June 2004

Wed 30th June- I went down Ermine Street today, no Emperors I am afraid but I did see a White Letter Hairstreak in Goose Green Car Park, but I could not get a picture. Also saw along Ermine St, Large Skippers, White Admiral, Meadow Browns and lots of Ringlets - Sandra Standbridge

Bricket Wood transect in dry and reasonably warm conditions with periodic sunshine but a stiff SW breeze: 42 butterflies of 13 species including one White Admiral (but more elsewhere on the site), three Purple Hairstreaks all put up from ground level possibly having emerged this morning (and perhaps pointing towards a good year to come for this species), the three common Skipper species including a freshly-emerged Essex with wings not yet expanded, two Ringlets (which have been recolonising the site since 2002 having been absent during the 1990s) at widely separated locations, two Marbled Whites, one male Brimstone and a Red Admiral.
At the edge of the site was a male Oedemera nobilis, a beetle which is spreading in south Herts and is well worth looking out for. The males are distinctive, as they have swollen hind femora and elytra which do not wholly cover the abdomen; they are bright green and about nine millimetres in length (there is an illustration in the Collins Pocket Guide to Insects). Any records should be sent to the HNHS Coleoptera recorder Trevor James.
On Sandra Standbridge's moth photos: that in the lower right picture is the common Tortricid Agapeta hamana, the larvae of which feed in the roots of thistles. The moth in the upper right is heavily worn (note the scales missing on the thorax) but appears to be a Pyralid. In the lower centre is a Pyralid of the sub-family Crambinae (a 'grass moth') (possibly Crambus pascuella) but again a more precise ID is not really possible - Colin Everett

Tues 29th June - There was a Marbled White today at the Minet Country Park, Springfield Road, Hayes (Middlesex). This is the first record for the site, which I, and others have been visiting for several years - Colin Conroy

The first Purple Emperors were seen in Hertfordshire today, 1 male was seen on territory and perched in view for 20 minutes. Unfortunately increasing cloud cover this afternoon reduced potential activity. At another site a male was disturbed by a hornet during cloudy weather - Liz Goodyear & Andrew Middleton (confirmed reports have also come from Surrey, Upper Thames and Kent where I received this message with photos which I shall forward to BC Kent "Thought you might like to know that a Purple Emperor, male, visited my garden, near Ide Hill, Kent, this afternoon. It flew around and settled in the patio area several times. It had no problem with my taking photo's, even from two inches away. Magic. First time that I've seen one.
I have attached four photo's, in which it was drinking moisture from the moss that is in between the bricks on the patio")

I went over the Cornmill Meadow and saw, mating Small Skippers, Large Skippers, Meadow Browns, Small Tortoiseshell, 2 Commas, mating Burnet Moths and 2 unidentified moths of same species (Shaded Broadbars) - Sandra Standbridge (photos later)

News from Sunday, during Dragonfly Atlas work, I recorded 1 Meadow Brown and 1 Speckled Wood at Batchworth Heath, 8 Meadow Brown at Moor Park Golf Club, 1 Large Skipper, 1 Red Admiral, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Comma and 1 Brimstone at Hampermill Lake and 2
Speckled Wood at Cassiobury Park - Alan Reynolds

Mon 28th June - I found this moth outside my flat in Stevenage 21st June - Steven Penn (see below Buff Ermine)


Buff Ermine spilosoma luteum Stevenage photo: Steven Penn	Straw Dot rivula sericealis Balls Wood photo: Sandra Standbridge	pyralid species Balls Wood photo: Sandra Standbridge

Elephant Hawk moth deilephila porcellus Balls Wood photo: Sandra Standbridge	Crambinae species Balls Wood photo: Sandra Standbridge	agapeta hamana Balls Wood photo: Sandra Standbridge

Broxbourne Wood NR, today, at least 10 White Admiral some looking very fresh as well as a tatty aberrant. Also in the area Large Skipper, Small Skipper, Comma, Speckled Wood, 2 Common Blue, Red Admiral, Ringlet & Meadow Brown but no Purple Emperor yet - Liz Goodyear, Andrew Middleton with Nigel Agar (however Purple Emperor were flying in Hampshire yesterday!)

