============================================ || || Wildnews Bulletin - 31st 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 are rather few entries this week, so I will share with you an intricate entomological ‘rabbit-hole’ that I entered recently. In the garden the other day, I found a distinctive ‘mine’ on the circular leaves of a small plant of the ornamental ‘nasturtium’ with the garish frilly red or yellow flowers that grows enormously long stems and provide peppery saladings for the adventurous. The ‘mine’ was a combination of wire-thin white trails and a blotchy whitish patch radiating out from the point where the leaf petiole joins the blade, and along the leaf-veins making a ‘splat’ mark, caused by larvae feeding inside. Looking up the entry for Nasturtium on http://www.leafmines.co.uk/ reminded me that this is the bona fide scientific name for Water-cress and related plants and nothing to do with my garden plant which once became known as ‘Nasturtium’ in an early systematic mix-up. The proper name for the ornamental is Tropaeolum majus, a completely unrelated plant. In this section of http://www.leafmines.co.uk/ the mine is perfectly illustrated as being caused by Scaptomyza flava, a fly of the Drosophilidae or ‘Vinegar-flies’ which contains the famous species used in genetic studies But S. flava is not a specialist. Its mine is more often found on a wide range of plants in the Cabbage family and it is a serious pest because of this. The fly is studied by research institutions as a model organism to investigate the evolution of herbivory and is a specialist on toxic mustard leaves. It would seem therefore that it has ‘adopted’ the ornamental Tropaeolum only because it sensed the piquant peppery leaf taste. Thank you, Wikipedia! http://www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Diptera/S.flava.htm - Click on the ‘circular leaves’ among the thumbnail pictures at the bottom of the page – the main picture shows the mine on cabbage. 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. Dog fouling forces temporary closure of woods https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c728q665yv2o Take your litter home with you, tourists told https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq5jprze855o Cause of oil spill in waterway being investigated https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cxe214dy3jdo 'Fields of rotting veg' after rain wreaks havoc https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4ng4j4nkg1o Cows help bee orchids return to nature reserve https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cprqpw4jjg7o Lancaster bomber takes to sky following restoration https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cxr2z64z669o *** 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 1st August - Sunday 4th Aug Headline: Staying very warm. Thundery showers likely Thursday. Thursday: A cloudy start with outbreaks of showery rain and a risk of thunder, this gradually clearing east. Followed by sunny spells, further heavy showers and thunder potential. Maximum temperature 27 °C. Outlook for Friday to Sunday: A fine start Friday before cloud and wind increases with a risk of showers. Rain clears east overnight leaving sunny spells and isolated showers Saturday. Turning cloudier and windy Sunday. UK long range weather forecast Sunday 4th August - Tuesday 13th Aug Low pressure is likely to broadly remain close to northwest Scotland through much of this period, with occasional spells of rain spreading south-eastwards across the UK, perhaps somewhat erratically due to frontal waves slowing its progress while also occasionally pepping the rain up in places. Between these periods of rain, occasional ridging into southern areas will provide some dry and bright conditions, with showers likely continuing in the northwest where it may also be rather breezy or windy at times. Temperatures overall are likely to be close to or just slightly below the average for early August, however there is the chance of some rather warm conditions developing in parts of the south and east periodically. Also - there's a Yellow Alert for Thunderstorms on Thursday: https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#?date=2024-08-01&id=1ada5fc3-22ef-4c26-b1fa-ad289feb807e *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** Noctilucent clouds https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/space-astronomy/noctilucent-clouds Meteor Season: There are several Meteor Showers this month: The Delta Aquariids meteor shower is active from 12 July to 23 August https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/delta-aquariid-meteor-shower-2024-when-where-see-it-uk The Perseid meteor shower is active between 17 July and 24 August https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/perseid-meteor-shower-guide-uk-when-where-to-see This Week's Sky at a Glance: https://skyandtelescope.org/observing/sky-at-a-glance/ Night Sky - highlights: https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/blogs/astronomy