Rare Birds in Lincolnshire
86 species matching this filter.
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.
Showing 70–86 of 86 species
Short-eared Owl
Asio flammeusLC
A rare resident, hunting over coastal marshes and fenland. Winter numbers are boosted by continental birds at sites like the Wash.
Year-round
Smew
Mergellus albellusLC
A scarce winter visitor from northern Europe, occasionally found on sheltered lakes and reservoirs from December to March.
Dec–Mar
Snow Bunting
Plectrophenax nivalisLC
A rare non-breeding visitor to the coast, with small groups sometimes found on shingle beaches and saltmarshes near Gibraltar Point in winter.
Oct–Feb
Snow Goose
Anser caerulescensLC
A rare passage visitor, with occasional records in January. Often of uncertain origin, sometimes associating with wild goose flocks on the Wash.
Jan
Spotted Flycatcher
Muscicapa striataLC
A rare and declining summer breeder, arriving in May. Favours woodland edges and mature gardens where it sallies out from perches to catch insects.
May–Sep
Tawny Owl
Strix alucoLC
A rare resident of mature woodland and parkland, more often heard than seen. Lincolnshire's limited tree cover restricts numbers.
Year-round
Temminck's Stint
Calidris temminckiiLC
A rare passage migrant, briefly visiting freshwater scrapes in May and August. Easily overlooked among flocks of Little Stints and Dunlin.
May–Aug
Tree Pipit
Anthus trivialisLC
A rare passage migrant through Lincolnshire, occasionally noted at coastal scrub and woodland edges in May, June and September.
May–Sep
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Tundra Bean Goose
Anser serrirostrisLC
A rare midwinter visitor, occasionally found among other goose flocks on fenland fields and coastal marshes.
Dec–Feb
Tundra Swan
Cygnus columbianusLC
A rare winter visitor to the Fens and Wash, sometimes found among Whooper Swan herds on flooded fields from December to February.
Dec–Feb
Twite
Linaria flavirostrisLC
A rare winter visitor, with small flocks occasionally found on coastal saltmarshes and stubble fields along the Wash from October to March.
Oct–Mar
Velvet Scoter
Melanitta fuscaVU
A rare passage visitor in late autumn, occasionally seen offshore along the Lincolnshire coast among Common Scoter flocks.
Oct–Dec
Water Pipit
Anthus spinolettaLC
A rare winter visitor found at freshwater marshes and watercress beds, mainly along the coast and fenland fringes from October to March.
Oct–Mar
Willow Tit
Poecile montanusLC
A rare and declining visitor to Lincolnshire's scrubby woodland edges, mostly seen outside the breeding season. One of the UK's fastest-declining species.
Aug–Apr
Woodlark
Lullula arboreaLC
A rare spring passage migrant, occasionally noted on heathland edges and open ground between March and May.
Mar–May
Yellow-browed Warbler
Phylloscopus inornatusLC
A rare autumn passage migrant from Siberia, occasionally turning up along the coast at sites like Gibraltar Point in September and October.
Sep–Oct
Yellow-legged Gull
Larus michahellisLC
A rare breeder, occasionally found among large gull flocks at reservoirs and coastal sites from late winter through autumn.
Jul–Sep