Archive Page

Sightings and news from July to December 2005

	Archive Index
	Photo House Index

This page contains sightings details of all the butterflies and moths reported to the  Sightings page between July and December 2005.

Note: These pages have been copied from the original sightings page and some links will no longer work.

December 2005

Tuesday 20th December
Are these the last butterflies of 2006? Have a great Christmas and best wishes to everyone for 2006
Had a peacock in flight near Baldock on 11th December, and one near Newbury, Berks on 19th December - Andrew Middleton

Monday 19th December
Two late red admirals on footpath from Gosmore to Charlton (south of Hitchin) on Sunday 11th December 2005 - Stuart Pittman

November 2005

Saturday 19th November
Hatch End, I spotted a small tortoishell in the garden this morning in bright sunshine and about 44 F. It was spotted on a flowering Hebe bush at around noon in the garden. This is the latest I can remember seeing any kind of butterfly - John Kreeger

Hemel Hempstead, Red Admiral reported on local allotment this morning although I didn't see it, but when I got home at midday there was one nectaring on Colletia Armata in full sun but with the pond iced-over! - Malcolm Newland

Ware garden, 1 Red Admiral flying around and then basking on the bricks of my neighbour's house at 2pm. My latest garden record for Red Admiral - Liz Goodyear

Friday 18th November
On Monday 14th November a Red Admiral was in my garden in Ruislip - Steve Pash

Monday 14th November
Epping Forest this morning, one Red Admiral in a sheltered area of woodland - Andrew Middleton

12 November, Government Row, Enfield Lock: red admiral south at 13.38 and one north at 14.05 - Martin Shepherd

Sunday 13th November
An off topic congratulations to Robert Callf. Robert was looking for Marsh Tits this morning in Northaw Great Wood, when he realised that he was looking at a Grey-cheeked Thrush. I understand that this is a mega rare vagrant from North American bird and possibly only the third occasion one has been seen away from the coast. Well done Robert, it subsequently caused a huge stir in the birding fraternity with nearly 200 'twitchers' descending on the woods by the end of the afternoon! News via Andrew Middleton and the Herts Birding newsgroup

Today and Saturday, Red Admiral in garden nectaring on Verbena Bonariensis. N.W.Bishop's Stortford - Jim Fish

Saturday 12th November
A Red Admiral flying strongly and basking for long periods in warm sunshine along the south edge of Bury Wood near Felden (Hemel Hempstead) at lunchtime. Still plenty of other insect activity during the day: Green Shieldbug (now in hibernation colours), unidentified bumble bee, worker Common Wasps in numbers at ivy. Harlequin & Orange Ladybirds were still active beneath Sycamore last weekend at St Albans, though I saw none today - Colin Everett

Kings Langley, at 2.15pm on Saturday 12th November, while I was tidying up the garden for winter, I saw Small Tortoiseshell; it flew up and down the wooden fence and alighted to take in the warm sunshine - David Chandler

Ware garden, 2pm a red admiral seen flying past the kitchen window which is in total shade - Liz Goodyear

Hemel Hempstead, three Red Admirals alternated between nectaring on C.A.and basking in the sunshine on a south-facing brick wall - Malcolm Newland

Friday 11th November
Today at about 1:30 there was a red admiral flying in Manor wood at Rothamsted. It flew up from the ground and went straight up above the trees - Andrew Riche

A late sighting of Painted Lady on 2nd November at Horsenden Hill. Rather surprising I thought - David Howdon

Wednesday 9th November
The 2004 Branch Annual Report is in the post to all members with a copy of the new 'Woodlands for Butterflies and Moths' leaflet - if you are not a member and would like a copy of the Annual Report, click here for more details.
If you would like a copy of the Woodland for Butterflies and Moths leaflet click here for more information

Stanmore Country Park, Red Admiral still around but no sign of any other butts. However a Buzzard paid us a visit and was seen off by the local crows - John Hollingdale

Hemel Hempstead, warm enough in the sunshine for three quite fresh looking Red Admirals and one Comma to be nectaring together on,yes,Colletia Armata and have now extended my latest Comma record by twelve days. Highlight though was seeing a Sparrowhawk at the pond drinking and having a bath - Malcolm Newland

Government Row, Enfield Lock, Middlesex: red admiral heading north at 2.20pm in cold sunny weather - Martin Shepherd

Despite the cooler temperatures, the sunshine brought out single Red Admirals in Wengeo Lane and Lower Bourne Gardens in Ware and more interestingly a pristine Small Tortoiseshell nectaring on dandelion also in Lower Bourne Gardens - Andrew Wood

Wednesday 9th November
The 2004 Branch Annual Report is in the post to all members with a copy of the new 'Woodlands for Butterflies and Moths' leaflet - if you are not a member and would like a copy of the Annual Report, click here for more details.
If you would like a copy of the Woodland for Butterflies and Moths leaflet click here for more information

Ware garden, a Red Admiral has been in garden most morning, spending awhile nectaring and then flying onto the side of the house, basking there for a few minutes and then back to the buddliea - Liz Goodyear

Thought you might be interested in a couple of pics. Took recently in Kho Samui, Thailand I do not know species. The skipper like one reminded me of our native skippers in behaviour - Tony Clancy (any help with identification appreciated)

Monday 7th November
And still they come.....Hemel Hempstead garden, two Red Admirals and a Comma all on Colletia Armata which has now been attracting butterflies since September 25th and is now in full bloom. It's horribly prickly but I wouldn't be without it - Malcolm Newland

Today at Copped Hall, Essex, I saw 1 red admiral and 1 comma - Andrew Middleton

London, Cherry Eggleton found a red admiral larva on 8th October, Pupa was found c 12th Oct and it emerged on Sat 5th November

Two red Admirals and more surprisingly a Small White in Ware this lunchtime - Andrew Wood

Sunday 6th November
Epping Green near Copy Wood: two red admirals heading south west at 11.15 and 11.27 and a hare seen just inside edge of woodland bank at Copy Wood - Martin Shepherd

Hemel Hempstead, had my latest ever Comma in the garden and saw a Red Admiral on my way to the shops on Friday. Saturday at ten past two in cool and cloudy weather when I was planting some new nectar plants a Red Admiral flew around before settling on Colletia Armata where it fed with wings closed for several minutes - Malcolm Newland

Saturday 5th November
Now the butterflies have gone quiet, would visitors like to have a bit of moth news? LG

Ware garden, one Red Admiral nectaring on buddliea but no moths last night!- Liz Goodyear

Hertford garden, 1 Lesser Yellow Underwing last night, but Red Admirals in Hertford and Ware yesterday - Andrew Wood

Friday 4th November
Harrow, one Feathered Thorn was the only moth in the trap this morning. However I saw a Red Admiral, Speckled Wood and Comma at Stanmore Country Park today before the clouds rolled in - John Hollingdale

Wednesday 2nd November
Whilst riding my bike between Brimsdown and Enfield Lock, I saw a Red Admiral flying around beneath a pylon around noon today, although warm it was very cloudy, but wasn't raining at the time - Andrew Middleton

Tuesday 1st November
Hemel Hempstead garden, I have never seen a Comma in the garden this late in the year until today - Malcolm Newland

Maybe the last Red Admiral for me this year? there was a solitary red ad in the field behind my Tring garden this morning - though temp. only 12C - Nick Bowles

Small Copper, single at Beech Farm rough Grassland feeding on Dandelion flower- stationary for 10 min in bright sunshine today Tuesday 1-11-05 eventually flew off strongly - Jim Terry

Four Red Admirals in my Hertford garden this morning. Three of them in pristine condition, the fourth had a piece missing from the tip of one of it's forewings.They were basking in the sun on my grape vine and conifers, and nectaring on the remaining ivy flowers - Richard Bigg

Sunday 30th October
A Red Admiral was at Beech Farm early this afternoon - Rupert Pyrah

Ware garden, I was cutting the grass and it was quite dull when a Red Admiral flew through the garden - Liz Goodyear

Saturday 29th October
I saw a single Red Admiral flying rapidly south across a field just north of St Albans this afternoon in cool cloudy conditions. I've seen half a dozen Red Ads in the last week, all nectaring/flitting about & this is the first strong flying one for several weeks. I wonder if this is prompted by the change in weather conditions following several warm days? - Malcolm Hull

I saw three red admirals and one speckled wood in Alexandra Palace park on Thursday. One red admiral landed first on my head and then on my hand ! - Dennis Dell

Thursday 27th October
St. Albans, we had four Red Admirals - good specimens - were feeding on the Buddlia in our garden today - Glen Barnes

Hemel Hempstead, two Red Admirals on Colletia Armata,and two Commas on Aster Frikartii Monch and Perennial Wallflower "Bowles Mauve" - Malcolm Newland

Wanstead Flats holly blue, small white & red admrial, then at Ponders End looked like a large white, then to Northaw, and saw two red admrials fighting it out - Andrew Middleton

Trent Park, 5 Red Admirals in total, 2 basking on rubble at Vicarage Farm, and 3 flying south at various locations. 1 Speckled Wood flying north - Robert Callf

A lunchtime walk around the west side of Ware today yielded 1 male Brimstone, 6 Red Admirals, 1 Comma and 1 Large White. The white, comma and a Red Admiral were all sharing the same late flowering buddleia - Andrew Wood

