============================================ || || Wildnews Bulletin || 28th 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. AnchorAnchor Gibraltar Point, Coastal Country Park 5. Bardney Limewoods NNR: Chambers Farm Wood. 6. Other Reserve Reports - links. 7. Sending in Bulletin Reports - contributors please read! 8. Contact information - recorders and specialists... 9. Notes about these wildlife reports. 10. Bulletin publicity policy. 11. Events Diary - what's on. 12. ...and finally. Mostly national/international wildlife stories. ============================================ To interest new readers you can use the "Forward to a Friend" link at the end of every Bulletin, or suggest anyone interested visits the LNU and signed up that way. https://lnu.org/publications/wildnews-bulletin/ Reports here are open. They are available to county recorders of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union; Lincolnshire Bird Club and Lincolnshire Environmental Record Centre [LERC]. Compare earlier years/months. Past Bulletins archive [in text format] from 2009: http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union or associated organisations. Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. ============================================ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. INFORMATION, EVENTS, NEWS AND REQUESTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Editor [Phil] writes: I was interested to see the local news item about the webs of the Spindle Ermine moth larvae, contributed on the very week when we spotted it in our garden at Bardney for the first time in at least 20 years in which the plant has been with us. The village gardens provide many evergreen horticultural spindle varieties, but I have never seen them affected. The leaves look quite tough, and the vast majority of them are variegated, which may be more to the point. The variegations have little or no chlorophyll and are presumably less nutritious(?). It may be no coincidence that the abundant holly leaf-mining fly Phytomyza ilicis almost never chooses variegated leaves on which to lay its eggs in my experience. The article reassures us that we are not in danger of rashes from the webs that the colonial larvae spin to camouflage themselves. Many people are aware off the similar webs produced by the Brown-tail moth which contain rash-forming hairs from the bodies of the larvae. Seriously allergic people can be very badly affected by contact with the hairs. AnchorAnchorAnchorAnchorAnchorAnchorAnchorAnchorAnchorAnchorAnchorAnchorAnchorAnchorAnchorAnchorAnchor Phil Porter's email is: philporterento@outlook.com Roger Parsons' email is: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk The Bulletin Portal -past Bulletins archive [in text format] from 2009. http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html BTO's tracked Cuckoos Latest updates https://www.bto.org/cuckoos Loch of the Lowes SWT Webcam https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/watch-wildlife-online/loch-of-the-lowes-webcam/ *** NATURE CALLING *** A new large-scale art piece launching in the Lincolnshire Wolds. INSTAR’s ‘Shelf Life’ https://www.naturecalling.org.uk/artist/shelf-life is an expansive artistic project for the Lincolnshire Wolds National Landscape. It challenges and explores the possibility for a sustainable balance between modern day farming and protecting and enhancing nature. Using print, billboards and film, the artists open a conversation concerning pressures on natural habitats and farming within the Lincolnshire Wolds landscape for Nature Calling. *** LEARN A NEW SPECIES AND BOOST LINCOLNSHIRE’S NATURAL HISTORY RECORD! *** Colin Smith, LNU President writes… A core function of the LNU is to encourage wildlife recording. We would like everyone’s help to fill in the recording gaps for some of the more common Lincolnshire species. Each fortnight we will introduce a species with a link to a current distribution map and details of the species to look out for. Please look out for the species in your area or when you are out and about in the County. You can record what you see on: https://irecord.org.uk/ This is the LNU’s chosen digital platform for biological recording. It is free to register with and easy to use, but if you have any difficulty get in touch via the LNU website and we will try to help. There is a comprehensive guide to getting started on the iRecord home page above. Click on Help. After a month, details of the records received and an updated map will be Issued here on your Bulletin. On iRecord, you will have access to millions of wildlife records from across the UK, and will be able to organise your own records within its database. Please do join in and record these species and any others you find. Take the best close-up picture you can. The next 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: *** Watch: Cygnets hatch on the River Freshney https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/czr8y802xkno Don't Worry About Ermine Webs https://butterfly-conservation.org/news-and-blog/dont-worry-about-ermine-webs Man, 60, dies attempting to help children in sea- off Ingoldmells