============================================ || || Wildnews Bulletin || 18th February 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- Many years ago, I noticed a plant in a stretch of Ivy hedging with very pale ripe fruits in Bardney and made an enquiry on the Bulletin asking if there was any particular significance attached. I didn’t get a reply and what little I have gleaned from books since then suggests that it is just a variety of common ivy. I took a few pictures this week and you can view my iRecord entry https://irecord.org.uk/record-details?occurrence_id=50083662 It would be interesting to find out if anyone else knows of any such plants. I think anyone with the slightest interest in uncommon events in the bird world must be aware of the influx of thousands of geese from across the high latitudes of the Holarctic. This last week there seem to have been more records than ever from Lincolnshire’s coastal wetlands and riverine habitats. Probably the tremendous rains have made even the better-drained areas look attractive to new arrivals. When the weather turns the Russian White-fronted Geese, Tundra Bean Geese, Cackling Geese and the single Snow Goose will depart for their migration to the various native breeding ranges, so it looks like birders are ‘filling their boots’ with observations while they still can. Phil Porter's email is: philporterento@outlook.com Roger Parsons' email is: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk LEN PICK TRUST Owls return to our Owl Tower for the 2026 season https://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project/ BTO's tracked Cuckoos 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 - camera working again https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/watch-wildlife-online/loch-of-the-lowes-webcam/ *** This week's mostly-local news stories: *** County roads 'much worse' as pothole repairs soar https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9dnl84w2p6o More solar farms on the way after record renewables auction - West Burton https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp85n416n3vo Quarry plans raise fears over road safety - Baston https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2gner4k8yo Wildlife trust welcomes first calf of the year - Woodhall Spa https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8egl9zerg9o Government approves North Sea wind farm https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2dngplzxdo *** Weather News and Forecast *** https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#? East Midlands weather forecast Wednesday 18 Feb - Sunday 22 Feb Headline: Cold with sleet and snow Thursday: Early rain, sleet and snow soon clearing Thursday morning, then drier and brighter, though remaining cold. Winds gradually ease though the afternoon. Maximum temperature 4 °C. Outlook for Friday to Sunday: Winds easing. Cloud thickening Friday, turning windy with rain and showers, continuing into Saturday and Sunday, mainly in the south of the region. Turning much milder. UK long range weather forecast Sunday 22 Feb - Tuesday 3 Mar Quite changeable as Atlantic frontal systems track near or across the UK at times, bringing spells of rain, heaviest and most prolonged over high ground in the west and/or northwest, with comparatively small accumulations in more sheltered eastern and southeastern areas. It will often be quite breezy or windy, the strongest winds typically in the west or northwest. With a west or south-westerly flow tending to dominate, temperatures will likely be near or above average much of the time, especially over this weekend with some very mild conditions expected before a gradual downward trend through the final week of February back closer to average. *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** How to get the best view of the Northern Lights in 2026 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyzw90xnjzo 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 Night Sky Highlights - January 2026 https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/space-astronomy/astronomy/night-sky-highlights-january-2026 