Hertfordshire & Middlesex Branch
Saving butterflies, moths and our environment
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. I only had a relatively brief window for a local walk today, which was a shame as it was warming up nicely and the annoying wind was starting to drop. However, I managed to squeeze in some good sightings, including another Small Tortoiseshell, one of the Small Coppers seen a few days ago, and the icing on the cake, another Green Hairstreak. This one was a male, and I found it nowhere near the female I'd seen on 21st (or indeed the locations of any of my 2024 and 2025 sightings). Eleven species seen today, despite the brevity of my walk. Orange-tip (23), Peacock (15), Green-veined White (10), Holly Blue (7), Small White (4), Brimstone (3), Speckled Wood (3), Comma (1), Small Copper (1), Small Tortoiseshell (1), Green Hairstreak (1). [Posted by Dave Miller]
Sightings at Palmers Green, Edmonton & Southgate. At Aldermans Hill, Palmers Green, N13 - 1 Holly Blue. At Statham Grove, N18 - 1 Holly Blue & male Orange-tip. At Pymmes Park, Edmonton - male Brimstone & 1 Comma. At Silver Street Station - 1 Holly Blue. At Southgate Chase Allotments - 1 Holly Blue. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Waterford Heath south. Spent over 2 hours walking (my watch recorded 2.3 miles) around the south pit, with absolutely NO Grizzled Skipper sightings. The nearest thing seen was 2 Pyrausta aurata. A HMWT work party was on site, working on the east slope, but I was told that the only one they had seen was whilst they stopped for lunch over on the other side of the pond. Somewhere, in the past I have tended not to look. Only highlight was a Comma, my first for the year! (Please, everyone keep looking at the south pit, as we need the records including negatives) [Posted by Liz Goodyear]
Grizzled Skipper at Waterford Heath north. Visited this afternoon, for the first time since Grizzled Skippers were reported this year and spent just under 2 hours searching. I was delighted to find 7 after a slow start. First was at the far end of the area between the pond and conifers and as I walked back, I saw another which flew up and clashed with a third individual. I then walked slowly around the pond by the track towards the north end of the pit and found two more well apart on the area just before the northern gate on the east side. I checked the other side of the track but nothing was seen, but then returned to the cliff area where I found one, not seen on my previous search there and to my surprise as I walked up the track to the seat, I encountered one more. All sightings were very brief but definite! Also encountered was a Pyrausta aurata and what I think was a manic Silver Y moth. Otherwise, I just followed bees and flies! [Posted by Liz Goodyear]
grizzled skipper etc.. I saw my first Grizzled Skipper in Rickneys Quarry this afternoon.. I was unable to find any though on the South Heath at Waterford Heath but I had plenty of Orange-tips and Green-veined Whites and my first Holly Blue and Speckled Wood all there. [Posted by Steve Kiln]
Sightings at Enfield. At private sites near Trent Park this morning - female Brimstone [my first female of the year], 1 Comma, 2 male Orange-tip, male Small White & 2 Speckled Wood. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. It seems at the moment that every time I wander round my local patch near Heathrow there is always something new and/or interesting to report. Today was no exception! After watching a lovely female Holly Blue laying on dogwood, I decided to look at some other areas where Small Coppers have appeared in the past. No Small Copper, but down on the new grown vetch plants I found a female Green Hairstreak. I saw the first of this species here in 2024, and in 2025 I counted just four, all widely separated. Today's butterfly was not too far from one of those. After that excitement, I saw another Small Tortoiseshell too. Seen today in all: Orange-tip (12), Red Admiral (10), Peacock (10), Holly Blue (10), Green-veined White (8), Small White (5), Brimstone (3), Comma (2), Large White (1), Speckled Wood (1), Small Tortoiseshell (1), Green Hairstreak (1). No Small Coppers today, and overall numbers were down in the chilly wind and diminishing sunshine. [Posted by Dave Miller]
