Best Bits of 2014.

Unlike 2012 and 2013 which were highlighted by sightings of the Large Tortoiseshell at Walters Copse,Newtown, this year the butterfly was not to be seen despite a good search in the spring.We can just hope that next season it will excite us with it's presence.

At the end of May I took a trip to Hod Hill in Dorset to get my first look at the Marsh Fritillary. This lovely butterfly is no longer resident on the Isle of Wight and I was not disappointed when at last I came across several individuals sheltering away in a grassy old hill fort moat from the inclement weather that day.

Another excellent highlight was a second brood of White Admirals in Walters Copse in September.This species had done well here in the summer but to see three pristine White Admirals  so late in the season was a treat.

Perhaps the highlight of 2014 though,had to be recording the first Glanville Fritillaries on the wing in the UK.As usual they appeared at Wheelers Bay,Bonchurch in April.This site is always the first site to produce this unique butterfly and is followed throughout May by other Island colonies on our south west coastal cliffs.

The Glanville pictured below is from Wheelers Bay,photographed on the 30th April and it can be classed as a variant partly due to it's rather dark hind wing colouring.

Not Just One Clouded Yellow.

After waiting all season to see my first Clouded Yellow,today on a beautiful sunny afternoon at Wheelers Bay,Bonchurch,there were four flying vigorously along the revetment.All seemed in pristine condition and it can be thought that they have all emerged locally instead of making the trip across the Channel.

Still in good numbers at the Bay are Common Blues and as the Buddleia bushes continue in full flower several Red Admirals too.

Hummers.

The Hummingbird Hawkmoth is a summer visitor to the Isle of Wight.Most sightings are made during August and September although it is possible to see this spectacular moth from as early as April to the end of the year.Yesterday at Wheelers Bay,Bonchurch,I had the treat of seeing at least four individuals nectaring on the ample drifts of Red Valerian along the revetment.

Thymelicus sylvestris or Thymelicus lineola.

 

Today at Wheelers Bay both Essex and Small Skippers were to be seen sharing the same habitat at the foot of the cliffs.

These two species are very similar and apparently there are several minor differences which will enable the observer to tell one from the other.I prefer to take a close look at the antennae,as the Essex has a distinctive black tip on both whereas the Small Skipper has mainly dull brown-orange tips.On the Essex the black extends to underside of the antenna tips.

This difference can be seen (I hope) in the following photos taken today of the butterflies at the Bay.The first two examples are of an Essex and the last two a Small Skipper

Back to Wheelers.

I do not think that I have wandered along the revetment at Wheelers Bay since first seeing the Glanvilles at the end of April.So on a hot,sunny morning I made a point of visiting to see what butterflies were to be seen.As the Glanvilles have been on the wing here for over six weeks I was not surprised to come across several well worn butterflies,although one or two were in excellent condition.Apart from the numerous Common Blues,I also saw Small Blue,Painted Lady,and Marbled White.Still very much worth a trip as one can never tell what other continental species will arrive.

 .

Return of the Special One.

Thick fog this morning gave way to a sunny afternoon and despite a cooling breeze it was pleasant at Wheelers Bay.

With a confirmed sighting of the first Glanville Fritillary of the year yesterday at the Bay I was hopeful of a first sighting myself of this unique butterfly.With the assistance it must be said, of two companions I finally managed to see one of the two Glanvilles present today In spite of numerous ariel battles with one of the two resident Peacock butterflies, the new arrival  landed several times and we were able to have close views.

.

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.

More Long-tailed Blues on the Isle of Wight.

Following the sighting at Wheelers Bay on Tuesday last,another Long-tailed Blue was seen yesterday at the very same location.This individual was a pristine male and as its larval food plant is very close by and in  abundance it must be probable that these recent sightings are of locally emerged butterflies.

The following photographs of yesterdays male Long-tailed Blue are courtesy of Andy Butler.

Long-tailed Blue at Wheelers Bay.

It was a beautiful day at Wheelers Bay,Bonchurch,and I was treated to the sight of this male Long-tailed Blue feeding on the red valerian.Although the species has been spotted on the Isle of Wight in past years it is not a common sight by any means.Hopefully it may be a sign that the Long-tailed Blue could become a breeding species here as it has this year on the mainland.

Still Clouded Yellows To See.

There are still Clouded Yellow butterflies to see at Wheelers Bay,Bonchurch as the sunny and mild weather has persisted.Among these butterflies are also several helice,which are females and sport much paler upper side wings than the normal rich yellow.In fact the underside too can be almost white but in the case of the helice pictured below these undersides are more inclined towards the usual colour.

Back on Bonchurch Down.

By the time I set foot on Bonchurch Down today the sunny weather of the morning had given way to cloud.However there were still plenty of Adonis Blue to see along the path as they nectared on the downland flowers.Normally in these cloudy conditions many Adonis will have taken to the shelter of the long grass at the base of the Down.

Wall Brown are now also in evidence as I disturbed several that were trying to get some warmth by basking on the path.This particular male pictured below has just flown down from a nearby buddleia bush.There are numerous buddleia plants on the slopes of the Down which are visited by an array of butterflies,including Adonis, Small Tortoiseshell ,and an attractive moth,the Hummingbird Hawk Moth.It is pictured below not too far away at Wheelers Bay feeding on red valerian.

The Meadow Brown can still be seen fluttering over the Down also stopping at flowers to feed.Unfortunately for this individual it chose a  flower that hid a spider.

.

Clouded Yellows at Wheelers Bay.

The sun continues to shine and the Clouded Yellows are becoming common here at Wheelers Bay and at other locations.Along the base of the cliff at the Bay you may be fortunate enough to see the females flitting from plant to plant laying their eggs and males racing around nectaring on the red valerin which is still flowering profusely.

More Painted Ladies at Wheelers Bay

With  buddleia bushes now in full bloom at Wheelers Bay,it is attracting many butterflies to feed on the nectar rich flowers.Today on a sunny but breezy afternoon several Painted Ladies could be seen  on the bushes as well as a selection of Red Admirals,Small Tortoiseshells,Commas,and White butterflies.Maybe a Monarch will show up soon,swept in by a south-westerly wind.

Still Glanvilles at Wheelers Bay

A sunny morning was followed by a build up of cloud at midday but the afternoon sun shone through and at Wheelers Bay the butterflies responded.There are still a number of Common Blues and Brown Argus and they were joined today by a fresh looking Painted Lady.

A couple of days ago a Clouded Yellow was reported  from here but I was unable to locate any today.However the Glanville Fritillaries are still out in force,some looking rather old but others fairly pristine.A sign of the lateness of the season this year.In addition I counted four Small Tortoiseshell and a couple of faded Dingy Skippers.

With the prevailing winds now coming from the south-west there will be,I hope.some not so common butterflies flying in.

.

             

Adonis Blue now on Bonchurch down.

The Lady Returns

It has been over five months since I last saw a Painted Lady when on a spring like day at Wheelers Bay I saw three of them were feeding on Winter Heliotrope.That was just before the winter started here and now there are reports of this butterfly coming to our shores again.

Butterflies have been scarce this spring so it was good to see this one feeding  in a sunny spot.In addtion,along the field edge on National Trust land at Newtown I came across Large Skipper,Meadow Brown, and a Small Tortoiseshell.