Archive Page
Sightings from July to December 2002
This page contains sightings details
of all the butterflies and moths reported to the Sightings page between
July and December 2002.
Note: These pages have been copied from the
original sightings page and some links will no longer work. All
images of butterflies or moths have been removed, but most can be
found in the Photo
House
November 2002
Fri
17th November - Ally Pally - 1 Red Admiral
reported last Sunday - Tom Clarke
Mon
18th November - The Herts Naturalist, the local county
natural history journal is available from, Stuart Warrington,
Department of Environmental Science, University of Herts, Hatfield.
AL10 9AB. The cost is £6.00 (make cheque out to HNHS).
In the 2002 edition, there are 2 very interesting articles about
moths, by Colin Plant and Tom and Janet
Gladwin. It also includes articles about the native
Crayfish in Herts, Mistletoe in Herts, and Frogmore Pits - Stuart
Warrington
Thurs
7th November - Hemel Hempstead, Red Admiral this am,
nectaring on Buddliea Weyerana "Sungold"
Temperature was only 12c - Malcolm Newland
Trent
Park, 1 Peacock seen by Robin
White (news via Robert Callf)
Ware
- Saw a butterfly fly along roofs of the houses this
morning, not sure whether it was a Red Admiral or Painted Lady, but
the behaviour was very Painted Lady like - Liz
Goodyear
Tues
5th November - Ally Pally, Speckled Wood today - Tom Clarke
Sun 3rd November - Hemel Hempstead
- Had a nice fresh-looking
Red Admiral nectaring on the shrub
Colletia Armata. The spines on the shrub are long and extremely
sharp but the butterfly negotiated them without damaging itself -
Malcolm Newland
One Red Admiral on buddleia in
our front garden in Bengeo this morning - Andrew
Wood
Hitchin
today at 12 noon - Just taken wellies off after gardening and have
just sighted 2 Yellow Brimstones fluttering around the ivy
but not settling to feed. Also a larger White,
presumably a female - she circumnavigated the entire garden before
investigating the ivy which is in full sunshine and a protected spot
from the breeze but again, did not settle. Observed these for
about 15minutes before disappearance. Just sat down with
coffee and sandwich.....12.25 noticed something else fluttering - a
Comma which settled on the beech hedge for
at least 3 minutes enjoying the sunshine, then flew around again and
re-settled in beech hedge again and vanished! - Val
Fullforth
A late Red
Admiral today at Kings Mead, flying purposefully
south - Alan Reynolds
Sat
2nd November - Shoeburyness area today,
1 Red Admiral! - Andrew Middleton
and Jeremy Gaskell
October 2002
Tuesday 29th October - As
co-ordinators of the
Purple Emperor project for Herts and Middx Butterfly Conservation,
Liz Goodyear and myself (Andrew Middleton) will be
reporting this winter on progress so far. As visitors to
this website will know, the species could be seen, given
patience, at two publicly accessible sites in July 2002. The species
is known to be established in four or so widely spaced
10km squares in Herts & Middx, with records coming from a
further two 10km squares over the last 20 years. Over the last
few years, we have become aware that there is more knowledge
out there regarding the haunts of the Purple Emperor than
appears in the record books. For completeness, we would
encourage contributions from all observers who
have any sightings (of their own or possibly from reliable
sources), present or past, in Herts & Middx or adjoining areas.
Details of date, number, sex,
time, weather and the butterfly's behaviour would
be valuable, as would the location. Site confidentiality
will be respected in full ~ for example, giving just a 10km
square could be of great value to the report. More detailed site
information would hopefully result in the species being considered
in more woodland management schemes. We fully understand the need
for confidentiality regarding private sites and that positive
management can depend on this. Although in decline, collecting
may still be a threat which needs to be considered regarding
site confidentiality, but loss of suitable habitat is likely to
be a bigger problem - Andrew
Middleton
Wed 23rd October - Ware, 1 Red
Admiral on buddleia around 1.30 today - Liz
Goodyear
Nick Sampford has just built his own
website - all his butterfly and bird pictures are now displayed -
have a look at http://mysite.freeserve.com/nick_sampford
Sat 19th October -
A Comma at Amwell and a Red Admiral
at Easneye - Jeff
Butcher
Waltham Cross - Red Admiral in Alan
Downie's garden
Kingsmead, On a sunny day but with a
cold westerly wind, and after an over-night frost, I was rather
surprised to see a Red Admiral flying purposefully in a southerly
direction - Alan Reynolds
Copped Hall Estate near Epping: red admiral flying south at 13.44 in warm, sunny conditions
with a light northerly breeze - it was at head height and moving at
an incredible pace...Martin Shepherd
Trent Park
area - Red Admiral and Painted Lady, Robert Callf
and Robin White
Long
Marston, Small Tortoiseshell seen by John Noakes and Nick
Bowles at around 1 o'clock and Red Admiral in garden
yesterday
Friday
18 Oct - Stevenage, 12:30 - Small Copper seen on grassy bank on north side of Fairlands Way about
halfway between the Fairview Road and Lytton Way turn-offs -
Peter Clarke
Thurs
17th October - Trent Park,
Robert Callf saw a red admiral and
painted lady Robert Callf saw a red admiral and
painted lady
Ware
Park, 2 Red Admirals today - Andrew
Wood
Thurs 10th October - Duncan
Fraser writes - This letter was sent to me after I showed Bob
Coombes the email re migrations. He was on a short golfing
break over the Channel. "On Friday, 13th Sept '02 I
was in Le Touquet and went
for a walk/paddle along the length of the beach. The tide was out
(about 400 yards) and there was a light breeze from land to
sea (ie East). Coming in from the sea (ie West to East) were
literally thousands of red admiral butterflies flying against the
breeze. By the time I left (about one and a half hours), the
tide was coming in along with a seemingly endless supply of
butterflies. I also noticed they seemed to be flying 'in pairs'.
This extraordinary sight was witnessed by others in our party
.....R. Coombes 7.10.02. "
Tues 8th October
- North
Enfield Vicarage Fm, - Speckled wood - Robert
Callf
KGV
Reservoir - Speckled wood and red admiral on causeway -
Andrew Middleton
Thurs 3rd October - Holyfield/Hayes Hill Farm area.
Single red admirals flying south at 13.10, 13.25,
and 13.35 - warm, sunny conditions with a favourable breeze.