Full Moons https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/full-moon-calendar Meteor shower dates https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/meteor-shower-guide BBC Sky at Night Magazine website https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news *** EVENTS *** *** Lincolnshire Naturalists Union Field Meeting *** Horncastle Riverscape Enhancement Project – Sunday 18th August 2024 Horncastle 11.00 for 12.00 start and finish about 16.00. Meeting point at Tesco picnic area adjacent to the river (details below), car parking is available at Tesco car park for a small charge. Habitats: River corridor. Leaders: Luke Hartley 07399 322211 hartley026@gmail.com and Paul Scott paul.scott@joseph-banks.co.uk Grid reference: TF 34930 35810 What3Words: astounded.feelers.sleeps nearest postcode: PE20 1NA *** South Lincs RSPB Group *** Jeremy Eyeons writes: The South Lincs RSPB Group's details of their 2024 "Seal and Birdwatching" cruises aboard "The Boston Belle". There are twelve cruises organised for 2024, ending on 24th October. Full details on this website, including ticket prices, booking arrangements, sailing times and dates etc. Booking is essential. https://group.rspb.org.uk/southlincolnshire/ STAYING SAFE Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary.... The Heat-health Alert Service - sign up. https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/seasonal-advice/heat-health-alert-service Bird flu: Defra advice to the general public is to leave corpses alone and report the findings - but that landowners should dispose of birds themselves. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bird-flu-latest-situation-avian-influenza-prevention-zone-declared-across-great-britain Lyme Disease reminder https://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/zoonoses-data-sheets/lyme-disease.pdf Road works and hold-ups https://roadworks.org/ Met Office Severe Warnings https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings Met Office Severe Weather E-mail Service - sign up http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/guide-to-emails EasyTide http://easytide.ukho.gov.uk/EasyTide/EasyTide/index.aspx Environment Agency Flood Warnings - Lincolnshire https://flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/warnings?location=lincolnshire Environment Agency Flood Information/Floodline - sign up https://www.gov.uk/sign-up-for-flood-warnings ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2. WILDLIFE HIGHLIGHTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Bird News from Rare Bird Alert *** Rare Bird Alert has kindly given permission to reproduce their pager reports. A big thank you from us all. Readers interested in a pager - look at the RBA website: http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/ For RBA's excellent articles: https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/RealData/Articles.asp 24/7 Cowbit, Little Gull 1s on Cowbit Wash. Deeping St James, Glossy Ibis,1s, on East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, 8 Curlew Sandpiper and Temminck's Stint ad south of sea bank car park. ,Llittle Stint, Little Gull, 28 Spotted Redshanks. Gibraltar Point, 20 Spoonbills on Tennyson's Sands. Spotted Redshank. Montagu's Harrier 1s male and Hen Harrier male from Wash Viewpoint. 25/7 Butterwick Low, Unconfirmed report of Black Kite ESE of Butterwick. Deeping St James, Glossy Ibis,1s, on East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, Temminck's Stint ad, 2 Little Stint. Gibraltar Point, Montagu's Harrier 1s male from Wash Viewpoint 10+ Spotted Redshanks., Wood Sandpiper on lagoon. 26/7 Cowbit, Little Gull 1s from Peak Hill. Deeping St James, Glossy Ibis,1s, on East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, 25 Spoonbills, Lesser Yellowlegs 1s from sea wall. 2 Little Stints, Temminck's Stint ad, 6 Curlew Sandpipers, Spotted Redshank. Gibraltar Point, Long-tailed Skua ad flew south past, Osprey at Croftmarsh. 27/7 Alkborough Flats, 40 Spotted Redshanks. Cowbit, Little Gull 1s at Cowbit Wash, 7 Curlew Sandpipers all ads from Bell Tunnel Drove. Deeping St James, Glossy Ibis,1s, on East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, Garganey, Osprey over saltmarsh, 30 Spoonbills, 7 Curlew Sandpipers, 2 Little Stints. 2 Wood Sandpipers. 2 Spotted Redshanks. Gibraltar Point, Wood Sandpiper on Tennyson's Sands, 13+ Spoonbills, Osprey at Croftmarsh Langtoft, Osprey at Greatford Cut, flew towards Langtoft West End. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, Osprey at Saltfleet Haven by river bank on pole. 28/7 Cowbit, Little Gull, 6+ Curlew Sandpipers all ads from Bell Row Drove. Deeping St James, Glossy Ibis,1s, on East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, 2 Curlew Sandpipers. 29/7 Cowbit, 7 Curlew Sandpipers all ads at Cowbit Marsh from Bell Row Drove. Frampton Marsh, Wood Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Rimac, Osprey 30/7 Cowbit, 7 Curlew Sandpipers all ads, Cowbit Wash from Bell Row Drove. 