Sightings 2021

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

NOTE - please read the latest Coronavirus update (Jan 2021) from Butterfly Conservation.

UKBMS recorders can now resume their activities for transects and the WCBS but please follow the guidelines set out by the government for staying safe outside your home

Archive   2020  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. If you have the 'what3words' app you can supply me with the 3 words denoting the site. 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.

Photos are welcome and a selection will be posted on this webpage but please keep these to a reasonably small size. Provide a link if your photo is on an external application like Flickr. Alternatively post your photo on Facebook or Instagram.

October Date Description Recorder 25 Oct 1 Comma settled on bramble near Hadley Rd at Parkside Farm, Enfield (TQ3098) at 1221 BST. 1 Speckled Wood at Parkside Farm/Res, Enfield (TQ2998) at 1232 BST. 1 Speckled Wood settled on edge of Moat Wd/Trent Park at 1320 BST - tatty, worn & faded. 1 Peacock by lower lake, Trent Park at 1337 BST. 1 Red Admiral nectaring on ivy flowers near Allotments at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) at 1437 BST Robert Callf 24 Oct Brimstone and Peacock at Norton Green this afternoon Peter Clarke 24 Oct Two species in Miswell Lane Rec Tring; Red Admiral and Peacock (SP91621150) Nick Bowles 22 Oct Hounslow. A Red Admiral on the Pevensey ivy was the only butterfly identified. A white butterfly, almost certainly a Small White, managed to disappear amongst the leaves of a fruit tree in the same area before I could confirm its identity Peter Gore 22 Oct Pleased with this count on a cool, windy if sunny morning. 1 Red Admiral in St Leonard's churchyard, Bengeo, 1 Comma on Hartham Common, Hertford, 1 Red Admiral and 1 Painted Lady in All Saints churchyard, Hertford and 2 Comma in Balls Park, Hertford Andrew Wood 22 Oct Garden thermometer read 10°C but a Red Admiral on ivy flowers in Donkey Lane, Tring (SP91291100) Nick Bowles 21 Oct 1 Red Admiral & 1 Speckled Wood at Gough Park, Forty Hill, Enfield (TQ334982) this afternoon after 1405 BST Robert Callf 19 Oct At Strathmore Arms at St Paul's Walden. 2 Brimstone and one Red Admiral Steve Kiln 19 Oct Every day this week (15-19th) (including the rain yesterday afternoon) there has been a Red Admiral in my Tring garden. Today there were two, and I also saw a Brimstone near the Natural History Museum (SP92451065) Nick Bowles 17 Oct 1 Comma at South Barvin Farm, Enfield (TQ281988) at 1337 BST Robert Callf 17 Oct Hounslow. A Holly Blue and a Small Copper on the heath near the railway and just one Red Admiral on the ivy in the Pevensey Crane riverside woodland Peter Gore 15 Oct Small Copper and Speckled Wood at Norton Green this afternoon Peter Clarke 14 Oct Hounslow. Today's Peacock very likely Monday's. Not only did it look the same but was also on the same flower stalk on the same clump of ivy, indeed I spent a few moments reassuring myself it was actually a living individual and it was. Full sightings: Red Admiral: 4, Small Copper: 2, Peacock: 1 Peter Gore 13 Oct 1 Red Admiral flew SW at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) at 1355 BST Robert Callf 11 Oct Peacock in Heartwood Forest and Brimstone in my St Albans garden Nadia Bishara 11 Oct 1 Red Admiral at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097). 1 Red Admiral flew S at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) at 1446 BST. 1 Red Admiral flew SW at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park at 1520 BST Robert Callf 11 Oct Great Ashby Park nearby fields Stevenage Comma x2, Large White x2 Richard Best 11 Oct 1 Comma, 1 Small White - Oughton Head Lane west of Redhill Road, Hitchin (TL171298) David Inward 11 Oct Folly Lane, St Albans - A fresh looking Comma nectaring on Verbena Bonariensis on my allotment this afternoon. Also two Small Whites Malcolm Hull 11 Oct Hounslow. Slightly surprised to see a Peacock looking a little out of place nectaring on ivy, otherwise the established pattern continues: Red Admiral: 7, Small Copper: 4, Peacock: 1, Speckled Wood: 1 Peter Gore 11 Oct On a circular walk from Bengeo to Tewin and back, we recorded 25 Small White (mainly on oil seed rape field margins), 6 Red Admiral, 3 Comma and 1 each of Speckled Wood and Small Tortoiseshell (first seen since 3 September) Andrew & Jane Wood 11 Oct An afternoon visit to Norton Green yielded a Small Copper, female Brimstone and a male Green-veined White Peter Clarke 10 Oct 1 Speckled Wood - worn & faded - settled on ash at Hadley Rd/Parkside Farm (TQ3098) at 1605 BST Robert Callf 10 Oct 1 Comma - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL19263039) David Inward 10 Oct Colney Heath - I spent 2 hours this afternoon walking across the Common and along the river. Bright sunshine all the way, but only a single butterfly seen - a Small Copper at The Warren Malcolm Hull 9 Oct 1 Red Admiral flew SW at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) at 1445 BST. At Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Red Admiral flew S at 1518 BST. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 2 Red Admiral flew S (one at 1546 BST & another at 1555 BST) Robert Callf 9 Oct At Bayfordbury Pinetum (TL3110): 4+ Red Admiral, 3+ Speckled Wood, Comma, Brimstone & Nettle-tap Simon Knott 9 Oct 1 Red Admiral - path parallel to Oakfield Ave, Hitchin (TL195282) David Inward 9 Oct Hounslow. In addition to ivy, asters seem to be the other main butterfly attraction this year and flowering well compared to recent years: Speckled Wood: 2, Red Admiral: 5, Small White: 1 Peter Gore 9 Oct A short wander around Hertford found 6 Red Admiral, 4 Small White, 2 Large White and a Comma Andrew Wood 8 Oct 1 Painted Lady with abraded hindwings nectaring on Michaelmas daisies at Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield (TQ2998) at 1245 BST Robert Callf Bob Husband 6 Oct At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 Comma at 1507 BST. At Parkside Farm/Hadley Rd (TQ3098) - 1 Comma & 1 Red Admiral nectaring on ivy flowers at 1538 BST. At Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Red Admiral flew SW Robert Callf 6 Oct Nomansland Common, near St Albans - 10 Small Coppers, which today were mostly furling up on nectar - 4 seen on Ragwort, 1 on Knapweed and 1 on Heather (Ling). 3 more were just sunbathing and 1 egg laying on Sheep's Sorrell. Numbers of third generation individuals are now clearly declining - peak numbers don't seem to have reached the heights of previous years. Other butterflies at this site include 2 Comma, 1 Large White and 1 Small White. Nearby I also saw Red Admiral Malcolm Hull 6 Oct Hounslow. A pleasant sunny afternoon with half a dozen species seen: Small Copper: 2, Comma: 2, Red Admiral: 7, Speckled Wood: 2, Small White: 1, Meadow Brown: 1 Peter Gore 6 Oct A walk from Bengeo across Ware Park and around the suburbs of northern Ware produced 17 Red Admiral, 4 Comma, 5 Small White and 1 each of Painted Lady and Speckled Wood Andrew Wood 5 Oct 1 Red-green Carpet at ASDA Southgate this evening Robert Callf 4 Oct 1 Lunar Underwing at Southgate this morning (entered flat a couple of nights ago). 1 Red Admiral near Allotments at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) this afternoon Robert Callf 3 Oct 2 Red Admiral at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 nectaring on ivy flowers near Allotments at 1319 BST & 1 near Hadley Rd. 1 Peacock settled on track, Hog Hill, Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) at 1333 BST. 1 Small White at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998). 1 female Small Copper edge of Moat Wd/Trent Park at 1533 BST Robert Callf 3 Oct 1 Red Admiral - path by Purwell Paddocks, Hitchin (TL202294) David Inward 3 Oct Hounslow. Although rain started as I began the return journey and forced me to shorten the walk as existing floods had already done, butterflies had been recorded, including a single Meadow Brown: Speckled Wood: 3, Comma: 2, Red Admiral: 2, Meadow Brown: 1 Peter Gore 1 Oct 1 Small White at Southgate Chase Allotments & 1 Small White at Southgate. 1 Common Marbled Carpet at ASDA Southgate Robert Callf 1 Oct Had a Clouded Yellow in the field at back of Ellenbrook Fields (TL193089) along with a Red Admiral and Comma this afternoon Andrew Steele 1 Oct St Albans - Folly Lane allotments - Small Whites still around but in reduced numbers with about 10 seen. A Red Admiral was hanging around the late flowering Orange/Yellow Buddleia Weyeriana. First Large White I've seen for some time nectaring on Verbena - perhaps the start of a new October brood Malcolm Hull 1 Oct A Red Admiral spotted on ivy at Norton Green near the pond Peter Clarke 1 Oct Hounslow. Red Admiral: 8, Speckled Wood: 1, Comma: 2, Green-veined White: 1 Peter Gore September Date Description Recorder 29 Sep 1 Red Admiral at Bramley Rd, N14 at 1331 BST. 1 Red Admiral at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) at 1407 BST Robert Callf 29 Sep Hounslow. The river was high today after the rain but I reached the tunnel without difficulty and was surprised when the Pevensey stretch needed me to paddle. I rejected this, both sides of the river. On the Hounslow side I reached the clump of ivy where on Monday I saw the Red Admirals and Commas and saw three of the former and one Comma again. They were still there moments later after the floods turned me back and I was just telling myself I was counting the same individuals from Monday as I passed another clump of flowering ivy. This one had seven Red Admirals nectaring on it, apparently unseen by me minutes earlier. Sometimes I wonder about this butterfly recording thing........ Nevertheless here are all today's counts: Speckled Wood: 5, Green-veined White: 1, Comma: 1, Red Admiral: 10, Small Copper: 1 Peter Gore 28 Sep At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 Small White & 1 Comma Robert Callf 27 Sep At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 Speckled Wood. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Red Admiral. At Bramley Rd, N14 - 1 Red Admiral Robert Callf 27 Sep Whilst walking into Ware this lunchtime, a pristine Painted Lady was charging around in the windy but sunny conditions. My first sighting for some weeks Liz Goodyear 27 Sep Hounslow. After the rain stopped a little sunshine tempted a few butterflies out: Small Copper: 2, Speckled Wood: 1, Red Admiral: 3, Comma: 2. The last five were all nectaring together on a single clump of Ivy flowers. The Red Admirals are the first group I've seen this year Peter Gore 26 Sep At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 2 Speckled Wood, & 1 Brimstone Moth near Hadley Rd. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Snout. At Silver Street, Enfield Town - 1 Red Admiral nectaring on Ivy blossom at 1628 BST Robert Callf 26 Sep Hounslow. Sunnier than forecast so a few more butterflies than expected: Comma: 2, Small White: 1, Speckled Wood: 4, Meadow Brown: 1, Red Admiral: 1, Small Copper: 2 Peter Gore 26 Sep Branch Event Nomansland Common, near St Albans - 12 people met up for the Herts and Middx Butterfly Conservation walk in the late summer sun. Small Copper was the target species and we were not disappointed, with a total of 21 recorded. Most individuals were seen sunbathing, with a few nectaring on heather. No signs today of mating or egg laying. Meadow Brown numbers were holding up well with 14 recorded, together with 4 Small Whites, 1 Speckled Wood and probable singles of Comma, Peacock and Brimstone. A great way to end the summer butterfly season Malcolm Hull 25 Sep I'd like to add to the hibernating tally... for the last three years a Peacock has hibernated in my outhouse, notably behind the same wooden post, which is where I've spotted one today. My Victorian outhouse is one of twelve that were built and also plays home to hedgehogs which, like the butterflies, I presume have been visiting since 1890. Sadly, only three outhouses remain undeveloped and so highlight habitat loss Lucy Claxton 24 Sep 1 Garden Carpet at Southgate (a different individual to the one yesterday evening). At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 3 Red Admiral flew S & 2 Speckled Wood. At Oakwood Station - 2+ Small White Robert Callf 24 Sep St Albans hibernation shed - 6 Peacocks and 4 Small Tortoiseshells - that's one more Peacock than last week. Both species have been seen flying today, so maybe the totals will increase further. The number of hibernators has nearly doubled in September which is a big contract to earlier years when most hibernators have been in place before the end of July Malcolm Hull 24 Sep Hounslow. In marked contrast to yesterday this was a beautiful day, sunny throughout. Numbers are up accordingly but even if I'd managed to identify some of a small number of whites, variety would still be limited: Speckled Wood: 7, Small Copper: 5, Red Admiral: 3, Meadow Brown: 3 Peter Gore 23 Sep 2 Speckled Wood at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097). 1 Speckled Wood at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998). 1 Garden Carpet at Southgate this evening Robert Callf 23 Sep St Albans - A fresh flush of Mint Moths in the garden. Small Whites still around in good numbers and a lone Red Admiral on late flowering Buddleia Weyeriana. The Ivy has just burst into bloom, covered with bees, hoverflies and moths and hopefully will also attract butterflies soon Malcolm Hull 23 Sep Hounslow. Virtually no sun today: Speckled Wood: 2, Meadow Brown: 2, Green-veined White: 2, Small Copper: 1, Small White: 1 Peter Gore 22 Sep Almost unbroken sunshine late morning/lunchtime at Therfield Heath (Church Hill) yielded 4 'worn' Adonis Blue (2 male & 2 female), 8 Meadow Brown, 6 Small White, 1 Speckled Wood, 1 Brown Argus, 1 Common Blue and 1 Brimstone Peter Clarke Bob Clift 22 Sep This beauty, Peacock, was in my Queensbury garden Fred Harris 22 Sep At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 Speckled Wood & 2 Comma. At Trent Park - 1 Red Admiral near Obelisk, 1 Small Copper at 'Old Golf Course' & 1 Speckled Wood near Equestrian Centre. At Vicarage Farm near Shaws Wd (TQ2998) - 2 Small Heath. At Oakwood Station - 1 Red Admiral, 1 Painted Lady & 2 Small White. At ASDA Southgate - 1 Brimstone Moth Robert Callf 22 Sep Hounslow. An earlier start and a little more sun helped to increase the number of butterflies around: Speckled Wood: 6, Red Admiral: 2, Small Heath: 1, Meadow Brown: 4, Green-veined White: 2, Small Copper: 1 Peter Gore 21 Sep Here are a few butterfly sightings from the Royston area. The image is of the female Adonis Blue variant that I found on Church Hill. Therfield Heath (Church Hill): Adonis Blue (5, including a female variant), Brown Argus (1), Meadow Brown (4) and a couple of unidentified whites in flight. Therfield Heath (Old Rifle Range and surrounding area): Large White (2), Small/Green-veined White (20+), Red Admiral (5), Painted Lady (1), Comma (1), Holly Blue (1), Brown Argus (1) and Speckled Wood (8). Both areas held Silver Y moths and I also saw 3-4 unidentified (probably Vapourer) moths in flight Martin Johnson 21 Sep At Parkside Farm, Enfield/Hadley Rd (TQ3098) - 1 Comma nectaring on Ivy blossom at 1232 BST. At Trent Park - 2 Comma by lower lake at 1350 BST. At Oakwood Station - 1 Comma, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Small White & 1 Red-green Carpet Robert Callf 21 Sep A walk in wonderful weather between Hertford and Tewin and back yielded 10 species - Large White, Small White (including 40 enjoying radish? flowers on a field margin), Green-veined White, Small Copper, Small Heath, Holly Blue, Speckled Wood, Comma (plenty on the brambles), Red Admiral and Painted Lady Andrew Wood 21 Sep Hounslow. Steadily diminishing numbers now: Red Admiral: 1, Meadow Brown: 2, Green-veined White: 2, Speckled Wood: 1, Small Heath: 1, Small White: 1, Small Copper: 1 Peter Gore 20 Sep 1 Speckled Wood - field between Greenway and Willian Road, near Hitchin (TL208303) David Inward 20 Sep At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 Red Admiral, 3 Speckled Wood, 1 Comma & 1 Small Heath. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Speckled Wood. At Ferny Hill Farm, Enfield - 1 Speckled Wood. At Trent Park - 1 Speckled Wood & 1 Red Admiral. At Vicarage Farm near Shaws Wd & Merryhills Way (TQ2997) - 2 Small Heath. At Oakwood Station - 1 Red Admiral & 2 Small White. At ASDA Southgate - 1 Willow Beauty & 1 Box-tree Moth (melanic variety) Robert Callf 20 Sep A Clifden Nonpareil seen at Knebworth House on the morning of 17 Sept Kevin Hilditch 19 Sep 1 Red Admiral at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) this afternoon Robert Callf 18 Sep At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 6 Red Admiral (most flew S), 1 Peacock settled on trunk of dead Oak & 2 Speckled Wood. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 2 Red Admiral flew S & 1 Speckled Wood. At Trent Park - 1 Red Admiral & 1 Comma. At Oakwood Station - 2 Red Admiral, 1 Painted Lady & 1 Small White. At Oakwood Station car-park - 1 Light Emerald (very fresh) settled on car door Robert Callf 18 Sep 1 Speckled Wood - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL194303) David Inward 18 Sep Hounslow. A surprisingly poor showing today after a promising weather forecast didn't quite predict reality: Small Heath: 2, Small Copper: 3, Comma: 1, Meadow Brown: 2, Red Admiral: 1, Small White: 1, Speckled Wood: 2 Peter Gore 17 Sep At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 2 Speckled Wood & 1 Red Admiral nectaring on buddleia near Enfield Rd. At Parkside Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 Red Admiral at 1131 BST. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 2 Speckled Wood, 1 Red Admiral & 1 Comma. At Trent Park - 1 female Small Copper at 'Old Golf Course' at 1325 BST, 2 Red Admiral & 1 Large White nectaring on buddleia by lower lake at 1331 BST. At Oakwood Station - 2 Red Admiral nectaring on buddleia at 1645 BST Robert Callf 17 Sep Hounslow. Not so sunny and these butterflies almost all seen in the morning: Speckled Wood: 5, Red Admiral: 2, Meadow Brown: 7, Small Copper: 2, Small Heath: 3 (2 mating), Green-veined White: 2, Comma: 1, Small White: 2. A complete walk including the Richmond side of the river where the footpath has been improved, a welcome development even if there were still no butterflies as usual Peter Gore 16 Sep 1 Red Admiral - field west of Hill Top, Baldock (TL23973302); 2 Red Admiral - junction of Weston Way and Mansfield Road, Baldock (TL24323340) David Inward 16 Sep At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 4 Red Admiral & 1 Small Heath. At Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Small White. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Green-veined White. At Trent Park - 2 Comma near Water Grdn & 4 Speckled Wood at Icehouse Wd. At Vicarage Farm, Enfield near Shaws Wd (TQ2997) - 1 Small White, 1 Green-veined White, 4 Meadow Brown - 1 male & 3 females (all fresh & in good condition) & 2 Small Heath. At Oakwood Station (1430-1510 BST) - 6 Red Admiral nectaring on buddleia at 1447 BST, 1 Comma, 1 Large White, 1 Small White & 1 male Brimstone. 1 Red Admiral at Southgate this afternoon Robert Callf 16 Sep St Albans - Two Commas on my allotment this afternoon and another in the garden. All very fresh and busy nectaring on sedum and Verbena Bonariensis. Small Whites were the dominant butterfly species on the allotment with over 20 seen. Also 3 Large Whites and a Peacock. More recent arrivals in my hibernation shed - current total residents are 4 Small Tortoiseshells and 5 Peacocks Malcolm Hull 16 Sep Hounslow. An enjoyable walk, mostly in autumn sunshine, slightly shortened due to the temporary closure of the Richmond side of the river within the Pevensey loop. The butterfly highlight was provided to me by a Comma which I disturbed when contemplating a blackberry. It fluttered to another fruit and began feeding. As I watched a second Comma flew up and landed on a blackberry and this in turn alerted me to two more quite near to me. All had wings closed and even with appropriate punctuation visible and prominent perches they were hard to spot. For a little while I waited and searched with binoculars, hoping to discover more but four was as good as it got and still more than I would have expected. This is the full list for today: Meadow Brown: 4, Small Copper: 4, Speckled Wood: 7, Comma: 6, Small Heath: 6, Green-veined White: 1, Small White: 2, Brown Argus: 1, Common Blue: 1, Red Admiral: 1 Peter Gore 15 Sep Had a Hummingbird Hawk-moth feeding on the buddleia in my garden in South Harrow at 16.50 this afternoon. Also had 2 Red Admiral and 2 Large White on the buddleia Michael Robinson 15 Sep At Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Small White. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Green-veined White & 1 Small White. At Trent Park - 1 Small Heath at 'Old Golf Course' & 1 Speckled Wood. At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 female Brimstone, 2 Comma & 5 Small White. At Bincote Rd, EN2 - 1 Small White. At Oakwood Station (1557-1613 BST) - 3 Red Admiral, 1 Painted Lady, 1 male Large White & 1 male Brimstone - all nectaring on buddleia. At ASDA Southgate - 1 Red Admiral. At Southgate Chase Allotments - 1 Comma & 1 Red Admiral nectaring on buddleia Robert Callf 14 Sep 1 Maiden's Blush at bus-stop shelter at Chase Rd/Charter Way, N14 this afternoon Robert Callf 13 Sep At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 Comma & 1 Red Admiral flew S at Hog Hill at 1032 BST. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 5 Speckled Wood. At Trent Park - 3 Comma, 2 Red Admiral, 3 Green-veined White, 1 Small White & 3 Speckled Wood. At Vicarage Farm near Shaws Wd & Merryhills Way (TQ2997) - 3 Small Heath & 3 female Meadow Brown. At Oakwood Station - 4 Red Admiral nectaring on buddleia at 1427 BST. At Southgate Chase Allotments - 1 Red Admiral Robert Callf 12 Sep At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 2 Speckled Wood, 4 Red Admiral, 2+ Meadow Brown, 2+ Peacock & 1 Comma. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Speckled Wood, 2 Red Admiral. At Trent Park - 4 Red Admiral, 1 Small Copper, 1 Speckled Wood & 1 Painted Lady nectaring on buddleia, by lower lake, 1155 BST. At Cedars Crt, Edmonton, N9 (TQ334939) - 1 Speckled Wood. 1 Small White at Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield (TQ2998) this morning Robert Callf 12 Sep 1 Small White - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin David Inward 11 Sep At Trent Park - 6 Comma, 1 Painted Lady nectaring on buddleia by lower lake at 1100 BST, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Speckled Wood & 1 Humming-bird Hawk-moth by lower lake near Water Grdn at 1103 BST - my first of the year. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Speckled Wood. At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 Red Admiral, 1 Speckled Wood & 1 Holly Blue. 1 Green-veined White at Trent Park Equestrian Centre. 1 Red Admiral along Leeging Beech Gutter N of Williams Wd at Vicarage Farm (TQ2997) Robert Callf 11 Sep Hounslow. An afternoon walk with more sun than expected at least in the first half: Speckled Wood: 5, Red Admiral: 2, Comma: 3, Meadow Brown: 13 (two mating), Green-veined White: 3, Small Heath: 2 Small Copper: 2 Peter Gore 11 Sep Painted Lady in St Albans garden (Marshalswick area). First sighting for about 5 years Brian Knight 10 Sep 1 female Meadow Brown at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) at 0925 BST. 1 Red Admiral nectaring on buddleia at Londsdale Drive, EN2 at 1055 BST. 1 Red Admiral nectaring on buddleia at Oakwood Station at 1131 BST Robert Callf 9 Sep I found this large nest of final instar Peacock caterpillars in Ware Park. Presumably they are a partial second generation which surprises me in this generally late year. If these manage to pupate and emerge we may have a flush of adults at the end of the month/early October, will be interesting to see and know if they would be able to successfully hibernate Andrew Wood 9 Sep 1 Yellow Shell at Chase Rd/Charter Way, N14 at bus-stop shelter. At Trent Park - 1 Comma near Ride Wd at 1140 BST. At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 female Meadow Brown, 1 Speckled Wood; 1 Red Admiral & 1 Painted Lady nectaring on buddleia near Enfield Rd. At Enfield Rd, EN2 near Jolly Farmers PH - 1 Holly Blue at 1237 BST. At Southgate Chase Allotments - 4 Small White Robert Callf 8 Sep Hounslow. The highlight today was a late - but not impossibly so in this peculiar year - Purple Hairstreak. This first showed as the usual flash of silver amongst a group of Oaks on the Marshalling Yards margins. It then settled, wings closed, on an Ash leaf. From 20 feet below even with binoculars this was less than ideal viewing but as good as any I've managed this year for the species. This is the full list: Red Admiral: 4, Speckled Wood: 12, Comma: 5, Meadow Brown: 15, Small Heath: 8, Purple Hairstreak: 1, Holly Blue: 1, Small White: 1, Small Copper: 4, Green-veined White: 1 Peter Gore 8 Sep 1 Common Blue along Leeging Beech Gutter N of Williams Wd at Vicarage Farm. At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 Red Admiral flew S at 0928 BST. At Oakwood Station (0958-1038 BST) - 4 Red Admiral, 2 Painted Lady, 2 Comma, 3 Small White & 1 Speckled Wood Robert Callf 7 Sep 1 Speckled Wood - woodland west of Hitchin Cricket/Hockey Club, Hitchin (TL173294); 1 Red Admiral - Moss Way, Hitchin (TL17362993 David Inward 7 Sep Nomansland Common, Sandridge - This afternoons scorching weather did not result in a flush of butterflies. The grass looked very brown, as if at the end of a long hot August! Meadow Brown was the dominant species with 38 recorded in an hour. I saw 2 Brimstones, presumably tempted out of hibernation, 1 Peacock, 1 Speckled Wood, 1 Silver Y, 3 Common Blue, 1 Small Heath and 3 Grass Veneer. Last but not least 3 Small Coppers. Their numbers should grow steadily over this month. Book now if you'd like to join me for the end of season extravaganza using this link Malcolm Hull 7 Sep At Trent Park - 1 Comma near Water Grdn. At Vicarage Farm near Shaws Wd (TQ2997) - 5 female Meadow Brown, 4 Small Heath, 5 Small White & 1 Red Admiral near Merryhills Way. At Lonsdale Drive, EN2 (TQ303960) - 1 Comma. At Oakwood Station - 2 Red Admiral nectaring on buddleia at 1054 BST. At Southgate Chase Allotments - 1 Comma nectaring on buddleia at 1130 BST. At ASDA Southgate - 1 Brimstone Moth & 1 Straw Underwing Robert Callf 7 Sep Hounslow. The walk was book-ended by Commas, a faded tatty one in my garden at the start and a much smarter one at the end. In between, as well as a few more Commas (none yesterday), Speckled Wood became the commonest butterfly sighted as Meadow Browns steadily fade for another year: Comma: 6, Speckled Wood: 18, Small Copper: 3, Meadow Brown: 16, Small Heath: 9, Brown Argus: 2, Common Blue: 2, Small White: 3, Red Admiral: 2, Large White: 1 Peter Gore 6 Sep At Trent Park - 3 Comma (1 feeding on blackberry near Water Grdn, 2 together edge of Moat Wd), 1 Green-veined White & 10 Speckled Wood. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 6 Speckled Wood. At Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield (TQ2998) - 3 Speckled Wood, 1 Small Tortoiseshell & 1 Silver Y. At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 5 Speckled Wood, 1 female Meadow Brown - fresh & 2 Red Admiral nectaring on buddleia near Enfield Rd. At Enfield Rd, EN2 near Jolly Farmers PH - 1 Speckled Wood & 1 female Small White. At Boxer's Lake, Enfield - 5 Speckled Wood. At Oakwood Station - 1 Red Admiral, 1 Small White, 2 Holly Blue & 1 Small Tortoiseshell. At ASDA Southgate - 1 Burnished Brass & 1 Willow Beauty. 1 Red Admiral at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park this afternoon Robert Callf 6 Sep Hounslow. Mid-morning to mid-afternoon mostly in sunshine: Meadow Brown: 13, Green-veined White: 4, Speckled Wood: 9, Small White: 2, Small Heath: 8, Red Admiral: 4, Brown Argus: 2, Small Copper: 1, Common Blue: 1 Peter Gore 6 Sep 1 Holly Blue female - Lucas Lane, Hitchin (TL1729) David Inward 5 Sep Norton Green Nr Stevenage TL228226. Red Admiral x10, Silver-washed Fritillary x1, Speckled Wood x12, Green-veined White x1, Gatekeeper x1, Small Heath x 6, Comma x 1 Richard Best 5 Sep Dead Jersey Tiger found under a buddleia in Harpenden Alan Jackson 5 Sep 1 Meadow Brown at South Lodge Farm, Enfield (TQ2996). At Trent Park - 3 Speckled Wood & 1 Small Copper near Ride Wd. At Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield (TQ3098) - 1 Comma along Salmons Brook at 1519 BST. At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 Holly Blue Robert Callf 5 Sep 1 Large White - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL1930) David Inward 5 Sep Hounslow. Plenty of sun today and warmer but we seem to be losing our butterflies: Small White: 4, Red Admiral: 2, Meadow Brown: 20, Speckled Wood: 15, Small Heath: 6, Gatekeeper: 1, Brown Argus: 1, Common Blue: 2, Holly Blue: 1 Peter Gore 3 Sep Norton Green Nr Stevenage TL228227. Red Admiral x9, Silver-washed Fritillary x1, Speckled Wood x9, Green-veined White x3 Richard Best 3 Sep 1 Small White, 1 Holly Blue, 1 Red Admiral - path by horse fields off Purwell Lane, Hitchin (TL2029) David Inward 3 Sep Hounslow. Still a nice variety of butterflies around in indifferent weather: Holly Blue: 1, Meadow Brown: 30, Speckled Wood: 11, Comma: 3, Red Admiral: 1, Small White: 3, Small Copper: 1, Common Blue: 3, Small Heath: 1, Green-veined White: 2 (mating) Peter Gore 3 Sep At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 2 Meadow Brown, 1 Painted Lady nectaring on thistles at 1300 BST, 2 Red Admiral (1 flew S at 1327 BST, 1 nectaring on buddleia near Enfield Rd at 1341 hrs) & 3 Small White nectaring on buddleia near Enfield Rd. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Red Admiral, 3 Speckled Wood, 1 Comma, 1 female Meadow Brown - very fresh. At Trent Park - 1 Speckled Wood, 5 Green-veined White & 1 Painted Lady settled on buddleia at Water Grdn 1237 BST. At Oakwood Station - 1 male Holly Blue, 4 Small White, 6 Red Admiral nectaring on buddleia at 1507 BST & 1 Painted Lady Robert Callf 3 Sep Church Hill, Therfield, 11-12:30, Bright with sunny intervals, 19°C. Adonis Blue 100+, a few fairly fresh. 3 Chalkhill Blue, worn. female Silver-washed Fritillary, very worn. 10+ Brown Argus, one fresh. 1 Small Heath & Red Admiral. Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Small White, Large White and Green-veined White present James Fowler 3 Sep Ruislip Gardens (Stafford Road Open Space). At 3pm 1x female Brown Hairstreak briefly settled in one of the small openings alongside the path heading NW from Bedford Road entrance. Also 3 Speckled Woods. TQ0934 8598 Nick Furtek 2 Sep 5+ Speckled Wood & 1 Small White at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097). 2 Speckled Wood, 1 male Meadow Brown & 1 Small White at Trent Park. 1 female Meadow Brown N of Williams Wd at Vicarage Farm (TQ2997). 1 Speckled Wood at Enfield Rd, EN2. 2 Speckled Wood at Glenbrook South, EN2 Robert Callf 2 Sep St Albans - Still reasonable numbers of butterflies on my allotment this afternoon. Whites remain dominant with 8 Large White and 20 Small White. Browns are now finished, but pleased to see the first Common Blue of the year at this location. A single Peacock was feeding and then searching a nearby allotment hut for a suitable hibernation spot. And two Red Admirals remained glued to the buddleia. Back at my hibernation shed the total number of hibernating butterflies is 6 - three each of Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock. Both are well down on last year. This corresponds with the very few Small Tortoiseshells seen in flight over the summer. But puzzling why the number of hibernating Peacocks is down when there have been so many in the garden last month Malcolm Hull 2 Sep 5 unidentified whites, 1 Red Admiral - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL1930) David Inward 1 Sep At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Small White, 1 Green-veined White & 1 Speckled Wood. At Trent Park - 2 Green-veined White & 1 Red Admiral. At 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park - 1 female Meadow Brown. At Boxer's Lake, Enfield - 1 Speckled Wood & 1 Holly Blue. At Oakwood Station - 1 Red Admiral nectaring on buddleia at 1426 BST Robert Callf 1 Sep 28 Aug - Clifden Nonpareil, light trapped in my Letchworth garden Roger Millard August Date Description Recorder 31 Aug 2 Green-veined White & 1 Speckled Wood at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998). 1 Mother of Pearl near Obelisk at Trent Park. 1 Red Admiral nectaring on white buddleia at Water Grdn & 1 Green-veined White, 1 female Common Blue near Water Grdn, Trent Park. 1 Speckled Wood at Trent Park. 1 Meadow Brown at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097). 1 Small White at Lonsdale Drive, EN2. 1 Small White at Lower Kenwood Ave, EN2. 1 Holly Blue at Oakwood Station. 1 Yellow Shell at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park Robert Callf 30 Aug 6 Large White caterpillars eating my St Albans garden radishes this evening. Annoying when I'd only just persuaded the slugs to stop attacking the same plants. I successfully transferred all the caterpillars to some nearby nasturtiums Malcolm Hull 30 Aug 1 Jersey Tiger near Obelisk, Trent Park. 1 female Common Blue near Water Grdn, Trent Park at 1038 BST. 1 Meadow Brown at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) Robert Callf 29 Aug At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 Painted Lady at 1005 BST, 1 Red Admiral, 1 female Large White & 1 Mother of Pearl. At Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Small White. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 4 Speckled Wood, 1 Red Admiral & 1 Small White. At Trent Park - 1 Meadow Brown, 1 Speckled Wood & 2 Red Admiral Robert Callf 29 Aug Hounslow. A dull day but some sun and at least three bright butterflies: the Red Admiral was up to usual standards but a Comma looked especially fresh and fine, perhaps the recent result of a second brood. A real surprise -these days- was a Small Tortoiseshell which also looked fresh. More comments locally about a conspicuous absence: Cinnabar moth caterpillars. I don't count them but had I done so this year I doubt I'd have reached double figures and their absence is all the more conspicuous because their host plant, Ragwort, has done very well indeed. There is a suggestion that this problem is local to us and my own feeling is that there are other insects much reduced locally too with no obvious explanation other than climate issues. Here are today's perfectly normal butterfly numbers however: Small White: 2, Meadow Brown: 24, Speckled Wood: 11, Comma: 1, Gatekeeper: 3, Green-veined White: 1, Red Admiral: 1, Small Tortoiseshell: 1 Peter Gore 28 Aug At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 Red Admiral & 2 Speckled Wood. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 10 Speckled Wood, 1 Green-veined White, 1 Small White & 1 Brimstone Moth. At Trent Park - 1 Red Admiral edge of Moat Wd near Obelisk, 2 Speckled Wood & 1 Small Copper. At Enfield Rd, EN2 - 1 Holly Blue. 1 Rosy Rustic at ASDA Southgate this afternoon. 1 Yellow Shell, 1 Large Yellow Underwing & 2 Willow Beauty at Southgate tonight Robert Callf 27 Aug 1 Straw Underwing at Southgate and 1 Garden Carpet at bus-stop shelter at Bramley Rd, N14 this morning. 1 Meadow Brown at South Lodge Farm, Enfield (TQ2996), 2 Meadow Brown at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (1 at TQ3097 & 1 at TQ2997), 7 Speckled Wood (6 at Park Farm, Enfield - TQ2998, 1 at Trent Park near Equestrian Centre), 1 Red Admiral near 'Three-bridges' Trent Park, 3 Jersey Tiger (1 along Leeging Beech Gutter near Water Grdn, 2 at Hog Hill including 'lutescens') Robert Callf 26 Aug Found a Peacock Moth floating in my breakfast cereal bowl - captured it with a paper receipt (still alive) & potted it. Another new species for me at Southgate. 1 female Meadow Brown along Leeging Beech Gutter N of Williams Wd at Vicarage Farm (TQ2997) & 1 Speckled Wood at Enfield Rd near Jolly Farmers PH Robert Callf 25 Aug We arrived at Ruislip Gardens (Stafford Road Open Space) at just after 11 am looking for Brown Hairstreaks. A mix of cloud and sun at the start but later on there was far more sunshine and hence more butterfly activity. The area where most of the adult sightings were recently reported was thoroughly searched but we found no Brown Hairstreaks. We decided to focus on the south-facing hedge by the path for egg-laying females. It was about 1:30pm when Bob saw something orange fly overhead into a blackthorn bush and there it was - a female Brown Hairstreak which began to crawl down a stem for a few seconds before flying off over the hedge (TQ09361 85596). We continued searching for another hour or so before calling it a day. Other species encountered: Speckled Wood 20, Gatekeeper 5, Meadow Brown 3, Small White 15, Green-veined White 10, Small Heath, Brown Argus and Small Copper Peter Clarke Bob Clift 25 Aug 19 August Norton Green near Stevenage. Gatekeeper x5, Meadow Brown x3, Red Admiral x12, Large White x1, Silver-washed Fritillary x1, Speckled Wood x2, Purple Hairstreak x1, Green-veined White x1, Peacock x2 Richard Best 25 Aug My Ware garden buddleias had 8 Red Admirals, 4 Small Tortoiseshells, 3 Peacock & 1 Comma. Elsewhere in the garden a male Brimstone, and Large White, Small White & Green-veined White were pottering around Liz Goodyear 25 Aug I was amazed to see this Brown Hairstreak on my lawn in Sunbury. I reckon the nearest usable blackthorn thickets are about a kilometre away at Kempton Park or London Irish/Hazelwood. There is a big ash tree over the road, one of the biggest in this area. I understand they sometimes settle on these. It was a female, which was evident when it flew. It is only the second I have ever seen Donald Prance 25 Aug We recorded 16 Common Blues on our Chorleywood Common survey Philip Gibbs 25 Aug Hounslow. A sunnier day but one of those slightly frustrating ones where the best sightings were the ones that got away unidentified and I was left with only a very tatty Small Skipper as a surprising species identified: Small White: 4, Red Admiral: 3, Holly Blue: 5, Speckled Wood: 24, Meadow Brown: 58, Small Copper: 4, Small Skipper: 1, Small Heath: 3, Gatekeeper: 4, Green-veined White: 1, Brown Argus: 6, Common Blue: 4 Peter Gore 25 Aug At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 2 Meadow Brown, 1 Comma, 1 female Gatekeeper, 2 Red Admiral, 1 Peacock, 2 Small White, 3 Speckled Wood & 1 Green-veined White. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 5 Speckled Wood. 2 Red Admiral nectaring on buddleia at Trent Park. At Oakwood Station (1143-1225 BST) - 4 Red Admiral, 1 Painted Lady, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 female Large White, 2 Small White, 2 Holly Blue & 1 Riband Wave. At Southgate Chase Allotments - 1 female Gatekeeper. 1 Brimstone Moth, 2 Square-spot Rustic & 1 Double-striped Pug at Southgate this evening Robert Callf 24 Aug Hounslow. A pleasantly sunny day with more than a dozen species seen. One was Small Heath with just one seen in what was its strongest area this year, maybe meaning the start of a new brood although it's sometimes difficult to tell when broods begin and end with this species. Still missing is Brimstone - no males of the 2021 brood seen yet and if females have been overlooked amongst unidentified whites I doubt it's more than one or two. This was today's lot: Speckled Wood: 26, Red Admiral: 1, Meadow Brown: 47, Comma: 1, Gatekeeper: 5, Purple Hairstreak: 1, Painted Lady: 1, Holly Blue: 3, Small Copper: 5, Small Heath: 1, Small White: 3, Common Blue: 6, Peacock: 1 and one Jersey Tiger Peter Gore 24 Aug 1 male Orange Swift at Chase Rd/Charter Way, N14 this morning (NFY). At Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Red Admiral flew over 0842 BST. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 4 Speckled Wood & 1 Gatekeeper. At Trent Park - 1 Painted Lady at 0934 BST & 1 male Vapourer at 'Old Golf Course', 3 Red Admiral, 1 Green-veined White, 1 Small Copper near Water Grdn & 1 Mother of Pearl. At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 3 Meadow Brown, 1 female Brown Argus, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Peacock & 1 male Brimstone nectaring on buddleia near Enfield Rd, EN2. At Enfield Rd nr Jolly Farmers' PH - 1 Purple Hairstreak settled on oak at 1128 BST. At Oakwood Station - 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 4 Red Admiral, 1 Peacock & 1 Small White nectaring on buddleia 1139-1149 BST & 1 Yellow Shell Robert Callf 23 Aug St Albans - first time I've visited my allotment in the sun for ten days. Large White and Small White numbers have built and these species are now dominant. Mint Moth and Gypsy Moth numbers have increased and there is a new flush of Speckled Woods. Everything else is in decline, with just 3 Gatekeepers, one Peacock, one Brimstone, one Small Tortoiseshell and two Holly Blues Malcolm Hull 23 Aug 3 Small White, 2 Large White, 1 Red Admiral - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL1930) David Inward 23 Aug On the 18 July I photographed a Silver-washed Fritillary laying an egg, on our Bee Box, and in various other places, in our St Albans garden. We found the egg and on the 3 August the caterpillar emerged. On the night of the 14 August I put out a homemade moth light box and on the 15 August amongst the moths present was a Box-tree Moth Glen Barnes 23 Aug At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 3 Speckled Wood. At Trent Park - 5 Green-veined White, 1 Small White, 1 male Common Blue & 1 Shaded Broad-bar. At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 Speckled Wood, 1 female Gatekeeper & 1 Large White. At Enfield Rd nr Jolly Farmers' PH (TQ309967) - 2 Speckled Wood. At Glenbrook South, EN2 (TQ309963) - 3 Speckled Wood & 1 Jersey Tiger. At Oakwood Station (TQ294959) - 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 2 Red Admiral & 1 Painted Lady nectaring on buddleia 1424-1434 BST. At Southgate Chase Allotments - 1 Small White Robert Callf 22 Aug 2 Small White - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL1930) David Inward 22 Aug At Parkside Farm, Enfield (TQ3098) - 1 Jersey Tiger. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 2 Speckled Wood. At Trent Park - 2 Green-veined White, 1 Peacock, 1 Red Admiral & 1 Speckled Wood. At Enfield Rd, EN2 - 1 Jersey Tiger Robert Callf 22 Aug Vapourer moth this morning at Fishers Green, Stevenage Stefan Hunt 21 Aug 1 male Gypsy Moth at Southgate Robert Callf 20 Aug Jersey Tiger in our Hitchin garden John Foster 20 Aug We have had at least one Jersey Tiger in the garden in Tewin three times in the past week. (Can't say if it is the same one). The first time it had come into the garage (or hatched there) and I had to take it out in a sieve. Also plenty of Peacocks and a couple of Red Admirals. There were few around apart from cabbage whites until the end of the Butterfly Watch on 8th August! Kristina Lawson 20 Aug Aldbury Nowers. 1 Small Copper, 1 Brimstone, 5 Chalkhill Blue, 1 Common Blue, 2 Brown Argus, 10 Meadow Brown, 5 Gatekeeper, 3 Peacock, 10 Large White, 5 Small White Simon Mavin Vanessa Wright 20 Aug At Grovebury Crt/Chase Rd, N14 - 1 Red Admiral on buddleia at 0939 BST. At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 3 Speckled Wood & 1 Jersey Tiger. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Speckled Wood & 1 Red Admiral. At Trent Park - 1 Peacock nectaring on buddleia by lower lake, 1 Comma & 1 male Ruddy Darter near Water Garden, 2 Red Admiral nectaring on white buddleia at Water Garden. At Oakwood Station - 1 Jersey Tiger. 1 Yellow-barred Brindle at Southgate Robert Callf 20 Aug Hounslow. No sun at all today so meeting a young female adder stretched across my path was surprising. She was reluctant to move too! Less intimidating and more expected were the butterflies : Speckled Wood: 2, Meadow Brown: 57, Gatekeeper: 16, Small White: 2, Holly Blue: 1, Brown Argus: 6, Red Admiral: 2, Green-veined White: 3, Small Copper: 2, Common Blue: 1 and one Jersey Tiger right outside my front door as I started my walk Peter Gore 19 Aug Single male Purple Emperor AGAIN at the Hertford Heath territory, less active today, but it did seem to be cooler than yesterday Laurence Drummond 19 Aug A very pleasant hour in the garden observing a Peacock that appears to have taken up residence on my Buddleia. To my astonishment it was then joined by a Purple Hairstreak. A butterfly first for me in my north Watford garden. Also during that hour 5 Large Whites, 4 Small Whites, 2 other Peacocks and Red Admiral John Liberty 19 Aug 2 Peacock, 2 Red Admiral, 1 Comma, 1 Green-veined White, 1 Small White - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL1930) David Inward 19 Aug Hounslow. Not enough sun for maximum numbers, as usual Gatekeepers are taking leave of us as quickly as their numbers grew: Speckled Wood: 13, Green-veined White: 3, Meadow Brown: 61, Red Admiral: 4, Small Copper: 6, Gatekeeper: 19, Purple Hairstreak: 1, Small White: 2, Common Blue: 4, Holly Blue: 5, Painted Lady: 1, Peacock: 1 and two Jersey Tigers Peter Gore 19 Aug 1 Red Admiral & 1 female Gatekeeper nectaring on buddleia at Grovebury Crt/Chase Rd, N14 at 1116 BST. At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 Painted Lady, 2 Comma, 1 male Common Blue, 1 Holly Blue, 1 Small White & 1 Jersey Tiger. At Parkside Farm, Enfield (TQ3098) - 1 Holly Blue. At Trent Park - 4 Red Admiral, 1 female Brown Argus near Ride Wd, 1 Green-veined White, 2 Comma, 2 Peacock, 2 Brimstone - male & female - nectaring on buddleia by lower lake (unusual to see two together at this site) & 2 Jersey Tiger. At Oakwood Station - 2 Red Admiral nectaring on buddleia at 1518 BST. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Red Admiral & 3 Speckled Wood. 1 Brimstone Moth at Southgate at 2350 BST Robert Callf 18 Aug Hiro Takenouchi Whatsapped me, as he returned to look for Brown Hairstreak in Ruislip Gardens. He found at least 4 (rather tatty) males and one magnificent freshly emerged female, all on Field Thistle flowers. So it looks as if the females are only just beginning to emerge, perhaps delayed by the rather cool and often poor weather? Andrew Neild 18 Aug At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 Red Admiral & 1 Peacock. At Parkside Farm, Enfield (TQ3098) - 1 female Brown Argus at 1448 BST. At Park Farm/Hadley Rd (TQ2998) - 1 Comma. At Trent Park - 1 Painted Lady at 'Old Golf Course' at 1537 BST. At Enfield Rd/Jolly Farmers' PH - 1 Holly Blue. At ASDA Southgate - 1 Brimstone Moth Robert Callf 18 Aug A single male Purple Emperor STILL at the territory, Hertford Heath this afternoon Laurence Drummond 17 Aug Tring. Returned home from work tonight to find Gypsy Moth on shed wall Chris Hilling 17 Aug This morning - 1 Garden Carpet & 2 Straw Underwing at Southgate (would have entered the flat in the last few days, but not last night) Robert Callf 17 Aug 15 Aug I met up with Rick after he informed me of White Admirals still on the wing on Friday 13th! We went to Whippendell Woods to check on the White Admiral situation as I had the opportunity and the weather wasn't quite as dreadful as lately. We did indeed encounter the White Admiral and Silver-washed Fritillary mostly tatty specimens. I very much doubt they will go beyond this week as there were lots of dragonflies also in the woodland. Only one Meadow Brown spotted by Rick I didn't see one, nor a Gatekeeper on this visit. As for numbers may as well start with Whites, the part I wasn't overly diverting my attention to. Certainly 2 Large White, Of the other 20+ seen, 1 Green-veined White photographed, the rest of their identities unaccounted for. With White Admiral though 3 seen 2 at "Camilla Oak" and one at different spot in the woods by some honeysuckle that Rick had discovered, I suspect was a female. Silver-washed Fritillary 6+ most tatty males apart from a female on a tree looking in much better condition. Otherwise Red Admiral 3, Comma 2, Speckled Wood 2 Peter Fewell 16 Aug At Trent Park - 2 Jersey Tiger near Oakwood entrance, 1 Red Admiral nectaring on buddleia by lower lake. At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Peacock, 1 Red Admiral, 2 Speckled Wood, 2 Jersey Tiger. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 2 Speckled Wood. 1 Small White (fresh) at Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield (TQ2998) & 1 Straw Underwing at ASDA Southgate this afternoon Robert Callf 15 Aug Spotted a Jersey Tiger in our Letchworth garden Mike & Bella Adams 15 Aug At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 Red Admiral & 1 Jersey Tiger. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 2 Speckled Wood & 1 Purple Hairstreak Robert Callf 15 Aug Hounslow. Warm and humid but not much sun. Numbers seen better than I expected: Painted Lady: 1, Speckled Wood: 9, Meadow Brown: 63, Gatekeeper: 39, Comma: 2, Green-veined White: 3, Small Copper: 5, Common Blue: 2, Brown Argus: 6, Holly Blue: 4, Red Admiral: 2, Peacock: 6, Small White: 1 and two Jersey Tigers Peter Gore 15 Aug Ickenham Meadows, Ruislip. The weather wasn't entirely favourable for my first visit this year. The morning was entirely overcast with occasional sprinkling of rain but was warm and windless enough to tempt out the Brown Hairstreak. I stayed in largely the same place for most of the morning so it is difficult to be certain how many individuals I saw but there was a surprising amount of activity around the immature ash trees at TQ093858, even in quite gloomy conditions. I estimate there were at least 3 males here. The afternoon was largely sunny but much windier and male activity was considerably reduced. I saw a further 5 Brown Hairstreak, including a couple of males in the ashes near the railway line. Unfortunately, I didn't see any Brown Hairstreak nectaring or perched at a low level. Other butterflies seen included Gatekeeper (numerous), Meadow Brown, Green-veined White, Small White, Small Heath, Speckled Wood, Peacock, Red Admiral, Comma, Small Copper, Holly Blue, and Common Blue (about 5, which is more of this species than I have seen of late) Ian Watts 14 Aug One male Purple Emperor still at the Hertford Heath territory this afternoon Laurence Drummond 14 Aug At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 2 Jersey Tiger & 1 Speckled Wood. At Parkside Farm, Enfield (TQ3098) - 1 Holly Blue. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Comma settled on metal gate. At Trent Park - 1 Green-veined White, 4 Peacock including three nectaring on buddleia by lower lake & 2 Red Admiral. At ASDA Southgate - 1 Ruby Tiger. 1 male Gypsy Moth at Southgate at 2130 BST Robert Callf 14 Aug St Albans - Peacocks out in force today, feeding on buddleia, but also seeking out hibernation spots. I've watched them patrolling up and down the street, perching on houses and closely examining them for suitable winter retreats. Chimney pots, velum windows, eaves under roofs and open doors and windows have all been explored in detail. At least 5 separate individuals, but almost certainly more. Interestingly no more had actually entered my hibernation shed this week. They need to fuel up before entering hibernation and can't do that in cool overcast conditions like we've had in the last week. Other butterflies in the garden/allotment today include Red Admiral, Brimstone, Holly Blue, Large White, Small White, Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown. Gypsy Moths have also appeared this week, but seemingly in much smaller numbers than last year Malcolm Hull 14 Aug 1 Large White - St Faiths Close south, Hitchin David Inward 13 Aug An explosion of Brimstones at Aldbury Nowers, with 30+ spotted. Also: 1 Silver-washed Fritillary, 25+ Chalkhill Blue, 3 Common Blue, 3 Brown Argus, 20+ Meadow Brown, 20+ Gatekeeper, 4 Peacock, 10 Large White, 1 Green-veined White, 1 Red Admiral, 2 Speckled Wood Simon Mavin Vanessa Wright 13 Aug Having read so much about Heartwood Forest, I made my first trip up there today. I am so very grateful to the Branch for introducing me to such a incredible place. I then made my way along the Hertfordshire Way to St Albans. Despite being largely overcast I saw Common Blue, Holly Blue, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Green-veined White, Large White, Small White, Painted Lady, Peacock and Speckled Wood. I also saw the spectacular site of a female Green Emperor or Migrant Hawker Dragonfly take a Small White in the air and devour it on the wing whilst picking off the butterfly's wings one by one. I didn't even know dragonflies ate butterflies. It was all quite disturbing!! Nicholas Barnett 13 Aug A Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing at Southgate - would have entered flat last night. 1 Jersey Tiger at Southgate. At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 2 Speckled Wood & 1 female Brown Argus. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Speckled Wood, 1 Purple Hairstreak, 2 Red Admiral & 1 Silver Y. At Parkside House, Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Jersey Tiger. At Trent Park - 1 Peacock nectaring on buddleia by lower lake. At Vicarage Farm, Enfield near Williams Wd (TQ2997) - 1 male Common Blue. 1 female Large White near Enfield Rd at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) Robert Callf 13 Aug Captured this beautiful butterfly, Painted Lady this morning about 8 on a sunflower in my Queensbury garden Fred Harris 12 Aug 1 Straw Underwing caught at Southgate at 0036 BST - my first of the year. 1 Jersey Tiger at Chase Rd near Catherine Crt. 1 Jersey Tiger at Enfield Rd near Jolly Farmers' PH. 1 Small Copper, 1 Shaded Broad-bar & 1 Straw Dot at Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield (TQ2998). 1 Comma at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097). 1 Peacock settled with wings closed near outside lights at ASDA Southgate Robert Callf 11 Aug Branch Event Eleven people gathered at Stafford Road Open Space for the guided butterfly walk where the primary target was the Brown Hairstreak. Given the report on the Branch sightings page for 4th August, down to an actual Grid reference, it was going to be relatively easy wasn't it? Not so! The butterfly list built up en route, more of that later, but the area of interest was reached and every thistle flower examined without success. The dilemma is, how long do you stand around staring at a patch of thistles? The group moved on out into the field where the males can possibly be seen up at the tops of the ash trees, but not today. So, it was back to the thistle patch but still no luck. At this point we were joined by Andrew Wood who had come independently and already seen three Brown Hairstreaks, so he guided us back to the spot. It was not long before the elusive butterfly was seen, not on thistles but on top of a bramble leaf. We were in a narrow path so there was a bit of a scramble to get a view. Totally unnecessary as it turned out, it stayed around and moved to a thistle flower virtually at eye level and totally ignored the battery of cameras now concentrated on it. The following butterflies were also seen by most, but not all, of the group: Speckled Wood; Small White; Gatekeeper; Meadow Brown; Small Heath; Common Blue; Brown Argus; Large White; Peacock; Purple Hairstreak; Red Admiral; Green-veined White; Ringlet; Large Skipper; Holly Blue and Comma. Also noted were the following moths: Straw Dot; Shaded Broad-bar; Jersey Tiger and Blood-vein. Video clip © Andrew Wood Dick Middleton 11 Aug Ruislip Gardens. I missed the group walk, but had a look around on my own. One Brown Hairstreak which posed nicely on a thistle and then obligingly opened its wings. Pair of Common Blues mating, also saw Gatekeeper, Comma, Peacock, Small Copper and Large White Matt Lilley 11 Aug Hounslow. A sunny day with reasonable numbers and variety including only the second White-letter Hairstreak seen this year and unexpected, nectaring on thistle well away from elms. Speckled Wood seems to have increased numbers to healthier levels after a very poor year to date: Small White: 1, Speckled Wood: 21, Holly Blue: 5, Gatekeeper: 51, Meadow Brown: 57, Small Copper: 4, Red Admiral: 6, Comma: 4, Brown Argus: 8, Green-veined White: 2, Common Blue: 4, Peacock: 2, Painted Lady: 1, White-letter Hairstreak: 1 and six Jersey Tigers Peter Gore 11 Aug We arrived at Hexton Chalk Pit at around 1:30 pm and in 2 hours of good sunny spells we estimated at least 300 Chalkhill Blues of mostly males in varying condition. It was quite an experience watching half a dozen males chasing one female on several occasions. This species was by far the most abundant with others seen: Gatekeeper 5, Meadow Brown 5, Brimstone 5, Small White 2, Marbled White 2 and Peacock 6 Peter Clarke Phil Barron 11 Aug Busy day recording butterflies around Ware. First overnight I recorded 52 Jersey Tiger moths, the highest count so far in 2021. Garden buddleias produced 19 Peacock, 1 Painted Lady, 6 Red Admiral but also 1 Comma and 2 Small Tortoiseshell. I then went to High Cross to complete my Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey. As usual, butterflies numbers were generally low but 12 species were recorded including a Brown Argus and Small Copper. From there I went to Ware Cemetery and walked down Wengeo Lane towards the river and across the Meads to the edge of Hertford and back - in total I walked 5 miles. A small area of grassland by the GSK car park was very productive, stacks of buddleia and finally I found 1 Painted Lady in TL3414. Additional highlight was 5 Common Blue. As usual for me the Meads (TL3412) were very unproductive and despite walking for about 4 miles and seeing stacks of thistles, no Painted Lady were seen. Only noteworthy species were a Small Copper, Brown Argus and Essex Skipper. I returned home to find the Painted Lady still on my garden buddleia!!!! I think by far yesterday was the better day for Peacock and Red Admiral on buddleias and probably the result of the previous day's rain. As today warmed up, the numerous buddleias I walked past did have both Peacock and Red Admiral but nothing like yesterday's numbers or my garden first thing this morning when the dew was probably still present Liz Goodyear 11 Aug Therfield Heath (Church Hill): Adonis Blues (second generation) are now emerging on Church Hill. There are still plenty of Chalkhill Blues about, and numbers of Common Blues and Brown Argus are increasing. There has been a significant emergence of Brimstone butterflies in the last few days, but other species are declining or have disappeared and I haven't seen any Small Heath butterflies anywhere on the heath for over two weeks. Species seen: Brimstone (20-25), Large White, Small White, Brown Argus (30+), Common Blue (15+), Adonis Blue (5 males, 1 female), Chalkhill Blue (100+), Silver-washed Fritillary (one tatty male), Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Peacock, Comma, Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown Martin Johnson 11 Aug I did my August count at my WCBS square at Northaw Great Wood. There were a few Peacocks and Red Admirals around, but very little else. There wasn't much forage about except bramble and the odd honeysuckle blossom. I was wondering whether I'd see anything else, when towards the end, on the only Ragwort plant in sight, I saw on Middleway there were a group of 8 Gatekeepers on and around it Dee Cullen 11 Aug This morning - 2 Beautiful Plume & 1 Willow Beauty at Southgate. This afternoon - at Trent Park - 2 Green-veined White edge of Ride Wd, 1 Small White along Leeging Beech Gutter near 'Three-bridges', 1 Holly Blue at Water Garden, 1 Comma near Water Garden, 1 Small Copper nectaring on ragwort near Ride Wd, 6 Peacock & 1 Red Admiral nectaring on buddleia by lower lake. At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 Holly Blue along Leeging Beech Gutter, 1 Red Admiral & 2 Jersey Tiger. 1 Red Admiral at Oakwood Station. 1 Peacock & 1 Red Admiral settled on damp mud at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) this afternoon. Last night at Southgate - 2 Yellow Shell Robert Callf 10 Aug A walk at Heartwood Forest east of the B651 on the footpath within Heartwood Forest running NE adjacent to Coleman's Green Lane between the junctions with Drover's Lane and Tower Hill Lane from 2pm to 3.45pm this afternoon produced Small/Essex Skipper 7, Brimstone 2, unidentified Whites 30+, Green-veined White, 2, Small White 3, White-letter Hairstreak 1, Common Blue 1 male, Holly Blue 1, Brown Argus 1, Comma 4, Red Admiral 2, Peacock 12 at least, Small Heath 7, Meadow Brown 20+, Gatekeeper 30+, 6-spot Burnet 1. The White-letter Hairstreak was nectaring on thistles beside the footpath NE of TL183119 at waist height at the foot of the apparently healthy hedgerow elms between the junction of the bridle path NW from Coleman's Green Lane and the junction with Castle Hill Lane - my first local WLHS of the year Peter Waldron 10 Aug At Trent Park - 1 Painted Lady nectaring on buddleia near Oakwood entrance at 1040 BST, 2 male Brimstone (1 at 'Old Golf Course', 1 at Water Garden), 10 Peacock (8 nectaring on buddleia by lower lake, 2 nectaring on buddleia at Water Garden), 3 Red Admiral, 1 Comma, 1 Large White edge of Moat Wd & 1 Jersey Tiger. At Parkside Farm/ Res., Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Painted Lady & 1 male Common Blue. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Peacock, 1 Holly Blue & 1 Red Admiral. At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 3 Red Admiral, 1 Painted Lady, 1 Peacock, 1 Small Heath, 1 Comma & 1 Jersey Tiger. 1 Brimstone Moth at Southgate at 2203 BST Robert Callf 10 Aug A single male Purple Emperor at the territory, Hertford Heath, TL349107 this afternoon Laurence Drummond 10 Aug 1 Meadow Brown - Walsworth Commmon, Hitchin (TL1930) David Inward 10 Aug Garden bonanza of butterflies in Ware with my first Painted Lady sighting since August 2019 but more significant was 17 Peacock spread between the garden buddleias, my highest count since 2001. Also 6 Red Admiral, Gatekeeper, 2 Brimstone (male + female), Small White, Large White, Green-veined White, Holly Blue and 1 White-letter Hairstreak nectaring on Hemp Agrimony. Spurred on by the Painted Lady sighting I went for a walk starting by the A10 on Cold Christmas Lane. The track by the A10 towards the River, produced 21 Peacock, 2 Gatekeeper, Comma, 4 Red Admiral and a Large White. The footpath by the river 8 Peacock, Brimstone, Comma, 9 Red Admiral and 1 Jersey Tiger. In Wadesmill (TL3416) various buddleias produced at least 4 Peacock, 5 Red Admiral, 2 Comma, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, Large White and Holly Blue. I then walked towards Chelsing Farm and Chelsings Tributary where I added Green-veined White, Small White, Meadow Brown, 1 Small Heath, 1 Essex Skipper, 3 Brown Argus, 1 Silver Y moth and 1 Small Copper and finally 2 Painted Lady close to Lord's Wood Liz Goodyear 10 Aug A Jersey Tiger landed on the outside of my kitchen window in Ealing John Eborall 10 Aug I had a first for my South Mymms garden midday, with a Silver-washed Fritillary feeding on my Buddleia bush together with a Jersey Tiger moth, 5 Peacock and 3 Red Admiral. Also in the garden were 2 Small White and a Holly Blue Terry Wood 10 Aug A Jersey Tiger on our folding doors at Braughing Bridget Edgson 10 Aug I have seen a Jersey Tiger on my kitchen window in New Barnet this morning Anna Wood 9 Aug At Trent Park - 1 Jersey Tiger nectaring on buddleia near Oakwood entrance, 1 Green-veined White, 1 Small Copper, 1 Shaded Broad-bar, 2 Comma (1 nectaring on thistle near Triangular Wd, 1 nectaring on buddleia by lower lake), 1 Small Skipper, 1 Six-spot Burnet, 11 Peacock including eight nectaring on buddleia by lower lake, 5 Red Admiral (2 together near Nature Trail, 3 nectaring on buddleia by lower lake), 1 Purple Hairstreak settled on oak Sect 5 'New Fields', 1 Speckled Wood. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Peacock. At Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 male Common Blue. At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 Red Admiral, 1 Small Skipper & 1 Silver Y Robert Callf 9 Aug St Albans - in a brief sunny spell at lunchtime 2 Peacocks in my garden and 10 Peacocks on my allotment. In both locations numbers were just under half those at the end of last week, again suggesting hibernation is well underway. Other species on the wing included Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Holly Blue, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Large White and Small White Malcolm Hull 8 Aug 3 Aug. I saw my first White-letter Hairstreak at Aldbury Nowers. It was in the sheep paddock to the right of the track as you head uphill, feeding on Ragwort Lynne Lambert 8 Aug At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Peacock, 1 Red Admiral, 2+ male Common Blue & 1 Jersey Tiger nectaring on thistle. At Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Jersey Tiger. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Speckled Wood, 1 Ringlet, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Small Skipper & 1 Jersey Tiger. At Trent Park - 1 Comma nectaring on buddleia at Water Garden Robert Callf 8 Aug 1 Small White - St Faiths Close south, Hitchin David Inward 8 Aug Walking across Harrow School Fields in dull weather I saw 2 Gatekeepers, 4 Meadow Brown, 1 Small White and 2 Jersey Tiger moths Michael Robinson 7 Aug At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 Green-veined White, 1 Peacock, 2 Red Admiral, 1 Small Skipper, 1 Painted Lady & 1 Silver Y. At Trent Park - 2 Green-veined White, 1 Speckled Wood & 4 Ruddy Darter including a pair copulating/egg-laying. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Green-veined White, 1 Peacock, 2 Speckled Wood & 1 Jersey Tiger. At Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Small Copper. Last night - 1 Scalloped Oak & 1 Willow Beauty Robert Callf 7 Aug St Albans garden - I investigated the appearance of small holes in the leaves of my mullein plants - and found an Angle Shades caterpillar. The number of Peacocks on buddleia was much reduced today, I suspect that many are now in hibernation Malcolm Hull 7 Aug 1 Small White - St Faiths Close south, Hitchin David Inward 6 Aug 2 male Purple Emperors clashing at the territory, Hertford Heath TL349107, in a good sunny spell 13.30 Laurence Drummond 6 Aug At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 Peacock nectaring on thistle & 1 Small White near Allotments. At Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Green-veined White. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 3 Green-veined White & 1 Mother of Pearl. At Trent Park - 1 Red Admiral near obelisk, 2 Green-veined White, 3 Peacock nectaring on buddleia by lower lake. 1 Red Admiral nectaring on buddleia at Southgate Chase Allotments at 1522 BST. At Oakwood Station - 2 Peacock, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Comma & 1 Holly Blue. 1 Speckled Wood along Leeging Beech Gutter N of Williams Wd at Vicarage Farm (TQ2997). At ASDA Southgate - 1 Least Carpet & 2 Riband Wave Robert Callf 6 Aug St Albans - Hibernating butterflies update. Today's survey of my shed identified 1 hibernating Small Tortoiseshell and 2 Peacocks. Both figures are well down on the same week in previous years. There are still many Peacocks on the wing - yesterday I had 25 (at least) on my allotment and 7 in the garden. However there have been few Small Tortoiseshells flying this summer - just one in each location yesterday. Also a rare daylight sighting of a Shuttle-shaped Dart in my garden Malcolm Hull 5 Aug A work colleague showed me this extraordinary photo of a Purple Emperor that he found at his water butt in Hemel Hempstead, this morning. It had somehow fallen into the water butt, but was carefully coaxed out, using a dustpan, as per the photo below! It dried out and eventually flew off (Charles Luckhurst) 5 Aug Male Oak Eggar in flight at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) this afternoon at 1511 BST. At ASDA Southgate - 1 White Plume Moth Robert Callf 5 Aug 3 Peacock, 1 Comma, 1 Large White, 2 Green-veined White (Big Butterfly Counts) - Walsworth Commmon, Hitchin (TL1930) David Inward 5 Aug A leisurely walk around Heartwood Forest and Nomansland Common on a warm and sunny day yielded a good selection of sightings: Purple Hairstreak: 1 (at head height on and around a young oak, with some nice views with wings open); Painted Lady: 5; Peacock: 20+; Marbled White: 1; Common Blue: 3; Brimstone: 2; Speckled Wood: 2; Red Admiral: 2; my first Small Copper of the year; Dusky Sallow moth; and lots of Gatekeepers. Bonus rare winged form of the Roesel's Bush Cricket! Annie Sutcliffe 4 Aug Hounslow. More sun and more butterflies. A Painted Lady in my garden when I got home made a good finish to the day: Small White: 4, Peacock: 18, Gatekeeper: 115, Large White: 4, Meadow Brown: 190, Small Copper: 5, Speckled Wood: 6, Red Admiral: 5, Holly Blue: 11, Green-veined White: 8, Common Blue: 6, Comma: 7, Purple Hairstreak: 6, Small Skipper: 5, Brown Argus: 13, Large Skipper: 1, Painted Lady: 1 and six Jersey Tigers - only seeing one at a time of these and very far spread across the area Peter Gore 4 Aug 5 Large Whites, a stunning Peacock and a Jersey Tiger moth in my Watford garden John Liberty 4 Aug Inspired by earlier reports of Brown Hairstreak in Ruislip Gardens by my friend Hiro Takenouchi, we met up today and he showed me all the best haunts for this wonderful species. Between 11:15 and 13:00 we saw at least 9 freshly hatched males, and a single female in not such great shape (the approach of an ominous dark cloud stopped play!). All individuals were on flowers of Field Thistle, despite the abundance of other nectar sources, especially Bramble and Ragwort. They were remarkably tame, and stayed on the flowers even during the cloudy periods between the sunny spells. The path with the greatest number of individuals is located at the western edge (TQ 09153 85725), but we saw several to the south of here down towards the border fence with RAF Northolt. For those wishing to visit, there's plenty of parking (unrestricted) around the junction of Stafford Rd with Bedford Rd. Why not visit the site on Wednesday 11 August for a guided butterfly walk Andrew Neild 4 Aug 1 Small White - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin; 1 Red Admiral, 1 Peacock, 1 Comma, 2 Small White, 1 Large White (Big Butterfly Count) - St Faiths Close south, Hitchin David Inward 4 Aug At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Green-veined White, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Jersey Tiger & 2 Mother of Pearl. At Trent Park - 13 Peacock including eleven nectaring on buddleia by lower lake at 0950 BST, 2 Comma, 2 Red Admiral. At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 Peacock & 1 Purple Hairstreak settled on bramble at 1054 BST. At Oakwood Station - 2 Red Admiral, 1 Peacock, 1 Small White, 1 Large White, 1 Green-veined White & 1 Holly Blue. At ASDA Southgate - 1 Jersey Tiger, 2 Riband Wave & 1 Silver Y Robert Callf 3 Aug Jersey Tiger in our Hitchin garden John Foster 3 Aug Hounslow. Despite several cloudy spells this was another good day for both variety and numbers of butterflies seen: Meadow Brown: 130, Gatekeeper: 119, Speckled Wood: 6, Green-veined White: 7, Brown Argus: 15, Small White: 3, Comma: 6, Large White: 3, Small Copper: 5, Painted Lady: 2, Small Skipper: 4, Peacock: 11, Common Blue: 2, Red Admiral: 3, Holly Blue: 2, Ringlet: 1 and three Jersey Tigers Peter Gore 3 Aug 1 Red Admiral - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin David Inward 3 Aug 1 Beautiful Plume at Southgate this morning at 0045 BST. 2 Least Carpet at Southgate this morning & 1 Jersey Tiger this afternoon. At Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Painted Lady. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Jersey Tiger, 1 Silver Y, 1 Speckled Wood & 1 Peacock. At Trent Park - 3 Red Admiral, 3 Green-veined White, 1 Small White & 13 Peacock including eight together near buddleia by lower lake, 1 male Brimstone edge of Water Garden. At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 Small Skipper, 1 Painted Lady, 1 Peacock, 1 Comma & 1 Shaded Broad-bar Robert Callf 3 Aug Roughdown Common. A good number of different species on a warm but overcast afternoon. Small White 13, Large White 3, Peacock 1, Red Admiral 6, Gatekeeper 4, Meadow Brown 13, Common Blue 3, Small Copper 1, most exciting of all - White-letter Hairstreak 1, spotted on a low elm sapling leaf in the chalk dell (this is the first recorded sighting at this location) Brendan Sheridan 3 Aug I had a walk between 10-30 and 11.30 in the wooded/meadow areas at the top of the hill in Verulamium Park bounded by King Harry Lane and Bluehouse Hill (TL134066-TL134070). The weather was part sunny and warm/part cloudy. I saw the following butterfly species, thistles being popular for feeding: Small Copper 1, Comma 2, Brimstone 1, Peacock 3, Meadow Brown 1, Small White 1, Small/Essex Skipper 1, with Gatekeeper and Green-veined White numerous David Baker 2 Aug 1 Jersey Tiger at Southgate. 1 Peacock nectaring on buddleia at Grovebury Crt/Chase Rd, N14 at 1116 BST. At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 3 Peacock, 1 Comma, 1 male Common Blue. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 4 Peacock, 1 Painted Lady nectaring on thistles, 1 female Large White. At Trent Park - 1 male Large White, 2 Ringlet, 3 Red Admiral, 16 Peacock (13 together mostly settled on bramble near buddleia by lower lake, 3 near Shaws Wd), 1 Comma & 3 Green-veined White including a pair copulating this afternoon. 1 male Gypsy Moth at ASDA Southgate Robert Callf 2 Aug 1 Large White, 1 Meadow Brown - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin David Inward 2 Aug I had a walk at Heartwood between 10 and 11 am and saw a single male Silver-washed Fritillary fluttering around a bramble bush and occasionally landing. I was on a bridle track skirting Pudler's Wood following Route 1 (TL159117) of the 'Heartwood Butterflies' book by Brian Legg and co-authors. I also saw 5 Painted Ladies, 3 Red Admirals, 2 Small Heaths as well as numerous Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns, Small Whites and Green-veined Whites David Baker 1 Aug At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 2 Comma & 3 Peacock. At Parkside Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Peacock. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 male Oak Eggar, 1 Peacock, 1 Red Admiral & 2 Green-veined White. At Trent Park - 2 Peacock nectaring on buddleia by lower lake & 1 Common Carpet near Water Garden. 1 Small Skipper near Wiliams Wd. 1 Red Admiral nectaring on buddleia at Windmill Hill near Enfield Chase Station (TQ322967) at 1556 BST Robert Callf 1 Aug Water Meadows next to River Ver, Redbournbury (TL 122 103). 3 Common Blue, 1 Brown Argus, 1 Comma, 5 Meadow Brown, 10 Large White, 5 Small White, 1 Green-veined White, 5 Ringlet. 1 Small Tortoiseshell and 1 Painted Lady in garden at Gabriel Square, St Albans Simon Mavin Vanessa Wright 1 Aug Had a quick stroll through Tunnel Gardens lots of wild carrot, common knapweed, creeping thistle and birds foot trefoil in flower. I saw 6 Gatekeepers, 3 Speckled Woods, 7 Meadow Brown, 1 very fresh Peacock, and 4 whites in flight Miles Attenborough July Date Description Recorder 31 Jul Ashridge close to Aldbury along bridleway 14 the Chiltern Way. After finding 17 species there last year including a valezina Silver-washed Fritillary we decided to try this open area again. With the rain we wondered weather we would even see a Ringlet. The rain did stop and the sun did appear for a while enabling us to see 12 confirmed species most in the first 10 minutes on arriving. Meadow Brown 10+, Ringlet 15+, Gatekeeper 10+, Small Skipper 10+, Large Skipper 3, Red Admiral 1, Comma 2, Silver-washed Fritillary 6, Purple Hairstreak 5+, Peacock 1, Green-veined White at least 2, Large Whites 10+, and I suspect that some of the other whites on the wing were probably small. Late afternoon we went to Aldbury Nowers to see if we could find a Chalkhill Blue. Not ideal weather as it started raining of which became more persistent. However we did manage to find some butterflies at the northern end. Marbled White 1, Chalkhill Blue 8, Common Blue (female) 1, Large Skipper 1, Green-veined White 1, Gatekeeper 2, Ringlet 6+, Meadow Brown 6+ Peter Fewell 31 Jul On brambles and wild flowers on edge of playing fields off Toulmin Drive, St Albans (TL 139095). Plus 1 Red Admiral on access road to Cheapside Farm, St Albans. 5 Ringlet, 10 Meadow Brown, 30+ Gatekeeper, 3 Peacock, 2 Comma, 5 Large White, 5 Small White, 1 Speckled Wood Simon Mavin Vanessa Wright 31 Jul 23 July from Whippendell Woods and Cassiobury Park. Whippendell Woods, the Silver-washed Fritillary has been doing well and numbers seem to be back to the level they were a few years back 30+. I went to see how the White Admirals were fairing up 2 spotted and possibly a third at "Camilla Oak" and 1 on brambles along a path with elm, of which I was looking out for White-letter Hairstreaks. I saw a hairstreak sized butterfly flutter into the elm and there it stayed. No good for a confirmation as there is oak very close and may have been a purple one. Speaking of Purple Hairstreaks only 3 seen very disappointing as they had a bumper year in 2020. Other than that Comma 7, Peacock 6, Large Skipper 1, Speckled Wood 1, Gatekeeper 2, Ringlet 12, Meadow Brown 5, Whites numerous (I wasn't particularly focusing on the Whites and browns.) In Cassiobury Park. Wasn't there long but saw 2 Marbled White, 2 Small Copper, 1 Green-veined White a good number of Small/Essex Skipper, Meadow Brown and Ringlet and other Whites. Bumped into the local maths teacher Jarek who was the only person on my last walk in 2018 and the only person to photograph White-Letter Hairstreak with us. Well he managed to photograph a Purple Emperor in Whippendell Woods on the 14th July. A male with wing damage feeding from a muddy patch along one of the rides Peter Fewell 31 Jul At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 Holly Blue settled on wet mud near Allotments 1054 BST, 1 Speckled Wood, 4 Red Admiral, 1 Marbled White, 2+ Purple Hairstreak along Leeging Beech Gutter, 1 Peacock, 1 Comma & 1 Jersey Tiger. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Red Admiral & 1 Jersey Tiger. At Trent Park - 13 Peacock (8 together nectaring on buddleia by lower lake, 1302-1304 BST, 5 nectaring on buddleia edge of Shaws Wd at 1330 BST), 1 Red Admiral nectaring on buddleia by lower lake, 1 Comma nectaring on buddleia by lower lake, 1 Jersey Tiger near Shaws Wd. At Enfield Rd, EN2 - 1 Jersey Tiger Robert Callf 31 Jul Folly Lane allotment, St Albans - although the morning here was overcast, there were some brief spells of hazy sun before the rain came. This prompted a feeding frenzy amongst the butterflies on my allotment plot, with most individuals seemingly glued to flowers, except when disturbed and they whirled around in clouds. Peacocks (6) had a clear preference for Buddleia and Inula. Red Admiral (2), Painted Lady (1) and Comma (2) all favoured Buddleia. Gatekeepers (about 20) preferred Marjoram, Hemp Agrimony and Bramble. Green-veined Whites (3) were all on Hemp Agrimony, Small Whites (10) on Inula and Verbena, and Large Whites (15) just about anything. Brimstone (1) was on Inula, Meadow Browns (5), Small Tortoiseshell (1) and Small Skipper (1) just joining in the fun. Holly Blue (1) was on Bramble and Silver Y (1) and White-letter Hairstreak (1) were both on Ragwort. I've never seen WLH nectaring on this flower before. It's the first one I've recorded on this site for around 15 years - good news as this species appears to have had another poor year locally Malcolm Hull 30 Jul 1 Meal Moth at Southgate this morning. 1 Ruby Tiger at ASDA Southgate this afternoon - a new species for the year Robert Callf 29 Jul This White-letter Hairstreak was found at the far end of Old Copse Drive, Ashridge (SP 968122) at 3.15 this afternoon. I've never seen one on the Ashridge Estate before and this one seems to be in very good condition considering the date Rikki Harrington 29 Jul Despite a stiff breeze, I managed to find a large male Purple Emperor holding territory around large Ash trees at Birchanger Wood nr Bishops Stortford, TL 504221 this afternoon. A quick visit to Hertford Heath 15.00, one male Purple Emperor on territory around Oaks off the Roundings, TL349107 Laurence Drummond 29 Jul St Albans: Marshalswick (TL172092): Painted Lady (1), Peacock (1), Red Admiral (1) - all on buddleia; Jersey Lane (TL174093): Comma (1); Jersey Lagoon (TL176097): Gatekeeper Tony Kavanagh 29 Jul 1 Comma at Grovebury Crt/Chase Rd, N14 (TQ296949) at 1325 BST. 1 Red Admiral at Charter Way/Chase Rd, N14 (TQ295950) at 1327 BST. At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 Small Copper nectaring on ragwort, 3 Peacock, 4 Comma, 1 Red Admiral & 1 Marbled White. At Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Small Copper, 1 Comma & 1 Peacock. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 3 Peacock & 2 Comma. At Trent Park - 1 Peacock edge of Moat Wd. At Silver St, Enfield Town (TQ328966) - 1 Red Admiral settled at 1811 BST Robert Callf 29 Jul Hounslow. Despite cloud and breeziness plenty of butterflies to be seen: Gatekeeper: 99, Meadow Brown: 105, Speckled Wood: 8, Red Admiral: 5, Purple Hairstreak: 1, Small Copper: 12, Comma: 5, Peacock: 9, Green-veined White: 6, Common Blue: 6, Small Skipper: 4, Small White: 4, Brown Argus: 6, Painted Lady: 1, Ringlet: 1 and a Jersey Tiger Peter Gore 28 Jul Freshly emerged Red Admiral drying out on a car number plate just after 7pm in Stevenage Old Town Stefan Hunt 28 Jul At Southgate: 1 Twenty-plume Moth at 0104 BST, identified a Kent Black Arches at 0150 BST - a new species for me (I have identified Least Black Arches before). 3 Red Admiral at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097). 1 male Oak Eggar over lower lake, Trent Park at 1746 BST. 1 White Satin Moth at ASDA Southgate Robert Callf 27 Jul St Albans - Peacock right outside my office window - photographed from my desk. Two Small White caterpillars on nasturtium in my salad bed, disturbed while harvesting my lunch Malcolm Hull 27 Jul 1 Willow Beauty at Southgate at 0010 BST. 1 Black Arches at Southgate this morning - my first of the year. At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 2 Painted Lady, 1 Marbled White, 3 Red Admiral, 2 Comma. At Parkside Farm, Enfield (TQ3098) - 1 female Large White & 2 Green-veined White. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 3 Peacock & 1 Red Admiral. At Bay Farm, Enfield (TQ297985) - 2 Red Admiral & 1 Peacock. At Bay Farm, Enfield near Brooke Wd (TQ303985) - 1 Marbled White. At Brooke Wd, Enfield (TQ304985) - 1 Speckled Wood. At Chase Farm Hospital (TQ311980) - 1 Peacock. At Rectory Farm, Enfield (TQ308984) - 2 Gatekeeper - male & female. At Strayfield Road, Enfield (TQ315989) - 1 Comma. At Flash Lane, EN2 (TQ304985) - 1 Speckled Wood. At Hilly Fields Park, Enfield (TQ319983) - 1 Red Admiral. At Gordon Hill Station (TQ318977) - 1 Red Admiral, 2 Least Carpet & 2 Endotricha flammealis. 2 Clay at Southgate at 2355 BST Robert Callf 26 Jul Brown Hairstreak at Ruislip Gardens/Ickenham Marsh (TQ0985) Hiro Takenouchi 26 Jul What a week it's turning out to be! Having already added two colourful but less common varieties to my all-time list, the spectacular Purple Emperor and the delightful Silver-washed Fritillary, I can now add yet another, the very eye-catching valezina variant of the SWF family. This was sighted about halfway along the line of the telegraph poles at Symondshyde Great Wood (TL194111) together with the regulation Silver-washed Fritillary (8), Speckled Wood (2), Green-veined White (2); Comma (1), Ringlet (1), Meadow Brown (1) and several Large White & Small White Tony Kavanagh 26 Jul Reed - Rokey Wood (TL 374357): Silver-washed Fritillary (1 male - the first that I've seen here). Also, Purple Hairstreak (3+) nearby and a good variety of common woodland and grassland butterflies in the area Martin Johnson 26 Jul At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 Small Copper nectaring on ragwort at 1352 BST, 1 Small Skipper, 1 Marbled White, 1 Peacock, 2 Comma & 1 female Large White. At Parkside Farm, Enfield (TQ3098) - 1 Jersey Tiger - my first of the year. At Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Peacock & 1 Small Skipper. 1 Peacock at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998). At Trent Park - 7 Peacock including two nectaring on buddleia, edge of Shaws Wd, 6 Comma including two together near Ride Wd, three near Water Garden & 1 nectaring on buddleia, edge of Shaws Wd, 1 Red Admiral nectaring on buddleia edge of Shaws Wd. 2 Marbled White at Vicarage Farm, Enfield near Shaws Wd (TQ2997). 1 White Satin Moth at ASDA Southgate - a second record here Robert Callf 26 Jul I came back from a day out to be greeted by a new visitor to my meadow patch in Muswell Hill. A female Common Blue on the Birdsfoot Trefoil; by the time I got to take a shot she had moved to the Tansy. I hope she returns. Other residents at the moment are Gatekeepers most attracted to the Wild Carrot. Such a pleasure to see the wild patch being put to use Dee Cullen 26 Jul I spent 2 hours at Heartwood Forest looking for Purple Emperor. It was overcast, but a hazy sun came out at around 11:00, and I had two sightings, high in the canopy, between 11:15 and 11:45, above Pudler's Wood ( TL 16067 11641) and Well Wood (TL 15859 11536), but no groundings. I left at 1pm. I had parked in the main car park, so on my return, I also checked out the canopy of northern and western Langley Wood (TL 16081 10846), but was not rewarded with any further sightings Andrew Neild 26 Jul 1 Large White, 1 Small White - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin David Inward 26 Jul Jersey Tiger in my garden in Muswell Hill this morning Matt Lilley 25 Jul This afternoon, before the rain - At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 2 Marbled White, 1 Peacock & 1 male Oak Eggar at 1503 BST. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Peacock. 1 Shuttle-shaped Dart at Southgate this evening (would have arrived in the last few nights, but not this evening) Robert Callf 25 Jul The forecast rain and thunder didn't materialise in St Albans, so I set out to hunt for Dark Green Fritillary on meadows alongside King Harry Lane. No luck (again) and in fact nothing but two Green-veined Whites in the first meadow. Very different picture in the second meadow. As the afternoon warmed I was struck both by the profusion of butterflies and the changes in relative abundance of species compared to last weekend. Meadow Brown (11) and Marbled White (7) were well down as were Large Skipper (3) and Small/Essex Skippers (6); in fact all 3 positive ids were Essex. On the plus side Peacock (21), Gatekeeper (37), Large White (55), Green-veined White (19), Small White (12) and Small/Green-veined White (42) were all well up in numbers. Numbers of Ringlet (22), Red Admiral (2), Holly Blue (2) and Comma (3) seemed about the same. For the moths Shaded Broad-bar and Six-spot Burnet were up, Silver Y and Cinnabar much as before Malcolm Hull 24 Jul 1 Clay at Southgate this morning. At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 Red Admiral & 3 Marbled White. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 3 Red Admiral & 4 Ringlet. At Vicarage Farm near Shaws Wd/Merryhills Way (TQ2997) - 2 Marbled White & 1 Six-spot Burnet. At Enfield Rd/Lowther Drive (TQ299964) - 1 Holly Blue at 1645 BST. 1 Silver Y & 1 Small Blood-vein at Southgate this evening/night Robert Callf 23 Jul Jersey Tiger warm 14:00. First for 2 years in my Chipping Barnet garden Mike Habb 23 Jul Aldbury Nowers. 3 Silver-washed Fritillary, 3 Chalkhill Blue, 2 Brown Argus, 10+ Marbled White, 10+ Ringlet, 10+ Small Skipper, 10+ Large Skipper, 10+ Meadow Brown, 20+ Gatekeeper, 3 Peacock, 20+ Large White, 1 Small Tortoiseshell Simon Mavin Vanessa Wright 23 Jul 1 Red Admiral nectaring on buddleia at Southgate at 1405 BST. At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 3 Marbled White, 3 Red Admiral, 1 Comma, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Peacock, 4 Small Skipper & numerous Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 2 Comma, 1 Peacock & counted 29 Cinnabar caterpillars on ragwort. At Trent Park - 2 Red Admiral including one 'taking up minerals' from wet mud by lower lake, 1 Silver Y, 1 Comma edge of Williams Wd. 1 White Satin Moth at ASDA Southgate - new for the site Robert Callf 23 Jul Had a female Purple Emperor possible egging laying at Sutton farm GP (TL196101) this afternoon also at least 1 Common Blue and lots of 6-spot Burnet moths Andrew Steele 23 Jul A visit to the chalkland north of Clothall Common to check on the Chalkhill Blues was positive with 2 females and 7 males recorded. This is fewer than last year, but in view of the fresh appearance of those seen it may well be that maximum emergence has yet to occur. One was also seen on the close mown verge alongside the housing some way south towards the Garden Centre. I also visited Hexton Chalkpit on 21 July to do my (almost) annual count of the colony there. The count showed a mean of 152 on the survey route which is well up on the last few years, though not yet at the hundreds seen around 2013. There were also 6 seen at Telegraph Hill, which has now had much scrub removed and the odd ones on the Icknield Way and roadside between the two sites. The condition of the northern part of the pit towards Hexton village is getting rather scrubby again and very few were seen in this area. A number were also on the other side of the road from the pit below Lion Hill, mainly taking salts along with Green-veined Whites. Click the image on the right below for a short video Andrew Wood 23 Jul 2 male Silver-washed Fritillary at Battles Wood, Hunsdon, not seen them here before Laurence Drummond 23 Jul Hounslow. Lower temperatures meant pleasanter walking conditions but seemed to have little effect on the number of butterflies seen: Small White: 16, Small Copper: 13, Essex Skipper: 2, Meadow Brown: 147, Holly Blue: 2, Speckled Wood: 10, Gatekeeper: 81, Small Skipper: 7, Peacock: 7, Red Admiral: 4, Comma: 11, Large White: 4, Small Heath: 2, Brown Argus: 11, Common Blue: 5, Marbled White: 5, Green-veined White: 3, Ringlet: 1 Peter Gore 23 Jul More photos from the Branch Event at Bricket Wood Common on 17 July Matt Lilley 23 Jul Dark Green Fritillary seen in St Albans this morning Alison Debenham 23 Jul One Purple Hairstreak just west of motorway, on oak next to underpass behind Crooked Billet PH, Stevenage. Many Marbled White and a few Red Admiral around grassland there also Stefan Hunt 23 Jul 1 Large White - Meadowbank, Hitchin; 1 Comma, 1 Large White - Walsworth Common, Hitchin David Inward 23 Jul Enthused by Alison Debenham's report of Dark Green Fritillary in central St Albans this morning, I headed to Nomansland Common, Sandridge. I've seen DGF twice at this site in recent years. No luck with that this afternoon, but in overcast conditions Purple Hairstreak were displaying well and I saw a total of 14, including some low down in oak and a couple in ash. 7 Small Coppers, which is quite a good total for this time of year. 1 Common Blue, a very fresh looking male plus 5 Painted Ladies (all very fresh), 1 very faded Small Heath and 5 newly emerged Peacocks. Browns, Whites and Skippers were all showing well. Moths included Vapourer, Silver Y, 6-spot Burnet, Cinnabar caterpillars and an Oak Eggar Malcolm Hull 23 Jul At Roxeth Recreation Ground this lunchtime I saw 2 Speckled Wood, 14 Gatekeepers, 3 Ringlets, 15 Meadow Brown, 4 Small Skipper, 3 Small White, 1 Common Blue, 2 Marbled White, and 1 Clouded Yellow. This last one was a new butterfly for me at this site Michael Robinson 23 Jul It was great to see Tring Park looking its best this morning and butterfly numbers peaking. I managed to see a male Purple Emperor about 10.00am just off the main path at the top of the escarpment(SP 925028) as it settled on the gate for a while and then flew into a sunlit glade with brambles growing around it where it settled on the path giving me time to study it further. Extraordinary how it takes a while to get the right angle to see the purple sheen on the wings. There were also 3 Silver-washed Fritillaries, 2 Commas, 2 Red Admirals, 2 Peacocks and numerous Meadow Browns, Marbled Whites and Gatekeepers in the same area Phil Woodward 23 Jul 20 July lunchtime I went up to Reynolds Wood and (from 12.35) had Purple Emperor sightings above the oaks, on one occasion two seen together (the frequency of sightings suggests possibly more than two were present). 21 July lunchtime (again about 12.40) I tried Walk Wood where one Purple Emperor was periodically gliding out and around from the top of the chestnut avenue. Also tried Foxholes but without success so will try again. Haven't tried Rusling End yet Don Gregory 22 Jul Beautiful walk this evening along the wildflower rich field margins along Walkern Road. I parked just before the ford driving from Aston and walked to top of the hill. Walking both ways - towards Walkern & Watton - is good. Full sun in the evening. 2 - 3 Painted Lady, 3+ Peacock (barely seen any so far this year), several Small Tortoiseshells, many Marbled Whites, Large Skipper, Small Skipper & Essex Skipper Tom Speller 22 Jul Heartwood Forest : spurred on by the many recent reports on this website I was thrilled to sight and snap my first ever Purple Emperor at about 2pm as it settled on some drying mud along the path skirting the SE side of Pudlers Wood (TL159115). For about an hour I witnessed maybe the same one, maybe two or three others flying around, though none were to settle quite so obligingly. Also, along the same path: Speckled Wood (3), Comma (1); plus, en route between the Magical Wood and the car park: Meadow Brown (20+), Large White (15+), Gatekeeper (7), Small/Essex Skipper (7), Marbled White (5), Ringlet (2), Small Heath (2), Small White (2). Finally, in Marshalswick, St Albans (TL172091): Red Admiral (1) Tony Kavanagh 22 Jul Having learnt where to find Purple Emperors in Heartwood Forest, Sandridge, TL154107 on Saturday at the Branch event led by Malcolm Hull and Andrew Steele, I dedicated today to searching for them (from 12 to 4pm). I had 5 clear sightings on the other half of the ride to the pond end between 2.15 and 3.15pm - but not before or after then. I've no idea how many individuals that covered - 2 or 3? They were all on the ground. I've not yet seen any in the canopy Alison Hill 22 Jul At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 Ringlet, 3 Marbled White, 1 Peacock, 1 Small Heath, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Painted Lady, 1 Comma & 1 Small Tortoiseshell. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Speckled Wood, 1 Purple Hairstreak, 3 Ringlet & 2 Small White. At Trent Park - 1 Green-veined White, 1 male Silver-washed Fritillary nectaring on thistles edge of Moat Wd 1600 BST, 1 Comma, 1 Peacock settled on wet mud by lower lake 1608 BST. 1 Great Oak Beauty at ASDA Southgate - found yesterday & still present today Robert Callf 22 Jul Hounslow. Speckled Wood: 9, Meadow Brown: 160, Large Skipper: 1, Gatekeeper: 91, Small Skipper: 5, Red Admiral: 4, Ringlet: 1, Essex Skipper: 2, Holly Blue: 5, Comma: 11, Brown Argus: 9, Common Blue: 6, Small White: 5, Peacock: 4, Marbled White: 11, Large White: 1, Small Heath: 4, Small Copper: 9, Green-veined White: 4, Purple Hairstreak: 2 Peter Gore 22 Jul 1 Large White (and several unidentified whites)- St Faiths Close north, Hitchin David Inward 22 Jul Back to Heartwood Forest to look for Purple Emperors in Langley Wood - which is about half a mile from the spot we found them last weekend. Success, two males were in a chase high in the canopy at high point on the NE side of the wood. At a second high point at the northern tip of the wood, another Purple Emperor flew out into the numerous mature Goat Willows alongside the wood. Also a few new species to add today I didn't see at the weekend - Common Blue, Brown Argus, Holly Blue, Small Heath, 6-spot Burnet and an attractive micro I've not seen before Sitochroa palealis Malcolm Hull 21 Jul At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Peacock, 2 Comma, 2 Painted Lady together at Hog Hill 1721 BST, 1 Red Admiral & 6 Marbled White. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Red Admiral & 1 Small Tortoiseshell. At Trent Park - 1 Green-veined White, 2 Comma, 1 male Oak Eggar near Water Garden, 1 Peacock. 1 Silver Y at Southgate at 2325 BST Robert Callf 21 Jul St Albans - First hibernating Small Tortoiseshell of the summer spotted in my shed this evening Malcolm Hull 21 Jul Was surprised to see a Purple Emperor at around 7:45 this morning - on the bridleway through Heartwood Forest by Langley Wood (TL161110) Ian Carle 21 Jul Hounslow. A sharp decline in Marbled Whites as Brown Argus numbers increase. I don't know what to make of low Hairstreak numbers - the oaks seem to be badly affected with mildew or similar which can't be good for Purple Hairstreaks and I'm seeing nothing even resembling White-letter Hairstreak even where the elms are relatively leafy and in sun. Today a Purple Hairstreak on a Marshalling Yards oak was a welcome small compensation: Gatekeeper: 63, Small White: 7, Speckled Wood: 15, Holly Blue: 4, Small Skipper: 17, Meadow Brown: 129, Red Admiral: 3, Large White: 3, Purple Hairstreak: 3, Comma: 5, Peacock: 5, Green-veined White: 3, Small Heath: 11, Small Copper: 4, Marbled White: 6, Brown Argus: 15, Common Blue: 2, Painted Lady: 1, Ringlet: 1. A Meadow Brown being carried away by a dragonfly has not been counted Peter Gore 21 Jul Following Don Gregory's sighting of a Purple Emperor on Sunday 18 July I visited the same spot at around 9 am and viewed the NE corner of Whomerley Wood from the path leading to the underpass towards Colestrete. Within 5 minutes, a Purple Emperor flew down from near the top of one of the oaks to the underpass but did not settle and returned to the oak Peter Clarke 21 Jul I paid a quick visit to Harmergreen Wood (TL252167) this morning to check for Silver-washed Fritillaries and found two. Also 1 Speckled Wood, 1 Comma, 1 Peacock, 6 Gatekeepers, 4 Small Heaths and many Meadow Browns David Booth 21 Jul A Box-tree moth in our Harpenden garden this morning Tim Hill 20 Jul 16 July. Purple Emperor seen near the railway bridge in Heartwood Forest (TL154107) Rachel Hodgkin Joe Hodgkin Peter Newell 20 Jul Southgate - 1 Scalloped Oak at 0020 BST, 1 White Plume Moth in kitchen at 0155 BST, 1 Common Footman at 0220 BST. At Trent Park - 2 Speckled Wood, 3 Red Admiral, 2 Comma, 1 Small Copper, 2 Shaded Broad-bar, 2 Gatekeeper copulating, 1 Silver Y, 4 Marbled White, 1 male Oak Eggar near Church Wd, 3 Peacock, 1 female Purple Emperor edge of Moat Wd - flew around & settled on Sallow - flew off along edge of Rough Lot, 1522-1524 BST. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Peacock, 2 Ringlet copulating, 1 male Oak Eggar at 1552 BST & 1 Silver Y. 3 Small White at Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield (TQ2998) & 2 Six-spot Burnet copulating. At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 Peacock, 1 Comma & 3 Marbled White Robert Callf 20 Jul Hounslow. Got home before the rain and just in time to spot the first Holly Blue of the day in my own garden: Small White: 9, Gatekeeper: 27, Comma: 4, Marbled White: 17, Meadow Brown: 140, Speckled Wood: 7, Red Admiral: 4, Common Blue: 3, Green-veined White: 1, Small Heath: 6, Brown Argus: 4, Essex Skipper: 2, Small Skipper: 8. Small Copper: 7, Large White: 1, Peacock: 2, Ringlet: 3, Holly Blue: 1 Peter Gore 20 Jul 18 July. This morning I spotted a beautiful moth hanging upside down on my garden Leylandii which I've just identified as a Box-tree moth, a non-native species. At lunchtime I headed out, cycling through Fairlands Valley Park destined for Norton Green. I crossed Six Hills Way and cycled past the St Nicholas School alongside Whomerley Wood, heading down to the underpass (1017, TL249238) near Colestrete. A large dark butterfly was floating around at about a metre height so I stopped and watched. I got a clear view. It had no purple colour but the size and white markings confirmed it was a Purple Emperor, assumed female. It flew into the underpass and settled on the wall and I hoped to get a clear photo but as I moved in it flew towards Colestrete and out of view. Quite a surprise! Nothing else as dramatic happened that day except a few Silver-washed Fritillaries appeared along the route across to St Pauls Walden. Don Gregory 19 Jul I tried Foxholes, Walk Wood and Reynolds Wood but sadly with no Purple Emperor sightings. A few Silver-washed Fritillaries along the way. However on the way back at about 4 pm between Pigeonswick and Norton Green Common I found a White Admiral flying along the rough track. It veered off the track (to the east side) and I found it inspecting the ditch which follows the line of the track (TL226227), although the precise location is at telegraph pole numbered 15 on the trackside. Don Gregory 19 Jul One extra butterfly species to add to those recorded by the Branch outing group at Therfield Heath. I saw 4 White-letter Hairstreaks circling above Wych Elm trees on the Icknield Path between Royston and Therfield. Ian Tulloch 19 Jul Dark Green Fritillary feeding on knapweed in Halsey Field Chris Ridley 19 Jul Excited to record my first ever Silver-washed Fritillary between 11.30am-12.15pm at Symondshyde Great Wood (TL196108). At least 3 flying and landing all too briefly along the main bridleway. Other sightings included Red Admiral (1), Comma (1), Meadow Brown (5+), Large White (5+), Small White (1) and Small/Essex Skipper (1) Tony Kavanagh 19 Jul We also visited Therfield Heath on the west side - Church Hill. Hundreds of Chalkhill Blues and at least 50 Dark Green Fritillary Peter Clarke Bob Clift 19 Jul Branch Event The walk was held in blistering heat, without the shade enjoyed by those who joined the recent scheduled woodland walks! Chalkhill Blues were easy to find as we investigated the area east of the Sporting Club (Lankester Hill and the Old Rifle Range), but they were only seen in big numbers where extracting salts from the (sadly) many clumps of dog poo! Marbled Whites were still common although declining now, whilst lots of Dark Green Fritillaries were still zooming about, barely ever stopping to rest. A couple of second-generation Brown Argus were the only other 'blues' seen by our group. Both Small and Essex Skippers were on the wing - we also found a single Large Skipper. 