Hertfordshire & Middlesex Branch
Saving butterflies, moths and our environment
Sightings at Trent Park & Enfield. At Trent Park - 1 Purple Hairstreak settled on ground edge of Moat Wd. At private sites near Trent Park - 1 Red Admiral, 1 Small Heath, 1 Holly Blue settled on damp mud, 3 Common Blue & 2 Shaded Broad-bar. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Purple Emperor sightings in Heartwood Forest. A tattered male Purple Emperor was lured down to an overripe banana placed on the gate by the dog pond. It fed from 09:26 - 09.33, next to Andrew's fermented banana bait (although the latter has become rather dry, it is still attracting red admirals and commas to feed). This individual visited a second time from 09:43 - 09:51, but it just sat on the gate, apparently to thermoregulate as it kept changing which side of the gate it was on (sunny / shady). Andrew joined me around 10 am but left without seeing any Emperors. It seems the sap run on the oak above the dog pond has run dry, as not even hornets or wasps were visiting it. [Note added by Andrew: it's surprising that a male is still flying, and that no females were visiting today, given that the females mostly hatched many days later than the males. Given the presence of this male, and the fact that we saw relatively new females only a week or so ago, I am convinced females will still be flying this coming week at least. Anyone who spots Emperors is encouraged to please post the sightings here. The total Emperor numbers seen this year is now 22, including 7 females and 15 males; my previous total for males in my post of 12th July should have been 14, and not 15.] [Posted by Andrew Neild on behalf of Alex Penn]
Merry Hill, Bushey. I had a walk around for a couple of hours with my daughter who is six, she wanted to tick off Brown Hairstreak from her butterfly book; having got all the others. Fortunately we did spot 2 Brown Hairstreaks (one photographed) right in the SE corner of the fruit field. Also seen at least 6 Purple Hairstreaks, 3 Holly Blues and 1 Small Copper plus the usual browns. No great pictures but we had a great time and enjoyed a lovely picnic. [Posted by Nathan Ellis]
Sightings at Enfield, Oakwood & Trent Park. At a private site near Trent Park - 2 Jersey Tiger. At Trent Park - 3 Red Admiral, 2 male Clouded Yellow [1 at 'Old Golf Course' 0959 to 1002 BST & 1 near Water Grdn at 1028 BST] - my first of the year [FOY], 2 Jersey Tiger, 2 male Common Blue by lower lake, 2 Purple Hairstreak near Ride Wd & 1 Comma nectaring on buddleia near Shaws Wd Cottages. At Bramley Road, N14 - 1 Red Admiral. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Branch Walk Therfield Heath. The weather for the branch walk on Therfield Heath to see Chalk Hill Blues was poor. Not something we can control for when we pick the dates in the early Spring. It was overcast and 18°C when fourteen of us set off just after 10.30. The drizzle held off until 11.15, so we headed back to the car park/cafe by 11.30. Several dozen male Chalk Hill Blues were seen by everyone and a few Gatekeepers. Many were obligingly resting with wings open to try and get warm enough so photographers were able to take shots easily, One female Chalkhill Blue was seen but was not so obliging. Both Gatekeeper and Chalk Hill Blue are currently present in 100s if not 1000s on the Heath. [Posted by Nick Keep]
Sightings at Enfield & Southgate. 1 Shaded Broad-bar at a private site near Trent Park. At ASDA Southgate - 1 Lime-speck Pug - my first of the year [FOY] & still 1 Red Underwing. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Hayes - Brown Hairstreak. A male seen at TQ 12260 81086 fluttering around blackthorn by the canal near to Hayes Marina and Yeading Brook. Plenty of blackthorn and mature ash trees. I was in a group on the move so just a fleeting but unmistakable glance. My 1st BrHk sighting outside the Ickenham/Ruislip area. [Posted by Nick Furtek]
Clouded Yellow. Saw Clouded Yellow at Waterford Heath south this afternoon. [Posted by steve kiln]
Jersey Tiger Moth. Thought people might be interested in this sighting of a Jersey Tiger Moth resting on a yellow flag iris in my small pond in my garden in West Harrow. [Posted by JEREMY CLIVAZ]
Jersey Tiger moth. 2 Jersey Tiger moths seen in my garden in Enfield today. I have seen a number of these over the last few years. Quite spectacular! [Posted by Stuart Cooke]
Sightings at Trent Park & Enfield. At Trent Park - 2 male Common Blue [1 field near Dew Pond & 1 at 'Old Golf Course'], 2 Comma & 1 Red Admiral by lower lake. At private sites near Trent Park - 2 Red Admiral, 1 Small Heath, 3 Jersey Tiger, 1 Shaded Broad-bar - my first of the year [FOY] & 1 Rose Chafer on thistle-head - my first of the year [FOY]. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Small Copper. Great to see a Small Copper in my back garden in St Albans for the first time since we moved in over 20 years ago! It was feeding on the self seeded Verbena along with Gatekeepers, Small and Large Whites and a Comma. All recorded to the Big Butterfly Count. [Posted by Carl Slater]
