============================================ || || Wildnews Bulletin || 17th 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: Lionel Grooby kindly sent me the link below from Pemberley Books, the specialist natural history book platform which features the latest WILDguides edition of ‘Hoverflies of Britain and Ireland’ by Roger Morris and Stuart Ball. The link features an interview with the authors explaining the features of the book aimed at helping general naturalists to identify hoverflies by photographing them in the wild, a skill that is very tricky in many cases. https://www.nhbs.com/blog/author-interview-with-stuart-ball-and-roger-morris-hoverflies-of-britain-and-ireland?srsltid=AfmBOoqWNY1wWpS-kU7oKGNSN5q-byrPsLc4BdA_iHTnnhQ3ZW4N_2ak The interview mentions that fly species are currently colonising Britain by various routes. I have just received the 6-monthly issue of ‘Dipterists Digest’, in which there were accounts of no less than 10 new British dipteran species. This has inspired me to check back through the ten ‘DD’s since 2020 and I found that the total came to 66 species. There will in fact, have been more as some authors publish this kind of record in other journals. Flies which have become very rare appear to have a knack of teetering on the very brink of extinction without crossing it, and it is known for many decades to elapse between records of such species. Rather few species are considered extinct (e.g. Centrophlebomyia furcata, dubbed the ’Dead Donkey Fly’ as it needed extra-large mammal carcases lying around in which to complete its life cycle! As a result, it became extinct in modern Britain), so one might say that the British list has more species of fly now than it has ever had since they have been studied, but the total number of individuals has crashed spectacularly. It remains to be seen how many of the recent newcomers will be able to establish themselves here. Phil Porter's email is: philporterento@outlook.com Roger Parsons' email is: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk The National Trust’s Sandilands Nature Reserve is now welcoming visitors. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/nottinghamshire-lincolnshire/sandilands/events/f96ca27e-f295-4827-abba-720de040d702 https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/nottinghamshire-lincolnshire/sandilands/events/baeb0c50-2c1a-4af3-bf87-3bf529b93ab4 The Wildlife Trusts suggest activities for ‘12 Days Wild’, suggesting how you can ‘ ‘Do One Thing For Wildlife’ daily from 25th December to 5th January. https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/12dayswild 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 Read the latest updates from our Cuckoos on their epic migration https://www.bto.org/get-involved/volunteer/projects/cuckoo-tracking/updates 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 *** 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: *** Litter police fined man for 'spitting out leaf' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp34xykk653o RAF Scampton sale by mid-2026, meeting told https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cedx53p22d8o Joseph Banks' voyage of scientific discovery - listen https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0mbm70y Lincolnshire roads damaged by drought https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c93nxr4pw06o How Lawrence of Arabia escaped to Lincolnshire https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy07yk70ggro Evri sorry after 80 customers complain to BBC - they were Hermes. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce91r5ln3l5o 'Crazy Englishman' growing olives the Italian way https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg14zxdxr1o Company drops plan to drill for oil in Wolds https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx25838nd7wo *** 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 18th December - Sunday 21st December Headline: Turning wet and windy, clearing overnight. Thursday: Thursday, rather cloudy. Strong winds and rain moving in during the afternoon, with heavy spells becoming showery into the evening and clearing overnight. Maximum temperature 11 °C. Outlook for Friday to Sunday: Drier but breezy on Friday. Saturday similar but probably clouding over with chance of evening rain arriving. Sunday, mostly cloudy with rain at times. Temperatures near normal. UK long range weather forecast Sunday 21st December - Tuesday 