========================================== || || 18th 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: We have a weather warning for wind in the region and the Met Office forecast says: "Outbreaks of heavy rain will move north across the region overnight, accompanied by windy conditions. The rain gradually clearing through the early hours, with less windy and drier conditions following." 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? Will Bartle, Monitoring Officer for the Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project, writes: "There is now a Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Trust as well as ourselves. The Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Trust are looking for new Trustees. Contact. info@lincolnshirechalkstreamstrust.org.uk Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Trust: https://lincolnshirechalkstreamstrust.org.uk/ This week's mostly-local news stories: Museum of Lincolnshire Life recognised for work 'inspiring' students https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-67106418 The Lincolnshire village honoured in every Disney film since 2006 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-67102341 Cause of 'Stranger Things' pink lights over Yorkshire town revealed https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-67095602 First UK trap set to tackle Chinese mitten crab invasion https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-67100212 Fishtoft football field badly damaged by quad bikes https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-67100227 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#? 22 - 31 Oct 2023 "On Sunday, probably showers for many areas but especially across the east. Perhaps the best of any dry and sunny weather for the west and northwest. Showers likely to be wintry to high ground of Scotland. Winds light to moderate and rather cold for many. There is significant uncertainty for later in the period but, on balance, the block over Scandinavia is likely to weaken which will allow the influence of the Atlantic low to grow. Further showers or longer spells of rain likely with the focus more on western and southwestern areas than through the preceding days. Risk of some strong winds at times, mainly in the west and southwest. Temperatures a little higher or close to average for the time of year." *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** Osiris-Rex: Nasa reveals first look at 'beautiful' asteroid sample thttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-67078632 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 *** Boultham Park Activities *** Information from Lizzie Oakley Boultham Park are offering some exciting new nature-based walks in the last week of October. On the 24th October join Steve Lovell for a guided Bird ID Walk around Boultham Park and the surrounding areas from 10am-12pm starting at the Lincoln & District Indoor Bowling Club on Hall Drive at £4.50 per person. On the 27th October join Steve Lovell for a Nature Photography Walk around Boultham Park and the surrounding areas from 10am-12pm starting at the Lincoln & District Indoor Bowling Club on Hall Drive at £4.50 per person. Please contact Boultham.park@lincoln.gov.uk to book your place or see http://www.boulthampark.co.uk/ for more information. *** 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 - Fungi - Deadly, Delightful or Just a Load of Old Rot by Paul Nichol Thursday 9th November 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: Lincolnshire’s Breeding Birds of Prey On Monday 11th November we hold our indoor meeting where Alan Ball will be giving us an illustrated talk on Lincolnshire’s Breeding Birds of Prey. Alan will tell us about installation of nest boxes and monitoring and about Barn Owls being a real success story. This will take place in Grimsby Town Hall DN31 1HX and starts at 7.30pm. Admission £4, all are welcome. Raffle and refreshments will be available and Trust Christmas cards will be on sale. Please contact Jennie Redpath 01472 502858  for further details. On Saturday 18th November you are invited to join us on a morning bird walk in Cleethorpes with Graham Hicks. Meet Graham at 8.00am in Cleethorpes Leisure Centre Car Park DN35 0BY. We will be walking along Cleethorpes Seafront & Anthony’s Bank. Please wear suitable outdoor clothing and stout footwear and bring binoculars if you have them. This is a free event however donations will be welcomed for the Trust. For further information about the walk, please contact Graham Hicks 07979 089890 Details of both these events are also our website www.grimsbywildlifetrust.org.uk and we are on Facebook  *** Lincoln Area Group 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: 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/ 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 11/10 Yellow-browed Warbler, juv Pomarine skua