Hertfordshire & Middlesex Branch

Sightings 2020

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

NOTE - please read the latest Coronavirus update from Butterfly Conservation

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

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

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

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

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

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.

December Date Description Recorder 17 Dec Samuel Levy has imaged a Peacock at Totteridge - noted on his twitter account (Robert Callf) 16 Dec Reports of Brown Hairstreak eggs found west of Twickenham and Totteridge Fields in the last week or so   9 Dec 1 Winter Moth Operophtera brumata - St Faiths Close, Hitchin (TL19853030) David Inward 1 Dec Brimstone, male, flying and settling in the grass, field corner in the sun around midday. Ley Green (TL163256) Martin Ketcher November Date Description Recorder 24 Nov Peacock. Flying in my King's Walden garden on 21 November Martin Ketcher 23 Nov 1 Mottled Umber at ASDA Southgate this afternoon Robert Callf 22 Nov Folly Lane Allotments, St Albans - An unexpectedly sunny day produced sightings of two plume moths, as well as two caterpillars, both on spinach. I think the brown one could be Brown Rustic, the green one I can't identify Malcolm Hull 21 Nov 1 Mottled Umber moth (Erannis defoliaria) - St Faiths Close, Hitchin (TL19853030) David Inward 18 Nov I have recently seen two Small Tortoiseshells on the wing at Gubblecote, near Tring, the first being spotted in the late afternoon of 6 November. It was dangling from a spider's web outside my bedroom window and had clearly been flying during the day after a frosty night on the 5th. I kept it safe overnight and watched it fly away strongly into the warm sunshine on the following morning. The second appeared fluttering against one of our windows last Thursday morning (12 November) clearly having been disturbed from wherever it had been hibernating inside the house, and was duly released. This was a pleasant warm day during which I was also visited by a Peacock whilst gardening Peter Bygate 18 Nov Rather frustratingly, on my walk a "white" butterfly crossed the road about 70 yards in front of me but just kept going, by the size I would think either Large White of female Brimstone (TL45391529) Laurence Drummond 10 Nov 1 Red-green Carpet at ASDA Southgate this evening Robert Callf 9 Nov My four-year-old daughter and I walked to our local play park (Park Avenue Play Area, North Bushey) this afternoon. We were surprised to see a butterfly. 'Peacock!' she called as we watched it fly around some play equipment and then off to nearby hedges and a field Rebecca Palmer 7 Nov Nomansland Common, Sandridge - Bright sun and 13 degrees at lunchtime. 50 minute stroll round the common confirmed there were no adult Small Coppers remaining. The grass has been cut, removing much of the remaining nectar sources, but the sharp frost during this week is likely to be what finished them off. I did have an interesting sighting of a male Brimstone, which spent 10 minutes flying very slowly round into a dwarf gorse bush. The flight was very similar to that which I've seen in Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells when they are searching for hibernation spots. I suspect this Brimstone had not selected a very good spot to hibernate in the summer and had woken prematurely. It must have wasted a lot of energy today looking for a new spot. It eventually chose the underside of a bramble Leaf which was entwined with the gorse, about 1 foot above the ground. It did not seem well concealed and it's antennae were peeping out from behind the leaf. Many bramble leaves fall in the autumn, so I suspect it has again made a poor choice. I will see if it's still there in the new year Malcolm Hull 7 Nov Hounslow. A little sunshine and the slightly surprising sight of a Holly Blue in my garden in November. Not sure of its sex. It was fluttering high amongst the ivy in the usual fashion. Ivy is heavily laden with berries whilst (male) Holly has just finished its second flowering season Peter Gore 4 Nov Peacock in fine condition basking on bridleway in Perrywood Lane, Bramfield Woods Chris Holtby 4 Nov Bob Husband reports a sighting of a Peacock at Lakeside, EN2 this morning at about 1100 GMT (Robert Callf) 2 Nov Male Brimstone seen at Forty Hall CP, Enfield this afternoon at 1244-1249 GMT, repeatedly settling on ivy-clad tree near Turkey Brook (TQ337990), also nearby Common Darter & 3 Willow Emerald Robert Callf October Date Description Recorder 30 Oct St Albans Shed - Numbers of hibernating butterflies have been pretty stable for the last few weeks. This year's totals have settled as 5 Peacocks and 15 Small Tortoiseshells. So for both species numbers are down on last winter, but above the long term average Malcolm Hull 25 Oct 1 Cypress Carpet at Oakwood Station this afternoon in stairwell - my first record of this recent colonist Robert Callf 23 Oct Bob Husband informs me that he and Mike Cawthorne saw Green-veined White at Brent Res this afternoon at 1340 hrs (Robert Callf) 22 Oct St Albans - Red Admiral flying high around the eaves of the houses across the road in the midday sun. At lunchtime I visited Nomansland. Immediately spotted 4 Small Coppers on a single Ragwort. The sun went in and I only saw two more, both on different species of Knapweed. Although several coppers were faded, a couple were quite fresh, possibly the start of a fourth brood? Malcolm Hull 22 Oct Hounslow. A Speckled Wood on the heath extends the butterfly year a little longer Peter Gore 22 Oct Had a Hummingbird Hawk-moth feeding on the buddliea in my garden in South Harrow at 8.45 am Michael Robinson 19 Oct 1 Speckled Wood near Archery Wd, Forty Hall CP (TQ333993) at 1332 hrs & 2 Small Copper (fresh female and worn one) at Whitewebbs Farm, Enfield (TL328003) at 1438 hrs Robert Callf 16 Oct Red Admiral in Bengeo garden Simon Knott 16 Oct Just when I thought that the butterfly season was over, a rather beautiful Common Blue butterfly appeared. Royston: Common Blue (1) - a rather attractive 'blue' female appeared during a brief sunny interlude today, near Wicker Hall. Seemingly recently emerged, it is presumably a 'third generation' butterfly Martin Johnson 15 Oct 1 Red-green Carpet at ASDA Southgate this afternoon Robert Callf 14 Oct Surprised to be buzzed by a Peacock whilst out walking along footpaths east of Ware this morning before it rained Liz Goodyear 14 Oct Hounslow. One Speckled Wood amongst the trees on the Pevensey loop and a Small White on the old golf course Peter Gore 14 Oct Sunny spells this morning encouraged me to return to Nomansland Common for a lunchtime walk. By the time I arrived, the temperature had reached 13 degrees, but all sun had gone, there was a stiff breeze and rain started by the time I left. Despite these poor conditions, I found 7 Small Coppers, mostly now in fairly tatty condition. They have abandoned the areas of heather and Sheep's Sorrel and taken refuge on the Ragwort, with just one on Hawksbit. The Common has not yet been cut and other nectar sources are still abundant, but ignored by the butterflies. I also saw a single Common Plume moth, also on Ragwort. St Albans - at last, a Red Admiral feeding on the ivy outside my front window, jostling amongst a cloud of other hungry insects Malcolm Hull 13 Oct Peacock through Bengeo garden Simon Knott 11 Oct This afternoon - 1 White sp at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) & 1 Small Copper at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park at 1504 hrs Robert Callf 11 Oct Hounslow. When we eventually got our first sunshine around 3.00 p.m. butterflies appeared too, amongst the heather down by the railway: two Common Blues and a Small White Peter Gore 11 Oct 1 Red Admiral making the most of some autumn sunshine whilst on a local walk around the fields north of Ware. Checked one of my 'clover' fields in some good sunshine which lifted 3 'whites' but no Clouded Yellow were present. This wasn't the best of my fields so there is still hope some might still be flying? Liz Goodyear 7 Oct This afternoon - 1 Silver Y along a Leeging Beech Gutter N of Williams Wd, Trent Park. 4 Small Copper at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park & 1 female Speckled Wood egg laying S edge of Rough Lot, Trent Park at 1416 hrs Robert Callf 7 Oct Hounslow. Two butterflies: a Speckled Wood on the heath and further along my walk, near the former golf course, a Small Heath amongst the Asters. Yesterday a Red Admiral nectared on Ivy in my garden Peter Gore 7 Oct A beautiful specimen of a Peacock settled on my window sill to soak up the sun for a while this afternoon (c. 3:45pm) in Hampstead Mark Barclay 7 Oct Nomansland Common, Sandridge - Poor weather over the last ten days has caused a substantial decline in butterfly numbers. Today I saw 12 Small Coppers and 1 Vapourer moth. The coppers were desperately trying to refuel after their long period of inactivity, with all but two of the sightings made on ragwort. Just one was by the heather and a single female egg laying on Sheep's Sorrel Malcolm Hull 7 Oct A Small White laying eggs on the tops of Nasturtium leaves in our Watford garden Paul Williams 6 Oct This afternoon - 1 Red Admiral along track at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) at 1225 hrs. 1 Green-veined White settled at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) at 1432 hrs & 1 Small White settled at Parkside Farm/Res, Enfield (TQ2998) at 1457 hrs Robert Callf 5 Oct This afternoon - 1 Red Admiral flew SW at Hog Hill, Vicarage Farm (TQ3097) at 1256 hrs, also at Vicarage Farm, 1 male Brimstone at 1314 hrs. 3 Small Copper at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park Robert Callf 4 Oct 1 Common Marbled Carpet at ASDA Southgate this afternoon Robert Callf 4 Oct A Hummingbird Hawk-moth visited the buddleia in my garden in South Harrow just after the rain eased Michael Robinson 3 Oct 1 Small Copper at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park at 1450 hrs. 1 Box-tree Moth at bus-stop shelter at Enfield Rd/Jolly Farmers' PH Robert Callf 2 Oct 1 Willow Beauty at Dalrymple Close, Southgate, N14 this afternoon Robert Callf 1 Oct At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 Speckled Wood. 3 Small Copper at Trent Park including two together near Ride Wd & one at 'Old Golf Course'. 1 Silver Y at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) and 1 Small White at Parkside Farm/Res, Enfield (TQ2998) Robert Callf 1 Oct Took advantage of some afternoon sunshine to visit one of my clover fields - the big one overlooking Holly Cross Road in Ware. At least 3 active Clouded Yellow, 1 Red Admiral in a hurry and a Large White. Later around 4pm in weaker sunshine, another Clouded Yellow in the TL3614 sector! I am pretty sure this record shot is a Helice form although not so obvious from the underside but when it flew the upper wings were quite obviously much paler Liz Goodyear 1 Oct Hounslow. Three Speckled Woods and a Small White start the new month off Peter Gore September Date Description Recorder 30 Sep 1 Garden Carpet at bus-stop shelter at Chase Rd/Charter Way, N14 this morning. 1 female Meadow Brown at 'New Fields' Trent Park at 1138 hrs - freshly emerged (another contender for latest of the year) & 1 male Small Copper at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park at 1223 hrs. 1 Beautiful Plume at ASDA Southgate this afternoon Robert Callf 29 Sep 1 Small White at Salmons Brook/Enfield Rd this afternoon at 1420 hrs Robert Callf 28 Sep Hounslow. Not continuous sunshine but a pleasant autumn day nevertheless and the following butterflies seen: Speckled Wood: 6, Common Blue: 6, Small Copper: 2, Small White: 1 Peter Gore 28 Sep 2 Speckled Wood at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097), also here 2 Small Copper together, female Common Blue & 1 Small White which was caught & eaten by a first-winter Spotted Flycatcher. 2 Small Copper together on thistle at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park. 1 Small White near Water Grdn, Trent Park & 1 Willow Beauty at Oakwood Station Robert Callf 28 Sep A walk this afternoon at the far eastern end of Heartwood Forest, mostly in sunshine, but only about 17 degrees C, produced only a few butterflies but these included 2 Red Admirals, 1 Common Blue, several Whites, and two good sightings of Clouded Yellow, (ca TL180125) although possibly the same individual. Good numbers of flowers still in bloom here, including two different clovers. The most conspicuous insect in my St Albans garden over the past few weeks has been Box Tree Moth, which I seem to disturb from one end of the garden to the other and from the dustbins to the buddleia to ivy Peter Waldron 28 Sep Nomansland Common, Sandridge - What a difference a day makes! Small Copper - 37, Small Heath, Brown Argus, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood and Small White. Only 3 degrees warmer than yesterday's disappointment, but 42 butterflies and 6 species in half the time. Despite the better numbers, the Small Coppers seemed past their peak, with more faded individuals than fresh ones. I saw three attempted courtships, which all failed, a sign that the females are already mated and the season well advanced. If I'm right and they've peaked early this year, there is the prospect of a 4th brood keep your eyes peeled in 3-6 weeks time Malcolm Hull 28 Sep After the weekend's miserable weather it was nice to do a local walk around the fields near my house in Ware. Nine species were recorded over a two hour period, with 3 Red Admiral, 1 Peacock, 1 female Brimstone, 1 Small Heath, 1 Small Copper, 2 Speckled Wood, several Small Whites and Large Whites and in a known field 1 Clouded Yellow was still flying Liz Goodyear 27 Sep Branch Event Nomansland Common - 9 people braved the unpromising weather conditions for the last Herts and Middx BC butterfly walk of the year. We soon saw a small orange lep flying high around the oak trees, but from the flight decided it was a moth rather than a butterfly. The flight was similar to Orange Underwing, but it was the wrong time of year, so unidentified. We continued round the common for 90 minutes, but saw no butterflies. Feeding damage on Sheep's Sorrell leaves caused by Small Copper caterpillars was identified in several locations. After the walk finished ... Response from Andrew Neild: Once again, many thanks for organising the walk. It was fun! At the end, during the final half hour with some hazy sun, it was just me, Tanya, Sam and Amy - but we were lucky, and conservatively saw 5 Small Coppers, some older, some newer (as in the photos below), and one freshly hatched. Also spotted was a single Speckled Wood. This was in the first large patch of heather we visited with you early on, the furthest to the west. Malcolm Hull 25 Sep 1 Box-tree Moth at Oakwood Station this evening Robert Callf 22 Sep Clifden Nonpareil (100mm wing span), 2 attracted to a light trap in my Letchworth garden in the last four nights. From 2008 to 2019 only 5 were recorded in Hertfordshire, already this year there have been at least 8. The UK is currently experiencing unprecedented numbers, either migrants from the near continent or from resident breeding in southern counties Roger Millard 22 Sep An Oak Rustic came to light in my Ware garden on 21st September - it has been confirmed as the first record for Hertfordshire Liz Goodyear 22 Sep 1 Speckled Wood at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) this afternoon Robert Callf 22 Sep 1 Small White - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303) David Inward 22 Sep Hounslow. Another warm sunny day and the highlight must stay frustratingly out of the records: for the second time in September and in the same approximate area on the heath I saw a small-medium bright orange/brown apparent butterfly move fairly rapidly along the tree margin at around 6' height. From currently available choices I can think of only female Small Copper, female Brown Hairstreak or an unknown moth. I lean towards Brown Hairstreak but never having seen one to know it, nor having found any eggs in the area I'll have to do better before it can become the thirtieth species seen at least once here over the years. These are today's recorded: Speckled Wood: 11, Common Blue: 7, Small Copper: 3, Meadow Brown: 1, Brown Argus: 2, Large White: 1, Green-veined White: 1 Peter Gore 21 Sep A very long walk to the Thundridge and Wadesmill area produced 1 Clouded Yellow in a derelict paddock close to the A10 along the Cold Christmas Road (just in TL3616). Along footpaths in the Wadesmill/Chelsing Farm area (TL3416), several Small Copper, a Common Blue where one had been seen in July but nice to have another sighting close to the village. Over the weekend, further Small Copper and Common Blues found in new sites around Ware plus 2 sightings of active Brimstones. Also a resident Peacock in my garden enjoying nectaring on the buddleia! Liz Goodyear 21 Sep I saw a Clouded Yellow at my allotment in Muswell Hill. I was not expecting that - though I did see one in Sussex last week Dee Cullen 21 Sep 1 Small White - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303) David Inward 20 Sep 1 Red-green Carpet seen in flight & settled on blackthorn along Leeging Beech Gutter at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) this evening at 1832 hrs - my first record for the year I believe Robert Callf 20 Sep 17 September Chorleywood Common transect counts: Large White 2, Small White 6, Small Copper 6, Common Blue 5, Holly Blue 1, Speckled Wood 1, Meadow Brown 16 Philip Gibbs 20 Sep 1 Small White - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303) David Inward 20 Sep Hounslow. Speckled Wood: 11, Common Blue: 7, Small Copper: 6, Small Heath: 6, Red Admiral: 1, Small White: 1 Peter Gore 19 Sep This afternoon - At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 Speckled Wood, 2 Small White. Fields N of Williams Wd, Trent Park (TQ2997) - 1 male Common Blue & 1 Small Copper Robert Callf 19 Sep Hounslow. Mid morning to early afternoon in very pleasant conditions once again, bringing one more sighting of Clouded Yellow, this time on the Marshalling Yards where lucerne and sundry clovers are available : Speckled Wood: 14, Small Copper: 5, Meadow Brown: 2, Common Blue : 7, Small Heath: 3, Holly Blue: 1, Green-veined White: 2, Clouded Yellow: 1, Brown Argus: 1 Peter Gore 19 Sep Folly Lane St Albans - massive reduction in the number of Small Whites to just 15 compared to over 100 last weekend. This despite perfect conditions this morning. Large White numbers not much changed with 9 recorded. The only other species seen was a Box Tree Moth - not a species I've thought of as day flying before, but it seemed happy flitting from flower to flower, alongside the butterflies Malcolm Hull 18 Sep This afternoon - 9 Small White (2 together near Enfield Rd, 3 together at Vicarage Farm - TQ3097 including a very fresh individual, 3 at Trent Park - 1 at 'Old Golf Course' and 2 near Ride Wd, 1 at Park Farm - TQ2998), 4 Speckled Wood (2 together at Vicarage Farm - TQ3097, 2 at Trent Park - 1 near 'Three-bridges' and 1 Water Grdn), 1 female Meadow Brown at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park - a possible candidate for my latest this year, 1 Small Copper nectaring on ragwort at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park. 1 Small Heath at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) Robert Callf 18 Sep Hounslow. Breezier but still sunny this afternoon, the highlight being another Clouded Yellow, this time flying amongst the heather on the heath: Speckled Wood: 6, Small Copper: 2, Small Heath: 6, Meadow Brown: 1, Small White: 4, Green-veined White: 1, Red Admiral: 1, Common Blue: 4, Brown Argus: 1, Clouded Yellow: 1 Peter Gore 18 Sep 1 Large White - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303) David Inward 18 Sep The Warren, Colney Heath - 20 Small Coppers, 4 Small Heath, 3 Small Whites and 2 Meadow Browns. The Conservation grazing cows have returned for their autumn feed. It's over 10 years since the branch supported the introduction of conservation grazing on this site. The areas of heather around which the Small Heath and Small Copper thrive have more than doubled in that time. And it's many years since I've recorded so many Small Coppers there in a 25 minute walk. An encouraging sign that conservation efforts can make a real difference. Later at Heartwood Forest, the brisk wind had neatly scooped up the few remaining butterflies into a few sheltered areas. In over an hour I saw 4 Small Heath, 3 Common Blues, 2 Small Whites, 1 Meadow Brown, 1 Silver Y and last of all just before I got back to the car park, 1 Small Copper Malcolm Hull 17 Sep This afternoon - 4 Speckled Wood (3 at Vicarage Farm - TQ3097, 1 at Water Garden, Trent Park), 2 Small Heath at Vicarage Farm (TQ3097) - getting harder to find now, 1 Comma nectaring on thistle near edge of Moat Wd, Trent Park, 1 Small Copper & 1 male Common Blue nectaring on ragwort at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park. 1 Small White along Leeging Beech Gutter at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) Robert Callf 17 Sep 1 Small White - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303) David Inward 17 Sep Inner Circle, Regents Park NW1 - 1 Small Copper and 10 Small Whites enjoying the sunshine at lunchtime Malcolm Hull 17 Sep Hounslow. Walked from mid morning to early afternnon in cooler temperatures but still mostly sunshine: Speckled Wood: 9, Small Copper: 5, Small Heath: 1, Meadow Brown: 2, Green-veined White: 3, Small White: 5, Red Admiral: 1, Common Blue: 4 Peter Gore 17 Sep 2 Lunar Underwing in my flat at Southgate this morning Robert Callf 16 Sep This afternoon - 2 Speckled Wood (1 at Vicarage Farm - TQ3097, 1 at Park Farm - TQ2998), 1 male Common Blue field N of Williams Wd, Trent Park (TQ2997) & 5 Small Copper together nectaring on ragwort at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park at 1617 hrs Robert Callf 16 Sep Hounslow. A sunny afternoon walk: Small Heath: 5, Small White: 2, Meadow Brown: 4, Peacock: 1, Common Blue: 7, Small Copper: 7, Speckled Wood: 5, Brown Argus: 5 Peter Gore 16 Sep 1 Small White - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303). 1 Small White - St Faiths Close south, Hitchin (TL198302) David Inward 15 Sep 1 Speckled Wood late afternoon at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - nice fresh looking female Robert Callf 15 Sep St Albans - Disturbed a pair of mating Green-veined Whites in my garden. They were perched on top of dogwood about 7 ft above the ground. They flew around the garden "in cop" landing on several other shrubs at about the same height before finally settling. A painful sight to watch! Malcolm Hull 15 Sep Hounslow. A beautiful morning and early afternoon made all the better by my first Clouded Yellow for two years, bringing the total here to 26 species. (The same as last year since Large Skipper was missed or absent.) 13 species flying today: Brown Argus: 3, Small Copper: 3, Speckled Wood: 4, Small Heath: 9, Holly Blue: 1, Common Blue: 7, Clouded Yellow: 1, Brimstone: 1, Red Admiral: 1, Small White: 4, Comma: 1, Meadow Brown: 1, Large White: 1 Peter Gore 15 Sep 1 Small White, 1 Large White - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303) David Inward 15 Sep A Small Heath in my Ealing garden - the first I have ever recorded here John Eborall 14 Sep This afternoon at Trent Park - 5 Small Copper at 'New Fields', 1 male Brimstone near Triangular Wd, 1255 hrs, 3 Common Blue (1 female at Sect 6 'New Fields', 2, male and female, at 'Old Golf Course'), 5 Small Heath at 'New Fields'. 3 Small White including a pair mating & 2 Green-veined White at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998), 2 Painted Lady (1 at Vicarage Farm - TQ3097 at 1513 hrs, 1 on buddleia at Oakwood Station 1607-1611 hrs) Robert Callf 14 Sep 1 Small White - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303) David Inward 14 Sep 6 Clouded Yellow spread out across all fields close to Hollycross Road in Ware, this morning, also 4 Common Blue and 2 Brown Argus. Later walking back down to Stanstead Abbotts from Easneye Woods, a very faded Painted Lady. Yesterday bumped into a Clouded Yellow on a small area of scrappy grassland in my home square 500m from my Ware garden Liz Goodyear 14 Sep St Albans - Male Brimstone in my garden at lunchtime nectaring on perennial sweet pea and buddleia weyeriana. A Peacock flew into my kitchen exploring for a suitable hibernation spot, but soon retreated at the sight of me. Large White and Small White both active in the garden. This warm snap is likely to bring some hibernators out for a late summer refuelling, so keep an eye out on suitable flowers and rotting fruit Malcolm Hull 14 Sep Brimstone male in Bengeo garden Simon Knott 13 Sep 1 Small White - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303) David Inward 13 Sep Yesterday I was enthralled by the clouds of Small and Large Whites on my allotment, with groups of up to 12 all flying together like small clouds. Inspired by these sightings I decided to visit some of my favourite butterfly sites to see what else was taking advantage of the autumn sunshine. At Sutton's Farm near St Albans I saw 9 Small Whites, 7 Common Blues, 2 Brown Argus and singles of Small Heath, Small Copper and Speckled Wood. Common Darter dragonflies were seen in their hundreds. At Nomansland Common near Sandridge I saw 34 Small Coppers, 5 Common Blues, 8 Meadow Browns, 3 Small Heath and 4 Small Whites. The most abundant insects were ground nesting bees, seen in their thousands. They had taken over the Small Coppers favourite mating territory and the butterflies had wisely moved to other parts of the site. Numbers of Small Coppers should continue to increase, why not join me for the Branch butterfly walk on Sunday 27th (details on home page, places limited, reservations necessary). This afternoon I visited Hexton Chalk pit near Hexton where I added 2 Large White, 1 Small White, Comma, Silver Y, Brimstone, 1 Small Heath and 2 Meadow Brown. Finally at Telegraph Hill near Lilley where I added 58 Small Whites, 5 Large White, 3 Speckled Wood, 1 Peacock, 1 Comma, 1 Silver Y, 3 Meadow Brown. Good to see that there has been recent scrub removal on some of the key butterfly areas of this site Malcolm Hull 13 Sep This afternoon - 3 Speckled Wood (2 at Vicarage Farm - TQ3097, 1 at Park Farm, Enfield - TQ2998). At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 Painted Lady at 1410 hrs, 1 male Common Blue, 1 Small Copper & 8+ Small Heath. 1 female Small White at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) Robert Callf 13 Sep Hounslow. Sunnier and warmer with a doubling in the number of butterflies recorded. About half a dozen of the extras, mostly Speckled Wood, are attributable to a little extra walking but both that species and Common Blue were more conspicuous across the whole area : Small Heath: 5, Common Blue: 11, Small Copper: 6, Speckled Wood: 12, Small White: 1, Red Admiral: 3, Meadow Brown: 2, Brown Argus: 2. In these circumstances the low count for whites is noteworthy.I saw only a few I couldn't identify Peter Gore 12 Sep 1 Small White, 1 Speckled Wood & 1 Red Admiral at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) Robert Callf 12 Sep Millhoppers Reserve - Yellow-tail larvae seen in top wood area on Hazel leaf Chris Hilling 12 Sep Hounslow. Very similar overall numbers yet again but continuing changes to species seen: Small Copper: 6, Speckled Wood: 2, Small Heath: 2, Small White: 2, Large White: 1, Red Admiral: 2, Holly Blue: 1, Common Blue: 3, Comma: 2 Peter Gore 12 Sep At Fishers field, Bushey 1 Peacock & 3 Small White in Bushey garden David Gower 11 Sep A 45 minute quick visit to Ickenham Marsh yielded 1 female Brown Hairstreak on bramble on the pathway at the exit of the main field (TQ091857). Also 3 Common Blues and 2 Small Coppers in the same sheltered area Nick Furtek 11 Sep 1 female Small White near Allotments at Vicarage Farm (TQ3097), 1 Speckled Wood & 2 Small Heath at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097). 1 Green-veined White near Water Grdn, Trent Park & 4 Small Copper at Trent Park. 1 Speckled Wood at Ferny Hill, Enfield this afternoon Robert Callf 11 Sep Hounslow. Less sun but more butterflies seen today: Small Copper: 3, Green-veined White: 4, Small White: 4, Speckled Wood: 3, Meadow Brown: 3, Small Heath: 2, Common Blue: 2, Brown Argus: 3, Red Admiral: 2 Peter Gore 11 Sep Several times this week a female Brimstone has flown into my garden in Royston and has immediately been harried by several Small Whites and driven off. Also Hummingbird Hawk-moths (max 3 at a time) have been on my abelia most days this week having not seen one previously this year Nick Kemp 10 Sep Through binoculars I could see at least 2 Clouded Yellow flying over a field of Lucerne on the edge of Ware Park near the river and A10 flyover. Very little flying on an extremely long walk - only a few Red Admiral and whites Liz Goodyear 10 Sep Church Hill, Therfield Heath. A single very tatty female Chalkhill Blue, 2 male Adonis Blue, 20 female Adonis Blue including one relatively fresh aberrant, one Brown Argus, 5 Small Heath and several Large White and Small White James Fowler 10 Sep 1 Large White - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303) David Inward 10 Sep Hounslow. Mostly sunny, sightings including a fresh-looking Brown Argus and a male and female Small Copper clearly in mating preliminaries: Small Heath: 5, Green-veined White: 2, Speckled Wood: 5, Large White: 1, Meadow Brown: 1, Brown Argus: 1, Small Copper: 3, Small White: 1 Peter Gore 9 Sep My first Clouded Yellow of the year at the old Rivers orchard site, Sawbridgeworth this morning TL475145, also around 8 Meadow Brown and 2 Brown Argus Laurence Drummond 9 Sep 2 Straw Underwing & 5 Square-spot Rustic in my flat at Southgate at 0045 hrs. 1 Speckled Wood & 2 Small Heath at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097). 1 female Large White at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097), 1 Green-veined White near 'Three-bridges' Trent Park. 2 Small White at Parkside Farm/Res, Enfield (TQ2998) Robert Callf 8 Sep 4 Small Heath (3 at Vicarage Farm - TQ3097, 1 at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park), 1 Clouded Yellow flew past us whilst seated on bench near corner of Rough Lot, Trent Park at 1335 hrs - my first of the year & 1 Large White here, 1 Comma edge of Moat Wd, Trent Park at 1416 hrs, 1 Small Copper at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park nectaring on ragwort Robert Callf Bob Husband 8 Sep Folly Lane, St Albans - warm and overcast for my 15 minute stroll around the Allotments at lunchtime. No doubt about the butterfly of the day - 72 Small Whites, 5 Large Whites. And that's it, not a single butterfly or moth of any other species to be seen. It's unusual to find one species so dominant Malcolm Hull 8 Sep 1 Large White - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303). 1 Small White - St Faiths Close, Hitchin (TL198302) David Inward 7 Sep 9 Small Heath (8 at Vicarage Farm - TQ3097, 1 at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park), 1 Speckled Wood at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097). 1 Red Admiral flew W at Parkside Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) at 1157 hrs. 1 Small White at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998), 2 Green-veined White together near 'Three-bridges' at Trent Park. 1 Yellow Shell at ASDA Southgate. 1 Hummingbird Hawkmoth seen briefly at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park at 1324 hrs - shot past me quickly Robert Callf 6 Sep This afternoon at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 Painted Lady at 1232 hrs, 1 Speckled Wood, 5 Small Heath, 2+ Small White Robert Callf 6 Sep Hounslow. Small White: 6, Small Copper: 3, Red Admiral: 1, Green-veined White: 2, Brown Argus: 1, Meadow Brown: 2, Common Blue: 1 Peter Gore 6 Sep 1 Small White - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303) David Inward 6 Sep 2nd September 2:30 - 3:30 on our walk on an overcast Nomansland (South of Ferrers lane, western end) we saw :- 8 Meadow Brown, 2 Small Heath, 1 Painted Lady, 3 Small White & 1 Silver Y Moth. In Heartwood wild flower meadow between Round Wood and Hillend Farm fence we saw 1 very smart Painted Lady & 1 Common Blue Pete & Angela Ewer 5 Sep 1 Small Copper at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) at 1032 hrs, also here 6 Small Heath. 4 Small White at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998), also here 1 Green-veined White near Duncan's Wd Robert Callf 5 Sep Hounslow. Long periods without any sunshine limited sightings but when there was sun it still led to reasonable numbers and varied sightings: Green-veined White: 1, Speckled Wood: 2, Small White: 8, Small Heath: 5, Meadow Brown: 1, Red Admiral: 1, Small Copper: 2, Common Blue: 1 Peter Gore 5 Sep 1 Small White - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303) David Inward 5 Sep Folly Lane Allotments, St Albans - Red Admiral feeding on rotting apples plus a second one sunbathing. At least 10 Small Whites and 2 Large Whites feasting on the late flowering Inula, Verbena Bonariensis and Buddleia. Two Silver Y moths and an unexpected Setaceous Hebrew Character Malcolm Hull 5 Sep Male Brimstone flew through Harpenden garden at noon Robin Pearson 4 Sep This afternoon - 1 Green-veined White at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park, 1 Small Copper nectaring on ragwort at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park, 1 Red Admiral at Parkside Hse, Enfield (TQ2998) at 1348 hrs, 2 Speckled Wood (1 at Vicarage Farm near Williams Wd - TQ3097, 1 at Park Farm, Enfield - TQ2998) Robert Callf 3 Sep On 1st September, a Painted Lady at Norton Green Common Sharon Chesterman 3 Sep This afternoon - 1 Blood-vein, 1 Small Heath & 1 Small White at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097). 1 female Small White & 1 male Green-veined White near 'Three-bridges' at Trent Park. 1 Large White at Parkside Hse, Enfield (TQ2998) Robert Callf 2 Sep 1 Red Admiral flew S at Hog Hill, Vicarage Farm (TQ3097) at 0915 hrs, also here 1 Small Heath. 