In my back garden there is a well established Everlasting Sweet Pea plant. It has now grown to a good size and flowers profusely. At this time of the year I always look out for the possibility of a visiting Long-tailed Blue as I have just one record on the 23rd August 2019 when a female was seen briefly close to the same plant. So it was with some excitement that I recorded one today flying vigorously around and landing several times on the flowers.
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Today in Bouldnor Forest the butterflies were numerous in the bright but sometimes cloudy weather. Now that the Yellow Fleabane is in flower it is a magnet for summer butterflies. Among the species enjoying the flowers were three Painted Lady, all in prime condition and therefore perhaps local emergents. In addition Silver-washed Fritillary now seem to be more evident although some showing signs of wear and tear. At least four males were recorded either nectaring on Thistle or Hemp-agrimony. In the more open forest areas I came across a couple of Wall Brown.
A morning visit to Bouldnor Forest was rewarded with the sighting of three summer butterflies. We are enjoying a few days of warm sunny weather and the butterflies obviously responded. I quickly came across a White Admiral as it energetically fluttered in and out of the small trees and bushes at the side of the track. In all at least four individuals were recorded. It was also a thrill to see a first Silver-washed Fritillary of the year .The male was seen thrree times as he speedily flew along the ride. The visit was concluded with a single Marbled White.
It was a very sunny and bright start to the day but by the time I dropped into Whiteways NT carpark at 0945 this morning the dark clouds had gathered and rain was on the way. Not surprisingly the butterflies had gone to ground. However one was seen roosting on a leaf and it was my first skipper of the year. It is of course, a male Large Skipper and a worthy sighting as most first records are in June.
