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Lincolnshire

Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus ©Graham Catley Website

Lincolnshire recording area is the same as the ceremonial county (areas 53 & 54 in the Watsonian system) in east central England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and East Yorkshire to the north. It also borders Northamptonshire in the south for just 19m (20 yards), England’s shortest county boundary. The county is predominantly rural, with an area just under 7,000 km2 (c.2,700 square miles) and a population of just over one million people. The county town is Lincoln, and is the most populous with Grimsby and Scunthorpe not far behind.

Lincolnshire is the second-largest ceremonial county and has a varied geography, including the rolling chalk hills of the Lincolnshire Wolds AONB, the wetlands of the Lincolnshire Fens that dominate the southeast quarter of the county, the Lincoln Cliff escarpment, and the Lincolnshire Marsh; saltmarsh running along the coast. Lincolnshire is divided up by many rivers and rolling countryside. The highest point in Lincolnshire is Wolds Top (168m, 551ft), at Normanby le Wold and some parts of the Fens may be below sea level.

The north of the county begins from where the Isle of Axholme is located near the meeting points of the rivers Ouse and Trent near to the Humber. From there, it goes south to the Wash and Norfolk. The coast at Boston becomes the meeting point of the rivers Welland and Haven in an area known as the ‘Fosdyke Wash’. The rest of the sea boundary runs from Fosdyke to the east of Sutton Bridge, where the current land boundary with Norfolk is located in a narrow area of reclaimed farmland just to the east of the River Nene but until as recently as the early 19th century there was no land border between Lincolnshire and Norfolk as it was separated by the ‘Cross Keys Wash’ a former area of estuary and marshland where the River Nene used to flow out into the Wash and could only be crossed at low tide by a causeway and was the natural boundary between the two counties.

Lincolnshire has long been a primarily agricultural area, and it continues to grow large amounts of wheat, barley, sugar beet, and oilseed rape. In south Lincolnshire, where the soil is particularly rich in nutrients, some of the most common crops include potatoes, cabbages, cauliflowers, and onions. Lincolnshire farmers often break world records for crop yields.

Birding Lincolnshire

Nature tourism has become an important part of the economy. Lincolnshire’s most well-known nature reserves include Gibraltar Point National Nature Reserve (NNR), Whisby Nature Park Local Nature Reserve (Lincoln), Donna Nook NNR, Anderby Marshes Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust (LWT) reserve (Anderby Creek) and adjoining Chapel Six marshes, Wolla Bank Pit and Chapel Pit LWT reserves, whilst Huttoft car terrace is one of the county’s best sea-watching sites. Alkborough Flats on the Humber has also sprung to prominence in recent years as an excellent wetland reserve, having been instituted as part of flood amelioration in 2006. The Humberhead Peatlands is another NNR, also in the extreme north of the county (the closest towns being Goole, Doncaster, Thorne, and Scunthorpe). Although the Lincolnshire countryside is intensively farmed, there are many inland wooded areas including rare limewood woodlands. Many of these are managed by the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust and full details can be found on their website.

Barton Pits ©Graham Catley

Lincolnshire is a very big county and ornithologically it is over shadowed by Yorkshire to the North and Norfolk to the South East. However, time spent birding in Lincolnshire can be very rewarding. Flanked by two major estuaries, the Humber, and the Wash, which provide vast mudflats for migrating waders and over-wintering wildfowl, these two estuary dominate the coastal birding. These two areas are separated by Donna Nook, Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR and Gibraltar Point with an increasing number of smaller coastal grazing marshes looking to link these sites right down the coast.

