Diary 2002
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| 2002 | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC |
2 January 2003: Two inches of rain over the last two days has turned the harbour and part of the bay a murky brown oxtail soup colour, but this didn't deter the drake Eider, still showing well off the pier. A Great Northern Diver was keeping well out in the clearer water, and a Mute Swan was in the most unusual location of Newton's Cove, together with 6 Great Crested Grebes.
31 December : Dreary weather but brighter on the bird front, with a Sandwich Tern - by definition the latest ever! - over the pier, with a juv. Kittiwake past. The Red-throated Diver was very close in, moving into the harbour, and two Great Northern Divers were in the bay.
GOOD LUCK TO ALL NEW YEAR LISTERS!
Black Redstarts can be looked for around the base of the fort, on the rocks along the south shore and Newton's Cove, and especially at the moment on the Newton's Cove seawall works - look through the fence for them.
Probably more birders visit The Nothe on New Year's Day than on any other day of the year - please email any records in! (especially counts of anything you see either on The Nothe or in Newton's Cove/Weymouth Bay) Thanks!!!
30 December : A nice afternoon off the pier in calm conditions, with a stunning adult drake Eider - full adult males are pretty rare in Dorset - two Slavonian Grebes close in to the pier, and, strangely, calling quietly. Also a close Great Northern and distant Red-throated Diver, with the usual Little Grebe and two Razorbill. A single male Black Redstart was on the fort.
28 December: Just in time to get a few December records - four Black Redstarts were present this afternoon, helped by the £2m Black Redstart habitat creation scheme - the Newton's Cove seawall works are proving ideal for them.
18 November : A calm, mild and very varied morning, with Redpoll, Siskin and Stock Dove over, and early Mute Swan and Little Grebe (second-earliest winter record) in the harbour, with two Brent Geese and a Dunlin (the second of the year) past the pier and still Sandwich Tern in the bay.
11 November : Back to the future today - or summer anyway, with mild, sunny conditions producing Sandwich Tern and the latest ever record of Swallow.
7 November : Cold and clear with a fresh NW wind this morning, with four Black Redstarts the first of the autumn and a year max. All fem/imms, two were on the seawall workings enjoying the disturbed ground, one was below the fort on the southern side, with one on the Tavern lawns. Five Stock Doves heading into the wind were the first of the autumn on a typical date.
4 November : Hazy sun and calm, with a Curlew flying high overhead and calling, another year-tick, bringing up the year total to 115 spp. Seven Brent Geese flew close past the pier, while seven Razorbill were a year max.
31 October : A dull, calm Halloween morning gave a year-tick : Red-throated Diver very close past the end of the pier, settling in Newton's Cove, to make 114 spp for the year. Another Little Gull in the bay continued the good year for these.
30 October : A busy morning with much bird activity, but nothing new. Six Redwing were the most notable, with 77 Woodpigeon a year max on a classic date.
14 October: After the heavy rain yesterday and strong winds overnight, there was nothing on the sea, surprisingly. But the year's second Merlin (only the fourth record!) whacked through at first light, and the first Stonechat for nearly two years - a male - was on the south side of the fort. Year list now at 113 spp. - surely not much more left to come now.
11 October : A massive morning, with hundreds of finches and other species going NE into the wind in the first couple of hours. There were record counts of 218 Chaffinch, 174 Greenfinch, and 76 Linnet, while 238 Goldfinch was a near-record count. 34 Song Thrushes were also a record, joined by the first Redwing of the autumn. Along with these came no less than four year-ticks : a flock of 13 Sky Lark were first, followed by the first of three Siskin, the first two of four Redpoll (my first here since 1985), and a Brambling, the latter perching on the top sycamores for a few minutes. Swallows, Pied Wagtails and even three Jackdaws were also caught up in the movement, along with a Kestrel and Sparrowhawk. The year list surges to an amazing 112 species.
With all the bird excitement it was easy to forget what was probably the most significant record of the morning : a Grey Seal, watching the workmen on their diggers in Newton's Cove. This was the first record for The Nothe, and incidentally my first in Dorset!
9 October : A strong east wind this morning, brought an adult Little Gull into the bay - the second record this year. Still some Pied Wagtail movement and a few Swallows.
8 October : All quiet birdwise in a strengthening south-easterly, but a report of several Badgers on the Tavern Lawns at 5am was a good record.