Also, singles flying north west near the abbey at Waltham Abbey, 14.10 and
14.15, and one in my garden at Enfield Lock on ivy,
16.00 - Martin Shepherd
Found two
nice fat common blue caterpillars today still grazing
on the undersides of green leaves of bird's foot
trefoil at Rammey Marsh. Also
single red admiral, peacock and speckled wood nectaring on
ivy flowers at Brimsdown - Andrew Middleton
September 2002
Mon
30th September - North Enfield, Trent Park,
5 small coppers inc 3
together near the sports field, 4 small white, comma, 3 speckled
woods - Robert Callf
Both last year and the year
before, substantial southward flights of Red Admiral were seen in
late September up to mid-October. I say "substantial", but
this is a relative term: rarely was the rate more than one butterfly
every few minutes. These migrations are interesting in that
they provide evidence for how and why such movements occur, and the
more detail you can provide about them, the better. I would be
grateful if any details on flight directions of any migratory
butterfly (especially Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Clouded Yellow) can
be recorded from now through the autumn. Essential information
is the species, the date, the place (preferably 6-figure grid
reference or postcode) and the direction of flight. Additional
information that would be useful is the number of insects passing
over what time interval, the speed of flight (time taken for the
insect to cross a garden etc. measured with a stopwatch), the
weather (wind direction etc) and anything else of interest.
Please send observations to me (John Murray), together with copies
of any Emails to Liz Goodyear if you don't mind
your observation going on the website.
Sun
29th September (the last day of the 2002 transect season!) -
Trent
Park, 4 small coppers
and one small heath
various places on 'new fields', also 1 speckled wood - Robert
Callf
Sat 28th September -
North Enfield
2 small
coppers & 1 small white 'New Fields' -
Robert Callf
Wed
25th September - Ware area, I've had 30+ whites, a peacock and a red admiral
today, and my friends had a small copper in there garden in New Road
today - Nick Sampford
North Enfield, Trent Park. new fields, 2 small
coppers and 2 small heath, also red admiral, comma and 2 speckled woods
seen - Robert Callf
Tues 24th September - Robert
Callf reports seeing - Covert Way NR, 2 speckled woods, Trent
Park, new fields, 1 or 2 small coppers, one small heath
(was Robert's latest record to date until 25th!)
Ware
garden - No butterflies at all yesterday (well I didn't
see any and I was looking) but today during some sunshine around 2
o'clock 1 Red Admiral on buddleia and 1 Comma and 1 Large White
nectaring on Field Scabious - Liz Goodyear
I saw a Clouded Yellow
yesterday (Sep 23) at about 12:30 very close to the spot
where one was seen on 16 August. It was flying over the cycle track
alongside the north side of Fairlands Way in
Stevenage. I don't know if it was on
a migratory flight or not - it was about 7 feet high flying in a
southerly direction and the wind was blowing from the north - Peter
Clarke
Sat
21st September - We saw a white, a brown,
a nymphalid and a blue butterfly in a brief sunny
spell today on Violet Chandler's garden transect in
Kings Langley - a Green Veined
White, a Speckled Wood, a Comma and a Holly Blue.
Pretty good for late September in suburbia - Dave
Chandler
Today in the garden (N.W.Bishop's Stortford), one Comma, one
Peacock and one Hummingbird Hawk Moth - Jim Fish
Trent
park new fields, single small copper and small
heath. Also in area 1 red admiral- Robert
Callf
Ware
garden - 2 Red Admiral and 1 Painted Lady - Liz
Goodyear
Tues 17th September -
Hitchin
(Friday 13th) - Inspecting garden
on return from holiday and disturbed 2 Red Admirals from ground
level (lawn) and both flew off in southerly
direction. Monday 16th, 2 Red
Admirals feeding on buddleia and ivy blossom - observed for at least
20 minutes in sunshine. Sky became cloudy and I was
unable to determine direction of disappearance! Assume
taking cover in bush or hedge - Val Fullforth
Fri 13th September -
Trent Park, 8 small heath.-
Robert Callf
King George V Res - 14 red
admirals (either flying
in all directions or not going anywhere at all) - Andrew
Middleton
Darlands Nature Reserve, it has
been very slow last few weeks, Today saw two Speckled woods dancing
upwards in the sun between the trees, one moth not able to identify,
walking back from Totteridge to Mill Hill (The Ridgeway) saw two
more Speckled Woods and three Red Admirals - Frank
Johnson
Wed 11th September -
Hemel Hempstead
- There was a
Red Admiral in the garden when I looked out at 8.05 a.m. Later there
were 2 Red Admirals, 2 Commas (3 yesterday), 2 Large Whites, 2 Small
Tortoiseshells, a Painted Lady, Small White and my first Small
Copper since July 2000. This nectared on Buddleia Lochinch and Tansy
but didn't stay long - Malcolm Newland
Pymmes Park, Edmonton, Holly
blue, 5 speckled woods - Robert Callf
Tues 10th September -
Ware, after yesterdays rain and wind,
surprised to see anything in my garden but a brief tour of the
buddleia bushes at lunchtime, produced 2 Comma and 5 Red Admiral -
Liz Goodyear
Sun 8th September -
On the 6 September, nr Cuffley, Alan
Downie saw another dryas
julia ( news via John Murray and Martin Honey) -
This is Martin's comments on Leps List
posted on the 7th - "My initial thought when hearing about the first
sighting was that it was an accidental import, probably with fruit
like the first British record. Now I'm more inclined to think they
result from a deliberate release (stock is easily obtainable). If
they were escapees from a butterfly house I would expect sightings
of other exotic species in the same area and I don't know of any.
However, there are several butterfly houses in the area so that
can't be ruled out as a possible source. One that I'm informed is
three miles away from the last specimen sighted (although I can't
find out anything about it on the web) - Hope this is of
interest"
Sat 7th September -
Trent
Park, new fields, 3 small
coppers, 5 small heaths, 2 comma, 1 meadow
brown. - Robert Callf
Thurs 5th September -
I did not like to mention it before just in case people
thought I was going crazy, but on the 27th August
at lunchtime, in Broadgate, very near to Liverpool Street Station in
Central London, I saw a big Orange & Black butterfly
hurtle by. It was nearly as big as a Cardinal but
was much more orangy in colour with faint black
stripes. I pride myself at being able to identify
most UK species on the wing, but this one foxed me. It
was only when I read the web page about London sightings of dryas julia that I
thought could I have seen one too? David
Chandler
Wed 4th September -
Patmore
Heath - This has been
the best painted lady year here for 6 years - Gavin
Vicary
Tues 3rd September -
On Sunday, North
London Birds posted this news - I saw a large orange moth on
the edge of Sunshine Plain in Epping Forest at 16.00.
