======================================== || || 31st 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: For this year's Whisby Natural History Workshops see details in section 11. Prior booking essential via Richard Davidson on 01522 525725 or Email rel.davidson@btinternet.com. Don't miss updates on Peregrines, Ospreys and Barn Owls below. The Bourne Barn Owl had 4 eggs - seen 06.30hrs on 30th May! Note: Please make sure your species reports have the year as well as the day and month. Time flies and in the future people looking back will want to know what YEAR you recorded your species. I do try to correct this if I notice it's missing, but please help if you can. 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/ Louth Peregrines Bob Sheppard writes: The peregrines on St James' Church have four healthy chicks. There is excellent footage 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 Barn Owl had 4 eggs - seen by RP 06.30hrs on 30th May! https://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project/ 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 mostly-local news stories: Cleethorpes beach bench rebuilt by volunteers after arson attack https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-65755528 Renewable energy plant proposed for former airfield - Manby https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0wg0qq6wypo Severn Trent Water apologises for slow sewage spills response https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-65699194 RAF Scampton: Residents at planned migrant base feel 'forgotten' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-65734278 Bigger venue call for RAF Scampton Dambusters dog grave meeting https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-65685927 Grantham statue of Margaret Thatcher vandalised again https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-65708970 Red Arrows get display licence for 2023 season https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-65748845 More links in "...and finally ..." at the end of the Bulletin. Thank you to everyone who sent something in. It really helps. Roger old.museum@yahoo.co.uk - note - my best address for emails. Joining Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union If you are a member, please give the LNU a "plug " to others. https://lnu.org/join-the-lnu/ *** Exhibition at Joseph Banks Centre *** George Edward Lodge. Celebrated naturalist, taxidermist and painter. Born in Horncastle 1860. Runs to June 30th 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 *** https://lincolncathedral.com/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#? 4-13 June "Settled conditions are likely to dominate throughout this period with plenty of dry and bright weather across the country, with the best of the sunshine expected across the west. Some low cloud is likely in eastern areas each day, but this will tend to burn back towards the North Sea coastline during the day. There is the very small risk of a shower in the south, and isolated patchy drizzle along eastern coasts. Temperatures will continue to be warmest towards the west, with an onshore wind making it feel cooler in eastern areas, especially the southeast where winds will be strongest. Towards the end of this period, the chance of showers in the south may start to increase. Further north, the generally fine pattern is likely to continue." For Astronomers and Sky-watchers June's Night Sky: https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/blog/astronomy/night-sky-highlights-june-2023 Summer Solstice: Wed, Jun 21, 2023 3:57 PM https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/summer-solstice Stonehenge Skyscape - intriguing.... https://www.stonehengeskyscape.co.uk/ 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 have been scheduled to take place, aboard “The Boston Belle”, at various sailing times, ending on 23rd October. All cruises start and end at Boston Marina, last for about five hours, and on average approximately 60 bird species are seen on each trip. Full details at: www.