Ducks, Geese & Swans in Lincolnshire

34 species matching this filter.

All birds in LincolnshireView family page

Lincolnshire's extensive wetlands, coastal marshes and inland waterways make it one of England's premier counties for ducks, geese and swans. With 34 species recorded, the county hosts an impressive diversity of wildfowl, from resident Mute Swans and Greylag Geese on the Broads to winter visitors such as Eurasian Wigeon and Goldeneye along The Wash. Notable species including Barnacle Goose, Egyptian Goose and the striking Black Swan can also be encountered across the county's varied habitats.

Garganey
GarganeySmallest · 37cm
to
Whooper Swan
Whooper SwanLargest · 165cm
Ranges from the Garganey (37cm) to the Whooper Swan (165cm)19 year-round residents

Showing 1–23 of 34 species

Bar-headed Goose

Bar-headed Goose

Anser indicusLC

A rare visitor, likely an escapee from captive collections. Occasionally recorded in late summer.

Aug

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Barnacle Goose

Barnacle Goose

Branta leucopsisLC

An uncommon year-round resident, with feral birds on inland waters supplemented by wild Arctic breeders in winter.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Black Swan

Black Swan

Cygnus atratusLC

A rare passage visitor of Australian origin, with occasional escapees or wandering feral birds noted in autumn.

Sep–Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Brent Goose

Brent Goose

Branta berniclaLC

An uncommon but regular presence, with dark-bellied birds wintering on the Wash mudflats. Small numbers linger through summer.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Canada Goose

Canada Goose

Branta canadensisLC

A common naturalised resident found on lakes, gravel pits and parkland throughout the county year-round.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Common Merganser

Common Merganser

Mergus merganserLC

An uncommon winter visitor to rivers, reservoirs and gravel pits from October to April.

Oct–Apr

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Common Scoter

Common Scoter

Melanitta nigraLC

A rare but year-round presence, mainly seen offshore along the coast. Small numbers linger through summer off the Wash.

Apr–Feb

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Common Shelduck

Common Shelduck

Tadorna tadornaLC

A common resident, breeding on coastal marshes and The Wash. Large moulting flocks gather in summer on tidal mudflats.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Spotted something?

Upload a photo to identify it

Identify
Egyptian Goose

Egyptian Goose

Alopochen aegyptiacaLC

An uncommon but increasing resident, found around lakes, gravel pits and parkland. This established non-native species is spreading northward.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Eider

Eider

Somateria mollissimaNT

A rare resident along the Lincolnshire coast, most often seen on the sea near Gibraltar Point. Largely absent during midsummer.

Aug–May

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Eurasian Wigeon

Eurasian Wigeon

Mareca penelopeLC

Common year-round, with large winter flocks gathering on the Wash and coastal grazing marshes. A few pairs breed locally.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Gadwall

Gadwall

Mareca streperaLC

A common resident found year-round on freshwater lakes, gravel pits and marshes across the county, often alongside other dabbling ducks.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Garganey

Garganey

Spatula querquedulaLC

A rare summer breeder, arriving in March and favouring shallow fenland pools and wet meadows. One of the UK's scarcest breeding ducks.

Mar–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Goldeneye

Goldeneye

Bucephala clangulaLC

An uncommon winter visitor from October to April, favouring deeper lakes, gravel pits and reservoirs across the county.

Oct–Apr

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Greater Scaup

Greater Scaup

Aythya marilaLC

A rare non-breeding visitor, mainly seen on coastal waters and The Wash from autumn through to spring.

Oct–Apr

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Greater White-fronted Goose

Greater White-fronted Goose

Anser albifronsLC

A rare winter visitor to coastal marshes and grazing fields, occasionally joining flocks of other geese around The Wash.

Sep–Mar

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Greylag Goose

Greylag Goose

Anser anserLC

A common year-round resident on lakes, marshes and farmland. Both feral and wild populations contribute to large winter flocks.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Long-tailed Duck

Long-tailed Duck

Clangula hyemalisVU

A rare winter visitor, occasionally spotted offshore or on coastal waters from October to January.

Oct–Jan

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Mallard

Mallard

Anas platyrhynchosLC

An abundant and familiar resident found on virtually any waterbody, from farmland ponds to urban parks and the county's extensive drainage channels.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Mute Swan

Mute Swan

Cygnus olorLC

A common and familiar resident of rivers, lakes and fenland waterways across Lincolnshire throughout the year.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Northern Pintail

Northern Pintail

Anas acutaLC

An uncommon resident favouring coastal marshes and fenland floods. Winter numbers are boosted by continental migrants.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Northern Shoveler

Northern Shoveler

Spatula clypeataLC

A common resident found year-round on freshwater marshes and flooded fields, with numbers boosted by winter migrants on the Fens.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Pink-footed Goose

Pink-footed Goose

Anser brachyrhynchusLC

An uncommon resident with numbers swelling hugely in winter when vast skeins arrive from Iceland to feed on fenland sugar beet fields.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Page 1 of 2Next

Frequently Asked Questions