News
Birdwatching cruises 2025
The times and dates of The Wash Birdwatching Cruises from Boston in 2025 can be found Here.
Tickets are £24 for RSPB members (£30 for non members) and half price for children. Bookings should be open soon via Blackfriars Art Centre 01205 363108 or www.ticketsource.co.uk/blackfriars
Get ready for the Big Garden Birdwatch!
The RSPBs Nationwide birdwatch will be over the weekend of 24, 25 and 26 January 2025. You can download a leaflet about the birdwatch and an identification guide to some of the most common garden birds Here.
The Birdwatcher's Yearbook 2025
Since this book was first published in 1981, it has been a one-stop shop for up to date and verified information for birdwatchers with all levels of interest. However, the publisher, Neil Gartshore informed us that this will be his final Yearbook. He is in discussion with someone to take over from the 2026 edition so the publication will continue for the foreseeable future.
As details of the RSPB Lincoln Local Group have always been included in the book, Nail Garshore and Calluna Books are offering the book to contributors at the special price of £20 (cover price £24), including delivery to a single address. Graham Mumby-Croft is coordinating orders for the book so, if you wish to purchase a copy, please contact Graham at graham.mumby-croft@lincolnrspb.org.uk before the end of December.
Fire in the hills: Why our uplands need your help
As autumn arrives, we can expect to see smoke rising over the northern English uplands from October to March, the heather and grass burning season. During this time, shooting estates use burning as a tool to remove unfavourable vegetation and encourage the growth of young heather – a food source for grouse and livestock. Burning often takes place on globally threatened upland habitats, such as blanket bogs, which have developed over millennia and store large amounts of carbon vital to tackling the climate crisis. We need your help to monitor where this is happening so we can protect these habitats. To find out more about the issue and how you can report burning please see this online article.
Rare Hen Harrier from Bowland disappears in suspicious circumstances
A Lancashire Hen Harrier has disappeared raising fears of illegal persecution. The young female, named Helius, hatched last summer in Bowland. Helius was fitted with a satellite tag which allowed the RSPB to monitor her movements. Her tag showed her to be exploring the wider Bowland area. She even went on to have chicks of her own, producing a brood of five chicks this summer on United Utilities land, three of which fledged. Her chicks having left, on 31 July 2024 Helius was at a location on the boundary of a United Utilities Estate between Brennand Fell and Tarnbrook Fell. The next day, her tag, which had been performing reliably, failed to transmit. It has been silent ever since. The National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) and Lancashire Police were informed and a search was conducted, but they found no trace of Helius or her tag. In 2023 a total of 34 tagged Hen Harriers were killed or disappeared in suspicious circumstances. To learn more and find out you can help harriers and other raptors please see our wildlife crime web page.
How we’re helping birds to thrive
Here’s some good news. The UK may be one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, but, with your support, we’re determined to change that. The RSPB is working nationally and locally to preserve and expand our bird population. Read about how some of our most spectacular species are benefitting from our work – and your support – on this news page.
Casting Call: Christmas Film Opportunity
Does anyone fancy being a film star? Terra Mater Productions are creating a charming Christmas film for French, German and international television. They’re looking for an older lady (60s+) to appear in this project, which will feature iconic Christmas animals, including the UK’s beloved Robin. If you or someone you know fits this description, please get in touch with Nadia Aswani, email: nadiaaswani94@hotmail.com
Requirements:
- A lovely garden mid to large sized garden with a bird feeder.
- Ideally, some snow and a Robin visitor in the garden (not essential).
- The role involves being filmed in the garden, possibly doing some gardening—no speaking lines.
- Filming dates: 2-3 days in December (not overlapping with Christmas)
A Butterfly Emergency
In 2024, we've seen butterfly numbers fall across the UK. With 80% of butterflies having declined since the 1970s and a third of moth numbers having fallen in that same period, the time has come to tell the Government enough is enough.
The Big Butterfly Count 2024 results reveal lowest numbers on record. Wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation has declared a national ‘Butterfly Emergency’, with results of this summer’s Big Butterfly Count showing a marked and hugely concerning decline in numbers.
Butterfly Conservation is asking people to sign an open letter calling on the Government to implement an immediate and permanent ban on butterfly-harming neonicotinoid pesticides, without exceptions. This devastating chemical has been banned in the EU for years but it is still permitted to be used in the UK. Please sign the Open Letter to the Government. Thank you.
An Invitation from the British Trust for Ornithology
I am organising a FREE ‘Meet the BTO in Lincolnshire & Northwest Norfolk’ Zoom session on Monday 2 December from 7 pm to 8.45 pm.
