============================================ || || Wildnews Bulletin 19th February 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. 5. Bardney Limewoods NNR: Chambers Farm Wood. 6. Other Reserve Reports - links. 7. Sending in Bulletin Reports - contributors please read! 8. Contact information - recorders and specialists... 9. Notes about these wildlife reports. 10. Bulletin publicity policy. 11. Events Diary - what's on. 12. ...and finally. Mostly national/international wildlife stories. ============================================ Reports here are open. They are available to county recorders of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union; Lincolnshire Bird Club and Lincolnshire Environmental Record Centre [LERC]. Compare earlier years/months. Past Bulletins archive [in text format] from 2009: http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union or associated organisations. Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. ============================================ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. INFORMATION, EVENTS, NEWS AND REQUESTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Editor writes: I don’t often get to pronounce on my main interest, the true flies, (or Diptera = two-wings rather than 4), so I will indulge myself here. I received an iRecord notification the other day for Phaonia tuguriorum, a very common ‘housefly type’ with mostly yellow legs. The predacious larvae live in moss or moist grassland and are notable predators of cranefly larvae, to the extent that the expert dipterist Steven Falk, who is a big fan of popular naming, has dubbed it the ‘Leatherjacket Bristleshins’ (the number and distribution of bristles on the legs are important in recognising the 48 or so British species of Phaonia). The record was accepted, but under the name Phaonia signata. This is the name by which the species was known from 1826 until 1986 when it was changed to tuguriorum. Now it has seemingly been reversed back, and not only that, the name tuguriorum has now been applied to another Phaonia previously called scutellata!! This is guaranteed to cause confusion. Naming wildlife is a difficult area of course. Scientific Latin/Greek names are essential for international co-operation and systematic study where there are conventions to follow, while colloquial names encourage amateur involvement and cultural associations. In this case, a change in the perception of a specific entity has muddied the water in the scientific realm at least for a few years, while the sheer number of fly species condemns those who would name them colloquially to huge flights of fancy to achieve the necessary range of terms. I can possibly see me remembering the name Leatherjacket Bristleshins having written this, but not using it, at least not in public! Phil Porter's email is: philporterento@outlook.com Roger Parsons' email is: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk BTO's tracked Cuckoos - 11 still south of the Sahara https://www.bto.org/cuckoos Lock of the Lowes SWT Webcam https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/watch-wildlife-online/loch-of-the-lowes-webcam/ Learn a new species and boost Lincolnshire’s natural history record! Colin Smith, LNU President-elect 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 iRecord at 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 Thanks to those who added records for our second map filling species. We received 11 records from 4 recorders for the small Bramble Leaf miner moth Stigmella aurella. Please do join in as all records are valuable and help our understanding of the county's changing natural history. The next species is the Lichen Lecidella elaeochroma. It is a grey lichen that is usually oval in shape and with small black fruiting bodies dotting the centre. They are common on ash trees but can also be found on other smooth barked trees and sometimes fences. There is a photo and more guidance can be found on the British Lichen Society website. https://britishlichensociety.org.uk/sites/default/files/Lecidella%20elaeochroma_0.pdf the current record distribution Map can be seen at https://lnu.org/lecidella-elaeochroma/ Please continue to record the previous species; Grey cushioned Grimmia moss, Bramble Leaf Miner moth and Jelly-ear fungus *** This week's mostly-local news stories: *** Nuclear waste plan 'would scar Lincolnshire Wolds https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cnvqljq77p0o Well-managed solar panels are actually good for wildlife https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/solar-farms-boost-bird-biodiversity/ Avian flu spread sees 1.8 million farmed birds culled https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c391mpmr81xo Thieves raid community gardening project - Grimsby