============================================ || || Wildnews Bulletin || 19th 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Roger writes: Solitary Bees I noticed a chilled-looking female Tawny Mining Bee on our doorstep last week. It was a cold and windy day. I offered her a corner of a tissue and she climbed aboard. I took her to a more-sheltered raised flower bed and "suggested" she take cover there. She walked off the tissue and hid under a parsley plant in a sheltered and dryer raised-bed. We have them nesting in our lawn every year. Tawny Mining Bee links: https://www.naturespot.org/species/tawny-mining-bee https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/learn-about-bumblebees/solitarybees/tawny-mining-bee/ https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/invertebrates/bees-and-wasps/tawny-mining-bee Bee Flies Bee Fly larvae are parasitic, typically preying on the larvae of solitary bees. https://www.naturespot.org/species/bee-fly https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3uT8QUI9pI Kleptoparasites - a piece about Oil Beetles on BBC Sounds https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b0112975 Here’s a Somerset Wildlife Trust page about them. It’s Oil in the Name https://www.somersetwildlife.org/blog/becky-walters/its-oil-name 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. Osprey arrivals expected last week of March! https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/watch-wildlife-online/loch-of-the-lowes-webcam/ *** This week's mostly-local news stories: *** Plea after dogs seen disturbing resting seal - E Yorks https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g0nem2n41o What happened to the washed-up plastic nurdles? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c98q0n2nnjmo Lincoln Cathedral to hold Christmas market - 3 to 5 December https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz0gjjv0rkzo Greedy beaver caught twice in monitoring trap - Northumberland. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgvj84ggv7o The Fish Doorbell at the Weerdsluis - try it! https://visdeurbel.nl/en/ *** 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 Mar - Sunday 22 Mar Headline: Dry and sunny. Thursday: Thursday: After a cold start, any mist and fog will quickly clear, with another day of prolonged sunshine. Feeling warm in light winds. Cloudier overnight. Maximum temperature 16 °C. Outlook for Friday to Sunday: Cloud clearing away Friday morning to leave a warm and sunny day. Similar conditions on Saturday and much of Sunday, although likely turning cloudier through Sunday afternoon. UK long range weather forecast Sunday 22 Mar - Tuesday 31 Mar A transition to a more changeable and in places rather unsettled spell of weather looks to take place at the start of this period as Atlantic frontal zones cross the UK. These are likely to be most active in the north and somewhat weaker further south, closer to a ridge of high pressure extending northeast from the subtropical Atlantic. It is possible that we may see a briefly widely colder interlude with northerly winds during the final week of March, which would bring the potential for some snow, especially for northern areas. Widely strong winds could also develop around this time. By the end of March, high pressure may become rather more dominant with plenty of dry weather, but with some overnight fog and frost. *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** Artemis II: Nasa targets early April for Moon mission https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g8qp42rq6o Mid-latitude auroras are possible on Vernal Eqinox - March 19-20. https://spaceweather.com/ This Week's Sky at a Glance, March 13 – 22 https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/this-weeks-sky-at-a-glance-march-13-22/ 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 Volcanic fragments rain down as Hawaii's Kilauea volcano erupts https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/c2e4ljy1kp8o Lincolnshire Geodiversity Group: https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/discovering/geology-1 Geology of the Lincolnshire Wolds: https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/special-features/geology The Geology of Lincolnshire: downloadable LNU book https://lnu.org/publications/books/the-geology-of-lincolnshire/ UK Fossils in Lincolnshire https://ukfossils.co.uk/category/lincolnshire/ *** EVENTS *** *** LNU FIELD MEETING *** Saturday 25th April Haugham and Burwell (Harrison) Woods, Louth Joint LNU/LFG. Access courtesy of The Woodland Trust. 