Martin Cade of the Portland Bird Observatory and Field Centre was good enough to supply the history of the Lesser Black-backed Gull that Steve and I spotted at Portland Bill on Saturday 12 Sep 09.

Lesser Black-backed Gull [white 'AD-AR' on red], Portland Bill - 12 Sep 09

   The bird was ringed as a 'pullus' at Orfordness, Suffolk on 12 Jul 08.  It was then again reported at Playa de Meiras, Valdovino, La Curuna, Spain on 21 May 09.  Martin has placed additional comments on his website http://www.portlandbirdobs.org.uk/ along with Steve's photograph. 

   On a different subject and due to yesterday being National Moth Day I thought I would take the opportunity to share some of the results of my recent dabble at 'mothing' in my Fareham back garden.  Being the good friend that he is Mark lent me his newly acquired moth trap for the couple of weeks that he was at sea on HMS LIVERPOOL.  Included are images of three species that I am unable to identify and two that I am not completely sure about. 

Campion

L-album Wainscot

Lesser Yellow Underwing

Lunar Underwing

Large Yellow Underwing

Rush Veneer - (micro moth)

Setaceous Hebrew Character

Square-spot Rustic

White Point

Willow Beauty

Feathered Ranunculus (female)?

Feathered Ranunculus (male)?

Unknown 1

Unknown 2

Unknown 3

   I would be grateful for comments on the identity of the three unknown specimens and any naming errors if there are any. 

   No doubt I'll be getting my own moth trap in the not too distant future. 

Good birding (and mothing),

Tony T   BSc (Hons) Geosci (Open)