=========================================== || || 11th 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: A cracking number of migrants reported this week, on the move in this surprising autumn weather. The pager has been busy! I am pleased to report we have noted several species of fungi this week and this promises well for the LNU Fungus Foray on 15th October 2023. [Apologies - I cannot be with you at the foray this year. Good hunting!] https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/2023-10-15-langholme-wood-and-haxey-turbary-lwt-reserves-sunday-october-15th-afternoon-annual-fungus-foray/ On 28 October 2023, a partial lunar eclipse will be visible for the UK and all of continental Europe, as well as the Middle East, most of Africa and Asia. https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/solar-lunar-eclipse-guide-when-where I cannot find a list of 2023 times for the Aegir on the Internet. Can anyone help? https://insearchofholywellsandhealingsprings.com/2013/03/19/the-trent-aegir-a-sacred-river-and-its-god/ Two Workshops, Bird Pellets and Bryophytes, may have spaces for a few more people. The Owl and Other Bird Pellets had one space left (someone dropped out recently) and Bryophytes has places for several more. For details please contact Richard Davidson on 01522 525725 or email rel.davidson@btinternet.com See: https://lnu.org/meetings/workshops/ "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." This week's mostly-local news stories: Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Horseshoe crab wins gold https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-67063835 Pressure on nature threatens many flowering plants with extinction https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-67011558 Take part in Waxcap Watch 2023 - Plantlife https://www.plantlife.org.uk/waxcapwatch/ Bears, birds and kangaroos: Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-67004896 How to get rid of bedbugs and are they in the UK? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-67017590 Don't miss this clip of a thieving Seagull! https://www.youtube.com/shorts/FtsH2hdNf-o Largest offshore wind farm celebrates power milestone https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-67060017 Godwit stuns experts with four-day round trip to Norfolk https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-67008557 People reminded to give resting seal pups space as winter approaches https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-isle-of-man-66995624 Wildlife trust launches £3m 'nature recovery' appeal https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-66987289 More links in "...and finally ..." at the end of the Bulletin. If you have not yet tried using iRecord you should give it a try? iRecord is recommended by the LNU as an appropriate platform for on-line recording. https://irecord.org.uk/ 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#? 13 - 23 Oct 2023 "Heavy rain is expected to arrive into the southwest early on Friday, later spreading north-eastwards into central parts of the UK. Further north, a mixture of showers and sunny spells are likely, with the potential for strong blustery winds in places. Over the weekend, a general showery theme is expected to become more prevalent, with the best of any dry conditions likely to be in the southwest. Temperatures early in the period are expected to be close to normal for the time of year, though potentially milder in the south, at least initially. As the period progresses, a trend towards increasingly frequent spells of unsettled weather is probable, which could produce generally wetter than average conditions across the UK from around the middle of the month onwards. " *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** Annular Solar eclipse 2023: Ring of fire to sweep Americas on Saturday https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-66938670 Comet P1 Nishimura moves into the evening sky for its last hurrah https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/comet-c-2023-p1-nishimura 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 *** 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/ *** 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. *** Lincoln LWT *** Richard Davidson Lincoln Area Group Talk October 19th: The Witham: Lincolnshire's River Local author Jon Fox returns with an illustrated talk based on his third and most recent book looking at the River Witham and taking us for a landscape journey along it from source to the coast. Copies of the book will be available for purchase on the evening. At Whisby Nature Park in the Lafarge Education Building starting at 7.30 pm. Admission is £2.50 which includes refreshments in the interval. *** 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. Contact, for this trip only please, Martin Graham, martingraham134@virginmedia.com, Tel: (01472) 751083 *** 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 LWT *** 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 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. 