2nd July

On a bright and at times quite breezy day it was again the sea that came up with the bulk of the day's numbers, with 67 Common Scoter, 9 Manx Shearwaters, 7 Whimbrel and 4 Mallards through off the Bill. Sand Martin passage picked up a little, with 21 through over the Bill but the land otherwise didn't chip in with much more than a Grey Wagtail over the Bill, a first Yellow-legged Gull of the season over Blacknor and 22 Dunlin, 2 Shelducks and a Greenshank at Ferrybridge.

Immigrant moth numbers continued to decline, with none of the commoner species managing a double figure total at the Obs, but rarities still featured: singles of Orache Moth, Small Marbled and Olive-tree Pearl were nice highlights from overnight trapping at Cheyne Weare, whilst 2 European Corn-borers and singles of Vestal, Latticed Heath, Delicate, Small Mottled Willow and Scarce Bordered Straw were the best of the catch at the Obs.

The Orache Moth was the fourth record for the island and the first for 11 years © Matthew Deans/Martin Cade:

And more lepidoptera from yesterday; the Lunar Hornet Clearwings continue to show from time to time at the Obs © James Phillips:

...whilst a few of the mid-summer butterflies now on the wing at Bottomcombe included Lulworth Skipper, Gatekeeper and Ringlet © Ken Dolbear: