A Quiet Day.

It has really been a pleasure to wander around Walters Copse this week.The excitement of discovering a second generation of White Admirals this year and the activity in the copse this week with the warm and sunny weather has been a joy.

Today in contrast was disappointing as the clouds returned and we had only the occasional sunny interval.

The butterflies did not seem to get going and sightings were low.When the sun did appear just the odd Red Admiral,Comma,and Meadow Brown showed.However the Wall Browns are still in the copse and along the main path two males vied with each other for any sunny spot.

Back on the Wing.

A beautiful calm  and warm afternoon at Walters Copse,Newtown, and among the usual late summer butterflies were three White Admirals.This seems to be late for this species and as they all looked 'new', they must have very recently emerged.

Still Not Seen One.

The drifts of Common Fleabane are still attracting Comma,Red Admiral,Peacock,and Brimstone in Walters Copse,and joining them today.was this Painted Lady.It is the first I have seen for some time but it would have been good to see a Clouded Yellow as I have not managed to tick one off this year so far.

  

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.

Warm Walters.

In my local copse the sun was shining bringing back the warm and summery weather.The butterflies were out in numbers on the drifts of Common Fleabane and in particular  many pristine Red Admirals.Several late summer species were also on show including  Brimstone and Green-veined White.

A BIG Diversion.

The Elephant Hawk Moth caterpillar is probably best seen in the month of August.The adult moth is an elegant pink and olive in colour and is a strong and fast flyer.Strictly speaking the caterpillar should be called a larva as it is the offspring of a moth rather than a butterfly.It is a big larva too and the one I spotted today was at least 4cms in length.

If you have fuchsia plants these will be where they are most likely seen as it munches its way through the foliage.However my Hawk moth larva was found on a pond plant right in the middle of my garden pond.The larva gives its name to the species due to the long trunk like nose,although when the larva senses danger it withdraws the 'trunk' creating a more bulbous head shape.

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Back on Bonchurch Down.

With the dry and very warm weather continuing a second generation of Adonis Blue is now on Bonchurch Down at Ventnor.Yesterdays sightings on the Down included Chalk-hill Blue,Common Blue, and Brown Argus,along with one or two Marbled White, good numbers of Meadow Brown,Gatekeeper,and the odd Red Admiral.

As Beautiful as a Butterfly.

The Jersey Tiger Moth is certainly a colourful moth and today this one was seen in my garden on the Phlox blooms.I have been fortunate enough to see three in the garden over the last week.

Graylings Back on Bleak Down.

I hoped that the Graylings were out  on Bleak Down by now and made the walk to their usual site on the Down.The area is one of the few remaining stretches of heathland on the Island and with the heather now in flower it makes a colourful sight.After some time of searching I at last found a Grayling. Obviously I was somewhat early to see the colony, so hopefully in another week numbers will have substantially increased.
2017 update. A visit to this site today the 5th August discovered no Graylings. The area of past activity has now been overgrown with grasses and although flowering heather still remains in places, there is no bare open ground.  

Summertime.

A very warm and sunny morning at Walters Copse today and it was not long before I came across a pristine Painted Lady butterfly.Not too far down the path and a Dark Green Fritillary was also feeding on the giant thistles.This fritillary can be found in our woodland as well as on our chalk downland.

Now good to see reasonable numbers of Marbled White,Meadow Brown,and Ringlet in the copse.Not many Silver-washed Fritillaries though and no sign of any Valezina as yet.The normal  females however are in evidence seeking out egg laying sites at the base of oak trees.

Chalk-hill Blues Now On Show.

Several Chalk-hill Blues on West High Down today blown along on a very stiff wind.Hopefully in a few days numbers will steadily increase and reach last years staggering totals.More Dark Green Fritillaries now on the wing. all nectaring on the abundant flowering plants on our Downs.

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

Still Waiting.

A hike up to West High Down this morning in the hope of seeing my first Chalk-hill Blue of the year.I was to be disappointed as despite a good search it did not seem that any had emerged,at least on this part of the down.

I did see a new species for this season though,a male Gatekeeper sheltering low down in the gorse away from the stiff breeze.Many more Marbled Whites now and one or two of the Dark Green Fritillaries are starting to look somewhat faded.