7 October : Calm conditions with bubbling shower clouds gave another excellent morning with plenty of vis., 41 spp with three raptors: Peregrine, Sparrowhawk and Merlin, the first of the latter since Sep 1985, only the third record and a fine year tick. 51 Pied Wagtails in two hours were a new record max, and 13 Song Thrush were a year max. The first two Common Gulls of the autumn were in the bay, and a Kingfisher past the fort was a belated year tick. The year list now well into record territory at 108 spp.
3 October : A change to wetter weather and westerly winds - albeit dead calm this morning - dramatically increased the numbers of most species on the land, with a year high and joint max. 16 Goldcrest - these usually peak later so probably a new record to come. 49 Woodpigeons were also a year max - starting to move overhead in small flocks now, and 20 Robins were also a year max. Three Wheatear were the first since 11 Aug. Four Raven going over (two pairs in quick succession) were also a joint max - to within a day of the last group of four on 4 Oct 2000.
30 September : More vis. today with a year max of 30 Pied Wagtails over going south with six Rook and assorted Mipits and finches. Greenfinches reached a year max of 87 and six Grey Heron flying north were a year max on a typical date. On the land 11 Chiffchaff were joined by two late Willow Warblers and a 'late' Goldcrest picked up dead on the pier. 11 Collared Doves, all in view at the same time, were a new record max.
28 September : A classic mid-autumn morning full of surprises. Light SE winds and a very dull start promised a good landbird day, but it was the sea that stole the show, with 20 Brent Geese arriving from the SE in small flocks, one group of six accompanied by a Pintail flying right over the top lawns, a long-awaited first record for the Nothe. My 106th species here this year, 152 in total, and bringing the Nothe list to 182.
A remarkably late small passage of 13 Gannets heading east (the latest record) were joined by 19 Common Scoter, with the autumn's first Razorbill in the harbour. A drift of Meadow Pipits and others and the first Long-tailed Tit flock of the autumn pushed the species total to an excellent 41 for the morning.
25 September : A clear and delightful morning but very quiet birdwise, with only Peregrine and Sparrowhawk to liven up the list.
18 September : Swallows still on the move, with a count of 197 not as many as yesterday, but still above the previous record. A Common Sandpiper was new in on the shore by the fort.
17 September : A stunning return with much migration in progress, and a Nothe tick in the shape of a Crossbill going over E like a bullet and calling loudly. After seeing these every day last week on Fair Isle I was well primed to pick up the call. The second record for The Nothe, sp. no 105 for the year, and my 151st Nothe species. A record 447 Swallows (previous record 162!) were counted going through, mainly E or SE in two hours, with 33 Meadow Pipits. Actually on the ground were 17 Chiffchaffs, a Willow Warbler and two Spotted Flycatchers.
Juv. Mediterranean Gull, Stone Pier,
28 August 2002
(Photo © Jamie McMillan)
1 September : Variety if not volume picking up a bit on a very clear morning with an autumnal chill in the air first thing. The first two Chiffchaffs and Whitethroats of the autumn were joined by Sedge Warbler and Blackcap, with four Willow Warblers, two Spotted Flycatchers and a Redstart as supporting cast. A Sparrowhawk ghosted through the southern holm oaks, and the juv. Med Gull was still around the pier and in Newton's Cove. The tame Bottle-nosed Dolphin has been back in the harbour this week, apparently following the rowing-boat ferry back and forth.
31 August : Clear again overnight, and very meagre offerings on the land - just a Pied Flycatcher and three Willow Warblers. A Sand Martin overhead was the first of the autumn. The juv. Med Gull was consorting with the Black-headed Gulls on the south rocks in Newton's Cove, where a Little Egret was again feeding. Another record year for these is on the cards.
30 August : The juv. Med Gull was again showing well around the Stone Pier, and settling on the shingle beach at the base of the fort, where two Fulmars were again flying over looking interested - surely only a matter of time before they try to breed here. Despite the promising drizzly conditions very little sign of migration again, although singles of Spotted Flycatcher, Redstart, and Willow Warbler showed as it brightened up.
29 August : A desperately quiet morning, with only a Little Egret on the south shore of note. House Sparrows down to a mere 192!
28 August : The juv. Med. Gull was around the Stone Pier again this morning, and the first returning Turnstone was at the base of the fort. Still almost no land migrants, but there was an astonishing record max 195 House Sparrows mostly emerging from a roost in the south shore scrub, well beating the previous max of 74 recorded earlier this summer. Good to see these doing well, here anyway. A record 7 Small Tortoiseshell butterflies was noted.
26 August: A grafting sort of day, still with few migrants, but enough things gradually turning up as the morning wore on to make me stay for a full cooked breakfast outside at the Nothe Chalet - a Peregrine flew over while I was tucking in, definitely justifying the decision.
