3rd June

On a squally, windy day most of the day's interest was offshore, with Manx Shearwaters a constant presence off the Bill and at least 4 Balearic Shearwaters amongst them from time to time. On the land the Turtle Dove lingered on at Sweethill.

Carrying on from yesterday's mention of under-the-radar resident vs straying moths, yesterday the Obs garden's fourth May Highflyer turned up in one of the moth-traps there © Martin Cade:

Since May Highflyer's only larval foodplant is Alder we'd be very confident all these records relate to strays from the mainland or perhaps even from across the Channel since as far as we know there are no Alder trees on the island - we've never seen even a 'garden planted' Alder here and there are no records at all shown on the distribution map in The Flora of Dorset:

2nd June

Small arrival of new migrants today incl 3 CCs and singles of Wheatear, Wthroat and Spot Fly at the Bill, a Hobby and a Spot Fly at Southwell and a Redstart at Portland Castle. 6 Balearics, a Sooty Shearwater & a GNDiver thru off the Bill

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 2, 2025 at 9:43 PM

The Turtle Dove continued to show nicely from time to time at Sweethill © Pete Saunders:

Moth catches have got considerably larger and more varied of late and although migrant interest has been relatively low key there's been a nice selection of 'local less-regulars' trapped. This Streaked Diamond-back Plutella porrectella was new for the Obs garden the night before last - despite it being a very widespread moth in Britain, as far as we know the only previous island records (we've forgotten whether there's actually been more than one) are from Debby Saunders' garden at Sweethill. Evidently this species' only larval foodplant is Dame's-violet but our woefully inadequate botanical knowledge is such that we're not sure how widespread or not that is on the island © Martin Cade: 

1st June

The lingering Turtle Dove at Sweethill saved the day on the land from where there were no reports of  any new arrivals save for a few extra Sanderlings at Ferrybridge © Debby Saunders:

Lulworth Skippers look to be having a decent season with reports from many spots around the island in the last few days © Roy Norris:

Large numbers of Red-Veined Darter on Portland 1 June Kingbarrow:6m 1f Yeolands:8m 1f + mating pair at pond. + 5m 2f on paths Broadcroft brief visit: 1f Odd footprints at Yeolands pond. Goat rather than deer ? Also black-tailed skimmer, broad-bodied chaser, emperor(2m+f) @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

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— Steve M (@steveweynature.bsky.social) June 1, 2025 at 3:48 PM