News Archive for Mar 2024

30 Mar 2024

Orange Tip. Orange Tip male plus several Peacock and Brimstone at Lea Valley Walk, Harpenden [Posted by David Hunt]

Orange Tip
Photo © David Hunt

Brimstone, Peacock & Small White at Enfield. Male Brimstone, 2 Peacock & 1 Small White [FOY] settled at a private site near Trent Park. 1 Peacock at another private site near Trent Park & 2 together along Hadley Road. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]


Butterfly Sightings, Hounslow. Streets: Holly Blue:2, Brimstone: 1, Peacock: 2. Heath Edge/Pevensey Road: Brimstone: 2, Peacock: 8. Golf Course & Heath vicinity: Peacock: 2. Marshalling Yard: Brimstone: 1, Peacock: 9, Comma: 1, Small Tortoiseshell: 1. [Posted by Pete Gore]


Orange-tip sighting. Spotted 3 male Orange-tip butterflies across the road from RSPB Rye Meads. Also spotted several Peacock butterflies, 2 Brimstone & 2 Small White. Sadly no photos just video of one of the Peacock butterflies. [Posted by Julia Hawkins]


Holly blue. My first Holly blue in my garden in Bengeo. About 12.30. Steve kiln Also Peacock and Brimstone [Posted by Steve kiln]


Hexton Chalk Pit HMWT Reserve. Two holly blues around ivy covered tree stump, two male brimstones and one peacock seen elsewhere on the nature reserve. [Posted by Richard Wistow]


Our last Zoom talk of the season. Our last Zoom talk of the season was on Wednesday 27th March 2024 - ‘What did we see in 23 and what's in store for 24?’ Andrew Wood, Branch Records Collator will look back to the butterflies and moths seen in 2023 and what we might expect in 2024. If you missed the talk, the link to YouTube is here [Posted by Liz Goodyear]

29 Mar 2024

Hampstead Heath and Heath extension. Checking the five Brown Hairstreak eggs found at the Heath and the one at the Heath extension today. One of the eggs at the Heath has emerged. Orange underwing on the curb at Hampstead Way that borders the Heath Extension. [Posted by Rohan Harris]

Orange Underwing
Photo © Rohan Harris

27 Mar 2024

Peacock at Enfield. 1 Peacock this morning at a private site near Trent Park. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]

26 Mar 2024

Brimstone, Comma & Peacock at Trent Park. Male Brimstone near Obelisk, 1 Comma at Rough Lot & 1 Peacock near Ride Wood at Trent Park. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]


Brimstone, Comma & Peacock at Enfield. 1 Comma, 1 male Brimstone & 1 Peacock at a private site near Trent Park. 1 Peacock at another private site near Trent Park & another one at another private site near Trent Park. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]


Brimstone 11 Peacock 11. First transect of the year at Stevenage (south Fairlands Valley Park) 1220-1330 hours yielded 11 Brimstone (all males), 11 Peacock and 2 Comma. Likely that some of the Brimstones and Peacocks were counted twice as they appeared to be patrolling along the edge of the wood and woodland ride. [Posted by Peter Clarke]


Balls Wood. Visited Balls Wood this lunchtime in the hope of identifying an Orange/Light Orange Underwing moth. Several were observed grounded (about 5) soon after 12 noon but not one stayed on the ground sufficiently long for an id to be confirmed! Also flying were 5 or so Peacocks, 3 Comma and 1 male Brimstone. I was surprised that the main track wasn't that muddy but a note of warning the Roundings has closure notices up so don't assume it will remain open if you drive down it successfully! [Posted by Liz Goodyear]


Small White: Culpeper Community Garden, Angel, Islington. Small White seen at 1pm in this highly recommended and delightful Community Garden. Newts and Toads in the pond too, plus plenty of bees and birds. [Posted by Nicholas Barnett]

24 Mar 2024

Small White: Wembley Park tube station approach in sidings. Happily spotted by my 10 year daughter. First of the Year for both of us. [Posted by Nicholas Barnett]


Moths and Butterflies. A Peacock and a Comma at the The Warren at Hartham Common, Hertford and more surprisingly a Hummingbird Hawk-moth too. [Posted by Andrew Wood]

23 Mar 2024

Comma at Grovelands Park, Southgate. 1 Comma at Grovelands Park at 1247 GMT. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]


Brown Hairstreak. One Brown Hairstreak egg found a Hampstead Heath. [Posted by Rohan Harris]

22 Mar 2024

Hibernation watch. St Albans shed - All four of the remaining Small Tortoiseshells in my shed have flown this week. However both Peacocks are still in residence [Posted by Malcolm HULL]

21 Mar 2024

Brown Hairstreak. Returned to Northwick Park, the Brown Hairstreak egg that was submitted yesterday that appeared to be emerging was empty and the larva located 15cm away on a bud which it then entered. [Posted by Rohan Harris]

Empty egg
Photo © Rohan Harris
Larva
Photo © Rohan Harris

Peacock at Enfield. 6 Peacock - 2 at a private site near Trent Park & 1 at another private site near Trent Park & 3 at Trent Park. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]


Butterfly Sightings, Hounslow. A Brimstone, 2 Peacocks and a Small Tortoiseshell on the golf course area, 3 Peacocks on the Marshalling Yard and 3 more down by the railway on the heath. [Posted by Pete Gore]

