============================================ || || Wildnews Bulletin || 25th Sept 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: The flavour of local bird-watching will be changing from now on as we can soon expect migrant thrushes and small finches to become the ones to look for; redwings, fieldfares, redpolls and siskins will move into urban and suburban greenspaces. Fruiting and seeding trees and bushes will become the magnets for these birds. Blackbirds also reach us from Scandinavia at this time together with Robins and Song Thrushes though the latter pair don’t tend to make the same impression inland that they can do on the coast. The moth list from Saltfleetby is very much an autumnal list, but migration is not the issue as many of the autumn moths fly only at this time of year and a lot of them have patterns of russet or yellow which must have evolved as the best camouflage at the time of leaf-fall. They spend the day hidden in the litter. 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: *** Row over future of popular Lincolnshire beauty spot - Louth https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjwddp2j006o Bluetongue restriction zones widen after new cases https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c781dk7903ro Thieves target new litter-picking pods https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly70xgw4ymo Plane spotters flock to watch major RAF exercise https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq8xqzppl3xo Calls to protect saltmarshes as vital carbon stores https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y0x24drxmo Lowest tide 'may never be seen again' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm24l6dnp0no Warning after spate of fatal deer road collisions https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy4d88ngemko *** 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 26th September - Sunday 29th September Headline: Cloudy with outbreaks of rain developing Thursday: Thursday will be wet, windy, and unsettled for most of the day. Cooler, showery conditions are expected to develop later and persist overnight, although timings of this change is uncertain. Maximum temperature 14°C. Outlook for Friday to Sunday: Friday sees a brisk northerly wind, along with sunny spells and isolated showers. Drier over the weekend with lighter winds, but the odd shower is still possible at times. UK long range weather forecast Sunday 29th September - Tuesday 8th October Many regions will have a fine day on Sunday, with sunny spells developing after the clearance of early morning frost and fog patches. Later in the day, rain and strong winds are likely to arrive into the far west, then spread across many parts of the UK during the early part of next week. The heaviest and most prolonged spells of rain are most likely to be in the west. Moving into early October, conditions are most likely to remain unsettled with occasional spells of rain and strong winds for all regions. There will also be some drier interludes as well and in these, some patchy fog and frost may form at night. Overall, temperatures will be near or slightly below normal for the time of year. *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** At this time of year, even a glancing blow from a CME can cause a geomagnetic storm. Why? Because during weeks around equinoxes, Earth's magnetic field is unusually well connected to the Sun's. https://spaceweather.com/ 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: Leader: Ray Halstead 07772 613640 ray.halstead@tiscali.co.uk Grid reference: SK 89987 69936 What3Words: juggled.excavated.onions nearest postcode: LN6 4RU *** 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. *** 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/ Grimsby and Cleethorpes Area Group LWT Carolyn Davis writes… On Monday 7th October 2024 the Grimsby and Cleethorpes Area Group LWT hold their first indoor meeting of the season when the Trust President Geoff Trinder will give an illustrated talk – "My involvement with the Trust and my travels worldwide" This will take place in Grimsby Town Hall DN31 1HU and starts at 7.30 pm. Admission £4, all are welcome. Raffle, refreshments and Trust Christmas cards and calendars will be available. *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust *** Nextdoor Nature Day The finals of the Lincolnshire Environmental Awards 2024. Whisby Education Centre /// What 3 words rinsed.permanent.alas Whisby