www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Saw not one, not two, but three Brimstones!!!
The other half saw two others as well when he was gardening.

Still haven't seen a brimstone but I did get my first butterfly of 2007 last Saturday (March 3rd) - a red admiral on the banks of the Grand Union Canal near Milton Keynes.

Hello Mr T,

Well it was along time in coming, but I finaly got to see a Red Admiral today and another Brimstone!

I saw my second brimstone on March 6th. The first was 26th February, but that one appeared to be just a lap or two around its hibernation site to check out the weather then back into ivy for a spot more shuteye.
This one was more purposeful, trawling a patch of vegetation in search of females.
I also saw this comma on the same date.



Not a particularly good shot as I didn't have the close-up lens. Since then two more commas have appeared in the same spot, and one chased away what fleetingly looked like a peacock but I can't be certain.

eccs you ruined that I wanted to be first with the Brimstone sightings!
Is it wishful thinking or was it possible I could have seen a Small Copper, I wasn't close enough to view it properly, it looked about the right size - but then again it could have been a moth of some sort.

@Gwen, my first sighting in February was only a flutter round, not a full emergence from hibernation as it went back into hiding again. (I should add that I reported it in the 'general' forum). But in any case, you spotted three, so you still have a moral victory.
Pete or others will no doubt verify or refute this, but as I understand it, small coppers overwinter as larvae, so an adult now would be stretching thiings a bit as they still have to pupate. The species we're seeing now are those that hibernate as adults.
Further, maybe it was one of these?
http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/phpBB2/v ... .php?t=863

Hard to say really, will just have to be the one that got away.

A Small Copper was first seen on 15th March in 2004. See:

http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/s ... s/2004.php

So I wouldn't say it's impossible - just unlikely!

Cheers,

- Pete

I have seen only the one butterfly so far this year, and have looked for them a good deal! Most of the time I am at least 100m up - are the butterflies everyone is seeing so far at a lower altitude, and would the height difference be significant?

My hand held GPS receiver says I live at an altitude of about 50m. The commas I've been seeing are in a sheltered SW facing slope so what you suggest makes sense to me.

My local woods were like Butterfly Central this morning!! I had at least 15 Brimstones, 2 Commas, 2 Peacocks and 1 Red Admiral.
Alex

My first of the year today...a Peacock.

Martin.

Hi all,
3 Butterflies for me today in the lovely sunshine at my mums in Point Clear Essex 2 Peacocks and a Small Tortoiseshell,,,steve

Hi all,

My first butterfly of the year was a Red Admiral on Sunday (fluttering near my first ever grass snake). Then on the train this morning (Monday) I saw 2 Brimstones... one at Lewisham and one at Stevenage. And no, they weren't commuting.

Some good spots on Sunday: Peacock, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell and Brimstone in the garden and the fields behind the house in west Bath.

Matsukaze: have you been down to the old quarry yet this year? At the far exit (away from the Uni) turn right and there is a clearing immediately at the top of the short climb that the path makes. There have been butterflies there every day I've been for the last two weeks: Peacock, Red Admiral and Brimstone. There were 6 Red Admirals this lunchtime, there or there abouts. [No white spots, by the way!].

Simon C

Hi Simon,

I know where you mean. There were one or two Red Admirals resident in the same glade last spring for a couple of weeks. Yet to make it over to the quarry but will take a look in a few weeks, as it was a good spot for Holly Blues last spring.

1 Brimstone male, patrolling, 1 Small Tortoiseshell and 2 Commas along the lane down towards the American Museum today. First sightings of the year, except for the Brimstone. Commas were within 20 yards of where I saw my last Comma of 2006 - I wonder if one of them was the same individual?

I wonder if one of them was the same individual?

I wonder if it's possible to mark them with white correction fluid or something prior to hibernation? I suppose ringing them is out of the question.