Sightings 2008

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	11th May: More photos!
	Complete walks programme for 2008 now online

May 2008

Wednesday 14th May
Went out for two hours yesterday evening and saw only two butterflies - 1 Peacock at Vicarage Farm, 17:45 BST and 1 Green-veined White, along Leeging Beech Gutter near Stables, Vicarage Farm, 18:40 BST - Robert Callf

Had an early start at Frogmore Pit, on Weds 14th between 9.30-11am,and had at least 10 Grizzled Skippers at various locations of the pit. Also Orange Tip and Green Viened White were present. Then onto Pegsdon Hills arrived at around 12 midday,quite breezy and overcast walked from the pub along the central valley only to find 1 Dingy Skipper 2 Brimstones 3 Peacocks and several Small Heath - Darrel Bryant

Green Hairstreak and Dingy Skipper at Hexton Chalk Pits this morning. Speckled Wood on the woodland path at the entrance - Nigel Agar

A very early morning roost count at Hexton Chalk Pit produced 31 Dingy Skipper (our highest ever count anywhere) and 1 Small Heath. Too early for Green Hairstreak. We then moved onto the Pegsdon Hills (still cloudy) and found just 2 roosting Dingy using a majoram seed head (2 on the same head) in the absence of any knapweed. A further 3 were found in another paddock. By now the day was warming up and we arrived at Telegraph Hill to find Dingy flying, just a minimum of 2 seen, and probably 6 Green Hairstreak, also 1 Small Heath. 1 Dingy at Hoo Bit. Back to Pegsdon via a different slope, in sun but quite fresh, and just 2 Green Hairstreak, 2 Small Heath and just 1 Dingy in the first paddock we had visited where we found 2 roosting first thing. Finally visited Knocking Hoe, where in total we saw 10 Dingy, 11 Green Hairstreaks and 22 Small Heath. It then became cloudy.... Liz Goodyear & Andrew Middleton

Out of county butterflies (Tuesday 13th May): Went to sheltered gully near top of Ivinghoe Beacon and saw pristine Duke of Burgundies, Grizzled and Dingy Skipper, Small Heaths, Large White, and several Brimstones and Peacocks. Malcolm Newland

Wet Horsenden Hill, barely worth reporting today. But what the hey. 2x Speckled Wood seen in the big field just north of Horsenden Lane North before it started raining. I then abandoned the walk and made a beeline back to base. Oh well it was a good run of weather while it lasted. - Mike Rubin

Tuesday 13th May
Walked both pits of Waterford Heath. North pit quite exposed to north wind. Only saw three grizzled skippers but 2 in new areas. South Pit more sheltered from wind, Grizzled skippers everywhere, I saw 23 but must be many more. saw five on glade going down to settling pits, 13 on east bank by Sacombe road , and in many other new places. Saw many orange tips and green veined whites and three holly blues ,but also first Small heath on eastern bank at north end - Steve Kiln

Not sure if I got to see the single Small Heath in Stevenage before Andrew at lunchtime today. I didn't see him at work but also saw a Small Heath and one Holly Blue at about 12:30 - Trevor Chapman

Butterflies seen this afternoon 12 May 2008 between 2 & 4pm at Therfield Heath, Royston:- Peacock (several); Large White (3); Small White (2); Green-veined White (2); Orange Tip (2); Brimstone (several); Small Heath (2) & Brown Argus (5). Weather, fine and sunny with a moderate breeze in exposed parts, but very warm and wind free in protected areas…………Randy Drew

Frogmore - an hours search found 13 Grizzled Skipper scattered across the whole site, including egg laying females, also 1 of each Small Copper and Brown Argus. Lots of Holly Blue around today, also egg laying on Dogwood flowers and Mother Shipton was present on another site! Liz Goodyear and Andrew Middleton

News for yesterday (Monday 12th May 2008) - 1 Speckled Wood, at Lakeside, Oakwood, N14, 16:28 BST; 1 male Orange Tip, at Lakeside, Oakwood, N14, 16:30 BST. 2 Speckled Wood, near Equestrian Centre, Trent Park, 16:35 BST. 1 Peacock, at Vicarage Farm, 16:55 BST. 1 Peacock, at Parkside Farm, 17:13 BST. 1 male Orange Tip, at Parkside Res., Enfield, 17:30 BST. 1 Small Tortoiseshell, along Leeging Beech Gutter near Stables, Vicarage Farm, 17:50 BST. Observations for today (Tues 13th May 2008) are as follows - 1 male Orange Tip, at Hilly Fields Park, Enfield, 12:37 BST. 1 Speckled Wood, at Flash Lane, 12:42 BST. 1 Speckled Wood, at Whitewebbs Wood, 13:50 BST. 1 Speckled Wood, at Archery Wood, Forty Hall, Enfield, 14:00 BST. 2 male Orange Tip, near Archery Wood, Forty Hall, Enfield, 14:00 BST. 1 Holly Blue, along bridle-path, Forty Hall, Enfield, 14:16 BST. 2 Holly Blue, together, at Forty Hall, 14:45 BST. 1 Speckled Wood, at Forty Hall, 14:50 BST. 1 Holly Blue, at Myddleton Avenue, Enfield, 15:00 BST - Robert Callf.

Horsenden Hill, another sunny day another lunchtime walk. Highlight of the lunchbreak was first Small Coppers. One at the bottom of the grazing field, and one at the north end of Batts field. Otherwise pretty quiet. I wonder if the Peacocks have started to die off? 4x Speckled Wood 3x Peacock 3x Holly Blue 3x White 2x Small Copper (my first of 2008) 1x Green Veined White 1x Male Orange Tip - Mike Rubin

Monday 12th May
Stevenage, lunchtime Monday 12 May. 1 Small Heath, 5 Holly Blues, including one egg laying on Dogwood flowers, 1 Cinnabar Moth, 100s of Horse Chestnut leafminer moths on a Chestnut trunk and flying around the tree. Many Scarce Umber catterpillers on Maple, Ash, Hawthorn, Hornbeam and Rose - Andrew Wood

In hot sunshine I went down to Mudchute LNR today (May 12th) during my lunch-hour looking for spring butterflies. I was very fortunate and found a new species for the site - an Orange Tip. I also saw 2 Holly Blues, 8 Speckled Woods, 16 Green Veined Whites & 2 Small Whites. The total number species sightings I have made at the Mudchute site this butterfly season is now 6. - David Chandler

Sunday 11th May – just over the county border into Beds, 3 Small Heath seen at Pegsdon Hills - Ian Small Saturday 10th May I spotted the following butterflies: A Large White butterfly and an Orange tip in Hillingdon. In my garden in Hayes an Orange Tip and a number of Holly Blues, its turning out to be a good year for them! Sunday the 11th May a visit to Ruislip Woods yielded 5 Speckled Wood, 3 Large Whites, 1 Small White and as I walking away from the woods much to my surprise I spotted a male Meadow Brown, rather early to see them in mid May. I also also saw a Small White Wave moth - Helen George

Saturday 10th May
Visited Hexton chalk-pit this afternoon. Saw about 5 Dingy Skippers, but no Green Hairstreak (perhaps not looking in the right area). Most abundant Lepidoptera was the Pyralid moth Pyrausta nigrata, which was very common. Photos of each attached. One Burnet Companion. Other butterflies were Brimstone, Orange Tip, Speckled Wood, Holly Blue, Green-veined White, Peacock - Ian Small

Waterford Heath - training day with the HMWT: We visited the north pit first and although 'normal' butterflies were hard to find, at least 10 Grizzled Skipper were seen, the majority close to the bramble bank near the railway. We then went across to the south pit, by now it was very hot, but 10 Grizzleds were seen on the south pit on or close to the Sacombe Road bank. Two more were seen clashing on the path that leads to the old 'silt beds' away from the main area which was a nice surprise. One latticed heath and a burnet companion were seen but no Brown Argus, Small copper or Common Blue which was very disappointing - several recorders.