https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgdvd8lz41o Louth canal back in use after 100 years https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0qg8gk9vx2o Plaque for Spitfire crash pilot to be unveiled - Market Stainton https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwywwlzwjkyo Disposable barbeques 'significant' cause of fires https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn0g5wl72rro New Reform council abolishes flood committee https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg71j9mgdvvo Watch lost in shipwreck comes home after 165 years - Boston https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqj7qy9572xo Shop owner sold stuffed endangered species - Boston https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czxywgll07qo Dog park to double up as wildflower meadow - Grantham https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckg77x5z7x9o Biodiesel plant 'needs support' to avoid closing - Immingham https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgq4q5gq14o Thames Water fined £122.7m in biggest ever penalty https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgeg5vy9q8eo Environmental rules reviewed for small housebuilders https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgr54q5yzkzo *** 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 29th May - Sunday 1st June Headline: Showers with light winds today, rain overnight. Thursday: A cloudy start with some outbreaks of rain. Some drier and brighter spells developing in the afternoon, with some sunny intervals. Rather warm. Strong gusty winds throughout. Maximum temperature 23 °C. Outlook for Friday to Sunday: Partly cloudy Friday, a chance of light rain or showers. A dry start Saturday, a band of heavy showers later. Becoming windy Sunday with further heavy showers. Warm. UK long range weather forecast Sunday 1st June - Tuesday 10th June Continuing changeable with further frontal systems running east into the UK bringing further spells of rain, with showery interludes in-between. Strong winds may also develop at times, particularly towards the northwest. With time, the signs are that systems will increasingly track to the northwest of the country, with the south probably starting to see longer, drier interludes while the northwest continues to see more in the way of rain and at times strong winds, Temperatures are expected to be around or a little above normal overall, but will be cooler in any prolonged periods of rainfall. Meanwhile, there is the possibility of some very warm or even hot conditions developing later in this period, especially in the south, and these bring with them the chance of thunderstorms. AnchorAnchorAnchorAnchorAnchor *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** Scientists in a race to discover why our Universe exists https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjwvgevjjl6o Night Sky - RMG - highlights - June 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 *** *** THE SCUNTHORPE AND BRIGG LOCAL GROUP OF THE LINCOLNSHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST *** Keith Scarrott writes… Our annual guided walk at Messingham Sand Quarry is on Saturday, 7th June, starting at 2pm. We meet in the car park Grid Ref. SE 910 032. All are invited to this event which will be led by local experts in the fields of botany and entomology. Our local MSQ nature reserve has several different habitats to study nature including large ponds where many different birds can be observed. This event usually lasts about 2 hours. It is a combined event with the Natural History and Geology Section of the Scunthorpe Museum Society. Please wear suitable clothing especially if it is raining, which will cause the event to be cancelled if heavy and threatens to be long lasting. Please note that dogs are not allowed on the reserve. *** LINCOLN RSPB PEREGRINE WATCH *** Volunteer opportunities available for people who are passionate about wildlife and conservation. Lincoln RSPB are running the Peregrine Watch at Lincoln Cathedral again this year. All weekends in June, July and August starting on 31st May. Prior experience isn’t necessary, enthusiasm and reliability is more important. For more information contact: Gwen M Randall, Volunteer Co-ordinator gwen.randall@lincolnrspb.org.uk *** SOUTH LINCOLNSHIRE RSPB GROUP*** "Waders of The Wash" An illustrated Slideshow Talk by local RSPB Volunteer and photographer Jeremy Eyeons showcasing the wide variety of waders which can be found around the Wash estuary. Wednesday 24th September 2025 at 7-30pm at Boston Tennis Club. Full details at https://group.rspb.org.uk/southlincolnshire/ *** SOUTH LINCS RSPB GROUP *** Dates for their 2025 programme of "Bird and Seal Watching Cruises" aboard The Boston Belle into The Wash estuary. There are 12 cruises scheduled for 2025 starting on Easter Monday and ending in October. Full details including availability, dates, costs, booking etc. are on the website. https://group.rspb.org.uk/southlincolnshire/ AnchorAnchor STAYING SAFE Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary... Bird flu: Defra advice to the general public is to leave corpses alone and report the findings - but landowners should dispose of birds themselves. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bird-flu-latest-situation-avian-influenza-prevention-zone-declared-across-great-britain Lyme Disease reminder https://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/zoonoses-data-sheets/lyme-disease.pdf Road works and hold-ups https://roadworks.org/ Met Office Severe Warnings https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings Met Office Severe Weather E-mail Service - sign up http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/guide-to-emails EasyTide http://easytide.ukho.gov.uk/EasyTide/EasyTide/index.aspx Environment Agency Flood Warnings - Lincolnshire https://www.google.com/search?q=government+flood+warnings+lincolnshire Environment Agency Flood Information/Floodline - sign up https://www.gov.uk/sign-up-for-flood-warnings ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2. WILDLIFE HIGHLIGHTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Bird News from Rare Bird Alert *** Rare Bird Alert has kindly given permission to reproduce their pager reports. A big thank you from us all. Readers interested in a pager - look at the RBA website: http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/ For RBA's excellent articles: https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/RealData/Articles.asp 20/5/2025 Alkborough Flats, 2 Garganey. 1drk behind Trent hide. 10 Spoonbills, 5 ads. East Halton Marshes, Little Gull 1s at Winter's Pond. Frampton Marsh, 2 Curlew Sandpipers on Middle Scrape from 360 Hide, Little Stint. Gibraltar Point, Glossy Ibis flew south 2 Spoonbills on Tennyson's Sands. Little Stint. Rimac, Temminck's Stint on pool north of car park.* Whisby Nature Park, Golden Oriole singing west of Willow Lake. 4 Turnstones. Sanderling. Wolla Bank, Nightjar male on coastal footpath just south of car park, then flew west.. 21/5/2025 East Halton Marshes, Buff-breasted Sandpiper on 1st pool north of Winter's Pond. Little Gull 1s at Winter's Pond. Frampton Marsh, 2 Garganey, 1drk on wet grassland viewed from sea wall, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, 6 Spoonbills. Gibraltar Point, 3 Spoonbills. Rimac, Temminck's Stint on pool north of car park. 22/5/2025 Anderby Creek, Wood Sandpiper. Frampton Marsh, 2 Curlew Sandpipers on Reedbed from visitor centre. Gibraltar Point, Quail flushed from North Saltings, Spotted Redshank. at Tennyson's Sands, 3 Spoonbills Rimac, Temminck's Stint on scrape north of car park. 23/5/2025 Frampton Marsh, Temminck's Stint on Reedbed. Wood Sandpiper on Reedbed from visitor centre. Gibraltar Point, Black Redstart at visitor centre. Temminck's Stint on scrape north of car park, Spoonbill on saltmarsh lagoon.. 24/5/2025 Deeping St James, Little Tern at East Pit, Deeping Lakes, flew towards river. Rimac, Spoonbill on saltmarsh lagoon. 25/5/2025 Frampton Marsh, Little Stint on main lagoon. Gibraltar Point, Spoonbill. Rimac, Spoonbill. 26/5/2025 Frampton Marsh, Little Stint on Reedbed from visitor centre. 5 Spoonbills, Curlew Sandpiper. Gibraltar Point, Spoonbill. Sutton-on-Sea, Honey Buzzard flew west over Crabtree Lane. 27/5/2025 Anderby Creek, Green-winged Teal at Anderby Marsh. Alkborough Flats, Temmink's Stint on Trent Flash tho distant. Gibraltar Point, Red-necked Phalarope on Jackson's March north of Sykes Farm. 2 Spoonbills. Caspian Gull 1s in Tennyson's Sands opposite beach car park. 28/12/2025 Anderby Creek, Green-winged Teal at Anderby Marsh, north end. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. MESSINGHAM SE 894 036 A159 road Keith Scarrott Small Hedgehog roadkill MESSINGHAM SE 892 029 A159 road. Keith Scarrott Badger roadkill Request from Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue Can You Help Us? We’re mapping wildlife fatality hotspots on roads to help improve safety for both animals and drivers. Over time, this data could support efforts to work with local authorities to make high-risk areas safer. If you come across a deceased animal or are aware of one, please report the location—when it’s safe to do so—by: Dropping a pin on the map provided Sharing a What3Words location Providing the street name While we are unable to collect deceased wildlife, your information could help prevent future incidents. Thank you! Please share to help spread the word. Report deceased wildlife on the link below: https://form.jotform.com/.../report-roadside-deceased... *** County Wildlife Reports from Readers *** We rely on readers to send in observations and welcome records from everyone, experts to beginners. Please keep your reports coming. BARDNEY - THE GREEN TF120694 R + A Parsons w/o 26/5/25 Blackbird 2m.1f Blue Tit - 2 Chaffinch Collared Dove 3 Domestic Pigeon 10+ Dunnock 2 Goldfinch House Sparrow 8+ Jackdaw 12+ - Pied Wagtail m Robin Starling flock 12+ with perhaps 10-12 juveniles Wood Pigeon 6 Wren Swifts and Housemartins over. 24/5/2025 - Small Magpie moth found of doorstep, near churchyard. Very distinctive. Small Magpie:Anania hortulata https://butterfly-conservation.org/moths/small-magpie Bats heard @ 545 and 5kHz 23/5 at 9.30pm, 10pm and 25/5 12.pm and 3.pm 27/5 at 3.30am - lots of sporadic activity on bat detector @ 