11.00 for 12.00 start and finish about 16.00. Car parking at the barn, through the woodland entrance off Muckton Lane, Muckton Bottom at TF 36511 82284, and right at the fork in the track. Grid reference: TF 36182 82102 What3Words: stretcher.panels.compress Nearest postcode: LN11 8NT Habitats: Broadleaved woodland. Leaders: Luke Hartley hartley026@gmail.com and Sarah Lambert sarah.lambert7@ntlworld.com *** THE SCUNTHORPE AND BRIGG LOCAL GROUP OF THE LINCOLNSHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST *** Our last indoor meeting before the outdoor spring and summer events is on Thursday, 9th April and consists of our AGM followed by members' slides when members give short presentations with wildlife images which they have captured. If you would like to help our local LWT group with their meetings and events Throughout the year then please come along and join us at this AGM. New ideas for speakers and events are always welcomed. Starting at 7.30pm, we meet as always in the Small Hall at the St Hugh's Church, Ashby Road, Scunthope, DN16 2AG, which is opposite the Applegreen filling Station near to the Brumby crossroads. ALL ARE WELCOME TO OUR MEETINGS. There is a free car park at the Church and also at the Old Brumby United Church opposite as well as on the nearby roadside. There is no entry charge for our AGM meeting. Light refreshments are available about halfway through the meeting. *** The Natural History and Geology Section of the North Lincolnshire Museum Society *** Our last meeting before we start our spring/summer field events will be on Monday, 13th April. We will be visited by Professor Geoffrey Codd, PhD, FRSE, MBE, who is Emeritus Professor of Microbiology at the University of Dundee and Honorary Professor at the University of Stirling, Scotland. Geoffrey is a former pupil of Barton-on-Humber Grammar School and visits us to give his talk entitled "Dinosaur deaths, historical and recent examples of animal and human poisonings and the risk management of toxin-producing cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) in our water sources." During a 40-year university career Professor Codd has investigated the global occurrence of cyanobacterial blooms in waterbodies. His investigations included museum materials to provide a longer insight into the occurrence of the toxins. Professor Codd has been a member of several national and international working parties on cyanotoxins, including the World Health Organisation and UNESCO. This is a unique opportunity for us into the forefront of knowledge and research that helps to keep water supplies safe and enable co-operation around the world on this essential need for life. We meet as usual in the St Bernadette's Church Hall, Ashby Road, Scunthorpe, DN16 2RS, which is almost opposite the Priory Hotel on Ashby Road, starting at 7.15pm. ALL ARE WELCOME TO OUR MEETINGS. There is a large, free car park at the Church. There is a £5 entry charge for non-members of the Museum Society. There will be a mid-talk comfort break when light refreshments will be available for a £1 charge. *** Grimsby and Cleethorpes Area Group LWT *** 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 *** SOUTH LINCS RSPB GROUP *** "The Birds of Fiji and New Zealand" Wednesday 22nd April 2026 at 7-30pm at Boston Tennis Club PE21 8EY An illustrated Talk/Slideshow by RSPB South Lincs Chairman Neil Oakman. RSPB members £2 {non-members £3}. *** 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. *** LINCOLN LWT AREA GROUP *** Talk 19th March 2026: ‘Fifty Years of 'The Flora of Lincolnshire’ by Miss E Joan Gibbons’. Debbie Lincoln of the Sir Joseph Banks Society will look back at this ground- breaking book, the first full flora of any county in England to be written by a woman, and celebrate it's authoress Miss E Joan Gibbons. Plus an update on the LoveLincsPlants project. 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. https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/events/2026-03-19-talk-fifty-years-flora-lincolnshire-miss-e-joan-gibbons *** 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) 11/2026 Branston Island, 3 Glossy Ibises from Witham Cycle Track. Ingham to Fillingham, Great Grey Shrike 1w male by bend at Willingham Lane. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, Shorelark and Lapland Bunting along seaward edge of dunes between Crook Bank and Tidal Bell. Snow Bunting flew south calling. Water Pipit in flooded fields south of Crook Bank car park. 12/3/2026 Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, 2 Shorelarks and Lapland Bunting along seaward edge of dunes between Crook Bank and Tidal Bell. Water Pipit south of Crook Bankcar park. 3 Little Ringed Plovers. Whisby, Smew ad drk at Thorpe Landfill at quarry on lake off Job's Lane on east lake. 13/3/2026 Branston Island, 3 Glossy Ibises. Frampton Marsh, Little Stint on South Scrape. Ingham to Fillingham, Great Grey Shrike 1w male by bend at Willingham Lane. Rimac, 2 Common Cranes flew SW over Great Eau. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, 2 Shorelarks , Lapland Bunting along seaward edge of dunes between Crook Bank and Tidal Bell. Saltfleet, 2 Russian White-fronted Geese at Elm House Farm wet grassland + Little Gull. Tallington Lakes, Scaup 1w fem. Entry £5. 14/3/2026 Branston Island, 3 Glossy Ibises, Green-winged Teal drk from cycle path on west bank of River Witham. Cleethorpes Coast, Glossy Ibis in ditch NW of Buck Beck. Deeping St James, Scaup fem at East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Glossy Ibis at pond between river and western lakes. Frampton Marsh, 36 Russian White-fronted Geese on wet grassland. Little Stint on reedbed from visitor centre. Gibraltar Point, Scaup fem at Tennyson's Sands. Ingham to Fillingham, Great Grey Shrike 1w male by bend at Willingham Lane. Pyewipe, Scaup fem at Novartis Ings. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, Lapland bunting along seaward side of dunes South of Crook bank. Willow Tree Fen, .Russian White-fronted Goose.. 15/3/2026 Branston Island, 3 Glossy Ibises, Green-winged Teal drk from cycle path on west bank of River Witham. Cleethorpes Coast, Glossy Ibis in ditch NW of Buck Beck. Covenham Reservoir, .Slavonian Grebe in NE Corner. Deeping St James, Scaup fem at East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Glossy Ibis at pond between river and western lakes. Frampton Marsh, Little Stint , Scaup.. Gibraltar Point, Scaup fem at Tennyson's Sands. Ingham to Fillingham, Great Grey Shrike 1w male by bend at Willingham Lane. Pyewipe, Scaup fem at Novartis Ings. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, Lapland Bunting along seaward side of dunes South of Crook Bank. Willow Tree Fen, .Russian White-fronted Goose.. 16/3/2026 Deeping St James, 3 Glossy Ibises, Scaup fem at East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, Little Stint , Scaup.. Freiston Shore, Russian White-fronted Goose. Gibraltar Point, Scaup fem at Tennyson's Sands. Ingham to Fillingham, Great Grey Shrike 1w male by bend at Willingham Lane. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, 2 Shorelarks on beach NE of Crook Bank car park. Lapland Bunting along seaward side of dunes South of Crook Bank. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 from 12/3/2026 Queen [buff-tailed?] bumblebees flying in garden. fem Tawny Mining bee in garden. House sparrow 12+ Robin 2 Dunnock -2 on ground near bins Chaffinch m & f Goldfinch on feeder. with 2 on 14/3. Blue tit 2 Great tit 2. Domestic pigeon 6. Black-headed gull 12+ Starling 4+ Blackbird 2m.1f Woodpigeon - 5+ Jackdaw 12+ BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 Phil and Mary Porter Week 11-18th March 1-3 Siskins have called and fed in and around the garden every day. Feeding Goldfinches and Chaffinches show little sign of reducing with about 8 present, plus 2 pairs of Greenfinches. Robins, Dunnocks and Wrens are all in small numbers. Sparrowhawks are seen to raid most days. A Song Thrush sang nearby on 12th., and Blackbirds are sparring for territory, perhaps 3 pairs. On the 17th, Mary triumphantly reported 3 Common Newts (2 males) from the pond after about a week without seeing any. Butterflies enjoyed the sunshine; 2 Brimstones, 2 Peacocks and a Comma. Long-tailed Tits and Goldcrests were also in or around the garden but not seen. On the 18th, Mary saw a Bee-fly which I suspect is our earliest ever. A chiffchaff sang nearby. A short walk in the village outskirts on 14th produced a few Yellowhammers, Reed Buntings, Skylarks and 7 Hares. BARNETBY INTERCHANGE verges Angela Buckle 15th March Danish scurvy grass. BOSTON My garden TF338441 Tracey Lenton 13/03/2026 I had my first hedgehog sighting of the year, around 10:30pm, on the lawn; no more since, but there are signs of hedgehog activity from droppings and eaten food. I checked the ponds today and found frogspawn in both. Forget-me-nots and dandelions starting to flower. FURZE HILL NATURE RESERVE near Hagworthingham TF346689 Richard Davidson 11th March. Chiffchaff heard. My first for this year. Red Admiral 3 Buff-tailed Bumblebees 2 Alder Beetles Buzzard overhead Celandines in flower HOLYWELL LAKE WeBS count 15th March 2026 Ian Misselbrook Blackbird 1 Blue Tit 5 Canada Goose 10 Carrion Crow 1 Chaffinch 1 Chiffchaff 1 Coot 8 Egyptian Geese 2 Gadwall 18 Goldfinch 2 Great Tit 2 Grey Heron 1 Greylag Geese 2 Grey Wagtail 2 (pair) Jackdaw 14 Little Egret 2 Little Grebe 9 Mallard 14 Moorhen 7 Mute Swan 3 – one on nest Red Kite 2 Robin 2 Rook 28 Teal 4 Tufted Duck 4 Wigeon 32 Woodpigeons 20+ Wren 4 Rabbit 1 HORKSTOW SE987179 Jenny Haynes 13 March 2026 A green parakeet was on one of our bird feeders today. It’s certainly a first for us! I’ve only seen them in London before. 