Hertfordshire & Middlesex Branch
Saving butterflies, moths and our environment
2 firsts of the year at Norton Green. A Common Blue, initially feeding on Wild Strawberry flowers, and a Large Skipper seen just outside the common. The date of the Large Skipper sighting equals the earliest ever known recorded in the TL22 square. Several Small Heath also but no 'whites'. [Posted by Peter Clarke]
Brown Hairstreak caterpillar at Willow Tree Open Space (Hillingdon). A lot of newish young blackthorn growth has appeared at Willow Tree Open Space so I took a look and shortly found a Brown Hairstreak caterpillar crawling along a low branch. Hopefully they are starting to do well in the area. [Posted by Claire Easter]
More Small Blues and a Painted Lady migrating. 2 Small Blues on the embankment at Redbourn Lane in Redbourn. Lots of Kidney Vetch, but all the plants were small dried out and and hardly flowering. In the adjoining field the KV in equally poor condition. Later on Batchworth Golf Course, a Painted Lady, flying rapidly north at around 25 mph. The fifth one I’ve seen this week, looks as though we have the start of a migration [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
Brown Silver-line at Trent Park. 2 Brown Silver-line disturbed from Bracken SE edge of Rough Lot/Trent Park [TQ284975] this morning - my first of the year [FOY]. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. Over 100 butterflies of 15 species seen again on my local walk today. These included a mating pair of Small Heath, and yet another Green Hairstreak. This latter butterfly appeared in yet another new location along my route, making four separate spots for the species. Common Blues dominate the numbers at present, with 27 seen today altogether. Also seen: Large White, Small White, GVW, Orange Tip, Brimstone, Small Copper, Brown Argus, Holly Blue, Comma, Red Admiral, Peacock and Speckled Wood. [Posted by Dave Miller]
Harpenden Common. A good few Small Heath sunning and cavorting on Harpenden Common this afternoon. [Posted by David Hunt]
Three male Adonis Blues on Therfield Heath. Three male Adonis Blues were enjoying the evening sunshine on Therfield Heath (Old Rifle Range) today. [Posted by Martin Johnson]
Waterford Heath. South pit , at least 15 Common Blue, 1 Red Admiral , 1 Painted Lady North pit, 4 Common Blue, 1 Holly Blue, 2 Brown Argus, 4 Grizzled Skipper and 1 Small Heath [Posted by Laurence Drummond]
Green Hairstreak at Alexandra Palace Park. Today we refound presumably the same Sunday Green Hairstreak at the Anthill Meadow - created by volunteers as a special butterfly site within the park. We believe this is only the second record at Ally Pally since June 2021. [Posted by Tony Jakeman]
Roosting Small Blues at Rose Farm. 4 Small Blues roosting in long grass this morning alongside two Common Blues. As usual they perch facing head down near the top of tall grass stalks, in the shade and close to the hedge. They choose much the same spot as their ancestors stretching back for ten years. Round the corner in the sunshine another Small Blue warming up plus several Small Heath [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
Brimstone Moth at Southgate. 2 Brimstone Moth at ASDA Southgate this evening. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Sightings at Enfield. At private sites near Trent Park - Male Brimstone, 3 male Orange-tip, female Small Copper, 27 Small Heath, 2 Speckled Wood, 1 Mother Shipton, 1 Small Yellow Underwing along Salmons Brook at Parkside Farm/Res [TQ301983] - my first of the year [FOY], 1 Straw Dot - my first of the year [FOY] - [TQ297982] - an early record! [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Sightings at Oakwood Park. At Oakwood Park this morning [1030 to 1120 BST] - 1 Hedge Beauty [Alabonia geoffrella] settled on Bramble at 1044 BST - my first of the year [FOY] & a new record for the site & tetrad [TQ299950], female Brimstone W of 10 km line, 2 Common Blue [courting pair] E of 10 km line, 2 Holly Blue [1 W of 10 km line & 1 E of 10 km line], 1 Small Heath E of 10 km line, 4 Speckled Wood [3 W of 10 km line & 1 E of 10 km line] & 2 Mother Shipton E of 10 km line. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Common Blue at Alexandra Palace. On my transect I saw another fresh Male Common Blue, this time in a different location to my first sighting, along the edge of the cricket pitch. They tend to like it there and there is plenty of Trefoil. Also, a lovely Burnet Companion in the anthill meadow. [Posted by Dee Cullen]
Sightings at Enfield. 2 Brimstone [female at Hilly Fields Park & male at Gordon Hill Station], 1 Brown Argus along 'London Loop' at Park Farm - my first of the year [FOY], male Common Blue along 'London Loop' at Park Farm, 8 Holly Blue [5 at private sites near Trent Park & 3 at Flash Lane, EN2], 2 male Orange-tip [1 along 'London Loop' at Bay Farm & 1 at Gordon Hill Station], 1 Peacock at a private site near Trent Park, 26 Small Heath [24 at private sites near Trent Park, 1 at along 'London Loop' at Park Farm & 1 at Rectory Farm]. 1 Blood-vein & 1 Mother Shipton at a private site near Trent Park. 1 Waved Umber at Gordon Hill Station - my first of the year [FOY]. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Small Blue & Cinnabar Moth. I was delighted to find Small Blue (2 sightings, possibly 1 individual) & Cinnabar moth at a site near Clothall Common today. Also Common Blue, Orange Tip, Brimstone and a Burnet Companion moth. [Posted by Ian Small]
Meadows around Brickendon village. At lunchtime I have walking the meadows around Monks Green Farm, keeping an eye out for any Painted Lady that stopped off for refuelling. Today was the day that I spotted one in the small cover crop which is field mustard I think, very popular with insects. Sunshine is lovely but hoping for some decent rain soon. [Posted by Nathan Ellis]
10 Green Hairstreak in Hounslow. Todays Branch walk covered Hounslow Heath and Feltham Marshalling Yards. The best Green Hairstreak site in our branch area didn’t disappoint with ten individuals seen. The first, a female was ovipositing on broom. Several more were seen on the ground amongst birds foot-trefoil and broom. But the biggest concentration were nectaring on Green Alkanet, something we have not witnessed before and may be linked to the very dry conditions - some areas of grass were already brown and wild flowers desiccated. Other sightings included Common Blues, Small Coppers, Brown Argus, Mother Shipton, Burnet Companion and Cinnabars. Also of note, two Painted Ladies. Adjoining the car park four large bushes had been stripped of all leaves and were shrouded in larval webs. There were many caterpillars still alive, but with no further leaves left to eat - Spindle Ermine moths. [Posted by Malcolm Hull and Pete Gore]
Sightings at Oakwood Park & Town Park, Enfield. At Oakwood Park [0935 to 1005 BST] - 1 Green Hairstreak seen in flight w/ Holly Blue & settled from 0949 to 0950 BST [TQ300951] - my first record for the Enfield area, after several reported by others in recent years, 4 Holly Blue & 1 Small Heath. At Town Park, Enfield [1220 to 1250 BST] - 2 Holly Blue & 1 Speckled Wood. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Small Dusty Wave at Southgate. 1 Small Dusty Wave at ASDA Southgate this evening - my first of the year [FOY]. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]