55kHz. BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 Phil and Mary Porter 23rd May 2025 We have recently discovered a moderate infestation of Spindle Ermine moths Yponomeuta cagnagella on our Spindle tree. The tree has enough problems being increasingly pressed for space between a spreading apple tree and Mary’s millennium Oak but natural processes are the order of the day in our garden wherever possible. We will observe and monitor, but as the tiny larvae and their webs grow, total defoliation is a real possibility. We look to parasites and birds to assist in avoiding this. Talking of natural processes, along with a lot of people, I imagine, we suffer from our garden meadow wildflowers being swamped by increasing proportions of the more vigorous grass species. Last year we got a bit slack and an extra tall sward just collapsed flat in the autumn, then we started to worry about hibernating invertebrates, so it didn’t get cleared until spring. This year I am applying a novel notion which I have tried before by donning my gardening gloves and pretending I am a cow! The area is not too great so it is just about practical. I wander through the meadow and grab hold of handfuls of the tallest grasses and yank, like a cow does with its tongue. By doing a bit most days, I think I get the effect of selective cattle grazing and the compost heap gets supplied too. Mary saw a Blackbird seize a newt out of the pond and maul it to death. This is the third time we have seen this over the 25 years we have been here (the first time involved a Great Crested Newt!). 25th May 2025 We had 2 Small Tortoiseshells today which is always a treat these days and a grasshopper nymph was a first for the year, but it seems that the first generation of Holly Blues has come to an end. 26th May 2025 A pair of Starlings with nest nearby made several visits for food at the edge of the pond. An unfamiliar event this year! 27th May 2025 Mary heard a Cuckoo from the garden. Song is no longer regular. 1 bat at 21.47. 28th May 2025 Cinnabar moth, Mint moth, Orange tips still around. Azure Damselfly. Marsh Bedstraw and Marsh Cinquefoil just about in flower around pond. BARDNEY VILLAGE Allotments, cemetery and surroundings TF124693 Phil and Mary Porter 26th May 2025 Within this complex there is a large expanse of grassland, 270 meters by 175 meters, which is allowed to grow freely during the summer and is mowed in early autumn. On a breezy day the fescue-dominated sward was rippling in a most pleasing way and there was a good scattering of yellow composites, mostly Beaked Hawksbeard with some Cat’s-ear. Setting aside the backdrop, you could imagine yourself on the edge of a grassy heath. So we were amazed when a Small Heath butterfly flew briefly, and then two more further around the path. This getting to be a scarce species. Mary also glimpsed a blue butterfly. Bird’s-foot Trefoil grows in a seeded patch of mixed wild flowers nearby so Common Blue seems the most likely species. A Green Woodpecker called briefly from an adjoining horse paddock. Back at the carpark I saw a Tiger Cranefly, probably Nephrotoma flavescens. 28th May 2025 Two of the Small Heath still present in their respective areas so they are not moving around much and sticking to the edge of the grassland area where there are adjacent trees/hedges. Also 1 Small Tortoiseshell and 2 Buzzards. A Yellowhammer sang from a horse paddock. BLANKNEY WALK South-westwards from the carpark at Blankney Moor Lane TF074605 Phil and Mary Porter 23rd May 2025 The abundant large Sycamores were glistening with honeydew emanating from the incalculable numbers of aphids that were hiding on the undersides of almost every leaf. There were also some leaf galls to be seen. I identified Aceria pseudoplatani and A. cephalonia, both caused by mites living in hairy pockets on the undersides of the leaves which have recognisable characteristics on the upper side. On Lime leaves, in the same way, another species of mite Eriophyes exiis, was also at work. We heard a guild of birds which we find are typical here, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch and Goldcrest, among others. Plenty of Blackcaps were singing strongly. A noisy over-flying Oystercatcher was unusual to see. A party of young Long-tailed Tits, about 3 meters up, included one which froze for a couple of minutes with its tail spread. We hoped it was a ploy to avoid attention rather than an illness. Meadow flowers were few and far between, being parched in the grassland, but we saw Lady’s Bedstraw, Lesser Stitchwort and Field Stitchwort making the best of it here and there. Sadly, a deer had died after being trapped halfway through stock-fencing. To be fair, most of the fence had been augmented by a fine mesh for much of its length, but a small section was missing. BOSTON My garden TF338441 Tracey Lenton The Wild Front Garden May 2025: The early spring flowering plants are now seeding, forget-me-nots continued to flower well into the month. In flower: Cleavers, creeping buttercup, elderflower, herb bennet, ox-eye daisy, purple toadflax (non-native but good for insects) and white bryony. Insects: Bumble bees, pale bottomed and carder, Hoverflies - marmalade, marsh