Frogmore Pit, 5 Grizzled skipper, 1 Brown Argus and 1 Small copper found - Liz Goodyear and Andrew Middleton

Painted Lady basking on farm track,near Hoggates Wood Bishop's Stortford - Jim Fish

Observations for today (Sat 10th May 2008) are as follows - 4 male Orange Tip, at Vicarage Farm ( 1 along hedgerow off 'Barracks', 09:50 BST; 2 males, together, along Leeging Beech Gutter near Stables, 12:00 BST; 1 near firing range, 12:32 BST ); 1 Peacock, at Vicarage Farm, 09:52 BST; 1 Small White, at Vicarage Farm, 09:55 BST; 1 Green-veined White, along Leeging Beech Gutter near Stables, Vicarage Farm, 10:10 BST; 1 Holly Blue, along Leeging Beech Gutter near Williams Wood, at Vicarage Farm, 10:10 BST; 1 Small White, set-aside field N of Williams Wood, Trent Park, 10:15 BST; 8 Speckled Wood,( 6 at Trent Park, including three together, Shaws Wood; 1 at Parkside Farm, 12:03 BST; 1 along track at Vicarage Farm, 12:15 BST ); 1 Peacock, at Park Farm, 11;25 BST; 1 female Orange Tip, at Park Farm, 11:38 BST; 2 male Orange Tip, at Parkside Farm; 1 Large White, Sidhil's Field, Vicarage Farm. Also of some interest - saw my first Brown Silver-lines today in Williams Wood, Trent Park. Saw my first Common Blue Damselfly of the year today at Park Farm, Enfield. Later, Just spent an hour (14:30 - 15:30 BST) over the 'New Fields', Trent Park and recorded the following: 9 Speckled Wood,( 1 near Oakwood entrance, 14:42 BST, 7 in Sect. 7 at 15:00 BST, 1 Snakes Lane, 15:26 BST ); 1 male Orange Tip, edge of Church Wood, 15:10 BST and my first Small Copper of the year near the Sports Field, 15:16 BST. Also saw a Holly Blue at Bramley Road, Oakwood at 14:30 BST. - Robert Callf

Friday 9th May
In the gloomy but very mild and humid 8/8 lunchtime overcast I saw 2 Holly Blues (or could be the same one?) fly past in the garden while I munched, as well as loads of Horse Chestnut Leaf Miner moths under the conker tree, and a Carnation Tortrix moth in the front driveway at Kenton - Mike Rubin

Went to Waterford heath -south 3pm today 9th . Saw the usual but on the eastern bank saw 9 grizzled skippers including mating pair on photos attached. Bit out of focus unfortunately. In wood saw my first comma. The south is much more productive than the north and not nearly as good as it was last year same time. I saw two grizzled skippers today about 5pm and they were on middle bank about 30-40 yards from wher steep gravely path goes down. Have seen little butterflies at far end. On path down to river seen whites, brimstones & orange tips,protected from wind. At top in woods holly blues,orange tips and whites. In glade walking through near car park peacocks,speckled woods,holly blues, seen small coppers there - Steve Kiln

In a 15 minute visit to Waterford North Pit in still and heavy conditions found 5 on the bank, at least 3 individuals, otherwise just 1 Peacock. Passing through the South Pit 1 Grizzled Skipper at the bottom of the east bank, I though I had a another but close examination showed the small Pyralid moth Pyrausta purpuralis feeding on Wild Strawberry. I though the absence of Latticed Heaths and Brown Arguses was making spotting Grizzled easier, hadn't reckoned with that one - Andrew Wood

Butterflies seen today (Fri 9th May 2008) include the following - 1 Speckled Wood, at Parkside Farm, 12:06 BST; 2 Large White, at Park Farm; 1 female Orange Tip, near Duncan's Wood, 12:47 BST; 1 female Orange Tip, at Park Farm near Hadley Road, 12:52 BST; 1 Peacock, near Lower Lake, Trent Park, 13:25 BST; 4 Speckled Wood, at Trent Park ( 1 edge of Williams Wood, 13:40 BST, 1 near Shaws Wood, 13:45 BST, 2 near Equestrian Centre, 13:50 BST); 1 Small Yellow Underwing, near Dew Pond. Also on Weds 7th May 2008 one Small Yellow Underwing, edge of Shaws Wood, Trent Park, 14:30 BST - my first of the year. Whilst waiting for a train at Edmonton Green Station (Thurs 8th May 2008) saw a Speckled Wood settle near the platform at 12:41 BST - Robert Callf

Thursday 8th May
Saw my 1st green hairstreaks x 5 at Highdown on 6th May plus 14 brimstones and a few orange tips, no dingy skippers yet though Stuart Pittman

Herts border, Church End quarry, 11 dingy skippers, 1 green hairstreak, small copper and common blue, red kite, no small blues seen yet; adjacent chalk pit, 16 dingy skipper, 3 green hairstreak including egglaying on birdsfoot trefoil, 1 grizzled skipper base of bank at SP948139; 1 Duke Ivinghoe Beacon (4 seen by others); Aldbury Nowers NW section only, 1 green hairstreak (10 reported across site) – Andrew Middleton & Tristan Bantock.

Having met Andrew Palmer at Hexton Chalk Pit yesterday (8 May), I was kindly asked to submit a list of the eleven butterflies species I recorded there on Wednesday 7 May 2008 between the hours of 11 and 12am. These are:- Large White (3); Small White (1); Green-veined White (3); Orange Tip (4); Brimstone (several); Speckled Wood (1); Peacock (2); Small Tortoiseshell (2); Holly Blue (several); Green Hairstreak (3) & Dingy Skipper (4). Weather was warm approx 22C with a gentle breeze - Randy Drew

Hexton Chalk-Pit: 6 Green Hairstreak and 6 Dingy Skipper. We met someone who had both species there yesterday (7 May). Telegraph Hill: 3 Green Hairstreak and 1 Dingy Skipper. - Diane Andrews and Andrew Palmer

Quick stroll around Hexton Chalk pit nature Reserve after work at 18.30 found me 2 Dingy Skippers (rubbish photos to follow), 1 Green Hairstreak, 1 Holly Blue. shows these things stay up late - Darin Stanley

Fir and Pond Woods NR..... 1 brimstone, 2 specked woods, orange tips, 1 peacock, and a pair of small copper butterflies on the Meadow - David Gompertz

Yesterday 7th May at Colne Valley park Holly Blue (1), Orange tip (3 males), Green veined white (3), Comma (2) picture attached. Same day at Ickenham in my garden, Orange tip (1), Holly blue (2 males) picture attached, comma (1) - Sezar Hikmet

Been tetrad bashing and whilst it hasn’t exactly yielded anything special as such, the results have been ok, In summary - 3rd May 2008: Plashes wood (TL 3620 & 3820) 11 orange tip, 12 peacock 1 Small tortoishell 1 Large White. Wareside Orange tip 10 Peacock 3 Small White 1 Large white 1 Brimstone 3 Comma 1. Lots of other sightings elsewhere but I'll spare you the details. Of more peacocks and orange tips - Phil MacMurdie

Horsenden Hill: Gasp! Too hot! And I think the butterflies agreed. Not so many around again. Walked over the summit this time. 10x Speckled Wood, especially in and around the woods. 3 having a tangle together at one point. 7x Peacock. Again either moving fast or resting wings closed, except for one basker. 5x Holly Blue 2x Male Orange Tip. No whites! - Mike Rubin

Wednesday 7th May
I went to Waterford Heath today at 3pm very hot but quite windy. In north part, a bit disappointing but saw the usual suspects orange tips, whites, peacocks, and a brimstone and a speckled wood, but returned after walking south part and saw 1 grizzled skipper on the middle bank. At the south side saw 2 grizzled skippers on eastern bank amongst the wild strawberries. Saw the same species as the north but also my first common blue and a holly blue - Steve Kiln

Horsenden Hill, bit warmer today. I walked the meadows below the hill this time. Didn't do quite so well. Again most of the butterflies in the meadows immediately West of Horsenden Lane North. Peacocks and Speckled Browns were not basking today. Too warm. Generally resting close to the shadows wings closed if not on the wing. 9x Peacock. 3 spotted together resting on the shady side of a log. Tried to take photo but scared them away instead. Doh! 5 x Speckled Wood mostly in the shadows. 4 x Holly Blue, 2 x Orange Tip, one Male, one Female, both nectaring. Got a shot of the Male but looked overexposed. Failed to get the female. 1 x Green Veined White, with rather squashed looking wings. 3 x unidentified whites - Mike Rubin

Balls Wood - 4 Peacock, 2 Green-Veined White, 3 Speckled Wood, 3 Orange Tip - Sandra Standbridge.

