============================================ || || Wildnews Bulletin 21st May 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. ============================================ If you would like to receive the weekly LNU Bulletin by email, visit the LNU website 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: Just this morning, walking in Bardney and bemoaning the verges starting to turn brown and summer wild flowers pinched and dwarfed with thirst, we noticed that the older houses in the centre of the village held rather more pairs of house martins than we had imagined. We need to have a closer look to assess this impression. But where they been finding water and mud to build their nests? Apparently house martins need these resources surprisingly close to their intended breeding site, within a few hundred meters, because over a thousand tiny beakfulls are needed for each nest. There also needs to be a proportion of clay in the mud for the nest to adhere. Some of the ground in Bardney is on the sandy side. We were considering that if any house martins nested close to our house as they used to, what we would do to provide them with building material. But for the moment at least, we were so pleased to see that the species appeared more common and we will pay greater attention to them in future. 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/bulletin2009mar22.txt BTO's tracked Cuckoos Latest updates https://www.bto.org/cuckoos Lock of the Lowes SWT Webcam - 2nd egg spotted by RP on 15th. https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/watch-wildlife-online/loch-of-the-lowes-webcam/ *** NATURE CALLING *** A new large-scale art piece launching in the Lincolnshire Wolds. INSTAR's 'Shelf Life' https://www.naturecalling.org.uk/artist/shelf-life is an expansive artistic project for the Lincolnshire Wolds National Landscape. It challenges and explores the possibility for a sustainable balance between modern day farming and protecting and enhancing nature. Using print, billboards and film, the artists open a conversation concerning pressures on natural habitats and farming within the Lincolnshire Wolds landscape for Nature Calling. Learn a new species and boost Lincolnshire’s natural history record! Colin Smith, LNU President-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 The next species is the Common Froghopper Philaenus spumarius This little insect is very common and very variable in its colouring. At this time of year they are in the larval stage and to protect themselves from predators the cover themselves in a foam-like substance forming the well-known cuckoo spit. They feed on a range of low growing plants and do not feed on bushes as other species do. Pictures and further information can be found on the British Bugs website:- https://www.britishbugs.org.uk/homoptera/Aphrophoridae/Philaenus_spumarius.html the current record distribution Map can be seen at https://lnu.org/philaenus-spumarius-common-froghopper/ Thanks to those who added records for our previous map filling species. We received 19 records from 15 recorders for the Common Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina Please do join in as all records are valuable and help our understanding of the county's changing natural history. *** This week's mostly-local news stories: *** Dry weather threatens 'exceptionally low' rivers in parts of UK https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crmkn7rjv7zo New section of England Coast Path opens - Mablethorpe to the Humber Bridge https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crr7w1vk7ejo Suspended jail term for boss behind illegal tip https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c17rdydr21xo Warning as 'exhausted' deer dies after beach chase https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp8ynr2m1elo Lincolnshire resorts to fly Blue Flags this summer https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg7l923xwqo Walks on former paratroopers airbase to mark D-Day https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c057p26ze9qo 'Foxes using school playground as a toilet' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c249qgjlyn9o *** 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 22nd May - Sunday 25th May Headline: Becoming widely sunny and warm again today. Thursday: Morning cloud and patchy rain clearing to leave a dry and mostly sunny day. Rather warm with mainly light winds inland, but stronger towards the coast where feeling