============================================ || || Wildnews Bulletin || 5th November 2025 || News of Lincolnshire Wildlife || LNU: http://lnu.org/ || || Please email Editor on: philporterento@outlook.com || ============================================ In this issue... 1. Information, events, news and requests - mostly local. 2. Wildlife Highlights from Rare Bird Alert. 3. Wildlife reports around the county. Contributions welcome... 4. NNRs, RSPB and LWT Reserves : Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe. Gibraltar Point, Coastal Country Park 5. Bardney Limewoods NNR: Chambers Farm Wood. 6. Other Reserve Reports - links. 7. Sending in Bulletin Reports - contributors please read! 8. Contact information - recorders and specialists... 9. Notes about these wildlife reports. 10. Bulletin publicity policy. 11. Events Diary - what's on. 12. ...and finally. Mostly national/international wildlife stories. ============================================ To interest new readers please use the "Forward to a Friend" link at the end of every Bulletin, or suggest anyone interested visits the LNU website and signs up that way. https://lnu.org/publications/wildnews-bulletin/ Reports here are open. They are available to county recorders of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union; Lincolnshire Bird Club and Lincolnshire Environmental Record Centre [LERC]. Compare earlier years/months. Past Bulletins archive [in text format] from 2009: http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union or associated organisations. Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. ============================================ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. INFORMATION, EVENTS, NEWS AND REQUESTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The editor writes….. [Roger Parsons is doing the Mailchimp bit this week.] Fieldfares and Redwings haven’t arrived in in their usual numbers yet, at least not inland and I haven’t noticed large coastal arrivals in the Bulletin reports either. Presumably life is still good in Scandinavia at the moment and they don’t sense any urgency yet. I like to investigate the derivation of the scientific names of our species, but these two familiar birds have really let me down! Redwing Turdus iliacus gives us the Roman word for thrush, coupled with the name of a very specific thigh muscle, the iliacus, which presumably all similar birds possess, and in Fieldfare Turdus pilaris which means “hairy” thrush and the on-line references write this inappropriate name off as a mistranslation of some sort. So, a bit like “Black-headed Gull” really, which only looks black-headed at a distance! Phil Porter's email is: philporterento@outlook.com Roger Parsons' email is: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk The Wildlife Trusts Planning & Infrastructure Bill Amendment 130 The Lords defend nature against the Planning Bill Please look at this petition – e-mail your MP https://action.wildlifetrusts.org/page/180301/action/1?ea.tracking.id=Facebook&fbclid=IwY2xjawN0NSJleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFhYTV3djl2REd6QmQwVDNaAR5LbK1gI_jsGDOxTOTKY1gRvwEnYk78OaK6lpXKRcRLCij3rHzzXCYnAU08hA_aem_3Z4wsCZLxVYCNf01jjxA7g Donna Nook - Weekly seal 'pupdate' https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook/weekly-update If you are likely to visit the seals at Donna Nook, please consult this site before doing so to keep up to date with site requirements to ensure the welfare of the colony throughout their breeding cycle. Luke Hartley writes re. Records from LNU Field Meetings… Would attendees to send records from LNU field meetings through to me as soon as is reasonable. Any and all records are useful, they don't all have to be long and comprehensive lists! Hopefully timely records would make for a much smoother process of writing up the field meetings, and disseminating records to the landowners who have been welcoming and accommodating to us! Many thanks, Luke. hartley026@gmail.com> Su Colman writes… Nettleham Woodland Trust are looking for help in surveying for fungi at the Ashing Lane Nature Reserve - are there any Bulletin readers who are interested? If you would like to be involved, please email admin@nettlehamwoodlandtrust.co.uk BTO's tracked Cuckoos - Latest updates - south of the Sahel: https://www.bto.org/get-involved/volunteer/projects/cuckoo-tracking Loch of the Lowes SWT Webcam. https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/watch-wildlife-online/loch-of-the-lowes-webcam/ LINCOLNSHIRE CORONATION COAST NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE Delphine Suty of Natural England writes… Make a difference – volunteer with us! We are looking for individuals with good botanical skills. Your role will be to assist our team in surveying some of the rare plants on the reserve. Mainly a spring to summer activity, you will assist in the recording of the population, its location and status. The role can be done alone, with friends or other volunteers. We record data through iRecord and share with the Lincolnshire Naturalist Union and the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland We will support your mileage, equipment, and further training as these become available. Please contact us at saltfleetbytheddlethorpennr@naturalengland.org.uk *** LEARN A NEW SPECIES & BOOST LINCOLNSHIRE’S NATURAL HISTORY RECORD! *** Colin Smith, LNU President writes… A core function of the LNU is to encourage wildlife recording. We would like everyone’s help to fill in the recording gaps for some of the more common Lincolnshire species. Each fortnight we will introduce a species with a link to a current distribution map and details of the species to look out for. Please look out for the species in your area or when you are out and about in the County. You can record what you see on: https://irecord.org.uk/ This is the LNU’s chosen digital platform for biological recording. It is free to register with and easy to use, but if you have any difficulty get in touch via the LNU website and we will try to help. There is a comprehensive guide to getting started on the iRecord home page above. Click on Help. After a month, details of the records received and an updated map will be Issued here on your Bulletin. On iRecord, you will have access to millions of wildlife records from across the UK, and will be able to organise your own records within its database. Please do join in and record these species and any others you find. Take the best close-up picture you can. The next species is the Yellow Fieldcap Bolbitius titubans This is a toadstool that is quite easy to find in grassy places. As the name suggests the cap is bright yellow when young but does fade with age. They grow from rotting grass, dung and woodchip. Pictures and further information can be found at the Naturespot website:- https://www.naturespot.org/species/yellow-fieldcap Thanks to those who added records for our previous map filling species. We received 17 records from 6 recorders for the Apple Leaf Miner Lyonetia clerkella. 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: *** Anchor Bird flu outbreaks confirmed at two farms https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgzle85yd5o? AnchorAnchorAnchor Bats are seeking sanctuary in churches - but they're making an unholy mess https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy8vq5318dxo Comet caught on camera over Lancaster sculpture Norton Disney https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c20530p53z4o Bird flu measures now 'regular thing' - farmer https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyk7qezgl3o Bird flu outbreaks confirmed at two farms - Donington and Swineshead https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgzle85yd5o Public asked for views on CO₂ capture pipeline plan https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgyepk428wo Lancaster bomber touches down for maintenance work https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c797v834v2eo 'We must keep Vulcan story alive,' says last pilot https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgkz7mmjpyo Work on bypass 'could start in February' - Lincoln https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2p38zle1no Face masks back at Lincolnshire hospitals https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly99zyjny5o Anchor *** Weather News and Forecast *** https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#? East Midlands weather forecast Thursday 6th November - Sunday 9th November Variable often large amounts of cloud but some brighter spells possible. Mostly dry although a few showers possible in the east. Generally light winds. Very mild. Maximum temperature 17 °C. Outlook for Friday to Sunday: Often cloudy with drier spells, although a band of rain or showers likely later Friday and Sunday. Winds often light but fresher Sunday. Trending less mild, with some cooler nights. UK long range weather forecast Sunday 9 Nov - Tuesday 18 Nov Changeable and at times unsettled weather