============================================ || || 4th October 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/months. Past Bulletins archive [in 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Editor writes: I have had a note from Richard Davidson to say that the "Harvestmen Workshop" this Saturday has been cancelled. He writes: After discussion with Imogen Wilde we've decided not to go ahead with the Harvestman workshop. It's a combination of factors and we feel it would be better to defer it and perhaps try again another time, probably next year, with more time to pull it together. On the other hand the other two workshops Bird Pellets and Bryophytes have enough people booked on them and are definitely going ahead and in fact have spaces for a few more! Owl and Other Bird Pellets has one space left (someone dropped out recently) and Bryophytes has places for several more. "These workshops are held at Whisby Nature Park near Lincoln, in the Lafarge Education Building from 1pm to 4.30 pm. Refreshments included. They are free of charge but booking is essential – please contact Richard Davidson on 01522 525725 or email rel.davidson@btinternet.com " See: https://lnu.org/meetings/workshops/ Joseph Banks Centre - Horncastle Horncastle History Society and Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union Exhibition: It Happened on a Summer's day 21-Sep-23 - 18-Nov-23 This exhibition features the work of leading botanist Rev Adrian Woodruffe-Peacock, who took a leading role in the foundation of the Lincolnshire Naturalists’ Union in 1893. The exhibition also tells the stories of pioneering amateur naturalists who were founder members of the Union, which celebrates its 130th anniversary this year https://horncastlejbc.info/events/woodruffe-peacock/ This week's mostly-local news stories: Lincolnshire Coastal Country Park renamed in honour of Queen Elizabeth https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66961444 Residents being bugged by biting insect swarms in Lincolnshire village https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66986391 Isaac Newton apple tree saplings auction raises more than £30k https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66961660 Pictured: RAF Typhoon fighter jets appear to narrowly miss https://uk.yahoo.com/news/pictured-raf-typhoon-fighter-jets-153553574.html Lincolnshire solar farms plans should be rejected - councillors https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66978482 More links in "...and finally ..." at the end of the Bulletin. This is the link for online reporting of any wildlife crime: e.g. Hare Coursing https://www.lincs.police.uk/ro/report/rwc/wildlife/report-wildlife-crime/ If you have not yet tried using iRecord perhaps you should give it a try? If your enthusiasm is leading you towards getting to know a particular group of species there are lots of publications available on-line or hard copy. iRecord https://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/ iRecord is recommended by the LNU as an appropriate platform for on-line recording. NHBS for reference books: https://www.nhbs.com/ Thanks to all who sent in news, reports and contributions this week. Roger old.museum@yahoo.co.uk - note - my best address for emails. *** Weather News and Forecast *** https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#? 12 - 26 Oct 2023 "A slowly evolving weather pattern is considered more likely through this period, though with a typical mix of settled and unsettled spells of weather. Within the more settled periods it is possible that northern parts will receive below average rainfall, with the south possibly receiving above average rainfall. Temperatures are more likely to be above average than below average overall, but with chilly nights in settled conditions." *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** These are the next comets that will be visible in 2023 Three comets named Hartley, Encke and Tsuchinshan will pass by the sun in the next few months and be visible from Earth. Here’s how you can spot them. https://www.newscientist.com/article/2394923-these-are-the-next-comets-that-will-be-visible-in-2023/ Full Moons 2023 https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/full-moon-calendar October's Night Sky: https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/blog/astronomy/night-sky-highlights-october-2023 *** Seal and Birdwatching Cruises into The Wash *** The South Lincs RSPB Group programme of : Seal and Birdwatching Cruises into The Wash. For 2023 twelve cruises have been scheduled to take place, aboard The Boston Belle, at various sailing times, ending on 23rd October. All cruises start and end at Boston Marina, last for about five hours, and on average approximately 60 bird species are seen on each trip. Full details at: www.