Much of the county was once wet fenland  and, in the south, the RSPB reserves at Frampton Marsh and Freiston Shore have become well known, especially for shore birds and the mouth of river Witham is a decent sea-watching spot in the right conditions. The Frampton reserve recorded Kentish Plover and Semipalmated Sandpiper in 2023, taking the reserves shorebird list to 50. Nearby Freiston Shore also has Greater Yellowlegs and Marsh Sandpiper on its list, bringing the combined RSPB Lincolnshire Wash reserves total to 52, astounding. Between them, the two reserves have recorded more than 280 species. The popular and long-staying White-tailed Lapwing, which was at Blacktoft Sand RSPB reserve (Yorks.) Aug-Dec 2021, arrived in the county on December 31st at East Halton marshes on the Humber, staying until March 2022 before being relocated at Frampton Marsh March-April, disappearing to Norfolk but the returning to the county May 26th-28th at Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR, a remarkable wanderer! The reserves news is posted daily on X/Twitter.

Deeping Lakes LWT and Willowtree Fen LWT reserves in the Spalding/Market Deeping area are relative newcomers but well worth visiting. Common Cranes bred at Willowtree Fen in 2020, the first to do so in the county for more than 400 years, and given the numbers present in nearby Norfolk and Cambridgeshire,  they look set to breed at other sites in the county. Deeping Lakes has become well-known nationally for it’s Long-eared Owl  roost as well as well as for being a good inland migration spot, which included the county’s first inland Red-flanked Bluetail record in late November 2022. Baston and Langtoft Gravel Pits are also good inland migrant spots with roughly 220 species recorded there including Wryneck, Hoopoe, Pomarine Skua, Gannet, Black-throated Diver, Red-necked Grebe and in 2022, the county’s 9th record of Gull-billed Tern.

Gibraltar Point is the county’s longest established NNR The geography of the area, at the northern mouth of The Wash, makes the reserve very popular with migrant birds and many nationally rare species have been recorded. It became the first Local Nature Reserve to be established under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act of 1949. A total of around 340 bird species have been recorded at the site as of 2023 (46 shorebird species), the highest such total for any site in Lincolnshire. Recently, these have included Broad-billed Sandpiper, Black-winged Pratincole and Great Reed Warbler in 2014, and in 2015 Black Stork, Pallid Harrier, Caspian Tern, Red-flanked Bluetail and Rustic Bunting during 2015. A reserve blog is updated daily on Gibraltar Point Observatory BLOG

Alkborough Flats is closely behind Frampton/Frieston RSPB reserves in terms of its importance for migrating shorebirds and has notched up around 45 species there in the 16 years during which records have been kept. Notable absentees to date include Black-winged Stilt, American Golden Plover, and Purple Sandpiper, so it will surely break the 50 species of shorebird barrier very soon. In 2023, 166 species were recorded there, including four new to the reserve – Bluethroat, Hoopoe, Little Swift and Marsh Warbler – and there were exceptional influxes of Glossy Ibis and Cattle Egret (the latter species bred for the first time in Lincolnshire in 2022 elsewhere in the north of the county). The vast reed beds there are home to some important county breeding species: Marsh Harriers are regular and 2023 saw new records set for booming Bitterns, breeding Water Rails and Bearded Tits. Rare shorebirds are ‘regular’ and in July 2022 a Stilt Sandpiper in summer plumage was found there, the 4th county record. Elsewhere on the Humber, Far Ings NR near Barton upon Humber is centred on clay pits with extensive reed beds which also hold Bittern and Bearded Tits. Messingham Sand Quarry lies to the east of the B1400 Messingham-Kirton road has a series of rush-fringed lagoons and also boasts woodland, grassland, and marsh. Waterfowl of all kinds can be found here, including a Ring-necked Duck in 2023 as well as Lincolnshire’s only Green Heron in September 2001. Anywhere along the Humber bank is worth a look for waders and wildfowl.

Seawatching sites along the coast between Sutton on Sea and Gibraltar Point is worth a look Aug-Nov with all four skua species regularly encountered (notwithstanding the dire effects of avian ‘flu on the skua population) with Leach’s Petrel, Sabine’s Gull, and Little Auk mostly annual. Common Scoter flocks are present anywhere along the coast and in The Wash and often have the scarcer Velvet Scoter among them and occasionally Long-tailed Duck. The South Lincolnshire RSPB Local Group run regular boat trips into The Wash from Boston and the programme is posted on their Facebook Page.