flew past, Gibraltar Point 12/10 Bittern, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James Lesser Yellowlegs juv, Semipalmated Sandpiper juv and 4 Little Stints on Middle Scrape, Frampton Marsh 2 Yellow-browed Warblers, juv Pomarine skua flew past, Gibraltar Point Hooded Crow in pig fields by Langholme Lane, Haxey Glossy Ibis in field by Humber, Alkborough Flats 13/10 6 Cattle Egrets in cattle field near sea wall, Kirton Marsh Lesser Yellowlegs juv, Semipalmated Sandpiper juv and 4 Little Stints on Middle Scrape, Frampton Marsh 2 Black Terns flew south past Gibraltar Point Hooded Crow in pig fields by Langholme Lane, Haxey 14/10 Semipalmated Sandpiper juv, Pectoral Sandpiper juv, Lesser Yellowlegs juv, and Garganey on Middle Scrape, 5 Little Stints, Curlew Sandpiper, Lapland Bunting at River Witham mouth, Frampton Marsh Leach's Petrel flew north past, 2 Pomarine Skuas flew south, Short- eared Owl, Gibraltar Point 17 Pomarine Skuas flew south past Anderby Creek Hooded Crow in pig fields by Langholme Lane, Haxey Baird's Sandpiper on pools, then flew north, East Halton Marshes 15/10 Black Stork flew into creek, Kirton Marsh Semipalmated Sandpiper juv, Lesser Yellowlegs juv, Middle Scrape, Pectoral Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh 3 Water Pipits on Jackson's Marsh, 6 Pomarine Skuas flew past, Gibraltar Point Caspian Gull 1w, Marston Baird's Sandpiper north of Winter's Pond car park, Halton Marshes Richardson's Cackling Goose in stubble field between East Halton and Winter's Pond Hooded Crow in pig fields by Langholme Lane, Haxey 16/10 Rock Pipit at Wader Pit,. Baston Langroft Pits 6 Cattle Egrets north of Marsh Road, Kirton Marsh Lesser Yellowlegs juv and Semipalmated Sandpiper report "erroneous?", Pectoral Sandpiper earlier report "erroneous?", 2 Little Stints, Curlew Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh Water Pipit, Freiston Shore Pomarine skua juv flew north past, Hooded Crow, Gibraltar Point Bluethroat trapped and ringed, Saltfleet NNR Blyth's Reed Warbler, Anderby Creek Long-tailed Skua flew north past, 3 Pomarine Skuas, Mablethorpe 17/10 Bittern, Rock Pipit, Glossy Ibis flew NW over Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James 3 Pomarine Skuas flew past Cut End, Boston Black Redstart at East Dunes, 6 Pomarine Skuas flew past, 3 Little Auks, 1 killed by Great Black-backed Gull, 3 Sooty Shearwaters, Gibraltar Point Lesser Yellowlegs juv on Middle Scrape, Pectoral Sandpiper juv, Semi- palmated Sandpiper juv, 3 Little Stints, Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Short-eared Owls, Frampton Marsh Sooty Shearwater, Pomarine Skua flew past Sutton on Sea 18/10 Glossy Ibis at Deeping Lakes Glossy Ibis by Welland Bank, Deeping High Bank Lesser Yellowlegs juv on Middle Scrape, Frampton Marsh little Auk on sea, Chapel Point Pomarine Skua and Great Northern Diver flew north, Mablethprpe ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. BARDNEY - Wragby Road B1202 near bridge after Gautby Road turn off. A + R Parsons 15 October 2023 Dead Mink adult in middle or road [later disappeared!] WOODHALL SPA - Spa Road near Coronation Hall A + R Parsons 16 October 2023 Dead adult muntjac doe on road verge. Magpie damage. *** 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 No report this week. BARDNEY GARDEN TF 117700 Mary and Phil Porter 17th October 2023 After some chilly nights, we are down to x2 red admirals in the garden, visiting perennial wallflowers, field scabious and a new late flowering buddleia plant. One red admiral had two big peck marks out of its right wing but was still gamely fluttering about. One small tortoiseshell butterfly overwintering on a cardboard box in the shed. I had wanted to clear up in there but we’ve had so few small tortoiseshells about this year, I daren’t move it. Various hoverflies still about. Several mosquitoes have been in the house as well as the ordinary gnats (sorry, I don’t know which species). The birdfeeders still have plenty of goldfinches and chaffinches on them, but the greenfinches seem to have disappeared. I’ve heard siskins but not seen them. Long- tailed, great and blue tits still about, and one blue tit has been roosting in the bird box by the window. Honey bees have been working our white Michaelmas daisies, along with a few bumblebees, which also love a miniature fuchsia. Redwings have been going overhead, but only seen a few dozen, about a week ago. A male and female tawny owl have been calling some nights, and several muntjac deer have been barking. BOSTON Maud Foster Drain TF334437 Tracey Lenton 17/10/2023 Midday walk, a fine, sunny day, quite windy, not too cold. There has been little visible bird life on the water recently when driving through the town. Today I took a walk along Windsor Bank and was pleased to see more activity, possibly due to the area being quieter, away from the traffic over the bridges, maybe time of day and weather, something to consider monitoring in future. Mallard in groups, 5, 6, 2 and 2. 