 28 May - 6 June "Remaining predominantly settled through Sunday although perhaps somewhat cloudier than of late, with a few showers, especially further north and east. Through next week we can expect more dry weather with warm sunny spells for most across the UK. However, there is a small chance of cooler conditions extending from the north, or indeed warmer conditions, accom- panied by showers, encroaching into southern areas. Winds generally light, but potentially stronger in the far north and south at times. Further into June, high pressure is still expected to dominate bringing largely settled conditions, though with the possibility of cloudier conditions and outbreaks of light rain in Northern Ireland and Scotland. Temperatures remaining above average with cooler conditions expected in coastal locations, and breezy at times in the far southeast and far northwest." For Astronomers and Sky-watchers 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 *** 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/ 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 17/5 3 Little Stints, American Golden Plover ad male with Golden Plovers at Marsh Farm NW corner. [Don't park near reservoir!] 3 Wood Sandpipers from Sea Bank car park, Frampton Marsh 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 18/5 Quail male singing at Star Lode Drove, Spalding Quail, Dunsby Fen Little Stint, Frampton Marsh 13 Bee-Eaters flew south over West Dunes, 2 Short-eared Owls, Gibraltar Point Garganey drk on Sea View Washlands, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe NNR Green-winged Teal drk, Alkborough Flats 19/5 3 Little Stints, Frampton Marsh Garganey drk at Seaview, Saltfleetby NNR 8 Bee-Eaters flew north over West Dunes 5.30pm, 13 Bee-Eaters flew south over West Dunes 8.30pm, Gibraltar Point 20/5 Spoonbill at Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James Little Gull from East Hide, Frampton Marsh 9+ Bee-eaters from Mere Car Park - left roost at back of Fern Lodge, 6.45am, Short-eared Owl, Gibraltar Point Garganey drk of Sea View Washlands, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe NNR Quail male calling in wheat field near Bluestone Heath Road, Withcall Possible Montagu's Harrier flew over Healing 21/5 Bee-Eater flew south over London Road, Spalding Little Stint, 2 Water Pipits, Frampton Marsh Wood Sandpiper, Anderby Marsh 22/5 2 Short-eared Owls, Gibraltar Point 2 Wood Sandpipers, Anderby Marsh 23/5 Little Stint, Frampton Marsh Short-eared Owl, 2 Spoonbills on Jackson's Marsh, 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/ *** BTO Cuckoo Tracking project *** https://www.bto.org/cuckoos *** Bat rescue instructions *** Annette Faulkner writes: If you find a grounded bat please don't try and release it. Put it in an escape proof box . Remember, a pipistrelle can get out of a hole the size of your thumb nail. Wear gloves or use a cloth to pick it up with, and phone me on 01775 766286. British Bugs (Hemiptera) - online identification https://www.britishbugs.org.uk/index.html Mike's Insect Keys: illustrated identification aids for insects https://sites.google.com/view/mikes-insect-keys/ Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog: http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ Lincs Bird Club: https://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk/site/index.php/sightings/latest-news Butterfly Conservation - Lincolnshire Branch: https://butterfly-conservation.org/in-your-area/lincolnshire-branch/ Which moth species might be on the wing tonight in your area? https://butterfly-conservation.org/moths/whats-flying-tonight Atlas of the terrestrial and semi-aquatic Mammals of Lincolnshire: https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/mammalatlas.pdf VC54 North Lincolnshire Plant List - LNU Paul Kirby's list of all the vascular plant & stonewort taxa with records on the MapMate botanical database for VC54, North Lincolnshire, at the end of January 2017. Download this on: https://lnu.org/specialists/vascular-plants/ Record Pool - an easy way to record your amphibian and reptile species records. https://www.recordpool.org.uk/index.php ROAD KILLS? PLEASE LET US KNOW. Every drive is a transect! Hedgehogs? Badgers? Otters? Reports welcome. *** 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 15/5/2023 Swarm of honeybees in our redundant chimney-pot this afternoon! "A swarm in May is worth a load of hay! A swarm in June is worth a silver spoon." 