Brimstone.

Habitat. Most habitats.

Can be seen regularly at Clawford. Best seen in March to June and August.

Frequently the first butterfly to be seen in the year when it wakes up from it's hibernation in early spring.  Main food plants are Alder Buckthorn and Buckthorn.

Brown Hairstreak.

Habitat. Hedges, Scrub and Edges of woods where Blackthorn is abundant.

Can be seen occasionally at Clawford. Best seen in June and July.

Spends most of it's time high in the tree canopy or hidden in hedgerows.

Main food plants are Blackthorn and Bullace (Wild Plum).

Clouded Yellow.  ***

Habitat. Most Open habitats.

Can be seen regularly at Clawford in June, July, August , September & October.

Summer Visitor. Migrant from the Continent. Breeds in England but cannot over winter.

Food plants are Clovers, Lucerne and Common Bird's-foot-trefoil.

Comma.

Habitat. Most habitats but primarily woodlands and woodland edges.

Can be seen often at Clawford. Seen mainly in July, August & September.

Adults over-winter.

Main food plants are Common Nettle, Currants and Willows.

Common Blue.

Habitat. Most habitats. Wide spread in the UK.

Can be seen regularly at Clawford in numbers in August.

The main food plant is Common Bird's-foot-trefoil, Black Medick, Common Restharrow and white clover.

Dark Green Fritillary.

Habitat. A range of flower-rich grasslands and moor land.

Can be seen regularly at Clawford but in numbers in July, August & September.

Main food plants are Common Dog-Violet, Hairy Violet and Marsh Violet.

This large, powerful butterfly is one of our most widespread fritillarys and can be seen flying quickly in open sunny places.

Dingy Skipper.

Habitat. Localised in England & Wales in Grassy, woodland clearings & bare earth habitats.

Can be seen regularly at Clawford. Frequent sightings in May, June & August.

Main food plants are Common Bird's-foot-trefoil and Horseshoe Vetch.

In sunny conditions, are very active, never fly more than a few inches from the ground.

Gatekeeper (or Hedge Brown).

Habitat. Grassland, Hedgerows and edges of woodland.

Can be seen regularly at Clawford. Best months are July and August.

Main food plants are Bents, Fescues, Meadow-grasses and Common Couch.

Grayling.

Green Hairstreak.

Habitat. The lower, south facing slopes of Warm, sheltered valley bottoms or scrubby hillsides.

Can be seen regularly at Clawford. Best sightings May & June.

Main food plants are Bilberry, Broom, Gorse, Bramble, Buckthorn and Dogwood.

Green Veined White.

Habitat. Most habitats. Prefers damp, sheltered areas. The dusky vein markings on the wing  undersides are variable in colour and makes it well camouflaged when roosting.

Can be seen regularly at Clawford. Especially in May, July and August.

Often mistaken for the small white.

Heath Fritillary.

Habitat. Likes sunny, warm & sheltered habitats in woodland clearings.

Can be seen regularly at Clawford. Especially in June and July. Can be seen behind Clawford Lake in the wetlands area.

The main food plants are Common Cow-wheat, Germander Speedwell & Foxglove.

Resident. One of the smaller fritillary's. Flies close to the ground where it flits & glides.

One of our rarest butterflies. Only found on a few sites in South west England.

High Brown Fritillary.

Habitat. Bracken dominated areas and grass/bracken mixed areas.

Can be seen occasionally at Clawford during July.

Main food plants are Common Dog-violet and Hairy Violet.

The distinctive underside wing markings of this butterfly is the only way to separate it decisively from the Dark Green Fritillary.

Holly Blue.

Wing Span : 20 mm. A very small Butterfly with a few small black spots across it's wings with a black border. The undersides of the wings are pale blue.

Habitat. Woodlands, Hedge rows, particularly where there is Holly & Ivy.

Can be seen regularly at Clawford during April, May, July, August & September.

Main food plants are Holly, Ivy, Gorse and bramble.

Large Skipper.

Habitat. grasslands, humid heath land & Damp clearings.

Can be seen regularly at Clawford Best months are June and July.

Main food plants are Cock's-foot, False Brome, Purple Moor Grass & Wood small-reed.

Large White.

The largest white butterfly and a strong flyer. Habitat. Most habitats.

Can be seen regularly at Clawford best months are May to September.

Also known as the Cabbage white.

Main food plants are cultivated varieties of brassica such as Cabbage and Sprouts.

Marbled White.

A distinctive black & white butterfly. Habitat. Unimproved grassland with a range of grass species exists with tall sword that is cut or grazed infrequently.

Can be seen regularly at Clawford in July & August..

Main food plants are Red Fescue, Sheep's Fescue, Tor Grass and Yorkshire-fog.

Marsh Fritillary.

The Marsh Fritillary is one of our most beautiful and endangered butterflies.

Habitat. Ancient calcareous grasslands, humid heath land & Damp clearings.

Can be seen regularly at Clawford in June.

Main food plants are Devil's-bit scabious, Field Scabious and Small Scabious.

Meadow Brown.

Habitat. Grasslands, hedgerows & on the edges of Woodlands.

Can be seen regularly at Clawford in numbers, best months are July & August.

Main food plants are Bents, Cock's-foot, Downy Oat-grass and Meadow-grasses.

Orange-Tip.

Habitat. A wide range of damp grassy habitats, river, canal, banks of lakes & hedges.

Can be seen regularly at Clawford. Best months are April and May.

The main food plants are Cuckoo flower, garlic Mustard, hedge mustard and Turnip.

(2007).

 Painted Lady.  ***

Habitat. Most habitats prefers the Culm grass at Clawford.

Can be seen regularly at Clawford. Best months are June, August & September.

Regular Summer visitor from North Africa. Likes Thistles.

Has been spotted at Clawford in January.

Peacock.

Habitat. Can be seen almost anywhere, searching for nectar providing sites.

Can be seen regularly at Clawford feeding, best months April and July & August.

The Peacock is one of the few butterflies that hibernates in September and over winters as an Adult.

Has a distinctive gliding action.

Likes stinging nettles in woodland glades where it lays it's eggs.

Also like the buddleia and other plants that provide nectar.

Has been spotted at Clawford in January.

Purple Hairstreak.

Habitat. In the canopies of Oak trees. Occasionally comes to the ground to feed on flowers.

Can be seen occasionally at Clawford. Best months June, July & August.

Over winters as an egg with caterpillars emerging in March.

This butterfly is illusive to see & is more common than is thought.

Red Admiral.  ***

Habitat. Most habitats.

Can be seen regularly at Clawford. Best months July, August and September.

Common Summer visitor from continental Europe.