Wildlife of the Rodwell Trail
birds seen from the trail in 2017

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)    
94 species so far this year

Great Northern Diver
Black-throated Diver
Slavonian Grebe
Black-necked Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Little Grebe
Gannet
Cormorant
Shag
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Mute Swan
Dark-bellied Brent Goose
Shelduck
Mallard
Common Scoter
Goosander
Eider
Red-breasted Merganser
Buzzard
Sparrowhawk
Kestrel
Peregrine
Oystercatcher
Ringed Plover
Redshank
Common Sandpiper
Dunlin
Whimbrel
Turnstone
Black-headed Gull
Mediterranean Gull >
Common Gull
Herring Gull >
Great Black-backed Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Sandwich Tern
Little Tern
Common Tern
Guillemot
Razorbill
Wood Pigeon
Stock Dove
Collared Dove
Kingfisher
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Skylark
Swift
Swallow
Sand Martin
House Martin
Meadow Pipit
Rock Pipit
Grey Wagtail
Pied Wagtail
Wren
Dunnock >
Robin
Stonechat
Wheatear
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Mistle Thrush
Redwing
Cetti's Warbler
Whitethroat
Lesser Whitethroat
Blackcap
Garden Warbler
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
Goldcrest
Firecrest
Spotted Flycatcher
Long-tailed Tit
Coal Tit
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Jay
Magpie
Rook
Jackdaw >
Carrion Crow
Raven
Starling
House Sparrow >
Brambling
Chaffinch
Siskin
Linnet
Lesser Redpoll
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Bullfinch




Grey Heron on Underbarn Beach, 11th March 2017





December 15th - Three divers were off Downclose this afternoon - two black-throats and a great Northern. The real surprise though was a sandwich tern fishing with the gull flock. Four or five black-necked grebes could be seen further out along with twenty or so great crested grebes.

December 8th - The recent cold snap produced a few birds this morning with two bullfinches a rare sighting in section 5 near Hillcrest Road. The southernmost hundred yards of the trail added three new species to the trail's year list - kingfisher, redshank and kestrel.

December 1st - Another firecrest today at Downclose Cutting, with a ringed plover and a dunlin at Smallmouth. Just off the trail a black redstart was at Newstead Road.

November 18th - A couple more firecrest sightings recently, last week at Rodwell Halt again and today at Downclose Cutting.

November 14th - A flock of perhaps 200 starlings flew north over the harbour this morning. A meadow pipit and a stonechat were near Smallmouth.

November 10th - The first black-necked grebes were seen today with a flock of six or so a long way off Downclose. Two stonechats were near Smallmouth.

October 29th - Finches have been the main interest lately with brambling, siskin and redpoll all seen in the last couple of days. Lots of goldcrests have been around as well with a firecrest at Rodwell Halt. Just off the trail at Sandsfoot today were a couple of jays, a peregrine and a green woodpecker (heard).

October 23rd - A distinct passage of lesser black backs through the harbour today with 30 passing to the west within a few minutes of each other. A similar number of med gulls were seen as well along with a single common gull. The first great crested grebe of the autumn was off Sandsfoot.

October 6th - Plenty of chiffchaffs all along the trail today but the real star was a mistle thrush at Old Castle Road. The first siskin of the autumn was heard over Newstead Road a couple of days ago.

September 29th - A small fall of migrants this morning at the north end of the trail with several chiffchaffs, a goldcrest and a spotted flycatcher just south of Newstead Road.

September 13th - The shoreline at Downclose today had three turnstones, a common sandpiper and a little egret sheltering from the strong north-westerly. At the other end of the trail the first rooks for several years were on the athletics field.

August 6th - A willow warbler was at Downclose today with a common sandpiper on the shore just to the south where a sand martin passed through heading south. A great spotted woodpecker was here as well, unusually far south along the trail.

July 29th - Some real autumn migration today with a procession of sandwich terns heading to Ferrybridge from the east and two separate whimbrels passing through. The female eider was off Downclose again.

June 24th - The first Med gulls of the "autumn" were off Downclose this morning - 8 flying south, followed by a shelduck. Out in the harbour was the female eider that has been present all year and in Downclose Cutting the lesser whitethroat was still singing, as it has been since April.

May 15th - A gannet was flying around the harbour in this morning's wet and windy weather. Six dunlins flew past Smallmouth and a late wheatear was on the shore there.

May 2nd - The Trail's first-ever garden warbler was singing near Newstead Road early this morning. At the other end of the trail nine unidentified swans (presumably mutes) flew west through the harbour and then headed south along Portland's Eastcliffs.

April 29th - Stock doves seem to be nesting at Rodwell Halt as I've just seen one coming out of a hole in a tree near Wyke Road. Also a great spotted woodpecker just south of Wyke Road.

April 27th - The first common whitethroat was in Downclose Cutting this morning, with a Cetti's warbler singing near Hillcrest Road. At Smallmouth the first little tern was sat on a buoy just offshore and the first common terns flying about in the harbour.

April 20th - The first lesser whitethroat was at Downclose this morning, with swallow and wheatear also firsts. Out in the harbour another common gull was seen, the second in nine days. At Smallmouth a male sparrowhawk was seen to catch a sparrow and take it off towards Underbarn. A great spotted woodpecker was calling at Rodwell Halt.

April 12th - The first willow warbler of the year was singing near Ilchester Road this morning, with plenty of chiffchaffs and blackcaps all along the trail. A common gull flew over the northern end heading north.

April 11th - Just one great crested grebe left in the harbour now, and no mergansers apart from a pair nearby on the Fleet. However three mute swans were a very unexpected sight flying close inshore low over the sea heading towards Smallmouth. A dozen or so sandwich terns about, mostly off the southern end.

March 16th - Now eight common scoter off Downclose, with two eider nearby. The first chiffchaffs and blackcaps of the year were along the trail closer to Sandsfoot.

March 12th - Two common scoter were off Downclose this afternoon, along with a young male eider.

March 5th - Smallmouth was the place to be today with a rock pipit, a summer-plumaged black-necked grebe, two little grebes, a female eider and a great northern diver.

February 26th - Two black-necked grebes (one in breeding plumage), a slavonian grebe and an eider were off Sandsfoot Castle.

February 19th - A jay just north of Wyke Road Tunnel was only the second or third record actually seen on the trail.

February 18th - Rodwell Cutting produced all the birds today with singing coal tit and stock dove as well as a goldcrest and a gorgeous male sparrowhawk which very nearly caught the grey wagtail which has become so tame recently.

January 8th - Black-necked grebes are now up to 14 and the first great northern diver seen from the trail this winter was off Sandsfoot.

January 1st - A good start to the year with 2 eider on the beach at Downclose. Another eider could be seen much further out along with 6 or 7 black-necked grebes. Off Sandsfoot a turnstone was seen flying west across the harbour.





Grey Wagtail in Rodwell Cutting, 18th February 2017

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