'Fresh' Brimstones, Painted Ladies and Peacock butterflies were also seen. The full list is as follows: Essex Skipper, Small Skipper, Large Skipper, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Brimstone, Ringlet, Small Heath, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Marbled White, Dark Green Fritillary, Painted Lady, Peacock, Brown Argus and Chalkhill Blue. Also seen were several Burnet Moths, a Silver Y and, last but not least, a male Emperor Dragonfly. In addition to those butterflies seen on the walk today, three male Silver-washed Fritillaries were on the wing in the woodland to the west of the Therfield Road yesterday (18th) and a Small Copper was seen close to the Therfield Road Martin Johnson 19 Jul Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 Marbled White, 3 Comma, 1 male Large Skipper, 3 Small Tortoiseshell. At Trent Park - 1 male Oak Eggar near Ride Wd at 1721 BST & 2+ Green-veined White. 1 Box-tree Moth at Southgate flew into kitchen at 2338 BST Robert Callf 19 Jul Hounslow. Out early in a successful attempt to walk mostly in sunshine, with predictable results: Small White: 11, Gatekeeper: 30, Green-veined White: 5, Comma: 7, Red Admiral: 4, Holly Blue: 4, Small Skipper: 13, Speckled Wood: 8, Meadow Brown: 132, Small Copper: 10, Essex Skipper: 3, Marbled White: 18, Peacock: 3, Ringlet: 2, Small Heath: 13, Brown Argus: 8, Common Blue: 3, Large White: 2, Purple Hairstreak: 2 Peter Gore 19 Jul A lovely afternoon dog walk in Whippendell Woods provided a total of 14 Silver-washed Fritillaries, 2 White Admirals, 1 Comma and numerous Large Whites and Ringlets and I only went there as road access to my normal walk on Chipperfield Common was blocked off John Liberty 19 Jul 2 male Purple Emperors fighting around Horse Chesnuts at Hyde Hall Sawbridgeworth, TL495152 12.50 pm, private site viewed from public footpath Laurence Drummond 18 Jul With Rick Vickers. After hearing about the appropriately named "Puddler's Wood" and checking online to see where that is we took off in that direction from the car park up the left hand side. Came to a coffee coloured pond on the right hand side with numerous Broad Bodied Chaser dragonflies on the wing. This marked the ride we were about investigate for the Purple Emperor. Following the ride about half way down we saw a male Brimstone of which I would put as 1 seen but Rick may have seen a few more. By staying at this point along the ride was where we encountered our first female Purple Emperor first spotted by Rick coming down to take nutrients from a moist muddy spot. She had some damage to the right side lower wing. She was also the last seen at approximately 5.40 pm and first encountered at appropriately 2.40pm. At Fermyn Woods last week we saw fresh looking males in all their full changing colour all in the afternoon. It is a bit of a myth that the morning is always best! After our first sighting another appeared of which I am reasonably confident was a male. Very brief glimpses of purple on the wings. At one point there was two on the ground and another up the ride. In all at least 4 seen and possible a 5th along the other side of the wood of which swooped pow before climbing back up into the trees. They were coming down to take up nutrients not only from the moist parts but also the drier parts of the path. But we also came across one feasting on ready meals. In this case delivered from the backside of a passing horse. This individual was happily sharing with a Green-veined White. We managed to photograph at least 3 individuals all coming down to the path. We might not have experienced too much of the purple flash but we did experience the sound of beating wings flying low around our heads which was a first for us. Other butterflies seen. Meadow Brown and Ringlets in good numbers, however the number of Marbled Whites at this site seemed to out compete them in numbers. It was far too hot to contemplate the overall numbers in a given area let alone the entire site, but all 3 species likely to be in their thousands across the whole site. Other species seen. Small Skipper and possibly Essex Skipper 20+ seen, Comma 6+, Small Heath 10+ Gatekeeper 6+, Silver-washed Fritillary 3, Red Admiral 3, Speckled Wood 2, Green-veined White at least 3 but wasn't overly focused on the whites and there were plenty on the wing. We did manage to see a few Purple Hairstreak 6+, after reaching the car park we saw 1 single Small Tortoiseshell as we were about to leave. On the way back we also found a pair of longhorn moths. Both engaged in a fascinating display of courtship with their unfeasibly long antenna. I'm not familiar with the exact species but was a delight to see after the Purple Emperor action. Would recommend visiting if you are available in the next week or so for the Emperor but well worth exploring for the other butterflies too when a little cooler Peter Fewell 18 Jul Last night, 12.30 AM on the outside of our lounge window in South Oxhey, there was this Olive Crescent moth. Red data book status Paul Williams 18 Jul 1 Endotricha flammealis at Southgate this morning. 1 Box-tree Moth at Enfield Rd, EN2 - my first of the year. At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 3 Comma, 2 Red Admiral, 1 Painted Lady & 5+ Marbled White. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 2 Silver Y & 1 Painted Lady. At Trent Park - 1 Peacock nectaring on thistles edge of Moat Wd, 1 Comma & 1 Purple Hairstreak Robert Callf 18 Jul Hounslow. More sun and butterflies. Ringlets seem to be much reduced, a fresh Common Blue should be the start of a new brood, a tired-looking Large Skipper delayed me for a little while trying to determine which of the other two species it was - it was the hooks on the antennas that pulled me to reality and I only managed to add Green-veined White because the female couldn't get away from me fast enough on account of the male she was attached too. They both looked very nice too and distinctly different, minor highlights from a long list: Gatekeeper: 34, Small White: 4, Comma: 6, Red Admiral: 4, Small Skipper: 7, Meadow Brown: 90, Speckled Wood: 7, Large White: 2, Small Copper: 8, Brown Argus: 5, Essex Skipper: 3, Small Heath: 13. Large Skipper: 1, Peacock: 3, Common Blue: 1, Marbled White: 23, Painted Lady: 1, Holly Blue: 1, Green-veined White: 2, Ringlet: 1 Peter Gore 18 Jul Went to Mathams Wood TL4518, this afternoon, pleased to see 6 Silver-washed fritillary (5 male 1 female), 2 White-letter Hairstreaks (males clashing over Elms), still 20 + Marbled White, plenty of Meadow Brown and Ringlet, Small Skippers and Red Admirals, 4 Gatekeeper and my first new brood Peacock. An evening trip to Plashes Wood, TL3820, 2 male Purple Emperors intermittently active at the lower territory, 18.15 Laurence Drummond 18 Jul 1 Small White - St Faiths Close south, Hitchin David Inward 18 Jul Branch Event Bricket Wood Common, St Albans - Purple Emperor, White Admiral and Silver-washed Fritillary were all highlights of today's branch butterfly walk. We started in St Stephen Parish Centre looking for White-letter Hairstreak in the elm. No luck with that, but we did pick up Red Admiral, Comma, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Large White, Small White and Green-veined White. Moving onto the Common we soon added Ringlet, newly emerged Brimstone and Peacock plus Purple Hairstreak. Silver washed Fritillaries were soon bombing along the ride. One individual had lost over 50% of its wing, but still engaged in duals with other males. Small Skippers and Large Skippers completed our tally along the ride. Matt then rejoined the party and showed us the location of a White Admiral in a holly bush. It kept leaving and returning to the same Holly - a puzzle until we realised that honeysuckle was growing on the Holly. In the clearing we added Marbled White, Painted Lady, Speckled Wood and finally Purple Emperor, which flew in through around and above a group of mature Sallows offering multiple good viewing opportunities. The party then split and a small group moved on to Mutchetts Wood where some of us had a clear view of a Purple Emperor cruising at canopy level across the railway line. Later we had another view on the east side of the line through a canopy gap. A very hot but rewarding day Malcolm Hull 17 Jul Counted 4 Least Carpet at 1155 BST at Southgate & a Large Tabby earlier Robert Callf 17 Jul We annually now see Silver-washed Fritillary at Hilfield Res. Today I saw one and then thought I had another, and that they were perhaps mating. However, on checking my photos, I find an astonishing shot of a male Silver-washed with a Dark Green Fritillary. TQ157955. There is one previous record to my knowledge of Dark Green Fritillary at Hilfield, but to see one with a Silver-washed Fritillary like this is I think extraordinary. Also one White-letter Hairstreak at Hilfield, at least ten Purple Hairstreak and one Essex Skipper Tony Blake 17 Jul Heartwood Forest. Bumped into Malcolm Hull who described the excellent sightings of Purple Emperors that he and his group had that morning. Upon Malcolm's advice I tried my luck on the ride behind Well Wood and Pudler Wood and was rewarded with one Purple Emperor feeding on the mud. I also saw two other Purple Emperors in the canopies but couldn't be sure whether they were male or female. Also saw my first ever White-letter Hairstreak (1) and two Brimstone. In addition, I saw the following: 5 Comma, 3 Red Admiral, 50+ Marbled Whites, 10+ Ringlets, 10+ Small Skippers, 5 Large Skipper, 10+ Meadow Browns, 3 Gatekeepers, 20+ Large White, 1 Small Tortoiseshell Simon Mavin 17 Jul 1 Small Tortoiseshell nectaring on thistle at Southgate at 1049 BST. 1 Purple Hairstreak settled on Oak, 'New Fields' Trent Park. 10+ Six-spot Burnet, including a pair mating but no sign of the Forester at 'New Fields' Trent Park & 2 Comma at Trent Park (1 near Shaws Wd, 1 Williams Wd) Robert Callf Bob Husband 17 Jul Hounslow. After a few hours I was trudging wearily along approximately in the direction of home whilst wondering if there was a limit to the number of Meadow Browns I could observe without becoming completely zombiefied. Then a yellow butterfly zipped past me in a Pevensey meadow and I hared after it shedding at least 65 years along the way to a rendezvous at a Ragwort flower where I peered at the Clouded Yellow's big green eyes through close focus binoculars as it looked back at me as if assessing what mad alien creature this could be. Then it decided to resume its journey to who knows where whilst I retrieved my scattered years all too quickly and returned to counting Meadow Browns: Gatekeeper: 11, Small White: 2, Meadow Brown: 103, Purple Hairstreak: 6, Speckled Wood: 6, Comma: 6, Marbled White: 13, Small Skipper: 6, Small Copper: 5, Green-veined White: 2, Ringlet: 5, Small Heath: 13, Brown Argus: 3, Red Admiral: 1, Essex Skipper: 3, Clouded Yellow: 1, Holly Blue: 1, Large White: 3. Skippers exclude,I should think, at least another 100 very active individuals from the two smaller species Peter Gore 17 Jul 1 Small White - Woolgrove Road, Hitchin (TL19303046); 1 Small White, several unidentified Whites - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL1930) David Inward 17 Jul Norton Green Common. Couple of the Purple Emperor this morning. It was on the ground when I arrived just before 8.30am, but flew up after about 30 seconds. I & others stayed until 11am but it only put one other brief appearance at top of bushes Tom Speller 17 Jul Branch Event Heartwood Forest, Sandridge - branch butterfly walk looking for Purple Emperor was successful in finding the target species. With so many people coming along, we split into two groups with Malcolm Hull and Andrew Steele leading one each. Marbled Whites and Small/Essex Skippers were the most numerous species in the meadows. The skippers really lived up to their name and just would not stop. Eventually we got a close enough look to identify one of each species. At one point we saw 6 or 7 skippers together taking moisture/salts from the mud around a drying puddle. Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Gatekeeper and a new brood Brimstone were also seen along with Large White, Small White and Green-veined White and a solitary Small Tortoiseshell. At Wells/Pudlers Wood we also saw Comma, Red Admiral and several Speckled Woods. The highlights were several sightings of Purple Emperor on the ground, as well as at least two in the oak - so 5 at a minimum. Both male and female emperors posed obligingly for photos. The male already had a nick in its wing, probably from a previous bird attack. There was a moment of high drama when the two groups of butterfly spotters met on the path alongside Well Wood. When we were 20 yards apart the male Emperor landed on the track halfway between the two groups. As we observed it a blackbird sprung out of a bush and launched an attack on the butterfly. Luckily it took swift avoiding action shot up in the air and vanished into the woods. From 1pm we surveyed the canopy through binoculars, but without seeing any treetop action. The heat was intense and as butterfly spotters wilted and retreated to the car park there was a brief appearance from a new brood Peacock and several sightings of Oak Eggar tearing through at high speed. Finally after nearly an hour a single Emperor sailed across the canopy, though no chase ensued, perhaps too hot even for butterflies this afternoon! There were noticeably less flying on the way back to the car park Malcolm Hull Andrew Steele 17 Jul We visited the St Vincent's nursing home area in Park Wood, Ruislip Woods (TQ095897) to try for Purple Emperors. There was activity from 1.00 p.m. when they could be seen flying through the gap in the tree canopy. Only ever saw 2 at any one time however, one perched nicely on some leaves and we obtained good views through our telescope Sue & Steve Place 17 Jul I am excited to report that I sighted a male Purple Emperor at about 10.30 am this morning in Tring Park (SP925098). I saw it again flying in the same area at 11.00 for about a minute but did not settle. It was flying at the top of the escarpment off the main path in one of the clearings where there are sallow trees. It was gliding very close to the ground for 5 minutes and settled several times so I could identify the purple sheen on the forewing. This is the first time I've seen one here since 2018 and have recorded them here on and off since 2002 when I saw my first one but this is one of the best sightings I've had in that time. I was even able to share my joy with a passing dog walker Phil Woodward 16 Jul Bowers Heath near Harpenden - TL143167 - 3 Purple Hairstreaks Darin Stanley 16 Jul Taking advantage of the sunny weather we made another visit to Cassiobury Park and Whippendell Woods. In Cassiobury Park Meadow Brown and Ringlet both estimated at 100+, Marbled White 3, Small Tortoiseshell 2, Large White 1 confirmed out of the whites seen on the wing, Speckled Wood 2, Small Copper 2, Large Skipper 5, Small/Essex Skipper 30+ at least 5 confirmed as Essex Skipper which was tricky to determine because of the wind. Along the Lime Avenue we came across the first Silver-Washed Fritillary of the 25+ in Whippendell Woods including two mating pairs up in the trees. Comma 8+ Red Admiral 5, both species along the Lime Avenue and in Whippendell Woods. Green-veined White 1, Brimstone 1, White Admiral 3, the only one photographed being at "Camilla Oak". Despite searching we did not see any White-letter Hairstreak and only 2 Purple Hairstreak. Either they are late to emerge or are having a bad season in Whippendell Woods Peter Fewell 16 Jul Aldbury Nowers. 7 Silver-washed Fritillary, 3 Dark Green Fritillary, 50+ Marbled Whites, 10+ Ringlets. 10+ Small Skippers, 10+ Meadow Browns, 5 Gatekeepers, 5 Large White, 1 Small Tortoiseshell Simon Mavin Vanessa Wright 16 Jul Norton Green 10:00 am in the strong sunshine there was a lot of butterfly activity to be observed. Species seen: Large Skipper 7+, Small Skipper 12+, Essex Skipper 2+, Small White 4, Green-veined White 1, Purple Hairstreak 2, Silver-washed Fritillary 4+, Marbled White 16+, Gatekeeper 3+, Meadow Brown 19+, Ringlet 15+. Plus 1 Male Purple Emperor Richard Crabtree 16 Jul 4 Meadow Brown, 1 Ringlet - Purwell Meadows north, Hitchin (TL199300); 6 Meadow Brown - Purwell Meadows west, Hitchin (TL198299) David Inward 16 Jul Hounslow. Sunshine throughout: Gatekeeper: 10, Meadow Brown: 58, Small Tortoiseshell: 3, Comma: 11, Small Skipper: 11, Speckled Wood: 8, Small White: 9, Small Copper: 6, Red Admiral: 2, Ringlet: 6, Green-veined White: 2, Holly Blue: 4, Marbled White: 15, Small Heath: 9, Peacock: 3, Essex Skipper: 3, Large White: 2, Brown Argus: 1, Purple Hairstreak: 1 Peter Gore 16 Jul Symonshyde Great Wood near Hatfield - 27 Silver-washed Fritillaries, nearly all males but including a mating pair. The butterflies were jostling for territories along the ride with one or more seen in every sunny pocket where bramble flowers are present. I've never seen as many on one site in Herts. Also 17 Speckled Woods - good news as I heard on the radio this morning that this species has had a poor year so far. Also at this site 4 Commas, a Red Admiral and many browns and whites. At Ellenbrook Fields, I had multiple sightings of a male Purple Emperor cruising serenely around a high point in the canopy in Home Wood. Another Emperor swooped down low near my feet before disappearing up into the trees. Just one Silver-washed Fritillary at this location - a clear indication of how a commercially managed Woodland such as Symonshyde is better for the SWF than a neglected amenity wood. Also of note from Ellenbrook 83 Small/Essex Skippers - mostly sheltering from the stiff breeze along the hedge lines. From the ones I identified Small were outnumbering Essex by 4:1 Malcolm Hull 16 Jul 3 Least Carpet at Southgate this morning at 0115 BST. At Trent Park - 1 Speckled Wood near Oakwood entrance, a number of Cinnabar caterpillars on Ragwort, 1 Small Copper 'New Fields' at 1308 BST, 7 Small Heath at 'New Fields', 1 Silver Y at 'New Fields', 4 Marbled White at 'New Fields', 4 Six-spot Burnet settled & several others seen in flight only, 1 Forester at 'New Fields' (TQ286964) at 1322 BST - on thistle head near to 2 Six-spot Burnet for comparison, slightly worn, 1 Large Skipper at Sect 5 'New Fields', 1 Red Admiral at Nature Trail, 1 male Silver-washed Fritillary edge of Moat Wd at 1420 - 1424 BST - seen nectaring on thistles, 1 Purple Hairstreak edge of Moat Wd. 1 Silver Y at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ3097), also here 3 Green-veined White. 1 Green-veined White at Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield (TQ2998). 4 Comma, 2 Small Tortoiseshell & 1 female Large White at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) Robert Callf 16 Jul Inspired by Malcolm Hull's report yesterday of multiple sightings of HRH the Purple Emperor at my favourite local butterflying spot in Heartwood Forest (Sandridge), I set out early (for me!) and arrived at the northern edge of Pudler's Wood at 09:20, and walked along the dappled ride (starting at TL160116) along it's southern edge and then SW along the east side of Well Wood. As I arrived at the dog pond (TL157113) at 09.30, I immediately spotted a male Purple Emperor on the ground, and the excitement commenced! Between this time and 11:00, 4 different males (each with distinct wing markings) came to the ground along this ride, and one flew around the corner and down the northern edge of Pudler's Wood (a passing fellow Lepidopterist, Mark Sterling, showed me a photo on his mobile of a female Purple Emperor he saw at this spot last year - and also the year before - in the mid afternoon, on horse droppings). At 11.30 I also spotted another Purple Emperor (sex unknown) along the main woodland path dividing the two woods at TL159115 (no photo, so perhaps a fifth individual!?). Photography was easy for snaps, allowing easy approach, and the butterflies seemed unfazed by my presence, but it was difficult to get good shots as no individuals settled for long, they were constantly moving on the ground, and were flying short distances trying out different places to feed, often in amongst grass stems. But it was such a joy to see so many groundings, and in my local forest! I met a family of 3 who had seen another two males perching and fighting in a tree around 500 m away to the SW near the railway bridge at TL155107, so certainly there were at least these additional males making a minimum count of 6. I also saw several males flying at medium height, but I have no idea if these were the same individuals or not. In addition, ignoring the grassland species which Malcolm counted yesterday (plenty flying today too), I also spotted a single (very fresh) Painted Lady, plus Small Tortoiseshell x1, Red Admiral x5, Comma x8, Speckled Wood x4, and Purple Hairstreak x4 Andrew Neild 15 Jul I managed to squeeze in a few hours at Aldbury Nowers with Rick Vickers. It remained overcast but dry at least. A good number of butterflies were seen. Meadow Brown and Ringlets numbers both over 100+, Marbled Whites 40+, Large White 2, Small White 1, Large Skipper 4, Small Skipper 6, Small Copper 1, Brown Argus 1 (seen by Rick), Red Admiral 2, Gatekeeper 4, Silver-washed Fritillary 2, Dark Green Fritillary 6. Just outside the reserve towards Pitstone Small Tortoiseshell 1, Small Heath 6 and about another 6 Dark Green Fritillary. Despite the dull weather the Dark Green Fritillaries were very active and difficult to photograph Peter Fewell 15 Jul Branch Event Norton Green field trip. It had already clouded over by the scheduled time (10:30 am) when 9 of us (including ourselves) turned up. We didn't hold much hope for many butterflies but Marbled Whites, Meadow Browns and Ringlets were happy to fly in the meadow in the overcast conditions. It wasn't until around noon when the skies brightened without any strong sunshine that there was more butterfly activity mostly on the edge of Watery Grove where we found Silver-washed Fritilaries and Purple Hairstreaks, one of which of the latter alighted low down on the brambles. At about 1 pm, 5 of us stayed behind for a short break before embarking on a walk past Pigeonswick Cottage to the spot west of Newton Wood where the White Admiral was seen on Tuesday. Although the sun tried to break through, we did not see the butterfly on this occasion. On return to Norton Green, Richard Crabtree spotted a Comma egg-laying on nettles and found an egg outside Pigeonswick Cottage. Species seen: Large Skipper 20+, Small Skipper 10+, Essex Skipper 4, Small White 2, Green-veined White 2, Purple Hairstreak 5+, Silver-washed Fritillary 5+, Painted Lady 1, Comma 3, Speckled Wood 1, Marbled White 30+, Gatekeeper 5+, Meadow Brown 30+, Small Heath 1, Ringlet 30+. Plus Lesser Yellow Underwing, Cinnabar (+ caterpillars) & Blood-vein Peter Clarke Bob Clift 15 Jul 1 Common Footman caught at Southgate at 0217 BST. 1 male Gatekeeper at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998). 1 Purple Hairstreak settled on Oak near Moat Wd/Trent Park at 1251 BST - my first of the year. Also, at Trent Park - 1 Marbled White at 'Old Golf Course', 2 Red Admiral, 1 Green-veined White & 1 male Banded Demoiselle settled edge of Water Garden by Lower Lake at 1337 BST - my first of the year. 1 male Oak Eggar seen in flight at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) at 1407 BST - my first of the year. 1 Red Admiral at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097). 1 female Large White at Crown Ln, N14 at 1526 BST Robert Callf 15 Jul Successful walk at Chorleywood Common. Thank you to Val, Irene, Daniel and Brandon for joining me. We saw our first Purple Hairstreaks and our first Silver-washed Fritillary! Results: Meadow Brown 32, Small Skipper 20, Ringlet 17, Marbled White 11, Gatekeeper 9, Small White 6, Large White 5, Purple Hairstreak 4, Comma 2, Silver-washed Fritillary 1 (seen twice), Red Admiral 1, Six-Spot Burnet moth 1. So a good day! No blues. No Speckled Woods Philip Gibbs 15 Jul Heartwood Forest, Sandridge - multiple Purple Emperor sightings with at least six different individuals. At the high point in Pudler's Wood three males had set up territories on prominent trees, one in an ash, one on a lime and one an oak. When the sun came out for a brief spell there were two clashing around the tallest ash tree. I also saw several emperors fly out from the wood and away towards the sallows at heights of about 15 feet. I suspect these are females. One individual was searching round the sallows, possibly a male looking for females. Oak Eggar also put in an appearance along with Comma (5), Red Admiral (2), Small Tortoiseshell (2), Purple Hairstreak (1), Marbled White (38), Small/Essex Skipper (26, all those I checked were small), Meadow Brown (29), Ringlet (35), Gatekeeper (3), Small White (5), Small Heath (3), Large White (6), Specked Wood (1), Green-veined White (1), Large Skipper (3). Not bad for a day with only 5 mins of sun. Hopefully there will be more to see on the branch butterfly walk on Saturday. That is now fully booked, but there are still places on Sunday's walk at Bricket Wood Common if you fancy looking for some of our woodland emperors, admirals and fritillaries - to book a place click here Malcolm Hull 15 Jul We visited Balls Wood and Hertford Heath walking up from Goose Green for the first time in many years but unfortunately we were like many others thwarted by cloud. In a few moments of brighter weather just before midday a Purple Emperor was seen to fly around an oak in a lower (west side) section of Balls Wood. Later we were joined by Laurence Drummond who showed us where he had seen territorial males in a previous year on the eastern side of Hertford Heath by the Roundings. We watched and waited in the gloom and walked around the Heath and were on the verge of giving up when just before 3pm it got a bit brighter and a male Purple Emperor was seen in flight at the top of some oaks nearby. It looked like it planned to carry on flying further up towards Laurence's oaks but despite a bit more sun we didn't see it again. Although some butterflies were flying, in particular Meadow Brown and Ringlet, no Silver-washed Fritillary or White Admiral were seen. Purple Hairstreak were active high in the oaks when there was a bit of sunshine! Liz Goodyear Andrew Middleton 15 Jul Hounslow. Two minor highlights: Just one Small Tortoiseshell in the last 250 or so butterflies identified but it has the distinction of being the first for very many years in my own garden. Elsewhere a Peacock is the first of this year's brood I've seen and ahead of several wandering caterpillars I've seen in recent days.Otherwise a dull day with numbers seen down but whites and Gatekeepers are starting to increase as expected: Gatekeeper: 7, Small Tortoiseshell: 1, Comma: 5, Small White: 9, Small Skipper: 9, Meadow Brown: 18, Green-veined White: 7, Speckled Wood: 1, Ringlet: 5, Marbled White: 8, Essex Skipper: 7, Small Heath: 3, Peacock: 1, Small Copper: 1 Peter Gore 15 Jul Half an hour in meadow in Alexandra Park yielded 10 species, though no more than half a dozen of any one. Red Admiral, Small Copper, Large White, Marbled White, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Ringlet, Comma, Essex Skipper and Large Skipper. The latter oviposting. Also a 6-spot Burnet Matt Lilley 14 Jul Heartwood Forest. 1 Red Admiral, 50+ Marbled Whites, 20+ Ringlets, 10+ Small Skippers, 10+ Large Skippers, 1 Essex Skipper, 10 Gatekeepers, 1 Painted Lady, 5 Large White, 1 Small Tortoiseshell Simon Mavin Vanessa Wright 14 Jul Norton Green Nr Stevenage TL231226. Meadow Brown x12, Comma x2, Ringlet x7, Small Skipper x3, Large Skipper x1, Red Admiral x1, Large White x3, Marbled White x4 Richard Best 14 Jul Redbourn Chalk slope, Redbourn Road, Harpenden (TL114127) 1 Small Blue seen on the slope by busy road Darin Stanley 14 Jul Jersey Farm Woodland Park, St Albans (TL169098): Large White, Small White (2), Marbled White (5), Large Skipper, Meadow Brown (2), Gatekeeper (2, and my first this year), Red Admiral, Comma (also my first this year), Ringlet (7), Small Heath. By lagoon at Jersey Farm Open Space, St Albans (TL176097): Large White, Small White (2), Marbled White (3), Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper (2), Ringlet (2). Tony Kavanagh 14 Jul Broxbourne Woods 1pm to 3pm. Species identified: White Admiral (1), Silver-washed Fritillary (5), Ringlets (many!), Marbled White (2), Purple Hairstreak in oak tree (2) and Purple Emperor (1). The Purple Emperor was seen at top of path leading down from East Car Park. It was circulating for about 5 minutes after I arrived and settled several times for a few seconds on the path Vaughn Reade 14 Jul I wanted to continue unfinished local exercise walk business around Ware from 2020 with an 8 mile walk around TL3812 & TL3814 helped by Andrew Middleton. The sun just started to come out as I reached Easneye Wood, which I then proceeded to walk up and down several times. There were no Silver-washed Fritillary but Purple Hairstreak and more important the White-letter Hairstreak were very busy around an OAK! Around noon a large butterfly flew across the ride and shortly afterwards a Purple Emperor was seen to fly around an oak and flew off! At this point I walked back up the ride, met Andrew, watched the sap run tree which had about 6 Red Admirals present and we watched the highest trees - it was a bit too windy. We then walked towards Newgate Wood, and whilst walking alongside Young Wood, a Silver-washed Fritillary flew past. When we got to the footpath opposite Newgate Wood, we felt it was too windy and unfortunately no activity was seen. However, we walked further along into TL4012 and by Moat Wood a Purple Emperor was seen flying around an ash! Liz Goodyear Andrew Middleton 14 Jul At Trent Park - 2 Large White, 3 Comma, male Gatekeeper, 1 Marbled White, 6 Ringlet. At Park Farm/Hadley Rd, Enfield - 1 Red Admiral. 1 Small Skipper at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998). At Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield (TQ2998) - 2 Ringlet, 1 Gatekeeper, male Large Skipper & 2 Comma. At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 2 Red Admiral, 3 Comma, 4 Marbled White, 1 Painted Lady at Hog Hill at 1702 BST, 3 Small Skipper, 2 Gatekeeper & 1 Ringlet. 1 Marbled White at Oakwood Station at 1757 BST. 1 Least Carpet at bus-stop shelter at Bramley Rd, N14. At ASDA Southgate - 1 Silver Y, 2 Riband Wave & 1 Dwarf Cream Wave Robert Callf 14 Jul Hounslow. A substantial increase in numbers seen on a mostly sunny day. As usual in this situation numbers of whites and skippers identified lag behind the real numbers around: Meadow Brown: 42, Ringlet: 17, Small Skipper: 25, Essex Skipper: 15, Red Admiral: 9, Comma: 9, Marbled White: 17, Speckled Wood: 4, Painted Lady: 1, Green-veined White: 4, Small Heath: 11, Small Copper: 6, Small White: 15, Gatekeeper: 4, Holly Blue: 3, Purple Hairstreak: 3 Peter Gore 14 Jul 1 Small White - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin David Inward 14 Jul Silver-washed Fritillary in Whomerley Wood Stevenage Peter Clarke 14 Jul Purple Emperor. I got lucky in the carpark at Northaw Great Wood. I had parked and was heading to start my WBCS count when a large butterfly swooped around a few times above my head then settled on one car, then another car (VW see badge in photo!) and finally next to some dog poo - typical! The purple showed briefly so I know it's male even though it didn't show in my photos. I've been visiting the woods for four years now and this is the lowest down one has come, and normally they are back up towards the entrance so maybe there is a second master tree in the carpark Dee Cullen 13 Jul At Oakwood Station - 1 Red Admiral nectaring on buddleia at 1824 BST Robert Callf 13 Jul At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 Comma, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 male Gatekeeper, 2 Marbled White. At Trent Park - 3 Comma, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Ringlet. 1 female Holly Blue settled at Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield (TQ2998) Robert Callf Bob Husband Pete Lowman 13 Jul Norton Green Nr Stevenage TL231226. Purple Hairstreak x6, Meadow Brown x15, Comma x3, Ringlet x4, Small Skipper x1, Red Admiral x2, Large White x1, Marbled White x3 Richard Best 13 Jul Saw a Purple Emperor glide between 2 Oaks on Totteridge Green in a very brief sunny spell, then stopped off at the slip road to Bourne End services on the long journey back to North Wales and saw 15 Marbled White, 5+ Meadow Brown, at least 2 Ringlets and a Small Skipper Paul Busby 13 Jul It took two summers of looking but I finally saw a Purple Emperor on the edge of Post Wood on the south side of Ware. First I saw a pigeon and a red kite flying over the wood, so I put up my binoculars to see if either had caught the attention of an emperor. Instead I saw an emperor gliding along the edge of the wood and then over the oaks into the wood. Red Admirals were doing their best to trick me whilst flying around a 'pruned' oak tree with a presumed sap run. Purple Hairstreak were active and along Walnut Tree Walk, White-letter Hairstreak were seen at three different points clashing above the elm. I watched these elms regularly last year with almost no activity! Liz Goodyear 13 Jul Didn't know what to expect in the late morning walk to Norton Green and the Knebworth woods complex in predominantly cloudy conditions. My first target was White Admiral which I haven't seen here since 2017. I finally saw one White Admiral alight on a bramble patch off the track west of Newton Wood just north of The Firs. My next main target species was Purple Emperor. I was walking in the common scanning the oak tree tops at around 1 pm when a gentleman (to whom I owe many thanks) came up to me and asked if I knew much about butterflies. He mentioned that he saw a 'purple admiral' on the track. There, a male Purple Emperor was grounded sipping salts and minerals, and oblivious to all us humans walking past! Also, good numbers of Marbled White, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, several Purple Hairstreak and a single Silver-washed Fritillary Peter Clarke 12 Jul Excellent morning walk at Bishops Wood Country Park, Batchworth Heath (TQ0691). Most of the butterflies were seen along the restored heathland woodland ride, with the remainder in a sunny spot with flowering bramble at woodland path junction. At least 12 Silver-washed Fritillary, 5 White Admiral, 25+ Ringlet, 20+ Meadow Brown, Red Admiral, 2 Large Whites, male Large Skipper, at least 7 Small Skippers and 2 Marbled Whites Paul Busby 12 Jul At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 4 Marbled White. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Painted Lady at 1619 BST. At ASDA Southgate this evening - 2 Riband Wave & 1 Least Carpet Robert Callf 12 Jul It was third time lucky with another visit to Comb's Wood between Whempstead and Benington. On one of my winter walks, I had seen that the wood has a very clear high point, only a short distance from the road with easy parking! I arrived at 1.25 and it was fairly sunny, sufficient that an emperor would fly. At 2.07, through binoculars I saw 2 Purple Emperors fly up high clashing above the canopy! Marbled White were present in the adjacent meadow. I then drove back to High Cross and the bridge over the A10 - I walked the footpath beside the A10 that goes south and in a canopy gap, a Red Admiral flew through and then a Purple Emperor went across the gap as well. Also flying were 2 White-letter Hairstreak above some elm. Returning to the bridge, it was now cloudier and I gave up soon afterwards! Liz Goodyear 11 Jul Royston (Therfield) Heath TL348400. Dark Green Fritillary x7, Meadow Brown x6, Chalkhill Blue x1, Ringlet x5, Large Skipper x1, Small Heath x1, Large White x6, Marbled White x14 Richard Best 11 Jul A long walk though Hampstead Heath Extension (HHE), Sandy Heath and Kenwood and later through Bentley Priory and Stanmore Common Nature Reserves but no woodland butterflies seen. At HHE (TQ2687) saw at least 18 Meadow Brown, a Small White and 2 male Small Skippers around a patch of Yellow Rattle and fine grasses. At Kenwood Dairy meadows (TQ268872) saw another 20+ Meadow Brown, a Red Admiral, a Green-veined White and Small White Paul Busby 11 Jul Had another attempt at my Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey at High Cross - still a bit cloudy but much better conditions than my previous visit on Thursday. On the return leg I have to take a detour to cross the A10 and by the bridge are masses of sallows and they have on two previous occasions in past years produced a female Purple Emperor. I stopped and almost immediately saw a Purple Emperor but this time it was almost certainly a male as it was more manic and flying around the tall adjacent trees rather than searching the sallows. Unfortunately it didn't stay long and I continued with my survey! Liz Goodyear 11 Jul Male and female Purple Emperor at Hardwick Fruit Farm (TL 145 103) Simon Mavin 11 Jul Hounslow. Two sightings briefly led me to expectations other than what proved to be the reality today. Near the start of my walk a large orange butterfly in flight made me hope for Fritillary but when it eventually settled it was - just as beautiful - a Comma, I presume hutchinsoni form. The wings seemed less ragged than usual too but still unmistakable. At the end of my walk a silvery butterfly descended from near the top of a tree (albeit the wrong kind of tree) and after a bit of a wait it finally emerged from the back of the bramble patch, the first of a new generation of Holly Blue. This is the full list of sightings: Red Admiral: 3, Meadow Brown: 36, Speckled Wood: 1, Comma: 7, Small Skipper: 16, Gatekeeper: 3, Green-veined White: 3, Ringlet: 13, Marbled White: 19, Small Heath: 9, Essex Skipper: 5, Brown Argus: 1, Small Copper: 1, Holly Blue: 1 Peter Gore 11 Jul 1 Painted Lady, 3 Meadow Brown, 1 Large White - Field SW of Hitchin Garden Centre, Cambridge Road, Hitchin (TL2030) David Inward 11 Jul A male Purple Emperor briefly down on track beneath sallows on path from car park at Bricket Wood Common car park. Also a single Purple Hairstreak, 2 Silver-washed Fritillaries and 3 White Admiral Clive Burrows 11 Jul At Hexton Chalk Pits this morning: 24 Chalkhill Blues, 18 Dark Green Fritillaries, 24 Marbled Whites, c20 Meadow Browns, 2 Ringlets, 6 Small Heaths David Booth 11 Jul Funny weather again! Saw this stunning fresh Small Copper in the anthill meadow at Alexandra Park during my transect Dee Cullen 11 Jul At Newton Farm Ecology Park this morning I saw 2 Large White, 4 Meadow Brown, 3 Large Skipper, 1 Ringlet, 1 Green-veined White and 1 Red Admiral. Across the road at Newton Park West I saw 4 Marbled White, 5 Meadow Brown, 1 Essex Skipper, 4 Small Skipper and 2 Ringlet Michael Robinson 11 Jul Another Bright-line Brown-eye caught in flat at Southgate at 0145 BST. At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 3 Ringlet, 3 Marbled White, 3 Red Admiral, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Peacock - first of the summer-brood, 1 male Essex Skipper, 2 Small Heath, 2 Comma, 1 female Large Skipper, & 1 Yellow Shell. At Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 male Gatekeeper, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Comma. 3 Ringlet at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998). 2 Red Admiral at Trent Park Robert Callf 10 Jul Brief walk, in drizzle, at Totteridge Green, TQ251934, saw 3 Meadow Brown. Weather improved and fantastic views of London from Wood Farm, Stanmore Country Park (TQ169934) with extensive flowering meadows and saw a fresh male Gatekeeper, 5 Ringlets, a Small Heath, at least 14 Marbled White, 2 Small Skippers, 30+ Meadow Brown, Shaded Broad-bar moth and a quite small female Large White. In adjacent Pear Wood, no woodland butterflies seen but in the Old Orchard area (TQ174936) saw a Painted Lady (added to Migrant Watch), a Red Admiral and 2 Meadow Brown. Over to Belmont Trail, Harrow and in the adjacent Byron Park Cemetery (TQ163897) on a patch of rough grassland saw a Marbled White, a Small Heath and at least 10 Meadow Browns. Finally, at Bridgewater Fields, Ruislip (TQ104858) saw my first ever 4 Marbled Whites at this location where the rough meadow area has been extended, also saw a Small Heath, 6 Ringlets, at least 12 Small Skippers (75% male), a Large Skipper, 2 Small Whites and 10+ Meadow Browns Paul Busby 10 Jul Funny day so warm yet overcast, we went ahead with a local butterfly walk at Alexandra Park despite the continued drops of moisture. Saw plenty to our delight. Anyway, a couple of Gatekeepers have appeared in my front Muswell Hill garden. They make me happy Dee Cullen 10 Jul Hounslow. A shorter walk this aftrenoon following morning rain, still plenty of butterflies around: Meadow Brown: 8, Small White: 1, Ringlet: 10, Small Skipper: 3, Marbled White: 17, Essex Skipper: 3, Small Heath: 2 Peter Gore 10 Jul On the footpath along the Potters Bar Brook behind Furzefield, Potters Bar this morning I saw my first 4 Ringlet of the year, as well as 2 Meadow Brown, 2 Small White and a Speckled Wood (TL239024) Terry Wood 10 Jul 1 Herald in kitchen at Southgate at 0145 BST [NFY] Robert Callf 9 Jul Taking a short morning walk along the Frowyke Crescent footpath through the fields in South Mimms (TL220012) I was pleased to see 5 Marbled White, 3 Meadow Brown, 1 Large Skipper, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Small White Terry Wood 9 Jul Great Ashby Park Stevenage TL268267. Ringlet x3, Purple Hairstreak x2, Large White x5, Large Skipper x3, Small Skipper x5, Essex Skipper x2, Marbled White x15, Meadow Brown x15 Richard Best 9 Jul Morning visit with Steve Bolton, Project Officer of Big City Butterflies to Gladstone Park, Dollis Hill, and Welsh Harp Reservoir, both are well worth a visit. At Gladstone Park, a couple of additions to the 2019 species list for the park included Small Heath and a couple of Marbled Whites on the uncut grass meadows. Pleased to see at least 12 Small Skippers, 2 Essex Skippers, Small White and at least 30 Meadow Browns as well. The well-kept walled gardens contain many nectar plants and another 6 Meadow Brown, 2 Large White and 2 Small White seen. At Welsh Harp, Brent section from Birchen Grove Car park despite a large infestation of invasive Goats Rue, tens of Meadow Brown, at least 8 Small Skippers, 6 Marbled White, 2 Green-veined White and a Ringlet seen on a short visit Paul Busby 9 Jul 1 Small Tortoiseshell at Forty Hall CP (TQ335985) at 1402 BST. 1 Red Admiral & 1 Ringlet along Turkey Brook at Forty Hall CP (TQ338989) at 1414 BST. 1 male Large Skipper & 1 Speckled Wood near Archers Wd/Forty Hall CP (TQ333992). 1 Red Admiral, 1 Comma & 1 male Gatekeeper at Guy Lodge Farm, Enfield (TL330000). 7 Marbled White including three together, 1 Large Skipper, 3 male Gatekeeper, 1 Small Heath & 5 Ringlet at Whitewebbs Farm, Enfield (TL327005). 2 Red Admiral at Whitewebbs Park. 1 Comma at Flash Lane, EN2 (TQ320990) at 1647 BST. 1 Dwarf Cream Wave, 1 Riband Wave, 1 Small Dusty Wave & 1 Gold Triangle at Gordon Hill Station Robert Callf 9 Jul Chorleywood Common. We were treated to the best walk so far this year. We saw our first Painted Lady and she allowed us to film her laying her eggs on a thistle. No doubt Dick will share this. She wasn't bothered by us at all! Commas were patrolling their patches and there were large numbers of Ringlets, Marbled Whites as well as browns. Also the Pyramid Orchids were amazing. So bright and loads of them. Really colourful. Todays results: Painted Lady 1, Meadow Brown 58, Marbled White 36 (NB I also saw 8 of them at Frogmore Meadow on Monday), Ringlet 17, Small White 8, Small Skipper 5, Comma 5, Red Admiral 3, Large White 3, Gatekeeper 3, Large Skipper 2, Small Tortoiseshell 2, Green-veined White 1, Speckled Wood 1. No small heaths or blues. But a good haul! Philip Gibbs Dick Ashford Val Edwards 9 Jul A quick visit to Mathams wood TL459185, Allens Green, late morning, 4 Small Skipper, 1 Large Skipper, 10 Red Admiral, 1 Painted Lady, 4 Small Tortoiseshell, 2 Comma, 3 Silver-washed Fritillary, 30+ Marbled White, plenty of Meadow Browns and Ringlets too Laurence Drummond 9 Jul Hounslow. Felt slightly frustrated as the sky darkened half way through my walk, followed by rain. I should have started an hour or two earlier as far more butterflies than yesterday initially: Red Admiral: 1, Comma: 7, Marbled White: 32, Ringlet: 10, Small Tortoiseshell: 2, Speckled Wood: 1, Small Skipper: 10, Meadow Brown: 25, Small White: 4, Small Heath: 13, Essex Skipper: 4 Peter Gore 9 Jul 1 Speckled Wood - path by River Oughton, Oughton Head Common LNR, Hitchin (TL1730) David Inward 9 Jul Fryent Country Park, Kingsbury - On site for Big City Butterflies - Meadow Brown (hundreds), Ringlet (dozens), Marbled White (10), Gatekeeper (1), Small/Essex Skipper (1), Comma (1) plus a few Large Whites and Small Whites Malcolm Hull Paul Busby Leslie Williams Ele Johnstone Steve Bolton 9 Jul At Roxeth Recreation Ground this lunchtime I saw 26 Ringlet, 17 Meadow Brown, 4 Marbled White, 1 Large White, 1 Small White, 2 Large Skipper, 3 Small Skipper, and 1 Burnet Moth with 5 spots Michael Robinson 8 Jul Notable absence of Speckled Woods in visits to Mad Bess Woods, Gutteridge and Cutthroat Woods and Minet Country Park, however made up of record numbers of Marbled White and Small Skipper. In the flowery grass fields adjacent to Ducks Hill Road and Mad Bess Woods (TQ 08 89) saw at least 88 Marbled White, 73 Small Skipper (predominately male and no Essex Skipper observed), at least 115 Meadow Brown, 3 Ringlet and a Gatekeeper. Record numbers of Marbled White and Small Skipper on transect at Gutteridge Wood, meadow full of flowering plants and grasses. Additional butterflies seen at Guteridge Wood meadow were a Comma, 3 Marbled White, 2 Ringlet, 2 Small Skipper, at least 12 Meadow Brown, whilst at Cutthroat Wood another 2 Small Skipper, 4 Meadow Brown, 5 Ringlet and a Six-Spot Burnet Moth Paul Busby 8 Jul Hounslow. Despite several rain showers a very enjoyable complete walk and one that essentially belongs to Marbled White which led the way with sightings and is undercounted no doubt. It has to be acknowledged that it is the easiest of all our butterflies to identify in both sexes, but they're well camouflaged amongst the long grass at times. I spotted one that seemed to be floundering somewhat near the ground. Through binoculars I could see that she'd lost half an antenna but that wasn't what was causing her mobility problems - it was the attached male and as she crawled up a grass stalk with him behind her matters became a bit more stable. I left them to it looking strikingly beautiful individually and in their subtle contrasts. I've so far seen no sign of the species in suburbia as once or twice in past years but the weather may be a factor limiting them to more sheltered habitat. Here's today's full list: Meadow Brown: 30, Ringlet: 7, Marbled White: 34, Essex Skipper: 6, Small White: 2, Small Skipper: 14, Red Admiral: 2, Green-veined White: 3, Comma: 1, Small Heath: 10, Small Tortoiseshell: 1, Gatekeeper: 1 Peter Gore 8 Jul I walked most of the Hexton Chalk Pit reserve pathways this afternoon between 12.45 and 2 pm at 21C in sun and cloud. I was greatly encouraged to be greeted by a Scarlet Tiger moth perched on old man's beard within the kissing gate at the entrance, which allowed me to pass through without budging an inch. Within the reserve I recorded 20+ Ringlet, 14 Dark Green Fritillaries, 7 male Chalkhill Blue, 25+ Small Heath, 30+ Marbled White, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 20+ Meadow Brown, and 1 unidentified distant White - but no skippers Peter Waldron 8 Jul At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 Painted Lady, 1 female Large Skipper, 1 Red Admiral, 3 Comma, 3 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 male Gatekeeper, 2 Small Heath, 3 Marbled White, 3 Small White, 1 female Green-veined White, 1 male Essex Skipper - my first of the year & numerous Meadow Brown. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Comma, 1 Red Admiral, 4 Small White & 1 Ringlet. At Parkside Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Ringlet. 1 Ringlet near Duncan's Wd/Enfield Chase. At Trent Park - 1 Green-veined White edge of Rough Lot, 2 Red Admiral (1 edge of Moat Wd, 1 edge of Water Garden), 1 Silver Y at 'Old Golf Course'. 1 Marbled White near Ride Wd/Trent Park this afternoon Robert Callf 7 Jul Branch Event Ruislip Woods NNR field trip. Despite a less than favourable weather report five of us took part in this Branch event. The first port of call was, as usual, the Affinity Water Board field behind the main Ruislip Lido car park. This yielded 1 Ringlet and 10+ each of Meadow Brown, Marbled White and Small Skipper; a potential Essex Skipper was also noted. Moths were represented by singles of Six-spot Burnet and Blackneck. A brief period of light rain welcomed us to Copse Wood where the only butterflies encountered were 2 White Admiral one of which was of the aberrant form 'obliterae'; both gave excellent photographic opportunities on a low bramble patch. The ascent to St Vincents at the top of Park Wood was not rewarded with a sighting of Purple Emperor and the group had to be content with a Purple Hairstreak and 2 Speckled Wood Dick Middleton 7 Jul Norton Green Nr Stevenage TL231226. Purple Hairstreak x3, Meadow Brown x16, Comma x1, Ringlet x3, Large Skipper x1 Richard Best 7 Jul At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 4 Small Tortoiseshell, 3+ Comma, 5 Ringlet, 2, male & female, Large Skipper together, 1 Painted Lady & 1 Red Admiral. 1 male Small Skipper at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998). 1 Ringlet near Ride Wd/Trent Park. 1 Common Marbled Carpet at Oakwood Station Robert Callf 7 Jul Hounslow. A Gatekeeper brought the year's total to 26 species seen, matching the final total for 2020. With no rain this afternoon I completed a full walk with the exception of the Richmond side of the Crane Not much sun either but 2 Small Coppers and a Brown Argus may well be the start of new broods emerging and a probable Jersey Tiger moth seen on St.Stephen's Road. This is the full list: Red Admiral: 4, Meadow Brown: 24, Ringlet: 5, Green-veined White: 2, Comma: 2, Small Heath: 3, Small Skipper: 9, Marbled White: 21, Essex Skipper: 8, Brown Argus: 1, Gaatekeeper: 1, Small Copper: 2 Peter Gore 6 Jul 3 Least Carpet & 1 Small Dusty Wave at bus-stop shelter at Bramley Rd, N14. 2 Speckled Wood at Shaws Wd/Trent Park & 1 Comma at Icehouse Wd/Trent Park at 1455 BST. 1 Brimstone Moth at ASDA Southgate this evening Robert Callf 6 Jul TQ299899. A walk around the butterfly meadow in Alexandra Park after the rain this evening. Not a skipper expert, but I think that's one of each of Small Skipper, Essex Skipper and Large Skipper? Also 6 Marbled White and 5 Meadow Brown Matt Lilley 6 Jul 1 Red Admiral - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin David Inward 6 Jul Hounslow. After sloshing through the water on the path not entirely alongside the River Crane I declined the opportunity to do the same twice more on the woodland stretches of the Pevensey loops and headed for the meadows with the following results: Meadow Brown: 15, Ringlet: 3, Essex Skipper: 4, Small Heath: 5, Small Skipper: 7, Marbled White: 4, Comma: 1. Skippers far more numerous than shown and still increasing. Return journey in the rain so proceeded home by the shortest route Peter Gore 5 Jul 5 Ringlet (3 at Vicarage Farm - TQ3097, 2 at Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield - TQ2998). 5 Small Tortoiseshell (4 at Vicarage Farm - TQ3097, 1 at Park Farm, Enfield - TQ2998). 1 male Gatekeeper - freshly emerged at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - my first of the year. 3 Marbled White (1 at Vicarage Farm - TQ3097, 2 near Shaws Wd/Trent Park). 2 Red Admiral (1 at Vicarage Farm - TQ3097, 1 at Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield - TQ2998). 2 Comma at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097). 1 Common Emerald at ASDA Southgate this evening Robert Callf 5 Jul A walk between 1pm and 3pm at Bricket Wood Common along the main ride/gas ride at 19 C in sun and cloud - mostly cloud! produced sightings of 6 Large Skipper, 1 White Admiral, 3 brief sightings of Silver-washed Fritillary - female and possibly the same individual, 1 Marbled White, 3 Red Admiral, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 20+ Ringlet, 15+ Meadow Brown, 5 Banded Demoiselle, and 3 Speckled Wood Peter Waldron 5 Jul Balls Wood HMWT this afternoon. Meadow Brown 80+, Large Skipper 50+, Ringlet 40+, Speckled Wood 11, Red Admiral 4, White Admiral 8, Comma 3, Large White 5, Green-veined White 1 Chris Benton 5 Jul 1 Red Admiral - Field NE of Hitchin Garden Centre, Cambridge Road, Hitchin (TL206309); 23 Marbled White, 3 Meadow Brown - Fields between Greenway and Letchworth Golf Course, Letchworth (TL2030) David Inward 5 Jul Hounslow. No rain but still a lot of cloud. Skipper numbers increasing markedly which inevitably means more going unidentified : Ringlet: 29, Speckled Wood: 5, Small White: 3, Comma: 3, Meadow Brown: 20, Small Skipper: 16, Large Skipper: 1, Red Admiral: 4, Marbled White: 15, Green-veined White: 1, Small Heath: 12, Essex Skipper: 4, Small Tortoiseshell: 2 Peter Gore 5 Jul TQ299899. Quick walk through Alexandra Park. 6 Marbled White, 10 Meadow Brown, 2 Ringlet, Red Admiral, Large Skipper and 1 Small Skipper Matt Lilley 5 Jul 3 Purple Emperors clashing at secondary site at Totteridge Green after 4 pm Tony Clancy 5 Jul Excited to see my first Hertfordshire Scarlet Tiger moth this afternoon in my Letchworth garden Ian Small 5 Jul Chalkhill Blues are (predictably) a little late emerging on Therfield Heath this year after the poor spring weather, but I managed to find a couple to the east of the Therfield Road. I was surprised to find a pristine male Adonis Blue at the bottom of Church Hill - a very late emergence. Therfield Heath: Large Skipper (3), Large White (2), Green-veined White (3), Brown Argus (1), Common Blue (3), Chalkhill Blue (2 Males), Adonis Blue (1), Red Admiral (1), Small Tortoiseshell (10+), Dark Green Fritillary (40+), Speckled Wood (1), Marbled White (lots), Meadow Brown (lots), Ringlet (5), Small Heath (lots) Martin Johnson 5 Jul My first trip to visit Bricket Wood in 2021. I was rewarded with the sighting of several Ringlets and most pleasingly a White Admiral. Both were sighted on the "gas main" ride John Liberty 5 Jul Bricket Wood Common - 3 White Admiral, 2 Red Admiral, 3 Comma, 35 Meadow Brown, 31 Ringlet, 3 Large Skipper, 7 Speckled Wood, 8 Small Skipper, 1 Silver Y Malcolm Hull 4 Jul I did my transect late afternoon at Alexandra Park where I saw my first Marbled Whites of the year: 4 in the Anthill meadow and 2 in the main meadow, all on their usual Knapweed. Great to see them again there, they are becoming a regular Dee Cullen 4 Jul 4 Small Tortoiseshell (3 at Vicarage Farm - TQ3097, 1 at Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield - TQ2998). 3 Ringlet (1 at Vicarage Farm - TQ3097, 1 at Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield - TQ2998, 1 edge of Williams Wd/Trent Park). 5+ Red Admiral (3+ at Vicarage Farm - TQ3097, 1 at Park Farm, Enfield - TQ2998, 1 near Obelisk/Trent Park). 1 Nettle-tap at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998). 4 Comma (2 at Trent Park - one near Water Garden & 1 at Williams Wd, 2 at Vicarage Farm - TQ3097). 1 Painted Lady at Vicarage Farm (TQ3097) & 12 Small Heath here. 2 Marbled White (1 at Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield & 1 at Vicarage Farm - TQ3097) Robert Callf 4 Jul Not quite ideal conditions to put on a butterfly walk. Nonetheless it went ahead despite the expected poor turnout. A grand total of 4 including Rick and myself. We did get lucky for a short while with a few sunny breaks. Although it turned and became cloudy with a few spots of rain by the time we reached "Camilla Oak". We did get to see some butterflies. On the short walk down to the meeting point we spotted 2 Large Skippers and several Meadow Browns and Ringlets. Overall I would estimate about 20+ for Ringlets and Meadow Brown. 6 Red Admiral seen including the 2 I didn't see spotted by Rick. 1 Speckled Wood confirmed I suspect I saw a further 2 but lost sight of. 2 Comma seen, 2 Silver-washed Fritillaries (male and female), 1 confirmed sighting of a White Admiral in the "Camilla Oak" zone. A few brief sightings which we were not able to photograph. With weather deteriorating we headed back. But one last turn for a butterfly I had not yet seen this season. 1 Essex Skipper, not the best of photos but just enough to see the tips of the antenna. This occurred after the walk had ended and was found in the park Peter Fewell 4 Jul Hexton Chalk Pit (TL107299). Speckled Wood x2, Small Heath x2, Meadow Brown x6, Marbled White x8, Dark Green Fritillary x1, Ringlet x4, Small Tortoiseshell x1 and Chalkhill Blue x1 Richard Best 4 Jul 1 Small White, 1 Large Skipper, 7 Meadow Brown - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL1930); 1 Red Admiral - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin David Inward 4 Jul Hounslow. Although there were showers and prolonged gloomy periods I completed the full walk and was rewarded with reasonable numbers of butterflies. On my knees in the grass in the corner of a field I satisfied myself that what I could see swaying around at the top of a grass stalk was my first Essex Skipper of the year and a second soon followed: Red Admiral: 1, Meadow Brown: 22, Marbled White: 9, Speckled Wood: 1, Small Skipper: 1, Ringlet: 6, Small Heath: 15, Essex Skipper: 2, Small Tortoiseshell: 1, Comma: 3, Large Skipper: 1, Painted Lady: 1 Peter Gore 4 Jul First Silver-washed Fritillary (male) of the year at Norton Green. Also 26 Meadow Brown, 5 Ringlet, 7 Large Skipper, 6 Marbled White, 5 Small Heath, plus one each of Comma, Small White and Red Admiral Peter Clarke 4 Jul I took a short walk midday through the overgrown meadows west of Ridge church (TL209 004), and was pleased to see the return of the Marbled Whites (approx 10). Also seen 6 Meadow Browns and 2 Small Whites Terry Wood 4 Jul Purple Emperor patrolling master tree Totteridge Green Tony Clancy 3 Jul Six Hills, Six Hills Way, Stevenage. Meadow Brown x10. Norton Green Nr Stevenage (TL231226). Meadow Brown x50, Marbled White x2, Ringlet x8, Small Skipper x6, Large Skipper x8, Small Heath x3, Red Admiral x2, Cinnabar x3 Richard Best 3 Jul Hounslow. A shortened walk with less favourable weather: Marbled White: 2, Small Heath: 2, Comma: 1, Red Admiral: 3, Speckled Wood: 1, Meadow Brown: 4 Peter Gore 3 Jul Just found a female Poplar Hawk-moth in the kitchen at Dalrymple Close, N14 at 0035 BST (my first record at this site, although I have previously recorded them at ASDA Southgate & Vicarage Farm). 1 Meadow Brown at Grovelands Park this afternoon. 4 Riband Wave at ASDA Southgate this evening Robert Callf 2 Jul Visited Coppetts Wood Green space between the football pitches and the woods (TQ274914) from 18.00 till 19.00 this evening. 1 Small Skipper, 4 Green-veined Whites, 7 Marbled Whites (six very fresh males and one female), 23 Meadow Browns Miles Attenborough 2 Jul Cassiobury Park and Whippendell woods. 5 Small Tortoiseshell feeding on the ox-eye daisies around the car park, in the park Meadow Brown estimate 100+, Large Skipper 7, Marbled White 2, Speckled Wood 1, Silver Y moth 1, Small Skipper 1, Red Admiral 2. Whippendell Woods. Comma 2, Large White 1, Ringlet 5+, Meadow Brown 20+, Silver-washed Fritillary 9, Large Skipper 4, White Admiral 3 at "Camilla Oak", Red Admiral 2, Speckled Wood 2. The weather forecast for tomorrow's butterfly walk does not look great. But should the afternoon brighten up there will be a good chance of seeing White Admiral at Camilla Oak. Peter Fewell 2 Jul I had a two hour visit to Broxbourne Woods (TL328069) arriving 3pm. Headed for a spot I'd seen several White Admirals last year. The spot is now a glade where some trees have been recently felled. Pleased to report one (or two?) White Admiral seen flying and settling on bracken. And frequently returning. Wonderful butterfly! Other species seen: Silver-Washed Fritillary (2); Marbled White (1); Speckled Wood (1); low-flying Purple Hairstreak (I think!?) Vaughn Reade 2 Jul A quick walk from the house down the field to the old Rivers orchard site TL473144, early evening, 4 Small Skipper, 1 Painted Lady, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 4 Marbled White and plenty of Meadow Browns Laurence Drummond 2 Jul Hounslow. Hairstreak day but only just. Right at the end of my walk I found myself in bright sunlight so thought I'd better give full attention to the Oak and Elm and mix of grass and brambles alongside me. One of the day's many bright Commas had first reminded me what I was there for and I was shortly rewarded with a silvery sight high up in the oaks, a White-letter Hairstreak at my feet and a Large Skipper amongst the grass and brambles near the exit. All exactly what I'd been hoping for, for a change. This is the full list: Comma: 13, Red Admiral: 12, Small Tortoiseshell: 1, Meadow Brown: 26, Speckled Wood: 1, Small Skipper: 13, Green-veined White: 1, Ringlet: 13, Marbled White: 13, Small Heath: 17, Common Blue: 1, Small White: 1, Small Copper: 1, Purple Hairstreak: 2, White-letter Hairstreak: 1, Large Skipper: 1 Peter Gore 2 Jul 1 Red Admiral, 2 Speckled Wood, 1 Meadow Brown, 1 Ringlet - Purwell Ninesprings Nature Reserve, Hitchin (TL2029) David Inward 2 Jul I went to Heartwood Forest, walking from the car park at the western end of Nomansland Common (TL162124) to Well Wood (TL158115) and Puddlers wood, hoping to see Purple Emperor - but sadly, after 3 hours I'd seen none, despite a lot of good weather. In fact, I saw no butterflies whatsoever in the canopy except for a single hairstreak (I assume it was a Purple Hairstreak). The areas of Valley Field near the western edges of the woods were also surprisingly devoid of butterfly life, I only saw Meadow Browns and one or two whites, and not a single Marbled White(!). Other species spotted on the walk: Red Admiral x2, Comma x1, Small White x5, Large White x1, Speckled Wood x2, Small Heath (at least 20 seen), Marbled White and Meadow Brown (at least 50 of each species), Small Skipper and Large Skipper (10+ of each), Ringlet x3 Andrew Neild 2 Jul I was very pleased to see my first skippers on my new transect at Highgate Cemetery. On the West Side among long grass I saw four Large Skippers Dee Cullen 2 Jul This morning: 1 Riband Wave, 1 Treble Brown-spot, 1 Double-striped Pug, 1 Fan-foot, 1 Small Blood-vein & 1 Dwarf Cream Wave at Dalrymple Close, N14. At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 3 Small Tortoiseshell, 7 Small Heath, 1 Marbled White, 3+ Small Skipper. At Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield (TQ2998) - 2 Marbled White, 1 Ringlet & 1 female Green-veined White. 1 Comma & 1 male Beautiful Demoiselle at Salmons Brook/Enfield Rd. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Comma & 1 Small Heath. At Trent Park - 1 Red Admiral edge of Moat Wd, 4 Large Skipper, 1 Holly Blue at Water Garden, 2 Marbled White edge of Shaws Wd, 1 female Large White edge of Shaws Wd. 1 Holly Blue & 1 Least Carpet [NFY] at Oakwood Station. At ASDA Southgate - 2 Riband Wave, 1 Common Emerald & 1 Common Marbled Carpet. At Dalrymple Close, N14 - 1 Small Blood-vein, 1 Elder Pearl - Anania coronata at 2305 BST, 1 Bright-line Brown-eye at 2355 BST Robert Callf 1 Jul I went to Bramfield Woods at about 2pm in cool, overcast conditions and spotted a White Admiral over the main access path at TL284169 but also 2 more along woodland track further south towards Bramfield at TL287167, on (and returning to) brambles, just where the track bears 90 degrees left/east. Painted Lady also appeared as did various other more common species Don Gregory 1 Jul At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 4 Small Heath, 2+ Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Comma, 1 Painted Lady, 1 female Large Skipper - my first female of the year, 1 Marbled White & 1 Bumblebee Hoverfly - Volucella bombylans. At Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 male Small Skipper & 2 Yellow Shell. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 2 Red Admiral & 1 Speckled Wood. 1 Buff-tip on nettles at Hadley Rd, Enfield (TQ286982). At Trent Park - 1 Speckled Wood edge of Moat Wd, 1 Comma & 1 Ringlet near Ride Wd, 1 Red Admiral at Water Garden, 2 Marbled White, 3 Large Skipper - 2 males & 1 female, 4+ Small Skipper, 1 female Holly Blue & 1 female Large White edge of Shaws Wd Robert Callf 1 Jul On a walk around the main pit at Tyttenhanger GPs I saw 11 Marbled Whites, c20 Meadow Brown, 4 Small Heath, 1 Large Skipper, 6 Large White, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 2 Ringlet, 2 Small Skipper David Booth 1 Jul 2 Red Admiral, 1 Ringlet, 2 Large Skipper, 6 Meadow Brown, 5 Marbled White, 1 Large White - L-shaped field north of Letchworth Centre for Healthy Living, Letchworth (TL2031) David Inward 1 Jul I had another evening visit to Tunnel Gardens, 1 Comma, 2 Red Admirals, 2 Large Skippers, 1 Ringlet, 1 Meadow Brown, 1 Speckled Wood Miles Attenborough 1 Jul Late morning trip to Balls Wood, Hertford Heath, a pleasing 10 White Admirals, nicely spread around the site though not in the main east - west ride, plenty of Meadow Brown, Ringlet and Large Skipper, also 9 Red Admirals and 2 fresh Comma Laurence Drummond 1 Jul Hounslow. Increasing numbers and one more species for the year, Ringlet: Speckled Wood: 3, Comma: 6, Small Skipper: 21, Meadow Brown: 22, Large Skipper: 2, Marbled White: 13, Green-veined White: 1, Red Admiral: 3, Common Blue: 1, Ringlet: 7, Small Heath: 24, Small White: 4, Small Tortoiseshell: 1 Peter Gore 1 Jul The first sunny day for a while, and a sudden flush of butterflies. Cheshunt Park was full of Meadow Browns, plus a Marbled White and a Purple Hairstreak (TL348041) Paul Gymer June Date Description Recorder 30 Jun Aldbury Nowers. 8 Marbled White, 6 Meadow Brown, 5 Small Heath, 15 Ringlets, 3 Small Skippers, 1 Small Tortoiseshell Simon Mavin Vanessa Wright 30 Jun Hounslow. Limited walk. Small Skipper: 8, Meadow Brown, Green-veined White: 1 Peter Gore 30 Jun Heartwood Forest, St Albans: 1 Marbled White, 10 Meadow Brown, (TL 159 108). My first Ringlet (2) of the season. (TL 161 108) Simon Mavin 30 Jun At Grovelands Park this afternoon (1235-1450 BST) - 2 male Small Skipper, 8 Meadow Brown & 1 Marbled White. 1 Common Emerald flew into kitchen at Dalrymple Close, N14 at 0054 BST. 1 Garden Carpet flew into kitchen at Dalrymple Close, N14 at 0055 BST Robert Callf 29 Jun At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 2 Small Skipper, 1 Large Skipper & 2 Red Admiral. At Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Red Admiral, 1 Marbled White & 1 Yellow Shell. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 2 Speckled Wood. At Trent Park - 2 Large White, 2 Small White & 1 Speckled Wood near Water Garden, 4 Small Skipper near Shaws Wd/Trent Park, also 1 Cinnabar near Water Garden. At Vicarage Farm, Enfield near Shaws Wd (TQ2997) - 1 Small Heath & 1 Marbled White. 1 Common Marbled Carpet at ASDA Southgate Robert Callf 28 Jun In late evening break in the cloud I visited Tunnel Gardens (TQ 293 914) to see if I could photograph the Marbled White I saw yesterday, I failed on that front, but I did see 4 Large Skippers (3 male and I female) including a mating pair, two Red Admirals dualling over the same clearing (TQ 296 911) where I always see them in the evening at this time of year, two Meadow Browns and two Speckled Woods Miles Attenborough 28 Jun 1 Red Admiral at Broomfield Park, Palmers Green, N13 (TQ302926) at 1441 BST Robert Callf 27 Jun Walking through Tunnel Gardens in gloomy condition I spotted 1 Marbled White, 1 Ringlet and 1 Speckled Wood Miles Attenborough 27 Jun On a short visit to Bricket Wood complex yesterday found several White Admiral scattered around rides plus single Red Admiral and Painted Lady. 8 Ringlets, 6 Meadow Brown, 3 Large Skipper and 3 Speckled Woods were also seen. Clive Burrows 27 Jun 1 Small Heath at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097). 2 Marbled White at Trent Park (male at 'Old Golf Course' & male near Shaws Wd). 