https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c805z4eek5ko Gas field discovery 'very exciting', MP says https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c74mpylzmpeo Sir Isaac Newton's home reopens after winter work https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g91yr2y27o Residents fear being 'imprisoned' by solar farms https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3w8vyngv4do *** 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 20th February - Sunday 23rd February Headline: Cold, dry start. Some rain into western parts. Milder Thursday. Thursday: Cloudy start with outbreaks of occasionally heavy rain. Most parts drier by the afternoon, but staying rather cloudy with further heavy showers. Rather windy, but much milder than recent days. Maximum temperature 14 °C. Outlook for Friday to Sunday: Windy Friday and mostly dry, once overnight heavy showers clear. Early cloud breaking Saturday, with sunny spells and scattered showers following. Further rain, and strong winds Sunday. Mild. UK long range weather forecast Sunday 23rd February - Tuesday 4th March The start of this period will be unsettled, with heavy rain and strong winds affecting all parts as a deep area of low pressure crosses just to the north of the UK. Gales or severe gales are likely around coasts, especially in the north and west. It will be very mild though. Next week and into early March is uncertain. It is possible that further spells of mild, wet and windy weather affect the UK, interspersed with cooler, showery conditions, but there is also a chance that drier, more settled conditions develop, especially towards the south of the UK. Temperatures are likely to be close to or a little above average overall, although should drier, more settled conditions develop, then nights may become colder with a risk of frost. *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** WATCH: Astronaut's view of Northern Lights from International Space Station https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/videos/c07kljvv5mko Sky At A Glance - highlights https://skyandtelescope.org/observing/sky-at-a-glance/ Night Sky - RMG - highlights - February. https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/blog/astronomy/night-sky-highlights-february-2025 Full Moons: https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/full-moon-calendar Meteor shower date - next big one April Lyrids. https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/meteor-shower-guide BBC Sky at Night Magazine website Lunar eclipse visible from Europe 13-14 March 2025. https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news *** EVENTS *** *** L.N.U. AGM & Talk *** On Saturday 22nd March 2025 at Whisby Nature Park Education Centre Lincoln SK910662 at 2 pm. Refreshments will be available. Parking £2 The AGM will be followed by a talk by outgoing president, Paul Scott “The Sir Joseph Banks Centre - Past, Present, and Future”. Synopsis - "Many members may be familiar with Sir Joseph Banks, thanks to numerous talks given across the county and beyond over the past 20 years. However, the history of the building and the Joseph Banks Society remains less well-known. This lecture explores the evolution of the building and how the Joseph Banks Society has transformed into a unique natural science centre and museum.” *** LINCOLN LWT *** Richard Davidson writes… Lincoln Area Group Talk 20th February : Birds of Prey in Lincolnshire Bird enthusiast and ringer Alan Ball presents an illustrated talk about the range of birds of prey found in Lincolnshire, including owls. The second half focuses on Red Kites and Peregrines. 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. *** GRIMSBY AND CLEETHORPES AREA GROUP LWT *** On Monday 10th March the Grimsby and Cleethorpes Area Group will hold their next indoor meeting where Helen Gamble will give an illustrated talk "God's Acre - Cherishing our churchyards, graveyards and cemeteries”. Helen will help us look at all aspects of these areas from their function as a place of worship to an open space for community use and their diverse range of habitats for wildlife as well as their historic value. This will take place in Grimsby Town Hall DN31 1HU and starts at 7.30pm. Admission £4, all are welcome. There will be a raffle and refreshments available. For further details please contact our secretary David Ball - 07711716063 On Saturday 29th March you are invited to join us for a morning walk in Grimsby Cemetery with Graham Hicks looking for signs of Spring. Meet Graham at 8am in Grimsby Crematorium car park on Weelsby Avenue DN32 0BA. Please dress sensibly according to the weather conditions and wear stout footwear and bring binoculars if you have them. This is a free event however donations will be welcomed for the Trust. For further information