Hertfordshire & Middlesex Branch
Saving butterflies, moths and our environment
Branch event. Whippendell Woods Butterfly Walk for White Admiral 2024. Branch Event. Not a great turnout with 3 attendees for this years annual butterfly walk to look for White Admiral. It was also a bit of an anti-climax after our observations on Saturday. Whilst having a bite to eat at the hub the weather looked promising apart from the wind the sun started to shine. However at 2pm the start of the walk it clouded up. We had a look at an oak tree just inside the golf course for Purple Hairstreak as we have seen them there before on our walks. None seen so we went to see if there was any movement of the Purple Emperors along the Lime Avenue that we saw Saturday. With the cloud and wind we didn't get a peep today so we moved on into Whippendell Woods to look for White Admiral. Although we tried all the usual spots we were disappointed with White Admiral sightings until the end of the walk. By this time unfortunately the two lovely Irish ladies that joined us had already departed. Janet the local RSPB lady stayed with us and we did see 2. Unfortunately we didn't see any Silver-washed Fritillary today either but they are out there in Whippendell Woods! We did get to see plenty of Ringlets and Meadow Brown which seen to be dominating in good numbers so far. We did also get to see Large Skipper, Red Admiral, Comma, 1 Large White and a couple of other whites. We can't win them all but good luck with all butterfly walks planned elsewhere in Herts and Middlesex over the rest of the season. [Posted by Peter Fewell]
Purple Hairstreak in Sherrardspark Wood. We found this butterfly resting on a post this afternoon. [Posted by John Yates]
Purple Emperor Northaw. Spent the afternoon looking for them at Fir & Ponds woods. No joy. Came home and wife said there was a butterfly trapped in our bedroom. Window had only been open an inch….. [Posted by Sam fuller]
Popped down to Danemead HMWT. I went for a look around Danemead HMWT after the morning rain with hopes of a close up of a Silver Washed Fritillary or White Admiral. I didn't see any SWF or WA but halfway there I saw a Purple Emperor on some dried up poo at around 1.30pm during a sunny spell. He spooked before I could get a close up picture. Ten minutes later further down the track I saw another Purple Emperor on a fresh (and smelly) dog poo. Possibly the same butterfly but his temperament seemed to be very different, who can say for sure. I will try harder but these Purple Emperors are starting to becoming a real trip hazard for me :) [Posted by Nathan Ellis]
Lime Avenue and Whippendell Woods. After a tip off from our friend Jarek of 2 sightings of Purple Emperor along the Lime Avenue on Wednesday Rick and myself went to investigate. We definitely saw 3, a fourth is debatable . We then ventured into Whippendell Woods to look for White Admiral 7 seen although 2 were only glimpsed. We only managed to see 1 Silver-washed Fritillary today but hopefully we will have more luck on the walk tomorrow. Other butterflies seen Ringlets and Meadow Browns both increasing in numbers both species somewhere between 50-100 seen overall. Large White 4, Red Admiral 4+, Comma 7+, Large Skipper 6+ Rick saw 1 Small Skipper and unidentified smaller whites 3. Hopefully we shall see some of those species tomorrow on the walk. [Posted by Peter Fewell]
Hertford Heath. One male Purple Emperor at the territory in the Roundings, 4pm. [Posted by Laurence Drummond]
Warm afternoon at Broxbourne Wood. A nice warm afternoon at Broxbourne Wood, Ringlets were out in very good numbers same with Meadow Browns. A few Marbled Whites and a Purple Hairstreak with one deformed wing. [Edited by Peter Clarke] [Posted by James Somerville]
White Admiral. 4 at Broxbourne woods from Bencroft west car park. Mostly in flight but one on ground. [Posted by sam fuller]
Trent Park. 3 Red Admiral [1 along bridle-path near Shaws Wd, 1 at Water Garden & 1 along Leeging Beech Gutter near 'Three Bridges'/Trent Park], 1 Comma at Water Garden/Trent Park & 7 Marbled White near Shaws Wd/Trent Park. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Comma & Large Skipper at Trent Park. 1 Comma & female Large Skipper at North Lawn by lower lake, Trent Park this morning before 0900 BST. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Cool and cloudy morning at Broxbourne wood.. Plenty of "small game" seen at Broxbourne Wood particularly around the central NNR pathway. In addition to countless Meadow Browns, Ringlets and Large Skippers, 20+ Marbled Whites, 6 Comma, 2 Red Admiral, 2 Small Heath, 3 Speckled Wood and 1 Purple Hairstreak. [Posted by Nathan Ellis]
Batford. 4 WHITE LETTER HAIRSTREAKS in around 6 small oaks amongst elms in SW corner of the weedy/ scrubby field by KW School. [Posted by Darin Stanley]
white admiral and silver washed. At Broxbourne Woods in West Car Park ride and meadow. 2 Silver Washed Fritillary and one White Admiral. Plenty of Ringlets and Large Skippers too. [Posted by steve kiln]
Whippendell Woods Watford. A further visit to Whippendell Woods this afternoon in hot weather did produce 2 confirmed sightings of Silver-Washed Fritillary. White Admiral were playing hard to get. I saw 2 chasing each other before having a lovely chat with a bloke with a dog. It didn't help with the White Admiral search though. In all 3 confirmed sightings with a possible 4th. Other butterflies seen Comma 5, L Skipper 5, Holly Blue 1, Ringlets 20+ Meadow Brown 20+ and one unidentified White at Rousebarn Lane. A probable sighting of a Brimstone Moth, I can't think of another similar sized moth in that colour. [Posted by Petr Fewell]
Trent Park Equestrian Centre & Trent Park. 1 White-letter Hairstreak settled in grass at Trent Park Equestrian Centre this afternoon at 1240 BST [FOY]. 1 Red Admiral at North Lawn/Trent Park & 2 Comma [1 near Ride Wd & 1 edge of Moat Wd/Trent Park]. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
White Admiral at Balls Wood. One very fresh and mobile White Admiral at the usual area in Balls Wood. Seen on the wing at 10.30am and on the muddy path leading to the wooden walkway at around noon. [Posted by Annie Sutcliffe]
The more you look.... These last couple of days I had a few possible high speed tree sightings after walking along the forest between Monks Green and Danemead HMWT in the hot sun but it finally paid off. A hundred yards from home and I found this pristine male Purple Emperor searching the track for salty licks. Usually you get a couple of photos and they fly away but this guy was there for 30 mins and completely unfazed by me. Here are some (cropped) pictures from my trusty old camera phone once my hands stopped shaking! [Posted by Nathan Ellis]
A quick look at Merry Hill Bushey. A brief visit this afternoon in rather hot conditions to Merry Hill to see how the Marbled White was doing there was lovely. I didn't pack a pen in my rush from work so these numbers are approximate. Marbled White 20+ Meadow Brown 50+ Ringlet 50+, Small Heath 8+, Large White 1, Large Skipper 8-9. Several flying Burnet moths also caught my attention. [Posted by Peter Fewell]
Purple Hairstreak at Trent Park. 1 Purple Hairstreak settled on the ground in Shaws Wd/Trent Park this afternoon [FOY]. 1 Large White along bridle-path near Merryhills Brook/Trent Park. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Oakwood Park, Trent Park & Southgate. 1 Holly Blue, 32 Marbled White & 1 Cinnabar at Oakwood Park this morning. Female Common Blue & 1 Comma by lower lake, Trent Park this afternoon. 1 Common Emerald at ASDA Southgate this afternoon. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]