Hampshire and Isle of Wight Butterfly and Moth Society
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Butterfly and Moth Society
Deacon Hill & Twyford Down. A cold and cloudy start and Deacon Hill was very quiet apart from about six Red Admirals which was good to see. On Twyford Down when the sun came out Claire and I saw a few species of butterfly including; Grizzled Skipper, Green Hairstreak, Small Heath, Small White, Red Admiral, Peacock, Brimstone and a freshly emerged Common Blue as well as our first Painted Lady of the Year. This was My UK #26 for 2025, the same period last year and I had only seen 15! Sadly we did not get a photo of the PL as it quickly swooped over our heads and disappeared into one of the deep ancient ‘dongas’ trackways. We also saw several Mint Moths, a Burnet Companion and a cluster of caterpillars which my App said were Spindle Ermine. [Posted by Sheila Anne Williams]
Butterflying to the soundtrack of Turtle Doves. First of all, Ashley, we hope you are feeling better soon. There were half a dozen people who hadn’t seen your fieldtrip cancellation post. Generally, for most of the time I was there, for the butterflies that were out it was a wings-folded, clinging-on sort of day. There was a distinctly chilly breeze, gusty at times, but in the combe bottom the temperature did reach 13C. Small Heath was being blown around in very good numbers – easily the most numerous butterfly of the morning. I stop counting individuals beyond 12 sightings, and so I had Common Blue 12+, Dingy Skipper 12+, Grizzled Skipper 8, Duke of Burgundy 6, Green Hairstreak 4 – including two duelling around what regular Butser field trippers will know as the Green Hairstreak Hawthorn – Brown Argus 2, Orange-tip 1, Burnet Companion 2, and what I think were Speckled Yellow, 3. All the while in the combe bottom, a Turtle Dove was calling, which was lovely to hear and a great butterflying soundtrack. [Posted by Kevin Freeborn]
Duke of Burgundy. Spotted about six Duke of Burgundy at Stockbridge Down [Posted by Sheila Anne Williams]
Small Blue. Spotted a few groups of Small Blue at Magdalen Hill Down NR on the lower slopes. The very warm sunshine brought out lots of butterflies including, Adonis Blue, Common Blue, Brown Argus, Marsh Fritillary, Small Heath, Green Hairstreak, Large White and Brimstone. Also seen Burnet Companion, Mint Moth, Mother Shipton, Common Carpet and Cinnabar. [Posted by Sheila Anne Williams]
Adonis Blue. It was amazing to see so many mating Adonis Blues at Magdalen Hill Down NR - I must have seen around six mating pairs and as many males still searching for females. [Posted by Sheila Anne Williams]
Glanville Fritillary - Compton Down, Dorset. You won’t get much fresher than this - Nic, Claire and I watched this stunning Glanville Fritillary for ages slowly drying its wings in the warm sunshine. It was constantly curling and uncurling its proboscis tasting the air ..… We never did see it take off but it sure was a beautiful moment. [Posted by Sheila Anne Williams]
Wall Brown seen at Portsdown Hill. The field trip to Portsdown Hill today found the site with many fresh butterflies flying, and most notably, a Wall Brown which has been very rare at the site if not missing over past years. A real treat. [Posted by Claire Hartt-Palmer]
Portsdown Hill & Magdalen Hill Down NR. Delighted to see three new species for 2025 today - a Wall at Portsdown Hill on Ashley's field trip and a super fresh Adonis Blue and Small Blue at Magdalen Hill Down on my home patch. [Posted by Sheila Anne Williams]
Small Blue out at Magdalen Hill Down. Three or four Small Blue seen at Magdalen Hill Down (extension) this afternoon along with numerous Common Blue and varying numbers of Grizzled Skipper, Dingy Skipper, Brimstone, Green Hairstreak, Brown Argus, Peacock and Small Heath. [Posted by Rupert & Sharron Broadway]
Pearl-Bordered Fritillaries - Standing Hat - New Forest. We spotted about 16 PBF today racing up and down the rides in really hot sunshine . There were very few flowers for them to nectar on with some flowers trying their best to emerge through the dead bracken. Most of the butterflies we spotted were stopping to nectar on the bright yellow dandelion flowers before racing off again ... ... ... [Posted by Sheila Anne Williams]
First Duke out at Stockbridge. Saw first Duke of B at Stockbridge Down today - and possibly a second. Quite early for this site as we are usually a couple of weeks behind Noar Hill and others. Decent weather has brought them out! [Posted by Catherine Hadler]
Butser in the sun. I took the opportunity of a girls shopping day, and glorious sunshine, to revisit Butser today. Very good numbers of Grizzled Skipper, Small Heath and especially Dingy Skipper made their presence known along with the ever present Orange-tips and the odd Peacock. Duke of Burgundy are building nicely with at least half a dozen fresh males seen. New for year were Green Hairstreak, Common Blue and some delightfully fresh Brown Argus. It was also nice to catch up with a few like minded acquaintances who were on a similar mission. [Posted by Mark Tutton]
Broxhead Common field trip. Good to be out in the spring sunshine this morning and enjoying the first field trip of the new season. [Posted by Kevin Freeborn]
Brockenhurst Inclosures. With all the early emergences this spring, I thought I would chance my arm and see if I could see a Pearl-bordered Fritillary in the New Forest. It was mostly cloudy during the morning with a chilly breeze and I only saw a few Speckled Woods. However, the cloud cover broke up around midday and the afternoon was more productive with regular sightings of male Brimstones and a smattering of Green-veined, Large and Small Whites. Finally, around 3.30pm in the New Copse Inclosure, I saw a flash of orange and had a brief glimpse of a Pearl-bordered Fritillary. A little later, nearer Perrywood Ivy Inclosure, a saw another and was able to watch it for some time and obtain a record shot. [Posted by Ian Watts]
Magdalen Hill Down NR. The first Common Blue female seen at the bottom of the hillside being chased around by a few Brown Argus [Posted by Sheila Anne Williams]
Magdalen Hill Down NR. We also saw quite a few Marsh Fritillaries today as well as 15 Small Heath - one of which had a dark black line under its spot. [Posted by Sheila Anne Williams]
Magdalen Hill Down NR. A cloudy start to the day and a few butterflies were roosting but when the sun came out it was a good day on the hillside. We spotted 12 species including; Brimstone, Brown Argus, Common Blue, Green Hairstreak, Green-veined White, Grizzled Skipper, Orange-tip, Peacock, Small Copper, Small Heath, Speckled Wood and Dingy Skipper. As well as several moths including; Common Carpet, Mint Moth, Green Carpet and Mother Shipton. The highlight of the day was a mating pair of Dingy Skippers - they were also the most numerous butterfly of the day too - we spotted at least 21. [Posted by Sheila Anne Williams]
Large Blue appeal. The Royal Entomological Society has a fundraiser for the Large Blue running over the next week - do help if you can. [Posted by Pete Eeles]
Magdalen Hill Down NR with Claire. We spotted 15 species of butterflies including; Small Copper (My #19 for 2025), Marsh Fritillary (My #20 for 2025). We also saw, Common Blue, Holly Blue, Brown Argos, Dingy Skipper, Grizzled Skipper, Small White, Green-veined White, Peacock, Red Admiral, Orange-tip, Green Hairstreak, Small Heath and Speckled Wood. [Posted by Sheila Anne Williams]
Marsh Fritillary now flying. A few hours at Magdalen Hill Down this afternoon yielded 10 species with two firsts for the year.
Five male Marsh Fritillary were seen, with at least one having only just emerged. When digging down to see if I could find its pupal case, I came across another first - the only Marbled White caterpillar I've ever found!
Thankfully, it seems that I won't be waiting until September to see a Small Copper this year.
Grizzled Skipper, Dingy Skipper, Orange-tip, Brimstone, Small Heath, Peacock and Brown Argus also seen. [Posted by Lee Hurrell]
