============================================ || || Wildnews Bulletin| || 30th 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 Porter) writes; Not everyone offers virtual open house to native plants in the garden, but Mary and I generally do, and some of the more interesting incomers have added new diversity to the garden. Mostly it is not apparent just how they arrived. Pellitory-of-the-wall is very common in the village, but definitely wasn’t in the garden when we moved in 25 years ago. Others of more obscure origin are Fool’s Parsley, a non-invasive umbellifer, Autumnal Hawkbit, which seems to be increasing in local grass verges, Enchanter’s Nightshade, probably from nearby woods, and Common Mouse-ear, another verge plant. Others are from further afield, such as Marsh Bedstraw and Wild Basil and must have come back on boots from nature reserves. The Pellitory, a Nettle relative, can be a bit of a nuisance, but is easy to dig up where necessary. The rest harmlessly add interest to the natural garden in our experience. But why hasn’t Cat’s-ear, which seems buoyant enough nearby, made it’s way to us, it would certainly be most welcome! At the same time, why, why, why did we pay money to introduce Wood Avens which is now trying to take over our world despite our best efforts? Caveat emptor! 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 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 Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis This is a small white moth that flies freely during the day as well as at night. It is triangular in shape with light brown markings especially near the wing edges. The moth visits flowers and is particularly partial to knapweed, scabious and ragwort. Pictures and further information can be found on the UK Moths website:- https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/udea-lutealis/ The current record distribution Map can be seen at https://lnu.org/udea-lutealis-pale-straw-pearl/ Thanks to those who added records for our previous map filling species. We received 6 records from 4 recorders for the Elm sack gall aphid Tetraneura ulmi. Please do join in as all records are valuable and help our understanding of the county's changing natural history. *** Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue *** Netting – A Silent and Prolonged Killer of Wildlife It’s fair to say that some of the worst and most heartbreaking cases of prolonged suffering we see in wildlife are caused by netting—especially when it’s poorly maintained or incorrectly installed. In our everyday lives, we rarely stop to look up at the places where netting is often found. But when we do, it usually doesn’t take long to spot birds trapped behind it - or the tragic remains of those that didn’t make it. In many cases, these animals suffer quietly and alone, facing a slow, agonising death with no hope of escape. Even those that are found and rescued often have injuries so severe that the kindest thing we can do is to end their suffering humanely. It’s time for change. We need to rethink how netting is used. Stricter rules must be put in place to ensure proper installation and maintenance—and those who put up netting must be held responsible for any animal harmed by it. If you're out and about and see a bird trapped in netting—act quickly. Report it to your local wildlife rescue centre as soon as possible. If the bird can be saved, they will do everything they can to do so! You can also report both live and deceased birds to Humane Wildlife Solutions, who are leading a campaign to reform netting practices. Visit their campaign page: https://humanewildlifesolutions.co.uk/campaigns To make a report, please provide: The exact location of the netting The date the incident occurred Photos of the bird(s) and the netting If this level of suffering happened at eye level, we would have acted long ago. But because it’s out of sight, it stays out of mind. Let’s change that - keep looking up. You might just save a life, or prevent an incident like this. Please share. *** 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. (Editor’s 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: *** AnchorAnchorAnchorAnchor Insect boom for UK after warmest, sunniest spring on record https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce9xlrgypp5o Flood alert upgrades will 'better protect people' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gknq0l7g3o Friend was 'convinced' fairy hoax photos were real https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0j4xdww4wlo 'Our bins have not been emptied