Great Northern Diver > common winter visitor to Portland Harbour
Remarkably scarce at the start of the year with just two records, on Jan 8th and March 5th. Up to four regularly seen in the harbour from mid-November to the end of the year.
Black-throated Diver regular winter visitor to Portland Harbour
One north of Sandsfoot at the start of December, then two present through December, with three seen on December 11th.
Red-throated Diver occasional winter visitor to Portland Harbour
Not seen this year, although one was in Newtons Cove on December 10th.
Little Grebe common winter visitor to Portland Harbour
Three or four at Smallmouth at the start and end of the year, from Nov 3rd.
Slavonian Grebe common winter visitor to Portland Harbour
Just one record on Feb 26th.
Black-necked Grebe common winter visitor to Portland Harbour
Up to 14 through January/February with the last one, a summer-plumaged bird, seen on March 5th. The first returning birds were 6 on November 11th, building up to 20 by mid December.
Great Crested Grebe common winter visitor to Portland Harbour
Present from Oct 23rd to April 11th, with maximum counts of 20 in Feb and March. Numbers built up again from October 23rd to a maximum of 20 in late November.
Red-necked Grebe regular winter visitor to Portland Harbour
One off Sandsfoot Castle on December 15th; not seen from the trail.
Gannet occasional visitor to Portland Harbour
An adult seen distantly once or twice in the first half of the year.
Cormorant common in Portland Harbour all year
Present in the harbour all year.
Shag common winter visitor to Portland Harbour
A few seen from November - February, mostly from Smallmouth. More common at the end of the year, with several usually present at Bincleaves.
Little Egret regular visitor to Portland Harbour
Seen occasionally around Sandsfoot, particularly at the end of the year when one bird was more or less resident off Downclose.
Grey Heron regular visitor to Portland Harbour
A couple of records of birds flying across the harbour in the autumn. Usually present at Underbarn, where one was filmed fishing on March 11th.
Brent Goose common winter visitor to Portland Harbour
A small number of records of birds flying through the harbour, particularly in the autumn when they appeared to be arriving from the east most days. A flock of ten seen at Sandsfoot on December 13th.
Mute Swan occasional visitor to Portland Harbour
An unusually high number records this year with three seen on April 11th and nine on May 2nd, all flying south.
Shelduck rare visitor to Portland Harbour
One flew south through the harbour on June 24th.
Mallard occasional visitor to Portland Harbour
Only seen around Bincleaves and Underbarn this year, not from the trail.
Eider occasional winter visitor to Portland Harbour
Two or three in the Harbour up to March, with a female remaining right though the summer to July 29th.
Common Scoter rare winter visitor to Portland Harbour
Two were off Downclose on March 12th and eight were there on the 16th.
Goosander regular visitor to Portland Harbour most winters
Two females were close in off Sandsfoot on November 29th.
Red-breasted Merganser common winter visitor to Portland Harbour
Up to 60 present from early Nov to mid April.
Goldeneye rare winter visitor to Portland Harbour
A female was north of Sandsfoot on November 23rd, but not seen from the trail.
Buzzard less commonly seen than previously, perhaps 1 pair breeding nearby
Often seen at Underbarn, but only one or two sightings all year from the trail.
Sparrowhawk commonly seen, perhaps 1 pair breeding
Just a couple of records early and late the year. On Feb 18th a male was hunting at low level in Rodwell Cutting and on April 20th what was probably the same male was seen to catch a sparrow at Smallmouth.
Peregrine regular visitor
Just one or two sightings at the northern end of the trail at the start of the year. A young (?) male seen briefly at Bincleaves on October 29th.
Kestrel once a regular visitor, now scarce
Just a single sighting this year, on December 11th at Downclose Embankment. Normally one or two to be seen just south of the trail at Ferrybridge.
Oystercatcher regularly seen in Portland Harbour all year
One or two usually present between Sandsfoot and Smallmouth.
Ringed Plover occasional visitor to Portland Harbour
One at Smallmouth on December 1st.
Redshankrare visitor to Portland Harbour
One just north of Smallmouth on December 8th.
Common Sandpiper regular summer visitor to Portland Harbour
Single birds at Downclose on August 6th and September 13th.
Dunlin occasional visitor to Portland Harbour
Six flew past Smallmouth on May 15th and a single bird was present there on December 1st.
Whimbrel occasional visitor to Portland Harbour
Two separate birds flew through the harbour on July 29th.
Turnstone occasional visitor to Portland Harbour
One seen flying across the harbour on Jan 1st. Three were on the rocks below Downclose Embankment on September 13th.
Black-headed Gull commonly seen around the trail
Usually a few around Castle Cove Sailing Club or flying across the harbour.
Mediterranean Gull >
Regularly seen flying through the harbour from June 24th right through the autumn and winter up to late March.
Common Gull occasional visitor to Portland Harbour
As always very few records in the harbour, with just a handful seen in April, Oct and Nov.
Herring Gull > common breeding bird around the trail
Common throughout the year and seen from all points of the trail.
Lesser Black-backed Gull rare visitor to Portland Harbour
A distinct passage through the harbour in stormy weather on October 23rd with 30 heading west within a few minutes of each other.
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 maximum of 70 birds on the breakwaters in Jan, decreasing to 20 or so in the summer.
Common Tern > common summer visitor to Portland Harbour
First seen on April 27th but not often after that. A late bird on Sep 17th may perhaps have been an arctic tern.
Sandwich Tern > common summer visitor to Portland Harbour
Very few records apart from an initial influx of ten birds on April 11th and a distinct passage through the harbour from the east on July 29th. A wintering bird was seen off Downclose on December 15th.
