============================================ || || 14th February 2024 || || 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. 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Editor writes; *** This week's mostly-local news stories: *** Edlington St Helen’s Church’s ever-popular Snowdrop Festival will be held on Saturday February 17. International Garden Photographer of the Year competition 2024 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-68127991 The World of Fungi Results https://igpoty.com/competitions/the-world-of-fungi-competition-17-results/ Fifteen groups gather to look at curlew conservation https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg3kzedy378o Photographer spots yawning seal on riverbank https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1v1qggrwweo Approval for large solar farm near Ulceby https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-68272816 Cleethorpes: Trees infected by Dutch elm disease to be felled https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-68238427 Lambing event cancelled due to spread of virus https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c29knpgkyd3o Energy Minister Graham Stuart opposes Holderness nuclear waste site https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-68233882 Solar farm plan rejected by South Holland council https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2v43d1wzlxo More links in "...and finally ..." at the end of the Bulletin. Thanks to all who sent in news, reports and contributions this week. Roger old.museum@yahoo.co.uk and Phil. Phil's email is:philporterento@outlook.com *** Weather News and Forecast *** https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#? *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** RMG Meteor shower dates 2024 https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/meteor-shower-guide BBC Sky at Night Magazine website https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news *** EVENTS *** *** Lincoln LWT *** Richard Davidson writes… Lincoln Area Group Talk 15th February 2024 : “Where Our Garden Birds Came From” An illustrated talk by Robert Oates about the origins of our garden birds and their evolution over many millions of years. Also the large distances they fly to reach us. Robert is a Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust trustee and member of the Sleaford Area Group committee. The event is 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 Group *** Jeremy Eyeons writes: The South Lincs RSPB Group has released details of their 2024 “Seal and Birdwatching” cruises aboard “The Boston Belle”. There are twelve cruises organised for 2024, starting on 5th April and ending on 24th October. Full details are on our website, including ticket prices, booking arrangements, sailing times and dates etc.. Booking is essential. https://group.rspb.org.uk/southlincolnshire/ *** Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust *** In the run up to GWCT’s Big Farmland Bird Count 2-18 February 2024 we’ll be running free webinars to help learn the basics about how to identify farmland birds. Big Farmland Bird Count - all you need to know https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/85c9f101-859c-4c88-ab4b-69553b9f21a9@56762fae-9fae-46d0-b367-ce7db8fdf82a https://www.gwct.org.uk/eventbooking?eventNodeId=28877 *** The Amateur Naturalist and Professional Ecologist: Bridging the Gap *** A Series of talks on 09 March 2024 09:30 to 16:30 St Georges Conference Centre 60 Great George Street Leeds LS1 3DL This conference brings Yorkshire Naturalists' Union and CIEEM Yorkshire and Humber Members Network, and those not members of either, together for a day of talks on the theme of bridging the gap between ‘amateur’ and professional ecologists. Talks will cover subjects such as how both societies collect and use biological data, how citizen science can shape development and policy, and how we as a community can effectively engage with stakeholders to present that data. A day of talks and workshops on the theme of bridging the gap between amateur and professional ecologists, covering wide ranging subjects including: - how naturalists and ecologists collect and use data; - how citizen science can shape development and policy; and - how we can all engage with stakeholders to present that data. Topics will include how we can work together to promote nature recovery and achieve meaningful gains for biodiversity by promoting best practice. Suitable for all; No prior knowledge required http://events.cieem.net/Events/EventPages/09032024000000TheAmateurNaturalistandProfessionalEcologistBridgingtheGap.aspx ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 6/2 Lesser Yellowlegs 1w by visitor centre car park, 2 Scaup both drks, Frampton Marsh. 