for weeks' - Cleethorpes https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpwq402dq05o Battery warning after fire at recycling centre https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g8gkpg800o *** 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 31st July - Sunday 3rd August Headline: Generally cloudy but also dry and warm. Thursday: Often rather cloudy with showers or longer spells of rain, these becoming heavy and thundery at times, especially through the afternoon. Feeling warm and humid. Maximum temperature 24 °C. Outlook for Friday to Sunday: Fairly cloudy with scattered showers on Friday, these locally heavy. Mainly dry and bright on Saturday and Sunday, with light winds, although rain arrives later Sunday. Temperatures generally near average. UK long range weather forecast Sunday 3rd August - Tuesday 12th August Outbreaks of rain will spill southeast across many areas through Sunday into early Monday, but any rain becoming light and patchy in the south. Early next week there is the potential for an unseasonably deep area of low pressure to affect the UK, which would bring widely windy and wetter weather, though the details around this are rather uncertain. Following this, a continuation of the broadly changeable pattern with occasional spells of rain or showers, some drier, brighter interludes and temperatures probably near average for the most part. As we move towards mid-month, there is increased chance of high pressure becoming more dominant, leading to drier and more settled conditions becoming more widespread and perhaps some warmer weather developing, compared to the preceding couple of weeks. *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** Moths in Australia can navigate by the stars, using the Milky Way https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09135-3 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/ 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 *** LNU / LINCOLNSHIRE FLORA GROUP FIELD MEETING SALTFLEETBY-THEDDLETHORPE NNR. Sunday 3rd August 2025 We will also be joined by a group from the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Timings: 11:00 for 12:00 start and finish about 16:00 Leaders: Luke Hartley & Sarah Lambert Habitat: Fixed dune, scrub and saltmarsh Parking: at Crook Bank car park Grid reference: TF 48860 88260 What3Words: horses.waged.blanking Nearest postcode: LN12 1NP SIR JOSEPH BANKS SOCIETY Past president Paul Scott writes: 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 at the Joseph Banks Centre, 11-13 Bridge Street, Horncastle. LN9 5HZ until September 6th. enquiries@joseph-banks.org.uk , 01507 700012. 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. *** 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 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. Please note this talk has now been changed to 8th October. 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 21/7/2025 Anderby Creek. Pectoral Sandpiper at Anderby Marsh. Frampton Marsh, 2 Wood Sandpipers on North Scrape from path to East Hide. Gibraltar Point, Wood Sandpiper at Lagoons. 3 Curlew Sandpipers at Tennyson's Sands from Harvey's Hide. Willingham-by-Stow - 2 miles NE, Quail singing in field south of Fillingham Lane. Rimac, 4 Wood Sandpipers. 3 Roseate Terns, 2 ads + juv, 2 Curlew Sandpipers. 22/7/2025 Anderby Creek, Wood Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper at Anderby Marsh [Walk south thru' dunes.] Freiston Shore, Curlew Sandpiper at South Scrape. Gibraltar Point, Southern Migrant Hawker dragonfly male at Shoveler's Pool. Rimac, 8+ Little Gulls north of Churchill Lane on foreshore, Curlew Sandpiper. 23/7/2025 Anderby Creek, Pectoral Sandpiper at Anderby Marsh. [Walk south thru' dunes.] Deeping St James, Black-necked Grebe at Main Lake from hide. Glossy Ibis on island. Frampton Marsh, 5 Spotted Redshanks on Reedbed Lagoon. Freiston Shore, Curlew Sandpiper. Gibraltar Point, Scaup drk on sea off Millennium Ridge 2 Wood Sandpiper at Tennyson's Sands from Harvey's Hide. Mablethorpe, Caspian Gul juv, then flew south. Rimac, Wood Sandpiper on scrape at Sea View Washlands. Searby SE of Brigg, Death's-head Hawk Moth at Wrendale Farm. Sutton-on-Sea, Caspian Gill 1s flew north past. 24/7/2025 Deeping St James, Glossy Ibis at East Pit, Deeping Lakes, Black-necked Grebe at Main Lake from hide. Huttoft, Bank, Long-tailed Skua flew north past Huttoft Car Terrace. Frampton Marsh, Temminck's Stint. Gibraltar Point, Roseate Tern on Greenshanks Creek, Common Crane. Leadenham Quarry, 3 Caspian Gulls 3s 2s 1s at quarry. 