============================================ || || 26th June 2024 || || News of Lincolnshire Wildlife || LNU: http://lnu.org/ || || Please email Editor on: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk || ============================================ In this issue... 1. Information, events, news and requests - mostly local. 2. Wildlife Highlights from Rare Bird Alert. 3. Wildlife reports around the county. Contributions welcome... 4. NNRs, RSPB and LWT Reserves : Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe. 5. Bardney Limewoods NNR: Chambers Farm Wood. 6. Other Reserve Reports - links. 7. Sending in Bulletin Reports - contributors please read! 8. Contact information - recorders and specialists... 9. Notes about these wildlife reports. 10. Bulletin publicity policy. 11. Events Diary - what's on. 12. ...and finally. Mostly national/international wildlife stories. ============================================ Reports here are open. They are available to county recorders of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union; Lincolnshire Bird Club and Lincolnshire Environmental Record Centre [LERC]. Compare earlier years/months. Past Bulletins archive [in text] from 2009: http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union or associated organisations. Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. ============================================ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. INFORMATION, EVENTS, NEWS AND REQUESTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Phil Porter writes Please note that Roger is standing in for me next week so please send your contributions to him. old.museum@yahoo.co.uk I will be back in post the following week. Editor writes: I didn’t realise that kestrels and barn owls nested in two tier birdboxes or that kestrels would think to nest on a barn floor but Bob Sheppard proves that they can and do! The sun comes out to play, but the insect world appears to decline ever downwards. Are there pockets of insect abundance anywhere? What about biting insects on our wet habitats? Please send us your stories. A late-June Waxwing at Saltfleetby – has the world gone completely mad? *** Bob Sheppard’s news *** The youngest osprey chick at Loch Arkaig died recently. There had been a lot of cold, wet weather up there and the adults struggled to feed all three chicks. Hopefully, now the weather is improving, the remaining chicks will prosper. https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam/?utm_source=%252ospreycam&utm_medium=furl Most of our peregrine chicks have started to fledge and we are hoping for lots more calm weather. A puff of wind can soon unbalance the youngsters as they flap their wings. Sometimes they fall to the ground but rarely do themselves any harm. Most of our sites are geared up with a curver box and a pair of stout gloves so the chick can be safely returned to the walkway. http://www.louthperegrines.org.uk/latest-news.html The Len Pick Trust barn owls were ringed recently. We have two males and they are nearly eight weeks old. They will soon be wandering out of the nest and into the tunnel but usually return to the nest when food arrives. https://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project/ The barn owl monitoring season is now in full flow. We visit all eleven drainage boards to check their boxes as well as our EA schemes on the main rivers and many private boxes for local farmers. It looks like a good year for occupancy but some broods are small. This past few days we have been finding a few more voles cached in the boxes so this is a very positive sign. Many boxes are dual chambered, enabling kestrels to nest in the roof space and barn owls to breed in the main box. People are often surprised these birds will breed so closely together but they seem compatible most of the time as they are active at different times. This week, for the first time ever, we found a kestrel nesting on the floor of an open barn. She had two chicks. Roger Parsons adds: BTO's tracked Cuckoos are on their breeding grounds. https://www.bto.org/cuckoos Ruth Craig writes… Are you keen to do more to help Lincolnshire’s natural environment? The Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Trust are looking for volunteers to join their Board of Trustees. The LCST aims to advance the education of the public in the recovery, conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment of the chalk streams across Greater Lincolnshire. For more information on the role of a trustee please visit their website News - Trustee Vacancies | Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Trust. Royal Entomological Society Insect Week 2024 https://www.royensoc.co.uk/event/insect-week-2024/ *** This week's mostly-local news stories: *** 'Poignant' funeral for Spitfire crash pilot https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmmmq6lvd25o Nature reserve hosts events for 40th anniversary https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cv22y9vl8x4o 'Hedgehog village' seeing decline in numbers https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cv22d13vwxwo Homes to be built on site prone to fly-tipping https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cnllvk0nw44o Nursery glasshouses shattered by 'funnel cloud' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cyxx74wy5v1o Air show to evoke spirit of wartime Bomber Command https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c511m15m9plo *** Weather News and Forecast *** https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#? Thursday 27 June Turning cooler and a little more unsettled than recently. A warm and sunny start ahead of a narrow band of cloud arriving from the west. Breezy and cooler in the afternoon, with sunny spells and the odd light shower. Maximum temperature 24 °C. Outlook for Friday 28 June to Sunday 30 June: Breezy and fairly cloudy with a few showers on Friday, some sunny spells later. Mostly likely cloudy with patchy light rain on Saturday. Sunny spells and heavy showers on Sunday. Sunday 30 June - Tuesday 9 July The period is expected to be largely dominated by a changeable weather pattern with a mixture of cloudy, breezy and wet periods interspersed with drier, more settled periods and winds often from the west or northwest. At first, a period of cloudy, humid weather is likely to be over, or clearing the south, bringing a small risk of thunderstorms before it does so. Following this, an area of rain is likely to arrive into the northwest, moving southeast, opening the door to the changeable weather pattern described above. Within this, northwestern areas are likely to see the most frequent rain or showers, whilst southern areas more generally remain drier. Temperatures likely to be a little below to around average for early Ju *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** This Week's Sky at a Glance https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/observing-news/this-weeks-sky-at-a-glance-june-21-30/ 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 *** Phil Porter writes Please note that Roger is standing in for me next week so please send your contributions to him. old.museum@yahoo.co.uk I will be back in post the following week. *** 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 *** South Lincs RSPB Group *** Jeremy Eyeons writes: The South Lincs RSPB Group has released details of their 2024 "Seal and Birdwatching" cruises aboard "The Boston Belle". There are twelve cruises organised for 2024, starting on 5th April and ending on 24th October. Full details are on our website, including ticket prices, booking arrangements, sailing times and dates etc. Booking is essential. https://group.rspb.org.uk/southlincolnshire/ *** 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. 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 18/6 Deeping St James, 6 Spoonbills on East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, Lesser Yellowlegs 1s on Marsh Farm grassland on fen, Gibraltar Point, 3 Curlew Sandpipers on beach, 19/6 Deeping St James, 6 Spoonbills, Glossy Ibis, on East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, Lesser Yellowlegs 1s on Marsh Farm grassland on fen, 6 Spotted Redshanks, 4 Spoonbills on Reedbed, 5 Spotted Redshanks. 20/6 Chapel Point, 2 Caspian gulls, both 2s. Deeping St James, 2 Glossy Ibises, 8 Spoonbills, on East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, 3 Spotted Redshanks. Willow Tree Fen, Wood Sandpiper. 21/6 Anderby Creek, 2 Wood Sandpipers at Anderby Marsh. Cowbit, 8 Spoonbills, Night Heron in stubble field by River Welland from Peak Hill. Deeping St James, 2 Glossy Ibises ad + 1s, 8 Spoonbills, on East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, Lesser Yellowlegs 1s. 4 Spoonbills on reedbed, 3 Spotted Redshanks 3 Little Gulls. Gibraltar Point, Hen Harrier ringtail 5 Spoonbills. Horbling Fen Drove/Sandygate Lane, Quail male singing. 22/6 Anderby Creek, Wood Sandpiper at Anderby Marsh. Cowbit, Little Gull 1s at north end of Cowbit Wash, Night Heron flew south along River Welland, later by bank, in stubble field viewed from Peak Hill, Garganey. Deeping St James, 2 Glossy Ibises ad + 1s, 8 Spoonbills, on East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, 5 Spoonbills Gibraltar Point, 5+ Spoonbills, 1 juv, on Tennyson's Sands. Montagu's Harrier 1s Male. over New Saltmarsh from The Wash Viewpoint. 23/6 Anderby Creek, 2 Wood Sandpipers at Anderby Marsh. Cowbit, Little Gull at north end of Cowbit Wash, Night Heron in stubble field viewed from Peak Hill. Flew to willows by green bridge. Deeping St James, 8 Spoonbills on East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, Common Rosefinch along entrance Road, possible Blyth's Reed Warbler. 24/6 Anderby Creek, 3 Wood Sandpipers at Anderby Marsh. Alkborough Flats, 2 Wood Sandpipers. Spoonbill. Cowbit, Little Gull 1s at end of Cowbit Wash. Deeping St James, 9 Spoonbills on East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, Common Rosefinch along entrance Road, Holbeach St Johns, Quail male singing between Dog Drove north and Tinsley's Drain. 