The first autumn Redstart and Spotted Flycatcher joined a couple of Willow Warblers on the land, while one juv. Med Gull was again dipping for snacks in the harbour. Perhaps the most interesting record was of two Ravens: one low over the south shore treetops, causing havoc amongst the crows, and what presumably was its mate high over the town to the west. Only the second record of the year for these, and the first August record..
24 August : A continental feel for a hot and sunny start to the Bank Holiday weekend, with a Little Egret on the south shore, and the first six Clouded Yellow butterflies of the year. Masses of other butterflies on the wing included record maxima of Common Blue (15), Small White (28), Painted Lady (7), Small Tortoiseshell (5), and the first record of Wall Brown. Not sure whether this is actually scarce here or if I've just overlooked it.
Other insects included both Scarce and Southern Hawker dragonflies, the frst Common Darter of the year, and the first record of Volucella zonaria, a splendid hornet-like hoverfly.
23 August : A dead quiet morning bird-wise with only the first Grey Wagtail of the autumn of note. A Scarce Aeshna settled on an ash tree long enough for me to i/d it for the first time here.
22 August : A very quiet start, with nothing moving on the land apart from a few Pied Wagtails over. But the sea more than made up for it with two juv. Med Gulls feeding in the harbour - my first multiple sighting of these. I can't recall having seen quite such young birds before, with mottled mantles and a brownish cast to the nape and shoulders, quite different to first-winters. Eight Ringed Plover flying over were another personal max and a year tick, to give 104 spp for the year. Finally the juv Great Spotted Woodpecker again popped up in the Steps garden.
11 August : The first three Wheatears of the autumn were on the south slopes mid-morning, but otherwise much the same as a week ago - the juv. Green Woodpecker was still present (and noticed by local dog-walkers), a few Willow Warblers were about, Whimbrel and Common Sandpiper on the south shore, and two Fulmar and a Gannet around the bay. The first Painted Lady butterflies of the year were around the buddleias.
4 August: A very quiet start despite the promising dull conditions, with only a Swift passage of note. Decided to give the south shore another try for waders to add to the Whimbrel and three Common Sandpipers there, despite the words 'horse', 'flogging' and 'dead' coming randomly to mind, and quickly stumbled on a Pied Flycatcher near the cypresses. This gave superb views down to a few feet and was quickly followed by a very mobile but vocal Lesser Whitethroat - both second records for the year, and the latter making this the first year with more than one record.
I took the hint and waited around in the area, to be rewarded by a juv. Green Woodpecker ghosting in out of nowhere and feeding on the grass slope - an excellent year tick, and sp no 103 for the year. With two woodpeckers and Treecreeper under the belt, any guesses for the next woodland bird?
2 August : A very quiet morning. A Little Egret was on the south shore again - this will probably be the first species to benefit from the lack of disturbance here - and two Coal Tit were prospecting potential future nest sites in the fort - can we expect the first breeding record next year? An attempt at a Plant List is now online.
An intriguing report of a Sunfish in the bay over the weekend appeared in yesterday's local paper - any further info welcome.
30 July: An imm. Little Egret on the south shore continued the good run of these, as did six Common Scoter in the bay, present along with six Gannet. Little on the land until a Lesser Whitethroat popped up feeding like a Tui on the New Zealand Flax flowers. A year tick, to within a day of the last record on 31 July 2000, and bringing the year list to 102 spp.
29 July : A baking hot afternoon visit to relase the fulvalis produced a record 26 Gatekeeper and the first Six-spot Burnet moth.
28 July: Highlight of a muggy morning was a juv. Great Spotted Woodpecker, the first summer record, and the first evidence of breeding in the vicinity. A year tick, moving the year tally to 101. Three Whimbrel were on the south shore, and a crowd of anglers on the pier were catching masses of Mackerel after the whitebait cloud.
But the rarest visitor of the weekend (apart from Bob Geldof doing a gig in the fort...) was a moth, Udea fulvalis. This pyralid is normally only found in the UK in the Poole/Bournemouth/Christchurch area, with the very occasional migrant reported elsewhere. With few migrant moths about at the moment, the suspicion must be that this is breeding in the area, which would be an exciting discovery. Thanks to Martin Cade for the info and confirming the identification of this species, a first record for The Nothe.