25/7/2025 Deeping St James, Glossy Ibis ad at East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Freiston Shore, Curlew Sandpiper. Gibraltar Point, Common Crane on foreshore opposite Mill Hill. 2 Wood Sandpipers, Curlew Sandpiper. Leadenham Quarry, 3 Caspian Gulls 1s and 2 juvs at quarry. 26/7/2025 Deeping St James, Glossy Ibis ad at East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, Little Stint on Reedbed Lagoon. Freiston Shore, Roseate Tern. Goxhill, Caspian Gull east of Goxhill Haven on Humber shore. Leadenham, 2 Caspian Gulls 1s and juv, at quarry. Tetford, NE of, Quail male singing in barley field west of West Road. 27/7/2025 Deeping St James, Glossy Ibis ad at East Pit, from 1st viewing screen Deeping Lakes. Gibraltar Point, Curlew Sandpiper at Tennyson's Sands from Harvey's Hide. Wood Sandpiper. Pyewipe, Scaup flew NW along River Humber. Willow Tree Fen, 4 mls NW of Spalding. Quail male singing. 28/7/2025 Deeping St James, Glossy Ibis ad at East Pit,from 1st viewing screen Deeping Lakes. Gibraltar Point, Curlew Sandpiper at Tennyson's Sands from Harvey's Hide. 2 Wood Sandpipers, Pied Flycatcher. Leadenham, 2 Caspian Gulls both 1s at landfill. 29/7/2025 Gibraltar Point, 2 Wood Sandpipers. Tree Pipit flew south over west dunes. Turtle Dove around Mill Hill. Pied Flycatcher at East Dunes. 30/7/2025 Deeping St James, Glossy Ibis ad at East Pit,from 1st viewing screen Deeping Lakes. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, Wood Sandpiper on beach briefly. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Most nights: lot of bat activity at 55kHz from 22,00hrs to a final morning burst at 03.30hrs Night of 25/29th July - monitored 25kHz and heard steady/sustained activity - Noctule? Much more regular and "methodical" that the excited frenzy of Pipistrelle hunting activity. Night of 28/29th July - Pipistrelle echo-locating/feeding at 45kHz - 22,00hrs. BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 Phil and Mary Porter Week 23-30th July Gatekeepers starting to decline but still c. 10 ‘Whites’ Small and Green-veined combined also c. 10, no Large lately. Holly Blue 1-2 most days Meadow Brown 1-2 early in the period Small Tortoiseshell 1 early in the period Comma 1 29th July Blue Tits very numerous at feeders, Great Tits less so but 4-5. Apparently all juveniles Chaffinch c. 10 Greenfinch 3-4 Dunnock and Wren recent brood seen often Robin 1-2 Wood Pigeon disgustingly tame, almost need to be knocked off the feeding tables to put seed out Tawny Owl 1 heard 29th July Robber-fly female, probably Kite-tailed 30th July, but not separable ‘in the wild’ Grasshoppers stridulating Greenbottles frequent especially on Lysimachia clethroides (white with curved flower heads), but species not separable without a specimen Wasps attacking apples and pears, usually expanding peck-marks of birds Tiny yellow and black Chloropid flies also around affected fruit, probably Thaumatomyia notata Leaf-cutter Bee 29th July A rodent biting through runner bean stems unseen during the week, probably a vole CHAMBERS FARM WOOD BUTTERFLY GARDEN TF147740 Margaret Westcott July 2025 The garden is now almost at its blooming best! And with the flowers comes a greater variety of butterflies, including some of the new generation. Teasels are a magnet to all insects, their ring of soft blue flowers belie the spikiness of the seedhead itself. They stand magnificently in the borders, and will provide food for birds later on. These biennials are easy to grow from seed, and will continue to appear year after year. The gardeners work enthusiastically to keep things in order and to speak to visitors, which this month included a Gardening Club from Lincoln. Butterflies seen this month include Small Skipper, Large Skipper, Essex Skipper, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Small Copper, Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, Peacock, Comma, Gatekeeper, Brimstone, Silver-washed Fritillary, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Common Blue, Holly Blue. Day-flying moths include Mint Moth, Latticed Heath, Hummingbird Hawkmoth, White Plume Moth, Common Wainscot, Blood-vein, Six-spot Burnet, Silver-Y. Next sessions are 5th and 19th August. We will be completing a Butterfly Count weather permitting. FAR INGS, Angela Buckle 26th July. Black nightshade, Tansy. FERRIBY CLIFF. Angela Buckle 24th July. Knapweed broomrape. HENDALE WOODS, GRASBY. Angela Buckle 25th July. Lesser stitchwort, Betony, Lesser burdock, Enchanters nightshade, Red bartsia, White flowered bartsia, Hemp nettle, Common cudweed, Nipplewort, Canadian