============================================ || || Wildnews Bulletin || 21st January 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Editor writes: I promised some Bardney area plant thoughts and observations last week, but having pulled a muscle in my back, my mobility has been compromised. Nevertheless, I have been struck recently by the extent to which Common Storksbill has managed to become a major component on a damaged grass verge just round the corner. From home, the small flat ferny rosettes with a pale central growth bud are distinctive enough if you know the plant. Its long-term future as a carpeting plant on this bare patch will depend on how well the grass, daisies and other composites grow back during the next couple of months. I looked up the prospects of finding mines or galls on the Storksbill later in the year but the plant does not seem to support these. Hopeful of looking a little further afield next week! A Government report release presumably kept out of the news by you-know-who! Nature security assessment on global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nature-security-assessment-on-global-biodiversity-loss-ecosystem-collapse-and-national-security? Phil Porter's email is: philporterento@outlook.com Roger Parsons' email is: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk BTO's tracked Cuckoos - Latest updates - south of the Sahel: 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. https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/watch-wildlife-online/loch-of-the-lowes-webcam/ *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust *** “Wilder Lincolnshire Podcast” https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/what-we-do/about/wilder-lincolnshire-podcast *** This week's mostly-local news stories: *** Hidden cameras reveal what hedgehogs really get up to after dark https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdjnr7lr7pzo Northern Lights illuminate UK skies in hues of pink and green https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0q4pj5j729o Plea for patience as work on historic route begins - Bailgate, Lincoln https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgyj7498exo Housing plans approved for land on disused quarry - Lincoln https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgjdzj9jljo Spalding Flower Parade 2026 cancelled https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyn8v7wgvpo Red Arrows get first woman leader https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cedwg1g04zjo 'Solar farm will remain until 2090,' council says https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y38x5e494o Nuclear bunker nears collapse due to erosion - Tunstall https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g0dp65v77o Man jailed after admitting cockfighting offences https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g0dwydkgdo Policing to take six-month 'hit' - senior officer https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gv9gvy3w3o Meet £200m road team and view ancient artefacts - North Hykeham https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8d068470q0o *** 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 21 Jan - Sunday 25 Jan Headline: Largely cloudy with spells of rain this week. Tonight: Remaining cloudy through the evening and overnight, with extensive hill fog. Further outbreaks of rain moving northwards, which may be persistent and rather heavy at times. Winds gradually easing inland. Minimum temperature 5 °C Thursday: A breezy and cloudy day, with hill fog. Outbreaks of rain, heavy and persistent at times, will continue to move northward. Drier for a time overnight. Temperatures near normal. Maximum temperature 8 °C. Outlook for Friday to Sunday: Rather windy to start, especially over hills, with a mixture of variable cloud and outbreaks of rain. Wind and rain easing later. Temperatures gradually trending down. UK long range weather forecast Sunday 25 Jan - Tuesday 3 Feb Weather systems moving in from the Atlantic will continue to attempt to push in from the west, but tending to stall in the vicinity of the UK as they encounter high pressure to the north and northeast. As a result, further spells of rain or showers are likely at times. These may be heavy and persistent, especially in the south and west, with the best of any drier interludes in the far north and northeast. Whilst mild conditions are expected to encroach into the south and southwest at times, it is likely to turn somewhat colder through this period, bringing the risk of some snow showers, most likely across hills in Scotland and northern England. *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** Astronauts splash down to Earth after medical evacuation from space station https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c205r8n0276o When does the Nasa Moon mission launch and who are the Artemis II crew? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0q4w3l0wdvo Why 2026 looks bright for Northern Light sightings https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/articles/ce8nz3m3k10o Partial Solar Eclipse August 12th 2026. Put in in your new diary! https://theskylive.com/solar-eclipse?id=2026-08-12&cc=GB 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 'You can't stop once the fossil hunting bug hits' - East Yorks https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8j3p1rer83o 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 WILDLIFE TRUST ** Book Talk and Signing, ‘The Cuckoo’s Lea’ by Michael Warren Whisby Education Centre, Saturday 7th February, 1.30 to 3.30pm. Meet the author of this fascinating book and hear more about the Stories and secrets of birds in our ancient landscapes Suitable for adults. Booking essential. No dogs. https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/events *** GRIMSBY AND CLEETHORPES AREA GROUP LWT *** “A Lake District Year” On Monday 9th February the group hold their next indoor meeting when excellent photographer Mike Pickwell will be giving an illustrated presentation on a year in the life of the Lake District. Mike will be t aking us on a photographic journey through its varied wildlife and how it adapts to rugged mountains, valleys and scenic glacial lakes. This will take place in Grimsby Town Hall DN31 1HU and starts at 7.30pm. Admission £5, all are welcome. There will be a raffle and light refreshments available. For further details contact David Ball 07712 716063 email davidballnorthampton@gmail.com or visit our website www.grimsbywildlifetrust.org.uk BOSTON AREA GROUP LWT Thursday 12th February at 7.30pm Talk – “Eastern Seaboard: Wildlife from Maine to Florida” by Alan Knight Venue - Centenary Methodist Church, Red Lion Street, Boston, PE21 6NY Free parking in the car park on the right hand side of the church. Interval refreshments will be served. Non members welcome and entry is free but there will be a retiring collection. *** SOUTH LINCS RSPB GROUP *** "Bird and Seal Watching Cruises" aboard The Boston Belle into The Wash estuary. Dates for their 2026 programme from Easter 2026 Full details including availability, dates, costs, booking etc. will be on the website. in due course. 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) 14/1/2026 Baston Langtoft Pits, Russian White-fronted Goose 1w. Covenham Reservoir, Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Divers. Cowbit, Red-breasted Diver on river Welland at Cradge Bank, flew downstream. Deeping St James, Long-eared Owl in ivy at Main Lake by main hide. 4 Bewick's Swans at Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, 6 Snow Buntings on east side of sea wall east of East Hide. Gibraltar Point, Black-throated Diver flew south past. Humberston Fitties, Glossy Ibis beyond Buck Beck on lagoon, 2 Snow Buntings at sand bank.. Ingham to Fillingham - Great Grey Shrike between,road bend at Willingham Road. west of RAF Ingham. Scartho, Curlew Sandpiper. 15/1/2026 Alkborough Flats, 6 Tundra Bean Geese. Covenham Reservoir, Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver. Cleethorpes Coast, c39 Snow Buntings, Glossy Ibis on lagoon SE of Buck Beck. Cleethorpes, Little Stint off North Promenade opposite Wonderland Warehouse Indoor Market. Deeping St James, Snow Goose ad white morph in field west north of New Road with Whooper Swans. Frampton Marsh, 6 Snow Buntings on east side of sea wall east of East Hide. Gibraltar Point, Black-throated Diver offshore. Ingham to Fillingham - Great Grey Shrike between, in tree east of road bend at. Willingham Road. North Hykeham, probable Siberian Lesser Whitethroat [form blythi] in garden at Mulberry Avenue. Pyewipe, Iceland Gull juv at Novartis Ings. 16/1/2026 Boultham Mere, Russian White-fronted Goose in cattle field. Cleethorpes Coast, 40 Snow Buntings, Glossy Ibis on lagoon SE of Buck Beck. Covenham Reservoir, Black-throated Diver juv, 4 Great Northern Divers, Red- throated Diver. Deeping St James, Snow Goose ad white morph in field west north of Welland Bend with Whooper Swans. Red-breasted Merganser fem/juv drk at East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Long-eared Owl in ivy by Main Hide, Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, 6 Snow Buntings on east side of sea wall east of East Hide. Gibraltar Point, 3 Russian White-fronted Geese. Ingham to Fillingham, Great Grey Shrike by bend at Willingham Lane. Tallington Lakes. Scaup ad fem at lake. Parking £5. 