Hertfordshire & Middlesex Branch
Saving butterflies, moths and our environment
Second Brood Adonis Blues At Therfield Health. I was already at Therfield Heath so thought I would have a quick look for second brood Adonis Blue. I saw about five stunners in about 20 minutes in sunny but very windy conditions. My daughter then decided finding some ice-cream was far more important. [Posted by Nathan Ellis]
Brown Hairstreak in South Harrow. Was very surprised to find the odd looking Gatekeeper on the buddleia in my garden in South Harrow this lunchtime turn out to be a female Brown Hairstreak. Had a good look at it through my binoculars. Also, had one Speckled Wood, one Small White and one Large White in the garden. [Posted by Michael Robinson]
Common Blue, Green-veined White, Purple Hairstreak & Small Heath at Trent Park. Female Common Blue, 1 Green-veined White & 1 Small Heath at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park this morning & 1 Purple Hairstreak [worn & tatty] settled low down along bridle-path between Merryhills Brook & Shaws Wd/Trent Park at 1111 BST - quite a late record, but I have seen them in early September in the past. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Bad weather for Therfield Heath Branch Walk. The forecast is for rain tomorrow morning (Sat 24th) when I am due to lead a Branch Walk on Therfield Heath. I will go to the start for 10.30 anyway, but it is probably not worth travelling far for this event tomorrow. Weather looks better in the second half of next week if you want to do a self-guided walk. [Posted by Nick Keep]
Jersey Tiger at Oakwood & Light Emerald at Southgate. 2 Jersey Tiger [1 at Lakeside, EN2 & another at South Lodge Cres, EN2] this morning & 1 Light Emerald near outside light at ASDA Southgate. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Brown Hairstreak South Oxhey. Following on from the other weeks success at Merry Hill, and finding a second four leaved clover in the garden, time to go searching... South Oxhey Playing fields, same point I found the egg earlier in the year, just as the sun shone (about only time today) 1 Brown Hairstreak TQ10443 93638. Unfortunately I only had the video camera and it went into Bigfoot/UFO mode - a bit fuzzy! [Posted by Rick Vickers]
Minet Country Park sightings. The photos relate to two butterflies we saw today (along with plenty of commoner butterflies including Holly Blue and Small Copper). They are Brown Hairstreak and Long-tailed Blue, both of which are new species for us. [Posted by Dave Bookless & Colin Conroy]
Hummingbird Hawk-moth. Hummingbird Hawk-moth at Coldharbour Allotments, Harpenden, at midday [Posted by Alan Jackson]
Garden Pebble at Southgate. 1 Garden Pebble at bus-stop shelter at Chase Road/Charter Way, N14 this morning. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Branch walk at Clothall Common. Pair of Chalkhill Blues, Brown Argus & Small Blue [Posted by Paula Moore]
Herts & Middx branch butterfly walk on Clothall Common, Baldock. 8 of us gathered for our first branch walk at this new location, famed as the best place in Herts for seeing 6 different species of blues. Butterflies were fairly scarce to start with, but by the time we reached the top of the slope both male and female Chalk-hill Blues and Common Blues were seen in good numbers. We examined many blues closely, noting the different colours and spots. Sadly no Adonis Blues were seen, but the second generation has not yet fully emerged. Back down at the foot of the slope we added Brown Argus, Small Blues and Small Heath. Ten species in total, with 18 Chalkhills and 16 Common Blues altogether. Stopping off at Weston for lunch, I immediately spotted a Holly Blue bringing my personal total for the day to five. [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
Hexton Chalk Pit. We hadn't been over to Hexton Chalk Pit for a long time so it was great to go to a reliable site for Chalk Hill Blue, although already passed mid August we did see 30+ with the number of females almost matching the males. Some of the males looked relatively fresh and some were in hot pursuit of females making them easy to see. 4+ Common Blue 3 were females.1 Brown Argus, 30+ Meadow Brown, 1 Small Heath and 10+ Six-spot Burnet Moth. [Posted by Peter Fewell]
The Skype, Wheathampstead. 7 Common Blue and 2 Small Heath at this traditional meadow filled with Birds foot Trefoil and other wild flowers. Shame St Albans Council have allocated it for development [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
Red Admiral at Trent Park. 1 Red Admiral flew & settled in bushes by upper lake, Trent Park this morning at 0758 BST. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Another Jersey Tiger. A Jersey Tiger has been seen for a couple of days in my Welwyn Garden City garden. It was nectaring on Buddleia this evening [Posted by John Yates]
Therfield Heath. Still high numbers of Chalk Hill Blues (50+ including c. 5 females) and some in good condition too. First Adonis Blue of the new brood (male on poo) - thanks to Trevor Sawyer for spotting it. Other species: Gatekeeper 30+, Meadow Brown 40+, Brown Argus, Common Blue, Small White 4 and Large White [Posted by Peter Clarke]
Merry Hill Bushey. I had another go at looking for Brown Hairstreak this afternoon apart from a couple of may be glimpses was unsuccessful this time. But did get to see my first Brown Argus of the year there. 1 male looking reasonably fresh but with a couple of chinks in the right side upper and lower wing. Found feeding on the fleabane which is now in full bloom. Honey bees are making the most of the flowers there too, as well as the 3 Brimstones sighted. Gatekeeper numbers are dropping off with 5 seen, Meadow Brown were most numerous although their numbers dropping at 25+ , Small Heath 5 seen with the one in the photo slightly opening it's wing in pulses. I did sort of capture that but not as good as the photo. Speckled Wood sightings 7 officially confirmed but some of the darker butterflies flitting over the hedgerows were most likely to be Speckled Wood not B. Hairstreaks which could have doubled their count. 2 Large White and 3 other Whites seen. [Posted by Peter Fewell]
Large White at Oakwood. Female Large White on buddleia at Oakwood Station late morning. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Brown Hairstreak. Me and Brian Dawton went to Horsenden Hill arrived at 9, quite windy in field by car park walked to find Ash in shelter and saw 3 flying about in tree tops , then walked to bridge and saw one perched clearly from bridge. Then saw a few more. Walking back back uphill we saw a few more flying downhill, it was getting very windy when we left. Many Ash have dieback now In all we saw about 12 Brown Hairstreak and many Jersey Tiger. [Posted by Tony Clancy]
Painted Lady & Small Heath at Enfield & Common Blue at Trent Park. 1 'very fresh' Painted Lady settled on ground & on thistle head at a private site at Enfield near Trent Park at 0750 BST & 2 Small Heath together here, also. Male Common Blue by lower lake, Trent Park this morning. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]