Hertfordshire & Middlesex Branch
Saving butterflies, moths and our environment
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]
Common Blue at Alexandra Park. My first of year. A lone male Common Blue this afternoon at Alexandra Park in the lower butterfly meadow. [Posted by Dee Cullen]
Sightings at Enfield & Trent Park. 2 male Brimstone [1 near Nature Trail/Trent Park & 1 at a private site near Trent Park], 1 Green-veined White at a private site near Trent Park, 3 male Orange-tip at Trent Park [2 near Snakes Lane & 1 edge of Moat Wd], 5 Peacock [2 at Trent Park & 3 at a private sites near Trent Park], 1 Red Admiral by lower lake/Trent Park, 2 female Small Copper at Trent Park [1 near Triangular Wd & 1 by lower lake], 1 Small Heath near Church Wd/Trent Park - my first of the year [FOY], 3 Speckled Wood at private sites near Trent Park. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Green Hairstreak on Hounslow Heath & Marshalling Yards. News from Pete Gore "On yesterday's walk in the sun I saw 5 Green Hairstreaks on the part of the marshalling yards where we saw them last year, the first I've seen there despite frequent walks in ideal conditions earlier. One more was seen above the culvert and one in the strongest area of the heath where I didn't get as lucky with the sun particularly on the afternoon return journey. This grand total of 7 would in some past years have been a whole season's worth so I'm assuming that we have a thriving butterfly species with probably emerging and active females, and that it should be well worth a visit to both sites on May 11th - weather currently looking good." Join Pete and I on Sunday May 11th to see Green Hairstreaks at their best site in the Branch area - details on Events page [Posted by Peter Gore & Malcolm Hull]
Sightings at Southgate & Oakwood Park. 1 Holly Blue & 1 Speckled Wood at Dalrymple Close, N14 this morning. At Oakwood Park [1035 to 1110 BST] - 2 male Brimstone, male Orange-tip, 1 Peacock & 1 Speckled Wood. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
UKBMS Summary of Changes 2024. As most people know, 2024 was a poor year for butterflies in the UK. To find out how each species fared in 2024 since 1976 and the recent past look at the UKBMS Summary of changes 2024 report [Posted by Peter Clarke]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. Thirteen species seen during a lengthy local walk today (Sunday). These included the first Small Heath of the year here. The overall tally: GVW 21, Peacock 20, Orange Tip 17, Speckled Wood 11, Large White 9, Small White 9, Small Copper 7, Red Admiral 4, Holly Blue 4, Comma 4, Brimstone 3, Brown Argus 2, Small Heath 1. [Posted by Dave Miller]
Sightings at Enfield Town & Town Park, Enfield. 1 Speckled Wood at Chase Green Gardens, Enfield Town. 1 Comma & 1 Speckled Wood at Town Park, Enfield this afternoon. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Bentley Priory nature reserve. A warm but mostly overcast afternoon kept the butterfly sightings down. With 3 Peacock, 2 Orange-tip, 1 Green-veined White and 6+ unidentified flying whites. [Posted by Peter Fewell]
Sightings from Staines Moor. I popped down to Staines Moor this afternoon to see if any Small Coppers had emerged there, following my sightings of the species earlier in the day near Stanwell Moor a couple of km to the north. I drew a blank with this, but I did find a nest of around 100 Small Tortoiseshell caterpillars - a heartening sight considering the scarcity of the species these days. There was also a single Red Admiral caterpillar tucked into a nettle leaf in amongst the Tortoiseshells. On the adult butterfly front, there were a few Peacocks, GVW and Orange Tips, plus a Red Admiral. [Posted by Dave Miller]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. I had a walk out on my local patch after a few days away, and found my first Small Coppers (4) and Brown Argus (1) of 2025. I saw another ten species as well: Red Admiral (4), Peacock (18), Comma (2), Brimstone (2), Orange Tip (12), Small White (8), Green-veined White (15), Large White (5), Speckled Wood (7) and Holly Blue (14). [Posted by Dave Miller]
Sightings at Enfield. 3 male Brimstone [1 at a private site near Trent Park, 1 at Rectory Farm & 1 at Flash Lane, EN2], 1 Holly Blue along The Ridgeway, Enfield near Brooke Wd, 4 male Orange-tip [2 at private sites near Trent Park, 1 at Rectory Farm & 1 at Hilly Fields Park] & 1 Peacock at a private site near Trent Park. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Mating Orange Tips. A mating pair on garlic mustard in the back garden in Bengeo today. [Posted by Andrew Wood]
Waterford Heath. A lunchtime walk around Waterford Heath with the family, was warm but not hot with gentle sun and partial cloud. Dotted around I saw 5 Grizzled Skippers in the North Heath and 4 in the South including a mating pair, 1 pristine Brown Argus (first seen by the missus, sadly flew away as I was getting my phone out to photograph) seen on the path between the central bench and gate to the silt pit in the South Heath. Also seen Cinnabar moth and one UFM, possibly a Mother Shipton which also gave me the slip. Regrettably the amount of dog poo around is an absolute disgrace, some people have no shame or respect. [Posted by Nathan Ellis]
Orange Tip Nectaring on Hedge Garlic. A rather fine Orange Tip male nectaring on Hedge Garlic on Harpenden Common [Posted by David Hunt]
Cassiobury Park. Another day, another walk, this time to Cassiobury Park. Starting from Rickmansworth Road and taking the right hand path down where I saw: Holly blue x 4, Peacock x 3, Speckled wood x 2 and 5 x unknown whites. I then went into the Nature Reserve where I saw, Orange tip x 5+, and 6 unknown whites, Red admiral x 1, and Brimstone x 3. crossing the river I went along the other side (where the Small tortoiseshells used to be), Peacock x 2, Brimstone x 1, Orange tip x 1, and another two unknown whites. Heading back up the other side of the Park, a Peacock and Green-veined white on the way, to the Green Gym/Peace Garden where I saw another Peacock, Speckled wood and another two whites (wish they'd stay still for an ID). One Comma by the Croquet Club, and then home to a Holly blue in the garden. [Posted by Rick Vickers]
Sightings at Enfield. Male Brimstone, 1 Large White, 1 Peacock & 1 Speckled Wood at private sites near Trent Park this afternoon. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Aldbury Nowers. I decided to follow the currently un-walked Aldbury Nowers and Aldbury Nowers North Transects today. Please let me know if you are interested in taking one or other of them. Not huge numbers but found Small Copper, Small Heath, Brimstone, Green-veined White, Orange Tip, Grizzled and Dingy Skipper. (All of these were also present over on the Bucks border at Incombe Hole along with Duke of Burgundy and Green Hairstreak.) [Posted by Andrew Wood]
Sightings at Enfield & Trent Park. 2 Green-veined White at Trent Park [1 near Obelisk & 1 along Leeging Beech Gutter near Water Grdn], 6 male Orange-tip [4 at Trent Park, 1 at Lakeside, EN2 & 1 at South Lodge Cres, EN2], 2 Peacock at Trent Park [1 edge of Moat Wd & 1 at North Lawn], 1 Red Admiral by lower lake/Trent Park, 1 Small White near Obelisk/Trent Park, 2 Speckled Wood [1 at a private site near Trent Park & 1 near Equestrian Centre/Trent Park]. 50 Green Longhorn [moth] counted on Oak, edge of Moat Wd/Trent Park & 1 at Water Grdn/Trent Park. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
First Brown argus. Searching for grizzled skippers on Waterford heath south ,I saw my first Brown Argus, sunning itself on the east bank. [Posted by steve kiln]