============================================ || || 13th September 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Roger writes: Thanks to Phil Porter for editing and polishing up the LNU Bulletin this week. He and I are continuing our "double act" to share the load. Your contributions will be most welcome and they can still come via the old museum address. old.museum@yahoo.co/uk This week's mostly-local news stories: Cleethorpes beach bench rebuilt after arson attack https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-66763255 Lincolnshire village street set for £465k of roadworks https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66753751 Plans for £208m Lincoln bypass unanimously approved https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66777582 Plans submitted for Grimsby's ice factory landmark https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-66776372 Government may have broken law over sewage - watchdog https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-66778409 Three minutes to the centre of the Earth - Watch https://www.bbc.co.uk/ideas/videos/three-minutes-to-the-centre-of-the-earth/p0fwz6l4 Do you know Pressreader https://www.pressreader.com/ You can sign in with your library card to access to a wide range of magazines and newspapers for free More links in "...and finally ..." at the end of the Bulletin. 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/ We look forward to your reports and contributions for next week's Bulletin. 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. It all could be a fascination that lasts a lifetime. 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/ Clearance sale: https://www.nhbs.com/book-clearance Thanks to all who sent in news, reports and contributions this week. Roger old.museum@yahoo.co.uk - note - my best address for emails. Joining Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union If you are a member, please give the LNU a "plug " to others. https://lnu.org/join-the-lnu/ I received the following information from PTES. Record roadkill sightings this autumn. The annual Mammals on Roads survey underpins wildlife conservation, and can be done on a smartphone. Wildlife charity People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) is calling for volunteers to record any sightings of roadkill via a free app, in a bid to aid wildlife conservation. From late August onwards you can take part by simply downloading PTES’ free Mammals on Roads app ahead of their journey, and recording any roadkill spotted. No prior experience is needed and anyone can join in. The app has colourful illustrations and audio information about which species you might see, and whether it’s a hedgehog, fox or badger, 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 LNU Meetings. Scroll to full details in section 11 below. Or click: https://lnu.org/meetings/ Heritage Open Days 2023 - Heritage Lincolnshire - 8-17th September https://www.heritagelincolnshire.org/heritage-open-days Len Pick Barn Owl Camera. https://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project/ BTO Cuckoo Tracking project - 7 tracked cuckoos south of the Sahara. https://www.bto.org/cuckoos Suggestions for reports or research: Collaboration opportunity: 3D scanning fungi for research Harry Fancy [PlantGang] writes: I’m Biochemistry graduate from Bristol University now running a project trying to immortalize the world's plant and fungal specimens digitally within immersive scientific 3D models, aiming to bring rare and inspiring moments of biodiversity to people across the globe... I was wondering if any of your members are fungal photographers and data recorders, as if these members might be interested in being a part of this first of its kind research into 3D scanning fungi with associated scientific metadata, their experience with photography should make them great 3D scanners! This is since we’re able to process captured image/video datasets of fungal specimens from your members cameras or smartphones into 3D models using 3D technologies (photogrammetry and NeRFs). Further information about this and the project can be found on our website and guide to getting started with specimen 3D scanning. Please feel free to reach out to me at harry@plantgang.xyz to get involved! Links found here: https://www.plantgang.xyz/ https://www.notion.so/plantgang/Guide-to-capture-for-PlantGang-720f03157ff9493baa671be2d9c9c01c Investigating Seasonality of Otter Breeding in Britain, Using Newspaper Articles, Camera Trap Footage and Photograph Data. Kirsten Oliver writes: I am a postgraduate student at Edinburgh Napier University working with researchers at the university’s Centre for Conservation & Restoration Science and Findlay Ecology Services to investigate breeding seasonality in European otters, Lutra lutra. The aim is to improve our understanding of this vulnerable species and contribute to a evidence-base for survey and conservation efforts. We are trying to obtain information from a wide array of sources across the