============================================ || || Wildnews Bulletin 8th January 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Editor writes: Many thanks to the winter birders who bare witness to the increasing quality of certain expanding wetland areas along our coastline. The importance of wetlands is reflected in the diversity of species that migrate through them or spend the winter, but compared with the avifaunas of times gone by, a massive difference lies in the apparent lack throughout the county of large numbers of seed-eating birds. These species are rarely reported in the bulletin. Wetland birds monopolise the habitat creation effort, and certainly they are the most popular targets for most birders. Rewilding should eventually do the trick, but I for one would like to see more projects on the margins of the popular birding venues aimed at resurrecting the swirling flocks of seed-eaters of my youth in a big way. 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 LNI’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 (https://irecord.org.uk/help/how-do-i). 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 to confirm the record if you possibly can. The first species is Grey-cushioned Grimmia Moss. Grimmia pulvinata is a distinctive species which forms delightful neat little green cushions on almost any wall. This species should be easily found and in Lincolnshire there aren’t any other species of Grimmia that might cause confusion, although there are a few other silvery species that can be found on walls (such as Wall Screw-moss). However, the very compact neat, rounded cushions distinguish the Grimmia. If capsules are present, they usually bend back into the cushions, and straighten out once they are ready to disperse the spores. There is a photo and more guidance can be found on the British Bryological Society website: https://www.britishbryologicalsociety.org.uk/learning/some-common-bryophytes/common-mosses-on-walls/ the current record distribution Map can be seen at https://lnu.org/grimmia-pulvinata-2/ Phil Porter's email is: philporterento@outlook.com Roger Parsons' email is: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk *** BTO's tracked Cuckoos *** - 12 south of the Sahara https://www.bto.org/cuckoos *** This week's mostly-local news stories: *** In photos: 2024 captured in Lincolnshire https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c20nr26g88no Flooding in Lincolnshire - updates https://check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk/location/lincolnshire UK's biggest ever dinosaur footprint site unearthed https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c24nzeqq1l2o The excavation is featured on Digging for Britain on BBC Two at 20:00 on Wednesday 8 January. The full series will be available on BBC iPlayer on 7 January. Man rescued after getting stuck in muddy beach https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgn9jevx69o Biogas plant set for approval despite campaign https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2ldqy4n749o Wallace & Gromit makers to create film for county https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgryv4klxqo New chapter for Georgian house as cafe approved https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce320l0qqwdo Seal mothers 'may be moving to less crowded sites' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn0x62jjx76o Hundreds join huge scrum for medieval game https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czjdr9xr7nmo A Guide to Coastal Birds (audio) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00t86v0 *** Weather News and Forecast *** https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#? Warnings of snow, wind and rain across the UK for New Year https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c785k44yj12o East Midlands weather forecast Thursday 9th January - Sunday 12th January Headline: Staying cold. Tonight: Clear skies seeing temperatures dropping quickly though the evening to give another widespread frost overnight into Thursday. Some patches of mist and fog possible by dawn. Minimum temperature -4 °C. Thursday: A frosty start again on Thursday with any mist or fog slow to clear. Largely dry but cloudier skies bring the threat of a wintry shower for the