Bird report for 2018



Black-necked Grebe eating pipefish, Underbarn Beach, 14 January 2018



Great Northern Diver > common winter visitor to Portland Harbour
Most numerous at the start of the year with up to four being seen on several dates in January,and then occasional sightings up to mid-March. The first returning bird was seen on December 14th, after which two or three were about until the end of the year.

Black-throated Diver regular winter visitor to Portland Harbour
Several sightings of a single bird were made in January, but not actually from the trail. Two were off Downclose on December 8th.

Little Grebe common winter visitor to Portland Harbour
Not seen at Smallmouth this year, although common enough across the road in the Fleet.

Slavonian Grebe common winter visitor to Portland Harbour
Just one record of two birds off Downclose on December 8th.

Black-necked Grebe common winter visitor to Portland Harbour
Up to 16 through January/February with nine still present on April 6th. Summer-plumaged birds were seen from March 17th. The first returning birds were on November 2nd, slowly building up to a flock of twenty or so birds by late December.

Great Crested Grebe common winter visitor to Portland Harbour
The winter flock off Sandsfoot was smaller than usual with a maximum of only ten birds seen off Sandsfoot in January. The first bird of the winter was seen on November 5th, after which only a handful of birds were present.

Red-necked Grebe regular winter visitor to Portland Harbour
One off Castle Cove Sailing Club on January 4th.

Fulmar very rare, just one record
One flying over Smallmouth and along the Beach Road on May 24th brought the trail bird list up to 148 species since 2007. Gannet occasional visitor to Portland Harbour
Unusually a flock of up to ten or so birds built up in Weymouth Bay during the summer, with three of them in the harbour on August 2nd.

Cormorant common in Portland Harbour all year
Present in the harbour all year.

Shag common winter visitor to Portland Harbour
A few seen from late October - April, mostly from Smallmouth.

Little Egret regular visitor to Portland Harbour
Seen occasionally around Sandsfoot and Downclose.

Grey Heron regular visitor to Portland Harbour
Frequently seen flying across the harbour in winter.

Brent Goose common winter visitor to Portland Harbour
A very small number of records of birds flying through the harbour, mostly when first arriving in autumn.

Canada Goose rarely recorded, although common at Radipole
Two flew past Smallmouth on March 12th.

Shelduck rare visitor to Portland Harbour, possibly nesting on breakwaters
A pair flying around the centre of the harbour on May 15th may well indicate that they bred somewhere on the breakwaters this year. Four were seen flying near the Port on December 23rd.

Mallard regular visitor to Portland Harbour
Just one record this year of a drake in June.

Teal rare winter visitor to Portland Harbour
One with a Wigeon on September 30th.

Wigeon rare winter visitor to Portland Harbour
One with a Teal on September 30th.

Common Scoter rare winter visitor to Portland Harbour
A female was unusually close in at Smallmouth on 30th October.



Goosander regular visitor to Portland Harbour most winters
Just one sighting off Sandsfoot in early January.

Red-breasted Merganser common winter visitor to Portland Harbour
Up to 60 present from early Nov to mid April, a very similar situation to last year.

Eider regular winter visitor to Portland Harbour
A very smart adult drake off Sandsfoot on January 17th, but remained asleep!



Osprey scarce visitor
Two sightings this year, on April 11th at the northern and of the trail and on May 23rd at the other end.

Red Kite rare visitor
Superb views were had of a low-flying bird near Marsh Road on May 8th, during a week of sightings in the Weymouth area. A second was seen from Downclose on July 22nd flying distantly over the Wyke Regis transmitter. The second and third records of this species.

Buzzard less commonly seen than previously, perhaps 1 pair breeding nearby
Only a handful of sightings all year from the trail.

Sparrowhawk commonly seen, perhaps 1 pair breeding
A distinct increase in sightings this year, with a pair almost certainly breeding near Buxton Road.

Peregrine regular visitor
A handful of sightings from all along the trail throughout the year.

Kestrel once a regular visitor, now scarce
Several sightings this year, all during the summer and early autumn at the southern end of the trail.

Oystercatcher regularly seen in Portland Harbour all year
Mostly seen just off the trail at Sandsfoot and Underbarn.

Bar-tailed Godwit very rare, just one record
Four on the shore off Downclose in the snowy weather on March 2nd were the first for the trail.

Ringed Plover occasional visitor to Portland Harbour
A few at Smallmouth in snowy weather on March 1st and 2nd.

