Hertfordshire & Middlesex Branch
Saving butterflies, moths and our environment
Therfield Heath. Still high numbers of Chalk Hill Blues (50+ including c. 5 females) and some in good condition too. First Adonis Blue of the new brood (male on poo) - thanks to Trevor Sawyer for spotting it. Other species: Gatekeeper 30+, Meadow Brown 40+, Brown Argus, Common Blue, Small White 4 and Large White [Posted by Peter Clarke]
Merry Hill Bushey. I had another go at looking for Brown Hairstreak this afternoon apart from a couple of may be glimpses was unsuccessful this time. But did get to see my first Brown Argus of the year there. 1 male looking reasonably fresh but with a couple of chinks in the right side upper and lower wing. Found feeding on the fleabane which is now in full bloom. Honey bees are making the most of the flowers there too, as well as the 3 Brimstones sighted. Gatekeeper numbers are dropping off with 5 seen, Meadow Brown were most numerous although their numbers dropping at 25+ , Small Heath 5 seen with the one in the photo slightly opening it's wing in pulses. I did sort of capture that but not as good as the photo. Speckled Wood sightings 7 officially confirmed but some of the darker butterflies flitting over the hedgerows were most likely to be Speckled Wood not B. Hairstreaks which could have doubled their count. 2 Large White and 3 other Whites seen. [Posted by Peter Fewell]
Large White at Oakwood. Female Large White on buddleia at Oakwood Station late morning. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Brown Hairstreak. Me and Brian Dawton went to Horsenden Hill arrived at 9, quite windy in field by car park walked to find Ash in shelter and saw 3 flying about in tree tops , then walked to bridge and saw one perched clearly from bridge. Then saw a few more. Walking back back uphill we saw a few more flying downhill, it was getting very windy when we left. Many Ash have dieback now In all we saw about 12 Brown Hairstreak and many Jersey Tiger. [Posted by Tony Clancy]
Painted Lady & Small Heath at Enfield & Common Blue at Trent Park. 1 'very fresh' Painted Lady settled on ground & on thistle head at a private site at Enfield near Trent Park at 0750 BST & 2 Small Heath together here, also. Male Common Blue by lower lake, Trent Park this morning. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Jersey Tiger. Was in bathroom this morning and with the help of live feature on phone managed an open wing shot [Posted by Paula Moore]
Hibernating Butterflies. Rather dull here today, so a good time to check on the butterflies hibernating in my shed. I now have two - both Peacocks. Over the last ten years I've been recording hibernating Peacocks the average annual total has been five. I've seen several on the wing this week, so still time for this total to increase. During the last decade there have been four years with two or less hibernating Peacocks. So this year looks below average, but not a disaster for this species. The same can't be said for Small Tortoiseshells. The average annual number has been 19 and the lowest previous year 2021 when there were five. This year there are none and with none seen on the wing, it appears that this species may have disappeared from St Albans area. [Posted by Malcolm HULL]
Stafford Road & Ickenham Marsh. An 8-30 sunny start in quite a breeze. Sighted 20+ Brown Hairstreaks possibly all males including the first sightings (6) on the LWT Ickenham Marsh reserve which were around a 'master ash' alongside the ungrazed southerly wooded brook side path (TQ 0864 8510). Watched 2 males engaged in a (2 mins) twirling duel. Returned early PM to see 1 male flitting along the path. Of the remaining sightings 8+ around a master ash bordering the largest meadow (c.9-30) and the remainder were singletons flitting around the blackthorn till my 2pm departure but only 2 photo opportunities for those I had informally teamed up with (the more eyes the better for BH!). Unlike last year the BH are not (yet?) settling to feast on the nectar which is maybe due to less thistle and knapweed at the expense of ragwort along with the closing up of the clearings as the blackthorn marches on at 1-2m per year. Also 10 Small Copper, 25 Small Heath which both are my best counts on this site for some years or possibly ever. 2 Brown Argus. 25+ Speckled Wood, 1 Holly Blue, 12 Purple Hairstreak with a few low level landings plus the usual browns and whites. [Posted by Nick Furtek]
Therfield Heath. A walk lunch time, just the eastern side/Lankester Hill c60 Chalkhill Blue , mostly males but a good many females, 2 pairs "in cop", 12 Common Blue, 4 Brown Argus, no sign of any Adonis yet... [Posted by Laurence Drummond]