1 Comma & 1 Small Heath at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park. 1 Speckled Wood at St Andrew's Church, Enfield Town at 1523 hrs Robert Callf 2 Sep 1 Small White, 1 Large White - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303) David Inward 2 Sep Made the most of a sunny morning to do a LEW around the fields north and NE of my Ware garden. Ashridge Common just south of Cold Christmas, produced 6 Meadow Brown, 2 Brown Argus, 7 Small Heath and a single Red Admiral. Noticed that some Red Admirals recently have been flying with a purpose, in a southerly direction (but not all). Returning via footpaths between Wareside and Ware following the Fanhams Tributaries, 4 Common Blue and in another 'clover' rich field in TL3814, I could see 3 Clouded Yellow through binoculars. This is a new location and it was good to see they had survived the recent grim weather. Finally nearing home, I checked some elm and found my first 'new season' White-letter Hairstreak egg on local elm (on a growth joint) Liz Goodyear 1 Sep A Convolvulus Hawk Moth in my Puckeridge back garden as it fed on our Tobacco plants Murray Orchard 1 Sep Hounslow. A sunny start to the month with slightly under-recorded whites dominant: Small White: 5, Meadow Brown: 1, Speckled Wood: 1, Red Admiral: 2, Large White: 1, Comma: 1, Holly Blue: 1, Small Heath: 2, Small Copper: 4 Peter Gore 1 Sep 1 Peacock basking on wall near Enfield Rd (TQ309968) at 1157 hrs, 1 Small White at Vicarage Farm (TQ3097), also here 1 female Green-veined White, 1 Speckled Wood, 1 Small Heath, 1 Silver Y nectaring at ragwort. 1 Speckled Wood along Leeging Beech Gutter near Water Grdn, Trent Park, 1 Comma near Ride Wd, Trent Park at 1255 hrs, also here 1 Small White. 2 Small Heath together 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park. 1 Speckled Wood & 1 Small White at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998). 1 Small White nectaring on buddleia at Southgate Chase Allotments Robert Callf August Date Description Recorder 31 Aug This afternoon: At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 Speckled Wood, 4 Small Heath, female Green-veined White and 1 Small White. 1 male Common Blue at Parkside Farm/Res, Enfield Robert Callf 31 Aug 1 Small White - by railway bridge, Woolgrove Road, Hitchin (TL19293046), 1 Large White - NE entrance, Bancroft Gardens, Hitchin (TL18722974) David Inward 30 Aug 1 Small White - St Faiths Close south, Hitchin (TL198302), 1 Large White - Meadowbank north, Hitchin (TL196300) David Inward 30 Aug 1 Speckled Wood & 5 Small Heath at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) Robert Callf 29 Aug 1 Blood-vein at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) this afternoon Robert Callf 28 Aug This afternoon - 2 Small Heath (1 at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park, 1 at Vicarage Farm - TQ3097), 2 Speckled Wood at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) and 1 Meadow Brown at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) Robert Callf 27 Aug Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 2 Speckled Wood together, 1 Small Heath and 2 Meadow Brown. 1 Green-veined White near Water Grdn, Trent Park Robert Callf 26 Aug 2 Small Heath at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) and 1 female Meadow Brown at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park at 1508 hrs Robert Callf 26 Aug Hounslow. Despite the lack of sun on the return stretch ten species recorded as follows: Small White: 4, Red Admiral: 2, Green-veined White: 2, Meadow Brown: 7, Large White: 1, Comma: 1, Holly Blue: 1, Small Heath: 5, Common Blue: 1, Small Copper: 1 Peter Gore 26 Aug 2 Small White - St Faiths Close south, Hitchin (TL198302) David Inward 26 Aug 22nd July in Hatfield garden, a Hummingbird Hawkmoth on dark pink Valerian in the daytime. 11th August Hummingbird Hawkmoths (x 5 plus) on dark pink Valerian. It was about 9pm, very warm and there were a good number of them busy on the plants. The Valerian is growing next to a buddleia that was in full flower, but there were none that I could see on that plant. 12th August Jersey Tiger Moth came into the house in the evening Jo Crouch 25 Aug 2 Small Heath at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) this afternoon Robert Callf Bob Husband 24 Aug 2 Small White - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303) David Inward 24 Aug This afternoon - 6 Small White (1 at Enfield Rd, EN2 and 5 at Vicarage Farm, Enfield - TQ3097), 1 Speckled Wood & 4 Small Heath at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097). 1 Snout edge of Water Grdn, Trent Park. 1 Red Admiral at Ivy Rd Recreation Ground, N14 at 1624 hrs. 1 Speckled Wood at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) and 1 Comma along Leeging Beech Gutter near 'Three-bridges' at 1457 hrs Robert Callf 24 Aug At least three Clouded Yellows together in private area of Panshanger Park Murray Brown 24 Aug I saw two Clouded Yellows at Sutton's Farm in Cooper's Green this morning, plus six Common Blues, two Small Heath and a few Small Whites and Meadow Browns David Booth 23 Aug At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ2997) - 3 Small Heath & 2 Meadow Brown. 2 Straw Underwing & 2 Square-spot Rustic flew into my Southgate flat after midnight Robert Callf 22 Aug This afternoon at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 6 Small Heath & 1 Meadow Brown Robert Callf 20 Aug Therfield Heath: Adonis Blue (100+ males), Chalkhill Blue (est. 250-350; mostly females), Common Blue (lots), Brown Argus (10+), Painted Lady (2). Also seen: Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Speckled Wood, Small Heath (lots), Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper (few left), Red Admiral and Holly Blue. Also 30-40 Silver Y moths and a single Shaded Broad-Bar. Adonis Blues are now thriving, both on Church Hill (where, with Chalkhill Blue numbers falling now, they are becoming the dominant species) and on the eastern side of the Heath, where they can be found between Lankester Hill and the golf practice driving range. I only found a single male in the central section between the Sporting Club and Church Hill, suggesting that two separate introductions have been made, at the east and west ends of the heath. The Church Hill colony has, however, rapidly spread north and south from the hill itself, to cover an area of about one square kilometre. It is exactly a year since the first male Adonis Blue was spotted on Church Hill: like it or not, the unlicensed introduction of this species has been very successful! Hexton Chalk Pit: Chalkhill Blue (19: 4 males and 15 females - one pair mating). Also seen: various whites, Small Heath, Meadow Brown, Comma, Red Admiral, Common Blue. Also seen across the road (TL106298) were two Clouded Yellow butterflies. No second-generation Dingy Skipper or Adonis Blue butterflies were seen. Martin Johnson 20 Aug This afternoon - 1 Small Heath and 2 Meadow Brown at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) Robert Callf 20 Aug Hounslow. Small White: 5, Holly Blue: 2, Meadow Brown: 15, Green-veined White: 1, Gatekleeper: 2, Comma: 2, Small Heath: 6, Small Copper: 2, Common Blue: 1 Peter Gore 19 Aug 1 Jersey Tiger at Hog Hill, Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) this evening, also here 1 female Meadow Brown Robert Callf 18 Aug 1 female Gatekeeper at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097), also here 2 Small Heath and 1 Meadow Brown. 2 Holly Blue and 1 Red Admiral near Water Grdn, Trent Park. 1 Small White and 3 Silver Y at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) Robert Callf 18 Aug I took advantage of an interlude in rain this morning (previous daily walks had been aborted) to visit the Easneye Wood 2km TL3812, walking via Waterplace Farm (TL3814). First butterfly of note was a Small Heath, on a scrappy area not far from my Ware home. Walking down towards the river Ash, a fresh Painted Lady was observed on buddleia in the farmyard. This sighting was very close to one on the 10th July! Nothing was noted in Easneye Woods but walking away from the wood on BP18, a Small Copper. Walking along BP17 in the Wareside direction, there is another 'clover' crop. I could not see any Clouded Yellow amongst the whites but there was another Painted Lady as well as a Small Tortoiseshell nectaring. Finally, walking back towards the river and past the 'clover' field found last week, a Clouded Yellow was still present and a Painted Lady. Saw 3 Painted Lady in one walk, doubling my sightings for the year! Liz Goodyear 17 Aug 2 Jersey Tiger (1 at Parkside Farm/Res, Enfield at TQ3098, 1 nectaring on buddleia edge of Water Grdn, Trent Park), 2 Meadow Brown (1 at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park, 1 at Vicarage Farm, Enfield - TQ3097), 1 female Gatekeeper at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park. 2 Green-veined White nectaring on buddleia edge of Water Grdn, Trent Park this afternoon. 2 Willow Beauty at ASDA Southgate Robert Callf 17 Aug A Painted Lady seen in Bushey garden late afternoon David Gower 17 Aug 2+ Clouded Yellows in private area of Panshanger Park Murray Brown 16 Aug 1 Straw Underwing identified in my Southgate flat this evening - flew in a couple of nights ago Robert Callf 16 Aug Out walking I crossed 'The Moors' near How Wood (a land-filled gravel extraction area north of the M25 and south-east of the 'Abby Flyer' rail line). I saw a dozen or so Small Heaths, the first I've spotted of the 2nd brood. That prompted me to come back via Bricket Wood Common, where they have rarely been recorded on the transect. I saw several, including one on Transect Section 3 Chris Newman 16 Aug Willow Beauty has been stationary on our Hertford house wall Julie Ponder 15 Aug St Albans - Surprised to find a Silver Y moth at rest inside my house this morning. Not a bad spot to choose to shelter from the torrential rain! Malcolm Hull 14 Aug Little Wymondley. This little beauty flew into my kitchen - a Jersey Tiger. Never seen one before Pat Rumpus 14 Aug St Albans Shed - The number of hibernating butterflies in my shed is now 19 - 14 Small Tortoiseshells and 5 Peacocks. Numbers have jumped by a third this week - not surprising as I have noticed that very hot periods are closely associated with an increase in hibernators at this time of year Malcolm Hull 14 Aug After bothering to count a flock of 22 Blue Tit near Water Garden found a Hummingbird Hawkmoth nectaring at a buddleia edge of Water Garden, Trent Park (TQ 292 975) at 1643 - 1645 hrs. 1 Shaded Broad-bar at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) this afternoon Robert Callf 13 Aug 1 Jersey Tiger at Park Farm, Enfield this afternoon Robert Callf 13 Aug Visited what I hoped would be a suitable field near Cold Christmas in TL3816 in the hope of finding a Clouded Yellow. The field despite having 'clover' lacked nectar but 1 Clouded Yellow was seen, also a fresh Small Copper before it clouded over again and tried to rain Liz Goodyear 12 Aug Sixty years ago, if you left the windows open with the house lights on you soon had a room-full of moths. Nowadays it's an event if any moths fly into the house. Tonight we had the lights on in our Harpenden living room, with the patio doors open. It had been the hottest day of the year (33.1C) and there had been a thunderstorm in the afternoon. Only one moth flew in - unbelievably, it was a Convolvulus Hawk-moth! Alan Jackson 12 Aug 1 Red Admiral near Obelisk, Trent Park at 1839 hrs. 1 Green-veined White nectaring on buddleia at Water Grdn, Trent Park Robert Callf 12 Aug St Albans - Peacock on my buddleia this afternoon before the storms came. Not seen any of these in flight for a whole week. Red Admirals, Large Whites, Holly Blues, Small Whites and Gypsy Moths and a single Gatekeeper also active in my garden. Female Gypsy moth apparently egg laying on my neighbours house! Malcolm Hull 12 Aug 1 Small White, 1 Large White - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303) David Inward 12 Aug Firsts for me, seen this week in Pottersheath, Welwyn: 7 August - Box-Tree moth resting on house wall, lots of box bushes in the garden so not surprised it is here. 10 August - Jersey Tiger found floating in the pond, another very attractive moth. Caroline Phillips 12 Aug Adonis Blue at Therfield Heath Adrian Sergeant 11 Aug At least three active Clouded Yellow on a 'clover' field alongside Holly Cross Road in Ware. It is a very large hillside field so probably far more than those I saw Liz Goodyear 11 Aug This afternoon - 1 Large White near Merryhill's Brook at Trent Park, 1 Speckled Wood at Shaws Wd, Trent Park, 3+ Green-veined White at Water Garden, Trent Park including one nectaring on buddleia, 2 Small Heath (1 at Park Farm, Enfield - TQ2998, 1 at Vicarage Farm, Enfield - TQ3097), 1 Holly Blue at Parkside Hse, Enfield (TQ2998) and 1 Jersey Tiger here also Robert Callf 11 Aug 2 Small White - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303) David Inward 11 Aug Hounslow. Speckled Wood: 4, Meadow Brown: 24, Gatekeeper: 8, Large White: 3, Painted Lady: 1, Holly Blue: 2, Small Copper: 4, Small White: 2, Small Heath: 7, Common Blue: 3, Comma: 1, Green-veined White: 1, Purple Hairstreak: 1 and three Jersey Tigers Peter Gore 10 Aug This afternoon - 4 Small Heath at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (3 at TQ3097 and 1 at TQ2997), 1 Red Admiral nectaring on buddleia at Water Grdn, Trent Park at 1548 hrs, 1 Peacock at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park at 1604 hrs, 1 Large White at Parkside Hse, Enfield (TQ2998) and 2 Small White mating at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998), 1 female Painted Lady egg-laying on thistles along 'Gallop' at Hog Hill, Vicarage Farm (TQ3097) at 1723 hrs. 2 Jersey Tiger (1 at Park Farm, 1 at Vicarage Farm - TQ3097) and several sightings of male Gypsy Moth in flight in the area Robert Callf 10 Aug 28 July Hexton Chalk Pit. I've never seen so many Chalkhill Blues, even on the good sites on the Polden Hills in Somerset. The ground was just covered with them. Mostly males, only about 4 females. 29 July Great Ashby Country Park. A very good wild-flower meadow. Marbled White (1), Brimstone (2), Red Admiral (1), Painted Lady (1), Common Blue (5), Ringlet (4). Good numbers of Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper. White-letter Hairstreak (1) on 2 August. 30 July Norton Green Common. Silver-washed Fritillary (2)- in poor condition. Peacock (1). All on buddleia near start of wood. A quick visit. 30 July Church Hill, Therfield Heath. Many Chalkhill Blues, Marbled White (2). Unsuccessful search for Adonis Blue. 1 August Hillbrow. Brown Argus (8), Common Blue (5). Unsuccessful search for Small Blue Ian Hillier Daniel Hillier Mark Hillier 9 Aug St Albans - finally managed a photo of our new and most common local day flying species - the Gypsy Moth, this one male perched on raspberry. Two Red Admirals on my buddleia this evening, the first time this year I've had more than one Malcolm Hull 9 Aug Moth sightings from our Hertford garden: 1 x Box Moth and 1 x Jersey Tiger Julie Ponder 9 Aug I returned to TL3812 early before it got too hot to try and find a Common Blue, the only 2km where I haven't found one in my lockdown recording project. Bird's Foot Trefoil is hard to find and Black Medick even harder in this predominantly private/arable farmland tetrad. Having failed I walked down toward the River Ash and Watersplace Farm (between Ware & Wareside) and saw a 'clover/flower rich' bit of headland. Almost immediately I saw 2 Common Blue!!! Looking at it, I felt this could support a Clouded Yellow and it didn't take long to see one through binoculars! My 28th butterfly species in the 9 x 2km squares I have been walking this spring and summer. Walking back through Easneye Woods there was a tired Silver-washed Fritillary. Still struggling to record Painted Lady with only 2 in the 9 squares so far and not in my home square either! Liz Goodyear 9 Aug A Jersey Tiger turned up on my Stevenage garden moth trap last night. Of the 61 moths I recorded 15 were Straw Underwings Peter Clarke 9 Aug Hounslow. Hot and sunny again: Small White: 4, Meadow Brown: 29, Gatekeeper: 12, Speckled Wood: 4, Brimstone: 1, Holly Blue: 1, Brown Argus: 1, Small Copper: 6, Common Blue: 2, Small Heath: 3, Large White: 1 and two Jersey Tigers Peter Gore 9 Aug 9 Large White, Walsworth Common (walkaround)(TL1930). 1 Large White, railway adjacent to Walsworth Common (TL192304) David Inward 8 Aug 2 male Common Blue chasing at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) this afternoon Robert Callf 8 Aug Aldbury Nowers starting in lowest enclosure. 2 Small White, 8 Small Heath, 20 Gatekeeper, 2 Silver-washed Fritillary, 1 Large Skipper, 4 Green-veined White, 8 Brimstone, 62 Meadow Brown, 8 Common Blue, 3 Brown Argus, 1 Essex Skipper, 2 Chalkhill Blue, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Comma, 1 Holly Blue & 1 Small Copper. Moths were 1 x 6-spot Burnet, 2 Common Carpet, 1 Yellow Shell, 1 Straw Dot. Onto next enclosure seeing 5 Gatekeeper, 3 Small Heath, 4 Brimstone, 15 Meadow Brown, 1 Green-veined White. At Duchie's Piece recorded 15 Meadow Brown, 4 Brimstone, 1 Small White, 9 Gatekeeper, 2 Comma, 1 Large White, 1 Large Skipper, 4 Brown Argus, 1 Speckled Wood and 2 Common Carpet moths. Finally at the top enclosure 37 Chalkhill Blue, 3 Small Heath, 20 Gatekeeper, 39 Meadow Brown, 1 Holly Blue, 3 Green-veined White, 1 Large White, 1 Silver-washed Fritillary, 18 Brimstone, 3 Small White, 19 Common Blue, 25 Brown Argus, 1 Comma, 2 Red Admiral, 1 Large Skipper. Moths 3 Treble-bar & 1 Mint moth. Margaram proving very popular here David Gower 8 Aug 1 Large White, 1 Small White - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303) David Inward 8 Aug I visited the Redbourn area looking at potential Small Blue sites. At Hogg End Lane, where one was reported last month, the fields had been recently harvested and there were few butterflies apart from the omnipresent Small Whites to be seen. Gypsy moth, a species I recorded only for the first time this year were particularly numerous. At the M1/Hogg End Lane bridge I added Gatekeeper and Large White. No sign of chalky soil, kidney vetch or Small Blue at either location. At Watery Lane, both chalk and vetch were plentiful. This is a "binoculars only" site, but quite overcast and I added just Common Blue and 6-spot Burnet to the days' species list. At Redding Lane, there was no vetch, but I added Essex Skipper, Ringlet, Meadow Brown and Silver Y moth. Finally I visited Redbourn Lane where the sun came out and the full list was Small White (12), Speckled Wood (1) Gatekeeper (2), Large White (2), Brown Argus (5), Small Blue (8), Essex Skipper (2), Red Admiral (1) and 6-Spot Burnet (2). I have found Small Blues here before, but never more than three and I don't recall a second brood. Finally back in the garden I saw a Comma, Hummingbird Hawkmoth and Holly Blues flying endlessly up and over the Ivy hedge. All Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells have disappeared and the current total of hibernators in my shed is Peacock 4, Small Tortoiseshell 10 Malcolm Hull 7 Aug 2 Large White - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303) David Inward 7 Aug On 30th July I spent from 9am until 12.45pm at Stafford Open Space / Ickenham Meadows with blue skies, 25C, and a gentle breeze and saw the following : Brown Hairstreak - 9 sightings, including individuals in flight mainly, around ash and oak, 2 good perched views in trees and a probable female nectaring on thistles. Plus at least 5 Purple Hairstreak, 2 Small Copper, 6 Common Blue, 2 Brown Argus, 2 Holly Blue, numerous Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, and unidentified Whites, 1 Brimstone and several Vapourer Moths. With many thanks to Liz Goodyear and Andrew Middleton, who were kind enough to let me join their walk, and without whose expert advice I would have seen far fewer Brown Hairstreaks - if any ! Peter Waldron 6 Aug 2 Green-veined White (1 at Vicarage Farm - TQ3097, 1 at Water Grdn, Trent Park), 1 female Common Blue at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park at 1433 hrs, 1 Small White edge of Moat Wd, Trent Park, 1 Small Heath at Parkside Farm/Res, Enfield (TQ2998), 3 Jersey Tiger (1 edge of Moat Wd, Trent Park near Ferny Hill, 2 at Park Farm, Enfield - TQ2998), 1 Shaded Broad-bar at Parkside Farm/Res, Enfield (TQ2998), 1 Holly Blue at Parkside Hse, Enfield (TQ2998). 1 Comma near Allotments at Vicarage Farm 1655 hrs Robert Callf 6 Aug I've had a strange collection of sightings in my Muswell Hill Garden. The more unusual was a Silver-washed Fritillary - only once before have I seen them here - it glided in, landed on the shed roof and took off again before I could get a shot. I also had a few Common Blues visit my meadow patch and the female took an interest in the Greater Birds Foot Trefoil, much to my delight. Earlier while it was overcast a Painted Lady traversed the garden with its' distinctive flight. I also saw plenty of Gatekeepers which are having a good year I reckon. Also a Holly Blue and several Small Whites Dee Cullen 5 Aug 1 Holly Blue at Salmons Brook/Enfield Rd, EN2 at 1824 hrs Robert Callf 5 Aug I ventured to Church Hill, Therfield Heath this afternoon between 12.06 and 1.30 pm in continuous sun and 24-27 C, but with high winds which seemed to drive most butterfly species apart from Chalkhilll Blues, under cover, except in more sheltered areas. The following recorded : 5 Brimstone, 3+ Small White, 30+ wind-driven white sp., at least 10 Brown Argus, 6+ Common Blue males, 80+ Chalkhill Blue, 5 Adonis Blue males, 15+ Gatekeeper, 12+ Meadow Brown - no Skippers, Small Heath, or Marbled Whites Peter Waldron 5 Aug Ruislip Gardens: 1 m Brown Hairstreak, 4 Gatekeeper, 1 Comma, 1 Meadow Brown, 5 Common Blue (3m, 2f), 4 Speckled Wood and 1 Red Admiral Shailesh Patel 5 Aug Hounslow. Cloudy but sightings of most species declining now in any event: Meadow Brown: 35, Speckled Wood: 6, Gatekeeper: 25, Green-veined White: 8, Red Admiral: 1, Holly Blue: 2, Large White: 1, Small Copper: 3, Small Heath: 5 Peter Gore 5 Aug 1 Small White - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303) David Inward 4 Aug 2 Jersey Tiger at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097), 1 Purple Hairstreak near Williams Wd, Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097), 1 Small Tortoiseshell at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) at 1346 hrs. 1 Speckled Wood and 1 Shaded Broad-bar at Parkside Farm/Res, Enfield (TQ2998) this afternoon Robert Callf 4 Aug 2 Small White, 1 Holly Blue - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303) David Inward 3 Aug I went on a drive at lunch around Graveley, than through Chesfield to Great Ashby hoping to find nesting House Martins. No joy. Ended up walking a section of the footpath 'back lane' & came across some Purple Hairstreaks - at least 3 (TL25122791). A nice area/walk. I shall return! Tom Speller 3 Aug 2 Gatekeeper - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL1930) David Inward 3 Aug Therfield Heath (Church Hill): Adonis Blue (2 males - 2nd generation). Also, Chalkhill Blue (200+), Common Blue (20+), Brown Argus (10+), Dark Green Fritillary (1). Also seen: Small Tortoiseshell, Meadow Brown (lots still), Gatekeeper (lots), Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Brimstone and Essex Skipper. No Small Heath (surprisingly) or Marbled White butterflies were seen Martin Johnson 3 Aug 2 Red Admiral at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (1 at TQ3097 and 1 at TQ2997), 1 Small Tortoiseshell nectaring on thistles at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) at 1240 hrs, 1 Comma edge of Moat Wd near Obelisk, Trent Park at 1300 hrs, 1 Purple Hairstreak settled near lower lake, Trent Park, 1 Holly Blue edge of Water Garden, Trent Park and 1 Speckled Wood at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097). 1 male Gypsy Moth at ASDA Southgate and 1 Jersey Tiger at Dalrymple Close, N14. 2 Green-veined White on buddleia at Water Garden, Trent Park this afternoon Robert Callf 2 Aug On our late afternoon walk in Heartwood, 1 Clouded Yellow along perimeter path of wild flower meadow between Round Wood and Hill End Farm boundary fence Peter Ewer 2 Aug My wife and I went to Broxbourne woods this morning sunny/cloudy, warm, light winds. First time we have seen a Silver-washed Fritillary valezina at this site which was a lovely surprise. Also saw Purple Hairstreaks, Brown Argus, Common Blue, Small Copper, worn Silver-washed Fritillaries, Gatekeepers and Buff tip caterpillars Kevin Standbridge 2 Aug 1 Jersey Tiger at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097), also here 1 male Common Blue. 1 Purple Hairstreak at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998). 1 Shaded Broad-bar and 1 Green-veined White at Parkside Farm/Res, Enfield (TQ2998). 1 Least Carpet at Chase Rd/Charter Way, N14 this afternoon Robert Callf 2 Aug 1 Large White - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303). 1 Large White, 1 Small White, 1 Gatekeeper, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Speckled Wood (probably same one as yesterday but on the Common side of the railway fence) - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (walkaround) (TL1930) David Inward 2 Aug At Merryhill fields, Bushey this afternoon. Records are 3 Common Blue, 19 Meadow Brown, 33 Gatekeeper, 3 Large White, 4 Speckled Wood, 2 Small Copper, 1 Green-veined White. Moths were 4 Yellow Shell, 1 Straw Dot, 1 Shaded Broad-bar David Gower 1 Aug Hoo Bit (TL 11646 29015). Brown Argus 2+, Common Blues 2+, Chalkhill Blue 3+, Gatekeeper 10+, Meadow Brown 5+, Brimstone male 1, Small White 2+ Telegraph Hill (TL 11738 28928) 20+ Chalkhill Blues Graham Bellamy 1 Aug This afternoon - 1 Purple Hairstreak at Hadley Rd/Park Farm, Enfield, 1 Holly Blue at Parkside Hse, Enfield (TQ2998), 1 Jersey Tiger at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) and 1 male Brown Argus at Parkside Farm/Res, Enfield (TQ2998) at 1625 hrs - my first of the year, having seen none during the spring. 1 Comma edge of Williams Wd, Trent Park and 1 male Oak Eggar in flight along Leeging Beech Gutter at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) at 1711 hrs Robert Callf 1 Aug 31 July was exceptionally hot, and walking on Bricket Wood Common and surrounding areas, I saw lots of Purple Hairstreaks at low level. I've never noticed that before. Most seemed to be roosting in the shade, with some fluttering between perches. I took many photos of them (unfortunately all were perched with wings folded); they seemed rather torpid, much less sensitive to disturbance by shadows, a lens pushing towards them, or the foliage being disturbed, than is usual for butterflies in warm weather. Today the temperature was down closer to normal. I went back with a tripod, hoping I could get some even better shots; I was disappointed, but not surprised, that I didn't see any hairstreaks. I assume their descent was a response to the heatwave, and they've returned to the treetops! Chris Newman 1 Aug Hounslow. Temperatures back down in the 20s and cloudier: Gatekeeper: 85, Small White: 4, Speckled Wood: 5, Purple Hairstreak: 1, Meadow Brown: 35, Green-veined White: 3, Small Heath: 2, Small Copper: 2, Small Skipper: 1, Common Blue: 3, Holly Blue: 1 and four Jersey Tigers Peter Gore 1 Aug Spent a couple of hours at Stanmore Country Park this afternoon seeing 65 Gatekeeper, 25 Meadow Brown, 5 Common Blue, 1 Marbled White, 5 Purple Hairstreak, 3 Large White, 5 Brown Argus, 3 Small Copper, 1 Green-veined White David Gower 1 Aug 2 Large White - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303). 1 Large White, 1 Small White, 1 Comma, 2 Gatekeeper - (Big Butterfly Count conditions) by pond on Walworth Common, Hitchin (TL19713004). 3 Large White, 1 Peacock - Walsworth Common (walkaround) (TL1930). 1 Large White, 1 Speckled Wood - railway adjacent to Walsworth Common (TL192304) David Inward July Date Description Recorder 31 Jul Had more visits from Purple Hairstreak in my Great Ashby, Stevenage garden, this time 3. Also Brimstone, Red Admiral, Peacock, Comma, Speckled Wood, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White and Small Skipper Steve Lane 31 Jul I saw this Toadflax Brocade in my garden - in fact it was crawling up my leg first - as I was watering this evening in my garden in Muswell Hill. Not a moth I've spotted before Dee Cullen 31 Jul This evening: 2 Meadow Brown mating at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) at 1755 hrs, 2 male Oak Eggar (1 at Vicarage Farm, Enfield near Hadley Rd at 1838 hrs - TQ2997, 1 at Park Farm, Enfield at 1840 hrs - TQ2998). 1 Scalloped Oak at ASDA Southgate Robert Callf 31 Jul I visited Hemel Hempstead and the temperature soared to 36 degrees. Butterfly numbers fell as temperatures increased and by mid afternoon those still flying were mostly in the shade. First stop Roughdown Common with David Kirk and Brendan Sheridan where we saw Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, Gatekeeper, Small Copper, Common Blue, 6-spot Burnet, Small White, Meadow Brown, Brimstone and Brown Argus. The site was full of flowers and butterflies were numerous. Later visited Sheethanger Common with Brendan Sheridan, an old golf course reverting to nature, more wooded with less flowers and butterflies, species include Holly Blue, Comma, Green-veined White, Essex Skipper, Large White, Peacock, Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper. At lunchtime I popped across to Bourne End junction. Very few butterflies here, good amounts of flowering Kidney Vetch, but no sign of Small Blue. Highlight here were 12 Six-spot Burnet. After lunch I visited Paradise Fields with Lindsay McRae. These are chalk meadows recently acquired by Dacorum Council. Species included Common Blue (6), Holly Blue (3), Brown Argus (2), Gatekeeper (10), Peacock (2), Green-veined White (1), Large White (1), Meadow Brown (6), Comma (1), Red Admiral (1). I'm now recovering in the coolest part of my house! Malcolm Hull 31 Jul While out looking for butterflies on Alexandra Palace this morning I got a message from Markus Percic that he had just seen a Clouded Yellow. Having joined him and after a painfully long period searching the vicinity, the Clouded Yellow returned to patrol faithfully up and down the slopes bordering the cricket pitch. (TQ300899). This is the first record for a couple of years and the 27th species of the year for this suburban park. Also present, an increased number of Common Blues and a couple of Brown Argus, but records of Small Heath are limited to just three sightings all year. I wonder if others have noted a poor year for this species? Gerry Rawcliffe 31 Jul 1 Large White, 1 Small White - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303) David Inward 31 Jul Hounslow. The same walk as yesterday but later and in temperatures in the thirties: Small White: 1 Holly Blue: 8, Meadow Brown: 3, Gatekeeper: 36, Purple Hairstreak: 3, Speckled Wood: 5, Large White: 1, Red Admiral: 2, Green-veined White: 2, Common Blue: 2, Brimstone: 1, Small Copper: 1 Peter Gore 31 Jul Just had a Jersey Tiger in my garden in South Harrow. It's the first time that I have seen one here Michael Robinson 30 Jul I had a trip out to Therfield Heath, Royston. Walked the bank just behind the rugby pitch and must have seen 250-300 Chalkhill Blues, 90-100 Gatekeepers, 10 Brown Argus, 10 Meadow Brown, several Whites and 1 Common Blue. I was there for around 1 hour Steve Lane 30 Jul Hummingbird Hawk-moth in Gaddessden Row (TL049130) A M Edwards 30 Jul This afternoon - 5 Holly Blue (3 at Trent Park including one nectaring on Bramble blossom edge of Church Wd at 1404 hrs, 1 at Chase Rd/Charter Way, N14 and 1 at Parkside Hse, Enfield), 2 Purple Hairstreak at Trent Park, 1 Small Heath at Sect 5 'New Fields' Trent Park - my first of the second-brood, 1 Red Admiral nectaring on buddleia at Water Grdn, Trent Park at 1442 hrs, 1 Peacock at Parkside Farm/Res, Enfield (TQ2998). 1 Ruby Tiger in flight & settled at 'New Fields' Trent Park this afternoon at 1344 hrs - several of my books state that it is mainly the first-brood that is seen during the day and not the second-brood, so an interesting observation? 10+ Six-spot Burnet at Trent Park 'New Fields, 4 Jersey Tiger (1 at Trent Park near Park's Office, 2 at Park Farm, Enfield - TQ2998 and 1 at Vicarage Farm, Enfield - TQ3097) Robert Callf 30 Jul In Bushey garden late afternoon were 2 Gatekeeper, 1 Large White, 1 Small White, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Holly Blue & 1 Comma David Gower 30 Jul Aldbury Nowers - Visited the northern section this afternoon and delighted to see the whole hillside alive with butterflies. There was so much activity that an accurate count was impossible and the following is just confirmed sightings and underestimates the total number of individuals. 5 second generation Small Blues were the highlight including a female searching for egg laying sites on the Kidney Vetch, probing the flower heads with her abdomen. Chalkhill Blues were doing well with 23 recorded. Peacocks (35) were feasting on Marjoram getting ready for hibernation. Brown Argus (20), Brimstone (26), Gatekeeper (30), Meadow Brown (12), Small Tortoiseshell (2), Small Copper (2), Common Blue (19), Ringlet (1), Small/Essex Skipper (5), Silver-washed Fritillary (1), Green-veined White (3), Dark Green Fritillary (2), Red Admiral (3), Speckled Wood (2), Large White (1), Small White (5), Large Skipper (2), Marbled White (1). So at least 21 butterfly species, not including Small Heath as it was just over the border in Bucks. Also we saw 6-spot Burnet, Yellow Shell, Mint moth and a Cinnabar caterpillar. Whilst there we noticed that the adjoining Blue Lagoon site is now closed to public access Malcolm Hull Chris Hilling 30 Jul 2 Large White - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303). 7 Gatekeeper, 2 Common Blue, 2 Large White (Big Butterfly Count conditions) - meadow at Letchworth Centre for Healthy Living, Letchworth (TL2030). 