Hertfordshire & Middlesex Branch
Saving butterflies, moths and our environment
Hexton Chalk Pit. Took a while but eventually saw a three Dingy Skippers and a Green Hairstreak. Orange Tip and Brimstone were also present. [Posted by John Yates]
Common Carpet, Green-veined White, Holly Blue, Orange-tip, Peacock, Brimstone & Silver Y at Enfield, Oakwood & Southgate. 1 Green-veined White, 2 male Orange-tip, 4 Peacock, Common Carpet & Silver Y at private sites in Enfield near Trent Park. A female Brimstone at Hog Hill, Vicarage Farm [a private site near Trent Park]. 3 Holly Blue [2 together at St Thomas Church, Prince George Ave, N14 & 1 at Ivy Road Recreation Ground, N14]. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Grizzled Skipper at Waterford Heath (north pit). Over a 2 hour period I found 9 Grizzled Skippers on the north pit - well distributed across much of the site and a marked improvement on my last year's max total of 4. Only a few other butterfly species seen and no identifiable day-flying moths [Posted by Liz Goodyear]
Brimstone, Green-veined White, Holly Blue, Large White, Muslin Moth, Orange-tip, Peacock & Speckled Wood at Enfield, Oakwood & Trent Park. Male Brimstone edge of Rough Lot/Trent Park, 9 Green-veined White [5 at private sites at Enfield & 4 at Trent Park], 1 Holly Blue at Oakwood Station, female Large White at a private site at Enfield, female Muslin Moth settled at Bramley Road, N14 [TQ295961], 4 male Orange-tip [2 at private sites at Enfield & 2 at Trent Park], 6 Peacock [4 at private sites at Enfield & 2 at Trent Park], 1 Speckled Wood at a private site at Enfield. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Waved Umber at Southgate. 1 Waved Umber near outside light at ASDA Southgate this afternoon. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Spring Walk Whippendell Woods branch event.. What a glorious start it was on Sunday and I was watching 2 Holly blue out of my kitchen window in Bushey during the morning. Unfortunately the weather had clouded over for the start of our butterfly walk at 2pm. We had a reasonable turnout but sadly it wasn't to go our way with butterfly sightings. Because of the recent weather the bluebells were still in flower and only just on the turn. There were only 2 butterflies seen, 1 Male Orange-tip and 1 Red Admiral. Jarek who joined us found the roosting Orange-tip as in the photo! As we all were heading back Jarek once again had the luck of which I only had a glimpse of the Red Admiral. He had hooked up with his family and was videoed on his daughters arm. Hopefully the weather will pick up for other planned butterfly walks during the year in Herts & Middlesex including our next walk on the 30th June [Posted by Peter Fewell]
Holly Blue at Town Park, Enfield. 1 Holly Blue at Town Park, Enfield this afternoon. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Hunting Grizzleds. 1st real warm day for me anyhow decided to look for Grizzled Skippers. 1st site Rickneys plenty of strawberry good conditions, no Grizzleds. However my first Brown Argus of the year and my first Mother Shipton moth and Silver Y. Onto Waterford Heath south. Good conditions no Grizzleds. However another Silver Y. Onto Waterford Heath North. Down to the lower area on left. Nothing except a Small White and a Peacock. Through the gate into railway owned part. Very overgrown by Hawthorn. To my surprise saw 3 Grizzled Skippers at last! Walked most of the site, plenty of Wild strawberry. Saw Holly Blue, 2 Brimstones, more Small whites and a further Grizzled far side of the pond. This Reserve seems now better for Grizzled Skippers than South heath and Rickneys well at the moment, plenty of food plants creeping cinqfoil, agrimony and Wild strawberry plenty of shelter. But it need much more conservation work done on it. Some of the paths are impassable. Might try and organize a work party there. Might need volunteers. Watch this page. I got several photos but did not upload them. Steve Kiln [Posted by steve kiln]
