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Great Northern Diver > common winter visitor to Portland Harbour Up to three in the harbour most days at the start and end of the year, staying right up to May 2nd. Black-throated Diver regular winter visitor to Portland Harbour The only record this year was of a single bird on February 19th. Red-throated Diver occasional winter visitor to Portland Harbour Not seen this year. Little Grebe common winter visitor to Portland Harbour At Small Mouth a few at the start and end of the year. Slavonian Grebe common winter visitor to Portland Harbour One seen off Sandsfoot and Underbarn up to March 3rd. None at the end of the year. Black-necked Grebe common winter visitor to Portland Harbour Never more than 5 through January/February with the last ones seen on March 14th. The first returning birds were 8 on November 14th, increasing to 9 in December. Great Crested Grebe common winter visitor to Portland Harbour Up to 22 were present through January - April. Small numbers were seen again from November, with 15 on November 14th. 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. Little Egret regular visitor to Portland Harbour Seen once. Grey Heron regular visitor to Portland Harbour Four were seen from the northern end of the Trail in February leaving Radipole. One seen in the Harbour in November. Brent Goose common winter visitor to Portland Harbour This year the geese seemed to keep out of the harbour, with just one sighting of 20 on 23rd February. Canada Goose occasional visitor to Portland Harbour Occasionally heard flying over early in the morning. Mallard occasional visitor to Portland Harbour Only seen from the northern end of the trail flying over Radipole. Eider occasional winter visitor to Portland Harbour Three seen in the south of the Harbour in December, but not seen from the Trail this year. Common Scoter rare winter visitor to Portland Harbour A drake seen off Downclose on March 20th and April 25th. Red-breasted Merganser common winter visitor to Portland Harbour 50 or so present up to the end of April and again from November 11th. Red Kite not previously recorded The trail's first ever red kite flew north over Newstead Road on March 15th. Sparrowhawk commonly seen, perhaps 1 pair breeding Just a handful of records mostly in the first half of the year. Peregrine regular visitor Just one record at the northern end of the Trail on November 12th. Buzzard commonly seen, perhaps 1 pair breeding nearby Just a handful of records scattered throughout the year. Kestrel once a regular visitor, now scarce One record, in October. Oystercatcher regularly seen in Portland Harbour all year On February 23rd a record number of 41 were off Smallmouth on a very low tide. Common Sandpiper occasional summer visitor to Portland Harbour Five on the shore below Downclose Embankment on May 2nd. Whimbrel occasional visitor to Portland Harbour One heard but not seen near Sandsfoot Castle on April 25th with another seen flying west towards Ferrybridge on May 2nd. Black-headed Gull commonly seen around the trail Usually a few around Castle Cove Sailing Club. Mediterranean Gull > Regularly seen flying through the harbour at the start and end of the year. Common Gull occasional visitor to Portland Harbour A few records through the winter. Herring Gull > common breeding bird around the trail Common throughout the year and seen from all points of the trail. 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 Not seen this year. Sandwich Tern > common summer visitor to Portland Harbour A few records from April 25th to early October with a maximum of 10 in late September. An adult with a juvenile was seen in July. Little Tern occasional summer visitor to Portland Harbour Two at Smallmouth on May 2nd. Razorbill regular winter visitor to Portland Harbour A few records from November to January. Wood Pigeon common breeding bird on the trail Common in all parts of the trail apart from the far south. Stock Dove recently returned after 35 year absence A bird was singing in trees at Wyke Road Tunnel on August 4th and October 2nd, and presumably on dates in between. Collared Dove common breeding bird on the trail Commonly seen only in the far north this year. 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 One heard in November. Great Spotted Woodpecker regularly seen or heard, perhaps 1 pair breeding No records this year. Swallow regular spring and autumn passage migrant, occasional breeder A few migrants seen from April 25th. House Martin common breeding bird around the trail Common only in the Newstead Road area. Skylark increasingly scarce autumn passage migrant One over Downclose Cutting on October 2nd. Meadow Pipit increasingly scarce winter visitor and passage migrant One record in late March. Rock Pipit common winter visitor to Portland Harbour Not seen this year, although resident at Ferrybridge. Grey Wagtail common winter visitor One or two in Rodwell Cutting most days from November to March. Heard flying over on a few dates in September and October. Pied Wagtail once common around the trail, now scarce Just one bird seen flying over in November. 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. Stonechat previously common, now a rare visitor One at Downclose on March 23rd. Wheatear regular spring and autumn passage migrant Very few records this year. Blackbird common breeding bird , approx. 10 pairs Commonly seen throughout the year. Song Thrush common breeding bird , approx. 5 pairs Heard singing occasionally in winter and spring. Redwing regular autumn and winter visitor A party of 10 were flying around Newstead Road in mid December. Cetti's Warbler occasional winter visitor One singing at the north end of the trail near Ilchester Road on November 11th and 12th and again on December 31st. Sedge Warbler rare passage migrant, two previous records One singing near Old Castle Road on May 2nd, the first since 2008. Dartford Warbler occasional autumn and winter visitor One heard calling at Downclose on January 6th. Whitethroat regular summer visitor, previously bred A single sighting on May 2nd of a male in song at Downclose. Lesser Whitethroat rare passage migrant, two previous records One heard on May 2nd at Downclose. Blackcap common passage and winter visitor, previously bred Just a couple of records of single birds apart from May 2nd when 3 were in song. Chiffchaff common summer and winter visitor, previously bred A scattering of sightings throughout the year. Willow Warbler common passage migrant No records this year. Yellow-browed Warbler not previously recorded Heard calling near Wyke Road tunnel on November 14th. Goldcrest regular visitor, may breed Up to 3 present throughout the year and often heard singing. Firecrest occasional winter visitor Not seen this year although calls may have been heard. A bird was seen near the trail on Bincleaves Road in November. Long-tailed Tit common resident, approx. 5 pairs Common all through the year from Newstead Road to Downclose, with a flock of 20 seen in November. Coal Tit common resident, approx. 1 pair breeding Heard singing or calling around Buxton Road on 3 occasions. 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 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 No records this year. Raven regular visitor Adults and young from the nesting site at Bincleaves were seen throughout the year. Starling common resident Up to 10 often seen on rooftops mainly around Newstead Road. A flock of 50 were seen to fly north in November during a period of widespread starling movements. House Sparrow > common resident Common throughout the trail, particularly near Ilchester Road, Old Castle Road and Downclose. Chaffinch > common resident A few sightings, mostly in the second half of the year. Siskin regular autumn passage migrant Heard overhead on November 2nd, the first for several years. Greenfinch previously common resident Just one record in January. Goldfinch > common resident A scattering of records throughout the year, mostly in the northern end of the trail. Linnet common summer visitor, previously bred Just a very few sightings around Downclose Cutting, mostly early in the year. Siskin regular autumn passage migrant Several records in September with a group settled in a tree on the 9th. Notable absentees this year: Common Tern, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Willow Warbler, Rock Pipit, Bullfinch |