Covenham Reservoir, the largest in the county, is north of Louth and holds a good head of wintering waterfowl and can be good for migrants in spring and autumn such as all three scarcer grebe species, divers, terns and waders. Park in the car-park on the north side, full details on the Grimsby Area RSPB Group, access all year. The walk around the reservoir is about 2.5 miles.

Inland the birding is influenced by the river valleys of the Trent and Witham, with the occasion reservoir providing areas of birding note. The low rolling chalk hills of the central Wolds providing vast areas of farmland, and ecologically are very interesting as there are few hills elsewhere in the county excepting the Kesteven Uplands, comprising rolling limestone hills, in the south west. Corn Buntings and Quail are regular. Bird news in the county is posted daily on the Lincolnshire Bird Club’s Website.

Top Sites

  • Barton Claypits

    InformationSatellite View
    Old clay pits in the shadow of the Humber Bridge, on the edge of the Humber estuary attract wintering wildfowl, but reed beds can support wintering Bittern and Bearded Tit. LTNC own several of these pits.

  • Cleethorpes Coast Local Nature Reserve

    Satellite View
    This is an excellent all-round under watched site with a good variety of habitat. The area runs from Cleethorpes Leisure Centre (TA 315 080) south for one mile to Buck Beck Outfall (TA 326 068). A strip of buckthorn runs the length flanked by salt marsh, mudflat and an outer sandbank known as the roost ridge, this is quite spectacular (winter) on the bigger tides with thousands of Knot, Golden and Grey Plover, Bar tailed Godwit, Sanderling, Dunlin etc swelled by numbers from Spurn bight across the river and other feeding areas around the estuary. Do not attempt to walk out to this ridge on spring tides unless you want a ride in the inshore lifeboat! With all this food available Peregrine has become almost routine in winter with Merlin usually present. To the rear lies the boating lake, Phalaropes, Bewicks Swan and Merganser among birds recorded here. Toilets and refreshments are available here at the Discovery Centre, (open year round). The pumping station (TA 322 072); surrounded by mature trees/bushes can be productive in favourable conditions spring/autumn; Yellow browed Warbler, Firecrest and Red breasted Flycatcher have been seen here. Behind the free car park at buck beck outfall lies the area known as the old tip, again plenty of trees/bushes to investigate, Red backed and Great grey Shrike recorded here. At the back flows Buck Beck, a pleasant walk in itself, (Black bellied Dipper 1967). The site is best worked by parking at the free car park at Buck Beck Outfall and walking north along the tarmac walk/cycleway to the Leisure Centre and returning via the beach between the buckthorn and greenmarsh. Among the sites notable rarities are Lesser Yellowlegs and Gull-billed Tern, anything can turn up here.

  • Cleethorpes Country Park

    WebpageSatellite View
    Occasionally this site turns up some really interesting birds. The site has a ranger/warden, but often there are more fishermen than birds on the lake. Always worth a look.

  • Covenham Reservoir

    InformationSatellite View
    A huge concrete sided bath tub. Never has such a bird unfriendly habit been constructed, yet the site always attracts sea ducks, gulls, divers, grebes and wildfowl. Everything always seems a very long way off, yet the site has hosted an impressive list of rarities.

  • Deeping Lakes

    WebpageMap
    A number of flooded gravel pits noted for their abundance of wildfowl and waterbird communities.

  • Donna Nook

    InformationSatellite View
    Donna Nook is a National Nature Reserve managed by Lincolnshire Wildlife Triust. It covers more than 10 km (6.25 miles) of coastline between Grainthorpe Haven in the north and Saltfleet in the south where it borders the Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe National Nature Reserve.

  • Far Ings National Nature Reserve

    InformationSatellite View
    There's always something to see or hear when looking out over the reedbeds of Far Ings, whether it's the sound of the reeds as they sway in a gentle breeze, the song of hidden warblers or bearded tits, the eerie boom of a bittern, or a marsh harrier drifting over then disappearing into the reedbed.