UK. We would very much appreciate help on this. I am looking for participants to take part in my research and if you agree I would appreciate any photographs or camera trap footage that you may possess which shows a female otter with her cubs from any year. It is important the cubs are with mum so I can estimate the birth date based on their size compared to mum. I only require one photo of the family, not multiple. If you record a family over an extended period, I would appreciate either the earliest images you have, or those that best show the relative size of the young compared to the mother. Alongside the photograph or footage, I need the date (month and year) and location where the family was seen. Grid reference coordinates or “what three words” location will be preferable; however a rough location (town, or postcode) will be sufficient if those are not available. You may withdraw from this research study at any time. If you can help, please respond to my below email address, and title the email “Otter Helper” and I will happily send further instructions on how to submit your picture/footage. All the information you give will be stored safely and secured in a password controlled hard drive account which will be accessible to myself and my Supervisors Dr Patrick White (Edinburgh Napier University, Otter Specialist group member) and Dr Melanie Findlay (Findlay Ecological Services, Otter Specialist group member). The information you give will be entirely anonymous and your information will be kept confidential. There will be no way to identify you in any report of the research findings. If you have any questions about the research, feel free to contact me or my supervisors. Researcher: Kirsten Oliver, 40504684@live.napier.ac.uk *** Weather News and Forecast *** https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#? 16 - 25 Sept 2023 "On Saturday, much of Scotland and Northern Ireland will see sunny spells and scattered showers. Central or southern areas of the UK are likely to see a band of rain, which may begin to edge further north. Temperatures rather cool under and north of this; but warmer and more humid to the south, with the potential for some showers and thunderstorms here. Through Sunday and Monday, these warmer, humid conditions with the potential for heavy, thundery outbreaks of rain are likely to spread north to other areas of the UK, displacing more settled, drier conditions further north. Beyond this, changeable conditions are most likely, with periods of rain or showers for many, most frequent in the north and west. Temperatures are likely to be around or a little above average." *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** Tantalising sign of possible life on faraway world https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-66786611 Full Moons 2023 https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/full-moon-calendar September's Night Sky: https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/blog/astronomy/night-sky-highlights-september-2023 Space and astronomy highlights in 2023 from The Royal Observatory https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/space-astronomy-highlights-2023 Aurora Watch - when Northern Lights might be seen in the UK: https://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/ Stellarium - open source and very useful: https://stellarium.org/ *** Seal and Birdwatching Cruises into The Wash *** Jeremy Eyeons writes: "The cruises for 2023 are going well and we have had some bookings from people who have read the Bulletin! So all good! 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 *** Lincoln LWT *** Richard Davidson writes Lincoln Area Group Talk September 21st: Deer in Lincolnshire Chris Manning of the Lincolnshire Deer Society will present an illustrated talk about the various species of Deer to be found in Lincolnshire and their current status. At Whisby Nature Park in the Lafarge Education Building starting at 7.30 pm. Admission is £2.50 which includes refreshments in the interval. 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/ Grimsby/Cleethorpes RSPB Brian Patterson writes: Our first talk of the new season is: Monday 18th September at 7.30pm on The Top Hill Low Nature Reserve. The talk will be given by the Tophill Low Assistant Nature Reserve Warden, Amy Watsham. The talk will be held at The Holy Trinity Parish Hall (Corpus Christi), Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes, DN35 7LH The group’s first car share trip of the season is to Gibraltar Point. Details of Meeting Place and Time from Sally Prescott Tel: (01472) 840142 or Email: sally.prescott142@btinternet.com Wednesday 27th September 2023 LWT Gibraltar Point, Guided walk with Warden, 9.30am start STAYING SAFE Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. Heat-health Alert service https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/seasonal-advice/heat-health-alert-service 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 5/9 27 Spoonbills, 14 Spotted Redshanks, Wood