Sightings at Enfield. At private sites near Trent Park - 8 Common Blue, 2 Brown Argus, 1 Small Copper & 1 Yellow-tail coaxed onto my finger for a close inspection - my first of the year [FOY]. At Bay Farm along 'London Loop' - 1 Red Admiral, 4 Common Blue & 1 Small Copper. At a private site in North Enfield - 1 Red Admiral. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Big Butterfly Count. Yes, the Big Butterfly Count is back for another year. Please take 15 mins on a sunny day to record butterflies in your garden, local park, or anywhere you like, all results help! All the information gathered is important Last years results were so bad they led to the declaration of a Butterfly Emergency and a ban on using neonicotinoid pesticides. We hope this years results will be better. I carried out my first count today on my allotment at Folly Lane St Albans - Over 40 butterflies, with Gatekeepers by far the most numerous (they love my Marjoram), also Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Comma, Peacock, Large White & Small White. You can access details of the Big Butterfly Count here [Posted by Malcolm Hull,]
Butterfly walks in the rain showers. Kinsbourn Green, Harpenden - 9 people turned up for this afternoons branch walk with the Friends of Kinsbourn Green. This acid grassland site is being restored, following acquisition by the Friends last year. We saw 13 species in total including Brown Argus, Common Blues(5), Small Heaths(7), Small Copper and Purple Hairstreaks(2). Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns were in the biggest numbers. We walked round the site, discussing how it is managed at present and how it might be improved for butterflies. At the end a Comma was feeding avidly on an overipe blackberry. This morning in Verulamium Park, St Albans, another guided walk for the new Friends group for that park. Overcast and not much in the way of butterflies. We admired how well the fairly new meadows in the park are developing and the extent of plant species they now support. We also looked at the areas of elm which support WLH and talked about how best these might be managed. The highlight was discovering a roost of Common Blues, seven butterflies, some of which opened their wings and displayed nicely. Their docile state allowed close examination of the spots on their underwings, which determined that two were infact Brown Argus [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
JERSEY TIGER MOTH. A Jersey Tiger Moth landed on our courtyard wall today at 5pm. I have never seen one before and, I have lived at my present home for 40 years. I attach a photo. We also have seen Cinnabar Moths this year and, last year Hummingbird Hawk Moths. [Posted by Vanessa Gates]
Red Underwing at Southgate. 2 Red Underwing & 1 Yellow Shell at ASDA Southgate this afternoon. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Jersey Tiger - Letchworth. Seen in our kitchen today. Jersey Tiger moth. SG6 Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire. Released out of window!! [Posted by Mike adams]
Merry Hill Bushey. After getting out of work unexpectedly early on Friday I met up with Rick at Merry Hill. Unfortunately we drew a blank this time for Brown Hairstreak but did get to see 7+ Purple Hairstreak 3 of which were photographed. I was expecting to see the last of the Marbled Whites and some Skippers but never got a confirmed sighting of either. It was a good day for Common Blue with 20+ seen, Brown Argus 2, Holly Blue 3+, Small Heath 3, Red Admiral 1, Comma 1, Large White in good numbers with other whites seen. Meadow Brown still in good numbers with Gatekeeper now in full swing. A few Six-Spot Burnett moth pupa were seen but was surprised not to see any on the wing as they were out in their hundreds along the coast of Cardigan Bay when I was away. [Posted by Peter Fewell]
Purple Emperor sightings in Heartwood Forest. A tattered female Purple Emperor was seen on the gate by the dog pond at 09:30 feeding on Andrew's bait (fermented banana mixed with red wine, honey, and brown sugar!). Sadly she only stayed for 30 seconds. Another female, in better condition, was seen at 12:15 and stayed on the bait for over a minute, went away then returned at 12:36 till 12:39. As a matter of interest, a Speckled Wood also visited the bait (at 12:44). Later in the day at least 4 individual Small Blues, and a single Purple Hairstreak, were seen puddling at the edge of the dog pond just after 4pm. [Posted by Andrew Neild on behalf of Alex Penn!]
