December 2004

31st December - At Wicken Fen, Cambs today, a Small Tortoiseshell was seen in the Visitors' Centre - news via Guy Manners

Bob Hazra sent me an email of good wishes for 2005, I thought I would share this "Right now I'm trying to get a caterpillar I got from a packet of peas and baby sweetcorn at Tesco to turn into a pupa. The import was from Zambia, the caterpillar's green and around 2" long with a few hairs. It fed on both the corn and peas" - Bob Hazra

On Wednesday December 29th my wife and I attended an early evening Christmas carol concert at Christchurch,Waltham Cross. Halfway through the service we were distracted by the sight of a small tortoiseshell which flew up to the rafters and then back down again to land on one of the pews in front of us. Here it remained until the end of the service  when I carefully picked it up and placed it on one of the floral arrangements. Presumably the warmth from the central heating and candles had disturbed its hibernation. However, seeing it reminded me of how the sight of such vanessids used to be a fairly regular occurence in this church - Roger Newbold

30th December - On Christmas day we had a red admiral butterfly in our dining room with us as we ate our Christmas dinner. I had had the window open while cooking the dinner and noticed it resting on the dining room window. It stayed quite still for over half an hour then began fluttering its wings and at this point we opened the door and it flew out. This happened approx. 1pm. I live in East Yorkshire - Fred (not local but a nice email I have received today - LG)

24th December - Were any butterflies seen yesterday? Malcolm Newland was optimistic and did look but didn't see anything in his garden in Hemel Hempstead

19th December, Happy Christmas - thanks to everyone who continues to support the sightings page by sending in news! LG

11th December - Computer problems mean that it is difficult to update at the moment but did anyone see any butterflies today?  I saw a bumble bee in my front garden today around midday - Liz Goodyear

5th December - A hummingbird Hawk-moth was making itself at home on the Buddleia at work today, 1st October, in Stevenage (MBDA Ltd).  This follows an earlier record in July - Keith Mitchell  (this email arrived in my inbox yesterday! LG)

November 2004

Sun 21st November - Don't forget: The Butterfly Conservation National AGM & Members' Day is on Saturday 27th November.  It is being held at the Cranfield University, Silsoe Campus.

Tues 16th November - Whilst enjoying a drink outside the Candlestick pub, West End, Essendon on November 13th, my wife and I were surprised to see a Red Admiral fly past. It didn't hang about. Considering that it was quite nippy and about three o'clock in the afternoon it was a pleasant surprise - Roger Newbold

Sat 13th November - Today, a Silver Y making the most of the late afternoon sun in our front garden in Hertford - Alan Reynolds

Just had a small tortoiseshell at Eastwick just inside Herts border.  I think its my latest ever butterfly a real surprise  - Nick Sampford

Back garden, Melbourn (S. Cambs), 11:20. Red Admiral flew up high (over top of house level) and away (along row of houses). Same one as Thursday? - Guy Manners

Fri 12th November - Hemel Hempstead garden; had a rather worn Red Admiral which spent ages nectaring on Colletia Armata in the garden this morning - Malcolm Newland

Water garden, Trent Park, 1 Peacock at 11.30 - Robin White (news via Robert Callf)

Thurs 11th November - 1 Comma in Ware Cemetery feeding on Ivy flowers today - Andrew Wood

Today in Garden N.W.Bishop's Stortford,Red Admiral on Yellow Buddleia -Jim Fish

Vicarage Farm, 1 Red Admiral today - Robin White & Robert Callf

Red Admiral, fluttering around then resting on apple tree in back garden, Melbourn (S. Cambs), 14:30 - Guy Manners

Wed 10th November -  Harrow Weald, 1 knot grass caterpillar - Hayley Rose

Sat 6th November - One of our neighbours, Carol Smith reports three Red Admirals on her hebe bushes on 5th November in Bengeo - news from Andrew Wood

Wed 3rd November - 1 Red Admiral, 300 yards south of Brookmans Park station  - Rupert Pyrah

1 Red Admiral,  Bengeo and 1 near Amwell End, Ware - Andrew Wood

Tues 2nd November - Butterfly news from Andrew Wood, Sun 31 Oct,  1 Brimstone at Balls Wood; Thu 28 Oct, 1 Comma near Waterford and 
Fri 29 Oct 1,  Red Admiral in Bengeo

Mon 1st November - On Saturday 30th October, Lemsford Village at around midday a Peacock , taking advantage of the sunny weather - Malcolm & Christine Penn

October 2004

Sat 30th October - St Albans, a male Brimstone in my garden at 2 pm, spent about 15 minutes fluttering around & through the hebe bushes. He showed no interest in nectaring & seemed to be searching for a place to hibernate - Malcolm Hull

Red Admiral and Brimstone in Garden N.W. Bishop's Stortford - Jim Fish

Ware garden, 1 Red Admiral pottering around in the shade at 4.15 this afternoon before flying off - Liz Goodyear

Upshire, 3 red admirals, also reported one peacock and a white sp - Andrew Middleton

Fri 29th October - Red admiral at Bishops Stortford on 27th October - Nick Sampford

Thurs 28th October - Hemel Hempstead, one Red Admiral and one Comma in the garden this morning - Malcolm Newland

Today in the garden N.W. Bishop's Stortford, 2 Red Admirals nectaring on a Yellow Buddleia - Jim Fish

Wed 27th October - News from Robert Callf.  On Sunday 24th, Robert joined the LNHS for a walk around Sewardstone  (Essex), they saw 4 species, 1 male Brimstone, Peacock, a white and Holly Blue.  On Monday 25th at Trent Park, Robert and Robin White saw a Red Admiral and yesterday (26th), Robin White saw a Speckled Wood at Trent Park

Tues 26th October - A Merveille du Jour in the lighted subway connecting Bricket Wood Common to Garston Park. Oddly enough, I have not recorded the species here before, probably partly because I have never trapped on the Common later than September. Hornets have evidently had an excellent year (as the report in the latest British Wildlife states): in square TQ19 over the past couple of months I have found them in the churchyard in Aldenham (regularly), in the burial ground at Radlett and at the edge of Aldenham Country Park, in addition to previously established sites - Colin Everett

Painted Lady in field behind the Cricket Field Bishop's Stortford, basking on Dock Leaf. Also from Saturday 23rd in garden N.W.Bishop's Stortford a Hummingbird Hawk Moth - Jim Fish

1 Peacock this lunchtime at Norton Green - Alan Reynolds

Sun 24th October - Bedfords Park (nr Harold Hill, Essex), 2 speckled woods & 1 red admiral - Colin Jupp

2 small coppers at Wilstone reservoir today at 11:00 -  Dave Hutchinson

One Red Admiral, New Road, Melbourn (S. Cambs), ca.12:35 today - Guy Manners

Fri 22nd October - Dagenham Chase, we had a small copper here yesterday (21st) - Tom Clarke

Thurs 21st October - King's Langley on Monday, 1 Peacock news via Dave Chandler

3 butterflies for you from Monday, all Ware = High Street,  green veined white, Croft Road,  small tortoiseshell and red admiral.  They're still hanging on - Nick Sampford

Tues 19th October - Bedford's Park, Essex: speckled wood - Colin Jupp

Mon 18th October - Essex; Green-veined white nectaring on dandelion and small white at Harold Hill,  large white at Warley Hill, Brentwood - Colin Jupp 

Middlesex,Enfield Lock 1 red admiral on ivy, Rammey Marsh 1 peacock - Andrew Middleton

Wed 13th October - Holly Blue feeding on Buddliea at Walkern, Wednesday 13th ......also loads of Hornets (including the odd large queen!) east of Walkern, near St Johns Wood, Bassus Green - Jeff Davies

Sun 10th October - A tantalising late blue sighting, my latest ever holly blue? Whilst gardening on a warm lunchtime in Lower Stondon, BEDS, I saw the infernal creature about twenty yards away it certainly looked blue, but I can honestly say I could only be 60% sure.  Could not chase it far cos my neighbours would not be keen on me rushing through their kitchen to their backyard - Stuart Pittman

Fri 8th October - Due to a mechanical problem at our publisher's mailing house, a small number of Butterfly Conservation members will not have received a copy of the autumn issue of Butterfly magazine this September.   If you have not received Butterfly issue 87, please could you contact Butterfly Conservation at Lulworth on  0870 7744309 or info@butterfly-conservation.org, and they will ensure that you are sent a copy straight away

Thurs 7th October - Hemel Hempstead garden, fresh Red Admirals have built up numbers in the garden to a maximum of seven today with six all feeding at once on Colletia Armata.Two Commas also put in an appearance. © Photo attached of some of the butterflies on Colletia Armata  - Malcolm Newland >>>>>> Seen this lunchtime at Norton Green, Stevenage a nice very new looking Comma - Malcolm & Christine Penn Footpath off road between Clay Hill and Crews Hill, 2 Speckled Wood together and one horse chestnut leaf with the Horse Chestnut Leaf Miner (Cameraria ohridella) - Liz Goodyear & Andrew Middleton

Wed 6th October - News from Mon 4th October p.m. In garden N.W.Bishop's Stortford. Red Admiral (2), Small Tortoiseshell(2), Brimstone (1), Large White and Small White - Jim Fish

Sat 2nd October - Today in the Sewardstone area I saw 3 red admirals, 1 peacock, 3 small whites, 1 small copper and one fresh adult common blue - Andrew Middleton

September 2004

Thurs 30th September - Hemel Hempstead, My fourteenth record of Humming-bird Hawkmoth for the garden this year was nectaring on Verbena Bonariensis in late afternoon. I didn't expect to see so many as the weather hasn't been up to much - Malcolm Newland

Wed 29th September -Two- tailed Pashea seen on Sept 3rd 2004.
Also in the area, Monarchs!, Langs Short Tailed Blue, Long tailed blue, Geranium Bronze  (introduced South African pest!) and Swallowtail. 
This is the only place in mainland Europe you can can see five breeding species of Swift (Little, White rumped, Pallid, Common and Alpine).
Plus an amazing migration....Bee-eaters, Honey Buzzards, Black Kites etc. Bonellis Eagle breed on the Cliffs........ Jeff Davies

Sun 26th September - Wheathampstead: 5 Small Copper on Blackbridge Tip, also a few Small and one Large White, one Comma and one Peacock - Trevor Chapman

Went to Sewardstone and found 2 common blue larvae on bird's foot trefoil, also saw 2 red admirals and 3 small whites - Andrew Middleton >>>>>> its about 3mm long

Ware garden, a Speckled Wood - Liz Goodyear

Thurs 23rd September - Vicarage Farm, 1 Small Heath - Robin White & Robert Callf

We have now started the last week of the 2004 transect season - don't forget to send your results in!