Tuesday 6th May
I seem to have a number of Holly Blue butterflies probably due to the abundance of wild Ivy. On Sunday 4th May several Holly blue in the garden in Hayes Tuesday the 6th of May two Orange Tips in my friends garden in Ruislip - Helen George

Waterford Heath north – 2 grizzled skippers; Waterford Heath south along main bank, 8 grizzled skippers mostly basking / nectaring low down, 1 latticed heath, 1 burnet companion, 1 small copper, peacock, orange tip; Frogmore 1 grizzled skipper; Stapleford 1 large white, peacock – Andrew Middleton & Martin Greenland

Observations for today (Tues 6th May 2008) - 1 Peacock, near Triangular Wood, 11:00 BST; 1 Holly Blue, 'New Fields', at 11:02 BST; 2 Speckled Wood, together, Sect. 7, along tube-line near Cockfosters entrance, 11:10 BST; 1 Speckled Wood, at Prince George Ave., N14, 11:53 BST. 4 Peacock, at Vicarage Farm; 2, male and female, Orange Tip, at Vicarage Farm; 1 Speckled Wood, along Leeging Beech Gutter at Vicarage Farm; 1 Small Tortoiseshell, along hedgerow off Hog Hill, at Vicarage Farm, 13:47 BST; 1 Speckled Wood, Williams Wood, at Trent Park, 14:10 BST; 2, male and female, Orange Tip, together, along bridle-path near Shaws Wood, 14:30 BST; 2 Speckled Wood, along bridle-path near Equestrian Centre, 14:43 BST; 3 Holly Blue, together, at Lakeside, N14, 14:52 BST. Also today (Tues 6th May 2008) saw a female Muslin Moth on the edge of Church Wood, Trent Park this morning at 11:20 BST - in flight and settled. Just a couple of observations to report amongst many. Saw three Holly Blue together along River View, Enfield Town yesterday (Mon 5th May 2008) at 17:10 BST, flying around Ivy and Holly. - Robert Callf

Felt good on Horsenden Hill this lunchtime. No longer humid, and atleast 20C+. (Northolt METAR says 22C at 12:50pm.) Unbroken sunshine. Albeit rather windy. But pleasant. 9x Peacock, almost all on the move. Warm enough that they were not basking even when at rest (wings closed). 7x Orange Tip, including 1 nectaring female. But failed to get a shot! 6x Speckled Wood, 3x Holly Blue, 1x Green Veined White nectaring, 4x Fast flying or fighting nymphs, probably Peacocks too. 3x Unidentified whites - Mike Rubin

Monday 5th May
At Waterford Heath South, I saw 4 Grizzled Skippers (got very hard after 13:35 h), 2 Holly Blues and 1 Small Tortoiseshell. Latticed Heath tried to fool me into taking it for a skipper as well. At Hertford Heath SSSI I had 2 Speckled Wood (and 1 Large Red Damselfly). I lost count of Orangetips and Peacocks today, but a displaying male Peacock at Waterford Heath was interesting - Jan Hein van Steenis

Today (5th May) I saw a Holly Blue in Northolt, Middlesex. Don't know how well reported that grid is so thought I'd let you know. Was at a friend's place at the time and it was fluttering around a Laurel bush outside. - Mike Rubin

I would like to report that I saw my first ever Humming Bird Hawk Moth in our garden in Harpenden today - Euan Bruce

A long walk this pm took me miles and miles from Pitstone church to Aldbury Nowers by a very convoluted route. Important details: i.e. not listing every Brimstone etc There were 5 Dingy Skipper and 1 Green Hairstreak at Pitstone. No sign of Small Blue - though I started here in very weak sun - so possibly they are out now a few hours later. The kidney vetch there is in flower. Crossing the road I walked the edge nearest Herts. (in fact I probably walked almost exclusively in Herts.) and saw 1 Green Hairstreak and 1 Grizzled Skipper. I don't have GPS but feel sure from the map that both these key species were inside the Herts. border. If I had time and the legs for it a traverse of the south west facing slope may well have provided a Bucks record too - but my ankles protested the angle of the hillside and I had to give up. Old age? If I had persisted I think I would have been too focussed on staying upright on the slippery hillside, to look carefully for tiny butterflies. I walked the buffer strip at the top of the quarry where it meets Pitstone Hill and saw 13 Green Hairstreaks in about 20 mins - all definitely different individuals - and all in Bucks. I walked a big circle around Pitstone hill but saw little, only 1 Green Hairstreak worthy of note here. Quite blowy up there. Then into what I still think of as Turlhanger Wood - adjacent to Pitstone Hill and referred to as Aldbury Nowers by many. I still think of Duchies Piece as Aldbury N. Anyhow, it was getting late now and I was losing sun into hazy clouds, though 4 poss 5 species of whites and Peacocks still very active (3.30 -ish) and again a solitary Green H of note. It will be very interesting to see how the scraped areas and in particular the shaped scrapes develop. I fear that the already common thistles (several already in flower) will dominate much of the lightly scraped area, in two years time. The deeper scrapes should be far longer gaining vegetation. Home to rest and find Peacock, Orange Tip and Holly Blue in garden plus, the only one seen all day, - a Small Tort - Nick Bowles

Bencroft wood today 3.30 saw 2 speckled wood, one orange tip,2 green veined white and a peacock. Waterford Heath North 3rd May 11.30 am: 1 large white, 2 orange tips, 1 holly blue, 1 brimstone, 3 peacock and a speckled wood. South today 5th May late 4pm: 6 orange tips, 3 peacocks, 1 brimstone, holly blue, speckled wood and green veined white- Steve Kiln

Saw our first Green Hairstreaks at Pegsdon Hills on Sunday, also went onto Bison Hill and saw more there. Picture attached - Sandra and Kevin Standbridge

Saturday 3rd May
I did my Bird Atlas square at Walkern village and surrounds (TL22Y) and saw my first Holly Blue for the year, also 1 Brimstone, 9 Peacocks, 4 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Speckled Wood, 2 Large White, 3 Small White and 5 Orangetips (all males) - Steve Lane

Hexton Chalk Pit, 1 Green Hairstreak, 2 Holly Blues & numerous Brimstone seen this afternoon. No Dingys though - Darin Stanley

We went to Waterford South and arrived at 2.25 and immediately saw our first Grizzled Skipper of the year at 2.30. Over the next 1 1/2 hours we had 11 sightings and we believe this was 4/5 individuals. Also saw 3 male Orange Tips and 1 female, 3 Peacocks and an Angle Shades. We enclose a couple of record shots - Sandra and Kevin Standbridge

Sightings for today are as follows - 2 Small Tortoiseshell, at Vicarage Farm (1 at 'Barracks', 10:55 BST, 1 along Leeging Beech Gutter near Stables, 11:27 BST); 2 Peacock, at Vicarage Farm (1 along gravel-track, 11:00 BST, 1 along Leeging Beech Gutter near Stables, 11:25 BST); 2 Peacock, at Parkside Farm (1 at 11:35 BST, 1 at 11:48 BST); 6 Orange Tip,(2 at Vicarage Farm, 1 near Hadley Road, 11:30 BST, 1 at Sidhil's Field, 14:12 BST; 2 females at Park Farm,(1 at 12:02 BST, 1 at 12:13 BST); 1 male along Hadley Road at Park Farm, 12:37 BST; 1 male, at Uni-lawns, Trent Park, 13:20 BST); 2 Brimstone,( female nectaring on dandelion, at Parkside Res., 11:57 BST, 1 male, edge of Williams Wood, Trent Park, 13:23 BST); 1 male Large White, at Ferny Hill Farm, 12:40 BST; 1 Peacock, at Ferny Hill Farm, 12:40 BST; 1 Peacock, edge of Williams Wood, Trent Park, 13:26 BST; 2 Speckled Wood, at Shaws Woodd, 13:30 BST - Robert Callf.

Friday 2nd May
News for today (Fri 2nd May 2008) - 3 male Orange Tip,(2 males, at Parkside Farm, 11:55 BST, 1 along bridle-path near Shaws Wood, 13:58 BST); 1 female Large White, at Parkside Farm, 11;57 BST (My first of the year); 5 Peacock,(1 at Parkside Farm, 12:00 BST; 2 together, edge of Moat Wood, 13:10 BST; 1 'Old Golf Course', 13:17 BST; 1 near Dew Pond, 13:45 BST); 1 Small White, by Lower Lake, Trent Park, 13;31 BST; 1 Speckled Wood, edge of Wiliams Wood, Trent Park, 13:50 BST - Robert Callf.