2 Scaup on lagoon, Freiston Shore. Hen Harrier male over saltmarsh, Black-throated Diver, Water Pipit, Slavonian Grebe offshore, 3 Long-tailed Ducks, 4 Snow Buntings, Gibraltar Point. Glossy Ibis flew SE over Broadholme. 12 Waxwings at Baysgarth in mistletoe near hall, Barton-upon-Humber. 6 Snow Buntings in stubble field east of South Humber Bank power station, Stallingborough. 7/2 3 Long-eared Owls in gully at Main Lake, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James. Velvet Scoter fem on River Welland from Cradge Bank, south of wrecked boat, Cowbit Marsh, Cowbit. Lesser Yellowlegs 1w by visitor centre car park, Frampton Marsh. 8/2 Lesser Yellowlegs 1w by visitor centre car park, Frampton Marsh. 2 Scaup on lagoon, Freiston Shore. 9/2 Dark-bellied Brent Goose ad, Cradge Bank, south of wrecked boat, Cowbit Marsh, Cowbit. 1+ Hen Harrier, Frampton Marsh 3 Shorelarks on beach near Greenshank Creek, 20+ Snow Buntings, male Hen Harrier, 3 Water Pipits, 3 Long-tailed Ducks on sea, Gibraltar Point. 12 Waxwings at Baysgarth in mistletoe near hall, Barton-upon-Humber. 10/2 2 Long-eared Owls in gully at Main Lake, Glossy Ibis in West Pit, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James. Waxwing in garden briefly, east End, Langtoft. Hen Harrier male, Marston Sewage works. 32 Bewick's Swans and 2 Turnstones, Cowbit Wash, Dark-bellied Brent Goose ad, Cradge Bank, south of wrecked boat, Cowbit Marsh, Cowbit. Lesser Yellowlegs 1w by visitor centre car park, Green-winged Teal on Marsh Farm Grassland, Frampton Marsh. Water Pipit, 3 Shorelarks on beach near Greenshank Creek, Long-tailed Duck, Gibraltar Point. 4 Waxwings on wires by road east of level crossing, Walesby. 14 Waxwings at Baysgarth in mistletoe near hall, Barton-upon-Humber. 11/2 Short-eared Owl in ploughed field west of South Fen Road, Tongue End, NE of Baston Fen Green-winged Teal on Marsh Farm Grassland, Frampton Marsh. 2 Long-tailed Ducks on sea. Gibraltar Point. 12/2 Lesser Yellowlegs 1w by visitor centre car park, Frampton Marsh. 28 Snow Buntings on beach at Crook bank, Saltfleetby NNR 13.2 2 Hen Harriers, 1 male, on saltmarsh, Frampton Marsh 2 Scaup on lagoon, Freiston Shore. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 their observations and welcome records from everyone, experts or beginners. Please keep your reports coming. BARDNEY - THE GREEN TF120694 R + A Parsons 11/2/2024 2 Ravens heard calling from local tree Wagtail Blackbird 2m House Sparrow 8 Starling 12+ Jackdaw 12+ Black-headed Gull 16+ Collared Dove 2 Woodpigeon 8 Domestic pigeon 6 BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 Phil and Mary Porter 11th February Mary spotted a female blackcap on one of the bird tables and got a photograph before it was ‘bounced’ off by a combination of woodpigeons and jackdaws. Later in the day a song thrush was singing in the large sycamore next door. A flock of about 10 goldfinches came in to feed and similarly 5 long-tailed tits visited the fat balls. Greenfinches seem to be around 6 but chaffinches are more difficult to count as they are less concentrated at the feeders and engaged in singing. They are probably more numerous than they appear. As usual there are several more blackbirds than will be able to establish territories and a lot of sparring is the result. A green woodpecker is frequently audible beyond the garden where neighbours maintain large areas of mowed grass. Blue tits are prospecting nestboxes and great tits frequently singing. We think that dunnocks are becoming bolder in holding their ground at the bird tables lately. 12th February Mary photographed a redpoll feeding on sunflower hearts. 13th February 1 long-tailed tit and the female blackcap back feeding on fat balls. 