cooler again. Maximum temperature 17 °C. Outlook for Friday to Sunday: Fine Friday with plenty of sunshine after a chilly start. Breezier this weekend with occasional rain or showers although still often dry and bright by day. Rather warm overall. UK long range weather forecast Sunday 25th May - Tuesday 3rd June A much more unsettled period than of late with the whole of the UK likely to see showers or some longer spells of rain, but also some drier and brighter interludes. For Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday it's likely a story of sunshine and showers. The showers will be heavier and more frequent in the west where it may also be windy, especially across the northwest. The east, especially the southeast may well see a good deal of dry weather. The rest of the week then sees further frontal systems run into the UK, bringing more widespread rain at times, but again some drier spells in-between these. Temperatures will probably be close to average, perhaps slightly above at times, but will feel fairly cool in the often strong wind *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** Night Sky - RMG - highlights - May https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/blog/astronomy/night-sky-highlights-may-2025 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 *** *** 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 *** has 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.... 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 12/5/2025 Frampton Marsh, Wood Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper on Reedbed. Gibraltar Point, 4 Spoonbills. Killingholme, Little Gull at Rosper Road Pools. Killingholme-Goxhill, Buff-breasted Sandpiper at undisclosed site. Rimac, Wood Sandpiper and fem Garganey. 13/5/2025 Baston Langtoft Pits, 5 Black Terns at wader Pit briefly. Burgh-le-Marsh (WSW of): Honey Buzzard flew over near Firsby. Frampton Marsh, Temminck's Stint on Reedbed. Rimac, Wood Sandpiper on pools. 14/5/2025 Frampton Marsh, Pale-bellied Brent Goose on saltmarsh with Dark-bellied Brent Geese, American Golden Plover on mud just north of Raptor Viewpoint. Curlew Sandpiper on Roads Farm Grassland, Little Stint and Wood Sandpiper. 4 Spoonbills in evening. Freiston Shore, Wood Sandpiper. Gibraltar Point, Spoonbill. 15/5/2025 East Halton Marshes, Buff-breasted Sandpiper on 1st pool north of Winter's Pond Frampton Marsh, 9 Spoonbills, Wood Sandpiper. Stallinghborough, Ruddy Shelduck at Cress Marsh. 16/5/2025 Alkborough Flats, Wood Sandpiper. East Halton Marshes, Buff-breasted Sandpiper on 1st pool north of Winter's Pond. Frampton Marsh, Montagu's Harrier reported - late report. Gibraltar Point, Serin - on wires near entrance - then flew north, Quail male singing at Old Saltmarsh. Long-tailed Duck flew north past. Mablethorpe, Long-tailed Duck flew north past. Rimac, Glossy Ibis flew north over. Spotted Redshank on pool north of car park. 17/5/2015 East Halton Marshes, Buff-breasted Sandpiper on 1st pool north of Winter's Pond. Little Gull 1s. Frampton Marsh, Temminck's Stint on Middle Scrape. 2Garganey 1drk. Gibraltar Point, 2 Spoonbills at Tennyson's Sands. Grantham, Black Kite reported between Hough and Honington and also east of Barkston - flew over airfield. Manby Flashes, Wood Sandpiper briefly. 18/5/2025 East Halton Marshes, Buff-breasted Sandpiper on 1st pool north of Winter's Pond. Quail near Winter's Pond. Frampton Marsh, Wood Sandpiper from 360 hide. Freiston Shore, Quail. Late report. Gibraltar Point, Little Gill 1s flew south past, 4 Spoonbills. Manby Flashes, Wood Sandpiper. Whisby Nature Park, Wood Sandpiper at Teal Lake. 19/5/2025 Alkborough Flats, 2 Garganey. East Halton Marshes, Buff-breasted Sandpiper on 1st pool north of Winter's Pond. then flew off high NNE. Frampton Marsh, 2 Curlew Sandpipers on Middle Scrape from 360 Hide. Little Stint. Temminck's Stint.east end of North Scrape from hide. Gibraltar Point, Red-breasted Flycatcher in hawthorn by trough, Turtle Dove. North Hykeham, Wood Sandpiper on Apex Pit. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe, Caspian Gull 1w, on beach, 2 Spoonbills flew north. Whisby Nature Park, Wood Sandpiper 2 Garganey 1 drk.at Teal Lake. 4 Turnstones. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. A15 ON ROAD TO BARTON. . Angela Buckle Road kill. Three new deer STICKNEY Gail Cartwright 10 May Stickford Dead Badger in middle of the road almost outside The Coach House on A16 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. AINSLIE PARK, GRIMSBY TA272089 Phil Porter 1st May 2025 Among the flies I sampled at Ainslie Park was one Prochyliza varipes, a 3mm long, shiny-black fly with small patches of yellow on its head and legs, belonging to the Cheese Skipper family, Piophilidae. The true Cheese Skipper Piophila casei was a notorious pest of preserved meats and cheeses via infestations of its burrowing larvae which are capable of disproportionately long ‘jumps’ when disturbed. Improved levels of hygiene in food storage have more or less removed its threat. This appears to be the first record of P. varipes from Lincolnshire although Nottinghamshire, with 18 occurrences, has been a notable hotspot for it over the years. There are only about 90 previous British records, dating back to the early 1900’s, which makes it a relatively little-known species. A study of its early stages recorded larvae from discarded chicken legs outside the den of a fox and from a cetacean skull, while adults have been caught on a dead fox and a dead buzzard. Unlike several of its relatives which have been reared from the detritus in old bird nests, P. varipes has not been found in this way. BARDNEY - THE GREEN TF120694 R + A Parsons w/o 19/5/25 Blackbird 2m.1f Chaffinch 2 Collared Dove 3 Domestic Pigeon 8+ Dunnock 2 Goldfinches - 2+ House Sparrow 10+ Jackdaw 10+ - Pied Wagtail f Robin 2 Starling flock 12+ with perhaps 8-10 juveniles learning the ropes! Wood Pigeon 7 Wren Housemartins flew NE over garden - 3/30pm on 5/5/2025. Swifts and Housemartins overhead.. Goldcrest heard here by Mary Porter 16/5..10am. Bats heard @ 55kHz 9.30pm on 15th and 3.30am on 16th. BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 Phil and Mary Porter 6th May 2025 Song Thrush singing and at least 2 fledglings. We are excited by this as Song Thrushes have not done well in our garden for very many years. 7th May 2025 Spoke too soon, there has been a ‘happening’ and no sight or sound of thrushes today. (or subsequently as it turned out) 9th May 2025 A Goldcrest gave Mary a snatch of song and later a male Cuckoo flew through the garden, the closest contact of the year. More distant song has been more or less a fixture lately. Our neighbours discovered a dead Song Thrush fledgling, cause of death unknown. 10th May 2025 Heard Wood Pigeon, Stock Dove and Collared Dove all singing at the same time. Time was when we used to get the odd Turtle Dove feeding on the lawn and a couple of times all the British ‘pigeons’ could be seen in a day, but I don’t remember a moment in time with a ‘threesome’ in song. Our Blackcap is still singing at the margins, but so far has avoided being seen. The first Cinnabar Moth appeared in our ‘meadow’ where a few Ragwort plants will emerge. 11th May 2025 A Large Red Damselfly fluttered weakly past the pond. There was a successful Sparrowhawk attach but too swift to notice what was ‘nabbed’. At last a calling female Cuckoo in the vicinity! Holly Blue, Orange-tip, Brimstone and whites comprise the staple for the garden, but all in very small numbers. We are still being plagued by Lily Beetles on our one plant. 12th May 2025 Large Red-tailed Bumblebee (or Red-tailed Cuckoo Bee but the wings didn’t strike me as being particularly dark which would have favoured this species) was prospecting on verge. Mary saw our first Peacock butterfly for a good while. 17th May 2025 A Great Spotted Woodpecker briefly visited the sunflower hearts feeder for the first time for a couple of months but was jumpy and didn’t stay. Suddenly, the local blackbird juveniles seem to have ramped up their numbers, and a fledgling Chaffinch was being fed. 19th May 2025 2 Oystercatchers flew over calling. A Red Admiral and another Peacock butterfly showed up. At the edge of the pond, I saw one of the common Helophilus hoverflies, with striped yellow and black thorax and ‘barred’ yellow and black abdomen, but hoverfly numbers have been especially low this year so far. 20th May 2025 A Brimstone added slightly to the sparse species list for butterfies CHAMBERS FARM WOOD LITTLE SCRUBS MEADOW TF147744 Phil and Mary Porter 17th May 2025 (with LWT Horncastle group) Obviously, Marsh Fritillary was a main target but the morning was cloudy and quite cool so the butterflies were definitely lying low. In the time it took to wander the length of the meadow, they started to be visible, but none took flight, even during the return through the ‘extension’ grassland. I don’t think any other butterflies were seen there. In the ‘extension’, a very striking large caterpillar-type larva caught my attention as it crossed the path we were using. When I picked it up to put it on the verge it appeared to be heading for, there was a violent response and it writhed vigorously. I photographed it, but could not find anything like a match in the comprehensive pictorial book by Jim Porter, so I consulted with LNU President Colin Smith and he identified it as a Green-brindled Crescent moth. I was confused by the considerable change in pattern that the larva passes through as it matures towards pupation. The ukmoths website https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/search/?entry=green-brindled+crescent shows the range, and ours was like the first of the four larval pictures offered, the patterned one. When you get to the picture, click the icon in the top right-hand corner to expand the image. That’s some camouflage! Later, in the Butterfly Garden, TF147739, one of the group spotted a Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth buzzing around a tall garden Angelica plant. This was hugely appreciated by all present. It was only the second I had ever seen. FAR INGS. Angela Buckle 18th May. Hedgerow cranesbill, Beaked hawksbeard, Common mallow, Yellow rattle. FISKERTON FEN LWT TF 085 720 R + A Parsons 18/5/2025 4+ Cuckoos heard calling, 10am. Several Swallows flying in and out of hide. https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/nature-reserves/fiskerton-fen LUDFORD TF229824 Colin Smith 17/05/2025 Narcissus Bulb Fly Merodon equestris NETTLETON GAME FARM Ben Jacob 19th May Evidence of Walnut leaf gall mite Aceria erinea showing up on walnut tree leaves REVESBY TF300631 Colin Smith 14/5/2025 Walking past a black poplar tree with a convenient low branch so stopped to look for insects on it. the most obvious was Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis and the blue leaf beetle Phratora vulgatissima, also there were several Dorytomus longimanus a fantastic weevil with a long curved rostrum. But the highlight was Poplar shoot-borer moth Gypsonoma aceriana, the caterpillars feed in the leaf buds and stick their droppings together to form a hooked tube over the feeding hole. SEDGE HOLE CLOSE LWT Nature Reserve Steve Hiner 14/05/25 Blackbird x 1 Blackcap x 1 Blue Tit x 1 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 1 Chiffchaff x 1 Dunnock x 1 Goldfinch x 2 Greenfinch x 2 Jackdaw x 1 Long-tailed Tit x 9 (family party) Robin x 1 Rook x 10+ Skylark x 1 Swallow x 4 Tree Sparrow x 4 Whitethroat x 1 Willow Warbler x 1 Wood Pigeon x 4 Yellowhammer x 1 Rabbit x 4 STICKNEY Gail Cartwright 15 May TF323568 My garden Pair of swallows back again flying in and out of the barn 12 am, Bats at 45 - 50 THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 09/05/25 Barn Owl x 1 21:30hrs 10/05/25 Blackbird x 7 Blackcap x 1 Blue Tit x 1 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 2 Chiffchaff x 1 Cuckoo x 1 calling in dark 02:15hrs (also same on 9th, 12th & 13th) Dunnock x 1 Goldfinch x 1 Greenfinch x 1 Jackdaw x 2 Robin x 1 Skylark x 2 Stock Dove x 1 Swallow x 4 Tree Sparrow x 4 around nest boxes on stables Wood Pigeon x 6 Yellowhammer x 1 Whitethroat x 1 Willow Warbler x 1 First Yellow Rattle flowers in paddock 13/05/25 Green-veined White x 1 Red Admiral x 1 Small White x 2 Large Red Damselfly x 1 16/05/25 Blackbird x 6 Blackcap x 1 Chaffinch x 1 Dunnock x 1 Goldfinch x 1 Great Tit x 1 feeding young Greenfinch x 2 Kestrel x 1 Mute Swan x 2 over Thurnholmes Robin x 1 Skylark x 2 Stock Dove x 1 Tree Sparrow x 2 Willow Warbler x 1 Wood Pigeon x 6 Wren x 1 Yellowhammer x 1 Mole x 1 Green-veined White x 2 Peacock x 2 Speckled Wood x 1 19/05/25 Blackbird x 6 Blackcap x 1 Carrion Crow x 1 Chaffinch x 1 Chiffchaff x 1 Common Buzzard x 1 Cuckoo x 1 Goldfinch x 2 Grey Heron x 1 over Thurnholmes Greylag Goose x 6 over Thurnholmes Kestrel x 1 Little Owl x 1 SK788988 Mallard x 6 Owston Ferry Warping Drain Mute Swan x 2 over Thurnholmes Robin x 1 Stock Dove x 1 on nest in box in chicken run Swallow x 4 Tree Sparrow x 2 Wood Pigeon x 7 Yellowhammer x 1 Green-veined White x 2 Peacock x 2 Red Admiral x 1 Cinnabar Moth x 1 Common Blue Damselfly x 4 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR WildNews Report Contributors: - Matt Blissett, Ruth Taylor, Owen Beaumont, Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison and Dean Nicholson. Thank you to all other contributors. The most notable news continues to the lack of rain! Still, some notes below on the week’s sightings. 