is likely to continue into the start of this period, with low pressure dominating the UK. This means further showery outbreaks of rain at times, though it is likely that western areas will be wettest at first. There could also be some overnight fog, which could be slow to clear through the day. A transition to a less unsettled weather pattern becomes increasingly probable from around the 11th or 12th of the month, making drier weather increasingly common, with winds turning south easterly or easterly. Any rain or showers is more likely to be focused towards the east. Temperatures most likely to be around average through the period, particularly at first, and probably overall. Anchor*** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** Bonfire Night's Beaver supermoon to be biggest and brightest of 2025 https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/articles/cj97v84gyw0o Comet Lemmon (C/2025 A6) on Comet Watch https://www.cometwatch.co.uk/ Night Sky Highlights, - November https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/space-astronomy/astronomy/night-sky-highlights-november-2025 Five celestial events to look out for this autumn https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/articles/c39rvxz4jr1o AuroraWatch UK for geomagnetic data: https://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/ Full Moons - 5th November - a Supermoon. https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/space-astronomy/full-moon-calendar-2025 Meteor shower dates - 12 November 2025 Taurid meteors https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/space-astronomy/meteor-shower-guide-2025 BBC Sky at Night Magazine website https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news Current Position of ISS https://www.astroviewer.net/iss/en/ Anchor*** For the Geologists *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary Stone tool discovery suggests very first humans were inventors https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce8zn4ln85ro 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 *** EVENTS *** *** The Natural History and Geology Section of the North Lincolnshire Museum Society. *** Our November meeting is on Monday,10th November, when our member Nicholas Crampton, a former solicitor who has worked in that capacity in Malta, is to give us an illustrated talk entitled "Combatting Bird Crime in the Mediterranean - a Tale of Two Islands". This talk deals with the dark side of nature conservation in the 21st century through the experience of two European islands where two incompatible world views, those of the modern conservationists and the equally passionate upholders of millennia-old practices, collide in a no-holds barred, no-quarter given contest, leaving national governments and an international organisation rudderless in the cross-fire and a court exposed to lethal attack by a criminal syndicate for upholding the rule of law. The meeting will take place in the St Bernadette's Church Hall, Ashby Road, Scunthorpe, DN16 2RS starting at 7.15pm. This venue is opposite the Priory Hotel on Ashby Road. There is a large, free car park just through the entrance from the road. The Church Hall is behind the Church through gates at the end of the car park. Anyone with mobility difficulties can park nearer the Church Hall entrance by using the gates on the opposite side of the Church to those near the presbytery house. Please then park beyond the entrance to enable possible emergency vehicle access. There is a £5 entrance charge for non-members of the museum society. There will be a mid-talk "comfort break" when light refreshments are available for a £1 charge. *** The Scunthorpe and Brigg Local Group of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust. *** Our November meeting is on Thursday, 13th November, when Vicky Bush, the Senior Education and Community Officer for the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, will visit us to give her illustrated talk on "Marine Plastic". Vicky has worked in Mexico where clearing the beaches of plastic items which Collected from the Pacific Ocean was a daily routine. The experience has impassioned her to reduce her use of plastic items and to pass on her knowledge to increase education about the serious pollution problem the use of plastic items has created around the world, and some ways she tries to tackle it. The meeting takes place as always in the St Hugh's Church Hall, Ashby Road, Scunthorpe, DN16 2AJ, starting at 7.30pm. This venue is opposite the