============================================ || || Wildnews Bulletin 2nd Oct 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: When the six-monthly Dipterist’s Digest drops through the letterbox, there is not much that will delay its perusal, but it coincided with the necessity to get the bulletin to Alex for distribution so I decided to have just a quick look through before sending off my copy. I still had to complete the sometimes thorny issue of the Editor’s comment, but I thought there might be something in ‘DD’ that would unlock a suitable theme, and I was not disappointed. A fellow dipterist in Cambridgeshire had written a piece praising the evergreen Shrubby Hare’s-ear as an insect attractant which had lured large numbers of flies, including rare species in particular, to his garden in the past two years. This is a rare plant in the wild but it is available commercially if you search around and is one of the unconventional carrot family plants in the mould of Sea-holly and Astrantia. Up to 250 cm tall with grey-green hairless leaves and compact heads of yellow umbel flowers, it is said to be notably drought resistant and we may give it a try next year as we have very sandy soil. Phil Porter's email is: philporterento@outlook.com Roger Parsons' email is: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk BTO's tracked Cuckoos - 9 south of the Sahara - in the Sahel. https://www.bto.org/cuckoos *** This week's mostly-local news stories: *** Thousands support call against using weedkiller https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crl8j2rk13ro Ban on people feeding pigeons in town centre https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crm2kxvv8zvo Call for 'neglected' beck to become nature reserve https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c98yw16n333o Lost gannet found 70 miles from coast https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgn7ykegpzo Salmon farm judicial review 'bad news' for area https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c62r868rn3vo First walking festival good for mental health https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce3wnpq45lno Man accused of poisoning birds of prey https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgnde10yedo Lincolnshire 'being told to put up with pylons' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c70zxjpegn9o Nature's calendar: October https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/natures-calendar/natures-calendar-october? Why plastic bottles now have their caps attached https://theconversation.com/why-plastic-bottles-now-have-their-caps-attached-239886 *** 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 3rd October- Sunday 6th October Headline: Conditions improving Wednesday with good sunny spells developing. Thursday: Early showers and mist or fog clearing to leave a dry day with plenty of sunshine and light winds. Maximum temperature 16 °C. Outlook for Friday to Sunday: Fine Friday with light winds and some sunshine after early patchy mist and fog. Starting fine this weekend then becoming wet and windy. Temperatures above normal, perhaps locally rather warm. UK long range weather forecast Sunday 6th October - Tuesday 15th October A broad low-pressure system west of the UK will drift eastwards across the UK through Sunday and through the first part of next week. This will bring widely unsettled conditions, with spells of rain or showers, heavy and persistent at times, and strong southwesterly winds. England and Wales will probably see bulk of this rain, especially across higher ground. Meanwhile, across Scotland and Northern Ireland, northeasterly winds could become rather strong, and although rain and showers are still likely, it will also turn colder here. Into the second half of next week and the start of the following week, drier weather is signalled across the north, while unsettled weather will likely continue in the south, but certainly turning cooler quite widely across the UK in general. *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** Earth to briefly gain second 'moon', scientists say https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3dvxgrmk95o 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 *** Wilder Doddington – Sunday 20th October Doddington, west of Lincoln. 12.00 for 13.00 start and finish about 16.00. Car parking at the Wagon Shed, Doddington Hall. Habitat: Heathland and moorland, woodland Leader: Ray Halstead 07772 613640 ray.halstead@yahoo.co.uk Grid reference: SK 89987 69936 What3Words: juggled.excavated.onions Nearest postcode: LN6 4RU Note the email for Ray above which is corrected from last week at Ray’s request *** Boston Area Group LWT *** Gill Walsh writes… Talk - Natterjack Toads in Lincolnshire by Matt Blisset Thursday 10th October 2024 at 7.30pm Centenary Methodist Church, Red Lion Street, Boston, PE21 6NY Free admission but there will be a retiring collection. Refreshments will be served in the interval. Non-members are welcome. Grimsby and Cleethorpes Area Group LWT Carolyn Davis writes… On Monday 7th October 2024 the Grimsby and Cleethorpes Area Group LWT hold their first indoor meeting of the season when the Trust President Geoff Trinder will give an illustrated talk – "My involvement with the Trust and my travels worldwide" This will take place in Grimsby Town Hall DN31 1HU and starts at 7.30 pm. Admission £4, all are welcome. Raffle, refreshments and Trust Christmas cards and calendars will be available. *** Scunthorpe and Brigg Local Group of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust *** Our next meeting is on Thursday, 10th October when Isobel Wright will give her illustrated talk on "The Wilder Doddington Project" which she manages. ALL ARE WELCOME TO OUR MEETINGS. We meet at 7.30pm in the St Hugh's Church Hall, Ashby Road, Scunthorpe, DN16 2AG, which is at Brumby cross roads opposite the Applegreen filling station. There is a free car park at the church or on the nearby roadside. There is a £2.50 entry charge which includes coffee or tea plus biscuit at the mid-talk break. *** The Natural History and Geology Section of the Scunthorpe Museum Society *** Our next meeting is on Monday, 14th October and will start with our AGM to be followed by an illustrated talk on "Discovering Sakha – Birding in the Siberian Wilderness" given by Peter Short, RSPB's Blacktoft Sands nature reserve manager. Peter will give as a talk on the birds of this rarely visited but huge area covering much of central and northern Asia. We start at 7.15pm in the Small Hall, Room 1, of the Old Brumby United Church, Ashby Road, Scunthorpe, DN16 2AQ, which is immediately next to the Applegreen filling station near Brumby crossroads. ALL ARE WELCOME TO OUR MEETINGS. There is free car parking at the Church, on the nearby roadside, and at the St Hugh's Church opposite. There is a £3 entry charge for non-members of the Scunthorpe Museum Society. Light refreshments are available for a £1 charge at the mid-talk break. *** 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/ *** The South Lincs RSPB Group *** FREE EARLY MORNING GUIDED WALK AT WESTGATE WOODS, BOSTON PE21 7JE Saturday 16/11/2024 at 8-30am. Booking essential. Optional breakfast at 7-30am Full details at https://group.rspb.org.uk/southlincolnshire/ *** The South Lincs RSPB Group *** "WILDLIFE WATCHING ON SOUTH AFRICA's WESTERN CAPE". A Talk by well-known Naturalist Garry Steele. At The Old Kings Head, Kirton PE20 1EG, Thursday 24/10/2024 at 7-30pm £2 {non RSPB members £3} Further details at 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 24/9 Barton-upon-Humber, Yellow-browed Warbler. Baston Langtoft Pits, 2 juv Black Terns over T-junction Pit. viewed from hardstanding on Cross Road. Covenham Reservoir, Black Tern, drk Scaup. Donna Nook, Yellow-browed Warbler just north of Stonebridge Car Park. Red-breasted Flycatcher south of Pye's Hall., Eastern Stonechat by track between Stonebridge car park and Pye's Hall. Frampton Marsh, 2 Little Stints, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 4 Spotted Redshanks, 5 Spoonbills Gibraltar Point, Yellow-browed Warbler trapped and ringed in West Dunes, Ring Ouzel at Army Swathe, Yellow-browed Warbler along track at Sykes Farm. 25/9 Donna Nook, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Eastern Stonechat 1w by track between. Stonebridge car park and Pye's Hall. Frampton Marsh, 2 Red-necked Phalaropes from top car park, 2 Spoonbills over, Spotted Redshank, Gibraltar Point, Little Stint on Tennyson's Sands, 2 Black-throated Divers offshore, Hen Harrier male, Pomarine Skua flew past, Black Redstart at Sykes Farm, Spotted Redshank Tennyson's Sands, 2 Yellow-browed Warblers. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, Pied Flycatcher along Crook Bank cycle path. 26/9 Donna Nook, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Yellow-browed Warbler, Eastern Stonechat 1w by track between.Stonebridge car park and Pye's Hall. Gibraltar Point, 5 Yellow-browed Warblers, 1 Aylmer Avenue, 1 East Dunes, 1 West Dunes 2 Sykes Farm, Siberian Lesser Whitethroat, Little Stint Tennyson's Sands. 27/9 Baston Langtoft Pits, Arctic Tern juv briefly. Donna Nook, Yellow-browed Warbler, Eastern Stonechat 1w by track between. Stonebridge car park and Pye's Hall, Hen Harrier ringtail. East Halton Marshes, Garganey juv at Winter's Pond. Hen Harrier ad male, flew north over Humber. . Gibraltar Point, 3 Long-tailed Skuas flew south past, Pomarine Skua. Spotted Redshank on Fenland Lagoon. Huttoft Bank, Long-tailed Skua flew past, 2 Pomarine skuas. Sutton on Sea, 6 Pomarine Skuas flew south past, 5 Sooty Shearwaters flew north. 28/9 Donna Nook, Red-breasted Flycatcher south of Pye's Hall. Eastern Stonechat 1w by track between. Stonebridge car park and Pye's Hall, Far Ings, Red-breasted Merganser fem on Ness Pit. Frampton Marsh, Spotted Redshank. Gibraltar Point, Barred Warbler at East Dunes. 2 Yellow-browed Warblers one in Orchard, one by Yacht Club, Blyth's Reed Warbler along sleeper track in East Dunes, Firecrest, Russian White-throated Goose on Tennyson's Sands then landed west of lagoons on marsh, RAF Wainfleet, 2 Yellow-browed Warblers in small copse. Huttoft Bank, Siberian Lesser Whitethroat by Huttoft Bank Cafe. Mablethorpe, Yellow-browed Warbler in garden of White Heather Guest House. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, Yellow-browed Warbler in sycamores. Sandilands Pit, Richard's Pipit flew in off sea, 3 Spoonbills flew in off sea Yellow-browed Warbler by Sandi-Dunes Cafe. 29/9 Donna Nook, 2+ Yellow-browed Warblers at MOD Base. Frampton Marsh, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Spotted Redshank. Gibraltar Point, 4 Yellow-browed Warblers west side of East Dunes. Richard's Pipit flew over South Marsh Road and landed on Old Saltmarsh, 2 Hen Harriers, Russian White-fronted Goose on Croft Marsh, 2 Hen Harriers. 30/9 Alkborough Flats, 2 Ruddy Shelducks on pool, then flew to Humber. Gibraltar Point, Yellow-browed Warbler, Sykes Farm. Richard's Pipit in flight over saltmarsh near Wash Viewpoint Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, 2 Yellow-browed Warblers 1 at Sea View in trees by work base, 1 near Brickyard Lane. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 30/9/2024 16.30hrs. 2 adult Grey Squirrels interacting on roof on BBQ shed next door. Love? Hate? BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 Phil and Mary Porter 29th September Mary spotted a reminder of the season; 40 Starlings in a tight flock flying past, in a NW direction perhaps towards Fiskerton Fen area. A Red Admiral put in an appearance. A Green Woodpecker continues to call nearby. 1st October A Chiffchaff flitted around the fruit trees when the rain had stopped FAR INGS Angela Buckle 29th September. Speedwell, Yarrow, Gorse, Hedge bindweed, still in flower. Six swallows, and plenty of dragonflies. THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 19/09/24 Barn Owl x 1 22:00hrs 23/09/24 Blackbird x 1 Black-headed gull x 150+ following tractor ploughing in fields around Thurnholmes Blue tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 2 Chiffchaff x 1 Goldfinch x 4 Grey Partridge x 12 Jackdaw x 2 Kestrel x 1 Robin x 1 Tawny Owl x 1 calling 01:15hrs Tree Sparrow x 32 Wood Pigeon x 16 including one on nest in stables Wood Mouse x 1 Common Darter x 1 28/09/24 Barn Owl x 1 22:30hrs Blackbird x 4 Black-headed Gull x 38 in fields around Thurnholmes Blue tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 15 Chaffinch x 16 Common Buzzard x 1 Dunnock x 1 Goldcrest x 1 Goldfinch x 7 Greylag Goose x 15 Grey Partridge x 15 Jackdaw x 4 Kestrel x 1 Long-tailed Tit x 15 Magpie x 2 Mallard x 6 over Thurnholmes Mute swan x 1 over Thurnholmes Robin x 1 Stock Dove x 1 fledged from nest in chicken run Swallow x 2 Tawny Owl x 3 calling 01:15hrs Tree Sparrow x 39 Wood Pigeon x 13 including one on nest in stables Wren x 1 Large White x 1 Speckled Wood x 1 WATER RAIL WAY, SOUTHREY TF141662 Phil and Mary Porter 28th September Birds very quiet, apart from a good party of Long-tailed Tits that Mary located in the crown of a large Crack Willow, two Pied Wagtails on the roof of the pumping station, a party of Goldfinches, six Mute Swans flying upstream, many Robin songs, and a group of agitated Blackbirds chuckling unseen in a scrub belt. I wondered if they might be newly arrived migrants wondering how they would be received by the locals, no anthropomorphising or politics intended! Butterflies; about 8 ‘whites’ including some Large Whites, a Red Admiral, a Small Tortoiseshell and a Comma. Dragonflies; a Migrant Hawker and a Willow Emerald Damselfly. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 25th September – 1st October 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 250924 – Pied flycatcher, 3 spotted flycatcher, 9 chiffchaff, willow warbler, 2 lesser whitethroat, 3 blackcap, yellow wagtail and 2 snipe in trees/meadows around Crook Bank. Kingfisher Mablethorpe North End. 20 ivy bees Churchill Lane. Butterflies – 4 red admiral, 3 speckled wood, 2 small white Churchill Lane; wall and small copper Saltfleet Haven area; wall Rimac. 260924 - Flock of 35 chaffinch in dune scrub at Churchill Lane, 68 swallow hawking over saltmarsh. 270924 – Going north over the sea in the morning were 5 sooty and 9 Manx shearwater, guillemot, 31 teal and 8 wigeon; and south went 4 arctic skua, 8 great skua. Common sandpiper on beach at Mablethorpe then flew north. 280924 – Yellow-browed warbler in sycamores near Rimac car park. 7 whooper swan landed on Rimac saltmarsh lagoon then flew inland. Great white egret and 2 pintail Rimac scrape. 4 chiffchaff between Churchill Lane and Brickyard Lane. 76 curlew feeding in stubble field near Churchill Lane. Butterflies – 4 speckled wood, 2 small white, 3 red admiral, small tortoiseshell, 2 comma Churchill Lane. 290924 – 6 cattle egret with cows on Eau bank north of Sea View. 1300 pink-footed goose and 35 lapwing Elm House Farm. 300924 – Yellow-browed warbler at Sea View work base and another at Brickyard Lane. 6 cattle egret at Elm House Farm east of bird hide. 011024 – Long-tailed skua and pomarine skua flew south over the sea, 3 brent goose flew north. Sea View Washlands: 4 cattle egret, 3 little egret, 7 black-tailed godwit, 1 redshank, 73 teal, 21 shoveler, 23 mallard, 2 gadwall, 16 wigeon and 16 grey lags. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: 15th October 2024 https://butterfly-conservation.org/in-your-area/lincolnshire-branch/chambers-farm-wood-butterfly-garden Lincolnshire Dormouse Group Autumn dormouse activities Gemma Watkinson writes; I have confirmation that we have a permit for the nest box checks in September/October! Apologies for the delay. The next will be: Saturday 19th October Anyone interested in joining us for either session should 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. Did you know that dormice have a very distinctive way of opening a hazelnut? Dormouse chewed hazelnuts have a smooth inner rim with toothmarks at an angle to the hole on the nut surface and look a little like a clog. Now is a great time of year to be looking out for hazelnuts on the floor while you are out walking in the woods. We are interested to know whether dormice have naturally dispersed into other woodlands in the Lincolnshire Limewoods area (or indeed if there are any remnant isolated populations elsewhere in the county). For anyone walking in the Limewoods area, particularly in those woodlands closest to Chambers Farm Woods (e.g. Camshaws Wood, Austacre and New Park Woods, and Broadwater Forest, Thistle Storr Wood, Glad Wood and College Wood) please keep a look out for any hazelnuts that you think may have been opened by a dormouse. More information on how to undertake a nut hunt can be found on the People’s Trust for Endangered Species website and this document illustrates the distinctive marks to look out for as well as what nuts opened by voles, birds and squirrels also look like. https://ptes.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Help_us_find_hazel_dormice_generic.pdf Please let us know what you find, and send us photos of any nuts you think may have been opened by dormice. Happy Nut Hunting! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/ Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Trust: https://lincolnshirechalkstreamstrust.org.uk/ South Lincolnshire Flora Group: https://bsbi.org/south-lincolnshire-v-c-53 The Wolds Fungi Group: Contact Paul Nichol via email: nichol20@gmail.com Lincolnshire Dormouse Group: Contact: lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com FIGHTING WILDLIFE CRIME Wildlife Crime https://www.lincs.