fleabane, Common figwort, Water pepper, Thistle gall, Meadow brown, Small white, Large white, Speckled wood, Peacock, Comma, Silver-washed fritillary. HORKSTOW SE987179 Jenny Haynes 25 July 2025 I was about to switch off my bedside light last night when I noticed a small moth on my pillow which I later identified as a lime-speck pug (where on earth do these names come from!). Butterflies were out in abundance yesterday. These were what I saw from one part of my garden: Red admiral 3 Peacock 2 Comma 2 (does that make it a quote?) Gatekeeper 3 Speckled wood 2 Large white 6 Small white 5 Green veined white 2 Holly blue 1 Last but not least, a hummingbird hawk moth, the first this year. Meadow brown and ringlet were also around last week but not now. Also yesterday there were at least eight hares running around in the field opposite my house and a roe deer lying down. A green woodpecker was heard in the garden this morning, first identified on the Merlin app, then I heard it. A street light outside the house had a bat flying in amongst the moths and insects surrounding the light. 27 July 2025 Six hares ( a family group?) gambolling around together in the field opposite. Another further over. 28 July 2025 Small tortoiseshell butterfly in my garden. First sighting this year. 30 July 2025 3.30 this morning: noise outside bedroom window: pull curtains: tawny owl on window ledge looking in! LUDFORD TF194889 Colin Smith 25/07/2025 An interesting selection in the light trap with 4 White-foot bell Epiblema foenella, 1 Dark Tufted Scallop Ypsolopha horridella and 1 Twin-spotted Wainscot Archanara geminipuncta. It was particularly good for other families with a good selection of beetles and 15 species of plant hoppers. Ledra aurita is always nice to see (worth a google) Populicerus albicans seems to be the second Lincs record, Macrosteles ossiannilssoni and Kelisia punctulum being first county records. Identification is quite tricky so many of these are woefully under recorded. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ No records this week ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Renata Jackson writes… 230725 – 100 sandwich tern on the beach at Brickyard Lane and a small number of common terns. 23 shelduck flew north, 42 common scoter on the sea and 20+ sanderling feeding on the tide edge with a turnstone. Rimac freshwater marsh 1 wood sandpiper, 4 green sandpiper, 2 common sandpiper, whooper swan. 6 green sandpiper and 4 little ringed plover Sea View Washlands. Barn owl at Sea View and7 Whimbrel flying over Sea View and Yellow wagtail flew north over Rimaccar park. 43 golden plover on the beach at Saltfleet Haven during afternoon high tide. Paradise lagoon: 77 Lapwing, 2 greenshank,1 common sandpiper, 1 little ringed plover, 8 little egret, 1 ruff. Butterflies – 14 wall on footpath between Rimac and MOD. Odonata – Norfolk hawker ovipositing female in cross ditch between Rimac freshwater marsh and reedbed. Weasel at Sea View. 240725 – hobby flew over Churchill Lane. Rimac freshwater marsh 1 wood sandpiper, 4 little ringed plover, green sandpiper, 14 teal, whooper swan. 2 bullfinch in dune scrub near Churchill Lane. Arctic skua chasing sandwich terns over the sea at Crook Bank. 27 little gull roosting on the beach at Saltfleet Haven in the evening. 43 Golden plover on the beach at Saltfleet Haven at high tide. Kingfisher and grey heron along the Great Eau. 250725 – young green woodpecker at Sea View. 3 little gull still on the beach at Saltfleet Haven in the morning. Waders moving south along the beach and feeding - 120+ Sanderlings, 30+ Dunlin, 24 Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 20+ Knot, c400 Black headed gulls. Osprey still present out from Rimac. Butterflies: 123 Common Blue, 40 Wall, 44 Small Heath. 260725- Spoonbill flew onto the beach at Saltfleet Haven this evening. C30 Gannet going south. 280725 – 29 Little egret on saltmarsh and 11 on sea view washlands, including 2 green sandpipers. 1 Turtle Dove at Sear’s Track which flew north. Osprey still present out from Rimac. Whooper swan, 2 little egrets and common sandpiper at Rimac freshwater marsh. Butterflies: painted ladies between Brickyard and Churchill, 150+ whites. 