Still Waiting for the Summer Butterflies.

I was hopeful of seeing more summer butterflies at Bouldnor Forest yesterday,but as the weather has been so changeable throughout June I was to be disappointed.Still, a first of the year Ringlet was recorded together with many Meadow Brown.The same Dark Green Fritillary was noted in the  flowery glade of a few days ago and it cannot be but a matter of days until the other summer butterflies are on the wing.

First of the Summer Butterflies?

What I consider to be a summer butterfly was on show today in Bouldnor Forest,Yarmouth.Although this species is commonly found on our Island downland it is also a butterfly of flowery woodland rides and this is where this individual was seen nectaring on clover.

Just the Usual Suspects.

With the spring weather warming up over the last few days and set to continue,I was very hopeful of seeing the first newly emerged butterflies of the year today.

Speckled Wood and Orange Tip have already been sighted on the Isle of Wight and an afternoon walk through Bouldnor Forest and later Walters Copse at Newtown proved to be a disappointment as I failed to see any of these two species.Still,the usual suspects were out and about.Male Brimstone forever on the move, along with several basking Comma,a Red Admiral or two on the tracks,and good numbers of Peacock.The latter it seemed always to be found close to  Pussy Willow which is now flowering in our damp woods.

More Late Summer Butterflies.

At this time in late summer, the Clouded Yellow can sometimes be seen dashing around our fields and open woods.Most originate from mainland Europe,however I am sure that here on the south coast we have our own 'home grown' individuals.

In Bouldnor Forest near Yarmouth there is an open area in the woodland.Here a group of almost dried out scrape ponds are surrounded by low scrub and gorse bushes.Yellow Fleabane is prolific and a favourite for nectaring butterflies and today under sunny skies  there were no shortage of species.As well as the Clouded Yellow, Common Blue,Small Copper,Wall Brown,Red Admiral,and a Painted Lady were on show.

High Summer Butterflies.

The scrub around the woodland ponds in Bouldnor Forest is now covered in drifts of Common Fleabane Pulicaria dysenterica. These yellow flowers are a magnet for butterflies and a stroll through this impressive and colourful floral display discovered several summer species.In addition to the common 'browns' there were a great number of Common Blue,together with a Painted Lady and a Clouded Yellow.Unfortunately the latter was quickly shooed away by the Blues.

Some of the ponds here are almost dry and it seems that they are attracting Wall Brown butterflies, as a few were observed landing on the parched earth maybe for salts.The scrub too was of interest to female Wall Browns,perhaps as a place to lay their eggs.
Among the crowd of blues near to an almost dried-up pond was a male Chalk-hill Blue.It too attracted to the pool for the salts or just a wanderer perhaps.

Butterflies After Water in our Drought-like Weather.

In Bouldnor Forest there is a collection of scrape-like ponds which are a remnant of oil exploration.They have become home for several species of dragonfly and now a water source for butterflies in this prolonged dry spell.It is maybe not unusual to see butterflies at damp patches in order to access salts, but it is always good to see a species that is not easily seen on the ground.This Purple Hairstreak seems to be a regular visitor at this water source at present as one was seen at the same location a week ago.

The nearest oak trees are just a stones throw away,as can be noted in the photograph below.Other butterflies after moisture at the same time were a White Admiral and a Small White. 

A Good Season for the White Admiral.

This year seems to be a good time for the White Admiral.My visits to Bouldnor Forest during the last couple of weeks has seen a steady increase in their numbers and yesterday I encountered  several alighting on the tracks. This elegant butterfly of our woodland loves to glide in and out of the sunny glades nectaring on bramble flowers and resting on a shaded leaf.

Plenty of Summer Butterflies on Show.

Butterfly numbers have dramatically increased now that the summer butterflies are on the wing.Today in Bouldnor Forest Marbled White and Silver-washed Fritillaries were the two new species.The White Admiral is now even more evident in the forest rides as they enjoy the bounty of bramble flowers.

A Common Blue Outshines the First White Admirals.

Following a wet and windy morning the weather picked up this afternoon.This made a walk through Bouldnor Forest very pleasant and it was not long before I saw my first White Admiral of the year.In fact I counted a total of three  fresh individuals and all were very active in the sunshine.

It was not only these colourful summer butterflies that stood out as  there cannot be a butterfly arguably more stunning than a female Common Blue. 

All Change.

After a prolonged spell of hot  and sunny weather, yesterday began fresher,windy,and cloudy.These conditions lasted all day so the prospect of seeing any butterflies in my local wood seemed to be limited.Thankfully the temperature was  up at around 20C so activity was moderate despite the lack of sunshine.Marbled White numbers have increased dramatically since last week as too Meadow Brown and Ringlet.I was very pleased to see several White Admiral and also a first sight this season of Small Skipper.

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Butterflies Out in the Hot & Sunny Weather

A walk in Bouldnor Forest near Yarmouth yesterday produced four first sightings of the year The hot and sunny weather continues and the butterflies certainly responded with plenty of butterflies on show.Apart from several species already seen this season, new sightings were White Admiral,Marbled White,Large Skipper,and Ringlet.

Other sightings included Silver-washed Fritillary,numerous Meadow Brown and Common Blue,and a Grizzled Skipper.

Sunshine At Last.

Two target species today were the White Admiral and the Marbled White.The former had already been seen in Bouldnor Forest a few days ago although I was yet to find my first Marbled White of the year.At last the sun was out today following a period of wet and windy weather.However, the wind has not abated and perhaps it had an effect on the butterflies as both species were flighty.Despite seeing several White Admirals none took the opportunity to feed on the abundant bamble flowers in the forest.The two Marbled Whites I encountered were just as jittery and I was lucky to catch any at rest.

Happily the Silver-washed Fritillaries were more accommodating and I managed to get good views of these handsome woodland butterflies.This included my first female of this summer seen basking in a sunny glade

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