Hertfordshire & Middlesex Branch
Saving butterflies, moths and our environment
Holly Blue at Broomfield Park, Palmers Green, N13. 1 Holly Blue near Community Orchard at Broomfield Park, Palmers Green, N13 this afternoon. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
A few sightings from Therfield Heath. Today at Therfield Heath Three Adonis Blues, 3 Common Blues and 5 Small Heaths [Posted by James Somerville]
North Enfield. Male Common Blue, 1 Holly Blue, 2 Large Skipper [male & female] - [FOY], 2 male Meadow Brown, 1 Silver Y, 1 Small Copper [FOY] & 3 Small Heath at a private site in North Enfield. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
29/05/24. Walk from the house down to the Rivers orchard site Sawbridgeworth lunchtime, 2 Large Skipper, 10 Brimstone (most ever for me here, 3 males and 7 females) ,6 Common Blue (males) ,1 Holly Blue , 2 Speckled wood and 10 Small Heath. [Posted by Laurence Drummond]
Orange Tip larvae. I went round all the Garlic Mustard in the garden today and found 10 larvae at different stages of development [Posted by Andrew Wood]
A good day for Moths at Heartwood Forest. A cool afternoon with sunny spells presented ideal conditions for day flying moths. Grass Rivulet was the most common moth species, photo shows one egg laying in Yellow Rattle. Burnet Companion, Yellow Shell, Mother Shipton and Latticed Heath all in good numbers plus a few Silver Y. Small Heath was the most numerous butterfly, with a few Brimstones and Peacocks. A bit on the chilly side for the others, I recorded only singles of Small Blue, Common Blue and Brown Argus [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
Meadow Brown at Enfield. Male Meadow Brown at a private site at Enfield near Trent Park this afternoon at 1300 BST [FOY]. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Alabonia geoffrella & Large White at Trent Park. 1 Alabonia geoffrella at Rough Lot/Trent Park & male Large White at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park this afternoon. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
27/05/24. Walk again from the house down the field to the Old Rivers orchard site Sawbridgeworth , didn't get to the site before a very lively, fresh and bright Painted Lady flew up off the track behind Maybes walk (my ffy) , Still quiet at the site just 2 Brimstone { 1 male 1 female) , 1 Common Blue (male ffy) ,2 Holly Blue , 1 Red Admiral ; 3 Speckled Wood and 3 Small Heath. [Posted by Laurence Drummond]
Brimstone, Holly Blue & Speckled Wood at Enfield Town & Town Park, Enfield. 1 Holly Blue along New River at Town Park, male Brimstone & 1 Speckled Wood along New River at Enfield Town. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Adonis Blue and Brown Argus at Therfield Heath. We had 3 sightings of Adonis Blue and 5 sightings of Brown Argus. Also Brimstone seen. [Posted by John Yates]
Adonis Blue out on Therfield Heath. Seen during a very brief early morning visit to Church Hill: Adonis Blue (1 male), Brown Argus (3), Painted Lady (1), Red Admiral (1). [Posted by Martin Johnson]
Waterford Heath workparty volunteers needed. Myself and Andrew Wood on Friday 24th May, had a good meeting with people from Herts & Middx Trust who lease Waterford Heath. What we are expecting is there will be a workparty in July on mid week day date TBA. We are looking for volunteers to help improve the North Pit at Waterford Heath which is the best place locally for Grizzled Skippers. We will be part of a large workparty on the heath. The task will be part of Herts & Middx workparty programme. I am looking for volunteers to help. Work starts 10am finishes 3 -4pm. Tools provided. Please register your interest & contact Steve Kiln on 0792048211 or stevewkiln@gmail.com. Thank you. This is great opportunity to help this important local site. Steve Kiln [Posted by steve kiln]
