Amazing report from Denis Shepperson (via Christine) - he was looking for dragonflies in the Lea Valley on the 19th June and saw 3 Gatekeeper (Hedge Brown) at Thistly Marsh, Cheshunt. He didn't see his first Meadow Brown until the 20th at The Warren, Colney Heath! He also reports seeing very few butterflies. Christine visited Ball's Park in Hertford today and within an hour saw 13 Speckled Wood but only 2 Meadow Brown, although she was in a grassland habitat.

Just seen a butterfly in my Ware garden - the first in 2 weeks - 1 Red Admiral - Liz Goodyear

21st June - A request for help - The Horsenden Hill Rangers would like someone to do a bit of moth recording for them on the hill. It's in the London Borough of Ealing. Can anyone help - if so please contact Liz Goodyear for details             

Last night, news came through that a Large Tortoiseshell had been found in Suffolk. This afternoon Nick Sampford went to see it and his photo is now on the page - unfortunately it never opened its wings and Nick felt that it "wasn't well"

After seeing Black Hairstreak over "the border," returned via Aldbury Nowers. Visited most parts of the reserve and saw 1 Small Heath, several Meadow Brown, 9 Brimstone, 4 Common Blue(including a female), 5 Brown Argus, 13 Large Skipper, 2 Speckled Wood and 1 Cinnbar. However, the highlight was a rather tatty Green Hairstreak - Liz Goodyear

I think Phil and I have a lot in common. After 5 hours in TL32 today in perfect warm and sunny weather I only saw 1 Red Admiral and 1 Large Skipper  near Braughing. 1 Large Skipper at Green End and a few long-distance whites - Alan Reynolds

I was beginning to think it was me  but I would normally be seeing lots of butterflies in my suburban Harrow garden by now but since the Orange Tips, there has been nothing except the occasional "white".  Bumble bees and hoverflies also seem to be down.   Presumably the low numbers are related in some way to the exceptionally wet autumn and winter? - Pauline Schofield

2 Dark Green Fritillary, freshly emerged on the Barton side of Sharpenhoe Clappers sighted on June 19th -  I know it's just over the border from the Hertfordshire area but it is still an important sighting that could signal a further move (into Herts.) by the species along the Chiltern ridge - Dave Chandler

Marshall's Heath on 19th June saw my first Meadow Brown- Trevor Chapman

20th June - North Enfield - I am back treading the path every weekend, although recently during the last three weeks, I have completed the walk six times, during the peak time ( 11:30 - 2:30 approx) on perfect sunny days with a light breeze BUT SAW NEXT TO NOTHING - including yesterday when a total count of 6 butterflies were found.   The lowest being on the 11th June when only 2 Small Whites were seen. This doesn't appear to be isolated as "having been at home for the last six weeks"  in the garden, all I have seen are isolated singletons of Speckled Wood, Small White and a couple of Holly Blues. Where are all the butterflies.   Compared to records of 96,7,9 when these weeks produces 30-60 individuals, counts of 3,5, and 6 are daft.  Is anyone else having the same phenomenon of "nothing to report"? - Phil MacMurdie - Any one else like to comment?

On New House Park (St. Albans) Transect on 18 June there were 10 Large Skippers, some much smaller than usual, and another Painted Lady sunning themselves on bramble, but no Small or Essex Skippers or Meadow Browns yet.   Apart from some Peacocks in April and May this has been a below average year so far.  No Small Copper, Brown Argus or Small Heath and only one Common Blue, Small Tortoiseshell and Comma after 12 weeks recording.  Very few others.  This is a suburban wasteland site with no Foot and Mouth restrictions - Charles Smith

Walked my "South Herts" transect today, went early which was a good move as it turned cloudy around midday. Spent just over 3 hours walking around the area which includes walking to the site and saw in total 24 Large Skipper, 22 Meadow Brown, 2 Speckled Wood, 1 Red Admiral, 4 Common Blue, a very small Green-veined White, 2 Cinnabar and just like last week a possible Brown Argus, which again wouldn't let me identify it for certain. Later, went over to some woods near Bramfield and saw in more cloudy conditions (just under 2 hours) 18 Speckled Wood, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Red Admiral, 2 Meadow Brown, 1 Green-veined White and 3 unidentified whites - Liz Goodyear

19th June - Trent Park-   2 rather fresh Small Coppers, 14 Large Skippers especially on brambles along the field edges, one worn Small Tortoiseshell - Robert Callf and Robin White

One Small Heath, 3 Large Skippers at Wheathampstead Education Centre yesterday at 6pm enjoying the evening sun. Cinnabar moths also flying - Trevor Chapman

17th June - News from Stuart Pittman - Got  a Small Blue at Ickleford on 13th June. This is my latest June first brood sighting!