1 Large Skipper & 2 Small Skipper near Shaws Wd, Trent Park. 3 Marbled White & 1 Small Heath at Vicarage Farm near Shaws Wd/Merryhills Way. 1 Yarrow Plume near Shaws Wd/Trent Park this afternoon Robert Callf 27 Jun On Friday 25 June I took advantage of an appointment at QE2 hospital to visit The Commons Nature Reserve, next door, not a lot flying but I did find this Orange-tip larva beginning to pupate on its larval food plant, Garlic Mustard. Unfortunately it is unlikely to survive to next spring as Garlic Mustard dies down in the autumn. I wonder if it is parasitized and so too sluggish to find a more durable hard surface? Andrew Wood 26 Jun Access grassland, Bayfordbury. (TL391109). Meadow Brown 30+, Large Skipper 10+, Small Heath 5, Red Admiral 1, Ringlet 2, Marbled White 1, Speckled Wood 3, Cinnabar 3, Burnet Companion 2, Silver Y 1 Chris Benton 26 Jun An hour this morning at the waste ground area next to Napsbury Lane, St Albans, between the golf course and the railway (TL161054) - once fairly reliable for White Letter Hairstreak - turned out to be virtually butterfly free apart from 1 pristine looking Painted Lady and 1 distant white sp. - and 2 Cinnabar Moths. So moved on to East Heartwood and walked the length of Colemans Green Lane from TL172110 to TL187123 on the footpath within the southeastern edge of Heartwood Forest. Plenty of healthy looking elms in the hedgerow but no sign of WLHS. Butterflies numerous however, including 3 Large Skipper, 1 rather worn Brown Argus, and an equally worn Common Blue, 3 Red Admiral, and at least 30 each of Small Heath and Meadow Brown, plus 3 Cinnabar Moths Peter Waldron 26 Jun St Albans area. 1 Marbled White, 20+ Meadow Brown, 5 Small Heath at Heartwood Forest (TL 159 109). 1 Painted Lady on field edge nr. Batchwood access road (TL 137 081) Simon Mavin Vanessa Wright 26 Jun This afternoon at Grovelands Park (TQ302941) - 1 male Large Skipper, 2 Speckled Wood including one female egg laying, 3 Meadow Brown, 1 Ringlet, 2 Red Admiral & 1 Silver Y. 1 Riband Wave at ASDA Southgate. 1 Small Blood-vein at Dalrymple Close, N14 at 0007 BST [NFY]. Scalloped Oak flew in kitchen at Dalrymple Close, N14 (unfortunately I stepped on it, before noticing it) Robert Callf 26 Jun At least 4 White-letter Hairstreaks clashing in the usual clearing in the Elm hedge at Minet Country Park, Hayes (TQ109799) Paul Busby 26 Jun Walked down the fields to the old Rivers orchard site, Sawbridgeworth (TL473144), early afternoon, 1 Common Blue, 6 Marbled White (inc 1 f), 14 Meadow Brown and 5 Small Heath Laurence Drummond 26 Jun Hounslow. Increasing numbers since Thursday with more Commas, the first of the summer Small Tortoiseshells, and Marbled Whites in more areas: Speckled Wood: 3, Small White: 1, Comma: 6, Meadow Brown: 14, Small Heath: 17, Common Blue: 1, Brown Argus: 1, Marbled White: 4, Small Skipper: 3, Small Tortoiseshell: 2, Red Admiral: 1, Large Skipper: 1 Peter Gore 25 Jun Sightings around Heartwood Forest, St Albans: My first Marbled White (1) of the year, 20+ Meadow Brown, 5 Small Heath. (TL 159 108). My first Red Admiral (2) of the season. (TL 152 115) Simon Mavin 25 Jun 1 Small White & 1 Red Admiral at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998). 2 Small Heath & 1 Small Tortoiseshell at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park. 1 Red Admiral near Dew Pond, Trent Park at 1132 BST. 1 Large Skipper nectaring on thistle edge of Shaws Wd, Trent Park at 1136 BST. 1 Small Skipper, 7 Small Heath, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Ringlet & 2 Speckled Wood at Vicarage Farm near Shaws Wd/Merryhills Way. 1 Speckled Wood at Boxer's Lake, Enfield Robert Callf 25 Jun Weedy field, Batford (TL15171496) - 1 White-letter Hairstreak - first one of the year in usual spot Darin Stanley 24 Jun Hummingbird Hawk-moth spotted in Leverstock Green, Hemel Hempstead Rick Smyth 24 Jun I surveyed a site, with permission, on private land in the Royston area and found 14 Small Blue, as well as Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Marbled White, Large Skipper, Common Blue and Small Heath. Along the Icknield Way there is plentiful flowering privet and I recorded 15 Small Tortoiseshell, 2 Red Admirals, 1 Comma and 1 Painted Lady taking nectar in quite dull weather Andrew Wood 24 Jun 1 Red Admiral at Allotments, Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) at 1052 BST. 1 Speckled Wood & 2 Small Heath at Vicarage Farm (TQ3097). 2 Speckled Wood, 1 Small White, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Red Admiral & 1 Silver Y at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998). 1 Small Tortoiseshell & 2 Small Heath at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park. 2 Marbled White, 5 Small Heath & 1 male Small Skipper at Vicarage Farm near Shaws Wd/Merryhills Way (TQ297969). 1 Small Tortoiseshell at Trent Park Equestrian Centre (TQ296964). 1 Large Skipper at Dalrymple Close, N14 at 1027 BST Robert Callf 24 Jun Just saw a couple of Painted Ladies on my transect at Alexandra Park. First of this season for me Dee Cullen 23 Jun A good walk at Chorleywood Common, Daniel, Irene, Val, Val's friend Jean and myself. We saw Meadow Brown 14, Large Skipper 4, Common Blue 3, Marbled White 2, Brimstone (female) 2 Philip Gibbs 23 Jun We returned to Barley to continue our survey of private farmland. Thankfully not as hot as the previous week! We managed to find two further Four-spotted moth close to the Essex border but in another new area. Later we surveyed the northern part of the farm, still in Barley but quite close to Royston. On a flower-rich/Kidney Vetch margin we found two Small Blues! Liz Goodyear Andrew Middleton 23 Jun Visit to the A41 Bourne End turn-off (South bound) in mid-afternoon sun was rewarded by the sighting of 14 Small Blue towards the top of the embankment. The colony here is thriving with an abundance of Kidney Vetch at the site Brendan Sheridan 23 Jun At Church Farm Ardley I saw my 1st ever Purple Hairstreak and also a Silver-washed Fritillary Sean Blackmore 23 Jun TL149153 - Tallents Crescent, Batford - 1 Hummingbird Hawk-moth feeding on red flowers Darin Stanley 23 Jun I was joined by Tony Hukin almost immediately after I arrived at Six Hills Common at around 9:30 am to search for White-letter Hairstreaks. After several minutes we saw a White-letter Hairstreak flit briefly over the middle gap on the elm tree tops. Only other butterflies seen at the common were 3 Meadow Browns and a Speckled Wood. In the afternoon I saw my first Marbled White of the year at the Shackledell Grassland Peter Clarke 23 Jun 1 Cinnabar at Grovebury Crt/Chase Rd, N14. At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 3 Small Tortoiseshell including two nectaring on Bramble blossom, 4 Large Skipper, 1 Painted Lady nectaring on Bramble blossom at 1246 BST, 1 Red Admiral at Hog Hill at 1253 BST, 8 Small Heath. At Parkside Farm/ Res., Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Large Skipper, 1 Ringlet - my first for the year & 1 Silver Y. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 2 Speckled Wood, 1 male Large Skipper, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Silver Y & 1 Yellow Shell. 1 Small Tortoiseshell & 1 Speckled Wood at Duncan's Wd, Enfield Chase. At Trent Park - 2 Painted Lady nectaring on Bramble blossom by lower lake 1430 BST & 1 male Large White nectaring on Bramble blossom near Water Garden Robert Callf 23 Jun 2 male White-letter Hairstreaks clashing at my local Elms (TL452126) Pole Hole this morning 11.15 - 12.00, also 3 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Large Skipper, 1 Holly Blue and 6 Meadow Brown. This afternoon I took a walk from Gore Lane north to the meadow between Plashes Wood and the A10 (TL374203), still no Marbled Whites, 4 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Large Skipper, 8 Meadow Brown, stopped off at Widbury Hill nr Ware (TL374136), and saw 1 Painted Lady, 4 Small Tortoiseshell and 3 Common Blues Laurence Drummond 23 Jun Hounslow. One of those slightly frustrating days when the sun keeps disappearing and I never seemed to be looking in exactly the right spot at the right moment but the first Small Skipper of the year was duly noted and two Commas were undoubtedly part of a fresh brood: Small Heath: 16, Large Skipper: 2, Speckled Wood: 2, Meadow Brown: 8, Red Admiral: 1, Comma: 2, Painted Lady: 2, Small Skipper: 1 Peter Gore 23 Jun 7 Meadow Brown, a Burnet Moth with five spots and 2 Burnet Companions near it at Roxeth Recreation Ground Michael Robinson 23 Jun I saw my first White-letter Hairstreak of the year - also there are lots of Dark Green Fritillaries on the wing, on Therfield Heath and elsewhere. Some details: Therfield (TL 349 392): White-letter Hairstreak (1+) - at least one flying around the tops of elms along the Icknield Way this morning. Also Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown, Red Admiral and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies in the locality. Therfield Heath (east of the Sporting Club): Dark Green Fritillary (20+: lots of warring males). Also, Meadow Brown (lots), Small Heath (lots) and smaller numbers of Large Skipper, Marbled White, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock (wintering survivor!), Brown Argus, Common Blue and Adonis Blue Martin Johnson 23 Jun After a week without butterflies, this morning my garden in Muswell Hill has had a Large White, Red Admiral and Painted Lady visit the wallflower. All three very fresh, so hoping that means more are on the way Matt Lilley 22 Jun At Trent Park 'New Fields' - 4 Small Heath & 1 Speckled Wood. At Monken Hadley Common - 3 Large Skipper including two identifiable males, 1 Marbled White & 1 Speckled Wood at TQ268973. 1 Small Copper at Covert Way LNR at TQ265973. 1 Nemophora degeerella at Monken Hadley Common at TQ262971. 1 Buff-tip - worn & faded at Oakwood Station at TQ293959 Robert Callf 22 Jun Red Admiral at St Albans AL1 3AS Vanessa Wright 22 Jun A break from the rain generated not one but three first-of-years for Alexandra Palace Park, with Purple Hairstreak being found by Tony Jakeman, Marbled White by Stephen Middleton and Small Skipper by Gerry Rawcliffe. Also seen were a couple of Red Admirals, a Small Heath, Common Blues, Meadow Browns and good numbers of Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnets Gerry Rawcliffe 22 Jun TL042 088 - Seen on Halsey Field (in spite of windy, rather cool conditions) a Red Admiral sunbathing on the path, 4 Speckled Wood, 5 Meadow Brown and a Small Heath - only the second time this species has been seen on the site Chris Ridley 21 Jun Just found a Large Tabby on my living room curtain this afternoon - it would have entered my flat a few nights ago. Grass Rivulet at ASDA Southgate this evening Robert Callf 21 Jun First Box Tree moth of 2021 on the summer solstice. In my kitchen in Bengeo, Hertford Chris Benton 20 Jun 2 Cinnabar at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) this afternoon Robert Callf 19 Jun Norton Green Nr Stevenage TL231226. Meadow Brown x24, Marbled White x1, Speckled Wood x1, Small Heath x2, Cinnabar x3 Richard Best 19 Jun 1 Small Dusty Wave at Guy Lodge Farm, Enfield (TQ330999) & 14 Meadow Brown at Whitewebbs Farm, Enfield (TL328004). 1 Willow Beauty at ASDA Southgate this evening. 1 Silver-ground Carpet at Bramley Rd, N14 Robert Callf 18 Jun This evening, 2 Small Dusty Wave at ASDA Southgate Robert Callf 17 Jun Fairlands Valley Park Stevenage TL248231. Meadow Brown x8 Richard Best 17 Jun At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 Silver Y, 1 Painted Lady at Hog Hill at 1517 BST, 15+ Meadow Brown, 2 Small Heath & 1 Cinnabar. At Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield (TQ2998) - 2 Meadow Brown inc a female & 1 Small Heath. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Meadow Brown & 1 Small Tortoiseshell. 1 Red Admiral at Duncan's Wd, Enfield Chase at 1625 BST. 1 Small Tortoiseshell at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park at 1722 BST. 1 Red Admiral at Water Garden, Trent Park at 1753 BST. 1 White Ermine at ASDA Southgate - my first for the year Robert Callf 16 Jun Hexton Chalk Pit TL107299. Speckled Wood x3, Small Heath x6, Meadow Brown x3, Common Blue x3, Marbled White Richard Best 16 Jun We had permission to survey a farm in the Barley area near to where Four-spotted moth had been recorded. Despite a combined survey of nearly 14 miles walking field margins in 28c heat over a combined time of 12 hours, we managed to only find one Four-spotted moth nectaring on Ox-eye Daisy (within the first 30 minutes of surveying!) but this one was on a farm margin some distance from the known public footpath where they have been seen and further into Hertfordshire! Most numerous species recorded was Small Heath with Small Tortoiseshell, Painted Lady, Meadow Brown, Large Skipper, Common Blue, Brown Argus, a male Orange-tip and Brimstone being recorded. Moths included Silver Y, Cinnabar, Mother Shipton and Burnet Companion Liz Goodyear Andrew Middleton 16 Jun At Oakwood Park (1840-1920 BST) - 4 Silver Y, 8 Small Heath, 2 Mother Shipton, 11 Meadow Brown most E of 10 km line, 1 Orange Conch Commophila aeneana W of 10 km line, 1 male Small Skipper at 1853 BST - my first of the year, 1 Cinnabar, 1 Yellow Shell. At Dalrymple Close, N14 1 Garden Carpet at 2240 BST, 1 Beautiful Hook-tip at 0030 BST - just flew into my kitchen (a new species for me & local, apparently in these parts!), 1 Mint Moth Pyrausta aurata at 0045 BST & 1 Small Magpie the following morning at 0415 BST Robert Callf 16 Jun A walk around the area south and east of Royston and around Barley produced a late Orange-tip male, a few of Common Blue, Brown Argus, Large Skipper, Speckled Wood and rather more Meadow Brown, Small Heath and Small Tortoiseshell. Moths included the micro Homoeosoma sinuella, Burnet Companion, Mother Shipton and my first Six-spot Burnet Moth of the year. Lots of Spindle Ermine moth webs too Andrew Wood 16 Jun A walk out of the door down the fields to the old Rivers orchard site and fields, TL474146, 2 Common Blue (m), 1 Holly Blue, 1 Speckled Wood, 6 Meadow Brown and 2 Small Heath, on return a faded Painted Lady on Privet in Mansfield, High Wych Laurence Drummond 16 Jun Regents Park NW1 - Speckled Wood, Holly Blue, Silver Y and Grass Veneer - Just 1 of each species on a 1 hour sunny lunchtime walk. There is still a distinct shortage of summer butterfly species! Malcolm Hull 16 Jun 1 Red Admiral - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin David Inward 16 Jun Hounslow. Marbled White and Meadow Brown take the species total to 20 for this year and with a nice mix of certainties, possibles and hoped for ahead there should be some enjoyable walking to come. The 2 Large Skippers included what was probably the first one again, still perching on tall stalks of Fescue and Cocksfoot in the same area I first saw him. The second, though, was in another historically familiar spot on the Marshalling Yards. Today's Red Admiral looked fresh : Speckled Wood: 9, Marbled White: 1, Red Admiral: 1, Common Blue: 4, Small Heath: 9, Brown Argus: 2, Large Skipper: 2, Meadow Brown: 1 Peter Gore 15 Jun Trent Park - 1 Speckled Wood near Triangular Wd. 1 Yellow Shell near Triangular Wd. 14 Chimney Sweeper in the usual field 'New Fields' - my first of the year. 1 male Meadow Brown, 1 Small Heath & 1 Cinnabar at 'New Fields'. 1 Comma edge of Church Wd at 1826 BST. 1 Common Marbled Carpet, 1 Small Dusty Wave, 1 Bee Moth & 1 Silver Y at Dalrymple Close, N14 the following morning Robert Callf 15 Jun Therfield Heath (rifle range). Small Heath x10+, Adonis Blue x10+, Meadow Brown x2, Brimstone x2, Brown Argus x2, Small Tortoiseshell x2, Holly Blue x1, Mother Shipton x1, Burnet Companion x1 In the woods. Speckled Wood x1 Fox Covert. Holly Blue x1 Church Hill. Small Heath x10+, Adonis Blue x50+, Dark Green Fritillary x1, Small Tortoiseshell x1, Meadow Brown x2 Chris Benton 15 Jun I tried to see if I could find Four-spotted Moth along the road verges north west of Therfield (Crouch Hill and Coombe Road). Despite the food plant being present, with nice deep ditches and the verges being flower rich, nothing was seen, in fact butterflies and moths were conspicuous by their absence. I then took the footpath that leads north out of Therfield village towards the A505. Half way along is a flower-rich meadow full of Kidney Vetch (no public access) which I looked at through binoculars but couldn't see any Small Blue although Common Blue, Small Heath, Meadow Brown and Large Skipper plus a single Brown Argus were present. Also noteworthy were several Small Tortoiseshell and to my surprise a pristine Dark Green Fritillary was recorded Liz Goodyear 15 Jun Marbled White butterflies are now flying over the south side of Church Hill. I'm a little surprised that they haven't been reported from further south, where they are normally picked up first. Maybe they have been recorded, but not reported? I expect Dark Green Fritillaries to be on the wing here in the next few days (none seen this morning). Therfield Heath (Church Hill): Marbled White (5), Brimstone (1), Brown Argus (5), Common Blue (20+), Adonis Blue (50+ - mainly worn males), Red Admiral (1), Small Tortoiseshell (2: recently emerged), Meadow Brown (12+), Small Heath (lots). Two Large Skippers were also seen, to the east of the Therfield Road Martin Johnson 15 Jun Verulamium Park, St Albans - Motivated by reports of White-letter Hairstreak in South London yesterday, I headed off to my nearest areas of elm. Several of the best spots in recent years now only hold dead trees, but several new clumps of elm have sprung up. Although I had no luck with that species I did see Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown and Red Admiral, all of which have been fairly scarce so far this year. I also recorded 2 Small Heaths - as with yesterday's sighting of this species, I've visited the park many times over the last 25 years and never seen a Small Heath there before! Malcolm Hull 15 Jun Heartwood Eastside (TL180110) Red Admiral, 2 Small Heaths, Small White, Speckled Wood and Meadow Brown seen on a quick visit Andrew Steele 14 Jun 2 Painted Lady, 1 Small Tortoiseshell & 1 Red Admiral at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097). 1 Cinnabar along Jubilee Path at Park Farm near Little Beechill Wd (TQ290989). 1 Yellow Shell edge of Little Beechill Wd, Enfield Chase (TQ290991). 3 Painted Lady at Holly Hill Farm, Enfield (TL296001). Also, numerous Green Oak Tortrix this evening at Park Farm & Little Beechill Wd, Enfield Chase. 1 Treble Brown Spot at Dalrymple Close N14 the following morning at 0015 BST Robert Callf 14 Jun At Halsey Field, I went to check if any Small Blues had found the Kidney Vetch - now in flower - on the site, but no sign yet. However I did see 2 Common Blues, 1 Brimstone, 1 Red Admiral, a Speckled Wood and 2 Large Skippers, one of which looked very fresh - a rich orangey brown and very beautiful Chris Ridley 14 Jun Early afternoon visit to Westland Green TL422221, no Marbled Whites yet but my first 2 Meadow Brown and my first Large Skipper of the year. I then walked north along the Ash valley at Much Hadham, to the little meadow between Mill and Sidehill woods TL430178, more butterflies here, 1 Large Skipper, 2 Brown Argus, 3 Common Blue (males), 2 Red Admiral, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Speckled Wood (along the shady path to the meadow), 1 Meadow Brown, and 7 Small Heath Laurence Drummond 14 Jun Folly Lane Allotments, St Albans - butterflies are still scarce in this area. Just one Small Heath on my allotment this afternoon. But an interesting record as I have not recorded that species on this site before in over 1,000 visits in the last 25 years! Malcolm Hull 14 Jun Hounslow. Small Heath: 10, Speckled Wood: 6, Green Hairstreak: 1, Common Blue: 3, Brown Argus: 3, Small Copper: 1, Holly Blue: 1, Peacock: 1, Large Skipper: 2 Peter Gore 13 Jun Balls Wood Hertford Heath TL348105. Speckled Wood x14, Small Heath Richard Best 13 Jun At Brent Park (TQ240887) 1 Red Admiral along eastern edge of The Decoy 1257hrs onwards Toby Mylett 13 Jun Aldbury Nowers: 1 Orange-tip, 1 Brimstone, 3 Speckled Wood, 50+ Small Blues, 50+ Small Heaths Simon Mavin Vanessa Wright 13 Jun At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 Red Admiral, 1 Small Tortoiseshell - my first of the 'summer-brood', 3 Painted Lady, 1 Speckled Wood, 2 Small Heath & 1 Yellow Shell. 1 Nettle-tap at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) & 1 Green Carpet at Icehouse Wd, Trent Park Robert Callf 13 Jun Butterflies seen on my morning walk through South Mymms and Ridge (TL210013) included 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 5 Small White, 3 Speckled Wood, 1 Orange-tip, 1 Common Blue, 1 Small Heath, 1 Cinnabar, 1 Peacock and my first Meadow Brown of the year. Then on my return path in South Mymms a Burnet Companion landed nearby in the grass (TL218014) Terry Wood 13 Jun Hounslow. Despite a morning start, sun, heat and humidity made the walk enervating and long spells without butterflies suggested I might not be the only one suffering. Eventually, and for a while, a tatty Red Admiral was the highlight because only the second of the year with the other back on 29th March but right at the end a much fresher sighting came: the first Large Skipper for two years, a relief to see the species still clearly with us here: Green Hairstreak: 1, Brown Argus: 9, Speckled Wood: 4, Small Heath: 15, Common Blue: 4, Peacock: 1, Holly Blue: 1, Red Admiral: 1, Small Copper: 1, Large Skipper: 1 and a Cinnabar moth Peter Gore 13 Jun Watery Lane Bridge Flamstead - 2 Small Blues, one each side of the M1 bridge. Also my first 2 Meadow Browns of the summer and 3 female Brimstones Malcolm Hull 13 Jun 1 Painted Lady, 1 Common Blue, 1 Small Heath and 1 Cinnabar Moth seen near Ten Acre Wood this morning. 3 Small Heath, 1 Mother Shipton and 12+ Burnet Companions seen at Islip Manor Meadows this morning Michael Robinson 12 Jun All around Wheathampstead: c. 15 Small Heath and 1 Peacock on track on edge of Heartwood Forest near Nomansland (TL 177 122); 2 Large Whites near Hammonds Farm (TL 184 117); 3 Speckled Wood on track in Symonshyde Wood (TL 192 110); 3 Painted Lady - Track near Symonshyde Farm (TL 204 107); 2 Common Blue at Heartwood Forest (TL 175 118) Simon Mavin 12 Jun 1 Cinnabar along Leeging Beech Gutter at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) at 2046 BST. 3 Small Dusty Wave, 1 Heart and Dart this evening & 1 Willow Beauty at Dalrymple Close, N14 yesterday evening. Found a Small Magpie in my kitchen (flown in through open window) at 0328 BST the following morning - my first one of the year Robert Callf 12 Jun 1, possibly 3, Speckled Wood - Oughton Head Lane, Hitchin (TL174297) David Inward 12 Jun Heartwood Forest, Sandridge - Small Blues in three distinct locations - Valley Field, car park access road and Hamm Wood - 9 individuals in total. Common Blue and Small Heath were widespread, but fairly low numbers. Other butterflies just in ones and twos - first new brood Small Tortoiseshell, my first Large Skipper, Painted Lady laying on creeping thistle, Red Admiral, Brown Argus, Brimstone, Peacocks. Odd sighting of the day was Holly Blue laying on the flower buds of Birds-foot Trefoil. Moths included Mother Shipton, Burnet Companion, Silver Y, Cinnabar, Grass Rivulet and Grass Veneer. A short detour onto Nomansland Common added Small Copper to the days' species total Malcolm Hull 11 Jun At Grovelands Park - 1 Holly Blue near Broad Walk entrance (TQ308942) at 1640 BST. 2 Speckled Wood near Bowling Green. 1 Small Heath & 1 Mother Shipton. 1 Brimstone Moth at ASDA Southgate this evening Robert Callf 11 Jun 1 Brimstone - footpath south of Sainsburys, Coreys Mill, Stevenage (TL225263) David Inward 11 Jun Did my visit to the land east of Clothall Common near Baldock to see if last year's new site for Small Blue had survived and I'm pleased to say there was a minimum of 5 individuals, all in the sheltered area at the slope bottom near the housing. I notice that one scrubby part of this site, not the best for butterflies, is now fenced off in anticipation of a planning application for housing. Also present were a few Common Blues and Small Heaths as well as Bee and Pyramidal Orchids Andrew Wood 10 Jun 1 Common Carpet & 1 Speckled Wood at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998). 1 Cinnabar at Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield (TQ2998) - my first of the year & 1 male Orange-tip at Hadley Rd/Parkside Farm, Enfield (TQ3098). 1 Small Heath at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097). 1 Mother Shipton at Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield (TQ2998) this afternoon. 1 Brimstone Moth the following morning at 0337 BST at Dalrymple Close, N14 Robert Callf 10 Jun St Albans: At The Great Northern PH 1 Brimstone Moth 2211-2221hrs, 1 Angle Shades 2216-2226hrs at least - both first seen in flight, then resting on marquee ceiling Toby Mylett 10 Jun 1 Large White - Butts Close east, Hitchin (TL182295) David Inward 9 Jun Here are some sightings from my one hour visit to Hexton Chalk Pit: the accompanying image is of a 'blue' female Common Blue. Dingy Skipper (3), Brimstone (1M, 1F), Green Hairstreak (1), Brown Argus (3), Common Blue (15-20), Red Admiral (1), Painted Lady (1), Small Heath (25-30) Martin Johnson 9 Jun Oakwood Park (1732-1832 BST) - 1 Red Admiral & 1 Holly Blue near Saxon Way entrance, 8 Small Heath incl one W of 10 km line & all the others E of 10 km line. 2 Bishop's Mitre Shieldbug - a new species for the site & for me. 1 Small Dusty Wave & 1 Common Swift at ASDA Southgate this evening Robert Callf 9 Jun 1 Small Heath - Purwell Meadows east, Hitchin (TL201298) David Inward 9 Jun Network Rail allowed another trackside survey for Grizzled Skipper north of Hertford. It was a month since our last visit when we saw almost no butterflies but today accompanied by our trackside escorts Martin and Alan we recorded 4 Grizzled Skippers with a 5th individual in an adjacent field just west of the track. There were also lots of Small Heath, as well as Brown Argus, Common Blue, Small Copper, Burnet Companion and Mother Shipton moths Liz Goodyear Andrew Middleton 9 Jun Hounslow. Another mid morning to mid afternoon walk in full sun giving essentially similar results to yesterday but without the sense of missing things and no moths noted at all. What I at first took to be a male Common Blue in sustained close pursuit of another on the Marshalling Yards turned out to be one pursuing a Green Hairstreak. The smaller Hairstreak ended up in possession of some Bird's Foot Trefoil so I'm not sure who achieved what in that dispute. Elsewhere a Bee Orchid may not be a butterfly or even a bee but deserves a mention because of its beauty. They're known on the heath and also further afield at Bedfont but this was the first I've seen for a few years and a surprise in its location on my walk. Here are the equally beautiful butterflies: Speckled Wood: 4, Green-veined White: 1, Common Blue: 4, Brown Argus: 6, Small Heath: 11, Peacock: 2, Green Hairstreak: 3, Painted Lady: 1, Holly Blue: 2, Brimstone: 1 Peter Gore 9 Jun Regents Park NW1 - Painted Lady, Speckled Wood, Comma, Holly Blue and Green-veined White. Summer grassland butterflies are yet to put in an appearance at this warm and early site. But with weather at 25 degrees this lunchtime, I'm expecting they will be out soon Malcolm Hull 8 Jun Great Ashby Park Stevenage TL268267. Painted Lady, Brown Argus (ab. snelleni), Small Heath Richard Best 8 Jun A late morning walk along the River Stort from Harlow Mill to Pye Corner, 2 Brimstone (m), 2 Green-veined White, 1 Holly Blue, 9 Red Admiral (!) and 4 Speckled Wood Laurence Drummond 8 Jun At Trent Park - 1 Small Heath at 'New Fields' at 1830 BST. 1 Comma edge of Church Wd, Trent Park (TQ285966) at 1832 BST. 1 Grey Birch at ASDA Southgate - was a new species for the site & for me! Also 1 Willow Beauty here Robert Callf 8 Jun At Monken Hadley Common - 1 Small Heath & 2 Speckled Wood Robert Callf Bob Husband 8 Jun TL114127 - Redbourn chalk slope between Harpenden and Redbourn (by B487) - 4 Small Blues, 1 Orange-tip, 2 Brimstone Darin Stanley 8 Jun Hounslow. Another sunny walk, felt like more than usual 'misses' today and moths were particularly un-cooperative. Some of the Speckled Woods seemed like fresh specimens and good to see Brown Argus numbers apparently increasing too: Speckled Wood: 5, Green Hairstreak: 3, Peacock: 1, Common Blue: 5, Green-veined White: 2, Small Heath: 9, Brown Argus: 5, Orange-tip (f.) : 1, Holly Blue: 1, Brimstone: 1, Small White: 2 Peter Gore 8 Jun Green Hairstreak at Heartwood. Clear view of one, but flew off after settling briefly. Just beyond NW corner of Well Wood Martin Webb 7 Jun At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 Speckled Wood, 1 male Orange-tip, 1 Peacock & 4 Small Heath. 1 Peacock at Parkside Farm, Enfield (TQ3098). 4 Alabonia geoffrella (2 at Park Farm, Enfield - 1 at TQ291983 and 1 near Duncan's Wd at TQ286984, 2 at Rough Lot, Trent Park at TQ283977). 1 Silver Y at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998). 3+ Brown Silver-line at Rough Lot, Trent Park (TQ283977) - a delicate & subtle beauty. 1 Small Copper at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park. 1 Small Heath & 1 female Brown Argus ab. snelleni at Vicarage Farm, Enfield near Shaws Wd (TQ298971) - black discoidal spot is ringed with white - not an unusual aberration in Herts & Middx? 1 Common Marbled Carpet at ASDA Southgate & 2 Holly Blue at Chase Road, Southgate (TQ296949) Robert Callf 7 Jun Morning visit to Bourne End, A41 Slip Road and saw Mother Shipton, Burnet Companion and Silver Y moths but no butterflies. Lunchtime, at Cutthroat Wood, Hillingdon (TQ089841) saw more Mother Shipton and Burnet Companion moths as well as 2 Speckled Woods, then at Minet Country Park, Hayes (TQ109800), I saw a Small Heath, male Common Blue and a Speckled Wood but no Meadow Brown or Marbled Whites were seen but the WLH Elms, which had not succumbed to Dutch Elm had a lot of larval damage to the leaves Paul Busby 7 Jun After a tentative unconfirmed report a few days ago, Green Hairstreak was definitely recorded this afternoon on Alexandra Palace Park, found by Tony Jakeman and twitched by a couple of Park regulars. Hot on the heels of the Long-tailed Blue, this is species #29 for the Park, not counting Wall, which was recorded until 1995. The butterfly was on the main meadow and only settling very briefly Gerry Rawcliffe 7 Jun Went to Therfield heath to see the Adonis Blue. Parked in parking area on heath on golf course, on road down from Therfield. Walked on track towards Baldock cut up left. In the gullies in the small hills before Church Hill. I suddenly saw the Adonis Blues. I saw about 60 male Adonis Blue and 12 females, also Brown Argus and Small Heath. Latticed Heath, Silver Y and Mother Shipton moths. Also I saw 2 Meadow Brown, my first of the year. Good wild flowers, Dropwort, Bee Orchid, etc. and many Skylarks. Well worth going. Steve Kiln 6 Jun We went to Ellenbrook Fields and saw a good number of Common Blues (20+) and Small Heath (20+), plus Small Copper (2), Small White (4), Green-veined White (1), Brimstone (2), Orange-tip (2), Peacock (2), and a single Cinnabar Moth Andrew Neild 6 Jun I was delighted to find a Puss Moth in my Enfield garden on the patio Phil Rhodes 6 Jun 1 Speckled Wood at Gough Park, Forty Hill (TQ334982) at 1553 BST. 1 Alabonia geoffrella at Forty Hall CP (TQ331991). 1 Painted Lady at Sloemans Farm, Enfield (TL326002) at 1745 BST. 2 Brown Argus, 5 Small Heath, 3 Silver Y & 1 Yellow Shell at Whitewebbs Farm, Enfield (TL325001). Found a well-grown Copper Underwing larva on path at Whitewebbs Lane, Enfield (TQ332997) this evening Robert Callf 6 Jun I spotted a Small Blue at Heartwood - Hamm Wood it's east of the B651, TL17571109. I've not seen them east of the B651 before, although I have only just started walking this patch! Ian Carle 6 Jun I visited the meadow by Wymondley Power Station late this afternoon, TL204273. Such a great spot, hidden away & quiet and a good variety of plants. 6+ Common Blue, 3 Brown Argus, 1 Small Copper, 1 m Orange-tip Tom Speller 6 Jun 1 Small White - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin David Inward 5 Jun At Batford Springs NR (TL146150) 1 male Orange-tip in flight 1210hrs Toby Mylett 5 Jun Hounslow. I must begin by declaring that the highlight of today's walk was meeting Malcolm Hull at Hounslow Heath car park in the early afternoon and then bring to the attention of anyone planning a visit to the heath (well worthwhile) that 'car park' is currently more a concept than actuality. This was news to both of us and will continue to be the case for some months. The back entrance I normally use has also been undergoing changes adverse to parking so at the moment we're simply not car friendly but present no problems to walkers. The purpose of Malcolm's visit was to see Green Hairstreaks and we were duly successful in this aim albeit in the usual small scale. 2 seen by me earlier were matched by 2 more we saw elsewhere on the heath and it was particularly pleasing for me to spot one in the morning on a partially cleared piece of ground on the Marshalling Yards before Malcolm saw the next near the main path on the heath - both were new sites for the last couple of years at least. Nearly all the sightings which follow were my pre car park ones but no other species were added later and the heat actually seemed to discourage later afternoon flying somewhat: Painted Lady: 1, Speckled Wood: 4, Green Hairstreak: 4, Brown Argus: 1, Small Heath: 11, Orange-tip: 4, Small Copper: 2, Common Blue: 3, Green-veined White: 1, Small White: 4, Brimstone: 1 Peter Gore Malcolm Hull 5 Jun 1 Speckled Wood at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) at 1759 BST. 2 Silver Y - 1 at Park Farm, Enfield & 1 at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park. 1 Small White at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998). 2 Small Heath - 1 at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park & 1 at Vicarage Farm, Enfield - TQ3097. 4 Mother Shipton near Shaws Wd, Trent Park. 1 Willow Beauty & 1 Angle Shades at ASDA Southgate this evening Robert Callf 5 Jun 1 Large White - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin David Inward 4 Jun Visited Aldbury Nowers and found 1 Duke of Burgundy, 1 Small Blue, plenty of Dingy Skippers, Brown Argus, Orange-tips and Brimstones Sue & Steve Place 3 Jun Therfield Heath Church Hill TL332396. Small Heath, Adonis Blue x30 Richard Best 3 Jun 1 Willow Beauty & 1 Toadflax Brocade at Dalrymple Close, N14 (TQ297950) this morning - both new for the year. 1 Comma at Grovebury Court, N14 (TQ296950) at 1121 BST. 1 Speckled Wood & 1 Small Heath at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097). 2 Peacock at Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield (TQ2998). 