Sightings at Enfield. At a private site near Trent Park - 1 Speckled Wood & 1 Green-veined White. 1 Small White near Brooke Wd. At Strayfield Rd, EN2 - 2 male Orange-tip, 1 Peacock & 1 Red Admiral. At St John The Baptist, Clay Hill - male Holly Blue settled. At Flash Lane, EN2 - 2 Orange-tip [male & female], 1 Green-veined White & 1 Speckled Wood. At Gordon Hill Station - male Brimstone. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Sightings at Enfield & Southgate. 1 Peacock this morning at a private site near Trent Park. 1 Lunar Marbled Brown at ASDA Southgate this afternoon. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. Distinctly chilly again first thing, but a local walk before the sun disappeared was productive. A third Small Copper appeared (yesterday's pair were around again as well), and two Small Tortoiseshells - the extensive nettlebeds by the River Colne seem to be a suitable habitat for them as well as the many Peacocks. Orange-tips were the most frequently seen butterfly of the morning. The totals seen today: Orange-tip (22), Peacock (12), Holly Blue (10). Green-veined White (7), Red Admiral (6), Small White (4), Speckled Wood (3), Small Copper (3), Small Tortoiseshell (2), Comma (2), Brimstone (1), Large White (1). I also spotted half a dozen Silver-Y moths, and with the increase in the number of Red Admirals, I suspect there may be some immigrants arriving so will be on the lookout for Painted Ladies in the coming days. [Posted by Dave Miller]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. A cool sunny morning became distinctly hazy by the end of the afternoon. The butterflies were a bit slow to appear today on my local patch near Heathrow, but they did include my first Small Coppers of the season (appearing a week earlier than last year). They were a long way apart, but both were occupying territories used by their forebears in previous years. Sightings today: Peacock (22), Orange-tip (20), GVW (13), Holly Blue (13), Brimstone (8), Small White (7), Comma (5), Speckled Wood (5), Red Admiral (4), Small Copper (2) [Posted by Dave Miller]
Sightings at Enfield. At Glenbrook wetlands, Lonsdale Drive, EN2 - 1 Speckled Wood this morning. At Chase Green, Enfield Town - 1 Holly Blue & 1 Green-veined White. At Chase Green Grdns, Enfield Town - male Holly Blue settled. At River View, EN2 - male Orange-tip. At Town Park, Enfield - 1 Speckled Wood. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Grizzled Skippers at Waterford Heath. This morning, one towards the northern end of the east bank of the south heath and two individuals (in view at the same time) on the north heath between the pond and the east bank [Posted by Andrew Wood]
Large White on Harpenden Common. Large White, Green-veined White, Orange-tip, Holly Blue, Peacock, Comma and Speckled Wood on Harpenden Common this afternoon. [Posted by David Hunt]
Grizzled Skipper at Waterford Heath. Popped into Waterford Heath today before the big shop. Whilst I scoured the East bank of the South Heath from the path hoping for a sighting, my daughter who is seven went with her mum to do a loop around. I didn't see any Grizzled Skippers the entire walk (very dry) but my daughter was extremely smug as she had found one basking amongst a large patch of Ground Ivy, SW side near the small exposed steel pipe. Mum helping to provide the photographic proof. [Posted by Nathan Ellis]
Clouded Yellow. Whilst walking my transect today at Greenwood Park I was very surprised to see a Clouded Yellow flying in my first section. I didn’t get a photo as it wasn’t settling much, but definitely a Clouded Yellow. Is this very early? [Posted by Mandy Floyd]
Sightings at Enfield, Edmonton & Southgate. At a private site near Trent Park - male Orange-tip & 1 Speckled Wood. At Statham Grove, N18 - 1 Holly Blue, 1 Green-veined White, male Orange-tip & 1 Speckled Wood. At Tanners End Lane, N18 - male Brimstone. At ASDA Southgate - 1 Holly Blue. At Southgate Chase Allotments - 2 Holly Blue together. At Dalrymple Close, N14 - 1 Holly Blue. My first sightings of Holly Blue this year [FOY]. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Grizzled Skippers. I walked my transect at South Heath Waterford Heath and saw a small butterfly on the purple ground ivy after settling twice I realised it was a Grizzled Skipper. There was plenty of wild strawberry on the south heath but in exposed positions. This was a nice sheltered area from the north wind near the steps up in the middle. With optimism I went to the North Heath, which is under renovation but in a scrubby area to the west of the pond near the wood I spotted another Grizzled Skipper, quite flighty. I got no pictures of either one. Saw both about 2pm. [Posted by steve kiln]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. A mixed bag weatherwise today near Heathrow, with a bright warm morning, a cloudy afternoon and the a fine end to the day. Butterflies were around early and late, with the morning being mostly Holly Blues and the early evening Orange-tips going to roost. Numbers seen today: Orange-tip (19), Peacock (14), Holly Blue (13), Green-veined White (10), Small White (6), Comma (4), Speckled Wood (3), Red Admiral (2), Brimstone (2). I found a Green-veined White laying on hoary cress (and an Orange-tip was doing the same thing close by). [Posted by Dave Miller]
Sightings at Trent Park & Enfield. At Trent Park - 2 male Orange-tip [1 at Shaws Wd & 1 near Shaws Wd Cottages] & 1 Speckled Wood at Icehouse Wd. At a private site near Trent Park - 1 Small White. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]