============================================ || || Wildnews Bulletin 13th May 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. 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. ============================================ 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: I’m pleased that we have 13 reports from readers this week with lots of interesting Observations; you’ll see Jeremy’s note about a tree which has barn owl and little owl nesting in separate holes, but there is plenty of room for more. The coastal wardens are continuing to send mouth-watering lists of mainly birds emphasising the importance of these areas. Although much smaller and more hemmed-in than the equivalent areas of the famous ‘conservation-coast’ of Norfolk, the habitat continuity and quality is improving all the time and the results we see nowadays speak for themselves. Phil Porter's email is: philporterento@outlook.com Roger Parsons' email is: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk LEN PICK TRUST Barn Owls at the Owl Tower for the 2026 season - 4 eggs! Clutch complete https://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project/ BTO's tracked Cuckoos. https://www.bto.org/get-involved/volunteer/projects/cuckoo-tracking Loch of the Lowes SWT Webcam - more exciting activity - 3 eggs... https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/watch-wildlife-online/loch-of-the-lowes-webcam/ *** This week's mostly-local news stories: *** Why Gen Z birdwatchers are flocking to reserves https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdjpdm9v7gno Retrace steps of US D-Day paratroopers https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yreqwgd0do Two deer illegally shot and left for dead in field – Kirkby Underwood https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8e87g99jx4o Farmer jailed for stealing hundreds of sheep - Brant Broughton https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz021571zglo *** Weather News and Forecast *** https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#? Wednesday 13 May - Sunday 17 May Headline: Showers on Wednesday. Tonight: Patchy cloud with further showers into the evening and overnight. Temperatures falling to low single figures but remaining generally frost free. Minimum temperature 3 °C. Thursday: Another day of bright spells and occasional heavy showers, these continuing to bring the risk of some hail and thunder. Turning generally drier through the evening. Temperatures remaining cool. Maximum temperature 13 °C. Outlook for Friday to Sunday: Drier into Friday and Saturday, sunny spells but temperatures a little below average. Likely cloudier Sunday with some rain possible, but temperatures turning milder. UK long range weather forecast Sunday 17 May - Tuesday 26 May Changeable and at times rather unsettled conditions look to dominate at first, with l ow pressure often close by. This means periods of rain or showers, some of which could be heavy, for many places, though some drier interludes are also expected. As this period progresses, high pressure is likely to begin to build from the south bringing more in the way of settled weather. Temperatures likely cooler than average to begin, but tending to recover as the period progresses, perhaps becoming rather warm by the end of the period, especially in the south. *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** Night Sky Highlights - May 2026 https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/space-astronomy/space-astronomy-highlights-2026#May This Week's Sky at a Glance, May 8 - 17. https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/observing-news/this-weeks-sky-at-a-glance-may-8-17/ Partial Solar Eclipse August 12th 2026. https://theskylive.com/solar-eclipse?id=2026-08-12&cc=GB 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 Why are these beaches so rich in fossils? Jurassic Coast. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm2p7dvgy81o I led hikers up an Indonesian volcano - and then it erupted https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz623qjqjd6o Lincolnshire Geodiversity Group: Sign up for their newsletter. 