No Grizzleds at Waterford Heath yet - Andrew Middleton

Thursday 1st May
Today at Stockers Lake orange Tips 2 males. Peacock and two green-veined white. Photoes of two attached. Could not get a picture of Orange tip - Sezar Hikmet

April 2008

Tuesday 29th April
Kenton Saturday 26th April - A warm 20C+ day, already 15+ early morning. An unidentified white (Small or Green veined) flew past the garden around 8AM. Grove Farm - Monday 28th April: Fairly overcast and showery conditions. Despite that found a Speckled Wood in the wooded section of the area. Horsenden Hill Meadows - Tuesday 29th April: Lunchtime walk in the wake of a big heavy shower. Cool and damp but strong sunshine making the gravel paths steam. Saw nothing except for one single Male Orange Tip on the wing just below the grazing field near the road / entrance to Batts field - Mike Rubin
http://piccies.flybywire.org.uk/ButterfliesMoths/index.html

Monday 28th April
Had a walk around the Great Ashby Park and Box Wood between 11am and 3pm, weather sunny intervals and some light showers. I saw 2 Speckled Wood, 1 Brimstone, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Small White and 10+ Peacocks. Not a transect walk, a bird atlas walk - Steve Lane

Only got out late yesterday (Mon 28th April 2008) and saw the following: 1 male Orange Tip, along bridle-path near Merryhills Brook, Trent Park, 16:10 BST; 1 Speckled Wood, at Shaws Wood, Trent Park, 16:20 BST - Robert Callf.

Sunday 27th April
Seen around a sunny Watford (Central Park) on Saturday 26th; Orange Tip, Green Veined White (2) Small White (2) Brimstone and a Red Admiral - David Chandler

News for the weekend is as follows: Saturday 26th April - 1 Speckled Wood at Lakeside, Oakwood, N14, 15:45 BST; 1 Small White, settled, along Merryhills Brook at Vicarage Farm, 16:00 BST; 3 Peacock at Vicarage Farm (1 along Merryhills Brook, 16:01 BST, 1 at 'Barracks', 16:07 BST, 1 along Leeging Beech Gutter, 16:20 BST); 2 Peacock, together at Parkside Farm, 16:53 BST. 1 Small Tortoiseshell at Vicarage Farm, 16:02 BST. Sunday 27th April 2008: 1 male Orange Tip at Parkside Farm, 09:41 BST; 1 Peacock at Parkside Farm 09:52 BST; 2 Peacock at Park Farm (1 at 10:10 BST, 1 near Duncan's Wood, 10:27 BST)- Robert Callf.

Amwell 26th April TL31, I believe (TL3712) At last some warm sunshine and good weather for butterflies. 15 orange tip - the orange tips were very fresh, one particularly stunningly bright individual seen in front of the central viewing area. They were very active in the warm sunshine, mostly over nettles but also all along the meadow on the opposite side of the lane from the reserve. 5 Brimstone including 2 in a mating flight/contest, 6 Peacock including two spiralling together, 2 Green Veined White nr Hollycross Lake, 4 Small White 3 Holly Blue - 2 in meadow opposite reserve and one on path up to the railway crossing point - Alun & Chrissie

News from Saturday April 26th - spring trio of Orange Tip, Brimstone & Holly Blues on the wing in Hemel Hempstead - Ashley Cox

Still relatively easy to see Small Tort here. Just walk out of my garden into field behind - at least 4 within two mins. Or stay in garden seat with a mug and wait 30 mins for one to come in and nectar. a real breath of spring here in Tring too; similar species around Tring, Herts., and in Wendover Woods a large forest area about 2 crow flying miles west of Tring (but in Bucks not Herts.) on 26th April: Brimstone, un-id Small or Green-veined White, Orange-tip, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Speckled Wood. I also visited BUCKS sites with colonies of Grizz/DIngy/Green Hstrk/Small Copper, but no sign of any. Simply more of the same species as above. No sign of Holly Blue anywhere. Slow worm and Grass snake, Buzzard, Red Kite and my first singing Whitethroats of the seaon added to the fun NO species of particular interest yet but at least Orange Tip and Speckled wood now under my belt for the year. I will keep you posted - Nick Bowles (Green Hairstreak has been seen out of county)

Saturday 26th April
Some more species in the last few days but no time to post photos - did see my first Red Admiral in St. Augustine though - LG

Arrived at Waterford Heath South at 2.45pm, weather was sunny and a few clouds, saw 6 Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshell searched for 1/2 hour but no GS. Then went over to Waterford Heath North and saw 12 Peacocks, Male Orange Tip, Female Brimstone, Small Tortoiseshell and a White but too far away to ID, alas no GS. However, we saw our first 2 Large Red Damselflies of the year and we believe a Ruby Tiger Moth. Sandra and Kevin Standbridge

1st holly blue in my Harpenden garden today (26th April), 1st comma (I always seem to be late with them), 1st large white (not a female brimstone) and 1st small or green veined white (not a female orange tip). 1st orange tip (a male) today just outside St Albans abbey. Heaps of peacocks and brimstones, three commas and three small tortoishells whilst running on the Nickey line and thereabouts. At last! - Richard Harrington

Friday 25th April
Observations for today (Fri 25th April 2008) - 10 Peacock,(1 near Shaws Wood, 12:40 BST; 1 Shaws Wood, 12:47 BST; 1 along Leeging Beech Gutter near Stables, Vicarage Farm, 13:06 BST; 2 Park Farm, 13:28 BST and 13:33 BST; 2 at Parkside Farm, 13:11 BST and 13:32 BST; 1 at Ferny Hill Farm, 14:05 BST; 1 at 'Old Golf Course', Trent Park, 14:33 BST; 1 edge of Williams Wood, Trent Park, 14:57 BST). 1 Speckled Wood at Park Farm, 13:37 BST - Robert Callf

On St Georges Day (23rd) In Bencroft wood 2 peacock. In Broxbourne Wood 1 comma, 3 peacock, 1 orange tip. At home in Bengeo, 3 peacocks pursued by cats and a holly blue. On 25th April Waterford heath, 8 peacocks, 1 brimstone and 1 orange tip. Steve Kiln

Orange Tip - Seen at Millstream close in Hertford 21.4.08 - Craig Hornby

Thursday 24th April
Had a walk around Great Ashby Park, Stevenage. Between 2pm & 2.30pm (Transect bashing). I saw 1 Orange tip, 2 Green-veined White (both first for the year), 5 Brimstones and 9 Peacocks. Also 4 Buzzards circling around the park - Steve Lane

Had an evening walk yesterday (Weds 23rd April 2008) and saw the following: 1 Small Tortoiseshell, along Leeging Beech Gutter at Vicarage Farm, 17:20 BST; 1 Peacock, at Vicarage Farm, 17:25 BST; 2 Peacock, together at Parkside Farm, 17:55 BST - Robert Callf

Wednesday 23rd April
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Front clearing as I set off at lunchtime. Explored the meadows between Greenford Road and Horsenden Lane North. Despite big cloudshadow found 2x Speckled Wood 'basking' (cloudbathing?) and 1x Peacock just off Greenford Road (close to the canal). closer to the hill the sun came out properly and was quite warm. But just 1 Peacock. The bluebell patch where yesterday's Peacock acrobat and orange tip were were deserted. Final score 2 all. - Mike Rubin

Tuesday 22nd April
21st April A Speckled Wood, a Brimstone, a Comma, and three Peacocks, all seen in in quick succession, in the field NW of Ruislip Reservoir car park. 22nd April Eight Peacocks and one Comma seen in half an hour (but nothing else) in the old railway sidings North of Croxley Common Moor. Graham Elcombe.

Afternoon of Tues. 22nd April, Thornbera Road Allotments, Bishops Stortford, one small white, one male brimstone and one rather big small tortoiseshell settled on cow manure that I got within one foot of before it flew off. - Len Crouch

More sightings for today (Tues 22nd April 2008) - 1 male Orange Tip, at Lakeside, Oakwood, N14, 14:02 BST (My first of the year); 5 Peacock,(4 at Vicarage Farm, 1 at 'New Fields', Trent Park); 2 Small Tortoiseshell, together, along Merryhills Brook at Vicarage Farm, 14:16 BST; 2 Speckled Wood,(1 at 'Barracks', Vicarage Farm, 14:25 BST; 1 near Oakwood entrance, Trent Park, 15:45 BST); 1 Small White, along Merryhills Brook at Vicarage Farm, 14:12 BST, also three other whites seen but not specifically identified - Robert Callf

MUDCHUTE REPORT The sun came out from behind the clouds at long last and I went down to Mudchute LNR today (April 22nd) during my lunch-hour looking for any butterflies I could - having not seen a single butterfly in Herts or Middx this year at all. I was very fortunate and found 17 butterflies: 3 Holly Blues, 3 Speckled Woods, 1 Brimstone, 8 Green Veined Whites & 2 Small Whites. The total number species sightings I have made at the Mudchute site this butterfly season is now 5. Dave Chandler

Had a short walk round Hertingfordbury at lunchtime, spotted 1 small white, 1 large white, 1 holly blue, 1 red admiral, 1 comma and 3 peacock, must be the warm weather bringing them out - Robin Pearson

