============================================ || || Wildnews Bulletin || 18th 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/ Reports here are open. They are available to county recorders of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union; Lincolnshire Bird Club and Lincolnshire Environmental Record Centre [LERC]. Compare earlier years/months. Past Bulletins archive [in text format] from 2009: http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union or associated organisations. Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. ============================================ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. INFORMATION, EVENTS, NEWS AND REQUESTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Editor [Phil] writes: Important; would correspondents please note that they should direct their emails to both myself and Roger, (it’s not a bad policy in any case) from the 10th July until advised otherwise, as I am taking my laptop in for a data transfer to a new machine on that date, and there is no guarantee how long that might take or (more likely) how quickly I can get my head around the new Windows update! It’s orchid time as the account from Saltfleetby indicates, and therefore time to remind observers and photographers to be extra careful not to trample areas around the plants to get to the very best specimen. Soil types greatly influence the plants likely to be seen at any given point – check out the excellent and very different plant lists from Willingham Woods (acid soil) and Red Hill (chalk soil) for evidence of this. There are a few versatile cross-overs; perhaps surprisingly, given the finicky reputation of the group in general, Common Spotted Orchid, but also the excellent Bird’s-foot Trefoil, such a tough and useful plant. Phil Porter's email is: philporterento@outlook.com Roger Parsons' email is: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk The Bulletin Portal -past Bulletins archive [in text format] from 2009. http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html BTO's tracked Cuckoos Latest updates https://www.bto.org/cuckoos Loch of the Lowes SWT Webcam Sadly, the new osprey pair at Loch of the Lowes have lost their remaining egg, just days before its anticipated hatching date. Full story here. https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/news/new-osprey-pair-at-loch-of-the-lowes-lose-both-eggs/ Empty nest: https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/watch-wildlife-online/loch-of-the-lowes-webcam/ *** Dormice reintroduced to Leicestershire for first time *** Over 20 rare hazel dormice will be reintroduced to Leicestershire for the first time, creating the county’s only known population. Hazel dormice have declined nationally by 70% since 2000 and are considered extinct from 20 English counties since Victorian times. This landmark conservation effort, led by People’s Trust for Endangered Species, is a crucial part of ongoing conservation work to save native hazel dormice and aims to restore the tiny golden-coated mammals to their former range. https://ptes.org/campaigns/dormice/ *** 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 species is the Yellow Shell Moth Camptogramma bilineata This pretty little moth is quite mobile during the day and can easily be disturbed from hedgerows or ditches or along the edge of woodland. The caterpillars feed on a wide variety of low growing plants. The moth  varies in the darkness of the orange but is easy to identify but may prove more difficult to photograph so please log records without a picture if you see one. Pictures and further information can be found on the UK Moths website:- https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/camptogramma-bilineata/adult/ the current record distribution Map can be seen at https://lnu.org/camptogramma-bilineata-yellow-shell/   Thanks to those who added records for our previous map filling species.  We received 3 records from 2 recorders for the Common Froghopper  Philaenus spumarius. 