============================================ || || Wildnews Bulletin || 5th March 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- Brimstone butterflies are emerging across the county and we will be glad to receive counts or estimations of all species through the year in their turn.Please consider contributing to the Bulletin whenever you can. Bird observations will also diversify as migrants from the south spread upwards, and established winter visitors start to think about returning to their breeding territories so keep your eyes peeled. If you have a pond, amphibians are a possibility as well, with frogs and toads advertising their presence about now. Readers take a great deal of pleasure in hearing about these events, so don’t be shy. 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 *** This week's mostly-local news stories: *** Beaver 'engineers' released to create wetlands https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly896y1zj9o Large sun sculpture to light up minster - Grimsby https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c15xk8723j5o 'They call me papa toad' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crl4znzpjp9o BBMF celebrates 50 years at Lincolnshire base https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c07j5npp1rdo Peregrine falcon exhibition to land at cathedral https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgml4gvgxe2o *** 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 25 Feb - Sunday 1 Mar Headline: Partly cloudy with sunny spells, cloudy and rain later. Thursday: Any early low cloud, mist and fog clearing to leave a dry, bright and mild afternoon. Cloud thickening into the evening however. Maximum temperature 15 °C. Outlook for Friday to Sunday: Rain overnight Thursday into Friday, clearing slowly through the day to give a drier night into Saturday. Conditions remaining cloudier and milder into the weekend, with some light rain. UK long range weather forecast Sunday 1 Mar - Tuesday 10 Mar A broad northwest-southeast split in the weather looks the most likely scenario as we move into the second week of March. High pressure centered over continental Europe should maintain enough of an influence across southern and eastern UK to allow for a fair bit of dry and at times bright weather, whilst the majority of rain-bearing weather systems affect the northwest of the UK. Some strong winds are likely at times in the northwest. Temperatures look to be mostly near to a little above average. Towards the end of this period, there is chance that unsettled conditions in the northwest may become rather more widespread. *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** Nasa announces change to its Moon landing plans https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6270030neyo Nasa astronauts' moon mission delayed due to rocket issue https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c626v265zqlo Planetary parade: What is it and how can you see it? https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/articles/clydv5y2xqwo This Week's Sky at a Glance- Sky & Telescope - February 27 – March 8 https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/observing-news/this-weeks-sky-at-a-glance-february-27-march-8/ Night Sky Highlights - March 2026 https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/space-astronomy/astronomy/night-sky-highlights-march-2026 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 Ancient 'Snowball Earth' still had seasons https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/articles/c5ykw4rwqxro 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 *** *** Grimsby and Cleethorpes Area Group LWT *** On Monday 9th March at our next indoor meeting, we will be welcoming Josh Forrester the Cleethorpes Coastal Ranger who will be giving an illustrated presentation "The Cleethorpes Coastal Nature Reserve” where Josh will talk about his work and the habitats that he covers. 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 tea/coffee available. For further information please contact our secretary David Ball - 07711 716063 or davidballnorthampton@gmail.com Or visit our website www.grimsbywildlifetrust.org.uk Also.. Morning walk in Weelsby Woods looking for signs of Spring On Saturday 21st March you are invited to join the group for a morning walk around Weelsby Woods Grimsby, where we will be looking for birds and other signs of Spring in this beautiful wood and parkland guided by Graham Hicks. Meet Graham at 9am in the car parking area of Weelsby Woods DN32 5RG. Grid Ref. GA 282 078. 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. For further information please contact David Ball 07711 716063 or email davidballnorthampton@gmail.com Or Graham Hicks 07542 654285 Or visit our website www.grimsbywildlifetrust.org.uk *** 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. *** 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) 25/2/2026 Alkborough Flats, Sand Martin. 