============================================ || || Wildnews Bulletin - 17th 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: I had a look at the BTO Cuckoo migration-tracker site this week and some of the birds follow very convoluted and unexpected routes in the Mediterranean area as if they are in no hurry to go further south – fascinating stuff. Sorry that we missed the prompt for the first stage of the Big Butterfly Count. Please try to take part in the remaining one and note the value of negative records so that the true extent of the butterfly decline this year can be measured more accurately. 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: *** Big Butterfly Count- Friday 12th July and Sunday 4th August https://bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org/ N.B. Chris Packham made the plea to contributors; be sure to send in negative lists if no butterflies are seen in your survey, or the statistics relating to the survey will not represent the true situation. Australia explorer laid to rest in village https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn384kpy1yno Government approves solar farm despite opposition https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4ng6036vgqo Calls for action to stop fly-tipping at beauty spot https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0kr1057ky7o 'Fireball' after vehicle hits gas terminal https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c897jzev4g5o Firm defends quarry plan after 100-strong protest https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c720npjjvzwo Scampton campaigners ask PM to 'stick to his word' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgrleng65lyo Repairs 'to cost £45m' after storms hit county https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c047dej4yd3o Wolds oil drilling plans quashed in landmark ruling https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqql0g6kvz5o Beetle species rediscovered after 86 years - Wicken Fen https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqv5459qyglo *** 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 18 July - Sunday 21 July Headline: Fine with sunny spells developing and light winds. Thursday: Mostly cloudy with the chance of some patchy light rain mainly over western hills. Some sunny or bright spells developing into the afternoon and light winds continuing. Maximum temperature 25 °C. Outlook for Friday to Sunday: Settled weather with plenty of hazy sunshine over the coming days, staying dry aside from Saturday where there's a risk of showers, perhaps thundery. Temperatures turning warm or very warm. UK long range weather forecast Sunday 21 Jul - Tuesday 30 Jul Early in this period, low pressure is likely to exist to the northwest or north of the UK, allowing areas of cloud and rain to spread across the UK from the west, though some more settled interludes are also likely, especially in the southeast. Breezy at times, with temperatures mainly near or below normal. Remaining changeable thereafter as weather systems to move across the country from the west, with northern and western areas typically wettest and a greater chance of dry conditions prevailing in the southeast. There is, however, a smaller chance for either unsettled weather to be more widely prevalent, or for a more quiescent period to develop across the south, especially later. Overall, temperatures will likely be near normal, but may feel cool in the west at times. *** 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 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 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 *** 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 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. 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. Kirkby-on-Bain: Glossy Ibis on main pit. 10/7 Anderby Creek, Glossy Ibis at Anderby Marsh. Cowbit, Little Gull 1s on flood at Bell row Drove, 2 Spoonbills flew over. Deeping St James, Glossy Ibis on East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, Lesser Yellowlegs 1s, 10 Spoonbills. Gibraltar Point, 6 Spoonbills on Tennyson's Sands, Spotted Redshank. Saltfleetby, Glossy Ibis on Sea View washlands. Stallingborough, Red-backed Shrike male SW of Keelby in hedge by North Beck Drain. 11/7 Anderby Creek, Glossy Ibis at Anderby Marsh. Cowbit, Wood Sandpiper at Cowbit Wash. Frampton Marsh, Lesser Yellowlegs 1s. Freiston Shore, Glossy Ibis on pools behind reservoir., Black-winged Stilt flew from reservoir to marsh. Gibraltar Point, Montagu's Harrier 1s male at New Saltmarsh towards outer rigdge 12/7 Anderby Creek, Glossy Ibis at Anderby Marsh. Cowbit, Wood Sandpiper at Cowbit Wash, 1s Little Gull. Frampton Marsh, Wood Sandpiper, 6 Spotted Redshanks, 11 Spoonbills, Little Gull Freiston Shore, Black-winged Stilt, Glossy Ibis on pools behing reservoir. Skegness, Black Redstart in garden. 