Sightings 2020

Welcome to the Hertfordshire & Middlesex Branch sightings page for butterfly and moth news from around the area

NOTE - please read the latest Coronavirus update from Butterfly Conservation

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Archive   2019  2018  2017 (Jan-Jun)  2017 (Jul-Dec) 2001-2016

Please email Peter Clarke (peter.clarke4@ntlworld.com) to send in your news.

Please include grid reference (6 digits preferred but 4 digits will do) or post code for your sightings. Grid reference can be obtained using the Gridreferencefinder or Streetmap. If you need any guidance let me know. Most, if not all, sightings listed here with sufficient detail given, will be added to the branch database but see note below.

You can use the iRecord app to submit your records. Alternatively, you can enter your records using a spreadsheet which can be downloaded here for butterflies or moths. More details can be found on the General Recording page for butterflies and Moth pages for moths.

NOTE: To avoid any duplication, if you are submitting records to the Branch Recorder (Andrew Wood) and also have any of them listed on the sightings page please let Andrew know.

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May Date Description Recorder 24 May Letchworth (Hillbrow): Small Blue (20), most close to the rail track in the lower field. Also plenty of Common Blues and Brown Argus in the same areas and a few Small Heath and Brimstone butterflies across the site Martin Johnson 24 May Visited Church Hill at Therfield Heath this morning in strong wind and occasional sun. Disturbed 7 male and 2 female Adonis Blue and also 2 Small Heath on route from the car park. It was my first visit to Therfield Heath and it was nice to also find White Helleborine growing in Fox Covert Nature Reserve although not yet in flower Miles Attenborough 23 May Hounslow. Breezy and brief rain showers, unsurprisingly sightings were low with Small Coppers and Small Heaths seeming to be blowing past me as much as flying: Small Copper: 2, Small Heath: 3, Speckled Wood: 1 Peter Gore 23 May 1 Orange-tip female - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303) David Inward 23 May At Merryhill fields, Bushey 3 Common Blue only butterflies seen. Also 3 Mother Shipton moths David Gower 22 May One male Small White on Red Valerian and 3 Holly Blue on the holly tree and Cotoneaster in my garden in Bounds Green at lunchtime Miles Attenborough 22 May 10 Small Heath including three together at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097), 1 Brown Silver-line flushed from bracken SW edge of Rough Lot, Trent Park Robert Callf 22 May Millhoppers Reserve - Walked over this afternoon not expecting too much with the blustery conditions. 1 Green-veined White, 1 Small White and 2 Speckled Wood near the entrance. But in the top pasture dancing around within the long grasses were 2 Common Blue and 2 Brown Argus. 14 species this year so far on the site Chris Hilling 21 May I showed Tanya, the new ranger for Bricket Wood Common (and Nomansland Common), the route of the Bricket Wood Common transect. On our way round I spotted and photographed a Small Heath (TL131007; only 19 have been recorded during the transect from 1997 onwards, and 12 of those were in 2013, with 4 last year. I hope seeing one today is a sign I'll see some to record for the transect, and that the cattle grazing over the last few years is improving the site for these butterflies Chris Newman 21 May 3 Peacock (1 at Vicarage Farm - TQ3097, 1 at Parkside Farm/Res - TQ2998, 1 at Park Farm, Enfield - TQ2998), 2 Painted Lady (1 at Hog Hill, Vicarage Farm - TQ3097 at 1550 hrs, 1 flew N at Park Farm, Enfield at 1643 hrs), 2 Small Heath at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (1 at TQ3097, 1 at TQ2997), 1 female Large White at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) and 2 Mother Shipton (1 at Parkside Farm/Res - TQ2998 and 1 at Vicarage Farm - TQ2997). Female Orange-tip settled edge of Water Grdn, Trent Park late afternoon Robert Callf 21 May At Stanmore Country Park 12 male Common Blues, 5 Small Heath (my first of year), 1 Green-veined White. Moths were 8 Burnet Companion & 1 Cinnabar. 1 Speckled Wood at Stanmore Common ( TQ158938) and lastly 1 Large White in Bushey garden David Gower 20 May A big improvement to 18 butterflies on the Bricket Wood Common transect despite very similar hot sunny conditions to the day before Chris Newman 20 May A late afternoon stroll in Fishers field produced 1 Brimstone, 1 Holly Blue, 1 Orange-tip. Bushey garden 1 Small White, 1 Holly Blue and 1 Cinnabar moth David Gower 20 May Aldbury Nowers: Brimstone, Common Blue, Orange-tip, Small Heath, Green Hairstreak, Grizzled Skipper, Mother Shipton and the Cinnabar Moth Shailesh Patel 20 May Millhoppers Reserve - A mid-morning walk before it got too hot. 3 Green-veined White, 2 male Orange-tip, 2 male Brimstone, 1 male Holly Blue, 2 Speckled Wood and 1 Large White. A few Nettle Tap moth also seen plus many White Legged Damselfly and first Golden bloomed Grey Longhorn Beetle of the year Chris Hilling 20 May Aldbury Nowers (1045 - 1330 hrs) - 5+ Brimstone - 3 males & 2 females, 4+ Small Heath, 4 Dingy Skipper including two together, 2 Grizzled Skipper, 2 male Orange-tip, 1 Green Hairstreak, 1 Cinnabar. 1 Poplar Kitten at ASDA Southgate this evening near an outside light Robert & Richard Callf 19 May Only 5 butterflies recorded on the 1st Bricket Wood Common transect of the year, but I watched a female Brimstone spend a long time inspecting the top of an alder buckthorn (TL130009) Chris Newman 19 May In the garden Wareside - The Brimstones are still very active egg laying on the buckthorn, whist Orange-tips are still finding vacant hedge mustard to lay more eggs, although there are quite a few caterpillars now. Holly Blues are frequent visitors and been seen laying eggs on dogwood flower buds. We have had them on the berries before but not the flower buds. Several other "unidentified whites". Brimstone - 6, Red Admiral - 1, Holly Blue - 4, Orange-tip - 7, Small Tortoiseshell - 2, Brown Argus - 1, Green-veined White - 3, Small White - 2, Comma - 1, Peacock - 2, Speckled Wood - 1 Field margin at Wareside (TL401153) - Small Copper - 1, Small Heath - 2, Orange-tip - 7, Brimstone - 3, Peacock - 2, Small Tortoiseshell - 2, Small White - 2, Green-veined White - 2, Holly Blue - 1 Field margin Wareside (TL398150) - Small Heath - 2, Orange-tip - 5, Brimnstone - 3, Peacock - 1, Small Tortoiseshell - 1, Small White - 2, Green-veined White - 4, Holly Blue - 2, Red Admiral - 1 And from the Broxbourne River side Silvermeade reserves (TL372063) - A walk along the river and into the Silvermeade reserves yielded brief sightings of water voles and lots of banded demoiselle damselflies. Orange-tip - 10, Holly Blue - 2, Peacock - 2, Red Admiral - 2, Small White - 1, Green-veined White - 5, Small Heath - 1 Phil & Oliver MacMurdie 19 May St Albans - this evening I disturbed a female Brimstone, roosting underneath the raspberry canes on my allotment. She was perched in low vegetation about 3 inches off the ground. She quickly settled back into the same position after being accidentally watered. I think she may have been keen to stay in this spot as the raspberries are right next to my Alder Buckthorns Malcolm Hull 19 May Hounslow. Despite high temperatures and plenty of sun here we seem to have arrived at something like a mid-season lull as far as numbers of butterflies are concerned: Holly Blue: 3, Green-veined White: 1, Peacock: 2, Speckled Wood: 1, Brimstone: 2, Common Blue: 1, Small Heath: 4, Orange-tip: 2 Peter Gore 19 May I found and photographed a Small Blue on the chalk bank at Butterfield LNR in Wheathampstead. There is a small patch of Kidney Vetch there, but not much. This individual may have come from the Heartwood colony. I also saw the first Common Blue for this year Trevor Chapman 19 May 2 male Common Blue at Oakwood Park (1 W of 10 km line, 1 E of 10 km line), 9 Mother Shipton (1 W of 10 km line, 8 E of 10 km line), 3 Small Heath at Oakwood Park (all E of 10 km line), 1 Orange Conch (Commophila aeneana) at Oakwood Park E of 10 km line - my earliest ever and first May record - at 1409 hrs, 2 Burnet Companion at Oakwood Park E of 10 km line, 1 Holly Blue at Lower Kenwood Ave, N14 at 1458 hrs, 1 Holly Blue and 1 male Orange-tip at Boxer's Lake near Play Ground Robert Callf 19 May 2 Small White - St Faiths Close south, Hitchin (TL198302) David Inward 19 May A long LEW which took in TL3614, TL3814 and TL3816 proved to be very hot but productive in finding Small Heath. 5 completely new sites were found in areas almost void of records in the past years (to my knowledge). Three were fields where they were visible through binoculars and the last find was an small area of derelict grassland just 150m (as the butterfly flies) from my Ware garden. A total of 14 adults seen. Failed to find Holly Blue in TL3816 but numerous fast flying unidentifiable whites. Orange-tips and Brimstones were still out in force including an egg laying Brimstone female in our garden. Also near to home a few Peacocks and a Small Tortoiseshell Liz Goodyear 19 May Cycled along Ebury Way adjacent to Croxley Green moor (TQ 095947) where I saw 4 Small Copper & 1 Peacock. At Woodcock Hill Cemetery, Rickmansworth (TQ 058931) were 2 Common Blue, 1 Brown Argus, 1 Cinnabar moth & 1 Burnet Companion David Gower 18 May 1 male Holly Blue at The Ridgeway, Enfield (TQ 316968) at 1035 hrs, 1 Speckled Wood and 1 Peacock near New Cottage Farm, Potters Bar (TL 272000) at 1055 and 1059 hrs, 1 male Large White and 1 Green-veined White near New Cottage Farm, Potters Bar (TL 272005) at 1105 hrs, 1 male Orange-tip near New Cottage Farm, Potters Bar (TL 273008) at 1111 hrs, 3+ Alabonia geoffrella at Fir & Pond Woods NR (TL 277007), also here 1 Green-veined White, 1 male Brimstone, 1 Holly Blue and 1+ Peacock. 1 Silver-ground Carpet at Fir & Pond Woods NR (TL 277005). 1 Mother Shipton at Dalrymple Close, N14 (TQ 297949) at 1645 hrs - unusual to see one on the grass verge here, probably a stray from nearby Oakwood Park Robert Callf 18 May Cycled to Bentley Priory nature reserve this afternoon noting 4 Common Blue males, 1 Brown Argus, both my first of the year. Also spotted 1 Small White, 1 Peacock & 1 Small Copper. A brief stop at St James churchyard seeing 1 Green-veined White, 1 Speckled Wood, 1 Holly Blue & 1 Red Admiral David Gower 18 May Eastcote Lane Cemetery, Harrow: 2 Common Blue Shailesh Patel 17 May Wareside garden. Holly Blue - 5, Peacock - 2, Red Admiral 3, Orange-tip - 5, Brimstone - 5, Small White 1, Green-veined White - 1. Also we have had Sandy Carpet (4 seen) emerging from the bladder campions in the front garden Phil & Oliver MacMurdie 17 May Heartwood Forest. Highlight was finding an early Large Skipper roughly at TL155109 also present 22 Small Heaths, 9 Brimstones, 7 Orange-tips, 3 Peacocks and a Red Admiral plus a couple of Mother Shipton moths Andrew Steele 17 May A Small Heath at Merryhill Bushey. First one I have personally seen on the site this year John Liberty 17 May Back to Merryhill fields but not a lot of activity. 