Hertfordshire and Middlesex Branch of Butterfly Conservation

We are pleased to receive records of butterfly sightings from anyone at any time; the minimum requirements for a record are:

1. Butterfly species
2. Date seen
3. Place seen
4. Number seen

We also need your your name, address and telephone number.

Always make sure of the species; get a good view of the butterfly, preferably settling, before noting it down.

Remember that a smallish white butterfly, for example, is not necessarily a Small White, but could also be a Green-veined White, female Orange Tip or even a small specimen of a Large White.

Give a grid reference if you can; if not then give a clear description of where you saw it, such as a street name, pub or other identifiable landmark, as well as the nearest town or village.

A town name alone is not sufficient as; "St. Albans" for example, could refer to at least 10 different 2 km grid squares. If you have difficulty finding the grid reference but have a place or street name or postcode click here for help.

If the species is rare, describe as much as you possibly can about the appearance of the butterfly and where you saw it, how it behaved, how you identified it, and if at all possible get a photograph.

In addition, when sending in records, do not forget to add notes of any unusual behaviour or other interesting information. This might include observations of early stages, unusual foodplants, species new to the area, trends or changes from previous years, or simply anecdotes that can be included in the Annual Report.

Don't forget If you would like to send in any butterfly news to the Recent Sightings Page ~ Email the Webmaster

If you wish to start regular recording, we require essentially two types of record:

Transects should only be carried out by experienced observers who can recognise virtually all butterfly species on the wing.

The method consists in walking the same route at least once a week between 1st April and 29th September under standard meteorological conditions of temperature, wind and sunshine, and noting the numbers of each species of butterfly seen within a set distance from the observer, usually 5 metres. This method gives information on the variation in butterfly numbers within the season, and from year to year.

It is the main method by which declines in species can be quantified and as such is extremely important.

A transect walk involves committing an hour or so per week throughout the spring and summer months. Select a route near you that takes about 30 minutes to walk when there are no butterflies, as this will expand to more than an hour at the height of summer. The transect should be walked between 10.45 a.m. and 3.45 p.m. when the temperature is above 13ºC and the wind below strength 5 (fresh breeze; small trees in leaf begin to sway).

When the temperature is between 13ºC and 17ºC the transect may be walked if there is at least 60% sunshine.

At above 17ºC, the transect can be walked in any conditions except rain.

There are some weeks, particularly early in the season, when these meteorological conditions cannot be met. Again it is better to walk the transect when it is a bit too cold or too cloudy rather than not to walk it at all, but a careful note of conditions should always be kept.

HERTS & MIDDX BUTTERFLY MAPPING RECORD SHEET ~ POSTAL
ON LINE COPIES

NOVEMBER 2006: THE RECORDING SHEET HAS BEEN REVISED PLEASE USE THIS ONLINE VERSION

Click here for a copy of the Recording Sheet in 'pdf' format
Click here for a copy of the Recording Instruction Sheet in 'pdf' format

A free version of Adobe Reader can be downloaded from http://www.adobe.com/uk/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

RECORDING MIGRANT SPECIES

Each year you should see Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Clouded Yellow and these are known as migrant species. In some years large numbers will be seen and it's important to try and record their behaviour. If you should see Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Clouded Yellow or any other apparently migrating butterflies, please try to record:

Species
Date of sighting
Time of sighting
Place where seen (with postcode or 6 figure grid ref if possible
Numbers seen
DIRECTION OF FLIGHT (as accurately as possible, i.e. not just N, but NE, NNW or NNE etc.), and if you can, flight speed (e.g. time them across the garden with your watch and then measure the width of the garden.
Weather, including wind direction and strength

All observations should be sent to together with copies of any emails to if you don't mind your observation going on the website.

Telephone 01582 833544
'Field End'
Marshalls Heath
Wheathampstead
Hertfordshire, AL4 8HS.

HERTS & MIDDX BUTTERFLY MAPPING RECORD SHEET: INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE

Name, Address & Phone Number	Enter these at the top of every sheet you use
Year	Enter this at the top of every sheet. Do not put records for more than one year on the same sheet
O.S. Map reference	Write this in the left space above each column. This should preferably be a 6-figure reference as shown in the examples for the centre of the area you examine. Otherwise at least a 4-figure reference (1km square). If you stray into an adjoining 1 km square, record this area in a new column
Site name, description etc	Write this in the right space above each column. It should include the nearest town or village, plus any local name or description if needed. You may also enter a code number decribing the habitat type (see table below)
Date	This should be the day followed by the month
Start time, End time	Enter the time you start and finish recording butterflies, to the nearest minute or so
Weather	Enter Poor, Moderate or Ideal. If the weather is too cold (temperature below about 13ºC) and/or too windy (trees in leaf beginning to sway) and/or cloudy, enter poor. If the weather is fairly warm (about 13ºC), half sunny and/or with only a light breeze, enter moderate. If the weather is hotIf the weather is hot (above 17ºC), with almost continuous sunshine and not much wind, enter ideal
Butterflies seen	Write in the numbers of each butterfly species you see. If there are large numbers, try and count all butterflies that come within about 5 metres of you as you wander around

Habitat codes
2 ----- Freshwater edges
31 ----- Heath/Scrub
34 ----- Chalk Downland
38 ----- Meadow (unimproved)
41 ----- Deciduous woodland
43 ----- Mixed woodland
54 ----- Bog / calcareous fen
81 ----- Fertilized/improved grassland
82 ----- Crops
83 ----- Orchards/tree plantations/planted forests
84 ----- Tree lines/hedges
85 ----- Parks/gardens/churchyards
86 ----- Urban/industrial areas
87 ----- Fallow/Waste land
89 ----- Quarries, Gravel, Chalk pits
90 ----- Road/Rail verges (A=active, D=disused)

Click on image for example

IMPORTANT: By submitting information on this form I agree that it may be collated and disseminated manually or electronically, including via the Internet, for conservation, environmental decision-making, education, research and other public benefit uses in accordance with Butterfly Conservation's data access policy. Names and contact details of data suppliers will be used for administration and verification purposes only. Your contact details will not be passed to other parties without the consent of the data supplier, whilst your name will form part of the record that is collated and disseminated in accordance with Butterfly Conservation's privacy policy. For more details the Butterfly Conservation's Data Access Policy can be found at www.butterfly-conservation.org/bnm

Return the forms by post to: Dr J.B. Murray, "Field End", Marshalls Heath, Wheathampstead, Herts AL4 8HS. Tel: 01582 833544, by 9th November at the latest.

Any late November or December sightings should be sent or 'phoned through' before the end of the year.

If you accumulate large numbers of records, please send these off every 2 months or so, as this helps spread the workload of entering records on to the database.

RECORDS SENT BY EMAIL

All records/news sent by email to the website sightings page will be submitted to John Murray and entered on the Hertfordshire & Middlesex branch data base.

BUTTERFLY MAPPING RECORDS BY COMPUTER

We are able to accept mapping records sent as an email attachment in either excel or note pad -