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/ *** EVENTS *** *** LNU FIELD MEETING *** Saturday 30th May Swinstead Valley SSSI Joint LNU/LFG. Access courtesy of Grimsthorpe Estate. Car parking on the street in Swinstead village. We will assemble from 11:00am at the start of the public footpath Grid reference: TF 01526 22571 What3Words: ///hurt.beakers.limped. The walk to Swinstead Valley SSSI is just under a kilometre and takes about 20 minutes. The event leaders will depart the assembly point no later than 11:40am and walk to arrive at the entrance to the SSSI, Grid reference: TF 00759 22431 What3Words: ///broached.baker.boosted for a midday start. *** LINCOLN AREA GROUP TALK *** 21st May 2026: Nature Reserves in South Lincolnshire. John Oliver, South Lincolnshire warden for the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, will bring us up to date about the 22 nature reserves that he is responsible for in the south of the county. John last spoke to the group back in 2026 so much has happened in those ten years, including the welcome arrival of Cranes at Willow Tree Fen. 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. We will be resuming the talks in September. *** RSPB SOUTH LINCS. LOCAL GROUP *** "SEAL AND BIRDWATCHING CRUISES INTO THE WASH" The 2026 dates are 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 Heat-Health Alert Service in England runs from 1 June to 30 September each year. You can register for alerts on this link. https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/seasonal-advice/heat-health-alert-service Bird flu: Defra advice to the general public is to leave corpses alone and report the findings - but that 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://flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/warnings?location=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) 6/5/2026 Frampton Marsh, Black-winged Stilt from Reedbed trail. Gibraltar Point, Wood sandpiper at Tennyson's Sands. 4 Garganey 2 at Fenland Lagoon, 2 at Tennyson's Sands. Manby Flashes, 3 Temminck's Stints, 6 Wood Sandpipers. Rimac, Hoopoe in first field by Sea View car park. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, Temminck's Stint on Sea View Washlands viewed from dunes. 7/5/2026 Branston Island from Cycle-path, 2 Glossy Ibises, Frampton Marsh, Black-winged Stilt from visitor centre. Freiston Shore, Little Stint. Gibraltar Point, 3 Wood Sandpipers.2 Garganey 1 drk. Manby Flashes, 3 Temminck's Stints, 6 Wood Sandpipers. Rimac, Hoopoe in 1st field at Sea View car park, Temminck's Stint by car park. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, Common Crane flew south over inland side of dunes at Crook Bank. 8/5/2026 Branston Island from Cycle-path, Temminck's Stint, 3 Glossy Ibises, 6 Wood Sandpipers, Sanderling. Cleethorpes Country Park, Glossy Ibis north of Rosemary Way on flash. Frampton Marsh, 4 Wood Sandpipers. Black-winged Stilt from Reedbed Hide. Little Stint from sea wall.. Manby Flashes, 2 Temminck's Stints, 3 Wood Sandpipers. Rimac, Hoopoe south of Sea View car park. Temminck's Stint on pool, 2 Wood Sandpipers. Willow Tree Fen, 2 Red-footed Falcons:ad male and 1s fem 9/5/2026 Anderby Creek, 4 Wood Sandpipers and Temminck's Stint.at Anderby Marsh. Branston Island, 2 Glossy Ibises, Temminck's Stint and 7 Wood Sandpipers from cycle track on west bank of River Witham. Frampton Marsh, Temminck's Stint, Little Stint, 2 Wood Sandpipers. Black-winged Stilt on Reedbed lagoon from visitor centre. . Freiston Shore, Temminck's Stint on south lagoon, Wood Sandpiper. Rimac, Wood Sandpiper at Sea View Washlands. Hoopoe just south of Sea View car park. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, Turtle Dove at Crook Bank Sandilands, Temminck's Stint briefly. Whisby, Little Gull ad at quarry on eastern lake off Job's Lane. Willow Tree Fen, Red-footed Falcon: ad male hunting over River Glen. 10/5/2026 Branston Island, Temminck's Stint from cycle track on west bank of River Witham. 5 Wood sandpipers. Cleethorpes City Park, Glossy Ibis north of Rosemary Way on flash. Frampton Marsh, 2 Temminck's Stints from 360 hide. Then flew towards Marsh farm grassland. American Golden Plover on wet grassland south of top car park. Wood Sandpiper. Black-winged Stilt on Reedbed Lagoon. 