============================================ || || Wildnews Bulletin - 7th August 2024 || News of Lincolnshire Wildlife || LNU: http://lnu.org/ || || Please email the Editor on: philporterento@outlook.com || ============================================ 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. 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; Lincolnshire Bird Club and Lincolnshire Environmental Record Centre [LERC]. Compare earlier years/months. Past Bulletins archive [in text format] 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: It's the season for meteors this month and judging by the variety of links I have received, it seems that the August night sky may be particularly propitious this year. This latest suggests a number of ideas for getting the best out of star-gazing. Note that this is an American reference and I’m not sure if all of the advice would be appropriate for Britain, but the enthusiasm is obvious. https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/woo-hoo-the-perseids-are-coming/ See the ‘Astronomers and Skywatchers’ section for the other links on this subject. A birding phenomenon occurred in the Humber last week when on the 28th and 30th a combined total of around 2,000 Common Scoters flew into the mouth of the Humber high up and in a north-westerly direction. It has long been obvious that some scoters migrate overland and a few appear at inland water bodies on a regular basis but I imagine that this number all together is exceptional. Phil Porter's email is: philporterento@outlook.com Roger Parsons' email is: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk BTO's tracked Cuckoos - some already south of the Sahara! https://www.bto.org/cuckoos Roger writes: Wheels for Life. I did a run to the dump this week and was astounded to see a heap of bikes there, some in reasonable nick. All shapes, sizes and kinds. I asked one of the staff about them and they were there for recycling. Apparently, there's a scheme which repairs and re-sells them, up-skilling folks in the process. What a good idea. I did a bit of Googling and I think this must be it. Wheels For Life: https://www.activelincolnshire.com/wheels-for-life-bike-donation-lincolnshire *** This week's mostly-local news stories: *** Badger rescued from water-filled barrel - watch https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cj3551xvx16o Speaking of the Olympics: Did you know? Serbian scientists name newly discovered beetle after Novak Djokovic 2022 https://www.tennis.com/baseline/articles/serbian-scientists-name-newly-discovered-beetle-novak-djokovic French Performance Artist Seals Himself in a Giant Bottle for Ten Days Outside Paris' Olympic Stadium https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/french-performance-artist-seals-himself-in-a-giant-bottle-for-10-days-outside-the-olympic-stadium-180984815/ 'Who are they?' Lost photos found in France https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw4y4l35ql7o Norfolk Wildlife Trust revives endangered species: the local pub https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/aug/05/norfolk-wildlife-trust-revives-endangered-species-the-local-pub *** Weather News and Forecast *** https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#? East Midlands weather forecast Thursday 8th August – Sunday 11th August Headline: Rather warm, largely dry today. More humid, some rain Thursday. Thursday: Mainly dry and bright to start. Fine conditions giving way to increasingly breezy, cloudy and humid conditions from the west during the day along with outbreaks of occasionally heavy rain. Maximum temperature 21°C. Outlook for Friday to Sunday: Brighter and fresher again by Friday, but still rather windy. Lighter winds and a chance of rain this weekend. Turning warmer and more humid, perhaps becoming very warm by Sunday. UK long range weather forecast Sunday 11 Aug - Tuesday 20 Aug This period is likely to start with a marked contrast in conditions developing between the northwest and southeast. The far northwest will likely remain fairly cool with sunny spells and a few showers, whereas fairly hot (perhaps very hot) conditions could develop across the