Perhaps the warmest day of the year so far and a Painted Lady was seen in my garden nectaring on our Wallflower 'Bowles Mauve'.Seems to be the first influx of this species this year with numerous sightings in the south of England in the last few days. The sighting in my garden was the same as 2021 when one was encountered on the same plant on the same day.
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During a lunchtime walk along the slopes of Mottistone Down the most numerous butterfly was the Glanville Fritillary and a close second, the Common Blue. However the latter was the only 'Blue' to be seen today. Other butterfly species encountered were Wall Brown,Dingy Skipper,Small Heath,and Orange Tip.
I saw my first Glanville Fritillary of the year last Sunday the 8th May when I disturbed it in a sheltered sunny spot on the Landslip. Unfortunately that sighting was all too brief as it flew on over a low gorse bush and despite my best efforts I was unable to relocate it. Then followed a spell of unsettled weather with rain,wind,and cloud, until today when the sun once again appeared. Almost immediately as I set foot on the slopes, Glanvilles were to be seen and at least ten were encountered in the small area of Landslip I explored. Returning to Whiteway's NT carpark where I started my walk I came across several individuals along the cliff top and two in the carpark itself.
A sunny day was a change from yesterday's overcast conditions and a walk along the clifftop and the Landslip was very pleasant. Parking at Whiteway's NT,a quick look at the habitat at the back of the carpark discovered a pristine male Common Blue and two Wall Brown. The Common Blue is a first of the year record. In addition the Brown Argus was still prominent, competing with the other resident species.
Descending the many wooden steps to the Landslip fewer species were seen than yesterday.Another male Common Blue was recorded along with a Wall Brown,Small Copper,Green Hairstreak,and Dingy Skipper.
The area of Landslip close to Compton Chine and just a stone's throw from Freahwater Bay, provided my first visit of the season to this unique habitat in the hope of seeing an early Glanville Fritillary.Unfortunately. just a few day's too early it seems as the only species recorded were Green Hairstreak,several Dingy and Grizzled Skipper,a Wall Brown,a Small Copper,and a first sighting this year of a Small Heath. Weather conditions were mild with little wind although mainly cloudy but bright and thrift is now startting to flower on the cliffs.
Returning to Whiteways NT carpark situated overlooking Compton Chine and where I started my visit today,I came across a pristine Brown Argus.Another first of the season sighting.
Today's early morning visit was rewarded with three first of the year sightings at Whiteways NT carpark near to Freshwater Bay. Vying with the now dozen or so Green Hairstreak was a Small Copper and sighted now again were two Dingy Skipper. The third first record was a handsome looking Wall Brown which settled briefly before being shooed away by a bevy of smaller butterflies. In addition to these were at least three Small Blue,one individual showing a rather bent forewing.
The sighting of a Small Blue today at Whiteways is the earliest record here since the outstanding sighting of two males on the 30th March 2012. As seen in the photograph below, today's individual is rather tatty which seems to indicate that it has been around for a while. Also on show were three Green Hairstreak and two Grizzled Skipper.
A well known site for first of the season sightings is Whiteways Quarry,now a National Trust carpark at the foot of Afton Down close to Freshwater Bay. As explained many times in this blog the grassy area at the back of the carpark has a interesting number of species especially in the spring.
Today's visit produced a first Green Hairstreak of the year. It was seen on the flowering Spanish Bluebells,just like the individual in the photograph below. Unfortunately I only sighted it on two brief occasions and it failed to return again ,probably due to the cloudy conditions. Also present were possibly two Grizzled Skippers. Another first for this season
Following a short cold snap,today's sunshine and mild temperature encouraged me to pay a second visit of the year to Bouldnor Forest. Immediately on entering the forest I was passed by a very fast flying male Brimstone but just a few yards farther on I came across this Speckled Wood butterfly. This is a first sighting of the season of this species for me and it obligingly settled on the side of the track for a few seconds. The only other butterfly encountered was a Comma, and it was not until I was returning that a rather tatty Red Admiral appeared on the track.This was followed by a second Speckled Wood fluttering around and landing in a sunny spot.
It is always a treat to see a Small Tortoiseshell at this time of the year and yesterday this individual appeared in my garden to enjoy the morning spring sunshine.
A first of the season lunchtime visit to Bouldnor Forest,Yarmouth yielded numerous Brimstone sightings.All were males and they hurriedly flew from primrose to primrose in their search for nectar. Other species on show were the ever reliable Comma and Peacock.
My first butterfly sighting of the year was a Red Admiral that I disturbed while it was enjoying the sunshine in my garden yesterday. A first outing of 2022 was taken today with an afternoon walk through Walters Copse at Newtown.
It was a fabulous early spring day with full sun and a temperature of around 16 celsius.Immediately on entering the copse I came across a Comma and during the visit at least eight other individuals were encountered. It was not until leaving that I saw one other species, a Peaccok.
It was a first sight today of another summer butterfly. A male Silver-washed Fritillary was observed at Bouldnor Forest, as he picked himself a sunny position on an overhanging leaf. Another individual was seen later, this time a female, along with White Admiral, several Small Skippers and what seems to be an Essex Skipper (pictured below).
Despite cloudy conditions this afternoon, the warm weather encouraged the butterflies out and new species were to be seen in Bouldnor Forest. In particular, the Dark Green Fritillary was prominent with at least six individuals. These were seen mainly around a stand of Giant Thistles and also along a quiet woodland ride packed with flowering plants like clover. In addition Marbled White and Ringlet are now on the wing and in the company of White Admiral and Large Skipper.