  • Frampton Marsh

    WebpageSatellite View
    is a RSPB reserve with Kirton Marsh (TF351358) adjoining it. Past rarities have included Lesser Grey and Woodchat Shrike, Little Egret. Winter Harrier Roost.

  • Freiston Shore

    InformationSatellite View
    Freiston Shore is managed by the RSPB. There you can get excellent views of waterbirds on the salt water lagoon, especially at high tide when wading birds roost, sometimes in their thousands.

  • Gedney Drove End and Terrington Marsh

    InformationSatellite View
    both form part of The Wash National Nature Reserve. All sites hold large numbers of shorebirds and wildfowl in winter.

  • Gibraltar Point

    WebpageSatellite View
    (Located 2/3 kms south of Skegness) One of Lincolnshire's top migration watch points can always turn up something. Vast mud flats attract large numbers of wintering wildfowl and waders. Recent years has seen a significant number of wintering Shorelarks.

  • Holbeach Marsh

    InformationSatellite View
    all 3 Harriers seen also Short-eared Owl, rarer waders seen include Spotted Sandpiper, Sharp-tailed Sand and Long-billed Dowitcher.

  • Kirkby on Bain Gravel Pits

    InformationSatellite View
    This reserve is an excellent bird-watching site. In spring and summer the shallow water, with its numerous spits and islands, suits many breeding birds.

  • Messingham Sand Quarry

    InformationSatellite View
    A series of lagoons created by the extraction of sand.

  • Snipe Dales Country Park & Nature Reserve

    WebpageSatellite View
    Snipe Dales is one of the few semi-natural wet valley systems still surviving in Lincolnshire. It is an area of two halves with mixed woodland in the Country Park and wet valleys, grassland and scrub in the nature reserve. This diversity supports a wide range of birds and other wildlife including butterflies and dragonflies. The attractive valleys of Snipe Dales, fretted by streams, offer wonderful views of the southern Lincolnshire Wolds.

  • Tetney Marshes RSPB

    WebpageSatellite View
    Tetney Marshes covers over 1,500 hectares of coastal mudflats, salt marsh, dunes and saline lagoons on the north Lincolnshire coast. The reserve forms an important part of the Humber estuary, which is one of the top five estuaries for birds in the UK, with at least 175,000 birds using the estuary during the winter months…

  • The Wash

    InformationSatellite View
    Vast area of mud flats and tidal creeks, best viewed from Witham Mouth, Butterwick, Wrangle and Friskney. Birds can sometimes be along way off.

  • Toft Newton Reservoir

    InformationSatellite View
    Good site for Gulls and Wildfowl.

  • Whisby Nature Park

    InformationSatellite View
    Whisby Nature Park is managed by Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust. It is a beautiful landscape near Lincoln, full of wildlife, walks and trails. Once barren and lifeless, this amazing place now abounds with wildlife. The park was created by quarrying for sand and gravel, but nature has been encouraged to reclaim the pits and bare sand, creating habitats for many species.

  • Willow Tree Fen

    WebpageSatellite View
    Willow Tree Fen has been transformed from arable land growing beans and cereal to a more traditional fenland landscape of shallow meres, seasonally flooded pastures, hay meadows and reedbeds. At one-time the south Lincolnshire fens were a wilderness landscape. However, very little of this wild fenland now remains. Occupying an area of 274 acres, the most significant remaining fragments of wild fenland are Baston Fen and Thurlby Fen Slipe nature reserves. Whilst these two reserves are important for the protection of rare and threatened species of wetland flora and fauna, they are too small to support some of the larger fenland birds and animals, and possibly too small to cope with a changing climate.

