Portland Bird Observatory
and Field Centre
Isle of Portland Bird List
This list includes all species reported from the Isle of Portland, Portland Harbour and Ferrybridge - the latter is the 'island's' official border with Weymouth. A total of 355 species are listed here - not bad for an area less than 5 miles (8km) by 1.5 miles (2.6km) in size!
Where the name of the bird in the first column is printed in green, and underlined, you can click on that name to reach the archive page, and photos where available, for that species. Getting this archive in order will be a very long job but we will try to add new species-pages as often as possible!
We are currently locating pictures to make this archive as comprehensive as possible. If you have any photographs of past Portland rarities - or good photographs of commoner species taken 'on the Island' - that we can scan for use here, please get in touch.
Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata regular winter visitor and spring migrant offshore Black-throated Diver Gavia arctica scarce winter visitor; small numbers winter in Portland Harbour Great Northern Diver Gavia immer small numbers winter in Portland Harbour; scarce spring migrant offshore White-billed Diver Gavia adamsii vagrant; one record Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis scarce winter visitor at Ferrybridge; vagrant offshore Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus regular winter visitor in Portland Harbour; rare migrant offshore Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegna scarce winter visitor in Portland Harbour; rare migrant offshore Slavonian Grebe Podiceps auritus scarce winter visitor in Portland Harbour; rare migrant offshore Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis scarce winter visitor in Portland Harbour; rare migrant offshore Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis resident and migrant; breeds in small numbers Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea rare summer and autumn visitor Great Shearwater Puffinus gravis vagrant; two records Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae vagrant; one record Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus scarce autumn migrant Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus common summer visitor; and spring migrant; scarce in autumn Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus regular summer and autumn visitor Little Shearwater Puffinus assimilis vagrant; one record Storm Petrel Hydrobates pelagicus regular summer visitor and scarce migrant Leach's Petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa rare storm-driven autumn and winter visitor Gannet Morus bassanus frequent offshore throughout the year Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo scarce non-breeding resident and migrant Shag Phalocrocorax aristotelis scarce non-breeding resident and migrant Bittern Botaurus stellaris vagrant; two records Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus vagrant; one record Night Heron Nycticorax nyticorax vagrant; four records Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis vagrant; one record Little Egret Egretta garzetta rare visitor throughout the year; currently increasing Grey Heron Ardea cinerea scarce visitor throughout the year White Stork Ciconia ciconia vagrant; one record Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia rare migrant Mute Swan Cygnus olor rare spring and autumn migrant; occasional in winter Bewick's Swan Cygnus bewickii vagrant; one record Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus vagrant; three records Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus vagrant; four records White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons rare migrant and winter visitor Greylag Goose Anser anser rare visitor Snow Goose Anser caerulescens vagrant; one record Canada Goose Branta canadensis scarce visitor Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis rare visitor Dark-bellied Brent Goose Branta bernicla common winter visitor at Ferrybridge; regular spring and autumn migrant offshore Pale-bellied Brent Goose Branta hrota rare winter visitor at Ferrybridge; three records of passing migrants offshore Black Brant Branta nigricans vagrant; three records Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiacus vagrant; one record Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea vagrant; two records Shelduck Tadorna tadorna scarce spring and autumn migrant; occasional in summer (has bred) and winter Wigeon Anas penelope scarce spring and autumn migrant; occasional in winter Gadwall Anas strepera rare spring and autumn migrant; occasional in winter Teal Anas crecca scarce migrant and winter visitor Mallard Anas platyrhynchos scarce visitor throughout the year; occasionally breeds Pintail Anas acuta scarce migrant Garganey Anas querquedula rare spring migrant Shoveler Anas clypeata scarce migrant Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina vagrant; one record Pochard Aythya ferina rare migrant; occasional in winter Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula scarce migrant and winter visitor Scaup Aythya marila rare migrant and winter visitor Eider Somateria mollissima scarce migrant and winter visitor; occasional in summer Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis scarce migrant Common Scoter Melanitta nigra common spring and autumn migrant; and scarce summer and winter visitor Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata vagrant; four records Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca scarce migrant and winter visitor Goldeneye Bucephala clangula scarce winter visitor to Portland Harbour; rare migrant offshore Smew Mergellus albellus rare winter visitor Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator common winter visitor to Portland Harbour; scarce migrant offshore Goosander Mergus merganser rare migrant and winter visitor Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis vagrant; one record Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus rare spring and autumn migrant Black Kite Milvus migrans vagrant; nine records Red Kite Milvus milvus vagrant; nine records Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus rare spring and autumn migrant Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus rare spring and autumn migrant, and occasional winter visitor Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus rare spring and autumn migrant Goshawk Accipiter gentilis vagrant; two records Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus scarce breeding resident and migrant Buzzard Buteo buteo scarce spring and autumn migrant Rough-legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus vagrant; one record Osprey Pandion haliaetus rare migrant Kestrel Falco tinnunculus scarce breeding resident and migrant Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus vagrant; two records Merlin Falco columbarius scarce migrant and winter visitor Hobby Falco subbuteo scarce spring and autumn migrant Peregrine Falco peregrinus rare breeding resident Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa rare visitor Grey Partridge Perdix perdix rare visitor Quail Coturnix coturnix scarce migrant; occasionally summers Pheasant Phasianus colchicus rare visitor Water Rail Rallus aquaticus scarce migrant and winter visitor Corncrake Crex crex rare migrant Moorhen Gallinula chloropus rare migrant and winter visitor Allen's Gallinule Porphyrula alleni vagrant; one record Coot Fulica atra vagrant; five records Crane Grus grus vagrant; four records Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus regular throughout the year, and scarce migrant Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta rare migrant Stone Curlew Burhinnus oedicnemus rare migrant Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola vagrant; one record Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius scarce migrant Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula scarce breeding bird on Chesil Beach; common spring and autumn migrant Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus rare migrant at Ferrybridge; has over-wintered Dotterel Charadrius morinellus rare migrant, mainly in autumn American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica vagrant; one record Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria regular migrant and hard-weather winter visitor Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola scarce winter visitor and migrant Lapwing Vanellus vanellus regular migrant and hard-weather winter visitor Knot Calidris canutus scarce spring and autumn migrant, occasional in winter Sanderling Calidris alba regular spring and autumn migrant, occasional in winter Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla vagrant; two records Little Stint Calidris minuta scarce migrant, mainly in autumn White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis vagrant; two records Baird's Sandpiper Calidris bairdii vagrant; one record Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos vagrant; two records Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea rare migrant, mainly in autumn Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima regular winter visitor and migrant at the Bill Dunlin Calidris alpina common winter visitor and migrant Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus vagrant; one record Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subruficollis vagrant; four records Ruff Philomachus pugnax scarce migrant Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus rare migrant and winter visitor Snipe Gallinago gallinago regular migrant and hard-weather winter visitor Woodcock Scolopax rusticola scarce migrant; winter visitor in hard-weather Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa rare spring and autumn migrant Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica regular spring migrant, rare in autumn Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus regular spring and autumn migrant Curlew Numenius arquata uncommon visitor, mainly in spring and autumn Upland Sandpiper Bartramia longicauda vagrant; one record Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus rare migrant Redshank Tringa totanus scarce visitor, mainly in spring and autumn Greenshank Tringa nebularia scarce spring and autumn migrant Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes vagrant; one record Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus rare migrant, mainly in autumn Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola rare autumn migrant Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus vagrant; one record Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos regular spring and autumn migrant; has over-wintered Turnstone Arenaria interpres regular throughout the year Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus vagrant; three records Grey Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius storm-driven visitor in