Butterfly Islands: April 2025

Wednesday, 30 April 2025

Glanville's Now on the Coastal Cliffs.

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.

Wednesday, 23 April 2025

Green-veined White Out in Numbers.

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.

Tuesday, 22 April 2025

More Small Blue in the Wing.

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.

Wednesday, 16 April 2025

Butterflies Brave the Blustery Winds.

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.

Friday, 11 April 2025

More Spring Butterflies on Show.

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.

Thursday, 10 April 2025

Grizzled Skipper at Afton Down Chalkpit.

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.

Stock Photo.

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.