east coast. Maximum temperature 3 °C. Outlook for Friday to Sunday: Staying cold and dry but turning cloudier through Friday. Occasional outbreaks of rain and eventually stronger winds through the weekend, with temperatures rising slightly but remaining cold. UK long range weather forecast Sunday 12th January - Tuesday 21st January High pressure is likely to build from the south close-to or over the UK throughout this period, with generally settled conditions prevailing for many. Cloud amounts will be variable and often large, with a chance of some fog developing under clearer spells, which could be slow to clear. Frontal systems may affect some parts of the UK though, these more likely towards the northwest of the UK, bringing some rain and windier conditions here. Any systems are likely to be fairly weak though as they run into the high pressure. Temperatures are likely to be generally around or a little above average in the north and west, although southern and eastern parts may be colder at times, especially where overnight fog and frost is slow to clear. *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** Aurora shines across the UK in first display of 2025 https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/articles/cn4xndx93pgo Seven celestial events to look out for in 2025 https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/articles/cy470ye4wn8o Sky At A Glance - Jupiter, high in the east these evenings https://skyandtelescope.org/observing/sky-at-a-glance/ Night Sky - highlights - January https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/blogs/astronomy Full Moons - next 13th January 2025. https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/full-moon-calendar Meteor shower dates - Quadrantids 28 Dec-12 Jan January.2025. https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/meteor-shower-guide BBC Sky at Night Magazine website. See Saturn disappear behind the Moon in the New Year. https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news *** EVENTS *** *** L.N.U. / LINCOLNSHIRE BIRD CLUB JOINT MEETING *** On Saturday 25th January 2025 at Whisby Nature Park Education Centre Lincoln SK910662 at 2 pm. Refreshments will be available. Parking £2 Illustrated talk by LBC Chairman Phil Espin, “The Birds of a Lincolnshire Market Town” This talk is based on the book of the same title recently published by L.B.C. and written by Phil and his great friend John Clarkson who tragically died before publication. An appreciation of this book can be found at https://thewryneck.blogspot.com/2024/08/birds-of-lincolnshire-market-town.html *** GRIMSBY AND CLEETHORPES AREA GROUP LWT *** The Shorebirds of Gibraltar Point On Monday 13th January 2025 at 7.30pm we will be holding our next indoor meeting where we will be welcoming Richard Doan who will be giving an illustrated presentation about the shore birds of Gibraltar Point including the protection of Lincolnshire's only breeding colony of Little Terns. This will take place in Grimsby Town Hall DN31 1HU. Admission £4, all are welcome. There will be a raffle, book sale and refreshments available. For further information on indoor meetings please contact Jackie Kirk 07464 636926 Bird walk - Resident and Wintering Wildfowl of Covenham Reservoir On Saturday 18th January 2025 at 8am you are invited to join us on a bird walk at Covenham Reservoir with Graham Hicks where we will be looking for resident and winter wildfowl. Meet Graham at the main car park Grid Ref TF317009. Please dress suitability for the weather and terrain. This is a free event however donations will be welcomed for the Trust. For further information on the walks please contact Graham Hicks 07979 089890 For further information on all our events visit our website www.grimsbywildlifetrust.org.uk and we are also on Facebook *** LWT LINCOLN AREA GROUP *** Talk 16th January 2025 : Highlands and Islands of Scotland Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust president Geoff Trinder takes us on a tour of the wildlife of Scotland, including plants, mammals and birds. 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. *** LINCOLN RSPB LOCAL GROUP *** Indoor Meeting and Talk 19th January 2025 : Wildlife of the Yorkshire Coast by Steve Race. Sponsored by Ellengowan Media Publications. 