Small Copper

Overview

A small brightly coloured, markedly territorial, butterfly that prefers dry or well drained habitats such as coastal dunes, limestone grassland and brown field sites. The butterfly has two or three broods but in spite of this is not particularly common.

Where to look

Good places to look are Workington wind farm NX996303: Drigg Dunes, SD050985: RSPB Hodbarrow Reserve, SD184783: inland sites include Latterbarrow, SD439828. It nectars on heather, fleabane, daisy

Record distribution and images.

When to look

The first brood is seen from late May to late June, with second, and in many years third broods seen from early August to the end of September. Peak numbers are in mid August.

Recorded flight times. Cumulative records. Annual frequency.