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Isle of Wight
Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 6:53 pm
by Nigel
Hi everyone
I am off to the Isle of Wight next Friday for the weekend, having never visited the island before. We have ferry and accommodation booked, so just hoping for good weather.
Also hoping to see and photograph plenty of butterflies and other wildlife. Granville’s is obviously a target (hopefully not to late, as these have been reported on this forum for a while)
Any advice on sites, species, or anything would be gratefully received.
Cheers Nigel
http://www.nigelspencer.co.uk
Re: Isle of Wight
Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2009 1:11 am
by Vince Massimo
Hi Nigel,
I do not know all of the good sites on the island, but the last time I visited looking for Glanville Fritillary in 2006 I found them on the seafront at Bonchurch which, as far as I am aware, is the closest site to the ferry terminal and saves you going to the southern tip or all the way to the west of the island. If you park in the Shore Road car park near Horseshoe Bay you can walk downhill and after rounding the right hand bend turn right along the promenade. This will take you to the undercliff (SZ576 777) where I found a good sized colony. Bonchurch Down is nearby and has a variety of species including Adonis Blue. You could also go to Blackgang Chine on the south of the island for Glanvilles (parking at St Catherines Point - SZ493 758) or Compton Bay further west at SZ367 854. If it is raining you could also visit Butterfly World which is between Wootton and Newport, where they have many exotic species.
Have a good trip and look forward to reading your report.
Vince.
Re: Isle of Wight
Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 1:10 pm
by Nigel
Hi Vince
Thanks for your information it provved very accurate. I went to a few sites and saw reasonable numbers of Granvilles at the Horseshoe Bay site you recomemded. I think they were very early this year and many were tatty or worn and anyone else should bear this in mind before they travel a long distance to see these.
However I did mange a few pictures so my quest to photograph all the British species slowly moves forward.
It was to windy for good pictures, but I was happy to see them so must not complain.
More pics at
http://www.nigelspencer.co.uk
Thanks again Nigel