News 2019
Brimstone flying at Berkhamsted Common on 30 December. Latest ever?
17 December - Butterfly Conservation still receiving reports of Large White caterpillars in gardens from the south coast of England
- have you seen any in your garden?
Small White seen in Lewisham on 25 November
Two projects on BC website -
Big City Butterflies and
Brilliant Butterflies
Latest report from the UKBMS for 2018 - please read
here
Small Blue project at Greenwood Park - construction completed - please read
progress report (latest update 28 Sep).
Have a look at the
display boards at the
park
Second brood White Admirals seen on 22 Sep in Suffolk. Maybe worth having a look in established
sites in the next week or two
Results from the year's
Big Butterfly Count.
Breakdown count for each county including the top 5 butterflies
Long-tailed Blues seen in southern coastal counties between Cornwall and Suffolk -
please read
Press Release from Butterfly Conservation. One seen in Wanstead, E London on 16 September
Adonis Blue at Therfield Heath and Queen of Spain Fritillary at Patmore Heath on 20 August - significant finds.
The Adonis Blue might be found at other 'Chalkhill Blue' sites in our branch area, for example, Hexton Chalk Pit so worth visiting these if
you can.
It is probable that an unauthorised release of Adonis Blue took place at Therfield Heath so if
anyone knows how they might have got there please give Andrew Wood or Malcolm Hull a call - all calls treated in strict confidence
Painted Lady influx this year. For sightings already reported in 2019 go to the
Migrant Watch page on the Butterfly Conservation website
Brown Hairstreak reported from Surrey (12 July?), so we should find it in our area
very soon. Start looking on hedgerows with plenty of blackthorn and nearby ash/oak trees, preferably near woodland. Contact
Andrew Wood for best sites. For species account
click
here. Several seen on 28 July at the Stafford Open Space in Hillingdon - see
sightings page
Advice on controlling infestation of Box Tree caterpillars, please read UPDATED BC note
here
The Living Churchyards project aims to encourage wildlife in their churchyards. For more details please read
here. A workshop day on 13 July at
Potton where Andrew Wood will be present. Booking is required for this event
Reports of Green Hairstreak and Small Blue on unexpected sites this year so continue looking out for them in
grassland areas even where there is no Kidney Vetch (for Small Blue)
Can you help record hibernating Small Tortoiseshells? Read Malcolm's article. There is a link to this article in the current newsletter. If you encounter connection problems let
us know
Are there any sites in our branch area you have never been to? Check out the map on the sites page. Many new sites have been added. The map itself can be expanded or loaded under a new tab in your browser
Butterflies bounced back in 2018 according to a study by the UKBMS
Large Tortoiseshell reported in Kent and Lincolnshire in last week of March and one seen in central Essex on 1
April. One seen at Incombe Hole, Ivinghoe Beacon on 23 April. At least 600 in the Netherlands this spring - unprecedented, at
least in the last 50 years or so and first proof of reproduction since 1995 - see
Chris van Swaay's tweet.
At least 85 people attended the branch AGM and members' meeting on 23 March - photos below © John Murray
Third Camberwell Beauty sighting in north London this year - at Muswell Hill on 24 March
Over the next 12 months Butterfly Conservation are launching a 'Moths Matter' campaign to encourage people to become
more interested in moths - see the web page here
The Garden Butterfly Survey 2018 Results summary are out. Click
here for details
Which butterfly was top in 2018 according to the Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey? Find out more in the latest
WCBS newsletter
Brown Hairstreak eggs found further north in Middlesex
Help the new team at Millhoppers - work parties will
normally be held every first Sunday of the month - next date 5 January