Its flight was butterfly-like and it was about the size of a red
admiral. There was a noticeable downcurve to the wing tips,
and when it alighted, I could see faint downward lines on the
wings. I've looked in the only book I've got that covers moths
and I think it was possibly an orange moth but this flies in
June/July according to the text, so I'm not sure. Do you have
any idea what it might have been? (The thing that struck me
the most was its butterfly flight and size, bright orange colour,
and lack of any obvious markings.) - Martin Shepherd. Last week the
Leps List
had news of a similar butterfly seen at Rainham and was identified
as a Dryas
Julia - see
picture - Martin has
confirmed "This is what I saw - male, 100% certain"
At Kempton NR on 1st Sept
AM, the following were seen:
Clouded Yellow (x1); Small Copper (x3); Small Heath (x1); several
Common Blues; Red Admiral (x2); Speckled Wood (x3) and Meadow
Brown - Peter Collins
Sun 1st September -
Trent Park 'New
Fields', 3.30-4.30pm, 12 small
heath, 2
small copper, 1 common blue, also one meadow brown and one red
admiral seen today - Robert Callf
August
2002
Sat 31st August -
Lippitts Hill area
(Epping) Several common blues inc. two small caterpillars
(2&3mm) feeding on birdsfoot trefoil, 3 purple hairstreaks -
Andrew Middleton
Thurs 29th August -
I saw a Clouded Yellow at Kempton Park Nature Reserve
again on Sat.24 August at
around 10.00am. - Peter Collins
Tues 27th August -
Grovelands Park,
Oakwood, one
purple hairstreak - Robert Callf
On Saturday, 24th
August, I sighted Clouded Yellow in my
garden in St.
Albans, that I had not seen
for more years than I care to remember. It was certainly a Clouded
Yellow, and I believe it to be a male Colias crocea - Derek
Jeffries
Sun 25th August (news from
outside the county) - My wife and I went on the trip to
nr Bicester
this afternoon. Good sightings of Brown
Hairstreak on both blackthorn
and hawthorn. Not close enough to photograph except with a very good
tele lens. On the moor itself were Painted Lady, Small Torts, Common
Blue and Small Copper. Hobby hawking for dragonflies over the moor -
Nigel Agar
Sat 24th August -
Ally
Pally, a very confused
Orange Tip on Wednesday - Tom Clarke
Fri 23rd August -
During my lunch break yesterday, I was in the NPL Directors
garden in Bushy
Park (Teddington) and -
much to my surprise - I believe I saw a very worn-looking
White Letter Hairstreak. Also there I saw a few Meadow Browns,
Speckled Wood, 1 Comma and 1 Holly Blue - Peter Collins
Thurs 22nd August -
Nr
Ware, today in garden
4+ painted ladies and a small tortoiseshell [first of summer]
- Nick Sampford - also I had 22 species between Noar Hill and
Ballard Down, 12+ brown hairstreaks, 30+ clouded yellows, 12+
lulworth skippers, 100+ adonis blues, + chalkhill blue, common blue,
small blue, holly blue, wall brown, meadow brown, gatekeeper, small
white, large white, green veined white, peacock, small
tortoiseshell, painted lady, red admiral, small heath, brown argus,
brimstone and comma
Hemel Hempstead - At 3.55pm today there were seven
Small Tortoiseshells nectaring on white and purple Budddleias
plus Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Meadow Brown and various whites.
Have recorded one and sometimes two Painted Ladies on fifteen out of
twenty two days so far in August - Malcolm Newland.
Wed 21st August - Five
clouded yellows on Lea Valley Parks land between
new housing and Osier Marsh - one gave close-up views feeding on a
large daisy family species (I think!). Numerous common blues -
Martin Shepherd (news has been issued out of interest but
the site is private and not publicly accessible)
Trent Park, 4 small copper, 33 small
heath, 2 purple
hairstreak - Robert Callf
Bishops Stortford, the number
of Painted Ladies has decreased markedly today with only five about
the garden, also today I had one Small Tortoishell - Jim
Fish
Stevenage - Saw a couple of Painted
Ladies last Saturday
on the buddliea. Apart from the odd white I see very little else on
it - Peter Clarke
Tues 20th August -
St James's Park, London
SW1, a single Speckled Wood at lunchtime
- my first sighting of this species here. Also in St James's
Park this summer - 1 Small Copper on 16 August and 2 Red Admirals on
24 June, amongst commoner species - Stephen Harris
Mon 19th August - In
my garden N.W.Bishop's
Stortford,Sunday 18th
Aug. 13 Painted Ladies, 1 Red Admiral, 1
Brimstone(male), 1 Holly Blue, 2 Peacock, 2 Meadow Brown, 5
Gatekeeper, plus many Small and Large Whites
Jim Fish
At Kempton Park Nature Reserve on
17th August (AM) I saw 1 Clouded
Yellow, 1 Small
Tortoiseshell, 1 Red Admiral along with several Common Blues,
Gatekeepers and a few Meadow Browns - Peter Collins
Sun 18th August - Biggins
Farm - 2 Common Blue, 1 GV White and 1 Gatekeeper.
High Trees Farm - 1 Comma and 1 Painted Lady. My
Garden - 3
Painted Ladies - Alan Reynolds
Sat 17th August - Bingles
Wood - 3 GV White, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 5 Meadow Brown
and 11 Gatekeeper. Near Colliers End - 1 Painted Lady.
Potters Green - 4 Speckled Wood. My Garden in
Horns Mill Hertford
- 1 Painted Lady, 2 Speckled Wood and 10 Large Whites - Alan
Reynolds
Found and photographed a White Letter Hairstreak
in Beane Road Hertford on
17th Aug and saw a Clouded Yellow at
Bounds Green. Middx on the same day. Two Small
Tortoiseshells in our garden in Bengeo and also at
The Wick in Bengeo. Several painted ladies at both these
sites as well today (18th). Also good numbers of
Common Blue
at Waterford Heath South Pit, also one Small Heath and one Brown
Argus at same site. Andrew Wood
Sat 17th Aug - Rough grassland north of Osier
Marsh, Sewardstone (news has been issued out of
interest but the site is private and not publicly
accessible), 9.00-10.30. In very warm
and sunny conditions, we were lucky enough to see 5 clouded
yellows, 250+ common blues, 20+ meadow browns, and 8 painted
ladies (with a further 8 in a sunny woodland clearing on
Osier Marsh plus 3 peacocks and 2 red admirals.) On
Sewardstone
Marsh, we
added 1 comma, 3 large white, and 2 speckled wood...Enfield Lock
Conservation Group - news from Martin Shepherd.
ISat 17th Aug - Rough grassland north of Osier Marsh,
Sewardstone, 9.00-10.30. In very warm and
sunny conditions, we were lucky enough to see 5 clouded yellows, 250+ common blues, 20+ meadow
browns, and 8 painted ladies (with a further 8 in a sunny woodland clearing on Osier
Marsh plus 3 peacocks and 2 red admirals.) On
Sewardstone Marsh, we added 1 comma, 3
large white, and 2 speckled wood...Enfield Lock Conservation Group -
news from Martin Shepherd.
16th Aug A Clouded Yellow seen over grass
verge on north side of Fairlands Way cycle track about 10 yards West
from footbridge into Stevenage Town Centre at about
12:30 today (16 Aug). Peter Clarke
Panted lady in my Ware area garden
today Also peacock/comma /red admiral /small /green veined
and large white, gatekeeper, small skipper, silver y moth, and
a large green cricket of some kind - Nick Sampford >>
Five clouded
yellows today, 3 on Essex side of
Lea Valley around Epping Forest, 2 Rammey Marsh.
Minimum 80 common blues
on rough ground by new housing just south of M25
(east of canal just in Essex - by downy black poplar) and 14
on Rammey Marsh, Middx - Andrew Middleton
Taken from Nature notes from the Havant area,
Hampshire - Ralph Collins
12th August - Just one Brown Hairstreak (first of the
year) was seen today by Mark Litjens at Noar Hill which he also visited
yesterday.
Wed 14-8-02 Ally Pally 1st small copper
of the year today! Tom Clarke
Covert Way
LNR, 2 purple haistreaks, Trent Park area, 2 small
copper and 2 small heath 'new Fields', 2 purple hairstreaks Williams
Wood - Robert Callf
Finally saw a clouded yellow in Ponders End at 5.30pm, also
Epping Forest, 16 species of
butterfly including brimstone - Andrew Middleton
Mon 12-8-02 Harold Hill,
(Essex) 3 painted ladies in garden - Colin Jupp, Painted Lady
Coppetts Wood Today.-Tony Clancy
KGV
Res. 3 painted ladie. Sun 11th
North Enfield, small copper
and c blue Parkside Farm, 1 painted lady Hogg Hill
Ally Pally On butterfly walk
yesterday (11th) 12 species, including purple hairstreak and
two common
blues (first for the year - at last).
Tom Clarke
Sun 11-8-02 Walthamstow Res, just in
Essex Clouded Yellow 1, Painted Lady 7, Small Copper 1,
Common Blue 10+ - Stephen Harris, Dan England, Ray Kilminster, Dave
Lambert.
Sat 10-8-02 Copped Hall, Essex,
1 clouded
yellow with c50 whites on thistles - various
obs, also three or so
single clouded yellows recently for S Hamilton in the Nazeing area
of Lea Valley
Thu 8th Aug KGV/WG Res 4 painted ladies, 3
common blues - R Callf, A Middleton
Wednesday 7th August
Many Brimstone Butterflies seen around
the Radlet Road area
of Watford (TQ114969) both males and females. Also
lots of Speckled wood, Gatekeeper, Small heath and the occasional Comma. Large whites are
common around Watford this year, perhaps unusually so compared with
previous years-several specimens have been found dead around the
town centre, curiously in absolutely perfect condition; maybe
recently hatched following a maiden flight. Anyone else seen this?
Su
Wed 7th August Painted lady at
KGV Reservoir,
Enfield, 12.25, north east side. Also comma, small
tortoiseshells, small and large whites, meadow browns and
gatekeepers around. Red admiral, peacock, and skipper sp on
the edge of Pattypool Mead (Sewardstone).
Hemel Hempstead garden
- Before the storms arrived I saw 4 Red Admirals, 3 Peacocks,
2 Gatekeepers, a Comma, Holly Blue, Painted Lady (two days in a row)
and all the whites in good numbers. Male Brimstone seen
yesterday.Will be on the lookout for Camberwell Beauty! Malcolm
Newland
Camberwell
Beauty news from outside Herts
which may be of interest (Insect News Yahoo Group) >
Camberwell Beauty. N.YKS, RPTD at
Skipwith Common, Camberwell Beauty. SUFF, Lowestoft along Gunton
railway line am
Tue 6th Aug Today
a Camberwell Beauty was seen in
Bedford, Beds. The
Camberwell Beauty was spotted by Paul Colbert in his garden at Box
End near Bedford at 13.40 today. He watched it at close range on a
bird table before it flew away. Source Charles Baker (Branch
recorder for Beds) - there just might be others comming in from the
east coast through Essex & Suffolk towards our area. Dave
Chandler - Beds & Northants Branch
Trent Pk, Vic Fm area,
painted lady on burdock, 7
peacocks, 7 purple hairstreaks inc
5 on ash at Covert Way - R
Callf
Sun 4th Aug Saw a Painted Lady on the buddliea
in my back garden this afternoon (16.30). Close to Stevenage Town Centre. Peter
Clarke.............................also one by the KGV Res, Lea
Valley, today
Saw a Small
White butterfly today at Regent's
Park, London.It was sunning
itself on a plant around 1830hrs
after the heavy thundery showers. This
was only my second or third
butterfly sighting in the park
this year. Too much pollution?
Bob Hazra
Fri 2nd August - Trent Park,
male common blue, Covert Way LNR, small copper - R
Callf
Brox NR, tried for PE fom 12-4pm but no
luck - would be nice if someone could squeeze out one more sighting
in early August, one white admiral, brimstone, poplar
hawkmoth flying and egglaying on the top of a silver
birch at 2.50pm in bright sunshine, 1 hobby. A10
embankment, Brox, 4 brown argus, 3 common blues, 1
small copper - Andrew Middleton
Thurs 1st August 8 pm US time -
Can't keep up with the Purple Emperor news, so far no monarchs or
anything real special, although Western Lady and mega large
swallowtail just north of San
Fransisco
- Liz Goodyear
31st July 2002 Lea Valley > KGV Res
pm, 5 painted ladies,
male common blue, WG Res. 2
painted ladies - A Middleton, Rich
Cope
30/7/02 13.30 Broxbourne Wood NR, 1
Purple Emperor
seen for half minute in sallows 10 meters down ride,
also bullfinches & many juv green woodpeckers - B
Dawton
KGV Res
pm, 1 painted lady - Andrew
Middleton
28 July 2002 - I had a look at
the Watery Grove, Newton Wood
area today. Lots of Gatekeepers, some old
Ringlet and Meadow Browns. Large and Small Skippers. Purple
Hairstreak in oaks. No sign of White Admiral or Fritilleries
or even Comma in spite of perfect conditions. Went to Broxbourne Woods today.