Lapwing rare winter visitor
One at Smallmouth in the snowy weather on March 2nd.

Golden Plover rare winter visitor
A few visible just south of the trail in the snowy weather on March 2nd.

Snipe very rare, just two records
One heard on November 18th above Old Castle Road was only the second record ever for the trail.

Common Sandpiper regular summer visitor to Portland Harbour
Just one record on April 23rd at the usual location below the Downclose Embankment. At the start and again at the very end of the year wintering birds could be seen just off the trail at Underbarn.

Dunlin occasional visitor to Portland Harbour
A few at Smallmouth in snowy weather on March 1st and 2nd.

Whimbrel occasional visitor to Portland Harbour
Four flew past Downclose on April 15th with another two at Smallmouth on the 23rd. A single bird was seen at Smallmouth on July 31st.

Curlew rare visitor to Portland Harbour
One seen at Smallmouth on June 22nd.

Black-headed Gull commonly seen around the trail
Usually a few around Castle Cove Sailing Club or flying across the harbour.

Mediterranean Gull > commonly seen around the trail
Regularly seen flying through the harbour during most of the year and over the northern end of the trail in the winter.

Mediterranean Gulls at Castle Cove, March 1st 2018


Common Gull occasional visitor to Portland Harbour
As always very few records in the harbour, with just a handful seen in early March.

Herring Gull > common breeding bird
Common throughout the year and seen from all points of the trail. A pair bred on a rooftop at the southern end of the trail, one of many pairs around the trail.

Lesser Black-backed Gull rare visitor to Portland Harbour
One at Smallmouth on June 22nd was the only one noted this year.

Yellow-legged Gull rarity, just one record
A juvenile at Smallmouth on July 31st was the 150th species seen on the trail since 2007.

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. WEBS counts revealed a fairly constant population of 60 - 70 birds on the breakwaters throug most the year, apart from very windy weather when they prefer Chesil Beach.

Little Gull rarity, just one record
A superb winter adult flying along the beach just north of Smallmouth on November 25th was the 151st species seen on the trail since 2007.

Common Tern > common summer visitor to Portland Harbour
First seen on April 15th then up to 40 feeding off Downclose through May and June.

Arctic Tern very rare visitor to Portland Harbour, just three records
One at Smallmouth on April 7th.

Sandwich Tern common summer visitor to Portland Harbour
First seen on April 2nd with a wintering bird present for a couple of weeks before. Then very good numbers in the harbour with flocks of up to 25 in April and 10 in September.

Little Tern regular summer visitor to Portland Harbour
Up to 10 feeding off Smallmouth in May.



Razorbill regular winter visitor to Portland Harbour
A handful of sightings in Portland Harbour at the start and end of the year.

Guillemot occasional winter visitor to Portland Harbour
One early winter record.

Cuckoo very rare migrant, just one record
An adult flew along Downclose Embankment on July 1st, the first record for the trail.

Wood Pigeon common breeding bird on the trail
Common in all parts of the trail. 800 flew over the trail in several large flocks on November 18th.

Stock Dove recently returned after 35 year absence
Seen and heard at Rodwell Halt in March and again in June, with a pair there on March 12th. Also seen at Downclose in August and Underbarn in May.

Collared Dove common breeding bird on the trail
Mostly recorded at the northern end this year, where several pairs breed.

Swift common breeding bird around the trail
Common over the northern end of the trail from May to August.

Green Woodpecker occasionally seen or heard
Frequently heard around the middle sections of the trail throughout the year.

Great Spotted Woodpecker regularly seen or heard, perhaps 1 pair breeding
Frequently seen and heard all along the trail with up to three at Rodwell Halt in January. Heard drumming there from January to April.

Swallow regular spring and autumn passage migrant, occasional breeder
Just a few sightings from April 7th onwards.

House Martin common breeding bird around the trail
Commonly seen only in the Newstead Road area.

Skylark occasional autumn passage migrant
A singing bird at Smallmouth on March 6th followed by a juvenile there on July 31st proved that this species bred very close to the trail this year. Autumn passage was noted on October 28th.

Woodlark rare winter visitor, just two records
A pair at the very southern end of Wyke Halt in the snowy weather on March 2nd.



Meadow Pipit increasingly scarce winter visitor and passage migrant
Hardly any sightings this year apart from one or two near Smallmouth early on.

