Bird report for 2009

December 2009 (52 species) >   
November 2009 (56 species) >   
October 2009 (55 species) >   
September 2009 (51 species) >   
August 2009 (49 species) >   
July 2009 (40 species) >   
June 2009 (34 species) >   
May 2009 (38 species) >   
April 2009 (44 species) >   
March 2009 (52 species) >   
February 2009 (49 species) >   
January 2009 (46 species) >   


Great Northern Diver >
Up to 3 birds in the harbour in mid-winter, with the last one remaining into April. A similar number again from mid-November.

Black-throated Diver
1 flying over Small Mouth on January 13th. 1 seen from the trail near Old Castle Road on November 22nd.

Red-throated Diver
A most unexpected winter-plumaged bird turned up off Whitehead's Pier on May 16th.

Little Grebe
Up to 3 in Small Mouth from November to March.

Slavonian Grebe
1 or 2 off Sandsfoot throughout January, with 3 on 27th and a late bird on March 9th. 1 close in near Small Mouth on February 1st. 1 off Sandsfoot on November 22nd.

Black-necked Grebe
Up to 9 off Downclose Embankment in January and February.

Great Crested Grebe
Present from November - March with a peak of 26 off Bincleaves in mid-March. As last year a Red-necked Grebe which was with this flock was not actually seen from the trail.

Leach's Petrel
One on November 28th in the middle of the harbour feeding in the current that runs north-east from Smallmouth.

Gannet
5 were seen flying over Chesil Beach from the southern end of the trail on August 1st. A lone bird was in the harbour on October 6th.

Cormorant
Present in the harbour all year and also seen flying over the Weymouth end of the trail.

Shag
A few in the harbour from October - March. An influx of 20 or so in the gales of mid-November.

Little Egret
Seen on and off between Sandsfoot and Small Mouth throughout the year with a maximum of 3 seen around Downclose on July 17th.

Grey Heron
2 flying north low over the harbour on February 1st.

Canada Goose
Heard calling over Newstead Road in the early hours of September 29th.

Dark-bellied Brent Goose
Apart from the large flocks often seen flying over Ferrybridge the maximum was a group of 120 birds on the site of Whitehead's Pier on February 1st. The last birds seen were on March 24th, with the first to be seen in the harbour on November 9th.

White-fronted Goose
A group of 4 grey geese, probably White-fronts, flew west over the harbour on October 12th.

Shelduck
Occasionally seen flying over Radipole Lake from the Abbotsbury Road end of the trail. 1 in the middle of Portland Harbour on February 16th and 2 flying over Downclose Cutting on August 1st.

Wigeon
A flock of 10 flew east high over Portland Harbour on December 22nd during a cold snap.

Mallard
3 off Downclose on January 18th and a single male on April 6th. 3 were flying around Newstead and Abbotsbury Roads at the end of April, landing in the middle of the raod several times. A pair over the harbour on October 20th and a single male on November 28th.

Red-breasted Merganser
The wintering flock in the harbour reached a maximum of 120 birds on several dates in January and February. Last birds seen on April 6th and the first returners were on November 9th.

Goosander
A female close inshore near the sailing club on November 28th.



Sparrowhawk
Odd individuals seen throughout the year all along the trail, with a maximum of 3 seen on April 6th, including a pair in a courtship chase over Rodwell. A series of sighthings on July 21st from Old Castle Road to Ferrybridge suggested breeding success this year, especially as one of the birds may well have been a juvenile.



Kestrel
Very scarce in the first half of the year, with just a handful of sightings in January and March. One of the Portland birds was visible from the south end of the trail on July 14th. Autumn birds as usual were more numerous with one or two usually visible at the southern end from September 19th to mid-November.

Hobby
1 over the very southern end of the trail on July 23rd. Another at the northern end on August 30th.

Peregrine
1 over Newstead Road on February 28th and one near Sandsfoot on November 9th.

Buzzard
Apart from a few sightings of lone birds 3 were over Newstead Road on February 7th and March 15th with 3 displaying high over Rodwell on March 24th. A lack of sightings over the summer suggested that they might not have bred, but then a single bird was over Newstead Road on July 13th and an adult bird was flying unusually low around the trees at Wyke Road on July 23rd and August 3rd. Very few sightings in the autumn and winter, just one over Downclose on December 20th.

Oystercatcher
Up to 3 birds occasionally seen between Sandsfoot and Small Mouth throughout the year. 6 flew across the harbour on April 10th.

Snipe
1 heard calling over Newstead Road on the night of November 9th.

Common Sandpiper
1 near Whiteheads Pier on July 17th.

