============================================ || || Wildnews Bulletin || 17th September 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Editor [Phil] writes: A few musings from this week’s contributions from gardens, and the general countryside. Jeremy notes an estimate of 3 pairs of Tawny Owls around Carlton le Moorland. This good to hear because they face so many hazards, not least rodenticides. Even better, renewed contact with Little Owls. In Bardney, Tawnies are reasonably obvious during dark evenings when I am out with the dog, but the Little Owls disappeared long ago after house building in-fill and the loss of unmanaged plots. We also have experienced his loss of Small Tortoiseshell butterflies at Aster time. Colin displays more of his redoubtable powers of identification in the realms of bugs and aphids in his Haxey Turbary notes. Knowledge in this sphere is hard- won, but once achieved, allows varied year-round observations to be gained without very much searching, by sweeping whatever vegetation there is. He also provides a lovely story of a Wood-mouse at Sixhills on his favourite local walk. Steve and Paul send in regular summaries of their wanderings around Thurnholmes, where they obviously make every bird count. This list also contains reference to both Tawny and Little Owl, but excitingly involves the distinctive ‘rusty-hinge’ sound of young Long-eared Owls! We hear from a good range of sites already, but there must be scope for new contributors from their local areas and favourite greater Lincolnshire places. All observations can be useful and thought-provoking. Phil Porter's email is: philporterento@outlook.com Roger Parsons' email is: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk 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 https://www.bto.org/cuckoos Loch of the Lowes SWT Webcam "Our osprey cameras are temporarily unavailable due to a storm which affected Loch of the Lowes on Thursday 14 August. The problem lies with the cameras in the tree itself so unfortunately we will not be able to resolve the issue until the birds leave for the season, as doing so would involve disturbing the nest. We apologise for any inconvenience." 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 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 Hawthorn Parornix Parornix anglicella This is a very small moth that is difficult to identify as an adult. The caterpillars feed on hawthorn and form a triangular cone at the corner of the leaf to live and feed in. They are quite common and Can be found on most hawthorn hedges especially in sheltered places Pictures and further information can be found at the British Leafminers website:- http://leafmines.co.uk/html/Lepidoptera/P.anglicella.htm Thanks to those who added records for our previous map filling species. We received 2 records from 1 recorder for the Sycamore Aphid Drepanosiphum platanoidis. 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: *** 'Urgent action needed' despite butterfly rise - Butterfly Conservation https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c62z7w24y48o Why you may find spiders under your Christmas tree https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp3qnzpdw9go Regulator confirms £62.8m Anglian Water penalty https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5ygvjxk9v7o Farmer's harvest saved by private reservoir - Gainsborough and Boston. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyx7nq9948o 'Absolutely fantastic' barn owl breeding season - East Yorkshire https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c39r1l3d3vdo Heritage sites will open their doors for free - Heritage Open Days https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp8wk4kzrj1o Lancaster bomber poppy tribute dismantled - Lincoln https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwywxvmlel8o Birthplace of tank awarded Origin Site status - Lincoln https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjd1n52n4nlo Water firm issued permits to save reservoir supply -Yorkshire