Broadcroft Quarry to the prison, Portland 19 July Dozens of Painted Lady many fresh - easily 200+ - I now wish I'd counted. 10+ Silver-Y 2 Hummingbird Hawkmoth Bordered Straw Moderate numbers of Chalkhill Blues now out @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Recent visitors found in my Weymouth conservatory: Wall Brown, Emperor Dragonfly. And on it: what I think is either Meadow Grasshopper (long-winged form) or Lesser Marsh Grasshopper. Feedback invited.

Littlesea Wood, Weymouth 14 July, early evening: total of 110+ Migrant Hawkers in 3 large groups (50 + 30 + 30) just above the wood at the foot of the hill. Amazing sight.

5 Redshank on rocks at West Weares - presumed same later at Oysterbeds where Common Sand & 10+ Common Tern. Curlew, LRP at Ferrybridge. Gathering of 25+ Sand Martins at Bridging Camp First Southern Hawker of the year in Littlesea wood YLG juv over Pirate's Cove @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

Dingy Skipper (surely) - Tout Quarry Portland 5 July. From the state of it I guess a "late" 1st brood rather than 2nd. Unless I am mis-identifying a moth of course !! @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

At Littlesea on 6 July, 5 Curlew and Whimbrel The wintering bird ? I've had Whimbrel records present here every month since last October at least - first "return" 18 June 2026

Recent spectacular large Ichneumons in Weymouth: Heteropelma Amictum in Littlesea Wood. V long legs which look like forked tail when flying Gasteruption Jaculator in Lanehouse garden. Superficially like a cross between blue-tailed and small red damselfly - and the same sort of size.

Tadnoll, Dorset 26 June 2 different Sand Wasp sp. Ammophila sp. - one excavating a hole, one dragging a caterpillar. Beyond my skillset to id to species and suspect photos not sufficient.

Portland 28 June: An early Grayling at Tout Quarry Elsewhere on the island the white form of Pyramidal Orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis var. albiflora. I've seen tens of thousands of the pink form but can't recall seeing this form so erring on the side of caution wrt location. @ukorchids.bsky.social

Lulworth Skipper along the Fleet between Littlesea and Tidmoor 27 June Norfolk Hawker at Tidmoor Cove Colour Ringed Curlew yellow CJ at Tidmoor Point.

Lynch cove / Littlesea etc Thursday 18 June. 4 Curlew 1 Whimbrel Reed Warbler singing in bushes could be late migrant

Bridging camp 6 June: hundreds of manx shearwaters east close in. 2 arctic skua w later one dark east Kiittiwake total c25 east @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Long cycle ride to Hog Cliff (Maiden Newton),30 May. Bee orchid and 100's Pyramidals on Weymouth relief road. Failed to find Marsh Fritillary - but many (presumed) 5-spotted burnet moth var palustrella. 3 Cistus Forester (lots of rock rose). 20+ Grizzled Skipper @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Yeolands Quarry 31 May in fairly cool conditions. Red Veined Darter 2m 1 f-type on slopes. I think this is Brooklime at the pond. If ID is ok it's not in the BSBI atlas for the island so may be new for Portland. An ichneumon making photography something of a challenge. @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

Now 3 species of tiger moth in a week: Wood Tiger at Maiden Castle 23 May. Scarlet Tiger caterpillar at Warmwell, also Keeled Skimmer at a too dry Warmwell Heath. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

139 Manx Shearwaters east past Bridging camp this evening in two hours - all close in.

Littlesea to Ferrybridge etc 16/17 May White(ish?) Wagtail Dung Heap Stables. Cream Spot Tiger rescued from the path at Camp Road dog field - epaulettes on thorax but is hind wing too orange ? And a thistle I don't know with Musk Thistle at the coast path slippage, west of Ferrybridge. c30cm tall

Kite passage W over the Fleet this morning - 3 Langton Herring, 15 Abbotsbury in c30mins, odd singles along Ridgeway etc. Pale buzzard at Abbotsbury. Close buzzard at Hardy Mon. Ponds at Valley of Rocks and Hardy's very low water & mucky - no odos. Nice to be out cycling - but rain would be better.

