============================================ || || 20th 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This time of year Hare Coursing is a crime you may encounter. Don't put yourself in danger by trying to deal with the coursers. This is the link for online reporting of any wildlife crime: "Report a wildlife crime" https://www.lincs.police.uk/ro/report/rwc/wildlife/report-wildlife-crime/ 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: New Lincolnshire national nature reserve a 'landmark moment' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66825499 UK butterfly numbers at highest level since 2019 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-66812657 England's rarest species to get £14.5m funding boost https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-66801439 Lincolnshire funding to help protect rare crystal moss animal https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66811188 Lincolnshire road repair budget given £10m boost https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66841182 Lincolnshire PCC considers AI cameras to improve road safety https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66818063 Lincolnshire rural on-demand bus service to cap fares at £2 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66791292 Lincoln car parks anti-social behaviour orders set to continue https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66809108 Cash boost for Lincolnshire electric vehicle charging points https://us5.admin.mailchimp.com/reports/summary?id=7a63689e37 Cleethorpes: Designs for 'landmark public building' released https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-66799020 RAF Scampton: Home Office to hold online meeting over asylum camp plans https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66818600 Buglife: Are you on a B-Line? https://www.buglife.org.uk/our-work/b-lines/ Where Can You Find the Oldest Cat Door on Earth https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/wheres-the-oldest-cat-door-on-earth-180982901/ 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. Len Pick Owl Camera website says [12 September 2023] "...following the thunder storms experienced over Bourne on Sunday afternoon, some of the owl camera equipment appears to have been damaged by a lightning strike(s) and consequently the camera feed is down. We are investigating the problem and hope (Fingers crossed!) that matters are capable of of a relatively easy fix. In view of the fact that, prior to this episode, the surviving chick was latterly only infrequently seen in the box, we were contemplating turning the feed off for the season but the decision has now been made for us! It has regrettably been a very mixed season this year and indeed we are advised that only some 97 Owl chicks have been ringed throughout the whole of the county of Lincolnshire, so in some ways we have been lucky to produce one chick. The camera feed has now been switched off for the 2023 season, and will return next year." Thanks to the Len Pick Trust for this informative and fascinating project and to Bob Sheppard for his helpful updates. 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/ LNU Meetings. Scroll to full details in section 11 below. Or click: https://lnu.org/meetings/ BTO Cuckoo Tracking project - 7 tracked cuckoos south of the Sahara. https://www.bto.org/cuckoos *** Weather News and Forecast *** https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#? 22 Sept - 1 Oct 2023 "Unsettled weather is likely for many parts on Friday with a mixture of sunny spells and showers. Some of these showers could be heavy with a chance of thunderstorms. The showers are likely to ease from the west leading to a mainly dry start to the weekend. Conditions will probably become more unsettled later in the weekend and into the following week as low pressure systems lie to the west or northwest of the UK. This will bring showers or outbreaks of rain across many areas, with some heavy bursts at times, especially in the north and west. It will often be windy, with a small chance of a spell of very strong winds around the middle of the period. Temperatures are likely to remain near normal." *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** Astronomy Photographer of the Year: Huge plasma arc wins https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-66807814 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: 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 12/9 Late report Bluethroat, Alkborough Flats 13/9 