Sightings 2009

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	The Mapping Challenge is in its final year and several 2km squares still have no records - please try to visit these. Several in particular are in TQ28 and TQ29!
	The Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey is launched in Herts & Middlesex - five new targets have been added (11.06.09)! (targets are available in Cambridgeshire & Essex as well and other neighbouring branches)!
	Save our Butterflies Week 2009 is from 25th July to the 2nd August - news will be posted on this link
	Details of the HMWT Wildlife Training Programme for 2009 are available here....
	11th June 2009 more photos have been added - special request please don't send anymore for the next few weeks - thanks.....

Butterly World Open Day Saturday 18 July.  Clive Farrell invites Herts & Middx branch members and their families and friends to visit the new Butterfly World at Chiswell Green near St Albans. This innovative new attraction includes an amazing array of Wildflower Meadows, Nectar Gardens, Chalk Mounds, Tropical Butterfly House, Future Gardens see http://www.futuregardens.org/index.php The British Butterfly Garden, The Theatre of Insects, The Very Hungry Caterpillar Garden and much more. An invitation has been mailed to all branch members on 1 July. Please respond to Malcolm Hull at malcolmhull@hertsmiddx-butterflies.org.uk if you are able to attend & to let us know how many people you will be bringing to what promises to be a great day out

July 2009

Friday 3rd July 2009
Today popped into Therfield heath while coming back from north. Saw 4 or five chalk hill blues plus 10 or so marbled whites. Dropped into waterford heath south and there was a marbled white there too. Steve Kiln

News for today (Friday 3rd July 2009) - Several Gatekeeper, including my first female of the year, set-aside field near Dew Pond, 13:25 - 13:28 BST. 1 Purple Hairstreak, settled on Turkey Oak, near Dew Pond, 13:28 BST. 1 Comma, nectaring on thistles, near Icehouse Wood, 13:33 BST. 1 Small Tortoiseshell, near Icehouse Wood, Trent Park, 13:34 BST. 1 Comma, by Lower Lake, Trent Park, 13:28 BST. 1 Small Tortoiseshell, at Parkside Farm, 14:30 BST. 2 Comma, together, at Parkside Farm, 14:32BST. 4 Small Tortoiseshell, at Vicarage Farm, between 14:43 - 14:47 BST. 1 Purple Hairstreak, at Vicarage Farm, 14:44 BST. 2 Red Admiral, along track at Vicarage Farm, 14:44 - 14:47 BST. - Robert Callf

2nd July - Ruislip/Harefield Yesterday evening at approx 18.30 I saw a WL Hairstreak on Bramble along the bridleway between New Years Green Lane & Bayhurst Wood (TQ 068884). There are young Elms nearby. Also in the vicinity were Plenty of Meadow Browns and at least 6 Comma, a few Gatekeeper, Large Skipper, Small/Essex Skipper, Large & GV White, Red Admiral, & Small Tortosieshell. Steve Pash

Thursday 2nd July 2009
OAKHILL WOODS LNR EAST BARNET, WLH still flying but outnumbered now by Purple H--------------Frst Ringlet and Gatekeeper of year------Released 106 Peacocks on site that had been taken into protective custody as first instar larvae----44 tachinids also from this batch------these i destroyed--------New Colony of Marbled white found -----Clay lane fields west of M1 Scratchwood LBB------------(-very few MW records in LBB)---And---WLH x2 on small leaved elm along Jewish cemetary boundary------this whole area is due for developement unfortunately--------------KIT JONES

Purple emperors were rampant in Broxbourne woods main ride 09.00-11.00 !, first sighting over the sallows and the smashed up oak, at 09.16, at 09.20 I looked west up the track through my bins only to see a grounded pemp between the bracken patch and the new "clearing" on the north side of the ride,as I approached it I could see he (male) was feeding on some dried belachan paste I had smeared on some stones the day before, it allowed a very close approach, over the next hour or so 3 males were almost constantly gliding & grounding along the ride, flying around our legs & feeding on the belachan, they did not open their wings much when grounded due to the heat I think, a fantastic day, also there to share the spectacle were several others - Laurence Drummond

A bit of good news for a change: Firstly, small tortoiseshell now plentiful on the allotments at back of my house. Secondly, first ever record of a ringlet in my Bengeo garden 25th June. - Jack Doyle

Today (Thurs 2nd July 2009) at Barrowfield Road Allotments, Edmonton saw a Small Skipper and a Comma. - Robert Callf

Wednesday 1st July 2009
Bricket Wood, 5 Silver-washed Fritillaries, 4 males and a single female, 11 White Admiral, 4 Purple Hairstreaks were among very large numbers of Ringlets in Bricket Wood this morning. - Clive Burrows

Doing my transect today (Balls Wood)when a large butterfly flew past my left shoulder, circled my legs and almost landed on my shoe before flying off into the wood, it was clearly a pristine male Purple Emperor. Also saw 6 White Admirals which is a considerable improvement on the last two weeks. Andrew Wood

A long day today, started at Broxbourne woods main ride 09.30-11.20, despite the lack of sunshine until around 10.30, seen were 3 white admiral, 6 comma, 8 large skipper,4 purple hairstreak, 3 painted lady, many ringlet & meadow brown , no purple emperors, at 13.20 arrived at Martins green carpark and walked north along ermine street and into danemead nature reserve here there were many ringlet and 3 small skipper,on the bridleway west of the reserve 1 white admiral, I then walked back south along the bridleway to broxbourne common to check the canopy gap at the western end of the veteran oaks for emperors from 13.40-14.15, none were seen, then back to Broxbourne woods ain ride at 14.35, stood at the back of the grass area just before the bench and at 14.45 saw a large butterfly fluttering around in a sallow bush, a quick scan with the bins showed it to be a purple emperor, probably newly emerged slowly opening and closing its wings,then more unusually a marbled white went whizzing by !, at 15.20 I decided to walk back to the car and on the southern side of the ride by the patch of bracken noted a large purple emperor gliding around high up over the pines,almost straight away I then noted another emperor flying low along the sculpture trail, I jumped over the wooden railing just in time to see it settle on the path, I tried to approach it slow ly but it was off away east through the trees and I could not relocate it - Laurence Drummond

Symondshyde Great Wood, Hatfield - 6 Silver-washed Fritillaries along the bridleway & power cable ride - the most I have seen at this site. Its now 6 years since I first saw this species here & it now appears to have become established in this wood. Also 6 White Admirals - quite a good total for this wood, but not as high as some years. I saw a courting couple of WA's & also one laying on honeysuckle on the edge of a small clearing, about 12 ft off the ground. Also one Purple Hairstreak, one Large Skipper, nine Commas & lots of Ringlets, Meadow Browns, Speckled Woods & Whites. Heartwood Forest, Sandridge - I'm now up to 16 species at the Woodland Trust site. Huge numbers of Meadow Browns & Large Whites, the latter thriving on fields of unsprayed brassicas. Still quite a few Painted Ladies, with some specimens very faded and others pristine - could this be a rare example of a butterfly meeting its parents? Lots of Commas, Ringlets & Large Skippers plus a few Small Tortoiseshells, Red Admirals, Marbled Whites, Speckled Woods, Cinnabar moths & Small Skippers. The branch are providing information to HMWT who are preparing an environmental study of the site before tree planting commences. This is due in by mid July. If anyone has any butterfly records from the site please let me know. Last but not least, my first butterfly on buddleia this year - a Red Admiral in my St Albans garden - Malcolm Hull

2 Silver-washed Fritillaries in Norton Green Common area, Stevenage at 1200 hours today. Also 100+ Ringlets, 30+ Marbled Whites, 2 Small Tortoiseshells (first seen here for several years), 2 Purple Hairstreaks and a possible White-letter Hairstreak as well as a Red Admiral, several Commas, whites, skippers, Meadow Browns and a Gatekeeper. - Peter Clarke

News for Tuesday 30th June, 1 Red Admiral, at Shaws Wood, Trent Park, 19:01 BST. 1 Comma, edge of Shaws Wood, 19:02 BST. 1 female Large White, near Williams Wood, Trent Park, 19:03 BST. 1 male Gatekeeper, set-aside field N of Williams Wood, 19:43 BST. 6+ Purple Hairstreak, around Oak crown, along Leeging Beech Gutter near Stables, at Vicarage Farm, 19:50 BST. 2 Purple Hairstreak, at Parkside Farm, 20:07 BST. 7+ Purple Hairstreak, around Oak and Ash, Hadley Road near Pumping Station, 20:40 BST. 3+ Painted Lady, along track at Vicarage Farm, 20:56 BST onwards. News for today (Weds 1st July 2009) - 1 female Large White, at Dalrymple Close, N14, 10:11 BST. 1 Comma, on buddleia, near Oakwood entrance, Trent Park, 10:28 BST. - Robert Callf

Garston railway station TQ 11 99 - Large White, Holly Blue & Red Admiral; nearby at TQ 12 99 - White-letter Hairstreak & Comma, both on Wych Elm.Dome roundabout area in North Watford TQ 11 99 - Red Admiral by Sainsbury store - Colin Everett

Horsenden Hill,only 27-28C today and drier air, so a bit more bearable. 95+x Meadow Browns! 19x Skippers 12x Whites 5x Gatekeeper (All Males) 5x Marbled White 2x Unidentified Hairstreaks - one was close to Kellogg Tower / Greenford Road flying onto an Ash Tree. No Oak or Elm nearby. Curious... The 2nd was around oak so probably Purple. 2-3x Comma 2xSpeckled Wood 2x 5 Spot Burnet (looking tatty now) I think that was it. Activity so frenetic in the meadows that it was hard to count and keep track of everything. Also in the morning a Least Carpet moth hitched a ride into the office on my bag. I recognised it but it flew off into an office not to be seen again so failed to catch it and take it outside. Also in the last couple of evenings several Whites (mainly Green Veined) and a Comma spotted in Kenton. The Comma was basking on one of my pepper plants. (Despite the large-hail (1-2cm) and severely heavy thunderstorm last Saturday pm punching holes in and tearing all the leaves the veg plants seem to be coping OK thankfully.) - Mike Rubin

I saw 2 white admirals yesterday (tuesday) in wormley wood entered by the south entrance on hammond street walked along the fence and down the main path going to the right both were not far down the path .Would i expect to see purple emperor in this wood? also today wednesday saw 1 white admiral on the ride from west carpark broxbourne wood no sign of P E have any been seen this year? Paul Coyston

June 2009

Tuesday 30th June 2009
Broxbourne Wood NR, saw a grounded Purple Emperor today at 10.55am on the track between the 2 car park, feasting on a piece of dried dogs toilet. Also saw a newly emerged Purple Hairstreak with 2 Commas sitting on a bag of dogs toilet at the end of the main track. Ringlets,Meadow Browns,Whites and Large Skippers were also seen. - Sandra Standbridge also Laurence Drummond

Weedy Field, Batford, this lunch time saw 2 Gatekeeper along with numerous Marbled whites in the weedy field. - Darin Stanley

I have just been getting White Letter Neck at Spellbrook, opposite the American Car Wash. The tallest elm next to the electricity sub station had at least 6 WLHs on this afternoon with another one of the elms further down having at least 2. Although I have seen them flying for the past 2 years, this is the first time that I managed to find a spot in the canopy of the elm that they kept going back to and settling for a minute or two to enable me to get a good close look with my binoculars. This was between 3.15 and 4.15pm today with a temperature of 27C. - Bob Clift

I cut my walk short and stayed north side of the hill today. Was too hot and I started to feel ropey. Still worthy of a post as I saw a definite Ringlet close to the main wood. We have loads of Meadow Browns on Horsenden Hill but not Ringlets so nice to see one come in again. Meadow Browns - Too many to count Skippers - Too many to count Whites - 10+ especially Large Whites Marbled White - 1 Ringlet - 1 - my first 100% id on Horsenden Hill since the single individual in 2007 Comma - 1 Small Copper - 1 - Mike Rubin

Saw a Red Admiral at Town Park, Enfield today (Tues 30th June 2009) Carr's Basin, 13:09 BST. Also a Comma at Lakeside, Oakwood, N14, 13:38 BST. - Robert Callf

Monday 29th June 2009
Symondshyde Woods, 1m Silver washed fritillary, 7+ Purple Hairstreak, 3 White Admiral all in the entrance area to the wood via the bridle path. Batford Weedy field, 80+ Marbled whites 2 ringlet - Darin Stanley

Some news for today (Monday 29th June 2009) - 1 Comma, at Bramley Road, Oakwood, N14 at 09:45 BST. 1 Red Admiral, at Forty Hill, Enfield, 10:14 BST. 1 Comma, at Forty Hill, 10:16 BST. 1 Painted Lady, at Forty Hall, 10:24 BST. 1 Red Admiral, at Forty Hall, 10:32 BST. 1 Red Admiral, at Lavender Hill Cemetery, Enfield, 13:37 BST. - Robert Callf

Horsenden Hill, phew too hot! I lost count. 29C and almost no wind. Was hoping the White Letters would have come down in the heat so was scouring Brambles and Elm but to no avail. Just the odd individual high up. Saw a couple of high hairstreaks in an oak only area so I assume they were Purples. 50+ Meadow Brown 20+ Skippers 10+ Whites including the biggest Large White I have ever seen 5x Commas 3x Marbled Whites 3x White Letter Hairstreak 2x Purple Hairstreak 2x Gatekeeper (My firsts of the year) 2x Speckled Wood 1x Red Admiral And let a pug type moth out of Kellogg Tower. I have no idea which species though. It wasn't hanging around for a photo! - Mike Rubin

Sunday 28th June 2009
The Marbled whites appear to have established in this area. The first one i saw was in 2007 at the old Red White and Blue Allotment site.CM23 SAT P.M.. 1 Marbled White on the old Red White and Blue Allotment site. SUN A.M. 3 Marbled White in rough grass field adjacent to the allotment site. Jim Fish

I was I in Park Wood on Sunday and saw 4 White Admiral. I specfically went to look for Purple emperor but didn't see any in the wood but did see one on the ground in St Vincents nursing home visitor car park. I got to the woods at 8.30 and it was already 21C. I spent an hour or so in the usual place without any luck. I then decided to view the wood from outside, scanning the canopy from the nursing home. At 10.05 I was chatting to a dog walker when a Purple Emperor flew past the 2 of us at ground level then briefly settled. As I approached, it flew and settled on the wheel-arch of a parked car. As I got close, it flew from one car to the underside of another and never reappeared. It was as if it had crawled up into the engine compartment. It was behaving like a male but looked like a female, large, brown and no obvious blue/purple colouration. I contiued searching the woods for another 2 hours but no more sightings. Steve Pash

News for - 28th June 2009 at Grovelands Park, Southgate: 2 Small Skipper, near Bowling Green, 11:50 BST. 1 Purple Hairstreak, 12:32 BST. 1 Large Skipper, 13:09 BST. 1 Comma, 13:09 BST. Also a few Meadow Brown. - Robert Callf

Came across the first marbled white of 2009 yesterday. A solitary individual who was not going to pose for a photograph at TL 457228, just east of Little Hadham and north of the A120. Also recorded first essex skipper of the year, along with a tatty common blue. Following your comments re bio diversity plan for the village, I have now recorded small copper (28.05.09) and another single individual small heath (sameday, both at TL 465219) Photos on my blog. Now for white letter and purple hairstreak plus bring on the clouded yellows. Check out my blog. http://littlehadhambirding.blogspot.com - Jonathan Forgham

Sat 27 - Bricket Wood Common - Fresh male Silver-washed Fritillary in one of the newly created mini-clearings in School Lane. Also White Admiral (5), Red Admiral (2), new generation Comma(2), Small Skipper 2), Purple Hairstreak(1), Marbled White(4), Silver y and many Ringlet, Large Skipper, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown, Ringlet & assorted Whites. Sunday 28 New Commas also out in St Albans today, including one laying on my nettlepatch at Folly Lane allotments. At Butterfly World, Chiswell Green, St Albans, an absolutely stunning display of millions of wildflowers from across the globe have erupted across the 25 acre site. So far they have attracted mostly bees, but Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell Large & Small Whites are all on the site, as well as about 16 different tropical species in the newly installed greenhouse - Malcolm Hull

I was lucky enough to see a female Silver-Washed Fritillary gliding around the path on the wooded area at the crossroads of the paths which lead up to The Ridgeway Path and the golf course at around 12.30 at Aldbury Nowers - Philip Woodward

Saturday 27th June 2009
Brent Reservoir, 29 Marbled White, 3 White-letter Hairstreak, 1 Purple Hairstreak (first of the year), 10+ Ringlet (first time recorded at this site). These records were during the weekly transect. - Roy Beddard

SW Frit flying near Bridgewater Monument, Ashridge this morning (Saturday). - Don Otter

Probably two different male Silver-washed Fritillaries in the Aldbury Nowers area, one each at sites separated by about 400-500 metres; also my first Essex Skipper of the year, a Small Heath and further Small Tortoiseshells. Records as follows: Castle Hill Farm nr Berkhamsted SP 99 08 - Meadow Brown & 5 Ringlets; Well Farm nr Berkhamsted SP 99 09 - Red Admiral, 23 Meadow Browns & 13 Ringlets; Alpine Meadow nr Berkhamsted SP 98 10 - Large Skipper, Common Blue, Painted Lady, 2 Small Tortoiseshells, 8 Marbled Whites, 25 Meadow Browns & 42 Ringlets; Berkhamsted Common (Brickkiln Cottage area) SP 99 10 - Large White, Painted Lady, 17 Meadow Browns & 21 Ringlets; Berkhamsted Common (Woodyard area) SP 98 11 - Red Admiral, Speckled Wood & 4 Meadow Browns (also Pebble Hook-tip moth); Ashridge Estate (Prince's Riding) SP 98 12 - Red Admiral, Comma, Meadow Brown & 4 Ringlets; Ashridge Estate (nr Aldbury) SP 96 12 - 5 Large Skippers, Comma, 7 Speckled Woods, Meadow Brown & 10 Ringlets; Ashridge Estate (Moneybury Hill) SP 96 13 - Comma, 2 Speckled Woods, Meadow Brown & 15 Ringlets; Howlett's Wood nr Aldbury Nowers SP 95 13 - 2 Small Skippers, Essex Skipper, 4 Large Skippers, Small Tortoiseshell, male Silver-washed Fritillary, Speckled Wood, 10 Marbled Whites, 18 Meadow Browns & 65 Ringlets; Aldbury Nowers (NR) SP 95 13 - Green-veined White, Red Admiral & male Silver-washed Fritillary in glade by Ridgeway (other spp were present in this square but not counted); Tom's Hill nr Aldbury SP 96 11 - Large Skipper, 3 Marbled Whites, 2 Meadow Browns & 10 Ringlets; Newground Road nr Aldbury SP 95 11 - Large Skipper, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, 4 Meadow Browns, Small Heath & 11 Ringlets. - Colin Everett

Went to Oakhill Wood, East Barnet today (Sat 27th June 2009) with Bob Husband and saw at least four White-letter Hairstreak around Hornbeam and Ash at 10:50 BST - had views of them settled. Also saw 2 Purple Hairstreak here. Saw one rather worn White-letter Hairstreak settled on Ash behind bus-stop opposite Oakwood tube Station at 12:32 BST today. - Robert Callf

Friday 26th June 2009
The sun broke through at lunchtime. I had my afternoon off. So decided to visit Park Wood. Was hoping to see the Heath Frits but I guess I'm too late. The other notable absence was Marbled White. Was nice to see the White Admirals. My first sighting was when 3 of them shot past my nose having a scrap. Saw a couple of them also fluttering slowly along the ground sometimes settling in shade briefly. But hard to get anywhere near. (Especially when some uncontrolled nutter of a dog bounded past scaring it off.) (I did manage one high res closeup of a White Admiral atleast showing detail of the dark surfaces albeit overexposed white bars.) A nice couple of hours in the woods. The breeze and shade making up for the humidity of the air. 53+x Meadow Brown - some of these might have been ringlets too. 25x Speckled Wood 22x Ringlet (These are the positive ids - others assumed to be meadow brown. My firsts of the year) 20x Skippers (Large and Small) 10x Assorted Whites 10x White Admiral (although 3 of these might have been repeats. My firsts of the year) 8x Comma 1x Burnet moth. 1x Silver Y moth. Total: 150+ (and oh the joys of actually remembering to bring a notebook this time - thanks for all your suggestions during the week. Alas my phone is an ancient Nokia 3310 - much more rugged than modern phones but no note taking abilities! Not sure how to effectively use the camera. I would prefer to write down numbers as that is much easier to collate afterwards.) Plus hundreds of blue damselflies and a few of what looked like black tailed skimmer dragonflies. - Mike Rubin

Visited rough grassland roadside embankments on 24 and 25 June at junction of A1001 and A1000 south of Hatfield (TL230067) and saw good numbers of marbled white (up to 4 in view at a time) and ringlets slightly less abundant. Also good numbers of five-spot burnets (presumably narrow-bordered) Stephen Waters

Some news for today (Friday 26th June 2009) - 1 Painted Lady, near Oakwood entrance, Trent Park, 11:29 BST. 2 Comma, edge of Church Wood, 11:58 and 12:02 BST. 1 Purple Hairstreak, edge of Church Wood, 12:00 BST. 1 Small Heath, near Sports Field, 12:06 BST. 1 Comma, by Lower Lake, Trent Park, 12:28 BST. 3 Comma, together, near 'Three-bridges', Trent Park, 12:41 BST. 1 Red Admiral, at Parkside Farm, 12;53 BST. 1 Small Tortoiseshell, S of 'Barracks', at Vicarage Farm, 13:44 BST. 2 Ringlet, at Vicarage Farm, 13:50 BST. 7 Large Skipper, at Vicarage Farm, between 13:50 - 13:55 BST, including a pair copulating and a male 'trying to get in on the act'. - Robert Callf

Thursday 25th June 2009
Near Abbots Langley TL 10 02 - 2 Large Whites, 3 Painted Ladies (including 2 flying N), 2 Small Tortoisehells, Peacock (presumably new brood but colour tones rather subdued), 6 Commas, 4 Speckled Woods, 3 Marbled Whites, 3 Meadow Browns. No Ringlets (which were common here a decade ago) due to succession. Garston TL 11 01 - full-grown Peacock larva - Colin Everett

I am just informing you that on Wimbledon today at about 1 o clock, during the Venus Williams game, the cameras zoomed in on a white letter hairstreak!!! I couldn't believe it! Of course, none of the commentators said anything because they probably had no idea how special it was to see one! As an avid butterfly watcher for a number of years in Herefordshire I have sadly witnessed the decline of this wonderful butterfly. I saw my last one in Haugh Wood about two years ago. I just had to tell someone and hope that it may be of some use to you and can be recorded down. Ask the BBC for the footage!! Heather Walker. Thanks to Wendy Campbell of Upper Thames Branch here is the footage "If you can watch BBC's 'iplayer' okay on your computer then go to this tennis match and fast forward to 0.08-55 (it's 8 mins 55 secs into the match - the 3rd game of today's match between Williams & Bondarenko; score is one game all):-" http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/events/wimbledon/p003kbkh

At 11.00 am today, Pishiobury park car park picnic area 1 WLH on low elms, then at 13.30 made a mistake in going to Wormley wood,as I pulled into the car park I was given false hope by a beautiful white admiral gliding over the bonnet of the car, walked through the picnic area where some very meticulous hornbeam coppicing has been done, there is absolutely no regrowth of anything around these stools, it all looks very sterile, on through what seems like miles of dark and dingy almost silent wood, as expected not much here except 2 speckled wood. Even here where there is hardly any vegetation at path edge what little remained has been strimmed down, into the southern area round Derrys wood along the already wide and firm path more pointless strimming, only two butterflies along here 1 large skipper and 1 meadow brown, no surprise, there are no nectar sources along here, even at the open junction with the chain walk where there are many thistles no more than 4 ringlet 1 large skipper & 4 meadow brown,turned north along the chain walk into what is normaly the only part of this wood worth visiting for butterflies I found more strimming the "ride" so overgrown now that little light can enter, found here was 1 ringlet !, head down now decided to take the shortest route north east through the gloom back to the main path then visited the meadow south of Bencroft Wood, this was more like it ! Too many meadow brown to count, c.30+ ringlet, 12 large skipper, 3 comma, & 1 painted lady, in all I would say I probably wont bother with this wood again, great for walking the pooch or a mountain bike scramble, but to call it a national nature reserve is a bad joke - Laurence Drummond