11 altogether in one spot, 6 female 5 male Mute swan 2 roosting Further up the drain there is a family of Mute swans - 2 parents and 6 cygnets -which I have seen in September and this month, they seem to be doing well.  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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  4th – 17th 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 Note: A maximum of 23.0 degrees centigrade was recorded at Sea View on the 9th October. 041023 – A small arrival of stonechat, with 3 at Rimac, 2 at MOD and 3 at Elm House Farm. Merlin flew south offshore. 2 grey wagtail and a kingfisher at Paradise Lagoon. Up to 4000 pink-footed geese came to roost in the evening. 4 cattle egret at Elm House Farm. 051023 - Between Sea View and Paradise several small flocks of long tailed tits, great tits and blue tits working their way through the scrub and with them 2 goldcrests, 2 chiffchaffs, at least 5 willow warblers and 2 reed buntings. 4 stonechats nearby and a kingfisher along the Eau outfall. A flock of 90 lapwing flew high in a westerly direction over the dunes. Several skeins of pink-footed geese flying south. Red Kite flew north over the dunes at Mablethorpe North End, where 1540 pink-footed geese flew south/south-west after leaving roost. A small amount of southerly passage in the morning, with finches and meadow pipit, 3 swallow, a grey wagtail and a sandwich tern. Cetti’s warbler singing at Brickyard Lane. 4 stonechat together on outer dune scrub at Brickyard Lane. Jack snipe in the dunes north of Crook Bank. 47 little egret gathered on the saltmarsh at Sea View early evening. 3 cattle egret at Elm House Farm.   061023 - On Sea View washland: 111 teal, 5 wigeon, 4 shoveler. 3 swallows south. Merlin south over Rimac and 3 stonechat on the freshwater marsh. 4 stonechat and 3 cattle egret at Elm House Farm.   071023 - Pink-footed geese on beach edge of the Haven, 431 birds. The first redwing of the autumn, with 3 flying south-west at Brickyard Lane. 3 cattle egret at Elm House Farm.   081023 - A dank morning with low cloud, mist and a light SE brought in several thousand winter thrushes, mainly redwing. Around Sea View were 1000+ redwing, blackbirds, few song thrush and fieldfare plus 1 ring ouzel and 1 goldcrest. 37 shoveler on Paradise lagoon. Merlin hunting over saltmarsh. Butterflies on the wing mid-day at Sea View: several red admirals, large white and singles of comma, small tortoiseshell and painted lady. With easterly winds overnight, the east coast saw a huge arrival of birds throughout the morning. Many birds continued inland over the dunes as they arrived, but others dropped in from height to rest in dune scrub and feed up on berries. Thousands of winter thrushes were recorded, with a few thousand redwing and hundreds each of song thrush, fieldfare and blackbird mixed in. At least 18 ring ouzel were also recorded with the mass arrival. Several hundreds of goldcrest were scattered along the dunes, with groups of 30+ feeding up after the North Sea crossing. A noticeable arrival of Brambling also seen, with small flocks flying south along the dunes. 5 short-eared owls flew west over the dunes, likely having just flown in off the sea. Lone whimbrel on Rimac scrape.   091023 - Many goldcrests in sycamores at Sea View, 1 brambling and a raven heard over towards Elm House Farm. Rimac: 5 stonechat and 31 dark-bellied brent geese on the Haven, mixed in with pink-footed geese.  A big clear out of birds overnight with only small numbers of redwing remaining in some areas of the dunes. Yellow-browed warblers recorded at Crook Bank, Brickyard Lane and north of Churchill Lane, likely to relate to at least 3 different birds. Small groups of goldcrest moving through the dunes, but far fewer than yesterday. A swift sp. flew north over the dunes at Crook Bank, possibly a pallid swift. Raven also flew north along the dunes. Male ring ouzel at Rimac freshwater marsh and a jay in Rimac car park. Merlin flew over MOD (north of Churchill Lane) and a short-eared owl flew west over the dunes at Crook Bank. Whimbrel calling over the saltmarsh at Sea View. Weasel in the dunes at Brickyard Lane. Butterflies – red admiral, painted lady, comma, small white. 111023 – Yellow-browed warbler again near Brickyard Lane. Going south at Mablethorpe North End were 2 guillemot, 15 pink-footed goose, 9 red-breasted merganser, 2 sandwich tern, 2 common tern, 8 swallow, grey wagtail, 2 pied wagtail, 12 chaffinch and 25 meadow pipit. On the beach were 11 bar-tailed godwit, 2 turnstone, 4 oystercatcher, 80 sanderling, a knot, 71 crow plus herring and common gulls. Offshore were 6 red-throated diver and 177 common scoter.   121023 - Drake pochard on Paradise lagoon. 