Portland Bird Observatory - wildlife diary

29th April	Single Clouded Yellows were seen at East Weare in the morning and Southwell in the afternoon.
24th April	A single Dark Sword Grass was caught in the Obs moth traps, and the first Broad-bodied Chaser of the year was seen in the Obs garden.
22nd April	Two Bottle-nosed Dolphins were off the Bill in the afternoon.
15th April	The first Painted Lady of the year was seen at the Bill. Also at the Bill there were at least 3 Bottle-nosed Dolphins offshore, and a single bull Grey Seal off the East Cliffs
Hairy Violet ssp calcarea - 14th April 2001 notebook sketches © Joyce Mansfield
14th April	A Hairy Violet showing features of the subspecies calcarea - a new record for the island if confirmed - was discovered today at Tout Quarry.
11th April	A single Red Admiral was seen again at the Bill.
9th April	The first Red Admiral of the year was seen at the Bill.
7th April	Two Bottle-nosed Dolphins were off the Bill in the morning.
3rd April	Moth traps at the Obs produced 3 *Plutella xylostella* and a single Dark Sword Grass.
2nd April	A pod of at least 8 Bottle-nosed Dolphins were showing well off the East Cliffs at the Bill during the afternoon.
29th March	The first Hummingbird Hawk-moth of the year was seen at the Bill during the afternoon.
25th March	At least 5 Bottle-nosed Dolphins were off the Bill all morning.
24th March	Despite the rather cool weather, at least 6 Wall Lizards were seen at Duncecroft Quarry in the morning.
22nd March	At least 5 Bottle-nosed Dolphins were off the Bill in the morning.
21st March	A single Bottle-nosed Dolphin was off the Bill in the morning. A specimen of Eyelash Fungus Scutellina scutellata found at Penn's Weare is thought to be the first recorded on the island.
12th March	A pod of at least 8 Bottle-nosed Dolphins were showing well in Portland Harbour during the morning.
8th March	Despite promising conditions for early immigrant insects the only moth trapped at the Obs (in 3 moth traps!) was a single Dotted Border.
7th March	The first Peacock butterfly of the year was at the Bill.
6th March	At least 5 Bottle-nosed Dolphins were again off the Bill.
1st March	A pod of 5-6 Bottle-nosed Dolphins, including at least 1 calf, were off the East Cliffs at the Bill for most of the morning.