Sun 19th September - I was surprised to see a very fresh Small copper in my garden in Hayes Middlesex, stayed for close on an hour and a half sunning itself - Chris Court

At King's Mead this morning 1 Small Copper, also 1 on the 12th September - Alan Reynolds

Sat 18th September -  The Ruislip Woods Trust is holding a day of talks on the Ruislip Woods on Saturday 30th October (10 - 3.45).  Tickets are £5 - contact Ray Massey on 01895 634253. The meeting will feature illustrated talks on the History of the woods by Eileen Bowlt, the Birds by Ian Johnson, Bats by Patty Briggs, Plants by Colin Bowlt, Butterflies & Moths by Ched George and others on management & conservation. I think it will be an interesting and enjoyable day - Steve Pash

Thurs 16th September - Ware garden, first for the year, 1 Hummingbird Hawkmoth on buddliea - Liz Goodyear

Wed 15th September - In my garden N.W Bishop's Stortford, Painted Lady (1) Red Admiral (2) Comma (1) Small Tortoiseshell (1) Large and Small Whites few. The Red Admirals and Painted Lady were in the Garden right up until sunset nectaring on Verbena Bonariensis and Buddleia - Jim Fish 

A colleague rang me this afternoon with a report of a large yellow caterpillar with a tail in his garden. I told him what it sounded like but that it was rather improbable, then rushed up there. It was, indeed, a deaths head hawk. It is in the pre-pupation stage and we have photographed it and given it some soil. It's the first record for the Rothamsted Estate, I'm pretty sure - Richard Harrington

Essendon area, 3 Red Admirals flying south, otherwise just 2 Comma, 1 Speckled Wood and rather a lot of whites, only one settling long enough to confirm that it was a Small White - Andrew Middleton

Sun 12th September - There seems to be a new brood of comma about. I had 3 on my transect at Bricket Wood yesterday, the most since the spring. Today I saw 2 very fresh specemins, one nectaring on Sedum Spectible on my allotment at Folly Lane St Albans & another nectaring at Michaelmas Daisies at the Rothamstead Institute, Harpenden. Apart from that, numbers of Large, Small & Green-veined Whites as well as Speckled Woods have been good. Nothing else seen this weekend apart from a single (non-migrating) Red Admiral - Malcolm Hull

Fri 10th September - News from 3rd, Blackbridge landfill site, 1 clouded yellow & numerous small heath - Darin Stanley

Tues 7th September - I thought you might be interested in this picture of a Golden Twin-spot chrysodeixis chalcites that I caught in my garden in Greenford, bordering Horsenden Hill overnight on 14th/15th August. Colin Plant has confirmed the record which seems to be an exceptional record, especially for suburban west London - Andy Culshaw

Since the weather was so nice, I thought I would visit some of the tetrads in TL41, that I should have visited in July!  I was hoping to record some late summer butterflies but..........I visited 5 tetrads, and apart from numerous white species, saw very little else.  Grand total of 3 Comma, 1 Red Admiral and 1 1/2 speckled wood.  My initial thought was that the majority of the whites were Small, but sampling told me otherwise, and those I saw on the field edges or along the old railway line at Widford were split 50/50 with Green-veined and a handful of Large adding to records.  I did not sample any flying in the middle of fields though. A lovely day to be out but not if you wanted to see lots of butterflies (other than whites).  Meanwhile in my Ware garden this morning, just from the kitchen window, I saw 2 Comma & 1 Red Admiral. 1 Comma enjoying a rotten pear I had left out.  Later a Peacock on the buddleia (I should have stayed at home!)  - Liz Goodyear

Mon 6th September - News from 1st, One Clouded Yellow still on the Pegsdon Hills. Also a Painted Lady and Brimstone - Nigel Agar

Sun 5th September - This morning at Harpenden Rd, St Albans, Herts, I saw a Red Admiral flying rapidly in a South-westerly direction about 2 meters above the ground. In two hours at the same spot I saw 5 more Red Ads, all heading in the same direction at the same speed - I estimate about 20-25 miles per hour. Is this the first return migration of the year? Has anyone else seen signs of similar behaviour? - Malcolm Hull

Clouded Yellow, patrolling Grass Verge this morning alongside track between the Farnham road and Wickham Hall Farm, Bishop's Stortford - Jim Fish

One Speckled Wood in Therfield Heath NR in the woods bordering the W side of the Therfield-Royston road.  Church Hill (aka the hill to the SW of the reserves): Large and Small Whites in abundance (no green-veined identified today); 2+ female Brown Argus (one clearly on its last legs); several male and female Chalk-hill Blues (some very tatty, others quite fresh-looking); three Small Tortoiseshell; one Comma; three or more Meadow Browns, and plenty of Small Heaths - Guy Manners

Near Patchetts Green on rough ground between the M1 and A41 a very worn Brown Argus, two Common Blues and 8+ Small Whites, the latter feeding on the drying edge of manure piles. Otherwise rather quiet today in the Aldenham/Bushey areas with only Large and Small Whites, Speckled Woods, a few remaining female Meadow Browns and the odd Red Admiral. A Painted Lady (presumably the same individual) appeared regularly on garden buddleias at Garston (Watford) on many dates between 16th August and 2nd September - Colin Everett

Moira and I were at Aldbury Nowers on the 17 August and saw at least 3 Chalk-hill Blues & took photos.  Am attaching the photos plus one of Chalk-hills mating taken at nearby Pitstone Hill. There seemed to be a greater number of them at Pitstone Hill - Glen Barnes

Fri 3rd September - At Therfield near Royston, 3 Clouded Yellows, several Small Heath and Common Blues, high numbers of Large and Green Veined Whites - Darrel Bryant

August 2004

Mon 30th August - In between the showers today: Hexton - Small White 20+, Speckled Wood 14, Meadow Brown 7, Brimstone 4 (2
male, 2 female), Gatekeeper 1. Walkern - Small White 20+, Speckled Wood 8, Comma 1 - Steven Penn

Sun 29th August - After looking through a few books I think Pat Sullivan's caterpillar is that of the Lobster Moth! I was unsure before because I could not see its head and front three pairs of legs which should be longer than those on most caterpillars - Lee Browne

Thurs 26th August -  News from the early August, Andrew Hardacre in Bishops Stortford had a Small Copper in his a garden on the 7th, a garden first

A big surprise at Balls Wood today where among all the Speckled Woods I saw a somewhat battered, but active White Admiral. This is 26 days since my last sighting despite having been able to walk the transect in reasonable conditions each week since then. This beats the previous late date of 21 August in 1996 on the transect and means this year the White Admiral has been "on the wing" here from 17 June to 26 August, that is 70 days which is way over any previous year I have recorded here. By its condition I don't think there can be any question of this being a second brood as some sites outside Hertfordshire had last year - Andrew Wood

Moth record from Lee Valley (Gunpowder Park - Sewardstone, Essex): Latticed Heath Semiothisa clathrata (second generation) - Andrew Palmer

Can anyone help with the id of this caterpillar photo sent to the website

Approx 4cm long and found near Tywyn (on the coast some miles north of Aberystwyth).  The caterpillar was actually found in place named Corris which is 14 miles east from Tywyn.  The length of it was approximately 4 cm and the background in the picture is some wood.  It was found in a back yard - Pat Sullivan

After looking through a few books I think Pat Sullivan's caterpillar is that of the Lobster Moth! I was unsure before because I could not see its head and front three pairs of legs which should be longer than those on most caterpillars - Lee Browne

Tues 24th August - Lots of Clouded Yellow moving through...one in Walkern on Saturday and up to half a dozen in the Therfield heath area last week (Wednesday and Thursday) - Jeff Davies

I was at Hexton on Sunday.  I saw 2 Painted Ladies, 1 Common Blue, 2 Speckled Woods, 10+ Meadow Brown and 10+ Small White. Painted Lady photo attached - Steven Penn

Yesterday, Flood plain on Old Knebworth Lane, Small Copper 1. Gatekeeper 3. Meadow Brown 20+. Speckled Wood 1. Common Blue 20+. Brown Argus 4. Small White 10+. Large White 3. and 3 Small Heath which is the first time I've seen this species at this site!  Lee Browne

News from out of county, we went to Aston Rowant on Sunday for the first time and saw our first Silver-Spotted Skippers, 5 in all, we also saw a Clouded Yellow, Brown Argus, common and Chalkhill Blues, Meadow Browns, Speckled Wood, Large & Small Whites, Small Heaths and Small Coppers( the most we have ever seen in 1 place). We then went onto Bernwood Forest to see if we could spot the Brown Hairstreak, it must have been our lucky day, we arrived about 1.30 and saw 5 different individuals and whilst Sandra got a photo, they were very flighty and the one she took the photo of was not in great condition. Photos attached. The majority of them were only a few feet off the ground on Blackthorn. We also had a Clouded Yellow fly past us, lots of Common Blues, Meadow Browns and a quick glimpse of a Purple Hairstreak - Kevin and Sandra Standbridge

Sunday 22nd August - Weekend news from Robert Callf, male Clouded Yellow Trent Park area and 2 Painted Ladies on buddleia outside flat in Southgate

You might like to link to Upper Thames Branch website where an informative page on Brown Hairstreak developments is available at http://www.lepidoptera.dsl.pipex.com/Mainpages/BHSObs2004.htm  or from the homepage at  http://www.lepidoptera.dsl.pipex.com. We have greatly extended our knowledge of this most elusive butterfly - Tom Dunbar

Ann Piper has visited five central tetrads for the mapping challenge, leaving the remaining blanks looking vulnerable.