17/1/2026 Covenham Reservoir, Black-throated Diver juv, Red-throated Diver. Deeping St James, Snow Goose ad white morph 2 Bewick's Swans in field ESE of Church Farm north of Crowland Road with Whooper Swans. Long-eared Owl at Main Lake in ivy by hide. Red-breasted Merganser fem/juv drk at East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, 10 Snow Buntings on east side of sea wall east of East Hide 4 at River Witham mouth. Gibraltar Point, 3 Water Pipits - late report. Horse Shoe Point, c80 Twite. Ingham to Fillingham, Great Grey Shrike by bend at Willingham Lane. Tallington Lakes. Scaup ad fem at lake. Parking £5. 18/1/2026 Baston Fen, 3 Tundra Bean Geese. Cleethorpes Coast, Glossy Ibis on lagoon SE of Buck Beck. Covenham Reservoir, Black-throated Diver juv, 3 Great Northern Divers, Red-throated Diver, Caspian Gull. Deeping St James, Snow Goose ad white morph in field west of Gull House Farm with Whooper Swans. 3 Glossy Ibises at Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, 6 Snow Buntings on east side of sea wall east of East Hide 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. North Hykeham, probable Siberian Lesser Whitethroat [form blythi] in garden at Mulberry Avenue. Willow Tree Fen, Red-breasted Merganser drk. 19/1/2026 Cleethorpes Coast, Glossy Ibis on lagoon SE of Buck Beck. Deeping St James, Snow Goose ad white morph in field north of Crowland Road with 4 Bewick's Swans and Whooper Swans. 1 Long-eared Owl at Main Lake in ivy by hide. Gibraltar Point, 2+ Caspian Gulls on foreshore.. Horse Shoe Point, 50+ Twite. Messingham Sand Quarry, Ring-necked Duck fem opposite Scallow Grove Farm from duck hide. Ingham to Fillingham, Great Grey Shrike by bend at Willingham Lane. 20/1/2026 Cleethorpes Coast, Water Pipit near Buck Beck. Deeping St James, Snow Goose ad white morph in field north of Crowland Road with Whooper Swans. Frampton Marsh, 6 Snow Buntings on east side of sea wall east of East Hide Ingham to Fillingham, Great Grey Shrike by bend at Willingham Lane. Gibraltar Point, Shorelark on foreshore. Messingham Sand Quarry, Ring-necked Duck fem opposite Scallow Grove Farm from Duck Hide. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 19/122026 House Sparrows. 12+ Starling flock of 12+ at fat feeder. Pied Wagtail f. . Blackbirds - 5+ visiting. Dunnock 1 Collared Dove 3. Robin 2 Woodpigeon 3 Domestic pigeon 4. Flock of patrolling Black-headed gulls - 20+ BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 Phil and Mary Porter 17th January 2026 A Great Spotted Woodpecker fed at the sunflowers hearts, visiting rather erratically. We have a noticeable scatter of grassland winter aconites with buds opening where they are spreading into the lawn edges. The mini murmuration of Starlings up the road has increased to more than 150 today. 18th January 2026 Three Robins singing, Great Tits and Blue Tits calling in a sunny moment. 19th January 2026 A pair of Collared Doves on the bird table. BARDNEY, Manor Farm TF117704 Phil and Mary Porter 14th January 2026 Quite a surprise here, with 400+ Lapwings. We don’t go here a great deal, but to see any Lapwings has been a pleasure not achieved for several (perhaps many) years. Redwings, Blackbirds and Fieldfares were mixed in but we were concentrating on the Lapwings. Past memories are of fairly regular large flocks of Lapwings and Golden Plovers. HORKSTOW SE987179 Jenny Haynes 16 January 2026 Small flock of longtailed tits on feeders. 17 January 2026 Small flocks of both pink footed geese and lapwings were sharing a field close to the River Ancholme in Horkstow. 20 January 2925 Very large flock of pink footed geese in the same field today. SOUTHREY, Water Rail Way TF146660 Phil and Mary Porter 14th January 2026 A small number of opened and broken freshwater mussel shells on the Water Rail Way which we always interpret as having been dropped, allegedly by crows according to a passer-by several years ago. These are the first we have seen this winter. 4 or 5 Teal on the River with c. 6 Mallard and a Cormorant. A Grey Heron and Pied Wagtail at the Pumping Station. Some Whooper Swan calls, not many, out of sight behind the western river embankment. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 8th January: White-fronted Goose in with flock of Greylag Goose, 252 Pink-footed Goose in field at Anderby, Water Pipit on Anderby Marsh. 150 Common Scoter, Red Kite and Black-throated Diver flying north. 7 Bearded Tit at Wolla Bank Reedbed. 10 Tufted Duck on Wolla Bank Pit. Stonechat at Sandilands Golf Course. 10th January: 3 Golden Plover, Ringed Plover, Redshank, Dunlin, White-fronted Goose, 3 Snipe and 7 Fieldfare at Anderby Marsh. 