Big thrill here today as a marbled white fluttered against the window pane. I have never seen them before in TL0603 in 30 years - Elizabeth Debenham

Horsenden Hill, rather hot out there. Approx 26C. Was greatful for a breeze to pick up near the end of the walk along with some medium cloud shadow as I walked back to the office. 33x Meadow Brown 19x Skipper (Small and Large, all buzzing around fast in the heat) 7x Burnets (Probably all 5 spot) 4x Marbled White 4x Misc Whites 2x Comma (Both fairly fresh I think) 1x Male Common Blue (Tatty) 1x Suspected Purple Hairstreak (My first of the year if so) Total: 71 + Scores x Chrysoteuchia culmella moths - Mike Rubin

Saw a Small Tortoiseshell at Barrowfield Road Allotments, Edmonton, N9 this afternoon (Thurs 25th June 2009) - Robert Callf

I did my transect on Wednesday 23rd June and recorded some good totals, 9 Small Tortoiseshell, which beats last years, year total. 39 Marbled White and 35 Large Skipper are both day records for the Park and a couple of weeks earlier than last year. Also flying Small Skipper, Common Blue, Painted Lady, Meadow Brown, Ringlet and couple of Whites. No White-letter or Purple Hairstreaks yet. - Steve Lane

Wednesday 24th June 2009
Speckled woods in my garden recently. June 23rd late evening up until sunset at Bunkers Park Hemel Hempstead. The field of oxeye daisies has been mown in wide bands. I hope the common blue butterflies which were on that patch earlier have not had their eggs and caterpillars destroyed. There were many meadow browns too numerous to count. I saw about 2 marbled white, my first in that area ever, several 5 spot burnets and many burnet cocoons on tall grasses,2 burnet caterpillars on tall grass, 1 lesser stag beetle, 1 large white chrysalis and 1 unidentified white which flew high into a tree. June 24th at Aldbury Nowers concentrating on field and hedgeline up from the layby. Just before sunset went looking along treeline at top of field for summer chafer beetles and found the first of this season along with about 10 marbled whites mostly resting, several 5 spot burnets and at least 2 mating pairs, several cinabar caterpillars and many meadow browns in field. Calm but cool as sun set. Large bats after sunset. - Elizabeth Debenham

Robin White saw a Gatekeeper today in Trent Park - news via Robert Callf

Marbled White and Small Skipper seen at Hexton CP today - Robin Pearson

Had many marbled whites at Aldbury today, in every single enclosure! (north and south). The same for ringlets and meadow browns, there were too many to count. Also had a painted lady in S1, small tortoiseshell and small heath in S2, red admiral and large skipper around the coppice area and another painted lady in S3. - Paul Thrush

I thought you might be interested in my sightings both today (24/6/09) and yesterday (23/06/09) of a WLH at Hanger Hill Wood, TQ186820, in TQ1882. It was away too quickly for me to photograph yesterday - John Eborall

In bencroft saw ringlets again and first two purple hairstreak of year in my favourite oak. Saw small skippers in fields behind bencroft with plently of large skippers and ringlets and meadow browns. 11 species at waterford heath incl common blue 4, peacock, small tortoiseshells 2, painted ladies 2 - Steve Kiln

Horsenden Hill, 43 x Meadow Brown 7 x Large Skipper (No Smalls) 3 x 5 Spot Burnet 2 x Painted Lady 1 x Speckled Wood 1 x White 1 x Unidentified orange nymphalid (Comma?) Total: 58 (No problems with memory this time.) Plus 1x Male Black Tailed Skimmer dragonfly photographed. Plus 1x giant crane fly with chequered dark markings on its wings photographed. No idea what it is yet... A Horsefly finally got me on the arm while photographing the giant crane fly. Swelling up nicely now. - Mike Rubin

At Therfield heath parked at the local nature reserve 09.50 walked roughly east along the south of the heath,seen were 2 ringlet , 12 meadow brown, 7 large skipper, 5 speckled wood ,1 common blue ,6 small heath,2 small tortoiseshell ,and over the far n/e of the heath on the windiest hill they could find c.20 marbled white. Then visited balls wood @ 14.30, parked at goose green walked north along ermine street, seen here 6 speckled wood 4 ringlet, 3 comma, 4 large skipper,3 large white , 1 fresh looking painted lady,many meadow browns , one bramble bank near the radio mast was "heaving" with at least 40,I know balls wood is well covered so roughly c.50 meadow brown, c.50 ringlet, c.30 large skipper, c.20 comma, also 2 white admiral in the main ride northern section - Laurence Drummond

Tuesday 23rd June 2009
Diane Andrews visited TL3200 a 2km square which previously had no records and recorded 6 species. In TL3000, along Burnt Farm Lane, from Goffs Oak she saw 2 white-letter Hairstreaks.

1 purple hairstreak and 3 ringlets Northaw Great Wood pm, 3 purple hairstreaks high on an oak in Durants Park, Enfield, 8pm tonight, plus red admiral and comma, also another small tortoiseshell on the allotments - Andrew Middleton, plus from Colin Jupp, 12 WLH in Dagnam Park today, and on 19 June Colin's first female white-letter hairstreak of the year on wych elm in Bedfords Park Essex (with long tails)

We have 4 fields west of the Ruislip lido car park in which we have seen a few Marbled Whites in recent years, some of which continue onto Poors Field and Park Wood Grub Ground. Today the fields contained a minimum of 37 Marbled Whites, a massive increase. A few Painted Ladies still present along with dozens of NB5Spot Burnets and a Burnet Companion. Many Meadow Browns, a few Ringlet and a few Large Skippers. Also a few Small/Eseex but not specifically looked at or for whilst counting MWs. 2 Common Blue. At Harefield there were 41 Marbled White on Coppermill down, MBs, 2 Common Blue, 1 Painted Lady, and 1 Small T'shell. A few Large Skippers and very few Small/Essex again not looked for or counted whilst checking our orchids and counting MWs. In Park Wood today 4 White Admirals were seen along with a few Painted Ladies, Speckled Woods, Meadow Browns, Ringlets,Large Skippers, a Comma, a few Small/Essex and a very fresh Red Admiral. - Ched George

At Wood Lane, Pirton transect 12 June 2009 a male Common Blue feeding on white clover. On 22 June 2009, 18 Ringlets, 6 Meadow Brown, 9 Speckled Wood, 2 Marbled White, 1 Small Skipper, 3 Large Skipper, 2 Yellow Brimstones (1 male/1 female), 1 Small White. On 23 June 2009 at Oughtonhead Lane, Hitchin - 1 Red Admiral, 2 Small Tortoishell, 1 Painted Lady, 2 Ringlet. Otherwise, nothing special has arrived in my garden to get excited about. - Val Fullforth

Seen today at Amwell nature reserve 3 large skipper, 6 ringlets, 15 meadow browns, 3 large white - A J Steele

First WLH of the year x2------and a very strange ichneumon type wasp that was attacking leafcutter bee nest holes-----the bees were defending!!!--this wasp was reddish black had a very long ovipositor---and white sections on its rear legs a bit like leg warmers------cant find anything like it online. Kit Jones

1 White Admiral on the Balls Wood transect today among the usual stuff. I know that at least 3 White Admirals were seen there today by others. All were flying very low or even resting on the ground. Still good numbers of Small Tortoiseshells in Ware Park (at least compared to recent years). Andrew Wood

White-letter Hairstreaks in good numbers at most of the suitable sites checked today in the Bricket Wood/Garston areas (across four different tetrads); counts given are minima. In contrast Meadow Brown numbers seem very low, barely above those of Marbled White. Records as follows: Garston Park TL 12 00 - Large White, 4 White-letter Hairstreaks on Wych Elms, Comma, Speckled Wood & Meadow Brown; Bricket Wood Common TL 12 01 - Green-veined White ovipositing on Cuckoo-flower, White Admiral & several Ringlets; Moor Mill TL 14 02 - 4 Large Skippers, Brown Argus, Painted Lady, 4 Marbled Whites & 7 Meadow Browns; Smug Oak Lane nr Bricket Wood TL 14 02 - Large Skipper, 2 White-letter Hairstreaks on roadside English Elms, Painted Lady, Comma, Marbled White & Meadow Brown; Smug Oak TL 13 02 - Small Tortoiseshell & 2 Meadow Browns; Lye Lane derelict site nr Bricket Wood TL 13 02 - Painted Lady, 3 Marbled Whites & 2 Meadow Browns; same site TL 12 03 - Marbled White & 2 Meadow Browns; Lye Lane footpath TL 13 03 - Red Admiral & Speckled Wood; Bricket Wood TL 12 02 - 7 White-letter Hairstreaks on robust mature elms in front garden along Old Watford Road S of Parade (2 of these perching on and chasing around adjacent Tulip Tree); and finally Garston TL 11 01 - 2 White-letter Hairstreaks on & near Wych Elms. - Colin Everett

Started today in TL41 at mathams wood 09.48-10.30 conditions were good, full sun & sheltered from the easterly breeze still no WLH seen here,other butterflies seen 2 painted lady, 1 large skipper. Then off to the martins green car park off cock lane at 10.55 walked north along ermine street, 2 speckled wood here,into the east end of danemead nature reserve,still in bright sunshine, 6 meadow brown, 9 ringlet, 3 large skipper, also a slow worm basking on an anthill!,walked back onto ermine street & crossed over into hoddesdon park wood walked eastwards along the southern boundary 1 meadow brown seen, turned north to the crossway, some really dubious ride management here, the landscape gardeners have not only mowed right to the edges, but also cut & smashed the brambles that were in flower on the side that the few remaining white admirals use the most, I've also seen swf here in the past (not this year I think !) seen here were 7 ringlet, 6 meadow brown, 3 large skipper, 1 comma, now heading west back to ermine street 2 speckled wood seen here, crossed over into highfield wood, as usual many more butterflies here, 13 meadow brown, 15 ringlet, 5 large skipper, 2 comma, 4 speckled wood, continued s/west to the bridleway then back north to danemead nature reserve, only one new butterfly here a pristine red admiral. I then decided on a quick visit to the west carpark at broxbourne woods, many browns along the main ride c.20 ringlet c.15 meadow brown, then finaly in the dip a pristine newly emerged white admiral !, this ride is looking very overgrown now, much of the bench area is now in shade & as predicted many of the sallow's have become tall and spindly and have broken off !, why have they made random "scallops" instead of pollarding and clearing around some of the sallows still in good condition? Laurence Drummond

I saw two White-letter Hairstreaks opposite the Dusty Miller pub in Gilston this lunch time. - Jan Hein

Fir and Pond Woods NR Tuesday 23rd PM On the Meadow ... 40+ ringlets, 18 meadow browns, approx 10 small skippers, 5 marbled whites. Elsewhere on the Reserve, numerous ringlets and meadow browns, 8 speckled woods, one red admiral and a couple of unidentified whites. - David Gompertz

I saw a handful of white-letter hairstreaks today, (hard to count them, as you will know). They were at the junction of Little Green Lane with Rousbarn Lane at Watford/Croxley (by the maintenance access drive for the golf club). An hour's watching (12.35 to 13.25) produced about half an hour's seeing, as the conditions became slightly more overcast than earlier and everything except the bees hid away. They were only seen on the overgrown hedge (about 15 or so feet maximum) by the collapsed barn, right at the corner of the roads, and nowhere else. There is a lot of elm around, lining Rousebarn Lane, and it is hard to believe they would so restricted, but, of course the weather may have been the difficulty. Also seen there were three or four commas, a few small and large whites, one meadow brown, one painted lady (looking quite fresh) and (wow, in Hertfordshire) a small tortoiseshell. - Andy King

News for (Sunday 21st June 2009) at Oakwood Park, N14: 7 Large Skipper, between 11:50 - 12:17 BST. 1 Comma, 11:55 BST. 1 Painted Lady, 12:07 BST. 2 Small Skipper, 12:14 BST. Grovelands Park, Southgate: 2 Comma, 12:59 and 13:33 BST. News for today (Tues 23rd June 2009) - 1 Comma, near Firing Range, at Vicarage Farm, 10:28 BST. 1 Comma, along track, at Vicarage Farm, 10:41 BST. 2 Small Tortoiseshell, along track, at Vicarage Farm, 10:51 BST. A batch of Peacock caterpillars, along track, at Vicarage Farm. 1 Small Tortoiseshell, along Leeging Beech Gutter near Stables, at Vicarage Farm, 10:54 BST. 1 Small Tortoiseshell, at Parkside Farm, 11:11 BST. 1 Painted Lady, at Park Farm, 11:47 BST. 1 Small Tortoiseshell, at Park Farm, 11:59 BST. 1 Comma, along Hadley Road, near Moat Wood, 12:00 BST. 1 Comma, edge of Moat Wood, 12:08 BST. 1 Painted Lady, edge of Moat Wood, 12:11 BST. 1 Peacock, edge of Ride Wood, 12:17 BST; 1 Comma, by Lower Lake, Trent Park, 12:22 BST. 1 Painted Lady, along Leeging Beech Gutter near Stables, at Vicarage Farm, 13:16 BST. 1 Purple Hairstreak, around Oak, at Vicarage Farm, 13:17 BST. 1 Painted Lady, at 'Barracks', Vicarage Farm, 13:32 BST. - Robert Callf

Horsenden Hill, whoo, a big count today! I struggled to keep count so these numbers may be out slightly. Getting hot out there. Strong sunshine and 22-23C kept everything very active. Not good for photography as couldn't get close to anything. Atleast the Horseflies were quite inactive for a change. 48x Meadow Brown 22x Skippers (Large and Small) 7x Whites 4x 5 Spot Burnet 3x Marbled White 2x White Letter Hairstreak (seen sparring over the road between the bottom of Batts and the path to the Grazing Field.) 2xGreen Oak Tortrix 1x Speckled Wood 1x Small Copper Total: 90 within half an hour - I need a notebook! - Mike Rubin

Monday 22nd June 2009
Ashford, near Queen Mary Reservoir, while on the golf course at about 8.45am today I saw a White-letter Hairstreak at rest on the 2nd fairway and another later on the 7th. This is the first time I have seen one this year although in previous years (excluding 2008) I have usually seen about 5-10 during the season. (I visit on average about twice a week.) - Oliver Halford

Some news for today (Monday 22nd June 2009) - 2 Comma, together, on Bramble, at 'Barracks', Vicarage Farm, 10:12 BST. 1 Small Tortoiseshell, on Bramble, at 'Barracks', Vicarage Farm, 10:13 BST. 2 male Large Skipper, at 'Barracks', Vicarage Farm, 10:20 and 10:31 BST. 1 male Small Skipper, along track, at Vicarage Farm. 1 Small Tortoiseshell, along Leeging Beech Gutter at Vicarage Farm, 10:52 BST. 1 Small Tortoiseshell, near Hadley Road, at Vicarage Farm, 10:58 BST. 1 Comma, at Parkside Farm/Res., 11:19 BST. 1 Purple Hairstreak, settled on grass at Park Farm, 11:27 BST - My first of the year! 1 male Small Skipper, at Park Farm, 11:37 BST. 1 male Large Skipper, at Park Farm. 1 Red Admiral, by Lower Lake, Trent Park, 12:34 BST. 1 Red Admiral, set-aside field N of Williams Wood, Trent Park, 13:00 BST. 1 Painted Lady, set-aside field N of Wiliams Wood, 13:00 BST. 1 Six-spot Burnet Moth, settled on thistle-head with Narrow-bordered Five Spot Burnets - My first of the year! - Observations made in the company of Robin White. - Robert Callf

Horsenden Hill, fairly overcast but bright and mild (~21C). The WLH's were pretty active high up in the Elms. No chance of catching them low. Was nice to see a Marbled White in the grazing field. I did spot a guy hunting for WLH's lower down the slope with a big DSLR but didn't see him again afterwards to point him to the best spot further up. Never mind. 14x Meadow Brown 5x Whites (My first in a while, except for 1 in Kenton at the weekend) 4-5x White Letter Hairstreak (My fists of the year all high up in Elm) 2x Skippers (Possibly 1 large and 1 small) 2x Burnet moth (Almost certainly 5 spot) 1x Painted Lady 1x Comma 1x Marbled White (My first of the year) - Mike Rubin

21 June 2009 (afternoon): Ringlets (2) and Marbled White (1) at Bride Hall, Ayot St Lawrence, both my first records for this year. This estate has some outstanding butterfly habitats - is it well recorded? I suspect not. The Estate Manager led me to believe that the owners may welcome more observers. Alan Jackson

Its been a long time since I last sent in a sighting. I spotted a second generation orange tip (male) flying along by the River Chess at Micklefield Hall (near Chorleywood) on friday (19th) and also larval nests of peacock and Small Tortoiseshell. - Allen Beechey

Andrew Self and I were checking the elms at the Brent Res. yesterday (21-6-09) for any sign of our tiny WLH colony. During a short spell from 10.45- 11.05 we saw a minimum of five insects during an intense period of activity and witnessed a number of clashes. This is the most we have seen at one time, none were seen last year. The onbservation was made on the Brent Res. Transect route but unfortunately not during a transect, The square is TQ28D. I hope this is useful. In the same square six Marbled Whites were seen on 20-6-09, the first for the year. - Roy Beddard

Pretty decent afternoon on Horsenden Hill yesterday. White-letter Hairstreaks present in good numbers following last weeks single sighting. On the east transect there were four on section one (the path that is immediately to the rear of Horsenden Farm) and on the west transect there was a single around the elms at the bottom end of the cycle track and 2 in Batts Field. Off-transect there were 3 further up the cycle track and singles in Great Bramstons and on the non-transect section of Batts Field. Should be decent for next Saturday's field trip assuming the weather cooperates! Other species included my first Purple Hairstreak, Gatekeepers (2) and Marbled Whites (2; Batts Field) of the year and 2 Red Admirals, 3 Painted Ladys, 1 Common Blue and at least 15 Commas. - Andy Culshaw

Sunday 21st June 2009

Recording in the northern part of square TQ09 (Watford/Sarratt areas), where Silver-washed Fritillary already out; also White Admirals, Marbled White, Ringlets, Painted Ladies (many now of ghostly appearance) and a good showing of Small Tortoiseshells at one site. Records as follows: Solesbridge Lane nr Sarratt TQ 04 97 - 2 Painted Ladies; Micklefield Green nr Sarratt TQ 04 98 - 2 Painted Ladies, 20 Small Tortoiseshells, Marbled White & 27 Meadow Browns; M25 nr Sarratt TQ 05 98 - 5 Large Skippers, Large White, Speckled Wood, 2 Meadow Browns & 2 Ringlets; Chandler's Cross nr Watford TQ 06 98 - Painted Lady; Whippendell Wood (centre) TQ 07 97 - 2 separate Commas, male Silver-washed Fritillary & 10 Meadow Browns; Whippendell Wood (E edge) TQ 08 97 - 2 White Admirals, Red Admiral, 2 Speckled Woods & Meadow Brown; and finally Grove Mill Lane TQ 08 98 - full-grown Peacock larva & Speckled Wood. - Colin Everett

Saturday 20th June 2009
Woodoaks Farm, Maple Cross I specifically went to look for WL Hairstreak at Ladywalk wood but didn't see any despite reasonable spells of sunshine. I did see 5+ Small Tortoiseshell sunning themselves on the farm track. The area of set-aside south of Ladywalk wood was alive with Meadow Brown & Ringlet, a few Marbled White and Large Skipper. I saw my first Small/Essex Skipper of the year. A fresh looking male Orange-tip, 3 Painted lady, 2 Large White, 3 Comma, several Speckled Wood and Silver-Y moth. - Steve Pash

News from Diane Andrews - there are some Peacock caterpillars at Ally Pally. On Tuesday 15th, they were still in clusters but today they have spread out, are getting big and she counted 600 with a further 50 elsewhere. Yesterday she visited the Cheshunt/Turnford area by the River Lea and counted 19 Ringlets across two tetrads. Also 4 Large Skipper, 2 Small Skipper, 4 Painted Ladies and 8 fresh Commas. On the 3rd June she found a cocoon in the ground and has since watched its progress - today a Large Yellow Underwing emerged and flew off.

Hemel Hempstead, pleased to report my first Hummingbird Hawk Moth since 2007 which I found nectaring on Red Valerian in my front garden early this afternoon.Very quiet on the butterfly front although I did see a fresh Small Tortoiseshell earlier in the week - Malcolm Newland

Some sightings for today (Saturday 20th June 2009) - 2 female Large Skipper, together, on Brambles, S of 'Barracks', at Vicarage Farm, 13:18 BST. 1 Small Tortoiseshell, along track at Vicarage Farm, 13:34 BST. 1 Red Admiral, along Leeging Beech Gutter near Stables, at Vicarage Farm, 13:37 BST. 1 Small Tortoiseshell, near Hadley Road, at Vicarage Farm, 13:40 BST. 1 Comma, near Hadley Road, at Vicarage Farm, 13:42 BST. 1 Comma, at Parkside Farm, 13:47 BST. 1 Comma, at Park Farm, 14:18 BST. 1 Red Admiral, S edge of Rough Lot, Trent Park, 14:47 BST. 3 Small White, along Leeging Beech Gutter near 'Three-bridges', Trent Park, 15:11 BST. 1 Red Admiral, along Leeging Beech Gutter near 'Three-bridges', Trent Park, 15:12 BST. 2 Comma, set-aside field N of Williams Wood, Trent Park, 15:18 and 15:22 BST. 3, 2 males, 1 female, Large Skipper, together, on Brambles, set-aside field N of Williams Wood, 15:24 BST. 1 Painted Lady, along Leeging Beech Gutter near Stables, at Vicarage Farm, 15:33 BST. - Robert Callf

Friday 19th June 2009
OAKHILL WODS -LNR -EAST BARNET, First Small Skippers x4 of the year ,, 3x fresh T Shells, 1x Fresh Comma, 30+ Large Skipper , 10+ five spot burnet moth----20 x meadow brown. No WLH on wych elms yet----but foliage is very scarce as Squirrels bit off most of the leaf and flower buds this Spring.------ now these squirrels are bark stripping the Hornbeams!!!---------Kit Jones

A lunchtime walk in the Bicentenary gardens at Brunel University produced 3 Painted Lady, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, Comma, Red Admiral, 4 Speckled Wood and 5 Meadow Brown. - Steve Pash

About 40 Large Skippers and 2 Ringlets in Millennium Wood, Stevenage between 1130 and 1145 today. Peter Clarke

Yesterday, the 18th June 2009, I was carrying out a flora survey in Balls Wood when I noticed a rather distinctive moth settled in the vegetation. I took a photograph and Andrew Wood has kindly identified it as a Red-necked Footman, a scarce migrant. This is only the 4th record for Herts and the first for Balls Wood - Alan Reynolds

Some news for today (Friday 19th June 2009) - 1 Painted Lady, at 'Barracks', Vicarage Farm, 10:41 BST. 1 Painted Lady, hedgerow off 'Barracks', at Vicarage Farm, 10:45 BST. 1 Red Admiral, along track at Vicarage Farm, 10:55 BST. 1 Painted Lady, along Leeging Beech Gutter near Stables, at Vicarage Farm, 11:00 BST. 1 Small Heath, along Leeging Beech Gutter near Stables, at Vicarage Farm, 11:02 BST. 2 Comma, together, along hedgerow near Hadley Road at Vicarage Farm, 11:05 BST. 1 Comma, at Parkside Farm, 11:08 BST. 1 Red Admiral, at Parkside Farm, 11:11 BST. 1 female Common Blue, at Park Farm, 11:36 BST. 1 Red Admiral, at Park Farm, 11:42 BST. 1 Small Tortoiseshell, near Duncan's Wood, 11:53 BST. 1 Red Admiral, along Hadley Road near Moat Wood, 12:01 BST. 1 Painted Lady, at 'Old Golf Course', Trent Park, 12:27 BST. 1 Comma, by Lower Lake, Trent Park, 12:32 BST. 4 Painted Lady, around Brambles, edge of Icehouse Wood, 12:47 BST. 1 Red Admiral, edge of Icehouse Wood, 12:47 BST. 1 Small Tortoiseshell, edge of Icehouse Wood, 12:47 BST. 1 Small Copper, near Dew Pond, Trent Park, 12:53 BST. 2 Common Blue, along Merryhills Brook/South Lodge Farm, 13:11 BST. Peacock, batch of catapillars, along Merryhills Brook/Vicarage Farm. 1 Painted Lady, near Merryhills Brook at Vicarage Farm, 13:26 BST. - Robert Callf

The following seen at Hatfield Aerodrome, Herts today pm: 1 x Marbled White 3 x Painted lady 3 x Small tortoiseshell 1 x large White - David Wheatcroft

Managed to visit the mass of elm on the High wych Rd at Pole Hole Farm again today from 11.24 - 11.40, almost constant WLH activity with clashes of up to 4 at a time and singles seen perching at the tops of the elms, I think at least 12 individuals, probably many more, but some parts cannot be viewed without wandering off the footpath, also here 1 common blue, 2 meadow brown & 1 large skipper. Then off to Mathams Wood nr Allens Green 11.55-12.15, viewing conditions were unfavourable due to the strong breeze, no WLH were seen,on the way back to the road singles of red admiral & small tortoiseshell were seen along with one very worn painted lady. Laurence Drummond

Just after 8.30 this morning, I arrived at my Ware elm tree. Wind was fresh and I didn't think the air temperature was that warm but it was sunny. There were immediate clashes and flights or at least 4 butterflies Just after 8.30 this morning, I arrived at my Ware elm tree. Wind was fresh and I didn't think the air temperature was that warm but it was sunny. There were immediate clashes and flights or at least 4 butterflies

Thursday 18th June 2009
On 14 June I saw 6 common blues not 6 small coppers (correction)in field near Bencroft Wood. Today saw small tortoiseshell and painted lady at home in Bengeo and Comma at waterford heath south - Steve Kiln

News for today (Thurs 18th June 2009) - 1 White-letter Hairstreak, settled on Ash, behind bus-stop opposite Oakwood Tube, 11:52 BST - My first of the year! 1 male Large Skipper, near Triangular Wood, 12:00 BST. 1 Comma, 'New Fields', 12:06 BST. 1 Painted Lady, 'New Fields', 12:07 BST. 1 Painted Lady, Sect. 8, 'New Fields', 12:14 BST. 1 male Large Skipper, Sect. 8, 12:14 BST. 1 male Large White, Sect. 7, 12:18 BST. 1 male Small Skipper, Sect. 6, 'New Fields', 12:22 BST. 1 female Large Skipper, Sect. 6, 12:23 BST. 1 Small Heath, Sect. 6, 12:27 BST. 1 Comma, Sect. 5, 12:28 BST. 2 Painted Lady, Sect. 5, 12:30 BST. 2 Comma, Sect. 5, 12:33 and 12:34 BST. 1 Ringlet, Sect. 5, 12:33 BST. 1 batch of Peacock catapillars, Sect. 5. 1 Small Heath, Sect. 12:36 BST. 2 Small Skipper, Sect. 4, 12:38 BST. 2 Ringlet, Sect.4, 12:39 and 12:40 BST. 2 Small Skipper, Sect. 4, 12:40 BST. 9 Large Skipper, Sect. 4, 12:40 BST - 12:45 BST. 2 Painted Lady, Sect. 4, 12:41 and 12:43 BST. 2 Ringlet, Sect. 4, 12:42 and 12:43 BST. 1 Small Skipper, Sect. 4, 12:45 BST. 1 Comma, Sect. 4, 12:45 BST. 1 Comma, near Sports Field, 12:49 BST. 1 Painted Lady, near Sports Field, 12:49 BST. 1 Ringlet, near Sports Field, 12:55 BST. 1 Painted Lady, near Sports Field, 12:56 BST. 1 Comma, near Triangular Wood, 13:01 BST. 20 Ringlet, Sect. 1 and near set-aside field near Oakwood entrance, 13:10 BST. 1 Painted Lady, Sect. 1, 13:10 BST. 1 Comma, an aberration, where the usual pattern is replaced by large patches of black on both forewing and hindwing, near Oakwood entrance, 13:18 BST. Thought to be ab. 'reichstettensis' - Robert Callf

Grove Farm Wed 17th June 2009 Fairly overcast day although the sun was trying to shine through the cirrostratus. Decided to revisit grove farm. This place I have not missed. Badly managed for butterflies, and litter / fly tipping everywhere. Not pleasant. All butterflies were near the old BMX track and the nearby mini meadow up the hill. 3x Large Skipper 1x Speckled Wood 1x Painted Lady Horsenden Hill Meadows Thu 18th June 2009 7/8's cloud going overcast. Not a lot of sun. Still saw some leps, including my first 2009 brood comma. 8x Meadow Brown 3x Painted Lady (2 of them were tiny, the size of Meadow Browns. All were faded but undamaged looking.) 2x Burnet 1x Burnet Companion 1x Large Skipper 1x Speckled Wood 1x Comma (Looked very fresh and orange at long range - my first 2009 brood.) 20+ x Peacock caterpillars in a larval web munching away on a stinging nettle. 1x Lawn mower keeping the paths through the meadows open. Too many x blasted Horseflies mobbing me all the way round. - Mike Rubin

Wednesday 17th June 2009
15 Speckled Wood, 5 Meadow Brown, 2 Ringlet, 2 White Admirals, and 1 fresh Comma at Bricket Wood in a one and half hour visit this morning. - Clive Burrows

Some news for today (Weds 17th June 2009) - 1 female Large Skipper, S of 'Barracks', Vicarage Farm, 09:51 BST; 1 Small Tortoiseshell, at 'Barracks', Vicarage Farm, 09:53 BST; 1 Painted Lady, along hedgerow off 'Barracks', at Vicarage Farm, 09:59 BST; 1 Small Tortoiseshell, at Hog Hill, Vicarage Farm, 10:02 BST; 1 Painted Lady, at Hog Hill, Vicarage Farm, 10:05 BST; 1 male Large Skipper, along track, at Vicarage Farm, 10:07 BST; 2 Large Skipper, along Leeging Beech Gutter near Stables, at Vicarage Farm, 10:12 BST; 1 Small Tortoiseshell, near Hadley Road, at Vicarage Farm, 10:15 BST; 1 Small Tortoiseshell, at Park Farm, 11:02 BST; 1 male Large Skipper, at 'Old Golf Course, Trent Park, 11:42 BST; 1 male Large Skipper, set-aside field near Dew Pond, Trent Park, 12:16 BST; 1 male Small Skipper, settled, set-aside field near Dew Pond, Trent Park, 12:17 BST - My first of the year! 1 Ringlet, set-aside field near Shaws Wood, Trent Park, 12:20 BST - My first of the year! 1 male Large Skipper, set-aside field near Shaws Wood, 12:22 BST. Also disturbed a Common Marbled Carpet with a tawny brown panel in Rough Lot today. Robin White reported seeing a Flame Carpet on Sunday - Robert Callf

Tuesday 16th June 2009
Butterfly sightings at Bricket Wood for 16 June sun in and out today 25 speckled woods, 6 large skippers, 9 meadow browns, 1 large white, 1 X and Y moth, 2 Brown Silver-line Moths - A J Steele

Spent more time searching for WL localy to me today, 10.15-11.00 at near allens green at Mathams wood where the public footpath cuts north through a narrow part of the wood, habitat is mainly neglected ash coppice with much elm at the edges, none were seen here ,I then spent from 11.20 -12.15 at the mass of elm on the north west side of High wych road at Pole hole farm,after a couple of possibles ,at 11.57 2 WL were seen to spiral up from the top of elm,as they drifted across the tops of the elm they were joined by a third !. At 2.40 pm I parked at the local nature reserve at Therfield heath and walked roughly east along the southern edge of the heath,butterflies seen were meadow brown 9, large skipper 5, small heath 15 ,common blue 2, painted lady 2,speckled wood 2, large white 3 & 1 male brimstone - Laurence Drummond

Did some local visits in Herts & Middx today to see how wlh are progressing. Started at Cheshunt Park at around 9.45, a male was seen flying in and then over the course of about 30 mins about 5 or 6 were seen either perched or clashing. Moved along to Cuffley (TL3030), where some road side elm was watched. Eventually a single butterfly was seen jittering around the back of an elm close to houses. Nothing on some planted elms in the grounds of a leisure centre in Potters Bar (TL2400). Then close to Radlett some roadside elms (TL1600) had 1 perched all the time and 2 flying after a period of cloud and south Watford (TQ1296), one perched on ash close to scrappy elm. We then went to the Aquadrome at Rickmansworth (TQ055938) where a few weeks ago LG found 30 planted elms alongside the road that goes through the park. A bit slow to start with but 3 on the first section and then on the second area, we saw numerous clashes and a few perched. Safe count of 7 - this is a fantastic row of elm, which is easy to observe and well worth visiting in the early morning. Any news of counts would be welcome. After Rickmansworth we drove towards Hemel Hempstead via Bovingdon, and despite finding some nice elm in SP9902 nothing was seen. Finally having managed to take the wrong road out of Hemel we found 2 planted elms by a school (TL0606) and after about 2 mins one white-letter was seen in the canopy. We then went home! We also noticed quite a few Painted Ladies flying through again - Liz Goodyear & Andrew Middleton

2 Marbled Whites at Wheathampstead LNR today, looked quite small so assumed males? - Robin Pearson

There were good numbers of meadow brown at Alpine Meadow today (10+), ringlet, large skipper and speckled wood. On the farmland track leading down to the reserve I had many meadow brown, large white, a small tortoiseshell and speckled wood. Paul Thrush

Twyfordbury Lane, Thorley:-In set-aside field, 27 Meadow Browns and 4 Ringlets - Len Crouch

Monday 15th June
HADLEY GREEN , BARNET Eastern Grassland alongside A1000 road, 5 x Chimney Sweeper moth, 1 x Painted lady, 3x Large skipper, 10x Meadow brown, 1 x Small Tortoiseshell ---------Kit Jones

8 Speckled Woods, 6 Large Skipper, singeltons of Meadow Brown and White Admiral in a short morning visit to Bricket Wood - Clive Burrows

Some sightings for today (Monday 15th June 2009) - 1 Comma, on bridle-path near Merryhills Brook, Trent Park, 12:05 BST; 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 'Old Golf Course', Trent Park, 12:30 BST; 1 female Common Blue, 'Old Golf Course', 12:32 BST; 1 male Common Blue, at Parkside Farm - on Res banking, 13:08 BST; 1 Small Tortoiseshell, at Parkside Farm, 13:11 BST; 1 Red Admiral, near Hadley Road, at Vicarage Farm, 13:23 BST; 1 Painted Lady, along Leeging Beech Gutter near Stables, at Vicarage Farm, 13:27 BST; 1 Small Tortoiseshell, along Leeging Beech Gutter near Stables, at Vicarage Farm, 13:28 BST; 1 Small Tortoiseshell, at 'Barracks', Vicarage Farm, 13:45 BST. - Robert Callf

Six different species about Kimpton Bottom this morning, 5 Painted Ladies only one of which looked full-sized and fresh. Surprised to see a male Brimstone but the highlight was my first Small Tortoiseshell of the season - Robin Pearson

Horsenden Hill, 21-22C but felt much hotter in the strong sunshine with almost no wind. Towering cu's building all around but got lucky this time. Thistles mostly in flower now. Lots of honeysuckle north side too. But no White Admirals spotted. No Hairstreaks or Whites either. 17x Skippers (mostly fast moving. Large and Smalls (my first Small Skippers of the year). Abundant on the north side from summit down to brambles under the oaks.) 14x 5 Spot Burnets (My firsts of the year on Horsenden Hill) 9x Meadow Brown 4x Speckled Wood (All fairly fresh) 1x Male Common Blue 1x Painted Lady (faded but otherwise good condition) Plenty x Green Oak Tortrix (on the north side oaks - Mike Rubin

News for yesterday (Sunday 14th June 2009) - Oakwood Park, N14: 3 Common Blue, 12:11 - 12:14 BST. Grovelands Park, Southgate, N14: 2 Large Skipper, near Church Hill Entrance, 12:26 BST; 1 Red Admiral, 12:42 BST. - Robert Callf

Sunday 14th June
No Purple Hairstreaks this evening yet on oaks in Durants Park Enfield, but Colin Jupp saw 4 purple hairstreaks over oaks on the west side of deer park at Bedford Park, Essex this evening; 2 WLH on ash near the damselfy pond, also small skipper, comma and est. 1150 NB5spot burnet moths in field SW corner of park - Andrew Middleton

Went to bencroft wood. There were 15 or more Large Skippers, in field by bencroft wood plus 40 or more meadow browns plus 6 Common Blues (correction) and 2 small heath. In rides in Bencroft Wood, meadow browns 7 and large skippers 5. Disappointing in Broxbourne Wood just a few meadow browns and a large white. At Waterford heath not seen any skippers yet but plenty of meadow browns and a late grizzled skipper yesterday - Steve Kiln

Spent 2 hours this morning searching for white letters, 1hr 09.15-10.15, opposite pole hole farm between pye corner and high wych,there is a substantial amount of elm here,despite constant sunshine and being fully shelterd from the breeze none were seen, I then spent 1hr at Redricks lane layby, 10.25-11.25,again none recorded, I then walked along the River Stort near Latton lock towards pye corner in a westerly direction,along the river 6 speckled wood, 2 small tortoishell, 4 large white, 2 meadow brown, 1 emperor dragonfly,I then took the footpath north past holingson meads on the hill here I found 4 meadow brown,3 small tortoishell, 5 common blue, 2 large skipper 3 large white & 2 emperor dragonfly - Laurence Drummond

Spent a pleasant Sunday afternoon walking through Highfield and Broxbourne Woods starting and finishing in Brickendon ( walk 25 in the "Pub Strolls in Hertfordshire" book.) Weather mainly sunny and warm. Saw 10 Meadow Browns, 9 Speckled Woods, 4 Large Skippers (with a brief glimpse of another skipper later but not sure which), 2 Small Tortoiseshells, 2 Large Whites and one Small White. - Roger Newbold

Durants Park, Enfield at least 7 white-letter in the canopy at around 10.30 today and 4 white-letter at the Cheshunt Park hybrid elms in the early afternoon - Liz Goodyear & Andrew Middleton

Saturday 13th June
Park Wood, Ruislip. White Admiral, Painted Lady and 5 Speckled Wood on Pylon ride. A few Meadow Brown and Large Skipper on Grubb Ground. Steve Pash

Bagged my first White-letter Hairstreak of the year on Horsenden Hill this afternoon (Sat 13th) - about a week earlier than the usual first sighting on this site. It spent most of its time loafing on a small elm at the Horsenden Farm end of the cycle path but did make a couple of brief sorties, including one to see off a Banded Demoiselle - itself quite uncommon on Horsenden. Was pretty quiet in general, with a few Meadow Browns, a Painted Lady, 3 Burnet Companions, 2 Large White, 1 Small White, a Holly Blue and 3-4 Large Skippers. - Andy Culshaw

First summer butterflies at Bricket Wood Common - Marbled White (1), Meadow Brown (4) & Large Skipper (6). Also still a few left over from Spring - Speckled Wood (31), Large White (2) & Male Brimstone (1). At Butterfly World, Chiswell Green I saw Small Tortoiseshell (4), Painted Lady (4)& a few Whites Malcolm Hull

Walked north from the Martins Green car park along ermine street, into Danemead nature reserve, quite dissapointing 1 meadow brown the only butterfly! , crossed into Hoddesdon Park Wood and walked east along the southern boundry then north, at the crossway 1 meadow brown & 3 speckled wood (no early white admirals!),then back west towards ermine st , 3 more speckled wood along here, crossed into Highfield Wood, more butterflies here, 7 speckled wood, 1 meadow brown, 3 large skipper, at the bridleway turned back south then back into Danemead NR, lots of well managed sallow, but no butterflies. Laurence Drummond

Ware 'elm tree' my first white-letter sighting of the year at 1.10, just a single butterfly flicking across the canopy (I had visited most sunny days this week) - Liz Goodyear

12 Small Tortoiseshells on my Ware Park Transect today, plus 2 more seen in Bengeo and 4 seen yesterday (12th) in a walk around the Pelhams in NE Herts. Also around the Pelhams, 2 male Orange Tips plus a female Brimstone appearing to egg lay on Dogwood around which a Rustic Shoulder-knot moth was nectaring at around noon, all a bit odd - Andrew Wood

A few sightings for today (Saturday 13th June 2009) - 2 Small Tortoiseshell at Vicarage Farm, 12:30 and 12:44 BST. 2 Large Skipper, together, near Duncan's Wood, Enfield Chase, 13:27 BST. 1 female Large Skipper, 'Old Golf Course', 14:09 BST - my first female of the year; 1 pr Meadow Brown, copulating, 'Old Golf Course', 14:10 BST. 2 Comma, together, by Lower Lake, 14:23 BST. - Robert Callf

Friday 12th June
Bayford area, 36 Large Skipper in a field west of Bayford and more nearby, 7 burnett moths and 3 Small Tortoiseshell near Little Berkhamstead. No white-letter on elm checked nor at Ally Pally - news from Diane Andrews.

Oakhill Woods LNR, a very Bizarre sighting----Pearl bordered fritillary sitting on damp clay on the stream bed-----no previous records for this site or local area------in fact i thought it was a comma at first-------although this LNR is ancient woodland with plenty of violets----- I guess the individual was a captive bred release?-------4x large skipper, 10 x Speckled woods----1x Meadow brown----- Kit Jones

Thornbera Road allotments, Stortford, arrived early afternoon to find 3 small tortoiseshells visiting my sweet williams, one with with a noticable more extensive dark centre, went home for my camera but on my return it had gone. However a pristine Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet arrived to feed on the nectar for about 10 minutes, lifting its wings both up and out 45 degrees every so often. A full size painted lady was a further visitor - Len Crouch

Today at Fir and Pond Woods NR, our first large skipper of the year.. David Gompertz

At Park Wood, Ruislip today, 5 large skippers and large number of speckled woods also one Meadow brown - Sezar Hikmet

Some news for today (Friday 12th June 2009) - 5 Small Heath, 'New Fields', Trent Park, 14:29 - 14:49 BST. 18 Large Skipper, 'New Fields', Trent Park, 14:40 - 15:09 BST. 1 Painted Lady, near Cockfoster's entrance, Trent Park, 14:45 BST. 1 Small Copper, Sect. 5, 'New Fields', 14:49 BST. 7 Narrow-bordered Five Spot Burnet, 'New Fields', Trent Park - First for the year! 1 Painted Lady, near Sports Field, Trent Park, 15:05 BST. 1 Comma, edge of Church Wood, Trent Park, 14:59 BST. 1 Comma, by Lower Lake, Trent Park, 15:38 BST. 1 Painted Lady, nectaring on Giant Hogweed, along Leeging Beech Gutter near Water Grdn, 15:50 BST. 4 Large Skipper, at Parkside Farm. 2 male Common Blue, at Parkside Farm - on Res banking, 16:10 - 16:11 BST. 5+ Small Tortoiseshell, at Vicarage Farm, (3 along Leeging Beech Gutter near Stables, including two together, 16:24 - 16:27 BST, 2 together, near Firing Range, 16:50 BST. 3 Painted Lady, at Vicarage Farm, between 16:31 - 16:39 BST. 4 Large Skipper, at Vicarage Farm, 16:38 - 16:52 BST. - Robert Callf

Saw the following yesterday (Thurs 11th June 2009) - 1 Painted Lady, along track at Vicarage Farm, Enfield at 12:57 BST. 2 Small Tortoiseshell, at Vicarage Farm - one along Leeging Beech Gutter near Stables, 13:11 BST and one settled on Bramble near Firing Range, 14:16 BST. Also a batch of Peacock catapillars on nettles at Vicarage Farm. 2 Painted Lady at Parkside Farm, Enfield, 13:31 and 13:33 BST. 5 Common Blue at Parkside Farm, including a female settled. 1 Latticed Heath at Parkside Farm, on Res banking. 1 Large Skipper, at Parkside Farm, on Res banking, 13:45 BST. 2 Large Skipper, along Leeging Beech Gutter at Vicarage Farm, Enfield, 13:58 and 14:01 BST. - Robert Callf

Thursday 11th June
Saw my first Meadow Brown & Small Skipper with 5+ fresh Common Blue today at Ellenbrook Park (on former airfield) Hatfield, despite blustery overcast weather. It's a good bit of "new" habitat, with tall un-mowed mixed grasses and plenty of herbs, including Birds-foot Trefoil, Knapweed, Sorrel, Oxeye Daisy, Red Clover etc. Has ponds & stream with emergent vegetation, so could be good for dragonflies too. Good for birds - lots of Goldfinch, Martins & Skylark. Hopefully it won't be mowed until autumn, then bailed. John Moss

Ringlet seen at Trent Park, and Small Skipper seen settled at Merryhills Brook by Robin White - news via Robert Callf

Today…….I was down on the Parkland Walk, Crouch End, just now 9.45-10.00 in good conditions and had no activity from the bridge but 2 clashing white-letter hairstreak males and a probable third a bit further along. I wold have checked earlier if I'd been here. Tristan Bantock

Thornbera Road Allotments, Stortford:- Blustery but sunny this morning with two small tortoiseshells returning repeatedly to a clump of sweet williams. Nothing else about accept 3 small white and the occasional bumble bee - Len Crouch.

Horsenden Hill, got diddled by the weather. Big wodge of spreadout blocked out the sun locally for most of the walk. Sun returned just as I was turning back. Hardly anything flying at all despite 17-18C and sunshine early on in the walk. 1x Meadow Brown 1x Burnet Companion 1x Speckled Wood 2x Nettle Tap 1x Suspected White Ermine - Mike Rubin

Oakhill LNR, 1 x Fresh female Red Admiral, 4x large skipper, 5x Speckled wood, 2 x Burnet companion moth, 1 x Rose chafer------Kit Jones

Wednesday 10th June
At Park Wood, Ruislip today in between showers, two small whites and eight Speckled woods. - Sezar Hikmet

Tuesday 9th June
Saw one male Large Skipper today (Tues 9th June 2009) near Duncan's Wood, Enfield Chase at 13:40 BST. - Robert Callf

Yesterday (Monday 8th) in the late afternoon I discovered three final instar Small Tortoiseshell caterpillars. They looked as though they were just about to go on the move. Today (Tuesday) two were gone but one at least never made it because a segment of its body was present on the nettle. I've never found Small Tortoiseshell caterpillars here at Kenwood before & I've recorded only three adults in four years (2005-08) so, with caterpillars present, I'm hopeful for sightings in 2009. - Mike Taylor

5 Meadow Browns in field by Bencroft Wood, no butterflies on Waterford Heath - Steve kiln

Monday 8th June
More white-letter were seen at three sites in north London but not on the elm by Enfield Lock by Andrew Middleton yesterday. Today I checked my 'Ware' tree and nothing was seen flying during a spell of sunshine, nor in TL41 near the Dusty Miller PH on the edge of Harlow. After that cloud thwarted my attempts! - Liz Goodyear

Horsenden Hill, a mad dash across the grazing fields to the area where I photographed White Letter Hairstreaks previously (following first reports of them). Then a mad dash back via Batts Field. No Hairstreaks alas. But a few other thinly spread leps to keep me just about interested enough. 16-17C and sunny, but rapidly increasing amounts of cloud cover. 3x Large Skipper 2x Burnet Companion 2x Meadow Brown 1x Male Common Blue 1x Suspected Brown Argus. (Batts Field. One poor quality pic taken before I lost it. Looked rather tatty and worn. May never be certain.) 1xSpeckled Wood Plus 1 Mottled Beauty found by the lifts inside Kellogg Tower in the morning. It was still there on my way out to lunch so I picked it up and took it outside (to the bemusement of security) and couldn't resist a brief photo shoot after my walk as it was still where I left it, even if it was sitting wonky. Numerous other unidentified moths. Including that small brown one with prominent white bars and antennae about 3 times the length of its body (I now believe the moth with the white bars and long antennae is a Male Nemophora degeerella moth ) - Mike Rubin

News for today (Monday 8th June 2009) - 1 male Large Skipper, edge of Williams Wood, 11:58 BST; 1 Small Copper, edge of Williams Wood, 12:00 BST; 4 male Large Skipper, 'Old Golf Course', Trent Park, 12:33 - 12:35 BST; 3 Small Heath, together, 'Old Golf Course', 12:39 BST; 1 Small Tortoiseshell, at Hog Hill, Vicarage Farm, 13:45 BST - My first of the summer-brood. Also a Painted Lady, at Vicarage Farm. - Robert Callf

Sunday 7th June
A White Admiral was flying on Sunday morning in Park Wood, Ruislip. It is the earliest date I have recorded for this species. Not much else other than 3 Large Skipper and 3 Speckled Wood - Steve Pash

Saw the following yesterday (Sunday 7th June 2009) at Oakwood Park, N14 - 3 male Large Skipper, between 12:13 - 12:24 BST; 1 Painted Lady, 12:15 BST; 1 male Meadow Brown. - Robert Callf

Thursday 4th June
North London park, a single White-letter Hairstreak seen jittering over elm just after lunch today - Andrew Middleton

On the 30th May, I went to Bencroft Wood, in field nearby I saw 3 skippers I assumed they were large skippers, but they appeared more like small skippers, can small skippers be out so early - Steve Kiln (they are reported flying in other areas and with the early season of most species this spring??)