13/7 Alkborough Flats, 36 Spoonbills. c230 Common scoters flew west, Cowbit, Wood Sandpiper at Cowbit Marsh. Deeping St James, 2 Glossy Ibises, ad+1s, on East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, Wood Sandpiper, 6 Spotted Redshanks, 9 Spoonbills. Freiston Shore, Black-winged Stilt, Glossy Ibis reported. Gibraltar Point, 2 Roseate Terns on beach, Scaup drk on sea. 9 Spoonbills on Tennyson's Sands. Whisby Nature Park, 2 Garganey, 1drk, on Teal Lake. Saltfleetby, 14/7 Cowbit, Glossy Ibis1s at north end of Cowbit Wash from Bell Tower Drove, Little Gull. Wood Sandpiper. Sanderling. Deeping St James, Glossy Ibis on East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, Wood Sandpiper from track to reservoir. 9 Spoonbills, 9 Spotted Redshanks. Gibraltar Point, 17 Spoonbills on Tennyson's Sands, Spotted Redshank. Scaup drk on sea. Mablethorpe, Roseate Tern on beach south of outfall, 2s Caspian Gull. Wolla Bank, Hen Harrier ringtail flew east over Roman Bank. 15/7 Cowbit, Glossy Ibis1a at north end of Cownit Wash from Peak Hill, Little Gull. Deeping St James, Glossy Ibis on East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, Lesser Yellowlegs 1s, Wood Sandpiper. Freiston Shore, Wood Sandpiper ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 10/7/2024 at 10pm Soprano Pipistrelle detected over garden. 14.7/2024 10pm and on 15th, 2.30am. BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 13th July 2024 Mary Porter A few days ago, I heard a melancholy sort of buzzing coming from the greenhouse and it turned out to be a very tired-looking leaf-cutter bee, still clutching its semicircle of leaf, trying to get out. I keep an old plastic yoghurt pot in there, especially for rescuing trapped insects, so I advanced confidently towards it. It ducked out of sight, and I couldn't find it anywhere. I wasn't convinced it had made it outside as it would have had to have whizzed past me (it's a small greenhouse) but had to abandon my search. No sign of it yesterday, but today, around 4pm, I went in, and there it was, looking somewhat comatose, sat on top of a tomato leaf (the weather has been continuously cold for days). I advanced towards it again. Surely it would be easy to catch this time. I lifted up the pot..."backflip"...and it had dropped down onto the floor somewhere. Aaargh! Time was running out for it. I was determined to find it, moving the tomato plant, searching all round - nothing. In the end, I picked several hebe flowers from the shrub by the greenhouse, and laid them round about. I stood back and waited. What's this? Out staggers the bee, from a dark recess by the window, across the concrete slab, and tucks itself into the flower. Wham! I go with the pot. Got it! I carefully took it outside and gently lay the pot down on our alpine trough, where it could feed in the relative warmth and shelter of the pot. I watched it for about five minutes and left it, still feeding. It had gone when I checked about an hour later. "God speed, little bee" x Phil and Mary Porter There hasn’t been much happening in the garden in the butterfly world beyond the odd Small White, Meadow Brown and Red Admiral until 17th when Mary also spotted a Gatekeeper and 2 Large Whites. 10th July single Speckled Bush-cricket and Blue-tailed Damselfly. 14th July Great Spotted Woodpecker which had been largely absent lately 15th July Cinnabar moth. Many larvae on one Ragwort plant 16th July a large Horsefly, probably Large Marsh Horsefly, 3-4 Batman Hoverflies 17th July Mint Moth, 2-3 Marmalade Hoverflies, 1 Two-banded Spear-horn hoverfly, 1 Painted Graph-fly, 1 Soldier-beetle species. BOSTON Standish Grove PE21 9EA Heather Bishop 11th July 2024, 1pm at, in our back garden which is one third acre of rough grass, oak tree, etc., I was separating a stack of small flowerpots to pot up seedlings, and out flew a pristine bright orange moth! How did it squeeze in there between stacked pots? I guess it must have been a caterpillar earlier. I Googled it, and I reckon it's Angerona prunaria. It made my day! CARLTON LE MOORLAND SK909581 Jeremy Hutchinson Despite having a garden full of nectar-bearing flowers, insects are notably scarce, especially bees and butterflies. The occasional Comma, Red Admiral, and more recently Meadow Browns and Gatekeepers (2 of each max at one time). During the short warm spell in June, I noticed just before nightfall numbers of (I think) Summer Chafers flying around the tops of various trees nearby, the first time that I can recall having seen this. Among these trees were two very tall conifers, a Scots Pine and a Sequoia in a garden 100m away. While watching the Chafers (my old Swift Audubons come into their own at this time of day) a Kestrel landed in the top of the Sequoia and began to clamber about, appearing to be picking something (presumably Chafers) of the foliage, something else I have never seen before. Neither our house or our neighbours have a House Martin nest this year, despite both houses having been visited and 'sounded out' in May