Portland Bird Observatory - wildlife diary

30th September	Immigrant and dispersive moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 556 Nomophila noctuella, 11 White-speck, 5 *Udea ferrugalis, 4 Silver Y, 4 Pearly Underwing, 3 Dark Sword Grass, 3 Vestal, 2 Plutella xylostella, 2 Red Admiral* butterflies, 1 Convolvulus Hawk-moth and 1 Scarce Bordered Straw.
29th September	Immigrant and dispersive moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 400 Nomophila noctuella, 12 Silver Y, 9 Pearly Underwing, 6 White-speck, 6 *Plutella xylostella, 3 Udea ferrugalis, 3 Dark Sword Grass, 1 Gem, 1 Cosmopolitan, 1 Delicate, 1 Small Mottled Willow, 1 Bordered Straw, 1 Palpita vitrealis, 1 Vestal* and 1 Scarce Bordered Straw.
Grey Squirrel - 28th September 2003 © Martin Cade
28th September	From the sublime to the ridiculous today, with many island residents having the opportunity to add Grey Squirrel to their island mammal lists just a day after watching the vagrant Harp Seal nearby! The squirrel in question showed up in the Obs garden - the first record for the site - late in the afternoon. There was no sign of the Harp Seal all day, although the semi-resident Grey Seal put in several appearances along the East Cliffs and a pod of 10 or more Pilot Whales were watched passing east off the Bill during the morning. Immigrant and dispersive moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 337 Nomophila noctuella, 16 White-speck, 13 Silver Y, 10 Pearly Underwing, 6 Dark Sword Grass, 5 *Plutella xylostella, 2 Udea ferrugalis, 1 Gem, 1 Cosmopolitan, 1 Delicate, 1 Small Mottled Willow* and 1 Scarce Bordered Straw.
Harp Seal - 27th September 2003 © Martin Cade
27th September	An outlandish and completely unexpected addition to the island mammal list came today in the form of a Harp Seal that was found hauled out on rocks along the East Cliffs at the Bill during the afternoon; it remained there for three hours before being flushed off by the incoming tide. Immigrant and dispersive moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 1555 Nomophila noctuella, 13 *Plutella xylostella, 13 White-speck, 11 Dark Sword Grass, 9 Silver Y, 6 Pearly Underwing, 5 Vestal, 1 Small Mottled Willow* and 1 Scarce Bordered Straw.
*Palpita vitrealis* - 26th September 2003 © Martin Cade
26th September	Immigrant and dispersive moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 3550 Nomophila noctuella, 13 Silver Y, 13 *Plutella xylostella, 10 Dark Sword Grass, 7 White-speck, 6 Pearly Underwing, 4 Small Mottled Willow, 2 Scarce Bordered Straw, 2 Vestal, 2 Convolvulus Hawk-moth, 1 Palpita vitrealis, 1 Cosmopolitan, 1 Gem, 1 Painted Lady* butterfly and 1 Red Admiral butterfly.
25th September	Immigrant and dispersive moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 113 Nomophila noctuella, 4 Silver Y, 3 White-speck, 1 Dark Sword Grass and 1 Pearly Underwing.
24th September	No sign of the Queen of Spain Fritillary at Southwell today although 13 species of butterfly, including several Clouded Yellows, were on the wing at the Bill. Immigrant and dispersive moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 80 Nomophila noctuella, 10 White-speck, 4 Dark Sword Grass, 2 Pearly Underwing, 2 Scarce Bordered Straw, 1 *Plutella xylostella, 1 Delicate* and 1 Red Admiral butterfly.
Clouded Yellow - 23rd September 2003 © Martin Cade
23rd September	A Queen of Spain Fritillary was seen twice at Southwell during the afternoon. Immigrant and dispersive moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 61 Nomophila noctuella, 6 White-speck, 2 Pearly Underwing, 2 Vestal, 1 Dark Sword Grass, 1 Scarce Bordered Straw, 1 *Plutella xylostella, 1 Striped Hawk-moth* and 1 *Udea ferrugalis*.
22nd September	Immigrant and dispersive moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 346 Nomophila noctuella, 8 Dark Sword Grass, 7 White-speck, 4 Silver Y, 3 Scarce Bordered Straw, 3 *Plutella xylostella, 3 Vestal, 2 Convolvulus Hawk-moth, 2 Small Mottled Willow, 2 Hummingbird Hawk-moth, 1 Pearly Underwing, 1 Palpita vitrealis, 1 Cosmopolitan, 1 Delicate* and 1 Dark Spectacle.
21st September	Immigrant and dispersive moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 449 Nomophila noctuella, 18 Dark Sword Grass, 18 Silver Y, 16 White-speck, 6 Scarce Bordered Straw, 6 Convolvulus Hawk-moth, 4 Small Mottled Willow, 2 White-point, 2 Pearly Underwing, 2 Hummingbird Hawk-moth, 2 *Plutella xylostella, 2 Palpita vitrealis, 1 Udea ferrugalis, 1 Cosmopolitan, 1 Vestal, 1 Gem, 1 Painted Lady* butterfly, 1 Delicate and 1 Vapourer.
