Hertfordshire & Middlesex Branch
Saving butterflies, moths and our environment
Meadows around Brickendon. Having just returned from seeing beautiful Swallowtails in the Norfolk broads I am surprised to see as many Painted Ladys around here as I did there. 5 seen on a short walk around the meadows, some deliberately choosing Ox-eye Daisy and other preferred Knapweed. Large Skippers have now made an appearance here with 4 seen. 3 Holly Blues were seen on the new Bramble blossom and many Common Blues seen on the wing. Small Heath and Speckled Wood seen also. I suspect 2 Mother Shipton were seen but too hot to chase them down for a photo. [Posted by Nathan Ellis]
Small Blues on Clothall Common. After a bit of searching I found two Small Blues on Clothall Common, west of the A505 Baldock bypass. Several Common Blues were on the wing here and small numbers of Brown Argus and Small Heath were seen, along with a few whites and Cinnabar Moths and Burnet Companion Moths. However, the commonest butterfly was Painted Lady, with at least 30 seen, many feeding on the abundant Oxeye Daisies. There appears to have been a significant influx (from Europe?) in the last week - I had a couple in my Royston garden as well. [Posted by Martin Johnson]
Painted Ladies in Muswell Hill. This week I have seen a half a dozen Painted Lady on my road, where we have Valerian in many of our front gardens. They have also been seen in increasing numbers in Alexandra Park. I hope it’s going to be one of those years. [Posted by Dee Cullen]
Sightings at Oakwood Park. At Oakwood Park [1100 to 1210 BST] - 21 Common Blue including several females, 4 Holly Blue, 1 Large Skipper - my first of the year [FOY], male Meadow Brown - my first of the year [FOY], 9 Painted Lady, 1 Small Copper, 3 Small Heath, 3 Speckled Wood including two together & 1 Burnet Companion. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Sightings at Pymmes Park, Edmonton. At Pymmes Park, Edmonton [1400 to 1505 BST] - 2+ Holly Blue & 2+ Speckled Wood. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Peacock caterpillars in St Albans. Spotted a Peacock nest on my allotment this afternoon. Caterpillars quite active in the heat. Unlike the few butterflies saw, which were all hiding in the shade! Holly Blues started flying again in the garden after the sun disappeared at 6.30 pm [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
Small Blue - Grass Vetchling. Small Blue nectaring on Grass Vetchling. Well away from the Kidney Vetch @ Heartwood Forest. Recorded on iRecord. [Posted by Ian Carle]
Sightings at Oakwood Park & Grovelands Park, Southgate. At Oakwood Park [1030 to 1125 BST] - 12 male Common Blue, 3 Holly Blue,1 Small Heath, 1 Alabonia geoffrella, 1 Burnet Companion & 3 Silver Y. At Grovelands Park [1135 to 1320 BST] - 5 Holly Blue, 1 Painted Lady, 2 Small Heath & 7 Speckled Wood. Also, Emperor Dragonfly - my first of the year [FOY]. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Ruby Tiger at Southgate. 1 Ruby Tiger freshly emerged at lighted window near front door at Dalrymple Close, N14 this morning at 0100 BST - my first of the year [FOY]. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. Even hotter today locally, and my walk was shorter and the butterflies harder to find. One exception was the Small Heath which appeared even more numerous than it had been the day before. I only counted 12 species today, but one of them was another first for the year - a fresh male Meadow Brown. None of today's Painted Ladies were as vibrant as yesterday's but with four seen altogether, they definitely seem to be on the move again. Other species seen: Common Blue, Brown Argus, Holly Blue, Small Copper, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood, Brimstone, Small White and Green-veined White. Dave [Posted by Dave Miller]
