============================================ || || Wildnews Bulletin || 12th 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….. The continuing mild weather affects the growth of certain plants at a time when they would normally be preparing in their various ways for shutting down growth. Outside my window, Feverfew, Chickweed and White Dead-nettle are in boisterous flower and the more modest Fool’s Parsley has germinated and bloomed as a smaller but healthy version of itself. Many other species have more or less stressed blooms that are much less happy, whilst on village street verges, both Yarrow and Common Stork’s-bill are densely carpeting bare patches with their finely-cut rosettes building up their rootstocks for the next growth season. On New Year’s Day, we are likely to join in the light-hearted search for flowering plants organised by the South Lincs Flora Group. If the intervening weather is not too cold, I reckon the total could be spectacular. 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 The Bulletin Portal -past Bulletins archive [in text format] from 2009. http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html 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 Wildlife Trust *** “Wilder Lincolnshire Podcast” In this episode Melvyn Prior visits Deeping Lakes Nature Reserve in the far south of Lincolnshire with special guest Ajay Tegala — conservationist, environmentalist, broadcaster, and author. https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/what-we-do/about/wilder-lincolnshire-podcast This is the 22nd episode, all the previous ones are available. 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: *** Bird flu virus spreading in UK could be worst yet, expert warns farmers https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp85r67kn8xo Two more cases of bird flu confirmed in Norfolk https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crre1d2qk7xo Call for telegraph poles installation to be paused - Lincoln https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj974rpzn2zo Public inquiry to be held over oil drilling plans - Biscathorpe https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c04g164wz9do Water company urged to come up with flooding plan Grimsby https://www.theweatheroutlook.com/twocommunity/category/1-Discussion Will third Lancaster bomber return to the skies? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz6negg0837o Dinner invite shows what Lewis Carroll had for tea https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgkwml0p3wo *** Weather News and Forecast *** https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#? East Midlands weather forecast Thursday 13th November - Sunday 16th November Headline: Cloudy with outbreaks of rain, locally heavy, today. Staying mild. Thursday: Thursday should be largely dry with variable cloud and bright or sunny spells. Perhaps the odd light shower around. Light winds. Staying rather mild. Maximum temperature 15 °C. Outlook for Friday to Sunday: Further rain, heavy and persistent, moving northwards Friday and persisting into early Saturday. Rain gradually easing Saturday. Feeling colder, with a strong and gusty easterly wind. Drier and brighter Sunday. UK long range weather forecast Sunday 16th November - Tuesday 25th November Central and northern parts of the UK will likely be in a colder but drier regime than of late with overnight frost, and some showers near windward coasts in particular which may be wintry on high ground in the north. However, across the south it is likely to be cloudier and wetter initially, with some uncertainty as to how quickly this clears away to the south. It is most likely that the bulk of the UK will experience drier and colder conditions into the first part of next week. Later in the period there is increasing uncertainty, but a trend towards more changeable conditions is possible, with some rain or showers in places, and perhaps some hill snow at times in the north. Temperatures overall may return to near average. *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** MAJOR SOLAR FLARE AND EARTH-DIRECTED CME: https://spaceweather.com/ Today, the sun produced one of the strongest solar flares of the current solar cycle: An X5-class powerhouse. The explosion hurled a very fast CME toward Earth. This CME could scoop up one or two CMEs already in route, forming a potent "Cannibal CME." Its arrival on Nov. 12th could cause severe geomagnetic storms. Meteor shower dates - 12 November 2025 Taurid meteors https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/space-astronomy/meteor-shower-guide-2025 New moon on 20 November - we might see the Leonid meteor shower this year -17Nov peak https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/space-astronomy/leonid-meteor-shower-when-and-where-see-it-uk BBC Sky at Night Magazine website https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news 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 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/ *** For the Geologists *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary Latest BGS Geology 50K mapping data launched - BGS https://www.bgs.ac.uk/news/latest-bgs-geology-50k-mapping-data-launched/ 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 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 *** 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. *** LWT LINCOLN AREA GROUP TALK *** 20h November: An Introduction to Soil Science An illustrated talk by Dr Iain Gould, Associate Professor at Lincoln University, about the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil and why they matter. For water sequestration, habitat biodiversity and food production. Also looking at soil types from around Lincolnshire. Whisby Nature Park in the Lafarge Education Building The event is at starting at 7.30 pm. Admission is £2.50 which includes refreshments in the interval. *** 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) 5/11/2025 Mablethorpe, Caspian Gull 1w on beach by outfall. 6/11/2025 Cleethorpes Coast, Glossy Ibis. Frampton Marsh, Glossy Ibis flew from saltmarsh towards Crossbank and appeared to land west of sea wall. Gibraltar Point, Ring Ouzel at East Dunes. 7/11/2025 Anderby Creek, Ring Ouzel. Cleethorpes Coast, Glossy Ibis on pool by dunes. Donna Nook, Yellow-browed Warbler. Freiston Shore, Little Stint. Gibraltar Point, probable Olive-backed Pipit, Yellow-browed Warbler, Ring Ouzel, Water Pipit. Kirton Marsh, Water Pipit. 8/11/2025 Alkborough Flats, Purple Sandpiper. Donna Nook, Yellow-browed Warbler by Stonebridge car park. Lapland Bunting, East Halton Skitter, Water Pipit at Pools. Frampton Marsh, Water Pipit by Sea Bank, c20 Twite NE of Sea Bank car park on Roads Farm Wet Grassland. Gibraltar Point, Water Pipit at The Mere. Goxhill Haven, Long-tailed Duck fem/juv drk at Goxhill Marsh Theddlethorpe St Helen, Yellow-browed Warbler in sycamores along footpath by Briarwoods. Siberian Chiffchaff. 9/11/2025 Cleethorpes Coast, Glossy Ibis on pool by dunes. Donna Nook, Yellow-browed Warbler at MOD and by Stonebridge car park. Gainsborough, Rose-coloured Starling in garden. Gibraltar Point, Black Brant reported. Water Pipit. Goxhill Haven, Long-tailed Duck fem/juv drk at Goxhill Marsh on pool. Rimac, 2 Water Pipits. Theddlethorpe St Helen, Siberian Chiffchaff. Wolla Bank Pit, Yellow-browed Warbler. 10/11/2025 Cleethorpes Coast, Glossy Ibis on pool by dunes. Little Stint. Gibraltar Point, 4 Water Pipits. 11/11/2025 Gibraltar Point, Waxwing flew over Sykes Farm. Mablethorpe, Caspian Gull ad on beach off Sea View car park. Rimac, Water Pipits on scrape. Skegness, 2 Caspian Gulls 3w and 1w at Middlemarsh Farm on 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. 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 9/11/2025 House Sparrow flock now approx 20. Jackdaws - 2 regulars,12 occasionally. Collared Dove 2+ Black-headed Gulls - 12+ raid occasionally. Blue Tit 2+ Great Tit 2+ Robin 2+ BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 Phil and Mary Porter 8th November 2025 This week has been the first period of concentrated leaf-fall in the garden. 9th November 2025 In misty conditions, Mary heard Goldcrest calls and showed me at least 2 in an apple tree and herbaceous border close to the house. 