============================================ || || Wildnews Bulletin 23rd 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: As you may know, my speciality is diptera, the two-winged, or true, flies, and as other inspiration hasn’t materialised this week, I will enlarge on my garden observations of the flies feeding on Ivy flowers at the moment whenever the sun shines in mild weather. There are the late hoverflies, but the Blowflies or Calliphoridae are also reliably present. The larger Bluebottles, Calliphora, are rather scurfy-looking at the front but have metallic blue abdomens, while the usually commoner Greenbottles, Lucilia, are shiny emerald all over. The Greenbottles comprise several species which are effectively unidentifiable in the field and awkward enough as dead specimens under the microscope. This is a bit discouraging as the common species are very common indeed so you usually know what the answer will be before you start. So far, so familiar, but who has heard of the Blackbottle? An example of this species, Protophormia terraenovae, was passed to me from Dukes Covert NR recently and is only the third county record, and the first of those was in 1897 at Gainsborough. So even the most familiar groups can sometimes be rewarding. 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: *** Why is the Humber a 'service station' for birds? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyl0g2xvvpo Free trees offered to people who will plant them https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgj499yjewlo Survey to decide on the future of Green Flag park https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cden027427jo Fair finds new home after park churned up https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgly054zz8o Archaeological dig unearths 6,000 years of history https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c78d09nz6wno Sanctuary owner kept animals in 'filthy conditions' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gdjv53eq2o 'Our town is dying from the inside out' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c07n15zm430o Seabird poo 'main contributor' to beach pollution https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly64p5qd7yo Tortoise 'lucky' after recycling centre rescue https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp39gkgxvp9o Jail for gang who dumped illegal waste in village https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz7jx9w37neo Jets intercept plane after 'bomb threat' made https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czxdzq0d9vyo When do the clocks go back? In the UK on 27 October 2024 at 2am https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/when-do-clocks-go-back 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 was 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/ *** 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 24th October - Sunday 27th October Headline: Dry. Early cloud and fog clearing to sunny spells. Mild. Thursday: Dry with variable cloud and some sunny spells. The best of the sunshine likely across eastern parts, mainly during the morning or early afternoon. Feeling mild despite the blustery winds. Maximum temperature 16 °C. Outlook for Friday to Sunday: Unsettled with periods of wet and occasionally windy weather likely, but also some drier intervals. Mild temperatures at first, easing to be near normal for late October. UK long range weather forecast Sunday 27th October - Tuesday 5th November Initially breezy or windy with large amounts of cloud and some outbreaks of rain, especially in northern and western areas, with generally drier conditions farther southeast. However, high pressure is likely to build more strongly across southern UK into next week, tending to restrict the majority of any wet and windy weather to the far northwest. That said, areas of cloud trapped underneath this area of high pressure may still produce some drizzly rain in places, with an increased chance of frost and fog under any lengthier clear spells, perhaps slow to clear. Later next week and into the following weekend there may be a tendency for high pressure to retreat, bringing an increased chance of breezier conditions and some rain in places. Temperatures near-average for much of this period. *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** NASA/NOAA say Solar Maximum underway. https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/joint-solar-maximum-announcement-nasa-and-noaa Hunter's Moon: Big and bright supermoon captured https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckg978jlq0xo Where will space exploration take us in the next 50 years? https://www.bbc.co.uk/videos/c62d9zp9074o 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 *** N.B. REARRANGED OWING TO WEATHER Wilder Doddington – Sunday 27th October Doddington Hall, west of Lincoln. 