17-18th May - Hedgehog on trailcamera at: 10.48 on 17th; and 18th at 12.3-4, 02.42, 02.52 and 02.54hrs. 21/5 at 11.02-11.04hrs. 23rd May Holly blue x3 and male Orange tip. 2-7 Swifts over village. 23/24th May - Hedgehog on trailcam 23/5 at 10.30hrs; 24/5 at 12.08 [drinking] and at 01/00hrs BARDNEY - St Lawrence Church R Parsons 21/5/2023 Looking north over Church Lane: 6 sightings of Holly Blue Butterflies and one Orange Tip male. 2-6 Swifts feeding over Station Road plus several hirundines: Swallow 2-3, Martin spp 4-6. Sparrowhawk male over. BOSTON Maud Foster Drain TF 333440 - TF 334433 Tracey Lenton Wed 17/05/2023 11:15-12:00 A warm calm sunny day. Not much bird life, but the sun had brought out butterflies: Brimstone, Female Holly Blue Male Orange tip, all singles, flying along bankside, Holly blue fluttering around and feeding on an elderflower blossom, which is just starting to come out. 2 boats dredging. Mallards, mostly males are being seen, a total of 6 male and one female today. None of the duckling families seen today. Hawthorn is laden with blossom like snow 21-05-2023 2-3:20pm I am pleased to report the duckling pair from last Sunday were seen again today on the same fishing platform with mum and dad. They are very well camouflaged against the wooden stage: growing well, a good size now; preening themselves and dabbling (upending) for food. The male parent is still with the family. I saw a female mallard with 3 ducklings plus a white duckling, this white one hasn't been seen before. 7 Mallard drakes swimming together. BOSTON My Garden TF 338441 Tracey Lenton 19-05-2023 early afternoon, fine rain coming down Blackbird (male) pecking at apple core Great tit on wooden beehive compost box looking for bugs in nooks and crannies Wren taking nesting material into blossom tree flitting between there and conifer hedge, it looks like dead leaves, there is ivy growing in one patch of the hedge, at the bottom end, which I leave for wildlife. The blossom tree also has ivy growing in it which is quite thick and attracting the birds. 20-05-2023 Enjoying a peaceful, sunny day, breezy but nice in a sheltered corner of the garden. Holly blues flying around singly, once a pair. One male orange tip flying around the garden. Decided to identify a wildflower growing in amongst forget-me-nots, it is Herb Bennet (Wood avens, Geum urbanum) I allow it to grow in certain places for its pretty yellow flowers The scent of forget-me-nots is lovely. Damselfly seen resting on grass stem in the sun Discovered my cat playing with a small, young frog in the long grass CHAMBERS WOOD Angela Buckle. Chambers Wood, 16th May 2023 Greater stitchwort, Wood anemone, Lords and ladies, Bugle, Ground ivy, Cow parsley, Wood forget-me-knot, Cowslip, Water avens, Tormentil, Ragged robin, Cuckoo flower, Wild strawberry, Garlic mustard, Creeping buttercup, Thyme-leaved speedwell. FAR INGS Angela Buckle. Far Ings, 21st May 2023. Meadow cranesbill, Hogweed, Southern marsh orchid, Oxe-eye daisy, Hedgerow cranesbill, Star of-bethlehem. FISKERTON FEN David Smith TF083718 16/05/2023 13.00-14.00 Car park now repaired! Lapwing x1 (in adjacent field) Swallow x10+ Swift x10+ Whitethroat (Common) x3 Dunnock x1 Mallard x1 (drk) Mute swan x3 Moorhen x1 Blue tit x1 Long tailed tit x5 Grey heron x1 Carrion crow x3 Wood pigeon x3 FISKERTON FEN David Smith TF083718 18/05/2023 19.00 Osprey x1 caught a fish in the pond and promptly departed Bird was not ringed GRIMSBY TA265095 Joyce Attia 23rd May 2023 I love this "No mow May". The grass is a brilliant green, probably because of all the rain. It doesn't need a mower, it needs a scythe. There have been lots of little visitors too, a green shield bug, a blue shield bug, an angle shades moth, mint moths, small white butterflies, Holly blue butterflies, and various small bees. I think we might do "no mow June" too. There are a number of small bees on the Sicilian honey garlic plants, the flowers are like hanging bells. Along the river bank the swan family were resting, last week there were 8 cygnets, but this week I couldn't count them as they were partly hidden. The 5 mallard ducklings have been reduced to two unfortunately. I haven't seen any moorhen chicks yet. Plants along the river, buttercups, herb Robert, red valerian, ebennet, a big clump of yellow flag irises, purple lilac growing