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 *** Survey spectacular Stag Beetles this summer https://stagbeetles.ptes.org/ Volunteers needed to record sightings of the UK’s biggest land beetle 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: *** Lincolnshire Show 2025: All you need to know https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clygj70d377o First beaver born in Lincolnshire in 400 years - Searby https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2q7vvex11o Hundreds of homes approved despite job concerns - Stamford https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2qr7g36p7o 'Forever chemical' found in all but one of tested UK rivers https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm2yjxxvx08o Battery warning after 70 fires at waste plant - Grantham https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clygm829r2xo Snakes captured but one still out in wild - police - Twigmore/Cleathem https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj4241v040go Residents divided over peacocks living in village - Hilbadstow https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c14k6vdkvldo Warning over 'dirty secret' of toxic chemicals on farmers' fields https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3e5y85p488o *** 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 19th June - Sunday 22nd June Headline: Another mostly sunny and very warm day. Thursday: Any mist, fog or low cloud clearing to leave another dry, sunny and generally very warm day. Breeziest at the coast and temperatures lower than inland, but still warm here. Maximum temperature 28 °C. Outlook for Friday to Sunday: Mainly dry and sunny, although a chance of showers on Saturday and Sunday. Overall very warm or hot with temperatures likely peaking on Saturday. Occasionally breezy this weekend. UK long range weather forecast Sunday 22nd June - Tuesday 1st July Initially hot across eastern Britain in particular, with many areas dry although a few showers will be possible in places, perhaps thundery. Temperatures are likely to lower somewhat into next week, but still remaining very warm across parts of the east and southeast. There will also be an increasing chance of some showers or thunderstorms in southern and western areas, and perhaps some longer spells of rain in the far north. Later in the week and into the following weekend, higher pressure may become more influential, especially across central and southern areas where longer spells of dry and warm weather are most likely, whilst it remains cooler and generally more changeable farther to the northwest. *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** First view of the Sun's south pole filmed by spacecraft https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyqry9ppl9o Japanese Resilience Lander Crashes on the Moon https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/japaneses-resilience-lander-crashes-on-the-moon/ This Week's Sky at a Glance, June 13 – 22 - Summer Solstice Friday 20th. https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/observing-news/this-weeks-sky-at-a-glance-june-13-22/ AuroraWatch UK https://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/ The SpaceWeather website https://spaceweather.com/ Space and astronomy highlights in 2025 https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/space-astronomy/space-astronomy-highlights-2025#June Full Moons https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/full-moon-calendar Meteor shower dates - https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/meteor-shower-guide BBC Sky at Night Magazine website https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news *** EVENTS *** *** Ainslie Park, Grimsby *** Grid Reference TA271089; What3words album.monkey.crunch; Nearest postcode DN32 0PE North-east Lincs Council/LNU Open Day, 10:00-16:00. 21st June. Meet LNU observers and NELC Ecology staff, and an opportunity to help record local wildlife at this fascinating town centre amenity with its mysterious blow-well. https://www.nelincs.gov.uk/park-recording-day-will-provide-vital-information-on-local-wildlife/ Nearest parking, Duchess Street carpark, c. 5 minutes walk. Grid Ref TA268090; what3words cracks.barn.paper; nearest postcode DN32 0RJ *** 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 *** 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  *** 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 9/6/2025 Deeping St James. Glossy Ibis ad at East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, 6 Spoonbills on Reedbed Lagoon from visitor centre. Gibraltar Point, Great Northern Diver flew north past. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe, Caspian Gull 1s on beach at Crook Bank. Stallingborough, Glossy Ibis at Cress Marsh. Throckenholt, Honey Buzzard flew NE over Scolding Drove, 10/6/2025 Fenton, Red-footed Falcon off Pump Lane.in field. Gibraltar Point, Great Northern Diver flew north past, 2 Spoonbills at. Tennyson's Sands. Huttoft Bank, 2 Spoonbills. Stallingborough, Glossy Ibis at Cress Marsh 11/6/2025 Deeping St James, Glossy Ibis at East Pit, Deeping Lakes Fenton, Red-footed Falcon off Pump Lane.in field. Frampton Marsh, 1 Spoonbill on Reedbed Lagoon from visitor centre. Gibraltar Point, Eastern Subalpine Warbler trapped and ringed.at East Dunes, 5 Spoonbills. 