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||
|| Wildnews Bulletin 24th Dec 2025
|| News of Lincolnshire Wildlife
|| LNU: http://lnu.org/
||
|| Please email Editor on: philporterento@outlook.com
||
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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.
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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. Link here.
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.
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. INFORMATION, EVENTS, NEWS AND REQUESTS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Editor writes…
Season’s greetings to readers and contributors, wishing you all a fruitful
new year of recording Lincolnshire’s wildlife. We would, as always, be delighted
to hear from more of you to keep the Bulletin fresh and useful. Suggestions
for layout and content are always welcome.
Having recorded foraging bumblebees during sunny weather this last week, it
was fascinating to read the news item that Roger contributed at the bottom of
the Bulletin in ‘National Stories’ on this very subject. The phenomenon is more
frequent than I thought and longer established. The shrub attracting them is
evidently a classic target. The winter-flowering bush honeysuckle Lonicera purpusii
is easy to grow and extremely fragrant at this time of year. Rather dull in summer
it must be admitted, but to be recommended for winter bees. The link allows you to
contribute information about winter bee sightings.
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
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 - camera working again.
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 & 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: ***
Council to tackle lack of trees and hedgerows - SHDC.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1kp2zxdwjwo
Government rolls back nature protections to boost housing
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3r7zp418p8o
Hundreds of homes planned for farmland - Louth
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqlk70gqweno
Solar farm approved on appeal after 378 objections - Hatton
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8dy803zp47o
Service station plans approved after rejection - Barnetby Top
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c7417w0mrljo
Man dies in crash between tractor and car - Blankney
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd6xldz4dp8o
Mesmerising murmuration filmed by BBC presenter
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cj387xldzxdo
Police reshuffle due to shortage of staff
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2epvle7v9xo
Fury as firefighters' tools stolen from stations
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3w72p6jd82o
*** 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 25th December - Sunday 28th December
Thursday:
A dry Christmas Day, with early cloud breaking to give some good
spells of sunshine. However, it will be feeling cold again, especially
in the strong and gusty easterly winds. Maximum temperature 6 °C.
Outlook for Friday to Sunday:
Variable cloud and some sunny spells throughout. Some hill fog
possible, with light drizzle, but otherwise dry. Rather cold and breezy,
although a little less cold compared to over Christmas.
UK long range weather forecast
Sunday 28th December - Tuesday 6th January
High pressure is likely to dominate across the UK at the start of this
period and through to the end of the year. This means that weather
conditions will be largely settled and for many places it will remain
dry. It may often be rather cloudy, but any rainfall that does develop
is expected to be light with overall accumulations small. Winds
will mostly be light with temperatures close to or slightly below normal.
Into 2026, little change is anticipated through the first week of January,
with settled and mainly dry conditions continuing for many parts of the UK.
However, there is a small chance that more unsettled, wetter and milder
weather could develop at times, particularly in the north.
*** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers ***
Partial Solar Eclipse August 12th 2026. Put in in your new diary!
https://theskylive.com/solar-eclipse?id=2026-08-12&cc=GB
Ursid meteor shower 17-26 Dec.
https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/space-astronomy/ursid-meteor-shower-when-where-see-it-uk
Spaceweather.com
https://spaceweather.com/
Full Moons - 2026
https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/space-astronomy/full-moon-calendar-2026
Comet Watch
https://www.cometwatch.co.uk/
Night Sky Highlights- 2026
https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/space-astronomy/astronomy/night-sky-highlights-november-2026
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
*** EVENTS ***
2026 Information to follow.
*** 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.
*** 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.
*** GRIMSBY AND CLEETHORPES AREA GROUP LWT ***
On Monday 12th January 2026 the Group will be welcoming Simon Wellock
to give an illustrated presentation "Far Ings and the Humber Reserves"
This will take place in Grimsby Town Hall DN31 1HX and starts at 7.30pm.
Admission £5, all are welcome. Raffle and light refreshments will be available.
For further information contact secretary David Ball 07711 716063
email davidballnorthhampton@gmail.com
or visit our website www.grimsbywildlifetrust.org.uk
We are also on Facebook.
STAYING SAFE
Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary...
The Cold-Health Alert Service in England
You can register for alerts on this link.
https://ukhsa-dashboard.data.gov.uk/weather-health-alerts/cold
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 Weather 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
Drk = drake
Juv = juvenile
Ad = adult
1s/w, 2s/w = first/second summer/winter (age or plumage)
17/12/2025
Covenham Reservoir, 2 Black-throated Divers. juv Great Northern Diver.
Langtoft, Ferruginous Duck ad drk at West End GPs viewed from
Greatford Cut.
Mablethorpe, Caspian Gull 2w on beach at Outfall.
Sandtoft, Glossy Ibis flew NE along River Torne.
Tallington Lakes, Scaup as fem, Ferrugimous duck x Pochard hybrid.
Access off A1175 Stamford Road, entry £5.
18/12/2025
Pyewipe, Caspian Gull 1w at Recycling centre.
19/12/2025
Horseshoe Point, 30+ Twite near car park.
Langtoft, Ferruginous Duck ad drk at West End GPs viewed from
Greatford Cut.
Saltfleetby, Shorelark.
Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes, 3 Shorelarks just south of Crook Bank on saltings.
Tallington Lakes, Scaup ad fem,at lake 5. Access off Stamford Road, £5.
20/12/2025
Alkborough Flats, Curlew Sandpiper on Trent Estuary at Trent Falls.
Gibraltar Point, 2 Caspian Gulls, Snow Bunting.
Leadenham, 2 Caspian Gulls at landfill - late report.
