Hertfordshire & Middlesex Branch
Saving butterflies, moths and our environment
Sightings at Enfield. At a private site near Trent Park - 1 Speckled Wood, 2 male Orange-tip & 1 Green-veined White - my first of the year [FOY]. At Bay Farm along 'London Loop' - 1 Peacock & 1 female Orange-tip. At Brooke Wd - 1 Speckled Wood. At Flash Lne, EN2 - 1 Peacock. At Hilly Fields Park - 2 male Orange-tip. At Enfield Chase Station - 1 Lunar Marbled Brown - my first of the year [FOY]. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Millhoppers Reserve footbridge Opening. This morning saw the official opening of the new footbridge at Millhoppers Reserve. This was also the unveiling of a plaque to the memory of John & Margaret Noakes, the first wardens of the reserve. Event attended by branch committee members, reserve wardens, volunteers, plus family and friends. [Posted by Chris Hilling]
Orange Tip in Chelsea. I had a random and unexpected sighting of a Male Orange-tip on the Kings Road this afternoon during a brief window of sunshine when the wind dropped momentarily. i record used. [Posted by Dee Cullen]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. A warm morning locally, with hazy sunshine until the middle of the day. It obviously wasn't good enough for the Brimstones today as I saw none (by contrast they were flying till gone five yesterday afternoon). However, they were made up for by the abundance of Peacocks, and by the welcome appearance of a single Small Tortoiseshell. Today's totals: Peacock (39), Orange-tip (11m; 2f), Green-veined White (10m; 1f), Small White (5); Holly Blue (2m; 1f), Speckled Wood (3), Comma (2), Small Tortoiseshell (1). [Posted by Dave Miller]
Northaw sightings. Brimstone, Peacock, Holly Blue, Orange-tip and Small Whites in the garden today [Posted by Sam Fuller]
Sightings at Broomfield Park, Palmers Green, Pymmes Park, Edmonton & Southgate. 1 Peacock & 1 Small White at Broomfield Park, Palmers Green, N13 this morning & male Orange-tip & male Brimstone at Pymmes Park, Edmonton this afternoon. 1 Double-striped Pug at ASDA Southgate this afternoon - my first of the year [FOY]. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Pair of Orange-tips. Lots of Orange-tips around Great Gaddesden today - including this pair [Posted by Paul Cross]
Sightings at Enfield, Trent Park & Edmonton. At private sites near Trent Park - 2 Peacock, 2 Orange-tip [male & female] - my first of the year [FOY] & 1 Comma. At Trent Park - 1 Peacock near Obelisk, male Brimstone, 1 Comma & 13 Adela reaumurella settled on Hornbeam leaves in clearing in Rough Lot - my first of the year [FOY], 2 Orange-tip [male & female] near Water Grdn, male Brimstone & 1 Peacock along Leeging Beech Gutter near 'Three Bridges' & male Brimstone at Williams Wd. At Pymmes Park, Edmonton - female Small White & 1 Comma & several other white sp [probably Small White]. At Warwick Rd, N18 - 1 Peacock. At Church Street, N9 - female Large White - my first of the year [FOY]. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Merry Hill and more. Taking advantage of a fine day, I decided to go on a long walk following the blackthorn from Merry Hill and other local places, where the Brown Hairstreak has been seen, and we've returned the eggs, and, also, to satisfy my curiosity of a few footpaths as well. Starting from Attenborough Fields, where there isn't any, but I did see 1 Brimstone and 1 Peacock. Then to Merry Hill where its everywhere, and I saw 10 Peacocks, 3 Commas, 16 Brimstones, 13 Orange-tips, including a mating pair, and 6 Speckled Wood. Exiting there I came out by Carpenders Park nursery, and down Little Oxhey Lane where there is a good scattering of blackthorn along the hedges. Crossing the rail line, via the bridge, across the road and there was the footpath that goes in the direction too Hatch End. I didn't go that far, just to Prestwick Road Meadows. Our ribbons and returned twigs with BHS eggs are still there. Also, 5 Speckled Wood, 1 Brimstone, 6 Orange-tips, 1 Peacock, and an unknown White. Back out the