16th June - On the 14th June I spent 5 hours in TL32 on a warm and sunny day surveying dragonflies for the Herts Atlas. Although the dragonflies are now beginning to warm up, I only managed to see 1 Red Admiral at Nobles Farm (TL362246), 1 Small White drinking at a pond at Wakeley Farm (TL343270)  and 1 or 2 distant "whites" - Alan Reynolds

The Small & Essex Skipper season will be here shortly! Charles Smith has kindly sent some images he drew using his computer (before photo-scanning) to highlight the differences between the two species. Click on the images to get a more detailed picture. Note from Charles - I exaggerated what I thought were differences and in "those days" was restricted in colours (I will include a written account of the differences later - LG)

15th June - Saw my first Meadow Brown for the year and a Small White by Sacred Heart School in Ware today - Andrew Wood

News from Tring Park. Although parts of Tring Park are not open, Brian Jessop reports that he has permission to walk some of his important Tring Park transect. Highlights include 2 Small Tortoiseshell at the beginning of May and on the 24th May he saw 4 Dingy Skipper, 3 Grizzled Skipper and 2 Green Hairstreak. The Green Hairstreaks, although not mating were a pair and were flying around an anthill covered in rockrose. Although sightings are poor this year, he has seen a few Common Blue, Brown Argus, Small Heath and 4 or 5 Large Skipper. He has just seen his first Meadow Brown of the year and was also very surprised to see a male Orange Tip. There are however, lots of day flying moths this year, including Burnet Companion, Latticed Heath and Mother Shipton. Sightings in his Tring garden have also been poor, although he has seen a Holly Blue and a Green-veined White egg laying on aubrieta.

News from 13th - Meadow Brown seen in Trent Park by Robert Callf

14th June - In almost perfect weather (contrary to the weather forecast) visited my "South Herts" transect and the surrounding area for a 5 hour "stroll" accompanied by Andrew Middleton - but sightings won't break any records, although some were quite nice. Seen were 7 Large Skipper (including a mating pair), 3 Peacock, 2 Red Admiral, 3 Common Blue, 1 Small Copper, 1 Green-veined White, 1 unknown white and 3 very smart Speckled Woods, also a possible Brown Argus but it wasn't prepared to let us confirm its identity. Moths included Yellow Shell, Cinnabar, Burnet Companion, Small Yellow Underwing, 3 Silver Y and a day- flying moth yet to be identified - Liz Goodyear

John Hollingdale reports that he saw a Painted Lady in his garden in Harrow on the 12th

13th June - Rammey Marsh today pm - 4 male Common Blues, 2 Burnet Companions, 1 Mother Shipton - bit disappointing - Andrew Middleton

12th June - News from across the border in Essex just (Yates Meadow Epping Forest) - saw my first Meadow Brown of the year - Andrew Middleton

11th June - More superb images from Nick Sampford- see photo house for previous pictures

9 Small Heaths at Rickneys Quarry nr Chapmore End on 4th June - Andrew Wood

Trent Park area - Large Skipper, 2 Burnet Companions, 1 Small Yellow Underwing Thursday 7th 6 Small Copper and 15 Small Heath, 1 female common blue - various sightings from both Robert Callf and Robin White

News from 5th June Ponders End Lake- 1 Painted Lady. - Steve Connor

6th June - Saw my first Small Heath yesterday (5th June) in Stevenage, along with 4 Common Blue - Trevor Chapman

5th June - Also a Dingy Skipper today! (Hexton Chalk Pits) Went to photograph the Green Hairstreaks but did not see any. The famous rubbish dump at HCT was taken away today by contractor and the car park is now fenced and gated. The reserve is still open but Telelegraph Hill is still shut although the Icknield Way going through it is open. Pegsdon Hills still closed on the Beds side - Nigel Agar