1s Little Gull. Deeping St James, Glossy Ibis !s on east Pit, Deeping Lakes, then flew west. Frampton Marsh, Curlew Sandpiper on South Scrape, Little Stint. Gibraltar Point, Wood Sandpiper on Moat Scrape. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 w/o 28th July 2024 We have cut the No Mow May area, leaving only the Cowslips to shed their seed. Ragged Robin did well, and the Yellow Rattle display was impressive. It was not too much of a chore to cut it down and we shall probably try it again next year. The disappointment was the low numbers of bees, butterflies and moths that were seen. However, bat detectors inform us of several bats feeding over the garden so we can take encouragement from that. A regular hedgehog visits but we have not spotted a badger recently. The recent dry spell has halted the Suede Boletes we reported earlier, but we can expect them to start coming up again when rain returns. https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/485374-Xerocomus-subtomentosus BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 Phil and Mary Porter 25th July Great Spotted Woodpecker male 26th July Mary hit the jackpot by discovering 2 Silver-washed Fritillaries in the garden, 1 of which stayed long enough for me to see it too. Our first 2nd generation Holly Blue turned up as well, backed up by 1-2 of Red Admiral, Meadow Brown, Small White, Peacock and Gatekeeper, all of which featured on most days this week. 27th July We thought we had the Fritillary again but on closer inspection it was a Comma. The overall population of butterflies increased a little bit. 28th July Just a little up the lane we saw a Small Tortoiseshell which has become a real rarity locally, on ragwort. Back in the garden, 2-3 Large Whites appeared and another Comma and a further small increase indicated by up to 6 Gatekeeper, 3 Meadow Brown, and 4 Peacock. 1-2 Silver Y moths were in the long grass. A single Blue-tailed Damselfly and a fine Brown Hawker passed by. One of our Ragwort stems has about 15 Cinnabar moth larvae clustered around the flowerhead. While enjoying a cup of tea in the shade, I noticed that the rim of a largish pot was alive with winged ants and for the next 15 minutes or so we watched them rising as if trapped in a strong updraught. The plants did not seem to have been adversely affected by the colony although the surface of the compost had changed to the fine granular crumb consistency typical of anthills. Knowing that synchronised emergence is the tactic that ants use to reduce predation, we looked around for evidence of more eruptions and found it in another container, in a raised bed, under slabs in the greenhouse (thankfully not many), in the lawn and in the compost heap. We found out that our friend in Messingham had also seen the activity on the same day. Entirely appropriately, a Green Woodpecker was quite vocal just over the hedge on extensive mowed grass next door. 29th July It seems that the village Swifts have left. Mary wonders if their departure might have anything to do with being able to feed up on flying ants yesterday. Coincidence or not? A newly fledged blackbird seemed to tumble out of the hedge and crash-landed into another shrub. It then managed an awkward flight up into the lower branches of our birch tree. 30th July There was a definite increase in flies and other insects in the garden today and a visit from Richard Davidson resulted in him discovering a Wasp Hoverfly Volucella inanis, a Two-banded Spear-horn Chrysotoxum bicinctum and the Tachinid parasite-fly Eriothrix rufomaculata. The two latter species would normally be much commoner, though so there is still a considerable deficiency of insects. I later saw a Compost Hoverfly Syritta pipiens. We noticed that the nymphs of Woundwort Shieldbugs are wonderfully inconspicuous resting on the dried seed- capsules of Hedge Woundwort. HORKSTOW SE987179 Jenny Haynes 25 July 2024 Barn owl seen from my house flying along the field edge opposite. I also heard one calling early morning on 23 July. A brown hare has been seen a couple of times this week in the field opposite my house. A dragonfly was on the buddleia this afternoon, although we were unable to identify which one. 27 July 2024 Bats flying around my house this evening. First time I’ve seen them for quite a while. Also seen on the following two evenings. THEDDLETHORPE AREA John Walker MBE Evening 29/07/24 3 Coastguard cottages 2 bungalow at the top of Churchill lane 3 old disused church west of TF 464883 All small bats thought to be pipistrelles ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 24th – 30th 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 24.07.24 - Short-eared owl hunting over saltmarsh late evening. The lingering osprey caught a fish from the Eau between Sea View and Rimac, later seen perched on post at Saltfleet Haven. Also around Saltfleet Haven: 1 merlin, 2 Arctic skua and 2 short-eared owl, 2 little tern flew north. Turtle dove purring north of Crook Bank. Going south over the sea in the morning were: a juvenile spoonbill, little egret, curlew, 7 whimbrel, 66 sanderling, 55 dunlin, 71 oystercatcher, 2 Arctic tern, 4 little tern. North went 310 sandwich tern, 6 Arctic skua, 51 gannet, 7 cormorant. 100 common scoter on the sea at Mablethorpe North End. Odonata: a second Norfolk hawker, which appeared to be a female, roosting at Rimac at dawn. 25.07.24 - Sea View Washlands: 21 little egrets. Paradise lagoon: 30 lapwing, 4 greenshank, 4 common sandpiper and 12 redshank. 2 water rail screeching in freshwater marsh. 59 whimbrel flew south over Saltfleet Haven in two groups, 2 Arctic skua and an adult little gull on the foreshore. Butterflies: painted lady Churchill Lane; holly blue Sea View. Odonata: 2 Norfolk hawkers in ditches at Rimac. 3 barn owl chicks successfully fledged at Sea View. 26.07.24 – 5 greenshank, 3 common sandpiper and juvenile yellow wagtail Paradise Lagoon. Turtle dove purring Crook Bank beach access path. Juvenile willow warbler moving through the dunes with mixed tit flock. 2 little ringed plover flew off Brickyard Lane saltmarsh and went south. Butterflies: 7 wall, common blue, 4 peacock, 2 speckled wood at Rimac. Arriving off the sea at Mablethorpe North End: 2 large white, 2 red admiral, 3 peacock. Odonata: willow emerald damselfly beside footpath north of Crook Bank; 2 southern hawker and 1 brown hawker Churchill Lane. Sea View: gypsywort, water mint and strawberry clover in flower, common field grasshopper. Harebells in flower at Rimac. 27.07.24 - Short-eared owl and 3 marsh harriers hunting over saltmarsh. Cattle egret north end Sea View Washlands. Osprey still around Saltfleet Haven area, along with 2 Arctic skua and short-eared owl. 102 whimbrel flew south over Rimac in three groups, 1800 sandwich tern Rimac foreshore. Odonata: brown hawker Brickyard Lane. Osprey later seen flying around Sea View area and down to Rimac along the Great Eau. 28.07.24 - Paradise lagoon: Common sandpiper 2, redshank 212, lapwing 39, greenshank 2, heron 1, black-headed gull 36 and common gull 7. Single common snipe on edge of wet grassland near Rimac and another bird seen flying high from an easterly direction before dropping into the saltmarsh. 3 commas and a painted lady at Sea View. Cattle egret flew north over MOD. Osprey sitting on post out from Rimac. Green sandpiper flew over Rimac freshwater marsh. Butterflies: 11 wall, painted lady, 8 common blue, 2 small copper and 3 brown argus Sea View to Rimac. Odonata: 2+ brown hawker Churchill Lane; 2 southern hawker Brickyard Lane. 29.07.24 - Holly blue at Sea View. Wood sandpiper flew south over Brickyard Lane in the evening. 272 redshank, 2 greenshank, knot, 4 black-tailed godwit, 3 dunlin, common sandpiper, green sandpiper and 46 lapwing on Paradise Lagoon. Osprey Saltfleet Haven area late morning, later seen hunting along the Eau between Sea View and Rimac. Butterflies: small tortoiseshell Paradise Lagoon; holly blue Sea View; 9 wall, 2 common blue, brown argus at Rimac; painted lady Elm House Farm. Odonata: willow emerald Brickyard Lane. 30.07.24 – 389 redshank, 37 lapwing, snipe and 7 dunlin on Paradise Lagoon. Butterflies: 9 wall, small copper, 4 common blue, 2 speckled wood Sea View. 7 wall, 2 brown argus, common blue at Rimac. small tortoiseshell Churchill Lane; 4 wall Crook Bank. Odonata: Norfolk hawker and 2 brown hawker patrolling ditches east side Rimac freshwater marsh. Brown long-eared bat found grounded at Churchill Lane, when picked up it flew off into nearby trees and wasn’t seen again. Other Local Reserves 24.07.24 - Welton le Wold – Flora: back medic, bird’s-foot trefoil, common centaury, knapweed, oxeye daisy, meadow sweet, goat’s beard, yellow rattle, meadow buttercup, ragwort, red clover, self heal, lady’s bedstraw, ribwort plantain, lesser trefoil, creeping cinquefoil, ground ivy, upright hedge parsley. Butterflies and Moths: Gatekeeper x 9, green veined white x 2, meadow brown x 14, small skipper x 3, small white x 2, large white x 1, six spot burnet x 1 Birds: buzzard, kestrel, yellow hammer Muckton Wood: Butterflies and Moths - Small skipper x 2, gatekeeper x 11, ringlet x 11, meadow brown x 3, silver y moth x 1, large white x 4, green veined white x 1, small white x 4. Flora: honeysuckle, marsh thistle, hedge woundwort, bird’s-foot trefoil, ragwort, stitchwort, white clover Birds: great spotted woodpecker, siskin, buzzard, chiffchaff. Dragonflies and damselflies: blue tailed and common blue damselfly, southern hawker Other: dark bush cricket, muntjac, common toadlets, common froglets. Fir Hill Quarry – Flora: enchanter’s nightshade, marjoram, knapweed, perforate St John’s-wort, cleavers. Legbourne Wood – Flora: variegated archangel, herb robert, enchanter’s nightshade, white clover, red clover, meadow sweet, self heal, red bartsia, creeping buttercup, honeysuckle, betony, bird’s-foot trefoil, tormentil, broad leaved willow herb, great willow herb, creeping cinquefoil, hemp agrimony, garden montbretia, meadow vetchling, tufted vetch, germander speedwell, hedge bindweed Butterflies: small white x 4, ringlet x 4, peacock x 1, green veined white x 4, gatekeeper x 2 Birds: bullfinch, buzzard, wren. 30.07.24 – Tetney Blow Wells: Buzzard, kestrel, 2 bullfinches, Cetti’s Warbler, meadow brown butterflies, water rail, agrimony, meadow sweet, knapweed all in flower. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 last summer date we so far have approved with FE for nest box checks is: Saturday 17th August As always for the summer sessions, we will meet at 9.30am, and this will be outside the wood centre in the car park, but this may need to change. 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.comFIGHTING 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. Spotlight on BGS coastal erosion data https://www.bgs.ac.uk/news/spotlight-on-bgs-coastal-erosion-data/ Rare fossils reveal secrets of mammal evolution https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0xj65nelv0o Lincolnshire Geodiversity Group: https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/discovering/geology-1 Geology of the Lincolnshire Wolds: https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/special-features/geology The Geology of Lincolnshire: downloadable LNU book UK Fossils in Lincolnshire https://ukfossils.co.uk/category/lincolnshire/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9. NOTES ABOUT THESE WILDLIFE REPORTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We do our best to ensure accuracy in our reporting. However, records are sent in by a variety of reporters; from complete beginners to professionals. They may vary in reliability and occasionally may be difficult or impossible to verify. If further information is needed please contact the editor: Bulletins are sent to Recorders at Lincolnshire Environmental Records Centre [GNLP], Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union and Lincolnshire Bird Club. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10. BULLETIN PUBLICITY POLICY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When sending in reports, e.g. unusual plants, please report any sensitive news directly to recorders. Not the Bulletin. We don't want to spoil things with unwise or untimely publicity. Thank you. Please respect the interests of wildlife and site owners if you report on national networks. Interest in wildlife is not a licence to act irresponsibly or thoughtlessly to landowners, who may well be partners in important conservation work. [Views expressed in the Bulletin do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of the LNU or associated organisations. In particular this applies to agencies, especially charities, taking a political stance.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 11. LNU EVENTS DIARY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** LNU Events *** https://lnu.org/meetings/ https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ...AND FINALLY... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ National and International stories Scottish bog gets world heritage status https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cv2gz1p2v12o UK getting more hot and more wet days - Met Office https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c147v82gxp2o Baby bat returns to Highlands after hiding in holiday suitcase https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crgkvkzl5m0o Little tern fledglings hit record numbers - Durham https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce98pl5943zo Project plots pine marten population - Northumberland https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0xjyzp3dzjo Young country diary: Sneaky seals and surprisingly small puffins https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/jul/27/young-country-diary-sneaky-seals-and-surprisingly-small-puffins Young country diary: My best garden discovery so far – a perfect snake skin https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/jul/27/young-country-diary-my-best-garden-discovery-so-far-a-perfect-snake-skin Wildlife enthusiasts called on to help record dolphins and whales on UK coast https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/jul/26/wildlife-enthusiasts-called-on-help-record-dolphins-whales-uk-coast Country diary: Watching a skylark watching me https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/jul/25/country-diary-watching-a-skylark-watching-me We’ve discovered the world’s trees absorb methane – so forests are even more important in the climate fight than we thought https://theconversation.com/weve-discovered-the-worlds-trees-absorb-methane-so-forests-are-even-more-important-in-the-climate-fight-than-we-thought-235233 Complex life on Earth may be much older than thought https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3geyvpxpeyo I’m sorry you have to hear this: some leeches jump. They coil their bodies like cobras https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/jumping-leeches-study/ *** 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/