2nd July

Plenty of variety weather-wise today, with quiet, dreary conditions giving way to spells of drizzly rain, reduced visibility and a gusty wind before blazing sunshine returned at the end of the afternoon. In comparison with yesterday, bird interest veered back towards the minimal with only the sea salvaging a little reward in the form of 21 Manx Shearwaters, 6 Common Scoter, 3 Sandwich Terns and singles of Great Skua, Black-headed Gull and Mediterranean Gull through off the Bill. The land came up with no more than the lingering singles of Blackcap and Chiffchaff at the Bill.

Immigrant moth interest perked up, even if overall numbers remained distinctly low. The night's highlights were the second island records of Sub-angled Wave at the Grove, Warted Knot-horn Acrobasis repandana at Sweethill and Pied Grey Eudonia delunella at the Obs; singles of Fenland Pearl Phlyctaenia perlucidalis at Cheyne Weare and White Satin, Orange Footman and Lunar-spotted Pinion at the Obs were additional scarcities.

Sub-angled Wave, Warted Knot-horn, Pied Grey, White Satin and Lunar-spotted Pinion - The Grove, Portland Bill and Sweethill, 2nd July 2015 © Debby Saunders (Warted Knot-horn) and Martin Cade (the rest)