Sightings 2012
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Hertfordshire & Middlesex Branch sightings page for butterfly
and moth news from around the area
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January 2012
Friday 27th January 2012
09.30-11.30, had my first record of the year 1 Red Admiral on my new North Stevenage Transect route -
Lee Browne
Tuesday 17th January 2012
Remarkably my fiancee has just reported seeing a white butterfly outside her office, in Westbourne Grove, London W2.
From her phone photo I think it is a Small White.
I have no way of knowing but given the recent dip in temperatures I can only assume it had pupated inside somewhere and the warmth sped up emergence.
I suppose it could have emerged in the recent double digit warm spell and have survived until today, with London being a few degrees warmer and maybe the chrysalis was in full sun. Or as a long shot, seeing as my fiancee works for an organic food supermarket chain, maybe the chrysalis was brought in from the field and hatched indoors. Who knows! - Lee Hurrell (The expert opinion is that it probably emerged indoors and for that reason it can't be added to the national 'first sightings' list, as they try as far as possible to limit this to entirely natural occurrences)
Wednesday 11th January 2012
Small Tortoiseshell seen on Monday the 9th January at Lakeside Nature reserve in Tring at 12-05.
Did see another one earlier, but didnt record it as it was one that was hibernating in my home and was flying about when the weather warmed up !!
Saw a Red Admiral today 11th Jan. on the Duckmore Lane Allottments at 11.40 -
Brian Jessop
A Red Admiral flew across the sunlit patio of my back garden in Harpenden at 11.15 this morning (11 January 2012).
-
Alan Jackson
Today 11th January, saw one Red Admiral along Gresley Way, Stevenage near Box Wood and one in the Great Ashby Park Car Park.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/25883987@N03/6678854393/in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/25883987@N03/6678857559/in/photostream
Andrew Wood
Thursday 5th January 2012
On New Year's Day, I heard the very sad news that Steve Pash had died suddenly on 31st December.
His love was all wildlife including butterflies and will be greatly missed by everyone that knew him, as will his regular contributions throughout the year to the Herts & Middx BC Branch website. Steve was also 100% Purple and his 'patch' was Ruislip Woods - his love and fascination of Purple Emperors was apparent every summer having discovered one of the territories at Ruislip. He was a really nice guy!
- Liz Goodyear
Monday 2nd January 2012
We had a Red Admiral butterfly land on our patio door glass today 2nd Jan at 12:50 which was in full sunlight
in Chorleywood -
Dennis Layzell
December 2011
Thursday 22nd December 2011
I was rather surprised to see a female Brimstone sunning itself at 13.45 today near Therfield - Rupert Pyrah
News via Robert Callf, a Red Admiral seen by Robin White in Trent Park today at 12.40
Tuesday 20th December 2011
I spotted a Red Admiral in my back garden in Stevenage on 20th December. Never seen a butterfly in winter before!
-
Michelle
Saturday 10th December 2011
One Red Admiral moving around the Enfield garden today - Andrew Middleton
One red admiral sunning its self in a front garden of Cornwall Road St.Albans close to some still flowering red valerian - Richard Geary
Friday 9th December - nearly forgot to report I was surprised to see a faded Small Tortoiseshell fluttering over drive between our & neighbour's Hatfield house at 10.00hrs in bright sunshine over frost-covered car. Possibly disturbed by contractor working next door. This is my latest ever record.
John Moss
November 2011
Sunday 27th November 2011
A Red admiral in my garden in Stocking Pelham today (Sunday 27th) valiantly struggling against the wind! Andy Brown
Friday 25th November 2011
In our back garden in St. Albans on Saturday 19th November I saw a Comma basking on our bay tree in a sunny patch, and later I'm 90% sure a single Holly Blue (confirmed by Andrew Wood) higher up on the same tree. No photos I'm afraid!
-
Nathan Budd
2 sightings for you from
Saturday 19th November.
