Hertfordshire & Middlesex Branch
Saving butterflies, moths and our environment
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. Some spells of intermittent sunshine today locally after a drizzly start - not cold, but the warmth of the sunny spells was tempered by a cool breeze. However, there were a lot of butterflies around, and all eleven of the species I've seen here this year made an appearance. In particular, Holly Blue numbers rose dramatically - good news after two comparatively poor seasons. Orange-tip numbers were high too, a new set of Red Admirals were occupying the favoured spot, and another Small Tortoiseshell appeared today. The totals: Peacock (34), Orange-tip (31), Holly Blue (25), Green-veined White (14), Brimstone (12), Small White (11), Speckled Wood (4), Comma (4), Red Admiral (3), Large White (2), Small Tortoiseshell (1). [Posted by Dave Miller]
Sightings at Enfield. At Enfield Rd, EN2 - male Orange-tip & female Small White. At private sites near Trent Park - male Brimstone, 1 Comma, male Orange-tip, 3 Peacock & 1 Painted Lady at Hog Hill/Vicarage Farm - my first of the year [FOY]. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
UKBMS 2025 results. How did our butterflies fare in 2025? Check the results from the UKBMS here [Posted by Peter Clarke]
Peacock at Enfield. 1 Peacock at a private site near Trent Park this morning. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. It felt warmer today, but the very limited sunshine only came in short bursts in the afternoon. It was enough to bring out a few dozen butterflies on my local patch near Heathrow. Holly Blue (7), Orange-tip (7), Peacock (6), Small White (4), Green-veined White (4), Brimstone (3), Large White (1), Speckled Wood (1), Red Admiral (1), Comma (1). The Holly Blues were the most noteworthy with half a dozen appearing within a minute or two of home, including a mating pair. [Posted by Dave Miller]
Peacock at Enfield Town Station. 1 Peacock at Enfield Town Station at 1537 BST - seen from the train carriage. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. After a few chilly days away in Devon with very few butterflies, I returned to my local patch near Heathrow and a sunny morning with quite the opposite. Seen today: Peacock (31), Orange-tip (18, inc. 4 females), Green-veined White (15), Small White (10), Holly Blue (8), Brimstone (6), Comma (3), Speckled Wood (2). One of the Holly Blues was a beautiful new female. [Posted by Dave Miller]
Painted Lady!. Just seen a fresh Painted Lady, two Holly Blue and a Peacock in a garden in Berkhamsted. [Posted by Sue Taylor]
Sightings at Enfield. At a private site near Trent Park - 1 Speckled Wood, 2 male Orange-tip & 1 Green-veined White - my first of the year [FOY]. At Bay Farm along 'London Loop' - 1 Peacock & 1 female Orange-tip. At Brooke Wd - 1 Speckled Wood. At Flash Lne, EN2 - 1 Peacock. At Hilly Fields Park - 2 male Orange-tip. At Enfield Chase Station - 1 Lunar Marbled Brown - my first of the year [FOY]. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Millhoppers Reserve footbridge Opening. This morning saw the official opening of the new footbridge at Millhoppers Reserve. This was also the unveiling of a plaque to the memory of John & Margaret Noakes, the first wardens of the reserve. Event attended by branch committee members, reserve wardens, volunteers, plus family and friends. [Posted by Chris Hilling]
Orange Tip in Chelsea. I had a random and unexpected sighting of a Male Orange-tip on the Kings Road this afternoon during a brief window of sunshine when the wind dropped momentarily. i record used. [Posted by Dee Cullen]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. A warm morning locally, with hazy sunshine until the middle of the day. It obviously wasn't good enough for the Brimstones today as I saw none (by contrast they were flying till gone five yesterday afternoon). However, they were made up for by the abundance of Peacocks, and by the welcome appearance of a single Small Tortoiseshell. Today's totals: Peacock (39), Orange-tip (11m; 2f), Green-veined White (10m; 1f), Small White (5); Holly Blue (2m; 1f), Speckled Wood (3), Comma (2), Small Tortoiseshell (1). [Posted by Dave Miller]
