8th July

A Marsh Harrier leaving south from the Bill was a surprise for the time of year. The day's only other movers were 6 Cormorants and 5 Grey Herons over the Bill and 12 Common Scoter through on the sea there; 6 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Black-headed Gulls and a Mediterranean Gull were also lingering offshore at the Bill.

The Marsh Harrier passed high south down the island and powered on out to sea - just the sort of sighting you'd have expected in September but certainly not in early July © Martin Cade:


Common Heath is an at times quite abundant moth in appropriate habitat across inland Dorset so it's a bit of a surprise that it hadn't been recorded at Portland before last night © Martin Cade: