============================================ || || Wildnews Bulletin 5th March 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. 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. ============================================ 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 writes: Blackbird and Robin males have started to spend more time fighting lately. In the garden, we always end up with what must be a (un?)healthy surfeit after sustaining wintering birds despite the fact that blackbirds are a rather regular prey of sparrowhawks which are also attracted to the garden. A favourite female fell victim on Tuesday. Whilst travelling to and from Woodhall Spa on that day, two male blackbirds were sparring from their hedgerows on opposite sides of the road near Bucknall and landing in a tangle on the tarmac. Reports of road casualties generally have increased with the cold weather breaking up. Phil Porter's email is: philporterento@outlook.com Roger Parsons' email is: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk BTO's tracked Cuckoos - 11 still south of the Sahara https://www.bto.org/cuckoos Lock of the Lowes SWT Webcam https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/watch-wildlife-online/loch-of-the-lowes-webcam/ Learn a new species and boost Lincolnshire’s natural history record! Colin Smith, LNU President-elect 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 iRecord at 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 Thanks to those who added records for our second map filling species. We received 11 records from 4 recorders for the small Bramble Leaf miner moth Stigmella aurella. Please do join in as all records are valuable and help our understanding of the county's changing natural history. The next species is Holly Leaf-miner Phytomyza ilicis. It is a small fly that is difficult to identify as an adult. The larva mines the leaves of holly. As holly is an evergreen the mines can be found throughout the year and are easy to find being light in colour against the dark background of the holly leaves. There are photos and more guidance can be found on theNature Spot website: https://www.naturespot.org/species/phytomyza-ilicis The current record distribution map can be seen at https://lnu.org/phytomyza-ilicis-holly-leaf-miner/ Please continue to record the previous species; Grey cushioned Grimmia moss, Bramble Leaf Miner moth Jelly-ear fungus and the lichen Lecidella elaeochroma *** This week's mostly-local news stories: *** Wild beaver release approved for England https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj3nn4rlxz5o Council hopes to buy RAF Scampton site by November https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpq22r35717o 'Thou shalt not steal' painting stolen from church https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn9vv54wz8xo *** 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 6th March - Sunday 9th March Headline: High cloud clearing to give prolonged sunshine. Rather windy. Thursday: A fine day on Thursday with prolonged sunshine through the morning and afternoon. Sunshine turning hazier into the evening as high cloud moves east. Breezy. Mild, or even very mild. Maximum temperature 16 °C. Outlook for Friday to Sunday: Unsettled on Friday with rain and showers at times. Drier over the weekend with variable cloud and sunny spells. Winds generally staying light. Mild or very mild over the weekend. UK long range weather forecast Sunday 9th March - Tuesday 18th March Likely mild at the start of this period and feeling warm in any sunny spells. However, conditions will be fairly changeable with a chance of showers or longer spells of rain across all areas, these more likely, at least at first, in the west. How weather patterns evolve during the following week is unclear but there is an increased chance that high pressure will become more dominant for a time from the north. This would result in a good deal of dry weather but also lead to a downturn in temperatures with a low chance of a colder spell and wintry hazards. Low confidence by the end of the period but with an increasing chance of milder but more unsettled conditions developing again. *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** Sky At A Glance - highlights https://skyandtelescope.org/observing/sky-at-a-glance/ Night Sky - RMG - highlights - February. https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/blog/astronomy/night-sky-highlights-february-2025 