3 Small White, 1 Peacock, 3 Brimstone, 1 Green-veined White & 1 Small Copper my first of the year David Gower 17 May Following the appearance of Adonis Blue at Church Hill last year, I checked the site for first brood early this morning. I found 6 males roosting and when the sun broke through the number was certainly in excess of 20. Fewer females flying but probably more than 10 seen. FYI double figures of Brown Argus & Common Blue, c. 5 Small Heath James Fowler 16 May Widford. Orange-tip - 3, Brimstone - 3, Red Admiral - 1, Peacock - 2, Holly Blue - 1 Phil & Oliver MacMurdie 16 May We were walking in the fields near Little Gaddesden near Hemel and noticed the farmer had left a field margin for wild flowers and grasses. Sunbathing amongst the grasses was this Burnet Companion. We also saw Orange-tips nearer the river and Small Whites fluttering around the hedges and over the meadows Chris Ridley 16 May Visit to Islip Manor meadows this morning: 2 rather fresh looking Small Heath and 2 Burnet Companion, not much else flying in cool overcast conditions Paul Lane 15 May I had a female Holly Blue nectaring on Thyme in my garden in Bounds Green followed by an early evening walk in Oakwood Park where I found three Small Heath (TQ 304952) Miles Attenborough 15 May 1 female Small Copper at Oakwood Park W of 10 km line at 1732 hrs, 2 Small Heath at Oakwood Park E of 10 km line and 3+ Mother Shipton at Oakwood Park E of 10 km line Robert Callf 15 May St Albans. White species dominated on my stroll along the Ver Valley towards Redbourn this afternoon. Green-veined Whites dominated, followed by Orange-tips, with several Large Whites, a Small White and a Brimstone. Numbers of other butterflies seem to have dropped during a week where we have had three frosts. The only other butterfly sightings were 2 Peacocks and 1 Small Tortoiseshell. The star of the day was a Muslin Moth, which stopped obligingly for a photo Malcolm Hull 15 May Bushey garden were several Whites, 1 Brimstone moth & 1 Light Brown Apple David Gower 15 May Hounslow. Although overall numbers seemed a little low in increasingly dry conditions, I was pleased to see my first Brown Argus of the year nevertheless. Here's the full list: Holly Blue: 1, Peacock: 7, Brimstone: 1, Orange-tip: 2, Brown Argus: 1, Green-veined White: 2, Small Heath: 1, Common Blue: 1, three Cinnabar moths and a Mother Shipton looking impressive on a Cow Parsley flower-head Peter Gore 14 May 1 Small Heath at Monken Hadley Common (TQ 267972) at 1139 hrs. 1 Small Dusty Wave at Cedars Court, Edmonton, N9 (TQ 334939) in bus-stop shelter Robert Callf 14 May Out between Hertford and Ware I found a group of 1st instar Peacock caterpillars, the first I've seen this year Andrew Wood 14 May At Fishers field 2 Orange-tip, 1 Small White & 1 Green-veined White. Water Lane, Watford were 2 Peacock, 4 Green-veined White & 1 Small White David Gower 13 May 1 male Small White settled near Saxon Way, N14 entrance at Oakwood Park this afternoon at 1403 hrs Robert Callf 13 May Despite a lot of cloud and also very breezy, nice to find a fresh Small Copper beside the Fanhams Tributaries in TL3815 and in TL3716 just south of Cold Christmas Lane 2 Small Heath, 1 Common Blue and 1 Brown Argus, taking my adult species count for the year to 16! Yesterday on a small area of uncut grass near the river Ash and close to the Hollycross Road from Ware to Stanstead Abbotts there were 9 Small Heath flying! Liz Goodyear 12 May 1 Small Heath at Oakwood Park, N14 E of 10 km line at TQ 301953 at 1128 hrs, 1 Speckled Wood edge of Water Grdn, Trent Park at TQ 296979 at 1300 hrs, 2 Green-veined White at Trent Park (1 edge of Moat Wd, 1 by Lower Lake), 1 Small Heath at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ 300972) at 1435 hrs Robert Callf 11 May 1 female Small Copper near Water Garden, Trent Park at 1406 hrs - sheltered in a sunny spot Robert Callf 10 May Visited Oakwood Park in Enfield at around 11.30 just as weather was beginning to turn cold. 1 Small Copper, 3 Small Heath and 2 Mother Shipton moths in the south east of the park Miles Attenborough 9 May Went on a family walk through Arnos Park and Oakhill Park, 8 Holly Blue, 2 Speckled Wood, 1 Peacock, 2 male Brimstones, 2 male Orange-tips, various white butterflies including 1 female Orange-tip laying eggs on garlic mustard Miles Attenborough 9 May Recorded this afternoon on Therfield Heath, Church Hill area. 5 Adonis Blue, 17+ Small Heath, 30+ Brown Argus and much lesser numbers of Brimstone, Orange-Tip, Common Blue, Small White, Red Admiral Adrian Cooper Caroline Scott 9 May 7+ Mother Shipton at Oakwood Park (1 W of 10 km line, 6+ E of 10 km line), 1 Small Heath at Oakwood Park E of 10 km line at TQ 302952 at 1608 hrs. 2 Holly Blue at Boxer's Lake, Enfield and a female Orange-tip here at TQ 306962 at 1650 hrs, 1 male Orange-tip at Bincote Rd, EN2 at TQ 309964 at 1710 hrs Robert Callf 9 May I was walking near Jubilee wood in Gadebridge park, when I went 'off piste' a little to look at a beautiful patch of Speedwell. I was surprised to see 2 Brown Argus, a Small Copper and a Mother Shipton moth in this small area of grassland. Dacorum's new policy is to leave more patches of grass unmown during the summer months, which is a big improvement on the uniform short turf of previous years Chris Ridley 9 May A walk around Hillbrow, LGC, Brimstone x11fm & 6m, Small Copper x2, Small Heath x1, Orange-tip x3m and Small Blue x1, the earliest sighting I am aware of from this site Roger Millard 9 May 1 Orange-tip - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303), 1 Brimstone, 1 Orange-tip - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL1930) David Inward 9 May Sightings in Bushey garden were Holly Blue, Comma, Peacock, Orange-tip, Green-veined White, Small White. The Cinnabar moth turned up again on lid of moth trap David Gower 9 May Hounslow. Morning sunshine and the following butterflies: Speckled Wood: 5, Orange-tip: 5, Small Copper: 3, Holly Blue: 5, Green Hairstreak: 3, Peacock: 10, Small White: 1, Common Blue 3, Red Admiral: 1, Green-veined White: 4, Comma: 1 plus one Cinnabar and a likely Mother Shipton moth. Yesterday a heavily veined female Green-veined White briefly in my garden with a minimum of two Holly Blues Peter Gore 9 May Aldbury Nowers - Lots to see on my morning exercise walk. Many Brimstones, Green-veined Whites, Orange-tips plus Green Hairstreak and numerous Dingy Skippers. Most abundant species seen were Small Heath in the lower compartments. I saw my first 4 Brown Argus of the year in the same area. Also saw Cinnabar, Burnet Companion and 5 Small Yellow Underwing moths Chris Hilling 9 May Barham Park, Wembley : Common Blue, Brimstone, Orange-tip and a Speckled Wood Shailesh Patel 8 May Therfield Heath: Adonis Blue (1), Common Blue (4 males), Brown Argus (36), Holly Blue (5), Small Heath (23). Also seen: Small White, Large White, Green-veined White, Orange-tip, Brimstone, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell. Also two Mother Shipton moths. I discovered a very active colony of Brown Argus butterflies (males, females, mating pairs, egg-laying females and variants) on a section of the empty golf course that is normally 'out of bounds' for non-golfers: it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good! Martin Johnson 8 May 1 male Holly Blue at Wolfsen Hillel Primary School, Chase Rd, N14 at 1425 hrs, 1 Holly Blue near Rangers' Hut at Grovelands Park at 1512 hrs, 2 Speckled Wood clashing near Bowling Green, Grovelands Park at 1524 hrs and 2 Mother Shipton near tennis courts at Grovelands Park at 1530 hrs Robert Callf 8 May At least 2 Holly Blues in Bushey garden. A Cinnabar moth was resting on top of my new moth trap this morning. Light Brown Apple moth spotted around honeysuckle also David Gower 8 May A visit to Islip Manor meadows produced following sightings: Small Copper 2, Peacock 2, Orange-tip (m) 1, Green-veined White 1, Small White 1, Burnet Companion 5, plus several unidentified whites Paul Lane 7 May 1 Comma edge of Triangular Wd, Trent Park at 1252 hrs, 3 male Orange-tip at Trent Park (2 'New Fields', 1 edge of Williams Wood), 5 Small Copper at 'New Fields' Trent Park, 3 Peacock at 'New Fields' Trent Park, 1 Small Heath at Sect 6 'New Fields' Trent Park at 1301 hrs - my first of the year! 1 male Brimstone edge of Church Wd, Trent Park at 1317 hrs, 1 Holly Blue edge of Church Wd, Trent Park, 1 Holly Blue at Vicarage Farm near Enfield Rd (TQ 3097) and 1 at Salmons Brook at Enfield Rd Robert Callf 7 May Saw a Small Heath, some Orange-tips and a Holly Blue in my garden in Stocking Pelham Andy Brown 7 May Exercise walk at Oxhey Park this morning and noticed 2 Holly Blue, 4 Brimstone, 1 Green-veined White, 1 Orange-tip. 1 Holly Blue in Bushey garden also David Gower 7 May 1 Small White, 1 Large White, 4 Orange-tip, 4 Holly Blue - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL1930) David Inward 6 May Hounslow. An enjoyable strenuous walk in the sun brought the reward of two more year firsts.The initial bright blue butterfly wasn't quite good enough to claim for Common Blue given the presence of Holly Blue in the same area but a later one which settled justified both. Later still a similar pattern developed with Green Hairstreak but here the rapidly flying suspects really weren't clear enough whilst one which settled was every bit as green as the Common Blues had been blue, to leave no doubt. A good variety overall with Orange-tips surprisingly elusive whilst other whites were perhaps commoner but too active to identify many: Holly Blue: 8, Green-veined White: 4, Peacock: 21, Speckled Wood: 4, Comma: 2, Brimstone: 5, Small Heath: 2, Small White: 1, Common Blue: 2, Orange-tip: 3, Small Tortoiseshell: 2, Small Copper: 1, Green Hairstreak: 1. Yesterday a Red Admiral joined the obligatory 2 Holly Blues in my garden where some fresh holly leaf-tips are being consumed by unseen eaters Peter Gore 6 May 5+ Mother Shipton (1+ W of 10 km line, 4+ E of 10 km line) at Oakwood Park - my first of the year, 1 Peacock W of 10 km line, Oakwood Park, 1 male Common Blue at Oakwood Park (E of 10 km line at TQ 304952) - my first of the year, and 1 Small Copper here also. At Boxer's Lake, Enfield - 1 Peacock at TQ 303961, 2 Holly Blue including a female settled at TQ 306962 and 1 Small White here also. At Salmons Brook, Enfield Rd (TQ 310968) - 1 Holly Blue. At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ 3097) - 1 Peacock and 1 Small Tortoiseshell. 2 Speckled Wood together near Saxon Way entrance at Oakwood Park (W of 10 km line) at 1420 hrs and 1 at Southgate Chase Allotments at 1746 hrs Robert Callf 6 May Today's permitted walk in Alexandra Park saw my biggest number of sightings in one walk so far this year. Small White (12), Brimstone (8), Holly Blue (8), Large White (4), Green-veined White (1). With the best being my first Small Coppers a pair on a path on the top meadow Dee Cullen 6 May At Merryhill fields 3 Peacock, 2 Orange-tip, 6 Brimstone and frustratingly 17 whites unable to Identify. Home via St James churchyard spotting 4 Orange-tip females, 1 Holly Blue, 1 Large White David Gower 6 May 1 Orange-tip - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303) David Inward 6 May I took my exercise walk around Shrubhill Common in Hemel Hempstead (TL036072). I was very pleased to see two Dingy Skippers - the first I've seen there since 2017. They are easily overlooked at this site, unless they happen to land on the path in front of you. Fortunately this is what happened Roger Prue 6 May In south Fairlands Valley Park, saw 3 Orange-tip, 1 Large White, 3 Peacock, 2 Green-veined White, 2 Small White, 1 Speckled Wood and a Brown Argus (my first of the year and first ever May specimen here) Peter Clarke 6 May A walk around fields yesterday beside the river Ver between Redbourn and Redbournbury produced 6 Peacock, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 2 Brimstone, 2 male Orange-tips, 12+ fast moving, unidentified whites, 1 Green-veined White, 1 Red Admiral, and a blue nectaring on flowers in the grazing meadow at approx. TL121104, which to my surprise was not a Holly Blue but showed the heavily marked underwings of a male Common Blue Pete Waldron 5 May 1 Red Admiral and 1 Holly Blue at Lavender Hill Cemetery (TQ320981) at 1431 and 1436 hrs respectively, 1 Speckled Wood at Flash Lane, EN2 at 1517 hrs Robert Callf 5 May Plenty of activity at Fishers Field. 2 Orange-tip, 4 Brimstone, 2 Holly Blue, 1 Peacock, 1 Speckled Wood, 1 Comma, 3 Green-veined Whites, 2 Small Whites as well as 4 more unable to identify. Next was a walk around edge of Bushey Hall golf club finding 3 Peacock, 5 Orange-tip, 3 Holly Blue, 1 Green-veined White, 2 Small White, 1 Large White and 12 unidentified whites David Gower 5 May 1 Orange-tip - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303), 1 Small White - St Faiths Close south (TL198302) 1 Small White, 1 Large White, 1 Brimstone, 1 Holly Blue - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL1930) David Inward 4 May 1 female Holly Blue at Allotments, Vicarage Farm at 1106 hrs; 1 male Brimstone, 2, male & female, Orange-tip, 1 Small White, 2 Small Tortoiseshell and 2 Speckled Wood at Vicarage Farm, Enfield. 1 male Holly Blue at Ivy Rd, N14 at 1523 hrs Robert Callf 4 May Millhoppers Reserve - Mid afternoon exercise walk found male and female Orange-tip, Green-veined White, Speckled Wood, Brimstone and Red Admiral. But the highlight for me was just as I was leaving I disturbed something which fluttered around my feet for short while before. Settling down in the grass - a very fresh Green Carpet moth Chris Hilling 4 May 1 Holly Blue - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303), 1 Green-veined White - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL1930) David Inward 4 May My first Large White of the year in Bushey garden on lilac. After shopping late afternoon I walked home via Water Lane seeing 1 Green-veined White David Gower 4 May Newton Farm Ecology Park, Harrow HA2 9DA : Painted Lady Shailesh Patel 3 May 1 Brimstone Moth near outside lights at ASDA Southgate this afternoon - my first of the year! Robert Callf 2 May Earliest recorded Painted Lady in Bengeo garden. Also, Green-veined White, Speckled Wood, Holly Blue & Red Admiral Simon Knott 2 May 1 male Orange-tip at Vicarage Farm, 1 Green-veined White edge of Ride Wd, Trent Park, 1 male Orange-tip edge of Rough Lot, Trent Park at 1157 hrs, 1 Red Admiral edge of Moat Wd, Trent Park at 1200 hrs. 1 Holly Blue at Dalrymple Close, N14 at 1033 hrs Robert Callf 2 May Hounslow. A sunny afternoon walk with the highlight being a Small Heath, first of the year for me and two weeks earlier than other years I've been recording. Here are today's sightings: Holly Blue: 10, Speckled Wood: 2, Orange-tip: 9, Peacock: 17, Brimstone: 5, Small Tortoiseshell: 2, Green-veined White: 1, Small Heath: 1, Small Copper: 1 and my first Cinnabar moth of the year. Yesterday a Large White visited my garden, starting May off with what was then the 12th species seen this year Peter Gore 2 May Here are some more butterfly sightings for you from Therfield Heath and an image of the Brown Argus that I saw this morning. Again, this was the earliest date that I have seen Brown Argus locally, although of course I don't normally go on local walks every day! Therfield Heath: Brown Argus (1), Small Heath (4). Also seen: Brimstone, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Orange-tip (10+), Small White and Green-veined White (lots). A Mother Shipton moth was also seen Martin Johnson 2 May 1 Small White - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303), 1 Orange-tip, 5 Holly Blue, 1 Green-veined White, 1 Brimstone - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL1930) David Inward 2 May Back to Fishers field recorded 1 Orange-tip, 2 Brimstone, 1 Speckled Wood, 2 Peacock. Onto Water Lane, Watford finding 3 Peacock, 3 Brimstone, 2 Orange-tips, 2 Holly Blue, 1 Green-veined White, 1 Small White. As often there were many more whites unable to identify. Lastly in Bushey garden 1 Green-veined White & 1 Holly Blue David Gower 1 May 1 Speckled Wood at Vicarage Farm, Enfield at 1207 hrs, 1 male Orange-tip along Leeging Beech Gutter at Vicarage Farm at 1215 hrs, 1 female Orange-tip near Dew Pond, Trent Park at 1400 hrs Robert Callf 1 May Millhoppers Reserve - In between the rain showers four species appeared. A male Orange-tip, 2 Speckled Wood, 2 Green-veined White and 1 Small White Chris Hilling 1 May In a sunny patch this afternoon went to Rickneys quarry. It is sheltered there and I saw 4 Grizzled Skippers, 5 Green-veined Whites, 2 Small Whites and a Peacock Steve Kiln April Date Description Recorder 29 Apr Jane and I had our exercise walk early as the weather was perfect for spotting Grizzled Skippers roosting on seed heads at Waterford Heath. I was cursing when the sun came out - how perverse. However on the south Heath we found 7 on the east bank, 3 towards the northern end , 1 on the Black Barns site and 2 along the ditch that runs along the centre of the bowl. All but a couple were in quite sheltered positions. None in the settling beds. On the north Heath only 2 both on the east side. A total of 15. Also one Treble Bar and one Latticed Heath moth and many Roman Snails enjoying the better conditions for them Andrew Wood 27 Apr 4 Speckled Wood at Trent Park (1 along bridle path near Shaws Wd, 2 together, Williams Wd, 1 Shaws Wd), 1 Peacock at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park Robert Callf Bob Husband 27 Apr 1 Orange-tip - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL1930) David Inward 27 Apr Therfield Heath: Small Heath (1). My first local sighting of this species in April Martin Johnson 26 Apr In Ridge, I saw my first (rather faded) Red Admiral of the year (TQ214999). We also saw several Orange-tip, Peacock, Small White, Speckled Wood and Small Tortoiseshell Terry Wood 26 Apr Aldbury Nowers - I went East for my exercise today and I'm glad I did. 2 Small Copper, 9 Dingy Skipper, 4 Grizzled Skipper and 6 Green Hairstreak. Also seen were 28 Brimstones, 5 Green-veined Whites, Orange-tips, Peacocks, Comma, Small Heath, Holly Blue and dozens and dozens of unidentified whites. Lesser Treble Bar and Burnet Companion moths also seen Chris Hilling 26 Apr Hounslow. Another mostly sunny walk with the following identified: Holly Blue: 11, Orange-tip: 9, Green-veined White: 1, Brimstone: 10, Small White: 1, Peacock: 16, Small Copper: 1, Speckled Wood: 1 Peter Gore 26 Apr 1 Holly Blue - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303), 2 Orange-tip, 4 Holly Blue, 2 Large White - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL1930), 1 Holly Blue, 1 Orange-tip - Woolgrove Road, Hitchin (TL19293046) David Inward 26 Apr In Bushey garden were 1 Orange-tip & 2 Holly Blues. At Merryhill fields 7 Peacock, 9 Brimstone & 3 Orange-tip David Gower 26 Apr 1 Peacock at Vicarage Farm, Enfield this morning at 0848 hrs Robert Callf 26 Apr Grizzled Skipper and Dingy Skipper at Aldbury Nowers Richard Callf 25 Apr Having seen the recent sightings of Small Coppers on the wing I searched the Green space between Coppetts Wood and the Football Pitches where I had seen a couple last year and was quite quickly rewarded with a single Small Copper. Carried on round Coppetts Wood, where 3 very fresh Green-veined Whites, 5 male Orange-tips (one courting a female) 3 female Orange-tips, 3 Holly Blue, 2 Peacocks, 3 Speckled Wood, 1 very tatty Comma Miles Attenborough 25 Apr 1 Holly Blue - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303), 3 Orange-tip, 1 Peacock - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL1930) David Inward 25 Apr At Northwood HQ 1 Orange-tip. Lunch break exercise walk in Oxhey Woods. 1 Speckled Wood in northern wood, 1 Orange-tip in southern and in Central wood 3 Orange-tip, 1 Holly Blue, 2 Green-veined White, 2 Speckled Wood, 2 Small White David Gower 25 Apr First Grizzled Skipper on Rickneys Quarry, also my first Burnet Companion moth there. Also saw five Grizzled Skipper on the western facing bank on Waterford Heath south Steve Kiln 25 Apr Orange-tip in Croxley Green garden Tony Evans 25 Apr St Albans - over a hundred butterflies on a stroll through countryside south of the city. Peacocks (19) and Holly Blue (7) put on a good show, but whites have now become the most numerous. Male Orange-tips (19) and females (5) were conspicuous as was a single Large White. I identified two Green-veined Whites, 1 Small White and recorded another 59 Whites which did not wish to stop for identification purposes! Other species seen included Red Admiral (1), Comma (1), Brimstone (2, both male) and Cinnabar moth (1), my first of the year, which obligingly stopped for a photo Malcolm Hull 24 Apr While working, passing through the Chiswell Green fields that border the old Butterfly World site had two male Small Blues and a Brown Argus Clive Burrows 24 Apr St Albans = my first Small Copper of the year on my allotment today nectaring near the sorrel. Also my first Green-veined White hunting along the hedge Garlic in my garden. Orange-tips and Holly Blues doing well. Brimstone, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell still around but in much reduced numbers. Small Whites are on the increase and the first large red damselfly emerged from my pond yesterday Malcolm Hull 24 Apr 1 Holly Blue at Chase Rd/Charter Way, N14 at 1239 hrs, 3 male Orange-tip at Trent Park (1 near Oakwood entrance, 1 near Sport's Field, 1 edge of Williams Wd), 5 Peacock at Trent Park, 3 Small Copper at 'New Fields' Trent Park, 3 Speckled Wood at Trent Park (1 Sect 7 'New Fields', 2 together at Shaws Wd), 1 Holly Blue at Trent Park near Sport's Field, 2, male and female, Green-veined White copulating near Lower Lake, Trent Park at 1520 hrs Robert Callf 24 Apr I saw 14 Brimstone on my Halsey Field walk, three of which were in a mating dance - two males pursuing one female. Also 4 Orange-tip, 4 Peacock, 2 Small White and 2 Holly Blue. In the adjoining Warners End wood there were 2 Large White, a Holly Blue, an Orange-tip and 2 Speckled Wood; also a large swarm of honey bees! Chris Ridley 24 Apr 1 Orange-tip, 1 Holly Blue - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303 David Inward 24 Apr On a walk this afternoon I spotted a Red Admiral, the first I've seen in Alexandra Park this year Dee Cullen 24 Apr Pristine Red Admiral just shot through my Ware garden. None seen on any of my LEW this week Liz Goodyear 23 Apr Stocking Pelham TL452291: 5 Orange-tip, 2 Brimstone, 5 Peacock, 8 whites (to/ small whites?), 5 Speckled Woods, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Green-veined White Andy Brown 23 Apr Went to Waterford Heath and Rickneys this afternoon. Saw Small Copper in both sites for the first time. 6 Grizzled Skippers at Waterford Heath, two on the north, two on the settling beds on the south and two on the western facing bank. Also a Lattice Heath moth in the settling beds on the south heath Steve Kiln 23 Apr 1 Brimstone - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303), 1 Brimstone, 2 Orange-tip, 1 Holly Blue, 1 Speckled Wood - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL1930) David Inward 23 Apr 2 Peacock, 1 male Orange-tip at Vicarage Farm, 1 Peacock N edge of Williams Wd, Trent Park, 1 Peacock near Upper Lake, Trent Park, 1 Speckled Wood near Ride Wd, Trent Park, 1 male Brimstone, 1 Red Admiral edge of Moat Wd, Trent Park - my first of the year, 1 Small Tortoiseshell near Water Grdn, Trent Park, 1 Large White and 1 male Orange-tip edge of Williams Wd, Trent Park, 1 Holly Blue & 1 male Brimstone at Oakwood Station. 