The 2026 records are described below. The first sighting of each wild larva and free-flying butterfly/moth/dragonfly species is boldly indicated.
Frank Smyth (28/01/2026)
Red Admiral 1, feeding on Dandelion and basking in the sun, at O 268372, Red Rock, Sutton, Dublin 13. Sunny, light SE wind, 10C.
Ingrid Grollke (28/01/2026)
Marsh Fritillary larval groups 5 at G 763839, Drumcoe, Mountcharles, Co. Donegal. Sunny.
Neil J. Bourke (01/02/2026)
Small Tortoiseshell 1 at X 19271 77151, Dysert, Ardmore, Co. Waterford.
Frank Smyth (24/02/2026)
Peacock 1, flying wildly in my front garden at O 266326, St. Fintan’s Park, Sutton, Dublin 13. Intermittent sunshine, moderate southerly breeze, 11C.
Robert and Cormac Aldwell (28/02/2026)
Peacock 1 (pristine) basking on granite wall outside GB Shaw’s former house at O 26395 27074, Dalkey, Co. Dublin. Sunny, 9-10 °C.
Jesmond Harding (03/03/2026)
Marsh Fritillary larval nests 3 at N 68571 25698, Lullybeg Reserve, Lullybeg, Co. Kildare. Sunny, calm, 10C.
Peacock 1 in a warm, sheltered clearing at N 68890 25662, Lullybeg, Co. Kildare. Sunny, calm, 10C.
Sean Geraty (03/03/2026)
Comma 1 at feeding on crocuses this morning at O04661 35290, Edmundsbury Court, Lucan, Co. Dublin.
Ciarán Lenoach (03/03/2026)
Ruán Beag 4 ag O 24197 28936, grianmhar, 2 i.n., Cuan Dhún Laoghaire, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Bhaile Átha Cliath. 2 á ngrianadh féin ar an bhféar, 2 á ngrianadh féin agus / nó á mbeathú féin ar lus cré garraí. [Small Tortoiseshell 4 at O 24197 28936, sunny, 2pm, Dún Laoghaire Harbour, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin. 2 basking in grass, 2 basking and / or feeding on common field-speedwell].
Ingrid Grollke (03/03/2026)
Marsh Fritillary larval groups 7 at G 763839, Drumcoe, Mountcharles, Co. Donegal. Sunny.
Robert Aldwell (06/03/2026)
Comma female 1 engaged in prolonged basking in my garden at O 220286, Blackrock, Co. Dublin. Sunny, 9 C.
Wiebke Asmussen (07/03/2026)
Small Tortoiseshell 1 at O288386 in the Boreen in Howth, Co. Dublin, sunny,
light S wind, 9 C.
Ryan Mitchell (07/03/2026)
Comma butterfly 1 at J 32970 69168 feeding on a hedgerow outside of the Lagan Meadows Cafe, Belfast, Co. Down.
Michael Gray (08/03/2026)
Small Tortoiseshell 1 at O 156260, Marlay Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16.
Comma female 1 in my garden at O 156272, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16.
Robert Donnelly (11/03/2026)
Red Admiral 2 at S725 195, JFK Arboretum, New Ross, Co. Wexford. Breezy, sunny spells, 10C.
Frank Smyth (14/03/2026)
Comma 1, feeding on Alexanders, at O 268372, Red Rock, Sutton, Dublin 13. Sunny, light wind, 10C.
Ciarán Lenoach (17/03/2026)
Péacóg 1 ag O 18607 30849, á ghrianadh féin ar dhuille Phlúr na gréine, 2 i.n., Lána Nutley, Baile Átha Cliath 4. [Peacock 1 at O 18607 30849, basking on Winter Heliotrope leaf, 2pm, Nutley Lane, Dublin 4].
Robert Aldwell (17/03/2026)
Peacock 1 at O22086 basking on a wall in my garden in Blackrock, Co. Dublin.