Full Moons: https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/full-moon-calendar Meteor shower date - next big one April Lyrids. https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/meteor-shower-guide BBC Sky at Night Magazine website Lunar eclipse visible from Europe 13-14 March 2025. https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news *** EVENTS *** *** The Natural History and Geology Section of the Scunthorpe Museum Society *** Our March meeting is on Monday, 10th March, starting as usual at 7.15pm. Our speaker is Mike Pilsworth, Conservation Officer for the RSPB Humber Estuary Reserves. He will be giving his illustrated talk "Humber Birds - Changes in Status and Conservation", telling us all about his work. ALL ARE WELCOME TO OUR MEETINGS which take place in the Small Hall, Room 1 at the Old Brumby United Church, Ashby Road, Scunthorpe, DN16 2AQ. This venue is immediately next to the Applegreen Filling Station opposite the St Hugh's Church, near to Brumby Crossroads. There is free parking at the Church, at St Hugh's Church, or on the nearby roadside. There is a £3 entry charge for non-members. There will be a mid-talk break when light refreshments will be available for a £1 charge. *** The Scunthorpe and Brigg Local Group of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust *** Our March meeting is on Thursday, 13th March, starting as usual at 7.30pm. Our speaker is Matt Blissett, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's warden for the Outer Humber and Coast reserves. Matt's illustrated talk, entitled "My Wildlife Year", will update us on his latest events. ALL ARE WELCOME TO OUR MEETINGS which take place in the Small Hall at the St Hugh's Church, Ashby Road, Scunthorpe, DN16 2AG. This venue is opposite the Applegreen Filling Station near to Brumby Crossroads. There is free parking at the Church, at the Old Brumby United Church opposite, or on the nearby road. There is a £2.50 entry charge which includes light refreshments at the mid-talk break. *** L.N.U. AGM & Talk *** On Saturday 22nd March 2025 at Whisby Nature Park Education Centre Lincoln SK910662 at 2 pm. Refreshments will be available. Parking £2 The AGM will be followed by a talk by outgoing president, Paul Scott “The Sir Joseph Banks Centre - Past, Present, and Future”. Synopsis - "Many members may be familiar with Sir Joseph Banks, thanks to numerous talks given across the county and beyond over the past 20 years. However, the history of the building and the Joseph Banks Society remains less well-known. This lecture explores the evolution of the building and how the Joseph Banks Society has transformed into a unique natural science centre and museum.” *** GRIMSBY AND CLEETHORPES AREA GROUP LWT *** On Monday 10th March the Grimsby and Cleethorpes Area Group will hold their next indoor meeting where Helen Gamble will give an illustrated talk "God's Acre - Cherishing our churchyards, graveyards and cemeteries”. Helen will help us look at all aspects of these areas from their function as a place of worship to an open space for community use and their diverse range of habitats for wildlife as well as their historic value. This will take place in Grimsby Town Hall DN31 1HU and starts at 7.30pm. Admission £4, all are welcome. There will be a raffle and refreshments available. For further details please contact our secretary David Ball - 07711716063 On Saturday 29th March you are invited to join us for a morning walk in Grimsby Cemetery with Graham Hicks looking for signs of Spring. Meet Graham at 8am in Grimsby Crematorium car park on Weelsby Avenue DN32 0BA. Please dress sensibly according to the weather conditions 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 There are details of these events on our website www.grimsbywildlifetrust.org.uk We are also on Facebook *** SOUTH LINCOLNSHIRE RSPB GROUP*** "The Amazing Life of the Swift". An illustrated Slideshow Talk by Alasdair McKee of the RSPB showcasing these amazing birds and what we can do to help them. Wednesday 9th April 2025 at 7-30pm at Boston Tennis Club. Full details at https://group.rspb.org.uk/southlincolnshire/ "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 *** have announced the 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.... Cold-weather alerts - 1 Nov 2024 - 31st March 2025 https://ukhsa-dashboard.data.gov.uk/weather-health-alerts/cold Bird flu: Defra advice to the general public is to leave corpses alone and report the findings - but that 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://flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/warnings?location=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 26/2/2025 Deeping St James, Red-breasted Merganser at Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, 2 Scaup 1 drk, on reedbed. Gibraltar Point, ringtail Hen Harrier. Whisby, Smew ad drk at Thorpe Landfill at quarry on lake off Job's Lane. Winteringham, Eastern Yellow Wagtail on island in pit north of Composition Lane. 27/5/2025 Deeping Lakes Long-eared Owl at Deeping Lakes in gully at Main Lake. 2 Glossy Ibises at River Welland/Maxey Cut confluence. Sand Martin at Main Lake. Sand Martin at Deeping St James sewage works. Frampton Marsh, 3 Scaup 1 drk, on reedbed. Tallington Lakes, 1+ Scaup on Main Lake. Entry £5. Winteringham, Eastern Yellow Wagtail on island in pit north of Composition Lane. 28/5/2025 Deeping Lakes, Long-eared Owl at Deeping Lakes in gully at Main Lake. 2 Glossy Ibises at River Welland/Maxey Cut confluence. Frampton Marsh, 2 Scaup 1, 1w drk, on reedbed. Jack Snipe on island. Gibraltar Point, Puffin flew south past. Tallington Lakes, 1+ Scaup on Main Lake. Entry £5. Whisby, Smew ad drk at Thorpe Landfill at quarry on lake off Job's Lane. Winteringham, Eastern Yellow Wagtail on island in pit north of Composition Lane. Then flew east. No parking on Composition Lane 1/3/2025 Anderby Creek, 2 Snow Buntings. Baston Langtoft Pits, 2 Russian White-fronted Geese flew west over. Deeping Lakes, 5 Long-eared Owls at Deeping Lakes opposite gully at Main Lake. Grainthorpe Haven, Water Pipit. Whisby, Smew ad drk at Thorpe Landfill at quarry on lake off Job's Lane. Winteringham, Eastern Yellow Wagtail on island in pit north of Composition Lane. Then flew east. No parking on Composition Lane 2/3/2025 Baston Langtoft Pits, 2 Russian White-fronted Geese NE of Wader Pit with Greylag Geese from Baston Outgang Road. Covenham reservoir, 5 Ruddy Shelducks in SW corner.. Frampton Marsh, 1+ Scaup-1 w drk, Spotted Redshank. 3/3/2025 Baston Langtoft Pits, 2 Russian White-fronted Geese NE of Wader Pit with Greylag Geese from Baston Outgang Road. Deeping Lakes, Long-eared Owl at Deeping Lakes opposite gully at Main Lake. Frampton Marsh, 2 Scaup, 1w drk + fem on reedbed. Gibraltar Point, Water Pipit on Fenland Lagoon. Manby Flashes, White Wagtail. Saltfleet Haven, Spoonbill. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe dunes, Tundra Bean Goose appeared to land in fields west of Golden Sands Holiday Park. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. THEDDLETHORPE John Walker Over the past week a female roe deer and female badger fresh corpses on the A1031 c 750m north of junction of Churchill lane SALTFLEETBY John Walker Another dead badger on B1200 c 250m east of old church also within last 10 days HEATH ROAD, FULBECK, South Kesteven, Lincolnshire, NG32 3HN SK 98346 49852 Peter Morrell 27.02.2025 Barn owl roadkill on edge of A17 HEATH ROAD, FULBECK, South Kesteven, Lincolnshire NG32 3HP SK 96999 50768 Peter Morrell 27.02.2025 Badger roadkill on A17 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 4/3/25 Blue Tit 1+ Great Tit 1 Blackbird 2,,1f. Collared Dove 3 Pied Wagtail m Robin 1+ Starling flock 12+ Wood Pigeon 5 Black-headed Gull raiding flock of 12+ Domestic Pigeon 7+ House Sparrow 12+ Dunnock BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 Phil and Mary Porter 2nd March 2025 Mary heard a Goldcrest in the garden. We used to hear them fairly regularly in the days when we had a very large Leylandii tree in the hedge, but it split so badly in high winds that we had to have it cut down several years ago, and this may be the first since then. Honey Bees are very active on Hellebores, now that the Winter Aconites are more or less over. A Japanese Cornelian Cherry, Cornus officinalis, is covered in its tiny yellow flowers with pollen obviously available, but doesn’t seem to be attracting anything regularly at the moment. A Song Thrush performed well today but in breeding terms they don’t do well here generally. There has been song, off and on, for a couple of weeks in the wider area. Smashing views of two Buzzards gliding low over the street. Some purple crocus have flowered in bed where they were not planted; last spring some purple crocus plants were dug up from a garden