  • Woodhall Spa Airfield Nature Reserve

    WebpageSatellite View
    Woodhall Spa Airfield was formerly the home of four brave RAF squadrons, including 617 ‘the Dambusters’ Squadron, but more recently was used as a sand and gravel quarry. As a nature reserve it is a haven for wildlife as well as a place where visitors can share in the unique and peaceful atmosphere of this former airfield.
Contributors
County Recorder
Number of Species

  • Number of bird species: 408

    County Bird - Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Checklist

  • Lincolnshire Bird Checklist

    Checklist PDF
    Download the latest Lincolnshire Bird Checklist (excel format).
Useful Reading

  • Birds of Lincolnshire

    | By Colin Casey, John R Clarkson, Phil Espin & Phil A Hyde | Lincolnshire Bird Club | 2021 | Hardback | 240 pages, colour photos, colour illustrations, colour distribution maps, colour tables | ISBN: 9780953825721 Buy this book from NHBS.com

  • Where to Watch Birds in the East Midlands

    | By Rob Fray | Christopher Helm | 2006 | Paperback | 320 pages, 33 line illustrations, 62 maps | Out of Print | ISBN: 9780713675306 Buy this book from NHBS.com
Observatories

  • Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory

    Observatory WebsiteSatellite View
    Warden: Kevin Wilson, Gibraltar Point Field Station, Skegness, Lincs PE24 4SU. 01754 898079 lincstrust@gibpoint.freeserve.co.uk For further information regarding the Reserve and its wildlife, please contact Kevin Wilson mailto:kwilson@lincstrust.co.uk
Museums & Universities

  • University of Hull - Ecology and Environment

    Course
    A hands-on degree that develops your knowledge of the diversity and complexity of the natural world.
Organisations

  • Friends Of Far Ings National Nature Reserve

    Facebook Page
    This facebook page is run by members of the Far Ings nature reserve bird study group. The page aims are to promote the Far Ings bird study group, the Linconshire Wildlife Tust, and the Far Ings Nature Reserve and its Wildlife.

  • Lincolnshire Bird Club

    Website
    The Lincolnshire Bird Club (LBC) aims to promote an interest in birds in Lincolnshire. We are a friendly group for anybody interested in wild birds, living in, or visiting, Lincolnshire, irrespective of their level of knowledge, experience or skill. Membership is open to everyone from experts to beginners. Members receive a monthly eNewsletter, the Annual Report and FULL access to the website; including Forum, Archive and Sites Guides as well as the groups WhatsApp News Group.

  • Lincolnshire Birding

    Facebook Page
    Lincolnshire Bird Information in association with the Lincolnshire Bird Club.

  • Lincolnshire Naturalists Union

    Website
    The LNU is the only amateur Natural History Society covering the whole of Lincolnshire. Members study, record, hold meetings, supply information, publish books, exhibit, discuss and learn.

  • Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust

    Website
    Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust is a voluntary charitable organisation which cares for Lincolnshire's wildlife and countryside. It is one of 47 similar Wildlife Trusts covering the UK which are affiliated to the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts. Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust is one of the oldest of these county trusts, having been founded in 1948. The Trust covers the whole of the historic county of Lincolnshire - from the Humber to the Wash.

  • RSPB Boston Wildlife Explorers

    Webpage
    At Wildlife Explorers we aim to give children and young people a place to explore, learn and understand wildlife and nature. We meet on the second Saturday of the month at Freiston Shore Nature Reserve at 9.45am with a full morning of activities, talks and crafts.

  • RSPB Grimsby Local Group

    Webpage
    The group's aim is to introduce new members to the RSPB and raise money to help our local nature reserves. We have our main indoor meetings on the third Monday of each month September through to June. The group also run outdoor day trips to reserves.

  • RSPB Lincoln Local Group

    Website
    The Group is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024. We have a programme of indoor and outdoor events for everyone interested in nature and you are always assured of a warm welcome so why not come and join us.

  • RSPB South Lincolnshire Local Group

    Webpage
    This is the website of the South Lincolnshire Local Group. RSPB local groups are a great way to meet friendly, like-minded people in your area while learning more about birds and wildlife. Please contact us if you would be interested in joining our Group {more information below}.
Reserves

Abbreviations Key

  • *Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Reserves

    InformationSatellite View

  • CP Cleethorpes Country Park

    WebpageSatellite View
    This 160-acre park was once open farmland and is now a local nature reserve.

