============================================ || || 22nd May 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Editor writes: There is a very good butterfly summary from Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe in this issue, and also the results of a moth survey there. We could do with some more moth lists where possible. The continued wet weather at the moment will be maintaining soil moisture so wild and garden flowers should be able to sustain good insect populations. Botanical lists are also something of a feature this week. There is an LNU meeting at Grimsthorpe this month to which members and readers are most warmly invited. Details here: ***Lincolnshire Naturalists Union Field Meeting *** Grimsthorpe Park, Saturday 25th May 2024. West of Bourne. Access courtesy of Grimsthorpe Estate, 11.00 for 12.00 start and finish about 16.00. Car parking nearby off Scottlethorpe Road. Parking arrangements to be confirmed. Grid reference: TF 04638 20565 What3Words: rebounder.publisher.firmly nearest postcode: PE10 0LW. Habitats: Calcareous grassland, scrub. Leaders: Luke Hartley 07399 322211 hartley026@gmail.com and Sarah Lambert 07784169260 sarah.lambert7@ntlworld.com https://what3words.com/rebounder.publisher.firmly Note Charlie Barnes' June field visits of the Coleopterists Society of Britain and Ireland to Whisby and the coast. These sound very interesting days. No fee but you need to sign up! More here: *** Coleopterists Society of Britain and Ireland *** Charlie Barnes writes: In case anyone is interested, I'll be leading two visits to Lincolnshire on behalf of ColSoc - the Coleopterists Society of Britain and Ireland - one at Whisby and another to the coast on the 1st and 2nd June, respectively. You have to be a supporter for insurance purposes but there is currently no fee so you just have to sign up - details below. All abilities/interests welcome! To become a supporter please go to www.colsoc.org/get-involved and sign up. To express an interest in attending a field meeting please send an email to colsocinfo+fieldmeetings@gmail.com. *** Bob Sheppard’s news *** Although the Loch of Lowes osprey nest has failed because the male was found dead, there has been lots of action with two potential new male suitors involved, The story can be read on their facebook page https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/2024/05/skydancing-nestorations-and-fish-positive-news-from-the-nest/ The peregrine chicks at St James' Church, Louth are growing fast and will be ringed in just over a week. Yesterday they received thirteen visits from the adults with food. http://www.louthperegrines.org.uk/latest-news.html The barn owl chicks at the Len Pick Trust nest look really well, The good weather means the male has been catching plenty of food. The camera is still playing up on occasions. https://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project/ Roger Parsons adds: Boston Belle Wash Cruises We enjoyed a brilliant cruise on the Boston Belle on Friday 17th with 60 bird species recorded and some 100 seals seen basking. The crew and RSPB team made sure everyone had a good time and saw as much as possible. There's a species list for the day on the South Lincs RSPB page, plus details of future cruises. If you have not done the trip yet, we strongly recommend it! https://group.rspb.org.uk/southlincolnshire/news-blogs/blog/60-bird-species-seen-on-17-5-2024-cruise/ Roger Parsons adds: BTO's tracked Cuckoos are on their way northwards. https://www.bto.org/cuckoos *** Charlotte Parker writes on Coronaviruses in wildlife. *** Charlotte Parker writes on Coronaviruses in wildlife. I am a PhD student at the University of Nottingham, working on a follow-on project from the SARS-CoV-2 in UK wildlife study that was conducted during the pandemic. My project aims to look at detecting other coronaviruses, aside from SARS-CoV-2, in species of UK Mustelids and foxes: Badgers, Pine Marten, American Mink, Otters, Weasels, Polecats (ferrets), Stoats and red foxes. I am looking for samples from these species to screen for coronaviruses, with the aim of detecting and characterising any novel viruses we find. The