1 Holly Blue at Southgate Chase Allotments at 1435 hrs Robert Callf 22 Apr Furneux pelham East end (TL450277): 3 Orange-tip, 7 Peacock, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Green-veined White Andy Brown 22 Apr Patmore Heath (just north of the heath TL447267): 5 Orange-tip, 1 Peacock, 3 whites, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Brimstone Andy Brown 22 Apr This afternoon I saw a pair of Brimstone butterflies circling, male below the female, in a mating dance, on the 'Gas Ride', Bricket Wood Common, Section 4 of the transect, (TL129011). There are still lots of Peacock and Brimstone butterflies there, and also little white butterflies; I think more Orange-tips and Green-veined Whites than Small Whites Chris Newman 22 Apr Late afternoon visit to Hounslow Heath eventually stumbled upon my target: Green Hairstreak x 1. Also seen Peacock numerous, Small Tortoiseshell 1, Brimstone 3, Speckled Wood 2, Holly Blue 1, male Orange-tip 1, Comma 1, Silver Y 1, various restless (unidentified) whites 6 Paul Lane 22 Apr Having seen the pristine male Orange-tip roost in bright windy sunshine in Tunnel Gardens late last night I could not resist getting up early and seeing if I could get a better shot of him with my tripod in the more shaded early morning light with less wind. Pleasingly at 7.00 this morning he was still there and I got the shot I hoped for although still annoyingly windy even at that time. On my way back an hour later I saw three Speckled Woods basking in sunny glades Miles Attenborough 22 Apr Hounslow. A much-needed walk in the sun,species identified into double figures now: Brimstone: 3, Holly Blue: 15, Small Tortoiseshell: 3, Peacock: 23, Orange-tip: 9, Small Copper: 1, Green-veined White: 2, Speckled Wood: 2, Red Admiral: 1, Comma: 1 Peter Gore 22 Apr 1 Brimstone - St Faiths Close south, Hitchin (TL198302) David Inward 22 Apr 2 Small Copper at 'New Fields' Trent Park (1 Sect 8 at 1042 hrs, 1 N of Triangular Wd 1119 hrs) - my first of the year, 1 Comma at Sect 7 'New Fields' 1045 hrs, 1 Speckled Wood Sect 7 at 1047 hrs, 2 Large White near Nature Trail, Trent Park at 1127 hrs, 1 Speckled Wood at Rough Lot, Trent Park at 1147 hrs, 1 male Brimstone near Obelisk, Trent Park at 1152 hrs, also here 1 Peacock and male Orange-tip, 1 Comma near Ride Wd, Trent Park, 1 Comma at Water Grdn, Trent Park, 1 male Brimstone near Ride Wd, Trent Park, 1 Peacock near Dew Pond, Trent Park, 1 Holly Blue at Shaws Wd, Trent Park, 1 Small Tortoiseshell at Vicarage Farm (TQ 3097) at 1310 hrs, 1 Comma at Allotments, Vicarage Farm (TQ 3097), 1 male Orange-tip, 1 Holly Blue and 1 Small Tortoiseshell along Salmons Brook at Enfield Rd. 1 Peacock at Southgate Chase Allotments this afternoon at 1401 hrs Robert Callf 21 Apr Aldbury Nowers. Among the butterflies we saw were one Grizzled Skipper and one Green Hairstreak, both prolonged and excellent sightings; also more briefly but 95% confident, one Dingy Skipper. Lots of Orange-tips, Brimstones, Small Whites, Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells, plus a few Green-veined Whites and one common lizard Nick Murray 21 Apr I took a late evening walk through Tunnel Gardens and was lucky to find a nice fresh male Orange-tip settling down to roost along with two Speckled Wood and a Red Admiral catching the last rays of sun in the same sheltered sunny spot. Also 1 Holly Blue 1 Peacock and 1 Green-veined White in other sections Miles Attenborough 21 Apr Aldbury Nowers. Among the butterflies we saw were one Grizzled Skipper and one Green Hairstreak, both prolonged and excellent sightings; also more briefly but 95% confident, one Dingy Skipper. Lots of Orange-tips, Brimstones, Small Whites, Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells, plus a few Green-veined Whites and one common lizard Nick Murray 21 Apr Millhoppers Reserve - 8 species seen. Holly Blue, Orange-tip, Brimstone, Peacock, Comma, Speckled Wood, Small White and two very fresh looking Red Admiral. Walking home saw numerous male Orange-tip Chris Hilling 21 Apr Waterford Heath NR. Silting beds clearing. Peacock=4, Grizzled Skipper=3, Orange-tip=2, Red Admiral=1, Small Tortoiseshell=1, Comma=1. Also a female Broad-bodied Chaser Chris Benton 21 Apr 1 Orange-tip, 1 Holly Blue - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303), 1 Holly Blue - south end of Meadowbank, Hitchin (TL19582995) David Inward 21 Apr 1 Peacock near Triangular Wd, Trent Park at 09:43 hrs, 3 Orange-tip at Trent Park (male, near Church Wd, male, near Water Grdn and female along Leeging Beech Gutter near 'Three-bridges'), 1 female Small White near Water Grdn, Trent Park and 1 female Green-veined White near Ride Wd, Trent Park, 1 Peacock near Water Grdn, Trent Park, 1 Small Tortoiseshell along Salmons Brook at Enfield Rd, 1 male Orange-tip along Salmons Brook at Enfield Rd Robert Callf 21 Apr I went to Waterford south heath this afternoon to see if I could find a Grizzled Skipper. Plenty of Peacocks, Small Tortoiseshells, whites and Orange-tips. None on the west facing bank but I finally saw one down in the settling beds area, pretty rough ground around there. I then decided to pop over to north heath. Some Peacocks and whites, then I went over to the right near the steep slope and I found another Grizzled Skipper, these were my first of the year Steve Kiln 20 Apr Broxbourne woods. Peacock=14, Orange-tip=17, Brimstone=2, Red Admiral=1, Large White=1, Speckled Wood=5, Green-veined White=4 Chris Benton 20 Apr Five species seen in the Harpenden garden: Peacock, Brimstone, Green-veined White, Holly Blue, Orange-tip Robin Pearson 20 Apr 3 Peacock at Trent Park and 2 at Vicarage Farm - 1 at (TQ 2997) and 1 at (TQ3097), 1 Green-veined White near Triangular Wd, Trent Park, 2 Speckled Wood at Sect 7 'New Fields' Trent Park, 1 Comma at Sect 6 'New Fields' Trent Park, 1 male Orange-tip at Snakes Lane, Trent Park near Hockey Club, 1 Small Tortoiseshell near Hadley Rd/Vicarage Farm, 1 Small Tortoiseshell and 1 male Orange-tip along Salmons Brook at Enfield Rd Robert Callf 19 Apr At Fishers field nature reserve recorded 3 Orange-tip, 4 Peacock, 3 Small White, 4 Brimstone including my first female of the year, 1 Small Tortoiseshell and 2 Speckled Wood. I continued my exercise in the adjacent Bushey Hall golf club (TQ124964) seeing 8 Peacock, 8 Orange-tip, 3 Small White, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Brimstone, 1 Holly Blue and 1 Comma. At Water Lane were 6 Peacock, 2 Speckled Wood, 2 Brimstone, 6 Orange-tip, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 2 Comma. Lastly in Bushey garden were 3 Small White, 2 Orange-tip, 1 Peacock and 2 Holly Blue David Gower 19 Apr 1 Orange-tip, 1 Speckled Wood - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303), 1 Brimstone, 3 Orange-tip, 1 Holly Blue, 1 Green-veined White, 1 Small White - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL1930) David Inward 19 Apr Barham Park, Wembley : 2 Holly Blue, 3 Brimstone and 1 Orange-tip Shailesh Patel 19 Apr 1 male Orange-tip at Vicarage Farm (TQ 3097) at 1028 hrs, 1 Small White at Vicarage Farm (TQ 2997) along Leeging Beech Gutter N of Williams Wd, 1 Green-veined White E edge of Ride Wd, Trent Park at 1047 hrs, 1 male Orange-tip along Leeging Beech Gutter near 'Three-bridges' Trent Park at 1105 hrs, 1 Peacock and 1 Comma near Water Grdn, Trent Park, 1 Peacock edge of Moat Wd, Trent Park, 1 Speckled Wood at Shaws Wd, Trent Park at 1227 hrs, 1 female Holly Blue settled S edge of Williams Wd, Trent Park at 1235 hrs, 1 female Large White at Vicarage Farm (TQ 3097) at 1324 hrs. 1 Peacock at Chase Side, N14 (TQ 294 943) at 1324 hrs. 1 Small White at Southgate Chase Allotments at 1342 hrs. 1 Comma at 1702 hrs and 1 Peacock at 1706 hrs near Triangular Wood, Trent Park Robert Callf 18 Apr A short walk to the power station TL 457 286 at Stocking Pelham showed just one Speckled Wood butterfly Andy Brown 17 Apr 1 Peacock E edge of Icehouse Wood, Trent Park at 0919 hrs Robert Callf 17 Apr Folly Lane allotments St Albans - reduced butterfly activity on an overcast morning, but two firsts for me. A female Small Tortoiseshell egg laying in a sunny spot in the middle of my nettle patch. And a female Orange-tip, exploring the Hedge Garlic and choosing egg laying sites. Two male Orange-tips had been hurtling up and down all morning. One attempted to mate with the female, who assertively pushed him away, arching her abdomen and resisting his charms Malcolm Hull 17 Apr A Boris walk near Braughing - I found number of butterflies in the small copse to the north of the village (TL400258): 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 2 Peacock, 1 Green-veined White, 2 Orange-tip, 6 Brimstones, 1 Speckled Wood and 2 Large White (could be Brimstone) Andy Brown 16 Apr In Great Ashby garden: 1 x Holly Blue (female) on ceanothus for 5 mins, 2 x fly through Small Tortoiseshells in chase and 1 x Orange-tip male fly through Colin Alderman 16 Apr 1 Holly Blue in Bushey garden late afternoon David Gower 16 Apr 1 Orange-tip - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303) David Inward 16 Apr 1 female Brimstone near upper lake, Trent Park at 1254 hrs. 1 Speckled Wood at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ 3097). 