============================================ || || Wildnews Bulletin 20th 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: As you will see in the “Readers Observations”, Rex in Bourne, having recently moved there, has found a bleak situation regarding the smaller garden birds despite apparently having a well-clothed garden. The tits and finches appear to essentially missing and crows, magpies, wood pigeons and starlings make up most of his sightings. I wrote back to say that I thought this was unusual and perhaps not enough bird feeders were in the neighbourhood to encourage small birds to congregate, but readers are welcome to send in their opinions on this sad state of affairs. The other day we were driving to Potterhanworth and a Pied Wagtail nearly got itself run over by only rising at the last minute from the middle of the road surface, though it took flight in the extravagant way that wagtails do, so seemed to be fully in control of its faculties. Two hours later on the return journey, it did the same thing in the same place. Fast forward a week and Mary had the same experience yet again, this time on the way to Woodhall Spa. What could be so fascinating to a Pied Wagtail on a tarmacadam surface? Dead insects? Phil Porter's email is: philporterento@outlook.com Roger Parsons' email is: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk Roger writes….: Barlings Nature Reserve I have visited a lot of Lincolnshire's nature reserves over the years but I had never been to a relatively new one run by Lincolnshire County Council. It is located about a mile south of Langworth on Barlings Lane, on the road to the remains of Barlings Abbey. A former tip site, it opened in 2019 and has been set out and planted and is in the early years of establishment. A barn own was hunting on cue, making frequent returns to the owl box in the middle of the reserve. It is dog friendly with good parking. https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/coast-countryside/nature-reserves/2 Stuart Britton writes.. I thought the Bulletin Readers may well be interested in this: On May 2nd I was ringing in Walesby Woods when I caught a Garden Warbler bearing a ring which wasn't one of our Ringing Groups. I have just received notification that it was ringed on 23rd April, 2021 at Jew's Gate, Gibraltar, some 1200 miles away! Bearing in mind that the species winter in West Africa this bird has travelled at least 45,000 miles during that time - not bad for a bird weighing just 17 grams! 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#? East Midlands weather forecast Wednesday 20 May - Sunday 24 May Headline: Cloud slowly breaking with isolated showers. Breezy. Warm. Tonight: Largely dry this evening with sunny spells. Remaining dry overnight with clear spells, although cloud thickening in northwestern parts later. Wind easing. Minimum temperature 8 °C. Thursday: A mostly dry day with sunny spells in the south, although thicker cloud and patchy rain are likely in the north. Becoming warm, especially in the south. Light winds. Maximum temperature 23 °C. Outlook for Friday to Sunday: Warm or very warm during this period, perhaps hot on Friday, with sunny spells. Mostly dry, but low risk of heavy thundery showers on Saturday. UK long range weather forecast Sunday 24 May - Tuesday 2 Jun Warm and dry for most on Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday. Through the following week, high pressure is expected to remain in place for much of the UK, meaning fine weather likely to continue for most places. Some patchy rain may affect the far north at times and perhaps a few showers i n the far south. Temperatures are expected to be above normal, feeling very warm at times with light winds. *** 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 15 - 24 https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/observing-news/this-weeks-sky-at-a-glance-may-15-24/ 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) 12/5/2026 Frampton Marsh, 2 American Golden Plovers, ad on Marsh Farm Grassland, 1s by Sea Bank car park. Manby Flashes, Wood Sandpiper. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, Spotted Redshank at Sea View Washlands. 13/5/2026 Frampton Marsh, 2 Temminck's Stints from 360 hide. Little Stint, American Golden Plover on Marsh Farm grassland/on Reedbed Lagoon. Manby Flashes, 3 Wood Sandpipers. Rimac, Glossy Ibis flew over car park towards Sea View. Wyberton Roads, Montagu's Harrier ringtail over fields. 14/5/2026 Frampton Marsh, American Golden Plover on Marsh Farm Grassland. Temminck's Stint on South Scrape. 