Under The Olive Trees.

Find an olive grove carpeted in wildflowers on any Greek Island  and it is certain that a good selection of butterflies will be encountered.The mix of butterflies may depend on the altitude, and the particular spot I came across on Lefkada recently was at sea level.The dominant species were Common Blue along with  a favourite of mine, the Clouded Yellow.Other butterflies included Small Copper,Meadow Brown,Brown Argus,Painted Lady,and various Whites.The dark Small Copper below is apparently a form commonly seen in Greece.

Up To West High Down.

At this time in the season a walk up to West High Down via a bridleway can be a chance to see the first Dark Green Fritillaries of the year.There was a report of two Dark Greens on nearby Brook Down a few days ago.However despite my best efforts none was in evidence today.

The bridleway that leads to the Down is sided by brambles and bushes to the north and more open ground to the south which perhaps are old quarry workings.Here, plenty of chalk downland plants grow and bloom which attracts a variety of butterflies due too to its sheltered aspect.The most common species today were Common Blue and Brown Argus although I was surprised to see a pristine Glanville Fritillary.It is somewhat out of its usual area which is a short way down the coast but they do get around and can turn up quite a way inland.As on the Down, there were good numbers of Large Skippers and I also came across a Small Tortoiseshell uploading salts from the track.

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.