14th February 3 Redpolls on sunflower hearts. HOLYWELL LAKE Ian Misselbrook 12th February 2024 11.45 - 1250 Black-headed Gulls 96 Common Gull 1 Little Grebes 11 Cormorant 2 Little Egret 2 Gey Heron 1 Mute Swans 3 Canada Geese 18 Hybrid Canada x Greylag 1 Greylag Geese 9 Gadwall 5 Mallard 27 Teal 12 Tufted Duck 29 Wigeon 61 Moorhen 23 Coot 6 Kingfishes 2 Buzzard 1 Red Kite 2 Kestrel 1 Dunnock 1 Wren 1 Robin 2 Blackbird 1 Blue Tits 4 Great Tits 2 Coal Tit 1 Long-tailed Tits 4 Treecreeper 1 Jackdaws 8 Carrion Crow 2 Rooks 4 Stock Doves 2 Woodpigeons 4 NOCTON-DUNSTON TF058 639- 063 634 Steve Green 09.02.24 6pm dusk Bats hawking along the bridlepath between the two villages, between two high hedges each side of the path. At least two individuals, possibly three. Annette Faulkner replies; Thanks for sending this. I’ve looked at the night-time temperatures and they were pretty low, so what are bats doing out? But we’ve hardly had any winter. Given the recorded decline in insects, because of the mild winters, it’s unlikely there will be much for them to eat. It takes a lot of energy to fly, which means if they can’t find enough to eat bats are likely to be losing weight rather than putting any on, so if this is general could we have a run of grounded, underweight bats when they should be properly emerging come mid to late March? So far it’s been a quiet winter for casualties, so we will have to wait and see. SEDGE HOLE CLOSE LWT Nature Reserve Steve Hiner 06/02/24 Blackbird x 2 Blue Tit x 4 Carrion Crow x 1 Chaffinch x 4 Fieldfare x 1 Jackdaw x 4 Magpie x 2 Robin x 1 Starling x 52 Wood Pigeon x 150 Rabbit x 1 THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 31/01/24 Blackbird x 4 Black-headed Gull x 6 over Thurnholmes Blue Tit x 4 Common Buzzard x 1 Cormorant x 1 on pylons over Owston Ferry Warping Drain Fieldfare x 12 Goldcrest x 2 Goldfinch x 4 Redwing x 21 Robin x 1 Siskin x 2 Tawny Owl x 2 02:00hrs Wood Pigeon x 5 Wren x 1 01/02/24 Little Egret x 2 SK805998 02/02/24 Barn Owl x 1 06:45hrs Blackbird x 4 Black-headed Gull x 25 in fields around Thurnholmes Blue Tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 2 Common Buzzard x 1 Dunnock x 1 Fieldfare x 29 Golden Plover x 1 flying east, high over Thurnholmes Great Tit x 2 Jackdaw x 1 Kestrel x 1 Mute Swan x 1 Owston Ferry Warping Drain Robin x 2 Stock Dove x 2 Tawny Owl x 3 calling around our paddocks 03:00hrs Wood Pigeon x 5 05/02/24 Barn Owl x 1 01:30hrs Common Buzzard x 1 Sparrowhawk x 1 female SK789988 Tawny Owl x 2 01:30hrs Owston Ferry Warping Drain bridge SK799989 08:30hrs; Coot x 2 Goosander x 1 male, 6 females Heron x 1 Little Egret x 4 Mallard x 4 Mute Swan x 2 10/02/24 Little Egret x 4 SK783986 11/02/24 Barn Owl x 1 16:30hrs Blackbird x 18 Black-headed Gull x 9 over Thurnholmes Blue Tit x 4 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 12 Common Buzzard x 1 Dunnock x 1 Fieldfare x 27 Goldfinch x 12 Great Tit x 2 Greenfinch x 1 Greylag Goose x 19 low over Thurnholmes Grey Partridge x 2 Jackdaw x 1 Kestrel x 1 Magpie x 2 Pied Wagtail x 1 Redwing x 25 Robin x 2 Skylark x 1 singing high over Thurnholmes Starling x 29 Stock Dove x 2 Tawny Owl x 3 calling 01:15hrs, 1 calling 16:50hrs Wood Pigeon x 6 Yellowhammer x 16 Wood Mouse x 7 in monitoring box in paddock 13/02/24 Golden Plover x 52 over Thurnholmes Little Egret x 2 SK788990 Starling x 350+ making a lot of noise, roosting in our 2 large Aspens WOOLSTHORPE BY COLSTERWORTH SK92/24 Jane Ostler 1-11 February 2024 We have three Barn Owl nesting sites in our hamlet. This time of the year they are not only seen at dusk, where their pale undersides and white face masks reveal their low silent flights, but their piercing shrieks are heard at night. The Tawny Owls, also heard may be from the treed areas in Colsterworth. Both the males ‘t-wooo’, which announces 'this is my territory' and the females contact call 't-wit' suggest they are pairing up. The Little Owl, which hunts by day, has lost the tree where it was regularly seen on the Woolsthorpe road but on 1st February was seen just over the parish boundary in Leicestershire. Gardens are again being visited by goldfinches and in my own garden a group of some 30 greenfinches settled in a tree, with the sun picking out their elusive green colouring. The RSPB Birdwatch here reflected the lower numbers and diversity which is the national trend. A Blackcap was in one garden adjacent to the Nature Trail. Black-headed Gulls fly into a flooded field and settle there for much of the day.  A Little Egret is seen most days, also in a flooded field next to the Manor. On the 11th February a Tree Bumblebee joined the Buff-tailed Bumble Bees on the Winter Honeysuckle and Honey Bees were, at last feeding on the opened Crocuses. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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  7th – 13th February 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   Note: A spell of heavy rain from the 8th - 10th, which also gave on some areas of the Wolds a dusting of snow, caused the water level in the Eau to rise enough to flow into the washlands to almost their capacity.  