Wednesday 26th October
Tring, still two red admiral in garden today, busy on buddliea and ivy. Seeing them with fieldfares and redwings calling as they pass overhead is a real sign of autumn - Nick Bowles

Tuesday 25th October
I was pleasantly surprised that last weekend's Red Ad count (in my garden - Tring) was surpassed (3 this morning Sunday 23rd; 2 last week) but sadly the Comma which was around for at least 13 days was not to be seen. Went out around Tring for bike ride and kept eyes open pm; but cloud and light rain deprived me of further butterflies though I did see a kingfisher - so ample compensation - Nick Bowles

During our HMWT 4 mile circular ramble Sunday 23 October in the Tewin area, we saw 4 Red Admirals at various sites - Val Fullforth

Beautiful fresh Red Admiral nectaring on Buddleia Weyeriana on my allotment at Folly Lane, St Albans on Saturday - Malcolm Hull

Friday 21st October
Hemel Hempstead, had two Red Admirals and a Comma in the garden today. Took enclosed photo of Comma resting on Star Jasmine - Malcolm Newland

Thursday 20th October
Holly Blue reported from a garden in Kennington lunchtime on Thursday 20 October, only half a mile from the Middx border - Malcolm Hull

Stanmore Country Park, 1 Speckled Wood - John Hollingdale
Todays news from Robert Callf: 1 Red Admiral seen at Vicarage Farm, going in a SW direction at 3 pm and one seen in Enfield Town by his girlfriend

Tuesday 18th October
London W9 11.00 am 16th October pristine red admiral feeding on ivy flowers on my flat bedroom roof - Cherry Eggleton

Monday 17th October
Just a note to say we had a successful work party, in glorious weather, at Aldbury Nowers on Sunday. There were three of us, As for butterflies, the Indian summer allowed us to see: In cmpt.2, where we were working, 1 Small/GV White, 1 (poss 2) Small Copper & 1 tatty Meadow Brown. In cmpt. 3, 1 Brimstone - Mike Pearson

Trent Park news from Robert Callf: Saturday 1 Red Admiral, 1 Comma and 1 Small White. On Sunday the/a Comma was still present in the same area at Vicarage Farm

Sunday 16th October
I went for a Sunday afternoon walk around Rickmansworth Aquadome, and in the pleasantly warm sunshine, was pleased to see a faded but quite active Speckled Wood. There were three darter dragonflies on the river Chess nearby (I'm not sure what type exactly but they were blue/brown sexually dymorphic). David Chandler

News from 15th - two records of butterfly sightings near Gutteridge Wood, Hillingdon which may be of interest. 1 Clouded Yellow, and 1 Red Admiral, heading south - Dick Middleton

Stanmore Country Park, saw Speckled Wood and a Holly Blue in the woods before the wind got up. Also Margaret has just said she saw a 'White' in the garden (Harrow) today plus a Speckled Wood - John Hollingdale

Saturday, comma at Westmill, Red admiral at Thundridge, Ware and Eastwick - Nick Sampford

Today in garden N.W.Bishop's Stortford (1) Small White (1) Red Admiral (1) Small Tortoiseshell. Widford to Stanstead Abbots Railway Line (1) Red Admiral Flying South rapidly (1) Small White (1) Holly Blue. Saturday 15th Oct, in garden N.W. Bishop's Stortford (1) Brimstone (M) (1) Small White - Jim Fish

Saturday 15th October - I am still suffering internet/email problems so am only undating this page at present
A speckled wood seen at Hatfield House, still looked quite fresh. Sat 8 Oct: Nomansland Common, near Wheathamstead, several red admirals and a a comma. In mid-September near the Dorset coast there was a steady influx of red admirals, one every few minutes - they seem to have dispersed across the country - Roger Gibbons

Hemel Hempstead, first fine day in ages when I haven't seen a Red Admiral so perhaps they have gone south at last. However I had a Comma in the garden on Wallflower "Bowles Mauve" and Michaelmas Daisy, also my latest ever record for a Brimstone - Malcolm Newland

Tuesday 11th October
Red Admiral in Grosvenor St W1, close to the junction with New Bond St. It was fluttering around the outside of the buildings at fourth floor level. It made its way slowly along the street, examining the buildings & then disappeared under the eaves - Malcolm Hull

One Large White, Melbourn garden, lunchtime today - Guy Manners

Ware garden, 1 Small White, battling against the wind at 4.45 - Liz Goodyear

An excellent hours walk this lunchtime. In Lower Bourne Gardens, The Hyde and the Cemetery in Ware revealed 1 each of Speckled Wood, Small Copper, Small Tortoiseshell, Large White and Comma and 3 Red Admirals - Andrew Wood

Monday 10th October
Maple Cross, 1 Green-veined White - Ann Piper

Had a good day today: 3 x large whites Bishops Stortford, Much Hadham, Thundridge. Red Admiral: Bishops Stortford, Comma: Thundridge, Small copper: Ware. Angela had a Brimstone & Small copper in Hertford - Nick Sampford

Robert Callf's news, today at 3.24 a Painted Lady, Vicarage Farm, also 2 Comma and 1 Red Admiral on Michelmas Daisies at Trent Park. Earlier in his road at Oakwood, 1 Comma and a probale Small White. Sunday 9th, Trent Park area, 1 Speckled Wood and 1 Comma and on Saturday whilst leading a LNHS walk at Trent Park, a Speckled Wood.

Today 3.15pm, a Painted Lady at Berkhamsted visiting Aster and Dandelion. Not in a hurry to go anywhere - Michael Anderson

King's Langley garden - I was gardening on Sat October 8th and saw a Peacock & a Red Admiral when, around 3pm, the sun came out - David Chandler

Saw Small Copper at Waterford Heath South Pit nectaring on ragwort on Sunday 9th and one Red Admiral basking in sunshine on hop in the North Pit, it certainly wasn't going anywhere! Andrew Wood

Saturday 8th October
I've had a reliable report of a White Admiral in Norfolk on 23rd September. That's just about the peak date for the 2nd brood (based on a VERY small sample!) It's the only one I've heard of so far this autumn - anywhere. Any Herts reports or others you know of? - Pat Bonham (Norfolk Branch Recorder)

Friday 7th October
I have today discovered the Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis on limes along the A41 at North Watford. This is the non-native species about which there has been so much publicity. If it is here at Watford then it is almost certainly elsewhere in Herts. I hope as many of you as possible will search your local districts this weekend and over the next few weeks. An excellent place to start is the leafy growth which emerges from the lower bole of rows of limes growing as street or roadside trees. For identification (which is easy despite the variability of the species) see www.harlequin-survey.org (run by Michael Majerus in Cambridge) or http://www.ladybird-survey.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/H_axyridis.htm (run by Paul Mabbott, the Recorder for ladybirds in the London Area (which includes south Herts). The importance of monitoring the increase of this species (which has been spreading through London over the course of the past year) can hardly be overstated - Colin Everett

Peacock Picked up dead in Melbourn garden (S Cambs) today - Guy Manners

Tuesday 4th October
During three weekends this autumn and winter, the Dorset Branch of Butterfly Conservation is inviting volunteers to join us for two practical conservation tasks in northwest Dorset staying overnight on the Saturday nights.

Accommodation and supper on the Saturday evenings will be provided at The Green Man Inn at King's Stag. Accommodation will be in tents and caravans parked behind the pub. Meals will be provided - supper (courtesy of Butterfly Conservation Dorset Branch) and breakfast and packed lunch for Sunday. If you can bring a caravan or tent, please let us know. £10 per person will cover everything. If you live locally and plan to attend both days' conservation tasks, we hope you will also join us for the evenings at The Green Man. Lydlinch Common, Deadmoor Common and Alner's Gorse Reserve are notable wildlife sites northwest of Sturminster Newton, areas with a spectacular wealth of wildflowers and rich insect fauna, including several threatened butterfly and moth species. They are relics of a once great expanse of similar habitat on the damp clays of north Dorset, formerly the royal Forests of Gillingham and Blackmore. These sites have suffered from neglect and undergrazing and need substantial scrub clearance to protect the habitats of the target species - Nigel Spring (for full details click here)

Sunday 2nd October
Broxbourne Woods Open Day, 4 Speckled Wood and 1 Red Admiral reported and lots of people - various recorders. Also several reports from people that had seen Commas in their gardens for the first time

Saturday 1st October
Non-migrating Red Admirals! Hemel Hempstead garden, had four Red Admirals and two Commas at the same time in the garden today. They all seemed to prefer Colletia Armata, Michaelmas Daisy, Rudbeckia, Buddleia and decomposing Mango peel to Ivy flowers which I have in abundance in the hedge. One of the Red Admirals at least has been a regular visitor for well over a week being easily identified by a yellow edge to the rear left hindwing - Malcolm Newland

Monday 26th September
During a couple of hours on Saturday morning, whilst doing a little visible migration watching (of birds) at the London Wetland Centre, Barnes, we had 18 Red Admiral fly past heading S.SW. They were all on the same flight line and flying very direct and fast, usually singletons. A few more were seen there on Sunday afternoon - Martin Honey (originally posted on the uk-leps newsgroup) The Wetlands Centre is just over the Thames in south London and as Martin also said "given the direction of their flight they would have come from Middlesex".