2 cattle egret north along the foredunes at Brickyard Lane, where a small number of siskin and greenfinch flew over. 3 cattle egret at Elm House Farm. 3 whooper swan flew south along the beach at Mablethorpe North End, where 19 red-throated diver were on the sea.   131023 – 350 golden plover on the foreshore north of Churchill Lane. Short-eared owl at Rimac. 4 cattle egret at Elm House Farm.   141023 - Pochard still on Paradise lagoon and 2 kingfishers flying along the Eau. 2 pintail flew off from Sea View washlands. Late afternoon 19 whooper swans on Rimac lagoon and merlin hunting over saltmarsh plus 2 marsh harriers nearby. A walk for Lincolnshire Bird Club at Rimac was fairly quiet, but a cattle egret flew north and a good display of raptors over the saltmarsh; with 3 marsh harrier, peregrine and merlin all feeding in the same area. The peregrine pursued a snipe in flight for a short while before catching the prey, only for a marsh harrier to steal it from the falcon. After this, the peregrine set off after a medium-sized wader, chasing it very high and out towards the sea until the tiny specs were lost to sight. 4 whooper swan south over the foreshore early morning and 7 flew south later in the morning. Approx 4800 pink-footed goose left morning roost off the foreshore. 20 goldfinch, several siskin and a redpoll south at Brickyard Lane, where 2 tree sparrow were in the dunes. 30 redwing, 12 house martin and 5 swallow flew over the dunes in the evening. 5 cattle egret at Elm House Farm late morning.   151023 - 64 little egrets feeding on the saltmarsh north of Sea View, 55 shoveler, 1 pochard and 1 little grebe of note on Paradise lagoon. Stoat hunting near Sea View. 2 redhead goosander and a drake pochard on Paradise lagoon. 5 whooper swan flew south with 20 pink-footed goose. A redhead goosander flew south then west over the saltmarsh at Rimac in the evening. Male stonechat at Rimac, a barn owl quartered the dunes and a peregrine disturbed gulls and waders on the foreshore. 4 whooper swan roosted at Rimac in the evening and 4500 pink-footed goose flew to foreshore roost at dusk. 5 cattle egret at Elm House Farm late morning, plus 3 short- eared owl, a great egret and 20 curlew in the evening.   161023 - Green woodpecker flying low over saltmarsh, 8 whooper swans on Haven. A bluethroat was ringed in the dunes at Brickyard Lane, but was not seen after release. Waxwings heard flying south over Brickyard Lane, as did a jay. A small movement of greenfinch, siskin and redpoll early morning. 1 brambling, 2 swallow, 5 song thrush, 10 redwing, 8 blackbird, 2 Cetti’s warbler and a male merlin around Churchill Lane. 8 whooper swan flew south in the evening, having rested up on the edge of Saltfleet Haven throughout the day. 3 pomarine skua and a long-tailed skua flew north over the sea in an hour. 72 lapwing and 28 curlew feeding on short grassland and 5 cattle egret still with livestock at Elm House Farm. 171023 - 5 cattle egrets feeding on saltmarsh with 34 little egrets. Other Local Reserves 131023 – Donna Nook: Several small flocks of redwing flying in from the sea and 3 whooper swans flew over going south along the dunes. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: November 7th 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/ Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Trust: https://lincolnshirechalkstreamstrust.org.uk/ 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 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. 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. 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 unwise or untimely 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/ 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... Plantlife Christmas Gifts https://shop.plantlife.org.uk/collections/christmas/products/birch-garland-and-tree-decorations Sea slater: The giant woodlouse that measures 3cm long and lives on the coast https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/insects-invertebrates/sea-slater-facts Wildcats thriving in Scottish Highlands conservation project https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-67100886 'Huge losses' of Scottish seabirds due to avian flu https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-67088869 Climate change could make beer taste worse https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-67078674 Cromer and Mundesley to get new sea defences as part of £25m project https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-67101508 Three men sentenced over East Yorkshire hare coursing offences https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-67077866 Mendips: Illegal poachers cause 'extensive damage' to farmland https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-67100632 Birdwatch: the paradoxical world of the tawny owl - Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/oct/11/birdwatch-tawny-owl-species-britain ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/