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Great Northern Diver > common winter visitor to Portland Harbour A stormy autumn and early winter produced up to four birds sheltering in the harbour and Weymouth Bay. The last bird of the spring was seen on the very late date of May 6th and the first bird of the winter was early, on November 21st. Black-throated Diver regular winter visitor to Portland Harbour The only record this year were two birds in early January. A distant bird on March 14th may have been of this species. Red-throated Diver occasional winter visitor to Portland Harbour A distant bird on December 26th may have been of this species. Little Grebe common winter visitor to Portland Harbour At Small Mouth a few up to mid-March but not seen at all at the end of the year. Slavonian Grebe common winter visitor to Portland Harbour Several off Sandsfoot and Underbarn up to early March with a maximum count of five on February 28th. None at the end of the year. Black-necked Grebe common winter visitor to Portland Harbour Up to 20 through January/February with the last ones seen on March 14th. The first two returning birds were seen on November 10th, after which there were only sporadic sightings of up to three birds. Great Crested Grebe common winter visitor to Portland Harbour Up to 25 were present through January - March. Small numbers were seen again from mid October. Cormorant common in Portland Harbour all year Present in the harbour all year and also seen flying over the Weymouth end of the trail. Shag common winter visitor to Portland Harbour Up to ten in the harbour from November - February. Brent Goose common winter visitor to Portland Harbour A flock of fifty birds often seen feeding on the Eelgrass beds off Sandsfoot Castle in the first three months of the year, with a pale-bellied bird there in early January. Eider occasional winter visitor to Portland Harbour Up to three females and a young male were seen on several dates in January, usually off Smallmouth. Red-breasted Merganser common winter visitor to Portland Harbour A very high count of 150 was made in late January, but only 20 or so present at the end of the year, from October 25th. Sparrowhawk commonly seen, perhaps 1 pair breeding Just a handful of records scattered through the year, including a calling bird on March 7th and a sighting in June that once again suggest that they could be breeding in the Rodwell area. Peregrine regular visitor Just two sightings this year, one on March 14th and an intriguing record on July 30th when an adult female was seen hunting noisily low over Asda's roof, suggesting a breeding pair in the Weymouth area somewhere. Buzzard commonly seen, perhaps 1 pair breeding nearby Only a very few sightings this year, in spite of the fact that a pair probably bred at Underbarn. Four soaring together on April 4th were most likely migrants. Osprey rare passage migrant, one previous record A remarkable April with one on April 4th and another on April 7th, both flying north-east over Newstead Road. Oystercatcher regularly seen in Portland Harbour all year Very occasionally seen between Sandsfoot and Small Mouth with a maximum count of ten on September 30th. Black-headed Gull commonly seen around the trail Commonly seen from all points of the trail from August to April, although often outnumbered by Med gulls in the winter. Mediterranean Gull > Present from late July - March, but in small numbers this year. Herring Gull > common breeding bird around the trail Common throughout the year and seen from all points of the trail. Great Black-backed Gull common resident in Portland Harbour Usually 1 or 2 off Sandsfoot and also seen in flight from most parts of the trail. Common Tern > common summer visitor to Portland Harbour Seen on May 6th but not again as the Lodmoor colony failed again. Sandwich Tern > common summer visitor to Portland Harbour A few records from late March to September 30th. Razorbill regular winter visitor to Portland Harbour A few records from November to January. Wood Pigeon common breeding bird on the trail Common in all parts of the trail apart from the far south. Several hundred flying north, then returning south, on November 21st. Stock Dove not seen since 1980 A bird was singing in trees at Wyke Road Tunnel on September 9th and 12th, the first record since I photographed one here on May 5th 1980! Collared Dove common breeding bird on the trail Commonly seen only in the far north this year. Tawny Owl probably a regular visitor to the trail, breeds nearby At least two birds, probably youngsters, were heard at the northern end of the trail on September 5th. Swift common breeding