============================================ || || Wildnews Bulletin 27th 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: Our garden Goldfinches have started feeding on the seeds of the perennial cornflower Centaurea montana. which has attracted them every year for quite a while now. This is a tough plant with brilliant deep blue flowers. It thrives best in rather damper soil than our very sandy loam, but deals with dry conditions without too much wilting and is occasionally found naturalised in grassland or in places where garden waste accumulates. Whether it be these cornflowers, Knapweed or Teasel it’s always a treat to see Goldfinches feeding naturally on ‘wild’ seeds, rather than stuffing themselves with sunflower hearts all the time. They are very good at dominating the feeder until Blackbirds or Collared Doves physically bounce them off but more natural food must be a benefit to them. Phil Porter's email is: philporterento@outlook.com Roger Parsons' email is: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk DON'T MISS Barn Owls at the Owl Tower for the 2026 season - 3 owlets seen on 26th! https://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project/ BTO's tracked Cuckoos - Where are they now? https://www.bto.org/get-involved/volunteer/projects/cuckoo-tracking Loch of the Lowes SWT Webcam - more exciting activity - 3 eggs... hatching soon? https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/watch-wildlife-online/loch-of-the-lowes-webcam/ *** This week's mostly-local news stories: *** Barn Owl Nest – LIVE from National Trust Arlington Court This barn owl now has 9 eggs https://www.youtube.com/live/SuNY8WJ16ok Road closure warning as water pipes are installed - Spalding https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy023076xn4o Body found after boy, 15, went missing in lake https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp8pdd4833po Nearly 30 illegal waste 'super sites' revealed in new government watchlist https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9v30r0944go Britain's protected birds of prey still being shot, trapped and poisoned, says RSPB https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjep159x1njo 'Migration from Skegness' among flood risk options https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm2p0epyll2o *** 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 27 May - Sunday 31 May Headline: Fine and dry, but becoming more unsettled from the weekend. Tonight: Staying dry, but with patchy low cloud spreading inland from the coast. Some showers possible in the early hours of Thursday, perhaps heavy at times. Minimum temperature 12 °C. Thursday: Any low cloud quickly clearing to leave a fine day, with plenty of sunshine and temperatures increasing again. Maximum temperature 30 °C. Outlook for Friday to Sunday: Dry but a little cooler on Friday. A band of patchy rain moving in late on Saturday, perhaps heavy and persistent overnight. Unsettled with showers possible on Sunday. UK long range weather forecast Sunday 31 May - Tuesday 9 Jun A more changeable period than we have seen of late, as Atlantic weather systems move in from the west to bring a mixture of drier spells and some showers, or longer spells of rain at times. The rain will likely be heaviest in parts of the west and northwest, with the best of the drier conditions more likely towards the south and east. Temperatures will be near-normal overall, with the warmest spots most likely across eastern areas. It will also be breezy at times, most especially across northwestern areas. *** 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 22 - 31 https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/observing-news/this-weeks-sky-at-a-glance-may-22-31/ 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 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. *** 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) 20/5/2026 Branston Island, Black-necked Grebe, Garganey, Caspian Gull, Sanderling. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, Fieldfare by Rimac car park scrape. Wrangle NE of Boston, Quail male singing in field. 21/5/2026 Deeping St James, Sanderling at East Pit. Frampton Marsh, 2 Temminck's Stints, 1 Little Stint, drk Garganey. 22/5/2026 Branston Island, 3 Glossy Ibises, Wood Sandpiper, Garganey from cycle path on west bank of River Witham. Deeping St James, Sanderling at East Pit, Deeping Lakes. Frampton Marsh, Little Stint. Garganey drk on South Scrape. Temminck's Stint on west side of reedbed lagoon from visitor centre. Grimsby, White-tailed Eagle flew NE over. Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, Spoonbill at Rimac Car Park scrape, then flew to Lagoon. 23/5/2026 Branston Island, Garganey, 3 Glossy Ibises from cycle path on west bank of River Witham. Frampton Marsh, Garganey drk and Black-winged Stilt on Reedbed Lagoon from visitor centre. Gibraltar Point, Turtle Dove at East Dunes briefly. 24/5/2026 Alkborough Flats, Pectoral Sandpiper in vegetation. Elusive. Frampton Marsh, Little Gull 1s, Temminck's Stint on north side of Reedbed Lagoon. Glossy Ibis on North scrape. Snipe Dales, Golden Oriole singing. 25/5/2026 Anderby Creek, Wood Sandpiper at Anderby Marsh. Bardney pits, 3 Glossy Ibises in flight nearby. Bourne north Fen, at Tongue End, Black-winged Stilt in flight then flew NW towards Willow Tree Fen. Branston Island, Glossy Ibis, 2 Wood Sandpipers. Frampton Marsh, Little Gull.1s Garganey drk on Middle Scrape. Black-winged Stilt. Gibraltar Point, 3 Golden Orioles ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. A1 GREETHAM SK948149 & SK946158 Chris Manning 22 May 2026 Roe deer RTA’s *** 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 Trailcam 21/5/2026 - Hedgehog at 00.10hrs. 22/5/2026 - Woodmouse at 22.39hrs. Cuckoo calling near garden at 11.50hrs 23/5/2026 Lots of fledglings about now, Starling and House Sparrow mostly Merlin app. - with numbers where observed. Blackcap Robin – 2 Collared dove - 3 Wood pigeon – 5 Goldfinch – 3 House sparrow - 12+ Tree sparrow Swift - 3+ overhead. House Martin 2 Starling 5 Greenfinch Chaffinch Blackbird 2m. 2f Also seen Dunnock Blue tit Great tit Domestic pigeon - 5. 24/5/2026 A Parsons Merlin app. records Robin Swift Black cap Pheasant Blackbird House Martin Greenfinch Chaffinch Rock pigeon Tree sparrow Wood pigeon Goldfinch House sparrow 25/5/2026 A Parsons Merlin records Chaffinch Goldfinch Collared dove Cuckoo House sparrow House sparrow Robin Wood pigeon Swift House Martin Goldcrest Starling Jackdaw Blue tit Blackbird Rock pigeon Blackcap Greenfinch BARDNEY GARDEN TF117700 Phil and Mary Porter 20th May 2026 Mary saw a Large Red Damselfly and one of the dock leaves had the large ‘blotch-mine’ of a Pegomya fly. There are unfortunately three fairly common species whose feeding larvae leave this kind of mine, so to know exactly which would involve maintaining the leaf artificially until the pupa developed and rearing the fly. If it turns out to be a male, the genitalia can be dissected out and specifically identified, but otherwise the distinguishing features are extremely subtle. I left well alone. 21st May 2026 The damselfly was still around. Our Whitethroat was still singing. Five Holly Blues flew in procession past the window. A Long-tailed Tit took a bath in the pond and a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew through the garden. 22nd May 2026 The pond was in demand with Pied Wagtail and Greenfinch bathing and a Jackdaw taking a drink. Jackdaws have very rarely entered the garden recently. 2 male Brimstones were present and 2 Swallows and 2-3 Swifts hawked overhead. Mary saw a Hornet. 24th May 2026 Our first Thick-thighed Flower Beetle appeared on an Oriental Poppy flower. A Cuckoo was singing close by for a long time. Swallows were still around and attracted what Mary was almost certain was a Hobby. A new plant has made its way into the garden – Green Alkanet. 