Sandpiper, 2 Little Stints, Curlew Sandpiper, Short-eared Owl, Frampton Marsh 6/9 Osprey, Toft Newton reservoir 7/9 43+ Curlew Sandpipers, 3 on Reedbed, 40+ on Middle Scrape, 5+ Spotted Redshanks, 27 Spoonbills, Short-eared Owl, 5 juv Little Stints, juv Wood Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh 2 Little Stints on Tennyson's Sands, 8 Spotted Redshanks, Osprey flew west, 10 Spoonbills, Gibraltar Point 2 Black Terns opposite Scallow Grove farm, Messingham Sand Quarry 8/9 8 Curlew Sandpipers, 2 Little Stints, Frampton Marsh Curlew Sandpiper at Manby Flashes 9/9 4 Curlew Sandpipers, 2 Little Stints, Wood Sandpiper, 2 Cattle Egrets, Gibraltar Point 17 Curlew Sandpipers, 4 Little Stints, Frampton Marsh Garganey on scrape at Rimac, Pomarine skua dark morph flew south, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes 2 Curlew Sandpipers, Wood Sandpiper, Cattle Egret, Common Crane, Anderby Creek 10/9 72 Curlew Sandpipers, 6 Little Stints, 20 spoonbills, Frampton Marsh Pied Flycatcher, Short-eared Owl, Gibraltar Point 28 Curlew Sandpipers at Novartis Ings on Humber, ad Caspian Gull. Pyewipe 11/9 5 Little Stints, 4 Curlew Sandpipers, Frampton Marsh Pied Flycatcher trapped and ringed, Roseate Tern, Black Tern, Curlew Sandpiper, Gibraltar Point 12/9 2 Black Terns flew past Sutton on Sea. 21 Spoonbils, Gibraltar Point 13/9 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Leach's Petrels flew north past, 3 Long- tailed Skuas flew north, 2 Ppmarione Skuas, 2 Grey Phalaropes, Sooty Shearwater, Black Tern, Gibraltar Point 2 Little Stints, 4 Curlew sandpipers, Frampton Marsh Fea's Petrel flew north past Sandilands, just south of Sutton on Sea 2 Black Terns flew past Sutton on Sea 2 Sabine's Gulls flew north past Anderby Creek 3 Sabine's Gulls flew past, Long-tailed Skua, 2 Grey Phalaropes, 2 Black Terns, Long=-tailed Duck, Great Northern Diver, Wolla Bank ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 TF120694 LN3 5TY 6/9/2023 Hedgehog hurrying by 22/10hrs 7/9 Bat spp [Soprano Pip?] @ 55kHz - 22.00hrs. 8/9 Common Lizard again - this time on front door sill. 09.45hrs. BARDNEY TF117698 4th – 7th September 2023 Phil & Mary Porter Mary spotted a large, plump privet hawk moth caterpillar spotted feeding on an ash seedling in a front garden on her evening walk of 4th September. It was still there every morning and evening until the evening of Thursday 7th, when it had gone. It was so large, doubtless it had gone to ground to pupate. BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 Week beginning 4th September 2023 Phil & Mary Porter Many grasshoppers still present, especially on our front verge which we have kept long. Green bush cricket found half way up the front door 6th September. Mary picked up what she thinks were cricket sounds on the bat detector most evenings. A maximum of just two pipistrelles (at 45kHz) were spotted on warm evenings, numbers much reduced from previous years. Seven swans flew along beyond our back garden, evening of 11th September, but as they were seen from inside the house, it was too far to hear or see clearly to identify which species. Chiffchaff calling most days from the bottom of the garden. Common darters still visiting the pond, as singles and a few pairs. One used a 2m. seeding foxglove stem has been used as a favoured perch on sunny days. First poorly greenfinch noted on 31st August, another on 11th September. Hanging feeders very popular with greenfinches, chaffinches, goldfinches, blue tits, great tits and long tailed tits. The woodpigeons are getting ridiculously tame – you can walk right up to them, and squabs have been calling most days. A female sparrowhawk knocked a squab out of a tree 5th September. The house sparrows have returned, but in smaller numbers, probably around 10. GRIMSBY Joyce Attia TA264095 September 10th 2023 Some sad news today. Our 8 beautiful cygnets on the river have done so well, they are about 4 months old.  Yesterday I took a video of some of them preening out their baby feathers.  Today I went out and one of them is lying dead in the water. I don't know what's happened, but the adult cob was hanging about and I wonder if he had anything to do with it.  I'm perhaps misjudging him and he is there because he's grieving. A number of people have rung various agencies but being Sunday nobody can do anything. While I was watching, there was a moorhen with 2 chicks of different sizes, male and female mallards and a cormorant diving for fish. In the garden for 2 days this week there has been an enormous white bottomed bumble bee, though don't know if it's the same one or more than one. There have been a lot of hover flies too, and beautiful garden spiders, a number of small white butterflies. On the bird feeders were a number of blue tits and a few house sparrows THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 30/08/23 Barn Owl x 1 02:15hrs Blackbird x 6 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 2 Chiffchaff x 1 Collared Dove x 2 Goldfinch x 6 Heron x 1 over Thurnholmes Little