What rare birds can I see in Lincolnshire?

Lincolnshire hosts around 86 rare bird species, including notable finds such as Bluethroat, Great Grey Shrike, Black-necked Grebe, and Common Crane. Coastal areas may also yield sightings of Great Skua and European Shag, while quieter inland habitats can harbour Grasshopper Warbler and Eurasian Woodcock.

Where are the best places to spot rare birds in Lincolnshire?

The Wash and the North Sea coastline are prime locations for rare waders, seabirds, and passage migrants. Inland sites such as the Lincolnshire Fens, nature reserves around the Wolds, and quiet woodland margins are also productive for scarce species like Common Crane and Horned Lark.

What time of year is best for finding rare birds in Lincolnshire?

Autumn and spring migration periods tend to produce the most rarities, as passage migrants such as Bluethroat and Great Grey Shrike pass through the county. Winter can also be rewarding, with species like Arctic Loon and Black-necked Grebe occasionally appearing on coastal waters and reservoirs.

Why does Lincolnshire attract so many rare bird species?

Lincolnshire's position on the east coast of England places it directly on key migration flyways between Scandinavia, the Arctic, and mainland Europe. Its varied habitats — including extensive coastline, estuarine mudflats, wetlands, and agricultural fenland — provide vital stopover and wintering sites for a wide range of uncommon visitors.

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.

FirecrestSmallest · 9cm

Tundra SwanLargest · 150cm

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

Showing 47–69 of 86 species

Little Tern

Sternula albifronsLC

A rare summer breeder nesting on shingle beaches along the Lincolnshire coast. This vulnerable species benefits from wardened nesting sites.

May–Sep

Long-eared Owl

Asio otusLC

Rare winter visitor to dense scrub and conifer plantations, sometimes found roosting communally in sheltered coastal thickets.

Nov–Mar

Long-tailed Duck

Clangula hyemalisVU

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

Oct–Jan

Manx Shearwater

Puffinus puffinusLC

A rare passage visitor seen during autumn seawatches in September and October. Strong onshore winds push birds close to shore at Gibraltar Point.

Sep–Oct

Marsh Tit

Poecile palustrisLC

A rare passage visitor in winter and early spring. Lincolnshire lies largely outside its core range, making any sighting noteworthy.

Jan–Apr

Montagu's Harrier

Circus pygargusLC

A rare and secretive summer visitor, occasionally seen hunting over arable farmland in July. One of the UK's rarest raptors.

Jul

Nightingale

Luscinia megarhynchosLC

A rare spring passage migrant in April and May, occasionally heard singing in dense thickets. Lincolnshire lies at the edge of its breeding range.

Apr–May

Nightjar

Caprimulgus europaeusLC

A rare passage visitor in June, occasionally recorded churring at dusk over heathland fragments and woodland clearings.

Jun

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Northern Gannet

Morus bassanusLC

Seen offshore from summer into winter, plunge-diving for fish. Best spotted from coastal vantage points during autumn passage.

Jun–Dec

Osprey

Pandion haliaetusLC

A rare but thrilling passage visitor in July and August, occasionally spotted fishing at Rutland Water's fringes and fenland reserves.

Jul–Aug

Pectoral Sandpiper

Calidris melanotosLC

A rare but regular autumn passage migrant from July to October, favouring freshwater scrapes and flooded fields.

Jul–Oct

Pomarine Jaeger

Stercorarius pomarinusLC

A rare autumn passage migrant seen offshore from September to November. Best spotted during seawatches at Gibraltar Point in strong winds.

Sep–Nov

Purple Swamphen

Porphyrio porphyrioLC

An exceptionally rare passage vagrant, with occasional September records. Any sighting in Lincolnshire is a major county event.

Sep

Razorbill

Alca tordaLC

Rarely noted offshore in autumn, occasionally driven close to the coast by strong winds. Most records come from seawatching points.

Sep–Oct

Red Crossbill

Loxia curvirostraLC

A rare passage visitor, occasionally recorded in October during irruption years at conifer plantations and coastal migration points.

Oct

Red-breasted Goose

Branta ruficollisVU

A rare spring passage visitor, occasionally spotted among flocks of Brent Geese on the Wash or coastal marshes in April and May.

Apr–May

Red-breasted Merganser

Mergus serratorLC

A rare non-breeding visitor, mainly seen along the coast and the Wash from autumn through to early spring.

Sep–Mar

Red-crested Pochard

Netta rufinaLC

A rare resident, occasionally seen on larger lakes and gravel pits. Numbers in England are slowly increasing from feral and continental birds.

Year-round

Red-necked Grebe

Podiceps grisegenaLC

A rare winter visitor, occasionally seen on coastal waters or sheltered estuaries in December during cold-weather movements.

Dec

Red-necked Phalarope

Phalaropus lobatusLC

A rare passage migrant in June and July, occasionally stopping at coastal pools and inland scrapes on its Arctic migration.

Jun–Jul

Red-throated Loon

Gavia stellataLC

Rare non-breeding visitor to coastal waters, most often seen offshore from autumn through early spring during seawatching sessions.