============================================ || || Wildnews Bulletin || 15th April 2026 || 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…. Among the news items sent in by our correspondents this week was this one from R.S.P.B. which is bound to be controversial… Want to help garden birds? Don't feed them in warmer months, says RSPB - BBC News - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2lwvz1pl1no?at_creation= There can’t be any doubt that finches suffer from trichomonosis and it is pitiful to see the state of the birds suffering from it by fouling their food source. Chaffinches and Greenfinches are the main victims, although we have seen the odd Goldfinch apparently affected and once a Brambling died from it in our garden. However, in our experience, tits, Dunnocks, Robins and Blackbirds do not appear to be subject to the condition. Cleanliness, or the lack of it, is a massive issue, and the advice in the article to feed small amounts and keep the feeders disinfected and moved on a regular basis at all times is undoubtedly fundamental. We have virtually stopped feeding on bird tables as is now recommended by R.S.P.B. If you do decide to wean your birds off their food ration, remember to reduce it very gradually so that they can adapt to the change. I’m afraid that important tip was missing from the article. Tangentially, having noted Goldfinches and Linnets still in small mixed flocks around the Bardney allotment and leisure area, I have often wondered why it is that Linnets have not taken to gardens in the way that Goldfinches have in my lifetime. Their bills are quite different, with the Goldfinch’s being larger and exceptionally fine-tipped, so is a significant difference in diet indicated? The Linnet has a small stubby bill, but then so does the Redpoll which is happy to use feeders in gardens when there are enough of them around. Does anyone have an opinion to offer? Note from Roger Parsons: Phil has asked me to stand in for him as editor next week. I shall be pleased to do so and look forward to your contributions. If you can get reports to me before [ or by] Wednesday morning I can get the draft Bulletin to Alex as soon as possible for mailing out. I have enjoyed watching Ospreys at the nest on the Loch of the Lowes webcam, and look forward to the "Bourne" Barn Owls' first egg soon. Links below. BTO cuckoos are arriving in the UK. Ashok is in Suffolk and Jim in France. We have been preparing our garden for "No Mow May", which has been appreciated by local insects! A good display of Cowslips for the bumblebees to enjoy.. With best wishes. Roger Phil Porter's email is: philporterento@outlook.com Roger Parsons' email is: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk LEN PICK TRUST Barn Owls return to our Owl Tower for the 2026 season - lots of pellets! https://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project/ BTO's tracked Cuckoos - arrivals expected late April. https://www.bto.org/get-involved/volunteer/projects/cuckoo-tracking Read the latest updates from our Cuckoos on their epic migration https://www.bto.org/get-involved/volunteer/projects/cuckoo-tracking/updates Loch of the Lowes SWT Webcam - exciting activity at the nest this week! https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/watch-wildlife-online/loch-of-the-lowes-webcam/ Long-term resident osprey returns to Loch of the Lowes https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/news/long-term-resident-osprey-returns-to-loch-of-the-lowes/ BEE NEWS Caroline Tero, has just taken on the role of County Recorder for bees for Lincolnshire. Her email is: caroline.tero@ntlworld.com *** This week's mostly-local news stories: *** Police urge awareness over exotic animal trade https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czre1mr01xyo Food waste scheme collects 165 tonnes in first week https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm2905756neo 'This gives us the chance to see the Sun close up - Grimsby https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg73v7rn70go 'Silence is golden': The WW1 archives of a country mansion https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm2kl3e5mxyo *** 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 15 Apr - Sunday 19 Apr Headline: Dull, damp start. Warm, brighter spells possible before rain later. Tonight: Any rain or showers soon clearing into the evening with clear spells