Hertfordshire & Middlesex Branch
Saving butterflies, moths and our environment
Sightings at Grovelands Park & Southgate. At Grovelands Park, Southgate [1130 to 1345 BST] - 3 Comma, 3 Common Blue, 3 Peacock & 1 Red Admiral. At Wynchgate, N14 - 1 Common Blue nectaring on lavender in garden. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Purple Emperor near Wigginton. On the edge of a field near Wigginton with mature oaks and sallows saw a purple emperor gliding over the trees and then coming down to settle on a sallow where I was able to get close up to identify. The farmer has left one side of his field to grow as grassland for about 10 metres so great to see numerous common blues, small coppers. Gatekeepers and Meadow browns feeding on thistles on one side and then on the other the possibility of seeing Purple Emperors and Purple Hairstreaks which I saw here last week. [Posted by Philip Woodward]
Jersey tiger moth. Rescued this beautiful moth from my garden room this morning. in Royston North Herts [Posted by John Keith Gypps]
White Admiral, Purple Emperor and Silver-washed Fritillary at Bricket Wood Common. A successful branch walk this morning across Bricket Wood Common. There were good numbers of whites and brown across the site. Purple Hairstreak was seen high in the oak and a pair on Brown Argus along the ride. Alongside Bricket Wood we had good views of Silver-washed Fritillaries and. White Admiral. A Purple Emperor was seen in flight along the canopy and perched obligingly high up in the oak. We then headed for the electric cable ride at the southern end of the wood, which has been the hot spot for SWF this year. In total we saw at least 7 of this species. On the way back Chris Newman showed us a Buddleia which had Peacock and Red Admiral. We then divided and some of us headed back, with good views of a second White Admiral. [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
Purple Emperor at Bramfield. Purple Emperor spotted flying out of Bramfield Park Wood and around a single oak tree (about 10m from the edge of the wood) and back into the wood. Saw several purple hairstreaks in the oak trees along one of the rides together with a couple of silver washed fritillaries. [Posted by Carl Slater]
Northaw Wood count. I did my July Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey at Northaw Wood today. Ladybirds were flying in huge numbers throughout, it was very strange, I’ve never seen the like. In the heat I saw good numbers of Gatekeepers, only moderate numbers of Ringlets and Meadow Browns. All the whites were present in moderate numbers, a handful of Speckled Woods. I was surprised not to see many Purple Hairstreaks but maybe later in the day I’d have seen more. On the last section which is at the Northern edge of the wood, I saw some Commas and a half a dozen Silver Washed Fritillaries. [Posted by Dee Cullen]
Sightings at Southgate & Town Park, Enfield. Male Brimstone at Dalrymple Close, N14 this afternoon. At Town Park, Enfield [1400 to 1430 BST] - 1 Comma, 1 Holly Blue, 1 Red Admiral & 1 Mother of Pearl. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Rivers Orchard and fields Sawbridgeworth. Mid morning before the heat became unbearable... 2 Essex Skipper, 1 tatty Large Skipper,1 Small Copper (not regular here), 20 Common Blue, 8 Peacock, 2 Speckled Wood, 8 Marbled White, 67 Gatekeeper, 40+ Meadow Brown, 3 Ringlet. [Posted by Laurence Drummond]
Ruislip Gardens & Ickenham Marsh. Stafford Road Open Space. Hard work as the paths through the 'jungle zone' have not been cut back for a year. The closing up of the clearings, lack/loss of knapweed and thistle along with all the big meadows/fields having recently been cut made for a somewhat baron journey apart from dozens of gatekeepers, a few ringlet a single purple hairstreak and eventually 3 brown hairstreaks all making brief flights a few feet above the blackthorn thicket. Things perked up at the very southern end of ICKENHAM MARSH LWT Reserve along the brook with 6 or 7 brown hairstreaks making occasional short hops high up in the ash trees and my first sighting in this location of a small copper. Over the bridge across the brook on the east side plenty of thistle with a comma, red admiral, holly blue, 2 peacock, 2 common blue, 5 speckled wood, 15 ish small skipper and 1 purple hairstreak. This area will certainly be worth another visit for possible low level hairstreak activity. 2 weeks ago 2 white letter hairstreaks were seen atop the elms in the fields along Austins lane 'extension' towards the LWT Marsh reserve so lots of hairstreak activity albeit all well above ground level so far. [Posted by Nick Furtek]