23 July .1 very probable overflying Purple Emperor flying from
sallows to the large oak on the right of the track from the west car
park. Further along the track at least 3 White Admirals. Hopefully
got a pic of Purple Hairstreak on a low oak on the left of the main
ride just beyond the barricade.- Nigel Agar (news forwarded to
website by John Murray)
27 July 2002 - Although
not evidence of a colony, I have recently seen 3 dark green fritillaries in the
bits of Hertfordshire that poke into Bedfordshire around Barton le
Clay. 1 was on Telegraph Hill and 2 were at
Hexton, on the other side of the road from the
reserve. The species seems to have been established for a few years
on the Barton Hills NNR and across the valley at Sharpenhoe, so an
expansion of range from there is not too surprising. - Jim Reid
(news forwarded to website by John Murray)
EC4 -
2 live and 4 trodden on lime hawk moth caterpillars
found by one of my partners (a keen moth enthusiast in his youth!)
underneath lime trees on New Fetter Lane, London EC4
over the last couple of days - not sure how rare they are
but perhaps unusual on a City Street with a couple of lime trees and
no other greenery? We found them there last year too! DAVID J JAMES
(Larger Moths of the London Area - Colin Plant - given as category A1 - common and widespread
resident)
Mon 29th July, A
good walk around Darlands lake at lunchtime, 12
Speckled Woods, 2 Gatekeepers, 3 Small Whites, 1 Large White, 1
unidentified Moth and I think I saw a Fritillary -
will keep an eye out this week. Here is a photograph of one of the
Speckled Woods - Frank Johnson
William Girling Flood Channel this
evening (Essex/Middx boundary) *1 Clouded Yellow - Tony Clancy
Trent Park
area, oak eggar moth seen well in
flight by Church Wood, also 5 purple hairstreak, holly blue, small
heath - Robert Callf
On Saturday 27th July Kathryn
and I decided to go and look for Purple Emperors at Tring Park following
the reports of sightings in the locality on your web page. We
arrived at 12:40pm just as the cloud cover was beginning to break up
and took a walk across the grassland from the Hastoe end (by the
avenue of Horse Chestnut trees) to the monument. Butterflies on the
wing included: Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Gatekeeper Small
Skipper, Large White, Green Veined White and Marbled White.
After walking along the main ride from the monument we took
a small path up onto the top of the ridge, at the back of the wood.
Along this path there are several Sallow trees along with a stand of
Willows. The path passes through a small clearing which contains 1
large Sallow tree and two smaller sallows (there are also two rather
large buddliea plants). continued below-
As we walked up the path into
the clearing we spotted a Female Purple Emperor circling the
clearing (1:15pm). Over the five ten minutes, the butterfly
continued to circle the clearing occasionally pausing high in the
trees. On at least two occasions the butterfly settled in the
shaded side of the large sallow tree, unfortunately just out of
sight. Eventually the butterfly flew off over the trees. We
continued our walk along the path, which passes a group of sallows
and a stand of willows before diving into an area of tall Hawthorn
scrub. In this scrub Kathryn spotted a large butterfly flying
high across the path into the Hawthorn Scrub. Following it we
managed to get another glimpse of it shortly afterwards when it took
off from its perch and headed off the way it came. This second
sighting was very brief and it was impossible to tell whether it was
the same female that we had seen earlier although I think that there
is a fair chance that it was. Returning along the path a short
while later we were treated to another air display by a Female
Purple Emperor in the first clearing. We did have a look for a
Master tree but with literally 100's of tall prominent trees on the
top of the ridge, fortunes weren't in our favour!! However for a
first time out looking for Purple Emperor's we didn't do too
badly! Best regards - Allen Beechey
Sun 28th July
1900hrs painted lady on our daisies,
Chestnut Road Enfield
- Brian Dawton
Broxbourne Wood NR
late am to 4.30pm-ish, several sightings of purple emperor
from several areas of the reserve by several observers. Probably
one of the best areas was again the main east-west ride
lined with sallows. For sure, 3 sightings of a female were made
here at 12.10, then a long sit-down resulted in a sighting by Nick
of a smaller PE above sallows mid-pm (anyone remember the exact time?),
likely to have been a male because of size, which settled for
10 minutes high up in scrub > see Nick's photo >.
Talking to observers who kept on the move around the reserve rather
than lie in the shade, an estimate of a minimum total of 4 PEs seems
reasonable, although only seen one at a time. Also several sightings
of white admiral, min 2-3 insects - various
observers.
Broxbourne Woods.
Female purple emperor seen in flight briefly
at 12.06 just above the treeline from the bench on main ride near
west car park. Also close sightings of purple hairstreak and
peacock. Others had seen a white admiral. - Martin Shepherd
More importantly: After
spending a couple of hours around midday in Broxbourne Wood
on Saturday 27th, Tom (age five)
decided to spend the rest of day drawing all the insects we
saw. The drawing took him about five hours and includes one of
each species. The insects were: Essex Skipper, Large White,
Green-veined White, Small White, Purple Hairstreak, Holly Blue
(on the drive back to Ware), Purple Emperor (female, high in
Shallows 1:45-2:00pm), Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Meadow
Brown, Ringlet, Large Red Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly,
Emperor Dragonfly, Southern Hawker, Brown Hawker, Water
Boatman, Great Diving Beatle (I think), Unidentified micro
moth on grass! I'd be grateful for some help with the moth
identification (bottom left on grass)- Toby
Austin - the link is now missing
Sat 27th July Monken Hadley
Common, ringlet, Trent Park
Fri, small heath and small copper,
2 purple hairstreak - Robert Callf -
First ever
Ringlet in 6 years of transect walking at Bricket
Wood. First sight of Peacock on budleia this
year - Malcolm Hull
Went to Broxbourne Wood NRat about 12 and had
one sighting of purple
emperor. Helen Bantock and Toby Austin were there
already but had not had any sightings. There were plenty of common
butterflies about, then at 1.45 Angela picked up a large
butterfly flying along the sallows which appeared to land. Toby
found it roosting high in the sallows were it sat for a good ten
minutes before flying over our heads and lost to view. We sat there
till gone 3 with no more sighting. White admirals seem to be
dwindling, only saw one all the time we were there, but loads of
purple hairstreaks - Nick Sampford
26th July - Subsequent to
Trevor Chapman's observation of a probable Dark Green Fritillary
at Norton Green,
Herts, (Grid Ref TL228228)} on 24th Jul I can
confirm a definite on lunch-time 26th July. I observed a
large flighty, butterfly, about the colour of a Comma, which I
suspected to be a fritillary of some kind, but could not initially
clinch the id. At last it settled on a couple of thistle flowers, to
give brief but conclusive views of upper and under
sides. The upper wings had typical fritillary
markings with a narrow white border around the edge. (1-2
secs). The most noticeable feature of the hind wing
underside was the white spots. On closer examination a green wash
was noted from the hind wing root spreading up and back towards the
spots, but not very extensive. (4-5 secs). Other
butterflies noted in the previous two weeks during good weather were
Marbled White (3) and Large Skipper (1). I have looked for White Admiral
in the same place as last year but have had no joy - maybe due to
the Brambles having been cleared from the woodland ride.
Regards, Keith Mitchell.