Trip to Hexton. Hexton Chalk Pit Reserve - 50 Chalk-hill Blues, 4 Common Blues, 1 Small Heath and 3 Brimstones. Searched the field edges on Hexton Manor Estate adjoining the Reserve and along Hexton Rd. Chalk-hill Blues in both locations, but best on the west side and several were seen crossing the road. Added 11 more Chalk-hill Blues, 1 NB5 Spot Burnet, 4 Brown Argus, 3 Small Heath , 6 Common Blues 4 Six-spot Burnets, 2 Brimstones, 1 Marbled White and 1 Silver-washed Fritillary. Excellent news that the Este has been acquired by Natural England who plan a chalk grassland restoration project [Posted by Malcolm HULL]
Common Blue & Shaded Broad-bar at Trent Park. Female Common Blue & 1 Shaded Broad-bar at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park this morning. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Common Blues Picking Up. 32 Common Blues today at a private site east of St Albans. My best total of the year so far for this species. Brown Argus and Small Heath also in flight plus Brimstones and Peacocks feeding avidly before they enter hibernation [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
Merry Hill Bushey TQ 131 939. I went out for a stroll at Merry Hill today for as long as I could stand the heat. The butterflies apart from some of the M. Brown and Brimstone were mostly seen hugging the hedge-line. On entering I saw a Red Admiral and a white along the hedgerow. A further 7 whites seen unidentified. Other species seen 1 L. White, Speckled Wood 8+, Meadow Brown 20 +, Gatekeeper 8+, Brimstone 2, male and female, Jersey Tiger Moth 1. I was looking out for Brown Hairstreak and I took the route up to a bench where there is blackthorn and ash. I hung around for a while looking up but had no sightings so decided to move on. I was still scanning the hedgerow as I walked along and had a glimpse of a butterfly that would fit the description of a female B Hairstreak but was off over the other side of the hedge. I then ventured towards the place where Rick spotted the first one a couple of weeks back and found another male not too far from the first sighting. Although the white border on the wings was frayed he didn't look old, probably a few days at most. [Posted by Peter Fewell]
Whippendell Woods and Cassiobury Park. Arriving in the car park at Rousebarn Lane 1 Large White and 1 S. Wood spotted. Being in Whippendell Woods and close to water we expected that butterfly numbers would drop usually due to the presence of hawker dragonflies at this time of year. Well they were relatively low but so were dragonfly numbers compared to previous years although a few hawkers were sighted. Species sighted in Whippendell Woods. A further 2 S. Wood, 2 Peacock, 1 Brimstone, 2 Gatekeeper, 3 Comma, 3 Silver-washed Fritillary, 1 Meadow Brown, 1 Holly Blue, 4 L White, 2 confirmed GV White, and about 6+ unidentified whites. Pushing our luck with time in Cassiobury Park after 5pm we found our first Small Copper of the year along with 4 Gatekeeper, 3 M Brown, 1 Skipper S/E and 1 S. Wood. [Posted by Peter Fewell]
Second Brood Small Blues. Two Small Blues at the meadow in Upper Bourne End Lane where I also had 6 Common Blues. Just one Small Blue at the A41 Bourne End junction, but I did see 25 Six-spit Burnets there. No Small Blues at Redbourn Lane, but 15 Brown Argus, 10 Common Blues, 1 Small Copper and a Large Skipper [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
Silver-washed Fritillaries at Scales Park. At least three male Silver-washed Fritillaries were whizzing up and down the rides at Scales Park (near Nuthampstead) this afternoon - they were too smart for me to catch on camera. These are the first SWFs that I have seen locally, in what appears to have been a poor year for them. Also seen: Small/Essex Skippers, Green-veined White, Speckled Wood (lots), Small Heath, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper (still lots), Peacock, Comma and Brown Argus. [Posted by Martin Johnson]
Common Blue & Jersey Tiger at Trent Park. Female Common Blue settled on E edge of Icehouse Wd/Trent Park & 3 Jersey Tiger at Trent Park [1 Moat Wd, 1 Icehouse Wd & 1 Shaws Cottages/Trent Park]. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Blustery day at Therfield Heath. A very windy but warm day at Therfield Heath, the Chalk Hill Blues were out in fairly good numbers, not as good as 2022 but not bad considering the lack of spring. Lots of Gatekeepers and lots of Meadow Browns. [Edited by Peter Clarke] [Posted by James Somerville]
Where have all the butterflies gone?. Malcolm Hull recently gave an interview to Mix 92.6 the local radio station serving St Albans commenting on the shortage of butterflies this year and what can be done about it. Listen to the podcast here https://mix926.com/podcast/where-have-all-the-butterflies-gone-and-how-we-can-help/ [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
Comma & Holly Blue at Trent Park & Jersey Tiger at Oakwood. 1 Comma & 1 Holly Blue near Water Grdn/Trent Park & 1 Jersey Tiger at South Lodge Cres, Enfield this morning. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]