Saw ten Peacocks today but nothing else - where are all the Whites? The Peacocks were all seen in Trent Park - 1 south edge of Rough Lot, 11:00 BST, 1 near Dew Pond, 11:35 BST, 3 edge of Williams Wood, 11:40 BST, 5 at Shaws Wood, between 11:45 - 11:50 BST - Robert Callf

Yesterday at Grove Farm, despite fairly warm and sun breaking through thin cloud, no butterflies at all! Today on Horsenden Hill, warm (16C+), light wind and nearly unbroken sunshine. A dizzy total of 31 butterflies. 25 Peacocks (including one upside down hanging from a bluebell wings open), 2 Male Holly Blues (my firsts of 2008), 1 very pale Speckled Wood, 1 Comma, 1 Big white (suspected female Brimstone from the angular wings and fast flight pattern - my first of 2008 if so) and 1 Male Orange Tip also feeding on bluebells (first confirmed of 2008). The Orange Tip was so busy feeding on the bluebells that my camera lens pretty much touched it without it flinching. All in full sunshine too. (Normally they don't stop moving in sun and impossible to get near!) - Mike Rubin

Monday 21st April
Saw three butterflies today (Monday 21st April 2008) - 2 Peacock and 1 Speckled Wood, edge of Williams Wood, Trent Park at 13:45 BST - Robert Callf

I went for a wander up Barnhill (TQ18) in the afternoon when the sun broke through. But butterfly numbers were very poor despite mild conditions (15C). 2 Speckled Woods, 1 Peacock and 1 White (suspected Orange Tip female from rounded wings and flight pattern) - Mike Rubin

Thursday 17th April
Where am 1?
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Last weekend - 12th April 2008 TL3024 - St Johns Wood, 1 Comma, 1 peacock, 1 speckled wood. Some roe deer also. TL3426 - Wakeley - (path) 1 Peacock - Phil MacMurdie (whilst tetrad bashing!)

Went to Waterford Heath (South) at approx 2pm, saw 5 Peacocks but no early GS. Did see 1st Male Orange Tip over Fishers Green near Bittern hide today. Sandra Standbridge

Horsenden Hill (15th April)Yah boo a cloud followed me around for much of the walk. But when it finally shooed away and warm sun came out there were plenty of Peacocks west of the hill. Atleast 12 counted in total. No other species at all though! - Mike Rubin

News for today (Tues 15th April 2008) - 1 Small Tortoiseshell, along track at Vicarage Farm, 11:50 BST. 1 Comma, at 'Old Golf Course', Trent Park, 12:52 BST. 3 Peacock, at Trent Park (2 edge of Williams Wood at 13:20 BST and 1 edge of Shaws Wood, 13:30 BST) - Robert Callf

Monday 14th April
I saw my first Orange-tip of the year today in the grounds of Brunel University. Peacock, Brimstone and Small White also seen - Steve Pash

A few butterflies were seen today (Monday 14th April 2008) - 1 White sp., seen at distance at Vicarage Farm, also a Peacock here at 11:55 BST. 2 Comma, together in clearing, Rough Lot, Trent Park at 13:00 BST and 1 Peacock, edge of Williams Wood, Trent Park at 13:45 BST. Also heard a Cuckoo singing at Vicarage Farm this morning - Robert Callf

Grove Farm today, 3 Peacocks and a tiny and battered looking Speckled Wood spotted before showers threatened to spoil the walk. Didn't feel very warm out there either. But better than the miserable weekend just gone! - Mike Rubin

Saturday 12th April
Only one butterfly seen today (Saturday 12th April 2008) - 1 Comma, in a clearing in Rough Lot, Trent Park at 13:40 BST. - Robert Callf

Had a Red Admiral in the garden (Harpenden) today - Robin Pearson

Thursday 10th April
Hitchin garden 12.30 on 10 April 2008 11 deg. Sunny 1 Peacock drew warmth from curtain protection over a shrub and perched for 2/3 minutes - Val Fullforth

Sightings for today [10/4]. Had a walk around Great Ashby Park, Stevenage this afternoon and saw 1 Large White, 1 Comma and 5 Peacocks - Steve Lane

News for today (Thurs 10th April 2008) - 1 Peacock, basking in Dalrymple Close, Southgate at 10:40 BST. Also one Peacock at Vicaraage Farm at 11:45 BST. Saw my first Speckled Wood of the year in Shaws Wood, Trent Park at 14:30 BST, also a Red Admiral here simultaneously - Robert Callf.

Wednesday 9th April
Hemel Hempstead, had my first Peacock of the year in the back garden today, also saw my first Speckled Wood, a small but pristine specimen, but this was on the bridle path behind the house. Pity,as it would have beaten my earlies record by 14 days - Malcolm Newland

A male Orange Tip in Letchworth at midday today - Brian Sawford

Today a walk along the railway line from Turkey Street Station to Carterhatch Lane produced some good sightings: 2 Small Tortoiseshells behind Enfield Cemetery, 8 sightings of Peacock all the way along, a Small White and a very obliging Comma (shame I only had the work's camera). Also, before I left home, a Male Brimstone in my garden at Eliot Road, Royston - Simon Rasch (please note this is Simon's job!)

Wood Green at 3.30 this afternoon a female Orange Tip (100% sure!) settled on Spanish Bluebell - phone call from Diane Andrews

At Balls Wood Wednesday lunchtime 1 Orange Tip, 1 Small White, 7 Peacocks, 2 Commas and 1 Orange Underwing Moth. Broadmeads, Ware on Tuesday lunchtime 2 Small Tortoiseshells, 1 Small White and 1 Peacock - Andrew Wood

Maple Cross, looked out onto the back garden lunch time and saw a male orange tip fluttering around our daffodils! Is this the first sighting this year? It's certainly the first one I've seen - Ann Piper

News for today (Weds 9th April 2008) - 5 Peacock,(1 at Vicarage Farm at 12:00 BST; 1 at Parkside Farm at 12:35 BST; 3 at Trent Park - (1 in Moat Wood at 13:25 BST, 1 by Lower Lake at 14:02 BST, 1 edge of Williams Wood at 14:30 BST); 4 Small Tortoisesell,(2 together at Vicarage Farm at 12:03 BST, 1 at Parkside Farm at 12:25 BST, 1 at Trent Park, edge of Williams Wood at 14:30 BST); 2 Comma at Trent Park - (1 by Lower Lake at 14:05 BST, 1 near Dew Pond at 14:15 BST). Also 1 Orange Underwing on the ground near the Dew Pond, Trent Park at 14:25 BST - my first of the year! - Robert Callf

A Peacock in the garden in Hayes and a Small White flying in Pield Heath Road near Hillingdon Hospital. Helen George

Saw Small Tortoiseshell yesterday (08/04/08) at Oak Farm St Albans while carrying out a roving visit to the TL10Z tetrad. My first one this year - Alan Gardiner

Horsenden Hill, a tad warmer today. 10-11C according to xcweather but felt warmer in the strong sun and light winds. 4 Peacocks on the West and Southwest sides of the hill. The last one happily sat on my finger and posed while a cloud attacked the sun. Then got my camera very close to one resting Small White by Horsenden Lane North while reluctantly returning to the office. - Mike Rubin

Tuesday 8th April
Despite it being only 8-9C, I saw 1 Speckled Wood (my first of 2008, basking in a sunny sheltered part of the woods) and 1 Peacock (only my 2nd of 2008) during my lunchtime walk through Grove Farm, Greenford, TQ18. - Mike Rubin (18 reasons why there were no butterflies reported on Sunday!)