I saw no fritillaries at Newton Green
Wood, but a newly emerged female
Brimstone, 11 purple hairstreaks,
one nectaring on ragwort, newly emerged Peacock
& 4 Commas (2 of which were
Hutchinsoni) - Malcolm Hull
East Herts
- Had a sighting of what I can only describe as a large
fritillary, either dark green or silver washed. I
watched it flying from about 50 yards over a field and along a
hedgerow. In Hants or Wilts I wouldn't have hesitated to say it was
a fritillary. There is a lot of undisturbed woodland (mostly
private) with vast amounts of violets in the area and I'll give it
another go and report back. I also saw a Wall in
perfect condition which I presume was newly hatched, plus many
whites and gatekeepers, meadow browns, small
tortoiseshell, holly blue, small, essex and large skippers. I'm
gonna go to Broxbourne for the day tomorrow - if i fail to see any
Purple Emperors I won't go again (until 2003) - Nick
Sampford
Broxbourne
Wood NR - no sightings of purple emperor reported
today in seemingly ideal conditions from mid-morning to 3pm ,
several sightings of white admiral with a minimum
of two present - several observers
25th July -
Enfield
Lock: Peacock in my garden
this afternoon along with comma and holly blue...Martin
Shepherd
White letter hairstreak seen I my
garden this morning (backs onto Sherrardswood). Also the pretty
much resident pair of bullfinches and marsh tit (no signs of
young though) - DAVID JAMES
Lots of
Marbled Whites last week at Jersey Farm Open Space, St
Albans. Previous week in North Mymms Park
had a Purple Hairstreak, Marbled White and
lots of Gatekeepers, M.browns and Small Skippers - Rupert
Pyrah
Walked around Darlands yesterday 1pm until
2pm saw six speckled woods and two small whites. Also, the moth I
photographed at Darlands on 16th July was identified as Prays
fraxinella (family Yponomeatidae) by Colin Plant - Frank
Johnson
24th July - I
am almost 100% sure of a Dark Green Fritillary
sighting at lunchtime. Orangebrown, larger
than comma and flying fast up and down but zig-zag flight over
bracken edge of wide glade North/South at very end of track
that passes from Norton
Green, past the SawMill cottage but before in
leaves Newton Wood. I saw another at Box Hill, Surrey at the
weekend (my first), and this behaved and flew very similar.
Very fast and difficult to follow. Needless to say I never saw
it at rest - Trevor Chapman
Trent Park area, single small
heath, small copper, purple and white letter hairstreak, two
ringlets - news from Robert Callf
Broxbourne NNR -
Went up the woods today between 11.30 and 1.30 had
three sightings of
purple emperor all brief At 12 by big oak over
sallows and 12.45 over sallows right of bench this was two which
almost certainly were a male and a female due to the size
difference. Also purple hairstreaks and white admirals and a red
admiral which keeps flitting up the path like the emperors do
- Nick Sampford
23rd July -
News from Brian Jessop -
On Saturday 20th he had several Purple Emperor sightings at
Tring Park. However, on a very serious note, he also saw
evidence that someone had been looking for eggs on the
butterfly's food plant. If that person is reading this, please
note you have been rumbled - Liz Goodyear
and John Murray
Large numbers of Chalk-hill Blue
at
Hexton Chalk pit on the 17th
July .You could not walk through
the site without causing them to flutter up. Must have been between
400-600 - Stuart Pittman
Went to Broxbourne
yesterday (Monday) was there about
1.30 to 5 had no PE sightings at all but saw the normal butterflies,
there were 100s of purple hairstreaks and quite a few white admirals
- Nick Sampford
22nd July
- Broxbourne
Woods NNR, 12.10 a fast moving butterfly over
sallows was too large for white admiral and appeared to us to
be a smaller male-sized
purple emperor. White Admiral
still present as well in good numbersWormley Wood
pm,a very large orange insect (much larger than
comma) which flew past was probably an oak eggar moth rather
than a fritillary - Liz Goodyear and Andrew Middleton. Two
seperate v.large orange moths perhaps this species seen in the
Trent Park in mid-July by Robert
Callf
* Additional notes from Andrew
Middleton, Regarding the observation of
presumed egglaying activity by a white
admiral, there was a serious purpose in climbing the tree to
examine the honeysuckle in situ. We
and several others have spent a fair while trying to find
caterpillars of white admiral so that "we" could say for sure to
woodland managers which kind of honeysuckle growth (eg shaded or
edge) was being used in Herts, rather than just repeat what is in
the books. In this case it appeared from the ground that 5-6 eggs
were laid, but on climbing the tree, it was found that only one egg
had been laid - it could have been that none was laid if the female
found the site to be unsuitable. Now we have a little more confirmed
information to help those who manage our counties woods.
20th July -
Took a few photos yesterday, off Park Rd and Wengeo lane in
Ware. As well as
these there were odd examples of Ringlet, Meadow Brown, gatekeeper,
Speckled wood and Holly Blue but not a lot. Also several Shaded
broadbar moths - Andrew Wood
Ally
Pally - In what has been a
poor year so far, a
clouded yellow was seen on Thursday
18th at
2.30pm around the Palm Court entrance. Shame I didn't see it!
- Tom Clarke
Just returned from Broxbourne
NNR after seeing my first ever Purple Emperor on the
ground - brilliant! First sighting was of a female flying
around sallow at about 12.15 just after the sun came out. Then
just before 1.30 we saw a White Admiral egg laying and Andrew
Middleton had climbed up a tree to try and take a photo, when
a female flew around and down onto the ride. The butterfly was
observed on the ground for about 10minutes, it would settle,
then fly around then re-settle and several times flew around
our heads at speed before flying off over the sallows.
Meanwhile Andrew was still up the tree and missed all this but
borrowing Nick Sampford's camera managed to get several photos
- Liz and Rachel Goodyear, Andrew Middleton, Helen Bantock,
Tony Clancy and dog, Nick and Angie Sampford, The Smith family
and two other observers whose name I didn't get - Several
photos will be put up in due course
19th July -
Tring
Park - 2 Purple Emperor seen
today, male at 10.30 and
female at 12 o'clock (exact location not known) - Phillip
Woodward also White-letter hairstreak seen on the top of the
hill at Aldbury
Nowers on the 15th.
Latest news from Broxbourne
today - 3 sightings of Purple Emperor on central ride from the West
carpark, Nick and Angela Sampford, Martin Shepherd and Jeremy
Gaskell. Some details from Jeremy > one female at
12.10 photoed, one in flight 15.15 ( third sighting later for
the Sampfords) (Good luck everyone and
don't be put off going by the cloud -
LG)
Went round Darlands (16th
July)Saw 4 whites various on the
wing, 4 Meadow Browns, 1 Speckled wood and One moth Prays fraxinella
(family Yponomeatidae), see attached photo - Frank
Johnson
18th July -
Broxbourne
Woods NNR - Notes
from Martin Shepherd (via Andrew Middleton) - I also saw a purple
hairstreak today - Jeremy and I had very good views of a female on
an oak sapling showing its purple patches very well. And there
were a lot of white admirals about...we had 8+ sightings.
