============================================ || || Wildnews Bulletin 16th 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: I received an e-mail from Annette Faulkner, reproduced below, mentioning the latest edition of the magazine ‘British Wildlife’ which contains the results of an insect survey the grassland habitats along the length of the Lincolnshire sea walls from the Wash to the Humber. I would like to endorse her high opinion of this lavishly illustrated magazine which successfully sets out to combine, in plain English, coverage of wildlife conservation issues in Britain with a frank assessment of how well (?) the government of the day deals with them. If you are unaware of ‘British Wildlife’ it has to be worth at least checking out the link at https://www.britishwildlife.com/ ! I also take pleasure in her congratulations regarding the extensive acknowledgements the article contains relating to LNU involvement in providing background information to the author Steven Falk. We should be proud. 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 Annette Faulkner writes; I wonder how many readers are subscribers to a journal called British Wildlife? (https://www.britishwildlife.com/). For those that are perhaps you’ve already seen the October issue (vol 36, no1) where there is a piece called Insects of Lincolnshire’s Sea Banks? This was done by an ecological consultant called Steven Falk, but in his acknowledgements at the end you will see the research was commissioned by Caroline Tero, Lincolnshire Naturalists Union (LNU) member and senior biologist with the Environment Agency in Lincoln. He then goes on to acknowledge the assistance of some familiar names from the Bulletin, namely yourself and Richard Davidson, along with David Sheppard, a regular consultee on certain entomological matters, Charlie Barnes, who runs the Lincolnshire Environmental Records Centre and several others, most of whom are also LNU members. It’s a really interesting piece, looking particularly at the efficacy of management, and well worth hunting for otherwise. Congratulations to all the contributors for their hard work – it just shows how important recording is. *** This week's mostly-local news stories: *** Wildlife park closed until further notice https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg56p3j102no Events will shed more light on nuclear site plan https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyv23078e5o Council pledges cash for rewilding projects https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwylw15vvgxo Two men sentenced for hare coursing https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx20mx6n001o Comet captured in photos across the region https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn5znq55wgro Two years of river improvements to begin https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvglxmkjllxo LIVING PLANET REPORT 2024. The Living Planet Report 2024 highlights the average change in observed population sizes of 5,495 vertebrate species. It shows a decline of 73% between 1970 and 2020. https://livingplanet.panda.org/en-GB/ Conservation Strategy for Hedgehogs in the United Kingdom The first ever National Hedgehog Conservation Strategy will be launched on Monday 14th October by leading wildlife charities The first ever National Hedgehog Conservation Strategy will be launched on Monday 14th October by leading wildlife charities People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) and The British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS). The new strategy identifies key threats to hedgehogs for conservation NGOs, local councils and Government to address holistically over the next decade in order to halt the decline. Also for the first time, PTES and BHPS have worked with over 30 stakeholders within academia, and the transport, farming and wildlife rehabilitation sectors, to create a topline, national strategy that can guide the change that’s desperately needed. https://ptes.org/campaigns/conservation_strategy_for_hedgehogs/ Hedgehog advice https://thewildlifecommunity.co.uk/pages/hedgehogs *** 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 17th October - Sunday 20th October Headline: Cloudy at first, becoming brighter. Rain arriving later. Very mild. Thursday: Early cloud and patchy rain will soon clear to leave a drier and brighter day, with some sunny spells. Feeling warm in the sunshine, with light winds. Maximum temperature 18 °C. Outlook for Friday to Sunday: Fine and dry, with sunny spells Friday. A band of rain, locally heavy, moves east overnight, gradually clearing Saturday. Windy, with another spell of rain moving quickly eastwards on Sunday. UK long range weather forecast Sunday 20th October - Tuesday 29th October There is potential for a deep area of low pressure to pass over or close to the west/northwest of the UK early in this period, potentially bringing a spell of very strong winds and heavy rain, especially to parts of the north and west. Through next week, an oscillation between occasional spells of rain, most frequent in the northwest, with longer drier interludes in- between, is likely. It may be rather windy at times too, again especially in northern and western areas. Towards late October there are signs that, whilst northwestern areas may continue to see some rain at times, high pressure may become increasingly influential, potentially bringing more widely settled and drier conditions, with an increasing chance of overnight frost and fog. *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** Northern Lights dazzle stargazers https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ced0e76zl9jo Why are we seeing the Northern Lights so often lately? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdjepzxjrjgo 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 *** Talk – ‘Wildlife of Albania’ by Gill Walsh Thursday 14th November 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. *** 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. at 7-30pm 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. *** Grimsby and Cleethorpes Area Group LWT *** On Monday 11th November 2024 the Grimsby and Cleethorpes Area Group LWT hold their next indoor meeting where the Trust President, Geoff Trinder will give his RESCHEDULED, illustrated talk “My involvement with the Trust and my travels worldwide." This will take place in Grimsby Town Hall DN31 1HU and starts at 7.30pm. Admission £4, all are welcome. Raffle, refreshments and Trust Christmas cards and calendars will be available *** 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- 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 9/10 Gibraltar Point, 2 Yellow-browed Warblers at Sykes Farm, male Hen Harrier, Long-tailed Skua flew south past. Read's Island, 2 Snow Geese, both white morphs, with Pink-footed Geese at Redcliffe Middle Sand, viewed from Humber foreshore at South Ferriby. 10/10 Frampton Marsh, Little Stint, Spotted Redshank male, Hen Harrier Freiston Shore, Water Pipit, Firecrest Gibraltar Point, Long-tailed Skua flew past, Black-throated Diver, Puffin, Short-eared Owl.4 Yellow-browed Warblers. 2 at Syles Farm, 1 in plantation, 1 at end of North Dunes. Scaup on Mere. Huttoft Bank, Sabine's Gull off Huttoft Car Terrace. Sutton-on-Sea, Black-throated Diver flew south past. Read's Island, 2 Snow Geese, both white morphs, with Pink-footed Geese at Redcliffe Middle Sand. 11/10 Anderby Creek, Richard's Pipit.,. East Halton, Woodlark flew west over. Frampton Marsh, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Snow Bunting. Freiston Shore, Red-necked Grebe juv on lagoon, Lapland Bunting flew over saltmarsh. Read's Island, 2 Snow Geese, both white morphs, with Pink-footed Geese at Redcliffe Middle Sand. Tetney, Yellow-browed Warbler by track between Fitties reserve and Thorpe Park Golf Course. 12/10 Frampton Marsh, Little Stint at north end of Roads Farm grassland, Curlew Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank. Freiston Shore, Red-necked Grebe on lagoon. Gibraltar Point, Water Pipit flew over Barrie's Plot, Spotted Redshank. Read's Island, 2 SnowGeese, both white morphs, with Pink-footed Geese at Redcliffe Middle Sand, Spoonbill. 13/10 Frampton Marsh, Little Stint at north end of Roads Farm grassland, 14 Common Cranes flew SE over. Freiston Shore, Water Pipit, Red-necked Grebe juv on lagoon. Gibraltar Point, Yellow-browed Warbler, 2 Twite flew south., Pomarine Skua flew past Read's Island, 2 SnowGeese, both white morphs, with Pink-footed Geese at Redcliffe Middle Sand, Willow Tree Fen, Hen Harrier ringtail over WSW of Spalding/WSW of Pode Hole. 32 Common Cranes roosted. 14/10 Baston, Yellow-browed Warbler, by River Glen east of Kate's Bridge. Freiston Shore, Red-necked Grebe juv on lagoon from sea wall. Folkingham, 5 Commin Cranes flew over. Gibraltar Point, Yellow-browed Warbler at Sykes Farm. Read's Island, 2 SnowGeese, both white morphs, with Pink-footed Geese at Redcliffe Middle Sand. 15/10 Anderby Creek, Pomarine Skua flew south past. Ring Ouzel Donna Nook, Yellow-browed Warbler by path NW of Stonebridge Car Park., . Gibraltar Point, Lapland Bunting, 2 Yellow-browed Warblers, 4 Ring Ouzels. Huttoft, Yellow-browed Warbler in garden. Read's Island, 2 Snow Geese, both white morphs, with Pink-footed Geese at Redcliffe Middle Sand. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 13/10/2024 Pied wagtail m. 20+ Starling flock on fat blocks. 