North Hykeham, probable Siberian Lesser Whitethroat [form blyth] in
garden at Mulberry Avenue.
21/12/2025
Gibraltar Point, Water Pipit on Lagoons
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.
22/12/20
Covenham Reservoir, Black-throated Divers juv, Great Northern Diver.juv
Cleethorpes Coast, Glossy Ibis.
Gosberton Clough, Bean Gose sp reported - flew over.
Trusthorpe, 6 Snow Bunting flew south along beach.
23/12/2025
Frampton Marsh, 8 Snow Buntings on seaward base of sea wall behind East Hide.
North Hykeham, probable Siberian Lesser Whitethroat [form blyth] in
garden at Mulberry Avenue.
Stallingborough, 1w Caspian Gull.
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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 GARDEN
TF117700
Phil and Mary Porter
19th December 2025
Mary noticed a few small bumblebees at the fragrant flowers of one of
the winter-flowering bush honeysuckles, probably Lonicera purpusii, on
this sunny, blue-sky morning. The bees resembled ‘buff-tailed’ bees and
were sprinkled with yellow pollen and also had some pollen compressed
into their leg ‘baskets’. They appeared to go back and forth after flights to
the other side of the garden.
23rd December
Redwing and Siskin calls in the vicinity this morning. Also a flock of c 25
Goldfinches.
HORKSTOW
SE987179
Jenny Haynes22 December 2025
A goldcrest was working its way through the Christmas tree in my garden.
It’s the first one we’ve seen for a while. For the past week or so, there have
been flocks of geese (pink footed I think) flying over, to and from the Humber
bank, usually accompanied by a flock of gulls (identity unknown).
There appears to be an increase in greenfinches in my garden this winter,
over recent years and they’re probably as common as goldfinches now. An
abundance of blue and great tits, too.
WOODHALL SPA Alexandra Roa
TF188630
Phil Porter
22nd December 2025
An unidentified nymphaeid butterfly in flight around a bramble hedge in
sunny weather.
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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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
Our final WildNews of the year below.
Have a lovely Christmas and start to 2026.
171225 – 2 shore larks feeding on developing saltmarsh south of Crook
Bank. Second winter Caspian gull on the beach at Mablethorpe.
181225 – 10 fieldfare flew over Sea View late morning. First winter
Caspian gull and a snow bunting on the beach at Mablethorpe. Also
a colour ringed northern herring gull ringed as a chick at Austevell,
Bergen, Norway, on 1st July 2025. Merlin perched on the outer edge
of Rimac saltmarsh. 3 cattle egrets in fields around Rimac car park.
191225 – 3 shore lark reported again on the beach around Crook Bank.
Merlin perched on the dune edge out from Rimac and female stonechat
perched on a dune ridge near Rimac Lagoon. 13 pintail on Rimac Lagoon
early morning. 300 wigeon and 150 teal around Rimac car park. Cetti’s warbler,
2 goldcrest and 8 redwing Rimac dunes. 50 pink-footed geese flew south
over Mablethorpe North End, plus 500 dunlin and 6 grey plover on the
beach. 5 marsh harriers around Rimac in the afternoon.
201225 – 102 shoveler on Paradise Lagoon mid-afternoon.
211225 – chiffchaff Rimac dunes late afternoon and a woodcock flew
over the saltmarsh.
221225 – 4 cattle egret with cows in Rimac dunes late afternoon. Barn owl
hunting over the saltmarsh south of Rimac and sparrowhawk flew over.
Raven perched in trees on the inland side of Rimac dunes. Cetti’s warbler
singing at Churchill Lane car park. Bullfinch calling from dune scrub at
Crook Bank.
231225 – 3 cattle egret in horse paddock by Rimac entrance. Sparrowhawk
flew through the work base at Sea View. Chiffchaff in trees around Rimac
car park. 100 curlew feeding on winter wheat fields adjacent to Churchill
Lane.
Donna Nook:
231225 – Weekly Pupdate: 86 pups, 1 cow and 5 bulls on view. The two
bulls and two cows, that were in front of the information hut, left overnight.
There is now just a single cow with her pup. The older pups are exploring
the creeks before they too leave and head out to sea.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
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;
nd also three areas of grassland: Little Scrubbs Meadow and extension),
Small Meadow and Big Meadow. Since all have their own management
lans, 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 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
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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
2026 Event details to follow.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
12 ...AND FINALLY...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*** National and International Stories ***
Archaeologists uncover 3,000-year-old mysterious mass burial site
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cedxev6e027o
Trail hunting to be banned as part of new animal welfare strategy
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g9y20j259o
Two more cases of bird flu at poultry sites - Norfolk
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq601vprjzpo
Major incident declared over giant hole at canal
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2lvq0yk9dko
'Year of octopus' declared after warmer seas lead to record UK numbers
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c709gz3k9k9o
Huge 100-tonne fatberg found in London sewers
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj9ydve2kz7o
Learn about fungi – Plantlife
https://www.plantlife.org.uk/learning-resource/learn-about-fungi/
Your winter duck guide – RSPB
https://members.rspb.org.uk/your-winter-duck-guide/
Christmas WWF Puzzle hub
https://www.wwf.org.uk/newsletter/puzzle-hub
Winter-active bumblebees
https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/winter-active-bumblebees/
Wins for wildlife in 2025
https://www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/news/wins-for-wildlife-in-twenty-twenty-five
*** Mail Fails ***
None this week
If you experience any Bulletin problems in future please let Alex Pickwell know.
mrapickwell@gmail.com
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~ THE END ~
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(..until next week!)
Roger Parsons
old.museum@yahoo.co.uk
http://rogerparsons.info/