developing. Cloud then thickens again from the west after midnight, perhaps bringing one or two further showers. Breezy. Minimum temperature 6°C. Thursday: Breezy start with a mixture of sunny spells and showers, occasionally heavy. Winds will ease through the day, with showers also fading into the evening. Feeling warm in any sunshine. Maximum temperature 16 °C. Outlook for Friday to Sunday: Often cloudy Friday, with the odd shower, but also some brighter spells. Rain likely Saturday morning, clearing to sunny spells and showers. Drier, and sunnier Sunday with winds easing. UK long range weather forecast Sunday 19 Apr - Tuesday 28 Apr A few showers around at the start of the period, mainly affecting the far northeast of the UK. For many though Sunday should be fine and dry with spells of warm sunshine. Into the following week fronts associated with another Atlantic low will try to push into the UK, but may struggle to make inroads against an area of high pressure to the northeast and are likely to be held at bay. So for much of next week plenty of dry weather with sunny spells. Some E coasts could be on the chilly side, but further west temperatures likely feeling quite warm. Toward next weekend and beyond likely turning more unsettled with a return of some rain or showers for many. *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** From blast off to splashdown: My days following Nasa's historic mission to the Moon https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyrdkxvmmpo This Week's Sky at a Glance, April 10 – 19 https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/observing-news/this-weeks-sky-at-a-glance-april-10-19/ Night Sky Highlights - April 2026 https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/space-astronomy/space-astronomy-highlights-2026#April Lyrid meteor shower -16-25 April https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/space-astronomy/lyrid-meteor-shower-when-where-see-it-uk Partial Solar Eclipse August 12th 2026. https://theskylive.com/solar-eclipse?id=2026-08-12&cc=GB Why 2026 looks bright for Northern Light sightings https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/articles/ce8nz3m3k10o Full Moons - 2026 https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/space-astronomy/full-moon-calendar-2026 Spaceweather.com https://spaceweather.com/ Comet Watch https://www.cometwatch.co.uk/ AuroraWatch UK for geomagnetic data: https://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk BBC Sky at Night Magazine website https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news *** For the Geologists *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary Lincolnshire Geodiversity Group: https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/discovering/geology-1 Geology of the Lincolnshire Wolds: https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/special-features/geology The Geology of Lincolnshire: downloadable LNU book https://lnu.org/publications/books/the-geology-of-lincolnshire/ UK Fossils in Lincolnshire https://ukfossils.co.uk/category/lincolnshire/ *** EVENTS *** *** LNU FIELD MEETING *** Saturday 25th April Haugham and Burwell (Harrison) Woods, Louth Joint LNU/LFG. Access courtesy of The Woodland Trust. 11.00 for 12.00 start and finish about 16.00. Car parking at the barn, through the woodland entrance off Muckton Lane, Muckton Bottom at TF 36511 82284, and right at the fork in the track. Grid reference: TF 36182 82102 What3Words: stretcher.panels.compress Nearest postcode: LN11 8NT Habitats: Broadleaved woodland. Leaders: Luke Hartley hartley026@gmail.com and Sarah Lambert sarah.lambert7@ntlworld.com LWT LINCOLN AREA GROUP AGM and Talk. “25 Years of Whisby Wildlife Education” On Thursday 16th April we are joined by staff from the Education Dept. at Whisby NP to tell us about all the wildlife education work they have been doing with young people and their families for the last 25 years. Meet at 7.30 at the Whisby Education Building LN6 9BW (what3words strong.troll.chief ) *** GRIMSBY AND CLEETHORPES AREA GROUP LWT *** On Saturday 25th April there's an invitation to join the group for a guided walk around Far Ings Nature Reserve near Barton with Reserve manager Simon Wellock and Graham Hicks. Meet at the Far Ings Visitor Centre DN18 5RG at 9am. We will be looking for Bearded Tit, Marsh Harrier, Bittern and other wildlife. Please dress suitably for the weather, wear