Udea fulvalis, The Nothe, 28 July
2002
(Photo © Martin Cade)
26 July : Back to find the first autumn Willow Warblers (3) and Whimbrel today, the latter on the recently fenced-off south shore. Interesting to see the effect of preventing disturbance here - but not for long before the diggers move in to build a new sea wall. The Common Terns with the first juvs were feeding busily on the masses of whitebait off the pier. Bird of the day was an adult male Kestrel, in the same tree as the one last summer, and the 100th species of the year.
17 July : Eight Common Scoter in the bay this morning, and the first Gatekeeper butterflies on the wing, with the first record of Small Skipper. A record count of 74 House Sparrow - these are prospering nicely this year.
6 July : Another Little Egret on the shore, with four Common Scoter and four Gannet in the bay.
4 July : The first return waders appeared today, in the shape of a record flock of eight Common Sandpipers. A Little Egret going over was the year's fourth record. Marbled White butterflies were about in good numbers as the morning warmed up, with counts of 15, with 8 Ringlets. The latter forms a significant colony - not only are they quite rare in Weymouth, but are also highly unusual along the Dorset coast - in a recent walk along the coast path from Weymouth to Studland I failed to see one!
30 June : Many birds to count today included a record max 52 House Sparrow and the first breeding record of Goldcrest, which were feeding young by the gardeners' compound. Goldfinch have also bred this year, and recently fledged young were in the Tavern car park. Six Common Scoter were flying in the bay.
It wasn't just birds in numbers today - Grey Squirrel reached a new max with a whoppng 15 counted - they were all over the top lawns, presumably with numbers swelled by this year's spring young.
22 June : A singing Chiffchaff was not unusual for midsummer - though I can't work out what they are doing here at this time of year! The Coal Tit saga continues, today with one somewhat improbably seen on a seawatch...a juv flew over my head while I was at the end of the pier, decided against going on, turned round and settled on the pier rocks, still calling, before flying back on to The Nothe. Vis. dispersal!
The seawatch produced a new personal max of 11 Common Scoter, and two Peregrine flew over - I've never seen more than singles here before. One was a brown somewhat immatury-looking female, the other an adult male. A Great Crested Grebe was highly unusual in summer.
18 June : Surprisingly, 33 bird species this morning in intermittent fog and hot sunshine. These included a Gannet directly over the pier - according to the fishermen a regular early morning sight recently, a Fulmar, two Little Terns, and a family party of Coal Tits with at least two juvs, the first I've seen here, and indicating breeding nearby - a highly unusual record for this part of Weymouth. Three Grey Heron were also a year max. Butterflies included several Painted Lady and a Ringlet.
16 June : An afternoon jaunt produced the first Common Blue and Large Skipper butterflies, and I was delighted to see a Common Lizard, a first record for The Nothe, scurry away under the grass on the landslip.
10 June : Into the quietest month of all and predictably nothing to report except a recently fledged juv. Pied Wagtail, again showing that they breed somewhere nearby.
27 May : Calm conditions with shower clouds bubbling up seemed like good conditions for terns, and 48 Common Tern was the count from the bay and Newton's Cove - a near-record, and equalling my personal max noted on 17 May this year. No other species, though. A spiralling flock of Black-headed Gulls was again noteworthy - normally absent from the area in spring, there have been a fair number of records this year of what are presumably non-breeders. Also due to the calm conditions, a gathering of 37 Swift feeding over the top lawns was the max so far this year.
25 May : Just a few degrees in wind direction can make all the difference - a move towards the west this morning meant no seabirds apart from a lone Guillemot in the bay. The Reed Warbler and Blackcap were still present, both having moved to the trees and bushes of the sheltered north-east corner. A few Swifts were on the move, and the first brood of Great Tits was shouting for food.
24 May : The rain and gales overnight gave way to a bright blustery morning, and brought another Gannet fishing between the pier and Weymouth beach. No seabird surprises today, but predictability was never a feature of the Nothe, and two summer-plumaged Sanderling flying past were the result of a short seawatch. Yet another Nothe tick, only the third record - and a notable occasion, as these were my 150th Nothe species - in 'only' 21 years of watching, off and on.
A singing Blackcap showed that stragglers were still on migration, but a singing Reed Warbler from the Tavern lawn scrub patch was a real surprise - another third record, and the first in spring. With all this it was easy to overlook the count of 47 House Sparrows being a new record max, helped by a gathering feeding on the weed blown up by the gales on the south shore.
So May 2002 is the joint-record month for species with 71 spp recorded! The year list moves to a tantalising 99 spp.
22 May : The strong southerly winds and showers this morning produced what must be the best bird of the year so far : a light-phase Pomarine Skua, whacking across the bay past the pier just before a squall. A really exciting Nothe tick for me, a third record, and the first record in spring.