More notes on today's Purple
Emperor sighting from Jeremy Gaskell (via
Andrew Middleton) - Jeremy and Martin were walking along when
M. kicked a 'white admiral' from the track which landed
further along the path. Jeremy got his camera out to take a
close up of it, got down and close then realised it had a
purple sheen above and orange eyespot below, but in his
amazement at seeing a male purple emperor he
failed to click the shutter before it flew. Then on
settled views the next one appeared to be a worn female,
and the next a rather fresh female - so Jeremy is
fairly happy with a probable count of three. He
was just rather shocked to have had success and nearly passed over
the first one as a white admiral!
A female Purple Emperor seen extremely well on two occasions on the
main ride from the West carpark shortly after 3:00 and seen until
around 3:20pm. It was first seen at about 2:45pm by two others
(Martin Shepherd and Jeremy Gaskell) who alerted me to the fact that
they were pretty sure that they had had a brief sighting.
Being in exactly the same spot as my own
probable sighting on the 14th and Terry Goddard's sighting on the
16th I agreed that they may well have. I then re-found it at and we
all had fairly brief but good views as it settled around the area by
the first bench (where the x-roads are); that is until Sam, my three
year old, unfortunately flushed it! About ten minutes later it was
seen flying down the ride where it settled on a muddy patch by the
remains of the stream at the lowest point in the dip of the ride.
Here we all (including Sam, but from further back!) had superb views
for about five minutes before it departed. What is odd is that after
the views by the bench, we all agreed that it was a very worn
individual and Jeremy Gaskell actually said he was fairly sure that
he had seen tears in the wings. However, when seen well ten minutes
later, it appeared reasonably fresh. Trick of the light? We were
looking into the sun on the first views which may have shone through
the wings making them appear paler and more worn? I find it hard to
believe that after looking - admittedly not always in the same area
- for six of the last eight days, a total of about twenty hours,
that I should see two different females in the space of five
minutes! But, it did appear remarkably different and you never know
- Toby Austin with Martin Shepherd and Jeremy Gaskell
17th July -
Oxhey, a Marbled White
was seen here at a site where we have seen Marbled Whites
before. Since reporting it last, extensive unofficial tipping
has taken place; fortunately only covering half the unmown
meadow. Also the moth, the Buff Footman,
turned up at a site in Harrow last weekend. Colin
Plant's book 'The Larger Moths of the London Area' categorised this
as a rarity - John Hollingdale
16th July -
Broxbourne
Woods NNR - After 6 days of
looking, Terry Goddard saw a female Purple Emperor on
the ground along the central ride from the West Carpark at 12
o'clock today. He was able to get within 6 feet, but a dog
walker disturbed the butterfly and it flew up. However, it was
still visible and Terry pointed it out to the dog walker who
was equally thrilled. The Purple Emperor flew off, but then he
saw it flying around the dog walker's head before disappearing
over the trees. Later to top Terry's day, a Marbled White flew
through his Cheshunt garden!
Trent
Park - news via Robert Callf, Robin White saw a
Marbled White yesterday
15th July -
Broxbourne
Woods NNR - I thought you might like to know
that following your report of a Purple Emperor earlier in the
week at Broxbourne, my husband and I went there today and
at midday we saw a Purple Emperor not far
from where we saw last years one. It landed
briefly on a tree trunk at eye level before flying off over the tree
tops, it took off before I could get a photo although I tried to
take one anyway, shall see if anything comes out! Lissa
Smith
Broxbourne
Woods NNR. One
possible brief sighting of a Purple Emperor yesterday (late
afternoon) down ride from West carpark. Fairly sure it was one but
can't rule White Admiral out on views - Toby Austin
Finally some good weather, Went
over Darlands Lake
on Sunday 2pm
until 3pm, Lots of various whites all on the wing, 1 Red admiral, 6
meadow browns, 1 small skipper, 1 unidentified moth - Frank
Johnson
14th July -
Ealing Butterfly Walk
produced White-letter Hairstreak (5), Purple
Hairstreak (4), Holly Blue (1), Small Copper (2), Red Admiral(2)
among the commoner species. Examination of the moth trap set
overnight was interesting and produced among others a Bufftip (which
looks like a broken birch twig). I heard today that a Marbled White
has been seen just across the A40 from Horsenden near the Greenford
Lagoon - Andy Culshaw
Horsenden Hill
News 13 July White-letter Hairstreak (8 Horsenden
Hill, 1 Perivale Wood), Purple Hairstreak (7 Horsenden Hill, 6
Perivale Wood), Holly Blue (4), Small Copper (1), Essex Skipper (2),
Red Admiral (2) plus tens of Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Small and
Large Skipper, Small and Green-veined White, Speckled Wood.
Dragonflies included my first Banded Demoiselles (2) for the site
and 3 Black-tailed Skimmers - Andy Culshaw
A single White Admiral on
the Bricket Wood
transect yesterday. Other species on the wing
in St Albans area
over the weekend
Marbled White (Good numbers), Gatekeeper (very few), Ringlet, Meadow
Brown Speckled Wood, Red Admiral (Good numbers), Small
Tortoiseshell, Comma, Purple Hairstreak, Holly Blue, Large, Small
& Green Veined White, Large, Small & Essex Skipper (Small
are by far the most numerous) - Malcolm Hull
I was photographing Chalkhill
blues this morning at Hexton chalk pit. They are now mating and I took a number of
images - Les Borg
Trent
Park, 8 small heaths,
small copper 2nd brood, 2 holly blues, ringlet in tertrad nrth
of Trent Park and Saturday, Northaw Great Wood, 3 white
admirals, 1 white letter hairstreak, 5 ringlets, - Robert
Callf
Yesterday -
Broxbourne
Woods, at about 12.45 pm, I saw what looked
like a large, upright, pale leaf at a pool of water on the
path about 10 metres away. Raising my bins, I realised it was
a Purple
Emperor! Got out my
camera, but found the PE had moved ahead another 10 metres and it
then flew off - Helen Bantock
I had an excellent view of a
White Admiral at Mad
Bess Wood, Ruislip today, 14 July 02 at 1355. It settled
on the path only a few feet away from me, then flew up into low
vegetation and finally up into the trees - John Eborall
Balls Wood
Field Trip Just John Whiteman and me, but some good
views of Purple hairstreak and White Admiral high up, also saw
several lower down earlier on the transect and afterwards. All the
usuals also present today, Gatekeeper, meadow brown,speckled wood,
Ringlet, comma, large and Green Veined White, Large, Small and Essex
Skipper - Andrew Wood (Broxbourne Woods field trip produced 2 White
Admiral and many of the usual species as well - LG
During Dragonfly Atlas
Project work today in TL31 I saw 1 Small White, 10
Small/GV White and 1 Meadow Brown at the River Rib Hanging Wood, 30 Small/GV
White, 20 Meadow Brown, 2 Small Tortoiseshell and 1 Small Skipper at
Biggins Farm,
1 Comma at New Hall Farm,
1 Small White, 1 GV White, 1 Meadow Brown and 2
Small Tortoiseshell at Sawtrees Farm -1 Comma at the
River Rib
Fabdens , 30 Meadow Brown, 7 Small/GV White, 2
Comma, 1 Red Admiral, and 1 Gatekeeper at the River Rib Thundridgehill and 1
GV White, 2 Small White, 1 Large Skipper, 20 Small/GV White, 1
Meadow Brown, 1 Small Skipper and 5 Small Tortoiseshell at The Meads - Alan
Reynolds
The first Sharpenhoe Clappers'
Chalkhill Blue of the season was seen on Saturday
13th July. It was a freshly emerged singleton male and was
found at the base of the slope on the North-East
facing downs on the Barton-le-Clay side of the reserve, which is
quite an unusual event because this species normally emerges
first on the southern facing slopes of the old chalkpits
in the Moleskin area. The Dark Green Fritillaries are still present,
but not as many in number as they were this time last year.