stout footwear and bring binoculars if you have them. This is a free event however donations will be welcomed for the Trust. There will be the opportunity to car share for this event. For further information and booking please contact our secretary David Ball 07711 716063 or visit our website www.grimsbywildlifetrust.org.uk *** SOUTH LINCS RSPB GROUP *** "The Birds of Fiji and New Zealand" Wednesday 22nd April 2026 at 7-30pm at Boston Tennis Club PE21 8EY An illustrated Talk/Slideshow by RSPB South Lincs Chairman Neil Oakman. RSPB members £2 {non-members £3}. *** RSPB SOUTH LINCS. LOCAL GROUP *** "SEAL AND BIRDWATCHING CRUISES INTO THE WASH" The 2026 dates are 11th and 23rd May, 11th and 23rd June, 9th and 25th July, 8th and 22nd August, 19th September, 3rd October. All aboard "The Boston Belle". Full details as regards sailing times, booking {essential} procedure, ticket prices , previous cruise bird sightings etc. at https://group.rspb.org.uk/southlincolnshire/ STAYING SAFE Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary... The Cold-Health Alert Service in England runs from 1 November to 31 March each year. You can register for alerts on this link. https://ukhsa-dashboard.data.gov.uk/weather-health-alerts/cold 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) 7/4/2026 Deeping St James, 3 Glossy Ibises.2 Garganey 1 drk, Scaup fem at East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Donna Nook, Ring Ouzel male. Frampton Marsh, Scaup fem on Marsh Farm reservoir. Redstart male in bushes by River Witham. Gibraltar Point, Scaup fem,at Tennyson's Sands, Ingham to Fillingham, Great Grey Shrike 1w male by bend at Willingham Lane. 8/4/2026 Branston Island, Continental Black-tailed Godwits [nominate form limosa] viewed from cycle path on west bank of River Witham. Deeping St James, 2 Garganey, 1drk, at East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, Scaup fem on Marsh Farm reservoir. Messingham, 3 Common Cranes opposite Scallow Grove Farm flew over Messingham Sand Quarry. 9/4/2026 Anderby Creek, Blue-headed Wagtail male. 10/4/4/2026 Anderby Creek, Blue-headed Wagtail male. Branston Island, Continental Black-tailed Godwits [nominate form limosa] viewed from cycle path on west bank of River Witham. 2 Glossy Ibises. Deeping St James, 2 Glossy Ibises at Deeping Lakes. Huttoft Bank, Water Pipit Sandilands opposite Huttoft Bank Pit on new ponds. Rimac, Purple Heron flew over, towards saltmarsh. 11/4/2026 Anderby Creek, Blue-headed Wagtail male. Alkborough Flats, Ring Ouzel, Common Crane flew SW. Deeping St James, 3 Glossy Ibises at Deeping Lakes, fem Scaup. Frampton Marsh, Scaup fem on Marsh Farm reservoir. Little Stint. Gibraltar Point, White-tailed Eagle flew over beach. Goxhill Haven, 6 Arctic Terns flew east past. 12/4/2026 Deeping St James, 3 Glossy Ibises at Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, Little Stint on South Scrape, fem Scaup on Marsh Farm reservoir. Gibraltar Point, Scaup fem at Tennyson's Sands. 13/4/2026 Rimac, Garganey drk at car park scrape. Nightingale singing in scrub north of pools. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. A1077, South Ferriby to Barton, What3Words: snap.bandwagon.affair Roadkill Jenny Haynes Dead badger. *** 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. AUBOURN SK916619 Jeremy Hutchinson 6/4/26 Barn Owl carrying prey. BARDNEY - The Green TF120694 A & R Parsons 12/4/2026 House Sparrow 12+ Robin 4 Blackbird 3m, 1f Dunnock 2 Chaffinch 1f Goldfinch 2+ Blue tit 4 Great Tit 2 Domestic pigeon 4 Starlling 4+ Woodpigeon 4 Collared Dove 2 Jackdaw 6+ Carrion Crow 1 BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 Phil and Mary Porter 8th April 2026 3 Holly Blues flying in our Holly tree, 2 male Brimstones, Green-veined White, Small White. Chiffchaff singing. Field Mouse caught on trail camera. 9th April 2026 Field Mouse again! 10th April 2026 Mary heard Goldcrest and Blackcap singing 12th April 2026 A pair of Stock Doves. Mary saw an apparent ‘Pipistrelle’ just up the road at 20.15. 13th April 2026 Mary heard 2 Blackcaps and a Willow Warbler singing just outside the garden. 