1 Holly Blue, 1 male Orange-tip and 1 Small Tortoiseshell at Salmons Brook at Enfield Road nr Jolly Farmers PH (Large Red Damselfly here also - my first of the year) Robert Callf 16 Apr Barham Park, Wembley : 4 Holly Blue, 3 Orange-tip, 2 Brimstone and 2 Green-veined White Shailesh Patel 16 Apr One Grizzled Skipper sunning itself on the east bank of the South Pit of Waterford Heath this lunchtime while out on my permitted exercise Andrew Wood 15 Apr We saw our first 2 Holly Blues of the year in our Cheshunt garden enjoying the Spring sunshine Roger Newbold 15 Apr Morning walk to Coppetts Wood revealed 3 Peacocks, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Holly Blue, 3 Speckled Wood, 5 Orange-tip (3 male 2 female), 2 Small White, 3 Green-veined White Miles Attenborough 15 Apr 2 Orange-tips in Bushey garden around bluebells and honesty David Gower 15 Apr Folly Lane allotments, St Albans - Peacock 5, Small Tortoiseshell 3, Brimstone 2, Orange-tip 3, Holly Blue 2, Comma 1, Small White 2, Speckled Wood 1 Malcolm Hull 15 Apr Hounslow. Another sunny day with the following seen: Holly Blue: 9, Brimstone: 7, Orange-tip: 7, Peacock: 19, Comma: 2, Small White: 1, Small Tortoiseshell: 3, Speckled Wood: 1 Peter Gore 15 Apr 1 Orange-tip, 1 Holly Blue - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303), 2 Brimstone, 3 Orange-tip, 3 Holly Blue, 1 Green-veined White, 1 Speckled Wood - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL1930) David Inward 15 Apr On a slightly extended walk that covered the footpaths north of Ware towards the Easneye Estate and back via Morley Hall, had a grand total of 20 Peacock, 11 Small Tortoiseshell, 11 Orange-tip, 1 each Large White, Small White and Green-vein White, 6 Brimstone and the highlight a pristine Painted Lady. Also checked some elm seed discs for White-letter Hairstreak feeding damage. Found a hole, found the hatched egg but couldn't locate a caterpillar! Liz Goodyear 15 Apr Barham Park, Wembley : 1 Holly Blue and 2 Orange-tip Shailesh Patel 14 Apr I'd like to report that on my exercise walk I made my first positive sighting of a Green-veined White just inside the entrance to South Mymms woods (TL217022). Several Orange-tips were also noted Terry Wood 14 Apr Very little butterfly news to report from my LEW north of Ware but a female Orange-tip made use of the garden nectar between egg laying runs on my garden's honesty and garlic mustard. On my walk it was hard going as still quite cool but managed to see 4 Peacock, 3 Small Tortoiseshell and 1 Orange-tip. Close to home, a bit more activity with 2 Orange-tip, 2 Green-veined White and 1 Small White Liz Goodyear 14 Apr On my daily exercise walk I was amazed to find a Painted Lady sunning itself at Cricket Scrub Corner on Alexandra Palace (TQ300899). Also seen were several Speckled Wood, Orange-tip, Small Tortoiseshell, a Holly Blue and a Small White Gerry Rawcliffe 14 Apr Late morning walk round Tunnell Gardens revealed 5 Speckled Wood, 3 Holly Blue, 4 male Orange-tip, 2 Small White, 2 Green-veined White Miles Attenborough 12 Apr On our exercise walk near Well End we saw our first Speckled Wood of the year (TQ210985) as well as a number of Comma, Orange-tip, Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock Terry Wood 12 Apr Spent the day in my garden in Bounds Green, 1 Speckled Wood spent most of the morning with me and I was visited by 4 Holly Blue, 1 Comma and 2 white butterflies flying through. In the evening I went to Tunnel Gardens to water wildflower seedlings in an area I cleared of Brambles in the winter, 1 Peacock, 1 Comma and 2 Speckled Wood Miles Attenborough 12 Apr Millhoppers Reserve - Lunchtime walk found 1 Peacock, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Small White, 2 male Brimstone, 1 male Holly Blue plus 2 Orange-tip, male and female. In the small wooded area at the North end of the site I was very pleased to see 3 fresh Speckled Wood Chris Hilling 12 Apr I was able to definitively identify my first Green-veined White of the year (I'd probably seen others, but they didn't settle to be identified). It was on the 'Gas Ride' on Bricket Wood Common, but further north than the transect extends. I also saw plenty of Peacocks and male Brimstones, and some females and Orange-tips, until it clouded over and began to thunder! Chris Newman 12 Apr 1 Orange-tip, 1 Holly Blue - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303) David Inward 12 Apr The Brimstones have arrived in Halsey Field, and this morning on a short walk to the site and around it I saw 13; also 5 Peacock, an Orange-tip female, Small White and a Small Tortoiseshell on a patch of nettles Chris Ridley 12 Apr In Bushey garden 1 Peacock and at least 3 Orange-tips seen around "honesty" and "Bowles mauve" David Gower 12 Apr I spotted this recently-laid Orange-tip egg on Garlic mustard in my garden in Potten End this afternoon Paul Cross 11 Apr Walked to Coppetts Wood. 6 Peacocks, 1 Holly Blue, 1 Speckled Wood, 5 male Orange-tip, 2 Green-veined White and two Small Tortoiseshell. Walked through Tunnel Gardens late evening where I watched a male Brimstone fluttering around an Ivy-covered tree trunk I assume searching for a nicely camouflaged roost where it settled, as well as spending a bit of time trying to get a photo of a small bright green caterpillar swinging on a silk thread dangling from a tree, I assume to evade prey but I have not been able to confirm what species it is. Also 5 nice fresh Speckled Wood and a Comma Miles Attenborough 11 Apr Walked to Little Bushey Lane via footpath and opposite Jewish cemetery (TQ 149514) counted 1 Small White, 1 Speckled Wood, 2 Orange-tip, 1 Peacock, 2 Small Tortoiseshell. At other side of cementary just before M1 (TQ139513) were 3 Brimstone, 4 Orange-tip, 6 Peacock, 1 Small White. On way home passed through Bushey Manor field seeing 2 Small White, 1 Orange-tip, 1 Speckled Wood, 1 Peacock. In Bushey garden 1 Holly Blue only David Gower 11 Apr 1 Brimstone, 1 Holly Blue - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303), 1 Brimstone - opposite Tesco, Rail Station, Hitchin (TL19332974) David Inward 11 Apr Royston: 1 Orange-tip butterfly and 1 Hummingbird Hawk-moth close to my home Martin Johnson 11 Apr On a 1 hour walk around Copsewood/Poor's Field I counted 33 Peacock, 3 Orange-tip (2 M/1 F) and 2 Brimstone (M) Carole Holton 11 Apr Folly Lane, St Albans - My first Speckled Wood and my first Large White of this year. Male Orange-tips spent hours hurtling up and down alongside my Garlic Mustard, seemingly without finding any females. The one smallish white around turned out to be just that - a Small White Malcolm Hull 10 Apr I took a walk from my house to Coppetts Wood in Barnet. 5 Peacocks, 1 Holly Blue, 2 Green-veined White, 1 Small White, 5 male Orange-tip, 1 Brimstone and 5 Speckled Woods On the way home 1 Orange-tip by Pymms brook by the North Circular Miles Attenborough 10 Apr On my walk I saw my first Speckled Wood of the year, on Section 4 of the Bricket Wood Common butterfly transect, where the path runs parallel to the 'Gas Ride'. This butterfly stayed in the area long enough for me to get a photo (it won't win any prizes, but it's good enough for identification). Also, as is currently usual, lots of Peacocks, some Brimstones, male and probably female Orange-tips, Commas and Small Tortoiseshells on my walk Chris Newman 10 Apr In Bushey garden 1 Small White, 2 Orange-tip, 1 Brimstone. At 4pm went out for my exercise and a short visit to Fishers field seeing 2 Peacock, 1 Small Tortoiseshell. Lastly at Water Lane there was plenty of activity. Recorded 13 Small Tortoiseshell, 7 Peacock, 4 Orange-tip, 1 Speckled Wood, 2 Comma, 1 Small White David Gower 10 Apr 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 4 Orange-tip, 1 Holly Blue - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL1930) David Inward 10 Apr Barham Park, Wembley. 2 Orange-tip, 2 Large White, 4 Brimstone and 1 Speckled Wood Shailesh Patel 10 Apr Brimstone butterflies active again in my Letchworth garden, laying eggs on an Alder Buckthorn shrub Roger Millard 10 Apr Hounslow. A somewhat rapid and restricted walk in full sunshine with the following observed: Small Tortoiseshell: 1, Speckled Wood: 1, Orange-tip: 5, Peacock: 9, Brimstone: 2, Comma: 2, Holly Blue: 8. A few restless whites also around but not identified Peter Gore 10 Apr On an exercise walk in Alexandra Park, I saw my first 2 Holly Blues there, 5 Brimstones, finally managed a photo. 1 Red Admiral, 1 Peacock. Then on returning to my Muswell Hill garden, a Small White was fluttering around Dee Cullen 10 Apr St Albans - no hibernating Peacocks or Small Tortoiseshells in my shed today. The last 23 all left this week. At the nearby nettlebeds in New England St I found 7 Small Tortoiseshells and no Peacocks. At Folly Lane, 6 Small Tortoiseshells and 4 Peacocks, also 8 Orange-tips, 2 Brimstone, 2 Holly Blues and 1 Small White. None of the butterflies I saw were nectaring and the dry weather may have caused nectar to dry up. So I have decided to water my dandelions to help the butterflies find food Malcolm Hull 9 Apr On my walk I saw what I believe was a Light Orange Underwing moth, fairly early on Section 2 of the Bricket Wood Common butterfly transect, where the path runs parallel to the 'Gas Ride'. I saw it settle on the ground, and could clearly see orange close to its body, with grey-brown forewings with some faint banding running across their length. It seemed settled on the ground, so I took off my camera bag, got out the camera and mounted the macro lens, but it had disappeared. It reappeared, and the third time it settled I got as far as focusing on it before it flew again, and this time it flew away. It looked slightly smaller than I remember one I saw 5 years ago that Malcolm Hull deduced was a Light Orange Underwing. Also lots of Peacocks, some Brimstones, male and probably female Orange-tips, Commas and Small Tortoiseshells on Bricket Wood Common and elsewhere on my walk Chris Newman 9 Apr Meesden TL 42838 32526: 1 Peacock. Scales Park: 4 Brimstone, 15 Peacock, 3 Orange-tip, 1 Green-veined White, 1 Small Tortoiseshell. Meesden paths various: 3 Brimstone, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 5 Peacock. Hall wood near Stocking Pelham TL 44560 29645 : 13 Peacock Andy Brown 9 Apr Barham Park, Wembley. 