OAKHILL WOODS LNR East Barnet, 1 x (Worn) Painted Lady female on Bramble,--- 8 xSpeckled Woods--- 2 x Burnet companion, ---1 x Chimney sweeper-----12x longhorn moths? - Kit Jones Late notes for June 2nd. Bunkers Park in Hemel Hempsted in pm up until sunset. 1 or 2 large skipper, several blues one female seemed to be laying eggs in birdsfoot trefoil, possibly 1 meadow brown but too far away to get a close look, 2 painted lady. - Elizabeth Debenham

Horsenden Hill, not even worth reporting today. 17C and sunny. Yet almost nothing but those horseflies that followed me around my entire walk. 2x Large Skipper 2x Small Copper 2x Burnet Companion And a small greyish longhorn type moth with white wing bars and insanely long antennae that thwarted my attempts to photograph it. - Mike Rubin

Wednesday 3rd June
Brunel University: 2 Common Blue, Small Heath, 3 Speckled Wood, GV White, Cinnabar, Burnet Companion, and Latticed Heath in the Bicentennial Gardens at lunchtime today - Steve Pash

1 HOLLY BLUE, 2 LARGE SKIPPER, 1 GREEN VEINED WHITE, 1m COMMON BLUE, 5+ MEADOW BROWN & 1 PAINTED LADY seen around the Weedy field this lunchtime in Batford TL1514. - Darin Stanley

Horsenden Hill, still a few butterflies around despite overcast and cooler conditions. Go knock almost any oak branch on the north side and chances are loads of Green Oak Tortrixes will scarper all around you. 7x Speckled Wood 3x Large Skipper 1x Male Common Blue 1x Burnet Companion Scores x Green Oak Tortrix. Re Phil MacMurdie's report on 2nd June: yesterday I did see a Peacock larval web on nettles by the canal just west of the meadow brown sighting. Also loads of Thistles growing along there too. I wonder if any of them are host to Painted Lady eggs? - Mike Rubin

OAKHILL WOODS LNR--EAST BARNET -4x large Skipper, Ix Peacock nest ( 2nd Instar), 2x Tortoiseshell nests ( 1st instar) 9x Orange tip larvae---all sizes on garlic mustard pods. 1x Common blue female Windmill Hill Enfield (very busy built up area) KIT JONES

Tuesday 2nd June
1 HOLLY BLUE, 2 LARGE SKIPPER, 1 GREEN VEINED WHITE, 1m COMMON BLUE, 5+ MEADOW BROWN & 1 PAINTED LADY seen around the Weedy field this lunchtime in Batford TL1514. - Darin Stanley

1 Meadow Brown, 2 Large Skippers and at least 8 Speckled Wood in Ruislip Park Wood today. - Ched George

No Painted Lady migration at all today for the first time (when weather conditions have been suitable) for nearly a fortnight. Blackbirds Lane nr Radlett TL 14 00 - Large White, Painted Lady, Peacock & 2 Speckled Woods. Nearby at Bricket Wood Common during the weekly transect an Orange Tip female was ovipositing on Cuckoo-flower. ADDITION (behavioural note) to records for 19/5: the brassica sp on which the Large White was egg-laying was Charlock (easier to identify now it's in flower!). - Colin Everett

Aldbury Nowers, some sightings for today, including my first meadow brown of the year S1 - Meadow brown Common blue 2+ Small heath 2 S1/S2 Corridor Painted lady Common blue. S2 - Small heath. S2/S3 Corridor Speckled wood. S3 - Common blue Brown argus Small copper Orange tip Brimstone Painted lady. Coppice - Painted lady Common blue Brimstone. Area by coppice glade - 3 common blue. Key Butterfly Area - Brown argus Common blue Large skipper Orange tip. N1 - Brimstone - 3+ Common blue - Paul Thrush Reserve Officer

Horsenden Hill, low numbers overall. Warm and sunny (23C) with light breeze. I guess the Painted Lady migration is over in this area. My first Common Blues here too. (Does that mean the ones I saw last month at Denbies were just early?) Highlight is a freshly emerged Male Meadow Brown. I knew it would be an early start! This is probably my earliest ever sighting. 5x Male Common Blue (My firsts at Horsenden Hill of the year.) 3x Small Copper 1x Painted Lady 1x White 1x Burnet Companion 1x Meadow Brown! (Male, my first of the year. Seen at approx TQ158841) Plus lots of Swallows and blue Damselflies. - Mike Rubin

Highlights from Sundays tetrad bashing exercise. Generally lower numbers of butterflies from the previous weeks bonanza, However Plashies Farm (TL 3820) Common Blue colony found 4 males seen also Brimstone Potters Green (TL 3424) Common Blue 2, also another colony of Small Heath found on the golf course ( 4 individuals seen) and brimstone. Roman Road track between Great Munden and Cherry Green Large Whites (25) and Orange Tips still found. Nothing else of note. So far this year Small Heath seems to be doing well as we have located three new colonies that we didn't find at the same sites last year. (possibly due to the weather). Brimstone seems to be having a bumper year Holly blue - not so good. Were building up a reasonable picture for TL32 and TL42 now and should have them finished this year. One thing of note is that I still haven't seen a single larval web of peacock or small tortoishell. - Phil MacMurdie

Chimney Sweeper moths are now flying. 152! seen at Trent Park on Sunday 31st May also 3 Meadow Browns, 5 Burnet Companions, 8 Small Heath, Small Copper, a peacock, 4 Speckled Wood and a Large White but only 3 Painted Ladies - news via Diane Andrews

Monday 1st June
A female Duke of Burgundy was seen nectaring on chives in a garden near Tring on Saturday 30th May - news via John Murray

Moor Park station TQ 08 93 - Painted Lady flying N; Chorleywood Bottom TQ 02 95 - Painted Lady feeding on Red Valerian in garden; Chorleywood West TQ 01 95 - Painted Lady flying N (also Silver Y); Cassiobury Park TQ 09 96 - Speckled Wood; Leavesden Green traffic island nr Watford TQ 09 99 - Small Copper feeding on Ox-eye Daisy & 4 Common Blues. Finally, 600 metres outside the county in BUCKS a CLOUDED YELLOW paused briefly on Red Clover at Lodge Lane nr Chorleywood (I will send this record to the Upper Thames branch).- Colin Everett

Late afternoon at Commonwood.TL045002, 1 male orange tip, 1 blue, 1 painted lady,2 green veined whites and no coppers or skippers today. Hay field was cut so habitat changed from yesterday. 1 huge darter dragonfly libellula depressa hunting! - Elizabeth Debenham

HEXTON PIT--------3x Common blue males------3x Small Heath------4x Brimstone females--------2x GVWhite------1x Painted lady----5x Dingy skippers? ( not positively identified)---------and a pair of Turtle doves! LEMSFORD SPRINGS --- 1x Peacock female egg-laying on nettle Many GVWhites on watercress----Many Banded demoiselles male and female-----and one unidentified small buff tailed bumble bee mimic that flew like a hover fly? Kit Jones

There have been more sightings of Hornet Clearwings at the same site, a male and female on the 25th and a single male on the 26th. More moth news, whilst doing my transect on Saturday (Great Ashby Park)I was my first Silver Y, 100's of Burnet Companions and a few Mother Shipton. - Steve Lane (apologies to Steve but I didn't pick up his first Meadow Brown sighting on the 24th May)

Saw 2 Small Coppers at Shackledell Grassland, Stevenage today at about 1430 today - the first of the year. No Painted Ladies! Peter Clarke

Today: A quiet day on Horsenden Hill. June gap? At least the Large Skippers are coming out now. 4x Burnet Companion 3x Large Skipper (My firsts of the year.) 3x Whites (One of them was Green Veined.) 3x Speckled Wood 2x What looked like Chrysoteuchia culmella 1x Painted Lady (I guess they've all moved on) 1x Mother Shipton 1x Small Copper Lots of Green Oak Tortrixes on the north side. A few Horseflies in Batts field! They're back! And irritating as ever. Yesterday in Kenton: Watched 1 elderly looking and tatty Male Holly Blue settle nearby as I repotted some tomatos. No Painted Ladies! Mike Rubin

At Bricket Wood this morning either a possible cloudy yellow or a very bright brimstone just zipped through so impossible to tell for sure. Also around 5 painted ladys, 2 female brimstones 6 veined whites, 5 large whites 1 peacock, 1 Burnet Companion and also a slow worm - A J Steele

May 29th between 8pm-9pm at TL080055 Long Deans park,Bunkers Lane, Hemel Hempstead in the meadow full of oxeye daisies and birdsfoot trefoil.4-5 painted lady fewer than previous visit, 5 common blues, 2 straw dot moths. May 30th around 6pm visited Commonwood again. (TL045002) In Dellfield area 3 large skipper and later 1 pair dancing, 1 painted lady, 3 peacock, 2 speckled wood dancing,1 comma,3 blue (not sure which) 1 large white and a few unidentified whites. On to Aldbury Nowers between 7pm-9pm.1 painted lady,2 cinnabar moths, 5 common blues, one gloworm larva on path, 2 burnet cocoons and 1 burnet caterpillar ready to pupate. May 31st 5pm at Commonwood, near Dellfield we saw 2+ large skipper, 2-3 peacock, 1 or 2 blues, one danced with a small copper ,5 small coppers in the meadow settling on grass or buttercups.Finally a quick look at Long Deans oxeye meadow, no painted lady this evening, but 7 common blues resting. Straw dot and micro moths. - Elizabeth Debenham

May 2009

Sunday 31st May
The Painted Lady migration appears to be slowing, with smaller numbers today. Lye Lane derelict land nr Bricket Wood TL 12 03 - Brown Argus, 8 Common Blues including female ovipositing on Bird's-foot Trefoil & 2 Painted Ladies (also Burnet Companion); Noke Lane nr Chiswell Green TL 12 04 - Large White & Painted Lady flying W; Park Wood nr Chiswell Green TL 12 05 - female Orange Tip & Painted Lady flying NW; Bedmond Lane nr St Albans TL 12 06 - Painted Lady flying N & Speckled Wood (also Silver Y); nr Prae Wood nr St Albans TL 11 06 - 5 Painted Ladies flying N & Peacock; Millhouse Farm nr Bedmond TL 10 03 - Holly Blue, Painted Lady & Peacock; fields around M25 nr Bedmond TL 10 02 - Painted Lady & Peacock. ADDITION (behavioural note) to records for 25/5: Millhouse Farm nr Bedmond TL 10 03 - the crop in which the 100+ whites were recorded was a 9-hectare field of Garden Peas. - Colin Everett

Saturday 30th May
Last Thursday 28th May Tony Clancy and I saw a large skipper at Coppetts Wood. Then across the North Circular in St Pancras & Islington Cemetery, we found plenty of orange tip larvae, and eventually one well-grown white-letter hairstreak larva on wych elm. There's a good supply of elms through the cemetery dotted amongst all the limes etc. Numerous painted flying NW that day, including 100 NW through Crews Hill Cricket Ground in 19 minutes - Andrew Middleton

Some news for today (Saturday 30th May 2009) - 4 Common Blue, including a pair copulating, at Parkside Farm - on Res banking, 12:20 BST; 1 male Meadow Brown, at Parkside Farm - on Res banking, 12:23 BST - My first of the year! 2 Large Skipper, at Parkside Farm, 12:25 and 12:28 BST - My first for the year!; 1 Peacock, at Parkside Farm - on Res banking, 12:27 BST; 1 Cinnabar, set-aside field near Dew Pond, Trent Park. - Robert Callf

Friday 29th May
A few sightings for today (Friday 29th May 2009) - 1 Holly Blue, at South Lodge Cres., EN2, at 12:27 BST. 2 Speckled Wood, together, along bridle-path near Equestrian Centre, Trent Park, 12:34 BST. 1 Peacock, along Merryhills Brook at Vicarage Farm, 12:51 BST. 1 male Orange Tip, along Merryhills Brook at Vicarage Farm, 12;53 BST. 1 male Common Blue, along Merryhills Brook at Vicarage Farm, 12:54 BST. 1 male Orange Tip, near Duncan's Wood, 14:24 BST. 1 Speckled Wood, Icehouse Wood, Trent Park, 15:04 BST. Also yesterday (Thurs 28th May 2009), apart from a number of Painted Lady, saw a Peacock in Town Park, Enfield at 12:25 BST. - Robert Callf

Been away a week in Yorkshire. Could not understand what the large lightcoloured buterflies was whizzing past us on the Pennine moors about 1.300 ft high until I got home and saw on the website about the painted ladies. Saw three at Waterford Heath today and one at Rickneys, Saw 17 common blue at Waterford Heath most on south and 20 at Rickneys, Saw 1 small copper at Rickneys as well as 7 brown argus and two grizzleds at Waterford heath - Steve Kiln

Batford / weedy field TL1514 lunch time, this lunch time had 7 painted ladies pass through, nearby the weedy field, within 3 minutes. In the weedy I only had 3 painted ladies all together but did see 1 GREEN VEINED WHITE, 1m COMMON BLUE & 1 SMALL COPPER on the 29th and 10 painted ladies around the field around 1330. on the 28th May. - Darin Stanley

27th May; Midday one painted lady settled on the lawn in Kings Langley. At Commonwood mid evening saw one painted lady flying and one stuck to the road. 28th May at afternoon between 4 and 5.30pm in TL080056, Bunkers Lane, Hemel Hempstead north west side of road in field of ox eye daisies with much bird's foot trefoil we saw numerous 'small' blue butterflies and many painted ladies feeding and flying together...One burnet companion. Later between 8.30-9pm we saw a few very fast flying painted ladies settling briefly and one vibrating its wings; also micro moth crambus pratella and various others. - Elizabeth Debenham

The Painted Lady movement shows no sign of slowing, and for the first time since it began I have seen egg-laying - on thistles (probably Creeping Thistle) nr Radlett; although only one was seen at a time, I believe that several different females were ovipositing. Garston TL 11 00 - Painted Lady flying NW; Garston Park TL 12 00 - Painted Lady flying NW; nr Otterspool TQ 12 99 - Green-veined White, male Orange Tip, 20 Painted Ladies flying NW & Peacock (also Silver Y); Aldenham Golf Course TQ 13 98 - 2 Painted Ladies flying NW & 2 Speckled Woods; Round Bush nr Aldenham TQ 14 98 - Large White & 10 Painted Ladies flying NW; Batlers Green nr Radlett TQ 15 98 - Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Small Copper, 29 Painted Ladies flying N and NW & Peacock; Moses Dell nr Radlett TQ 16 98 - 11 Painted Ladies flying NW; Kendal Wood nr Radlett TQ 17 98 - Brown Argus, 2 Common Blues, 21 Painted Ladies (egg-laying, flying N and NW) & Speckled Wood; North Borehamwood TQ 18 98 - Large White, Green-veined White, male Orange Tip, 7 Painted Ladies flying NW & Speckled Wood; Wood Hall Farm nr Radlett TQ 18 99 - Large White, 12 Painted Ladies flying NW, Peacock & Speckled Wood; Wood Hall woods nr Radlett TQ 17 99 - Large White & 14 Painted Ladies flying NW; Blackbirds Farm nr Radlett TQ 14 99 - Speckled Wood; Blackbirds Lane nr Radlett TL 14 00 - Large White, Small White, Green-veined White & 6 Painted Ladies flying N; and finally Bricket Wood Common TL 13 00 - 5 Painted Ladies (1 N, 4 NW) (also Mother Shipton). CORRECTION to records for 25/5: grid ref for Millhouse Farm should be TL 10 03; ADDITION to records for 25/5: High Elms Lane nr Garston TL 11 01 - male Orange Tip. - Colin Everett

Thursday 28th May
Painted Lady migration continuing in the Watford area. Among nectar sources, Ox-eye Daisy and even Common Daisy were used, but planted Dogwood around the Watford Link Road was most popular; adjacent Elder and Dog Rose were entirely ignored. Garston TL 11 00 - Painted Lady; Garston Park TL 12 00 - 6 Painted Ladies flying N; The Gossamers nr Watford TQ 12 99 - 19 Painted Ladies (1 present, the rest N or NW); Woodmere Avenue nr Watford TQ 12 98 - 11 Painted Ladies flying N and NW; Busheymill TQ 11 98 - 2 Painted Ladies flying NW; Radlett Road nr Watford TQ 11 97 - 36+ Painted Ladies (half of these on Dogwood, three on Ox-eye Daisies, several on unidentified planted flowers on a roundabout, the rest flying NW) & Peacock; Fishers Field NR nr Bushey TQ 12 96 - male Brimstone, Common Blue, 56+ Painted Ladies (three present, the rest flying NW) & Speckled Wood; Watford Link Road TQ 11 96 - 75+ Painted Ladies (8 flying NW, the remainder all feeding on flowers of Dogwood). - Colin Everett

On the 28th May, at about 3.30, I estimate there being 200-300 painted ladies nectaring on a 20-metre-long strip of white-flowered bush on the north-west boundary of Barnet General Hospital, near the bus turning point. Andy Reynolds

Sunday 24th May have been off work for the last few days - we did some serious tetrad bashing on Sunday and managed to record 1060 butterflies in total - !!!!! including recording in the entire TL42 tetrad. the migration of painted ladies is interesting to view. had some lunch at a field near Braughing and plotted that there was a painted lady flying past approx every 20 seconds. all flying north no stopping for a pint in the local nectary either. of the total of 1060 butterflies 450 were Painted Ladies. Other highlights were finding a strong colony of Small Heaths at Bury Green (TL4420) and a high number of Brimstones 17 in 45 mins at Braughing (TL3824) and similar at Braughing Friars (TL4024). At Wareside the similar Painted Lady pattern emerges as our house overlooks the Ash Valley to the south the and the Painted Ladies seem to fly straight for us, over the house and beyond, although we now appear to have a resident population of 6 stop overs who nectar on a bush in the front garden. (still there this morning 28th) Monday 25th May elsewhere nothing too exciting, 6 Common Blues at the Dragonfly Walk at Amwell Nature Reserve - Phil MacMurdie

There were two Painted Ladies in my front garden on Tuesday morning, in Chorleywood. - Andy King

Clay Hill Cricket Field, Enfield, 100 painted ladies NW in 19 minutes, from 10.38am - Andrew Middleton

Painted ladies still coming through, about a dozen at Verulamium Park this morning and another 6 at Tyttenhanger later. Robin Pearson

Hemel Hempstead garden, Painted Ladies on Red Valerian in garden from 8.10 a.m.maximum three but a steady stream still flying north over the allotment where I was working between 9.20 and 11.25 a.m. I counted twenty three and certainly missed many more. Back home in the afternoon they were passing over the garden at a rate of one every few minutes. I have never seen anything like it! Malcolm Newland

I saw 3 Painted Ladies today on my transect between about 1115 and 1145. One was 'resting' and the other 2 were flying swiftly in a N direction but they previously stopped as well - Peter Clarke

Wednesday 27th May
News of a special Painted Lady timed survey this Saturday - 30th May. Click here for more details....

Tuesday 26th May
Thanks to everyone sending Painted Lady news and reports for the first time, sorry if I haven't acknowledged you personally

I was in Dorset on Sunday and they were coming in off the sea from the south at a rate of 700 to 800 per hour at the peak. Mark Sterling (news via John Murray)

Diane Andrews visited Ally Pally this afternoon from 3.30 for about 1 1/2 hours. It was a bit cloudy and breezy and her walk started at the top of the hill and covered two tetrads. In this time she saw 45 Painted Ladies (some more faded than others), 4 Silver Ys and 1 Red Admiral. Also seen were 2 Small Copper, 2 Common Blue, 7 Speckled Wood and 9 Burnet Companions.

Saw 3 painted ladies (not the masses reported elsewhere!) near Hillas Wood in Chorleywood on Monday pm. They were feeding not flying strongly but appeared to be heading westwards. Also saw a beautiful cinnabar moth and a couple of whites small or green-veined and a definite large white. Not a huge haul! But this is an under recorded area in Chorleywood West so it was a productive visit. TQ0096. - Ann Piper

Like everyone else, I've been enjoying seeing dozens (thousands?) of Painted Ladies flying through over the Bank holiday weekend. I saw one this morning too just after the rain stopped, nectaring on pansies in a windowbox in Stanwell Moor village. All of my Small Tortoiseshell chrysalids have now hatched - making a total of one sighting for each of the days 22nd to 25th inclusive. And I can guarantee these are different butterflies, not the same one four times! - Dave Miller

No sign of the Small Blue at Telegraph today so it's gone on its way. One Dingy there but not worn so possibly a different one from Darin. 3-4 Common Blue and 10+ Painted Lady in immediate area. Also plenty of Silver-Y's around as expected. The peak for Dingy appears to be over early this year (not totally surprising given the changeable weather). A roost count at Hexton produced just 8 hanging on for all they were worth in a strong breeze. Also 1 Large Skipper in my Bishops Stortford garden - Andrew Palmer

Painted Ladies seen crossing Mardley Heath in a north westerly direction on Sunday morning. We were not 100% sure what they were as they were moving rapidly , but when we later saw some feeding on our garden plants we realised. Very healthy looking too. Sue Stephens

Some news for yesterday (Monday 25th May 2009) - 2 Small Heath, together, at 'Old Golf Course', Trent Park, 12:27 BST; 1 Silver Y, 'Old Golf Course'; 1 Mother Shipton, 'Old Golf Course'; 2 Burnet Companion,(1 Old Golf Course', 1 near Water Grdn); 3, 2 males, 1 female, Common Blue, at 'Old Golf Course', Trent Park, 12:32 - 12:36 BST; 4 Silver Y, at Vicarage Farm; 1 male Orange Tip, near Fring Range, Vicarage Farm, 13:52 BST. Also lots of Painted Lady on migation - lost count. - Robert Callf

The migration continues despite overnight rain and a fresh breeze. They are coming through my garden at the rate of about one a minute still. - Robin Pearson

The Painted Lady migration through the Watford area continued: the morning was overcast and none were seen until noon, but thereafter movement was at least as intense as the previous day, with several per minute passing at times. Many were also pausing to feed: Californian Lilac bushes in the West Herts Crematorium at Garston resembled late summer Buddleias, with 30+ Painted Ladies jockeying for position; scanning the edges of Oilseed Rape fields revealed a feeding butterfly every few square metres; and other nectar sources included Red Campion, Meadow Buttercup, Creeping Buttercup, Wild Radish, Cow Parsley & Climbing Hydrangea. No Clouded Yellows, but Silver Y moths were starting to appear in the cereal fields by 4pm. All records as follows: fields around M25 nr Bedmond TL 10 02 - Large White, 13 Painted Ladies (12 flying NW, 1 present), Small Tortoiseshell (faded) & Peacock; Millhouse Farm nr Bedmond TL 11 03 - 100+ white spp over crop field, 2 Large Whites, 3 male Orange Tips, 30+ Painted Ladies (about 50% each migrating & feeding) & Peacock; Whitehouse Farm nr Bedmond TL 11 03 - 100+ white spp in 5-hectare spring-sown rape field (far fewer in winter rape), 3 Large Whites, Small White, 12+ Painted Ladies (2 feeding) & Peacock; Fortunes Farm nr Garston TL 10 01 - 2 Painted Ladies flying NW; in grid square TL 11 01, at least 17 Painted Ladies flying NW in about ten minutes near Garston Manor and 30+ feeding on border & climbing flowers (see above) in the crematorium; and finally Garston garden TL 11 00 - Painted Lady. - Colin Everett

Lots of Painted Ladies in Tring area yesterday. I also say Dingy, Green H. and Grizzled S. on Aldbury Nowers transect on Sat, so I'm happy. - Martin Hicks