  • CP Waters’ Edge Country Park and Visitor Centre

    InformationSatellite View
    North Lincolnshire Council has adopted the Waters Edge Visitor Centre as the communication and transmission hub for the region wide "Wildlife Surveillance Network"…

  • LNR Baston Fen Nature Reserve

    WebpageSatellite View
    The various gravel workings between Langtoft and Baston, north of Peterborough have left numerous pits in varying stages of natural regeneration. These pits, and their surrounding habitats, provide good general birding with plenty of year round interest…

  • LNR Deepings Lakes

    Information PDFMap
    The Deepings Pits comprise two old ballast pits which were dug for material for the construction of the railway which runs between them. They are The Mere and Dandridge`s Pit. Both are private and very difficult to work. The Mere can be viewed from the track which runs alongside the River Welland where, especially in the spring, excellent views can be had of the breeding herons and cormorants. The woodland area alongside the track is also excellent for general woodland species with woodpeckers, treecreepers, tits, etc

  • LNR Hopland's Wood

    WebpageSatellite View
    There is a varied bird population including woodcock, tawny owl, treecreeper, great spotted woodpecker, spotted flycatcher and nuthatch, as well as six species of summer warbler. Barn owls occasionally hunt in the rides.

  • LNR Legbourne Wood

    WebpageSatellite View
    Legbourne Wood is one of the largest ancient woods in eastern Lincolnshire and one of the Trusts largest wooded reserves.

  • LNR Snipe Dales Country Park & Nature Reserve

    WebpageSatellite View
    The attractive valleys of Snipe Dales, fretted by streams, offer wonderful views of the southern Lincolnshire Wolds. Snipe Dales is one of the few semi-natural wet valley systems still surviving in Lincolnshire. It is an area of two halves with mixed woodland in the Country Park and wet valleys, grassland and scrub in the nature reserve. This diversity supports a wide range of birds and other wildlife including butterflies and dragonflies.

  • NNR Bardney Limewoods

    InformationSatellite View
    The woods are the most important examples of small-leaved lime woodland in Britain. They cover a wide range of soil and drainage conditions, resulting in a varied ground flora and range of different tree and shrub communities.

  • NNR Donna Nook National Nature Reserve

    WebpageSatellite View
    Donna Nook National Nature Reserve covers more than 10 km (6.25 miles) of coastline between Grainthorpe Haven in the north and Saltfleet in the south where it borders the Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe National Nature Reserve.

  • NNR Far Ings National Nature Reserve

    WebpageSatellite View
    There's always something to see or hear when looking out over the reedbeds of Far Ings, whether it's the sound of the reeds as they sway in a gentle breeze, the song of hidden warblers or bearded tits, the eerie boom of a bittern, or a marsh harrier drifting over then disappearing into the reedbed.

  • NNR Gibraltar Point National Nature Reserve

    WebpageSatellite View
    Gibraltar Point National Nature Reserve is an area of some 430 hectares comprising sandy and muddy seashores, sand-dunes, saltmarshes and freshwater habitats extending for a distance of about 3 miles along the Lincolnshire coast, from the southern end of Skegness to the entrance of the Wash. The Reserve is managed by the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust under a lease from its owners the Lincolnshire County Council and East Lindsey District Council. The primary function of the Reserve, which is recognised as an area of international scientific interest, is to conserve this unspoilt stretch of coastline and its important communities of plants and animals. Within the Reserve is the most extensive complex of sand-dunes and saltmarshes in Lincolnshire.

  • NNR The Wash National Nature Reserve

    WebpageSatellite View
    The Wash National Nature Reserve is the biggest reserve in England, covering over 8880 ha. It’s also the most important wetland site in the UK, with its vast mudflats and huge expanse of salt marsh supporting thousands of birds all year round. In winter, the Reserve attracts large numbers of wildfowl including pink-footed geese, brent geese and shelduck, while in the summer, waders and seabirds come here to breed. The Wash is also one of the best breeding areas in England for common seals.

