An Encouraging Sight.

While visiting a local area of marshland yesterday I came across a nest of Small Tortoiseshell caterpillars on a Water Dropwort plant.Always encouraging to see that this butterfly is on the increase.

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A Nice Surprise.

To the north of the village of Niton are the hamlets of Southford and Roud and between them flows the River Yar which at this point is no more than a stream.Here at this time of year I like to see the Banded Demoiselle damselflies along the riverbank and also to keep a lookout for any butterflies too.Today I was pleased to see several butterfly species which included my first sight this season of a Large Skipper

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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

Up from the South.

It seems the summer migration has begun now that southerly winds have persisted.Over the last few days reports of Painted Lady butterflies have come in particularly along our south coast.This afternoon I saw my second Painted Lady in my garden in as many days busily nectaring on our flowers.Today's visitor spent some time enjoying the pyracantha blooms and sunning itself on  the garden path.

Cornered At Last

Over the last several weeks Holly Blues have been coming and going across my garden.Seemingly always in a hurry none has really settled long enough for me to obtain good views.So today I was very happy to see a female fluttering around from plant to plant,either for somewhere to lay her eggs or to feed.

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.

Back on Bonchurch Down.

A return visit to Bonchurch Down today in the anticipation of seeing the first Adonis Blue on the year.I was not disappointed as after finding several Common Blue butterflies which are similar to the Adonis from a distance, I saw a male Adonis. If last years numbers are repeated it will not be long before the Down is awash with the spectacular blue of this butterfly.

The blue of the Common Blue although less intense is no less attractive.

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.

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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 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.

Small Blue Early Again

The Small Blue is again emerging early on the Island.After yesterdays complete washout with rain falling all day,today was brighter and in one of the sunny spells at midday I dropped in at Whiteways Quarry in the hope of seeing a Dingy Skipper.

No luck on the skipper yet but I was overjoyed to see my first Small Blue sunning itself in the grass.

Spring in Full Swing

Now that the first Large Red Damselfly has emerged from my garden pond it seems that summer is on the way.

Orange Tips,Holly Blues,and whites are now a regular visitors to the garden as well as a variety of bumblebees and other insects.

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.