=========================================== || || Wildnews Bulletin || 9th July 2025 || News of Lincolnshire Wildlife || LNU: http://lnu.org/ || || Please email Editor on: philporterento@outlook.com || ============================================ In this issue... 1. Information, events, news and requests - mostly local. 2. Wildlife Highlights from Rare Bird Alert. 3. Wildlife reports around the county. Contributions welcome... 4. NNRs, RSPB and LWT Reserves : Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe. Gibraltar Point, Coastal Country Park 5. Bardney Limewoods NNR: Chambers Farm Wood. 6. Other Reserve Reports - links. 7. Sending in Bulletin Reports - contributors please read! 8. Contact information - recorders and specialists... 9. Notes about these wildlife reports. 10. Bulletin publicity policy. 11. Events Diary - what's on. 12. ...and finally. Mostly national/international wildlife stories. ============================================ To interest new readers please use the "Forward to a Friend" link at the end of every Bulletin, or suggest anyone interested visits the LNU website and signs up that way. https://lnu.org/publications/wildnews-bulletin/ Reports here are open. They are available to county recorders of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union; Lincolnshire Bird Club and Lincolnshire Environmental Record Centre [LERC]. Compare earlier years/months. Past Bulletins archive [in text format] from 2009: http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union or associated organisations. Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. ============================================ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. INFORMATION, EVENTS, NEWS AND REQUESTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Editor [Phil] writes: Important; would correspondents please note that they should direct their emails to both myself and Roger, (it’s not a bad policy in any case) from the 10th July until advised otherwise, as I am taking my laptop in for a data transfer to a new machine on that date, and there is no guarantee how long that might take or (more likely) how quickly I can get my head around the new Windows update! As we swelter in a series of heat waves, it’s revealing that two of the BTO tracked Cuckoos are already in Africa and one has penetrated as far as Niger. It seems that some Cuckoos leave us in June and therefore spend a much shorter time in Britain than many would suppose. Meanwhile another bird having migrated back to its south- western natal area, is still there. Most are scattered throughout southern Europe. Check out the latest updates below and run through the routes taken by the tracked cuckoos over the last eighteen months. Phages! I've heard about a "Citizen Science" project that readers may find interesting. "Get involved in our citizen science project today and collect your very own phages! Help us to develop an extensive phage biobank and learn more about these amazing viruses." The Phage Collection Project - University of Southampton https://www.phage-collection.org/getinvolved Phil Porter's email is: philporterento@outlook.com Roger Parsons' email is: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk The Bulletin Portal -past Bulletins archive [in text format] from 2009. http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html BTO's tracked Cuckoos Latest updates https://www.bto.org/cuckoos Loch of the Lowes SWT Webcam Sadly, the new osprey pair at Loch of the Lowes have lost their remaining egg, just days before its anticipated hatching date. Empty nest: https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/watch-wildlife-online/loch-of-the-lowes-webcam/ *** LEARN A NEW SPECIES & BOOST LINCOLNSHIRE’S NATURAL HISTORY RECORD! *** Colin Smith, LNU President writes… A core function of the LNU is to encourage wildlife recording. We would like everyone’s help to fill in the recording gaps for some of the more common Lincolnshire species. Each fortnight we will introduce a species with a link to a current distribution map and details of the species to look out for. Please look out for the species in your area or when you are out and about in the County. You can record what you see on: https://irecord.org.uk/ This is the LNU’s chosen digital platform for biological recording. It is free to register with and easy to use, but if you have any difficulty get in touch via the LNU website and we will try to help. There is a comprehensive guide to getting started on the iRecord home page above. Click on Help. After a month, details of the records received and an updated map will be Issued here on your Bulletin. On iRecord, you will have access to millions of wildlife records from across the UK, and will be able to organise your own records within its database. Please do join in and record these species and any others you find. Take the best close-up