Hertfordshire & Middlesex Branch
Saving butterflies, moths and our environment
Enfield. 1 Large White nectaring on Michaelmas daisies at a private site near Trent Park, female Green-veined White nectaring on Bramble blossom along 'The London Loop' at Bay Farm, Enfield, 2 Small White [1 near Brooke Wd & a female at Rectory Farm near 'The Red House']. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Red Admiral at Enfield. 1 Red Admiral seen in flight during rain from platform at Enfield Chase Station at 1433 BST. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Brown Hairstreak Hampstead Heath. Brown Hairstreak egg found in a new area at the north of Hampstead Heath. [Posted by Rohan Harris]
Speckled Wood at Enfield. 1 Speckled Wood at a private site near Trent Park this morning. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Speckled Wood at Town Park, Enfield. 1 Speckled Wood at Town Park, Enfield this afternoon. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Small Coppers on last Herts & Middx BC butterfly walk this year. Grey skies, a stiff breeze and temperature of 13 degrees greeted us on arrival at Nomansland Common. 8 optimistic butterfly spotters set off and we’re soon rewarded by some excellent views of a knot-grass caterpillar. A few glimmers of sun encouraged the Small Coppers, with several seen in flight. Others were sunbathing, but the sun did not shine and most were hunkered down on prominent sprigs of Heather. Later we found a group of six Small Coppers all close together with mating in mind. Crossing to the east side more Small Coppers were seen nectaring on Ragwort. In total 27 seen along with a possible Red Admiral, many Yellow legged mining bees and a couple of Dung Beetles playing football with rabbit droppings. A cool but satisfactory end of the season [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
Large White, Red Admiral & Small Copper at Enfield. 1 Large White, 1 Red Admiral & 1 Small Copper at private sites at Enfield near Trent Park during late morning & early afternoon. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Large White at Enfield. 2 Large White nectaring on buddleia at Enfield Rd, EN2 this afternoon. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Garden Carpet & Meal Moth at Southgate. 1 Garden Carpet & 1 Meal Moth at ASDA Southgate this afternoon. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Hampstead Heath Brown Hairstreak. Three Brown Hairstreak eggs at new locations on Hampstead Heath. [Posted by Rohan Harris]
Croxley Moor. After reading about Malcolm's count of Small Copper at Croxley Moor I hooked up with Rick Vickers for an afternoon visit. We didn't reach the numbers seen by Malcolm but still reached 48+. They were in various states of condition from fresh to semi tatty. Some with variant blue scales on the lower hind wing and others without. Some finding the dwindling amount of ragwort to feed on others basking on semi dried cow pats. Looking at where we had travelled on site we realised there was a lot we missed. We can conclude that there must have been well over a hundred on the wing and probably over 200 over the entire site! Thanks Malcolm for sharing the info on Small Coppers. Other butterflies seen 11 White's unidentified , 1 Green-veined White, 8+ Small Heath, 2+ Meadow Brown and a single Comma. [Posted by Peter Fewell]
Brown Hairstreak at Hampstead Heath. Two Brown Hairstreak eggs found at Hampstead Heath. [Posted by Rohan Harris]
Large White at Enfield. Female Large White at a private site near Trent Park this morning. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Welsh Harp. Three Brown Hairstreak eggs found in new areas at Welsh Harp [Posted by Rohan Harris]
Small Coppers at Chorleywood. Visited Chorleywood Common to continue my search for Small Coppers. I recorded 6 myself, but met up with the transect walking team who had seen 5. With only one possible overlap that’s a site total of 10. Half were on Ragwort, the rest on heather. Courtship attempts were observed and one male was flying round all the Ragwort plants searching for females. One female left the Ragwort and went exploring for egg laying sites on Sheep’s Sorrel . Meadow Browns still out in good numbers - I saw 48. Also Small Heath, Silver Y, Red Admiral , Small and Large Whites [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
Brown Hairstreak. Brown Hairstreak eggs found at Welsh Harp (3). Woodfield Park (1) and West Hendon Playing fields (12). [Posted by Rohan Harris]
Trent Park. 1 Comma & 3 Speckled Wood at Water Grdn/Trent Park this morning. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Small Coppers in London. Continued my quest for Small Copper at Osterley Park in Hounslow. 15 spotted, mostly nectaring on the plentiful supply of Ragwort with a couple of courtships. Speckled Wood, Comma and Brown Argus also on the wing at this site [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
Comma at Whitewebbs Park. 1 Comma along Flash Lane at Whitewebbs Park this afternoon. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Brown Hairstreak. Brown Hairstreak egg at Parkfields and Allum Lane Spinney. [Posted by Rohan Harris]