2 Large White, 2 Gatekeeper (Big Butterfly Count conditions) - L-shaped field west of Highfield School sports field (TL2031) David Inward 30 Jul Hounslow. An earlier walk, much sunnier and warmer. Slightly disappointed in these conditions not to have more sightings of Purple Hairstreak: Gatekeeper: 78, Green-veined White: 8, Meadow Brown: 24, Holly Blue: 2, Purple Hairstreak: 1, Red Admiral: 2, Small Copper: 2, Brown Argus: 2, Peacock: 2, Small Skipper: 2, Speckled Wood: 8, Large White: 1, Common Blue: 2, Small Heath: 1, Comma: 1, and three Jersey Tigers Peter Gore 29 Jul Raspberry Clearwing found in Stevenage allotment (TL264230) Penny Fanthorpe 29 Jul 1 Willow Beauty at bus-stop shelter at Chase Rd/Charter Way, N14 this afternoon. 1 female Large White and 2 Speckled Wood at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) this afternoon Robert Callf 29 Jul We photographed a Rosy-striped Knot-horn (Oncocera semirubella) on Rammey Marsh, Enfield Neville Smith Phil Rhodes 29 Jul Hounslow. Even more dominated by Gatekeepers, possibly because they don't seem too fussy about an absence of sun, especially when there's plenty of Ragwort flowers: Gatekeeper: 89, Holly Blue: 3, Large White: 1, Red Admiral: 3, Speckled Wood: 3, Meadow Brown: 14, Small Skipper: 1, Small Heath: 2, Comma: 2, Brown Argus: 1, Common Blue: 1, Small Copper: 2, Small White: 1 and one Jersey Tiger Peter Gore 29 Jul 1 Large White, 1 Gatekeeper - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303) David Inward 29 Jul I was walking in the final section of my Stevenage transect in the southern section of Whomerley Wood when I disturbed a dark fritillary. It flew over to my left on the sunny side of the path to have a feed on bramble blossom. I was about to take a photo when the butterfly flew further away and I lost sight of it. I waited a few minutes when it returned to the other (shady) side perhaps to where it was before to have another feed and this time I was lucky. A Silver-washed Fritillary valezina no less - my first for this transect and perhaps surprising because I had never seen more than two of this species (3 overall today) on any visit here. For the record, 116 butterflies counted with exactly half (58) consisting of Gatekeepers Peter Clarke 29 Jul At Oakwood Park - 3 Holly Blue together on Bramble including male & female, also here 1 male Brimstone. 2 Small White at Lonsdale Drive, EN2. 8 Gatekeeper together nectaring on michaelmas daisies at Boxer's Lake, Enfield. 1 female Large White and 1 Holly Blue at Dalrymple Close, N14 Robert Callf 29 Jul Another Clouded Yellow at Panshanger Park this morning (TL286130) Murray Brown 28 Jul This afternoon - 1 Peacock near Shaws Cottages, Trent Park, 3 Jersey Tiger (1 nectaring on ragwort at Ferny Hill, EN4, 2 at Park Farm, Enfield - TQ2998), 2 Red Admiral (1 at Park Farm, Enfield and 1 edge of Williams Wd, Trent Park), 1 Purple Hairstreak at Duncan's Wd, Enfield Chase, 1 Holly Blue disturbed from damp ground at Park Farm, Enfield, 1 male Oak Eggar at Parkside Farm, Enfield (TQ2998), 1 Small Tortoiseshell at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998), 1 female Large White along Leeging Beech Gutter N of Williams Wd, Trent Park Robert Callf 28 Jul I took a walk through Tunnel Gardens at lunch time, 1 male Common Blue, 5 Gatekeepers, 2 Large White, 2 Holly Blue and 2 Speckled Woods. I went back in the evening to photograph the lonely male Common Blue. A strong breeze made that tricky Miles Attenborough 28 Jul I had a brief visit in my Great Ashby garden from a White-Letter Hairstreak on Wednesday 22nd July, I only managed a couple of photos, also had visits from Purple Hairstreak on Sunday 12th July Steve Lane 28 Jul Late this afternoon, 1 Purple Emperor (fem) at Heartwood in oak by dog pond. Watched from 4:00pm to 4:30pm Peter Ewer 27 Jul 1 Least Carpet at Chase Rd/Charter Way, N14 this morning and 1 Jersey Tiger at Oakwood Station Robert Callf 27 Jul St Albans - Hummingbird Hawk-moth hovering outside my home office window in between showers this afternoon. Not often I can photograph Leps while still sitting at my desk! Malcolm Hull 26 Jul This afternoon. 2 Large White at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097). 1 Small Dusty Wave at bus-stop shelter at Chase Rd/Charter Way, N14. 1 male Common Blue at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097), 1 Jersey Tiger at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) at 1633 hrs Robert Callf 26 Jul Hillbrow meadow. Letchworth Garden City this morning. Meadow Brown=25+, Gatekeeper=50+, Marbled White=2, Small Blue=4, Peacock=1, Essex Skipper=2, Brown Argus=2, Brimstone=3 (2 male, 1 female), Silver Y moth=1, Yellow Shell=1. Church Hill, Therfield Heath, Royston. this afternoon. Chalkhill Blue=100+, Brimstone=2, Peacock=1, Dark Green Fritillary=2 Chris Benton 26 Jul A few records from Bushey garden. 5 Small White, 3 Gatekeeper, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Comma, 1 Large White, 1 Peacock David Gower 25 Jul Counted at least 80 Jersey Tigers this morning in my Ware garden that came to light! On the 21st July 2020, I left a Sallow Clearwing lure out in my garden. Fully aware that this Clearwing hadn't been recorded in the east of England (though I wasn't aware when I bought the lure!), I thought I would try anyway. It only flies in even years so didn't want to wait until 2022 before using it! I was stunned to come home and find a Clearwing in the lure trap and after confirmation from Colin Plant it has been confirmed as definitely Sallow Clearwing, the first confirmed/known record for Hertfordshire or Middlesex. However, in the last few weeks there has been many reports from new locations in other counties, so in the last two years since it last flew, there has been a rapid expansion Liz Goodyear 24 Jul This afternoon/evening - 1 male Holly Blue nectaring on Bramble blossom at South Lodge Farm, Enfield at 1712 hrs, 1 Comma edge of Williams Wd, Trent Park, 1 Red Admiral near Obelisk at Trent Park at 1808 hrs, 1 Marbled White at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) at 1932 hrs - getting quite late given the early emergence this year? Robert Callf 24 Jul An evening walk at Merryhill fields. Recorded 2 Speckled Wood, 8 Meadow Brown, 2 Small Skipper, 1 Comma, 29 Gatekeeper, 2 Ringlet, 2 Marbled White, 5 Purple Hairstreak in the canopies. Moths were 9 Shaded Broad=bar, 1 Magpie, 2 Yellow Shell & 2 Endotricha flammealis David Gower 24 Jul Hounslow. Another sighting of Small Heath seems likely to be a new brood under way. Three Essex Skippers looked remarkably fresh too but perhaps that's just chance as it seems a little late for them to emerge, especially this year: Gatekeeper: 118, Speckled Wood: 9, Meadow Brown: 30, Comma: 1, Brown Argus: 1, Small Copper: 4, Red Admiral: 4, Green-veined White: 3, Purple Hairstreak: 2, Small White: 1, Small Skipper: 1, Common Blue: 3, Essex Skipper: 3, Small Heath: 1 Peter Gore 24 Jul Andrew Middleton kindly allowed me to join him at Ickenham Meadows this morning to find out how the Brown Hairstreak season is progressing there. The weather looked a bit iffy at first but the morning ended up warm with plenty of sunny intervals and 11 Brown Hairstreaks were seen (all male). 8 in the ash trees and, from around midday, 3 nectaring low on thistles. Also seen were numerous Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns, Large Whites, Small Whites, Small Skippers, Common Blues, Purple Hairstreaks; a couple of Peacock, Brown Argus and Small Copper plus singles of Comma and Red Admiral Ian Watts 24 Jul Sudbury: 2 Comma, 1 Small Copper, Large Skipper and 1 Ringlet Shailesh Patel 24 Jul I made a trip to Church Hill, Therfield Heath in conditions which were overcast and breezy with occasional sunny spells. Chalkhill Blues are having a good year with 520 in total. Common Blues are not yet in good numbers with just 13 and Brown Argus 9. Searches the Kidney Vetch areas, but Small Blue has yet to reach this site. Other highlights include Dark Green Fritillary (11), Red Admiral (4), Essex Skipper (2), Small Heath (3), 6-spot Burnet (20), Brimstone (5), Ringlet (1), Marbled White (3) and just a single Peacock. Numerous Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns, Large Whites and Small Whites. One possible Adonis Blue, but it may be another week or so before the second generation emerges Malcolm Hull 24 Jul MerryHill Bushey on a rather warm but rather cloudy afternoon still had plenty of butterflies on the wing. 25+ Gatekeepers, 15+ Meadow Browns, a Speckled Wood, 5 Large Whites, a Marbled White and a Small Copper (my first on this site for two years) John Liberty 23 Jul This afternoon - 1 Comma at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) at 1756 hrs and 1 Large White at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) Robert Callf 23 Jul Found Clouded Yellow flying in the hazy sunshine along the top edge of Roughdown Common (Alongside A41) whilst at work weeding Juniper compartments. Not seen one for 5 years now Ben Sale 23 Jul I spent from about 1.25 - 2.30 pm watching part of the lucerne fields between Clapgate and Little Hadham in northeast Herts this afternoon, all from the roadside. In sun and cloud and 20 C + , with a variable breeze, I saw 30+ distant, unidentified whites, 5+ Meadow Brown, 1 Gatekeeper, 5+ distant nymphalids, 5-6 Clouded Yellows - mostly flying through fast, but one which lingered on a particularly tasty dandelion regardless of my close presence. Plus 12+ Holly Blues in the Lucerne - I had never realised previously what a high opinion they have of the crop! Clouded Yellows viewed from the entrance to Albury Manor TL444244 and also TL444238. The area which I watched was only a fraction of the lucerne crop on this road, and there are also several more fields of Lucerne between I here and Braughing so I suspect there are more Clouded Yellows to be found in the area Peter Waldron 23 Jul Hounslow. Whilst the mix of species changes slightly again the overall result is essentially the same: Gatekeeper: 117, Small White: 3, Large White: 6, Meadow Brown: 22, Brimstone: 1, Small Copper: 6, Speckled Wood: 5, Peacock: 2, Small Heath: 1, Green-veined White: 3, Small Skipper: 4, Common Blue: 1, Essex Skipper: 1, Holly Blue: 3, Comma: 1, Purple Hairstreak: 1, Ringlet: 1 Peter Gore 23 Jul On our lunchtime walk around Heartwood we saw 2 Clouded Yellow (together), there were probably 3 or 4 in total. They were patrolling the track around the wild flower meadow between Round Wood & Hill End Farm perimeter fence Peter Ewer 23 Jul 1 Large White, 1 Red Admiral - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303). 1 Large White, 1 Small White, 2 Green-veined White, 1 Unidentified Fritillary (Dark Green or Silver-washed?), 1 Gatekeeper - Big Butterfly Count conditions Walworth Common path by railway (TL192303). 1 Small White, 2 Large White, 1 Small Copper, 2 Meadow Brown - Walsworth Common (walkaround)(TL1930) David Inward 23 Jul Visit to Stafford Road Open Space, Ruislip (TQ095855) in search of Brown Hairstreaks. 2 seen along path that runs alongside Yeading Brook feeding on patches of thistles. Also quite a few Purple Hairstreaks, Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns along with a few Peacocks, Red Admiral, Comma, Common Blue and Brown Argus Sue & Steve Place 23 Jul Last night and this morning I photographed what appears to be a Jersey Tiger. The first time (22.07.20 at approx 8pm) in my Chiswick garden, and then 23.07.20 at approx 0830 while walking by the Thames about 20 minutes west of my home (TQ210761) Jenny Bryan 22 Jul St Albans - Three Peacocks hibernating in my shed, joining the 7 Small Tortoiseshells already in there. They just beat the earliest date for Peacocks going into hibernation, which was previously 23rd July in both 2018 and 2019. So actually remarkably consistent with the last two years, despite all the observations about how early everything is this year Malcolm Hull 22 Jul 6 Peacock (1 near Triangular Wd, 3 together nectaring on thistles 'New Fields' and 2 together nectaring on thistles edge of Moat Wd, Trent Park), 1 Small Copper nectaring on ragwort near Sport's Field at Trent Park at 1547 hrs, 4 Comma (3 by lower lake, Trent Park, 1 at Parksside Farm/Res, Enfield), 3 Purple Hairstreak flitting around oaks, edge of Moat Wd, Trent Park, 1 male Common Blue at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097). 1 Six-spot Burnet identified at Trent Park 'New Fields' Robert Callf 22 Jul 1 Large White, 1 Meadow Brown - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303), 3 Large White, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Holly Blue - Big Butterfly Count conditions - 1 Small White, 1 Large White - Walsworth Common (TL197302) David Inward 22 Jul I did my transects early at Northaw Great Wood. It was quite an experience, I've never seen so many Purple Hairstreaks on the wing, it was almost swarm like. They were fast and low and landing on the bracken and grass. I counted more than 50 on Middleway alone. Everywhere you looked, one was visible. Just shows you they are obviously there in good numbers given the Oak Woodland, but usually up high unseen! Many had lost their purple upper wing colour Dee Cullen 22 Jul Central London - Back to the office for the first time since lockdown today. Just two butterflies seen: Thornhaugh St Bloomsbury - Large White, Rathbone St Fitzrovia W1 - Large White Malcolm Hull 22 Jul Hounslow. Gatekeeper: 108, Large White: 2, Speckled Wood: 3, Holly Blue: 4, Meadow Brown: 22, Red Admiral: 4, Small Copper: 4, Small White: 1, Peacock: 2, Green-veined White: 2, Brown Argus: 2, Small Skipper: 4, Common Blue: 2, Painted Lady: 1, Comma: 1 and a Jersey Tiger Peter Gore 22 Jul Walking my Ware Park Transect I saw a Clouded Yellow, my first of the year, and only the second on that transect in 25 years of walking it Andrew Wood 22 Jul Clouded Yellow seen at Marnham Fields Greenford. Also seen: Common Blue 2 and good numbers of Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns Paul Lane 21 Jul Letchworth, Hillbrow Area - Meadow Brown x50+, Gatekeeper x100+, Marbled White x30+, Small White x10+, Small/Essex Skipper x10+, Brown Argus x7, Common Blue x4m 1fm, Small Heath x3, Peacock x6, Brimstone x 3m 1fm, Ringlet x4, Small Copper x3 and Small Blue x6 (includes a mating pair, some appeared well worn and some fresh, was here a week ago and found none) Roger Millard 21 Jul We enjoyed a morning walk in the Little Berkhamsted, Bayford, Essendon area and saw the following: in TL2907, Meadow Brown x2; Gatekeeper x 2: in TL2908, Meadow Brown x c.20; Gatekeeper x c.20; Marbled White x 1; Small Heath x 1; Large Skipper x 1: in TL3007, Meadow Brown x 10; Gatekeeper x 16; Ringlet x 1; Small White x 2; Comma x 1: in TL2808, Meadow Brown x c.15; Gatekeeper x c.35; Ringlet x3; Large Skipper x 2; Large White x 1; Small White x2; Speckled Wood x 1; Comma x2; Peacock x1: in TL2809, Meadow Brown x c. 10; Gatekeeper x c.10; Large Skipper x 2: and in TL2709, Meadow Brown x 2; Gatekeeper x 5; unidentified whites x2. We left Little Berkhamsted at about 9 a.m. with blue sky and weather warming but still a pleasant sense of freshness so there were lower numbers at first until the weather warmed Roger Newbold 21 Jul This afternoon - 4 Comma (3 at Trent Park - 1 Water Garden and 2 edge of Moat Wd, 1 at Park Farm, Enfield), 7 Peacock (6 at Trent Park - 1 nectaring on buddleia at Water Garden and 5 together nectaring on thistles edge of Moat Wd, 1 at Parkside Farm/Res, Enfield) Robert Callf 21 Jul 2 Silver-washed Fritillary in corridor under powerlines on west side of public footpath in Chalkleys Wood (3/4 mile west of St Paul's Walden) this afternoon Peter Ewer 21 Jul Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood, Green-veined White all seen in Harpenden garden Roger Thornhill 21 Jul I went up to the grassland north of Clothall Common next to the Baldock bypass to see how the Chalkhill Blues were doing. The answer is very well, this is the third year of the colony and I counted 43 males and 2 females , well up on last year. Even better was that after many years of looking I, at last, found two Small Blues at the base of the hill nearest the housing, so they have now been found at both ends of the bypass. The big question is can a colony result? Good numbers of Six spot Burnets also present. However a visit to the chalk cutting by Baldock Services only revealed Common Blue and no repeat of last year's Chalkhill Blue Andrew Wood 21 Jul Bengeo garden: Small Copper (1st garden record), Green-veined White 3, Large White, Gatekeeper 4+, Meadow Brown 2+, Speckled Wood 3, Peacock 4, Red Admiral 2, Holly Blue 2, Box-tree Moth, Jersey Tiger 3, Mother of Pearl 5+ & Small Purple & Gold Simon Knott 21 Jul 1 Large White, 1 Speckled Wood - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303) David Inward 21 Jul Hounslow. It's very nice having over 200 butterflies recorded for the first time this year, I just wish a few more of them were something other than Gatekeeper! : Gatekeeper: 138, Purple Hairstreak: 1, Speckled Wood: 4, Meadow Brown: 31, Small White: 3, Green-veined White: 4, Red Admiral: 5, Comma: 2, Small Skipper: 8, Ringlet: 1, Small Copper: 5, Brown Argus: 3, Essex Skipper: 4, Large White: 1, Holly Blue: 5, Common Blue: 3, Peacock: 4 and one Jersey Tiger Peter Gore 20 Jul This afternoon/evening - 1 Holly Blue near Shaws Wd, Trent Park, 1 Comma edge of Williams Wd, Trent Park, 1 Purple Hairstreak near Ride Wd, Trent Park, 1 Peacock at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park, 1 Holly Blue at Ferny Hill, Enfield EN4, 1 male Oak Eggar at Park Farm, Enfield at 1656 hrs, 4 Comma (1 at Parkside Farm/Res, Enfield (TQ2998) and 3 on edge of Moat Wd, Trent Park). 1 Peacock nectaring on buddleia at Oakwood Station at 1842 hrs. Robert Callf 20 Jul In Bushey garden 2 Peacock, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Gatekeeper, 2 Small White. Also 1 Twenty Plume moth & 4 Mother of Pearl. At Bricket Wood Common sadly no Purple Emperor or White Admirals. Did see 1 Holly Blue, 39 Gatekeeper, 8 Peacock, 34 Marbled White, 8 Large White, 10 Green-veined White, 2 Red Admiral, 14 Silver-washed Fritillary, 5 Small Skipper, 14 Ringlet, 4 Large Skipper, 5 Brimstone, 11 Purple Hairstreak (several on ground), 5 Small White, 1 Speckled Wood. Stopped over at Fishers field on way home seeing 9 Gatekeeper, 1 Meadow Brown, 1 Peacock, 1 Large White, 1 Comma, 2 Speckled Wood David Gower 20 Jul I went up to Hexton Chalk Pit to do my annual "transect" count of Chalkhill Blue at the site. I do a north to south and then a south to north count through the spine of the site and take a mean. The good news is that that figure today was 88. This compares as follows: 2012   304 2013   423 2014   390 2015   108 2016   no count 2017   29 2018   26 2019   26 2020   88 There were also 3 Dark Green Fritillary, 6 Marbled White, 3 Six-spot Burnet moths and 1 Nemophora metallica moth as well as Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown etc. A number of Chalkhill Blues were also seen on the other side of the road at the base of Lion Hill and a few along the field margin at the top of the path up the hill Andrew Wood 20 Jul 1 Large White, 1 Red Admiral - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303) David Inward 20 Jul Chalk hillside, Redbourn lane (B487), Redbourn - Ringlet, Gatekeeper, Brimstone, Common Blue, 4 Brown Argus, Large White, Small White, Peacock but alas no Small Blues Darin Stanley 20 Jul On 12 July, The Friends of Cassiobury Park held their first butterfly walk of the year at Cassiobury Park and Whippendell Woods which due to Covid19 restrictions could not be extended to BC members. It was a very successful walk with 19 species being confirmed. Species recorded were Brimstone, Silver-washed Fritillary, White Admiral, Purple Hairstreak, Comma, Peacock, Red Admiral, Ringlet, Marbled White, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Speckled Wood, Small White, Green-veined White, Large White, Large Skipper, Small Skipper, Essex Skipper and Holly Blue Peter Fewell 19 Jul I visited Hexton Chalk pit from 4.15 till 6.00 this evening, lots of Chalkhill Blues, 5 Common Blues (3 male, 2 female), 1 Brown Argus, 1 Small Heath, 1 Large White, 3 Gatekeepers, 10 Meadow Browns, 1 male and 1 female Small Skipper Miles Attenborough 19 Jul This afternoon/evening - 2 Speckled Wood (1 at Vicarage Farm - TQ3097, 1 edge of Williams Wd, Trent Park). 1 Comma, 1 Red Admiral and 1 Holly Blue at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998). 1 Red Admiral and 1 male Oak Eggar at Parkside Farm/Res, Enfield (TQ2998). 1 Peacock and 1 Red Admiral nectaring on buddleia at Oakwood Station at 1807 hrs Robert Callf 19 Jul Branch Event Bricket Wood Common - The start of second HMBC butterfly walk of the year coincided with poor weather. It was an hour before we saw our first butterflies, a Gatekeeper and a Ringlet. These were followed by splendid views of a Hummingbird Hawkmoth, nectaring on thistles, a Purple Hairstreak in the oak canopy, three more Gatekeepers, Grass-veneer moth and Cinnabar moth caterpillars. Unfortunately the sun did not shine and we missed our target species. Bertter luck this afternoon at Potwells, North Mymms, where I saw two Silver washed Fritillaries, Marbled White, Peacock, Comma, Small/Essex Skippers, Holly Blue and the usual whites and browns. Arriving home in St Albans I found a Small Tortoiseshell on my buddleia, possibly the start of a new generation plus Peacock, Red Admiral and Large White Malcolm Hull 19 Jul 1 Large White - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303) David Inward 19 Jul Bushey garden were 2 Small White, 2 Large White, 1 Gatekeeper, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Peacock David Gower 19 Jul Pale form Box-tree Moth Cydalima perspectalis this morning in our Harpenden garden, escaped capture from a blue tit by sheltering in our rhubarb patch Tim Hill 18 Jul 4 Brown Hairstreak in Ruislip area Andrew Middleton 18 Jul At Telegraph Hill: about 20 Chalkhill Blues Phil Barron 18 Jul On arriving at Norton Green at around 3 pm the sun came out so I began searching for Purple Emperors on the tree tops in Watery Grove. In the common (meadow), I spent an hour scouring the tree tops on the eastern edge of Pigeonswick Wood as well. No sign of the emperor but at around 3:10 pm I saw a female Purple Emperor flutter into an oak tree 10 feet up on the south-western tip of Watery Grove. Yay! Peter Clarke 18 Jul This afternoon - 3 Comma at Trent Park, 1 Red Admiral near Obelisk, Trent Park. 1 Large White at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) and 1 Peacock at Parkside Farm/Res, Enfield (TQ2998). 3 Purple Hairstreak (2 near Ride Wd, Trent Park and 1 at Vicarage Farm - TQ3097) this afternoon and evening. 4 Least Carpet at Cedars Court/Church Street, N9 this evening and 1 at Dalrymple Close, N14 Robert Callf 18 Jul Went to Hertford heath this afternoon, 1 Purple Emperor at the entrance of Balls Wood, close to the ground but was disturbed, then a new territory found on Hertford Heath, 2 males clashing around tall Oaks at the Roundings. On the way home I stopped off at a small private wood (TL4112) and observed a single male Purple Emperor making flights over the canopy Laurence Drummond 18 Jul Hounslow. Gatekeeper: 79, Large White: 4, Red Admiral 5, Small Skipper: 9, Green-veined White: 4, Meadow Brown: 34, Speckled Wood: 8, Purple Hairstreak: 2, Essex Skipper: 4, Peacock: 5, Small Copper: 11, Holly Blue: 5, Brown Argus: 4, Small White: 1, Common Blue: 3, Comma: 3 and one Jersey Tiger Peter Gore 18 Jul Female Purple Emperor egg laying at Bramfield Woods Lee Browne 18 Jul 1 Large White, 1 Small White - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303) David Inward 18 Jul Branch Event Heartwood Forest - Our first organised butterfly walk of the season was successfully completed, both target species seen and following Covid19 guidelines. But the day got off to a cloudy start, with just a few Ringlets, Meadow Browns and whites on the wing. Small Skippers and Essex Skippers were the next to be seen as small glimpses of sun appeared, quickly followed by Gatekeeper, Marbled White and Peacock. A small blue butterfly was spotted and identified as a Holly Blue. As we climbed the hill , we looked out for likely Purple Emperor highpoints in Langley Wood and other woods visible on the skyline. Arriving at the highpoint in Pudlers Wood, we soon saw a large butterfly in the trees, which turned out to be a Red Admiral. But we were soon rewarded by the sight of a Purple Emperor, which flew across the path at a hight of about 20 ft and settled in an oak, overlooking the area of the Magical Wood which is dominated by Sallows. It stayed there for several minutes, taking short flights and perching in prominent positions we could all see clearly through binoculars. Proceeding along the track east of Wells/Pudlers Wood we saw several more butterflies including Large White, Brimstone (male & female) and Commas. Examples of both standard and Hutchinsoni forms of Comma perched alongside each other demonstrating the clear differences between them. Andrew Neild led us to the area of the "Dog Pond" where he had seen Purple Emperors during the last week. A Holly Blue was seen taking moisture/salts at the edge of the pond. Purple Hairstreaks were plentiful on the adjoining oaks. And then a second Purple Emperor was seen flying around the oak adjacent to the pond. We then continued our circuit of the wood into Valley Field searching for chalk grassland species. The Birds-foot Trefoil was plentiful, but the weather remained firmly cloudy. Common Blue (male and female), 6-spot Burnet and Shaded Broad-bar added to our total of species. We found areas of Kidney Vetch in flower, but instead of the expected Small Blue our next species was Clouded Yellow, my first for the year!, walking on round the wood we saw a Pyramidal orchid and a Speckled Wood. Arriving back at the high point the clouds were thicker than ever. The walk ended but a few of us stayed on to look for tree top Emperors but with no luck. Instead we were treated to several views of the magnificent day flying moth, Oak Eggar bombing round our heads at great speed. Andrew Steele then led us to the area where he recorded second generation Small Blues last week. Sure enough there were several small butterflies on the Birds-foot Trefoil. The first two were Brown Argus and then, a Small Blue. A great return to butterfly walks at a brilliant butterfly site. Read more about it in Brian Legg's new book (see details on home page) Malcolm Hull 18 Jul Male Silver-washed Fritillary in our Harpenden garden at 16:00 - the first we have recorded here Tim Hill 18 Jul Went to Broxbourne woods and spent all morning there. Sightings were 1 White Admiral, 46 Ringlet, 29 Gatekeeper, 27 Meadow Brown, 5 Green-veined White, 1 Small Skipper, 8 Marbled White, 14 Peacock, 4 Red Admirals, 3 Speckled Wood, 16 Silver-washed Fritillary, 5 Large White, 6 Small White, 2 Large Skippers, 3 Comma & 2 Purple Hairstreak David Gower 17 Jul A Painted Lady in our Harpenden garden at 13:15, nectaring from marigolds Tim Hill 17 Jul This afternoon/evening - 1 Least Carpet at Bramley Rd, N14. 1 Six-spot Burnet at 'New Fields' Trent Park - my first of the year and several others seen in flight, but not identified to species, 2 Small Copper at 'New Fields' Trent Park, 11 Peacock at Trent Park 'New Fields' - 1 on thistles at Sect 5 1655 hrs and 10 together nectaring on thistles in another field at 1703 hrs, 6 Comma (1 at Sect 5 'New Fields' Trent Park and 5 along Leeging Beech Gutter at Vicarage Farm, Enfield - TQ3097), 1 Marbled White at 'New Fields' Trent Park, 1 Red Admiral along Leeging Beech Gutter at Vicarage Farm at 1921 hrs Robert Callf 17 Jul Church Hill, Therfield Heath. As expected, large numbers of Chalkhill Blue. Dark Green Fritillary and Marbled White past peak. A tatty female Silver-washed Fritillary, numerous Gatekeeper. Several Peacock, Red Admiral, Brimstone, Common Blue, Meadow Brown, Small Skipper, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White James Fowler 17 Jul Aldbury Nowers - Usual good numbers and many species this afternoon. 70+ Meadow Brown, 50+ Gatekeeper, 20+ Ringlet and 20+ Brimstone. Many Small White, Large White and Green-veined White. Lots of Red Admiral and Peacock, which seem to be having a really good year in this area. Small Heath, Common Blue and Brown Argus present in Upper Compartments along with the hoped for Chalkhill Blue. Individuals seen of Comma, Small Copper and Dark Green Fritillary. Mother of Pearl only clear moth ID. The chalk scrapes look really good now with lots of flowers especially Marjoram Chris Hilling 17 Jul At lunchtime at Northhaw Great Wood there were numerous Purple Hairstreaks flying at below tree level, indeed quite a few settled on the ground and on the bracken. I also came upon a group of half a dozen Silver-washed Fritillaries right at the far end of my Middleway Transect at the T junction near the far north edge of the wood. They appeared to be engaging in courtship behaviour and flying at lower levels than usual, as well as nectaring on the bramble Dee Cullen 17 Jul 2 Large White - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303), 1 Peacock, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Small White - St Faiths Close south, Hitchin (TL198302) David Inward 17 Jul Hounslow. A single fresh-looking Small Tortoiseshell was a welcome surprise as we hit peak Gatekeeper whilst a number of other species slip away for another year: Gatekeeper: 83, Speckled Wood: 5, Red Admiral: 4, Small White: 6, Meadow Brown: 30, Green-veined White: 5, Peacock: 13, Holly Blue: 4, Small Copper: 5, Small Skipper: 9, Essex Skipper: 2, Brown Argus: 3, Small Tortoiseshell: 1, Common Blue: 4, Brimstone: 1, Comma: 3, Ringlet: 1, Large White: 2 Peter Gore 17 Jul Weedy field, Batford - 2+ White-letter Hairstreak around same oak and adjacent elm tree. 3+ Purple Hairstreak above the large oak tree just passed the weedy field at TL15291516 Darin Stanley 17 Jul Ellenbrook Fields and Home Covert, west of Hatfield - 3 Silver-washed Fritillaries, 7 Purple Hairstreaks, 17 Peacocks, 2 Common Blues, 1 Comma, 1 Red Admiral, 2 Oak Eggar, 1 Shaded Broad-bar, 4 Speckled Wood, 1 Holly Blue, 1 Cinnabar, 13 Gatekeepers, 57 Small/Essex Skippers, with a positive ID on both species 42 Small/ Green veined Whites, 2 Six-spot Burnets, 13 Ringlets, 22 Meadow Browns, 11 Marbled Whites, 6 Large Whites and 1 Small Copper. The Purple Hairstreaks were all in flight close to the ground, or perched at ground level. Meanwhile back in my Shed, the number of hibernating Small Tortoiseshells has now increased to 6 Malcolm Hull 17 Jul As the weather was hot and sunny we drove to Northaw Great Wood at 3pm. We headed for the usual Purple Emperor viewing spot (just inside the gate and to the left at TL281039), and immediately witnessed a lone Purple Emperor circling above us between the tall Oak and Ash trees. After approx 8 minutes a second one arrived and perched on the same Oak. Very soon afterwards they were battling until one of them was chased off. A very enjoyable visit and we were back home within the hour! Terry Wood 17 Jul At Tring Park this morning were 40 Peacock, 21 Ringlet, 8 Green-veined White, 25 Red Admiral, 52 Meadow Brown, 23 Gatekeeper, 5 Holly Blue, 8 Silver-washed Fritillary, 7 Comma, 1 Large Skipper, 8 Brimstone, 16 Small White, 27 Marbled White, 6 Small Skipper, 2 Essex Skipper, 1 Small Heath, 5 Speckled Wood. Moths were 1 Narrow-bordered 5-spot Burnet David Gower 17 Jul Went for a walk early this morning around fields west of A1 near Stevenage. Pleased to find Purple Hairstreaks at row of oaks along Dyes Lane (TL218231). At least 7, but probably more. Some staying low down in the scrub in front of the trees in the early morning sun Tom Speller 16 Jul This afternoon - 1 Least Carpet at bus-stop shelter at Chase Rd/Charter Way, N14 - my first of the year. 1 Speckled Wood at Shaws Wd, Trent Park, 2 Comma together edge of Williams Wd, Trent Park, also here 1 Marbled White. 10+ Gatekeeper at Trent Park including eight males together nectaring on ragwort edge of Williams Wd, 1 Peacock at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park and edge of Moat Wd. 1 Red Admiral and 1 Comma at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) Robert Callf 16 Jul A late afternoon walk in Oxhey woods. Northern section were 1 Speckled Wood, 1 Green-veined White, 1 Comma, 1 Red Admiral. Central area 1 Large White & lastly at Southern section 1 Holly Blue, 1 Green-veined White, 1 Comma, 1 Small White, 1 Red Admiral and 6 Peacocks all on buddleia at car park David Gower 16 Jul St Albans - 3 Peacocks in my garden at lunchtime and one searching the outside of my house as if looking for a hibernation spot this afternoon. Also on the wing in the garden - Red Admiral, Comma, Large White (2), Small White (2) and Meadow Brown Malcolm Hull 15 Jul This afternoon - 1 Ringlet at Forty Hall CP, 3+ Gatekeeper (1 at Whitewebbs Lane, 2+ Guy Lodge Farm), 1 male Oak Eggar at Whitewebbs Farm, Enfield (TL327001) at 1524 hrs Robert Callf 15 Jul Bengeo garden: Purple Hairstreak at ground level again, Marbled White, Green-veined White 2, Gatekeeper 2, Meadow Brown, Peacock 2, Red Admiral 2, Holly Blue & Box-tree Moth Simon Knott 14 Jul This afternoon - 2 Red Admiral at Trent Park (1 near Merryhills Brook, 1 near Dew Pond), 11+ Gatekeeper at Trent Park, 1 male Large Skipper edge of Williams Wd, Trent Park, 2 Large White edge of Icehouse Wd, Trent Park, 1 Green-veined White edge of Water Grdn, Trent Park, 1 Gatekeeper and 1 Comma at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998), 1 Mother of Pearl at Parkside Hse, Enfield (TQ2998), 2 Red Admiral at Park Farm, Enfield, 1 Marbled White at Parkside Farm/Res, Enfield, 1 male Common Blue at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) at 1608 hrs. 1 Red Admiral at Oakwood Station Robert Callf 14 Jul An evening walk at Fishers Field produced 14 Purple Hairstreaks David Gower 14 Jul Bower Heath - 1 Silver-washed Fritillary on heath. Tallent Cres.,Batford - 1 Box-tree moth Darin Stanley 14 Jul CEMEX site, Smallford (private) this afternoon, while hanging around waiting for an engineer. On buddleia behind office: 6 Peacock, 3 Red Admiral, 2 Gatekeeper, 1 Comma, 1 Small White, 1 Green-veined White Robert Bull 13 Jul I was viewing the usual area in Northaw Great Wood between 15:40 and 16:07. I saw a single Purple Emperor five times in flight. It kept returning to the usual oak, sometimes landing in view. On two of the occasions it was chasing a Purple Hairstreak Adam Wilson 13 Jul On our walk we saw 9 Purple Hairstreak in oaks on Nomansland Common, later 20+ Silver-washed Fritillary, 30+ Peacock, 6 Red Admiral, 3 Comma + many Ringlet in Symondshyde Great Wood in corridor under powerlines. Then in Titnol's Wood 4 Silver-washed Fritillary, 10+ Peacock, 2 Red Admiral & 2 Comma Peter Ewer 13 Jul At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 2+ Peacock, 2 Red Admiral. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) 1 Peacock, 1 Red Admiral and 1 Large White. 1 Red Admiral and 1 Purple Hairstreak edge of Moat Wd, Trent Park. A few more Gatekeepers today Robert Callf 13 Jul Bengeo garden: Purple Hairstreak, Marbled White, Green-veined White 6, Large White, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown 5+, Ringlet, Speckled Wood, Comma, Peacock 10, Red Admiral 2, Holly Blue 2, Box-tree Moth 5, Small Magpie & Mother of Pearl 10 Simon Knott 13 Jul 1 Large White, 1 Holly Blue - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303) David Inward 13 Jul A pleasant afternoon stroll with the dog revealed butterflies in good numbers at MerryHill Bushey. 40+ Meadow Browns, 20+ Gatekeepers, 6 Small Skippers, 2 Marbled Whites, 4 Ringlets, a Red Admiral, 2 Holly Blues, and a Brown Argus John Liberty 13 Jul Clouded Yellow at Panshanger Park (TL286130) this morning Murray Brown 12 Jul Never seen one of these before. Spotted a Hummingbird hawk-moth on Buddleia at Bull's Green (TL270173) Simon Stebbings 12 Jul I returned to Pudlers Wood and am happy to report that numbers of butterflies were high - in addition to the 18 species I saw last Tuesday 7th, I also spotted solitary fresh males (one each) of Small Copper, and Speckled Wood, plus several Small Tortoiseshell (where were they only 5 days ago!?), bringing my day's total to 21 species. Individual numbers were not as high as last time. However I am happy to report that amongst these I had three separate sighting of Purple Emperor (sex unknown, due to viewing angle) - one flying over the main trail along the eastern edge of the wood, but the other two (definitely different individuals) were on the large oak which overlooks the pond at the southwestern end of the wood. At 11.20 a specimen landed some 20 feet up in the tree and spent 5 minutes directly overlooking dogs frolicking in the pond. At 12.20 a different individual fluttered around the western side of the tree, near the top, where I eventually spotted it settled on a sap run, just below a very prominent fork in the branches some 25 feet up. It flew away and landed several times, once chased off by a Red Admiral. To those that want to see this sap run (so as to see Purple Emperor), you can easily see this tree fork ( https://goo.gl/maps/7FKDz8Gs7Cwnm3Vf8 ) from between the wooden gate by the pond and the small tree about 20 feet south-east from it on the main path. I left at 1pm; perhaps more PEs visit in the afternoon? Andrew Neild 12 Jul Visited Ruislip Woods starting around Haste Hill. Noted 3 Small White, 8 Ringlet, 1 Peacock, 13 Meadow Brown, 7 Gatekeeper, 6 Small Skipper, 2 Essex Skipper, 2 Green-veined White, 1 Large White. In Poor's field spotted 1 Small Skipper, 8 Meadow Brown, 12 Ringlet, 19 Peacock, 5 Gatekeeper, 2 Marbled White, 1 Small White, 1 Common Blue, 2 Red Admiral, 1 Purple Hairstreak. At Copse Wood recorded 27 Purple Hairstreak and all of them on ground or low down (probably a lot more), 3 White Admiral, 4 Silver-washed Fritillary, 4 Large White, 11 Peacock, 2 Gatekeeper, 7 Speckled Wood, 6 Red Admiral, 16 Meadow Brown, 8 Ringlet, 8 Green-veined White, 4 Comma, 2 Small White David Gower 12 Jul 1 x White-letter Hairstreak on dewy grass at 8.30am at Six Hills Common (TL237238). 2 x Silver-washed Fritillary females, 2 x fresh Small Copper, 6 x worn Purple Hairstreaks , multiple Marbled Whites, Gatekeepers, skippers and whites , Norton Green area (TL229227) Colin Alderman 12 Jul I saw my first ever Purple Hairstreak - very beautiful with quite bright colours. It was on a Bramble patch on the side of the playing field next to Halsey Field Chris Ridley 12 Jul Went to Plashes Wood again early afternoon and saw 4 territorial male Purple Emperors, 2 at the Highest spot and 2 at the lower territory, on the way home I managed to see 1 male Purple Emperor holding territory around some tall trees at Sawtrees Wood, TL3917, all the sightings from public footpaths using binoculars Laurence Drummond 12 Jul Hounslow. Mostly sunny and warmer. Despite the absence of Small Heath seen yesterday the addition of Painted Lady and Common Blue brought the total of species to 20. Two of the Common Blues were mating, another contrast in size and colour with the male seeming more dominant than for other species. One Jersey Tiger in my garden when I returned: Gatekeeper: 33, Comma: 4, Peacock: 13, Meadow Brown: 45, Speckled Wood: 4, Holly Blue: 9, Purple Hairstreak: 7, Ringlet: 2, Essex Skipper: 1, Green-veined White: 2, Marbled White: 1, Small White: 11, Red Admiral: 2, Small Skipper: 25, Small Copper: 5, Large White: 1, Common Blue: 4, Brown Argus: 1, Brimstone: 1, Painted Lady: 1 and two Jersey Tigers Peter Gore 12 Jul 2 Large White, 1 Red Admiral - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303) David Inward 12 Jul Clouded Yellow at Rickneys (TL319153) this afternoon Chris Benton 12 Jul Southgate Chase Allotments: 2 Small White; 1 Red Admiral and 1 Peacock nectaring on buddleia at 1500 hrs Robert Callf 12 Jul I revisited Harmergreen Wood (TL253170) this morning and found three Silver-washed Fritillaries on the opposite side of the wood at least 200 yards from yesterday's sighting David Booth 11 Jul Monken Hadley Common this afternoon (TQ269971) 4pm. One Silver-washed Fritillary, lots of Comma, Purple Hairstreak, Green-veined White, Small White, Large White, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper and Ringlet Ben Epstein 11 Jul I went to Plashes Wood TL3820 early afternoon and saw 2 Purple Emperors, one male at the lower territory and another that may have been a female flying across the wheat field, also 2 Marbled Whites, Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Red Admiral, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell and Comma, a few Purple Hairstreaks too. On the way home I stopped off at Mathams Wood TL4518, somewhat surprised to see 3 Silver-washed Fritillaries along the public footpath, 2 males and 1 female Laurence Drummond 11 Jul Grovelands Park this afternoon (1500 - 1710 hrs) - 1 male Common Blue (my first of the summer-brood), male Gatekeeper, 1 Speckled Wood, 1 Ringlet, 2+ Meadow Brown, 2+ Small Skipper, 1 Small White and 3 Large White Robert Callf 11 Jul Bengeo garden: Brown Argus ab. snelleni (1st for year), Large Skipper, Green-veined White, Large White, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown 5+, Ringlet, Speckled Wood, Comma, Peacock 5, Red Admiral 3, Holly Blue & Mother of Pearl 5+ Simon Knott 11 Jul Highlights of a walk around Brockett Hall and Lemsford was a Silver-washed Fritillary at TL 217 122 also a Purple Hairstreak in the same area Andrew Steele 11 Jul A Red Admiral, Comma, Peacock & Large White all seen in Bushey garden this morning. Disturbed 6 Mother of Pearl and 1 Small Magpie amongst the nettles also. This afternoon spotted 2 Comma in Oxhey Park . Along Ebury Way, Watford have seen 1 Red Admiral, 1 Speckled Wood, 1 Meadow Brown, 1 Large White and 2 Purple Hairstreak. At Croxley Green Moor were 19 Meadow Brown, 4 Small White, 2 Peacock, 3 Essex Skipper, 7 Large White, 3 Small Copper, 2 Gatekeeper, 4 Purple Hairstreak, 2 Marbled White, 1 Red Admiral & 1 Small Tortoiseshell David Gower 11 Jul Hounslow. Slightly more sun than yesterday and more butterflies too: Meadow Brown: 22, Gatekeeper: 15, Small White: 5, Red Admiral: 10, Green-veined White: 6, Purple Hairstreak: 6, Speckled Wood: 6, Large White: 1, Essex Skipper: 3, Holly Blue: 10, Small Skipper: 9, Brown Argus: 2, Comma: 5, Peacock: 14, Marbled White: 1, Small Heath: 1, Small Copper: 2, Brimstone: 1, Ringlet: 2 and two Jersey Tigers Peter Gore 11 Jul This afternoon on my daily exercise walk in Harmergreen Wood (TL253170) I saw a Silver-washed Fritillary, the first I have ever seen in this area David Booth 11 Jul Barham Park, Wembley : Small Skipper, 1 Small Copper, 1 Peacock, Meadow Brown and 1 Jersey Tiger moth Shailesh Patel 10 Jul I paid a brief visit to Hexton Chalk Pits and saw five Chalkhill Blues although the cloudy and breezy conditions were not ideal David Booth 10 Jul 5 male Gatekeeper S edge of Wiliams Wd, Trent Park, 2, male and female, Green-veined White mating at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097), 4 Red Admiral (3 at Park Farm, Enfield and 1 at Parkside Hse, Enfield), 1 Green-veined White and 2, male and female, Small White mating at Duncan's Wd, Enfield Chase. 1 male Oak Eggar in flight along Leeging Beech Gutter at Vicarage Farm (TQ3097) at 1525 hrs, 1 male Gatekeeper and 1 Peacock at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) Robert Callf 10 Jul Hounslow. One of those days when the sun keeps disappearing into the clouds so ultimately I was rather pleased to have the number of species seen reach a respectable 16: Speckled Wood: 2, Holly Blue: 2, Purple Hairstreak: 1, Meadow Brown: 24, Ringlet: 3 (this included 2 mating, a first for me: I was struck by the size difference - female much larger and the colour difference despite wings closed of course, but looked like a black male, mating with a brown female.) Green-veined White: 4, Peacock: 12, Comma: 4, Small Skipper: 6, Essex Skipper: 3, Small Heath: 1, Red Admiral: 4, Small White: 2, Gatekeeper: 4, Marbled White: 1, Large White: 1 Peter Gore 9 Jul 1 melanic variety Box-tree Moth at ASDA Southgate this evening Robert Callf 8 Jul St Albans - not great butterflying weather here. Found a Gypsy Moth caterpillar on my gooseberry bush this evening. One Large White and two Small Whites in between showers in my garden! Malcolm Hull 8 Jul Following the appearance of a single Old Lady over my front door, I was not entirely surprised to find more guests this morning. I now have three huddled together. The most I've had over the last four years has been seven Chris Hilling 8 Jul 3 male Gatekeeper (1 edge of Rough Lot, Trent Park, 1 at Park Farm and 1 at Vicarage Farm, Enfield - TQ3097), 1 Green-veined White at Parkside Farm/Res, Enfield (TQ2998), 1 Peacock at Park Farm, Enfield. 1 Ringlet and 1 Shaded Broad-bar at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - beautifully fresh. 1 Jersey Tiger nectaring on buddleia at Dalrymple Close, N14 - my first of the year (and one of the earliest?) Robert Callf 7 Jul Whilst completing the detour required around the A10 during my WCBS at High Cross, I stopped to look at the bank of sallows by the bridge over the A10 and at 11.45 in a moment of improved brightness, a Purple Emperor came out of the sallow, flew around and then disappeared! Otherwise, butterflies were very poor in sections 3 - 8, not because of the dull weather but all the margins had been cut. However, reaching 9 & 10 where a different farmer is responsible, species numbers suddenly improved and included a Small Copper and several Gatekeeper! Liz Goodyear 7 Jul This afternoon - 1 Comma at South Lodge Farm, Enfield. 1 Green-veined White at Shaws Wd, Trent Park & 1 Purple Hairstreak settled near Ride Wd, Trent Park Robert Callf 7 Jul Millhoppers Reserve - Three new species joined the fray this morning: Small Skipper, Essex Skipper plus Gatekeeper. Ringlet and Meadow Brown everywhere especially on the Knapweed. Whites increasing in number with second generation Green-veined White returning. Marbled White, Comma, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood also seen. Every July I start checking front of my house for visitors and sure enough this morning I found Old Lady over my front door frame - might be a joke in there somewhere Chris Hilling 7 Jul It was a wonderful day, with lots and lots of butterflies, despite the almost total absence of sunshine (it was however quite bright), and it was not very warm (around 18 degrees). Around Pudlers Wood I counted 18 species (and if there had been any sun, surely Tortoiseshell and Small Copper would have made it on to the list!). All were present in good numbers except as noted: Small Skipper, Essex Skipper, Holly Blue (one fresh female), Common Blue (one battered male), Purple Hairstreak (several at the top of most oaks), Brimstone (a single fresh male), Large White (nice to see it in such numbers), Small White, Green-veined White, Peacock, Comma (amazing numbers, up to 5 on one bramble bush), Red Admiral, Purple Emperor (one female), Small Heath, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper (3 seen), Marbled White, Ringlet (low numbers) Andrew Neild 6 Jul Hummingbird hawk-moth, first of year in High Barnet garden buddleia, v' windy Mike Habben 6 Jul Visited Broxbourne Woods from 11am until 3pm. Rather cool (around 19C) and only intermittent sunshine. These species were seen: lots of Ringlets, Marbled Whites, Meadow Brown, Small Whites. Two or three Silver-washed Fritillaries in glade where cattle graze. Also here a slightly worse for wear White Admiral. Purple Hairstreaks high up in oak. Alas, I didn't spot a Purple Emperor - and I checked a lot of oak trees!! Vaughn Reade 6 Jul My LEW took me back to TL3816 to try and confirm a probable Purple Emperor seen last Thursday on the corner of Buckney Wood near Wareside before getting drenched. Gatekeeper were now showing and I was also able to confirm an Essex Skipper. I had a call to say I had to be back by 3.30pm so only had a short window to watch the corner of the wood and it was still very dull. At 1.45 I called it a day and was walking back towards the wood edge, looking at a large sallow on the corner and suddenly an Purple Emperor/Empress flew out to the left over an ash then back and into the wood canopy. As it was still cloudy I didn't stop to try and relocate it but set off to walk home. On the way back passing some roadside scabious I found two Nemophora Metallica (longhorn moths!) near Wareside Liz Goodyear 6 Jul Barnet Gate Sports Ground 140m above sea level - 2 or 3 Purple Emperor during brief brighter spells over oaks, and a female lower down. Abundant sallows in the 'wilderness' adjacent to mature and veteran oaks - must be more to see on a sunny day Andrew Middleton 6 Jul This afternoon - 1 female Large White edge of Moat Wd, Trent Park, 2 Red Admiral (1 at Ferny Hill, 1 at Park Farm, Enfield), 1 Green-veined White at Ferny Hill, Enfield. 2, male and female, Ringlet mating at Park Farm, Enfield, also here 1 Marbled White, 2 Large White and 2 Small White. 1 male Gatekeeper, 1 Green-veined White and 6 Small White edge of Duncan's Wd, Enfield Chase. 1 Peacock and 1 Marbled White at Parkside Farm/Res, Enfield (TQ2998). 2 Comma at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) Robert Callf 6 Jul Not much to report from Oxhey woods northern section this morning but did find a female Purple Hairstreak on grass low down and a Ringlet David Gower 5 Jul Bengeo garden: Marbled White, Gatekeeper (1st for year), Large Skipper, Green-veined White, Small White, Meadow Brown 5+, Ringlet, Red Admiral, Comma, Holly Blue & Mother of Pearl Simon Knott 5 Jul For a change I cycled to Bricket Wood Common this morning and spotted 20 different species. Record was 4 White Admiral, 21 Silver-washed Fritillary, 39 Meadow Brown, 4 Peacock, 7 Large White, 20 Marbled White, 5 Small White, 1 Gatekeeper, 5 Small Skipper, 1 Essex Skipper, 2 Green-veined White, 2 Speckled Wood, 5 Large Skipper, 8 Purple Hairstreak, 8 Comma, 2 Red Admiral, 55 Ringlet, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Brimstone, 1 Holly Blue. Probable Purple Emperor sighting at 10.35 in canopy at Mutchetts wood but only appeared once. On return in Bushey garden were 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Small White, 2 Peacock, 1 Red Admiral & 1 Box-tree moth David Gower 5 Jul 1 Dwarf Cream Wave at ASDA Southgate this afternoon Robert Callf 5 Jul Bower Heath by Harpenden - 1 Purple Emperor between 12.02 to 12.05 then flew south (TL14331675). Tallents Crescent, Batford - 1 Box-tree moth Darin Stanley 4 Jul Seen on car door in Wheathampstead - a Box-tree moth Gary Taylor 4 Jul In Bushey garden 3 Red Admiral on buddleia & moths were 5 Mother of Pearl amongst nettles, 1 Box-tree, 1 Small Magpie David Gower 3 Jul An evening visit to Fishers field nature reserve seeing 1 Ringlet, 3 Meadow Brown, 1 Red Admiral and 11 Purple Hairstreaks seen around 7 different oaks David Gower 3 Jul 13 Comma at Trent Park, 5 Marbled White (4 at Trent Park, 1 at Vicarage Farm - TQ3097), 11 Ringlet at Trent Park, 2 Small Copper at 'New Fields' Trent Park, also here 1 Small Heath. 6 Red Admiral (4 at Trent Park, 2 at Park Farm, Enfield), 4 Purple Hairstreak at Trent Park, 1 Hummingbird Hawkmoth at Pops Corner, Snakes Lane, Trent Park (TQ289969) at 1420 hrs, 2 Large White at Duncan's Wd, Enfield Chase - male and female, 1 Ringlet at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998), 1 male Oak Eggar seen in flight along Leeging Beech Gutter at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) at 1642 hrs - my first of the year Robert Callf 3 Jul Symonshyde Wood complex nr Hatfield - 14 Silver-washed Fritillaries along the ride this morning. A testosterone fuelled male tried to see me off by flying full speed at my face, veering away at the last second. Most of the others were males, many nectaring on bramble with a few guarding their territories. I also saw a female egg laying, a sign we are reaching the height of their season. She chose a pine tree and appeared to lay 4 eggs in the crevices of the bark at sites 15-30 cm above ground. On close examination I could find just two eggs, so she must have either rejected the other spots or they were well concealed. Identifying the SWFs was trickier than usual due to a proliferation of Commas along the ride with 12 seen on total also spotted Peacock, Ringlet, Large White, Green-veined White, Speckled Wood and Meadow Brown. At lunchtime I watched the Purple Emperor high spot at Park Croft and had two clear views of a single Emperor gliding across the canopy gap, 7 mins apart and probably the same individual. Purple Hairstreaks were very active - at least 5 individuals. I also added Marbled White, Small Skipper, Common Blue and Small Tortoiseshell to the days species count. Click on image below for video clip of Silver-washed Fritillary egg-laying Malcolm Hull 3 Jul A couple of hours walking around the western side of Nomansland Common this morning produced 2 Red Admirals, 6 Commas, 3 Small Skipper, numerous Small White, 1 Large White, several Ringlet, Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper, 1 Marbled White and at least 6 sightings of Purple Hairstreak - all in the same oak. Moving on to the assembly point at Northaw Great Wood, I had numerous sightings of Purple Emperor between 1.50 and 2.15pm, including at least 5 clashes between 2 males, and several good telescope views of single males perched on top of the favoured oak. All sightings were in the usual oak/chestnut/ash gap and no more than two insects seen at once. Otherwise only a few whites, Ringlet and Meadow Browns Peter Waldron 3 Jul 30 minutes walk around Shackledell at lunch. Managed to get a photo, despite windy conditions, of this Essex Skipper near south end. c30 Marbled Whites mostly in the glade area Tom Speller 2 Jul 1 melanic variety Box-tree Moth at bus-stop shelter at Chase Rd/Charter Way, N14 this afternoon and 1 Ringlet at Guy Lodge Farm, Enfield at 1842 hrs Robert Callf 2 Jul The sun came out at last around 3pm so I took the opportunity to do my Alexandra Park transect. Turned out to be a good call, I saw my first Silver-washed Fritillary, think it was a male at the park. I heard others had seen a lone one - probably the same one- a couple of weeks back. It swooped from the Eastern end of the anthill/butterfly meadow, circled a bit, landed briefly just long enough for a hasty photo, then glided off north west wards towards the trees. On my return home I saw a lone Ringlet in my front garden (N10) for the first time this year Dee Cullen 2 Jul Therfield Heath (Church Hill): Chalkhill Blue (24), Brown Argus (1 - second generation), Small Copper (1), Dark Green Fritillary (3). All the Chalkhill Blues were males. Another five males were seen near the Therfield Road, but none were seen elsewhere Martin Johnson 2 Jul St Albans - My first butterfly on buddleia, this year, a newly emerged Peacock at lunchtime. A Comma also came for lunch on the same bush. A Green-veined White is busy laying on the Garlic Mustard and a Holly Blue and several Small Whites are also hanging about Malcolm Hull 1 Jul Shortwood Common, Staines (TQ 0475 7187). I saw the following: 8 Small Skippers, 5 Meadow Browns, 4 Small Heaths and 2 Small Whites. The Small Heaths have a had a long flight period here as they have been around since late May Jeremy Soane 1 Jul At Monken Hadley Common 4-7pm. Purple Emperor, Purple Hairstreak, Green-veined White, Comma, Essex Skipper, Marbled White, Ringlet, Meadow Brown. Purple Emperor seen in the canopy of an oak chasing hairstreaks and one flying around briefly at ground level. At south-east corner of open space close to the lake at 51.658381, -0.164957, in a clearing with a toxic caterpillar warning sign Ben Epstein 1 Jul At Alexandra Park an aberrant form of Ringlet (a third spot on the hindwing) Dee Cullen 1 Jul This afternoon - 5 Comma (1 edge of Shaws Wood, 1 in clearing, Williams Wd, 1 near Water Grdn, Trent Park, 2 at Vicarage Farm - TQ3097), 4 Red Admiral (1 S edge of Williams Wd, 2 together nectaring on bramble blossom in clearing, Williams Wd, Trent Park, 1 at Park Farm, Enfield), 3 Marbled White (1 edge of Shaws Wd, 1 edge of Williams Wd, 1 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park), 1 Small Copper edge of Shaws Wd at Vicarage Farm - TQ2997 (my first of the summer-brood), 1 Large White edge of Williams Wd, Trent Park, 2 Green-veined White (1 female, edge of Icehouse Wd, 1 edge of Ride Wd, Trent Park), 2 Peacock (1 at Park Farm, Enfield - TQ2998, 1 at Vicarage Farm - TQ3097) - my first of the summer-brood, 1 Small Tortoiseshell along Leeging Beech Gutter N of Williams Wd at Vicarage Farm - TQ2997, 4 Ringlet (3 at Trent Park, 1 at Vicarage Farm, Enfield - TQ3097) Robert Callf 1 Jul I visited Denham Country Park at 08.40 on the canal Deep Lock no. 87 and I had sightings of over 20 Commas, 2 Red Admirals, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 4 Marbled Whites and 50+ Meadow Browns. I have never seen so many Commas before Geoff Ryder 1 Jul A few minutes to 1 o'clock a male Purple Emperor was seen flying around a tall oak just south of the entrance to Hanbury Manor in Thundridge. He was not seen again but also present on the roadside trees were Purple Hairstreak and White-letter Hairstreak. New season Peacocks have started to emerge as well as Small Copper in the last few days Liz Goodyear 1 Jul This afternoon alongside the River Lea, adjacent to Hatfield House grounds (TL257098). Small Tortoiseshell 1, Comma 2, Large Skipper 3, Small Skipper 5, Green-veined White 3, Small White 5, Large White 1, Meadow Brown 20, Marbled White 5, Ringlet 15 – a relative newcomer to this part of the world Roger Gibbons 1 Jul St Albans - newly emerged Red Admiral sunning itself on my garden fence at lunchtime. A Small White and a Green-veined White were nectaring in a brief sunny period Malcolm Hull June Date Description Recorder 30 Jun 1 Box-tree Moth at ASDA Southgate this evening - my first of the year Robert Callf 30 Jun Tonight I escaped from a long day in front of my computer screen for an evening visit to Tunnel Gardens (TQ 29330 91453), I was so glad I did, in the overcast conditions I found 6 roosting Marbled White 5 of which were females, giving me good hope that they will establish a permanent colony. All I suspect from the single female I saw here for the first time last year. Also 1 female Essex Skipper and 1 Ringlet in the same small meadow area Miles Attenborough 30 Jun Not expecting much on the butterfly front during a cloudy afternoon at Norton Green Common but to my surprise, a male Purple Hairstreak (my first of the year) flew to within a foot under my nose towards the bottom end of the track where it is wooded on both sides Peter Clarke 29 Jun This afternoon - 3 Small White at Trent Park (2 females, edge of Williams Wd, 1 male near Rough Lot), 1 Comma near Water Grdn, Trent Park, 2 Large White Rough Lot, Trent Park, 3 Gatekeeper at Parkside Farm/Res, Enfield Robert Callf 28 Jun Bramfield Woods (TL290167): Silver-washed Fritillary (5), White Admiral (2) Martin Johnson 28 Jun After rain stopped play on a Butterfly trip to Bookham Commons in Surrey I decided to drop into Bricket Wood Common on the way home, I got about 10 minutes of sun in the gas ride before it tipped down, I did manage to see 2 male Silver-washed Fritillary, one of which I managed to get a shot of, 1 Comma, 5 Ringlets and 4 Meadow Brown and 2 Large Skippers. Having got home the rain stopped and there was a patch of sun so I popped round to Tunnel Gardens where the female Marbled White was still present with 3 male Marbled White, 2 Essex Skippers, 2 Ringlets, 3 Meadow Brown Miles Attenborough 28 Jun Bengeo garden: Marbled White killed by Emperor Dragonfly, Ringlet (1st for year), Large White, Small White, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown 4+, Comma, Holly Blue & Small Magpie Simon Knott 28 Jun Millhoppers Reserve - Did not expect too much this afternoon with little sunshine and very fresh westerly breeze but still found 8 species. Ringlet outnumbered the Meadow Brown 49 to 38. 8 Marbled White, 7 Large Skipper (all Male), 4 Speckled Wood, 2 Red Admiral, and one each Small White and Comma. Also Yellow Shell and Nettle Tap moth Chris Hilling 28 Jun A brief stop at Fishers field to check Skippers resulted in 2 Essex Skipper, 1 Small Skipper, 12 Meadow Brown, 4 Marbled White. Onto Cassiobury park, Watford where I recorded 1 Large White, 3 Small White, 1 Comma, 1 Green-veined White, 14 Ringlet, 20 Meadow Brown, 5 Marbled White, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Speckled Wood, 2 Large Skipper, 1 Small Skipper, 1 Small Heath. Lastly at Whippendell Woods 1 White Admiral, 7 Red Admiral, 15 Meadow Brown, 12 Ringlet, 6 Silver-washed Fritillary, 2 Small Skipper, 7 Comma, 1 Holly Blue, 2 Green-veined White, 1 Large White David Gower 26 Jun I took a late evening trip to see Dark Green Fritillaries at Hexton Chalk pit lots of butterfly activity from 18.00 till 19.30. I estimate around 12 Dark Green Fritillaries seen, lots of Marbled White, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, a few Small Heath, a few Small/Essex Skippers and Large Skippers, Meadow Browns no Chalkhill Blues yet. Most of the DGFs now a bit tatty but one or two fresh looking ones Miles Attenborough 26 Jun At Merryhill fields, Bushey from 5.30p.m were 1 Gatekeeper (first of year), 12 Purple Hairstreaks another first. These were seen on 4 oak trees mostly around 8 p.m. Also 1 Painted Lady, 3 Comma, 118 Meadow Brown, 169 Marbled White, 6 Small Skipper, 5 Large Skipper, 110 Ringlet, 1 Large White. Moths able to identify were 8 Yellow Shell, 1 Silver Y, 5 Shaded Broad-bar David Gower 26 Jun This evening - 3 Small Tortoiseshell and 1 Painted Lady at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097). 1 male Gatekeeper at Parkside Farm/Res, Enfield (TQ2998) at 1912 hrs - my first of the year! Robert Callf 26 Jun At Northaw Great Wood between Transects I looked in the usual place, fleetingly saw a lone Purple Emperor with the naked eye high in the ash tree. On looking again with my zoom there was no sign of it. I looked again at the end of my walk and no sign Dee Cullen 26 Jun Symondshyde Great Wood 4-5 pm = 5+ Silver-washed Fritillaries and 1 White Admiral, with Comma, Large Skippers, Small White, Peacock and Meadow Brown also seen Trevor Chapman 26 Jun Nomansland Common bear Sandridge - Male Purple Emperor languidly circling the high point in the oak canopy at 2pm. I was not able to repeat yesterday's sightings of Dark Green Fritillaries, suggesting they are continuing dispersal, so worth keeping an eye on patches of thistles and knapweed across our area. Other highlights from the site include Small Copper, Small Heath, Common Blue and Holly Blue, a very fresh looking Brimstone, Large Skipper, Small Skipper, Essex Skipper, Silver Y and plenty of Marbled Whites Malcolm Hull 26 Jun 1 Small White, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Meadow Brown - St Faiths Close, Hitchin (TL1930) David Inward 26 Jun First Silver-washed Fritillary of the year in Cannocks Wood then a female seen in Norton Green Common during mid-morning walk. Numbers of Meadow Brown and Marbled White are still quite high along with several Large Skippers. Still no sign of Purple Hairsteak, Purple Emperor nor White Admiral Peter Clarke 26 Jun On our circular walk from South Mymms woods, through fields into North Mymms wood and back again we were pleased to see 2 White Admiral. The first in North Mymms at TL 21840 03680 and presumably a male from its behaviour, and the second in South Mymms at TL 21645 02605 an egg laying female. Also seen on the walk a single Small Tortoiseshell and Cinnabar; many Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Whites, Comma, Speckled Wood, and Large Skipper, Small Skipper; together with a multitude of Marbled White. In fact earlier this week on walks that I've taken around The Fir & Pond Wood area, I've seen Marbled White everywhere, too numerous to report on Terry Wood 26 Jun Bower Heath - 1 Purple Hairstreak & 3 Purple Hairstreak on 25 Jun Darin Stanley 25 Jun Silver-washed Fritillary and Purple Hairstreak at Stanmore Country Park Steve Bolsover 25 Jun As the weather was forecast for a turn for the worst tomorrow, I decided to make the best of today, starting at St Albans Verulamium Park between 9.50 and 12 noon, hoping for hairstreak sp. In fact the temperature had reached 25C by this and any hairstreaks present were being very coy with only Meadow Brown, Marbled White, Red Admiral, 10+ fly-through whites, seen. On to Hexton Chalk Pit between 1240 and 1.45 - the temperature now 29C . A little bit of magic here, with large numbers of Meadow Brown, and Marbled White, good numbers of Small Heath, and plus at leas 26 Dark Green Fritillaries, but no skippers or blues. Back to St Albans via Sharpenhoe Clappers, where over the border butterfly numbers were generally lower, but still 16 Dark Green Fritillaries in 30 minutes, but again but again no Chalkhill Blues yet. Home via Symondshyde Great Wood where between 2.30 and 3.15 pm along the main telegraph pole ride produced 8 sightings of very mobile Silver-washed Fritillaries, but only a maximum of 3 in view at any time. Plus small numbers of Meadow Brown, Whites. So, some compensation for the sunburn! Peter Waldron 25 Jun This evening at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 1 Painted Lady (very worn & faded) settled on track at Hog Hill at 1819 hrs, 2 Marbled White, 2 Small Heath, 100's Meadow Brown, 7+ Purple Hairstreak around oaks along Leeging Beech Gutter after 1940 hrs, 4 Small Tortoiseshell, 2 Comma and 1 Cinnabar Robert Callf 25 Jun I was getting worried for the Silver-washed Fritillaries on Bricket Wood Common this year. White Admirals have been about for almost two weeks, and Meadow Browns and Ringlets are plentiful, but until yesterday I'd only seen a single fritillary on any day, and none patrolling the 'Gas Ride' where they're usually most conspicuous. But today I saw 7 just walking down the ride, including this pair mating. I first noticed movement below eye level, above the low brambles, realized the flight was awkward, and then saw it was one carrying another as it flew. They circled round a couple of times and settled on a twig, giving me long enough to photograph them from various angles Chris Newman 25 Jun St Albans - Brimstone moth and 2 Box Tree moths in my garden this afternoon. One of the latter flew into my house. And two more Small Tortoiseshells went in to hibernation, bringing the current total to 3. But the big news of the day is from Nomansland Common which I visited at lunchtime to meet the new Ranger Tanya Dickson. We saw no less than three Dark Green Fritillaries and had clear views of the underside to positively ID each one. I have recorded just one of this species here before which was in 2013. DGF is clearly having a fabulous year in its strongholds in the north of Herts and it can disperse over quite a long distance so worth watching out for this species elsewhere Malcolm Hull 25 Jun For my LEW I walked through Easneye Woods and was thrilled to see 3 Silver-washed Fritillary. Purple Hairstreak and White-letter Hairstreak were both active with one White-letter on low vegetation and later a Purple Hairstreak at eye level on an oak leaf. Nice to see several Marbled White on the field margins east of Easneye! Liz Goodyear 25 Jun Hounslow. Very pleased to see my first White-letter Hairstreak of the year at one of the usual sites at the top of an elm tree. It followed immediately after a rather more conspicuous Jersey Tiger moth also in a familiar spot on the heath. For a little while after these sightings I was 'escorted' along my path by a Purple Hairstreak so an enjoyable few minutes. Here are the full sightings, Skippers badly under-counted: Small White: 6, Painted Lady: 1, Red Admiral: 4, Meadow Brown: 33, Marbled White: 11, Ringlet: 5, Small Tortoiseshell: 5, Comma: 5, Holly Blue: 3, Small Skipper: 4, Small Heath: 16, Large White: 1, White-letter Hairstreak: 1, Purple Hairstreak: 6 and a Jersey Tiger moth Peter Gore 25 Jun 1 (possibly 2) Large White - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303) David Inward 25 Jun This morning walked to the top of Wormley Wood saw 2 White Admirals and a Purple Emperor and several Silver-washed Fritillaries Steve Kiln 25 Jun Early morning walk through Tunnel Gardens to water newly planted Meadow Cranesbill revealed 1 new lonely male Marbled White (the first was badly pecked when last seen) but still no females, 3 Essex Skippers, 2 Large Skippers, 4 Meadow Browns, 2 Speckled Wood, 1 Cinnabar moth and 1 Rose Chaffer buzzing loudly. I returned to Tunnel Gardens this evening and was pleased to discover three fresh Marbled Whites one of which was a female, it's not much of a gene pool but hopefully it could be the start of a colony. Also four Essex Skippers, 4 Large Skippers, two Commas, 6 Meadow Browns, 4 Small Whites, and two Red Admirals. The red admirals, skippers and commas all having dog fights in the last big patch of sun Miles Attenborough 24 Jun This evening - At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - 2 Marbled White, 4 Comma, 6 Small Tortoiseshell including three together at Hog Hill, 1 Red Admiral and 2 Purple Hairstreak. At Parkside Farm/Res., Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Comma and 2 Small White mating Robert Callf 24 Jun Hounslow. In effect this walk started at about the time yesterday's finished but in similar sunny sweltering conditions and over the same terrain. A few Purple Hairstreaks were probably getting overheated in the treetops (or their food supplies were) and I was able to record my first of the year at ground level: Purple Hairstreak: 3, Meadow Brown: 42, Small Heath: 14, Painted Lady: 1, Comma: 6, Red Admiral: 4, Ringlet: 2, Speckled Wood: 2, Small Skipper: 6, Holly Blue: 2, Essex Skipper: 1, Marbled White: 7, Small White: 3, Green-veined White: 2 Peter Gore 24 Jun A brief visit to Fishers field nature reserve late afternoon and came across 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 7 Small Skipper, 15 Meadow Brown, 16 Marbled White, 1 Comma, 1 Small White. No sign of Purple Hairstreaks yet David Gower 24 Jun St Albans Shed - Small Tortoiseshell in hibernation at lunchtime today. Ridiculously early I know, but that's what they do nowadays! In 2017 there were 9 hibernating by the end of June. Today's sighting is the earliest date in the year I have recorded. In fact when I entered the shed there was a second Small Tortoiseshell, searching for a hibernation spot. It flew very slowly, as if in first gear, searching round the darkest corners of the shed. They are very careful about picking the best spot, as a poor decision can be fatal. Unfortunately as I left the door open, it rejected all the sites inspected as too light and flew out of the slit window. I had been alerted earlier this week by three tell-tale signs that hibernation was about to start. Firstly two of the butterflies were feeding avidly on nectar in the garden all day. Secondly I disturbed a Small Tortoiseshell on top of my recycling bin, which is just outside the shed window and a place no butterflies are seen unless planning to check out their winter quarters. Thirdly today was exceptionally hot - a factor which I've observed to speed up the rate of hibernation in previous years. There have been numerous Small Tortoiseshell sightings locally in recent weeks, so I'm looking forward to hosting a good number of butterflies for the next 9 months Malcolm Hull 24 Jun Silver-washed Fritillary in Buckney Wood, north of Wareside (TL3816) Liz Goodyear 24 Jun Scales Park (TL415 335): Silver-washed Fritillary (9 Males) Martin Johnson 24 Jun New Mill Meadow, Tring (SP923131) - Morning walk but already 26 degrees. 