www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Hi,
Has anyone any recommendations for sites for the brimstone - I was up at Gait Barrow last weekend and not a sniff, just several tortoiseshells. Possibly I was in the wrong area though as I tried to follow the transact from the BMS but it didn't seem to follow the layout on the ground. Maybe I was too early?

I'm in Liverpool so anywhere north west is fine...

Thanks,

Dave.

Hi Dave,

Someone submitted a 4-star rating for Gait Barrows, so I assume they can be found there. I suspect it might be a little too early, given the northern location, to see them in any numbers. Even "down south" they're only being seen in 1s or 2s by most people.

Cheers,

- Pete

I'm in Cheshire and we never really get them in proliferation here, just ones and twos well scattered. Probably the best place would be Brereton Sand Quarry near Holmes Chapel. There's a Brimstone walk signposted from the car park. Haven't been this year though so can't personally vouch for how well you'll do. I've only seen one this year myself and that was at a site where I'd never seen one before or since so that's no use to you.

If you follow the path from the road towards Haweswater, there is a small enclosure close to the lake that was full of wildflowers when I visited last July. Among other species there were quite a number of brimstones in evidence - 7 or 8, perhaps more, which is the most I've seen at any one time. I haven't visited this early in the year though.