I'M surprised Ed Hegarty’s garden hasn’t been overrun with butterfly enthusiasts just yet. 


His photo alas is not a large tortoiseshell, but the much commoner small tortoiseshell.


Its larger cousin is a very rare migrant nowadays, and nearly always is found in the southernmost counties.

The difference between the two is fairly subtle, but obvious to the average lepidopterist. 


R Lynes
via sthelensstar.co.uk