Hertfordshire & Middlesex Branch
Saving butterflies, moths and our environment
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. A bit chilly this morning, but there was some sunshine around initially so I did a quick circuit of my local patch. After seeing so many in April, it seemed strange not to find a single Peacock during the walk. However, I did find 12 other species: Holly Blue (14), Small Heath (8), Orange-tip (4), Green-veined White (4), Brown Argus (4), Speckled Wood (3), Small Copper (3), Small White (2), Common Blue (1), Brimstone (1), Red Admiral (1), Painted Lady (1). [Posted by Dave Miller]
Sightings at Enfield & Oakwood. 1 Waved Umber at bus-stop shelter at Bramley Road, N14 - my first of the year [FOY]. 2 Painted Lady & 1 Small White at private sites near Trent Park this afternoon. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Sightings at Enfield. At private sites near Trent Park - 5 Small Heath - my first of the year [FOY],1 Painted Lady, 2 Green-veined White & 1 Speckled Wood. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Waterford Heath. Had a wander around Waterford Heath with Helen Bantock. Started on the north pit in an anti-clockwise direction and in total encountered 6 Grizzled Skipper (scattered around the site), with a further 2 on the South Pit. Also seen were several Holly Blue, 2 Orange-tip, 5 Brown Argus including a mating pair, 2 Painted Lady and a Cinnabar and Treble-bar moth [Posted by Liz Goodyear]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. A blanket of low cloud sat stubbornly over my local patch almost all day. However, there was enough solar radiation coming through the cloud to keep the Painted Ladies active. I found six today and there were likely more hiding down in the grass. In rare bright moments a few other butterflies appeared. Totals today: Painted Lady (6), Small Copper (4), Orange-tip (3), Brown Argus (2), Small Heath (2), Red Admiral (2), Common Blue (1), Holly Blue (1). There was also a brand new Burnet Companion moth. [Posted by Dave Miller]
Sightings at Enfield & Southgate. 1 Angle Shades at a private site near Trent Park this morning - my first of the year [FOY] & 1 Brimstone Moth at ASDA Southgate this afternoon - my first of the year [FOY]. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
White-letter Hairstreak Caterpillars. Cool and cloudy today so didn't look for butterflies but it was good weather to look for caterpillars and other interesting insects. Whilst my daughter went on her scooter around Barclay Park Hoddesdon I managed to find White-letter Hairstreak caterpillars on the very first low hanging Elm tree branch I searched, which was a nice surprise. Even though I forgot my glasses I still found 5 without much difficulty, which is very encouraging. [Posted by Nathan Ellis]
Whippendell Woods Bluebell butterfly walk. When we arrived we did get some sunny intervals and before the walk started Rick spotted a male Common Blue. We did try and find it once the walk got under way but sadly the rest of us including me missed it, Rick did get a photo though. We found a few people that were in the wrong location eventually and all that attended seemed to enjoy the walk although it went quiet due to the overcast conditions. I didn't see any Holly Blues but Rick sighted one. We did get to see about 5 Orange-tips, 1 Speckled Wood, 1+ Red Admiral, Green-veined White certainly 2 as in the photo's. The female was having none of the males advances! There were a few more white butterflies seen that were unidentified. Although not as good as last weekend we had a better count than last years spring walk. It was great to have Chris Newman with us who does all the great transect work over at Bricket Wood. The bluebells were still holding on although going over in a few places they were at their peak a couple of weekends back as they started flowering early this year. The coral root that was in full flower last weekend had practically gone but we did find the last remnants of flowers. We thank and hope all that attended enjoyed the walk