130 Russian White-fronted Geese. Cleethorpes Coast, Glossy Ibis on lagoon near foreshore chalets. 9 Snow Buntings in dunes at outer beach. Deeping St James, 3 Glossy Ibises at Deeping Lakes, at Maxey Cut/ River Welland confluence. Also at East Pit. Frampton Marsh, 3 Tundra Bean Geese south of reserve+ 100+ Russian White-fronted Geese. Gibraltar Point, 26 Russian White-fronted Geese in field. Scaup fem at Tennyson's sands. Ingham to Fillingham, Great Grey Shrike 1w male by bend at Willingham Lane. Pyewipe,.6+ Russian White-fronted Geese at Novartis Ings. Rimac, 2 Tundra Bean Geese on car park scrape, then flew off. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, 2 Shorelarks north of Crook Bank car park. 2 Snow Buntings. South Ferriby, 1+ Tundra Bean Goose reported. Whisby, Smew at Thorpe Landfill at quarry on lake off Job's Lane. Willow Tree Fen, Red-breasted Merganser drk. 26/2/2026 Branston Island, 3 Glossy Ibises. Deeping St James, 3 Glossy Ibises at Deeping Lakes, at Maxey Cut/ River Welland confluence. Frampton Marsh, Scaup fem at Marsh Farm reservoir. 3 Tundra Bean Geese in field south of reserve. Gayton-le-Marsh, north of Withern, Common Crane flew over. Ingham to Fillingham, Great Grey Shrike 1w male by bend at Willingham Lane. Mablethorpe, 2 Tundra Bean Geese reported at Viking Field. Pyewipe,.8 Russian White-fronted Geese at Novartis Ings. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, 2 Shorelarks north of Crook Bank car park. Snow Bunting.. Whisby, Smew at Thorpe Landfill at quarry on lake off Job's Lane. 27/2/2026 Deeping St James, 3 Glossy Ibises at Deeping Lakes at Maxey Cut/ River Welland confluence. Frampton Marsh, 2 Tundra Bean Geese wit 265 Russian White-fronted Geese in fields south of reserve. Ingham to Fillingham, Great Grey Shrike 1w male by bend at Willingham Lane. Tallington Lakes, Slavonian Grebe. £5 entry. Scaup 1w drk. Tundra Bean Goose north of Main Lake in beet field. Whisby, Smew at Thorpe Landfill at quarry on east lake off Job's Lane 28/2/2026 Baston Langtoft Pits, 2 Bewick's Swans briefly, then flew off. Branston Island, 3 Glossy Ibises, Deeping St James, 3 Glossy Ibises at Deeping Lakes at Maxey Cut/ River Welland confluence. Frampton Marsh, 2 Tundra Bean Geese with 100 Russian White-fronted Geese in fields south of reserve. Iceland Gull reported. Ingham to Fillingham, Great Grey Shrike 1w male by bend at Willingham Lane. Pyewipe, 6 Russian White-fronted Geese, Ruddy Shelduck, at Novartis Ings. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, 2 Shorelarks north of Crook Bank car park.. Tallington Lakes, Slavonian Grebe. £5 entry. Whisby, Smew ad drk at Thorpe Landfill at quarry on east lake off Job's Lane Willow Tree Fen, Red-breasted Merganser drk in roost. 1/3/2026 Branston Island, Green-winged Teal, 3 Glossy Ibises, Sand Martin. Deeping St James, 3 Glossy Ibises at Deeping Lakes on East Pit. Frampton Marsh, Scaup fem at Marsh Farm reservoir. 220 Russian White-fronted Geese. Gibraltar Point, 2 Common Cranes in fields west of visitor centre. Ingham to Fillingham, Great Grey Shrike 1w male by bend at Willingham Lane. Pyewipe,.8 Russian White-fronted Geese at Novartis Ings. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, 2 Shorelarks on beach south of Crook Bank. 2 Snow Buntings on grass north of Churchill Lane car park. Lapland Bunting between Crook Bank and Tidal Bell at seaward edge of dunes. Tallington Lakes, Slavonian Grebe., £5 entry. Trent Port, .20 Russian White-fronted Geese in field. Whisby, Smew ad drk at Thorpe Landfill at quarry on east lake off Job's Lane 2/3/2026 Anderby Creek, 10 Russian White-fronted Geese. Baumber, NNW of Horncastle, 2 Tundra Bean Geese reported by River Bain. Deeping St James, Sand Martin at West Pit, Deeping Lakes. Huttoft Bank,.19 Russian White-fronted Geese. Ingham to Fillingham, Great Grey Shrike 1w male by bend at Willingham Lane. Pyewipe,.6 Russian White-fronted Geese at Novartis Ings Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, 2 Shorelarks on beach south of Crook Bank Lapland Bunting between Crook Bank and Tidal Bell at seaward edge of dunes. Showing well. Jack Snipe. Tallington Lakes, Tundra Bean Goose, 2 Slavonian Grebes. 2 Scaup. £5 entry. Woodhall Spa RAF Airfield, 13 Russian White-fronted Geese 3/3/2026 Baston Fen, 12 Russian White-fronted Geese at Bourne South Fen in field viewed from River Glen Bank. Deeping St James, 3 Glossy Ibises at West End of East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Gibraltar Point, 12 Russian White-fronted Geese. Ingham to Fillingham, Great Grey Shrike 1w male by bend at Willingham Lane. Pyewipe, 8 Russian White-fronted Geese at Novartis Ings Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, Lapland Bunting male. Snow Bunting. 