Best from the traps were Golden Twin-spot, Dewick's Plusia, Small Marbled and 2 Vestal. Best sighting by the trap were two Devil's coach-horse having a bit of a fight. I can't remember the last time I saw one of these.

Butterfly transect dominated by Adonis Blues and Clouded Yellows, with nearly 30 of each seen. A pair of the latter making sure there will be more next year!

Not quite as much of a shock as the first one, but did bring out a couple of expletives. The Passenger, a couple of weeks since the last one and this one in much worse nick. Also, a Frosted Orange just to prove its now autumn. @migrantmothuk.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Little to report from here despite a fair bit of effort. A wire-walking Common Sand from Rodden Hive yesterday and a Pale Eggar from the trap today, a rare moth here now.

Moth traps quiet but this splendid Dewick's Plusia warranted getting the camera out. They are undoubtedly breeding locally now. Photos without flash and with diffused flash. Think I prefer the latter.

Two Vestal flushed from the corner of a field at Rodden Hive, photo of one in situ. Birds were: Spot Fly, first 4 Wigeon of the autumn, 10 Teal, Common Sand, 20+ Yellow Wags, Marsh Harrier, Peregrine.

I went downstairs at 3.30am to watch the torrential rain. I can't remember the last time I saw rain like that and the moths were still flying in it! Best was my 2nd ever Purple Marbled, the last was in 2000! A rather unexciting pale form though. Agriphila latistria a big rarity here.

Happy enough this morning with a new Micro, Argyresthia semitestacella. Try saying that without your teeth in. Noticeable for its size, 7mm long, much larger than albistria. Otherwise Anarsia inoxiella, Lilac Beauty and a fresh Ptocheuusa paupella from yesterday, the latter plentiful this year.

Given how dry it has been, I was surprised to hear that Marsh Gentian are having a good year on the Dorset Heaths. Stopped off for a look today as they are such stunning flowers. Also flushed a Grayling which almost vanish when they land!

Still some moths to be had in these cooler nights. First Centre-barred Sallow and fabulously bequiffed Golden Twin-spot of the year. Another Ni Moth and a Small Ranunculus, the latter from yesterday. My 4th since the 1st one in July. Scarce Bordered Straw also worth a mention (no photo).

I'd given up photographing every Striped Hawk this year, but got the urge when I was letting this one go last night. Such a stunning insect.

Some productive inland birding this morning. Best was a very unexpected (and rather early?) Whinchat. Not far behind were these three juvenile LRP's. To my astonishment they flew in and landed right in front of me, completely unconcerned by my presence. Even I managed to get some photos!

From this morning: Spot Fly and Yellow Wag in Langton Herring village. Osprey sat on Chesil Beach from Rodden Hive (digiscoped on 70x at 800m range!). 4 Cattle Egret in Nottington on the way home (spotted from the car). A worn Pyrausta purpuralis from the trap, these are far from regular here.

A moment of sheer elation and then terror when I turned over an egg tray this morning. I had to creep back to the conservatory to pot this as they're very jumpy. Luckily I made it! The Passenger, not the monster rarity it once was but new for here. Also Campion and a Eupoecilia angustella.

A very busy day considering I'm supposed to be long retired. Moth trapping at home and also at inland survey site. Then afternoon out on the Bird Boat. Highlight of the latter were the Ospreys again, this time winching people out of the sea. Fab to find breeding Little Grebe on the survey, 2 chicks.

Another visit to Bennett's Water gardens to look for Willow Emerald Damselfly again. Just this one found, spotted by @daragh2.bsky.social Closer and more obliging than the ones a few days back. Lovely to bump into Phil Anslow, the finder, an old friend. Also, Ruddy Darter + Painted Lady in the trap.

A few moths from today: Caloptilia honoratella, Catoptria falsella, Oncocera semirubella and Pyla fusca.

Phyllonorcyter acerifoliella. A very long name for such a tiny moth.

A couple of results just in from 12/8. An interesting Caloptilia has turned out to be the summer form of honoratella. And the Delplanqueia has predictably turned out to be inscriptella.

Best from the traps were 2 Small Marbled and a Striped Hawk. But I think we're all bored with photos of them! Never thought the day would come when I wouldn't bother to photograph a Striped Hawk. So a superb Celypha rosaceana and a cracking form of Epinotia nisella instead. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Nothing too exciting here today. Coleophora salicorniae worth a mention as is this Tawny-barred Angle, I don't get them very often these days.

A few days ago, a friend of mine, Phil Anslow, found a Willow Emerald Damselfly at Bennetts Water Gardens in Weymouth. This morning Brett and myself went to have a search. After much looking we found a handful in waterside Alders. Really tricky to find! Best of my poor photos. £14 entrance fee 🤦‍♂️

I nearly had to reach for the Eclipse glasses when I saw this in the trap! My second Small Ranunculus and much better than the first one. What a cracking little moth. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

I set up my travel scope on a tripod in the garden and projected the image onto a piece of card. Then just took photos of the image with the camera. Didn't want to risk my expensive Kowa in case the insides melted! #Eclipse

Next stop Africa......Two Wheatear on Abbotsbury Beach this afternoon. 50+ Painted Lady on a patch of Fleabane plus several Clouded Yellow in the fields. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Weymouth: I didn't expect to find this in the trap this morning, Euchromius ocellea. Not the huge rarity it once was, but still a nice surprise! @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

A new moth for me this morning, the tiny Cedestis subfasciella, a Pine species. Very few records on Living Record, but I'm sure it must be common in Pine woods. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

The traps were pretty mundane until this appeared on one of the egg trays. Rosy Underwing, my second record this year. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Pleasing to see a juv Green Woodpecker at Osmington Mills given the decline in numbers recently. Having found numbers of the large Pondskater Aquarius paludum last year, it was nice to see it back again this year. At least 200 present, part of a westward expansion apparently. Striped Hawk at home.

The undoubted highlight from the Coastal Vibes boat trip today was an Osprey, but not what you might think. This amazing Osprey Helicopter was on manoeuvres this afternoon while we were in Balaclava Bay on Portland. They flew right around the boat twice, simply superb. Also a Seal!