please contact Graham Hicks - 07979 089890 There are details of these events on our website www.grimsbywildlifetrust.org.uk We are also on Facebook *** SOUTH LINCOLNSHIRE RSPB GROUP*** "The Amazing Life of the Swift". An illustrated Slideshow Talk by Alasdair McKee of the RSPB showcasing these amazing birds and what we can do to help them. Wednesday 9th April 2025 at 7-30pm at Boston Tennis Club. Full details at https://group.rspb.org.uk/southlincolnshire/ "Waders of The Wash". An illustrated Slideshow Talk by local RSPB Volunteer and photographer Jeremy Eyeons showcasing the wide variety of waders which can be found around the Wash estuary. Wednesday 24th September 2025 at 7-30pm at Boston Tennis Club. Full details at https://group.rspb.org.uk/southlincolnshire/ *** SOUTH LINCS RSPB GROUP *** have announced the dates for their 2025 programme of "Bird and Seal Watching Cruises" aboard The Boston Belle into The Wash estuary. There are 12 cruises scheduled for 2025 starting on Easter Monday and ending in October. Full details including availability, dates, costs, booking etc. are on the website. https://group.rspb.org.uk/southlincolnshire/ STAYING SAFE Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary.... Cold-weather alerts - 1 Nov 2024 - 31st March 2025 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 that landowners should dispose of birds themselves. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bird-flu-latest-situation-avian-influenza-prevention-zone-declared-across-great-britain Lyme Disease reminder https://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/zoonoses-data-sheets/lyme-disease.pdf Road works and hold-ups https://roadworks.org/ Met Office Severe Warnings https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings Met Office Severe Weather E-mail Service - sign up http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/guide-to-emails EasyTide http://easytide.ukho.gov.uk/EasyTide/EasyTide/index.aspx Environment Agency Flood Warnings - Lincolnshire https://flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/warnings?location=lincolnshire Environment Agency Flood Information/Floodline - sign up https://www.gov.uk/sign-up-for-flood-warnings ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2. WILDLIFE HIGHLIGHTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Bird News from Rare Bird Alert *** Rare Bird Alert has kindly given permission to reproduce their pager reports. A big thank you from us all. Readers interested in a pager - look at the RBA website: http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/ For RBA's excellent articles: https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/RealData/Articles.asp 10/2/2025 Tetney Marshes, Hen Harrier male at south end. Willow Tree Fen, Hen Harrier male in roost. 11/2/2025 Deeping St James, 2 Long-eared Owls at Main Lake in ivy, Deeping Lakes. 12/2/2025 Belton Estate, 16 Hawfinches in yews Deeping St James, .2 Glossy Ibises at West Pit, 2 Long-eared Owls at Main Lake in ivy, near hide Deeping Lakes. East Halton Skitter, Water Pipit Frampton Marsh, Hen Harrier ringtail over saltmarsh from Sea Bank, 3 Bewick's Swans, then flew off. Mablethorpe, 2 Shorelarks, Caspian Gull 2w, on beach off Seal sanctuary. Sutton-on-Sea, Red-necked Grebe on lake at Lakeside Springs. 13/2/2025 Sutton-on-Sea, Red-necked Grebe on lake at Lakeside Springs. Tallington Lakes, 3 Scaup, 1w drk, ad fem, 1w fem, on Main Lakes. Entry £5. 14/2/2025 Anderby Creek, 5 Tundra Bean Geese in field with 29 Russian White-fronted Geese. Cut End at River Witham Mouth, Slavonian Grebe, Long-tailed Duck. Deeping St James, 8 Long-eared Owls at Main Lake in ivy, near hide Deeping Lakes. Gibraltar Point, Hen Harrier ringtail flew north past. Leadenham, Caspian Gull 1w, in fields near quarry. Louth, Black Redstart at St James' Church. 15/2/2025 Anderby Creek, 5 Tundra Bean Geese in field with 29 Russian White-fronted Geese in field at north end of Stone's Lane. Deeping St James, Long-eared Owl at Main Lake in ivy, near hide Deeping Lakes. Gibraltar Point, Hen Harrier ringtail. 16/2/2025 Deeping St James, 5+ Long-eared Owls at Main Lake in ivy, near hide Deeping Lakes. 2 Glossy Ibises at River Welland/Maxey Cut confluence, then flew SW. Gibraltar Point, 3 Water Pipits. Tallington Lakes, Ring-necked Duck 1w drk on Jet Ski lake, 3 Scaup, 1w drk, ad fem, 1w fem, on Main Lakes. Entry £5. 17/2/2025 Alkborough Flats, 6 Russian White-fronted Geese. Anderby Creek, 2+ Tundra Bean Geese in field with 18 Russian White-fronted Geese in field at north end of Stone's Lane. Deeping St James, 5+ Long-eared Owls at Main Lake in ivy, near hide Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, 1+ Water Pipit. Gibraltar Point, 17 Russian White-fronted Geese. Pyewipe, Caspian Gull at Novartis Ings briefly.. 