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

97 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)37 families represented18 year-round residents

Showing 47–69 of 97 species

Lapland Longspur

Calcarius lapponicusLC

A rare passage visitor, occasionally seen on the coast in February and October, favouring stubble fields and saltmarsh near Gibraltar Point.

Oct–Feb

Lesser Yellowlegs

Tringa flavipesVU

A rare Nearctic vagrant, with long-staying individuals occasionally found on freshwater scrapes and marshes across the county.

Sep–Jul

Little Auk

Alle alleLC

A rare late-autumn visitor, occasionally driven onshore along the Lincolnshire coast by strong North Sea gales in November and December.

Nov–Dec

Little Gull

Hydrocoloeus minutusLC

A rare breeder at select wetland sites, this dainty gull is most visible during passage in spring and autumn over inland pools.

Apr–Nov

Little Owl

Athene noctuaLC

A rare but endearing resident of farmland and old buildings. Declining nationally, but still found in parts of the Wolds and fens.

Oct–Aug

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-billed Dowitcher

Limnodromus scolopaceusNT

A rare Nearctic wader on passage from July to October, occasionally lingering at coastal pools and freshwater scrapes.

Jul–Oct

Long-eared Owl

Asio otusLC

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

Nov–Mar

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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

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

Pacific Golden-Plover

Pluvialis fulvaLC

A rare passage vagrant, occasionally turning up on coastal marshes in July and August. Easily confused with European Golden-Plover.

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.