Hertfordshire & Middlesex Branch
Saving butterflies, moths and our environment
The official end of winter. Three male Brimstone butterflies flew through our Harpenden garden this afternoon, even though there was little sun and the temperature was only 14C. We always regard this uplifting annual event as marking the end of winter and will be getting the fizz out tonight (the overnight arrival of three Chiffchaffs in a nearby wood confirmed the arrival of spring). [Posted by Alan Jackson]
More Brown Hairstreak eggs and my first butterflies of the year!. I visited Hatton Fields close to Heathrow Airport today as the area of fields including Hatton Fields is constantly under threat of development! Despite far from ideal egg searching conditions (buds, flowers, fire damage, and bright sunshine) I found 3 Brown Hairstreak eggs along a extensive hedgeline of blackthorn/prunus. I also saw my first butterflies of this year - midway along the footpath 1 Peacock and 1 Brimstone. Further along and close to the last egg which was in a different 2km square another Peacock and Brimstone. [Posted by Liz Goodyear]
A Comma at Chells Manor and a Peacock by Broxdell Allotments, both Stevenage. A Comma at Chells Manor and a Peacock by Broxdell Allotments, both Stevenage [Posted by Andrew Wood]
Landscapes for lepidoptera. The recording of last night's BC Surrey & SW London, Zoom presentation by SE Regional Officer, Steven Lofting, is now available on YouTube . Here Steven explains the processes involved with working on Landscape projects to save threatened butterfly and moth species. [Posted by Liz Goodyear]
Oak Beauty at Southgate Circus. Oak Beauty on wall near outside light at ASDA Southgate this afternoon. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Brown Hairstreak. One Brown Hairstreak egg found at Bentley Park Nature Reserve [Posted by Rohan Harris]
Brown Hairstreak. Two Brown Hairstreak eggs found in different areas of Regents Park [Posted by Rohan Harris]
Comma at Trent Park. 1 Comma basking on log near Triangular Wd/Trent Park [TQ288965] at 1151 GMT. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
My flying butterflies of the year. Folly Lane, St Albans - Two male Brimstones patrolling, one paying particular attention to my Alder Buckthorn trees. Also one Comma [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
Brimstone. Fluttering down the road from St Peter’s Hill in St Albans [Posted by Sam fuller]
Hibernators still in residence. St Albans shed - 2 Peacocks and 4 Small Tortoisehells, all still hibernating. So far this year the Herald moth and 1 Small Tortoiseshell have either flown or been predated. I’m expecting more action in the next few weeks [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
Red Admiral Stevenage. Red Admiral feeding on blackthorn northern section of Fairlands Valley Park at 1:45 pm [Posted by Peter Clarke]
Brown Hairstreak Eggs. Two Brown Hairstreak eggs found at Frays Farm meadow Hillingdon. [Posted by Rohan Harris]
Brimstone. A male Brimstone has been flitting round my Harpenden garden this morning. Regards Robin [Posted by Robin Pearson]
Transect Recording. Its only a few weeks before the new season starts and the branch transect list page has been updated! Some of the branch transects have been walked for over 25 years which really shows how butterfly numbers have declined or in some cases increased thanks to habitat management changes. This is clearly illustrated in the recently published Chorleywood Common Report for 2018 - 2023. The branch gave habitat advice in 2018, which was implemented and at the same time a transect was set up to monitor how effective the changes were - a superb result! There are several transects that are no longer walked - if you would like to volunteer please contact Andrew Wood (details on committee page) [Posted by Liz Goodyear]
More Brown Hairstreak finds. Two Brown Hairstreak eggs found on the Hillingdon trail path south of Harefield. A further eleven eggs found at Hounslow Heath including four laid together in one instance. [Posted by Rohan Harris]
Peacock at Trent Park. 1 Peacock nectaring on Sallow flowers by lower lake, Trent Park at 1336 GMT. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
BC Surrey Zoom Talk on Tuesday 12th March 7-8pm.. Steven Lofting is Butterfly Conservation's Conservation Manager for SE England, which includes Surrey (Steve will also be involved with some work in our branch area of London). He will give an update on BC's work for butterflies and moths on a landscape scale in South East England. Working at a landscape-scale, with partners, is fundamental to improving conditions for wildlife, and BC's strategy includes a goal to improve the condition of some of the most important landscapes for butterflies and moths. Read more here This is one of a series of Zoom talks presented by the Surrey & SW London Branch of Butterfly Conservation. Link to register : The talk will also be recorded and be available to watch on YouTube later. [Posted by Liz Goodyear]
Brown Hairstreak egg finds at Warren Farm LNR. I decided I wanted to visit Warren Farm LNR in Hanwell, following the exciting news that they had been successful in their fight to gain LNR status! Information was that there was a lot of blackthorn but this wasn't the case but I found 2 Brown Hairstreak eggs amongst some sucker growth. I then visited Trumper's Meadow which is between the Grand Union Canal and Warren Farm and found 3 more eggs (only 2 were viable). (for info I planned this trip before seeing on iRecord a late entry of an adult sighting from August 2023 close to the Meadow!) [Posted by Liz Goodyear]
Attracting Butterflies and Moths to Gardens and Green Spaces - Malcolm Hull. Click here to view Malcolm Hull's talk on 29 February [Posted by Peter Clarke]