Just got back from a weeks holiday in Dorset where I saw two species new to me, the Lulworth Skipper and Adonis Blue. Also saw Grayling, Silver Studded Blue and Wall Brown as well larva of Eyed Hawkmoth, Emperor Moth and Fox Moth... If anyone gets the chance I recommend visiting Studland Bay, Durlston and Wareham Forest - Lee Browne

Sat 21st Aug We went to Pegsdon Hills in Beds today and saw 4 Clouded Yellows, lots of Chalkhill Blues, 2 Painted Ladies, 4 Brown Argus, 3 Brimstones, common blues, large and small whites, meadow browns, gatekeepers, small coppers, small heaths, lots of moths and 4 Buzzards, hobby and kestrels.( 2 photos enclosed)   A good day out.   Kevin and Sandra Standbridge

Excellent views of fem clouded yellow Tylers 'Wood' Thames Chase site nr M25, Essex, plus several painted ladies - Colin Jupp

Tue 17th Aug Seen in our garden in Hertford Heath today, 1 gatekeeper, various Whites, small Tortoiseshell and 1 Elephant Hawkmoth caterpillar, which was found by our Springer Spaniel.   We have also had in our garden every day for the last week a Sunbird, which is feeding on Phygillis. We would appreciate it if someone could identify it for us - Kevin and Sandra Standbridge
Looking in the Field Guide to the Birds of West Africa, the Sunbird may be Nectarinia verticalis (Olive Backed/Green-headed Sunbird).   Jim Fish

At least three of Clouded Yellows at Therfield Heath today, on the flowery banks NE of the Therfield village A505 road, adjoining the golf course - Jeff Davies

Saw a Clouded Yellow at 13:00 today flying south through Ware Park Quarry. Andrew Wood

Stopped off on some wasteland by the North Circular towards Ally Pally and recorded several meadow browns, and single common blue and small copper - AM

I saw 17 Orange Swift and 4 Marbled Beauty moths around my garden in Stevenage last night (16th Aug).  No moth trap required. Steven Penn

Recent sightings from Rupert Pyrah - 21 June - North Mymms Park - White Admiral @ Redwell Wood. 26 July - NMPk - Small Copper. 15 August - NMPk - Common Blue. 14 August - Dame Alice Owens School, Potters bar - Clouded Yellow

Sunday 15th August - At King's Mead, 2 Meadow Brown, 1 Holly Blue, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Essex Skipper, 1 Small Skipper, 2 Painted Lady, 3 Common Blue and 2 Brown Argus. Also a Brown Argus on the 8th August. The Argus records are the first for the site - Alan Reynolds

Stevenage Transect - Millennium Wood, at about 1:30pm a Clouded Yellow seen amongst the thistles   Peter Clarke

Went to the gravel pits at Bengeo, 4 small heaths, 3 male and 1 female common blue, Red Admiral, Green Veined White and Large White, meadow browns and gatekeepers. Also 8 Treble-Bar moths, angle shades moth and a  Dun-bar - Kevin and Sandra Standbridge

I spent an hour at Norton Green this afternoon and saw 10+ Gatekeepers, a dozen Large Whites, Meadow Browns,  3 Painted Lady and 5 Common Blue - Ian Hardy

Sun 25th July - Chorleywood area - I came home at about 12.30 pm to find a Marbled White butterfly on my Zepherin Drouhin rose in the front garden of my house. I have not seen it before or since - Katharine Hornsby

Fri 13th Aug - Today (approx 13.00) I saw a tatty Silver Washed Fritillary at the entrance to Brampton woods, Cambs (I've notified their recorder). On Wednesday 9th at about 16.00 hours, good sunshine between mega thunderstorms, I popped into Whitbarrow Scar, Cumbria and saw  5 High Brown Fritillaries (two still in good nick), 6 Silver Washed frits (various conditions) and 1 tatty Dark Green Frit. A few Wall browns were also present. At 18.00 hours, still dry and sunny, I saw dozens of Scotch Argus and a couple of unidentified Frits at Arnside Knott. Not a bad couple of hours! Jeff Davies

A Yellow Belle, new moth for me last night in Enfield, Middx, was this . I've since read it tends to be coastal, and is also established alongside the Thames in East London. Colin Plant's Herts moth list gives the last record for Herts dated 1834. Andrew Middleton

Wed 11th Aug - Richard Bigg has 'bashed' several more tetrads in TL42 - see updated map

I saw several common blue, brown argus, small heath, brimstone and marbled white at Aldbury Nowers, then over the border at Pitstone Hill I enjoyed 3 male chalk-hill blues and 2 clouded yellows - A Middleton

Enquiry from Yaxley, Peterborough: I have a buddleja in the garden which attracts a huge number of butterflies of different types and it now seems to have attracted something else!   Not being a expert (or even a novice), I haven't got a clue what it might be, can you help please? Fred Holmwood
In answer to Fred Holmwood's query about the caterpillar found on his Buddlia it is a Privet Hawkmoth Larva and Buddlia is a known Larval food plant...  Lee Browne

Blackbridge Landfill, 3 clouded yellow, 30+ small Heath, 1 comma, large whites, meadow browns, 2 tortoiseshell - Darin Stanley

Tue 10th Aug - Three Clouded Yellows seen on three successive days in deepest Bedfordshire over the long weekend including one on the Sharpenhoe Clapppers transect;three across Hertfordshire & one just over the border at Ivinghoe Beacon (Bucks) so I wonder if we are going to have another Clouded Yellow year this year?  This signs look promising from here in the South Midlands and I've asked my two branches to go on "  CY alert" David Chandler

Visited 10km square TQ 29 (Dancers Hill, Scratchwood, Dollis Hill, Finchley etc) after the rain and managed to find meadow brown and gatekeeper in 6 of the 7 blank tetrads before running out of time. Also found small heath, small copper, common blue, brown argus, purple hairstreak, holly blue, speckled wood and various whites, but of the 150 butterflies noted, only one was a Nymphalid - a painted lady in Brunswick Cemetery, shortly before I was asked to leave. There are still blank tetrads in need of a visit, mainly into central London (SE Middx) and NE Herts, and also dotted around elsewhere - the summer visit is especially concerned with recording meadow brown and gatekeeper, so can be 'fairly' easy. Any blank summer tetrads surveyed, please email me and I'll update the map - thanks Andrew Middleton

Sun 8th Aug - My parents were at Frogmore on Sunday and they saw a tatty Silver Washed Fritillary on a buddleia.  I have attached the photo taken by Douglas Penn - Steven Penn

Went for a walk this afternoon in a field near Knebworth Golf course and found one  feeding on Lady's Bedstraw. - Lee Browne

Gunpowder Park, nr Waltham Abbey: seven clouded yellows, 12.30-2.30pm - Martin Shepherd/Enfield Lock Conservation Group

Saw a Clouded Yellow in a field by the A30 in Staines (TQ068729) on my way back from tetrad recording on Staines Moor.  At Staines Moor, my sightings included Common Blue (29), Small Copper (13), Painted Lady (1), Small Heath (2), as well as good numbers of Meadow Brown. - John Eborall

Norton Green - Visited the area south of Norton Green today between 3 and 4pm in the hope of finding a Silver-Washed Fritillary but to no avail. Still saw some Purple Hairstreaks, Small/Essex Skippers, Speckled Woods, Holly Blues, whites, a Painted Lady, a Small Tortoiseshell as well as many Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns.   Peter Clarke............Failed to see the Silver Washed Fritillary this morning between 1030 and 1240. I did see several Purple hairstreaks, and one Painted Lady among the masses of Gatekeepers, Meadow browns, Skippers and Whites. - Phil Bishop

Near Bricket Wood a Clouded Yellow flying back and forth over a set-aside field between Munden Spring and Munden Drive; also two Brown Argus and a Small Copper there. On the Bricket Wood transect walk numbers were about 40% of those recorded in the preceding two weeks but included Brown Argus, Painted Lady, 3 Small Copper and still 3 (very worn) Large Skipper - Colin Everett

Clouded Yellow flying over disused allotments Rye Street Bishop's Stortford.   Jim Fish

Sat 7th Aug - 1 Clouded Yellow at Dagenham Chase about 2.30pm today (Saturday) - Tom Clarke

Therfield Heath: good numbers of small heath mid-afternoon (20+) - Martin Shepherd  

2 clouded yellows seen Sat. 7th Aug. at Duchies Piece, and 1 on top of Ivinghoe Beacon - Barry Palfrey

Coverage of several tetrads in the Abbots Langley area produced two Brown Argus in the very sympathetically managed St Lawrence Churchyard in the High Street, Small Copper in two tetrads and Painted Ladies on garden buddleias at two sites - Colin Everett

Silver Washed Fritillary @ Norton Green, seen several times (same individual) 12:30 - 1:30pm. Also P. Hairstreak & Smalll Copper. - Toby Austin

Fri 6th Aug - lunchtime-  Silver Washed Fritillary was still at Norton Green (since the 2nd). Same place. Also Brimstone (1) Small Copper (2), Peacock (1), Purple Hairstreak (3), Holly Blue (1), Common Blue (1), Small Skippers, Browns and Whites. - Trevor Chapman

I went to the Oxfordshire woods today and saw c15 brown hairstreaks at various locations - see Upper Thames website for more information - Andrew Middleton

Scrub Hill, Thorndon Park Essex, clouded yellow for Martin Wright, 15+ brown argus, 8 small heath, 10 small copper - news from Colin Jupp who missed the CY .Als, Thames Chase area, 14 brown argus, 6 painted lady, good nos common blue, 5 small copper.

THURS 5TH AUG, LUNCHTIME WALK DOWN LANE SOUTH OF NORTON GREEN BETWEEN 12 AND 1PM PRODUCED THE SILVER WASHED FRITILLARY APPROX 300 YARDS  SOUTH OF WOODMANS ARMS PUB AND AS FAR DOWN TO THE CLEARING WERE A SOFA HAS BEEN DUMPED.THIS BUTTERFLY SPENDS MOST OF ITS TIME FLYING UP AND DOWN THE LANE, BUT SETTLES OCCASIONALLY ON THE SPEAR THISTLE WERE GOOD VIEWS WERE OBTAINED.ALSO SEEN WERE SEVERAL PURPLE HAIRSTREAKS, HOLLY BLUE, SMALL COPPER, AND PEACOCKS.- DARREL BRYANT 

Wed 4th August - An evening visit to the oak-dominated Tanners Wood in Abbots Langley established that Purple Hairstreaks are present, but the small count of five in half an hour (1930 to 2000 hours) suggests that the population at this site is fairly low. Nonetheless, this is the first record of the species for the tetrad (TL00 V) although my comments in respect of Harebreaks Wood last week also apply in the present case - Colin Everett 

I saw a Silver Washed Fritillary in the lane south of Norton Green today. TL 229 230 - Steven Penn

Walked along Nicky Line today at 13:15 and spotted a Purple Hairstreak on an oak tree at about 50m East of track to Woodend Farm (TL087099).   Also, in Tring Park on 17/07/04 at 16:00 saw a Hummingbird Hawk Moth on Lady's bedstraw  - Roger Prue

Bedfords CP, Essex, 19 species of butterfly today inc. 3 skippers, holly and c.blue, 5 vanessids inc. a painted lady, single white-letter and purple hairstreak, also 13 species of Odonata - Colin Jupp

This morning (4th) on Gunpowder Park (former Royal Ordnance Site), Waltham Abbey, Essex– 2 Clouded Yellow and a Painted Lady - Andrew Palmer

Gunpowder Park, nr Waltham Abbey: two clouded yellows, small copper and two painted ladies this lunchtime.  Also two painted ladies in Enfield Lock garden this afternoon, plus gatekeeper...a garden first - Martin Shepherd

Tue 3rd August - I took a walk around the fields at the gravel pits at Bengeo (on the right hand side where the old works are still present) the weather was not very nice and only saw a few Gatekeepers , Meadow Browns and Large and Small Whites but on the way back saw a beautiful Black Arches Moth - Sandra Standbridge

Mon 2nd August - On a hot and sunny day, I took a stroll down the lane south of Norton Green. I stopped to watch a group of whites nectaring on Spear Thistle, when I saw an orangey-brown butterfly a bit further on, which I assumed would be a Comma or Painted Lady. On closer inspection it turned out to be a Silver-washed Fritillary. I watched it for about 30 seconds from a range of 1 metre when it flew off north up the lane. I carried on to the field gate where there are more nectaring plants on the off chance of seeing another, but no luck. I returned to the spot and was joined by Malcolm Penn, where we relocated the butterfly and watched it for a further 2 minutes, in flight and settled down to ranges of 2 metres- Alan Reynolds

I was in Newton Wood this afternoon and saw 40+Gatekeeper, 20+ Meadow Brown, 10 Purple Hairstreak, 20+ Large Skipper, 1 Marbled white, and 20+ Large Whites - Ian Hardy

Good news I've seen a silver washed fritillary in same location as last two years. Due to work I haven't spent much time there as I would like but spent my lunch break there today. It was seen with in 500 yards from where the two were first seen last year and half a mile away from where the one was seen 2 years ago. Also wall brown, Saturday 31st July nr Buntingford in a small garden centre on the Buntingford /Hare Street Road. First painted lady yesterday in my garden (Thundridge) on buddliea in total I had 11 species visit the garden - Nick Sampford

Sun 1st August - I was in the Bramfield area today doing a search for White Admirals of which I found two, when I spotted a Silver-washed Fritillary. Managed to get a few pic's - Lee Browne

Sightings for 31/7/04 for Great Ashby Park/Box Wood area:- 3 Small Copper, 40+ Brown Argus, 1 Brimstone, Common Blue, Holly Blue, 2 Essex Skipper, 100+ Gatekeepers, Meadow Brown, Peacock, Large, Small and Green Veined Whites, all being chased by 3 Migrant Hawkers -Steve Lane

1 Painted Lady, 12 Holly Blue at Coppetts Wood Sat. 31st July - Tony Clancy

Went for walk in Balls Wood this morning, saw hundred plus Gatekeepers, 10 Peacocks, Meadow Browns, 4 large Skippers, small skippers, Large, Small and Green Veined Whites in good numbers, a few Speckled Woods and 2 worn Ringlets also saw 2 Brown Argus, we also saw a Purple and Gold Pyralid and we think some form of Carpet Moth. In the past week we have seen in our garden in Hertford Heath, a White Letter Hairstreak, a Purple Hairstreak, 3 Holy Blues, Large,  Small and Green Veined Whites, Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns, Peacocks, Small Tortoiseshell, Commas, lots of Old Lady Moths, Brimstone Moth, Large Yellow Underwing and an Emerald moth. We also had a Barn Owl flying  around the garden. A couple of pictures are attached - Sandra and Kevin Standbridge

Tom Clarke reported Marbled White from Ally Pally on 29th a first for the site, I think. Whilst out there on Saturday (31st) looking unsuccessfully for the little rascal, I did see 2 Small Copper and 3 Common Blue amongst myriad Whites, Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown. David Bevan reports record numbers on his transect at Railway Fields over the last two weeks, topping the hundred a fortnight ago, including 74 Gatekeeper - astonishing numbers for such a small site. Railway Fields also had a Toadflax Brocade in the moth trap on Friday 30th. Are their numbers exploding also? Marcel Ashby reports 5 this year in his trap up the road in Wood Green! - Keir Mottram

Bricket Wood transect: 184 butterflies of 14 species. A good year there for Small Skipper and probably the best ever for Large Skipper, of which 7 were still on the wing. Numbers of Speckled Wood - having a poor year, as has been widely noted - have begun to pick up over the past few days. Evidence of dispersal into the wood by Small Copper & Holly Blue; oviposition by Green-veined White on Cardamine pratensis (Cuckoo Flower). Also on the site were two common longhorn beetles (Leptura strangalia and L. melanura) and the obligatory worker Hornet. In nearby Garston Park six Small Coppers (including a pair courting but not mating) and a Purple Hairstreak low down on an oak. Several eggs of the latter species were found during a fairly cursory search: they are very easy to find, may be searched for any time between now and the end of winter and are often on young 'scrub' oaks; one tree on which I found an egg could not have been more than ten years old - Colin Everett

Summer tetrad visits from 30th July, Started at 12.00 - 13.15, Walked along Icknield Way Path off A.507 North East of Baldock
passed Ivel Grange to TL250 360 returning NE / SW on bridleway to meet lower track from Bygrave  and back to Blackhorse Farm. Small Skipper  2,  Large Skipper  5, Large White 16, Small White 44, Green Veined White 2, Brown Argus 1, Holly Blue 3, Small Tortoiseshell 1, Peacock 1 (in middle of wheatfield down on the path), Comma 4, Gatekeeper 10, Meadow Brown 3, Total   92 - Val Fullforth

Ware garden, the Peacock count got to 14 today - Liz Goodyear

JULY 2004

Sat 31st July - On a hot and sunny day during dragonfly Atlas work 3 Holly Blue, 1 Small Copper, 25 Small White, 2 Peacock, 4 Meadow Brown and 10 Gatekeeper at The Grove Golf Club, 1 Speckled Wood, 3 Common Blue, 5 Gatekeeper, 3 Marbled White, 5 Small Skipper, 1 Essex Skipper, 10 Small White and 1 Red Admiral at Sarratt Bottom - Alan Reynolds