18/2/2025 Anderby Creek, 3 Tundra Bean Geese and 22 Russian White-fronted Geese in field at north end of Stone's Lane. Coningsby, Osprey flew west over. Deeping St James, 5+ Long-eared Owls at Deeping Lakes. 2 Glossy Ibises at River Welland. Gibraltar Point, 1 Water Pipit. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. STICKNEY TF322568 Gail Cartwright 15/2/2025 Dead badger on A16 on carriageway from Stickney to Spilsby Dead badger on carriage way from Spilsby to Stickford Dead badger on roadside on West Fen towards bridge leading to Hall Lane, Stickney FERRY ROAD, OWSTON GRANGE SK798992 Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 18/02/25 Carrion Crow x 4 & Magpie x 6 feeding on Brown Hare roadkill *** 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 R + A Parsons 16/2/25 Blue Tit 1+ Great Tit 2 Blackbird 2,,1f. Collared Dove 3 Pied Wagtail m Robin 1+ Starling flock 12+ Wood Pigeon 5 Black-headed Gull raiding flock of 25+ Domestic Pigeon 7+ House Sparrow 12+ Dunnock Raven regularly heard from nearby tree. BARDNEY TF117700 Phil Porter 13th February A Barn Owl flew along Abbey Road at dusk, the first we have seen there for at least six months. BOSTON Maud Foster Drain TF329 455 approx - TF329 461 Tracey Lenton 16/02/2025 A sunny afternoon though cold and breezy. Cormorants 2 Grey heron 1 Little egret 1 Mallard 2 pairs, possibly more Moorhen individuals seen a few times, exact number unsure. Mute swans, 6 juveniles in a group at the waterside, within minutes the 2 parents came swimming from Cowbridge direction. I saw them with 7 young some time ago, possibly one has left the family group now. FAR INGS. Angela Buckle 16th February Coltsfoot in flower. Two Goldeneye male and female. HOLYWELL LAKE (WEBS) Ian Misselbrook 16th February 2025 10.40 – 11.25 Cormorant 2 Little Grebe 17 Little Egret 1 Mute Swan 2 Greylag Goose 1 Canada Geese 22 Mallard 22 (very low numbers for this site) Gadwall 34 Teal 20 Wigeon 36 Tufted Duck 19 Coot 10 Moorhen 18 The stars of the show were a pair of Goosanders on the lower lake. I have not seen any on my WeBS visit for several years HORKSTOW SE987179 Jenny Haynes 16 February 2025 It was several years ago we saw our first male blackbird trying to access the bird feeders by hovering alongside. Now, it’s a common sight in my garden with male and female blackbirds hovering and sometimes even landing long enough to snatch a seed. I can only think that it’s been adopted by one bird copying another, or is it widespread? OSGODBY MOOR TF090923 Colin Smith 17/02/2025 This is usually a good site for finding hibernating moths but I got side-tracked as someone had dumped their old Christmas tree near the entrance and that made me wonder if anything had mad use of it for sheltering. I shook the tree over my beating tray and the first thing I noticed were hundreds of mouse droppings so there were obviously mice using it. There were lots of small flies and four species of woodlouse, Common Woodlouse Oniscus asellus, Common Striped Woodlouse Philoscia muscorum, Common Rough Woodlouse Porcellio scaber and Common Pygmy Woodlouse Trichoniscus pusillus. There were also lots of small spiders mostly juveniles but there was an adult male Neriene clathrata I was able to identify. Tarnished Plant Bug Lygus rugulipennis and Birch Catkin Bug Kleidocerys resedae were there and the beetles included Anthobium atrocephalum, Proteinus ovalis, Cabbage Stem Weevil Ceutorhynchus pallidactylus, Cryptophagus punctipennis and White Clover Seed Weevil Protapion fulvipes. All these species are what you would expect to find in the leaf litter under the tree, there were no species that would have had to move any distance to be there. SEDGE HOLE CLOSE LWT Nature Reserve Steve Hiner 05/02/25 Blackbird x 2 Blue tit x 4 Carrion Crow x 6 Chaffinch x 2 Great-spotted Woodpecker x 2 (1 drumming) Great Tit x 2 Greenfinch x 1 Jackdaw x 6 Robin x 2 Rook x 15 Skylark x 1 Wood Pigeon x 4 Wren x 1 Rabbit x 2 THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 20/01/25 Barn Owl x 1 22:10hrs Blackbird x 4 Black-headed Gull x 3 Blue tit x 4 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 15 Common Buzzard x 1 Dunnock x 2 Fieldfare x 7 Goldfinch x 6 Goosander x 1 pr. River Trent SK785945 Great-spotted Woodpecker x 1 Great Tit x 2 Grey Partridge x 6 Jackdaw x 2 Kestrel x 1 Magpie x 2 Mallard x 1 over Thurnholmes Redwing x 6 Robin x 2 Stock dove x 2 Tawny Owl x 2 calling 01:15hrs Wood Pigeon x 6 27/01/25 Little Owl x 1 calling 01:00hrs Long-eared Owl x 2 calling 01:50hrs 03/02/25 Blackbird x 10 Black-headed Gull x 6 over Thurnholmes Blue Tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 12 Common Buzzard x 2 Dunnock x 2 Great Tit x 2 Heron x 1 Owston Ferry Warping Drain Kestrel x 1 Lesser Redpoll x 12 Magpie x 2 Pink-footed Goose x 250+ flying north, high over Thurnholmes