Portland Bird Observatory - wildlife diary

Early Moth - 23rd February 2001Š Charlie Moores
23rd February	An Early Moth, caught at the Obs, constitutes only the second record of this species on Portland.
Pale Brindled Beauty - 22nd February 2001Š Charlie Moores
22nd February	An extremely rare catch at the Observatory moth traps was a Pale Brindled Beauty - the first island record of the species.
20th February	Moth traps run at the Observatory last night produced Winter Moth, Mottled Grey, Hebrew Character and an early immigrant - a single Dark Sword Grass.
19th February	Wild flowers already in bloom on Portland include Common Field Speedwell at Inmosthay Quarry, Coltsfoot at Broadcroft Quarry, and Lesser Celandine at various locations on the island.
18th February	Visitors to Portland Bill this morning were treated to the exciting sight of a pod of nine Bottle-nosed Dolphins - including a calf. The youngster is thought to have be the same animal that was observed elsewhere locally earlier this year. Today's group represents the largest number of dolphins seen together off Portland for 'years'. Studies of dolphins undertaken at Durlston Head, Dorset, in the late 1990s showed that a population of only five animals accounted for 95% of the sightings made there. These were shown to be the same dolphins that frequented the Portland / Lyme Bay waters.
17th February	Today a single larva of the Scarlet Tiger Moth was discovered on the Observatory annexe wall.
13th February	The first butterfly of the year - a Small Tortoiseshell at the Bill - was seen today.
8th February	The first Double-striped Pug of the year was trapped in the Obs moth traps.
6th January	The first fairly mild night of the year produced nothing more in the moth-traps than a few Winter Moths.