Northaw sightings. Brimstone, Peacock, Holly Blue, Orange-tip and Small Whites in the garden today [Posted by Sam Fuller]
Sightings at Broomfield Park, Palmers Green, Pymmes Park, Edmonton & Southgate. 1 Peacock & 1 Small White at Broomfield Park, Palmers Green, N13 this morning & male Orange-tip & male Brimstone at Pymmes Park, Edmonton this afternoon. 1 Double-striped Pug at ASDA Southgate this afternoon - my first of the year [FOY]. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Pair of Orange-tips. Lots of Orange-tips around Great Gaddesden today - including this pair [Posted by Paul Cross]
Sightings at Enfield, Trent Park & Edmonton. At private sites near Trent Park - 2 Peacock, 2 Orange-tip [male & female] - my first of the year [FOY] & 1 Comma. At Trent Park - 1 Peacock near Obelisk, male Brimstone, 1 Comma & 13 Adela reaumurella settled on Hornbeam leaves in clearing in Rough Lot - my first of the year [FOY], 2 Orange-tip [male & female] near Water Grdn, male Brimstone & 1 Peacock along Leeging Beech Gutter near 'Three Bridges' & male Brimstone at Williams Wd. At Pymmes Park, Edmonton - female Small White & 1 Comma & several other white sp [probably Small White]. At Warwick Rd, N18 - 1 Peacock. At Church Street, N9 - female Large White - my first of the year [FOY]. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Merry Hill and more. Taking advantage of a fine day, I decided to go on a long walk following the blackthorn from Merry Hill and other local places, where the Brown Hairstreak has been seen, and we've returned the eggs, and, also, to satisfy my curiosity of a few footpaths as well. Starting from Attenborough Fields, where there isn't any, but I did see 1 Brimstone and 1 Peacock. Then to Merry Hill where its everywhere, and I saw 10 Peacocks, 3 Commas, 16 Brimstones, 13 Orange-tips, including a mating pair, and 6 Speckled Wood. Exiting there I came out by Carpenders Park nursery, and down Little Oxhey Lane where there is a good scattering of blackthorn along the hedges. Crossing the rail line, via the bridge, across the road and there was the footpath that goes in the direction too Hatch End. I didn't go that far, just to Prestwick Road Meadows. Our ribbons and returned twigs with BHS eggs are still there. Also, 5 Speckled Wood, 1 Brimstone, 6 Orange-tips, 1 Peacock, and an unknown White. Back out the way I came in, and on to Oxhey Woods, 1 Brimstone, no blackthorn seen but it could be around the edges, I went through the middle. There was plenty of honeysuckle, so must go and have a look for White Admirals there one day - been saying that for a while now... Finally through the woods and on to South Oxhey Playing Fields, but it was getting on and nothing seen there. Past Hampermill Lake and Farm, and more blackthorn, unfortunately it gets cut regularly here. Then to the Ebury Way and 3 Speckled Woods. Through Riverside Park and Watford Fields and home. That was a long walk, I probably won't be doing it again for a while, but it was fascinating to see these places linked up - in a very green way that you wouldn't really expect from Watford. [Posted by Rick Vickers]
Couple of firsts on Knebworth transects. My firsts of the year for Speckled Wood and Orange-tip in and around Norton Green Common in mid afternoon plus a nice Green-veined White in Wintergreen Wood, Knebworth Park [Posted by Peter Clarke]
Speckled Wood. Speckled Wood seen outside Main Hide at Lemsford Springs [Posted by Rose Newbold]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. Wall-to-wall spring sunshine today and an unsurprisingly enthusiastic response by my local butterflies. Numbers were more than twice those of any previous day, and nine species were seen: Peacock (35), Brimstone (14), Orange-tip (11), Green-veined White (8), Speckled Wood (8), Comma (4), Small White (3), Red Admiral (1), Holly Blue (1). The abrupt emergence of the GVW to outnumber the Small Whites was notable, as was the large number of Peacocks. They were everywhere and my count might well have been an underestimate. After my comment yesterday, the appearance of the Holly Blue was very welcome. [Posted by Dave Miller]