Applegreen filling station on Ashby Road, near to the Brumby Crossroads traffic lights. There is a £2.50 entrance charge which includes a drink and biscuits at the mid-talk break. There is a small, free car park at the Church and at the Old Brumby United Church opposite, or on the roadside nearby. *** BOSTON AREA GROUP LWT *** Thursday 13th November at 7.30pm Talk – “Wild London” by Gill Walsh The talk will include RSPB Rainham Marshes, Epping Forest, Walthamstow Wetlands, Brent Valley, Colne Valley, Richmond and Bushy Parks, London Wetland Centre and Hutchinson's Bank. It will feature a wide variety of mammals, insects, birds and wildflowers. Venue - Centenary Methodist Church, Red Lion Street, Boston, PE21 6NY Free parking in the car park on the right hand side of the church. Interval refreshments will be served. Non-members welcome and entry is free but there will be a retiring collection. *** GRIMSBY/CLEETHORPES RSPB GROUP *** “50 years of birding in Louth. Changing times-changing birds” Monday 17th November: Speaker-Phil Espin (Chairman of Lincolnshire Bird Club) Venue: Holy Trinity Parish Hall, Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes. DN35 7LH Time: 7.30 pm. Admission: £5.00 (this includes tea/coffee and biscuits) *** GRIMSBY AND CLEETHORPES AREA GROUP LWT *** Monday 10th November - 'The North Kent Marshes' by Rolf Williams. You are invited to join the group for this talk at our next indoor meeting where Rolf will give an illustrated presentation about the history and wildlife of this area stretching from the Dartford Thames Crossing to Ramsgate. This will take place in Grimsby Town Hall DN31 1HX and starts at 7.30pm. All are welcome, admission £5. Trust Christmas cards, raffle, tea & coffee will be available. Wednesday 26th November - Grey Seals and Winter Visitors at Donna Nook. You are invited to join this guided walk led by David Ball and Carolyn Davis. Please meet at Stonebridge Car Park entrance of Donna Nook Nature Reserve at 10am. LN11 7PD. Please note that if this carpark is full, you may be directed to park in the allocated field at £5 a car. Please dress sensibly according to the weather conditions and wear stout footwear. For further information on these events please contact our secretary David Ball 07711 716063 davidballnorthhampton@gmail.com or visit our website www.grimsbywildlifetrust.org.uk. *** SOUTH LINCS RSPB GROUP *** Dates for their 2026 programme from Easter 2026 Full details including availability, dates, costs, booking etc. will be on the website. in due course. Sarah Lambert writes…. Hello everyone, The Fens East Peat Partnership led by Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust is working to restore damaged peat in the fens through re-wetting. This will help to preserve carbon stores and create wetland habitats encouraging plants and wildlife to return. They host a monthly live webinar on a range of lowland fen topics, and on November 17, Owen Mountford (a valued member of the Lincolnshire Flora Group and well-known to many of you) will talk about fenland flora. A summary of the webinar is given below - it's certain to be a very interesting hour! The Fenland Flora - Survival against the odds webinar, 17 November 1-2pm Fenland has all too often been dismissed as boring and with little biodiversity value outside the washes and a few NNRs. The Fenland Flora project, now ready for publication, has sought to document the history and present status of wild plants in Fenland, and has shown the vital importance of the region, especially for aquatic plants. In addition, relics of the past Fenland vegetation persist in unlikely places, and novel habitats support new species and communities. To book a free place go to https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-fenland-flora-survival-against-the-odds-tickets-1753814629769?aff=oddtdtcreator 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 Abbreviations Drk = drake Juv = juvenile Ad = adult 1s/w, 2s/w = first/second summer/winter (age or plumage) 27/10/2025 Deeping St James Yellow-browed Warbler at Deeping Lakes in trees by railway crossing. 2 Glossy Ibises along River Welland. Gibraltar Point, Long-tailed Skua flew south past, Little Auk flew north. Ring Ouzel. Twite Flew south. Water Pipit on The Mere. Huttoft Bank, Long-tailed Skua flew past Snow Bunting at Car Terrace. Langtoft SW of, Ferruginous Duck ad drk at West End GPs viewed from Greatford Cut. Mablethorpe, 3+ Long-tailed Skuas on sea off outfall. 