25/6 Alkborough Flats, 4 Spoonbills, Spotted Redshank Cowbit, Little Gull. Deeping St James, 8 Spoonbills on East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, 5 Spoonbills, Spotted Redshank. Little Gull Gibraltar Point, 12 Spoonbills on Tennyson's Sands from hide. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 or beginners. Please keep your reports coming. Phil Porter writes Please note that Roger is standing in for me next week so please send your contributions to him. old.museum@yahoo.co.uk I will be back in post the following week. BARDNEY - THE GREEN TF120694 R + A Parsons 19/06/2024 Bat echo-locating at 55kHz, 23.30hrs in garden. 20/06/2024 Bats at 34 and 55kHz, 22/20hrs and a last frenzy of activity at 03.25hrs. 21/06.24 Hedgehog, 02.04hrs - on trail camera - exited garden via gate to car park. 21-22/06 Bats from 2050hrs to 03.50hrs - details as yesterday. 22/06/24 Bats started echo-locating 21.50hrs approx and a bat was caught on trailcam hunting, flying low over the unmown lawn at 11.04hrs. 23/6/24 Hedgehog on lawn – trail camera 01.22hrs. 24/6/24 15.45hrs 6 swifts over [as 3 pairs] BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 Mary Porter Week beginning 20th June 2024 We've had several sightings of various birds of prey this week. Sparrowhawks continue to make passes through the garden most days, not always successfully, but a pile of collared dove feathers left near the pond show they are doing OK. A kestrel is still being seen most days hovering over or near the garden, but we haven't seen it come in recently. I found a large secondary flight feather of a buzzard down the bottom of the garden at the beginning of the week. We have seen one perched on our arbour several years ago, but not since, so it probably just fell from the sky. On odd evenings we have seen a barn owl, usually between 7pm and 9pm flying low over the garden, and I was amazed to catch sight of a flash of gold out the window on a very sunny morning of 26th July, at precisely 9.18am. It was flying very low, diagonally across the garden, coming in just by the corner of our bathroom window. The sun caught its back feathers and it looked resplendent with the gold and white, like some sort of royal robes. It would have flown over the bird feeder and got good views of any rodents scavenging underneath. Phil and Mary Porter 25th June A group of Long-tailed Tits moved through the garden. A Blackcap was singing loudly, a Meadow Brown and a Large Skipper were in the ‘meadow’, and also a Cinnabar moth. 26th June A Red Admiral and an unidentified ‘white’ butterfly during a sunny morning when only the thinnest scattering of insects were to be seen in a quarter-acre garden stuffed with the greatest profusion of flowers that we have seen in 24 years on our poor dry soil. Perhaps this due to the loss of hibernating stages in soaked winter conditions above and below ground? BOSTON TF309438 Mike Skinner At least 4 hedgehogs appearing in our front garden every night after 10 pm CHAMBERS WOOD Angela Buckle. Stuart Smith 19th June Hedgerow cranesbill, Meadow cranesbill, Greater spearwort, Ragged Robin, Vipers bugloss, Common spotted orchid, Water figwort, Hedge woundwort, Wood avens, Enchanter’s nightshade, Meadow-sweet, Tormentil, Agrimony, Betony, Honeysuckle, Common valerian. Butterflies. Marsh fritillary, Speckled wood. ELSHAM QUARRY Angela Buckle. Stuart Smith 22nd June Wall lettuce, Wood Avens, Birds foot trefoil, Lesser trefoil, Crosswort, Black bryony, Rough chervil, Zig-zag clover, Mouse-eared hawkweed, Fairy flax, Eyebright, Vipers bugloss, Milkwort, Meadow cranesbill, Red bartsia, Rosebay willowherb, Fox and cubs, Comfrey, Green alkanet, Hemlock 10 foot high, Bee orchid, Water figwort, Common mallow. Butterflies. Meadow brown. Common Blue. Small white. Brimstone. FAR INGS Angela Buckle. Stuart Smith. 16th June. Greater spearmint, Common knapweed, Greater celandine, Melilot, Lesser stitchwort, Meadow vetchling, Spear thistle, Prickly lettuce, Woody nightshade, Cut leaved cranesbill, Prickly sow-thistle, Tufted vetch, Pyramid orchid, Hedge woundwort, Agrimony, Creeping cinquefoil, Black bryony, Greater knapweed, Hedge bindweed, Water figwort, Water starwort, Blue water-speedwell, Lady’s bedstraw, Great mullein, Purple toadflax, Common cudweed. GOSLINGS CORNER WOOD Angela Buckle. Stuart Smith 19th June Hop, Dog rose, Rough chervil, Marsh thistle, Wild garlic, Yellow pimpernel, Brooklime, Ragged Robin, Common spotted orchid, Lesser spearwort, Hedge woundwort, Common vetch. HOOP LANE, WRAGBY LWT Roadside Nature Reserve. TF151759 Phil Porter 21st June 2024 Hoop Lane (the access road for Chambers farm Wood) has a range of interesting plants to be found. I walked the verge and unsurprisingly in this wet year found it with lush growth which hampers the discovery of some of the smaller flora. Meadowsweet is the dominant forb in many areas where the verge is narrow and therefore near the ditch. Here and there, the stands were heavily infected from top to bottom with powdery white mildew which may be Sphaerotheca spiraeae. The soil fertility is somewhat enhanced but really coarse species like Hogweed are not too prevalent. A large White Willow tree is a feature of the southern side. At the other end of the scale, traffic ruts next to the tarmac contain abundant Toad Rush, a very small species. Field Roses were in splendid flower. As with many of the roadside nature reserve areas, there are particular sections in which the vegetation is less dense and there the particularly interesting species can be found. In this case Yellow Rattle, Agrimony, Great Burnet, Common Spotted Orchid, Crosswort, Lesser Stitchwort, the seedheads of Water Avens, which flowered beautifully in May, and Lady’s Bedstraw. This verge has a particularly good range of grass species; Apart from the very common species, I found Sweet Vernal Grass, False Brome, Meadow Foxtail, Crested Dogs-tail and Reed Canary-grass plus the most beautiful of them, Tufted Hair-grass with glistening silver-green flower-heads freshly emerged a drooping spray. There are others which include the taller fescues, which were present at the last survey in 2020 which I haven’t identified yet. Insects were extremely few but I did notice the Pied Hoverfly Volucella pellucens and the Thick-thighed Beetle Oedemera nobilis, plus a few Large Skipper, Meadow Brown and Ringlet. NETTLETON LODGE GAME FARM Ben Jacob 1 plant of Euphorbia lathyris (caper spurge) identified over the weekend. First time I’ve seen this plant at NLGF SOUTHREY WOOD R + A Parsons 22/06/2024 10.00hrs approx. White Admirals in numbers on bramble blossom - 25+ seen, plus ringlets. Buzzard calling. STICKNEY TF311568 Gail Cartwright 20/06/2014 Bats 12.00 am. 45K also 15K every night this week in my garden. Also last week 1 yellow butterfly, which was a sight for sore eyes as I've hardly seen any butterflies yet this year Young hare ran across the front garden, a regular sight Jackdaws Rooks - fledged Blackbirds Starlings- fledged Magpies - fledged Bluetits - fledged Great tits - fledged WILLINGHAM WOODS Angela Buckle. Stuart Smith. 18th June Nipplewort, Marsh thistle Goatsbeard, Water figwort, Selfheal, Green alkanet.. WOOLSTHORPE BY COLSTERWORTH SK92/24 Jane Ostler June 24th 2024 A visit to the Meadow on the Nature Trail. The first of the warm, sunny days this summer meant that there was plenty to see. Of the 40+ plants in flower (not including the grasses) the real surprise was, for the first time a single Common Broomrape. The Clustered Bellflower and the Viper's Bugloss may have come in via a wildflower seed packet but the Broomrape is unlike.ly to have come in this way. The planned sowing of Yellow Rattle has proved very successful and it is well established. Some small specimens of Southern Marsh Orchid were discovered in a newly cleared area on top of a bank. Butterflies are returning in better numbers including Ringlets (dark and newly emerged) and Meadow Browns. The first Marbled Whites were a week earlier than last year. Both a buzzard and a Red Kite were circling above the Nature Trail. Both breed in the vicinity and must benefit from the road kills which have increased parallel to the heavier road traffic and the evidence of good vole populations in the lush grass this year. Members of the working party were discussing sightings of bats emerging and sweeping over gardens, late this year and the success of hedgehogs in gardens. One garden with # six regularly feeding. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 19th – 25th June 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 190624 - Butterflies - 2 speckled wood Brickyard Lane. 200624 – Butterflies – ringlet Brickyard Lane, small skipper Rimac. 15 marsh helleborine on Rimac outer dune ridge. 210624 - adult Mediterranean gull, 20 common gull and sandwich tern roosting on the beach at Crook Bank. 300+ swift flew south in an hour early morning. 2 cuckoo in the dunes at Crook Bank. On wet grassland south of Crook Bank 150 starling, 32 lapwing, 2 curlew and 5 little ringed plover (4 juveniles). Green sandpiper at Elm House Farm. Butterflies - 58 individuals of 6 species around Rimac. Several hundreds of darter dragonflies in Rimac dunes. 220624 - 3 turtle dove flew over the dunes at Brickyard Lane. 240624 - great white egret, curlew, 4 green sandpiper and 1 barn owl Sea View Washlands. Short-eared owl and reeling grasshopper warbler Rimac. 3 avocet Rimac lagoon. 250624 - a very unseasonal waxwing was calling in trees next to Rimac car park before flying North-west. Grasshopper warbler reeling at Rimac. 14 curlew, oystercatcher, 4 redshank, 2 avocet Rimac Lagoon. 4 grey heron and 8 little egret Sea View Washlands. 14 shelduck, 12 oystercatcher, 7 curlew, 4 ringed plover at Haven mouth and 40 common scoter flew north. Green sandpiper and snipe at Elm House Farm, where 30 curlew flew low west. 5747 pyramidal orchid Churchill Lane south enclosure; almost double previous high count. Butterflies - 110 individuals of 6 species around Rimac, with meadow brown by far the most abundant. Dragonflies – Black-tailed skimmer, Four-spotted chaser, Broad-bodied chaser, Emperor, Common darter, Ruddy darter, Willow emerald, Azure damselfly, Blue-tailed damselfly. Other Reserves Swinn Wood 250624 48 Ringlet, 35 Meadow brown, 3 White admiral, 3 Small skipper, 2 Large skipper, c50 Azure blue damselfly, 5 Large red damselfly, 3 Blue tailed damselfly, 3 Common darter. 