Portland Bird Observatory - wildlife diary

30th May	A single Grizzled Skipper seen at Southwell was the first sighting of this increasingly infrequently recorded species this year. Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 1 *Nomophila noctuella*.
27th May	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 1 *Plutella xylostella*.
26th May	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 1 *Plutella xylostella*.
25th May	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 1 *Plutella xylostella*.
24th May	Painted Ladies and Red Admirals are now being seen daily in small numbers around the island, and today a single Clouded Yellow was seen flying through the Obs garden. Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 3 Plutella xylostella and1 Silver Y.
23rd May	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 1 Silver Y and 1 *Plutella xylostella*.
Wall Lizard - 22nd May 2001 © Martin Cade
22nd May	The first Emperor dragonfly of the year was seen in the Obs garden, and the Wall Lizards at Duncecroft Quarry were again showing well.
21st May	The first *Udea ferrugalis* of the year and a single *Plutella xylostella* were caught in the Obs garden moth traps.
Four-spotted - 20th May 2001 © Martin Cade
20th May	The first Four-spotted moth of the year, and 3 *Plutella xylostella* were caught in the Obs garden moth traps today.
19th May	The Obs moth traps produced 1 Dark Sword Grass.
Large Red Damselfly - 18th May 2001 © Mick Rogers
18th May	The first Small Blue butterfly of the year was seen near the Bill, and Large Red Damselflies are now present in some numbers in the Obs garden.
16th May	The Obs moth traps produced 3 *Plutella xylostella* and 1 Silver Y.
*Pseudoswammerdamia combinella* - 15th May 2001 © Martin Cade
15th May	The Obs moth traps produced 5 *Plutella xylostella* and 1 Silver Y.
12th May	Seven *Plutella xylostella* were caught in the Obs moth traps this morning, and a lone Clouded Yellow was seen at the Obs Quarry at the Bill in the afternoon.
11th May	Immigrant lepidoptera noted today included single Silver Y and *Plutella xylostella* in the moth traps at the Obs, and a Clouded Yellow seen on East Weare.
Green-winged Orchid - 10th May 2001 © Martin Cade
10th May	A single Green-winged Orchid has recently come into flower on the Slopes at the Bill.
9th May	The first Silver Y of the year was caught in the Obs moth traps today.
Brimstone - 8th May 2001 © Martin Cade
8th May	A Brimstone butterfly - a scarce visitor to the island - was in the Obs garden in the morning.
Common Shiny Woodlouse - 4th May 2001 © Martin Cade
4th May	Ongoing studies of the woodlice of the island by John Fleming have continued this week; interesting specimens discovered have included the pale coastal form of the Common Shiny Woodlouse Oniscus asellus.
3rd May	A single *Plutella xylostella* was caught in the Obs moth traps, but the most exciting report was of a Badger seen on the Bill Road at dawn - the first sighting at the Bill for many years.
Northern Drab - 1st May 2001 © Martin Cade
1st May	A Northern Drab discovered on the doorstep of the Obs lounge this morning constitutes the first island record of this species.