1 female Orange-tip at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) at 1236 BST. 6 Alabonia geoffrella along Jubilee Path at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ290989) about 1255 BST. 1 female Beautiful Demoiselle along Jubilee Path near Little Beechill Wood (TQ290990) at 1300 BST. 1 Small White at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ290990). 1 Red Admiral at Holly Hill Farm, Enfield (TL296001) at 1328 BST. 2 Holly Blue together at St Andrew's Church, Enfield Town (TQ327967) at 1442 BST. 1 Holly Blue at Church St, Edmonton N9 (TQ333939) at 1509 BST Robert Callf 3 Jun Hounslow. An afternoon walk with a mix of sun and cloud. A Green Hairstreak conspicuously resting on freshly mown grass was unusual and also well away from where they are most often seen: Brimstone: 1, Green Hairstreak: 3, Peacock: 9, Small Copper: 3, Speckled Wood: 2, Common Blue: 3, Brown Argus: 2, Orange-tip: 2, Small Heath: 11, Holly Blue: 1. Very few whites today and none identified Peter Gore 3 Jun On Waterford Heath north pit. i saw 3 Grizzled Skippers and two Brown Argus. On south pit 6 Grizzled Skippers, 2 Small Heath. At Rickneys quarry I saw 6 Common Blue, 3 Small Heath, 4 Brown Argus and no Grizzled Skippers Steve Kiln 2 Jun Hexton Chalk Pit TL107299. Common Blue, Small Heath Richard Best 2 Jun We could be described as the Pied Pipers of Waterford Heath, as we started with just us two but over the course of the afternoon, we were joined by Lucy, Robert and Paul and his wife who all helped us survey for Grizzled Skipper. The extra helpers meant we could spread out and walk a section all together, seeing as many Grizzled Skipper as possible. We chose an anti-clockwise search of the north pit and across the pit we saw at least 15 individuals plus Common Blue, Holly Blue, Brown Argus, Small Copper and Small Heath. Many of the Grizzled Skippers were females on egg laying runs and near the railway we were able to watch and subsequently find a freshly laid egg on Agrimony. The south pit proved harder and most of the searching was done by just us and the final tally before the dark clouds erred us to give up was just 5 but this was not such as thorough a search. Also seen were Common Blue, Small Copper, Brown Argus and Small Heath. Earlier Andrew recorded 9 Grizzled Skippers at Frogmore which is now after the recent rains even more flooded and 3 Grizzled Skipper on the fields just to the north of Waterford Heath Liz Goodyear Andrew Middleton 2 Jun 1 female Orange-tip, 1 Green-veined White, 1 Peacock, 3 Painted Lady, 1 Small Heath & 1 Common Carpet at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097). 1 Painted Lady at Holly Hill Farm, Enfield (TL296001) at 1844 BST. 1 female Muslin Moth at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) at 1757 BST Robert Callf 2 Jun Hounslow. Another morning walk and generally a repeat of yesterday in slightly duller conditions with fewer sightings: Speckled Wood: 5, Common Blue: 2, Small White: 2, Peacock: 3, Small Heath: 12, Brown Argus: 2, Small Copper: 1, Holly Blue: 2, Green-veined White: 1, Orange-tip: 1 Peter Gore 1 Jun Waterford Heath. Grizzled Skipper x2, Brown Argus, Small Heath, Small Copper, Holly Blue, Brimstone Richard Best 1 Jun After drawing a complete blank for Small Blue on my previous visit on 18 May, I revisited the chalk bank on the B487 Redbourn lane at TL113127. In bright sunshine and 23 C, very few butterflies were showing during my stay, but I did eventually manage two sightings of Small Blue - possibly of the same individual. The only other butterflies seen were 2 Brimstone, 1 Orange-tip, and 3-4 unidentified whites - and numerous Mint Moths. I was rather puzzled to see saw no sign of Kidney Vetch during my visit, but perhaps it is just late flowering here? Peter Waldron 1 Jun With the excitement of Adonis Blue at Therfield Heath, Bob and I decided to visit the site for the first time. Arriving there at about 10:30 it wasn't long before we found our target species. 3 or 4 male Adonis Blues were seen flying over patches of Horseshoe Vetch. In all, we counted over 50 Adonis Blue including 5-10 females. Other species encountered: Small Heath 15+, Small White 2, Brimstone 7, Orange-tip 3, Brown Argus 15+, Painted Lady 3 and Common Blue 3. Also a Cinnabar moth Peter Clarke Bob Clift 1 Jun 1 female Holly Blue settled at Bramley Rd, N14 (TQ294960) at 1310 BST. 3 Small Copper & 2 Small Heath at 'New Fields' Trent Park. 1 Holly Blue at Monken Hadley Common (TQ275968) at 1414 BST, also here, 1 male Orange-tip at TQ269971, 2 Small Heath at TQ268973, 1 Speckled Wood at TQ263971, 1 male Brimstone at TQ263971 & 1 female Brimstone at TQ275968 Robert Callf 1 Jun Hounslow. A morning walk, mostly, and in full sun. The first Brown Argus of the year and a Cinnabar moth which may be the first for two years but the day really belonged to Small Heath which has clearly had a general emergence across the area since Sunday: Speckled Wood: 6, Orange-tip: 4, Small White: 4, Small Heath: 13, Common Blue: 3, Small Copper: 1, Brown Argus: 2, Brimstone: 4, Holly Blue: 5, Green-veined White: 1, Peacock: 1, Green Hairstreak: 2. Two minor oddities: in a bit of role reversal a male Brimstone nectaring on Red Campion was pestered by a passing female which, after briefly nectaring on a separate flower and approaching him a second time, finally left him to it. Not far from this unusual scene I found myself training binoculars on a blue butterfly nectaring on Hedge Mustard - only a Holly Blue but I can't remember seeing one on this plant before Peter Gore May Date Description Recorder 31 May Letchworth - Hillbrow (TL 205 318): Small Blue (8+), Brown Argus (20+), Small Heath (5). Orange-tip and Brimstone butterflies were also seen. Therfield Heath (Church Hill: TL 332 397): Adonis Blue (35-40 - conservative estimate!). I noted the emergence of several butterflies this morning - one even had an attendant ant clinging on to its rear end! Mating pairs were seen, as well as one female variant. This evening the butterflies had spread out across the area, with many basking in the sun on the north side of the southern spur of the hill. Also seen: Brown Argus (20+), Small Heath (5), Brimstone (5), Orange-tip (1), Peacock (1), Painted Lady (1), Burnet Companion (2). No Common Blues were seen Martin Johnson 31 May 4 male Orange-tip (2 at Vicarage Farm - TQ3097, 1 at Parkside Farm - TQ3098, 1 at Ferny Hill, Enfield). 2 Painted Lady clashing at Hog Hill, Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) at 1644 BST. 1 Common Carpet at Hog Hill, Vicarage Farm. 2 Small Heath at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097). 4 Small White (1 at Hog Hill, Vicarage Farm, 1 at Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield - TQ2998, 2 at Park Farm, Enfield - TQ2998). 1 male Holly Blue settled on ground near Hadley Rd at Vicarage Farm (TQ3097). 1 Speckled Wood by lower lake, Trent Park at 1845 BST Robert Callf 31 May My first Large Skipper today on the Ridgeway between Tring Station and Aldbury Nowers Andrew Wood 31 May 1 Small White - Purwell Meadows north, Hitchin (TL199300) David Inward 31 May Bourne End Junction - 7 Orange-tips. The Kidney Vetch is not yet flowering and no Blues out at this site yet. Bovingdon Brickpits - 2 Dingy Skippers, 1 Brimstone, 9 Orange-tips, 1 Large White, 7 Common Blues, 6 Peacocks and 1 Holly Blue At Aldbury Nowers (south section) 14 Brimstone, 6 Common Blues, 11 Small Heath, 10 Orange-tips, dozens of grass veneer moths, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Peacocks, 1 Common Carpet, 1 Small Copper, 1 Silver Y, 2 Painted Ladies, 1 Treble Bar, 1 Grizzled Skipper and 3 Brown Argus Malcolm Hull 30 May I set off optimistically for Roughdown Common - I had high hopes I might spot a Green Hairstreak! The weather was gorgeous after an initial cloudy start, and I spent 2 sunny hours (11:00-13:00) in the Chalk Bowl, and on Lower and Further Roughdown. Although it all looked so lovely, butterfly numbers were very disappointing. Despite careful searching, my hunt for Green Hairstreak was fruitless, and I saw very low numbers of butterflies: only Peacock (x1), Holly Blue (x1), and a handful of Brimstones and Orange-tips(!) Andrew Neild 30 May A surprise visit to my Ware garden of a Small Copper. It didn't stop for long but was only my second confirmed garden record in 30 years! Also seen in the garden were both male and female (egg laying on Garlic Mustard) Orange-tip, male Brimstone and a Holly Blue Liz Goodyear 30 May 1 male Green-veined White taking up minerals from damp mud, along Salmons Brook at Parkside Farm, Enfield (TQ3098) at 1835 BST. 1 Painted Lady at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) at 1920 BST Robert Callf 30 May Four visits, over the past two weeks to the usual Chiswell Green, old Butterfly World site have seen a slow and delayed emergence of the Small Blue. Singletons were seen on the 19th and 26th, with some fresh ones seen today as numbers rose to five Clive Burrows 30 May 1 Brimstone - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin David Inward 30 May Hounslow. Sunshine throughout, a first Common Blue of the year and several Green Hairstreaks. Much better!: Holly Blue: 6, Peacock: 5, Comma: 2, Green Hairstreak: 4, Small White: 3, Brimstone: 4, Small Heath: 2, Common Blue: 1, Green-veined White: 1, Painted Lady: 1, Small Copper: 2 Peter Gore 30 May Rose Farm footpath, Chiswell Green - 3 Small Blues roosting. All were on grass stalks facing head downwards. I saw one rotate its position 90 degrees, apparently in an attempt to catch the suns rays to raise the butterflies temperature. Later I explored the area between Park St, Napsbury and Old Parkbury. 17 Orange-tip, 11 Brown Argus, 7 Small Heath, 6 Peacock, 6 Common Blue, 5 Green-veined White, 3 Holly Blue, 3 Small Copper, 2 Mother Shipton, 2 Brimstone, 2 Small White, 2 Small Tortoiseshell and 1 Pyrausta moth Malcolm Hull 29 May I went out to look for the Small Blue with Rick Vickers along the A41 slip road by Westbrook Hay/Boxmoor trust Hemel Hempstead. 1 Small Blue seen first pointed out by Rick. Not that much was going on there at the time, 3 Orange-tips passed by and there was a probable Common Blue sighting. Other than that Mint Moth 3 Burnet Campanion 2 Mother Shipton 1. We went on to Aldbury Nowers after which turned into a lovely afternoon. Brimstone 25+, Peacock 3, Orange-tip 5, unidentified Whites 3, Green-veined White 1, Dingy Skipper 5, Small Heath 2 Common Blue 4, Brown Argus 2, Grizzled Skipper 1 Peter Fewell 29 May At Trent Park (1525-1605 & 1845-1930 BST) - 5 Small Copper, 2 Small Heath & 2 Mother Shipton. At Monken Hadley Common (1615-1840 BST) - 1 Peacock at TQ269971, 1 male Orange-tip & 1 Painted Lady at TQ268973, 1 Small Copper at TQ267973, 1 Speckled Wood at TQ263972, 1 Red Admiral & 1 Holly Blue at TQ253973 Robert Callf 29 May An afternoon trip to Waterford Heath, just along the eastern side of the south pit, 2 Brown Argus and a Peacock, on the north pit, 3 Grizzled Skipper (inc a courting pair), 5 Brown Argus, a single Holly Blue and 2 Peacocks. At Rickneys, 1 Grizzled Skipper, 5 Brown Argus and 4 Small Heath Laurence Drummond 29 May 1 Holly Blue - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin David Inward 29 May St Albans - stopped at a private site on the way back from Heartwood. 28 Common Blues, mostly testosterone fuelled males bombing around and clashing over the swathes of Birds-foot trefoil. Small Heath, Brown Argus, Small Copper, Cinnabar moth, Burnet Companion and some recently hatched mayflies Malcolm Hull 29 May Heartwood Forest, Sandridge - 33 people joined today's butterfly walk, held in conjunction with the Woodland Trust and Sustainable St Albans. Due to the number of attendees, we split into two separate walks led by Andrew Steele and Malcolm Hull. Small Blue was the main target species and we recorded just a solitary individual. Their emergence has been delayed this year with the first record in Herts 5 weeks later than in 2020. Numbers of butterflies and moths were low, probably due to several weeks of poor weather. But we did see a fair range of species including Common Blue, Holly Blue, Brown Argus, Small White, Orange-tip, Painted Lady, Peacock, Mother Shipton, Grass Rivulet, Burnet Companion, Small Yellow Underwing, Silver Y, Small Heath and Brimstone. Only the last two species were seen in any numbers. A possible Green Hairstreak was not seen clearly enough for a positive ID Andrew Steele Malcolm Hull 28 May I saw a Small Copper butterfly very briefly on Halsey Field. It was sunbathing on a patch of bare soil, but flew off quickly as soon as I spotted it Chris Ridley 28 May 1 Painted Lady settled at Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield (TQ299981) at 1627 BST. 1 Mother Shipton at Old Golf Course' Trent Park Robert Callf 28 May Painted Lady at Silvermeade, Broxbourne (TL371062) Paul Gymer 27 May Therfield Heath (Church Hill): Adonis Blue (1), Common Blue (1), Brown Argus (10+), Comma (1), Peacock (2), Orange-tip (2), Brimstone (7+). Also, Cinnabar Moth (1), Burnet Companion (2) and a beautiful male Emperor Moth, the first that I've seen on The Heath. Perhaps surprisingly, the Adonis Blue was a female Martin Johnson 27 May 1 Holly Blue - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin; 3 Orange-tip - Walsorth Common, Hitchin (TL1930) David Inward 27 May I decided to go to Waterford Heath south first for a change with the intention of then visiting the north pit and Rickneys. Although at times it was lovely and sunny, there were prolonged spells of slow moving cloud which stopped all activity. Between 10 & 12.30 I recorded just 5 Grizzled Skippers on the south pit but 2 were towards the north end just beneath the plantation, one was in the filter beds and 2 along the Sacombe Road bank. I didn't see any on the main area of the pit but so easily could have missed them! Also seen were 5 Small Heath, 3 Small Copper, 2 Peacock, 2 Orange-tip, Holly Blue and 3 Brimstone. The north pit was even more disappointing with just 2 Grizzled Skipper over a 2 hour period, but broken up by several periods of cloud, also 2 Brown Argus, 1 Peacock, 1 Brimstone and a Small White. I saw no Common Blue and decided to call it a day after visiting the north pit! Liz Goodyear 27 May Hounslow. 49 days after seeing my first and only Green Hairstreak of the year I finally get to see another one. Admittedly it was unlike the first one, rather tatty and faded so had likely been enjoying May 2021 unseen by me for a while. It chose to settle on just about the only Broom flower that wasn't yellow - it was a combination of pale cream and pink - but despite its contrasting colours the butterfly was still quite difficult to spot as it walked around the flower head. Reasonable periods of sunshine and double figures of species, mostly in the morning : Holly Blue: 4, Brimstone: 3, Small Copper: 3, Speckled Wood: 1, Orange-tip: 1, Peacock: 5, Green-veined White: 2, Comma: 1, Small Heath: 1, Green Hairstreak: 1, Small White: 1 Peter Gore 27 May Nomansland Common. At last a sunny day, not that many butterflies around yet, though I expect numbers to increase during the week. Small Copper, Small Heath, Brimstone and at least 4 Orange-tips. But the moths stole the show, 1 Green Carpet, thousands of tiny micro moths on gorse, cydia ulicetana and hundreds of caterpillars, parachuting off oak trees on silken threads - I was covered in them by the end of my walk! Malcolm Hull 27 May Chalk slope, Rebourn road, Harpenden (close to roundabout) - 2 Small Blue to the west on chalk slope (TL113127) Darin Stanley 27 May Oakwood Park this afternoon (1210-1305 BST) - all E of 10 km line - 2 Small Heath, 1 female Small Copper, 1 male Common Blue, 4 Mother Shipton. 2 Speckled Wood & 1 Holly Blue near Saxon Way entrance - W of 10 km line Robert Callf 27 May 1 Holly Blue at Merrivale, N14 (TQ299956) at 1154 BST Robert Callf Bob Husband 26 May Trent Park 'New Fields' - 1 Small Heath Sect 6 at 1515 BST. 2 Small Copper Robert Callf 26 May Hounslow. A lot of cloud but some sunny spells and the following: Small Copper: 3, Small White: 5, Brimstone: 2, Small Heath: 1, Orange-tip: 1, Peacock: 3, Holly Blue: 1 Peter Gore 25 May Fir & Pond Woods near Potters Bar - 1 Alabonia geofrella at TL276009. 1 Green Carpet at TL276004. 2 Orange-tip - male & female, 1 Green-veined White, 1 female Small White at TL277005 at 1405 BST. 1 female Small Copper at 'New Fields' Trent Park - TQ287967 at 1615 BST Robert Callf 22 May 1 female Orange-tip at Forty Hall, Enfield (TQ335985) at 1619 BST. 1 female Large White at Whitewebbs Farm, Enfield (TL326001) at 1740 BST Robert Callf 22 May St Albans. The sun came out for just one minute at lunchtime- the first I've seen for a while. But long enough for a female Holly Blue to fly rapidly round the garden looking for egg laying sites. She closely examined a variegated Holly bush before selecting a more traditional holly tree, carefully positioning her eggs on flower buds about ten feet above the ground Malcolm Hull 19 May A brief visit to the A41 slip road to Bourne End Services and saw a male Brimstone, a Peacock and two female Orange-tip. No Small Blues at this location yet but caught a brief glimpse earlier of a Small Blue at Pitstone Quarry, Bucks near Herts border. Paul Busby 19 May Afternoon walk on Waterford Heath during the brief sunny spell before the rain. Pretty quiet - on north side a single Grizzled Skipper and Small Copper close to north fence. On south side a female Orange-tip Matt Lilley 19 May 1 Esperia sulphurella moth - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (remains of dead apple tree nearby - caterpillar feeds under dead bark) David Inward 19 May Oakwood Park this afternoon - 1 Red Admiral, 1 male Orange-tip & 1 Speckled Wood near Saxon Way entrance 1508-1510 BST. Also at Oakwood Park, moths all new for the year - 1 Silver Y at TQ300951 & 2 Mother Shipton and 1 Orange Conch Commophila aeneana at TQ302951. 1 male Small Copper & 1 Small Heath E of 10km line at TQ302951. 1 male Orange-tip at Houndsden Gutter, N21 -TQ310951 at 1555 BST. Robert Callf 19 May Hounslow. With the floods gone a complete normal walk if the hail around 3.30 is discounted. The highlight was the first Small Heath of the year, a flash of gold in flight but wings firmly closed on landing as ever : Holly Blue: 3, Green-veined White: 3, Peacock: 7, Small Copper: 2, Brimstone: 2, Orange-tip: 2, Small Heath: 1, Small White: 3, Painted Lady: 1 Peter Gore 18 May A male Brimstone, Orange-tip and two sparring Peacocks seen from the boardwalk at Gutteridge Wood, Hillingdon (TQ092841) during a brief sunny spell. Also very lucky to hear a Nightingale singing Paul Busby 18 May At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) this afternoon - 1 male Small White at 1557 BST & 1 Painted Lady at 1610 BST Robert Callf 18 May 1 Painted Lady - Track to Cheapside Farm, just off Harpenden Road (TL 144090) Simon Mavin Vanessa Wright 18 May 1 Orange-tip male - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin David Inward 18 May Hounslow. Rain on the way back and a flooded River Crane that I dealt with by a mixture of paddling, by-passing and avoidance meant a slightly different and disrupted walk but in these circumstances numbers of butterflies seen were quite good: Green-veined White: 5, Small Copper: 4, Small White: 2, Brimstone: 1, Holly Blue: 1, Orange-tip: 2, Peacock: 2. On Monday in my garden: 2 Holly Blues, 1 Green-veined White and 1 Large White. On Sunday 16th a rare visitor to the garden: Painted Lady Peter Gore 18 May Started with a visit to Rickneys in intermittent sunshine, conditions were not good at first and Grizzleds very hard to find. However as the morning progressed the sunshine improved and the day warmed up which encouraged the Grizzleds to be more visible. In total 9 Grizzled Skipper were found scattered across the site. Also encountered were 7 Small Copper, 3 Small Heath and our first Brown Argus of the year. In the field area just north of Waterford Heath, another Brown Argus was seen. We reached Waterford Heath north just after 1 o'clock and walked in an anti-clockwise direction. Again scattered across the north pit we recorded 8 Grizzled Skipper, and 1 Brown Argus which was having a tussle with a Grizzled! Was nice to hear a Cuckoo, the first also for both of us this year! Cloud and impending rain stopped play just after 3! Liz Goodyear Andrew Middleton 18 May I thought the morning had gone well having seen my first immaculate male Common Blue of the year on Alexandra Palace, when I saw in flight what I initially thought to be a female Common Blue. Imagine my amazement when I found myself looking through the viewfinder at a stunning female Long-tailed Blue! This is the first record for Ally Pally and our 28th species overall, discounting old records of Wall. Other migrants included a Painted Lady and Silver Y, and I saw my first Latticed Heath and Burnet Companion as well. The Long-tailed Blue seemed to move on pretty quickly and was not seen by other observers arriving as the news got out Gerry Rawcliffe 17 May I haven't had anything to report so far in 2021 because of the miserable spring weather, but today I did find three Brown Argus butterflies on Therfield Heath - the first blues of any description that I've seen locally this year! Therfield Heath (Church Hill): Brown Argus 3, Orange-tip 2, Brimstone (1 male), Red Admiral 1 as well as a few unidentified whites Martin Johnson 17 May First sustained sunshine for a while has produced a flurry of butterflies in my garden in Muswell Hill. Orange-tip and Large White, first of year Holly Blue and first ever Painted Lady perched on the Wallflower Matt Lilley 16 May Morning walk at Heartwood Forest (TL1511) produced a Painted Lady, a Small Heath and an Orange-tip Ian Flack 16 May Popped out at 2pm a bit of sun. A mating pair of Small Heath at Rickneys. On Waterford Heath one Grizzled Skipper in settling beds. Green-veined White and Orange-tip at both sites Steve Kiln 15 May Male Orange-tip at Guy Lodge Farm, Enfield (TL332000) at about 1700 BST Robert Callf 12 May 2 female Orange-tip at Monken Hadley Common (1 at TQ270973 & another at TQ267972). 1 male Holly Blue settled at Monken Hadley Common (TQ267972). 1 male Brimstone at Monken Hadley Common (TQ261971). 1 Comma settled by lower lake, Trent Park at 1631 BST. 1 Small White & 1 male Orange-tip near Water Garden, Trent Park Robert Callf 12 May We recorded 7 Brimstone, 6 Orange-tip, 2 Peacock and 1 Small White on Chorleywood Common Philip Gibbs 12 May Another solo Dingy Skipper seen this afternoon, this time at Hexton Chalk Pit (TL107298) Lucy Claxton 12 May This morning I returned to Rickneys in the hope of finding more Grizzled Skippers. Walking around the entire site I finally found 3 Grizzled Skipper in and near the key corner, 2 were clashing and another a pristine individual was basking on a low 'burdock' style seed head seen by myself and Steve Kiln. Also seen were 3 Small Copper and my first Small Heath of the year Liz Goodyear 12 May Hounslow. A morning walk that ended in rain but earlier I was pleased to see a few Speckled Woods around and my first Painted Lady of the year: Holly Blue: 4, Speckled Wood: 3, Small Copper: 2, Green-veined White: 1, Orange-tip: 2, Peacock: 2, Painted Lady: 1 Peter Gore 11 May A Dingy Skipper sighting at Hexton Pits this evening. Was found at the topmost end where it was sheltered from the wind Steve Hunt 11 May A quick early morning check of seed heads at Rickneys found just 2 Grizzled Skippers roosting in the key corner. The Network Rail escorted survey north of Hertford was very disappointing with no Grizzled Skipper seen nor any other key species. The weather was against us with some early morning sunny periods but predominantly dull periods for the survey. We have asked if we can have a return visit in a few weeks. However, we did see a Painted Lady in a field adjacent to the railway line Andrew Middleton Liz Goodyear 11 May St Albans and surrounding area: 1 Holly Blue - Dickens Close (TL 146079); 1 Peacock - Hardwick Fruit Farm (TL 144090); 1 Painted Lady - Track near railway footbridge across from Cheapside Farm (TL 155107); 1 Painted Lady - Track near Heartwood Forest (TL 155109); 2 Painted Lady - Track near Ayres End Lane (TL 151118) Simon Mavin 11 May 1 male Small Copper at 'New Fields' near Triangular Wd, Trent Park at 1349 BST - my first of the year. 1 Peacock, 1 Small Tortoiseshell & 1 Small Heath at 'New Fields' Trent Park - the last also the first of the year. 1 Speckled Wood at Nature Trail, Trent Park. 3 male Orange-tip at Trent Park (1 North Lawn, 1 near Water Garden, 1 edge of Moat Wd). 1 Red Admiral near Water Garden, Trent Park & 1 female Brimstone settled here also. 4 Peacock at Trent Park (2 together 'Old Golf Course', 2 edge of Moat Wood). 1 male Large White settled near Moat Wd, Trent Park. 2 Green-veined White together edge of Moat Wd, Trent Park near Ferny Hill. 6 Painted Lady (3 together at Park Farm, Enfield - TQ2998 at 1521 BST, 1 nectaring on dandelion at Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield - TQ2998 at 1543 BST, 2 at Vicarage Farm, Enfield - TQ3097). 1 Peacock at Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield (TQ2998). 2 male Orange-tip at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097). 2 Brimstone Moth at ASDA Southgate - were my first for the year & unusual to see two on the same date here Robert Callf 11 May A walk north from Bourne Lane along the west side of Mill Wood, Much Hadham , 8 Orange-tips (5 male, 3 female), 2 Speckled Wood and 2 Green-veined White Laurence Drummond 11 May Hounslow. 21 days after the first of the year we finally see some more Small Coppers. Just 2 certain though but one on a buttercup flower is always a pleasing sight. Variety quite good even if overall numbers still seem quite concerning: Holly Blue: 3, Small White: 1, Small Copper: 2, Peacock: 5, Green-veined White: 1 Orange-tip: 2, Comma: 1, Small Tortoiseshell: 1, Brimstone: 1. Yesterday no walk, one Holly Blue in my garden Peter Gore 10 May 2 male Orange-tip (1 at Vicarage Farm - TQ3097, 1 at Park Farm, Enfield - TQ2998) Robert Callf 10 May I walked my Pirton transect but too windy to record. Just as I sighed that it was going to be a butterfly-free day, this Dingy Skipper flew right in front of me, landed on the parched ground and sunned itself for a few minutes Lucy Claxton 9 May 1 male Orange-tip & 1 Peacock at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) this afternoon Robert Callf 9 May St Albans and surrounding area: 2 Brimstones, 2 male Orange-tips, 2 female Orange-tips, 1 Green-veined White - Track near Cheapside Farm (TL 148109) 1 male Orange-tip - Track near Ayres End Lane (TL 149117) 1 Peacock - Track near Heartwood Forest (TL 153111) 1 Painted Lady - Track near Heartwood Forest Simon Mavin Vanessa Wright 9 May 1 Holly Blue, 1 Peacock, 1 Orange-tip - Purwell Meadows east, Hitchin (TL2029); 1 Holly Blue - Purwell Meadows west (TL198299); 1 Orange-tip - Purwell Recreation Ground (TL204295); 2 Brimstone, 2 Holly Blue - Horse fields off Purwell Lane and adjacent path (TL2029) David Inward 9 May Hounslow. Similar weather to Friday and an identical number of butterflies identified but not quite the same species: Holly Blue: 6, Brimstone: 2, Orange-tip: 1, Small Tortoiseshell: 1, Peacock: 2. The Holly Blues included one on the riverside path apparently seeking minerals - not an unusual sight for the species but the first seen thus this year Peter Gore 7 May I visited Nomansland Common for a couple of hours before lunch, and was rewarded by a good number of sightings of Orange-tips, nectaring occasionally on bluebells. One individual settled obligingly and allowed me to get close enough for a couple of photos (attached). I saw 3 OTs together, at one point. Estimating total OT numbers is difficult, but I probably saw a dozen or more different individuals along the length of the woods opposite the common. Also seen were 3 Peacocks, all basking, and a freshly emerged Small White. Nothing else! Andrew Neild 7 May 1 Speckled Wood at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) at 1122 BST. 1 Green-veined White & 1 Peacock at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998). 2 Green-veined White & 1 male Orange-tip at Trent Park Robert Callf 7 May 1 Orange-tip male, 1 Holly Blue, 1 Brimstone - Greenway north of Willian Road, near Hitchin (TL209306); 1 Brimstone, 2 Holly Blue - fields between Greenway and Willian Road (TL2030) David Inward 7 May Hounslow. Once the sun came out butterflies appeared; the trouble was that it didn't come out much or for long: Holly Blue: 4 Green-veined White: 1, Orange-tip: 3, Peacock: 2, Small Tortoiseshell: 1, Comma: 1 Peter Gore 5 May This morning I saw my first definite female Orange-tip butterfly in the entrance to the 'Donkey Field' from Woodside Road, Bricket Wood, and then my second just south-west of Searches Farm, St Stephen CP. (TL 128026) Chris Newman 4 May Attempted a Grizzled Skipper survey starting at Rickneys. We were thwarted not only by the strong winds but there were also occasional bright spells which made the butterflies leave their roosting positions so we could have missed many? In total we found 5 individuals. 3 close to Bardon Clumps, 1 had just opened its wings but remained on a seed head, the 2nd was still roosting but the 3rd seen later was flying strongly along the bottom of the slope. The other 2 were clinging onto seed heads in the gale force winds on the opposite south side. Also seen during a brighter spell was a Small Copper. We walked to Waterford Heath and looked at both the north and south pit but didn't find anything Liz Goodyear & Andrew Middleton 2 May The sunny intervals were too random for me to walk a transect at Millhoppers, but these are the butterflies we saw, mainly when the sun came out: Peacock, Small White, Orange-tip male, Brimstone, and 2 Speckled Wood. We saw more Orange-tip and Brimstone, but only 1 at a time Chris Ridley 2 May 1 Duke of Burgundy seen at Aldbury Nowers in the morning Nick Murray 2 May 1 male Orange-tip & 1 male Green-veined White along grass verge at Ferny Hill, Enfield. 1 Peacock at Trent Park Robert Callf 2 May 1 Orange-tip male - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL196301); 1 Green-veined White male - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL192303) David Inward 2 May Hounslow. After 2 Holly Blues in my garden in morning sunshine I had hopes for the afternoon which were largely dashed: just one Speckled Wood on the heath alongside the railway. No walk on Saturday 1st May with just one Holly Blue in the garden Peter Gore 2 May St Albans shed - 1 Small Tortoiseshell, still in hibernation. This is the latest ever date in the year on which I've recorded an overwintering butterfly still hibernating. I have previously seen Small Tortoiseshells going into hibernation in late June. So I've now recorded this species hibernating in every month of the year! Malcolm Hull 1 May 1 male Orange-tip at Parkside Farm, Enfield (TQ3098) at 1354 BST. 1 Peacock at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998). 1 male Orange-tip at North Lawn, Trent Park. 1 Speckled Wood along Leeging Beech Gutter N of Williams Wd, Trent Park (TQ2997). 1 Speckled Wood at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) Robert Callf 1 May Rickmansworth - In a brief warm spell this afternoon I saw 4 male Orange-tips, 1 Holly Blue, 1 Peacock and several distant whites Malcolm Hull April Date Description Recorder 30 Apr 1 Speckled Wood at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) at 1204 BST. 1 Peacock at Parkside Farm, Enfield (TQ3098) at 1234 BST. 1 female Green-veined White & 1 male Orange-tip at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998). 1 Speckled Wood & 1 male Orange-tip at Rough Lot, Trent Park. A few unidentified Whites Robert Callf 30 Apr 1 Small White - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL197302); 1 Green-veined White - Purwell Meadows, Hitchin (TL201297) David Inward 30 Apr At Rickneys quarry I saw 4 Grizzled Skippers Steve Kiln 29 Apr One butterfly in the cool conditions - 1 Small White settled near lower lake, Trent Park this afternoon Robert Callf 27 Apr I saw my first Speckled Wood of the year, and photographed what was probably the same individual ¾ hour later on my return, a little further north, on the 'Gas Ride' on Bricket Wood Common, early on Transect Section 4 (TL 129010). With it being overcast, I didn't see the numbers of Peacocks on the ride that I have over the last 5 weeks on sunny days that weren't too cold Chris Newman 27 Apr My first Painted Lady of the year at Pye Corner (TL452118) mid-afternoon Laurence Drummond 27 Apr Hounslow. A humid afternoon walk with relatively little sun: Holly Blue: 3, Orange-tip: 3, Speckled Wood: 1, Peacock: 10, Green-veined White: 1, Small White: 1 Peter Gore 26 Apr 1 Small Tortoiseshell near Dew Pond, Trent Park at 1332 BST, 1 Peacock at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ2997), 3+ Orange-tip - 2 males & 1 female, 1 Comma at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) Robert Callf 26 Apr St Albans - not many butterflies around during my lunchtime stroll in Verulamium Park. Despite the cold breeze I was pleased to see a couple of Small Tortoiseshells scouring for egg laying locations in the nettle patch by the vicarage. Apart from that the only others seen were three Orange-tips and a solitary Peacock Malcolm Hull 26 Apr We started the day at 10:30 at Rickneys - it wasn't until 11:45 that we had our first Grizzled Skipper sighting on the south side of the pit with a further two, near Sacombe Road. No more were seen until the top corner by Bardon Clumps where we met Andrew Wood also looking. We saw three more here so a total of six for us at Rickneys. Also Peacock and Orange-tip. After lunch we went to Frogmore which is now quite an endurance test and requires good shoes and a lot of care. The water table is still very high, and much of the original breeding habitat is under water or inaccessible! We managed to reach some of the areas beyond the lake and found three Grizzled Skipper flying there. Also seen five Peacock and a Speckled Wood. Finally we called in at Waterford Heath north pit entering from the north end. The majority of sightings were on the east side near the pond where we saw five Grizzled Skipper and further two chasing/male with female rejection right near the north entrance so a total of seven. Also seen here was a female Orange-tip and Peacock. I took with me my Emperor moth lure to all sites and between 15:25 and 15:52 at Waterford we had three individuals or three encounters with the same individual - who knows! We left Waterford just before 16:30 Liz Goodyear & Andrew Middleton 25 Apr 1, probably 2, Green-veined White - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL194303) David Inward 25 Apr 1 Small White & 2 Peacock at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) this afternoon Robert Callf 24 Apr Cassiobury Park and Whippendell Woods. A bit more wind in the air. Starting in Cassiobury Park Orange-tip 3, Peacock 5, Speckled Wood 1, Holly Blue 2, Small Tortoiseshell 1. Going across the golf course at the 17th tee a further 2 Speckled Wood and 1 Holly Blue. Into Whippendell Woods a further 7 Peacocks including 3 at “Camilla Oak”. A couple of white butterflies seen but not identified. Peter Fewell 24 Apr 1 Peacock edge of Williams Wd, Trent Park at 1720 BST Robert Callf 24 Apr 1 male Orange-tip - woodland behind Letchworth Centre for Healthy Living, Letchworth (TL209308); 1 male Orange-tip - field off Greenway north of Willian Road, near Hitchin (TL208304) David Inward 24 Apr 1 Grizzled Skipper at Rickneys quarry, Bengeo. Sacombe Road/Bardon clumps corner Chris Benton 24 Apr Hounslow. Whilst several species seem to be slow to get fully under way saw a significant increase in the numbers and spread of Holly Blue: Holly Blue: 12, Peacock: 18, Speckled Wood: 3, Orange-tip: 3, Brimstone: 6, Small Tortoiseshell: 1 and Green-veined White: 5 Peter Gore 24 Apr On my walk this morning along the Potters Bar Brook I saw 3 Orange-tips (1f, 2m) and my first Holly Blue of the year (TL240023) Terry Wood 23 Apr Grizzled Skipper at Waterford Heath (TL317152) Steve Hunt 23 Apr 2 Peacock at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097). 