12.00 for 13.00 start and finish about 16.00. REVISED CAR PARKING LOCATION at the back of the main car park, on the opposite side of the road to the Hall at SK 90200 70079 Habitat: Heathland and moorland, woodland Leader: Ray Halstead 07772 613640 ray.halstead@yahoo.co.uk Grid reference: SK 90200 70079 What3Words: easy.lots.reservoir Nearest postcode: LN6 4RU *** 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) Full details at https://group.rspb.org.uk/southlincolnshire/ *** 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 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 16/10 Barton-upon-Humber, Water Pipit. Deeping St James, Black-necked Grebe at Deeping Lakes from 1st hide. Donna Nook, 4 Ring Ouzels. Hen Harrier ringtail, 3 Yellow-browed Warblers, Firecrest. Freiston Shore, Ring Ouzel, Yellow-browed Warbler by hide track. Spotted Redshank. Gibraltar Point, 2 Yellow-browed Warblers. 1 Sykes Farm, 1 West Dunes, 5 Ring Ouzels, Hawfinch flew south over West Dunes, 2 Hen Harriers 1 male, 1 flew south along beach. Read's Island, 2 Snow Geese, both white morphs, with Pink-footed Geese at Middle Sand. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, 2 Yellow-browed Warblers, 1 in small willow clump north of Rimac access trail. 17/10 Barton-upon-Humber, Yellow-browed Warbler at Waterside Road car park in sycamores near toilet block. Deeping St James, Black-necked Grebe at Main Lake, Deeping Lakes. Rock Pipit flew over East Pit, Long-eared Owl on island in Main Lake. Donna Nook, Ring Ouzel Frampton Marsh, Hen Harrier male from Sea Bank. Little Stint at Roads Farm Grassland. Freiston Shore, 2 Lapland Buntings along sea bank. Gibraltar Point, 2 Russian White-fronted Geese, Black Redstart at The Old Coastguard Station building. 2 Black Redstarts at Visitor Centre, 3 Yellow-browed Warblers at Sykes Farm, Orchard and north end of Tennyson's Sands. Read's Island, 2 Snow Geese, both white morphs, with Pink-footed Geese at Redcliffe Middle Sand. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, 3 Yellow-browed Warblers. 18/10 Deeping St James, Rock Pipit flew SW over Deeping Lakes. East Halton Marshes, Water Pipit, then flew west. Frampton Marsh, male Hen Harrier. Gibraltar Point, Water Pipit, 4 Yellow-browed Warblers, male hen Harrier. Marston sewage works, Siberian Chiffchaff trapped and ringed. Read's Island, 2 Snow Geese, both white morphs, with Pink-footed Geese at Redcliffe Middle Sand. South Ferriby on Humber, Green-winged Teal between bridge and Sluice Road car park. 19/10 Deeping St James, Long-eared Owl on island in Main Lake. Black-necked Grebe on Main Lake just west of island, Deeping Lakes. East Halton Marshes, Yellow-browed Warbler at Winter's Pond, by car park. Frampton Marsh, Yellow-browed Warbler along Reedbed walk, Hen Harrier, American Wigeon on Marsh Farm. 20/10 Freiston Shore, Black-necked Grebe on lagoon, Spotted Redshank at north end of Roads Farm Grassland. Gibraltar Point, Red-rumped Swallow flew south over, Water Pipit flew over West Dunes 21/10 Chapel 6 Marshes, Hawfinch.. . Gibraltar Point, Snow Bunting flew south over Mill Hill. Immingham Grange, 2 Snow Geese, both white morphs, with 2000 Pink-footed Geese, in field south of A189 at Jet Petrol station. Louth, Russian White-fronted Goose with ad Greylag Geese. 22/10 Baston and Langtoft Pits, Dotterel juv in field south of Six Score Road with Golden Plovers. Deeping St James, Black-necked Grebe juv on main lake, Deeping Lakes Immingham, 2 Snow Geese, both ad white morphs, with Pink-footed Geese in field NE of Brocklesby. 