Still quite a few butterflies around this weekend in my Brookmans Park garden. Red Admiral, Comma, GV White and Speckled Wood (plenty of these in North Mymms Park on Saturday) - Rupert Pyrah

My wife and I saw two Red Admirals at Rye Meads R S P B yesterday afternoon just outside the visitor centre - Ian & Sue Hardy

Sunday 25th September
In my garden today Hatfield a beautiful fresh m. Brimstone, Red Admiral (we think it roosts in ivy, turning up daily, disturbed by Sparrows), Comma, Large White, 2+ Small White. Much better than yesterday's transect of Colney Heath - Small White & Red Admiral in a hurry! The Warren slightly better, with 6 fresh Small Copper, Meadow Brown, Small/GV White & Red Admiral + Comma & Small White off-transect. Last of the season, thank goodness - both sites v. barren after further mowing, but a disappointing year - John Moss

Saturday 24th September
Clouded Yellow in Bricket Wood this afternoon. Also out round and about St Albans today - Red Admiral, Comma, Speckled Wood, Large White & Small White. The last two in quite good numbers for the time of year, which surprised me as we have had a frost this week - Malcolm Hull

Slow start (especially when large cloud covered sun!) when I arrived at Church Hill (Therfield Heath NR complex) at 14:35 today. One dark lep (nymphalid or brown?) flew over hill. Later in sun, good numbers of whites, among which two Small Whites identified. Around 15:35, one fresh-looking Small Copper. 'Twas all! - Guy Manners

Thursday 22nd September
Will the White Admiral again be the last butterfly to emerge? This September has been a bit of an "Indian summer" compared with the cool unsettled conditions of September 2004, though not up to the standards of the hot summer of 2003. As you may remember there was a second-brood emergence of White Admirals in the second half of September 2003 in England, the Netherlands and even Denmark that was unprecedented in its scale. In 2004 the only late White Admirals I heard about were several in Woolpit Wood near Stowmarket, Suffolk, in September, two at RSPB Stour Wood, Essex, at the beginning of October, and finally one "in pristine condition" photographed in Dunwich Forest, Suffolk, on the remarkable date of 11 October. May I urge you to visit known White Admiral woods as soon as possible, while this settled weather continues. Many lepidoptera are in a state of change with our changing climate and this is a fascinating indicator species. Of course it's of no advantage to the insects, since they have practically nothing to feed on (no honeysuckle / bramble!) and the low density makes mating highly unlikely, so the population is diminished - Pat Bonham BC Norfolk Branch Recorder (originally posted on the uk-leps newsgroup)

Wednesday 21st September
In my Stevenage garden yesterday Brimstone, Comma and Small White. Numbers have dropped very quickly over the last two weeks, only single figures each day, but did have 2 fresh looking Red Admirmals the other day - Steve Lane

Monday 19th September
Welwyn Garden City, attached is a photo of a Convolvulus Hawk Moth which I found dead on the pavement near my home yesterday (Sunday 18th September). Unfortunately it had been squashed either by a bicycle wheel or foot - Tim Hill (Conservation Manager, Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust)

Trent Park field trip report from Saturday. 6 people came along and although sunny, not many butterflies were seen but Robert had his latest ever Meadow Brown sighting, a faded male. Also seen were 1 Small Heath, 2 Small Copper (1 fresh & 1 faded), 6 or so Comma and again about 6 Red Admirals - news from Robert Callf

Saturday 17th September
Two Red Admirals (one fresh, one with tatty hind-wings), Melbourn Baptist Church (grounds), today, ca.12:20 BST and a Comma entered and exited my Melbourn (S. Cambs) house at lunchtime - Guy Manners

A couple of sightings to report. On Friday Sept. 16th, 2 Red Admirals spotted spiralling in the sunshine in Maple Cross. Today Sept 17th another Red Admiral in the garden basking on the ground and a pristine Comma seen on hawtorn hedge nearby. Several Large Whites flying but never landing! The whites ( all three common forms) have been really abundant in this area this summer as well as the caterpillars on the rocket in my garden! - Ann Piper

Tuesday 13th September
Hemel Hempstead, had my first Painted Lady of the year on Buddleia "Beijing"which being late flowering has taken over from the fast-fading types.It was in the company of three Red Admirals and they did not co-exist too happily.Also had a Comma on the "Beijing." Will be taking lots of cuttings in the autumn as I regard this relatively new cultivar as a "must" for the butterfly garden - Malcolm Newland

Now back, but around Chicago I saw plenty of Monarchs, a couple of Viceroys, (of the same monarch family group) an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, a couple of unidentified whites and the only Painted Lady I've seen this season (anywhere) - Dave Chandler

Thursday 8th September
Hemel Hempstead, in the garden today I saw Speckled Wood, Small Whites, two Commas, four Red Admirals a Small Tortoiseshell and a Humming Bird-Hawk Moth - Malcolm Newland

I had two Red Admirals and three Large whites on Buddleia in my back garden in St Nicholas, Stevenage - Ian Hardy

Ware, despite Ice plant's (sedum spectabile) reputation as being the second most used garden nectar source, it was only today that I actually saw a butterfly use it! A Small Tortoiseshell - Liz Goodyear

Wednesday 7th September
AM ... on the meadow of Fir and Pond Woods Nature Reserve Pair of small coppers....Photo attached. Also seen 2 common blues on meadow and speckled woods in the wood - David Gompertz

Tuesday 6th September
Little Lane, Melbourn, S. Cambs, Red Admiral at ca.14:30 - Guy Manners

Monday 5th September
Ponders End, overnight light trap produced a Small Mottled Willow - Andrew Middleton (note from Colin Plant - "I have no other records for this year. However, I do have records of Jersey Tiger in the London portion of Kent - as genuine immigrants - so it is worth looking out for these sitting on the outside of the trap or on adjacent bushes etc (none of the Kent ones were inside the trap)".)

Saturday 3rd September
Bricket Wood, a late Purple Hairstreak nectaring - Malcolm Hull

Wanstead Flats (Epping Forest Festival), an early walk around the Flats found Small Heath and Small Copper - Andrew Middleton and Stephen Downie

Very quiet - my count for Balls Wood this week was 33% of the previous lowest for this week, if that makes sense - Andrew Wood

Saturday 3rd September
Brown Hairstreak at Whitecross Green Wood, near Arncott, Oxfordshire. 8-10 adults seen, including a mating pair on Oak & a female egg laying on Blackthorn. Also a dozen freshly laid eggs. This afternoon at Aldbury Nowers, good numbers of butterflies. In an hour I counted Common Blue 26, Small Heath 20, Brown Argus 16 (including a mating pair), Meadow Brown 51, Brimstone 2, Speckled Wood 2, Large White 1, Small White 3, Green-veined White 3, and Comma 1. No signs of any Skippers or Chalkhill Blues - Malcolm Hull

Wednesday 31st August
Visited Aldbury Nowers today and saw one more male Chalkhill B (usual spot near set-a-side field) but no other unusual species. I visited the part where the SSS was seen but no sign of anything much there (the grass seems too long and too coarse for a SSS colony to me; only small areas of suitable turf). Gatekeeper still struggling on but near the end now - Nick Bowles

Ware, a very brief sighting of a Brown Argus which took in three feet of my front garden before flying off down the road - Liz Goodyear

Sunday 28th August
Sightings for Sunday 28th August. Trent Bridge, Nottingham. 1 Peacock, 1 Large White, 1 Small White & 11 Defeated Aussies. Brilliant! Sightings for Monday 29th August, my Stevenage garden 5+ Brimstones, 1 Peacock, 1 Speckled Wood, 1 Meadow Brown, 1 Small Tort and Large & Small Whites - Steve Lane

Out & about round St Albans area today, butterfly numbers were low. Species seen - Small copper, small heath, brimstone, Comma Red Admiral, Large, Small & Green-veined Whites, speckled wood, meadow brown. Yesterday, Common Blues on Uxbridge Common and small heath at Bushy Park, Hampton Wick, (both Middx) - Malcolm Hull

Sunday 28th August
Second brood Brown Argus, Small Heath and Common Blue all very common at Aldbury Nowers (and in adjacent areas to the north and the south of the site, where also a few Small Tortoiseshell). Female Brown Argus seen to oviposit on Common Storksbill Erodium cicutarium, a distinctive plant for which the map in Dony's Flora of Hertfordshire shows few locations in the west of the county and none in this 10-km square (SP91) - Colin Everett

Saturday 27th August
This will be a good weekend to look out for Brown Hairstreak. The adults have been out for around a month now, mostly located in trees and occasionally nectaring on Angelica. This week females have descended and begun laying on Blackthorn. Look for unkempt hedges/scrub, particularly small plants that have grown from suckers spreading out into the field. The female Brown Hairstreaks usually lay eggs within 1-4 ft of the ground, though can sometimes be seen at rest higher up the bush. The next 2 weeks will be the peak time for egg laying, so well worth searching any suitable Blackthorn. It is also still worth looking in trees & on flowers. (see earlier note). With strong BH populations in adjoining Surrey & Bucks, as well as a recent suspected sighting near Harlow in Essex, I am sure it is only a matter of time until we find the species in Herts or Middx - Malcolm Hull (Brown Hairstreak Species Co-oridinator)

Monday 22nd August
Both Richard Bigg and June Crew have seen 'not right' Chalk-hills. See comments below, to which Andrew Middleton replied "I agree June's is a straight forward female chalkhill, but with the normally telltale margins fairly worn away. Think Richard's likewise chalkhill in so much of its pattern. I think with chalkhills, there can be so many on one site they are renowned for aberations. My EB Ford has lots of chalkhill aberations - more so than for other species. It's odd that all the existing dots are well-marked, just some missing, not unlike the recent common blue image of mine on the website. The Natural History Museum Cockayne Data base of collections is worth checking for something similar. Otherwise, the margins especially, the upperwings and rest of patterns look fairly normal and good for chalkhill. Hope this helps - Andrew Middleton"

Took these two ../photos of a Chalkhill Blue near Pirton on Monday 15th. All my books, and other photos of this species, show four spots across the base of the hind wing close to the body. This specimen has only two spots. Anyone any ideas - is it a cross with something else? Richard Bigg

We had a very good outing to Therfield Heath(Joint field trip with Cheshunt NHS 14th August). Some good botany and made a list of more than 100 plants. Butterflies emerged soon after noon. It didn't rain until we were nearly back to car park (about 3 o'clock). There were 10 of us - not bad. These photos are of the same individual. I think it is a female chalkhill but someone else thought it was a female common blue. A male chalkhill showed great interest in her.... The same person thought another b/f was a brown argus but I had my doubts about that too. Maybe you could confirm or otherwise the one in the photos, please - June Crew

I was watching a rather battered looking Purple Hairstreak hovering low over the muddy waters of the infant River Purwell where it enters a culvert under the East coast Main line yesteday at the point where the river a few yards below where it forms from a confluence of the Ippolilits Brook and the Ashbrook at Ninesprings, Hitchin. Why would a butterfly, normally associated with the tops of oak trees, suddenly take an interest in brooklime and water cress deep in a dank ditch? There are some oaks, now fairly mature, and growing high on the railway bank above. There seems to be a tendence for hairstreaks to behave untypically towards the end of their lives and turn up in gardens and on camp sites which of course is where we might see them at this time of the year.-- but why do they do it? Nigel Agar

Sunday 21st August When I reviewed the new Upper Thames Branch Atlas earlier this year I was intrigued to see a recent record for Silver Spotted Skipper close to the Herts border. Having liased with Richard Soulsby, the UTB SSS species champion the location was confirmed as Ivinghoe Beacon, although the 2 records could not be confirmed as accurate, possibly being misidentified Large Skippers. So I set off today to look for SSS at Ivinghoe Beacon & see if I could repeat Nick Bowles sighting of Chalk Hill Blues at Aldbury Nowers. At Ivinghoe in one hour I saw 70 Chalk hill Blues, one Essex Skipper and two Small Skippers, but no SSS. At Aldbury Nowers I saw 4 Chalk Hill Blues, (2 male & 2 female) , located in two distinctly seperate parts of the reserve. I also saw one very worn looking Small Skipper and one very fresh Silver Spotted Skipper. The butterfly I saw was superficially similar to a Large Skipper, about the same size. The upper sides were the same orangy colour, but darker towards the tips. The undersides were marked with bright white spots. It was nectaring on wild basil in an area of short grazed chalk turf with patches of bare soil all around. (The same area infact where we saw most of the Grizzled & Dingy Skippers on the branch field trip I led in May) I got a good look at it for about 15 seconds & saw both upper & undersides of the wings clearly. I then had a second sighting a few minutes later for another 5 seconds, probably the same individual. I have seen SSS before, but not for some years. I am very familiar with Large Skippers and am certain this was different. The fact it was such a fresh looking individual, the date and location all seem right. I had studied the photos in Tomlinson & Still over lunch & am confident this is a correct identification. Unfortunately the trusty Coolpix has been packed off to Japan for repairs, so no photo available. I see no reason not to publicise the location if other want to look, which was at the foot of the slope in the northern clearing, along the Ridgeway towards Pitstone Hill - Malcolm Hull
For more information on the status of SSS in the Upper Thames Region, read the 2003 Species Champion's report

Saw a Camberwell Beauty on August 5th in garden in Digswell, near Welwyn North train station. Definite sighting, and our first in the UK. Sorry no photos - John Overington

Hemel Hempstead, in the garden today, all the whites, one Gatekeeper, one Peacock continuing the very long flight period which they seem to have had this year, a Red Admiral and late in the afternoon a H B H M which came back three times,finally at 7.40 p.m.when it stayed for quite a while nectaring on purple and white Buddleias. Small Tortoiseshell extremely scarce this year - Malcolm Newland

Saturday 20th August
Aldbury Nowers – as Nick Bowles said, one of the best areas recently was again the edge of the south field – a real sun trap with a wide range of foodplants & nectar sources invading the field; 10+ brown argus, 20+common blue, gatekeeper, meadow brown, 1 small copper, 1 speckled wood, 2 marsh tits, several bullfinch. Pitstone Hill nearby, single m&f chalkhill blue, 1 common redstart – Andrew Middleton & Tony Clancy

Wednesday 17th August
Nick Bowles visited several sites in the Upper Thames area today, looking for his target species Chalk-hill Blue, this is part of the email "Then onto Aldbury Nowers (just over the border into Herts) here again I saw a definite male and probable female on the Horsey V alongside the 'set aside' field that also supports small amounts of HV. This is another site with annual vagrants and some HV - surely there is scope to increase the amount of HV - preferably out along the edge of the set aside area." The rest of his news will be on the UTB website

We did actually see Apatura ilia (Lesser Purple Emperor) at last, in the Pyrenees, of the form clytie. Pic attached. Magnificent beast it was, too. A privilege to have been permitted to see it - Roger Gibbons

Managed to get to Therfield on the 10th August - and despite overcast, but warm conditions, saw plenty of Chalk-hill Blues - Clare Gray

Editor's privilege, I am going to bore everyone with my Geranium Bronze photos! It was really interesting to watch them but the species is considered a pest in Europe and if found in this country it needs to be reported. More info click here - Liz Goodyear

Large and Small White larvae pieris brassicae/p. rapae St. Albans © photo: Clare Gray

Decided to visit a couple of tetrads in TL41 this afternoon and in particular the Kettle Green tetrad. This has to be one of the most difficult tetrads to visit as there is only one road that goes through it and no places to stop bar one which I have used since 1999 to visit the area. To my dismay I found that this point is now the entrance way to a new track and no longer usable. The only alternative was to drive down the adjacent "footpath used as a road" and see whether there was anything flying. Using the driving through method I saw 7 species in about 10 minutes including Small Tortoiseshell. The other tetrad was in Much Hadham and I found 9 species by the walking method but that took 50 minutes! I did however, find a Horse Chestnut tree with the leaf mine Cameraria ohridella - Liz Goodyear

Friday 12th August
Hemel Hempstead garden ~ A good couple of days with ten species seen. Peacock numbers now drastically reduced from a peak of seventeen on the 6th to just two today. Comma, Gatekeeper, Holly Blue, Meadow Brown, Brimstone, Red Admiral, Large and Small Whites making up the numbers but the two highlights were the second appearance of an even more worn Silver Washed Fritillary which briefly nectared on white Buddleia yesterday, and a fresh male Common Blue which was attracted to Greater Knapweed today - Malcolm Newland 

Wednesday 10th August
Welwyn Garden City, during a short walk in Birchall Wood (about 30 minutes) I saw several Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and Speckled Wood. I also saw my first ever Speckled Wood in my garden this afternoon - Steve Chilton

Tuesday 9th August
Sightings from my Stevenage garden, hot and sunny at last. Good numbers of Peacocks, Brimstones, Comma, Small Torts, a small White-letter hairstreak crawling around the lawn, Red Admiral, Large and Essex Skippers, Small and Large Whites, Speckled Wood, Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns ~ Steve Lane

Brown Hairstreak video download ~ 9 Aug 05 Oxfordshire ~ 7.5mb mpg AM

On Sunday 7th I went up to the Icknield Way at Pirton on the of chance of seeing Chalkhill Blues. Didn’t find any but between 10:00 and 12:00 saw Large White (10+), Small White (10+), Gatekeeper (20+), Meadow Brown (5+), Speckled Wood (2), Peacock (3), Brimstone (1, possibly 2), Red Admiral (1), Large Skipper (5+), Small Skipper (3-4), Comma (2) and Common Blue (3-4).  Attached is what I think must be a female Common Blue, but I’m not absolutely sure. Also today (9th August), went to Therfield Heath , again looking for Chalkhill Blue. Still didn’t come across any but did see Common Blue (4-5) and Brown Argus, also attached - Andrew Gaskin

Monday 8th August
Gunpowder Park near Osier Marsh: painted lady on buddleia at 08.15 - Martin Shepherd

I found a Silver-washed Fritillary in my garden in Harrow and have to report it since it's such an unlikely find. It caught my eye as it fly past. Having seen them before at Bookham Common, I knew what it was just by the jizz, but nonetheless I jumped into action and located it at rest. Superb. Nobody will believe me, I can hardly believe it myself. It almost makes buying a cheap digital camera worthwhile if only to provide proof - Michael Hammond

I attach a photo my husband took of a beautiful moth red underwing image that sat on our living room ceiling for over one hour last Friday 5th August, at Brookmans Park- Janet Waters

1 Hummingbird Hawk-moth near Stirling Corner today - Robert Callf (news via Andrew Wood)

Sunday 7th August
Norton Green AM - 15 Peacocks, 1 Female Brimstone. Hexton PM - 20 Peacocks, 6 Brimstones (4 Male, 2 Female), 10 Chalkhill Blues- Steven Penn

At Bricket Wood today, Small, Large & Essex Skippers, Large Small & green veined Whites, Brimstone, Peacock, Small Tort, Red Admiral, Comma, Holly Blue, Common Blue, Small Copper, Purple Hairstreak (20), Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood. 
11 Brown Hairstreaks seen yesterday at Whitecross Green Wood Oxfordshire including a mating pair. Tips for looking for Brown Hairstreak at this time of year: Females are not yet laying on Blackthorn, but there are two other places to look:
1) In the tree tops - Ash is the preferred species, but they may also be on Oak. Look for Ash trees along the edge/rides of a largish wood. Take care not to confuse with Purple Hairstreaks. They prefer Oak, but are also seen on Ash (both are up there looking for aphid honeydew). The Brown H is an orangy brown colour, The Purple H a dull brown. In flight the Purple H will flash silver & its flight is more eratic.
2) Nectaring, usually fairly close to suitable ash. Flowers it favours are Angelica, Wild Carrot, other Umbelifers, Hemp Agrimony, Bramble. Five of yesterdays BH were seen nectaring (mostly on Angelica). The dry conditions this year have not been particularly good for aphids & BH appear to be coming down to feed on flowers more than usual.
If anyone wants suggestions of places to look for BH, get in touch - Malcolm Hull is the branch Brown Hairstreak Species Co-ordinator

We went to Bernwood Forest today in Oxfordshire and saw 7 Brown Hairstreaks ~ Sandra and Kevin Standbridge

Dropped in on Broxbourne Wood NR and saw one tired female Purple Emperor plus a poor image taken today of a first instar PE larva, which appeared to have hatched by 2nd August (laid 17th July on a nearby leaf). A nectaring white admiral was also seen here today by two other observers - Andrew Middleton    

Saturday 6th August
Hexton Chalk Pit - never seen so many butterflies in one place locally must have been well over 1000 Chalk/hill blues there on the 6th August. Kicking up dozens every pace you took - Stuart Pittman

A White-letter Hairstreak fluttering to the ground by Kendal Wood near Radlett, an area with many elms and many colonies of this species. On Friday a female Large White laid 39 eggs singly on the underside of a leaf of Shepherd's Purse at Garston (they utilise many wild crucifers as well as wild & cultivated brassicas) - Colin Everett

I had two Red Admirals in my garden in Stevenage yesterday 5th of August - Ian Hardy

Roesel's Bush Cricket Metrioptera roeselii nr Amersham © photo: Trevor Lawson

Thursday 4th August
You may be interested in a Chalkhill blue and White letter hairstreak (excellent views of underside) at Aldbury Nowers. Don't think there is much / any elm or lime around, but I will have a look at the scrub next time - Martin Hicks

We have planted a wide variety of nectar plants to attract insects to our garden in Hyde Heath, Amersham. At 2pm today I was looking at the Diptera on our large hemp agrimony bush when a cricket landed. With a beautiful lime green U on the base of the pronotum it is Metrioptera roeselii or Roesel's bush cricket. As the attached photograph shows, this is clearly a long-winged form (the short wings in the normal form only get half way down the abdomen). Has anyone else encountered this species in our area? Trevor Lawson   (Roesel's is quite common in taller grasslands I've looked at around North London and South Herts - AM).

Wednesday 3rd August
Just a couple of migrant sightings to tell you about. 1 Painted Lady on a buddleia in Wisden Road, Stevenage on Monday 1st August and 2 Red Admirals on a buddleia near the King Pin pub in Stevenage on Wednesday 3rd August - Steven Penn

Tower Hamlets Cemetery ~ An hour's walk at this site today produced - 12+ common blues, c 4 holly blue, 20+ meadow browns, 1 gatekeeper, 1 red admiral, 1 comma, 10+ speckled woods and numerous small and large whites. More intriguingly was a probable white-letter hairstreak seen briefly fly from the canopy of an elm. The cemetery contains some reasonable specimens, a few nearly thirty feet in height - Bob Watts

Hemel Hempstead Changed my mind about going out this morning so was very fortunate to be in the garden when a rather worn Silver-washed Fritillary landed on Buddleia "Lochinch." I dashed indoors and grabbed my camera only to find that I was on the last shot of that film. By the time I had put a new one in, the butterfly was nowhere to be seen. If only I had "gone digital." I had seen one previously on 20th July 1994, that time on bramble and never expected to spot another one. Also had ten common species today including twelve Peacocks at once ~ Cheers, Malcolm Newland

A female Small Blue Cupido minimus was, to say the least, an unexpected find in St Albans!!! When first seen fluttering above the pond in the wildlife garden at the Grebe House headquarters of the Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust, the butterfly was not unlike a small Purple Hairstreak in the contrast of silver and brown. At rest with wings closed, the underwings were similar to Holly Blue but more silver-grey than sky-blue. The upperwings were seen at close range for some time and were an unadorned chocolate-brown with no "jv="+EXjv hint of blue; the abdomen was markedly slender. A male Holly Blue seen ten minutes later looked enormous by comparison. Although I have yet to discuss this directly with the HMWT, this is, as I presume, an inadvertent translocation resulting from the importation of some good chalk downland turf or sub-soil! That this should have produced a second brood is of further interest. Also on site were a female Brimstone and Pyrausta aurata. Elsewhere in the district the location near Bricket Wood which held a large second brood of Brown Argus last year is now covered in the densest growth of ragwort I can remember seeing anywhere - Colin Everett

Tuesday 2nd August
Note for 10km sq co-ordinators and interested recorders ~ The weather forecast has at last improved, so if any of you can manage to get out and about, the next couple of weeks would be an ideal time to complete any blank tetrads in your decad that have had no visits this year. With plenty of Browns, whites and skippers still around and blues and Peacocks emerging you should be guaranteed a good total of species. Good hunting, John Murray -

Brimsdown, Enfield ~ continued some tetrad bashing today and came across a tatty large white I thought, but a closer look revealed a Clouded Yellow helice form I think, as quite dark edge to upperwings. Otherwise, found a good number of species but small and Essex skipper going over - Andrew Middleton

Sunday 31st July
Robert Callf lead a walk at Trent Park for the LNHS on the 30th July. 18 species were seen, which was the same number as his previous two summer walks. A White letter Hairstreak was seen by Keir Mottram, also 7 Small Coppers, 3 Small Heath and 2 male Oak eggar moths, one was observed for some time. On the 31st he observed another White letter on Wych Elm at Park Farm which was Robert's latest date

Numerous Chalkhill Blues at Telegraph Hill this morning. Also Red Admiral (1) Gatekeepers (many) both Essex and Small Skippers, Large, Small and green veined whites, Meadow brown (few.Six spot Burnets but no sign of DG Frits - Nigel Agar

Saturday 30th July
While I was at College Lake (Bulbourne, near Tring) today I noticed on the sightings board a Clouded Yellow has been seen there. No other information I'm afraid and unfortunately just outside Herts I think - Robin Pearson

Friday 29th July
Over the last two days the much improved weather has seen thirteen species visit theHemel Hempstead garden ~ L, S & Green-Veined Whites in good numbers, Gatekeepers, eight Peacocks together mainly on Buddleias, Holly Blues, Two Red Admirals, Meadow Brown, Comma, Brimstone, Speckled Wood, Small Tortoiseshell and my first White Letter Hairstreak since 2001 which spent a long time yesterday nectaring on Buddleia "Pink Perfection". Still waiting for a Painted Lady this year - Malcolm Newland

Had a walk around Great Ashby Park/Priors Wood this afternoon,for about 1 hour, lots of activity when the sun came out. Good numbers of most species. 3 Small Coppers, 1 Brimstone, 10+ Peacocks, 20+ Commas, 40+ Brown Argus, 100+ Gatekeepers, 40+ Meadow Browns, 2 Essex Skippers, 10+ Small, 100+ Skippers, 1 Holly Blue, 10+Common Blues Small and Large Whites - Steve Lane

Thursday 28th July
Stevenage garden - had a bit more time today, when the sun finally came out. Not large numbers of any thing, but a few good ones turned up. White-letter Hairstreak, Brown Argus, Holly Blue, Red Adirmal, Peacock, Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Gatekeepers (most numerous), Small & Large White and Speckled Wood - Steve Lane

Tuesday 26th July
I was helping a friend on an allotment in Barnet today and saw seven Gatekeepers and one Meadow Brown on a clump of Marjoram with a Small White laying eggs on no prizes for guessing. However the highlight was getting closer to a Purple Hairstreak than I have ever done before, no more than a couple of feet away nectaring on a large Feverfew plant. It was a male and I saw the upper wings clearly as it flitted from flower to flower. There are many mature oaks bordering the site. Sadly I did not have a camera with me - Malcolm Newland

Broxbourne Wood NR - 2 female Purple Emperor egg laying, one very tatty between 12 and 2. Also at least 2 White Admiral, 1 Large Skipper, Small/Essex Skipper, numerous Purple Hairstreak, Speckled Woods, whites, meadow brown, ringlet, gatekeeper as well as Comma and Peacock. Also a very brief view of an oak eggar moth - various recorders