25th May 2026 Mary saw a male and female Blue Damsefly, also a Cinnabar Moth. 26th May 2026 Finally, a Small Tortoiseshell appeared after a long absence and a Red Admiral too. Orange-tips have been frequent all week. The male Pied Wagtail visited the pond to look for food around the margins. We were very pleased to see at least 3 tandems of Azure Damseflies ovipositing in the pond. In the evening, Mary saw a newt egg-laying in the pond and I saw a Hobby fly over the garden. 27th May 2026 Mary glimpsed a large broad dragonfly high over the pond which didn’t interrupt its flight but we will be looking out for Broad-bodied Chaser which is the most likely identification. BARDNEY RECREATION AREA TF124692 Phil Porter 22nd May 2026 Found a single plant of the now very uncommon Corn Spurrey, once a virtually cosmopolitan weed of agriculture. It was in flower but when I returned specifically to photograph it to support an iRecord, the petals had dropped and the resultant pictures may not have supported the observation, so I gave the plant a shake and the seeds were loose so I hope to find more next year. Of the grass species I am sure of, Sweet Vernal-grass and Meadow Foxtail were prominent here and there, and with the wall-to-wall Dandelion display having finished, the next species to paint the ground yellow will be Cat’s-ear. Beaked Hawksbeard and Wild Pansy were in flower. 27th May 2026 Mary Porter 2 Small Heath and 2 Small Copper FAR INGS Angela Buckle 24th May Cut-leaved cranesbill, Meadow cranesbill, Weld, Oxe-eye daisy GRANTHAM GARDEN SK 930 372 Alan Lean/Gill Porter 23rd May In the Actinic 2 x 20 watt moth trap we had some nice finds: 1 x Common Marbled Carpet 1 x Shears 1 x Willow Beauty 1 x Muslin Moth 1 x Small Elephant Hawk-moth 1 x Poplar Hawk-moth 1 x False Cacao Moth 2 x Brown House Moth 2 x Pale Tussock 2 x Heart and Dart 2 x Light Emerald 2 x Light Brown Apple Moth 4 x Bee Moth 6 x Common Pug 6 x Shuttle-shaped Dart 37 x Treble Lines Our first hawk moths since we started the traps in September last year and a splendid pair they made too! The number of Treble Lines was presumably triggered, in part at least, by the hot weather. GRANTHAM GARDEN SK 915 370 Alan Lean/Gill Porter 24th May We decided to do a trapping session in the lovely garden of Gill’s cousin, on Manthorpe Road, Grantham, which includes various conifers. We used the Robinson Mercury Vapour trap and got the following: 1 x Light Emerald 1 x Pale Tussock Moth 1 x Muslin Moth 1 x Shuttle-shaped Dart 1 x Brown Rustic 1 x Black Rustic 1 x Knot Grass 1 x Narrow-winged Grey 1 x Treble Brown Spot 1 x Spruce Carpet 1 x Heart and Dart 2 x Small Magpie 3 x Common Pugs 25 x Light Brown Apple Moth There were some notable others in the trap including 3 x Tree Bumblebee, 1 x Bark Sac spider (Clubiona corticalis), 1 x Greater Black Spruce Bark Aphid (Cinara piceae) and three Click Beetles (possibly Melanotus castanipes all three). The size of the aphid was truly impressive! HORKSTOW SE987179 Jenny Haynes 26 May 2026 My 40 year old Christmas tree (Norway Spruce) has for the first time produced male and female flowers. Quite a sight. They are concentrated on the top branches and the male flowers are quite spectacular. Painted lady butterfly in my garden this morning. Quite a surprise as we saw none last year. There are still quite a few holly blues around. Two nest boxes are still being used by blue tits and the green parakeet was seen again. A male great spotted woodpecker has visited the feeder a few times lately. HORNCASTLE, NORTH STREET TF260697 Chris Manning 22 May 2026 Swifts flying over HORNCASTLE Old River Bain TF256688 Chris Manning 22 May 2026 Muntjac doe CHAPEL 6 MARSHES TF560745 Chris Manning 23 May 2026 Grey seal swimming along shoreline STICKNEY TF322568 Gail Cartwright 23/5/2026 I have heard bats with my bat detector for several nights now since last week from my landing window at midnight or just after at 45KHz, strangely I haven't actually seen them yet, also at Medlam Bridge once or twice which is about 100 yds from my location. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 18th May: Turtle Dove flying north, Grey Wagtail flying south. Cuckoo along Wolla Bank. 2 Temminck's Stint on Anderby Marsh. 19th May: on Anderby Marsh were 2 Temminck's Stint, Pectoral Sandpiper, 13 Ringed Plover, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Dunlin, 2 Sanderling and female Pochard. 20th May: Pectoral Sandpiper and Temminck's Stint on Anderby Marsh. 2 Egyptian Goose flying south, Arctic Tern flying north. Willow Warbler singing at Huttoft Pit. 21st May: 3 Avocet on Anderby Marsh. 5 Razorbill flying south. 22nd May: Tree Pipit, Barnacle Goose and Sandwich Tern flying south with 4 Sandwich Tern and 52 Oystercatcher flying north. Cuckoo and Grasshopper Warbler in Wolla Bank Reedbed. 9 Avocet, 3 Little Ringed Plover and 3 Little Egret at Sandilands Golf Course also an Avocet pair with 2 chicks on southern island. Green Woodpecker and Wheatear at Chapel Six Marshes. A Green Woodpecker was also in Huttoft village. 23rd May: Garden Warbler and Cuckoo at Chapel Six Marshes. Anderby Marsh had Common Sandpiper, 4 Ringed Plover, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 5 Avocet, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, Pink-footed Goose, Turtle Dove, 2 Cuckoo, 2 Mediterranean Gulls calling, 2 Dunlin, Redshank, Snipe and Great White Egret. Barnacle Goose, 2 Little Tern, Hobby and Fulmar flying south, Sandwich Tern flying north. 18 Avocet including 4 chicks, Whimbrel, Little Egret and Dunlin at Sandilands Golf Course. Cuckoo at Huttoft Marsh. 24th May: Spoonbill, Pink-footed Goose and 3 Little Tern flying north, Common Tern and 2 Brent Goose flying south. 2 Avocet, 3 Mediterranean Gull and 3 Dunlin on Anderby Marsh. 26 Avocet (22 adults plus two broods of 2 chicks) and Common Sandpiper at Sandilands Golf Course. 25th May: Garden Warbler at Chapel Six Marshes. White Wagtail, 2 Spoonbill, Snipe, 9 Ringed Plover, Wood Sandpiper, 4 Ruff, Knot, Dunlin and Redshank on Anderby Marsh. 21 Avocet including the two broods of 2 chicks, 3 Little Ringed Plover and Redshank at Sandilands Golf Course. Turtle Dove flying inland at Anderby Creek. Mediterranean Gull flying north. 26th May: Anderby Marsh was showing 4 Spoonbill, hunting Hobby, Cattle Egret, Avocet, 3 Greenshank, 2 Great White Egret and Wood Sandpiper. Flying north was Pochard with Cattle Egret, Common Sandpiper, Red Kite, Sandwich Tern, Spotted Flycatcher and Tree Sparrow south. 2 Little Ringed Plover and 15 Avocet with new brood of two chicks at Sandilands Golf Course. Female Golden Oriole flying at Anderby. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 WildNews below from a hot few days! 200526 – 2 hobby hawking over the dunes south of Crook Bank mid- afternoon. Little ringed plover landed briefly on the beach at Mablethorpe before continuing south. 50+ swifts and 70 swallows flew south over Mablethorpe North End, and a common buzzard flew in-off the sea nearly forced into the water by mobbing crows. 12+ lesser black-backed gulls in flight along the dunes past Brickyard Lane and 20+ on the beach at Mablethorpe. Brood of 3 lapwing chicks on Rimac car park scrape, oystercatcher pair and 4 avocets including a Dutch colour-ringed bird. 210526 – little ringed plover, black-tailed godwit, 3 small lapwing chicks, 7 avocet, 2 oystercatcher, 10 shelduck Rimac car park scrape. 6 more avocet on Rimac saltmarsh lagoon. Whimbrel and green woodpecker on land adjacent to the dunes south of Crook Bank, a small movement of swallows south over the beach and a few swifts flew north. 