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 What are critical minerals and why do countries need them https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj6wwx7zxd9o 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 *** *** LINCOLNSHIRE NATURALISTS UNION AGM *** Our AGM will be held on 4th April at 2pm at Whisby Nature Park Education Centre after which there will be a comfort break and light refreshments will be available. At approximately 3pm, Retiring President Colin Smith will give an illustrated talk, ‘A Lifetime of Light Trapping’ tracing his moth trapping and the other night-time fauna that is also revealed. *** THE SCUNTHORPE AND BRIGG LOCAL GROUP OF THE LINCOLNSHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST *** Our next meeting is on Thursday, 12th March when we will be visited by the Recorder of Reptiles and Amphibians for the Yorkshire Naturalists Union, Robert Jaques, who will be giving his illustrated presentation entitled "The Reptiles and Amphibians of Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire". Robert will be telling us about the species found in North Lincolnshire and Yorkshire, what makes them so special, and how to tell them apart. This is a unique and rare opportunity to have a talk on these much neglected vertebrates. The meeting starts at 7.30pm in the St Hugh's Church Small Hall, Ashby Road, Scunthorpe, DN16 2AG, which is opposite the Applegreen Filling Station near to the Brumby crossroads traffic lights on Ashby Road. ALL ARE WELCOME TO OUR MEETINGS. There is a free car park at the Church, also at the Old Brumby United Church opposite, and also on the nearby roadside. There is a £2.50 entry charge which includes light refreshments at the mid-talk break. *** THE NATURAL HISTORY AND GEOLOGY SECTION OF THE SCUNTHORPE MUSEUM SOCIETY *** On Monday, 9th March, we have Hannah Dale visiting to give us her illustrated talk entitled "Bringing Beavers back to Lincolnshire - Wild Wrendale". Hannah will cover the rewilding of a 300-acre former arable farm, the return of beavers, some of the challenges she and her husband Jack faced in the project, and the results that they are already seeing. We meet as usual in the St Bernadette's Church Hall, Ashby Road, Scunthorpe, DN16 2RS. The entrance to the Church grounds is almost opposite the Priory Hotel on Ashby Road, which is part of the main A159 Gainsborough/Scunthorpe road. The meeting starts at 7.15pm. ALL ARE WELCOME TO OUR MEETINGS. There is a large, free car park at the Church. There will be a comfort break mid-way through the talk at which light refreshments are served for a £1 charge. There is an entry fee of £5 for non-members of the Society. *** LINCOLN LWT AREA GROUP TALK *** 19th February 2026: ‘Nature Conservation in the Thames Estuary ‘ An illustrated talk by Rolf Williams looking back at his past work with the RSPB in the Thames Estuary and all the wildlife conservation projects happening in that area. 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:-*** Morning Bird Walk at Covenham Reservoir On Saturday 21st February you are invited to join the group for a morning bird walk around Covenham Reservoir with Graham Hicks. This reservoir attracts a wide variety of wintering wildfowl. Meet Graham at 9am in the car park LN11 OPD Grid ref. TF34619601. You are advised to dress according to 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. For further details contact walk leader Graham Hicks 07542 654285 or group secretary David Ball 07712 716063 email davidballnorthampton@gmail.com *** LINCOLNSHIRE BIRD CLUB AGM NOTICE 2026 *** The LBC invites you to Whisby Nature Park Education Centre at 2.00pm on Saturday 21 March 2026 for a talk by Professor Tim Birkhead on his new book, The Great Auk followed by the AGM. Download the AGM Notice at https://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk/site/images/newsletter/AGM_Notice_2026.pdf Professor Birkhead will explore the remarkable rise and tragic extinction of the great auk, a flightless seabird once widespread across the North Atlantic, and