An update to my previous records from these three Stevenage sites . All sites still showed good numbers of Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown. 20+ Small, Large and Green Veined Whites and still a few Essex and Small Skippers but obviously comming to the end of their season. Did not see any Small Tortoiseshell: Roebuck Woodland, also saw Small Copper 3. Holly Blue 8. Speckeld Wood 10. Peacock 4. Comma 2. Flood plain on Old Knebworth Lane, also saw Small Copper 8. Speckeld Wood 3. Common Blue 30+. Brown Argus 10+. Peacock 6. Comma 2. Brimstone 1. Waste land between golf course and rail track, also saw Small Coppers 10+. Common Blue 10+. Brown Argus 5+. Peacock 4. Spent a great deal of time in the area of Norton Green and Newton Wood last Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th and must have seen 100+ Purple Hairstreaks. 50+ Marbled Whites and uncountable numbers of Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns, Small and Essex Skippers as well as good numbers of all three Whites, Small Coppers and Large Skippers - Lee Browne

An unspectacular dozen species in tetrad TQ19 P (between Aldenham and Radlett) included Small Copper and Small & Essex Skipper, all of which were found at the derelict and unmanaged former PYO Fruit Farm near Blackbirds Farm. At the south end of Radlett in an adjacent tetrad a variety of insects on Tansy included at least three examples of the Nationally Notable Adonis' Ladybird. Elsewhere nearby one Marbled White at Netherwylde Farm and two playful Weasels in Drop Lane near Bricket Wood - Colin Everett

Ware garden, by 11 o'clock, at least 4 Gatekeeper, 1 Meadow Brown, 2 Comma, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Red Admiral, Small, Green-vein & Large Whites, all mostly nectaring on fleabane, marjoram, buddleia & scabious but also a Holly Blue gorging itself on Hebe "Blue Skies" which is also a favourite of the Gatekeepers! 2 o'clock update, increase 1 Holly Blue seen to 3 in the garden simultaneously, 1 site selecting for egg laying purposes and add Small Skipper & a late Large Skipper - Liz Goodyear

Fri 30th July - Stevenage, a lunchtime walk at work produced 10 species in 20 minutes. Small Copper (5) doing well, as were Small Heath (6). But new to site was Brown Argus (2); a good year for these maybe. Also Painted Lady (1), Small Whites, Common Blue (1), Meadow Browns, Peacock (2), and Small Skipper (2). Gatekeepers being the most numerous species at the moment - Trevor Chapman

Thurs 29th July - I was walking near Norton Green again this lunch time and a couple pointed out a White Admiral to me - Steven Penn

Counted 27 Purple Hairstreaks on 13 (mainly lone-standing) Oaks in the south side of Sunny Hill Park, Hendon,  between 1910h and 2010h last night. One observed flying over c30m of open grassland to an Ash tree. Late news from Saturday 24 July: 16 species found in the Mill Hill to Totteridge area east of Darlands Lake Nature Reserve: Large Skipper (just one), Small Skipper (hundreds), Essex Skipper (hundreds), Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Holly Blue, Purple Hairstreak, Small Copper, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma, Red Admiral, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper (hundreds), and Speckled Wood. Also 11 species at the north end of Sunny Hill Park, Hendon  by the A1: Small White (3), Large White (6), Green-veined White (2), Small Skipper (26), Essex Skipper (12), Small Copper (1), Purple Hairstreak (2), Holly Blue (1), Peacock (1), Meadow Brown (16) and Gatekeeper (42) - Fraser Simpson

On Wednesday, started from Pirton Village  -  Icknield Way Path, Brimstone 2, Large White 17, Small White 37, Green Veined 6, Peacock  3, Speckled Wd  4, Gatekeeper 22, Meadow Br  6, Ringlet 1, Total 98. In a bid to see Dragonflies at the request of Christine Shepperson,  at 12.30  we ventured into TL12P near Old Wellbury to the grassland area there. Numerous Gatekeeper,   Whites, Meadow Brown, but also saw 3 Marbled Whites,  2 Small Tortoiseshell and 1 Small Skipper. Highlight........... Bullfinches  2 - Dragonflies  NONE! - Val Fullforth

Wedneday in tetrad TL10 B near the M25 west of Bricket Wood, a veritable population explosion of Brown Argus: 40+ in a location I have not previously known to hold more than one or two, although there is an abundance of Geranium spp. Also present were 3 Small Coppers and single Common Blue & Essex Skipper, as well as the Nationally Notable hoverfly Volucella inanis and the beetle Oedemera nobilis.    In the evening at Harebreaks Wood NR in North Watford at least 24 Purple Hairstreaks counted in 15 minutes (1920-1935 hours) despite cloud and a stiff breeze. A quick examination of all the obvious sources shows no previous records of the species in this tetrad (TQ19 E) but this is almost certainly because neither I nor anyone else has ever looked for them properly before - Colin Everett

Tues 27th July - 6pm in Stevenage - 7 Holly Blues, 2 Large Whites and 1 Small White. Saturday - my parents visited Hexton and they saw 1 Red Admiral, 6 Peacocks, 4 Small Tortoiseshells, 25+ Chalkhill Blues, 20+ Brimstones (male and female), 6 Ringlets, 25+ Meadow Browns, 20+ Gatekeepers, 30+ Large, Small/Essex Skippers, 20+ Whites (Large, Small and Green Veined), 2 Marbled Whites and 1 White Letter Hairstreak - Steven Penn

Bricket Wood: 2nd brood Brown Argus, single White Admiral, Small Copper & Marbled White and good numbers of Small Skipper and Holly Blue. By nearby Munden Drive a White-letter Hairstreak on a fence beneath a single elm tree (Wych Elm-type); looking into the canopy of the tree revealed it or another individual in flight. Although an isolated tree it is <400 metres from the nearest known WLH colony and may be supporting a population of its own.    Warm evenings over the next week or two would be an ideal time to "tetrad-bash" for Purple Hairstreaks: counts this evening in the Bricket Wood tetrad (TL10 F) included 66 in Garston Park in fifteen minutes (1920-1935 hours) and 71 along the southern edge of Mutchetts Wood in half an hour (1940-2010 hours). I strongly suspect that activity had decreased by the time the second count commenced; the best time is probably roughly half an hour either side of 7pm - Colin Everett

Radwell, on public footpath, (near River Ivel and Radwell Lake), explosion of Gatekeepers on brambles and grasses 50+ a number of Meadow Browns, 6-7 Ringlets around same area in grasses. Also 2 Brown Hawkers - chasing & fast flying. Drove slowly around area TL 230 360 to TL 230 380  i.e. east of A.1 to Hullockpit Hill/Newnham/Caldecote and back to the A.1.  Numerous large white, small white over arable fields of wheat, beans and along lane verges.    Also Gatekeepers evident - Val Fullforth

News from Sunday 25th July - Wheathampstead - Hummingbird Hawk-moth on Red Valerian in High Ash Road - Trevor Chapman

Mon 26th July - Box wood area 10+ brown argus, 1 small copper, 1 peacock, ringlet, gatekeeper, meadow brown and small skippers all in good numbers also 5 Purple Hairstreaks in Watery Grove, Norton Green about 10 days ago - Darrel Bryant

TQ0674, One of the sites I visited at the weekend in this tetrad was a bit of a star.  I found 3 Brown Argus, 1 Essex Skipper, 2 Essex/Small Skippers and 1 Small Copper was well as the usual whites and browns.  All this within ¼-½ mile of the Heathrow cargo terminal.  The site is not particularly pretty, simply wasteland with lost of old tyres and other bits of rubbish.   I also saw E/S Skippers at another site in the same tetrad that is effectively adjacent to the airport perimeter road.  I have seen Small Heath in that area before but unfortunately not this time - David Cooling

This afternoon, 16:00-17:00 - Therfield Heath NR (sensu stricto): White species, 3. Fox Covert NR: White sp/p., several Gatekeeper 2,  Meadow Brown/Ringlet, 1 Church Hill: Chalk-hill Blue: seemingly abundant (males) in bright sunshine, single 360-degree scan yielded 15 males from near top of hill; however, the species was over-spilling (at least over-flying) over hill ridge (N), and down slope to W and SSW---I would guess in excess of 60 flying males; 1-2 females provided excellent views of upper and under wings atop hill in sun, males only "posed" when clouds obscured sun (wish I'd had a camera there!). Males aggressive toward each other and to whites, occasionally flying up to almost 2 m with whites. Small White, numerous (6+++ ) Large White, quite a few, but not as numerous as Small Peacock, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Gatekeeper, 5+++ (numerous at bottom of SSW slope) Meadow Brown, maybe 3++Essex Skipper, 1 Poss. Small Skipper, 1Burnett moth sp., 4++ - Guy Manners

Sun 25th July - News from 20 July:   We examined the foliage around Goose Green car park looking for White Hairstreaks but no luck. We then walked north to the radio mast and then back to the car park seeing Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns, Ringlets, Small Skippers, Comma, Green-veined White, Holly Blue and Speckled Wood but no White Admiral. Weather was dull.  Crossed road and walked down ride and turned right heading towards Broxbourne Wood. We scanned the oak where we had seen the Purple Hairstreaks on the 13th and saw two of them again, on another nearby oak. We stopped at the puddle where I had photo'ed the Purple Emperor male and had first seen the Purple Hairstreaks and we scanned the tree tops but no sighting of Purple Hairstreaks. Carried on down the ride and saw three Hares come out of the trees and run up the ride towards us. They almost reached us before they realised that we were there and ran back into the trees. I took 3 photos, 1 of which is reasonable. A few moments later a Muntjac left the trees where the Hares had, and crossed the ride.   We turned back before we reached Broxbourne Wood. The sun was now starting to appear for short periods of time. We had almost reached the junction where we turn right to return to the car park when Moira spotted a tatty White Hairstreak on a thistle. 2 photos taken. Other butterflies, etc seen on this section of the walk as follows - White Admirals, Commas, Peacocks, Holly Blues, Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns, Whites, Cinnabar Moth cats feeding on Ragwort, Brown Hawker, Southern Hawker and Blue Damselfly Yesterday, 24 July, we had a Marbled White on the Hebe in our St. Albans garden  - a first garden sighting for us! It was in the company of Comma, Small Tortoiseshell, Gatekeeper, Holly Blue and Large Whites -  Glen & Moira Barnes