2 Shorelarks on beach south of Crook Bank. Tallington Lakes, Slavonian Grebe. Entry £5. Trent Port, 22 Russian White-fronted Geese in field. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. MOOR LANE, WHISBY SK912660 Brenda Edlington 24/2/2026 Dead rabbit A46W BETWEEN DODDINGTON AND WHISBY SK923683 Brenda Edlington 24/2/2026 Dead badger 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 1/3/2026 House sparrow 15+ Robin 2 Dunnock -1 on ground near bins Blue tit 1 Great tit 1. Domestic pigeon 6. Black-headed gull 12+ Starling 4+ Blackbird 2m.1f Woodpigeon - 5+ Jackdaw 12+ Cowslips starting to flower. BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 Phil and Mary Porter 25/2/26 Brimstone 26/2/26 On the overnight trail camera, there was a Field Mouse and possible Vole emerging from a large hole which must have been made by a rat initially. 27/2/26 A Smooth Newt continues to be seen now and then, surfacing for air. 28/2/26 There were 2 Newts today, a male and a female, which is very reassuring for their continued presence in out cleaned out pond. 2 Siskins, the first of the winter, probably on the move towards their breeding area. They were very plucky in defending their places on the feeder. 2 Long-tailed Tits seemed to be paired up and perhaps prepared to stay. The flocks seemed to break up very early this year, and we have only seen one hitherto for several weeks. 2/3/26 2 Brimstones 3/3/26 Mary spotted an upside down rainbow. On-line information revealed; An "upside-down rainbow" is actually a meteorological optical phenomenon known as a circumzenithal arc (or Bravais' arc), which resembles a bright, colourful "smile in the sky". Unlike normal rainbows, they form from sunlight refracting through horizontal ice crystals in high-altitude cirrus clouds, rather than water droplets. 4/3/26 2 Siskins again on the feeder. EAST KEAL Geoff Wheatley 25th Feb. First Brimstone butterfly in garden 27th Feb Male brambling in garden Siskins on the feeder, as well as our usual bevy of goldfinches and greenfinches. ELSHAM QUARRY Angela Buckle 25th February. Stinking hellebore, Coltsfoot, Celandines, Primroses, Snowdrops, Early dog violet, Creeping comfrey, Bumblebee. FAR INGS. Angela Buckle 1st March. Cowslips, White violet's, Early dog violet's, Whitlow grass, Flowering currant, Coltsfoot, Celendines , Hawthorn in leaf. GRANTHAM GARDEN SK930 372 Alan Lean/Gill Porter 24th February The recent rains had caused the sides of the small hibernaculum built last year to collapse. Inside was one frog happily ensconced under a ridge tile and no worse for wear. 28th February Song thrush that has been with us several weeks still singing daily, usually from Ash tree in Green Lane at back. 1st March Greenfinches still present in the garden in good numbers along with Goldfinches and Chaffinches. No Brambling or Redpoll this winter. A few House Sparrows and a gang of Starlings in good voice. 2nd March Hedgehog visits regular again for past few days with three of varying sizes. Our first Brimstone butterfly (male) of the year in nearby Queen Elizabeth Park. KETTLETHORPE SK874757 Alison Brownlow 01/03/2026 Brimstone butterfly 03/03/2026 Red Mason Bees emerging from my bug hotel WOODHALL SPA Viking Way TF198634 Phil and Mary Porter 3/3/26 Although the birds themselves were too high up in the tree canopies to count, there were a few Nuthatches and several Goldcrests, Long-tailed Tits, and Blue Tits calling vigorously, and a Chiffchaff was singing. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 23rd February: 2 Bean Goose and Grey Wagtail flying south, 800 Pink-footed Goose flying north. Great White Egret on Anderby Marsh. Female Marsh Harrier and a pair of Shelduck on Huttoft Pit. 24th February: Bearded Tit, Barnacle Goose, Egyptian Goose, 40 Dunlin and Brent Goose at Anderby Marsh. Fulmar, Goosander and 500 Pink-footed Goose flying north, 2 Bearded Tit flying south. 9 White-fronted Goose on grassland south of Anderby Creek. 25th February: Bearded Tit at Wolla Bank Reedbed. Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell at Huttoft Pit also 3 Snipe. Green Woodpecker along Jolly Common Lane. 3 Tree Sparrow and 45 Siskin flying south. 9 White-fronted Goose on Anderby Marsh. 26th February: 10 White-fronted Goose and Black-tailed Godwit on Anderby Marsh. Mediterranean Gull on beach and Peregrine on farmland. 27th February: 2 Chiffchaff singing in the dunes along Anderby, Water Pipit in Wolla Bank car park. 28th February: Great Crested Grebe on sea at Huttoft Car Terrace. 