2 Little Stints. Rimac, 2 Bluethroats reported. Willow Tree Fen, Red-footed Falcon: ad male hunting over River Glen. 11/5/2026 Branston Island, 3 Glossy Ibises, 1 Wood Sandpiper, Garganey from cycle path on West bank of River Witham. Cleethorpes Country Park, Glossy Ibis on flash north of Rosemary Way. Frampton Marsh, 4 Wood Sandpipers, 2 Temminck’s Stints from 360 hide, American Golden Plover on wet grassland south of sea wall car park. Manby Flashes, 8 Wood Sandpipers. Tongue End ESE of Bourne, Red-footed Falcon ad male flew over road. Willow Tree Fen, Red-footed Falcon: ad male hunting over River Glen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. Roadkill STICKNEY TF322568 Gail Cartwright 30/04/2026 Hedgehog Road kill B1204 JUST NORTH OF HORKSTOW What3words: sector.wiggling.unwraps Jenny Haynes 6 May 2926 Dead badger *** County Wildlife Reports from Readers *** Thanks to our regular contributors across the county. Much appreciated. 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 10/5/2026 House Sparrow 12+ Robin 2 Blackbird 3m,2f Dunnock 2 Blue Tit Great Tit Domestic pigeon 4 Starling 4 Woodpigeon 2 Collared Dove 2 Jackdaw 6+ Italian Arum growing in old west part of St Lawrence's churchyard. Just inside railings on Church Lane roadside. Invasive species. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arum_italicum BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 Phil and Mary Porter 7th May 2026 A Magpie homed in on a loudly calling Blackbird fledgeling and killed, then partially ate it. Woodpigeons have, as usual, started plucking and eating scarcely-formed cherries. Mary found a 22-spot Ladybird on the line of washing. Holly Blue butterflies have petered out recently, but Orange-tips are still around on Honesty, Dames Violet and Hedge Garlic. 8th May 2026 No sooner we write off Holly Blues than a few reappear today, also a male Brimstone and 4 Whites. We have been having 1-2 moths inside the house recently and today I identified them as Bee (or Wax) moths, Aphomia sociella. A Cuckoo flew close past the garden and a few Swallows were feeding over the general area. Small birds including Goldfinches were showing interest in a patch of Cow Parsley at the bottom of the garden. A 2-spot Ladybird was resting on a new apple shoot. 9th May 2026 Lots of activity at the pond and birdbath containers today. Chaffinch, Goldfinches and Greenfinches were drinking among pebbles at the edge of the pond, joined by a Whitethroat and male Pied Wagtail. Mary spotted at least 3 Smooth Newts and I did my best to identify some very small active flies at the water’s edge. I’m pretty sure they are Shore flies (Ephydridae). There were numerous Backswimmers and 1-2 Pond Skaters on the water. 10th May 2026 2 Starlings, very scarce here, were caught on the trail camera bathing vigorously in the pond-side birdbaths, also a Song Thrush, another uncommon visitor. A Cuckoo was calling just beyond the boundary. Blackcap still singing but less often. 11th May 2026 A Chiffchaff was an early bather just outside the French windows, and later the male Pied Wagtail returned to the pond to bathe vigorously. The various water containers were visited by 4 Blackbirds, 2 Goldfinches and 2 Greenfinches. The male Whitethroat gave fantastic views gleaning through shrubs six feet away from the kitchen window. We needed to free the pond of a raft of dead flowerheads from the wild cherry tree so we put them in a tray of water which revealed a very large number of small Backswimmers and a few Water Hoglice, small water-beetles and leeches. 12th May 2026 The Whitethroat was a star again, bathing for several minutes within a few feet of the French windows. Mary saw a Muntjac cross Abbey Road at 11.15 near the village centre. Bee Moths are still appearing in the house in ones and twos. CARLTON LE MOORLAND SK909581 Jeremy Hutchinson 9/05/2026: Barn Owl at dusk doing what appeared to be a territorial patrol above roof-top height, flying very slowly 02with shallow wingbeats. 11/05/2026: First Painted Lady (in garden). This morning it (one) landed on my chin when I walked into the garden! 12/05/2026 Worryingly, I have yet to see a House Martin in the village, an unfortunate first for mid-May. I hadn't seen my first Swift here until 9th May, when by evening there were five chasing around screaming. After the weather turned cold again that night I haven't seen them again. Chiffchaff and Blackcap all heard daily. At least three Song Thrushes can be heard singing early and at dusk, but are seldom seen. Suspect that there is a Robin nest behind the summerhouse in the garden. 