Small Blue Join the Summer Blues.

With very recent reports of a second generation  of Small Blues on the mainland,I was very pleased to see several  at Whiteways Quarry today. They  were in the company of increasing numbers of Chalk-hill Blues,Common Blues,and Brown Argus.All were very active in the warm sunshine.

Summertime Blues.

This typical British 'on-off' summer  is perhaps on again, with my first sighting of a Chalk-hill Blue on West High Down today.In fact three males were spotted,two beside the track leading up to the Down and one actually on it.Of course this species can be very numerous here and I am sure that over the next few weeks hundreds,if not thousands,of this striking butterfly will be flying on our downland.

The First of Many.

The Chalk-hill Blue can be very prolific on our chalk downland from mid-July to September.A walk along the bridleway to West High Down this afternoon produced a good variety of butterflies but no Chalk-hill Blues.Even on the Down and despite the abundant flowering plants, no Blues.So I had almost resigned myself to another visit in a day or two when  returning from the Down along the bridleway the beautiful silvery-blue of a male Chalk-hill in flight caught my eye.He was flying strongly over the drifts of Hemp-agrimony that are just bursting into flower and a definite favourite with many butterflies.

Back on Bonchurch Down.

With the dry and very warm weather continuing a second generation of Adonis Blue is now on Bonchurch Down at Ventnor.Yesterdays sightings on the Down included Chalk-hill Blue,Common Blue, and Brown Argus,along with one or two Marbled White, good numbers of Meadow Brown,Gatekeeper,and the odd Red Admiral.

Chalk-hill Blues Now On Show.

Several Chalk-hill Blues on West High Down today blown along on a very stiff wind.Hopefully in a few days numbers will steadily increase and reach last years staggering totals.More Dark Green Fritillaries now on the wing. all nectaring on the abundant flowering plants on our Downs.

Still Waiting.

A hike up to West High Down this morning in the hope of seeing my first Chalk-hill Blue of the year.I was to be disappointed as despite a good search it did not seem that any had emerged,at least on this part of the down.

I did see a new species for this season though,a male Gatekeeper sheltering low down in the gorse away from the stiff breeze.Many more Marbled Whites now and one or two of the Dark Green Fritillaries are starting to look somewhat faded.

Drifts of Fleabane.

Maybe due to the prolonged summer weather we have enjoyed over the last two months,the drifts of fleabane are extensive in our local hedgerows and woods.This has continued to attract the summer butterflies in good numbers.

Yesterday at Walters Copse,Newtown  it seemed most of the high summer butterflies were on show and sightings of the Clouded Yellow have certainly increased.The Large and Small White continues to be prolific and in the copse I was treated to a male Chalk-hill Blue that had no doubt wandered from the Downs.

Chalk-hill Blues Out and About.

After several visits to West High Down to see the first Chalk-hill Blues today I sighted three fresh males on the bridleway to the Down.I could find none on the Down as yet but I am sure in a few days many will be flying all over it.Dark Green Fritillaries are showing very well now in this prolonged spell of hot sunny weather.

Butterflies on West High Down.

It will not be long now before the Chalk-hill Blues appear en masse on West High Down together with the Dark Green Fritillary.The second week in July is normally the time to see the first emergent however this may be affected by the lateness of the season this year.

Approaching the Down today via the usual bridleway and the first butterfly seen was a Painted Lady busily feeding on dandelions and if I am not mistaken egglaying on giant thistles.It was not long before sightings of Speckled Wood, a Small Tortoiseshell,a Red Admiral,and several Dingy and Grizzled Skippers followed.

Once in the open space of the Down a good number of fresh looking Meadow Browns were evident along with both Skippers mentioned earlier,Large Skippers,Small Heath,Common Blue, and a rather worn Green Hairstreak.

Many More Chalk-hill Blues

Another walk over West High Down yesterday in the continuing summery weather and many more Chalk-hill Blues to see.The females are now out and as with many 'blue' butterfly species it is brown and inconspicuous.

                                                                                               
                                                                                                
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The Down in Summer

With the summer at last putting in an appearance the Downs of the Island were today a sight to behold.The blue sky,the bright blue sea , and a slight sea breeze made a wander over West High Down a pleasure.The butterflies too enjoyed  the sunshine and plenty were to be seen.Small Heath,Marbled White and Meadow Brown are abundant Small Copper together with Common Blue are to be found in the more sheltered, grassy, parts on the Down.

As mentioned in my previous entry,Dark Green Fritillaries are whizzing low over the gorse and bramble in search of mainly purple coloured flowers and now the Chalk-hill Blues have emerged. I saw only eight males today but soon the Down will be a mass of these silvery-blue butterflies.It will not be long before the brown females will join them.