============================================ || || Wildnews Bulletin || 16th 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Roger [Editing] writes: I'm wearing my "Climate Stripes" badge this week! Representing global temperature rise over two centuries https://www.reading.ac.uk/planet/climate-resources/climate-stripes The warmest of thanks goes to this week's contributors. Your help keeps the Bulletin interesting and useful so please keep your emails coming. It is also very useful to let other people know about the Bulletin. That is the main way folks discover it. But don't send them a your copy of the Bulletin! It is safest to use the "forward to a friend" link at the end of every issue. Paul Scott writes: Sir Joseph Banks Society Coming Saturday 19th July to September 6th, an exhibition on Miss E. Joan Gibbons and the Flora of Lincolnshire. This exhibition is all about Miss Gibbons, her work and the publishing of the Flora of Lincolnshire. Learn more about this extraordinary lady and the botanical history of Lincolnshire. The exhibition is open to the public, free of charge, Thursday to Saturday 10:00am to 4:00pm. On certain Saturdays, please contact us to find out which, the curator of this exhibition, Debbie Lincoln, will be in the Centre to talk you through Miss Gibbons' life and work. My thanks and appreciation go to Phil and Alex for the work they do to produce the Bulletin each week. Phil will be back editing next week, but it's a good idea to copy me in on reports, "belt and braces" just in case. Roger. 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 Wigston arrived on the Algerian coast, just west of the capital Algiers, before heading south across the Sahara desert. Jim is 150 km (93 miles) south of the ancient city of Timbuktu, close to Lake Korarou. West is heading inland into eastern Senegal. Arthur following the mighty Senegal River along the south- west Mauritanian border. Exciting stuff! https://www.bto.org/cuckoos Loch of the Lowes SWT Webcam Sadly, the new osprey pair at Loch of the Lowes lost their remaining egg just days before its anticipated hatching date. The empty nest gets an occasional Osprey visitor. The camera is still running, looking across the Loch. 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 next species is the Common red soldier beetle Rhagonycha fulva This is a very distinctive flying beetle that visits many flowers ragwort and hogweed being good ones to examine. It can be seen in almost any open habitat like meadows, green lanes and large gardens. Pictures and further information can be found on the Nature Spot website:- https://www.naturespot.org/species/common-red-soldier-beetle Thanks to those who added records for our previous map filling species. We received 32 records from 15 recorders for the Yellow Shell Moth Camptogramma bilineata. 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 *** This week's mostly-local news stories: *** 'Some of my turf fields are as dry as biscuits' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c74w1rvjwz9o Lancaster sends emergency alert after engine issue https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c17wvqgxz9do 'The pylons will destroy our organic farm' - Skegness https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c36xzlp8w0eo Environment Agency insider alleges ‘cover-up’ over sewage sludge on farmland https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jul/09/environment-agency-insider-alleges-cover-up-sewage-sludge-farmland ‘An enormous scar’: the battle over solar farms and pylons https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jul/13/an-enormous-scar-battle-solar-farms-pylons-reform-uk-woos-lincolnshire Public asked to count butterflies - Cleethorpes https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgrxd88v2jwo Village poo bag scheme aims to cut dog waste - Great Coates https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy9xy055d5xo Rare 'dust devil' spotted in car park - Holton le Moor https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cly1gz4j7l5o View Roman toddler's footprint at pop-up museum - Wragby https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm20x0y92peo Men who cut down Sycamore Gap tree in act of 'sheer bravado' sentenced to 4 years and 3 months https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/clymgm1v43vt *** Weather News and Forecast *** https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#? East Midlands weather forecast Outlook for Thursday to Saturday: Largely dry with variable cloud, light winds and sunny spells Thursday. Unsettled with showers or thunderstorms Friday and Saturday. Warm and humid at first, turning cooler by Saturday. UK long