Monday 25th July
Two female Purple Emperors c. 2pm in Broxbourne Woods (west carpark site). Numerous (didn't attempt to count) Chalkhill Blues at Therfield Heath. I didn't walk more that a few yards from carpark so unless it is a particularly productive area, there must be huge numbers on the heath in total - Toby Austin

Saturday 23rd July
Sightings in my Stevenage garden for the last week:- Gatekeepers, Small and Large Skippers, Commas, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Ringlets, Meadow Browns, Small and Large Whites, Holly Blue and Hummingbird Hawk Moth - Steve Lane (photos later)

Saturday 23rd July
A female was seen egglaying high within a sallow during the recent Broxbourne Wood NR field-trip. This image was taken from quite a distance away through a telescope. This egg had just been laid on the midrib of this leaf - Andrew Middleton

Thursday 21st July
Continuation of Mick Velasco's Martin Green carpark sighting on the 16 th: I've finally seen a Purple Emperor although not on Danemead but very close. I was at Danemead this morning to meet the family of the lady that enabled the HMWT to purchase Danemead. I had walked to Danemead along the Spital Brook valley & on reaching Ermine Street I went over to the bridge that takes you on to Danemead to look at the butterflies on the brambles by the dried up pond. Among the many Meadow Browns & Ringlets I saw a tatty looking White Admiral. I carried on up to Martin's Green Car Park to meet my visitors. We were also waiting for their cousin to arrive who was driving down from Manchester but she was delayed. I told them I'd seen a White Admiral which they was keen to see so we walked down to the bridge by the dried up pond to see if it was still there. We actually counted 3 White Admirals on the bramble flowers & flying up into the surrounding trees but all had various damage to their wings. After taking a few photographs we walked back up to the car park to see if their cousin had turned up yet, which she had. Whilst she was parking her car I was trying to take a photo of a Gatekeeper I had seen at the edge of the car park when they called out that a good looking White Admiral had just landed on the floor of the car park behind me. I turned around to try & get a good shot with my camera but the angle was not so good. Fortunately it took off & landed quite close to me so I started to take some photo's. As I viewed it though the zoom lens I realised that the markings were completely different to the White Admiral I had seen earlier plus it seemed much larger. I told them that it was our lucky day & that I was pretty sure it was a Purple Emperor! As I took some more photo's the light caught it at a different angle & I was able to see the purple iridescence- Mick Velasco (Warden HMWT Danemead Reserve)

A walk across Therfield Heath this afternoon yielded fairly good numbers of chalkhill Blue numbers with at least 15 Sightings, mostly males but also a couple of females. There was an abundance of Gatekeepers with about 50 sightings. Also seen were Large, Small & Green-veined Whites, Meadow Browns, Ringlets, Small & Essex Skippers - Simon Rasch

Wormley Woods NNR - At last....our first visit this year, and it stayed cloudy until early afternoon, which was real pain! For once I was actually looking down and found my first ever grounding outside the Broxbourne Wood NR, a female Purple Emperor endeavouring to take moisture from the dry ground just after 3. Unfortunately it flew off. A walk up to the high point to watch the canopy by the pond continued to yield no obvious territory despite some good late afternoon sun. Then back to Derry's Wood and sallow alley (the new guided path created through the sallows) and immediately Andrew saw two Emperors - Liz Goodyear and Andrew Middleton

Wednesday 20th July
News from Saturday 16th - I was walking along at about 4.30pm when a huge black butterfly flew past my face. I watched it for about 30 seconds as it flew around within 10 and 50 feet of me, even at this distance I could see it was a large black butterfly with white bands on its wings. It looked like a White Admiral but much larger, and with a powerful wing beat and soaring flight and I am now convinced I saw a female Purple Emperor. Now here's the weird bit I wasn't in a wood but walking down a road in Datchworth! And it was flying up and down in front of a row of houses, at one point it almost flew into an open window! There are some trees nearby, a couple of large oaks, ash and various others but I could see no sallow, although the houses in this area do have large gardens with lots of trees, I even walked down to the nearest wood to have a look about and found sallow growing but no sign of Purple Emperor? Might be worth people keeping an eye out in the area (Bramfield, Mardley Heath and Harmergreen Wood)- Lee Browne ( We totally agree - its an area we have felt for a long time had potential, but just hadn't been in the right place at the right time! LG/AM)

On Monday 18th on the main path at Broxbourne woods NR beyond the dip I saw a fritillary nectaring on a patch of thistles. It was in rather tatty condition and difficult to ID. I tried to get a photograph but was unable before it flew off. I waited for 10 mins. or so but it did not come back. This was about 1115am. Some time later walking back again another couple had just seen one in the same place (I assume the same one). They were asking what it might have been. I guess the most likely is the Silver Washed. If so it was not a male. I waited for some time but it did not reappear - Richard Bigg

Broxbourne Wood NR Field Trip 19th July 2005 © photo: June Crew

Tuesday 19th July
Robert Callf has asked if we could publise a Butterfly (and bird watching walk) that he is conducting on 30th July at Trent Park - full details on the field trips page

Good view of a male PE this afternoon at Broxbourne Woods . It was flying over the main ride a few yards from the west car park and settled on the trunk of a fairly young oak tree. It walked about on the bark just below the canopy but was chased off by a couple of hornets. It circled and returned to the same point. Either it was near a hole occupied by hornets or there may have been a lesion on the bark with a leak of sap that attracted both the hornets and the Purple Emperor - Nigel Agar

Monday 18th July
11.45 Broxborne N.R near carpark female P.E gliding around ride for 15 mins - Brian Dawton

Broxborne N.R, today, a couple of us had at least 2 sightings of Purple Emperor - one at 10.15am - the person with me (Les who is warden of wood at Stevenage) thought it was a female but it was going like a train and the other sighting was at 11.40am of a female that landed on oak next to the sallow where female was laying eggs yesterday - June Crew

A Marbled White on my transect walk in Southern Country Park, Bishop's Stortford on 10th July - Bob Clift

Sherrardspark Wood, I had white admiral in the garden on and off over the weekend. Indeed, on Sunday 17th there were at least 2 individuals - one was a bit tatty with a bit of its hind wing (if that's the correct technical phrase!) missing and the other looked quite fresh - David James

This is bizarre , I've been talking to BC members about White Letter Hairstreaks and then lo & behold I go and see one for myself. The strange thing is that the one I saw was on a yellow tea rose in my mother's back garden on Saturday July 16th (Kings Langley) I could not believe my eyes; the nearest Elm is in a hedgerow a field & a half away (300 meters). It used to be a proper English Elm when I was a child but since Dutch elm disease has just been a thicket of suckers - Dave Chandler

News from 16th, One male Purple Emperor after only about ten minutes of looking (c. 12:45 on Saturday) at the usual place - footpath down to bench in Broxbourne woods - Toby Austin

News from the 16th, Mick Velasco, warden of HMWT Danemead Reserve took a photo of a Purple Emperor in Martin's Green carpark!

17th July, Bramfield Woods, I recorded butterfly numbers from 11.30-1.30pm whilst on the move. 20+ Small/Essex Skipper, 2 Large Skipper, 6 Purple Hairstreak (all on one tree), 8 White Letter Hairstreak (one colony from one master tree and all feeding on the same bramble bush), 20+ Gatekeeper, 40+ Meadow Brown, 15 Ringlet, 10 Speckled Wood, 10 Green-veined White, 20+ Small White, 20+ Large White, 20+ Comma, 2 Peacock, 2 Red Admiral, 7 White Admiral - Lee Browne

News from Robert Callf, on the 14th he saw a Marbled White at Arkley. Saturday 16th, Trent Park - 2 Peacock, 2 male Oak Eggar, Sunday 17th, 1 Marbled White (only second record on transect) 2 Oak Eggar. Monday 18th, 6 Small Copper

Sunday 17th July
Broxbourne Wood NR field trip report. What a difference a week makes! Today was fantastic, 9.50 we had our first sighting of a probable male Purple Emperor circling around, then 10.45 a female was seen honey dew feeding. 11.15 we had a grounded female near the dip taking moisture and dead on cue just befoe 12, a female was seen egg-laying. The egg was visible through a scope. From then on there were several other reports of females and a further grounding at 14.05. However, the highlight of the day started to unfold around 14.15 when a member from Suffolk saw a female at a sap run in an oak tree near the carpark. It was then confirmed that were two together. Barry from Beds & Northants has a photo of the synchronised wings of two females side by side. We thought this was good then at 15.15 three females were confirmed in the tree. Then finally four when a very tatty (possibly male) individual joined in the fun. Left just before 5 o'clock - Liz Goodyear and Andrew Middleton and many more very contented people including the 16 participants of the CMS Butterfly Walk who joined us for part of the morning

Tring Park: this morning between 11:00 and 12:00: saw no PEs or SWFs. However, just past 12:00 on the steep path from the monument back up to the gate, one female Purple Emperor on the ground, then disturbed her again at the top, by the gate - Colin Sturges

100+ Chalkhill Blues at Hexton Chalk Pits this afternoon. Small Tortoishell at Old Hale Way allotment site, north Hitchin - Nigel Agar

Over the last few days I have seen what would appear to be almost an overlap between 2004 and 2005 species. On Monday 11th I saw a tatty Brimstone in Broxbourne Woods. clearly a 2004 one, and then this morning in the garden in Bengeo a fresh one. Even closer was a tatty Peacock in Ware Park Quarry on Thursday 14th, again a 2004 one and what would appear to be a very early 2005 one, by its condition, in Balls Wood yesterday the 16th. These dates seem rather early but I guess the recent hot weather could have forced a few early emergences. Still good numbers of White Admiral in Balls Wood, though my impression is that the Ringlets while common are down on last year while the Small/Essex Skippers seem to be doing well as are all the Whites. Also saw one Purple Hairstreak flying very low and resting in long grass for a good length of the entrance ride. Last week many skippers were mud puddling there but its all completely dry there now (a very rare event!)