070224 – 5 cattle egret, 2 stonechat, 2 water rail, 2 woodcock, 1000 pink-footed goose at Rimac late afternoon. Chiffchaff and green woodpecker in scrub at Mablethorpe North End, and 75 sanderling on the beach. 2 stonechat, marsh harrier, 3 jack snipe Crook Bank outer dunes. On wet grassland south of Crook Bank 580 lapwing, 2 dunlin, 39 redshank, 120 curlew, 6 shelduck, 460 teal, 540 wigeon, 29 shoveler, 2 mallard, 11 tufted duck and 118 canada goose. 480 brent goose and 850 pink-footed goose at Elm House Farm. Purple sandpiper still on Mablethorpe beach outfall.   090224 – 5 cattle egret next to Rimac car park. 2 stonechat Rimac south and 26 pintail on the saltmarsh.   100224 – 6 cattle egret on Sea View Washlands. Minimum 2500 pink-footed goose flew over the reserve at dusk to roost. Water rail in reeds by the edge of Sea View saltmarsh.     110224 – first winter Caspian gull feeding on starfish wreck at Mablethorpe North End beach with c1000 herring gull. Single snow bunting on shingle out from Rimac, and 3 snow bunting on the edge of Brickyard Lane saltmarsh. Chiffchaff, 2 water rail and a cetti’s warbler Rimac south late afternoon. 6 cattle egret on the banks of the Eau between Rimac and Sea View. 1500+ starling feeding at Elm House Farm.   120224 – Paradise lagoon 78 teal, 4 coot, 5 gadwall and 27 shoveler. Sea View washlands, several hundred wildfowl mainly teal and wigeon. Curlew there are becoming quite vocal in the evenings. 50+ Little egret feeding in flooded Sea View fields. 26 snow bunting on Crook Bank foreshore. 2 stonechat Crook Bank outer dunes. 6 cattle egret again around Rimac, and a pair of stonechat in the dunes. 750 pink-footed goose feeding on Elm House Farm grassland. 2 water pipit at Rimac close to the car park. Birds in song and display include blackbird, song thrush, robin, dunnock, chaffinch, greenfinch, wren, great and blue tit, Cettis warbler, skylark, water rail heard screaming, tawny owl calling and common buzzard displaying. Catkins appearing on alder and willow.   130224 – 26 snow bunting still on Crook Bank foreshore. 2 red-throated diver close in on the sea, and 2 velvet scoter flew south with 6 common scoter. 80 curlew in field adjacent to Churchill Lane dunes. 3 Cattle egret in flooded Sea View field..   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. BARDNEY LIMEWOODS NNR ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch: https://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html Chambers Farm Wood - Butterfly Garden - gardening dates and times: Next date: 20th February 2024 https://butterfly-conservation.org/in-your-area/lincolnshire-branch/chambers-farm-wood-butterfly-garden Lincolnshire Dormouse Group Gemma Watkinson writes: The next winter session will be on Sunday 17th February 2024 In the winter we start at 10am, meeting at the same location, in the wood centre car park at Chambers Farm Wood. Future dates for winter sessions for your diary: Sunday 17th March 2024 You can get in touch via lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Local Nature Reserves - Lincolnshire Lincolnshire County Council - 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 as early as possible, to: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8. CONTACTS AND USEFUL WEBSITES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CONTACTS LIST *** Links "not to be missed *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union LNU Website: http://lnu.org/ LNU Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist LNU Facebook page: LNU e-mail: info@lnu.org Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust: https://twitter.com/LincsWildlife Lincs Bird Club: https://twitter.com/Lincsbirding LBC County Bird Recorder: recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk The Sir Joseph Banks Society: https://twitter.com/sirjosephbanks Lincolnshire Bat Group: http://www.lincsbatgroup.co.uk/ Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch: https://twitter.com/BC_Lincolnshire Lincsbirders: https://twitter.com/lincsbirders Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project: https://lincolnshirechalkstreams.org/events/ Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Trust: https://lincolnshirechalkstreamstrust.org.uk/ South Lincolnshire Flora Group: https://bsbi.org/south-lincolnshire-v-c-53 The Wolds Fungi Group: Contact Paul Nichol via email: pnichol20@gmail.com Lincolnshire Dormouse Group: Contact: lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com FIGHTING WILDLIFE CRIME Wildlife Crime https://www.lincs.