============================================ || || Wildnews Bulletin || 13th August 2025 || 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. Gibraltar Point, Coastal Country Park 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. ============================================ To interest new readers please use the "Forward to a Friend" link at the end of every Bulletin, or suggest anyone interested visits the LNU website and signs up that way. https://lnu.org/publications/wildnews-bulletin/ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Roger writes about "Sykes" Years ago I helped a friend with bees at Copping Syke, Langrick, where I first came across the Lincolnshire dialect word "Sykes". At first I assumed it was a surname, as in Bill Sykes! However, it is one of the county's water- related words. "Ancestry" says "The Lincolnshire word "syke" (and its plural form "sykes") originates from Old Norse "sík" or "síkja", meaning a small stream, marshy hollow, or gully. Over time, this word was used in Middle English to describe someone living near such a topographical feature, evolving into the surname "Sykes". The surname, particularly in the plural form "Sykes", became common in the North Midlands by the 16th century." So do we need an apostrophe with it? Not if it is named after the geographical feature. For example, pager reports from Sykes Farm at Gibraltar Point use both options! Kevin Wilson adds: "My understanding is that it was named after tenant farmer David Sykes. We tend to stick with "Sykes Farm". Phil Porter's email is: philporterento@outlook.com Roger Parsons' email is: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk Reminder: An exhibition on Miss E. Joan Gibbons and the Flora of Lincolnshire. Roger writes: We went to see this and it is an excellent account of her amazing contribution to Botany. It made me recall the hours we spent moving the LNU Herbarium from pillar to post, finally finding it a home through "Love Lincs Plants". Worth seeing and strongly recommended. See Paul Scott's piece below. https://www.facebook.com/61575925386264/posts/our-e-joan-gibbons-exhibition-is-now-up-and-running-visit-us-thursday-to-saturda/122131782260864179/ BTO's tracked Cuckoos - Latest updates - south of the Sahel: Wilfrid, Jim, Winston, Norman, Ashok, Sayaan and Cuach Cores. https://www.bto.org/cuckoos Loch of the Lowes SWT Webcam Sadly, the new osprey pair at Loch of the Lowes lost their remaining egg just days before its anticipated hatching date. The empty nest gets an occasional Osprey visitor. The camera is still running, looking across the Loch. https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/watch-wildlife-online/loch-of-the-lowes-webcam/ LEARN A NEW SPECIES & BOOST LINCOLNSHIRE’S NATURAL HISTORY RECORD! Colin Smith, LNU President writes… A core function of the LNU is to encourage wildlife recording. We would like everyone’s help to fill in the recording gaps for some of the more common Lincolnshire species. Each fortnight we will introduce a species with a link to a current distribution map and details of the species to look out for. Please look out for the species in your area or when you are out and about in the County. You can record what you see on: https://irecord.org.uk/ This is the LNU’s chosen digital platform for biological recording. It is free to register with and easy to use, but if you have any difficulty get in touch via the LNU website and we will try to help. There is a comprehensive guide to getting started on the iRecord home page above. Click on Help. After a month, details of the records received and an updated map will be Issued here on your Bulletin. On iRecord, you will have access to millions of wildlife records from across the UK, and will be able to organise your own records within its database. Please do join in and record these species and any others you find. Take the best close-up picture you can. The next species is the Sycamore Aphid Drepanosiphum platanoidis. This is a very common species across the county and can be so numerous at times that the sticky substance they exude can cover everything beneath them. They can be found on the underside of Sycamore leaves, they are green. There is another species Periphyllus acericola that is black, so please feel free to record both. As you can see from the map despite this being an extremely common species there are very few records. Please help to fill the gaps. Pictures