7th June

A lovely warm, still and sunny day that started very slowly but did eventually come up with a handful of tardy (...or in a couple of cases perhaps even early departing failed breeders) common migrants. All the reports were from the Bill area, where 4 Spotted Flycatchers, 2 each of Sand Martin and Wheatear, and singles of Hobby, Ringed Plover, Black-headed Gull, Redstart, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler made the log.

Immigrant Lepidoptera continued to feature; the Painted Ladys first reported a couple of days ago looked to have moved on very quickly, with none logged yesterday and only 3 today, but amongst the moths Bordered Straws in particular were still relatively numerous, with moth-trap totals of 6 at the Grove, 4 at the Obs and 2 at Sweethill, as well as a minimum of 7 visiting valerian in the Obs garden at dusk yesterday evening.





Small Copper, Small Heath and Bordered Straw - Tout Quarry, Admiralty Quarry and Portland Bill, 6th June 2015 © Ken Dolbear (the butterflies) and Martin Cade (Bordered Straw)