12/05/2026, 21.05: by pure chance happened to see a Barn Owl taking prey (small mammal) into the hole in the Ash tree where I suspected they might be nesting, which I mentioned a few weeks ago. It is therefore established beyond doubt that a pair of Barn Owls and a pair of Little Owls are nesting in different holes in the same tree. FAR INGS Angela Buckle 10th May. Common sorrel, Wood avons, Dog rose, Hedgerow cranesbill, Smooth sow-thistle, Cleavers, Thyme-leaved sandwort, Yellow rattle, Red clover, Black medick, Mouse-eared hawkweed, Field rose. Birds Hobby, Bittern calling. GRANTHAM GARDEN SK930 272 Alan Lean/Gill Porter 12th May Second recent visit by a juvenile Stock Dove – good to see as they appear to be in steep decline in recent years. Also female Great Spotted Woodpecker. Pleased to see the Bramley Apple tree, planted just over two years ago following a tree grafting workshop at Boothby Wildlands, is now flowering and has reached a height of five feet! HORKSTOW SE987179 During the warm weather last week there were more holly blue butterflies in my garden than I’ve seen in previous years. 7 May 2026 A bat was flying in my garden at 9.15pm. 10 May 2026 I was at an outdoor village event in Horkstow today when I used Merlin to identify a bird song, which turned out to be a greater whitethroat. I’d not come across one of these before although we get lesser whitethroats in our garden about four hundred yards away. LANGFORD LOWFIELDS NR COLLINGHAM SK821601 Brenda Edlington 8/5/2026 Good to have the summer migrants back. Bittern -long flight and booming - a first record for here despite numerous visits. In all the visits since the reserve first opened we've never managed to see a bittern there - until last week! A hobby was putting on a good aerial display too. Blackbird Blackcap Black-headed gull Bluetit Canada goose Cetti's warbler (seen singing) Chiffchaff Common tern Common whitethroat Coot Cormorant Crow Cuckoo Egyptian goose Gadwall Garden warbler Goldfinch Great-crested grebe Great tit Great white egret Greylag goose Heron Hobby Jackdaw Lapwing Little egret Long-tailed tit Magpie Mallard Mute swan Oystercatcher Pheasant Pied wagtail Pochard Reed warbler Ringed plover Robin Shoveler Swallow Tufted duck Willow warbler Wood pigeon Heard Wren Butterflies Brimstone Orange tip Peacock MEDLAM BRIDGE, WEST FEN, STICKNEY TF320569 Gail Cartwright 6/05/2026 Bats flying round Medlam Bridge MESSINGHAM Angela Buckle 4th May Doves foot cranesbill, Field mouse ear, Red campion, Cowslip, Spring beauty, Bugloss, Changing forget me not, Cuckoo flower, Ground ivy, Bogbean, Marsh marigold, Water crowfoot, Flag iris, Greater stitchwort, Meadow saxifrage, Common mouse-ear, Marsh violet, Garlic mustard, Mistletoe, Parsley-piert, Early purple orchid, Lizard, Common newt. POTTERHANWORTH AREA 2/05/26 Jeremy Hutchinson A long walk revealed: Hare, Stoat, Cuckoo (heard but not seen), Red Kite, Buzzard, Green Woodpecker (heard), Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Whitethroat, GS Woodpecker drumming, Oystercatcher and my first Swifts of the year (approx 12) over the village itself. (Interestingly, the following day I saw a similar number just over the county border in Collingham). Flowers included Bluebells, Red Campion and Stitchwort. SOMERSBY TF 343 727 Alan Lean/Gill Porter 9th May In the Actinic moth trap, the following: 1 x Brown Rustic 1 x Rustic Shoulder-knot 1 x Knot Grass 1 x Clouded Drab 3 x Muslin Moth 1 x White Ermine 1 x Shuttle-shaped Dart As well as these, 12 cockchafers and a Black Sexton Beetle. We were concerned this had some kind of parasite attached to it but turned out to be a mite called Poecilochirus carabi that has a symbiotic relationship with the beetle. An entertaining account of how it works is at this link: Catching a ride on an Uber beetle | Warwickshire Wildlife Trust (not live) STICKNEY Gail Cartwright 10/06/2026 At least 2 Swallows returned to our barn this afternoon, I'm always surprised how fast they fly in and out of the barn considering how far they have flown, lovely to see them back again this year. WILLINGHAM WOODS Angela Buckle 7th May Shining cranesbill, Wood sorrel, Sanicle, Hedge mustard, Common vetch, Orange tip butterfly. White chrysalis ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 1st May: On Anderby Marsh were 8 Wood Sandpipers, Mediterranean Gull, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 5 Little Egret, 5 Dunlin, Spotted Redshank, Spoonbill, Great White Egret, 14 Ruff, 16 Ringed Plover, 2 Avocet, 7 Greenshank, Bar-tailed Godwit, Common Sandpiper, 8 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Redshank with 2 Swift and 5 Whimbrel flying south. Sandilands Golf Course had 24 Avocet, Spotted Redshank, 3 Dunlin, Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank, 5 Little Ringed Plover with a Whimbrel flying north and 3 Greenshank, 4 Wood Sandpiper and 3 Swift flying south. 