Portland Bird Observatory - wildlife diary June 2003

30th June	Immigrant and dispersive moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 117 Silver Y, 50 Plutella xylostella, 29 *Nomophila noctuella, 15 Udea ferrugalis, 8 Small Mottled Willow, 4 Hummingbird Hawk-moth, 3 Dark Sword Grass, 3 Bordered Straw, 3 Yponomeuta evonymella, 3 Eudonia pallida, 2 Pearly Underwing, 1 Oak Nycteoline, 1 Crambus uliginosellus* and 1 *Perinephela lancealis; also the first Yponomeuta cagnagella* and *Acleris variegana* of the year.
Dewick's Plusia - 29th June 2003 © Martin Cade
29th June	Immigrant and dispersive moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 20 Plutella xylostella, 15 *Nomophila noctuella, 9 Silver Y, 4 Small Mottled Willow, 2 Udea ferrugalis, 1 Dark Sword Grass, 1 Bordered Straw, 1 Gem, 1 Zeiraphera isertana, 1 Pearly Underwing* and 1 Dewick's Plusia; also the first The Rustic of the year. Additionally, light-trapping at Duncecroft Quarry overnight produced small numbers of commoner immigrants and the first records for the year of *Oncocera semirubella* and Thyme Pug.
28th June	Immigrant and dispersive moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 22 Silver Y, 18 Plutella xylostella, 13 *Nomophila noctuella, 5 Dark Sword Grass, 4 Small Mottled Willow, 2 Udea ferrugalis, 3 Bordered Straw, 2 Cosmopolitan, 1 Dark* Spectacle and 1 Tawny-barred Angle; also the first *Numonia marmorea* of the year.
*Epermenia insecurella* and Ni Moth - 27th June 2003 © Martin Cade
27th June	The first Ringlets of the year were on the wing at Avalanche Road. Immigrant and dispersive moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 76 Silver Y, 49 Plutella xylostella, 42 *Nomophila noctuella, 29 Small Mottled Willow, 19 Udea ferrugalis, 12 Dark Sword Grass, 9 Zeiraphera isertana, 4 Eudonia pallida, 3 Bordered Straw, 2 Yponomeuta evonymella, 1 White-point, 1 Ni Moth, 1 Parapoynyx stratiotata, 1 Conobathra tumidana* and 1 Figure of 80; also the first *Epermenia insecurella, Eucosma campoliliana, Blue-bordered Carpet, Yellow Shell, Common Footman, Common Rustic, Small Dotted Buff* and Broom Moth of the year.
*Crambus uliginosellus* - 26th June 2003 © Martin Cade
26th June	Immigrant and dispersive moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 77 Plutella xylostella, 37 Silver Y, 36 Small Mottled Willow, 32 *Nomophila noctuella, 13 Udea ferrugalis, 7 Dark Sword Grass, 2 Bordered Straw, 2 Crambus uliginosellus, 1 Perinephela lancealis, 1 Phycita roborella, 1 White-point, 1 Straw Dot, 1 Brussels Lace, 1 Cosmopolitan, 1 Orange Footman* and 1 *Eudonia pallida; also the first Endotricha flammealis, Marasmarcha lunaedactyla, Short-cloaked Moth* and Cloaked Minor of the year.
*Cynaeda dentalis* - 25th June 2003 © Martin Cade
25th June	Immigrant and dispersive moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 53 *Nomophila noctuella, 40 Plutella xylostella, 29 Small Mottled Willow, 18 Silver Y, 8 Udea ferrugalis, 3 Straw Dot, 3 Dark Sword Grass, 2 Bordered Straw, 1 Endothenia quadrimaculana* and 1 *Eudonia pallida; also the first Yponomeuta padella, Least Carpet, Swallowtail Moth, Dwarf Cream Wave* and Muslin Footman of the year. A single Vestal was disturbed from low vegetation in the Obs garden later in the day (not far from where a moth-trap had been operated last night).
Striped Hawk-moth and Conobathra tumidana - 24th June 2003 © Martin Cade
24th June	Immigrant and dispersive moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 46 *Nomophila noctuella, 36 Plutella xylostella, 23 Silver Y, 12 Small Mottled Willow, 12 Udea ferrugalis, 6 Bordered Straw, 2 Dark Sword Grass, 1 White-point, 1 Pearly Underwing, 1 Striped Hawk-moth, 1 Brussels Lace, 1 Gem, 1 Double-lobed, 1 Marbled White-spot* and 1 *Conobathra tumidana; also the first Dolicharthria punctalis, Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing* and Scarce Footman of the year.
