Tag Archives: Brimstone

A greeenish white butterfly with some brown markings on a bluebell flower

Brimstone. Photo: Matt Cooper

A white butterfly with greyish markings approaching a Bluebell flower

Green-veined White. Photo: Matt Cooper

Two photos sent in by Matt telling us:

A quick trip out after work on 20/04/2026 proved fruitful with a number of “firsts for the year” after a disappointing trip to Alner’s Gorse last week, also after work. I’ve seen a number of Brimstone on the wing as I’ve been driving and managed to collar one having ‘afternoon tea’. A number of Small Whites were also being obliging, as well as the Green-veined White I captured on it’s way to investigate the bluebells.

An orange butterfly with black, brown and yellow markings

Comma. Photo: Shona Refoy

A greenish yellow butterfly with some brown markings

Brimstone. Photo: Shona Refoy

Two photos from Shona sent in with the following comments:

What a relief to see some sun at last! I went for a walk round the outside of Kingston Lacy this afternoon, 25/02/2026 and had a close encounter with a Comma. After hitting me on the forehead and flying around it sat on my hand for a while (this was the best photo I could manage with my left hand)!

And this is one of the many male Brimstones I saw whizzing around, finally pausing for a rest.

A greenish yellow butterfly with some brown markings on mixed vegetation

Brimstone. Photo: Warren Port

The recent sunshine seems to have brought out the butterflies including this Brimstone – photo sent in by Warren telling us:

Yesterday, 25/02/2026 I saw 10 male Brimstones in Shaftesbury – 5 of them were at Breach Common and 5 at Enmore Green. I also saw one last week at Tesco Petrol station. This photo was taken at Breach Common.

A greenish yellow butterfly with some brown markings on a pink coloured flower

Brimstone. Photo: Jane Hopper

A yellow butterfly with grey markings on a purple coloured flower

Green-veined White. Photo: Jane Hopper

Two photos from Jane sent in telling us:

These were two of the butterflies in my garden at Chalmington, late in the afternoon, on 15/8/2025.

The yellow of the underwing of the pristine Green-veined White is almost a match for that of the male Brimstone! 

The Brimstones seem to be the only butterflies who will feed on my Zinnias, and in particular they seem to favour the pink ones. They often sit on a single bloom for long periods feeding from each yellow disk floret in turn.  In the picture here I like the complementary texture of the yellow florets and the underside of the thorax of the butterfly!

Greeny-yellow butterfly against an orange gravel background

Brimstone. Photo: Ann Barlow

Striking butterfly with orange, yellow, black and blue on its wings

Small Tortoiseshell. Photo: Ann Barlow

Ann says:

Today (30/5/25), to our great joy, we saw a female brimstone egg- laying on our three buckthorn trees. This is the first time we’ve seen this for several years.  She also decided to take a break and rest on our gravel at one point, so I took a photo.

The second photo attached is of a small tortoiseshell taken in our garden on 25/5/25, again a lovely surprise as we haven’t seen one around here for several years. Let us hope it’s shaping up to be a better year for butterflies.

Two butterflies in flight, both orange, white and brown

Glanville Fritillaries. Photo: Matt Cooper

Very pale yellow butterfly with faint orange spots on the hind wings, flying.

Brimstone. Photo: Matt Cooper

Matt tells us:

During a very rewarding couple of hours, I finally managed to see the upper wings of a Brimstone, and also managed to capture “Frit Wars”!!! There were at least half a dozen Brimstone along the track, with similar numbers of Marsh and Glanville Fritillaries. Other people commented on the number of Small Heath on Compton Down itself, raising hopes of a much better summer than last year. I also managed to see my first Green Hairstreak for a couple of years, although I didn’t manage a photo. [11/5/25]

Bright yellow butterfly on a primrose flower

Brimstone Matt Cooper 2025

Matt tells us:

As others have mentioned, it seems to be a late start for butterflies this year, finally saw my first settled one on Brownsea a couple of days ago (18/3). Previous to that, a Red Admiral fly-by and another couple of Brimstone as I was driving through Badbury Rings have been my only sightings.