Portland Bird Observatory - wildlife diary

31st August	A Ruddy Darter dragonfly was present at Culverwell during the afternoon (possibly the first confirmed record for the Bill). Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 4 Dark Sword Grass, 2 *Udea ferrugalis, 2 Silver Y* and 1 White-point; also a Flame Carpet (only the second recent island record) and a Dark Spectacle.
30th August	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 6 Udea ferrugalis, 5 Dark Sword Grass, 4 *Nomophila noctuella, 4 White-point* and 1 Plutella xylostella; also 1 *Nephopterix angustella*.
29th August	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 15 Dark Sword Grass, 12 Udea ferrugalis, 7 Silver Y, 7 *Nomophila noctuella, 3 White-point, 1 Plutella xylostella* and 1 Pearly Underwing.
Grass Eggar - 28th August 2002 © Martin Cade
28th August	Painted Ladies are now present in large numbers throughout the island, with counts of Clouded Yellows reaching 20 on most recent days. A Jersey Tiger was seen in Obs garden during the morning. Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 24 Dark Sword Grass, 23 Silver Y, 11 Udea ferrugalis, 10 *Plutella xylostella, 9 White-point, 4 Nomophila noctuella, 2 Pearly Underwing* and 1 Scarce Bordered Straw; also 1 Grass Eggar (the first certain record for the island), 1 *Anania verbascalis* (the second island record), 1 Narrow-winged Pug and 1 *Eudonia pallida*.
27th August	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 11 Nomophila noctuella, 11 Silver Y, 10 Udea ferrugalis, 9 Dark Sword Grass, 6 White-point, 4 *Plutella xylostella, 2 Pearly Underwing* and 1 Small Mottled Willow; also 2 Narrow-winged Pug, 1 Gold-spot and 1 *Eudonia pallida. Elsewhere, a Small* China-mark and an *Evergestis extimalis* were taken at light at Fortuneswell overnight.
26th August	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 10 Udea ferrugalis, 6 Dark Sword Grass, 4 Nomophila noctuella, 3 Silver Y, 3 *Plutella xylostella, 3 White-point* and 2 Pearly Underwing; also a single Dark Spectacle.
25th August	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 22 Udea ferrugalis, 19 Nomophila noctuella, 17 Silver Y, 14 Dark Sword Grass, 3 *Plutella xylostella, 2 Pearly Underwing* and 1 White-point.
24th August	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 14 Udea ferrugalis, 13 Nomophila noctuella, 6 Dark Sword Grass, 4 Silver Y, 3 *Plutella xylostella, 3 Pearly Underwing* and 2 White-point.
23rd August	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 29 Nomophila noctuella, 24 Udea ferrugalis, 18 Silver Y, 8 *Plutella xylostella, 7 Dark Sword Grass* and 2 White-point.
22nd August	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 33 Nomophila noctuella, 27 Silver Y, 19 Dark Sword Grass, 10 *Plutella xylostella, 7 Udea ferrugalis* and 3 White-point.
21st August	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 22 Silver Y, 17 Nomophila noctuella, 10 Dark Sword Grass, 10 *Plutella xylostella, 7 Udea ferrugalis* and 3 White-point. Elsewhere, 2 Delicate and 1 Convolvulous Hawk-moths were taken at light at Cheyne Weares.
Rosy Footman - 20th August 2002 © Martin Cade
20th August	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 64 Silver Y, 39 Dark Sword Grass, 31 *Plutella xylostella, 43 Nomophila noctuella, 10 Udea ferrugalis, 3 White-point, 1 Pearly Underwing* and 1 Convolvulous Hawk-moth. Elsewhere, 2 Convolvulous Hawk-moths were taken at light at Cheyne Weares.
Tawny Wave - 19th August 2002 © Martin Cade
19th August	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 116 *Plutella xylostella, 111 Silver Y, 26 Nomophila noctuella, 25 Udea ferrugalis, 21 Dark Sword Grass, 4 White-point, 1 Pearly Underwing, 1 Scarce Bordered Straw* and 1 Tawny Wave; also a single Maidens Blush and a Painted Lady butterfly.
18th August	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 24 *Plutella xylostella, 15 Nomophila noctuella, 13 Udea ferrugalis, 6 Dark Sword Grass, 4 Silver Y, 3 White-point, 2 Evergestis extimalis* and 1 Gem; also single Maidens Blush, Black Arches and Bulrush Wainscot.