Saturday 16th JulyBrent Reservoir Transect, 16 July: Small Skipper 12, Large White 11, Small White 5, G-V White 7, Purple Hairstreak 11, Holly Blue 2, Peacock 1, Comma 2, Speckled Wood 8, Meadow Brown 62, Marbled White 3 and a staggering 246 Gatekeepers today, surpassing the previous record by over 100! - Andrew Self

Had 4 Purple Emperor sightings at ride Broxbourne Woods today. A male was on ground near car park for about 5 mins - Tony Clancy

Visited the historic PE areas around St. Paul's Walden today, but didn't encounter anything 'special'. Sallow is still present so it shouldn't be assumed that they are no longer present in the area. However, what was amazing was the shear number of Gatekeeper along the hedgerows and brambles especially late afternoon - hundreds literally if not thousands, they were impossible to count - Liz Goodyear and Andrew Middleton

Hexton - 16 July am 20+ Ringlets, 15+ Gatekeepers, 15+ Meadow Browns, 15+ Small/Green Veined Whites, 15+ Small/Essex Skippers, 10+ Large Whites, 10+ Marbled Whites, 10+ Chalkhill Blues, 4 Small Tortoiseshells, 2 Commas, 1 Red Admiral and 1 Silver Y Moth - Steven Penn

It has been quite an interesting few days in my neck of the woods. 9-10th July - Ruislip Woods, the White Admirals were out in numbers (13+25 over the 2 days), which were evident in all 4 woods. There was the usual high numbers of Purple Hairstreaks but more Commas than usual. 12th July. Two roads from my South Ruislip home I pass a Marbled White, but assume mistaken identity as I have never seem one here in the 35 years. 30 minutes later I am taking a picture of a Marbled White in my garden!. Last year I had my first sighting of a Common Blue in my garden. I am wondering what next years newcomer will be? I counted 25+ Marbled Whites in a meadow near High Wycombe where I have never seen a single specimen so I wonder if 2005 is going to be the year of the Marbled White - Nicholas Furtek

Friday 15th July
At the usual spot by the seat in Broxbourne Wood NR, a female Purple Emperor appeared from over the canopy and settled on a fir tree 15 - 20 ft up. It remained for 30 secs. or so wings spread sunning itself, before disappearing over the trees again. Time was 3.15 pm - Richard Bigg

Just spent a couple of hours in Tring Park. At about 5:00 I got a glimpse (no more than 1/2 a second) of something black with a thick diagonal white mark flying into the tree next to me about 10 feet off the ground. Spent the next 45 minutes there but without luck (and starting to doubt it!). Moved on to a clearing and low and behold there she was again (Purple Emperor): moving lazily and perching on the lime tree leaves no more than 15 feet off the ground. Had her in the binoculars for about 15 seconds and no sign of any purple. That was about 6:00 and though I spent another 45 minutes there, I didn't see her any more - Colin Sturges

Brian Jessop rang to say he had walked his Tring Park transect today and seen 2 Purple Emperors flying low near him, at around 3 o'clock. Only one could be confirmed as male. He hasn't seen the Silver-washed Frit yet.

Just had a call from my wife that she and our gardener (Giles Whalley - a keen butterfly watcher) have just had very good views of white admiral in our garden backing onto Sherrardswood, Welwyn Garden City. We have seen at least 1 in 2 previous summers so it seems there must be a regular colony not too far away. I'm unfortunately stuck at work in London today but will be keeping a close eye on the garden over the weekend! - David James

I've had painted lady twice in the last 2 days once in Ware High Street outside 'peacocks' and again today at Puckeridge - Nick Sampford (Nick has just returned from up north with pictures [up later this weekend] of mountain ringlet, large heath, scotch argus, northern brown argus and high brown fritillary)

Trent Park Transect today, 247 Small Skipper, 6 Essex Skipper, 3 Large Skipper, 1 fresh Small Copper, 3 Comma, 161 Meadow Brown, 115 Gatekeeper, 7 Ringlet, and 9 Small Heath - Robert Callf

Northaw Great Wood, 13th July - 8 White Admiral - Diane and Richard Andrews

Silver-washed Frit at Ashridge on Thursday . In the Bucks section though - Don Otter

News from 12th July. A 40 minute evening walk at the Wheathampstead LNR revealed 11 species; Marbled White 19, Small White 4, Gatekeeper 26, Comma 2, Meadow Brown 21, Small Skipper 21, Painted Lady 1, Small Copper 1, Large White 1, Small Tortoishell 2. What I really went to look for were Purple Hairstreaks but was rewarded with two White-letter Hairstreaks nectaring at ground level in quite different locations. One was feeding on Cow Parsley and the other on Lady's Bedstraw which I thought was un-usual. Photos attached. I haven't located any Elms yet but I'm delighted that a colony of WLH exist on this new reserve. A web link to the reserve can be found at http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/brian.joyce/wlnr/index.htm 4th July. Hertford Heath. A Purple Hairstreak was accidentally swept into a net during a HNHS entomology field trip. Photo attached - Trevor Chapman

Thursday 14th July
Knebworth Woods, 1 White Admiral in a clearing - Peter Clarke

Hemel Hempstead, garden has picked up considerably. Large Skipper on Verbena Rigida Tuesday, fresh male Brimstone yesterday and eight species today, L, S and G.V.Whites in good numbers particularly Small Whites,Meadow Browns,Comma,several Holly Blues, Gatekeepers, and a single Small Skipper on Lavender. Saw my second pair of mating G.V.Whites today, photo courtesy of my son David - Malcolm Newland

Wednesday 13th July
White Admiral, this evening near Gobions Wood, - my first sighting of the species near Brookmans Park. Also what I believe might have been Hairstreaks about 25 feet above my garden, flying around a lombardy poplar - God knows how you can tell them apart at that distance! - Rupert Pyrah

Broxbourne Woods Goose Green End - we went back this morning arrived at car park 9.05, stayed until 10.15 whilst no definate sightings, a possible at the very end of the track at the top near oaks. We the went to Broxbourne Wood NR arrived at 10.35, male Purple Emperor went onto ground at 11.01 stayed 30secs, left at 1.00pm - Kevin and Sandra Standbridge

Recent news from Robert Callf - in the Whitewebbs area, 17 Comma, 2 Oak Eggar moths at Hillyfields and Park Farm, also a new colony of White letter Hairstreak at Park Farm. 20 Purple Hairstreak in Trent Park. Oaklands/Grovelands area 3 Essex Skipper and lots of Small Skipper plus 1 Small Heath at Parklands. 1 Painted Lady at Hoghill. This weeks transect news included 133 Small Skipper, 140 Meadow Brown, 18 Small Heath, 21 Gatekeeper, 6 Ringlet and 1 White letter

Tuesday 12th July
Sandra and I parked at Goose Green today, arrived 10.15 and walked towards Broxbourne Woods, We had 4 sightings of Purple Emperor, the first at 10.35 flying around us and then went up high, it was a quarter of the way down the path. The second was at 11.15 when one landed half way down, took picture but not close to it and it flew up straight away. The third was at 11.35 was at the top of the hill before dip flying high. Last sighting was on our way back near where the second sighting, again flying high. We then went to Broxbourne Woods car park and was there about 45 mins, saw female land about 50 yards from seat at about 1.30. We decided to go back about 4.30, whilst we did not see any Emperors, we did find a dead male, it was near the end of the path half way up the last hill, very mangled, appears to be being used by motorcycles which is a shame. Also saw White Letter Hairstreak in Goose Green car park on our return - Kevin and Sandra Standbridge

Steve Lane and I saw 5 Heath Fritillaries today in Essex - Ian Hardy

Broxbourne Woods NR White Admirals, Purple Hairstreak at Brox Wood today. Also PEs but I kept missing them. Also Emperor dragonflies - Nigel Agar

I managed to get up to Tring Park by mid afternoon in search of more butterflies yesterday today. I skirted around the main path and the clearings with the sallows and brambles several times without any luck but at 5pm I hit the jackpot. I was walking along the main path of the woodland when I decided to double back into an area of lime trees opposite the path that runs into a clearing. I could see from a distance that a large butterfly was flying just off the ground and on closer inspection I saw a beautiful FEMALE PURPLE EMPEROR (no purple coloration) feeding off salts from the ground.It settled there for only about 30 seconds before flying off into the wood but I savoured every moment. This was my first sighting of this butterfly here since 2003 and it was in exactly the same spot as I had seen a female Purple Emperor in 2002. I really believe you have to be in the right place at the right time to spot this very elusive species but it was a very thrilling and special experience to see this butterfly again. I looked around the same area for another hour but made no further sightings - Phil Woodward

Aldbury Nowers, fresh Dark Green Fritillary at AN yesterday - that's two years on the trot. At least I saw it this year! Lots of skippers - caught a few (Mostly Small but one Essex) but takes a long time, transect nearly two hours. Some Ringlets also look very similar to some Meadow Browns. Otherwise numbers now increasing to last years level - Martin Hicks

