Hertfordshire & Middlesex Branch
Saving butterflies, moths and our environment
Purple Emperor near Bricket Wood. Purple Emperor gliding through the oak canopy at Blackgreen Wood (between Bricket Wood and How Wood), just N of the M25 by Park Street Lane at grid ref TL 138 026 while I was surveying for breeding birds this afternoon. Also at least one Purple Hairstreak there and a dead male August Thorn moth along the lane. [Posted by Colin Everett]
Chorleywood Common transect. We recorded a 262 butterflies on the Chorleywood Common transect this week, a record for the year so far. The Small and Essex Skipper count was 42 in total, with some positively identified of both species. Other species recoded include Meadow Brown (108), Ringlet (30) Marbled White (27), Gatekeeper (19), Small White (10), Large White (8), Small Heath (7), Comma (3), Red Admiral (2), Purple Hairstreak (2). Nice to see the Whites appearing in greater numbers than of late. Purple Hairstreak numbers are still low. [Posted by Chris Hankinson]
Trip to Symonshyde Great Wood. 2 Silver-washed Fritillaries - less than 10% of the number at the same time last year. They may be late emerging, though UK Power Networks have removed all the vegetation from their favourite ride, leaving little for the butterflies to feed or perch on [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
Purple Emperor in Heartwood Forest. Tempted out of the house by the sunny weather this morning, I arrived at Pudler's Wood a little later than I intended. Once again I just missed a grounded male - this time Liz and Anne (accompanied by their dog Dougal), who I had met on my last visit, enthusiastically welcomed me saying they had just photographed an individual which was flushed up from dog poop by a dog at around 9.15 (this was their first ever sighting, so they were cock-a-hoop!). A few minutes later a second male came down to dog poop, and we all had excellent views and photo opportunities on several occasions until just before 10.00. Both were found in the middle of the ride along the north-eastern edge of Pudler's Wood (TL 16064 11674). After a half hour lull, I was greeted by a third male which had grounded on damp earth some 75 metres to the north-west on the same ride (TL 16007 11717), at the intersection with the path leading to Round Wood. All three of these males were remarkably worn and battered and missing chunks of their wings, and none of them matched photos of my previous three males which were fresh and relatively intact on the 4th July. So we now have a minimum total tally of 6 males for this year, and they appear to be from two different hatchings given the markedly different conditions of their wings. I also searched the ride up to and around the Dog Pond at TL 15756 11341, but there was no sign of any other Purple Emperors, although it was nice to see 4 Red Admirals and at least 6 Commas coming down to the sprayed bait of diluted Belacan Shrimp Paste (see my 4th July report). I also checked unsuccessfully along the path through The Magical Wood, and along the often productive ride (TL 16053 11045) along the northern edge of Lady Wood. I left at 12.30, with no further sightings since 10.30. (It's very odd that I have not seen a single specimen perching or patrolling the canopy and subcanopy where they are usually much easier to spot). Also seen on my walk today (starting at the main car park) were 2 Large Skippers, 4 Large Whites, 1 Small White, 4 very fresh Gatekeepers, and dozens of Marbled Whites, Meadow Browns, and Ringlets. [Posted by Andrew Neild]
Warm day at Broxbourne woods. A warm day at Broxbourne Wood today - a few Silver-washed Fritillaries on the wing, loads of Ringlets and Meadow Browns . A few Marbled Whites. [Edited by Peter Clarke] [Posted by James Somerville]
Trent Park. 2 Green-veined White, 1 Holly Blue near Oakwood entrance, 1 Red Admiral near Ride Wd & 1 Comma along Leeging Beech Gutter near 'Three Bridges'. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Purple Hairstreak at Hertford Heath. At 10 am on the sunny side of the oak grove between College road and the main road (London Road) near Haileybury college. Specifically the smaller oak with tree protection number 2115, about 20-30 Purple Hairstreaks (only males seen) but likely far more. They were very intent on licking the moisture around the developing acorns and occasionally basking. [Posted by Nathan Ellis]
White Admiral and Purple Emperor near St Albans. Potters Crouch Plantation near Bedmond - Purple Emperor flying along the canopy edge at the high point on the NW corner of the wood at 1.30 pm this afternoon. It took off at the first glimpse of sun and I had a good view of it in flight for 10 seconds. A first ever sighting for this species in this wood. I met with Chris Hocking and walked along the main ride and recorded a total of 6 White Admirals. Ringlets doing well plus Red Admiral, Comma, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper and GV White. Sadly this wood is threatened by development proposals, which the Branch is objecting to [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
Female Purple Emperor observation. I walked to Balls wood HMWT from Monks Green Farm this morning, the weather was cool with dark cloud cover but I needed the exercise. I wasn't surprised that I didn't see much about given the dull conditions until I briefly glimpsed a slightly tatty and damp looking female Purple Emperor on a fairly small willow tree, arms reach from the track. The camera phone picture I had hastily fired off confirmed what I thought I had seen in those few seconds, she was egg laying and after a few minutes of looking I was able to photograph the freshly laid egg. [Posted by Nathan Ellis]