tiger and migrant - last 2 id by Phil Porter, thank you, different fly species, Ladybirds 2-spot, 14 spot and harlequin, Small tortoiseshell butterfly. Moths and likely the caterpillars of moths are on the elderflower bush. Other: Snails and wood-lice numerous on the ground, hedgehog droppings seen once. Jobs: Weeding out big plants - great willow herb and some thistles as they are too large for this area, limiting spread of cleavers and white bryony. I am creating a pathway through the garden to bring an element of design and accessibility. Back garden: 17/05/2025: 2 Collared dove fledglings appeared out of the blossom tree, the following day there was only one, there were no signs of predation, I don't know what happened. The other chick has been seen daily in the tree and is now flying around with an adult. Hedgehog seen 21/05/2025 at 00:30 and 24/05/2025 at 23:30 CARLTON LE MOORLAND SK909581 Jeremy Hutchinson The first Swallows and House Martins arrived on 24th April, which is later than usual, Swifts on 6th May which is about normal. 7th May first Hobby (female) flew low overhead A Cuckoo has been calling to the west of the village for the last week or so, but once was calling in Norton Disney Woods at the end of the third week of April. I saw a male Cuckoo on the wing on 15th May on Navenby Lane, Bassingham. Heard it again today (20/5). Of the four Rook nests in newly-established colony in a nearby Ash tree, two were destroyed in high winds on 17th April. A week later a third nest vanished despite no particularly strong winds: its fate is a mystery to me. The remaining nest appears to have been successful. A few days ago I noticed for the first time a Woodpecker hole in the same tree, which appears to be recently created, and I have now heard young birds calling to be fed. I went to have a look at the nest on 19th May, and having just focused my binoculars on the hole was lucky enough to see one of the parents arrive to feed them. For 45 years we have had Starlings nesting under the hip tiles of our roof, but last year they chose not to, nor have they this year. There are still Starlings about, including recently-fledged young, so why they no longer nest here is a mystery, nothing has obviously changed. 21st May - Red Kite, first I have seen here for some time. So far it seems to be a good year for insects, judging by the spatter on many cars. On 20th May there was a Painted Lady taking an interest in some recently-opened Valerian in the garden, which I'm sure is the earliest that I have ever seen one. Mint moths are numerous, and I've seen several Robber Flies recently. CHAMBERS FARM WOOD BUTTERFLY GARDEN TF147740 Margaret Westcott May 2025 Our two work party days in May have seen the garden transform itself into a green haven. Interspersed are clumps of Sweet Rocket, a great favourite with the Orange-tip, stately Flag Iris and an impressive giant-sized Angelica. The latter has proved a magnet for small invertebrates. We hope it sets seeds for next year. Brimstone butterflies are laying on the Alder Buckthorn, and already the larvae are visible and impressing our visitors. With such dry weather, the pond looks a bit sad, but already the damselflies are laying, and early dragonflies spotted. We are restricting mowing to basic access paths, and the buttercups are thriving. Butterflies seen this month include Green-veined Whites, Brimstones, Orange-tips, Marsh Fritillaries and Common Blue. Other invertebrates include plant bugs, a longhorn moth, Dark Bush Cricket nymphs, Ruby-tailed Wasp, crab spider and Nursery-web Spider. A big 'thank you' to our volunteers. Next gardening dates are June 3rd and 17th. FAR INGS Angela Buckle 26th May. Cleavers, Meadow vetchling, Bladder campion, Sea beet, Water figwort, Weld, Smooth sow thistle, Hedge mustard, Wild celery, White bryony, White campion, Meadow cranesbill, Large white butterfly, Green veined white, Common blue, Cardinal beetle. KINGERBY BECK MEADOWS Angela Buckle 21st May. Cow parsley, Rough chervil, Wood avens, Crosswort, Black bryony, Creeping buttercup, Ground-ivy, Meadow buttercup, Yellow rattle, Red clover, Pignut, Bird’s-foot trefoil, Common knapweed, Cat’s-ear, Oxeye daisy, Adders-tongue fern, Frog orchid, 1 Southern marsh-orchid, Common mouse-ear, Bulbous buttercup, Cowslip, Fairy flax, Hogweed, Bugle, Common vetch, Garlic mustard, Common blue butterflies. METHERINGHAM DELPH TF155651 to TF108622 Colin Smith and Tim Dorrington 22/05/2025 This is a wildlife haven but the footpath is very uneven and waist high in vegetation in most places. Birds included Cuckoo, Reed Bunting (nest found), Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Kingfisher, Cattle Egret, Marsh Harrier. Cormorant and Black-headed Gull. The gulls were at the Witham end and playing at being swallows swooping over the water catching mayflies Ephemera vulgata were the species we saw. Lots of dragonflies, Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans, Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum, Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum, Common Hawker Aeshna juncea and Banded Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens. A host of other insects including Chloriona glaucescens which is an unusual plant hopper feeding on the reeds and plenty of Red-and-black Froghopper Cercopis vulnerata. WILLINGHAM WOODS Angela Buckle 20th May. Wood avens, Black medick, Common vetch, Field horsetail, Star of Bethlehem, Ground elder, Brooklime, Pignut, Sanicle, Hedge mustard. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Anchorhttps://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.com/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE DUNES NNR including DONNA NOOK ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/saltfleetby-theddlethorpe-dunes https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/38015?category=59026 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Owen Beaumont Tel: 07900264428 Reserve Manager Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR part of the Lincolnshire Coronation Coast NNR Sea View Road, Saltfleetby St. Clements, LN11 7TR www.gov.uk/natural-england Twitter @NEEastMidlands 210525 – turtle dove flew south over the dunes south of Crook Bank, and 20+ house martin flew north on the inland side of the dunes in 30 minutes. 2 cuckoos around Crook Bank dunes. Temminck’s stint and common sandpiper on Rimac car park scrape. 220525 – Temminck’s stint and common sandpiper still on Rimac car park scrape feeding around muddy edges. Female pintail, 48 mallard, 2 gadwall and great white egret on Rimac freshwater marsh scrape. Flock of 27 linnet feeding around Sear’s Track. 230525 – both the Temminck’s stint and common sandpiper remained on Rimac car park scrape. Jay flew south over Rimac dunes mid-morning. 2 hobby hawking between Churchill Lane and Rimac late afternoon. Great white egret on Rimac freshwater marsh scrape, later joined by a spoonbill which flew in after feeding on Rimac saltmarsh lagoon along with 2 avocet and 3 little egret. Male ring ouzel flushed from scrub south of Rimac and gave a short burst of song before disappearing. Goldcrest and mistle thrush singing in trees bordering the dunes at Brickyard Lane, and turtle dove still in the area. Butterflies – 4 wall, 4 green hairstreak, large skipper Rimac-MOD. 240525 – the first meaningful rainfall since 21st April, with 6.6mm overnight. 3 whimbrel on Rimac car park scrape in the afternoon but no sign of the Temminck’s stint. 2 turtle dove territories in the Brickyard Lane area and buzzard with chicks in nest in trees bordering the dunes. 250525 – grasshopper warbler reeling close to Rimac saltmarsh viewing platform mid-morning. 4 whimbrel on Sea View saltmarsh and 2 swift flew over. 260525 – barnacle goose on Rimac car park scrape and grasshopper warbler again reeling by Rimac saltmarsh viewpoint. 5 red kite drifting south together over Rimac dunes mid-morning. 30 swift flew south over Mablethorpe North End in an hour mid-afternoon. 270525 – great white egret again on Rimac freshwater marsh scrape. Grasshopper warbler reeling at Rimac. Cetti’s warbler at Churchill Lane. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 21st May: Anderby Marsh had Curlew Sandpiper, 64 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, 7 Avocet, Kittiwake, 3 Little Gull, Sanderling, Wood Sandpiper and Redshank. 22nd May: Little Gull, Curlew Sandpiper, 84 Ringed Plover, 2 Little Ringed Plover, Wood Sandpiper, 2 Avocet, Turnstone, Sanderling, 2 Yellow Wagtail, Spoonbill and 8 Dunlin on Anderby Marsh, with 21 Swift, 14 House Martin and 3 Swallow flying about. 24th May: Anderby Marsh was showing 41 Ringed Plover, 12 Avocet, 12 Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin, Little Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Yellow-legged Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Little Gull and Spoonbill. 2 Great White Egret at Huttoft Pit. 25th May: 16 Avocet, 7 Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper and Little Gull on Anderby Marsh. Egyptian Goose flying south, Wheatear flying north along the dunes. 26th May: 2 Cuckoo and a singing Willow Warbler at Chapel Six Marshes. 20 Avocet, Spoonbill, 10 Ringed Plover, 4 Dunlin, Water Rail, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, pair of Wigeon, 3 Buzzard, White Wagtail and 2 Little Ringed Plover on Anderby Marsh. A Hobby flying south over the Marsh and a Raven over the fields. 27th May: 471 Manx Shearwater flying south with 32 flying north out at sea. 2 Egyptian Goose and Willow Warbler at Chapel Six Marshes. At Anderby Marsh there are Green-winged Teal, 28 Dunlin, 20 Avocet, Common Sandpiper, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Little Ringed Plover, 9 Little Egret, 12 Coot, Spoonbill, Yellow Wagtail and White Wagtail. 2 Spoonbill on Huttoft Pit. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. BARDNEY LIMEWOODS NNR ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ These cover a huge area. Reports always welcome. The history of the Lincolnshire Limewoods: https://www.forestryjournal.co.uk/features/19111877.lincolnshire-limewoods/ The Forestry Commission visitor advice: https://www.forestryengland.uk/article/coronavirus-visitor-guide ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch: https://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html *** Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire *** Chambers Farm Wood Butterfly Garden Volunteers Gardening days for 2025. , 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). AnchorAnchor ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. OTHER RESERVE REPORTS AND HIGHLIGHTS. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Discover Woodland Trust woods near you- including the best woods for walks, wildlife watching, family fun and heritage. https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/#=undefined&view=map Lincolnshire County Council - Local Nature Reserves https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/coast-countryside/nature-reserves Links to "Other Reserves" are welcome. Your suggestions, please. Boston Woods Trust https://www.bostonwoods.co.uk/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7. SENDING IN BULLETIN REPORTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The purpose of the Bulletin is to encourage biological recording in Lincolnshire. We aim to increase the number of people reporting observations to Recorders or via iRecord. https://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/ The Bulletin is a FREE service. We ask you to provide reports, questions, news or relevant articles from time to time. Descriptive pieces are welcome. You don't have to stick to lists! Please help us to help you. When sending in reports please follow this layout to save re-editing: Place Name: IN CAPITALS with Grid Reference if you have it. Your Name: Real names please, not aliases. Put it in each time, for each location Date: Species list [Alphabetical?] & numbers [and observations?] e.g. Blackbird - 24 [And please, no home-grown abbreviations. Species Names in full.] Bulletin mailing times may vary. It usually goes out on Wednesdays/ Thursdays in time for the weekend. Please e-mail in contributions to the editor as early as possible. Tuesday latest. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8. CONTACTS AND USEFUL WEBSITES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Links "not to be missed" *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. CONTACTS LIST *** Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union *** LNU Website: http://lnu.org/ LNU Twitter feed https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist LNU e-mail: info@lnu.org Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust: https://twitter.com/LincsWildlife Lincs Bird Club: https://twitter.com/Lincsbirding LBC County Bird Recorder: recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk The Sir Joseph Banks Society: https://twitter.com/sirjosephbanks Lincolnshire Bat Group: http://www.lincsbatgroup.co.uk/ Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch: https://twitter.com/BC_Lincolnshire Lincsbirders: https://twitter.com/lincsbirders Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project: Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Trust: https://lincolnshirechalkstreamstrust.org.uk/ South Lincolnshire Flora Group: https://bsbi.org/south-lincolnshire-v-c-53 The Wolds Fungi Group: Contact Paul Nichol via email: nichol20@gmail.com Lincolnshire Dormouse Group: Contact: lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com FIGHTING WILDLIFE CRIME Wildlife Crime https://www.lincs.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/wc/wildlife-crime/ AnchorAnchor SPECIES IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. LNU Recorders and Specialists: https://lnu.org/specialists/ Downloads of LNU books: https://lnu.org/publications/books/ Recording with "iRecord": https://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/ iRecord is recommended by the LNU as an appropriate platform for on-line recording When asking for help: Please give the very best information you can provide. If you are not sure, ask what is needed from you to confirm identification. Photographs are helpful but not every species can be identified from a photograph. When asked for further details,get back to the recorder promptly. Don't forget a thank you for the help. That is always welcomed. Local Bat Helpline Grounded bats, bat problems, advice and information. Contact the new Lincolnshire Bat Group co-ordinator as above: Email: info@lincsbatgroup.co.uk Or by phone on 01526 344726, who will be able to help you. Confidential Bat Records You may send confidential bat records direct to the above, who will make sure they are securely passed on to the new recorder. Slug ID Help Chris du Feu will help with slug identification. Tel: 01383 669 124 Email: chris.r.dufeu@gmail.com USEFUL WILDLIFE LINKS Please copy and paste URLs if necessary. How to identify diving ducks | The Wildlife Trusts https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife/how-identify/how-identify-diving-ducks Dragonfly Identification help https://british-dragonflies.org.uk/odonata/species-and-identification/ Bat Identification https://www.bats.org.uk/about-bats/what-are-bats/uk-bats/ NHBS - Frequencies of British Bats https://media.nhbs.com/equipment/British%20Bat%20Frequencies.pdf Lincolnshire Badger Group https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093647842292 Email: lincolnshirebadgergroup@hotmail.com