1 each Small White and Large White, 1 Comma, 6 Small Tortoiseshell, 7 Large Skipper and 23 Ringlet. Two species abundant with 100+ Marbled White and Meadow Brown Chris Hilling 23 Jun Therfield Heath: Silver-washed Fritillary (5 Males). Males were seen holding/disputing territory in both Fox Covert and Fordham's Wood, as well as on Church Hill. If they stay this will be the 3rd new species to establish itself on Therfield Heath in the last 10 years, following on from Dark Green Fritillary and Adonis Blue (unlicensed introduction), bringing the number of species completing breeding cycles here up to 27 (excludes Painted Lady and Clouded Yellow). Amongst other species seen across the heath were Dark Green Fritillary (75+; another phenomenal year) and Marbled White (150+; ditto) Martin Johnson 23 Jun We enjoyed a walk in the Tewin area in the afternoon with warm sun and clear skies. Steady numbers of Meadow Brown and Marbled White all round. Also one Comma, two Small Tortoiseshells, three Small Heath, two Gatekeepers and several unidentified whites. The highlight was Bramfield Park Wood (TL2815) where along with a number of Meadow Browns we saw a Large Skipper and a Silver-washed Fritillary before spotting a dead White Admiral on the path. Even better was the sight of two White Admirals flying around about 100 yards further down where the Permitted Path meets the bridleway running through the wood Roger Newbold 23 Jun 4 Orange Conch - Commophila aeneana - E of 10 km line at Oakwood Park, N14. Probably >100 Small Skipper at Oakwood Park (although only a sample counted and no Essex Skipper identified yet). 1 Comma at Southgate Chase Allotments at 1948 hrs Robert Callf 23 Jun Weedy field, Batford - 3 White-letter Hairstreaks at top of small oak tree at the SW corner or the field Darin Stanley 23 Jun Hounslow. Lots of sunshine with lots of butterflies, the following being identified: Comma: 7, Ringlet: 5, Marbled White: 6, Green-veined White: 3, Red Admiral: 4, Meadow Brown: 46, Small Skipper: 12, Small Heath: 14, Essex Skipper: 1, Small White: 2, Small Tortoiseshell: 1, Small Copper: 1, Speckled Wood: 1, Holly Blue: 1 Peter Gore 23 Jun We visited our local area Park Wood, Ruislip. At the high point by St Vincent's nursing home (TQ095897) we saw our first Purple Emperors (2) in the canopy opening at the highest point of the oaks, one sat on a perch for about five minutes which enabled us to enjoy prolonged telescope views. At the area known as Grub ground (TQ09708895) we saw approx. 10+ Marbled Whites along with Large Skipper, Essex Skipper, Ringlets, Meadow Browns and Speckled Woods. As we were leaving the woods we saw a male and female Silver-washed Fritillary and a White Admiral all feeding on the brambles just inside the entrance from the cul-de-sac at the end of Park Avenue Sue & Steve Place 22 Jun 3 Speckled Wood at Trent Park (2 together near Merryhills Brook and 1 edge of Moat Wd), 6 Comma (5 at Trent Park, 1 at Park Farm, Enfield), 1 Red Admiral edge of Moat Wd, Trent Park, 13 Small Tortoiseshell (1 at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park, 6 at Park Farm, Enfield, 1 at Parkside Farm/Res, Enfield, 5 at Vicarage Farm, Enfield - TQ3097), 1 Large White and 2 Small White at Park Farm, Enfield, 2 Small Skipper at Parkside Farm/Res, Enfield. 1 Small Magpie at ASDA Southgate this evening near outside light Robert Callf 22 Jun I had a late evening visit to Monken Hadley Common in the hope of seeing Purple Hairstreaks, but no luck on that front. I did see Commas, Large Skippers, Essex Skipper, Small White, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood and Marbled White. Commas in all states of repair from very tatty ones clinging on from last year to really fresh golden ones glowing in the evening sun, lots of battling for territory Skippers and Commas Miles Attenborough 22 Jun I visited Church Hill, Therfield Heath this afternoon. I was pleased to see over a dozen Dark Green Fritillaries on the main slope, but there were no blues flying. However, on crossing into the small enclosure on the southern boundary, I came across a solitary male Chalkhill Blue - this is a very early date for these to be starting to emerge. Many Marbled Whites were on the thistles marking the boundary at the foot of Church Hill, and there were a handful of Small Heath and two very faded Common Blues Ian Small 22 Jun Made an excuse to go in to the office, them absconded for a very quick walk round Ellenbrook Fields (old Hatfield airfield) and the adjoining old BT site. No camera, binoculars, phone or even paper and pen, so from memory, I saw: 12 Marbled White, probably double that Meadow Brown, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 4 Small Heath, 4 Small Skipper and a rather tatty female Common Blue. There were numerous other flypasts including 15 to 20 assorted whites and a Cinnabar or Burnet moth (too brief to tell). Quite forgotten how much I'd missed getting out here. Need to find more excuses to be back in the office Robert Bull 22 Jun A lunchtime visit to Roxeth Recreation Ground produced my first Marbled White for this site. Also, at least one Ringlet and 1 Common Blue Michael Robinson 22 Jun A morning visit to Hexton Chalk Pit with the purpose of seeing the Dark Green Fritillaries, did not disappoint! I counted 35 of them all hovering low but rarely landing. In addition, 40 Marbled White. Smaller numbers of other species which included Ringlets, Meadow Browns, Small Heath, Small Skipper, Large Skipper, Brimstone. No Blues or Brown Argus. Then en route back I did my transects at Northaw Great Wood. Pleased to see quite a few firsts of year : White Admirals 2 on each transect; Silver-washed Fritillaries 5 on the Bridleway transect; 4 Purple Hairstreaks down on the bracken. Also out of context, like last year saw a lone Marbled White, this time at the Western end of the Middleway transect Dee Cullen 22 Jun A Silver-washed Fritillary, initially found by Tony Jakeman, was on Anthill Meadow in Alexandra Park (TQ299899) this afternoon. Usually only seen once or twice a year here, and always a wandering male. Also seen in the Park were White-letter Hairstreak, Purple Hairstreak, Marbled White, Large Skipper, Small Skipper, Ringlet and Comma and numerous Meadow Brown and Small White Gerry Rawcliffe 21 Jun Late afternoon visit to Bricket Wood Common with very short burst of sun revealed 1 nice fresh Red Admiral, 3 White Admirals and 1 male Silver-washed Fritillary, 1 Comma, 3 Ringlets, 7 Meadow Brown and 3 white butterflies all in the gas main ride (TL 129010). Only got one chance of a shot of the White Admiral nectaring on a bramble in the shade but quite a lot of activity when the sun came out Miles Attenborough 21 Jun On a public footpath off Furzebushes Lane, Chiswell Green (TL126048) saw a cluster of black caterpillars on the wire fencing by a nettle patch - presumably Peacocks. There were 4 other small groups nearby - a total of 40 or so. Mainly cloudy with brief intermittent sunny breaks, so was pleased to see a few butterflies including a Red Admiral Alison Hill 21 Jun Millhoppers Reserve - Late afternoon walk found few species but reasonable numbers. Over 70 Meadow Brown with one pair mating. 9 Large Skippers (6 male and 3 female), 4 Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Marbled White, 11 Ringlet and 1 Speckled Wood. There was a writhing mass of Peacock larvae - possibly 100. I got a brief view of a Snout moth in the top wood area Chris Hilling 21 Jun Sighted a Marbled White at Chelsing Farm, Wadesmill Roger Stainton 21 Jun Heartwood Forest, Sandridge - 3 Purple Emperors at the Eastern tip of Pudler's Wood. I arrived at 1pm, weather was overcast with occasional sunny spells. At 2.30 I saw the aftermath of a clash - two males heading rapidly west from the high point, one chasing the other. At 3.50 I saw a single Emperor fly out of the Sallows in Magical Wood into the Pudler's Wood canopy Malcolm Hull 20 Jun Had Purple Emperor at master tree Totteridge Green at 12.55 and 13.10. Also Brimstone and Purple Hairstreak seen, Marbled Whites on Owl Field Tony Clancy 20 Jun A good number of butterflies around at Nicholls Farm including good numbers of Small Tortoiseshell (incl caterpillars on nettles) and Meadow Browns plus a few Small White, Comma, Large Skipper, Small Skipper, Small Heath and Marbled Whites Peter Tallantire 20 Jun Visited Balls Wood between 15.30 and 18.30. 9 White Admirals in different sections of the woods, only two settled, one pristine male Silver-washed Fritillary, 3 Ringlet, 20 male Large Skippers, 9 Commas, 10 Meadow Browns, 2 Red Admirals, and 4 white butterflies Miles Attenborough 20 Jun At Fishers field nature reserve 36 Meadow Brown, 7 Marbled White, 8 Small Skipper, 1 Comma, 3 Small Tortoiseshell. Moths 3 Cinnabar (and 27 caterpillars), 1 Silver Y, 1 Burnet Companion, 1 Yellow Shell. Back to Water Lane seeing 8 Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Small White, 14 Marbled White, 1 Essex Skipper, 5 Ringlet, 6 Meadow Brown, 6 Comma, 1 Large White, 2 Red Admiral also 1 Peacock caterpillar David Gower 20 Jun Oakwood Park, N14 (1635 - 1720 hrs) - 3 Comma and 1 Red Admiral near Saxon Way entrance (TQ297953), 27+ Small Skipper, 1 Small White W of 10 km line, 3 Small Heath, 27+ Marbled White including five together nectaring on knapweed and a pair mating, 3 Cinnabar, 1 Ringlet E of 10 km line, 2 Burnet Companion E of 10 km line, 2 Orange Conch - Commophila aeneana - E of 10 km line. 1 Small Magpie near light at Oakwood Station - my first of the year Robert Callf 20 Jun On a late morning walk on Potters Bar Golf Course, after seeing up to 6 Meadow Brown, we were surprised to see towards the railway line 1 Marbled White (TL 245024) Terry Wood 20 Jun We spent the day in and around Bricket Wood Common. The highlights were 4 White Admirals, 1 Silver-washed Fritillary and a highly likely Purple Emperor. We both had brief glimpses of the Emperor through the canopy gap by its master tree area in Mutchetts Wood. It was gliding powerfully around the high point above the canopy. Meadow Brown and Grass Veneer moth were seen in their hundreds. We saw 25 Small Tortoiseshells, with a particular concentration around the nettle-beds around Wall Hall pumping station. Other species seen in small numbers included Speckled Wood, Brimstone, Ringlet, Comma, Large Skipper, Small Skipper, Green-veined White, Brown Silver-Lines, Purple Hairstreak and Marbled White. Last but not least were 2 Small Heath, a species which has recently re-established itself on the Common and is benefiting from the conservation grazing regime Malcolm Hull Chris Newman 19 Jun St Albans - Not much around apart from Meadow Browns and Cinnabar Moths Malcolm Hull 19 Jun 1 Large White - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL19583031) David Inward 18 Jun Water End meadows, Hemel Hempstead (TL033106): Meadow Brown 30+, Small Tortoiseshell 10, Small Skipper 2, Large Skipper 3, Marbled White 1, Ringlet 1, Small Heath 1 Martin Parr 18 Jun 4 Small Tortoiseshell (1 at Park Farm, Enfield, 2 together at Parkside Farm - TQ2998, 1 at Vicarage Farm, Enfield). 1 Yellow Shell at bus-stop shelter at Chase Rd/Charter Way, N14 and 1 Small Blood-vein at ASDA Southgate - my first of the year Robert Callf 18 Jun I didn't go out until late afternoon, when the weather cleared. On Bricket Wood Common's 'Gas Ride', Transect Section 4, I saw a Silver-washed Fritillary, my first of the year, and further down a White Admiral (my 7th sighting, but probably 4th individual) Chris Newman 18 Jun St Albans - heavy rain over the last few days has raised the water level in my garden pond by one foot. Butterfly numbers seem lower. This afternoon's haul from my allotment was 11 Small Tortoiseshells, 6 Small White and one Small Skipper. Numbers of Peacock caterpillars are much reduced, presumably due to pupation. Cinnabar moth caterpillars are now in bigger numbers Malcolm Hull 17 Jun Weedy field, Batford - 2 White-letter Hairstreaks around small oak tree by large bramble bush (TL15171497), also many Marbled Whites, Meadow Brown & Small Skippers Darin Stanley Ian Denholm Jason Reyolds 17 Jun 1 Comma edge of Williams Wd, Trent Park, also here 1 female Large Skipper. 1 Marbled White and 2 male Small Skipper at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park. 3 Small Tortoiseshell at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) and 2 Marbled White here. 1 Ringlet at Parkside Farm/Res, Enfield (TQ2998) - my first of the year and 1 female Small White here. 2 Small Tortoiseshell at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) Robert Callf 17 Jun At Stocking Pelham TL457281, 11 Marbled Whites, 5 Meadow Browns, 1 Large White, 1 Large Skipper, 1 Common Blue, 3 Small Tortoiseshell Andy Brown 17 Jun In Bengeo garden: Marbled White, Red Admiral, Comma, 5+ Meadow Brown, Large Skipper, Speckled Wood & Yellow Shell Simon Knott 17 Jun Arrived home on the Rosedale estate in Cheshunt at just before 1 p.m. to discover my wife had found and caught a butterfly in the downstairs loo. She had caught it in a clear plastic cup and had put a piece of paper over the top to stop it escaping until I could see it. I was surprised to find it was a female Purple Hairstreak. I have never seen one in this area before so have no idea how it came to be inside our house. I was pleased to see it fly off when taken outside Roger Newbold 16 Jun Between 2:30 and 3:30 pm, west of Stevenage, following footpaths Kitching Lane and Dyes Lane counted 19+ Small Tortoiseshells along field margins including several interacting pairs. About 30 Small Tortoiseshells feeding on brambles back up Dyes Lane where there were also at least 35 Marbled Whites Tom Speller 16 Jun Walking from home in Cheshunt to Wormley and Bencroft woods and back, we saw the following. In TL3203, 15 Meadow Browns, in TL3103, 15 Meadow Browns, 1 Small Heath and 1 Holly Blue, in TL3104, 6 Meadow Browns, 1 Small Tortoiseshell and in TL3106 (Wormley Wood), 3 Speckled Woods and 1 unidentified white. Whilst in the woods the sky turned grey so that with thunder rumbling in the distance we only saw one solitary Meadow Brown as we hurried home before the heavens opened. A walk of two halves as far as butterflies are concerned Roger Newbold 16 Jun Weedy field, Batford - 3 White-letter Hairstreaks around small oak tree by large bramble bush (TL15171497) Darin Stanley 16 Jun 1 Red Admiral settled on ground near Obelisk, Trent Park at 1813 hrs. At Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - 1 Marbled White and 4 Small White. 1 Small Tortoiseshell at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) at 1927 hrs and 1 Painted Lady settled on track at Hog Hill, Vicarage Farm (TQ305975) at 1949 hrs Robert Callf 16 Jun Explosion of Marbled Whites, in field behind Bencroft Wood, 8 on 13 June, today 70 plus with 90 plus Meadow Browns and 2 Ringlets. In Broxbourne glade near west car park, 2 Silver-washed Fritillaries Steve Kiln 16 Jun I went for an early morning visit to the Tunnel Gardens (TQ292915) to water a newly seeded area. Last year I had seen one female Marbled White who hung around in the same area for at least a week, the first I had seen there in the 15 years we have lived here. I was hopeful she would have laid some eggs so was pleased to discover today 1 Marbled White who flew up into a tree when disturbed but looked like a male. I will be going back this evening to see if there are more. I also spotted 1 very fresh Cinnabar moth, which I had also been hoping to see as we had hundreds of caterpillars on the ragwort last year. Also 1 male Large Skipper. Sadly the two small broods of Common Blue I had seen last year don't appear to have established themselves as none seen this year. Returned to Tunnel Gardens this evening and found 1 lonely male Marbled White hopefully he will find a mate. Also 2 male Essex Skippers and 3 Large Skippers Miles Attenborough 15 Jun Grovelands Park, Southgate (1325 - 1620 hrs) - 1 male Small Skipper, 2 male Meadow Brown, 1 Small Heath and 1 Burnet Companion near tennis courts (TQ307946). 2 Small Tortoiseshell at Ivy Road Recreation Ground, N14 this afternoon at 1644 hrs (around clump of bramble in flower) Robert Callf 15 Jun We took a walk, late morning, on Bricket Wood Common. There we saw 2 White Admiral, 1 Large Skipper, 1 Marbled White, 3 Speckled Wood and 10+ Meadow Brown Terry Wood 15 Jun I spent an hour at Hexton Chalkpit this morning, and there were numerous (what I took to be) Dark Green Fritillaries: the commonest butterfly on the wing. I managed to see 8 flying simultaneously, and I would have thought there were double that number in total, but all butterflies were very mobile in the warm conditions. Also about 6 Marbled Whites Phil Barron 14 Jun Much Hadham (TL434187): Silver-washed Fritillary(2 males) Martin Johnson 14 Jun I followed the 'Gas Ride' and all of Section 2 of the Bricket Wood Common Transect in reverse, and saw three White Admirals. The first settled for nectar and a photo soon after the sun came out, I waited some time before the second perched, but I saw the third where I recorded one yesterday, where there's little sunshine or nectar, so when it flew past and disappeared into the trees, I didn't wait. Also on parts of the Transect I saw 1 Red Admiral, 2 Commas, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Speckled Wood, 2 probable Large Skippers, 1 distant probable female Brimstone and plenty of Meadow Browns. Elsewhere on my walk I saw 3 Small Tortoiseshells, 1 Speckled Wood, plenty of Meadow Browns, and 2 Peacock caterpillars crossing the footpath next to the Wall Hall Pumping Station footbridge Chris Newman 14 Jun 2 Purple Hairstreaks battling it out in the canopy at Merry Hill plus 3 Meadow Browns. A heartening sight on a beautiful evening John Liberty 14 Jun 4 Small Tortoiseshell at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097), also here 2 Small Heath, 1 Marbled White, 2 Small Skipper and 1 male Large Skipper. 1 male Marbled White at Cuckold's Hill, Parkside Farm (TQ302981), 2 Small Tortoiseshell at Parkside Farm, Enfield (TQ2998), also here 1+ Silver Y, 1 Marbled White, 2 Large Skipper, 1 female Green-veined White and 1 Cinnabar. 1 Red Admiral at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ293986), 3 Small Skipper at Bay Farm, Enfield (TQ295986), also here 1 Red Admiral flew off strongly N at 1209 hrs and 1 Speckled Wood, 3 Small White at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998), also here 1 Small Tortoiseshell at 1228 hrs at TQ289988, 1 Yellow Shell and 1 male Large Skipper. 1 Red Admiral edge of Moat Wood, Trent Park at 1301 hrs, 3 Large Skipper at Trent Park (2 near Dew Pond, 1 edge of Williams Wood), 3 Comma at Trent Park (2 clashing edge of Williams Wood, 1 edge of Shaws Wood), 1 female Green-veined White edge of Shaws Wood, Trent Park, 4 Small Heath at Vicarage Farm near Shaws Wood (TQ297970), 1 male Marbled White near Merryhills Brook at Vicarage Farm (TQ297968), also here 3 Small Skipper, 1 Speckled Wood near Equestrian Centre, Trent Park Robert Callf 14 Jun Hounslow. A Comma and a Holly Blue in the garden made a slightly surprising start to the day although it became clearer later on the walk that Commas are increasing at the moment : Comma: 9, Holly Blue: 1, Small Skipper: 6, Small Heath: 13, Meadow Brown: 6, Peacock: 1, Smnall White: 1, Marbled White: 1, Painted Lady: 1, Small Tortoiseshell: 1 and a Cinnabar moth Peter Gore 14 Jun Back to Merryhill fields, Bushey. Was pleased to report 1 Painted Lady (first of year), 1 Small Copper, 1 Comma, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Brimstone, 2 Large White, 5 Ringlet, 31 Marbled White, 159 Meadow Brown, 9 Small Skipper, 15 Large Skipper (failed to identify 19 more). Moths were 1 Plum Tortrix, 1 Silver Y, 1 Burnet Companion. Walked through St James churchyard finding 6 Meadow Browns & 1 Red Admiral David Gower 14 Jun Lunchtime we saw 2 Marbled Whites at Tyttenhanger Gravel Pits; 1 by the scrape and 1 along the River Colne. Also seen 1 Holly Blue, 1 Small Heath, 1 Small White, 4 Meadow Brown and 3 Small Tortoiseshell Terry Wood 14 Jun Silver-washed Fritillary at Therfield Heath alongside half a dozen Dark Green Fritillary Andy Symes 14 Jun After ten minutes scouring the elm tree-tops at Six Hills Common, Stevenage I finally saw a White-letter Hairstreak in the middle 'gap' at 10:30 Peter Clarke 14 Jun Thought I'd share that this White-letter Hairstreak (I believe) landed in my garden in Enfield Tom Sharpe 14 Jun This afternoon alongside the River Lea, adjacent to Hatfield House grounds (TL257098). Small Tortoiseshell 10+ with six seen on the same Bramble bush, Large Skipper 3, Green-veined White, Small White, Meadow Brown 10+, Marbled White 1 - the first time we have seen this species in this part of the world. And a Cinnabar moth, and two nests of Peacock caterpillars Roger Gibbons 14 Jun Seen at Marnham Fields, Greenford: Marbled White 5 (my first record of this species here), Meadow Brown 1, Small Skipper 1, several unidentified whites Paul Lane 14 Jun Went to Broxbourne Woods this morning. In field behind Bencroft Wood 50 plus Meadow Browns, 5 Small Heath, 4 Large Skippers and 4 Small Skippers also 8 Marbled Whites Steve Kiln 13 Jun At Aldbury Nowers lowest enclosure spotted 55 Meadow Brown, 17 Small Heath, 8 Ringlet, 4 Small Skipper, 6 Marbled White, 3 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Dark Green Fritillary, 1 Large White, 1 Small Skipper. Moths 1 Common Carpet, 1 Silver Y, 2 Cinnabar, 1 Mother Shipton. Onto next enclosure finding 15 Meadow Brown, 5 Small Heath, 5 Marbled White, 1 Ringlet and 1 Silver Y. Duchie's piece next. 3 Ringlet, 15 Meadow Brown, 2 Green Hairstreak, 1 Small Skipper, 1 Brimstone, 3 Large Skipper, 1 Small Heath, 1 Green-veined White, 8 Marbled White, 1 Dark Green Fritillary. Moths 1 Yellow Shell, 1 Silver Y. Lastly at top section were 23 Meadow Brown, 11 Small Heath, 3 Dark Green Fritillary, 1 Marbled White, 7 Ringlet, 2 Common Blue, 1 Small Skipper, 1 Brimstone, 1 Small Tortoiseshell & 1 Silver Y David Gower 13 Jun On the Bricket Wood Common transect I saw my first White Admiral and Marbled White of the year. I also recorded a Small Heath (only the 20th recorded since 1997) and 3 Small Tortoiseshells (only 15 recorded in the previous 4 years), along with 29 Meadow Browns, a Speckled Wood, a female Brimstone and a Holly Blue Chris Newman 13 Jun 1 female Small White at Dalrymple Close, N14 at 1058 hrs, 1 Green-veined White near Oakwood entrance, Trent Park, 1 Speckled Wood at Sect 7, Trent Park, 8 Speckled Wood at Monken Hadley Common - scattered along length of wood, 2 Large Skipper including a female at Monken Hadley Common (TQ268973) and 1 Marbled White here also, 1 Large White at Monken Hadley Common (TQ261970), 1 Comma near Beech Hill Lake at Monken Hadley Common (TQ268969) at 1425 hrs, 2 Comma at Trent Park - 1 near Cockfosters entrance (TQ280966) and 1 near Oakwood entrance (TQ288962), 2 Large Skipper chasing near Oakwood entrance, Trent Park, 1 White Ermine at ASDA Southgate Robert Callf 13 Jun Millhoppers Reserve - Late afternoon walk found 23 Meadow Brown, 3 Large Skipper and a Speckled Wood in the meadow areas. In the small Wood at the top of the site I saw a very fresh Red Admiral plus a Small Magpie moth. Coming back into the top meadow I disturbed a Marbled White feeding on some thistle, my first and the sites first of the year. It promptly flew off towards Long Marston before I could get a picture. Also present were Nettle Tap and Celypha lacunana micros moths Chris Hilling 13 Jun Hounslow. Breeze and more cloud than expected probably limited sightings that would otherwise have been flying but the first Marbled Whites of the year were seen, one day earlier than the previous earliest back in 2017: Comma: 2, Speckled Wood: 1, Meadow Brown: 6, Small Heath: 17, Small Skipper: 1, Marbled White: 2, Small White: 1, Small Tortoiseshell: 2 and a Cinnabar moth Peter Gore 13 Jun Aldbury Nowers. 10 Dark Green Fritillaries were the highlight of today's walk. Meadow Brown was the most common butterfly with over a hundred seen. Also good numbers of Small Heath, Small Tortoiseshell and Marbled White. 3 species of skippers with Small Skipper being most common, the Large Skipper and just one Essex Skipper. Several left over Spring butterflies including Brimstone and tatty Common Blues and a Brown Argus. Ringlet, Speckled Woods and Green-veined Whites also spotted. Moths included Silver Y, Cinnabar, Burnet Companion, Yellow Shell and Mullein caterpillars Malcolm Hull 13 Jun Seen this morning at Commonswood, WGC (TL258109): Small Tortoiseshell 5, Comma 2, Meadow Brown 10, Small Heath 2, Small White 2, Large Skipper 2 Roger Gibbons 13 Jun Saw my first Gatekeeper on my Middleway Transect at Northaw Great Wood today. Didn't manage a photo. A better range and number of butterflies flying than I have since the counts started again. Including Meadow Browns, Peacocks, Small Tortoiseshells, and Speckled Woods. A nice Comma let me photograph it. Surprisingly no whites around again, overall numbers of them are way down on my usual counts Dee Cullen 13 Jun Gatekeeper butterfly flying in our Thorley Park, Stortford, back garden this morning Len Crouch 13 Jun A walk around Bricket Wood Common this morning between 10am and 11.30am in sun and cloud and 18-22 C, produced 5 Speckled Wood, 7 Meadow Brown, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Large Skipper, 5 non-stopping Whites and 1 Ringlet and 1 White Admiral, both on the gas ride Peter Waldron 12 Jun 1 Red Admiral at Strayfield Rd, EN2 (TQ313989) at 1304 hrs Robert Callf 12 Jun South Mymms, around midday we saw another Marbled White, this time by the footpath that goes under the M25 (TL215015). Also seen on our walk 8 Small Tortoiseshell, 4 Meadow Brown and an unidentifiable white butterfly Terry Wood 12 Jun Box Moor, Hemel Hempstead (TL049060) - 5 Small Tortoiseshell, 2 Meadow Brown. Paradise Meadows TL061070 - 1 Speckled Wood; TL060068 - 1 Small Tortoiseshell Martin Parr 11 Jun Hemel Hempstead, Bunkers Park (TL0805) - 2 Essex Skipper, 5 Large Skipper, 1 Marbled White Martin Parr 11 Jun Trent Park 'New Fields' - 2 male Small Skipper, 1 Small Heath, 1 Cinnabar and 1 Rose Chafer feeding on umbellifer flowers near Triangular Wd - my first record for this site! Robert Callf 9 Jun TL455285 Stocking Pelham 4 Small Heath, 2 Meadow Brown Andy Brown 9 Jun Dark Green Fritillary, one, possibly two, Little Offley (TL129285) Martin Ketcher 9 Jun 1 freshly emerged Purple Hairstreak Totteridge Valley, also 6 Small Tortoiseshell large numbers Meadow Brown Tony Clancy 9 Jun Ringlet reported from Chorleywood Common Philip Gibbs 9 Jun St Albans - 2 Small Tortoiseshells feeding avidly on scabious and Bowles Mauve wallflower for long periods today. This is characteristic of their behaviour immediately before entering hibernation! But no butterflies in my shed yet Malcolm Hull 9 Jun Hounslow. Mid afternoon before sun persuaded a few butterflies out which included the first skippers of year seen here and a decent showing for the new brood of Small Tortoiseshells - hope they don't all disappear by mid-June! : Small Tortoiseshell: 5, Small Skipper: 2, Meadow Brown: 3, Small Heath: 12, Red Admiral: 1 Peter Gore 9 Jun This afternoon - 29 Chimney Sweeper in usual field at 'New Fields' Trent Park - my first of the year, 2 Burnet Companion at 'New Fields' Trent Park, 2 Cinnabar (1 at 'New Fields' Trent Park, 1 at Vicarage Farm near Hadley Rd), 3 Large Skipper (1 at 'New Fields' Trent Park, 1 at Parkside Farm/Res, Enfield - TQ2998 and 1 at Vicarage Farm - TQ3097), 4 Small Heath (3 at 'New Fields' Trent Park, 1 at Vicarage Farm - TQ3097), 1 Small Copper at 'New Fields' Trent Park, 4 Small Skipper at 'New Fields' Trent Park, 1 Comma near Sports Field at Trent Park - my first of the summer-brood, 4 Small White (1 near Sports Field at Trent Park, 3 at Park Farm, Enfield), 9 Small Tortoiseshell (1 near Sports Field at Trent Park, 2 at Park Farm near Duncan's Wd, 1 at Parkside Farm/Res, Enfield, 5 at Vicarage Farm - 3 at Hog Hill and 2 courting at firing range), 1 Marbled White near Snakes Lane, Trent Park - my first of the year, a batch of Peacock caterpillars on nettles near Snakes Lane, Trent Park, 1 Holly Blue near Snakes Lane, Trent Park, 1 Yellow Shell at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998). Another large batch of Peacock caterpillars (well grown) near Triangular Wd, Trent Park this evening Robert Callf 9 Jun Dark Green Fritillary between Aston End and High Wood Benington this morning at TL281233 Phil Bishop 9 Jun 1 Small Blue at Westbrook Hay, Boxmoor, Herts. Singleton most likely wanderer from nearby Bourne End colony, no Kidney vetch present as far as I could see Ashley Cox 9 Jun This morning I had two firsts of the year for me: 3 Meadow Browns 1 in the anthill meadow and 2 in the top meadow on my Alexandra Park transect. At my Allotment in Muswell Hill 1 Painted Lady Dee Cullen 9 Jun A walk on a surprisingly sunny late morning around Stapleford and Waterford north of Hertford revealed my first Marbled White of the year, followed a little later by my latest Orange-tip of the year, a smart male, not often I record these two species on the same day Andrew Wood 9 Jun On a quick visit to the Grubb ground area in Park Wood, Ruislip this morning (TQ09708895) we saw our first White Admiral of the year (which is earlier than previous years). It was seen at the north end of Grubb ground adjacent to the Pylon Ride. Also seen was a Small Skipper, 6 Speckled Wood and 5 Meadow Browns Sue & Steve Place 9 Jun Two Marbled Whites were seen today on Ox-Eye Daisies alongside a field of Oats at Redwell Wood Farm, South Mymms (TL209022). Also seen on our walk were Small Tortoiseshell (10+), Meadow Brown (10+) and Speckled Wood (3) Terry Wood 8 Jun At Oakwood Park, N14 (1635 - 1720 hrs) - 9 Orange Conch - Commophila aeneana - 3 W of 10 km line, 6 E of 10 km line, 2 Yellow Shell - 1 W of 10 km line, 1 E of 10 km line, 2 Small Skipper including at least one male E of 10 km line - my first of the year Robert Callf 8 Jun Small Skipper seen at Horsenden Hill East, Ealing (TQ161843) John Eborall 8 Jun Another early record (this time for Marbled White) on Therfield Heath. Therfield Heath (Church Hill): Dark Green Fritillary (2), Marbled White (5), Small Tortoiseshell (2), Small Heath (10+), Meadow Brown (10+). No blues were seen during a short visit this morning in chilly weather Martin Johnson 8 Jun My first Marbled White of 2020 in Hertford John Harris 7 Jun This afternoon - 4 Small Heath at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097), also here 1 Small Tortoiseshell on bramble along Leeging Beech Gutter at 1224 hrs, 1 Small Tortoiseshell at Parkside Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) at 1239 hrs, a batch of Peacock caterpillars on nettles at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998), 1 Small Tortoiseshell at Holly Hill Farm, Enfield (TQ289998) at 1348 hrs. 1 Yellow Shell at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - my first of the year Robert Callf 7 Jun Barham Park, Wembley - 5 Meadow Brown Shailesh Patel 5 Jun Walking in the Much Hadham area we saw very few butterflies in the cool and showery weather, just the occasional Meadow Brown. However, nearing the village the clouds blew away, the sun came out and we saw a male Orange-tip looking in very good condition.