southeastern half of the UK, with a chance of thunderstorms. In between there will likely be a zone of cloudier conditions that will meander north and south, and there will likely be some heavy pulses of rain running along this. Towards the middle of next week more changeable conditions are likely to push eastward from the Atlantic, displacing any hot air away from the UK, with the main focus then being on cooler temperatures, spells or rain and showers, and some unseasonably strong winds. *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** Starwatch: Perseids to peak in dazzling shower mid-month https://uk.news.yahoo.com/starwatch-perseids-peak-dazzling-shower-050004564.html Meteor Season: There are several Meteor Showers this month: The Delta Aquariids meteor shower is active from 12 July to 23 August https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/delta-aquariid-meteor-shower-2024-when-where-see-it-uk The Perseid meteor shower is active between 17 July and 24 August https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/perseid-meteor-shower-guide-uk-when-where-to-see This Week's Sky at a Glance: https://skyandtelescope.org/observing/sky-at-a-glance/ Night Sky - highlights:. https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/blogs/astronomy Full Moons https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/full-moon-calendar Meteor shower dates https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/meteor-shower-guide BBC Sky at Night Magazine website https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news *** EVENTS *** *** Lincolnshire Naturalists Union Field Meeting *** Horncastle Riverscape Enhancement Project – Sunday 18th August 2024 Horncastle 11.00 for 12.00 start and finish about 16.00. Meeting point at Tesco picnic area adjacent to the river (details below), car parking is available at Tesco car park for a small charge. Habitats: River corridor. Leaders: Luke Hartley 07399 322211 hartley026@gmail.com and Paul Scott paul.scott@joseph-banks.co.uk Grid reference: TF 34930 35810 What3Words: astounded.feelers.sleeps nearest postcode: PE20 1NA *** South Lincs RSPB Group *** Jeremy Eyeons writes: The South Lincs RSPB Group's details of their 2024 "Seal and Birdwatching" cruises aboard "The Boston Belle". There are twelve cruises organised for 2024, ending on 24th October. Full details on this website, including ticket prices, booking arrangements, sailing times and dates etc. Booking is essential. https://group.rspb.org.uk/southlincolnshire/ STAYING SAFE Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary.... The Heat-health Alert Service - sign up. https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/seasonal-advice/heat-health-alert-service Bird flu: Defra advice to the general public is to leave corpses alone and report the findings - but that landowners should dispose of birds themselves. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bird-flu-latest-situation-avian-influenza-prevention-zone-declared-across-great-britain 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 - look at the RBA website: http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/ For RBA's excellent articles: https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/RealData/Articles.asp 28/7 Cowbit, Little Gull, 7+ Curlew Sandpipers all ads from Bell Row Drove. Deeping St James, Glossy Ibis,1s, on East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, 2 Curlew Sandpipers. Gibraltar Point, Wood Sandpiper on Moat Scrape, 26+ Spoonbills. Pyewipe, 1465 [250.,440] Common Scoters flew high NW up River Humber Whisby Nature Park, Garganey 29/7 Cowbit, 7 Curlew Sandpipers all ads at Cowbit Marsh from Bell Row Drove. Frampton Marsh, Wood Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Rimac.Osprey Willow Tree Fen, 5 Common Cranes. 30/7 Barton-upon-Humber, 564 Common Scoters flew high NW up River Humber. Cowbit, 7 Curlew Sandpipers all ads, Cowbit Wash from Bell Row Drove. 1s Little Gull. Deeping St James, Glossy Ibis 1s on East Pit, Deeping Lakes, then flew west. Frampton Marsh, Curlew Sandpiper and Temminck's Stint ad on South Scrape, Little Stint. Gibraltar Point, Wood Sandpiper on Moat Scrape.3 Curlew Sandpipers on Tennyson's Sands. Messingham Sand Quarry, Wood Sandpiper opposite Scallow Grove Farm. Whisby Nature Park, Lesser Emperor Dragonfly on Grebe Lake. Willow Tree Fen, 5 Common Cranes. 