23rd June	Immigrant and dispersive moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 62 Plutella xylostella, 24 Silver Y, 21 *Nomophila noctuella, 12 Small Mottled Willow, 3 Dark Sword Grass, 2 White-point, 2 Pearly Underwing, 1 Udea ferrugalis, 1 Endothenia quadrimaculana* and 1 Bordered Straw; also the first *Eupoecilia angustana, Lobesia abscisana, Cydia pomonella, Lackey, Garden Tiger, Ingrailed Clay* and Dun-bar of the year.
Silver Y - 22nd June 2003 © Martin Cade
22nd June	Immigrant and dispersive moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 28 Plutella xylostella, 11 Silver Y, 8 Small Mottled Willow, 1 Pine Hawk-moth, 1 *Nomophila noctuella* and 1 Bordered Straw; also the first *Ebulea crocealis, Mecyna asinalis, Brown-tail* and Four-dotted Footman of the year. During a thunderstorm after dark, Silver Y moths were visiting Red Valerian flowers in the Obs garden in large numbers.
21st June	Immigrant and dispersive moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 11 Small Mottled Willow, 9 Plutella xylostella, 1 Silver Y, 1 Pine Hawk-moth, 1 Green Arches and 1 Bordered Straw; also the first Clay and Light Arches of the year.
20th June	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 11 Small Mottled Willow, 3 Nomophila noctuella, 2 White-point, 2 Plutella xylostella, 1 Silver Y and 1 Pearly Underwing; also the first Lobesia littoralis, Scalloped Oak and Kent Black Arches of the year.
19th June	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 13 Small Mottled Willow, 10 Silver Y, 8 Plutella xylostella, 3 *Nomophila noctuella* and 1 Dark Sword Grass; also the first Brown-line Bright-eye of the year.
Chalk Carpet - 18th June 2003 © Martin Cade
18th June	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 23 Small Mottled Willow, 14 Plutella xylostella, 6 Nomophila noctuella, 6 Silver Y, 5 Dark Sword Grass, 1 White-point and 1 Straw Dot; also the first Pempeliella dilutella, Chalk Carpet, Clouded Silver and Crescent Dart of the year.
Small Mottled Willows - 17th June 2003 © Martin Cade
17th June	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 91 Small Mottled Willow, 73 Plutella xylostella, 15 Nomophila noctuella, 13 Silver Y, 12 *Udea ferrugalis, 4 Eudonia pallida, 3 Dark Sword Grass, 2 Pearly Underwing, 1 White-speck, 1 Yponomeuta evonymella* and 1 Endothenia quadrimaculana; also the first Small Blood-vein, Lilac Beauty and Privet Hawk-moth of the year.
*Euchromius ocellea* - 16th June 2003 © Martin Cade
16th June	The first Marbled Whites of the year were on the wing at the Bill this afternoon. Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 93 Small Mottled Willow, 21 Plutella xylostella, 18 Nomophila noctuella, 14 Silver Y, 9 *Udea ferrugalis, 6 White-point, 3 Eudonia pallida, 1 White-speck, 1 Yponomeuta evonymella* and 1 *Euchromius ocellea; also the first Oegoconia caradjai, Helcystogramma rufescens, Synaphe punctalis, Euzophera cinerosella, Elephant Hawk-moth, Buff Ermine, Lesser Yellow Underwing* and The Shark of the year. Additionally, in the evening Tinagma ocnerostomella was seen on the wing for the first time this year around Viper's Bugloss at Tout Quarry.
Portland Ribbon Wave - 15th June 2003 © Martin Cade
15th June	Painted Ladies are now present in quantity everywhere; 66 were counted today between the Bill and Yeolands Quarry. Hummingbird Hawk-moths are also being seen in small numbers at many sites. Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 109 Small Mottled Willow, 52 Plutella xylostella, 22 Silver Y, 18 *Udea ferrugalis, 10 Nomophila noctuella, 5 Dark Sword Grass, 3 Eudonia pallida, 2 Bordered Straw, 1 Tortrix viridana, 1 Zeiraphera isertana, 1 Dark Spectacle* and 1 White-point; also the first *Lyonetia clerkella, Brachmia blandella, Eucosma cana, Crambus perlella, Cynaeda dentalis, Pterophorus pentadactyla, Portland Ribbon Wave, Riband Wave, Single-dotted Wave, Common Emerald, Green Carpet* and Barred Straw of the year.
Ivy Broomrape - 14th June 2003 © Mary Snell
14th June	Ivy Broomrape is in flower at the moment at Broadcroft Quarry. Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 30 Plutella xylostella, 4 Silver Y, 4 *Udea ferrugalis, 3 Nomophila noctuella, 2 Dark Sword Grass, 1 Eudonia pallida, 1 Pearly Underwing* and 1 White-point; also the first *Paraswammerdamia albicapitella, Schreckensteinia festaliella, Cochylis hybridella, Brown Silver-line, Magpie Moth, Lime Hawk-moth* and Coxcomb Prominent of the year. Additionally, *Celypha striana* was new for the year in a garden moth-trap at Southwell, and Speckled Yellows were seen on the wing for the first time on the West Cliffs at Reap Lane in the evening.
