Rare Birds in Lincolnshire

86 species matching this filter.

All birds in Lincolnshire

Lincolnshire's diverse landscapes — from the vast mudflats of The Wash to the rolling Wolds and expansive fenlands — attract a remarkable variety of rare bird species. With 86 rare species recorded, the county offers exciting opportunities to spot elusive visitors such as Bluethroat, Great Grey Shrike, Common Crane, and Arctic Loon. Whether scanning coastal marshes or exploring quiet woodland edges, birdwatchers in Lincolnshire can encounter some truly exceptional avian rarities throughout the year.

Firecrest
FirecrestSmallest · 9cm
to
Tundra Swan
Tundra SwanLargest · 150cm
Ranges from the Firecrest (9cm) to the Tundra Swan (150cm)35 families represented16 year-round residents

Showing 1–23 of 86 species

Aquatic Warbler

Aquatic Warbler

Acrocephalus paludicolaVU

A globally threatened species recorded very rarely on passage, typically in reedbeds along the coast during June.

Jun

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

Arctic Loon

Gavia arcticaLC

A rare winter visitor, occasionally spotted offshore or in coastal waters around the Wash and along the Lincolnshire coast.

Nov–Jan

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

Arctic Tern

Sterna paradisaeaLC

A rare breeder, nesting at a few coastal colonies. Passes through on migration from April to October, best seen at Gibraltar Point.

Apr–Oct

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

Bearded Tit

Panurus biarmicusLC

A rare but prized resident of reedbeds, with key sites along the coast and the Fens. Listen for its distinctive pinging call in autumn.

Year-round

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

Black Redstart

Phoenicurus ochrurosLC

A rare October passage migrant, most often noted at coastal sites and industrial buildings along the Lincolnshire shoreline.

Oct

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
Black Tern

Black Tern

Chlidonias nigerLC

Rare but elegant marsh tern seen dipping over freshwater pools during spring and autumn passage, often at inland reserves.

Apr–Sep

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

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Black-necked Grebe

Black-necked Grebe

Podiceps nigricollisLC

A rare breeding species at a handful of inland pools and gravel pits. Present from April to August, favouring well-vegetated waterbodies.

Apr–Oct

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

Bluethroat

Luscinia svecicaLC

A rare spring passage migrant, occasionally recorded along the coast in March. A prized find for Lincolnshire birders.

Mar

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

Bohemian Waxwing

Bombycilla garrulusLC

A rare and irruptive winter visitor, appearing in some years in berry-laden trees in towns and hedgerows, mainly in December and January.

Dec–Jan

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

Brambling

Fringilla montifringillaLC

A rare winter visitor from Scandinavia, sometimes joining Chaffinch flocks in beech woodland and farmland stubble from October to April.

Oct–Apr

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

Cattle Egret

Bubulcus ibisLC

A rare but increasingly recorded resident, often seen near livestock in wet pastures. Part of a recent national range expansion into Lincolnshire.

Aug–May

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

Common Crane

Grus grusLC

A rare but increasing resident, with breeding pairs establishing on fenland sites. A spectacular sight on the county's wetlands.

Oct–Aug

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

Common Loon

Gavia immerLC

A rare winter visitor to coastal waters and occasionally large inland reservoirs. Most records fall between November and February.

Nov–Feb

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

Common Quail

Coturnix coturnixLC

A rare and secretive summer visitor, more often heard than seen calling from cereal fields in June and July.

Jun–Jul

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

Common Raven

Corvus coraxLC

A rare but increasing resident, slowly recolonising the county after centuries of absence. Look for its diamond-shaped tail in flight.

Year-round

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

Common Redpoll

Acanthis flammeaLC

A rare resident, thinly distributed in birch and alder woodland. Numbers may increase in winter with arrivals from the continent.

Year-round

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

Common Redstart

Phoenicurus phoenicurusLC

A rare passage migrant seen briefly in spring and autumn, mainly at coastal migration watchpoints like Gibraltar Point.

Apr–Oct

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
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 Bittern

Eurasian Bittern

Botaurus stellarisLC

A rare but resident breeder in Lincolnshire's extensive reedbeds, most reliably found at sites like Far Ings and Alkborough Flats.

Nov–Aug

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

Eurasian Nuthatch

Sitta europaeaLC

A rare resident found in mature deciduous woodland. Lincolnshire sits at the edge of its range, making sightings a notable find.

Year-round

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