31/7 Cowbit, 2 Curlew Sandpipers both ads, Cowbit Wash from Bell Row Drove. 1s Little Gull. East Halton Skitter, Wood Sandpiper at East Halton Marshes. Frampton Marsh, 6 Curlew Sandpipers,19 Spotted Redshanks, 42 Spoonbills. Gibraltar Point, 2 Wood Sandpipers, Spotted Redshank flew towards Jackson's Marsh. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, Garganey just south on Saltfleet Haven, on Paradise Pool. 1/8 Anderby Creek, 2 Curlew Sandpipers. Cowbit, .Little Gull 1s at Cowbit Wash. Deeping St James, Glossy Ibis 1s on East Pit, Deeping Lakes. East Halton Marshes, Wood Sandpiper. Frampton Marsh, Lesser Yellowlegs 1s. 2 Little Stints, 5 Curlew Sandpipers. 17 Spotted Redshanks, 4 Garganey on Reedbed Lagoon, 40+ Spoonbills, Gibraltar Point, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, Glossy Ibis on Jackson's Marsh, then flew south. 2 Spotted Redshanks on Tennyson's Sands, 9 Spoonbills. Hen Harrier male from Wash Viewpoint, Wood Sandpiper and Little Stint. on The Wash. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, Osprey still at Saltfleet Haven. 2/8 Anderby Creek, Wood Sandpiper at Anderby Marsh. Deeping St James, Glossy Ibis 1s on East Pit, Deeping Lakes, 2 Wood Sandpipers flew east Black Tern juv flew south past. Frampton Marsh, 3 Curlew Sandpipers, 2 Little Stints. Gibraltar Point, 2 Wood Sandpiper on Tennyson's Sands, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, Wood Sandpiper. Messingham Sand Quarry, 2 Wood Sandpipers opposite Scallow Grove Farm. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, Osprey at Saltfleet Haven on post. 3/8 Alkborough Flats, Pectoral Sandpiper ad on flash by River Trent. Deeping St James, Glossy Ibis 1s on East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, 4 Curlew Sandpipes, Garganey, 9 Spotted Redshanks, 30 Spoonbills. Gibraltar Point, 3 Wood Sandpiper on Tennyson's Sands and Jackson's Marsh. 4/8 Cowbit, Little Gull 1s, Cowbit Wash. Deeping St James, Glossy Ibis 1s on East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, 2 Wood Sandpipers, Spotted Redshank, 4 Curlew Sandpipers. Garganey, Little Stint. Gibraltar Point, Osprey and Wood Sandpiper and 20 Spoonbills on Tennyson's Sands. 5/8 Alkborough Flats, Pectoral Sandpiper ad on flash by River Trent, 2 Garganey. . Deeping St James, Glossy Ibis 1s on East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Wood Sandpipers. Gibraltar Point, 3 Wood Sandpipers. Mablethorpe, Caspian Gull flew north past. 6/8 Alkborough Flats, Pectoral Sandpiper ad on flash by River Trent. . Deeping St James, Glossy Ibis 1s on East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, Little Stint, 6 Curlew Sandpipers, 7 Spotted Redshanks. White-winged Black Tern, Wood Sandpiper, 7 Spoonbills. Gibraltar Point, 3 Wood Sandpipers and Scaup juv. on Tennyson's Sands. Willow Tree Fen, 2 Common Cranes flew north over. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/ 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 observations and welcome records from everyone, experts to beginners. Please keep your reports coming. BARDNEY - THE GREEN TF120694 R + A Parsons A badger was caught on trailcam, squeezing through a space in our gate and drinking from a birdbath on the ground, complete with slurping sounds!: July 31st at 0132hrs and August 1st at 12.54hrs. Hedgehog on camera: July 31st at 23.41hrs; August 3rd at 00.15hrs. 3/8/2024 Tit flock across garden and into some lime trees early afternoon, 40+ with 30+ being Long-tailed Tits. The rest Blue Tits. BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 Phil and Mary Porter One of the Silver-washed Fritillaries from last week stayed around to appear on 1st, 3rd and 5th August. Our impression has been that a small surge in the insect population that occurred in the last few days of July has mostly dissipated in August. Gatekeepers (c.5) vie with Small Whites as the most common butterfly day by day, followed by Peacock, then Meadow Brown and Red Admiral, with 1-2 Holly Blues bringing