Blue Sunday. Heartwood Forest - I visited all 4 areas with Kidney Vetch and saw a total of 67 Small Blues. Interestingly several individuals were well away from the breeding areas, including two males taking salts at the dog pond. However they were out numbered by 91 Common Blues. Surprisingly only one Brown Argus. Other butterflies included Brimstone, Green-veined White, Large White, Orange-tip, Painted Lady, Peacock, Red Admiral, Small Copper, Small Heath and Speckled Wood. Most of the Painted Ladies looked very fresh, possibly a sign of a new immigration - all those I have seen until now have been faded or “grey” Day flying moths included Burnet Companion, Cinnabar, Grass Rivulet, Six-spot Burnet, Silver Y, Small Yellow Underwing and Treble Lines [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
Sightings at Southgate. 1 Red Admiral at Chase Road, N14 this morning at 1155 BST & 2 Holly Blue [1 at Chase Road, N14 & 1 at Southgate Chase Allotments]. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Small Blue Butterfly in my Harpenden garden. Pleased to get a Small Blue butterfly in my garden for the first time after I planted kidney vetch the last few years [Posted by Jamie Brown]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. A hot day again near Heathrow (often the warmest place in the UK in this kind of weather). I went out early and found the butterflies still active before it became really warm. A mating pair of Small Coppers was a high point, as was a fresh Speckled Wood and a relatively fresh Painted Lady (which was no larger than the Speckled Wood). I also had a glimpse of a Large Skipper (my first here this year), but it was supercharged in the sunshine and didn't stop for a second. Approximate totals today: Small Heath (25), Brown Argus (25), Common Blue (25), Holly Blue (22), Green-veined White (5), Small White (4), Red Admiral (4), Large White (3), Small Copper (3), Painted Lady (3), Brimstone (2), Peacock (2) Orange-tip (1), Speckled Wood (1), Large Skipper (1) [Posted by Dave Miller]
Sightings at Grovelands Park, Houndsden Gutter, N21 & Oakwood Park. At Oakwood Park [1000 to 1045 BST] - 3 male Common Blue, 1 Green Hairstreak [rather worn] - my first of the year [FOY], 4 Holly Blue, 2 Small Copper, 2 Burnet Companion - my first of the year [FOY], 1 Cinnabar, 1 Orange Beauty [Commophila aeneana] - my first of the year [FOY] & 1 Yellow Shell - my first of the year [FOY]. At Houndsden Gutter, N21 - 3 Speckled Wood including two together. At Grovelands Park [1105 to 1300 BST] - 2 male Common Blue, 3 Holly Blue, 1 Painted Lady flew NE, 7 Small Heath, 1 Small Copper & 4 Speckled Wood. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Adonis Blues Flying on Therfield Heath. Not surprisingly, the hot weather has brought out the first generation of Adonis Blues on Therfield Heath. I saw at least 10 males on the wing on Church Hill this morning, alongside a few Common Blues (paler blue wings). Also seen were a few Small Heath and Brown Argus, as well as a single male Brimstone during a brief visit. Following the grass cutting in 2025 it was good to see lots of Horseshoe Vetch flowering here. [Posted by Martin Johnson]
Sightings at Pymmes Park, Edmonton. 2 Holly Blue at Pymmes Park, Edmonton this afternoon. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Red Admirals in Highgate Cemetery. During my transect I saw a couple of Red Admirals my first for the year at the cemetery ( West side) sparring with each other and Speckled Woods. [Posted by Dee Cullen]
Hillbrow Letchworth Sightings. At about midday several (5+) Small Blues (TL205320), one very battered Small Copper, Holly Blues and Common Blues in reasonable numbers. [Posted by David Crawford]
Sightings at Trent Park, Monken Hadley Common & Covert Way LNR. At Trent Park - 3 Small Copper, 2 Small Heath together, 2 Chimney Sweeper - my first of the year [FOY] & 5 Alabonia geoffrella. At Chalk Lne, Cockfosters - 1 Holly Blue. At Covert Way LNR - 1 Holly Blue. At Monken Hadley Common - 2 Brimstone [male & female], 2 Green-veined White, 2 Orange-tip [male & female], 1 Red Admiral & 1 Holly Blue. At Bramley Rd, N14 - male Common Swift - my first of the year [FOY]. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]