Bird report for 2014

Dec 2014 (40 species) >   
Oct 2014 (33 species) >   
Sep 2014 (25 species) >   
Aug 2014 (30 species) >   
Jun 2014 (33 species) >   
Apr 2014 (40 species) >   
Mar 2014 (49 species) >   
Feb 2014 (31 species) >   
Jan 2014 (21 species) >   


Great Northern Diver > common winter visitor to Portland Harbour
The early part of the year was very stormy with several birds sheltering in the southern half of the harbour. The last bird of the spring was seen on March 30th and the first bird of the winter was seen on December 15th.

Black-throated Diver regular winter visitor to Portland Harbour
The most common diver for most of the winter, with up to 4 in February and the last one seen at the unusual date of June 3rd!

Little Grebe common winter visitor to Portland Harbour
One or two in Small Mouth throughout January.

Slavonian Grebe common winter visitor to Portland Harbour
The highest numbers ever recorded here with up to 20 in February.

Black-necked Grebe common winter visitor to Portland Harbour
Up to 20 off Sandsfoot in January/February and a similar number in December.

Red-necked Grebe regular winter visitor to Portland Harbour
The highest numbers ever recorded here with up to 4 in February and March.

Great Crested Grebe common winter visitor to Portland Harbour
Up to 20 were present through January - March and again in December.

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
A few in the harbour from November - February.

Brent Goose common winter visitor to Portland Harbour
Increasingly seen feeding on the Eelgrass beds off Sandsfoot Castle.

Gadwall rare winter visitor to Portland Harbour
A courting flock of seven birds from Radipole flew over Newstead Road on April 27th.

Eider occasional winter visitor to Portland Harbour
Two females and a young male were seen on several dates in December.

Red-breasted Merganser common winter visitor to Portland Harbour
50 or 60 present at both ends of the year, with far more in the southern half of the harbour.

Sparrowhawk commonly seen, perhaps 1 pair breeding
Just one record of 2 in October, probably migrants.

Peregrine regular visitor
Several records in January and again in December.

Buzzard commonly seen, perhaps 1 pair breeding nearby
A few sightings around the northern end.

Oystercatcher regularly seen in Portland Harbour all year
Occasionally seen between Sandsfoot and Small Mouth in the first half of the year.

Common Sandpiper occasional summer visitor to Portland Harbour
A record number of five on the shore below Downclose Embankment on April 22nd.

Turnstone occasional visitor to Portland Harbour
5 at Smallmouth on the very late (or early) date of June 3rd.

Black-headed Gull commonly seen around the trail
Commonly seen from all points of the trail throughout the year, although often outnumbered by Med gulls in the winter.

Mediterranean Gull >
Present from September - March with maximum counts of 100 in January.

Common Gull occasional visitor to Portland Harbour
A few records in December.

Herring Gull > common breeding bird around the trail
Common throughout the year and seen from all points of the trail.

Glaucous Gull rare winter visitor, one record only
An adult at Smallmouth on January 5th.

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
Very few records this year.

Sandwich Tern > common summer visitor to Portland Harbour
First seen on March 30th and last seen in mid-September.

Razorbill regular winter visitor to Portland Harbour
A few records at the very start and end of the year.

Wood Pigeon common breeding bird on the trail
Common in all parts of the trail apart from the far south.

Collared Dove common breeding bird on the trail
Common in all parts of the trail apart from the far south.

Tawny Owl probably a regular visitor to the trail, breeds nearby
Occasionally heard calling from Newstead Road throughout the year. An adult male was calling from near Buxton Road bridge on November 18th.

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

Green Woodpecker regularly seen or heard, perhaps 1 pair breeding
A youngster was at Sandsfoot Castle on September 3rd.

Great Spotted Woodpecker regularly seen or heard, perhaps 1 pair breeding
Heard once in February.

Swallow regular spring and autumn passage migrant, occasional breeder
Rarely seen this year.

House Martin common breeding bird around the trail
Common only in the Newstead Road area, with very few records elsewhere.

Meadow Pipit common winter visitor and passage migrant
Heard overhead several times through the year.

Rock Pipit common winter visitor to Portland Harbour
A few winter records at Smallmouth.

Grey Wagtail common winter visitor
One in Rodwell Cutting occasionally in February and again in November and December.

Pied Wagtail once common around the trail, now scarce
Just a couple of sightings in May and June.

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.

Black Redstart occasional winter visitor
One at Smallmouth in late February.

Stonechat previously common, now a rare visitor
A single bird at Downclose on December 10th and 15th.

Wheatear regular spring and autumn passage migrant
5 at Smallmouth on March 26th and a record number of 20+ on April 22nd.

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
A single sighting in late February and a couple of records in November. Very few heard overhead at all in the autumn.

Cetti's Warbler occasional winter visitor
One singing near Marsh Road on April 22nd and June 3rd.

Grasshopper Warbler rare passage migrant, one record only
The first record from the trail with a bird singing above Old Castle Road on April 22nd.

Reed Warbler rare passage migrant, one record only
One singing at the northern end of the trail on one date in June.

Dartford Warbler occasional autumn and winter visitor
One heard calling at Downclose in September.

Whitethroat common summer visitor, previously bred
A singing male at Downclose through the summer, probably bred.

Blackcap common passage and winter visitor, previously bred
Not seen outside the April passage.

Chiffchaff common breeding and winter visitor, approx. 5 pairs
Present throughout the summer season to late November.

Willow Warbler common passage migrant
Several about on August 19th.

Goldcrest regular visitor, may breed
Only heard a few times in the autumn.

Long-tailed Tit common resident, approx. 5 pairs
Common all through the year from Newstead Road to Downclose, with parties of 20 seen in September-October.

Coal Tit common resident, approx. 1 pair breeding
Heard singing or calling throughout the year around Buxton Road.

Blue Tit > common resident, approx. 5 - 10 pairs
Common throughout the trail.

Great Tit common resident, approx. 5 - 10 pairs
Common throughout the trail.

Magpie common resident, approx. 2 - 5 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 common resident
Only seen in flight this year.

Raven regular visitor
A small number of sightings, mostly in winter.

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

House Sparrow > common resident
Common throughout the trail.

Chaffinch > common resident
Common throughout the trail, especially around Wyke Road.

Greenfinch common resident
Very scarce this year.

Goldfinch > common resident
Often seen throughout the trail.

Linnet common summer visitor, previously bred
Lots of sightings around Downclose Cutting this summer, where it may well have bred again.