============================================ || || Wildnews Bulletin || 3rd December 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Editor writes: With milder winters, small numbers of moths are flying much later in the year than normal. Nigel Lound kindly sent me a list of the 30 species of moths attracted to light at The Plantation, Gibraltar Point during November, highlighting a number of unseasonal occurrences as follows; Dark Arches Apamea monoglypha; Hummingbird Hawkmoth Macroglossum stellatarum; Rosy Footman Miltochrista miniata and Marbled Fern Musotima nitidalis. Phil Porter's email is: philporterento@outlook.com Roger Parsons' email is: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk The Wildlife Trusts Planning & Infrastructure Bill Amendment 130 The Lords defend nature against the Planning Bill Please look at this petition – e-mail your MP https://action.wildlifetrusts.org/page/180301/action/1?ea.tracking.id=PIB_webpage Donna Nook - Weekly seal 'pupdate' https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook/weekly-update If you are likely to visit the seals at Donna Nook, please consult this site before doing so to keep up to date with site requirements to ensure the welfare of the colony throughout their breeding cycle. BTO's tracked Cuckoos - Latest updates - south of the Sahel: https://www.bto.org/get-involved/volunteer/projects/cuckoo-tracking Loch of the Lowes SWT Webcam. https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/watch-wildlife-online/loch-of-the-lowes-webcam/ *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust *** “Wilder Lincolnshire Podcast” https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/what-we-do/about/wilder-lincolnshire-podcast LINCOLNSHIRE CORONATION COAST NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE Delphine Suty of Natural England writes… Make a difference – volunteer with us! We are looking for individuals with good botanical skills. Your role will be to assist our team in surveying some of the rare plants on the reserve. Mainly a spring to summer activity, you will assist in the recording of the population, its location and status. The role can be done alone, with friends or other volunteers. We record data through iRecord and share with the Lincolnshire Naturalist Union and the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland We will support your mileage, equipment, and further training as these become available. Please contact us at saltfleetbytheddlethorpennr@naturalengland.org.uk *** LEARN A NEW SPECIES AND 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 are the COMMON LINCOLNSHIRE WOODLICE For December and the Christmas holiday season I thought rather than just one species we could try to fill in the gaps for all the common species of Woodlice. This is a good time to get the children involved if you will be seeing any over Christmas. A walk in the woods on boxing day and turn over a log or two. There are links to the five common species below and you may need a magnifying glass to examine the head and tail for identification. The pygmy woodlouse is not surprisingly very small so that is the real challenge they are common in leaf litter. I have also included the pill millipede as it can be confused with the woodlouse but easily separated. Lincs for identification are as follows:- https://www.naturespot.org/species/pill-woodlouse https://www.naturespot.org/species/common-shiny-woodlouse https://www.naturespot.org/species/common-striped-woodlouse https://www.naturespot.org/species/common-rough-woodlouse https://www.naturespot.org/species/common-pygmy-woodlouse https://www.naturespot.org/species/pill-millipede Maps for all species as follows, plenty of gaps for these very common species https://lnu.org/armadillidium-vulgare-common-pill-woodlouse/ https://lnu.org/oniscus-asellus-common-shiny-woodlouse/ https://lnu.org/philoscia-muscorum-common-striped-woodlouse/ https://lnu.org/porcellio-scaber-common-rough-woodlouse/ https://lnu.org/trichoniscus-pusillus-common-pygmy-woodlouse/ https://lnu.org/glomeris-marginata-pill-millipede/ Thanks to those who added records for our previous map filling species. We received 16 records from 8 recorders for the Yellow Fieldcap Bolbitius titubans. Please do join in as all records are valuable and help our understanding of the county's changing natural history. *** This week's mostly-local news stories: *** Roads at 'significant risk' if left unrepaired https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq5qw932plwo Thousands more trees to be planted in county - Woodland Trust