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 3/10 Semipalmated Sandpiper juv and White-rumped Sandpiper ad, Middle Scrape, Buff-breasted Sandpiper juv on wet grassland, 20 Curlew Sandpipers, 10 Little Stints, Lapland Bunting along Sea Wall, Frampton Marsh Garganey, Huttoft Bank Pit Possible Black Kite over Bellmount Tower Woods, Grantham 4/10 Black Stork juv, Sot's Hole bank, Holbeach Marsh Semipalmated Sandpiper juv, Buff-breasted Sandpiper juv on wet grassland, Lesser Yellowlegs juv, White-tailed Eagle ad on saltmarsh, then flew south, 10 Little Stints, 16 Curlew Sandpipers, Frampton Marsh Lapland Bunting,Woodlark, Pomarine Skua flew north, Scaup flew south, Bittern on Jackson's Marsh, Gibraltar Point Pomarine Skua flew past Rimac Caspian Gull, Huttoft Bank 5/10 Lesser Yellowlegs juv, Semipalmated Sandpiper juv, on Middle Scrape, Buff-breasted Sandpiper juv on wet grassland, Frampton Marsh Bittern and Woodlark on Jackson's Marsh, Gibraltar Point Short-eared Owl, in field west of dunes, Huttoft Bank 6/10 Lesser Yellowlegs juv and Semipalmated Sandpiper juv, on Middle Scrape, Buff-breasted Sandpiper juv on wet grassland, 5+ Curlew Sandpipers, 9+ Little Stints, Frampton Marsh 7/10 Black Tern juv at East Pit, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James Siberian Chiffchaff in bushes on path to Witham mouth, Lapland Bunting, Lesser Yellowlegs juv and Semipalmated Sandpiper juv on Middle Scrape, Buff-breasted Sandpiper juv on wet grassland, 10 Little Stints, 5 Curlew Sandpipers, Frampton Marsh Lapland Bunting in East Dunes, Caspian Gull, 3 Glossy Ibises flew south/landed briefly on saltmarsh, Scaup off Gibraltar Point Ring Ouzel in hedge between Marsh Lane and Sunnydale Holiday Camp, Saltfleet Ring Ouzel, Anderby Creek 8/10 Bittern flew towards car park, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James Buff-breasted Sandpiper juv on wet grassland, Semipalmated Sandpiper juv, White-rumped Sandpiper ad and Lesser Yellowlegs juv on Middle Scrape, Glossy Ibis flew SW over saltmarsh, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 8 Little Stints, Lapland Bunting from Sea Bank south of car park, Frampton Marsh 42 Short-eared Owls, 8 Ring Ouzels, one trapped and ringed in East Dunes, Yellow-browed Warbler, Lapland Bunting, Roseate Tern and Shorelark flew south past, Gibraltar Point 5 Ring Ouzels, Sutton-on-Sea 2 Yellow-browed Warblers, Hawfinch and 18+ Ring Ouzels, 4 in scrub at end of Sea Lane, Saltfleetby NNR Ring Ouzel in hedge between Marsh Lane and Sunnydale Holiday Camp, Saltfleet 18 Short-eared Owls flew in off sea, Ring Ouzel, Anderby Creek Yellow-browed Warbler, Huttoft, 3 Short-eared Owls flew in off sea, Huttoft Bank Possible Baltic Gull 1w, Caspian Gull, Short-eared Owl, Mablethorpe Great Grey Shrike, in hedgerow beside A15, Scampton Garganey at Teal Lake, Whisby Nature Park Lapland Bunting flew over Grimsby, then over Weelsby Woods Hooded Crow, Haxey 6 Curlew Sandpipers, Caspian Gull 2w at Novartis Ings, Pyewipe Glossy Ibis, flew towards Blacktoft, Alkborough Flats 9/10 Semipalmated Sandpiper juv and Lesser Yellowlegs juv on Middle Scrape, Buff-breasted Sandpiper juv on wet grassland, Lapland Bunting on saltmarsh, Pectoral Sandpiper on main lagoon, 3+ Little Stints, 3+ Curlew Sandpipers, Frampton Marsh Hawfinch, Freiston Shore 2 Yellow-browed Warblers, Woodlark, 2 Velvet Scoters, Gibraltar Point 2 Ring Ouzels, Saltfleetby NNR, Little Bunting and Yellow-browed Warbler, Saltfleet Haven Radde's Warbler at back of Wolla Bank Pit, Wolla Bank Pomarine Skua juv flew sough past Mablethorpe Short-eared Owl, Sandilands Pit, Sandilands 10/10 Semipalmated Sandpiper juv and Lesser Yellowlegs juv on Middle Scrape, Pectoral Sandpiper, 3 Curlew Sandpipers, 5 Little Stints, Frampton Marsh Honey Buzzard, 3 Yellow-browed Warblers, Twite, 2 Short-eared Owls, Gibraltar Point Little Bunting, Saltfleet Haven 2 Black Terns, both juvs, flew south over Anderby Creek Unconfirmed report of Red-backed Shrike, Alkborough Flats ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. 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 Record Pool - an easy way to record your amphibian and reptile species records. https://www.recordpool.org.uk/index.php 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/ 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 Garden flowers still being worked by up to 6 Red Admiral Butterflies. BOSTON My garden TF 338 441 Tracey Lenton 08/10/2023 A warm, sunny October day. Comma and Red Admiral (1 of each) seen, looking almost pristine, beautiful colours. The comma, in particular, looked perfect, I was pleased to see it as I have had few sightings this year in my garden. The Red Admiral was feeding on ivy flowers. The ivy was humming with what I think are droneflies, my video clips compared with Wildlife Trusts website. [Phil Porter adds: Eristalis, probably E. tenax, the Drone Fly.] There is one Toadflax brocade caterpillar left on the plant from the autumn brood. I counted over 100 at their peak in late August. Harvestman in hollyhock leaf which appears like Opilio canestrinii, my photo compared with Naturespot website. Hedgehog has continued to visit the garden. CAMSHAWS PLANTATION - Lincolnshire Limewoods NNR R+A Parsons A good range of fungi found including Cep and Birch Bolete. Also a Pale Tussock caterpillar on forest floor - photo taken. CARLTON LE MOORLAND Carlton le Moorland SK909581 Jeremy Hutchinson 7/10/23 Hummingbird Hawk Moth feeding on Verbena bonariensis and Cosmos in garden: by far the latest I have ever seen one. 8/10/23 Watched a wasp remove the head and thorax of a Hoverfly which was caught in the web of a spider in the corner of one of our conservatory windows (outside), before flying off. The spider kept well away until the wasp had gone, before tackling what remained of the fly. I can't recall having seen this before. 