(Missed by mistake the other day) News from 4th April, inspired by seeing the holly blue this morning I had a local walk around Maple Cross this afternoon. The thermometer said nearly 20*c . I netted over a dozen peacocks (not literally!) many of them spiralling in pairs. Also saw 3 whites - one was a definite small white and the others could have been small or green-veined, I was not quick enough for a proper ID. Then a male brimstone appeared and lastly a small tortoiseshell. So a good start to April!! - Ann Piper

Monday 7th April
News from the 4th: Marshalls Heath, 1 Holly Blue, 1 small tortoiseshell - Darin Stanley

News for Friday 4th April 2008 is as follows: 10 Peacock,( 9 at Vicarage Farm - seven of which were along Merryhills Brook; 1 at Trent Park - on the edge of Shaws Wood, 17:23 BST ). 1 Comma, along Merryhills Brook at Vicarage Farm. Fridays weather was in stark contrast to yesterday's - Robert Callf

Friday 4th April
In my Maple Cross garden this morning in Maple Cross I saw my first Holly Blue of the year on a holly bush! More sightings - last Tuesday April 1st, a friend in Mill End saw a small white in her garden and the previous Thursday March 27th there was a small tortoiseshell in the neighbour's garden - Ann Piper

One Holly Blue seen this morning, April 4th, in my garden in Pinner, (Middlesex) - Graham Elcombe

Thursday 3rd April
Sightings for today (Thurs 3rd April 2008) are as follows: 5 Peacock - 2 edge of Williams Wood at 13:52 BST, 1 edge of Rough Lot, 14:20 BST, 1 in clearing, Moat Wood, 1 at Park Farm at 15:25 BST. 2 Comma,( 1 in Shaws Wood, 13:48 BST and 1 edge of Williams Wood at 13:53 BST) - Robert Callf

Things are starting to move now, with 4 Peacock and 1 Green-veined White at King's Meads this morning. Couldn't find any Red Arrows or Typhoons but did manage 1 Chinook - Alan Reynolds

Saw my first Small White of the year and a Peacock at Turnford Brook in Cheshunt - Sandra Standbridge

Tuesday 1st April
Horsenden Hill, phew it was warm today. Nice! Rather a lot of cloud and breezy at times but enough sun to make it rather pleasant. And the result for Horsenden Hill at lunchtime: 1 Peacock, 2 7-spot ladybirds, 9 red arrows and 4 typhoons! This is not an April Fool! Near the end of my walk (soon after 1pm) I heard a huge roar. Scrambled the camera and powered up and hammered the shutter when they appeared. Managed a lucky shot which I'll check out later. Had no time to think focus or zoom. Cool to get anything at all as I had no idea they were coming (or else I would have waited at the top of the hill!). - Mike Rubin

Only one butterfly seen today (a bit to breezy) - a Small Tortoiseshell along the gravel-track at Vicarage Farm this afternoon at 14:15 BST. - Robert Callf

News from Sunday 30th March - Carpenders Park Brimstone, Park Street Brimstone, Potters Bar Small/GV White - Jez Perkins

March 2008

Monday 31st March
Grove Farm, Greenford, and more today at lunchtime. A cloudy day. But the sun shone through a gap for a few minutes during a short lunchtime walk. One Comma and One Small White (my first of 2008) positively id'd. Got a good close look at the Small White when it landed to nectar less than a metre from me - Mike Rubin

Saw two Peacocks in Trent Park this afternoon (Mon 31st March 2008) - 1 along bridle-path near Merryhills Brook and another on the edge of Williams Wood - Robert Callf

Maple Cross, I have just seen my first butterfly of the year. At last! It was a peacock sunning itself on a daffodil at the bottom of my garden in Maple Cross. I'm not sure that I can ever recall seeing any butterfly on a daffodil before. Normally their seasons don't often overlap! Ann Piper

I saw in Balls Wood today 2 Comma and 3 Peacock. Over Fishers Green yesterday near Normans pond 1 Male Brimstone - Sandra Standbridge

Sunday 30th March
Saw three butterflies yesterday (Sunday 30th March 2008) - 1 Small Tortoiseshell, settled along Leeging Beech Gutter at Vicarage Farm, at 15:15 BST; 1 Peacock at Parkside Farm, at 15:25 BST; 1 Comma, in Moat Wood, Trent Park at 16:20 BST. My first dates for the year for these species - Robert Callf

First butterflies of the year. Brimstone at Old Hale Way, allotments Hitchin Brimstone and Red Admiral my Hitchin garden - Nigel Agar

In the sunshine on Poors Field, Ruislip I saw 4+ Peacock, 2 Comma and 2 male Brimstone - Steve Pash

Visited Purwell Ninesprings HMWT Nature Reserve this morning 11.30 am, Saw 2 x Brimstone, 1 Comma basking in the sun at ground level, and 1 Red Admiral. At 1.30 am at The Millstream P.H. Hitchin in the car park, adjacent the stream and garden, 1 Brimstone and 1 Red Admiral. 2.20 pm arrived home and saw 1 Brimstone in own Hitchin garden - Val Fullforth

In the garden in Hayes a Peacock basking on the ground and what looked like a small White or perhaps a day flying moth? flying into Honeysuckle before disappearing into the bushes - Helen George

Weather also much better than I dared hope, here in Tring, Herts. - virtually sunny all day from 9am. A Peacock by 9.30 basking in garden and then several Brimstone 'fly throughs' and a Comma in the afternoon. Walked around the field behind the house at about 12pm and I could see 5 Brimstones flying simultaneously and 2 Small Torties chasing about. Also a single Comma. (Previous years have returned early April sightings of 10 -15 STorties so the numbers might be down this spring). On a shortish drive (20 mins) to nearby Ivinghoe (Bucks) I saw 14 Brimstones; only one a female - obviously today was a good day for male Brimstone spotting in this area. Searched nettle beds that held Red Admiral larvae this time last year but nothing except some tents of green moth larvae (of Burnished Brass I think). Hope everyone else enjoyed the day as much as me - Nick Bowles

1 Brimstone, 1 Comma and 1 Peacock at Waterford Heath and 2 Peacocks and 1 Brimstone in various parts of Bengeo today - Andrew Wood

Park Wood, Ruislip - Woo hoo! March is saved! Having royally screwed up the forecast and not gone gliding thinking we were in for heavy showers all day, I decided to pay Park Wood a visit. In the areas surrounding the coppiced area I saw 5-6 flighty Commas basking in strong sun and having good scraps. Also saw 1 small dark nymph near the Fore Street entrance to the Bridleway. No idea what it was. Looked too small for Peacock or Red Admiral. I guess Small Tortoiseshell is a possibility. I didn't go too far as further West the bridleway was impassable without seriously big wellies. (Glad I didn't come in from the South entrance!) The clearing West of the coppiced area was also badly flooded in the middle. But the Commas were found in dry areas. - Mike Rubin(trying not to look at that sky...)

2 male Brimstones, one on Gresley Way, Stevenage by Box Wood and the other in my Great Ashby garden - Steve Lane br />

Thursday 27th March
Recorded my first butterfly of the year, a small tortoiseshell adjacent to Muggins Wood, 1 mile east of Little Hadham Ford on 27th March. 3.00pm on a relatively mild and sunny afternoon - Jonathan Forgham

I saw 3 Peacock Butterfly on the outskirts of Balls Wood on the 27th March - Sandra Standbridge.

One Peacock in Lower Bourne Gardens, Ware lunchtime today - Andrew Wood

Single Peacocks at Beech Farm near St Albans (TL 18 08) and by Knights Wood near Tyttenhanger (TL 18 05) - Colin Everett

Stevenage, saw my first butterfly this year - a Comma in Millennium Wood (adjacent to Whomerley Wood) at around 3:10pm today. The area is part of my transect (Stevenage). - Peter Clarke

Fir and Pond Woods, a comma by the Old Pond ... first butterfly seen on the Reserve this year - David Gompertz

The hot sunshine is bringing out the butterflies. A Peacock and a Comma in the garden in Hayes - Helen George

Sunday 23rd March
National news
Humming-bird Hawk-moth and Painted Lady online survey with BBC Radio 4
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/worldonthemove/
Butterfly Conservation has developed an exciting online survey of these two migrant species in association with Radio 4’s major series World on the Move and as part of the Garden Moths Count initiative. The survey will run throughout 2008 on the Butterfly Conservation website and gives us a great opportunity to raise awareness and engage with the general public. Anyone who sees a Humming-bird Hawk-moth or Painted Lady butterfly can use the simple but amazing interactive mapping on the website to zoom in on satellite images (down to the scale of your own garden) and log their sightings. This will enable us to track the arrival in the UK of these wonderful creatures on their journey from North Africa and southern Europe, and then to map their spread here during the summer. We are also keen to hear observations of interesting behaviour (such as courtship, mating, egg laying, plants used for nectaring, reverse migration in the autumn or hibernation) which can be recorded in a comments box in the online recording system. What we do know about the migration of these spectacular insects comes from observations over the centuries from amateur recorders, but there is still much to learn and we hope that the public will help in 2008.

