Small Heath at Boarhunt. Avant le deluge this afternoon, our footfalls disturbed a pristine Small Heath, the only butterfly seen, in the larger silage meadow along the Wallington river at Priors Hold Farm, Boarhunt. Small numbers of the butterfly are found here every year [Posted by Andrew Brookes]
Orange-tip in my Freshwater Garden. This female Orange-tip taking an interest in what looks like 'Amaranthus blitum', Purple Leaf Pigweed and egg laying on the same in my garden. [Posted by Peter Hunt]
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| Photo © Peter Hunt | Photo © Peter Hunt |
Happy 100th birthday Sir David !. Today is the 100th birthday of Sir David Attenborough, President of Butterfly Conservation, so I thought I'd post a news item to mark the event and wish him all the very best on behalf of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Branch of Butterfly Conservation, for all that he's done to raise the profile of wildlife and conservation in the UK, and worldwide, over his incredible career.
Those of you who are newer members of Butterfly Conservation may not be aware that in 1999 Sir David officially opened Magdalen Hill Down 'Extension', which was the first of several extensions to this important nature reserve. I'm sure he'd be so pleased to see that 27 years on this site has become one of the most biodiverse nature reserves and butterfly sites in the whole of Hampshire. The two images below were taken at the 1999 opening. [Posted by Andy Barker]
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| Andy Barker and Sir David Attenborough at MHD Extension opening (1999) Photo © Andy Barker | Group chat, George Yorke (left), Sir David Attenborough and Andy Barker Photo © Andy Barker |
Monks Walk, Gosport. My first May circulation (1140-1310) realised seven species on a warm day, cloudy but with sunny intervals. No sign yet of Common Blue in areas that earlier in the year were under standing water so probably not going to see many this season at this site. Total: Small White (9); Green-veined White (M)(1)(F)(1); Orange-tip (M)(4)(F)(2); Holly Blue (M)(7)(F)(1); Peacock (3); Red Admiral (3); Speckled Wood (8). [Posted by Francis Plowman]
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| Holly Blue female Photo © Francis Plowman | Red Admiral Photo © Francis Plowman | Holly Blue male Photo © Francis Plowman |
Fort Purbrook, Portsdown Hill. Made a visit to Fort Purbrook, Portsdown Hill today where the temperature reached 15 degrees. Several fresh male Common Blues were on the wing. Totals: Small White 2, Common Blue 4M, Green Hairstreak 1. [Posted by Roy Symonds]
Brown Argus at Freshwater. A Brown Argus seen today at the NT carpark at the foot of Afton Down,together with a Glanville Fritillary. On the landslip at Compton Chine several Glanvilles and a Small Heath plus 3 male Common Blue. [Posted by Peter Hunt]
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| Photo © Peter Hunt | Photo © Peter Hunt |
Painted Lady arrival, and Clouded Yellow?. Seen this afternoon at Cams Bay meadow, Fareham, female Painted Lady busily ovipositing on young thistles amid the grass. Minutes later, what can only have been a very pale Clouded Yellow of some kind appeared flying very rapidly over the ground, never settled for a second alas, so no photo. Light southerly winds and full sun. [Posted by Andrew Brookes]
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| Painted Lady female, Cams Bay Photo © Andrew Brookes | Painted Lady ovipositing on thistle Photo © Andrew Brookes |
Painted Lady in Ringwood. Painted Lady seen in my garden in Ringwood [Posted by Robert Beale]
First sighting of Painted Lady. First sighting of the season of Painted Lady today on my reserve at North Baddesley. That makes total of 11 species seen here so far this year. [Posted by kevin ross]
Walk over Arreton Downs today. 2x Common Blues , 3 x Grizzled Skippers, 6x Orange-tips, 2x Peacocks, 1x Green-veined White, 1x Glanville Fritillary. [Posted by Mick sivell]
Paulsgrove Chalk Pits. Today, May Day I visited Paulsgrove Chalk pits where the temperature was 19 degrees. Several male Orange-tips, Small White and Holly Blues were on the wing. Totals: Small White 6, Brimstone 2M 1F, Orange-tip 4M, Holly Blue 3, Speckled Wood 1. [Posted by Roy Symonds]