Comma at Trent Park. 1 Comma settled on bramble near Ride Wd/Trent Park this morning. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Photographers. If you are among a group of people at a branch event, for example, taking photos and you want your photo to appear on our news webpage please submit using the news form. In other words, one photographer per news item. [Posted by Peter Clarke]
White-letter Hairstreak and Small Tortoiseshell in St Albans. WLH spotted in the tall Elm alongside King Harry Lane in Verulam Park (lay by entrance). Meadow Brown and Ringlets doing well, but numbers of Marbled White and Golden Skippers are low. New broods of Gatekeeper, Comma, Large, Small and Green-veined White all spotted. Best of all, my first flying Small Tortoiseshell of the year in Herts [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
Sightings. 5 Silver- washed Fritillary, 2 White Admiral and singletons of Comma and Green-veined White amongst butterflies seen in morning walk around Bricket Wood [Posted by Clive Burrows]
Chalkhill Blues are Flying on Therfield Heath. At least seven male Chalkhill Blues were flying on the east side of Therfield Heath (Old Rifle Range area) this morning. Hopefully there will be lots more to see here if summer ever arrives. I was also lucky to see mating Dark Green Fritillaries - a second male tried to join in the fun, but was eventually sent on his way. Sightings: Small Skipper, Large Skipper, Brimstone, Small Heath, Ringlet, Meadow Brown (lots), Gatekeeper (lots), Marbled White (100+), Dark Green Fritillary (12-15 est.), Red Admiral (1), Comma (1), Chalkhill Blue (7+). [Posted by Martin Johnson]
Trent Park. 1 Red Admiral at Icehouse Wd/Trent Park. 2 Comma [1 near Ride Wd & 1 North Lawn/Trent Park], 3 Green-veined White on wet mud near Rough Lot/Trent Park. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Bricket Wood Branch Event. Despite the dire weather forecast, 12 of us gathered on Sunday morning to search for butterflies on the Common. Ringlets were the first species spotted. They enjoy cool damp conditions and one was seen flying in quite heavy rain! We then added Meadow Brown, Scorpion Fly and male and female Banded Demoiselles to our list of sightings. After a heavy shower we reached the scallop in Gas Pipe Ride and were rewarded with excellent views of White Admiral and Comma. After that the heavens opened and we swam back to the car park! [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
Whippendell Woods Watford. Saturday's weather was a bit on the bad side for this time of year. The daytime temperature struggled to reach 15 degrees. Hence most butterflies stayed in bed, but on the brief sunny spells Ringlets became more active along with Meadow Brown. About 20+ Ringlets seen plus a good scattering of Meadow Brown but only about 5+ for the Meadow Brown recognised sightings. One Skipper was sighted but in the passing glimpse was either Small or Large. The first Gatekeeper of the year in Whippendell Woods was at least photographed with 1 seen, 2 Comma sighted. But otherwise no sightings of White Admiral, Silver-Washed nor the Emperor. [Posted by Peter Fewell]
Silver Washed Fritillary and Purple Emperor on Broxbourne Wood. After the rain break and in high humidity (best time in my view) I saw plenty of Silver Washed Fritillaries, enough chances to get some close ups. Also saw a Purple Emperor busy exploring a willow tree at eye level, only problem was the bramble thicket between us. I believe this was a female as no purple seen, definitely a PE as I was close enough to see the orange eyes clearly. Haven't got super close to White Admirals here yet but they are about, got a bad picture yesterday in all that wind. [Posted by Nathan Ellis]
Purple Emperor in Heartwood Forest. The sunny weather this morning drew out at least 6 of us in search of Purple Emperor in Heartwood Forest, most of us drawn by earlier reports here on BC. I arrived a little later than planned at 9.20 and immediately met Ken Brown, who told me he'd taken photos of a male only a couple of minutes before I arrived (!). This individual settled in a bush at TL 16004 11723. I then sprayed bait of diluted Belacan Shrimp Paste (highly recommended by Purple Emperor experts) around lots of bushes and fence and marker posts in that area and around the crossroads at TL 16117 11620 (eastern corner of Pudler's wood), and at various points on the path to the dog pond at TL 15744 11332. At 10.15 a male came down at the Pudler's Wood crossroads and investigated various shrimp bait sites, before landing at the base of one of the marker posts. After being spooked by some dogs it returned twenty minutes later and again investigated the sprayed leaves before landing on another post, providing wonderful photo opportunities over at least ten minutes until 10.50. After that we had no further sightings, despite many sunny spells and 6 pairs of eyes(!), and we all left before midday. (Note: The north-westerly wind meant that the dog pond area was much too exposed and gusty for Purple Emperor today, while the crossroads to the south-east of the two extensive woods, and the ride northwards from that point were very much protected, and were clearly favoured by the two males we saw; as the experts say, Purple Emperors hate wind - always search for them on the leeward side of a forest). Also seen in the area were 1 Holly Blue, 2 Purple Hairstreaks, 1 Large Skipper, 2 Large Whites, 6 Commas, 1 Red Admiral, 7 Marbled Whites, 14 Meadow Browns, 8 Ringlets, and 3 Speckled Woods. [Posted by Andrew Neild]
Very windy day at Therfield Heath. A very windy but warm day at Therfield Heath lots of Meadow Browns and lots of Marbled Whites a few showing their age . [Posted by James Somerville]