Sun 16th September - Trent Park 4 Small Copper, 3 Small Heath - Robert Callf & Robin White

Sat 15th September - Vicarage Farm/Trent Park Painted Lady, 2 Small Coppers - Robert Callf & Robin White

Thurs 13th September - I had a Hummingbird Hawk-moth in the garden about 11:30 today. Location Patmore Heath, nr Bishop's Stortford - Mick East

Wed 12th September - Had a most strange sighting today, a male OrangeTip, yep I didn't believe it either - saw it 10 feet away for maybe 2 minutes. It was at Bishops Stortford nr St Mary's School. Maybe with all the sun this morning it decided it was spring! - Nick Sampford

I have just put up the last of Nick's images (unless he can get a shot of a Camberwell Beauty or Monarch) - thanks Nick! I already have some "foreign" butterflies waiting to be shown, but please send me your holiday butterfly or moth shots to keep the site cheerful in the winter months - LG

Even though the weather was fairly dull in Ware, counted 8 Red Admiral on my buddleia this morning - Liz Goodyear

Sat 8th September - News from 3 Sept 1 Female Common Blue at Balls Wood, in much the same place as my only sighting last year, so a good sign. 7 Sept 2 Small Tortoiseshell by the New River near the A10 viaduct over the Meads near Ware - Andrew Wood

Fri 7th September - Vicarage Farm/Trent Park - 4 Small Heaths, 2 Small Coppers, 2 Meadow Browns, 3 Comma - Robert Callf

Thurs 6th September - On a breezy but seasonally warm day but showing the first signs of Autumn I walked down the lane from Norton Green and into Newton Wood and saw 4 Small/GV White, 2 Comma, 1 Meadow Brown and 25 Speckled Wood - Alan Reynolds

Went on a 6 mile "stroll" from the north of Widford, through Perry Green and Green Tye, coming back along the River Ash. Although quite breezy, there was a good amount of sun. Most of the walk was beside hedges or across ploughed fields. This area is not renowned for its butterfly habitat! Saw 1 Red Admiral, 20 Speckled Wood, 6 Large White, 2 Green-veined Whites (mating), 1 Silver Y and at least 200 Small White. Saw over 80 in one field alone (a field of beans mixed with oil seed rape) - Liz Goodyear

Wed 5th September - Tried to walk my "South Herts" transect but rain stopped play - match abandoned! However, did manage to see a Small Copper, Common Blue, Brown Argus, Meadow Brown, several Speckled Wood and lots of Small White in very poor weather conditions - Liz Goodyear

Mon 3rd September - Late news from my garden (Sherrardswood area of WGC) from 18.8.01 - butterfly seen by me and my gardener (a keen butterfly watcher) and identified by him as a White-Letter Hairstreak -  I haven't seen one before but it did look like the photo in my book - David James

Sat 1st September - Nick Sampford has now completed his butterfly challenge - he managed to see and photo nearly every British butterfly except for Mountain Ringlet in one butterfly season - 58 species in total - WELL DONE Nick and thanks for sending all the superb images to the website.  Although there are a few more images still to be shown, I wondered whether any visitors might like to send me any "holiday" butterfly or moth snaps.  I've started with one of mine, a 2-tailed Pasha, the guide book said "difficult to approach" but also that they like ripe fruit, so one ripe peach and almost immediately they started flying down, also have a very poor shot of 2 feeding on the same peach! LG Quite surprised - my Ware garden at some point today has had visits from 3+ Small White, 2 Large White, 1 Holly Blue, 1 Speckled Wood, 1 Comma, 1 Small Tortoiseshell & 6 Red Admiral - Liz Goodyear

August 2001

31st August - We spotted an Elephant hawkmoth caterpillar slowly crossing the towpath beside the River Lea near Ware Lock.  As it was clearly vulnerable to walkers and cyclists, we gently moved it to the undergrowth on one side.  It gave us the full two mock eye threatening gesture - Dick Tanner

29th August - A nice surprise, 2 Small Tortoiseshells on my buddleja this morning in Ware - Liz Goodyear

28th August - Thanks to Andrew Middleton for looking after the website during my absence - LG

Had 5 Red Admiral in my garden (Ware) yesterday (27th), 4 today but almost nought else - Liz Goodyear

21st August   Hemel Hempstead - Malcolm Newland rang to say he had not seen any Painted Ladies this year, until the two in his garden (21st) and wondered whether there was any one else experiencing "an influx"?

