============================================ || || Wildnews Bulletin 12th 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: More indications of emerging wildlife this week, but only the first few pioneers. It is cold today on Wednesday and there are first signs of moisture deficiency in our garden soil despite a few drops of rain, so on the home front, the conditions still look pretty uninviting for early-waking hibernators. Clay woodland in the Bardney area is still pretty damp but the flora seems shy flowering. We are hoping that the large area of Wood Anenome at Southrey Wood will flower up to its considerable potential this year as 2024 was a huge disappointment unequalled in the last 25 years at least with only about 10% of plants blooming for some reason. Colin Smith’s new ‘species to look for’ (below), Springy Turf-moss is surely in most people’s lawn in shady areas, unless chemical measures are in use. It is already widely reported but should surely be in every single 10k square. I love his initiative as this moss is something I can now put a name to, along with Grey-cushioned Grimmia moss which was his first choice six weeks ago. Phil Porter's email is: philporterento@outlook.com Roger Parsons' email is: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk BTO's tracked Cuckoos - 1- Wilfred's on his way back! 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 previous map filling species. We received 10 records from 3 recorders for the lichen Lecidella elaeochroma Please do join in as all records are valuable and help our understanding of the county's changing natural history. The next species is Springy turf-moss Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus This is a moss that thrives in short grass especially in shady areas it forms into often large platforms and can force out other mosses and sometimes even the grass. When looking down on it, you see individual circular or star-shaped fronds like bed springs, these are pale green in colour. This is a good excuse to get out in the garden or visit someone else's. There is a photo and more guidance can be found on the British Bryological Society website: https://www.britishbryologicalsociety.org.uk/learning/some-common-bryophytes/common-mosses-in-lawns/ and the current record distribution Map can be seen at https://lnu.org/rhytidiadelphus-squarrosus-springy-turf-moss/ In case you wondered, the genus name Rhytidiadelphus derives from the words Rhytidium and ἀδελφός (adelfós, brother), implying a close relationship to the genus Rhytidium. The specific epithet squarrosus refers to the leaves, which have a right-angled bend which causes the tips to extend away from the stem, while the name "Rhytidium" comes from the Greek word "rhytis," meaning "wrinkle", alluding to the strongly wrinkled leaves characteristic of this moss genus. Please continue to record the previous species; Grey cushioned Grimmia moss, Bramble Leaf Miner moth Jelly-ear fungus, Lichen Lecidella elaeochroma and Holly Leaf Miner fly *** This week's mostly-local news stories: *** Greater Lincolnshire mayor 2025: The candidates https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3376p6ldyyo Plans for 'remote mega-council' rejected https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c7786vreeg5o First meeting held for new authority https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm2jvrq0y6po Memorial garden plan for former WW2 base -Woodhall Spa https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj4nwrr948po Police seize £1m worth of cannabis in raids https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c07zp3mxzy5o UK's first HGV electric charging hub opens https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp8y9lql852o Plane-spotters to get warning letter over RAF base https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c204991n4wgo Huge solar farm planned across county border https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgwnpwe7gpo Air ambulance charity rated 'outstanding' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce8v3342dmjo Human bones found in garden 'not suspicious' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx29erdjj93o? Oil tanker and cargo ship collide in North Sea https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9q4129reqgo *** 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 13th March - Sunday 16th March Headline: Sunny spells with frequent blustery showers, wintry over hills. Thursday: Another day of sunny spells and showers. Showers heavy at times, some turning wintry. Winds a touch lighter than Wednesday but still feeling cold. Maximum temperature 8 °C. Outlook for Friday to Sunday: Sunny spells and scattered showers continuing on Friday before becoming drier with plenty of sunshine on the weekend. Feeling