1 Comma, 2 Orange-tip, 2 Large White and 5 Brimstone Shailesh Patel 9 Apr Bernards Heath garden: First Orange-tip (female) David Utting 9 Apr During a walk around Oxhey Park (TQ113952) I encountered 2 x Peacock, 5 x Orange-tip, 1 x Holly Blue (m), 1 x Small Tortoiseshell, 2 x Comma. In Bushey garden 1 x Orange-tip and 1 x Small White David Gower 9 Apr 1 Brimstone - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303), 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 4 Orange-tip, 1 Brimstone - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL1930) David Inward 8 Apr Stocking Pelham garden : 2 Brimstone, 2 Orange-tip, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 2 Peacock. Brent Pelham TL 43438 30756 : 1 Peacock, 2 Brimstone, 1 Orange-tip Andy Brown 8 Apr I took my LEW around the footpaths north of Ware much later in the afternoon in the hope that an Emperor moth would come to my lure. Peacocks (15) and Small Tortoiseshells (11) were abundant although mostly in the first ditch I walk past. Nothing came to the lure so when I got back to my Ware garden at 5.30 I put the container on my washing line and within minutes this absolute stunner of an Emperor moth arrived. I knew it wasn't the same as the previous day as it was pristine! Liz Goodyear 8 Apr Millhoppers Reserve - Along with the usual Brimstone (4), Peacock (2), Comma (1) and Orange-tip (3) also saw first Holly Blue, a male, plus a Small White Chris Hilling 8 Apr Wareside: 7 Brimstone, 9 Peacock, 3 Small White, 2 Orange-tip, 1 Comma, 1 Holly Blue and 1 Speckled Wood. St Pauls, London: 1 Small White, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Peacock Phil & Oliver MacMurdie 8 Apr 1 Brimstone, 1 Orange-tip - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303), 1 Peacock - St Faiths Close south, Hitchin, (TL198302 David Inward 8 Apr Walked up to St James churchyard in Bushey again. Sightings were 2 x Holly Blue, 2 x Small White (both first sightings this year), 3 x Peacock, 1 x Comma, 2 x Brimstone (m), 4 x Orange-tip (3 males). Back in Bushey garden a male Brimstone on honesty David Gower 8 Apr Barham Park, Wembley. 1 Peacock, 2 Orange-tip and 1 Holly Blue Shailesh Patel 8 Apr I just did a lunchtime walk at Alexandra Park. Saw my first Orange-tip and Speckled Wood of the year in the Banqueting Hall area. Also seen were two Peacocks and a Brimstone in the Butterfly Meadow Dee Cullen 7 Apr Bernards Heath garden: First Holly Blue of the year (male) David Utting 7 Apr Wareside: 5 Brimstone, 8 Peacock (appears to be a strong hibernation this year), 4 Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Small White, 2 Comma, 1 Speckled Wood Phil & Oliver MacMurdie 7 Apr Barham Park, Wembley. 1 Peacock, 1 Brimstone and 1 Orange-tip Shailesh Patel 7 Apr LEW took me across the paths north of Ware to Cold Christmas and back. Lots of butterflies seen including Brimstone, Orange-tip, 15 Peacock, 9 Small Tortoiseshell and 1 Small White. I deliberately went in the morning when activity was heightening but it was just at the end of the walk where passing a bit of derelict grassland near the back of my road that most activity was observed. Here there were male and female Brimstone and Orange Tip, all be chased by each other! However it wasn't until 4.25 in the afternoon that the star of the show arrived in my garden - a male Emperor moth to lure Liz Goodyear 7 Apr I went for an evening walk through Tunnel Gardens in Bounds Green at 17.30, 1 Comma and 1 Peacock in the last of the evening sun Miles Attenborough 7 Apr I saw my first Holly Blue and Orange-tip of the season in our Hemel Hempstead garden. The orange was extremely vivid, so I suspect the Orange tip had just crawled out of its pupa. A Small Tortoiseshell also made a brief appearance Chris Ridley 7 Apr I saw a male Orange-tip along the part of the 'Gas Ride' on Bricket Wood Common included in the transect (TL1301), along with a male Brimstone and about a dozen Peacocks along that part of my walk alone. My first orange tip of the year, although I reported that my wife had seen a couple on 5 April. I don't remember ever seeing so many Peacocks about in spring before; it's a pity we aren't walking formal transects to record them objectively Chris Newman 7 Apr Back to Merryhill via Bushey Manor field spotting 2 x Peacocks. At St James churchyard were 2 x Orange-tips (m & f), Comma x 1, Peacock x 3, Small Tortoiseshell x 1. Lastly at Merryhill fields were Peacock x 9, Brimstone (m) x 1, Comma x 4 David Gower 7 Apr Saw my first male Orange-tip of the year as I started my daily exercise walk up Barnhill. It was still in the same area on my return and got 1 decent shot while it nectared briefly. Most of my walk was devoid of butterflies (too hot???) but I did count 5 Brimstones, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Comma, 9 Peacocks, 2 unknown whites (I suspect one might have been female Orange-tip and one Green-veined white but uncertain) and my first 2 Speckled Woods of the year Mike Rubin 6 Apr Stanwell Moor: Peacock 29, Comma 15, Orange-tip 12, Small White 5, Brimstone 4. Once again, there was a new species for the year, this time a single Red Admiral. Early light rain gave way to sunshine before lunchtime, but only the Peacocks, Commas and Orange Tips seemed to cash in on it Dave Miller 6 Apr Male Orange-tip in our Harpenden garden this afternoon, the first of the year Alan Jackson 6 Apr Walked my usual paths north of Ware with an extension which included a circuit of Buckney Wood. In total I recorded 17 Peacock, 1 Small Tortoiseshell and my first Red Admiral of the year Liz Goodyear 6 Apr I saw lots of Peacock butterflies whilst on my walk - 8 in Halsey field and one on the track running along an arable field adjacent to Halsey field. Also seen were 3 Small Tortoiseshell on the field and a Small White on the edge of Warners End wood Chris Ridley 5 Apr Stanwell Moor: Peacock 27, Comma 15, Brimstone 10, Small White 10, Orange-tip 10, Speckled Wood 3, Small Tortoiseshell 1. Finally, at last the first Holly Blue appeared, the eighth species of the year here. Very warm (up to 21 degrees) and sunny Dave Miller 5 Apr In my South Mymms garden we had a pair of male Orange-tips chasing each other, a patrolling Peacock, and a first male Brimstone of the year Terry Wood 5 Apr Hounslow Heath: Brimstones 6, Peacocks 10+, Small Tortoiseshell 1, female Orange-tip, Speckled Wood 1, Holly Blue 1, Small White 2 Paul Lane 5 Apr After 6 days in front of my computer I needed some exercise so took a walk through Tunnel Gardens along the North Circular to Coppetts Wood and Glebelands Nature reserve and back. 1 Comma in Tunnel Gardens, 1 Comma and two Brimstone by Pymms Brook, 1 Holly Blue, 5 Brimstone, 1 Small White and 6 Peacocks in Coppetts Wood, 2 Peacock, 1 Comma and 2 Brimstone at Glebelands. 1 Peacock nectaring on Blackthorn blossom and the Small White and Brimstones nectaring on Dandelions Miles Attenborough 5 Apr I had my first Holly Blue of the year in my garden in Muswell Hill as well as Brimstone and Peacock. An exercise walk on Alexandra Palace yielded multiple Comma, Brimstone and Peacock as well as a Small White, but no sign yet of Speckled Wood, Orange Tip or Holly Blue Gerry Rawcliffe 5 Apr Millhoppers Reserve - 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 5 male Brimstone, 1 Comma, 3 Peacocks and the first male Orange-tip Chris Hilling 5 Apr Bernards Heath garden, Peacock. Heartwood (E. side TL175173) during daily exercise 2x Peacock (flying together). Heartwood (E side TL176114) Brimstone (male) David Utting 5 Apr 1 Brimstone - St Faiths Close, Hitchin (TL1930), 1 Brimstone, 1 Peacock - Purwell Meadows east, Hitchin (TL2029) David Inward 5 Apr Spent this morning in Bushey garden and noticed Peacock x 2, Comma x 1. This afternoon at Water Lane during my exercise walk I recorded Brimstone x 2(m), Peacock x 6, Comma x 5, Small Tortoiseshell x 8. On way home via Fishers field seeing Peacock x 3, Comma x 1, Small Tortoiseshell x 1. I'm pleased to report that I've seen more Tortoiseshells this year than last two years put together! David Gower 5 Apr Brimstones passing through our Harpenden garden throughout the day, also 2 Peacocks Alan Jackson 4 Apr Stanwell Moor: Peacock 26, Brimstone 17, Comma 11, Small White 11, Orange-tip 8, Small Tortoiseshell 5. Saw the first Speckled Woods - with two seen. The Small Whites included a mating pair. Lots of sunshine and much warmer - up to 17 degrees Dave Miller 4 Apr Several Brimstones and Peacocks in our Harpenden garden, also a Comma (first of the year); Small Tortoiseshell on our Harpenden allotment Alan Jackson 4 Apr St Albans garden, Townsend area: 1 Brimstone, 2 Commas, 1 Small Tortoiseshell & what looked suspiciously like a female Orange Tip passing at some speed Robert Bull 4 Apr A Green-veined White in my garden in Royston (also 2 Peacock and 1 Brimstone) Nick Keep 4 Apr On my exercise walk at Potters Bar's Furzefield, I was pleased to see my first male Orange-tip of the year Terry Wood 4 Apr 3 Brimstone - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL1930), 1 Brimstone - St Faiths Close (TL1930) David Inward 4 Apr I saw a Small Tortoiseshell on the Gas Ride, Bricket Wood Common (only 3 were recorded on the transect there during the last 2 years, although I often see them in the Colne Valley near Wall Hall). I also saw 4 male Brimstones (my first of the year) between How Wood and Park Street, and numerous Peacocks and several Commas on my walk Chris Newman 4 Apr Had a day tidying my Great Ashby, Stevenage garden and had lots of visitors; 6 Brimstones, 2 Peacocks, 1 Comma, my first Red Admiral and first Small White. A very pleasing tally, shame the Small Tortoiseshell didn't appear Steve Lane 4 Apr My exercise was walking to Merryhill fields via St James, Bushey churchyard where I encountered Peacock x 2. At Merryhill sightings were Peacock x 12, Brimstone(m) x 3, Comma x 4 and Speckled Wood x 1 David Gower 4 Apr Barnhill and adjacent Fryent Open Space during my daily exercise walk after lunch. I saw 4 male Brimstones, 1 tatty Small Tortoiseshell, 10 Commas and 12 Peacocks. The Brimstone settled when a cloud covered the sun so that was a lucky moment Mike Rubin 4 Apr Out for my exercise and nice to see my first male Orange-tip as well as Peacock, Comma and Brimstone Andrew Wood 4 Apr Several Brimstones, a Peacock and several Small Tortoiseshells whilst walking around Stocking Pelham. Also a possible sighting of an Orange-tip near Patmore Heath Andy Brown 4 Apr In Rickneys Quarry 5 Brimstones and an Orange-tip and two Commas. In Waterford Heath south, about 10 Peacocks, 2 Brimstone and 3 Commas Steve Kiln 3 Apr Stanwell Moor: Comma 3, Peacock 1, Small White 1, Sunnier, but somewhat cooler again Dave Miller 3 Apr Had my first sighting of a male Orange-tip in my Hertford Heath garden, approx 4pm, warm light wind. Look very fresh Kevin Standbridge 3 Apr Millhoppers Reserve - Just two - a Small Tortoiseshell and my first Peacock this year, which was resting on one of the many Anthills Chris Hilling 3 Apr Went out for my allowed walk to exercise this afternoon. At Water Lane, Watford were Comma x 6 (one with only a small fraction of hind wings but still active), Small Tortoiseshell x 1. Nothing to report from Fishers Field which is nearby David Gower 3 Apr Despite some nice sunshine I didn't record any butterflies on my LEW this afternoon around the fields north of Ware. However, overnight I recorded a Blossom Underwing. This is a new garden record and not at all common in Hertfordshire. Photos also of a Streamer and Dotted Chestnut - both new for the year in my Ware garden Liz Goodyear 3 Apr St Albans shed - 17 hibernating Small Tortoiseshells and 6 Peacocks. That's exactly the same numbers as this time last week. So during a cold week when we had frost and ice on the pond no butterflies left hibernation. A big contrast to the previous sunnier week when one third of the total number of hibernators departed. Interesting that none of the previous weeks departed returned - hopefully they found shelter from the cold elsewhere Malcolm Hull 2 Apr Stanwell Moor: Brimstone 2, Peacock 2, Comma 1, Small White 1. Only a brief burst of sun, though it was warmer than the previous few days Dave Miller March Date Description Recorder 31 Mar Millhoppers Reserve - Much cooler but the hedge/tree line kept most of the breeze out so pleasant when the sun broke through. The water level has dropped considerably since 22nd when Malcolm saw it ... maybe 5 inches. Just one butterfly on site, a male Brimstone. I then disturbed a Comma at the bottom of Watery Lane Chris Hilling 31 Mar The Warren, Bengeo. 