Saw 16 butterfly species in 2hrs of tetrad surveying in the Edmonton area, most interesting species for this suburban area being small copper, common blue and purple hairstreak. Found larvae of Small Ranunculus quite easily on prickly lettuce in 3 tetrads, as well as trapping one last night in Ponders End (10th this year) and seeing 30+ eggs on the flower buds of a prickly lettuce plant in my garden - Andrew Middleton

Male Silver-washed Fritillary again seen in a Herts wood today

Sat 24th July - Derry's Wood, Wormley Woods, 2.00-3.00pm: seven white admirals and several ringlets - Martin Shepherd

Went on Robert Callf's walk round Trent Park today. Plenty of butterflies about and 16+ species which I'm sure he'll report. "1 hummingbird hawk moth at Trent Park seen by the fungus-foraying subgroup which got detached inadvertently from the main party on Robert Callf's
excellent walk - sorry, Robert!" - Keir Mottram

An hour in tetrad TQ19 N at Letchmore Heath (roughly between Radlett and Hilfield Park Res) yielded 13 species, including Purple Hairstreak, Small Copper and both Small & Essex Skipper. Nearby in tetrad TQ19 I a few species included three Small Coppers (as well as many Six-spot Burnets) in a wild patch, evidently created for butterflies, in the grounds of the former US University at Bushey and a pair of Holly Blues fluttering about in copula at Bushey Cemetery - Colin Everett

Highdown, Nice to see two white -letter hairstreaks on the old  transect at wood lane lane today.  Up until today I thought holly blue was only having an average year but to count 15 in a stretch of 200yards  I thought pretty exceptional!! Also big Large white numbers of 31 and 30 gatekeepers just on one small marjoram patch, the icing on the cake was a Chalkhill blue well away from usual Herts haunts (of course the Beds colony at Knocking hoe is nearby ) my best butterfly day of the year with 16 species - Stuart Pittman

I had a large fritillary in my back garden (Wareside) this afternoon, Saturday 24 July.  I got a clear view of the top as it paused briefly on my hemp agrimony, but it whizzed off before giving me any view of the underwing.  From my limited obsevation, and reading your site, it seems most likely to have been a silver-washed.  I am a novice at butterflies, but there isn't much I could have mixed it up with: much bigger and rounder than the commas and no black and white like a painted lady (and the wrong shape). I also had a white-letter hairstreak which I am quite certain of, as it stayed nice and still while I checked it out! - Nicky Huckle

Fri 23rd July - Stevenage area of scrub opposite Stevenage garden centre. Park in bus stop and walked over bank and species seen, 1 peacock, 4 small tortoiseshell, 3 comma, 3 brimstone, small, large and green veined white, 2 marbled white (viewed from bus stop) 40+gatekeeper,30+meadow brown, good numbers of small and large skippers, and several holly blues.all between 2-3pm - Darrel

Sights for Great Ashby Park/Box Wood for 22/23 July 10+ Brown Argus, 3 Marbled Whites, Small and Essex Skippers, Large, Small and Green Veined Whites, Small Tortoiseshell, Holly Blue, 30+ Gatekeepers, Meadow Brown and Ringlet. Sights for my Stevenage garden: Brimstone, Comma, Red Admiral, Peacock, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Holly and Common Blue, Ringlet, Large, Small and Green Veined Whites, Small Skipper, Hummingbird Hawk Moth and Nut Tree Tussock - Steven Lane (Steven has sought advice on his Wall sighting, so is now unsure but whatever it was, it wasn't a normal Hertfordshire butterfly!)

At lunchtime I walked the same route through Norton Green as Alan Reynolds did on Tuesday. I saw plenty of Meadow Browns, Gatekeepers, Small\Essex Skippers, Small\Green Veined Whites.  Also 1 Red Admiral (photo attached), 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Peacock, 1 Brimstone (photo attached), 2 Marbled Whites, 2 Large Whites and the highlight of the day, a White Letter Hairstreak - Steven Penn

A visit to Broxbourne woods this afternoon (2.30 - 4pm) revealed the following: 3 White Admirals - 1 of which was pristine (near the Hemp agrimony) 1 Peacock, 1 Comma, 1 Brimstone, several Meadow browns & skippers (not sure if essex or small) 4 Large whites. No Purple Emperors seen - Les Borg (they are still about though so do keep looking - LG)

Visiting the apparently unrecorded tetrad TQ09 T (west of Watford), I spent an hour in the superb (if dog-infested) Whippendell Wood SSSI. A dozen species included 2 White Admirals, 3 Small Coppers and 1 (possibly 2) White-letter Hairstreaks. Examples of all three species were nectaring on Creeping Thistle in glades in the middle of the wood, as were most of the butterflies recorded. Nearby a Purple Hairstreak low down on oaks on The Grove estate. Holly Blues everywhere in the district so if any of you have not already recorded this species or Small Copper in your local tetrad(s), then go get 'em this weekend! - Colin Everett

Thurs 22nd July - Had a clouded yellow by St Edmunds College today about 2.15 watched it for 3/4 minutes on the setaside field by the bus stop - Nick Sampford

I spent an hour in tetrad TQ19 E (for which there are no recent records) at lunchtime. Fieldwork was centred on North Watford Cemetery where four Small Coppers indicated the presence of colonies on at least two discrete stands of sorrel and shows how the species can respond when municipal areas are not too closely or too frequently shaved. Also among the 11 species noted were several scattered Holly Blues - Colin Everett

Tues 20th July - There is the possibility that collectors are visiting the Broxbourne Wood NR - there have been two reports now of people seen with nets or accessories.  There are some people who have a legitimate reason for using/holding a net but when it is hidden from view as someone passes, that's when it starts to look suspicious - please keep a watch out for these people so they can't do what they want to do -  LG 

Broxbourne Wood NR, I was also there yesterday morning; arrived about 10.30 and a single male Purple Emperor was visible, mainly sitting in the trees, with one or two soars between branches. Alarmingly, about 11.00, while it was sitting in full view, wings folded, about 20' above the ground, we saw a flurry in the foliage behind where it was sitting, and the Purple Emperor was not seen again (at least, not up to the time I left at about 11.45. It may, therefore, alas, have been eaten by a bird! - Michael Hammerson

Mon 19th July - Batford Golf Pond 1000 - 1230, 6+ Marbled White, 30+ Gatekeeper, 1 small copper, 2 meadow brown, 1 Holly Blue, 2 Green veined White, Large whites, 3 comma, 1 speckled wood, small skipper, 1 peacock, 1 small Tortoiseshell and later at 18:45, 5 Purple Hairstreaks - Darin Stanley

Amwell nature reserve, birdwatchers viewpoint:  Peacock at 17.15 - Martin Shepherd

Brother, Adrian saw a Silver-washed Fritillary at home (home to be confirmed), upon returning yesterday afternoon. The sighting was at 5 and on buddleia. I wish I hadn't gone back to work! I saw a Hummingbird Hawk moth at 9 this morning, also on the Buddleia at home - Clive Burrows

This lunchtime, I took a walk down the lane south of Norton Green to the flower meadow between Norton Green and Burleigh Meadow. The meadow was in excellent shape and a blaze of colour with Lady's Bedstraw, Agrimony, Creeping Thistle, Black Knapweed, Betony, Centaury and many more. The sun came out and I think that I can safely say that I haven't seen so many butterflies in one place for at least 20 years. There were Small White, Large White, Comma, Small Tortoiseshell, Ringlet and absolutely dozens of Meadow Brown, Small Skipper and Gatekeeper. But the highlight was 10 Marbled White because, as far as I can remember, previously I have only seen singletons at this site - Alan Reynolds

Broxbourne Wood NR, Finally made it... ! Met about seven others already there. Purple Emperor reportedly seen around 10:30 this morning. Small Skipper, 3++; Small White, numerous; Purple Hairstreak, c.3+; White Admiral, 3; Peacock, 2 (between the car parks); probable Speckled Wood, 1 (between car parks); Gatekeeper, 1; Meadow Brown, numerous; Ringlet, 1 - Guy Manners

Nick Sampford's report from Saturday 17th when he held a special day at Broxbourne Wood NR, showing off optical equipment. A small group of people had gathered by 10.15 when the heavens opened up and it poured for nearly hour, we all hid under our umbrellas and waited patiently for it to break. By 11.15 it stopped and it warmed up and at 11.30 a male purple emperor flew rapidly around the sallows and oak and disappeared into the main wood, the group was now 30+ people and most saw a very brief but good view of a male emperor. By 12 all the butterfly action had stopped and it had started raining again a few people had decided to call it a day, but 20 + people decided to brave it and sit it out and by 1 the weather had brightened. A few people drifted off and more arrived keeping the numbers at around 20 for most of the day. At 2.06 a female Purple Emperor was seen in the sallows, which performed for nearly 10 minutes. At 2.25 a male purple emperor flew rapidly along the sallows and disappeared, then at 2.40 and  at 2.42 male purple emperors were seen 300 m apart along the track neither stayed long enough for everyone to see both of them - Nick Sampford (several photos later)