17th August	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 19 Nomophila noctuella, 13 Dark Sword Grass, 12 *Plutella xylostella, 9 Udea ferrugalis, 6 Silver Y* and 2 White-point.
Silver-washed Fritillary and Jersey Tiger - 16th August 2002 © Martin Cade
16th August	There was a wholly unexpected addition to the island butterfly list today when an unidentified fritillary was spotted flying north along Chesil Beach near the former police checkpoint; after a considerable pursuit it was captured and identified as a Silver-washed Fritillary. A Jersey Tiger showed well as it visited Buddleia flowers in the Obs garden in the morning. Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 26 Nomophila noctuella, 25 *Plutella xylostella, 23 Dark Sword Grass, 16 Silver Y, 6 Udea ferrugalis* and 1 White-point; also a single Black Arches.
15th August	An influx of Clouded Yellows occurred during the afternoon, when up to 50 were seen at various points along the east side of the island; most were moving rapidly northwards. Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 21 *Plutella xylostella, 13 Dark Sword Grass, 12 Silver Y, 8 Nomophila noctuella, 2 White-point* and 1 Jersey Tiger.
Convolvulous Hawk-moth and Dark Sword Grass - 14th August 2002 © Martin Cade
14th August	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 8 Dark Sword Grass, 7 Silver Y, 5 Nomophila noctuella, 3 *Plutella xylostella, 2 White-point* and 1 Convolvulous Hawk-moth.
13th August	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 24 Dark Sword Grass, 8 Nomophila noctuella, 4 *Plutella xylostella, 4 White-point* and 3 Silver Y.
12th August	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 8 Dark Sword Grass, 7 *Plutella xylostella, 4 Nomophila noctuella* and 3 Silver Y; also a single *Eucosma tripoliana*.
11th August	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 20 Dark Sword Grass, 19 *Plutella xylostella, 18 Nomophila noctuella, 12 Silver Y* and 1 Udea ferrugalis; also a single *Eudonia pallida*.
9th August	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 17 *Plutella xylostella, 2 Nomophila noctuella, 2 Udea ferrugalis, 2 Dark Sword Grass* and 1 Silver Y; also single *Calamotropha paludella* and Twin-spotted Wainscot.
8th August	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 42 *Plutella xylostella, 18 Nomophila noctuella, 13 Silver Y, 11 Dark Sword Grass* and 5 *Udea ferrugalis*.
Garden Tigers - 7th August 2002 © Martin Cade
7th August	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 128 *Plutella xylostella, 21 Silver Y, 21 Nomophila noctuella, 15 Dark Sword Grass, 12 Udea ferrugalis* and 1 White-point.
6th August	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 81 Silver Y, 58 *Plutella xylostella, 33 Nomophila noctuella, 25 Dark Sword Grass* and 10 Udea ferrugalis; also a single *Pediasia contaminella*.
5th August	A single Grey Squirrel was seen at Southwell in the morning. Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 90 *Plutella xylostella, 33 Silver Y, 17 Nomophila noctuella, 7 Dark Sword Grass* and 4 *Udea ferrugalis. Elsewhere, a single Bordered Straw* was taken at light at Cheyne Weares, and a Bloxworth Snout (along with several Beech-green Carpets) was disturbed from Ivy at Church Ope Cove during the morning.
Dingy Mocha - 4th August 2002 © Martin Cade
4th August	A Dingy Mocha trapped overnight in the Obs garden moth-traps was a very unexpected addition to the island list; other immigrant moths there were: 28 Silver Y, 26 *Plutella xylostella, 15 Nomophila noctuella, 6 Dark Sword Grass* and 4 *Udea ferrugalis*.
3rd August	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 25 Silver Y, 18 *Plutella xylostella, 4 Nomophila noctuella, 3 Udea ferrugalis* and 1 Dark Sword Grass; also a single Dark Spectacle.
2nd August	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 11 Silver Y, 7 *Plutella xylostella, 4 Udea ferrugalis* and 2 *Nomophila noctuella*.
1st August	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 10 Silver Y, 5 *Plutella xylostella, 3 Udea ferrugalis* and 2 *Nomophila noctuella*.