National Butterfly Recorder’s Meeting 29 March 2008
Final call for bookings for this popular annual event. It is not too late to book and we would appreciate any quick promotion you can achieve locally via email/websites. Details of the meeting and booking are: Booking is still open for the ever-popular annual National Recorders’ Meeting. It will take place at the Birmingham and Midland Institute (see www.bmi.org.uk for a map). The National Recorders’ Meeting provides feedback about both butterfly recording and monitoring undertaken through the Butterflies for the New Millennium and UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme projects (including progress in the wider countryside monitoring pilot). Butterfly population trends for 2007 will also be unveiled for the first time at the meeting! In addition, we will hear from guest speakers about exciting butterfly projects making use of recording and monitoring data to assess the impacts of climate change, habitat management and other issues. Anyone interested in butterflies is welcome; you don’t have to be an active recorder. However, we do require advanced booking and there is a (heavily subsidised) registration fee of £5 per person, made on the day, to help cover the costs of venue hire, tea/coffee and buffet lunch. If you would like to book a place please contact Diane Garland at Butterfly Conservation (01929 400209 or info@butterfly-conservation.org) AS SOON AS POSSIBLE providing your name, address and contact number.

Monday 17th March
One Brimstone seen flying around Hillingdon Hospital, Uxbridge on Saturday morning - Helen George

News from Saturday 15th - A single Brimstone here in Tring Herts both today and yesterday and today a brief glimpse of dark silhouette that appeared from shape to be a Peacock, on its way into the shelter of a thick confier after the sun vanished. Even if we are headed back towards colder weather, spring is on its way (at last) judging by the plants and various invertebrates that are out and about- Nick Bowles

On Friday 14th March, one lone brave Brimstone at King's Meads - Alan Reynolds

Wednesday 12th March
One Peacock travelling at 60mph at Nettleden 12th March. Here's a little aside for anyone who fancies braving the March winds, there's a nice show in Stocking Springs and the adjacent Round Spring at the moment. A nice taste of old Hertfordshire coppiced woodland - Ashley Cox

Tuesday 4th March
Tring, 1st March, I should have been at UTB event, I couldn't believe my doubly bad luck when I spotted the rotary washing line snapped and fallen over. Went out to retrieve washing and very nearly stepped on Comma basking on bare ground. About 5 mins later it flew fairly strongly into a pyracantha bush, or so I thought but I couldn't find it so possibly it doubled back or went straight through and out the other side. So, not such bad luck and my species count for 2008 has doubled. I dont keep records accessible so not certain but probably my earliest Comma - Nick Bowles

I saw my first Red Admiral of the year at Hall Marsh Scrape, Fishers Green on Tuesday 26th February - Sandra Standbridge

February 2008

Tuesday 26th February
Hemel Hempstead garden, 11.20 a.m.in the back garden a Red Admiral was flying in the sunshine while I was pruning eleven of my buddleias! - Malcolm Newland

One slightly tatty Peacock in a sheltered spot in The Hyde at Ware lunchtime today (26th). I managed to get a quick shot of it - Andrew Wood

Sunday 24th February
At Amwell Nature Reserve ... 2 red admirals - David Gompertz

Saturday 23rd February
My friend in Mill End who records in her garden for me reported a butterfly which darted past her as she opened her garden shed this Tuesday Feb 19th. She caught sight of a flash of red and is pretty certain it was a red admiral but is not 100% sure. Nevertheless it was a butterfly! She is fairly sure it must have been hibernating in the shed and was woken up by the sunshine! - new via Ann Piper

Wednesday 20th February
Early sighting records - 9th February - nr Waltham Abbey just inside the Herts border :) : Red Admiral (single) 17th February - Lemsford Springs : Peacock and Red Admiral sighted. Both singles. Both spotted while birdwatching. The first one literally crossed the lens as I (Alun) was counting geese in a field. It just drifted through, causing me to snatch up the binoculars and follow its progress as it headed over the brambles and out of sight - Alun & Chrissie

Monday 18th February
Whilst watching a male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in Grovelands Park, Southgate this afternoon a Red Admiral flew past at 15:25 GMT - Robert Callf

We saw a Red Admiral today, nectaring on Oregan Grape against a sunny wall in a sheltered housing complex in Hayes Middx - John Hollingdale

Sunday 17th February
Sighting of fresh brimstone on 10th Feb 2008 in our garden at Hitchin - Martin Banthorpe

Thursday 14th February
News from Monday 11th February, Ordnance Road, Enfield Lock: Red Admiral at 12.45 in flight close to the railway station - Martin Shepherd

Tuesday 12th February
I finally saw my first butterfly of the year today – a Red Admiral floated past me in Stocking Pelham around lunchtime - Tony Moverley PS and yes, it’s just inside the Herts border!

A male Brimstone was seen today, 12 Feb, at 1pm flying in Gubblecote in the far NW corner of the county - Peter Bygate

We had a Peacock at Aldbury Nowers yesterday, in the northern enclosures, at around 14.30. We're back there today so might see some more! - Paul Thrush

My wife saw a Red Admiral on Sunday February 10th flying near our home on the Rosedale estate, Cheshunt - our first sighting of the season. Hopefully there will be many more to come - Roger Newbold

Monday 11th February
We saw a very smart male Brimstone flying south down our road in Hatfield around midday on 8 Feb. It was a welcome complement to the bumblebees & honey bees buzzing round crocus & heather flowers in our garden - John Moss

I saw a lovely pristine peacock butterfly sunning itself by lower Spring Pond on Saturday (Feb 10th) - Steve Bolsover

Horsenden Hill, on the south side of Horsenden Hill there are some blossoming bushes near the summit in full sun. Just before 1pm today I saw and photographed a Comma nectaring on one bush. My first ever February butterfly http://piccies.flybywire.org.uk/ButterfliesMoths/2008/20080211/EarlyComma.jpg - Mike Rubin

I saw a very fresh Brimstone in my garden on Saturday (Wheathampstead) and so a few flaps and it was probably made it to Marshalls Heath - Paul Unwin

Sunday 10th February
No butterflies to report I'm afraid but I saw at least a dozen honey bees feasting on gorse this morning in the lovely sunshine! Maybe this is a sign of good things to come! This was along the main road in Maple Cross - Ann Piper

At about 4pm (9th February) in Bishop’s Stortford cemetery, I caught sight of what I thought was initially just one Red Admiral. But as it flew past I saw that there were actually two, in tandem, as if joined together and flying as one - Mary Moverley

Saturday 9th February
I had a Brimstone in my garden here in Tring at just before 12 and so did two others I met this pm (1 from just North of Aylesbury Bucks and the other Oxford). So presumably plenty about in our neck of the woods today. It might be of interest that I joined the Upper Thames Branch trip to Bucks in search of Black Hairstreak eggs. 12 man hours turned up just two eggs. Not an easy species to monitor at this stage. No sign of vanessids (or blackthorn flower and the latter probably not for several weeks; plenty of bullace blossom in Tring though) - Nick Bowles

Just (12.30) had a stunning male Brimstone butterfly flutter over our back garden in Harpenden in bright sunshine - exactly eight weeks earlier than in 2007 and 2006! - Alan Jackson

Guessing you might have a relative flood of sightings in today's beautiful weather. We had a male Brimstone, early afternoon, flying through Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park - Keir Mottram

Friday 8th February
At lunchtime today a fast flying butterfly flew past me from behind and disappeared over a fence into a field at Broadmeads Ware. To fast to positively identify and could not give chase but almost certainly either peacock or red Admiral by its size - Andrew Wood

January 2008

Wednesday 30th January
Saw my first butterfly of the year today ( Weds 30th January 2008 ) a worn and tatty Red Admiral basking on an ornamental shrub at Forty Hall, Enfield this afternoon at 12:25 GMT - Robert Callf

Sunday 20th January
At lunchtime today I spotted a butterfly on the wing close to the Bridgewater Monument above Aldbury. I think I was just inside Herts. It didn't stop but it came fairly close and I am 90% sure it was a Peacock. Local conditions were 8/8 overcast low cloud but mild at about 13C. (It wasn't raining at the time although later in the walk it did!) That was a pleasant January surprise bonus. Wish it would have settled so I could have been 100% sure. But the deep red/purple velvety hint, very dark underside, flight pattern and the motion-blurred white pattern at the tips hinted at Peacock rather than Red Admiral. Then the wind blew it away into the woods and it was lost from view - Mike Rubin

December 2007

Monday 3rd December
Shenley, this morning a single Red Admiral flying along the base of a sun drenched hedgerow at 11.00 - Jim Terry

November 2007

Wednesday 28th November
Spotted a Red Admiral in the garden today in Hayes, on a very cold dark morning, It flew in a Jasmine climber, to roost perhaps!! - Penny

Thursday 22nd November
And my personal record continues to stretch. I revisited Grove Farm but failed to find that Speckled Wood again. However on the way back a Red Admiral (in good condition) briefly settled on ivy right in front of me near the busy Greenford Road / Whitton Avenue West lights (NW side on WAW) in Greenford / TQ18. But too many pedestrians and traffic so it soon flew off again. Conditions similar to yesterday but a degree or so colder. - Mike Rubin

Wednesday 21st November
A new record for me. A Speckled Wood surprised me at lunchtime in Grove Farm, Middlesex (TQ18) on the hill below the council estate. Not bad considering the recent cold snap. I t was on the wing and got a good look, but quickly lost it in the glare and shadows. My previous latest record was Red Admiral 5th November a few years ago, and for Speckled Wood 30th October this year at the same spot in Grove Farm as today's. Conditions sunny 11C / 7C Dewpoint fairly light wind in that sheltered location. - Mike Rubin

Friday 16th November
Just had a walk over Trent Park with Robin J. White ( Fri 16th November 2007 ) and we both saw a Peacock near the Dew Pond, settled on Bramble at 13.26 GMT - my latest record ever for the Enfield area - Robert Callf ( Not bad eh, two late butterflies in the same week! ).

