Birding The Nothe

1984 Bird Report

Summary of sightings for each species in 1984, compiled in 2002/3. The site was covered Jan - 13 Apr and again in from 15 Oct to the end of the year.

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Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata : Weymouth Bay singles on 5 & 10 Apr. Weymouth Bay/Portland H. singles on 4 dates 14 Nov - 4 Dec.

Black-throated Diver Gavia arctica : Singles on 11 Jan and 30 Nov off Stone Pier. Portland Harbour/Weymouth Bay early max 4 on 18 Jan; late max 6 on 4 Dec.

Great Northern Diver Gavia immer : Portland Harbour/Weymouth Bay early max 6 on 18 Jan; late max 6 in early Dec. One from The Nothe on 30 Nov.

Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus : Noted 10 Jan - 13 Apr. Record max 16 on 24 Jan. Two on 28 Nov the only ones in autumn. Monthly maxima as follows:

Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo : Present continuously. Record max 19 on 25 Oct. Monthly maxima as follows.

European Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis : Noted 9 Jan - 29 Mar; then from 23 Oct. Max 12 on 26 Jan and 4 Dec. Monthly maxima as follows :

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea : Singles noted on 8 dates: 4 days in Jan, then not again until 15 Oct, two dates in Nov and 13 Dec.

Mute Swan Cygnus olor : 7 bird-days on 4 dates, 13 Jan - 9 Feb.

Brent Goose Branta bernicla : Three on 6 Mar and three on 28 Nov.

Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna : Three on 21 Mar the only record.

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos : Noted on 4 dates from 9 Jan to 8 Mar, then continuously from 21 Mar - 13 Apr. In autumn just one on 18 Dec. Monthly maxima as follows:

Common Eider Somateria mollissima : Nine on 5 Mar the only record.

Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula : One off pier, 10 Jan.

Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator : Two on 9 Jan.

(Eurasian) Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus : Seven single records, on 12 Jan, 1 & 15 Mar, 22, 24 & 25 Oct, 4 Dec.

(Eurasian) Kestrel Falco tinnunculus : Seven single records : on 10, 12 & 26 Jan, 6 Feb, 30 Mar, 4 Apr, 28 Nov.

Water Rail Rallus aquaticus : One amongst rocks at the harbour end of the pier, in the evening of 11 Jan 1984; another, or perhaps the same bird, seen 3 & 5 April 1984 in the same place. Very surprising records in view of the extensive freshwater habitat available at nearby Radipole, and the lack of freezing conditions on all occasions. Still the only records to date.

Eurasian Coot Fulica atra : Present regularly from 9 Jan to 14 Feb, and again from 13 Nov to 18 Dec. Monthly maxima:

(Eurasian) Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus : Monthly maxima as follows :

(Northern) Lapwing Vanellus vanellus : 34 counted going over on 6 Mar.

(Greater) Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula : One on 17 Jan.

(Eurasian) Curlew Numenius arquata : 'Records' in 1984 (DBR).

Common Redshank Tringa totanus : 'Records' in 1984 (DBR).

Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos : Single present from 10 Jan to 30 Mar, and on 13 Apr. Autumn single from 5 Nov to end of year.

(Ruddy) Turnstone Arenaria interpres : Noted on 30 dates from 11 Jan - 2 Mar, and 5 Nov - 19 Dec. Monthly maxima as follows (includes DBR records):

Grey (Red) Phalarope Phalaropus fulicaria : Two in Weymouth Bay on 1 Oct (DBR).

Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago : One on 9 Apr.

Red Knot Calidris canutus : One Newton's Cove, 4 Sep 1984 (DBR).

Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima : Three on 11 Jan (JDM), with one on 18 Jan (DBR).

Dunlin Calidris alpina : One on 5 Nov.

Great Skua Catharacta skua : One at The Nothe 27 Nov (DBR)

Arctic Skua (Parasitic Jaeger) Stercorarius parasiticus : Weymouth Bay, 1E on 26 May (DBR).

Common (Mew) Gull Larus canus : Noted 9 dates from 9 Jan to 14 Mar. No counts available from the Weymouth Bay roost.

Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis : Adult Weymouth Bay, 7 Feb 1984 (DBR).

Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus : Noted on all recording dates.

Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus : 1st-yr in Weymouth Bay 27 Jan - 14 Feb.

Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides : A succession of records: Two 1st-yrs 24 Jan - 11 Feb, an ad. 29 Jan - 8 Feb, another 1st-yr on 10 Feb , a 2nd-yr on 14 Feb, with another on 5 Apr (DBR).

Herring Gull Larus argentatus : Recorded daily. c5,000 were feeding on dead fish on Overcombe/Preston Beach on 28 Jan.(DBR)

Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus : Noted daily on all recording dates. Autumn records daily. No counts available from Weymouth Bay, but c15,000 were feeding on dead fish on Overcombe/Preston Beach on 28 Jan.(DBR)

Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus : One at The Nothe on 28 Oct. One Weymouth Bay 1 Dec.

Little Gull Larus minutus : Marked influx in Weymouth Bay in Jan, max 12 on 26 Jan, and Mar, max 11 on 25 Mar. Also 1W on27 Nov, 5W on 30 Nov & 1 W on9/10 Dec. From The Nothe, singles on 26 Jan & 5 Feb, 4 on 25 NMar, with singles on 8 Nov & 3 Dec.

(Black-legged) Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla : An excellent succession of records in the early part of the year. Noted on 15 dates 9 Jan - 13 Feb, record max 33 on 31 Jan. One on 5 Nov, with two on 27 Nov.

Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis : Two on 13 Apr

Common/Arctic Tern Sterna hirundo/paradisea : 45N at The Nothe on 16 May (DBR).

Little Auk Alle alle : One Newton's Cove on 14 Jan (DBR). One past the pier on 5 Nov (JDM); one W at The Nothe on 27 Nov.

Guillemot Uria aalge : 12 bird-days on 8 dates, 9 Jan - 13 Feb, max 4 on 17 Jan. 37 bird-days on 20 dates 16 Oct - 19 Dec, max 3on several dates (JDM). Max 4 in Jan and 7 in Nov in Portland Harbour/Weymouth Bay (DBR).

Razorbill Alca torda : 5 bird-days on 4 dates, 9 Jan - 10 Feb, max 2 on 9 Jan. 18 bird-days on 12 dates, 9 Nov - 19 Dec, max 2 on several dates. Max 16 in Weymouth Bay on 11 Oct (DBR).

(Atlantic Puffin Fratercula arctica : 'One W past The Nothe' on 27 Nov 1984, on the same date as a Little Auk reported doing the same ('A good morning on The Nothe!') (DBR). Although described in the original record as being 'close-in', it was not supported by a description.)

Rock Dove (Feral Pigeon) Columba livia : Present all year.

Stock Dove Columba oenas : 7 bird-days on 5 dates, 10 Feb - 9 Apr (JDM). 20N at the Nothe 15 - 18 Mar (DBR).

Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus : Max 29 on 7 Dec. Monthly maxima as follows :

(Eurasian) Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto : Noted on 20 dates Jan - Apr, but only on 15 Oct in the later part of the year. Monthly maxima as follows:

Little Owl Athene noctua : Singles on 9 Jan, 7 & 20 Mar. (JDM & DBR)

Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis : Singles on 6 dates, 17 Nov - 18 Dec.

Green Woodpecker Picus viridis : One on 23 & 30 Mar.

(Eurasian) Sky Lark Alauda arvensis : 9 on 30 Oct, and 2 on 5 Nov.

Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica : 2 on 17 and one on 22 Oct. (JDM). 150E at The Nothe on 6 Oct (DBR).

(Common) House Martin Delichon urbica : 350E at The Nothe on 5/6 Oct (DBR).

Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava : Two on 13 Sep.

Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea : In the early part of the year, 18 bird-days on 15 dates from 9 Jan to 19 Mar. Then 17 bird-days from 16 Oct - 29 Nov. Max 3 on 26 Nov.

Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrelli: Max 21 on 16 Oct. Monthly maxima as follows :

Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis : Present 9 Jan almost continuously to 13 Apr, and from 15 Oct to the end of the year. Monthly maxima as follows :

Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus : Present during the winter months. Last in spring on 30 Mar. First in autumn 15 Oct. Max 23 on 7 Feb.

Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta : One on 8 Feb appeared with higher-than-usual nos of Rock Pipits. This was a time of rain and NW gales, so that these might all have been locally wintering birds finding shelter along the south rocks here.

Wren Troglodytes troglodytes : Resident. Monthly maxima as follows :

Hedge Accentor (Dunnock) Prunella modularis : Resident. Max. 12 on 1 Mar. Monthly maxima as follows :

(Common) Blackbird Turdus merula : Resident. Not counted in the early part of the year. Max 20 on 15 Oct. Monthly maxima from Oct:

Redwing Turdus iliacus : 7 bird-days on 5 dates 20 Jan - 11 Apr. More in autumn, with 14 bird-days on 8 dates 16 Oct - 12 Dec, max 6 on 17 Oct.

Song Thrush Turdus philomelos : More or less continuously present Jan - Apr, but only 10 bird-days on 8 dates 15 Oct - 19 Dec. Max 4 on 27 Jan. Monthly maxima as follows :

Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus : 12 bird-days on 7 dates 9 Jan - 8 Mar. In autumn 18 bird-days on 13 dates 22 Oct - 19 Dec.

(European) Robin Erithacus rubecula : Resident. Max 12 on 16 Oct. Monthly maxima:

Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros : Recorded Jan - 21 Mar and 22 Oct - end of year. Max 4 on 11 Dec (DBR - Max 5 in the latter part of the year). Monthly maxima as follows:

Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus : F/juv on 16 & 25 Oct.

(Common) Stonechat Saxicola torquata : Male on 21 Mar; a pair on 7 Dec, with the fem present on 12 Dec. Four bird-days.

Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe : A male on 20 Mar, with male and fem on 10 Apr.

Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla : None in the early part of the year. In autumn just two males on 25 Oct. 2 bird-days in total.

Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus : Spring passage from 10 Apr, with max 14 on 11 Apr.

(Eurasian) Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita : JDM: 1 -2 birds regularly present in winter, from 13 Jan - 13 Mar. Then up to two 24 - 30 Mar, with 20 bird-days on 17 dates. Just 3 in autumn, singles on 19 Oct and 13 & 15 Nov. DBR: 6 birds in The Nothe/Sandsfoot Castle area Jan - Feb.

Goldcrest Regulus regulus : One on 13 Mar, but then a good spring passage with up to 3 birds present 12 dates 23 Mar - 13 Apr. 25 spring bird-days. In autumn 13 bird-days on 7 dates 15 Oct - 5 Nov. Max 4 on 17 Oct.

Firecrest Regulus ignicapillus : JDM: Singles on 4 dates, 25 Jan, 29 Feb, 6 Mar & 9 Apr in the early part of the year. In the later part of the year, just one on 19 Oct. DBR: Singles on The Nothe on 23, 30 & 31 Oct.

Great Tit Parus major : Two regularly present. Monthly maxima :

Blue Tit Parus caeruleus : Resident. Record max 23 on 10 Feb. Monthly maxima:

(Black-billed) Magpie Pica pica : Present sporadically throughout the year. Monthly maxima :

(Eurasian) Jackdaw Corvus monedula : Noted 5 days in Jan, max 15 on 19 Jan, were followed by records on 2 dates in Feb, one in Mar, then a small spring passage, 4 -11 Apr. 37 bird-days on 12 dates. In autumn, movements recorded sporadically over quite a long period, 15 Oct - 10 Dec, with 59 bird-days on 8 dates. Monthly maxima :

Rook Corvus frugilegus : Singles on four dates in the early part of the year - 12 & 27 Jan, 9 Feb & 13 Mar. Max 10 on 30 Oct, then 3 on 5 Nov, and the last single on 4 Dec. 18 bird-days in total.

Carrion Crow Corvus corone : Resident, with no evidence of spring and autumn gatherings. Max 7 on 20 Mar. Monthly maxima::

Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris : Resident breeding species. Not counted.

Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella: Two over on 5 Mar were a typical early spring record.

(European) Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs : Resident. Increased nos in the cold, but not too cold, conditions of Jan/Feb. No real autumn passage. Monthly maxima :

Brambling Fringilla montifringilla : Singles on three dates in the early part of the year - 12 & 24 Jan, and 2 Feb. On two dates in the later part - 15 & 19 Nov. 5 bird-days in total.

(European) Greenfinch Carduelis chloris : Resident. More numerous in the early part of the year (as Chaffinch) with max 25 on 20 Mar. Monthly maxima :

(European) Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis : Sporadic records during the winter and autumn with no pronounced passage. Monthly maxima:

Common Redpoll Carduelis flammea : One on 9 Apr, in fall conditions (JDM), with 4NW on 4 Nov (DBR).

(Eurasian) Linnet Carduelis cannabina : Just one on 16 Oct.

House Sparrow Passer domesticus : Resident breeding bird. Not counted.