Little Tern occasional summer visitor to Portland Harbour
Just one record of a bird sat on a buoy just offshore at Smallmouth on April 27th.
Razorbill regular winter visitor to Portland Harbour
A handful of sightings in January, March and November.
Guillemot occasional winter visitor to Portland Harbour
One was off Sandsfoot in early December.
Wood Pigeon common breeding bird on the trail
Common in all parts of the trail.
Stock Dove recently returned after 35 year absence
After a bird was heard singing in trees at Wyke Road Tunnel on February 18th one was seen coming out of a hole in a tree near Wyke Road on April 29th. Sadly no further indication of any breeding was forthcoming.
Collared Dove common breeding bird on the trail
Commonly seen throughout the trail, but particularly at the two ends.
Kingfisher regular winter visitor
One at Smallmouth on December 8th.
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
No records from the trail although one was heard calling at Underbarn in late October.
Great Spotted Woodpecker regularly seen or heard, perhaps 1 pair breeding
Seen twice in April and August towards the southern end of the trail. Then on December 19th one, or possibly two, birds were drumming at Rodwell Halt.
Swallow regular spring and autumn passage migrant, occasional breeder
A few migrants seen from April 20th onwards.
House Martin common breeding bird around the trail
Commonly seen only in the Newstead Road area.
Sand Martin rare spring and autumn passage migrant
One record, on August 6th.
Skylark occasional autumn passage migrant
One overhead in late October.
Meadow Pipit increasingly scarce winter visitor and passage migrant
One at Smallmouth just south of the trail on two dates in November.
Rock Pipit common winter visitor to Portland Harbour
One at Smallmouth on March 5th.
Grey Wagtail common winter visitor
A very tame bird in Rodwell Cutting most days from January to March, but not present at all at the end of the year until December 15th, and then only seen infrequently.
Grey Wagtail in Rodwell Cutting, 18th February 2017
Pied Wagtail once common around the trail, now scarce
One record in early August was the only sighting until the cold snap in early December when there were a number of sightings including three around the Sailing Club.
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 November onwards.
Robin common breeding bird, approx. 10 pairs
Common throughout the trail.
Stonechat previously common, now a rare visitor
One at Downclose - Smallmouth on several dates in November and December with two on November 10th and December 13th.
Wheatear regular spring and autumn passage migrant
Seen on April 20th and May 15th only.
Black Redstart scarce winter visitor
Not seen on the trail this year but one was seen around Newstead Road gardens on December 1st and again on December 21st.
Blackbird common breeding bird , approx. 10 pairs
Commonly seen throughout the year but particularly numerous in October.
Song Thrush common breeding bird , approx. 3 pairs
Heard singing fairly often in late winter and occasionally seen near Wyke Road Tunnel. A number of sightings in the cold weather in December. Two or three birds in song on December 22nd around Wyke Road.
Mistle Thrush very rare visitor
One briefly on a chimney in Old Castle Road on October 6th.
Redwing regular autumn and winter visitor
One heard at Rodwell Halt on November 22nd.
Cetti's Warbler occasional winter visitor
On April 27th one was heard singing near Hillcrest Road.
Whitethroat regular summer visitor, previously bred
One at Downclose on April 27th, but very few sightings after that.
Lesser Whitethroat previously a rare passage migrant, two previous records
A singing male held territory at Downclose from April 20th to the end of July.
Blackcap common passage and winter visitor, previously bred
Common on migration in March and April but no other records this year until December 19th when a female was seen near Hillcrest Road.
Garden Warbler no previous records
One singing near Ilchester Road on May 2nd.
Chiffchaff common summer and winter visitor, previously bred
A scattering of sightings throughout the year. Two birds were at Underbarn beach in mid December.
Willow Warbler common passage migrant
A few migrants seen from April 12th and again from August 6th.
Goldcrest regular visitor, may breed
Mostly seen during migration this year with no singing birds noticed at all. An influx in cold weather in December with five seen on December 19th.
Firecrest occasional winter visitor
Not seen at the start if the year but then a good number of sightings from October 29th to December 1st with birds seen at Rodwell Halt, near Buxton Road and twice in Downclose Cutting.
Long-tailed Tit common resident, may breed
Common all through the year from Newstead Road to Downclose, with flocks of 20 or so seen in November and December.
Coal Tit common resident, approx. 1 pair breeding
Heard singing or calling around Buxton Road regularly throughout the year and up to two birds seen there.
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
Not seen or heard this year.
Magpie common resident, approx. 2 - 3 pairs
Mostly seen around Marsh Road, but no evidence of breeding 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, but especially at the extreme northern end.
Rook previously common visitor
One record only, a group of birds on the Athletics Field on September 13th.
Raven regular visitor
Adults and young from the nesting site at Bincleaves were seen throughout the year.
Starling common resident
Up to 20 birds often seen on rooftops mainly around Newstead Road. A flock of 200 were seen to fly north over the harbour on November 14th, a very similar record was made last year. Pre-roost displays were visible over Weymouth town centre in November and December.
House Sparrow > common resident
Common throughout the trail, particularly at the two ends of the trail near Ilchester Road and Dover Road.
Brambling rare autumn passage migrant and even rarer winter visitor
Two fly-over records in late October, both near 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
A few birds heard overhead on a couple of dates in early October.
Greenfinch previously common resident
Seen or heard on several dates from September to November.
Goldfinch > common resident
A scattering of records throughout the year, with a flock of thirty to fifty birds in Downclose Cutting from October to the end of the year.
Linnet common summer visitor, may be breeding
A number of sightings around Downclose Cutting, mostly in the second half of the year.
Lesser Redpoll rare autumn passage migrant
One overhead in late October at Dover Road.
Bullfinch regular winter visitor
Two near Hillcrest Road on December 8th.