22nd August - Wall Butterfly on Pegsdon Hills today. (between Pegsdon and Pirton)  just outside county boundary but they usually spread over the border in the Tingley Wood area.  Common Blue and Meadow Brown also present. - Nigel Agar

25-8-01 Trent Park, purple hairstreak on blackberry, 1 red admiral nr Enfield Town - Robert Callf

Painted Lady in Tony Clancy's Finchley garden

24-8-01 I have recently moved into premises at Dovenby near Cockermouth and was enthralled by this butterfly (see photo on right) which I believe to be a Peacock.- Brian Rushby
An even browner peacock can be found in 'Butterflies' by EB Ford, 1945, Plate 9, where the normally white areas are replaced by golden brown. I believe the BNH Museum is working on making available images of their collection of UK aberations and races on the internet - something to look forward to.

Trent Park 17 small heaths, female common blue this am - R Callf

23-8-01 Trent Park, common blue, 4 small heath, 4 small copper, Monkham Hadleigh, 3 holly blues - Robert Callf

22-8-01 Brimsdown, 4 small tortoiseshells, 1 red admiral - A Middleton

18-8-01 Today, during my weekly venture into TL32 as part of the Dragonfly Atlas, I managed to record 3 Red Admiral, 3 Peacock and 2 Large White on a Buddleja bush at Stonebury Farm, 3 Common Blue, 2 Large White and 4 Small White on the River Rib at Aspenden and 11 Speckled Wood, 14 Small White, 10 Large White, 3 Green-veined White , 1 Comma and 1 Meadow Brown at Berkesdongreen Spring - Alan Reynolds

16-8-01 I visited Therfield Heath this afternoon, still reasonable numbers of Chalkhill Blues around, also Common Blue, Brown Argus, Small Heath, Peacock, Small  and Large White, Gatekeeper and many Meadow Browns.Have also seen Common Blues this week in Ware Park and Waterford Heath on Mon 13th. Andrew Wood

I had a strange experience yesterday in my Herts garden. I saw an orangey/yellow butterfly which I thought was a Clouded Yellow. If I'd been in Cornwall, Devon or Dorset, I wouldn't hesitate to ID it as a clouded yellow. In view for nearly a minute, but most of the time flying towards the sun, then over next doors garden and gone. I haven't seen CY this year, but I won't count it. I'm 99% certain it wasn't a white or a brimstone though - Nick Sampford

15-8-01 I went down the lane from Norton Green today with the optimistic objective of searching the Blackthorn bushes lining the mown flower meadow for Brown Hairstreaks. Not surprisingly I didn't find any , although the site is very similar to the well-known site in Bernwood Forest Oxfordshire and is probably worth keeping an eye on. I did however manage to see 30 Gatekeeper, 20 Meadow Brown, 5 Peacock, 3 Purple Hairstreak,1 Geen-veined White, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Painted Lady, 1 Common Blue and 1 very tatty Holly Blue. All the skippers seem to have gone - Alan Reynolds

Whitewebbs/Forty Hall - 1 painted lady, 1 red admiral, 20 speckled woods - R Callf

News of Wall just over the Herts border from David Chandler - Angela Chandler saw five newly emerged second generation Wall on the Sharpenhoe transect yesterday (14th Aug.).  These are the first Wall to be recorded this year on Sharpenhoe because the first generation were missed due to Foot & Mouth  disease access restrictions. As you probably know The Wall was a commonplace butterfly when I was a child in King's Langley in the sixties and has declined to such an extent in recent years in the south of England that it is now a special event to see one.

14-8-01 Trent Park 2 Common blues, 3 small coppers, 5 small heaths, 1 holly blue, Covert Way NR3 purple hairstreaks - Robert Callf

Records from Andrew Wood - Balls Wood transect Friday 10th Aug Meadow Brown 13, Speckled wood 33, Ringlet 2, Gatekeeper 27, Green-veined White 1, Large, Essex, Small Skippers 1 of each. Also one Vapourer Moth. Ware Park transect Wed 8 Aug Small White 1, Green veined White 4, Holly Blue 1, Red Admiral 1, Peacock 1, Comma 3, Speckled Wood 10, gatekeeper 22, Meadow Brown 4

The branch has also been involved in two moth trapping events recently: On Thu 9th along with the Herts  Countryside Management Service we ran two lights in Broxbourne Woods between 20:30 and 22:30. Despite it being a cold night after an atrocious day about 15 people attended and we recorded the following species: Black Arches, Angle Shades, Riband wave, tawny barred Angle,  Purple Thorn, Copper underwing, Pebble Hooktip and Lesser Broad Bordered yellow Underwing.

