These three species, together with the Brimstone (see Early Whites), are the only ones in our survey that over-winter as adult butterflies. The four hibernating species are the earliest to be seen in the year, emerging whenever there is a sufficiently mild day. The earliest sightings of these species from our surveys are: Small Tortoiseshell - 25 February 1998, Peacock - 13 February 1998, Comma - 10 March 1997 and Brimstone - 15 January 1998. They can be seen through most of the year, including well into the autumn.

Small Tortoiseshells are present in good numbers throughout most of the year, but with something of a gap between the two broods from mid May until the end of June, and generally most abundant in July and August. Numbers in 1999 were well down on 1996 and 1997 (this seems to have been the case regionally and possibly nationally). In 1995 numbers were even lower than 1999, but this may be just due to fewer visits being made at the critical times.

Peacocks have a single brood, hatching in July, hibernating in late summer, and living right round to the following May. Their numbers are always quite strong, especially so in 1997, but not usually as numerous as Small Tortoiseshells, except in 1999 when they were equal.

The Comma is the least common of these three, but they maintain a good presence at Howbery Park. It is rare to see as many as three in one visit, although five were seen on a warm March day in 2000. They have two separated broods, similar to the Small Tortoiseshell. Their best numbers were in 1998, which was a poor year for most species.