We went to Goose Green car park and did a repeat of last Tuesday's walk. Did not see any White Admirals as we walked north up the path but did see a Holly Blue, Ringlets, Small Skipper, Gatekeeper, Comma and, when we returned to the car park, on the plants beside it, 3 Small Tortoiseshells.  Crossed the road and walked down the path past two ponds  Walked  towards Broxbourne Wood and then turned back.  We saw 6 White Admirals on the outward walk and 3 on the way back also 1 Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, 2 Gatekeepers and 5 Commas. No Purple Emp. seen but on the way back we stopped by 'his' puddle and looked and saw 3 small butterflies flying around the top of a tree. They were Purple Hairstreaks! And one came down and drank from beside the puddle for 10 minutes giving me photos. We carried on heading back and we saw 2 more purple Hairstreaks on a Turkey Oak - Glen Barnes

Coming in to work this morning I added yet another new species to the list for the Museum's Wildlife Garden, without even running the light trap! The moth was sitting on the wall of the Entomology block, having been attracted to one of the security lights. The moth in question was a slightly worn example of the Small Ranunculus Hecatera dysodea ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775), the recent re-coloniser - Martin Honey

Sun 18th July - Stevenage garden; 1 White-letter Hairstreak (female? I think), Wall, Gatekeeper, Ringlet, Small Skipper, Large and Small White. Great Ashby Park/Box Wood, 6 Marbled Whites, 20+ Gatekeepers, 10+ Ringlets, 10+ Small Skippers, 10+ Essex Skippers, Large and Small Whites, 3 Small Tortoiseshells. Most of these butterflies were sighted on a short path between the very end of Box Wood and a small plantation area on Great Ashby Park - Steve Lane

Broxbourne Wood NR field trip report; the day started gloomy and not one butterfly was flying. About 25 people (more later) came along and waited for the rain to stop and for the sun to shine.  The rain did stop but the sun didn't really get going and several people after seeing White Admiral, as well as some roosting Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown & Ringlet when it was dull decided to go home.  However at 2.06 hrs, in better sunshine a female was seen and almost immediately joined by a second Purple Emperor.  One of these dived into the trees and was observed feeding from a sap run for 40 minutes.  A while later one of these females was seen flying around the sallows giving a fantastic aerial display to the remaining onlookers, some having only just arrived as the first activity started (they were very lucky).  Patience was the word of the day!  At 4pm some of us then drove around to Broxbourne Common and we were all about to leave when we spotted a male flying in the same gap found yesterday.  Another flight and it perched in view on the top of an oak in weak sunshine - we then realised that there was a second Purple Emperor about 2 feet away on a different perch.  A purple hairstreak flew past and one of the Emperor's took chase, seemingly unaware that the other Emperor was only 2 feet away, who also started to chase the hairstreak away. Realising that they had company they then gave the onlookers several amazing aerial clashes, returning on several occasions to perch within feet of each other.  The sun was still weak but eventually it would appear that one had greater energy and managed to evict the other Emperor from the territory as we then saw just one male patrolling the gap.  This all happened in the space of 30 minutes around 5 pm.  A great day and enjoyed by many but also in the end missed by many - Various observers

Stanmore Country Park field trip report; it was still raining slightly at 11am but not enough to warrant a waterproof. However the sun came out after midday. We saw 11 species of butterfly, including the Purple Hairstreak, and 4 day-flying species of moth. We enjoyed it - John Hollingdale

Sat 17th July - On a mainly overcast morning during dragonfly Atlas work, 2 Large White, 1 Speckled Wood, 1 Meadow Brown, 10 Green-veined White, 5 Gatekeeper and 1 Small Tortoiseshell at Bury Lake. News from 16/07/04, On a pleasant afternoon at King's Mead, 1 Small Copper,1 Large White, 13 Small White, 7 Green-veined White,1 Holly Blue, 28 Gatekeeper, 90 Meadow Brown, 1 Ringlet, 30 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Large Skipper, 61 Small Skipper, 2 Essex Skipper and 2 Comma. A list of 2003 sightings and all previous records for the site on the Butterfly Conservation database are published in the King's Mead 2003 Report which can be down-loaded from the King's Mead website at www.geocities.com/kingsmead2 - Alan Reynolds

2 Silver-Washed Fritillaries were reported at one site in Hertfordshire today 

Male Brimstone seen near Broxbourne Common - Andrew Middleton

Visited three Stevenage sites today all on map 166 all sites showed large numbers of Small and or Essex Skippers, Small Tortoiseshell, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Small, Large and Green Veined Whites and Comma butterflies: Roebuck Woodland, also saw Small Copper 2. Holly Blue 5. Red Admiral 1. Flood plain on Old Knebworth Lane, also saw Small Copper 3. Ringlet 5. Purple Hairstreak 1. Waste land between golf course and rail track, also saw Small Coppers 10. Marbled Whites 2. Brimstone 1 - Lee Browne

A male Red-tipped Clearwing moth attracted to a combination pheromone lure at a location in the Ver valley: the fifth site in the Watford/St Albans areas where the species has been discovered using this method (cf only a handful of previous records for the county). The males are now getting a bit worn but they should still be around for a few days yet. No noteworthy butterflies.  Very late news for Tuesday 6th July - the first male Vapourer moth of the summer on the wing at Gallows Hill near Abbots Langley - Colin Everett

Bricket Wood, good numbers of new Brimstone were flying today - Malcolm Hull

Broxbourne Common (public footpath off Cock Lane near Ermine St. car park) - we arrived just before 4.30 this afternoon at this predictable territory site (an area of large veteran oaks at one of the highest points in the Broxbourne Woods complex).  At 4.35 a male Purple Emperor was seen to arrive in a gap and several flights were observed, culminating in a superb aerial clash of 2 males above the trees with the victor returning to take up residence on his territory in the late afternoon sunshine - Liz Goodyear & Andrew Middleton

Fri 16th July - The butterflies are a bit thin on the ground where I live.  Let's hope for a change in the weather. Stevenage area, 14 July: Comma, 15 July: Gatekeeper, 16 July: Large White - Steven Penn

2 sightings of female Purple Emperor at Broxbourne Woods this pm. At 2.50 and 3.15, one was also seen to fly to large oak further up the hill - Tony Clancy

Never believe a weather forecast during the Purple Emperor flight period!  We arrived at Wormley Woods today from the south side and the weather improved very quickly, although not perfect, it was good enough for us to see female Purple Emperor and probably 2 others.  These were our first observations of females in this wood and the first sightings for this year from here. Also several White Admiral still present - Liz Goodyear & Andrew Middleton

Thurs 15th July - Enfield Lock: holly blue over River Lea at 18.40 - Martin Shepherd

Brilliant view of a male Purple Emperor feeding on the path at Broxbourne Wood On Tues 13 July.  Also a emale early trodden on on the circular path back to the car park. Did not have my camera! - Nigel Agar

News from 13th July: one Hummingbird Hawk Moth spotted at Fairlands Valley Park,Stevenage Lee Browne

Broxbourne Wood NR - late afternoon, female Purple Emperor around sallows in 100% cloud - Andrew Middleton & Liz Goodyear

Watching for iris in the sun! Saturday 10th July 2004 Broxbourne Woods NR photo: Archie Lang	Watching for iris in the rain Saturday 10th July 2004 Broxbourne Woods NR photo: Archie Lang	Watching for iris in the rain Saturday 10th July 2004 Broxbourne Woods NR photo: Archie Lang

Wed 14th July - Hatfield London Golf Club, Bedwell Park, Essendon 1 Marbled White by 11th tee S.E. corner - Phil Smith

I saw a purple hairstreak yesterday at Birklands Meadow, St  Albans   looked a bit poorly and was hanging onto a cocksfoot stem! - Liz Anderson

Tues 13th July - Broxbourne Wood NR - 1 grounded male Purple Emperor along main ride, also 4 White Admiral and White letter Hairstreak at Brickendon Green - Diane & Richard Andrews 

Sun 11th July - roxbourne Wood NR, only ne purple emperor sighting; usual place - a female probably egg laying on the sallow at approx 10.20am.  Cloudy at the time.  Rain kept off all day and sun struggled through briefly at times. Also had good view of purple hairstreak at about 2pm - just outside the wood on the continuation of the main ride (photo up later) - June Crew with the B.N.A.

Just saw Hummingbird Hawk Moth in Coppetts Wood flying and settled by some wild flowers on the wooded walk - Tony Clancy

Wormley Wood south side am, 3 White Admiral in poor weather conditions but no Purple Emperor seen.  This site is very important and really needs to be monitored for Purple Emperor the minute the sun shines. If anyone has any free time please visit the site, wait for the sun to shine and watch all the paths from the south side.  There are more sallows (emperor caterpillar food plant) in Wormley (to the best of our knowledge) than any other wood in Hertfordshire - Liz Goodyear & Andrew Middleton.  