1 male Orange-tip, 2 Peacock & 1 Green-veined White at Parkside Farm, Enfield (TQ3098). 3 Peacock at Trent Park Robert Callf 23 Apr St Albans and surrounding area: 1 Peacock Batchwood Golf Course (TL140090); 1 Peacock Hardwick Fruit Farm (TL144090); 4 Peacocks, 5 Orange-tips, 3 Green-veined White edge of Langley Wood (TL159110); 2 Peacock, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Comma on track edge of Pismire Spring (TL154113) Simon Mavin 23 Apr 1 Holly Blue - Woolgrove Road, Hitchin (TL198301) David Inward 23 Apr Highlights of a trip to Aldbury Nowers - two Grizzled Skippers, one at each end of the reserve and a Small Purple-barred moth. Also decent numbers of Brimstones, Peacocks and a few Orange-tips (male and female), Large Whites, Green-veined Whites and a Speckled Wood. The site is very dry and in some areas the grass is already as brown as in mid summer Malcolm Hull 23 Apr Hounslow. Another sunny day and warmer. One more species seen for the first time this year, Large White, the 13th so far this year : Holly Blue: 5, Peacock: 28, Brimstone: 8, Comma: 1, Orange-tip: 1, Green-veined White: 2, Large White: 1, Small Tortoiseshell: 1, Small White: 1. Whites noticeably increasing and under-recorded today Peter Gore 23 Apr Barham Park, Wembley : 1 Small White, 2 Orange-tip, 3 Brimstone Shailesh Patel 22 Apr Heading west from Bricket Wood and looping round past the back of what was Butterfly World), as well as Peacocks, Small Tortoiseshells, Brimstones and male Orange-tips, I saw my first few visually white butterflies. I got a photo of the first, poorly positioned, which seemed to be a Small White (TL 107025). I also photographed the last, which is clearly a Green-veined White (TL 124039) Chris Newman 22 Apr An afternoon walk in Cassiobury Park starting at the Green Gym area where 2 Small Tortoiseshell were seen a total of 4 including the two in the photo taken at the northern end by the rugby fields. There may have been a couple more but didn't see enough for a positive identification. Sadly not in the numbers that used to occur in this area. Peacocks seem to be doing well again 12 seen in the park and along the river side of the rugby fields. 3 male Orange-tip, 3 Comma. Of the white butterflies seen 2, I suspect, were Large White, 2 definite Small White as in photo. The others were taking social distancing far more seriously than some humans so didn't get a positive identification on the other 5 Peter Fewell 22 Apr St Albans and surrounding area: 1 Peacock in Dickens Close (TL146079); 1 Peacock, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Comma on track edge of Pismire Spring (TL153113); 1 Small Tortoiseshell on field edge adjoining Batchwood access road (TL137081) Simon Mavin 22 Apr 2+ Peacock at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097), also here 2 Small White & 1 Small Tortoiseshell. 1 male Brimstone at Parkside Farm, Enfield (TQ3098), also here 2 Green-veined White copulating along Salmons Brook (TQ3098) at 1511 BST. 2 Peacock at Parkside Farm, Enfield (TQ3098) Robert Callf 22 Apr 1 male Brimstone, 1 male Orange-tip - Norton Common, Letchworth (TL216330) David Inward 22 Apr Hounslow. A pleasantly sunny afternoon walk, not quite as warm as earlier in the week. Green-veined White makes its first appearance on this year's records: Holly Blue: 5, Brimstone: 6, Peacock 17, Green-veined White: 3, Comma: 2, Small Tortoiseshell: 1, and Orange-tip: 2. Yesterday no walk, a Speckled Wood briefly joined the obligatory Holly Blue in the garden here Peter Gore 22 Apr St Albans - several Peacocks, my first Orange-tip and Green-veined White. Also a Holly Blue and a few distant whites, but butterfly numbers seem low. Just one Small Tortoiseshell now left in my hibernation shed. I fear all those which emerged in late March may have perished in the cold snap Malcolm Hull 22 Apr Roughdown Common, Boxmoor. Brimstone 4, Peacock 7, Orange-tip 2, Small Tortoiseshell 1 Brendan Sheridan 21 Apr 1 Speckled Wood at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) at 1454 BST Robert Callf 21 Apr On my walk around Tyttenhanger Gravel Pits (TL109050) this morning I saw 5 Green-veined Whites and 2 Orange-tips Terry Wood 20 Apr 2 Peacock & 1 Comma at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097). 1 Speckled Wood at Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield (TQ2998) at 1445 BST Robert Callf 20 Apr Checked St James churchyard in Bushey. Sightings were Speckled Wood x 4, Brimstone x 1, Orange-tip x 1 & Peacock x 1 David Gower 20 Apr With overall numbers of butterflies on the wing still low, I was pleased to see my first Small Copper of the year this morning in Alexandra Palace Park Gerry Rawcliffe 20 Apr Hounslow. A good start to the day with what was the first Orange-Tip I can remember recording in the garden here and better still it was a female, the first this year. She didn't stay long and after a brief stop on a Red Campion flower flew off strongly high above the rooftops, not at all the familiar 'fluttery' flight she'd shown initially. Later,on the heath, a male Small Copper was another year first. Cloud during the latter half of the afternoon so numbers seen overall reduced: Holly Blue: 3, Orange-tip: 3, Speckled Wood: 1, Small Copper: 1, Peacock: 11, Comma: 1, Brimstone: 5, Small White: 3, Small Tortoiseshell: 1 Peter Gore 20 Apr 1 Brimstone - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin; 1 Peacock - St Faiths Close south David Inward 20 Apr Wareside. Speckled Wood - 1 (first one for the year in the garden), Orange-tip - 5, Brimstone - 3 all males, not seen a female yet. Peacock - 5, Small Tortoiseshell - 1 Phil MacMurdie 19 Apr Bayfordbury (TL3110). First Speckled Wood (1) and Orange-tip (2) of the year seen in the sunshine, along with female Brimstone (1), Peacock (2) and Comma (1) Ian Flack 19 Apr 1 Red Admiral at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) at 1247 BST - my first of the year; also 2 Peacock & 1 Small Tortoiseshell at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097). 2 male Orange-tip along Hadley Rd at Parkside Farm (TQ3098) at 1321 BST. 1 female Brimstone at Parkside Farm, Enfield (TQ3098) at 1325 BST & 1 male Brimstone at Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield (TQ2998) at 1346 BST. 1 Green-veined White, 1 Small White & 1 male Orange-tip at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998). 2 Comma together at Moat Wd, Trent Park at 1429 BST. 1 Speckled Wood at Rough Lot, Trent Park at 1440 BST. 2 Peacock at Trent Park. 1 Green-veined White nectaring on Laurel flowers at Rough Lot, Trent Park at 1459 BST. 1 male Brimstone at Rough Lot, Trent Park at 1500 BST. 1 male Orange-tip at North Lawn, Trent Park at 1524 BST Robert Callf 19 Apr Another lunch time walk around the Manor of groves High wych (TL463144), 4 Peacock, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Comma, 3 Brimstones (male) and my first Orange-tips of the year, 3 males. Laurence Drummond 19 Apr Had a nice afternoon exploring my local green spaces, at the Former Friern Barnet Sewerage Treatment works site (Pinkham Way TQ289916) I saw one dishevelled Small Tortoiseshell, one Comma and a Brimstone and two whites, in the green space next to Atlas Road/North Circular (TQ284916) I saw 1 Peacock and two Speckled Wood. I then did a full circuit of Coppetts Wood where I saw 8 Peacocks, two female and two male Brimstones, two Commas, 3 male Orange-tip, 1 male Large White, 1 Green-veined White and 5 unconfirmed whites, many nectaring on dandelions and celandines along the lane at TQ275914 Miles Attenborough 19 Apr 1 Brimstone - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin; 1 Peacock - St Faiths Close south; 1 Peacock - Purwell Meadows, Hitchin (TL200299) David Inward 19 Apr Hounslow. Continuous sunshine and butterflies increasing, including a first Speckled Wood and, 19 days after the first, some more Orange-tips at last. Interestingly two of these were in the same area as the March one and very small like him. Others elsewhere seemed normal size: Holly Blue: 3, Peacock: 19, Brimstone: 10, Orange-tip: 4, Comma: 2, Small Tortoiseshell: 1, Speckled Wood: 1. The only white positively identified was a female Brimstone, approximately 10 others seen Peter Gore 19 Apr New England St, St Albans - my first mating pair of butterflies this year, Small Whites. Also spotted on my lunchtime walk - Holly Blue, 3 Peacocks and 2 Small Tortoiseshells Malcolm Hull 18 Apr Male Orange-tip at Watton (TL303197) Ian Flack 18 Apr I saw my second male Orange-tip this morning near Ridge (TL206010), a full 27 days since my first sighting! Later in the South Mimms garden I saw a further Orange-tip, as well as a Brimstone Terry Wood 18 Apr St Albans and surrounding area. 1 Brimstone in Toulmin Drive Play Area on edge of Batchwood (TL140090); 3 Brimstones in heart of Batchwood (TL144088); 2 Peacocks and 1 Small Tortoiseshell on Playing Fields (TL154108); 2 Peacocks Hardwick Fruit Farm (TL144090); 1 Brimstone and 1 Peacock off farm track near Cheapside Farm (TL149106); 4 Peacocks, I Small Tortoiseshell edge of Langley Wood (TL159110); 1 Orange-tip (our 1st of the year), 4 Peacocks, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Comma edge of Pismire Spring (TL154113); 2 Small Tortoiseshells on field edge adjoining Batchwood access road (TL135082) Simon Mavin 18 Apr Wareside. Peacock - 7; Small Tortoiseshell - 5; Orange-tip - 4; Small White - 2; Green-veined White. Wareside - Field Margins (TL403149). Peacock - 8; Small Tortoiseshell - 5; Brimstone - 3; Orange-tip - 2 Phil & Oliver MacMurdie 18 Apr Along the sheltered south side of the Manor of groves High Wych, 1pm (TL461144), 2 male Brimstone, 3 Peacock and 1 Green-veined white Laurence Drummond 18 Apr 1 Peacock at Hog Hill, Vicarage Farm (TQ3097) at 0922 BST. 1 Comma edge of Rough Lot, Trent Park at 1054 BST. 1 male Brimstone near Shaws Wd, Trent Park at 1147 BST. 1 male Brimstone at South Lodge Farm, Enfield (TQ2996) at 1227 BST Robert Callf 18 Apr Hounslow. Today's highlight was my first definite female Brimstone of the year. Holly Blues are becoming a little more numerous with two also seen yesterday and 1 on Friday and Thursday in the garden. Today's totals, including the usual walk: Holly Blue: 3, Peacock: 17, Small White: 1, Brimstone: 2, Comma: 1, Small Tortoiseshell: 2. A few whites defeated my attempts to identify them Peter Gore 17 Apr Taking a walk into Whippendell Woods on a lovely sunny afternoon we spotted about 20 Peacocks. Some taking advantage of sunning themselves in the newly widened ride. 6 Brimstone seen but unfortunately didn't settle for a photo. Orange-tip again 6 seen managed to photo a male and female along the Lime Avenue. 1 Comma seen and 1 Large White of which I initially mistook for a female Brimstone Peter Fewell 17 Apr Wareside. Orange Tip - 2; Green-veined White; Brimstone - 4; Peacock - 3 Phil & Oliver MacMurdie 17 Apr St Albans and surrounding area: 1 Brimstone in Toulmin Drive Play Area on edge of Batchwood (TL140090); 3 Brimstones in heart of Batchwood (TL144088); 2 Peacocks and 1 Comma on Playing Fields (TL139096); 3 Brimstones and 1 Peacock off farm track near Cheapside Farm (TL149106); 1 Small Tortoiseshell on field edge adjoining Batchwood access road (TL132070) Simon Mavin 17 Apr 1 Small Tortoiseshell at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) at 1024 BST. 1 male Brimstone at Trent Park near Lower Lake at 1120 BST. 1 Peacock nectaring on dandelion along Leeging Beech Gutter near Water Garden at Trent Park at 1142 BST. 1 Peacock along Leeging Beech Gutter N of Williams Wd at Vicarage Farm (TQ2997) at 1150 BST. 1 Speckled Wood settled at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) at 1221 BST - my first of the year. 1 Small Tortoiseshell at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) at 1226 BST. 1 female Small White at Vicarage Farm, Enfield N of Williams Wd (TQ2997). 1 Peacock at Oakwood Station at 1304 BST Robert Callf 17 Apr Holly Blue in my garden in Flaunden this afternoon Jill Saunders 17 Apr 1 Brimstone - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin David Inward 17 Apr Good day at Fairlands Valley Park, Stevenage with first sightings of the year for Orange-tip (2), Small White (13) and Green-veined White (1). Also Peacock (9), Brimstone (6) and Comma (2) Peter Clarke 17 Apr I walked my recently established transects at East and West Cemetery Highgate today. In the East I saw my first Green-veined White of the year, flitting and landing on daisies on grassy patches. I also saw a Holly Blue. In the West Cemetery, I only saw one Peacock on the Farraday path Dee Cullen 17 Apr Holly Blue male seen twice Kings Langley Elizabeth Debenham 17 Apr Male Orange-tip (first of the year) and male Brimstone in the Harpenden garden Robin Pearson 16 Apr 1 Peacock at Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield (TQ2998) at 1649 BST Robert Callf 16 Apr Small White in our Stevenage garden. First of the year & only the 2nd butterfly I've seen in the garden so far this year after a very brief visit from a Peacock a couple of weeks ago Tom Speller 14 Apr Hemel Hempstead - Brimstone at Roughdown Common. Peacock at Sheethanger Common Malcolm Hull 14 Apr Orange-tip male near Tringford Pumping Station (SP922130) 11.10 Rikki Harrington 13 Apr Batford - weedy field by B653 - 1 Orange-tip and a Brimstone flying close by Darin Stanley 13 Apr 1 Peacock at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) at 1340 BST Robert Callf 9 Apr Male Orange-tip - Stockers Lake. HMWT reserve Jill Saunders 9 Apr Hounslow. Despite a lengthy walk and some good sunshine only one butterfly identified but it made up for frustrations generally: after a short flight a Green Hairstreak landed on gorse at my feet. They've pruned the gorse down by the railway in the last two years but the butterfly was still able to disappear quite quickly into it. It's not quite an earliest ever for me for this species but only one day out and I hope a good sign for this year Peter Gore 8 Apr One Peacock and one Green-veined White near Hoe Lane in Ware and the same in Ware Park Andrew Wood 8 Apr 1 Peacock at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) at 1225 BST Robert Callf 5 Apr 1 Small Tortoiseshell sheltering out of the wind at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) this afternoon at 1325 BST Robert Callf 4 Apr 3 Peacock at Parkside Farm/Res (TQ3098), 2 Peacock at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) at 1345 BST. 1 Peacock at Duncan's Wd, Enfield (TQ2998) at 1400 BST. 1 Small White at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) at 1405 BST - my first of the year. 1 male Brimstone at Rough Lot, Trent Park at 1431 BST. 1 Peacock at North Lawn at Trent Park at 1502 BST & 1 edge of Williams Wd, Trent Park at 1519 BST. 1 Small Tortoiseshell at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) at 1555 BST & 2 Peacock here at 1548 BST. 1 Peacock at Moat Wd, Trent Park at 1415 BST Robert Callf 4 Apr 1 Large Yellow Underwing caterpillar - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin; 1 Peacock - St Faiths Close south, Hitchin; 1 Brimstone - Purwell Meadows east, Hitchin (TL200298); 1 Comma - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL192303) David Inward 4 Apr Starting at Merryhill fields finding Peacock x 6, Comma x 2. Onto Fishers field seeing Peacock x 3 & Comma x 1. Lastly at Water Lane, Watford came across Peacock x 2, Comma x 1 & Small Tortoiseshell x 6 David Gower 4 Apr Hounslow. Holly Blue: 1, Brimstone: 1, Small Tortoiseshell: 2, Comma: 1, Peacock: 10 Peter Gore 4 Apr Finally spring arrives. Amwell Nature Reserve, Ware: Peacock - 5, Small Tortoiseshell - 4, Orange-tip - 2 very fresh males, Small White Wareside garden: Brimstone - 3, Peacock - 5, Small Tortoiseshell - 3 Phil & Oliver MacMurdie 4 Apr I did my first transect of 2021 around midday at Alexandra Park. I was a bit surprised to see a Small White. I tracked to make sure as it was alighting on Dandelions at the edge of the cricket pitch. Another first of the year for me Dee Cullen 3 Apr 1 Nut-tree Tussock at ASDA Southgate this afternoon Robert Callf 2 Apr St Albans - slightly surprising results from today's observations in my hibernation shed. It's been over 20 degrees for three consecutive days this week. At this time of year that is usually the cue for butterflies still in hibernation to emerge. Sure enough the number of Small Tortoiseshells still in the shed has fallen from 13 to 1 this week. But surprisingly the number of hibernating Peacocks has stayed constant at 2 Malcolm Hull 1 Apr Large Tortoiseshell in Sawbridgeworth Tina Carter 1 Apr 1 Peacock at Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield (TQ3098) at 1135 BST. 1 Peacock edge of Williams Wd, Trent Park at 1359 BST. 2 Comma together clashing edge of Williams Wd, Trent Park 1400 BST. 2 Peacock nectaring on blackthorn blossom at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) at 1435 BST Robert Callf 1 Apr Hounslow. Breezier and sunnier today: Brimstone: 1, Peacock: 14, Small Tortoiseshell: 1, Comma: 3, Small White: 1 Peter Gore 1 Apr St Albans - my first Holly Blue of the year in my garden at lunchtime. Also a Small Tortoiseshell nectaring on rosemary, aubretia and primroses Malcolm Hull March Date Description Recorder 31 Mar 3 Peacock & 2 Small Tortoiseshell at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) at about 1100 BST, 1 Comma at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) at 1204 BST. 1 Peacock at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park at 1335 BST Robert Callf 31 Mar Hounslow. Still warm but horribly humid and no sun. It would have felt very disappointing indeed after the last two days but all was redeemed by the late sighting of my first Orange-tip of the year. Only a little more than half sized but still enjoyable to see and watch: Peacock: 2, Orange-tip: 1 Peter Gore 30 Mar Barham Park: 1 Peacock and 2 Brimstone Shailesh Patel 30 Mar Speckled Wood was seen on the Belmont Trail between Christchurch Avenue and Belmont Circle in the area around Wealdstone Cemetery at the end of Byron Park at 11:15am Steve Shahbazian 30 Mar Wareside garden: Brimstone 6, Small Tortoiseshell 2, Peacock 5, Comma 1. Whilst on a walk, Wareside - fields (TL406151): Small Tortoiseshell 2, Peacock 4 Phil MacMurdie 30 Mar Hawkswick Lodge Fruit Farm, St Albans: 6 Peacocks, 1 Comma. Heartwood Forest in fields near Ayres End Lane: 4 Peacocks Simon Mavin 30 Mar Over 20 Peacocks in Stevenage Old Town and fields West of A1(M) and several Brimstone. Also a Comma just past Meadway underpass and a Small Tortoiseshell. Also an unidentified White near Fishers Green Stefan Hunt 30 Mar A brief walk around all sections at Aldbury Nowers produced Brimstone x 12, Peacock x 4 & Small Tortoiseshell x 2 David Gower 30 Mar 1 Brimstone - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin; 1 Brimstone - Purwell Meadows east, Hitchin (TL200298) David Inward 30 Mar Hounslow. Butterflies began with a Holly Blue in my garden in morning sunshine. Thereafter if they didn't quite live up to this early promise there was nevertheless an advance on yesterday's figures and my first identified Small White nectaring on apple blossom: Holly Blue: 1, Peacock: 24, Brimstone: 7, Small Tortoiseshell: 2, Comma: 4, Small White: 1 Peter Gore 30 Mar 1 female Brimstone flew across Enfield Rd, EN2 at 1203 BST Robert Callf 30 Mar A quick walk down the garden (Townsend area, St Albans) at lunchtime only produced 2 Peacocks, but rather curiously, an Orange Underwing fluttered by and landed on the grass under an apple tree. Didn't hang around long enough to have his picture taken though. A first for this garden Robert Bull 30 Mar Heartwood Forest - on my lunchtime walk I saw 36 Peacocks, 34 Brimstones, mostly male but including 4 females and just 1 Small Tortoiseshell Malcolm Hull 29 Mar Barham Park: 2 Brimstone and 2 Small White Shailesh Patel 29 Mar RSPB Rye Meads: 12+ Peacock, 3 Brimstone, 2 Comma, 1 Red Admiral, 3 Small White (my own FOY), 1 Small Tortoiseshell (my own FOY) Nicholas Barnett 29 Mar Wareside garden: Peacock - 3; Brimstone 2 - both males. Also a pristine Emperor Moth on the patio Phil MacMurdie 29 Mar A couple of Commas, a few Peacocks in Ashtree Woods, Stevenage and a Small Tortoiseshell in Fairlands Valley Park Ann Wan 29 Mar Walking from home in Bricket Wood I saw my 1st Peacock of the year, then my 2nd, more than a dozen altogether. I also saw my 1st definite Comma, and back in the village my 1st Red Admiral. Where I photographed the Comma (TL 131 015), I saw it jousting with at least two individual Peacocks, and twice saw a male Brimstone fly past in the same direction. What a change in the weather; my hands feel the cold badly, I've gone out for a walk nearly every day this year, but I think today was the first time I left home without wearing gloves; I saw a girl in a bikini frolicking in the River Colne! Chris Newman 29 Mar 2 Brimstones St Albans Everlasting Lane Play Area 3+ Commas Hawkswick Lodge Fruit Farm 2 Peacocks Hawkswick Lodge Fruit Farm 1 Small Tortoiseshell Edge of Batchwood Nr Access Road Simon Mavin 29 Mar Pleased to see my first butterflies of the year. While sitting in Tunnel Gardens for half an hour at lunchtime I was visited by three Peacocks (at least two separate individuals as an ariel battle ensued), two Commas, and one Brimstone (TQ293914). One Peacock landed in my garden close to Tunnel Gardens and at the Sunshine Garden Centre (TQ295910) I saw one Brimstone Miles Attenborough 29 Mar 4 Peacock at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) including 2 together, 1 Peacock at Parkside Farm/Res, Enfield (TQ3098) at 1419 BST, 2 Peacock at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998), 1 Peacock edge of Williams Wd, Trent Park, 2 male Brimstone at Trent Park (1 Rough Lot, 1 edge of Williams Wd), 1 Comma at Rough Lot, Trent Park at 1533 BST Robert Callf 29 Mar 1 Brimstone - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin; 1 Brimstone - Purwell Meadows south end, Hitchin (TL202297); 1 Brimstone - Horse fields off Purwell Lane, Hitchin (TL203294); 3 Brimstone, 1 Peacock - east end of path alongside horse fields, Hitchin (TL203293); 1 Brimstone - Chaucer Way, Hitchin (TL201295) David Inward 29 Mar Hounslow. After several dreary days without butterflies, as expected today brought a complete change: Brimstone: 13 (all male), Small Tortoiseshell: 2 (1st), Red Admiral: 1 (1st) and Peacock: 13 (1st). An unidentified butterfly in the area I saw a Comma recently was likely a Comma and at least 4 unidentifed whites were probably Small Whites Peter Gore 29 Mar Despite not being able to go far at the moment owing to a damaged ankle, saw 2 Peacocks in the back garden (Townsend area, St Albans) this morning and another sunning itself on the patio this afternoon, plus a Brimstone whipped past in the teeth of a small gale Robert Bull 29 Mar Decided to enjoy the weather this afternoon. At Fishers Field nature reserve (Bushey) were Peacocks x 3 & at Water Lane(Watford) Peacocks x 11, Small Tortoiseshell x 5, Comma x 1 David Gower 29 Mar Highlight was a Green-veined White in the walled garden at Hanbury Manor near Thundridge. Good numbers of Brimstone and Peacock all around Hertford/Ware/Thundridge. A Comma and a Red Admiral in The Bourne at Ware and several Small Tortoiseshells nearby in Lower Bourne Gardens Andrew Wood 29 Mar Stevenage Old Town, 1 Brimstone and 1 Comma Stefan Hunt 29 Mar At last, a nice warm butterfly day in St Albans! On a lunchtime walk round my local nettlebeds and dandelion patches I saw 12 Peacocks, 6 Small Tortoiseshells and a male Brimstone at Folly Lane. Plus 2 Small Tortoiseshells and a male Brimstone at New England St Malcolm Hull 26 Mar St Albans Shed - Butterflies still in hibernation = Peacock 2, Small Tortoiseshell 13. There has been a further small emergence of both species in the last week, but 70% of the overwintering individuals have yet to emerge, with Peacocks (67% emerged) still well in advance of Small Tortoiseshells (25% emerged). This rate of emergence is similar to other normal years in the recent past. The warm weather forecast at the start of next week may speed up their emergence Malcolm Hull 25 Mar 1 Brimstone - St Faiths Close south, Hitchin David Inward 23 Mar My first identifiable butterfly for the year this afternoon - 1 Peacock settled at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) at 1417 hr Robert Callf 22 Mar First butterfly of the year in my garden in Muswell Hill! Peacock landed on the trampoline and basked in the sun for 5 minutes before flying off Matt Lilley 22 Mar At Fishers field nature reserve spotted 1 x Peacock this afternoon David Gower 22 Mar A walk up to Balls Wood and through Goldings Wood saw me recording 8 Brimstones, 3 Commas and 1 Peacock Andrew Wood 22 Mar My first Comma (2) and Peacock of the year seen at Bayfordbury (TL315103) Ian Flack 22 Mar I saw 4 Brimstones which was a good start to my sightings year! The first was near Highgate Golf Club entrance near Stormont Road, N6; the second on the Parkland Walk Muswell Hill; third on the old race track in Alexandra Park, and the fourth in the scrub by the sports pavilion car park in Alexandra Park Dee Cullen 22 Mar On this morning's South Mimms walk I saw a very newly emerged Orange-tip along Mimms Lane (TL211011). Then I saw a Peacock sunning itself on the footpath through the fields (TL220012) towards Frowyke Crescent. Finally a male Brimstone flew in front of me across Blanche Lane (TL220007) Terry Wood 21 Mar Pristine Small White seen in my Ware garden Liz Goodyear 21 Mar I had my first butterfly sighting of the year this morning, a male Brimstone by the Mimmshall Brook, South Mimms (TL230017) Terry Wood 19 Mar St Albans - disturbed a hibernating Angle Shades moth caterpillar while digging in my garden Malcolm Hull 19 Mar I had my first butterfly sighting of the year, a male Brimstone in our front garden in Bricket Wood. Our son also saw what must have been a Peacock nearby Chris Newman 19 Mar Today saw that open-a-bottle moment that confirms the arrival of spring, when a male Brimstone flies in a westerly direction across our lawn in Harpenden. This routinely happens just after 11am on the first sunny day around mid-March - as it did yet again this year. Always just one on the first day, always coming from the east Alan Jackson 19 Mar Hounslow. Four butterflies: 2 Commas and a Brimstone in the Pevensey area, one more Brimstone in the vicinity of the former golf course Peter Gore 19 Mar 1 Brimstone - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin David Inward 19 Mar 1 male Brimstone in Bengeo, Hertford Andrew Wood 19 Mar Male Brimstone in the warm sunshine at Bayfordbury (TL315103) Ian Flack 9 Mar 1 Brimstone - St Faiths Close south, Hitchin David Inward 9 Mar Hounslow. Two sightings of male Brimstones are the first butterflies identified this year on my usual walk. These were both seen flying amongst trees and shrubs on the heath alongside the former golf course Peter Gore 9 Mar 1 Peacock and 2 Comma. Barham Park, Sudbury Shailesh Patel 9 Mar Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell and Red Admiral in Ware Cemetery and another Small Tortoiseshell in The Bourne, Ware Andrew Wood 9 Mar My first butterfly of the year, a Small Tortoiseshell at Fairlands Valley Park near the football ground car park. It was barely above 10c but strong sunshine Peter Clarke 9 Mar First butterfly of the year for me, a Comma in my St Albans garden (Townsend area) Robert Bull February Date Description Recorder 27 Feb Surprising me by appearing in the garden in Tring, a Red Admiral joined the Brimstones and Small Tortoiseshells Nick Bowles 27 Feb Brimstone - Dickens Close, St Albans. Peacock - Dickens Close, St Albans on 5 February Simon Mavin 27 Feb 1 Brimstone - St Faiths Close south, Hitchin David Inward 27 Feb Whilst my first butterfly of the year was actually an unidentified dark butterfly seen elsewhere yesterday, the first one in my Hounslow garden presented no identification problems, a male Brimstone seen in morning sunshine Peter Gore 27 Feb First butterfly of the year for me, a male Brimstone through my Harpenden garden Robin Pearson 26 Feb Small Tortoiseshell at Bayfordbury (TL315102) Ian Flack 26 Feb Small Tortoiseshell, St Pauls Walden (TL193218) Peacock, Whitwell (TL183211) Brimstone, male, Whitwell (TL183212) Martin Ketcher 26 Feb I unmistakably sighted a Red Admiral on the wing this afternoon at 4.30pm whilst I was pushing my kids on the swings in the children's playground in Falkland Place, Kentish Town, London! (TQ290852) Nicholas Barnett 26 Feb Small Tortoiseshell briefly along The Byeway, Rickmansworth (TQ063938) Martin Searle 26 Feb St Albans - Peacock at New England St sunbathing and patrolling at the nettlebeds at lunchtime. Small Tortoiseshell also sunbathing in nettles at Folly Lane this afternoon. And two reports of Brimstones in Abbey View Rd gardens on Tuesday and Thursday this week. Meanwhile in my hibernation shed, 3 out of 6 Peacocks (50%) have departed. But only 2 out of 16 Small Tortoiseshells (12%) had left on my weekly count this morning Malcolm Hull 24 Feb Brimstone at Austage End Amanda Proud 24 Feb Brimstone at Ley Green Martin Ketcher 24 Feb My first sighting for 2021. Wareside - Male Brimstone in the garden Phil MacMurdie 24 Feb 1 Brimstone - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin David Inward 24 Feb A good walk in the Ware area revealed 2 Brimstones, 2 Peacocks (in both cases at separate sites and 1 Peacock and 1 Small Tortoiseshell within a metre of each other. Apart from one flying Brimstone, all were warming up in the spring like conditions Andrew Wood 24 Feb Peacock, Cooters End Lane, Harpenden: my first butterfly of the year. Later this morning 3 male Brimstones on the Lea Valley Walk between East Hyde and Westfield Road, Harpenden Alan Jackson 24 Feb I saw my first butterfly of the year, a Brimstone on a railway embankment in Hitchin (TL 20229 28795) Phil Barron 24 Feb My butterfly year started at 09:45 this morning when a male Brimstone dropped into by Ware garden briefly before flying off Liz Goodyear 23 Feb 12.30pm: Brimstone: Gutteridge Wood and Meadows Nature Reserve: TQ094841 Nicholas Barnett 21 Feb Uxbridge. I saw my first Peacock of the year this afternoon. It was on the ground close to my garage door. I think it had been hibernating in my garage and had been able to get out as I had left the door open. The butterfly was in a good condition. Heather Danpure 21 Feb I saw a male Brimstone at 13:30 in my Bishop's Stortford garden - enjoying the sun on some ivy near my pond Phil Butson 21 Feb A Comma just flew past my study window and into the ivy opposite (also occupied by a winter-visiting Redwing). I did remember to pinch myself! Bernard's Heath, St Albans. 2.50pm. Outside temperature a balmy 13C David Utting 20 Feb I was at Sherrardspark Wood (TL 23282 14514) and saw a Brimstone flying at 12:15. Pristine example William Bishop 20 Feb Just to report a pair of Brimstone sighted this morning in Tring Ralph Darvill 20 Feb Season has started in Bengeo garden with Brimstone Simon Knott 19 Feb Found a single White-letter Hairstreak egg at Bragbury End, on the A602 verge this morning (TL2721). It looked as if it could be hatching soon and the elm was just flowering. Although there was plenty of searchable quality elm, it took at least 10 minutes to find this single egg Liz Goodyear 10 Feb Found my first White-letter Hairstreak egg of 2021 on elm close to the old church in Thundridge. The elm is hardly noticeable - except when smothered in seed discs which is how I found it last year! Liz Goodyear 3 Feb St Albans - a Peacock fluttered round my front garden at lunchtime, landing on my neighbours house Malcolm Hull January Date Description Recorder 21 Jan Peacock in St Albans garden Alla Mashanova 20 Jan 1 Chestnut at ASDA Southgate Robert Callf 12 Jan Male Spring Usher at Forty Hall CP, Enfield early afternoon Robert Callf 10 Jan Ickenham - a brief search of Blackthorn revealed one Brown Hairstreak egg Malcolm Hull 8 Jan St Albans - 15 Small Tortoiseshells and 5 Peacocks, hibernating in my shed. Numbers have held steady since the end of the summer, with no signs of predation by spiders, which I have noticed in several previous years. This afternoon in Greenwood Park I searched some of the Blackthorn for Brown Hairstreak eggs as part of my local exercise walk. I did not find any, but noted that the park contains both ash trees at the edges of the wood and much suckering Blackthorn and looks to be a promising site Malcolm Hull