  • NP Whisby Nature Park

    WebpageSatellite View
    Whisby Nature Park is a beautiful landscape near Lincoln, full of wildlife, walks and trails. Once barren and lifeless, this amazing place now abounds with wildlife. The park was created by quarrying for sand and gravel, but nature has reclaimed the pits and bare sand, creating habitats for many species.

  • RSPB Frampton Marsh

    WebpageSatellite View
    A major new extension to this coastal wetland reserve includes a reedbed, large freshwater scrapes and wet grassland. These habitats have all been created to bring the wildlife of the Wash closer to you.

  • RSPB Freiston Shore

    WebpageSatellite View
    At Freiston Shore you can get excellent views of waterbirds on the salt water lagoon, especially at high tide when wading birds roost, sometimes in their thousands.

  • RSPB Tetney Marshes

    WebpageSatellite View
    Tetney Marshes covers over 1,500 hectares of coastal mudflats, salt marsh, dunes and saline lagoons on the north Lincolnshire coast. The reserve forms an important part of the Humber estuary, which is one of the top five estuaries for birds in the UK, with at least 175,000 birds using the estuary during the winter months.
Sightings, News & Forums

  • Lincolnshire Birding

    Facebook Page
    Lincolnshire Bird Information in association with the Lincolnshire Bird Club.

  • Lincs Bird Club Forum

    Forum
    The LBC Forum. To register on this forum you must now be a member of the LBC - see Membership Page for details.If you would like to post an item, but ARE NOT a forum member please submit information using the Record Form: if suitable the information will be posted on the LBC Forum on your behalf.

  • Lincsbirders

    Forum
    Good news ! The Lincsbirders forum has been moved to the blog platform
Trip Reports

  • 2007 [04 April] - David & Amanda Mason - North Lincolnshire

    Report
    We visited Far Ings in the late afternoon on 12th and early morning on 13th April and searched in vain for a visiting drake Garganey. We also missed out on Bittern and Bearded Tit. In fact, species wise, the site was a little disappointing. We saw the occasional Snipe, Marsh Harrier, Tree Sparrow and Bullfinch, but with only 35 species overall from two visits, it just wasn't our day (or two!)…

  • 2019 [01 January] - James Kenny

    Report
    Lincolnshire was not our first choice for a birding trip on a cold Saturday in mid January. Instead, we had originally intended to venture 80 or so miles southwest to Gloucestershire and to the world famous Slimbridge Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) Reserve, home to up to 200 Bewick's Swans during the winter months. However, a change of plan resulted in us casting our eyes eastwards instead.

  • 2019 [02 February] - James Kenny

    Report
    Lincolnshire is fast becoming one of my favourite UK counties for birding, and two sites in particular have excelled in the sheer quality of birds on offer. On our previous visit, Paula and I had visited the RSPB reserve at Frampton Marsh, before moving onto Gibraltar Point near Skegness. This time however, we decided to take a trip to the coast first, before moving inland to Frampton.

  • 2022 [05 May] - Martin Kaye - Whisby and Langford Lowfields

    Report
    This was a very enjoyable excursion led again by Steve Slack. The weather was fine when we convened at Whisby Nature Park, an excellent site of Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust not least because of the fine café and facilities on arrival. Thirteen people arrived to enjoy what proved to be a fruitful day’s birding.

  • 2023 [05 May] - Stephan Lovell

    Report
    Springtime in Lincolnshire and beyond - 8th to 13th May 2023. With the weather forecast set to be on the variable side it wasn’t going to deter us from showing the best that Lincolnshire and beyond had to offer our prebooked guests on this trip.
Places to Stay

  • Beach House in Cleethorpes

    Accommodation
    Beach House is our beautiful self catering holiday home (sleeps up to 6 people – 3 bedrooms) right in the heart of Cleethorpes. It is located in a quiet residential street, just around the corner from Cleethorpes Beach. Private parking and gardens.