10/10/23 14.30: Red Kite flying into the wind on a SW bearing (the usual) before being mobbed by a crew of a dozen or more Jackdaws, where upon it turned 180 degrees and flew back towards the E/NE. I haven't seen Jackdaws do this before as far as I can recall. Lots of Tawny Owl hooting after dark from at least 3-4 individuals. SEDGE HOLE CLOSE LWT Nature Reserve Steve Hiner Blackbird x 1 Carrion crow x 6 Common Buzzard x 1 Jackdaw x 12 Pink-footed Goose x 250+ south over Robin x 1 Wood Pigeon x 4 Yellowhammer x 1 Rabbit x 2 Common Darter x 1 Migrant Hawker x 1 THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 21/09/23 Stoat x 1 caught on trail cam attempting to grab a Magpie which was sat on fence 29/09/23 Blackbird x 4 Black-headed Gull x 4 over Thurnholmes Blue Tit x 4 Carrion Crow x 4 Chaffinch x 1 Goldfinch x 6 Heron x 2 flying South, high over Thurnholmes Jackdaw x 2 Kestrel x 1 Mute Swan x 2 adults, 5 juveniles Owston Ferry Warping Drain Pink-footed Goose x 175 west over Thurnholmes Long-tailed Tit x 15 Robin x 1 Sparrowhawk x 1 male Siskin x 6 Tree Sparrow x 12 Wood Pigeon x 6 Common Darter x 4 Migrant Hawker x 1 30/09/23 Barn Owl x 1 SK791992 Blackbird x 1 Chiffchaff x 1 Common Buzzard x 1 Kestrel x 1 Little Egret x 1 SK789993 Little Owl x 1 calling 01:15hrs Pink-footed Goose x 250+ east over Thurnholmes Robin x 1 Wood Pigeon x 4 05/10/23 Little Owl x 1 04:30hrs 07/10/23 Barn Owl x 1 19:00hrs Blackbird x 4 Black-headed Gull x 25 over Thurnholmes Carrion Crow x 2 Chiffchaff x 1 Little Owl x 1 18:45hrs Magpie x 1 Pink-footed Goose x 54 over Thurnholmes (stragglers behind a larger flock which I heard but missed for counting) Robin x 2 Tree sparrow x 32 Wood Pigeon x 4 Grey Squirrel x 1 Migrant Hawker x 2 WHAPLODE St Mary’s church TF323240 13/9/23 Annette Faulkner Old lady moth resting on a pillar just above head height, spotted whilst carrying out a bat survey of part of the church. A week or two later I found a rather tatty old lady moth fluttering on the ground in my Spalding garden TF245218.  When I went to move it I found a wasp clinging on underneath – which promptly flew away. As did the moth, apparently unharmed. Has anyone else seen this behaviour? Though since then, on Sunday 8/10/23 I found a bumble bee on a nearby pavement, also struggling with a wasp under it. I separated them, but the bumble bee appeared pretty far gone. And an ID question for the lepidopterists. The first plums on the plum tree on the allotment at TF228218 were infested with a small, pretty pink caterpillar of, I presume, a micro moth (tortrix sp?). Plums that ripened later were not infested. This is clearly a record, but can anyone tell me what the species is? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sorry - no Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR Report this week. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. BARDNEY LIMEWOODS NNR ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ These cover a huge area. 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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: 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. 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. 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 Atlas of the terrestrial and semi-aquatic Mammals of Lincolnshire: https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/mammalatlas.pdf 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. Rare hornet moth colony found at BGS Keyworth https://www.bgs.ac.uk/news/rare-hornet-moth-colony-found-at-bgs-keyworth/ Independent - Geology: https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/geology 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 Owl & Other Bird Pellets - Garry Steele 28th of October - 1 space left. Bryophytes - Steven Heathcote 4th of November - several spaces still. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ...AND FINALLY... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mail Fails: This week: John Clarke - mailbox full ...and finally... Man trains home cameras to help repel badgers and foxes https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-67053171 Bedbugs: Luton Council receives 'alarming number' of calls https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-67055275 Strategies that wildlife use for camouflage https://cottagelife.com/outdoors/do-you-know-the-4-strategies-that-wildlife-uses-to-camouflage/ HotSat-1: Novel UK spacecraft maps heat variations across Earth https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-67010377 Country diary: Nothing is safe from the hard, relentless rain https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/oct/04/country-diary-nothing-is-safe-from-the-hard-relentless-rain Country diary: The most beautiful monuments on a moor not short of them https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/oct/03/country-diary-the-most-beautiful-monuments-on-a-moor-not-short-of-them National Trust defends right to campaign on nature amid ‘pressure’ from lobby group https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/oct/02/national-trust-defends-right-to-campaign-on-nature-amid-pressure-from-lobby-group ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/