Hertfordshire & Middlesex Branch
Saving butterflies, moths and our environment
Mad Bess Wood, Ruislip. Butterflies seen were 3 White Admiral; 7 Meadow Brown and 1 each of Comma and Painted Lady. [Posted by Dick Middleton]
Sightings at Southgate, Oakwood Park & Boxer's Lake, Enfield. 1 Common Emerald at Dalrymple Close, N14 this morning - my second record this month, indicating that this species has emerged early this year. At Oakwood Park [0740 to 0830 BST] - 1 Common Blue & 9 Painted Lady. 1 Speckled Wood at Boxer's Lake, Enfield. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Meadows around Brickendon. After a couple of short walks today around the meadows in the now cooler weather. Painted Lady (25), Comma (1), Holly Blue (4), Large Skipper (6), Common Blue (4m/2f), Speckled Wood (2), Meadow Brown (10), Small Heath (15) and the highlight - Small Tortoiseshell (1). Moths: Cinnabar (2), Silver Y nectaring on Bramble blossom (1). [Posted by Nathan Ellis]
Large White caterpillar on Garlic Mustard. Last instar caterpillar of Large White feeding on Garlic Mustard (= Hedge Garlic) in Harpenden. Also seen, 1 Holly Blue and 1 Speckled Wood. [Posted by David Hunt]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. Today was forecast to be the last of the May heatwave weather, and temperatures peaked locally at 30 degrees. I decided to attempt an accurate count of the butterflies along my usual route in the morning (before things became too hot). I ended up with a total of 212 butterflies from 13 species - the highest count so far this year: Painted Lady (64), Meadow Brown (48), Small Heath (39), Brown Argus (22), Common Blue (19), Large Skipper (5), Holly Blue (5), Large White (3), Speckled Wood (2), Red Admiral (2), Small White (1), Brimstone (1), Small Copper (1). The Painted Ladies really were a sight to see, taking advantage of the knapweed that is just coming into flower, plus the ox-eye daisies and the large areas of brambles. [Posted by Dave Miller]
Branch walk at Stafford Road Open Space. The following butterflies were observed: 1 Brown Argus; 10+ each of Common Blue; Meadow Brown and Small Heath; 4-5 each of Painted Lady; Speckled Wood and Holly Blue; 3 each of Small Copper and Large Skipper and 1 Small Skipper. The moths seen were Cinnabar; Garden Grass-moth; Meadow Grass-moth; Burnet Companion; Straw Dot and Six-spotted Burnet [Posted by Dick Middleton]
Branch Butterfly Walk in Heartwood Forwst. Around 50 Small Blues and similar number of Common Blues on today’s branch walk. 25 of us set off in two parties led by Andrew Steele and myself. Most of the Small Blues were in valley Field, focussed on the patches of Kidney Vetch seeded by the branch ten years ago. But both foodplant and Small Blue can now be found across the field. Small Blues were also found near the Scout Hut and at the Airfield. Other species included Brown Argus, Small Heath, Holly Blue, Burnett Companion, Silver Y, Brimstone, Cinnabar, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Large Skipper, Meadow Brown, Red Admiral, Yellow Shell plus caterpillars of Peacock and Spindle Ermine moth. Best ever total of Small Blues from a branch butterfly walk at this (and probably any other) site [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
Small Blue. Brief visit to Bourne End services and on slip road saw a male Small Blue, three Painted Lady, at least four Common Blue and a Burnet Companion moth [Posted by Paul Busby]
Therfield Heath. Bob Clift and I paid a late morning visit to Therfield Heath on the eastern side, yielding several butterflies in the warm sunshine but only occasionally settled long enough for decent photos. Even when they settled the wings were often closed to avoid the heat of the sun. The Small Heath and the Adonis Blue were the most common. Several Painted Lady were seen on the bramble bushes but the most thrilling sighting for both of us was one of the now 'rare' Small Tortoiseshell. Overall totals: Small Heath (50+), Adonis Blue (30+), Painted Lady (20+), Red Admiral (3), Small White (3), Brimstone (3), Holly Blue (3), Common Blue (3), Brown Argus (2), Orange-tip & Small Tortoiseshell. [Posted by Peter Clarke]
