Hertfordshire & Middlesex Branch
Saving butterflies, moths and our environment
Let it Grow. For the last few years HMBC have been working with St Albans District Council to record butterfly numbers on Low Mow Plots and areas of Wildflower seeding on highway verges, parks and green spaces. This article in St Albans Times describes some the local initiatives Let it Grow [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
Sightings at Enfield & Trent Park. Male Brimstone at a private site near Trent Park, 2 Green-veined White [1 at a private site near Trent Park & 1 by lower lake/Trent Park], 2 male Orange-tip [1 at a private site near Trent Park & 1 edge of Rough Lot/Trent Park], 1 Peacock at a private site near Trent Park, 13 Small Heath at a private site near Trent Park, 3 Speckled Wood at private sites near Trent Park, 2 Mother Shipton at private sites near Trent Park. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
White Letter Hairstreak larva. White Letter Hairstreak larva seen under UV light on Hampstead Heath. [Posted by Rohan Harris]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. On a grey day with a chilly northeasterly wind blowing, I didn't really expect to see much in the way of butterflies today. However, some sporadic sunshine appeared late in the afternoon, and a brisk local walk was rewarded by three Speckled Woods (3m), three Brown Argus (1f, 1m), two Common Blues (2m), two Orange Tips (1f, 1m) and a very tatty female Large White. [Posted by Dave Miller]
Small Heath at Enfield. 1 Small Heath at a private site near Trent Park this morning. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
A short journey along the River Colne and the Whippendell Woods Butterfly walk. I was in need of having my car cleaned so dropped the car off at the Tesco's car park cleaning services which gave me an hour to wander along the River Colne, 2 Green- Veined Whites, 1 Speckled Wood, 1 Brimstone and another unidentified flying White. (Only photo I can post of a butterfly today is a Green-veined White from the River Colne.) As for the Spring branch Butterfly Walk in Whippendell Woods the butterfly count was disappointing, with a count of 1 White and although Rick and myself think it was a GV White it was not confirmed! However it was the best turn out for one of our walks ever! A real mixed age group as well. Rick followed up at the rear to make sure none of the attendees got lost and I was kept busy with questions at the front by the 3 youngest sisters who were amazing for their age at asking such questions about butterflies. Real young stars who made my day for what turned out to be a bad role of the dice with the weather after the recent warm spell. Although it was bad for butterflies this time all who came seemed to enjoy the walk. The bluebells were still in flower we stopped at all the butterfly hotspots to point out what is likely to be seen there and when and hopefully we will get to see more butterflies on the Summer Walk. All attendees seemed to enjoy the walk despite the lack of butterflies and those 3 young girls in the photo were keen to come along on our next walk and it would be a delight to have them there with their family too. [Posted by Peter Fewell]
Small Heath at Oakwood Park. 3 Small Heath at Oakwood Park this morning before Church & Spotted Flycatcher. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Cassiobury Park & Whippendell Woods. A preliminary walk around the Park and Woods before the Walk on Sunday (Hope to see some of you there), What I saw in the the Park was: Red admiral x 2, Holly blue x 3 Speckled wood x 3 approx 5 Unknown White and (highlight of the day) 1 x Small copper. Following that I then went into the Woods, where I saw a further:Speckled wood x 4, Holly blue x 2, Brimstone x 8, Orange tip x 7, Unknown whites x 6, Comma x 1, Peacock x 3, Large white x 1, Red admiral x 1, Peacock x 6, it began to get a little lively as it cooled down - and then it became butterfly bedtime and the walk back was a bit quiet. [Posted by Rick Vickers]
Small Blue. 14 Small Blues counted in a twenty minute walk around old Butterfly World perimeter at Chiswell Green in the late afternoon sun. [Posted by Clive Burrows]