way I came in, and on to Oxhey Woods, 1 Brimstone, no blackthorn seen but it could be around the edges, I went through the middle. There was plenty of honeysuckle, so must go and have a look for White Admirals there one day - been saying that for a while now... Finally through the woods and on to South Oxhey Playing Fields, but it was getting on and nothing seen there. Past Hampermill Lake and Farm, and more blackthorn, unfortunately it gets cut regularly here. Then to the Ebury Way and 3 Speckled Woods. Through Riverside Park and Watford Fields and home. That was a long walk, I probably won't be doing it again for a while, but it was fascinating to see these places linked up - in a very green way that you wouldn't really expect from Watford. [Posted by Rick Vickers]
Couple of firsts on Knebworth transects. My firsts of the year for Speckled Wood and Orange-tip in and around Norton Green Common in mid afternoon plus a nice Green-veined White in Wintergreen Wood, Knebworth Park [Posted by Peter Clarke]
Speckled Wood. Speckled Wood seen outside Main Hide at Lemsford Springs [Posted by Rose Newbold]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. Wall-to-wall spring sunshine today and an unsurprisingly enthusiastic response by my local butterflies. Numbers were more than twice those of any previous day, and nine species were seen: Peacock (35), Brimstone (14), Orange-tip (11), Green-veined White (8), Speckled Wood (8), Comma (4), Small White (3), Red Admiral (1), Holly Blue (1). The abrupt emergence of the GVW to outnumber the Small Whites was notable, as was the large number of Peacocks. They were everywhere and my count might well have been an underestimate. After my comment yesterday, the appearance of the Holly Blue was very welcome. [Posted by Dave Miller]
Peacock at Edmonton & Brimstone at Southgate. 2 Peacock at Edmonton this afternoon [1 at North Middx Hospital & 1 at Park Avenue, N9] & male Brimstone at Dalrymple Close, N14 this afternoon. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
First 4 Transects completed. The weather was finally favourable to do my transects, so I completed all 4 today, clocking up 7 miles. Species seen : Speckled Woods, Brimstone, Small White, Peacock. Photo is of Speckled Wood in Highgate Cemetery. [Posted by Dee Cullen]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. More sunshine today near Heathrow, but it was cooler and breezy. There were more butterflies though: Peacock (10), Orange-tip (6m+1f), Small White (4), Speckled Wood (4), Brimstone (3m), Green-veined White (1), Comma (1), Red Admiral (1). It was good to see a few more Orange-tips, though I am concerned about the lack of Holly Blues here so far this year. [Posted by Dave Miller]
Speckled Wood. I visited Batchwood near St Albans this afternoon. Amongst the amazing display of Bluebells, I saw my first Speckled Wood of the year, two Peacocks and a Brimstone [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. Quite warm, quite windy, largely cloudy - not ideal for butterflies, but I did manage to encounter a few this afternoon on my local patch near Heathrow. The roosting male Brimstone was a bit of a lucky find, and the brief spells of sunshine kept a few Orange-tips from snoozing too. Today's relatively slim pickings: Orange-tip (3), Peacock (2), Speckled Wood (1), Brimstone (1), Small White (1), Red Admiral (1). [Posted by Dave Miller]
Peacock & Speckled Wood at Edmonton. 1 Peacock at Haselbury Road near Westerham Avenue & 3 Speckled Wood including two together at Pymmes Park, Edmonton this afternoon - my first of the year [FOY]. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
First Orange Tip in my garden. One of the great delights of Spring and a good chance to try out my new phone camera. Two more spotted at my allotment. [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
First Green-veined White of the year. Spotted my first Green-veined White of the year in this afternoon’s sunshine along with my first Speckled Woods and some Peacocks [Posted by Julia Hawkins]