and sorry if we missed anyone trying to find us. [Posted by Peter Fewell/Rick Vickers]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. Another sunny and warm day in my part of the world - at least until the rain arrived late afternoon. In a lengthy walk around my local patch I started somewhat unusually with a Painted Lady, two Green Hairstreaks and three Small Coppers. The highlights later in the walk were brand new Common Blues and Brown Argus. The totals seen today: Holly Blue (23), Small Copper (12), Orange-tip (11), Brown Argus (10), Green-veined White (5), Peacock (5), Common Blue (3), Speckled Wood (3), Small White (3), Brimstone (3), Green Hairstreak (2), Red Admiral (2), Painted Lady (2), Comma (2), Small Heath (1). I also saw my first Mother Shipton moth of the year. [Posted by Dave Miller]
Sightings at Enfield & Trent Park. At private sites near Trent Park - male Common Blue - my first of the year [FOY], 1 Holly Blue, male Orange-tip, 1 Peacock & 4 Speckled Wood. At Trent Park - 1 Green-veined White at Williams Wd, 1 Peacock by lower lake & 2 Speckled Wood [1 along Leeging Beech Gutter near Water Grdn & 1 near Equestrian Centre]. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Green Hairstreak. Green Hairstreak found today (02/05/2026) by Neil Anderson while leading a LNHS field meeting on Poor's Field, Ruislip, Grid Ref TQ086895. (also submitted on iRecord Butterflies). [Posted by Richard Middleton]
Sightings at Southgate, Trent Park, Enfield & Edmonton. At Dalrymple Cose, N14 - 1 Holly Blue. At Trent Park - 2 Speckled Wood along bridle-path near Equestrian Centre. At private sites near Trent Park - 2 male Brimstone, 1 Green-veined White, 3 Holly Blue, 3 male Orange-tip, 2 Painted Lady, 2 Peacock, 1 Red Admiral & 1 Speckled Wood. At Pymmes Park, Edmonton - 1 Speckled Wood. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
arrival of Brown Argus and Small Heath. I walked the quarries, Rickneys and South and North pits at Waterford Heath. 11 Brown Argus at Rickneys my first this year and 2 Grizzled Skippers of note. On North Heath I saw 6 Grizzled Skippers, 3 Brown Argus and also Cinnabar moth of note. On South Heath Grizzled Skippers 5, best of the year there and well spread out. 3 Small Heath, my first of the year and also 5 Brimstones. Moths had Cinnabar, Latticed Heath and Silver Y. [Posted by steve kiln]
Small Tortoiseshell King's Mead. 1 Small Tortoiseshell Park Mead, King's Mead near Hertford [Posted by Alex Lewis]
Sightings at Pymmes Park, Edmonton. At Pymmes Park, Edmonton [1615 to 1700 BST] - 1 Holly Blue, male Orange-tip & 2 Red Admiral together. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Sightings. 2 Green Hairstreaks and a single Small Blue on the perimeter footpaths of the old Butterfly World site, Chiswell Green. [Posted by Clive Burrows]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. I wasn't able to go out and enjoy today's sunshine until after four, but the walk was worth it, as I found examples of three new species for the year in the space of around an hour - Brown Argus, Common Blue and Small Heath. Overall numbers seen in the late afternoon sun: Peacock (18), Holly Blue (18), Orange-tip (14), Green-veined White (12), Small White (5), Small Copper (4), Red Admiral (4), Brimstone (2), Brown Argus (2), Small Tortoiseshell (1), Speckled Wood (1), Common Blue (1), Small Heath (1). [Posted by Dave Miller]
Sightings at Enfield. At private sites near Trent Park - 2 male Brimstone, 1 Comma, 1 Green-veined White, 2 Holly Blue, male Large White, male Orange-tip, 4 Peacock, female Small Copper & 1 Speckled Wood. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Painted Lady at Brickendon. One very timid Painted Lady seen this sunny lunchtime, resting briefly in the meadow then back on the wing in this moderate ESE breeze. [Posted by Nathan Ellis]
Sightings at Oakwood Park. At Oakwood Park this afternoon [1215 to 1305 BST] - 3 Brimstone [2 males & 1 female], 7 Holly Blue & female Small Copper apparently egg-laying. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]