Hertfordshire & Middlesex Branch
Saving butterflies, moths and our environment
Batford. 1 Purple Emperor flying south and north of hedgerow containing footpath between KW school and grass field at 13.10 onward then at 15.00 decided to remain around its favourite oak in NW corner of weedy/scrubby field where I left it at 16.00. 4+ Purple Hairstreaks in usual single oak tree between KW school and grass field at grid ref: TL153151. [Posted by Darin Stanley]
Heartwood Forest. 1 Silver Washed Fritillary at Langley wood. Multiple Purple Emperor sightings all over the place including this battered old warhorse puddling at dog pond, Huge thanks to Andrew and all the guys who were so generous with their local knowledge of these amazing creatures. Healthy numbers of all species on the wing at the mo. 1 second brood Small Blue puddling alongside the PE worthy of mention and huge numbers of Purple Hairstreak, wonderful day. [Posted by Ashley Cox]
Aldbury Golf course. I saw a Purple Emperor gliding high up in the trees for about 30 seconds about Midday on the edge of Aldbury Golf course near Tring. I thought it was a bird at first but on closer scrutiny an unmistakable swooping flight which I'm familiar with told me it was definitely an Emperor!!! [Posted by Philip Woodward]
Ruislip Woods. Summary of todays sunny but breezy 6 mile walk through Copse and Mad Bess Woods. 1 male Purple Emperor seen a few times on Poors field on the edge of copse wood by the Hillingdon trail which then made a dash across open space where it shrugged off a dramatic almost successful grab from a Brown Darter. Later another almost certain PE sighting whilst scanning many tree tops on the high point close to Ducks Hill Road. Purple Hairstreaks seem to be doing well this year with about 50 sightings which were generally at a lower height than usual with a good number flitting about in unusual locations like sallow and bramble with 3 making brief touch downs. 1 White Admiral seen in Mad Bess but sadly none in Copse but no surprise due to the continuing closing up of the older wide rides. Many whites, Commas, Meadow Brown, quite a few Ringlet, Speckled Wood and Small Skipper, 3 Peacock, 2 Holly blue, 2 Red Admiral and last but least 2 Marbled White on Poors field. Disappointed no Silver Washed showed but so pleased to have seen at least 1 PE in Copse Wood where they are more illusive than over the pond (Lido) in Park Wood at St. Vincents. [Posted by NICK FURTEK]
Sightings at Trent Park & Enfield. At Trent Park - 6 Peacock [5 on buddleia at Shaws Wd & 1 by lower lake], male Common Blue by lower lake, 4 Comma [1 by lower lake, 2 together at Water Grdn & 1 at 'Old Golf Course'], 1 Red Admiral at Water Grdn, 1 Purple Hairstreak edge of Moat Wd. At private sites near Trent Park - 7 Purple Hairstreak, 1 Comma, 1 Red Admiral, male Oak Eggar - my first of the year [FOY]. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Clouded Yellow. Single clouded yellow butterfly in our Barley garden couple of feet away. Seen 2.30 July 4th, Landed briefly on pink campion. [Posted by Sarah and Ed Tibbitts]
White-letter Hairstreak at Brickendon. All the surrounding meadows were mown last week which makes any remaining Bramble blossom, Creeping thistles, Burdock and Ragwort on the perimeter are highly subscribed with flying insects all searching for breakfast. So I gave the woodland butterflies a rest this morning and decided on a hedge survey around the cut meadows and tracks, I had nearly finished the loop when I clapped eyes on this lovely WLH still with tails. After many unsuccessful searches for necturing WLH, this is a rare victory for me and find feels like a pat on the back for effort. [Posted by Nathan Ellis]
Heartwood Forest Purple Emperor Update. Purple Emperors in "Dog Pond" oak feeding on sap. Initially seen by Andrew Neild around 11:00am. Three PE were present. Still around at 2:00pm when we left. [Posted by Peter Ewer]
Batford. 1 White-letter Hairstreak in Elm tree by footpath adjacent the KW School in SW corner of weedy/ scrubby field by the B653. 2 Purple Emperors!!!! in NW corner of weedy/ scrubby field. 1 showed signs of wear, 1 remained on site from 13.15 to 15.00 showing on and off. 2 Purple Hairstreaks seen in single oak along the footpath by KW School and the grassy field. All 3 species seen in one hedgerow!! [Posted by Darin Stanley]
Hunsdon. Just one male Purple Emperor at Queens Wood in the old airfield site and not in the usual territorial space either. [Posted by Laurence Drummond]
Heartwood Forest Purple Emperor update. The weather was fantastic this morning, and yet deliciously cool after the recent mini heatwave. I arrived later than usual at the NE corner of Puddler's Wood, where very little of interest was flying, so I pottered down the shaded ride to the dog pond on the southern edge of Well Wood ( TL 15751 11346 ). Shortly after arriving, at 10.45, I spotted a Purple Emperor flitting high around the upper branches, and it immediately became apparent it was attracted to a sap run (fermenting sap) in the legendary oak tree which overlooks the pond. A few minutes later I was joined by Peter and Angela, and within a short time we watched a male descend (at around 11.00) and land about 3 metres up on some leaves, allowing for some decent shots, detailed enough for me to confirm this is the 8th male from Heartwood Forest that I have seen in photos this year, bringing the confirmed number of Heartwood individuals to a total of 10 (counting in 2 females). Over the course of the next hour we watched 2 individuals in the oak canopy repeatedly land on two sap runs, and while watching two we sometimes spotted a third in flight. I don't believe I have ever witnessed three individuals together in Heartwood Forest, so this is something of an exciting first. The sex of these individuals could not be determined as they were very high up in the tree, although one is very likely the male that came down at the start of our session. I left for home at midday via the ride to Puddler's Wood corner, but no further sightings were made. I have attached a couple of photos which I hope will not duplicate the much more detailed ones taken by Peter using his 500 mm lens of two individuals on the sap run. As a side note, but an important one: while watching a puddling group of whites at the edge of the dog pond, I spotted a tiny grey disk, and realised it was a Small Blue taking salts. It was fresh as a daisy and therefore likely a second brood individual (thanks to Malcolm Hull for this info). [Posted by Andrew Neild]
Field trip to Norton Green. Liz Goodyear (first aider and invaluable support), Bob and myself were joined by 5 others on our field trip in ideal weather conditions. Several butterflies were seen down both sides of the track consisting mostly of Meadow Browns, Small and Large Skippers, some Gatekeepers, Ringlets and 'whites'. At the bottom end of the track we saw 1 or 2 Purple Hairstreaks high up on the tall oaks. On passing the metal gate into Pigeonswick Wood there were big healthy buddleia bushes on the southern side of the 'hardcourt' attracting several Silver-washed Fritillaries, Peacocks and a White Admiral seen by Liz.