15/5/2026 Branston Island, 3 Glossy Ibises, 6 Wood Sandpipers, 2 Garganey, from cycle path on west bank of River Witham. Donna Nook, Wood Sandpiper. Frampton Marsh, 3 Temminck's Stints, American Golden Plover on Reedbed Lagoon, then flew towards Marsh Farm Grassland. Hobhole Drain south end, American Golden Plover 1s on south side of River Witham south of Fishtoft. Rimac, Wood Sandpiper on car park scrape. 16/5/2026 Branston Island, 2 Glossy Ibises, from cycle path on west bank of River Witham. Garganey. 7 Wood Sandpipers. Frampton Marsh, American Golden Plover on Marsh Farm Grassland east of reservoir. Temminck's Stint from 360 hide. Pyewipe, Little Gull 1s at Novartis Ings on lagoon. Rimac, 4 Wood Sandpipers. 17/5/2026 Anderby Creek, 2 Temminck's Stints at Anderby Marsh. Branston Island, 5 Wood Sandpipers, Garganey, from cycle path on west bank of River Witham. Cleethorpes City Park, Purple Heron on main lake viewed from wooden fence at island edge. Frampton Marsh, 3 Black-winged Stilts on Reedbed Lagoon from visitor centre, 2 Black-winged Stilt appeared to land near reservoir. Curlew Sandpiper on South Scrape. Little Stint on Reedbed Lagoon. Temminck's Stint from 360 hide. Grasby, north of, Quail male singing off Searby Wold Lane. 18/5/2026 Branston Island, 2 Glossy Ibises., 2 Garganey, Wood sandpiper from cycle path on west bank of River Witham. Cleethorpes Coast, Glossy Ibis. Frampton Marsh, on South Scrape: Temminck's Stint and Curlew Sandpiper from 360 hide. 2 Garganey 1 drk, Little Stint from Visitor Centre. American Golden plover juv reported. Manby Flashes, Wood sandpiper. Rimac, Wood Sandpiper, Rimac car park. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. No reports this week *** 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 14/5/2026 House Sparrow 12+ Robin 2 Blackbird 3m,3f Dunnock 2 Blue Tit Great Tit Domestic pigeon 6 Starling 4, one with a fledgling [2 fledglings being fed on 19/5] Woodpigeon 2 Collared Dove 2 Jackdaw 6+ Squirrel at feeder! Holly Blue butterflies 2+ BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 Phil and Mary Porter 15th May 2026 The Whitethroat from last week is still singing in and around the garden and happily bathing in our facilities. 16th May 2026 Ditto again. A male Blackcap gleaned its way through a low spreading rose. 17th May 2026 These two warblers both singing today, while a Long-tailed Tit worked its way through the same rose bush, gathering aphids. This rose is one of the small flowered ground- cover types and these days, it is virtually evergreen, very dense and popular with insectivorous birds. It also appears to be disease-free and grows very healthily in our poor thin soil, unlike the traditional varieties. 19th May 2026 Mary heard a Bullfinch call, but it stayed hidden. A female Blackcap perched briefly in an apple tree. Above the garden, a Jackdaw was buzzing a male Sparrowhawk as it soared around (about the same size), later switching to a Buzzard as it came into view. There are still 3 Common Newts in the pond, where the relatively uncommon Ivy-leafed Duckweed hangs on in small patches among the small familiar species which I have not yet positively identified as duckweeds are a difficult group. Fool’s Parsley is starting to flower here and there as an annual version of Cow Parsley or Hogweed, but much more refined and trouble-free although admittedly of less use to wildlife in general. A Cuckoo was calling for much of the day close by. BARLINGS NATURE RESERVE A Parsons 16 May 2026 Barn Owl hunting 10am Merlin birds Barn owl Skylark Wood pigeon Blackcap Blackbird Chiffchaff Golden oriole Willow warbler Greater White throat Canada goose Greenfinch Rock pigeon Song thrush Robin Linnet Rook Swallow Mallard Reed bunting Great tit Chaffinch Robin Goldfinch Blackbird BOSTON My garden TF338441 Tracey Lenton 19/05/2026 Around 12:30pm A single swift was flying around as if to say"I'm back"! The first this year. Always a joyous moment! BOURNE TF 088207 Rex Johnson 15May 2026 rex1937@gmail.com I moved house from Messingham (N. Lincs.) to Bourne (Kesteven) in early April 2025, to be nearer family. I have a pleasant private garden, ringed by trees, shrubs and nectar plants, but it was soon evident that where birds were concerned I had a different situation. There was a pair of Blackbirds nesting and a pair of Hedge Sparrows and pigeons in a conifer. The garden looked busy enough, but what was I actually seeing? The answer is CROWS, JACKDAWS, STARLINGS, MAGPIES, PIGEONS all in numbers. At the end of the nesting season, I put out a wide variety of food to attract smaller birds. It wasn’t touched, there was nothing there to eat it, except pigeons doing their best to spill seed to get at it. From the end of September to end