7.30 pm in the Robert Hardy Building, Bishop Grosseteste University, Longdales Road, Lincoln LN1 3DY. Admission charge £4. Please pay on the door. *** 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/ *** THE NATURAL HISTORY AND GEOLOGY SECTION OF THE SCUNTHORPE MUSEUM SOCIETY *** Our first meeting for 2025 is on Monday, 13th January, when we will be visited by Dr Graziella Iossa, Senior Lecturer in Zoology and Programme Leader at the University of Lincoln. She will be giving an illustrated talk on "The World of the Red Fox". The red fox is one of the most successful mammals in the world. In this talk, we will learn how it lives, reproduces and adapts to some of the most challenging environments in the world and explore its complicated relationship with humans. Dr Graziella Iossa is the wife of Professor Carl Soulsbury who is unable to give this talk as originally arranged. Dr Iossa also did her PhD on urban foxes, has worked on and published papers on foxes and has delivered fox talks also. We start at 7.15pm in the Small Hall, Room 1, of the Old Brumby United Church, Ashby Road, Scunthorpe, DN16 2AQ, which is immediately next to the Applegreen filling station near Brumby crossroads. ALL ARE WELCOME TO OUR MEETINGS. There is free car parking at the Church, on the nearby roadside, and at the St Hugh's Church opposite. There is a £3 entry charge for non-members of the Scunthorpe Museum Society. Light refreshments are available for a £1 charge at the mid-talk break. *** LWT LINCOLN AREA GROUP *** Talk 16th January 2025 : Highlands and Islands of Scotland Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust president Geoff Trinder takes us on a tour of the wildlife of Scotland, including plants, mammals and birds. 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. *** LINCOLN RSPB LOCAL GROUP *** Indoor Meeting and Talk 19th January 2025 : Wildlife of the Yorkshire Coast by Steve Race. Sponsored by Ellengowan Media Publications. 7.30 pm in the Robert Hardy Building, Bishop Grosseteste University, Longdales Road, Lincoln LN1 3DY. Admission charge £4. Please pay on the door. 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 29/12 Deeping St James, 3 Long-eared Owls roosting on island at Main Lake, Deeping Lakes. 2 Glossy Ibises along River Welland near southern entrance. East Halton Marshes, Red-necked Grebe still at Winter's Pond. Scaup f on Humber. Gibraltar Point, 3 Water Pipits. Langtoft. Goosander at West End GP - view from Greatford Cut. Tetney Marshes, Hen Harrier male. 30/12 Baston Langtoft Pits, Ring-necked Duck 1w drk at west end. Deeping St James, Long-eared Owl roosting on island at Main Lake, Deeping Lakes. 2 Glossy Ibises along River Welland. East Halton Marshes, Red-necked Grebe still at Winter's Pond. Grainthorpe Haven, Hen Harrier male along Coal Shore Lane near Sea Farm. 31/12 Donna Nook, Spotted Redshank, 2 Hen Harriers 1 male. Gibraltar Point, Water Pipit flew over Sykes Farm. Grainthorpe Haven, Hen Harrier male along Coal Shore Lane near Sea Farm. 1/1/2025 Deeping St James, Long-eared Owl roosting in ivy near hide at Main Lake, 2 Glossy Ibises along River Welland, Deeping Lakes. East Halton Marshes, Red-necked Grebe still at Winter's Pond. Frampton Marsh, Spoonbill. Gibraltar Point, 3 Water Pipits, Hen Harrier, Slavonian Grebe and 6 Velvet Scoters flew south past. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, Snow Bunting. Tallington Lakes, Ring-necked Duck 1w drk on Main Lake. Entry £5. 2/1/2025 Deeping St James, Long-eared Owl roosting in ivy near hide at Main Lake, 2 Glossy Ibises along River Welland. Deeping Lakes. East Halton Marshes, Red-necked Grebe still at Winter's Pond, ad Russian White-fronted Goose in field. Gibraltar Point, 2 Hen Harriers, 1 ringtail from Wash Viewpoint, Water Pipit. Rimac, Hen Harrier ad male. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, 2 Shorelarks and Snow Bunting on beach at Crook Bank, 3/1/2025 Cut End, Boston, Red-necked Grebe at River Witham mouth, Slavonian Grebe. Deeping St James, 1+ Glossy Ibis at Deeping Lakes.. Frampton Marsh, Water Pipit. Gibraltar Point, Lapland Bunting flew over New Saltmarsh. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, 2 Shorelarks, 15 Snow Buntings on beach at Crook Bank. 4/1/2025 Alkborough Flats, Water Pipit. Barton-upon-Humber, Great Northern Diver juv in Sailing Pit. Baston + Langtoft GPs,: Langtoft. Ferruginous Duck drk SW at West End GPs on Main Lake view from Greatford Cut, Scaup 1w drk at west end of main pit. Coningsholme, Hen Harrier ringtail by A1041 in field. Cut End, Boston, Red-necked Grebe and 2 Black-necked Grebes at River Witham mouth. East Halton Skitter, 4 Water Pipits, Snow Bunting. Frampton Marsh, Water Pipit, ringtail Hen Harrier Freiston Shore, Water Pipit, Hen Harrier. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, 2 Shorelarks, 15 Snow Buntings on beach at Crook Bank. Willow Tree Fen, Bewick's Swan Wroot, 5 Russian White-fronted Geese. 5/1/2025 Deeping St James, 2 Glossy Ibises at Deeping Lakes between River Welland and West Pit. Gibraltar Point, 6 Snow Buntings along foreshore. Langtoft. Ferruginous Duck drk SW at West End GPs Louth, Black Redstart along Chestnut Drive. Tallington Lakes, Scaup 1w drk, Ring-necked Duck 1w drk on Main Lake. Entry £5. 6/1/2025 Barholm, White-fronted Goose in Parsonage Field. Frampton Marsh, 4 Water Pipits from sea wall. Louth, Black Redstart at Chestnut Drive. Skegness, 2 Tundra Bean Geese at Middlemarsh Farm north of A52 and west of Warth Lane, in field south of lagoon. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. *** County Wildlife Reports from Readers *** Thanks to our regular contributors across the county. Much appreciated. 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 30/12/2024 Red kite flew SE over garden 12.30hrs. 3/1 Raven calling from favourite local tree 100+ Geese spp north over 4/1 Blue Tit 2+ Blackbird 4 Robin Pied Wagtail Starling 20+ Collared Dove 3 Wood Pigeon 6 Jackdaw 9+ House Sparrow 8+ Black-headed Gull 12+ GRIMSBY Grid ref TA265095 Joyce Attia 2nd January 2025 We walked alongside the river this morning, it was very crisp and cold, frost on the ground and the grass on the playing field crunchy with frost. There was a small flock of black-headed gulls and one herring gull on the field. We sat on the wall and watched the herring gull, he was stamping on the ground for at least 10 minutes til at last his patience was rewarded and worms or insects came up and he got his breakfast. I've often seen blackbirds do this but not a gull. I was told many years ago that the worms think it's raining heavily so they come out because they may get drowned. My usual garden bird visitors this week have been goldfinches, blue tits, great tits, dunnocks, blackbirds m and f, and one collared dove, a pair of wood pigeons, feral pigeons and one small brown rat (he's hungry too) It will soon be Big Garden Bird Watch again. On our patch of the river the juvenile swans seem to have left home, though I did see the other brood at the river head have still got a couple of youngsters with them. HORKSTOW SE987179 Jenny Haynes 6 January 2025 34mm of rain recorded in the last 18 hours! Despite widespread standing water, we spotted four brown hares running around in the fields opposite our house. One came close to the road so we were able to get a good view of it close up. A good start to the year! LINCOLNSHIRE COASTAL COUNTRY PARK 1st January: 119 Golden Plover and Pochard at Anderby Marsh, 200 Pink-footed Geese near chapel Pit. 2nd January: Kingfisher and 18 dunlin on Anderby Marsh, Stonechat near Huttoft Car Terrace, Great White Egret off Ings Lane, Sutton-on-Sea. 3rd January: 329 Pink-footed Goose at Chapel Pits, Anderby Marsh was largely frozen but still had 17 Snipe, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 13 Dunlin, 8 Curlew, 128 Teal, 402 Wigeon and 54 Gadwall. Bearded Tit and a very handsome male Sparrowhawk at Chapel Six Marshes. 7th January: Peregrine at Marsh Yard, 332 Wigeon on Huttoft Marsh, Anderby Marsh is showing 242 Wigeon, 76 Teal, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 14 Dunlin, 11 Snipe, 14 Shoveler, 60 Golden Plover, 90 Lapwing and 4 Gadwall. 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 Mobile: 07919 326646 Tel/Fax: 01754 898079 LUDFORD, SIXHILLS LANE TF187882 Colin Smith 1/1/25 Fungi Velvet Shank Flammulina velutipes King Alfred's Cakes Daldinia concentrica Candlesnuff Fungus Xylaria hypoxylon Woolly apple aphid Eriosoma lanigerum - there was a large patch of these a meter wide on hawthorn, very unusual to find them breeding in January. Also TF191886 Daisy Bellis perennis Dandelion Taraxacum agg White Dead-nettle Lamium album All in flower WATER RAIL WAY, Bardney-Bardney Lock TF109694 Phil and Mary Porter 3rd January 2025 We saw an entirely characteristic group of birds for this stretch of The River Witham. As the path offers better views of the river than the Southrey path southwards, we chose it in order to see Goosander, but there was only 1 (just possibly 2), a male. They have been more numerous in years gone by. Egrets nearly always feature and there were 2 or 3 Little Egrets and 1 Great White Egret which is often to be seen at the lock. A single Grey Heron stood motionless on the bank of the old River Witham. The last large eastern field before the lock held about 100 Lapwings, and small groups of Fieldfares featured all along the route but probably only 30 or so in total. Beyond the lock, views over Branston Island revealed 2 Snipe as they rose briefly from the lightly flooded long grass and the lack of disturbance on this private land could well suggest that many more might be present. There were 2 Kestrels atop electricity poles, one at each end of the route, and single Cormorants flew by on several occasions. The river held about 10 Mallards here and there. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Owen Beaumont Tel: 07900264428 Reserve Manager Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR Sea View Road, Saltfleetby St. Clements, LN11 7TR www.gov.uk/natural-england Happy New Year! An extended period of WildNews below. 241224 – chiffchaff around Brickyard Lane. Drake pintail on Rimac saltmarsh, and short-eared and barn owl flying over the saltmarsh late afternoon. Water pipit on freshwater scrape next to Rimac car park. 2 stonechat Rimac dunes, 5 siskin flew south and 2+ bearded tit calling from Rimac reeded. 5 cattle egret at Rimac. Single cattle egret feeding with 28 little egret on saltmarsh at Sea View. Pale-bellied brent goose, woodcock and male stonechat Saltfleet Haven area. 251224 – 11 reed bunting and 1 stonechat Rimac outer dune scrub. 80 linnet, 28 goldfinch and 34 twite on developing saltmarsh areas out from Rimac. 23 pintail flew off Haven outfall and a great white egret at Rimac. Skylark singing over Brickyard Lane saltmarsh. 281224 – 88 shelduck, 120 redshank and 2800+ pink-footed geese on saltmarsh/foreshore north of Churchill Lane. 010125 – 89 species recorded on New Year’s Day across the NNR. Drake eider and 3 adult gannet flew south over the sea, and 6 red-throated diver flew north. Snow bunting on the beach at Mablethorpe North End. Jack snipe, 2 common snipe, water rail, stonechat pair and 3 yellowhammer Crook Bank outer dunes. 9 cattle egret and stonechat with cows on Rimac freshwater marsh banks, 2 water pipit around the southern end of the freshwater marsh and a barn owl over the saltmarsh late afternoon. Drake pochard on Great Eau from Rimac bridge. 12 black-tailed godwit on Sea View Washlands and 2 on Paradise Lagoon. Male stonechat Churchill Lane outer scrub. 2 woodcock flew out of dune scrub at Brickyard Lane and 2 bullfinch around the dunes. A display of aurora borealis early evening somewhat visible to the eye during gaps in the clouds. 020125 – 2 shorelark and single snow bunting feeding on the foreshore at Crook Bank. 22 snow bunting feeding on developing saltmarsh areas around Brickyard Lane and 12 yellowhammer around Crook Bank outer dunes. 75 golden plover and 65 lapwing in fields north of Churchill Lane. Party of 23 long-tailed tit in dune scrub at Churchill Lane. Kingfisher flew along the Eau at Paradise Lagoon. 030125 – 2 shorelark still on Crook Bank foreshore. 15 snow bunting around outer dunes south of Crook Bank, and presumably the same group seen later out from Brickyard Lane. 490 curlew roosting in one group on Brickyard Lane foreshore at dawn. Jack snipe around marsh area in Crook Bank outer dunes. Second winter mediterranean gull on the beach at Crook Bank before flying inland, and a male goldeneye and 2 immature gannet flew north over the sea. Chiffchaff near Brickyard Lane. 040125 – 13 common and 1 jack snipe on Rimac saltmarsh, and a merlin hunting over. 14 reed bunting and 5 twite with linnet on developing saltmarsh out from Rimac, plus 14 grey plover and 10 pintail in the area. 310 wigeon and 100 teal on the Eau between Sea View and Rimac. 