types of samples we are after range from non-invasive faecal samples, oronasal/rectal swabs, and tissue samples from cadavers. If you can, and are interested in contributing to this study contact: charlotte.parker@nottingham.ac.uk *** This week's mostly-local news stories: *** Fiskerton Road to be closed in £450,000 resurfacing project https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cerrygyz9jdo UK ports 'choked' by shipping fumes, study claims https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c19dk8rgmg0o Grimsthorpe Castle features in new Bridgerton series https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4n1n36denlo Plantwatch: Britain’s volunteer naturalists provide vital knowledge https://www.theguardian.com/science/article/2024/may/15/plantwatch-britains-volunteer-naturalists-provide-vital-knowledge Paddleboarders accused of scaring rare birds https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0w0wzd22p9o South Kesteven council leader trashes recyclables in one bin plan https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-69013804 Pylons plan has 'stolen my happiness' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0jkjnv8k90o Puffin festival promises 'one of best spectacles' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd1d1904vqeo Wildlife fans 'sleep in cars' to glimpse rare bird https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm5597erlx9o Can bees and earth worms really drown in wet soils? The answer might surprise you https://www.gardensillustrated.com/features/insects-drowning-wet-soil *** Weather News and Forecast *** https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#? East Midlands weather forecast Wednesday 22 May – Tuesday 4th June Thursday sees further cloud and outbreaks of rain to start easing from the southeast with the chance of some afternoon bright spells. Winds remaining breezy and easing into the evening. Maximum temperature 15 °C. Becoming drier and brighter by Friday. Feeling warmer at the weekend with sunshine and the odd thundery shower. Light winds. On Sunday, the weather is likely to be a mix of showers and warm sunshine. A band of rain may move in from the west later, but this will become weak as it pushes east across the UK. By Bank Holiday Monday, there may still be some showers around, otherwise it will be dry and fine, and feeling warm in the sunshine. Into the following week, once any showers have cleared, more settled conditions are more likely for most, with the best of the weather likely in the southwest. Rain may threaten northwestern areas at times, and there is a chance that southern or eastern areas may see the odd heavy or thundery outbreak of showers. Temperatures are likely to remain a little above average, with some regional variation. *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** More Northern Lights soon as Sun storms strengthen https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c163j8551ygo Preventing space contamination rises up the agenda https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c90zndgq571o May Night Sky - highlights: https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/blog/astronomy/night-sky-highlights-may-2024 Full Moons 2024 https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/full-moon-calendar Meteor shower dates 2024 https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/meteor-shower-guide BBC Sky at Night Magazine website https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news *** EVENTS *** ***Lincolnshire Naturalists Union Field Meeting *** Grimsthorpe Park, Saturday 25th May 2024. West of Bourne. Access courtesy of Grimsthorpe Estate, 11.00 for 12.00 start and finish about 16.00. Car parking nearby off Scottlethorpe Road. Parking arrangements to be confirmed. Grid reference: TF 04638 20565 What3Words: rebounder.publisher.firmly nearest postcode: PE10 0LW. Habitats: Calcareous grassland, scrub. Leaders: Luke Hartley 07399 322211 hartley026@gmail.com and Sarah Lambert 07784169260 sarah.lambert7@ntlworld.com https://what3words.com/rebounder.publisher.firmly *** 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 