Water https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy7pgj55z5yo Outcry over plans for new chicken factory farm - Newton near Sleaford https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn834v6415jo *** 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 18th September - Sunday 21st September Headline: Unsettled with rain in the morning and early afternoon. Thursday: Outbreaks of rain and low cloud spreading in through the morning, heaviest and most frequent in the west. Strong and gusty winds developing. Maximum temperature 23 °C. Outlook for Friday to Sunday: Unsettled and cloudy with blustery showers and longer spells of rain possible through the period, becoming heavy at times. Turning colder on Sunday. UK long range weather forecast Sunday 21st September - Tuesday 30th September It is likely to be fairly unsettled at first, with areas of rain or showers, most widespread across central, southern and eastern areas, perhaps accompanied by some strong winds. Into next week, a northwest-southeast split is most likely, with some further rain or showers in southern and eastern areas, closest to an area of low pressure, whilst the best chance of longer, drier spells will be towards the north and northwest, where some patchy fog and rural frost are possible. It will also turn colder, as a northerly flow becomes established for a time. Later in the period, more widely drier and settled conditions could develop as high pressure becomes slightly more influential, although probably still with a few coastal showers. Temperatures should gradually return closer to average. *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** Five celestial events to look out for this autumn https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/articles/c39rvxz4jr1o Space and astronomy highlights in 2025 21 September – Saturn at its best Saturn reaches opposition on 21 September, meaning it’ll be directly opposite the Sun in the sky and therefore look especially bright to us. As one of the more visible planets to reach opposition, this could be a good opportunity to try to capture some photos of the gas giant. https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/space-astronomy/space-astronomy-highlights-2025#June AuroraWatch UK for geomagnetic data: https://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/ The SpaceWeather website https://spaceweather.com/ https://spaceweather.com/images2025/14sep25/Lauri-Kangas-IMG_4035-1_1757910956_strip.jpg 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 Current Position of ISS https://www.astroviewer.net/iss/en/ *** EVENTS *** LNU Fungus Foray - Goslings Corner Wood on Sunday 19 October Parking at Goslings Corner Wood car park 12:00 for 13:00 start and finish about 16:00 Leaders: Ray Halstead & Tim Bruning Habitat: Limewoods Grid reference: TF 14336 74872 What3Words: edge.cheerily.area Nearest postcode: LN8 5QB Please aim to car share to the event where possible, as parking may be quite tight in the event of a large turnout. Remember to send all records to Luke Hartley (hartley026@gmail.com). All records, common or rare, are valuable! *** Lincoln Area Group Talk *** 18th September: “Wildlife of the Canary Islands and Madeira “ An illustrated talk by Gill Walsh on the flora, fauna and geology of the Canary Islands and Madeira, featuring a wide variety of wildlife and stunning scenery. The event is at Whisby Nature Park in the Lafarge Education Building starting at 7.30 pm. Admission is £2.50 which includes refreshments in the interval. *** Grimsby and Cleethorpes Area Group LWT *** On Monday 13th October the group will be welcoming Gillian Walsh and listening to her illustrated talk "Madeira and the Canary Islands" which will include fauna, flora and geology of these islands. This will take place in Grimsby Town Hall DN31 1HU and starts at 7.30pm. Admission £5, all are welcome. Trust sales of Christmas cards and calendars, raffle and refreshments will be available. On Saturday 18th October the group welcomes people to join them on a Fungus Foray