Lincs Environmental Records Centre: http://www.glnp.org.uk/ Natural England: http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ NHBS - Natural history equipment or books.https://www.nhbs.com/ The Flora of Lincolnshire by Joan Gibbons:downloadable LNU book Atlas of the terrestrial and semi-aquatic Mammals of Lincolnshire *** For the Geologists *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary Lincolnshire Geodiversity Group: https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/discovering/geology-1 Geology of the Lincolnshire Wolds: https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/special-features/geology The Geology of Lincolnshire: downloadable LNU book UK Fossils in Lincolnshire https://ukfossils.co.uk/category/lincolnshire/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9. NOTES ABOUT THESE WILDLIFE REPORTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We do our best to ensure accuracy in our reporting. However, records are sent in by a variety of reporters; from complete beginners to professionals. They may vary in reliability and occasionally may be difficult or impossible to verify. If further information is needed please contact the editor: Bulletins are sent to Recorders at Lincolnshire Environmental Records Centre [GNLP], Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union and Lincolnshire Bird Club. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10. BULLETIN PUBLICITY POLICY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When submitting reports, e.g. unusual plants, please send any sensitive news directly to recorders. Not the Bulletin. We don't want to spoil things with unwise or untimely publicity. Thank you. Please respect the interests of wildlife and site owners if you report on national networks. Interest in wildlife is not a licence to act irresponsibly or thoughtlessly to landowners, who may well be partners in important conservation work. [Views expressed in the Bulletin do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of the LNU or associated organisations. In particular this applies to agencies, especially charities, taking a political stance.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 11. LNU EVENTS DIARY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Lincolnshire Naturalists Union Field Meetings *** Grimsthorpe Estate – Saturday 14th June 2025 Meet from 11.00 am – 12 Noon start – finish approx 16.00 pm. 10.30 for 11.00 start and finish about 16.00. Seacroft Dunes, Skegness - Saturday 19 July, meet from 11am, 12-4pm Theddlethorpe-Saltfleetby - Sunday 3 August, meet from 10am, 10:30-TBC AnchorAnchorAnchor ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ...AND FINALLY... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** National and International Stories *** National Trust. Watch our LIVE camera from the puffin colony on the Farne Islands, Northumberland, UK https://www.youtube.com/live/03P6cS2SXIs Pollinator Monitoring Scheme. Help us monitor pollinators with FIT (Flower-Insect Timed) Counts: https://ukpoms.org.uk/fit-counts? Plants produce more nectar when they ‘hear’ bees buzzing, scientists find https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/may/21/plants-produce-more-nectar-when-they-hear-bees-buzzing-scientists-find A Hawk in New Jersey Figured Out Traffic Signals and Used Them to Hunt AnchorAnchorAnchorAnchor https://www.zmescience.com/science/a-hawk-in-new-jersey-figured-out-traffic-signals-and-used-them-to-hunt/ Incredible moment injured monkey walks into clinic in India and shows wound to vet https://uk.news.yahoo.com/incredible-moment-injured-monkey-walks-102254340.html Residents plagued by 'a million bees' in their road https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyn0299yvno Man in Norway wakes to find huge container ship in garden https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy8nk279ydyo Tropical forests destroyed at fastest recorded rate last year https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0lnngl6713o Powerful images capture the fragility and resilience of our planet https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26635440-200-powerful-images-capture-the-fragility-and-resilience-of-our-planet/ The handy piece of maths that can help with organising chores https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26635441-000-the-handy-piece-of-maths-that-can-help-with-organising-chores/ Climate change could bring insect-borne tropical diseases to UK, scientists warn https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/may/23/climate-change-could-bring-insect-borne-tropical-diseases-to-uk-scientists-warn 7 Extraordinary Jellyfish That Prove You Don’t Need a Spine to Be Awesome https://www.zmescience.com/feature-post/natural-sciences/animals/invertebrates/7-extraordinary-jellyfish-that-prove-you-dont-need-a-spine-to-be-awesome/ Queen bees can hibernate underwater for several days without drowning https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/animals-ecology/queen-bees-can-hibernate-underwater-for-several-days-without-drowning/ *** Mail Fails *** None this week. ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/