And The Point Is....

......15 White-point moths Mythimna albipuncta in the trap this morning. Where there has just been a few White-points, there now seems to be a bit of a "boom".

Similarly there were also increased numbers of both Heart & Dart Agrotis exclamationis and Shuttle-shaped Dart Agrotis puta.

So this morning there were119+ moths of 22 species, including 2 new moths for my Port & Wey moth list and 2 new for year.

Key
  *First for year
**New for P&W moth list

2026 Moth List Here.

Moths recorded:

#1       White-point Mythimna albipuncta x15
#2    **Orange Footman Eilema sororcula x1

#3       Garden Carpet Xanthorhoe fluctuata x3

#4     **Lesser Cream Wave Scopula immutata x1

#5       Small Mottled Willow Spodoptera exigua x1

#6      *L-album Wainscot Mythimna l-album x1

#7       Satin Wave Idaea subsericeata x1

#8       Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria x3

#9       Black-headed Conch Cochylis atricapitana x2

#10    *Barred Marble Celypha striana x1

#11      Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba x3

#12      Heart & Dart Agrotis exclamationis x13

#13      Shuttle-shaped Dart Agrotis puta x12

#14      Marbled Minor agg. Oligia strigilis agg. x2

#15      Vine's Rustic Hoplodrina ambigua x2

#16      Brown House-moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella x1

#17      Rusty Dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis x1

#18      Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella x50+

#19      Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea x2

#20      Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata x1

#21      Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana x1

#22      Common Swift Korscheltellus lupulina x2

#1 White-point Mythimna albipuncta

#1 Another White-point

#1 And another White-point

#2 My first ever **Orange Footman Eilema sororcula. Just a shame it's a dreadful photo, especially as this is a not so common moth on Portland

#3 Garden Carpet Xanthorhoe fluctuata

#3 Another Garden Carpet with a White-point behind.

#4 **Lesser Cream Wave Scopula immutata 

#5 Small Mottled Willow Spodoptera exigua

#6 *L-album Wainscot Mythimna l-album

#7 Satin Wave Idaea subsericeata

#8 Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria

#8 Another Willow Beauty

#8 And another Willow Beauty

#9 Black-headed Conch Cochylis atricapitana 

#9 Another Black-headed Conch

#10 *Barred Marble Celypha striana

#11 Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba

#11 Another Large Yellow Underwing

#12 Heart & Dart Agrotis exclamationis

#12 Another Heart & Dart

#12 And another Heart & Dart with White-points either side.

#13 Shuttle-shaped Dart Agrotis puta

#13Another Shuttle-shaped Dart

#14 Marbled Minor agg. Oligia strigilis agg.

#14 Another Marbled Minor agg. 

#15 Vine's Rustic Hoplodrina ambigua

#15 Another Vine's Rustic 

#16 Brown House-moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella

#17 Rusty Dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis

#18 Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella

#18 Diamond-back Moth

#19 Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea

#19 Another Narrow-winged Grey

#20 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata

#21 Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana

#22 Common Swift Korscheltellus lupulina

More on:

#2 Orange Footman Eilema sororcula UK Moths here and Dorset Moths here.

#4 Lesser Cream Wave Scopula immutata UK Moths here and Dorset Moths here.

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Also in the trap was a Harvester.

This the larvae/nymph of the Red Harvestman........

...........Opilio canestrinii. It is also known as the Canestrini's Harvestman

A Pelagic Cruise

It was back to Weymouth this morning and out again on "Coastal Vibes" for a second attempt at a sea watch along the coastline from Weymouth to Durdle Door. Our original trip was cancelled, just as we left the harbour, as it was deemed to rough for the cruise.

The sea was perfect for the cruise, but sadly there was very little to see on the bird front, apart from a Hobby and a Common Tern, both seen as we returned to Weymouth.

The main highlight was watching the Bottlenose Dolphins showing off, alongside.

Mammals

10+ Bottlenose Dolphins

One of the many Bottlenose Dolphins seen this morning

And two more

Bottlenose Dolphin just off Osmington Mills here.

Birds recorded:

1 Fulmar

12+ Cormorant

1 Canada Goose

1 Hobby

1 Oystercatcher

Black-headed Gull

Mediterranean Gull

Herring Gull

Great Black-backed Gull

1 Common Tern

2 Rock Pipit

4 Pied Wagtail

1 Chiffchaff

Magpie

Carrion Crow

Starling

A Fulmar, honest!!

A fly-by Cormorant

A Canada Goose on one of the breakwaters in Portland Harbour.

My first Hobby..........

.....this year was hunting out to sea. Quite bizarre!!

An Oystercatcher balancing quite well on one leg.

General shots and videos:

The Jurassic Coastline between Ringstead and Durdle Door

The beach at Durdle Door

Durdle Door

Durdle Door

Ships today:

This is the British Frigate F81 "HMS Sutherland" just off Portland. More on this vessel here.

And this is the German Frigate F219 "FGS Sachsen" tied up in Portland Harbour. More on this vessel here.

This is the British PO9 Fishing Boat "Freya May".

This is the British Commercial Fishing Vessel WH218 "Odyssey".

Fleurie

Fleurie

Gyrinus with HMS Sutherland on the horizon.

Weymouth Harbour with the British Sea Cadets Sailing Vessel "TS Royalist" taking centre stage. More on this vessel here.