Tag Archives: Large Tortoiseshell

An orange butterfly with black and white markings on a tree trunk

Large Tortoiseshell. Photo: Mike Gibbons

Mike sent in this photo of a Large Tortoiseshell telling us:

Saw this Large Tortoiseshell at Hengistbury Head on 07/04/2026. The day before another tatty individual was seen, so there are probably two still about. This was in amazingly good condition, just a bit faded.

An orange butterfly with black, brown and white markings

Large Tortoiseshell. Photo: Gary Holderness

Gary sent in this photo telling us:

I’ve been to Hengistbury Head a few times over the last month in the hope of seeing a Large Tortoiseshell butterfly and today, 06/04/2026 it finally paid off. I saw a Large Tortoiseshell mid-morning, – a first for me! 

It does look very similar to the one seen and photographed by Mike Kirby earlier in March and possibly it is the same one – either way I’m “chuffed to bits” to finally see one.

An orange butterfly with black and yellow markings on some brown vegetation

Large Tortoiseshell. Photo: Shona Refoy

An orange and dark brown/black butterfly with yellow markings on white blossom flowers

Small Tortoiseshell. Photo: Shona Refoy

Two photos from Shona sent in telling us:

I went for a walk on Ballard Down earlier today, 05/03/2026 and was delighted to see this Large Tortoiseshell basking, before she flew to a nearby tree to nectar.  In the same tree was my first Small Tortoiseshell of the year and many Peacocks.

An orange butterfly with black and yellow markings on some green vegetation

Large Tortoiseshell. Photo: Mike Kirby

An orange butterfly with black and yellow markings on a tree trunk

Large Tortoiseshell. Photo: Mike Kirby

Two photos from Mike sent in telling us:

I finally got to see the Large Tortoiseshell at Hengistbury Head today,  05/03/2026. It didn’t hang around for too long and was very active – a long lens was essential to be able to photograph it without spooking it. 

It’s looking a little ragged – obviously had some attention from a bird, but was enjoying the sun in areas out of the wind.

EDITOR’S NOTE: I was delighted but very surprised to receive these photos and the one taken by Shona Refoy (which can be seen in a separate post) of Large Tortoiseshells, a butterfly not often now seen in the UK.  Definitely worth having a good close look at any Tortoiseshells you may see.

Oraange butterfly with a lot of black and some yellow markings

Warren found this butterfly on Turner’s Puddle Heath (south of Bere Regis) on 19 March. We’ve put a photo of his from 2024 of a Small Tortoiseshell below so you can see the difference. This is not thought to be a resident butterfly in the UK since it was classed as extinct in the 1060s. There is more information on our species page.

An orange butterfly with black, white yellow and blue markings on a green leaf

Small Tortoiseshell. Photo: Warren Port

An orange butterfly with black, white,and blue markings on some green leaves

Large Tortoiseshell. Photo: Andy Martin

An orange butterfly with black, white and blue markings perching on the top of a tree.

Large Tortoiseshell. Photo: Andy Martin

Andy has just sent in these two photos he took today,17/04/2022 telling us:

A lovely Easter Sunday surprise as this morning I came across a Large Tortoiseshell at Ulwell. First seen perched high in a tree but then descended to give excellent views – what a treat. Sighting reported via app and to Dorset BC website. 

A brownish butterfly with some blue markings nectaring on pink Buddleia flowers

Large Tortoiseshell. Photo: Steve Brotherwood

Steve sent in this photo of a Large Tortoiseshell butterfly he saw at Tout Quarry on 15/07/2021 telling us:

I only managed one photo of this individual in the Buddleia at Tout Quarry. It was my first butterfly photo of the many I took there. What a find!