23/10 Deeping St James, Black-necked Grebe juv on main lake, Deeping Lakes Gibraltar Point, 2 Bewick;s Swans both ads flew over Middlemarsh Farm, ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 w/o 14/10/2024 General observation only this week: Active ladybirds and foraging bumblebees on sunny, warmer days this week. BARDNEY COMMON TF123693 Phil and Mary Porter 16/10 Walking on the common has been made much more interesting this year as a very large area has been allowed to grow and white and yellow composites of several species have flowered, making a sight that we never expected to see after years and years of closely mown grass. The vegetation was cut recently and taken off, leaving a short sward which was being gleaned by a flock of twenty or so Pied Wagtails. Hopefully from past experience, they will be joined by Meadow Pipits shortly. A few Skylarks were audible as well. All very uplifting – long may the new regime continue! BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 Phil and Mary Porter 22/10/2024 While the sun was out, I was able to find some flies in the garden on ivy flowers; many Bluebottles and Greenbottles, several Drone-flies, and a few Batman Hoverflies, Melanostoma and Syrphus Hoverflies. About 60 Pink-footed Geese flew noisily over, at no very great height, towards Branston Island. CHAMBERS FARM WOOD BUTTERFLY GARDEN TF147 740 Margaret Westcott 20.10.2024 A cold, rainy October, and the garden is bright and cheerful with Narrow-leaved Michaelmas Daisies. Judging by the number of bumblebees these are a valuable addition to the Autumn garden. We weed, top the buddleias and cut back the grass to reveal the original concrete paths. Whilst checking for insects, Richard finds many galls of the Fleabane Gall-fly. We make a mental note not to disturb them in the Spring when they should be emerging. After transplanting Calendula seedlings and Foxgloves, we share a picnic and take a walk to Little Scrubs Meadow as the day ends. Our last session of the year is on Tuesday 5th November, when we shall eat cake and reminisce. HORKSTOW SE987179 Jenny Haynes 18 October 2024 Beautiful Plume moth (Amblyptilia acanthadactyla) on my back door. A lovely name for such a small moth! We also spotted a nuthatch on a feeder and watched a pair of crows mobbing a raptor. I was unable to identify the raptor though it was quite a bit smaller than the crows which were determined to see it off. HOLYWELL LAKE Ian Misselbrook 18/10 Please find below the results of this morning’s WeBS Black-headed Gull 8 Blue Tit 2 Buzzard 2 Canada Goose 15 Carrion Crow 1 Coal Tit 1 Coot 7 Cormorant 1 Dunnock 2 Gadwall 8 Goldfinch 2 Great Tit 2 Greylag Goose 13 Jackdaw c 20 Little Egret 2 Little Grebe 14 Long-tailed tit 4 Mallard 33 Marsh Tit 1 Moorhen 17 Mute Swan 2 Pied Wagtail 1 Red Kite 2 Robin 2 Rook c 10 Shoveler 4 Teal 2 Tufted Duck 12 Wigeon 8 Woodpigeon 6 Wren 5 Grey Squirrel 2 SPALDING TF245218 Annette Faulkner From c 12/10/24 ongoing. I’m no mycologist, but a large clump of fungi that have emerged in the middle of my small lawn I think I have identified as honey fungus, Armillaria sp, after looking in various books. There are trees and shrubs all around for them to be connected to. And quite spectacular. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 16th – 22nd 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 161024 – 24 whooper swan flew out of Rimac roost at first light. Great white egret, 4 pochard (3 drake) and 2 pintail Rimac freshwater marsh scrape. 2 Cetti’s warbler, stonechat pair and water rail Rimac dunes. Grey wagtail, 2 swallow and brambling flew south. Yellow-browed warbler in willows at Sea View work base, in willows at Rimac and Sear’s track. 150 redwing, 30 blackbird and song thrush around Sea View. 90 redwing, 35 blackbird, 8 song thrush, ring ouzel, 5 goldcrest, firecrest Churchill Lane to MOD. Ring ouzel also in dunes at Mablethorpe North End. 2 jack snipe, 3 stonechat and a wheatear; Crook Bank outer dunes. Long-eared owl, 2 ring ouzel, woodcock and 2 yellow-browed warbler Saltfleet Haven area. Little owl and tawny owl at Brickyard Lane. 170124 – Yellow-browed warbler Brickyard Lane and 2 in willows north of Crook Bank. 24 whooper swan Rimac Lagoon early afternoon. Tawny owls vocal at Churchill Lane and Brickyard Lane in the evening. 4 stonechat around pillbox north of Sea View. 14 swallows flew north past Brickyard Lane late afternoon. Yellow-browed warbler still in Saltfleet Haven area. Butterflies – wall Sea View; 2 red admiral, peacock, 2 comma Churchill Lane; brimstone Brickyard Lane. Dragonflies – 2 migrant hawker, ruddy and common darters Churchill Lane. Ivy bees at Churchill Lane. 181024 – Black redstart Churchill Lane in the evening. 