up the rear. A Comma was seen twice during the week. We have 3 large stems of Ragwort and the Cinnabar moths are having to eat stems as well as flowers and leaves to continue. A splendidly glossy Rosemary Beetle appeared on 5th August, although we no longer have more than a poor remnant of this plant at the moment. The bottle-green and purple colours and lines of punctures on the elytra made it unmistakeable. I found a Green Shieldbug on 6th August, and a Batman Hoverfly Myathropa florea, on 1st August Mary saw a party of Chiffchaffs on 1st August, possibly a family group, and also saw a small bat on the evening of 6th. BROUGHTON WOODS AND MEADOW Angela Buckle Stuart Smith.. 24th July. Marjoram, Hedge bedstraw, Perforate St John's wort, Dyer’s greenweed, Rock rose, Wall germander, Angelica, Wood sage, Yarrow, Canadian fleabane, Viper’s bugloss, Field poppy, Mugwort, Narrow- leaved pea, Carline thistle, Common centaury, Purple fleabane, Lesser burdock, Spear thistle, Red bartsia, Hop trefoil, Selfheal, Common broomrape, Eyebright, Himalayan balsam, Black horehound, Hairy tare, Rough chervil, Wild liquorice, Dove’s-foot cranesbill, Hare’s-foot clover, Stag’s-horn plantain, Hogweed, Nipplewort, Goat’s beard, Hedge woundwort, Hairy St John's wort, Small skipper, Meadow brown, Peacock, Small white, Ringlet, Gatekeeper. ELSHAM Ben Jacob 4th August Covey of 10 Young English (Grey) Partridges plus 2 adults disturbed having a dust bath then 20 metres further a Roe doe and well grown fawn jumped in a wheat field. The bad weather hasn’t claimed everything this year. GRIMSBY Grid Ref TA265095 Joyce Attia 3rd August 2024 Mainly garden observations. The blue tits, great tits, goldfinches and house sparrows have all nested and fledged. There was a dunnock which had two fledglings, unusually not afraid of anyone which is a bit of a worry as next door has a cat. I saw one of them this morning as I put out the sunflower seeds and fresh water in the birdbath. It wasn't at all afraid of me. There was a greenfinch about a week ago. Something I have missed this year is the pair of collared doves, lovely gentle creatures, I saw one earlier on in the year but not since. We have a pair of wood pigeons and a few ferals. The wood pigeons love the bird bath and will spend ages bathing especially when the sun has warmed the water But to make up for missing the collared doves, I've had lots of bees, mainly white-bottomed bumble bees and a few smaller ones. I've got two lavender bushes which they have made good use of and low-growing campanula which has gone rampant, climbed up other plants and spread into the lawn. I've also let the clover grow through the lawn, and at the moment the oregano is in flower and the bees love it. This no-mow May will have to continue till Autumn. I watched a gardening programme the other day and Alan Titchmarsh suggested to keep the bees in the garden as long as possible we should acquire a plant in bloom every month. So off to my son's to rob his garden then the garden centre where they had some lovely dahlias. The bees love them, thanks Alan Titchmarsh. As everywhere butterflies have been scarce. I've had a few small whites, and two or three meadow browns, a couple of silver Y moths and a few mint moths. On the river there are two families of swans this year, one with 8 cygnets and one with 6 cygnets. As long as they keep to their own territory things are peaceful. But war breaks out when the river head swans encroach on the boulevards patch. They are really vicious. I had to direct traffic last week when one of the cobs was driven on to the road. The mallards are doing well, as are the moorhens. I've hardly seen any swallows this year and 6 is the biggest number of swifts I've seen together, it's very worrying. SEDGE HOLE CLOSE LWT Nature Reserve Steve Hiner 18.07.24 Blackbird x 1 Blue Tit x 4 Carrion Crow x 1 Goldfinch x 8 Greenfinch x 1 Green Woodpecker x 1 Jackdaw x 2 Robin x 1 Swallow x 15 Wood Pigeon x 4 Yellowhammer x 1 Gatekeeper x 4 Green-veined White x 4 Large Skipper x 4 Meadow Brown x 15 Red Admiral x 2 Ringlet x 7 Small Skipper x 2 Small Tortoiseshell x 2 Small White x 1 Speckled Wood x 1 THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 