range weather forecast 20-29th July Overall a rather more changeable pattern of weather through this period, compared to much of the summer thus far. The first couple of days could well be particularly unsettled with heavy rain and/or thunderstorms in many areas. Into the following week, a general westerly type set-up looks to become established, with occasional weather systems moving in from the Atlantic. This means further rain or showers and breezy conditions at times, interspersed with some drier, sunnier periods. Temperatures are expected to average out above normal and whilst brief hotter and humid days are possible, the chance of prolonged heat is lower than during the last few weeks. This broad pattern is likely to continue towards the end of July. *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** This Week's Sky at a Glance, Mystery interstellar object could be oldest known comet https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx23g5jpj9go Space and astronomy highlights in 2025 - June to August https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/space-astronomy/space-astronomy-highlights-2025#June AuroraWatch UK https://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/ The SpaceWeather website https://spaceweather.com/ tories/space-astronomy/space-astronomy-highlights-2025#June Full Moons https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/full-moon-calendar Meteor shower dates - 7 July – 24 August - The Perseid meteor shower https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/meteor-shower-guide BBC Sky at Night Magazine website https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news Current Position of ISS https://www.astroviewer.net/iss/en/ *** 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 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. 7/7/2025 Frampton Marsh, 8+ Spotted Redshanks. Road from Kirton is closed. 8/7/2025 Crowland, Quail male singing in wheat field north of Common Drove/Renfrew's Drove junction Frampton Marsh, 12 Spotted Redshanks. 9/7/2025 Frampton Marsh, 14 Spotted Redshanks. Huttoft Bank Pit, Spoonbill. Rimac, White-winged Black tTern flew north along tideline. 10/7/2025 Anderby Creek. Bee-eater flew north over Anderby Marsh. Deeping St James, Glossy Ibis ad at East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, 12 Spotted Redshanks. Huttoft, Bee-eater flew north over Huttoft Bank. Rimac,Bee-eater flew north along inland side of dunes. 11/7/2025 Anderby Creek, Curlew Sandpiper at Anderby Marsh. Deeping St James, Glossy Ibis ad at East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, Garganey Leadenham, Caspian Gull 3s at quarry 12/7/2025 Deeping St James, Glossy Ibis ad at East Pit, Deeping Lakes. 13/7/2025 Boultham Mere. Spoonbill. Frampton Marsh,, Wood Sandpiper. Access through visitor centre. 14/7/2025 Anderby Creek, Curlew Sandpiper still at Anderby Marsh. Deeping St James, Curlew Sandpiper at East Pit on island east of main island, Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, Curlew Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, 11 Spotted Redshanks, 2 Continental Black-tailed Godwits. Gibraltar Point, Black Redstart at Visitor Center. Killingholme Haven Pits, Curlew Sandpiper. Willingham-by-Stow - 2 miles NE, Quail flushed from field just south of Fillingham Lane just east of Turpin Farm. 15/7/2025 Boultham Mere, Spoonbill. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. Roadkill Request from Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue Can You Help Us? We’re mapping wildlife fatality hotspots on roads to help improve safety for both animals and drivers. Over time, this data could support efforts to work with local authorities to make high-risk areas safer. If you come across a deceased animal or are aware of one, please report the location—when it’s safe to do so—by: Dropping a pin on the map provided Sharing a What3Words location Providing the street name While we are unable to collect deceased wildlife, your information could help prevent future incidents. Thank you! Please share to help spread the word. Report deceased wildlife on the link below: https://form.jotform.com/.../report-roadside-deceased... *** County Wildlife Reports from Readers *** Thank you to all contributors. We rely on readers to send in observations and welcome reports from everyone, experts to beginners. Please keep your reports coming. BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 Mary Porter 14th July 2025 After weeks of looking for my favourite summer insect, the Banded Demoiselle, and seeing just a handful, I got a lovely surprise when I went in the garden to ang the washing out. There, fluttering around the washing line and the adjacent hornbeam hedge, was a lovely male banded demoiselle! It kept me company the whole time I was there, even landing on the line a few times. It didn't seem bothered by all the extra "flappy things" in its environment. I left it out there, so I don't know how long it stayed.  BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 Phil and Mary Porter 9th July 2025 I discovered two excellent flies today; Phasia obesa of the Tachinidae, very small compared to the majority. A southern species which was first recorded in Lincolnshire as recently as 2021, its larvae are parasites of plant-bugs; and an unusual fruit fly (picture-wing fly) but with only very faint wing markings, Acanthiophilus helianthi, its 2nd County record. A female was inserting eggs into the bud scales of Common Knapweed. The larvae will eat the seeds as they develop and pupate in the remains. Marmalade Hoverflies increased somewhat noticeably, as did Gatekeepers. A party of Long-tailed Tits passed through the trees. 10th July 2025 With the heat increasing, there was a startling surge in insect numbers, especially hoverflies and 7-spot Ladybirds. Apart from the Marmalade Hoverflies there were Eupeodes, Platycheirus, Syrphus, Scaeva, Sphaerophoria scripta all numerous, but the species with “rat-tailed maggots”, Eristalis and Helophilus, were only in 1’s and 2’s as they need a liquid organically-rich larval feeding environment which is in short supply at the moment. I spotted a Hawthorn Fruit-fly Amoenoia permunda with its improbable wing pattern sampling where a wasp had started chewing an apple. I saw a very smart dark wasp which I imagine was a Median Wasp Dolichovespula. Butterflies included numerous whites (a few Large Whites), Peacocks, Red Admirals, Gatekeepers, 2 Small Tortoiseshells, 1 Brimstone, 1 Holly Blue, 1 Comma. A Grasshopper landed on the window pane and climbed up it. I wouldn’t have imagined they could do that. 11th July 2025 Hotter again today. Mary had her trail camera trained on water dishes in a secluded area. There was nothing during the night-time but when it got light, birds started to arrive; Blackbirds, Blue Tits, Chaffinches, a Robin, a couple of Dunnocks, then a Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler and finally several pictures of a juvenile, and then a male, Blackcap. We have mentioned before that the singing Blackcap on the margins of the garden had gone unseen all through the spring and early summer, so this may have been the one. Insects were pretty much as before only more so, with the air sometimes seeming full of bumbling Ladybirds, hitting the windows with incessant taps at the peak of the activity. A patch of Marjoram attracted a Common Blue/Brown Argus that wouldn’t open its wings. Mary took a photograph and we later identified it as a Brown Argus by the ‘figure-of-eight’ black-eyed, white spots on its hind underwing as directed by the UK Butterflies web site. Later a shady area attracted a Speckled Wood. The throngs of hoverflies (500 maybe?) were augmented by a Batman Hoverfly Myathropa florea. 12th July 2025 Although the heat didn’t agree with either of us, it was nice to anticipate another day of diverse insect activity taking place all around the garden. But we were to be disappointed, because an extraordinary exodus had occurred. We don’t know just when, but since our time in the garden yesterday, the hordes of hoverflies and ladybirds had taken themselves off, and the last 2-3 days just represented the passage of a temporary influx from who knows where. Mary accidentally flushed two early Green Woodpeckers from quite near the house, the first time that two have appeared together. 13th July 2025 Two Great Spotted Woodpeckers were early on the feeders, a male and a fledgling. 14th July 2025 While pruning the dead flower clusters off a bush rose, Mary found that a lot of ladybirds were sheltering among the faded petals. BARDNEY - THE GREEN TF120694 R + A Parsons w/o 13/6/2025 Jackdaw 14+ including juveniles. Starling Blue Tit House Sparrow Dunnock Swift - commonly seen overhead. Housemartin often seen over Robin Song Thrush Blackbird Chaffinch Goldfinch Domestic pigeon Wood pigeon Collared Dove Garden birds on Merlin app 7.6.25 Wren Robin 27.6.25 Robin Collared dove Magpie House Martin Jackdaw House sparrow Most nights: lot of bat activity at 55kHz from 22,00hrs to a final burst at 03.30hrs Hedgehog on trail camera, 11/7 at 02.10hrs. COLLEGE WOOD A & R Parsons 13/7/2025 Butterflies Red Admiral White Admiral -mainly on brambles. Gatekeeper Meadow Brown Ringlet Comma Large White Small White Silver-washed Fritillery https://butterfly-conservation.org/butterflies/silver-washed-fritillary Large Skipper