============================================ || || Wildnews Bulletin 9th 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: Jeremy Hutchinson writes in ‘County Wildlife Reports from Readers’ below regarding the late summer disappearance of his local Blackbirds in the dry weather that prevailed at the time. It’s always good to receive such observations and this one reminded me of a village Bird Course in Warwickshire in the 1980’s given by an old-school birder called Joe Hardman about bird behaviour. The cases are not really comparable, but he said that, in that county, male blackbirds largely disappeared in the autumn because they migrated further south than the females and I confess that it did seem to be true to some degree, but the theory rather disregards the thousands of Scandinavian migrants entering the country at the same time! David Robinson offers us the opportunity to answer his query ‘Do Little Egrets habitually feed on flying dragonflies?’, so check out his contribution below and send in your thoughts/experiences!. 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: *** Solar farm plans rejected due to local opposition https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cew1j11jyewo Woman gets reply to job application - 48 years on https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm240jyl09go Farming helpline sees calls almost double https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g0kvd30m8o Unexploded device found at aviation museum https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c62m35ve5klo Spitfire cleared to take to the skies after refurb https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2lnprnqy0no £2k painting revealed as masterpiece worth £300k https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c07nm512l3do *** 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 19th October - Sunday 13th October Headline: Often cloudy with locally heavy showers this morning, easing later. Thursday: Mainly dry and bright, although a colder feeling day despite lighter winds. A few scattered showers likely along the Lincolnshire coast. Maximum temperature 11 °C. Outlook for Friday to Sunday: Probably dry on Friday with good sunny spells. Somewhat cloudier with a chance of showers Saturday. Dry, brighter again by Sunday. Mainly light winds. Rather cold with overnight frosts possible. UK long range weather forecast Sunday 13th October - Tuesday 22nd October A quieter interlude at first, especially across central and eastern areas, before cloud and outbreaks of rain return from the west later in the weekend. Into next week, and while there will be some rain at times, this will tend to be most frequent across northwestern areas, with longer drier spells likely towards the south and east. It will be rather breezy or windy, especially in the west and northwest, but with temperatures recovering to near or above-average, possibly bringing some warm conditions at times in the south and east. Towards the end of the period high pressure may become more influential, with temperatures potentially returning closer to the average for the time of year. *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** Northern Lights possible as solar storms gather https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy437gnp28zo 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 25th September Bulletin 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. *** 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/ *** Lincoln LWT *** Richard Davidson writes…. Lincoln Area Group Talk 17th October 2024 : The Magic of Mosses and Liverworts (Bryophytes) An illustrated talk by Dr Steven Heathcote as an introduction to Bryophytes and partly about Britain's Atlantic Rainforests. The event is at Whisby Nature Park in the Lafarge Education Building starting at 7.30 pm. Admission is £2.50 which includes refreshments in the interval. *** Lincoln RSPB Group *** The next meeting is on Thursday evening this week, the 10th of October. The Galapagos and Rainforest of Ecuador by Gianpiero Ferrari, FRPS. Sponsored by a Group Member. 