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That prolonged spell of cold and windy weather has seemingly passed and we are now enjoying very warm sunshine and light breezes.Needless to say that has produced great activity in the butterfly world.

A visit to Bonchurch this morning was rewarded with my first sighting of our Glanville Fritillaries,just two were spotted but numbers are expected to increase quickly in the sunshine over the next few days.Judging by the high count of caterpillars and webs earlier in the year it could well be a bumper year. Another new species for the season was the Common Blue,seen at the same location.This was followed by a walk on Bonchurch Down and after some searching we succeeded in seeing four Common Blue,a Small Copper,one Small Heath,and two Dingy Skippers.The latter two species were also first sightings of 2016.

The Holly Blue pictured below had just emerged and when the wings have developed,she would expect  to take to the air. 

 

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.

On Bonchurch Down

Owned and managed by the National Trust,Bonchurch Down rises steeply over Bonchurch village and the town of Ventnor.This south facing hillside is home to a good population of the Adonis Blue butterfly as well as several other species.Yesterday on a very warm and sunny afternoon I made my first visit of the season to the Down and was rewarded with a sighting of four Small Copper,a Brown Argus,a Small Heath,a Green Hairstreak,also a Wall Brown together with a Dingy Skipper and three male Orange Tip.

Then a short trip down to Wheelers Bay in Bonchurch in the hope of seeing a Glanville Fritillary.I was not lucky enough to see one but I have it on good authority that a Glanville was spotted today at the Bay.

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.

Butterflies On Bonchurch Down

Bonchurch Down owned by the National Trust rises steeply over the village of Bonchurch and gives spectacular southward views out into the English Channel.At this time of year several species of downland butterfly appear on this Down.Most notably is the Adonis Blue not, it must be said common in the UK.

Today on its third outing of the year the Isle of Wight Group of the Hants&IOW Branch of Butterfly Conservation enjoyed a walk over the Down to see its many springtime species.We soon came upon numerous male Adonis,more easily noticed than the females due to the males bright blue colour.Despite a stiff breeze they were out in good numbers and we all took advantage of many photo opportunities.Mating pairs and emerging butterflies were seen.

Other species to be savoured were Brown Argus,Common Blue,Small Heath,Small Copper,Wall Brown,and a couple of Large Skippers,as well Dingy Skippers.All in all a very successful trip on a sunny afternoon.

A Local Group Visit To Wheelers Bay

The first 2013 meeting of the Isle of Wight Butterfly Conservation Group took place today under cloudy skies.A walk along Wheelers Bay at Ventnor with the intention of seeing some spring butterflies was thwarted by the conditions and only the odd white butterfly put in an appearance.In fact my list for the walk amounted to one Green-veined White.

After lunch the sun did appear very briefly and it was rewarded with a sighting of two Small Heath(my first of the season for this species) on nearby Bonchurch Down.This was followed by a male Orange Tip which seem to be around in good numbers this year.

Adonis Blues on Bonchurch Down

As mentioned in one of my recent entries Bonchurch Down at Ventnor is well known for its Adonis Blue butterflies.The butterfly should emerge in the next few days on the Down and another brood will be out in the late summer.Todays visit did not discover any Adonis but I was very pleased to see two Brown Argus butterflies.This is my first sighting of 2012.In addition I came across a Small Heath roosting on a seed head.The weather at the time was rather cloudy and consequently butterfly activity was limited.

Still waiting for the Glanvilles.

The weather over the last week or so has been very changeable on the Isle of Wight.Although there have been sunny spells we have had a lot of rain and wind recently.This must be detrimental to the early appearance of the Glanville Fritillary and a visit yesterday to Wheelers Bay,Ventnor in search of the butterfly on the wing was unsuccessful.However I did notice that their caterpillars were on the move.Here at Wheelers Bay many Glanville chrysalides are found under the chalk boulders and stones at the base of the cliff.

Earlier on Bonchurch Down I came upon a male Wall and a Small Heath.The latter is my first sighting this year of this species. It was always one step ahead of me a good photograph proved too difficult to achieve on this occasion