https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy95lvnpnngo Teens using catapults to kill wildlife, police say https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjez98nylkqo Plans for wetland nature reserve submitted - Horncastle https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g52865n17o Sanctuary owner 'devastated' after 29 swan deaths https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0mp9g7p11do *** 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 4th December - Sunday 7th December Headline: Mostly dry, becoming unsettled on Friday. Thursday: Dry at first, with low cloud, mist and hill fog lingering. Outbreaks of rain moving in during the morning, slowly clearing north overnight. Cold overnight, with fog and frost possible. Maximum temperature 8 °C. Outlook for Friday to Sunday: Dry on Friday, with rain and very strong winds developing in the evening. Winds easing on Saturday. Unsettled Saturday and Sunday, with sunny spells, showers and longer spells of rain. UK long range weather forecast Sunday 7th December - Tuesday 16th December Likely a continuation of the unsettled conditions seen recently, with further showers or longer spells of rain and some strong winds affecting most if not all of the country. Sunday will likely start largely fine, bar a few showers, but another band of rain is expected to move east or northeast across the country during the day. This will clear to showers, but further bands or areas of rain are likely to move east or northeast across the country over the following several days, some of these accompanied by very strong winds. Temperatures will generally be near or a little above average, but feeling cool in the wind and rain. We are unlikely to see much in the way of frost or fog in this unsettled spell. *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** Spaceweather.com writes: Behemoth sunspot? "A potentially dangerous sunspot is emerging over the sun's southeastern limb. Yesterday, while it was still partially eclipsed by the edge of the sun, it produced an impulsive M6-class solar flare. The true value of the flare may have been X-class. This appears to be the same behemoth sunspot that Mars rover Perserverance saw from Jezero Crater last week. Now it is turning toward Earth. Strong geoeffective flares are increasingly likely as the sunspot lines up with our planet in the days ahead." https://spaceweather.com/ https://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/ How to see Thursday's full Cold Moon, the last supermoon of 2025 https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/articles/ce8qelngjlro Get ready for those Geminid meteors. 4-20th December - peak 14th https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/space-astronomy/geminid-meteor-shower-uk-dates-how-to-see Full Moons https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/space-astronomy/full-moon-calendar-2025 Meteor shower dates https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/space-astronomy/meteor-shower-guide-2025 Comet Lemmon (C/2025 A6) on Comet Watch https://www.cometwatch.co.uk/ Night Sky Highlights - December https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/space-astronomy/astronomy/night-sky-highlights-december-2025 Five celestial events to look out for this autumn https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/articles/c39rvxz4jr1o AuroraWatch UK for geomagnetic data: https://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/ BBC Sky at Night Magazine website https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news *** For the Geologists *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary Scientists reveal what triggered Santorini 'earthquake swarm' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz7p783g2j5o 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 https://lnu.org/publications/books/the-geology-of-lincolnshire/ UK Fossils in Lincolnshire https://ukfossils.co.uk/category/lincolnshire/ *** EVENTS *** *** GRIMSBY RSPB GROUP *** Talk at Holy Trinity Parish Hall, Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes. DN35 7LH Time: 7.30 pm Admission: £5.00 (this includes tea/coffee and biscuits) Monday 15th December: “Around the world in 3,650 days”. A wildlife talk. Speaker-Ashley Grove-wildlife photographer and tour guide. *** THE SCUNTHORPE AND BRIGG LOCAL GROUP OF THE LINCOLNSHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST *** Our last meeting for this year is on Thursday,11th December. We will be visited by Darren Johnson, the RSPB Community Engagement Officer based at RSPB Blacktoft Sands, who will be giving his talk on "Moths in