Robin x 1 Stock Dove x 2 Tawny Owl x 3 01:50hrs Wood Pigeon x 4 15/02/25 Little Egret x 2 East Lound SK788994 16/02/25 Barn Owl x 1 08:50hrs Blackbird x 6 Black-headed Gull x 6 over Thurnholmes Blue Tit x 4 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 13 Common Buzzard x 1 Common Gull x 2 over Thurnholmes Dunnock x 2 Goldfinch x 4 Great-spotted Woodpecker x 1 Great Tit x 2 Greenfinch x 1 Grey Partridge x 6 Heron x 1 Owston Ferry Warping Drain Jackdaw x 2 Kestrel x 1 Magpie x 2 Mallard x 6 over Thurnholmes Pink-footed Goose x 230 over Thurnholmes Robin x 1 Stock Dove x 2 Tawny Owl x 1 calling 02:15hrs Tree Sparrow x 32 Wood Pigeon x 4 Grey Squirrel x 1 WALESBY WOOD TF117906 Phil and Mary Porter 14th February Siskin x15 Nuthatch x1 Jay x1 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. NNRs and NATURE RESERVES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LWT Top Reserves: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves LWT Reserves List: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/nature-reserves-list RSPB Reserves: https://www.rspb.org.uk/days-out/reserves ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE DUNES NNR including DONNA NOOK ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/saltfleetby-theddlethorpe-dunes https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/38015?category=59026 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 120225 – a large starfish wreck along the beach after strong onshore winds. 2 shorelark and a second winter Caspian gull feeding amongst shell wreckage on the beach at Mablethorpe North End. 3 cattle egret around Rimac car park and great white egret on Rimac freshwater marsh. Male hen harrier reportedly flew over the saltmarsh. 130225 – 200 lapwing flew north-west over Sea View early morning, with another 500 seen to fly over Elm House Farm and land early afternoon. 17 gadwall on Paradise Lagoon and 42 pintail with 34 mallard feeding on Sea View saltmarsh. Great white egret Rimac freshwater marsh and 2 cattle egret by the car park. Chiffchaff and water rail calling from around Rimac reedbed. A lone siskin flew south-west over Rimac dunes. 2 barn owls flew through Sea View dunes together late afternoon. Redwing also flew over, and 2 mistle thrush in treetops around Sea View work base. 140225 – 3 cattle egret again around Rimac car park and 200+ lapwing on Rimac saltmarsh. 1000+ lapwing in several flocks flying over Elm House Farm. 90 lapwing also on the edges of Paradise Lagoon, where 22 gadwall were feeding. 500 wigeon on wet grassland inland from Sea View. 800 lapwing and 20 curlew in arable fields near Churchill Lane mid-afternoon. Barn owl flew through the dunes at Sea View late afternoon. 160225 – 3 cattle egret still around Rimac car park and great white egret still on Rimac freshwater marsh. 30 pintail, 140 redshank, 40 rock pipit and 25 skylark on Rimac saltmarsh. 3 water pipit in flight around Rimac reedbed late afternoon, briefly landing on dune scrub. 90 whooper swan flew to saltmarsh roost at dusk in three groups; 70 arrived from the north and 20 from the west. Barn owl hunting over the saltmarsh at MOD. Large skein of pink-footed geese arrived high from the west at dusk, totalling at least 2000 birds. 170225 – 260 sanderling on the beach at Mablethorpe North End. A guillemot flew north over the sea, and 30+ red-throated diver flew south in 20 minutes. Jack snipe Crook Bank outer dunes and 410 curlew on wet grassland south of Crook Bank. Cattle egret flew north over Theddlethorpe Terminal site. Barn owl flew through Sea View dunes late afternoon again. 180225 – stonechat pair and 2 woodcock in the dunes south of Crook Bank. 15 red-throated diver on the sea at Mablethorpe North End and another 56 flew south in an hour mid-afternoon. 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 12th February: 30 Red-throated Diver and 3 Common Scoter at sea off Anderby Creek, Great Northern Diver and Great Crested Grebe on sea off Huttoft Car Terrace. 13th February: 73 Red-throated Divers and a Guillemot flying past Anderby Creek at sea, Black-throated Diver at sea from Huttoft Car Terrace, 22 White-fronted Goose on farmland, Red-necked Grebe still present in Sutton-on-Sea. 16th February: Woodcock at Wolla Bank car park, ca75 Red-throated Diver at sea, Short-eared Owl near Wolla Bank Pit, Bittern at Chapel Pit. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Gardening days for 2025. March 4th & 18th; April 1st & 15th; May 6th & 20th; June 3rd & 17th; July 1st & 15th; August 5th & 19th; September 2nd & 16th, October 7th & 21st; November 4th. margaretwestcott7@hotmail.co.uk https://butterfly-conservation.org/in-your-area/lincolnshire-branch/chambers-farm-wood-butterfly-garden *** Lincolnshire Dormouse Group *** lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com All being well we should get a permit for the following dates for our winter coppicing sessions: Sunday 16th March 2025 We will meet at Chambers Farm Woods outside the wood centre at 10am over the winter, and the session normally runs until mid afternoon, with a break for a packed lunch picnic in the woods. Please be aware that the toilet block at Chambers remains closed. No experience is necessary, just enthusiasm! All tools are provided, but I would recommend that if you have your own gardening gloves to bring these along, but we have some that you can borrow too. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The NNR includes the following sites: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chambers Farm Woods (comprises Ivy Wood; Little and Great Scrubbs Woods; Minting Wood; Hatton Wood, Hatton Plantation and Minting Park; and also three areas of grassland: Little Scrubbs Meadow and extension), Small Meadow and Big Meadow. Since all have their own management plans, please give the actual location when reporting). College Wood; Cocklode & Great West Woods; Hardy Gang Wood; Newball Wood; Rand Wood; Scotgrove Wood; Southrey Wood and Wickenby Wood. Many of these include both areas of ancient woodland or important grassland. Many are also designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Records which provide a six-figure grid reference are of particular value to the Forestry Commission. Other woods included in the NNR but without public access: Stainfield Wood; Stainton & Fulnetby Woods (access by public bridle way only). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. OTHER RESERVE REPORTS AND HIGHLIGHTS. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Discover Woodland Trust woods near you- including the best woods for walks, wildlife watching, family fun and heritage. https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/#=undefined&view=map Lincolnshire County Council - Local Nature Reserves https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/coast-countryside/nature-reserves Links to "Other Reserves" are welcome. Your suggestions, please. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7. SENDING IN BULLETIN REPORTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The purpose of the Bulletin is to encourage biological recording in Lincolnshire. We aim to increase the number of people reporting observations to Recorders or via iRecord. https://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/ The Bulletin is a FREE service. We ask you to provide reports, questions, news or relevant articles from time to time. Descriptive pieces are welcome. You don't have to stick to lists! Please help us to help you. When sending in reports please follow this layout to save re-editing: Place Name: IN CAPITALS with Grid Reference if you have it. Your Name: Real names please, not aliases. Put it in each time, for each location Date: Species list [Alphabetical?] & numbers [and observations?] e.g. Blackbird - 24 [And please, no home-grown abbreviations. Species Names in full.] Bulletin mailing times may vary. It usually goes out on Wednesdays/ Thursdays in time for the weekend. Please e-mail in contributions to the editor as early as possible. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8. CONTACTS AND USEFUL WEBSITES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Links "not to be missed" *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. CONTACTS LIST Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union LNU Website: http://lnu.org/ LNU Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist LNU e-mail: info@lnu.org Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust: https://twitter.com/LincsWildlife Lincs Bird Club: https://twitter.com/Lincsbirding LBC County Bird Recorder: recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk The Sir Joseph Banks Society: https://twitter.com/sirjosephbanks Lincolnshire Bat Group: http://www.lincsbatgroup.co.uk/ Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch: https://twitter.com/BC_Lincolnshire Lincsbirders: https://twitter.com/lincsbirders Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project: https://lincolnshirechalkstreams.org/ Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Trust: https://lincolnshirechalkstreamstrust.org.uk/ South Lincolnshire Flora Group: https://bsbi.org/south-lincolnshire-v-c-53 The Wolds Fungi Group: Contact Paul Nichol via email: nichol20@gmail.com Lincolnshire Dormouse Group: Contact: lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com FIGHTING WILDLIFE CRIME Wildlife Crime https://www.lincs.