The usual walk on Hounslow Heath produced 1 Common Blue, 6 Small Heath, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 4 Speckled Wood and 10+ Whites that never seem to give me the chance to ID - Chris Court

Things have been fairly quiet on Horsenden Hill so far this summer, e.g just low numbers of 7 species in perfect conditions on Sunday (and no Small Heath yet this year after a blank year last summer). I did see a Small White yesterday on Euston Bus Station - an odd location for any form of wildlife! - Andy Culshaw

4th June - At least two Green Hairstreaks at Hexton Chalk Pits this afternoon. Both were flying low over the turf in the way that the females do while egg laying. I had no camera with me but was close enough for photographs. It looks as though we do have a colonisation here. Sightings of them in past years have been very sporadic and I have never seen them here myself before today.  Also Common Blue and Brimstone. I checked out Ickleford railway line again for Small Blues but no luck. Kidney Vetch in flower. Holly Blue and Orange Tip present.  Orange Tip have laid eggs in my garden at Hitchin on Jack by the Hedge - Nigel Agar

One Painted Lady seen at New House Park St.Albans at 3:30 on 4 June -  Charles Smith

Trent Park/Vicarage Farm area - 1 Common Blue, 3 Mother Shipton, 1 Burnet Companion, Yesterday west 'new fields', 19 Small Heath, 10 Small Copper, 1 male Common Blue, 1 Mother Shipton - R Callf, also R White

Good to get my first Wall Brown of the weaker spring brood at Pirton in mid May, Holly blue numbers picking up. Small Tortoiseshell and Comma still elusive - Stuart Pittman

May 2001

31st May - We walked from Bengeo to Frogmore via Stapleford and Watton on reopened footpaths and saw 1 Small Tortoiseshell and an unidentified white in 7 miles walking across fields. No Grizzled Skippers at Waterford Heath or Frogmore (only lepidoptera was a Burnet Companion moth) though the cloud and breeze were probably responsible for that - Andrew and Stephen Wood

I walked along the old Midland Railway at Ickleford this morning to look for Small Blues. No sign but worth another look. The habitat seems right and Kidney Vetch is present. Holly Blue, Speckled Wood and Small White were out. Yesterday at Hexton Chalk Pits, Mark Allen of the HMWT thought he saw a Green Hairstreak - at that moment a Hornet appeared and caused a distraction. Small Copper on Old Hale Way allotments this morning - Nigel Agar

30th May - Waterford Heath; Spent 2 1/2 hours searching both the north and south pits this afternoon and found at least 14 Grizzled Skippers. They were seen along the Sacombe Road side of both pits, down the "stony slope" and near the railway line, highlight though was a pair mating on plantain flower head. Also seen were 1 Small Copper, 4 Common Blue, 3 Brown Argus, 4 Orange Tip, 4 Cinnabar, a Small Yellow Underwing and several Burnet Companion moths. A visit in the morning to the Hoddesdon Quarry area was very disappointing (dragonflies excluded from this comment) although 12 Burnet Companion and 4 Latticed Heath moths were seen - Andrew Middleton & Liz Goodyear

29th May - Things still seem a little slow in getting started west of Stevenage. I walked for 30 minutes down a country lane lined with traditional hedgerows and woodland, passing through an area of waste ground and onto one of the flower meadows. It was warm, sunny and in some places reasonably sheltered, but on this "perfect" day I only managed to record 2 Small Copper, 2 Peacock and 2 Orange Tip - Alan Reynolds

News from the Trent Park area for the last 7 days. Small Copper maximum seen so far 8 on 24th May. 2 Small Heath on 24th May and 9 (in an hourMay. ) on 26th May. 1 Red Admiral 25th May and 2 on 27th May. 2 Holly Blue together on the Enfield Road. Male Common Blue 26th Burnet CompanionWhite and a Silver Y moth on 25th May, also seen Small Yellow Underwing and Mother Shipton - Robert Callf and Robin

Yesterday 1 Red Admiral passed through my garden in Hayes, Middlesex. Sunday 27th; A walk around Stockers Lake in Rickmansworth between 10.00 -12.30 produced not a single butterfly - Chris Court

No Grizzled Skippers today at Frogmore Hall but plenty of Common Blue and a couple of Brown Argus and  Peacock - Trevor Chapman

My husband and I went walkabout the other Sunday in Broxbourne Woods and we saw a white which would not settle long enough for us to detect its type, a Comma, a couple of Orange Tips and many micromoths, some leafmines and a very verbal Chaffinch - Hilary Cooper

28th May - Silver Street area, EN7, Painted Lady - Martin Shepherd

Mother Shipton moth seen on Nomansland Common, between St. Albans and Wheathampstead today - Trevor Chapman

News from last weekend (slipped through by mistake) - Finally produced a few butterflies in the garden (Tring?) at the weekend. Holly Blue, Orange Tip, Brimstone and Small White. Also have found an Orange Tip on the mustard garlic at the end of next door's garden - they have now been banned from chopping it down - Ian Burrus

Today I visited some more tetrads in TL32 namely  D , H , I , M and S . This time I was in the field for 3 hours and recorded 17 butterflies as follows: Walkern;  2 Orange Tip,   Bury Grange; 2 Orange Tip,   Gardners End; 3 Orange Tip,   Fir Tree Farm; 3 Orange Tip, 1 Peacock,   Mundenbury;  1 Brimstone, 1 Peacock, 2 Green-veined White & 2 Orange Tip.   The dragonflies do not seem to be doing much better than the butterflies, as I have only seen 4 species up here so far . I don't know whether the season is late this year or that dragonfly numbers and diversity are poor in this part of the county. No doubt the Herts Dragonfly Atlas will yield the answers - Alan Reynolds

26th May - Today , as part of the Herts Dragonfly Atlas, I visited the top five ( geographically speaking ) tetrads in TL32  ie E , J , P , U, Z  with one or two minor diversions. This part of the county is particularly barren, being mainly wall-to-wall chemical-drenched arable land. It is particularly worrying that after five hours in the field from 10.30am to 3.30 pm, I only recorded 23 butterflies, particularly as it was a warm and sunny day without much wind. It will be interesting to see what happens during the season as I revisit the tetrads on a monthly cycle. The records are as follows:   Cottered Warren; 5 Speckled Wood, 3 Orange Tip.   North-West Aspenden; 6 Peacock, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Orange Tip ( 2 Cinnabar Moth ).  Aspenden Church ; 2 Green-veined White.   River Rib Aspenden 1 Orange Tip.   River Quin Hare Street ; 2 Peacock, 1 Brimstone  - Alan Reynolds

25th May - My summer lunchtime walk has now re-opened . It consists of a hedge-lined track and 2 rather nice flower meadows, 1 at Norton Green and 1 between Norton Green and Burleigh Meadows. Yesterday, despite a rather warm day I only managed to see 1 Speckled Wood, 1 Orange Tip, 1 Small Copper and 2 Peacock.   I also saw a Holly Blue in my Watton-at-Stone garden - Alan ReynoldsLunchtime today <Frogmore - 1 Grizzled Skipper (on main cinquefoil patch, looked fresh and fairly dark where wings meet thorax), 1 Common Blue, 2 Small Copper (West bank slope), 1 Brimstone, 1 Brown Argus(south) 1 Speckled wood and 1 Peacock - Trevor Chapman

Broxbourne Woods - over 30 Speckled Yellow moths but no Grizzled Skipper - Liz Goodyear, Christine Shepperson and Brian Sawford

4 Grizzlies seen at Waterford North Pit yesterday - news from Christine Shepperson and Ian Wynne saw one Grizzled Skipper at Frogmore last night at the southern end with planted trees

24th May - Walked my "South Herts" transect today for the first time this year, grand total of 1 Large White, 1 Green-veined White and one unidentified white. However walking to the site and back saw 1 Holly Blue, 4 Orange Tip, 3 Peacock, 1 Green-veined White, 1 male Brimstone, 1 Small Tortoiseshell and 5 unidentified whites. Most sightings were made on the footpath running beside the A1M! Also saw a Small Yellow Underwing moth - Liz Goodyear

23rd May - Just seen my first Grizzled Skipper (singleton) at Frogmore. Middle North/West basin area. This was my third 'in season' visit. I forgot how difficult they are to spot. The centre of the quarry is completely full of water but there are enough nectaring plants. The west bank strawberry patch is still there and the north side creeping cinquefoil is verdant - Trevor Chapman