https://butterfly-conservation.org/butterflies/large-skipper Speckled Wood College Wood 13.7.2025 Birds on Merlin app. Song thrush Coal tit Little owl Great tit Chaffinch Blackcap Blue tit Goldcrest Bullfinch Wood pigeon DONNA NOOK TF420997 Colin Smith 14/07/2025 Had a stroll round some of the Wildlife Trusts N R and was surprised at how many moth species I found. Larva of Angle Shades Phlogophora meticulosa,Buff-tip  Phalera bucephala, Cinnabar Tyria jacobaeae,Eyed Hawk Smerinthus ocellata Lime-speck Pug Eupithecia centaureata and Star-wort Cucullia asteris. Adult moths of Shaded Broad-bar Scotopteryx chenopodiata, Dusky Sallow  Eremobia ochroleuca, Straw Grass-veneer Agriphila straminella, Garden Grass Veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella, Black-fronted Straw Cochylis atricapitana, Sea-lavender Case-bearer Coleophora limoniella, Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis. Lots of other insects which included Roesel's bush-cricket Metrioptera roeselii and Reed Damsel Bug Nabis lineatus. FAR INGS. 13th July 2025. Angela Buckle Upright hedge parsley, Spear thistle, Teasel, Rayed knapweed, Musk mallow Black horehound, Eye Bright, Red bartsia, Lesser burdock, Yarrow, Elecampane, Mugwort, Petty spurge, Scarlet pimpernel HORKSTOW SE987179 Jenny Haynes 11 July 2025 Standing in my garden tonight just after 10pm, trying to cool off, there was some bat activity. I think there were only two, but as there were quite a number of moths about I suspect they were feeding well. 12 July 2025 Butterflies in my garden today: Red Admiral, peacock, comma, meadow brown, speckled wood, ringlet, small white, large white and green veined white. 14 July 2025 The partridge family has arrived! A pair of adult red legged partridges together with at least ten young ones were in the field opposite, which has just been harvested. A brown hare was there as well. There are a number of fields nearby that have been planted with a mixture of phacelia and buckwheat. Quite striking purple and white flowers which are supposed to be attractive to bees. I’ve not seen them before and I understand they’re planted as a cover crop. SOUTHREY Southrey Wood TF 127 682 A & R Parsons 10/7/2025 7 White Admiral butterflies on main ride - mostly on brambles - 10.30am https://butterfly-conservation.org/our-work/reserves/southrey-wood-lincolnshire SANDILANDS, SUTTON-ON-SEA - GARDEN Ian Whitaker 12.07.25 Hummingbird Hawkmoth 13.07.25 Corizus hyoscyami, aka Cinnamon Bug or Black and Red Squash Bug, on Salvia plant WATER RAIL WAY Southrey TF151657 Phil and Mary Porter 10th July 2025 Too hot to concentrate on recording really, with very little shade. The path verges and the Engine Drain banks had been recently cut, but behind the fences, the areas planted with Buddleias had large patches of Tansy, Field Scabious, Perforate St John’s Wort and Marjoram, and a plant of Hemp Agrimony, that I had not noticed before, was flowering. For no very obvious reason, a couple of young Whitethroats kept popping out of the hedgerow onto the open bare verges where a Song Thrush was also looking for food. There was still a little Sedge Warbler song emanating from the riverside scrub, and the whining of juvenile Moorhens on the River. Banks of fresh Teasel flowers were attracting large numbers of Peacocks and some Red Admirals. And Large Whites. Gatekeepers were everywhere. A couple of Banded Demoiselles and Black-tailed Skimmers were patrolling at the Pumping Station inlet. As usual, the Engine Drain, east of the river, was full of the floating leaves of Broad-leafed Pondweed and at the footbridge TF144660 it is always worth scanning the drain and banks for invertebrates. Today quickly produced a male Common Emerald and a male Ruddy Darter, neither of which we had seen there recently. Red-eyed Damselflies are usually fairly reliable at this spot, but not today. An Emperor Dragonfly was patrolling and there were Chasers there, but they would not co-operate at close range for identification. There is a small nesting colony of House Martins at the house by the carpark and the adjacent pub, which makes for an entertaining few minutes before leaving. WATER RAIL WAY Southrey TF151657 Phil Porter 13th July 2025 I took an early morning visit and compared to our mid-morning routine, there was a lot more activity from the birds and a lot less from the insects. Two Green Woodpeckers were feeding on the short dry sward where rabbits dig and ants are common. Between the station and the pumping station there were small flocks of Linnets and Goldfinches and a Greenfinch was wheezing away. Swallows and House Martins were hawking for food and 2-3 Pied Wagtails flicking around. Further south, Whitethroats were surprisingly