12 + Jackdaws 12+ House Sparrows BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 Phil and Mary Porter 10-14/10 Last week’s Coal Tit seems to have established a daily feeding habit, and a Great Spotted Woodpecker likewise. We heard our first local Whooper Swan calls on the 12th out of sight from the lane. On 14th Mary is nearly sure she saw a Redwing in the garden and a small flock fly past but the light conditions meant that she wasn’t quite sure. Later in the day she rescued a small woolly bear caterpillar, presumably a Ruby Tiger, from a watery grave in one of our small ground-level drinking trays. Otherwise, small numbers of Goldfinches, Greenfinches Chaffinches and House Sparrows use our one feeder and Blue and Great Tits remain numerous. One Great Tit at least is taking seed from a sunflower plant. Long-tailed Tits visit a few times a week, and Wrens, Robins and Dunnocks can usually be seen. HORKSTOW SE987179 Jenny Haynes 12 October 2024 One of our bird feeders was visited today by a female great spotted woodpecker which stayed for quite a while. Greenfinches are back, along with goldfinches, chaffinches, robin, wren blue and great tits. Two buzzards circling overhead yesterday. A brown hare was in the field opposite earlier in the week. I managed to photograph a faint aurora borealis on Wednesday, the first time I’ve seen it since the 1950s! MARKET RASEN Ben Jacob 11th October Just been to Market Rasen and seen a half white carrion crow on the industrial estate Definitely a carrion crow--seen from 5 yards one and a half wings and the tail all white feathers otherwise normal plumage RAITHBY TF368668 Tracey Lenton 13/10/2024 Red Kites gliding around in circles above fields near Raithby village. I filmed their aerobatics for a good 20 minutes, they were mainly circling in a group of 4 sometimes 5, they looked very graceful. I also caught on film 2 doing a vertical dive downwards. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 9th – 15th 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 Note: Sharp ground frost of -3.0 degrees centigrade and air frost of 0.0 degrees centigrade on the 11th. 091024 - Single yellow-browed warbler with goldcrest at Sea View. Probable spectacled warbler in dune scrub south of Crook Bank. 4 cattle egrets and 1 green sandpiper on new Rimac car park scrape. Short-eared owl, jack snipe, peregrine, 2+ Stonechats and whinchat still Crook Bank outer dunes. 2 peregrine chasing waders between MOD and Saltfleet Haven. Ringtail hen harrier over saltmarsh. Yellow-browed warbler around Churchill Lane and one also heard at Brickyard Lane. 120+ juvenile gannet flew south in 20 minutes mid-afternoon. Butterflies - 5 wall, small copper Rimac. 101024 - Single redwing at Sea View, kingfisher along the Eau near Paradise lagoon, 90 pink-feet flying south, high over saltmarsh, 24 little egrets on saltmarsh and 5 black-tailed godwits at Sea View Washlands and 4 Paradise Lagoon. Tawny owl calling late evening at Sea View. A spectacular display of aurora borealis throughout the night. 7 cattle egret roadside near Sea View. Whooper swans migrating through the night, with 30+ and 12 flying south. 2000+ pink-footed goose Elm House Farm. 111024 - 34 whooper swans on Rimac freshwater marsh scrape late afternoon, eventually flew off west. Whooper swans migrating south and arriving locally through the morning, including 4 south at Brickyard Lane, 20 on the beach at Churchill Lane, 8 at Elm House Farm and 34 Rimac Lagoon before flying west. 3 marsh harrier, hen harrier, merlin and peregrine Elm House Farm. 6 cattle egret roadside near Sea View. 121024 - Sea View Washlands: 160 wigeon, 6 greenfinch in scrub nearby. 131024 - 7 cattle egret roadside fields Sea View. Great white egret flew north over Crook Bank. Jack snipe Crook Bank outer dunes. Yellow-browed warbler at Brickyard Lane. 40 redwing arrived late afternoon in two groups and 2000 starling flew south through the day. 2000 pink-footed geese and 12 whooper swan Elm House Farm. 141024 - 3700 pink-feet in field, alongside Mar Dike, Elm House Farm but small numbers then peeling off to the west, 7 whooper swans flew over area. Sea View 2 goldcrests and 3 chiffchaffs. 11 whooper swans, brambling, grey wagtail and house martin flew south in the morning. Yellow-browed warbler calling at Sea View work base. Cetti’s warbler, 5 blackcap and 4 bullfinch Mablethorpe North End. Pale-bellied brent goose flew north over the sea. Barnacle goose with feral geese south of Crook Bank. 151024 - At least 100 in one flock, mid-afternoon, passing over Sea View. Other Local Reserves 111024 – Donna Nook: 12 whooper swans flying over, Cetti’s warbler heard. 141024 – Donna Nook: Yellow-browed warbler between Stonebridge and Pye's Hall. Ring Ouzel seen flying in-off the sea. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: 5th November 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 These Mathematically Precise Kinetic Transformable Sculptures Are Inspired by Nature’s Geometry https://www.zmescience.com/other/art-other/math-art-sculptures-edward/ France slashed bird flu outbreaks by vaccinating ducks https://www.newscientist.com/article/2451606-france-slashed-bird-flu-outbreaks-by-vaccinating-ducks/ White noise seems to get fungus to grow faster and we’re not sure why https://www.zmescience.com/science/biology/white-noise-seems-to-get-fungus-to-grow-faster-and-were-not-sure-why/ Burning rubbish now UK’s dirtiest form of power https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp3wxgje5pwo Spacecraft blasts off to hunt alien life on a distant moon https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1482xzrge1o Wildlife numbers fall by 73% in 50 years, global stocktake finds https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y3j0vzpl3o *** 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/