Hertfordshire & Middlesex Branch
Saving butterflies, moths and our environment
Brimstone, Green-veined White, Holly Blue, Large White, Latticed Heath, Orange-tip, Peacock, Small White, Small Dusty Wave, & Speckled Wood at Enfield, Southgate & Trent Park. 3 male Brimstone [2 at a private site at Enfield near Trent Park & 1 edge of Icehouse Wd/Trent Park], 4 Green-veined White [2 at a private site at Enfield near Trent Park & 2 at Rough Lot/Trent Park], 2 Holly Blue [1 by lower lake/Trent Park & 1 at Oakwood Station], female Large White at a private site at Enfield near Trent Park, 1 Latticed Heath at Enfield at a site near Trent Park, 3 Orange-tip [2, male & female, at a private site at Enfield near Trent Park & male edge of Shaws Wd/Trent Park], 4 Peacock at private sites at Enfield near Trent Park, 2 Small White at private sites at Enfield near Trent Park, 1 Small Dusty Wave at ASDA Southgate [FOY] & 5 Speckled Wood [4 at private sites at Enfield near Trent Park & 1 near Shaws Wd/Trent Park]. [Edited by Peter Clarke] [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Egg laying day in the garden. Holly Blues, a Brimstone and an Orange Tip all egg laying in my St Albans garden at lunchtime. The Orange Tip flew slowly round searching the Hedge Garlic, Honesty and Sweet Rocket looking for suitable egg laying sites. Initially she selected their usual favourite, Hedge Garlic, but then laid most of her eggs on Sweet Rocket. There were still many unopened flowerbeds on the Rocket, whereas the Hedge Garlic has mostly gone to seed already. The Holly Blue was less adventurous, laying on the Holly flower buds and the Brimstone chose the Buckthorn. Later at Batchwood, my first Painted Lady of the year [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
Sunny afternoon at Aldbury Nowers. Green Hairstreak (3), Dingy Skipper (3), Grizzled Skipper (1), Small Heath (4), Small Copper (1), Holly Blue (1), Orange Tip (8), Green-veined White (6), Brimstone (25), Peacock (3), Speckled Wood (1), Silver Y (2), Common Carpet (1). Despite the low numbers it feels as though the butterfly season is starting JOIN ME this Sunday for a trip to the best Green Hairstreak site in our area. Or on Sat 18th to see Dingy Skippers - details on the Events page [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
Brimstone, Brimstone Moth, Brown Silver-line, Green-veined White, Holly Blue, Large White, Orange-tip, Peacock & Speckled Wood at Enfield, Southgate & Trent Park. 3 male Brimstone [1 at Trent Park & 2 at a private site at Enfield near Trent Park], 1 Brimstone Moth at ASDA Southgate, 1 Brown Silver-line edge of Rough Lot/Trent Park [TQ286976] - [FOY], 7 Green-veined White [5 at Trent Park & 2 at a private site near Trent Park], 4 Holly Blue at Trent Park [3 near Oakwood entrance & 1 near Rough Lot], 1 female Large White edge of Ride Wd/Trent Park, 4 Orange-tip [3 at Trent Park - female near Oakwood entrance, male near Ride Wd & male near Rough Lot, male at Enfield at a site near Trent Park], 4 Peacock [1 at Trent Park, 1 at Ferny Hill Farm, 2 at private sites at Enfield near Trent Park], 2 Speckled Wood [1 near Snakes Lane/Trent Park & 1 at a private site at Enfield near Trent Park]. [Edited by Peter Clarke] [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Holly Blue Sightings also noticing big drop in Speckled Wood nos. I saw around 6 Holly Blues today in my garden. They seemed to be attracted to a Tamarisk Tree which is in blossom. I’ve been struck by the lack of Speckled Woods so far this year. In previous years I’m used to seeing many, Highgate Cemetery for example. [Posted by Dee Cullen]
Hexton Chalk Pit. Took a while but eventually saw a three Dingy Skippers and a Green Hairstreak. Orange Tip and Brimstone were also present. [Posted by John Yates]
Common Carpet, Green-veined White, Holly Blue, Orange-tip, Peacock, Brimstone & Silver Y at Enfield, Oakwood & Southgate. 1 Green-veined White, 2 male Orange-tip, 4 Peacock, Common Carpet & Silver Y at private sites in Enfield near Trent Park. A female Brimstone at Hog Hill, Vicarage Farm [a private site near Trent Park]. 3 Holly Blue [2 together at St Thomas Church, Prince George Ave, N14 & 1 at Ivy Road Recreation Ground, N14]. [Edited by Peter Clarke] [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Grizzled Skipper at Waterford Heath (north pit). Over a 2 hour period I found 9 Grizzled Skippers on the north pit - well distributed across much of the site and a marked improvement on my last year's max total of 4. Only a few other butterfly species seen and no identifiable day-flying moths [Posted by Liz Goodyear]