in Bradley Woods, Bradley Road, Bradley, Grimsby DN37 0AH with Mick Binnion. Meet in the car parking area for a 11am start. Please wear stout footwear and dress according to the weather. This is a free event however donations will be welcomed for the Trust. For further information on these events contact our secretary David Ball 07711 716063 or email davidballnorthhampton@gmail.com SIR JOSEPH BANKS SOCIETY Past president Paul Scott writes: An exhibition on Miss E. Joan Gibbons and the Flora of Lincolnshire. This exhibition is all about Miss Gibbons, her work, and the publishing of the Flora of Lincolnshire. Learn more about this extraordinary lady and the botanical history of Lincolnshire. The exhibition is open to the public, free of charge, Thursday to Saturday 10:00am to 4:00pm at the Joseph Banks Centre, 11-13 Bridge Street, Horncastle. LN9 5HZ until September 20th. (Note, 2 week extension) enquiries@joseph-banks.org.uk , 01507 700012. On certain Saturdays, please contact us to find out which, the curator of this exhibition, Debbie Lincoln, will be in the Centre to talk you through Miss Gibbons' life and work. *** 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. Please note this talk has now been changed to 8th October. 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/ STAYING SAFE Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary... The Heat-Health Alert Service in England runs from 1 June to 30 September each year. You can register for alerts on this link. https://ukhsa-dashboard.data.gov.uk/weather-health-alerts/heat 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 Juv = juvenile Ad = adult 1s/w, 2s/w = first/second summer/winter (age or plumage) 9/9/2025 Anderby Creek, Black-throated Diver. Covenham Reservoir, 2 Little Stints. Deeping Lakes, Glossy Ibis at East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Freiston Shore, 4 Curlew Sandpipers, 3 Little Stints. Killingholme, 6 Glossy Ibises flew north over Mablethorpe, 3 Caspian Gulls on beach near seal sanctuary. 10/9/2026 Anderby Creek, Long-tailed Skua, 2 Black Terns Covenham Reservoir, Little Stint. Deeping St James, Glossy Ibis on island in River Welland, Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, 2 Little Stints from Reedbed Hide. Gibraltar Point, Glossy Ibis flew SW over New Saltmarsh. Manby, Russian White-fronted Goose with Greylag Geese at Manby Flashes. 11/9/2026 Frampton Marsh, 2 Little Stints. Freiston Shore, Little Stints, 2 Curlew Sandpipers. Mablethorpe, 2 Caspian Gulls (2w + 1w) at outfall. Manby, Temminck's Stint and Russian White-fronted Goose at Manby Flashes. Marston Sewage Works, 7 Glossy Ibises. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe dunes, 3 Little Stints all juvs on foreshore north of Crook Bank. 12/9/2025 Covenham Reservoir, 2 Little Stints. Cut End, 3 Black Terns at River Witham mouth. Use car park at Cut End Road, then walk east for 1 ml. Donna Nook, Black Redstart in dunes by track near Stonebridge Car Park. Far Ings, Glossy Ibis flew over. Freiston Shore, 4 Little Stints, 5 Curlew Sandpipers, Glossy Ibis flew over lagoons, 3 Black Terns. Frampton Marsh, Curlew Sandpiper, 3 Little Stints. Gibraltar Point, 6+ Curlew Sandpipers at high tide. Marston Sewage Works, 7 Glossy Ibises, then flew off. Pyewipe, Grey Phalarope at lagoon at Novartis Ings, Little Stint.. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe, Dunes, Pied Flycatcher at Rimac near Sea View car park. 13/9/2025 Covenham Reservoir, 3 Little Stints. Freiston Shore, 7 Curlew Sandpipers. Mablethorpe, possible 2 Pallid Swifts over Sea View car park. Pyewipe, Grey Phalarope at lagoon at Novartis Ings 14/9/2025 Covenham Reservoir, 3 Black Terns. Frampton Marsh, Curlew Sandpiper flew SW over sea wall. Manby, Russian White-fronted Goose ad at Manby Flashes. Thurlby Fen, Gannet juv flew WSW. 15/9/2025 Boultham Mere, Pectoral Sandpiper. Cleethorpes, Roseate Tern at Kingsway. Covenham Reservoir, Black Tern. Frampton Marsh, Little Stint from Reedbed Hide. Gibraltar Point, Long-tailed Skua flew south past, Little Stint. Manby, Russian White-fronted Goose ad at Manby Flashes. 16/9/2025 Covenham Reservoir, 2 Grey Phalaropes is SE corner, Little Stint, 4 Black Terns. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. CARLTON LE MOORLAND SK909581 Jeremy Hutchinson Muntjac 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 A & R Parsons 10/9/2025 Orange underwing moth. It was hiding inside a small pile of leaves near a drain I rescued it with a tissue and it soon recovered and flew off to somewhere safer. There's a big birch tree next door that might have something to do with its history. https://butterfly-conservation.org/moths/orange-underwing BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 Phil and Mary Porter 10th September 2025 Hummingbird Hawkmoth from kitchen window today, as usual attracted to Phlox flowers. 12th September 2025 Hornet repeatedly drinking from birdbath provided several excellent views; a Willow Emerald damselfly was identified from my armchair, revealing its white stigma in the leading edge of the wing. 13th September 2025 Hornet Hoverfly Volucella zonata. photographed by Mary displaying its tricolored abdomen, brown, yellow and black, and yellow head with a huge swollen “nose”. Butterflies noted: 2+ Red Admiral and a Speckled Wood. Mary wondered if a dishevelled Goldfinch might be suffering from the ‘Greenfinch virus’. 14th September 2025 Very large female Sparrowhawk gave prolonged excellent views from the house and again Mary got a good photograph. 16th September 2025 About 20 Siskins flew beyond the garden and later about 5 came to investigate the edge of the pond which we are cleaning out today. Drastic, but the biological poverty of the very smelly mud in the bottom suggests it was the right move. Water Hog Lice, Leeches and a few small Water Beetles were all that came to light during the process and no Damsel or Dragonflies have been seen egg-laying this year. We are aiming to reinstate established plants such as Bogbean, Marsh Cinquefoil, Marsh Marigold and Blue Iris, but it might be difficult to separate smaller plants with more slender roots or ones which have already gone to ground such as Marsh Bedstraw, Tubular Water-Dropwort ( a rather feeble pink variegated form) or Watercress from the grasp of coarse grass roots and/or Crassula stems. A local Green Woodpecker was vocal and eventually spotted flying beyond the garden. CAMSHAWS PLANTATION - Bardney Limewoods NNR TF121743 R & A Parsons 11/9/2025 at 10.15am 3 Roe Deer,- 2 adults, one younger, crossing road from fields into plantation. CARLTON LE MOORLAND SK909581 Jeremy Hutchinson 31/08/2025 Male Hobby 15/9/25 Local Tawny Owls are very vocal at the moment from dusk onwards. I think that there are at least three pairs in the village. I thought that our local Little Owls had vanished, but I am very glad to say that on 8 September I heard one at dusk calling to the north-west of the village, where I used to hear them often, but have not for some time. On 14 September I heard one calling from the paddock at the now-closed farm, where I believe they nested last year. I suspect that these were two different birds because of the distance between the two. Most Swallows and House Martins seem to have left, sooner than usual. A few Red Admirals are the only butterflies (other than Whites) I have seen in the garden recently, despite there being lots of nectar-bearing plants in bloom. The Michaelmas Daisies, which many years ago would have had dozens, if not scores of Small Tortoiseshells feeding on them are largely untouched. There is still a Chiffchaff around the garden and immediate area, mainly making its "tseep" sound, but occasionally lapsing into full "Chiffchaff " song. Yesterday I heard a bird sound which I did not recognise; I eventually spotted a Robin which I believe was the source of this it was only after it changed to a almost recognisable Robin's song that I realised the bird must have an issue which is affecting its song. I'd never heard anything like it before. It seems to be a mast year for most trees