Portland Bird Observatory - wildlife diary

30th October	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 17 *Udea* *ferrugalis, 8 Silver Y, 8 Dark Sword Grass, 4 Nomophila noctuella, 4 Pearly Underwing, 1 Delicate, 1 Plutella xylostella, 1 Palpita unionalis* and 1 Gem.
29th October	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 21 Silver Y, 19 *Udea* *ferrugalis, 13 Dark Sword Grass, 10 Pearly Underwing, 5 Delicate, 5 Plutella xylostella, 4 Nomophila noctuella, 2 Palpita unionalis* and 1 Scarce Bordered Straw.
28th October	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 14 Silver Y, 13 *Udea* *ferrugalis, 9 Dark Sword Grass, 6 Pearly Underwing, 5 Delicate, 4 Plutella xylostella, 4 Nomophila noctuella, 2 Gem, 2 White-speck, 2 Vestal, 1 Palpita unionalis* and 1 Scarce Bordered Straw; also a single Streak (the second Portland record).
Blair's Mocha - 23rd October 2001 © Martin Cade
23rd October	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 20 Silver Y, 5 *Udea* *ferrugalis, 3 Delicate, 3 Nomophila noctuella, 4 Dark Sword Grass, 2 Pearly Underwing, 1 Gem, 1 Vestal* and 1 Blair's Mocha.
22nd October	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 59 Pearly Underwing, 26 Dark Sword Grass, 19 Delicate, 11 Silver Y, 7 *Udea* *ferrugalis, 5 Plutella xylostella, 3 Cosmopolitan, 2 Gem, 2 Nomophila noctuella, 2 White-point* and 1 Vestal.
Dewick's Plusias - 21st October 2001 © Martin Cade
21st October	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 91 Dark Sword Grass, 80 Pearly Underwing, 35 *Udea* *ferrugalis, 27 Silver Y, 15 Delicate, 6 Gem, 6 Nomophila noctuella, 4 White-point, 4 Vestal, 2 Scarce Bordered Straw, 2 White-speck, 2 Cosmopolitan, 1 Plutella xylostella, 1 Small Mottled Willow* and 1 Dewick's Plusia; also 2 Red Admirals.
Dewick's Plusia - 20th October 2001 © Martin Cade
20th October	Two Monarchs were seen at the Bill in the afternoon; other butterflies there included very high numbers of Red Admirals as well as a few Painted Ladies and Clouded Yellows. Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 63 Pearly Underwing, 56 Dark Sword Grass, 28 Silver Y, 23 Delicate, 11 *Udea* *ferrugalis, 3 Gem, 3 Scarce Bordered Straw, 2 Convolvulous Hawk-moth, 2 Nomophila noctuella, 2 White-speck, 1 White-point, 1 Vestal* and 1 Dewick's Plusia.
Flame Brocade - 19th October 2001 © Martin Cade
19th October	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 8 Delicate, 3 Pearly Underwing, 2 Dark Sword Grass, 1 *Udea* *ferrugalis, 1 Silver Y, 1 Vestal* and 1 Flame Brocade.
Cosmopolitan - 18th October 2001 © Martin Cade
18th October	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 5 Delicate, 2 *Udea ferrugalis, 1 Cosmopolitan* and 1 Hummingbird Hawk-moth.
Convolvulous Hawk-moth caterpillar - 17th October 2001 © Martin Cade
17th October	A nearly full-grown Convolvulous Hawk-moth caterpillar was found today at Tout Quarry. Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 5 *Udea ferrugalis, 2 Delicate, 2 Nomophila noctuella* and 1 *Plutella xylostella*.
Dusky-lemon Sallow - 16th October 2001 © Martin Cade
16th October	A Monarch was seen at Southwell in the morning, and Clouded Yellows were reported at several sites. Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 2 Delicate, 2 Dark Sword Grass, 2 *Nomophila noctuella* and 1 Pearly Underwing; also a single Dusky-lemon Sallow (the second Portland record).
15th October	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 10 *Udea* *ferrugalis, 7 Delicate, 2 Pearly Underwing, 1 Dark Sword Grass, 1 Silver Y, 1 Palpita unionalis, 1 White-speck, 1 Vestal, 1 Hummingbird Hawk-moth, 1 White-point* and 1 **Plutella xylostella**.
14th October	A single Monarch was seen at Avalanche Road, Southwell, in the morning. Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 12 *Udea* *ferrugalis, 8 Delicate, 7 Dark Sword Grass, 3 Silver Y, 3 Palpita unionalis, 2 White-speck, 2 Pearly Underwing, 2 Gem,1 Vestal* and 1 **Plutella xylostella; also a single Red Admiral**.
Flame Brocade - 13th October 2001 © Martin Cade
13th October	Monarch butterflies were seen today at Southwell, Church Ope Cove and Old Hill. Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 17 *Udea* *ferrugalis, 6 Silver Y, 5 Delicate, 4 Pearly Underwing, 3 Palpita unionalis, 3 Dark Sword Grass, 2 Vestal, 1 Flame Brocade* and 1 Gem; also a single Red Admiral.
Palpita unionalis - 12th October 2001 © Martin Cade
12th October	A Monarch was seen during the afternoon at the Ferrybridge car park. Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 5 Silver Y, 5 *Udea* *ferrugalis, 4 Delicate, 2 Pearly Underwing, 2 Dark Sword Grass, 1 Gem, 1 Vestal, 1 Palpita unionalis* and 1 White-speck.
11th October	A Monarch was seen briefly on the roadside near the Obs in the afternoon. Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 1 Silver Y and 1 White-speck.
Convolvulous Hawk-moth - 10th October 2001 © Martin Cade
10th October	A Monarch was seen in and around the Obs garden this morning. Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 4 Silver Y, 2 Delicate, 1 Pearly Underwing and 1 Convolvulous Hawk-moth.
Monarch - 9th October 2001 © Martin Cade
9th October	The first decent weather for several days led to a flurry of sightings of Monarch butterflies; singles were seen at Weston and Southwell in the morning, and two were in the Obs garden for over an hour during the afternoon.
6th October	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 1 Pearly Underwing and 1 Delicate.
5th October	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 2 Dark Sword Grass and 1 Delicate; also a single Dark Spectacle.
4th October	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 2 Delicate and 1 Silver Y.
3rd October	Despite much improved weather the Monarch was seen just once in the morning at Culverwell. Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 1 Delicate.
2nd October	The Monarch showed just once all day when it was seen at Culverwell in the evening.
Monarch - 1st October 2001 © Martin Cade
1st October	A Monarch butterfly was found at Culverwell during the morning, and showed well there until late afternoon.