First Adonis Blues at Therfield Heath. After a not long hunt around to see if the first batch of Adonis Blues had started to come out. I saw 2. I also saw one Brown Argus and one Common Blue. Numbers still seem to have suffered in this part of the country sadly due to the drought from August 2022 the Small Heath numbers are very good so far this year, they were out in force. [Posted by James Somerville]
Garden Pebble at Enfield Chase Station. 1 Garden Pebble at Enfield Chase Station this evening. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Ffy Large Skipper. Light winds and some sun tempted me down the field from the house to the Old Rivers orchard site, not much about but a ffy Large Skipper was an unexpected bonus and my first ever in May, 2 male Brimstone, 2 tatty Green-veined White, 3 Holly Blue and 3 Small Heath. [Posted by Laurence Drummond]
Red Admirals. Very few on the wing today, I was boosted by seeing a pair of Red Admirals in the West Highgate Cemetery on my transect. Only one Holly Blue otherwise. [Posted by Dee Cullen]
Alabonia geoffrella, Brimstone, Cinnabar, Green-veined White, Holly Blue, Mother Shipton, Orange Footman, Orange-tip, Peacock, Red Admiral, Silver Y, Small Heath, Small White, Speckled Wood & Yellow-barred Longhorn at Enfield, Southgate & Trent Park. 2 Alabonia geoffrella at Trent Park [1 edge of Church Wood & 1 near Water Grdn], male Brimstone at a private site at Enfield near Trent Park, 1 Cinnabar edge of Church Wd/Trent Park [FOY], 6 Green-veined White [2 at Trent Park & 4 at private sites at Enfield near Trent Park], 3 Holly Blue [1 at Dalrymple Close, N14, 1 at Trent Park & 1 at Jolly Farmers PH, Enfield Road, EN2], 5 Mother Shipton at Trent Park [3 at 'New Fields' & 2 at 'Old Golf Course'], 1 Orange Footman at Rough Lot/Trent Park [FOY], 3 Orange-tip [female edge of Church Wd/Trent Park & 2 males at a private site at Enfield near Trent Park], 2 Peacock [1 near Water Grdn/Trent Park & 1 at a private site at Enfield near Trent Park], 1 Red Admiral at a private site at Enfield near Trent Park, 3 Silver Y [1 near Church Wd/Trent Park & 2 at a private site at Enfield near Trent Park], 7 Small Heath [3 at 'New Fields' & 1 at 'Old Golf Course' Trent Park, 3 at private sites at Enfield near Trent Park], 1 Small White near Oakwood entrance/Trent Park, 5 Speckled Wood at Trent Park & 2 Yellow-barred Longhorn near Church Wd/Trent Park [FOY]. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Small Heath out in force. This afternoon I visited Nomansland Common, Sandridge and recorded 37 Small Heath and 4 Small Copper. Cinnabar and Silver Y moths were also around in good numbers [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
Small Copper. One on allium flowers in my St Albans garden TL130046, in pristine condition while I was hanging out the washing so no chance of a photo as it moved off after a few seconds. [Posted by Alan Gardiner]
Large Tortoiseshell. Battered LT at Incombe Hole (Bucks) SP 9573 1549 W3W: pulses.upset.stiffly [Added 'Bucks' - Peter Clarke] [Posted by Richard Ashford]
Small Heath at Oakwood Park & Holly Blue & Speckled Wood at Enfield Town & Town Park, Enfield. 1 Small Heath at Oakwood Park this morning at 0900 BST. 1 Holly Blue at Chase Green Grdns, Enfield Town this afternoon. 1 Holly Blue & 1 Speckled Wood at Town Park, Enfield this afternoon. 1 Speckled Wood near New River at Enfield Town this afternoon. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Holly Blues. Late afternoon, 4 Holly Blues in my Ware garden - 2 taking moisture from a puddle and 2 chasing each other! Also Red Admiral and male and female Brimstone [Posted by Liz Goodyear]
Small Blues. Further count of 9 Small Blues, male and female at Chiswell Green in late afternoon sunshine. [Posted by Clive Burrows]