140525 – wood sandpiper still on Rimac car park scrape. Grasshopper warbler reeling from scrub on the seaward side of Rimac freshwater marsh and a cuckoo singing in the area. Barn owl hunting over Rimac south dunes in the morning. 4 whimbrel flew inland over Rimac towards arable land, and a small movement of hirundines south comprised mostly of swallows and a few sand martin. Female pintail on Rimac freshwater marsh scrape. Butterflies – painted lady, 5 wall, small heath Elm House Farm. 150525 – 3 great white egret Rimac freshwater marsh and a hobby hunting over the dunes in the evening. An Asio owl sp. (short-eared or long-eared) flew low over the Rimac dunes. 160525 – glossy ibis flew north over Sea View Washlands late evening but could not be relocated on any local wetland areas. Gadwall pair also on Sea View Washlands. 10 whimbrel on Sea View saltmarsh. Marsh orchids coming into flower across many freshwater marsh areas. 170525 – 10 gannet, 6 common scoter, 2 eider, fulmar, arctic skua, 6 sandwich tern and 3 auk sp. flew over the sea out from Churchill Lane from late morning to early afternoon. 56 ringed plover flew north along the beach past Churchill Lane in one flock. 2 hobby hunting over Rimac freshwater marsh in the evening and female pintail still on freshwater marsh scrape. Redshank and common sandpiper on Rimac car park scrape. Butterflies – painted lady Rimac. 180525 – 17 whimbrel feeding on areas of short saltmarsh vegetation out from Sea View. 190525 – 2 spoonbill and 2 barnacle geese flew north over Crook Bank. 2 little ringed plover, 14 sanderling and first-summer Caspian gull on the beach around Crook Bank. 100+ swallow and a few sand martin flew south by mid-morning. 4 little ringed plover on wet grassland south of Crook Bank. A late redwing in the dunes at Mablethorpe North End. Jay in willow boundary south of Rimac working its way towards Churchill Lane. Grasshopper warbler reeling and cuckoo singing Rimac south. Female pintail again on Rimac freshwater marsh scrape. 4 grey heron and 6, 2 avocet and 6 whimbrel on Rimac saltmarsh lagoon. Red kite drifted north over Sea View late morning. Butterflies – 22 of 9 species including 6 small heath and 4 wall Churchill Lane- Brickyard Lane. Butterfly numbers have halved in some areas following cool northerly/easterly winds, cloud increase and drought conditions. 200525 – Temminck’s stint on Rimac car park scrape in the afternoon and cuckoo Rimac south. Early record of 2 male emperor dragonflies MOD pond. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 13th May: Anderby Marsh: Bar-tailed Godwit, 6 Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Spoonbill and Dunlin. Great White Egret and Spoonbill at Huttoft Pit, Garden Warbler singing in Anderby Creek dunes. 4 Swift flying over Anderby Marsh. 14th May: Grey Wagtail flying south, Pair of Little Ringed Plover on Sandilands Golf Course. Great White Egret and Spoonbill at Huttoft Pit. 15th May: 19 Ringed Plover, 3 Little Ringed Plover, Whimbrel, Curlew, Dunlin and 2 Redshank on Anderby Marsh. Great White Egret and 8 Spoonbill along with Bearded Tit at Huttoft Pit. 16th May: 2 Grey Partridge along Sea Lane, 7 Whimbrel on Huttoft Marsh, 8 Spoonbill and Cuckoo at Huttoft Pit, 10 Spoonbill, Whimbrel, Sanderling, Redshank, 23 Ringed Plover, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 20 Swift and 20 House Martin on Anderby Marsh. 17th May: at sea: 27 Gannet, 2 Little Tern, 3 Sandwich Tern, 3 Common Scoter and a Red-throated Diver. 15 Ringed Plover and 7 Spoonbill on Anderby Marsh. 9 Spoonbill and Bearded Tit at Huttoft Pit. 18th May: 2 Little Ringed Plover on Sandilands Golf Course. 4 Spoonbill and 2 Wigeon on Huttoft Pit. Quail calling in fields west of Anderby Marsh. Cuckoo calling at Anderby Creek. Spoonbill, Little Ringed Plover and 7 Ringed Plover on Anderby Marsh. 19th May: 4 Spoonbill, Cuckoo, Turnstone, 2 Redshank, 2 Dunlin and 31 Ringed Plover on Anderby Marsh. Little Ringed Plover on Sandilands Golf Course. 1 Spoonbill and 2 Wigeon on Huttoft Pit. Green Woodpecker in Anderby. Flock of 10 Arctic Terns, Hobby, Great Northern Diver and 4 Sandwich Tern flying north, 2 Barnacle Goose and 2 Hobby flying south. 20th May: 2 Spoonbill and 2 Wigeon on Huttoft Pit. 127 Ringed Plover, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 8 Dunlin, 4 Spoonbill, Curlew, 2 Grey Plover, 3 Avocet, Hobby, Barn Owl, Marsh Harrier pair and 4 Redshank on Anderby Marsh. Nightjar just south of Wolla car park. Also a Kentish Plover flying south near the car park. Red Kite over Huttoft village. Little Owl on telegraph pole in Anderby Creek. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: 3rd & 17th; June, 1st & 15th; July, 5th & 19th; August, 2nd & 16th; September, 7th & 21st, October, 4th; November margaretwestcott7@hotmail.co.uk https://butterfly-conservation.org/in-your-area/lincolnshire-branch/chambers-farm-wood-butterfly-garden *** Lincolnshire Dormouse Group *** lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com Gemma Watkinson writes… The permit has been received and the above dates have been confirmed for the box checks this season. Jun Sat 21st Jul Sun 20th Aug Sat 16th Sep Sun 21st Oct Sat 18th In April, only two dormice were found, both males. A torpid 15.5g male was found but there was no nest in the box. The other dormouse was also a torpid male, in a woven nest (new since boxes were cleaned out over winter) and was quite clearly fur clipped. Our records show that he was clipped in October 2024, and this is the first definite confirmation that fur clipping can remain visible over the winter season. His weight was 20.5g compared to 32g last autumn, so he has lost just over a third of his body weight during hibernation, which is typical according to PTES. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The NNR includes the following sites: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chambers Farm Woods (comprises Ivy Wood; Little and Great Scrubbs Woods; Minting Wood; Hatton Wood, Hatton Plantation and Minting Park; and also three areas of grassland: Little Scrubbs Meadow and extension), Small Meadow and Big Meadow. Since all have their own management plans, please give the actual location when reporting). College Wood; Cocklode & Great West Woods; Hardy Gang Wood; Newball Wood; Rand Wood; Scotgrove Wood; Southrey Wood and Wickenby Wood. Many of these include both areas of ancient woodland or important grassland. Many are also designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Records which provide a six-figure grid reference are of particular value to the Forestry Commission. Other woods included in the NNR but without public access: Stainfield Wood; Stainton & Fulnetby Woods (access by public bridle way only). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. OTHER RESERVE REPORTS AND HIGHLIGHTS. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Discover Woodland Trust woods near you- including the best woods for walks, wildlife watching, family fun and heritage. https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/#=undefined&view=map Lincolnshire County Council - Local Nature Reserves https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/coast-countryside/nature-reserves Links to "Other Reserves" are welcome. Your suggestions, please. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. Earthquake shakes Yorkshire Dales village https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4ge3ywnxxro Solving the mystery of a dinosaur mass grave at the 'River of Death' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0k3x8lmje1o The Fascinating Geology of Lincolnshire: A Deep Dive https://www.ncesc.com/geographic-pedia/what-is-the-geology-of-lincolnshire/ 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/ 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 *** This Assassin Bug Uses Chemical Trick as Fake Emergency Call to Lure Bees to Their Death https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/animals-ecology/this-assassin-bug-uses-chemical-trick-as-fake-emergency-call-to-lure-bees-to-their-death/ Water voles are almost extinct - could glitter save them? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czx08exwp97o Mosquito-borne killer disease threatens blackbirds https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj3x6v05ly6o Decades-long mystery of ginger cats revealed https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwywdjjgvqqo Will this woman be the first Briton to walk on the Moon? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czxyv3z710do Wild chimpanzees filmed using forest 'first aid' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqj7ln85vxwo Celtic rainforest facing species 'extinction crisis' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c7873ynnn57o Buglife, solitary bee week https://www.buglife.org.uk/bugs/solitary-bee-week/ *** Mail Fails *** None ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/