(TL433187) Roger Newbold 3 Jun Found a batch of Peacock caterpillars on nettles at Whitewebbs Farm, Enfield (TL327004) this evening Robert Callf 3 Jun St Albans - approx 200 Peacock caterpillars on the nettle patch on my allotment Malcolm Hull 2 Jun Letchworth, Hillbrow Area - Small Heath x2, Small White x2, Meadow Brown x30+, Large Skipper x11, Brown Argus x5, Common Blue x3m and Small Blue x17 (includes 2fm egg laying and a mating pair) Roger Millard 2 Jun This evening (after 1830 hrs) - 4 Small Tortoiseshell and 1 Small Heath at Vicarage Farm (TQ3097) Robert Callf 2 Jun This afternoon I saw a couple of Meadow Browns on the on Bricket Wood Common transect route for the first time this year, Section 4 along the 'Gas Ride' (TL130012) (I wasn't walking the transect, having done Week 9 on Thursday, and I saw a Meadow Brown on the Common yesterday) Chris Newman 2 Jun Broxbourne woods this morning. Small Tortoiseshell=1, Speckled Wood=6, Meadow Brown=3, Large Skipper=3, Silver-washed Fritillary=1 (never seen one this early before). Speckled Yellow moth=1 Chris Benton 2 Jun We enjoyed a late afternoon walk of about 4 miles starting from Appleby Street and heading to Bencroft and Wormley Woods. We saw in TL3304, 3 Small Heath, 1 Speckled Wood, 3 Large Skipper, 2 Meadow Brown; in TL3305, 1 Small White and 1 Small Tortoiseshell; in TL3306, 2 Meadow Brown; in TL3205, 1 Speckled Wood, 1 Red Admiral, 4 Large Skipper and 1 Holly Blue. All the butterflies were in fields and hedgerows; disappointingly all we saw in the woods were grey squirrels, not a single butterfly even along the rides Roger Newbold 2 Jun Walked along Ebury way, Watford spotting 3 Speckled Wood, 4 Meadow Brown, 1 Comma. At Croxley Green Moor recordings were 1 Small White, 18 Small Heath, 6 Meadow Brown, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Small Copper, 1 Common Blue and 5 Cinnabar moths David Gower 2 Jun Hounslow. Another sweltering sunny day that really would fit better in August along with the dried grasses and the fire that they encouraged. A few more butterflies today though: Speckled Wood: 5, Red Admiral: 1 Small Heath: 13, Comma: 1, Common Blue: 1, Meadow Brown: 4, Brown Argus: 1. The Meadow Browns here are not my first of the year overall, that was one in my garden on Sunday 31st May when it was joined by a Small White. Few whites seen today and none identified Peter Gore 1 Jun Seen at Islip Manor meadows: single Common Blue accompanied by a Brown Argus, 2 Large Skippers, 2 Meadow Brown, 1 unidentified white, 3 Burnet moths plus many Burnet Companions Paul Lane 1 Jun Another early evening trip to Sewit's Hill Monken Hadley Common. Around 18 Meadow Browns, 1 male Large Skipper, 1 Comma, 2 Small Heath Miles Attenborough 1 Jun 1 Burnet Companion and 4 Small Heath at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097), also here 3 Small Tortoiseshell at Hog Hill, Vicarage Farm (TQ3097) at 1638 hrs, 2 male Large Skipper clashing at Parkside Farm/Res, Enfield (TQ2998) at 1738 hrs, also 1 Small Tortoiseshell here, 1 Large Skipper along Jubilee Path at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ293987) at 1809 hrs, 1 Small Heath and 1 Small Copper along Jubilee Path at Bay Farm (TQ298985) Robert Callf 1 Jun Chiswell Green Lane, beyond the Royal Entomological Society, public footpath 28 (TL124044) has a short stretch which, from the satellite picture, borders the former Butterfly World and Gardens of the Rose, I think and would explain why the grasses and plants are of interest to butterflies. Saw Meadow Brown (1), Brimstone (2), Small Blue (3), Small Tortoiseshell (min. 4), Large Skipper (4), Small White (1), Small Heath (2) Alison Hill 1 Jun Aldbury Nowers - Following the report on 30th by Andrew Neild, I went over to look for the Dark Green Fritillary. I found 3 in the mid compartment at the bottom of the slope. Thankfully one settled long enough for a photo. There is increasing amounts of Kidney Vetch by the path in top compartment which yielded 2 Small Blue. Meadow Brown (50+) and Small Heath (30+) were most abundant species on site. On the moth front - Cinnabar, Lesser Treble-bar and Burnet Companion seen Chris Hilling 1 Jun Meadow Brown returned to Bengeo garden. Also Speckled Wood Simon Knott 1 Jun At St James churchyard, Bushey 2 Speckled Wood, 1 Holly Blue, 1 Meadow Brown. At Bushey manor field only a lone Meadow Brown. Lastly at Fishers field 2 Meadow Brown. 1 Small Tortoiseshell and 1 Cinnabar moth David Gower May Date Description Recorder 31 May 8 Small Blues found roosting on the Butterfly World/Rose Farm Boundary (TL124042) Mandy Floyd 31 May I had a late afternoon walk round Sewit's Hill in Monken Hadley Common (TQ268973) and saw 6 Small Heath, 3 Meadow Brown, 1 Large Skipper and 1 Small Tortoiseshell. At a bench in a sunny clearing at TQ269969 we watched 3 Comma duelling for territory, two a bit faded and one very fresh one, one landed on my wife's finger and then knee Miles Attenborough 31 May Tyttenhanger Gravel Pits this morning: 1 Painted Lady; 5 Small Tortoiseshell; 1 Small Heath. Then a payoff this afternoon from "no mow May" in our front garden in Queensbury with a Meadow Brown. First for the garden. Gives me an excuse for no mow first week of June! Tony Blake 31 May Oxhey woods northern section 3 Speckled Wood. Southern section 1 Red Admiral David Gower 31 May Barham Park, Wembley : Brimstone, Meadow Brown and a Large Skipper Shailesh Patel 31 May Millhoppers Reserve - Mid morning walk at the Reserve found 3 Speckled Wood, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Small White and a fresh Meadow Brown. Also a male Brimstone nectaring on the Red Campion and a Large Skipper nectaring on the Birds foot Trefoil. Numerous Grass Veneer moths seen all over the site Chris Hilling 31 May I finally remembered this year to go to Frogmore GPs in May and try & find a Grizzled Skipper. I guess I left a little late but found one as soon as I got there. Unfortunately the only one though. Also two Small Copper interacting /chasing Tom Speller 30 May 1 Willow Beauty at ASDA Southgate Robert Callf 30 May Cheshunt (TL368028): Speckled Wood - 3, Small Tortoiseshell - 5 all look very fresh new brood, Holly Blue - 4, Green veined White - 1, Small White 1 Broxbourne Silvermead (TL371064): Orange-tip 2, Green-veined White 1, Holly Blue 2, Small Tortoiseshell 2 Wareside: Small Tortoiseshell - 2, Holly Blue - 4, Orange-tip - 1, Green-veined White 2, Large White - 1, Speckled Wood - 1, Comma - 1 and Camberwell Beauty - 1. My son found the Camberwell Beauty in the orchard on an old apple tree trunk, his description was excellent Phil & Oliver MacMurdie 30 May 3 Small Tortoiseshell (1 at Hog Hill, Vicarage Farm, 1 at Parkside Farm - TQ2998, 1 at Park Farm nectaring on bramble blossom), 1 Mother Shipton nectaring on Giant Hogweed along Leeging Beech Gutter at Vicarage Farm (TQ3097), also at Vicarage Farm - 1 Small Heath and 1 male Beautiful Demoiselle - my first of the year, 1 male Large Skipper at Parkside Farm/Res, Enfield at 1800 hrs - my first of the year. 1 Common Swift at ASDA Southgate - my first of the year Robert Callf 30 May Merryhill fields again. Sightings were 26 Meadow Brown, 3 Large Skipper (my first this year), 2 Common Blue, 2 Speckled Wood, 1 Holly Blue, 2 Brimstone. In Bushey garden 1 Small Magpie moth David Gower 30 May I got back from a lovely afternoon at Aldbury Nowers, and am keen to report at least 2 Dark Green Fritillaries (I saw two together around flowers, but also 5 sightings within 200 yards of solitary individuals, all flying, so there was no way to say if they were the same specimens or not). I arrived after midday. Despite the glorious sunshine, most butterflies were present in low numbers, or entirely absent: vanessids were conspicuously missing, and I saw no skippers whatsoever, but there were 2 Brown Argus, a few Speckled Woods, good numbers of Brimstones and and very fresh Meadow Browns, while the most numerous butterflies were dozens of Small Heath Andrew Neild 30 May During a walk through grassland and woods (principally Bencroft, Cowheath, Brambles and Wormley woods) we saw the following: in TL3304, 2 Small Heath; in TL3305, 2 Speckled Wood, 1 Small Tortoiseshell; in TL3306, 1 Large Skipper (on bramble flowers), 1 Six-spot Burnet moth, 2 Small Heath, 1 Small White; in TL3307, 1 Small White; in TL3308, 5 Small Heath, 2 Meadow Brown; in TL3207, 1 Small White, 5 Small Heath, 3 Meadow Brown and finally in TL3106, 2 Speckled Wood Roger Newbold 30 May White-letter Hairstreak this morning on local north London elms Andrew Middleton 29 May 1 Painted Lady at Hog Hill, Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) at 1553 hrs, 3 Small Heath at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097), also here 1 Holly Blue, 1 Peacock and 1 Small Tortoiseshell. 1 Straw Dot at Parkside Farm/Res, Enfield (TQ2998) - my first of the year, also here 2 Small Tortoiseshell clashing at 1637 hrs, 1 Holly Blue at Strayfield Rd near St John the Baptist Church (TQ318988) at 1754 hrs Robert Callf 29 May I was hoping to find Small Blues, and lingered behind the old Butterfly World site, on Footpath 28 (TL124043) before continuing to the new chalk bank in Greenwood Park. No luck with the Small Blues, but behind Butterfly World was a good site for butterflies. I saw several Meadow Browns, my first of the year. A couple of Holly Blues flew over, and I took a photo of what I thought was a perched Common Blue, but looking at the photo, although the spots on the underwing aren't well developed, I think it's a Brown Argus. There were also several Small Tortoiseshells behind Butterfly World, and male Brimstones and some whites flying over. On my way home I was delighted to see a Small Heath on Bricket Wood Common (Transect Section 7 TL132008) Chris Newman 29 May Hounslow. A little more variety but very low numbers for a continuously sunny day: Small Tortoiseshell: 1, Speckled Wood: 1, Small Copper: 1, Small Heath: 5, Holly Blue: 1 and a Cinnabar. My first Painted Lady of the year seen in my garden, nectaring for quite some time on Red Valerian on 27 May Peter Gore 29 May A41 Bourne End Junction - 31 Small Blues, 1 Meadow Brown and 2 new brood Small Tortoiseshells. I saw 6 Small Blues on a single Birds foot Trefoil plant, including a mating pair, who were bombarded by two other amorous males. There was a good amount of Kidney Vetch on the south/east bound side of the road, but much less than last year on the north/west bound side. At Redbourn Lane/bypass I saw 2 Small Blues plus 2 Meadow Browns. Several dozen Kidney Vetch plants flowering here and nice to see the Small Blue as I could not find it here last year. A female was egg laying on a Kidney Vetch flower. Later at Folly Lane St Albans, 5 fresh Small Tortoiseshells Malcolm Hull 29 May My wife and I took our walk at the Heartswood Forest, and were very pleased to see 4 Small Blues on the kidney vetch there (TL167114). We also saw 1 Meadow Brown, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Common Blue, 1 Brimstone(f), 6 Small Heath and 1 Cinnabar Terry Wood 29 May First of the new brood Small Tortoiseshells nectaring on Bowles Mauve in my St Albans garden at lunchtime Malcolm Hull 28 May While gardening (St Albans), I spotted an unusual grey lump on an old apple pruning. It was a beautiful Puss Moth Mandy Floyd 28 May Therfield Heath (Old Rifle Range): Adonis Blue (2 males), Common Blue (5), Brown Argus (20+), Small Heath (40+), Meadow Brown (2). The Old Rifle Range is at the east end of Therfield Heath, one mile as the crow (or Adonis Blue???) flies from Church Hill..... Martin Johnson 28 May 12 male Meadow Brown and 1 Speckled Wood at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097), also here 8 Small Heath. 3 Cinnabar at Parkside Farm near Hadley Rd (TQ302980), 1 Small Tortoiseshell at Parkside Farm/Res, Enfield (TQ2998) at 1126 hrs, 2 male Meadow Brown at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998), also here 1 Green-veined White and 1 Small Tortoiseshell. 1 Small Heath at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park and 5 Meadow Brown at Trent Park (2 field near Dew Pond, 3 S edge of Williams Wd) Robert Callf 28 May This morning my wife called me out to see a Painted Lady on our lawn at Bricket Wood Chris Newman 27 May 2 male Meadow Brown at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) - my first of the year, 3 Small Tortoiseshell (1 at Vicarage Farm - TQ3097, 2 at Park Farm, Enfield - TQ2998), 1 Small Heath at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097), 1 Green-veined White at Parkside Farm, Enfield (TQ302980), also here 2 Golden-bloomed Grey Longhorn Beetles at 1640 hrs - my first of the year, 1 Red Admiral along Salmons Brook at Parkside Farm, Enfield at 1645 hrs, 1 Burnet Companion at Parkside Farm/Res, Enfield (TQ2998), 1 Green-veined White at Duncan's Wd, Enfield Chase, 1 Green Oak Tortrix at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) - my first of the year. A batch of Small Tortoiseshell caterpillars on nettles at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ2998) this afternoon, coinciding with 3 adults today which were newly emerged Robert Callf 27 May Went to 2 familiar places adjacent to the St Albans WWA local nature reserve. Through the gate I could see a Peacock. Outside the reserve on a slight slope, as per norm, a Comma and after a few minutes a 2nd one briefly. Above this spot, on the Alban Way a Red Admiral which I also expect to see here at this time of year and day. A second one appeared and was even sunning itself but was promptly dispatched. Also usually see a Speckled Wood here (if I venture into the nettles) - and saw two. And a Holly Blue. In both places a few unidentified small whites Alison Hill 27 May At Aldbury Nowers this morning: Large Skipper, Common Blue and Mother Shipton Richard Callf 27 May St Albans - strolled round the exterior of the old Butterfly World site before breakfast. 3 Small Blues, all sunning themselves perched on long grass where they had been roosting overnight. 1 Small Heath, 1 Small White and about 50 Peacock larvae on nettles. Although there is no access to the Butterfly World site itself, the view through the fence showed that Kidney Vetch is still thriving there. Late report from 25 May - 3 Small Blues at Heartwood Forest Malcolm Hull 26 May 1 Garden Carpet at Dalrymple Close, N14 at 2300 hrs. 1 White Ermine at ASDA Southgate at 2335 hrs Robert Callf 26 May Meadow Brown at SP948132, near Albury Nowers/Northfield Grange Rikki Harrington 26 May Oakwood Park (1210 - 1300 hrs) - 1 female Holly Blue W of 10 km line at Conservation Pond 1216 hrs, 3 small clusters of Peacock caterpillars on nettles at Conservation Pond, 4+ Small Heath E of 10 km line, 5 Burnet Companion E of 10 km line, 4 Mother Shipton E of 10 km line, 8 Orange Conch - Commophila aeneana - including two 'fresh individuals' E of 10 km line, 1 Cinnabar E of 10 km line, 1 male Common Blue E of 10 km line. 1 male Holly Blue at Boxer's Lake, Enfield at 1316 hrs and 1 Common Marbled Carpet at ASDA Southgate - my first of the year Robert Callf 25 May Highlights from this afternoon walk at Heartwood Forest: 1 Large Skipper still in the same area as last week, 1 Small Blue opposite the scout hut, 3 Common Blues a possible Brown Argus and 37 Small Heaths Andrew Steele 25 May 3 Large White - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL1930) David Inward 25 May Another visit to Merryhill fields, Bushey. Sightings were 1 Small Heath, 3 Common Blue, 9 Brimstone, 1 Peacock, 2 Speckled Wood, 1 Brown Argus & 1 male Meadow Brown (my first of year). Moths were 3 Mother Shipton & 6 Burnet Companion David Gower 25 May Millhoppers Reserve - Mid afternoon walk. Low numbers in the heat but another species to add. 3 male Brimstone and single Small White, Green-veined White, Speckled Wood, Brown Argus, Peacock and Orange-tip, a male. New for the year was a male Large Skipper. Also saw many Common Blue and White-legged damselfly plus a Cinnabar moth Chris Hilling 25 May Barham Park, Wembley: 1 Brimstone and 1 Small Heath Shailesh Patel 24 May I had the following at Wood Farm, part of Stanmore Country Park (TQ175935): 1 Painted Lady, 1+ Green-veined White, 2 Peacock Tony Blake 24 May Letchworth (Hillbrow): Small Blue (20), most close to the rail track in the lower field. Also plenty of Common Blues and Brown Argus in the same areas and a few Small Heath and Brimstone butterflies across the site Martin Johnson 24 May Visited Church Hill at Therfield Heath this morning in strong wind and occasional sun. Disturbed 7 male and 2 female Adonis Blue and also 2 Small Heath on route from the car park. It was my first visit to Therfield Heath and it was nice to also find White Helleborine growing in Fox Covert Nature Reserve although not yet in flower Miles Attenborough 23 May Hounslow. Breezy and brief rain showers, unsurprisingly sightings were low with Small Coppers and Small Heaths seeming to be blowing past me as much as flying: Small Copper: 2, Small Heath: 3, Speckled Wood: 1 Peter Gore 23 May 1 Orange-tip female - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303) David Inward 23 May At Merryhill fields, Bushey 3 Common Blue only butterflies seen. Also 3 Mother Shipton moths David Gower 22 May One male Small White on Red Valerian and 3 Holly Blue on the holly tree and Cotoneaster in my garden in Bounds Green at lunchtime Miles Attenborough 22 May 10 Small Heath including three together at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097), 1 Brown Silver-line flushed from bracken SW edge of Rough Lot, Trent Park Robert Callf 22 May Millhoppers Reserve - Walked over this afternoon not expecting too much with the blustery conditions. 1 Green-veined White, 1 Small White and 2 Speckled Wood near the entrance. But in the top pasture dancing around within the long grasses were 2 Common Blue and 2 Brown Argus. 14 species this year so far on the site Chris Hilling 21 May I showed Tanya, the new ranger for Bricket Wood Common (and Nomansland Common), the route of the Bricket Wood Common transect. On our way round I spotted and photographed a Small Heath (TL131007; only 19 have been recorded during the transect from 1997 onwards, and 12 of those were in 2013, with 4 last year. I hope seeing one today is a sign I'll see some to record for the transect, and that the cattle grazing over the last few years is improving the site for these butterflies Chris Newman 21 May 3 Peacock (1 at Vicarage Farm - TQ3097, 1 at Parkside Farm/Res - TQ2998, 1 at Park Farm, Enfield - TQ2998), 2 Painted Lady (1 at Hog Hill, Vicarage Farm - TQ3097 at 1550 hrs, 1 flew N at Park Farm, Enfield at 1643 hrs), 2 Small Heath at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (1 at TQ3097, 1 at TQ2997), 1 female Large White at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ3097) and 2 Mother Shipton (1 at Parkside Farm/Res - TQ2998 and 1 at Vicarage Farm - TQ2997). Female Orange-tip settled edge of Water Grdn, Trent Park late afternoon Robert Callf 21 May At Stanmore Country Park 12 male Common Blues, 5 Small Heath (my first of year), 1 Green-veined White. Moths were 8 Burnet Companion & 1 Cinnabar. 1 Speckled Wood at Stanmore Common ( TQ158938) and lastly 1 Large White in Bushey garden David Gower 20 May A big improvement to 18 butterflies on the Bricket Wood Common transect despite very similar hot sunny conditions to the day before Chris Newman 20 May A late afternoon stroll in Fishers field produced 1 Brimstone, 1 Holly Blue, 1 Orange-tip. Bushey garden 1 Small White, 1 Holly Blue and 1 Cinnabar moth David Gower 20 May Aldbury Nowers: Brimstone, Common Blue, Orange-tip, Small Heath, Green Hairstreak, Grizzled Skipper, Mother Shipton and the Cinnabar Moth Shailesh Patel 20 May Millhoppers Reserve - A mid-morning walk before it got too hot. 3 Green-veined White, 2 male Orange-tip, 2 male Brimstone, 1 male Holly Blue, 2 Speckled Wood and 1 Large White. A few Nettle Tap moth also seen plus many White Legged Damselfly and first Golden bloomed Grey Longhorn Beetle of the year Chris Hilling 20 May Aldbury Nowers (1045 - 1330 hrs) - 5+ Brimstone - 3 males & 2 females, 4+ Small Heath, 4 Dingy Skipper including two together, 2 Grizzled Skipper, 2 male Orange-tip, 1 Green Hairstreak, 1 Cinnabar. 1 Poplar Kitten at ASDA Southgate this evening near an outside light Robert & Richard Callf 19 May Only 5 butterflies recorded on the 1st Bricket Wood Common transect of the year, but I watched a female Brimstone spend a long time inspecting the top of an alder buckthorn (TL130009) Chris Newman 19 May In the garden Wareside - The Brimstones are still very active egg laying on the buckthorn, whist Orange-tips are still finding vacant hedge mustard to lay more eggs, although there are quite a few caterpillars now. Holly Blues are frequent visitors and been seen laying eggs on dogwood flower buds. We have had them on the berries before but not the flower buds. Several other "unidentified whites". Brimstone - 6, Red Admiral - 1, Holly Blue - 4, Orange-tip - 7, Small Tortoiseshell - 2, Brown Argus - 1, Green-veined White - 3, Small White - 2, Comma - 1, Peacock - 2, Speckled Wood - 1 Field margin at Wareside (TL401153) - Small Copper - 1, Small Heath - 2, Orange-tip - 7, Brimstone - 3, Peacock - 2, Small Tortoiseshell - 2, Small White - 2, Green-veined White - 2, Holly Blue - 1 Field margin Wareside (TL398150) - Small Heath - 2, Orange-tip - 5, Brimnstone - 3, Peacock - 1, Small Tortoiseshell - 1, Small White - 2, Green-veined White - 4, Holly Blue - 2, Red Admiral - 1 And from the Broxbourne River side Silvermeade reserves (TL372063) - A walk along the river and into the Silvermeade reserves yielded brief sightings of water voles and lots of banded demoiselle damselflies. Orange-tip - 10, Holly Blue - 2, Peacock - 2, Red Admiral - 2, Small White - 1, Green-veined White - 5, Small Heath - 1 Phil & Oliver MacMurdie 19 May St Albans - this evening I disturbed a female Brimstone, roosting underneath the raspberry canes on my allotment. She was perched in low vegetation about 3 inches off the ground. She quickly settled back into the same position after being accidentally watered. I think she may have been keen to stay in this spot as the raspberries are right next to my Alder Buckthorns Malcolm Hull 19 May Hounslow. Despite high temperatures and plenty of sun here we seem to have arrived at something like a mid-season lull as far as numbers of butterflies are concerned: Holly Blue: 3, Green-veined White: 1, Peacock: 2, Speckled Wood: 1, Brimstone: 2, Common Blue: 1, Small Heath: 4, Orange-tip: 2 Peter Gore 19 May I found and photographed a Small Blue on the chalk bank at Butterfield LNR in Wheathampstead. There is a small patch of Kidney Vetch there, but not much. This individual may have come from the Heartwood colony. I also saw the first Common Blue for this year Trevor Chapman 19 May 2 male Common Blue at Oakwood Park (1 W of 10 km line, 1 E of 10 km line), 9 Mother Shipton (1 W of 10 km line, 8 E of 10 km line), 3 Small Heath at Oakwood Park (all E of 10 km line), 1 Orange Conch (Commophila aeneana) at Oakwood Park E of 10 km line - my earliest ever and first May record - at 1409 hrs, 2 Burnet Companion at Oakwood Park E of 10 km line, 1 Holly Blue at Lower Kenwood Ave, N14 at 1458 hrs, 1 Holly Blue and 1 male Orange-tip at Boxer's Lake near Play Ground Robert Callf 19 May 2 Small White - St Faiths Close south, Hitchin (TL198302) David Inward 19 May A long LEW which took in TL3614, TL3814 and TL3816 proved to be very hot but productive in finding Small Heath. 5 completely new sites were found in areas almost void of records in the past years (to my knowledge). Three were fields where they were visible through binoculars and the last find was an small area of derelict grassland just 150m (as the butterfly flies) from my Ware garden. A total of 14 adults seen. Failed to find Holly Blue in TL3816 but numerous fast flying unidentifiable whites. Orange-tips and Brimstones were still out in force including an egg laying Brimstone female in our garden. Also near to home a few Peacocks and a Small Tortoiseshell Liz Goodyear 19 May Cycled along Ebury Way adjacent to Croxley Green moor (TQ 095947) where I saw 4 Small Copper & 1 Peacock. At Woodcock Hill Cemetery, Rickmansworth (TQ 058931) were 2 Common Blue, 1 Brown Argus, 1 Cinnabar moth & 1 Burnet Companion David Gower 18 May 1 male Holly Blue at The Ridgeway, Enfield (TQ 316968) at 1035 hrs, 1 Speckled Wood and 1 Peacock near New Cottage Farm, Potters Bar (TL 272000) at 1055 and 1059 hrs, 1 male Large White and 1 Green-veined White near New Cottage Farm, Potters Bar (TL 272005) at 1105 hrs, 1 male Orange-tip near New Cottage Farm, Potters Bar (TL 273008) at 1111 hrs, 3+ Alabonia geoffrella at Fir & Pond Woods NR (TL 277007), also here 1 Green-veined White, 1 male Brimstone, 1 Holly Blue and 1+ Peacock. 1 Silver-ground Carpet at Fir & Pond Woods NR (TL 277005). 1 Mother Shipton at Dalrymple Close, N14 (TQ 297949) at 1645 hrs - unusual to see one on the grass verge here, probably a stray from nearby Oakwood Park Robert Callf 18 May Cycled to Bentley Priory nature reserve this afternoon noting 4 Common Blue males, 1 Brown Argus, both my first of the year. Also spotted 1 Small White, 1 Peacock & 1 Small Copper. A brief stop at St James churchyard seeing 1 Green-veined White, 1 Speckled Wood, 1 Holly Blue & 1 Red Admiral David Gower 18 May Eastcote Lane Cemetery, Harrow: 2 Common Blue Shailesh Patel 17 May Wareside garden. Holly Blue - 5, Peacock - 2, Red Admiral 3, Orange-tip - 5, Brimstone - 5, Small White 1, Green-veined White - 1. Also we have had Sandy Carpet (4 seen) emerging from the bladder campions in the front garden Phil & Oliver MacMurdie 17 May Heartwood Forest. Highlight was finding an early Large Skipper roughly at TL155109 also present 22 Small Heaths, 9 Brimstones, 7 Orange-tips, 3 Peacocks and a Red Admiral plus a couple of Mother Shipton moths Andrew Steele 17 May A Small Heath at Merryhill Bushey. First one I have personally seen on the site this year John Liberty 17 May Back to Merryhill fields but not a lot of activity. 3 Small White, 1 Peacock, 3 Brimstone, 1 Green-veined White & 1 Small Copper my first of the year David Gower 17 May Following the appearance of Adonis Blue at Church Hill last year, I checked the site for first brood early this morning. I found 6 males roosting and when the sun broke through the number was certainly in excess of 20. Fewer females flying but probably more than 10 seen. FYI double figures of Brown Argus & Common Blue, c. 5 Small Heath James Fowler 16 May Widford. Orange-tip - 3, Brimstone - 3, Red Admiral - 1, Peacock - 2, Holly Blue - 1 Phil & Oliver MacMurdie 16 May We were walking in the fields near Little Gaddesden near Hemel and noticed the farmer had left a field margin for wild flowers and grasses. Sunbathing amongst the grasses was this Burnet Companion. We also saw Orange-tips nearer the river and Small Whites fluttering around the hedges and over the meadows Chris Ridley 16 May Visit to Islip Manor meadows this morning: 2 rather fresh looking Small Heath and 2 Burnet Companion, not much else flying in cool overcast conditions Paul Lane 15 May I had a female Holly Blue nectaring on Thyme in my garden in Bounds Green followed by an early evening walk in Oakwood Park where I found three Small Heath (TQ 304952) Miles Attenborough 15 May 1 female Small Copper at Oakwood Park W of 10 km line at 1732 hrs, 2 Small Heath at Oakwood Park E of 10 km line and 3+ Mother Shipton at Oakwood Park E of 10 km line Robert Callf 15 May St Albans. White species dominated on my stroll along the Ver Valley towards Redbourn this afternoon. Green-veined Whites dominated, followed by Orange-tips, with several Large Whites, a Small White and a Brimstone. Numbers of other butterflies seem to have dropped during a week where we have had three frosts. The only other butterfly sightings were 2 Peacocks and 1 Small Tortoiseshell. The star of the day was a Muslin Moth, which stopped obligingly for a photo Malcolm Hull 15 May Bushey garden were several Whites, 1 Brimstone moth & 1 Light Brown Apple David Gower 15 May Hounslow. Although overall numbers seemed a little low in increasingly dry conditions, I was pleased to see my first Brown Argus of the year nevertheless. Here's the full list: Holly Blue: 1, Peacock: 7, Brimstone: 1, Orange-tip: 2, Brown Argus: 1, Green-veined White: 2, Small Heath: 1, Common Blue: 1, three Cinnabar moths and a Mother Shipton looking impressive on a Cow Parsley flower-head Peter Gore 14 May 1 Small Heath at Monken Hadley Common (TQ 267972) at 1139 hrs. 1 Small Dusty Wave at Cedars Court, Edmonton, N9 (TQ 334939) in bus-stop shelter Robert Callf 14 May Out between Hertford and Ware I found a group of 1st instar Peacock caterpillars, the first I've seen this year Andrew Wood 14 May At Fishers field 2 Orange-tip, 1 Small White & 1 Green-veined White. Water Lane, Watford were 2 Peacock, 4 Green-veined White & 1 Small White David Gower 13 May 1 male Small White settled near Saxon Way, N14 entrance at Oakwood Park this afternoon at 1403 hrs Robert Callf 13 May Despite a lot of cloud and also very breezy, nice to find a fresh Small Copper beside the Fanhams Tributaries in TL3815 and in TL3716 just south of Cold Christmas Lane 2 Small Heath, 1 Common Blue and 1 Brown Argus, taking my adult species count for the year to 16! Yesterday on a small area of uncut grass near the river Ash and close to the Hollycross Road from Ware to Stanstead Abbotts there were 9 Small Heath flying! Liz Goodyear 12 May 1 Small Heath at Oakwood Park, N14 E of 10 km line at TQ 301953 at 1128 hrs, 1 Speckled Wood edge of Water Grdn, Trent Park at TQ 296979 at 1300 hrs, 2 Green-veined White at Trent Park (1 edge of Moat Wd, 1 by Lower Lake), 1 Small Heath at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ 300972) at 1435 hrs Robert Callf 11 May 1 female Small Copper near Water Garden, Trent Park at 1406 hrs - sheltered in a sunny spot Robert Callf 10 May Visited Oakwood Park in Enfield at around 11.30 just as weather was beginning to turn cold. 1 Small Copper, 3 Small Heath and 2 Mother Shipton moths in the south east of the park Miles Attenborough 9 May Went on a family walk through Arnos Park and Oakhill Park, 8 Holly Blue, 2 Speckled Wood, 1 Peacock, 2 male Brimstones, 2 male Orange-tips, various white butterflies including 1 female Orange-tip laying eggs on garlic mustard Miles Attenborough 9 May Recorded this afternoon on Therfield Heath, Church Hill area. 5 Adonis Blue, 17+ Small Heath, 30+ Brown Argus and much lesser numbers of Brimstone, Orange-Tip, Common Blue, Small White, Red Admiral Adrian Cooper Caroline Scott 9 May 7+ Mother Shipton at Oakwood Park (1 W of 10 km line, 6+ E of 10 km line), 1 Small Heath at Oakwood Park E of 10 km line at TQ 302952 at 1608 hrs. 2 Holly Blue at Boxer's Lake, Enfield and a female Orange-tip here at TQ 306962 at 1650 hrs, 1 male Orange-tip at Bincote Rd, EN2 at TQ 309964 at 1710 hrs Robert Callf 9 May I was walking near Jubilee wood in Gadebridge park, when I went 'off piste' a little to look at a beautiful patch of Speedwell. I was surprised to see 2 Brown Argus, a Small Copper and a Mother Shipton moth in this small area of grassland. Dacorum's new policy is to leave more patches of grass unmown during the summer months, which is a big improvement on the uniform short turf of previous years Chris Ridley 9 May A walk around Hillbrow, LGC, Brimstone x11fm & 6m, Small Copper x2, Small Heath x1, Orange-tip x3m and Small Blue x1, the earliest sighting I am aware of from this site Roger Millard 9 May 1 Orange-tip - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303), 1 Brimstone, 1 Orange-tip - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL1930) David Inward 9 May Sightings in Bushey garden were Holly Blue, Comma, Peacock, Orange-tip, Green-veined White, Small White. The Cinnabar moth turned up again on lid of moth trap David Gower 9 May Hounslow. Morning sunshine and the following butterflies: Speckled Wood: 5, Orange-tip: 5, Small Copper: 3, Holly Blue: 5, Green Hairstreak: 3, Peacock: 10, Small White: 1, Common Blue 3, Red Admiral: 1, Green-veined White: 4, Comma: 1 plus one Cinnabar and a likely Mother Shipton moth. Yesterday a heavily veined female Green-veined White briefly in my garden with a minimum of two Holly Blues Peter Gore 9 May Aldbury Nowers - Lots to see on my morning exercise walk. Many Brimstones, Green-veined Whites, Orange-tips plus Green Hairstreak and numerous Dingy Skippers. Most abundant species seen were Small Heath in the lower compartments. I saw my first 4 Brown Argus of the year in the same area. Also saw Cinnabar, Burnet Companion and 5 Small Yellow Underwing moths Chris Hilling 9 May Barham Park, Wembley : Common Blue, Brimstone, Orange-tip and a Speckled Wood Shailesh Patel 8 May Therfield Heath: Adonis Blue (1), Common Blue (4 males), Brown Argus (36), Holly Blue (5), Small Heath (23). Also seen: Small White, Large White, Green-veined White, Orange-tip, Brimstone, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell. Also two Mother Shipton moths. I discovered a very active colony of Brown Argus butterflies (males, females, mating pairs, egg-laying females and variants) on a section of the empty golf course that is normally 'out of bounds' for non-golfers: it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good! Martin Johnson 8 May 1 male Holly Blue at Wolfsen Hillel Primary School, Chase Rd, N14 at 1425 hrs, 1 Holly Blue near Rangers' Hut at Grovelands Park at 1512 hrs, 2 Speckled Wood clashing near Bowling Green, Grovelands Park at 1524 hrs and 2 Mother Shipton near tennis courts at Grovelands Park at 1530 hrs Robert Callf 8 May At least 2 Holly Blues in Bushey garden. A Cinnabar moth was resting on top of my new moth trap this morning. Light Brown Apple moth spotted around honeysuckle also David Gower 8 May A visit to Islip Manor meadows produced following sightings: Small Copper 2, Peacock 2, Orange-tip (m) 1, Green-veined White 1, Small White 1, Burnet Companion 5, plus several unidentified whites Paul Lane 7 May 1 Comma edge of Triangular Wd, Trent Park at 1252 hrs, 3 male Orange-tip at Trent Park (2 'New Fields', 1 edge of Williams Wood), 5 Small Copper at 'New Fields' Trent Park, 3 Peacock at 'New Fields' Trent Park, 1 Small Heath at Sect 6 'New Fields' Trent Park at 1301 hrs - my first of the year! 1 male Brimstone edge of Church Wd, Trent Park at 1317 hrs, 1 Holly Blue edge of Church Wd, Trent Park, 1 Holly Blue at Vicarage Farm near Enfield Rd (TQ 3097) and 1 at Salmons Brook at Enfield Rd Robert Callf 7 May Saw a Small Heath, some Orange-tips and a Holly Blue in my garden in Stocking Pelham Andy Brown 7 May Exercise walk at Oxhey Park this morning and noticed 2 Holly Blue, 4 Brimstone, 1 Green-veined White, 1 Orange-tip. 1 Holly Blue in Bushey garden also David Gower 7 May 1 Small White, 1 Large White, 4 Orange-tip, 4 Holly Blue - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL1930) David Inward 6 May Hounslow. An enjoyable strenuous walk in the sun brought the reward of two more year firsts.The initial bright blue butterfly wasn't quite good enough to claim for Common Blue given the presence of Holly Blue in the same area but a later one which settled justified both. Later still a similar pattern developed with Green Hairstreak but here the rapidly flying suspects really weren't clear enough whilst one which settled was every bit as green as the Common Blues had been blue, to leave no doubt. A good variety overall with Orange-tips surprisingly elusive whilst other whites were perhaps commoner but too active to identify many: Holly Blue: 8, Green-veined White: 4, Peacock: 21, Speckled Wood: 4, Comma: 2, Brimstone: 5, Small Heath: 2, Small White: 1, Common Blue: 2, Orange-tip: 3, Small Tortoiseshell: 2, Small Copper: 1, Green Hairstreak: 1. Yesterday a Red Admiral joined the obligatory 2 Holly Blues in my garden where some fresh holly leaf-tips are being consumed by unseen eaters Peter Gore 6 May 5+ Mother Shipton (1+ W of 10 km line, 4+ E of 10 km line) at Oakwood Park - my first of the year, 1 Peacock W of 10 km line, Oakwood Park, 1 male Common Blue at Oakwood Park (E of 10 km line at TQ 304952) - my first of the year, and 1 Small Copper here also. At Boxer's Lake, Enfield - 1 Peacock at TQ 303961, 2 Holly Blue including a female settled at TQ 306962 and 1 Small White here also. At Salmons Brook, Enfield Rd (TQ 310968) - 1 Holly Blue. At Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ 3097) - 1 Peacock and 1 Small Tortoiseshell. 