15/4 Deeping High Bank, on Cowbit Wash, 2 Grey Plovers, Knot. 3 Wood Sandpipers, Temminck's Stint north end of Cowbit Wash,5 Sanderlings. Frampton Marsh, Little Gull ,1s., Red-breasted Goose with Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Wood Sandpipers, Spotted Redshank Lesser Yellowlegs 1s, Curlew Sandpiper., Black-winged Stilt north of raptor viewpoint. Freiston Shore, Grey Plover ad on flood. Gibraltar Point, Osprey flrw over, 3 Little Gulls at Tennyson's Sands 16/4 Anderby Creek, Temminck's Stint at Anderby Marsh, 2 Little Gulls, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 2 Spoonbills. Deeping High Bank, Crowland Wash, 2 Garganey, Grey Plover and Temminck's Stint north end of Cowbit Wash, probable Continental Black-tailed Godwit 3 Wood Sandpipers, Sanderling. Frampton Marsh, Red-breasted Goose with Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Wood Sandpipers, Spotted Redshank, Little Stint, Lesser Yellowlegs 1s, Curlew Sandpiper, Temminck's Stint on Marsh Farm Grassland south of sea bank, 2 1s Little Gulls. Gibraltar Point, Red-backed Shrike male, Golden Oriole flew south, Black-throated Diver flew north, 2 Hawfinches, 3 Little Gulls. Turtle Dove, Woodlark,4 Spoonbills. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, Red-backed Shrike at end of Sear's Track on fence. 17/4 Cowbit, 2 Sanderlings at north end, Cowbit Wash. Turnstone. Deeping St James, Glossy Ibis 1s, on East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, Black-winged Stilt on Marsh Farn grassland DW of Sea Bank car park, Garganey drk on South scrape, Red-breasted Goose with Dark-bellied Brent Geese. Gibraltar Point, Garganey drk on moat Scrape. Icterine Warbler singing just before Mill Hill, Wood Sandpiper flew over, 2 Little Gulls, Spoonbill. Grimsby, possible Purple Heron flew over Laceby Road. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, Red-backed Shrike south of Crook Bank in dunes. 18/5 Cowbit, Curlew Sandpiper, Temminck's Stint at north end. Cowbit Wash. Deeping St James, Glossy Ibis on East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, Spoonbill, Red-breasted Goose on Marsh Farm grassland with Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Wood Sandpipers, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, and Black-winged Stilt in corner in fen, 2 Littie Stints, Garganey drk, Honey Buzzard flew SW over, 7 Little Gulls. Halton Marshes, Spoonbill 1w, 2 Little Gulls. Gibraltar Point, Icterine Warbler. Male Red-backed Shrike west on Mill Hill. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, Red-backed Shrike south of Crook Bank in dunes. 19/5 Alkborough Flats, Tundra Bean Goose, then flew over River Trent. Baston-Langtoft Pits, Honey Buzzard over. Cowbit, Little Stint at north end pf Cowbit Wash, drk Garganey. Deeping St James, Glossy Ibis on East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, Black-winged Stilt on North Scrape, 8 Little Gulls from Reedbed Hide, Red Breasted Goose on Marsh Farm grassland with Dark- bellied Brent Geese, 2 Wood Sandpipers. Gibraltar Point, Turtle Dove, ringtail Hen Harrier, 4 Little Gulls. Walesby Moor, Turtle Dove male singing. 20/5 Alkborough Flats,Tundra Bean Goose. Anderby Creek, Wood Sandpiper at Anderby Marsh. Cowbit, Sanderling at north end of Cowbit Wash, drk Garganey. 2 Arctic Terns. Frampton Marsh, 2 Wood Sandpipers, 3 Little Gulls all 1s on Reedbed, Black-, winged Stilt on corner of Marsh Farm grassland on fen. Red Breasted Goose on Marsh Farm grassland with Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 12+ Little Gulls. Gibraltar Point, 5 Spoonbills, 2 Little Gulls, Black-throated Diver flew past, Velvet Scoter. 21/5 Chapel Six Marshes, Red-backed Shrike male just north of car park. Frampton Marsh, Red Breasted Goose on Marsh Farm grassland with Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Wood Sandpiper. Gibraltar Point, 5 Spoonbills, 3 Little Gulls. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. A180 WESTBOUND PRIOR TO STALLINGBOROUGH INTERCHANGE. TF 205 125 Peter Crick 18:05:2024 2 Roe Deer Looks like Mother with fawn were crossing main carriageways. Mother laid on hard shoulder, fawn extremely badly mashed on far carriageway. Very, very sad sight. *** 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. BARDNEY - THE GREEN TF120694 R + A Parsons 55kHz bat [Sop Pip?] heard nightly 21.00 - 02.30..hrs. 1-2 individuals, briefly and intermittent. Regular hedgehog on trail-camera. 18/5/2024 Cuckoo and 2 Swifts over garden at 12 noon. BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 Phil and Mary Porter 19th May 2024 Two revelations today; a woodpigeon enjoyed eating the seeds of Brunnera which is just a perennial Forget-me-not, with almost identical flowers but very large coarse leaves. The bird picked up fallen seeds from the path and also pulled them from the overhanging sprays, then later in the day, a brassica bug Eurydema oleracea in its ‘white-spotted form’ appeared on a Lamb’s-ears plant Stachys byzantina. I read on the British Bugs website that one of its larval foodplants is Garlic Mustard which we allow to grow all over the place in the garden, and use the young leaves in cheese sandwiches! It is also good for Orange-tip butterflies of course and we did see a great many today but they were all around the flowers of Dame’s Violet, another of their favourites. Blue damselflies are starting to emerge, at least some of them from our tiny pond which has also started to produce its annual crop of Small Chinamark moths Rose leaf-roller Sawfly Blennocampa phyllocolpa has been very busy in the garden, making a bit of a mess of some of our bushes, which have a rough time to start with on our thin soil. 20th May 2024 saw our first Cinnabar Moth and Hornet of the year. Also a Red Admiral which have been very scarce after the abundance of last year. 2 Swifts over the garden. 21st May, as a postscript to the Brunnera story above, I saw a rat dextrously stripping the seeds off the stalks and eating them. Later in the year, the goldfinches will eat the closely related Forget-me-not seeds, but I don’t think we have noticed them using Brunnera. The occasional Silver Y moth has appeared. BOSTON My garden TF338441 Tracey Lenton 17/05/2024 Spotted a damselfly in the front garden. 19/05/2024 First Red Admiral of the year 21/05/2024 First Dragonfly sighting. Looks like a Migrant hawker female, pale colouring likely immature. DONNA NOOK Stuart Britton writes… We have just received some remarkable information from the BTO which may be suitable for the next bulletin:-"On October 28th last year, Martin Sizer caught a first year female Goldcrest at Donna Nook bearing an Estonian ring. It transpires it was ringed 3 weeks earlier at Kabli kula, Estonia. It had travelled 1599 kilometres WSW and weighed 5.1g when re-trapped. When you consider it is the same weight as a 20p piece the journey is quite remarkable." FAR INGS Angela Buckle 19th May , Field rose, White bryony, Southern marsh orchid, Hedge mustard, Wild mignonette, Black medic, Pepperwort, Sea beet, Pellitory of the wall, Water starwort. GRASBY WOODS Angela Buckle. 18th May. Hogweed, Herb Bennett, Sorrel, Crosswort, Bugle, Pignut, Thyme-leaved speedwell, Garlic mustard, Three-nerved sandwort, Star of Bethlehem HORKSTOW SE987179 Jenny Haynes 15 May 2024 Five brown hares were seen running around the field opposite my house this morning. Never seen anything like it! Also a coal tit was on the feeders and a great spotted woodpecker was on a telegraph post. Quite a morning! NETTLETON Angela Buckle. . 15th May. Meadow buttercup, Red campion, Creeping buttercup, Common vetch, Ribwort plantain, Common mouse-ear, Cowslip, Ox-eye daisy, Field horsetail, Dwarf mallow, Ground-ivy, Comfrey, Beaked hawksbeard, Storksbill, Lesser trefoil, Brooklime, White campion, Smooth sow-thistle, Changing forget-me-not, Doves-foot cranesbill, Mouse-eared hawkweed, Garlic mustard, Ragged Robin, Hairy tare, Herb Bennet, Crosswort. Butterflies. Brimstone, Orange-tip. Birds. Skylark, Kestrel. SOUTHREY WOOD TF129683 Phil and Mary Porter 19th May 2024 A rather dark ride running north from the disused shooting seat had Hairy Woodrush and Remote Sedge which I don’t remember seeing there before. STICKNEY TF32256 Gail Cartwright Bats are back at last, intermittently, over the