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Leach's Petrels flew north past, 3 Long- tailed Skuas flew north, 2 Grey Phalaropes, 2 Pomarine Skuas, Sooty Shearwater, Black Tern, Gibraltar Point NNR 2 Little Stints, 4 Curlew Sandpipers, Wood Sandpiper in ditches near Seabank car park, 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, Long-tailed Duck, 2 Grey Phalaropes,2 Black Terns, Great Northern Diver, Wolla Bank Pomarine Skua flew north past, 2 Black Terns flew south, Mablethorpe 14/9 2 Garganey, 14 Curlew Sandpipers, 4+ Little Stints, Whooper Swan, 20 Spoonbills, 7 Cattle Egrets, Frampton Marsh 2 Long-tailed Skuas both juvs, 21 Spoonbills, Gibraltar Point NNR Black Tern, Huttoft Car Terrace Common Crane flew west over Anderby Creek 15/9 Black Stork juv, 29 Curlew Sandpipers, 4 Little Stints, 23 Spoonbills, Short-eared Owl, Frampton Marsh 3 Pomarine Skuas flew past, Black-throated Diver, Gibraltar Point NNR Pied Flycatcher at Sea View, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe NNR Spotted Redshank, Novartis Ings, Pyewipe 16/9 28 Curlew Sandpipers, 4 Little Stints, Short-eared Owl over saltmarsh, Frampton Marsh Black Necked Grebe, Covenham Reservoir White-winged Black Tern juv east Halton Skitter, then flew north along Humber Spotted Redshank, Novartis Ings, Pyewipe Pectoral Sandpiper on flash near River Trent, Alkborough 17/9 2 Little Stints, Long-tailed Skua on pool by visitor centre, Frampton Marsh 3 Cory's Shearwaters flew north past, 2 Balearic Skuas, Pomarine Shearwater, Black-throated Diver, 4 Sooty Shear- waters, Curlew Sandpiper around lagoons, Gibraltar Point Cory's Shearwater flew north past, 2 Sooty Shearwaters, Mablethorpe Long-tailed Skua, Pomarine Skua, Sooty Shearwater, Anderby Creek 2 Long-tailed Skuas, both juvs, flew north past Sandilands Cory's Shearwater flew north past Chapel Point Short-eared Owl, Fillingham Garganey, Ness Pit, Far Ings Curlew Sandpiper, Read's Island 18/9 36 Curlew Sandpipers. 8 Little Stints, 20 Spoonbill s,2 Spotted Redshanks, Lesser Yellowlegs juv on Reedbed, 3 Common Cranes flew over, Frampton Marsh Curlew Sandpiper at lagoons, 10 Spotted Redshanks, Gibraltar Point NNR Yellow-browed Warbler along Crook Bank, near "Magpie Metals" Mablethorpe White-winged Black Tern over The Wash, Freiston Shore 19/9 69 Curlew Sandpipers, 7 little Stints, 19 Spoonbills, Frampton Marsh Long-tailed Skua offshore, 190 Spoonbills, Gibraltar Point Cattle Egret in ploughed field, Manby Flashes Pomarine Skua reported flew north past Mablethorpe Long-tailed Skua flew north past Anderby Creek Long-tailed Skua juv dark morph flew north past, juv Black Tern, Huttoft Bank 20/9 Blue-winged Teal with Shoveler, Juv Lesser Yellowlegs on Middle Scrape, Frampton Marsh 5 Cattle Egrets, Gibraltar Point NNR 2 Caspian terns both 1 w, 1 off Sea View car park, 1 on outfall pipe, Long-tailed Skua flew north past north end, Mablethorpe 6 Cattle Egrets in grass field by Far Ings Road at Waters' Edge Country Park, Barton-upon-Hunber ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 RECREATION GROUND TF122693 Phil & Mary Porter 18th September At least 40 Pied Wagtails feeding on the ground. BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 Phil and Mary Porter 17th September 2023 The pale yellow/lilac buddleia in a sheltered part of the garden has a few second blooms flowering and is attracting butterflies and other insects. Butterfly count on this day: x10 red admirals, x3 small tortoiseshells (the most seen together all year), x1 peacock, x1 comma and x1 speckled wood, sunbathing on the lower leaves. Grasshoppers still in abundance. Our evergreen honeysuckle “halliana” is carrying a large second flush of flowers with around 80% of its summer blossom capacity. We’ve never had this happen to anything like this extent before. CARLTON LE MOORLAND SK909581 Jeremy Hutchinson 2/9/23 Female Hobby, one of only a few sightings this year. An unusual moth on our kitchen window turned out be a Setaceous Hebrew Character. 