I've spent about 6 hours in total now at Waterford Heath looking for Grizzled Skipper <color="#000000">and I had one yesterday by the bench very briefly in flight but well enough to id it but tonight. I've had 7 sightings. 4 by the bench near the yellow broom, 1 between there and the kissing gate and 2 by the bench by the kissing gate. I'm not saying that these were all different but they were sightings but I never got a photo. I had one in the scope but it flew before I could get me camera on it. I will get a picture if its the last thing I do! - Nick Sampford

Chelsea Flower Show - sum total of 2 Holly Blue and 3 unidentified "Whites" flew past the BC stand today, although it was reported that an Orange Tip was seen on one of the gardens! - Liz Goodyear

22nd May - We went there (Waterford Heath) today and spotted 3 Grizzled Skippers.  One below seat on south site and 2 on north site; one between lake and railway on bank and the other on bank in extreme right corner if you are looking north.  We were delighted to see them - Sally & John Foster

21st May - Spent 1 1/2 hours at Waterford Marsh today between 12.30 & 2.  I had 86 Orange Tip, 44 Green-Veined White, 23 Small White, 2 Holly Blue, 2 Large White, Brimstone, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell - these were sightings probably of the same butterfly several times but no Grizzled Skippers - Nick Sampford

News from Trent Park today; 6 newly emerged Small Copper, male Brimstone, 2 Holly blue (settled on ground), at least 10 male and female Orange Tip. No Small Heath yet. Female Muslin moth on 18th. - Robert Callf and Robin White

Just been out to Barton Hills and saw a few Green Hairsteaks and Dingy Skippers plus the usual Orange Tip, Brimstone, Speckled Wood and Green-veined White - Sally & John Foster

Another visit to Waterford produced another Grizzled Skipper on Sacombe Road side of South pit but a bit further north - Liz Goodyear

20th May - Waterford Heath - This afternoon 1 if not 2 Grizzled Skipper seen on Sacombe Road side of the South Pit. A Latticed Heath moth was flying with Grizzled Skippers! Also 4 Small Yellow Underwing, Cinnabar (North pit by railway), 4 Peacock, 4 Orange Tip, 3 Holly Blue, 1 Green-veined White and an unidentified moth which could have been a Beautiful Yellow Underwing - Liz Goodyear

18th May - Late news from 16th - Speckled Yellow moth seen near North Mymms - Liz Goodyear

14th May - Male Orange Tip in my garden North Finchley on Saturday 12th, also Speckled Wood - Tony Clancy

Weekend news from the Trent Park area - 6 Orange Tips including 2 females, 8 Small Tortoiseshells, 8 Speckled Woods plus 2 seen on journey and Small Yellow Underwing moth - Robert Callf & Robin White

News from the 11th May, between 4 & 5pm, at Uxbridge Alderglade on Friday afternoon produced 2 male Orange Tip, 1 Peacock, 2 Comma, 1 Large White (At least 6 other unidentified Whites flying around), 6 Speckled Wood, 3 male Brimstone and at least 4 Holly Blues - Chris Court.

13th May - Visited Weston Hills yesterday (12 May) and saw lots of Specked Woods (about 20) - my first for the year. Also several Holly Blues, Brimstones (watched one egg-laying), Peacocks, Orange Tips and Large White - Ian Small.  

12th May - Female Orange Tip in my Ware garden, a little while later, 3 Orange Tip (2 male/1 female) were in the garden at one time including one pair mating, looks like all the honesty, garlic mustard and sweet rocket have paid off. Holly Blue also a regular visitor today but don't know whether it is the same butterfly each time or several different ones - Liz Goodyear

11th May - Trent Park area - 4 Orange Tips (all male), 4 Speckled Woods, 2 Comma, Large White, Green-veined White and many "assorted whites", Peacocks, 2 Holly Blue, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, no Brimstone today but 2 yesterday - Robert Callf and Robin White.