Among the more obvious delights of Cerne Giant Hill on 9 May: Brown Argus 24-Spot Ladybird. Glow-worm larva - rescued from the path before it was trodden on. gorse orbweaver spider - agalenatea redii - in refuge. Perfect colour match. As always - corrections welcome. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

Lynch cove 7am low tide Bonapartes gull 2cy Curlew Whimbrel 2 Roe Deer male on Chesil opposite bridging camp

Seawatching from the Littlesea viewpoint does not have the better views of Ferrybridge or the Bill - too many distant blobs. But some compensation with the large waders (especially) which take the land route to Weymouth Bay - and the soundtrack is undoubtedly better. (Muntjac seen again Monday).

Daft April total of 6 Dragonfly species on cycle ride from Weymouth 30/4 Hairy Dragonfly Broadmayne Common Blue Damsel at worryingly dry Warmwell Heath Beautiful Demoiselle at Moreton Moreton Plantation: Broad Bodied Chaser 2m 1f, 4-spotted chaser 3. Green Tiger Beetle And Large Red Damselflies

Cogden beach this afternoon - same idea as @vivkeene.bsky.social Wheatear 2, whinchat 1 on beach. Lesser whitethroat 2 Whimbrel 1 on beach and 1E (same?) Common tern 2 singles, sandwich 4 all east close to beach. Great show of shingle flowers but two windy for invertebrates 4 kites Abbotsbury hill

Some recent invertebrates. My first Demoiselle sp was at Briantspuddle 19/4/26 - not id'ed to species. Also between there and Culpeppers dish that day: Holly Blue, Green Hairstreak and Crucifer Shieldbug. My first Hairy Dragonfly was in Littlesea Wood 25 Apr. The photo at Lodmoor 26 April.

Ferrybridge 21/4 Eve. A group of 18 Bar-tailed Godwit & 7 Whimbrel dropped in. Washed & fed. 5 the Whimbrel moved on quite quickly calling, the Barwits left later. One existing ringed barwit unmoved by the fuss. Magic. 45 Dunlin most spl, 8 Ringed Plover, 3 Turnstone @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

The Fleet Bridging Camp/Lynch Cove last few days. Avocets with the Bonaparte's Gull 20/40. Red-Legged Partridge. And "IT'S BEHIND YOU"

Littlesea 21 Apr Swift 7 wader sp including Grey Plover,Whimbrel , barwit 4e Wheatear 1 & willow warblers pushing through. yellow wagtail Yesterday 2 Avocet with the Bonaparte’s Gull

c12 barwits or whimbrel East over Lynch Lane/ Lanehouse Weymouth approx 15:50 - sea nay be worth a look

Day early WEBS quiet but.. Lynch Cove Bonapartes Gull 1st w (12:15) not there earlier on the high tide Wheatear 2 Tree Pipit at dung heap at stables at back of Liitlesea caravan site 3 singing lesser whitethroat Canada goose 6 on Chesil at Bridging Camp also whimbrel 1 @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Green winged orchid 2 at Overcombe also Clouded Yellow 4 whimbrel at Lodmoor flew up joined with2 more left west Italian lords n ladies. Booming bittern there at dusk last night distant to north

Green-winged orchids and the first Yellow Rattle 12 April. Verne Common, Portland opposite (and left of) the cemetery track

Littlesea etc Bonaparte 1w Lynch cove Wt eagele 2 imm e down Fleet 08:40 towards Ferrybridge 6 common scoter best of the sea

Pod of 8+ dolphins off Bridging camp 08:30 with terns and manx on fish shoal. Diver sp e at 08:00 had the look of black throated. Would be good if anyone can confirm either of these

Bonaparte’s Gull Lynch Cove this evening - thankyou Brett. singing Lesser Whitethroat. Large distant raft of 45+ duck on flat sea - scoter I guess. (Snipe, male yellow wagtail through there tues am) The trip to/from Briantspuddle is interesting if same gull for high tide movement. Will it repeat?