3/9/23 Willow Warbler singing, the only one I've heard around here this year. 4/9/23 An unusual moth larva found in our garden (likely to have been on Field Maple) identified as Pale Tussock Moth. 5/9/23 Lone Swift feeding with a number of Swallows and House Martins, by far the latest Swift I've ever seen, never in September before. Sexton Beetle: first seen for many years. I was sitting in the conservatory when it landed on my arm, quite startled me.5 A young Birch tree in a friend's garden has been partially defoliated by Sawfly larvae, in greater numbers than usual. Some much larger caterpillars on a nearby Cherry proved to be of the Buff Tip moth: some of them later appeared on the Birch too. 17/9/23 Still occasionally hearing Chiffchaff song, later than I can recall. Butterfly numbers have tailed off recently. To end, an unusual event we witnessed on 3/9/23 just outside the county boundary near Belvoir castle. On the ground over a small part of a sloping meadow were no less than 16 Ravens; what the attraction was unclear. A Buzzard which tried to join them was made very unwelcome, as were a few Crows which turned up, but were chased off. COLLEGE WOOD - main and north rides 16/9/2023 R + A Parsons Butterfly count - 10.30 - 11.30am 2 counts - going north after 10.30am, returning south to gate after 11am Commas 23, 14 Red admirals 9, 6 Speckled wood 5, 3 Small white 0, 1 HORKSTOW SE987179 Jenny Haynes 20 September 2023 Several times this week, we’ve been entertained by a young, male sparrow- hawk which has been perching on a branch adjacent to a seed feeder, although it seems to be eyeing up potential small rodents rather than birds. However, it met its match today when it was seen off by a squirrel trying to get at the seeds! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 130923 - Peregrine hunting through flock of teal over Rimac lagoon. 2 skeins of pink-footed geese 15 and 50, south over Sea View. Pied flycatcher at Sea View and late afternoon at least 100 curlew, in small groups, plus 3 whimbrel flying inland from the Haven. Rose-ringed parakeet Sea View. 90 pink-footed geese flew south over the sea throughout the morning. A juvenile little gull, 3 fulmar, 310 kittiwake and pomarine skua flew north, a juvenile black tern south. Drake mandarin duck flew in from the north and landed on the sea. Sabine's gull at sea from Brickyard Lane. 3 kittiwake and 180 sandwich tern roosting on the foreshore. 140923 - Sea View washlands: 41 teal, 29 wigeon, 5 mallard, 7 shoveler and 10 curlew. 1400 meadow pipit flew south in 2 hours along with a smaller number of finches and hirundines, including a crossbill. Grey wagtail south at Brickyard Lane. 11 Arctic skua over the sea and 10 red-throated diver. 2 hobby hawking over the dunes at Sea View. 150923 - 6 common snipe Sea View washlands. Several small skeins of pink-footed geese flying west off the foreshore roost, 119 birds. 1500 meadow pipit, 2 siskin and a crossbill flew south in the morning. Rose-ringed parakeet around Mablethorpe North End. 9 cattle egret with cows in field adjacent to the dunes at Mablethorpe North End. Pied flycatcher at Sea View. Cattle egret on Sea View washlands. 9 ruff flew south down the dunes. Adult little gull amongst roosting gulls at Brickyard Lane. 160923 - Eau outfall 264 redshank. 208 pink-footed geese flying off from the roost, peregrine hunting through waders and wildfowl on a falling tide, 194 oystercatchers on the outer shingle ridge plus 5 bar-tailed godwits and 24 sanderling. 9 cattle egret still in field adjacent to dunes at Mablethorpe North End along with a whimbrel and 50 curlew. Wheatear outer dunes Crook Bank. Pied flycatcher at Brickyard Lane. 170923 - Sea View washland: 3 gadwall, 30 wigeon, 14 shoveler, 39 teal and 9 mallard. Pomarine skua, 8 Arctic skua and long-tailed skua flew north over the sea along with a sooty shearwater, 2 Manx shearwater, 200 kittiwake, 120 gannet and 10 wigeon. A great skua and 10 red-throated diver flew south. 2 wheatear in the dunes between Rimac and Sea View. 180923 - 22 little egret on saltmarsh and a further 13 on Sea View washlands, raven heard calling overhead. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. BARDNEY LIMEWOODS NNR ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ These cover a huge area. Records from them are one of the main inputs to management planning and the protection of rare/scarce and critical species. Reports always welcome. The history of the Lincolnshire Limewoods: https://www.forestryjournal.co.uk/features/19111877.lincolnshire-limewoods/ The Forestry Commission visitor advice: https://www.forestryengland.uk/article/coronavirus-visitor-guide ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch: https://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html Chambers Farm Wood - Butterfly Garden - gardening dates and times: Next date: October 3rd and 17thh https://butterfly-conservation.org/in-your-area/lincolnshire-branch/chambers-farm-wood-butterfly-garden Lincolnshire Dormouse Group You can get in touch via lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com Gemma Watkinson writes: Here are the dates for the