6th July

The sad fact that it took until after midday to even get off the mark in the Obs mist-nets was an entirely representative reflection on the quality of the day's birding - it can only get better. The day's only reports were of the long-staying Blackcap still at the Bill, 7 Manx Shearwaters and a Mediterranean Gull through on the sea there and 42 Mediterranean Gulls, a Dunlin and a Bar-tailed Godwit at Ferrybridge.

Overnight moth-trapping, at least in terms of the immigrant tally, was rather quiet but there was a nice trio of highlights in the form of the second Twin-spot Honey Aphomia zelleri in three nights - this one at the Grove, a White Satin also at the Grove and the year's first Small Marbled at the Obs (photos of the moths to follow tomorrow as stupidly we left the zelleri in the fridge at home when we came back to the Obs to post this update).

Gatekeeper male, female and aberrant male - Portland Bill, 6th July 2015 © Ken Dolbear