============================================ || || Wildnews Bulletin || 4th June 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/ AnchorAnchor 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: As people sensitive to news of the ecological degradation taking place across the world, we may imagine that we regretfully have a handle of the general situation, but occasionally we come upon information that jars us out of even that slight level of complacency by describing even worse horrors. This happened to me this week with a Guardian article which Mary found….. ‘Half the tree of life’: ecologists’ horror as nature reserves are emptied of insects https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jun/03/climate-species-collapse-ecology-insects-nature-reserves-aoe?CMP This is based on 50-year study of insects, primarily moths attracted to light, being undertaken in Costa Rica’s Guanacaste conservation area. Costa Rica is famous for protected pristine wildlife habitats but even here, where there are no apparent direct sources of pollution or insecticides, horrifying declines in moths are being documented with climate change thought to be the main driver. Elsewhere, scientists in the US, Brazil, Ecuador and Panama have now reported the ‘catastrophic declines of birds in “untouched” regions – including reserves inside millions of hectares of pristine forest. In each case, the worst losses were among insectivorous birds’. The piece ends with a quote from the Costa Rica worker, “One of our very good friends – he now does not have the emotional courage to hang up a sheet to collect moths at night. It is too devastating to see how few there are.” It’s a hard read. 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 https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/watch-wildlife-online/loch-of-the-lowes-webcam/ *** NATURE CALLING *** A new large-scale art piece launching in the Lincolnshire Wolds. INSTAR’s ‘Shelf Life’ https://www.naturecalling.org.uk/artist/shelf-life is an expansive artistic project for the Lincolnshire Wolds National Landscape. It challenges and explores the possibility for a sustainable balance between modern day farming and protecting and enhancing nature. Using print, billboards and film, the artists open a conversation concerning pressures on natural habitats and farming within the Lincolnshire Wolds landscape for Nature Calling. *** LEARN A NEW SPECIES AND 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 two species are the Swollen-thighed Beetle Oedemera nobilis and Oedemera lurida. It seemed sensible to do them both together. The first is a striking metallic green species that can be seen feeding on a variety of flowers and I am sure most of you will be familiar with it. The second is less conspicuous and is a dark grey colour and is long and thin and can often be found together with O nobilis also on flowers. Pictures and further information can be found on the Naturespot website:- https://www.naturespot.org/species/swollen-thighed-beetle https://www.naturespot.org/species/oedemera-lurida The current record distribution Map can be seen at https://lnu.org/oedemera-nobilis/ https://lnu.org/oedemera-lurida/ Thanks to those who added records for our previous map filling species. We received 17 records from 13 recorders for the Red-and-black Froghopper Cercopis vulnerata. Please do join in as all records are valuable and help our understanding of the county's changing natural history. *** This week's mostly-local news stories: *** Don't Worry About Ermine Webs - corrected link from last week. https://butterfly-conservation.org/news-and-blog/dont-worry-about-ermine-webs UK's muddy saltmarshes vital to tackle climate change, report finds https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9dq9xwd97no Housing plan approved despite flooding concerns - Bardney https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj3j8yelv7vov Eight summonsed to court over hare coursing - Sleaford and Eastville. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8xgdrdjeg7o Fraudster made £550,000 selling fake 'Scottish-grown tea' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyg59yn10mo Chicken poo biogas plant 'would kill our village' - Anwick https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czj40j33r3mo Church's peregrine chicks hatch after 9-year wait - Grantham https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx27531x843o Councillors move to end nuclear waste talks https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czdyg8365llo *** 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 5th June - Sunday 8th June Headline: Sunny spells and isolated showers. Thursday: Overnight showers continue, turning into a persistent and widespread area of occasionally heavy rain through the morning, before turning back to showers through the afternoon. Drier by the evening. Breezy. Maximum temperature 20 °C. Outlook for Friday to Sunday: Unsettled weather continuing on Friday and Saturday, with sunny spells and occasional showers, these potentially heavy at times. Sunday likely drier, although a touch breezier. UK long range weather forecast Sunday 8th June - Tuesday 17th June Changeable weather across the UK at the start of this period with showers or some longer spells of rain spreading in from the Atlantic. The heaviest and most prolonged rain will probably be across parts of the north and northwest, with the southeast likely driest. Temperatures are expected to be near normal or slightly below. Into the second half of next week, there is potential for some warm or hot weather to develop, particularly in the south and east, although this may be accompanied by heavy showers and thunderstorms. Into the middle of June, high pressure may become more dominant. This will bring periods of fine and dry weather, especially in south and temperatures rising above normal. *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** AuroraWatch UK There has been quite a bit of recent solar activity resulting in promising geomagnetic activity. This gives a clue as to when an Aurora may become visible if dark clear skies are available. Not easy in June - but you can try. Keep looking at incoming data: https://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/ You may also find the SpaceWeather website helpful 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 - https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/meteor-shower-guide BBC Sky at Night Magazine website https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news Anchor*** EVENTS *** *** Grimsby and Cleethorpes Area Group LWT *** Morning Bird Walk in Cleethorpes Country Park On Saturday 21st June the group welcome you to join them on a morning bird walk around Cleethorpes Country Park with Graham Hicks, hoping to see plenty of birds. Can we find 7 warbler species? Meet Graham at 8am in the car park Grid Ref. TA306066 nearest postcode DN35 OUH. Please dress appropriately for the weather and wear stout footwear and bring binoculars if you have them. This is a free event however, donations will be welcomed for the Trust. For further information please contact Graham Hicks 07979 089890 *** THE SCUNTHORPE AND BRIGG LOCAL GROUP OF THE LINCOLNSHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST *** Keith Scarrott writes… Our annual guided walk at Messingham Sand Quarry is on Saturday, 7th June, starting at 2pm. We meet in the car park Grid Ref. SE 910 032. All are invited to this event which will be led by local experts in the fields of botany and entomology. Our local MSQ nature reserve has several different habitats to study nature including large ponds where many different birds can be observed. This event usually lasts about 2 hours. It is a combined event with the Natural History and Geology Section of the Scunthorpe Museum Society. Please wear suitable clothing especially if it is raining, which will cause the event to be cancelled if heavy and threatens to be long lasting. Please note that dogs are not allowed on the reserve. *** 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... 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 28/5.2025 Frampton Marsh, Black Tern over Reedbed, then flew inland over visitor centre. Glossy Ibis flew inland over River Witham.4 Spoonbills, Little Stint.. Gibraltar Point Red-necked Phalarope on Jackson's Marsh north of Sykes Farm. Little Stint, on Greenshanks Creek, Spoonbill. 29/5/2025 No reports 30/5.2025 No reports. 31/5/2025 Anderby Creek, Spoonbill at Anderby Marsh. Frampton Marsh, reported Temminck's Stint on saltmarsh.at Sea Bank Vewpoint. is a Little Stint. 6 Spoonbills and Curlew Sandpiper on Reedbed Lagoon. Huttoft Bank, Spoonbill. Rimac, 2 Spoonbills flew north over. 1/6/2025 Alkborough Flats, Long-tailed Skua flew through. Frampton Marsh, Curlew Sandpiper on Reedbed Lagoon. 8 Spoonbills. 2/6/2025 Anderby Creek, Temminck's Stint, Pectoral Sandpiper reported, at Anderby Marsh. Gibraltar Point, Turtle Dove flew south past. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. A180 NR STALLINGBOROUGH TURN OFF WESTERN CARRIAGEWAY TA 200126 Peter Crick 01:06:2025 Roe Deer Stag on hard shoulder 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 *** We rely on readers to send in observations and welcome records from everyone, experts to beginners. Please keep your reports coming. BARDNEY - THE GREEN TF120694 R + A Parsons w/o 26/5/25 Blackbird 2m.1f and 1 fledgling seen on garden on 31st. Blue Tit - 2 Chaffinch Collared Dove 3 Domestic Pigeon 10+ Dunnock 2 Goldfinch House Sparrow 8+ Jackdaw 12+ - Pied Wagtail m + f Robin Starling flock 12+ with perhaps 10-12 juveniles Wood Pigeon 6 Wren Red Kite over at 12.30pm Kestrel over at 2.15pm 29/5.2025 at 01.51hrs Young skinny Fox visited garden - on trailcam -. and again on 30/5 at 11.05hrs. Also on 2/6/2025 at 11.50hrs. 31/5/2025 Visits from Cinnabar Moth and Banded Damselfly briefly. 3/6/2025 at 04.00hrs Impressive bat activity @ 55kHz, most nights with significant echo-location. BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 Phil and Mary Porter 28th May 2025 Mary photographed an Azure Damselfly at the pond. 29th May Mary walked into a flurry of fledged Great Tits today and also noted that Blue Tits and House Sparrows were feeding on rose buds, presumably finding aphids for their nestlings. A Great Mullein seedling has lured in a Mullein Moth larva but that won’t satisfy its appetite for long. A Small Tortoiseshell continued a run of 1-2 in the garden. 31st May A Fox was caught by the trail camera at 04:20 am sauntering up the garden. The lens had become fogged in the hight humidity so the picture is not one to savour, but never mind. We had our first Peacock and Speckled Wood for some time, and Orange-tips are still around. Mary and the bees; It was a warm, sunny day and I was carrying two watering cans in the garden, when I became aware of a lot of buzzing above my head. There were quite a few bees flying around, but I ignored them and carried on with the watering. Within seconds, there were MANY more bees, this time whizzing round and round me. I dropped the cans and made a hasty retreat into the house. There seemed to be hundreds of honey bees, and they split into two "groups", one swirling one side of our honeysuckle pergola and the others were circling an old plum tree nearby. It didn't take long for the smaller group to join up with the one by the tree and they soon settled as a swarm onto the underside of the old, bent, gnarled trunk. They seemed quite active, with a dozen or so making forays around the garden but always going back to the swarm. They stayed there the next day, which was windier and cooler, and then there were heavy showers. The poor bees looked soaking wet and stayed very still and tightly bunched together. By 2nd June, there was slightly more movement, and a few were flying about. We assumed they were "scouts" out looking for a suitable place to set up "home". As the weather warmed up, there seemed to be more movement. When we looked for them around 2.30pm they had gone, leaving behind a few "stragglers" who did look a bit lost. Can they sense where the others have gone and follow them? Or are they left behind to their fate? 1st June There was an extremely battered Peacock butterfly in the garden today. 2nd June Our blackcap was still singing and we still haven’t managed to clap eyes on it! BARDNEY VILLAGE Allotments, cemetery and surroundings TF124693 Phil Porter 31st May 2025 I couldn’t find last week’s Small Heaths. Although it was mild, the sun was clouded over, and the only butterflies around were 4 Small Tortoiseshells. I had a rather unsuccessful look through the wildflower patch which contains Oxeye, Meadow Buttercup, Common Vetch, Sorrel, Bird’s-foot Trefoil (with a Burnet moth larva), Knapweed, Hedge Bedstraw, Salad Burnet, Red and White clovers, White Campion, Yarrow, Hop Trefoil and Yarrow, with a sprinkling of Crested Dog’s-tail but hardly any flies and rather few bees. Nearby was a mating pair of Harlequin Ladybirds and the male was tiny, but gamely doing his bit! Also a Blue-tailed Damselfly. Phil and Mary Porter 1st June 2025 Today there had been a recent emergence of Blue-tailed Damselflies with lots of teneral individuals in both the large grass field and the allotments but it was far from obvious where they would have come from in the immediate vicinity. Mary photographed a Thick-legged Flower-beetle on an Oxeye flower, and a few Small Tortoiseshells were still around. BOSTON My garden TF338441 Tracey Lenton In the Wild garden, the first appearances of damselflies this year. 31/05/2025 Damselfly seen, looked like an immature one as there was no colouration, other than black features on thorax and body. Also a blue tailed rufescens. 01/06/2025 4 different damselflies seen: Blue tailed, blue tailed rufescens, blue tailed violacea and immature. Reference: https://british-dragonflies.org.uk/ I haven't seen the different female forms before, blue tailed have been seen in the garden in previous years. FAR INGS. Angela Buckle 2nd June. Pellitory of the wall, Dame’s violet, Self-heal, Button weed, Fairy flax, Creeping cinquefoil, Vipers bugloss, Woody nightshade, Tutsan, Creeping thistle, Prickly lettuce, Hedge bedstraw, Water figwort. MESSINGHAM SAND QUARRY SE909031 Colin Smith 28/5/25 On arrival here I was assaulted by the song of a Cetti's warbler, I have been brushing up on my bird song and it paid off here. The next thing I noticed was the elm tree absolutely covered in the galls of the Elm sack gall aphid Tetraneura ulmi. They are very common this year. Giant willow aphid Tuberolachnus salignus are also building up on the willows. Moths seen as follows Straw Dot Rivula sericealis, Nettle Tap Anthophila fabriciana, Meadow Grass-moth Crambus lathoniellus, Gorse Case-bearer Coleophora albicosta. There were several very well marked Tortoise Bugs Eurygaster testudinaria and the amazing plant hopper Ditropis pteridis on some bracken. NETTLEHAM GAME FARM Ben Jacob 30th May 2025 Our cuckoo has been very vociferous every day this week but sadly there only seems to be one 1st June 2025 Spindle ermine moth caterpillars weaving webs on spindle trees Likely birch shield bug noted on picnic table NORTH THORESBY - FEN LANE TF 310986 Peter Crick 30:05:2025 Cuckoo heard coming from three locations during afternoon between Thoresby and Tetney SUTTON ON SEA TF525814 Colin Smith 1/6/25 Walking along the sea front and trying to resist collecting the beetles running about, I am sure most were the Sun beetle, when I noticed something very different a 1.5cm brown chafer which turned out to be a Dune Chafer Anomala dudia a new species for me. STICKNEY TF32256 Gail Cartwright Midnight ish 30th May 2025 31st May 2025 1st June 2025 Bats at 45/50 Kh Only ever seen 1 bat each time this year flying round the house instead of round the yard, a bit worrying but the signal is as loud as ever WINTERS POND, EAST HALTON TA 155213 Peter Crick 01:06:2025. 15:00hrs showery 17C windy Greylag 152 gosling14 Lapwing 2 Swallow 4 Gt Cr Grebe 1 Mute Swan 4 Coot 2 Shelduck 4 Grey Heron 1 L Egret 2 Gt W Egret 1 Chaffinch 2 Tufted Duck 1 Avocet 2 Blackbird 2 Reed Warbler 4> Red Admiral Dragon Fly (blue on body) Damselfly ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ https://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.com/ GIBRALTAR POINT Sykes Farm Nige Lound May 2025 Moth species attracted to light Macromoths Angle Shades Fox Moth Peppered Moth Bright-line Brown-eye Golden-rod Pug Pine Hawk-moth Brimstone Gold Spot Poplar Hawk-moth Brindled Pug Green Carpet Powdered Quaker Brown Rustic Grass Rivulet Red Twin-spot Carpet Chinese Character Heart and Dart Rustic Shoulder-knot Chocolate Tip Hebrew Character Setaceous Hebrew Character Cinnabar Knot Grass Sharp-angled Peacock Clouded Border Large Yellow Underwing Shears Clouded-bordered Brindle Latticed Heath Shoulder-striped Wainscot Clouded Drab Least Black Arches Shuttle-shaped Dart Clouded Silver Light Emerald Silver-ground Carpet Common Pug Lime-speck Pug Small Elephant Hawk-moth Common Swift Lychnis Small Square-spot Common Wainscot Marbled Minor agg. Spectacle Coronet Middle-barred Minor Straw Dot Coxcomb Prominent Mother Shipton Swallow Prominent Dark-barred Twinspot Carpet Mottled Pug Treble Lines Dark/Grey Dagger Mottled Rustic Turnip Dark Spectacle Muslin Moth Vine's Rustic Dark Sword-grass Narrow-winged Pug Waved Umber Dog's Tooth Northern Drab White Ermine Elephant Hawk-moth Nut-tree Tussock White-pinion-spotted Engrailed Oak-tree Pug White-point Flame Pebble Hook-tip Flame Shoulder Pebble Prominent Micromoths Ash Bud Moth Diamond-back Moth Plum Tortrix Bittersweet Moth Garden Pebble Sandhill Knot-horn Black-fronted Straw Garden Straw Silver Grass-miner Common Brindled Brown Giant Water-veneer Small Magpie Common Lance Hawthorn Shoot Moth Sulphur Bark-moth Common Marbled Hoary Tortrix Water Veneer Common Straw Least Brown White-shouldered House-moth Cryptic Ash Bud Moth Light Brown Apple-moth Common Marbled Straw Cyclamen Tortrix Meadow Grass-moth Yellow-banded Longhorn Dark-barred Tortrix Pearly Grass-miner ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 May precipitation – 26.7mm total; a very dry spring total with 53.1mm which had an adverse effect on dune vegetation. This spring and 2011 (25.5mm) driest since 1993. Of note, the wettest was 2000 (213.5mm). 