Search Results for: Small Skipper

A brown butterfly resting amongst some brown vegetation

Small Skipper, Photo: Natalie Dalzell

Some white coloured butterfly eggs

Natalie Dalzell. Small Skipper Eggs

Natalie sent in these two photos taken 07/07/2026 telling us:

After observing a Small Skipper utilising an area of grass in my Sherborne garden which I had left to grow long, I noticed this individual was perching on specific stems for prolonged periods. Further investigations confirmed that a female was laying eggs.  She has returned for several days in a row. I’m thrilled.  I am a short distance away from an area Small Skippers are known to inhabit so I suspect she has travelled from there. 

Small orangey brown butterfly on a leaf

Small Skipper. Photo: Brian Arnold

Small orangey brown butterfly with a view of the head

Small Skipper. Photo: Brian Arnold

Brian says:

Today (12 June) in our garden at Harman’s Cross we saw our first Small Skipper of 2025. This brings our butterfly species total for 2025 to 15. The lower photo above is a head-on shot shows that it is a Small Skipper, not an Essex Skipper. We expect to get both species in our garden so I like to check – assuming they oblige for a head on or underside photo which is not always easy! This one is a male.

The most reliable way to tell an Essex Skipper from a Small Skipper is by the black tips to its antennae: they must show a clear cut offs which are visible from the underside too. If the antennae are greyish, brown or patchy black, they are not Essex.

Small orange and brown butterfly on a leaf

Large Skipper. Photo: Matt Cooper

Small orange butterfly with dark edges to its wings, clinging to a stalk of grass

Small Skipper. Photo: Matt Cooper

Matt spent a couple of hours on Lydlinch Common on 11 June, seeing his first Meadow Brown, Large and Small Skippers and Silver-washed Fritillary.

His great photos of the two Skippers give us a good idea of how to tell one from the other: the Small is much plainer. Of course, there are also Essex Skippers and Lulworth Skippers, but we won’t complicate matters further!

A golden brown butterfly with some black and white markingg nectaring on a yellow flower

Small Skipper. Photo: Mark Pike

The green coloured egg of a Red Admiral Buttefly hanging from a stinging nettle plant

Red Admiral Egg. Photo: Mark Pike

Two photos from Mark sent in with the following comments:

Another quick walk over a barren Motcombe Meadows today, 22/07/2024 with very little (of anything) about.  However I did come across this unusually marked Small Skipper with pronounced black veins, and I also spotted a Red Admiral on the very top of a stinging nettle that took flight as I approached. Closer inspection revealed this wonderful single egg hanging from the nettle like a Christmas decoration!
A golden brown butterfly on on a purple flower

Small Skipper. Photo: Jill Franks

Jill sent in this photo saying:

I thought all the butterflies might have drowned – however today, 14/07/2024 a little more fruitful.  Photographed this Small Skipper at lunchtime in the Kingcombe reserve.