3 stonechat on foredunes south of Brickyard Lane. 4 cattle egret still with cows near Sea View. 2 chiffchaff and 2 yellow-browed warbler still in willows north of Crook Bank, another still at Sea View work base, one in willows at Rimac and at Brickyard Lane. Firecrest calling Brickyard Lane dune scrub, where a redpoll and jay flew north. Ring ouzel Churchill Lane and 4 buzzard soaring over. 6 whooper swan flew into roost at Rimac at dusk. 2 house martin flew south over Rimac. Yellow-browed warbler still Saltfleet Haven area. Butterflies – red admiral, comma, large white, small white Sea View; red admiral, comma, speckled wood Churchill Lane; wall Brickyard Lane. 191024 – Ring ouzel still around Churchill Lane and 600 starling on the saltmarsh. 6 cattle egret with cows near Sea View. 201024 – Ringtail hen harrier over the saltmarsh at Sea View and 4 cattle egret with livestock roadside. Great white egret Rimac freshwater marsh scrape. Skua chasing gulls out from Rimac. c4300 pink-footed geese and 5 whooper swan flew into roost at dusk. 211024 – 5 bearded tit in reedy ditch at Rimac late morning. Jay in Crook Bank car park and wheatear on the beach. Redpoll and a few siskin flew south over Brickyard Lane. 4 cattle egret Sea View. 16 whooper swan flew south along the beach early evening. 110 sanderling, 225 dunlin, 100 ringed plover, 180 curlew Churchill Lane to Crook Bank foreshore. Butterflies – wall Crook Bank. 221024 – Single yellow-browed warblers at Brickyard Lane, Sea View farm, Rimac easy access trail. Bearded tit calling Rimac reedbed. Great white egret, cattle egret and 3 black-tailed godwit on Sea View Washlands. 2 peregrine flew west over Churchill Lane. 4 Egyptian geese flew south past Saltfleet Haven. Stonechat pair Saltfleet Haven area. Butterflies – comma, red admiral Sea View; green-veined white, wall Rimac. Dragonflies – 2 pairs ruddy darter and 1 pair common darter Churchill lane. Other Local Reserves: 160124 – Donna Nook: ringtail hen harrier, short-eared owl in-off the sea, 4 ring ouzel, firecrest and 3 yellow-browed warbler. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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; 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. 'It's our moonshot': Why scientists are drilling into volcanos https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1e8q4j1yygo 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 *** N.B. REARRANGED OWING TO WEATHER Wilder Doddington – Sunday 27th October Doddington Hall, west of Lincoln. 12.00 for 13.00 start and finish about 16.00. REVISED CAR PARKING LOCATION at the back of the main car park, on the opposite side of the road to the Hall at SK 90200 70079 Habitat: Heathland and moorland, woodland Leader: Ray Halstead 07772 613640 ray.halstead@yahoo.co.uk Grid reference: SK 90200 70079 What3Words: easy.lots.reservoir Nearest postcode: LN6 4RU ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ...AND FINALLY... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ National and international stories Where are all the bumblebees? https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/where-are-all-the-bumblebees/ BTO Winter Buzzards; Common and Rough-legged. Identification video. https://youtube.com/watch?v=S8K2rSlDaKU&si=BZ-zfpkgNNUh4vDk Hornets can hold their alcohol like no other animal on Earth https://www.newscientist.com/article/2452557-hornets-can-hold-their-alcohol-like-no-other-animal-on-earth/ A stunning map of the Atlantic Ocean seafloor — and one woman’s pioneering quest to publish it https://www.zmescience.com/other/geopicture/atlantic-ridge-geology-repubz/ Sewage dumped illegally in Windermere over 3 years https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdrj70dynk1o The price of living next to a ‘monster’ incinerator https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwylepd79d5o Can culling ferrets and rats save one of the UK’s largest seabird colonies https://uk.news.yahoo.com/monster-task-culling-ferrets-rats-070041540.html Cars stranded after 'supermoon' tide sparks west London flooding https://uk.yahoo.com/news/cars-stranded-supermoon-tide-sparks-130945696.html Protecting England’s trees: new opportunities in the Tree Health Pilot Scheme https://www.gwct.org.uk/blogs/news/2024/september/protecting-england%E2%80%99s-trees-new-opportunities-in-the-tree-health-pilot-scheme/ *** Mail Fails *** Garry Steele - soft bounce - message could not be delivered to one or more recipients. san@alf-resco.co.uk - soft bounce - message could not be delivered to one or more recipients. Mark Bibby - soft bounce - message could not be delivered to one or more recipients. Jackie Nicholson - soft bounce - something went wrong and your message couldn't be delivered. ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/