41 Whimbrel, Greenshank, Bar-tailed Godwit and Grasshopper Warbler were seen at Huttoft Marsh and there were 2 Avocet at Huttoft Pit. 2nd May: Tree Pipit flying south. 6 Greenshank, 4 Wood Sandpiper, 2 Common Tern, Grey Plover, Dunlin, White Wagtail, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Redshank, 2 Dunlin, 3 Ruff and 3 Little Ringed Plover on Anderby Marsh with a Red Kite circling overhead. A Hooded Crow was on the beach at Wolla Bank. Sandilands Golf Course had 20 Avocet, with at least 6 sitting, 6 Little Ringed Plover, 4 Common Sandpiper and Great White Egret. 10 Whimbrel and a Little Ringed Plover were at Huttoft Marsh. Painted Lady's were seen at Sandilands Golf Course and Anderby Marsh. 3rd May: Anderby Marsh was showing 2 Greenshank, 8 Wood Sandpiper, 6 Ruff, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Redshank and Ringed Plover. 8 Whimbrel, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit and Avocet at Huttoft Marsh. A Grasshopper Warbler was reeling at Marsh Yard. 10 Whitethroat singing from The Boathouse to Marsh Yard. On Sandilands Golf Course were Caspian Gull, 16 Avocet, 3 Common Sandpiper, 3 Ringed Plover, Redshank and Whimbrel. 21 Yellowhammer were along the Huttoft Roadside Nature Reserve. A Green Woodpecker was in Huttoft village. 4th May: On Sandilands Golf Course were 18 Avocet, 5 Common Sandpiper, 5 Little Ringed Plover, Dunlin, White Wagtails nesting at the screen and Greenshank also 2 Small Copper and 6 Painted Lady. 21 Whimbrel, Avocet and Yellow Wagtail at Huttoft Marsh. Wheatear at Anderby Creek. Cuckoo at Anderby Marsh. 5th May: Yellow-legged Gull, 5 Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, Grey Wagtail, displaying Little Ringed Plover pair, Wood Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit, 7 Little Egret and Great White Egret on Anderby Marsh. 2 Spoonbill flying north, 65 Sanderling and 32 Common Scoter flying south. 17 Avocet, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Common Sandpiper, a sitting Little Ringed Plover and Wood Sandpiper at Sandilands Golf Course. Nightingale at Chapel Six Marshes. 6th May: 9 Avocet with 6 sitting and Common Sandpiper at Sandilands Golf Course. 62 Sanderling on beach. 4 Greenshank, Ringed Plover, 2 Little Ringed Plover, White Wagtail and 2 Avocet at Anderby Marsh. 7th May: Bittern dropped into Wolla Bank Reedbed. On Anderby Marsh were 6 Wood Sandpiper, 8 Snipe, 2 White Wagtail, Whimbrel, Little Ringed Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit, 5 Ringed Plover, 14 Pied Wagtail, 8 Ruff, Redshank, 3 Greenshank, Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Red-legged Partridge also 3 Little Grebe including pair mating and nest-building. 14 Avocet, 3 Common Sandpiper, 3 Little Ringed Plover and 4 Yellow Wagtail at Sandilands Golf Course. Huttoft Marsh showing 5 Whimbrel, Lesser Whitethroat and a dog Fox. Greenshank and Swift flying south. 8th May: Cuckoo along Wolla Bank. Temminck's Stint, 2 Yellow-legged Gull, 6 Wood Sandpiper, 2 Great White Egret and Ruff on Anderby Marsh. Mediterranean Gull and 2 Great White Egret flying south, 6 Whimbrel and 8 Shelduck flying north. At Sandilands Golf Course were 10 Avocet, Wheatear and Yellow Wagtail. 10 Whimbrel were on Huttoft Marsh. 9th May: 18 Avocet, with 6 sitting on nest, Temminck's Stint, Wood Sandpiper, 4 Yellow Wagtail and 6 Little Ringed Plover on Sandilands Golf Course. On the gravel island here a Little Ringed Plover was carrying out a distraction display as a Crow came near their nest. At Anderby Marsh there were Temminck's Stint, 7 Little Egret, Great White Egret, Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Ruff, 5 Wood Sandpiper, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Dunlin, White Wagtail, Greenshank and 9 Ringed Plover. 