Despite the first real rain we’ve seen for weeks here in Cornwall we found 8 Grizzled Skipper during a quick visit to Penhale Dunes on the north coast. One was of the form taras (below right), an aberration having the … Read More
Along the hedgerows of the South West Coast Path near the Helford River, these beautiful butterflies were seen patrolling up and down the path before settling on a favourite perch. New Speckled Wood species page This is a common butterfly … Read More
The recent fine weather systems pulling warm air up from the continent seem to have brought migrant butterflies into Cornwall. We’ve seen several Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) (above left) and a few Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) (above right) in most … Read More
The fine weather continues to encourage butterflies to emerge earlier than normal. Yesterday, during a successful and extremely eventful search for the caterpillars of the Silver-studded Blue (Plebeius argus) butterfly amongst the Penhale Dunes on the North Cornish Coast, we … Read More
If it’s early spring then it’s almost certainly a Holly Blue. The first blue butterfly to emerge, it can be seen flying along hedgerows throughout most of the UK. See latest species page on Holly Blue life cycle, identification, caterpillars, … Read More
We found our first Wall, also known as Wall Brown, butterfly of the year sunning itself on the path at Godrevy on the north coast of Cornwall. This is an early date for Cornwall. Last year the first record was … Read More
Two Holly Blue, seen flying along a Blackthorn hedge at the bottom of a south-west facing grass field yesterday, may be the first records of this butterfly in Cornwall this spring. Last year the first records for Cornwall were on … Read More
Our first Comma butterfly of the spring and a single Peacock were basking in the sun on a south facing bank leading to Trefusis Point on the shores of the Carrick Roads, Falmouth. Insight: Both Comma (Polygonia c-album) and Peacock … Read More
Twelve Small Tortoiseshell and two Peacock butterflies were enjoying the afternoon sunshine along the sheltered cliffs leading down to Swanpool Beach, Falmouth today. So it looks as if good numbers of butterflies may have successfully hibernated through one of the … Read More
A Small Tortoiseshell butterfly was seen briefly sunning itself on a wall sheltered from the cold north-westerly winds on Saturday, 26 February. Insight: A once very common butterfly throughout the UK, its numbers have declined in recent years partly due, … Read More
A Red Admiral butterfly was on the pavement outside The Packet Quays in Falmouth, soaking up the winter sun. For the latest information on the Red Admiral Butterfly and caterpillar Insight: This common migrant butterfly undertakes a partial re-migration back … Read More
Please see latest Common Blue Butterfly and caterpillar species page Common name: Common Blue Latin name: Polyommatus icarus Family: Blues ( Lycaenidae >> Polyommatinae ) Flies: May to September This photo: Forrabury Stitches, near Boscastle, North Cornwall Gallery: British Butterflies … Read More