Butterfly Islands: April 2026

Monday, 27 April 2026

Plenty of Spring Butterflies on the Landslip.

A perfect day on the landslip at Compton Chine this lunchtime and the butterflies responded with the first sight of the Glanville Fritillary together with many other springtime species.A count of at least four Glanvilles plus Small Copper,Small Blue,Dingy and Grizzled Skipper,a male Common Blue,and several Green Hairstreak.

From Compton Chine looking south

Thursday, 23 April 2026

Spring Butterflies Respond to the Warm Weather.

A visit today to the National Trust viewpoint carpark close to Freshwater Bay saw a first Common Blue of the year.A very handsome male.Also on show this Small Copper,again a first of the season and several Green Hairstreak and a Small Blue.

Wednesday, 22 April 2026

Butterflies on the Wing in the Spring Sunshine.

Today was sunny but still windy and a walk in Bouldnor Forest at Yarmouth was rewarded with sightings of several species of spring butterflies.Perhaps the best was this Wall Brown although it soon flew off on the stiff breeze.Three Holly Blue were encountered,all males and several male and female Brimstone together with Speckled Wood.

Saturday, 18 April 2026

Small Blue on Show.

Returning to the National Trust Viewpoint overlooking Freshwater Bay this morning I was rewarded with my first Small Blue of the season.Good numbers of Green Hairstreak were also observed.

Sunday, 12 April 2026

Green Hairstreaks Increase in Numbers.

An early afternoon return visit to the National Trust viewpoint at the foot of Afton Down produced a count of at least five Green Hairstreak at rear of the carpark.Most were on the abundant flowers of the Spanish Bluebells and enjoying the warm sunshine now that the strong wind has somewhat decreased.No other butterfly species were seen here at the moment.

Friday, 10 April 2026

Green Hairstreaks Double in Numbers.

Dropping by a the National Trust Viewpoint at the foot of Afton Down this morning discovered two Green Hairstreak,one resting on a leaf and the other on a Bluebell flower.Both were awaiting the sun as the encroaching seamist had obscured the sunshine.

Returning to the location later and with the sun now shining both Green Hairstreaks were more in evidence and nectaring on what looks like Wild Celery flowers.

Wednesday, 8 April 2026

Spring Butterflies Out and About .

A mid morning walk along the rides at Bouldnor Forest,Yarmouth today saw several Brimstone and a first sighting of the season of a male Orange Tip plus my first two Speckled Wood.The Orange Tip was certainly in a hurry.on the lookout no doubt for females.

Stock Photo

Tuesday, 7 April 2026

Green Hairstreak Back Again.

At this time of year the National Trust viewpoint close to Freshwater Bay seems to regularly produce the first Green Hairstreak of the season.Today this individual pictured below did not disappoint as it flew energetically in the sunshine.

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.