Owl x 1 calling, 01:50hrs Robin x 3 Song Thrush x 1 Swalow x 16 Tree Sparrow x 25 Tawny Owl x 1 calling 01:45hrs Wood Pigeon x 6 Common Pipistrelle x 3 21:15hrs (45hz) Green-veined white x 2 Large White x 1 Peacock x 2 Red Admiral x 6 Small White x 4 Speckled Wood x 1 Common Darter x 4 Migrant Hawker x 2 03/09/23 Tawny Owl x 1 01:15hrs Common Pipistrelle x 2 20:20hrs (45hz) 04/09/23 Grey Squirrel x 1 first time ever recorded at Thurnholmes, caught on trail cam in Hornbeam (hope, in vain probably, that it’s just passing) 08/09/23 Blackbird x 2 Blue Tit x 4 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 1 Collared Dove x 2 Common Buzzard x 6 'kettling' high over Thurnholmes Goldfinch x 6 Great-spotted Woodpecker x 1 Great Tit x 2 Heron x 1 Kestrel x 1 Magpie x 2 Mute Swan x 4  Owston Ferry Warping Drain Red-legged Partridge x 25 Robin x 2 Tawny Owl x 1 02:30hrs Tree Sparrow x 16 Wood Pigeon x 6 Common Frog x 1 adult  Green-veined White x 10 Peacock x 2 Red Admiral x 4 Small White x 4 11.09.23 Blackbird x 4 Chaffinch x 1 Chiffchaff x 1 Goldfinch x 4 Great Tit x 2 Grey Partridge x 12 Kestrel x 1 Magpie x 3 Robin x 1 Stock Dove x 1 on nest in box in chicken run Tawny Owl x 1 fledged young Tree Sparrow x 15 Wood Pigeon x 7 Rabbit x 1 Migrant Hawker x 1 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 6th – 12th September 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: Sea fret and fog hung along the coast most mornings from the 6th - 9th before clearing to give more hot, dry days. A maximum of 25.5 degrees centigrade was recorded on the 9th. Following heat and humidity during late afternoon of the 10th there was a severe thunderstorm with lightening and heavy rainfall giving a total of 11.8mm of precipitation at Sea View. Further rainfall on the 11th gave 6.0mm. 060923 – Pied flycatcher in trees bordering the dunes at Brickyard Lane. 33 pink- footed geese flew high south over Sea View; the first of the season. Spotted redshank, greenshank, whimbrel and 2 little ringed plover on Rimac scrape. Tree pipit in the dunes Rimac south and a wheatear in the dunes between Sea View and Rimac. 10 whitethroat recorded at Brickyard Lane late morning. 080923 - Paradise lagoon: 38 teal, 2 greenshank, 8 mallard and 5 shoveler. 5 cattle egret feeding in grass field with cows opposite Paradise Lagoon mid-afternoon before flying south. Kingfisher flew across Paradise Lagoon. Spotted redshank, 3 little ringed plover and 2 dunlin on Rimac scrape. 40 pink-footed geese flew south over the dunes. Short-eared owl spiralling around Elm House Farm, mobbed by two groups of starling, before flying east towards the dunes. Stonechat on fences at Elm House Farm. Heron on Sea View Washland. 090923 – Garganey on Sea View washland with 7 wigeon and 5 little egret. Marsh harrier near Sea View. 100923 - Sea View washland: 14 wigeon, 23 teal, 1 garganey, 2 gadwall, 9 mallard, 5 shoveler and 1 little egret. On the bank of the Eau outfall near Paradise: 314 teal and 1 common sandpiper and on the lagoon: 12 shoveler and 1 little grebe. A redpoll flew south over Brickyard Lane. 110923 - Amongst the redshank on the Eau outfall a single bar-tailed godwit and a ruff on Paradise lagoon. Red kite flew south at Brickyard Lane, with one also seen flying north at Sea View later in the morning. 120923 – Short-eared owl and wheatear at Elm House Farm. 4 marsh harrier also seen at Elm House Farm, including two orange wing-tagged birds. One of these (code 4S) was tagged near Sedgeford, north-west Norfolk, on 110623 and has recently been recorded at just outside Manby in late August. 130923 – Pink-footed geese heard calling over Sea View An impressive 2,000 moths recorded by Cliff Morrison at Brickyard Lane in the first 9 days of September. Following recent south/east winds, this total includes quite a number of migrant species; 2 Convolvulus Hawk-moth, rare Beautiful Marbled (3rd record for Lincolnshire), The Delicate and 2 Dark Sword-grass. Other local reserves 090923 - Donna Nook: Single brent goose on realignment area. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: September 19th 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: Sunday 17th September Saturday 21 October ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The NNR includes the following sites: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chambers Farm Woods (comprises Ivy Wood; Little and Great Scrubbs Woods; Minting Wood; Hatton Wood, Hatton Plantation and Minting Park; and also three areas of grassland: Little Scrubbs Meadow and extension), Small Meadow and Big Meadow. Since all have their own management plans, please give the actual location when reporting). College Wood; Cocklode & Great West Woods; Hardy Gang Wood; Newball Wood; Rand Wood; Scotgrove Wood; Southrey Wood and Wickenby Wood. Many of these include both areas of ancient woodland or important grassland. Many are also designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Records which provide a six-figure grid reference are of particular value to the Forestry Commission. Other woods included in the NNR but without public access: Stainfield Wood; Stainton & Fulnetby Woods (access by public bridle way only). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. OTHER RESERVE REPORTS AND HIGHLIGHTS. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Links to "Other Reserves" are welcome. 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 the very best information you can provide. If you are not sure, ask what is needed from you to confirm identification. Photographs are helpful but not every species can be identified from a photograph. When asked for further details, get back to them promptly. Don't forget a thank you for the help. That is always welcomed. USEFUL WILDLIFE LINKS Please copy and paste URLs if necessary. Lincs Environmental Records Centre: http://www.glnp.org.uk/ Natural England: http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ NHBS Natural history equipment or books. https://www.nhbs.com/ The Flora of Lincolnshire by Joan Gibbons: downloadable LNU book For the Geologists... Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. Suggestions for Geology news, events or new useful links always welcome. Lincolnshire Geodiversity Group: https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/discovering/geology-1 Geology - the Collection: https://www.thecollectionmuseum.com/explore/geology Geology of the Lincolnshire Wolds: https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/special-features/geology The Geology of Lincolnshire: downloadable LNU book ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9. NOTES ABOUT THESE WILDLIFE REPORTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We do our best to ensure accuracy in our reporting. However, records are sent in by a variety of reporters; from complete beginners to professionals. They may vary in reliability and occasionally may be difficult or impossible to verify. If further information is needed please contact: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk Bulletins are sent to Recorders at Lincolnshire Environmental Records Centre [GNLP], Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union and Lincolnshire Bird Club. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10. BULLETIN PUBLICITY POLICY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When sending in reports, e.g. unusual plants, please report any sensitive news directly to recorders. Not the Bulletin. We don't want to spoil things with untimely or unwise publicity. Thank you. Please respect the interests of wildlife and site owners if you report on national networks. Interest in wildlife is not a licence to act irresponsibly or thoughtlessly to landowners, who may well be partners in important conservation work. [Remember: Views expressed in the Bulletin do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of the LNU or associated organisations. In particular this applies to such agencies, especially charities, taking a political stance.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 11. LNU EVENTS DIARY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** LNU Events *** We will post any changes to LNU events in the Bulletin; the LNU Twitter feed; LNU Facebook page and LNU meetings webpage. Please refer to the LNU website for details of any Zoom arrangements for watching online. LNU Meetings: https://lnu.org/meetings/ Summer programme - Field Meetings Sunday 15th October Langholme Wood and Haxey Turbary LWT Reserves Whisby Natural History Workshops: Find out more about the various subjects from our local experts. Places are limited. https://lnu.org/meetings/workshops/ Arranged in partnership by the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust (Lincoln Area Group) and the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union. At Whisby Nature Park near Lincoln, in the Lafarge Education Building from 13.00 pm until 4.30 pm. Free of charge. Refreshments included. Prior booking essential via Richard Davidson on 01522 525725 or Email rel.davidson@btinternet.com. Harvestmen - Imogen Wilde 7th of October Owl & Other Bird Pellets - Garry Steele 28th of October - Fully booked! Bryophytes - Steven Heathcote 4th of November ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ...AND FINALLY... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ...and finally... Climate change: UN calls for radical changes to stem warming https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-66753909 Birdwatchers flock for Redcar rare brown booby's visit https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-66753686 Bus driver killed in Benington crop sprayer collision https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66730755 Child's slide and scooters thrown into manhole blocking Hull sewer https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-66718385 East Yorkshire man fined £250 for dumping fast food bag from car https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-66729183 ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/