30th December Unsettled conditions are likely to continue at first, with low pressure probably centred somewhere to the southwest of the UK, whilst high pressure tries to nose in from the east across northern areas. This means a broadly easterly flow becoming established, whilst periods of rain or showers becoming increasingly confined to southern or southwestern parts. With time, high pressure is signalled to become rather more dominant with more in the way of dry, settled weather anticipated. With this, temperatures will probably lower a little compared to recent weeks, closer to or perhaps a little below average for some. Overnight frost and fog or freezing fog could become more widespread, though any particularly cold conditions look unlikely at this stage. *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** Northern Lights illuminate sky over Yorkshire - Watch https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cx23gy8r4n4o Geminid meteors. 4-20th December - peak 14th https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/space-astronomy/geminid-meteor-shower-uk-dates-how-to-see Seven celestial events to look for in the December night sky https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/articles/cn0kg15nlppo Spaceweather.com https://spaceweather.com/ 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 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 Watch: Moment Hawaii volcano eruption engulfs camera https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/ckgm4yjl214o 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 *** *** LWT LINCOLN AREA GROUP TALK *** 18th December: “The Wilder Humber Project, in Lincolnshire” An overview of this ground breaking and ambitious project to rejuvenate habitats along the Humber Estuary by Project Officer Imogen Bentley. Including all about their new wild plant nursery at Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe National Nature Reserve where they will be developing saltmarsh and sand dune plant propagation techniques and practices. This is our Christmas meeting so contributions of seasonal food to consume in the interval would be appreciated! The event is at Whisby Nature Park in the Lafarge Education Building starting at 7.30 pm. Admission is £2.50 which includes refreshments in the interval. *** BOSTON AREA GROUP LWT *** Thursday 8th January at 7.30pm Talk - A Tour Of Borneo by Geoff Evans 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 HOLLAND AREA GROUP LWT *** Tuesday 13th January at 7.30pm Talk - Wildlife Of North Macedonia by Gill Walsh Venue - Pinchbeck Village Hall, Knight Street, Pinchbeck, PE11 3XA Admission £3 including interval refreshments. Non members welcome. *** SOUTH LINCS RSPB GROUP *** "Bird and Seal Watching Cruises" aboard The Boston Belle into The Wash estuary. 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) 9/12/2025 North Hykeham, probable Siberian Lesser Whitethroat [form blyth] in garden at Mulberry Avenue. Immingham, Little Stint on Humber 10/12/2025 Langtoft, Ferruginous Duck ad drk at West End GPs viewed from Greatford Cut. North Hykeham, probable Siberian Lesser Whitethroat [form blyth] in garden at Mulberry Avenue. Tallington Lakes, Scaup ad fem on Main Lake. 11/12/2025 Rimac, 2 Water Pipits on scrape. Saltfleet, Black Brant ad on New Inn field with Dark-bellied Brent Geese. Saltfleetby. 3 Shorelarks, elusive, 15+ Snow Buntings. 12/12/2025 Cleethorpes Coast, Glossy Ibis. Covenham Reservoir, Black-throated Diver juv, Great Northern Diver. Deeping St James, 2 Long-eared Owls at Main Lake by main hide. Deeping Lakes, 3 Glossy Ibises between West Pit and River Welland. 13/12/2025 Covenham Reservoir, Black-throated Diver juv, Great Northern Diver. Deeping St James, 2 Glossy Ibises at Deeping Lakes near East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Gibraltar Point, Caspian gull in roost on beach. North Hykeham, probable Siberian Lesser Whitethroat [form blyth] in garden at Mulberry Avenue. Marston sewage works, Siberian Chiffchaff. Westwoodside, Black-throated Diver at Cove Lane Pits. 14/12/2025 Cleethorpes Coast, Glossy Ibis. Deeping St James, 2 Glossy Ibises at Deeping Lakes near East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Pyewipe. Caspian Gull at Novartis Ings. Westwoodside, Black-throated Diver at Cove Lane Pits. 15/12/2025 Cleethorpes Coast, Glossy Ibis. Langtoft, Ferruginous Duck ad drk at West End GPs viewed from Greatford Cut ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. BARDNEY - The Green TF120694 A & R Parsons 13/12/2025 House Sparrows. 