28/10/2025 Deeping St James Yellow-browed Warbler at Deeping Lakes in trees by railway crossing by steps. 2 Glossy Ibises along River Welland. Gibraltar Point, 2 Lapland Buntings flew over East Dunes, Twite, Mablethorpe, 2 Long-tailed Ducks on sea off The Mermaid. Little Auk past. Saltfleet Haven, Little Auk and Black-throated Diver on sea. 29/10/2025 Deeping St James Yellow-browed Warbler at Deeping Lakes along River in trees by railway crossing by steps. 2 Glossy Ibises along River Welland opposite East Pit. Gibraltar Point, Ring Ouzel at north end of West Dunes. Huttroft Car Terrace, Snow Bunting 1w on beach, north end of car park. Mablethorpe, 2 Long-tailed Ducks off Sea View car park, 2 Scaup flew south. Rimac, 2 Water Pipits, Red-backed Shrike fem/1w male at Freshwater Marsh. Sutton on Sea. Glossy Ibis flew south - late report. 30/10/2025 Deeping St James Yellow-browed Warbler at Deeping Lakes along River in trees by railway crossing by steps. Gibraltar Point, 2 Water Pipits. Langtoft SW of, Ferruginous Duck ad drk at West End GPs viewed from Greatford Cut. Mablethorpe, Grey Phalarope flew past, 2 Long-tailed Ducks off Sea View car park., Rimac, Red-backed Shrike fem/1w male at Freshwater Marsh. 31/10/2025 Coningsby, Glossy Ibis SSE of, at Castle Dyke Bank. Gibraltar Point, Garganey on Tennyson's Sands, Red-necked Grebe, Long-tailed Duck, Black-throated Diver flew past, Water Pipit. Mablethorpe, Caspian Gull flew north past. 2 Long-tailed Duck on Sea off Seal Sanctuary, 2 Velvet Scoters. Back-throated Diver flew south past. Rimac, Red-backed Shrike fem/1w male at south end of Freshwater Marsh. 1/11/2025 Goxhill Haven, Long-tailed Duck fem/juv drk at Goxhill Marsh. Mablethorpe, Velvet Scoter drk flew north past. Rimac, Red-backed Shrike ad fem at south end of Freshwater Marsh. Water Pipit again on flood. 2/11/2025 Alkborough Flats, Richard's Pipit in sheep fields. Gibraltar Point, Water Pipit. Rimac, Red-backed Shrike ad fem at south end of Freshwater Marsh. 3/11/2025 Gibraltar Point, Garganey on Tennyson's Sand,1+ Water Pipit at The Mere. Rimac, 3 Water Pipits. 4/11/2025 Alkborough Flats, Richard's Pipit. Gibraltar Point, Garganey on Tennyson's Sands, Water Pipit at The Mere. Glossy Ibis at Fenland Lagoon ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 NORTH OF BARNETBY INTERCHANGE TA 048118 Peter Crick 01:11:2025 Roe Deer, female, side of south bound carriageway STICKNEY TF322568 Gail Cartwright 27/10/2025 Dead badger just before the bridge on the Stickney to New Bolingbroke Road, Stickney side, West Fen, Stickney, Lincolnshire, PE22 8BJ. 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 *** Thank you to all contributors. We rely on readers to send in observations and welcome reports from everyone, experts to beginners. Please keep your reports coming. BARDNEY - The Green TF120694 A & R Parsons 27/10/2025 Buzzard flew over garden, 11.45hrs Buzzard also seen on wires east of Southrey Wood 11.50hrs BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 Phil and Mary Porter 2nd November 2025 About 30 Fieldfares flew over the garden this morning. CARLTON LE MOORLAND SK909581 Jeremy Hutchinson 29/9/25 – Several Ravens in the area. 6/10/25- Muntjac walking along Sands Lane just before dusk. 7/10/25 – Red Kite being mobbed by a pair of Crows. 9/10/25 – Queen Hornet attracted to apple peelings awaiting the compost bin. 17/10/25 – Marsh Harrier (female I think) flying steadily south near east bank of Witham, an unusual sighting hereabouts. 27/10/25 – Little Owl calling at dusk. 3/11/25 – Devil's Coach Horse, the first I've seen for a very long time. FAR INGS, NESS FARM Peter Crick 01:11:2025 Quick visit to main hide early afternoon Great White Egret 1 Goldeneye 1 Mixed group c16 of Gadwall and Shoveler Sparrowhawk HARMSTON/COLEBY LOWFIELDS SK947603 Jeremy Hutchinson 27/9/25 - Barn Owl NOCTON FEN LANE (Wasps Nest Road, Bardney) TF108683 Phil and Mary Porter 31st October 2025 In breezy conditions, a Marsh Harrier drifted over the Sugar Factory Pits and Teal and Mallard took wing. Since the 2025 headland growth was mown down a few weeks ago, the soil surface has almost completely covered over with a wide variety of new seedlings. Two new additions to my previous plant list were flowering examples of Common Bugloss Lycopsis arvensis and Gallant Soldier Galinsoga parviflora, ttps://irecord.org.uk/record-details?occurrence_id=46216175 a non-native daisy-like plant from South America, named after a Spanish botanist Ignacio Mariano Martínez de Galinsoga. The name was corrupted into Gallant Soldier. It is perhaps