on the island. There's lots of goosegrass (cleavers, sticky willy)my German Shepherd used to go mad over it, tearing it up and eating it. I was worried til I looked it up and saw it's harmless.. The mention last week of bennet being a Lincolnshire name for cow parsley was interesting. A friend who comes from the same village as me calls it oo bennet (ubennet) But the strangest one was from my mother who came from Grimsby "side elsa less stirry" phonetic..that was rose bay willow herb On the feeders we've had a robin who visits regularly, starlings, great tits including a really fearless juvenile. Yesterday there were two woodpigeons bathing in the birdbath at the same time, there wasn't much water left, most had gone over the sides. Yesterday there were also a number of swallows feeding above the trees across the river, followed by some swifts. And the blackbird on the chimney gets earlier every day KETTLETHORPE Kettlethorpe 22.05.2023 Alison Brownlow I hate to post a negative observation but we have not seen any St. Mark's Flies this season, either over the Oil-seed Rape or on the flowering May. Small Copper on Pignut RIMAC Angela Buckle. Rimac, 20th May 2023 White campion, Hedge mustard, Field mouse-ear, Cowslip, Germander speedwell, Common vetch, Mouse-eared-hawkweed, Spring beauty, Bulbous buttercup, Hairy tare, Stagshorn plantain, Birdsfoot trefoil, Field madder, Southern marsh orchid, Cuckoo flower, Green alkanet, Black medic, Bugloss, Water millfoil, Marsh pennywort, Water doc, Yellow flag iris, Yellow rattle, Parsley piert, Common sorrel, Lesser trefoil, Ground ivy, Common mouse-ear, Changing forget-me-not, Alexanders, Star of-bethlehem, Cow parsley, Sea milkwort, Common lizard, Male newt, Four spot chaser dragon-fly, Emperor dragon-fly, Small copper Butterfly, Green hairstreak. SEDGE HOLE CLOSE LWT Nature Reserve Steve Hiner 12.05.23 Blackbird x 1 Blackcap x 1 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 1 Chiffchaff x 1 Dunnock x 1 Jackdaw x 2 Kestrel x 1 Magpie x 1 Mallard x 2 over Robin x 1 Skylark x 2 Swallow x 4 Wood Pigeon x 2 Wren x 1 17.05.23 Barn Owl x 1 08:15hrs Blackbird x 1 Blackcap x 1 Blue Tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 1 Chiffchaff x 1 Dunnock x 1 Goldfinch x 2 Greenfinch x 1 Jackdaw x 2 Magpie x 2 Pied Wagtail x 1 Robin x 1 Skylark x 1 Swallow x 4 Tree Sparrow x 6 Wood Pigeon x 4 Wren x 1 Yellowhammer x 2 Yellow Wagtail x 2 Rabbit x 6 SHORT FERRY David Smith TF091717 16/05/2023 14.00 -14.30 Greylag goose x30+ Mallard x4 Shelduck x4 Shoveler x2 Lapwing x1 Mute swan x2 Swallow x3 Coot x2 Moorhen x1 Grey heron x1 Black headed gull x4 Little egret x2 STICKNEY TF325 Gail Cartwright Stickney, Lincs At last bats are out 14/15/16- 05-2023 12AM 5 25 39 45 were loudest, so nice to hear them again THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 16.05.23 Barn Owl x 1 02:15hrs Blackbird x 4 Blackcap x 1 Blue Tit x 1 Carrion Crow x 1 Chaffinch x 2 Chiffchaff x 1 Dunnock x 2 Goldfinch x 1 Greenfinch x 1 Jackdaw x 2 Pied Wagtail x 2 Robin x 1 Skylark x 2 Swallow x 2 Tree Sparrow x 2 Willow Warbler x 1 Wood Pigeon x 6 Wren x 1 Common Pipistrelle x 2 21:30hrs (45hz) 18.05.23 Heron x 1 over Thurnholmes Tawny Owl x 1 calling 01:45hrs Green-veined White x 1 Holly Blue x 1 Red Admiral x 1 20.05.23 Barn Owl x 1 02:15hrs Blackbird x 4 Blackcap x 1 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 1 Common Buzzard x 1 Cuckoo x 1 Goldfinch x 2 Great Tit x 1 with at least 3 fledged young Linnet x 2 Pied Wagtail x 1 with nest of young fledged Robin x 2 (1 on nest) Skylark x 2 Swallow x 6 Tawny Owl x 1 calling 01:50hrs Tree Sparrow x 3 Willow Warbler x 1 Wood Pigeon x 6 Common Pipistrelle x 2 22:10hrs (45hz) Green-veined White x 2 Holly Blue x 1 Speckled Wood x 1 Garden Carpet x 12.05.23 Barn Owl x 1 02:15hrs Common Pipistrelle x 2 21:45hrs (45hz) WILLINGHAM WOODS Angela Buckle. Willingham Woods. 17th May 2023 Tormentil, Ribwort plantain, Dovesfoot cranesbill, Field madder, Germander speedwell, Greater stitchwort, Red campion, Bugle, Common mousear, Lesser trefoil, Cut leaved cranesbill, Thyme- leaved speedwell, Cuckoo flower, Field horsetail, Hard fern, Small flowered cranesbill,Greater celandine. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 17th – 23rd May 2023 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Matt Blissett, Ruth Taylor, Owen Beaumont, Cliff Morrison and Dean Nicholson. T hank you to all other contributors. Daily News and Wildlife Sightings The dune vegetation is looking splendid with a mix of mouse-ear hawkweed, field mouse-ear, germander speedwell and bulbous buttercup. Hawthorn is in full blossom and many bushes are ‘dripping with flowers’ indicating it could be a good berry time this autumn. Other flowers now appearing on the dunes include field madder, lesser trefoil, common vetch, twayblade, flag iris, birds- foot trefoil, stonecrop and cotton grass. In damper parts of the dunes marsh orchids are beginning to flower and in areas of fen cuckooflower and yellow iris are to be seen. On the saltmarsh sea arrowgrass and thrift are flowering. 160523 - Hobby over Rimac, 6 avocets on Rimac lagoon. 170523 - Lesser scaup on Sea View washlands, 2 night heron seen briefly by the Eau at Sea View before flying south, a Kentish plover was on the foreshore at Brickyard Lane briefly. A late redwing was heard in sub-song around Sea View. On Brickyard Lane saltmarsh were 2 pairs of little ringed plover, 11 ringed plover, 8 avocet, 4 shelduck, 5 pairs of skylark and 2 pairs of meadow pipit. Cetti’s warbler south of Crook Bank car park. 22 whimbrel flew north-east over Rimac. Hobby north over the dunes at Brickyard Lane. 180523 - Drake garganey on Sea View washlands. Brown argus at Sea View. Drake garganey back on Sea View washland along with a drake wigeon and pink-footed goose, but no sign of the lesser scaup. Avocet pair on the saltmarsh at Brickyard Lane. 190523 - Sea View washlands: 13 curlew, 8 lapwing including the orange flagged bird last seen here on 22nd April this year, and 2 broods of young 3 and 2, 5 gadwall, 6 tufted duck, 2 shoveler, 5 mallard, 1 wigeon, 2 redshank, a single sand martin over and barn owl hunting nearby. 38 black-tailed godwit on Sea View washland before flying south. Grey wagtail flew west over the dunes at Sea View and 7 avocet on Rimac lagoon. Pair of little ringed plover displaying at Brickyard Lane. Hobby flew north at Mablethorpe North End. 210520 - 5 whimbrel on the saltmarsh, green woodpecker over Sea View and on the adjacent washlands male garganey still present, common sandpiper along the Eau. Approx 120 each of sanderling, dunlin and ringed plover on the foreshore between Churchill Lane and Crook Bank. Cuckoos calling at Rimac and Crook Bank. Fresh Broad bodied chaser, several four-spotted chaser and 2 hairy dragonflies in flight at Churchill Lane. 220523 - Single spotted flycatcher at Sea View, 1 whimbrel calling, flying over Rimac. Drake garganey still present on Sea View washlands plus 3 wigeon. Common sandpiper, 4 little ringed plover and pink-footed goose on scrapes south of Crook Bank. Hobby flew south over Crook Bank in the morning, with one also seen hawking the dunes between Rimac and Churchill Lane early evening. Despite a brisk north-east wind, 14 wall brown were seen between Sea View and Churchill Lane late afternoon. 3 green hairstreak, 2 wall brown, holly blue and orange-tip around Crook Bank. 230523 – 34 ringed plover, 12 dunlin and 3 summer plumage turnstone on the foreshore north of Churchill Lane. Cuckoo calling and swallows foraging, four-spotted chaser and hairy dragonflies, green hairstreak, wall brown, brown argus, small heath, orange tip butterflies at Rimac, green woodpecker, cuckoo and chiffchaff at Sea View. Smooth newts still present in ponds. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. 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. 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 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... Bird flu: Brazil declares animal health emergency after several cases found https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-65679328 Global warming set to break key 1.5C limit for first time https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-65602293 Water companies say sorry over spilling raw sewage https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-65626241 New book collates the pioneering photographs of Anna Atkins https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25834391-000-new-book-collates-the-pioneering-photographs-of-anna-atkins/ Comb jellies, not sponges, might be the oldest animal group after all https://www.newscientist.com/article/2374162-comb-jellies-not-sponges-might-be-the-oldest-animal-group-after-all/ ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/