============================================ || || Wildnews Bulletin 15th 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: I’ve previously mentioned the excellent news stories to be found on the Rare Bird Alert site https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/RealData/Articles.asp. One that particularly caught my eye is news of a super-sized trunk road wildlife bridge in Gloucestershire over the A417. It is tied into a much larger £460M Missing Link Project to improve the quality of Cotswold greenspace along a 3 mile stretch of this busy route. The wildlife bridge is 37 meters in width and will include extensive alkaline grassland and hedgerows, a bat underpass, and will be the largest of its kind in the UK upon completion in 2027. A dedicated team of ecologists is on-site full-time to ensure that wildlife protection measures are effectively implemented. 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 second species is Bramble Leaf Miner. Stigmella aurella is a very small moth that flies during the spring and summer in two or three generations. It is common and has a very wide distribution. The caterpillars feed on bramble and mine the leaves, leaving a distinctive winding galley which turns white and is easy to find. As brambles keep their leaves during the winter it is a good time to look out for the mines and record the species. There are two other species that mine bramble, Ectoedemia rubivora and Coptotriche marginea. Both these species form a blotch and not a gallery, so their mines look quite unlike those of the Bramble Leaf Miner. There is a photo of the mine and more guidance can be found on the British Leafminers website: http://www.ukflymines.co.uk/Moths/Stigmella_aurella.php The current record distribution Map can be seen at https://lnu.org/stigmella-aurella-2/ A mating pair is pictured at https://ukmoths.org.uk/species/stigmella-aurella/pair-in-cop/ Please continue to contribute records of the first species, Grey-cushioned Grimmia Moss. Notes on how to find and recognise it appeared in the bulletin of 8th January.2025. Past Bulletins are archived at http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html 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: *** Hare filmed playing in the snow with deer. Watch https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cjdndgp9npko Bumblebees winter nest-building 'due to climate' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckg17mwnx73o 'Gutting' flood damage at National Trust property - Belton https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c77j7gp0322o Flooding in Lincolnshire - updates https://check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk/location/lincolnshire 'We cannot entirely remove the risk of flooding' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c93qp033z4yo Flood victims need cash help, says council leader https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn080prw154o Trust says wildlife v people debate is 'polarising' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2v2wwledpo Concerns over 'nationally significant' solar farm - Leadenham https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3w86dplpw7o Lottery funding to protect 'fragile' coastline - Cleethorpes https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy474edvgxeo Port plans to expand as part of £200m development - Stallingborough https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm2el8xdlevo Historical house to be opened to visitors - Grantham https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx24eq90v8zo *** 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 16th January - Sunday 19th January Headline: Mostly cloudy, but perhaps brightening up in places. Thursday: Mostly dry with mist and fog slowly clearing. Morning sunshine in the northwest before cloud encroaches from the south during the afternoon. Maximum temperature 6 °C. Outlook for Friday to Sunday: Mostly dry with extensive cloud breaking to give some limited clearer spells, but also some patchy overnight frost and fog. Temperatures slowly trending downwards, becoming rather cold into the weekend. UK long range weather forecast Sunday 19th January - Tuesday 28th January This period is expected to see a transition, possibly lasting over several days, between the settled, dry, and often dull