The Ringlet

This butterfly has now become fairly common in most of England and Ireland.It is mainly found in damp woodland,although other habitats include shady hedgerows and riverbanks.The males are first seen in June,they are smaller than the females and darker in colour.

Blue-spot Hairstreak

On our holiday to Lefkada in May 2011 the Blue-spot Hairstreak and the Ilex Hairstreak were very prominent on bushes and wayside plants.However the Blue-spot was not as numerous as the Ilex at that time.  The Blue-spot Hairstreak is generally common and widespread in the Balkan countries as well as westward along the Mediterranean coast to Spain and Portugal.Flight period is late May to late July in one brood.This is a butterfly of hot,dry,grassy,and bushy places.

Grizzled Skipper,Our Smallest Skipper

The Grizzled Skipper has declined considerably in the last sixty years.Its stronghold is the southern counties of England where it requires a habitat of short,mixed sward,created by grazing.or managed woodland.On the Isle of Wight it does best on our chalk downland.Our smallest skipper can be on the wing from April and maybe seen until July.

Southern White Admiral

Outside our holiday home on Lefkada in Greece there was a large stone wall covered in honeysuckle and.every day we could be sure to see this beautiful butterfly visit it. Like its northern relative the White Admiral, honeysuckle is one of its foodplants.

Small Blue

The Small Blue is Britain's smallest butterfly.It is an inconspicuous and sometimes described as a drab butterfly,but close inspection shows its dusting of silvery-blue scales,at least on the male.The females upperside is plain brown.The Small Blue is in decline,somewhat nationally,although there are small colonies scattered over the Isle of Wight.It is on the wing during May and June.

Painted Lady

The Painted Lady  is well known for being a migatory butterfly.Here on the Isle of Wight it can first be seen in May,as in the photo feeding on Thrift,on the coastal clifftops.Into September and October it can still be found in near perfect condition.Unfortunately the Painted Lady does not seem to be able to survive our winters so in the spring new butterflies will spread to Britain from southern Europe

Nettle Tree Butterfly

It is always a nice surprise when out in the countryside and finding something you were not expecting or even considering that you might see.This was the case with the Nettle Tree butterfly, while wandering in the hills and olive groves on the Greek Island of Lefkada.An unusual butterfly to look at but nonetheless splendid  in its new colours.This male and female were seen at the end of May and had no doubt recently emerged.This species is on the wing to August when it then hibernates until spring.

The females under hind wing is light brown with buff or pinkish tints when fresh,whereas the males under hind wing is more  grey in colour.

Graylings on Bleak Down

On the 30th July we made a visit to Bleak Down on the Isle of Wight.one of the few sites,and perhaps the best site on the Island for the Grayling butterfly.The habitat is ideal for this species and good numbers were seen.The Grayling likes to lay a single egg on a grass stem on open ground as shown in the first photograph.The caterpillar will then overwinter.This butterfly is single brooded.

Grayling habitat on Bleak Down

Spotted Fritillary in Greece

The Spotted Fritillary can be a common butterfly in Continental Europe.During June on the Island of Lefkada,Greece I came across a small colony feeding on mostly scabious flowers in a small hillside meadow.The male is brighter and has less black colouring than the female.

Second Brood Adonis Blue on Bonchurh Down

During August I made a visit to Bonchurch Down,Ventnor which is maintained by the National Trust.At this time the second brood of the Adonis Blue butterfly is flying.Although not a bright sunny day the butterfly could be found in the longer grass at the base of the Down.The male  has a bright blue upperside in contrast  to the female which, again as is common in 'Blues', is brown .