10th May - Single Holly Blue seen in Letchworth by Peta Small and 2 Large Whites in Welwyn Garden City by Ian Small

Holly Blue in my garden today at Tewin; Comma in Lambdell Wood, Tewin this afternoon
Several Peacocks in Lee Valley, around Fishers Green, this morning - Les Borg

I've just seen a Holly Blue in Ware out side Glaxos while waiting for the Grey Wagtail to appear, this was my first for the year also today Orange Tips, Green-veined Whites, Brimstones and Peacocks in reasonable numbers near Thundridge old church might of had Large White too, but female Brimstones do good impressions at a distance - Nick Sampford

Another butterfly sighting from the Natural History Museum Wildlife Garden - this time of a Holly Blue, the first one for the year - Martin Honey

Still no Grizzled Skipper at Waterford Heath, also saw my first Holly Blue in the garden today (Ware) - Liz Goodyear

8th May - Today I saw a Brimstone and male Orange Tip at Howe Green, while looking at the pond there, which although bathed in warm sunshine and free of duckweed for a change, showed no signs of any dragonflies - Christine Shepperson

Today I tried my summer lunchtime walk from Norton Green down to the woodmill but it was still closed.  In the event I had to make do with a walk down a lane next to the A1. It's just as well that you don't have to rely on butterfly calls for identification!!  All I managed was a high-flying White, 2 Peacock and a Small Tortoiseshell . It would appear that Stevenage butterflies need more than one warm, sunny day to kick-start them into action - Alan Reynolds.  

Trent Park - 5 Brimstones (3 males 2 females including a pair together), 1 Orange Tip and good numbers of Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell - Robert Callf and Robin White

Waterford Heath - spent 1 1/2 hours looking in vain for Grizzled Skipper, although "one of those look-alike moths" got me excited for a few seconds. However saw 7 Peacock, 1 Green-Veined White, 2 Orange Tip, 2 Speckled Wood, 1 Small Tortoiseshell and 1 Brimstone - Liz Goodyear

40 minute walk in glorious sunshine on Hounslow Heath produced 8 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Green-Veined White, 2 Brimstone, 7 Peacock, 1 Speckled Wood, 1 Comma, 1 Large White and quite a few other "Whites" that just wouldn't co-operate - Chris Court

News from Christine Shepperson - yesterday (7th May) we visited Broxbourne Woods with Margaret and Charlie Nash, where Peacocks were out in force in the (unusual) warm sunshine. We found  a total of 17 Peacocks, several were feeding on Cherry blossom near the East car park. Commas, Speckled Woods and a Brimstone were all on the wing there and Margaret spotted a Green-veined White sitting on a sedge, with its wings retracted. It was tiny and almost invisible. When she first saw it I thought it was a leaf glinting in the sun and nearly did not even take a closer look!  Denis saw his first Orange Tip (a male) on Butterwick Field (part of the disused Smallford Pit) on 3rd May around midday, he also saw a Large White nearby.   Denis saw his first Speckled Wood of the season on his transect at Colney Heath Common on 4th May.   We both saw a second Orange Tip, also male flying along a roadside verge at Woodside, near Hatfield Park yesterday (7th May) in one of the bursts of warm sunshine.  

4th May - News from Long Marston - Margaret Noakes saw a newly emerged male Holly Blue in her garden today.

Dragonfly news - Large Red Damselflies are being seen - Christine Shepperson.

Trent Park area - 5 Small Tortoiseshells, Vicarage Farm track, also 3 Small Whites, 1 Comma, a male Brimstone and 8 Peacocks - Robert Callf and Robin White

News from Andrew Wood - Today in Ware near the river I saw my first Orange Tip and Green-Veined Whites(2) of the year plus Peacocks, Small Tortoiseshells and several "unidentifiable whites." A nice change to have a bit of warm sun. Also saw a Speckled Wood on the 27th April.  

3rd May - 12 Peacocks on Rammey Marsh and at least 1 Green-Veined White (possibly 2) and 1 Small White in Brimsdown - Andrew Middleton. Hampstead Heath 2 Brimstones - Tony Baumber
Trent Park area; Nature Trail 1 Speckled Wood, 1 Large White, 1 Comma; Vicarage Farm 14 Peacocks - Robert Callf and Robin White.
I had my first two Orange Tips today, one at High Wych and another at Much Hadham - Nick Sampford

I took a walk (about 45 mins) around Hounslow Heath1 female Orange Tip (my 1st of the Year), 1 Speckled Wood, 1 male Brimstone (my 1st of the Year), 2 Small Tortoiseshells, 10 Peacocks & 2 other unidentified Whites - came back to the office to find a Speckled Wood. This probably beats my entire numbers for the year so far - Chris Court.