12/6/2025 Deeping St James, Glossy Ibis at East Pit, Deeping Lakes Gibraltar Point, 3 Spoonbills. 2 Bee-eaters flew south over East Dunes. Stenigot, 2 Bee-eaters, Red Hill. Stallingborough, Glossy Ibis at Cress Marsh. Permit only. 13/6/2025 Stallingborough, Glossy Ibis at Cress Marsh. Permit only. 14/6/2025 Deeping St James, Glossy Ibis at East Pit, Deeping Lakes Freiston Short, Little Stint. Stallingborough, Glossy Ibis at Cress Marsh. Permit only. Whisby Nature Park, Glossy Ibis on Teal Lake. 15/6/2025 Gibraltar Point, Little Stint reported. Stallingborough, Glossy Ibis at Cress Marsh. Permit only. 16/6/2025 Anderby Creek. Wood Sandpiper at Anderby Marsh Frampton Marsh, Curlew Sandpiper on reedbed Lagoon from visitor centre. 2 Wood Sandpipers, 7 Spoonbills, Spotted Redshank on North Scrape. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. SALTFLEETBY John Walker 12th June 2025 A fresh road killed female roe deer A1031 c 500m south of bridge over great Eau 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 TF117700 Geoffery Laking 18th June 2025 8 Buzzards overhead, 7 of them in a group. BARDNEY - THE GREEN TF120694 R + A Parsons w/o 12/6/25 Blackbird 4 2 Blue Tit Chaffinch Collared Dove Domestic Pigeon 7 Dunnock Goldfinch House Sparrow 5 Jackdaw 6 Robin Starling 7 Wood Pigeon 5 Wren Hedgehog in garden 11/6 at 02.34hrs.hrs. Again on 15/6 @ 02.12 and 02,21hrs. BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 Phil and Mary Porter 13th June 2025 Mary posted our first Meadow Brown for the year but apart from that and a white butterfly, insects seemed to be especially few and far between, even the bees are sparse today. Our juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker is feeding itself from the sunflower hearts feeder pretty well now but still occasionally seems to forget that it can’t peck through the plastic sides. 14th June 2025 We saw the first sign of Leaf-cutter Bee activity on the roses today. A humid warm evening with about 4 bats at 22:30 of which 2 are probably Pipistrelles and 2 bigger ones, maybe Brown Long-eared. 15th June 2025 Party of about 10 Long-tailed Tits joined the local juvenile Blue Tits working through our trees while a family party of Starlings made themselves heard somewhere beyond our boundary. A Chiffchaff was gleaning roses right outside a window. There seem to be a lot of noisy Greenfinches at the moment. 16th June 2025 Mary found lots of 7-Spot Ladybirds in the garden in various stages, especially on roses. We both saw the odd Cinnabar moth. 8 House Martins were overhead at one stage, any sort of sighting is now a pleasure to be savoured. A swarm of bees ‘rumbled’ past the garden making me swiftly abandon my ladder, and later, apparently a swarm entered a local shed. The Leaf-cutter Bees have now attacked the leaves of an ornamental dogwood bush Cornus officinalis. 17th June 2025 At least two Wool Carder Bees Anthidium manicatum mating or competing for territory over a Lambs-ear Stachys lanata plant. While I watched, one flying just over the plant was knocked out of the air by another rapidly diving individual which followed it to the ground, where they grappled in a way which could have been copulation but might just as well have been a physical attack, as after they broke up something similar happened twice more and then they hovered face to face for several seconds. One was bigger than the other but not very obviously so, and the markings looked the same. I got a reasonable photograph of one at rest later. One of them fed briefly from the Stachys flower. 18th June 2025 I think there are more than two Wool Carder Bees today. They were queueing up to feed in Foxglove flowers. BOSTON, STANDISH GROVE 16th June 2025  afternoon Heather Bishop Storage area for wood/metal. Graham selected an aluminium handle, turned it upside down to release any water that might have got in (during a drought???) and the huge, pretty Privet hawk moth fell out. We thought it was dead but it was just pretending. I picked it up, Graham took a photo, then we placed it in a safer location. Additionally, we've been watching the progress of ladybird larvae, in all its stages from elongated mostly black youngster, to more orangey shorter and oval to pretty spotted orange/red adult. They're in a nettle patch.  