14 March 2026 We’ve had the green parakeet back today! NETTLETON GRANGE GAME FARM Ben Jacob 18/3/26 Shield bug on car windscreen, suspect forest bug Pentatoma rufipes but not quick enough to get photo PINCHBECK Gervase Orton We had a pair of hedgehogs in the garden all last summer with at least 4 in the autumn. We are now back up to 4 this year, presumably one of which is an individual who did not hibernate but visited us on most nights throughout the winter. We feed them near our back door with proprietary hedgehog food and catch most of their movements on our Blink camera system. We have lived in the same house for many years and have had hedgehogs every single year. WILLINGHAM WOODS Angela Buckle 14th March Wood anemone. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 9th March: 4 Avocet, 12 Dunlin and Black-tailed Godwit on Anderby Marsh. Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Bullfinch along Huttoft bank. 10th March: Water Pipit at Huttoft Marsh. Little Ringed Plover, 3 Rock Pipit and Dunlin at Sandilands Golf Course. 3 Chiffchaff and a Woodcock at Huttoft Pit. 3 Avocet and 2 Bearded Tit on Anderby Marsh. Raven, Grey Wagtail, 4 Red Kite and 11 Buzzard flying south. Sparrowhawk at Wolla Bank Reedbed. Peacock along dune path. 11th March: 2 Mistle Thrush on Huttoft Marsh. Great White Egret flying south. Great Crested Grebe, 2 Buzzard, Red Kite and Kestrel at Chapel Pit. 12th March: 38 Curlew and 2 Ringed Plover on Huttoft Marsh. Crane flying north. Over 300 Chaffinch and a Red Kite flying south. Female Goosander on Anderby Marsh, female Stonechat at Wolla Bank Reedbed. 13th March: Mediterranean Gull and Merlin at Huttoft Marsh. Little Ringed Plover calling at Anderby Marsh which also had 22 Dunlin, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Sanderling and Redshank. Eider on the sea and a Goosander flying north. 14th March: Goldeneye on Huttoft Pit. Merlin flying north. Stonechat along Jolly Common LAne and a Great spotted Woodpecker along Huttoft bank. 15th March: lots of visible migration with 984 Chaffinch, 73 Linnet, 34 Siskin, 4 Sparrowhawk, 3 Red Kite and a Spoonbill the highlights. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 040326 – 2 fieldfare flew south over Mablethorpe North End and first frog spawn of the year seen nearby. 050326 – 71 red-throated divers on the sea out from Mablethorpe. 2 avocets Rimac car park scrape; the first of the year. A white-fronted goose also on Rimac scrape then flew south, and 2 stonechat perched on scrub near Rimac car park. Green woodpecker calling around Sea View. 2 chiffchaff singing between Rimac and MOD, and 7 siskin flew south. Chiffchaff seen flying in-off at Crook Bank and began singing from dune scrub. 2 shorelark and Lapland bunting still around Crook Bank outer dunes. Little ringed plover, 4 black-tailed godwit, first-winter caspian gull, 28 barnacle geese and Polish colour ringed curlew on wet grassland south of Crook Bank. Male blackcap and kingfisher Mablethorpe North End. 13 dunlin and 21 ringed plover on Churchill Lane foreshore early afternoon. 105 white-fronted geese and 3 pink-footed geese on Elm House Farm wet grassland late afternoon. Butterflies – comma, peacock Sea View; peacock, small tortoiseshell Sea View-Rimac; small tortoiseshell, brimstone Crook Bank. 060326 – 100 white-fronted geese, 1 tundra bean goose, 6 greylag geese, 80 wigeon, 8 lapwing and 15 curlew in field 1 Elm House Farm late morning. 070326 – Lapland bunting and 2 snow bunting feeding around the outer dunes south of Crook Bank. Little ringed plover in flooded outer dunes south of Crook Bank. 111 white-fronted geese, 12 barnacle geese and a pink-footed goose field 2 Elm House Farm. 3 siskin and a tawny owl around Sea View. 080326 – 3 tundra bean geese feeding in arable fields south of Rimac early afternoon. 5 avocet on Rimac car park scrape mid-afternoon. 100326 – 2 shorelark, 2 little ringed plover and a sand martin around Crook Bank outer dunes in the morning. 2 avocet on Paradise Lagoon. 2 mistle thrush Sea View. Butterflies – red admiral Sea View-Rimac. 120326 – 2 little ringed plover and 2 rock pipits in flooded outer dune areas south of Crook Bank. 3 avocet, 2 oystercatcher, 7 lapwing, 2 tufted duck, 70 wigeon, 45 teal, 106 shoveler and a lone pink-footed goose on Rimac car park scrape early morning. 130326 – 2 cranes flew south just inland of Rimac and continued, later being picked up over Gibraltar Point. Lapland bunting still around Crook Bank outer dunes. 50+ knot feeding on the foreshore around Crook Bank. 5 avocet on Rimac car park scrape and 5 cattle egret in pony paddock by Rimac entrance. First-winter little gull, 2 white-fronted geese and 600+ wigeon field 4 Elm House Farm. Red kite drifted south over Crook Bank early afternoon and a raven flew north-west over Sea View towards Elm House Farm. 140326 – 2 avocet on Paradise Lagoon and 3 on Rimac car park scrape. Chiffchaff singing at Sea View. 150326 – 2 barn owls and a short-eared owl over Rimac saltmarsh late afternoon and a red kite flew over. 4 chiffchaff between Churchill Lane and Brickyard Lane, and another 2 nearby. Also green woodpecker calling near Brickyard Lane. 2 small bats in flight over Churchill Lane in the evening. 