I thought patience would pay off when I saw a Gannet ploughing along the shore inland from the pier, and then flying just a few yards away off the end. This was followed by a Great Northern Diver in full summer plumage riding out the choppy waters in the bay - the latest record in spring by a long way. The half-hour wait produced a couple more close Gannets as well as the skua. My 149th species here, the 97th for the year and 69th for the month. Any more to come? Gales forecast for Friday!
21 May : A long time coming, but finally a Spotted Flycatcher arrived today - the 96th species of the year, and 68th of May, making this the best month since the remarkable Jan 85, with its cold snap producing 70 spp. May is still far from over, but the possibilities for new birds are running out. The heavy rain yesterday may have been responsible for more odd migrants this morning, with singing Garden Warbler and Chiffchaff present.
20 May : The first day for a while with no new birds for the year. A couple of Fulmar added to their bumper total this year, and a Gannet kept up the seabird tally.
19 May : May is always a month of surprises, but who'd have thought it would produce an immature drake Eider quite close to the shore in Newton's Cove, continuing the amazing recent run of year-ticks: the 95th species of the year. Four Whimbrel were the only other migrants. A record max 10 Grey Squirrel were counted.
17 May : The strong south-east winds this morning produced a tern influx into Newton's Cove and Weymouth Bay, with 42 Little Tern - just short of last year's max, 48 Common Tern - a personal max, spring max and just short of the record - and 17 Sandwich Tern. With the terns was an adult Kittiwake - an unusual spring record - and a Guillemot. Three Bar-tailed Godwit flew past, pursued by a Knot, for the year's 94th species.
16 May : A Dunlin briefly early on in Newton's Cove on a fine warm morning was yet another year-tick, taking the year list to 93 spp. A trickle of Swallows was heading east into the wind, and 10 Jackdaws flying north were an unusual spring sight.
14 May : Still blustery after yesterday's very windy conditions, producing two distant Manx Shearwater in Weymouth Bay, and a Gannet. The shearwaters were a Nothe tick for me, my 148th species on the site. Most of the previous records have been on 11, 12 and 13 May! A fine chunky, well-coloured male Wheatear - a good candidate for Greenland Wheatear - was on the south rocks.
11 May : An exceptionally early Gannet - normally a high summer visitor - was circling Newton's Cove, taking the year list to 91 spp. The Herring Gulls are really settling in amongst their chimney pots, but perhaps the most interesting sighting was of a pair of Shelduck prospecting for nest-holes amongst the Newton's Cove boulders - unfortunately in exactly the area that will be disturbed by the works planned for next month. Maybe they will go further along the breakwater. 10 Collared Dove, including five going over, were a new max.
10 May : A visit on a warm afternoon on the vague chance of getting a raptor paid off nicely, with a male Peregrine soaring overhead. This is the 90th species of the year, an excellent total to finish off the spring with - but looking at the weather ahead, and further south, I feel that migration is by no means over yet. A winter-plumaged Guillemot was an interesting late lingerer in the harbour.
9 May : Even quieter, though four Little Tern were showing well in Newton's Cove.
8 May : After yesterday's wonders, a much quieter morning, with only a Whitethroat and Wheatear present, along with the first Magpie since 17 Mar.
7 May : Wet conditions this morning produced the most exciting day of the year so far, with four year-ticks and a first! A male Yellow Wagtail was on the shingle by the fort with a White Wagtail - the latter not quite a year-tick, but a good record, and on a classic date. This was the first Yellow Wagtail actually on the ground for many years. Shortly after, a flock of eight Little Tern flew over the pier calling. Back by the car park a Wood Warbler was singing from the sycamores, and showing well, while a Green Sandpiper flew low over the top lawns calling. The latter was an unexpected first record, bringing the total Nothe list to 181 spp. The year list leaps forward to 89 spp. - what a morning!
5 May : Much quieter, with only single Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler in the migrant line. However, a record max 32 Carrion Crow, including an astonishing noisy mob of 27 at the end of the pier (well, it is the Bank Holiday weekend), was notable, as was the first sign of Herring Gull breeding - nestbuilding amongst the chimneys of the cottages.
4 May : More of the usual suspects this morning, with three Garden Warbler a year max, two Sedge Warbler, two Blackcap, a Whitethroat and seven Willow Warbler.
2 May : Superb clear, sunny and calm conditions, and, despite a slow start, an excellent 45 spp noted. These included the first Pied Flycatcher - a female, House Martins and Swifts of the year to bring the year list to 85 spp.