2 shorelark and 15 snow bunting again on Crook Bank foreshore. 2 stonechat and jack snipe again Crook Bank outer dunes, and a goldeneye flew north over the sea. Barn owl and 6 cattle egret at Rimac late afternoon. 060124 – 41.6mm of rain in 24 hours by mid-morning and wind gusts of 45.5mph by mid-afternoon. Snowdrops around Churchill Lane coming into flower. 38 little egret feeding on Sea View saltmarsh and a male hen harrier hunting over the saltmarsh. Black-throated diver dropped onto the sea at Mablethorpe North End and 2 red-throated diver flew south. 070125 – green sandpiper flew off Paradise Lagoon and went SW along the Eau. 5 cattle egret in pony field at Rimac entrance. 2 male and 2 female goosander flew high north over Crook Bank foreshore. Stonechat pair, male bullfinch, Cettis warbler and 2 woodcock Crook Bank south dunes. 27 snow bunting, 15 skylark and 25 linnet on developing saltmarsh south of Brickyard Lane. 108 redshank, 50 curlew and 650+ wigeon on flooded Elm House Farm grassland. Donna Nook: 311224 - Last pupdate of 2024: There are 36 pups, 3 cows and 4 bulls visible from the viewing area. The total pup count for the season is 1649. 060125 – short-eared owl struggling through the wind over realignment 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 Gardening days for 2025. February 18th; 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 19th January 2025 Saturday 15th February 2025 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. Reminder from Gemma Watkinson: We are interested to know whether dormice have naturally dispersed into other woodlands in the Lincolnshire Limewoods area (or indeed if there are any remnant isolated populations elsewhere in the county). For anyone walking in the Limewoods area, particularly in those woodlands closest to Chambers Farm Woods (e.g. Camshaws Wood, Austacre and New Park Woods, and Broadwater Forest, Thistle Storr Wood, Glad Wood and College Wood) please keep a look out for any hazelnuts that you think may have been opened by a dormouse. More information on how to undertake a nut hunt can be found on the People’s Trust for Endangered Species website and this document illustrates the distinctive marks to look out for as well as what nuts opened by voles, birds and squirrels also look like. https://ptes.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Help_us_find_hazel_dormice_generic.pdf Please let us know what you find, and send us photos of any nuts you think may have been opened by dormice. Happy Nut Hunting! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. Dragonfly Identification help https://british-dragonflies.org.uk/odonata/species-and-identification/ 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 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 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. 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. 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. / LINCOLNSHIRE BIRD CLUB JOINT MEETING *** On Saturday 25th January 2025 at Whisby Nature Park Education Centre Lincoln SK910662 at 2 pm. Refreshments will be available. Parking £2 Illustrated talk by LBC Chairman Phil Espin, “The Birds of a Lincolnshire Market Town” This talk is based on the book of the same title recently published by L.B.C. and written by Phil and his great friend John Clarkson who tragically died before publication. An appreciation of this book can be found at https://thewryneck.blogspot.com/2024/08/birds-of-lincolnshire-market-town.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ...AND FINALLY... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ National and international stories Reintroduction of butterfly in England a 'success' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgpqneeekyo Ealing beavers thrive in their year in the city https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czjdel4x4edo Ocean gives up hundreds of rare Lego treasures https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3rqlejlxg4o Thousands of rare bird eggs seized by police https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8ew37g296eo *** Mail Fails *** Mark Bibby - soft bounce - message could not be delivered. ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/