17.07.24 Barn Owl x 1 22:30hrs Oystercatcher x 1 over Thurnholmes, calling Gatekeeper x 2 Green-veined White x 4 Large Skipper x 5 Meadow Brown x 8 Red Admiral x 2 Ringlet x 2 Small Skipper x 2 Small Tortoiseshell x 1 Small White x 4 Speckled Wood x 1 18.07.24 Ghost Moth x 1 security light 19.07.24 Barn Owl x 1 01:00hrs 21.07.24 Barn Owl x 1 21:10hrs Blackbird, lots of adults and fledged young feeding in the laden Rowans and other berry trees and bushes Blue Tit x 6 Carrion Crow x 1 Goldfinch x 8 Greenfinch x 1 Kestrel x 1 Long-tailed Tit x 7+ family party Mallard x 3 over Thurnholmes Oystercatcher x 1 over Thurnholmes Pied Wagtail x 2 + 1 on nest in log store Robin x 2 Skylark x 2 Stock Dove x 2 Swallow x 12 including fledged young Tawny Owl x 1 calling 01:15hrs Tree Sparrow x 15 Wood Pigeon x 7 Hedgehog x 1 youngster Brimstone x 1 male Gatekeeper x 2 Green-veined White x 3 Large white x 1 Meadow Brown x 9 Red Admiral x 2 Ringlet x 15 Small Tortoiseshell x 1 Small White x 3 Southern Hawker x 1 22.07.24 Barn Owl x 1 20:15hrs Blackbird, lots (best breeding season for Blackbirds since I've been at Thurnholmes in 25yrs) Blue Tit x 6 Carrion Crow x 1 Chaffinch x 1 adult + at least 6 fledged young Goldfinch x 15 Greenfinch x 1 Heron x 2 flying east, high over Thurnholmes Kestrel x 1 Long-tailed Tit x 7 Robin x 1 Skylark x 2 Stock Dove x 2 fledged young in stable + 2 fledged young in nest box in chicken run Swallow x 7 Tawny Owl x 1 calling 01:15hrs Tree Sparrow x 15 Willow Warbler / Chiffchaff x 2 fledged young Wood Pigeon x 6 Yellowhammer x 1 Green-veined White x 2 Meadow Brown x 4 Red Admiral x 2 Ringlet x 2 Small Tortoiseshell x 2 Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing x 1 Grey / Dark Dagger x 1 Yellow Shell x 1 Dor Beetle Geotrupes stercorarius x 1 25.07.24 Kestrel x 1 Swift x 30+ high over Thurnholmes Tawny Owl x 2 calling 02:10hrs 29.07.24 Gatekeeper x 1 Green-veined White x 1 Meadow Brown x 1 Peacock x 1 Red Admiral x 1 Small Tortoiseshell x 1 Small White x 2 Speckled Wood x 4 Blood Vein x 1 Common Footman x 2 Oak Eggar x 1 WATERS EDGE. Angela Buckle Stuart Smith 4th August. Wild carrot, Ladies bedstraw, Teasle, Yarrow, Bird’-foot trefoil, Mugwort, Petty spurge, Horse radish, Tufted vetch, Meadow sweet, Hemp Agrimony, Common fleabane, Meadow vetchling, Prickly lettuce, Sea aster, Scentless mayweed, Narrow-leaved ragwort, Weld, Viper’s bugloss, Field poppy, Canadian fleabane, Meadow cranesbill, Betony, Common toadflax, Salad burnet, Yellow loosestrife, Narrow-leafed pea WILLINGHAM WOODS Angela Buckle Stuart Smith.. 24th July 2024 Flowers Red bartsia, Angelica, Lesser burdock, Upright hedge parsley, Butterflies. Small skipper, Ringlet, Meadow brown. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. NNRs and NATURE RESERVES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LWT Top Reserves: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves LWT Reserves List: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/nature-reserves-list RSPB Reserves: https://www.rspb.org.uk/days-out/reserves ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE DUNES NNR including DONNA NOOK ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/saltfleetby-theddlethorpe-dunes https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/38015?category=59026 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR Report 31st July – 6th August 2024 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 310724 - Paradise lagoon evening: 11 black-tailed godwit, 44 lapwing, 12 mallard, 34 teal, 4 shelduck, 5 black-headed gulls and singles of garganey, ruff, avocet, redshank, green sandpiper, moorhen, shoveler and heron which caught a large eel on the edge of the lagoon. Garganey, 468 redshank, avocet, 23 lapwing, 6 dunlin, yellow wagtail, 8 little egret, 3 ruff, common sandpiper, green sandpiper 11 black-tailed godwit, 44 lapwing, 34 teal Paradise Lagoon throughout the day. Kingfisher calling around Eau outfall. 2 great white egret at Rimac. Female/immature pintail on Sea View Washlands. Osprey still at Saltfleet Haven, Arctic skua flew north and 70 whimbrel flew south in two groups. 