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Sightings and news from January to June 2011

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This page contains sightings details of all the butterflies and moths reported to the  Sightings page between January and June 2011.

Note: These pages have been copied from the original sightings page and some links will no longer work. All images of butterflies or moths have been removed, but most can be found in the Photo House

June 2011

Thursday 30th June 2011
Batford, weedy field - 3 Gatekeepers - Darin Stanley

June 26: Batford. the footpath next to the weedy field at Batford , Herts had at least 4 WHITE LETTER HAIRSTREAKS in flight around the rejuvenating elms but a couple were found nectaring on bramble adjacent to the path one which was easy to photograph. Also in the area were many Marbled Whites , Ringlets , Meadow Browns & Red Ads.June 28: Redbourn, The rough grass field known locally as Aubreys Camp TL085113 has numerous Marbled Whites & Meadow Browns. I also saw several fresh Ringlets & 5 Commas . This is a very productive area for grassland species. June 30: Symonshyde Lane, 3 Silver Washed Fritillaries often on bramble at the public footpath entrance where sadly a lot of the habitat has been spoilt by the logging storage & clearance. Also at that spot one Red Admiral & a Comma. Time there was 10:45- 12 noon. - Ernest Leahy

After drawing a blank down the trails from the West car park at Broxbourne Woods this morning (2 Red Admirals the highlight) I went to the East car park. Nothing seen on the Sculpture trail but 250 yds down the Broxbourne Woods trail (start where the log piles are and walk to just before the ditch with a wooden bridge over it) a Purple Emperor came out of the woods and circled me once before disappearing over the trees. I waited 20 minutes but did not get another sighting - Robin Pearson

Managed a quick visit to the old rivers nursery site today High wych/Sawbridgeworth, Brown argus 1,small skipper 8,Large skipper 1,Small tortoiseshell 3,many Ringlet and Meadow brown,Just before leaving a quick glance up at two hedgrow elms gave a sighting of a single WL Hairstreak cross from one elm to another,my first at this site - Laurence Drummond

A stroll around The Commons LNR in Welwyn Garden City between 8am & 9am today produced: Small White 7, Meadow Brown 20, Marbled White 2, Ringlet 12, Large White 6, Large Skipper 12, White Lettered Hairstreak 2, Comma 3, Small Skipper 6, Gatekeeper 4, Red Admira 1 - Chris Beach

Butterflies seen late morning at Tyttenhanger Gravel Pits and Garden Wood included;- Marbled White, Comma, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown, Small White, Small Heath, Small Skipper, Ringlet - Terry Wood

I was up at Aldbury yesterday and together with good numbers of marbled white, I saw 2 comma, 2 brimstone, 2 silver washed fritillary and 4 dark green fritillary. Today I was at Purwell Ninesprings and there were lots of ringlets, skippers and whites about and at Beech Farm there were 3 small tortoiseshell together basking on rubble piles. - Paul Thrush

Wednesday 29th June 2011
Ruislip Woods Field Trip: Twenty one people assembled at 10.30 in Ruislip Lido car park on a lovely sunny morning. We headed around the southern edge of the lido into Park Wood and walked the length of the Pylon ride, across Grubb Ground and on to the St Vincent's end of Park Wood. It was a long walk but we were rewarded by the sight of 2 male Purple Emperor. One settled for 10 minutes at the top of an oak in a small clearing, giving everyone the opportunity to see it through my telescope. We also saw several White Admiral, Comma, Purple Hairstreak, Large & Small Skipper, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Speckled Wood, Large, Small & GV White, Holly Blue, male Brimstone (seen by one of the group) and NB Five-spot Burnet moth. We also saw a Hobby, Southern Hawker Dragonfly and a Violet Ground Beetle sp? We arrived back the cars at approx 13.45. Most people headed off but Ched George and myself explored the fields next to the lido car park. Ched counted 30+ Marbled White and similar numbers of Ringlet. plus Large & Small Skipper, Meadow Brown and Purple Hairstreak. Then to Poors Field where I saw my first Gatekeeper of the year. Ched left and I went to check on the nesting Common Terns on the Lido. As I was watching the terns I noticed a Humming-bird Hawk moth feeding on Lucerne. - Steve Pash

Wheathampstead LNR, Too many to count of ringlets and marbled whites. At one time I saw at least 8 ringlets at one time. Comma feeding on bramble - Linda Brooks

A very visible and strikingly pink Lime Hawkmoth flying in dappled sunlight along Villiers -Sur-Marne Avenue, Thorley Park at 3.30 this afternoon - Len Crouch

29th June Amwell, Marbled White. 27th June Kings Meads, Essex & Small Skipper, 8 Large Skipper, 14 Small Tortoiseshell, 9 Meadow Brown, 13 Ringlet - Simon Knott

Walked along the footpath west from Wheathampstead towards Leasey Bridge Farm. The path has a hedge in places and meadow either side. There were lots of meadow browns, ringlets and small skippers along the length of the path, but it was the marbled whites that were particularly impressive - I started counting them but gave up when I got to 100. I have only recently started walking this route so I don't know if this is normal here or whether it's a particularly good year for them. - Ian Flack

I managed to walk round all my local patch at around 5.30 this evening, and it was well worth it! First up were two new Gatekeepers, the first of the year, soon followed by four or five Purple Hairstreaks around a mature solitary oak by the River Colne completely ignoring a couple of spiralling Red Admirals. I counted eight Commas in various places, staking out territories and chasing anything in sight - including one foolishly pursuing a formidable-looking dragonfly. The line of small oaks by the J14 roundabout were also graced by a handful of Purple Hairstreaks, but they stayed high and energetic in the treetops. Finally, along the damp edge of a piece of woodland, I encountered at least two Ringlets. This is my first sighting of this species here - but I suspect this is more a tribute to my sorry observational powers in previous years rather than the arrival of a new species! However, it is the 24th different species seen across this patch in three years. Watching them, they flitted up and down at low level for a while, as is their habit; then as if a signal had been given, they all made for the trees and settled down about fifteen feet up, in the shade, and became effectively invisible. Fascinating. - Dave Miller

A summary of today's transect walk at Bricket Wood Common is provided at:
http://hertshobbies.blogspot.com
- C. M. Everett

4 White Admirals in 50 minutes at Bramfield Woods today, also a Painted Lady and a Hummingbird Hawk-moth and quite a few Red Admirals, recent migrants? Nothing exciting at Bramfield Park Wood, all the permissive paths are closed due to extensive forestry operations currently (looks like most of the conifers are coming out). No interesting species in Plashes Wood, but a few Marbled Whites between there and the A10. Six belted clearwings came to pheromone lures, there is masses of birds foot trefoil on that site. Plenty of Small Tortoiseshells in the arable field edges around Watton at StoneAndrew Wood

Started today at Martins green carpark 12.05, walked through HMWT Danemead 1 White admiral here, out onto the bridleway north to Monks green, at the cross way a Purple emperor flies over my head and into a small oak tree,carried on to Monks green and decided to check out the canopy of Jepps wood that can be viewed from the bridleway, at 13.10 a Purple emperor appeared over the canopy and perched on a high spray of a large ash tree. I stayed until 13.40 but no further activity was seen, maybe a visit later in the season when more are on the wing may confirm if this is a territory,I then walked back south along the bridleway, at the cross way 13.53, I disturbed a grounded male Purple emperor that was probably the same one seen earlier, it flew up into the lower branches of a pine tree, I waited a few minutes for the sun to come out and it flew out of the tree an landed on the track about 5ft away from me, I watched it crawling around on the track, all the while probing the damp surface, after watching for a few minutes I made my way to the territory at Broxbourne common from 14.20-14.50 no Purple emperors were seen.Laurence Drummond

Waterford Heath Wednesday - Meadow browns, ribglets and skippers + 2 Marbled Whites on the small meadow at the south east corner of the south heath - Andy Brown

Symondshyde Great Wood 14:30 - 15:15. 4-6 White Admiral 400 yds down rutted track South of Bridleway, also two unidentified Hairstreaks. 3 Silver-washed Fritillaries 50 yds along Bridleway - Robin Pearson

Some news for today (Wednesday 29th June 2011) - 1 Small Tortoiseshell, along hedgerow opposite Williams Wood, at Vicarage Farm, 11:15 hrs; 2, male and female, Ringlet, copulating, along hedgerow opposite Williams Wood, at Vicarage Farm, 11:17 hrs; 1 male Common Blue, hedgerow opposite Williams Wood, at Vicarage Farm, 11:20 hrs; 1 Marbled White, set-aside field N of Williams Wood, Trent Park, 11:25 hrs; 2 Red Admiral, together, set-aside field N of Williams Wood, Trent Park, 11:25 hrs; 1 Red Admiral, at Bay Farm, Enfield; 2 Small Tortoiseshell, at Rectory Farm, Enfield; 1 Comma, at Rectory Farm, Enfield; 7 Small White, together, settling on track at Rectory Farm; 1 Comma, at Whitewebbs Wood; 1 Red Admiral, at Whitewebbs Wood; Ringlet, several, at Whitewebbs Wood; 1 Red Admiral, at Lavender Hill Cemetery, Enfield, at 15:05 hrs - Robert Callf

Monday 27th June 2011
Have had my first Humming-Bird hawkmoths of the year on Lavender Dwarf Munstead Blue - Malcolm Newland

Went to Brox woods. Purple Hairstreak present and Purple Emperor reliably reported also Ringlet, MBs Speck Wood Red Admiral. No one seems to have seen White Admiral yet - Nigel Agar

Sunday 26 July: walked the transect at Templewood Vale, Sherrardspark Wood on a warm, sunny afternoon and recorded the following: 1 red admiral, 4 comma, 43 meadow brown, 5 large skipper, 6 ringlet, 1 small skipper, 1 speckled wood, 1 large white, 3 small/GV-white and 1 white-letter hairstreak. Most of the meadow browns were out amongst the long grasses in the meadow but the other species were on or near the brambles along the fringe of the wood. - Ian Flack

Bicentenary Garden, Brunel University, Uxbridge. 5+ Marbled White, 3 Large White, Comma, Red Admiral, Holly Blue, 2 Speckled Wood, 2 Small Heath, 2 Large Skipper & 3 Small/Essex Skipper (to active to confirm). Steve Pash

-----29c----11.30am-----Broxboune woods main ride west car park----1xPE male--on dessicated dog faeces-----2x red admiral---1x Comma. Nothing showing at C camp at 12 noon-------Nothing of interest at Bencroft wood. Oakhill Woods LNR EN2----Fresh male Peacock and fresh male Brimstone on creeping thistle. KIT JONES

A couple of quick walks round different parts of my patch over the last couple of days: Sunday 26th - very hot and sunny, and a walk along the River Colne produced 3 or 4 new Holly Blues, 3 Small Tortoiseshells, 2 Commas, 2 Red Admirals, a Speckled Wood and 4 Meadow Browns. There were also numerous Small/GV Whites, and a solitary Large White. However, I don't like to add in several dozen newly-emerged Peacocks, as my smallest son and I helped bring them into the world! Virtually no parasitism noted in this batch, incidentally. Monday 27th - equally hot but entirely overcast at 5pm when I ventured over to the patch by J14 of the M25. Small Heaths were flying, but not more than a dozen were seen. However, some were new: they appear to have overlapping broods, having been there constantly since April. In the wooded part, Red Admirals appeared to have emerged in numbers. Though not in the Purple Emperor league, their spiralling dogfights in and around the treetops were most impressive, four or five joining the fray at once. More Holly Blues were about and another fresh Comma. - Dave Miller

Started the day at Broxbourne woods main ride at 08.37, at 0854 I saw a single Purple emperor fly into a small sallow about 70yds east of the stream,then to the Martins green car park at 09.30 walked up the bridleway to Monks green no sign of any Purple emperors here, but as in Brox,more than the usual amount of Red admirals, 1 white admiral seen in HMWT Danemead on the return walk, back to Broxbourne main ride at.10.44 and found a grounded male Purple emperor near the seat, it flew to some logs and I managed to get it taking salts from my finger,arrived at Wormley wood 11.15,again no sign here of any emperors around the rides but a stint at the territory 12.50-13.21 showed two arriving high over the gap at 13.10, then disappearing, at 13.19 one flew across the gap and perched, then another at 13.21, also 1 white admiral in the main ride - Laurence Drummond

Three Silver-washed Fritillaries in Symondshyde Great Wood this morning on ride South of Bridleway. Robin Pearson

A few sightings for yesterday (Sunday 26th June 2011) at Oakwood Park, N14 - 2 Large Skipper, at 09:50 hrs; 1 Purple Hairstreak, at 09:50 hrs - my first of the year! 2 Speckled Wood, together, at 09:52 hrs; 2 Ringlet, at 12:50 hrs; 1 Comma, at 12:50 hrs. Today (Monday 27th June 2011) sightings at Grovelands Park, Southgate: 1 Ringlet, 12:37 hrs; 2 Small Skipper, 12:42 and 12:48 hrs; 1 Silver Y, at 12:48 hrs; 1 Meadow Brown, at 12:55 hrs. - Robert Callf

Just about to start my regular walk around EC2, Looking our of the office window here in Broadgate (EM2M 2PP) City of London 1 silver washed fritilary, Perched on the windowsill briefly, in the sun, before taking off (am counting that on my walk, as I doubt I'll see another !!!)Some quick highlights from yesterday (Sunday): Cottered (TL30/28) 1 silver washed Fritilary, happily visiting the village fair. Coombs Wood (30/22). First saw a single marbled white on the grassland area just before the woods entrance in 2009. Sunday we saw a total of 12 individuals, so clearly the colony has become well established and has spread out to cover part of the fields to the west of the woods as two individuals were also seen flying through the woods. Also 10 cinnabar moths (+ lots of catterpillars) 2 small heath 58 meadow brown 8 ringlet 5 small skipper (no essex skipper) 18 large skipper. Dane End (32/20) 1 marbled white in the park. 1 purple hairsteak on oaks. Lots of ringlets and meadow browns etc everywhere. Saturday Hillyfield Park - Enfield. 20+ purple hairstreak at North Enfield CC. Further to all this Small Tortoiseshell - doing well, lots seen at Wareside = all the site visits from Sunday. - Phil MacMurdie

Pinner, Middlesex. Two Holly Blues in our garden here, both yesterday and today. These must be second brood; but like so many other species this year, this seems exceptionally early - Graham Elcombe.

Hounslow Heath LNR, so hot today evrything stopped flying, 5 Purple Hairstreak, 30 Small/Essex Skipper, 2 Ringlet, 3 Small Heath, 20+ Small White, 1 Small Tortoiseshell - Chris Slack

Sunday 26th June 2011
We had an informal two-hour wander round Bricket Wood Common and up the Main Ride, between 11 and 1; weather hot. I was not counting exact numbers for the commoner species, and am sure you have more detailed reports from many others, but the following may be of some help:Small Skipper - only got close enough to one to positively identify it, but saw hardly any other Small/Essex.Large Skipper - quite common; probably several dozen seen.Large White - certainly saw 4.Small/Green-veined White - a small number, maybe 6-10.Green-veined White - 1 close enough for positively identification. White Admiral - about 8. Purple Emperor - did not see one, but spoke to someone who says they did see one earlier that morning - a male going by the purple sheen as it flew off, showing that it was not a White Admiral - on the Main Ride, between the main path and the narrow wooden trackway. Red Admiral - 2,Comma - just 1 (hutchinsonii), Silver-Washed Fritillary - about 5, Speckled Wood - 2, Marbled White - about 20, Meadow Brown - quite common - certainly dozens, Ringlet - very common; more, in fact, than I have ever seen in one habitat. Possibly 50-100 or more, if that is of any help!The vagueness of numbers of some species was partly due to the fact that - as another camera-toting spotter confirmed to me - for some reason the butterflies just were not settling. The brambles were in full flower, but apart from a couple of Meadow Browns, and one White Admiral which gave me a decent photo of its underside, little was settling on them. However, I did get one quaint photo - three Tiger beetles mating (yes - three)! - Michael Hammerson

Some sightings for Saturday 25th June 2011 at Regent's Park - 1 Gatekeeper, 15:06 hrs - my first of the year! 1 Silver Y, 15:06 hrs; 2, male and female, Large Skipper, 15:08 hrs; 3 Small Tortoiseshell,( 1 at 15:10 hrs, 2 together, 15:50 hrs); 2 male Small Skipper, 15:11 hrs; 1 Comma, at 15:35 hrs; 1 Red Admiral, at 16:20 hrs; 1 Narrow-bordered Five Spot Burnet, at 15:38 hrs. - Robert Callf

On Saturday 25th June at Bunkers park daisy slope in evening... several marbled whites, some still flying in late sun, meadow brown, ringlet and 6 spot burnet caterpillars, cocoons and moths around too. Noisy Summer chafer beetles flying over the tree border and out of the daisies at dusk were an amazing site. 26th June in Kings Langley hedgerow brambles and umbelliferae I saw more butterflies than before in this area at one time.Over a 2-3hr wander I saw groups of 4, 2 and 3 small tortoiseshells dog fighting over my head near brambles and nettles.In same patch there were large skipper, ringlet, meadow brown and comma! Further up the lane near oak and hogweed there were more small tortoiseshells flying over the wheat field and settling on hogweed and corn. Ringlet, meadow brown and large skipper again too. This morning a fast orange butterfly, either a comma or small tortoishell against my window. Ringlet in my garden for the first time and a large white. - Elizabeth Debenham

Passed through FISHERS FIELD for 1 hour at 5.30 pm today. Noticed 14 x meadow brown, 4 x green veined white, 7 x small skippers and 5 x essex skippers. - David Gower

3 White Admirals , lots of Ringlets, a few commas and large and small skippers present but no SWF. Andy Brown

Met up with Laurence Drummond, after he had seen a dark green fritillary in Broxbourne Wood NR earlier in the morning. We didn't see any Purple Emperors yet in Wormley Wood, but we did see c3 white admirals, a hummingbird hawkmoth and a marbled white there, then no sightings of Pemp over Fir & Pond Wood yet, but one male PE at North Mymms and two later in the afternoon at Northaw Great Wood. ~ Andrew Middleton and Laurence Drummond

Before meeting Andrew for a tour of south Herts emperor sites I stopped off at Broxbourne woods main ride 08.55 to 10.00,the Dark green fritillary was again seen patrolling the thistle beds along the stream,also one White admiral. - Laurence Drummond