summer nest box checks. As always, we meet at 9.30am in the Chambers Farm Woods car park, by the wood centre/volunteer hut. Anyone interested can get in touch at lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com for more information. Next dates: Saturday 21 October ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The NNR includes the following sites: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chambers Farm Woods (comprises Ivy Wood; Little and Great Scrubbs Woods; Minting Wood; Hatton Wood, Hatton Plantation and Minting Park; and also three areas of grassland: Little Scrubbs Meadow and extension), Small Meadow and Big Meadow. Since all have their own management plans, please give the actual location when reporting). College Wood; Cocklode & Great West Woods; Hardy Gang Wood; Newball Wood; Rand Wood; Scotgrove Wood; Southrey Wood and Wickenby Wood. Many of these include both areas of ancient woodland or important grassland. Many are also designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Records which provide a six-figure grid reference are of particular value to the Forestry Commission. Other woods included in the NNR but without public access: Stainfield Wood; Stainton & Fulnetby Woods (access by public bridle way only). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. OTHER RESERVE REPORTS AND HIGHLIGHTS. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Links to "Other Reserves" are welcome. Your suggestions, please. South Humber Heritage Trail, Alkborough Flats - LWT leaflet - downloadable https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/sites/default/files/2018-04/south_humber_heritage_trail_alkborough.pdf Monks Wood Ashing Lane Nature Reserve https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/monks-wood-ashing-lane-nature-reserve/ Tattershall Carrs https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/tattershall-carrs/ Mareham Pastures Local Nature Reserve https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/mareham-pastures-local-nature-reserve/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7. SENDING IN BULLETIN REPORTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The purpose of the Bulletin is to encourage biological recording in Lincolnshire. We aim to increase the number of people reporting observations to Recorders or via i-record. https://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/ The Bulletin is a FREE service. We ask you to provide reports, questions, news or relevant articles from time to time. Descriptive pieces are welcome. You don't have to stick to lists! Please help us to help you. When sending in reports please follow this layout to save re-editing: Place Name: IN CAPITALS with Grid Reference if you have it. Your Name: Real names please, not aliases. Put it in each time, for each location Date: Species list [Alphabetical?] & numbers [and observations?] e.g. Blackbird - 24 [And please, no home-grown abbreviations. Species Names in full.] Bulletin mailing times may vary. It usually goes out on Wednesdays/ Thursdays in time for the weekend. Please e-mail in contributions as early as possible, to: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8. CONTACTS AND USEFUL WEBSITES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CONTACTS LIST Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union LNU Website: http://lnu.org/ LNU Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist? LNU Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lincsnaturalists/ LNU e-mail: info@lnu.org Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust: https://twitter.com/LincsWildlife Lincs Bird Club: https://twitter.com/Lincsbirding LBC County Bird Recorder: recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk The Sir Joseph Banks Society: https://twitter.com/sirjosephbanks Lincolnshire Bat Group: http://www.lincsbatgroup.co.uk/ Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch: https://twitter.com/BC_Lincolnshire Lincsbirders: https://twitter.com/lincsbirders Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project: https://lincolnshirechalkstreams.org/events/ South Lincolnshire Flora Group: https://bsbi.org/south-lincolnshire-v-c-53 The Wolds Fungi Group: Contact Paul Nichol via email: pnichol20@gmail.com Lincolnshire Dormouse Group: Contact: lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com FIGHTING WILDLIFE CRIME Wildlife Crime https://www.lincs.