Hertfordshire & Middlesex Branch
Saving butterflies, moths and our environment
Sightings at Enfield & Trent Park. Male Brimstone at a private site near Trent Park. At Trent Park - 3 male Brimstone, 2 Comma & 2 Peacock. Male Brimstone, 3 Comma & 4 Peacock along the 'London Loop' at Park Farm. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. Another glorious day on my local patch, and I managed to find just over 100 butterflies for the first time this year, with 10 species represented. These included the first Orange Tips of 2025 (none of which was prepared to stop, so in flight blurs were all I managed) and that increasingly rare sight, a Small Tortoiseshell. The overall tally was: Peacock 26, Brimstone 22 (18m, 4f), Comma 17, Small White 13, GVW 8, Orange Tip 5, Speckled Wood 5, Red Admiral 4, Large White 1, Small Tortoiseshell 1. A splendid day again. [Posted by Dave Miller]
Brimstone at Southgate. Male Brimstone at Chase Road/Charter Way, N14 bus-stop [TQ295951] at 1300 BST [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Sightings Tunnel Gardens Bounds Green. Excited to see my first butterflies of the year today, 3 comma 3 brimstones and 1 pristine peacock in Tunnel Gardens TQ293914 [Posted by Miles Attenborough]
Plenty on the wing at Totteridge. On a walk along Folly Brook to Finchley Nurseries this afternoon I saw the following : 4 Peacocks, 1 Brimstone, 1 Comma, 1 Red Admiral. [Posted by Dee Cullen]
Butterflies from wareside. Hi some sightings from wareside in rhe garden. Saturday 29th march Large white 1 Green veined white 1 Brimstone 5 Peacock 3 Small tortoiseshell 1 Comma 2 Red admiral 1 Hopefully a sign of things to come. [Posted by Phil macmurdie]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor (and Staines Moor). Lots of sunshine, but a cool breeze again today. There were good numbers of Peacocks, though, including several seen on the northern edge of Staines Moor as well as a selection on my usual wanderings. Overall, I counted 20, along with 4 Red Admirals, 3 Commas and 3 Brimstones. I also saw the male Large White spotted on two previous days, plus a female of the same species some way away. [Posted by Dave Miller]
Sightings at Enfield & Trent Park. 1 Comma near Shaws Wd Cottages & male Brimstone near lower lake/Trent Park. 1 Comma & 4 Peacock at private sites near Trent Park. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Small Tortoiseshell. A second Small Tortoiseshell sighting for me today at Ickleford. Have IRecorded. [Posted by Phil Barron]
Brimstone sighting. Brimstone on canal towpath at Harefield, close to the Coy Carp pub - TQ04044 [Posted by Paul Field]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. After the briefest spell of rain first thing this morning, the sunshine returned on my local patch - though there was a chilly breeze with it. Nevertheless, I found 19 butterflies today: 8 Peacocks, 4 Red Admirals, 4 Commas, 1 Small White, 1 Brimstone and 1 Large White (probably the one I'd seen on 26th, as it was in exactly the same spot). [Posted by Dave Miller]
Butterflies out in the Ayots. On a walk around the Ayots, near Welwyn Garden City, I recorded Comma, Peacock, Brimstone and Holly Blue. [Posted by John Yates]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. It was a gloriously warm and sunny afternoon on my local patch near Heathrow today and I found 45 butterflies also enjoying the weather. Peacocks have at last started to appear in decent numbers, and overall I found eight species including four new ones for 2025. The tally was: 21 Peacocks, 10 Commas, 5 Red Admirals, 5 Brimstones, and the newcomers were (one of each) Green-veined White, Large White, Speckled Wood and (a particular favourite of mine) a Holly Blue. [Posted by Dave Miller]
Sightings at Trent Park. Male Brimstone, 2 Comma together & 2 Peacock at Trent Park this afternoon. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Small Tortoiseshell. Delighted to see a Small Tortoiseshell this morning in Hitchin, TL184283. I'm not sure I saw one at all last year. [Posted by Phil Barron]
'What's happened since the book? - 10 years of change' - with Andrew Wood. Our last Zoom presentation will be this Wed 26th. Details and zoom link here [Posted by Liz Goodyear]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. The sun emerged at lunchtime today as forecast and I had a look around my local patch near Heathrow. The butterflies were quick to respond as well, and I came across my first Small Whites of 2025. Overall, I counted 6 Peacocks, 4 Red Admirals, 4 Commas and 3 Small Whites. I think the sun arrived just too late in the day to rouse any Brimstones. [Posted by Dave Miller]
Sightings at Enfield & Trent Park. 1 Comma at a private site near Trent Park & 2 Comma & 1 Peacock at Trent Park this afternoon. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Comma, Peacock & Red Admiral at Enfield & Trent Park. 1 Comma & 1 Red Admiral at a private site near Enfield this afternoon & 1 Peacock at Trent Park. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Hummingbird hawk moth. ...on daffodils in our Tring garden! [Posted by Colin Sturges]
Comma Muswell Hill. I saw a Comma twice today in my garden, it may have been the same individual. It stayed for around 20 minutes on the fence which gets late afternoon sun. [Posted by Dee Cullen]