last week or so, 11th May 2024 to 18th May 2024, there are bats flying around our yard, not that many but they are there at 45kHz around midnight and sometimes at 15kHz. I've been ill so haven't checked every night. No bats at Medlam bridge yet but I suspect they are there somewhere we just haven't checked at the right time. WATER RAIL WAY, SOUTHREY TF145660 Phil and Mary Porter 20th May 2024 An unusual sighting was a male Banded Demoiselle along the Witham. We have never seen one before here. A female Cuckoo ‘bubbled’ as she flew past and I photographed a female Large Red Damselfly which was approachable during a cloudy period. The dominant grasses alongside the path on the ‘landward side’ were Barren Brome and Soft Brome, with the occasional clump of Meadow Foxtail, while the ‘outer levee’ on the river side had very much coarser vegetation with a great deal of Hemlock, Burdock and Teasel. The former shunting yard at Southrey station is different again with very fine grasses including Squirrel-tail Fescue just starting to flower. We heard Whitethroat (c.6), Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Sedge Warbler in the hedgerows. The engine drain was in better condition than it has been (not saying much!) and we could just about see that there was some submerged vegetation growing from the bed but the surface still looked scummy. There was plenty of Broad-leafed Pondweed on the surface, and a little Celery-leafed Buttercup in the margins. WOOLSTHORPE BY COLSTERWORTH Jane Ostler May 1st to May 20th 2024 On 6th May Swifts were back, flying low above our garden on the same first date as last year. They had returned to their nesting sites near the Newton Manor House. They enjoyed a few days of sunny weather before strong winds and rain. By 20th May they were seen regularly on one occasion amidst thundery clouds. Two reports of House Martins back at nests under eaves the earliest on May 1st. They are seen in the sky above my garden and have come back to two houses on the Woolsthorpe Road. A lone male Swallow, seen in April was eventually followed by a group of about 6 Swallows. They had returned to an area near the Nature Trail where until two years ago they had nested in a stable with a door left open for them. New tenants meant door closed, dung heap gone, no muddy puddles replenished for nest building. Attempts since to find nearby sites have not been successful. Other regular events recorded this month are hedges cobwebbed by the caterpillars of the Brown-tailed Moth and Mint Moth emerging in numbers from a long-established bed of mint in my garden. Numbers of the ant Lasius niger emerging from their nests prompted me to look for extra floral nectaries (EFN) on some plants that I made a study of several years ago. EFNs are not designed to attract pollinators but ants, which provide the plant protection from grazing insects. I grow Garlic Mustard in the garden, in the hope that Orange Tip Butterflies, in the face of the loss of Cuckoo Flower will choose to lay their eggs on them. I was delighted to discover evidence of EFNs on them, in the vicinity of the ant Lasius niger. I shall look later to see if any are associated with seed pods where they provide protection for the developing Orange Tip eggs. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 15th – 21st May 2024 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Matt Blissett, Ruth Taylor, Owen Beau-mont, Cliff Morrison and Dean Nicholson. Thank you to all other contributors. Daily News and Wildlife Sightings 150524 - Male and female cuckoo flying over Sea View dunes, female calling. Treble lines moth, blue-tailed dragonfly, common carpet moth. Marsh harrier over Sea View. Churchill Lane: Shaggy ink caps, emperor dragonfly nymph, sparrowhawk flew over. 160524 – Male red-backed shrike on outer fencing at Sear’s Track. Bittern booming in Rimac reed-bed. Male and female cuckoo in the Crook Bank dunes. Hobby hawking over the dunes south of Crook Bank. Common sandpiper and 3 house martins over Sea View Washlands. Short-eared owl, greenshank, 2 little ringed plover, 3 ringed plover, white wagtail and yellow wagtail on wet grassland south of Crook Bank. Small copper butterfly at Churchill Lane. 12 tufted duck, 1 gadwall, 1 shoveler and 2 little egrets on Paradise lagoon. 