============================================ || || Wildnews Bulletin - 10th July 2024 || || News of Lincolnshire Wildlife || LNU: http://lnu.org/ || || Please email 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: There have been a lot of Quail records recently and evening walks among cereals might be rewarded in many parts of the county if weather conditions are calm and mild. Their phrases of three clipped notes would be a marvellous incentive to step out. Sky-watchers have the possibility of meteors and noctilucent clouds to look out for this month. I believe the Yankee Lesser Yellowlegs at Frampton Marsh is approaching a year in residence at this superlative RSPB reserve. Our correspondents have listed many interesting wild flowers on their wanderings; what a pity then, that our common insects seem to have been dealt such a heavy blow this year so far. 2024 may become an infamous year in the history of our invertebrates. Phil Porter's email is: philporterento@outlook.com Roger Parsons' email is: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk BTO's tracked Cuckoos https://www.bto.org/cuckoos *** This week's mostly-local news stories: *** Government windfarm plan is 'attack on countryside' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cyj48z831lpo Village set for 'spectacle' of explorer's reburial https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3gdx8y7j5do Extra £1.2m to be spent on windmill restoration https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cldy2y7qrxgo Land purchase agreed for last section of ring road https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz9x59511z5o Warning to residents after lithium battery fire https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c80x8wv8vkzo Plans to build 150 homes near Lincoln submitted https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce7805rrg63o Map highlights dangers of discarded balloons https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ced3v7kk257o *** 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 11 July - Tuesday 23 July Headline: Northwest, cloudy and showery. Sunny spells developing in the southeast. Thursday: Cloudy for much of the morning with outbreaks of light rain, but perhaps breaking up to give some brighter spells and scattered showers in the afternoon. Cool for most. Maximum temperature 18 °C. Outlook for Friday to Sunday: Sunny spells with scattered showers for most through this period, but perhaps more cloudy with rain in the east on Friday and Saturday. Rather cool. Sunday 14 July - Tuesday 23 July Into the weekend conditions will be mostly cool to average with some showers at times, most settled in the north west. The first part of the new week likely to see a mixture of rain or showers move in from the southwest as a more westerly breeze establishes allowing temperatures to recover to around or just above average, feeling warm in sunnier periods outside of showers/heavy showers or thunderstorms, with a more settled spell to the south mid-week possibly spreading to much of the UK, though this likely only for a few days at most before a more showery northwest flow resumes. Winds after the weekend will be mostly light to moderate, though gusty conditions near heavy showers and thunderstorms remains likely. *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** 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 Heads up for Noctilucent Clouds - they are being reported. https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/space-astronomy/noctilucent-clouds This Week's Sky at a Glance: https://skyandtelescope.org/observing/ 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 *** Belton Park, Saturday 13th July 2024 Northeast of Grantham, Courtesy of Belton Estate 11.00 for 12.00 start and finish approx 16.00. Belton House NT main carpark Grid reference SK927391 What 3 Words; jots.alleges.october Habitats: Acid grassland, parkland, ponds and River Witham. Leaders: Luke Hartley 07399 322211 hartley026@gmail.com and Sarah Lambert 07784169260 sarah.lambert7@ntlworld.com A Mid-Summer Ramble around Irby Dales Carolyn Davis writes On Saturday 13th July 2024 you are invited to join the Grimsby and Cleethorpes Area Group LWT on a walk around the beautiful Irby Dales with Graham Hicks. Meet at 8am at St Andrew's Church car park Irby on Humber, North East Lincolnshire. Grid Ref. TA 195 049 nearest postcode DN37 7JW Please wear suitable outdoor clothing and stout footwear and bring binoculars if you have them. This is a free event however, donations will be welcomed for the Trust. For further information please contact Graham Hicks 07979 089890 *** 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/ *** Lincoln RSPB *** Volunteer opportunities available for people who are passionate about wildlife and conservation. Lincoln RSPB is running the Peregrine Watch at Lincoln Cathedral again this year. All weekends in