All Now in Top Gear.

That prolonged spell of cold and windy weather has seemingly passed and we are now enjoying very warm sunshine and light breezes.Needless to say that has produced great activity in the butterfly world.

A visit to Bonchurch this morning was rewarded with my first sighting of our Glanville Fritillaries,just two were spotted but numbers are expected to increase quickly in the sunshine over the next few days.Judging by the high count of caterpillars and webs earlier in the year it could well be a bumper year. Another new species for the season was the Common Blue,seen at the same location.This was followed by a walk on Bonchurch Down and after some searching we succeeded in seeing four Common Blue,a Small Copper,one Small Heath,and two Dingy Skippers.The latter two species were also first sightings of 2016.

The Holly Blue pictured below had just emerged and when the wings have developed,she would expect  to take to the air. 

 

Spring Gets Going.

Today the first adult Glanville Fritillary was seen here on the Isle of Wight at Wheelers Bay.Seemingly an early date for the first emergence as the weather has not been kind

I had confined myself to yet another visit to Whiteways in the hope of seeing the Dingy Skipper.Alas no luck,but a count of 3 Green Hairstreak including a mating pair,a Small Copper plus two male Small Blue having a aerial duel was an encouraging total.

Small Blue Braves the Cold.

I was amazed to see a Small Blue today in the company of Grizzled Skippers,Green Hairstreaks,and a Small Copper, all now at Whiteways Quarry site.My surprise is of course due to the cold and breezy weather we have had for a while as the Small Blue is fond of warmer temperatures. It is also over two weeks earlier than the first sighting of this species last year.

Seeking the Sun's Warmth.

The weather continues to remain unseasonably cool with that cold north wind.This does not encourage butterflies into much activity so the sight of a roosting Small Copper this morning at Whiteways was a bonus.By the look of its condition it seems that this buterfly has been about for a few days and is probably the same one that was spotted here a week or so ago.Once the sun appeared through the clouds the butterfly proceeded to spread its wings to get what littie warmth there is around now.

Spring Slows Down.

We have endured several days of cold weather due to persistent north to east wind resulting in few sightings of butterflies..However find a sheltered spot and some warm sunshine and they can appear.This is true of the Green Hairstreaks at Whiteways  which would normally emerge before the Grizzled Skippers or very soon after the first skipper. So it was not until today that a Green Hairstreak was seen flitting around at the back of the car park,a full 11 days after the first skipper here.The weather is set to remain on the cold side for the time of year so new sightings will probably be meager.

   

Waiting for the New Arrivals.

A morning visit to Whiteways Quarry did not discover any new emergent butterflies today.The lone Grizzled Skipper should very soon be joined by other skippers,several Green Hairstreaks,,and  butterflies including the Small Blue.

A Small White was also seen enjoying the early warmth of the sun.

First Spring Skipper.

Whiteways Quarry or Afton Down Chalkpit as it is commonly known  has been mentioned in many of my previous posts.Nestled at the foot of Afton Down on the main road south out of Freshwater Bay it is a prime spot for spring butterflies.Among the many species that emerge here is the Grizzled Skipper and today the first one appeared taking time to nectar on the several clumps of Spanish Bluebells,Hyacinthoides hispanica that are scattered along the rear of this viewpoint car park

.

A Walk in the Wood.

it was a case of sunny intervals this morning when I visited my local copse.However when the sun did shine it was pleasantly warm and it enticed several butterflies into activity.My total count of butterflies after a couple of hours strolling along the rides were 3 Comma,3 male Brimstone,2 Peacock,and a Speckled Wood.The latter was my first sighting of this species of the new season and over a week earlier than last year.

Garden Visitors.

Following a wet and windy night, today dawned with clear skies and it was not long before the sun shone in a blue sky.Not surprisingly then,that I recorded my first butterflies of the year in my garden around midday.A pristine Small White flew in but not finding any flowers it liked,sunned itself high up on one of our leafy bushes.This was quickly followed by a handsome male Brimstone that settled nearby but at a lower level.The third species of the day was a Peacock butterfly,again enjoying the sun on one of our paving stones.

Perhaps the best sighting was a Hummingbird Hawk Moth that spent some time nectaring from our primroses.

Old and New.

The weather remains settled with plenty of sunshine.However at Wheelers Bay today that persistent easterly breeze prevented many butterflies from taking to the wing.Still,the warmth of the early afternoon did tempt out a Large White that fluttered past as I sat on a seaside bench.This must be a very early record for this species and it was soon followed by the discovery of a Small Tortoiseshell that had found a bare piece of ground to sun itself.

The Glanville Fritillary caterpillars seem to be progressing well with several large webs.Many caterpillars were out in the sun and hope is that this will be bumper season.

  

First Butterflies of the Season.

Although I have already seen a  Red Admiral this year on the 25th February,today was the first time that the butteflies were around in numbers. This morning the sun shone in a cloudless sky and in Walters Copse any trace of the nagging easterly breeze that we have had recently was gone.It was very pleasant along a rides with primroses now in flower.In flower too were the sallows which attracted numerous hoverflies.Visiting the primroses was the odd queen bumblebee and also I noticed a Dark-edged Bee-fly. 

A female Brimstone was my first sighting of the day. I disturbed her enjoying a sunny moment.She took off and disappeared into the trees.It was not long before I came across a Comma and during the course of my wander in the copse I encountered at least three more.Finally,I finished by again disturbing a butterfly which had found a sunny spot,this time a Peacock.

Out Enjoying the Sun.

After a frosty start to the day the sun shone in a near cloudless sky this morning.Once the Glanville caterpillars had warmed up they became active and proceeded to bask in the sun near to their web.These webs can have up to 150 individuals and are always close to their foodplant.Should a web with a large numbers of caterpillars exhaust its food supply ,they will move on in search of further Ribwort Plantain.

Defyng the Inclement Weather.

The caterpillars of our own Isle of Wight Glanville Fritillary have a lot to put up with.Their habitat is our coastal cliffs which bare the brunt of winter and spring storms that batter the south west shore of the Island.Still this butterfly is use to all that the weather can throw at it and continues to survive in its unique habitat.

Not surprisingly then, that this morning I came across several glanville webs in which the caterpillars remain until April when they disperse to find a suitable place to pupate.The weather today was particularly cold and wet so they congregate in the web for protection from the elements.On sunny days at this time of year they will become active around the web and feed on their food plant,Ribwort Plantain.

Further information on this special butterfly can be found  here.

Glanville caterpillars huddle up against the wet and cold weather.