previous years:
2023 (88 sp)
2022 (90 sp)
2021 (91 sp)
2020 (103 sp)
2019 (94 sp)
2018 (108 sp)
2017 (94 sp)
2016 (76 sp)
2015 (75 sp)
yearly summaries:
2023 (88 sp)
2022 (90 sp)
2021 (91 sp)
2020 (103 sp)
2019 (94 sp)
2018 (108 sp)
2017 (94 sp)
2016 (76 sp)
2015 (75 sp)
2014 (75 sp)
2013 (66 sp)
2012 (79 sp)
2011 (84 sp)
2010 (99 sp)
2009 (98 sp)
2008 (97 sp)
best months:
Dec 2013 (50 sp)
Jan 2013 (50 sp)
Jan 2010 (60 sp)
Nov 2008 (57 sp)
Oct 2008 (57 sp)
2023 (88 sp)
2022 (90 sp)
2021 (91 sp)
2020 (103 sp)
2019 (94 sp)
2018 (108 sp)
2017 (94 sp)
2016 (76 sp)
2015 (75 sp)
yearly summaries:
2023 (88 sp)
2022 (90 sp)
2021 (91 sp)
2020 (103 sp)
2019 (94 sp)
2018 (108 sp)
2017 (94 sp)
2016 (76 sp)
2015 (75 sp)
2014 (75 sp)
2013 (66 sp)
2012 (79 sp)
2011 (84 sp)
2010 (99 sp)
2009 (98 sp)
2008 (97 sp)
best months:
Dec 2013 (50 sp)
Jan 2013 (50 sp)
Jan 2010 (60 sp)
Nov 2008 (57 sp)
Oct 2008 (57 sp)
Great Northern Diver
Black-throated Diver
Black-necked Grebe
Slavonian Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Cormorant
Shag
Grey Heron
Little Egret
Dark-bellied Brent Goose
Shelduck
Red-breasted Merganser
Common Scoter
Sparrowhawk
Buzzard
Peregrine
Oystercatcher
Curlew
Turnstone
Black-headed Gull
Mediterranean Gull >
Common Gull
Herring Gull >
Great Black-backed Gull
Kittiwake
Sandwich Tern
Razorbill
Wood Pigeon
Feral Pigeon
Stock Dove
Collared Dove
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Swallow
Rock Pipit
Pied Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
Wren
Dunnock >
Robin
Stonechat
Blackbird
Redwing
Song Thrush
Cetti's Warbler (heard)
Blackcap
Chiffchaff
Goldcrest
Long-tailed Tit
Coal Tit
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Magpie
Rook
Raven
Jackdaw >
Carrion Crow
Starling
House Sparrow >
Chaffinch
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Linnet
Black Redstart at Newton's Cove, 6th Feb 2024
April 17th
The Marsh Road Cetti's Warbler was heard close to the Chickerell Road bridge this afternoon and the first Swallow of the year was flying north over Newstead Road.
April 12th
The Cetti's Warbler is still singing behind Marsh Road.
April 4th
A Cetti's Warbler singing behind Marsh Road was the first heard on the trail for three years.
March 31st
At Wyke Halt the first Linnet of the year was in song and by the sound all the gulls were making an Osprey must have been passing overhead, presumably at great height. In the Harbour conditions were too choppy to see much apart from singles of Sandwich Tern, Great Northern Diver and Great Crested Grebe.
March 23rd
Today started with a very noisy fly-over by two Ravens as I walked down Newstead Road. The walk to Underbarn produced Blackcap and Chiffchaff and at Rodwell Halt a singing Stock Dove, at the northern end of the platform as usual. This is the earliest record since 2018. The harbour produced three Black-throated Divers, one very close in to the beach at Underbarn so not actually visible from the trail. Looking south towards Portland Castle a passage of gulls could be seen tracking east across the harbour. Although very distant at least five of them appeared to be Kittiwakes.
March 17th
Marsh Road: now five Rook nests, four on the east side and one on the west Rodwell Halt: Great Spotted Woodpecker calling Downclose: Buzzard flying north across the harbour, two Great Northern Divers offshore, Chiffchaff in song Wyke Cutting: two Long-tailed Tits seemingly prospecting for a nest site Smallmouth: summer plumaged Black-necked Grebe just offshore
March 10th
The first Sandwich Tern of the year was sat on a bouy off Sandsfoot Castle this morning and was still there, although on a different bouy, several hours later. The Great Crested Grebe flock had built up to 13 with two Black-necked Grebes and a Great Northern Diver nearby. At Marsh Road a Song Thrush was in full song, seemingly the only one on the Trail this year.
March 9th
Just north of the Trail on Abbotsbury Road a Blackcap was in full song this morning.
March 6th
Ten Great Crested Grebes were still off Sandsfoot this morning where there were also two Scoter, a distant Great Northern Diver and singles of both Black-necked and Slavonian Grebes. Overhead a male Peregrine was hunting and below the castle itself a group of four Chiffchaffs were enjoying the sunshine, with one briefly in full song.
February 24th
Downclose: 4 Great Northern Divers, 4 Black-necked Grebes, 3 Common Scoter
Rodwell Halt: 1 Buzzard
February 9th
A rare sighting of a Coal Tit this morning, at the location where they often heard immediately south of Buxton Road.
February 1st
On a calm sunny morning thde harbour was easy to search and produced two of both Slavonian and Black-necked Grebes as well as two (or four?) Common Scoter and at least three Great Northern Divers.
January 29th
Another three new birds for the year today with a Turnstone, a pair of Ravens and a number of Common Gulls at the Sailing Club, were there was also a very close Slavonian Grebe. A singing Goldcrest and a Redwing were at Buxton Road and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming at Rodwell Halt.
January 26th
Three year firsts today with a Curlew off Downclose and a Rock Pipit and a distant Razorbill at Smallmouth. A female Stonechat was nearby. In Wyke Cutting the Greenfinches have been in full song for a week now.
January 21st
A Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard at Rodwell Halt for the first time this year but there was no sign of the Grey Wagtail. A male Common Scoter was a long way off Wyke Halt with a flock of 20 Brent Geese inshore there.
January 14th
The Grey Wagtail was at Rodwell Halt again today.
January 5th
Red-necked and Slavonian Grebe were added to the list today, both off the Sailing Club. A Little Egret was there as well. In Rodwell Halt a Grey Wagtail was back in the traditional spot for the first time in several years.
January 3rd
Two more species for the trail with a flyover Grey Wagtail yesterday, and today an unexpected Redwing, both at Newstead Road.
January 1st
The first day of 2024 produced at least five Great Northern Divers, a single Black-necked in the harbour and a Stonechat at Smallmouth. At Buxton Road a Blackcap was calling loudly and a Chiffchaff was nearby, with another at Newstead Road.