12 Pink-footed Goose, 11 Barnacle Goose, 149 Wigeon, 16 Teal, 8 Gadwall and 35 Curlew on Huttoft Marsh. Pair of Stonechat and a Barn Owl at Wolla Bank Reedbed. On Anderby Marsh were 46 Dunlin and 2 Avocet. Short-eared Owl at Wolla Bank Pit. 1st March: 9 Whooper Swan flying north, 3 Goosander flying south. Chiffchaff and Stonechat along Wolla bank. 2 Avocet still on Anderby Marsh and 1 6 White-fronted Goose on Huttoft Marsh. 2nd March: Anderby Marsh had Chiffchaff, Goosander pair and 2 Bearded Tit. 16 White-fronted Goose with 4 Pink-footed Goose on farmland. 21 Barnacle Goose flying north, pair of Pintail, 18 White-fronted Goose and a Red Kite flying south. 60 Fieldfare flying east. 3rd March: 7 Avocet, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, Chiffchaff, Barn Owl, 3 immature Mute Swan, Bearded Tit and pair of Goosander on Anderby Marsh. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE DUNES NNR including DONNA NOOK ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/saltfleetby-theddlethorpe-dunes https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/38015?category=59026 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Owen Beaumont Tel: 07900264428 Reserve Manager Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR part of the Lincolnshire Coronation Coast NNR Sea View Road, Saltfleetby St. Clements, LN11 7TR www.gov.uk/natural-england Twitter @NEEastMidlands There will be no report from Owen next week but he will report both weeks’ observations on 18th March 250226 – 2 tundra bean geese and 1 pink-footed goose with Canada and greylag geese on Rimac car park scrape early morning. Green woodpecker calling by Rimac car park. 29 tufted duck on Rimac freshwater marsh scrape. 2 red kites and a buzzard circling over Sea View early afternoon and another red kite flew north. Butterflies – peacock and red admiral Sea View; 2 peacocks Rimac to Sea View; peacock Churchill Lane. Large European sea bass washed up on the beach at Mablethorpe North End. 260226 – lapwings displaying over Sea View and Elm House Farm. 2 shorelark on the beach south of Crook Bank near the tide bell. 2 tundra bean geese still on wet grassland south of Crook Bank. Porpoise seen from Mablethorpe beach. 270226 – green and great spotted woodpecker both around Sea View in the morning. Siskin calling from trees around Sea View work base early morning. 90 pink-footed geese flew over Sea View in the evening towards roost around Saltfleet Haven. 280226 – 28 barnacle geese and 170 white-fronted geese in north-east field of Elm House Farm wet grassland. 010326 – 3 goosander flew south over Mablethorpe North End. 98 white-fronted geese, 2 pink-footed geese, 300 wigeon, displaying lapwing and 17 curlew in large north-east field of Elm House Farm wet grassland viewed from the footpath along the eastern side of the site. Lapland bunting feeding around the outer dunes south of Crook Bank, and 2 shorelark feeding on the beach south of the tide bell. 020326 – Lapland bunting again around Crook Bank outer dunes feeding within sparse areas of marram grass and 2 shorelark still on the beach south of Crook Bank. 1100 common gulls, 800 black-headed gulls, first-winter yellow-legged gull, lesser black-backed gull and 20 herring gulls on the beach between Mablethorpe and Crook Bank. 2 redwing and a great spotted woodpecker at Sea View in the morning. On wet grassland south of Crook Bank 27 barnacle geese, 1 pink-footed goose, 214 Canada geese, 4 greylags, 9 Canada x greylags, 4 shelduck, 2 grey heron, 375 curlew, 420 wigeon, 165 teal, 37 mallard, 26 shoveler, 3 tufted duck, 1 oystercatcher and 2 redshank. 59 curlew with large group of shoveler, wigeon and redshank on Sea View Washlands. Greenfinch calling Sea View work base. 8 gadwall Paradise Lagoon. Butterflies - peacock Paradise Wood. 030326 – 107 white-fronted geese and probable bean goose with wigeon on Elm House Farm wet grassland late afternoon. 4 chiffchaff and a woodcock between Rimac and MOD. 6 cattle egret on Rimac car park scrape and 2 stonechat around Rimac freshwater marsh. 2 shorelark and 1 snow bunting feeding on the foreshore between Crook Bank and Brickyard Lane. Lapland bunting again around Crook Bank outer dunes. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 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 date are 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 *** Reserve restores '168 football pitches' of land - Lakenheath https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c747w39zk39o Killer grey seals suspected of claiming first dolphin in Welsh waters https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c93w17k95vno Fiery sunsets and 'blood rain' as Saharan dust sweeps UK https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/articles/c20ldynx710o *** Mail Fails *** 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/