2 Speckled Wood together near Saxon Way entrance at Oakwood Park (W of 10 km line) at 1420 hrs and 1 at Southgate Chase Allotments at 1746 hrs Robert Callf 6 May Today's permitted walk in Alexandra Park saw my biggest number of sightings in one walk so far this year. Small White (12), Brimstone (8), Holly Blue (8), Large White (4), Green-veined White (1). With the best being my first Small Coppers a pair on a path on the top meadow Dee Cullen 6 May At Merryhill fields 3 Peacock, 2 Orange-tip, 6 Brimstone and frustratingly 17 whites unable to Identify. Home via St James churchyard spotting 4 Orange-tip females, 1 Holly Blue, 1 Large White David Gower 6 May 1 Orange-tip - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303) David Inward 6 May I took my exercise walk around Shrubhill Common in Hemel Hempstead (TL036072). I was very pleased to see two Dingy Skippers - the first I've seen there since 2017. They are easily overlooked at this site, unless they happen to land on the path in front of you. Fortunately this is what happened Roger Prue 6 May In south Fairlands Valley Park, saw 3 Orange-tip, 1 Large White, 3 Peacock, 2 Green-veined White, 2 Small White, 1 Speckled Wood and a Brown Argus (my first of the year and first ever May specimen here) Peter Clarke 6 May A walk around fields yesterday beside the river Ver between Redbourn and Redbournbury produced 6 Peacock, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 2 Brimstone, 2 male Orange-tips, 12+ fast moving, unidentified whites, 1 Green-veined White, 1 Red Admiral, and a blue nectaring on flowers in the grazing meadow at approx. TL121104, which to my surprise was not a Holly Blue but showed the heavily marked underwings of a male Common Blue Pete Waldron 5 May 1 Red Admiral and 1 Holly Blue at Lavender Hill Cemetery (TQ320981) at 1431 and 1436 hrs respectively, 1 Speckled Wood at Flash Lane, EN2 at 1517 hrs Robert Callf 5 May Plenty of activity at Fishers Field. 2 Orange-tip, 4 Brimstone, 2 Holly Blue, 1 Peacock, 1 Speckled Wood, 1 Comma, 3 Green-veined Whites, 2 Small Whites as well as 4 more unable to identify. Next was a walk around edge of Bushey Hall golf club finding 3 Peacock, 5 Orange-tip, 3 Holly Blue, 1 Green-veined White, 2 Small White, 1 Large White and 12 unidentified whites David Gower 5 May 1 Orange-tip - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303), 1 Small White - St Faiths Close south (TL198302) 1 Small White, 1 Large White, 1 Brimstone, 1 Holly Blue - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL1930) David Inward 4 May 1 female Holly Blue at Allotments, Vicarage Farm at 1106 hrs; 1 male Brimstone, 2, male & female, Orange-tip, 1 Small White, 2 Small Tortoiseshell and 2 Speckled Wood at Vicarage Farm, Enfield. 1 male Holly Blue at Ivy Rd, N14 at 1523 hrs Robert Callf 4 May Millhoppers Reserve - Mid afternoon exercise walk found male and female Orange-tip, Green-veined White, Speckled Wood, Brimstone and Red Admiral. But the highlight for me was just as I was leaving I disturbed something which fluttered around my feet for short while before. Settling down in the grass - a very fresh Green Carpet moth Chris Hilling 4 May 1 Holly Blue - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303), 1 Green-veined White - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL1930) David Inward 4 May My first Large White of the year in Bushey garden on lilac. After shopping late afternoon I walked home via Water Lane seeing 1 Green-veined White David Gower 4 May Newton Farm Ecology Park, Harrow HA2 9DA : Painted Lady Shailesh Patel 3 May 1 Brimstone Moth near outside lights at ASDA Southgate this afternoon - my first of the year! Robert Callf 2 May Earliest recorded Painted Lady in Bengeo garden. Also, Green-veined White, Speckled Wood, Holly Blue & Red Admiral Simon Knott 2 May 1 male Orange-tip at Vicarage Farm, 1 Green-veined White edge of Ride Wd, Trent Park, 1 male Orange-tip edge of Rough Lot, Trent Park at 1157 hrs, 1 Red Admiral edge of Moat Wd, Trent Park at 1200 hrs. 1 Holly Blue at Dalrymple Close, N14 at 1033 hrs Robert Callf 2 May Hounslow. A sunny afternoon walk with the highlight being a Small Heath, first of the year for me and two weeks earlier than other years I've been recording. Here are today's sightings: Holly Blue: 10, Speckled Wood: 2, Orange-tip: 9, Peacock: 17, Brimstone: 5, Small Tortoiseshell: 2, Green-veined White: 1, Small Heath: 1, Small Copper: 1 and my first Cinnabar moth of the year. Yesterday a Large White visited my garden, starting May off with what was then the 12th species seen this year Peter Gore 2 May Here are some more butterfly sightings for you from Therfield Heath and an image of the Brown Argus that I saw this morning. Again, this was the earliest date that I have seen Brown Argus locally, although of course I don't normally go on local walks every day! Therfield Heath: Brown Argus (1), Small Heath (4). Also seen: Brimstone, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Orange-tip (10+), Small White and Green-veined White (lots). A Mother Shipton moth was also seen Martin Johnson 2 May 1 Small White - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303), 1 Orange-tip, 5 Holly Blue, 1 Green-veined White, 1 Brimstone - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL1930) David Inward 2 May Back to Fishers field recorded 1 Orange-tip, 2 Brimstone, 1 Speckled Wood, 2 Peacock. Onto Water Lane, Watford finding 3 Peacock, 3 Brimstone, 2 Orange-tips, 2 Holly Blue, 1 Green-veined White, 1 Small White. As often there were many more whites unable to identify. Lastly in Bushey garden 1 Green-veined White & 1 Holly Blue David Gower 1 May 1 Speckled Wood at Vicarage Farm, Enfield at 1207 hrs, 1 male Orange-tip along Leeging Beech Gutter at Vicarage Farm at 1215 hrs, 1 female Orange-tip near Dew Pond, Trent Park at 1400 hrs Robert Callf 1 May Millhoppers Reserve - In between the rain showers four species appeared. A male Orange-tip, 2 Speckled Wood, 2 Green-veined White and 1 Small White Chris Hilling 1 May In a sunny patch this afternoon went to Rickneys quarry. It is sheltered there and I saw 4 Grizzled Skippers, 5 Green-veined Whites, 2 Small Whites and a Peacock Steve Kiln April Date Description Recorder 29 Apr Jane and I had our exercise walk early as the weather was perfect for spotting Grizzled Skippers roosting on seed heads at Waterford Heath. I was cursing when the sun came out - how perverse. However on the south Heath we found 7 on the east bank, 3 towards the northern end , 1 on the Black Barns site and 2 along the ditch that runs along the centre of the bowl. All but a couple were in quite sheltered positions. None in the settling beds. On the north Heath only 2 both on the east side. A total of 15. Also one Treble Bar and one Latticed Heath moth and many Roman Snails enjoying the better conditions for them Andrew Wood 27 Apr 4 Speckled Wood at Trent Park (1 along bridle path near Shaws Wd, 2 together, Williams Wd, 1 Shaws Wd), 1 Peacock at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park Robert Callf Bob Husband 27 Apr 1 Orange-tip - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL1930) David Inward 27 Apr Therfield Heath: Small Heath (1). My first local sighting of this species in April Martin Johnson 26 Apr In Ridge, I saw my first (rather faded) Red Admiral of the year (TQ214999). We also saw several Orange-tip, Peacock, Small White, Speckled Wood and Small Tortoiseshell Terry Wood 26 Apr Aldbury Nowers - I went East for my exercise today and I'm glad I did. 2 Small Copper, 9 Dingy Skipper, 4 Grizzled Skipper and 6 Green Hairstreak. Also seen were 28 Brimstones, 5 Green-veined Whites, Orange-tips, Peacocks, Comma, Small Heath, Holly Blue and dozens and dozens of unidentified whites. Lesser Treble Bar and Burnet Companion moths also seen Chris Hilling 26 Apr Hounslow. Another mostly sunny walk with the following identified: Holly Blue: 11, Orange-tip: 9, Green-veined White: 1, Brimstone: 10, Small White: 1, Peacock: 16, Small Copper: 1, Speckled Wood: 1 Peter Gore 26 Apr 1 Holly Blue - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303), 2 Orange-tip, 4 Holly Blue, 2 Large White - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL1930), 1 Holly Blue, 1 Orange-tip - Woolgrove Road, Hitchin (TL19293046) David Inward 26 Apr In Bushey garden were 1 Orange-tip & 2 Holly Blues. At Merryhill fields 7 Peacock, 9 Brimstone & 3 Orange-tip David Gower 26 Apr 1 Peacock at Vicarage Farm, Enfield this morning at 0848 hrs Robert Callf 26 Apr Grizzled Skipper and Dingy Skipper at Aldbury Nowers Richard Callf 25 Apr Having seen the recent sightings of Small Coppers on the wing I searched the Green space between Coppetts Wood and the Football Pitches where I had seen a couple last year and was quite quickly rewarded with a single Small Copper. Carried on round Coppetts Wood, where 3 very fresh Green-veined Whites, 5 male Orange-tips (one courting a female) 3 female Orange-tips, 3 Holly Blue, 2 Peacocks, 3 Speckled Wood, 1 very tatty Comma Miles Attenborough 25 Apr 1 Holly Blue - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303), 3 Orange-tip, 1 Peacock - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL1930) David Inward 25 Apr At Northwood HQ 1 Orange-tip. Lunch break exercise walk in Oxhey Woods. 1 Speckled Wood in northern wood, 1 Orange-tip in southern and in Central wood 3 Orange-tip, 1 Holly Blue, 2 Green-veined White, 2 Speckled Wood, 2 Small White David Gower 25 Apr First Grizzled Skipper on Rickneys Quarry, also my first Burnet Companion moth there. Also saw five Grizzled Skipper on the western facing bank on Waterford Heath south Steve Kiln 25 Apr Orange-tip in Croxley Green garden Tony Evans 25 Apr St Albans - over a hundred butterflies on a stroll through countryside south of the city. Peacocks (19) and Holly Blue (7) put on a good show, but whites have now become the most numerous. Male Orange-tips (19) and females (5) were conspicuous as was a single Large White. I identified two Green-veined Whites, 1 Small White and recorded another 59 Whites which did not wish to stop for identification purposes! Other species seen included Red Admiral (1), Comma (1), Brimstone (2, both male) and Cinnabar moth (1), my first of the year, which obligingly stopped for a photo Malcolm Hull 24 Apr While working, passing through the Chiswell Green fields that border the old Butterfly World site had two male Small Blues and a Brown Argus Clive Burrows 24 Apr St Albans = my first Small Copper of the year on my allotment today nectaring near the sorrel. Also my first Green-veined White hunting along the hedge Garlic in my garden. Orange-tips and Holly Blues doing well. Brimstone, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell still around but in much reduced numbers. Small Whites are on the increase and the first large red damselfly emerged from my pond yesterday Malcolm Hull 24 Apr 1 Holly Blue at Chase Rd/Charter Way, N14 at 1239 hrs, 3 male Orange-tip at Trent Park (1 near Oakwood entrance, 1 near Sport's Field, 1 edge of Williams Wd), 5 Peacock at Trent Park, 3 Small Copper at 'New Fields' Trent Park, 3 Speckled Wood at Trent Park (1 Sect 7 'New Fields', 2 together at Shaws Wd), 1 Holly Blue at Trent Park near Sport's Field, 2, male and female, Green-veined White copulating near Lower Lake, Trent Park at 1520 hrs Robert Callf 24 Apr I saw 14 Brimstone on my Halsey Field walk, three of which were in a mating dance - two males pursuing one female. Also 4 Orange-tip, 4 Peacock, 2 Small White and 2 Holly Blue. In the adjoining Warners End wood there were 2 Large White, a Holly Blue, an Orange-tip and 2 Speckled Wood; also a large swarm of honey bees! Chris Ridley 24 Apr 1 Orange-tip, 1 Holly Blue - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303 David Inward 24 Apr On a walk this afternoon I spotted a Red Admiral, the first I've seen in Alexandra Park this year Dee Cullen 24 Apr Pristine Red Admiral just shot through my Ware garden. None seen on any of my LEW this week Liz Goodyear 23 Apr Stocking Pelham TL452291: 5 Orange-tip, 2 Brimstone, 5 Peacock, 8 whites (to/ small whites?), 5 Speckled Woods, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Green-veined White Andy Brown 23 Apr Went to Waterford Heath and Rickneys this afternoon. Saw Small Copper in both sites for the first time. 6 Grizzled Skippers at Waterford Heath, two on the north, two on the settling beds on the south and two on the western facing bank. Also a Lattice Heath moth in the settling beds on the south heath Steve Kiln 23 Apr 1 Brimstone - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303), 1 Brimstone, 2 Orange-tip, 1 Holly Blue, 1 Speckled Wood - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL1930) David Inward 23 Apr 2 Peacock, 1 male Orange-tip at Vicarage Farm, 1 Peacock N edge of Williams Wd, Trent Park, 1 Peacock near Upper Lake, Trent Park, 1 Speckled Wood near Ride Wd, Trent Park, 1 male Brimstone, 1 Red Admiral edge of Moat Wd, Trent Park - my first of the year, 1 Small Tortoiseshell near Water Grdn, Trent Park, 1 Large White and 1 male Orange-tip edge of Williams Wd, Trent Park, 1 Holly Blue & 1 male Brimstone at Oakwood Station. 1 Holly Blue at Southgate Chase Allotments at 1435 hrs Robert Callf 22 Apr Furneux pelham East end (TL450277): 3 Orange-tip, 7 Peacock, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Green-veined White Andy Brown 22 Apr Patmore Heath (just north of the heath TL447267): 5 Orange-tip, 1 Peacock, 3 whites, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Brimstone Andy Brown 22 Apr This afternoon I saw a pair of Brimstone butterflies circling, male below the female, in a mating dance, on the 'Gas Ride', Bricket Wood Common, Section 4 of the transect, (TL129011). There are still lots of Peacock and Brimstone butterflies there, and also little white butterflies; I think more Orange-tips and Green-veined Whites than Small Whites Chris Newman 22 Apr Late afternoon visit to Hounslow Heath eventually stumbled upon my target: Green Hairstreak x 1. Also seen Peacock numerous, Small Tortoiseshell 1, Brimstone 3, Speckled Wood 2, Holly Blue 1, male Orange-tip 1, Comma 1, Silver Y 1, various restless (unidentified) whites 6 Paul Lane 22 Apr Having seen the pristine male Orange-tip roost in bright windy sunshine in Tunnel Gardens late last night I could not resist getting up early and seeing if I could get a better shot of him with my tripod in the more shaded early morning light with less wind. Pleasingly at 7.00 this morning he was still there and I got the shot I hoped for although still annoyingly windy even at that time. On my way back an hour later I saw three Speckled Woods basking in sunny glades Miles Attenborough 22 Apr Hounslow. A much-needed walk in the sun,species identified into double figures now: Brimstone: 3, Holly Blue: 15, Small Tortoiseshell: 3, Peacock: 23, Orange-tip: 9, Small Copper: 1, Green-veined White: 2, Speckled Wood: 2, Red Admiral: 1, Comma: 1 Peter Gore 22 Apr 1 Brimstone - St Faiths Close south, Hitchin (TL198302) David Inward 22 Apr 2 Small Copper at 'New Fields' Trent Park (1 Sect 8 at 1042 hrs, 1 N of Triangular Wd 1119 hrs) - my first of the year, 1 Comma at Sect 7 'New Fields' 1045 hrs, 1 Speckled Wood Sect 7 at 1047 hrs, 2 Large White near Nature Trail, Trent Park at 1127 hrs, 1 Speckled Wood at Rough Lot, Trent Park at 1147 hrs, 1 male Brimstone near Obelisk, Trent Park at 1152 hrs, also here 1 Peacock and male Orange-tip, 1 Comma near Ride Wd, Trent Park, 1 Comma at Water Grdn, Trent Park, 1 male Brimstone near Ride Wd, Trent Park, 1 Peacock near Dew Pond, Trent Park, 1 Holly Blue at Shaws Wd, Trent Park, 1 Small Tortoiseshell at Vicarage Farm (TQ 3097) at 1310 hrs, 1 Comma at Allotments, Vicarage Farm (TQ 3097), 1 male Orange-tip, 1 Holly Blue and 1 Small Tortoiseshell along Salmons Brook at Enfield Rd. 1 Peacock at Southgate Chase Allotments this afternoon at 1401 hrs Robert Callf 21 Apr Aldbury Nowers. Among the butterflies we saw were one Grizzled Skipper and one Green Hairstreak, both prolonged and excellent sightings; also more briefly but 95% confident, one Dingy Skipper. Lots of Orange-tips, Brimstones, Small Whites, Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells, plus a few Green-veined Whites and one common lizard Nick Murray 21 Apr I took a late evening walk through Tunnel Gardens and was lucky to find a nice fresh male Orange-tip settling down to roost along with two Speckled Wood and a Red Admiral catching the last rays of sun in the same sheltered sunny spot. Also 1 Holly Blue 1 Peacock and 1 Green-veined White in other sections Miles Attenborough 21 Apr Aldbury Nowers. Among the butterflies we saw were one Grizzled Skipper and one Green Hairstreak, both prolonged and excellent sightings; also more briefly but 95% confident, one Dingy Skipper. Lots of Orange-tips, Brimstones, Small Whites, Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells, plus a few Green-veined Whites and one common lizard Nick Murray 21 Apr Millhoppers Reserve - 8 species seen. Holly Blue, Orange-tip, Brimstone, Peacock, Comma, Speckled Wood, Small White and two very fresh looking Red Admiral. Walking home saw numerous male Orange-tip Chris Hilling 21 Apr Waterford Heath NR. Silting beds clearing. Peacock=4, Grizzled Skipper=3, Orange-tip=2, Red Admiral=1, Small Tortoiseshell=1, Comma=1. Also a female Broad-bodied Chaser Chris Benton 21 Apr 1 Orange-tip, 1 Holly Blue - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303), 1 Holly Blue - south end of Meadowbank, Hitchin (TL19582995) David Inward 21 Apr 1 Peacock near Triangular Wd, Trent Park at 09:43 hrs, 3 Orange-tip at Trent Park (male, near Church Wd, male, near Water Grdn and female along Leeging Beech Gutter near 'Three-bridges'), 1 female Small White near Water Grdn, Trent Park and 1 female Green-veined White near Ride Wd, Trent Park, 1 Peacock near Water Grdn, Trent Park, 1 Small Tortoiseshell along Salmons Brook at Enfield Rd, 1 male Orange-tip along Salmons Brook at Enfield Rd Robert Callf 21 Apr I went to Waterford south heath this afternoon to see if I could find a Grizzled Skipper. Plenty of Peacocks, Small Tortoiseshells, whites and Orange-tips. None on the west facing bank but I finally saw one down in the settling beds area, pretty rough ground around there. I then decided to pop over to north heath. Some Peacocks and whites, then I went over to the right near the steep slope and I found another Grizzled Skipper, these were my first of the year Steve Kiln 20 Apr Broxbourne woods. Peacock=14, Orange-tip=17, Brimstone=2, Red Admiral=1, Large White=1, Speckled Wood=5, Green-veined White=4 Chris Benton 20 Apr Five species seen in the Harpenden garden: Peacock, Brimstone, Green-veined White, Holly Blue, Orange-tip Robin Pearson 20 Apr 3 Peacock at Trent Park and 2 at Vicarage Farm - 1 at (TQ 2997) and 1 at (TQ3097), 1 Green-veined White near Triangular Wd, Trent Park, 2 Speckled Wood at Sect 7 'New Fields' Trent Park, 1 Comma at Sect 6 'New Fields' Trent Park, 1 male Orange-tip at Snakes Lane, Trent Park near Hockey Club, 1 Small Tortoiseshell near Hadley Rd/Vicarage Farm, 1 Small Tortoiseshell and 1 male Orange-tip along Salmons Brook at Enfield Rd Robert Callf 19 Apr At Fishers field nature reserve recorded 3 Orange-tip, 4 Peacock, 3 Small White, 4 Brimstone including my first female of the year, 1 Small Tortoiseshell and 2 Speckled Wood. I continued my exercise in the adjacent Bushey Hall golf club (TQ124964) seeing 8 Peacock, 8 Orange-tip, 3 Small White, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Brimstone, 1 Holly Blue and 1 Comma. At Water Lane were 6 Peacock, 2 Speckled Wood, 2 Brimstone, 6 Orange-tip, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 2 Comma. Lastly in Bushey garden were 3 Small White, 2 Orange-tip, 1 Peacock and 2 Holly Blue David Gower 19 Apr 1 Orange-tip, 1 Speckled Wood - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303), 1 Brimstone, 3 Orange-tip, 1 Holly Blue, 1 Green-veined White, 1 Small White - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL1930) David Inward 19 Apr Barham Park, Wembley : 2 Holly Blue, 3 Brimstone and 1 Orange-tip Shailesh Patel 19 Apr 1 male Orange-tip at Vicarage Farm (TQ 3097) at 1028 hrs, 1 Small White at Vicarage Farm (TQ 2997) along Leeging Beech Gutter N of Williams Wd, 1 Green-veined White E edge of Ride Wd, Trent Park at 1047 hrs, 1 male Orange-tip along Leeging Beech Gutter near 'Three-bridges' Trent Park at 1105 hrs, 1 Peacock and 1 Comma near Water Grdn, Trent Park, 1 Peacock edge of Moat Wd, Trent Park, 1 Speckled Wood at Shaws Wd, Trent Park at 1227 hrs, 1 female Holly Blue settled S edge of Williams Wd, Trent Park at 1235 hrs, 1 female Large White at Vicarage Farm (TQ 3097) at 1324 hrs. 1 Peacock at Chase Side, N14 (TQ 294 943) at 1324 hrs. 1 Small White at Southgate Chase Allotments at 1342 hrs. 1 Comma at 1702 hrs and 1 Peacock at 1706 hrs near Triangular Wood, Trent Park Robert Callf 18 Apr A short walk to the power station TL 457 286 at Stocking Pelham showed just one Speckled Wood butterfly Andy Brown 17 Apr 1 Peacock E edge of Icehouse Wood, Trent Park at 0919 hrs Robert Callf 17 Apr Folly Lane allotments St Albans - reduced butterfly activity on an overcast morning, but two firsts for me. A female Small Tortoiseshell egg laying in a sunny spot in the middle of my nettle patch. And a female Orange-tip, exploring the Hedge Garlic and choosing egg laying sites. Two male Orange-tips had been hurtling up and down all morning. One attempted to mate with the female, who assertively pushed him away, arching her abdomen and resisting his charms Malcolm Hull 17 Apr A Boris walk near Braughing - I found number of butterflies in the small copse to the north of the village (TL400258): 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 2 Peacock, 1 Green-veined White, 2 Orange-tip, 6 Brimstones, 1 Speckled Wood and 2 Large White (could be Brimstone) Andy Brown 16 Apr In Great Ashby garden: 1 x Holly Blue (female) on ceanothus for 5 mins, 2 x fly through Small Tortoiseshells in chase and 1 x Orange-tip male fly through Colin Alderman 16 Apr 1 Holly Blue in Bushey garden late afternoon David Gower 16 Apr 1 Orange-tip - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303) David Inward 16 Apr 1 female Brimstone near upper lake, Trent Park at 1254 hrs. 1 Speckled Wood at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ 3097). 1 Holly Blue, 1 male Orange-tip and 1 Small Tortoiseshell at Salmons Brook at Enfield Road nr Jolly Farmers PH (Large Red Damselfly here also - my first of the year) Robert Callf 16 Apr Barham Park, Wembley : 4 Holly Blue, 3 Orange-tip, 2 Brimstone and 2 Green-veined White Shailesh Patel 16 Apr One Grizzled Skipper sunning itself on the east bank of the South Pit of Waterford Heath this lunchtime while out on my permitted exercise Andrew Wood 15 Apr We saw our first 2 Holly Blues of the year in our Cheshunt garden enjoying the Spring sunshine Roger Newbold 15 Apr Morning walk to Coppetts Wood revealed 3 Peacocks, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Holly Blue, 3 Speckled Wood, 5 Orange-tip (3 male 2 female), 2 Small White, 3 Green-veined White Miles Attenborough 15 Apr 2 Orange-tips in Bushey garden around bluebells and honesty David Gower 15 Apr Folly Lane allotments, St Albans - Peacock 5, Small Tortoiseshell 3, Brimstone 2, Orange-tip 3, Holly Blue 2, Comma 1, Small White 2, Speckled Wood 1 Malcolm Hull 15 Apr Hounslow. Another sunny day with the following seen: Holly Blue: 9, Brimstone: 7, Orange-tip: 7, Peacock: 19, Comma: 2, Small White: 1, Small Tortoiseshell: 3, Speckled Wood: 1 Peter Gore 15 Apr 1 Orange-tip, 1 Holly Blue - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303), 2 Brimstone, 3 Orange-tip, 3 Holly Blue, 1 Green-veined White, 1 Speckled Wood - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL1930) David Inward 15 Apr On a slightly extended walk that covered the footpaths north of Ware towards the Easneye Estate and back via Morley Hall, had a grand total of 20 Peacock, 11 Small Tortoiseshell, 11 Orange-tip, 1 each Large White, Small White and Green-vein White, 6 Brimstone and the highlight a pristine Painted Lady. Also checked some elm seed discs for White-letter Hairstreak feeding damage. Found a hole, found the hatched egg but couldn't locate a caterpillar! Liz Goodyear 15 Apr Barham Park, Wembley : 1 Holly Blue and 2 Orange-tip Shailesh Patel 14 Apr I'd like to report that on my exercise walk I made my first positive sighting of a Green-veined White just inside the entrance to South Mymms woods (TL217022). Several Orange-tips were also noted Terry Wood 14 Apr Very little butterfly news to report from my LEW north of Ware but a female Orange-tip made use of the garden nectar between egg laying runs on my garden's honesty and garlic mustard. On my walk it was hard going as still quite cool but managed to see 4 Peacock, 3 Small Tortoiseshell and 1 Orange-tip. Close to home, a bit more activity with 2 Orange-tip, 2 Green-veined White and 1 Small White Liz Goodyear 14 Apr On my daily exercise walk I was amazed to find a Painted Lady sunning itself at Cricket Scrub Corner on Alexandra Palace (TQ300899). Also seen were several Speckled Wood, Orange-tip, Small Tortoiseshell, a Holly Blue and a Small White Gerry Rawcliffe 14 Apr Late morning walk round Tunnell Gardens revealed 5 Speckled Wood, 3 Holly Blue, 4 male Orange-tip, 2 Small White, 2 Green-veined White Miles Attenborough 12 Apr On our exercise walk near Well End we saw our first Speckled Wood of the year (TQ210985) as well as a number of Comma, Orange-tip, Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock Terry Wood 12 Apr Spent the day in my garden in Bounds Green, 1 Speckled Wood spent most of the morning with me and I was visited by 4 Holly Blue, 1 Comma and 2 white butterflies flying through. In the evening I went to Tunnel Gardens to water wildflower seedlings in an area I cleared of Brambles in the winter, 1 Peacock, 1 Comma and 2 Speckled Wood Miles Attenborough 12 Apr Millhoppers Reserve - Lunchtime walk found 1 Peacock, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Small White, 2 male Brimstone, 1 male Holly Blue plus 2 Orange-tip, male and female. In the small wooded area at the North end of the site I was very pleased to see 3 fresh Speckled Wood Chris Hilling 12 Apr I was able to definitively identify my first Green-veined White of the year (I'd probably seen others, but they didn't settle to be identified). It was on the 'Gas Ride' on Bricket Wood Common, but further north than the transect extends. I also saw plenty of Peacocks and male Brimstones, and some females and Orange-tips, until it clouded over and began to thunder! Chris Newman 12 Apr 1 Orange-tip, 1 Holly Blue - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303) David Inward 12 Apr The Brimstones have arrived in Halsey Field, and this morning on a short walk to the site and around it I saw 13; also 5 Peacock, an Orange-tip female, Small White and a Small Tortoiseshell on a patch of nettles Chris Ridley 12 Apr In Bushey garden 1 Peacock and at least 3 Orange-tips seen around "honesty" and "Bowles mauve" David Gower 12 Apr I spotted this recently-laid Orange-tip egg on Garlic mustard in my garden in Potten End this afternoon Paul Cross 11 Apr Walked to Coppetts Wood. 6 Peacocks, 1 Holly Blue, 1 Speckled Wood, 5 male Orange-tip, 2 Green-veined White and two Small Tortoiseshell. Walked through Tunnel Gardens late evening where I watched a male Brimstone fluttering around an Ivy-covered tree trunk I assume searching for a nicely camouflaged roost where it settled, as well as spending a bit of time trying to get a photo of a small bright green caterpillar swinging on a silk thread dangling from a tree, I assume to evade prey but I have not been able to confirm what species it is. Also 5 nice fresh Speckled Wood and a Comma Miles Attenborough 11 Apr Walked to Little Bushey Lane via footpath and opposite Jewish cemetery (TQ 149514) counted 1 Small White, 1 Speckled Wood, 2 Orange-tip, 1 Peacock, 2 Small Tortoiseshell. At other side of cementary just before M1 (TQ139513) were 3 Brimstone, 4 Orange-tip, 6 Peacock, 1 Small White. On way home passed through Bushey Manor field seeing 2 Small White, 1 Orange-tip, 1 Speckled Wood, 1 Peacock. In Bushey garden 1 Holly Blue only David Gower 11 Apr 1 Brimstone, 1 Holly Blue - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303), 1 Brimstone - opposite Tesco, Rail Station, Hitchin (TL19332974) David Inward 11 Apr Royston: 1 Orange-tip butterfly and 1 Hummingbird Hawk-moth close to my home Martin Johnson 11 Apr On a 1 hour walk around Copsewood/Poor's Field I counted 33 Peacock, 3 Orange-tip (2 M/1 F) and 2 Brimstone (M) Carole Holton 11 Apr Folly Lane, St Albans - My first Speckled Wood and my first Large White of this year. Male Orange-tips spent hours hurtling up and down alongside my Garlic Mustard, seemingly without finding any females. The one smallish white around turned out to be just that - a Small White Malcolm Hull 10 Apr I took a walk from my house to Coppetts Wood in Barnet. 5 Peacocks, 1 Holly Blue, 2 Green-veined White, 1 Small White, 5 male Orange-tip, 1 Brimstone and 5 Speckled Woods On the way home 1 Orange-tip by Pymms brook by the North Circular Miles Attenborough 10 Apr On my walk I saw my first Speckled Wood of the year, on Section 4 of the Bricket Wood Common butterfly transect, where the path runs parallel to the 'Gas Ride'. This butterfly stayed in the area long enough for me to get a photo (it won't win any prizes, but it's good enough for identification). Also, as is currently usual, lots of Peacocks, some Brimstones, male and probably female Orange-tips, Commas and Small Tortoiseshells on my walk Chris Newman 10 Apr In Bushey garden 1 Small White, 2 Orange-tip, 1 Brimstone. At 4pm went out for my exercise and a short visit to Fishers field seeing 2 Peacock, 1 Small Tortoiseshell. Lastly at Water Lane there was plenty of activity. Recorded 13 Small Tortoiseshell, 7 Peacock, 4 Orange-tip, 1 Speckled Wood, 2 Comma, 1 Small White David Gower 10 Apr 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 4 Orange-tip, 1 Holly Blue - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL1930) David Inward 10 Apr Barham Park, Wembley. 2 Orange-tip, 2 Large White, 4 Brimstone and 1 Speckled Wood Shailesh Patel 10 Apr Brimstone butterflies active again in my Letchworth garden, laying eggs on an Alder Buckthorn shrub Roger Millard 10 Apr Hounslow. A somewhat rapid and restricted walk in full sunshine with the following observed: Small Tortoiseshell: 1, Speckled Wood: 1, Orange-tip: 5, Peacock: 9, Brimstone: 2, Comma: 2, Holly Blue: 8. A few restless whites also around but not identified Peter Gore 10 Apr On an exercise walk in Alexandra Park, I saw my first 2 Holly Blues there, 5 Brimstones, finally managed a photo. 1 Red Admiral, 1 Peacock. Then on returning to my Muswell Hill garden, a Small White was fluttering around Dee Cullen 10 Apr St Albans - no hibernating Peacocks or Small Tortoiseshells in my shed today. The last 23 all left this week. At the nearby nettlebeds in New England St I found 7 Small Tortoiseshells and no Peacocks. At Folly Lane, 6 Small Tortoiseshells and 4 Peacocks, also 8 Orange-tips, 2 Brimstone, 2 Holly Blues and 1 Small White. None of the butterflies I saw were nectaring and the dry weather may have caused nectar to dry up. So I have decided to water my dandelions to help the butterflies find food Malcolm Hull 9 Apr On my walk I saw what I believe was a Light Orange Underwing moth, fairly early on Section 2 of the Bricket Wood Common butterfly transect, where the path runs parallel to the 'Gas Ride'. I saw it settle on the ground, and could clearly see orange close to its body, with grey-brown forewings with some faint banding running across their length. It seemed settled on the ground, so I took off my camera bag, got out the camera and mounted the macro lens, but it had disappeared. It reappeared, and the third time it settled I got as far as focusing on it before it flew again, and this time it flew away. It looked slightly smaller than I remember one I saw 5 years ago that Malcolm Hull deduced was a Light Orange Underwing. Also lots of Peacocks, some Brimstones, male and probably female Orange-tips, Commas and Small Tortoiseshells on Bricket Wood Common and elsewhere on my walk Chris Newman 9 Apr Meesden TL 42838 32526: 1 Peacock. Scales Park: 4 Brimstone, 15 Peacock, 3 Orange-tip, 1 Green-veined White, 1 Small Tortoiseshell. Meesden paths various: 3 Brimstone, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 5 Peacock. Hall wood near Stocking Pelham TL 44560 29645 : 13 Peacock Andy Brown 9 Apr Barham Park, Wembley. 