News from 25th, Telegraph Hill Marbled White, Large and Small Skippers, Ringlet, Small Heath & Meadow Brown. Nearby on the Pegsdon Hills in Beds, all these plus Painted Lady and Small Tortoiseshell - Nigel Agar

Sun 27th June - 5 or so ringlets seen in Hatfield House grounds this morning, first time I have seen them there. Whipsnade Downs (afternoon) ringlets in their hundreds, also around 40 marbled whites - Roger Gibbons

Visited Bentley Wood near Salisbury. PE are not yet out & the site had been well visited by people looking for them today. Masses of Silver Washed Frit, White Ad, Ringlet & Meadow Brown. Small Pearl Bordered Frits still hanging on. Marbled Whites, WLH, Red Ad, Comma Small Torts, small skips, a Brimstone, Large & Small Whites, Small heath & Speckled Woods also seen - Malcolm Hull

News from Monday, Marbled white at Bishop Stortford on the embankments of the by-pass by the tea kiosk watched for 3/4 mins before disappearing over the bank. Todays sightings [Sunday 27th June] - Crooked mile nr Waltham Abbey 4/5 white letter hairstreaks around the ash by the round bungalow. Spent 2 hours in Broxbourne Woods looking for a early purple emperor [no luck]. But here are the totals: white admiral 40+, meadow brown 100+, ringlet 10+, large skipper 10+, speckled wood 3, plus singles of purple hairstreak [around oak by bench], comma, peacock, small tortoiseshell, red admiral, small white, large white. Most of the white admirals are going over and look pretty tatty, the purple hairstreak was first for the year - I've attached a few photos - Nick Sampford

Horsenden Hill, today's event passed off pretty well. The weather cooperated and we had a total of 16 participants (including myself and Rachel). Rachel set the ball rolling with a selection of moths from the MV trap that was run overnight at Horsenden Farm. We had some pretty good crowd pleasers like Elephant Hawk, Lime Hawk, Peach Blossom and Burnished Brass. I'll include a fuller list of moths when I send in the report. As for the walk itself, we got most of the things we were hoping for: 10.00-12noon White-letter Hairstreak (9 individuals at two locations including 3 nectaring on Creeping Thistle), Purple Hairstreak (6), Small Tortoiseshell (3), Comma (3), Speckled Wood (1), Marbled White (1 on southern slope of Horsenden Hill "Home Mead"), Large Skipper (14), Small Skipper (11), Painted Lady (3), Red Admiral (3), Large White (3), Meadow Brown. Day-flying moths: Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet (4), Cinnabar (2), Heart and Dart (1), Large Yellow Underwing (1) - Andrew Culshaw

Saw my first small skipper of the year whilst weeding on my allotment in Cheshunt this afternoon. Also several whites. Otherwise fairly quiet - Roger Newbold

Sat 26th June - news from Friday, Broxbourne Wood NR - 4 White Admiral, 1 Ringlet, 3 Large Skipper, 1 Comma and 19 Meadow Brown. Brickendon Green, 1 White-letter Hairstreak on bramble - Diane Andrews

Sandra and I went for a late evening walk over Balls Wood and saw an elephant hawkmoth, a few straw dots, many micro moths, ringlets low in the grass and lots of other moths - Kevin and Sandra Standbridge (photos to follow - LG)

James Fish's observation that his Humming-bird Hawk-moth at Balls Wood may have been ovipositing on Cleavers (see news for Wed 16th June) is of some interest as the one I saw near Bushey three days earlier was also taking an interest in this species of plant. At the time this puzzled me as Cleavers isn't a potential nectar source (although had the moth wanted such, it could have found many suitable flowers in the nearby gardens or allotments). It may be worth checking Cleavers for larvae in several weeks' time.
Sandra Standbridge's moth is a male Archips podana, a common and very attractive member of the micro-moth family Tortricidae. The larvae are polyphagous (i.e. are not fussy about what they eat). The adults are familiar in moth traps during high summer but can also be found by day resting on foliage. - Colin Everett.