Monday 12th November
Visited Broomfield Park, Palmers Green, N13 this afternoon (12th November) and saw a Red Admiral flying around the dilapidated Broomfield House at 12.55 GMT, also adult-winter Mediterranean Gull and male Shoveler in the Park - Robert Callf

A friend a who records for me reported a small tortoiseshell in her garden in Mill End last Sunday Nov 4th. It was looking a bit tatty ! - Ann Piper

Sunday 4th November
Late season butterfly sighting - in calm warm/sunny conditions at 11am, a Comma flying nearby to the M1/A405 road junction at Bricket Wood. - David Chandler

Saturday 3rd November
A few butterflies around Horsenden Hill during a LNHS bird walk today, 3rd November: 1 Red Admiral, 2 Speckled Woods and 2 Holly Blues. The first Holly blue was nectaring on ivy flowers on the south side of Horsenden Hill during the morning. The second was discovered after dark while Dave Howdon and I were moth-ing in Perivale Wood, roosting on an ivy flower - Andy Culshaw

Red Admiral in St Albans this morning. Small Tortoiseshell at the Millais exhibition at Tate Britain, Millbank SW1, Middx - The Blind Girl - Malcolm Hull

Tring, Saturday, someone likes me more than I thought as the weather here this am was glorious. I spent most of it inside wating for a man to come and fix my set top box but once he had gone I went to play. There were two red ad on the last few buddliea flowers in the garden and two more in the field behind my house, where the shelter of a fence makes for some very warm nettles. These two were both intermittently feeding on ivy and coming down to test the nettle leaves. One laid at least two eggs (image of one attached). Then the sun disappeared so no other species added. Had hoped to find a speckled wood - Nick Bowles

Friday, saw a Red Admiral on the ivy near the playground in the centre of Gunnersbury Park just before noon. Hmm some of the ivy there is still flowering. Was hoping to spot some Speckled Woods but a lump of cloud hid the sun for much of my walk. Ho hum. I've only ever seen one November butterfly before - a glimpse of a RA a few years ago one mild Nov 5th at Stockley Park - Mike Rubin

Thursday 1st November
Following on from my recent record of a late holly blue at Railway Fields, today (1/11/07) I saw 2 "spiralling" speckled wood on the Parkland Walk (former railway line between Finsbury Park and Alexandra Palace) - David Bevan

Several dozen harlequin ladybirds have invaded the house and are marching purposefully about looking for food (presumably). All appear to be succinea which I have reported to this site: http://www.harlequin-survey.org/recording.htm - Robin Pearson

October 2007

Tuesday 30th October
Rebecca Turpin (BTCV officer based at Railway Fields) reported seeing a holly blue at Railway Fields today (30/10/07). This is certainly the latest date for the butterfly at RF, but like everybody else we had a poor year at RF - our one highlight being the arrival of a single marbled white on July 13th - a new butterfly for the site - David Bevan

Monday 29th October
A Peacock flying and sunning at Garston (Watford) at noon - Colin Everett

Friday 26th October
My first Peacock for over a month at Grove Rd, St Albans on Tuesday 23rd - Malcolm Hull

Wednesday 24th October
Late news from the 18th October, 1 Green-veined white seen at the Dew Pond, Trent Park by Robin White - news via Robert Callf

Monday 22nd October
Nice to get a late speckled wood at Ickleford at Gerry's Hole /pond on Sunday 21st October, the only butterfly I saw - Stuart Pittman

With it being outside the transect season, thought I'd forward the two Speckled Woods seen in Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park on Saturday 20th. On Sunday 21st, there was a big (estimated as Small Tortoiseshell <> Red Admiral size), chestnut-brown? moth flying round the lights on Whitechapel tube station about half an hour after dusk. Apologies, I didn't see it settle so can't be any clearer on the description. If it rings any bells at all with anyone for any possible ID then I'd be suitably grateful - Keir Mottram

Sunday 21st October
Up to 5 Red Admirals nectaring in my Harpenden garden on ivy flowers throughout the day in temperatures between 7 and 10 degrees C. Also a large bumble bee - Robin Pearson

Saturday 20th October
Tring, I have been at home for last two and bit weeks and seen the number of butterflies in my garden gradually fall away. No more whites and both Peacock and Tortie now only a memory but today three Red Admirals simultaneously and a Comma as well all on/around my buddleia (good number of flowers as a result of a hard 'trim' in July) and to my joy the first Speckled wood for two years a little later in the day. Don't suppose I have ever recorded a first for the year garden species in the last half of October before - Nick Bowles

Thursday 18th October
Waterford area, 1 Common Blue - Andrew Middleton

Wednesday 17th October
News for today - 1 Red Admiral, at Parkside Farm at 13.30 hrs. - Robert Callf.

Monday 15th October
By entrance to Thunderfield Grove, 1 Comma and something (butterfly or moth) flew through the carpark at Bencroft West. Otherwise despite some really good sunshine - NOTHING. Just some hornets around the remaining ivy flowers and beware of falling acorns, they could hurt!! Liz Goodyear and Andrew Middleton

News for yesterday ( Sun 14th October 2007 ) - 1 Red Admiral, at Park Farm and 1 Speckled Wood, on the edge of Rough Lot, Trent Park - Robert Callf & Phil Rhodes

Thursday 11th October
7 butterfly species today!

Little around but went to Waterford Heath at 4pm and saw a solitary small copper on south side and a meadow brown on the north - Steve Kiln

A Holly blue was present in St James’s Park today-the first I’ve seen for a couple or more weeks - Stuart Paston

Red Admiral, Ponders End garden today - Andrew Middleton

This afternoon, 11th October, in absolutely perfect weather, I saw a single Small White over the restoration area of Aldbury Nowers northern compartment. Michael Pearson

News for today - 1 Comma, nectaring on thistle head at Parkside Farm, also 1 Speckled Wood here along Salmons Brook and 1 Silver Y - Robert Callf

Wednesday 10th October
Paul Thursh at Aldbury today photographed a Meadow Brown which must be around a month later than in most years although this year has had some late records - news via Andrew Palmer

Spoke to Robin White today ( Weds 10th October 2007 ) and he said that the Clouded Yellow he saw was last Thurs 4th October 2007 at South Lodge Farm - Robert Callf

Monday 8th October
News from Sunday 7th, 1 female Common Blue seen at Parkside Farm and a Speckled Wood at Park Farm on the same day - Robert Callf

Friday 5th October
More news for today - 3 Speckled Wood, ( 2 near Merryhill's Brook, 1 along Leeging Beech Gutter at 'Three-bridges', Trent Park ); 1 Comma, along bridle-path near Shaws Wood, Trent Park. Earlier, visited Trent Park for an hour ( 12.00 - 13.00 BST ) today and recorded the following: 2 Comma, ( 1 on Michaelmas daisies, set-aside field near Triangular Wood, 1 Sect. 8 of my transect, 'New Fields' ); 1 Small Copper, 'New Fields' near Sport's Field; 1 Large White, near Oakwood entrance. Also a Grass Snake basking on the edge of the cemetery - Robert Callf

Thursday 4th October
News for yesterday ( Weds 3rd October 2007 ) and today ( Thurs 4th October 2007 ) - 1 Speckled Wood near Duncan's Wood, Enfield Chase yesterday and 1 Speckled Wood at Parkside Farm today near Hadley Road Pumping Station - Robert Callf

Monday 1st October
News for Sun 30th September 2007 - 1 Speckled Wood, near The Obelisk, Trent Park. Nothing to report today - Robert Callf

On Saturday, one male Brimstone and one Red Admiral (flying SW at quite a height) at Amwell NR - Jan Hein van Steenis

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