Hampshire and Isle of Wight Butterfly and Moth Society
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Butterfly and Moth Society
So many Brown Hairstreaks at Shipton Bellinger. On two days this week I visited Shipton Bellinger and was totally amazed at the number of Brown Hairstreaks in a small area. We saw 20/30 males nectaring on the meadow thistles and 4/5 females in total. Sadly on the second visit a crab spider killed a male and female whilst I was watching, the spider completely camouflaged inside the thistle flower - just hope the female laid lots of eggs beforehand. [Posted by Sheila Anne Williams]
Yew Hill Blues. On my visit to Yew Hill today, I stopped to chat with three other visitors who all marvelled at the number of Chalk Hill Blues on the reserve. These gorgeous butterflies have such a beautiful shade of pastel blue, very clearly different on today’s display from the more piercing hue of the Common Blue. Brown Argus and Holly Blue completed the quartet of blues, all enjoying the profusely flowering Thyme. I was surprised to see a couple of Marbled Whites, when on other sites they seem to be over, while graceful large whites, backlit in a strong July sunshine, had an almost tropical air about them. [Posted by Kevin Freeborn]
Stockbridge Down. I was delighted to find a fresh female Brown Hairstreak today as I had seen one at this site on 12 July 2025, so a few days later than the previous year. In the carpark on arrival there were several Purple Hairstreaks so good to see both here. After entering the reserve there were lots of butterflies all racing around as the temperature had already risen and I spotted a massive 24 SPECIES of butterfly in just over 4 hours with several second brood Dingy Skippers making an appearance. I have seen Silver-spotted Skippers at Stockbridge Down but not in this area so when I spotted this one my mind just said 'Large Skipper' and posted it on FB as such until Lee pointed out that it was indeed a SSS - thank you Lee. [Posted by Sheila Anne Williams]
Itchen Abbas. I decided to go on a Clouded Yellow twitch at our local set-aside field sown with clover, birdsfoot trefoil and other good things this afternoon. I clocked up around 22 from a slow walk around part of the area, most in a mad dash to get somewhere or other. Lots of other species around including many Painted Lady ranging from the almost colourless to the freshly painted: and Common Blue, including one unfortunate individual that had come to a violent end at the hands of a Downland Robberfly. [Posted by Rupert Broadway]
Clouded Yellow at Itchen Abbas. We were delighted to see four or five Clouded Yellow amongst a profusion of butterflies today on on our local farm field, where we encountered them regularly last year: and equally so when one was amongst 15 species to visit our nearby garden briefly. Other species recorded in the locality were Small Skipper, Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Brown Argus, Common Blue, Holly Blue, Comma, Painted Lady, Peacock, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Marbled White, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper and Ringlet. [Posted by Rupert & Sharron Broadway]
Purple-tinged Basing Wood. My woodland wander today, from 10am to 2.30pm, was in Basing Wood. Tinged with purple by sightings of hairstreak and emperor, it was the second Sunday in succession where my forest walk brought a tally of 21 butterfly species. Grassland inhabitants included very fresh Common Blue and Brown Argus; among the woodland specialists were several low-down Purple Hairstreak and thistle-feeding Silver-washed Fritillary. There were lots and lots of Gatekeeper and plenty of Peacock making the most of the remaining bramble flower. I had eleven Purple Emperor sightings, including a courting pair flying along the ride at power cable height. [Posted by Kevin Freeborn]
Hairstreak at the Food Festival. Southsea Food Festival - an unlikely butterfly destination but a White-letter Hairstreak was visiting stones throw kitchen on the left. There is a colony on the street elm adjoining the building in the distance [Posted by Mark Tutton]
Puttles Bridge, New Forest. Rarely does a grandson-entertaining day present good butterfly watching opportunities, but the heathland adjacent to Puttles Bridge proved irresistible today and I managed to sneak off for just long enough to spot a few Silver-studded Blue around the Bell Heather, most looking quite worn. Back at the stream the fresh Holly Blues seemed to be enjoying themselves as much as the children, puddling in the mud for mineral salts. Other species on show included Gatekeeper, Brimstone and a few indeterminate whites and skippers. [Posted by Rupert Broadway]