It's fascinating, and we've learnt a lot! FAR INGS NATURE RESERVE TA011228 Colin Smith 09/06/2025 Loads of facinating stuff here, Potato Flea Beetle Psylliodes affinis on bittersweet, Red-backed Weeper Sawfly Dolerus aericeps, the well marked cranefly Ptychoptera contamina  and lots of immature Dark bush-crickets  Pholidoptera griseoaptera. Common Cardinal Beetle Pyrochroa serraticornis  was an unexpected addition to the list. Potato aphid Macrosiphum euphorbiae and Plum - thistle aphid Brachycaudus cardui were feeding together on an oxeye daisy. If this was a safety in numbers strategy, the latter, being black and shiny, stood out better than a target. Loads of other things too numerous to mention. HORKSTOW SE987179 Jenny Haynes 11June 2025 A female spotted woodpecker was on a seed feeder this morning and was flying backwards and forwards into a sycamore tree across the road, probably feeding a youngster. Driving on the B1206 this afternoon I disturbed what I’m sure was a buzzard feeding on (unidentifiable) roadkill. Not seen one that close before. I was lucky enough to visit Minsmere earlier this week and saw, for the first time, bearded tits. A pair was moving along reeds quite close by. It’s made my year! Also saw, for the first time, a pair of Cetti’s warblers but they weren’t as stunning as the bearded tits! 13 June 2025 Bats flying at just after 10pm. First time we’ve seen them for a while. I think we see them when we have a light on which attracts insects. 14 June 2025 Visited a friend who lives in Lincoln and was surprised to see bee orchids growing in her lawn. It’s the. First time they’ve appeared. NETTLETON LODGE GAME FARM Ben Jacob 16th June 2025 Pair of Lime hawkmoth mating in garden 200m North of shooting ground discovered by Jo Brown NORTHORPE  SK894969 Colin Smith 10/06/2025 The hot weather has warmed the ditches as my car was covered in the scavenger water beetles Helophorus brevipalpis. After leaving it for just less than an hour there were almost 100 of them, I was able to rescue the ones lined along the wipers but those on the roof had expired in the heat. NORTH THORESBY - FEN LANE TF 310986 Peter Crick 17:06:2025 Cuckoo still being heard in Tetney direction (nearly a month now) RED HILL Angela Buckle 11th  June. Birds-foot trefoil, Crosswort, Hogweed, White clover, Red clover, Bulbous buttercup, Common knapweed, Pyramid orchid, Marjoram, Ladies bedstraw, Yellow rattle, Salad burnet, Dwarf thistle, Milkwort, Hoary plantain, Common cats-ear, Fairy flax, Meadow cranesbill, Red valerian, Hedgerow cranesbill, Cow parsley, White flowered Meadow cranesbill, Field bindweed, Meadow buttercup, Field scabious, Common spotted orchid, Oxe eye daisy, Mouse-eared hawkweed, Meadow clary, Bloody cranesbill, Kidney vetch, Common Mouse-ear, Yellow wort, Ribwort plantain, Vipers bugloss, Bladder campion, Hounds-tongue, Field madder, Great mullein, Field speedwell, Musk mallow, Forget me not, Field Mouse-ear, Pasque flower, Devils-bit scabious, Field poppy, Meadow vetchling, Horse shoe vetch, Red campion, Nipplewort, Rough hawkbit, Hedge bedstraw, Prickly sow-thistle, Rough chervil, Bell flower. Marbled white butterfly, Common blue. WILLINGHAM WOODS. Angela Buckle 9th June. Common spotted orchid, Cuckoo flower, Common cats-ear, Creeping cinquefoil, Fairy flax, Heath Groundsel, Tormentil, Lesser stitchwort, Cut-leaved cranesbill, Ragged Robin, Marsh thistle, Heath bedstraw, White flowered Doves-foot cranesbill, Birds-foot trefoil, Hop trefoil, Beaked hawksbeard, Nipplewort, Tufted vetch, Parsley piert, Meadow vetchling, Honeysuckle, Selfheal, Lesser trefoil, Black horehound, Common cudweed, Field madder, Prickly sow-thistle,  Bridewort, Wood Avens. Green tiger beetle. Cinnabar moth ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 110625 – hobby flew south over Crook Bank car park. Grasshopper warbler reeling in in Crook Bank south dunes c200m south of access gate, and another reeling Rimac south dunes. Butterflies – 3 small tortoiseshell Crook Bank; 11 small skipper, meadow brown Rimac. Odonata – red-veined darter patrolling southern end of Rimac freshwater marsh scrape and another on adjacent track. 120625 – turtle dove pair in dunes south of Rimac which flew over to arable fields, with the male returning and displaying shortly after. 2 great white egret, 7 little egret, 2 grey heron and 5 redshank Rimac freshwater marsh scrape. A very late (or very early?!) whooper swan flew in from the north, landed on freshwater marsh scrape and flew off south after harassment from mute swans. 2 curlew, 7 ringed plover and 2 dunlin Rimac foreshore. A steady movement of gannets and 18 common scoter flew north offshore. Osprey reportedly flew inland along the Eau between Rimac and Churchill Lane. Butterflies – 2 red admiral, 2painted lady Churchill Lane; 3 red admiral, painted lady Sea View. 130625 – turtle dove in dune scrub near MOD track and a yellow wagtail flew over. Butterflies – 3 common blue, 21 meadow brown, 3 red admiral, 6 small skipper, 11 small heath, 2 small tortoiseshell, 5 speckled wood, painted lady Paradise-Rimac. 