Small Blue Braves the Cold.

I was amazed to see a Small Blue today in the company of Grizzled Skippers,Green Hairstreaks,and a Small Copper, all now at Whiteways Quarry site.My surprise is of course due to the cold and breezy weather we have had for a while as the Small Blue is fond of warmer temperatures. It is also over two weeks earlier than the first sighting of this species last year.

Spring Slows Down.

We have endured several days of cold weather due to persistent north to east wind resulting in few sightings of butterflies..However find a sheltered spot and some warm sunshine and they can appear.This is true of the Green Hairstreaks at Whiteways  which would normally emerge before the Grizzled Skippers or very soon after the first skipper. So it was not until today that a Green Hairstreak was seen flitting around at the back of the car park,a full 11 days after the first skipper here.The weather is set to remain on the cold side for the time of year so new sightings will probably be meager.

   

Waiting for the New Arrivals.

A morning visit to Whiteways Quarry did not discover any new emergent butterflies today.The lone Grizzled Skipper should very soon be joined by other skippers,several Green Hairstreaks,,and  butterflies including the Small Blue.

A Small White was also seen enjoying the early warmth of the sun.

First Spring Skipper.

Whiteways Quarry or Afton Down Chalkpit as it is commonly known  has been mentioned in many of my previous posts.Nestled at the foot of Afton Down on the main road south out of Freshwater Bay it is a prime spot for spring butterflies.Among the many species that emerge here is the Grizzled Skipper and today the first one appeared taking time to nectar on the several clumps of Spanish Bluebells,Hyacinthoides hispanica that are scattered along the rear of this viewpoint car park

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Another New Arrival.

New species seem to be emerging at a fast rate now as the warm weather continues.A visit to Whiteways this afternoon produced several Green Hairstreaks and Grizzled Skippers as well as my first sight of a Small Heath.There are still more new species to see at this site and hopefully most will be out in the next few days.

Closely Followed by a Green Hairstreak.

After the emergence of the first Grizzled Skipper at Whiteways last Tuesday,today it was the turn of the Green Hairstreak to make its appearance at the same spot.

First Spring Skipper.

Once most of the lingering sea mist and fog had dispersed today I made a visit to Whiteways Quarry overlooking Freshwater Bay which is an excellent location for spring butterflies.

I was not disappointed, as my reward was a handsome Grizzled Skipper.Hopeful he will be the first of many here and closely followed by the other species that frequent this sunny spot.

Marsh Fritillary.

There are butterflies that can no longer be seen on the Isle of Wight and the Marsh Fritillary is one of them..As a breeding species it disappeared some years ago, so in order to see it now I took a trip to Dorset where it can still be found at several locations

I chose Hod Hill situated north of the town of Blandford Forum,at a site and owned by the National Trust.Here is a vast Iron Age hill fort comprised of ditches where lush vegetation and wooded banks are home to numerous species of butterfly.The Marsh Fritillary is resident at Hod Hill so a wander around would hopefully produce a sighting.I  soon came across Small Blue ,Dingy & Grizzled Skipper,Common Blue,and Speckled Wood.The weather was not as good as predicted and it could only be described as bright but cloudy.After an hour and a half of searching  the first Marsh Fritillary was seen in a sheltered grassy ditch away from the brisk breeze

Everything On The Go.

A quick look at Whiteways Quarry today and a good selection of butterflies.Now several Brown Argus together with Small Blue,Dingy & Grizzled  Skippers.In addition Green Hairstreaks in double numbers and a passing Wall Brown.All crammed in at the base of the chalk down at the back of a car park Wonderful.

More First Sightings

Today was a day of  heavy thundery showers but by the mid afternoon the sun began to shine through the broken cloud.A trip to Whiteways Quarry just a mile or two away and a treat to see a pair of mating Small Blues.The Green Hairstreaks were again out in good numbers and also a Grizzled Skipper plus a first Dingy Skipper of the year.

 Also a first sighting of a male Wall Brown sunning itself on any bare patch of ground it could find on the chalk.

Another New Arrival

With the sunny warm weather still with us today another spring time species made an appearance at Whiteways Quarry.The first Grizzled Skipper was seen flitting around in the sun together with the several Green Hairstreaks already there.It should not be long before a Dingy Skipper is out and should the temperature rise over 20C the first Small Blue.

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.

More First of the Year Butterflies

With the cold weather now hopefully over emergent butterflies are appearing at their usual sites.At the Afton Down Chalkpit,well known for several species I was today fortunate to encounter a Green Hairstreak as well as a Grizzled Skipper.We can look forward to other species here soon,such as Wall Brown,Small Blue,and Dingy Skipper.

More Spring Butterflies

The Whiteways Quarry Carpark at Freshwater,locally known  as Afton Down Chalkpit  is National Trust land and looks out  over the English Channel to the southwest.Looking right from the carpark and one is fortunate enough to see Tennyson Down  with its white cliffs.To the left and the veiw is southward down the Island coast towards Compton Bay and Glanville Fritillary habitat.

Here at back of the carpark, at the foot of East Afton Down and Compton Down is the ideal habitat for several chalkland butterflies.On the 30th March Small Blues were seen here a full month ahead of their usual flight time and yesterday the 6th April I was pleased to see a Grizzled Skipper and a Green Hairstreak at this spot.Hopefully another chalkland species the Dingy Skipper will soon be seen here.

Grizzled Skipper,Our Smallest Skipper

The Grizzled Skipper has declined considerably in the last sixty years.Its stronghold is the southern counties of England where it requires a habitat of short,mixed sward,created by grazing.or managed woodland.On the Isle of Wight it does best on our chalk downland.Our smallest skipper can be on the wing from April and maybe seen until July.