and early June. House Martins, Swallows and Swift numbers are all low, although the latter seem to have increased recently, presumably due to successful breeding despite the awful weather. Our local pair of Little Owls appears to have nested successfully I am pleased to say. A local first (in recent years anyway) is that for months now almost every time I go into the garden I can hear a Skylark singing, which is wonderful. We have also had a Chiffchaff singing regularly since early Spring, which is also unusual. On 9th July I spotted only the second Hobby (female) of the year so far at Stapleford SK884579. LIMBER POND Angela Buckle 14th July Purple loosestrife, Greater willowherb, Gypsywort, Self-heal, Greater birdsfoot trefoil, Water mint, White waterlily, Ribwort plantain, Brooklime, New Zealand pygmy weed. RED HILL Angela Buckle 15th July Musk mallow, Kidney vetch, Lady’s bedstraw, Harebell, Rest Harrow, Greater knapweed, Marjoram, Pignut, Pyramid orchid, Goatsbeard, Field scabious, Agrimony, Salad Burnet, Dwarf thistle, Meadow cranesbill, Small scabious, Yellow wort, Autumn gentian, Scarlet pimpernel, Bladder campion, Viper’s bugloss, Musk thistle, White flowered Musk mallow, Great mullein, Parsley-piert, Field madder, Red bartsia, Wild basil, Heath bedstraw, Marbled white butterfly. Six-spot Burnet, Red kite, Kestrel, Common lizard SOUTH THORESBY NATURE RESERVE (c 28acre ex landfill) TF 40075 John Walker MBE 15/07/24 Mostly sunny 21oc Flowers seen included common spotted orchid 22, bee orchid 8, pyramidal orchid 7, common centaury, evening primrose, lady’s mantle and autumn fleabane lots, purple loosestrife 2 stands Butterflies small white 9, ringlet 6, meadow brown 5, small skipper 1, Also 3 common darters, chiffchaff and blackcap in song THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 03/07/24 Brimstone Moth x 2 Common Wave x 1 10/07/24 Blackbird x 4 Blue Tit, lots of fledged young around our hedgerows (10+) Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 1 Dunnock x 1 Goldfinch x 7 Greenfinch x 1 Grey Partridge x 2 Magpie x 2 Pied Wagtail x 1 Robin x 1 Skylark x 2 Stock Dove x 1 on nest in box in chicken run Swallow x 2 nests full of young ready to fledge in stables Swift x 2 Tree Sparrow, lots of fledged young around hedgerows Wood Pigeon x 6 Yellowhammer x 1 Hedgehog x 1 Red Admiral x 1 Small Tortoiseshell x 1 Small White x 2 Clouded Border x 1 Common Footman x 3 12/07/24 Barn Owl x 1 calling outside bedroom window 03:00hrs 15/07/24 Blackbird x 9 adults and fledged young Blue Tit x 12 adults and fledged young Chaffinch x 1 Goldfinch x 28 Greenfinch x 1 Heron x 1 flying over Thurnholmes, calling 03:00hrs Kestrel x 1 Linnet x 2 Long-tailed Tit, family party (at least 8) Magpie x 2 Mallard x 6 over Thurnholmes Mute Swan x 1 Owston Ferry Warping Drain Pied Wagtail on nest in log store Robin x 1 adult and several fledged young around paddocks Skylark x 2 Stock Dove x 1 fledged young ready to leave nest in box in chicken run Swallow x 7 adults + several fledged young from 2 nests in stables Tree Sparrow x 35 adults and fledged young around paddocks Wood Pigeon x 12 fledged warbler (willow or Chiffchaff) Rabbit x 1 young one Green-veined White x 1 Meadow Brown x 2 Red Admiral x 1 Brimstone Moth x 1 Leopard Moth x 1 Yellow-tail x 1 Yellow Shell x 2 WATER RAIL WAY, SOUTHREY TF144661 Phil and Mary Porter Re. our post last week, Paul Kirby kindly confirmed that our plant on the Witham river bank was indeed Hemlock Water-dropwort which is extremely thinly distributed in Lincolnshire, mainly along the Trent, and also along the Witham around Lincoln, with a few locations elsewhere. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 10th – 16th 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: Very heavy rainfall on the 15th and 16th gave 38.9mm of precipitation. 100724 - Paradise lagoon: 3 black-tailed godwits, 2 common sandpipers. 5 whimbrel feeding on saltmarsh and at least 30 curlew in the area. Glossy ibis on Sea View Washlands mid-morning before flying south. Osprey drifted south over the beach towards Churchill Lane early afternoon. 4 sanderling and 26 curlew on foreshore between Brickyard Lane and MOD. Early morning seawatch 05:30-08:00 – going north 31 sandwich tern, 3 common tern, 2 eider, shelduck, and south went 2 Mediterranean gull, 14 common scoter, female red-breasted merganser, cormorant, female marsh harrier, 25 curlew, 5 whimbrel, grey plover, bar-tailed godwit, 8 sanderling, 6 dunlin, 100+ swift, 2 swallow and 15 sand martin. 62 sandwich tern also roosting on the foreshore and 150+ gannet passing offshore in both directions. 3 little ringed plover (1 juvenile) outer dunes Crook Bank. 200 swift flew south over Mablethorpe North End mid-afternoon. Red-veined darter dragonfly patrolling over Rimac scrape. 110724 – Rimac foreshore early morning: 240 dunlin, 30 ringed plover, 2 whimbrel and 25 curlew. A light northerly movement of sandwich tern and common scoter. Juvenile sparrowhawk at Churchill Lane. 33 curlew and 2 whimbrel flew north past Mablethorpe North End mid-afternoon. Turtle dove perched in dune scrub at Brickyard Lane. 120724 - Sea View Washlands: 14 little egrets, 1 little ringed plover, 1 common sandpiper, 10 lapwing. Paradise lagoon: 88 black-headed gulls, single black-tailed godwit. Short-eared owl flew north along the beach at Brickyard Lane. 130724 - Paradise lagoon: at least 10 common sandpipers, 10 redshank. Osprey seen flying and perched at Saltfleet Haven late morning to early afternoon. Stonechat also around Saltfleet Haven area. 12 shelduck, 5 teal, adult Mediterranean gull and 5 sandwich tern flew north over the sea. On Paradise Lagoon: 13 teal, 1 black-tailed godwit, 2 greenshank, 5 redshank, 19 lapwing, 8 common sandpiper, 101 black-headed gull and 5 common gull. 140724 – Second summer Caspian gull, adult roseate tern, 1 juvenile arctic tern, 14 common tern (5 juv) and 31 sandwich tern (5 juv) on the beach at Mablethorpe North End. Second summer Mediterranean gull on the beach at Brickyard Lane. 2 arctic skua flew south past Sea View late morning. 3 greenshank on Paradise Lagoon. 150724 – Great white egret flew southern over Mablethorpe North End and another seen on Rimac scrape. 120+ sandwich tern and juvenile yellow-legged gull around Mablethorpe North End. 6 shelduck, 7 whimbrel, 2 tufted duck, 5 kittiwake, 3 oystercatcher, 23 sanderling flew south over the sea mid-afternoon, 2 arctic skua and 26 common scoter flew north. 160724 - Sea View Washlands: 41 lapwing, great white egret Rimac and 14 little egrets, 16 greylag geese on the salt marsh and a marsh harrier hunting nearby. Turtle dove purring at Brickyard Lane. Green sandpiper, greenshank and 60 linnet outer dunes Crook Bank. North over the sea 12:30-15:20 went 2 adult little gull, 190 black-headed gull, 76 sandwich tern, 12 arctic tern, 2 common tern, 4 ‘commic’ tern, 10 curlew, 2 bar-tailed godwit, redshank, 2 dunlin, 8 sanderling and 30+swallow, and south went a juvenile Caspian gull, 2 auk sp. and 1 whimbrel. 260+ common scoter passing offshore in both directions. On Paradise Lagoon 9 black-tailed godwit, 1 greenshank, 140+ redshank, 16 lapwing, 1 dunlin and 2 juvenile Mediterranean gulls. Water vole seen in pools around Rimac easy access trail. Butterflies – fresh comma at Crook Bank, moderate numbers of ringlet, meadow brown, gatekeeper and small skipper in flight after morning rain. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: 6th and 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 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 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. Major eruption of Stromboli 11th July. https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/stromboli/news/246721/Stromboli-volcano-update-impressive-images-of-today-s-eruption.html 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 *** 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ...AND FINALLY... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ National and International stories London Wildlife Trust launches stag beetle count https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6p26zm1z53o Ship's captain arrested in smuggling investigation https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c047d5751p0o Whole pod of 77 whales likely to die in huge stranding https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3g6xzrxy35o Country diary: The glory of a steaming pile of muck https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/jul/11/country-diary-the-glory-of-a-steaming-pile-of-muck ‘All threats to the sea come from humans’: how lawyers are gearing up to fight for the oceans https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/jul/10/threats-sea-humans-lawyers-fight-oceans-lawsuits-climate Renewables firms already planning new onshore windfarms in England https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/jul/09/renewables-firms-already-planning-new-onshore-windfarms-in-england Birdwatch at the cricket: wagtails, falcons and gulls – but no ducks https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/jul/10/birdwatch-cricket-wagtails-falcons-gulls National Trust’s wildflower meadow project flourishes on north Devon coast https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/jul/09/national-trust-wildflower-meadow-project-flourishes-north-devon-coast Moths wreak 'unprecedented' destruction on orchard https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c51y50xdjl2o Meet 11 Amazing Deep-Sea Sharks From the Abyss https://www.zmescience.com/science/oceanography/deep-sea-sharks/ 6 Adorable Sharks That Are Actually More Cute Than Scary https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/animals-ecology/6-adorable-cute-sharks/ ‘Swan uppers’ hope numbers recover after avian flu https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ck7gzdj1vgpo *** 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/