Butterflies Respond to the Warmer Weather.

Following a cloudy start to the day ,this afternoon was sunny  and  warmer with a brisk breeze. And the butterflies responded with another new spring species at Whiteway's. The single Green Hairstreak has now been joined by another of the same and that can be confirmed by the different underside markings,as seen below. The other  new arrival today was this Grizzled Skipper  shown in the following photo.

 

A Slow Start to the Spring Emergence.

With the first appearance of the Green Hairstreak at Whiteway's on the 23rd of this month,I would have expected to see other spring species following very soon afterwards at this site. However to date the Green Hairstreak is still a lone occupant. As the weather is now it seems improving, I am hopeful that everything will quickly catch  up.

With little new to see at  Whiteway's today I visited Bouldnor Forest and all was quiet with just four species on show. Brimstone male's were evident along with this female resting on a bramble in the sun. Several Speckled Wood were recorded  as well as a first Comma sighting of the year.

A First Spring Butterfly on the Wing.

Persistent visits to Whiteways at Freshwater Bay finally paid off today with a first spring butterfly sighting of the year. This single Green Hairstreak was observed  feeding on the usual flowering plants that are found at the site.

First Skipper Sighting of the Season.

It was a very sunny and bright start to the day but by the time I dropped into Whiteways NT carpark at  0945 this morning the dark clouds had gathered and rain was on the way. Not surprisingly the butterflies had gone to ground. However one was seen roosting on a leaf and it was my first skipper of the year. It is of course, a male Large Skipper  and a worthy sighting as most first records are in June.

 

 

Glanvilles Grace the Landslip.

I saw my first Glanville Fritillary of the year last Sunday the 8th May when I disturbed it in a sheltered sunny spot on the Landslip. Unfortunately that sighting was all too brief as it flew on over a low gorse bush and despite my best efforts I was unable to relocate it. Then followed a spell of unsettled weather with rain,wind,and cloud, until today when the sun once again appeared. Almost immediately as I set foot on the slopes, Glanvilles were to be seen and at least ten were encountered in the small area of  Landslip I explored. Returning to Whiteway's NT carpark where I started my walk I came across several individuals along the cliff top and two in the carpark itself.

Another Visit to the Landslip.

A sunny day was a change from yesterday's overcast conditions and a walk along the clifftop and the Landslip was  very pleasant. Parking at Whiteway's NT,a quick look at the habitat at the back of the carpark discovered a pristine male Common Blue and two Wall Brown. The  Common Blue is a first of the year record. In addition the Brown Argus was still prominent, competing with the other resident species.

Descending the many wooden steps to the Landslip fewer species were seen than yesterday.Another male Common Blue was recorded along with a Wall Brown,Small Copper,Green Hairstreak,and Dingy Skipper.

 

Back to the Landslip.

The area of Landslip close to Compton Chine and just a stone's throw from Freahwater Bay, provided my first visit of the season to this unique habitat in the hope of seeing an early Glanville Fritillary.Unfortunately. just a few day's too early it seems as the only species recorded were Green Hairstreak,several Dingy and Grizzled Skipper,a Wall Brown,a Small Copper,and a first sighting this year of a Small Heath. Weather conditions were mild with little wind although mainly cloudy but bright and thrift is now startting to flower on the cliffs.

Returning to Whiteways NT carpark situated  overlooking Compton Chine and where I started my visit today,I came across a pristine Brown Argus.Another first of the season sighting.

More First of the Season Sightings.

Today's early morning visit was rewarded with three first of the year sightings at Whiteways NT carpark near to Freshwater Bay. Vying with the now dozen or so Green Hairstreak was a Small Copper and sighted now again were two Dingy Skipper. The third first record  was a handsome looking Wall Brown which settled briefly before being shooed away by a bevy of smaller butterflies. In addition to these were at least three Small Blue,one individual showing a rather bent forewing.

 

Small Blue on the Wing at Freshwater.

The sighting of a Small Blue today at Whiteways is the earliest record here since the outstanding sighting of two males on the 30th March 2012. As seen in the photograph below, today's individual is rather tatty which  seems to indicate that it has been around for a while. Also on show were three  Green Hairstreak and two Grizzled Skipper.

First Green Hairstreak & Grizzled Skipper at Freshwater.

A well known site for first of the season sightings is Whiteways Quarry,now a National Trust carpark at the foot of Afton Down close to Freshwater Bay. As explained many times in this blog the grassy area at the back of the carpark has a interesting number of species especially in the spring.

 Today's visit produced a first Green Hairstreak of the year. It was seen on the flowering Spanish Bluebells,just like the individual in the photograph below. Unfortunately I only sighted it on two brief occasions and it failed to return again ,probably due to the cloudy conditions. Also present were possibly two Grizzled Skippers. Another first for this season 

Back on the Landslip & Back to Nature.

The month of May is of course the time for the Glanville Fritillary here on the Isle of Wight.Now that restrictions have been relaxed, a short car ride to  Afton Down Chalkpit and a walk down to the National Trust clifftop at Compton Chine provided access to the landslip.Descending the  impressive wooden steps onto the landslip I was treated to a view along the coast towards Compton Bay.

Today the Glanville Fritillary was in evidence on the clifftop and below, although due to the brisk onshore wind they were very active and jittery.Nevertheless,find a sheltered spot  and many butterflies could be approached as they rested in the sunshine or nectared on the flowering thrift. Among the other species on show were Common Blue,Dingy Skipper,Small Heath,Small Blue and Brown Argus.

Dingy Skipper on Display.

A late morning visit to Whiteways today discovered a first Dingy Skipper of the season.Green Hairstreaks were again active and numerous.

The somewhat lack of a natural green background in the photo of the Dingy Skipper was unfortunately due to the illegal practice of Fly-tipping.Someone had scattered a quantity of smashed wooden pallets at the rear of the car park not only creating an eyesore but also a hazard to anyone walking through the grass as nails were protruding from many pieces of wood.

Butterflies Respond to the Warm Spring Weather.

The cold weather brought on by a persistent and brisk easterly wind last week has now gone and we are now enjoying sunny and warm days with temperatures in excess of 20 degrees Celsius.The butterflies are beginning to respond with regular sightings of Orange Tip and a big increase in Green Hairstreak at a favourite site at the base of Afton Down in the West Wight.A lunchtime visit to Whiteways today produced a count of six to eight individuals.Unfortunately no other new species were as yet on display.