Small Heath

I've been seeing Small Heath on my heathland transect since the third week of April and the second brood are still flying at the end of August. In a good year there may even be a third brood in September. Its described in the Sussex Butterfly Atlas as unremarkable, small and drab - quite unfair. They are feisty little beauties with excellent camouflage. Their colouring, with its black eye spot, is only seen momentarily when the butterfly lands and before it tucks its forewings away.