and further information can be found at:- Drepanosiphum platanoidis (Common Sycamore aphid) identification, images, ecology. The current record distribution Map can be seen at: Drepanosiphum platanoidis, Sycamore Aphid – The Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union Thanks to those who added records for our previous map filling species. We received 47 records from 27 recorders for the Common red soldier beetle Rhagonycha fulva. Please do join in as all records are valuable and help our understanding of the county's changing natural history. AnchorAnchorAnchorAnchorAnchor *** This week's mostly-local news stories: *** Historic aircraft to take part in VJ Day flypast - 15th August https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/england/lincolnshire River cleaner 'could have cried' over rubbish - Grimsby. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5ylgend9l1o Southern European butterfly spotted in UK for first time- Suffolk. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy1wgly21zo 'Sea of sunflowers' thriving as weather changes - Deeping St Nicholas https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy5602j7y1o Group's crusade to improve town's flood defences - Pointon https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3r4pnxzw0wo Woman dies after lifeboat rescues her from sea - Skegness https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c30z73rn7q6o 'Biggest' floating solar farm approved for dock - Grimsby https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjw6q949ndeo Busy weekend for RNLI as new station opens - Cleethorpes https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgppnkl7wno Coast road closed for repairs after cracks appear - Saltfleetby https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdx02y543xpo 'No hope' for windmill as volunteer group disbands - Alford https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6200g4yy1wo *** 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 14th August - Sunday 17th August Headline: Hot and mostly dry Wednesday. Thursday: Mostly dry, although an isolated shower is possible in the west. Another very warm day with variable amounts of cloud, but also with sunny spells. Somewhat cooler in the west. Maximum temperature 28 °C. Outlook for Friday to Sunday: Mostly dry through this period. Variable amounts of cloud, but warm or very warm for many with some bright or sunny spells likely. UK long range weather forecast Sunday 17th August - Tuesday 26th August High pressure will be dominant across much of the UK at the start of this period. This will bring a good deal of fine and dry weather with spells of sunshine for many. Any showers will probably be confined to the far southwest of the UK but could be heavy and thundery. Temperatures are likely to be well above normal, especially in the south. Later, it will likely become more changeable with some showers or longer spells of rain at times. Rainfall is expected to be highest in the south where some heavy, thundery showers are possible, with drier conditions further north. Some periods of dry and settled weather are also likely to develop at times. Temperatures are expected to be above normal. Anchor*** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** New signs found of giant gas planet in 'Earth's neighbourhood' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2xezw3dkpo Perseid meteor shower: When, where and how to catch a glimpse https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy7d7e82gno Space and astronomy highlights in 2025 - June to August https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/space-astronomy/space-astronomy-highlights-2025#June AuroraWatch UK https://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/ The SpaceWeather website https://spaceweather.com/ Full Moons https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/full-moon-calendar Meteor shower dates - 7 July – 24 August - The Perseid meteor shower https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/meteor-shower-guide BBC Sky at Night Magazine website https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news Current Position of ISS https://www.astroviewer.net/iss/en/ *** EVENTS *** SIR JOSEPH BANKS SOCIETY Past president Paul Scott writes: An exhibition on Miss E. Joan Gibbons and the Flora of Lincolnshire. This exhibition is all about Miss Gibbons, her work, and the publishing of the Flora