Branch Walk: 7 Dingy Skippers in Hemel. Today's Branch Walk at Shrubhill Common in Hemel Hempstead attracted 10 people, who saw 7 Dingy Skippers. The site looked in good condition I spite of poor weather conditions we saw. 7 Dingy Skippers, 3 Mother Shipton (including a mating pair), Silver Y moth, 6 Small/Green-veined Whites, 5 Burnet Companion, 2 Small Yellow Underwing, 4 Brimstone, 1 Orange Tip and 1 Holly Blue egg laying on Dogwood. Earlier at Bovingdon Brickpits, the morning walk organised by the branch had less success. Conditions remained cloudy and 7 of us saw just 1 Common Blue, 1 Small Yellow Underwing, 1 Green-veined Whife, 1 Small White and 1 Green Longhorn Moth. We also met five old English goats who are now carrying out Conservation grazing at the site [Posted by Christine Ridley and Malcolm Hull]
Butterflies & Moths at Enfield, Southgate & Trent Park. 1 Angle Shades near outside light at ASDA Southgate this afternoon, 1 Common Carpet at a private site at Enfield near Trent Park, 5 Green-veined White [3 at private sites at Enfield near Trent Park & 2 at Trent Park], 2 Mother Shipton [1 at a private site at Enfield near Trent Park & 1 near Shaws Wd/Trent Park], 1 Snout at Hadley Rd, Enfield [FOY], 2 Speckled Wood [1 at a private site at Enfield near Trent Park & 1 at Rough Lot/Trent Park]. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Small Blue. 2 Small Blues seen in the late afternoon on the outer perimeter fields of the old Butterfly World site in Chiswell Green. The butterfly was on the wing here earlier in the week. [Posted by Clive Burrows]
Hexton Chalk Pit. Good numbers of Dingy Skippers. Brimstone and Small Heath plus a couple of Green Hairstreak, a Brown Argus and a variety of moths - Pyrausta Nigrata, Small Purple-barred and Burnet Companion [Posted by Patricia Clegg & Nikki Williams]
Beane Valley Grizzled Skippers. A permission visit to another private site today. 13 Grizzled Skipper adults and 10 eggs, all on Agrimony (It is the easiest larval food plant to examine). One leaf had four eggs on it. We hope to visit it in the next few weeks to see if we can locate larval activity. [Posted by Andrew Wood & Liz Goodyear]
Painted Lady. This pristine Painted Lady visited the dwarf lilac in our front garden today. There are a few of them around. [Posted by Andrew Wood]
Orange Beauty at Oakwood Park. 2 Orange Beauty [Commophila aeneana] at Oakwood Park this afternoon - one fresh & another faded [FOY]. Also at this site - 1 Speckled Wood, 1 Holly Blue, 4 Mother Shipton [FOY] & 7 Silver Y. At Houndsden Gutter, N21 - 2 Speckled Wood together. At Grovelands Park - 2 Holly Blue included a female settled, 1 Peacock, 1 Speckled Wood & 1 Silver Y. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Addition to walks programme. I am planning on a butterfly recording walk this coming Sunday (19th). I have advertised it on the Stortford Nature FB account. Meet at Tescos car park by Timpsons at 11am for a 4-5 mile walk taking in footpaths to Hadham Hall, Millennium Wood, Bury Green, Stocking Wood, East Wood and the adjoining footpaths. Weather forecast looks fine. Meet at CM23 4DD. [Posted by Jono Forgham]
Bug for missing photos on duplicate news items fixed. To prevent creating duplicates in the first place when asked to re-submit form please do not accept unless you need to, e.g. if you made a mistake and want to go back. Either click 'Cancel' on message prompt or do not refresh browser. [Posted by Peter Clarke]
Late afternoon sun. Decided to pop into Rickneys as some late sun. 4-15 -5 pm. The place was buzzing. 2 Treble Bar Moth, 3 Silver Y to start. Then 5 Brown Argus, 3 Grizzled Skippers, Small Heath, Large White, Peacock and 2 Common Blues my first of the year. Decided to pop to Waterford Heath. 5 Treble Bar, 4 Silver Y, 4 Burnet Companion. 1 Peacock, 1 Grizzled Skipper, Small Heath, Brimstone, Brown Argus. Worth going. [Edited by Peter Clarke] [Posted by steve kiln]
