Can you find a Grizzled Skipper for us?

Grizzled Skipper with open wings
Grizzled Skipper. Photo: Richard Belding

The Grizzled Skipper is increasingly rare in the UK, though it has been doing quite well in Dorset until recently. We need to keep track of its numbers, so we’d be grateful if you could look out for it.If you find it, please report it via our sightings form.

A photo would be also be appreciated, as it is possible to confuse it with its less rare cousin, the Dingy Skipper: send it to [email protected]. There are also one or two moths that could be mistaken for a Grizzled Skipper.

Grizzled Skipper (left) and Dingy Skipper (right). Photo: James Gould

Both are very small butterflies: you can see the massive difference in size between the Grizzled Skipper and the Small Tortoiseshell below

Grizzled Skipper & Small Tortoiseshell

Grizzled Skipper & Small Tortoiseshell. Photo: Mark Pike

Look out for it on chalk downland and other sparsely vegetated habitats, but look soon, as it will not be on the wing much longer.

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