Both at Wareside
1 red admiral on ivy flowers and one peacock, flying around our back garden - Phil MacMurdie
Sunday 20th November 2011
1 Red Admiral here in the field behind my house (in Tring) just after lunchtime today (20.11.11). It was moving south west but without any great determination, however this was pretty much against the S wind - Liz Goodyear
One red admiral in the Warren, Hartham Common this afternoon (Sunday 20th)- Andrew Wood
Saturday 19th November 2011
I took a walk at lunchtime around my patch just west of Heathrow. It was beautifuly sunny, barely a breeze, and probably around 13 degrees or so. I fully expected to see a Red Admiral, and was not disappointed. By the River Colne, I found three altogether, two of them behaving territorially and basking in the sun, and the third flying vigorously towards the sun at low tree-top height. The first two obliged with photos, and both were well worn. Their tattered wings and thin nearly furless bodies mean (I guess) that come the end of this prolonged warm spell, they are unlikely to survive. There is still nectar around, but they seemed uninterested in the remaining ivy and bramble flowers.
Moving on to the more open area next to the M25 and Junction 14, a flash of white caught my eye. A female Brimstone, perhaps. However, it passed close enogh to see that it was too small, too white and possessed black markings. It promptly disappeared. Then, by complete chance, ten minutes later and a few hundred metres away on the edge of a bit of woodland, I spotted something identical - and it chose to settle. The butterfly revealed itself to be a female Green-veined White. It looked quite new - one hindwing showed a little damage, probably from brambles, but otherwise a lovely dusky late season example.
I have to say I have never before seen a Green-veined White in November; I can only imagine that its chrysalis was tucked away in a particularly warm spot, and whatever normally triggers dormancy until spring failed to kick in (or the spring trigger activated prematurely). Anyway, to mutilate the well-worn cliche still further, the fat lady is still warbling, but it's a very unusual tune...
Link to UK Butterflies and the photo of the Green-veined white
- Dave Miller
Ware garden, 1 Red Admiral - Liz Goodyear
Thursday 17th November 2011
A faded, and relatively small, Red Admiral on the wing at 1354, Stevenage, junction of Sish Lane and Trinity Road. Sunny but not really warm enough, perhaps explaining its unusually rapid flight. - Stefan Hunt
Tuesday 15th November 2011
At 13.45 Almond Hill School, Stevenage Old Town. 1 Red Admiral on Tobacco plant.
14.30 Field behind St Nicks church 1 male Vapourer moth on the wing- Lee Browne
Sunday 13th November 2011
A Red Admiral in my garden in Stocking Pelham sunning itself - Andy Brown
A very active red admiral in the garden this morning, Marshallswick, St Albans -
Richard Geary
Red Admiral in the garden yesterday in Hitchin - Nigel Agar
Today (Sunday) 1 Red Admiral flying south through the garden in Bengeo and 2
on Ivy in All Saints Churchyard, Hertford -
Andrew Wood
Saturday 12th November 2011
Red Admiral flying around the Ivy in our Hayes garden today
- Helen George
Wednesday 9th November 2011
A probable Speckled Wood drifted past our bedroom window in Hatfield late morning during a sunny spell. Quite a surprise. Perhaps it wa roosting under the eaves & was stirred by the warmth & absence of breeze - John Moss
Saw a Red Admiral flying around some Hornbeams in Whitewebbs Wood this afternoon (Wednesday 9th November 2011) at 12:58 hrs., before finally settling on one of them.
- Robert Callf
Wednesday 2nd November 2011
I saw a red admiral on Monday at Tewin Orchard and a speckled wood yesterday (1/11/11) at Aldbury. One of the volunteers I was working with saw a brimstone although it could have been disturbed as we were brushcutting (it did feel quite warm though so could have been out of its own accord).
-
Paul Thrush
Saw hummingbird hawkmoth hovering over our garden patio table yesterday 1st November and the day before. Full sunshine in Gustardwood near Wheathampstead - G Walton
Tuesday 1st November 2011
This afternoon (Nov 1st) a fresh looking Holly Blue in my garden Pinner.
This is much the latest sighting I have ever recorded. Could this be an insect that would normally have overwintered as a pupa?
-
Graham Elcombe
2 Red Admirals in Ware Park, 4 on the western side of Ware, 2
in All Saints Churchyard, Hertford and 1 at Cromwell Road Allotments,
Hertford -
Andrew Wood
Tuesday afternoon (Nov 1st) at the top of the meadow, Fir & Pond Woods NR... a very smart red admiral.
-
David Gompertz
One Red Admiral flew past me in Primrose Hill Rd, Stevenage Old Town, early afternoon -Stefan Hunt
Today 1st November I saw a Red Admiral out enjoying the sunshine in my garden in Stocking Pelham - Andy Brown