On Sat 11th along with the Cranford Park rangers we ran four lights and sugared trees for national Moth Night at Cranford Park in West Middlesex (sandwiched between the M4 and Heathrow Airport) between 20:30 and 23:00. About 35 people attended and we recorded 28 species:  Macro moths -  Large, Lesser Broad Bordered and Least yellow Underwings, Copper and Svensson's Copper Underwing, Old Lady, Dunbar, Orange Swift, Straw Dot, cloaked minor, flame shoulder, Common carpet, Lychnis, Shuttle Shaped dart, Brimstone, Yellow Shell, Single Dotted wave, Common Rustic, Flame carpet, Poplar Grey, Cabbage Moth, Small square Spot. Micro moths: Mother of Pearl, Water Veneer, Cydia splendana, Agapeta hamana, Pandemis corylana, Agriphila straminella.

From Malcolm Hull 11-8-01 - Wall Brown - reports of this species locally in the last week: Sat 4 Aug - A visitor to the Butterfly stall at the Trent Park Steam & Countryside show described a number of unusual butterflies he had seen recently around his allotment at Mill Hill, close to the M1 & Thameslink line.  His description, including underwing matched Wall, although he did not know the name of the species.  He then picked it out from the FSC ID chart without hesitation. Interesting, if not conclusive, but then..   I spoke to Colin Everett on the phone yesterday evening (10 Aug).  He reported seeing a small brown butterfly dead on the ground at the Dome roundabout on the A405 at Watford.  On close examination this was positively identified as a Wall.   It is possible that this has been brought in on a vehicle, but I suspect that there may be Walls hanging on somewhere in the area.   Colin also reported a sighting of White Admiral, in Whippendell Woods, Watford, the first sighting there (as far as either of us is aware) since the 1980's.   Tomorrow's my last day butterflying in Herts before I leave for France & I'm torn between a trudge round Bricket Wood for Brown Hairstreak & a trip down the M1 looking for Wall!  Lets hope for a long hot day.   MalcolmFri 10th August - Covert Way NR, 10 speckled woods, 1 purple hairstreak, Trent Park/Vicarage Farm 8 commas - R Callf

Wed 8th Aug - c100+ Chalkhill Blues at HextonChalk Pits HMWT Reserve, + a few Common Blues, 1 Comma - Nigel Agar

Thurs 9th August - The Branch Moth trap will be in use at a Moth & Bat evening which will take place this Thursday at 8.30pm in Broxbourne Woods. Meet at Broxbourne east car park.  Andrew Wood will be helping out and Jenny Jones (HBRC) will be coming to assist with the bat detection

Visited Noar Hill, Hants for Brown Hairstreak yesterday. Saw probably about 6 either fly over or nectaring on bramble. Noted that the most activity seen was when the sun came out for the first time and that one male was observed nectaring on the same 1 metre square area of bramble from about 12 to when we left the site at around 3.  If we hadn't have known it was there, sometimes it was almost impossible to see, with its wings tightly closed, head towards us and dead bramble flowers acting as camouflage or obscuring the vision.  No wonder they are hard to find! We were also told from a "local" that the peak dates in Hampshire are between 18th - 25th August - LG

Tues 7th August - Martin Catt has reported today on the Leps List that a Brown Hairstreak has been seen nearby in Essex - This is an important sighting as this butterfly could still be found in our two counties - start looking at blackthorn with plenty of close nectar sources but you must be patient - LG

Dave Chandler has reported that Charles Baker (the Beds recorder) has agreed that the green effect in his Speckled Wood photo was caused by hairs refracting the light. "I can detect traces of the effect in some of my Speckled Wood photos but none as striking as this" he said

Visited my "South Herts" transect area yesterday - Spent from midday to late afternoon walking around the area in pretty poor conditions including heavy rain!  Didn't see a great deal either, not helped by the fact that all but one field is now cut and there is hardly any nectar left.  Gatekeepers still out in force considering - 130 on the transect and 55 Meadow Brown.  Over the day saw 9 unidentified whites, 2 Large Whites, 77 Meadow Brown, 179 Gatekeeper, 3 Peacock, 10 Common Blue including 1 female, 5 Purple Hairstreak, 1 Red Admiral, 2 Small Copper and 4 Sm/Essex Skippers - Liz Goodyear

Mon 6th August - Trent Park/Vicarage Farm, 6 Small Coppers, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 2 Common Blues - Robert Callf and Robin White

Sat 4th August - Trent Park Small/Essex Skipper 2, Common Blue 1, Small Copper 3, Gatekeeper 6, Speckled Wood 1, Peacock 12, Comma 1, Meadow Brown 67, Small White 1, Purple Hairstreak 2. During a couple of hours wander with the family. 1 Aug  2 Common Blues along the footpath  between the A10 and the quarries just north of Ware. (Much of the high earth bank between the quarries and the A10 has been removed this year and this has damaged the attractiveness of the footpath as a butterfly area.- Andrew Wood

At Gatesbury on a sunny day but with a cool breeze I recorded 1 male Brimstone, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 20 Meadow Brown, 40 Gatekeeper, 40 Small/Essex Skipper, 2 Small White, 1 Large White,2 Peacock and 2 Comma - Alan Reynolds

Thurs 2nd August - I visited Norton Green today before the rain set in at lunchtime. The weather was overcast with a cool breeze and things were generally fairly quiet. However, I did manage to see 1 Common Blue, 1 Marbled White, 2 Gatekeeper, 20 Meadow Brown, 20 Small Skipper and 1 Essex Skipper - Alan Reynolds

Wed 1st August - Dave Chandler has sent a picture of an unusually coloured Speckled Wood - "I've never seen a green flush on a speckled wood like this before. Could it be a trick of the refracted light or is there some odd melanin effect going on? Or is it the digital camera seeing things "differently" to a good fashioned old SLR film camera? Any ideas welcome" - Dave Chandler

July 2001

North Enfield - An interesting sighting last Sunday (29th), apart from excellent counts of Peacock, Red Admiral, + the usual grassland species, TWO SILVER WASHED FRITS !!!!!!!! both in very good condition - The first one I put down to having a but too much sun, but when I saw a second 20 mins later much further away on the transect walk  I was very surprised (The North Enfield transect is not an enormous distance, from Trent Park as the Frit flies approx 3 - 4 miles due east, and across open country at that. I had sighted a Large Tortoiseshell some years ago, and there are still good elm suckers in the area and at first i thought it might have been one initially, as there used to be a colony in the area) - Phil MacMurdie (if in the area - keep looking!)

On the way to the field gate area south of Norton Green, there were 3 Purple Hairstreak fluttering around one of the Oaks along the lane. At the field gate I recorded 2 Peacock, 1 Holly Blue, 20 Meadow Brown, 20 Gatekeeper, 1 Comma, 10 Small/Essex Skipper and 5 Small Whites. Along the ride in Newton Wood, I saw 1 Purple Hairstreak, 75 Meadow Brown, 75 Gatekeeper, 4 Ringlet, 20 Small/Essex Skipper and 1 Peacock but no sign of a White Admiral. They must be coming to the end of their flight season. I did, however, see my first Migrant Hawker of the year - Alan Reynolds

Ware - returned from a weekend in Italy and an almost total absence of butterflies (a few distant whites & poss Banded Grayling) to find the garden overflowing with activity, at least 23 Peacock on various buddleia, but favourite sighting was a fresh Brown Argus nectaring on Field Scabious (a first since last years was simply a fly past which cut 2 feet into the front garden!) - Liz Goodyear

Trent Park - 4 Common Blues, 11 Small Coppers, 2 Small Heaths - Robert Callf and Robin White

Recent news from Ian Burrus - Saw large numbers of marbled whites in a rough area left in the park at Tring on the evening of 23 Jul. I would certainly put there numbers in the tens if not higher. Nice to see. Also recorded Large White and Meadow Brown in the garden 25th July (Tring). 28/29th July - Wilstone reservoir Small white, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper and Holly blue. My garden Small and Large white, Red admiral, Brimstone, Meadow brown, Gate keeper. Parents Garden (SP 921121) Small white, Small tortoiseshell, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper and Holly Blue

Tue 31-7-01Trent Park 16 Small coppers - Robert Callf and Robin White

27th July. Lunchtime. In the field gate area (Stevenage) I had a single fly-through Marbled White and a fresh Comma nectaring on Bramble flowers. On a woodland ride nearby, a White Admiral was also nectaring on Bramble flowers. Weather hot and sunny.   31st July. A short lunchtime session again in the field gate area (Stevenage). No sign of the White Admiral, but a weather-beaten Painted Lady basked in a forestry vehicle tyre rut. A handful of fresh Peacock were also present. Most numerous, were Gatekeepers, followed by Meadow Brown, Small/Essex Skippers then Ringlet. A party of 8 Fallow Deer (4 adult female, 2 yearlings and 2 fawns) skirting the wood across a corner of the meadow made the occasion memorable.   Keith Mitchell

Trent Park 16 small coppers, 2 red admirals, 1 Essex skipper, 3 small tortoiseshells and 3 commas - R Callf and R White

Mon 30-7-01 Ware Park 1 Small/Essex Skipper, 5 large White, 17 Small/Green Veined White, 2 Small White, 7 Green Veined White, 2 Holly Blue, 5 Red Admiral, 1 Small tortoiseshell, 4 Peacock, 1 comma, 7 speckled Wood, 43 Gatekeeper, 20 Meadow Brown - Andrew Wood