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire All cruises are by advance ticket only, which, once again, can be obtained from Blackfriars Arts Centre in Boston [01205-363108}, or online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/blackfriars Ticket prices for RSPB members are £22 (adult) and £10  (child under 16). Non-RSPB members £25 and £11-50. Any queries please contact Blackfriars (as above) or email Jeremy Eyeons: jerry200433@hotmail.com Boston Area Group LWT Gill Walsh writes: Talk on Snipe Dales by Warden James Forrester. Thursday 12th October at 7.30pm Centenary Methodist Church, Red Lion Street, Boston, PE21 6NY Free admission but there will be a retiring collection. Refreshments will be served in the interval. Non members are welcome. Grimsby and Cleethorpes Area Group LWT Carolyn Lovely writes: On Monday 9th October 23 at our indoor meeting, we will be welcoming Kevin James who will be talking about Adders. He will be covering the biology, ecology and habitat requirements that Adders need and will be looking at why they may become extinct in the next 10 years. This will take place in Grimsby Town Hall DN31 1HU and starts at 7.30pm. Admission £4, all are welcome. Raffle and refreshments available. For further information please contact Jennie Redpath 01472 502858 or visit our website www.grimsbywildlifetrust.org.uk. We are also on Facebook. Grimsby/Cleethorpes RSPB Local Group Brian Patterson writes: Monday October 16th 2023 A talk on ‘The British Isles to the Friesian Isles’ by John Gardner (Wildlife and Nature photographer) to be held at Corpus Christi Church Hall in Cleethorpes at 7.30pm. Sunday 22nd October 2023 The group have planned a visit to Kilnsea, Spurn Point and Kilnsea Wetlands.   The travel arrangements are by car share which Sally Prescott (committee member) will co-ordinate. Please contact Sally to book your place and further information: sally.prescott142@btinternet.com South Lincs RSPB Local Group Jeremy Eyeons writes: “The Birds In Your Garden" A slideshow/talk by Chris Andrews of The South Lincs RSPB Group and Visitor Experience Manger at RSPB Frampton Marsh and Freiston Shore. 19th October 2023 , 7pm for 7-30pm, till about 9pm. At The Old Kings Head, Kirton PE20 1EG. More details at https://group.rspb.org.uk/southlincolnshire/ Scunthorpe and Brigg Local Group of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Keith Scarrott writes: Our next meeting takes place on Thursday, 12th October and will consist of an Illustrated Talk entitled "Images Old And New" to be given by our well-known local photographer and wildlife enthusiast Geoff Trinder. Geoff is well-known in the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust having been both Chairman and President over his membership of over 4 decades. He has given us many excellent talks about all kinds of wildlife from his world travels as well as from home grounds, all illustrated by brilliant photography. In this talk he leads us through a selection from all those years. Geoff will be giving his talk in St Hugh's Church Hall, Ashby Road, Scunthorpe, DN16 2AG, starting at 7.30pm. All are welcome to our meetings. There is a free car park at the Church and also roadside parking along Ashy Road. There is a £2.50 entry charge to the meeting which includes tea/coffee and biscuit at the mid-talk interval. The Natural History and Geology Section of the Scunthorpe Museum Society Keith Scarrott writes: Following our Section AGM on Monday, 9th October we have an illustrated talk Entitled "Capturing Wildlife" by world travelled photographer Jo Bird. Jo's passion is nature photography. She will share a section of bird and wildlife Photographs taken from the UK and several other countries such as Gambia/Senegal, India, Thailand, Hungary, Greece and the USA (Florida and the Rocky Mountains). Included will be photographs relating to aspects of the cultures of the various countries visited. Our meeting starts at 7.15pm and will be held in the small hall at the Old Brumby United Church, Ashby Road, Scunthorpe, DN16 2AQ. All are welcome to our meetings. There is no entry charge but a donation bowl is provided. There is a free car park at the Church and also road parking along Ashby Road. There will be a mid-talk break during which light refreshments will be available for a small charge. STAYING SAFE Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. What you need to know about Covid as new variant rises https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-66848549 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 28/9 Black Stork juv over saltmarsh. landed in creek, Lesser Yellowlegs on Middle Scrape, White-rumped Sandpiper ad, Black Term, Frampton Marsh Black Guillemot flew south past, Balearic Shearwaterflew south past, Pomarine Skua, Black Tern, Gibraltar Point Pectoral Sandpiper at Anderby Marsh, Anderby Creek 29/9 Black Stork juv over saltmarsh,15 Curlew Sandpipers, 16 Little Stints, Lesser Yellowlegs juv on Middle Scrape, White-rumped Sandpiper on Reedbed, Black Tern, Frampton Marsh Pectoral Sandpiper, Black Redshart, Anderby Creek Osprey flew north over Thoresby