Birding The Nothe

1985 Bird Report

Summary of sightings for each species in 1985, compiled in 2002. The site was covered Jan - May and again in Sept & Oct.

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Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata : Weymouth Bay - 3 singles 21 Jan - 13 Apr.

Black-throated Diver Gavia arctica : Singles on 4 and 22 Jan (JDM). Weymouth Bay & Newton's Cove - 3 singles 23 Jan - 10 Feb; 3 singles 28 Nov - 24 Dec.

Great Northern Diver Gavia immer : Portland Harbour/Weymouth Bay max 4 on 12 Feb & 8 Apr, with 2 late birds on 20 May; late max 3 on 29 Dec.

Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus : Noted 1 Jan - 28 Mar. Joint record max 16 on 6 Feb. Monthly maxima as follows:

Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo : Monthly maxima as follows.

European Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis : Noted 1 Jan - 26 Mar; then from 16 Sep. Max 9 on 28 Jan. Monthly maxima as follows :

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea : Noted on 10 dates: 3 days in Jan, then not again until 8 May, up till Oct 25. All singles.

Mute Swan Cygnus olor : Noted on 3 dates : 14 Mar, 29 Apr, 7 May.

Brent Goose Branta bernicla : One on 23 Jan was followed by 33W on 30 Jan. None in autumn.

Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna : Eight on 7 Jan, one on 8 Jan and nine on 14 Jan were present in the wintry conditions. Two on 20 Sep were an unusual autumn record.

Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope : Up to 10 off Stone Pier in the cold weather, 4 - 8 Jan.

Common Teal Anas crecca : One drake off Stone Pier, 22 Jan.

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos : Present from 15 Jan to 30 Apr. Monthly maxima as follows:

Common Pochard Aythya ferina : Present in cold weather, 7 - 28 Jan 1985, in harbour and off pier. Max 8, 14 Jan. The first records for The Nothe.

Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula : Several 14 - 28 Jan 1985 with the above species. Max 20, 22 Jan.

(Greater) Scaup Aythya marila : Six fem/imms off pier, in bitterly cold weather with NE winds, 14 Jan. The first record for The Nothe.

Common Eider Somateria mollissima : 4 fem./imms off the pier, 11 Jan.

Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis : A fem. seen off the pier after the cold snap on 22 Jan. My first record for The Nothe.

Common Scoter Melanitta nigra : One off the pier on 8 Jan was the only record

Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator : Eight off the pier on 23 Jan.

(Eurasian) Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus : Seven single records, on 4, 23 & 25 Jan, 11 & 26 Sep, 16 & 28 Oct.

(Eurasian) Kestrel Falco tinnunculus : Seven single records : on 7 & 11 Jan, 5 Feb, 27 Mar, 19 Apr, 23 & 25 Oct.

Merlin Falco columbarius : One f/imm 27 Sep after a good fall of passerines.

Peregrine Falco peregrinus : A fem on 10 May was my first record.

Eurasian Coot Fulica atra : Present more or less continuously from 1 Jan to 14 Mar. Max 15 on 23 Jan Monthly maxima:

(Eurasian) Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus : Max 8 on 26 Sep. Monthly maxima as follows :

(Northern) Lapwing Vanellus vanellus : Present in icy conditions, 10 - 21 Jan, with max nine on 16th. One found dead on 22nd.

(Greater) Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula : Present in the cold weather for several days in Jan 1985, with six on 7 Jan; last seen on 18 Jan when 5 present.

Common Redshank Tringa totanus : Single recorded on four dates, 14 - 22 Jan.

Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos : Single present from 1 Jan to 13 Feb, then from 20 Mar, with max 4 on 29 Apr, and the last two in spring on 30 Apr. Autumn singles on seven dates, 20 Sep - 29 Oct.

(Ruddy) Turnstone Arenaria interpres : Noted on 27 dates. Noticeable spring passage 8 - 10 May with max 17 on 8 May. Monthly maxima as follows:

(Eurasian) Woodcock Scolopax rusticola : One 23 Jan , after snow during the previous two days.

Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago : One in very cold weather, 15 & 16 Jan.

Red Knot Calidris canutus : Amazing flock of 25 on south rocks in 'unbearable' conditions with a biting NE wind, 7 Jan. My first record.

Little Stint Calidris minuta : One in Newton's Cove on 9 Jan. The first record.

Dunlin Calidris alpina : Two on 7-8 Jan .

Common (Mew) Gull Larus canus : Noted most dates from 1 Jan to 4 Mar.

Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus : Noted throughout the year.

Herring Gull Larus argentatus : Recorded daily.

Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus : Noted 11-12 Feb.

Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus : Noted daily to 28 Mar, then on 4 dates to 1 May. Autumn records daily.

(Black-legged) Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla : Singles in the harbour/pier area on 29 Jan and 11 Feb.

Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis : Noted from 17 Apr to 8 May, then Sep to 2 Oct, max 9 on 23 Sep. Monthly maxima as follows :

Common Tern Sterna hirundo : 14 bird-days. Noted 26 Apr (5), 9 May (1), 26 Sep(2) , 2, 9 & 11 Oct (2).

Little Tern Sterna albifrons : 3 bird-days. 2 on 13 May with one on 14 May .

Guillemot Uria aalge : 10 bird-days. Noted 4 dates in Jan, max 4 on 11 Jan, then singles on 2 & 22 Oct.

Razorbill Alca torda : 6 bird-days. Noted 3 dates in Jan, max 2 on 7 Jan, then singles on 20 Sep & 18 Oct.

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

Stock Dove Columba oenas : One on 28 Jan, two on 22 Mar, two on 26 Apr and a single on 1 May. None in autumn to end Oct.

Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus : Max 51 on 11 Feb. Absent 12 days in Sep (mostly) & Oct. Monthly maxima as follows :

European Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur : One on 24 Sep.

(Eurasian) Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto : Noted on 17 dates. Max 4 on 22 Apr. Monthly maxima as follows:

Little Owl Athene noctua : One on the landward Nothe Fort wall, 25 Oct.

Common Swift Apus apus : Noted on 3 & 7 May only.

Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis : Singles on 7, 14 and 15 Jan, and 24 Sep.

Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major : A female on 10 and 12 Sep was the first record.

Green Woodpecker Picus viridis : One on 25 Apr.

(Eurasian) Sky Lark Alauda arvensis : Some cold-weather records in Jan, when noted on 4 dates, max 3 on 18 Jan. No autumn records.

(European) Sand Martin Riparia riparia : Six on 18 Apr were the only records.

Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica : Noted from 18 April to 25 Oct. Spring max 3 on 8 May. Autumn max 18 on 18 Oct. Monthly maxima as follows :

(Common) House Martin Delichon urbica : Noted from 8 May to 11 Oct. Record max 93 on 24 Sep. Monthly maxima as follows :

Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava : Two on 13 Sep.

Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea : In the early part of the year, singles recorded 15 dates from 4 Jan to 26 Mar. Then noted from 11 Sep to Oct. Max 3 on 11 Sep. Monthly maxima as follows.

Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrelli: Present throughout the year, but sporadic sightings during Apr-May. Max 21 on 14 Oct. Monthly maxima as follows :

Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis : 6 bird-days, all in autumn. One on 10 Sep followed by three on 12th and another two on 26th.

Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis : Present 1 Jan almost continuously to 27 Mar, with a late single on 23 Apr. A single on 10 Sep was followed by the main autumn passage from 20 Sep, with max 26 on 26 Sep. Last two on 29 Oct. Monthly maxima as follows :

Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus : Present during the winter months. Last in spring on 18 Mar. First in autumn 9 Oct.

Wren Troglodytes troglodytes : Resident. Monthly maxima as follows :

Hedge Accentor (Dunnock) Prunella modularis : Resident. Max. count 11 on 10 May. Monthly maxima as follows :

(Common) Blackbird Turdus merula: Resident. Max 24 on 30 Jan following the cold weather. Monthly maxima as follows :

Fieldfare Turdus pilaris : Present in January along with the Redwing influx, but not in numbers. Jan max three on 11 Jan, then seen on two dates in Feb, max 12 on 12 Feb.

Redwing Turdus iliacus : An unprecedented influx in the cold weather in January, when present every day. Max an amazing 400 on 8 Jan (JS), and 103 on 22 Jan. Numbers only gradually declined and the last single was seen on 20 Mar. In autumn a single on 14 Oct was followed by five on 22 and two on 25 Oct.

Song Thrush Turdus philomelos : Present during the winter only, with no records in April, May and Sep. Numbers increased in the cold weather. Max 17 on 8 Jan. Monthly maxima as follows :

Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus : Up to three birds present throughout the winter, but no cold-weather influx. Usually frequent the north side trees. Present 1 Jan - 26 Mar, then singles on 26 & 30 Apr. In autumn singles on 26 Sep, 14 & 23 Oct, with two on 22 Oct.

(European) Robin Erithacus rubecula : Resident. Autumn passage mainly Sept/Oct. Max 19 on 24 Sep.

Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros : Only recorded in the early part of the year, from 1 Jan to 11 Mar, max five on 10 & 11 Jan. 32 bird-days in total.

Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus : Four in spring - a male 25 Apr , followed by fems on 6 Apr, 4 & 14 May. Six in autumn, all fem/imms - 2 on 11 Sep, one on 13 Sep , two on 1 Oct and one on 2 Oct.

Whinchat Saxicola rubetra : Six bird-days in spring. A record max three on 25 Apr followed by singles on 3, 9 and 14 May.

(Common) Stonechat Saxicola torquata : A fem/imm 10-14 Jan and again on 22 Jan were the only records. Four bird-days.

Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe : A male on 24 Apr was the only spring record. In autumn just three singles, on 16, 20 & 27 Sep.

Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia : One on 13 Sep was only the second record, and the first in autumn.

Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus : A single on 17 Apr was the only record.

Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla : A fem on 28 Jan and a male on 29 Jan were the only winter records, followed by a male on 6 Mar. Spring passage from 18 Apr - 3 May, with 12 bird-days, max four on 25 Apr & 3 May. In autumn one on 24 Sep, then two on 11 Oct. 18 bird-days in total.

Garden Warbler Sylvia borin : Just three singles, on 1, 9 & 14 May.

Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis : One on 25 Apr, then two on 13 May. In autumn one on 26 Sep.

Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus : Spring passage from 17 Apr to 10 May, with 125 bird-days, max 33 on 25 Apr. In autumn, three on 11 Sep, four on 12th and one on 26th were the only recorded.

(Eurasian) Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita : Just one record in early winter, on 22 Jan. Then from 7 Mar to 1 May, with 10 bird-days on 8 dates.

Autumn passage from 11 Sep to 29 Oct, with 74 bird-days on 17 dates, max 19 on 20 Sep.

Goldcrest Regulus regulus : Just two singles in spring, on 27 Mar and 18 Apr. Autumn passage from 16 Sep, with 53 bird-days on 13 dates, max 9 on 25 Sep .

Firecrest Regulus ignicapillus : 3 bird-days - one on 11 Oct, the earliest autumn date, with two on 25 Oct.

Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata : Just one in spring, on 9 May. A good autumn, with 18 bird days on 7 dates from 10 Sep to 1 Oct, max 6 on 10 Sep.

(European) Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca : Six bird days. Three in spring - two males and a fem on 25 Apr. Two fems in autumn, on 10 & 13 Sep, with a male on 11 Sep.

Coal Tit Parus ater : A major but brief autumn influx. One on 20 Sep was followed by 4 on 24th, 13 on 26th, three on 27th, with an astonishing 24 present on 9 Oct. 45 bird-days!

Great Tit Parus major : Resident. Monthly maxima :

Blue Tit Parus caeruleus : Resident. Max 11 on 26 Sep. Monthly maxima:

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

(Eurasian) Jackdaw Corvus monedula : Cold -weather movements noted eight days in Jan, max 20 on 8 Jan. The usual autumn movements, six dates in Sep/Oct with max 21 on 17 Sep. Monthly maxima :

Rook Corvus frugilegus : 16 bird-days. Two on 14 Jan; singles on 4 Feb & 8 Mar, 4 on 17 Apr, with max 8 on 9 Oct.

Carrion Crow Corvus corone : Resident, with spring and autumn gatherings. Max 13 on 18 Mar. Autumn max 12 on 23 Sep. Monthly maxima :

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

(European) Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs : Resident. Not present in the cold weather, but increased just afterwards. Good autumn passage, with max 130 over on 25 Oct. Monthly maxima :

(European) Greenfinch Carduelis chloris : Mainly present throughout the year, but absent in early autumn, reappearing on 27 Sep. Monthly maxima :

(Eurasian) Siskin Carduelis spinus : Autumn migrants, the first records for The Nothe, noted as follows : one on 26 Sep, three on 27 Sep, 12 on 1 Oct, six on 14 Oct and eight on 25 Oct. 29 bird-days.

(European) Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis : Like the other finches, few in the cold snap, but a pronounced passage in the ensuing warmer conditions. Definite spring passage, with birds continuousy present from 18 Apr. Good autumn passage, with dramatic visible passage on 18 Oct of 256 going through in 45 mins, a record max. Monthly maxima :

Common Redpoll Carduelis flammea : A good showing in autumn in parallel with the record Siskin passage. Six on 1 Oct , with eight on 14 Oct.

(Eurasian) Linnet Carduelis cannabina : Four on 14 Jan were an unusual winter record. Then none until five on 18 Apr, with singles on 23 & 26 Apr and 1 May. Autumn passage 35 bird-days on 4 dates 26 Sep - 18 Oct, max 13 on 14 Oct. 47 bird-days total.

(Eurasian) Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula : A male on 29 Jan was the second record.

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