Sightings at Enfield & Trent Park. 2 male Brimstone, 3 Comma & 2 Peacock at private sites near Trent Park. 7 male Brimstone, 4 Comma, 2 Peacock, 1 Small White or Green-veined White & female Large White nectaring on Sallow by lower lake - my first of the year. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Comma at Oakwood Station. 1 Comma at Oakwood Station at 1429 GMT. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Small Whites in Fairlands Valley Park. Afternoon walk in the park yielded my first Small Whites (x3) of the year including one feeding on blackthorn blossom but did not stay still long enough for a photo. Also seen were 5 Comma, 4 male Brimstone and only one Peacock (expected far more). [Posted by Peter Clarke]
Comma & Red Admiral at Trent Park. 2 Comma together & 1 Red Admiral near Oakwood entrance/Trent Park this afternoon. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Orange Underwing at Trent Park. 1 Orange Underwing seen in flight & settled at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park at 0956 GMT, photographed by Eugene Dillon-Hopper - our first for the year. Male Brimstone along the 'London Loop' path at Park Farm, Enfield. 1 Comma at a private site near Trent Park. Male Brimstone at Bramley Road, N14 at 1236 GMT. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. After a series of cold and mostly cloudy days, there was more sunshine today (though it was actually no warmer). I set out hopefully around my local patch and managed to locate a Comma hunkered down low on the ground out of the chilly breeze. I also spotted two different Red Admirals, one by the River Colne and the other near the path down to Staines Moor. [Posted by Dave Miller]
Butterfly sightings Wareside. some sightings from wareside (TL396156) Monday 10th March 2025 Brimstone 4 (3 males and 1 female) Comma 2 hopefully the signs of a successful season. [Posted by Phil MacMurdie]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. I counted 30 butterflies today on my local patch, making the most of the last of the warm sunny spell: 12 Brimstones, 10 Commas, 5 Peacocks and 3 Red Admirals. [Posted by Dave Miller]
Sightings at Enfield Town. Male Brimstone at River View, Enfield Town [TQ324968] at 1221 GMT & 1 Peacock at Carr's Basin, Town Park, Enfield [TQ323962] at 1231 GMT. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
2024: 'A Year of Surprises in Provence'. Did you miss our latest Zoom talk - with Roger Gibbons? It is now available to view on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5joNvy0Puw [Posted by Liz Goodyear]
Fishers Field/ Bushey Hall golf course and a power station Letchmore Heath. Rick and myself took another look at Fishers Field on Saturday partly to take a look at pond activity as the frogs although late this year were just getting going favouring one of the ponds on the Bushey Hall golf course. As the weather was good it was reasonable to expect to see a few butterflies. The first Brimstone was seen towards the River Colne with a further 4 seen at Fishers Field and a further 2+ on the golf course. It was lovely to see my first Comma of the year also at Fishers Field and a further 5+ over the golf course. After we went over to Letchmore Heath in search of blackthorn. We trecked up the side of the Hare- Krishna temple towards the power station. We found a good patch of blackthorn there near the power station but only 2 BB Carpet moth eggs found no B Hairstreak eggs this year. The site has good potential for other species though as the sign indicates that a wildflower meadow is planned there! [Posted by Peter Fewell]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. More warm sunshine and more butterflies on my local patch, including my first Small Tortoiseshell of the year which gave me the runaround close to the River Colne near to the M25 spur to T5. Also seen were 12 males Brimstones (all except one were found before 1300), two Peacocks, two Red Admirals and three Commas. [Posted by Dave Miller]
Grovelands Park, Southgate. 2 male Brimstone & 3 Comma at Grovelands Park this afternoon. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Major new study of butterfly declines. Brian Cassie has recently published a major new study on the decline of butterflies in north america. The major causes are pesticides, climate change and habitat loss. Many of you will know Brian is a regular attendee at our branch Zoom meetings. Read a summary of his findings on this link butterflies decline by 22% [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
Small Tortoiseshell. Very gladdened to see my first Small Tort of the year in Lea Valley Country Park in the bramble down the railway track close to Cheshunt train station. 1 x Brimstone too. [Posted by Nicholas Barnett]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor and Staines Moor. With more sunshine and warmth, as well as a quick tour of my local patch I braved the mud and trekked down to Staines Moor. The weather of the last twelve months has made the path impassable without hefty wellies, but the recent sunshine has dried things up just enough to make it possible to get through with care in my walking boots.. I had hoped to see Small Tortoiseshells, but was out of luck and had to make do with just a couple of Brimstones. There were one or two on the way down as well, and I counted another five on my usual walk, along with two Commas. [Posted by Dave Miller]
Brimstone at Edmonton. Male Brimstone reported by Dobrina Dobreva at Cedars Court, Edmonton, N9 during the afternoon. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Brimstone at Forty Hall CP, Enfield. Helen Shore reports a sighting of a Brimstone at Forty Hall CP. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. A warmer day with no frost overnight: the Brimstones in particular responded, and I recorded nine today around my local patch, including an obliging female. Also seen: two Commas, two Peacocks and a Red Admiral. [Posted by Dave Miller]