280525 – little stint flew north over Mablethorpe North End. 3 whimbrel on the saltmarsh out from Sea View. Going north over the sea early morning were 29 common tern, 10 common scoter, 46 sanderling and 4 dunlin; and south went a great crested grebe and 2 whimbrel. Hobby over Rimac freshwater marsh and 2 great white egret, 3 grey heron around the scrape. Another great white egret flew north past Sea View late morning. Turtle dove purring from scrub near Crook Bank car park. 3 pairs of bullfinches between Churchill Lane and Brickyard Lane. Hundreds of whelk egg cases on the strand line after the morning high tide. 290525 – 90+ swift, smaller number of hirundines and a yellow wagtail flew north around midday. 2 male and 1 female cuckoo Crook Bank south dunes and fledged willow warblers in dune scrub. Red-veined darter dragonfly along the east side of Crook Bank dunes briefly. 300525 – 2 turtle dove on top of dune scrub near Crook Bank car park. Butterflies – painted lady Sea View saltmarsh; 17 common blue, green hairstreak, 2 large skipper, 2 painted lady, 4 red admiral, 9 small heath, 4 small tortoiseshell, 3 wall Sea View to Rimac. Male banded demoiselle damselfly Sea View dunes. 310525 – 2 spoonbill flew north over Rimac early morning. 2 hobby and 2 cuckoo also around Rimac. 2 adult Mediterranean gull flew south inland of Rimac dunes early afternoon. 11 Mediterranean gull flew south past Mablethorpe North End early evening in three groups. Turtle dove in dunes north of Crook Bank plus hobby and cuckoo. 2 spoonbill flew north then south over Rimac and Sea View in the evening, with 1 settling on Paradise Lagoon. Butterflies – 45 individuals of 10 species around Rimac including large skipper, 17 common blue, 2 small tortoiseshell, 5 speckled wood, 2 wall, first meadow brown of the year, 9 small heath; green hairstreak, 5 peacock, 2 speckled wood, 3 small white, 3 small heath Churchill Lane-Brickyard Lane. Odonata – 2 male banded demoiselle and 8 hairy dragonfly Rimac dunes; pair red-veined darter ovipositing and 2 emperor Rimac dipping pond; probable Norfolk hawker flew south near Brickyard Lane. 010625 – 3 turtle dove north of Crook Bank then flew into scrub to the south. 020625 – 3 Mediterranean gull, 25 sandwich tern and single black-headed gull flew north over the sea in an hour. Cettis warbler and 2 lesser whitethroat singing near Churchill Lane. Butterflies – painted lady and red admiral flew off the sea and continued west. 030625 – over 500 swifts flew south along the dunes throughout the morning and a small movement of sandwich tern north over the sea. Grasshopper warbler reeling from scrub on the outer ridge north of MOD, where 4 barnacle geese flew in-off the sea then looped north up the beach. Cuckoo calling Rimac dunes. 2 turtle doves in dune scrub around Crook Bank. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 28th May: Anderby Marsh: Green-winged Teal, 15 Sanderling, 20 Avocet, 4 Spoonbill, Great White Egret, 2 Wigeon, Yellow Wagtail, Wood Sandpiper, Water Rail, 3 Grey Heron, 4 Sandwich Tern, Barn Owl, 9 Little Egret, Snipe, Great Crested Grebe and 2 Ringed Plover. Off shore 7 Manx Shearwater flying south and 5 Red-throated Diver flying north. Quail calling near Jolly Common campsite. 29th May: 16 Avocet, 3 Spoonbill, 23 Ringed Plover, 6 Black-tailed Godwit, Ruff, Redshank, 6 Knot and Dunlin on Anderby Marsh. Spotted Flycatcher at Wolla Bank. 2 Mediterranean Gull flying north. A Spoonbill on Huttoft Pit as well as a Garganey. Little Ringed Plover at Sandilands Golf Course. 30th May: out at sea from Huttoft Car Terrace 2 Gannet, 5 Turnstone, 2 Sandwich Tern flying north. Huttoft Pit had 35 Mallard, pair of Coot with two chicks, pair of Marsh Harrier as well as Speckled Wood. Green Woodpecker at Chapel Six Marshes. 31st May: Cuckoo at Chapel Six Marshes, at sea 52 Sanderling and 6 Turnstone flying north as well as 16 Mediterranean Gull. Huttoft Pit had Spoonbill and 2 Avocet. Spoonbill and 11 Little Egret on Anderby Marsh as well as a Peregrine chasing, and catching, a Dunlin. 1st June: Cattle Egret flying south over Anderby Marsh. 