Sightings at Oakwood Park & Southgate. 2 Brimstone [male at Dalrymple Close, N14 & female at Oakwood Park], male Common Blue seen settled at Oakwood Park - my first of the year [FOY], 3 Holly Blue [2 at Dalrymple Close, N14 & 1 at Oakwood Park], 1 Small Heath at Oakwood Park, 1 Mother Shipton at Oakwood Park - my first of the year [FOY] & fem/imm Broad-bodied Chaser seen in flight & settled in tree at Oakwood Park [TQ303953] at 1305 BST - my first of the year [FOY]. All sightings in Oakwood Park were E of the 10 km line. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Sightings at Enfield. Male Brimstone, 1 Green-veined White, male Large White, 2 male Orange-tip, 2 Peacock, 1 Small Copper & 10 Small Heath at private sites near Trent Park. 1 Blood-vein along Salmons Brook at Parkside Farm/Res, Enfield [TQ300983] - my first of the year [FOY]. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. A early start for a local walk today ahead of the forecast hot afternoon. 14 species seen today, including another new one for the year (making 17 for my local patch so far in 2025). No.17 was the Green Hairstreak. One popped up out of nowhere in a new location, but the second (the pic attached) turned up precisely where I saw one last year. The behaviour was the same as well - chasing Holly Blues. Overall, numbers were subdued in the heat, with only Orange Tips and Holly Blues making it to double figures. One other highlight of the morning was a very new female Brown Argus nectaring on the caterpillar foodplant. [Posted by Dave Miller]
Trip to Aldbury Nowers. Hot & sunny this afternoon with butterflies flying at top speed and moths hiding in the shade. Pleased to see 2 Green Hairstreaks. Others I managed to ID included 7 Dingy Skippers, 2 Grizzled Skippers, 3 Brown Argus, 1 Common Blue, 1 Holly Blue, 17 Small Heaths, 1 Yellow Underwing moth. Brimstones were by far the most common species. We are still looking for help walking the transect at this brilliant site, please contact Andrew Wood if you are interested [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
Sightings at Trent Park. A few sightings at Trent Park 'New Fields' or 'Butterfly Meadows' from 1210 to 1300 BST this afternoon - Male Brimstone near Triangular Wd, 1 Comma near Church Wd, 1 Green-veined White at Church Wd, 2 male Orange-tip, 2 Peacock, 1 Small Copper near Triangular Wd & 1 Speckled Wood. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Trip to Berkhamsted Common. On Cox’s Field, I clocked up 35 Burnet Companion, 11 Dingy Skipper, 1 Common Blue, 1 Small Copper, 1 Small Heath, 1 pyrausta aurata and 1 Green Hairstreak. This meadow is rich in Birds foot Trefoil The Dingy Skippers were mostly male, perching and jousting, sometimes in a group of 3 or 4. The Green Hairstreak flew past at head height and perched obligingly in an oak about 20 feet above ground, providing clear view through binoculars.Elsewhere on the Common I added Mother Shipton, Brown Silver line (4), and more Small Heath (4). Despite beating many more gorse bushes, no further Green Hairstreak were spotted. [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
Sightings at Enfield & Southgate. 5 Brimstone [3, male & 2 females, at private sites near Trent Park, male at Bay Farm & male at Rectory Farm], 1 Green-veined White at Flash Lane, EN2, 3 Holly Blue [1 at Chase Rd/Charter Way, N14, 1 at Flash Lane, EN2 & 1 at Gordon Hill Station], 5 Orange-tip [2 males at a private site near Trent Park, male at Bay Farm, male at Flash Lane, EN2 & male at Gordon Hill Station], 2 Peacock at private sites near Trent Park, 1 Small Copper at a private site near Trent Park & 5 Speckled Wood [3 at a private site near Trent Park, 1 at Strayfield Road, EN2 & 1 at Cedar Road, Enfield]. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. Fourteen species seen today on my local patch, with the new butterfly today being a Large Skipper. Aside from the early date (I don't think I've ever found one in April before), I was surprised that it was a female - the males usually appear first. One other highlight of the day was a dusky new female Common Blue. [Posted by Dave Miller]
Small Copper at Nomansland Common. 9 Small Copper, 3 Small Heath,Mother Shipton, Cinnabar, Speckled Wood, Holly Blue (all singles), 3 Large White, 8 Brimstone, 9 Orange Tip, 9 Peacock. Tapped a few gorse bushes with a stick to see if I could dislodge a Green Hairstreak. No luck with that, I only succeeded in annoying hundreds of Long horned moths [Posted by Malcolm Hulll]
Sightings at Enfield & Trent Park. 4 Brimstone [2, male & female, at Trent Park, male at Plumridge Farm & male at a private site near Trent Park], 1 Comma at a private site near Trent Park, 1 Holly Blue near Shaws Wd Cottages/Trent Park, 3 Orange-tip at private sites near Trent Park [2 males & 1 female], 7 Peacock [2 at Trent Park, 1 at Plumridge Farm & 4 at private sites near Trent Park], 15 Speckled Wood [9 at Trent Park, 3 at Ash Wd/Enfield Chase, 1 at Park Farm & 2 at a private site near Trent Park]. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. Increasingly warm sunshine today, and I counted 13 species on my local patch again. However, Brown Argus didn't appear this time, but the gap was filled by my first Common Blues of 2025. The other 12 species were the same selection, and included these two mating pairs - GVW and Large White. [Posted by Dave Miller]