more frequent as an urban plant of cracks and crannies in towns and cities, and these 4 plants were all growing tightly pressed against the tarmac protecting them on one side at least from the intense competition of the headland. SOUTHREY STATION (Water Rail Way downstream) TF144660 Phil and Mary Porter 1st November 2025 For some reason there was very little to comment on today but two Common Darters flew past along the Engine Drain. STIXWOULD STATION (Water Rail Way downstream) TF159648 Phil and Mary Porter 2nd November 2025 A late afternoon visit to investigate Pink-footed Goose calls that Mary heard in the west from the village hall at Stixwould the previous afternoon, indicating a good number of birds. We did see about 60 unidentified geese flying from the lane on the way to the river Witham, but there was no room to stop, and unfortunately none appeared along the Water Rail Way. We did see a Kestrel, several Long-tailed Tits, and heard the odd Redwing overhead, but the main feature was the numerous flocks of Starlings making their way upstream, totalling several hundred overall. Whooper Swans were calling a long way further west on the fen. The scrub margins along the eastern riverside path looks rather diverse and worth a visit in the spring/summer. The Hawthorns were loaded with berries but, as we have found at Southrey, the winter thrushes have not moved in significantly yet to take advantage. We had hoped to see a Barn Owl in the gathering dusk on the drive back to Bardney but were out of luck. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory https://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.com/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Donna Nook - Weekly seal 'pupdate' https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook/weekly-update If you are likely to visit the seals at Donna Nook, please consult this site before doing so to keep up to date with site requirements to ensure the welfare of the colony throughout their breeding cycle. 291025 – adult female red-backed shrike in the southern end of Rimac freshwater marsh perched on hawthorns. Also 2 water pipit late afternoon perched on hawthorns and 5 whooper swan flew towards Rimac saltmarsh. 2 stonechat Crook Bank outer dunes. 73 teal, 5 black-tailed godwit Paradise Lagoon. Great spotted woodpecker Sea View. 2 long-tailed ducks and 40 common scoter on the sea at Mablethorpe, a merlin and 2 rock pipit flew north along the beach, 2 scaup flew south over the sea and a first-winter Mediterranean gull feeding on the beach. Butterflies – red admiral Sea View. 301025 – red-backed shrike still at the south end of Rimac freshwater marsh. Raven in field west of Rimac and 7 cattle egrets with cows. Twite calls heard f rom a small group of finches flying over Rimac saltmarsh. 4 stonechat on scrub within Rimac saltmarsh and another in the dunes. 9 whooper swan flew north off Rimac saltmarsh in a single group and 12 flew south in 3 small groups. 500+ pink-footed geese flew south over the sea in several skeins, 2 siskin south and a fieldfare in-off the sea. 2 long-tailed ducks on the sea at Mablethorpe North End. Butterflies – clouded yellow Rimac. 311025 – red-backed shrike again at Rimac on the freshwater marsh. 2 long-tailed ducks Mablethorpe North End, also 2 velvet scoter which then flew south. An increase in thrushes around the dunes, and a woodcock flew from dunes north of Sea View. Greenshank flew over Sea View. Stonechat around Paradise Lagoon. 2+ twite with linnet on the foreshore south of Crook Bank, and 3 yellowhammers. Lapland bunting flushed from Crook Bank outer dunes area then flew north towards Brickyard Lane, also 3 stonechat and a jack snipe. First-winter Caspian gull flew north over the sea. Butterflies – red admiral Sea View. 011125 – red-backed shrike still at Rimac. 900 starling, 89 redwing, 67 fieldfare, 5 blackbird, 2 song thrush, 40 thrush sp., 4 lapwing, woodcock flew in-off the sea in 2 hours in the morning. Drake velvet scoter, 3 brent geese, tufted duck and 2 gannet flew north; 120 wigeon, 9 teal, 30 pintail, goldeneye, 2 red-throated diver and kittiwake flew south over the sea. 2 twite still feeding with linnet Crook Bank foreshore, plus 3 yellowhammer and 2 rock pipit. Marsh harrier flew south along the dunes. 14 crossbill flew west over the dunes at Brickyard Lane. 2 blackcap with mix of 2 goldcrest, great tits and blue tits at Sea View. Asio owl sp. still around Saltfleet Haven though elusive. Butterflies – peacock Crook bank. 021125 – red-backed shrike still at Rimac seen feeding on bees and wasps. Stonechat pair Rimac dunes. 