At last there was some real migration, with a visible passage of hirundines, mainly Swallows, and a good selection of warblers including single Whitethroat and Garden Warbler, six Willow Warbler and three Blackcap, and a record max four Sedge Warbler. Four Great Northern Divers were still in the bay, with a late Razorbill.
1 May : After yesterday's wet and windy conditions there were few birds on the land, although a Sedge Warbler was new for the year, and was joined by three Whitethroat, a Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler, and the first Chiffchaff for a couple of weeks. Still a single Bar-tailed Godwit on the shore with nine Whimbrel and a year max six Shelduck - the most I've seen actually settled on the land here.
Most remarkable were five Great Northern Divers, some going into summer plumage - a surprising gathering, and the latest record. Despite the absence of hirundines and Swift, an excellent 41 spp was a year max for a visit.
27 April : Wader passage continued unabated this morning, with a joint record count of 18 Whimbrel and four Bar-tailed Godwit. A drake Common Scoter showing well in Newton's Cove was unusual for late April.
26 April : Heavy rain this morning brought in some interesting stuff including a joint record max seven Common Sandpipers, a year max 29 Turnstones, and eight Whimbrel on the south shore together with a mass of feeding gulls. The now-annual late April Great Northern Diver appeared off the pier, with a late Guillemot.
25 April : The focus was still on the shore today with seven Whimbrel joined by two Bar-tailed Godwit, an excellent year-tick, and the earliest record, bringing the list to 80spp. Six Wheatear were a year max., but otherwise still quiet for land migrants.
24 April : 11 Whimbrel landed on the shore in what is promising to be a bumper year for them. A Little Egret flew north, but still very quiet on the land.
22 April : A Whitethroat was somewhat overdue, but three Fulmar cruising over the fort were a joint max, and the most in spring.
20 April : Light rain and calm conditions brought in a few birds, but not the hoped-for fall, with just 12 Willow Warblers. A Garden Warbler was the earliest on record, and 33 Brent Geese flying south out of the bay were both new for the year and a joint max. Also present in good numbers were Sandwich Tern, with 30 making a new spring max, while 30 imm Black-headed Gulls heading south were an unusual spring record, and perhaps evidence of passage. Year list to 78 spp.
19 April : Three Swallow were hawking over the fort rocks, with a Common Sandpiper there again,while three Wheatear were mobile around the fort itself. Otherwise quiet on a fine morning.
18 April : Whimbrel arrived with a bang today - a flock of 13 flying in to land on the south rocks below the fort made an impressive sight, and together with one distantly flying made my best ever total, and continued the apparent recent increase. A couple of Wheatear were notable in the current dearth of migrants - but it looks as though all that is set to change with warm winds moving up from Spain over the weekend.
17 April : A Common Tern in the bay was the earliest on record, and the 75th species of the year, while a Wheatear on the grass slopes was the first for a fortnight. A Fulmar was flying over the fort again.
16 April : More than making up for the slightly disappointing results yesterday, a Grasshopper Warbler - only the fourth record, and the earliest - was reeling from the Steps garden. Swallow and Sand Martin passing over in quick succession were also new for the year, and a Common Sandpiper joined the Turnstones on the fort rocks. Year list to 74 spp.
15 April : Sadly missed what would undoubtedly have been a fall yesterday, but still 15 Willow Warblers and a nicely-performing male Redstart in stunningly fine conditions this morning.
13 April : Another blank morning for migrants, but the bright conditions were good for breeding bird activity, with a record three pairs of Song Thrush feeding young, and three Great Tit pairs with males singing. One of the latter was building a nest in one of the fort cannons!
12 April : Even colder, but clear and with a light northerly. A smidgin of movement today with three Stock Dove flying north the first of the year and a good spring record. A Mistle Thrush was the second of the year, and the first fledgeling Blackbirds appeared. Two Willow Warblers were the first for a few days. Year list to 71 spp.
11 April : Still cold and with a brisk north-easterly. Migrants still blocked, but the second Fulmar of the year was prospecting the fort, and yet another Mute Swan was in the harbour in what is promising to be a bumper year for these.
8 April : Clear, cold and still northeasterly. An absolutely blank morning, with no migrants. A very approachable Bottle-nosed Dolphin has been in the Weymouth area over the past week or so and has reportedly been following boats into the harbour.