180 second calendar-year common gulls on the beach around Mablethorpe North 1 End. High numbers of recently fledged juvenile starlings around Mablethorpe North End. Muntjac on the open beach out from Rimac in the morning. 220526 – spoonbill and 2 little ringed plover on Rimac car park scrape late morning, with the spoonbill relocating the saltmarsh lagoon shortly after. Spotted flycatcher in trees by Rimac car park and another in willow boundary south of Rimac. 18 butterfly species recorded on the NNR today; large skipper, brimstone, large white, small white, green-veined white, orange tip, green hairstreak, small copper, brown argus, common blue, holly blue, red admiral, painted lady, small tortoiseshell, peacock, speckled wood, wall, small heath. 230526 – a good day for odonata especially around the easy access trail and pools at Rimac, with red-veined darter on the path, plus hairy dragonflies and four-spotted chasers in the area along with blue-tailed and azure damselflies. 2402526 – 2 sandwich tern flew north-east over Mablethorpe North End. Bittern reportedly showing well in the reeds at the back of Rimac freshwater marsh scrape. Lapwing broods of 2 and 3 chicks feeding around Rimac car park scrape and oystercatcher pair still nesting. A good display of mouse-ear hawkweed in the dunes around Rimac despite dry conditions. 250526 – red kite flew over Sea View mid-morning. 3 lapwing broods, oystercatcher pair, little ringed plover, yellow wagtail and gadwall pair around Rimac car park scrape. Hobby hawking over Rimac dunes in the evening. 3 little terns offshore out from Churchill Lane early evening. Rimac saltmarsh lagoon now dry. 260526 – cuckoo flew north along Rimac willow hedge calling and one heard around Saltfleet Haven shortly after. Another heard in Theddlethorpe west of Brickyard Lane. Quail heard briefly in meadows by Sea View work base. Yellow wagtail flew north over Sear’s Track. Odonata – 1+ red-veined darter around Rimac with sightings on the easy access trail and from the pond platform; 7 male and 1 female hairy dragonfly in double ditch at Rimac freshwater marsh. Butterflies – 6 large skipper, 10+ painted lady Rimac. 2 foxes seen in the dunes between Sea View and MOD early morning. Donna Nook: 220526 – 8 brent geese, 43 ringed plover, 2 avocet, cuckoo, 2 yellow wagtail, wheatear and corn bunting. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 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 Get involved in Great Big Green Week – Royal Horticultural Society https://www.greatbiggreenweek.com/get_involved? Birds in Greenspaces | BTO https://www.bto.org/get-involved/volunteer/projects/greenspaces Why early medieval Ireland had laws for bees https://theconversation.com/why-early-medieval-ireland-had-laws-for-bees-283168 Researchers Matched Whale’s Tail From Brazil To Australia and Confirmed a Record 15,100-Kilometer Journey https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/animals-ecology/whale-record-journey-brazil-australia/ New Winter Homes Built For Powfoot Natterjack Toads https://www.dgwgo.com/dumfries-galloway-news/new-winter-homes-built-for-powfoot-natterjack-toads/ 7 weirdest fungi in the world you (probably) haven't heard of, from the gross-looking bleeding tooth to the creepy dead man's fingers | Discover Wildlife https://www.discoverwildlife.com/plant-facts/fungi/weird-fungi Scientists Used Radar To Identify Bees By Their Wingbeats And It Could Change How We Track Pollinators https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/animals-ecology/radar-pollinators/ UK Heatwave Bird Influx of Honey Buzzard, Bee Eater, Golden Oriole, Serin. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seSu-tEqvsM Migratory bird numbers fall in Britain despite last year’s warm spring https://www.theguardian.com/news/2026/may/21/weather-bird-numbers-fall-britain-despite-warm-spring *** Mail Fails *** 2 emails "bounced" last week! John Youles - hard bounce, and 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/