Fir & Ponds Wood HMWT Reserve, yesterday Purple Emperor were confirmed as present on the site, by looking for territorial activity. A male was seen along the north edge of Pond Wood and not as we would have thought the higher point on Fir Wood. Other species seen were Common Blue, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Ringlet, Speckled Wood, Purple Hairstreak, Red Admiral, Comma, Green veined White, Large White, Small/Essex Skipper - Andrew Middleton, Liz Goodyear with David Gompertz (Reserve Warden)

Monday 11th July
Tim Freed phoned me tonight to say that he had seen a White Letter Hairstreak in the canopy of Narrow-Leaved Elm in a road near Holland Park, London. Hemel Hempstead, another Hummer this time on honeysuckle in my garden today along with Large White, Gatekeeper and Speckled Wood but things still on the slow side - Malcolm Newland

Dropped in at Hexton Chalk Pit this evening at about 6pm. Saw about 12 Chalkhill Blues, all male. At least two appeared to be crippled, perhaps as a result of the low rainfall earlier this year. Other species were ringlet, meadow brown, small heath, gatekeeper, red admiral, six-spot burnet and shaded broad-bar moth. Ian

Knebworth Woods, whilst searching the complex, between 10:30 and 12:45 I saw 8 Purple Hairstreaks and 17 Marbled Whites - Peter Clarke

Sunday 10th July
On a visit to Tring Park this morning I saw numerous butterflies but was particularly pleased to see a female Silver Washed Fritillary gliding down one of the paths that leads up to the wood at about 10-45 and then saw a male perched on a lime tree branch near some brambles at about midday. Unfortunately no sign of the Purple Emperor - Phil Woodward

St Nick's church yard, 11-11.30am. 4 Large White, 2 Small White, 3 Meadow Brown, 1 Large Skipper, 1 Gatekeeper, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Privet Hawkmoth. Field behind St Nick's church, 11.45-12.30pm. 5 Small White, 5 Large White, 40+ Meadow Brown, 2 Comma, 7 Ringlet, 15 Small Skipper, 2 Large Skipper, 8 Gatekeeper, 3 Red Admiral, 5 Small Tortoiseshell, 10 Marbled White, 2 Cinnabar Moth, 20 Peacock Larvae - Lee Browne

Stanmore Country Park Field trip, went reasonably well in the morning. We have quite a good population of Purple Hairsteak. Also one or two Marbled White - this is unique for the Country Park. I have only seen the odd specimen before. We tried the pheromones but drew a blank. May have been too late in the day. The evening event got about 30 macros species and some micros which I have yet to look at having been busy all day - John Hollingdale

Bricket Wood field trip species list - Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Holly Blue, Green-veined White, Marbled White, Small Skipper, Essex Skipper, Large Skipper, Brimstone (male and female), Speckled Wood, Purple Hairstreak, White Admiral, Large White, Ringlet, Comma, Red Admiral, Large Yellow Underwing, Narrow-borded 5 spot Burnet and the highlight just at the end a Silver Washed Fritillary!!! - Malcolm Hull

Small Tortoiseshell and Gatekeeper at Old Hale Way Allotment site, Hitchin and 2 Small Tortoiseshell on buddliea and lavender garden Oakfield estate Hitchin - Nigel Agar

In a private mature wood in south Herts, I watched a female Silver-washed Fritillary spend several minutes on and near the ground in a small sunny area along a path. Once she had moved off I found that the spot contained a number of violets. This is the typical behaviour of a female looking for a place suitable for egg-laying (eggs are laid in bark crevices on tree trunks near violet clumps) - Colin Everett

Just wanted to let you know that the White Admirals were out in force today at Park Wood, Ruislip . I counted at least 25 - sometimes four or five at a go! Not bad going considering I saw my first one yesterday - Susie

Broxbourne area today, reports of at least Purple Emperor on the ride at the Broxbourne Wood NR but not a lot to report. Broxbourne Common produced one male perched around 1 o'clock seen by Helen Bantock and later one by Andrew Middleton (5 flights late afternoon). However, the territory that can be viewed from the road verge just out of Brickendon near the Golf course entrance on Pembridge Lane , was active and just as we were leaving a rather floppy Purple Emperor came through the territory and flew out towards us on the road verge circled and then went off down to we presume the sallows on the Reserve. Our feeling is that this was a mated female. Seen by Liz Goodyear, Andrew Middleton, Tony Clancy and Brian Dawton

Following on from a most successful moth day and night I went out today around Maple Cross and am pleased to report there seems to be a small colony of active Marbled Whites! I have seen a number over the last week. Also evidence of plenty of small tortoiseshells. Also seen were small and large skippers, several small whites and large whites a couple of commas, meadow browns , a peacock and a gatekeeper. It seems as if July is going to be kind to south-west Herts unlike May and June! Ann Piper

At least two White-letter Hairstreaks in Perivale Wood today (Sunday 10th)after a long struggle. The elms they are using are only viewable from the shaded side and coupled with the presence of several Purple Hairstreak and the warm conditions, it was difficult to secure a firm ID. Still, nice to confirm that they continue at this site, albeit in small numbers. This is the first time I've seen them here this year despite 3 deliberate forays. Also in PW today, 2 second generation Holly Blues. Yesterday, 15-20 Purple Hairstreaks around one oak on the western edge of PW in the evening. Also yesterday, on the Horsenden West transect, 1 White-letter Hairstreak plus another one 'off-transect' on Horsenden East - Andy Culshaw

Saturday 9th July
Bricket Wood - field trip tomorrow, and as a taster, late news from Malcolm Hull - he saw a Silver Washed Fritillary today!

Field trip news at Broxbourne Wood NR . Arrived just after 9 and cloudy, remained cloudy to around 1 o'clock. Despite some serious sun, no Purple Emperor were seen until 4.15 when a very brief sighting was made after most people had gone home! The territory at Broxbourne Common also produced only one flight - rather disappointing for the 30 odd people who came along. White Admiral were present, also Purple Hairstreak. Archie Lang whilst walking around the edge of the reserve, it pretty sure he saw a Silver Washed Frit. - Liz Goodyear

Wandering around the field to SW of Brookmans Park station there were a lot of butterflies. Must have been well over 100+ Meadow Browns & Gatekeepers (ratio about 3 or 4:1). Also several red Admirals, Large Whites, Skippers (Small or Essex) feeding on clover, a few Ringlets, and 1 Small Tort, and 1 Comma. Howver I've seen very few Small Whites this year - has anyone else noticed this? Also on Thursday my first Marbled Whites of the summer - 2 or 3 in the Potwells area - Rupert Pyrah

Friday 8th July
Exciting news from Tyttenhanger Gravel Pits, a favourite spot for bird watchers - Last Sunday 3rd July at around 9.00 o'clock while standing at Nettle Hill, Ricky Flesher spotted a large dark butterfly with white markings on the ash tree directly behind the usual watching spot. The butterfly gave good views and after taking notes and consulting books and the web, we came to the conclusion that it was a Purple Emperor. David Booth later saw the same (?) butterfly probably a female - at the same spot - Pete Christian (Pete contacted AM/LG almost immediately and landowners/land managers have been informed - it is stressed that everybody should keep to the public thoroughfares and access points if specifically looking fo r these insects and not trespass. If you are visiting Tyttenhanger please keep a very watchful look out and inparticular for females around the numerous sallows between 12 and 2)

Thursday 7th July
Broxbourne Common this afternoon, despite cool and breezy conditions, a least one male Purple Emperor spent the afternoon on territory including one chase/clash. 4 White Admirals, Commas, a Red Admiral, Ringlet, Speckled Wood and many Purple Hairstreak. At one point a Ringlet and a Purple Hairstreak were seen nectaring on Sweet Chestnut side by side - Liz Goodyear and Andrew Middleton

Before I forget the trip to Ryewater on 2nd July was a great success and although the sun never shone, everyone had a very enjoyable day and our host and his helpers were fantastic. I do have a species list for both Ryewater and the trip on Sunday to Martin Down/Vernditch Chase which I will post on a seperate page with some pictures when I have the permission of the owner to do so. If you have any photos please let me have them so I can add them to mine (also for the newsletter). It might take a while before they are up though - Liz

Wednesday 6th July
Thank you to Andrew for stepping in at such short notice to man the website whilst the Goodyear internet went down. Word of advice - if there is a thunderstorm don't wait for the storm to get closer, turn off immediately and not after the house about 100feet from you is struck! If you are waiting for a reply to an email please be patient, I have a large backlog to read and photos will take a bit of time - thanks Liz

Just a reminder that the next four or five weeks include peak times for most butterfly species, so from now onwards is the time to visit priority tetrads in your decad. Try and encourage everyone to use the standard recording forms. Best of luck, John Murray

Whilst spending a few days in Ferring, West Sussex with Tim Freed who had his moth trap out last week in his garden. In a very impressive mixed catch there were no less than a staggering 63 Elephant Hawk-moths and a solitary Privet Hawk-moth - Malcolm Newland

I was interested to see the abundance of White Admiral sightings reported. I have just returned from a 3-week holiday in France and in a wood just south of Saumur in the Loire region there were scores of them. I counted over a dozen in the first ten minutes then gave up. Must be a bumper year for them. - Richard Bigg

We we