cold, light winds and a risk of patchy fog and frost. UK long range weather forecast Sunday 16th March - Tuesday 25th March The dominant area of high pressure will gradually drift away to the E of the UK through the early part of next week. So initially there should be a good deal of dry weather with plenty of sunshine by day, but still some noticeably chilly nights with frost fairly widespread. The odd fog patch is possible in the north, and a brisk breeze across the south will make it feel notably chilly here. Beyond that we will likely to see a gradual transition to less settled conditions. So rain or showers at times, mostly focussed across the south at first, then more widely later. With winds turning to the south it will become much milder, possibly very mild in places for a time. *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** Sky At A Glance - highlights https://skyandtelescope.org/observing/sky-at-a-glance/ Night Sky - RMG - highlights - March - partial lunar eclipse! https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/blog/astronomy/night-sky-highlights-march-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 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.” *** Lincoln Area Group LWT *** 20th March : Weeds: The Good, the Bad and the Wonderful Professor Libby John will tell us about the many interesting aspects of weeds, however you define them! With Spring already under way, it's something to consider in relation to our own gardens. The event is at Whisby Nature Park in the Lafarge Education Building starting at 7.30 pm. Admission is £2.50 which includes refreshments in the interval. *** GRIMSBY AND CLEETHORPES AREA GROUP LWT *** 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 4/3/2025 Caythorpe, 2 White Wagtails reported on football field. Deeping Lakes, Long-eared Owl and 2 Glossy Ibises at Deeping Lakes at Main Lake in gully. Willow Tree Fen, Sand Martin. 5/3/2025 Deeping St James. 2 Glossy Ibises at Deeping Lakes along entrance track. Frampton Marsh, Spoonbill from 360 hide, 2 Scaup. 1w drk, 1 fem, on Reedbed, Firecrest. Freiston Shore, Firecrest along track to hide. Roxby Carrs, Hen Harrier ringtail. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, American Wigeon fem south of Crook Bank - late report Tallington Lakes, 3 Scaup 1 drk, on Main Lake, Access £5. 6/3/2025 Cleethorpes Coast LNT, Water Pipit at Buck Beck. Covenham Reservoir, 2 Scaup. Deeping St James, Sand Martin at East Pit, Deeping Lakes. 2 Long-eared Owls at Main Lake opposite gully Frampton Marsh, 1 Scaup, Hen Harrier. Gibraltar Point, Hen Harrier over Freshwater Marsh. Whisby, Smew ad drk at Thorpe Landfill on lake at at quarry off Job's Lane. 7/3/2025 Frampton Marsh, Little Ringed Plover on South Scrape, Spoonbill. Whisby, Smew ad drk at Thorpe Landfill on lake at quarry off Job's Lane. 8/3/2025 Baston Langtoft Pits, 2 Glossy Ibises, Russian White-fronted Goose, on stubble field by riding stable. Deeping St James, 3 Long-eared Owls at Main Lake opposite gully. Far Ings, Common Tern. Kirkby-on-Bain Gravel Pits, Red-necked Grebe on South Pit. Somercoates Haven, Hen Harrier male Whisby, Smew ad drk at Thorpe Landfill on lake at quarry off Job's Lane. 9/2025 Cleethorpes, Russian White-fronted Goose reported Cleethorpes Coast. Deeping St James, Sand Martin over nesting wall, Deeping Lakes. 2 Long-eared Owls at Main Lake opposite gully. East Halton, Hen Harrier ringtail. Market Deeping, Yellow Wagtail flew west over. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. ODDER nr Saxilby SK916748 approx Brenda Edlington 13/2/2025 Dead badger by side of A57 (north side) 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 9/3/25 Blue Tit Great Tit Blackbird 2m. Collared Dove 3 Pied Wagtail m - brought female for a bath. She appreciated it! 9/3 Robin m + f Starling flock 12+ Wood Pigeon 7 Jackdaw 8 Black-headed Gull raiding flock of 12+ Domestic Pigeon 8+ House Sparrow 10+ Dunnock 2 Large black bumblebee queen seen in flight on warm days last week Seen at a distance but probably: Red-tailed bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius) BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 Phil and Mary Porter 9th March 2025 Sweet Violet flowers are emerging in the garden in numbers now with dark purple rather stubby introverted flowers almost lost in the leaves and with very small pale markings in the throat. Being clump-forming, they can start to dominate small areas. Numbers of 7-spot Ladybirds are everywhere in the dried herbaceous stems especially where they have been battered down by the winter. We are mildly troubled by Moles with hills in favoured areas of our (rough) lawn. Blackbirds and Robins are attracted to feed on worms but there is a night shift as well – Mary’s trail camera captured a Brown Rat taking a large worm from one of the eruptions. Butterflies- at least one Brimstone, one Comma, one Peacock. BOSTON My garden TF338441 Tracey Lenton Spring firsts: Hedgehogs appear to be coming out of hibernation. I started putting food out at the end of last week after I'd noticed, what looked like, hedgehog poo on the lawn. 09/03/2025 I saw fresh, well-formed poo on the lawn and the food I started putting out has disappeared although I haven't seen any hogs yet. 10/03/2025 More poo in my garden and along the path from the driveway, their usual route into the back garden. 