planter, just after flowering was over, presumably by a squirrel. We reckon that the squirrel must have eaten some and buried some, with the result we are seeing now! BARDNEY VILLAGE TF120696 Phil Porter 2nd March 2025 While I was in the Co-op store, a customer pointed out a moth settled on the coffee machine - it was an Oak Beauty in pretty rough condition. I put it outside to take its chance. BENNIWORTH HAVEN TF229824 C Smith 3/3/25 Went to look for Alder Goblet Fungus here as there are lots of mature alder trees along the footpath by the lake but was horrified to see that the fishing syndicate had cut many of them down and scraped areas clean. However I did find the following. Alder Goblet Ciboria caucus Scarlet Elf Cup Sarcoscypha austriaca Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni rove beetle Tachinus rufipes Swan Mussel Anodonta cygnea about a hundred dredged out of the lake Also found three of the species on the map filling project Bramble Leaf Miner Stigmella aurella The lichen Lecidella elaeochroma Holly Leaf miner Phytomyza ilicis BLANKNEY TF071602 Phil and Mary Porter 1st March 2025 We returned to the Blankney woodland and found that several of the species present last week are likely to be fixtures; there was a striking duet by a Mistle Thrush and a Song Thrush, a frantic burst of Nuthatch calls, and a Great Spotted Woodpecker drummed. We tried a different path and found the great dominance of Yew trees (some very tall if not very old) rather overbearing. They were shedding huge clouds of pollen at the slightest disturbance. Perhaps readers will expand on their experience of what wildlife is likely to take advantage of the ‘toxic’ berries when they appear, so we can look out for them in due course. We found a Walnut tree with its chunky buds which we didn’t notice before and also some thickets of wild Dogwood. Sycamore is well into the process of a takeover bid during the next few decades. Mary located the song of a Goldcrest in a tall Yew hedge near the site of the ‘big house’ of the Blankney estate which was destroyed by fire shortly after the War and later demolished. CHAMBERS FARM WOOD TF147739 4th March 2025 Mary Porter I decided to drive to the wood to say hello to the Butterfly Conservation volunteers who were working in the garden. On my way (B1202 between Bardney and Wragby) I saw a freshly-killed hare in the road. I was cheered up by seeing my first small tortoiseshell butterfly of the year in the butterfly garden, mainly feeding off the winter heather flowers. Numerous bees of various sorts also about. There was also a red kite overhead and a nuthatch calling. FAR INGS Angela Buckle 2nd March. Hairy bittercress, Whitlow grass, Early dog violet, Flowering currant. IMMINGHAM. Angela Buckle 2nd March Rue-leaved saxifrage, Common field speedwell. NETTLETON LODGE GAME FARM Ben Jacob Found leaf mines on holly here. These were noted on a mature female tree. An equally mature male tree adjacent had no mines? is this normal? I was unable to find any mines on brambles around here, I presume finding none is as equally important as recording presence. THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 19/02/25 Blackbird x 8 Black-headed Gull x 25 fields around Thurnholmes Blue Tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 4 Chaffinch x 6 Common Buzzard x 1 Great Tit x 2 Greenfinch x 1 Jackdaw x 2 Little Egret x 1 SK784987 Redwing x 1 Robin x 1 Stock Dove x 1pr nest-prospecting in stables Tree Sparrow x 4 Wood Pigeon x 4 26/02/25 Blackbird x 3 Blue tit x 4 Carrion crow x 2 Chaffinch x 3 Common Buzzard x 2 Dunnock x 3 Goldfinch x 2 Great Tit x 2 Greenfinch x 1 Greylag Goose x 4 low over Thurnholmes Jackdaw x 2 Kestrel x 1 Lesser Redpoll x 6 Magpie x 6 Pink-footed Goose x 280 flying high, south over Thurnholmes Redwing x 2 Robin x 2 Stock Dove x 2 Tawny Owl x 2 calling 01:15 Wood Pigeon x 6 02/03/25 Pink-footed Goose x 1,200 over Epworth Turbary SE755042 03/03/25 Blackbird x 3 Blue Tit x 4 Carrion Crow x 1 Chaffinch x 6 Common Buzzard x 2 Common Gull x 2 over Thurnholmes Dunnock x 2 Fieldfare x 12 Goldfinch x 6 Great Tit x 2 Greenfinch x 1 Grey Partridge x 1 Heron x 1 over Thurnholmes Jackdaw x 2 Kestrel x 1 Magpie x 2 Pied Wagtail x 1 Redwing x 2 Robin x 2 Tawny Owl x 3 calling 01:50hrs Wood Pigeon x 8 WILLINGHAM WOODS TF133883 Colin Smith 1/3/25 Alder Cup Ciboria caucus found on fallen female alder catkins A disco fungus Calycellina alniella on fallen alder cones Thanks to Tim Bruning who put these species on the LNU Lincs Fungi WhatsApp group as something to watch out for, the group has not been going for long and is a great asset to mycologists at all levels. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 writes… A lot more bird song in the last week along with a few other sure signs of spring. 260225 – several small skeins of pink-footed geese flew north/north-west mid-morning. Great white egret Rimac saltmarsh in the morning. Short-eared owl hunting over Sea View saltmarsh mid-afternoon and barn owl hunting around Paradise Lagoon. Another barn owl at Brickyard Lane in the afternoon and tawny owl calling overnight. 13 black-tailed godwit and drake pintail on Sea View washlands. Mistle thrushes singing at Sear’s Track and south of Churchill Lane. Buzzards displaying between Crook Bank and Churchill Lane. 270225 – 2 woodcock flew from dune scrub south of Crook Bank. 3 cattle egret in pony paddock by Rimac entrance. 51 curlew on the edge of Paradise Lagoon. 600 common gull and 100 herring gull on Crook Bank beach mid-afternoon, and another 130 a mile out to sea fishing in a line. 4 mistle thrush in dunes/fields at Sear’s Track. Drake pintail and 80 lapwing Elm House Farm wet grassland. 280225 – 7 whooper swan flew south over Mablethorpe North End early morning. 400+ curlew on the beach at Brickyard Lane at dusk. A steady northward stream of red-throated diver offshore and gulls feeding out to sea. Chiffchaff in dune scrub south of Crook Bank where 2 siskin flew south. Goldcrest in scrub around the west end of Sear’s Track. Male hen harrier flew over Rimac saltmarsh mid-afternoon and sparrowhawk displaying over the dunes. Male and female stonechat also in Rimac dunes near the car park. Cetti’s warbler calling near Sea View. 3 woodcock roding south of Churchill Lane at dusk. Bumblebee and honey bee in garden near Churchill Lane in the afternoon. 010325 – 4 marsh harrier, 2 short-eared owl, barn owl and sparrowhawk flew over Rimac saltmarsh throughout the afternoon. 10+ rock pipit also on Rimac saltmarsh and 150 cormorant flew over. Great white egret and cattle egret still around Rimac. 020325 – 122 whooper swan including 14 juvenile roosting on Rimac saltmarsh lagoon early morning and 2 pairs of pintail also on the lagoon. 11 black-tailed godwit and drake pintail on Sea View washlands. 2 bean geese flew over Sea View calling and may have landed on Elm House Farm. Butterflies – peacock near Churchill Lane. 030325 – 102 pink-footed geese flew north over Brickyard Lane foreshore early morning, and 116 whooper swan flew off Rimac saltmarsh roost. 23 linnet, rock pipit, meadow pipit, 60 sanderling, 4 oystercatcher, 8 shelduck also around Brickyard Lane foreshore, and 10 cormorant and a rook flew north. Red kite drifted north over Crook Bank outer dunes where a jack snipe was in marsh vegetation. A vocal tundra bean goose flew south over Crook Bank and looked to land in fields around Mablethorpe North End. 320 curlew on wet grassland south of Crook Bank and wigeon beginning to copulate. 3 cattle egret around Rimac car park. Spoonbill feeding out from Saltfleet Haven and 2 short-eared owls hunting over the saltmarsh mid-afternoon. 040325 – siskin pair at Sea View. 12 black-tailed godwit and 6 lapwing on Sea View washlands, and 2 red kite soaring over. Mistle thrush in song around Churchill Lane. 28 lapwing, 16 golden plover, 5 pink-footed geese with 2 greylag geese on Elm House Farm grassland, where the first lapwing were beginning to nest scrape. Bird song in recent days includes blackbird, song thrush, mistle thrush, dunnock, robin, skylark, blue tit, great tit, chaffinch, plus drumming great spotted woodpecker. 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 26th February: Pair of Pintail on Anderby Marsh, 1,000 Pink-footed Goose over the sea. 28th February: Red-necked Grebe on the sea and also 106 Red-throated Diver flying north. Peregrine chasing Crows on the beach. 1st March: 2 Snow Bunting flying north, 3 Goosander and 6 Snipe on Anderby Marsh. Male Marsh Harrier displaying, 1,205 Golden Plover near Marsh Yard. 2nd March: 2 Bearded Tit and 2 Stonechat Anderby Marsh, lots of southbound migration with 33 Siskin, 14 Goldfinch, 10 Chaffinch, 2 Rock Pipit and a Grey Wagtail. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. March 4th & 18th; April 1st & 15th; May 6th & 20th; June 3rd & 17th; July 1st & 15th; August 5th & 19th; September 2nd & 16th, October 7th & 21st; November 4th. margaretwestcott7@hotmail.co.uk https://butterfly-conservation.org/in-your-area/lincolnshire-branch/chambers-farm-wood-butterfly-garden *** Lincolnshire Dormouse Group *** lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com Our final winter coppicing session: Sunday 16th March 2025 We will meet at Chambers Farm Woods outside the wood centre at 10am over the winter, and the session normally runs until mid afternoon, with a break for a packed lunch picnic in the woods. Please be aware that the toilet block at Chambers remains closed. No experience is necessary, just enthusiasm! All tools are provided, but I would recommend that if you have your own gardening gloves to bring these along, but we have some that you can borrow too. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: https://lincolnshirechalkstreams.org/ 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 Annette Faulkner on 01775 766286 Email: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com Confidential Bat Records You may send confidential bat records direct to Annette Faulkner on: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com 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: downloadable LNU book *** 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 sending in reports, e.g. unusual plants, please report 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** LNU Events *** https://lnu.org/meetings/ https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/ *** L.N.U. AGM & Talk *** On Saturday 22nd March 2025 at Whisby Nature Park Education Centre Lincoln SK910662 at 2 pm. Refreshments will be available. Parking £2 The AGM will be followed by a talk by outgoing president, Paul Scott “The Sir Joseph Banks Centre - Past, Present, and Future”. Synopsis - "Many members may be familiar with Sir Joseph Banks, thanks to numerous talks given across the county and beyond over the past 20 years. However, the history of the building and the Joseph Banks Society remains less well-known. This lecture explores the evolution of the building and how the Joseph Banks Society has transformed into a unique natural science centre and museum.” FIELD MEETINGS 2025 Luke Hartley writes… First few field meetings below. Parking/meeting locations will be confirmed in due course! Doddington Hall - Sunday 27 April, meet from 11am, 12-4pm Stenigot Estate - Sunday 18 May, meet from 11am, 12-4pm Grimsthorpe Estate - Saturday 14 June, meet from 11am, 12-4pm 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 Wildlife Photographer Spent 15 Years Documenting Orcas Then Came Face-to-Face With a White One https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/animals-ecology/wildlife-photographer- spent-15-years-documenting-orcas-then-came-face-to-face-with-a-white-one/ Watch: Rare planetary parade caught on camera by our expert stargazers https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/ckgd2zk9k9go Woolly mice designed to engineer mammoth-like elephants https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0jg4n776evo Spring is "fastest-warming" season in the UK https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/articles/clyzn3qn61no Plans to cut weedkiller use over safety concerns https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce8yz0ezjy8o Roman cemetery found at roadworks site is 'unique' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2g0ggdd33o Moment falcon hunts starlings during murmuration (sic) https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8d464407p2o Solar farms can host up to three times as many birds as crop fields – new research https://theconversationuk.cmail20.com/t/r-l-thtrquy-udkumukm-m/ Botanic gardens are struggling to keep up with the biodiversity crisis – here’s what they can do https: //theconversation.com/botanic-gardens-are-struggling-to-keep-up- with-the-biodiversity-crisis-heres-what-they-can-do-248722 First Loch Ness Monster sighting of 2025 reported as 'dark mass' spotted in water https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/scotland-now/first-loch-ness-monster-sighting-34790755 Make your own seed bombs https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/resource/make-your-own-seed-bombs/ Signs of Spring https://www.field-studies-council.org/signs-of-spring/ *** Mail Fails *** None ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/