Sites in North West Wales?

[Trev Sawyer]

Any bright ideas about potential butterfly sites in North West Wales?...
I know about Great Orme Head, but there seems little info about other sites, even on the Wales section of the Butterfly Conservation website (?!). I did notice a mention from SelbyPaul and LCPete about the Pearl-Bordered Fritillaries near Porthmadog - that site is very close to where we will be staying in July - so any info about any other sites near Porthmadog would be very much appreciated.
NB: After a bit of digging, I found information about a Nature Reserve at Morfa Dyffryn, but info about butterflies there seems scant... rather like the clothing of the users of the area... it is apparently best known as a Naturist Reserve. I'm not sure that wandering around the beach with a long lens would be a wise move ... although if the water is cold I suppose I may be able to spot a few Small Blues

Cheers,

Trev

[David M]

I believe there are isolated colonies of Large Heath in and around that vicinity.

Try using the UKBMS website for more information.

http://www.ukbms.org/SpeciesFactsheets. ... eciesId=30

[selbypaul]

Hi Trev
It was Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary near Portmadog I mentioned. The location is the path along the railway east of Criccieth. It's where there is a profusion of Birds Foot Trefoil under the railway tracks. You can't miss it. There are quite a few good Marsh Fritillary sites around. Not been to any myself, but worth doing a google search.
For the more commonish butterflies, Newborough Forest and dunes are quite good. Dark Green Fritillaries and Common Blue for example.
Paul

[Trev Sawyer]

Many thanks for the replies...
All very welcome. I'd hate to get back and find out we were sitting virtually on top of some unusual species without realising it.

Trev

[A_T]

Spotted a Dark Green Fritillary at Morfa Harlech last week. A few years ago I saw a Clouded Yellow there too.