Numbers of these have taken a bit of a tumble from a couple of years back although they still show up at most places locally.
One of my favourite sights of spring is to see butterflies on blossom and so one of my favourite shots is one of these,
![Langley Hall 31.03.2017 001 resize.JPG (693.3 KiB) Viewed 3113 times Small Tortoiseshell - Langley Hall 31.03.2017](./files/thumb_10101_c11c8e743780b809bbfcb84d680cd754)
- Small Tortoiseshell - Langley Hall 31.03.2017
The summer brood were scarce around my patch and I didn't see many until we were down in Cornwall in mid August and where I saw increasing numbers though the week.
I particularly like the colours in this shot against the bracken,
![Cornwall 2017 630 resize.JPG (727.7 KiB) Viewed 3113 times Small Tortoiseshell - Kennack Sands 25.08.2017](./files/thumb_10101_12cde35d5dee88c6d21dc3d650f4b978)
- Small Tortoiseshell - Kennack Sands 25.08.2017
Over the past few years I have come to appreciate that this is actually quite a variable species, mostly in the size of spots and colour of the yellowish markings which can vary from almost white to almost matching the red ground colour. I therefore like these three individuals seen at Kennack Sands at the same time on the same patch of Hemp Agimony,
![Cornwall 2017.2 130 resize.JPG (715.78 KiB) Viewed 3113 times Small Tortoiseshell - Kennack Sands 24.08.2017](./files/thumb_10101_7ccd364deb5991e67614e4be00c8d9cf)
- Small Tortoiseshell - Kennack Sands 24.08.2017
![Cornwall 2017.2 168 resize.JPG (613.91 KiB) Viewed 3113 times Small Tortoiseshell - Kennack Sands 24.08.2017](./files/thumb_10101_833066dfeaac0c34ac78f6ba76c0492d)
- Small Tortoiseshell - Kennack Sands 24.08.2017
![Cornwall 2017.2 161 resize.JPG (694.17 KiB) Viewed 3113 times Small Tortoiseshell - Kennack Sands 24.08.2017](./files/thumb_10101_cce38d4c651b17df229b14d94ad7df49)
- Small Tortoiseshell - Kennack Sands 24.08.2017
My overall favourite is one taken back in late May. I had just seen this individual and thought it looked a little different but was distracted by a nice fresh Small Copper and didn't give the ST any more thought. I subsequently posted it in my PD where it was pointed out to me that it was lacking the normal two small forewing spots and was possibly
ab. ichnusioides.
![Castle Hills 21.05.2017 017 resize.JPG (955.68 KiB) Viewed 3113 times Small Tortoiseshell - Castle Hills 21.05.2017](./files/thumb_10101_1ac24a82e1139bf024efab7f263a850a)
- Small Tortoiseshell - Castle Hills 21.05.2017
Cheers,
Neil.