Today went early to waterford heath and Rickneys, Ringlets everywhere. But four marbled white at Waterford heath south and a colony of marbled whites in the field on other side of sacombe rd from Rickneys . - Steve Kiln

Huge numbers of Small Heath at this site yesterday. Home Park, or Hampton Court Park, is the deer park associated with Hampton Court Palace. I was mostly in the monad TQ1668, stopped counting at 30+ (chiefly because I was looking for fungi primarily), saw hundreds, and would not be surprised at all if there were thousands over the whole site. Same for Small/Essex Skippers - much less so for Meadow Brown. If Bushy Park, the adjacent site immediately to the north which has much in the way of similar habitat and is much larger, holds equivalent densities then the current population at these two Royal Parks could even approach five figures.I should put in two caveats: firstly, possible over-enthusiasm in extrapolating big numbers from anecdotal small ones; and secondly, Bushy Park certainly had very few Small Heath flying in 2009 when I tramped over that whole site twice a month as part of a fungus survey.An impressive and pleasing sight yesterday, in any event - Keir Mottram

Large number of marbled whites in rough field between Batford and Wheathampstead on the Lower Luton Road (Grid ref TL154150 ) First seen on the 24th June.- Paul Unwin

We went to Broxbourne Woods today, arrived at 10.30am, Sunny and very hot conditions. Saw no White Admirals but plenty of Large Skippers, Meadow Brown,Ringlet, large Whites,Comma, Red Admirals, Also saw 3 Purple Hairstreaks and around 11.30 we saw a grounded Male Purple Emperor on the path just past the seat. It stayed grounded for approx 10mins. Then flew up to the right(when looking down the track)into the pine trees -
http://www.hertsmiddx-butterflies.org.uk/photos/nym/pe/Pe1_2011S.Standbridge.jpg
Sandra and Kevin Stanbridge

Hatfield Aerodrome (Disused): Marbled White x 85+ present - Appears to be healthy colony still Large Skipper x 6 Small Skipper x 3 Meadow Brown - Good numbers throughout site Ringlet x 8 Small Heath x 7 Red Admiral x 4 Small White - Fair numbers though out site Large White x 1 Green-Veined White - Numbers scattered through site Speckled Wood x 4 - Home Covert (Wood) Small Tortoiseshell x 1 - David Wheatcroft

Saturday 25th June 2011
Lea Valley Walk Between Wheathampstead & Waterend following seen: Marbled White x 4 Small Tortoiseshell x 2 Ringlet x 5 Small White - Few present Meadow Brown x 15 - David Wheatcroft

3 male Purple Emperor flying in Park Wood, Ruislip. Several aerial clashes from 15.40 until I left at 17.10. Also, White Admiral, 4 - 5 Purple Hairstreak, 2 Comma, Large Skipper and 3+ Speckled Wood. Steve Pash

Gatekeeper visited my garden in Thorley Park at a minute before noon today - Len Crouch

Visited Broxbourne Woods on Friday and in the clearing west of the main ride going north from the W car park, where all the young oak trees are,.saw Silver Washed fritillary flying, also plenty of Purple hairstreaks. - Iris Newbery

Friday 24th June 2011
Nice morning out on Hounslow Heath LNR. The main heathland pen saw 20 Small Heath, 14 Small Skipper and 5 Meadow Brown with the odd Red Admiral sitting on the bramble bushes. A trip down the red ride found the first two Ringlet of the year, Holly Blues and a couple of Purple Hairstreak on the stunted heath oaks. Finally spotted a hairstreak on our known White-letter colony at the southern end of the red ride on suckering elm, only a fleeting glimpse so will have to get down next week to confirm if the White-letters are out as there are many Purple Hairstreaks in this area also. Good to be corresponding after recording in Hounslow since 1996.- Chris Slack

I did the transect on Tuesday at Aldbury Nowers, highlights included a red admiral in the southern section and a dark green fritillary in the northern section. I visited today and along with lots of marbled white, meadow browns and ringlets saw a small tortoiseshell and a painted lady. - Paul Thrush

Thursday 23rd June 2011
Yesterday (22nd) I managed to squeeze in a quick visit late in the day to Harmondsworth Moor just north-west of Heathrow. The uncut grassy areas were alive with Meadow Browns, Marbled Whites and Small Skippers, plus five or six Small Heaths. 2010 was the first year I had seen Marbled Whites here, and now their numbers appear to have increased markedly - I counted over 30 in a relatively small area so the overall total must be impressive. Incidentally, I don't believe there were any Essex Skippers out yet - none of the photos I took showed any evidence of any. Other than the above, one Large Skipper and one Red Admiral spotted. - Dave Miller

At Bricket Wood Common today, after a rain shower I had 12 seperate sightings of Silver-washed Fritillary (males & females) probably at least 8 individuals. Also 4 White Admirals.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7395917@N02/5863383530/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7395917@N02/5863383632/
Robin Pearson

I visited the scrubby hillside between Lower Hatfield Road and the railway on the southern edge of Hertford. In a 40 minute visited I noted 57 Marbled Whites, so a good colony here, as well as 41 Ringlets, 20 Meadow Browns, 7 definite Small Skippers (and many more unconfirmed ones), 2 Large Skippers, 5 Small Heaths, 1 Comma and a Narrow Bordered 5 Spot Burnet Moth - Andrew Wood

Wednesday 22nd June 2011
At 15:52 this afternoon we completed our TL20 White-letter challenge in TL2002, a 2km we know very well and knew where to find white-letter but involved a little walking. Earlier in the day we had been thwarted by 'light rain' but managed to complete TL2604 in the morning by finding a hatched egg. Then we waited until the rain stopped and rushed to Colney Heath, and stood there whilst it started to rain again........but then as the sky brightened up a cloud of Marbled Whites lifted from the grass even though it was still raining. An amazing sight! Andrew picked up a perched white-letter here from some distance which was one of those feats he is renowned for. Then back up the road to Hatfield and the A1000 beside the railway line. By the time I managed to cross the busy road, Andrew had already picked up a white-letter in flight. During the morning we had been driving around Hatfield in the rain looking for elm but turned left into Travellers Lane. If we had turned right into Woods Avenue towards the town centre we would have seen an avenue of planted elm trees!!! Having seen that Hatfield had some Sapporo Autumn Golds (SAGs) we were hopeful that some had been planted in the adjacent 2km square TL2080 and luck was on our side , with two found just inside the 2km square on one of the routes to the University with again Andrew picking up one perched - a good result! Also of note today 2 White Admirals on the footpath up to Potwells - Liz Goodyear and Andrew Middleton

On June 21st during a long evening walk at Bunkers Park on long grass and knapweed in wide grass pathways we counted about 21 marbled whites, 2 small skippers, 6-spot burnet caterpillars and cocoons. June 22nd evening walk at Bunkers Park lower daisy slope, 3 meadow brown, one common blue, about 6 marbled white on daisies and knapweed. - Elizabeth Debenham

I've only been butterfly spotting for the last couple of years, but I'm now completely fascinated by these amazing creatures, and went to Hungary's Northern Uplands during May. Yesterday I saw a purple hairstreak just outside Ashridge Business School and it allowed me to get very close with my high magnification zoom lens. I'm trying to photograph all the butterflies I see, so this will be my 32nd. I hope you enjoy looking at my website (the purple hairstreak is on my homepage).
www.rachelpiper.me.uk
- Rachel Piper

1 Small Heath seen at Little Wormwood Scrubs (which straddles the border of Hammersmith and Kensington approx. TQ230820) yesterday to add to the upsurge in sightings of this species away from its usual haunts, something particularly welcome in urban Middlesex, especially at sites like this one where there is now apparently suitable habitat for (re)colonisation - Keir Mottram

Batford weedy field, 3 WHITE LETTER HAIRSTREAKS, numerous Marbled whites, 3 Ringlets, large & small Skippers, numerous Meadow Browns - Darin Stanley

News from Monday 20th June, Hummingbird Hawkmoth by the main pond at Brunel University and Small Heath in the Bicentenary Garden - Steve Pash

Tuesday 21st June 2011
Emerging male Silver Washed Fritillary at Bricket Wood today at lunctime. - Clive Burrows

Another successful day looking for white-letter hairstreak when the sun shone between periods of cloud in TL20. A further 8 x 2km squares were completed today with one yesterday making a total of only 5 outstanding although TL2008 could prove elusive as no elm could be found around the new business parks of Hatfield. Then on the way back we dropped in at Northaw and then just after 4 o'clock after a 20 minute wait during moments of good sunshine, a Purple Emperor floated across the territory. This is our earliest date - Liz Goodyear & Andrew Middleton

We saw a Dark Green Fritillary At Broxbourne Woods today. We watched it between 11-45 and 1-15. Laurence Drummond also witnessed this beautiful Butterfly. It is quite elusive and we first saw it on our walk along the main ride past the small brook on the way up the hill. It then stayed in a large tree until the sun came out and then it went to the brook area and started to nectar on the thistles.
http://www.hertsmiddx-butterflies.org.uk/photos/nym/dgf/Dgf1_2011S.Standbridge.jpg
- Kevin and Sandra Standbridge

Wheathampstead LNR: 14+ Marbled Whites, numerous Meadow Browns and Large Skippers. A few Small Skippers, Ringlets and a single Comma.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5102/5856620947_678af8f9fb_z.jpg
- Robin Pearson

Monday 20th June 2011
Bramfield Wood, 20 June: saw a rather tatty white admiral on bramble at the edge of the wide ride leading from the Great Gobions Farm corner of the wood. - Ian Flack

Fir & Pond Woods NR Monday morning.I went to the Reserve to look for dragonflies which were few and far between but butterflies were all over the Reserve. I counted ringlets, 14; marbled whites,7; meadow browns, 5; large skippers, 5; small skippers, 3 and one Essex skipper. There were also 3 speckled woods and one each of common blue, comma, large white and small white. I can't find any small torts though however hard I look though. - David Gompertz

Single Marbled White at Verulamium Park St. Albans- Sunday 19th June. Bricket Wood, Monday 20th- 5 Ringlets, 7 White Admirals, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Purple Hairstreak and a Marbled White. - Clive Burrows

OAKHILL WOODS LNR--20/6/11--------fresh Comma,and Tshells-laying on nettle----Small skipper x4-----------Meadow brown having best year on the reserve since 1990s------except in the anthill meadow where all species are in low numbers-----------Ant predation may be a serious problem ???-----KIT JONES

Sunday 19th June 2011
Broxbourne Wood, Early Sunday Afternoon- 19th. June. No white Admiral seen, 28 Meadow Browns within 150 yds. of West carpark, 4 Ringlets further in, a few Large Skippers and Speckled Woods, occasional Small White and single Large White. Weather overcast with a few short sunny spells - Len Crouch

I've just photographed a WL Hairstreak in my Bishops Stortford garden. It's a first for the garden and I don't know of any elms within 1km of here (the closest I've found are near and within Stocking Wood Plantation). It was nectaring on a Hebe flowers Also a HB Hawkmoth today - Andrew Palmer

Today 19th June at Jersey Farm St Albans I saw 1 marbled white, 8 meadow browns, 1 comma, 1 ringet and some large skippers - Brian Knight

First Ringlets for me in Wormley wood not much else though , the willow logs we banged into the ground are sprouting. In Bencroft wood plenty of Large skippers (12) and 30 meadow brown. At Waterford heath also a few ringlets ,a small skipper and two marbled whites. These three species were the earliest I have seen them there - Steve Kiln

At Balls Wood today 1 male Silver washed-Fritillary, 3 White Admirals, good numbers of Large Skipper and a few Ringlets - Andrew Wood

The following at Hatfield Aerodrome (Disused) today: 1 x Marbled White, 1 x Peacock, Meadow Brown – Good numbers, 1 Small Heath, 2 x Ringlet, 6 x Small Skipper, 1 x Large Skipper and 4 x Small White - David Wheatcroft

Saturday 18th June 2011
Went to Wormley wood today, sw area 10.40 to 11.30, target was White admiral, worryingly despite some warm sunny spells, none were seen,along the ride I saw 1 Comma, 7 Large skipper, 14 speckled wood and 12 Meadow brown. I decided to go to Balls wood to see if WA were flying there or if it was just the cooler conditions keeping them down, very similar numbers of the species seen at Wormley, just 1 White admiral and 1 Ringlet making the difference, both being my first of the year - Laurence Drummond

Wednesday 15th June 2011
Despite the dull weather on Wednesday, a quick stop at Symondshyde Wood around lunchtime yielded two White Admirals. - John Landels

News from Diane Andrews following a visit to Aldbury Nowers on Tuesday 14th. 1 Small Blue, rather tatting showing a bit of interest in the kidney vetch but not very enthusiatically! Also seen during visit including walk from the station were 3 Small Skipper, 23 Large Skipper, 4 Brimstone, 1 Small White, 4 Brown Argus, 9 Common Blue, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Comma, 34 Marbled White, 108 Meadow Brown, 58 Small Heath and 36 Ringlet. Also 33 Narrow bordered 5 spot burnet moths and several Cinnabar moths. At home in North London she had 17 Brimstone eggs laid on her Alder Buckthorn, 11 caterpillars and now 4 have pupated.

I was doing some mowing on King's Meads today and saw 6 Small Tortoiseshells and 2 Painted Ladies - Andy Brown HMWT Reserves officer

On Monday 13 of June while doing my transect at Heartwood had my biggest count of large skipper on site with 37 seen also first Small Skipper of the year and high numbers of meadow brown with 103 seen and also 5 Small Tortoiseshell and 1 Brown argus seen.Links of Small Tortoiseshell and Large Skipper taken at Heartwood
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewsteele/5836396965/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewsteele/5832797455/
Yesterday evening 14 of June had 1 fresh comma in my garden - Andy Steele

Despite initial fears that the weather today would be no good for looking for White-letter Hairstreak and with only one day available this week to look, we ended up 'being quite pleased' with our results. What happened was that although, much of the day was primarily cloudy, there were moments of brightness/sunshine which turned inactive white-letters into active white-letters. So with patience looking at elm or adjacent trees such as ash, maple or horse chestnuts the sightings were made. We have set ourselves another challenge and that is is to try and find white-letter in every 2km square in TL20. During one visit in the winter, we found eggs in 3 squares and last week adults in one. After today's recording effort we have now completed 11 x 2km squares. We started by looking at the Cheshunt Park planted Sapporo Autumn Gold elms (SAG), where we saw 3 active. Into TL20, we had success close to Northaw and Cuffley. Some elm in Hooks Wood produced a sighting, then behind Dame Alice Owen School (SAG) more activity also one perched on a SAG in Potters Bar Leisure Centre. Elm along Warrengate Road also produced a sighting as did another SAG near Colney Heath. Just outside the 10km square at Colney Heath church we saw two white-letter, one was a female that looked like she was considering egg laying but it became quite dull and she stopped. After that the weather became too cloudy with increased wind so we went home. In total we saw 19 individuals at 9 sites - Liz Goodyear and Andrew Middleton.

Tuesday 14th June 2011
An evening walk at Bunkers Park produced my first male marbled white of the season and 2 white plume moths in the middle section beyond the gate.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7392841@N04/5836134081/
I also saw one mating pair of burnets, probably 6 spot as there were several in the main meadow. A few burnet caterpillars were on the grasses and ox-eye daisies. No blues yet, although other walkers thought they had seen them and some browns, but not confirmed. A noisy summer chafer beetle buzzed past my ear. Elizabeth Debenham

Went for a quick stroll around Cole Green Landfill this lunchtime & noted 30+ small heath, 50+meadow brown, 5+ ringlet, 20+ large skipper, 10+ small skipper, 4+ marbled white, 2 small white, 3 small tortoiseshell & 1 comma. Only managed to get around a small section of the site so would be interesting to know how many small heaths there may be across the site - Chris Beach

One Marbled White (first I've seen here) several Small Heaths and Large Skippers and a Small Tortoiseshell on the wing at Tyttenhanger gravel pits this morning. Robin Pearson

Field behind St Nicks church, 9.30-11.30am. Large Skipper 25, Small/Essex Skipper 6, Meadow Brown 14, Marbled White 3, Small Tortoiseshell 10, Small White 8, Speckled Wood 1, Ringlet 2, Bimstone 1 (male), Cinnabar Moth 2 and 5/6 Spot Burnet 1. This route has turned into a 2 hour transect and I will start recording it as such next year - Lee Browne

Some news for today (Tuesday 14th June 2011) - 1 Red Admiral, Sidhil's Field at Vicarage Farm, 08:45 hrs and 1 Comma at Sidhil's Field, Vicarage Farm, 08:45 hrs. 4 Small Tortoiseshell, at Vicarage Farm (09:02 - 09:20 hrs); 1 Small Skipper, at Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield, 09:33 hrs; 1 male Common Blue, at Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield, 09:39 hrs; 1 male Small Skipper, at Rectory Farm, Enfield, 10:40 hrs; 1 Small Tortoisesell, at Rectory Farm, 10:40 hrs; 1 Comma, at Flash Lane, Enfield, 12:00 hrs. - Robert Callf

Monday 13th June 2011
Batford, Weedy field - 2 WHITE LETTER HAIRSTREAKS at top of Oak, corner of public footpath by B653 - Darin Stanley

Recent news from Diane Andrews. Ally Pally tonight, 6 Purple Hairstreak. Saturday Dollis Valley walk Whetstone, 1 Small Skipper, 6 Large Skipper, 1 Green-veined White, 1 Comma, 1 Speckled Wood, 2 Meadow Brown and c 50 Peacock caterpillars.