4 Turnstone, Greenshank and Dunlin flying south. Pair of Bearded Tit in Wolla Bank Reedbed. 8 Whimbrel on Huttoft Marsh. 10th May: Anderby Marsh was showing Whooper Swan, 5 Wood Sandpiper, 5 Ringed Plover, 2 Greenshank, 7 Swift, Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Little Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Dunlin. 2 Ringed Plover at Sandilands Golf Course. Bearded Tit pair at Wolla Bank Reedbed. 11th May: 7 Wood Sandpiper, male Garganey, 5 Yellow Wagtail, 12 Pied Wagtail, 4 Little Ringed Plover, Cuckoo, Whooper Swan, Greenshank and 2 Redshank on Anderby Marsh with 14 Swift hawking over the water. At Sandilands Golf Course were 17 Avocet, with 8 sitting, 2 Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, Redshank and 3 Ringed Plover. 23 Sanderling on the beach. 8 Whimbrel and Avocet at Huttoft Marsh. At sea 15 Common Scoter flying north and Gannet flying south. A Hobby was flying over Huttoft village. 12th May: Anderby Marsh had 6 Wood Sandpiper, Garganey, Little Grebe, 12 Ringed Plover, 2 Redshank, Green Sandpiper, 4 Little Ringed Plover, Whooper Swan, 5 Yellow Wagtail, Common Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank and 3 Dunlin. 15 Avocet, 3 Common Sandpiper and 2 Yellow Wagtail were at Sandilands Golf Course. 7 Whimbrel were counted 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 060526 – hoopoe still in the dunes between Rimac and Sea View though mobile. Male wheatear also on the dunes. Temmincks stint on Rimac car park scrape mid-afternoon and a spoonbill flew south. 070526 – hoopoe still favouring the north end of the dunes between Rimac and Sea View. Temminck’s stint again on Rimac car park scrape feeding in small damp depressions plus a common sandpiper and white wagtail. Common crane flew south over Rimac dunes and seen circling over Crook Bank shortly after before continuing south. Spoonbill flew over Rimac and continued towards the saltmarsh. Male common redstart in hawthorns along the fence line south of Rimac car park. Red kite flew low south over Sea View. Pair of eider flew south over the sea late afternoon and a wheatear on the saltmarsh at Brickyard Lane. Odonata - hairy dragonfly Rimac easy access trail. 080526 – hoopoe still present throughout the day in dunes between Sea View and Rimac but very flighty and mobile. Drake goldeneye briefly on Rimac car park scrape along with Temminck’s stint, 2 wood sandpiper, 3 little ringed plover, 2 avocets and 10 whimbrel. Female wheatear Rimac dunes, cuckoo flew north along the dunes and at least 2 hobby hunting early evening. 090526 – 7 avocet and a greenshank on Paradise Lagoon. Another 4 avocet around Rimac and a lone bird on wet grassland south of Crook Bank. Little ringed plover and wood sandpiper also on Rimac car park scrape. 8 whimbrel on Sea View saltmarsh. Cuckoo and grasshopper warbler Rimac reedbed area and stonechat pair by the car park. Butterflies – 22 wall, 18 small heath, 8 small copper, 7 painted lady Rimac. Odonata – hairy dragonfly Trig Hill, Rimac; broad-bodied chaser, azure blue damselfly and 5 large red damselfly near Churchill Lane. 100526 – wheatear in the dunes at Rimac by Quarry Hill. Hobby and barn owl hunting over the dunes in the evening. Kingfisher flew low over Rimac car park scrape to the Eau. 8 whimbrel again feeding on the saltmarsh. 110526 – stonechat pair by Rimac car park again. 2 avocet on Rimac car park scrape and another 2 around the saltmarsh lagoon. Early and southern marsh orchids flowering in the dune slacks around Rimac. 120526 – spoonbill and 5 avocet on Paradise Lagoon. Wood sandpiper and spotted redshank on Rimac car park scrape briefly throughout the day, plus 2 avocet and up to 3 little ringed plover. Red kite flew low north along the dunes past Sea View. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 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 *** As always for the summer sessions, we will meet at 9.30am, and this will be outside the wood centre in the car park of Chambers Farm Wood. As with last year we will be limiting the number of volunteers per session to around 10 visitors Those interested will need to 'sign in' via email beforehand, by emailing Oliver at lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com. Up coming boxcheck dates are May, Sun 24th Jun, Sat 20th Jul, Sun 19th Aug, Sat 22nd Sep, Sun 20th Oct, Sat 24th 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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. Dragonfly Identification help https://british-dragonflies.org.uk/odonata/species-and-identification/ Local Bat Helpline Grounded bats, bat problems, advice and information. Contact Annette Faulkner on 01775 766286 Email: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com Confidential Bat Records You may send confidential bat records direct to Annette Faulkner on: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com 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 Slug ID Help Chris du Feu will help with slug identification. Tel: 01383 669 124 Email: chris.r.dufeu@gmail.com BEE NEWS Caroline Tero has just taken on the role of County Recorder for bees for Lincolnshire. Her email is: caroline.tero@ntlworld.com USEFUL WILDLIFE LINKS Please copy and paste URLs if necessary. 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 Atlas of the terrestrial and semi-aquatic Mammals of Lincolnshire: downloadable LNU book ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 sending in reports, e.g. unusual plants, please report any sensitive news directly to recorders. Not the Bulletin. We don't want to spoil things with unwise or untimely publicity. Thank you. Please respect the interests of wildlife and site owners if you report on national networks. Interest in wildlife is not a licence to act irresponsibly or thoughtlessly to landowners, who may well be partners in important conservation work. [Views expressed in the Bulletin do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of the LNU or associated organisations. In particular this applies to agencies, especially charities, taking a political stance.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 11. LNU EVENTS DIARY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** LNU FIELD MEETINGS 2026*** *** LNU FIELD MEETING *** Saturday 30th May Swinstead Valley SSSI Joint LNU/LFG. Access courtesy of Grimsthorpe Estate. Car parking on the street in Swinstead village. We will assemble from 11:00am at the start of the public footpath Grid reference: TF 01526 22571 What3Words: ///hurt.beakers.limped. The walk to Swinstead Valley SSSI is just under a kilometre and takes about 20 minutes. The event leaders will depart the assembly point no later than 11:40am and walk to arrive at the entrance to the SSSI, Grid reference: TF 00759 22431 What3Words: ///broached.baker.boosted for a midday start. 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 Massive Alaska megatsunami was second largest ever recorded https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1m253033m4o Whales could be harmed by diverted ships avoiding Middle East, scientists warn https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz02dkkd9j9o Tourist hotspot at 'end of the world' denies causing hantavirus outbreak https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx21ej471g2o Firefighters battle to contain Florida Everglades brush fire https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/clyp81wp6njo Urban Birds Seem to Be More Afraid of Women Than Men. Scientists Can't Explain Why https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/animals-ecology/birds-more-afrain-men-women/ How to build cities for wildlife, not just people – new research https://theconversation.com/how-to-build-cities-for-wildlife-not-just-people-new-research-280388 Protecting pollinating insects could improve diets and livelihoods worldwide – new study https://theconversation.com/protecting-pollinating-insects-could-improve-diets-and-livelihoods-worldwide-new-study-280390 Magical Moths https://www.wildaboutgardens.org.uk/sites/default/files/2026-02/Magical%20Moths%20WEB.pdf Researchers Tracked the Journey of a 2,200-Year-Old Roman Shipwreck By Analyzing Pollen https://www.zmescience.com/science/archaeology/researchers-tracked-the-journey-of-a-2200-year-old-roman-shipwreck-by-analyzing-pollen/ Scorpions Really Are Metal. Their Stingers and Claws Are Reinforced With Actual Metal https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/scorpion-metal-stinger-claws/ Can plants hear? Latest research offers new insights https://theconversation.com/can-plants-hear-latest-research-offers-new-insights-282178 *** Mail Fails *** 4 emails "bounced" last week! 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/