Hertfordshire & Middlesex Branch
Saving butterflies, moths and our environment
Large Yellow Underwing at Edmonton. 1 Large Yellow Underwing in subway/underpass near North Middx Hospital this afternoon - my first of the year [FOY]. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Sightings at Enfield. At private sites near Trent Park - male Common Blue, 1 Green-veined White, 10 Small Heath & 1 Nettle-tap - my first of the year [FOY]. Also, 1 Cream-spot Ladybird - my first of the year [FOY]. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Sightings at Oakwood Park. At Oakwood Park this morning [0900 to 1000 BST] - 1 Hedge Beauty [Alabonia geoffrella] - my first of the year [FOY] at TQ300951, 1 Small Heath at TQ301951 & also, female Broad-bodied Chaser at TQ304952 - my first of the year [FOY]. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Meadows at Brickendon Village. The nearby meadow which under a countryside stewardship scheme is currently blossoming with Vetch, Red Clover, Buttercups and Oxeye Daisy. During the sunny spells today Common Blues, and Brown Argus can be easily found in the meadow, Small Heath and Small Copper are sprinkled around the adjacent mown areas. Today they were joined by a hungry Painted Lady and a Holly Blue female, all seen nectaring on the Vetch. I am keeping an eye out for a Large Skipper but none seen yet. [Posted by Nathan Ellis]
Brown Hairstreak larva. Brown Hairstreak larva found using uv light at Hampstead Heath extension [Posted by Rohan Harris]
Butterfly Walk at Shrubhill Common today. In spite of rather cold and very overcast weather, we did see two Dingy Skippers on the common today together with a Common Blue, a Cinnabar moth and two unknown moths. Thank you to the patient and sharp-eyed attendees! [Posted by CHRISTINE RIDLEY]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. The sunshine today round my way only lasted until about 1030, but a few butterflies took advantage of it. Most notable among them were three more Green Hairstreaks, found in two of the three areas I've seen them occupying so far this season. Today's list: Holly Blue (11), Small Heath (10), Brown Argus (9), Green Hairstreak (3), Small Copper (2), Green-veined White (1), Large White (1), Common Blue (1). [Posted by Dave Miller]
Sightings at Grovelands Park & Southgate. At Grovelands Park, Southgate [1150 to 1430 BST] - 4 Common Blue [3 males & 1 female], 2 Small Copper, 2 Small Heath & 3 Mother Shipton. At ASDA Southgate - 1 Yellow-barred Brindle - my first of the year [FOY]. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Sightings at Pymmes Park, Edmonton. At Pymmes Park, Edmonton [1435 to 1605 BST] - 2 Holly Blue, 1 Small Heath & male Small White. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Small Coppers. A break in the clouds allowed me to do my Alexandra Park transect this afternoon, I only got just enough sunshine. Not much flying, pleased to see a couple of Small Coppers about and great that the Knapweed is finally coming into bloom. [Posted by Dee Cullen]
Butterflies in Queen Elizabeth 2 memorial garden Regents Park. I visited this recently opened garden in cold windy and showery weather today. Butterflies were the last thing I expected to see, however in a brief sunny interlude I saw a Small Copper and three Common Blues in the meadow area with lucerne and various grasses. The garden is beautiful and worth a visit. [Posted by Dee Cullen]
Sightings at Enfield. At a private site near Trent Park - male Brown Argus - my first of the year [FOY], female Small Copper & 2 Small Heath. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Sightings at Oakwood Park. At Oakwood Park this afternoon [1245 to 1315 BST] - 2 Common Blue [male & female] & 1 Holly Blue. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
TfL Verge monitoring- Hillingdon A40. Bright morning sunshine so monitored the TfL road verges along the A40. This is part of a four year monitoring project and these low mow verges with cut and collect methods in place are showing good results. A variety of grasses and wild flowers observed and a good selection of butterflies recorded which included a Small Heath, a female Common Blue, some Small Coppers, Holly Blue, Peacock, Orange-tips, Green-veined White and a Small White as well as a Small Yellow Underwing moth. An impressive list as the adjacent Gutteridge Wood and Meadow transect produced less butterflies and only 3 Species. [Posted by Paul Busby]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. After another very chilly start, it was a glorious sunny morning on my patch near Heathrow. The Holly Blues in the area nearest home kept me entertained first - there seem to still be fresh examples emerging all the time. Out on the grassy areas, Brown Argus, Common Blues and Small Heaths are the main participants at the moment, but Small Coppers are always around and today yet another Green Hairstreak appeared, though it was a bit worn. There was also a fresh female Large White, a species that has been almost absent this year so far. 13 species altogether today: Small Heath (14), Brown Argus (13), Holly Blue (13), Common Blue (11), Small White (6), Peacock (3), Orange-tip (3), Small Copper (3), Speckled Wood (1), Green-veined White (1), Brimstone (1), Large White (1), Green Hairstreak (1) [Posted by Dave Miller]
Waterford Heath joint branch walk with HMWT. The weather forecast was far from favourable, so we were not optimistic of finding any Grizzled Skipper this morning - as it turned out we had a lot more sunshine than we expected. We were joined by HMWT staff members Anna and Iain so with attendees - 14 people in total. This was an advantage as we had many sets of enthsiatic eyes. We selected the most sheltered areas on the north pit between the slope on the east side from the seat to the far end and were absolutely thrilled to find 11 Grizzled Skipper, there could have been more but we were trying to not over count. Also seen were at least 5 Brown Argus, 2 Small Copper, 1 Common Blue, a Green-veined White & Large White as well as a Brimstone, Painted Lady and at least 1 Holly Blue. Anna and Iain also explained about the recent management of the site that the branch had been involved with and future plans. A truly excellent morning! [Posted by Liz Goodyear & Andrew Wood]
Northwick Park Hospital. A brief look at flower beds around Northwick Park Hospital and in a brief sunny spell, a male Common Blue perched on flowers [Posted by Paul Busby]
Branch walk - Hounslow Heath. An enjoyable nature walk through Hounslow Heath and onto Feltham Marshalling Yards looking at butterfly habitats and food plants with expert local knowledge from Pete Gore. Six brave souls completed a 3 hour walk in cool breezy weather conditions. Butterflies few and far between with an unidentified White and Speckled Wood on edge of Heath with a brief glimpse of a Small Copper and a Speckled Wood at the Marshalling Yards. Nice to see a female Mandarin Duck with 5 ducklings along River Crane with a couple of Banded Demioselles. [Posted by Paul Busby]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. After a morning down on Salisbury Plain seeing slightly more exotic stuff, I spent the afternoon back on my local patch. There was plenty to see here, including three species that hadn't appeared in Wiltshire. Highlights today here were a mating pair of Common Blues, a courting pair of Painted Ladys (behaviour I'd not witnessed before in this species) and an unusually marked male Orange-tip with a black "eyebrow" over the forewing eyespot. Today's totals: Small Heath (19), Brown Argus (12), Holly Blue (11), Common Blue (10), Orange-tip (8), Brimstone (5), Peacock (4), Small White (4), Small Copper (4), Red Admiral (3), Painted Lady (3), Green-veined White (2), Comma (1), Speckled Wood (1). [Posted by Dave Miller]
First Brown Argus record on Parkland Walk Site. On my transect at Parkland Walk Transect at the Highgate end in the wildlife reserve I was pleasantly surprised to see a Brown Argus. My first of year and the first record on that site. Record phone shot isn’t great but submitting as evidence! [Posted by Dee Cullen]