Nature Park, Moor Lane, Thorpe-on-the-Hill, LN6 9BW Saturday 28 September 2024, 10;00-5;00 Join the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust and community groups from across the county to share experiences and inspiration about taking local action and managing spaces for wildlife. From 10am: The Lincolnshire Environmental Awards 2024; Hear from our three community finalists: Cherry Fields at Cherry Willingham, the Community Growers CIC Boston and Nettleham Woodland Trust in this special morning compered by Melvyn Prior which will culminate with the announcement of the winners of the Lincolnshire Environmental Awards 2024. From 1pm until 5pm: Create your own wildlife haven Discover how to transform your garden, community space or small landholding into a haven for wildlife with practical demonstrations and an opportunity to chat to community groups about how they’ve brought wildlife back to their neighbourhoods, Including advice on managing meadows, creating ponds, willow weaving and willow features, dead hedging, attracting birds to your green space and more... *** 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. 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 16/9 Alkborough Flats, 2 juv Curlew Sandpipers from Prospect Hide, Pectoral Sandpiper juv, 5 Spotted Redshanks. Deeping St James, 2 Glossy Ibises on island along river , 4 juv Black Terns at West Pit, Deeping Lakes. Donna Nook, 2 juv Red-backed Shrikes in scrub north of Stonebridge car park. Freiston Shore, Curlew Sandpiper. Gibraltar Point, Common Rosefinch trapped and ringed, Sooty Shearwater flew north past, Pied Flycatcher, 24 Spoonbills on Tennyson's Sands. 17/9 Anderby Creek, Long-tailed Skua. Alkborough Flats,11 Little Stints. Covenham Reservoir, Little Gull. Donna Nook, 1w Red-backed Shrike in scrub north of car park. Freiston Shore, Curlew Sandpiper. Gibraltar Point, Barred Warbler at East Dunes, Common Rosefinch, Firecrest in Plantation, Greenland White-fronted Goose ad with Pink-footed Geese on Tennyson's Sands, Red-breasted flycatcher,. Long-tailed Skua flew past. 19/9 Frampton March, Little Stint, 15 Spoonbills. Freiston Shore, Richard's Pipit on saltmarsh at south end, flew SE, Yellow- browed Warbler in West Dunes south of north car park, Honey Buzzard flew over Fenland Lagoon, Pomarine Skua flew south past. Saltfleet Haven, (north of), Yellow-browed Warbler in dunes near fishing ponds. 20/9 Covenham Reservoir, Scaup drk. Frampton March, Black Tern at River Witham mouth, 3 Scaup on Reedbed, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper. Freiston Shore, Scaup, Curlew Sandpiper. Gibraltar Point, Richard's Pipit by Old Saltmarsh, Pied Flycatcher, Yellow-browed Warbler at Mill Hill in scrub, another in West Dunes, Curlew Sandpiper on Tennyson's Sands. 2 Yellow-browed Warblers and also 2 Honey Buzzards both juvs in The Plantation - flew SW, Honey Buzzard over old saltmarsh. Sutton-on-Sea, Pomarine Skua ad flew north, juv Long-tailed Skua. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, Yellow-browed Warbler at Churchill Lane car park, Caspian Gull 1w, Yellow-browed Warbler along bank at Saltfleet Haven. 21/9 Alkborough Flats, Pectoral Sandpiper juv from Prospect Hide. Boston, Long-tailed Skua flew past Cut End, Pomarine Skua, Leach's Petrel north past Cut End. Donna Nook, Yellow-browed Warbler by Stonebridge car park, Pied Flycatcher. Frampton Marsh, 4 Curlew Sandpipers, Spotted Redshank. Gibraltar Point, Common Rosefinch, Barred Warbler, Honey Buzzard over/flew south, Yellow-browed Warbler, 1w Caspian Gull, Richard's Pipit by Old Saltmarsh. 2 Spotted Redshanks, Curlew Sandpiper on Tennyson's Sands, 19 Spoonbills. Huttoft Bank, Pied Flycatcher, Hawfinch, Long-tailed Skua juv off Huttoft car terrace.. Woodhall Spa Airfield, 2 Yellow-browed Warblers in brambles.by golf course. 22/9 Chapel Six Marshes, Firecrest, Barred Warbler. Donna Nook, 2 Yellow-browed Warblers on part to Pye's Hall. Gibraltar Point, Yellow-browed Warbler at North car park. Pyewipe, 2 Caspian Gulls, both 1w. Skegness, Caspian Gull 1w on beach. 