Very Active Green Hairstreaks.

With the first Green Hairstreak recorded at the National Trust Carpark at  the foot of  Afton Down on the 14th,the weather turned for the worse with cool temperatures and a very brisk wind. However today the wind abated and that allowed for a very pleasant and warmer spring day with plenty of sunshine. The butterflies responded and at least two Green Hairstreak were seen at the carpark.

  

A First Green Hairstreak of the Year.

Several visits have been made to the National Trust Car Park at the foot of Afton Down over the last few days. Today around noon  the first Green Hairstreak was observed flying energetically  over a large spread of Bluebells and  briefly landing on the flowers.It then flew off and could not be located again. However I am sure that it will soon be joined by other individuals.

Stock Photograph

Stock Photograph

A First Sight of the Spring Emergents.

The warm weather of early April gave way to a very cold north to north-east wind  resulting in low temperatures for the last week  or so and consequently hardly any butterfly activity. However with  some sunshine and lighter winds today I was pleased to see two spring emergent species in the West Wight. A first Green Hairstreak of the season and likewise a Small Copper. Both enjoying the warm sunshine in the sheltered spot they had chosen.

Back on the Landslip & Back to Nature.

The month of May is of course the time for the Glanville Fritillary here on the Isle of Wight.Now that restrictions have been relaxed, a short car ride to  Afton Down Chalkpit and a walk down to the National Trust clifftop at Compton Chine provided access to the landslip.Descending the  impressive wooden steps onto the landslip I was treated to a view along the coast towards Compton Bay.

Today the Glanville Fritillary was in evidence on the clifftop and below, although due to the brisk onshore wind they were very active and jittery.Nevertheless,find a sheltered spot  and many butterflies could be approached as they rested in the sunshine or nectared on the flowering thrift. Among the other species on show were Common Blue,Dingy Skipper,Small Heath,Small Blue and Brown Argus.

Viewpoint Blues.

Parking my car at the National Trust viewpoint car park at the foot of Afton Down a couple of days ago, I was pleased to see that a selection of butterflies are still on show at this small,sheltered,southerly facing site. Three of our summer 'blues' were present,most strikingly a splendid male Adonis, together with several Chalk-hill Blues and a Common Blue.All three species regularly rose to spar with each other as they encroached on another's patch. 

Butterflies Back on the Landslip.

Despite the cool wind that has blown for a few days now the butterflies on our landslip have found those sheltered places where they can enjoy the sun and nectar on the abundance of spring flowers.Today the list of sightings at Compton Chine included at least ten Glanville Fritillaries with a mating pair,three male Common Blue, four Green Hairstreaks,a Dingy Skipper, a Small Copper,and two Small Heath.

Back at Afton Down Chalk pit which overlooks the chine there were several Small Blue.

Dingy Skipper on Display.

A late morning visit to Whiteways today discovered a first Dingy Skipper of the season.Green Hairstreaks were again active and numerous.

The somewhat lack of a natural green background in the photo of the Dingy Skipper was unfortunately due to the illegal practice of Fly-tipping.Someone had scattered a quantity of smashed wooden pallets at the rear of the car park not only creating an eyesore but also a hazard to anyone walking through the grass as nails were protruding from many pieces of wood.

Butterflies Respond to the Warm Spring Weather.

The cold weather brought on by a persistent and brisk easterly wind last week has now gone and we are now enjoying sunny and warm days with temperatures in excess of 20 degrees Celsius.The butterflies are beginning to respond with regular sightings of Orange Tip and a big increase in Green Hairstreak at a favourite site at the base of Afton Down in the West Wight.A lunchtime visit to Whiteways today produced a count of six to eight individuals.Unfortunately no other new species were as yet on display.

Spring is Well Under Way.

Following yesterdays sighting of a Green Hairstreak at Whiteways,I was hopeful that another new springtime butterfly may be on display today.It had again developed into a warm and sunny afternoon after a chilly start and it was not long before I came across a Grizzled Skipper enjoying the sun.It seems that with the promise of dry and bright weather for the next few days spring is now well under way.

Green Hairstreak First to Appear.

A cold morning preceded a warm and sunny afternoon, and it was the Green Hairstreak that appeared as the first resident new emergent today at Whiteways (Afton Down Chalkpit).Their numbers will steadily increase over the next week or two and they will be joined by a host of other spring species.

Old and New.

The last several days have continued to be cold for this time of the year.However new emergent and old overwintering butterflies are appearing without delay.A first visit this season on Monday last, to a favourite butterfly spot at Whiteways Quarry produced a very active Small White.Today at the same location under showery skies, there was a Small Tortoiseshell enjoying the sunny spells.If the weather warms up soon I am certain that the first new butterflies will be seen here at Whiteways.

Summer Temperatures Bring Out the Small Blues.

Following a report of Small Blues now on the wing, a visit to a favourite location discovered three individuals.A mating pair was observed in addition to another male.The latter tried to muscle in on the bonded pair without too much success.

Grizzled Skipper Takes a Bow.

Following a brief glimpse of a Grizzled Skipper at Afton Down yesterday in the late afternoon,I made an earlier visit to Whiteways this morning.My luck was in as it appeared straight away catching the rays in a sunny spot.Green Hairstreaks were again prominent and a Small Copper too.   

Green Hairstreaks Take The Stage.

A  favoured site for spring emergent butterflies produced its first residents this morning.Following several days of very cool and unsettled weather, today dawned bright,sunny and mild.The Whiteways Quarry site is now a National Trust car park and is situated at the base of Afton Down.It's south west aspect overlooking the sea is a good location for several spring butterfly species and soon Small Blue,Grizzled and Dingy Skipper,and Glanville Fritillary will be seen here.

First Green Hairstreak.

With the very warm temperatures of the last few days I would have expected the first  new spring butterflies to appear sooner at Whiteways Quarry(Afton Down Chalkpit).However it was not until today that a Green Hairstreak was seen and I expect that it will now be closely followed  by this unique sites other gems.

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First Spring Skipper.

Whiteways Quarry or Afton Down Chalkpit as it is commonly known  has been mentioned in many of my previous posts.Nestled at the foot of Afton Down on the main road south out of Freshwater Bay it is a prime spot for spring butterflies.Among the many species that emerge here is the Grizzled Skipper and today the first one appeared taking time to nectar on the several clumps of Spanish Bluebells,Hyacinthoides hispanica that are scattered along the rear of this viewpoint car park

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