numerous on the path-side wire fences and scrub was full of their alarm calls so it appeared that they had either had a good breeding season or else there was a bit of migration taking place. I estimated that about 15 were present. A couple of Blackcaps were still singing, and a scruffy Willow Warbler showed itself. Incongruously, a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew upstream calling. Insects included Large Whites, Peacocks, Red Admirals, Commas and Gatekeepers. Hoverflies; Sphaerophoria, Episyrphus, Eristalis and Helophilus, with frequent Empis species, probably E. livida on flowers. A Black-tailed Skimmer was as faded and bedraggled as a live skimmer could be, but still fast! Bird’s-foot Trefoil and Creeping Cinquefoil were trying their best to flower in the terribly dry conditions. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. NNRs and NATURE RESERVES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LWT Top Reserves: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves LWT Reserves List: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/nature-reserves-list RSPB Reserves: https://www.rspb.org.uk/days-out/reserves ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GIBRALTAR POINT NNR ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory https://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.com/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LINCOLNSHIRE COASTAL COUNTRY PARK Dave Miller Coast and The Wolds (South) Warden Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Sykes Farm Nature Reserve Office Gibraltar Point National Nature Reserve Gibraltar Road Skegness PE24 4SU ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7th July: large parties of Little Gull, Kittiwake and Manx Shearwater moving north off shore. Also a Puffin and Arctic Tern. Anderby Marsh had 120 Black- tailed Godwit, 27 Redshank, 12 Dunlin, Ruff, Greenshank, 2 Common Sandpiper and 4 Green Sandpiper. 8th July: 81 Black-tailed Godwit on Huttoft Pit. 9th July: Spoonbill and 4 Green Sandpiper on Anderby Marsh. 11th July: offshore there was an Arctic Skua and a Mediterranean Gull flying north, Whimbrel, 2 Siskin and 3 Ruff flying south. On Anderby Marsh 2 Avocet, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Curlew, 56 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Yellow Wagtail, Curlew Sandpiper, Greenshank, Spoonbill, Knot, 2 Ruff, 7 Green Sandpiper, 4 Little Ringed Plover and Meditearranean Gull. A Green Woodpecker in Anderby village. 38 Black-tailed Godwit on Huttoft Pit. 12th July: out to sea 850 Sandwich Tern flying north as well as an Eider in with a flock of 20 Common Scoter. 41 Dunlin and 22 Knot on Anderby Marsh. Huttoft Pit was showing 84 Black-tailed Godwit, Green Sandpiper, 4 Avocet and 2 Redshank. 13th July: 87 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Avocet, 15 Redshank, Little Ringed Plover and Dunlin on Huttoft Pit. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 090725 – a white-winged black tern flew north over the sea out from Rimac. 2 adult little gull, 3 kittiwake, 4 Mediterranean gull and 3 bar-tailed godwit also flew north, and a puffin flew south. 2 kittiwake and 150+ sandwich tern on Rimac foreshore. Female/immature scaup with 100 common scoter on the sea from Saltfleet Haven. A few pushes of hirundines (mostly swallows) north over the beach, bringing 2 pied and 4 yellow wagtail with them. Osprey still around Saltfleet Haven area usually sat on post tops. Chiffchaff singing Rimac outer dune scrub. 6 green sandpiper and black-tailed godwit Sea View Washlands. 2 green sandpiper, black-tailed godwit, whooper swan, spoonbill, great white egret, 20 little egret and 5 grey heron Rimac freshwater marsh scrape. Turtle dove purring near Churchill Lane. 60+ curlew and 2+ whimbrel flew low over Rimac outer saltmarsh and 5 greenshank flew south. Butterflies – wall Sea View; 13 red admiral, 6 small white, 7 large white, 2 holly blue, 2 gatekeeper, 3 small skipper, 4 small tortoiseshell, 3 meadow brown, ringlet, 2 comma Churchill Lane. 100725 – bee-eater flew low over Rimac dunes calling, circled over Rimac car park briefly then continued north along the Eau beyond Sea View. Osprey flew west over MOD towards the foreshore, later seen on post by Saltfleet Haven. 16 teal, 7 black-tailed godwit, 20 little egret, whooper swan Rimac freshwater marsh scrape and 2 yellow wagtail flew over. Grasshopper warblers reeling MOD saltmarsh and Rimac south. Butterflies – 11 common blue, brown argus, 7 small copper, 191 gatekeeper, 173 meadow brown, 107 ringlet, 7 wall, 416 small/Essex skipper; 6 common blue, 7 small copper, 104 gatekeeper, 161 meadow brown, 16 ringlet, 7 small heath, 208 small/Essex skipper Paradise-Rimac; brimstone Churchill Lane. Odonata – lesser emperor on the Eau just north of Rimac bridge briefly late morning. 