At 0700 on Mon May 25th, on a walk across Lake Farm Country Park, Hayes in West London, I saw four Painted Ladies in the grass, which was surpising as it was still quite cold at that time of the morning. I went back at 1500 hrs to look for more in very warm sunshine. I counted 36 this time in a variety of habitats, including some sunning themselves on the Canal towpath. I then walked across the road to look in Stockley Business Park. One large office buidling down Furzegroung Road had a large car park with multiple bays, each individual bay bordered with a shrub with small white flowers, and which were in full flower. Every bush was covered with dozens of Painted Ladies, all nectaring. My total count was 85, but there were probably over a 100 here. Peter Naylor

North London, had Painted Lady on Red Valerian in front garden Wed 21st May - Tony Clancy

Monday 25th May Telegraph Hill 25.05.09: A brief visit to the site found me 1 SMALL BLUE (photo's to follow shortly), 1 Dingy Skipper (weathered), 1 Brown Argus, 2 Common Blues, 3 painted Ladies (on route toward the Hill). In light of seeing numerous small Blue's around one of the hot spots in beds for them, it was bound to occur in herts at some point this year. Glad I was there for it. Darin Stanley

Arrived in Jersey on 23rd May, large numbers of Painted ladies every day specially coastal regions. Numbers in high hundreds, afternoon sitting in the garden we could see up to 20 per minute. I thought it may be of interest to all. - Sezar Hikmet

Had a minimum of 81 Painted Ladies on Horsenden Hill yesterday afternoon (25th May) between 3.10 & 4.45pm, with 48 of these between 3.35 & 4.00 pm. The true numbers must have been much higher, site wide. After realising that there was a big increase in Painted Ladies since Saturday (where I only recorded 3 on the Horsenden West transect, for example), I stationed myself at Well Meadow (rear of Horsenden Farm) and counted 32 flying north in a 15 minute period. I then moved to Home Mead (a little further west) and counted 16 over the next 10 minutes. Most were not stopping - the odd one lingered briefly to nectar, but soon departed. Also had a couple of Silver Ys (along with 7 of those in a moth trap I ran at home the previous night). Wind was light east to southeast (locally) and it was quite warm (ca. 25C). Things really died down after about 4.30, coinciding with more overcast conditions and the odd spot of rain. Other butterflies included a couple of Orange-tip still hanging on, 5 Common Blues, 6 Speckled Wood, 1 Small Copper, 1 Peacock, 1 Burnet Companion and the three common whites in small numbers. - Andy Culshaw

5 painted butterfly in my garden all on one plant, never seen any since I moved here 6 years ago + 1 Red admiral - A J Steele

Radlett, am delighted to report 5 Painted Lady butterflies feeding on a Mexican Orange bush today. This is the most I have ever seen in our garden at one time in the last 28 years. Ginnie Parker

A massive movement of Painted Ladies all day here in Berkhamsted. It has been virtually continuous and they are still passing through at 7.30 pm despite the impending rain. Without exaggeration I must have seen hundreds pass through today. I have never seen anything like it before. Michael Anderson

On Sunday 24/5, I saw the following: Waterford Heath (South/North) (11:30-13:00 h): 4 Grizzled Skipper (1/3) 4 Painted Lady Common Blue 2 Brown Argus (2/0) Amwell (up to 11:00 h): 2 Painted Lady On Monday 25/5, I saw the following at Amwell (all day): 1 Orangetip 2 Holly Blue 2 Common Blue 25 Painted Lady Jan Hein

Sunday 24th May. Did my transect on The Warren (Colney Heath). 21 Painted Ladies heading fast east to west on & off transect in 50mins. Also relieved to see 4 Small Heath & 3 male Common Blue. Was beginning to think they might not show this year. Also today 25 May,1 Painted Lady over my garden in Hatfield & 3 over my allotment. Sorry to be slow in reporting. - John Moss

5pm on May 23rd,arriving at Aldbury Nowers. Brimstone 9 sightings over the south and north enclosures including the field tree line. 1 orange tip male in field. 2 large white or female brimstine, flying towards road along the avenue. In S2 and along the path between we saw 1 male orange tip,1 small heath, 1 battered peacock, 3 brimstones. On path to Northern enclosures we saw 1 orange tip. In the top north enclosure we saw 3 brimstone, 1 orange tip, 2 blue with brownish tint in flight which could have been brown argus, 1 brown argus identified for certain, 1 larger blue in flight. Highlight of the trip was seeing 2 painted lady butterflies still flying at 6.40pm and feeding on brambles. There was a hornet and a scorpion fly.1 pretty small orange yellow micromoth, either a hooktip or snout shape, (picture enclosed).Very pale damsels were seen in Northern slope, also 1 brown and yellow micromoth,pyrausta aurata. May 24th at Aldbury Nowers from about 6pm.1 Peacock in S1 area, possibly over a dozen small heath mainly in S1, a few brimstones, about 7 blues, 3 or more painted lady, about 7 orange tip of which at least one was female, 3 cinnabar moths in S1 just before 7pm. 1 hornet flew into hole in tree trunk in S1 near Grim's Ditch and emerged a few minutes later. On path between S1 and S2 there was 1 male orange tip. 1 scoparia arundinata micromoth on T shirt. In nettles in layby opposite Cow Lane near the A41 bypass, 2 scorched carpet moths. May 25th, 2pm -3.15pm in Commonwood area TL043002 we saw 1 blue probably the holly blue, which flew into holly and out of sight. There was 1 Silver y moth in grass. On dry path through meadow at least 1 orange tip, male, about 4 peacock butterflies,various whites of which 2 were definitely green veined whites on green alkanet and garlic mustard. Thrill of the day was seeing many painted lady butterflies often feeding on white clover in meadow, a pair of mating red damsels, 1 hornet. I have seen several this year in various places in Hertfordshire. Today 2 or 3 painted lady butterflies in Kings Langley.I saw none last year so this is exciting. - Elizabeth Debenham

Sun 24th May - Ruislip, 20+ Painted Lady seen heading north in 2 hours Mon 25th May - Ruislip, again dozens of Painted Lady heading north from late morning onwards. Along the River Pinn at Ruislip GC - 3 Brimstone, 3 Orange tip, 4 Speckled Wood, GV White, Common Blue, Peacock and Silver Y moth. Poors Field - Small Copper, Peacock, 2 GV White. Fields adjacent to Ruislip Lido car park - Small Copper, Burnet Companion and Silver Y moth. Steve Pash

THE RIDGEWAY ENFIELD EN2 30+ Painted lady ( very few males)----nectaring on Pyracantha blossom ( much preferred)-----also on mauve Hebe and one or two on Bramble------One on Californian lilac dark blue-----none on Red valerian--- chives--and other garden flowers Large white egglaying on nasturtion------- KIT JONES

The mass northward movement of Painted Ladies across Kenwood and Hampstead Heath has continued for the 3rd successive day. Today at 2.30pm on Week 8 of the Kenwood Transect I recorded 26 in the box (and 22 just outside the box). - Mike Taylor

Nothing much to report from Barnhill apart from the Painted Ladies. Not many seen at first but towards the end of the walk 2-3 a minute were seen. They carried on flying past even while I was walking the streets of Kenton. And another 5 when I glanced out into the garden when I got back. 57x and still counting: Painted Ladies. All over the place. Kenton and Barnhill. 13x Speckled Wood 10x Assorted Whites. 2x Silver Y 1x Large White in Kenton. 1x Male Orange Tip 1x Holly Blue 1x Unidentified Blue 1x Straw Dot 1x Unidentified Blue. 1x Burnet Companion Also 1 Broad Bodied Chaser, 1 suspected Emperor Dragonfly, and loads of Common blue / Azure damselflies. And a few too many feral human teenagers with mobiles blairing out tinny rap music, f'ing and blinding noisily to each other and spoiling the peace. Make that 67x painted ladies and counting. I saw another 10 fly past my window as I wrote this email and had a cuppa. Impressive for suburbia! Never seen so many Painted Ladies in one day in my whole life. And this count was within 3 hours. - Mike Rubin

2 x painted lady's at Hatfield Aerodrome, Hertfordshire, today - 25th may 09 - David Wheatcroft

A number of Painted Ladies in the oil-seed rape field in Kimpton Bottom this morning, I counted 5 but probably many more. Robin Pearson

Painted Lady on 23 May 2009 at 16:45, Nettleden Rd, Little Gaddesden - Dave Morris

I saw a couple of Painted Ladys in TL51C whilst doing bird survey work this morning around 6:30.. They seem to be active in the early morning whilst it is still cool. I need to go back later in the season and possibly later in the day when it is a little warmer. Chris Dee

Sunday 24th May
Small numbers of Painted Ladies heading north around Aston End and the river Beane-roughly one every five minutes, which is very similar to the rates I was getting on the East Kent Downs on the 23rd. Two Brimstone, two Small Tortoiseshell and six Peacock along the river, plus large numbers of Large and Small Whites. No blues or Small Heath yet. - Phil Bishop

Delighted to see the Painted Lady (and Clouded Yellow) reports today. I have just returned from the South Coast (Sussex and Hampshire) – saw a few PL on Saturday, but today have seen a continuous stream coming inland – gave up counting, as it was every couple of minutes for most of the day. Disappointed not to see a Clouded Yellow, but it looks like 2009 could be a ‘classic’ for butterfly (and presumably moth) migrations. Ian Small

Whilst walking on the underpass of the Monkswood Way/Broadhall Way roundabout in Stevenage, saw a dull-looking Painted Lady on the grassy bank on the NE corner at 1400 hrs yesterday (24 May) - my earliest sighting of this species. - Peter Clarke

The largest movement of Painted Ladies that I have seen in Herts since at least 1996 took place in the Watford area today. Movement was underway by 1000 hrs, initially to the N but from late morning onwards predominantly in a NW direction, and was still going strong when I stopped recording at 1730 hrs. For completeness' sake I give (in chronological order) all my records, which also included Brown Argus, Small Copper & Small Tortoiseshell. Kingswood nr Watford TL 10 00 - 3 Painted Ladies (1 feeding a.m., 2 flying NW p.m.); Furtherfield nr Abbots Langley TL 09 00 - male Orange Tip; Hunton Park nr Watford TL 08 00 - Painted Lady flying N; nr Berrybushes Wood TL 06 00 - 3 Large Whites, 2 Green-veined Whites, male Orange Tip & Painted Lady flying N; nr Bucks Hill TL 05 00 - Large White & Painted Lady flying N; Newhall Farm nr Sarratt TQ 05 99 - 2 Large Whites, Small White, 2 Green-veined Whites, 2 Brown Argus, 3 Painted Ladies flying N & Peacock; Micklefield Green nr Sarratt - 2 Large Whites, 2 Green-veined Whites, total of 20+ Painted Ladies (1 N, 19 NW, 1 feeding on buttercup sp), 2 Peacocks & Speckled Wood (also Mother Shipton); Church End nr Sarratt TQ 03 98 - Small Copper & 2 Painted Ladies flying NW; Chorleywood House estate TQ 03 97 - Green-veined White, male Orange Tip & 3 Painted Ladies flying NW; Solesbridge Lane nr Sarratt TQ 04 97 - 2 Painted Ladies flying NW; Micklefield Hall nr Sarratt TQ 05 97 - 6 Painted Ladies flying NW & Small Tortoiseshell; Model Farm nr Croxley Green TQ 06 97 - 2 Large Whites, 3 Painted Ladies flying NW & Peacock; Croxley Green TQ 06 96 - Peacock & 2 Speckled Woods; Little Green Lane nr Croxley Green TQ 07 96 - Large White & Painted Lady flying NW; Rousebarn Lane nr Watford TQ 08 96 - 2 Painted Ladies flying NW, Peacock & Speckled Wood; Hempstead Road nr Watford TQ 09 98 - Painted Lady flying NW & Peacock; Courtlands Drive nr Watford TQ 09 98 - 3 Painted Ladies feeding on garden flowers; Leavesden Green nr Watford TQ 09 99 - Painted Lady flying NW; and finally Woodside nr Watford TL 11 00 - 4 Painted Ladies flying NW. - Colin Everett

Many Painted Ladies flying NW across Royston/Therfield Heath. I counted at least 40 flying past me in less than an hour as I sat on Church Hill between 3 and 4 this very sunny afternoon. They flew past briskly at 2 – 4 feet following the contour of the land over the Golf Course and the A505 in a NW direction. Randy Drew

21 Painted Ladies flying in a NW direction between Enfield Hill and Winchmore Hill along the New River Walk today - Diane Andrews

24th May. (Great Ashby Park and surrounding farmland), 8 Painted Ladies, 1 Meadow Brown, 3 Common Blue, 3 Peacocks, plus Orangetips and lots of Whites. Dozens of Burnet Companion and a few Mother Shiptons. This morning I had 2 Hornet Clearwings in Waitrose cark park in Stevenage Old Town. Photo attached. - Steve Lane

I know it's just in Bucks but visited Church End Quarry between 9 and 10 this morning and thought I'd report at least half a dozen dingy skippers, a couple of small heaths and many small (20+) and common blues. Also one painted lady (my first) so got excited, and have been watching them cross the garden in Tring throughout the rest of the day! No sign of the clouded yellow this far west though. Colin Sturges.

3 x Painted Ladies confirmed on my Bunkers Park transect this pm, Sunday 24 May: two other probables seen flying fast in roughly NW direction. Michael Pearson

Lots of Large, Small and Green Veined Whites together with many Orange Tips mainly nectaring on Sweet Rocket, but forewarned by a Sussex friend of a Painted Lady "invasion" I kept a lookout and saw three at intervals all flying strongly in a northerly direction over the garden. Almost made up for not seeing one last year. - Malcolm Newland

Tony Moverley has just got back from Basildon (Essex) from where he reports a large immigration of Painted Ladies on the same scale as the Clouded Yellows I mentioned earlier. Only Clouded Yellow just flew past my window in Bishops Stortford. (4th June 2009 - please note that the invasion of Clouded Yellows has now been accepted as a mistake and should have been Painted Ladies) Where there's butterflies there will probably be moths - so traps out tonight please for night 4 of the 5 European Moth Nights. Colin Plant

CLOUDED YELLOW BUTTERFLIES - Massive migration taking place now (3pm) in the North Essex/Hertfordshire border area - ones and twos have been passing over the Crishall area of Essex every few minutes for the past several hours. (4th June 2009 - please note that the invasion of Clouded Yellows has now been accepted as a mistake and should have been Painted Ladies) Colin Plant

A very large movement of Painted Ladies has been crossing Kenwood and Hampstead Heath since late yesterday afternoon (Saturday 23rd) and continuing today. As I write this, at 2.20pm, I would describe their movement as a conspicuous and constant procession coming from the south and heading north. - Mike Taylor

Brent Reservoir: 63 Painted Ladies flew north between 08.00-11.30 Andrew Self

Sunday A.M. Bishop's Stortford, on a walk on a farm track betweem Farnham road and Wickham Hall a very large number of Painted Lady's on migration moving N.W.flying extremley fast, counted at least 200 in the space of half an hour. Jim Fish

Wonderful to see the Painted Ladies back again after no sightings in the garden for four years. Two in the garden in Hayes on Sunday 24th May. Helen George.

In Kenton, TQ18, this morning, about 9:50AM I looked out my window and saw 4 painted ladies in as many minutes fly past at speed, all roughly Southeast to Northwest. They generally seemed pretty faded from what I could glimpse but no doubt about the ID. - Mike Rubin

Returning home with my Sunday paper this morning at about 8.30 a.m., I was delighted to see a Painted Lady by our front door in Rosedale, Cheshunt Initially it flew up and down the road before settling on our osteospermum which was fully open in the bright sunshine. - Roger Newbold

Saturday 23rd May
Clearly a large movement of Painted Ladies taking place. North Bovingdon TL 01 04 - female Brimstone, Green-veined White & male Orange Tip; Bourne End Lane nr Bovingdon TL 01 05 - 85+ white spp visible in c20 hectares of spring-sown rape, Large White ovipositing therein, Small White ditto, 2 Green-veined Whites, male Orange Tip, Holly Blue, Painted Lady flying N & 2 Peacocks; Bovingdon Green TL 01 02 Red Admiral & Speckled Wood; Hogpits Bottom nr Flaunden TL 01 01 - male Orange Tip; near Belsize TL 02 01 - Large White, 2 territorial Painted Ladies at edge of rape field & Peacock; Cottingham Farm nr Bulstrode TL 02 02 - Large White, Green-veined White, male Orange Tip & Painted Lady; Tower Hill nr Chipperfield TL 03 02 - Peacock; Bulstrode Lane nr Chipperfield TL 04 03 - Large White; Featherbed Lane nr Apsley TL 05 05 - Painted Lady flying N nr A41; Felden TL 04 05 - male Orange Tip; and finally Watford Junction station TQ 11 97 - Painted Lady. Friday 22nd May Moor Park estate TQ 08 93 - Holly Blue & 2 Speckled Woods; Sandy Lodge Golf Course TQ 09 93 - Green-veined White & 2 Peacocks. Thursday 21st May Dell Wood nr Whippendell Wood TQ 07 97 - 2 Painted Ladies flying N; Long Newland's Spring nearby TQ 07 96 - 2 Speckled Wood. Wednesday 20th May Incidental recording of common species around the border between Herts & Middx. HERTS Watford Metropolitan station - Large White; MIDDX French Grove nr Northwood TQ 07 91 - 2 Green-veined Whites & Peacock; MIDDX E Harefield TQ 06 90 - Large White & male Orange Tip; MIDDX Copse Wood nr Northwood TQ 08 90 - Green-veined White & male Orange Tip. Tuesday 19th May Munden Spring nr Bricket Wood TQ 12 99 - Large White ovipositing on brassica sp (not yet identified) & Peacock. Also during Bricket Wood Common weekly transect records included a Red Admiral & two female Brimstones ovipositing on Alder Buckthorns - Colin Everett

22 Brimstones at Bricket Wood Common this morning - all female 17 Common Blues at Park St - all but one were males. Also at Park St Small Heath (11), Brown Argus (2) Small Copper (7) & a Cream Wave. Also saw a couple of Painted Ladies this morning & a Silver Y moth. A few Peacocks, Orange Tips & Speckled Woods still out & about, but numbers are well down on last week. - Malcolm Hull

Aldbury Nowers, much more success today in warm hazy sunshine, 4 Grizzled Skippers, 2 Dingy Skippers, 1 Brown Argus, 1 Small Copper, several of Common Blue, Small Heath plus all the commoner varieties. - Robin Pearson

Some news for today (Saturday 23rd May 2009) - 1 male Commonn Blue, at 'Barracks', Vicarage Farm, 10:43 BST; 1 Painted Lady, at Parkside Farm, 11:42 BST; 1 Latticed Heath, at Parkside Farm, on Res banking - First for the year! 2 Cinnabar, at Parkside Farm, on Res banking - First for the year! 2+ Burnet Companion, at Parkside Farm, on Res banking; 2 male Common Blue, at Parkside Farm, on Res banking; 2 imm Black-tailed Skimmer, at Parkside Farm, on Res banking - First for the year! 2 Peacock, at Park Farm, 12:17 BST and 12:31 BST; 2 Small White, together, at Park Farm, 12:17 BST; 1 Brown Silver-line Moth, near Moat Wood - First for the year! 2 male Orange Tip, together, along Merryhills Brook at South Lodge Farm, 13:44 BST; 1 Peacock, along Merryhills Brook at South Lodge Farm, 13:51 BST; 5 Silver Y, at Vicarage Farm; 1 Small Copper, along Merryhills Brook at Vicarage Farm, 13:59 BST; 1 Painted Lady, at Vicarage Farm, 14:06 BST. Also saw two Mother Shipton - 1 at Vicarage Farm and 1 in set-aside field near Dew Pond, Trent Park. Also at least 11 Red-eyed Damselfy, on Lily pads, Upper Lake, Trent Park, including mating pairs - First of the year!- Robert Callf

Yesterday (22nd) late afternoon I ambled along my usual walk to Junction 14 and back. It was warm, but not very sunny, but I managed to see a Holly Blue, Large Whites (2), Green-veined Whites (2), a single Orange Tip (male) and a Comma (in reasonable shape, considering its age). All the Peacocks seem to have gone. When I got home, one of my Small Tortoiseshell chrysalids had hatched, and the butterfly set off energetically from the windowsill towards the Airport. This morning, there was another one - two more to go. Then on arrival at my office (on the A4 Bath Road north of Heathrow) at about 2pm, a Painted Lady flew across the car park. The first I've seen hereabouts this year (though I saw lots on the cliffs at Dover last Monday). - Dave Miller

Friday 22nd May
Some news for today (Friday 22nd May 2009) - 1 male Orange Tip, at Parkside Farm, 11:24 BST; 1 male Orange Tip, at Park Farm, Enfield, 12:04 BST; 1 Straw Dot, at Parkside Farm - my first of the year! 1 male Common Blue, at Parkside Farm, on Res banking, 11:40 BST; 2 Burnet Companion, at Parkside Farm, on Res banking; 1 Burnet Companion, at Park Farm; 1 Small Tortoiseshell, at Park Farm, 11:56 BST; 2 Peacock, at Park Farm, 12:09 BST and 12:31 BST; 2 male Orange Tip, together, along Merryhills Brook at South Lodge Farm, 13:52 BST; 1 Peacock, along Merryhills Brook at Vicarafge Farm, 13:58 BST. - Robert Callf

Oakhill Woods LNR, Large White Female -egglaying -nasturtion- Green veined white--egg laying -garlic mustard--------I x Brimstone-- on Alder buckthorn-------2x Peacock------Myriads Speckled woods--------- KIT JONES

20th May I saw 4 huge drinker moth caterpillars in Kings Langley, TL0503.They were the length of my middle finger. They were in tall grass at edge of field and newly cropped verge.I hope no others had been destroyed in the process. The evening was cool just before sunset. Weather was warm and calm on 21st May at about 7pm when we saw 3 or 4 small heath and 1 green carpet moth on S1 at Aldbury Nowers. On the field hedgeline we saw 3 or 4 cinebar just before sunset at about 8.30pm and more than one green carpet moth. A gloworm was on path leading down from Duchie's Piece. Under the single tree which I think is a whitebeam I saw a large creamy beige moth which flew before I identified it. 22 May in Kings Langley TL0503 at 5.30pm weather very windy and sun behind clouds. Saw a female orange tip which came to rest on cow parsley. Very well disguised. 6.30pm saw a micromoth alabonia geoffrella under oaks in ground cover plants. Still windy. - Elizabeth Debenham

Thursday 21st May
Here are a few sightings for today (Thurs 21st May 2009) - 3 male Common Blue, at 'Old Golf Course', Trent Park, between 11:30 - 11:39 BST; 2 Small Heath, at 'Old Golf Course', between 11:33 - 11:38 BST; 2 Green-veined White, together, at Williams Wood, Trent Park, 12:10 BST; 1 male Orange Tip, along Leeging Beech Gutter near Stables, at Vicarage Farm, 12:31 BST; 1 male Common Blue, along Leeging Beech Gutter near Stables, at Vicarage Farm, 12:35 BST; 1 Peacock, along track, Hog Hill, at Vicarage Farm, 12:40 BST; 2 Silver Y, at Vicarage Farm. Also saw a Burnet Companion at the 'Old Golf Course', Trent Park today - Robert Callf

Had a Painted Lady in my garden adjoining Horsenden Hill last night, 20th May. - Andy Culshaw

Horsenden Hill today - not hard to improve on yesterday. A cloud street overhead kept throwing cloud shadow across me but it was warm enough and enough sporadic sunshine to keep things active. Woo hoo Painted Lady! No idea how faded it was but still had a definite salmony colour to it in flight. And surprised to find 2 Peacocks and even a Comma still alive in the field north of Batts. 6x Small Copper (One very fresh - female? The rest all rather faded but still spritely.) 6x Assorted Whites (including 1 each definite of Green Veined and Small). 2x Peacock (Got a close look at one basking under cloud shadow. Still looks fresh! No damage at all. Must be a female?) 2x Speckled Wood (both faded and elderly.) 1x PAINTED LADY! (My 1st of the year, flying past fast and purposefully. Enough of a salmony colour to make the ID 100%) 1x Comma (Elderly and faded but reasonably undamaged - my bet is female) - Mike Rubin

During a wander around Balls Wood yesterday saw many of the usual suspects - Green-veined White, Orange Tip, Speckled Wood, Peacock and then settled in front of us.........a Large Skipper!!! Must be about a month early - Alan Reynolds

Yesterday 20th May at Maple Cross large whites 7, Green-veined whites 5, Orange tip. Also at my garden at Ickenham Peacock 2, Holly blue, Large white 3, Comma, Orange tip . - Sezar Hikmet

News from 18 May 2009 Wood Lane, Pirton TL140310 transect - Small Copper and 19 May 2009 Hitchin garden Painted Lady - seen for approx. 10 minutes at approx. 12.45 pm - Val Fullforth

Wednesday 20th May
This afternoon (20th May) I walked along a stretch of the River Pinn at Ruislip GC. There was a fair bit of butterfly activity with Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Peacock, 3 Orange-tip, 2 Speckled wood, GV & Small white, 2 Small Copper and Common Blue all recorded.. Steve Pash

News from Diane Andrews. Spent the day at Aldbury Nowers but the sun didn't shine until about 3 o'clock. 3 Green Hairstreak, 7 Dingy Skipper and 4 Grizzled Skipper were the highlights. Also 3 Small Heath, 2 Brown Argus, 11 Common Blue, 1 Small Copper, 8 Brimstone, 6 Cinnabar moths, 1 Small White, 3 Large Whites, 8 Green-veined White, 7 Orange Tips, 1 Comma, 1 Speckled Wood, 3 Common Carpet moths, 3 Small Yellow Underwings and 1 Mother Shipton.