conditions expected over the next few days, to something more unsettled. Sunday itself is likely to be rather cloudy and cool, with outbreaks of rain in the west drifting slowly eastwards. The start of the following week will most likely see more settled conditions with light winds becoming re-established, with a chance of rain in both the far north and the far south, and a smaller chance that the rain could become more widespread. Later in the week, periods of much wetter and windier weather will most likely become more prevalent, from northwest to southeast, alternatively there is a very small chance of colder, drier, but perhaps wintry, easterly winds. *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** New images of Mercury captured by UK spacecraft https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2v2r1jm7go Sky At A Glance - Jupiter, high in the east these evenings Waxing Moon passes Venus and Saturn, then Thursday evening it occults the Pleiades! https://skyandtelescope.org/observing/sky-at-a-glance/ Night Sky - highlights - January 16 January Mars at its brightest as it reaches opposition https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/blogs/astronomy Full Moons https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/full-moon-calendar Meteor shower date 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. / 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 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/ *** DISCOVER WAYS TO HELP ADDERS THRIVE *** https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce8nlp9jny1o Kevin James, from Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, will discuss the habitat requirements needed for adders to thrive during a talk on 15 January at Gainsborough Methodist Church. He said: "There are only three or four sites in Lincolnshire, around Woodhall Spa, where adders can be found. When they emerge from hibernation in the spring, it's vital they are left alone." STAYING SAFE Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary.... 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 7/1/2025 Anderby Creek, Black-throated Diver. Barton-upon-Humber GPs, Sailing Pit, Great Northern Diver. East Halton Skitter, 2 Water Pipits. Market Rasen, fem/1w male Black Redstart in garden. Saltfleertby/Theddlethorpe, 27 Snow Buntings in saltmarsh at Brickyard Lane. 8/1/2025 Barrow Haven, Russian White-fronted Goose with Graylag Geese, Belton north of Grantham, 20+ Hawfinches in yews at Belton Estate. Covenham Reservoir, Ruddy Shelduck. East Halton Skitter, Green-winged Teal. Louth, Black Redstart fem/1w male, at Chestnut Drive. Skegness, Middlemarsh Farm, 2 Tundra Bean Geese, north of A52 and west of Warth Lane, in field south of lagoon. 9/1/2025 Bardney Pits, 6 Common Cranes flew over towards Fiskerton. Belton north of Grantham, 3+ Hawfinches in yews at Belton Estate. Covenham Reservoir, 6 Ruddy Shelduck. Deeping St James, 2 Long-eared Owls at main lake in ivy near hide, Fulbeck, Hawfinch at St Nicholas Church. Gibraltar Point, Hen Harrier ringtail. Louth, Black Redstart fem/1w male, at Chestnut Drive. Mablethorpe, Black Redstart near Coral Cafe on beach huts. 10/1/2025 Belton north of Grantham, 3+ Hawfinches in yews at Belton Estate. Covenham Reservoir, Russian White-fronted Goose. Frampton Marsh, Water Pipit, ringtail Hen Harrier. Fulbeck, 1+ Hawfinch at St Nicholas Church in tree by Rectory. Horseshoe Point, Hen Harrier ringtail. Louth, Black Redstart fem/1w male, at Chestnut Drive. Tallington Lakes, Ferruginous Duck ad drk, 2 Scaup,ad drk and 1w drk, on Main Lake. Access £5. 11/1/2025 Belton north of Grantham, 3+ Hawfinches in yews at Belton Estate. Bourne, Grey Plover flew over Tongue End. Deeping St James, unconfirmed Garganey, Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, 1+ Bewick's Swan. Gibraltar Point, Hen Harrier, 2 Bearded Tits. Manby Flashes, Russiand White-fronted Goose. Tallington Lakes, Ferruginous Duck ad drk, 2 Scaup on Main Lake. Access £5. 12/1/2025 Covenham Reservoir, 6 Ruddy Shelducks briefly, 4 Russian White-fronted Geese with Greylag Geese. East Halton Marshes, 2 Russian White-fronted Geese with Greylag Geese in field adjacent to Winter's Pond Frampton Marsh, Hen Harrier male. Tallington Lakes, Ferruginous Duck ad drk, Access £5. Tetney Marshes, Smew drk flew over saltmarsh towards Tetney Lock village. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 11/1/2025 Pied Wagtail 5 Long-tailed Tits feeding on fat balls. BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 Mary and Phil Porter 12th-14th January 2025 On 12th January, Mary found the detached wings of a peacock butterfly on the ground outside our old shed. There is a permanent open window, overgrown with ivy, and various wildlife can come and go. We know that both the wren and the robin go in, so one of those must be the culprit. As we could probably count the number of peacock butterflies we saw last year on the fingers of one hand, this is a bitter blow! After many days of frozen water in the bird baths and working hard to keep some water open and clean for the birds to bathe in the sudden increase in temperature on 14th bought us out into the garden to clean and move the bird feeders, open the greenhouse and do a bit of gardening. At least three 7 spot ladybirds were trundling about and a few flies (house fly types) were resting on the warmer spots, like tree trunks and house walls. Birds spotted included a coal tit, blue and great tits (at least 4 of each), chaffinches, three robins (all singing from various parts of the garden), one collared dove, at least 6 wood pigeons, about two each of male and female blackbirds, a magpie, one crow, one starling and at least one wren. A dunnock has learnt how to balance on the bird feeder and is a regular on it. Two dunnocks do seem to go around together. HOLYWELL LAKE WeBS Ian Misselbrook 13th January 2025 Black-headed Gull 9 Blackbird 8 Blue Tit 2 Canada Geese 2 Carrion crows Common Gull 1 Coot 9 Cormorant 2 Dunnock 2 Egyptian geese 2 – pair new WeBS record for this site Gadwall 46 Goldfinch 4 Grey Heron 1 Grey wagtail 1 Greylag Geese 17 Jackdaws c 50 Little Grebes 10 Long-tailed Tits 2 Mallard 82 Moorhen 29 Mute Swan 2 Pies Wagtail 1 Robin1 Teal 10 Tufted Duck 14 Wigeon 56 Woodpigeons c 30 Wrens 2 LINCOLNSHIRE COASTAL COUNTRY PARK 9th January: Rock Pipit on beach at Marsh Yard. Yellowhammers and a Merlin. 10th January: out at sea 5 Eider and 11 Red-throated Diver flying north, 500 Wigeon and drake Goldeneye off Anderby Creek, Siskin and Puffin flying south. 11th January: Woodcock at Chapel Pit, 18 Dunlin, 8 Sanderling, 8 Redshank, 10 Snipe, 2 Curlew, Sparrowhawk, female Marsh Harrier and a Stonechat at Anderby Marsh. 12th January: Peregrine still around, 3 Whooper Swan flying north, female Marsh Harrier at Huttoft Pit, 4 Bearded Tit and Cattle Egret at Anderby Marsh, 2 Stonechat on Huttoft Marsh and 2 more on Sandilands Golf Course. 13th January: out at sea there were 3 Red-throated and one Black-throated Diver flying north, 520 Wigeon on the sea and a Woodcock flew in off. 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 SEDGE HOLE CLOSE LWT Nature Reserve Steve Hiner 12/12/24 Blackbird x 2 Blue tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 4 Fieldfare x 17 Goldcrest x 2 Great Tit x 1 Jackdaw x 6 Long-tailed Tit x 7 Redwing x 2 Robin x 1 Wood Pigeon x 4 Wren x 1 03/01/25 Blackbird x 2 Blue Tit x 4 Carrion Crow x 4 Chaffinch x 12 Dunnock x 2 Fieldfare x 5 Great Tit x 2 Green Woodpecker x 1 Jackdaw x 4 Kestrel x 1 Lesser Redpoll x 9 Magpie x 2 Redwing x 4 Robin x 2 Wood Pigeon x 6 Wren x 1 Rabbit x 2 15/01/25 Blackbird x 6 Blue tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 25 Dunnock x 1 Fieldfare x 5 Goldfinch x 2 Green Woodpecker x 1 Jackdaw x 2 Lesser Redpoll x 15 Linnet x 29 Magpie x 2 Pink-footed Goose x 275 South East over Redwing x 2 Robin x 2 Wood Pigeon x 4 Rabbit x 2 THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 04/12/24 Barn Owl x 1 07:15hrs Blackbird x 2 Chaffinch x 1 Common Buzzard x 1 Fieldfare x 35 Lesser Redpoll x 59 Long-tailed Tit x 19 Redwing x 34 Robin x 1 Tree Sparrow x 12 Wood Pigeon x 6 19/12/24 Blackbird x 14 Black-headed Gull x 12 over Thurnholmes Blue Tit x 4 Carrion Crow x 1 Chaffinch x 6 Common Buzzard x 1 Cormorant x 1 over Thurnholmes Dunnock x 1 Fieldfare x 12 Golden Plover x 1 over Thurnholmes Goldfinch x 6 Great Tit x 2 Heron x 1 over Thurnholmes Jackdaw x 2 Kestrel x 1 Lesser Redpoll x 19 Little Egret x 1 East Lound SK788995 Long-tailed Tit x 25 Mute Swan x 1 over Thurnholmes Redwing x 9 Robin x 1 Tawny Owl x 1 calling 01:50hrs Wood Pigeon x 6 Wren x 1 01/01/25 Barn Owl x 1 22:10hrs Blackbird