Butterfly World - its bad news. Butterfly World was created as a haven for butterflies, its chalk rich meadows drawing in a huge range of species, including the Small Blue. Since it shut to the public ten years ago we have been monitoring its fate, as well as tracking the Small blues, which frequently stray onto adjoining land. Last year we received the good news that St Albans Council was taking steps to ensure the cessation of undesirable uses on the land. But their attempts have failed and the government have now decided that existing uses can remain. This is bad news for the butterflies and we are investigating if anything can be done to help retain their habitat. More in this weeks St Albans Times Butterfly World [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
Batford. 1 Purple Emperor seen in flight in NW corner of weedy field flying along then hedgerow, going north. It turned around at second Oak tree and started heading south again until lost to view it weedy field. Great views seeing in flight, even over my head. [Posted by Darin Stanley]
Sightings at Oakwood. At Bramley Rd, N14 - 1 Comma, 1 Large White & 1 Red Admiral nectaring on buddleia. At Oakwood Station - 2 Comma, 2 Peacock & 2 Small White nectaring on buddleia. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Heartwood Forest Purple Emperor Update.. I arrived later than intended at 10.30 and was told that Purple Emperor activity was already winding down, undoubtedly due to the soaring temperatures. Earlier, from around 9am to 10am, there had been regular flights and 2 to 3 individuals feeding on the sap run in the oak above the dog pond at Well Wood ( TL 15751 11346 ). Others in the group had spotted Emperors in flight nearby, one along the ride by Pudler's Wood, the other a rare sighting on the west side of Well Wood. My primary excitement of the day, however, was a rare sighting in Heartwood Forest - a Silver Washed Fritillary, spotted around 11am by one of our group. I have seen this species once in five years in Heartwood, and never had the chance to take photos, but there have already been several reports this year so my luck was in! We also spotted 3 Small Blues puddling at the dog pond. From 11 am onwards there were few sightings, and always solitary, either in flight or on the sap run, and it became obvious at midday that butterflies were taking shelter from the 28 degree heat, even the abundant commas were sitting listlessly on leaves. My advice to those wanting to spot Emperors during this heat wave is to arrive as early as possible, perhaps even from 8.30 may be productive, but certainly 9am is a good time to aim for. [Posted by Andrew Neild]
Heartwood Forest. Purple Emperors very active around the oak beside dog pond and upon their favoured sap run between 9.15 and 10.15 this morning but only sporadically thereafter as the heat set in. Three individuals for sure maybe four. Amazing creatures, all seen in fantastic company as usual. [Posted by Ashley Cox]
Fir and Pond Woods. Adjacent field had 2 Brown Argus, Common Blue and Small Copper. [Posted by Paul Driver]
Small Blues at Heartwood. Searched round the west side of Heartwood and found 20 Small Blues this afternoon. Seven were on the damp margin of the dog pond, with five crowded together on a dead branch. Other butterflies joining in this summers craze for taking care moisture/salts included 2 Commas, 1 Peacock, 1 Large White, 1 Ringlet and 1 Small Skipper. With 12 large dragonflies patrolling round the pond, this is a life-risking activity for the butterflies, showing the importance they place on this fashionable activity. 12 Small Blues in Valley Field where the Kidney Vetch sown by the Branch ten years ago has spread across large swathes of the hillside. Finally just a single Small Blue on the airfield, last years hotspot. Other notable sightings, an Oak Eggar at the NE corner of Puddlers Wood and a sole Purple Emperor circling the high Ash tree in Langley Wood [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
Sightings at Enfield & Trent Park. At a private site near Trent Park - male Common Blue & 1 Red Admiral. At Trent Park - 1 Peacock edge of Ride Wd & 4 Red Admiral. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Four Spotted moths - 2nd brood. Together we found 7 Four Spotted moths in the Barley area this morning including 3 on a new farm margin. Several other species present in very large numbers including at least 12 Marbled White, several Sitochroa palealis (Sulphur Pearl), single Pyrausta despicata and Six-spot Burnet. [Posted by Liz Goodyear & Sharon Hearle]
Broxbourne Woods. White Admiral, Silver-washed Fritillary, 2 Purple Hairstreak, on oak, 8 Peacock on Buddleia. Gatekeeper in large numbers. [Posted by Paul Driver]
Sightings at Oakwood. At Oakwood Station - 1 Jersey Tiger, 2 Comma, 3 Large White, 2 Peacock & 4 Red Admiral all attracted to the flowering buddleia here this afternoon. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]