Fri 25th June - Millhoppers Transect today- mating pair of Essex Skipper seen - Margaret Noakes

Correction Monday 21st June, Wormley Open Spaces, entry should have read Large Skipper not Essex Skipper - none reported as of today - LG

Thurs 24th June - Sandra went to Balls Wood today and saw six White Admirals, some of which are already starting to look very worn -
Kevin and Sandra Standbridge

Tues 22nd June - I recorded first Marbled Whites of this year at Bunkers Park (2); and Long Deans (6). Also first sighting on Bunkers Park of Small/Essex Skippers (3), one of which was positively identified as a Sm. Skipper, the other two were most likely Smalls - Mike Pearson

Spent 3 1/2 hours scouring tetrads in TL41 today, before the sun went in! Grand total of 2 Large Skipper in 8 tetrads visited. Visiting times depended on how quickly one was seen. All in all rather poor, especially since 5 years ago, in two of today's blank tetrads, at the same sites visited one was seen almost immediately - Liz Goodyear

At Horsenden Hill (1130-1330) I saw White-Letter Hairstreak (1), Ringlet (1), and also Large Skipper, Small Skipper, Meadow Brown, Comma, Speckled Wood, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Common Blue, Large White. I have never before seen a Ringlet in the Ealing area - John Eborall

On June 21st near West Hyde church saw over a dozen small tortoiseshells basking in the sun. Looked very fresh! Also my first Large Skipper this year and a Speckled Wood. June 22nd. large batch of Peacock caterpillars along Maple Cross farm track but only a couple of small tortoiseshells despite having seen many batches of caterpillars a couple of weeks ago - Ann Piper

Ickleford area, Small heath on 13/6 first record to my knowledge for the site. Small copper, brown argus and common blue all doing okay there also - Stuart Pittman

Mon 21st June - News from 19th, in and around Rickmansworth Aquadrome as part of the Dragonfly Atlas Project, 1 Meadow Brown, 4 Small Tortoiseshell and 2 Speckled Wood at Bury Lake, 1 Small Tortoiseshell by the River Colne, 2 Red Admiral and 1 Speckled Wood at Batchworth Lake, and 1 Comma, 1 Red Admiral and 4 Speckled Wood on the Grand Union Canal - Alan Reynolds

News from Saturday 19th June - Gutteridge wood, Hillingdon 1 White Admiral on the south east corner of the wood. As far as I am aware this is only the 2nd record for this species in that area. The 1st was by Ann Rix on 8/7/98. On the same day close by in the meadows to the north of Ten-Acre wood were 3 Gatekeeper, 12+ Small Heath, dozens of Meadow Brown and Large skipper (the most I have seen for a long time in that area), 4 Common Blue, 3 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Small Copper, 1 Red Admiral and 1 Painted Lady - Steve Pash

Trent Park 14th June transect, 121 small heath, 6 small copper, 24 large skipper. One small skipper on Sat 19th - news from Robert Callf

Harold Hill/Weald area, Essex, Sat 19th 50+ white-letter hairstreaks in several good colonies so far - Colin Jupp


zygaena species Horsenden Hill photo: Andrew Culshaw confirmation of species appreciated	Glanville Fritillary melitaea cinxia photo: Adrian Webb	Silver Barred deltote bankiana Wicken Fen photo: Sandra Standbridge

White Ermine spilosoma lubricipeda Balls Wood photo: Sandra Standbridge	Treble Brown Spot idaea trigeminata Balls Wood photo: Sandra Standbridge	Elephant Hawk Moth deilephila elpenor Tandridge photo: Craig Henderson taken by mobile phone camera!

