Garden Wildlife UK

A slightly chilly, slightly breezy hour out on Sunday morning... no woodpeckers, jays or reflections!

https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCU8eS

But loads of butterflies PB... I don't see many of them either Great photo's and I like your closing corn bunting, never seen one of them either.

Some spectacular butterflies . I'd never heard of a Glanville Fritillary let alone seen one

Lots of lovely colourful flutterbys...oh and well done on the corn bunting!!! Nice find

OOh crackers in there - Glanvilles look fresh - actually they all look super fresh - well timed trip

SnappyMac wrote: Mon May 18, 2026 4:57 pm But loads of butterflies PB... I don't see many of them either Great photo's and I like your closing corn bunting, never seen one of them either.

Thanks Snappy, I was pleased with how many were about given the conditions, and a chap arriving as I left said about it being perfect conditions, too cool for them to be on the wing too much. I think I've only seen Corn Bunting at Badbury Rings before this one here, and got to be honest, I thought it was a Skylark 'til I zoomed in lol (in my defence there were several of them singing lol)

Jacksparrow wrote: Mon May 18, 2026 7:30 pm Some spectacular butterflies . I'd never heard of a Glanville Fritillary let alone seen one

Thanks Jack. In my butterfly book the Glanvilles are only found on the undercliffs on the Isle of Wight! There were some unsanctioned relocations over a few years 3 or 4 years ago which caused a bit of controversy apparently (Germain knows more of that than I do, I think) but they seem to have stabilised and I think this is the 3rd year I've photographed them on the same grassy stretch along the track.

Linda257 wrote: Mon May 18, 2026 8:30 pm Lots of lovely colourful flutterbys...oh and well done on the corn bunting!!! Nice find

Thanks Linda, as you say very colourful

Germain wrote: Mon May 18, 2026 9:05 pm OOh crackers in there - Glanvilles look fresh - actually they all look super fresh - well timed trip

Thanks Cin, I was pleased with them. Sadly, signs on the bank of people having climbed up for photo's, squishing all the vegetation potentially effecting later in the year

It's a tricky one as is the Glanville - and I could go on a total rant about illegal/ unsanctioned releases in inappropriate places. The preferred food plant is Ribwort Plantain - new growth and young plants and 'disturbed' ground which is why they like the under cliffs and slippage areas and the plant is a 'prospector' they also need sunny banks. Although they are recorded in CI it's our sister Islands although we did have one rock up on the NW coast in the right sort of area a couple of years ago but no further evidence since