Pat Wyse (19/03/2026)
Brimstone 15, Peacock 1 between N69543 26031 and N67343 25461, Lullybeg, Co. Kildare. Sunny, c14C.
Frank Smyth (19/03/2026)
Peacock 2 at O 274370, Carrickbrack, Howth, Co. Dublin. Sunny, light wind, 14C.
Small Tortoiseshell 3, Peacock 3 (pair in courtship display), Comma 4 (pair in courtship display) at O 268372, Red Rock, Sutton, Dublin 13. Sunny, light wind, 14C.
Felicity Laws (19/03/2026)
Small Tortoiseshell 2 at V95896 42880, Durrus East, West Cork, Co. Cork.
Sean Geraty (19/03/2026)
Holly Blue 1, Peacock 1 at O04661 35290, Edmundsbury Court, Lucan, Co. Dublin.
Annie Flynn (19/03/2026)
Small Tortoiseshell 2, Comma 1, all adults, on a grassy area between an open field (recently removed hedgerow) and a heritage hedgerow/ alluvial wood at O 02463 26290, Rathcoole, Co. Dublin. Sunny and calm.
Ethna Diver (20/03/2026)
Small Tortoiseshell 2 at G813085, Bundoran, Co. Donegal.
Denise Harding (20/03/2026)
Comma 1 in my garden at N 92090 42491, Mulhussey, Co. Meath. Sunny, c.15C.
Frank Smyth (21/03/2026)
Small Tortoiseshell 7, Peacock 1, Comma 3 at O 268372, Red Rock, Sutton, Dublin 13. Sunny, light SE wind, 14C.
Maurice Simms (21/03/2026)
Small Tortoiseshell 1, in my garden at H 330984, Combermore, Lifford, Co. Donegal. Hazy sunshine, approx 10 C.
Michael Gray (21/03/2026)
Small Tortoiseshell 5, Comma 2 (1 male, 1 female), Peacock 1 at O165272, Ballinteer stream walk, Dublin 16.
Pat Wyse (21/03/2026)
Brimstone 7, Small Tortoiseshell 2 from N76324 32511 to N76438 33000, Timahoe, Co. Kildare. North Sunny c.14C.
Jesmond Harding (21/03/2026)
Brimstone 6, Small Tortoiseshell 2, Comma 2 at N 68762 25776, Lullybeg, Co. Kildare. Sunny, calm, c.15C.
Felicity Laws (30/03/2026)
Orange-tip male 1, Small Tortoiseshell 5 at V 95896 42880, Durrus East, West Cork, Co. Cork.
Note: A March Orange-tip was once regarded as an extreme outlier. It is now regarded as unlikely, but possible.
Michael Gray (31/03/2026)
Angle Shades moth 1 in my garden at O 156272, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16.
Michael Gray (01/04/2026)
Peacock 1 on Erysimum Bowles Mauve Wallflower in my garden at O 156272, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16.
Michael Gray (02/04/2026)
Small Tortoiseshell 6, Peacock 1, Comma 1 at O 165272, Ballinteer stream walk, Ballinteer, Dublin 16.
Felicity Laws (05/04/2026)
Large White male 1 just emerged from his pupa, Small Tortoiseshell 5 at V95862 42896, Durrus East, West Cork, Co. Cork.
Robert Aldwell (07/04/2026.
Red Admiral 1 basking on gravel in my garden at O22086, Blackrock, Co. Dublin. 16 C but windy.
Robert Donnelly (07/04/2026)
Orange Tip 1, Painted Lady 1, Small Tortoiseshell 2, Peacock 1 in our garden at S670301, Ballyknock, Co. Kilkenny. Hazy sunshine, 14C.
Maurice Simms (07/04/2026)
Small Tortoiseshell 3, Peacock 1 on purple primroses in my garden at H 330984, Combermore, Lifford, Co. Donegal. Sunny, approx. 12C
Jesmond Harding (07/04/2026)
Red Admiral 4, Small Tortoiseshell 2, Comma 2 (male and female) between N 91463 42318 and N 91476 41931, Walshe’s Lane, Mulhussey, Co. Meath. Sunny, 14C.