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/wc/wildlife-crime/ SPECIES IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. LNU Recorders and Specialists: https://lnu.org/specialists/ Downloads of LNU books: https://lnu.org/publications/books/ Recording with "iRecord": https://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/ iRecord is recommended by the LNU as an appropriate platform for on-line recording. 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 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. 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: https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/mammalatlas.pdf *** For the Geologists *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. Independent - Geology: https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/geology Lincolnshire Geodiversity Group: https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/discovering/geology-1 Geology - the Collection: https://www.thecollectionmuseum.com/explore/geology Geology of the Lincolnshire Wolds: https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/special-features/geology The Geology of Lincolnshire: downloadable LNU book Is Iceland entering a new volcanic era? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-68255375 Hungry like a wolf: new insights from old bones housed in the BGS museum collections https://www.bgs.ac.uk/news/hungry-like-a-wolf-new-insights-from-old-bones-housed-in-the-bgs-museum-collections/ Burrow-detecting devices could protect flood defences https://www.bgs.ac.uk/news/burrow-detecting-devices-could-protect-flood-defences/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9. NOTES ABOUT THESE WILDLIFE REPORTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We do our best to ensure accuracy in our reporting. However, records are sent in by a variety of reporters; from complete beginners to professionals. They may vary in reliability and occasionally may be difficult or impossible to verify. If further information is needed please contact: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk Bulletins are sent to Recorders at Lincolnshire Environmental Records Centre [GNLP], Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union and Lincolnshire Bird Club. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10. BULLETIN PUBLICITY POLICY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When sending in reports, e.g. unusual plants, please report any sensitive news directly to recorders. Not the Bulletin. We don't want to spoil things with unwise or untimely publicity. Thank you. Please respect the interests of wildlife and site owners if you report on national networks. Interest in wildlife is not a licence to act irresponsibly or thoughtlessly to landowners, who may well be partners in important conservation work. [Remember: Views expressed in the Bulletin do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of the LNU or associated organisations. In particular this applies to such agencies, especially charities, taking a political stance.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 11. LNU EVENTS DIARY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** LNU Events *** https://lnu.org/meetings/ https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ...AND FINALLY... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ National or international stories... World's longest lichen declines in a national park https://phys.org/news/2023-09-world-longest-lichen-declines-national.html Migrating species crucial to planet under threat, says UN https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-68254027 Bath road to close for six weeks to allow toads to cross https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-68252094 Seal colony moves into ex-Cold War weapons testing site in Suffolk https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-68255934 Farnham penguin finds 'guide bird' in one of her friends https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-68267633 Water company bosses could see bonuses stopped over sewage spills https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-68270068 Meet Fluffy the alligator snapping turtle found in Urswick Tarn, Cumbria https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-68261267 *** Mail Fails *** None this week. ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/