2pm. 1 Small White. 1 Peacock. 1 Small Tortoiseshell Chris Benton 29 Mar Garden Bernards Heath 1x Small Tortoiseshell David Utting 28 Mar Garden Bernards Heath 2x Brimstone (1 male, 1 female) David Utting 28 Mar Stanwell Moor: Sunny first thing, but the northeasterly breeze was picking up markedly and bringing extensive cloud with it. My usual walk produced only three brave butterflies: Comma 2, Peacock 1 Dave Miller 27 Mar Stanwell Moor: Another very similar day, but the first butterfly seen today was a fairly cooperative Small White nectaring on dandelions. Further on along my usual circuit, I spotted a Brimstone basking (sideways on of course!), and then a Comma nearby. Trying to decide which to concentrate on, I was disturbed by another butterfly fluttering across in front of me. This turned out to be an Orange Tip. After settling at a distance, it briefly sat quite close by. I ended up seeing one more later on, amongst a total of at least 30 individual butterflies on the day. Peacock 12, Comma 10, Brimstone 5, Small White 2, Orange-tip 2, Small Tortoiseshell 1 Dave Miller 27 Mar In Hounslow garden 1 Peacock sunned itself for a little while Peter Gore 27 Mar 3 Small Tortoiseshell - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL1930) David Inward 27 Mar On my local exercise walk north of Ware I saw 4 Small Tortoiseshell and 2 Peacock but again no Brimstone. I took my Emperor moth lure but despite other Hertfordshire reports, nothing was attracted to it. Also heard and saw a Yellowhammer which was rather nice. On the map part of my walk passes an area marked Common but access was behind a 12 foot deer fence but I have now found a public footpath that goes through it. Hopefully it will produce some nice butterflies over the spring and summer for me to see during difficult period Liz Goodyear 27 Mar Millhoppers Reserve - one Comma and four Small Tortoiseshell and just one human ... me! Glorious isolation Chris Hilling 27 Mar New England St Playingfield, St Albans - 3 Small Tortoiseshells in the afternoon sun at the nettlebeds close to my house. A male intercepted a female in flight and they landed on the fed flowerhead of a Buddleia. But she was unreceptive and after 2 minutes he flew off, leaving her to self isolate Malcolm Hull 27 Mar St Albans Shed - 17 Small Tortoiseshells and 6 Peacocks still in hibernation today. So that means that around 50% of each species has now emerged. That's up from below 20% this time last week - not surprising given the prolonged period of sunny weather. Yesterday I saw one of both species on the wing in the garden. I also found two very soporific Small Tortoiseshells on the back door mat. It seems to take a lot of effort to bring them back to life - these two appeared to have crawled out of the shed under the door! Malcolm Hull 26 Mar Stanwell Moor: Despite continuing quite warm sunshine, no more Small Whites or Orange Tips appeared today, but the Peacocks and Commas were out in force, along with a few Brimstones and Small Tortoiseshells. Peacock 10, Comma 9, Brimstone 4, Small Tortoiseshell 2 Dave Miller 26 Mar For my exercise I wondered down to Halsey Field (about 10 mins from my house) and saw 5 Commas and 3 Peacocks sunbathing along a bush-lined path, where they were sheltered from the chilly east wind. Just as I left the site, a Brimstone was flitting along the edge of the adjacent Warners End wood Chris Ridley 26 Mar Woodcock Park, 3pm: 5 Commas, 1 Peacock, 1 Small Tortoiseshell Mike Rubin 26 Mar Lone Small White seen on my walk at Alexandra Park Dee Cullen 25 Mar Stanwell Moor: Brimstone 8, Peacock 15, Comma 9, Small Tortoiseshell 1. The highlight was another first for the year: Orange-tip 1 Dave Miller 25 Mar In Woodbury Field, Bricket Wood, I noticed a Small Tortoiseshell on the grass with a Peacock almost on top of it. Disturbed by me they flew off, the tortoiseshell followed very closely by the Peacock, and again the Peacock settled on the tortoiseshell. I followed, and took off my camera bag hoping to get a photo, but they flew again, with the Peacock once more keeping within a foot of the tortoiseshell, and I lost sight of them. Is this misguided mating behaviour (I don't know how Peacocks go about mating) or fighting? Six years ago I photographed a Small Tortoiseshell paying close attention to the rear end of a perched Peacock, by the River Colne near Wall hall Pumping Station Chris Newman 25 Mar Our garden SW Herts (Oxhey Hall): 1 Brimstone male, 1 Orange-tip male, 1 Peacock, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Comma Paul Williams 25 Mar 2-3pm, Barnhill: 1 male Brimstone, 5 Small Tortoiseshells, 9 Commas, 4 Peacocks Mike Rubin 25 Mar Royston: Small Tortoiseshell (3), Peacock (2), Brimstone (13, including 2 females). Most of the Brimstones were concentrated in a small area close to Royston Hospital, but there was also one in my garden Martin Johnson 25 Mar Mating pair of Peacocks at Balls Wood this afternoon Chris Benton 25 Mar 1 Brimstone - Franklin Gardens, Hitchin (TL198301) David Inward 25 Mar In my garden in Potten End: 3 Commas, 2 Small Tortoiseshells, 1 Brimstone, 1 Peacock and 1 Small White Paul Cross 25 Mar I've finally joined the Brimstone club with 2 sightings on my local north of Ware exercise walk. They were some distance apart (no pun intended) but knowing how far they travel could have been the same individual. Also 5 Peacock (2 not far from my house) and in the garden 1 of each Peacock & Small Tortoiseshell. Found some new elm which will be worth watching if still doing my daily walk in June! Liz Goodyear 25 Mar Wareside (TL401149): Small Tortoiseshell - 1, Peacock - 4, Comma - 1, Brimstone 3 Phil & Oliver MacMurdie 25 Mar Alexandra Park: 1 Brimstone, 1 Peacock, 1 Small Tortoiseshell Mark Wardman 25 Mar In St Albans (Townsend area) garden, during my home working lunch break: 1 Brimstone, 1 Peacock, 1 extremely tatty Comma Robert Bull 24 Mar Stanwell Moor: Brimstone 7, Peacock 5, Comma 4, Small Tortoiseshell 3, Small White 3 Dave Miller 24 Mar Lunchtime, in Kenton garden: 1 Comma. 2-3pm, Woodcock Park: 4 Commas. 1 suspected female Orange-tip on the wing (not stopping, small, rounded wings) Mike Rubin 24 Mar Wareside (TL401149): Small Tortoiseshell - 8, Peacock - 5, Comma - 1, Brimstone 1 Hunsdon (TL399133): Small Tortoiseshell - 1, Peacock - 10, Small Tortoiseshell 3 Phil & Oliver MacMurdie 24 Mar Alexandra Park: 5 Peacock, 5 Brimstone, 2 Small White, 2 Comma Mark Wardman 24 Mar Whilst tidying my Great Ashby, Stevenage garden, I saw 1 Comma, 3 Brimstone, 2 Peacock and a very brief Small Tortoiseshell Steve Lane 24 Mar During my authorised exercise walk around Bengeo: Comma, Small Tortoiseshell, Brimstone, Peacock and my first Small White Andrew Wood 24 Mar In Bengeo garden: Brimstone, Comma & Peacock Simon Knott 24 Mar 2 Small Tortoiseshell - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL1930), 1 possibly 2 Brimstone - St Faiths Close, Hitchin (TL198303) David Inward 24 Mar Hounslow. Plenty of butterflies on a sunny afternoon: Brimstone: 8 (first), Peacock: 16, Comma: 2, Small Tortoiseshell: 1 (first), Holly Blue: 1 Peter Gore 24 Mar 1 Small Tortoiseshell in my Ware garden early morning plus something that flew off as I rushed to see the Small Tortoiseshell! My walk around the local fields in glorious sunshine was very disappointing with only 2 Peacock and I still haven't seen a Brimstone this year! Liz Goodyear 23 Mar At Bayfordbury this sunny afternoon we had Peacock (2) and Comma (2) in the Pinetum (TL318106) and Small Tortoiseshell (2) at Rough Hills North (TL320104) Ian Flack 23 Mar At Stanwell Moor, a warmer and much less windy day. The Brimstones were back, and I found three, one of which was the first female of the year. Another first was a single male Small White. However, most sightings were of Peacocks and Commas, with seven of each seen. Some were really fresh, considering their long months of hibernation Dave Miller 23 Mar 2 (a pair) Small Tortoiseshell - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL193303), 1 Brimstone - St Faiths Close, Hitchin (TL198303) David Inward 23 Mar Hounslow. No walk today so I was especially pleased to see a butterfly in my garden. Holly Blue is no surprise here but this is the earliest I've seen one anywhere since I started reporting butterflies to the website 7 years ago. Today's was a male and I was able to enjoy watching it at my leisure, aided by a Christmas gift of new close focus binoculars. It moved in all the familiar ways amongst the Ivy, ignored the Holly which is about flower, visited a Celandine flower once briefly but spent a good bit of time, wings closed in the sun on a damp patch of bare soil in a trough at ground level, largely stationary but walking round a little too. Repeated sightings during the day but nothing to suggest there could be more than one Peter Gore 23 Mar This afternoon - 5 Comma edge of Williams Wood, Trent Park 13:55 - 14:00 hrs, 2 Peacock near lower lake, Trent Park and 1 Comma nectaring on blackthorn blossom at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ 3097) at 16:07 hrs Robert Callf 23 Mar In Bushey garden was a Peacock x 1. This afternoon at Merryhill fields, Bushey have seen Comma x 3, Peacock x 3, Small Tortoiseshell x 1 David Gower 23 Mar Alexandra Park: 1 Small White in the conservation area; 1 Brimstone by Blandford Hall and 1 Comma in the butterfly meadow Mark Wardman 23 Mar First sightings this year, not that I've had time to look so far. Waverley Road, St Albans, 1 Brimstone in front gardens; Townsend Drive, St Albans, along the edge of Bernards Heath, 1 Brimstone, 2 Peacocks Robert Bull 23 Mar Royston: Peacock (2) and Small Tortoiseshell (2) Martin Johnson 22 Mar Two Peacocks and two Commas on my usual walk at Stanwell Moor Dave Miller 22 Mar I saw 5 Peacocks and a Brimstone on a walk around Stocking Pelham Andy Brown 22 Mar A Small White at Strayfield Road Cemetery between Hillyfields and Whitewebbs (TQ315988) Mark Saunders 22 Mar Millhoppers Reserve, Wilstone near Tring - I visited the branch butterfly reserve and was pleased to see the stream in full flow and the marsh full of water. Also spotted my first flying butterflies of the year - 1 Brimstone and 1 Comma on the reserve itself, 1 Peacock and a Brimstone on Watery Lane and 2 Brimstones nearby at Gubblecoat Cross Malcolm Hull 22 Mar 1 Brimstone - St Faiths Close, Hitchin (TL198302) David Inward 22 Mar Millhoppers Reserve - male Brimstone this lunchtime in glorious spring sunshine. Then, back in Tring, another