10th November 2025 Our first Coal Tit for a long time reminded me how scarce they have been in the last couple of years. They were always autumn, winter or spring visitors but relatively frequent, especially before a very large Leylandii plant blew down. A small flock of Long-tailed Tits also passed through. About 12 Whooper Swans flew past the garden, and on the evening dog walk, we can usually hear them calling from the fen. Just down the lane we saw a Common Darter and a Small Tortoiseshell. FISKERTON FEN TF083718 Phil and Mary Porter 9th September 2025 A Buzzard and a Barn Owl were seen at about 16:00, and 12 Shoveler were on the pit. This was a visit to see the Starling murmuration. There was no aerial display so it was difficult to assess the numbers (2,000?). The incoming flocks dived straight into the reeds on the southern side of the pit and later moved to the south-west corner in the dusk, occasionally harassed by a Sparrowhawk. A Roe Deer bolted past the hide late on. HOLYWELL LAKE Ian Misselbrook 10/11/2025 Black headed Gull 42 Blackbirds Blue Tits Canada Geese 29 Carrion Crow 4 Chaffinch 6 Chiffchaff 1 Coal Tits Cormorant 1 Fieldfare 9 Gadwall 8 Goldfinch 3 Great Tit 2 Grey Heron 2 Grey Wagtail 1 Greylag Geese 20 Hybrid Goose 1 Jackdaws Kingfisher 1 Little Egret 2 Little Grebe 17 Long-tailed Tits 4 Mallard 73 Mistle Thrush 2 Moorhen 24 Mute Swan 2 Nuthatch 1 Pied Wagtail 1 Pochard 1 (drake) Robin Rooks 8 Shoveler 5 Siskins 4 Skylarks 2 Stock Dove 1 Teal 22 Tufted Duck 20 Wigeon 24 Woodpigeons Wrens 2 Grey Squirrels 2 HORKSTOW SE987179 Jenny Haynes 1 November 2025 We found a devil’s coach horse beetle in my conservatory. Fearsome looking creature! 2 November 2025 I saw a butterfly in my garden this morning, probably a red admiral but couldn’t be sure. 5 November 2025 White butterfly seen outside Tesco in Barton on Humber this morning. Coal tit spotted in front garden. Buzzard was floating across the field opposite.my house. 10 November 2025 Small flock of long tailed tits in my garden today. First group I’ve seen for quite a while. SOUTHREY Water Rail Way TF140662 Phil and Mary Porter 9th November 2025 c.35 Fieldfare/Redwing flew in a mixed flock from tall Hawthorn next to the Station and 15 Mute Swans were on the River. 10th November 2025 About 11 Whooper Swans flew past. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 6th November Brambling, Lapland Bunting, 4 Snow Bunting, 12 Eider and 2 Slavonian Grebe flying south. Black-tailed Godwit at Huttoft Pit. 7th November: Ring Ouzel, Woodcock, 100 Blackbird, 100 Redwing, 5 Fieldfare and Brambling at Wolla Bank Pit. 65 Blackbird, 35 Redwing, 7 Fieldfare and Kingfisher at Chapel Pit. 4 Goosander, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, Puffin, 2 Twite and 7 Pintail flying south. 8th November: 7 Snow Bunting and 264 Pink-footed Goose flying south, 2 Red Kite flying north. 7 Curlew on Anderby Marsh. 43 Blackbird, 23 Redwing, 15 Great Tit and 11 Blue Tit along Huttoft bank. Huttoft Pit was showing 11 Curlew, Woodcock, Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Black-tailed Godwit. 9th November: Yellow-browed Warbler at Wolla Bank Pit. 9 Red-legged Partridge at Anderby. Wolla Bank Reedbed had 3 Bearded Tit, female Marsh Harrier, 10 Long-tailed Tit and Whooper Swan. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. 051125 – 36 little egrets feeding on Sea View saltmarsh. First winter Caspian gull and sub-adult yellow-legged gull on the beach near Mablethorpe North End, and 40 starlings flew in-off the sea. Butterflies – peacock Mablethorpe North End. 061125 – yellow-browed warbler briefly in sycamores near Rimac car park. 2 brambling, 40+ chaffinch, 18 siskin, 30+ meadow pipit flew south over Rimac dunes in the morning, and 20 lapwing and numerous groups of starling flew west. Grey wagtail, 10 goldfinch and 20 chaffinch Rimac car park. 2 male and 1 female stonechat Rimac dunes. 4 cattle egret with cows north of Rimac car park. Over the sea from Mablethorpe were 30 eider, 35 common scoter (plus a large flock distant on the sea), 3 red-breasted merganser, 30 knot, turnstone, 4 bar-tailed godwit, 3 brent geese and 1 red-throated diver, plus 2 short-eared which flew in-off. 071125 – ring ouzel in dunes north of Brickyard Lane. An arrival of thrushes throughout the morning especially as fog rolled in from the sea: mostly blackbirds, but also redwing, song thrush and fieldfare, with hundreds grounded in the dunes and others continuing inland. 