picture you can. The next species is the Elm sack gall aphid Tetraneura ulmi This is a gall causing waxy aphid that lives on elm and the galls are fairly easy to spot especially on hedgerow elms where the leaf is usually discoloured and a raised smooth ball shaped pouch is formed for the aphids to live in. If you are keeping a look out for this you may spot a zig zag cut into some of the elm leaves where the Elm zigzag sawfly Aproceros leucopoda has been feeding, records of this would also be useful. Pictures and further information can be found at:- https://influentialpoints.com/Gallery/Tetraneura_ulmi_Elm-grass_root_aphid.htm the current record distribution Map can be seen at https://lnu.org/tetraneura-ul Thanks to those who added records for our previous map filling species. Please do join in as all records are valuable and help our understanding of the county's changing natural history. *** The Peoples Trust for Endangered Species *** Volunteers needed to record sightings of the UK’s biggest land beetle Survey spectacular Stag Beetles this summer https://stagbeetles.ptes.org/ The British public is being asked to keep an eye out for spectacular stag beetles this summer and record any sightings online, as part of a wildlife charity’s national Great Stag Hunt survey. (Editors note. The Great Stag Beetle, which is the main target for this project, does not currently occur in Lincolnshire as far as anybody knows. That is not to say that it never will, and the habitat and survey tips included in the project material are valuable for beetles in general. The related Lesser Stag Beetle is a Lincolnshire resident, and has similar “antlers” which are much smaller than those of the male Great Stag Beetle. These can also be recorded but make sure to use the correct name) https://www.google.com/search?q=lesser+stag+beetle+vs+stag Nigel Lound writes…. A crazy month at Gibraltar Point saw 330 moth species recorded, the first time I have had over 300 species in a month. Previous best was 291 in July 2024. Highlights were a County first with Willow Knot-horn (Sciota adelphella) and 2 NNR firsts with Small Marbled and Scarlet Tiger. *** This week's mostly-local news stories: *** Third heatwave coming to the UK could be longest of the year so far https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/articles/cx2jdg56gedo RNLI warning as warm spell sees rise in call-outs https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czdv03g771mo Increase in tree planting in Humber Forest project - Crowle https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx24ykpgklxo Deal struck over fuel deliveries at refinery - Immingham https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj9vzyyyv3do Tanker drivers lose jobs after refinery collapse https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czxwgrl3lk0o Coastwatch station to tackle incidents 'hotspot' - Cleethorpes https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c07dvvd5dzjo Development with 120 homes proposed for farmland - Epworth https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6250rrw0rwo Councillors vote to abolish district councils https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgjgn9g0zd8o *** 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 10th July - Sunday 13th July Headline: Cloud clearing to sunshine. Feeling very warm in light winds. Thursday: Clear skies will see a day of prolonged sunshine. Sun perhaps turning hazier through the afternoon as high cloud drifts in. Feeling very warm or hot. Humid overnight. Maximum temperature 29 °C. Outlook for Friday to Sunday: Fine and sunny through the period, hot by day and humid at night, although feeling slightly cooler along the coast. Light winds. UK long range weather forecast Sunday 13th July - Tuesday 22nd July Settled at first, with very warm or hot weather quite widely across the UK. There is a small chance of a few thunderstorms, but most areas will likely be dry. Early next week, a transition to less hot conditions is expected, but with uncertain timing. This could bring an increasing chance of some rain or showers, perhaps thundery, but there is scope for very warm or hot conditions to persist in more eastern and southern areas. Beyond midweek, a rather changeable pattern is anticipated with some rain or showers possible at times, which could be heavy and thundery, but interspersed with drier interludes. Whilst a downward trend in temperature is anticipated, it will still likely be warmer than average, especially in the south and east where hot spells remain possible. *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** Meteor burns brightly across night sky in Scotland https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj0mygn38r4o Current Position of ISS https://www.astroviewer.net/iss/en/ This Week's Sky at a Glance, https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/observing-news/this-weeks-sky-at-a-glance-july-4-12/ AuroraWatch UK https://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/ The SpaceWeather website https://spaceweather.com/ Space and astronomy highlights in 2025 https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/space-astronomy/space-astronomy-highlights-2025#June Full Moons https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/full-moon-calendar Meteor shower dates - 30th July - Alpha Capricornids and Delta Aquariids https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/meteor-shower-guide BBC Sky at Night Magazine website https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news *** EVENTS *** *** LINCOLNSHIRE NATURALISTS UNION FIELD MEETINGS *** Seacroft Dunes/Marshes on Saturday 19 July Parking on Seacroft Esplanade 11.00 for 12.00 start and finish about 16.00 Habitat: Coastal grasslands and sand dunes Grid reference: TF 56746 61666 What3Words: letter.habit.meal Nearest postcode: PE25 3BE *** LINCOLN RSPB PEREGRINE WATCH *** Volunteer opportunities available for people who are passionate about wildlife and conservation. Lincoln RSPB are running the Peregrine Watch at Lincoln Cathedral again this year. All weekends in June, July and August starting on 31st May. Prior experience isn’t necessary, enthusiasm and reliability is more important. For more information contact: Gwen M Randall, Volunteer Co-ordinator gwen.randall@lincolnrspb.org.uk *** SOUTH LINCOLNSHIRE RSPB GROUP*** "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 *** 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... The Heat-Health Alert Service in England runs from 1 June to 30 September each year. You can register for alerts on this link. https://ukhsa-dashboard.data.gov.uk/weather-health-alerts/heat Bird flu: Defra advice to the general public is to leave corpses alone and report the findings - but landowners should dispose of birds themselves. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bird-flu-latest-situation-avian-influenza-prevention-zone-declared-across-great-britain Lyme Disease reminder https://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/zoonoses-data-sheets/lyme-disease.pdf Road works and hold-ups https://roadworks.org/ Met Office Severe Warnings https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings Met Office Severe Weather E-mail Service - sign up http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/guide-to-emails EasyTide http://easytide.ukho.gov.uk/EasyTide/EasyTide/index.aspx Environment Agency Flood Warnings - Lincolnshire https://www.google.com/search?q=government+flood+warnings+lincolnshire Environment Agency Flood Information/Floodline - sign up https://www.gov.uk/sign-up-for-flood-warnings ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2. WILDLIFE HIGHLIGHTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Bird News from Rare Bird Alert *** Rare Bird Alert has kindly given permission to reproduce their pager reports. A big thank you from us all. Readers interested in a pager - look at the RBA website: http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/ For RBA's excellent articles: https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/RealData/Articles.asp 1/7/2025 Croxton Kerrial, 2 Quails, both males, singing in crop field by Drift footpath. Deeping St James, Glossy Ibis ad at East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, Spotted Redshank at Seaview. 2/7/2025 Deeping St James, Glossy Ibis ad at East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, Pectoral Sandpiper on Middle Scrape from 360 hide - then no further sign. Wood Sandpiper, 9 Spotted Redshanks, 21 Spoonbills. 3/7/2025 Alkborough Flats, 2 Spotted Redshanks from Prospect hide. Deeping St James, Glossy Ibis ad at East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, Pectoral Sandpiper, 12 Spoonbills, Spotted Redshank. Spoonbill. Pinchbeck, 4 Bee-eaters flew over West Pinchbeck. 4/7/2025 Deeping St James, Glossy Ibis ad at East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Rimac, Savi's Warbler singing at south end of freshwater marsh, in reeds viewed from west end of cross bank double ditch. Don't pass No Entry sign. 5/7/2025 Deeping St James, Glossy Ibis ad at East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, Wood Sandpiper. 10 Spotted Redshanks, 19+ Spoonbills. Gibraltar Point, Curlew Sandpiper. Tennyson's Sands, from Harvey's Hide, Rimac, Savi's Warbler singing at south end of freshwater marsh, in reeds viewed from west end of cross bank double ditch. Don't pass No Entry sign. 6/7/2025 Crowland, Quail male singing in wheat field north of CommonDrove/Renfrew's Drove junction. Dunham, Spoonbill flew north along River Trent. Deeping St James, Glossy Ibis ad at East Pit, Deeping Lakes. East Halton Skitter, 1s Caspian gull. Frampton Marsh, Wood Sandpiper from Reedbed Hide, 5 Spotted Redshanks on Middle Scrape. Gibraltar Point, Curlew Sandpiper at Tennyson's Sands Pyewipe. Caspian Gull 2s on scrape at Novartis Ings. Rimac, Savi's Warbler singing at south end of freshwater marsh, in reeds viewed from west end of cross bank double ditch. Don't pass No Entry sign. 7/8/2025 Frampton Marsh, 8+ Spotted Redshanks. Road from Kirton is closed. 