Butterfly Islands

Thursday 19 June 2014

Back to Wheelers.

I do not think that I have wandered along the revetment at Wheelers Bay since first seeing the Glanvilles at the end of April.So on a hot,sunny morning I made a point of visiting to see what butterflies were to be seen.As the Glanvilles have been on the wing here for over six weeks I was not surprised to come across several well worn butterflies,although one or two were in excellent condition.Apart from the numerous Common Blues,I also saw Small Blue,Painted Lady,and Marbled White.Still very much worth a trip as one can never tell what other continental species will arrive.

Tuesday 17 June 2014

Wight Elegance.

A quick visit to Walters Copse today in the hope of seeing some new species for this year.It was a very sunny late morning with a light breeze.I soon came upon numerous Meadow Brown butterflies together with some Speckled Wood.However a butterfly flitting around the tree tops at about thirty feet up took my eye and it was my first White Admiral of the season.Eventually with that very elegant flight,it made its way down to feed on the ample crop of bramble flowers that are dotted along the ride edges.This individual was quickly joined by another and despite a few encounters with the resident Speckled Woods they remained on the bramble for a time.

A little later I had two further White Admiral sightings in the copse plus a well traveled Painted Lady.

Friday 13 June 2014

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.

Wednesday 11 June 2014

An Encouraging Sight.

While visiting a local area of marshland yesterday I came across a nest of Small Tortoiseshell caterpillars on a Water Dropwort plant.Always encouraging to see that this butterfly is on the increase.

Tuesday 3 June 2014

A Nice Surprise.

To the north of the village of Niton are the hamlets of Southford and Roud and between them flows the River Yar which at this point is no more than a stream.Here at this time of year I like to see the Banded Demoiselle damselflies along the riverbank and also to keep a lookout for any butterflies too.Today I was pleased to see several butterfly species which included my first sight this season of a Large Skipper

Sunday 1 June 2014

Marsh Fritillary.

There are butterflies that can no longer be seen on the Isle of Wight and the Marsh Fritillary is one of them..As a breeding species it disappeared some years ago, so in order to see it now I took a trip to Dorset where it can still be found at several locations

I chose Hod Hill situated north of the town of Blandford Forum,at a site and owned by the National Trust.Here is a vast Iron Age hill fort comprised of ditches where lush vegetation and wooded banks are home to numerous species of butterfly.The Marsh Fritillary is resident at Hod Hill so a wander around would hopefully produce a sighting.I soon came across Small Blue ,Dingy & Grizzled Skipper,Common Blue,and Speckled Wood.The weather was not as good as predicted and it could only be described as bright but cloudy.After an hour and a half of searching the first Marsh Fritillary was seen in a sheltered grassy ditch away from the brisk breeze

Saturday 24 May 2014

Up from the South.

It seems the summer migration has begun now that southerly winds have persisted.Over the last few days reports of Painted Lady butterflies have come in particularly along our south coast.This afternoon I saw my second Painted Lady in my garden in as many days busily nectaring on our flowers.Today's visitor spent some time enjoying the pyracantha blooms and sunning itself on the garden path.

Monday 12 May 2014

Cornered At Last

Over the last several weeks Holly Blues have been coming and going across my garden.Seemingly always in a hurry none has really settled long enough for me to obtain good views.So today I was very happy to see a female fluttering around from plant to plant,either for somewhere to lay her eggs or to feed.

Tuesday 6 May 2014

Everything On The Go.

A quick look at Whiteways Quarry today and a good selection of butterflies.Now several Brown Argus together with Small Blue,Dingy & Grizzled Skippers.In addition Green Hairstreaks in double numbers and a passing Wall Brown.All crammed in at the base of the chalk down at the back of a car park Wonderful.

Back on Bonchurch Down.

A return visit to Bonchurch Down today in the anticipation of seeing the first Adonis Blue on the year.I was not disappointed as after finding several Common Blue butterflies which are similar to the Adonis from a distance, I saw a male Adonis. If last years numbers are repeated it will not be long before the Down is awash with the spectacular blue of this butterfly.

The blue of the Common Blue although less intense is no less attractive.

The Adonis Blue

The Large Tortoiseshell

It seems the general view on the status of the Large Tortoiseshell in Britain is that it is now extinct as a breeding butterfly.
It is a butterfly of woodland edges and hedgerows that abound in willows,elms,and poplars.These trees are used by the adult to lay its eggs and this single brood appears in July and August.The emerging butterfly then hibernates over the winter in log piles and hollow trees until the next spring.
On the Isle of Wight sightings are more often than not made from early March to April.Have these butterflies overwintered on the Island or have they come from the continent where it is common?
Any sightings made in July/August pose the same question.Another explanation could be that captive-bred releases are responsible.Only the discovery of eggs and caterpillars will probably answer these questions.

I can now report that evidence has been found of breeding just along the coast at Portland in Dorset (June 2020) and again at the same location in the summer of 2021.

The Glanville Fritillary

This elegant butterfly is mainly confined to the crumbling undercliffs and chalk downs of the Isle of Wight.It is also found on the Channel Islands and at one or two isolated colonies on the British mainland.In Britain the Glanville Fritillary is at the extreme north-western edge of its range.On the continent it is readily found in flowery habitats.
Around the southern shores of the Isle of Wight the cliffs constantly erode causing them to slip away and provide perfect conditions for new growths of the butterflies laval host plant,Ribwort Plantain.
The eggs are laid to the underside of the leaves of this plant and normally hatch after about three weeks.The resulting caterpillars live together in communal webs spun over the plantain.In the autumn they hibernate and recommence feeding in the spring,eventually dispersing to prepare for pupation.
The adult butterfly is on the wing from May to the end of June with the female being larger than the male.They will feed on,amongst other things, Birds-foot Trefoil and Thrift.

The Wall Brown

On the Isle of Wight in particular,the Wall Brown is a butterfly of field edges,coastal cliffs and dunes,and rabbit-grazed downland.
The male is territorial and spends much of the time patrolling and basking on the ground.
The female,which lacks the males conspicuous dark sex brand across the forewings,is larger.The undersides of both sexes are beautifully cryptic when at rest.
The Wall Brown generally produces two broods a year,the first from late April until late June and the second from mid-July to mid-September.