11th January: Anderby Marsh was showing 128 Mallard, 158 Teal, 478 Wigeon, 12 Gadwall, 6 Shoveler, Kingfisher, 2 Fieldfare and a female Marsh Harrier. 12th January: 3 Woodcock at Chapel Six Marshes. 440 Wigeon, 230 Teal, 24 Gadwall, 3 Curlew, 46 Lapwing, 8 Dunlin and 11 Snipe. 14th January: Great Northern Diver on the sea. 70 Sanderling on the beach. 14 Dunlin and 12 Snipe on Anderby Marsh. 31 Fieldfare at Wolla Bank Pit and a Woodcock at Huttoft Pit. 16th January: on Anderby Marsh were 18 Snipe, 220 Lapwing and 14 Dunlin. 100 Lapwing and 300 Golden Plover on fields near Mumby. 17th January: 8 Gadwall, 8 Shoveler and a Goosander on Huttoft Pit. 28 Curlew, 26 Wigeon and a Redshank showing on Huttoft 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 A fairly short WildNews this week, but still some sightings of interest hopefully. 150126 – 3 shorelark flew in from the south late morning and landed on the beach near the tide bell at Crook Bank, then continued north towards Brickyard Lane. 21 gadwall on Paradise Lagoon mid-morning. 8 black-tailed godwit and minimum 700 mixed wildfowl (mostly teal and wigeon) between Paradise and Sea View Washlands. 5 fieldfare flew south over Mablethorpe North End and 400 pink-footed geese flew north. 2 goldcrest with tit flock around Crook Bank. 160126 – 28 gadwall on Paradise Lagoon mid-afternoon. 180126 – 45 whooper swan flew into roost at Rimac in the evening. Merlin, woodcock and 2 great white egret also around Rimac late afternoon. Tawny owl calling near Churchill Lane. 190126 – c4000 pink-footed geese feeding on winter cereals north-west of Churchill Lane late morning. Great tit and dunnock in song near Churchill Lane in the morning. Drake eider flew south over the sea past Mablethorpe late morning. 9+ white-fronted geese, 6 greylags, 440 Canada geese, 22 brent geese, 2 reed bunting, 2 skylark, 2 meadow pipit, 300+ starling, stonechat, 550+ teal, 660+ wigeon, 110 lapwing, 8 redshank. 4 white-fronted geese and a black-tailed godwit on Rimac car park scrape early afternoon. 200126 – 4 cattle egret by the edge of the Great Eau then feeding in pony paddock by Rimac entrance. 6 whooper swan flew south over Elm House Farm early morning, and 348 Canada geese feeding on wet grassland. Female stonechat on fenceline at Elm House Farm and a pair in the dunes at Rimac. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 *** Lincolnshire Dormouse Group *** lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The NNR includes the following sites: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chambers Farm Woods (comprises Ivy Wood; Little and Great Scrubbs Woods; Minting Wood; Hatton Wood, Hatton Plantation and Minting Park; and also three areas of grassland: Little Scrubbs Meadow and extension), Small Meadow and Big Meadow. Since all have their own management plans, please give the actual location when reporting). College Wood; Cocklode & Great West Woods; Hardy Gang Wood; Newball Wood; Rand Wood; Scotgrove Wood; Southrey Wood and Wickenby Wood. Many of these include both areas of ancient woodland or important grassland. Many are also designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Records which provide a six-figure grid reference are of particular value to the Forestry Commission. Other woods included in the NNR but without public access: Stainfield Wood; Stainton & Fulnetby Woods (access by public bridle way only). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. OTHER RESERVE REPORTS AND HIGHLIGHTS. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Discover Woodland Trust woods near you- including the best woods for walks, wildlife watching, family fun and heritage. https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/#=undefined&view=map Lincolnshire County Council - Local Nature Reserves https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/coast-countryside/nature-reserves Links to "Other Reserves" are welcome. Your suggestions, please. Boston Woods Trust https://www.bostonwoods.co.uk/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7. SENDING IN BULLETIN REPORTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The purpose of the Bulletin is to encourage biological recording in Lincolnshire. We aim to increase the number of people reporting observations to Recorders or via iRecord. https://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/ The Bulletin is a FREE service. We ask you to provide reports, questions, news or relevant articles from time to time. Descriptive pieces are welcome. You don't have to stick to lists! Please help us to help you. When sending in reports please follow this layout to save re-editing: Place Name: IN CAPITALS with Grid Reference if you have it. Your Name: Real names please, not aliases. Put it in each time, for each location Date: Species list [Alphabetical?] & numbers [and observations?] e.g. Blackbird - 24 [And please, no home-grown abbreviations. Species Names in full.] Bulletin mailing times may vary. It usually goes out on Wednesdays/ Thursdays in time for the weekend. Please e-mail in contributions to the editor as early as possible. Tuesday latest. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8. CONTACTS AND USEFUL WEBSITES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Links "not to be missed" *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. CONTACTS LIST *** Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union *** LNU Website: http://lnu.org/ LNU Twitter feed https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist LNU e-mail: info@lnu.org Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust: https://twitter.com/LincsWildlife Lincs Bird Club: https://twitter.com/Lincsbirding LBC County Bird Recorder: recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk The Sir Joseph Banks Society: https://twitter.com/sirjosephbanks Lincolnshire Bat Group: http://www.lincsbatgroup.co.uk/ Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch: https://twitter.com/BC_Lincolnshire Lincsbirders: https://twitter.com/lincsbirders Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project: https://lincolnshirechalkstreams.org/ Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Trust: https://lincolnshirechalkstreamstrust.org.uk/ South Lincolnshire Flora Group: https://bsbi.org/south-lincolnshire-v-c-53 The Wolds Fungi Group: Contact Paul Nichol via email: nichol20@gmail.com Lincolnshire Dormouse Group: Contact: lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com FIGHTING WILDLIFE CRIME Wildlife Crime https://www.lincs.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/wc/wildlife-crime/ SPECIES IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. LNU Recorders and Specialists: https://lnu.org/specialists/ Downloads of LNU books: https://lnu.org/publications/books/ Recording with "iRecord": https://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/ iRecord is recommended by the LNU as an appropriate platform for on-line recording When asking for help: Please give the very best information you can provide. If you are not sure, ask what is needed from you to confirm identification. Photographs are helpful but not every species can be identified from a photograph. When asked for further details,get back to the recorder promptly. Don't forget a thank you for the help. That is always welcomed. Local Bat Helpline Grounded bats, bat problems, advice and information. Contact the new Lincolnshire Bat Group co-ordinator as above: Email: info@lincsbatgroup.co.uk Or by phone on 01526 344726, who will be able to help you. Confidential Bat Records You may send confidential bat records direct to the above, who will make sure they are securely passed on to the new recorder. Slug ID Help Chris du Feu will help with slug identification. Tel: 01383 669 124 Email: chris.r.dufeu@gmail.com USEFUL WILDLIFE LINKS Please copy and paste URLs if necessary. How to identify ladybirds| NatureSpot https://www.naturespot.org/WildlifeGuides/12CommonLadybirds How to identify 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ New details to come.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ...AND FINALLY... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** National and International Stories *** Living their best life? What the Highland lynx did next https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm2y1ygjmy2o Rare discovery as nightjar found behind Belfast bin https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3wz1e4lnw1o Mystery of wolf-type dogs solved with DNA test https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c93vngqg97ko Chip wreck! Thousands of chips wash ashore on beach - Eastbourne https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0lxkl3gd6jo Water supply issues affect more than 4,000 homes - Kent https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c77kd20ljzgo Farmers need more help after huge wildfire - MP - North York Moors https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce8e47zg9npo UK secures record supply of offshore wind projects https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn9zyx150xdo Secret life of the wood mouse https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/mammals/wood-mouse? Seagrass meadows could be good for your health – yet they’re disappearing fast https://theconversation.com/seagrass-meadows-could-be-good-for-your-health-yet-theyre-disappearing-fast-273120 *** Mail Fails *** Brian Rice - 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/