*Diasemiopsis ramburialis* - 20th September 2003 © Martin Cade
20th September	Immigrant and dispersive moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 718 Nomophila noctuella, 15 White-speck, 10 Dark Sword Grass, 4 Pearly Underwing, 4 Silver Y, 4 Convolvulus Hawk-moth, 3 *Plutella xylostella, 1 Udea ferrugalis, 1 Scarce Bordered Straw, 1 Diasemiopsis ramburialis, 1 Cosmopolitan, 1 Vestal, 1 Dark Spectacle, 1 Red Admiral* butterfly and 1 Small Mottled Willow.

19th September	Immigrant and dispersive moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 330 Nomophila noctuella, 7 White-speck, 5 *Plutella xylostella, 2 Silver Y, 2 Dark Sword Grass, 1 Convolvulus Hawk-moth, 1 Udea ferrugalis, 2 Scarce Bordered Straw* and 1 Small Mottled Willow.
Convolvulus Hawk-moth larva and adult - 18th September 2003 © Martin Cade
18th September	Fully-fed Convolvulus Hawk-moth larvae have been found at several sites around the island in recent days. Immigrant and dispersive moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 96 *Nomophila noctuella, 7 Silver Y, 5 Dark Sword Grass, 2 Plutella xylostella, 2 Convolvulus Hawk-moth, 1 Cosmopolitan, 1 Udea ferrugalis, 1 Scarce Bordered Straw* and 1 Vestal.
17th September	Immigrant and dispersive moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 98 *Nomophila noctuella, 6 Dark Sword Grass, 3 Silver Y, 3 White-speck, 2 Delicate, 1 Pearly Underwing, 1 Plutella xylostella, 1 Small Mottled Willow, 1 White-point* and 1 *Nephopterix angustella*.
Hummingbird Hawk-moth, Convolvulus Hawk-moth and Striped Hawk-moth - 16th September 2003 © Martin Cade
16th September	Immigrant and dispersive moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 315 *Nomophila noctuella, 8 Dark Sword Grass, 8 Silver Y, 3 Pearly Underwing, 2 Plutella xylostella, 2 Small Mottled Willow, 2 White-point, 2 White-speck, 1 Hummingbird Hawk-moth, 1 Convovulus Hawk-moth* and 1 Striped Hawk-moth.
15th September	Immigrant and dispersive moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 268 *Nomophila noctuella, 12 Dark Sword Grass, 8 Silver Y, 7 Plutella xylostella, 4 Convovulus Hawk-moth, 2 Small Mottled Willow, 2 White-point, 2 White-speck, 1 Bordered Straw, 1 Cosmopolitan, 1 Hummingbird Hawk-moth, 1 Pearly Underwing, 1 Delicate, 1 Nephopterix angustella* and 1 Scarce Bordered Straw.
14th September	Immigrant and dispersive moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 73 *Nomophila noctuella, 10 Dark Sword Grass, 3 Silver Y, 2 Small Mottled Willow, 2 Udea ferrugalis, 2 Plutella xylostella, 1 White-point, 1 Striped Hawk-moth, 1 Dark Spectacle, 1 Nephopterix angustella* and 1 Scarce Bordered Straw.
13th September	Immigrant and dispersive moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 387 *Nomophila noctuella, 48 Dark Sword Grass, 25 Silver Y, 6 Small Mottled Willow, 5 Udea ferrugalis, 3 Pearly Underwing, 3 Plutella xylostella, 2 White-speck, 2 White-point* and 1 Scarce Bordered Straw.
12th September	Immigrant and dispersive moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 261 *Nomophila noctuella, 26 Silver Y, 24 Dark Sword Grass, 8 Small Mottled Willow, 5 Pearly Underwing, 5 Plutella xylostella, 4 White-speck, 2 Udea ferrugalis, 2 White-point, 1 Convolvulus Hawk-moth, 1 Vestal, 1 Delicate, 1 Nephopterix angustella* and 1 Scarce Bordered Straw.
11th September	Immigrant and dispersive moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 200 *Nomophila noctuella, 25 Silver Y, 9 Dark Sword Grass, 6 Pearly Underwing, 2 White-speck, 2 Plutella xylostella, 2 Convolvulus Hawk-moth, 1 Small Mottled Willow, 1 Udea ferrugalis, 1 Palpita vitrealis, 1 Pediasia contaminella* and 1 *Pandemis cinnamomeana*.