flew past me as I was putting my bike away. My first of the year at last! Chris Hilling 22 Mar At home Bengeo 2 Peacocks and a Comma. At Waterford Heath South a Peacock and a Comma at last spring Steve Kiln 22 Mar At Water Lane, Watford noticed 1 x Comma. Nothing seen at Fishers Field afterwards David Gower 22 Mar 1 Comma nectaring on sallow blossom along Salmons Brook at Parkside Farm, Enfield (TQ 301 981) at 12:21 hrs and then basking on ground in sheltered spot Robert Callf 21 Mar Hounslow. Breezy but sunny. A Comma alongside the River Crane was followed by another on the return journey on The Marshalling Yards path, my first of the species this year Peter Gore 21 Mar Today's walk around the footpaths of north Ware produced sightings of 3 Small Tortoiseshell and 2 Peacock. All sheltering from the fierce wind in ditches where the weed sprayer had missed obliterating all the nectar sources! Still no Brimstones for me! Liz Goodyear 20 Mar I saw a Comma near the generating station in Stocking Pelham Andy Brown 20 Mar I saw 1 Peacock in Ware Park Andrew Wood 18 Mar 1 Small Tortoiseshell at Boxer's Lake, Enfield this afternoon at 14:08 hrs Robert Callf 17 Mar Mostly cloudy at Stanwell Moor, though fairly warm. Only a single Peacock seen flying Dave Miller 17 Mar Brimstone, Comma & Peacock in Bengeo garden Simon Knott 17 Mar One male Brimstone and one Comma at The Warren, Bengeo, this morning. One Small Tortoiseshell at Waterford Marsh this afternoon Chris Benton 17 Mar Royston: Brimstone (1 male) Martin Johnson 17 Mar 1 Peacock at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ 2998) at 13:11 hrs Robert Callf 17 Mar Overnight I recorded the best count of moths in my garden trap this year but nothing rare or exceptional! Today's walk around the north Ware footpaths on a relatively cloudy but mild morning I saw 1 Peacock at a sheltered location halfway between Ware and Wareside Liz Goodyear 17 Mar Saw the first of a few Brimstones this morning in Alexandra Park Dee Cullen 16 Mar At Stanwell Moor, A glorious spring day, and the butterflies responded on my local patch. Totals seen: Peacock 7, Comma 5, Brimstone 3, Small Tortoiseshell 1 Dave Miller 16 Mar The first sighting at Bayfordbury this year: a Comma flying in the sunshine at Rough Hills Ian Flack 16 Mar A Comma at Watton-at-Stone, 2 Peacocks at Ardeley and 1 at Benington Andrew Wood 16 Mar Hounslow. The first identified butterflies of the year for me, 2 Peacocks on the Pevensey loop followed by 3 more on the heath. I was informed by others luckier or more attentive than I that Brimstone and Comma were also flying in this area. An unidentified butterfly on the heath on the 13th was probably a Peacock too, whilst the only other unidentified one seen this year was more likely a Small Tortoiseshell in my garden way back on 8th January Peter Gore 16 Mar My first butterflies of the year - 2 Peacock clashing at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ 2998) at 13:48 hrs, 1 Comma in Rough Lot, Trent Park at 14:26 hrs, 1 Peacock at 15:11 hrs and 1 Small Tortoiseshell at 15:15 hrs at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park Robert Callf 16 Mar Took a walk around the footpaths of north Ware this morning, but the increasing sunshine couldn't persuade any butterflies to make an appearance. Soon after getting home however, there was a Small Tortoiseshell in my front garden! Although there is a lot of elm in the landscape, the tracks have had all the hedges cut back until I reach a children's play area near to where I live and the elm is in reach (although now a lot is diseased). It didn't take more than a minute to find a hatched White-letter Hairstreak egg - in the past it has taken much longer so a satisfactory result! Liz Goodyear 16 Mar My first butterflies of the year - at Fairlands Valley Park with 4 Brimstone and 6 Comma seen in the early afternoon sunshine Peter Clarke 16 Mar First Brimstone of the year (a male) in our Harpenden garden Alan Jackson 13 Mar At Stanwell Moor, no Brimstones, but instead I saw three Commas at widely spaced intervals Dave Miller 13 Mar St Albans - I've heard of a couple of sightings of Small Tortoiseshells in flight in St Albans area this week. Checking my shed, the number of hibernators is now down to 25 - three less than last week. So altogether five have flown so far this year - that's one sixth of the total which overwintered successfully. No further departures of Peacocks this week - just one of the 13 individuals has flown so far Malcolm Hull 12 Mar At Rye Meads NR - 1 Small Tortoiseshell (my first for the year) Rob Harris 11 Mar On the warm sunny morning, I strolled round my (still very soggy!) local patch at Stanwell Moor, and managed to see no fewer than seven Brimstones, plus a single Peacock and a single Small Tortoiseshell Dave Miller 11 Mar Single Peacock, basking on flower pot in Rickmansworth garden Anna Marett 11 Mar SP923131 Small Tortoiseshell, Little Tring just opposite Heygates Mill. In a windy field. 12-13 deg. C. 1.50pm. SP926133 Peacock, near Little Tring on towpath of Wendover Arm of Grand Union Canal. Sheltered. 12-13 deg. C. 1.55pm Rikki Harrington 11 Mar A male Brimstone in my Harpenden garden Robin Pearson 9 Mar Single Brimstone seen on Letchworth Gate, Letchworth, just before the junction with Baldock Lane heading towards the A1 Steve Lane 8 Mar A walk around Ware in this morning's sun revealed 2 Small Tortoiseshell and 1 Brimstone Andrew Wood 6 Mar A Peacock flying and basking in the sun at Bacon's Farm between Tewin and Bramfield Andrew Wood 6 Mar St Albans Shed - Nice sunny morning here, so I decided to check if any hibernating butterflies had yet flown from my shed. Three butterflies had left - 2 Small Tortoiseshells and 1 Peacock, all from positions on the ceiling where they get most daylight. 28 Small Tortoiseshells and 12 Peacocks remain. One of the Small Tortoiseshells was slowly opening and closing its wings, looking exactly like it was just waking from a deep sleep Malcolm Hull 3 Mar Five Brown Hairstreak eggs were found on what is probably our last day of searching. Starting at Cranford Park we followed the River Crane south to the edges of Heathrow Airport and back, first mostly of the west bank and returning on via the east bank. One egg was found at Avenue Park, Hounslow and four eggs were found in the vicinity of the flight path of the north runway - one egg was immediately under the flight path! The River Crane was a new catchment area for the butterfly so an excellent final result (Photo: Andrew Middleton) Liz Goodyear Andrew Middleton February Date Description Recorder 26 Feb 1 Brown Hairstreak egg during 6½ hours searching of blackthorn along the Hillingdon Trail and Yeading Brook - egg found at Brookside Playing Fields about 475m SE from where Paul Busby found an egg at the end of 2018! Liz Goodyear Andrew Middleton 25 Feb St Albans bedroom wall - first Clothes Moth of the year! Malcolm Hull 20 Feb St Albans Shed: Small Tortoiseshell - 30 hibernating and 1 dead. Evidence of cobwebs around a couple of others shows spider attacks have occurred. The number of hibernating Small Tortoiseshells has reduced by 5 since the peak in late September, though there is evidence of only one corpse. Interestingly there has been no change in numbers during the last three months, perhaps indicating that losses take place relatively early in the hibernation period. Maybe some individuals are more vulnerable, possibly due to the positions they choose in the shed. Peacock numbers are unchanged - still 13, same since the start of September. This is great news as I've found in previous years that Peacocks are more susceptible to predation Malcolm Hull 17 Feb Had a male Brimstone flitting round my Harpenden garden in the afternoon sunshine Robin Pearson 12 Feb Four Brown Hairstreak eggs at Ickenham on blackthorn that missed being flailed close to the Austin's Lane entrance. Later at a site in Hillingdon close to the A40 / River Pinn and railway line 6 eggs were found in what we believe to be a new 2km square (Photos: Andrew Middleton) Liz Goodyear Andrew Middleton 6 Feb Peacock sunning itself seen at woodland edge in Bramfield Woods (TL290177). Seen by Petra Schmelzer (Ian Flack) 6 Feb St Albans - Brimstone reported in today's bright sunshine, from my neighbours garden (Malcolm Hull) 6 Feb St Albans - disturbed two plume moths while removing weeds from the butterfly bed on my allotment. Look how well camouflaged this one is! My first moving Lepidoptera of the year Malcolm Hull 4 Feb In previously un-surveyed fields at Ickenham 86 Brown Hairstreak eggs found in 7 hours - about 1 every 10 mins. (Photo: Andrew Middleton) Liz Goodyear Andrew Middleton 1 Feb A single male Brimstone battling against the wind at a sunny Church Hill, Therfield while volunteers cleared scrub around midday James Fowler January Date Description Recorder 29 Jan Red Admiral in Bengeo garden Simon Knott 28 Jan Previously un-surveyed fields at Ickenham produced an amazing total of 41 Brown Hairstreak eggs during an afternoon of searching (Photos: Andrew Middleton) Liz Goodyear Andrew Middleton 26 Jan Male Spring Usher of 'melanic variety' at ASDA Southgate (Identified mostly on size and shape, also seen at this site before but not this variety. Confident that it was not a Dotted Border - which seems to be the only confusion species) Robert Callf 21 Jan Red Admiral enjoying the sunshine at the Warren, Bengeo, this afternoon Chris Benton 18 Jan Red Admiral in Bushey front garden this morning David Gower 17 Jan Amazed to see a Red Admiral flying around in Gordon Road on my walk to Bounds Green tube at 11.30 this morning, it felt far too cold to be seeing this Miles Attenborough 16 Jan Red Admiral, 1st butterfly of year, in Bengeo garden Simon Knott 15 Jan My neighbour reported a Red Admiral sighting in her Ware garden during a moment of sunshine (Liz Goodyear) 10 Jan I saw a beautiful Peacock whilst out walking in Stocking Pelham Andy Brown 10 Jan Just found a Large White in Watford in a rose bed! Some of the roses are still in flower! Ian Bennell 9 Jan Bruce Carson recorded Alexandra Palace's first butterfly of the year, a rather tatty Red Admiral. The butterfly was in the Blandford Hall area of the park (Photo: Bruce Carson) (Gerry Rawcliffe) 9 Jan Small Tortoiseshell in field behind my house in Tring Nick Bowles 8 Jan I never thought my first 2020 butterfly would be a male Holly Blue, but I spotted it beneath a big ivy hedge in Bengeo, it flew several times for short distances. There is a short video on the branch Facebook page Andrew Wood 7 Jan Comma from my Stevenage moth trap Ben Sale 4 Jan My earliest ever sighting and it so lifts the heart. A Peacock fluttering past my window in Northchurch before landing on a house over the Road, I can be sure of the ID as I took a close look. It is likely it was disturbed by a neighbour taking stuff to the dump, but still, a free flying butterfly in the sunshine, lovely Sue Taylor 3 Jan I saw a Peacock at Long Deans NR, resting on a log in the sun. My first butterfly of the year! Jenny Sherwen