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
Slavonian Grebe
Black-necked Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Little Grebe
Cormorant
Shag
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Mute Swan
Dark-bellied Brent Goose
Eider
Red-breasted Merganser
Buzzard
Sparrowhawk
Osprey
Peregrine
Oystercatcher
Black-headed Gull
Mediterranean Gull >
Common Gull
Herring Gull >
Great Black-backed Gull
Sandwich Tern
Common Tern
Razorbill
Wood Pigeon
Stock Dove
Collared Dove
Tawny Owl
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Swift
Swallow
House Martin
Meadow Pipit
Tree Pipit
Rock Pipit
Grey Wagtail
Pied Wagtail
Wren
Dunnock >
Robin
Stonechat
Wheatear
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Redwing
Whitethroat
Blackcap
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
Reed Warbler
Goldcrest
Firecrest
Long-tailed Tit
Coal Tit
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Treecreeper
Golden Oriole
Magpie
Rook
Jackdaw >
Carrion Crow
Raven
Starling
House Sparrow >
Brambling
Chaffinch
Siskin
Linnet
Lesser Redpoll
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
December 26th - A great spotted woodpecker was calling near Rodwell Halt this morning.
November 21st - The first great northern diver of the autumn was off Smallmouth this morning. Also hundreds of wood pigeons flying north, then returning south.
November 10th - The first two black-necked grebes were off Downclose today.
November 4th - A long overdue firecrest showed itself briefly near Sudan Road, where Joe Stockwell saw a yellow-browed warbler last week.
November 1st - On a very foggy morning two bramblings were at the extreme northern end of the trail.
October 25th - The first mergansers of the autumn were seen today when a flock of ten were seen to arrive from the east.
September 30th - Several redpolls have been heard over the trail recently, one last week at Downclose and another this morning over Newstead Road. Yesterday on a very low tide 10 oystercatchers were on the sandbanks off the souther end of the trail.
September 12th - The stock dove was still in song at Wyke Road this morning, and the first goldcrests of the autumn were about, mostly at the southern end of the trail.
September 9th - More migration evident today with swallows streaming south and several siskins seen both flying (north!) along the trail and settled in a pine tree near Buxton Road. However the best bird by far was the singing stock dove just next to the Wyke Road tunnel, the first I have seen here for 35 years!
September 5th - At least 2 tawny owls were making a hell of a racket at the northern end of the trail early this morning.
September 1st - Autumn migration really got underway today with a tree pipit that flew north over Sandsfoot.
July 30th - An adult female peregrine was hunting noisily low over Asda's roof this morning.
May 11th - A major find this morning with the Trail's first ever golden oriole near Sandsfoot Castle. Also a reed warbler singing in Downclose Cutting.
May 6th - A great northern diver flew west out of Portland Harbour in the gale this morning. Also the first whitethroat and common tern of the year.
April 15th - The first house martin returned to the Abbotsbury Road colony today.
April 7th - Another osprey flew east over Newstead Road this afternoon. A willow warbler was singing on the trail nearby.
April 4th - An osprey flew east over Newstead Road early this afternoon. A few meadow pipits were also flying over.
March 14th - A peregrine was circling high over Wyke Road this morning with what was probably a different bird seen later at Downclose. Several chiffchaffs were scattered along the trail as well - the first migrants seen this year. In the harbour there were still 20 great-crested grebes, along with 5 black-necked grebes and a distant diver that was probably a black-throated.
March 7th - Still a few black-necked grebes left - all in summer plumage now. A calling female sparrowhawk in the trees at Rodwell Halt looked like it might well be thinking about breeding there. Also at Rodwell Halt were a drumming great spotted woodpecker and a treecreeper.