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire All cruises are by advance ticket only, which, once again, can be obtained from Blackfriars Arts Centre in Boston [01205-363108}, or online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/blackfriars Ticket prices for RSPB members are £22 (adult) and £10 (child under 16). Non-RSPB members £25 and £11-50. Any queries please contact Blackfriars (as above) or email Jeremy Eyeons: jerry200433@hotmail.com *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Area Groups webpage *** Please let me have your "plugs" for coming events. https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/area-groups *** Grimsby And Cleethorpes Area Group LWT *** www.grimsbywildlifetrust.org.uk Carolyn Davis writes: On Saturday 17th June you are invited to join the Grimsby & Cleethorpes Area Group on a Warbler Walk in Cleethorpes Country Park with Graham Hicks where we hope to hear/identify as many as 8 warbler species. Meet Graham at 8 am in the Cleethorpes Country Park car park Grid Ref TA 306066. You are advised to 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 mobile 07979089890 or email g.hicks7@ntlworld .com You can also visit the Grimsby & Cleethorpes Area Group LWT website www.grimsbywildlifetrust.org.uk and we are on Facebook. *** Scunthorpe and Brigg Local Group of LWT *** Keith Scarrott writes: Next Saturday, 3rd June, starting at 2pm we have organised a guided walk around Messingham Sand Quarry Nature Reserve. This is an event arranged in conjunction with the Scunthorpe Museum Society. There will be experts leading the walk who have lifetimes of knowledge about nature and able to identify plants and animals of all shapes and sizes. All of any age are invited. Enjoy a lovely walk. Learn more about nature. We meet just before 2pm in the car park at the end of the short but rough track from the gated entrance to the Reserve on the B1400 road between Messingham and Kirton-in-Lindsey. The gate is almost directly beneath the electricity transmission cables between two large pylons, map reference SE 908 032. Please note that it may be quite wet underfoot in some places and that heavy rain on the day will mean cancellation of this event. *** 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 23/5 Little Stint, Frampton Marsh Short-eared Owl, 2 Spoonbills on Jackson's Marsh, Gibraltar Point 24/5 Little Stint east of East Hide on wet grassland, Frampton Marsh 2 Turtle Doves flew north past, Bee-Eater flew south over East Dunes, 2 Short-eared Owl, Red-backed Shrike on east side of East Dunes, Gibraltar Point Wood Sandpiper, Anderby Marsh Quail at Low Farm, Grasby Hooded Crow at Marine Walk, Cleethorpes Temminck's Stint [probably not Little Stint] at Novartis Ings, Pyewipe 25/2 Black-winged Stilts on Wader Pit, Baston + Langtoft Pits the flew north towards Baston Fen. "View from hardstanding along Cross Road" Wood Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh 2 Spoonbills, Short-eared Owl, Gibraltar Point Bee-Eater flew over Sea View Washlands, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe NNR Temminck's Stint, Toft Newton reservoir 11 Glossy Ibises, [later only 3], Green-winged Teal, 2 Spoonbills, "Footpath is flooded", Alkborough Flats 26/5 9 Glossy Ibises, then flew north/later west over River Trent, 11 reported at 10.25hrs. Alkborough Flats Caspian Gull 1w at Novartis Ings, Pyewipe 27/6 Wood Sandpiper, Temminck's Stint in SE corner below sea wall Curlew Sandpiper, Cattle Egret with cattle, south of sea wall car park Frampton Marsh 6 Glossy Ibises flew over Plantation, Long-eared Owl in East Dunes, 2 Temminck's Stints, drk Garganry, Gibraltar Point 4 Glossy Ibises, again in flight, Alkborough Flats 28/5 Turtle Dove trapped and ringed in East Dunes, Montagu's Harrier ringtail over southern marshes, then flew south, Gibraltar Point 2 Little Stints on wet grassland, Curlew Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh Garganey, Kirkby on Bain GPs Garganey, Woodhall Spa Airfield 9 Glossy Ibises, in field from main Track, Alkborough Flats 29/5 Black Tern and Little Stint on wet grassland, Curlew Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh Short-eared Owl, Gibraltar Point Garganey on Target Lake, Far Ings 2 Garganey drks at Halton Marshes, East Halton Skitter Glossy Ibis in field, Alkborough Flats 30/5 Little Stint of west grassland, Frampton Marsh Short-eared Owl, Gibraltar Point 3 Little Stints, 2 Spoonbills, Anderby Creek Black Tern. Woodhall Spa Airfield 31/5 Red-necked Phalarope on reservoir, Freiston Shore Short-eared Owl, Gibraltar Point 2 Black Terns on T-Junction Pit, viewed from hardstanding on Cross Road, Baston + Langtoft Pits ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 28/5/2023 In garden - R Parsons 55kHz Soprano Pipistrelle briefly at 22.20hrs - 1 burst of sound. 