Summer Butterflies Put on an Impressive Show.

Today was a cooler day than of late and more in the way of cloud which limited the activity of our summer butterflies. A lunchtime visit to Bouldnor Forest  was rewarded with a selection of  butterflies and in particular White Admiral . When the sun came out several were observed nectaring on the bamble flowers and they were joined by the odd Silver-washed Fritillary. Among the new  summer species on show in the forest rides were Ringlet,Small Skipper,and Gatekeeper.

More Summer Butterflies on the Wing.

Despite cloudy conditions this afternoon, the warm weather encouraged the butterflies out and new species were to be seen in Bouldnor Forest. In particular, the  Dark Green Fritillary was prominent with at least six individuals. These were seen mainly around a stand of Giant Thistles  and also along a quiet woodland ride packed with flowering plants like clover. In addition  Marbled White and Ringlet are now on the wing and in the company of White Admiral and Large Skipper.

Along Flowery Woodland Rides.

Yesterday in Bouldnor Forest there were times when the rides seemed to come alive with butterflies.Especially so when walking through a mass of wild flowers as summer butterflies flitted all around.Abundant was the Silver-washed Fritillary nectaring on bramble flower, so to White Admiral.In the long grass the Small Skipper is now numerous and Marbled White numbers are increasing rapidly.One or two Gatekeepers are also to be seen with legions of Meadow Brown and Ringlet.

In the forest are Dark-green Fritillary which seem to particularly common this year.Find a giant thistle and it will not be long before this butterfly stops by.

 

Still Waiting for the Summer Butterflies.

I was hopeful of seeing more summer butterflies at Bouldnor Forest yesterday,but as the weather has been so changeable throughout June I was to be disappointed.Still, a first of the year Ringlet was recorded together with many Meadow Brown.The same Dark Green Fritillary was noted in the  flowery glade of a few days ago and it cannot be but a matter of days until the other summer butterflies are on the wing.

All Change.

After a prolonged spell of hot  and sunny weather, yesterday began fresher,windy,and cloudy.These conditions lasted all day so the prospect of seeing any butterflies in my local wood seemed to be limited.Thankfully the temperature was  up at around 20C so activity was moderate despite the lack of sunshine.Marbled White numbers have increased dramatically since last week as too Meadow Brown and Ringlet.I was very pleased to see several White Admiral and also a first sight this season of Small Skipper.

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Butterflies Out in the Hot & Sunny Weather

A walk in Bouldnor Forest near Yarmouth yesterday produced four first sightings of the year The hot and sunny weather continues and the butterflies certainly responded with plenty of butterflies on show.Apart from several species already seen this season, new sightings were White Admiral,Marbled White,Large Skipper,and Ringlet.

Other sightings included Silver-washed Fritillary,numerous Meadow Brown and Common Blue,and a Grizzled Skipper.

More First Sightings.

The weather continues to remain unsettled and today on the Isle of Wight it was generally cloudy with brief sunny spells and a brisk wind. So perhaps the best place to minimise the effects of that wind was to visit my local forest at Bouldnor.When the sun did appear one or two butterflies took to the wing and I was happy to see my first Silver-washed Fritillary of the season.He was feeding on the ample bramble flowers that are in the forest now, but unfortunately for me he decided to disappear over the hedge and was not to be seen again.However another first of the year was not too far away, for close by a male Ringlet fluttered around hoping to find a good basking place.Along the forest tracks were good numbers of Meadow Brown nectaring on the bramble flowers.

Not Just Another Brown.

Butterfly sightings were somewhat disappointing today along my local forest rides.Plenty of Meadow Browns and Speckled Woods but none of the larger woodland butterflies to see.However the Ringlet is now fluttering about and when in the company of the Meadow Browns it can be tricky to separate the two. In flight the upperside of the Ringlet is a tasty chocolate brown whereas the Meadow Brown is a lighter brown.The Ringlet has no orange on the underside unlike the Brown,just a collection of attractive tri-coloured rings.

  

Summertime.

A very warm and sunny morning at Walters Copse today and it was not long before I came across a pristine Painted Lady butterfly.Not too far down the path and a Dark Green Fritillary was also feeding on the giant thistles.This fritillary can be found in our woodland as well as on our chalk downland.

Now good to see reasonable numbers of Marbled White,Meadow Brown,and Ringlet in the copse.Not many Silver-washed Fritillaries though and no sign of any Valezina as yet.The normal  females however are in evidence seeking out egg laying sites at the base of oak trees.

A Walk in Walters.

This National Trust copse  at Newtown village boasts a good selection of  flora and fauna and I took an extended wander through it today.

White Admiral numbers continue to grow with the Silver-washed Fritillary numbering just three at the moment with two males and a female.Ringlets are very numerous,as are Meadow Browns but Marbled Whites are scarce at present.A few more Small Skippers are out now together with a couple of Commas.With the weather continuing settled,in the main,butterfly numbers and species are set to increase.

Summer Hots Up.

We are enjoying a settled period of hot, early summer weather and butterflies are certainly responding to the conditions by emerging a little head of time than one would expect.In Walters Copse today I saw my first Small Skipper of the year and the first Marbled Whites are now flying with the ever increasing numbers of Meadow Browns and Ringlets.With the White Admirals now in the copse they have been joined by Silver-washed Fritillaries and with their strong flight they seem to rush from one nectar source to the other.
Of the several types of orchid now to be seen in our woods and copse is the beautiful Bee Orchid as discovered today in Walters Copse.

First Ringlet.

Hearing that a Silver-washed Fritillary had been spotted  in Bouldnor Forest,Yarmouth yesterday  I was hopeful for  a sight of one when I arrived at the forest this afternoon.It may well have been the hottest day of the year so far and it was not long before I counted several Meadow Browns busily nectaring on the ample crop of bramble flowers.Despite sometime spent searching I did not manage to find a Silver-washed.However I was lucky enough to see one Ringlet,the first of season.

A Hot Afternoon in Firestone Copse.

On a hot afternoon the partial shade of the woodland glades in Firestone Copse was welcome today.Almost immediately along the first track,I was passed by a string of Silver-washed Fritillaries and one of my encounters here was with a female Silver-washed looking for a shady spot to lay her eggs.They tend to choose the base of a tree trunk and this one fluttered into the dark to lay on several trees.This was mixed with feeding on convenient bramble flowers and resting in the dappled sunlight

White Admirals were also plentiful and found particularly on bramble flowers and any damp spot on the ground where they could obtain moisture.Meadows Browns and Ringlets were very numerous.

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