What you can see this time of year...

Although spotting butterflies at this time of year is unusual, there have been recorded sightings in this area of

  • Red Admiral
  • Brimstone
  • Peacock
  • Small Tortoiseshell
  • Over-wintering Peacock and Small Tortoiseshells - check sheds and garages
  • Look for Black Hairstreak eggs on blackthorn hedges - Salcey Forest
  • Look for Purple Hairstreak eggs on the end of oak branches
  • Look for White-letter Hairstreak eggs on the end of elm branches

Although spotting butterflies at this time of year is unusual, there have been recorded sightings in this area of

  • Red Admiral
  • Brimstone
  • Peacock
  • Small Tortoiseshell
  • Over-wintering Peacock and Small Tortoiseshells - check sheds and garages
  • Look for Black Hairstreak eggs on blackthorn hedges - Salcey Forest
  • Look for Purple Hairstreak eggs on the end of oak branches
  • Look for White-letter Hairstreak eggs on the end of elm branches

Often the first sightings for

  • Comma
  • Red Admiral
  • Brimstone (1st brood)
  • Peacock
  • Small Tortoiseshell

  • Green-veined White - late April
  • Small Tortoiseshell
  • Brimstone
  • Comma
  • Speckled Wood
  • Holly Blue (1st brood)
  • Orange Tip - early April
  • Large White
  • Painted Lady
  • Red Admiral
  • Small Heath - (1st brood)
  • Small White
  • Duke of Burgundy - one of Beds' rarest - Whipsnade Downs and Totternhoe
  • Dingy Skipper - late April (1st brood) - Twywell Hills and Dales, Northants
  • Green Hairstreak - from mid April - Twywell Hills and Dales, Northants
  • Grizzled Skipper - Beds: Tempsford, Brogborough. Northants: Twywell Hills and Dales & Fermyn
  • Look out for Orange-tip eggs - on Garlic Mustard or Cuckooflower

Often the first sightings for

  • Clouded Yellow - a migrant
  • Duke of Burgundy - Whipsnade Downs and Totternhoe
  • Dingy Skipper - Twywell Hills and Dales, Northants
  • Green Hairstreak - Twywell Hills and Dales, Northants
  • Grizzled Skipper - Beds: Tempsford, Brogborough. Northants: Twywell Hills and Dales & Fermyn
  • Wood White - 1st brood Northants: Salcey Forest, Sywell Wood
  • Brown Argus
  • Large Skipper
  • Wall Brown
  • Green-veined White
  • Small Tortoiseshell
  • Brimstone
  • Comma
  • Speckled Wood
  • Small Copper
  • Small Blue
  • Common Blue
  • Holly Blue
  • Orange Tip
  • Large White
  • Painted Lady
  • Peacock
  • Red Admiral
  • Small Heath
  • Small White

Often the first sightings for

  • Dark Green Fritillary - Sharpenhoe Clappers
  • Essex Skipper - June - end August
  • Purple Emperor - Fermyn, Northants
  • White-letter Hairstreak - Fermyn and Twywell, Northants
  • White Admiral - Fermyn, Northants
  • Ringlet - end June to mid August
  • Small Skipper - June - July
  • Marbled White - Twywell, Northants
  • Meadow Brown - June to October
  • Black Hairstreak - Glapthorn and Fermyn
  • Clouded Yellow - a mirgrant
  • Duke of Burgundy - Whipsnade Downs and Totternhoe
  • Wood White - 1st brood Northants: Salcey Forest
  • Brown Argus
  • Large Skipper
  • Wall Brown
  • Green-veined White
  • Small Tortoiseshell
  • Brimstone
  • Comma
  • Speckled Wood
  • Small Copper
  • Small Blue
  • Common Blue
  • Holly Blue
  • Orange Tip
  • Large White
  • Painted Lady
  • Peacock
  • Red Admiral
  • Small Heath
  • Small White

Often the first sightings for

  • Silver-washed Fritillary
  • Chalkhill Blue
  • Essex Skipper - June - end August
  • Purple Hairstreak - early July to early September
  • Clouded Yellow
  • Dark Green Fritillary - Sharpenhoe Clappers
  • Purple Emperor - Fermyn, Northants
  • White-letter Hairstreak - Fermyn and Twywell, Northants
  • White Admiral - Fermyn, Northants
  • Ringlet - end June to mid August
  • Small Skipper - June - July
  • Marbled White - Twywell, Northants
  • Meadow Brown - June to October
  • Camberwell Beauty - June to October
  • Hummingbird HawkMoth - June to October
Want to see some of these less common species? - come to one of our field trips



  • Brown Argus
  • Silver-washed Fritillary
  • Chalkhill Blue
  • Essex Skipper - June - end August
  • Purple Hairstreak - early July to early September
  • Clouded Yellow
  • Dark Green Fritillary - Sharpenhoe Clappers, Beds
  • Purple Emperor - Fermyn, Northants
  • White-letter Hairstreak - Fermyn & Twywell, Northants
  • White Admiral - Fermyn, Northants
  • Ringlet - end June to mid August
  • Small Skipper - June - July
  • Marbled White - Twywell, Northants
  • Meadow Brown - June to October
  • Camberwell Beauty - June to October
  • Hummingbird HawkMoth - June to October


  • Brown Argus
  • Silver-washed Fritillary
  • Chalkhill Blue
  • Essex Skipper - June - end August
  • Purple Hairstreak - early July to early September
  • Clouded Yellow
  • Dark Green Fritillary - Sharpenhoe Clappers, Beds
  • Purple Emperor - Fermyn, Northants
  • White-letter Hairstreak - Fermyn & Twywell,Northants
  • White Admiral - Fermyn, Northants
  • Ringlet - end June to mid August
  • Small Skipper - June - July
  • Marbled White - Twywell, Northants
  • Meadow Brown - June to October
  • Camberwell Beauty - June to October
  • Hummingbird Hawkmoth - June to October


  • Comma
  • Speckled Wood
  • Clouded Yellow
  • Red Admiral
  • Small Copper
  • Brimstone
  • Meadow Brown
  • Painted Lady
  • Small Tortoiseshell
  • Small White
  • Large White
  • Green-veined White

Although spotting butterflies at this time of year is unusual, there have been recorded sightings of

  • Red Admiral
  • Peacock
  • Small Tortoiseshell
  • Clouded Yellow
  • Painted Lady
  • Brimstone
  • Holly Blue
  • Over-wintering Peacock and Small Tortoiseshells - check sheds and garages
  • Look for Black Hairstreak eggs on blackthorn hedges - Salcey Forest

Although spotting butterflies at this time of year is unusual, there have been recorded sightings of

  • Red Admiral
  • Peacock
  • Small Tortoiseshell
  • Painted Lady
  • Brimstone
  • Holly Blue
  • Over-wintering Peacock and Small Tortoiseshells - check sheds and garages
  • Look for Black Hairstreak eggs on blackthorn hedges - Salcey Forest