Possible Honey Buzzard flew SW over Fleet Hargate American Golden Plover ad with Goplden Plovers at Deeping High Bank in field SW of New Road Junction 30/9 Black Tern juv at East Pit, then flew east, Deeping Lakes White-rumped Sandpiper on Middle Scrape, Lesser Yellowlegs on Reedbed, later on Saltmarsh, 12+ Little Stints, Black Stork juv flew towards The Wash, juv Black Term, 35 Curlew Sandpipers, Garganey reported, Wood Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh Black-throated Diver flew north past Sutton on Sea Pectoral Sandpiper on Anderby Marsh, Black Guillemot Black Redstart, Anderby Creek 1/10 Black Stork juv and Lesser Yellowlegs juv on saltmarsh, Hen Harrier over River Witham mouth, Garganey, White-rumped Sandpiper on Middle Scrape, 13+ Curlew Sandpipers, 6+ Little Stints, Frampton Marsh Buff-breasted Sandpiper juv on beach briefly, then flew south, Gibraltar Point 2/10 Semipalmated Sandpiper juv, Middle Scrape, Buff-breasted Sandpiper on wet grassland, White-rumped Sandpiper, Kesser Yellowlegs, Hen Harrier ringtail, 16 Curlew Sandpipers, 12 Little Stints, Black Stork juv in ploughed field, Garganey, Short-eared Owl, Frampton Marsh scaup flew south past Gibraltar Point 2 Black Terns both juvs, Barton-upon-Humber Pits 3/10 Semipalmated Sandpiper juv, Middle Scrape, Frampton Marsh ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3. WILDLIFE NEWS FROM AROUND THE COUNTY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Find the Grid Reference - don't forget - it's important Grab a Grid Reference: https://www.bnhs.co.uk/focuson/grabagridref/html/index.htm UK Grid Reference Finder: http://www.gridreferencefinder.com/ *** Links "not to be missed" *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. *** Hedgehog Advice *** https://hedgehogcare.org.uk/ https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/ *** Bat rescue instructions *** Annette Faulkner writes: If you find a grounded bat please don't try and release it. Put it in an escape proof box . Remember, a pipistrelle can get out of a hole the size of your thumb nail. Wear gloves or use a cloth to pick it up with, and phone me on 01775 766286. Harvestmen of Britain and Ireland https://harvestmen.fscbiodiversity.uk/ 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 The Old Museum, The Green, Bardney 28/9 Continuing flush of Suede Boletes = perhaps 20 caps. BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 Phil & Mary Porter 30th September – 2nd October A Hornet hummed through the garden, but this has been another year in which wasps have not been a dominant feature here. Up to 8 Red Admirals have continued to visit the Michaelmas daisies and a Brimstone was the first for some time. Mary heard a Chiffchaff on 2nd and also found a dead shrew. We have small numbers of Goldfinches, Chaffinches and Greenfinches at the feeders, and the clan of House Sparrows have re-established their bathing routine outside the French windows after several weeks hiatus elsewhere. BARDNEY VILLAGE TF118693 Phil & Mary Porter 2nd October A Raven flew calling past the Church. CARLTON LE MOORLAND Carlton le Moorland SK909581 Jeremy Hutchinson 26/9/23 Red Kite seen drifting eastwards. 28/9/23 The youngsters in our single House Martin nest were still being fed yesterday, but have now gone, except for one seen briefly in the late afternoon. None seen since. 7/10/23 Seven Buzzards seen soaring together of west side of village. 3/10/23 Still a few Chiffchaffs around, with the occasional burst of song heard now and again. GRIMSBY TA265095 Joyce Attia 4th October 2023 There have been some beautiful butterflies in the garden this last week. Two very large red admirals with very bright colours as if they had recently hatched, a small tortoiseshell, again with bright colours, a number of small whites. There have been quite  lot of bees on the Michaelmas daisies, mainly Bombus Terrestris, but also some smaller ones with a ginger coat which my book says might be Bombus Pascuorum, it's really pretty. And spiders of all sizes all over the place, pretty garden spiders, daddy long legs, a big spider which seems to have taken up residence and runs across the carpet. Some sad news from the river. One of our cygnets was badly injured when it's thought it crash landed in the street. Thanks to multiple people who care about our wildlife, it was rescued quickly. It's wing was badly broken and it must have been in dreadful pain and when seen by a vet it was thought that recovery from this sort of injury was very slim and it was better to euthanise it.   It's really sad as all 8 of the cygnets survived all the dangers that they faced as babies.   