09/03/2025 2 frogs have appeared in the pond I have seen the occasional bumble bee, pale bottomed, 4th and 9th March, looked like a buff-tailed. There were 2 occasions that I saw a butterfly, the first sighting on1st March high up on top of conifer basking in the sun was a Small tortoiseshell, another day a brown butterfly flying through, unable to identify. 1st March Female blackbird has been gathering nesting material. 1st March Black-headed seagull, with full colouring on its head, perched on house chimney pot behind my house, one often sits there. BOSTON, STANDISH GROVE, PE21 9EA Heather Bishop 2pm (approx) on concrete path, next to bungalow. Saturday 8th March Afternoon - during about half an hour of each other Brimstone male Butterfly x 3 Sunday 9th March Comma Butterfly x 1 EAST KEAL Denise Wheatley Sunday 9th March Numerous Brimstone butterflies , but first peacock butterfly on primulas Monday 10th March Chiffchaff heard for first time this year. BOTH DAYS = Several large bumble bees (I don't know techy names!). LANGFORD LOWFIELDS nr Collingham SK821601 Brenda Edlington 4/3/2025 Blackbird Black-headed gull Blue tit Canada geese Cetti's warbler Chaffinch Chiffchaff Coot Cormorant Crow Dunnock Egyptian geese Gadwall Great crested grebe Great spotted woodpecker Great tit Great white egret x5 Greylag geese Heron Long-tailed tit Magpie Mallard Mute swan Pheasant Pochard Robin Shoveler Song thrush Tufted duck Wood pigeon Wren Green woodpecker heard LINWOOD WARREN TF136874 Colin Smith 8/3/2025 Moths at the portable moth trap Pale Brindled Beauty Phigalia pilosaria Engrailed Ectropis bistortata Small Quaker Orthosia cruda March Moth Alsophila aescularia Clouded Drab Orthosia incerta Yellow horned Achlya flavicornis Dotted Border Agriopis marginaria NETTLEHAM TF 005756 Brenda Edlington Butterflies 1/3/2025 First Brimstone 6/3/2025 First Small Tortoiseshell NETTLEHAM BECK TF008752 Brenda Edlington Grey wagtail still present between Watermill Lane ford and Vicarage Lane NETTLETON GAME FARM Ben Jacob 9th March 2025 3 queen buff tailed bumble bees (unconfirmed) plus 3 queen wasps all hunting about looking for nest sites? SCOTGROVE WOOD TF130701 Phil and Mary Porter 9th March 2025 Warm and sunny, well above seasonal average, our first ‘multi-butterfly’ day. 2+ Comma, 1 Peacock. Only 3 Lesser Celandine flowers out. A Great Spotted Woodpecker called but no drumming heard. The commonest bird, at least in my experience (I can barely hear tit calls in the treetops now) was Wren with about 6 seen zooming around near ground level. Mary assures me there were Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits above us, but it’s amazing how you don’t see what you can’t hear! There were a few Birch Brackets on fallen branches. A flock of about 50 Carrion Crows on the far side of one of the neighbouring fields looked slightly out of place. WAINFLEET TF514591 Tracey Lenton 08/03/2025 Great white egret seen along the Haven at Wainfleet, stalking along the waterline. Id confirmed by Phil Hyde. PS: I have started to learn some more about astronomy this year and have found the astronomy links very informative and helpful, thank you for including these. I managed to see 4 of the planets last weekend as a result ☺️ WICKENBY WOOD TF079826 Colin Smith 8/3/2025 Went over to see if there were any early Light Orange Underwing moths about yet, but the only thing flying was a Comma butterfly. My first Chiffchaff singing and heard a Great Spotted Woodpecker calling. A few spring flowers out Primrose, Colt's-foot, Lesser Celandine and Dog's Mercury. There had been some work done near the entrance and last autumn an oak branch had been knocked down, all the leaves remained on, although dead, providing cover for insects. I had a look and found the following TF083827 Lacewing Chrysoperla carnea Plantbug Buchananiella continua - this is the only way I have been able to find this bug Barkfly Ectopsocus briggsi Tarnished Plant Bug Lygus rugulipennis Seed weevil Trichapion simile Seven-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata Common Pollen Beetle Meligethes aeneus, these last two are emerging from hibernation now. Other things seen were TF079826 Weevil Tropiphorus terricola a new species to me Common Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina Three-toothed Snail Azeca goodalli 15 other species of beetle and six other snails. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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… 050325 – apparent female American wigeon on wet grassland south of Crook Bank with c800 Eurasian wigeon. Red kite flew low south over the dunes at Sea View, later seen continuing south beyond Crook Bank. Great white egret still on Rimac freshwater marsh, 2 cattle egret still by Rimac car park and a grey wagtail flew west. Butterflies – Small tortoiseshell Sea View. 060325 – on Sea View washlands 42 wigeon, 6 gadwall, 84 teal, 6 lapwing, 2 oystercatcher, 13 black-tailed godwit and 2 curlew. 26 curlew flew over Sea View and a cetti’s warbler calling nearby. A red kite drifted north over the saltmarsh at Sea View late morning. Great white egret and 2 cattle egret still around Rimac. 2 chiffchaff singing at Rimac (one by the car park and one along willow hedge to the south) and another calling at Crook Bank car park. Woodcock flew off the saltmarsh edge north of MOD. A lone barnacle goose flew south-west over Saltfleet Haven wearing a coded neck ring originally from Scorton, North Yorkshire. Short-eared owl flew from vegetation at Saltfleet Haven mid-morning. Butterflies – 2 small tortoiseshell Sea View; small tortoiseshell MOD; Peacock Crook Bank. Common lizard seen in Rimac south dunes. 070325 – raven flew west over Sea View mid-morning, and a cattle egret flew west over Elm House Farm grassland where numerous lapwing were displaying in the morning sun. Red kite flew north over Sea View washlands. Stonechat pair and singing cetti’s warbler by Rimac car park, and 2 cattle egret in the field south of the car park. Great white egret still on Rimac freshwater marsh. Chiffchaff singing at Crook Bank and Churchill Lane car parks, and another silent bird around Rimac car park. Cetti’s warbler also singing at Churchill Lane car park. Butterflies – peacock Paradise Lagoon. 080325 – 2 raven flew south over Mablethorpe North End mid-morning. Chiffchaff calling near Rimac car park. Butterflies – comma Sea View. 090325 – short-eared owl and red kite in flight around Saltfleet Haven mid-morning. 100325 – 800 wigeon, 140 teal, 2 gadwall, 11 tufted duck, 30 mallard, 28 shoveler, 3 shelduck, 39 Canada goose, dunlin, 2 oystercatcher, 25 lapwing, 170 curlew, 11 redshank, 2 grey heron and 2 little egret on wet grassland south of Crook Bank. 110325 – chiffchaff singing at Sea View. Black-tailed godwit and 2 oystercatcher on Sea View washlands. Ringtail hen harrier hunting over Sea View saltmarsh late morning. 3 cattle egret in pony paddock at Rimac entrance. 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 5th March: Huttoft Pit had Chiffchaff, 4 Tufted Duck and 4 Shoveler. 2 Bearded Tit at Wolla Bank Reedbed and 2 Red-legged Partridge, 59 Shoveler and a White Wagtail were on Anderby Marsh. 6th March: 3 Avocet, 2 Black-tailed Godwit and 3 Chiffchaff at Anderby Marsh, A Raven flying south and a Ringed Plover flying north. 7th March: Pair of Goosander, 3 Avocet, pair of Red-crested Pochard and a Pintail on Anderby Marsh. 2 Red Kite flying south. 8th March: Goosander and 2 Avocet on Anderby Marsh, 3 Chiffchaff at Chapel Pit. 9th March: 13 Barnacle Goose and 200 Golden Plover on Anderby Marsh. Peregrine at Huttoft Marsh. 500 Starling near Huttoft Pit. 10th March: 13 Barnacle Goose, Green Sandpiper and male Marsh Harrier at Anderby Marsh. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 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 Genetic drive to overeat found in labradors and humans https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy05qw217x9o Rare hazel dormouse filmed foraging at night - Wilts. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cx2glzpydx2o First beavers from Scotland released in England https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cwyjkyzn4kko US lost a fifth of its butterflies within two decades https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyjkn729gpo Government vows to clean up England's largest lake https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm2je1djrm2o The sex lives of plants are much wilder than you think https://www.zmescience.com/reviews/book-reviews/sexus-botanicus-sex-lives-of-plants/ Why some animals defy the odds to thrive in urban areas https://theconversation.com/why-some-animals-defy-the-odds-to-thrive-in-urban-areas-249915 Toad patrol volunteers are ensuring frisky amphibians can cross the road to reach their mating grounds https://theconversation.com/toad-patrol-volunteers-are-ensuring-frisky-amphibians-can-cross-the-road-to-reach-their-mating-grounds-250684 *** Mail Fails *** None ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/