29/5/2023 Over garden - R Parsons 40 and 55kHz Pipistrelles echolocating at 22.00hrs. Never noted 40kHz signal here before. Nathusius’ Pipistrelle? http://www.nathusius.org.uk/ID_echolocation_calls.htm COLLEGE WOOD, APLEY TF125756 R & A Parsons 29/5/2023 am Water Avens - abundant on sides of tracks https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/wildflowers/water-avens Paxina acetabulum at TF120758 https://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/vinegar-cup Drinker moth caterpillar at TF123756 - on grass leaf https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/euthrix-potatoria/ DONNINGTON ON BAIN walk John Walker Rob Scott and I walked a 3.5 mile circuit from Donnington on Bain across the Bain through HLS large meadow via Benniworth lake: over the Bain male and female Banded demoiselles... across the meadow flowers included  southern marsh orchids and cuckoo flower with orangetip, small tortoiseshell, large white butterflies. Benniworth Haven lake and surrounding trees large red eyed and azure blue damselflies, kingfisher, mallard, gadwall, and moorhen, heard , garden warbler , blackcap, willow warbler, great spotted woodpecker. A small heath habitat has remnants of heath bedstraw that was prolific a few years ago  but has been smothered by bracken. Walk continued alongside hedgerow and large organic grassfield and HLS meadows Butterflies seen , brimstone, common blue, small heath, small white, holly blue, Birds , whitethroat, yellowhammer, skylarks, kestrel, common buzzard, and more southern marsh orchids, with various marsh flora. FAR INGS Angela Buckle 28th May 2023. Far Ings, Black medic, 2 White flowered buttercups, Dog rose, Spindle bush in flower, White flowered common vetch Beaked hawksbeard, Celery leaved buttercup, Spear leaved orache, Wild celery, Sea arrowgrass, Selfheal, Cleavers, Field rose, Greater spearwort, Pellitory-of -the -wall. LINWOOD WARREN Angela Buckle. 24th May 2023. Linwood Warren. Sheep sorrel, Tormentil, Heath bedstraw, Changing forget-me-not, Common speedwell, Wall speedwell, Greater stitchwort, White corydalis, Gorse, Cotton grass, Wood avens, Lily-of-the-valley, Brimstone butterfly, and Small copper. NETTLETON Angela Buckle 25th May 2023. Nettleton reserve. Common vetch, Creeping buttercup, Red campion, Meadow buttercup, Ribwort plantain, Oxe-eye daisy, White campion, Sheep sorrel, Cow parsley, Common speedwell, Booklime, Dovesfoot cranesbill, Borage, Caper spurge, Comfrey. RED HILL Angela Buckle 26th May 2023. Red Hill. Crosswort, Birdsfoot trefoil, Bulbous buttercup, Cowslip, Ribwort plantain, Salad burnet, Red campion, Quaking grass, Milkwort, Mouse-eared-hawkweed, Yellow rattle, Red valerian, Hedgerow cranesbill, Cow parsley, Meadow cranesbill, Common vetch, Meadow clary, Meadow Buttercup, Black medic, Pignut, Common mouse-ear, Bloody cranesbill, Pasque flower, Common catsear, Field mouse ear, Red clover, Field madder, Hounds tongue, Cut-leaved-cranesbill, Bugloss, Thyme-leaved sandwort, Horseshoe vetch, Common blue butterfly, and Brimstone. WOOLSTHORPE BY COLSTERWORTH SK923247 Jane Ostler Garden May 29th 2023 The first sunshine in the afternoon of a cooler day brought a whole sequence of young birds onto the lawn. A determined male Blackbird repeatedly attempted to feed its single fat offspring with a fat worm. 40 to 50 times it tried, sometimes pushing it quite vigorously in, each time the young bird delivered it back to be pecked at in an attempt to reduce its size. A young Starling in a mixed group on the lawn at the same time, was shown it was time to feed itself like the others probing for grubs. A pair of Blue Tits flew back and forth collecting something from the lilac tree to feed their brood behind the shed. A Robin, not yet a Redbreast, waited on an upturned plant pot for its parent to return from some newly worked ground in the border. A young Greenfinch tried to work out how to get seed from a feeder. An adult male was in the lilac tree. After the starlings had gone young House Sparrows, still with bright mouths, were being fed by adults. A Jackdaw on next door’s roof was plucking at what looked like carrion and disappearing down the chimney to feed young. It then visited our bird bath for a drink. Two collared doves, quite independent but without the dark stripes at neck of the adult, were tumbling clumsily in the branches of the crab apple tree. All of this within an hour watched through the conservatory window as a Pied Wagtail dropped in for a walk round the lawn. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 24th – 30th 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 230523 - Greenshank Sea View washlands 240523 - Goat’s-beard and bird’s-foot trefoil in flower on the dunes and sea milkwort on the saltmarsh. Garden warbler and 2 Cetti's warbler singing near Crook Bank. 2 turnstone and 25 sanderling on the beach at Mablethorpe North End. A guided walk by Butterfly Conservation around Rimac identified: 63 Wall, 37 Small Heath, 47 Brown Argus, 24 Green Hairstreak, 19 Small Copper, 20 Common Blue, 1 Large White, 2 Small White, 1 Orange-tip and 2 Peacock. Moths: 15 Burnet Companion, 5 Silver Y, 1 Latticed Heath, 14 Mother Shipton, 5 Cinnabar, 2 Yellow Belle, 12 Grass Rivulet, 1 Common Carpet, and 1 Silver Ground Carpet. Lots of dragonflies on reserve and included 3 Broad-bodied Chasers near the car park. 250523 - Bee-eater flew low north over Sea View washlands. A greenshank was heard on the saltmarsh at Rimac. 