Other first sightings seen on Saturday for Sharpenhoe in
2002: two dozen Gatekeepers, a Purple Hairstreak & two
Commas - David Chandler (New via Beds &
Northants)Yesterday, Balls Wood. Spent enjoyable
couple of hours photographing White Admirals. One almost landed on
my leg! Purple Hairstreak briefly down from canopy. Also noted Holly
Blue, Brown and Southern Hawker, Common Darter and many of the
common species - Phil Rhodes.
12th July - Among
the audience at the Globe
Theatre this
afternoon was a large butterfly. It looked very like a Painted
Lady, but it did not come close enough for me to be sure. It
arrived just in time for Act I and stayed until the middle of Act II
- Michael Healy
Purple Emperor have been seen
in Hertfordshire this week, but the "poor" weather is making
recording and monitoring very difficult - Liz Goodyear and Andrew
Middleton
11th July - Copped Hall
Estate nr Epping, on footpath to
hall from main road to Epping, lunchtime: 15+ gatekeepers,
large and small skippers, small and large whites, meadow browns, red
admiral. Ermine Street
nr Goose Green,
mid-pm: white
admiral, speckled wood, two red admirals, five commas, several
ringlets, plus whites, small skippers and meadow browns.
Hoddesdonpark Wood - You
probably see these all the time but this is my first ever sighting
of White Admiral. There must have been at least a dozen males
chasing everything from other butterflies to small mosquitoes. The
great thing about this was that it all happened in the glade we
created specifically for them at Hoddesdonpark - Neil
Chamberlain (Woodland Trust)
Stanstead Abbotts Gatekeeper, Broxbourne Woods (West carpark
area) White Admiral x 5, (West and East carpark) Ringlet; Meadow
Brown; Small/Large Skipper; Whites etc. Balls Park Woods,
White Admiral x 10+, Small Skipper x 100+ (all checked for
no Essex but none!), Speckled Wood - one tatty
individual, Ringlet; Meadow Brown; Large Skipper; Whites etc - Toby
Austin
10th July - During
dragonfly atlas work in TL32 today, I saw 20 Meadow Brown, 1
Gatekeeper and 2 Large Skipper at Langtons Lane and 10 Meadow
Brown and 10 Ringlet at Potters Green - Alan
Reynolds
Marbled White news via John Murray -
5 were seen at Jersey Farm
Woodland Park in St. Albans on the 6th, and Sue and
Steve Place saw 3 or 4 at Old
Park Wood Nature Reserve, Harefield on the
7th July
News from Sun 30
June (reported by Dulcie Miller) - 11 apparently newly
emerged Marbled Whites seen on Long Deans Nature
Reserve. Sat 6 July
- 5 Marbled Whites recorded for Bunkers Park transect, week 14. This visit also saw the
first 2 Gatekeepers of the year - Michael Pearson
9th July - Enfield
area, Trent Park, 2 white letters by
Oakwood bus-stop, 5 ringlets (highest ever count), 14 commas, 2
small heaths, 5 purple hairtreaks, 5 small tortoisesell, painted
lady - Robert Callf
I visited Hexton Chalk Pit Reserve this
evening between 5.35 and 5.55pm. Despite poor weather I saw 4 male Chalkhill
Blues. The
only other species about were 1 Ringlet and 2 Meadow Brown - Ian
Woiwod
White Admiral in flight at Symondshyde Wood
yesterday, despite weather! - Trevor James
8th July - Bengeo - This
morning Andrew Wood found a female Beautiful Snout in his
moth trap - this is only the 4th ever county record! Link
to image
I eventually ventured out at about
4.00pm, when the sun came out, and went to the Meads. In an hour long walk
through the grazing marsh and along the banks of the New River, I
saw 16 Small Tortoiseshell
(predominantly on the nettles by the New River), 4 Large White, 8
Small/GV White and 8 Meadow Brown - Alan Reynolds
6th July - On a
weekend that, from Saturday lunchtime, was forecast to be
predominantly sunny, I managed to hit the only period of
intermittent sunshine at the Meads and saw 1 Red Admiral,
10 Meadow Brown, 6 Small Tortoiseshell around the nettles by the New River (Small
Torts are like buses, you wait for a long time then six come along
at once!) and 6 GV/Small White - Alan Reynolds
HOT NEWS Angela Chandler thought she
saw a Clouded
Yellow in the Sainsbury's car park near to Apsley parish
church (Nr Hemel
Hemsptead) at 11am this morning. She decribed it as more deeper
yellow than a Brimstone but very fast flying. It was
heading north towards Tring. Sounds a "possible" CY to me -
Dave Chandler
Trent Park area, ringlet, 5 small heaths, 8 purple
hairstreaks, 1 Essex skipper,
12 small skippers, 4 comma, 5 small
tortoiseshells, red admiral and painted lady - Robert
Callf
Bramfield Park Wood - spent 3 hours and this is what we saw:
200+ Ringlet, 40+ Meadow Brown, 30+Large Skipper, 30+ Small Skipper,
2 Essex
Skipper, 2 White Admiral, 10+ Purple Hairstreak,
alos Small and Large White and a Red Admiral. Went to Wengeo Lane in
Ware,
and spent 2 hours walking up and down looking for White-letter
Hairstreak. We never saw one in fact, we probably only saw 10
butterflies but the best being a lovely Comma - Nick
Sampford
4th July - Had 12+
white letter hairstreaks along the Crooked Mile dinner time also large skipper/comma/small
white/meadow brown - Nick Sampford
Saw my first Gatekeeper today - Liz
Goodyear