These were seen in the Waterford Heath area today - 13 Gate keepers, 12 Meadow browns, 1  Small tortoiseshell, 7 six spot burnets, 2 Large whites, 2 Green veined whites, 22 Peacocks, 4 Speckled woods, 1 comma, 1 brimstone butterfly - Stephen Wood

Trent Park, the silver-washed fritillary was seen again in flight in the same area, from 11.0-11.10, also 10 small coppers, 1 red admiral - Robert Callf and Robin White

Sun 29-7-01 Balls Wood 16 Small/Essex Skipper, 1 Small Skipper, 4 Large Skipper., 4 Large White, 1 Green Veined White, 1 Purple hairstreak, 3 Peacock, 4 Comma, 5 Speckled wood, 63 Gatekeeper, 40 Meadow Brown, 18 Ringlet in a 46 minute transect. Also we were joined in the lounge in Bengeo at 21.45 by a Small Tortoiseshell, presumably attracted to the lights, though it was ignoring the moth trap light. We had not seen one in the garden all day either - Andrew Wood

1 white admiral was in my garden for a few hours on both Saturday (28th) and Sunday (29th) - seen by several people and photos taken by me (in middle of film so may be a little while before film processed - I'm not a professional photographer!). Garden backs onto Sherrardswood, Welwyn Garden City. A couple of holly blues also seen - DAVID J JAMES

Trent Park, in clearings alongside the railway line, Cockfosters end of the park, a female silver-washed fritillary was watched nectaring on brambles and rose-bay willowherb from 15.25 to 15.45, also 10 small coppers, 2 small heaths - Robert Callf (Additional note from Robert Callf added 4th May 2007 - Also I was looking through the archive yesterday at my Silver-washed Fritillary record for Trent Park on 29th and 30th July 2001 and noticed it was down as a female. I later reconsidered and thought it was probably a male, although I did not see the sex-brands - it always closed it's wings when it settled - probably because it was so hot at the time [32 c ])

Sat 28-7-01 Today  I saw 200 butterflies on my transect in Bricket Wood, St Albans.  This is the highest single week total since I began 5 years ago.  Peacock out in good numbers, Gatekeepers very common, Small & Essex skippers both well up.  Only seen 1 White Admiral there all year, compared to 40 in 1998.  Speckled Wood numbers have also crashed this year.    Saw WLH nectaring on bramble in Bricket Wood, but several of the St Albans colonies seem to have gone.  Up to 90% of Elm had died in last year or two.  Some Wych Elm & even Sycamour appears to have DIED. At Broxbourne Woods this pm saw something which looked like a large white admiral trying to enter my metallic blue car, but it wouldnt stay still for a clear ID - Malcolm Hull

Yardley Hill to Lippitts Hill, just outside my Middx area in West Essex, 19 species of butterfly inc. brimstone and a new generation common blue - A Middleton.

Purple emperors are definitely still flying this week gone in Herts in several places - Like MalcoIm, I also try to take special care to identify each 'dark with white' butterfly I see, otherwise I know I may miss out on a PE. Well worth getting as much experience of this species as possible (still flying on territory at Bookham Common last Wed) - as the more one sees, the easier it becomes to do them on 'jizz'.

Fri 27-7-01 I got my White Letter Hairstreak today feeding on creeping thistle near some Wych elm suckers on the wasteland between Park Road in Ware and the Glaxo car park. Hopefully got some good pictures of it as well. Apart from that just the usual stuff - Andrew Wood

Saw about 12 purple hairstreak on ash in Coppett's Wood, Finchley area,this evening - Tony Clancy

Trent Park, Church Wood, a large, fast and erratic orange/brown moth thought to have been an oak eggar flew into the wood around 2.30pm, 4 small coppers - Robert Callf

Bramfield Woods, 17 species of butterfly inc. 3 white admirals, 1 brown argus, 4 sightings of large, fast and erratic orange/brown moth(s) thought to have been oak eggar(s) between 2 and 5pm - Andrew Middleton

26th July - Trent Park/Vicarage Farm - Painted Lady, Small Copper, 2 Essex skippers, 2 Holly Blues, Gothic - R Callf, R White also 1 Red Admiral

News from Waterford Heath - 13 Gatekeepers, 12 Meadow Browns, 1 Small White, 2 Green-veined Whites, 5 Large Whites, 3 Commas, 6 Peacocks, 1 Red Admiral, 2 Speckled Woods, 1 six-spot Burnet - Stephen Wood

Visited the Bourne in Ware today for 40 mins but no White-Letter Hairstreak despite several mature English elms and sucker growth, also none on Wych elms alongside Poles lane nearby. Plenty of activity high in the trees but all bumble bees. Only saw 7 Gatekeeper, 1 Holly Blue and 1 Large White. Also checked along Wengeo Lane, where the lane is on a ridge so the tops of the elms there are at eye level, but again no luck. However where Wengeo lane becomes a footpath there is a small patch (50m square of fine grass and birds foot trefoil with plenty of ants nests and bordered by hawthorn and privet covered in travellers joy - almost downland - and here I saw 4 Six-Spot Burnet (at least one was, as it was dead, the other were not settling as the site is unfortunately deficient in nectar flowers such as knapweed), 4 Shaded Broadbar moths flying in the sunshine, Ringlet, Gatekeeper, Small/Essex Skipper and one Marbled White.
24 July - Ware Park transect - Large Skipper 1, Small/Essex Skipper 4, Large White 5, Green-veined White 3, Holly Blue 5, Small Tortoiseshell 1, Comma 3, Speckled Wood 5, Meadow Brown 18, Gatekeeper 39, Ringlet 1.
25 July - Meads Ware Lock to Chalk Bank below Ware Road - Gatekeeper 15, Meadow Brown 17, Red Admiral 1, Small Tortoiseshell 1, Green Veined White 2, Essex Skipper 1. On the chalk bank Gatekeeper 28, Meadow Brown 18, Small/Essex Skipper 8, Large White 1, Small White 1. Six Spotted Burnet 2 - Andrew Wood

25th July - News from 23rd - Broxbourne Woods near east carpark - 2 White Admiral (c12.00hrs), later one was seen in Bramfield Park Wood main ride (17.00hrs) plus Red Admiral and Peacock. Sharpenhoe Clappers  24th July had Dark Green Frits, Marbled White, Chalkhill Blue + Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Large and Small Skippers.  Comma on Buddleia in the garden here in Hitchin today + frequent Holly Blue and Gatekeeper on garden flowers and hedges - Nigel Agar

Yesterday evening at about 5.30pm I studied two White-letter Hairstreaks in Perivale Wood, Middx at the same site I had 6 on July 15th 2000. This is a private nature reserve (the wood is only open to members of The Selborne Society and their guests) adjacent to Horsenden Hill (where I reported two other W-l H. areas earlier this year). Holly Blue and Comma also present - Andy Culshaw

I went down to the field gate area (Stevenage) today to look for Marbled Whites. This 600 sq metre area is quite attractive with Silverweed, Creeping Thistle, Wild Mignonette, Fleabane, Lady's Bedstraw, Tufted Vetch and Knapweed, possibly only spoilt by the two washing machines, sideboard and bedstead. During 20 minutes in hot and sunny weather I saw 2 Marbled Whites, 20 Meadow Brown, 20 Gatekeeper, 40 Small/Essex Skipper, 1 Holly Blue and 3 Large White. On the return journey up the lane there were 2 Purple Hairstreak fluttering around an Oak tree - Alan Reynolds

Lunchtime today while running (and walking) through Knebworth Park and adjacent woodland rides to the north - very approx. 50 Marbled White, 500 Gatekeeper, 500 Meadow Brown, 30 Ringlet, 500 mostly Small Skippers. Just 1 Speckled Wood and 2 Large Skippers, 10ish Small White and 1 Hairstreak flew up into Oak Tree (thought it may have been a White Letter). Also Brown Argus colony and my first Small Tortoiseshell found near exit of A1 to Stevenage (South) last week - Trevor Chapman

Today: 1 Holly Blue, 1 Comma, 2 Gatekeepers and 2 Large Whites in my garden (Tewin). 1 Brimstone seen in Bencroft Wood near Emanuel Pollards car park. (East side) on 23rd July. 1 White Admiral in main ride of Balls Wood on 24th - looking a bit ragged - Les Borg

25th July - My daughter Linda visited us in Dunstable this last weekend and went around my transect at Sharpenhoe with me. We saw two dozen or so Dark Green Fritillaries (as you do this year)  but unusually they were stopping on flowers so she was able to get a nice picture on her boyfriend's digital camera.    The DGF's are getting a bit old now on site and you can see the colour fade quite well in the picture (see opposite) - Dave Chandler

24th July - The usual walk around Hounslow Heath produced 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Comma, the Whites were out in reasonable numbers as were Skippers, 2 Holly Blue, 5 Speckled Wood, but Meadow Brown & Gatekeeper were both out in force. Also my first Burnet of the year and dozens of Cinnebar Caterpillars. But the major highlight for me yesterday had to be when I arrived home (Hayes, Middlesex) and sat at the bottom of the garden. No sooner had I sat down when a Small Copper paid a visit, it didn't stay for long but it made my day. 5 Red Admirals at Cranford Park at 7.30pm - Chris Court