23/9 Cleethorpes, 4 Ruddy Shelducks with Dark-bellied Brent Geese on saltmarsh off leisure centre. Donna Nook, Eastern Stonechat, probably Siberian Stonechat, on track between Stonebridge car park and Pye's Hall. Frampton Marsh, 2 Little Stints. Gibraltar Point, Long-tailed Skua flew past, 3 Pomarine Skuas, Black-throated Diver, Lapland Bunting flew over East Dunes, 2 Hen Harriers, 3+ Ring Ouzels, Yellow-browed Warbler at Sykes Farm, 25 Spoonbills on Tennyson's Sands, Cattle Egret briefly. Yellow-browed Warbler at Aylmer Avenue. Marton, Gannet juv flew east over. Pyewipe, 2 Pomarine Skuas over Humber from South Marsh Road. Sutton-on-Sea, Black-throated Diver flew south past.,4 Pomarine Skuas flew past, Balearic Shearwater flew north past. 24/9 Baston Langtoft Pits, 2 juv Black Terns over T-junction Pit. viewed from hardstanding on Cross Road. Covenham Reservoir, Black Tern, drk Scaup. Donna Nook, Yellow-browed Warbler just north of Stonebridge Car Park. Red-breasted Flycatcher south of Pye's Hall., Eastern Stonechat by track between Stonebridge car park and Pye's Hall. Gibraltar Point, Yellow-browed Warbler trapped and ringed in West Dunes, Ring Ouzel at Army Swathe, Yellow-browed Warbler along track at Sykes 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. AINSLIE PARK, GRIMSBY TF351357 Phil Porter 21st September A diverse list of 17 species of diptera (true flies) from 13 families included swarms of Tipula paludosa , our commonest cranefly, 2 species of Cluster flies (Pollenia), a snail-killing fly Sepedon sphegea, a tiny dolichopodid, Campsicnemus scambus, with middle legs which look as if they had been broken and squashed https://insecta.pro/taxonomy/335350 , and a muscid (Housefly type) Limnophora tigrina with only 2 previous county records. If anyone wants the full list of flies, my email is philporterento@outlook.com Alex Pickwell sampled the large pond for aquatic invertebrates, and Paul Kirby has amassed a list of c.180 plants (including non-native species) in the last couple of months. This small park is remarkable for its spring-fed water body that has expanded enormously in the last few years to create a wetland that is so much more diverse than the previous mowed grass and trees. Characteristic plants and insects have colonised it very quickly. North-East Lincolnshire Council is interested in obtaining Local Wildlife Site status for the Park. BARDNEY - THE GREEN TF120694 R + A Parsons 20/9/2024 4 Pied wagtails on The Green. 2 regular in garden. 30 House Sparrows 25 Starlings 2 Blackbirds, 2 Robins, 2 Dunnock, 3 Collared Dove, 7 Jackdaws, 20 and 21/9/2024 Comma butterfly 50 starlings visiting feeder. 21/9/2024 Flush of Suede Bolete on lawn - 5 caps on 24/9. 23/9/2024 Raven singing from their favourite tree near churchyard - later flew west. BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 Phil and Mary Porter 19th September A treat for Mary; a Red Kite glided very low over the garden in strong wind and adjusted its course dramatically with a wide fanning of its tail! 20th September 4 Buzzards displayed and challenged for a noisy quarter of an hour over the garden. 1 or 2 to be seen on most other days. 1 sick Greenfinch unfortunately. 21st September Mary monitored the number of rats in the garden near the compost heap (too many!) with her trail camera overnight, and what else should wander out but a (polecat)-ferret. The following day we heard that two had been seen in daylight going up the lane towards Abbey Farm. 24th September 1 adult and 1 juvenile Goldfinch. All week there have been plenty of 7-spot Ladybirds to be found on woundwort stems, Green Woodpecker calling in the garden next door. A Great Spotted Woodpecker also called while we were gardening but they never come into the garden when we are outside. 25th September 4 Red Admirals on either Michaelmas Daisies or fallen apples. About 6 whites fluttering around including at least one Large White. WILLINGHAM WOODS. Angela Buckle 21st September Autumn hawkbit, Common knapweed, Woundwort, still in flower, Coral spot fungus, Speckled wood, Small white. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 18th – 24th September 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 180924 – Great white egret Rimac lagoon. Flock of 60+ goldfinch around Brickyard Lane. An unusual sighting of a black swan flying south along the tide line at Saltfleet. 20+ ivy bees between Brickyard Lane and Churchill Lane. 190924 – 18 shelduck and 2 flocks of wigeon flew north, while 24 sandwich tern remain around the beach. Whinchat and yellow-browed warbler Saltfleet Haven area. 200924 – First winter Caspian gull on Sea View Washlands. 