Beautiful Gothic and Feathered Brindle - 10th September 2003 © Martin Cade
10th September	Immigrant and dispersive moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 59 *Nomophila noctuella, 18 Silver Y, 9 Dark Sword Grass, 6 Pearly Underwing, 5 Scarce Bordered Straw, 4 Small Mottled Willow, 4 White-speck, 3 Udea ferrugalis, 2 Plutella xylostella* and 1 Convolvulus Hawk-moth; additionally the local autumn specialities Beautiful Gothic and Feathered Brindle are both now on the wing in good numbers.
9th September	Immigrant and dispersive moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 433 *Nomophila noctuella, 28 Dark Sword Grass, 13 Silver Y, 13 Small Mottled Willow, 13 Plutella xylostella, 8 White-speck, 5 Udea ferrugalis, 4 Bordered Straw, 4 Pearly Underwing, 4 Scarce Bordered Straw, 1 Gem, 1 White-point, 1 Oak Hook-tip* and 1 Delicate
8th September	Immigrant and dispersive moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: ca900 *Nomophila noctuella, 43 Dark Sword Grass, 29 Silver Y, 24 Small Mottled Willow, 11 Plutella xylostella, 10 Pearly Underwing, 8 White-speck, 5 Udea ferrugalis, 3 Gem, 2 White-point, 2 Bordered Straw, 2 Scarce Bordered Straw, 1 Convolvulus Hawk-moth, 1 Cosmopolitan, 1 Nephopterix angustella* and 1 Delicate
Cosmopolitan - 7th September 2003 © Martin Cade
7th September	Immigrant and dispersive moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: ca3450 *Nomophila noctuella, 106 Dark Sword Grass, 77 Silver Y, 31 Pearly Underwing, 12 Udea ferrugalis, 19 Plutella xylostella, 11 Small Mottled Willow, 9 White-speck, 4 Gem, 2 White-point, 2 Scarce Bordered Straw, 2 Hummingbird Hawk-moth, 1 Convolvulus Hawk-moth, 1 Cosmopolitan, 1 Nephopterix angustella, 1 Bordered Straw, 1 Delicate* and 1 Small Wainscot.
Good numbers of *Nomophila noctuella* - 6th September 2003 © Martin Cade
6th September	Immigrant and dispersive moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: ca5500 *Nomophila noctuella, 96 Small Mottled Willow, 82 Silver Y, 74 Dark Sword Grass, 46 Plutella xylostella, 18 Pearly Underwing, 18 Udea ferrugalis, 17 White-point, 15 Ostrinia nubilalis, 13 Gem, 12 White-speck, 7 Convolvulus Hawk-moth, 4 Scarce Bordered Straw, 4 Hummingbird Hawk-moth, 3 Cosmopolitan, 3 Nephopterix angustella, 1 Latticed Heath, 1 Bordered Straw, 1 Galleria mellonella, 1 Delicate, 1 Spruce Carpet* and 1 Vestal.
*Ostrinia nubilalis* - 5th September 2003 © Martin Cade
5th September	Immigrant and dispersive moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 338 *Nomophila noctuella, 8 Dark Sword Grass, 7 Pearly Underwing, 5 White-point, 3 Silver Y, 3 Udea ferrugalis, 2 Convolvulus Hawk-moth, 3 Small Mottled Willow, 1 Ostrinia nubilalis, 1 Gem* and 1 Hummingbird Hawk-moth.
4th September	Immigrant and dispersive moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 159 *Nomophila noctuella, 64 Silver Y, 27 Dark Sword Grass, 15 Pearly Underwing, 7 Udea ferrugalis, 5 White-speck, 5 White-point, 2 Convolvulus Hawk-moth, 1 Small Mottled Willow* and 1 Hummingbird Hawk-moth.
3rd September	Immigrant and dispersive moths in the Obs garden moth-trapss this morning: 270 *Nomophila noctuella, 99 Dark Sword Grass, 44 Silver Y, 34 Pearly Underwing, 11 White-speck, 7 White-point, 4 Udea ferrugalis, 3 Convolvulus Hawk-moth, 1 Small Mottled Willow* and 1 Bordered Straw.
2nd September	Immigrant and dispersive moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 385 *Nomophila noctuella, 106 Silver Y, 90 Dark Sword Grass, 48 Pearly Underwing, 16 Udea ferrugalis, 7 White-speck, 5 Scarce Bordered Straw, 4 Plutella xylostella, 4 White-point, 2 Vestal, 1 Convolvulus Hawk-moth, 1 Cosmopolitan, 1 Evergestis extimalis* and 1 Hummingbird Hawk-moth.
1st September	Immigrant and dispersive moths in the Obs garden moth-traps this morning: 548 *Nomophila noctuella, 103 Dark Sword Grass, 98 Silver Y, 37 Pearly Underwing, 13 Udea ferrugalis, 9 White-speck, 8 White-point, 5 Vestal, 4 Small Mottled Willow, 2 Scarce Bordered Straw, 1 Striped Hawk-moth, 1 Plutella xylostella, 1 Bordered Straw* and 1 *Palpita vitrealis*.