bird around the trail Common over the northern end of the trail from May to August. Great Spotted Woodpecker regularly seen or heard, perhaps 1 pair breeding A bird was heard drumming at Rodwell Halt on March 7th and another bird was heard calling there on December 26th. Swallow regular spring and autumn passage migrant, occasional breeder Rarely seen this year except flying over on passage, which was most evident on September 9th. House Martin common breeding bird around the trail Common only in the Newstead Road area, where the first bird was seen on April 15th. Young birds were seen from the first week of July. Tree Pipit scarce passage migrant One over Sandsfoot on September 1st. Meadow Pipit common winter visitor and passage migrant Only seen on passage in April. Rock Pipit common winter visitor to Portland Harbour A few birds at Smallmouth in November. Grey Wagtail common winter visitor One or two in Rodwell Cutting most days from November to March. Migrants were seen or heard flying over on a couple of dates in September. Pied Wagtail once common around the trail, now scarce Just a handful of sightings around the northern end. Wren common breeding bird , approx. 10 - 20 pairs Common throughout the trail and in song all year. Dunnock > common breeding bird , approx. 10 - 20 pairs Common everywhere, in song from late November onwards. Robin common breeding bird, approx. 10 pairs Common throughout the trail. Stonechat previously common, now a rare visitor Just two records, both at the southern end and at the beginning and end of the year. Blackbird common breeding bird , approx. 10 pairs Less common this year. Song Thrush common breeding bird , approx. 5 pairs Heard singing occasionally in winter and spring. Redwing regular autumn and winter visitor Only heard in early December. Reed Warbler rare passage migrant, one previous record One singing in Downclose Cutting on May 11th. Whitethroat regular summer visitor, previously bred A single sighting on May 6th. Blackcap common passage and winter visitor, previously bred Several wintering birds were in residence at the northern end from January to early March. Birds were heard calling on a couple of dates in August and September but it looks like the species did not breed on the trail this year. Autumn migration noted on November 10th when six birds were seen. Chiffchaff common summer and winter visitor, previously bred A scattering of sightings from March 14th to November. Willow Warbler common passage migrant Seen occasionally from April 7th to mid-September. Goldcrest regular visitor, may breed Just one record in January but then from September 12th through to the end of the year seen frequently. Firecrest occasional winter visitor Probably the same bird seen twice in November just south of Buxton Road. Long-tailed Tit common resident, approx. 5 pairs Common all through the year from Newstead Road to Downclose, with a flock of 20 seen in December. Coal Tit common resident, approx. 1 pair breeding Heard singing or calling around Buxton Road throughout the year. Blue Tit > common resident, approx. 5 - 10 pairs Common throughout the trail. Great Tit common resident, approx. 5 - 10 pairs Common throughout the trail. Treecreeper occasional visitor, previously bred A bird seen in Rodwell Cutting on March 7th was the first for four years. Golden Oriole not previously recorded A bird flew south along the trail at Downclose on May 11th. Magpie common resident, approx. 2 - 3 pairs Possibly not as common this year. Carrion Crow common resident, approx. 5 - 10 pairs Common throughout the trail. Jackdaw > common resident Can be seen flying over any part of the trail, especially around Newstead Road. Rook previously common visitor Only one or two flight records this year. Raven regular visitor A couple of records in January only. Starling common resident Up to 50 often seen on rooftops mainly around Newstead Road. House Sparrow > common resident Common throughout the trail. Chaffinch > common resident Much less common this year, mostly seen around Downclose. Brambling very rare winter visitor Two birds were at the extreme northern end of the trail on November 1st. Greenfinch common resident Very scarce this year. Goldfinch > common resident Often seen throughout the trail. Linnet common summer visitor, previously bred Just a very few sightings around Downclose Cutting. Siskin regular autumn passage migrant Several records in September with a group settled in a tree on the 9th. Lesser Redpoll scarce autumn passage migrant Heard twice in late September. Notable absentees this year: Green Woodpecker, Cetti's Warbler, Dartford Warbler, Black Redstart, Bullfinch |