My first visit to Aldbury Nowers so probably looked in all the wrong places. Quite a few Small Heaths and Small Coppers and a Cinnabar Moth were the highlights. - Robin Pearson

Horsenden Hill, given it was warm (17C), bright (some sun but a fair bit of thin cloud) and not too windy I thought there would be plenty. But this turned out to be a very poor lunchtime walk. Still atleast the count wasn't zero and it wasn't a depressing damp gloom... 3x Speckled Wood 2x Burnet Companion 1x Peacock 1x Small Copper 1x Mother Shipton (My first ever at Horsenden Hill) 1x Nettle Tap 1x Green Veined White 1x Unidentified moth with black thorax with white border, brown abdomen. I guess the Orange Tips have finished now. Interesting to see the odd Peacock hanging on still. All the Speckled Woods were very faded. Hoping the next brood will replenish them soon. - Mike Rubin

Had a walk over Pymmes Park, Edmonton with MIND in Enfield today (Weds 20th May 2009) and saw a Speckled Wood in the Wildlife Garden and a Silver Y and Painted Lady in the walled garden. - Robert Callf

Ridgeway, Enfield, PAINTED LADY X3-----PEACOCK X1 -nectaring on lilac-SYRINGA MICROPHYLLA----------2x O TIp males-----2x Holly Blue Kit Jones

Tuesday 19th May
1 Painted Lady in our Bishop's Stortford garden this afternoon. - Mary Moverley

Monday 18th May
In very blustery conditions 17 Grizzled Skipper were found across the north pit at Waterford this morning, and a further 5 on the south pit but by then conditions had got worse! Also seen were Latticed Heath, Burnet Companion, Common Blue and Brown Argus as well as a Silver Y and Andrew found a Grizzled egg on Common Agrimony. Later whilst visiting a nearby area, we found nearly 60 Common Blue either roosting or easily disturbed from low vegetation. Also 11 Brown Argus and 1 Small Heath - Liz Goodyear and Andrew Middleton

1 Painted Lady between Green Tye and Allens Green, south of Stortford this morning (18 May 2009) - Chris Dee

Horsenden Hill - Too windy! Not that the Small Coppers seemed to mind too much. 7x Small Copper 2x Suspected Burnet Companion but not sure. 1x Peacock 1x Female Small White 1x Very faded Speckled Wood. - Mike Rubin

Just to let you know that the orange tip in my last report has been classified by Pete Eeles as "possibly qualifies this as an aberration (antiquincunx)" - Sezar Hikmet

Sunday 17th May
Sunday P.M. Bishop's Stortford, Painted Lady on track west of Bloodhounds wood 15.15hrs, being buffeted by strong winds. Jim Fish

Briefly today there was a painted lady in my Kimpton garden. Struggling in very gusty winds it was soon off. Robin Smith

Saturday 16th May
A male Orange Tip near Gorhambury House TL 11 07 was the only butterfly identified during my walk around this estate near St Albans in blustery conditions. Also a late record for Sunday 10th May: a male Orange Tip at Fishers Field NR near Bushey TQ 12 96. - Colin Everett

One Painted Lady was the highlight at Amwell today. Also Common Blue (1 female), Orange Tip (5), Large White (1), Green-veined White (1) - Jan Hein van Steenis

News for today (Saturday 16th May 2009) - 2 male Common Blue, at Parkside Farm, on Res banking, 11:40 BST - my first of the year; 1 Painted Lady, at Park Farm, 11:52 BST; 1 Small Yellow Underwing, at Park Farm; 1 Burnet Companion, set-aside field near Dew Pond, Trent Park - my first of the year! - Robert Callf

Friday 15th May
After a possible sighting yesterday at Parkside Farm, saw a definite Painted Lady at Vicarage Farm, Enfield today (Friday 15th May 2009) at 14:29 BST - settled. - Robert Callf

Ahh man there was a Lime Hawk Moth sitting next to the intercom on the back security gate at Kellogg Tower this morning. Was so tempted to try and photograph it but couldn't. (And light levels were awful.) That's only my 2nd Lime Hawk Moth, the first being in June 2004 in the West Drayton area. I might well be tempted to go look for it at 11AM when I finish up here. - Mike Rubin

Thursday 14th May
Today at home Ickenham two male orange tips. This year appears to be a good year for orange tip butterflies. Sezar Hikmet

News for today (Thursday 14th May 2009) - 1 Speckled Wood, at Parkside Farm, Enfield at 12:52 BST; 2 Speckled Wood, at Park Farm, Enfield, 12:58 and 13:15 BST. 2 male Orange Tip, at Park Farm, Enfield, 13:03 BST and 13:22 BST. 1 Green-veined White, at Park Farm, 13:05 BST. 2 Mother Shipton, at Park Farm, Enfield, 13:05 and 13:09 BST. 1 Large White, near Duncan's Wood, 13:20 BST. 3 Green-veined White, near Dew Pond, Trent Park, 14:27 BST. 1 male Orange Tip, edge of Wiliams Wood, Trent Pak, 14:30 BST. 1 Small White, along Merryhills Brook/Vicarage Farm, 14:42 BST. 1 male Orange Tip, along Merryhills Brook/Vicarage arm, 14:51 BST. 2 Large White, along Merryhills Brook/Vicarage Farm, 14:55 BST. 1 Peacock, at 'Barracks', Vicarage Farm, 15:06 BST. Robert Callf

Wednesday 13th May
The only lepidoptera seen today (Wednesday 13th May 2009) was a Brimstone moth at the 'Barracks', Vicarage Farm, Enfield at 14:15 BST. - Robert Callf

Records-Mon 11th May 12 noon -Waterford Heath---------3xGrizzled Skips-1xSpeckled Wood,----1x Brimstone---1x Peacck- 2xCommon blue---1xSmall copper- South Quarry Kit Jones

I am a member of Norfolk BC branch. I am also a specialist natural history book dealer, and wonder if any of your members may be interested in knowing about the country's largest natural history book fair, taking place this Sunday, 17 May, at Capel Manor Gardens in Enfield. It is organised by the PBFA ( www.pbfa.org), and is open from 10 to 4, admission £1, refreshments, and two for the price of one admission to the gardens is also available to anyone attending the fair. I will have a stall which includes a range of books on lepidoptera and insects. There is also a specialst butterfly book dealer attending, Aurelian Books. Thank you - Michael Sweeney (Michael Sweeney Books) (Don't forget it's also Rickmansworth Environmental Fair this weekend!)

Tuesday 12th May
Today (Tuesday 12th) I saw my first Small Copper of the year on Poors Field. Also 2 male Orange-tip, 3 Speckled Wood, GV White, Comma and 2 Peacocks. On Saturday 9th along a stretch of the River Pinn at Ruislip GC I saw a Small Tortoiseshell, numerous Orange-tip, Large White, GV White, Comma, 4 Peacock and a male Brimstone. - Steve Pash

Horsenden Hill meadows, I guess the wind was the limiting factor again. 15/16C bright and sunny through the thin high cloud but another windy day. 5x White (I think they were all Green Veined) 3x Peacock 3x Speckled Wood 3x Small Copper 1x Small Yellow Underwing. http://piccies.flybywire.org.uk/ButterfliesMoths/2009/20090506/DeadOrangeTip.jpg - look away now if you are squeamish... - Mike Rubin

News for today (Tues 12th May 2009) - 1 Peacock, along Leeging Beech Gutter near Water Grdn., 11:15 BST; 1 Small White, near Water Grdn., 11:25 BST; 1 male Orange Tip, Rough Lot, 12:05 BST; 1 Green-veined White, Rough Lot, 12:05 BST; 1 Comma, aroung nettles, edge of Ichouse Wood, 12:33 BST; 1 male Orange Tip, edge of Icehouse Wood, 12:34 BST; 1 male Orange Tip, edge of Williams Wood, 12:45 BST; 1 Green-veined White, edge of Williams Wood, 12:45 BST. Robert Callf

Today at Maple Cross 6 Green-veined whites. At Denham Quarry Orange tip Male 1, Orange tip female 2.- Sezar Hikmet

Monday 11th May
Small Copper seen in Central Watford today by me on Monday 11th May; the first I've ever seen in the middle of the town - Dave Chandler

Spent about an hour on the Tring Park escarpment from 2:00 - 3:00 this afternoon. Sunny and warm as it was mostly sheltered from the breeze but nothing smaller than orange tips on what you might call the "vertical" path and likewise on the "diagonal" path. There were brimstones and large (and 'smaller') whites about but I was taking such a time that I expect I was seeing the same few. Just about to give up when I spotted a pair of male dingy skippers fighting in the rough patch right at the bottom, next to the gate - Colin Sturges

Three Dingy Skippers at Hexton Chalk Pits this morning - Nigel Agar

Horsenden Hill today, sunny, 16C and rather windy. The wind kept the butterflies subdued alas. Fairly boring walk other than the same bluebell spot again where the same white crab spider on the same bluebell that caught last week's orange tip this time had its fangs sunk into a small bee. It's next door neighbour however had caught a female green veined white which was dangling on a web wearing said spider like a necklace and last small leg movements before death poor thing while rotating in the breeze. 12x Whites (Mostly Green Veined, one Female of which was freshly caught by a crab spider and just about dead. One definite Large White. One suspected female orange tip.) 4x Small Copper 4x Speckled Wood 1x Holly Blue 1x Male Orange Tip. 1x unidentified large brown fast moving lep. 1x Burnet Companion. Zero Peacocks! Have the 2008 brood finished now? - Mike Rubin

News for yesterday (Sunday 10th May 2009) - 1 male Orange Tip, Sect.5, 'New Fields', 10:41 BST; 3 Small Heath, 'New Fields', between 10:44 - 10:48 BST - My first for the year; 1 Small Copper, Sect.5, 'New Fields', 10:45 BST; 1 male Orange Tip, edge of Church Wood, 10:53 BST; 1 Peacock, at Hog Hill, Vicarage Farm, 12:16 BST; 1 male Orange Tip, at 'Barracks', Vicarage Farm, 12:27 bst; 1 Peacock, Sidhil's Field, Vicarage Farm, 12:41 BST. News for today (Monday 11th May 2009) - 1 Green-veined White, along Leeging Beech Gutter near Stables, at Vicarage Farm, 11:08 BST; 1 Peacock, along Leeging Beech Gutter near Stables, at Vicarage Farm, 11:10 BST; 1 Green-veined White, at Parkside Farm, 11:15 BST; 1 Large White, at Park Farm, 11:43 BST; 1 Green-veined White, near Duncan's Wood, 11:55 BST; 1 Peacock, at Park Farm, 12:02 BST; 1 Large White, near Obelisk, Trent Park, 12:09 BST; 1 Green-veined White, Water Grdn., Trent Park, 12:33 BST; 1 Green-veined White, along Leeging Beech Gutter near 'Three-bridges', Trent Park, 12:39 BST; 1 Large White, S edge of Williams Wood, Trent Park, 12:57 BST. Also saw my first female/immature Broad-bodied Chaser of the year, along Leeging Beech Gutter near 'Three-bridges', Trent Park, 12:40 BST. Robert Callf

Sunday 10th May
Plenty of whites along the river Beane-mainly Small White and Orange Tip, but two Green Vein White and a single Large White, also least three Brimstone. Four Peacock, and one Small Tortoiseshell. Single Painted Lady at Chells Manor - Phil Bishop

Saturday - One very large white at Butterfly World, Noke Lane Chiswell Green, St Albans. The very first branch work party at Butterfly World helped the creation of Ivan Hicks Theatre of Insects, part of the Future Gardens complex. We also had a short guided tour around the site with Angela Harkness, the development director. Although the site still looks bare, thousands of butterfly attracting plants & seeds are being planted, ready for the big opening on June 5th - see link attached. http://www.ivanhicks.co.uk/portfolio45299.htmlThere will be other working parties and opportunities to visit the site in coming weeks. Details will be posted on the website, but if you are interested in helping, or just finding out more, contact Malcolm Hull at malcolmhull@ntlworld.com

Sunday - am Park Street, near St Albans - 6 Small Copper, Common Blue, Painted Lady, Peacock, speckled Wood, Orange Tip, Large Whitepm - Branch Field Trip to Aldbury Nowers near Tring - a bumper turnout of 36 butterfly spotters recorded a total of 13 butterfly species Dingy Skipper (14), Grizzled Skipper (2), Green Hairstreak (3), Brown Argus (9), Small Copper (2), Small Heath (6), Common Blue (5), Brimstone(25), Orange Tip(14), as well as assorted Speckled Woods, Peacocks, Large & Green-veined Whites. Moths included Treble Bar, Common & Green Carpet, Mother Shipton, Mint & Cinnabar. I also saw common blue damselfly, my first damsel of the year. It was good to find Green Hairstreak and Grizzled Skipper again after these were absent from last years trip. The most encouraging news is that the rarer butterflies have spread throughout the site, colonising the areas where topsoil was removed, with 8 of the Dingy Skippers being recorded in area N1 - Malcolm Hull

After going to Aldbury Nowers (very good tour),went up to Waterford heath today 5pm. In late sun. 20 grizzled skippers plus, 1 common blue, 2 small coppers, 2 brown argus, 1 small heath and peacocks and whites on south pit on eastern bank - Steve Kiln

Fir and Pond Woods NR HMWT......Sunday 10th PM Casual observations Speckled woods, peacock, green veined whites, orange tips, 3 small coppers, 1 small heath, comma, small whites, 1 holly blue. - David Gompertz

Incidental recording of common species in hectad TQ19. Near Watford TQ 12 99 - male Orange Tip; near Otterspool TQ 13 99 - 2 Green-veined Whites (including one feeding on Herb Robert flowers); Aldenham Golf Course TQ 13 98 - 2 male Orange Tips & Speckled Wood; near Round Bush TQ 14 98 - male Orange Tip & Speckled Wood; Letchmore Heath TQ 15 97 - Large White, 3 Orange Tips (including pair courting), female Holly Blue, 7 Peacocks & Speckled Wood; near Elstree Aerodrome TQ 15 96 - Peacock & Small Tortoiseshell; nr Patchetts Green TQ 14 97 - Green-veined White, 3 Peacocks & Speckled Wood. - Colin Everett

Saturday 9th May
Incidental recording of common species in the Bovingdon & Flaunden areas. Bovingdon Green pond TL 01 02 - Speckled Wood; Shantock Hall Lane area nr Bovingdon TL 00 02 - Large White, 3 Green-veined Whites, 2 male Orange Tips, Holly Blue, Peacock & 3 Speckled Woods; nr Flaunden TL 01 01 - Green-veined White (ovipositing on Garlic Mustard) & Peacock; Flaunden TL 01 00 - Green-veined White & Speckled Wood; Martin Top Farm nr Chenies TQ 01 99 - Large White, male Orange Tip, male Brimstone & Peacock; Cottingham Farm nr Bulstrode TL 02 02 - Peacock; nr Bulstrode TL 03 02 - Peacock. - Colin Everett

Waterford Field trip am, bit cool, 9 grizzled skippers north pit, 9 grizzleds south pit bank, total 2 peacock, 3 large whites, 2 brown argus, 3 latticed heath, 2 burnet companion, 1 mother shipton, 1 small heath. Frogmore pm in better weather - 2 small coppers, 2 orange tips, 6 common blues, 9 brown argus, 2 small heaths, 23 grizzled skippers (9 west bramble bank, 8 NW, 6 NE area) - Diane Andrews, Tristan Bantock, Andrew Middleton

Some sightings for today (Saturday 9th May 2009) include the following: 1 female Pale Tussock, in set-aside field N of Williams Wood; 1 male Orange Tip, edge of Moat Wood, 12:42 BST; 1 Small Copper, 'Old Golf Course', Trent Park, 12:53 BST - First for the year! 1 male Orange Tip, Icehouse Wood, 13:18 BST; 1 Green-veined White, Uni-lawns, 13:19 BST; 1 male Orange Tip, along Merryhills Brook / South Lodge Farm, 13:38 BST; 1 Large White, along Merryhills Brook / South Lodge Farm, 13:41 BST; 2, male and female, Orange Tip, together, along Merryhills Brook at Vicarage Farm, 13:47 BST; 1 Peacock, along Merryhills Brook at Vicarage Farm, 13:52 BST. - Robert Callf

Friday 8th May
Blowy day, in Broxbourne, in ride 4 speckled wood and 3 green veined white - Steve Kiln

Thursday 7th May: Records of common species from sites near Hemel Hempstead. Piccotts End area TL 05 09 - Large White, female Small White ovipositing on oilseed rape, 3 Green-veined Whites, 5 Orange Tips (including 1 female) & Peacock; Picotts End Pools TL 04 09 - Peacock & Speckled Wood; Furtherfield near Abbots Langley TL 09 00 - Speckled Wood. Wednesday 6th May : Records of common species from Hemel Hempstead area. Near Leverstock Green TL 08 07 - Green-veined White, male Orange Tip, Comma & Speckled Wood; Buncefield Lane TL 08 08 - Large White, male Orange Tip & Speckled Wood; Cherry Tree Lane TL 08 09 - 4 male Orange Tips; Cupid Green disused railway TL 07 09 - 2 Green-veined Whites including female ovipositing on Garlic Mustard (both were feeding on flowers of this species) & male Orange Tip; near Maylands TL 07 08 - 3 Green-veined Whites including a courting pair, male Orange Tip, Holly Blue, 2 Peacocks (1 very worn) & 3 Speckled Woods; Westwick Row near Leverstock Green TL 09 06 - Large White, female Orange Tip & Comma. Tuesday 5th May: Records of common species from Bricket Wood area. Smug Oak TL 13 02 - male Orange Tip; Moor Mill area TL 14 02 - 2 Orange Tip (1 ml, 1 fml), Peacock & 3 Speckled Woods. Nice to see quite an early Pyrochroa coccinea ('Black-headed Cardinal Beetle'), which has increased greatly in the past few years, in nearby Birch Wood - Colin Everett

Thursday 7th May
Lunchtime walk Frogmore Quarry, Stevenage - sunny but breezy - 7 Grizzled Skippers, 2 Brown Argus, 2 Common Blue, 1 Small Copper, 3 Orange-tip and a Red Kite! - Trevor Chapman

Wednesday 6th May
Aldbury Nowers (don't forget there is a field trip there this Sunday) A very good day! Myself and Andrew (Palmer) had a good walk around and saw many butterflies, numbers below: S1 - Small heath -4, Small copper - 2, Brimstone, Grizzled skipper, Green veined white, Orange tip - 2+, S2 - Dingy skipper, Small tortoiseshell. S3 - Dingy skipper - 2, Grizzled skipper, Brown argus, Orange tip, Small copper, Green hairstreak, Speckled wood, Small white. Open area by coppice - Peacock, Orange tip - 4+, Brimstone - 3+, Green veined white, Dingy skipper - 2. Coppice area - Green hairstreak - 2 by entrance and 2 by far side of S3, Brimstone - 3+, Speckled wood, Orange tip - 2+. N1 - Grizzled skipper, Peacock, Brimstone, Orange tip. Key Butterfly Area - Orange tip, Brimstone, Large white, Small white, Green hairstreak - 5, Dingy skipper - 3+, Small copper , Common blue, Brown argus - 3+. N3 - Green hairstreak, Dingy skipper, Orange tip - 3+, Peacock, Common blue, Brimstone. The totals for Dingy skipper are 9, Grizzled skipper 3 and Green hairstreak 11. The Grizzled skipper in N1 was in the newly created grassland (scraped area) as was the dingy and green hairstreak in N3, so this was all very encouraging. The sightings around the coppice area in the southern enclosures and around S3 of green hairstreak were all very exciting as these are also newly created areas/being better managed and it is obviously having a positive effect! Paul Thrush (HMWT Reserve Officer)

Horsenden Hill, sunny, 3/8s cumulus, windy and about 18C. Most of this walk was fairly boring and quiet. But got a shock near the end. In the bluebell clump near 'Peacock city' (north east corner of big field north of Batts) I found a male orange tip motionless and head buried under a bluebell instead of nectaring in it. I moved in, it didn't budge. I touched it and no reaction. It looked in excellent condition. I moved it slightly and found out the reason for its motionlessness. It had just been caught by a white 1cm long spider which was hanging on to its head under the flower like Golem onto the Ring. Well that's nature for you. A big shame for the orange tip but lunch for the spider. 18x Assorted Whites (including 3 definite Green Veined) 12x Speckled Wood 9x Peacock 3x Male Orange Tip (Including the dead one) 1x Small Copper 1x Small Yellow Underwing 1x Mother Shipton (My first of the year, and first since 2007.) - Mike Rubin

News for (Sunday 3rd May 2009) - 1 Red Admiral, S edge of Rough Lot, 10:48 BST - v. worn; 1 male Orange Tip, near Dew Pond, 11:44 BST; 1 Large White, edge of Williams Wood, 11:59 BST; 1 Large White, Hog Hill, at Vicarage Farm, 12:08 BST. - Robert Callf.