6 April : An unpromising strong easterly nonetheless produced some good stuff in the sunny conditions. Rarest was a Fieldfare flying from the fort to the top lawns, the latest spring record, and only the second since 1985. Two Shelduck flying towards Portland Harbour were the first of the year, bringing the year list to 70 spp. Jackdaws were again on the move, with 10 flying NE, Linnets put on a very strong showing, with 26 noted, and there was also a trickle of Lesser Black-backed Gulls, seemingly all fuscus -type, going NE. Finally, an imm. male Sparrowhawk made a fine sight as it perched briefly on one of the paths just a few yards away after an unsuccessful swoop.
4 April : A male Redstart, the earliest on record, was nice to see below the south slope cedars, but more unusual these days was a Coot poking about amongst the seaweed on the fort rocks - the second record this year.
3 April : A damp morning after last night's thunderstorms produced a few good birds, the best being a spanking summer-plumaged adult Mediterranean Gull - a year-tick and only my second record - flying past the pier with 11 Sandwich Terns. A Little Egret along the south shore was the second this year. and 30 Mallard were a new max.
2 April : A few migrants at last this morning in light SE winds. Three Wheatears, four Chiffchaffs, and three Willow Warblers were joined by a record seven Blackcaps (at least five of these male), maintaining the increase in the latter in the last few years. Linnets also put in a good showing with 12 present, including five singing males, some of these nicely coloured. A Common Sandpiper with the Turnstones by the fort base was new for the year. Year list to 66.
31 March : The quiet run continued. One female Wheatear and a Chiffchaff the only migrants despite the very promising drizzly conditions.
30 March : The first Willow Warbler of the year, the earliest ever by a day, was the only notable migrant on a fine hazy morning. Linnets were singing, and the pair of Long-tailed Tits were carrying nesting material. Nine singing Dunnock males were a year max.
28 March : A biting east wind kept the birds away this morning (again!). Nine territories of Wren were counted.
27 March : Seven Jackdaws flying north were an interesting record. but otherwise quiet.
26 March : A female Wheatear was the only migrant on a fine morning.
25 March : An evening visit produced just four Lesser Black-backed Gulls in the bay roost.
24 March : A small arrival of Blackcaps - two males and a female - were belated first records for the year.
23 March : A few Meadow Pipits were on the move this morning, and with them the first Linnet of the year, briefly dipping down to the Tavern lawns. Seven Common Scoter flying round the bay were a new max for me.
22 March : Still really quiet, with no apparent movement. The Black Redstart on the south rocks still lingers, making this the latest spring record.
21 March : Very quiet on the land, but four Common Scoter and three Great Northern Divers were in the bay.
19 March : At last the first day of spring, with six Sandwich Terns (my earliest record here) just beating a female Wheatear into the notebook. Calm conditions were ideal for watching the bay, which had seven Great Northern Divers, three Slavonian Grebes and a Common Scoter. These pushed the species total for the day to 37, the highest so far this year. Year list to 63.
With the Dorset Bird Report 2000 just out, it is pleasing to see so many Nothe records there. Send me an email if you want a copy - not sure of cost.
17 March : Less movement in windier conditions this morning but still some interesting records, with four Rook, and the first three Jackdaw of the year. A fly-over Yellowhammer going SE over the Tavern lawns was the first in spring since Mar 1984, and brought the year-list to a respectable 61. Two Coal Tit were the first in spring , and a pair of Long-tailed Tit were investigating possible nest sites.
16 March : A really lively morning with a Starling influx, masses of bird song, and no less than three year-ticks. A Raven calling and tumbling high above the town was a classic March bird. A Fulmar prospecting, again over the harbour and town, was the earliest ever (previous early date was 23 Mar 1984). The best was a Fieldfare 'chacking' in the trees in the cadet base.The first record since the cold-weather influx in Feb 1985. Still no Wheatear, and the first day this year without Black-headed Gull.
12 March : Another quet morning with just a female Black Redstart on the south rocks to report.
11 March : A Mistle Thrush was a new bird for the year on a typical early spring date.
9 March : Two Mute Swans in the bay and the two Red-breasted Merganser close in were the only birds of note on a quiet morning.
8 March : The first signs of movement on a foggy morning with a remarkable flock of 12 Redwing in the Tavern lawn trees. The largest number since February 1985. A Mute Swan in the harbour was joined by a new max of 27 Mallard around the fort in their usual pre-breeding concentration.
1 March : A cold start, with a north-easterly wind, and much less about on the sea - the pair of Red-breasted Merganser were settled though, and keeping up their regular late-winter appearance here. The first real Carrion Crow gathering of the year produced a record count of 29, the increase still continuing, while House Sparrows were much in evidence with a year max of 36. A Blue Tit continued its vendetta on car wing mirrors near the Tavern - it has been having a go at these all this week.