and shrubs, with a profusion of sloes, haws, crab apples etc and particularly acorns, which are in numbers I cannot r ecall ever having seen before. One exception I have noticed is that the number of conkers on the Horse Chestnuts is quite low. P.S. I'd like to retract my comment about conkers: today's wind has blown loads off, plus a lot of leaves, revealing lots more still on the trees which I hadn't seen before! HAXEY TURBARY SE 755 017 Colin Smith 10/09/2025 I have been checking rosebay willowherb for aphids for the last two years and was finally successful here, thousands of Dogwood-Rosebay Willowherb Aphids Aphis salicariae on a small patch, a new county record. Also there were loads of Parent Bug Elasmucha grisea, probably saw a hundered of them. Other things included Red Necked Footman caterpillar Atolmis rubricollis, Yellow-tail moth caterpillar Euproctis similis, Pearly Underwing moth Peridroma saucia, Oak Nycteoline moth Nycteola revayana, Varied Ochre moth Ypsolopha ustella, Red-legged Shieldbug Pentatoma rufipes, Dock Bug Coreus marginatus and Brassica shieldbug Eurydema oleracea. HORKSTOW SE987179 Jenny Haynes 14 September 2025 I noticed some hedgehog poo on a path in my garden today. It’s the first I’ve seen for a while. LUDFORD TF184880 Colin Smith 09/09/2025 Clouded Yellow Colias crocea nectaring on dandelions NETTLETON. Angela Buckle Spearmint, Common fleabane, Perennial sow-thistle, Lady’s bedstraw, White campion, Oxe-eye daisy, Common ragwort, Fat-hen, Herb Robert, Mouse-eared hawkweed, Rosebay willowherb, Field scabious, Bullrush, Giant horse-tail, Common knapweed, Narrow-leaved hawkweed. NETTLETON GRANGE GAME FARM Ben Jacob 16th September Mop head Gall noted on hawthorn hedge. product of Hawthorn Button-top Midge (Dasineura crataegi) SEDGE HOLE CLOSE LWT Nature Reserve Steve Hiner 20/08/25 Blackbird x 2 Blue Tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 1 Chaffinch x 1 Goldfinch x 4 Greenfinch x 1 Great Tit x 1 Jackdaw x 2 Robin x 1 Stock Dove x 2 Swallow x 2 Wood Pigeon x 6 Large White x 2 Peacock x 2 Red Admiral x 1 Small White x 4 Speckled Wood x 2 Common Darter x 1 Migrant Hawker x 1 SIXHILLS TF181878 Colin Smith 01/09/2025-14/09/2025 My wife and I walk a mile along Sixhills Lane from where we live as often as we have time. We stop and admire the view have some fruit and then return. I left my apple core on a whim to see if anything would eat it and next day it was gone. The same thing happened with a piece of banana the next day. We tried blueberry, carrot, tomato, cheese, biscuits, sultanas and they all disappeared, We had to find out what was taking them so £20 from ebay and we had a trail camera. The next day we had 61 video clips of a rather fat Wood Mouse, a new species for our walk. THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 27/07/25 Tawny Owl x 1 02:15hrs Roe Deer twin fawns SK795990 05/08/25 Willow Warbler x 1 Yellowhammer x 2 Red Admiral x 1 Ghost Moth x 1 male Yellow-tail moth x 1 Common Blue Damselfly x 2 Migrant Hawker x 1 12/08/25 Blackbird x 14 Blue Tit x 7 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 4 Common Buzzard x 1 Dunnock x 2 Goldfinch x 3 Little Owl x 1 calling 02:30hrs Long-eared Owl x 2 young calling 07:00hrs Robin x 4 Stock Dove x 1 fledged young in stables Swallow x 7 Tree Sparrow x 6 Wood Pigeon x 9 Wren x 1 Yellowhammer x 1 Common Pipistrelle x 1 22:30hrs (45hz) Red Admiral x 3 25/08/25 Barn Owl x 1 22:30hrs Blackbird x 4 Blue Tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 1 Chaffinch x 1 Dunnock x 2 Goldfinch x 6 Kestrel x 1 Magpie x 2 Pied Wagtail x 1 Robin x 1 Stock Dove x 2 fledged young from Chicken shed nest box (3rd brood from this box this year) Swallow x 1 feeding very noisy 3rd brood in nest in outbuildings Tree Sparrow x 4 Tawny Owl x 1 calling 02:15hrs Wood Pigeon x 6 Brown Hare x 2 Hedgehog x 1 young one Rabbit x 12 Owston Ferry Warping Drain Green-veined White x 1 Large White x 6 Peacock x 2 Red Admiral x 2 Speckled Wood x 2 Brimstone moth x 1 Common Plume x 1 Orange Swift x 3 Common Blue