290725 – Great spotted woodpecker at Sea View and green woodpecker calling around Brickyard. A flock of Long-tailed tits at Rimac car park. A number of recent colour ring records from gulls around Mablethorpe North End beach including black-headed gulls from Oslo (Norway), (Spain), Essex, West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester, and a yellow-legged gull from Switzerland. Recent colour ring records around Mablethorpe outfall and beach of a juvenile cormorant from Bloemendaal, Netherlands and a Juvenile Caspian x Herring hybrid was ringed as a chick at De Kreupal, Ijsselmeer, Netherlands Other reserves: 270725 – 4 Clouded yellow butterflies between Grainthorpe Haven and Horseshoe Point Lincolnshire Wildlife Sightings: 230725 - Weasel at Sea View. 7 whimbrel flying over Sea View. Barn owl at Sea View. Paradise lagoon: 77 lapwing, 2 greenshank, 1 common sandpiper, 1 little ringed plover, 8 little egret, 1 ruff. 240725 – Kingfisher and grey heron along the Great Eau. 290725 – Red admiral and great spotted woodpecker at Sea View. Other Reserves 230725 – Donna Nook: Swallows, 38 whimbrel flying over. Merlin chasing skylark over saltmarsh. 1000 golden plover roosting on saltmarsh. 280725 – Tetney Blow Wells: Comma, red admiral, small white, meadow brown butterflies. Southern hawker dragonfly. Black cap singing. Kingfisher flew across meadow and along drain. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. 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 Boston Woods Trust https://www.bostonwoods.co.uk/ 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. 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 contact the email contact 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 Evacuations in Japan and US as major earthquake off Russia triggers widespread tsunami warnings https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c3r4x9yrrg4t 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 *** LNU/LINCOLNSHIRE FLORA GROUP FIELD MEETING SALTFLEETBY-THEDDLETHORPE NNR. Sunday 3rd August 2025 We will also be joined by a group from the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Timings: 11:00 for 12:00 start and finish about 16:00 Leaders: Luke Hartley & Sarah Lambert Habitat: Fixed dune, scrub and saltmarsh Parking: at Crook Bank car park Grid reference: TF 48860 88260 What3Words: horses.waged.blanking Nearest postcode: LN12 1NP ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ...AND FINALLY... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** National and International Stories *** Moths Can Hear When Plants Are in Trouble and It Changes How They Lay Their Eggs https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/animals-ecology/moths-can-hear-when-plants-are-in-trouble-and-it-changes-how-they-lay-their-eggs/ These Dolphins Use Sea Sponges on Their Faces to Hunt and It’s More Complicated Than Anyone Thought https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/animals-ecology/these-dolphins-use-sea-sponges-on-their-faces-to-hunt-and-its-more-complicated-than-anyone-thought/ What to do when wasps crash your picnic – a scientist’s guide to dining safely with these insects https://theconversation.com/what-to-do-when-wasps-crash-your-picnic-a-scientists-guide-to-dining-safely-with-these-insects-261589 Living Tattoos Could Transform Buildings Into Air-Cleaning, Self-Healing Organisms https://www.zmescience.com/research/inventions/living-tattoos-could-transform-buildings-into-air-cleaning-self-healing-organisms/ Don't kill the wasps! They may be annoying but you definitely want them in your garden Gardens Illustrated https://www.gardensillustrated.com/features/wasps-guide-garden AnchorAnchorAnchor Stonehenge boulder debate settled, scientists say https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2g25j71pxo Thousands of river pollution tests cancelled because of staff shortages https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx24xy8zgp4o Gaps in our knowledge of ancient Rome could be filled by AI https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c04dwqr5lkvo Rare 4,000-year-old Egyptian handprint found https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpqvzevep2eo Neanderthals were not ‘hypercarnivores’ and feasted on maggots... https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/jul/25/neanderthals-feasted-maggots-science-nutrition Earth’s underground networks of fungi need urgent protection... https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/jul/23/underground-network-of-fungi-on-earth-needs-urgent-protection-say-researchers Update: Cottingley Fairies fetch £2,600 at auction https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjdyllvj0e2o ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Mail Fails *** [2 "soft-bounces" this week - as lean and lisa schofield] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ THE END ~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/