Villa Garden Visitors.

Although butterfly friendly plants were very limited in the extensive garden of our holiday villa on the Greek Island of Lefkada last week, up to fifteen species were noted either in the garden or passing through it.Fortunately the grounds were sided by olive groves and pasture pens,both with a profusion of wildflowers so there was plenty to interest the butterflies.

The villas vast lawn had patches of clover which attracted Long-tailed Blues and Common Blues while a large fig tree at the front housed a couple of Lattice Browns and Speckled Woods.The former nectared from any damaged half ripe fruits while the Speckled Woods competed for the dappled sunny spots around the base of the tree.A small honeysuckle plant on the porch was favoured by a Southern White Admiral and the magnificent flowering geraniums along the length of the rear veranda were visited by Cleopatra's as well as that Geranium Bronze already mentioned in the previous blog entry.

Pelargonium Princess.

Or sometimes Pelargonium Pest as the Geranium Bronze butterfly is native of South Africa and has an attraction to this plant either cultivated or wild.It is the only food plant of Cacyreus marshalli and was thought to have been accidentally imported to Europe on geraniums in the late 1980's.Since then it has spread and  a few years ago was recorded on the Greek Island of Corfu.Well now it has progressed to Lefkada somewhat south of Corfu as I witnessed last week when I observed a female egg laying  in the garden of our holiday villa.

Pearly Kings and Queens.

 The Pearl-bordered Fritillary is no longer found on the Isle of Wight.Perhaps the nearest site to see these lovely butterflies is the New Forest in Hampshire which is a short ferry ride across the Solent.

Yesterday we made the trip despite mainly cloudy and breezy conditions.However the sun  did appear at intervals which encouraged the butterflies into some activity.Here in the Forest these Fritillaries seem to thrive due to sympathectic woodland management which unfortunately is completely lacking in their former Island site of Parkhusrt Forest.

New Forest Pearl-bordered Fritillary Habitat.

  

Orange Tips at Walters Copse.

It was a sultry afternoon at Walters Copse yesterday.Fortunately the thunderstorms had not yet  rumbled by and I was treated to some hazy sunshine.Earlier in nearby fields I had heard my first  cuckoo of the year and also a nightingale from the hedgerows.

In the copse there were plenty of Orange Tips to see and several females fluttered around the Lady's Smock or cuckooflower as it commonly known.Named of course for the plants flowering time which coincides with the arrival of the first cuckoo.This is a primary larval plant of the Orange Tip so it is a usual sight to see the females laying their single egg on it.For both the male and female it is a favourite nectaring flower.

More New Butterflies.

Yet another very warm day and good to see my first Brown Argus of the year.Unfortunately it proved elusive but soon they will be abundant.Also at the same location was the rather underrated Dingy Skipper.I do not find them as dull as some think and fresh specimens can have subtle colours.There was also a Small Heath which was very active in the sunshine and breezy conditions.

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

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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.