Alexendra Palace news - Those of interest from our twenty species.... Brimstones out on the wing again, Small Coppers around in small numbers, Red Admirals and Peacocks, very few Small Tortoiseshells, lots of Meadow Browns and Gatekeepers, both Purple and White-letter hairstreaks around - if you know where to find them - Tom Clark

Visited my "South Herts" transect area today.  In just over 2 hours between 9 and 11.15 counted 482 Gatekeeper (320 on transect compared to 389 this week last year - difference being that last year the grass has been cut and every butterfly had descended on the bramble and thistle lined margins!) Also seen on the transect 17 Small/Essex Skipper, 7 Large White, 3 mixed whites, 1 Small White, 3 Green-veined White, 7 Purple Hairstreak, 1 White-letter Hairstreak (at last!) 1 Small Copper (beautiful), 1 Comma, 1 Speckled Wood, 2 Marbled White and 123 Meadow Brown.  No Large Skipper at all, but "off" transect saw several Holly Blues, Peacocks, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Red Admiral and a pair of six-spot burnets.  Stopped counting the Gatekeeper after I walked my transect otherwise the numbers could have been in 1000's.   Thought I had managed to persuade the landowner to leave the transect area uncut for a few weeks longer, since only a few fields had been cut.  The reason was slightly simpler - the tractor had hit "some earth works," got itself damaged and is away being repaired - conservation is achieved by different means! - Liz Goodyear

Trent Park, year high of 14 Small Coppers, 6 Comma, 3 Peacocks, 3 Speckled Woods, St Andrew's Church, Enfield Town, 2 Holly Blues, Southbury Road nearby, 1 Holly Blue, 1 Gatekeeper - Robert Callf

As it was a hot and sunny day I visited Norton Green during my lunch hour.  In 20 minutes I was able to count 35 Meadow Brown, 42 Small/Essex Skipper ( those checked were all Small ) and 15 Gatekeeper. Not a single white!!   I have also heard of an unconfirmed report of a Marbled White at the gate by  my mown flower meadow. I will investigate tomorrow - Alan Reynolds

Malcolm Newland rang to say he had seen his 27 species in his Hemel Hempstead garden this morning.  At 8.15 sunning itself on the top of his Buddleia weyerna (spelling?) was a Purple Hairstreak.  The butterfly stayed for 1 1/2 hours and then flew off but Malcolm was able to get a photo by standing on a step ladder!  Later he saw both male and female Brimstone and a Ringlet (2nd this year) On July 16th a Humming-bird Hawk moth visited his lavender and he said that Brian Wildridge had a Humming-bird hawk moth on valerian on 15th in his garden in St. Albans

23rd July - Isle of Dogs (Middx) Taeping Street, a 2nd generation Map butterfly on budleja - Howard Vaughan (news via Andrew Middleton)

This lunchtime I visited my mown flower meadow (Stevenage area). It is now starting to green up with the odd sprig of Clover and Ribbed Melilot. I spent about 20 minutes walking around the perimeter and  twice across the middle and managed to record 200 Gatekeeper, 50 Meadow Brown, 30 Ringlet, 50 Small/Essex Skipper, 1 Red Admiral, 1 male Brimstone, a few whites and 1 Brown Hawker. The Muntjac that I disturbed from the hedge made off across the meadow with four-footed jumps and a white periscope at the rear - Alan Reynolds

At Balls Wood today in 46 minutes; Meadow Brown 39, Ringlet 66, Gatekeeper 52, Speckled Wood 8, Holly Blue 1, White Admiral 1, Green Veined White 13, Large White 1, Large skipper 14, Small/Essex Skippers 32 (of which 4 were definitely Essex and 3 Small) - Andrew Wood

Covert Way NR,  4 Ringlets, 22 Gatekeepers,  5 Purple Hairstreaks, 3 Speckled Woods. Trent Park - 4 Small Coppers, 2 Purple Hairstreaks, 2 Peacocks - Robert Callf

Ponders End, in my garden, 1 Speckled Wood, 1 Meadow Brown, 2 Holly Blues - Andrew Middleton

For the first time this year, actually have a garden (Ware) full of  butterflies including a fresh Peacock and 2 Small Tortoiseshells on the buddleia - earlier visited Broxbourne Woods and saw only one White Admiral over a period of nearly 4 hours.  Also came across Nick Sampford with his camera and very tolerant kids! - Liz Goodyear