14th April 2026 Mary spotted 3 bats just outside the house, one of which appeared to be Brown Long-eared. BARDNEY ALLOTMENTS & AMENITY AREA Phil Porter 13th April 2026 Small flocks perhaps totalling 40 o so mixed Goldfinches and Linnets in the allotments and hedges. BOSTON My garden TF338441 Tracey Lenton The sunshine early last week brought out a total of 7 different butterflies over two days, I don't think I've seen so many in such a short spell of time before: 6th April 2026: Brimstone, Comma, Holly blue, Peacock, Small tortoiseshell with Speckled wood and a White (which didn't settle for identification) the following day. Dark edged bee-fly continues to be seen, 6th April 2026 feeding on forget-me-not flowers. I have 2 robins in the garden, I think there might be courtship feeding going on. I have seen on a few occasions, in the last week, a robin being fed by another. I initially thought it was a youngster being fed by the parent, however, both birds have adult plumage. I decided to look into this further and found on https://www.birdspot.co.uk/bird-behaviour/a-year-in-the-life-of-the-robin that this could be a display of courtship feeding. Since it was observed feeding itself from fat ball feeder and bird table, I wonder if it is actually a female being wooed by a male? 2 handsome looking Great tits visited the fat ball feeder on 10th April 2026 along with blue tits, regular visitors. Hedgehog droppings on the lawn or food eaten most nights. CARLTON LE MOORLAND SK909581 Jeremy Hutchinson 27-28/3/26 An overnight storm destroyed 2/3 of the large old Ash tree that a pair of Little Owls has recently returned to after an absence of 4-5 years. The stout main trunk remains, but nearly all of the top growth has broken off. There are several holes in this trunk, which have also been used for nesting by Jackdaws and Stock Doves over the years: I’m glad to say that the Little Owls are still in residence. While watching them recently for short random sessions I have been lucky enough to witness the following: One of the Little Owls (presumably the male) chasing off a pair of Jackdaws I saw this happen six times in a few minutes until the Jackdaws decided that they’d had enough, and flew off. At no time did I see them fight back. At dusk one evening a Barn Owl flew past the pair of Little Owls while they were perched in the neighbouring tree. One of the Little Owls immediately launched itself at the Barn Owl and pursued it very closely: I couldn’t see what happened, but the Little Owl soon returned. On the evening of 12/4/26 I saw a (the?) Barn Owl land on the damaged tree and the squeeze into a hole on the side of the trunk which I have never seen the Little Owls use. This suggests that they might be nesting there. Interestingly, although both Little Owls were perched in the open nearby, neither reacted to the Barn Owl on this occasion. On the following evening at dusk I witnessed the Little Owls mating in the neighbouring tree. No doubt more to follow in due course! 6/4/26 First Holly Blues of the year. 7/4/26 First Orange Tip. 9/4/26 First Swallow. Red Kite – seen in morning, and again early afternoon, drifting over field being cultivated, eventually settled on the ground, presumably looking for worms. Rooks on the ground nearby didn’t seem to be too bothered, but a Crow soon turned up to harass it, so it flew away and settled in a tree nearby before flying away. 12/4/26 Second Swallow, behaving as though it intends to stay, unlike the first. Generally butterfly numbers aren’t large, but in addition to the above have seen Small Whites (most numerous), Brimstone, Speckled Wood, Peacock, and (possibly) one Common Blue. 13/4/26 Tawny Owl in ivy-covered tree being mobbed by Thrushes, Blackbirds etc. A Blackcap has been heard singing in and near to the garden over the last few days, and I suspect that Long-tailed Tits may be nesting in my garden. Three times now I’ve witnessed one tapping on my windows, once on the bedroom and twice on the lounge, the latter both at 13.30 in the afternoon for whatever reason. I’ve seen both Blue and Great Tits do this, but have never imagined that LTTs would. Also present in my garden have been Bee Flies and the mounds/burrows of Andrena mining bees. FAR INGS, Angela Buckle 11th April Spotted medick in car park. GRANTHAM GARDEN SK930 372 Alan Lean/Gill Porter 6th April Hawthorn Shieldbug spotted in garden for the first time this year. Good to see Common Carder bees visiting the Rosemary, feels like a sign of warmer weather on the way. The two pairs of Starlings nesting on neighbours’ roofs continue to gather nest material. They have taken a particular liking to tearing off chunks of Zebra Grass (Miscanthus sinensis) showing quite impressive bill power in the process. It’s nice to hear their clickings and whirrings from nearby as we sit in the garden. 12th April Speckled Wood butterflies now a regular sight no doubt finding plenty to their liking in the Green Lane at the back. The pair of Blue Tits that looked like they were only using our nestbox for a food cache seem now to be nest building. We shall see. Surprise visit by a male and female Siskin and later two males. A single female present the following day (13th). None before that over the winter. HENDALE WOODS Angela Buckle 8th April. Early purple orchid, Bluebells, Ground ivy, Common mouse-ear, Common chickweed, Ivy-leafed speedwell, Celendines. HORKSTOW SE987179 Jenny Haynes 9 April 2026 Blackcap singing in garden. 13 April 2026 There were several butterflies in the garden today: orange tip: small blue, not sure if it was a holly blue or common blue. It was very bright blue. Also several small whites, two of which were mating. Lots of bumblebees too. The ring-necked parakeet was spotted on the top of one of our feeder poles, with its head tucked under its wing! Obviously not bothered about predators! IMMINGHAM. Angela Buckle 9th April Bird cherry in bloom in 12th April MESSINGHAM SAND QUARRY SE 9080322 Brenda Edlington 8/4/2026 Avocet Blackbird Black-headed gull Blue tit Buzzard Canada goose Cetti's warbler Chaffinch Chiffchaff Coot Cormorant Crane (3 circling overhead) Crow Dunnock Gadwall Great crested grebe Great tit Greylag goose Heron Jackdaw Long-tailed tit Mallard Marsh harrier Mute swan Pintail m (first sighting at this reserve) Pochard Reed bunting Robin Shelduck Shoveler Teal Tufted duck Wiilow warbler (first seen this year) Wood pigeon Heard Blackcap Green woodpecker Song thrush Wren Also Cowslips Marsh marigolds Peacock Speckled wood NETTLEHAM TF 005756 Brenda Edlington 13/4/2026 Orange tip - first this year 9/4/2026 3 Hedgehogs caught on camera including a male circling several times round what I presume was a female. NETTLETON GRANGE GAME FARM Ben Jacob 10.4.26 Hawthorn Shield Bug Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale landed on picnic table on shooting ground ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 No records this week, the period will be covered next week. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 A bumper WildNews below. It seems spring arrived almost in its entirety during my week off! 010426 – brambling calling from roadside willows by Churchill Lane car park. Peregrine and merlin around Rimac outer dunes, with the merlin spending several minutes chasing a small passerine which it eventually caught. Chiffchaff flew in-off the beach and began feeding around low vegetation along Rimac outer dunes. Red kite circling over Sea View early afternoon and blackcap in song. Another blackcap singing between Rimac and MOD in the afternoon. Water pipit in flight around Rimac freshwater marsh. Female wheatear Elm House Farm mid-afternoon. Alexanders in flower by Sea View car park. 020426 – single barnacle goose, injured pink-footed goose and 2 avocet Rimac car park scrape. 11 avocet on Paradise Lagoon. Stonechat pair Rimac dunes, with the male in song. Yellowhammer feeding in willow at Rimac then flew south. Cattle egret beside the Eau near Rimac bridge. Brambling feeding under garden feeding station at Sea View and 2 green woodpeckers calling nearby. Butterflies – 4 peacock Rimac- Sea View; red admiral Sea View. Common storks-bill flowering in the dunes. 030426 – 5 cattle egret and a barnacle goose on Rimac car park scrape and adjacent fields. 040426 – red kite and buzzard south over Mablethorpe North End early afternoon and 3 grey heron flew north. Wheatear and green woodpecker Elm House Farm. 2 common lizard basking near MOD. Cats-ear, field mouse-ear, daisy and blackthorn in flower. 050426 – willow warbler in song around Churchill Lane. Red kite flew south over Rimac dunes. Common scurvy-grass flowering on saltmarsh and marsh marigold flowering around freshwater marsh sections. 060426 – osprey flew high south over Saltfleet Haven. Green sandpiper along the Eau north of Rimac bridge. 5 cattle egret, pink-footed goose and 8 avocet on Rimac car park scrape. Blackcap singing between Sea View and Paradise, and a great white egret flew over Paradise Lagoon. Butterflies – small tortoiseshell, peacock, brimstone, red admiral Churchill Lane. 070426 – blackcap and willow warbler in song near Sea View in the morning. 