One died 3 weeks ago and now there are 6 left. NETTLEHAM TF003754 (roadside tree on Kingsway) Bill Ball 1.10.23 Shaggy bracket fungus Inonotus hispidus Two large brackets, about 25cm wide, 18cm long, oozing yellow droplets beneath, some forming yellow filaments. Also many smaller fruiting bodies. On a rowan whose foliage looks healthy for most part, despite brackets being wider than its trunk. WATER RAIL WAY, SOUTHREY TF142661 Phil & Mary Porter 30th September Walking downstream from Southrey, we found a few flowers still in bloom where the verges had been mowed during the main growing season; hedgerow cranesbill and common toadflax. Rambling roses and briars associated with the station house had good displays of hips and the odd Robin’s Pincushion gall, but the various apple trees that had presumably arisen along the track bed from discarded cores, while not without fruit, were not bearing abundantly. Hogweed stems were still in flower, again where they had been cut down earlier in the year, and there were small numbers of insects taking advantage. Various muscids, blow-flies and a distinctive parasitic tachinid, Tachina fera, were among them. We reached the pair of very characterful carved pigs and watched a large hornet which stayed on the sculpture all the time we were there, without establishing whether or not it had any special purpose there. Two ichneumon wasps, with black and white antennae twitching furiously, were dashing madly about in the various decaying cracks. The pigs had been covered with Turkey-tail brackets before they were scraped off a couple of years ago. We did not see many birds but Long-tailed Tits were active in the scrub. Returning from the Water Rail Way, we visited Southrey’s little wooden church TF138665 and found the turf in its enclosure thickly colonised by strong rosettes of various yellow composites; Mouse-ear Hawkweed, Autumnal Hawkbit and Cat’s-ear, despite being cut very short. Lady’s Bedstraw was also evident at the path edges. There were a few species of fungi, but none that we knew. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. NNRs and NATURE RESERVES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's pages [2021] on Coronavirus, Covid-19 includes details of LWT reserves and other advice and information: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/coronavirus Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog: http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ LWT Reserves List: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/nature-reserves-list RSPB Frampton Marsh: http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE DUNES NNR including DONNA NOOK ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Visitor Leaflet - Natural England: http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/38015?category=59026 http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/saltfleetby-theddlethorpe-dunes https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR Report  20th September – 3rd October 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   200923 - 240 common scoter offshore from Mablethorpe North End, where a juvenile long-tailed skua flew north. 2 cattle egret with livestock in field south of Rimac car park. Wheatear seen flying south offshore before continuing inland. 2 first winter Caspian gull on the beach at Mablethorpe. 210923 - 424 pink-footed goose on fields adjacent to the dunes between Rimac and Churchill Lane. Cetti's warblers singing at Brickyard Lane, Churchill Lane and half-way between. Whimbrel on the saltmarsh out from Brickyard Lane. 2 wheatear near old tank at MOD. 2 sparrowhawk circling over Churchill Lane. 200 golden plover around Crook Bank.    220923 - 250 pink-footed geese flew south mid-afternoon in 3 skeins. A single shag flew north over the sea and a marsh harrier flew south offshore. 4 redpoll flew south over Brickyard Lane. Wing-tagged female marsh harrier, originating from Norfolk, flew over the dunes at Sea View.   230923 - Yellow-browed warbler with a small tit flock in the dunes at Brickyard Lane. 3 raven mobbing 2 kestrel at Elm House Farm.   240923 - 200+ house martin flew south throughout the morning.   250923 - Southerly movement of meadow pipit, hirundines and finches over Sea View in the morning. 38 wigeon, 46 teal, 12 shoveler and 6 little egret on Sea View Washlands.   260923 - 450 pink-footed goose flew south in several skeins in the morning, mostly over the beach or offshore. 8 goldcrest in sycamores around Sea View Farm.    270923 - Sea View washland: 63 teal and 26 wigeon. Wheatear around the pillbox north of Sea View. Colour-ringed Caspian gull on the beach at Mablethorpe North End. Around Crook Bank were a wheatear, 6 chiffchaff, 1 willow warbler, 1 sedge warbler, 1 blackcap, 1 Cetti’s warbler, 4 goldcrest, 70 meadow pipit and an increase in robins. 150 meadow pipit and 60 chaffinch flew south, and a buzzard came in-off the sea. 2 male and 5 female marsh harrier and a short-eared owl over the saltmarsh. 20 black-tailed godwit at Saltfleet Haven.   280923 - Cattle egret with 19 little egrets on the saltmarsh and nearby peregrine falcon hawking amongst teal, wheatear on pillbox. Eau outfall kingfisher and 1 common sandpiper. Wheatear on the saltmarsh between Sea View and Paradise Lagoon. Ring-necked parakeet flew south down the dunes towards Sea View where it was later seen and a hobby was hawking over trees. Short-eared owl over the saltmarsh at Rimac. First-winter Caspian gull flew south offshore.   