30 Common spotted orchids on roadside verge. Red Hill – 220624 3 Marbled white. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 dates: 2nd July, 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 lincsdormousegroup@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 as early as possible, to: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: pnichol20@gmail.com Lincolnshire Dormouse Group: Contact: lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com FIGHTING WILDLIFE CRIME Wildlife Crime https://www.lincs.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/wc/wildlife-crime/ SPECIES IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. LNU Recorders and Specialists: https://lnu.org/specialists/ Downloads of LNU books: https://lnu.org/publications/books/ Recording with "iRecord": https://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/ iRecord is recommended by the LNU as an appropriate platform for on-line recording. Local Bat Helpline Grounded bats, bat problems, advice and information. Contact Annette Faulkner on 01775 766286 Email: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com Confidential Bat Records You may send confidential bat records direct to Annette Faulkner on: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com Slug ID Help Chris du Feu will help with slug identification. Tel: 01383 669 124 Email: chris.r.dufeu@gmail.com When asking for help: Please give the very best information you can provide. If you are not sure, ask what is needed from you to confirm identification. Photographs are helpful but not every species can be identified from a photograph. When asked for further details, get back to them promptly. Don't forget a thank you for the help. That is always welcomed. USEFUL WILDLIFE LINKS Please copy and paste URLs if necessary. Lincolnshire Badger Group https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093647842292 Email: lincolnshirebadgergroup@hotmail.com Lincs Environmental Records Centre: http://www.glnp.org.uk/ Natural England: http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ NHBS Natural history equipment or books. https://www.nhbs.com/ The Flora of Lincolnshire by Joan Gibbons: downloadable LNU book Atlas of the terrestrial and semi-aquatic Mammals of Lincolnshire: *** For the Geologists *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. 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: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk Bulletins are sent to Recorders at Lincolnshire Environmental Records Centre [GNLP], Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union and Lincolnshire Bird Club. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10. BULLETIN PUBLICITY POLICY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When sending in reports, e.g. unusual plants, please report any sensitive news directly to recorders. Not the Bulletin. We don't want to spoil things with unwise or untimely publicity. Thank you. Please respect the interests of wildlife and site owners if you report on national networks. Interest in wildlife is not a licence to act irresponsibly or thoughtlessly to landowners, who may well be partners in important conservation work. [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 or international stories *** Royal Mail launches Red Arrows anniversary stamps https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1001692e77o Rolex 'eaten by cow' reappears after 50 years - Shropshire https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8772m160gyo Landmark ruling could threaten future UK oil drilling https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cxwwzmn12g9o Fewer swallows grace summer skies in Britain amid changing climate https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/jun/20/fewer-swallows-britain-summer-skies-climate-change Fossil fuel use reaches global record despite clean energy growth https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/jun/20/fossil-fuel-use-reaches-global-record-despite-clean-energy-growth Iberian lynx no longer endangered after numbers improve in Spain and Portugal https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/jun/20/iberian-lynx-vulnerable-not-endangered-after-numbers-improve-in-spain-and-portugal-aoe The Environmental Farmers Group aims to restore the UK’s precious chalk streams https://www.environmentalfarmersgroup.co.uk/the-efg-aims-to-restore-the-uks-precious-chalk-streams/ BBC Landward reports on ‘wader-friendly farming’ at Auchnerran https://www.gwct.org.uk/blogs/auchnerran-blog/2024/june/bbc-landward-reports-on-wader-friendly-farming-at-auchnerran/ Honeybees can smell lung cancer on your breath https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/honeybees-can-smell-lung-cancer-on-your-breath *** Mail Fails *** 3 "Soft Bounces" this week. John Clark - Connection refused. Hazel Allen - Out of storage space Phil Haith - Undelivered. ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/