of Lincolnshire. Learn more about this extraordinary lady and the botanical history of Lincolnshire. The exhibition is open to the public, free of charge, Thursday to Saturday 10:00am to 4:00pm at the Joseph Banks Centre, 11-13 Bridge Street, Horncastle. LN9 5HZ until September 6th. enquiries@joseph-banks.org.uk , 01507 700012. On certain Saturdays, please contact us to find out which, the curator of this exhibition, Debbie Lincoln, will be in the Centre to talk you through Miss Gibbons' life and work. *** LINCOLN RSPB PEREGRINE WATCH *** Volunteer opportunities available for people who are passionate about wildlife and conservation. Lincoln RSPB are running the Peregrine Watch at Lincoln Cathedral again this year. All weekends in June, July and August Prior experience isn’t necessary, enthusiasm and reliability is more important. For more information contact: Gwen M Randall, Volunteer Co-ordinator gwen.randall@lincolnrspb.org.uk *** SOUTH LINCOLNSHIRE RSPB GROUP*** "Waders of The Wash" An illustrated Slideshow Talk by local RSPB Volunteer and photographer Jeremy Eyeons showcasing the wide variety of waders which can be found around the Wash estuary. Wednesday 24th September 2025 at 7-30pm at Boston Tennis Club. Please note this talk has now been changed to 8th October. Full details at https://group.rspb.org.uk/southlincolnshire/ *** SOUTH LINCS RSPB GROUP *** Dates for their 2025 programme of "Bird and Seal Watching Cruises" aboard The Boston Belle into The Wash estuary. There are 12 cruises scheduled for 2025 starting on Easter Monday and ending in October. Full details including availability, dates, costs, booking etc. are on the website. https://group.rspb.org.uk/southlincolnshire/ STAYING SAFE Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary... The Heat-Health Alert Service in England runs from 1 June to 30 September each year. You can register for alerts on this link. https://ukhsa-dashboard.data.gov.uk/weather-health-alerts/heat Bird flu: Defra advice to the general public is to leave corpses alone and report the findings - but 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://check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk/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 3/8/2025 Alkborough Flats, 2 Spotted Redshanks, 1ad, from Prospect Hide. 14 Spoonbills on River Trent/Ouse confluency. Anderby Creek, Wood Sandpiper at Anderby Marsh - walk south thru' dunes. Deeping St James, Glossy Ibis ad. at East Pit, from 1st viewing screen Deeping Lakes Freiston Shore, Pectoral Sandpiper on south lagoon from viewing platform. Gibraltar Point, Tree Pipit flew south over Mill Hill Grainthorpe, 15+ Quail, 1ad+chicks, near Coal Shore Lane. Saltfleet Haven, Spotted Redshank just south of, on Paradise Pool. Whisby Nature Park, 2 Common Scoters drk + fem at Teal Lake. 4/8/2025 Frampton Marsh, Little Stint. Freiston Shore, Pectoral Sandpiper on south lagoon from viewing platform, 2 Curlew Sandpipers. Gibraltar Point, Wood Sandpiper. 5/8/2025 Boultham Mere, 2 Spoonbills Gibraltar Point, 2 Wood Sandpipers on Jackson's Marsh north of Sykes Farm. Mablethorpe, Roseate Tern ad flew north past. 6/8/2025 Mablethorpe, Caspian Gull juv off Sea View car park on sea. Saltfleet, just south of Saltfleet Haven, Spotted Redshank on Paradise Pool. 7/8/2025 Mablethorpe, Caspian Gull juv off South Promenade. Gibraltar Point, Little Stint at Tennyson's Sands from Harvey's Hide. Goxhill Haven, Caspian Gull juv flew west past. 8/8/2025 Freiston Shore, Pectoral Sandpiper ad on south lagoon from viewing platform, Curlew Sandpiper. Gibraltar Point, Wood Sandpiper at Tennyson's Sands, Spotted Redshank. 38 Spoonbills Leadenham, 3 Caspian Gulls all 1s at landfill. Messingham Sand Quarry, Wood Sandpiper opposite Scallow Grove Farm. Skegness, west of, Glossy Ibis on lagoon at Middlemarsh Farm. 9/8/2025 Boultham Mere, 2 Spoonbills East Halton Skitter, Garganey on Winter's Pond. Frampton Marsh, Little Stint. Freiston Shore, Pectoral Sandpiper ad on south lagoon from viewing platform, 2 Curlew Sandpipers. Gibraltar Point, Glossy Ibis on Jackson's Marsh north of Sykes Farm. White-rumped Sandpiper on The Wash. 10/8/2025 Alkborough Flats, 20 Spoonbills from Prospect Hide. East Halton Skitter/Goxhill Haven, 3 Ruddy Shelducks. Garganey at Winter's Pond. Frampton Marsh, Wood Sandpiper juv, 22 Spoonbills. Freiston Shore, Curlew Sandpiper, Spoonbill, Pectoral Sandpiper.on south lagoon. Gibraltar Point, 2 White-rumped Sandpipers on foreshore at high tide, Wood Sandpiper. Skegness, west of, Glossy Ibis on lagoon at Middlemarsh Farm. 11/8/2025 Deeping St James, Glossy Ibis ad. at East Pit, from 1st viewing screen Deeping Lakes Freiston Shore, Curlew Sandpiper. Gibraltar Point, Wood Sandpiper. juv, Glossy Ibis on Jackson's Marsh north of Sykes Farm, 40 Spoonbills on Tennyson's Sands, Wood Sandpiper juv. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, Black-winged Pratincole flew south over Crook Bank with Black-headed Gulls. Pectoral Sandpiper on beach briefly with Ringed Plovers. Whisby Nature Park, Glossy Ibis at Teal Lake from viewing screen. 12/8/2025 Alkborough Flats, Pectoral Sandpiper. Baston Langtoft Pits, Turnstone juv at South Pit. Deeping St James, Spotted Redshank. at East Pit, Deeping Lakes Frampton Marsh, Pectoral Sandpiper from Reedbed Hide. Freiston Shore, Curlew Sandpiper on south lagoon from viewing platform. Gibraltar Point, 6 Pied Flycatchers. Leadenham, 4 Caspian Gulls ad2 1s juv. at landfill. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, 3 Caspian Gulls, 2s + 2juvs on beach. at Crook Bank 13/8/2025 Alkborough Flats, Pectoral Sandpiper. from Prospect Hide then flew towards reedbed. Coleby, Quail male singing at west end of Heath Road. Gibraltar Point, Pied Flycatcher 1w trapped and ringed. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. Request from Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue - can You Help Us? We’re mapping wildlife fatality hotspots on roads to help improve safety for both animals and drivers. Over time, this data could support efforts to work with local authorities to make high-risk areas safer. If you come across a deceased animal or are aware of one, please report the Location ”when it’s safe to do so” by: Dropping a pin on the map provided Sharing a What3Words location Providing the street name While we are unable to collect deceased wildlife, your information could help prevent future incidents. Thank you! Please share to help spread the word. Report deceased wildlife on the link below: https://form.jotform.com/.../report-roadside-deceased... *** County Wildlife Reports from Readers *** Thank you to all contributors. We rely on readers to send in observations and welcome reports from everyone, experts to beginners. Please keep your reports coming. BARDNEY - The Green TF120694 A & R Parsons 12/8/2025 Continuing bat echolocation at 55kHz starting about 21.30 and ending with a brief burst between 03.30 and 04.30. I assume this indicates going to roost. Much reduced bird activity in garden this week: Magpie 4 Starlings - 12+ on feeder. Village starling flock murmuration frequently seen in distance over Silver Street. Jackdaw - 6-7 regulars - up to about 12. Woodpigeon - 5 Collared dove 2-3 Black-headed gull juv 1 Blue tit House sparrow 2-4 Dunnock Robin Blackbird Goldfinch 2 on birdbath. Butterfly count, 13.30hrs on 8/9/20225 Red Admiral 1 Large White 2 Red Kite over garden about noon on 13/8/2025. BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 Phil and Mary Porter 6th August 2025 Comma and Meadow Brown around this afternoon. Also a very squealy brood of young buzzards honing their flying skills high overhead. 11th August 2025 Holly Blue, Common Blue, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Gatekeeper. Noticed Robin’s autumnal song for the first time. 12th August 2025 Common Blue again. It favours the yellow flowers of Shrubby Cinquefoil. BOSTON My garden TF338441 Tracey Lenton I have seen swifts gathering in a larger group this month. I wonder if they are joining together ready for migration? 3rd August a group of 5 6th August I counted 10 10th August a larger number of at least 12 possibly up to 15-20 Evenings are active with dragonflies, migrant hawkers, which I assume must indicate good quantities of insects; this is followed by a bat around dusk 9-9:30pm. In the last 10 days a hedgehog has been visiting regularly, seen 8th August eating food I put out and drank from the water dish, nocturnal visits are also evident from droppings on the lawn. DODDINGTON Colin Smith 7/8/25 Some members of the LNU Fungi group had an impromptu meeting and despite the dry weather we found some nice species including Pavement Mushroom Agaricus bitorquis, Panther Cap Amanita pantherina, Rooting Bolete Caloboletus radicans, Bluefoot Bolete Xerocomus cisalpinus, Crested Coral Clavulina coralloides, Collared Parachute