290923 - Short-eared owl hunting over Sea View washland before flying off towards Elm House Farm, at least 6 marsh harriers hunting over the saltmarsh. 636 pink-footed geese on arable fields between Churchill Lane and MOD, another 200 flew to roost early evening.   300923 - Paradise lagoon: single kingfisher flew over and 1 tufted duck with teal and shoveler. Flying over Sea View: 11 greylags and 15 magpies, 1 great spotted woodpecker nearby and 1 spotted flycatcher moving through Sea View.   011023 - A total of 417 pink-footed geese flew off from their roost near the Haven at morning high tide.   021023 – 2 Cetti’s warblers and a willow warbler singing at Churchill Lane.   031023 - 23 little egrets on the saltmarsh north of Sea View and male stonechat nearby. At least 30 shoveler, 70 teal and 10 mallard on Paradise lagoon, swallow overhead. Approx. 2000 pink-footed geese left foreshore roost in the morning. Ring-necked parakeet south of Brickyard Lane. 4 cattle egret with cows at Elm House Farm. 2 swallows at Rimac.   Other local reserves   280923 – Tetney Blow Wells: 2 Cetti’s warbler singing, kingfisher flying along   290923 – Donna Nook: Parakeet flying around Stonebridge area. Several skeins of pink-footed geese over.   300923 – Donna Nook: 3 stonechat and 800 mixed goldfinch/linnet at Quad 3.   031023 – Donna Nook: Wheatear, purple sandpiper, 2 goosander, short-eared owl, 2 marsh harrier, sparrowhawk, yellow wagtail.     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 history of the Lincolnshire Limewoods: https://www.forestryjournal.co.uk/features/19111877.lincolnshire-limewoods/ The Forestry Commission visitor advice: https://www.forestryengland.uk/article/coronavirus-visitor-guide ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch: https://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html Chambers Farm Wood - Butterfly Garden - gardening dates and times: Next date: October 17th 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. Next dates: 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. Your suggestions, please. South Humber Heritage Trail, Alkborough Flats - LWT leaflet - downloadable https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/sites/default/files/2018-04/south_humber_heritage_trail_alkborough.pdf Monks Wood Ashing Lane Nature Reserve https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/monks-wood-ashing-lane-nature-reserve/ Tattershall Carrs https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/tattershall-carrs/ Mareham Pastures Local Nature Reserve https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/mareham-pastures-local-nature-reserve/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7. SENDING IN BULLETIN REPORTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The purpose of the Bulletin is to encourage biological recording in Lincolnshire. We aim to increase the number of people reporting observations to Recorders or via i-record. https://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/ The Bulletin is a FREE service. We ask you to provide reports, questions, news or relevant articles from time to time. Descriptive pieces are welcome. You don't have to stick to lists! Please help us to help you. When sending in reports please follow this layout to save re-editing: Place Name: IN CAPITALS with Grid Reference if you have it. Your Name: Real names please, not aliases. Put it in each time, for each location Date: Species list [Alphabetical?] & numbers [and observations?] e.g. Blackbird - 24 [And please, no home-grown abbreviations. Species Names in full.] Bulletin mailing times may vary. It usually goes out on Wednesdays/ Thursdays in time for the weekend. Please e-mail in contributions as early as possible, to: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8. CONTACTS AND USEFUL WEBSITES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CONTACTS LIST Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union LNU Website: http://lnu.org/ LNU Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist? LNU Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lincsnaturalists/ LNU e-mail: info@lnu.org Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust: https://twitter.com/LincsWildlife Lincs Bird Club: https://twitter.com/Lincsbirding LBC County Bird Recorder: recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk The Sir Joseph Banks Society: https://twitter.com/sirjosephbanks Lincolnshire Bat Group: http://www.lincsbatgroup.co.uk/ Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch: https://twitter.com/BC_Lincolnshire Lincsbirders: https://twitter.com/lincsbirders Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project: https://lincolnshirechalkstreams.org/events/ South Lincolnshire Flora Group: https://bsbi.org/south-lincolnshire-v-c-53 The Wolds Fungi Group: Contact Paul Nichol via email: pnichol20@gmail.com Lincolnshire Dormouse Group: Contact: lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com FIGHTING WILDLIFE CRIME Wildlife Crime https://www.lincs.