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/wc/wildlife-crime/ SPECIES IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. LNU Recorders and Specialists: https://lnu.org/specialists/ Downloads of LNU books: https://lnu.org/publications/books/ Recording with "iRecord": https://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/ iRecord is recommended by the LNU as an appropriate platform for on-line recording When asking for help: Please give the very best information you can provide. If you are not sure, ask what is needed from you to confirm identification. Photographs are helpful but not every species can be identified from a photograph. When asked for further details, get back to the recorder promptly. Don't forget a thank you for the help. That is always welcomed. Local Bat Helpline Grounded bats, bat problems, advice and information. Contact Annette Faulkner on 01775 766286 Email: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com Confidential Bat Records You may send confidential bat records direct to Annette Faulkner on: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com 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 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 Atlas of the terrestrial and semi-aquatic Mammals of Lincolnshire: downloadable LNU book *** For the Geologists *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. 'Stunning' 100-million-year-old fossil found in rock https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz7e28ne383o Lincolnshire Geodiversity Group: https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/discovering/geology-1 Geology of the Lincolnshire Wolds: https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/special-features/geology The Geology of Lincolnshire: downloadable LNU book UK Fossils in Lincolnshire https://ukfossils.co.uk/category/lincolnshire/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9. NOTES ABOUT THESE WILDLIFE REPORTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We do our best to ensure accuracy in our reporting. However, records are sent in by a variety of reporters; from complete beginners to professionals. They may vary in reliability and occasionally may be difficult or impossible to verify. If further information is needed please contact the editor: Bulletins are sent to Recorders at Lincolnshire Environmental Records Centre [GNLP], Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union and Lincolnshire Bird Club. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10. BULLETIN PUBLICITY POLICY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When sending in reports, e.g. unusual plants, please report any sensitive news directly to recorders. Not the Bulletin. We don't want to spoil things with unwise or untimely publicity. Thank you. Please respect the interests of wildlife and site owners if you report on national networks. Interest in wildlife is not a licence to act irresponsibly or thoughtlessly to landowners, who may well be partners in important conservation work. [Views expressed in the Bulletin do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of the LNU or associated organisations. In particular this applies to agencies, especially charities, taking a political stance.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 11. LNU EVENTS DIARY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** LNU Events *** https://lnu.org/meetings/ https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/ *** L.N.U. AGM & Talk *** On Saturday 22nd March 2025 at Whisby Nature Park Education Centre Lincoln SK910662 at 2 pm. Refreshments will be available. Parking £2 The AGM will be followed by a talk by outgoing president, Paul Scott “The Sir Joseph Banks Centre - Past, Present, and Future”. Synopsis - "Many members may be familiar with Sir Joseph Banks, thanks to numerous talks given across the county and beyond over the past 20 years. However, the history of the building and the Joseph Banks Society remains less well-known. This lecture explores the evolution of the building and how the Joseph Banks Society has transformed into a unique natural science centre and museum.” As soon as the 2025 Field Meeting are available on the LNU Website details will be posted here. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ...AND FINALLY... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ National and international stories Watch moment man is swallowed by humpback whale https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/c2k5e14vwx4o Hunt for rare daffodils that are feared lost https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0qwvppk0zzo World's sea-ice falls to record low https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgeydkz08go Arctic Corsair move delayed by dredging issue https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgrj7867n3o How to photograph garden birds https://members.rspb.org.uk/how-to-photograph-garden-birds/ *** Mail Fails *** ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/