Grizzled Skipper at Waterford Heath south. An hour or so of warm sunshine saw me up at this site where I saw 7 Grizzled Skippers, including a mating pair. Also present were Common Blue, Brown Argus, Small Copper, Small Heath, Small White, Peacock and for moths Treble Bar, Silver Y, Cinnabar, Burnet Companion, Celypha lacunana, and Pyrausta aurata and Pyrausta purpuralis. [Posted by Andrew Wood]
Trackside Survey and garden butterflies. The annual track side survey north of Hertford went ahead today, in perfect roosting conditions (initially). Accompanied by Alan we found 3 Grizzled Skippers roosting on knapweed seed heads quite close together (they appeared to be all male). A further Grizzled Skipper was disturbed on the opposite track side when it had brightened up. Also seen were 6 Small Heath and 1 Burnet Companion. The highlight was repeat of yesterday when I selected a random agrimony leaf and found 4 Grizzled Skipper eggs underneath! Thanks to Network Rail for allowing this annual survey to continue. Meanwhile back in my Ware garden as the afternoon brightened up there was almost immediately a Holly Blue, female Brimstone, Green-veined White and a manic immaculate Red Admiral! [Posted by Liz Goodyear]
Alabonia geoffrella, Brimstone, Green Carpet, Green-veined White, Holly Blue, Orange-tip, Painted Lady, Peacock, Red Admiral, Silver Y, Small White & Speckled Wood at Enfield & Trent Park. 1 Alabonia geoffrella at Rough Lot/Trent Park [FOY], male Brimstone at a private site at Enfield near Trent Park, 3 Green Carpet at a private site at Enfield near Trent Park [FOY], 10 Green-veined White [7 at private sites at Enfield near Trent Park & 3 at Trent Park], 3 Holly Blue [1 at a private site at Enfield near Trent Park, 1 at Enfield Road, EN2 near Jolly Farmers PH & 1 at Oakwood Station], 2 male Orange-tip at private sites at Enfield near Trent Park, 1 Painted Lady at a private site at Enfield near Trent Park [FOY], 4 Peacock [3 at private sites at Enfield near Trent Park & 1 along Leeging Beech Gutter near Water Grdn/Trent Park, 1 Red Admiral at a private site at Enfield near Trent Park, 10 Silver Y at a private site at Enfield near Trent Park & 3 Speckled Wood [2 at private sites at Enfield near Trent Park & 1 at Rough Lot/Trent Park][Edited by Peter Clarke] [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Grizzled Skipper in the Beane Valley. We visited a private site today and found 3 adult Grizzled Skippers and Liz discovered three eggs on the same agrimony plant. The First one she looked at! [Posted by Andrew Wood & Liz Goodyear]
Painted Lady seen in White City. We spotted a Painted Lady in Hammersmith Park (W12) whilst walking the transect(not yet set up on the system). [Posted by Catharine Sowerby]
Green-veined White, Nettle-tap & Speckled Wood at Enfield. Female Green-veined White at a private site at Enfield near Trent Park, 1 Nettle-tap settled on nettles at a private site at Enfield near Trent Park [FOY] & 3 Speckled Wood [2 at private sites at Enfield near Trent Park & 1 at Enfield Road, EN2]. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
HEXTON CHALK PIT: DINGY SKIPPERS, SMALL HEATHS & my first BROWN ARGUS of the year.. A quick lunchtime visit to Hexton Chalk Pit yielded half a dozen Dingy Skippers, 2 Small Heaths, 1 Large White and 1 Brown Argus. Not bad considering it was also breezy with intermittent sunny spells. [Posted by Julia Hawkins]
Silver Y & Speckled Wood at Enfield & Trent Park. 2 Silver Y [1 at a private site near Trent Park & 1 at Icehouse Wd/Trent Park], 1 Speckled Wood near Icehouse Wd/Trent Park [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Caterpillar on Hounslow Heath. This caterpillar spotted on Oak during the Branch butterfly walk this afternoon is a Small Quaker. Confirmed by Andrew Wood who advises that there are a lot around. Full report of the trip to follow [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