4 Spoonbill and 2 Avocet, one sitting on egg, at Huttoft Pit. Bearded Tits calling here also. 2nd June: 2 Cuckoo at Chapel Six Marshes. Anderby Marsh has 9 Shoveler, 42 Gadwall, 5 Egyptian Goose, 19 Avocet, 13 Little Egret and 2 Spoonbill. Temminck’s Stint landed for about five minutes. Pectoral Sandpiper also here. 3rd June: over 500 Swift flying south. 5 Avocet sitting on nests at Anderby Marsh. Also here are 14 Little Egret, 2 Spoonbill and Sandwich Tern. 2 Spoonbill at Huttoft Pit. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. 17th June, 1st & 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. Jun Sat 21st Jul Sun 20th Aug Sat 16th Sep Sun 21st Oct Sat 18th In April, only two dormice were found, both males. A torpid 15.5g male was found but there was no nest in the box. The other dormouse was also a torpid male, in a woven nest (new since boxes were cleaned out over winter) and was quite clearly fur clipped. Our records show that he was clipped in October 2024, and this is the first definite confirmation that fur clipping can remain visible over the winter season. His weight was 20.5g compared to 32g last autumn, so he has lost just over a third of his body weight during hibernation, which is typical according to PTES. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 diving ducks | The Wildlife Trusts https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife/how-identify/how-identify-diving-ducks 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 Etna Eruption Mount Etna erupts as large plumes rise from volcano https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy5e7vx2pk9o The Swiss village wiped off the map by a glacier - Blatten https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-c7f929de-96a9-45e5-b1bb-31de82fce72d Lincolnshire Geodiversity Group: https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/discovering/geology-1 Geology of the Lincolnshire Wolds: https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/special-features/geology The Geology of Lincolnshire: downloadable LNU book UK Fossils in Lincolnshire https://ukfossils.co.uk/category/lincolnshire/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9. NOTES ABOUT THESE WILDLIFE REPORTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We do our best to ensure accuracy in our reporting. However, records are sent in by a variety of reporters; from complete beginners to professionals. They may vary in reliability and occasionally may be difficult or impossible to verify. If further information is needed please contact the editor: Bulletins are sent to Recorders at Lincolnshire Environmental Records Centre [GNLP], Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union and Lincolnshire Bird Club. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10. BULLETIN PUBLICITY POLICY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When 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 *** Grimsthorpe Estate – Saturday 14th June 2025 Meet from 11.00 am – 12 Noon start – finish approx 16.00 pm. 10.30 for 11.00 start and finish about 16.00. Seacroft Dunes, Skegness - Saturday 19 July, meet from 11am, 12-4pm Theddlethorpe-Saltfleetby - Sunday 3 August, meet from 10am, 10:30-TBC ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ...AND FINALLY... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** National and International Stories *** *** National and International Stories *** Drinking water shortage in decade without new reservoirs, minister says https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy8dv6l2jlzo Golden eagles soaring south back to English skies https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c62x408deppo New law means public can help protect Wales' wildlife https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy61vd2y47o Warning after millions of bees escape overturned truck in US https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c23mrprk952o What birds can teach us about repurposing waste https://theconversation.com/what-birds-can-teach-us-about-repurposing-waste-256519 From soil to slugs to songbirds – how plastic is moving through ecosystems https://theconversation.com/from-soil-to-slugs-to-songbirds-how-plastic-is-moving-through-ecosystems-257685 Bugs Matter https://www.buglife.org.uk/get-involved/surveys/bugs-matter/ How Dandelions Break Through Concrete With Nothing but Willpower (and Physics) https://www.zmescience.com/feature-post/natural-sciences/biology-reference/plants-fungi/how-dandelions-break-through-concrete-with-nothing-but-willpower-and-physics/ *** Mail Fails *** None this week. ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/