28 February : A bumper morning, with two Red-necked Grebes - one in Weymouth Bay, and one in Newton's Cove - a record max of five Little Grebes in the harbour, and a Slavonian Grebe together with the usual Great Crested to give four species - the first time I've recorded this here. In addition there were five Great Northern Divers including an interesting 'flock' of three associating, and two Common Scoter. 10 Shags were a year max., and, finally, two Red-breasted Merganser were new for the year. 36 species was an excellent late winter total.
27 February : Still windy and cold this morning, with just two Little Grebe, a year max, of note.
24 February : A late afternoon visit coupled with a relatively close gull roost enabled a count, with personal maxima of 1040 Common Gulls and 3900 Black-headed Gulls. 12 Lesser Black-backs were also scattered amongst them.
23 February : Virtually a complete blank on a windy and showery morning; only a year max of 14 Cormorants notable.
22 February : Just three Chiffchaffs enjoying some late morning sunshine.
21 February : Flat calm conditions with hazy sun made for perfect bay-watching conditions, producing an excellent Red-necked Grebe - the first I've managed to see from the pier for many years - three Slavonian Grebes and a fine collection of 13 Great Crested Grebes, seven Great Northern Divers, and four Common Scoter, the latter two year-ticks. The male Black Redstart was back by the fort again.
The Scoter were a record max for me with only singles and one pair recorded from The Nothe before, and the Great Crested Grebes were the highest number I've noted since Feb 1985.
17 February : A pretty dull morning species-wise, with only a Sparrowhawk to enliven the gloom. However, numbers good, with a year-high of 49 Greenfinches.
5 February : Not much change in three weeks, apart from some rather ominous pruning. Not quite so wet and windy this morning, with Little Grebe and Sparrowhawk new for 2002. Much mud in the harbour water didn't deter a Guillemot from fishing there.
20 January : A wet and windy morning, with only Lesser Black-backed Gull new for the year.
19 January : Continuing mild, and a really quiet morning, with the only thing of note a battle between two Pied Wagtails on the south rocks: one was apparently trying to drown the other, which was completely submerged at times!
15 January : A Red-throated Diver flying out of Weymouth Bay, and a Mute Swan flying into the harbour continued the run of year-ticks this morning.
13 January : Very mild and dull, and the sea very quiet, but quite entertaining on the land, with two year-ticks : a Treecreeper, possibly the same bird that was seen in December, with the Long-tailed Tit flock, and a Redwing on the tavern lawns - a very unusual record in mild weather.
11 January : Spring-like conditions brought out three Chiffchaffs, and an unusual winter record of two Rooks flying east.
10 January : Calm, but damp and dull conditions nevertheless produced a few new ones for the year. A two-heron day, with both Grey Heron and Little Egret flying towards Portland Harbour, and a Slavonian Grebe in Weymouth Bay. Two Black Redstarts were around the pier.
9 January : A Coal Tit and four Goldfinches were new for the year, but there was little on the sea despite good calm conditions. The subadult male Black Redstart was again on the pier.
8 January : A dull raw morning produced no new species for the year, but a chance to watch Rock Pipits coming out of a sheltered roost on the north side of the pier produced a remarkable record count of 26 - certainly a notable concentration of birds, and possibly an influx, although these are usually highly sedentary birds.
5 January : Calm, mild conditions brought two excellent birds this morning. A 1st-winter Little Gull was feeding on flies on the south side of the Stone Pier down to within 3m. My first since Nov 1982, and my first January record. A Coot was betwen the pier and the beach - formerly regular here, this is my first since March 1985. The fem/imm Black Redstart was still feeding around the fort, and a Meadow Pipit was new for the year.
3 January : Still a strong SE with dramatic waves now battering Newton's Cove and the pier. Nothing new on the sea, but a Snipe flushed from the tavern car park lawns was the first I'd seen on the ground here since the snow of 1985!
2 January: Lots of gulls feeding on the waves blown up by the fresh SE wind included a Kittiwake sheltering in the harbour. This would have been a year-tick for 2001! A female Black Redstart was trying to make amends for yesterday's absence.
1 January : Despite the hard overnight frost. a highly disappointing start to the year, with a fresh south-easterly driving the birds off both sea and land. A Guillemot in the harbour and Chiffchaff in the south shore bushes the only things of note. Sorry about lack of Black Redstarts for New year listers.
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