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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. |