Despite the weather being very warm and sunny the best I could manage this lunchtime during a brief walk round the Wildlife Garden here in South Kensington, London, was a somewhat worn Peacock nectaring on a pond-side Ranunculus - Martin Honey

Just started to see the first butterflies in my garden (Ware) since 1st April - female Brimstone nectaring on honesty followed 30 minutes later by a male Brimstone and a dark butterfly that "got away" - what a lovely sight. Also saw my first Speckled Wood of the year on a hedgerow near my house - LG

April 2001

28th April - Just had my first sighting this year of Orange Tip, in my garden here in Bishop's Stortford today -  Jim Fish. More news from the 27th - Andrew Middleton on a bike ride from Ponders End to Canary Wharf saw 14 Peacocks, 9 Small Whites and 2 Small Tortoiseshells. Trent Park/Vicarage Farm area, 12 Peacocks, 2 Small Whites, 2 Small Tortoiseshells and 1 Speckled Wood by the insect field - Robert Callf and Robin White

27th April - I've just had my first butterfly of the year for the Wildlife Garden here at the Natural History Museum - a Speckled Wood sunning itself on the roof of the Entomology building (six floors up in Central London)! - Martin Honey.

A few minutes later a second report came in from Chris Court - looking into the garden at work (Hounslow) 4 butterflies milling around. By the time I got out there to ID the only one left was a Speckled Wood (my first for the year). I keep standing at the window now with strange looks from my colleagues - it's amazing what a little sun can do!
Martin Honey also runs a moth trap in the Natural History Museum garden - he reports that last night's results were 1 x Eriocrania subpurpurella (Haworth, 1828), 1 x 1524 Emmelina monodactyla (Linnaeus, 1758), 3 x Hebrew Character, 1x Pale Mottled Willow and 1 x The Herald. For info it was a 125w mv Robinson run from dusk to dawn (on auto) and emptied at 6.30 this morning . A second E. monodactyla was found this lunchtime. Also a Peacock was seen at NHM on Sunday 22 April when the garden was open under the garden book scheme - hitching a ride on our coracle!Prompted by today's sightings have just visited my "local patch" which is a swamp again - 7 Peacocks in a relatively short period all quite content to stay in one place, no other species and still nothing visits my garden - Liz Goodyear

26th April - Andrew Wood reports that he saw a Small Tortoiseshell and a Small White in Ware and his wife, Jane saw a Holly Blue in Hertford today. He also saw a Small Tortoiseshell by the River Lea in Ware on 24th April. Robert Callf and Robin White saw a Peacock, Comma and Small Tortoiseshell in Trent Park, Enfield today.

25th April - Between very heavy showers, I saw 2 Peacock, 1 Comma and a Small Tortoiseshell near Welwyn North Station today - Liz Goodyear. Bowyers Lake, Cheshunt area - 1 Brimstone nearby - John Fitzpatrick. Chris Court saw a Red Admiral in his garden in Hayes on 23rd April

23rd April - John Fitzpatrick reports that he saw a probable Green-Veined White in his Cheshunt garden yesterday (22nd). He has also seen 2 Small Tortoisheshell recently in the Cheshunt area. Whilst visiting Fisher's Green (just into Essex) on 12th April, John & Margaret definitely saw a Holly Blue. News from Chris Court of several butterflies sightings this month which included on April 13th at Hayes - 1 Small Tortoiseshell which landed briefly on Pansy and at Alderglade Nature Reserve Uxbridge - 3 Peacock and on 21st April at Stockley Park Country Park - 1 Peacock.