110725 – osprey still around Saltfleet Haven end sitting on posts. Odonata – lesser emperor on Eau from Rimac bridge though elusive. 120725 – bee-eater heard calling in flight over Brickyard Lane. 7 green sandpiper and 3 fledged marsh harriers Sea View Washlands. Green and great spotted woodpeckers Brickyard Lane dunes. 140725 – osprey perched Rimac outer dunes then fishing over Saltfleet Haven mouth during the morning high tide, later seen on posts near Saltfleet Haven. Kingfisher flying along Great Eau with a fish in its beak. Marsh harrier at Sea View. 3 little ringed plover, 2 greenshank, redshank, 7 black-tailed godwit, 2 green sandpiper, 22 teal, whooper swan, 22 little egret Rimac freshwater marsh scrape. 145 curlew and 6 whimbrel Rimac during high tide. Summer plumage waders passing along the coast, including 32 sanderling, 30 dunlin, 5 turnstone and 42 knot. 120+ common scoter on the sea distantly, 5 razorbill, 2 guillemot and 2 wigeon flew south, and a manx shearwater flew north. 10 green sandpiper Sea View Washlands. 4 green sandpiper, 56 lapwing, 2 great white egret, 10 little egret, 136 black-headed gull Paradise Lagoon. Odonata – southern hawker Churchill Lane; Banded demoiselles, broad-bodied chaser, black-tailed skimmer and emperor dragonflies foraging over the water. 150725 – 4 red kite flew south throughout the morning. Turtle dove in dune scrub near MOD track south of Rimac. 2 grey wagtails at Sea View on the Great Eau. Another grey wagtail flew south over MOD, and a few pushes of swifts flew south ahead of rainfall. 5 whimbrel on saltmarsh north of Sea View. On Paradise Lagoon 4 common sandpiper, 5 greenshank, 2 redshank, 23 lapwing, 9 little egret. 14 black- tailed godwit, 2 little ringed plover, 2 dunlin, greenshank, redshank, 20 little egret, whooper swan Rimac freshwater marsh scrape. 9 green sandpiper on Sea View Washlands and 1 on Great Eau near Sea View. Juvenile whinchat on fences along Elm House Farm track. Butterflies – rare sightings of a white admiral basking in sun near Brickyard Lane at midday. Odonata – southern hawker Brickyard Lane. Other Reserves 100725 – Legbourne Wood: Common and soprano pipistrelle, noctule and barbastelle bats. Male and female tawny owls calling. Dark bush crickets stridulating throughout woodland. 130725 – 100 sandwich terns. 150725 – Donna Nook: 26 sandwich terns. Comma, gatekeeper, red admiral, peacock, meadow brown, small white and small skipper butterflies. Buff-tailed bumblebee nest. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ladybirds| NatureSpot https://www.naturespot.org/WildlifeGuides/12CommonLadybirds How to identify bumblebees| The Bumblebee Conservation Trust https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/ Dragonfly Identification help https://british-dragonflies.org.uk/odonata/species-and-identification/ Bat Identification https://www.bats.org.uk/about-bats/what-are-bats/uk-bats/ NHBS - Frequencies of British Bats https://media.nhbs.com/equipment/British%20Bat%20Frequencies.pdf Lincolnshire Badger Group https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093647842292 Email: lincolnshirebadgergroup@hotmail.com Lincs Environmental Records Centre: http://www.glnp.org.uk/ Natural England: http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ NHBS - Natural history equipment or books.https://www.nhbs.com/ The Flora of Lincolnshire by Joan Gibbons:downloadable LNU book Atlas of the terrestrial and semi-aquatic Mammals of Lincolnshire *** 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 *** Recent droughts are 'slow-moving global catastrophe' - UN report https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckg33r1xgymo Pine marten kits spotted in national park for first time in 100 years https://uk.news.yahoo.com/pine-marten-kits-spotted-national-230100401.html Like fly-tipping’: ministers ignoring pleas to cut sludge fertiliser use https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jul/08/like-fly-tipping-ministers-ignoring-pleas-to-cut-sludge-fertiliser-use Forget the honeybee. These unusual pollinators show just how crazy plant sex can really be https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/unusual-pollinators-flowers-plants/ Plant theft is often overlooked – that’s why it’s on the rise https://theconversation.com/plant-theft-is-often-overlooked-thats-why-its-on-the-rise-259334 Animals react to secret sounds from plants, say scientists https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8e4860n9rpo *** Mail Fails *** None this week. ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/