23 golden plover flew over Sea View washlands heading east. 4 Barnacle geese and a swallow around Rimac washland. 080426 – sedge warbler stonechat and a swallow around Rimac. Willow warbler, 2 Cetti’s warbler and 3 blackcap singing around Churchill Lane. Common whitethroat Rimac south in dune scrub. Red kite drifted inland from Rimac late morning. 8 sand martin and 4 swallow south in 40 minutes over Rimac, and another swallow over Churchill Lane mid-afternoon. Great white egret and 4 cattle egret Rimac freshwater marsh. Stonechat pair till around Rimac dunes scrub. White wagtail on Rimac car park scrape then flew towards freshwater marsh, and a yellow wagtail flew north. Red kite on wet grassland south of Crook Bank and little ringed plover around old Theddlethorpe terminal site. Butterflies – holly blue, brimstone Sea View; 2 peacock, 2 speckled wood, small tortoiseshell, small white, holly blue Churchill Lane. 090426 – cuckoo calling briefly north of Churchill Lane in the morning. Grasshopper warbler reeling briefly Rimac freshwater marsh early morning. Common whitethroat and sedge warbler singing from the edge of Rimac reedbed, 3 whitethroat Rimac south and another near Sea View. 5 cattle egret and 10 avocet on Rimac car park scrape, and 15 sand martin flew north early morning. Little ringed plover flew north over MOD calling and wheatear on the saltmarsh out from MOD. 4 ruff Rimac car park scrape mid-morning and a red kite drifted north. Spring beauty in flower along scrub edge of dunes. 100426 – purple heron flew over Rimac towards saltmarsh lagoon. 2 whitethroat singing Rimac south and another at Churchill Lane. 2 stonechat still in Rimac dunes and 2 green woodpecker at Sea View. 22 avocet on Paradise lagoon. 6 swallows flew north over Churchill Lane early afternoon. Butterflies – 2 green hairstreak Sea View. 110426 – 2 whimbrel flew high north over Sea View calling. 2 wheatear and a tree pipit around Rimac dunes early afternoon. 120426 – single wheatear on the saltmarsh edge north of Sea View. Sedge warbler singing near Brickyard Lane. 130426 – nightingale in song briefly north of Rimac pools mid-morning. Male garganey, ruff and 16 avocet on Rimac car park scrape, plus 3 swallow and a house martin flying over. 5 wheatear on dune top between Sea View and Rimac, plus whitethroat, blackcap, willow warbler and chiffchaff calling. Male stonechat Rimac dunes and another male wheatear. Whimbrel flew over Sea View mid-afternoon. 2 green woodpecker, grasshopper warbler, 3 whitethroat, 3 blackcap and 2 cetti’s warbler around Churchill Lane. Jack snipe near MOD. Wheatear, 13 avocet and a green woodpecker around Paradise Lagoon. Butterflies – green hairstreak Sea View; 2 green hairstreak, speckled wood Sea View-Rimac; 2 orange-tip Brickyard Lane. 140426 – fieldfare at Brickyard Lane and ring ouzel near Churchill Lane in the morning. Green sandpiper, ruff, 8 avocet Rimac car park scrape, plus 2 swallow and 2 house martin flying over. 13 avocet and a swallow Paradise Lagoon. 4 cattle egret and 3 grey heron along the edges of the Eau near Rimac bridge. 4 wheatear along the dune top between Sea View and Rimac. Another 3 wheatear at Elm House Farm plus 5 snipe and a sedge warbler. A ringtail hen harrier flew low west and a red kite drifted south. Stonechat pair still around Rimac dunes. Between Rimac and MOD 2 sedge warbler, 3 willow warbler, 18 chiffchaff, 4 Cetti’s warbler, 5 blackcap, 8 whitethroat, barn owl, sparrowhawk and 2 red-legged partridge. 4 siskin, 6 sand martin and 3 swallow flew south, and a little ringed plover and green sandpiper flew north. Great white egret briefly on Rimac freshwater marsh in the morning. 25 greylags feeding in arable fields south of Rimac. Red kite on Rimac saltmarsh mid-morning. Butterflies – green hairstreak Rimac south; brimstone, small tortoiseshell, speckled wood, 4 peacock, 3 holly blue, red admiral Churchill Lane. Donna Nook: 020426 – 14 black-tailed godwit, 3 avocet, 1 golden plover, 1 spotted redshank on managed realignment. 070426 – male ring ouzel, 2 firecrest, 2 wheatear and 2 willow warblers. 080426 - Donna Nook managed realignment – 1 grasshopper warbler & 1 knot also 1 bat flying mid-afternoon feeding along edge of tree shelterbelt. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Email: margaretwestcott7@hotmail.co.uk https://butterfly-conservation.org/in-your-area/lincolnshire-branch/chambers-farm-wood-butterfly-garden GARDENING DATES FOR 2026 AT CHAMBERS FARM WOOD BUTTERFLY GARDEN, LN8 5JR Courtesy of Forestry England. Join us in the garden, (What 3 words shrub.prouder.disarmed) , anytime between 9.30am and 3.00pm. Wear appropriate clothing, bring your own tools and lunch All 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month 21st April 5th & 19th May 2nd & 16th June 7th & 21st July 4th & 18th August 1st & 15th September These dates are provisional – phone Margaret 01205 750719 to confirm before travelling *** 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/ Links to "Other Reserves" are welcome. Your suggestions, please. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7. SENDING IN BULLETIN REPORTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The purpose of the Bulletin is to encourage biological recording in Lincolnshire. We aim to increase the number of people reporting observations to Recorders or via iRecord. https://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/ The Bulletin is a FREE service. We ask you to provide reports, questions, news or relevant articles from time to time. Descriptive pieces are welcome. You don't have to stick to lists! Please help us to help you. When sending in reports please follow this layout to save re-editing: Place Name: IN CAPITALS with Grid Reference if you have it. Your Name: Real names please, not aliases. Put it in each time, for each location Date: Species list [Alphabetical?] & numbers [and observations?] e.g. Blackbird - 24 [And please, no home-grown abbreviations. Species Names in full.] Bulletin mailing times may vary. It usually goes out on Wednesdays/ Thursdays in time for the weekend. Please e-mail in contributions to the editor as early as possible. 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 BEE NEWS Caroline Tero has just taken on the role of County Recorder for bees for Lincolnshire. Her email is: caroline.tero@ntlworld.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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 FIELD MEETING *** Saturday 25th April Haugham and Burwell (Harrison) Woods, Louth Joint LNU/LFG. Access courtesy of The Woodland Trust. 11.00 for 12.00 start and finish about 16.00. Car parking at the barn, through the woodland entrance off Muckton Lane, Muckton Bottom at TF 36511 82284, and right at the fork in the track. Grid reference: TF 36182 82102 What3Words: stretcher.panels.compress Nearest postcode: LN11 8NT Habitats: Broadleaved woodland. Leaders: Luke Hartley hartley026@gmail.com and Sarah Lambert sarah.lambert7@ntlworld.com Saturday 30th May Swinstead Valley SSSI Joint LNU/LFG. Access courtesy of Grimsthorpe Estate. Saturday 20th June Cleethorpes Sand Dunes Joint LNU/LFG. Access courtesy of North East Lincolnshire Council. Saturday 11th July Scrivelsby Park Joint LNU/LFG. Access courtesy of Scrivelsby Estate. Saturday 29th August Hawthorpe Joint LNU/LFG. Access courtesy of Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Saturday 19th September Bourne North Fen Joint LNU/LFG. Access courtesy of Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Sunday 18th October Newball Wood Annual LNU Fungus Foray. Access courtesy of Forestry England. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ...AND FINALLY... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** National and International Stories *** Chinese Scientists Made Glowing Plants with Firefly DNA to Replace Streetlights https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/glowing-plants-china-avatar/ Golden eagles' return to English skies gets government backing https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cje4zlxqkqdo Pioneering wildlife cameraman Doug Allan dies after falling ill in Nepal https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czx9kvqxeq5o Hopes more pine martens will be born in the wild https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn9q7vlwnxno The doomsday seed collectors fighting to save Wales' native species https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2d1k0nrwe9o Floating wetlands plan to boost coastal ecosystems https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj0v10834leo *** Mail Fails *** John Raby- soft bounce. If you experience any such problem in future please let Alex know. mrapickwell@gmail.com ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/