Comma at Broomfield Park, Palmers Green, N13. 1 Comma flew around & settled on Conservatory roof at Broomfield Park, Palmers Green, N13 [TQ304927] this afternoon at 1446 GMT. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Balls Wood and Hertford. A Comma and Brimstone in Balls Wood and 2 male Brimstones clashing on Hartham Common, Hertford. [Posted by Andrew Wood]
Brimstone & comma. Further to my previous report, the male brimstone in my Harpenden garden has now been joined by a very fresh-looking comma. [Posted by Robin Pearson]
Brimstone. Male brimstone in my garden today, first sighting of anything this year! [Posted by Robin Pearson]
Comma. There was a Comma this morning on the back wall of my South Mimms house. [Posted by Terence Wood]
Sighting from Stanwell Moor. Just one butterfly on my local patch today: a Red Admiral, the same individual as seen on 1st of the month in the same spot. [Posted by Dave Miller]
Butterflies in Hertford. A male Brimstone on Hartham Common, Hertford and a Peacock sitting on a sunny fence in our garden in Bengeo. My first butterflies bar one in Wiltshire last month. [Posted by Andrew Wood]
Small Tortoiseshell. We had a Small Tortoiseshell yesterday (4/3/25) in our South Mimms back garden. [Posted by Terence Wood]
Woodberry Wetlands LWT - Brimstone. Pleasantly surprised to see my first Brimstone of the year. As well as 1 x Red Admiral. [Posted by Nicholas Barnett]
Batford Springs Nature Reserve, Harpenden. One Comma flying somewhat lethargically in the sunshine - my first sighting of 2025 [Posted by David Hunt]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. The sunshine continues! A Comma and a Red Admiral seen on my local patch today, the latter butterfly being a different individual from those seen so far this year as it had the white spots of the bialbata variation (therefore likely to be female I believe?). [Posted by Dave Miller]
Fairlands Valley Park, Stevenage. Early afternoon stroll in the park yielded my first butterflies of the year. Although only 10c there was brilliant sunshine and light winds prompting a male Brimstone to fly and a Comma to bask on the ground [Posted by Peter Clarke]
Brimstone braves the cold. Only 9? and the ice from the bird bath still frozen on the lawn: but the first male Brimstone of the year flew into our Harpenden garden this morning. Good numbers of honey and bumble bees - and a bee fly. [Posted by Alan Jackson]
Brimstone in my garden. Male Brimstone in my garden in St Albans at lunchtime for the second day running. On both occasions it carefully searched round the evergreen bushes near to the Purging Buckthorn, even flying into them, presumably searching for females. In contrast I walked 5 miles through countryside and didn't see any others. It would make sense for the overwintering sites to be fairly close to suitable foodplants. Also I have up loaded the video of last weeks hissing Peacock to the Herts & Middx BC YouTube channel [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. Following what was possibly an even colder night, the temperature rose to close to 14 degrees by the afternoon on my local patch. I found four butterflies on my usual walk, including an immaculate Brimstone, a Red Admiral that may well have been the one seen two days earlier, plus two Commas - my first of the season. [Posted by Dave Miller]
Peacock and Red Admiral. Sightings from Wareside Sunday 2nd March 2025 Peacock - 1 Red Admiral - 1 Disturbed from hibernation in ivy whilst clearing up a fallen tree. [Posted by Philip MacMurdie]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. Another glorious day following another frosty night in the Heathrow area. I found a Peacock close to where the M25 spur road crosses the River Colne (the first butterfly I've seen in this particular area this year) and then back nearer home I found a Red Admiral circling a sheltered spot that the species often frequents in the summer. [Posted by Dave Miller]
Brimstone. Wareside - TL396156 Brimstone - 2 [Posted by Philip MacMurdie]
Prestwick Meadows Brown Hairsteak egg return. We were hoping that we could turn the egg rescue return into an official branch event at Prestwick Meadows but it wasn't to be. Rick and myself went out this sunny afternoon and tied in those stems with eggs on. Each stems were either left with the original markers and tied in but with the ones marked with plastic and a couple of the wool ones we decided to remove and remark. The plastic was removed to save removing later and environmental reasons. The yellow wool was also removed on a couple of the eggs returned. The reason for this was possible restrictions for a hairy caterpillar to cross. All eggs are marked and have GPS locations recorded. We shall look forward to relocating the returned eggs at Prestwick Meadows to find out how many hatched and hopefully discover if any actually make it to a bud. All the GPS locations will be sent to Liz Goodyear to log into the survey. A special thanks to Rohan Harris who located a good number of these rescued eggs in the first sweep at Prestwick Meadows. [Posted by Peter Fewell]
Sightings from Stanwell Moor. Another Brimstone today on my local patch, flying strongly in the midday sunshine after another chilly night. A little later, a Red Admiral made an appearance in a sheltered spot close to the River Colne. [Posted by Dave Miller]