1 White Letter Hairstreak low down on Wych Elm, Sacombe Road, Bengeo today Andrew Wood

Bunkers Park transect: year's first sightings of Marbled White - 4 and Ringlet - 2. Michael Pearson

An afternoon visit to Bricket Wood Common produced at least three White Admirals, up to four Purple Hairstreak and a number of the more common species, all on the main ride. Robin Pearson

A couple of sightings today (Monday 13th June 2011) in Grovelands Park, Southgate - 1 Burnet Companion at 13:25 hrs and 1 Speckled Wood at 13:31 hrs. - Robert Callf

Saturday 11th June 2011
Fir & Pond Woods NR..... on the meadow...Large skipper, 2 ; Meadow brown, 1, Ringlet, 1 (my first of the year) and a Small white. -David Gompertz

Hummingbird Hawkmoth at Butterfly World, White Admiral at Bricket Wood - Malcolm Hull

At Hatfield Aerodrome today: Good numbers Meadow Brown1 x Small Heath2 x Small Skipper -David Wheatcroft

Bramfield Woods and Field Margin 10am - 2pm. Meadow Brown 41, Large Skipper 45, Speckled Wood 8, Small Tortoiseshell 10, Small White 8, Green-veined White 4, Common Blue 11, Burnet Companion 1, Lobster Moth 1, Humming Bird Hawkmoth 1. About 90% of these records were from the Field Margin around the wood (Common Blue, Tortoiseshell, Meadow Brown and Large Skipper). No White Admiral, White Letter Hairstreak, Ringlet or Purple Hairstreak. Lee Browne

Park Wood: 4 White Admiral, 6+ Large Skipper, 8+ Speckled Wood, 2 Purple Hairstreak & Meadow Brown & Comma. Poors Field: Peacock, 5 Meadow Brown, 4 Large Skipper, Large & Small White, Heart & Dart Moth. Field next to Lido Car park: 5 Large Skipper, 12+ Meadow Brown, 3 Burnet Companion & 5 NB 5-spot Burnet. - Steve Pash

Park Wood, Ruislip: Five White Admirals this afternoon; and two Commas, one pristine and the other quite worn - Graham Elcombe

Saw a Red Admiral at South Mimms this morning at 11:25 hrs and three Comma at Whitewebbs Wood (1 at 13:30 and 2 together at 13:45 hrs). - Robert Callf

One White Admiral in Balls Wood today but no ringlets yet.Andrew Wood

A Small Skipper was seen today at Shackledell Grassland, Stevenage at around 1115 hrs, about 3 weeks earlier than normal here.Peter Clarke

Thursday 9th June 2011
Dick Middleton and I saw 2 White Admiral and 1 Comma in Park Wood / Grub Ground today. Richard Hutton has seen 1 Marbled White in field next to lido car park. Ched George

A few records for today (Thursday 9th June 2011) - 1 Small Heath, along track at Vicarage Farm, Enfield, 09:55 hrs; 1 Small Tortoiseshell, at Park Farm, Enfield, 10:50 hrs; 1 Small Tortoiseshell, at Ferny Hill Farm, Enfield, 11:32 hrs; 1 Silver Y, edge of Icehouse Wood, Trent Park, 12:35 hrs - my first of the year! 1 Comma, 'new brood', edge of Williams Wood, Trent Park, 12:40 hrs; 1 female Large Skipper, edge of Williams Wood, Trent Park, 12:40 hrs. - Robert Callf

I did the transect this morning at Aldbury (only managed the southern half as the rain then poured down) and saw a dark green fritillary, 5 large skippers, 9 meadow brown, a ringlet (my 1st this year), 16 small heath, speckled wood and a small tortoiseshell. I also a saw a red admiral at lunch time in Verulum Park , St Albans. - Paul Thrush

Wednesday 8th June 2011
Just to report the sighting of a Purple hairstreak in a hallway in Welwyn Garden City, (AL8)! - Charlotte Fox

A couple of sightings for yesterday (Wednesday 8th June 2011) - 1 Large Skipper, at Boxer's Lake, Enfield, at 12:00 hrs; 1 Small White, at Pymmes Park, Edmonton, at 13:15 hrs - in the wildlife garden, also a brief sighting here of what may have been a Purple Hairstreak (only seen in flight). - Robert Callf

Tuesday 7th June 2011
I was working in N1 today and saw 2 small blues, 2+ brown argus, 2 grizzled skipper (1 looking pristine), dark green fritillary, meadow brown, 3+ small heath, and a common blue. We have installed some large cages to protect the kidney vetch as it gets eaten by rabbits/deer, hopefully this will give the small blues a chance! - Paul Thrush

Some sightings for today (Tuesday 7th June 2011) - 3 Small Tortoiseshell, at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (1 at 12:00 hrs and 2 together, 12:12 hrs); 1 Red Admiral, along track at Vicarage Farm, Enfield, 12:10 hrs; 1 female Common Blue, at Parkside Farm, Enfield, 12:25 hrs - settled; 1 Large Skipper, at Parkside Farm, 12:25 hrs; 1 Small Tortoiseshell, at Park Farm, 12:52 hrs; 1 Red Admiral, at Park Farm, Enfield, 12:55 hrs; 1 Speckled Wood, at Bay Farm, Enfield, 12:57 hrs; 3 male Large Skipper, at Bay Farm, Enfield, 13:00 - 13:02 hrs; 1 Small Tortoiseshell, at Bay Farm, 13:00 hrs; 2 Large Skipper, edge of Whitewebbs Wood, 14:45 hrs; 2 Large Skipper, at Hilly Fields Park, Enfield, 16:04 hrs. - Robert Callf

Plenty of large skippers and meadow browns at Waterford Heath south and Rickneys, but pleased to see two new commas and a holly blue at Waterford Heath - Steve Kiln

Monday 6th June 2011
A couple of sightings to report today (Monday 6th June 2011) - 1 Small Tortoiseshell, along track, at Vicarage Farm, 14:03 hrs and a male Large Skipper, along hedgerow off Barracks, at Vicarage Farm, 14:10 hrs. - Robert Callf

Good numbers of White-letter Hairstreak on Horsenden Hill Saturday 4th June, with a conservative count of 12+ individuals, including a photographed mating pair. Most of the white-letters were seen in the area that is reached by taking the path left from the rear exit of Horsenden Farm and then walking down hill. The insects are on fairly low regenerating elms, mainly to the right of the path as you walk downhill. I imagine that given sunny conditions numbers will be quite high in this area over the next week or two. Other than that, my first Painted Lady of the year (also on Saturday) and just two White-letter Hairstreak on Sunday 5th in somewhat inclement conditions. I also had a Rannoch Looper to my garden MV trap bordering Horsenden Hill overnight on Friday 3rd/Sat 4th June. - Andy Culshaw

News from Diane Andrews, 1st June at Forty Hall - 156 Chimney Sweepers. 3rd June at Aldbury Nowers in north section, 3 Small Blues including 1 egg laying. 1 Green Hairstreak and 1 Dark Green Fritillary

Saturday 4th June 2011
Against expectations,@11.14 am 2 WL hairstreak clash over elm at tl452126, Gilston/High wych, followed by sightings of 2 more to 11.30 lower down on the elms out of the wind, at least 3 weeks earlier than I have seen them here before ?,also 1 Small tortoiseshell and 1 Large skipper. Laurence Drummond

Last Tuesday Bencroft and Broxbourne were full of new large skippers, today saturday it was the turn of the meadow brown they were everywhere. A broxboune ride good to see the wild flowers taken over the area where the trees were felled last year, a field of foxgloves, also three orange tips, a small tortoiseshell and many large skippers - Steve Kiln

Had a walk around Aldbury nowers this afternoon had 3 sighting of Small Blue, 1 late green hairstreak, 5 Brimstones,least 30 Small Heaths, least 20 Common Blue,4 Speckled Woods, least 30 Large Skipper, least 60 Meadow Browns. 2 Green-veined and 5 Large Whites plus 1 Speckled yellow Moth - Andy Steele

I was at a loose end for an hour in the afternoon and there wasn't time before the England - Swiss game to go anywhere, so simply walked around the field/recreation ground at the back of my house. It is in three sections; a large mown area of grass for children's games with swings etc, a rough patch that is never touched, and, the smallest area is a approx full sized football pitch which is mown in season and occasionally out of season. As I entered the rough patch a largish orange-ish butterfly streaked past about 15m ahead of me, at approx head height and flying almost due NW. It is extremely likely to have been a Painted Lady but sadly I was too far from it to be claiming it. Pleased with that and then two Small Torties chasing about, when I saw something I never expected in downtown Tring, a Small Heath. I couldn't find another but did add 3 Large Skippers and a Small White to the list for that walk - Nick Bowles

Friday 3rd June 2011
Butterfly World - 6 Small Tortoiseshells, four of them nectaring on early flowering buddleia, 45 Common Blues, 1 Large Skipper, 1 Small White, 79 Mullein Moth Caterpillars, 6 Burnett Companion, 1 Yellow Shell, 1 Cinnabar moth. Bricket Wood Common - 3 Large Skippers, 4 Meadow Browns, 16 Speckled Wood, 6 Brimstone, 1 Large White, 2 Green-veined Whites - Malcolm Hull

Large Skipper at Old Hale Way allotments Hitchin today - Nigel Agar

Saw two Red Admirals in Northaw Great Wood this morning (Friday 3rd June 2011) at 09:30 hrs and 09:45 hrs. - Robert Callf

Managed to do the whole of the old Rivers nursery site High wych/Sawbridgeworth,TL4714, 14.15 -15.00 pm,Saw 21 Meadow brown,11 Common blue,3 Large skipper and 2 Speckled wood - Laurence Drummond

Thursday 2nd June 2011
A couple of sightings for this evening (Thurs 2nd June 2011) - 2 Small Tortoiseshell, along track at Vicarage Farm, Enfield, between 17:00 - 17:02 hrs., and a Painted Lady here also at 17:00 hrs - my first of the year! - Robert Callf

White-letter Hairstreak are flying on Horsenden Hill as of Thursday 2nd June, a week earlier than our previous earliest records. David Howdon saw one over elms near to the former Magnet and Southern showroom early afternoon and I had 2 cavorting over elms alongside the cycle path close to lamp post 1106 early evening. We have to keep our fingers crossed that they are still on the wing for the event on 25th June. On the moth front, I trapped a Pebble Hook-tip at home on 29th May -a local scarcity with just one previous record in the Horsenden area from 2004.- Andrew Culshaw

Out close to home (near J14 of the M25) this afternoon on a true summer day. The warm sun had brought the Small Heath colony out in numbers - a steady count along 250 metres of path totalled between 50 and 60 individuals. They were flying up in groups of five and six, and almost every step raised one or two. The same area produced three Common Blues, three Large Skippers and two Meadow Browns. Returning to more wooded parts, I encountered two brand new summer Commas (f. Hutchinsoni), the first this year. However, pictures were not easy, because apart from their own rivalry, a Large Skipper was intent on chasing one or both out of sight. Not a placid combination of species! There were several Small Whites out again, and in a riverside clearing a Red Admiral had set up shop - following his predecessors of every season I've been watching them. A guaranteed location. - Dave Miller

Wednesday 1st June 2011
I did the Aldbury Nowers transect today, good numbers of small heath and a few meadow browns about but otherwise fairly quiet. I saw a small blue (in N1 again), and watched what could have only been egg laying on kidney vetch! The butterfly allowed a close approach and I was able to see it poking its abdomen down many times into the vetch flower heads. - Paul Thrush

Out on a work party today on Waterford Heath; very quiet but did see a large skipper on the south heath, and a green veined white, 2 speckled wood and a small tortoiseshell on the north heath - Andy Brown

May 2011

Tuesday 31st May 2011
Some records for Sunday (29th May 2011) - 1 Burnet Companion, at Barracks, Vicarage Farm, 09:50 hrs; 1 male Common Blue, along hedgerow off Barracks, Vicarage Farm, 10:00 hrs; 1 male Large Skipper, along track at Vicarage Farm, 10:06 hrs; 2 Small White, at Parkside Farm, Enfield, 10:35 hrs; 1 Speckled Wood, at Bay Farm, 10:45 hrs; 1 male Meadow Brown, at Bay Farm, Enfield, 10:45 hrs; 1 Small Tortoiseshell, at Rectory Farm, Enfield, 11:21 hrs - first of the summer-brood! 1 male Common Blue, near King's Oak Plain, 11:33 hrs. Sightings for yesterday (Monday 30th May 2011) - 1 Burnet Companion, at Parkside Farm, Enfield; 1 male Common Blue, at Parkside Res., Enfield, 10:30 hrs; 1 Small Tortoiseshell, at Park Farm, Enfield, 10:50 hrs; 1 male Large Skipper, near Duncan's Wood, Enfield Chase, 11:15 hrs; 1 Burnet Companion, at Park Farm, Enfield, 11:20 hrs; 1 male Common Blue, near Dew Pond, Trent Park, 12:21 hrs; 1 Hear & Dart, set-aside field near Dew Pond, Trent Park; 1 female Common Blue, set-aside field near Shaws Wood, 12:30 hrs; 1 Brown Argus, along Merryhills Brook/Vicarage Farm, Enfield, 13:00 hrs; 1 Small Heath, at Vicarage Farm, Enfield, 13:05 hrs. One Burnet Companion today (Tuesday 31st May 2011) at Forty Hall Farm, Enfield. - Robert Callf

OAKHILL WOODS LNR 31st MAY/11--------------First Large skipper and Meadow brown of the year, -----fresh TShell female laying on nettle,( we have had More Tshell and Peacock nests this year)-------Comma larvae on wild hops------( planted by us) - Kit Jones

Whilst conducting a habitat condition survey at Rickneys, we saw 9 Small Heath, 15 Brown Argus, 8 Common Blue, 1 Meadow Brown, 1 Large Skipper and a tired Grizzled Skipper this morning. However the highlight was that we checked several Common Agrimony plants for grizzled skipper eggs and we found 15 eggs (hatched and unhatched) 9 larval nests and inspected one and the grizzled skipper larva was sitting in between the folded leaf. Some of the Agrimony was some distance from the key area so the butterfly has been moving around the site this year. Looked at Creeping Cinquefoil, Wild Strawberry and bramble without any success. The white-letter hairstreak pupa found on 3rd May remains unhatched! - Liz Goodyear and Andrew Middleton

Monday 30th May 2011
11.45, 1 White-letter Hairstreak over the usual north London elms - Andrew Middleton

Sunday 29th May 2011
After seeing Lee report a Meadow Brown on UKB during the afternoon, I took advantage of late sunshine to visit Harmondsworth Moor to see if they were out and about there. Sure enough, two new males put in an appearance, but there was little else except one Brown Argus, one male Common Blue and a couple of Large Skippers. Two Small Whites and a Large Skipper were all there was flying earlier in the day nearer home in Stanwell Moor. I did find a nest of Peacock caterpillars, however. - Dave Miller

On my Heartwood transect today had my first meadow browns(3) and 1 large skipper - Andy Steele

I was delighted to see 2 male Large Skippers in Greenford Park Cemetery this morning, this first I have seen there. Later on, at Osterley Park, Middlesex, despite the cloud and breeze, my first Meadow Brown of the year, a male, along with 1 male and 1 female Common Blue. - Lee Hurrell

Saturday 28th May 2011
A few sightings for today (Saturday 28th May 2011) - 2 Speckled Wood,(1 Park Farm, Enfield, 11:21 hrs, 1 edge of Icehouse Wood, Trent Park, 13:20 hrs); 1 male Meadow Brown, field South of Rough Lot, Trent Park, 11:50 hrs - my first of the year! All sightings made whilst in the company of Robin White. Also one Cinnabar at Park Farm, Enfield. - Robert Callf

Wednesday 25th May 2011
One Meadow Brown on the area of Bramfield cricket field left to long grass, also 2 Large Skippers, Common Blue, Brown Argus, Orange Tip, Small and Green-veined White there and an adjacent field boundary- Andrew Wood

A quick stroll around my local patch at Stanwell Moor at around 5pm produced very little in the weak sunshine. Six Common Blues (3m 3f) looking rather tired plus eight or nine Small Heath which were contrastingly fresh and bright was the total. However, I did also find several Orange Tip caterpillars of various sizes on rapidly drying out garlic mustard plants. A race agaist time, perhaps! Rain is forecast, however. - Dave Miller

We had a staff and Trustee day today with the afternoon spent at Aldbury Nowers. The undoubted highlight was a small blue in the furthest northern enclosure (N1), first spotted by Steve Bound and then seen by the whole Trust. We also had a grizzled skipper + dingy skipper (key butterfly area) and across the reserve we saw common blues (3+), brimstone, small heath, orange tip and green hairstreak (in the coppice area). - Paul Thrush

I saw and photographed my first Meadow Brown of the season at the Southern Country Park yesterday morning (25th May) around 9.00am. It was a very fresh male, and so dark, until it settled I thought it may have been a Ringlet. - Bob Clift

Tuesday 24th May 2011
King Georges Fields, Hadley, 4 Chimney Sweepers and 1 Brown Argus - Diane Andrews

In Bencroft Wood, 1st large skipper of the year 3 weeks earlier than normal and 15 small heath in field nearby a good year for them too - Steve Kiln

A few sightings for today (Tuesday 24th May 2011) - 1 Cinnabar at Hog Hill, Vicarage Farm, 07:30 hrs; 1 male Large Skipper, settled at Vicarage Farm, Enfield, at 07:50 hrs; 1 male Common Blue, settled at Vicarage Farm, 07:55 hrs; 1 Red Admiral, at Lavender Hill Cemetery, Enfield at 16:50 hrs - settled on brickwork of Church. - Robert Callf

News via Robert Callf, 1 Meadow Brown seen by Robin White at Trent Park over the New Fields (corrected date)

Sunday 22nd May 2011
A couple of bits and pieces of butterfly/moth news from Horsenden Hill. On Friday 20th May I photographed a pristine Brown Argus in the Paddock on the east side of Perivale Wood. Notable in the sense that this is the first time in recent years we have detected the spring emergence of Brown Argus in the Horsenden area and also for the fact that this appears to be a small colony, with only a sprinkling of records per year, despite careful checking of any 'brown blues' by 2-3 observers. The same day I recorded my first Large Skipper of the year on Paradise Fields and 4th Mother Shipton of the year in Perivale Wood. It seems to have been a good year on Horsenden for Mother Shipton and also for Burnet Companion and Small Yellow Underwing. On Sunday 22nd I photographed a Small Heath on Bramstons Green East - just across the road from the Ballot Box pub. This is the 3rd record of this species from that area this year, with another from Perivale Wood. Though never abundant in the area, this species was readily detected 10+ years ago but in recent times typically none or one records per year has been the norm. Of moth note, I had a Cream-bordered Green Pea to my garden MV trap on the periphery of Horsenden Hill on Thurs 19th May. - Andy Culshaw