The session will consist of an opportunity to find out more about the BTO and some information about how bird populations are currently fairing in Lincolnshire and beyond. There will also be an opportunity to meet BTO staff and local representatives virtually, and ask any questions about the organisation that you may like to know the answer to.
The session is open to EVERYONE, and you do not need to be a BTO member and/or volunteer to attend.
The link to book onto the event is:
https://www.bto.org/community/events/202412-meet-bto-lincolnshire-and-northwest-norfolk
If you are unable to join the session live, it will be recorded and shared with all registered attendees afterwards. Please note that registration for the session will close on Friday 29 November at 9 am.
David White,
BTO Engagement & Surveys Officer for England.
2025 Calendar
The Group's 2025 Calendar is now available to buy at £6.50 each - the same price as last year. The high quality photographs were taken by Group members and feature a selection of British wildlife.
The calendar is wiro bound, A4 size opening to A3, with plenty of space to write your reminders on the dates pages.
You can buy the calendars at the Group's indoor meetings and field meetings but if you are unable to attend any of these events please email calendars@lincolnrspb.org.uk as we may be able to deliver them to you.
Last year all of the calendars were sold by mid-November so, if you would like one, please don't leave it too late or you may be disappointed.
The calendars make an excellent gift for friends and neighbours, which will be used throughout 2025.
An Introduction to Bird Identification and Monitoring
The RSPB has produced a booklet which will give you an introduction to bird identification and monitoring. You can view and/or download a copy Here.
Historic win for EU’s nature: EU Council seals the deal on Nature Restoration Law
After a nail-biting last discussion, the EU Environmental Council finally adopted the Nature Restoration Law (NRL), marking the last step for this long-awaited proposal to finally become law. This outcome is a huge win for Europe’s nature, climate action, citizens and future. Now we need the same commitment from the UK Government! You can find out more about this historic decision made by the EU on the BirdLife International website by clicking Here.
The Flow Country awarded prestigious World Heritage Site status
The Flow Country, including the RSPB’s nature reserve at Forsinard Flows, joins the Great Barrier Reef and the Serengeti as a UNSECO World Heritage Site.
The area is Europe’s largest expanse of blanket bog. It’s a living, working landscape. Many landowners, including the RSPB, are undertaking essential habitat restoration to protect this precious landscape for wildlife, people and the planet. The World Heritage Site will be managed by the Flow Country Partnership.
To mark the celebration, the RSPB's patron, King Charles III, visited Forsinard on Wednesday 31 July.
Lincoln Cathedral's peregrines
The pair of Peregrines at Lincoln Cathedral successfully fledged four young birds this year. They can still be seen perching on the main tower of the Cathedral and flying around the area. The best viewpoint is from the East Green near the Tennyson Statue.
Although we were unable to fit leg rings on the Peregrine chicks at Lincoln Cathedral you can watch a fascinating short video of how the RSPB managed to ring the Peregrines chicks that hatched on the University of Glasgow's Gilbert Scott Tower. Click here to watch the video
Photo: One of Lincoln Cathedral's peregrines by Yvonne Allen.
Birds Brilliant and Bizarre
Step behind the scenes at the Natural History Museum.
Ever wondered what a museum curator gets up to behind the scenes? Catch up with Dr Joanne Cooper, Senior Curator at the Natural History Museum, and a bird bone expert with a strange speciality: pickled birds.
She will be giving you a close-up look at some of the star species in the museum’s new exhibition, Birds: Brilliant and Bizarre, in affiliation with the RSPB. And she hopes you might learn some surprising facts along the way!
As a thank you for reading this, the Natural History Museum is offering you 20% off their membership fee. Sign up now to be invited to exclusive events and gain access to exhibitions, even when they’re sold out!
Click here for more information.
Volunteering at Langford Lowfields
Do you have a passion for nature?
We're looking for volunteers to spend a few hours a week chatting to visitors here at our Langford Lowfields Nature Reserve. We are looking for volunteers for Thursday morning, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays - half and full days available.
You'll be based at our lovely beach hut and be able to get involved with pond dipping and events.
Click here for more information.
Free coach travel for children on Sunday coach outings
You can book one free coach seat for a child under the age of 16 for each adult seat you book and pay for in advance - any admission charges will still apply, only the coach travel is free. We realise that it can be expensive for families to visit nature reserves so we are making this offer to encourage more people to bring children with them and encourage them to take an interest in birds, wildlife and our wonderful natural heritage.
Bird-food sales
Unfortunately, we are no longer able to sell bird food as we don't have any volunteers available to organise it.
Newsletters
All of the Group's previous newsletters are available on
Dropbox
You do not need a Dropbox account to view them.
To find out more about the RSPB click on the RSPB logo or visit www.rspb.org.uk