the unsettling legacy that followed its disappearance. Drawing on meticulous research and vivid storytelling, the talk offers both a compelling narrative and a powerful conservation message. The talk is free and open to all. It will be followed by the Lincolnshire Bird Club Annual General Meeting (members only). We look forward to meeting as many LBC members at the meeting as possible….. *** 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) 11/2/2-25 Alkborough Flats, 510 Russian White-fronted Geese. Late report. Baston Fen, 30 Russian White-fronted Geese in field and 2 Bewick's Swans in field viewed from River Glen bank. Baston Langtoft Pits, Snow Goose ad white morph with Whooper Swans. Covenham Reservoir, Black-throated Diver, 2 Great Northern Divers. Slavonian Grebe. Deeping St James, Kittiwake ad at Deeping lakes, flew south over East Pit. Ingham to Fillingham, Great Grey Shrike by bend at Willingham Lane. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, 28 Twite east of Crook Bank car park. 23 Snow Buntings, Lapland Bunting between Crook bank and Tidal Bell. along seaward side of dunes Skegness, Caspian Gull 1w at festival Pools. Trent Port, 25 Russian White-fronted Geese in field. 12/2/2026 Baston Fen, Snow Goose white morph at Bourne South Fen with Whooper Swans. Use Baston Fen car park and walk north to river bank. 184 Russian White-fronted Geese. Covenham Reservoir, Black-throated Diver juv, 2 Great Northern Divers. NW of Covenham, Tundra Bean Goose at Fulstow near Thoresby Road Deeping St James, 3 Glossy Ibises at East Pit, Deeping Lakes Scaup fem. Gibraltar Point, Scaup fem north of Sykes Farm on Jackson's Marsh. Water Pipit. Huttoft Bank, 8 Tundra Bean Geese in field. Ingham to Fillingham, Great Grey Shrike by bend at Willingham Lane. Mablethorpe, 8 Snow Buntings. 3 Tundra Bean Geese at Viking Field. Messingham Sand Quarry, Ring-necked Duck fem opposite Scallow Grove Farm from Duck Hide. Pyewipe, 3 Ruddy Shelducks. 20+ Russian White-fronted Geese, Novartis Ings lagoon. Tundra Bean Goose in field west on Novartis Ings. Rimac, 23 Russian White-fronted Geese in cereal field by A1031, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, 2 Caspian Gulls ad + 1w, on flooded pasture south of Crook Bank car park. Glaucous Gull on beach. 2 Shorelarks. Lapland Bunting. 25 Snow Buntings. Saltfleet St Clements, 139 Russian White-fronted Geese in cereal field near Sea View. Shepeau Stow east of Crowland, north of Cox's Drove, 45+ Bewick's Swans in beet field. Willow Tree Fen, 15 Russian White-fronted Geese. Woodhall Spa RAF Airfield, 5 Tundra Bean Geese. 3 Russian White-fronted Geese. 13/2/2026 Baston Langtoft Pits, Russian White-fronted Goose 1w at Wader Pit. Baston Fen, Snow Goose ad white morph in sugar beet field with Whooper Swans. 46 Russian White-fronted Geese in field and 2 Bewick's Swans. Deeping St James, Scaup fem at Deeping Lakes at East Pit. Frampton Marsh, 3 Tundra Bean Geese. Ingham to Fillingham, Great Grey Shrike by bend at Willingham Lane. Mablethorpe, 3 Russian White-fronted Geese. Messingham Sand Quarry, Ring-necked Duck fem opposite Scallow Grove Farm from Duck Hide. Pyewipe, Tundra Bean Goose at Novartis Ings. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, Cackling Goose, south of Crook Bank, on wet grassland from dunes with Barnacle Geese. 70 Russian White-fronted Geese north of Theddlethorpe in cereal field. 69 Russian White-fronted Geese Saltfleetby St Clements in cereal field opposite Elm House farm. Theddlethorpe St Helen's, 27 Russian White-fronted Geese.on arable field south of Crook Bank. car park. 21 Russian White-fronted Geese between Saltfleetby and Howdales in cereal field. Cackling Goose on wet grasssland with Barnacle Geese. 14/2/2026 Baston Langtoft Pits, 7 Russian White-fronted Geese in ploughed field. east on Cross Road near South Pit. Baston Fen, Snow Goose ad white morph in sugar beet field with Whooper Swans in sugar beet field. 