We next ventured into the meadow which was unfortunately left uncut over the previous autumn/winter. A few Marbled Whites were flying around or nectaring on thistles and one encounter of a female Marbled White rebuffing the advances of a ravenous male. Towards the southern end of the common on the western side Liz pointed out a sallow, potentially a good tree for egg-laying female Purple Emperors. We waited for several minutes scouring this sallow until Liz spotted a large black and white butterfly skimming through the branches about 10 feet up. We all had good views of the female (we think female because of its probing behaviour when in the tree) Purple Emperor flying in and out of this tree for at least 5 minutes. We couldn't get close enough to the sallow for good photo opportunities because of the encroaching brambles. A White Admiral was also seen at the sallow tree.
Lastly, we visited the field beyond the common but stuck mostly to the edge of the wood lined mostly by tall oaks where we found several Purple Hairstreaks low down to about eye-level. In addition to finding a mating pair of Silver-washed Fritillaries on the brambles, a Purple Emperor was seen high on an oak tree, possibly the same individual observed in the common. Bob spotted Small Coppers in the field with one eventually landing on a ragwort flower for photos. The best field trip day here ever so thanks to all those who came and contributed. [Posted by Peter Clarke]
Purple Emperor at Balls Wood. A Purple Emperor grounded at Ball Wood today at just gone 1pm. and couple of White Admirals in Bramfield Wood. These woodland butterflies are beginning to look a bit ragged now. A few years ago they would have only just begun flying! Many other species at these woods today, including Common Blue, which has been virtually absent from Balls Wood in recent years. [Posted by Andrew Wood]
Sightings at Enfield & Trent Park. At private sites near Trent Park - 1 Six-spot Burnet - my first of the year [FOY], 1 Painted Lady & 1 Purple Hairstreak. At Trent Park - 4 Large White, 1 Red Admiral, 4 Peacock, male Purple Emperor settled edge of Water Grdn/lower lake 1005 to 1008 BST at least - my first of the year [FOY], 1 Small Copper near Water Grdn. At Trent Park Equestrian Centre - 1 Red Admiral. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Batford. 3 Purple Hairstreaks in single oak along the footpath by KW School, Batford at grid ref: TL15301515. [Posted by Darin Stanley]
Sherrardspark Wood, Welwyn Garden City. A first for me in the wood. Two White Admiral sunning themselves in Oak canopy with a number of Purple Hairstreak around too. Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Large White, Small White and Red Admiral around too. [Posted by John Yates]
Bike for Butterflies 2025 - Sponsorship Request. Simon Savile is riding his bike across Wales to raise funds for Butterfly Conservation. Please sponsor him via his Just Giving page if you can. Simon is a BC Trustee who has been very supportive of our Big City Butterflies project, so a very worthy cause Sponsor Simon [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
Mother of Pearl at Enfield. 4 Mother of Pearl disturbed from stinging nettles at a private site near Trent Park this morning. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Very early Brown Hairstreak. A record came throuh from iRecord from Paul Taylor who saw and photographed this Brown Hairstreak in the Hounslow area [Posted by Andrew Wood on behalf of Paul Taylor]
Heartwood Forrest. I braved the heat and headed for Heartwood Forest to look for Purple Emperor this time on my own. Unfortunately I wasn't that successful but I did get 2 sightings and a possible fly by but there were Peacock and Red Admiral present and my briefest glimpse I can only say it looked larger!The first sighting was around the top of an oak at end corner of Puddlers Wood sometime into the afternoon. On my way back to the car park I had my second sighting. I stuck to the path that passed magical wood that was more likely to have horse poo on ! I did get a sighting of probably a female pass me before climbing above the hedge-line. I didn't manage to get a photo of a P Emperor today but did get to see a number of other species as below Peacock 6+, Speckled Wood 10+ with most seen along from puddlers wood to the pond. Silver-Washed Fritillary 3, Brimstone 3, Comma 10+, Red Admiral 3, large Skipper 8+, Small Skipper 10+, Gatekeeper 5+, Purple Hairstreak 4, Brown Argus 1, Common Blue 1, Small Heath 1, Good numbers of Meadow Brown, Ringlet and Marbled-Whites. Also good numbers of Large, Small and Green-Veined White. [Posted by Peter Fewell]