Peacock 1 at N 91920 42500, Mulhussey, Co. Meath.
Small Tortoiseshell 6 flying around a large nettle bed at N 92045 42651, Mulhussey, Co. Meath.
Peter Cuthbert (07/04/2026)
Holly Blue 3 at 1 pm near Holly trees at N946431, Kilcloon, Co. Meath.
Frank Smyth (08/04/2026)
Red Admiral 4, Painted Lady 2, Small Tortoiseshell 5, Peacock 6 (one pair in courtship spiral), Comma 2 at O 268372, Red Rock, Sutton, Dublin 13. Hazy sunshine, 15C.
Jesmond Harding (08/04/2026)
Red Admiral 1, Small Tortoiseshell 1, Silver Y moth 1 at N 95897 10226, Woodland Trust Reserve, near Russborough House, Blessington, Co. Wicklow. Mild, overcast, c.14C.
Felicity Laws (08/04/2026)
Orange Tip male 1, Holly Blue 2, Small Tortoiseshell 3 and a Peacock 1 laying eggs; Odonata: Large Red female Damselfly 1 at V95896 42880, Durrus East, West Cork, Co. Cork.
Joseph Harding (09/04/2026)
Small White 1 in my garden at N 79587 13564, Rathcurragh, Newbridge, Co. Kildare. Windy, rain showers, cool, c.6 C.
Michael Gray (09/04/2026)
Small White female 1, Small Tortoiseshell 1 at O 20884 16483, Powerscourt, Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow.
Robert Donnelly (12/04/2026)
Orange Tip 3, Holly Blue 1, Red Admiral 2, Painted Lady 7, Small Tortoiseshell 1, Peacock 2 in a sheltered meadow with dandelion and cuckoo flower at S 672 303, Ballyknock, Co. Kilkenny. Breezy, sunny spells 12 °C.
Frank Smyth (12/04/2026)
Red Admiral 2 (one laying), Small Tortoiseshell 1 at O 268372, Red Rock, Sutton, Dublin 13. Sunny at times very blustery, 11C.
Joan Smyth (13/04/2026)
Red Admiral 1 in the garden, at O 266326, St. Fintan’s Park, Sutton, Dublin 13. Sunny, 10C.
Frank Smyth (13/04/2026)
Red Admiral 5, 3 laying, Peacock 1, Comma 1, laying at O 268372, Red Rock, Sutton, Dublin 13. Sunny, strong southerly wind, 11C.
Robert Donnelly (13/04/2026)
Red Admiral 14, Painted Lady 8, Small Tortoiseshell 1 at S 727 191, JFK Arboretum, New Ross, Co. Wexford. Breezy, sunny spells, 11°C.
Red Admiral 13, Painted Lady 12 at S 730 206, Whitechurch, New Ross, Co. Wexford. Breezy sunny spells 10°C.
Maurice Simms, Alison and Eden McAlister (13/04/2026)
Orange Tip 1 (male), Small Tortoiseshell 1 (flying) at H 330984, in fields at Combermore, Townparks, Lifford, Co. Donegal. Sunny spells.
Frank Smyth (15/04/2026)
Red Admiral 2 (1 laying), Comma 2, Speckled Wood 1 at O 268372, Red Rock, Sutton, Dublin 13. Sun between the showers, stiff southerly wind, 13C.
Maurice Simms (15/04/2025)
Green-veined White 1, Orange Tip 1, (male) Small Tortoiseshell 1, at H 330984, in my garden at Combermore, Lifford, Co. Donegal, short sunny intervals, approx. 15C.
Jesmond Harding (15/04/2025)
Green-veined White male 1 at N 69260 26047, Lullymore West, Co. Kildare. Cool, breezy, with sunshine between showers, c.14C.