7.30 pm in the Robert Hardy Building, Bishop Grosseteste University, Longdales Road, Lincoln LN1 3DY. Admission charge for RSPB members and students £4, (for members of the public £5), please pay on the door. *** RSBP (Grimsby and Cleethorpes) *** Brian Patterson writes… Monday 21st October at 7.30pm at The Holy Trinity Parish Hall Cleethorpes DN35 7LH. An illustrated talk by Ruth Taylor, LWT Outer Humber & Coastal Assistant Warden on “The Grey Seals at Donna Nook”. Everyone welcome. £5 per person including refreshments. Find out more- https://group.rspb.org.uk/grimsby/ or Facebook Grimsby Local Group 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 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. 1/10 Gibraltar Point, 2 Yellow-browed Warblers at Sykes Farm, Long-tailed Skua flew past. Mablethorpe, Long-tailed Skua flew past., Pomarine Skua. North Thoresby, Yellow-browed Warbler on old track. Sutton-on-Sea, Long-tailed Skua flew past.. 2/10 Freiston Shore, Quail on sea bank. Gibraltar Point, Blyth's Reed Warbler at East Dunes by sleeper track, 5 Yellow-browed Warblers at Mill Hill, 2 at Sykes Farm, 1 at Sleeper track, 1 at Army Swathe, Black-throated Diver flew past, Scaup, 6 Little Gulls, probable Richard's Pipit in flight. Olive-backed Pipit at East Dunes, 6 Ring Ouzels. Huttoft Bank, Long-tailed Skua flew past Huttoft car terrace. 3/10 Anderby Creek, Red Breasted Flycatcher at Moggs Eye, 3 Yellow-browed Warblers in dunes, Chapel Six Marshes, Firecrest Covenham Reservoir, Arctic Tern along west bank. Frampton Marsh, Lapland Bunting, Hen Harrier on saltmarsh, Little Stint, Spotted Redshank, 2 Spoonbills. Gibraltar Point, Red-breasted Flycatcher at East Dunes. Dusky Warbler, Olive-backed Pipit at south end of West Dunes. Barred Warbler at Storm Ridge, 8 Yellow-browed Warblers: 1 near Yacht Club, 1 at Mere Hide, 1 at Barrie's Plot, 2 along cycle path near Jackson's Marsh entrance, 2 [10?] Ring Ouzels at West Dunes, Blyth's Reed Warbler at East Dunes by sleeper track, 2 Firecrests in East Dunes, Dusky Warbler between north car park and Aylmer Avenue, Humberston Fitties, Yellow-browed Warbler by golf course. Huttoft Yellow-browed Warbler Huttoft Bank, 2 Yellow-browed Warblers, probable Siberian Lesser Whitethroat, form blythi. Northcoates, Hawfinch flew to trees by gun club. Wolla Bank, Long-tailed skua flew south. 4/10 Freiston Shore, Yellow-browed Warbler along hide track. Gibraltar Point, 5+ Yellow-browed Warblers: 1 at Measures West, 1 in Plantation. 1 by cycle track near North car park. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, Yellow-browed Warbler in willows south of Churchill Lane, Radde's Warble trapped and ringed at brickyard Lane, then flew to the brambles south of beach access path. 5/10 Deeping St James, 2 Glossy Ibises on East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, Curlew Sandpiper on Roads Farm Grassland, 3 Spoonbills on reedbed. Gibraltar Point, Caspian Gull 2w on Tennyson's Sands, Yellow-browed Warbler trapped and ringed on Aylmer Avenue. Rimac, Yellow-browed Warbler in sycamores by bridge. Skegness, Caspian Gull 2w at Festival Car Park. 6/10 Boston, Death's-head Hawk-moth. Donna Nook, Yellow-browed Warbler at MOD. Frampton Marsh, 2 Spoonbills. Gibraltar Point, Yellow-browed Warbler at Sykes Farm, Hen Harrier male. Kirkby-le Thorpe east of Sleaford, Rock Pipit. Sutton on Sea, Pomarine skua juv flew past. Pyewipe, Caspian Gull 1w, Little Stint at Novartis Ings. 7/10 Barton-upon-Humber, 2 Snow Geese, both white morphs, flew over Waters' Edge City Park with Pink-footed Geese Frampton Marsh, Curlew Sandpiper, Water Pipit. Gibraltar Point, Yellow-browed Warbler at entrance. 1 trapped and ringed in Atlmer Avenue, 4 Yellow-browed Warblers at Sykes Farm. male Hen Harrier. Huttoft, Yellow-browed Warbler, Barred Warbler Huttoft Bank. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, Curlew Sandpiper juv on beach by car park. Red-breasted Flycatcher south of Crook Bank car park. Read's Island, 2 Snow Geese, both white morphs, with Pink-footed Geese ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 4/10/2024 - "light" Suede Bolete flush in progress. Xerocomus subtomentosus https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/485374-Xerocomus-subtomentosus BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 Phil and Mary Porter 3rd October Our first Coal Tit in almost a year appeared briefly at our feeder. They have been long-staying winter residents in winters past but, for the last three years, have only appeared occasionally. A female Sparrowhawk raided the garden with unknown outcome. Groups of Pink-footed Geese passed by a small distance away but were not in sight to count. Small numbers of ‘white’ butterflies were joined by a Comma and a Red Admiral. 7th October A Holly Blue and a Common Tachina fly (Tachina fera) were attracted to our ivy-covered outbuilding. A Bat was flying in the lane outside at 20:15. 9th October 2 Chiffchaffs gleaned a hedge a couple of feet from the living room window, marvelous! CARLTON LE MOORLAND SK909581 Jeremy Hutchinson 2/10/24 Chiffchaff in garden 3/10/24 Couple of House Martins seen early evening 4/10/24 GS Woodpecker (female) on peanut feeder, first sighting of this for a long time. 5/10/24: male Brimstone flying. 7/10/24 Flock of 100+ high-flying Lapwings heading west. Seldom see Lapwings around here these days, cannot recall when I saw so many at once. Early evening a pair of Swallows seen feeding, gave the impression that they were drifting southwards on passage. Generally: there seems to be an unusually high number of Orb-web Spiders in our garden, which is surprising given the dearth of insects. I rescued a Peacock butterfly from the web of one recently: I don't usually intervene, but given the unprecedented lack of butterflies generally (I've seen only one Small Tortoiseshell this year), I felt unable to ignore it. Another unusual phenomenon is that since the late July-August dry spell, our normally abundant Blackbird population has vanished. Not many years ago I would see Hobbies most days from mid-July until the end of the third week of September, and often several times a day. Sightings have dwindled to a new low this year of 2 all summer: I imagine that this must be connected to the decline in numbers of hirundines. (I was on Anglesey in late September, where Swallow numbers were noticeably much higher than here). FAR INGS Angela Buckle 6th October. Weld, Wild mignonette, Vipers bugloss, Bristly ox-tongue, Great mullein, Six white butterflies, Fungi, Shaggy inkcap, Six Curlews and a Heron, on the Humber. HALE ROAD, (BUCKNALL-STIXWOULD) TF172675 Phil and Mary Porter 5th October A Great White Egret flew south along the Catchwater Drain. HUMBERSTON FITTIES AREA Angela Buckle. 5th October. Soap wort, Common toadflax, Cypress spurge, Evening primrose, Autumn hawkbit still in flower. KIRKBY ON BAIN LWT PITS David Robinson 6th October Today I was watching Little Egret at Kirkby on Bain LWT pits. I could see 12 individual birds at one time and several more were hidden from my view. I noticed one wading and feeding when all of a sudden it spun around walked to the shore popped its beak in the rough shrub and ate something. Then it watched and followed something in the air it then jabbed its beak skywards snapped its beak shut and swallowed. It did this several times while I was watching often wading out and feeding then returning to the shore when the sun came out. I'm fairly sure but not certain it was eating dragonfly and/or damselfly as there were loads about. Is that likely? MESSINGHAM SAND QUARRY SE908032 Brenda Edlington 2/10/2024 Very few small birds seen Bittern (in flight across a lake) Blackbird Black-headed gull Buzzard Canada goose Cetti’s warbler Coot Cormorant Crow Gadwall Great white egret Greylag goose Heron Herring gull Kestrel Lapwing Mallard Moorhen Mute swan Pheasant Pochard Robin Shoveler Teal Tufted duck Wood pigeon Wren Fly agaric Puffball and many more not identified ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 2nd – 8th 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 021024 – Going north over the sea in the morning were a sooty shearwater, manx shearwater, fulmar, 16 brent goose, drake scaup, 200+ common scoter, 2 kittiwake, arctic tern, 2 arctic skua, 64 gannet and razorbill; and south went a kittiwake, 7 arctic skua, 4 red-throated diver, 2 red-breasted merganser. 