Saturday 21st May 2011
Passed through field by railway line again which comes out opposite layby for Aldbury Nowers. Recorded 10 x brown argus, 30 x common blue 3 x speckled wood , 2 x brimstone and 1 x small blue which landed right in front of me (male). I was on way back from Pitstone after recording there and am certain of this. - David Gower

Small Blue male confirmed on transect, 14:00 hrs 21st May in area of suitable habitat (long established kidney vetch adjoining tall grassland) 1st record for us here at Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park - news via Ken Greenaway

Started off today at the southern end of Wormley wood, taking the footpath north from from Hammond street, some good sallow in places, and an excellent place to view the high ridge that runs east/west through the wood,went to have a look at the area that we worked on in February, some good regeneration of sallow and bramble, even a couple of the stakes that we planted have taken, some more work has been done to the north of here, 8 speckled wood seen, off to Broxbourne woods, west car park, along the main ride 1 female common blue, 3 orange tip and 2 green veined white, more work has been done here also, lots of thistles growing in the previously cleared area, on the way along Cock lane just before Broxbourne common, an area off the road to the east that was previously a clearing full off sallow has been grubbed out and fenced off, probably for horse grazing ?, Waterford Heath south pit, a quick look along the bottom of the escarpment, 2 Grizzled skipper, 5 Brown argus, 2 Common blue - Laurence Drummond

Seen at Hatfield Aerodrome today 6 Common blues, 1 Small copper, 1 Small heath and 1 Cinnabar moth - Andy Steele

Visited Hexton Chalk Pit this afternoon around 12.30. Weather sunny but windy. Great display of 6 perching Green Hairstreaks on a number of bushes around the site. Also 4 Brimstones and 1 Small Heath. - John Landels

Some sightings for today (Saturday 21st May 2011) - 1 Clouded Silver, at Vicarage Farm, Enfield, 13:50 hrs; 1 male Orange Tip, at Vicarage Farm at 14:00 hrs; 2 Cinnabar, (1 at Vicarage Farm, 14:19 hrs and another at Parkside Farm/ Res., Enfield at 14:30 hrs - my first of the year in Middx); 1 male Common Blue, at Parkside Farm/ Res., Enfield, 14:30 hrs and a male Orange Tip, at Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield at 14:41 hrs. - Robert Callf

Friday 20th May 2011
Some news for (Friday 20th May 2011) - 4 Small Copper, at 'New Fields', Trent Park, 12:45 - 13:00 hrs; 1 Large Skipper, settled on Bramble, 'New Fields', Trent Park, Sect 8, 12:45 hrs - my first of the year and I believe my earliest ever! 12 Small Heath, at 'New Fields', Trent Park, 12:50 - 13:07 hrs (9 Sect 6 and 3 Sect 4); 4(2 males, 2 females) Common Blue, Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield, 14:45 - 15:00 hrs. A batch of Peacock caterpillars on nettles at Vicarage Farm - still small. - Robet Callf

Trent Park late afternoon, 62 Chimney Sweeper moths also 35 Small Heath seen - Diane Andrews

Thursday 19th May 2011
I visited the poorly recorded area between north of Hemel Hempstead today, 19th May, not a huge amount flying but highlights were a somewhat battered Dingy Skipper at Hedgeswood Common, a new site for the species. A colony of Chimney Sweeper moths on the wide road verge at Cheverells Green just outside Markyate and another early Large Skipper at Nettleden
Chimney Sweeper
Dingy Skipper - Andrew Wood

Some sightings for today (Thursday 19th May 2011) - 1 Burnet Companion, at Vicarage Farm, 10:20 hrs - my first record of the year! 1 male Common Blue, at Parkside Farm, Enfield, 10:57 hrs; 1 male Orange Tip, at Park Farm, 11:05 hrs; 1 Peacock, at Bay Farm, 11:15 hrs; 2 male Orange Tip, at Rectory Farm, 11:45 hrs; 1 male Common Blue, at Rectory Farm, 11:50 hrs; 2 Green-veined White, at Rectory Farm, 11:55 hrs; 1 Speckled Wood, at King's Oak Plain, 11:59 hrs; 1 male Orange Tip, at Strayfield Rd, Clay Hill, 12:04 hrs; 1 Speckled Wood, at Strayfield Road, 12:05 hrs; 3 Speckled Wood, at Flash Lane, 12:10 hrs; 1 Silver-ground Carpet, at Whitewebbs Wood; 1 Speckled Wood, at Whitewebbs Wood, 13:41 hrs. - Robert Callf

Frogmore Quarry 1:00-1:45 warm, 50% sun: 7 grizzled skippers (1 central, 1 east, 5 north/east slope). Also 3 small coppers, 7 common blues, 6 brown argus, 1 orange-tip.Trevor Chapman

Wednesday 18th May 2011
I was working at Barkway chalk pit on the 17th and saw 2 male orange tips and 3 small whites.- Paul ThrushReserve Officer

Dingy Skipper, Brown Argus and Green Hairstreak at Wood Lane, Pirton on May 13 - Nigel Agar

Sunday 15th May 2011
Some news for yesterday (Monday 16th May 2011) - 1 Small Heath, at Hog Hill, Vicarage Farm, 10:21 hrs; 1 Speckled Wood, at Park Farm, 11:45 hrs; 2 Speckled Wood, together, at Moat Wood, 12:50 hrs; 2 Brown Silver-lines, Moat Wood, Trent Park - our first of the year! 1 Light Emerald, settled on vegetation, edge of Icehouse Wood, Trent Park - First of the year; 4 Green-veined White, edge of Icehouse Wood, Trent Park, 13:00 hrs; 1 Small White, edge of Icehouse Wood, 13:00 hrs; 1 Small Yellow Underwing, set-aside field near Shaws Wood, Trent Park - our first of the year! 1 Mother Shipton, along Merryhills Brook/Vicarage Farm. - Robert Callf

A colleague brought in a fresh male Yellow-legged Clearwing that he picked up in his road in Fulham (London SW6) this morning.Martin Honey

Sunday 15th May 2011
Passed through field by railway line which leads to Northfield rd and Aldbury Nowers and found 3 x small copper, 4 x common blue, 3 x small heath, 1 x brown argus - David Gower

Waterford Heath Walk (Saturday) We had about 24 turn up. Most had picked it up on Herts & middx go wild leaflet. In the weather conditions cloudy and pretty windy and from north west bad for waterford heath. Found 3 grizzleds sheltering from the wind about 10 or more brown argus and 5 or so common blue and a red admiral and a small copper. Popped into Aldbury Nowers earlier in week and saw lots of small heath, grizzled and dingy but no small blue - Steve Kiln

Saturday, on my transect walk on Shrubhill Common in Hemel Hempstead, I was amazed to find a basking Dingy Skipper. This is my 11th year of transect recording here, and my first ever record for this species. I don't know if this is likely to be a wanderer. Maybe a small colony has been here all the time. I also saw four Mother Shiptons and a Burnet Companion. - Roger Prue

Some sightings for Friday 13th May 2011 - 1 female Orange Tip, at Vicarage Farm, Enfield, 12:10 hrs; 4 Small Heath, at Vicarage Farm, Enfield, between 12:15 - 12:18 hrs; 1 Red Admiral, near Hadley Road/Vicarage Farm, 12:25hrs; 1 male Common Blue, at Parkside Farm, Enfield, 12:45 hrs; 1 female Brown Argus, at Parkside Farm, Enfield, 12:46 hrs - pristine condition and my first record for the year! 1 male Orange Tip, at Rectory Farm, Enfield, 13:25 hrs. Also saw a Cinnabar Moth fly past the Yew Tree Hall window at High Leigh, Hoddesdon this afternoon (Saturday 14th May 2011). - Robert Callf

Friday 13th May 2011
ENFIELD RIDGEWAY EN28QL------13/5/11------- Red admiral female laying on nettles--------------Holly blue drinking from car wash puddles KIT JONES

I was at Butterfly World in the garden area times 11.35 to 11.55, common blues to be seen easily seen and one small copper I noted - Brian Knight

A very bright new Red Admiral nectaring in my St Albans garden this morning (13 May) - Charles Smith

Thursday 12th May 2011
Went on a roost count tonight 8pm. At Rickneys 37 Brown argus, 17 common blue and only one grizzled, getting dark at Waterford heath North and only covered small area 9 brown argus,3 grizzleds and 2 common blue - Steve Kiln

A few sightings to report today (Thursday 12th May 2011) - 1 Small Heath, set-aside field, near Shaws Wood, Trent Park, 13:20 hrs; 1 male Orange Tip, at South Lodge Farm, 13:35 hrs; 1 Small Copper, along Merryhills Brook/Vicarage Farm, 13:50 hrs; 1 Straw Dot, at South Lodge Farm and a Clouded Silver seen settled at Vicarage Farm, Enfield. These sightings were made whilst in the company of Robin White. - Robert Callf

A short lunchtime walk in the Bicentenary Garden at Brunel University produced 2 Brown Argus, 3 Common Blue, 3 Holly Blue, Speckled Wood, male Brimstone, GV White, 2 Orange-tip and a colleague saw a Small Copper. - Steve Pash

OAKHILL WOODS LNR East Barnet---12th May 2011-----First Mother shipton, Small copper , Common blue ( male) and Burnet companion of the year----Brimstone laying on our new Buckthorn hedging----several T-Shell nests in the nettle beds we created in the middle of open field. KIT JONES

Wednesday 11th May 2011
Saw a remarkably early Purple Hairstreak today at Leavesden. While at work in the gardens I disturbed it from a patch of neetles, taking to the air it flew slowly up into the oak. At first it appeared to be deformed, but I think it was still fully emerging with the forewing still not pumped. It is a garden where I see them in summer, but nowhere near this time! - Clive Burrows (please note that this record has been confirmed by the Records collator)

I would like to share very happy news with Butterfly Conservation. Last week (Friday) during Butterfly Transect I have recorded Green Hairstreak at Hounslow Heath. I am excited as it is second new butterfly for the site in two years. The area where I have seen Green Hairstreak has been recently opened (2 years ago). It is a new bridleway, where it has been second year and some nectaring plants (cows parsley, bramble, bird's foot trefoil etc) are there and recovering from destruction from last 2 years. There is a lot of gorse around and it is not directly by the path. Due to the fact that we have adders on the site we try avoid walking in high grass so we try stay on the paths. The other butterfly was seen the same day by the site ecologist Chris Slack in the same area and definately it was a different butterfly as mine one was already a bit battered and Chris's one was freshly emerged. I am sure it was butterfly not moth as at the begining I thought it was Brown Argus and then it rested on the ground 1-1.5 metre in front of me, butterfly turned around and I saw unmissible green underwing. As I mentioned there is plenty of gorse around so the colony has got abundance of food plant. Please note: We are not concerned about publicity regarding the Adders, as our population is quite healthy and stable. You just have to be aware of their presence. - Zuza Kukielka Countryside Ranger at Hounslow Heath

Tuesday 10th May 2011
Sunny 21degrees, time 12:20-1:25 Frogmore Quarry: 20 grizzled skippers (1 central, 4 west, 0 west track, 9 east, 1 south, 5 north slope –one egg laying on creeping cinquefoil). Also 3 small coppers, 13 common blues, 16 brown argus, 1 small heath, 2 brimstone, 4 green-veined whites. Trevor Chapman

Tuesday 10.05.11. 10-11.30am. Flood plain on Old Knebworth Lane. 20 Brown Argus, 4 Small Heath, this is the largest count of both these species I've ever seen at this site. 17 Common Blue (1 Female), 1 Small Copper, 2 Small White, 1 Orange-Tip. Moths, 2 Burnet Companion, 3 Mother Shipton, 1 Cinnabar - Lee Browne

Sightings at Norton Green today (1040-1130 hrs) include 2 Speckled Woods, 4 Common Blues, 3 Small Heaths, Orange Tip, Small White and 2 Mother Shipton moths. Peter Clarke

I persuaded my small son that he might like to investigate a pond after school and we went to Harmondsworth Moor for the first time this year. The pond was a disappointment, being mostly dried up and covered in algae, but nearby on the big white daisies, there were butterflies. We only sampled a very small area (20m by 10m), but saw six Brown Argus (2f, 4m), four Common Blues (2f, 2m), a Small Heath, a Speckled Wood and a Green-veined White. The Orange Tips I would have expected to see must have all gone now. - Dave Miller

Monday 9th May 2011
Appspond Lane nr St Albans TL 10 05 - Green-veined White; Prae Mill nr St Albans TL 12 08 - male Orange Tip & Comma; Hogg End Lane nr St Albans TL 09 08 - Common Blue; Buncefield nr Hemel Hempstead TL 08 08 - 2 male Orange Tips, Holly Blue & Red Admiral (also a Cinnabar moth); Twychells Farm nr Bedmond TL 09 04 - Small Copper. - C. M. Everett

I was very surprised to see a Large Skipper on Sunday 8th May 2011, at Hilfield Park Reservoir. I see them every year there, but not normally before early June, so I thought it was worth sending this record in - - Tony Blake

On Saturday (7th May) I have taken picture of Large Skipper at Bedfont Lakes Country Park. It is two weeks earlier than normal, however it was nice surprise as butterfly was sitting still. - Zuza Kukielka

I visited Hill End Pit this morning and saw a male orange tip. At Purwell Ninesprings I saw a small tortoiseshell and at Hexton I saw 5 dingy skippers, a common blue and a green hairstreak. - Paul Thrush Reserve Officer

Field behind St. Nicks Church, 10-11.45am. 24 Orange Tip, 15 Small White and 6 Green-veined White - Lee Browne

This morning, Monday May 9th, a single Brown Argus and two Small Coppers were seen in the Brunel University Bicentenary Gardens. Also of interest there were several Common Blues and a singing Lesser Whitethroat showing very well. - Roger Morton

Saw a batch of 19 Small Tortoiseshell caterpillars on nettles at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (Monday 9th May 2011) this morning - they were well-grown - so fingers crossed hopefully be seeing some nice new adults next month! 1 Mother Shipton, at Vicarage Farm, 08:00 hrs; 1 Mother Shipton, at Parkside Farm/Res., 08:20 hrs; 2 male Common Blue, at 'Old Golf Course', Trent Park, 09:15 hrs; 8 Speckled Wood,(2 at Park Farm, 08:41 - 08:42 hrs, 2 together, Camlet Moat, 09:00 hrs, 1 at Moat Wood, 09:06 hrs, 1 by Lower Lake, 09:50 hrs, 2 near Dew Pond, 10:20 - 10:22 hrs); 1 male Large White, edge of Icehouse Wood, Trent Park, 10:15 hrs; 1 Green-veined White, near Dew Pond, Trent Park, 10:20 hrs; 1 male Orange Tip, edge of Williams Wood, Trent Park, 10:32 hrs. - Robert Callf

Sunday 8th May 2011
A few sightings for today (Sunday 8th May 2011) - 1 Small Heath, at Vicarage Farm, Enfield, 09:35 hrs; 1 male Orange Tip, at Parkside Farm, Enfield, 09:50 hrs., along Salmons Brook; 1 Speckled Wood, at Parkside Farm, 10:06 hrs; 1 Green-veined White, at Rectory Farm, Enfield, 10:40 hrs; 1 Speckled Wood, at Whitewebbs Wood, 12:06 hrs; 1 Mother Shipton, at Whitewebbs Park, 12:34 hrs. - Robert Callf

At Aldbury Nowers(top reserve) yesterday, spotted 4 x brimstone, 2 x speckled wood, 5 x small heath, 2 x brown argus, 1 x large white, 2 x common blue, 1 x small yellow underwing. At field by railway line on way from station to above noticed 1 x orange tip, 2 x small heath, 3 x small copper, 1 x cinnabar moth, 1 x brown argus - David Gower

Saturday 7th May 2011
Afternoon, at Rickneys 20 common blue, 19 brown argus and 4 grizzled. At waterford heath south only two grizzled but 14 brown argus a very good year for them - Steve Kiln

A few casual records from the Hemel Hempstead area, as follows: Westbrook Hay TL 02 05 - Small Copper in field with abundant sorrel (also a Burnet Companion moth); Bourne End Lane TL 01 05 - Common Blue nr A41; Winkwell TL 02 06 - Holly Blue. - C. M. Everett

Sightings for yesterday (Friday 6th May 2011) - 5 Peacock,(1 along Merryhills Brook/Vicarage Farm, 11:31 hrs., 1 field near Hadley Road/Vicarage Farm, 11:50 hrs., 1 at Parkside Farm, 12:00 hrs., 2 at Rectory Farm, 12:55 and 13:05 hrs); 1 male Orange Tip, at Parkside Farm, 12:10 hrs; 1 Green-veined White, at Bay Farm, 12:35 hrs; 1 Speckled Wood, at Strayfield Road, 13:15 hrs; 1 Holly Blue, at Whitewebbs Wood, 14:15 hrs; 1 Comma, at Whitewebbs Wood, 14:15 hrs. A few sightings for today (Saturday 7th May 2011) in Grovelands Park, Southgate, N14 - 2 Speckled Wood, 11:40 and 12:57 hrs; 1 Mother Shipton, at 11:45 hrs. - Robert Callf

Cycling around the web of byways around Levens Green west of High Cross I came across a countryside stewardship site (marked as Trenchern Hills on the 25000 maps) planted with young oak and sallow but edged with and crossed by some poor grassland. In a 20 minute walk around I found 16 Small Heaths with plenty of display activity, 7 Brown Argus including a mating pair also Small Copper, Red Admiral and Orange Tip and Burnet Companion.Andrew Wood

Friday 6th May 2011
Casual records from the Aldenham area, as follows: Otterspool TQ 12 99 - Red Admiral; Wall Hall TQ 13 99 - 2 separate Peacocks; Munden TL 13 00 - Peacock & Red Admiral; Blackbirds Lane TL 14 00 - Small White, 2 Orange Tips (ml, fml) & Small Tortoiseshell. - C. M. Everett

Found a Small Copper colony establishing itself along a recently cleared woodland track along St Albans Lane - Clive Burrows

Small Heath at Tyttenhanger G.P today, as well as Brimstone. Also 2 Holly Blues and 2 Orange Tips in my South Mimms Blanche Lane garden. Yesterday I must have seen a dozen Brimstones at Bricket Wood Common - Terry Wood

Thursday 5th May 2011
OAKHILL WOODS LNR 5/5/11----------First Small heath seen on the reserve for many years.-----------WLH larvae on ground on dying terminal leaves /seeds of Wych elm--------most of the canopy shoots had been severed and dropped to the floor by Grey squirrels------defoliating the WLH tree----they must have destroyed many larvae. Placed rescued larvae on lower branches. Squirrels also bark stripping Hornbeams!!!---------KIT JONES

Wednesday 4th May 2011
I received an excited call from Diane Andrews this evening soon after she returned from Aldbury Nowers. She caught the train to Tring Station and walked across the fields to Aldbury Nowers. Close to the railway line she saw 5 Green Hairstreak and a Dingy Skipper. She also saw Small Heath, Small Copper, Small White, Orange Tip, Holly Blue, Small Tortoiseshell and a Red Admiral. At Aldbury Nowers walking in from the Pitstone Hill end as she took a footpath past the reserve to the top first, she saw 25 Dingy Skipper, 6 Grizzled Skipper, 1 Comma, 1 Speckled Wood, 10 Orange Tip, 2 Brown Argus, 3 Green Hairstreak, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 10 Brimstone and 8 Common Blue. However, in addition to the sightings near the railway line, she is certain she saw in one of the lower compartments a Duke of Burgundy. She was able to get a good view of the hind wings and is positive of her identification - however she would love someone else to confirm her sighting!