Cheshunt Park. Late morning, fairly brief but 100% sighting of my first for year and earliest ever White-letter Hairstreak over the park Elms, also 2 Holly Blue and 3 Painted Lady. [Posted by Laurence Drummond]
Sightings at Trent Park, Oakwood & Enfield. At Bramley Rd, N14 - 1 Treble Brown Spot at bus-stop shelter. At Trent Park - male Large Skipper edge of Rough Lot, 10 Painted Lady & 1 Small Copper by lower lake. At private sites near Trent Park - male Common Blue, male Large Skipper, 4 Painted Lady & 1 Brown Silver-line - my first of the year [FOY]. Also, 1 Four-spotted Chaser - my first of the year [FOY]. I did not count Meadow Brown or Small Heath today. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. A cooler day at last, with just hazy sunshine, so I spent a few hours out on my local patch near Heathrow. Over the last week or so the variety of species found has changed a bit. As has been seen everywhere, it now includes numerous Painted Ladies! I suspect the last of the Orange-tips have gone now, but instead there are Meadow Browns and Large Skippers. Today's Mix: Small Heath (34), Meadow Brown (26), Common Blue (18), Painted Lady (14), Holly Blue (12), Brown Argus (10), Large Skipper (5), Speckled Wood (3), Small White (2), Red Admiral (1), Small Copper (1). [Posted by Dave Miller]
Common Emerald at Southgate. 1 Common Emerald at ASDA Southgate this afternoon - my first of the year [FOY]. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Sightings at Pymmes Park, Edmonton. At Pymmes Park, Edmonton this afternoon [1340 to 1505 BST] - 2 Holly Blue & 1 Painted Lady nectaring on Bramble blossom. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Sightings in Muswell Hill. A Small Tortoiseshell visited my garden around 7pm as I was watering the garden, it landed on a few oxeye daisies. By the time I dashed for my camera it had gone. This is a rare sighting these days. I saw my first of year Large Skipper today on my Alexandra Park transect. I also saw 6 Painted Lady, including 4 together. [Posted by Dee Cullen]
Treble Brown Spot at Southgate. 1 Treble Brown Spot near front door at Dalrymple Close, N14 this evening - my first of the year [FOY]. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Small Blues at Hillbrow Letchworth. Five Small Blues at Hillbrow, Letchworth plus two Painted Lady [Posted by Patricia Clegg]
Sightings at Enfield. At private sites near Trent Park - 1 Brown Argus, 5 Common Blue, 7 male Meadow Brown, 1 Holly Blue, male Large White, 4 Painted Lady nectaring on Bramble blossom & 21 Small Heath, 1 Brimstone Moth, 1 Burnet Companion & 1 Maiden's Blush - my first of the year [FOY]. Male Brimstone at Rectory Farm Rd, 1 Holly Blue at Strayfield Rd, EN2, 3 Large Skipper [2 along Jubilee Path/London Loop at Bay Farm & 1 at Brooke Wd], 3 Painted Lady [2 at Rectory Farm & 1 at Hilly Fields Park] & 7 Speckled Wood [3 at Brooke Wd & 4 at Strayfield Rd, EN2]. 1 Riband Wave at Gordon Hill Station - my first of the year [FOY]. Also, 9 Beautiful Demoiselle [male at a private site near Trent Park & 8, 5 males & 3 females at Hilly Field Park] - my first of the year [FOY]. At Bay Farm along 'Jubilee Path'/London Loop - 1 Silver Y. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Painted Lady influx. Painted Lady abundant in the Gilston/Hunsdon area of E Herts this morning, utilising almost every possible food source - dogwood, dandelion, ox-eye daisies, creeping cinquefoil and fox dung were those I noted. Most were in concentrations rather than scattered singles, e.g. ten in Gilston Churchyard, where there was also a brief Hummingbird Hawk-moth. Also in the same area were male Meadow Browns at four locations, a Large Skipper near Briggens, Mother Shipton near Lord's Wood and Brown Argus at two sites - including oviposition on Cut-leaved Crane's-bill near Allen's Green. [Posted by Colin Everett]
Meadow Brown on Halsey Field. I was surprised to see what I expected to be a Speckled Wood fluttering along a rather shady path, turn out to be a Meadow Brown when it settled. Isn't this rather early? No photo, sorry, but the eye spots were clearly visible. [Posted by MRS CHRISTINE RIDLEY]