12+ Starling flock of 12+ at fat feeder. BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 Phil and Mary Porter 11th December Party of Long-tailed Tits, Coal Tit 12th December Long-tailed Tits again 14th December Siskin calls not seen, female Sparrowhawk 15th December Unidentified Bumble-bee BARDNEY ALLOTMENTS and FIELDS TF123691 Phil and Mary Porter 12th December Kestrel, Goldfinches, Dog-vomit Slime-mould Fuligo septica in its whitish granular phase BLANKNEY Woodland Walk at carpark TF073605 Phil and Mary Porter 14th December Kestrel, Goldcrest, remarkable lack of tits and small birds generally. only 1 Great Tit seen. 2 Fieldfare, 1 Redwing, Mistle Thrush song, Robin song, Dog-vomit Slime-mould Fuligo septica in its whitish granular phase, A few Snowdrops just showing white buds. BOSTON TF338441 My garden Tracey Lenton 11/12/2025 Adult male blackbird back garden made a first appearance of the season. Wood pigeons have been eating the ivy berries. Following on from last week's comment about House sparrows: At TF334440, along Windsor Bank next to the Maud Foster Drain, I always see sparrows in a hedge on my walks there. It's a hawthorn hedge and there are large bushes on the other side of the bank, birds flit between the two sides. However, they are rarely seen in my own garden, I have just 2 video sightings from this year - 04/04/2025 chirping in tree x1 and 13/04/2025 x1 chirping and pecking at blossom flowers on the tree. I probably don't have the right type of cover for them or they are put off by the other birds. FAR INGS. Angela Buckle 17th December. A walk round Far Ings. Smooth sow-thistle, Blue comfrey, Vipers bugloss, Greater snowdrops all in flower. Birds. Lots of Redwings, 35 Wigeon on the Humber, Little grebe on hotel lake. HORKSTOW SE987179 Jenny Haynes 7 December 2025 A brown hare was in the field across from my house. We’ve not seen one for a while. Two swans were making use of the flooded fields near the River Ancholme but were too far away to identify which sort. A male sparrowhawk perched itself on the branch holding one of the bird feeders, which was an unusual sight, perhaps the mate of the female we saw the previous week. 10 December 2025 Four roe deer were across in the fields. There’s also been a kestrel hunting across the road several times lately and I’ve also seen one a couple of miles away on the edge of South Ferriby. Maybe the same one or maybe not. LEGSBY WOOD TF136874 Colin Smith 9/12/25 Moths to actinic light Winter Moth Operophtera brumata 34 Mottled Umber Erannis defoliaria 23 Scarce Umber Agriopis aurantiaria 3 METHERINGHAM LOW FIELDS TF073623 Tim Dorrington and Colin Smith 11/12/25 We were walking along a footpath by an agricultural reservoir and there was a small triangular patch of grass at the corner it did not look particularly promising but we had a look and there were some of the usual grassland fungi. Snowy Waxcap Hygrocybe virginea Stubble Rosegill Volvariella gloiocephala Common Cavalier Melanoleuca polioleuca Conical Brittlestem Psathyrella conopilus There had obviously been some trees or bushes that had been removed as the following were growing there as well. Velvet Shank Flammulina velutipes Common Stump Brittlestem Psathyrella piluliformis Sulphur Tuft Hypholoma fasciculare Turkeytail Trametes versicolor Glistening Inkcap Coprinellus micaceus SOUTHREY Water Rail way north of Southrey. A Parsons 13 December – Impressive evidence of badger activity. Good numbers of Fieldfares. Merlin bird app. Southrey Black headed Gull Heron Gadwall Moorhen Robin Crow Rook Jackdaws Blue tit Long-tailed tit Wren Chaffinch Fieldfares Redwing Buzzard Pheasant 16 species. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 13th December: Peregrine out hunting. 4 Marsh Harrier out of Wolla Bank Reedbed roost. 14th December: Anderby Marsh had 288 Lapwing, 4 Redshank, 20 Curlew, 260 Teal, 430 Wigeon, 19 Gadwall, 2 Snipe, 10 Shoveler, 2 Stonechat, Buzzard and male Marsh Harrier. 15th December: 2 Peregrine on Anderby Marsh, Woodcock at Wolla Bank 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. 101225 – 3 cattle egrets with cows in the dunes north of Rimac. 62 shoveler on Paradise Lagoon in the morning, Cetti’s warbler and grey wagtail nearby. 