Marasmius rotula, Sheathed Woodtuft Kuehneromyces mutabilis, Penny Bun Boletus edulis, Blushing Rosette Abortiporus biennis and Wood Mushroom Agaricus sylvicola. RAUCEBY WARREN TF026435 Colin Smith 11/8/25 Rather dry here at the moment but found the following. Bishop's Mitre Shieldbug Aelia acuminata, Hairy Shieldbug Dolycoris baccarum, Box Bug Gonocerus acuteangulatus, Spiked Shieldbug Picromerus bidens, rhopalid bug Stictopleurus punctatonervosus, Dock Bug Coreus marginatus, Rhombic Leatherbug Syromastus rhombeus and rhopalid bug Rhopalus subrufus. SOUTHREY WOOD - Lincolnshire Limewoods NNR TF1368 A & R Parsons 10/8/2025 Birds - using "Merlin" app. Buzzard Woodpigeon Crow Wren Blue Tit Coal Tit Tree Creeper Chaffinch Collared Dove Butterflies - rough estimate on circuit. Small Tortoiseshell 4 Large White 20+ Small White 2 Common Blue 12+ Comma 2 Gatekeeper 8 Peacock 6 Red Admiral 8+ Meadow Brown 8+ Silver-washed Fritillary 2 also Hornet Dead mole on track - very likely a drought casualty. See: https://sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/news/moles Fungi: several dessicated dark capped Russulas. Probably Russula atropurpurea / Russula undulata SOUTHREY WOOD TF Phil and Mary Porter 10th August 2025 A warm morning with a lot of insects on the flowers; Common Knapweed, Wild Angelica, Common Fleabane and Devil’s-bit Scabious being the most attractive. Upright hedge-parsley and Hemp Agrimony also in bloom. In a damp, shady ride, a small patch of Water Pepper was a surprise as we’ve never seen it at Southrey before. As always, I couldn’t help sampling a leaf, but as usual, after an underwhelming 10 seconds or so, the heat cuts in and proceeds to be become very peppery indeed! Butterflies not overly numerous but Red Admiral, Peacock, Silver-washed Fritillary, Gatekeeper, Common Blue and “whites” seen. Hoverflies included one very large Hornet Hoverfly Volucella zonata, with 3 real Hornets to compare it with. Various Dronefly species jostled with the Common Tachina parasite-fly T. fera. A pair of mating Conops bee parasites looked like C. flavipes. Dragonflies were few and only Common Hawkers appeared, plus a few blue Damselflies. Birds maintained a very low profile indeed, Buzzard, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit and Blackbird, or perhaps we were looking down too much, THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 01/07/25 Blackbird x 2 Carrion Crow x 1 Chaffinch x 1 Chiffchaff x 1 Jackdaw x 3 Robin x 1 Skylark x 3 Swallow x 12 Wood Pigeon x 3 Yellowhammer x 1 Green-veined White x 27 Large White x 5 Meadow Brown x 73 Peacock x 7 Ringlet x 89 Small Tortoiseshell x 9 Small White x 23 Six-spot Burnet x 41 06/07/25 Green-veined White x 10 Large Skipper x 4 Meadow Brown x 13 Peacock x 11 Red Admiral x 9 Ringlet x 15 Small Tortoiseshell x 6 Small White x 21 Speckled Wood x 4 Elephant Hawk Moth x 1 in house 07/07/25 Barn Owl x 1 02:10hrs Blackbird x 12 including fledged young Carrion Crow x 1 Chaffinch x 4 adults, 5 fledged young Common Buzzard x 1 Cormorant x 1 over Thurnholmes Dunnock x 2 Goldfinch x 5 Grey Partridge x 5 adults with 23 small young Greenfinch x 1 Kestrel x 1 Long-eared Owl x 2 young calling (every night up to present day 29/07/25) Pied Wagtail x 1 Robin x 1 adult, 4 fledged young Skylark x 2 Stock Dove x 4 fledged young Swallow x 17 including several fledged young Swift x 39 high over Thurnholmes Whitethroat x 4 fledged young Wood Pigeon x 10 including 1 fledged young in stables Yellowhammer x 3 singing males Yellow Wagtail x 2 adults, 4 fledged young Hedgehog x 1 small young one Weasel x 1 Owston Ferry Warping Drain SK799988 16/07/25 Barn Owl x 1 22:30hrs Quail x 2 calling 03:00hrs including one from potato field Shaded Broad-bar x 1 Security light 23/07/25 Barn Owl x 1 22:30hrs Blackbird x 2 Chaffinch x 2 Chiffchaff x 1 Dunnock x 4 Goldfinch x 6 feeding on thistle seed heads Greenfinch x 1 Kestrel x 1 Magpie x 2 Pied Wagtail x 4 Robin x 7 including several fledged young Stock Dove x 1 sat on nest in chicken run Swallow x 7 Tree Sparrow x 15 including fledged young Wood Pigeon x 6 Yellowhammer x 2 Yellow Wagtail x 6 25/07/25 Brimstone x 1 Comma x 2 Common Blue x 2 Gatekeeper x 13 Green-veined White x 7 Large White x 2 Meadow Brown x 2 Painted Lady x 1 Red Admiral x 3 Ringlet x 1 Small Tortoiseshell x 2 Small White x 10 Speckled Wood x 2 Moths around security light; Mother of Pearl x 2 Poplar Hawk Moth x 1 Ruby Tiger x 3 Yellow-tail x 1 Azure Damselfly x 6 Common Blue Damselfly x 1 WHISBY NATURE PARK SK96 Phil and Mary Porter 8th August 2025 Over 100 old pupal cases of Burnet moths attached to 50 meters of stock fencing at Little Heath enclosure. Lots of Purple Loosestrife, Devil’s-bit Scabious and Common Fleabane. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GIBRALTAR POINT NNR ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory https://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.com/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LINCOLNSHIRE COASTAL COUNTRY PARK Dave Miller Coast and The Wolds (South) Warden Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Sykes Farm Nature Reserve Office Gibraltar Point National Nature Reserve Gibraltar Road Skegness PE24 4SU ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ No records this week. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Owen Beaumont Tel: 07900264428 Reserve Manager Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR part of the Lincolnshire Coronation Coast NNR Sea View Road, Saltfleetby St. Clements, LN11 7TR www.gov.uk/natural-england Twitter @NEEastMidlands 060825 – 10 yellow wagtail flew north over Sea View late morning with a trickle of swallows. Osprey again on post at Rimac saltmarsh. 5 little ringed plover Rimac freshwater marsh. Turtle dove flew north over MOD mid-afternoon. 3 little tern over the sea out from Churchill Lane in the morning. Immature cuckoo at Sear’s Track. 4 turnstone on the beach at Crook Bank. 2 manx shearwater, 2 arctic skua, 40 common scoter, 6 razorbill, 8 gannet, 30 common tern, 14 sandwich tern over the sea from Mablethorpe North End. 80 auks on the sea mostly razorbill at Mablethorpe North End and juvenile Caspian gull also on the sea. Spotted redshank Saltfleet Haven area in the evening and a spoonbill flew south over Sea View. Butterflies – 2 clouded yellow Rimac car park meadow. 070825 – crossbill flew south over Churchill Lane around midday. Turtle dove purring north of Brickyard Lane early morning, 15+ lesser whitethroat in scrub and another small movement of yellow wagtail. Juvenile cuckoo still at Sear’s Track. 7 black-tailed godwit south over the sea and an adult kittiwake in the evening larid roost. 6 golden plover flew over Elm House Farm mid-afternoon. 080825 – turtle dove purring north of Sear’s Track mid-morning and a few yellow wagtail flew north. Juvenile cuckoo flew north over Rimac dunes towards Rimac car park. Wheatear Saltfleet Haven area and osprey perched on post again. Odonata – 10+ willow emerald, 12+ migrant hawker Rimac; 20+ willow emerald Brickyard Lane. 6 common lizard seen in Rimac dunes. Butterflies – 5 brown argus, 69 common blue, 17 wall, 75 small heath, clouded yellow Rimac. Hummingbird hawk-moth south of Sea View car park. 090825 – 4 green sandpiper Sea View Washlands. Osprey on post in Rimac saltmarsh in the evening. 53 pied wagtail and 4 yellow wagtail gathering pre-roost at Paradise Lagoon. 96 cormorants roosted in trees beside the Eau north of Sea View. Arctic skua and 4 little tern over the sea from Saltfleet Haven, and 200 common scoter on the sea. Butterflies – clouded yellow Sea View. 100825 – male wheatear on outer dune shingle out from Rimac and osprey in flight around Rimac foreshore over the morning high tide. Greenshank and 4 little ringed plover Rimac freshwater marsh. 60 oystercatcher, 30 golden plover, 150 ringed plover, 130 curlew, 70 sanderling, 200 dunlin on the high tideroost at Rimac. 2 kingfisher Eau outfall next to Paradise Lagoon. 3 green sandpiper on the Eau between Sea View and Rimac. 110825 – black-winged pratincole feeding on flying ant emergence with black-headed gulls over the dunes around Crook Bank area mid-morning, last seen drifting south/inland with the feeding gulls. Pectoral sandpiper on the beach at Crook Bank with ringed plovers then flew south-west and continued over the dunes. 3000 gulls on the beach between Rimac and Crook Bank early morning. 5 arctic skua flew south over the sea with a selection of waders including 9 turnstone. 150 common tern, 450 sandwich tern, juvenile Caspian gull and 1000+ mixed gulls in the evening roost at Crook Bank foreshore. 