3 Bewick's Swans all ads. Use Baston Fen car park, walk north to river bank. 50 Russian White-fronted Geese, viewed from River Glen bank. Branston Island, 5 Common Cranes flew south. Covenham Reservoir, Black-throated Diver at south end. Deeping St James, Glossy Ibis at Deeping Lakes. Scaup fem at East Pit. Frampton Marsh, 200 Russian White-fronted Geese. Gibraltar Point, 21 Russian White-fronted Geese. Horseshoe Point, c20 Twite near car park. Ingham to Fillingham, Great Grey Shrike by bend at Willingham Lane. Messingham Sand Quarry, Ring-necked Duck fem opposite Scallow Grove Farm from Duck Hide. Rimac, Water Pipit on scrape. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, 2 Shorelarks at Saltfleetby. 20 Snow Buntings on beach, east of Crook Bank. Theddlethorpe St Helen's, 2 Tundra Bean Geese, Cackling Goose with Barnacle Geese, 29 Russian White-fronted Geese. Shepeau Stow, c60 Russian White-fronted Geese north of Hemingby in field. 65+ Bewick's Swans, 500 Whooper Swans, 10+ Tundra Bean Geese in fields north of Cox's Drove. Willow Tree Fen, 14 Russian White-fronted Geese. 15/2/2026 Baston Fen, Snow Goose ad white morph in sugar beet field with Whooper Swans in sugar beet field. 2 Glossy Ibises. Branston Island, Cackling Goose, with Barnacle Geese. Covenham Reservoir, Black-throated Diver juv at south end. 2 Great Northern Divers. Slavonian Grebe. Deeping St James, Scaup fem at Deeping Lakes. Ingham to Fillingham, Great Grey Shrike by bend at Willingham Lane. Mablethorpe, 56 Russian White-fronted Geese on wet grassland north of Meers Bank, viewed from dunes. North Hykeham, probable Siberian Whitethroat form blythi in garden at Mulberry Avenue. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, 2 Shorelarks east of Crook Bank car park. 75 Russian White-fronted Geese at Saltfleetby St Clements in cereal field opposite Elm House Farm. Sandtoft, 2 Common Cranes on Roe Carr. Trent Port, 8 Russian White-fronted Geese in field. Willow Tree Fen, 15 Russian White-fronted Geese 16/2/2026 Alkborough Flats, 80 Russian White-fronted Geese. Water Pipit. Baston Fen, Snow Goose ad white morph in sugar beet field with Whooper Swans in sugar beet field. 2 Russian White-fronted Geese at Bourne South Fen. View from South Fen Road by pig farm. Boultham Mere, 7 Russian White-fronted Geese. Branston Island, 140 Russian White-fronted Geese, Cackling Goose, with Barnacle Geese. Covenham Reservoir, .43 Russian White-fronted Geese Tundra Bean Goose reported. Black-throated Diver juv at south end, 2 Great Northern Diver. Slavonian Grebe. Deeping St James, fem Scaup, Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, 100 Russian White-fronted Geese, 3 Tundra Bean Geese in field south of Frampton Roads/Wyberton Roads junction. Gibraltar Point, 23 White-fronted Geese. Ingham to Fillingham, Great Grey Shrike by bend at Willingham Lane. Pyewipe, 5+ Russian White-fronted Geese at Novartis Ings. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, 2 Shorelarks east on Crook Bank car park. Trent Port, 6 Russian White-fronted Geese. Theddlethorpe St Helen's, 44 Russian White-fronted Geese. 2 Tundra Bean Geese on wet grassland south of Crook Bank car park. Shepeau Stow, 2+ Tundra Bean Geese in fields north of Cox's Drove.15+ Russian White-fronted Geese. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 *** 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 Merlin birds in garden 14 Feb 11.30am. With numbers seen. Chaffinch Jackdaw 8+ seen. Goldfinch Pink footed goose ! Tree sparrow Robin 2 Blue tit 1 Song thrush Rock pigeon 1 [Domestic pigeon] Black-headed gull 12+ Starling 6+ Blackbird 2m.1f Great tit 1. Seen over garden Common Buzzard 1. Also Woodpigeon - 5 Dunnock -1 on ground near bins on 15th. Cudweed in garden doing well. BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 Phil and Mary Porter 16th February 2026 A pair of Magpies perched in the tree next to their nesting tree last year in the garden in the neighbouring garden. Always an ominous lookout for at least a few Blackbird broods this spring and summer. 