49 pintail flew inland at Rimac in two groups, as did a grey wagtail. Between Sea View and Rimac south whimbrel, 4 marsh harrier, 2 chiffchaff, lesser whitethroat, 2 cetti’s warbler, 16 goldcrest, 18 redwing, 14 song thrush, 54 chaffinch, barn owl. Cattle egret on Sea View washlands and great white egret on Rimac scrape. Butterflies – green-veined white, small white, 2 speckled wood, 4 comma,3 red admiral Churchill Lane to Brickyard Lane; red admiral, 2 comma, small white Paradise. 182 fox moth larvae around Paradise wood. Dragonflies – ruddy darter, common darter and willow emerald damselfly on the wing. 031024 – Little owl heard around Brickyard Lane. Female brambling Brickyard Lane dunes. Jay, 2 blackcap and chiffchaff in scrub east of Quarry Hill, Rimac. 80 shelduck, 4 teal, 8 brent goose, 60+ linnet and rock pipits out from Brickyard Lane. 6 cattle egret, 7 black-tailed godwit and greenshank Sea View Washlands. In dune scrub around Crook Bank 2 chiffchaff, 2 blackcap, lesser whitethroat, 11 goldcrest, 4 mistle thrush, 14 song thrush, 8 redwing, 30+ robin, 4 siskin. Dragonflies – migrant hawker, ruddy darter, common darter and willow emerald Churchill Lane. Paradise lagoon 77 teal. Pair of sparrowhawks hunting nearby and a weasel hunting at Sea View. Rimac lagoon 41 pintail, outer dunes single stonechat and wheatear, a minimum of 476 shelduck along Haven outfall. At least 4 marsh harriers over the saltmarsh plus a single whimbrel feeding with little egrets. 041024 – Radde’s warbler ringed at Brickyard Lane in dune scrub. 8 blackcap, jay, 20+ goldcrest, a small northerly movement of song thrush and redwing, and 2 siskin flew south. 3000 pink-footed goose flew off Rimac foreshore. 5 jay flew south then landed in trees at Rimac. Marsh harrier and sparrowhawk circling and vocal over Rimac car park. Yellow-browed warbler heard at Churchill Lane working south along willows. Olive-backed pipit in meadow north of Rimac car park late afternoon then flew east with meadow pipits. Ringtail hen harrier flew over dunes then continued south along saltmarsh at Rimac. Great white egret Rimac scraoe and 5+ cattle egret Sea View Washlands. 051024 – Yellow-browed warbler in sycamores near Rimac car park. Jay and chiffchaff also at Rimac. Arctic skua landed on Rimac lagoon then flew towards Sea View. 70 ringed plover, 70 sanderling, 15 dunlin, oystercatcher, 28 shelduck, 60+ linnet, 2 rock pipit, meadow pipits, marsh harrier, kestrel, sparrowhawk and buzzard Brickyard Lane foreshore/dunes. 2 stonechat at Elm House Farm. 061024 – Yellow-browed warbler at Brickyard Lane. 100 brent goose and little gull Saltfleet Haven area. Butterflies – 5 fresh comma Churchill Lane. 071024 – Red-breasted flycatcher and lesser whitethroat in scrub south of Crook Bank. 3600 pink-footed goose roosting on Rimac foreshore and peregrine perched on outer beach. Juvenile curlew sandpiper on foreshore at Crook Bank and a little ringed plover calling on Brickyard Lane saltmarsh. Whinchat, 3 stonechat and rock pipit outer dunes south of Crook Bank. 8 cattle egret in roadside fields at Sea View. 3 black-tailed godwit flew off Sea View Washlands. Great white egret, 3 marsh harrier, 5+ buzzard, 4 raven, house martin, 4 rock pipit flew south. Jay flew over MOD. Ringtail hen harrier flew south along Rimac outer dunes and continued south past Crook bank. Great white egret Rimac scrape. 520 pink-footed goose Elm House Farm. 081024 – Male merlin at Brickyard Lane, where parties of greenfinch, linnet and meadow pipit flew south throughout the morning. 2 siskin flew south over Rimac. 2 sparrowhawk soaring over MOD. 2 jay flew over Paradise wood. 4+ cattle egret with cows north of Sea View. Butterflies – 3 wall brown Rimac. Merlin and swallow over saltmarsh, grey partridge near Rimac, black-tailed godwit and green sandpiper Sea View washlands. 