Hertfordshire & Middlesex Branch
Saving butterflies, moths and our environment
Branch walk at Clothall Common. A grey start for a group of ten. We found a Lime-speck Pug larva on Mugwort at the group assembly point . A short time after the start of the walk a Meadow Brown appeared followed by a number of others and then Small Heath and Common Blue. There were a few Small Whites and Large Whites and particularly on the plateau area, in a short spell of sunshine, a good number of Chalk Hill Blues, about 90% female. The few males were still trying to court the females. The group also found two adult Lime-speck Pugs in this area to go with the larva. Other moths recorded were Turnip Moth, and the larvae of Cinnabar Moth and Brown-tail and some emerged 6 spot Burnet pupae. [Posted by Andrew Wood]
Sightings at Enfield. At private sites near Trent Park - 4 Common Blue & 1 Small Heath. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Ruislip Gardens/ Ickenham marsh. Had a brilliant walk with many sightings of Brown Hairstreak as in the earlier report. Many thanks to Nick and Peter for generously sharing their knowledge and for putting me on to these beauties, had the best day, great fun in great company. [Posted by Ashley Cox]
Branch Event - Ruislip Gardens and Ickenham Marsh. 12 of us assembled on a sunny breezy Sunday for a 3+ mile circuit around the thickets and fields of Ruislip Gardens and also the grazed Ickenham Marsh Reserve for those that chose the optional extended walk or chance to return home from Ickenham Station. 6 endured the full tour back to the start point. The days final tally: Brown Hairstreak 15 (all low down sightings), Small Copper 10, Speckled Wood 9, Gatekeeper 2, Holly Blue 7, Meadow Brown 17+, Small Heath 12, Common Blue 10, Brown Argus 7, Red Admiral 1 and numerous Whites plus another speckled wood or 2 and GV whites for those who joined us early at R-Gdns station for the pre walk along the Yeading Brook. It took about 15 minutes to locate the first settled Brown Hairstreak with the remainder seen at various points along the route, mostly females with all bar 4 resting for long periods mostly on bramble enabling everyone to get good views and photos especially of those occasional open wing moments. The clouded yellow seen by Duncan a few days earlier failed to show nor the resident purple hairstreaks but for the latter the lack of gatekeeper reveals how early the season is. A big thank you to all the attendees for their enthusiasm, input and appreciation which really made my day. A gold star to Pete Fewell for his attached photos, book keeping and trained eyes. [Posted by Nick Furtek]
Sightings at Enfield & Trent Park. 2 Common Blue [male & female] & 1 Latticed Heath at private sites near Trent Park. At Trent Park - 1 Clouded Yellow in field near Dew Pond. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Sightings at Enfield. At a private site near Trent Park - 1 Common Blue & 1 Vestal. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Brimstone Moth at Southgate. 1 Brimstone Moth at ASDA Southgate this afternoon, above the ATM machines. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Lots of Common Blues near Albury. A walk from Albury Hall to Patience End along the footpath produced well over 50 Common Blues (males and females) feeding on the lovage crop and the blackberries. Also 10 Small Heath, 3 Clouded Yellow, 2 Meadow Brown and 2 Small White [Posted by Paula Moore]
Sightings at Trent Park & Enfield. At Trent Park - 1 Small Copper near Shaws Wd Cottages, 1 Clouded Yellow near Dew Pond, 1 Hummingbird Hawkmoth, edge of Icehouse Wd - my first of the year [FOY] & my first for several years, 1 Small Heath near Water Grdn & 1 Green-veined White nectaring on buddleia, edge of Water Grdn. At Plumridge Farm, Enfield - 1 female 'helice' Clouded Yellow along 'London Loop/Jubilee Path' & 1 Brown Argus. At private sites near Trent Park - 1 Jersey Tiger, 1 Vestal - my first of the year [FOY], 1 Small Heath, 1 Comma & 1 Red Admiral nectaring on buddleia. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Good news at Butterfly World. Good news for the Small Blues at Butterfly World St Albans. Last month I reported the sad news that planning consent had been granted for stage facilities on the site of the best Small Blue colony in Herts. After spotting some procedural irregularities I took steps to have the decision overturned. With much help from local pressure group “Keep Chiswell Green” a case was prepared and submitted. The government has now accepted that they got it wrong and agreed to quash the consent granted. You can read the full story in the St Albans Times. This is unlikely to be the end of the matter, but if the application is presumed further, we will have a chance to have our say and speak up for the Small Blues [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
Sightings at Enfield & Trent Park. At private sites near Trent Park - 1 Clouded Yellow & 3 female Common Blue. At Trent Park - 1 Comma near Water Grdn & 2 Clouded Yellow together near Dew Pond. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Adonis Blues on Therfield Heath. Slightly breezier and cloudier weather today. Large areas of the heath have been cut, probably to reduce fire risk but the uncut patches alongside the paths attracted several butterflies. We visited the southern part of the heath where Chalk Hill Blue was the most numerous (100+) with Meadow Brown close behind (80+). 50+ Adonis Blue (mostly males) also seen along with 10+ Gatekeeper, 20+ Small Heath, 5 Small White, 2 Common Blue and 1 (possibly 2) Clouded Yellow. [Posted by Peter Clarke & Bob Clift]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. I haven't submitted regular sightings throughout the height of the season as they have been too numerous! However today was a redletter day for me. I had initially set out on my local patch near Heathrow just to count the butterflies, but ended up being distracted by a Clouded Yellow, one of three seen today in the end. Shortly afterwards came the real highlight - a female Brown Hairstreak. I was able to confirm immediately with the Heathrow conservation people (who were onsite at the time) that this is the first record of the species from this site. [Posted by Dave Miller]
Clouded Yellow at Trent Park. 1 Clouded Yellow near Dew Pond, Trent Park this morning. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Jersey Tiger Moth sighting. I came across this beautiful moth on my patio doors in Letchworth 26/07/2025 16.24. I had to look it up as I have never seen one like this. A week later spotted another one in Royston on a shrub.. [Posted by Emma Cutmore]
Sightings at Enfield & Trent Park. At a private site near Trent Park - 2 Clouded Yellow & male Common Blue. At Trent Park - 2 Clouded Yellow [1 at 'Old Golf Course' & 1 near Dew Pond], 1 Holly Blue by lower lake near Icehouse Wd & 2 Jersey Tiger. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Clouded Yellow Therfield Heath. Several photographers trying to image Clouded Yellows on Therfield Heath this afternoon. Adonis Blue, Common Blue and Chalk Hill Blue and Small Heath also seen. [Posted by Nick Keep]
Sightings at Enfield. At a private site near Trent Park - 1 Red Admiral & 2 Common Blue [male & female]. At Bay Farm, Enfield along 'London Loop/Jubilee Path' - 1 Small Copper & 2 male Common Blue. At Rectory Farm - 1 Red Admiral. At Flash Lane, EN2 - 1 Jersey Tiger. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Hummingbird Hawk-moth. Saw my first Hummingbird Hawk-moth of the year in my garden in South Harrow this afternoon. [Posted by Michael Robinson]
Sightings at Enfield & Trent Park. At private sites near Trent Park - 1 Clouded Yellow, 1 Common Blue & 1 Jersey Tiger. At Trent Park - 1 Red Admiral near Water Grdn, 2 Green-veined White & 2 Small White edge of Icehouse Wd. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]