Holly Blue at Myddelton House , Enfield , this afternoon. Many Orange Tip at Lee Valley near Cheshunt Lock - Nigel Agar

Tuesday 5th May
Aldbury Nowers, had brown argus, dingy skipper (at least 3) and green hairstreak (4+) in the key butterfly area today, a gentleman walking around also had a grizzled skipper in the same area. There were also small copper, brimstone, peacock and orange tip around - Paul Thrush

Horsenden Hill, the sun came out just in time. Rather windy and humid. About 18C and 3/8's fast moving cumulus and small amounts of top cover. 14x Peacock 10x Assorted Whites (Including 1 definite Green Veined and 1 definite Small) 9x Speckled Wood 7x Orange Tip (5 Male, 2 Female, one of which was being courted by a male, the other feeding on bluebells) 2x Comma (both rather elderly) 1x Holly Blue 1x Small Copper Total: 44 (Almost all south and west of the hill. Not much on the north side.) Plus: 2x suspected small coppers moving very fast having a scrap. Didn't get a clear view. 4x Small Yellow Underwings in the grazing field. (My firsts of the year.) 1x Burnet Companion (My first of the year.) - Mike Rubin

Sunday 3rd May
Despite considerable cloud cover, a visit to Aldbury Nowers this morning produced several sightings across the site. A Small Heath was disturbed in the first enclosure to the right of the path. In the enclosure to the left, a pair of Pale Tussock were found mating on a grass stem and a Small Copper roosting. In the next (3rd) enclosure going up the side of the hillside, another Small Heath was found, also Common and Green Carpet moths. We arrived at the 'top' enclosure about 10.15 and during moments of sunshine, 3 Dingy Skipper were seen (one on a new bare chalk escarpment), 1 Brown Argus, 1 Small Copper, 1 Brimstone and Orange Tip. Returning back down the hillside at the top of '3rd' enclosure a couple of Green Hairstreak were seen clashing in flight on the top edge. Along the bottom track which was in sunshine and sheltered, we saw 1 Dingy Skipper, 1 Orange Tip, 3 Speckled Wood, 1 Brimstone, 2 Green Hairstreak and the highlight a Grizzled Skipper in the most sheltered section of the track/field edge near the road. We then went to Tring Park, and whilst cloudy we looked around as many seed heads that we could, no roosting butterflies were found. By chance we met Nick Bowles as the sun came out at around 4 o'clock and we spread out across the main escarpment watching for any butterfly movement! Apart from a 'white' and Speckled Wood, no butterflies were seen. This is of great concern and we would ask that recorders look at the best areas of Tring Park for the key species of Grizzled Skipper, Dingy Skipper and Green Hairstreak. Please report all visits and negative records are very important! Liz Goodyear & Andrew Middleton with Nick Bowles

Saturday 2nd May
Records of common species from Berkhamsted area. Ashlyns Farm SP 98 06 - Speckled Wood; Sandpit Green area SP 99 06 - Holly Blue, separate male & female Orange Tips and 3 Speckled Woods; near Bottom Farm TL 00 06 - 2 Large Whites & Peacock; near Vale Farm TL 01 05 - Peacock; Bourne End Lane area TL 01 05 - Holly Blue, 2 Green-veined Whites, 2 male Orange Tips, 2 Large Whites, Speckled Wood & 4 Peacocks; near A41 at Bourne End TL 02 05 - Speckled Wood & 2 Peacocks; near Pix Farm TL 01 06 - male Brimstone & male Orange Tip. - Colin Everett


9 Grizzled Skipper on the north pit at Waterford Heath today - Christine Shepperson

Some sightings for today (Saturday 2nd May 2009) - 2 Peacock, along track at Vicarage Farm, 10:47 BST and 10:55 BST. 3, 2 males, 1 female, Orange Tip, at Vicarage Farm between 10:55 - 11:00 BST. 2 male Orange Tip, at Parkside Farm, 11:18 - 11:19 BST. 1 Peacock, at Park Farm, 11:47 BST. 1 Speckled Wood, near Duncan's Wood, 11:50 BST. 1 male Orange Tip, along Hadley Road at Park Farm, 11:57 BST. 2 male Orange Tip, edge of Moat Wood, Trent Park, 12:11 BST. 1 Green-veined White, edge of Rough Lot, 12:13 BST. 1 mlae Orange Tip, along Merryhills Brook at South Lodge Farm, 13:12 BST. 1 Speckled Wood, along Merryhills Brook at South Lodge Farm, 13:20 BST. 1 Large White, along Merryhills Brook at Vicarage Farm, 13:21 BST. 1 Speckled Wood, along Merryhills Brook at Vicarage Farm, 13:22 BST. 1 male Orange Tip, along Merryhills Brook at Vicarage Farm, 13:24 BST. 1 Speckled Wood, along Merryhills Brook at Vicarage Farm, 13:25 BST. 1 Peacock, along Merryhills Brook at Vicarage Farm, 13:26 BST. 1 Large White, along track at Vicarage Farm, 13:31 BST. 2 Peacock, together, along Merryhills Brook at Vicarage Farm, 13:37 BST. 1 Speckled Wood, along track at Vicarage Farm, 13:39 BST. 1 Peacock, at Barracks, Vicarage Farm, 14:06 BST. 2 male Orange Tip, together, at Barracks, Vicarage Farm, 14:07 BST. 1 Green-veined White, at Barracks, Vicarage Farm, 14:07 BST. 1 Speckled Wood, at Barracks, Viarage Farm, 14:09 BST. 1 Speckled Wood, near allotments, Vicarage Farm, 14:16 BST - Robert Callf

Friday 1st May
An early morning roost count at Hexton Chalk Pit found 17 Dingy Skippers. At Telegraph Hill, 4 Dingy Skippers, 3 Green Hairstreak and the highlight a Small Purple-barred moth. Hoo Bit, a Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Dingy Skipper and 1 Burnet Companion moth - Liz Goodyear & Andrew Middleton

Five Dingy Skipper at Hexton chalk Pit today and a singleton close to Wood Lane along with 3 green hairstreaks and 15 brimstones - Stuart Pittman

April 2009

Thursday 30th April
I just had a Brimstone moth fly in again. Got some new pics though including wings closed shots. Heh the cheeky critter flew round and landed on the back of my shoulder when I got the camera out! Just out of reach. Eventually I let it out the front door and left it spinning and spiralling wildly above the driveway. - Mike Rubin

Grove Farm, the sun unexpectedly tried to shine through the cirrus, and enough heat made it down to tempt out 1x White and 6x Speckled Wood. Grove Farm is filthier than ever, with litter everywhere. Shame it's so badly managed too. They aren't letting the meadow grass grow this year by the looks (freshly cut on the hill), but last year's practice of raising it to the ground has already killed off any butterflies. In 2007 there were Small Coppers there. Not now. Atleast the Speckled Woods are doing well there though. - Mike Rubin

With some colleagues from the Museum I attended the Perivale Wood Open Day last Sunday 26 April. I saw one and a colleague saw and photographed another - Small Yellow Underwing Panemeria tenebrata. I was informed that it had been recorded from Horsenden Hill in 2007 but this may be the first time it's been recorded from Perivale Wood itself. However, it transpires that it was recorded from there in 2005 - Martin Honey

Wednesday 29th April
In suburban garden at Garston near Watford TL 11 00 - 2 Holly Blues, Large White, male Orange Tip & Peacock. The Peacock which I previously reported as active in February subsequently remained in hibernation until at least early April. - Colin Everett

Four Dingy Skippers on the Hexton Chalk Pit Reserve this afternoon (29th April)- Ian Woiwod

Just a quickie: In about half an hour whilst hanging out washing and pottering in the garden at home in Stanwell Moor (TW19 6AN), I was visited by two Speckled Woods, a Large White (male), an Orange Tip (female) and two Holly Blues. I know my little plot is a bit unruly at the moment, but I thought that wasn't bad at all! - Dave Miller

I was working at Aldbury today and managed to get some good sightings. Had a grizzled skipper in the southern enclosures (S2/Duchies piece), it flew off before I could get a photo. I also had a very large small tortoiseshell, it was flying fast and rarely settled, again I couldn’t catch a photo! Also in S2 were brimstone, small copper, small heath, green veined white, peacock and 2 orange tip. In S1 I had 2 small heath, comma, small copper, brimstone and various whites. Near S3 in the coppice glade I had a speckled wood and peacock. A couple mentioned that they had seen many green hairstreaks and a few dingy skipper just over the border around Pitstone Hill/Incombe hole, I couldn’t locate any in the Key butterfly area or across the southern half of the reserve! Paul Thrush

Horsenden Hill, 16-17C, very light wind, sunny with small cumulus. Not bad considering I shivered my way into work at 6:45AM at 2C and a frost on the roof. 10x Peacock 8x Speckled Wood 7x Assorted Whites 5x Orange Tip (Including 1 +ve ID Female) 1x Small Copper 1x Holly Blue (My first Middx Holly). Total: 32 - Mike Rubin

Terry Lyle had a single male Common Blue late afternoon, Sunday 26th, at Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park - Keir Mottram

Tuesday 28th April
Further to the request from SW Scotland, Dublin Naturalists' Field Club have a list of 10km squares without records. If you are planning a holiday in Southern Ireland this year, you might like to look at the list available on their website. http://www.butterflyireland.com/. Follow the links through to http://www.butterflyireland.com/butterfly_records_2009_&_2008.htm

News for today (Tues 28th April 2009) - 1 Peacock, along Leeging Beech Gutter near Stables, at Vicarage Farm, 10:05 BST. 1 Speckled Wood, along Leeging Beech Gutter near Stables, at Vicarage Farm, 10:07 BST. 1 Green-veined White, along Leeging Beech Gutter near Stables, at Vicarage Farm, 10:08 BST. 1 Speckled Wood, along bridle-path near Shaws Wood, 12:04 BST. 1 Speckled Wood, along Merryhills Brook at Vicarage Farm, 12:19 BST. 1 Large White, along Merryhills Brook at Vicarage Farm, 12:19 BST. - Robert Callf

Horsenden Hill, just caught the last of some sunshine. Clouding over as I got back to the office. xcweather says it was only 12-13C but felt warmer in the sunshine. Almost no wind. 15x Speckled Wood 5x Peacock 4x Small Copper (All in Batts Field) 4x Assorted Whites 4x Male Orange Tip Total: 32 - Mike Rubin

Monday 27th April
Just to let you know I found a Brimstone moth on my window at about 11pm last night. Very docile it was too allowing closeup pictures without need for a box.Click here for picture....Then it happily crawled onto my finger so I could let iy out the window into the night. I don't expect any butterflies today. Some funny wet stuff is coming out of the sky and it's barely 10C. Not seen that for a while. - Mike Rubin

Sunday 26th April
Norcott Hill near Northchurch SP 96 10 - Small Tortoiseshell. - Colin Everett

News of well worn Large Tortoiseshell seen on the Pegsdon Hills just over the border in Bedfordshire, late afternoon by Ian Small whilst looking for Green Hairstreak, which were present. No Dingys seen.

News via Nick Bowles, Small Blue and Small Heath flying in Buckinghamshire

I visited the site of the Woodland Trust's Heartwood Forest at Sandridge. No new trees planted yet, but some attractive grassy margins have appeares around the edges of the small existing woods on the site. I counted over 50 Peacocks, 1 Painted Lady 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Brimstone, dozens of Large, Small and Green-veined Whites, at least 14 Orange Tips & 2 Speckled Woods. No sign of Holly Blue, which are out in force in St Albans, but I didnt see any Holly on the site either. The branch are helping the Woodland Trust to gain an accurate picture of which species are on the site already in advance of their submitting an Environmental Impact Plan in July. Its a huge site and quite attractive, so if anyone fancies a walk there I'd be interested to know what you see & could suggest intersting areas to visit. Not all areas are yet fully open to the public & theres a map on the WT website at http://www.woodland-trust.org.uk/appeals/images08/heartwoodmapcol.jpg - Malcolm Hull (Malcolm's contact details are on the committee page)

Sightings at Coppetts Wood, Friern Barnet today: 16 Speckled Wood, 10 male Orange Tip, 5 definite female Orange Tips, more than 15 unidentified Whites, 6 Peacock and best of all 2 male Brimstone (possibly 3), which I havn't seen here before. This must be my best count since 2006 - Brian Price

No Dingy or Green Hairstreak seen at Hexton - Gavin Vicary

An early morning visit to Grizzled Skipper sites produced 13 Grizzleds at Frogmore in an hour, scattered across the site. Also 4 Small Copper in total, 1 Brown Argus, Orange Tip, Large White, Comma and Peacock. No Brimstones though! Liz Goodyear and Andrew Middleton

Stanmore Country Park, quite a good walk today with about a dozen people turning up. Butterflies seen: G/V White, Orange Tip, Holly Blue, Speckled Wood & Peacock. One or two large white butterflies were seen but didn't know if they could be Large Whites or female Brimstones. Have LWs been reported yet as Evelyn Crisp said she could see the black edges on one of them? Last night was far too cold for most of the moths and Ann Piper and I gave up at 10.30 as we were getting too cold. There were 7 moths of five species: Seraphim x 3, Red-green Carpet, Double-striped Pug Early Grey and Nut-tree Tussock. Attendance: 9 last night and about 15 today. - John Hollingdale

Saturday 25th April
Plenty of grizzled skippers in Waterford Heath yesterday 10 or more - Steve Kiln

News for today (Saturday 25th April 2009) - 1 Speckled Wood, at Park Farm, 10:41 BST. 1 male Orange Tip, at Park Farm, 10:41 BST. 1 Large White, at Park Farm, 10:57 BST. 4 Speckled Wood, Camlet Moat, Trent Park, 11:08 - 11:12 BST. 1 Speckled Wood, Icehouse Wood, 12:08 BST. 1 Large White, Icehouse Wood, 12:08 BST. 1 Speckled Wood, Dew Pond, 12:14 BST. 1 Large White, near Shaws Wood, 12:24 BST. 1 Large White, along bridle-path near Merryhills Brook, Trent Park, 12:28 BST. 1 Speckled Wood, along bridle-path near Merryhills Brook, 12:29 BST. 2 Speckled Wood, together, along Merryhills Brook at Vicarage Farm, 12:38 BST - Robert Callf

I did my usual walk yesterday late afternoon (making the most of the warm sunshine before the promised downturn in the weather!). Not so many butterflies as usual, probably because the sun was low, but I found two Peacock larval nests next to the River Colne. I assume they are Peacock (the caterpillars are very tiny) as I have not seen a Small Tortoiseshell hereabouts for ages. It seems quite early to be finding a nest. The other point of interest yesterday was discovering an Orange Tip roost, with five males all settled down on individual adjacent flower heads in the shade on the edge of a bit of wood. I didn’t know they did this collectively – maybe a coincidence, I suppose. - Dave Miller

Friday 24th April
Worn Painted Lady seen today at ovaltine Fields Abbots Langley - Clive Burrows

News from Thursday 23rd April: Garston railway station TQ 11 99 - Speckled Wood, male Orange Tip & Peacock; Park Street TL 14 04 - Holly Blue & male Orange Tip; SW of Hedges Farm near Park Street TL 15 04 - Small Tortoiseshell, 2 separate Commas & 3 Peacocks. - Colin Everett

A few sightings for today (Friday 24th April 2009) - 1 Holly Blue, at River View, Enfield Town, 11:29 BST. 1 Holly Blue, at Gentleman's Row, Enfield Town, 11:32 BST. 1 Holly Blue, at Town Park, Enfield, 12:13 BST. 1 Green-veined White, at Town Park, Enfield Town, 12:13 BST. 1 Speckled Wood, at Town Park, Enfield Town, 12:18 BST. 1 Comma, at Town Park, Enfield Town, 12:21 BST. 1 Peacock, at Town Park, Enfield, 12:37 BST. 1 male Orange Tip, at Town Park, Enfield, 12:37 BST. 1 Large White, at Town Park, Enfield, 12:39 BST - Robert Callf

A quick visit to Waterford Heath south pit yesterday (thurs) I saw 5 Grizzled Skippers and a Green veined white. There were also plenty of Large whites, Peacocks Orange tips and Brimstone - Simon Rasch

Thursday 23rd April
A bit of variety, though still in the same general area: I had a short walk yesterday afternoon (22nd) in the rather artificial park known as Harmondsworth Moor, which is next to the M25, M4 and the River Colne near Heathrow (Grid ref TQ 049776). Butterflies seen included at least six Peacocks, ten Orange Tips (including three females), two Large Whites (one of each), six Green-veined Whites, four Speckled Woods and a Holly Blue - Dave Miller

Some news for today (Thurs 23rd April 2009) - 1 Peacock, along Leeging Beech Gutter near Stables, at Vicarage Farm, 10:47 BST. 3 Speckled Wood, together, at Parkside Farm, 11:02 BST. 1 female Orange Tip, at Parkside Farm, 11:03 BST. 1 Speckled Wood, at Parkside Farm, 11:10 BST. 1 male Orange Tip, at Parkside Farm, 11:11 BST. 1 male Orange Tip, at Park Farm, 11:24 BST. 1 Small White, at Park Farm, 11:35 BST. 1 female Orange Tip, at Park Farm, 11:38 BST. 1 Large White, at Park Farm, 11:57 BST. 1 Speckled Wood, Rough Lot, Trent Park, 12:12 BST. 1 male Orange Tip, edge of Moat Wood, Trent Park, 12:15 BST. 1 Large White, edge of Moat Wood, 12:15 BST. 1 female Large White, Uni-lawns, Trent Park, 12:46 BST. 2 Peacock, together, edge of Williams Wood, 13:05 BST. 1 Speckled Wood, edge of Shaws Wood, 13:10 BST. 1 Peacock, near Shaws Wood, 13:10 BST. 1 Speckled Wood, near Shaws Wood, 13:10 BST. 1 Speckled Wood, along bridle-path near Shaws Wood, 13:15 BST. 2 Small White, copulating , along Merryhills Brook at Vicarage Farm, 13:26 BST. 1 Peacock, along Merryhills Brook at Vicarage Farm, 13:27 BST. 1 female Orange Tip, along track at Vicarage Farm, 13;35 BST. 1 Speckled Wood, along track at Vicarage Farm, 13:37 BST. 1 Small Tortoiseshell, at Vicarage Farm, 13:39 BST. 1 Peacock, at Vicarage Farm, 13:40 BST - Robert Callf

News for yesterday (Wednesday 22nd April 2009) - 1 male Orange Tip, at South Lodge Farm, 15:18 BST. 1 Speckled Wood, along bridle-path near Equeatrian Centre, 15:21 BST. 1 Holly Blue, along bridle-path near Merryhills Brook, 15:23 BST. 1 Peacock, edge of Shaws Wood, 15:31 BST. 3 Comma, together, edge of Williams Wood, 15:35 BST. 1 Speckled Wood, Uni-lawns, Trent Park, 15:57 BST. 1 mle Orange Tip, by Lower Lake, Trent Park, 16:19 BST. 1 Peacock, edge of Ride Wood, 16:47 BST. 1 Peacock, along Leeging Beech Gutter near 'Three-bridges', 17:01 BST. 1 Speckled Wood, along hedgerow N of Williams Wood, at Vicarage Farm, 17:11 BST. 1 Peacock, along Leeging Beech Gutter near Stables, at Vicarage Farm, 17;18 BST. 1 Small Tortoiseshell, along Leeging Beech Gutter near Stables, at Vicarage Farm, 17;18 BST. 1 female Orange Tip, along track at Vicarage Farm, 17:23 BST - my first female of the year! Also saw Paul Whitehouse (comedian) and a film crew (but no cameras) near the Equestrian Centre, 15:20 BST - Robert Callf

Horsenden Hill: Another day another walk to the hill. Cooler at 16-17C and a bit breezier today. You lot must be getting fed up of my repetetive ramblings by now. *duck* Shame the weather looks to be deteriorating. 12x Speckled Wood 9x Peacock 6x Assorted Whites 4x Male Orange Tip 2x Comma (Some elderly ones basking on brambles) 2x Small Copper (my firsts of the year, both basking in the grazing meadow) 1x Unknown Nymphalid (50/50 Red Admiral or Peacock in grounds of Kellogg Tower - didn't stop for me to see properly) - Mike Rubin

Wednesday 22nd April: All the following records come from the attractive but under-worked rural areas NW of Watford; butterfly recording was very much incidental to raptor fieldwork. Records dominated by Peacocks & Orange Tips, but a couple of Small Tortoiseshells among them. Also Grass Snakes in two tetrads. Westwood Quarry margins TQ 07 98 - Speckled Wood; Brickfield Spring near Langleybury TQ 07 99 - male Orange Tip; Great Westwood TQ 06 99 - male Orange Tip & Peacock; Bottom Lane near Sarratt TQ 05 99 - Comma, Green-veined White & male Orange Tip; Sarratt E end TQ 04 99 - 2 Peacocks & male Orange Tip; Green End Farm near Sarratt TQ 04 98 - Small Tortoiseshell, Large White, 2 Speckled Woods, male Brimstone & 4 Peacocks; Solesbridge Lane near Sarratt TQ 04 97 - Peacock & male Orange Tip; Micklefield Hall TQ 05 97 - Small Tortoiseshell, 2 Large Whites, 4 male Orange Tips & 5 Peacocks; around Redheath TQ 06 97 - Speckled Wood, male Orange Tip & 5 Peacocks; Sawpit Spring near Chandler's Cross TQ 05 98 - Speckled Wood, male Brimstone & male Orange Tip; near Dell Wood TQ 07 97 - 2 Peacocks & male Orange Tip; Whippendell Wood E edge TQ 07 97 - Speckled Wood; Leavesden Green TQ 09 99 - male Orange Tip and Tuesday 21st April: Garston near Watford T L 11 00 - Holly Blue, Speckled Wood - Colin Everett

Wednesday 22nd April
Kenton, I just had my first ever Angle Shades sighting. I found it on the floor at 11pm as I was about to go to sleep. Must have flown in when I nipped downstairs. Beautiful moth! It was very docile and posed for pictures too. Then let me pick it up and let it out the window again into the night. I guess they are attracted to energy saver tri-colour daylight bulbs then. - Mike Rubin

Frogmore Quarry at lunchtime - 2 Grizzled skippers, 3 Comma, 3 Small Copper, 1 Brimstone, 5 Orange-tip, 2 Small/GV White - Trevor Chapman

Horsenden Hill, another fine haul numbers-wise even if no definite firsts. Slightly different lunchtime walk route today to normal. Fairly calm, warm and sunny. A touch cooler than yesterday. Perhaps 17-18C. 51 butterflies! Once again would much rather have stayed out there than back into this dead boring office. 16x Speckled Wood 15x Assorted Whites 11x Male Orange Tip - 3 nectaring together in one fenced off field. Just out of range of the camera. Doh! 7x Peacock (Including a couple of unidentified nymphs that were probably Peacock) 1x Male Brimstone 1x Unidentified blue moving at a fair pace at head height near the Kellogg Tower main entrance. Looked a touch dark for Holly Blue (but same size). I have no idea what it was. - Mike Rubin

Tuesday 21st April
Help needed to survey threatened butterflies in Scotland - Andrew Masterton of our south-west Scotland branch is calling for help with some important surveys of Priority butterflies in south-west Scotland. They are Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Chequered Skipper, Mountain Ringlet, Dingy Skipper, Northern Brown Argus. I am passing this link on in case you or someone you know may be visiting the area and may be able to help. He has developed a marvellous website with interactive maps to show you where the colonies are that he wants re-surveyed. All records are to be sent to him via the website http://www.southwestscotland-butterflies.org.uk/ This is a vast area with some very important colonies so any help would be greatly appreciated. It is also a beautiful part of Scotland, so I am sure you would have a wonderful time. Thank you in advance for your help - Dr Martin Warren

Waterford Heath this morning, 3 Grizzleds waking up on the south pit and 8 in total on the north pit (4 by the railway and 4 beyond the monument) as the sun started to warm the site up. Also a Small Copper and Latticed Heath on the south pit - Liz Goodyear & Andrew Middleton

News for today (Tuesday 21st April 2009) - 1 Green-veined White, along Leeging Beech Gutter near Stables, at Vicarage Farm, 09:08 BST. 1 Speckled Wood, along Leeging Beech Gutter near Stables, at Vicarage Farm, 09:08 BST. 2 Peacock at Parkside Farm, 09:10 BST and 09:27 BST. 1 Speckled Wood, at Park Farm, 09:48 BST. 1 Peacock, at Park Farm, 09:52 BST. 2 male Orange Tip, along Jubilee Path at Park Farm, 10:21 BST. 2 Large White, together, along Jubilee Path at Park Farm, 10:21 BST. 2 Speckled Wood, together, along Jubilee Path at Park Farm, 10:22 BST. 1 Peacock at Plumridge Farm, 10:29 BST. 1 male Orange Tip at Plumridge Farm, 10:29 BST. 1 Green-veined White, at Plumridge Farm, 10:37 BST. 1 male Orange Tip, Uni-lawns, Trent CP, 12:11 bst. 1 Peacock, Wiliams Wood, Trent Park, 12:17 BST. 1 Speckled Wood, near Equestrian Centre, Trent Park, 12:34 BST. Robert Callf

No Dingys or Green Hairstreak seen at Wood Lane near Pirton - Stuart Pittman
Nor at Hexton Chalk Pit yet - very little of anything other than Brimstones and the occasional Peacock and Comma - Andrew Palmer

Horsenden Hill, another day another warm sunny trip across Horsenden Hill to escape the maddening boredom of the office. Didn't think anything too special but 41 makes my biggest haul yet in pure numbers. Peacocks were testing fresh Nettles in good numbers while also basking. Even in cloud shadows those Orange Tips weren't stopping. Probably ~19C with cumulus clouds growing rapidly aloft. 15x Peacock 13x White 6x Speckled Wood 5x Male Orange Tip 1x Male Brimstone 1x Unidentified brown lep (atleast the undersides were) with fairly pointy wings. Didn't get close to it before it flew off at high speed. Definitely not a speckled wood. No idea what it was. Any ideas? - Mike Rubin

Monday 20th April
Some sightings from the weekend, 18th April Saturday - Wareside Brimstone 3 G V White - 4 Large White - 2 Small white 2 Peacock 1 Sm Tortoishell - 2 Orange tip - 6 19th April Sunday - Wareside Brimstone 2 G V White - 2 Large White - 2 Small white 2 Peacock 1 Sm Tortoishell - 2 Orange tip - 4 Widford Holly blue - 1 Orange tip 3 Small white 2 G V White 2 Speckled wood 1 Peacock 1 Camberwell Beauty 1 - only the second I have seen in the UK Was fielding at 1st slip at the time for Ware v Buntingford - first cricket match of the season In bright mid afternoon sunshine and it settled about 5 yards from where I was standing. Not sure if any others have been seen at all this year or last. Was in pristine condition, would have liked a better look, had to contain my excitement as we were up against it at the time in the cricket match - Phil MacMurdie