295 shelduck Saltfleet Haven outfall. Yellow-browed warbler mobile around Churchill Lane. Another yellow-browed warbler Saltfleet Haven area. Butterflies – 9 red admiral, 2 comma Churchill Lane. WeBS section Theddlethorpe-Saltfleet of interest: 295 shelduck, 107 mallard, 124 teal, 455 wigeon, 5 pintail, 34 little egret. Common and soprano pipistrelles foraging at Sea View (TF46289251) and alongside Paradise wood (TF45919313). A moth trap at Sea View revealed: yellow-line quaker, lunar underwing, rosy rustic, spectacle, broad-bordered yellow underwing, large yellow underwing, lesser yellow underwing, copper underwing, Setaceous Hebrew character, canary-shouldered thorn, green carpet, common wainscot, beaded chestnut, clay, snout, red-necked footman caterpillar, Roesel’s bush-cricket. 210924 – 2 redwing flew west over Mablethorpe North End. 2 more redwing and 17 song thrush flew west over Crook Bank. 6 siskin at Sea View. 2 firecrest and reed warbler in willows at Crook Bank. Yellow-browed warbler in dune scrub at Brickyard Lane and 1 still at Churchill Lane. 240 golden plover and 5 buzzard in flight inland from Crook Bank. Tawny owl calling at Churchill Lane in the evening. 700+ pink-footed geese, wheatear and 2 whinchat Elm House Farm. Damselflies – 2 willow emerald Churchill Lane. 6 siskin Sea View. 1 bat sp. seen foraging at Sea View 16:00 (TF46299250). 220924 – Firecrest still around Crook Bank willows. Wheatear Crook Bank. Tawny owl calling at Churchill Lane in the evening. 230924 – Wheatear on pillbox north of Sea View. 10 wheatear, 13 brent geese, whimbrel, 2 greenshank, green sandpiper, hobby, yellow-browed warbler, garden warbler, blackcap, 2 reed warbler, chiffchaff and 6 song thrush Saltfleet Haven area. Moths – hummingbird hawkmoth Sea View. Sea View Washlands: 54 teal, 9 shoveler, 1 greenshank, 1 black-tailed godwit. Single wheatear on edge of saltmarsh. 240924 – 2450 pink-footed goose roosting on the foreshore in two groups. 2 wheatear, 13 pintail, 58 teal and 2 wigeon Crook Bank foreshore. Yellow-browed warbler, pied flycatcher, hobby Crook Bank dunes, great white egret flew over. 3 bullfinch and Cetti’s warbler at Churchill Lane. Turtle dove flew from dune edge at Brickyard Lane. Green sandpiper, cattle egret and 4 black-tailed godwit Sea View Washlands. Wheatear at Elm House Farm. Sea holly on dune edge near Crook Bank. 9 skeins of pink footed geese all flying high, north west, 509 birds. Rimac freshwater lagoon: 22 coot. 2 avocets Rimac saltmarsh lagoon. Other Local Reserves 210924 – Donna Nook: 1 Manx shearwater, 1 yellow-browed warbler, 1 redstart, 1 brambling, 1 marsh harrier, 600 oystercatchers, 150 shelduck, 1 greenshank, 200 redshank, 36 little egrets. 240924 – Legbourne Wood: 1 singing chiffchaff, jays, 2 nuthatch. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: 1st and 15th October 2024 https://butterfly-conservation.org/in-your-area/lincolnshire-branch/chambers-farm-wood-butterfly-garden CHAMBERS FARM BUTTERFLY GARDEN TF147740 Margaret Westcott 18.09.2024 September, early mists, cool sunshine and late flowering asters bring out the butterflies. We weed, deadhead, collect seeds, add wildflower plugs to grass areas and erect a beautifully made new dedication board at the entrance to the Butterfly Garden. Our early Autumn flowers include Cosmos, Helianthus, Rudbeckia, Salvias and Asters. The latter, Harrington's Pinks, are a great draw to butterflies, and we have recorded all the usual garden species, including Small Copper and Painted Lady. Visitors write positive comments in the folder inside the Butterfly Conservation resources box kept in the garden, great feedback. The pond is one of our features. The Southern Hawker is seen patrolling and laying in the damp moss. A pond dip reveals its impressive larva. Other larvae of the Large Red Damselfly are present. Sessions in October are Tuesday 1st and 15th, 9.30-15.00. New volunteers are most welcome. Please contact me, Margaret Westcott 01205 750719, or just pop along. Lincolnshire Dormouse Group Autumn dormouse activities Gemma Watkinson writes; I have confirmation that we have a permit for the nest box checks in September/October! Apologies for the delay. The next will be: Saturday 19th October Anyone interested in joining us for either session should email through to 'sign-up' no later than a week before each session. Please email lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com if you are interested in joining us. Did you know that dormice have a very distinctive way of opening a hazelnut? Dormouse chewed hazelnuts have a smooth inner rim with toothmarks at an angle to the hole on the nut surface and look a little like a clog. Now is a great time of year to be looking out for