damselfly x 2 Common Darter x 1 Migrant Hawker x 2 27/08/25 Comma x 1 08/09/25 Blackbird x 2 Blue Tit x 2 Chaffinch x 12 Common Buzzard x 1 Dunnock x 2 Goldfinch x 4 Grey Partridge x 6 Kestrel x 1 Little Owl x 1 calling 01:50hrs Magpie x 1 Mallard x 6 over Thurnholmes Robin x 2 Stock Dove x 2 Tawny Owl x 1 calling 02:15hrs Tree Sparrow x 23 Wood Pigeon x 6 Green-veined White x 6 Large White x 1 Red Admiral x 1 Common Darter x 3 Migrant Hawker x 3 14/09/25 Speckled Wood x 6 15/09/25 Blackbird x 2 Blue Tit x 4 Carrion Crow x 1 Chaffinch x 6 Chiffchaff x 1 Common Buzzard x 2 Dunnock x 2 Goldfinch x 4 Jackdaw x 2 Kestrel x 1 Magpie x 2 Robin x 1 Stock Dove x 2 Tawny Owl x 1 calling 01:30hrs Tree Sparrow x 6 Wood Pigeon x 9 Wren x 1 Speckled Wood x 3 Migrant Hawker x 1 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. NNRs and NATURE RESERVES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LWT Top Reserves: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves LWT Reserves List: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/nature-reserves-list RSPB Reserves: https://www.rspb.org.uk/days-out/reserves ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GIBRALTAR POINT NNR ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ https://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.com/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 12th September: Black Tern moving south and 2 Egyptian Goose north. 2 Wheatears and over 500 Meadow Pipit south. 13th September: 2 Tree Pipit flying south and 2 Wheatear on Anderby Marsh. 14th September: over 2,500 Meadow Pipit flying south in the morning, plus 400 on Anderby Marsh. 1,500 Chaffinch flying south as well as 8 Siskin, 48 Pink-footed Goose, and 2 Swift. 2 Water Rail on Anderby Marsh. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 100925 - immature white-tailed eagle from Isle of White reintroduction scheme on post along Saltfleet Haven mid-morning then flew south to Rimac foreshore before continuing south over Brickyard Lane. Common crane on Rimac saltmarsh during morning high tide then circled over and flew south. 10 ruff, 1 black-tailed godwit, 2 greenshank and Mediterranean gull Paradise Lagoon. Pied flycatcher in trees next to Paradise car park. Barnacle goose flew north over Mablethorpe north end and a hobby flew south. Little stint on the foreshore at Brickyard Lane over morning high tide and 40+ teal, 8 wigeon, 9 redshank, 5 whimbrel and 2 ruff on newly flooded saltmarsh pool. 110925 - 3 juvenile little stint, 162 ringed plover (145 flew inland and roosted on arable fields during high tide), 41 dunlin, 13 sanderling, 6 ruff, arctic skua mobbing sandwich terns Brickyard Lane foreshore on the morning incoming t ide. 3 snipe flew west, osprey and hobby north, 42 shelduck, red-throated diver and 2 arctic skua flew south.116 teal and a ruff on Sea View Washlands. 60+ hirundines, mostly swallows, feeding over saltmarsh near Paradise Wood. Immature turtle dove in open dunes north of Crook Bank plus 45 meadow pipit. 2 swift, 40+ house martin and 10 meadow pipit flew south. 2 snipe, 2 greenshank, 11 lapwing, 9 ruff, 11 black-headed gulls, 14 common gulls, 4 herring gulls, 3 greylags and a moorhen on Paradise Lagoon. 24 wigeon and 7 pintail on Rimac saltmarsh lagoon. 2 caspian gulls, 2 Mediterranean gulls, little egret and bar-tailed godwit Mablethorpe beach. 2 whinchat Elm House Farm grassland. 120925 – pied flycatcher briefly near Sea View car park and another east of Churchill Lane. 134 redshank, 2 greenshank, 1 ruff, 34 lapwing, 3 black-tailed godwit, 63 black-headed gulls, 5 common gulls, 3 shoveler Paradise Lagoon. 130925 – siskin flew south over Brickyard Lane. Wheatear, 17 swallow and 20+ meadow pipit on dune edge near Churchill Lane, and cettis warbler singing. 2 possible pallid swifts flew south past Mablethorpe North End and 8 common swift. Caspian x herring gull hybrid on Mablethorpe beach ringed on Hiddensee Island on Baltic Sea coast of Germany on 9th June 2023. 140925 – pink-footed goose movement noted including groups of 25 and 28 south in the morning. 