Portland Bird Observatory - wildlife diary

31st May	Two *Plutella xylostella* were new arrivals in the Obs garden moth-traps overnight.
30th May	Red Admirals were present in small numbers at the Bill but no immigrant moths were recorded in the Obs garden moth-traps overnight.
29th May	Despite the arrival of the first slightly promising-looking weather conditions for many weeks the only immigrant lepidoptera recorded today were 2 White-points and a Silver Y in the Obs garden moth-traps and 3 Painted Ladies and 2 Red Admirals between the Bill and Southwell.
26th May	Blue-tailed Damselflies, Azure Damselflies and Black-tailed Skimmers have all been seen for the first time this year in recent days
25th May	Another 2 White-points were the only captures of note in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning.
Chocolate-tip - 21st May 2004 © Martin Cade
21st May	A Chocolate-tip was a noteworthy record in the Obs garden moth-traps (there are fewer than 10 previous island records); 2 more White-points and the first Four-spotted of the year were also caught overnight.
Maiden's Blush - 20th May 2004 © Martin Cade
20th May	Overnight, the Obs garden moth-traps attracted a Silver Y and a White-point, as well as a single Maiden's Blush - an oak-feeder that is only an occasional visitor to the island.
White-point and Common Wainscot - 19th May 2004 © Martin Cade
19th May	Clouded Yellows continue to be seen in small numbers, particularly in the Church Ope Cove/East Weare area. In the Obs garden moth-traps the first White-point of the year was caught overnight (this formerly scarce immigrant is presumed to be resident on the island at the moment).
18th May	A party of at least 7 Bottle-nosed Dolphins were off the Bill in the morning and the first Emperor dragonfly of the year was on the wing around one of the ponds in the Obs garden.
17th May	Dingy Skipper, Small Heath and Common Blue were all seen for the first time this year around the island today.
16th May	A single Red Admiral was in the Obs garden this morning.
Clouded Yellow - 14th May 2004 © Martin Cade
14th May	Clouded Yellows today included 5 at East Weare and 2 at the Bill. A red dragonfly seen briefly near the Obs was thought likely to have been a Red-veined Darter but clinching views were not obtained.
13th May	A single Clouded Yellow was again in the Obs garden and a Silver Y was trapped overnight in the moth-traps there.
12th May	Three Clouded Yellows were on the wing at East Weare and another single was in the Obs garden; the first Green-veined White of the year was at the Bill.
11th May	Small Blue and Small Copper were both on the wing for the first time this year at the Bill.
10th May	The first Large White of the year was at the Bill.
7th May	The first Wall was flying at the Bill today.
6th May	The first Broad-bodied Chaser of the year was on the wing in the Obs garden.
2nd May	Two Clouded Yellows were at the Bill today where the first Holly Blue of the year was also on the wing.
*Euchromius ocellea* larva - 1st May 2004 © Martin Cade
1st May	Larvae of *Euchromius ocellea* reared from eggs obtained from the immigrant moths caught in February - seemingly the first time this species has been bred in Britain - are now fully-fed and starting to pupate.
27th April	A Brimstone butterfly - a scarce visitor to the island - was at Avalanche Road this morning.
25th April	A group of at least 10 Bottle-nosed Dolphins were off the Bill for much of the day.
24th April	A Clouded Yellow was in Top Fields at the Bill and a single Dark Sword Grass was caught overnight in the Obs garden moth-traps.
23rd April	Two Hummingbird Hawk-moths and a single Clouded Yellow were on the East Cliffs near Southwell today.
22nd April	The first Large Red Damselfly of the year was on the wing in the Obs garden and a single Clouded Yellow was seen on the East Cliffs at the Bill.
19th April	A bull Grey Seal was off the Bill today and a single Red Admiral was in Top Fields.
17th April	Six Bottle-nosed Dolphins were off the Bill this morning. Three Red Admirals were at the Bill and a single Clouded Yellow was at Barleycrates Lane.
14th April	The first Orange-tip of the year was on the wing in the Obs garden.
12th April	A female Grey Seal was off the Bill this morning.
9th April	The party of 7 Bottle-nosed Dolphins were again off the East Cliffs at the Bill for much of the day.
8th April	A party of at least 7 Bottle-nosed Dolphins were off the East Cliffs at the Bill for much of the day.
5th April	The first Speckled Wood of the year was on the wing at the Bill.
2nd April	The first Small White of the year was on the wing in the Obs garden.
29th March	A single Dark Sword Grass was the only noteworthy capture overnight in the Obs garden moth-traps. A single Hummingbird Hawk-moth was seen at Tilleycombe and a lone Painted Lady was in the Obs garden.
28th March	A Hummingbird Hawk-moth was seen in a garden at Southwell today.
23rd March	A single Hummingbird Hawk-moth was seen at the Grove today.
13th March	A single Painted Lady was in the Obs garden.
Bank Vole - 12th March 2004 © Martin Cade
12th March	A Bank Vole showed well for a while in the Obs garden this morning.
10th March	A single Painted Lady was in the Obs garden.
9th March	A single Painted Lady was in the Obs garden.
8th March	The first Peacock butterfly of the year was on the wing at the Bill.
7th March	A single Painted Lady was in the Obs garden.
6th March	A single Hummingbird Hawk-moth was at Weston this morning.