Whimbrel
1 over Newstead Road on April 18th and 2 in the harbour on August 1st.

Black-headed Gull
Commonly seen from all points of the trail throughout the year apart from April - June when they are all in their breeding colonies in Poole Harbour.

Mediterranean Gull >
Throughout the winter months there were usually a few in the harbour around the Sailing Centre or feeding further out. The maximum number recorded in the harbour was 80 off Sandsfoot Castle on October 19th. The last wintering bird was seen on March 9th and the first autumn bird (a juvenile) on August 8th.



Common Gull
Surprisingly rare in the harbour with just a few records from November to February. 1 over Newstead Road on March 9th during a period of significant passage at Portland. A first-winter bird was at Whitehead's Pier on March 24th.

Herring Gull >
Common throughout the year and seen from all points of the trail.

Great Black-backed Gull
Usually 1 or 2 off Sandsfoot and also seen in flight from most parts of the trail. Evidence of increased breeding around the northern end of the trail with very vocal birds around Abbotsbury Road in July and Aygust.

Lesser Black-backed Gull
A lone bird flying south at Downclose on October 6th.

Common Tern >
First seen in the harbour on April 19th, 9 days earlier than least year. A bird hawking flying ants high over Newstead Road on the evening of July 2nd was most unexpected. The constant passage of birds through Portland Harbour in July would presumably be the Lodmoor colony on their way to feeding grounds off Chesil. This movement ceased abruptly in early August when the colony left Lodmoor as the young became independent. Hardly any birds were seen after this, with just one record of a party of 5 in the harbour on October 6th.

Sandwich Tern >
First seen on March 22nd, a week earlier than last year. One heard calling over Newstead Road on July 13th. In the autumn birds were present from September 19th to October 6th.

Little Tern
A disastrous breeding season for this species at Ferrybridge, consequently there was just one sighting from the trail on May 3rd.

Razorbill
Up to 3 in the harbour late November - December.

Little Auk
One flying west through the harbour towards Ferrybridge on November 16th.

Wood Pigeon
Common in all parts of the trail apart from the far south. 200 flew north over Newstead Road on October 30th and 700 flew south on November 2nd.

Collared Dove
As above, but particularly abundant just north of Wyke Road tunnel where huge quantities of peanuts were put out for them in the winter. A flock of 60 was counted here in Late November.

Tawny Owl
One calling early in the morning somewhere east of Newstead Road on July 31st and again on August 10th was probably a lost juvenile. An adult male was calling from somewhere south of Newstead Road late on August 31st.

Swift
Common over the northern end of the trail from May to the second week of August. A definite movement on July 21st into a wet southerly wind.

Green Woodpecker
1 heard at Rodwell Halt on January 18th and several dates in March; seen well there on March 15th. A report of a youngster seen on a lawn near Buxton Road was my first indication of breeding in the area. A bird was hear calling from Old Castle Road on July 14th.

Great Spotted Woodpecker
A male feeding in trees at Wyke Road on March 3rd, and one heard calling from Old Castle Road on September 19th.

Skylark
1 at Small Mouth on February 16th and 2 on March 15th. Seen flying over most days from the end of October well into November. An injured bird was feeding at the edge of the trail above Marsh Road on December 8th.

Sand Martin
A very late bird flying south over the harbour with Swallows on October 6th.

Swallow
Common throughout the trail from April to November, but very few through June-July, suggesting that they did not breed in the area this year. Last seen on November 2nd.

House Martin
Common only in the Newstead Road area, with very few records elsewhere. Last seen on October 6th, apart from one very late bird on November 2nd.

Tree Pipit
1 heard highover Downclose on August 8th and another over Newstead Road on September 10th.

Meadow Pipit
Very scarce this year, with just a few migrants seen overhead in September. Up to 3 wintering birds were present on Downclose embankment from November 9th.

Rock Pipit
Occasionally at Small Mouth from September to February.

Grey Wagtail
1 or 2 feeding in the wetter areas of Rodwell Cutting through the winter months, absent from April to September. A migrant flew over Downclose on September 19th.



Pied Wagtail
Seen flying over the trail throughout the year, but very few through June-July, suggesting that they did not breed in the area this year.

Wren
Common throughout the trail and in song all year.

Dunnock >
Seen everywhere apart from Rodwell Cutting which must be too shady for them. Singing for the first 6 months of the year only. A recently-fledged bird was seen west of Newstead Road on May 23rd.

Robin
Common throughout the trail and the most obvious songster all through the year, apart from a few weeks in mid-summer.

Common Redstart
A single bird at Downclose Cutting on September 20th, the first record for the Trail.