of February I saw one Robin, one Blackbird and one House Sparrow apart from those listed above. No Tits at all until March this year when a pair examined three possible nest boxes before leaving not to be seen again. In the whole of last year I didn’t have a single Finch or Tit visitor. Then just over a week ago I spotted a Bullfinch on the lawn and went carefully to watch it. A Magpie appeared out of nowhere and in a violent flurry of pecking killed it almost instantly and took it away. My only Finch in 13 months. I miss my Chaffinches, Green Finches, Siskins, Wrens, Robins etc., etc., the list could go on. All winter the Crows dominated the rooftops, only disappearing when the Kites circled the area daily. In the second week of February a small group of about a dozen landed on a tiny bit of lawn in my front garden, and immediately I got up to check – because in the group there were two RAVENS. I was sure I must be wrong, but the enormous size, the shape of the bill, and the colour of plumage stood out from the rest of the group. I was amazed to find when I googled afterwards that Ravens were indeed back in Lincolnshire and there was a good number of known nesting sites. The crows were mainly on the grass. The Ravens seemed to be pecking around for gravel and small stones in a feature along my front garden border. They came a second time a day later, then left the group. I admit to being shocked by the poor showing of what I think of affectionately as garden birds in this area. Bourne Wood is very extensive, I look at it from the house, but bird life there doesn’t seem all that good either. On the plus side, 2025 and this year have been wonderful for Holly Blues. Never seen so many, and last year I was thanked for my extensive list of recorded Butterfly species. You can’t have it all! Is this kind of shortage a growing tend? I find it worrying. CARLTON LE MOORLAND SK909581 Jeremy Hutchinson 16/5/26 – A large moth pupa I had found in the garden under an old coal shovel on 20 April emerged from its cocoon overnight, a stunningly beautiful Elephant Hawk Moth, which I released. 17/5/26 – Very pleased to discover that a nestbox which I installed on the north gable of the house about four years ago, and which has remained unused, has a brood of Great Tits in it. A pair of Goldfinches were feeding on the seeds of a clematis in my neighbours' garden. At dusk I was walking around the edge of the village at dusk when I heard a rustling in the verge behind me; I turned around and was amazed to see a badger trundling across the road only 2-3m away. I'm not sure which of us was the more surprised! 19/5/26 – Cuckoo heard over the last 3 days or so. General: although a glimpsed several House Martins briefly a few days ago, they are still generally absent, like the Swifts, which is very worrying: I'm hoping that the warmer weather soon to come might change this. For most of the 49 years I have lived here a pair of Starlings has nested under the hip tiles of the house roof, but last year, and this, they have not. The only thing which has changed is that I had some solar panels installed in November 2024, the nearest of which is 2m away: I can't think why this would deter them from nesting (if it is indeed the reason), and there are some Starlings in the area, including some of this year's youngsters. FAR INGS. Angela Buckle 17th May. Greater celandine, Ragged Robin, Gromwell, White bryony, Bulbous buttercup, Black bryony, Cuckoo calling WALESBY WOODS Angela Buckle 15th May. Ivy-leaved speedwell, Wood Avens, Dove’s-foot cranesbill, Common vetch, Creeping buttercup, Ground-ivy, Green alkanet, Shining cranesbill, Sticky mouse-ear, Tormentil, Thyme-leaved speedwell, Lesser trefoil, Red dead-nettle, Greater celandine, Changing forget-me-knot, Three-nerved sandwort, Ribwort plantain. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 13th May: Spoonbill flying north and Osprey flying south west. At Anderby Marsh were Wood Sandpiper, 6 Ringed Plover, Greenshank, 2 White Wagtail and 6 Dunlin. Sandilands Golf Course had 12 Avocet, Common Sandpiper and Little Ringed Plover. 14th May: On Anderby Marsh were 249 Common Gull, 40 Swallow, 6 Swift, 6 Ringed Plover, Dunlin, 2 White Wagtail, 7 Pied Wagtail, male Marsh Harrier, 5 Little Ringed Plover and 7 Yellow Wagtail. Short-eared Owl over Wolla Bank Reedbed. 15th May: Wood Sandpiper, Spoonbill, 2 Little Ringed Plover, Snipe, Avocet and Yellow-legged Gull were seen at Anderby Marsh. Black-throated Diver flying south and Little Tern flying north. On Sandilands Golf Course were 16 Avocet, 3 Little ringed Plover, 2 Yellow Wagtail and 126 Common Gull. Whimbrel flying north and Greenshank flying south. 