160326 – 5 cattle egrets feeding with Highland ponies on Rimac freshwater marsh banks. 170326 – water pipit on Rimac car park scrape. 2 chiffchaff and a Cetti’s warbler in song around Churchill Lane. 2 cattle egrets along the Eau between Rimac and Sea View. Frog spawn in ponds at Rimac and Churchill Lane. 3 buff-tail bumblebees Churchill Lane. Butterflies – 3 peacock, comma Churchill Lane. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. BARDNEY LIMEWOODS NNR ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ These cover a huge area. Reports always welcome. The history of the Lincolnshire Limewoods: https://www.forestryjournal.co.uk/features/19111877.lincolnshire-limewoods/ The Forestry Commission visitor advice: https://www.forestryengland.uk/article/coronavirus-visitor-guide ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch: https://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html *** Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire *** Chambers Farm Wood Butterfly Garden Volunteers Email: margaretwestcott7@hotmail.co.uk https://butterfly-conservation.org/in-your-area/lincolnshire-branch/chambers-farm-wood-butterfly-garden GARDENING DATES FOR 2026 AT CHAMBERS FARM WOOD BUTTERFLY GARDEN, LN8 5JR Courtesy of Forestry England. Join us in the garden, (What 3 words shrub.prouder.disarmed) , anytime between 9.30am and 3.00pm. Wear appropriate clothing, bring your own tools and lunch All 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month 7th & 21st April 5th & 19th May 2nd & 16th June 7th & 21st July 4th & 18th August 1st & 15th September These dates are provisional – phone Margaret 01205 750719 to confirm before travelling *** Lincolnshire Dormouse Group *** lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com The 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). College Wood; Cocklode & Great West Woods; Hardy Gang Wood; Newball Wood; Rand Wood; Scotgrove Wood; Southrey Wood and Wickenby Wood. Many of these include both areas of ancient woodland or important grassland. Many are also designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Records which provide a six-figure grid reference are of particular value to the Forestry Commission. Other woods included in the NNR but without public access: Stainfield Wood; Stainton & Fulnetby Woods (access by public bridle way only). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. OTHER RESERVE REPORTS AND HIGHLIGHTS. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Discover Woodland Trust woods near you- including the best woods for walks, wildlife watching, family fun and heritage. https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/#=undefined&view=map Lincolnshire County Council - Local Nature Reserves https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/coast-countryside/nature-reserves Links to "Other Reserves" are welcome. Your suggestions, please. Boston Woods Trust https://www.bostonwoods.co.uk/ Links to "Other Reserves" are welcome. Your suggestions, please. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7. SENDING IN BULLETIN REPORTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The purpose of the Bulletin is to encourage biological recording in Lincolnshire. We aim to increase the number of people reporting observations to Recorders or via iRecord. https://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/ The Bulletin is a FREE service. We ask you to provide reports, questions, news or relevant articles from time to time. Descriptive pieces are welcome. You don't have to stick to lists! Please help us to help you. When sending in reports please follow this layout to save re-editing: Place Name: IN CAPITALS with Grid Reference if you have it. Your Name: Real names please, not aliases. Put it in each time, for each location Date: Species list [Alphabetical?] & numbers [and observations?] e.g. Blackbird - 24 [And please, no home-grown abbreviations. Species Names in full.] Bulletin mailing times may vary. It usually goes out on Wednesdays/ Thursdays in time for the weekend. Please e-mail in contributions to the editor as early as possible. Tuesday latest. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8. CONTACTS AND USEFUL WEBSITES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Links "not to be missed" *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. CONTACTS LIST *** Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union *** LNU Website: http://lnu.org/ LNU Twitter feed https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist LNU e-mail: info@lnu.org Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust: https://twitter.com/LincsWildlife Lincs Bird Club: https://twitter.com/Lincsbirding LBC County Bird Recorder: recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk The Sir Joseph Banks Society: https://twitter.com/sirjosephbanks Lincolnshire Bat Group: http://www.lincsbatgroup.co.uk/ Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch: https://twitter.com/BC_Lincolnshire Lincsbirders: https://twitter.com/lincsbirders Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project: https://lincolnshirechalkstreams.org/ Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Trust: https://lincolnshirechalkstreamstrust.org.uk/ South Lincolnshire Flora Group: https://bsbi.org/south-lincolnshire-v-c-53 The Wolds Fungi Group: Contact Paul Nichol via email: nichol20@gmail.com Lincolnshire Dormouse Group: Contact: lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com FIGHTING WILDLIFE CRIME Wildlife Crime https://www.lincs.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/wc/wildlife-crime/ SPECIES IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. LNU Recorders and Specialists: https://lnu.org/specialists/ Downloads of LNU books: https://lnu.org/publications/books/ Recording with "iRecord": https://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/ iRecord is recommended by the LNU as an appropriate platform for on-line recording When asking for help: Please give the very best information you can provide. If you are not sure, ask what is needed from you to confirm identification. Photographs are helpful but not every species can be identified from a photograph. When asked for further details,get back to the recorder promptly. Don't forget a thank you for the help. That is always welcomed. Local Bat Helpline Grounded bats, bat problems, advice and information. Contact the new Lincolnshire Bat Group co-ordinator as above: Email: info@lincsbatgroup.co.uk Or by phone on 01526 344726, who will be able to help you. Confidential Bat Records You may send confidential bat records direct to the above, who will make sure they are securely passed on to the new recorder. Slug ID Help Chris du Feu will help with slug identification. Tel: 01383 669 124 Email: chris.r.dufeu@gmail.com 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. *** LNU FIELD MEETING *** Saturday 25th April Haugham and Burwell (Harrison) Woods, Louth Joint LNU/LFG. Access courtesy of The Woodland Trust. 11.00 for 12.00 start and finish about 16.00. Car parking at the barn, through the woodland entrance off Muckton Lane, Muckton Bottom at TF 36511 82284, and right at the fork in the track. Grid reference: TF 36182 82102 What3Words: stretcher.panels.compress Nearest postcode: LN11 8NT Habitats: Broadleaved woodland. Leaders: Luke Hartley hartley026@gmail.com and Sarah Lambert sarah.lambert7@ntlworld.com Saturday 30th May Swinstead Valley SSSI Joint LNU/LFG. Access courtesy of Grimsthorpe Estate. Saturday 20th June Cleethorpes Sand Dunes Joint LNU/LFG. Access courtesy of North East Lincolnshire Council. Saturday 11th July Scrivelsby Park Joint LNU/LFG. Access courtesy of Scrivelsby Estate. Saturday 29th August Hawthorpe Joint LNU/LFG. Access courtesy of Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Saturday 19th September Bourne North Fen Joint LNU/LFG. Access courtesy of Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Sunday 18th October Newball Wood Annual LNU Fungus Foray. Access courtesy of Forestry England. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ...AND FINALLY... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** National and International Stories *** Sly fox sneaks onto cargo ship in Southampton and arrives in New York https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly2xynjzdzo Wanted: 'Resourceful' tenants for croft on UK's remotest island - Fair Isle. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyzjz8dp62o Elusive nightjar birds making remarkable comeback, conservationists say https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c7952d4dwd8o How reintroducing beavers is changing our landscape https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn5ggx7xkpyo Bouncing bomb inventor's family sell personal items https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yjm3pn21no 'My next-door neighbour was a Spitfire pilot' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0k1ylx00m7o *** Mail Fails *** John Raby- soft bounce. If you experience any such problem in future please let Alex know. mrapickwell@gmail.com ----------------- ~ THE END ~ ----------------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/