A few of the butterflies on the wing on the Hampshire Chalk

An hour's sunshine, in the middle of an unsuitably cloudy day, allowed me to catch up with a few of the butterflies in flight at Stockbridge Down, including my first encounter with a Hampshire pearl-bordered fritillary (Boloria euphrosyne).

From top to bottom: dingy skipper (Erynnis tages); small copper (Lycaena phlaeas); Duke of Burgundy (Hamearis lucina); pearl-bordered fritillary.

Later that day in Parsonage Field, Catherington common blue were in flight (Polyommatus icarus)

The next day I headed to Portsdown Hill, and walked my old transect in Comps 1 & 2, counting 10spp incl. green hairstreak (Callophrys rubi) and small blue (Cupido minimus). The latter out in force in the Chalk Pit where at least 30 were seen on the western slope alone.

Local patch - weekend round up

Two med gulls (Ichthyaemus melanocephalus) an ad + 2nd sum, on Swan Lake, Milton Common on the evening of the 10th. A single foraging pipistrelle (Pipistrellus sp) was seen along the path and foreshore shortly after. Cetti's (Cettia Cetti) were still calling across the site.

On the 11th a walk into the city centre, produced my first singing willow warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) of the spring, amongst a mixed flock of five willow/chiffs at the entrance to Victoria Park.

A welcome return to Compartments 1 & 2 on Portsdown Hill on a sunny but somewhat blustery afternoon - produced singles of comma (Polygonia c-album), orange tip (Anthrocharis cardamines), and brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni); along with seven each of small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae), and peacock (Aglais io); a flighty white failed to nail the ID.

A single whitethroat (Sylvia communis) in song at the top of Compartment 1 and two very vocal blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla), and a half dozen chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collibyta) made it a four warbler day! And a five warbler weekend.

A late start on the 12th found two swallow (Hirundo rustica) flying through at Milton Common Ca. 11:30 a pair of med gull, Ca. eight cetti's warbler (Cettia cetti), willow warbler, chiffchaff and a half heard blackcap added further interest.

Fort Cumberland between and 12:00 and 13:00 was generally quiet, although four very mobile linnet (Carduelis cannabina) were very noisy. The site did produce my first reptile sighting of the year, with five common lizard (Zootoca vivipara) found sunning themselves on a scrap of wooden pallet, half hidden in the gorse (Ulex europaeus).

mid July update from Portsdown Hill and elsewhere

Essex skipper (Thymelicus lineola) were recorded on the transect for the first time this year on 2nd July (Week 14) with six individuals successfully ID'd along with four small skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris) and a further six small/Essex. The transect also recorded two dark green fritillary (Argynnis aglaja).

Along with the butterflies - a great green bush cricket (Tettigonia viridissima) was also noted:

great green bush cricket - 2nd July

A quick walk on the hill on the 5th July, in less than suitable conditions (heavily overcast, with strong cool winds) - still managed to produce our first sighting of the year for chalk hill blue (Polyommatus coridon) a very wind blown male - persistently flighty - whilst I tried to grab a record shot. Essex skipper also provided a brief opportunity to get off some photos.

Also seen yellow shell moth (Camptogramma bilineata).

chalk hill blue - record shot 5th July

yellow shell 5th July

Essex skipper 5th July

Returning to undertake the weekly transect on the 9th July (Week 15) two chalk hill blue males were recorded along with 13 other species of butterfly.

chalk hill blues 9th July

marbled white (Melanargia galathea)
9th July

The Week 16 transect undertaken on 15th July - and saw the return on the wing of both small blue (Cupido minimus) - last recorded 20th June; and common blue (Polyommatus icarus) - last recorded 25th June. Strongly suggesting that a second brood had occurred with both species.

In total 20 butterfly species were recorded on the wing.

small skipper 15th July

Following the transect a quick afternoon's visit to Hook Heath on the north of Portsdown Hill was rewarded with sightings of only one of the three target species - silver-washed fritillary (Argynnis paphia); failing to connect with white admiral (Limenitis camilla) and purple hairstreak (Favonius quercus).



silver-washed fritillary Hook Heath 15th July

On the wing at Portsdown Hill

green-veined white (Pieris napi)

speckled wood (Pararge aegeria)

comma (Polygonia c-album)

mint moth (Pyrausta aurata)

knot grass (Acronicta rumicis)

orange tip (Anthocharis cardamines) ♀

early grey (Xylocampa areola)