100 pink-footed geese flew over the dunes and landed towards Elm House Farm. 111225 – 3 shore lark and 15 snow bunting on the outer beach south of Crook Bank late morning. Black brant in a group of 457 brent geese around Saltfleet Haven, including a colour-ringed bird ringed in Netherlands returning for a second consecutive winter. 2 water pipit Rimac freshwater marsh scrape and another 2 on Elm House Farm. 2500 pink-footed geese feeding on pasture fields immediately north of Elm House Farm. 75 wigeon, 56 teal and 3 cattle egret on Rimac car park scrape. Later, 5 cattle egrets with cows in the dunes at Rimac. Chiffchaff roaming dune scrub between Churchill Lane and Crook Bank. 8 rock pipit on expanding saltmarsh around Brickyard Lane. Numerous blackbirds remain in the dunes feeding on hawthorn berries but most redwings have moved on. 121225 – 2500 pink-footed geese leaving morning roost in four skeins and flying inland. Kingfisher flew along the Eau by Paradise Lagoon. 168 shoveler, 29 teal, 7 mallard and 2 gadwall on Paradise Lagoon. Siberian chiffchaff still in the cut at Mablethorpe North End near the entrance to Haven holiday park. 131225 – 5 whooper swan flew south past Crook Bank mid-afternoon. 2 chiffchaff along Crook Bank beach access path in dune scrub. 4 cattle egret feeding amongst cows in Rimac dunes. Black brant and colour ringed dark-bellied brent goose again present in New Inn field at Saltfleet Haven. 141225 – 3 cattle egret in Churchill Lane enclosure early morning, later 6 cattle egrets feeding among cows in Rimac dunes. Pair of stonechat also around Rimac dunes late afternoon. Barn owl hunting over Sea View; the first sighting in this area for some time. 151225 – merlin chasing passerines over the saltmarsh out from Sea View. Pike along the strand line at Mablethorpe North End; an unusual sight to see freshwater species amongst the beach debris. 161225 – 5 cattle egret and 2 water pipit in wet field south of Rimac car park, and 45 redshank, 200 wigeon and 80 teal on Rimac car park scrape. 600+ lapwing and a male stonechat at Elm House Farm early afternoon. Female sparrowhawk and green woodpecker around Sea View. 26 blackbirds and 2 redwing in small pasture field at Mablethorpe North End, plus 20 blackbird and 6 redwing between Rimac and Sea View suggest birds may still be arriving. 121225 - Weekly pupdate: 1287 pups, 233 cows and 323 bulls. The total pup count for the season is 1911. We don't expect many more pups to be born now but there are still plenty of groups of weaned pups to be seen from the viewing area. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 *** Iain Douglas-Hamilton, pioneering elephant conservationist, dies aged 83 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyx8yj410po Cameras on killer whales record first evidence of joint hunt with dolphins https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/ceq1000742go Why location of first human-made fire was perfect - Norfolk https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9977gvrr47o Why do sea creatures end up on beaches after storms? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqxq358pn5zo Why do people care about a 1950s bus shelter? - Norfolk https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gppk0pe81o Salmon seen spawning after river restoration - Cumbria https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgr4zzexweo Red post box sent to Antarctic - on King's orders https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdrnnze3mepo The More We Study Forests, the More It Seems Like Plants Might Be Cooperating and "Talking" to Each Other https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/the-more-we-study-forests-the-more-it-seems-like-plants-might-be-cooperating-and-talking-to-each-other/ Short winter days are a perfect time to see spectacular Crested Tits at RSPB Loch Garten https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8ctgz7J1xo Christmas Spiders are one of the most enchanting Christmas stories you haven't heard about https://www.zmescience.com/feature-post/culture/culture-society/christmas-spiders/ Why mistletoe is thriving, even as its traditional orchards are lost https://theconversation.com/why-mistletoe-is-thriving-even-as-its-traditional-orchards-are-lost-272154 This Fish-Inspired Filter Could Keep Tons of Plastic From Leaving Your Washing Machine https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/this-fish-inspired-filter-could-keep-tons-of-plastic-from-leaving-your-washing-machine/ *** Mail Fails *** Brian Rice - soft bounce 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/