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/wc/wildlife-crime/ SPECIES IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. LNU Recorders and Specialists: https://lnu.org/specialists/ Downloads of LNU books: https://lnu.org/publications/books/ Recording with "iRecord": https://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/ iRecord is recommended by the LNU as an appropriate platform for on-line recording When asking for help: Please give the very best information you can provide. If you are not sure, ask what is needed from you to confirm identification. Photographs are helpful but not every species can be identified from a photograph. When asked for further details, get back to the recorder promptly. Don't forget a thank you for the help. That is always welcomed. Dragonfly Identification help https://british-dragonflies.org.uk/odonata/species-and-identification/ 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 Bat Identification https://www.bats.org.uk/about-bats/what-are-bats/uk-bats/ 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: downloadable LNU book *** For the Geologists *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. BGS Groundwater Flooding Susceptibility: helping mitigate one of the UK’s most costly hazards https://www.bgs.ac.uk/news/mitigrating-groundwater-flooding-susceptibility/ Lincolnshire Geodiversity Group: https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/discovering/geology-1 Geology of the Lincolnshire Wolds: https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/special-features/geology The Geology of Lincolnshire: downloadable LNU book UK Fossils in Lincolnshire https://ukfossils.co.uk/category/lincolnshire/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9. NOTES ABOUT THESE WILDLIFE REPORTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We do our best to ensure accuracy in our reporting. However, records are sent in by a variety of reporters; from complete beginners to professionals. They may vary in reliability and occasionally may be difficult or impossible to verify. If further information is needed please contact the editor: Bulletins are sent to Recorders at Lincolnshire Environmental Records Centre [GNLP], Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union and Lincolnshire Bird Club. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10. BULLETIN PUBLICITY POLICY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When sending in reports, e.g. unusual plants, please report any sensitive news directly to recorders. Not the Bulletin. We don't want to spoil things with unwise or untimely publicity. Thank you. Please respect the interests of wildlife and site owners if you report on national networks. Interest in wildlife is not a licence to act irresponsibly or thoughtlessly to landowners, who may well be partners in important conservation work. [Views expressed in the Bulletin do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of the LNU or associated organisations. In particular this applies to agencies, especially charities, taking a political stance.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 11. LNU EVENTS DIARY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** LNU Events *** https://lnu.org/meetings/ https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/ *** Lincolnshire Naturalists Union Field Meeting *** Wilder Doddington – Sunday 20th October Doddington, west of Lincoln. 12.00 for 13.00 start and finish about 16.00. Car parking at the Wagon Shed, Doddington Hall. Habitat: Heathland and moorland, woodland Leader: Ray Halstead 07772 613640 ray.halstead@yahoo.co.uk Grid reference: SK 89987 69936 What3Words: juggled.excavated.onions Nearest postcode: LN6 4RU Note the email for Ray above which is corrected from last week at Ray’s request ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ...AND FINALLY... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ National and international stories Penguin chicks survive tearaway iceberg https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3wp4qnljd1o How Cinnamon's great escape led to capybara craze https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c749nwrj1njo Sycamore Gap sapling gifted in memory of boy with cancer https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy0gkn11je4o RSPCA launches review of its farm animal welfare scheme https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czj9nl88k0mo Royal Navy sailors help save Caribbean turtles https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyex58xkk9o *** Mail Fails *** san@alf-resco - Host not found - message could not ne delivered. Mark Bibby - message could not be delivered. ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/