Hertfordshire & Middlesex Branch
Saving butterflies, moths and our environment
Jersey Tiger. Was in bathroom this morning and with the help of live feature on phone managed an open wing shot [Posted by Paula Moore]
Hibernating Butterflies. Rather dull here today, so a good time to check on the butterflies hibernating in my shed. I now have two - both Peacocks. Over the last ten years I've been recording hibernating Peacocks the average annual total has been five. I've seen several on the wing this week, so still time for this total to increase. During the last decade there have been four years with two or less hibernating Peacocks. So this year looks below average, but not a disaster for this species. The same can't be said for Small Tortoiseshells. The average annual number has been 19 and the lowest previous year 2021 when there were five. This year there are none and with none seen on the wing, it appears that this species may have disappeared from St Albans area. [Posted by Malcolm HULL]
Stafford Road & Ickenham Marsh. An 8-30 sunny start in quite a breeze. Sighted 20+ Brown Hairstreaks possibly all males including the first sightings (6) on the LWT Ickenham Marsh reserve which were around a 'master ash' alongside the ungrazed southerly wooded brook side path (TQ 0864 8510). Watched 2 males engaged in a (2 mins) twirling duel. Returned early PM to see 1 male flitting along the path. Of the remaining sightings 8+ around a master ash bordering the largest meadow (c.9-30) and the remainder were singletons flitting around the blackthorn till my 2pm departure but only 2 photo opportunities for those I had informally teamed up with (the more eyes the better for BH!). Unlike last year the BH are not (yet?) settling to feast on the nectar which is maybe due to less thistle and knapweed at the expense of ragwort along with the closing up of the clearings as the blackthorn marches on at 1-2m per year. Also 10 Small Copper, 25 Small Heath which both are my best counts on this site for some years or possibly ever. 2 Brown Argus. 25+ Speckled Wood, 1 Holly Blue, 12 Purple Hairstreak with a few low level landings plus the usual browns and whites. [Posted by Nick Furtek]
Therfield Heath. A walk lunch time, just the eastern side/Lankester Hill c60 Chalkhill Blue , mostly males but a good many females, 2 pairs "in cop", 12 Common Blue, 4 Brown Argus, no sign of any Adonis yet... [Posted by Laurence Drummond]
Trip to Hexton. Hexton Chalk Pit Reserve - 50 Chalk-hill Blues, 4 Common Blues, 1 Small Heath and 3 Brimstones. Searched the field edges on Hexton Manor Estate adjoining the Reserve and along Hexton Rd. Chalk-hill Blues in both locations, but best on the west side and several were seen crossing the road. Added 11 more Chalk-hill Blues, 1 NB5 Spot Burnet, 4 Brown Argus, 3 Small Heath , 6 Common Blues 4 Six-spot Burnets, 2 Brimstones, 1 Marbled White and 1 Silver-washed Fritillary. Excellent news that the Este has been acquired by Natural England who plan a chalk grassland restoration project [Posted by Malcolm HULL]
Common Blue & Shaded Broad-bar at Trent Park. Female Common Blue & 1 Shaded Broad-bar at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park this morning. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Common Blues Picking Up. 32 Common Blues today at a private site east of St Albans. My best total of the year so far for this species. Brown Argus and Small Heath also in flight plus Brimstones and Peacocks feeding avidly before they enter hibernation [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
Merry Hill Bushey TQ 131 939. I went out for a stroll at Merry Hill today for as long as I could stand the heat. The butterflies apart from some of the M. Brown and Brimstone were mostly seen hugging the hedge-line. On entering I saw a Red Admiral and a white along the hedgerow. A further 7 whites seen unidentified. Other species seen 1 L. White, Speckled Wood 8+, Meadow Brown 20 +, Gatekeeper 8+, Brimstone 2, male and female, Jersey Tiger Moth 1. I was looking out for Brown Hairstreak and I took the route up to a bench where there is blackthorn and ash. I hung around for a while looking up but had no sightings so decided to move on. I was still scanning the hedgerow as I walked along and had a glimpse of a butterfly that would fit the description of a female B Hairstreak but was off over the other side of the hedge. I then ventured towards the place where Rick spotted the first one a couple of weeks back and found another male not too far from the first sighting. Although the white border on the wings was frayed he didn't look old, probably a few days at most. [Posted by Peter Fewell]
Whippendell Woods and Cassiobury Park. Arriving in the car park at Rousebarn Lane 1 Large White and 1 S. Wood spotted. Being in Whippendell Woods and close to water we expected that butterfly numbers would drop usually due to the presence of hawker dragonflies at this time of year. Well they were relatively low but so were dragonfly numbers compared to previous years although a few hawkers were sighted. Species sighted in Whippendell Woods. A further 2 S. Wood, 2 Peacock, 1 Brimstone, 2 Gatekeeper, 3 Comma, 3 Silver-washed Fritillary, 1 Meadow Brown, 1 Holly Blue, 4 L White, 2 confirmed GV White, and about 6+ unidentified whites. Pushing our luck with time in Cassiobury Park after 5pm we found our first Small Copper of the year along with 4 Gatekeeper, 3 M Brown, 1 Skipper S/E and 1 S. Wood. [Posted by Peter Fewell]
Second Brood Small Blues. Two Small Blues at the meadow in Upper Bourne End Lane where I also had 6 Common Blues. Just one Small Blue at the A41 Bourne End junction, but I did see 25 Six-spit Burnets there. No Small Blues at Redbourn Lane, but 15 Brown Argus, 10 Common Blues, 1 Small Copper and a Large Skipper [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
Silver-washed Fritillaries at Scales Park. At least three male Silver-washed Fritillaries were whizzing up and down the rides at Scales Park (near Nuthampstead) this afternoon - they were too smart for me to catch on camera. These are the first SWFs that I have seen locally, in what appears to have been a poor year for them. Also seen: Small/Essex Skippers, Green-veined White, Speckled Wood (lots), Small Heath, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper (still lots), Peacock, Comma and Brown Argus. [Posted by Martin Johnson]
Common Blue & Jersey Tiger at Trent Park. Female Common Blue settled on E edge of Icehouse Wd/Trent Park & 3 Jersey Tiger at Trent Park [1 Moat Wd, 1 Icehouse Wd & 1 Shaws Cottages/Trent Park]. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Blustery day at Therfield Heath. A very windy but warm day at Therfield Heath, the Chalk Hill Blues were out in fairly good numbers, not as good as 2022 but not bad considering the lack of spring. Lots of Gatekeepers and lots of Meadow Browns. [Edited by Peter Clarke] [Posted by James Somerville]
Where have all the butterflies gone?. Malcolm Hull recently gave an interview to Mix 92.6 the local radio station serving St Albans commenting on the shortage of butterflies this year and what can be done about it. Listen to the podcast here https://mix926.com/podcast/where-have-all-the-butterflies-gone-and-how-we-can-help/ [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
Comma & Holly Blue at Trent Park & Jersey Tiger at Oakwood. 1 Comma & 1 Holly Blue near Water Grdn/Trent Park & 1 Jersey Tiger at South Lodge Cres, Enfield this morning. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Branch Butterfly Walk to Ickenham. Nick Furtek led our annual search for Brown Hairstreak around the fields at Ickenham. I arrived early and searched the ash trees along the hedgerow from 8:30. In 2 hours I had 12 confirmed Brown Hairstreak, including 3 low down along the hedge. 4 Purple Hairstreaks were also identified. Joining the walk, Nick led us through the maze of paths and clearings in the Blackthorn, searching for photo opportunities of Brown Hairstreaks on flowers. Unfortunately most of the thistle patches which proved so productive last year had disappeared. The sun went in making our task more difficult. By the time I left at 1pm there were no further confirmed Brown Hairstreak, just a few brief glimpses of possibles. We did see 17 other species, including Small Coppers, Small Heaths, Common Blues, Brown Argus, a Large Skipper and Purple Hairstreaks. Moths included Straw Dot, Vapourer, Yellow Shell, Shaded Broad-bar and Cinnabar caterpillars. Many thanks to Nick for his expert commentary and guidance around the site. [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
Holly Blue, Purple Hairstreak, Small Copper & Jersey Tiger at Trent Park. 2 Holly Blue [1 by lower lake & another E edge of Icehouse Wd/Trent Park], 1 Small Copper nectaring on ragwort at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park, 1 Purple Hairstreak settled on bramble near Water Grdn/Trent Park & 2 Jersey Tiger [1 near Moat Wd & 1 near Shaws Wd/Trent Park]. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Common Blue, Red Admiral & Jersey Tiger at Trent Park. Male Common Blue at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park, 1 Red Admiral at North Lawn near Icehouse Wd/Trent Park & 2 Jersey Tiger [1 at Moat Wd & 1 near Dew Pond/Trent Park]. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Painted Lady at Enfield. 1 Painted Lady at a private site near Trent Park at Enfield. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Millhoppers Chalk Bank. Whereas the new pond at Millhoppers has been a great success attracting a range of species including many Damsel and Dragonflies and Small China Mark moths, the chalk bank has slightly under performed. This year it was decided to cover the bank with a fresh deeper layer of pure chalk obtained from Pitstone Quarry. During the August work party our wardens and volunteers undertook the daunting task of transferring two and half tonnes of chalk from the roadside delivery point up through the reserve to the chalk bank location. Five volunteers put in an amazing shift with their wheelbarrows and the new improved chalk bank is now complete. The Bird's-foot Trefoil plants planted on the original chalk are flowering extremely well, so they have been kept, and we have now added some Common Rock Rose plug plants and seeded the rest of the bank with Kidney Vetch and Horseshoe Vetch. We are hoping for some Small Blue butterflies in 2025. [Posted by Chris Hilling]
