Saturday 27 October 2012

Red Admiral,the common autumn butterfly

For the last two weeks the sun has not shined for any prolonged time until today.Along with the sunshine came a cold wind and temperatures have fallen.Despite that, in my garden  the Red Admirals are still fluttering around in search of a warm sunny spot.This Red Admiral spent some time contesting the sunniest spot in the garden with a rival.

Saturday 13 October 2012

More Autumn Butterflies

With a bumper harvest of blackberries this year the autumn butterflies are making the most of it.Today at Clamerkin NT eight Commas still tucking in to the fruit.Along with these, a Red Admiral and a Speckled Wood joined in.A short distance away the welcome sight of two Small Copper butterflies too.






Wednesday 19 September 2012

Butterflies at Horseshoe Bay

Today was another sunny late summer day and a walk along the coastal path at Horseshoe Bay,Bonchurch.With the flowering valerian and buddleia still in full bloom it is a magnet for all kinds of butterfly.
Particularly in evidence are Red Admirals,as well as many Large Whites and Small Tortoiseshells.If you are very lucky,a Monarch butterfly has been seen recently plus several Painted Ladies.The exotic Hummingbird Hawkmoth is also a regular at the Bay too.




Monday 17 September 2012

Clouded Yellow,always a welcome visitor

On the way to my local pond today across several fields at Clamerkin NT,a welcome sight was a Clouded Yellow butterfly.Seen on the Isle of Wight at various times this butterfly is not normally a common sight.It is a powerful flier and I find does not usually wait around to be viewed,so I was pleased to get a quick snap while it fed on the fleabane.

Tuesday 11 September 2012

Adonis Blue on Bonchurch Down

The second emergence of Adonis Blue butterflies has been out on Bonchurch Down, at Ventnor for  a while now.Numbers are very encouraging and I saw dozens during a short walk over a section of the Down.The period of this latest brood normally spans mid-August to the end of September.







Friday 31 August 2012

Not So Scarce Swallowtail

Despite its rather alarming title I must say that on every visit to Greece over the last few years I have always seen the Scarce Swallowtail in good numbers.In early summer or in August this impressive butterfly is a lovely sight as it visits thistles or garden plants.The only other species that have come close to matching it in quantity are the Painted Lady, and in May/June,the Clouded Yellow
These photos of the Scarce Swallowtail were taken on the Island of Thassos in the North Aegean where it seemed a lack of butterflies this time was more than offset by the range of dragonflies.A selection of the  odonata I saw here can be seen on my dragonfly website.





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Saturday 28 July 2012

Many More Chalk-hill Blues

Another walk over West High Down yesterday in the continuing summery weather and many more Chalk-hill Blues to see.The females are now out and as with many 'blue' butterfly species it is brown and inconspicuous.




                                                                                               
                                                                                                
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Tuesday 24 July 2012

A Skipper

A trip today to a West Wight stream flowing through farmland and plenty of dragonflies to see.Close by I found this small skipper which I am  confident is an Essex Skipper.



Sunday 22 July 2012

The Down in Summer

With the summer at last putting in an appearance the Downs of the Island were today a sight to behold.The blue sky,the bright blue sea , and a slight sea breeze made a wander over West High Down a pleasure.The butterflies too enjoyed  the sunshine and plenty were to be seen.Small Heath,Marbled White and Meadow Brown are abundant Small Copper together with Common Blue are to be found in the more sheltered, grassy, parts on the Down.
As mentioned in my previous entry,Dark Green Fritillaries are whizzing low over the gorse and bramble in search of mainly purple coloured flowers and now the Chalk-hill Blues have emerged. I saw only eight males today but soon the Down will be a mass of these silvery-blue butterflies.It will not be long before the brown females will join them.





Sunday 8 July 2012

Woodland Butterflies

The weather this week has continued to be wet.Woodland butterflies will no doubt suffer from this dismal time and species such as the White Admiral and Silver-washed Fritillary will have a disappointing season.
A visit today to Walters Copse at Newtown was a mixed one of sunshine and showers.Meadow Browns were numerous as this butterfly is a common sight.Just a single Marbled White was to be seen  together with a Red Admiral.The White Admiral and Silver-washed Fritillary were also flying.