Brimstone, Green-veined White, Holly Blue, Large White, Orange-tip, Peacock, Red-green Carpet & Small White at Enfield, Southgate & Trent Park. Female Brimstone & Holly Blue at Chase Road, N14 this morning. 7 Green-veined White White [1 at a private site near Trent Park & 6 at Trent Park], 1 Large White at a private site near Trent Park, 3 male Orange-tip [2 together at a private site near Trent Park & 1 edge of Water Garden/Trent Park], 3 Peacock [2 at private sites near Trent Park & 1 along Leeging Beech Gutter near 'Three Bridges' Trent Park], 1 Red-green Carpet at ASDA Southgate, 1 Small White at a private site near Trent Park. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Common Carpet at Enfield. 1 Common Carpet at a private site near Trent Park this afternoon. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Brimstone, Green-veined White, Orange-tip, Peacock, Silver Y & Speckled Wood at Enfield. 3 Brimstone [male at a private site near Trent Park, female at a different private site near Trent Park & another female at Boxer's Lake, Enfield], 2 male Green-veined White at private sites near Trent Park, 2 male Orange-tip at a private site near Trent Park, 3 Peacock at private sites in Enfield, 2 Silver Y at private sites in Enfield & 2 Speckled Wood at a private site near Trent Park. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Waterford Heath. Spent an hour at lunchtime wandering around Waterford Heath on this welcomed May day. Saw half a dozen Grizzed Skippers fighting over the sun loungers at the North Pit (NE of the fenced pond area). Others seen about were Comma 1, Red Admiral 1, Brimstone 2, Peacock 2. [Posted by Nathan Ellis]
Clouded Yellow. I saw a Clouded Yellow this morning at Cassiobury Park near the fishing lake at the Gade Avenue end. [Posted by Ian Bennell]
Small Heath Butterfly on Therfield Heath. A single Small Heath butterfly was seen today at the bottom of Church Hill - my first of the year. Also lots of Brimstones and Peacocks and a few Orange Tips, Green-veined Whites and Holly Blues in the Church Hill / Jubilee Wood area. Silver Y and Common Carpet moths were also seen. [Posted by Martin Johnson]
Waterford south pit. One Grizzled Skipper along the escarpment on the east side, briefly in a sunny spell mid afternoon. [Posted by Laurence Drummond]
Planned walk at 10.30 am Incombe Hole in Buckinghamshire either 8th or 9th May. After successful walk last year at Incombe Hole last year where we saw 15 species including Duke of Burgundy, Grizzed Skipper and Dingy skipper etc and many moths. The Dukes are 2 weeks earlier than last year so have decided to move it forward. Will confirm details nearer the time when surer on weather etc. Will ask you to advise me if you are interested in coming. Steve Kiln mobile 07920-482111. I will be there on date chosen. [Posted by steve kiln]
Brimstone, Brimstone Moth, Green-veined White, Large White, Orange-tip, Peacock, Silver Y, Small White & Speckled Wood at Enfield & Trent Park. Amended sightings for Tuesday 30th April 2024 - Brimstone, Brimstone Moth, Green-veined White, Large White, Orange-tip, Peacock, Silver Y, Small White & Speckled Wood - male Brimstone, 6 Green-veined White, male Large White [FOY], 2 Peacock, 1 Silver Y [FOY], 2 Small White & 1 Speckled Wood at private sites near Trent Park. At Trent Park - 2 Green-veined White, 2 male Orange-tip, 2 Peacock & 1 Speckled Wood at Trent Park. 1 Brimstone Moth at ASDA Southgate [FOY] [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Green-veined White, Orange-tip, Peacock & Speckled Wood at Enfield & Trent Park. 2 Green-veined White & 2 Peacock at a private site near Trent Park. At Trent Park - 5 Green-veined White, male Orange-tip edge of Icehouse Wd, 1 Peacock near Ride Wd, 1 Speckled Wood at Moat Wd. 1 Speckled Wood at South Lodge Crescent. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Brimstone, Comma, Common Carpet, Green-veined White, Orange-tip, Peacock & Speckled Wood at Enfield & Trent Park. Enfield 'private sites' - male Brimstone, 2 Green-veined White, 2 male Orange-tip, 1 Peacock & 1 Speckled Wood. At Trent Park - male Brimstone, 1 Comma edge of Shaws Wd, 1 Common Carpet edge of Shaws Wd, 2 Green-veined White, 3 male Orange-tip & 5 Peacock [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Grizzled Skipper at Waterford Heath. Went up to Waterford Heath this morning. Starting at 11:25 (edited); I walked around the north pit first trying to find sheltered sunny locations and at 12:00 I saw something move and it was my first 2024 Grizzled Skipper (just north of the pond). I continued around the north pit, then onto the south pit, finishing just before 15:00 with no further sightings. I did have to wait for the cloud cover to move through at times but the conditions were good. There were a few fast flying whites, Orange-tips and Peacocks but little else! Photo is a record shot! [Posted by Liz Goodyear]