2 green sandpiper Elm House Farm next to hide. Odonata – 12+ small red-eyed damselfly and 2 willow emerald Sea View. 010824 – Hobby flew west over Paradise Lagoon. On Paradise Lagoon: greenshank, 8 black-tailed godwit, 2 green sandpiper, 7 dunlin, avocet, 180 redshank, 81 lapwing. 5 grey heron flew north over Sea View saltmarsh. Pintail still on Sea View Washlands. Osprey still around Saltfleet Haven. Butterflies – 18+ wall brown between Sea View and Rimac South; painted lady Rimac. 020824 - Young great spotted woodpecker at Sea View and 2 young cuckoos reported in the area. Osprey still at Saltfleet Haven, hobby hawking over Rimac foreshore, and 2 green sandpiper flew off Rimac saltmarsh. Pintail on Rimac scrape with 18 shoveler. 13 dunlin on Paradise Lagoon. Green woodpecker calling around Sea View and 2 seen. Juvenile cuckoo and reeling grasshopper warbler Crook Bank south, where a greenshank flew north and red kite flew south. Several hundreds of gulls feeding aerially on large hatching flying ants mid-afternoon. Butterflies – 205 of 9 species Churchill Lane to Brickyard Lane. Odonata – 2 brown hawker Churchill Lane; willow emerald Sea View. 030824 - Paradise lagoon: 8 green sandpipers. 040824 – 14 little tern flew south along the tide edge at Churchill Lane. At least 5 green sandpiper around Elm House Farm. At Mablethorpe North End, a juvenile Caspian gull flew north over the sea, and 2 Arctic skua flew south then back north. Butterflies – 8 wall brown Churchill Lane to Brickyard Lane. 050824 - 3 gadwall Sea View Washlands. 3 greenshank, 2 green sandpiper, 7 dunlin Paradise Lagoon. 2 great crested grebes on the sea at Mablethorpe North End. Turtle dove purring at Brickyard Lane. Osprey still around Rimac and Saltfleet Have, seen flying inland late afternoon. 350+ curlew roosting on foreshore during evening tide. 5000 gulls/terns roosting Crook Bank to Churchill Lane foreshore; mostly black-headed and common gull, plus adult Mediterranean gull, 4 common tern and 340 sandwich tern, including a Dutch ringed bird. Arctic skua flew north along the foreshore with 2 golden plover flying south. 420 redshank, 43 shelduck, grey plover, golden plover Rimac foreshore, and a fledged oystercatcher chick. Male marsh harrier over Rimac saltmarsh. Butterflies – 2 peacocks and a large white flew in-off the sea. 060824 - Paradise lagoon: 67 lapwing, 6 dunlin, 25 redshank, 49 black-headed gulls. Sea View Washlands: 4 gadwall. Common sandpiper Eau outfall. Cream-crowned marsh harrier over Sea View saltmarsh. 2 whimbrel flew west over Sea View and a red kite flew south over MOD dunes. Osprey still at Saltfleet Haven, 2 arctic skua flew south and 36 common scoter flew north. Butterflies – 14+ wall brown Paradise to MOD despite light rain, red admiral at Sea View. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: 20th August 2024 https://butterfly-conservation.org/in-your-area/lincolnshire-branch/chambers-farm-wood-butterfly-garden Lincolnshire Dormouse Group Gemma Watkinson writes This summer, as there are forestry works being undertaken by Forestry England over the summer at Chambers Farm Woods, we will have limited access to the woods this year, and things may need to change at short notice. To manage visitor numbers, we are going to need to limit non-licenced visitors to around 10 people, and will require those who are interested in joining each session to email through to 'sign-up' no later than a week before each session. Please email lincsdormouse group@gmail.com if you are interested in joining us. The last summer date we so far have approved with FE for nest box checks is: Saturday 17th August As always for the summer sessions, we will meet at 9.30am, and this will be outside the wood centre in the car park, but this may need to change. The number of adult dormice found in July was down on the June count, at 7 males and 9 females, but there were 8 litters of young. All but 3 of the females had a litter with them and there were 2 pairs of grey, eyes-closed young without an adult. Some of the litters were not counted or weighed, to avoid disturbing the mothers, but there were at least 19 young. There were no sightings in Ivy Wood West or Minting Far End, but the previously marked individual 'Frank' was seen again in Minting Triangle. Also found were lots of moths and slugs, a few bees and wasps, four brown long-eared bats, two woodmice and a shrew. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Discover Woodland Trust woods near you- including the best woods for walks, wildlife watching, family fun and heritage. https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/#=undefined&view=map Lincolnshire County Council - Local Nature Reserves https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/coast-countryside/nature-reserves 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 iRecord. 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 to the editor as early as possible. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8. CONTACTS AND USEFUL WEBSITES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Links "not to be missed" *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. CONTACTS LIST Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union LNU Website: http://lnu.org/ LNU Twitter feed https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist 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: nichol20@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 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 the recorder promptly. Don't forget a thank you for the help. That is always welcomed. 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 NHBS - Frequencies of British Bats https://media.nhbs.com/equipment/British%20Bat%20Frequencies.pdf Slug ID Help Chris du Feu will help with slug identification. Tel: 01383 669 124 Email: chris.r.dufeu@gmail.com USEFUL WILDLIFE LINKS Please copy and paste URLs if necessary. Lincolnshire Badger Group https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093647842292 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 *** For the Geologists *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. Geological Society News: Key moments in the evolution of life on Earth captured in fossils. https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/news Lincolnshire Geodiversity Group: https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/discovering/geology-1 Geology of the Lincolnshire Wolds: https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/special-features/geology The Geology of Lincolnshire: downloadable LNU book UK Fossils in Lincolnshire https://ukfossils.co.uk/category/lincolnshire/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 the editor: 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. [Views expressed in the Bulletin do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of the LNU or associated organisations. In particular this applies to agencies, especially charities, taking a political stance.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 11. LNU EVENTS DIARY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** LNU Events *** https://lnu.org/meetings/ https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ...AND FINALLY... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ National and International stories Satnavs with sexy female voices cause men to take more risks on the road https://uk.news.yahoo.com/satnavs-sexy-female-voices-cause-140806144.html UK beekeepers and scientists tackle sticky problem of honey fraud https://uk.news.yahoo.com/uk-beekeepers-scientists-tackle-sticky-061158496.html Vaccinating badgers more effective than culls in stopping bovine TB, study finds https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/aug/06/badger-vaccination-cull-eradicate-bovine-tuberculosis-btb-farmers-cornwall-study-zsl-aoe All-night streetlights make leaves inedible to insects, study finds https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/aug/05/all-night-streetlights-make-leaves-inedible-to-insects-study-finds Latest updates to the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) Scheme https://www.gwct.org.uk/blogs/news/2024/august/latest-updates-to-the-sustainable-farming-incentive-(sfi)-scheme/ *** Mail Fails *** Hazel Allen - Undelivered Mail Returned to Sender John Clarke - User's mailbox is full ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/