Holly Blue, Red Admiral & Speckled Wood at Enfield & Oakwood. 2 Holly Blue [1 at Oakwood Park this morning & 1 at Holly Walk, Enfield Town this afternoon], 1 Red Admiral & 1 Speckled Wood along New River at Town Park, Enfield this afternoon. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Dukes and Grizzleds. Went to Incombe Hole yesterday just in Bucks. Saw 16 Duke of Burgundy, 25 Brimstones ,1 Green Hairstreak, plenty of Dingy and Grizzled Skippers. Today on usual sites. No Grizzled Skippers on Rickneys ,10 on Waterford Heath North pit and 2 on South pit. Saw 3 Holly Blue on Goats Rue. [Edited by Peter Clarke] [Posted by steve kiln]
Roughdown Green Hairstreak. A single Green Hairstreak welcome sighting after 2 years of no record. [Posted by Brendan Sheridan]
Waterford Heath. Perhaps it was a little too warm for many butterflies to be flying at lunchtime today, I could only find 1 Grizzled Skipper on the North pit and nothing else, on the South pit 0 Grizzled Skipper and two Holly Blue also my ffy Brown Argus and Small Heath. [Posted by Laurence Drummond]
Brimstone, Common Carpet, Green-veined White, Holly Blue, Orange-tip, Peacock, Silver Y, Small Heath, Small White & Speckled Wood at Enfield & Trent Park. 3 Brimstone [2 males at a private site at Enfield near Trent Park & female near Ride Wd/Trent Park], 1 Common Carpet at a private site at Enfield near Trent Park, 10 Green-veined White [6 at private sites at Enfield near Trent Park & 4 at Trent Park], 2 Holly Blue [female settled on Holly, Rough Lot/Trent Park & 1 at Oakwood Station], 2 male Orange-tip [male at Hadley Road, EN2 & male at a private site near Trent Park], 3 Peacock at a private site at Enfield near Trent Park, 1 Silver Y at a private site at Enfield near Trent Park, 1 Small Heath at a private site at Enfield near Trent Park [FOY], 1 Small White at a private site at Enfield near Trent Park & 4 Speckled Wood [3 at private sites at Enfield near Trent Park & 1 at Rough Lot/Trent Park]. [Edited by Peter Clarke] [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Dingy Skippers & Green Hairstreaks @ Hexton. Plenty of Dingy Skippers today at Hexton Chalk Pit and several Green Hairstreaks [Posted by Ian Carle]
Brimstone, Green-veined White, Holly Blue, Large White, Latticed Heath, Orange-tip, Peacock, Small White, Small Dusty Wave, & Speckled Wood at Enfield, Southgate & Trent Park. 3 male Brimstone [2 at a private site at Enfield near Trent Park & 1 edge of Icehouse Wd/Trent Park], 4 Green-veined White [2 at a private site at Enfield near Trent Park & 2 at Rough Lot/Trent Park], 2 Holly Blue [1 by lower lake/Trent Park & 1 at Oakwood Station], female Large White at a private site at Enfield near Trent Park, 1 Latticed Heath at Enfield at a site near Trent Park, 3 Orange-tip [2, male & female, at a private site at Enfield near Trent Park & male edge of Shaws Wd/Trent Park], 4 Peacock at private sites at Enfield near Trent Park, 2 Small White at private sites at Enfield near Trent Park, 1 Small Dusty Wave at ASDA Southgate [FOY] & 5 Speckled Wood [4 at private sites at Enfield near Trent Park & 1 near Shaws Wd/Trent Park]. [Edited by Peter Clarke] [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Egg laying day in the garden. Holly Blues, a Brimstone and an Orange Tip all egg laying in my St Albans garden at lunchtime. The Orange Tip flew slowly round searching the Hedge Garlic, Honesty and Sweet Rocket looking for suitable egg laying sites. Initially she selected their usual favourite, Hedge Garlic, but then laid most of her eggs on Sweet Rocket. There were still many unopened flowerbeds on the Rocket, whereas the Hedge Garlic has mostly gone to seed already. The Holly Blue was less adventurous, laying on the Holly flower buds and the Brimstone chose the Buckthorn. Later at Batchwood, my first Painted Lady of the year [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