Female Purple Emperor by sallows in Broxbourne Wood NR around 10.40am - News from Helen Bantock

Sat 10th July - rmine Street car park, Goose Green four white letter hairstreaks at 09.05 in the hedge dividing Ermine Street from the track to Elbow Lane Farm.  Balls Wood:species seen included three white admirals, red admiral, purple hairstreak, speckled wood.  Thistle patch on nearby farmland: 16 small tortoiseshells.  Ermine Street: comma.  White letter hairstreaks still around near the car-park on my return then it started to rain - Martin Shepherd

Broxbourne Wood NR Field Trip report: The forecast was that the day would start sunny but turn showery later!  Yes the day did start sunny but the showers weren't really showers but downpours and in one case took "a while " to pass through.  We set up and arrived by the bench at about 9.45 to be told that the early birds had seen a female Purple Emperor at 9.30. By 11 o'clock and still with the sun shining nearly 40 people lined the main ride from the car park and a report came through that a male had been seen on the outer path near the hemp agrimony.  Everyone deserted the leaders to go and try and see the butterfly (several did) but whilst the majority were away, a male flew down the ride and to the delight of the remaining onlookers alighted on the track to enjoy the pleasures of some "dog muck."  The male Emperor stayed on the track for nearly 20 minutes during which time LG was able to call back the majority of onlookers.  Eventually it flew off but nearly everyone present got a fantastic view of this rather battered male (see photos).  Unfortunately the first of the showers passed through and although a few more brief glimpses of one in flight were seen nothing as exciting happened again and many of the onlookers decided to go home.  A few stalwarts hung on but only had the briefest of sightings in the early afternoon.  A White Admiral however, posed for sometime on some holly whilst it probed a fly.  A few White Admiral made an appearance along the ride but numbers were considerably lower than in previous weeks.  Purple Hairstreak were regularly seen flitting around the tops of the oaks especially after the second deluge passed through.  It was really nice to see so many BC members, many having come from other branches just to see Purple Emperor - thank you to everyone that came along - Liz Goodyear & Andrew Middleton

Holly Blue in Melbourn (S Cambs) this morning (Saturday) - Guy Manners

Fri 9th July - Started in Goose Green Car Park at 9.45am and went north up Ermine St, nothing of interest, very cloudy no sun. We then went South and walked along an adjacent track. To start with, little activity then Sandra saw a butterfly come from the sallows on the right hand side, it then flew over my head and landed on an unopened thistle about a foot off of the floor. It was a female Purple Emperor. It landed at 10.50am and stayed on the same thistle until 12.10pm, it had been very cloudy until then and it had stayed closed,when the sun rays came out, it opened immediately and stayed that way until 12.25pm, when it flew up high over the pine trees to the left. We returned this evening at approx 6.00pm, very sunny but no sign however we did see approx 20 plus Purple Hairstreaks flying around the top of the oak trees having a jolly time _ Kevin and Sandra Standbridge

I've been searching the Internet trying to find out what I have discovered in our bedroom over the last week and have identified them as Elephant Hawk Moths, thank-you! We have in the last week evicted three identical creatures from our house in Olney, Bucks - Neil French

Thurs 8th July - News from the roxbourne area on the 6th - Having looked at the web site and seen that Goose Green car park was a good starting point for looking for both White Admirals and Purple Emperors, my wife and I went there on the 6 July 2004. We walked south down Ermine Street and then on an adjacent track between 1.15 and 1.30 we had three sightings oftwo male Purple Emperors. The first was of a male drinking from a puddle - we watched it for approx. 5 mins and I took photographs. It flew off and we carried on down the ride. We then saw the second male 'feeding' on a small piece of horse dropping - bright yellow tongue. It flew and then landed on a large horse dropping (both were dry rather than fresh) and fed. More photos taken. We watched for approx 5 mins, during which time it flew around my legs before returning to the dropping, and left it feeding. Good numbers of White Admirals (and other butterflies) were seen and photo'ed and we also saw a deer. An excellent outing - Glen & Moira Barnes

Tues 6th July - Hertfield Heath, some sightings from this afternoon. Fox Covert NR: ringlet/meadow brown, 1; Meadow Brown, 1. Church Hill: Small Skipper, 1; skipper sp(p)., 3+; Brimstone, 1 fem.; "larger" white, 1+; "small" white, 2+++; Small Tortoiseshell, 2; Comma, 1; Gatekeeper, 1+; Meadow Brown, numerous (10s); Small Heath, common (4++); Ringlet, 2-3+; Yellow Shell (moth), 1 - Guy Manners

No great revelation but nice to see Purple Hairstreak somewhere new on the old railway line at Wheathampstead. Small tortoiseshells doing very well all round that area too! Stuart Pittman

The King's Mead 2003 Report is now on line click here for more information

Mon 5th July - f you see a Purple Emperor in Herts or Middx please let me know (in confidence if preferred).  Additional information such as the time of the sighting, the butterfly's behaviour and how long you spent watching would also be appreciated.  This will all help our conservation efforts - Liz Goodyear

Broxbourne Wood NR, 1030-1200 main ride from west car park for only about 300 metres into the wood. White Admirals seen about one every three or four minutes. Numerous Meadow Browns, not quite as many Ringlets, Large and Small Skippers in good numbers (only 'smalls' identified were Small, no Essex). At least a dozen Commas and one positive Purple Emperor sighting was the highlight - Jack Harrison

I see from your webpages that you picked up the sighting of Purple Emperor in Broxbourne Woods on Saturday from Birdguides. I put the record out, but not having any internet access at home, couldn't email you sooner. I couldn't believe my luck - it was the first time I'd been looking for emperors anywhere (I moved down to Herts from Norfolk in October), it was pretty windy, and not exactly warm either. Anyway, after over 90 minutes of searching, and only 4 White Admirals to show for it, the Emperor appeared. Initially it glided round me and my girlfriend, landed in an oak for a minute (showing purple gloss), and then came down to some animal droppings on the path, where it fed for at least ten minutes. Then it was up into the canopy again, and not seen for the next ten minutes - David Bradnum (photos above)

Sewardstone Marsh.  Purple hairstreak on oak, 09.00.  Also small tortoiseshell and red admiral. News from 4th, Rammey Marsh; two gatekeepers (12.20 and 13.50.) - Martin Shepherd

Sun 4th July - news from Saturday 3rd July, Barnes Rise King's Langley Garden Transect, we saw our first Marbled Whites in my mother's garden in King's Langley. This species is a rare visitor to the garden - the nearest known colony being in Bunkers Park some 3 km away - Dave Chandler

2 Meadow Brown, 1 Ringlet and 18 Small Tortoiseshell at Grove Golf Club, 1 Red Admiral and 2 Meadow Brown at Chorleywood Common, and 2 Marbled White, 30 Ringlet, 2 Small Tortoiseshell and 2 Large Skipper at Sarratt Bottom. Small Tortoiseshells seem to have made a significant comeback this year, compared to a couple of years ago - Alan Reynolds

Both Marbled Whites and Ringlets very common along and adjacent to M25 verges south of Sarratt (a traditionally little-visited but very attractive part of the county). Several other common species present there including a Red Admiral, a couple of Gatekeepers (there should be quite a few of these out now) and a Yellow Shell which was more heavily marked than Herts examples tend to be (very dark margins to the median fascia). Other moths included a Small Blood-vein inside Chorleywood tube station and two Old Ladies in a Garston subway (there will be others in your local subway, cellar or even garden shed). Mostly too cloudy today for clearwing-luring, however - Colin Everett

We saw our first gatekeeper in Balls Woods on the portable loo, of all places also saw a Footman moth and a Blood-vein and all the usual butterflies. Tried to see Purple Emperor in Broxbourne Woods but no luck - Kevin & Sandra Standbridge 

Sat 3rd July - Insect News male Purple Emperor at Broxbourne Woods, Herts on ground along main ride from west car park between 11:05-11:15 - news via Birdguides news

We parked at Goose Green car park and walked towards Hertford Heath on Ermine Street, we saw loads of ringlets, meadow browns, large and small skipppers, a comma, 3 White Admirals but no emperors. We then went back to the car park and headed in the opposite direction, we then turned right after pond along the bridle path up the hill all the way to where it joins Broxbourne Woods. We saw 2 Purple Hairstreaks (photo enclosed of one of them but it was very windy and hard to get a clear picture), over 30 White Admirals, 6 commas, Small Tortoiseshell, loads of Ringlets, meadow browns, small and large skippers, Common Rustic moth, vapourer caterpillar and lots of Cinnabar caterpillars on ragwort - Kevin and Sandra Standbridge

Fri 2nd July - Following yesterday's message, marbled whites are now being seen all over Rothamsted Farm. It looks as if there was a major redistribution last year from their known colony on the Harpenden to Redbourn Road. Their spread has probably been aided by the Countryside Stewardship Scheme the farm is now under and last year's hot summer - Ian Woiwod

News from 27th June: Tyttenhanger - Comma 7, Red Admiral 2, Small Tort 3, Common Blue 1 Small Skipper 9, Large Skipper 5, Large White 1, Small White 1. Also 27th June: Wheathampstead LNR (Development Centre) - Large Skipper 3, Ringlet 2, Marbled White 14, Small Heath 13, Meadow Brown 7, Small Skipper 2 (but 15 later on 30th), Common Blue 3. Masses of NB 5-spot Burnets too. 30th June: tevenage - lunchtime walk at work. Small Heath 18, Meadow Brown 7, Small Skippers 32, Marbled White 9, Small Tort 2 - Trevor Chapman

Thurs 1st July - I dropped in on the Hexton Chalk Pit this evening on the way home and saw a single male Chalkhill blue (photo attached), also single marbled white, 6 small heath and a couple of meadow browns (also a buzzard and a hobby with a swallow it had just caught). Earlier in the day I discovered a colony of marbled whites on a set-aside field on Rothamsted farm, also the colony on the southbound Stevenage North sliproad and roundabout of the A1(M) is still going strong - Ian Woiwod

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