Brimstone, Green-veined White, Holly Blue, Large White, Muslin Moth, Orange-tip, Peacock & Speckled Wood at Enfield, Oakwood & Trent Park. Male Brimstone edge of Rough Lot/Trent Park, 9 Green-veined White [5 at private sites at Enfield & 4 at Trent Park], 1 Holly Blue at Oakwood Station, female Large White at a private site at Enfield, female Muslin Moth settled at Bramley Road, N14 [TQ295961], 4 male Orange-tip [2 at private sites at Enfield & 2 at Trent Park], 6 Peacock [4 at private sites at Enfield & 2 at Trent Park], 1 Speckled Wood at a private site at Enfield. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Waved Umber at Southgate. 1 Waved Umber near outside light at ASDA Southgate this afternoon. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Spring Walk Whippendell Woods branch event.. What a glorious start it was on Sunday and I was watching 2 Holly blue out of my kitchen window in Bushey during the morning. Unfortunately the weather had clouded over for the start of our butterfly walk at 2pm. We had a reasonable turnout but sadly it wasn't to go our way with butterfly sightings. Because of the recent weather the bluebells were still in flower and only just on the turn. There were only 2 butterflies seen, 1 Male Orange-tip and 1 Red Admiral. Jarek who joined us found the roosting Orange-tip as in the photo! As we all were heading back Jarek once again had the luck of which I only had a glimpse of the Red Admiral. He had hooked up with his family and was videoed on his daughters arm. Hopefully the weather will pick up for other planned butterfly walks during the year in Herts & Middlesex including our next walk on the 30th June [Posted by Peter Fewell]
Holly Blue at Town Park, Enfield. 1 Holly Blue at Town Park, Enfield this afternoon. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Hunting Grizzleds. 1st real warm day for me anyhow decided to look for Grizzled Skippers. 1st site Rickneys plenty of strawberry good conditions, no Grizzleds. However my first Brown Argus of the year and my first Mother Shipton moth and Silver Y. Onto Waterford Heath south. Good conditions no Grizzleds. However another Silver Y. Onto Waterford Heath North. Down to the lower area on left. Nothing except a Small White and a Peacock. Through the gate into railway owned part. Very overgrown by Hawthorn. To my surprise saw 3 Grizzled Skippers at last! Walked most of the site, plenty of Wild strawberry. Saw Holly Blue, 2 Brimstones, more Small whites and a further Grizzled far side of the pond. This Reserve seems now better for Grizzled Skippers than South heath and Rickneys well at the moment, plenty of food plants creeping cinqfoil, agrimony and Wild strawberry plenty of shelter. But it need much more conservation work done on it. Some of the paths are impassable. Might try and organize a work party there. Might need volunteers. Watch this page. I got several photos but did not upload them. Steve Kiln [Posted by steve kiln]
Brimstone, Green-veined White, Holly Blue, Large White, Orange-tip, Peacock, Red-green Carpet & Small White at Enfield, Southgate & Trent Park. Female Brimstone & Holly Blue at Chase Road, N14 this morning. 7 Green-veined White White [1 at a private site near Trent Park & 6 at Trent Park], 1 Large White at a private site near Trent Park, 3 male Orange-tip [2 together at a private site near Trent Park & 1 edge of Water Garden/Trent Park], 3 Peacock [2 at private sites near Trent Park & 1 along Leeging Beech Gutter near 'Three Bridges' Trent Park], 1 Red-green Carpet at ASDA Southgate, 1 Small White at a private site near Trent Park. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Common Carpet at Enfield. 1 Common Carpet at a private site near Trent Park this afternoon. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Brimstone, Green-veined White, Orange-tip, Peacock, Silver Y & Speckled Wood at Enfield. 3 Brimstone [male at a private site near Trent Park, female at a different private site near Trent Park & another female at Boxer's Lake, Enfield], 2 male Green-veined White at private sites near Trent Park, 2 male Orange-tip at a private site near Trent Park, 3 Peacock at private sites in Enfield, 2 Silver Y at private sites in Enfield & 2 Speckled Wood at a private site near Trent Park. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Waterford Heath. Spent an hour at lunchtime wandering around Waterford Heath on this welcomed May day. Saw half a dozen Grizzed Skippers fighting over the sun loungers at the North Pit (NE of the fenced pond area). Others seen about were Comma 1, Red Admiral 1, Brimstone 2, Peacock 2. [Posted by Nathan Ellis]
Clouded Yellow. I saw a Clouded Yellow this morning at Cassiobury Park near the fishing lake at the Gade Avenue end. [Posted by Ian Bennell]
Small Heath Butterfly on Therfield Heath. A single Small Heath butterfly was seen today at the bottom of Church Hill - my first of the year. Also lots of Brimstones and Peacocks and a few Orange Tips, Green-veined Whites and Holly Blues in the Church Hill / Jubilee Wood area. Silver Y and Common Carpet moths were also seen. [Posted by Martin Johnson]
Waterford south pit. One Grizzled Skipper along the escarpment on the east side, briefly in a sunny spell mid afternoon. [Posted by Laurence Drummond]