Hertfordshire & Middlesex Branch
Saving butterflies, moths and our environment
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. A cool and cloudy morning was followed by a very sunny (but still cool) afternoon. The sun brought the butterflies out again on my local patch, though the Brimstones soon disappeared again as it wasn't really warm enough for them. The highlights today were my first Green-veined White of the season and a lovely fresh female Orange-tip nectaring on the plant from which it got its etymological name. 36 butterflies overall: Peacock (15), Small White (7), Brimstone (5), Red Admiral (2), Comma (2), Orange-tip (2), Speckled Wood (2), Green-veined White (1). [Posted by Dave Miller]
Moth trap at Heartwood Forest. The weather was freezing cold on the evening of Saturday 28th March. However, we did manage to get one trap in sufficient shelter from the wind and had around 40 moths of 13 species in it including 2 Blossom Underwings, the third and fourth records for Heartwood of this scarce and local species. I must have seen around 10 Light Orange Underwings at Heartwood in the past week or so. Another benefit of all the Aspens which have been planted on the site. The Orange Underwing also occurs there but it is much scarcer at that site. If you want to see that one then you need to go to Bricket Wood. [Posted by News from Mark Sterling]
Small White Alexandra Park. My first of year seen by Ally Pally Garden Centre. [Posted by Dee Cullen]
Holly Blue. One Holly Blue in my garden in Hemel Hempstead. 15. 50 this afternoon [Posted by Ashley Cox]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. A much warmer day today, and a lengthy spell of sunshine mid-afternoon brought forth a good selection of butterflies on my local patch. These included my first Speckled Woods of 2026, plus the first female Brimstone I've seen here this year. Overall numbers seen: Brimstone (12), Small White (5), Peacock (4), Red Admiral (3), Orange-tip (3), Speckled Wood (2), Comma (1). [Posted by Dave Miller]
Transect walking season starts on Wednesday. Good time of year for the Branch to say a big thank you to all our transect walkers and other butterfly recorders. Your hard work and diligent reporting provide vital information which informs all the work that we do. Quite overcast here in St Albans today, but in a brief sunny spell after lunch I saw three male Brimstones hurtling around Verulamium Park. The lack of any females so far is an interesting observation for me but infuriating for the male Brimstones [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. During one of the very sparse sunny intervals today, two of the Red Admirals that have set up shop on a certain spot on my local patch were tussling as usual. No other butterflies seen today though. [Posted by Dave Miller]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. Though it remained cold today, the wind had dropped, the hail showers had stopped and there was a decent amount of sunshine. I found a handful of butterflies on my local patch near Heathrow: Peacock (4), Red Admiral (3), Comma (1) and my second Orange-tip of the year (1). [Posted by Dave Miller]
Small White at Pymmes Park, Edmonton. 1 Small White at Pymmes Park, Edmonton this afternoon at 1229 GMT - my first confirmed sighting of the year [FOY]. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. Hazy sunshine again today, but quite a bit warmer. Today's highlight was another Small Tortoiseshell - a long way away from yesterday's example, being found north of the M25-T5 link road bridge. I also found my first male Small White of the year; all of the other sightings so far have been females. Today's overall totals: Peacock (15), Comma (8), Brimstone (3), Red Admiral (2), Small White (1), Small Tortoiseshell (1). Peacocks appear to be dispersing now - both yesterday and today I found more flying over the open grassland areas and fewer basking on brambles near the lake. [Posted by Dave Miller]
Berkhamsted. 1 Female Holly Blue in garden. [Posted by Ian Gamble]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. A cold and misty start to the day, with the sun appearing rather hazily just before midday round my way. Butterfly numbers were generally lower, though Peacocks seemed undaunted. However, the highlight of the day was finding a Small Tortoiseshell within five minutes of home, my first of the year. They really have become a relative rarity here these days. Totals today: Peacock (19), Red Admiral (3), Comma (2), Small White (1), Small Tortoiseshell (1). [Posted by Dave Miller]
Small Tortoiseshell. 11:15 today in South Mimms TL191024 near Salisbury Hall a single Small Tortoiseshell sunning itself on the grass. [Posted by Terence Wood]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. I found seven species seen on my local patch near Heathrow today, where the brilliant sunshine masked the fact that it wasn't actually as warm as recent days. These included two new species for 2026: Holly Blue and Orange-tip. Unfortunately I was unable to get more than fly-by shots of either butterfly - just enough for the I/D! Overall, I reached my highest total seen so far this year. Peacock (22), Comma (11), Red Admiral (3), Small White (2), Brimstone (1), Holly Blue (1), Orange-tip (1). I also found an Orange Underwing moth, which I only recognised after seeing dozens down in Kent earlier in the week. [Posted by Dave Miller]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. After two gloriously sunny and warm days away from my local patch (watching Large Tortoiseshells in Kentish woodland), I returned today to cooler weather with only hazy sunshine. It had clearly dropped below the acceptable level for Brimstones (as I didn't see any), but there were plenty of other butterflies around: Peacock (16), Red Admiral (5), Comma (3), Small White (3). I had been hoping for Speckled Woods or even Holly Blues, but none were forthcoming. [Posted by Dave Miller]
First Small White seen in Alexandra Park. One small white seen for the first time this year in Alexandra Park, N London. (Sorry moved too quickly for a photo.) [Posted by Stephen Middleton]
Orange Tip. An Orange Tip flying across The Warren at Hartham Common just before noon today [Posted by Andrew Wood]
Tracks around Danemead HMWT. Enjoyed a morning walk in the glorious spring sunshine to check the goat willow catkins for butterflies. The usual hibernators seen Peacock 25+, Brimstone 6 (males), Comma 5 and Light Orange Underwing 4. One very excited Brimstone male thought he found the love he had been dreaming about all winter and was very upset at me for litter picking his mate. [Posted by Nathan Ellis]
Speckled Wood and Brimstones at Alexandra Park. The first Speckled Wood of the year was on the wing by the golf course at Alexandra Park today. Also a Brimstone nearby (others reported seeing five Brimstone) [Posted by Reuben Braddock]
Speckled Wood Sighting. Seen near the golf course in Alexandra Park on Wednesday by Reuben Braddock I heard of it via the local birders WhatsApp. First of year for the park. [Posted by Dee Cullen]