x 6 Black-headed Gull x 15 over Thurnholmes Blue Tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 12 Common Buzzard x 2 Dunnock x 2 Fieldfare x 25 Goldfinch x 12 Great-spotted Woodpecker x 1 Jackdaw x 2 Kestrel x 1 Lesser Redpoll x 29 Little Owl x 1 Long-tailed Tit x 31 Magpie x 2 Mallard x 5 over Thurnholmes Mute Swan x 1 over Thurnholmes Redwing x 15 Robin x 2 Stock Dove x 2 Tawny Owl x 1 calling 01:15hrs Tree sparrow x 12 Wood Pigeon x 12 Wren x 1 13/01/25 Barn Owl x 1 22:10hrs Blackbird x 6 Black-headed Gull x 32 in fields around Thurnholmes Blue Tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 12 Common Buzzard x 2 Dunnock x 2 Fieldfare x 15 Goldfinch x 7 Great Tit x 2 Green Woodpecker x 1 Heron x 1 flying west over Thurnholmes Jackdaw x 2 Kestrel x 1 Lesser Redpoll x 9 Magpie x 2 Mallard x 5 over Thurnholmes Mute Swan x 2 Owston Ferry Warping Drain Redwing x 12 Robin x 2 Stock dove x 2 Tawny Owl x 3 calling 01:15Tree Sparrow x 4 Whooper Swan x 4 flying fast and low, north over Thurnholmes Wood Pigeon x 2 Wren x 1 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Note: freezing temperatures throughout the week reached lows of -9.75 degrees centigrade on the ground and an air temperature minimum of -4.00 degrees centigrade. 080125 – 2 shore lark reported on the beach near the tide bell at Mablethorpe North End and snow bunting flock on Crook Bank foreshore. Bullfinch pair on the edge of the dunes at Churchill Lane. Stonechat pair and woodcock in Rimac dunes, and 5 cattle egret with livestock on freshwater marsh. Great white egret on main drain at Elm House Farm, where 1700 pink-footed geese flew off near dusk. 40 reed bunting and 3 stonechat Crook Bank to Churchill Lane. 090125 – green woodpecker, 3 stonechat and 30 yellowhammer around Crook Bank outer dunes. 12 lapwing and 15 curlew Elm House Farm north-east corner. Mistle thrush, common snipe and black-tailed godwit on frozen wet grassland south of Crook Bank. 100125 – chiffchaff by the dunes at Brickyard Lane. Male velvet scoter on the sea at Mablethorpe North End. 120125 – male hen harrier and marsh harrier hunting saltmarsh creeks at Sea View late morning. Pair of stonechat on fences at Paradise Lagoon and 80 curlew flew towards Saltfleet Haven from Elm House Farm. 370 pink-footed geese in fields next to Elm House Farm. 130125 – 1000+ wildfowl on the Great Eau between Sea View and Rimac, mostly wigeon and teal plus a drake pintail. Cattle egret also roosting on the edge of the Eau. Female stonechat on dune edge south of Rimac and a female sparrowhawk flew over the saltmarsh. 17 snow bunting around Crook Bank outer dunes and a woodcock in the dunes. A black-throated diver flew south over the sea at Crook Bank, 2 fieldfare and a black-tailed godwit on frozen wet grassland south of Crook Bank. Stonechat on fences at Elm House Farm. 140125 – fieldfare in pasture field at Sea View and sparrowhawk flew over. 134 brent geese and 2 stonechat Saltfleet Haven area. 50 curlew on a rapidly thawing Elm House Farm grassland. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Live ones go in paper bags, dead ones in the freezer: the volunteers saving birds that fly into windows https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jan/02/live-ones-go-in-paper-bags-dead-ones-in-the-freezer-the-volunteers-saving-birds-that-fly-into-windows The Schöffel Countryside Awards in partnership with the GWCT https://www.gwct.org.uk/news/news/2025/january/the-schoeffel-countryside-awards-in-partnership-with-the-gwct/ GWCT Big Farmland Bird Count https://www.bfbc.org.uk/ 2024 first year to pass 1.5C global warming limit https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd7575x8yq5o Aerial footage shows severe flooding in Leicestershire https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/c7082404d0wo Lynx dies after being captured in Cairngorms https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvge40jv4gjo Designer homes destroyed' by £1m cannabis factory https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1we700l307o Saving a species: The slow return of the Iberian lynx https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c17dx4v5plvo Record year for wind power in 2024 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3e3g9xv3ylo *** Mail Fails *** ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/