Sun 20th June - Horsenden Hill News - Not much time for a full swing around the area, but 4 White-letter Hairstreaks on elm and ash on the south facing slopes of Horsenden Hill on Saturday 19th June. The first one was seen on Wednesday (16th) in the same area by Rachel Terry, so it looks like we should have something to show people on the LNHS/Butterfly Conservation walk next Sunday (weather permitting) - Andy Culshaw

White Admirals on my transect at Bricket Wood. By far the most seen in a single week in the last 6 years and 10 days earlier than usual. Fairly good numbers of Large Skippers - In St Albans, 3 White-letter hairstreaks on Wych Elm at Folly Lane & 1on Wych Elm at Everlasting Lane - Malcolm Hull

We went over to our local Balls Wood in Hertford Heath, saw 6 White Admirals, 8 Ringlets, 2 Small Skippers, Meadow Browns, Large Skippers, Speckled Woods, 2 Red Admirals and a small moth which we are trying to identify, Have enclosed various photos, including the mystery moth!! Sandra went to Cornmill Meadow yesterday and saw a mass hatching of small skippers and 5 spotted burnet moths - Kevin & Sandra Standbridge

Bob Hasra has just returned from a holiday in Italy - this is his report. My first sighting of the Green Hairstreak was near Lake Tovel on 4 June. Here I came across at least a dozen of them. Some of them were laying tiny eggs on the heather growing around the lake. I also saw what I believe to be a small fritillary species but it was too fast for me to make a definite id. Also present were the familiar Orange-Tip, Small Tortoiseshell and Red Admiral. The lake environs were also host to a number of day-flying moths of which I have one on video. About 1820m altitude in Merano, I came across two skippers- the Grizzled Skipper and another species I've yet to find out about. Both were basking in sunshine on the banks of a small mountain stream. Although I didn't see any wild strawberry plants at that altitude, there were plenty around the cablecar base-station and I certainly helped myself to the fruit ( :
Near Trento I came across the Common Swallowtail for the first time. In fact a Scarce Swallowtail was flying around in the same area too. It flew close to my head and back a number of times. Has anyone else noticed this behaviour ? I later saw the butterfly feeding from Valerian but from inside the cablecar so couldn't get any pictures. Around this area I came across some unfamiliar species of 'blue 'butterflies (Lycaenids) but need to get my
pictures back from the lab before I can identify them or post them to you. Wish I could've stayed in Italy longer to find out what butterflies were
coming out of the large chocolate-brown chrysalises hanging from the roof of the cablecar station in Sardagna ! - Bob Hasra

Sat 19th June - Hot news from across the border, I saw my first (3) Dark Green Fritillaries on Sharpenhoe/Moleskin today in their usual haunts. Two of the three looked like freshly emerged males. Also other first flight sightings this year for the site were Marbled White & Ringlet - David Chandler

Fri 18th June - Today I saw the most unusual moth, that I had never seen before, searching the internet I found this to be a Elephant Hawk Moth. I see that this is quite a common moth, but all the same one that I had ever seen before, sitting on the front wall of my house, at 15:00 on the 18th June in Sandridge - here is a photo taken on my mobile phone, may not be the best quality, but now I have found your website will take pics and try to identify everything that I see - Craig Henderson (photo up later)

Thurs 17th June - Did a transect training run at Balls Wood. Highlight was 5 pristine White Admirals in 53 minutes. Very good views probably as the weather was less than perfect for high flying. Plenty of Large Skippers, Meadow Browns and Speckled Woods and a couple of Ringlets and Red Admirals. Also several Bloodvein and Straw Dot moths - Andrew Wood

Weds 16th June - News from 15th; Pheromone, clearwing record: Hexton Chalkpit 1st Six-belted Clearwing came 11.33am (lure put out 11.29), 2nd at 11.38. Lure 150mm above ground. Another location on site 12.02, single individual came after 4 minutes. Also Humming-bird Hawkmoth at site - Andrew Palmer