Grey Wagtail common winter visitor
Apart from a few fly-over migrants in the autumn a tame bird was in Rodwell Cutting again this year on just a few dates in March and December.

Pied Wagtail increasingly scarce visitor
Passing birds seen on a couple of dates in April and July.

Wren common breeding bird , approx. 10 - 20 pairs
Common throughout the trail and in song all year.

Dunnock > common breeding bird, but fewer than previously
Common everywhere, particularly at the southern end. In song from mid December onwards, a month later than last year.

Robin common breeding bird, approx. 10 pairs
Common throughout the trail.

Stonechat recently returned as a breeding bird after at least ten years
A pair arrived in Wyke Cutting in May and remained all year. With young seen from July to September it is quite possible that they reared two broods.

Wheatear regular spring and autumn passage migrant
Seen on three dates in April and September only, all near Smallmouth.

Blackbird common breeding bird, approx. 10 pairs
Commonly seen throughout the year, with influxes noted in late September and early October. In song from February to the end of June.

Song Thrush common breeding bird , approx. 3 pairs
Two or three birds in song from the start of the year up to mid July, when young birds were first seen.

Fieldfare rare winter visitor
Apart from the cold weather influx on March 2nd there was just sighting, at the southern end of the trail on October 28th.

Redwing regular autumn and winter visitor
Apart from the cold weather influx on March 2nd there were just a few sightings in October and November.

Cetti's Warbler occasional winter visitor
On November 5th one was heard singing just north of Wyke Road.

Grasshopper Warbler very rare spring migrant, just two records
One singing in Downclose Cutting on April 18th.

Reed Warbler occasional spring migrant
Heard singing on several days in May and June in Downclose Cutting and above Marsh Road.

Sedge Warbler rare spring migrant, just four records
One singing at Downclose on May 16th.

Whitethroat regular summer visitor, sometimes breeds
Seen at Downclose throughout the summer from May 4th, with breeding strongly suspected at Wyke Halt.

Lesser Whitethroat before 2017 a rare passage migrant
For the second year a bird held territory at Wyke Halt through June and July, with a possible juvenile seen on August 30th.

Blackcap common passage and winter visitor, possibly breeds
Again no wintering birds this year but singing males heard throughout the summer and a few present up to the end of September.

Garden Warbler one previous record
One singing near Rodwell Halt on May 14th.

Chiffchaff common summer and winter visitor, previously bred
No wintering birds but heard singing right through the summer and autumn up to late November.

Willow Warbler common passage migrant
Commonly seen in spring and autumn.

Yellow-browed Warbler one previous record
One heard calling just north of Chickerell Road on October 28th.

Goldcrest regular visitor, may breed
Singing birds recorded on several days through the spring and summer with just one winter record on December 22nd.

Firecrest occasional winter visitor
Just one sighting in late January.

Long-tailed Tit common resident, may breed
Commonly seen throughout the year.

Coal Tit common resident, approx. 1 pair breeding
Heard singing or calling around the middle of the trail regularly 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
Only recorded on two dates in June this year, at Rodwell Halt as usual.

Jay occasional visitor
One sighting at Newstead Road on November 17th.

Magpie previously common resident, now less often seen
Mostly seen around Marsh Road, but far fewer sightings than last year.

Carrion Crow common resident, approx. 5 pairs
Common throughout the trail.

Jackdaw > common resident
Can be seen flying over any part of the trail, but especially at the extreme northern end.

Rook previously common visitor
Up to 15 on the Athletics Field in May and June.

Raven regular visitor
The young from the nesting site at Bincleaves were seen at the Sailing Club throughout May.

Starling common resident
Often seen on rooftops mainly around Newstead Road.

House Sparrow > common resident
Common throughout the trail, particularly at the two ends of the trail near Ilchester Road and Dover Road.

Chaffinch > common resident, previously bred
A few sightings of up to five or so birds, mostly October-December.

Siskin regular autumn passage migrant
Nine flew over Newstead Road on September 30th.

Greenfinch previously common resident
Seen throughout the year, mostly in the southern half of the trail.

Goldfinch > common resident
Commonly seen throughout the year.

Linnet common summer visitor, may be breeding
Singing birds recorded in Downclose Cutting throughout the summer.

Bullfinch regular winter visitor
A pair were seen in Wyke Cutting on several dates in January. Previously this species has been most often seen at the other end of the trail.

Crossbill rare passage migrant, one previous record
One above Old Castle Road on April 27th.