Basking Shark - 13th June 2003 © Martin Cade Light Feathered Rustic - 13th June 2003 © Martin Cade/Duncan Walbridge
13th June	In the evening 2 Basking Sharks were watched making their way slowly south off the West Cliffs between Chesil Cove and the Bill. A Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly was at Yeolands Quarry this morning (the third successive year this species has been recorded at the site). Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 2 Plutella xylostella; also the first Smoky Wainscot of the year and the first Four Spotted in the traps this year. Additionally, the first Light Feathered Rustic of the year was taken in a garden moth-trap at Southwell.
Galium Carpet - 12th June 2003 © Martin Cade
12th June	The first Chalkhill Blue of the year was reported at Church Ope Cove and a single Hummingbird Hawk-moth was at the Bill this afternoon. Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 13 Silver Y, 6 *Udea ferrugalis, 3 Nomophila noctuella, 3 Plutella xylostella* and 1 White-point; also the first Archips podana, *Aethes beatricella, Pelochrista caecimaculana, Aphomia sociella, Phycitodes saxicola, Common Carpet, Galium Carpet, Green Pug, The Flame* and Middle-barred Minor of the year.
*Eudonia lineola* - 11th June 2003 © Martin Cade
11th June	The first 2 Four-spotted moths of the year were on the wing near the Obs at midday. Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 2 Plutella xylostella, 2 White-point and 1 *Nomophila noctuella; also the first Eudonia lineola* of the year.
*Cochylis molliculana* and *Cochylis atricapitana* - 10th June 2003 © Martin Cade
10th June	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 15 Plutella xylostella, 5 Silver Y, 3 *Nomophila noctuella, 2 Tortrix viridana, 2 White-point* and 1 *Udea ferrugalis; also the first Shaded Pug, Peppered Moth, Light Brocade* and Turnip of the year.
9th June	A Red-veined Darter was at Broadcroft this morning.
*Epischnia banksiella* - 8th June 2003 © Martin Cade
8th June	A single Hummingbird Hawk-moth was in a garden at Southwell this afternoon. Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 30 Plutella xylostella, 4 Silver Y, 2 *Nomophila noctuella, 2 Udea ferrugalis, 1 White-point, 1 Pearly Underwing* and 1 Hummingbird Hawk-moth; also the first *Agapeta hamana, Agapeta zoegana, Lozotaenia forsterana, Willow Beauty, Light Emerald* and Straw Dot of the year.
7th June	The first Large Skipper of the year was flying in the Obs garden. Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 4 *Plutella xylostella; also the first Homoesoma sinuella* and Sycamore of the year.
6th June	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 7 Plutella xylostella, 1 White-point, 1 *Udea ferrugalis, 1 Eudonia pallida* and 1 Silver Y; also the first Pandemis heparana, *Eucosma hohenwartiana, Epischnia banksiella, Single-dotted Wave, Poplar Hawk-moth, Drinker, Dark Arches* and Pinion-streaked Snout of the year.
5th June	The first Meadow Brown of the year was on the wing at the Bill. Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 6 *Plutella xylostella* and 1 Pearly Underwing; also the first *Scoparia subfusca* of the year.
4th June	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 47 Plutella xylostella, 4 White-point, 3 Silver Y, 3 *Nomophila noctuella* and 1 Dark Sword Grass; also the first records for the year of *Pyrausta despicata* and Heart and Club.
*Evergestis extimalis* - 3rd June 2003 © Martin Cade
3rd June	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 110 Plutella xylostella, 6 Silver Y, 4 White-point, 2 *Nomophila noctuella, 3 Udea ferrugalis, 1 Dark Sword Grass, 1 Hummingbird Hawk-moth* and 1 *Evergestis extimalis; also the first records for the year of Epermenia aequidentellus, Opsibotys fuscalis, Phycitodes binaevella, Eyed Hawk-moth* and The Snout.
2nd June	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 96 Plutella xylostella, 3 Silver Y, 1 Dark Sword Grass, 1 Pearly Underwing, 1 Eudonia pallida, 1 White-point and 1 Small Mottled Willow; also the first records for the year of *Bryotropha affinis, Luquetia lobella, Ditula angustiorana, Satin Wave* and Cypress Carpet.
Bee Orchid - 1st June 2003 © Peter Mowday
1st June	A Harbour Porpoise was seen off the Bill this morning. Bee Orchids are now in flower at the Bill and a lone Clouded Yellow was also there. Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 31 Plutella xylostella, 3 *Nomophila noctuella, 3 Eudonia pallida, 2 White-point* and 2 Silver Y; also the first records for the year of The Shears and Dusky Brocade.