3 jay’s and green woodpecker at Sea View. Kingfisher on Great Eau. Three wall browns and 2 red admirals on the wing at Sea View. Local Reserves: Donna Nook; 051024 – 2 yellow-browed warbler, 30 reed bunting, 20 lapwing, 80 golden plover and 3 swallow Quad 3. Toby’s Hill; 081024 – 25 ivy bee, 3 comma, 2 red admiral, 2 speckled wood, 1 small white on east hedgerow ivy. Legbourne Wood; 081024 – Nuthatch calling, 2 common toad and 1 wood mouse ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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; Please see below a summary of our nest box checks at Chambers and also Goslings Corner Woods in September (22nd September). Our final box check of the season will be on Saturday 19th October. September box check summary The dormice seemed to be extra active this month and 5 managed to escape before being processed. Despite the lateness of the season and the recent cold, wet weather, a litter of pinks was found in Little Scrubbs Wood and there was a pregnant female in Ivy Wood 2. In addition to the 5 escapees and the litter, a total of 27 dormice were found, 14 males, 11 females and 2 juveniles which couldn't be sexed. Surprisingly, all of these were new sightings, with no recaptures of previously clipped mice. This brings our total so far this year to 72 clipped individual dormice, of which 43 were in Ivy Wood 1 or 2, 17 in Little Scrubbs and 10 in Minting Triangle. Only in Minting Far End and Goslings Corner were no mice found this month, but here is a summary of the finds in the other woods. Ivy Wood 1: 1 male, 3 females, 2 juveniles in the same box (escaped). Ivy Wood 2: 7 males, 5 females, 1 escaped Ivy Wood West: 1 juvenile male in a wren nest Little Scrubbs Wood: 3 males, 2 females, 2 juveniles not sexed, 1 escaped, Litter of pinks - No adult in box but male and female in box on opposite side of path. Minting Triangle: 2 males (One with virtually no tail), 1 female, 1 escaped Woodmice were scarce again, with only 3 being found, but there was a pygmy shrew and 5 BLE bats in Minting Triangle, a box full of BLE bats in Goslings Corner and a pipistrelle bat in Little Scrubbs. 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 25th September Bulletin at Ray’s request ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ...AND FINALLY... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ National and international stories Fly brain breakthrough 'huge leap' to unlock human mind https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0lw0nxw71po Chris Packham ‘forced to pay £200,000 to pensioner’ after libel case https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/10/05/chris-packhams-court-pursuit-pensioner-costs-200000/ Museum gallery to close for refurbishment https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crr5nzz0edpo Glue in the face: how frogs’ sticky secretions defend them from attack https://theconversation.com/glue-in-the-face-how-frogs-sticky-secretions-defend-them-from-attack-237254 Two injured comb jellies can merge to form one individual https://www.newscientist.com/article/2450693-two-injured-comb-jellies-can-merge-to-form-one-individual/ Scotland’s seabirds face a bleak future without urgent action https://www.rspb.org.uk/media-centre/scotlands-seabirds-face-bleak-future-without-urgent-action? Expanding the range of black grouse in the Uplands https://www.gwct.org.uk/news/news/2024/october/expanding-the-range-of-black-grouse-in-the-uplands/? Apple day https://ptes.org/campaigns/traditional-orchard-project/orchard-network/apple-day/ RHS Big Seed Save https://www.rhs.org.uk/get-involved/grow-with-it/big-seed-save UK may approve bee-killing pesticide despite election promise to ban it https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/oct/08/uk-may-approve-bee-killing-pesticide-despite-election-promise-to-ban-it *** Mail Fails *** Jackie Nicholson - hard bounce.- rejected your message. san@alf-resco - Host not found - message could not be delivered. Mark Bibby - message could not be delivered. ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/