2 six-spot burnet and 3 silver-y moths Sea View dunes. 150625 – grey wagtail around Sea View. Turtle dove purring in scrub east of Churchill Lane. A seemingly poor year for pyramidal orchids, likely linked to drought conditions. 160625 – great white egret and 4 grey heron Rimac freshwater marsh scrape. Turtle dove purring east of Churchill Lane in the evening. Odonata – 7+ red-veined darter, 3 ruddy darter, 2 black-tailed skimmer Rimac; 4 emperor, 3 broad-bodied chaser Churchill Lane.   170625 – glossy ibis spent the day on Sea View Washlands mostly feeding on small worms and other aquatic invertebrates. Also 2 black-tailed godwit and 4 teal on Sea View Washlands. Grasshopper warbler reeling from scrub in Rimac south dune slack. Great white egret on Rimac freshwater marsh scrape. Hummingbird hawk-moth in the dunes near Rimac main access gate early afternoon. Butterflies – 251 individuals of 11 species around Rimac – largely small skipper plus the first 4+ ringlet of the year. Odonata – Rimac 2+ red-veined darter and 30+ black-tailed skimmer patrolling freshwater marsh scrape; 3 emperor, 4 hairy and 35+ four-spotted chaser around pools. Wildflowers in bloom across the dunes – Orchids; common spotted, early marsh, southern marsh, bee, common twayblade, marsh helleborine, pyramidal. Also cinquefoil, creeping cinquefoil, lady’s and marsh bedstraw, marsh thistle, meadowsweet, restharrow, birds foot trefoil, germander speedwell, common meadow-rue, cats-ear, mouse eared hawkweed, valerian, hogweed, red and white campion, honeysuckle. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 11th June: Anderby Marsh: 7 Ringed Plover, Spoonbill, 3 Dunlin, Turnstone, 2 Curlew, 3 Redshank and Snipe. Grasshopper Warbler and Spoonbill at Huttoft Pit. Red-throated Diver, Grey Plover, 3 Little Tern, 13 Kittiwake and 6 Sand Martin flying south. 12th June: Anderby Marsh had a Hobby sat around as well as 2 Wood Sandpipers, Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Little Ringed Plover and a Spoonbill. A flock of 140 Common Scoter flew south at sea as well as 2 Manx Shearwater. 13th June: Green Woodpecker in Anderby village. 7 Black-tailed Godwit, Mediterranean Gull, 2 Bearded Tit, Bittern, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and 2 Spoonbill on Anderby Marsh. Huttoft Pit had a reeling Grasshopper Warbler and 2 Spoonbill. Lots of southerly movement with Siskin, 62 Sand Martin, Garganey, 15 Kittiwake, Red Kite, 3 Crossbill, Mediterranean Gull and 182 Swift counted. 14th June: Grey Plover, 2 Turnstone, 2 Common Tern, Hobby, 2 Spoonbill and 2 Black-tailed Godwit on Anderby Marsh. 15th June: 4 Spoonbill, 2 Green Sandpiper, Bittern and Redshank on Anderby Marsh. Bearded Tit at Wolla Bank Reedbed. Huttoft Pit had 2 Grey Heron, Spoonbill, 4 Tufted Duck, Grasshopper Warbler and Bearded Tit. 16th June: Anderby Marsh had a Wood Sandpiper, 7 Redshank, 8 Spoonbill, 3 Dunlin and 2 Little Ringed Plover. Swollen-thighed Beetle Oedemera nobilis found at Sandilands Pit. Huttoft Pit had 4 Spoonbill and 2 Bearded Tit. 17th June: 3 Spoonbill, 16 Little Egret, Little Ringed Plover and Snipe were on Anderby Marsh. Bearded Tit in Wolla Bank Reedbed and a Goldcrest at Wolla Bank car park. A Quail was calling along Jolly Common Lane and Huttoft Pit had 3 Spoonbill plus a Grasshopper Warbler. At sea 11 Kittiwake and a Puffin were flying south, 5 Little Tern flying north. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. 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 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 *** 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 *** Race to mine metals for EV batteries threatens marine paradise https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0k36v50zvro Why Do Some Birds Sing More at Dawn? It's More About Social Behavior Than The Environment https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/animals-ecology/why-some-birds-sing-more-at-dawn/ Ancient Dung Reveals the Oldest Butterfly Fossils Ever Found https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/animals-ecology/ancient-dung-reveals-the-oldest-butterfly-fossils-ever-found/ Swifts’ decline: how can Britons help these remarkable birds? https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jun/17/swifts-decline-uk-birds-swift-bricks *** Mail Fails *** None this week. ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/