17th February 2026 Chaffinches seem to be the most numerous species now with about 10 feeding on the ground under the sunflower heart dispenser whilst more try to compete with the more athletic goldfinches and tits above. If there is aggravation, the chaffinches can’t cope on the feeders, while the greenfinches, which aren’t very agile either, can threaten and maintain their position through their stout build. A Great Spotted Woodpecker visited twice during the day. BASSINGHAM FEN SK94056 59842 16/02/26 Pair of Otters in River Brant. BURTON PEDWARDINE, White Cross Lane 52.97 N 0.38 W = TF088426 Martin Thompson 11/02/2026, 12;40pm 1 male Green winged teal CARLTON LE MOORLAND Jeremy Hutchinson 8/02/26 A walk along the bank of a local water course (West Brant Syke) resulted in the sighting of a least three Buzzards, a herd of eight Roe Deer, the most I've ever seen around here at once, a small flock of (mostly female) Yellowhammers, and a Hare. Further south we found a section of an unidentified fish, about 100-120 mm across which presumably had been left by an Otter, or maybe a Mink. 14/02/26 Barn Owl heard 19.30. 15/02/26 Tawny Owl in tree across the road at dusk. 16/02/26 Large flock of Fieldfares in the area, the largest I've seen this winter: appear to be eating Ivy berries, not many other types left. Highlight of this winter confirmed this afternoon: a pair of Little Owls has returned to one of the two large Ash trees across the field from my house. Having nested in one or the other (mainly the one they were in today) for many years, the moved out about five years ago, and have been sorely missed. I heard one calling about a week ago, and have spotted (with some difficulty, even with binoculars) a single bird five days out of the last seven, including this morning. I was gardening in the late afternoon when I suddenly heard two birds calling alternately; a scan with binoculars revealed two birds a short distance apart in the same tree (the one most often used for nesting). Skylarks heard singing most days recently, likewise several Song Thrushes. 17/02/26 Female Blackcap in garden taking an interest in the Ivy, then flew into the Honeysuckle close to the conservatory where I was sitting. While I was watching it swallowed a wizened Honeysuckle berry. MESSINGHAM SAND QUARRY SE 908032 Brenda Edlington 17/2/2026 Fewer birds around than usual possibly because old reeds were being cut and burned. Close up views of goldcrest and treecreeper were a bonus. Blackbird Black-headed gull Blue tit Coal tit Coot Cormorant Crow Dunnock Gadwall Goldcrest 3 Great tit Greylag goose Mallard Moorhen Mute swan Robin Shelduck Shoveler Tree creeper 2 Tufted duck Wood pigeon Wren VARIOUS Tracey Lenton I've been on several walks over the last 2 months, mainly Havenside. I went to Frampton Marsh and saw what was likely the snow buntings and to Cut End to see some of the unusual birds which have been reported there; I was not in luck, though a huge (must have been hundreds) flock of Brent geese came overhead of me, what a feeling to be in the eye of the storm, so to speak! I have looked at vegetation, but, to my shame, discovered my plant knowledge is limited when there are no flowers! Another project for me! You wrote about mussel shells the other week, interestingly, I had seen some too, on the bank at Cut End, covered in barnacles. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 10th February: 248 White-fronted Goose, 8 Bean Goose and 300 Pink-footed Goose on sugar beet field. 11th February: the sugar beet is a real goose fair with 320 White-fronted, 520 Pink-footed, 2 Barnacle and 2 Bean Goose. Anderby Marsh has 2,000 Lapwing, 650 Golden Plover, 2 Goosander and a Bar-tailed Godwit. At sea were Great Crested Grebe, a Red-necked Grebe and around 20 Red-throated Diver. 12th February: Woodlark, 3 Great Crested Grebe and Red-necked Grebe flying north. A further 3 Great Crested Grebe and Red-necked Grebe on the sea. Woodcock at Wolla Bank Pit. Goose count was 548 white-fronted, 2 Barnacle, 8 Bean and 362 Pink-footed. 13th February: todays goose count was 416 White-fronted and 3 Tundra Bean. 14th February: Red-necked Grebe and Grey Wagtail flying north, 2 Goldeneye flying south. At Wolla Bank Pit were 12 Moorhen, 5 Coot, 5 Gadwall, 16 Mallard, 6 Tufted Duck, 3 Mute Swan, 12 Reed Bunting and 3 Robin. Huttoft Pit showed 6 Shelduck, 5 Shoveler, 3 Gadwall and 5 Snipe. Anderby Marsh had 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Goosander, 36 Dunlin and a Black-tailed Godwit. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Some excellent winter birding to be around here at the minute with big numbers of geese and a few treats mixed in with them. 110226 – a large wreck of razor clams along the beach at Crook Bank following recent storms. 70+ white-fronted geese flew over Sea View towards Elm House Farm mid-afternoon. 22 barnacle geese on wet grassland south of Crook Bank. 124 cormorants on the beach at Crook Bank mid-afternoon and 3000+ gulls flew into roost at dusk, most of which were herring gulls. Frog croaking at Crook Bank in the morning and another seen around Churchill Lane. 120226 – 139 white-fronted geese in cereal fields opposite Sea View and another 23 in large cereal field inland from Rimac. Male hen harrier flew over Elm House Farm. 8 snow bunting on the beach just north of Mablethorpe and 26 seen on the beach north of the tide bell late morning. Jack snipe and water rail around Crook Bank outer dunes. 20 white-fronted geese flew high south west over Crook Bank, seemingly having flown in-off the sea. First-winter Caspian gull, 4 black-tailed godwit and 22 barnacle geese on wet grassland south of Crook Bank. 48 whooper swans and 42 mute swans feeding in agricultural fields inland from the dunes. 130226 – cackling goose associating with 22 barnacle geese, 3 white-fronted geese and feral geese on wet grassland south of Crook Bank. 69 white-fronted geese in cereal field opposite Elm House Farm, 70 in large cereal fields inland from MOD with some pink-footed geese and 28 in arable fields south of Crook Bank. 140226 – 3500 pink-footed geese, 96 white-fronted geese and 12 barnacle geese split between two fields at Elm House Farm, and 750 lapwing and 450 starling flying over. Cackling goose, 2 tundra bean geese and 29 white-fronted geese on wet grassland south of Crook Bank. 2 shorelark on the beach around Crook Bank. Short-eared owl hunting over Rimac saltmarsh late afternoon and 94 pintail around Rimac saltmarsh lagoon. 3 stonechat Rimac dunes late afternoon. 2 water rail and Cetti’s warbler Rimac freshwater marsh. 50 whooper swan and 3500 pink-footed geese flew over Rimac dunes to roost at dusk. Increased bird song around the dunes now includes great tit, robin, chaffinch, dunnock, song thrush, blackbird, greenfinch and drumming great spotted woodpecker. 150226 – buzzards regularly flying and calling over Brickyard Lane dunes, seemingly back on breeding territory. Mix of geese on Elm House Farm seen from the road late morning; mostly pink-footed geese plus 30 white-fronted geese. 160226 – 44 white-fronted geese, 2 tundra bean geese and 21 barnacle geese with feral geese on wet grassland south of Crook Bank but no sign of cackling goose. 300+ curlew dropped into wet grassland near Crook Bank late afternoon and another 80 flew towards the beach. Woodlark flew up from short dune grassland south of Crook Bank. Green woodpecker calling near Paradise Lagoon. Skylarks in song over the saltmarsh in the afternoon sun. Green sandpiper flew out of a ditch near Churchill Lane. 170226 – a fantastic mix of 3000+ pink-footed geese, 3 tundra bean geese, 250+ white-fronted geese, 40+ barnacle geese along with greylags and Canada geese, plus 1000+ lapwing and 500+ golden plover feeding and roosting in wet grassland on the west side of Elm House Farm viewed from the B1200. 3 cattle egret in wet pasture field by Rimac car park. 28 tundra bean geese, c30 barnacle geese and c35 white-fronted geese on wet grassland south of Crook Bank. Woodlark again seen around short dune grassland south of Crook Bank. 2 shorelark on the beach at Crook Bank. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Margaret Westcott writes… CHAMBERS FARM WOOD BUTTERFLY GARDEN FEBRUARY 2026 The new season begins with a careful clearing of the old perennial stems, relocating seven-spot ladybirds as we go. I'm expecting it to be a very soggy, cold start, but it's good to feel positive about things yet to come. The winter heather is starting to bloom, and will draw in early queen bumblebees. In the annual beds, young plants of love-in-the-mist, corncockle and pot marigolds will bring an early supply of nectar. Hopefully, the spectacular Angelica archangelica will have set seeds which can be moved on to flower next year as it's biennial. New volunteers are always welcome. We garden the first and third Tuesday of the month, 9.30-3.00pm Happy Gardening! 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 3rd & 17th March 7th & 21st April 5th & 19th May 2nd & 16th June 7th & 21st July 4th & 18th August 1st & 15th September *** Lincolnshire Dormouse Group *** lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com The remaining winter dates are Feb Sat 21st, Mar Sun 22nd We meet in the carpark at Chambers Farm Wood at 10 am. Warm clothes, sturdy footwear and lunch are recommended, hand tools will be provided but feel free to bring your own along with a pair of gardening gloves. In addition to coppicing, there are also lots of other jobs to get involved in, including box maintenance and cleaning, and trimming back pathways to boxes. If you are interested in joining us, please get in touch with Olly at 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). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9. NOTES ABOUT THESE WILDLIFE REPORTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We do our best to ensure accuracy in our reporting. However, records are sent in by a variety of reporters; from complete beginners to professionals. They may vary in reliability and occasionally may be difficult or impossible to verify. If further information is needed please contact the editor: Bulletins are sent to Recorders at Lincolnshire Environmental Records Centre [GNLP], Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union and Lincolnshire Bird Club. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10. BULLETIN PUBLICITY POLICY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When submitting reports, e.g. unusual plants, please send any sensitive news directly to recorders. Not the Bulletin. We don't want to spoil things with unwise or untimely publicity. Thank you. Please respect the interests of wildlife and site owners if you report on national networks. Interest in wildlife is not a licence to act irresponsibly or thoughtlessly to landowners, who may well be partners in important conservation work. [Views expressed in the Bulletin do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of the LNU or associated organisations. In particular this applies to agencies, especially charities, taking a political stance.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 11. LNU EVENTS DIARY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** LINCOLNSHIRE NATURALISTS UNION AGM *** Our AGM will be held on 4th April at 2pm at Whisby Nature Park Education Centre after which there will be a comfort break and light refreshments will be available. At approximately 3pm, Retiring President Colin Smith will give an illustrated talk, ‘A Lifetime of Light Trapping’ tracing his moth trapping and the other night-time fauna that is also revealed. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ...AND FINALLY... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** National and International Stories *** Supersized dump fire risk report kept from public https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c78x966g75xo Are wetter winters and frequent flooding here to stay? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgjw0kpd89o What is the dart frog toxin allegedly used to kill Alexei Navalny? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm289we7jzdo Why coping with heavy rain in Scotland’s whisky country shows how to save water for the summer https://theconversation.com/why-coping-with-heavy-rain-in-scotlands-whisky-country-shows-how-to-save-water-for-the-summer-275762 *** Mail Fails *** Lynn Corrigan - soft bounce Pat Wheat - hard 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/