65 Sanderling on the beach. Cuckoo along Wolla Bank. 8 Whimbrel, 3 Black-tailed Godwit and Curlew on Huttoft Marsh. Chapel Six Marshes had Cuckoo and 2 Grasshopper Warbler. 16th May: Grey Wagtail, 3 Whimbrel, 3 Little Tern and 3 Turnstone flying north, and 2 Curlew flying south. Wood Sandpiper and Black-tailed Godwit on Anderby Marsh. Cuckoo on Wolla Bank. Sandilands Golf Course was showing 13 Avocet, 3 Little Ringed Plover, Yellow Wagtail, and 2 Ringed Plover. 6 Whimbrel and Black-tailed Godwit on Huttoft Marsh. 17th May: Barn Owl in Anderby village. White Wagtail, 2 Temminck's Stint, 4 Ringed Plover, 15 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Avocet and drake Pochard on Anderby Marsh. Common Tern and Guillemot flying south with Knot, Dunlin and Turnstone heading north. Cuckoo along Wolla Bank. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 130526 – glossy ibis flew north over Rimac car park scrape towards Sea View at lunch time but was not seen again. 140526 – spoonbill and a summer plumage spotted redshank on Rimac saltmarsh lagoon with 4 avocets and a greenshank. On Rimac car park scrape 3 black-tailed godwit, 2 little ringed plover, 2 pairs of avocets, pair of oystercatchers. Spoonbill and spotted redshank also moved onto the car park scrape late afternoon. Cuckoos calling at Sea View and Saltfleet Haven area. Green woodpecker also calling around Sea View. Vocal wood sandpiper flew north over Mablethorpe North End, and a German colour-ringed yellow-legged gull (or hybrid) on the beach. Flag iris coming into flower around freshwater areas. 150526 – wood sandpiper, spotted redshank and 2 little ringed plover on Rimac car park scrape in the morning. Barn owl, cuckoo, 2 cetti’s warbler, 2 willow warbler and 2 reed warbler in the dunes south of Rimac, and 3 whimbrel flew inland. Stonechat pair perched on top of scrub near Rimac car park. 6 whimbrel on Sea View saltmarsh in the evening. 2 lapwing chicks on Sea View washlands, and a common sandpiper along the Eau adjacent. 160526 – 4 wood sandpiper on Rimac car park scrape mid-morning. 2 spoonbill soaring very high over Rimac late morning and appeared to drift inland. Water rail squealing from Rimac freshwater marsh area. Reed warbler sin ging from scrub at Brickyard Lane. Large female wheatear Brickyard Lane outer dunes and hobby hunting fox moths over the dunes late afternoon, also catching bumblebees. Stork’s-bill flowering in the dunes, including a good showing of the white from of this usually pink flower. 170526 – 2 swift and a small movement of hirundines north over the dunes past Sea View early afternoon. 180526 – wood sandpiper, black-tailed godwit and 4 avocet Rimac car park scrape. 5 whimbrel and 2 more avocet on Rimac saltmarsh. Turnstone, 72 ringed plover, 174 sanderling, 10 dunlin, 37 oystercatcher and 4 curlew roosting on Rimac foreshore over the morning high tide. Red-throated diver flew south over the sea still in winter plumage. Cuckoo and male wheatear at Elm House Farm. Another cuckoo and a green woodpecker vocal around Crook Bank car park in the morning. Hobby flying around Rimac dunes late afternoon feeding on fox moths. Water rail calling from Rimac freshwater marsh again. Cuckoo and green woodpecker heard around Rimac dunes. Odonata – banded demoiselle and blue-tailed damselfly Rimac bridge. 190526 – 2 little ringed plover, black-tailed godwit and 4 avocet on Rimac car park scrape in the morning. Donna Nook: 140526 – 132 brent geese and a small number of whimbrel. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 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 Eaten, used as taxis and vomited up: how bees support other animals https://theconversation.com/eaten-used-as-taxis-and-vomited-up-how-bees-support-other-animals-283005 Wood mouse | The Wildlife Trusts https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/mammals/wood-mouse Slow worm | The Wildlife Trusts https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/reptiles/slow-worm Scientists Discover Bizarre Hairy Fish That Looks Exactly Like Snuffleupagus https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/animals-ecology/scientists-discover-bizarre-hairy-fish-that-looks-exactly-like-snuffleupagus/ Losing Wild Pollinators Strips Crucial Vitamins From the Diets of Vulnerable Communities https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/animals-ecology/pollinators-vitamins-nepal-malnutrition/ Waste carrier licences to be tightened as part of illegal dumping crackdown https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c707jlxwx38o *** Mail Fails *** None this 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/