22nd July - Although the weather was not particularly brilliant - overcast, cool breeze but fairly mild, I ventured up the track to dragonfly ponds near Berkesdongreen Spring. The highlight of the trip from my point of view were the 3 Southern Hawkers patrolling a woodland ride, but I also managed to see 100+ whites (a small batch identification suggested 80 Green-veined Whites and 20 Small Whites) mostly on Scentless Mayweed, 1 Large White, 5 Ringlet, 5 Meadow Brown, 2 Gatekeeper and 3 Speckled Wood. When we came face to face, I am not sure who was the most startled, me or the Fallow Deer!!  - Alan Reynolds

My wife and I went for a walk along Gallions Point, Beckton, London E6 near where we live, and saw countless Burnet moths feeding on buddleia and on the wing (probably the only moth I know about!). Lots of browns, blues and whites butterflies too. Then about half an hour ago while cropping some nettles for a small clutch
of Peacock caterpillars I've got that are about to pupate, I saw a Comma - quite a light colouring. First I've seen for years - Ian Tindale

21st July - Trent Park area, White-letter Hairstreak on thistle flower, 3 Red Admirals,1 Painted Lady, 1 Holly Blue - Robert Callf and Robin White

Yesterday, Friday 20th July at 2.15pm we again saw a Purple Emperor in the same Hertfordshire wood. It was on the same tree as before, this time it flew higher up. We both managed to take a couple of photos with the zoom lens - Rachel & Lissa Smith

I was driving down a rather bumpy farm track towards Hornbeam Common when I passed a Hawthorn hedge that was buzzing with brown butterflies (definitely included Meadow Brown and Ringlet), but did not have time to count them. However, at the end of the track leading to my dragonfly pond, I was able to count the single Painted Lady nectaring on Creeping Thistle.   Later on at Green End I saw some Small Whites, Large Whites and Gatekeepers flying over a crop of Hemp Cannabis sativa - Alan Reynolds

20th July -  Covert Way NR, Hadleigh area, 6 Ringlets, 6 Purple Hairstreaks, 10 Small and 1 Essex skipper identified - Robert Callf, Trent Park area 2 Small Coppers, 18 Commas, 1 Red Admiral, 3 Ringlets, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Peacock - Robert Callf, also Robin White

Visited my "South Herts" area today - nothing much to note except that I was nearly back at the car when I saw a fresh Peacock - Liz Goodyear

On the 18th July I noticed what appeared to be a small white moth fluttering around the pond in my garden(Watton at Stone). I went down to investigate only to find that it was a miniature Small White butterfly . It was nectaring on a flower head of Bloody Cranesbill Geranium sanguineum which I subsequently measured to be 30mm in diameter. This would put the total wingspan of the butterfly at 25 mm. Collins Field Guide gives the semi-span (thorax to wingtip) of the Small White forewing as 23-27 mm. Taking the minimum measurement and allowing 4mm for the thorax gives a minimum total wingspan of 50 mm. Therefore the butterfly in my garden was approx half size. Are such specimens recorded very often? - Alan Reynolds (comments welcome)

Broxbourne Woods; 1 White Admiral on Hemp Agrimony as reported on 15th. July and another at the pond, which is part way along the walkers only track on the left from the main ride or right if you go anti clockwise. There is a bar across the path at both ends, preventing horse riders using it - Les Borg

I was working with volunteers this Wednesday (18th July) to clear bracken from the main ride in Bencroft Wood (part of the Broxbourne complex).  At about 2pm I spotted 2 White Admirals feeding on bramble.  The location was on the east side of Bencroft Wood towards Emmanuel Pollards car-park - Paul Jarczewski

18th July - Trent Park 1 Red Admiral, 3 Small Coppers, 1 Purple Hairstreak. Grovelands Park 5 Purple Hairstreaks (4 flying in drizzle), Oakwood Park 4 Purple Hairstreaks, 2 Commas, 3 Gatekeepers, 1 Meadow Brown - Robert Callf

News from Andrew Wood - Fields and roads near St Leonard's Church, Sat 14 July, Bengeo: Meadow Brown 27, Gatekeeper 2, Small Tortoiseshell 2, Holly Blue 1, Small White 1, Large White 1. Sun 15 July, Balls Wood: Meadow Brown 111, Ringlet 118, Gatekeeper 16, Comma 4, White Admiral 1, Green-veined White 10,  Large Skipper 22, Assorted Small/Essex Skippers 46 In a 50 minute transect. Today, Ware Park: Meadow Brown 18, Gatekeeper 30, Essex Skipper 3,  Small Skipper 1,  Large Skipper 2,  Speckled Wood 1,  Comma 5, Red Admiral 2, Green-veined White 7, Small White 1, Large White 1, Ringlet 1, Holly Blue 2 and a few assorted Small/GV whites and Small/Essex Skippers in 41 minute transect in humid/sunny/cloudy conditions.