Weymouth Bay is a good place to see birds at anytime of the year and the new Preston Beach Promenade is an excellent viewing point over the bay and beyond. Little and Common Terns fish along the seafront during the summer months and, in winter, the coastline provides a wonderful backdrop to gatherings of Great Crested Grebes. The lucky observer, if fortunate, may even see a Great Northern or Black Throated Diver.
An evening roost of Gulls out in the bay provides another point of interest and, in some winters, both Glaucous and Iceland Gulls may be present.
The South-West Coast Path provides an excellent way of exploring areas to the east including, Bowleaze, Osmington, Ringstead and White Nothe. As you walk from Weymouth, the underlying rocks of the Weymouth anticline give rise to a mixture of different habitats. There are opportunities to explore the rocky shores along this stretch of heritage coast. Remember to check local tide tables to find out when low tide is, and you will find rock pools teeming with life. Further on, past Ringstead, chalk downland plants grow in profusion on the cliffs of White Nothe.
Wey Valley - This attractive river valley is to the north of Weymouth and, along the river Wey, several different kinds of bird can sometimes be seen. The meandering nature of the chalk waters provide areas for such species as the Grey Wagtail, a very special bird of the water's edge. Occasionally the more uncommon Dipper can be found, bobbing up and down, in and out of the river. Where the river flows alongside fields and the more open areas, Herons can be seen feeding. A dash of azure blue will indicate the presence of a Kingfisher, another bird often seen along the river. With more regularity now, the snowy white Little Egret, can often be spotted around the Nottington area.
Many of the footpaths and lanes around the valley are bordered by hedgerows of Elm, Blackthorn, Hawthorn, Oak and Ash. The small river valley is rich in woodland species with veteran Oaks standing proud in the landscape. Much of the area is used for agriculture, but a short walk will still result in seeing a diverse mixture of plants and animals. Wildflowers such as Meadowsweet, Tufted Vetch, Ribwort, Bittersweet, Honeysuckle and Knapweed are found to the sides of the footpaths. These flowers are vital to the life cycle of the butterflies, moths and other insects that lay their eggs here.
Hedgerows also play an important role for the wildlife of the Wey Valley, they provide 'wildlife corridors' which allow the animals to move unhindered and in safety. The Blackberries and Sloes found at the end of summer are essential food sources for many creatures in the valley.
The River Wey provides an important wildlife habitat, the reeds and rushes along the riverbank are mixed with colourful flowers such as the Yellow Flag Iris. During the summer the river is home to a variety of different creatures, the most visual and attractive are perhaps the dragonflies and damselflies. Take a walk on a summer day and you are likely to see a variety of different 'hawkers', the Broad Bodied Chaser and even Britain's largest dragonfly, the Emperor Dragonfly.
To the north of the valley, above Upwey, lies the Ridgeway. The slopes of this long stretch of hills are noted for their areas of calcareous and neutral grassland. The wetter areas, where springs emerge from the ground, contain a mixture of Hard Rush, Water Mint, Hairy Sedge, Ragged Robin, Watercress, Square-Stalked St John's-Wort, Wild Marjoram and Bugle.
Chickerell - Lying to the west of Weymouth, this parish provides more open countryside to explore - some bounding the shores of the Fleet. Chickerell is home to a variety of bird-life. The Chickerell Downs Woodland Trust site, just south of the village, is an ideal habitat for the Cetti's Warbler and this rare bird has been seen here along with Willow and Garden Warblers and the Chiffchaff. Walking the lanes, you may also see a Redwing or Fieldfare, hear a Song Thrush, or see a Wren darting in and out of the hedgerows.
The lanes and footpaths contain many of the same plants found around the Wey Valley. The area also has a broad selection of ponds and wetlands, that are rich in wildlife. The Woodland Trust site contains a number of ponds, surrounded by willow, Reed Mace and Zebra Grass, providing a habitat for a host of dragonflies. The rest of the site has been planted with a mixture of broad leafed trees, including Oak and Ash. Close by is Bennetts Water Gardens, which is one of Europe's oldest water lily nurseries and has a National Collection of over 150 species of lilies. Around Chickerell village, the meadows and fields sustain a diverse mix of plants from Pyramidal Orchids to Bird's-Foot Trefoil. To the north of the parish, the arable fields and areas of open grassland support some less common species of wildlife. Brown Hare and deer can occasionally be glimpsed, whilst Buzzards fly overhead.
