Portland Bird Observatory - wildlife diary

30th September	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 6 Delicate and 1 Nomophila noctuella.
29th September	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 5 Nomophila noctuella, 2 Delicate, 1 Silver Y, 1 *Udea ferrugalis, 1 Dark Sword Grass* and 1 White-speck.
Gem - 28th September 2001 © Martin Cade
28th September	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 19 Nomophila noctuella, 4 Delicate, 3 Silver Y, 3 *Udea ferrugalis, 1 Dark Sword Grass, 1 Plutella xylostella, 1 Gem* and 1 White-speck.
27th September	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 4 *Nomophila noctuella* and 4 Silver Y.
26th September	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 13 Nomophila noctuella, 3 Dark Sword Grass, 2 Silver Y, 1 *Udea ferrugalis, 1 Plutella xylostella* and 1 White-point.
25th September	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 29 Nomophila noctuella, 2 Silver Y and 1 Dark Sword Grass.
Deep-brown Dart (and Black Rustic) - 24th September 2001 © Martin Cade
24th September	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 3 *Nomophila noctuella; also a single Deep-brown Dart* (the fourth Portland record).
23rd September	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 9 Silver Y and 1 Dark Sword Grass.
Sharp-leaved Fluellen - 22nd September 2001 © Charlie Moores
22nd September	A single plant of Sharp-leaved Fluellen Kickxia elatine was found today on the strips of land that have been rented and subsequently ploughed by the Observatory to improve the habitat at the Bill. At least 4 Clouded Yellows and 2 Hummingbird Hawk-moths were seen at the Bill today. Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 20 Silver Y, 6 Nomophila noctuella, 4 Dark Sword Grass, 2 Pearly Underwing and 1 *Plutella xylostella*.
21st September	At least 6 Clouded Yellows were seen at the Bill today. Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 15 Silver Y, 2 *Nomophila noctuella* and 1 Dark Sword Grass; also a single Dark Spectacle.
20th September	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 11 Silver Y.
14th September	One or two Hummingbird Hawk-moths are now being seen on most days around the island, and today there were 3 Clouded Yellows at the Bill.
12th September	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 9 Silver Y, 2 *Udea ferrugalis* and 1 Dark Sword Grass.
11th September	A single Heath Rustic caught overnight at Cheyne Weare constitutes only the third island record of the species. Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 1 Dark Sword Grass.
Wasp Spider - 10th September 2001 © Mick Rogers
10th September	Wasp Spiders Argiope bruennichi have been seen at several sites around the island in recent days. Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 3 Silver Y and 1 Dark Sword Grass.
9th September	At least 3 Bottle-nosed Dolphins were off the East Cliffs at the Bill during the afternoon.
8th September	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 1 Dark Sword Grass.
7th September	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 1 Silver Y.
6th September	A single Clouded Yellow was seen at the Bill in the morning. Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 5 Silver Y and 1 White-point.
4th September	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 12 Silver Y, 1 White-point, 1 *Nomophila noctuella* and 1 Dark Sword Grass.
3rd September	Two Bottle-nosed Dolphins were off the Bill during the morning. According to reports in the local press a large unidentified turtle (claimed to be about 9 feet long) has been present in Portland Harbour for several days.
2nd September	Immigrant moths in the Obs garden traps this morning: 13 Silver Y, 4 Udea ferrugalis, 4 White-point, 2 Nomophila noctuella,1 Dark Sword Grass, and 1 Pearly Underwing.
1st September	(nothing of note to report)