Thundridge, news from 14th; I've had first meadow brown in garden - Nick Sampford

Balls Wood. Large Skippers (many) Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, also Hummingbird Hawkmoth (the Hummingbird Hawkmoth appeared to be egg laying on Comon Cleavers, although this is not listed as a food plant it is in the same family as the Bedstraws, unfortunately I did not have a hand lens with me to search the plant) - James Fish

Saw my first summer brood Small Tortoiseshell on Widbury Hill today. Also Burnet Companion and a few Meadow Browns and a Large Skipper - Andrew Wood

Robert Callf rang to to say Robin White had seen a Purple Hairstreak on a blackthorn, this morning at Vicarage Farm

From Horsenden Hill, Painted Lady (3), Large Skipper (13), Common Blue (5), Comma (1), Meadow Brown (7 - my first of the year), Small Copper (1). Also Burnet Companion (8) and Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet (10) 12th Highlights (personal preference) of 80+ species from a moth trap run at Horsenden West Meadows (with Rachel Terry and David Howden) - Elephant Hawk Moth (1), Small Elephant Hawk Moth (2), plus Blotched Emerald, Beautiful Hook-tip, Bird's wing, Barred Straw, Blue-bordered Carpet - Andrew Culshaw

Sun 13th June - A Hummingbird Hawk-moth along a footpath in parkland/pasture near Bushey at 1420 hours. Later at 1615 hours a male Red-tipped Clearwing moth came to a combination pheromone lure along the River Colne near Watford (a new tetrad record) - Colin Everett

In 3 hours at King's Mead on a hot sunny day, I still managed to see only 2 Common Blue, 8 Large Skipper, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Painted lady, 2 Meadow Brown and 1 Peacock - Alan Reynolds

Saw two white letter hairstreaks at 10.10 on and around prunus species at Sewardstone Marsh - Martin Shepherd & Enfield Lock Conservation Group

Sat 12th June - In 5 hours on a fairly reasonable day, the only butterflies I saw were 2 Speckled Wood at Maple Lodge and a Speckled Wood and Painted Lady at Pynesfield Lake - Alan Reynolds

Saw my 1st large skipper this morning in my Greenford garden, initially basking on Calceolaria flower +c.O.5 hr later nectaring on herb robert. Possibly same individual seen in pm nectaring on red valerian. The only butterfly I did see today! I did find a 6-spot burnet larva beside some bird's-foot trefoil + possibly about to pupate on thrift flower stalk - Neil Anderson

Fri 11th June - Just seen a Meadow Brown at Telegraph Hill. First for us - Sally and John Foster

2 Painted Lady and Red Admiral Coppetts Wood this afternoon - Tony Clancy

1 White letter Hairstreak seen between reservoirs, Ponders End - Andrew Middleton

Went over our local Balls Wood in Hertford Heath this morning, saw 10 speckled woods,1 red admiral, 3 large skippers,lots of moths, which we are still trying to identify and will send pictures at a later time. 1 female emperor dragonfly,3 male broad bodied chasers and 2 females. We then went to a site in Northants for the first time and were amazed at the number of Black Hairstreaks, Sandra attaches a photo showing one that has recently emerged from its chrysalis, which it is standing on. We also saw a painted lady, a meadow brown, 5 large skippers, a worn comma, and loads of the oak rollers - Sandra & Kevin Standbridge

Rammey Marsh, Middx: painted lady (08.43) and red admiral (09.43) both at rest on bramble. Also five large skippers and two common blues - Martin Shepherd

We saw a Painted Lady in Whitton (Middlesex) just outside our house (8th June). It was evening so it was resting and difficult to say which way it was going - Eleanor Lawrence

I also saw painted lady (my 1st UK this year) at noon (9th June) flying determinedly along tube track at Ravenscourt Park Stn in E.direction. In my own Greenford garden I disturbed a silver-Y whilst watering some pots (again 1st of year) - Neil Anderson