the Humber Estuary". Conservation and wildlife have been Darren's passion for many years as has photography and videography. He has found it amazing to combine them all in his career with the RSPB. Our meeting takes place as always in the small hall at St Hugh's Church, Ashby Road. Scunthorpe, DN16 2AJ, starting at 7.30pm. This venue is opposite the Apple Green filling station on Ashby Road, near to the traffic lights at the crossroads of Ashby Road with Old Brumby Street/West Common Lane. There is free parking at the Church, at the Old Brumby United Church opposite, and on the nearby roadside. There is a £2.50 entry charge which includes light refreshments at the mid-talk break. *** GRIMSBY AND CLEETHORPES AREA GROUP LWT *** Carolyn Davis writes… ‘The Return to the Common Crane to Lincolnshire’ On Monday 8th December you are invited to join our group for our next indoor meeting where David Cohen will give an illustrated presentation about the return of the Common Crane to Willow Tree Fen Nature Reserve which bred here for the first time after an absence of 400yrs. This will take place in Grimsby Town Hall DN31 1HX and starts at 7.30pm. Admission £5, all are welcome. There will be a Christmas Share Table, Raffle, Tea and coffee available. For further information contact secretary David Ball 07711 716063 email davidballnorthhampton@gmail.com *** BOSTON AREA GROUP LWT *** Thursday 11th December at 7.30pm Talk - An Introduction To British Orchids by Geof Lee The talk will include many of the British Orchid species and where to find them. Venue - Centenary Methodist Church, Red Lion Street, Boston, PE21 6NY Free parking in the car park on the right hand side of the church. Interval refreshments will be served. Non members welcome and entry is free but there will be a retiring collection. *** SOUTH LINCS RSPB GROUP *** Dates for their 2026 programme from Easter 2026 Full details including availability, dates, costs, booking etc. will be on the website. in due course. STAYING SAFE Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary... The Cold-Health Alert Service in England runs from 1 November to 31 March each year. You can register for alerts on this link. https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=mRRO7jVKLkutR188-d6GZn06Ss-xPLpCuYeyOZ-eFiFUMEVIMDRTOE5FVzFFM0NXNjFMWUlWMkJVMCQlQCN0PWcu 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://www.google.com/search?q=government+flood+warnings+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 Abbreviations Juv = juvenile Ad = adult 1s/w, 2s/w = first/second summer/winter (age or plumage) 26/11/2025 Covenham Reservoir, Black-throated Diver juv, Great Northern Diver. Deeping St James, 2 Long-eared Owls at Main Lake in ivy, Deeping Lakes. Saltfleetby, 3 Shorelarks. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, Snow Buntings at Crook Bank. 27/11/2025 Cleethorpes Coast, 5 Ruddy Shelducks. Late report. Covenham Reservoir, Black-throated Diver juv, Great Northern Diver, Red-breasted Merganser. Gibraltar Point, Waxwing. Skegness. Black Redstart at North Shore Hotel car park. 28/11/2025 Boston, Cut End, Long-tailed Duck fem/1w at River Witham Mouth. Deeping St James, 2 Glossy Ibises, at Deeping Lakes. Covenham Reservoir, Black-throated Diver juv, in SE corner, Great Northern Diver. Mablethorpe, Siberian Chiffchaff in ditch north if Haven entrance at north end of Quebec Road. Saltfleetby, 3 Shorelarks on beach. 29/11/2025 Covenham Reservoir, Black-throated Diver juv, in SE corner, Great Northern Diver, Red-breasted Merganser, 30/11.2025 Alkborough Flats, 50 Twite reported. Great Northern Diver. Covenham Reservoir, Black-throated Diver juv, in SE corner, Great Northern Diver, Red-breasted Merganser, Slavonian Grebe. Ruddy Shelduck. Deeping St James, 2 Long-eared Owls at Main Lake by hide, Deeping Lakes. Donna Nook, 40 Twite.3 Glossy Ibises. Pyewipe, Glaucous Gull juv at Novartis Ings. Saltfleetby, 3 Shorelarks on beach. 1/12/2025 Covenham Reservoir, Great Northern Diver. juv. Slavonian Grebe, Red-breasted Merganser, Black Throated Diver. Tetney Marshes, 6 Ruddy Shelducks in field. 2/12/2025 Anderby Creek, Water Pipit. Boultham Mere, Ring-necked Duck reported. Covenham Reservoir, Great Northern Diver, juv, Slavonian Grebe, Black Throated Diver. Gibraltar Point, 2 Snow Buntings flew north along beach. Mablethorpe, 28 Snow Buntings. Saltfleetby, 3 Shorelarks on beach. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, 18 Snow Buntings at Crook Bank, flew over foreshore. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 *** We rely on readers to send in observations and welcome records from everyone, experts to beginners. Please keep your reports coming. BOSTON My garden TF338441 Tracey Lenton The garden birds have returned to visit for food and foraging in November. Due to the wet weather we didn't manage to cut the lawn before winter so the small birds at least have a bit more cover than usual. 26/11/2025 Bright and sunny but very cold. A Blackbird has been visiting the garden for a little while, enjoying the cotoneaster berries. 2 Dunnocks were pecking in the lawn for food, a lovely scene against the rusty brown fallen autumn leaves, well camouflaged too. 29/12/2025 Blackbird and 2 dunnocks ventured out in the rain. 30/11/2025 A bright sunny day brought in several visitors: A Blackbird, feasting on garden berries also foraging amongst a pile of lawn clippings and dead vegetation from the garden tidying. A Collared dove on the bird table, a Robin with a seasonally bright red breast flitting around and singing from a bush. One Magpie briefly flew down and away. 2 Wood pigeons. 01/12/2025 A Wood pigeon came and drank from the bird bath for several minutes. 02/12/2025 More filming of the Blackbird, looks a similar one, there was one in the tree last night at dusk. Dunnock singing. The blackbird is possibly an immature male owing to its brown beak and dark eye ring (bto.org). I have seen no Red Admirals this autumn. BOSTON Maud Foster Drain TF332444-TF334439 Tracey Lenton Mallards, Moorhens and Mute swans continue to be the usual birds seen along here. 30/11/2025 The most Mallard seen together were 8, 4 m and 4 female, seemingly paired up. 2 Moorhens, 1 Mute swan. The swan was further down from their usual habitation, often seen along the Willoughby Road to Cowbridge area, I had seen 14 there in October which included a large number of juveniles. Gulls (looked like black-headed, one juvenile) and a large group of 20+ Starlings were enjoying the sun as they perched on housetop TV aerials. The patch of Winter heliotrope has begun to flower. DONNA NOOK Andrew Hersom 28th November I went there yesterday morning (amazingly lovely sunny day) and was surprised at the large numbers of birds feeding in the grass adjacent to the seals. They looked like starlings possibly in the hundreds. One of the wardens commented this was unusual. FAR INGS Angela Buckle 30th November A walk round Far Ings on Sunday, Winter heliotrope in flower, also Herb Robert, Bristly ox-tongue, Ragwort, Smooth sow-thistle, Smooth hawk’s-beard, White dead-nettle, Viper’s bugloss. 18 Wigeon on the Humber. GRANTHAM GARDEN SK930 372 Alan Lean/Gill Porter 28th November 2025 Late moth trapping session with newly-acquired Robinson Moth Trap brought only a few specimens but three of them new to our garden list: Blair’s Shoulder-knot x 1 Viburnum Button x 1 Diamond-back Moth x 1 Light Brown Apple Moth x 1 Interesting that the Viburnum Button was still on the wing. Regular visits in the past few days from female Great Spotted Woodpecker and Coal Tit, the latter largely absent in the warmer months but great to see back. Large numbers of both Goldfinch and Greenfinch on the feeders probably a mix of residents and arrivals. No Brambling, Redpolls or Siskins so far. HORKSTOW SE987179 Jenny Haynes 28 November 2025 We were wondering why there was less bird activity on our feeders than usual, when a female sparrowhawk landed on the decking. It enabled us to get a closer view than usual! 2 December 2025 Birds seen in my garden this week: Blue tit - many Great tit Goldfinch Greenfinch Chaffinch Tree sparrow Blackbird Robin Great spotted woodpecker Male tawny owl calling most evenings ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 24th November: Great Northern Diver and 12 Red-throated Diver on the sea. Great White Egret and Black-throated Diver flying south. 21 Whooper Swan flying north. Coal Tit and Blackcap in Huttoft village. 25th November: 4 Whooper Swan flying south. 26th November: 2 Whooper Swan flying south. 2 Woodcock and 2 Stonechat at Wolla Bank. Anderby Marsh was showing Water Pipit, 4 Lapwing, Redshank and 3 Snipe. 1 Black-throated Diver and 20 Red-throated Diver at sea. 2 Green Woodpecker and a Grey Wagtail at Anderby churchyard. 28th November: Red Kite and 4 Whooper Swan flying south. 29th November: On Anderby Marsh were 122 Lapwing, 9 Curlew, 11 Pied Wagtail, 4 Snipe, 4 Redshank, 246 Wigeon, 84 Teal, 9 Gadwall, 24 Mallard, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, 2 Marsh Harrier and a Goosander. 30th November: 4 Bearded Tit and a Kingfisher at Wolla Bank Reedbed. 89 Teal, 257 Wigeon, 9 Curlew, 3 Snipe, 2 Sparrowhawk, 60 Lapwing, 12 Mallard and 5 Gadwall on Anderby Marsh. 