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/wc/wildlife-crime/ SPECIES IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. LNU Recorders and Specialists: https://lnu.org/specialists/ Downloads of LNU books: https://lnu.org/publications/books/ Recording with "iRecord": https://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/ iRecord is recommended by the LNU as an appropriate platform for on-line recording. Sawflies, Bees, Wasps and Ants Recorder Dr. David Sheppard Willing to examine specimens or check photos. Bear in mind only a relative few of the 300+ species in the county are identifiable using photos. Email: d.a.sheppard@btinternet.com Lincolnshire Mammals Chris Manning, Email: Chris.LincsDeer@gmail.com Spiders, Pseudoscorpions, Harvestmen Imogen Wilde Regional Co-ordinator (RC) and Mentor for Lincolnshire for the British Arachnological Society (BAS). Email: Imogen@imogenwilde.co.uk Amphibians and Reptiles Ashley Butterfield The Lincolnshire ARG (Amphibian & Reptile Group) Email: LearningOutdoors@btinternet.com Local Bat Helpline Grounded bats, bat problems, advice and information. Contact Annette Faulkner on 01775 766286 Email: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com Confidential Bat Records You may send confidential bat records direct to Annette Faulkner on: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com Slug ID Help Chris du Feu will help with slug identification. Tel: 01383 669 124 Email: chris.r.dufeu@gmail.com Non-Marine Molluscs and other Freshwater Invertebrates Alex Pickwell is the LNU Recorder for Non-marine Molluscs Email: mrapickwell@gmail.com When asking for help: Please give the very best information you can provide. If you are not sure, ask what is needed from you to confirm identification. Photographs are helpful but not every species can be identified from a photograph. When asked for further details, get back to them promptly. Don't forget a thank you for the help. That is always welcomed. USEFUL WILDLIFE LINKS Please copy and paste URLs if necessary. People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES). Volunteers can report roadkill sightings using their smartphone via a free Mammals on Roads app. No prior experience needed. Counting mammal road casualties can tell conservationists about numbers in the wider landscape. To take part, search for Mammals on Roads on the App Store or Google Play. https://ptes.org/ Lincolnshire Badger Group The Lincolnshire Badger Group is a fully affiliated member with The Badger Trust. Please help us by reporting Badger road kills and Setts. Sett location knowledge allows us to keep an eye on them to ensure no human disturbance. We will be also rehabilitating back to their setts, if found injured. Please find link to our Facebook group. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093647842292 or get in contact via our email lincolnshirebadgergroup@hotmail.com Lincs Environmental Records Centre: http://www.glnp.org.uk/ Natural England: http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ NHBS Natural history equipment or books. https://www.nhbs.com/ The Flora of Lincolnshire by Joan Gibbons: downloadable LNU book 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 Morocco earthquake movement mapped from space https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-66777912 Jurassic Coast cliff falls tempt fossil hunters https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-66619300 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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... Hertfordshire: Water voles thrive along River Ver after reintroduction https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-66809398 Rewilding leads to bumper year for rare Kent moth https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cndejylzl8eo New family focus for Isle of Man nature discovery centre https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-isle-of-man-66428044 Martlesham: Suffolk Wildlife Trust raises £1m for new nature reserve https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-66794684 Antarctic sea-ice at 'mind-blowing' low alarms experts https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-66724246 Halley station: Rapid ice movement monitored under UK polar base https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-66685821 UK fails to ban 36 harmful pesticides outlawed for use in EU https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/sep/13/uk-fails-ban-pesticides-outlawed-use-in-eu Colombia deadliest country for environmentalists - report https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-66784686 ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/