June and July. Prior experience isn’t necessary, enthusiasm is more important. For more information, contact Gwen M. Randall, Volunteer co-ordinator. gwen.randall@ntlworld.com 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 3/7 Caythorpe, Quail male singing recently, SW of Hough on the Hill. Cowbit, Wood Sandpiper, Little Gull 1s at end of Cowbit Wash. Deeping St James, 2 Glossy Ibises, ad+1s, on East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Denton Reservoir, Quail male singing recently in field margin. Wast Halton Skitter, Quail male singing East Halton Marshes. Frampton Marsh, 5 Spoonbills from Reedbed Hide. Spotted Redshank on wet grassland, SW of Sea Bank car park. Little Gull on Reedbed. Gibraltar Point, 2 Short-eared Owls, Montagu's Harrier 1s male from Wash Viewpoint, 17 Spoonbills on Tennyson's Sands Spotted Redshank. f Hen Harrier. Hibaldstow, Quail male singing at airfield. Old Bolingbroke, Quail male singing recently. Ruskington Fen, Quail male singing recently. Toft Newton Reservoir, Quail male singing recently. 4/7 Cowbit, Wood Sandpiper ad at south end on Cowbit Wash, 1s Little Gull, 7 Spoonbills, . Deeping St James, 2 Glossy Ibises, ad+1s, on East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, 3 Spoonbills on Reedbed. 10 Spotted Redshanks, 8 Spoonbills Little Gull. Gibraltar Point, Lesser Yellowlegs ad on Tennyson's Sands. Wood Sandpiper, 7 Spoonbills. Spotted Redshank. 5/7 Cowbit, 1s Little Gull, at south end of Cowbit Wash. Deeping St James, 2 Glossy Ibises, ad+1s, on East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, Lesser Yellowlegs 1s SE Corner of reedbed and on pool by visitor centre car park. Gibraltar Point, Lesser Yellowlegs ad and Spotted Redshank, on Tennyson's Sands. 6/7 Deeping St James, 2 Glossy Ibises, ad+1s, on East Pit, Deeping Lakes. 7/7 Cowbit, Little Gull 1s and Spoonbill at south end of Cowbit Wash viewed from Peak Hill. Deeping St James, 2 Glossy Ibises, ad+1s, on East Pit, Deeping Lakes Frampton Marsh, Lesser Yellowlegs 1s on Reedbed, Scaup fem reported NE of Sea Bank car park. Gibraltar Point, Redwing ad trapped and ringed in East Dunes. 8/7 Deeping St James, 2 Glossy Ibises, ad+1s, on East Pit, Deeping Lakes Frampton Marsh, Lesser Yellowlegs 1s on Reedbed. Gibraltar Point, 4 Spoonbills on Tennyson's Sands. Montagu's Harrier 1s male just south of Wash Viewpoint. 9/7 Cowbit, Little Gull 1s and 2 Spoonbills at south end of Cowbit Wash viewed from Peak Hill. Deeping St James, 2 Glossy Ibises, ad+1s, on East Pit, Deeping Lakes Kirkby-on-Bain, Glossy Ibis Frampton Marsh, 2 Spotted Redshanks. 10 spoonbills, Osprey, Continental juv. Black-tailed Godwit = nominate form limosa. Gibraltar Point, Montagu's Harrier 1s male from Wash Viewpoint. 10/7 Stallingborough, Red-backed Shrike male SW of Keelby in hedge by North Beck Drain. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 9/7/2024 Noctule on bat detector at 00.47hrs to 01.28hrs BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 Phil and Mary Porter 5th July Gatekeeper 1 first of the year Ringlet 1 Small White 2 6th July Common Darter 1 first of the year Kestrel 1 at 12:00 went down by the compost heap then away, then hovering again an hour later 7th July Barn Owl 1 flew through the garden and away carrying prey presumably from elsewhere 8th July Ringlet 2 Meadow Brown 2 Skipper (not identified) 1 Red Admiral 1 BARDNEY, ABBEY ROAD TF117697 7th July Phil and Mary Porter A villager sent us a picture of a Scarlet Tiger moth that had visited her garden the previous day. BOSTON TF338441 Tracey Lenton 04-07-2024 Front garden I returned from holiday last weekend to find Toadflax brocade caterpillars on the purple toadflax plants. Today, I saw a Blue-tailed damselfly again, last saw one in June. Bumble bees (white-tailed) are still feeding on the purple toadflax but there are fewer flowers and mostly seed heads. I thought their numbers had declined but I watched the nest this evening and saw that there were the usual comings and goings and that some of them were flying away from the garden, presumably to feed elsewhere. https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/ has a piece on bumblebee numbers at this time of year which may also explain fewer numbers. 04-07-2024 Back garden Red Admiral x 1 Robin - a robin started visiting the garden in May and is usually seen every day Enjoying a long period of Swifts this summer Hedgehog continues to visit for food. There have been no baby birds yet this year, there are usually young blackbirds by now. Whilst on holiday in Jersey, Channel Islands, I saw a green lizard, a male, its throat having the vivid blue colouring. Native to the island, it was seen on the north-west coast. CHAMBERS FARM WOOD BUTTERFLY GARDEN TF147740 Margaret Westcott 02.07.2024 Butterflies are around in small numbers: Large Skipper, Small Skippers (possibly Essex), Speckled Wood, Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Whites. Other insects of note included: Blood-vein, Yellow Shell, Dark Arches, Hairy Shieldbug, Crucifer Shieldbug, Purple Loosestrife Beetle, Meadow Cranesbill Weevil, Scorpion Fly, Dolichopodid Flies, Dark Bushcricket, Volucella pellucens, and also a Pirate Wolf Spider on pond vegetation. The previous week, on 24.06.2024, Pete and I counted 6 White Admirals on the main woodland trail. FAR INGS. Angela Buckle, Stuart Smith. 