260523 - 2 red kite south over Rimac. 3 reeling grasshopper warbler, cuckoo and 3 marsh harrier between Rimac and MoD. 270523 - Drake garganey at Sea View washlands 280523 - 2 common sandpipers on the edge of the Eau near Sea View a nd 1 on the Eau Outfall near Paradise. 290523 - Tawny owl calling near Sea View, male garganey at Sea View washlands. Other local reserves 290523 – Swinn Wood: Soprano pipistrelle, male and female tawny owls calling, bugle, stitchwort and ragged robin in flower. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/ Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust: https://twitter.com/LincsWildlife Lincs Bird Club: https://twitter.com/Lincsbirding LBC County Bird Recorder Phil Hyde - County Recorder, Lincs Bird Club recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk The Sir Joseph Banks Society: https://twitter.com/sirjosephbanks Lincolnshire Bat Group: http://www.lincsbatgroup.co.uk/ Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch: https://twitter.com/BC_Lincolnshire Lincsbirders: https://twitter.com/lincsbirders Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project: https://lincolnshirechalkstreams.org/events/ South Lincolnshire Flora Group: https://bsbi.org/south-lincolnshire-v-c-53 The Wolds Fungi Group: Contact Paul Nichol via email: pnichol20@gmail.com Lincolnshire Dormouse Group: Contact: lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com FIGHTING WILDLIFE CRIME Wildlife Crime https://www.lincs.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/wc/wildlife-crime/ SPECIES IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. LNU Recorders and Specialists: https://lnu.org/specialists/ Downloads of LNU books: https://lnu.org/publications/books/ Recording with "irecord": https://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/ irecord is recommended by the LNU as an appropriate platform for on-line recording. Sawflies, Bees, Wasps and Ants Recorder Dr. David Sheppard Willing to examine specimens or check photos. Bear in mind only a relative few of the 300+ species in the county are identifiable using photos. Email: d.a.sheppard@btinternet.com Lincolnshire Mammals Chris Manning, Email: Chris.LincsDeer@gmail.com Spiders, Pseudoscorpions, Harvestmen Imogen Wilde Regional Co-ordinator (RC) and Mentor for Lincolnshire for the British Arachnological Society (BAS). Email: Imogen@imogenwilde.co.uk Amphibians and Reptiles Ashley Butterfield The Lincolnshire ARG (Amphibian & Reptile Group) Email: LearningOutdoors@btinternet.com Local Bat Helpline Grounded bats, bat problems, advice and information. Contact Annette Faulkner on 01775 766286 Email: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com Confidential Bat Records You may send confidential bat records direct to Annette Faulkner on: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com Slug ID Help Chris du Feu will help with slug identification. Tel: 01383 669 124 Email: chris.r.dufeu@gmail.com Non-Marine Molluscs and other Freshwater Invertebrates Alex Pickwell is the LNU Recorder for Non-marine Molluscs Email: mrapickwell@gmail.com When asking for help: Please give the the very best information you can provide. If you are not sure, ask what is needed from you to confirm identification. Photographs are helpful but not every species can be identified from a photograph. When asked for further details, get back to them promptly. Don't forget a thank you for the help. That is always welcomed. USEFUL WILDLIFE LINKS Please copy and paste URLs if necessary. Lincs Environmental Records Centre: http://www.glnp.org.uk/ Natural England: http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ NHBS Natural history equipment or books. https://www.nhbs.com/ NHM Final report on LoveLincsPlants: https://lnu.org/lincolnshire-plants-past-and-future/ Collections Dataset - LNU "historic specimens": http://data.nhm.ac.uk/dataset/lincs-plants The Flora of Lincolnshire by Joan Gibbons: downloadable LNU book For the Geologists... Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. Suggestions for Geology news, events or new useful links always welcome. Lincolnshire Geodiversity Group: https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/discovering/geology-1 Geology - the Collection: https://www.thecollectionmuseum.com/explore/geology Geology of the Lincolnshire Wolds: https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/special-features/geology The Geology of Lincolnshire: downloadable LNU book ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9. NOTES ABOUT THESE WILDLIFE REPORTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We do our best to ensure accuracy in our reporting. However, records are sent in by a variety of reporters; from complete beginners to professionals. They may vary in reliability and occasionally may be difficult or impossible to verify. If further information is needed please contact: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk Bulletins are sent to Recorders at Lincolnshire Environmental Records Centre [GNLP] , Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union and Lincolnshire Bird Club. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10. BULLETIN PUBLICITY POLICY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When sending in reports, e.g. unusual plants, please report any sensitive news directly to recorders. Not the Bulletin. We don't want to spoil things with untimely or unwise publicity. Thank you. Please respect the interests of wildlife and site owners if you report on national networks. Interest in wildlife is not a licence to act irresponsibly or thoughtlessly to landowners, who may well be partners in important conservation work. [Remember: Views expressed in the Bulletin do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of the LNU or associated organisations. In particular this applies to such agencies, especially charities, taking a political stance.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 11. LNU EVENTS DIARY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** LNU Events *** We will post any changes to LNU events in the Bulletin; the LNU Twitter feed; LNU Facebook page and LNU meetings webpage. Please refer to the LNU website for details of any Zoom arrangements for watching online. LNU Meetings: https://lnu.org/meetings/ Summer programme - Field Meetings Sunday 25th June Trent Port Wetland Saturday 15th July Wilder Doddington (all day) LLP collecting Saturday 12th August Boothby Wildlands (all day) collecting NOTE CHANGE OF DATE FROM 19th Saturday 9th September Wolla Bank Pit, Chapel Pit & Chapel Six Marshes LWT Reserves (all day) (LLP collecting?) Sunday 15th October Langholme Wood and Haxey Turbary LWT Reserves Whisby Natural History Workshops Arranged in partnership by the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust (Lincoln Area Group) and the Lincolnshire Naturalists Union. At Whisby Nature Park near Lincoln, in the Lafarge Education Building from 13.00 pm until 4.30 pm. Free of charge. Refreshments included. Prior booking essential via Richard Davidson on 01522 525725 or Email rel.davidson@btinternet.com. Find out more about the various subjects from our local experts. Places are limited. Hoverflies (and other distinctive Diptera) – Phil Porter 1st of July Pond Dipping for Adults – Sam Reast 26th of August Harvestmen – Imogen Wilde 7th of October Owl & Other Bird Pellets – Garry Steele 28th of October Bryophytes – Steven Heathcote 4th of November ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ...AND FINALLY... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails Last Week *** None ....and finally... Alleged former Russian spy whale spotted off Sweden's coast https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-65753749 Two firefighters injured battling Highland wildfire https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-65753555 Wildfire warning as warm weather continues https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0313dl4egyo Two people dead at High Eske nature reserve - East Yorks https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-65709112 Seagulls choose their meals based on what people nearby are eating https://www.newscientist.com/article/2375125-seagulls-choose-their-meals-based-on-what-people-nearby-are-eating/ High Wycombe: Can people really fall in love with their local tip? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-65695839 England’s vital hedges under threat from cuts to funding, farmers say https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/may/30/england-vital-hedges-cuts-funding-farmers-brexit River Wye health status downgraded by Natural England after wildlife review https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/may/30/river-wye-has-health-status-downgraded-by-natural-england-after-wildlife-assessment ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/