My first record of an Orange Tip this year was on the 29th April which is quite late. However numbers have now increased and I now expect to see this species almost every day while out and about and in my garden too. The individual pictured below was encountered yesterday along with several others and all it seems were males.
There was a bevy of butterflies today at the National Trust Viewpoint carpark overlooking Freshwater Bay. A first of the year sighting of a male Common Blue was immediately followed by a Glanville Fritillary. Also in evidence were three Dingy Skipper, a Brown Argus.Green Hairstreak,a Small Copper.together with Small Blue and a male Orange Tip.
Walking along the clifftop and then descending the steps onto the landslip produced a few Small Heath,two Small Copper, three Common Blue,a Painted Lady, and at least twelve more Glanville Fritillary.
The lack of sunshine severely restricted the butterfly sightings at Bouldnor Forest ,Yarmouth today. When the sun did make a brief appearance it was good to see a trio of Green-veined White all nectaring together on a drift of dandelion flowers.
Butterfly numbers are on the increase at the National Trust CP Afton where today several Green Hairstreak were seen along with at least three Small Blue and a first of the season Dingy Skipper.
Despite a strong and gusty wind today some butterflies were on show at the National Trust Viewpoint CP near to Freshwater Bay. The Grizzled Skipper that was seen a week ago put in a brief appearance while the count of Green Hairstreak has grown to at least four individuals.
The National Trust viewpoint carpark at Freshwater has certainly come up trumps today with three new spring butterfly species on show. Immediately on arrival I came across a pristine Green Hairstreak and that was closely followed by this Small Copper. The Grizzled Skipper of two days ago was not to be seen,however the Small Blue pictured below was a surprise. This is the earliest date that I have seen the latter since 2012 when two were recorded on the 30th March at the same location.
The National Trust viewpoint carpark at the foot of Afton Down close to Freshwater Bay has always been a prime location for spring butterflies. Yesterday the first species was seen just after noon when I observed a Grizzled Skipper nectaring on a dandelion flower. Unfortunately I was unable to relocate it as it sped off after I disturbed it.
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The excellent spring weather continues and today it was good to see a first of the year Speckled Wood in my garden. It spent some time enjoying a warm sunny spot and hopefully it will not be long before the Holly Blue is seen here too.
Our evergreen shrub Berberis or Barberry is in full bloom at the end of March.It is always popular with bees and other pollinating insects. Today this male Brimstone was observed nectaring on the shrubs prolific yellow- red flowers..
The Phlomis plant in our garden at Freshwater has always been popular with white butterflies and today it was host to my first Small White of the season. With the sun shining and despite a rather cold northerly wind this Small White spent some time on the leaves enjoying the sunny spot.
The almost summerlike weather continues and another spring butterfly was seen enjoying the warm sunshine in my garden today. A first sighting of this Comma which spent some considerable time basking in a particularly sunny spot.
The mild spell continued today and the butterflies were tempted out into the warm sunshine. First of all a male Brimstone was seen flying around my garden and later a Peacock also appeared.
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Following several days of settled.sunny and daytime mild temperatures,the new season now seems to be underway.Yestwerday I observed the first butterfly of the year in my garden.A Peacock basked in the sun on a paving slab and this morning after the fog had lifted this Red Admiral was seen on a bench also in my garden.