8/6/2025 Crowland, Quail male singing in wheat field north of Common Drove/Renfrew's Drove junction Frampton Marsh, 12 Spotted Redshanks. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3. WILDLIFE NEWS FROM AROUND THE COUNTY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Find the Grid Reference - don't forget - it's important Grab a Grid Reference: https://www.bnhs.co.uk/focuson/grabagridref/html/index.htm UK Grid Reference Finder: http://www.gridreferencefinder.com/ ROAD KILLS? PLEASE LET US KNOW. Every drive is a transect! Hedgehogs? Badgers? Otters? Reports welcome. Request from Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue Can You Help Us? We’re mapping wildlife fatality hotspots on roads to help improve safety for both animals and drivers. Over time, this data could support efforts to work with local authorities to make high-risk areas safer. If you come across a deceased animal or are aware of one, please report the Location (when it’s safe to do so) by: Dropping a pin on the map provided Sharing a What3Words location Providing the street name While we are unable to collect deceased wildlife, your information could help prevent future incidents. Thank you! Please share to help spread the word. Report deceased wildlife on the link below: https://form.jotform.com/.../report-roadside-deceased... *** County Wildlife Reports from Readers *** Thank you to all contributors. We rely on readers to send in observations and welcome reports from everyone, experts to beginners. Please keep your reports coming. BARDNEY - THE GREEN TF120694 R + A Parsons w/o 7/6/2025 Jackdaw House Sparrow Swift - commonly seen overhead. Robin Song Thrush Blackbird House Martin Wood pigeon Collared Dove Kestrel flew over Most nights: lot of bat activity at 55kHz from 22,00hrs to a final burst at 03.30hrs Hedgehog - 1/7 @ 11.45hrs, 2/7 @ 01.13hrs. Large Hedgehog scat in middle of lawn 6/6/2025 Hedgehog in garden 9/7/25 - 02/21 - 02.23hrs - trailcam. BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 Phil and Mary Porter 3rd July 2025 A male Speckled Bush-cricket came into the house and had to be removed. A few unidentified damselflies. Greenfinches and Blackbirds feeding fledged young. Mary found half a vole next our meadow and, significantly, fox faeces nearby. Mary saw a Green Woodpecker rise from the meadow area 4th July 2025 Our first second-generation Holly Blue, alongside small numbers of Peacock, Meadow Brown and Ringlet. A Green Woodpecker made a repeat performance. 5th July 2025 Mary spotted a male Broad-bodied Chaser. A Comma and a Large Skipper joined the butterflies. 6th July 2025 We had to watch as a Great Spotted Woodpecker “froze” on the sunflower feeder having detected the presence of a marauding Sparrowhawk nearby. Alarm calls filled the air. It remained absolutely still for the best part of half an hour. A Humming-bird Hawk Moth fed on Phlox which has always been the firm favourite when ever we have had one in the garden. It was also seen on the following two days. 7th July 2025 Gatekeepers emerged today, and whites are starting to feature a bit more strongly with about 10 present. Hoverfly numbers were a little less derisory, especially Episyrphus baltiatus, but also 1-2 Syritta pipiens and a few Eristalis tenax. Mary saw a Leaf-cutter Bee. A new tribe of recently-fledged Blue Tits worked their way round the garden. A Peacock butterfly was the first for a while and a Cinnabar larva was on a pitifully small Ragwort plant. Ragwort seems to have had a very poor time in the garden this year – we usually have a few good specimens. Our apple trees seem to be in extremely good condition with healthy foliage (most unusual by and large) and a colossal set of developing fruit to the extent that I am having to thin hundreds to prevent possible branch breakage. The “June Drop” didn’t work very well. We didn’t notice any obvious surge in pollinating omsects and we haven’t been able to water the trees. Birds, rodents and wasps usually spoil a large proportion, but maybe we will actually get to eat some this year! 8th July 2025 A Willow Emerald damselfly was the best item. Mary got some photographs high in a yew hedge but the position was a bit awkward, showing the wings from below and the characteristic white stigma on the wing looks black against the blue sky. A Buzzard drifted low over the garden. Melanostoma hoverflies appeared more numerous than recently, also Sphaerophoria scripta. Episyrphus baltiatus now becoming common. There were more Peacocks and Red Admirals today and especially Gatekeepers. Whites, including Green-veined, in fair numbers again. One Brimstone. A Yellow Shell moth fled rapidly into cover. BARDNEY GARDENS Mary Porter  8th July 2023 We have been pleased with the numbers of butterflies well up on last year, although still down on past years. Today, in addition to the butterflies, we had the hummingbird hawkmoth again and a willow emerald damselfly. However, the biggest surprise was a visit to a neighbour who is perhaps less than100 metres away. She has three buddleias out in the front garden. All had butterflies on them, the biggest had in excess of 50 butterflies, the most I have seen in one go for many years. Most of them were peacocks, then red admirals, and a smattering of small tortoiseshells and a few whites. Interestingly, there is a field of unkempt grassland and hedges behind her house, with wildflowers such as thistles and I assume nettles. It shows what a mixture of the right habitat and the right weather can do! CLEETHORPES Angela Buckle. 7th July. Field poppy, Yarrow, Rest -Harrow, Gypsywort, Selfheal, Purple loosestrife, Meadow sweet, Pellitory of the wall, Great willowherb, Ladies bedstraw, Creeping thistle, Field bindweed, Sea plantain, Spear-leafed orache, Lesser Sea-spurrey, Sea purslane, Sea-arrow grass, Melilot, Sea milkwort, Annual Sea-blite, Glasswort, Sea sandwort, Sea milkwort, Sea wormwood, Yellow stonecrop, Thrift, Knotgrass, Broad-leafed dock, Smooth hawksbeard, Hedge bindweed, Sea bindweed, Crow garlic, Goats-beard, Yellow rattle, Creeping cinquefoil, HUTTOFT PIT LWT John Walker and Rob Scott Shallow water over most of site, 84 black tail godwits feeding. SANDILANDS National Trust John Walker and Rob Scott 8th July 2025 1 pair little ringed plovers with 2 young, a 3rd adult in another area. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. NNRs and NATURE RESERVES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LWT Top Reserves: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves LWT Reserves List: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/nature-reserves-list RSPB Reserves: https://www.rspb.org.uk/days-out/reserves ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GIBRALTAR POINT NNR ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory https://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.com/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE DUNES NNR including DONNA NOOK ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/saltfleetby-theddlethorpe-dunes https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/38015?category=59026 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Owen Beaumont Tel: 07900264428 Reserve Manager Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR part of the Lincolnshire Coronation Coast NNR Sea View Road, Saltfleetby St. Clements, LN11 7TR www.gov.uk/natural-england Twitter @NEEastMidlands 020725 – Savi’s warbler still singing early morning at the southern end of Rimac freshwater marsh, and a turtle dove purring from dune scrub to the south. Black-tailed godwits arriving from the north and moving off south throughout the morning, with a peak of 100 on Rimac freshwater marsh scrape in the morning lowering to 71 shortly after. Also 2 green sandpiper, great white egret and whooper swan on the scrape. 6 green sandpiper and 2 black-tailed godwit on Sea View Washlands. Humming bird hawk-moth on Viper’s bugloss around Rimac easy access trail.   030725 – Savi’s warbler singing at Rimac late evening. 21 Mediterranean gull (biggest single flock of 9 birds), 3 little gull and 48 sandwich tern flew north past Mablethorpe North End in the morning, where a greenshank was feeding on the open beach. In the afternoon 600+ kittiwake, a little tern, 3 curlew and lots of gannet and sandwich tern flew south; and 8 Mediterranean gull, 40 common scoter flew north. 3 guillemot on the sea at Mablethorpe North End. 3 little ringed plover flew north along the beach at Brickyard Lane early morning. 23 tufted duck and 4 green sandpiper on Sea View Washlands. Spoonbill, 16 black-tailed godwit, 6 grey heron, 4 little egret, whooper swan Rimac freshwater marsh scrape in the evening. 2 hummingbird hawk-moths at Sea View. Barn owl at Sea View. Common and soprano pipistrelles detected foraging between Sea View and Rimac.   040725 – Savi’s warbler still singing at Rimac from the reed tops on Rimac freshwater marsh and grasshopper warbler reeling from the dunes behind. 7 green sandpiper and little ringed plover Sea View Washlands. 8 black-tailed godwit, great white egret, 14 little egret, 4 grey heron and whooper swan Rimac freshwater marsh scrape. Common sandpiper Eau outfall. Juvenile/female redstart chiffchaff and blackcap through garden adjacent to Sea View dunes. 4 Mediterranean gull and a kittiwake roosting with 70 sandwich tern around Crook Bank, including 3 juveniles. Hummingbird hawk-moth at Sea View. Odonata – southern hawker Brickyard Lane; brown hawker Churchill Lane.   050725 – 8 green sandpiper, 2 black-tailed godwit and 15 tufted duck Sea View Washlands. 19 little egret and 32 black-tailed godwit Rimac freshwater marsh scrape. Turtle dove calling Rimac south. Whimbrel flew over Rimac saltmarsh. Butterflies – painted lady saltmarsh sea lavender. Hummingbird hawk-moth at Brickyard Lane.   060725 – 300+ common scoter distantly on the sea from Brickyard Lane and 40+ sandwich tern feeding offshore with a few gannet. 2 groups totalling 32 shelduck flew north along the beach early morning and adult Mediterranean gull on the beach. 5 black-tailed godwit, 4 green sandpiper, teal pair Sea View Washlands. Female common redstart adjacent to Sea View dunes. Osprey on post beyond Rimac outer dunes. Kittiwakes streaming north over the sea early evening along with an arctic tern north and 2 mediterranean gull south. Pair of common terns feeding juvenile and a grey wagtail on the beach at Mablethorpe North End.   070725 – osprey flew high south over Saltfleet Haven, flushing 120+ curlew. 30 more curlew roosting in arable fields along Brickyard Lane. Turtle doves purring at Crook Bank and between Brickyard Lane and Churchill Lane. 16 black-tailed godwit, 2 dunlin, juvenile redshank, 22 little egret and whooper swan Rimac freshwater marsh scrape. 8 green sandpiper Sea View Washlands. Butterflies – 20 red admiral Sea View; 6 red admiral, 5 small white, 2 large white, 4 meadow brown, 4 gatekeeper, 2 small tortoiseshell, peacock, 3 comma, 2 small skipper, speckled wood Churchill Lane.   080725 – osprey in flight around Saltfleet Haven then perched on a post eating fish. Savi’s warbler singing briefly at Rimac around midday. 10 green sandpiper Sea View Washlands. North over the sea early morning went 165 common scoter, 125 sandwich tern, 3 common tern, 121 gannet, 4 Mediterranean gull, 11 kittiwake, 19 curlew, 10 whimbrel, 21 black-tailed godwit, 2 guillemot, 10 shelduck and a little egret. Butterflies – wall, 8 comma, 15 red admiral, 4 speckled wood Sea View. Odonata – willow emerald, southern hawker Sea View.     Other reserves: 040725 – Legbourne Wood: 1 white admiral, meadow brown, ringlet, small tortoiseshell, red admiral, comma, painted lady, small white, large white, peacock and speckled wood. Nuthatch. Muckton Wood: 1 white admiral, gatekeeper, meadow brown, ringlet, small skipper, small white, large white, red admiral, peacock, blue-tailed damselfly, azure damselfly, common darter, lots of common toad toadlets. Firhill Quarry: Small skipper, small white and ringlet.   070725 – Donna Nook: Buff-tailed, common carder, white-tailed, early, tree, ruderal, and red-tailed bumblebees, Willoughby’s leafcutter and clover melitta bees. Red admiral, peacock, small skippers, meadow brown, large white butterflies, silver Y moth.   080725 – Donna Nook: Azure damselfly. Small skipper, ringlet, meadow brown, peacock, common blue, small copper, gatekeeper, red admiral, small and large white and small tortoiseshell butterflies. Common carder, red-tailed and buff-tailed bumblebees. Six-spot burnet, latticed heath, shaded broad-bar, small fan-footed wave and silver Y moths. Redshank and oystercatcher with chicks, ringed plover, swallows and house martins flying around. Pyramidal orchids starting to go over. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ No records this week. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. 15th; July, 5th & 19th; August, 2nd & 16th; September, 7th & 21st; October, 4th; November margaretwestcott7@hotmail.co.uk https://butterfly-conservation.org/in-your-area/lincolnshire-branch/chambers-farm-wood-butterfly-garden *** Lincolnshire Dormouse Group *** lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com Gemma Watkinson writes… The permit has been received and the above dates have been confirmed for the box checks this season. Jul Sun 20th Aug Sat 16th Sep Sun 21st Oct Sat 18th Dormice reintroduced to Leicestershire for first time - PTES Over 20 rare hazel dormice will be reintroduced to Leicestershire for the first time, creating the county’s only known population. https://ptes.org/campaigns/dormice/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The NNR includes the following sites: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chambers Farm Woods (comprises Ivy Wood; Little and Great Scrubbs Woods; Minting Wood; Hatton Wood, Hatton Plantation and Minting Park; and also three areas of grassland: Little Scrubbs Meadow and extension), Small Meadow and Big Meadow. Since all have their own management plans, please give the actual location when reporting). College Wood; Cocklode & Great West Woods; Hardy Gang Wood; Newball Wood; Rand Wood; Scotgrove Wood; Southrey Wood and Wickenby Wood. Many of these include both areas of ancient woodland or important grassland. Many are also designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Records which provide a six-figure grid reference are of particular value to the Forestry Commission. Other woods included in the NNR but without public access: Stainfield Wood; Stainton & Fulnetby Woods (access by public bridle way only). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. OTHER RESERVE REPORTS AND HIGHLIGHTS. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Discover Woodland Trust woods near you- including the best woods for walks, wildlife watching, family fun and heritage. https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/#=undefined&view=map Lincolnshire County Council - Local Nature Reserves https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/coast-countryside/nature-reserves Links to "Other Reserves" are welcome. Your suggestions, please. Boston Woods Trust https://www.bostonwoods.co.uk/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7. SENDING IN BULLETIN REPORTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The purpose of the Bulletin is to encourage biological recording in Lincolnshire. We aim to increase the number of people reporting observations to Recorders or via iRecord. https://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/ The Bulletin is a FREE service. We ask you to provide reports, questions, news or relevant articles from time to time. Descriptive pieces are welcome. You don't have to stick to lists! Please help us to help you. When sending in reports please follow this layout to save re-editing: Place Name: IN CAPITALS with Grid Reference if you have it. Your Name: Real names please, not aliases. Put it in each time, for each location Date: Species list [Alphabetical?] & numbers [and observations?] e.g. Blackbird - 24 [And please, no home-grown abbreviations. Species Names in full.] Bulletin mailing times may vary. It usually goes out on Wednesdays/ Thursdays in time for the weekend. Please e-mail in contributions to the editor as early as possible. Tuesday latest. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8. CONTACTS AND USEFUL WEBSITES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Links "not to be missed" *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. CONTACTS LIST *** Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union *** LNU Website: http://lnu.org/ LNU Twitter feed https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist LNU e-mail: info@lnu.org Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust: https://twitter.com/LincsWildlife Lincs Bird Club: https://twitter.com/Lincsbirding LBC County Bird Recorder: recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk The Sir Joseph Banks Society: https://twitter.com/sirjosephbanks Lincolnshire Bat Group: http://www.lincsbatgroup.co.uk/ Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch: https://twitter.com/BC_Lincolnshire Lincsbirders: https://twitter.com/lincsbirders Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project: Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Trust: https://lincolnshirechalkstreamstrust.org.uk/ South Lincolnshire Flora Group: https://bsbi.org/south-lincolnshire-v-c-53 The Wolds Fungi Group: Contact Paul Nichol via email: nichol20@gmail.com Lincolnshire Dormouse Group: Contact: lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com FIGHTING WILDLIFE CRIME Wildlife Crime https://www.lincs.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/wc/wildlife-crime/ SPECIES IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. LNU Recorders and Specialists: https://lnu.org/specialists/ Downloads of LNU books: https://lnu.org/publications/books/ Recording with "iRecord": https://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/ iRecord is recommended by the LNU as an appropriate platform for on-line recording When asking for help: Please give the very best information you can provide. If you are not sure, ask what is needed from you to confirm identification. Photographs are helpful but not every species can be identified from a photograph. When asked for further details, get back to the recorder promptly. Don't forget a thank you for the help. That is always welcomed. Local Bat Helpline Grounded bats, bat problems, advice and information. Contact the new Lincolnshire Bat Group co-ordinator as above: Email:info@lincsbatgroup.co.uk Or by phone on 01526 344726, who will be able to help you. Confidential Bat Records You may send confidential bat records direct to the above, who will make sure they are securely passed on to the new recorder. Slug ID Help Chris du Feu will help with slug identification. Tel: 01383 669 124 Email: chris.r.dufeu@gmail.com USEFUL WILDLIFE LINKS Please copy and paste URLs if necessary. How to identify bumblebees The Bumblebee Conservation Trust https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/ Dragonfly Identification help https://british-dragonflies.org.uk/odonata/species-and-identification/ Bat Identification