autumn and winter Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus regular spring and autumn migrant, occasional in winter Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus regular spring and autumn migrant Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus rare spring and autumn migrant Great Skua Catharacta skua regular spring and autumn migrant; scarce visitor in summer and winter Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus scarce migrant and winter visitor Laughing Gull Larus atricilla vagrant; one record Little Gull Larus minutus scarce migrant and winter visitor Sabine's Gull Larus sabini rare autumn migrant, has occurred in spring Bonaparte's Gull Larus philadelphia vagrant; one record Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus frequent throughout the year Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis vagrant; one record Common Gull Larus canus common migrant and winter visitor Herring Gull Larus argentatus common breeding resident, migrant and winter visitor Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis scarce visitor Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans vagrant; one record Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides rare winter visitor and spring migrant Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus rare winter visitor and migrant Lesser black-backed Gull Larus fuscus frequent throughout the year Great black-backed Gull Larus marinus breeding resident, migrant and winter visitor Ross's Gull Rhodostethia rosea vagrant; one record Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla summer visitor, breeding in moderate numbers at the Bill; also common migrant and winter visitor Ivory Gull Pagophila eburnea vagrant; one record Gull-billed Tern Sterna nilotica vagrant; one record Caspian Tern Sterna caspia vagrant; two records Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis frequent spring and autumn migrant Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii rare migrant, mainly in spring Common Tern Sterna hirundo sporadic breeder at Chesil Beach and Portland Harbour; frequent spring and autumn migrant Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea frequent spring and autumn migrant Forster's Tern Sterna forsteri vagrant; one record Sooty Tern Sterna fuscata vagrant; one record Little Tern Sterna albifrons regular breeder at Ferrybridge; common migrant, mainly in spring Black Tern Chlidonias niger scarce migrant, mainly in spring White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus vagrant; five records Guillemot Uria aalge breeds in moderate numbers at the Bill; also common migrant and winter visitor Razorbill Alca torda breeds in moderate numbers at the Bill, also common winter visitor Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle rare winter and spring visitor Little Auk Alle alle rare autumn and winter visitor Puffin Fratecula arctica summer visitor, breeding in very small numbers Stock Dove Columba oenas resident, breeding in small numbers; also regular autumn migrant Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus resident, breeding in moderate numbers; also regular autumn migrant Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto resident, breeding in small numbers; also occasional migrant, mainly in spring Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur regular spring and autumn migrant Rufous Turtle Dove Streptopelia orientalis vagrant; one record Ring-necked Parakeet Psittacula krameri rare visitor Cuckoo Cuculus canorus regular spring and autumn migrant Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus vagrant; one record Barn Owl Tyto alba rare migrant; formerly bred Scops Owl Otus scops vagrant; one record Little Owl Athene noctua resident, breeding in small numbers Tawny Owl Strix aluco rare resident Long-eared Owl Asio otus scarce migrant and winter visitor Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus regular migrant and winter visitor Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus rare migrant Egyptian Nightjar Caprimulgus aegyptius vagrant; one record Swift Apus apus common migrant; breeds in small numbers Pallid Swift Apus pallidus vagrant; one record Alpine Swift Apus melba rare migrant Kingfisher Alcedo atthis rare visitor Bee-eater Merops apiaster vagrant; sixteen records Hoopoe Upupa epops rare migrant Wryneck Jynx torquilla scarce mainly autumn migrant Green Woodpecker Picus viridis sporadic rare resident Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major rare migrant Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor vagrant; one record Calandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra vagrant; one record Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla vagrant; ten records Lesser Short-toed Lark Calandrella rufescens vagrant; one record Woodlark Lullula arborea scarce mainly autumn migrant Skylark Alauda arvensis resident, breeding in moderate numbers; also common migrant Shorelark Eremophila alpestris vagrant; two records Sand Martin Riparia riparia frequent spring and autumn migrant Swallow Hirundo rustica common migrant; breeds in small numbers Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica rare migrant, mainly in spring Cliff Swallow Hirundo pyrrhonota vagrant; one record House Martin Delichon urbica common migrant; breeds in moderate numbers Richard's Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae rare mainly autumn migrant Blyth's Pipit Anthus godlewskii vagrant; two record Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris rare mainly autumn migrant Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni vagrant; five records Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis regular spring and autumn migrant Pechora Pipit Anthus gustavi vagrant; two records Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis common resident and migrant Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus vagrant; six records Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus common resident and occasional migrant Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta vagrant; three records Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava regular spring and autumn migrant Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea regular migrant and winter visitor Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba regular throughout the year, breeding in small numbers; also common spring and autumn migrant Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus vagrant; five records Dipper Cinclus cinclus vagrant; one record Wren Troglodytes troglodytes resident, breeding in moderate numbers; also regular spring and autumn migrant Dunnock Prunella modularis resident, breeding in moderate numbers; also regular spring and autumn migrant Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris vagrant; one record Robin Erithacus rubecula resident, breeding in small numbers; also common migrant, particularly in autumn Thrush Nightingale Luscinia luscinia vagrant; one record Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos scarce spring and autumn migrant Bluethroat Luscinia svecica rare spring and autumn migrant Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros regular migrant and winter visitor, has bred Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus regular spring and autumn migrant Whinchat Saxicola ruberta regular spring and autumn migrant Stonechat Saxicola torquata resident, breeding in small numbers; also regular spring and autumn migrant Siberian Stonechat Saxicola maura vagrant; seven records Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe common spring and autumn migrant; breeds occasionally Pied Wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka vagrant; two records Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica vagrant; two records Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti vagrant; two records Rock Thrush Monticola saxatilis vagrant; two records Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus scarce spring and autumn migrant Blackbird Turdus merula resident, breeding in moderate numbers; also regular migrant, mainly in autumn Fieldfare Turdus pilaris regular spring, autumn and hard-weather winter migrant Song Thrush Turdus philomelos resident, breeding in small numbers; also common migrant and winter visitor Redwing Turdus iliacus regular spring, autumn and hard-weather winter migrant Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus scarce migrant, mainly in autumn, and winter visitor Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti rare visitor Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler Locustella certhiola vagrant; one record Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia uncommon spring and autumn migrant Savi's Warbler Locustella luscinioides vagrant; two records Aquatic Warbler Acrocephalus paludicola rare autumn migrant Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus regular spring and autumn migrant Blyth's Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum vagrant; three records Marsh Warbler Acrocephalus palustris rare migrant, mainly in spring Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus regular spring and autumn migrant Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus vagrant; one record Fan-tailed Warbler Cisticola juncidis vagrant; one record Booted Warbler Hippolais caligata vagrant; four records Sykes's Warbler Hippolais rama vagrant; one record Eastern Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais pallida vagrant; one record Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterina rare migrant; mainly in autumn Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta rare autumn migrant; has occurred in spring Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata scarce spring and autumn migrant Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans vagrant; fifteen records Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala vagrant; three records Desert Warbler Sylvia nana vagrant; one record Orphean Warbler Sylvia hortensis vagrant; one record Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria rare autumn migrant Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca uncommon spring and autumn migrant Whitethroat Sylvia communis summer visitor, breeding in moderate numbers; also common spring and autumn migrant Garden Warbler Sylvia borin regular spring and autumn migrant Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla common spring and autumn migrant, breeding in small numbers; occasionally over-winters Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides vagrant; eight records Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis vagrant; one record Pallas's Warbler Phylloscopus proregulus rare autumn migrant Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus rare autumn migrant Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus humei vagrant; three records Radde's Warbler Phylloscopus schwarzi vagrant; seven records Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus vagrant; six records Western Bonelli's Warbler Phylloscopus bonelli vagrant; four records Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix scarce spring and autumn migrant Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita common spring and autumn migrant, breeding in small numbers; a few over-winter Iberian Chiffchaff Phylloscopus brehmii vagrant; two records Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilis common spring and autumn migrant Goldcrest Regulus regulus common spring and autumn migrant; occasionally over-winters Firecrest Regulus ignicapillus regular spring and autumn migrant; a few over-winter Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata regular spring and autumn migrant Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca regular spring and autumn migrant Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva rare autumn migrant; has occurred in spring Bearded Tit Panurus biarmicus rare autumn migrant Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus sporadic breeding resident; also rare migrant, mainly in autumn Willow Tit Parus montanus vagrant; five records Coal Tit Parus ater scarce migrant, mainly in autumn Blue Tit Parus caeruleus resident, breeding in small numbers; also uncommon spring and autumn migrant Great Tit Parus major resident, breeding in small numbers; also uncommon spring and autumn migrant Nuthatch Sitta europea vagrant; five records Treecreeper Certhia familiaris scarce visitor Short-toed Treecreeper Certhia brachydactya vagrant; two records Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus rare migrant, mainly in spring Isabelline Shrike Lanius isabellinus vagrant; two records Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio rare spring and autumn migrant Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor vagrant; eight records Steppe Grey Shrike Lanius pallidirostris vagrant; one record Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator rare spring and autumn migrant Jay Garrulus glandarius rare spring and autumn migrant Magpie Pica pica resident, breeding in small numbers Nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatactes vagrant; one record Jackdaw Corvus monedula resident, breeding in small numbers, also scarce migrant, mainly in autumn Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax vagrant; four records Rook Corvus frugilegus resident, breeding in small numbers; also scarce migrant Hooded Crow Corone cornix scarce visitor Carrion Crow Corvus corone resident, breeding in small numbers, also uncommon spring and autumn migrant Raven Corvus corax one resident breeding pair; also occasional visitor throughout the year Starling Sturnus vulgaris common breeding resident; also regular migrant, mainly in autumn Rose-coloured Starling Sturnus roseus vagrant; eleven records House Sparrow Passer domesticus resident, breeding in moderate numbers Tree Sparrow Passer montanus rare spring and autumn migrant Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus vagrant; one record Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs resident, breeding in small numbers; also regular migrant and winter visitor Brambling Fringilla montifringilla uncommon spring and autumn migrant; occasionally in winter Serin Serinus serinus scarce migrant, mainly in spring Greenfinch Carduelis chloris resident, breeds in moderate numbers; also regular spring and autumn migrant Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis increasing breeding resident; also common spring and autumn migrant Siskin Carduelis spinus regular migrant, mainly in autumn Linnet Carduelis cannabina summer visitor, breeding in small numbers; also common migrant and scarce winter visitor Twite Carduelis flavirostris rare autumn visitor Redpoll Carduelis flammea regular migrant, mainly in autumn Crossbill Loxia curvirostra scarce migrant, mainly in autumn Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus rare migrant Long-tailed Rosefinch Uragus sibiricus vagrant; one record Bullfinch Pyrrula pyrulla scarce spring and autumn migrant; occasionally breeds Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes rare migrant Northern Parula Warbler Parula americana vagrant; two records Northern Waterthrush Seiurus noveboracensis vagrant; one record Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis vagrant; one record Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis vagrant; one record Lapland Bunting Calcarius lapponicus scarce migrant, mainly in autumn, occasional in winter Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis scarce migrant, mainly in autumn, and winter visitor Pine Bunting Emberiza leucocephalos vagrant; one record Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella resident, breeding in small numbers; also uncommon spring and autumn migrant Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus rare migrant Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana scarce migrant, mainly in autumn Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica vagrant; three records Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla vagrant; six records Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola vagrant; two records Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus uncommon autumn migrant, less frequent in spring Red-headed Bunting Emberiza bruniceps vagrant/escape Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala vagrant; nine records Corn Bunting