1 Comma, 2 Orange-tip, 2 Large White and 5 Brimstone Shailesh Patel 9 Apr Bernards Heath garden: First Orange-tip (female) David Utting 9 Apr During a walk around Oxhey Park (TQ113952) I encountered 2 x Peacock, 5 x Orange-tip, 1 x Holly Blue (m), 1 x Small Tortoiseshell, 2 x Comma. In Bushey garden 1 x Orange-tip and 1 x Small White David Gower 9 Apr 1 Brimstone - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303), 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 4 Orange-tip, 1 Brimstone - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL1930) David Inward 8 Apr Stocking Pelham garden : 2 Brimstone, 2 Orange-tip, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 2 Peacock. Brent Pelham TL 43438 30756 : 1 Peacock, 2 Brimstone, 1 Orange-tip Andy Brown 8 Apr I took my LEW around the footpaths north of Ware much later in the afternoon in the hope that an Emperor moth would come to my lure. Peacocks (15) and Small Tortoiseshells (11) were abundant although mostly in the first ditch I walk past. Nothing came to the lure so when I got back to my Ware garden at 5.30 I put the container on my washing line and within minutes this absolute stunner of an Emperor moth arrived. I knew it wasn't the same as the previous day as it was pristine! Liz Goodyear 8 Apr Millhoppers Reserve - Along with the usual Brimstone (4), Peacock (2), Comma (1) and Orange-tip (3) also saw first Holly Blue, a male, plus a Small White Chris Hilling 8 Apr Wareside: 7 Brimstone, 9 Peacock, 3 Small White, 2 Orange-tip, 1 Comma, 1 Holly Blue and 1 Speckled Wood. St Pauls, London: 1 Small White, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Peacock Phil & Oliver MacMurdie 8 Apr 1 Brimstone, 1 Orange-tip - St Faiths Close north, Hitchin (TL198303), 1 Peacock - St Faiths Close south, Hitchin, (TL198302 David Inward 8 Apr Walked up to St James churchyard in Bushey again. Sightings were 2 x Holly Blue, 2 x Small White (both first sightings this year), 3 x Peacock, 1 x Comma, 2 x Brimstone (m), 4 x Orange-tip (3 males). Back in Bushey garden a male Brimstone on honesty David Gower 8 Apr Barham Park, Wembley. 1 Peacock, 2 Orange-tip and 1 Holly Blue Shailesh Patel 8 Apr I just did a lunchtime walk at Alexandra Park. Saw my first Orange-tip and Speckled Wood of the year in the Banqueting Hall area. Also seen were two Peacocks and a Brimstone in the Butterfly Meadow Dee Cullen 7 Apr Bernards Heath garden: First Holly Blue of the year (male) David Utting 7 Apr Wareside: 5 Brimstone, 8 Peacock (appears to be a strong hibernation this year), 4 Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Small White, 2 Comma, 1 Speckled Wood Phil & Oliver MacMurdie 7 Apr Barham Park, Wembley. 1 Peacock, 1 Brimstone and 1 Orange-tip Shailesh Patel 7 Apr LEW took me across the paths north of Ware to Cold Christmas and back. Lots of butterflies seen including Brimstone, Orange-tip, 15 Peacock, 9 Small Tortoiseshell and 1 Small White. I deliberately went in the morning when activity was heightening but it was just at the end of the walk where passing a bit of derelict grassland near the back of my road that most activity was observed. Here there were male and female Brimstone and Orange Tip, all be chased by each other! However it wasn't until 4.25 in the afternoon that the star of the show arrived in my garden - a male Emperor moth to lure Liz Goodyear 7 Apr I went for an evening walk through Tunnel Gardens in Bounds Green at 17.30, 1 Comma and 1 Peacock in the last of the evening sun Miles Attenborough 7 Apr I saw my first Holly Blue and Orange-tip of the season in our Hemel Hempstead garden. The orange was extremely vivid, so I suspect the Orange tip had just crawled out of its pupa. A Small Tortoiseshell also made a brief appearance Chris Ridley 7 Apr I saw a male Orange-tip along the part of the 'Gas Ride' on Bricket Wood Common included in the transect (TL1301), along with a male Brimstone and about a dozen Peacocks along that part of my walk alone. My first orange tip of the year, although I reported that my wife had seen a couple on 5 April. I don't remember ever seeing so many Peacocks about in spring before; it's a pity we aren't walking formal transects to record them objectively Chris Newman 7 Apr Back to Merryhill via Bushey Manor field spotting 2 x Peacocks. At St James churchyard were 2 x Orange-tips (m & f), Comma x 1, Peacock x 3, Small Tortoiseshell x 1. Lastly at Merryhill fields were Peacock x 9, Brimstone (m) x 1, Comma x 4 David Gower 7 Apr Saw my first male Orange-tip of the year as I started my daily exercise walk up Barnhill. It was still in the same area on my return and got 1 decent shot while it nectared briefly. Most of my walk was devoid of butterflies (too hot???) but I did count 5 Brimstones, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Comma, 9 Peacocks, 2 unknown whites (I suspect one might have been female Orange-tip and one Green-veined white but uncertain) and my first 2 Speckled Woods of the year Mike Rubin 6 Apr Stanwell Moor: Peacock 29, Comma 15, Orange-tip 12, Small White 5, Brimstone 4. Once again, there was a new species for the year, this time a single Red Admiral. Early light rain gave way to sunshine before lunchtime, but only the Peacocks, Commas and Orange Tips seemed to cash in on it Dave Miller 6 Apr Male Orange-tip in our Harpenden garden this afternoon, the first of the year Alan Jackson 6 Apr Walked my usual paths north of Ware with an extension which included a circuit of Buckney Wood. In total I recorded 17 Peacock, 1 Small Tortoiseshell and my first Red Admiral of the year Liz Goodyear 6 Apr I saw lots of Peacock butterflies whilst on my walk - 8 in Halsey field and one on the track running along an arable field adjacent to Halsey field. Also seen were 3 Small Tortoiseshell on the field and a Small White on the edge of Warners End wood Chris Ridley 5 Apr Stanwell Moor: Peacock 27, Comma 15, Brimstone 10, Small White 10, Orange-tip 10, Speckled Wood 3, Small Tortoiseshell 1. Finally, at last the first Holly Blue appeared, the eighth species of the year here. Very warm (up to 21 degrees) and sunny Dave Miller 5 Apr In my South Mymms garden we had a pair of male Orange-tips chasing each other, a patrolling Peacock, and a first male Brimstone of the year Terry Wood 5 Apr Hounslow Heath: Brimstones 6, Peacocks 10+, Small Tortoiseshell 1, female Orange-tip, Speckled Wood 1, Holly Blue 1, Small White 2 Paul Lane 5 Apr After 6 days in front of my computer I needed some exercise so took a walk through Tunnel Gardens along the North Circular to Coppetts Wood and Glebelands Nature reserve and back. 1 Comma in Tunnel Gardens, 1 Comma and two Brimstone by Pymms Brook, 1 Holly Blue, 5 Brimstone, 1 Small White and 6 Peacocks in Coppetts Wood, 2 Peacock, 1 Comma and 2 Brimstone at Glebelands. 1 Peacock nectaring on Blackthorn blossom and the Small White and Brimstones nectaring on Dandelions Miles Attenborough 5 Apr I had my first Holly Blue of the year in my garden in Muswell Hill as well as Brimstone and Peacock. An exercise walk on Alexandra Palace yielded multiple Comma, Brimstone and Peacock as well as a Small White, but no sign yet of Speckled Wood, Orange Tip or Holly Blue Gerry Rawcliffe 5 Apr Millhoppers Reserve - 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 5 male Brimstone, 1 Comma, 3 Peacocks and the first male Orange-tip Chris Hilling 5 Apr Bernards Heath garden, Peacock. Heartwood (E. side TL175173) during daily exercise 2x Peacock (flying together). Heartwood (E side TL176114) Brimstone (male) David Utting 5 Apr 1 Brimstone - St Faiths Close, Hitchin (TL1930), 1 Brimstone, 1 Peacock - Purwell Meadows east, Hitchin (TL2029) David Inward 5 Apr Spent this morning in Bushey garden and noticed Peacock x 2, Comma x 1. This afternoon at Water Lane during my exercise walk I recorded Brimstone x 2(m), Peacock x 6, Comma x 5, Small Tortoiseshell x 8. On way home via Fishers field seeing Peacock x 3, Comma x 1, Small Tortoiseshell x 1. I'm pleased to report that I've seen more Tortoiseshells this year than last two years put together! David Gower 5 Apr Brimstones passing through our Harpenden garden throughout the day, also 2 Peacocks Alan Jackson 4 Apr Stanwell Moor: Peacock 26, Brimstone 17, Comma 11, Small White 11, Orange-tip 8, Small Tortoiseshell 5. Saw the first Speckled Woods - with two seen. The Small Whites included a mating pair. Lots of sunshine and much warmer - up to 17 degrees Dave Miller 4 Apr Several Brimstones and Peacocks in our Harpenden garden, also a Comma (first of the year); Small Tortoiseshell on our Harpenden allotment Alan Jackson 4 Apr St Albans garden, Townsend area: 1 Brimstone, 2 Commas, 1 Small Tortoiseshell & what looked suspiciously like a female Orange Tip passing at some speed Robert Bull 4 Apr A Green-veined White in my garden in Royston (also 2 Peacock and 1 Brimstone) Nick Keep 4 Apr On my exercise walk at Potters Bar's Furzefield, I was pleased to see my first male Orange-tip of the year Terry Wood 4 Apr 3 Brimstone - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL1930), 1 Brimstone - St Faiths Close (TL1930) David Inward 4 Apr I saw a Small Tortoiseshell on the Gas Ride, Bricket Wood Common (only 3 were recorded on the transect there during the last 2 years, although I often see them in the Colne Valley near Wall Hall). I also saw 4 male Brimstones (my first of the year) between How Wood and Park Street, and numerous Peacocks and several Commas on my walk Chris Newman 4 Apr Had a day tidying my Great Ashby, Stevenage garden and had lots of visitors; 6 Brimstones, 2 Peacocks, 1 Comma, my first Red Admiral and first Small White. A very pleasing tally, shame the Small Tortoiseshell didn't appear Steve Lane 4 Apr My exercise was walking to Merryhill fields via St James, Bushey churchyard where I encountered Peacock x 2. At Merryhill sightings were Peacock x 12, Brimstone(m) x 3, Comma x 4 and Speckled Wood x 1 David Gower 4 Apr Barnhill and adjacent Fryent Open Space during my daily exercise walk after lunch. I saw 4 male Brimstones, 1 tatty Small Tortoiseshell, 10 Commas and 12 Peacocks. The Brimstone settled when a cloud covered the sun so that was a lucky moment Mike Rubin 4 Apr Out for my exercise and nice to see my first male Orange-tip as well as Peacock, Comma and Brimstone Andrew Wood 4 Apr Several Brimstones, a Peacock and several Small Tortoiseshells whilst walking around Stocking Pelham. Also a possible sighting of an Orange-tip near Patmore Heath Andy Brown 4 Apr In Rickneys Quarry 5 Brimstones and an Orange-tip and two Commas. In Waterford Heath south, about 10 Peacocks, 2 Brimstone and 3 Commas Steve Kiln 3 Apr Stanwell Moor: Comma 3, Peacock 1, Small White 1, Sunnier, but somewhat cooler again Dave Miller 3 Apr Had my first sighting of a male Orange-tip in my Hertford Heath garden, approx 4pm, warm light wind. Look very fresh Kevin Standbridge 3 Apr Millhoppers Reserve - Just two - a Small Tortoiseshell and my first Peacock this year, which was resting on one of the many Anthills Chris Hilling 3 Apr Went out for my allowed walk to exercise this afternoon. At Water Lane, Watford were Comma x 6 (one with only a small fraction of hind wings but still active), Small Tortoiseshell x 1. Nothing to report from Fishers Field which is nearby David Gower 3 Apr Despite some nice sunshine I didn't record any butterflies on my LEW this afternoon around the fields north of Ware. However, overnight I recorded a Blossom Underwing. This is a new garden record and not at all common in Hertfordshire. Photos also of a Streamer and Dotted Chestnut - both new for the year in my Ware garden Liz Goodyear 3 Apr St Albans shed - 17 hibernating Small Tortoiseshells and 6 Peacocks. That's exactly the same numbers as this time last week. So during a cold week when we had frost and ice on the pond no butterflies left hibernation. A big contrast to the previous sunnier week when one third of the total number of hibernators departed. Interesting that none of the previous weeks departed returned - hopefully they found shelter from the cold elsewhere Malcolm Hull 2 Apr Stanwell Moor: Brimstone 2, Peacock 2, Comma 1, Small White 1. Only a brief burst of sun, though it was warmer than the previous few days Dave Miller March Date Description Recorder 31 Mar Millhoppers Reserve - Much cooler but the hedge/tree line kept most of the breeze out so pleasant when the sun broke through. The water level has dropped considerably since 22nd when Malcolm saw it ... maybe 5 inches. Just one butterfly on site, a male Brimstone. I then disturbed a Comma at the bottom of Watery Lane Chris Hilling 31 Mar The Warren, Bengeo. 2pm. 1 Small White. 1 Peacock. 1 Small Tortoiseshell Chris Benton 29 Mar Garden Bernards Heath 1x Small Tortoiseshell David Utting 28 Mar Garden Bernards Heath 2x Brimstone (1 male, 1 female) David Utting 28 Mar Stanwell Moor: Sunny first thing, but the northeasterly breeze was picking up markedly and bringing extensive cloud with it. My usual walk produced only three brave butterflies: Comma 2, Peacock 1 Dave Miller 27 Mar Stanwell Moor: Another very similar day, but the first butterfly seen today was a fairly cooperative Small White nectaring on dandelions. Further on along my usual circuit, I spotted a Brimstone basking (sideways on of course!), and then a Comma nearby. Trying to decide which to concentrate on, I was disturbed by another butterfly fluttering across in front of me. This turned out to be an Orange Tip. After settling at a distance, it briefly sat quite close by. I ended up seeing one more later on, amongst a total of at least 30 individual butterflies on the day. Peacock 12, Comma 10, Brimstone 5, Small White 2, Orange-tip 2, Small Tortoiseshell 1 Dave Miller 27 Mar In Hounslow garden 1 Peacock sunned itself for a little while Peter Gore 27 Mar 3 Small Tortoiseshell - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL1930) David Inward 27 Mar On my local exercise walk north of Ware I saw 4 Small Tortoiseshell and 2 Peacock but again no Brimstone. I took my Emperor moth lure but despite other Hertfordshire reports, nothing was attracted to it. Also heard and saw a Yellowhammer which was rather nice. On the map part of my walk passes an area marked Common but access was behind a 12 foot deer fence but I have now found a public footpath that goes through it. Hopefully it will produce some nice butterflies over the spring and summer for me to see during difficult period Liz Goodyear 27 Mar Millhoppers Reserve - one Comma and four Small Tortoiseshell and just one human ... me! Glorious isolation Chris Hilling 27 Mar New England St Playingfield, St Albans - 3 Small Tortoiseshells in the afternoon sun at the nettlebeds close to my house. A male intercepted a female in flight and they landed on the fed flowerhead of a Buddleia. But she was unreceptive and after 2 minutes he flew off, leaving her to self isolate Malcolm Hull 27 Mar St Albans Shed - 17 Small Tortoiseshells and 6 Peacocks still in hibernation today. So that means that around 50% of each species has now emerged. That's up from below 20% this time last week - not surprising given the prolonged period of sunny weather. Yesterday I saw one of both species on the wing in the garden. I also found two very soporific Small Tortoiseshells on the back door mat. It seems to take a lot of effort to bring them back to life - these two appeared to have crawled out of the shed under the door! Malcolm Hull 26 Mar Stanwell Moor: Despite continuing quite warm sunshine, no more Small Whites or Orange Tips appeared today, but the Peacocks and Commas were out in force, along with a few Brimstones and Small Tortoiseshells. Peacock 10, Comma 9, Brimstone 4, Small Tortoiseshell 2 Dave Miller 26 Mar For my exercise I wondered down to Halsey Field (about 10 mins from my house) and saw 5 Commas and 3 Peacocks sunbathing along a bush-lined path, where they were sheltered from the chilly east wind. Just as I left the site, a Brimstone was flitting along the edge of the adjacent Warners End wood Chris Ridley 26 Mar Woodcock Park, 3pm: 5 Commas, 1 Peacock, 1 Small Tortoiseshell Mike Rubin 26 Mar Lone Small White seen on my walk at Alexandra Park Dee Cullen 25 Mar Stanwell Moor: Brimstone 8, Peacock 15, Comma 9, Small Tortoiseshell 1. The highlight was another first for the year: Orange-tip 1 Dave Miller 25 Mar In Woodbury Field, Bricket Wood, I noticed a Small Tortoiseshell on the grass with a Peacock almost on top of it. Disturbed by me they flew off, the tortoiseshell followed very closely by the Peacock, and again the Peacock settled on the tortoiseshell. I followed, and took off my camera bag hoping to get a photo, but they flew again, with the Peacock once more keeping within a foot of the tortoiseshell, and I lost sight of them. Is this misguided mating behaviour (I don't know how Peacocks go about mating) or fighting? Six years ago I photographed a Small Tortoiseshell paying close attention to the rear end of a perched Peacock, by the River Colne near Wall hall Pumping Station Chris Newman 25 Mar Our garden SW Herts (Oxhey Hall): 1 Brimstone male, 1 Orange-tip male, 1 Peacock, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Comma Paul Williams 25 Mar 2-3pm, Barnhill: 1 male Brimstone, 5 Small Tortoiseshells, 9 Commas, 4 Peacocks Mike Rubin 25 Mar Royston: Small Tortoiseshell (3), Peacock (2), Brimstone (13, including 2 females). Most of the Brimstones were concentrated in a small area close to Royston Hospital, but there was also one in my garden Martin Johnson 25 Mar Mating pair of Peacocks at Balls Wood this afternoon Chris Benton 25 Mar 1 Brimstone - Franklin Gardens, Hitchin (TL198301) David Inward 25 Mar In my garden in Potten End: 3 Commas, 2 Small Tortoiseshells, 1 Brimstone, 1 Peacock and 1 Small White Paul Cross 25 Mar I've finally joined the Brimstone club with 2 sightings on my local north of Ware exercise walk. They were some distance apart (no pun intended) but knowing how far they travel could have been the same individual. Also 5 Peacock (2 not far from my house) and in the garden 1 of each Peacock & Small Tortoiseshell. Found some new elm which will be worth watching if still doing my daily walk in June! Liz Goodyear 25 Mar Wareside (TL401149): Small Tortoiseshell - 1, Peacock - 4, Comma - 1, Brimstone 3 Phil & Oliver MacMurdie 25 Mar Alexandra Park: 1 Brimstone, 1 Peacock, 1 Small Tortoiseshell Mark Wardman 25 Mar In St Albans (Townsend area) garden, during my home working lunch break: 1 Brimstone, 1 Peacock, 1 extremely tatty Comma Robert Bull 24 Mar Stanwell Moor: Brimstone 7, Peacock 5, Comma 4, Small Tortoiseshell 3, Small White 3 Dave Miller 24 Mar Lunchtime, in Kenton garden: 1 Comma. 2-3pm, Woodcock Park: 4 Commas. 1 suspected female Orange-tip on the wing (not stopping, small, rounded wings) Mike Rubin 24 Mar Wareside (TL401149): Small Tortoiseshell - 8, Peacock - 5, Comma - 1, Brimstone 1 Hunsdon (TL399133): Small Tortoiseshell - 1, Peacock - 10, Small Tortoiseshell 3 Phil & Oliver MacMurdie 24 Mar Alexandra Park: 5 Peacock, 5 Brimstone, 2 Small White, 2 Comma Mark Wardman 24 Mar Whilst tidying my Great Ashby, Stevenage garden, I saw 1 Comma, 3 Brimstone, 2 Peacock and a very brief Small Tortoiseshell Steve Lane 24 Mar During my authorised exercise walk around Bengeo: Comma, Small Tortoiseshell, Brimstone, Peacock and my first Small White Andrew Wood 24 Mar In Bengeo garden: Brimstone, Comma & Peacock Simon Knott 24 Mar 2 Small Tortoiseshell - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL1930), 1 possibly 2 Brimstone - St Faiths Close, Hitchin (TL198303) David Inward 24 Mar Hounslow. Plenty of butterflies on a sunny afternoon: Brimstone: 8 (first), Peacock: 16, Comma: 2, Small Tortoiseshell: 1 (first), Holly Blue: 1 Peter Gore 24 Mar 1 Small Tortoiseshell in my Ware garden early morning plus something that flew off as I rushed to see the Small Tortoiseshell! My walk around the local fields in glorious sunshine was very disappointing with only 2 Peacock and I still haven't seen a Brimstone this year! Liz Goodyear 23 Mar At Bayfordbury this sunny afternoon we had Peacock (2) and Comma (2) in the Pinetum (TL318106) and Small Tortoiseshell (2) at Rough Hills North (TL320104) Ian Flack 23 Mar At Stanwell Moor, a warmer and much less windy day. The Brimstones were back, and I found three, one of which was the first female of the year. Another first was a single male Small White. However, most sightings were of Peacocks and Commas, with seven of each seen. Some were really fresh, considering their long months of hibernation Dave Miller 23 Mar 2 (a pair) Small Tortoiseshell - Walsworth Common, Hitchin (TL193303), 1 Brimstone - St Faiths Close, Hitchin (TL198303) David Inward 23 Mar Hounslow. No walk today so I was especially pleased to see a butterfly in my garden. Holly Blue is no surprise here but this is the earliest I've seen one anywhere since I started reporting butterflies to the website 7 years ago. Today's was a male and I was able to enjoy watching it at my leisure, aided by a Christmas gift of new close focus binoculars. It moved in all the familiar ways amongst the Ivy, ignored the Holly which is about flower, visited a Celandine flower once briefly but spent a good bit of time, wings closed in the sun on a damp patch of bare soil in a trough at ground level, largely stationary but walking round a little too. Repeated sightings during the day but nothing to suggest there could be more than one Peter Gore 23 Mar This afternoon - 5 Comma edge of Williams Wood, Trent Park 13:55 - 14:00 hrs, 2 Peacock near lower lake, Trent Park and 1 Comma nectaring on blackthorn blossom at Vicarage Farm, Enfield (TQ 3097) at 16:07 hrs Robert Callf 23 Mar In Bushey garden was a Peacock x 1. This afternoon at Merryhill fields, Bushey have seen Comma x 3, Peacock x 3, Small Tortoiseshell x 1 David Gower 23 Mar Alexandra Park: 1 Small White in the conservation area; 1 Brimstone by Blandford Hall and 1 Comma in the butterfly meadow Mark Wardman 23 Mar First sightings this year, not that I've had time to look so far. Waverley Road, St Albans, 1 Brimstone in front gardens; Townsend Drive, St Albans, along the edge of Bernards Heath, 1 Brimstone, 2 Peacocks Robert Bull 23 Mar Royston: Peacock (2) and Small Tortoiseshell (2) Martin Johnson 22 Mar Two Peacocks and two Commas on my usual walk at Stanwell Moor Dave Miller 22 Mar I saw 5 Peacocks and a Brimstone on a walk around Stocking Pelham Andy Brown 22 Mar A Small White at Strayfield Road Cemetery between Hillyfields and Whitewebbs (TQ315988) Mark Saunders 22 Mar Millhoppers Reserve, Wilstone near Tring - I visited the branch butterfly reserve and was pleased to see the stream in full flow and the marsh full of water. Also spotted my first flying butterflies of the year - 1 Brimstone and 1 Comma on the reserve itself, 1 Peacock and a Brimstone on Watery Lane and 2 Brimstones nearby at Gubblecoat Cross Malcolm Hull 22 Mar 1 Brimstone - St Faiths Close, Hitchin (TL198302) David Inward 22 Mar Millhoppers Reserve - male Brimstone this lunchtime in glorious spring sunshine. Then, back in Tring, another flew past me as I was putting my bike away. My first of the year at last! Chris Hilling 22 Mar At home Bengeo 2 Peacocks and a Comma. At Waterford Heath South a Peacock and a Comma at last spring Steve Kiln 22 Mar At Water Lane, Watford noticed 1 x Comma. Nothing seen at Fishers Field afterwards David Gower 22 Mar 1 Comma nectaring on sallow blossom along Salmons Brook at Parkside Farm, Enfield (TQ 301 981) at 12:21 hrs and then basking on ground in sheltered spot Robert Callf 21 Mar Hounslow. Breezy but sunny. A Comma alongside the River Crane was followed by another on the return journey on The Marshalling Yards path, my first of the species this year Peter Gore 21 Mar Today's walk around the footpaths of north Ware produced sightings of 3 Small Tortoiseshell and 2 Peacock. All sheltering from the fierce wind in ditches where the weed sprayer had missed obliterating all the nectar sources! Still no Brimstones for me! Liz Goodyear 20 Mar I saw a Comma near the generating station in Stocking Pelham Andy Brown 20 Mar I saw 1 Peacock in Ware Park Andrew Wood 18 Mar 1 Small Tortoiseshell at Boxer's Lake, Enfield this afternoon at 14:08 hrs Robert Callf 17 Mar Mostly cloudy at Stanwell Moor, though fairly warm. Only a single Peacock seen flying Dave Miller 17 Mar Brimstone, Comma & Peacock in Bengeo garden Simon Knott 17 Mar One male Brimstone and one Comma at The Warren, Bengeo, this morning. One Small Tortoiseshell at Waterford Marsh this afternoon Chris Benton 17 Mar Royston: Brimstone (1 male) Martin Johnson 17 Mar 1 Peacock at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ 2998) at 13:11 hrs Robert Callf 17 Mar Overnight I recorded the best count of moths in my garden trap this year but nothing rare or exceptional! Today's walk around the north Ware footpaths on a relatively cloudy but mild morning I saw 1 Peacock at a sheltered location halfway between Ware and Wareside Liz Goodyear 17 Mar Saw the first of a few Brimstones this morning in Alexandra Park Dee Cullen 16 Mar At Stanwell Moor, A glorious spring day, and the butterflies responded on my local patch. Totals seen: Peacock 7, Comma 5, Brimstone 3, Small Tortoiseshell 1 Dave Miller 16 Mar The first sighting at Bayfordbury this year: a Comma flying in the sunshine at Rough Hills Ian Flack 16 Mar A Comma at Watton-at-Stone, 2 Peacocks at Ardeley and 1 at Benington Andrew Wood 16 Mar Hounslow. The first identified butterflies of the year for me, 2 Peacocks on the Pevensey loop followed by 3 more on the heath. I was informed by others luckier or more attentive than I that Brimstone and Comma were also flying in this area. An unidentified butterfly on the heath on the 13th was probably a Peacock too, whilst the only other unidentified one seen this year was more likely a Small Tortoiseshell in my garden way back on 8th January Peter Gore 16 Mar My first butterflies of the year - 2 Peacock clashing at Park Farm, Enfield (TQ 2998) at 13:48 hrs, 1 Comma in Rough Lot, Trent Park at 14:26 hrs, 1 Peacock at 15:11 hrs and 1 Small Tortoiseshell at 15:15 hrs at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park Robert Callf 16 Mar Took a walk around the footpaths of north Ware this morning, but the increasing sunshine couldn't persuade any butterflies to make an appearance. Soon after getting home however, there was a Small Tortoiseshell in my front garden! Although there is a lot of elm in the landscape, the tracks have had all the hedges cut back until I reach a children's play area near to where I live and the elm is in reach (although now a lot is diseased). It didn't take more than a minute to find a hatched White-letter Hairstreak egg - in the past it has taken much longer so a satisfactory result! Liz Goodyear 16 Mar My first butterflies of the year - at Fairlands Valley Park with 4 Brimstone and 6 Comma seen in the early afternoon sunshine Peter Clarke 16 Mar First Brimstone of the year (a male) in our Harpenden garden Alan Jackson 13 Mar At Stanwell Moor, no Brimstones, but instead I saw three Commas at widely spaced intervals Dave Miller 13 Mar St Albans - I've heard of a couple of sightings of Small Tortoiseshells in flight in St Albans area this week. Checking my shed, the number of hibernators is now down to 25 - three less than last week. So altogether five have flown so far this year - that's one sixth of the total which overwintered successfully. No further departures of Peacocks this week - just one of the 13 individuals has flown so far Malcolm Hull 12 Mar At Rye Meads NR - 1 Small Tortoiseshell (my first for the year) Rob Harris 11 Mar On the warm sunny morning, I strolled round my (still very soggy!) local patch at Stanwell Moor, and managed to see no fewer than seven Brimstones, plus a single Peacock and a single Small Tortoiseshell Dave Miller 11 Mar Single Peacock, basking on flower pot in Rickmansworth garden Anna Marett 11 Mar SP923131 Small Tortoiseshell, Little Tring just opposite Heygates Mill. In a windy field. 12-13 deg. C. 1.50pm. SP926133 Peacock, near Little Tring on towpath of Wendover Arm of Grand Union Canal. Sheltered. 12-13 deg. C. 1.55pm Rikki Harrington 11 Mar A male Brimstone in my Harpenden garden Robin Pearson 9 Mar Single Brimstone seen on Letchworth Gate, Letchworth, just before the junction with Baldock Lane heading towards the A1 Steve Lane 8 Mar A walk around Ware in this morning's sun revealed 2 Small Tortoiseshell and 1 Brimstone Andrew Wood 6 Mar A Peacock flying and basking in the sun at Bacon's Farm between Tewin and Bramfield Andrew Wood 6 Mar St Albans Shed - Nice sunny morning here, so I decided to check if any hibernating butterflies had yet flown from my shed. Three butterflies had left - 2 Small Tortoiseshells and 1 Peacock, all from positions on the ceiling where they get most daylight. 28 Small Tortoiseshells and 12 Peacocks remain. One of the Small Tortoiseshells was slowly opening and closing its wings, looking exactly like it was just waking from a deep sleep Malcolm Hull 3 Mar Five Brown Hairstreak eggs were found on what is probably our last day of searching. Starting at Cranford Park we followed the River Crane south to the edges of Heathrow Airport and back, first mostly of the west bank and returning on via the east bank. One egg was found at Avenue Park, Hounslow and four eggs were found in the vicinity of the flight path of the north runway - one egg was immediately under the flight path! The River Crane was a new catchment area for the butterfly so an excellent final result (Photo: Andrew Middleton) Liz Goodyear Andrew Middleton February Date Description Recorder 26 Feb 1 Brown Hairstreak egg during 6½ hours searching of blackthorn along the Hillingdon Trail and Yeading Brook - egg found at Brookside Playing Fields about 475m SE from where Paul Busby found an egg at the end of 2018! Liz Goodyear Andrew Middleton 25 Feb St Albans bedroom wall - first Clothes Moth of the year! Malcolm Hull 20 Feb St Albans Shed: Small Tortoiseshell - 30 hibernating and 1 dead. Evidence of cobwebs around a couple of others shows spider attacks have occurred. The number of hibernating Small Tortoiseshells has reduced by 5 since the peak in late September, though there is evidence of only one corpse. Interestingly there has been no change in numbers during the last three months, perhaps indicating that losses take place relatively early in the hibernation period. Maybe some individuals are more vulnerable, possibly due to the positions they choose in the shed. Peacock numbers are unchanged - still 13, same since the start of September. This is great news as I've found in previous years that Peacocks are more susceptible to predation Malcolm Hull 17 Feb Had a male Brimstone flitting round my Harpenden garden in the afternoon sunshine Robin Pearson 12 Feb Four Brown Hairstreak eggs at Ickenham on blackthorn that missed being flailed close to the Austin's Lane entrance. Later at a site in Hillingdon close to the A40 / River Pinn and railway line 6 eggs were found in what we believe to be a new 2km square (Photos: Andrew Middleton) Liz Goodyear Andrew Middleton 6 Feb Peacock sunning itself seen at woodland edge in Bramfield Woods (TL290177). Seen by Petra Schmelzer (Ian Flack) 6 Feb St Albans - Brimstone reported in today's bright sunshine, from my neighbours garden (Malcolm Hull) 6 Feb St Albans - disturbed two plume moths while removing weeds from the butterfly bed on my allotment. Look how well camouflaged this one is! My first moving Lepidoptera of the year Malcolm Hull 4 Feb In previously un-surveyed fields at Ickenham 86 Brown Hairstreak eggs found in 7 hours - about 1 every 10 mins. (Photo: Andrew Middleton) Liz Goodyear Andrew Middleton 1 Feb A single male Brimstone battling against the wind at a sunny Church Hill, Therfield while volunteers cleared scrub around midday James Fowler January Date Description Recorder 29 Jan Red Admiral in Bengeo garden Simon Knott 28 Jan Previously un-surveyed fields at Ickenham produced an amazing total of 41 Brown Hairstreak eggs during an afternoon of searching (Photos: Andrew Middleton) Liz Goodyear Andrew Middleton 26 Jan Male Spring Usher of 'melanic variety' at ASDA Southgate (Identified mostly on size and shape, also seen at this site before but not this variety. Confident that it was not a Dotted Border - which seems to be the only confusion species) Robert Callf 21 Jan Red Admiral enjoying the sunshine at the Warren, Bengeo, this afternoon Chris Benton 18 Jan Red Admiral in Bushey front garden this morning David Gower 17 Jan Amazed to see a Red Admiral flying around in Gordon Road on my walk to Bounds Green tube at 11.30 this morning, it felt far too cold to be seeing this Miles Attenborough 16 Jan Red Admiral, 1st butterfly of year, in Bengeo garden Simon Knott 15 Jan My neighbour reported a Red Admiral sighting in her Ware garden during a moment of sunshine (Liz Goodyear) 10 Jan I saw a beautiful Peacock whilst out walking in Stocking Pelham Andy Brown 10 Jan Just found a Large White in Watford in a rose bed! Some of the roses are still in flower! Ian Bennell 9 Jan Bruce Carson recorded Alexandra Palace's first butterfly of the year, a rather tatty Red Admiral. The butterfly was in the Blandford Hall area of the park (Photo: Bruce Carson) (Gerry Rawcliffe) 9 Jan Small Tortoiseshell in field behind my house in Tring Nick Bowles 8 Jan I never thought my first 2020 butterfly would be a male Holly Blue, but I spotted it beneath a big ivy hedge in Bengeo, it flew several times for short distances. There is a short video on the branch Facebook page Andrew Wood 7 Jan Comma from my Stevenage moth trap Ben Sale 4 Jan My earliest ever sighting and it so lifts the heart. A Peacock fluttering past my window in Northchurch before landing on a house over the Road, I can be sure of the ID as I took a close look. It is likely it was disturbed by a neighbour taking stuff to the dump, but still, a free flying butterfly in the sunshine, lovely Sue Taylor 3 Jan I saw a Peacock at Long Deans NR, resting on a log in the sun. My first butterfly of the year! Jenny Sherwen