170524 – Male red-backed shrike relocated in the dunes south of Crook Bank, tree pipit on coastal side of sea buckthorn in the area. Bittern still booming in Rimac reedbed mid-morning and evening. Short-eared owl and grasshopper warbler Churchill Lane. Another grasshopper warbler south of Sea View. Hobby hawking over Rimac late afternoon. 4 small heath and 30+ wall brown between Sea View to Churchill Lane. Hobby hawking over sand dunes North of Rimac, barn owl hunting near Sea View. 180524 – Male red-backed shrike still in the dunes south of Crook Bank. Yellow wagtail on Sea View Washlands plus two well developing broods of lapwing chicks. On the saltmarsh: 20 Canada geese and 29 greylags. Paradise lagoon: 2 avocets, 5 mute swan, 2 shelduck, 1 tufted duck, 6 mallard, 2 coot and a redshank. 190524 – Butterflies – 6 brown argus, 5 common blue, small copper at Sea View and Rimac. 3x wall brown at Sea View and pale tussock moth. 200524 – 3 cuckoo, Cetti’s warbler and marsh harrier at Crook Bank. 3 little ringed plover and a coot on wet grassland south of Crook Bank. Wood sandpiper, ruff, 4 redshank, 16 lapwing on Elm House Farm, including the first of this year’s chicks taking to flight. Butterflies - 3 wall brown Elm House Farm; 2 brown argus and 3 small heath Mablethorpe North End. Rimac to Churchill Lane: 2 green hairstreaks, common blue, small heath, brown argus plus abundant wall brown. Rimac: Male and female broad-bodied chasers, hairy dragonflies, male and female azure damsel-flies. Small copper at Sea View. Churchill Lane: brown argus, small heath, green hairstreak, wall brown and peacock butterflies. Rimac moth survey - small elephant hawkmoth, fox moth, white colon, treble lines, common swift, shears, square spot rustic, flame shoulder, grass rivulet, setaceous Hebrew character, poplar hawkmoth. Bittern booming from freshwater marsh. 210524 – First summer little gull with black-headed gulls on Sea View Washlands, plus a common sandpiper. Hobby flew north over Sea View, then flew back south. Butterflies – 2 wall brown and 3 speckled wood Crook Bank; small heath Rimac. Sea View Washlands: single common sandpiper, little gull with 16 black-headed gulls. Thrift in flower on the saltmarsh. Dragonflies – hairy, four-spotted chaser, broad-bodied chaser. Damselflies – azure and common blue, blue-tailed, large red. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: 4th June, 18th June, 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: Saturday 15th June 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 Mary Anning film to premiere at Lyme Regis Fossil Festival https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-69009128 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 *** Grimsthorpe Park, Saturday 25th May 2024. West of Bourne. Access courtesy of Grimsthorpe Estate 11.00 for 12.00 start and finish about 16.00. Car parking nearby off Scottlethorpe Road. Parking arrangements to be confirmed. Grid reference: TF 04638 20565 What3Words: rebounder.publisher.firmly nearest postcode: PE10 0LW. Habitats: Calcareous grassland, scrub. Leaders: Luke Hartley 07399 322211 hartley026@gmail.com and Sarah Lambert 07784169260 sarah.lambert7@ntlworld.com https://what3words.com/rebounder.publisher.firmly ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ...AND FINALLY... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** National or international stories *** Celebrating No Mow May - Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust https://www.gwct.org.uk/blogs/news/2024/may/celebrating-no-mow-may/ ZSL vets help dormice get ready for release into wild https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-69026961 UK's puffin protection laws at centre of post Brexit row https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce9rrpn955qo Inside the England museums averaging fewer than one visitor a day https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-68779540 *** Mail Fails *** None ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/