hazelnuts on the floor while you are out walking in the woods. We are interested to know whether dormice have naturally dispersed into other woodlands in the Lincolnshire Limewoods area (or indeed if there are any remnant isolated populations elsewhere in the county). For anyone walking in the Limewoods area, particularly in those woodlands closest to Chambers Farm Woods (e.g. Camshaws Wood, Austacre and New Park Woods, and Broadwater Forest, Thistle Storr Wood, Glad Wood and College Wood) please keep a look out for any hazelnuts that you think may have been opened by a dormouse. More information on how to undertake a nut hunt can be found on the People’s Trust for Endangered Species website and this document illustrates the distinctive marks to look out for as well as what nuts opened by voles, birds and squirrels also look like. https://ptes.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Help_us_find_hazel_dormice_generic.pdf Please let us know what you find, and send us photos of any nuts you think may have been opened by dormice. Happy Nut Hunting! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The NNR includes the following sites: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chambers Farm Woods (comprises Ivy Wood; Little and Great Scrubbs Woods; Minting Wood; Hatton Wood, Hatton Plantation and Minting Park; and also three areas of grassland: Little Scrubbs Meadow and extension), Small Meadow and Big Meadow. Since all have their own management plans, please give the actual location when reporting). College Wood; Cocklode & Great West Woods; Hardy Gang Wood; Newball Wood; Rand Wood; Scotgrove Wood; Southrey Wood and Wickenby Wood. Many of these include both areas of ancient woodland or important grassland. Many are also designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Records which provide a six-figure grid reference are of particular value to the Forestry Commission. Other woods included in the NNR but without public access: Stainfield Wood; Stainton & Fulnetby Woods (access by public bridle way only). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. OTHER RESERVE REPORTS AND HIGHLIGHTS. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Discover Woodland Trust woods near you- including the best woods for walks, wildlife watching, family fun and heritage. https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/#=undefined&view=map Lincolnshire County Council - Local Nature Reserves https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/coast-countryside/nature-reserves Links to "Other Reserves" are welcome. Your suggestions, please. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7. SENDING IN BULLETIN REPORTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The purpose of the Bulletin is to encourage biological recording in Lincolnshire. We aim to increase the number of people reporting observations to Recorders or via iRecord. https://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/ The Bulletin is a FREE service. We ask you to provide reports, questions, news or relevant articles from time to time. Descriptive pieces are welcome. You don't have to stick to lists! Please help us to help you. When sending in reports please follow this layout to save re-editing: Place Name: IN CAPITALS with Grid Reference if you have it. Your Name: Real names please, not aliases. Put it in each time, for each location Date: Species list [Alphabetical?] & numbers [and observations?] e.g. Blackbird - 24 [And please, no home-grown abbreviations. Species Names in full.] Bulletin mailing times may vary. It usually goes out on Wednesdays/ Thursdays in time for the weekend. Please e-mail in contributions to the editor as early as possible. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8. CONTACTS AND USEFUL WEBSITES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Links "not to be missed" *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. CONTACTS LIST Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union LNU Website: http://lnu.org/ LNU Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist LNU e-mail: info@lnu.org Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust: https://twitter.com/LincsWildlife Lincs Bird Club: https://twitter.com/Lincsbirding LBC County Bird Recorder: recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk The Sir Joseph Banks Society: https://twitter.com/sirjosephbanks Lincolnshire Bat Group: http://www.lincsbatgroup.co.uk/ Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch: https://twitter.com/BC_Lincolnshire Lincsbirders: https://twitter.com/lincsbirders Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project: https://lincolnshirechalkstreams.org/ Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Trust: https://lincolnshirechalkstreamstrust.org.uk/ South Lincolnshire Flora Group: https://bsbi.org/south-lincolnshire-v-c-53 The Wolds Fungi Group: Contact Paul Nichol via email: nichol20@gmail.com Lincolnshire Dormouse Group: Contact: lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com FIGHTING WILDLIFE CRIME Wildlife Crime https://www.lincs.