15 crossbill, yellowhammer, 30+ meadow pipit flew south over the dunes before the fog arrived, and 5 siskin flew north-west. 4 woodcock, 2 stonechat and 8 goldcrest around Crook Bank dunes, Cetti’s warbler by Crook Bank car park and another singing along Crook Bank beach access path. 90 golden plover and 26 lapwing flew south in the afternoon. 80+ blackbird, 12 fieldfare and numerous redwing Sea View to Paradise, and 45 blackbird Churchill Lane area. Chiffchaff Paradise Wood. 80 teal on Paradise Lagoon. Fox in the dunes south of Crook Bank. 081125 – minimum 450 wigeon in several flocks over Sea View saltmarsh/ Haven outfall area plus 45 shelduck, 11 curlew, male marsh harrier. 700 black-headed gulls feeding on Sea View saltmarsh flooded by the high t ides and 60 lapwing flew north-west. Raven flew north-west over Sea View and Cetti’s warbler singing nearby. Kingfisher flew along the Eau at Sea View and 3 cattle egret resting on the river banks. Yellow-browed warbler, Siberian chiffchaff, 2 common chiffchaff, blackcap, 3 treecreeper and 2 goldcrest in sycamore around Theddlethorpe terminal site south of Crook Bank. Dragonflies – 2 common darter Churchill Lane. A very late Natterjack toad heard calling at Sea View. 091125 – raven flew over Sea View mobbed by crows, later a pair of ravens flew north towards Paradise calling in flight. 4 whooper swan flew onto Rimac saltmarsh lagoon at dusk. Butterflies – red admiral Sea View. 101125 – 2 raven still around Sea View seen flying over to Elm House Farm being mobbed by crows. 100 teal on Paradise Lagoon in the morning. 150+ carrion crows on the beach at Mablethorpe North End and 2 blackcap in dune scrub. 121125 – 350 pink-footed geese flew inland at dawn having roosted on the foreshore overnight. 7 cattle egret with cows north of Rimac car park. Water pipit, 8 meadow pipit and grey wagtail on Rimac freshwater marsh scrape. 2 ravens f lew over Rimac saltmarsh, later 4 ravens flying together around Rimac ‘cronking’ loudly in flight. Female merlin chasing skylarks over Rimac foreshore mid-morning and a peregrine being mobbed by crows around Saltfleet Haven late morning. 220 knot, 320 dunlin, 45 ringed plover, 25 pintail, 40 shelduck, 300 wigeon also on Rimac foreshore. 2 water rail flushed from Rimac saltmarsh. Chiffchaff, 3 stonechat and 2 Cetti’s warbler Rimac dunes. Adult Caspian gull on the beach near Mablethorpe North End. Snow bunting on the beach near Saltfleet Haven. 8 whooper swan on the beach near Saltfleet then flew south and landed on Rimac saltmarsh lagoon. Donna Nook: 071125 - weekly update: 169 pups, 387 cows and 125 bulls. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. 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: 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 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 *** Back from the brink: UK red kites aid Spanish cousins https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crrez8x7l55o 'Nestflix': Peregrine falcon livestream has Australians glued to their screens https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yp6m8y764o Watch: Peregrine Falcon Livestream https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cjw98n3d94jt Seal swims 14 miles up river and surprises anglers Wales https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3648g8ldx4o Rare UK Wild Orchid Brought Back From Brink of Extinction - Plantlife https://www.plantlife.org.uk/rare-wild-orchid-brought-back-from-brink-of-extinction/ Attract wildlife as natural predators - Plant Pests https://naturalgrower.co.uk/blogs/blog/attract-wildlife Those Strange Zigzag Decorations in Spider Webs Might Finally Have an Explanation https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/animals-ecology/those-strange-zigzag-decorations-in-spider-webs-might-finally-have-an-explanation/ BBC News: Your pictures of Scotland https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cql94n54ze0o What do moths eat? | Butterfly Conservation https://butterfly-conservation.org/news-and-blog/what-do-moths-eat The Moth Wonderful Time of the year Free on line Thu, Dec 4, 2025 at 7:00 PM | Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-moth-wonderful-time-of-the-year-tickets-1864973047589 *** 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/