20 Mar 2024

Northwick and Roxbourne Park. Northwick Park: Seven Brown Hairstreak eggs found (including one that appeared to have the larva emerging from it). Adults also seen: 3 Brimstone, 1 Comma, 1 Peacock and 1 Small White. Roxbourne Park: Two Brown Hairstreak eggs found and one adult Peacock seen [Posted by Rohan Harris]

Brown Hairstreak
Photo © Rohan Harris

Brimstone, Comma & Peacock at Enfield. Male Brimstone nectaring on Blackthorn blossom at private site in Enfield near Trent Park. Male Brimstone at Bincote Road, EN2. 2 male Brimstone, 2 Comma & 2 Peacock near Boxer's Lake Play Area this afternoon. Male Brimstone and Comma at Oakwood Station. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]


Brown Hairstreak. A further ten Brown Hairstreak eggs found at Northwick Park. [Posted by Rohan Harris]


Brimstones on the move. At 11:30 and despite being mild; although not that sunny, two male Brimstones were seen to almost simultaneously fly across my Ware garden - heading for my nearby flowering blackthorn. There is a lot of ivy in the gardens and I suspect they had either been roosting or hibernating there. Also later a Peacock was seen. [Posted by Liz Goodyear]


Small Tortoiseshell. A Small Tortoiseshell in my Royston Garden today. Surprisingly late for a first branch report. Also a Peacock out on Therfield Heath [Posted by Nick Keep]

Small Tortoiseshell
Photo © Nick Keep

18 Mar 2024

Orange/Light Orange Underwing at Enfield. 3 Orange/Light Orange Underwing together in flight at private site near Trent Park this afternoon at 1541 GMT. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]


Brown Hairstreak. A Brown Hairstreak egg found at Neasden Recreation Ground to the south of Brent Reservoir. At Regents Park two eggs found. [Posted by Rohan Harris]

16 Mar 2024

Speckled Wood. Seen at Abbots Langley 1130 am [Posted by Clive Burrows]


Comma & Peacock at Trent Park. 1 Comma settled in bracken clearing SW edge of Rough Lot at 1200 GMT & 1 Peacock along Leeging Beech Gutter near Water Garden at 1234 GMT. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]

15 Mar 2024

Peacock at Trent Park. 1 Peacock along SW edge of Rough Lot/Trent Park this afternoon at 1225 GMT [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]

14 Mar 2024

Rickmansworth. Brimstone adj UP tube line at stn 1248hrs - my first butterfly of 2024 [Posted by T. M. Mylett]


Brown Hairstreak. Brown Hairstreak egg found at new location on Hampstead Heath. [Posted by Rohan Harris]

Photo © Rohan Harris

Brimstone at Oakwood. Reported sighting of a Brimstone at Oakwood Station this afternoon at 1315 GMT by Eugene Dillon-Hooper. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]


Peacock at Enfield. 3 Peacock at Enfield - two together on private land & one at Enfield Road near Jolly Farmers PH. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]


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]

Comma
Photo © Andrew Wood
Peacock
Photo © Andrew Wood

13 Mar 2024

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]

12 Mar 2024

Oak Beauty at Southgate Circus. Oak Beauty on wall near outside light at ASDA Southgate this afternoon. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]

11 Mar 2024

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]

Photo © Rohan Harris
Photo © Rohan Harris

09 Mar 2024

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]

08 Mar 2024

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]

Red Admiral Fairlands Valley Park Stevenage
Photo © 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]

07 Mar 2024

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]

Brown Hairstreak eggs at Hounslow Heath
Photo © Rohan Harris

06 Mar 2024

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]

05 Mar 2024

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]

03 Mar 2024

IMPORTANT. Please read about the revamped version of our branch website. Welcome to the revamped version of our branch website. Our branch website is modelled on the Hants/IOW branch website. As well as the visual attractiveness of this website it incorporates many important features including increased security and improved performance. One significant feature is the use of News items including sightings submitted by observers. Rather than sending emails for submission it is better to have this done automatically and then verified by an administrator. Another factor is online editing. Some users can be granted access to edit certain web pages themselves instead of them being done manually by an administrator. Other notable features are included as shown on the horizontal menu. In the past, we have allowed observers to send emails for submission of records to appear on the sightings page and to be recorded on a 'sightings' database hence the requirement for a specific location like grid reference. Now, however, it is common practice to submit records formally through national databases like iRecord. Any sightings reported via the 'Submit News' function will NOT be recorded on any database so it is not necessary to be specific about location. To submit a news item (sighting, online talk, field trip or any significant event) click on the 'Submit News' button under the 'News' button on the horizontal menu as shown in Photo 1 (click to expand) below. You should be presented with a 'News Form' as shown in Photo 2. Fill in the details as required. Up to 3 photos can be uploaded. It is recommended that each photo is less than 2Mb in size otherwise you may be asked to resize or crop the image. After completing the form, click the 'Preview' button to inspect the resultant action. If satisfied, click the 'Submit' button. The item will have to be verified by an administrator before it appears on the news item list as represented on the 'News' screen (see Photo 3) and its title on the right hand side on the Home page. Finally, I must thank Pete Eeles for his invaluable support. [Posted by Peter Clarke]

News dropdown menu
Photo © Peter Clarke
Submit News Form
Photo © Peter Clarke
News items page
Photo © Peter Clarke

02 Mar 2024

Brown Hairstreak. One Brown Hairstreak egg found at Hampstead Heath Extension [Posted by Rohan Harris]