BridgingCamp/Littlesea 6 Apr Willow Warbler 6 (3 singing) Swallow Sand Martin 2 Wheatear at least 6 maybe 10 seeming to be pushing through Sea quiet - Manx 8 and some sandwich terns

Chesil Cove 3 Apr Tideline corpse count from Cove House Inn south to Quiddles steps gannet 1 Kittiwake 1 Auk sp c20 including guillemot razorbill and one puffin @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social Earlier Bridging Camp 8:15-9:30 manx 10w 1e Scoter 28e 1w Kittiwake 3w 1e

Herbury Gore etc 31 March Knot 2 Redshank c20 Sandwich tern c28 shoveler m w Swallow 2 Willow warbler 1 singing Coal tit 1 in wood

Littlesea Sat morning 11 Sandwich Terns on the low tide mud Common Scoter male drifted through narrows on falling tide Otherwise very quiet

Ring ousel male flew into Verne moat nw of steps c12:45 red kite 1s 12:55 @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social @dors

Bridgecamp seawatch 06;55 to 07:40 Manx 1e Gannet 86e Red throated diver group of 3e Common scoter 2e Shelduck 3e Sandwich tern wheatear On Fleet at Littlesea Brent 5 Rb merge distant tight flock of 40 Short eared owl 1 briefly over Chesil off Chickerell

Littlesea The Fleet etc 15 March Sandwich Tern 1 spl - none wintering here so migrant Long Tailed Duck Common Scoter f Slav Grebe 1 Whimbrel 1 Curlew 2 Brent Goose 4 - down from c.100 on Monday Sea very quiet bar a tight group of 40+ Kittiwake E very close c13:00 @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Greylag west over Bridging Camp this morning thurs. 2 Linnets there yesterday likely migrants given general winter absence here. Also the wintering Whimbrel still. On Sunday green sandpiper at Portesham withy bed + groups of 5 & 3 stonechats on the downs there seemed like passage birds.

20 Feb Littlesea The Fleet First flowering Cow Parsley of the year (later first Alexanders at Sandsfoot) Distant view of the Chesil roost with 2 yellow-flagged Curlews from north Dorset and a whimbrel. WEBS on 21 Feb added 4 Slavs and f Common Scoter - LTDuck still present.

Littlesea The Fleet 20 Feb Curlew 15 Whimbrel 1 GND 2 Long tailed duck White Tailed Eagle did a circuit c8:45 then sat on Chesil @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

No luck with BTD/RNG in Portland Harbour 7 Feb Slavonian Grebe with GC Grebes Sandsfoot/Castle Cove Razorbill close to shore on Fleet at Ferrybridge near Crab House Cafe Total of 6+ GND at various sites with nice close one at Stone Pier. @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Littlesea,The Fleet 6 Feb Big tide Great Northern Diver 3 Slavonian Grebe 6 together at one point (maybe 7) Male Marsh Harrier Total of 13 Coot still in Lynch/Tidmoor/Cuttcleaves Coves Few Brent, Shelduck (7), no duck bar Mergs. One large-looking Lesser Black Backed Gull @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Littlesea 31 Jan GND 2 Slav 4 Long tailed duck Scaup male off Butterstreet

Camp Road to Cuttcleaves Cove Cirl Bunting m Camp Road Goosander 1stw male Slav 5 Cuttcleaves Water rail with wonky leg Lynch Cove Marsh Harrier - heading from Fleet towards Radipole Few Mergs, very few gc grebes Redwing 5 RTDiver on sea @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Also long-tailed duck.

A cycle ride to dip the Winterborne Monkton geese on Saturday 3/1. Good to explore the Winterborne with a few nice self-found bits. Cattle Egret by the Broadmayne road Green Sandpiper landed in the stream front of me Also Firecrest, a few Siskins. c80 Golden Plover at top of Combe Valley Road.