16.30hr.Thornbera Road Allotments, Bishop's Stortford. 4 Orange tips (2M.2F),1 Holly blue,1 Comma, and flying arround the outside of an allotment shed one Speckled Wood - Len Crouch

News from 19th April, saw my first holly blue in my Bengeo garden. Saw a speckled wood in Bencroft Wood on the way to the spurs game - Steve Kiln

Records for today (20/4) at Aldbury are: Northern enclosures - 3 orange tip, peacock, 6 brimstone (probably much higher as there were lots about!) Southern enclosures - 2+ orange tip, comma, peacock, 6+ brimstone, green veined white, small white - Paul Thrush

News from Saturday April 18th. Peacock, Brimstone, Orange Tip, Green Veined White, Large White, Small White & Speckled Wood seen in and around The Reeds in central Watford David Chandler

There are few places available on this guided butterfly holiday should anyone be interested

News for today (Monday 20th April 2009) - 1 Peacock, Moat Wood, 10:25 BST. 1 Peacock, near Seedfield Spinney, 11:10 BST. 1 Peacock, Uni-lawns, 11:30 BST. 1 female Large White, Williams Wood, 12:02 BST. 1 Comma, edge of Williams Wood, 12:04 BST. 1 male Orange Tip, edge of Wiliams Wood, 12:04 BST. 1 male Orange Tip, near Shaws Wood, 12:17 BST. 1 Speckled Wood, along Merryhills Brook at Vicarage Farm, 12:27 BST. 1 male Orange Tip, along Merryhills Brook at Vicarage Farm, 12:28 BST. 1 Peacock, along Merryhills Brook at Vicarage Farm, 12:28 BST and another here 12:31 BST. 1 Small White, along Merryhills Brook at Vicarage Farm, 12:32 BST. 1 Green-veined White, at Vicarage Farm, 12:41 BST. 1 Small Tortoiseshell, at Vicarage Farm, 12:47 BST. 1 Speckled Wood, at Vicarage Farm, 12:52 BST. 1 Comma, near Firing Range, at Vicarage Farm, 12:53 BST. 2 male Orange Tip, together, near Enfield Road, at Vicarage Farm, 12:55 BST. - Robert Callf

News for yesterday (Sunday 19th April 2009) - 1 Speckled Wood, at Oakwood Park, 11:51 BST. 10 Speckled Wood, at Grovelands Park, Southgate, N14 between 12:12 - 13:11 BST. 2 Holly Blue, at Grovelands Park, 12:23 BST and 13:11 BST. 1 Peacock, at Grovelands Park, 13:01 BST. 1 male Orange Tip, at Grovelands Park, 13:05 BST. 1 Holly Blue, at Chaseside, Southgate, N14 at 13:40 BST. - Robert Callf

Sunday 19th April - At Aldenham Res TQ 16 95 - Large White, Green-veined White, male Orange Tip & Peacock; near Hilfield Park Res TQ 15 96 - 2 Peacocks; near the A41 at Bushey TQ 14 96 - Speckled Wood, male Orange Tip & 4 Peacocks; near Bushey TQ 13 96 - 3 Speckled Woods & 4 Peacocks; near the former university at Bushey TQ 12 96 - Holly Blue, Large White & Speckled Wood. - Colin Everett

Late news from Saturday 4th April. In Berkhamsted SP 99 07 - Small Tortoiseshell & Peacock; around Sandpit Green near Berkhamsted SP 99 06 - male Orange Tip, Small White, male Brimstone, 2 separate Commas, 2 separate Peacocks; around Long Green near Berkhamsted TL 00 06 - male Brimstone & Peacock; Bullbeggars Lane near Berkhamsted TL 01 07 - 2 Peacocks chasing; along canal in E Berkhamsted SP 99 07 - Small Tortoiseshell feeding on flowers of cultivated Viburnum. - Colin Everett.

Horsenden Hill, another reasonable haul in the warm unbroken sunshine. 37 butterflies counted. 11x Peacocks - 3 together gorging on bluebell nectar. Several disturbed and revealed by a helpful Orange Tip as it flew along side me for ages as I walked. 11x Whites. 9x Speckled Wood 3x Male Orange Tip. 2x Male Brimstone 1x Unknown Nymphalid (probably a Peacock) - Mike Rubin

Had a holly blue, orange tip and large white in the garden yesterday (19/4) in St Albans - Paul Thrush

Sunday 19th April
Waterford Heath South, min 7 grizzled skippers; Waterford Heath North, 2 grizzled skippers, also brimstone, orange tip, speckled wood, latticed heath. Frogmore, 1 grizzled skipper, 1 small copper – Tristan & Helen Bantock, Andrew Middleton, also Jack Harrison at Waterford

Afternoon walk along river Beane Sunday 19th April, north of Aston Ford TL276240 to approx TL276245. Three Orange Tip-one male Nine, possibly twelve Peacock Five (minimum) Small Tortoiseshell Nice to see Tortoiseshell again, only managed a few sightings last summer in the entire UK - Phil Bishop

Saturday 18th April
Sandra and I went over to Waterford Heath South this afternoon, arriving at 3.45 in full sunshine. We stayed until 4.50pm. We had at least 25 sightings of Grizzled Skippers, which involved nectering, clashing and sun bathing during this time and we estimate that there were at least 5 individuals. We also saw 5 Peacocks and a couple of whites - Kevin and Sandra Standbridge

Sat PM April 18th Fir and Pond Woods NR, Peacocks 7, orange tips 4, commas 2, green veined white 1, speckled wood 1, unidentified whites 2 - David Gompertz

News for today (Saturday 18th April 2009) - 1 Speckled Wood, set-aside field opposite Williams Wood, Vicarage Farm, 10:06 BST. 1 Small Tortoiseshell, along Leeging Beech Gutter near Stables, at Vicarage Farm, 10:18 BST. 1 Comma, near Hadley Road, at Vicarage Farm, 10:21 BST. 1 Comma, at Parkside Farm, 10:25 BST. 1 Peacock, at Park Farm, 10:51 BST. 1 Peacock, N edge of Rough Lot, Trent Park, 11:42 BST. 2 Peacock, together, SE edge of Rough Lot, 12:13 BST. 1 Peacock, Water Grdn., Trent Park, 12:36 BST. 1 Green-veined White, Icehouse Wood, Trent Park, 12:43 BST. 1 Peacock, edge of Wiliams Wood, Trent Park, 12:46 BST. 1 female Small White, edge of Williams Wood, 12:49 BST. 1 Green-veined White, edge of Wiliams Wood, 12:49 BST. 2 Peacock, together, along Merryhills Brook at South Lodge Farm, 13:08 BST. 2 Speckled Wood,(1 along bridle-path near Shaws Wood, 12:58 BST, 1 along Merryhills Brook at South Lodge Farm, 13:02 BST). 1 male Small White, along Merryhills Brook at Vicarage Farm, 13:14 BST. 1 female Large White, along Merryhills Brook at Vicarage Farm, 13:17 BST. 1 Peacock, along track, at Vicarage Farm, 13:20 BST. 1 female Large White, along track at Vicarage Farm, 13:20 BST. 1 Small Tortoiseshell, along track at Vicarage Farm, 13:23 BST. 1 Peacock, near Firing Range, at Vicarage Farm, 13:54 BST - Robert Callf

Wednesday 15th April
Considering I have a very small garden in Hayes I do very well for butterflies. Over the past couple of days I have had 2 Small White, 1 Peacock and 1 Orange Tip. Today 15th April I have seen 2 Speckled Wood, 2 Holly Blues, 1 Small White and 1 Peacock. - Helen George

This afternoon I had 3 peacocks, a small tortoiseshell, brimstone and small white in the Key Butterfly Area at Aldbury - Paul Thrush

A good lunchtime haul on Horsenden Hill today. Warm, humid, sunny, about 18-19C. 38 butterflies, my best of the year so far. And the first time this year I've seen good numbers on the north side of the hill. Still a bit squidgy from the overnight showers and thunderstorms (we had thunder at 5AM apparently) - 14x Peacock, 7x Unidentified Whites. (2 in the grounds of Kellogg Tower, Sudbury Hill), 6x Speckled Wood, 5x Male Orange Tip (My firsts of the year), 2x Unidentified distant non-whites (probably Peacock and Speckled Wood), 2x Large White (1 on Whitton Avenue East), 1x Comma & 1x Brimstone Moth (My first of the year and possibly ever. Seen flying across Cambridge Avenue) - Mike Rubin

News for today (Weds 15th April 2009) - 3 Peacock, at Vicarage Farm, 09:46 - 10:00 BST. 1 Speckled Wood, at Park Farm, 11:34 BST. 1 male Orange Tip, edge of Duncan's Wood, 11:55 BST. 1 Green-veined White, edge of Duncan's Wood, 11:55 BST. 1 Green-veined White, near obelisk, Trent Park, 12:10 BST. 1 Comma, Rough Lot, Trent Park, 12:21 BST. 1 Peacock, near Upper Lake, Trent Park, 12:34 BST. 1 Comma, over Upper Lake, 12:37 BST. 1 Peacock, by Lower Lake, Trent Park, 12;42 BST. 1 Comma, Water Grdn., Trent Park, 12:50 BST. 2 Green-veined White, copulating, along Leeging Beech Gutter near 'Three-bridges', Trent Park, 13:03 BST. 1 Peacock, along Leeging Beech Gutter near 'Three-bridges', 13:03 BST. 1 Comma, Williams Wood, 13:13 BST. 1 Comma, edge of Shaws Wood, 13:16 BST. 1 Small White, along Merryhills Brook at South Lodge Farm, 13:33 BST. 1 male Orange Tip, along Merryhills Brook at Vicarage Farm, 13:40 BST. 1 Small Tortoiseshell, along Merryhills Brook at Vicarage Farm, 13:37 BST. 1 Peacock, along Merryhills Brook at Vicarage Farm, 13:37 BST. 1 male Large White, at Enfield Road, EN2, 14:15 BST. - Robert Callf

Hitchin garden, saw my first Holly Blue of the season in the garden today - 15 April 2009 - Val Fullforth

Tuesday 14th April
Recent news: March 22 TL 117 262 Lilley Park Wood, Herts 2 Comma, April 7 TL 191 302 Ransoms Recreation Ground, Hitchin 1 Green Veined White and 1 Peacock, April 14 Wood Lane, Pirton - Transect 7 Male Yellow Brimstone and 4 Female Brimstone, 3 Small White, 1 Small Tortoiseshell 5 Peacock and 1 Comma (Total 20) - Val Fullforth

Yesterday (13th April) was a lovely warm sunny afternoon in Stanwell Moor, so off I went to the usual spot by Junction 14 of the M25. Over about an hour (including the walk there alongside the River Colne), I encountered a dozen or so Peacocks, 2 Commas, 4 Speckled Woods, 3 Green-veined Whites (all M), 2 Small Whites (both M), 3 Brimstones (2M, 1F) and at least 8 fresh male Orange Tips. The majority of all these were by the roundabout. One of the Peacocks was attacking anything that moved (including me) and had notable battles with a Comma which attempting to claim the same territory. More sun forecast this week, so I may have to go further afield if I get a chance - Dave Miller

Horsenden Hill today, didn't spot Dave's Cinnabar caterpillar or any Orange Tips. It was rather overcast but (thanks to earlier sunshine?) quite warm at about 17C. 5x Peacock, 2x Green Veined White, 1x Comma and 1x Speckled Wood - Mike Rubin

News for yesterday (Monday 13th April 2009) - 1 Peacock, at Park Farm, 13:07 BST, 1 Peacock, at Camlet Moat, Trent Park, 14:13 BST, 1 Speckled Wood, along bridle-path near Shaws Wood, 13;27 BST (My first of the year), 2 Green-veined White,(1 along Merryhills Brook at Vicarage Farm, 15:45 BST, 1 Sidhil's Field, at Vicarage Farm, 16:05 BST), 1 Comma, along Merryhills Brook at Vicarage Farm, 15:45 BST. News for today (Tues 14th April 2009) - 1 Comma, at Sidhil's Field, Vicarage Farm, 09:47 BST, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, together, at Vicarage Farm, 10:05 BST, 1 Small White, at Vicarage Farm, 10:28 BST, 1 Peacock, Water Grdn., Trent Park, 13:05 BST. News for yesterday (Monday 13th April 2009) from Robin White - 3 Small Tortoiseshell, along Leeging Beech Gutter at Vicarage Farm, 1 Speckled Wood, at Vicarage Farm and a male Orange Tip here also. Robert Callf

Monday 13th April
Woo hoo after 4 days of dull damp and cool weather (and being envious of those living in the north and west away from this stagnant front) sunshine finally broke through today. I was leading a walking group around the Aquadrome near Rickmansworth and surrounding areas. Was mostly cloudy but enough sun to raise the temps and tempt some butterflies out. As it happens the route map can be seen here: http://jwalkers.flybywire.org.uk/Mike/Maps/Aquadrome4.html (I've now led this walk twice for two different groups.) 8 x Whites - Including 1 Female Large White just before wp6. The rest unsure. 3 x Holly Blue - My firsts of the year. Including a good look at a Male near wp3 and one flying in overcast at wp4. 3 x Peacock 1 x Speckled Wood - between wps 1 and 2. 1 x Red Admiral - My first of the year. Midway between wps 5 and 6 - Mike Rubin

Today 13th April At Bencroft wood - 9 peacocks. At Waterford Heath south 9 peacocks,3 orange tips ,1 green veined white and one small tortoiseshell - Steve Kiln

I went to the new 'sensory gardens' at Imperial Wharf, which has been left with some small boggy areas with ladies' smock etc., on April 4th at about midday, warm sunny weather, at TQ263763, recorded Orange Tip, Green veined white, Small tortoiseshell, Brimstone and Holly Blue - Max Barclay

Wednesday 9th April
2 Orange Underwing Moths at Bricket Wood on Saturday. A Hummingbird Hawkmoth seen in a Hemel Hempstead garden Sunday morning reported to the BC stall at Capel Manor. Red Admiral at Butterfly World, landed on some newly planted nettles on Tuesday Malcolm Hull

Today 8th April Today at Denham Quarry (Colne Valley) TQ051886 Speckled wood 1, Orange tip 1, Peacock 1 - Sezar Hikmet

Barnhill and Fryent Open Space TQ18 - I'm on holiday today. So went for a long bicycle ride up the local hill and nature reserve. 15-16C, windy and about 4/8ths cloud cover. 35 butterflies over about 2 hours. I'm well unfit. Now waiting for my legs to turn back from jelly lol. 13 x Peacock, 7 x Speckled Wood (My firsts of the year) 6 x Whites (At least one green veined and one small in there) 4 x Comma (2 of them having a good scrap) 5 x Unidentified Nymphs (although probably Peacocks). Lots of Bee flies, hoverflies, bumblebees. Still no orange tips, small tortoiseshells, holly blues or red admirals for me yet this year. Whites and Speckleds the only non hibernators so far. - Mike Rubin p.s. yesterday I saw a few more Peacocks and one Comma on windy Horsenden Hill meadows. Monday was 13 Peacocks and 2 Brimstones, but zero Commas.

Spotted 2 Speckled Woods in Whomerley Wood (part of Stevenage transect) at about 1330 today. Also on Monday 6 April, saw at least one Small Tortoiseshell in Roebuck Woods, South Stevenage. Did not see one at all last year on several visits at this site. - Peter Clarke

Had another wander around the houses in Stanwell Moor again on the morning of 6th April, and within about 20 minutes had seen two Brimstones (one on pulmonaria in the garden before I'd even set off), two Peacocks, one Small White and a male Green-Veined White settled on aubretia. Hoping now for Orange Tips, of which there have always been quite a few round the village in previous years… - Dave Miller (Dave has sent me a map of where he is recording! Its just next to Jnct 14 of the M25! Quote from Dave "The actual best spot is the bit to the ESE of the roundabout, with the red road above and the orange one below. The middle part is wooded, and must have been full of hibernating Peacocks and Commas. A couple of summers ago, I saw 12 different species here on one visit, and the year before, a Clouded Yellow, of all things. This of course is right on the edge of Middlesex - Slough lies just across the Motorway. Quite encouraging really, considering it is hardly the least polluted location on the planet, next to the M25 and half a mile from the end of Heathrow's South runway.")

First Orange Tip of the year for me on Horsenden West on Sat 4th April. Freshly emerged and settling low down in the sort of pose reserved for when you don't have a camera with you. Also a Red Admiral nectaring on Blackthorn on Horsenden East summit. Fair numbers of Comma and Peacock and at least 3 Brimstone. On Sunday had another Orange Tip at Ruislip Woods along with a few Comma and Peacock (and a Grass Snake). - Andy Culshaw

News for Monday 6th April 2009 - 1 Comma, at Vicarage Farm, 11:26 BST; 1 Small White, at Vicarage Farm, 11:30 BST; 1 Peacock, at Nature Trail, Trent Park, 12:46 BST; 1 Peacock, along Merryhills Brook at South Lodge Farm, 13:50 BST; 1 Peacock, near 'Barracks', at Vicarage Farm, 14:10 BST - Robert Callf

News for Sunday 5th April 2009 - 2 Comma, at Oakwood Park, N14, 11:50 BST and 11:54 BST. Grovelands Park, Southgate: 1 male Holly Blue, 13:10 BST - first for the year!; 1 Comma, stalked and killed by black cat, 13:47 BST; 3 Peacock,(including two together, 13:51 BST, one at 13:55 BST. Also news for yesterday from Robin White (Sunday 5th April 2009) - 1 male Orange Tip at Trent Park and two Small Tortoiseshell,(one along Merryhills Brook at South Lodge Farm and one at Vicarage Farm). - Robert Callf

All in TQ18. Kenton Sat 4th April: One unindentified white flew past the garden. Seen from inside. Kenton Sun 5th April: Photographed a pug or carpet like moth in my room. Will let you know when I identify it. Horsenden Hill Mon 6th April: 13 Peacocks and 2 Male Brimstones. But zero Commas! Where did they all go? In recent weeks they have been numerous and impossible to miss... - Mike Rubin

Sat April 5th at Fir and Pond Woods Nature Reserve Butterflies at last! 4 comma, 5 peacock, 1 large white and 1 unidentified white - David Gompertz

News for Saturday 4th April 2009 - 1 Comma, at Vicarage Farm, Enfield at 11:39 BST. 1 Peacock, at Camlet Moat, Trent Park, 13:13 BST. 1 Comma, by Lower Lake, Trent Park, 13:35 BST. 1 Comma, edge of Williams Wood, 13:59 BST. 2 Peacock, edge of Williams Wood, 13:58 BST. 1 Peacock, edge of Shaws Wood, 14:05 BST - Robert Callf

Friday 3rd April
Just one butterfly seen today (Friday 3rd April 2009) - 1 Comma, S edge of Rough Lot, Trent Park, 14:06 BST. - Robert Callf

Thursday 2nd April: A Red Admiral on nettles near Twychells Farm (Bedmond) TL 09 04 - very worn, with most of the left hindwing (including all of the red subterminal band) missing. Small Tortoiseshell on nettles near Abbots Langley TL 10 02 (a traditional site) where also 2 territorial Peacocks and a nearby Comma. Single Commas also near Southend Farm (St Albans) TL 10 08 and on nettles at nearby Hogg End Lane TL 09 08; single Peacocks at the latter site, near Leverstock Green TL 09 06 and near Tenements Farm (Bedmond) TL 10 03. Wednesday 1st April: A Large White feeding on blackthorn blossom along Barnes Lane near Kings Langley TL 05 03 at 1250 hours (the same individual as Violet Chandler's?). A Small Tortoiseshell feeding on cultivated Aubretia flowers at Wayside Farm TL 07 02 and a Comma near Badgerdell Wood TL 04 03. Peacocks at Round Wood (Abbots Langley) TL 08 02, Wayside Farm as above, Kings Langley Common TL 06 02 (2 chasing), Barnes Farm TL 06 03, Featherbed Lane (Apsley) TL 05 05 (2 chasing), near Toms Lane (Bedmond) TL 09 03 and at Parsonage Farm (Abbots Langley) TL 09 02. - Colin Everett

Amwell - 1st April: 2 Sm Tortoishell :)) on meadows near the railway line, 4 peacock, 1 red admiral, 2 orange tip in top meadows just below Hollycross Road. That's the second time in a few days that we have seen small tortoishell. Let's hope this year sees a recovery in numbers - Alun & Chrissie

Thursday 2nd April
Two Commas, a Peacock and a freshly emerged (male) Large White seen at Violet Chandler's house in north Kings Langley on Wednesday April 1st (12.30pm)- news via Dave Chandler

In our gardens this week in Fulham, London SW6 6NP I have seen a Brimstone yesterday, Wednesday 1 April and today a Peacock and a HOLLY BLUE. I am still seeing lots of small whites but not much else but then a Comma sunning itself on my final security patrol. - Martin Imrie

News for today (Thurs 2nd April 2009) - 1 Comma, at Parkside Farm, 13:23 BST. 1 Comma, along Leeging Beech Gutter near Stables, at Vicarage Farm, 13:49 BST. 1 Small Tortoiseshell, along Leeging Beech Gutter near Stables, at Vicarage Farm, 13:50 BST - Robert Callf.

Today at Denham Quarry (Colne Valley) TQ051886, Brimstone 1, Peacock 1, Comma 2, Speckled wood 1. Pictures attached - Sezar Hikmet

Horsenden Hill - What a difference a day makes! Divide yesterday's total by 10 and you have today's total. 3 Commas and that was it. North sea clag was slow to burn off and still rather nippy at lunchtime. Oh well atleast the sun was shining. On the hill itself East of the road the total was zero! All 3 Commas North end of Batts Field to north side of a deserted 'Peacock City'. Guess the rest were still tucked up in bed having a lie in - Mike Rubin

Thursday 2nd April
Walked my usual walk from Stanwell Moor Village to Junction 14 of the M25, and saw the following, mostly in the lightly wooded bits around the roundabout itself: 12 Peacocks, 2 Brimstones, 2 Small Whites, 1 Comma, and (a first for the year for me) 1 Holly Blue. Interestingly, I had a walk at Box Hill in Surrey later in the day, and only saw Brimstones there - far fewer butterflies than in a much less rural setting next to Heathrow! At work today (2nd April), sadly… - Dave Miller

Diane Andrews reports: Tatem Park, Enfield - 3 Comma, 2 Peacock, 1 Small White and 1 Speckled Wood. Pymms Park, Enfield - 1 Comma, 1 Peacock and 2 Speckled Woods.

Male Orange tip today my garden west-side of Bishop's Stortford. A few Brimstones - Andrew Palmer

Late on this afternoon 8 peacocks and 4 commas on western bank at Waterford Heath south - Steve Kiln

I saw 3 small tortoiseshells this afternoon at Aldbury in the southern part of the reserve (had 2 together with the 3rd still in view!), brimstone (at least 1 but it was very mobile so didn't count any more I saw in the area but there could have been more), small white and peacock. Moving onto the northern slopes there were 3 brimstone and 4 peacock about - Paul Thrush

Whilst out on a jog at lunchtime around Moor Hall barns, just west of Bishop's Stortford (TL 466188), I disturbed a sunbathing Peacock and was then pleasantly distracted by an ensuing battle with a Comma into whose territory it had appeared to fly. A few moments later, a 'white' fluttered by and paused long enough to confirm a Small White (my earliest ever recorded I reckon) - Tony Moverley

News for today (Weds 1st April 2009) - 1 Comma, along bridle-path near Equestrian Centre, 14:15 BST. 4 Comma, edge of Shaws Wood, 14:27 - 14:30 BST, including three together. 2 Peacock, edge of Shaws Wood, 14:27 - 14:30 BST. 2 Peacock, edge of Williams Wood, 14:32 - 14:35 BST. 2 Comma, edge of Shaws Wood, 14:32 - 14:35 BST - Robert Callf

Horsenden Hill today, nice sunny day albeit with too much cloud at times. I extended my walk slightly and explored as much of the meadows and fields West of the hill and road as lunchtime would permit. My largest haul of the year so far albeit nothing 'new' or special to report. 17 x Peacock, 12 x Comma, 1 x Male Brimstone - Mike Rubin

On a rather warm and sunny day at King's Meads, after 2 hours all I could manage was 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Comma and 1 male Brimstone - Alan Reynolds

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