Spring/Early Summer Diary 2025

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As I write in late May, we have experienced one of the driest springs on record. Very little rain throughout March, April and most of May. Many parts of the country enjoyed warm temperatures but here in Lincolnshire the climate was tempered by northerly winds; especially close to the east coast.

Brimstone on Dandelion

Compared to the wet spring and summer of 2024, there were noticeably many more insects on the wing. All the spring butterflies emerged on schedule and some species, noticeably Brimstones were in exceptionally good numbers. Bees were also quite plentiful. I don't know where they came from, but two rather vigorous bushy perennials with large white flowers called White Comfrey appeared in our garden. Not the most attractive plant, but I soon found out that the flowers are a magnet for bees, including some species that I had not recorded in the garden before. A rather large black bee I identified as Hairy-footed Flower Bee which according to my book is generally a coastal species, which is more than 15 miles from our garden, frequented the comfrey flowers.

Deer thrive in this part of Lincolnshire, especially Fallow Deer. They are graceful and beautiful animals, but we probably have more fallow deer than any other area in Europe. There is no doubt that they have become a serious pest. Not only do they damage the scrub and regenerating areas of woodland to the detriment of wildlife including nightingales and warblers but every week deer are involved in serious collisions with motor vehicles. Roe Deer and Muntjac can also be seen in our region, the latter a regular and mostly unwelcome visitor to our garden, dining on the flowers in our woodland area.

Brown Hare

More welcome and very common are Brown Hares. A field close to our home held more than a dozen hares, very visible in a wheat field before the crop had grown too high.

Sand Martins

Migrant birds arrived earlier than last year but numbers were variable. Swallows, House Martins and Swifts are fewer in number in our area, but the Sand Martin numbers have recovered and the artificial cliff at RSPB Frampton Marsh is especially busy this year. Most of the warblers also seem to be doing well.

Sand Martins

Whitethroats, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs have increased again, whereas Willow Warblers have declined locally. However, on a recent trip to Scotland, Willow Warblers were probably the most common bird.

Marsh Harrier with nesting material

Marsh Harriers are also doing well. No longer confined to coastal areas, Marsh Harriers have taken advantage of nature reserves and remnant areas of fen to nest and hunt. I am fortunate in that a pair are nesting just a few miles from our home.

Male Marsh Harrier

Our second trip to Scotland was made in May, this time to the western coast including the isles of Skye, Mull and Iona. Distant views of both White-tailed and Golden Eagles were enjoyed along with other exciting raptors including peregrines, hen harriers and buzzards.

Black Guillemot

I also caught up with Black Guillemots or Tysties as they are called in Scotland. Up to 15 pairs nest around Oban harbour and are best seen early in the morning. Eider ducks were seen on one occasion in the harbour and also in sheltered bays on Mull.

Black Guillemots

Otter

The extensive rocky coast on both Mull and Skye are home to Grey Seals, Otters and birds such as Northern Wheatear and Rock Pipit. Oystercatchers and Shags are abundant

Rock Pipit

Oystercatcher

Great Northern Divers

I was surprised to see Great Northern Divers around the coast in mid-May. I would have expected them to have left for their nesting grounds in Iceland.

Cranes with chicks

Back home, at least one pair of cranes have raised young at The Lincolnshire's Wildlife Trust reserve at Willow Tree Fen. During the early spring, close to 30 cranes were often visiting the reserve and at least 2 pairs and a few individuals remain as I write. The successful pair now have two well grown young.

Ian Misselbrook
May 2025