Albans Wood nr Watford TL 10 00 - Speckled Wood; Furtherfield nr Abbots Langley TL 09 00 - male Common Blue; Langleybury TL 07 00 - 2 Green-veined Whites, female Orange Tip & 2 Speckled Woods; Topcommon nr Chipperfield TL 05 01 - Green-veined White, Peacock & Speckled Wood; Whippendell Bottom nr Chipperfield TL 05 02 - Comma; Scatterdells Wood nr Chipperfield TL 05 03 - Holly Blue; Kings Langley Common (S) TL 06 02 - Comma; Kings Langley Common (N) TL 06 03 - Holly Blue & Speckled Wood. - C. M. Everett

Poor butterfly numbers on my walk this morning, the sun was out and it was fairly warm so I guess it was the wind keeping numbers down. Wednesday 04.05.2011, Field behind St. Nicks Church, 9.30 - 11.30am. 1 Brimstone (male), 2 Orange Tip (1 male, 1 female), 1 Small White, 2 batches of Small Tortoiseshell Larvae and 1 Comma Larva. Lee Browne

A few sightings for today (Wednesday 4th May 2011) - 4 Orange Tip, (1 female, along Leeging Beech Gutter near Williams Wood, 10:45 hrs., 1 male N of Williams Wood near Hadley Road, 10:50 hrs., 1 female, along Merryhills Brook, 13:50 hrs., 1 female, near Enfield Rd., 14:20 hrs); 1 male Common Blue, set-aside field N of Williams Wood, 10:50 hrs - my first of the year, but Robin White saw two here yesterday; 3 Mother Shipton, (2 together, set-aside field N of Williams Wood, 10:50 hrs., 1 near Hadley Rd., 11:06 hrs); 2 Small Heath, (1 at Vicarage Farm near Hadley Road, 11:00 hrs., 1 at Parkside Farm, 11:10 hrs); 1 Peacock, at Parkside Farm, 11:20 hrs; 1 Green-veined White, at Rough Lot, Trent Park, 12:45 hrs; 1 Peacock, at 'Old Golf Course', Trent Park, 12:55 hrs; 1 Peacock, along Merryhills Brook at Vicarage Farm, 13:55 hrs. Also saw a few Small Whites today in various places. - Robert Callf

A late walk (between 5 and 6 pm) along my local part of the River Colne at Stanwell Moor revealed my first sightings of Small Heaths in their usual spot close to the M25. There were 8 or 9 diving for cover in the parched grass as it was still pretty windy. Elsewhere I saw 5 male Orange Tips, one male and one female Green-veined White, a couple of male Large Whites, and three aged Commas - Dave Miller

Tuesday 3rd May 2011
Frogmore: 23 grizzled skippers, 2 small coppers, 5 common blues, 13 brown argus, single orange tip, small heath and speckled wood, 2 brimstone. Rickneys in horrid windy conditions: 4 grizzled skippers, 55 brown argus, 3 common blues, 7 small heath, 2 small copper, single red admiral, silver Y, holly blue and brimstone. Also on elm close to Rickneys, we found 4 white-letter larvae this afternoon, on one elm one of the larvae was large and close to pupating. However, on another elm we found one that had turned brown/purple and appeared to be close (if not already) pupating. This means that white-letter could be flying before the end of May!!! Andrew Middleton & Liz Goodyear (with Trevor Chapman at Frogmore)

Recent sightings: 01/05/2011. Widbury/Ware, first Red Admiral x 2. 02/05/2011. Waterford Heath, first Grizzled skippers x 2 and a field near Chapmore End, small heath x 1 - Nicky Parish

Monday 2nd May 2011
This afternoon walked all over Aldbury Nowers and onto Pitstone hill and over the road to Incombe hole. At Aldbury Nowers I recorded 1 x large white, 3 x holly blue, 19 x brimstone(all male),17 x orange tip(2 female), 4 x green veined white, 2 x peacock, 3 x speckled wood, 26 x small heath, 3 x small copper, 2 x brown argus, 1 x red admiral, 8 x dingy skippers and 7 x grizzled skippers - David Gower

3 Common Blues & an Orange Tip at a very windy Butterfly World this morning - Malcolm Hull

Some sightings for today (Monday 2nd May 2011) - 1 Speckled Wood, at Rectory Farm, Enfield, 10:10 hrs; 1 male Orange Tip, at Rectory Farm, 10:12 hrs; 2 Green-veined White, at King's Oak Plain, 10:20 hrs; 1 Comma, at Whitewebbs Wood, 11:12 hrs - looking rather worn! 2 Speckled Wood, together, Whitewebbs Wood, 11:50 hrs; 1 male Orange Tip, at Hilly Fields Park, 12:52 hrs; 1 Speckled Wood, at Town Park, 13:45 hrs. - Robert Callf

Sighting today May 2 at Nomansland Wheathamstead, 13.00 to 1330, 4 Small coppers, 4 Orange Tips - one small copper image attached. - Brian Knight

Trip to Norton Green (1330-1420hrs) today produced the following results: 11 Orange Tips, 9 other 'small' whites, 2 Speckled Woods, a Peacock and a Small Copper. About 90% sun and wind force 5. - Peter Clarke

Sunday 1st May 2011
Copse Wood, Ruislip, (Middlesex): One Small Copper at Southern edge of the wood - Graham Elcombe.

This morning at Waterford Heath we had a good walk. On north pit 15 grizzled skippers, 7 brown argus, a common blue and various whites. On south pit 4 grizzleds, 5 brown argus, 2 burnet companions and to everyones delight two small coppers. We then went to Rickneys, saw, a brimstone, 8 brown argus, 6 grizzleds, 2 common blues, 2 small heath and a treble bar. A good haul - Steve Kiln

Me and my dad took at trip to Hexton Chalk Pit and whilst there we saw more than 20 Dingy Skippers, 2 Green Hairstreaks, 4 Brimstones and 2 Common Blues. We saw a great view of a Green Hairstreak sitting on a bush for about 5 minutes - Cameron Landels

Sunday 1st May, Flood Plain on Old Knebworth Lane, 4-5pm, Orange Tip 6, Speckled Wood 3, Green-veined White 4, Small White 2, Comma 1, Brown Argus 1, Around 30 Small Tortoiseshell Larvae and 1 Cinnabar moth. Lee Browne

Some news for yesterday (Saturday 30th April 2011) - 1 Small Heath, at 'New Fields', Trent Park, 16:55 hrs - my first of the year; 6 Small Copper, at 'New Fields', Trent Park, 17:00 - 17:31 hrs., including two together; 2 Comma, edge of Church Wood, Trent Park, 17:21 and 17:26 hrs; 1 male Orange Tip, near Animal Corner, Trent Park, 17:41 hrs. At late afternoon visit, but produced the 'goods' nonetheless! Today (Sunday 1st May 2011) - 2 Small Copper, together in Oakwood Park, N14, 12:41 hrs; 1 male Orange Tip, at Brookside, N21, 12:45 hrs; 4 Holly Blue, at Grovelands Park, 13:03 - 13:55 hrs; 5 Speckled Wood, between 13:15 - 13:40 hrs; 1 Mother Shipton, in enclosed 'meadow' 13:50 hrs - a first for the year and quite early? - Robert Callf

Bricket Wood Common - 22 Brimstones, 6 male Orange Tips, 3 Peacocks, 1 Comma, 5 Speckled Woods, 1 Holly Blue, Large, Small & Green-veined Whites on todays transect. This is fairly typical of the year to date at this transect ie Brimstones & Orange Tips doing well, but Peacock & Comma numbers both well down. Several extra species seen at Bury Dell, Park Street - Small Copper (2), Small Heath (1), Brown Argus (1), Red Admiral (2) & Cinnabar moth (1). Numbers of all species well down at this site, perhaps partly due to the strong easterly wind. It is an acid grassland site on gravel rich soil. Much on the grass is already brown & shrivelled and I suspect caterpillars will struggle to survive unless we get rain soon. First brood Brown Argus is a rare sighting in the St Albans District - Malcolm Hull

April 2011

Saturday 30th April 2011
I went to Aldbury Nowers this afternoon ( 3pm onwards). Very impressed with the number of butterflies in great weather including 15x Dingy Skippers 10x Grizzled Skippers 8x Green Hairstreaks, 12x Small Heath. 3x Brown Argus, 2x Small Copper, 7x Orange Tips and lots of Whites. It was particularly good in the managed areas of the lower slopes with greater numbers of butterflies than 10 days ago when I was last here but butterflies have obviously dispersed throughout the reserve - Phil Woodward

Recording in the Berkhamsted area (unless o/wise stated). Records as follows: Sandpit Green SP 99 06 - Green-veined White (feeding on Dandelion) & 2 Speckled Woods; Long Green TL 00 06 - Large White, 2 Small Whites, Green-veined White, male Orange Tip, Holly Blue & Small Copper (also a Burnet Companion moth); Bankmill Bridge TL 00 07 - 2 male Orange Tips & Holly Blue; canal nr sewage works TL 01 06 - male Orange Tip, Holly Blue & Speckled Wood; Little Heath Lane TL 01 07 - male Brimstone & male Orange Tip; Little Heath TL 01 08 - Green-veined White, male Orange Tip & 3 Speckled Woods; Gutteridge Farm TL 00 08 - 2 Orange Tips (male plus separate female ovipositing on Cuckoo-flower) & Small Tortoiseshell; Long Wood nr Abbots Langley TL 08 02 - 3 Orange Tips (2 mls, 1 fml) & 2 Commas (in aerial pursuit); Parsonage Farm nr Abbots Langley TL 09 02 - 3 male Orange Tips, Holly Blue, 2 Small Tortoiseshells & Speckled Wood; East Lane nr Abbots Langley TL 10 02 - 3 male Orange Tips & Speckled Wood. - C. M. Everett

Friday 29th April 2011
Just 1 x holly blue, 1 green veined white in Bushey garden today - David Gower

Near Abbots Langley TL 10 02 - Large White, male Orange Tip, 2 Holly Blues & Small Tortoiseshell. - C. M. Everett

Thursday 28th April 2011
A few sightings for yesterday (Wednesday 27th April 2011) - 2 Green-veined White, at Vicarage Farm - one along Merryhills Brook, 10:33 hrs and another near Williams Wood, 11:00 hrs; 1 Speckled Wood, at Vicarage Farm, Enfield at 10:50 hrs; 1 male Orange Tip, Sidhil's Field, at Vicarage Farm, 11:30 hrs and a female near the Firing Range here at 11:34 hrs; 2 Speckled Wood, Sidhil's Field at Vicarage Farm, 11:30 hrs; 1 Holly Blue, at St Andrew's Churchyard, Enfield Town, 12:15 hrs; 1 female Orange Tip, at Hilly Fields Park, 13:00 hrs; 1 Holly Blue, at Hilly Field Park, 13:04 hrs; 1 Holly Blue, at Flash Lane Aqueduct, 13:36 hrs; 1 male Large White, at Whitewebbs Woodd, 13:55 hrs; 1 male Orange Tip, at Whitewebbs Wood, 13:55 hrs; 1 Green-veined White, at Whitewebbs Woodd, 14:25 hrs; 1 Small Tortoiseshell, at Rectory Farm, 16:30 hrs. - Robert Callf

Recording in the St Albans area on Wednesday, where highlight was egg-laying by Red Admiral. Records as follows: Potters Crouch TL 11 05 - Red Admiral ovipositing on Stinging Nettles along Appspond Lane; Longfield Spring nr Potters Crouch TL 10 05 - Holly Blue; Gorhambury House TL 11 07 - Large White, female Orange Tip, Holly Blue & Speckled Wood; Maynes Farm (Gorhambury Estate) TL 12 08 - male Brimstone & male Orange Tip; Verulamium Park TL 13 07 - Holly Blue, Small Tortoiseshell & Speckled Wood; St Stephens TL 13 06 - female Large White (on Garlic Mustard - possibly egg-laying) & female Orange Tip; Bedmond Lane TL 12 06 - 2 Speckled Woods; Windridge Farm TL 12 05 - Small White; Blunts Lane nr Potters Crouch TL 11 04 - Small Tortoiseshell; Holt Wood TL 11 03 - 2 Green-veined Whites & 3 Orange Tips (2 mls, 1 fml); Waterdale TL 11 02 - male Orange Tip. - C. M. Everett

Wednesday 27th April 2011
A three hour search of both pits at Waterford Heath, produced a record count for us of 29 Grizzled Skipper on the north pit, scattered across the entire pit. We recorded 20 on the South Pit with a total just short of 50 Grizzled Skipper, our previous highest in 2006 being 35! Also seen of note were Brown Argus, 2 Burnet Companions and Latticed Heath moths. Grizzled Skipper and Brown Argus present at Rickneys, count in progress. In fact 4 Grizzleds were seen at Rickneys, with Brown Argus, a Small Heath and Common Blue present. After a recount of the notebook, we now have 30 in the north pit and 21 in the south making a total of 51!!! - Liz Goodyear and Andrew Middleton

I also had a single Brown Argus and a brief glimpse of what I think was a Pyrausta purpuralis/aurata at Waterford Heath in addition to the Grizzleds I saw - Alan Reynolds

22 Dingy skippers and 3 Green Hairstreaks at Hexton Chalk pit today 27th April - Stuart Pittman

Green Hairstreak and Dingy Skipper again at Hexton Chalk Pits today - Nigel Agar

I did the transect this morning with my new wardens at Aldbury, the summaries are: Grizzled skipper – 14 – there was at least one individual in every enclosure (north and south!)Dingy skipper – 4Green hairstreak – 5BrimstoneCommaLarge white – 3Small/GV white – 13Orange tip – 9Small copper – 2Speckled woodSmall heath - 6 This is the most grizzled skippers I’ve ever seen at the reserve, its usually just 1 or 2 while doing the transect. - Paul Thrush Reserve Officer

Tuesday 26th April 2011
Just popped down to Waterford Heath 3.30 today my first two grizzled skippers on South pit. Everything very dry desperately needs rain - Steve Kiln

Monday 25th April 2011
Broxbourne Wood (numbers are minima, as I toured the site several times over)Large White 4+ (3 male; 1 female) Small White 1+ Male Green-veined White 5+ (2 male; 1 female) Orange Tip 15+++ (14+++ male; 1 female) white sp/p. 18+++ Holly Blue 1-2 Comma 1 Speckled Wood 10+++ Adela reaumurella (diurnal longhorn micro-moth) 5. Church Hill (Therfield Heath) (Late visit en route home)Brimstone 1 Male white sp/p. 1-3 (2) - Guy Manners

Seen a few Red Admirals over the last few days - 1 at Strayfield Road, Clay Hill, Enfield on Thursday 21st April 2011 at 17:20 hrs. Another at Vicarage Farm on Friday 22nd April 2011 at 15:55 hrs. and a third at Rectory Farm, Enfield on Saturday 23rd April 2011 at 09:28 hrs. Three Green-veined White in Whitewebbs Wood, Enfield yesterday (Sunday 24th April 2011) between 12:10 and 12:20 hrs., around Garlic Mustard. Also a male Brimstone along the railway-line near Clay Hill yesterday (Sunday 24th April 2011) at 13:46 hrs. Today (Monday 25th April 2011) saw a male Orange Tip and a Comma in Town Park, Enfield. - Robert Callf

Fishers Field were 4 x orange tip & 4 x small white. Bushey garden were 4 x orange tip, 1x green veined white, 2 x holly blue ( 1 male , 1 female). Finch lane were 11 x orange tip, 5 x speckled wood, 1 x small white, 3 x green veined white - David Gower

Hummingbird hawk moth 1pm at Leavesden, today along with egg laying Red Admiral - Clive Burrows

Small Copper on Poors Field this morning. Lots of Orange-tip,a few Holly Blue and a Mother Shipton. Steve Pash

Just got back from spending a few hours at Aldbury Nowers I was there between 11:30am - 1:30pm and spotted approximately: 6x Grizzled Skippers 2x Dingy Skippers 7x Green Hairstreaks 2x Small Coppers 4x Small Heaths 1x Comma 1x Holly Blue 6x Large Whites 10+ Speckled Woods 10+ Brimstones 20+ Orange Tips - Steve Gent

Visited Aldbury Nowers this afternoon; 15+ brimstone, 6+ orangetip, 8+ small white, 3 dingy skipper, 6+ grizzled skipper, 3 small heath, 2 holly blue, 1 red admiral, 2 speckled wood, 1 green hairstreak. Chris & Ellie Beach.

On a quick walk locally on Friday morning before heading down to Dover for Easter, I spotted a male Large White by the River Colne. There were plenty of other butterflies too, but I wasn't counting today, I'm afraid!