114 curlew, 32 ringed plover, 15 oystercatcher, 42 cormorant, 22 dunlin, 17 great black-backed gulls, 47 herring gulls, 1 peregrine, 13 crows and 45 meadow pipits on northern foreshore of the NNR. Ruff, black-tailed godwit and greenshank within roosting redshank and lapwing on Paradise Lagoon. 3 swifts, grey wagtail and a good southerly meadow pipit passage throughout t he morning. Wheatear, 2 whinchat, yellow wagtail and 100+ meadow pipit Elm House Farm track. Coal tit and 2+ goldcrest in trees near Crook Bank. Butterflies – 3 wall, 2 painted lady around old terminal site. 150925 – westerly dominated wind gusting to 41.7mph at Sea View. 40+ pink-footed geese south over the sea. 2 swifts and 4 swallows over Sea View and 30+ house martins feeding. 3 arctic skua, 2 turnstone, 2 guillemot, Caspian gull, swift, 4 red-throated diver, 14 cormorant, 1 pink-footed goose f lew south over the sea past Mablethorpe North End; 70+ gannet, 80+ sandwich tern, 8 teal flew north; and a marsh harrier flew in-off the sea. 160925 – ringtail hen harrier flew north over MOD mid-afternoon, later seen o ver Sea View saltmarsh with 2 marsh harriers. 60 curlew, 65 ringed plover 1 2 sanderling, 8 oystercatcher, 3 dunlin, 60 herring gulls, 12 great black-backed gulls, 45 cormorants on beach/tide edge near Brickyard Lane. A small southerly movement of swallows and 8 sand martins in the evening. Butterflies – comma, small tortoiseshell, peacock, red admiral, wall, brown argus, 2 common blue Sea View; wall MOD; 10 red admiral Churchill Lane. 60 ivy bees on ivy at Churchill Lane. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. 7th & 21st, October, 4th; November Email: 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. Sep Sun 21st Oct Sat 18th ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 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 https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/the-flora-of-lincolnshire-e-joan-gibbons.pdf Atlas of the terrestrial and semi-aquatic Mammals of Lincolnshire https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/mammalatlas.pdf *** For the Geologists *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary Life on Mars? 'Leopard-spot' rocks could be biggest clue yet https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd725pj0g9ro 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 https://lnu.org/publications/books/the-geology-of-lincolnshire/ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LNU Fungus Foray - Goslings Corner Wood on Sunday 19 October Parking at Goslings Corner Wood car park 12:00 for 13:00 start and finish about 16:00 Leaders: Ray Halstead & Tim Bruning Habitat: Limewoods Grid reference: TF 14336 74872 What3Words: edge.cheerily.area Nearest postcode: LN8 5QB Please aim to car share to the event where possible, as parking may be quite tight in the event of a large turnout. Remember to send all records to Luke Hartley (hartley026@gmail.com). All records, common or rare, are valuable! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ...AND FINALLY... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** National and International Stories *** Water firm bans tankers from transporting water for billionaire's lake https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq5jg9vy1n0o US energy chief tells BBC nuclear fusion will soon power the world https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqlz5p314z0o Protect Arctic from 'dangerous' climate engineering, scientists warn https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yqw996q1ko Fourth national park could bring 'real benefits' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce8423193zxo Rising seas will threaten 1.5 million Australians by 2050 - report https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c930454e77xo Octopus arms are the animal kingdom’s most flexible https://www.popsci.com/environment/octopus-arms-flexibility *** Mail Fails *** None this week. ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/