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/wc/wildlife-crime/ SPECIES IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. LNU Recorders and Specialists: https://lnu.org/specialists/ Downloads of LNU books: https://lnu.org/publications/books/ Recording with "iRecord": https://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/ iRecord is recommended by the LNU as an appropriate platform for on-line recording When asking for help: Please give the very best information you can provide. If you are not sure, ask what is needed from you to confirm identification. Photographs are helpful but not every species can be identified from a photograph. When asked for further details,get back to the recorder promptly. Don't forget a thank you for the help. That is always welcomed. Dragonfly Identification help https://british-dragonflies.org.uk/odonata/species-and-identification/ Local Bat Helpline Grounded bats, bat problems, advice and information. Contact Annette Faulkner on 01775 766286 Email: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com Confidential Bat Records You may send confidential bat records direct to Annette Faulkner on: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com Bat Identification https://www.bats.org.uk/about-bats/what-are-bats/uk-bats/ NHBS - Frequencies of British Bats https://media.nhbs.com/equipment/British%20Bat%20Frequencies.pdf Slug ID Help Chris du Feu will help with slug identification. Tel: 01383 669 124 Email: chris.r.dufeu@gmail.com USEFUL WILDLIFE LINKS Please copy and paste URLs if necessary. Lincolnshire Badger Group https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093647842292 Email: lincolnshirebadgergroup@hotmail.com Lincs Environmental Records Centre: http://www.glnp.org.uk/ Natural England: http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ NHBS Natural history equipment or books: https://www.nhbs.com/ The Flora of Lincolnshire by Joan Gibbons: downloadable LNU book Atlas of the terrestrial and semi-aquatic Mammals of Lincolnshire *** For the Geologists *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. Lincolnshire Geodiversity Group: https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/discovering/geology-1 Geology of the Lincolnshire Wolds: https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/special-features/geology The Geology of Lincolnshire: downloadable LNU book 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: Leader: Ray Halstead 07772 613640 ray.halstead@tiscali.co.uk Grid reference: SK 89987 69936 What3Words: juggled.excavated.onions nearest postcode: LN6 4RU ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ...AND FINALLY... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ National and international stories Flash floods and heavy rain batter England and Wales https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn4zy0mp8ldo Popular 'Britain's Pompeii' display extends run https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0e1g2en5yyo Cinnamon the capybara reunited with family https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3wp13vqpl8o Hundreds of watchdog job cuts 'put nature at risk' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgvl48jvpqo Sir David Attenborough: 'The world would be worse off without our stories' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c05j3q07p3yo ‘Shazam for whales’ uses AI to track sounds heard in Mariana Trench https://www.newscientist.com/article/2448480-shazam-for-whales-uses-ai-to-track-sounds-heard-in-mariana-trench/ A lonely and ancient plant needs a female partner and researchers are using drones and AI to find it – podcast https://theconversation.com/a-lonely-and-ancient-plant-needs-a-female-partner-and-researchers-are-using-drones-and-ai-to-find-it-podcast-239322 *** Mail Fails *** 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/