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/wc/wildlife-crime/ SPECIES IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. LNU Recorders and Specialists: https://lnu.org/specialists/ Downloads of LNU books: https://lnu.org/publications/books/ Recording with "iRecord": https://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/ iRecord is recommended by the LNU as an appropriate platform for on-line recording. Sawflies, Bees, Wasps and Ants Recorder Dr. David Sheppard Willing to examine specimens or check photos. Bear in mind only a relative few of the 300+ species in the county are identifiable using photos. Email: d.a.sheppard@btinternet.com Lincolnshire Mammals Chris Manning, Email: Chris.LincsDeer@gmail.com Spiders, Pseudoscorpions, Harvestmen Imogen Wilde Regional Co-ordinator (RC) and Mentor for Lincolnshire for the British Arachnological Society (BAS). Email: Imogen@imogenwilde.co.uk Amphibians and Reptiles Ashley Butterfield The Lincolnshire ARG (Amphibian & Reptile Group) Email: LearningOutdoors@btinternet.com Local Bat Helpline Grounded bats, bat problems, advice and information. Contact Annette Faulkner on 01775 766286 Email: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com Confidential Bat Records You may send confidential bat records direct to Annette Faulkner on: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com Slug ID Help Chris du Feu will help with slug identification. Tel: 01383 669 124 Email: chris.r.dufeu@gmail.com Non-Marine Molluscs and other Freshwater Invertebrates Alex Pickwell is the LNU Recorder for Non-marine Molluscs Email: mrapickwell@gmail.com When asking for help: Please give the 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. People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES). Volunteers can report roadkill sightings using their smartphone via a free Mammals on Roads app. No prior experience needed. Counting mammal road casualties can tell conservationists about numbers in the wider landscape. To take part, search for Mammals on Roads on the App Store or Google Play. https://ptes.org/ Lincolnshire Badger Group The Lincolnshire Badger Group is a fully affiliated member with The Badger Trust. Please help us by reporting Badger road kills and Setts. Sett location knowledge allows us to keep an eye on them to ensure no human disturbance. We will be also rehabilitating back to their setts, if found injured. Please find link to our Facebook group. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093647842292 or get in contact via our email lincolnshirebadgergroup@hotmail.com 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/ The Flora of Lincolnshire by Joan Gibbons: downloadable LNU book Greater Lincolnshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy. Rachel Graham writes Survey Local Nature Recovery Strategy - Let's Talk Lincolnshire Have your say regarding the future of nature in Lincolnshire by completing the public survey Webpage http://www.glincslnrs.org.uk/ 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 *** https://lnu.org/meetings/ Summer programme - Field Meetings Sunday 15th October Langholme Wood and Haxey Turbary LWT Reserves Workshops Harvestmen - Imogen Wilde 7th of October - Cancelled Owl & Other Bird Pellets - Garry Steele 28th of October - 1 space left. Bryophytes - Steven Heathcote 4th of November - several spaces still. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ...AND FINALLY... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ...and finally... 'We could eradicate malaria by 2040' says expert https://theconversation.com/we-could-eradicate-malaria-by-2040-says-expert-after-revolutionary-vaccine-is-approved-by-who-214798 Bedbug panic sweeps Paris as infestations soar before 2024 Olympics https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-66995977 Remarkable images show the intricacy and beauty of common plants https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25934580-400-remarkable-images-show-the-intricacy-and-beauty-of-common-plants/ Thousands of animal and plant species in decline across the UK https://www.newscientist.com/article/2394339-thousands-of-animal-and-plant-species-in-decline-across-the-uk/ Nature crisis: One in six species at risk of extinction in Great Britain https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-66923930 Derbyshire becomes 'Nottinghamshire’s waste bin' as collection lorries cross the border to dump rubbish during pay strike https://uk.yahoo.com/news/derbyshire-becomes-nottinghamshire-waste-bin-143734289.html UK unready as wildfires surge, warns firefighters' union https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-66948836 ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/