120825 – pied flycatcher in trees by Paradise Lagoon car park in the afternoon. Polish colour ringed Mediterranean gull and Spanish ringed black-headed gull on Paradise Lagoon mid-afternoon. Juvenile yellow-legged gull and 3 Caspian gull on Crook Bank beach early morning plus a Polish colour ringed black-headed gull. Turtle dove purring east of Churchill Lane. Butterflies – 2 clouded yellow Rimac car park meadow. Donna Nook: 070825 – osprey eating large fish on MOD post east of Pye’s Hall. Merlin over adjacent saltmarsh and single crossbill flew south. 090825 – osprey on post near Pye’s Hall. 120825 – osprey and spotted flycatcher in the morning. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 *** https://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html Chambers Farm Wood Butterfly Garden Volunteers Gardening days for 2025. 19th; August, 2nd & 16th; September, 7th & 21st, October, 4th; November margaretwestcott7@hotmail.co.uk https://butterfly-conservation.org/in-your-area/lincolnshire-branch/chambers-farm-wood-butterfly-garden ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Lincolnshire Dormouse Group *** lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com Gemma Watkinson writes.. The permit has been received and the above dates have been confirmed for the box checks this season. Aug Sat 16th Sep Sun 21st Oct Sat 18th ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Boston Woods Trust https://www.bostonwoods.co.uk/ 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. Tuesday latest. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: 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. Local Bat Helpline Grounded bats, bat problems, advice and information. Contact the new Lincolnshire Bat Group co-ordinator as above: Email:info@lincsbatgroup.co.uk Or by phone on 01526 344726, who will be able to help you. Confidential Bat Records You may send confidential bat records direct to the above, who will make sure they are securely passed on to the new recorder. 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. How to identify ladybirds| NatureSpot https://www.naturespot.org/WildlifeGuides/12CommonLadybirds How to identify bumblebees| The Bumblebee Conservation Trust https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/ Dragonfly Identification help https://british-dragonflies.org.uk/odonata/species-and-identification/ 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 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 AnchorWhy did Russian mega earthquake not cause more tsunami damage? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0l6pj7kjg7o AnchorRussian volcano erupts for first time in more than 500 years https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0r7qlwg4zro 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 submitting reports, e.g. unusual plants, please send 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ September and October Field Meetings to be confirmed ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ...AND FINALLY... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** National and International Stories *** Scientists Spied on Great Tits All Winter and Caught Them Drifting Apart Toward Divorce https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/animals-ecology/scientists-spied-on-great-tits-all-winter-and-caught-them-drifting-apart-toward-divorce/ A Radioactive Wasp Nest Was Just Found at an Old U.S. Nuclear Weapons Site and No One Knows What Happened https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/animals-ecology/a-radioactive-wasp-nest-was-just-found-at-an-old-u-s-nuclear-weapons-site-and-no-one-knows-what-happened/ How microbes could help solve the world’s plastic pollution crisis https://theconversation.com/how-microbes-could-help-solve-the-worlds-plastic-pollution-crisis-262583 My daily surveys suggest British earwigs are declining drastically https://theconversation.com/my-daily-surveys-suggest-british-earwigs-are-declining-drastically-262558 ‘Top marks’ for sharp-eyed snappers as UK nets new butterfly species https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/aug/08/uk-butterfly-species-southern-small-white Country diary: A flash of tomato-red among the green - Jersey tiger moths https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/aug/07/country-diary-a-flash-of-tomato-red-among-the-green Asian hornet’s unique buzz may hold secret to containing invasive species https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/aug/08/asian-hornets-unique-buzz-may-hold-secret-to-containing-invasive-species *** Mail Fails *** Imogen Wilde - hard bounce ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/