186 Pink-footed Goose flying south, and a Woodcock at Huttoft Pit. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Donna Nook - Weekly seal 'pupdate' https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook/weekly-update If you are likely to visit the seals at Donna Nook, please consult this site before doing so to keep up to date with site requirements to ensure the welfare of the colony throughout their breeding cycle. 261125 – 3 shorelarks on the developing saltmarsh between Brickyard Lane and Crook Bank. 700 sanderling, 220 dunlin, 22 bar-tailed godwit and 12 grey plover on the foreshore around Crook Bank. Woodcock flew out of dunes at Sea View. Woodcock, blackbird and 2 starling flew in-off the sea at Mablethorpe North End. 271125 – 3 shorelark still at Sear’s Track feeding close to the dune edge. Small group of approx. 10 twite feeding with linnet around Sear’s Track. 4 woodcock flushed from scrub around Crook Bank outer dunes and 1 flew in-off the sea. 1240 sanderling and 850 dunlin on the beach around Crook Bank. 28 snow bunting in a group out from Rimac including a ringed bird of British origin. At least 5 long-tailed ducks together on the sea out from Brickyard Lane early afternoon. 281125 – single twite with linnet around Crook Bank outer dunes, a jack snipe in the marsh and a stonechat on scrub in the same area. 3 shorelark just south of Crook Bank beach access path. Siberian chiffchaff in the cut just west of Mablethorpe Seal Sanctuary plus common chiffchaff and blackcap. 500+ sanderling around Mablethorpe beach and another large group around Crook Bank late morning. Colour ringed great black-backed gull on Mablethorpe beach in the morning ringed on Lauholmen Island off the southern tip of Norway in June 2023. 301125 – 3 shorelark still on the beach between Brickyard Lane and Crook Bank. Water rail screeching in the dunes near Churchill Lane and a sparrowhawk f lew over the area. 011225 – 2 cattle egrets with cows in the dunes between Sea View and Rimac. 021225 – 18 snow bunting flew south along Crook Bank dunes then went back north along the foreshore late morning. Woodcock and male stonechat Crook Bank south dunes. 28 snow bunting also reported on Mablethorpe beach. 3 shorelark still on the beach between Brickyard Lane and Crook Bank. 4 cattle egrets in pony paddock by Rimac entrance mid-morning. Donna Nook: 281125 - Weekly pupdate: 1815 pups, 1359 and 478 bulls. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 *** Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire *** Chambers Farm Wood Butterfly Garden Volunteers Email: margaretwestcott7@hotmail.co.uk https://butterfly-conservation.org/in-your-area/lincolnshire-branch/chambers-farm-wood-butterfly-garden *** Lincolnshire Dormouse Group *** lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. Boston Woods Trust https://www.bostonwoods.co.uk/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: 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. 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 diving ducks | The Wildlife Trusts https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife/how-identify/how-identify-diving-ducks 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 https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/the-flora-of-lincolnshire-e-joan-gibbons.pdf Atlas of the terrestrial and semi-aquatic Mammals of Lincolnshire https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/mammalatlas.pdf ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ New details to come.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ...AND FINALLY... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** National and International Stories *** Britain’s ponds are disappearing – here’s why restoring them is vital for wildlife and climate resilience https://theconversation.com/britains-ponds-are-disappearing-heres-why-restoring-them-is-vital-for-wildlife-and-climate-resilience-267649 Tiny Falcons Are the New Food Safety Patrol in Cherry Orchards https://www.zmescience.com/science/agriculture-science/tiny-falcons-are-the-new-food-safety-patrol-in-cherry-orchards/ Good news for wild swimmers as bathing water quality improves https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c78vd147el5o The World’s Oldest Wild Bird Just Came Back at 75 to Her Pacific Island Home and Is Still Laying Eggs https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/wisdom-albatross-75-years/ *** Mail Fails *** Brian Rice If you experience any such problem in future please let Alex know. mrapickwell@gmail.com ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/