Vast swarms of Adela reaumurella at both - Highgate Wood last week, Bricket Wood yesterday; I would not like to hazard a guess at the numbers represented, but surely scores, and maybe hundreds, of thousands. The attached photo of a group sunning themselves will hopefully amuse . Incidentally, is it just my imagination, or are the great majority of Brimstones and Orange-Tips current flying about males? - Michael Hammerson

Sunday 24th April 2011
Observations (in the Kings Langley area unless o/wise stated), as follows: A41 bridge TL 06 02 - male Orange Tip; Langley Lodge Farm TL 06 01 - Green-veined White (feeding on Dandelion) & 2 male Orange Tips; nr North Grove Wood TL 07 01 - male Orange Tip & Small Tortoiseshell; Berrybushes Wood TL 06 00 - 2 Orange Tips (male & female) & Peacock; Topcommon nr Chipperfield TL 05 01 - 3 male Orange Tips, 3 Holly Blues, Small Tortoiseshell (egg-laying on Stinging Nettles), Peacock, Comma & 3 Speckled Woods; Hunton Bridge nr Watford TL 08 00 - Holly Blue; South Way nr Abbots Langley TL 09 00 - male Orange Tip. - C. M. Everett

Popped in to Aldbury Nowers on the way home from Totternhoe today,8+ green hairstreak 1 x dingy skipper 10+ grizzled skipper 3 x small heath and all the usuals.. - Richard Geary

Had an enjoyable afternoon strolling around Hexton Chalk Pit; 8+ brimstone, 3+ orangetip, 1 holly blue, 4+ small white, 3+ speckled wood, 2+ green hairstreak, 20+ dingy skipper. Observed several pairs of dingy skippers mating on top of prominent dead sticks - Chris & Ellie Beach

At Bricket Wood common 8 Orange tips butterflies, 15 Brimstone (including a pair mating), 3 Holly Blue, 1 comma, 2 Peacock, 5 Small White, 6 Large White and 2 GV White - Andy Steele

Hexton Chalk Pit 8-9am, 14 dingy skippers roosting. Telegraph Hill 6 green hairstreaks, 2 dingy skippers, 1 red admiral. Frogmore 12 grizzled skippers, 1 brown argus and 1 red admiral, along with various common butterflies – Andrew Middleton & Laurence Drummond

A male orange tip spent the night roosting on garlic mustard in my Ware garden - Liz Goodyear

Saturday 23rd April 2011
Today briefly went back to FINCH LANE, Bushey spotted 7 x orange tip, 1 x brimstone, 2 x holly blue, 8 x speckled wood and 2 x small white David Gower

Good numbers of Dingy Skipper today in the Highdown area ie 9 and a singleton after much searching of Hexton chalk pit on Thursday 21st - Stuart Pittman

At Hatfield Aerodrome today had 20+ orange tips,5 GV whites, 7 Small white, 6 Large White, 2 Speckled Woods, 1 Red Admiral, 1 small Tortoiseshell and 4 Peacock - Andy Steele

A few recent sightings: Thursday 21st April - Ten Acre Wood, Hillingdon Lots (20+) of Orange-tip, 3 GV white, 2 Brimstone (m&f), 8 Speckled Wood, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 4 Peacock and 6+ Holly Blue. Friday 22nd April - Along the River Pinn adjacent to Ruislip GC Lots (20+) of Orange-tip, 2 Small White, Brimstone (m), 5 Speckled Wood, Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Peacock, Red Admiral and 10+ Holly Blue. Saturday 23rd April - Woodoaks Farm (including Ladywalk Wood), Maple Cross Lots (20+) of Orange-tip, 2 GV White, Small White, 10 Speckled Wood, 3 Small Tortoiseshell, 2 Peacock, Red Admiral, 2 Holly Blue. I have seen lots of Orange-tip (more than I can remember) and Holly Blue in my Ruislip garden during this warm spell of weather. - Steve Pash

Friday 22nd April 2011
In our Bushey garden 4 Orange Tip, 1 Small White, 1 Holly Blue. Walked from Finch Lane (Bushey) to Patchetts Green via Jewish cemetary as last year and spotted = 18 Orange Tip, 10 Small White, 1 Brimstone,4 Holly Blue, 6 Speckled Wood, 1 Peacock, 1 Green Veined White. - David Gower

At Tyttenhanger farm area 2 Painted Ladies first of the year for me, 1 Peacock, 5 Orange Tip. Then early evening at Hatfield Aerodrome at least 10 Orange Tips, 2 Peacock, 3 Large White and 1 Speckled Wood. - Andy Steele

Eggs of both Green-veined White and Orange Tip were easily found on a few Garlic Mustard plants in a sunny corner of a Garston (Watford) garden TL 11 00 this morning. Note how early this date is for these eggs when compared with a decade or two ago - 22/4 would once have been a typical date for the first records of adults of these species, not their eggs! It is well worth taking a few seconds to look on Garlic Mustard or other potential food plants (e.g. garden Honesty) over the weekend. - Colin Everett

Saw 1st grizzled at Rickneys and a further 5 on the north pit at Waterford Heath 2 near railway, 3 behind the lake. On south saw 2 holly blue and 3 green veined whites as well as orange tips,speckled woods and brimstones but no grizzleds - Steve Kiln/Alan Reynolds

Thornbera Road Allotments, Bishops Stortford , just before noon today. 1 Small White, 5 Orange Tips ( 4m 1f), l Brimstone (m), & 2 Peacocks. Interestingly by early afternoon all had disappeared except for the occasional fluttering by of individual male orange tips, (too warm?). In scrub just beyond allotment fence an Holly Blue and Speckled Wood showed briefly whilst returning home at 2 p.m. - Len Crouch

Thursday 21st April 2011
Dingy Skippers at Hexton Chalk Pits yesterday and today and Green Hairstreak today - Nigel Agar

This morning, I set off round my usual route along the River Colne near Stanwell Moor. Orange Tips were everywhere, too many to count accurately, but at least 20. Plenty of Green-veined Whites too - none when approached close enough to tell turned out to be Small Whites. At least 12 were seen. The other abundant species was Holly Blue, with a continuing emergence of fresh specimens it seems, and numbers of over 20 again. Half a dozen Speckled Woods, two Peacocks and a Brimstone rounded off the morning.
After lunch, I visited Bedfont Lakes CP with my small son. We generally saw a very similar selection of butterflies as we had at home, with the addition of one Small Tortoiseshell. However, near the railway line just approaching the fishing lake, we saw a patrolling Speckled Wood violently set upon by a small gleaming insect. Once it had calmed down, it revealed itself to be a Small Copper. My first of the year, and the first reported in the Park this year too I believe - Dave Miller

I spent today taking pictures at Aldbury Nowers. Saw my first small copper (1) in the lower compartment, 4 Grizzled skippers including courting male and female, 1 small tortoiseshell , 3 green hairstreaks, 1 speckled wood, 1 holly blue, numerous orange tips, green veined whites as well as male and female brimstones. - Miles Attenborough

Wednesday 20th April 2011
I walked up to Aldbury Nowers this morning and was pleased to see at least 7 Grizzled Skippers in all flying on the bottom slopes where the management has been undertaken, at the top of the slope and also one at the bottom of a hedgerow leading down to the road from the site to show the good weather is allowing them to disperse. In addition I saw 2 Green Hairstreaks flying together in the same area as the Grizzled Skippers and another one further up the slope. Numerous Orange Tips and Brimstones also flying around made it a very enjoyable visit so early in the year - Phil Woodward

A female Small Tortoiseshell ovipositing on a nettlebed in the Wildlife Area of Holland Park, west London. First I've seen in town since I can't remember when - Keir Mottram

Today I saw about 4 orange tips and a small tortoiseshell at Kings meads - Andy Brown

Speckled Yellow seen at edge of Fir Wood Potters Bar.- Greg Keith

1 Speckled Wood, at Flash Lane, Clay Hill, 10:03 hrs., 3 male Orange Tips, together, Hilly Fields Park, Enfield, 10:10 hrs., 1 female Orange Tip, at Lavender Hill Cemetery, 10:15 hrs - the first female that I have seen this year; 2 Holly Blue, together, Gordon Hill Station, Enfield, 10:41 hrs.1 female Orange Tip, at River View, Enfield, 14:40 hrs - the second female of the day; 1 Peacock, settled on some blue sheeting on Enfield Grammar School Playing Field, 14:55 hrs; 1 Speckled Wood, at Enfield Grammar School, Enfield Town, 15:00 hrs. - Robert Callf

Tuesday 19th April 2011
Fir & Pond woods NR - Peacock x 4, Speckled woods at least 10, Orange tips x 8, Green veined whites x2 and assorted unidentified whites 5 - David Gompertz

Lovely day , working in Broxbourne Woods in main ride saw 15 orange tip,5 brimstones,1 peacock,3 speckled wood. Bengeo 1st holly blue of year.Rickneys 3 orange tip plus a small tortoiseshell.Waterford heath 8 orange tips plus two brimstones but no grizzleds.In Great Molewood nearby 13 orange tips,3 speckled woods, a peacock and 2 brimstones. - Steve Kiln

I saw 12 orange tips, about 4 small white/green veined and 2 Brimstones at Kings Meads - Andy BrownToday I saw about 4 orange tips and a small tortoiseshell.

Hexton Chalk Pit 1 Green Hairstreak, Brimstone (male and female), Speckled Wood and a probable Peacock.

1 male Brimstone, at Forty Hall, Enfield, flew past 'Burger Van', 12:45 hrs; 1 or 2 Small Tortoiseshell, at Rectory Farm, Enfield, 17:50 hrs; 2 Peacock, at Rectory Farm, Enfield, 17:50 and 18:00 hrs; 1 Holly Blue, at Rectory Fam, 18:05 hrs. - Robert Callf

At Waterford Heath North Pit 4 Grizzled Skippers between the lake and the pine trees. Otherwise Peacock, Brimstone, Holly Blue, Speckled Wood (south only), Red Admiral (north only) Orange Tip across both pits. - Andrew Wood

Spent 30 mins at FISHERS FIELD NATURE RESERVE in Bushey after work today 19/4/11. 2 Comma, 1 Small White, 1 Speckled Wood - David Gower

At the Weston Hills NR this morning (1050-1150), I spotted 8 Orange Tips, 4 Holly Blues, 2 Green-veined Whites, 2 Brimstones, a Small White and a Speckled Wood. Later (1220-1340), I walked on the bridleway off Graveley Lane (TL228 283) towards Manor Wood near Willian (TL224 302). 7 Orange Tips. 4 Small Tortoisehells, 2 Brimstones, 3 Small Whites (+ 10 unidentified whites) and a Peacock counted. The Peacock and one each of the Small Tortoisehells and Brimstones were seen at (or close to) the Manor Wood site. At both sites, looked for Green Hairstreaks in case I might be lucky. - Peter Clarke

Monday 18th April 2011
Jersey Farm St Albans 11.15 am, a green veined white and two Orange tip males. - Brian Knight

A few sightings to report today (Monday 18th April 2011) - 1 Peacock, at Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield, 10:00 hrs., 1 male Orange Tip, at Park Farm, 10:40 hrs., 1 Speckled Wood, near Nature Trail, Trent Park, 11:45 hrs., 1 Peacock, along Leeging Beech Gutter near Water Grdn, Trent Park, 11:55 hrs., 1 Peacock, at Hog Hill, Vicarage Farm, 12:45 hrs., 3 Small Tortoiseshell, at Vicarage Farm (2 together, along track, Hog Hill, 12:45 hrs. and 1 Barracks, 12:50 hrs.), 1 male Ornge Tip, at Sidhil's Field at Vicarage Farm, 12:55 hrs. - Robert Callf

I did the transect today at Aldbury Nowers, was particularly pleased with the number of grizzled skipper (7 in total). There was an individual in each enclosure in the southern part of the reserve (plus one in the coppice area) with 2 in the key butterfly area in the northern part of the reserve. No dingys yet! Other highlights included a small tortoiseshell, green hairstreak and 2 speckled woods and a holly blue along the Ridgeway between the two parts of the reserve, also a male common blue in the southern part of the reserve. - Paul Thrush

Sunday 17th April 2011
1 x Orange Tip in Aldenham Rd, Bushey. At Watercress wildlife garden in St Albans this morning = 14 Orange Tip, 4 Holly Blue, 3 Speckled Wood, 1 Brimstone, 2 Small White, 1 Large White, 1 Comma - David Gower

Saturday 16th April 2011
Frogmore Quarry 11.30-12am. By the time I got out the sun was just disappearing behind the clouds, but I did manage to find 1 Grizzled Skipper resting with closed wings waiting for its close up. - Lee Browne

At Tyttenhanger Farm today 1 Holly Blue, 1 GV White and 1 Peacock in overcast conditions. - Andy Steele

A few sightings for today (Saturday 16th April 2011) - 2 male Orange Tip, at Hilly Fields Park, 11:10 hrs., 2 male Orange Tip, at Flash Lane, EN2, 11:15 hrs., 1 Holly Blue, at Wildwoods Lodge, Enfield, 11:15 hrs., 1 Small Tortoiseshell, at Flash Lane, EN2, 11:15 hrs., 1 Peacock, at Whitewebbs Park, 13:03 hrs. - Robert Callf

Friday 15th April 2011
Sightings for today (Friday 15th April 2011) - 1 Speckled Wood, near Duncan's Wood, Enfield Chase, 12:00 hrs., 1 Speckled Wood, Ferny Hill Farm, 12:50 hrs., 1 Peacock, field N of Williams Wood, 13:50 hrs., 1 Small Tortoiseshell, along track at Hog Hill, 14:20 hrs., 1 Peacock, along track at Hog Hill, Vicarage Farm, 14:20 hrs., 1 Speckled Wood, along hedgerow off Barracks, Vicarage Farm, 14:30 hrs., 1 Green-veined White, at Barracks, Vicarage Farm, 14:30 hrs - a well marked individual. Also three Small White (1 Trent Park, 2 Vicarage Farm).- Robert Callf.

Tuesday 12th April 2011
Frogmore Pit one lonely but active Grizzled Skipper in a sheltered part of the site today. No Grizzleds seen at Waterford Heath even in the sheltered hollows. Otherwise a strong northerly wind blasting through the site so didn't look at the railway plateau - Liz Goodyear and Andrew Middleton

I was working at Aldbury today and saw a grizzled skipper in the key butterfly area. Also on the northern slopes were 6+ male orange tips, a speckled wood and an unidentified white species - Paul Thrush Reserve Officer

A few lepidoptera to report today (Tuesday 12th April 2011) - 1 Streamer, in the stairwell to the flats where I live this morning, in Southgate, N14. 1 male Orange Tip, along Merryhills Brook/Vicarage Farm, 08:50 hrs and 1 Speckled Wood, along Merryhills Brook/Vicarage Farm, 08:55 hrs. 1 Small Tortoiseshell, along track at Vicarage Farm, 09:10 hrs. - Robert Callf

Monday 11th April 2011
On Saturday 9 April I went to Aldbury Nowers to look for green hairstreaks and didn't see any but I did see a lovely Grizzled Skipper. Just the one, repeatedly, so I guess it must have been one of the first of the year. The wild strawberries look in good condition on the hill - lots of flowers. Sadly I see someone in Somerset is claiming the first sighting on April 8! But I thought I would let you know. Everything seems astonishingly early this year - Patrick Barkham

Walked from Tring station through Aldbury Nowers onto Pitstone Hills and back ( 4 & half hours) yesterday, Sunday 10..... small white x 5, green veined white x 1, orange tip x 13, comma x 1, red admiral x 1, speckled wood x 1, green hairstreak x 5, small tortoiseshell x 1, brimstone x 33 (29 male), peacock x 4, grizzled skipper x 1. Thanks to London Midland took me 3 hours to get back to Bushey!!!! David Gower

There were disappointingly few butterflies at Waterford Heath today. Despite the high-ish temperatures and the delayed rain (which didn't start until I was back home), I saw maybe half a dozen Orange Tips, a Peacock, a Brimstone and a Comma, but that was it. Maybe the breeze kept the numbers down. I'm sure that if any Grizzleds had been around, either Alan (Reynolds) or I would have spotted them - Paul Why

At the Watercress Bed in St. Albans today 8 holly blue, 6 orange tip, 4 brimstones 6 large white 3 small white and 1 comma and 1 speckled wood - Andy Steele

Excellent conditions over last 3 days - Friday 8 April - Wood Lane, Pirton, Transect resulted in a total of 31 butterflies over 6 species - predominently 18 Yellow Brimstone male & female, 4 Orange Tip, 2 Holly Blue, 2 Peacock, 1 Comma and very pleased to see 4 Small Tortoiseshell. Same day had 4 species in my Hitchin garden - Yellow Brimstone, Orange Tip, Holly Blue and Peacock. A pleasant surprise on the 9th April to see a Green Veined White nectaring on Honesty. Sunday 10 April on a short walk at Ickleford Common TL12W Grid Ref.182318 produced sightings of 7 Orange Tip, 5 Small Tortoiseshell, 5 Yellow Brimstone and 3 Holly Blue - Val Fullforth

Some late news from Friday (8/4) - I saw a holly blue along the High Street in St Albans and another in Verulum Park outside Grebe House. Today there was a holly blue immediately outside Grebe House and a brimstone (female) in the park - Paul Thrush Reserve Officer

A few butterfly sightings for yesterday (Sunday 10th April 2011) - 2 Speckled Wood and 1 Holly Blue at Grovelands Park, Southgate. Today (Monday 11th April 2011) - 3 male Orange Tip, together, Whitewebbs Wood, 11:02 hrs., 1 Holly Blue, at Whitewebbs Wood, 11:45 hrs. 1 male Brimstone, at Gordon Hill Station, Enfield, 12:41 hrs. - Robert Callf

Terry Lyle told me today that his first Holly Blue at Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park was on 22nd March (pre-dating the earliest Middlesex record on your website).Also my earliest Brimstone at this same site was 8th February, again pre-dating the earliest Middlesex record you have on your website. -Bob Watts

News from last week: 2nd, Goldings wood 1 x peacock; 3rd, Ware 1 x comma 1 x small tortoiseshell. 6th, Chadwell 1 x brimstone, 1 x small tortoiseshell. 6th, Balls wood 1 x brimstone. 7th, Gallows Hill 1 x brimstone and Postwood 1 x orange tip. 10th, Hertford 2 x brimstone 1 x orange tip - Nicky Parish

Sunday 10th April 2011
1 x holly blue, 1 x orange tip in our Bushey garden David Gower