22nd April - Last night a Moth Evening was held at Pear Wood, Stanmore. Middx: the original site was off-limits due to foot & mouth restrictions. Four people stayed till 10.45pm and the moths that appeared were:  1 Frosted Green, 2 Brindled Pug, 1 Small Quaker, 11 Common Quaker, 2 Hebrew Character, 1 Grey Shoulder-knot and 1 Early Grey. The method we used was a 125V m/v bulb suspended over a white sheet and was running until 10.45pm - John Hollingdale  

18th April - Late news from 1st April, Ian Burrus reports that he saw Brimstones, Comma and Peacock in various Tring gardens that day

12th April - Andrew Middleton reports seeing in the Brimsdown area of Enfield, a Small White and a Peacock. Later, he had a Small White in his garden all afternoon, visiting primrose - just mooching about. - The site is up and running again after a major hiccup - if you have saved this page in favourites please update your link

9th April - My area of rough grass near my house is totally waterlogged but I saw 3 Peacocks but no other species - Liz Goodyear, Ware. 2 Brimstones and some Peacocks were seen by Bill Cutts & Bill Craig at Amwell (new pit in lane before railway ) and at Trent Park, Enfield, 2 Commas and 3 Peacocks were seen by Robert Callf and Robin White

8th April - Steve Connor whilst taking a long "trek" from Wormley through the Lea Valley Park (part Herts & part Essex ) to Cheshunt this morning saw lots of Peacocks and 1 Small Tortoiseshell

6th April - Trent Park Nature Trail, Enfield, a Red Admiral in good condition, disturbed from grass flew around then settled on Robert's head and then flew off - Robert Callf and Robin White

5th April - Hertfordshire County Council has agreed to consider re-opening public access to some of the county rights of way and common land in the light of the latest Government advice.

5th April - Few people bother to record butterflies in towns, although the records are extremely valuable. Perhaps people might be persuaded to do this to relieve the boredom from the foot-and-mouth outbreak! - John Murray 

2nd April - I went off down my usual summer lunchtime walk down a country lane to the west of Stevenage only to find that it was closed. I therefore had to confine my records to the more concrete parts of Stevenage and saw 1 Brimstone & 3 Peacock - Alan Reynolds.   In glorious sunshine I saw c13 Peacocks and 1 Small Tortoiseshell whilst walking in the Brimsdown area of Enfield - Andrew Middleton

March - January 2001

1st April - News from yesterday - Alan Reynolds saw 3 Brimstone and a Peacock in his garden at Watton-at- Stone and on the 30th March, 2 Brimstones in Hitchin. Robert Calff whilst visiting Trent Park, Enfield saw a male Brimstone on the N/E edge of Ride Wood, later Robert and Robin White were watching an Orange underwing moth when a chiffchaff flew out, caught it and took it to a perch to eat!

31st March - I have just had 2 Peacocks flying around my garden - Liz Goodyear. Adrian & Grete Mole saw a male Brimstone yesterday and female Brimstone today in their back garden (both in Ware)

30th March - I have just seen in the space of a few seconds 2 Commas and a tatty Peacock flying around an area of rough grass near my house in Ware - Liz Goodyear. Andrew Middleton also saw 2 Commas in Ponders End this afternoon. Further sightings, include a Comma and Peacock at Vicarage Farm, Trent Park, Enfield seen by Robin White and Robert Callf

29th March - A Humming-bird Hawkmoth was seen by Liz Goodyear and Andrew Middleton today flying over the Lockwood Reservoir, Walthamstow (only just Essex!), it nectared on some red dead nettle and then flew north. Later Andrew Middleton saw a Comma in his garden in Enfield. Andrew Wood reported that he saw 2 Commas in The Hyde, Ware on 15th March

28th March - The 1st April is nearly here, which means the start of the "transect season!" Please however comply with all access restrictions imposed by the foot and mouth outbreak.  In many cases this will prevent recording, at least, during the early weeks of the season.

15th March Tony Clancy reported that he saw a Small Tortoiseshell in Coppett's Wood, North Finchley on 14th March

8th March - Brimstones were seen in Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and South Cambridgeshire yesterday - were any seen in Middlesex or Hertfordshire?

6th March - A Peacock was seen by Robert Callf flying over the horse paddocks just north of Whitewebbs Road /Whitewebbs Wood, North Enfield

24th February - Stuart Pittman reports seeing a Brimstone at Ickleford today and a Small Tortoiseshell on 13th February at Bragbury End (Stevenage) Garden Centre.

14th February - A Comma was seen at Parkside Farm, North Enfield by Robin White today ( news from Robert Callf ).

Although Comma and Red Admiral have now been seen in the Herts and Middx area, news is coming from other parts of England of Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell and Brimstone also emerging from hibernation during the recent sunny weather.

24th January - Red Admiral seen at Stanmore Country Park - John Hollingdale reports that it was in very good condition.

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