6 cattle egret flew from cows and joined little egrets on Sea View saltmarsh late afternoon. 6 whooper swan flew south over the saltmarsh and continued down the beach, and 200+ pink-footed geese flew south over the sea. Fox flushed a water rail on Rimac saltmarsh and chased it a short distance, attracting the attention of 4 marsh harriers. Peregrine perched on outer dune ridge. 56 common gulls, 119 black-headed gulls, 36 teal, lapwing Paradise Lagoon in the morning. Grey wagtail, brambling, blackcap and 2 goldcrest Sea View. 031125 – no sign of the red-backed shrike at Rimac but 15 crossbill flew south over Rimac dunes and male stonechat still present. 8 cattle egret with cows near Rimac car park in the afternoon and a glossy ibis flew low south and continued. 3 water pipit Rimac freshwater marsh. Whooper swan landed on Rimac saltmarsh lagoon. 041125 – maximum 17.5°C throughout the day. 2 jack snipe Crook Bank outer dune area. 62 knot, 26 bar-tailed godwit and turnstone on the beach north of Mablethorpe. 19 redwing, 9 blackbirds Churchill Lane area. Kingfisher perched beside the Eau at Sea View. Hummingbird hawk-moth Sea View. Colour ringed curlew on Mablethorpe north end beach ringed as an adult on 27th July 2025 on Griend (a small island in the western part of the Dutch Wadden Sea). Donna Nook: 031125 - Pupdate: nine pups visible from the viewing area and a number of cows are moving closer in. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 *** https://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html Chambers Farm Wood Butterfly Garden Volunteers Gardening days for 2025. 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The NNR includes the following sites: Chambers Farm Woods (comprises Ivy Wood; Little and Great Scrubbs Woods; Minting Wood; Hatton Wood, Hatton Plantation and Minting Park; and also three areas of grassland: Little Scrubbs Meadow and extension), Small Meadow and Big Meadow. Since all have their own management plans, please give the actual location when reporting). College Wood; Cocklode & Great West Woods; Hardy Gang Wood; Newball Wood; Rand Wood; Scotgrove Wood; Southrey Wood and Wickenby Wood. Many of these include both areas of ancient woodland or important grassland. Many are also designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Records which provide a six-figure grid reference are of particular value to the Forestry Commission. Other woods included in the NNR but without public access: Stainfield Wood; Stainton & Fulnetby Woods (access by public bridle way only). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. OTHER RESERVE REPORTS AND HIGHLIGHTS. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Discover Woodland Trust woods near you - including the best woods for walks, wildlife watching, family fun and heritage. https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/#=undefined&view=map Lincolnshire County Council - Local Nature Reserves https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/coast-countryside/nature-reserves Links to "Other Reserves" are welcome. Your suggestions, please. Boston Woods Trust https://www.bostonwoods.co.uk/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7. SENDING IN BULLETIN REPORTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The purpose of the Bulletin is to encourage biological recording in Lincolnshire. We aim to increase the number of people reporting observations to Recorders or via iRecord. https://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/ The Bulletin is a FREE service. We ask you to provide reports, questions, news or relevant articles from time to time. Descriptive pieces are welcome. You don't have to stick to lists! Please help us to help you. When sending in reports please follow this layout to save re-editing: Place Name: IN CAPITALS with Grid Reference if you have it. Your Name: Real names please, not aliases. Put it in each time, for each location Date: Species list [Alphabetical?] & numbers [and observations?] e.g. Blackbird - 24 [And please, no home-grown abbreviations. Species Names in full.] Bulletin mailing times may vary. It usually goes out on Wednesdays/ Thursdays in time for the weekend. Please e-mail in contributions to the editor as early as possible. Tuesday latest. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8. CONTACTS AND USEFUL WEBSITES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Links "not to be missed" *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. CONTACTS LIST *** Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union *** LNU Website: http://lnu.org/ LNU Twitter feed https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist LNU e-mail: info@lnu.org Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust: https://twitter.com/LincsWildlife Lincs Bird Club: https://twitter.com/Lincsbirding LBC County Bird Recorder: recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk The Sir Joseph Banks Society: https://twitter.com/sirjosephbanks Lincolnshire Bat Group: http://www.lincsbatgroup.co.uk/ Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch: https://twitter.com/BC_Lincolnshire Lincsbirders: https://twitter.com/lincsbirders Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project: Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Trust: https://lincolnshirechalkstreamstrust.org.uk/ South Lincolnshire Flora Group: https://bsbi.org/south-lincolnshire-v-c-53 The Wolds Fungi Group: Contact Paul Nichol via email: nichol20@gmail.com Lincolnshire Dormouse Group: Contact: lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com FIGHTING WILDLIFE CRIME Wildlife Crime https://www.lincs.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/wc/wildlife-crime/ SPECIES IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. LNU Recorders and Specialists: https://lnu.org/specialists/ Downloads of LNU books: https://lnu.org/publications/books/ Recording with "iRecord": https://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/ iRecord is recommended by the LNU as an appropriate platform for on-line recording When asking for help: Please give the very best information you can provide. If you are not sure, ask what is needed from you to confirm identification. Photographs are helpful but not every species can be identified from a photograph. When asked for further details,get back to the recorder promptly. Don't forget a thank you for the help. That is always welcomed. Local Bat Helpline Grounded bats, bat problems, advice and information. Contact the new Lincolnshire Bat Group co-ordinator as above: Email:info@lincsbatgroup.co.uk Or by phone on 01526 344726, who will be able to help you. Confidential Bat Records You may send confidential bat records direct to the above, who will make sure they are securely passed on to the new recorder. Slug ID Help Chris du Feu will help with slug identification. Tel: 01383 669 124 Email: chris.r.dufeu@gmail.com USEFUL WILDLIFE LINKS Please copy and paste URLs if necessary. How to identify ladybirds| NatureSpot https://www.naturespot.org/WildlifeGuides/12CommonLadybirds How to identify bumblebees| The Bumblebee Conservation Trust https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Information in preparation. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ...AND FINALLY... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** National and International Stories *** AnchorAnchor Rare wolf spider rediscovered after 40 years https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckg1y66y80ro Mercury fillings are taking a bite out of British wildlife and river health https://share.google/7rDKAqtZPBGO4XCIE A landfill tax could halt the vast amounts of healthy soil that are needlessly thrown away https://theconversation.com/a-landfill-tax-could-halt-the-vast-amounts-of-healthy-soil-that-are-needlessly-thrown-away-268687 Finalists of Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025 revealed | Discover Wildlife https://www.discoverwildlife.com/photography/nikon-comedy-wildlife-awards-2025-finalists BBC Wildlife close ups 2025 https://www.discoverwildlife.com/photography/close-up-photographer-of-the-year-2025-shortlist Sir David Attenborough backs bid to buy estate https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1d0x39x270o Australia's Only Shrew is Now officially Extinct, Killed by Non-native Species Introduced by Humans https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/christmas-island-shrew-extinct/ How do migrating birds know where to go? | WWT https://www.wwt.org.uk/discover-wetlands/blog/how-do-migrating-birds-know-where-to-go Top 10 migrant birds to see this autumn https://www.wwt.org.uk/discover-wetlands/blog/top-10-migrant-birds-to-see-at-wwt-reserves-this-autumn *** Mail Fails *** None this week We have had reports of issues with 2 subscribers' Bulletins. If you experience any such problem in future please let Alex Pickwell know. mrapickwell@gmail.com ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/