Sunny afternoon at Aldbury Nowers. Green Hairstreak (3), Dingy Skipper (3), Grizzled Skipper (1), Small Heath (4), Small Copper (1), Holly Blue (1), Orange Tip (8), Green-veined White (6), Brimstone (25), Peacock (3), Speckled Wood (1), Silver Y (2), Common Carpet (1). Despite the low numbers it feels as though the butterfly season is starting JOIN ME this Sunday for a trip to the best Green Hairstreak site in our area. Or on Sat 18th to see Dingy Skippers - details on the Events page [Posted by Malcolm Hull]
Brimstone, Brimstone Moth, Brown Silver-line, Green-veined White, Holly Blue, Large White, Orange-tip, Peacock & Speckled Wood at Enfield, Southgate & Trent Park. 3 male Brimstone [1 at Trent Park & 2 at a private site at Enfield near Trent Park], 1 Brimstone Moth at ASDA Southgate, 1 Brown Silver-line edge of Rough Lot/Trent Park [TQ286976] - [FOY], 7 Green-veined White [5 at Trent Park & 2 at a private site near Trent Park], 4 Holly Blue at Trent Park [3 near Oakwood entrance & 1 near Rough Lot], 1 female Large White edge of Ride Wd/Trent Park, 4 Orange-tip [3 at Trent Park - female near Oakwood entrance, male near Ride Wd & male near Rough Lot, male at Enfield at a site near Trent Park], 4 Peacock [1 at Trent Park, 1 at Ferny Hill Farm, 2 at private sites at Enfield near Trent Park], 2 Speckled Wood [1 near Snakes Lane/Trent Park & 1 at a private site at Enfield near Trent Park]. [Edited by Peter Clarke] [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Holly Blue Sightings also noticing big drop in Speckled Wood nos. I saw around 6 Holly Blues today in my garden. They seemed to be attracted to a Tamarisk Tree which is in blossom. I’ve been struck by the lack of Speckled Woods so far this year. In previous years I’m used to seeing many, Highgate Cemetery for example. [Posted by Dee Cullen]
Hexton Chalk Pit. Took a while but eventually saw a three Dingy Skippers and a Green Hairstreak. Orange Tip and Brimstone were also present. [Posted by John Yates]
Common Carpet, Green-veined White, Holly Blue, Orange-tip, Peacock, Brimstone & Silver Y at Enfield, Oakwood & Southgate. 1 Green-veined White, 2 male Orange-tip, 4 Peacock, Common Carpet & Silver Y at private sites in Enfield near Trent Park. A female Brimstone at Hog Hill, Vicarage Farm [a private site near Trent Park]. 3 Holly Blue [2 together at St Thomas Church, Prince George Ave, N14 & 1 at Ivy Road Recreation Ground, N14]. [Edited by Peter Clarke] [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Grizzled Skipper at Waterford Heath (north pit). Over a 2 hour period I found 9 Grizzled Skippers on the north pit - well distributed across much of the site and a marked improvement on my last year's max total of 4. Only a few other butterfly species seen and no identifiable day-flying moths [Posted by Liz Goodyear]
Brimstone, Green-veined White, Holly Blue, Large White, Muslin Moth, Orange-tip, Peacock & Speckled Wood at Enfield, Oakwood & Trent Park. Male Brimstone edge of Rough Lot/Trent Park, 9 Green-veined White [5 at private sites at Enfield & 4 at Trent Park], 1 Holly Blue at Oakwood Station, female Large White at a private site at Enfield, female Muslin Moth settled at Bramley Road, N14 [TQ295961], 4 male Orange-tip [2 at private sites at Enfield & 2 at Trent Park], 6 Peacock [4 at private sites at Enfield & 2 at Trent Park], 1 Speckled Wood at a private site at Enfield. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Waved Umber at Southgate. 1 Waved Umber near outside light at ASDA Southgate this afternoon. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Spring Walk Whippendell Woods branch event.. What a glorious start it was on Sunday and I was watching 2 Holly blue out of my kitchen window in Bushey during the morning. Unfortunately the weather had clouded over for the start of our butterfly walk at 2pm. We had a reasonable turnout but sadly it wasn't to go our way with butterfly sightings. Because of the recent weather the bluebells were still in flower and only just on the turn. There were only 2 butterflies seen, 1 Male Orange-tip and 1 Red Admiral. Jarek who joined us found the roosting Orange-tip as in the photo! As we all were heading back Jarek once again had the luck of which I only had a glimpse of the Red Admiral. He had hooked up with his family and was videoed on his daughters arm. Hopefully the weather will pick up for other planned butterfly walks during the year in Herts & Middlesex including our next walk on the 30th June [Posted by Peter Fewell]
Holly Blue at Town Park, Enfield. 1 Holly Blue at Town Park, Enfield this afternoon. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Hunting Grizzleds. 1st real warm day for me anyhow decided to look for Grizzled Skippers. 1st site Rickneys plenty of strawberry good conditions, no Grizzleds. However my first Brown Argus of the year and my first Mother Shipton moth and Silver Y. Onto Waterford Heath south. Good conditions no Grizzleds. However another Silver Y. Onto Waterford Heath North. Down to the lower area on left. Nothing except a Small White and a Peacock. Through the gate into railway owned part. Very overgrown by Hawthorn. To my surprise saw 3 Grizzled Skippers at last! Walked most of the site, plenty of Wild strawberry. Saw Holly Blue, 2 Brimstones, more Small whites and a further Grizzled far side of the pond. This Reserve seems now better for Grizzled Skippers than South heath and Rickneys well at the moment, plenty of food plants creeping cinqfoil, agrimony and Wild strawberry plenty of shelter. But it need much more conservation work done on it. Some of the paths are impassable. Might try and organize a work party there. Might need volunteers. Watch this page. I got several photos but did not upload them. Steve Kiln [Posted by steve kiln]
Brimstone, Green-veined White, Holly Blue, Large White, Orange-tip, Peacock, Red-green Carpet & Small White at Enfield, Southgate & Trent Park. Female Brimstone & Holly Blue at Chase Road, N14 this morning. 7 Green-veined White White [1 at a private site near Trent Park & 6 at Trent Park], 1 Large White at a private site near Trent Park, 3 male Orange-tip [2 together at a private site near Trent Park & 1 edge of Water Garden/Trent Park], 3 Peacock [2 at private sites near Trent Park & 1 along Leeging Beech Gutter near 'Three Bridges' Trent Park], 1 Red-green Carpet at ASDA Southgate, 1 Small White at a private site near Trent Park. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Common Carpet at Enfield. 1 Common Carpet at a private site near Trent Park this afternoon. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Brimstone, Green-veined White, Orange-tip, Peacock, Silver Y & Speckled Wood at Enfield. 3 Brimstone [male at a private site near Trent Park, female at a different private site near Trent Park & another female at Boxer's Lake, Enfield], 2 male Green-veined White at private sites near Trent Park, 2 male Orange-tip at a private site near Trent Park, 3 Peacock at private sites in Enfield, 2 Silver Y at private sites in Enfield & 2 Speckled Wood at a private site near Trent Park. [Posted by Robert Mark Callf]
Waterford Heath. Spent an hour at lunchtime wandering around Waterford Heath on this welcomed May day. Saw half a dozen Grizzed Skippers fighting over the sun loungers at the North Pit (NE of the fenced pond area). Others seen about were Comma 1, Red Admiral 1, Brimstone 2, Peacock 2. [Posted by Nathan Ellis]
Clouded Yellow. I saw a Clouded Yellow this morning at Cassiobury Park near the fishing lake at the Gade Avenue end. [Posted by Ian Bennell]