In my Hatfield garden today 2+ Holly Blue (m+f), 3+ Orange Tip (m+2f), Large White, Speckled Wood - John Moss

I've just returned from what seems like a long day's walking around the Pirton/Pegsdon/Telegraph Hill area, and am very pleased to report finding a Green Hairstreak at around 14:48 on Telegraph Hill. It flitted around the same bush for some while, until eventually I decided to leave it in peace and go in search of others. Alas, this was the only specimen I found all day, and the only one I've ever seen. - Paul Why

Quick evening walk around Broad Colney Lakes at London Colney brought 1 Comma and 1 Holly Blue out - Andy Steele

Latton Lock (Herts side of the Stort) 1 Orange tip (male, Old Rivers nursery/orchard site Sawbridgeworth Orange tip (male) 1 Green veined white, 6 Speckled wood, 1 Large white, 3 Brimstone (all male)and 3 Peacock, despite fields full off dandelions not one Small tortoiseshell. - Laurence Drummond

Saturday 9th April 2011
2 x small white, 1 x holly blue , 1 x comma ( resting on rhubarb) in our BUSHEY back garden. - David Gower (p.s in spain recently and was excited to see swallowtails and walls in friends garden in Mijas)

Bramfield Woods, 10am-12.30pm. 3 Speckled Wood, 1 Green-veined White, 5 Peacock, 4 Comma, 1 Orange Underwing moth. Norton Green, 1.30pm. 20+ Orange Tip (all male), 1 Brimstone (male), 2 Peacock, 9 Small White, 1 Comma, 1 Green-vein White, 1 Speckled Wood, 1 Orange Underwing moth. Frogmore Quarry, 6-7pm. 1 Orange Tip (male), 1 Peacock - Lee Browne

Another good day in the (Harpenden) garden, up to 5 Holly Blue, 3 Brimstone (including m & f mating) 1 Speckled Wood.Robin Pearson

I recorded 3 Orange Tips (amongst Brimstones peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells) on my week 2 transect walk on Friday - around 3 weeks earlier than normal for Southern Country Park. I also saw my first Holly Blue of the year in Bishop's Stortford town centre today - Bob Clift

A few more sightings for yesterday (Friday 8th April 2011) - 1 male Orange Tip, at Gentleman's Row, Enfield Town, 15:10 hrs., and 1 Comma here also, 15:10 hrs. 1 Holly Blue, at St Andrew's Churchyard, Enfield Town, 15:25 hrs and 1 along New River at Enfield Grammar School, Enfield Town, 15:30 hrs. Just two Speckled Wood so far today (Saturday 9th April 2011) at Gough Park, Forty Hall, 10:10 and 10:12 hrs. - Robert Callf

Is it really only 9th April? Returning from an expedition to darkest Surrey to see Green Hairstreaks and Grizzled Skippers, I set off about 4.30 on my local walk. No more than 10 metres down the path, I was met with a host of butterflies - Orange Tips, Peacocks, a Comma, a Small White, and almost a cloud of Holly Blues. Every ivy-clad tree hosted two or three individuals. There must have been dozens altogether. I completed the walk, as the sun became hazier, and saw several more Commas and two female Orange Tips. Overall, the score was (minimum figures): Small White 3 Green-veined White 2 (2m) Orange Tip 8 (6m, 2f) Comma 5 Peacock 5 Speckled Wood 2 Holly Blue 15+ -Dave Miller

Friday 8th April 2011
Field behind St Nicks Church, 10-11.50am. 4 Peacock, 11 Small Tortoiseshell, 2 Holly Blue, 2 Orange Tip (male), 3 Small White, 1 Brimstone (female), 1 Comma. St Nicks Churchyard, 11.50-12am. 1 Holly Blue, 1 Speckled Wood - Lee Browne

A few butterfly sightings to report today (Friday 8th April 2011) - 1 Small White, at Flash Lane, Enfield, 10:50 hrs., 1 Holly Blue, Flash Lane, 10:52 hrs., 1 Holly Blue, Strayfield Road, Clay Hill, 10:56 hrs and 1 Green-veined White, at Rectory Farm, Enfield, 11:22 hrs - my first of the year! - Robert Callf

An early immigrant Painted Lady showing extremely well at Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, in Scrapyard Meadow c1230 on Wednesday 6th April was unexpected. -Bob Watts

My first Holly Blue of the year seen while sat with colleagues in the garden of the Battle Axes pub in Aldenham, Herts. Nice way to round off my first week of the new job! - Mike Rubin

Had a quick walk around Therfield Heath butterflies of note were 2 Small tortoiseshells, 1 holly blue, 1 Comma, 1 Peacock and 3 large whites - Andy Steele

In my Harpenden garden today, several Holly Blue, male Orange-tip, male Brimstones, 1 Large White, 1 Small White, 1 Peacock, 1 Comma.Robin Pearson

Tyttenhanger Farm Colney heath 12.30-13.40, 1 Orange tip (male), 2 Green veined white, 2 Small tortoiseshell and 1 Peacock, Much Hadham, south of Mill wood to Sidehill, wood 15.00-16.10, 6 Orange tip(5 male 1 female), 2 Green veined white, 2Comma,6 Brimstone (all males) and 3 Peacock,Channocks farm Gilston 16.35, 2 Orange tip (male) - Laurence Drummond

Today 8th April near Jersey Farm Open Space- in a wooded lane, TL170094, this afternoon 2.15pm in sunny spot, a Speckled Wood. - Brian Knight

Whilst walking my transect in Stevenage this morning, I saw a male Orange Tip fluttering very low close to the ground and 3 Green-veined Whites, the earliest in the season I have recorded for both species. Also counted 3 Speckled Woods (first of the year), 2 Brimstones, 4 Small Whites and a Peacock (at last!). - Peter Clarke

Thursday 7th April 2011
Yesterday I saw 1 Comma near Aldenham Reservoir.Today I went to a small open space (approx TQ173951) between the business park, housing estate and A411 and saw:Peacock: 3 Male Orange Tip: 2 Unidentified White: 1 - Mike Rubin

Speckled Woods: 1 in Bayford Wood and 1 at Balls Park, Hertford -Andrew Wood

Coppetts Wood, Friern Barnet: 6 Peacock, 3 Brimstone, 3 Orange-tip (male), 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Speckled Wood, 3 white sp. Plus assorted Bumblebees and 2 Bee-flies - Brian Price

In own garden Hitchin on 6th April 1 Male Yellow Brimstone, 2 Female Yellow Brimstone. 7th April the first Holly Blue and 1 Peacock basking in sunshine. In Hitchin town centre market square, 1 peacock resting on the pavement outside the coffee shop ! - Val Fullforth

I managed to escape work in time for a quick walk along the Colne again in the late afternoon sun. Another day, something new to see: as well as at least eight Peacocks, a Small Tortoiseshell, a Comma, and two male Orange Tips, there were four assorted whites. Photos for the record confirmed them to be three Green-veined (2m,1f) and a male Small White - Dave Miller

Had 1 Holly blue in the St Albans garden this morning and 1 along Sandridge Road a bit later though could have been the same one - Andrew Steele

Small Tortoiseshell near Graveley yesterday also many Peacocks.Orange Tip in the garden yesterday (Hitchin) also Brimstones and Peacock -Nigel Agar

A few sightings for yesterday (Wednesday 6th April 2011) - 1 Holly Blue, at Chase Road, N14 at 09:30 hrs., 1 male Orange Tip, Snakes Lane, Trent Park, 14:40 hrs., 1 Peacock, at 'New Fields', Trent Park, 14:55 hrs., 1 Speckled Wood, near Nature Trail, Trent Park, 15:32 hrs., 1 Peacock and 1 Comma, SW side of Rough Lot, Trent Park, 16:00 hrs. Today (Thursday 7th April 2011) - 1 Holly Blue, at Lakenheath, Oakwood, N14 at 11:35 hrs., and 1 Holly Blue, at Prince George Avenue, Oakwood, N14 at 14:45 hrs. - Robert Callf

I saw a small white this afternoon at Beech Farm - Paul Thrush Reserve Officer

A morning trip to the Nowers produced only common varieties: Small Tortoiseshell, Brimstone (m + f), Orange Tip and Comma - Robin Pearson

Tring: saw my first Orange Tip, Green Veined White and Holly blue yesterday. No doubt others have seen these too - Brian Jessop

Wednesday 6th April 2011
A lunchtime walk in the Bicentenary Garden at Brunel University produced 3 male & 1 female Orange-tip, female Brimstone, Speckled Wood, 2 Peacock, 3 Holly Blue and a possible Common Blue!Steve Pash

A few butterfly records from the Bovingdon area made while carrying out Timed Tetrad Visits for the BTO Bird Atlas. More Small Tortoiseshells than Peacocks - but not many of either when compared to years past. Bovingdon Airfield TL 00 04 - Small Tortoiseshell; N Bovingdon TL 01 04 - male Brimstone; Vale Farm nr Bovingdon TL 01 05 - Peacock; Lower Farm nr Bovingdon TL 00 05 - 5 Small Tortoiseshells along sunny nettled banks. - C. M. Everett

Walking home from work today saw 1 large white along Sandridge Road, St. Albans and had a Orange-tip butterfly in my garden as well - Andrew Steele

Bricket Wood Common, Wednesday 6th April, 12:30 - 13:30, hot sunny 23deg C Brimstone 9, one feeding on celandine, 1 Comma, 1 Orange tip, 1 Small white, 2 Peacocks = Paul Gibson

I visited Alpine Meadow this morning and along the farm track which leads to the reserve I saw a holly blue and 2 male brimstones. I did the transect at Aldbury today results are:16 brimstone4 Orange tip – all male1 Small tortoiseshell1 Peacock1 Comma1 Red admiral. In addition I saw 4 more brimstone and an unidentified white in the furthest northern enclosure (not part of the transect).There were also 2 brimstones and a comma at Wilstone Reservoir this afternoon. - Paul Thrush Reserve Officer

Fields behind St Nicks church, 9.30-11.45am 9 Small Tortoiseshell, 4 Peacock, 5 Brimstone, 3 Small White, 2 Comma (1 egg laying), 1 Red Admiral (egg laying). St Nicks Churchyard, 1.30-3pm 06.04.2011. 1 Holly Blue, 1 Small White and 1 Brimstone (male).- Lee Browne

In Roebuck Woods, South Stevenage, earlier this afternoon, I saw 3 very faded Commas, a female Brimstone, a Small White and a Small Tortoiseshell.No Peacocks at all yet here nor in my transect - not a good sign - Peter Clarke

Just completed my first walk around the City transect I set up last season In the warm sun, was suprised to see anything but 2 species is a fine start.1 - Holly Blue - at Bunhill Row Cemetary (EC1) 1 - Comma - Barbican estate EC2 - Phil Macmurdie

Monday 4th April 2011
I saw a male brimstone today whilst driving the road between Therfield Heath and Therfield village (off the Baldock Road). I was at Alpine Meadow on Monday(28/3/11) and saw a comma with another one near Bridgewater School. - Paul Thrush HMWT Reserve Officer

Just a few early sightings from Millhoppers:2 x Comma, 2 x Small Tortoiseshell and lots of bee flies nectaring on the abundance of creeping cinquefoil. Cowslip and Marsh Marigold close to flowering. Also heard Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler with Red Kite seen from the reserve. -Jez Perkins

Sunday 3rd April 2011
Beaumont (Redbourn) 4 Small Tortoiseshells on Blackthorn blossom on Ver Valley footpath. Also one Peacock - Ernest Leahy

A few sightings to report for yesterday (Sunday 3rd April 2011) - Oakwood Park, N14: 1 Peacock, 1 Comma and 1 Speckled Wood, 12:35 hrs., all in the same area. Grovelands Park, Southgate: 1 Peacock, 12:57 hrs., and 1 Holly Blue, 13:35 hrs. The first Speckled Wood and Holly Blue that I have seen this year. - Robert Callf

A beautiful Comma flew by in Kings Langley - Elizabeth Debenham

I followed my usual route this morning (3rd April) before the cloud spread over - not as warm today as yesterday, but not a deterrent to the butterflies. There were eight Peacocks, six Commas and a Small Tortoiseshell today, but oddly no Brimstones. However, two more species made their debut for the year in the form of two lovely new Orange Tips and an equally new Speckled Wood -Dave Miller

First weekly transect walk of the year at Bricket Wood Common produced 1 male Brimstone & 2 Commas. Elsewhere nearby: Wall Hall nr Aldenham TQ 13 99 - Comma; Garston Park nr Watford TL 12 00 - Peacock & Comma; Garston nr Watford TL 11 00 - Red Admiral present in garden for most of afternoon. For any interested, I use my blog at http://hertshobbies.blogspot.comas an online journal to record my adventures with wildlife in the local area, with an emphasis on breeding birds, especially raptors. - C. M. Everett

Only one butterfly seen in the garden (Ware) but a Small Tortoiseshell which was a nice surprise - Liz Goodyear

Saturday 2nd April 2011
Frogmore Quarry 1pm - 5pm, 2 Brimstone, 2 Peacock, 4 Comma and 1 Herald Moth - Lee Browne

Berkhamsted SP 99 07 - male Brimstone; Long Green nr Berkhamsted TL 00 06 - male Brimstone (feeding on Dandelions) & Comma - C. M. Everett

Holly Blue in my garden in Pinner - the second earliest date I've recorded it in the last eighteen years - Graham Elcombe

The following day (31st March) the Holly Blue was still there. It was raining and it looked even more waterlogged than before. I was worried it was going to be kicked by the postman or the milkman, though this wasn't really likely.However about 12 o'clock the sun started to come out and I went out with a camera. The insect started turning around on its leaf and occasionally opening its wings, revealing itself to be a male. I switched on the camera to be greeted by the message "NO MEMORY CARD." I dashed into the house to where I had left the card by the computer after sending my emails to you, and returned just in time to take these two shots before it took off. Unfortunately the one with the best exposure doesn't show the butterfly's head, alas! The other also has the shadow of a thin leaf on one wing. (The wind was blowing quite strongly, as it often does when the sun comes out.) - Archie Lang

Greenford, despite sunshine being at a premium, I was delighted to see my first non hibernators in the garden today, a male Holly Blue and a Speckled Wood, also male I think. Also had a rather tatty male Comma. -Lee Hurrell

Today saw 1 Brimstone and 1 Peacock in St Albans garden and at Tyttenhanger Gravel Pits saw 4 Small tortoiseshells including 2 mating, 1 brimstone, 3 comma and 1 possible speckled wood - Andrew Steele

Friday 1st April 2011
St Nicks churchyard 13.30-14.45. Did not hold out much hope of finding any butterflies as the weather was pretty poor and it was pretty windy but at 14.30 I spotted a butterfly fluttering around a patch of Nettles which turned out to be a very worn Red Admiral then as I was leaving at 14.45 there was a comma sitting perched on a grave stone - Lee Browne

One small tortoiseshell at Norton Green, Stevenage this afternoon - Laurence Drummond

March 2011

Thursday 31st March 2011
I had an opportunity to revisit an old haunt today after lunch. Saw 8 Commas on Horsenden Hill (Batts Field and surrounding area) when the sun came out for a while but nothing else. My first butterflies of the year- Mike Rubin

Sightings for March in my Hayes garden. 12th March 1 Red Admiral, 23rd March 2 Small Whites and 1 Brimstone - Helen George

Wednesday 30th March 2011
News for the last week: 1 x brimstone - Ware road pumphouse. Lunchtime walk beside New River and Ware road. 1 x brimstone - Rib field, rough grass field the farmer allows walking access to. It hasn't been under crops for several years. Prone to flooding. The river Rib flows one side of it and there are large, mature trees and further fields surrounding it. 1 x small tortoiseshell - The Meads near industrial estate near Hertford Lock. Rough grass used for cattle grazing during the summer though no livestock present when saw butterfly. Seen close to service road of industrial estate adjacent to the Meads. 1 x comma - Glaxo (Ware) car park.1 x comma - On way to bench under A10 flyover. 1 x brimstone- Outside pub The Feathers in Wadesmill. I was waiting outside the pub for my friend to begin a walk with the dogs. On the old A10 through the village.1 x peacock - Colindale, NW9. Seen outside the building to go out for lunch. Rather grotty built-up area of outer London. The car park has trees and shrubs and the Silk Stream runs close by. 2 x brimstone and 1 x comma - By River Beane near Waterford Heath. Seen along a tree-lined path with a lot of undergrowth beside the river Beane just below Waterford Heath (which is an old gravel workings now being established as a nature reserve)- Nicky Parish

Watford garden, I found this poor little thing today (Holly Blue) near a wall at the junction between my front path and the pavement where some self-sown Spanish bluebells were coming up through the tarmac. It was hanging on a bluebell leaf about 50mm from the ground in the rain. I suppose it had emerged this morning before the rain began. (It was only about a metre from another wall covered in ivy where no doubt it fed as a larva.) (photo to be posted later) - Archie Lang

Sunday 27th March 2011
Late news 24th March: Ruislip, Park Wood. Six Commas, one Brimstone (and nothing else) and27th March: Pinner (Middx) One male Orange Tip in my garden - my earliest ever sighting - Graham Elcombe

On Friday 25th March I recorded the following during a walk around Horsenden Hill: Orange-tip (1 male), Small White (1), Brimstone (1 male), Small Tortoiseshell (1), Peacock (7), Comma (10). Our mystery Orange Underwing Agg. is back for a second year. Dave Howdon saw it on 25th and we both glimpsed it on 27th. Firm identification has eluded us so far and the food plants for both species are available at the site. There is aspen in the area it has been frequenting, but no birch particularly close by. - Andy Culshaw

Saw a Comma in Grovelands Park, Southgate (Sunday 27th March 2011) at 13:20 hrs. - Robert Callf

Greenford Park CemeteryI had two trips to the cemetery this afternoon and saw 3 different Commas, I think 2 females and 1 deeply dark orange male with a deformed hindwing. The shape was right but was half the size it should be and light tan in colour. GreenfordAt home, another male had set up residence in the front garden in exactly the same spot as last year's first garden Comma. A Peacock flew in around 17.00, they had a dogfight before the Comma returned to his post. - Lee Hurrell

Another walk in perfect weather along the Colne near Stanwell Moor this morning (25th) produced another good selection: Peacocks today led the list again with 8, followed by 6 Small Tortoiseshells and the same number of Brimstones. Very encouraging to see the Tortoiseshells, which were notably absent after July last year. Then came 3 Small Whites, the first of the year, and finally 2 Commas. No Orange Tips - yet... - Dave Miller

Walking around the old settling beds at Waterford Heath on Sunday afternoon, in the woods 4 commas and a peacock but also two chiffchaffs, three treecreepers and a siskin - Steve Kiln

Saturday 26th March 2011
1 Orange Underwing at noon Friday 25th March in Garden Wood Tyttenhanger - T. Wood

Despite the weather not being as sunny saw 1 peacock by Tyttenhanger farm today around 11am - Andrew Steele

Friday 25th March 2011
A low count of butterflies despite seemingly ideal weather. The numbers of Peacocks are particularly poor so far this year. Hyde Farm woodland nr Kings Langley TL 08 04 (habitat code 41) - Comma; A41 nr Hunton Bridge TL 07 01 (code 84) - Peacock. - C. M. Everett

Friday 25.03.11. Field behind St Nicks Church 11am - 3pm. 5 Small Tortoiseshell , 2 Peacock, 4 Brimstone (all male), 1 Green Veined White and 1 Comma - Lee Browne

I was down at Balls Wood yesterday (Thursday 24th March) and saw 20+ Orange Underwing species. I managed to photograph 3-4 individuals which Andrew Wood has identified as Light Orange Underwings. A couple of the photos will be posted on the Herts Moth Group website tomorrow - Alan Reynolds

A peacock butterfly was sunning itself on a roof in Kings Langley this afternoon, 25th March - Elizabeth Debenham

Aldbury Nowers, Sightings for today: Southern enclosures: Brimstone – 2 males,Peacock – 2,Small tortoiseshell. Northern enclosures: Brimstone: 5 males, Small tortoiseshell – 2 andWhite sp. I also saw a Brimstone as I drove past Tring Station! -Paul Thrush HMWT Reserve Officer

First Brimstones of the Year at Oakhill Woods LNR----one male and one female----17c-----------we have planted 300 metres of Rhamnus c hedging so should have a few more BS in July-----------------KIT JONES

Whilst trying to locate a singing male Chiffchaff in a bush in a garden in Corby Cres., EN2 near Boxer's Lake, Enfield today (Friday 25th March 2011) at 11:00 hrs., noticed a Peacock there also - Robert Callf

Thursday 24th March 2011
Further fieldwork in the St Albans area produced a few butterfly records: Waterdale TL 11 02 (habitat code 84) - Small Tortoiseshell; Maidenscrouch Farm nr St Albans TL 11 05 (code 84) - Peacock & Comma; Prae Wood TL 11 06 (code 84) - Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock & Comma; Cuckman's Farm TL 12 05 (code 83) - Comma. Also an undetermined orange underwing moth (Archiearis sp.) in flight at the N end of Birch Wood TL 11 05 which - despite its name - is mostly conifer plantation. - C. M. Everett

Here are the first 3 sightings in my garden in Twickenham this year.8th Feb - Red Admiral -- This was a freak warm day at noon and I suspect it was a hibernator which woke up and flew although I doubt it survived the afternoon as temperatures plummeted to below freezing.23rd March - A single fresh looking Brimstone darting about at speed.24th March - A single fresh Comma resting on concrete urn in the sun - Alan Winter

Oakhill Woods LNR East Barnet 24/3/2011 17c --------first Tshell of the year and first (3x) ---Peacock----Comma by far the most numerous----No Brimstone as yet---KIT JONES

On Tuesday in the Broxbourne Woods ride saw 11 orange /light orange underwing moths in the mud. someone else in our group saw two commas - Steve Kiln

News from Diane Andrews, Ally Pally yesterday 2 Brimstones, 3 Peacock, 4 Comma. Today at Tottenham Cemetary, 1 Comma and 1 Holly Blue

A few sightings for that past couple of days:23/3/11 – Aldbury Nowers:Southern enclosures – 7 Brimstone (6 male, 1 female), comma, 2 peacockNorthern enclosures – 3 brimstone (all male) and a comma.Today,Hawkins Wood – 1 brimstone and a comma andBlagrove Common – 1 brimstone(In Sandon village I saw 2 small tortoiseshell, a brimstone and a peacock) - Paul Thrush HMWT Reserve Officer

After spending a fruitless morning at Bricketwood Common I arrived home to find 3 Commas and a Peacock in the back garden (Harpenden)! - Robin Pearson

Saw two butterflies in Grovelands Park, Southgate, yesterday (Wednesday 23rd March 2011) - 1 Peacock, at 09:50 hrs., and a male Brimstone near the Bourne Hill entrance at 12:00 hrs. Today (Thursday 24th March 2011) saw a Small Tortoiseshell along the track at Vicarage Farm, Enfield at 08:30 hrs., and three Commas together in a clearing in Rough Lot, Trent Park at 10:40 hrs - Robert Callf

Wednesday 23rd March 2011
Fieldwork in Bedmond/St Albans area. Butterflies as follows: near Bedmond TL 10 03 (habitat code 84) - Small Tortoiseshell & Peacock; Potters Crouch Plantation TL 10 04 (code 83) - male Brimstone; Gorhambury Estate (W) TL 10 06 (code 84) - Comma - C. M. Everett

Several Brimstones today (23/03) in the Clinton-Baker Pinetum at Bayfordbury -Shaun Dowman

First butterflies of the year for me, today I saw a Brimstone, Comma and Peacock at Balls Wood - Andy Brown HMWT Reserves Officer

Lovely weather prompted an early exit from the office and a stroll along the side of the River Colne between Stanwell Moor and the M25. I counted nine Peacocks, two Brimstones, a Comma, a Small Tortoiseshell and a Red Admiral. The latter had set up shop in precisely the same spot as the first individual last year - a small riverside clearing in a bit of woodland. The feared shortage of Peacocks predicted by some has not come to pass - not around here anyway. I think someone tipped them off that winter would be early and they went into hibernation rather promptly -Dave Miller

Just seen a male Orange-tip along Nursery Lane, Brunel University. Also, 2 male Brimstone, 2 Peacock and 2 Comma in the Bicentenary Gardens - Steve Pash

Had a good day in the (Harpenden) garden today, Brimstones, Commas, a Peacock, a small white butterfly (possible Orange Tip?) and a Holly Blue - Robin Pearson

3 Comma, 2 Brimstone, 1 Small Tortoiseshell Hartham Common, Hertford. 1 Comma above Welwyn South Tunnel. 1 Brimstone and 1 Orange Underwing Harmer Green Wood. 2 Peacocks and 3 Commas Mardley Heath - Andrew Wood

Coppetts Wood today 23rd, 2 male Brimstone, 1 Peacock and G.V. White. - Tony Clancy

Tuesday 22nd March 2011
Field behind St Nicks church, Stevenage, 11.30am 1 male Brimstone. St Nicks churchyard, 1.30 - 2pm 2 Commas -Lee Browne

A male Brimstone passing through a Garston (Watford) garden TL 11 00. - C. M. Everett

I was at Aldbury Nowers yesterday and saw a Small Tortoiseshell in the large southern enclosure and a comma in the middle southern enclosure with a male Brimstone in the northern section. Today I was working up there all day and saw 3 male brimstones (2 in the southern coppice area) and 1 in the key butterfly area and a comma in the middle southern section -Paul Thrush HMWT Reserve Officer

I was just looking at the Herts & Middx website and thought I ought to let you know that the first of this species I had at this site was on February 8th. - Bob Watts

Monday 21st March 2011
A couple of hours of sunshine in the late morning produced the following records around Bricket Wood: Bricket Wood Common (NW section) TL 12 01 - 3 male Brimstones & 2 Commas; Bricket Wood Common (NE section) TL 13 01 - 2 male Brimstones; Bricket Wood TL 13 02 - 2 male Brimstones & a Comma [also an orange underwing Archiearis sp. fllying around flowering sallows]. No Small Tortoiseshells or Peacocks. - C. M. Everett

Norton Green 10.30 - 11.30am. 1 Comma feeding from Sallow Catkins and 1 Orange Underwing moth - Lee Browne

Finally a first sighting for 2011 - Sunday 20th March - One small tortoiseshell flying around the front garden here in Wareside. Also found some young Garden Tiger caterpillars in some deadnettle - Phil MacMurdie

Saw a male Brimstone at Whitewebbs Wood today (Monday 21st March 2011) at 11:30 hrs., also a Comma at the same time. Another Comma was seen along the railway line near Rectory Farm, Enfield at 11:57 hrs. - Robert Callf

Saturday 19th March 2011
Bramfield Woods 11.30am - 3.00pm. 1 Comma, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 6 Orange Underwing Moths - Lee Browne

News from Essex via birding groups - a Camberwell Beauty at RSPB Rainham Marshes today - news via Alan Reynolds and Robin Pearson

Had a mating pair of Commas in my Stevenage garden. They were sun bathing on some dark clothing on the washing line -Phil Bishop

My first butterfly of the year Comma in Great Molewood by Waterford Heath - Steve Kiln

Saw my first Commas of the year locally today (Saturday 19th March 2011) - 2 together, in Rough Lot, Trent Park, at 12:07 hrs and one in Sidhil's Field, Vicarage Farm, 14:30 hrs. Just spent the week up at Saltburn in Cleveland and on the way back yesterday (Friday 18th March 2011) saw a Small Tortoiseshell around some crocuses at Darlington, North Yorkshire - Robert Callf

I saw two male Brimstones down by the River Lea in Harpenden today -Robin Pearson

Wednesday 16th March 2011
My first butterfly of the year on Saturday 12th March - a Red Admiral in my Greenford garden. This was around 09.30, sunny, but no more than 9 degrees.I'm in Worcerstershire this week and have seen 2 Small Tortoiseshells and a Peacock so far -Lee Hurrell

Tuesday 15th March 2011
I was working at Aldbury Nowers today, in the northern section, and saw 2 male brimstones and a peacock - Paul Thrush

Monday 14th March 2011
Some late news from Saturday - one butterfly, probably a comma, flew across Vesta Avenue, St Albans at lunchtime. Today we were working at Waterford Heath and Andy spotted 2 commas with a 3rd unidentified butterfly (larger and darker) - Paul Thrush

Late news from Saturday.......4 Brimstone Butterflies on Saturday 12th March seen in flight in Sherrards Park Wood, Welwyn Garden City. They were seen in different areas of the wood within a short time and thought unlikely to be the same butterfly - Gwynneth Pearman on behalf of Wood Warden Peter Cade

My only sighting so far was a RED ADMIRAL near CHALK HILL, BUSHEY on 12 March - David Gower

Sat 12 March: first butterfly sighting of the year in my Welwyn Garden City garden: a brimstone. Also saw individuals at Gustard Wood and East Hyde -Ian Flack

Saturday 12th March 2011
A butterfly day!

My first butterflies of the year 2 male and 2 female Brimstones in Graffridge Wood between 12 and 1.30pm. Observed my first Brimstone courtship which consisted of the female flying along, a male flew up to join her the two then dropped down landed on the underside of a bramble leaf and paired all in less than a minute. I was able to photograph them and even though I got within a few cm and clumsily knocked the plant they were on they were oblivious to me - Lee Browne

I saw a single Brimstone and a single Comma butterfly around midday (OS square TL31H - BTO Atlas square nomenclature). These are the first butterflies I've seen this year - N Parish

I saw my first brimstone of the year fly over several gardens in the sunshine in Kings Langley -Elizabeth Debenham

Two yellow Brimstones & a very fresh Green-veined White in my St Albans garden soon after 10 am this morning. My first UK butterflies of the year - Malcolm Hull

Whilst walking in fine sunshine around Much Hadham, we saw at least 3 Brimstones around the village and a further two Brimstones around nearby Perry Green. A basking Comma in a back garden along Danebridge Road and a Peacock as we entered Sidehill Wood were added bonuses - Tony & Mary Moverley

Two male Brimstones and a Red Admiral in and around my Harpenden garden today -Robin Pearson

My usual walk alongside the River Colne at Stanwell Moor produced a Small Tortoiseshell in exactly the same spot as the first one I saw last year. A few yards further on I disturbed a basking Peacock. Hazy sunshine and around 13 degrees. More reasonable weather forecast, too - Dave Miller

2 Brimstone in Tring garden and other Brimstones plus 2 Small Tortoiseshell in the field behind house this morning - Nick Bowles

Did Miswell Lane Transect (Tring) today and saw my first butterfly of the season! A Brimstone of course, actually it was two, a male and a female. Also I saw a Small Tortoiseshell at Wilstone Reservoir at 13-10hrs. Lets hope it gets warmer soon! - Brian Jessop

Fir and Pond Woods NR today 1 Comma, 1 Brimstone.Delighted! -David Gompertz

Saw a Brimstone by the Railway crossing at Amwell this morning -Phil Bishop

Caledonian Road, near Kings Cross this morning about 10.30 a male Brimstone was seen by several branch representatives attending the Branch Liaison Meeting, although not by those representing this branch!!! - Liz Goodyear and Andrew Wood

News from Diane Andrews, a male Brimstone in her north London garden at 09:50

Wednesday 9th March 2011
While at work in the City, my husband reported a Red Admiral at Watling St. EC4 in Fidelity Investment's garden on Monday 7th - Caroline Clarke (BC Sussex, cttee)

Tuesday 8th March 2011
OAKHILL WOODS LNR East Barnet 8/3/11 10c two Comma and one Red admiral ( seems to have survived -9 c in December)? - Kit Jones

News from Diane Andrews, 2 Comma seen spiralling together mid afternoon whilst walking near Ally Pally. Also looked yesterday but saw nothing!

Not Hertfordshire or Middlesex but a Small White, seen yesterday (Monday 7 March) at 12 midday by the River Liffey in Dublin City Centre, close to the St James's Gate Brewery - Malcolm Hull

An Orange (or Light Orange) Underwing moth seen just after midday in silver birch rich woodland. No butterflies seen despite walking through some really warm sheltered areas - Liz Goodyear and Andrew Middleton

Monday 7th March 2011
One Comma and one Small Tortoiseshell basking in the sunny corners of Lower Bourne Gardens in Ware this afternoon - Andrew Wood

February 2011

Thursday 24th February 2011
There was a Brimstone flying today in a garden I was working in at Trooper Road Aldbury at midday -Alan Strawn

Saw my first butterfly of the year today, and it is a large pale Brimstone, in the woods behind my (Harpenden) garden - Robin Pearson

Eggs on Eng elm almost under M4 flyover in Boston Manor Hall Park, Brentford. Should be a nice colony there, in a woodland nature reserve than runs under the flyover - Matthew Oates

Wednesday 16th February 2011
The task today at Wormley was a great success, despite the muddy ground conditions and the long walk, the weather was ideal and good humour prevailed. Thanks to everyone who turned up, the Wednesday group, and to Louise for arranging the contractors to transport our tools etc to the site. The chainsaw work that they did contributed greatly to the amount of work we were able to achieve. We hope to be able to do further tasks in this area in the future - Laurence Drummond

Saturday 12th February 2011
I was working at Beech Farm (Coopers Green Lane, St Albans) today and a saw a butterfly fly past at midday, quite high. I'm pretty sure it was a comma (or possibly a small tortoiseshell?), it wasn't dark or big enough to be a peacock or red admiral - Paul Thrush

Tuesday 8th February 2011
A single Red Admiral in Duke Street, Hoddesdon @11.31 today - Laurence Drummond

January 2011

Sunday 23rd January 2011
North Ware, so did we come to any conclusion after the equivilent of 8 man hours searching a tree on a cold winter's morning?We did come to a conclusion - The conclusion was that there weren't enough eggs to come to any conclusion. To be precise we found 18 including 1 old egg from 2009/2010! There was no area preference on the tree but 10 eggs were just under buds and 7 on growth joints plus 1 elsewhere.2 had holes in but were not hatched (last season growth) so probably parasitised, 1 was collapsed.We think in retrospect this was a very good exercise but the tree's actual location was the reason for the lack of eggs, it was very exposed to open fields facing north. It was part of a long length of elm and I could imagine there were more suitable trees in the row - if we had been warmer we might have stayed longer and tested some of the other trees. It was well budded - probably smooth leaved so quite nice elm to search although our preferred elm is always wych elm - Liz Goodyear

Saturday 22nd January 2011
This is very short notice but there will be white letter hairstreak egg hunt on a tree tomorrow for eggs (23rd January) - we plan to start around 10 o'clock but anyone is welcome to come along during the morning. We will probably carry on until about 1 o'clock unless it is very cold or wet. I am not going to look at the forecast!It has fallen over in recent gales and all of the tree is just about accessible - we want to find out how many eggs are on the tree and where the preferred laying place might be. It isn't a huge tree but it is well budded and worth checking. I assume at some point the council will want to clear it away but I can't believe it will be a priority on their part. It on a wide road verge just north on Ware close to the A10 sliproad/old A10.
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=535574&y=216325&z=120&sv=535574,216325&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=839&ax=535574&ay=216325&lm=0 - Liz Goodyear

Thursday 20th January 2011
Robin White reports seeing a Red Admiral at Vicarage Farm, Enfield yesterday (Wednesday 19th January 2011), whilst in the company of Tom English - news via Robert Callf

Monday 10th January 2011
Report of the conservation task held on Sunday 9 January - last year Purple Emperor was recorded as a resident species at Bricket Wood Common for the first time. Habitat quality on the site for this species has improved in recent years. Removal of secondary woodland has allowed the larval foodplant, Sallow, to thrive in some areas. However it often has to compete with other species such as Birch, Aspen and Hornbeam. So six volunteers from Herts & Middx BC met with the site manager, Mark Carter of the Countryside Management Service. The aim was to remove competing saplings of other species to allow the Sallows to develop into mature trees, which are favoured by female Purple Emperors as laying sites. Saplings identified for removal had been marked with orange paint back in September when they still had leaves on and were easy to identify!The happy volunteers

The task was completed in just two hours, leaving us time to visit the Purple Emperor master tree. We also inspected an area of the common where Hornbeam is currently being coppiced and learnt that the proposals for extensive cattle grazing in the main clearing are moving a step nearer with a current public consultation. (click here to follow link - the branch would welcome responses)
Malcolm Hull