7th July Kidney vetch, Musk mallow, Ploughman’s spikenard, Scentless mayweed, Horse radish, Lady’s bedstraw Pea gall, Spiked pea gall on rose leaves. HENDALE WOODS Angela Buckle, Stuart Smith. 5th July Ladies mantle, Common knapweed, Lesser stitchwort, Greater plantain, Betony, Hedge woundwort, Enchanters nightshade, Red Bartsia, Nipplewort, Broad leaved willowherb, Butterflies. Ringlet, Small white, Brimstone, Speckled wood, Small Skipper. SCRIVELSBY PARK Sir Joseph Banks Society, Activities for Families & Children, Family learning day. 29th June Paul Scott Animals Black Fallow Deer Dama dama Birds Green Woodpecker Picus viridis, Nuthatch Sitta europaea, Raven Corvus corax, Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata Fish Minnow Phoxinus Phoxinus Fungi Ganoderma australe Invertebrates Ant-nest woodlouse Platyarthrus hoffmannseggi, Banded damselfly Calopteryx splendens, Garden Tiger Moth Arctia caja, Net-building Caddisfly Hydropsyche sp., Broad bodied Chaser Libellula depressa Plants Annual nettle Urtica urens, Floating sweet grass Glyceria fluitans, Birds Eye Veronica Veronica persica, Bulbous buttercup Ranunculus bulbosus, Common Figwort Scrophularia, Common fleabane Pulicaria dysenterica, Cuckoo flower Cardamine pratensis (single late flower), Feverfew Tanacetum parthenium, Ground Ivy Glechoma hederacea, Herb Robert Geranium robertianum, Meadow sweet Filipendula ulmaria, Plant Nipplewort Lapsana communis, White Comfrey Symphytum orientale, Field wood-rush Luzula campestris, Turkey Oak Quercus cerris, Fool’s watercress Helosciadium nodiflorum, Reed sweet-grass Glyceria maxima, Yellow oat grass Trisetum flavescens, False Brome Brachypodium, Tufted hair grass Deschampsia cespitosa, Cocksfoot Dactylis glomerata WATER RAIL WAY, SOUTHREY TF144661 Phil and Mary Porter 8th July Possibly a special plant in the bank of the Witham at Southrey Station. By walking out onto the elevated access ramp to the village’s floating pontoon, on the right-hand side you can look down at the thick emergent riverside vegetation and there is a single flowering spike of Marsh Woundwort which is nice enough, but adjacent is bushy growth of what seems to me to be a Water-hemlock species which is just starting to go to seed. The leaves reminded me a bit of Meadow-rue in shape and the ‘spokes’ of the umbel seemed very stout. I will try to get a photograph to distribute for identification, but the ramp is high above the plants and access on the ground would be more hazardous than I would risk because it’s impossible to know where the river starts. In an adjacent patch of open water, protected from the flow of the river, the surface was covered with duckweed of two obviously different species, one being much larger than the other. The verges of the cycle-track towards Stixwould had recently been cut so there wasn’t much to see there, although Welted Thistle was freshly in flower and Creeping Thistle was just beginning to burst bud. Walking 700 meters to the footbridge over the Engine Drain and back, we only saw c.10 white butterflies including Green-veined White, 2 Red Admirals and c. 6 each of Meadow Brown and Ringlet. This distance includes c. 150 meters of densely planted Buddleia in flower and only 3 white butterflies were visiting. The Engine Drain had a few Black-tailed Skimmers and blue damselflies and a fine Emperor Dragonfly. There were thick growths of Broad-leafed Pondweed, a small patch of one of the fine-leafed pondweeds and the water was almost clear. The banks were clothed with Reed and Reed Canary-grass. In the channel, one flower of Amphibious Bistort was visible. Birds noted included singing Stock Dove, Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Skylark and there were about 10 Swallows on the wires back at Southery Station. The paucity of insects was stark and we didn’t notice a single hoverfly. WOOLSTHORPE BY COLSTERWORTH Nature Trail Jane Ostler On 24/6/24 the Working Party was able at last to clear paths of overgrown vegetation at top of bank. I joined them to write a list of plants in flower in the meadow below. There were some 50 species, including a few, like wild roses, associated with trees and shrubs in the margins. It was good to see so many old meadow species, including some found in limestone grasslands. Fairy flax, clovers and medicks, vetches, wild carrot, bladder campion, hardheads, greater knapweed, field scabious St John's wort, hedge bedstraw, bulbous buttercup, and quaking grass. In wetter parts, meadowsweet. Scattered throughout yellow rattle, this plant which subdues the growth of grasses is used as a management tool and was seeded in previously. The big surprise was a single flower of common broomrape (Orobanche minor) not recorded here before. With no leaves, it is a true parasite and is described as living off a number of species. Here it may be on white clover, abundant this year. Regarded by farmers as a weed, as one form could decimate the clover it was an offence to sell clover seed not "cleansed ". The sun came out (briefly) and with it some butterflies - Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Small White and speckled Wood. Best of all the first Marbled whites of the year. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 3rd – 9th July 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: The total rainfall at Sea View for July to date is 51.5mm and the total from January is at 385.4mm. With further rainfall forecast this would be the wettest period since 2007 when 491.1mm was recorded. The maximum temperature on the 5th was 23.25 degrees centigrade, which was the hottest day of the year for Sea View. 030724 – 3 juvenile little ringed plover and 1 green sandpiper Sea View Washlands. 2 sandwich tern, 5 common tern, 10 common scoter and 6 gannet flew north over the sea at Mablethorpe North End. 040724 - Rimac: Marsh helleborine, skullcap, common restharrow in flower. Sea View Washland: marsh helleborine and red bartsia in flower. Grasshopper warbler reeling on Rimac saltmarsh. 050724 – 4 buzzard, red kite and a grey heron flew high south over Mablethorpe North End. Juvenile cuckoo between Brickyard Lane and Sear’s Track. Grasshopper warbler reeling at Rimac saltmarsh viewing platform. Butterflies: 277 individuals of 9 species on Rimac transect, including the first gatekeeper of the year. Seaview to Paradise: Butterflies - ringlets, small skippers, six-spot burnets, meadow browns, large whites and 1 green veined white. Dragonflies: multiple common and ruddy darters, 1 banded demoiselle. Flora: field scabious, white dead-nettle, hedge bedstraw, common yarrow, lady’s bedstraw, red campion, white campion, white clover, red clover, bird's foot trefoil, lesser trefoil, common mallow, great willowherb, common knapweed. 060724 - Sea View Washlands: 14 lapwing, 27 pied wagtails (mix of juveniles and adults), single common sandpiper and barn owl hunting in the area. 070724 – 600 starling, 5 pied wagtail, 46 black-headed gull, 12 sandwich tern and 23 great black-backed gull on the foreshore early morning. 080724 – Grasshopper warbler reeling at Rimac saltmarsh viewing platform. 2 arctic skua chasing 30 black-headed gulls and 5 herring gull Brickyard Lane foreshore. Butterflies: 283 individuals of 8 species on Rimac transect, holly blue Churchill Lane, white-letter hairstreak Sea View. 090724 - Common sandpiper on Sea View Washlands and 40 curlew flying east over dunes to roost near the Haven. 2 vocal greenshank flew south over Rimac car park, where 6 lapwing were on flooded pasture. On Paradise Lagoon 1 black-tailed godwit, 1 greenshank, 6 redshank, 24 lapwing, 6 teal. Hobby flew low south over farmland at Churchill Lane. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: 16th July 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 summer dates we so far have approved with FE for nest box checks are: Sunday 21st July 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. Looking forward to another dormouse filled summer! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 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. Watch: Mount Etna spits lava into the night sky - 4th July 2024 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cw0yjgwzldyo 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/ *** Lincolnshire Naturalists Union Field Meeting *** Belton Park, Saturday 13th July 2024 Northeast of Grantham, Courtesy of Belton Estate 11.00 for 12.00 start and finish approx 16.00. Belton House NT main carpark Grid reference SK927391 What 3 Words; jots.alleges.october Habitats: Acid grassland, parkland, ponds and River Witham. Leaders: Luke Hartley 07399 322211 hartley026@gmail.com and Sarah Lambert 07784169260 sarah.lambert7@ntlworld.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ...AND FINALLY... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ National and International stories Footage reveals 'miracle eagle chick' in flight https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c047gl9zyx3o Toilets in danger of falling into the sea https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4ng9440l2yo Woman must pay £1,400 for failing to clean up land https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0xj1xlpq7lo When the Common Becomes Uncommon: The Grey Partridge Appeal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3lX46rB-UQ *** 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/