https://www.bats.org.uk/about-bats/what-are-bats/uk-bats/ NHBS - Frequencies of British Bats https://media.nhbs.com/equipment/British%20Bat%20Frequencies.pdf Lincolnshire Badger Group https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093647842292 Email: lincolnshirebadgergroup@hotmail.com Lincs Environmental Records Centre: http://www.glnp.org.uk/ Natural England: http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ Natural History Bookshop - Natural history equipment or books..https://www.nhbs.com/ The Flora of Lincolnshire by Joan Gibbons:downloadable LNU book https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/the-flora-of-lincolnshire-e-joan-gibbons.pdf Atlas of the terrestrial and semi-aquatic Mammals of Lincolnshire https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/mammalatlas.pdf *** For the Geologists *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary The ‘Great Dying’ wiped out 90% of life, then came 5 million years of lethal heat. New fossils explain why https://uk.news.yahoo.com/great-dying-wiped-90-life-090025845.html 200 million year-old flying reptile species found https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqx2zzn53pqo 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9. NOTES ABOUT THESE WILDLIFE REPORTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We do our best to ensure accuracy in our reporting. However, records are sent in by a variety of reporters; from complete beginners to professionals. They may vary in reliability and occasionally may be difficult or impossible to verify. If further information is needed please contact the editor: Bulletins are sent to Recorders at Lincolnshire Environmental Records Centre [GNLP], Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union and Lincolnshire Bird Club. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10. BULLETIN PUBLICITY POLICY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When submitting reports, e.g. unusual plants, please send any sensitive news directly to recorders. Not the Bulletin. We don't want to spoil things with unwise or untimely publicity. Thank you. Please respect the interests of wildlife and site owners if you report on national networks. Interest in wildlife is not a licence to act irresponsibly or thoughtlessly to landowners, who may well be partners in important conservation work. [Views expressed in the Bulletin do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of the LNU or associated organisations. In particular, this applies to agencies, especially charities, taking a political stance.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 11. LNU EVENTS DIARY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Lincolnshire Naturalists Union Field Meetings *** Seacroft Dunes/Marshes on Saturday 19 July Parking on Seacroft Esplanade 11.00 for 12.00 start and finish about 16.00 Habitat: Coastal grasslands and sand dunes Grid reference: TF 56746 61666 What3Words: letter.habit.meal Nearest postcode: PE25 3BE Theddlethorpe-Saltfleetby - Sunday 3 August, meet from 10am, 10:30-TBC ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ...AND FINALLY... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** National and International Stories *** Spot the difference: Identifying common garden butterflies | Butterfly Conservation https://butterfly-conservation.org/news-and-blog/spot-the-difference-identifying-common-garden-butterflies How a £1.5bn ‘wildlife-boosting’ bypass became an environmental disaster https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jul/05/cambridgeshire-a14-road-wildlife-environmental-disaster A surprisingly effective way to save the capercaillie: keep its predators well-fed – new research https://theconversation.com/a-surprisingly-effective-way-to-save-the-capercaillie-keep-its-predators-well-fed-new-research-259925 Hive Mind: The Surprising Mental Health Benefits of Beekeeping https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/hive-mind-the-surprising-mental-health-benefits-of-beekeeping/ Recent droughts are 'slow-moving global catastrophe' - UN report https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckg33r1xgymo Ancient Egyptian history may be rewritten by DNA bone test https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1dnnyz0z6do $88m pollution-tracking satellite missing in space https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clynre7leyjo Everyday painkiller made from plastic - by E. coli https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-01986-0 Tiny creatures gorge, get fat, and help fight global warming https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c628nnz3rp9o The price of the rare earth metals the world buys from China https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-66cdf862-5e96-4e6e-90b8-a407b597c8d9 *** Mail Fails *** None this week ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/