Hertfordshire & Middlesex Branch
Saving butterflies, moths and our environment
Brown Hairstreak. One Brown Hairstreak egg found at Warners Brothers studios Leavesden. [Posted by Rohan Harris]
Brown Hairstreak egg hunt and training morning at Horsenden Hill. A brilliant recording effort this morning at Horsenden Hill despite the cold, dull weather! Weather conditions were however perfect for seeing eggs though! Ten people joined us and over a 2 hour period we found 74 eggs, with 3 eggs being found within a short distance of the carpark - a great start! The site is vast and there is plenty more blackthorn to be searched! [Posted by Liz Goodyear]
Brown Hairstreak at Fryent country park. With permission granted, 64 Brown Hairstreak eggs rescued from areas due for cutting back at Fryent country park. [Posted by Rohan Harris]
Red Admiral in Dorset. Seen on 2 January in Broadstone . Warming up a bit this week with some probable sunshine so maybe worthwhile searching for it [Posted by Peter Clarke]
Further observations from today's Brown Hairstreak egg survey. There were several double egg finds - see photos. Malcolm checked the hedge trimming around the field systems and they were all carried out following the agreed rotation with the land managers! [Posted by Chris Hankinson & Malcolm Hull]
Branch Winter Event at Stafford Road Open Space.. 10 of us assembled in sub zero frosty conditions, including 6 rookies for training in the delicate art of Brown Hairstreak egg hunting. The forecasted sun that we had banked on failed to appear but thankfully the temperature rose sufficiently to thaw the frosty foliage to make the task in hand possible with a total number of 28 eggs found with all the newcomers finding at least 1 egg so mission accomplished on that front. The event included a walk about the area highlighting the various 'hot spot' clearings and the location of master ash trees where adults roost and assemble enabling folk to return on their own come the flight season. It turned in to quite a social event as there were people from different local groups exchanging plenty of useful local butterfly and conservation chit chat. No one left early despite the gloomy cold weather and everyone said they had an enjoyable time. See you same place in August for the flight season walk. PS There will be another training/survey event next Sunday 19th at Horsenden Hill if you missed today [Posted by Nick Furtek]
Columbia...Home to 20% of the World's Butterfly Species by Ian Small. Did you miss our Zoom presentation last night? Well we recorded it so you can now watch it or watch it again to see the amazing photographs of Colombian butterflies - it will definitely brighten up your day ! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7cfzGco8GM. [Posted by Liz Goodyear]
Brown Hairstreak eggs. Over the last couple of weeks Brown Hairstreak eggs found at Roxbourne Park (17). Moat mount open space (1). Arrandene open space (10). [Posted by Rohan Harris]
Beat the Winter blues!. With our programme of free Zoom talks. Starting this Wednesday 8th January with 'Colombia - home to 20% of the world's butterfly species' - Ian Small. Full details are here & note earlier start time: https://www.hertsmiddx-butterflies.org.uk/winter-zoom.php. Alternatively you can join us on one of our Brown Hairstreak survey mornings starting on Sunday 12th January . Anyone can come but please book (in case we have to postpone), remember to wrap up warm, wear wellies (everywhere is muddy!) & bring a hand lens. Full details are here: https://www.hertsmiddx-butterflies.org.uk/winter-events.php [Posted by Liz Goodyear]
Happy New Year. Hopefully better weather in 2025 for more butterflies than last year. Changes forthcoming on website for year change [Posted by Peter Clarke]
Copthall Park South. Two Brown Hairstreak eggs found at Copthall park South. [Posted by Rohan Harris]
Small White. Small White, adult, flying (and at rest) in house. Appears to be a fresh specimen. Based on the upper wing pattern, this identifies as a first brood male. If that is the case, I hesitate to consider it a 'late' or 'last' record for 2024; rather it appears to be an 'early' or 'first' record for the 2025 cohort? Though the chance of this adult surviving into the New Year and then to the spring is not high. [Posted by Leslie Williams]
Brown Hairstreak at Fryent country park. After many walks at Fryent country park over the last few months searching for Brown Hairstreak eggs over five hundred have been found with finds in every one of the field enclosures across the whole site. [Posted by Rohan Harris]
Brown Hairstreak egg rescue Prestwick Road Meadows. Due to the work put in by Liz Goodyear and the result of a visit by Rohan Harris's initial egg search followed by Liz's a good number of Brown Hairstreak eggs were discovered. Rick and myself added another 2 eggs on our initial visit. The site was in need of management which is due anytime soon. Another egg rescue was needed and thanks to Liz Goodyear's superb map we were able to locate and remove any eggs that were in the areas due to be managed. We initially had a target of 18 eggs to relocate and remove and the tags really helped us to find the eggs. One in a cluster of 3 eggs was missing but another egg was found on the next marked egg compensating. 1 tagged egg by Liz on the mid eastern section was snapped off but fortunately Rick eventually saw the tag and rescued that egg. We removed 1 extra egg marked by Rohan close to the southern side next to the 2 eggs due to be rescued as it was even more vulnerable than the other two. As we got through the site relatively quickly rescuing 19 eggs we had a bit of time on our hands before dark and went on to find a further 5 eggs 4 of need of rescue the other tagged and left making a total of 23 eggs rescued. All eggs safely stored in Ricks garden and hopefully on their return to Prestwick Road Meadows we can monitor their progress to see if we can gather some evidence of the caterpillars reaching a bud! [Posted by Peter Fewell]
Big City Butterfly Zoom meeting 11 December 7pm - 8pm Date confirmed. For the last three and a half years, activities focusing on the project’s three themes: improving habitats, recording species and inspiring people, have been delivered across 17 inner-London boroughs. Project Officers Emma and Steve will take you through the project’s achievements and plans for legacy as they move into the final few months of the project. Booking details here. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/big-city-butterflies-project-achievements-tickets-1069198263789 [Posted by Liz Goodyear]
Bluesky for our branch. Join as a member of Bluesky, another social media platform, to get the latest news for the BC Herts & Middx branch. Click here to sign up [Posted by Peter Clarke]
BC Emergency Fundraising Appeal. Save our Butterflies - Butterfly Conservation has suffered a drop in income and has launched an emergency appeal for funds. Please click here and donate if you can [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
Fryent Country Park. Seventy Brown Hairstreak eggs found at Fryent Country park. [Posted by Rohan Harris]
Red Admiral at Enfield. 1 Red Admiral at a private site near Trent Park this morning. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Red Admiral at Enfield. 2 Red Admiral at private sites near Trent Park. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]