Latest News from Kirkstead Old Mill Cottage Woodhall Spa: THE LINCOLNSHIRE NATURALISTS’ UNION AND A FIELD MEETING TO KIRKSTEAD OLD MILL

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The LNU was founded in 1893 and members study the wildlife and geology of Lincolnshire by holding indoor and outdoor meetings, supply information, publish books, exhibit and provide learning opportunities. Many of the members have a specialist interest in areas such as insects, mammals, birds, botany and fungi and they strive to ensure that the distribution of these species groups are well known in the county. Over 840 field meetings have been held around the county and the visit to Kirkstead Old Mill, courtesy of Barbara Hodgkinson, was the latest one to be held.

The field meeting to Kirkstead Old Mill took place on 15^th August 2021 and it was a completely new location for the LNU. Thirteen LNU stalwarts attended who were led by Brian Hedley on a dry, warm and sunny day and we even had refreshments provided at the end of the meeting including cake! Areas looked at included the large wildlife-friendly garden plus additional areas of grassland and woodland alongside the River Witham. Permission was also given to look at some adjacent arable land for plants.

At least 160 plant species were recorded in the different habitats and included Common Cudweed, Frogbit, Greater Duckweed, Marsh Woundwort, Smith's Pepperwort, Common Fiddleneck and Field Madder. Four plant specimens were collected for the LoveLincsPlants herbarium project comprising two plants each of Field Madder (see photograph below) and Bugloss.

Thirty-six bird species were heard or seen including Little Egret, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Kingfisher, Yellow Wagtail, Yellowhammer and Bullfinch. The River Witham will be a migration route for many birds.

Butterflies were abundant (helped by the profusion of Buddleia around) with 16 species noted including Purple Hairstreak, Painted Lady, Essex Skipper and Brown Argus. Moths included Dingy Footman, Silver Y, Latticed Heath, Straw Dot and caterpillars of both Cinnabar and Buff-tip. Ten species of dragonflies and damselflies were noted including at least 15 Willow Emerald Damselflies (another new Lincs site for this recent colonist, see photograph below) plus Brown Hawkers and Ruddy Darters.

Other insects included the ichneumon wasp Hepiopelmus variegatorius (8th record for Lincolnshire) and also the parasitic wasp Gasteruption jaculata. A good selection of weevils were noted including Isochnus sequensi which feeds on willow and Nanophyes marmoratus which feeds on purple loosestrife. Both the longhorn beetle Strangalia quadrifasciata and the tortoise beetle Cassida vibex were also found. At least seven different plant galls were noted including those on Germander Speedwell caused by the gall fly Jaapiella veronicae.