Early butterflies in Cornwall
with No Comments

During the winter the only butterflies seen in the garden have been the occasional Red Admiral. With recent warmer temperatures things at last seem to be stirring. A Comma was seen amongst primroses at Glendurgan gardens on the Helford Estuary. … Read More

Clouded Yellow butterflies on the Lizard Peninsula and in Falmouth
with No Comments

Numbers of migrant Clouded Yellow butterflies in south west Cornwall have been low this year. Certainly not a Clouded Yellow Year compared to 2014 when we were lucky to witness the spectacular sight of hundreds in a single field by … Read More

American Painted Lady in Cornwall
with No Comments

This American Painted Lady butterfly, Vanessa virginiensis, a very rare butterfly for the UK, was recorded and photographed by Rowena Castillo-Nicholls and husband Rob at Nare Head on the Roseland Peninsula in Cornwall on the 20th September. Rowena is a … Read More

Butterflies arrive from warmer countries
with No Comments

Unexpectedly high numbers of Painted Lady butterflies were seen yesterday on a coastal site on the Lizard Peninsula, in South Cornwall. Since the southerly winds that had brought the large numbers of migrant Striped Hawkmoths had been replaced for over … Read More

Marsh Fritillary butterflies in Cornwall
with No Comments

This time of year the Cornish coastline is looking its best. Rugged cliffs and blue seas providing as stunning backdrop to a rich diversity of colouful plants. Not surprisingly these plants support a wide diversity of common and rare insects. … Read More

Pearl-bordered Fritillary butterflies in Cornwall
with No Comments

This pair of Pearl-bordered Fritillary butterflies, Bolaria euphrosyne, were photographed at Fellover Brake, Tuckingmill, Cornwall during the week. Several others were seen flying low over the bracken when ever the sun broke through the clouds. This is the earliest flying … Read More

Red Admiral butterfly caterpillars building nettle tents
with No Comments

Red Admiral caterpillars have been busy over the last few weeks constructing their nettle tents in our Cornish garden. Several are fully grown now and it was fascinating to watch a pale form of the caterpillar construct its final nettle … Read More

Comma butterfly at Penhale Dunes, Cornwall
with No Comments

This Comma butterfly seen basking in warm sunshine at Penhale Dunes on the North coast of Cornwall was one of several seen in the last week at different Cornish locations. Other March sightings included ones in Falmouth and Glendurgan Gardens … Read More

Overwintering Hummingbird Hawkmoth
with No Comments

Recent sunshine has enticed a few overwintering butterflies out into the garden. Whilst the odd Small Tortoiseshell and Red Admiral butterfly hasn’t been surprising a Hummingbird Hawkmoth certainly was. This early record may have been either a migrant or one … Read More

Purple Hairstreak butterfly egg
with No Comments

During last summer several Purple Hairstreak butterflies were seen from the top of a viewing platform erected as part of a moth study beside an oak tree at Trelusback Farm in Cornwall. Although the Purple Hairstreak butterflies frustratingly spend most … Read More

Winter butterflies in Cornwall
with No Comments

Two Red Admiral butterflies in our Cornish garden were a welcome sight this morning. Earlier in the week a Small Tortoiseshell was our first butterfly of the year. Fortunately a winter flowering heather is in full bloom and providing a … Read More

Marsh Fritillary butterfly success story
with No Comments

After what has felt a very long pandemic year its been great to be out and about once more with the camera. Wildlife really does lift the spirits, particularly when visiting a conservation success story. The Marsh Fritillary butterfly featured … Read More

1 2 3 4 11