  • Cedar Park Cottages - Tetney

    Website
    North Lincolnshire Self Catering Holiday Cottages , Tetney, Lincolnshire DN36 5NG - Standing in 5 acres of landscaped gardens, including lawned areas, meadows and paddocks it is an ideal spot for the holiday maker who wants to be close to the coast and also enjoy the peace and tranquility of the Lincolnshire countryside

  • Seaside Lodge - Anderby Creek

    Accommodation
    Seaside Lodge is close to many nature reserves, with vibrant bird life. The private, lakeside garden at Seaside Lodge has an uninterupted view over the quiet fishing lake, so you won't even have to travel to enjoy a spot of birding! There are even binoculars and bird watching guides in the lodge for guests. Twitcher, birdwatcher or birder - whichever you prefer, Seaside Lodge is the perfect, scenic and cosy base from which to explore Lincolnshire's renowned birdwatching spots.
Other Links

  • Vine House Farm

    Website
    Our farm here in Deeping Fen is alive with wildlife, especially farmland birds. It is however down to the surveys that I have carried out over much of Deeping Fen. These surveys have shown me where the birds are and where they aren’t. There is one piece of habitat that stands out above all the rest in Deeping Fen - basically ponds and bushes so I have replicated that habitat five times on my farms.
Blogs

  • Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory Blog

    BLOG
    The Bird Observatory at Gibraltar Point National Nature Reserve is managed and run by The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust whilst the Observatory Ringing is carried out entirely by volunteers at Gibraltar Point. Ringing started at Gib in 1949 and has continued to this day with over 200,000 New birds ringed during that time by a huge number of both local and visiting ringers. As this site is being written and managed by the Observatory Ringing Group it's content is mainly concerned with the ringing on the reserve. (Although i (Mick Briggs) am working on an idea to update the blog more regularly with up to date sightings from the reserve) Check back regularly though and i shall endeavour to keep you entertained with our activities, above all, please enjoy our Observatory Blog!

  • Graham Catley - Pewit

    BLOG
    ornithological consultant, photographer, serious local patch birder. The blog mainly features photographs from North Lincolnshire and foreign trips-most photos taken with a Canon 1DIIN 1DIII and a Canon 500 f4.

  • Midmarsh Jottings

    BLOG
    A mainly pictorial record of the wildlife and events in my part of Lincolnshire. My garden has two bird nest boxes and a Hedgehog house fitted with video cameras. There are several bird feeders and a large pond attracting a variety of wildlife to the garden…

  • Simon & Karen Spavin

    BLOG
    Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire birders and photographers

  • South Lincolnshire Local Group

    BLOG

  • Will Bowell - Just Wild Images

    BLOG
    Welcome to William Bowell's photo blog. Here you will find my latest photos I have taken from around the UK, with occasional trips abroad also featuring here.
Photographers & Artists

  • Photographer - Dean Eades Wildlife Photography

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    Yorkshire born Dean Eades now lives in Lincolnshire, which is where he spends the majority of his time looking for the next great shot. He makes regular trips to the Norfolk and East Yorkshire coasts and loves Scotland, when he manages to get there! His life evolves around his love of birds, wildlife and photography. Dean is one of the administrators for the Lincolnshire Bird Club forum and provides the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust with many of his images. His work has appeared on BBC's Look North, ITV's Calendar and has been published in Birdwatch and Bird Watching magazines on several occasions…

  • Photographer - Graham Catley

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    Bird and sundry photography by Graham Catley - ornithological consultant, photographer, serious local patch birder

  • Photographer - Nick Clayton

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    Bird and other wildlife photos

  • Photographer - Roger Hatcliffe

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    Hello, and a very warm welcome to Lincsbirder.co.uk If you are interested in viewing high quality photographs of British birds then you have come to the right place. All the photographs shown on this site are taken by me, mostly but not exclusively in Lincolnshire. Please use the top or bottom navigation systems to view the photographs. The photographs are grouped as to the type of bird and are really self explanatory…

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