Hertfordshire & Middlesex Branch
Saving butterflies, moths and our environment
Grizzled Skippers at Waterford Heath. This afternoon, 2 roosting on the east bank of the south Heath, later in more sun 1 flying on each Heath. [Posted by Andrew Wood]
Merry Hill. A fine sunny day, so a trip to Merry Hill was in order, I got there about the same time as the clouds came over. But despite that and the light breeze I did manage to see Green-veined white x 1, Speckled wood x 8+, Peacock x 4, Orange tip x 4, Large white x 2, Holly blue x 3, and another three unknown whites. I also noticed that the double Brown Hairstreak eggs we (myself and Pete Fewell) found earlier in the year had hatched. On the way back along the Foot path by the Railway lines towards Watford Heath I saw another Brimstone x 1, Orange tip x 2, Large white x 1, and another 2 unknown whites. The finally through Oxhey Park another Orange tip and unknown white, [Posted by Rick Vickers]
Sightings at Enfield. 3 Brimstone [female at a private site near Trent Park & 2, male & female, at Rectory Farm], 1 Green-veined White along the 'London Loop' at Bay Farm, male Holly Blue settled on track at Flash Lane, EN2 - my first of the year [FOY], 1 Large White at a private site near Trent Park, 4 Orange-tip [2, male & female, at private sites near Trent Park, male at Brooke Wood & male at Hilly Fields Park], 1 Peacock at a private site near Trent Park, 9 Speckled Wood [4 at private sites near Trent Park, 4 at Brooke Wood & 1 at Flash Lane, EN2]. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
more grizzleds. at rickneys quarry near bengeo had 6 Grizzled Skippers along by the sapling wood in sun. about 2pm At waterford heath North at about 3pm 3 Grizzled Skippers on right of pond in the sun. Did not have long would have been more. None on south Heath. [Posted by steve kiln]
Small Copper in Alexandra Park. My first of year Small Copper on my Alexandra Park Transect. It was in a spot where I invariably see one each year. Right in the middle of a grass path. It faintly has the ab. caeruleopunctata -the small blue dots-on the upper hindwings. [Posted by Dee Cullen]
Maiden's Blush at Trent Park. 1 Maiden's Blush settled on grass at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park - my first of the year [FOY]. Male Orange-tip & 1 Green-veined White by lower lake/Trent Park. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Stevenage area website. I have updated the Stevenage butterflies website to add 2024 data for our branch area and nationally via the UKBMS. New charts also added for each species account [Posted by Peter Clarke]
Sightings at Enfield. 1 Green-veined White, 3 male Orange-tip, 1 Peacock & 3 Speckled Wood at private sites near Trent Park late morning/early afternoon. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Holly Blue. I was amazed to see my first Holly Blue of the year in Bentley Priory Open Space, Stanmore, whilst out on a Botany Survey with the London Natural History Society. But it didn't stay very long as one of the group plunged into the bush to ID a leaf! [Posted by Nicholas Barnett]
Prestwick Road Meadows South Oxhey. Returning to Prestwick Meadows to check on the rescued Brown Hairstreak eggs we relocated 18 of the 23 eggs rescued and found that 16 had hatched for Easter with 2 remaining unhatched. 3 of the attached twigs with eggs on appeared to be missing along with some of the markers for the eggs that were not removed. Although no caterpillars seen yet the results look promising. Butterflies seen Speckled Wood 16+, Large White 2, Orange-tip 3, Peacock 2, Comma 1 with a further 3 whites seen. [Posted by Peter Fewell]
Lunar Marbled Brown at Oakwood & Southgate. 2 Lunar Marbled Brown [1 at Bramley Road, N14 & 1 at ASDA Southgate] - my first of the year [FOY]. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Sightings at Enfield & Trent Park. 24 Green Longhorn Moth [5 at a private site near Trent Park, 19 at Trent Park] - my first of the year [FOY], 2 Comma [1 at a private site near Trent Park & 1 at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park], 5 Green-veined White [4 at a private site near Trent Park & at least one, by lower lake, Trent Park], 4 male Orange-tip [2 at private sites near Trent Park & 2 at Trent Park], 2 Peacock at Trent Park, 1 Red Admiral at a private site near Trent Park, 3 Speckled Wood at private sites near Trent Park. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Sightings at Enfield. Male Brimstone, 1 Peacock & 1 Speckled Wood at a private site near Trent Park. 2 Orange-tip [male & female] at another private site near Trent Park - my first female of the year. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
more grizzled skippers. I went to North Heath and found 4 Grizzled Skippers quite widespread. 1 near the wood by the steep bank on the right sheltering. one by railway line on path ,1 nearby amongst thick hawthorn and final one other side of fence in area they were very common before hawthorn came. on south heath no Grizzled Skippers but a Cinnabar Moth. [Posted by steve kiln]
Early Morning Grizzlies. I had an Easter egg errand to run this morning so afterwards I popped into Waterford Heath to beat the rain and catch the Grizzlies before they got too energetic. In the North Heath I found 3 Grizzled Skippers around the pond between 8.30-9am, they were trying hard to warm up in the early sun and just a little flutter of grey gave away their locations. I tried the South Heath quickly but no success, far better there in the afternoon in my view. [Posted by Nathan Ellis]
Sightings at Enfield & Trent Park. 3 Speckled Wood at a private site near Trent Park. 4 Speckled Wood at Trent Park [1 at Moat Wd & 3 near Shaws Wd]. 1 Large White near Obelisk at Trent Park. 2 male Brimstone at Trent Park [1 near Shaws Wd Cottages & 1 nectaring on dandelion near Merryhills Brook]. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
grizzled skippers. 2 grizzled skippers in Rickneys quarry near Hertford this afternoon ,however I could find none at Waterford heath. [Posted by steve kiln]
Sightings at Enfield & Trent Park. 2 Speckled Wood [1 at a private site near Trent Park & 1 at Rough Lot/Trent Park] & 1 Peacock near Shaws Wd Cottages/Trent Park. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Speckled Wood at Oakwood Park & Town Park, Enfield. 4 Speckled Wood at Oakwood Park this morning [0935 to 1010 BST] including two together & 1 Speckled Wood at Town Park, Enfield along the New River at Carr's Basin this afternoon. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Chiswell Green members day. It was a delight to attend the members open day at Greenwood Hall Chiswell Green as you would expect the butterfly count was low due to members being indoors most of the time. However there are a few to report. It was nice to get my first confirmed sighting of a Small White the only butterfly photo I did capture. Otherwise 1 Peacock, 1+ Orange-tip Probable Brimstone and a several unidentified whites, Large White probable among them. After we left we took a quick look over Bricket Wood Common, 2 Peacock and 1 unidentified white. The best left until last! After returning to Ricks garden it was my first opportunity to see a few comma eggs and laid on their traditional old food plant the hop too! A great end to the day. [Posted by Peter Fewell]
