ⓒRebecca Bugge, All Rights Reserved

Do not use without permission.

The Small Tortoiseshell is one of our most-familiar butterflies, appearing in gardens throughout the British Isles.

This butterfly can turn up almost anywhere, from city centres to mountain tops. As such, it is one of our most successful butterflies. It is most-often seen, however, where nettles grow in abundance, such as field margins. This butterfly is often encountered while hibernating in an outbuilding, such as a garage, shed or barn, where they may be found in the company of other individuals. Other hibernation sites include hollow trees and wood piles.

Basking on one of the garden chairs.

Taken in Lichfield

Thank you to everyone who views, favs or comments on my photos, it is always appreciated.

Taken last June in Bushey Rose garden.

Taken at Tameside Nature Reserve, Tamworth

Thank you to everyone who views my photos, favs or comments, it is always appreciated.

** A small Tortoiseshell butterfly taken in our garden back in 2019

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The first one in years in my garden.

Hello There!

Whether your spirits need warming up, or whether you live in a cold climate and long for warmer days, I hope this warms you up! Happy Wannabe Warmer Wednesday! WWW!

Thanks a million for stopping by and for leaving a comment. I do love hearing from you! Have a wonderful day!

©Copyright - Nancy Clark - All Rights Reserved

Beachy Head, Sussex

Although, once a widespread and relatively common woodland butterfly in southern England, the Large Tortoiseshell has been considered extinct in Britain throughout my lifetime. Occasional sightings since the 1960's were deemed migrants from the continent or, more often, released captive bred stock.

However, with records along the south coast slowly increasing over the last few years (14 already this year), and confirmed breeding in at least 2 Sussex locations last year, it seems re-colonisation from the continent is a real possibility. In the meantime, it remains a very rare sight in the UK, so it was great to catch up with this one on Good Friday.

Small Tortoiseshell butterfly in My garden Bridgnorth, Shropshire Uk

Tortoiseshell in blossom.

From our garden...

Small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) (Danish: Nældens takvinge), Butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii) (Danish: Sommerfuglebusk), 28.07.2021.

Olympus OMD EM5 Digital Camera

Aglais urticae in Leinawald forest

Small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) (Danish: Nældens takvinge), Butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii) (Danish: Sommerfuglebusk), 04.08.2021.

Olympus OMD EM5 Digital Camera

The Small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae). My first butterfly shot this spring. Primrose Hill, Bath, BANES, England, UK

Taken at Barton Marina

Small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) on a carpet of white stonecrop flowers (Sedum album). With warm recent weather Small tortoiseshell butterflies become quite fond of whatever these little flowers offer on sunny afternoons. Taken in the garden. Bath, BANES, England, UK

Aglais urticae

Taken in Lichfield

Small Tortoiseshell

Taken at Lichfield

Aglais urticae - Kleiner Fuchs

Sony A9 with FE 100-400mm GM and FE 1.4x Teleconverter

Taken at Tameside Nature Reserve, Tamworth

A Small Tortoiseshell butterfly (Aglais urticae) shares the rich pickings from Scottish thistles.

Aglais urticae

Aglais urticae - Kleiner Fuchs

Sony A9 with FE 100-400mm GM and FE 1.4x Teleconverter

It’s coming to the end of the butterfly’s and the bugs.🐝🐜🐞

I save a lot from spiders . And one baby Goldfinch .

One of my swans have got a bad leg ,I am keeping my eye her

They have still got five young ones.

We have got a lot of ducks this year.

But I have not been out much this year.

Been down to see the steam trains a lot this year.

Love them.

Taken at Lichfield

Aglais Urticae - Kleiner Fuchs

Sony Alpha 1 with FE 100-400mm GM

Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly (Aglais urticae) in my garden

Aglais Urticae - Kleiner Fuchs

Sony Alpha 1 with FE 100-400mm GM

Aglais Urticae - Kleiner Fuchs

Sony A9 with FE 100-400mm GM and FE 1.4x Teleconverter

Aglais urticae

Can brighten our gardens in October, Somerset, UK.

Aglais Urticae - Kleiner Fuchs

Sony A9 with FE 100-400mm GM and FE 1.4x Teleconverter

In light of what seems a dramatic decline in their numbers over recent years it was reassuring to see plenty of Small Tortoiseshells at a local spot at the weekend. They were making the most of the Devil's Bit Scabious in full bloom.

Taken at Lichfield