Black Redstart
Singles at Small Mouth on January 27th, March 17th, December 8th and December 20th.

Stonechat
Very scarce this year, with only occasional sightings in the first half of the year. Migrants were seen at Downclose Cutting from September 20th, with a maximum of 5 on October 27th. A pair were settled there throughout December.

Wheatear
First seen at Small Mouth on March 17th. Last seen there on October 6th.

Blackbird
Common everywhere all through the year but particularly numerous in October - November. Singing from March to June.

Song Thrush
More often heard than seen, its loud song obvious from late December to July, mostly early in the morning. Probably 5 pairs along the trail, widely spaced from Newstead Road to Downclose. A recently fledged bird was at Rodwell Halt on July 3rd. Cold weather in December brought a small influx in to the southern end of the trail on the 22nd.



Redwing
Heard calling overhead at night in January and April 9th. An enormous nocturnal passage took place around October 12th - 15th, after which birds were heard almost every night through November and December.

Cetti's Warbler
One at Newstead Road on January 4th was my first record of this species on the trail. Another was heard singing at Downclose on October 30th.

Reed Warbler
One singing just south of Newstead Road on June 15th was my first record of this species on the trail.

Dartford Warbler
One at Downclose Embankment on September 29th.

Whitethroat
The first record this year was a bird singing at Downclose on May 23rd.

Lesser Whitethroat
One singing at Downclose on May 18th and 23rd, my first record of this species for the trail.

Blackcap
In contrast to last year there were no wintering birds present in the first part of the year. Birds were present throughout the summer though with recently-fledged young seen west of Newstead Road on May 23rd. The first spring migrant was seen on March 15th and the first autumn bird on September 20th.

Chiffchaff
A Chiffchaff of the Siberian race was seen near the trail at Sandsfoot Castle on February 19th and 21st. On March 7th the first migrant was singing at Ilchester Road. A significant arrival of migrants took place on September 19th/20th.



Willow Warbler
First seen at Downclose on March 31st, a week earlier than last year. Migrants were present in small numbers up to mid-April, but then not seen again until the beginning of August.

Goldcrest
Another victim of the cold winter with significantly fewer records than last year, and no indication of breeding or even any summering birds. The first autumn migrant was heard on September 19th, after which sightings were virtually non-existent, with just one or two a month. One singing at Rodwell Halt on December 22nd.

Firecrest
1 near the trail at Old Castle Road on February 21st and another on the trail just south of Buxton Road on October 27th.

Long-tailed Tit
Common all through the year from Newstead Road to Downclose. Recently-fledged young were heard near Buxton Road on May 24th.

Coal Tit
Seen or heard sporadically around Rodwell throughout the year. A pair were seen involved in what was probably a courtship chase on March 9th and were seen entering a ground level nest-hole on April 19th.

Blue Tit >
Common throughout the trail.

Great Tit
Common throughout the trail.

Treecreeper
1 at Rodwell Halt on August 1st and December 8th, with 2 there on December 20th.

Jay
1 at Newstead Road on December 8th.

Magpie
Common throughout the trail. 1 "singing" at Old Castle Road on January 27th.

Jackdaw >
Can be seen flying over any part of the trail, especially around Newstead Road.

Rook
Mostly seen in the winter from the Marsh Road Embankment or feeding on the athletics ground.

Carrion Crow
Common throughout the trail.

Raven
Occasional records of 1 or 2 birds in the first half of the year only.

Starling
Often seen on rooftops mainly around Newstead Road and Downclose. A flock of 50 on houses near Small Mouth on July 21st was the largest number seen together.

House Sparrow >
Common throughout the trail.

Chaffinch >
Common throughout the trail, especially around Wyke Road. First song heqrd at Rodwell on February 1st.

Greenfinch
Common throughout the trail, especially around Downclose. First heard singing on January 13th.

Goldfinch >
Common throughout the trail. A recently-fledged bird was seen near Sandsfoot Halt on May 23rd and another very young bird at Wyke Road tunnel on August 3rd.

Siskin
Just a couple of records in October.

Linnet
First seen on March 22nd in Downclose Cutting, a week earlier than last year. A family party were at Downclose Embankment on August 8th.

Lesser Redpoll
One heard flying south over Downclose Cutting on September 29th.

Crossbill
A flock of 7 flying north over Sandsfoot Halt on October 30th.

Yellowhammer
One seen flying north over the harbour near Dover Road on September 29th.

Reed Bunting
One dropped in to the bushes on Downclose Embankment on September 29th. On the same day another was heard high over Newstead Road.

Bullfinch
A young bird near Buxton Road on October 6th and another at the same spot on December 22nd.