Courting Tortoiseshells.

With the report of two Painted Ladies at Wheelers Bay this week I went to the Bay in the hope of a sighting.The weather has now become springlike, but no doubt due to a very cold March butterflies are still not commonly seen.Walking along the bay I only came across one Peacock in the sunshine.Eventually returning, I was very pleased to see a Painted Lady in flight along the base of the cliff,spurred on by a very brisk breeze.Just a few steps farther and two Small Tortoiseshell butterflies were courting in the brambles.

Not a lot to be seen today but with an improvement in the weather likely, things will no doubt get better.

Another Look At Our Large Tortoisehell

The male Large Tortoisehell at Walters Copse seems not to be going anywhere which is great news for butterfly watchers.An early visit to the copse yesterday and it appeared briefly in the usual spot.A couple of hours later just after midday it returned and stayed for some time sunning itself along with several Commas and a couple of Peacocks.

There has been a report of a second Large Toiseshell seen in the copse, and making my way back through the wood I saw 'another' one at the  location of the second Large Tortoiseshell sighting.A close view and the attached photograph confirmed,unfotunately,that this time it was our original male.

The Stunning Peacock

With all the excitement of a rare butterfly on the Island in the last few days I have  neglected to show what I consider to be most colourful butterfly on the wing at this time.

The Peacock is undoubtedly one of the most handsome of butterflies and I am glad to say not uncommon here. It can be seen in woodland,as shown in these photographs taken at Walters Copse, or in gardens as I was fortunate enough to witness in my own back garden this weekend.

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The Isle of Wight Large Tortoiseshell

Just when I feared that  the euphoria of  the 2012 sighting at Walters Copse,Newtown of the Large Tortoiseshell was a 'flash in the pan,'today proved me wrong as after several visits to the copse I came across what I had  hoped for.

The spring weather had today arrived for the first time since the middle of January when at Wheelers Bay  three Painted Ladies were seen.The prolonged sunny spells had brought out several Brimstone butterflies together with Commas and Peacocks and after some time wandering around I came across a Large Tortoiseshell enjoying a sunny spot.It certainly showed signs of a long winters hibernation but it still looked wonderful to me.I was able to get close views of this iconic butterfly and can say that I consider it to be a local overwintering specimen.Let us hope for more sightings in the next few days.

A Fistful of Commas

This time last year we were enjoying a period of rather dry weather with very mild temperatures.As a result butterfly emergences began earlier than usual.However this spring temperatures have remained low throughout March and it seems that everything is struggling to get started.Today I made another visit to Walters Copse at Newtown in the hope of catching a glimpse of  a rare butterfly,at least in the UK,the Large Tortoiseshell.In 2012 we were lucky enough to see this gem of a butterfly at the copse.

Although todays weather was sunny and warm I saw no sign of it but instead came upon six Comma butterflies that had come out of hibernation.It is not surprising to see these as they must be one of our commonest sights at this time

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Duelling Commas

After what proved to be the coldest March for over fifty years April has begun with plenty of sunshine for us on the Isle of Wight.However the east wind has persisted  preventing temperatures from getting up to anything like the seasonal average.Despite this,a walk through Walters Copse at Newtown today proved to be a pleasant outing with many sheltered woodland rides away from the cool breeze.It was not until mid-afternoon however that I came upon my first butterfly sighting since January.

Enjoying a warm spot in the wood were two commas,both sunning themselves and contesting the best postion. Hopefully the weather will now improve and kick start  butterfly activity

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January Butterflies

I did not expect my first post of 2013 to be so early for a British sighting but following a report of a Painted Lady butterfly on the Island on the 1st of January,I visited Wheelers Bay at Ventnor in the hope,but not expectation of seeing one myself.

Today was the first completely sunny day since the first day of the year,although temperatures have been very mild.In fact at the bay it felt like a spring day with cloudless skies and warm sunshine.The south facing cliff is covered in places by Winter Heliotrope which is now in flower and there were three Painted Ladies to be found  nectaring on the flowers.All were in excellent condition and the question is,have they flown in from the continent or have they recently emerged as a result of summer egg-laying on the Island? Whatever the answer it is wonderful to see them in January.

Red Admiral,the common autumn butterfly

For the last two weeks the sun has not shined for any prolonged time until today.Along with the sunshine came a cold wind and temperatures have fallen.Despite that, in my garden  the Red Admirals are still fluttering around in search of a warm sunny spot.This Red Admiral spent some time contesting the sunniest spot in the garden with a rival.

More Autumn Butterflies

With a bumper harvest of blackberries this year the autumn butterflies are making the most of it.Today at Clamerkin NT eight Commas still tucking in to the fruit.Along with these, a Red Admiral and a Speckled Wood joined in.A short distance away the welcome sight of two Small Copper butterflies too.

Butterflies at Horseshoe Bay

Today was another sunny late summer day and a walk along the coastal path at Horseshoe Bay,Bonchurch.With the flowering valerian and buddleia still in full bloom it is a magnet for all kinds of butterfly.

Particularly in evidence are Red Admirals,as well as many Large Whites and Small Tortoiseshells.If you are very lucky,a Monarch butterfly has been seen recently plus several Painted Ladies.The exotic Hummingbird Hawkmoth is also a regular at the Bay too.

Clouded Yellow,always a welcome visitor

On the way to my local pond today across several fields at Clamerkin NT,a welcome sight was a Clouded Yellow butterfly.Seen on the Isle of Wight at various times this butterfly is not normally a common sight.It is a powerful flier and I find does not usually wait around to be viewed,so I was pleased to get a quick snap while it fed on the fleabane.

Adonis Blue on Bonchurch Down

The second emergence of Adonis Blue butterflies has been out on Bonchurch Down, at Ventnor for  a while now.Numbers are very encouraging and I saw dozens during a short walk over a section of the Down.The period of this latest brood normally spans mid-August to the end of September.

Not So Scarce Swallowtail

Despite its rather alarming title I must say that on every visit to Greece over the last few years I have always seen the Scarce Swallowtail in good numbers.In early summer or in August this impressive butterfly is a lovely sight as it visits thistles or garden plants.The only other species that have come close to matching it in quantity are the Painted Lady, and in May/June,the Clouded Yellow

These photos of the Scarce Swallowtail were taken on the Island of Thassos in the North Aegean where it seemed a lack of butterflies this time was more than offset by the range of dragonflies.A selection of the  odonata I saw here can be seen on my dragonfly website.

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