I had another 4 Meadow Browns yesterday (10-6) at Brent Reservoir on the transect I share with Andrew Self, also 1 Painted Lady there. 1 Painted Lady and 3 Red Admirals in and around Barnet on mapping visits (9th June). None were in any great hurry with one Red Admiral on a house wall and the other three insects all on Bramble. I had a very early Meadow Brown this afternoon (10th June) at Potters Lane Barnet. Another feature of the past three or so weeks has been the large number of Small Copper, I've had it in 9 out of the 11 tetrads that I am visiting in TQ29. On one walk (23rd May) Whitings Hill/Dollis Valley West I had 19 Small Coppers! - Roy Beddard

Thurs 10th June - The answer to the picture link below is Actias luna (Saturnidae), the Luna Moth - thanks to the ukmoths newsgroup for the identification - LG

Had a brief walk round the Museum's Wildlife Garden before I left yesterday evening and was pleased to see lots of Six-spot Burnet larvae and cocoons (the colony seems to be doing very well now) but was even more pleased to add a new species to the list for the garden, Burnet Companion. I saw at least three, possibly four, including a pair in cop. A nice moth for urban Middlesex - especially so close to Cromwell Road - Martin Honey

Ware garden - another Painted Lady this morning, a much larger individual - Liz Goodyear

3 Large Skippers & 2 Painted Ladies recorded on Bunkers Park yesterday, 9 June. The P Ladies were loitering and not going anywhere particular. 14 Common Blues were seen. In spite of 30C temperatures on Tuesday, this number was 93% down on the same week last year - Mike Pearson

I saw a Painted Lady yesterday (8 June) while doing my Colney Heath transect around 1400 hrs. It wasn't flying anywhere much, more browsing on Bramble in a sheltered spot (wind c4). It looked tatty & tired. Saw Large Skipper Sun 6 June on The Warren, unfortunately off-transect - John Moss

Wed 9th June - We went for a walk today at Balls Wood in Hertford Heath and saw 5 large Skippers, 5 Speckled Woods, a pair of White Ermine moths, a Treble Brown Spot and possibly a cream bordered green pea or Green Oak roller ( our moth knowledge is not great and we have included pictures of these to help identification). We then went to Wicken Fen in Cambs and saw another unusual moth which we think is a Silver Barred moth, we also saw 5 Brimstones, 5 Speckled Woods, 3 Large Skippers and hundreds of dragonflies. Sandra got her first photo of an Emperor Dragonfly and we also saw 2 other firsts, Scarce Chaser and Four spotted Chaser - Kevin & Sandra Standbridge (photos will be up later)

Weald Park, Essex, 1 meadow brown, 39 common blues, painted lady, plus two more Harold Hill (plus 2 Sewardstone) - Colin Jupp

Trent Park area, 8 painted ladies, 1 meadow brown, brown argus Vicarage farm - Robert Callf

On Monday 1 Red Admiral in Ware Park. On Tuesday 8th on Kings Meads near Ware 11 Large Skippers and 1 Common Blue at Chadwell Springs Chalk Bank. Today: 7 Common Blues, 3 Large Skippers and a Cinnabar Moth at Ware Park Quarry and one Painted Lady on the entrance to the Quarry footpath on Westmill Road Ware - Andrew Wood

Stevenage - my parents had a Red Admiral in their garden this afternoon - Steven Penn

I received an email today with this message "this is on my door. Can you tell me what it is?" Click here for picture - Answer will be posted tomorrow and the sender lived in North central Pennsylvania if that is a clue! - LG

Saw a Small Copper at Glade Lane Meadow, Ealing this afternoon. This is the first Small Copper I have seen since 2001. Also 2 Common Blues - John Eborall

We saw large skipper, speckled wood and ringlet yesterday for the first time this year at Aldbury Nowers, as well as grizzled skipper which still around. I have previously picked up green hairstreak and dingy skipper on the transects, which is good although few in number - Martin Hicks

One painted lady seen in my St. Albans garden, 4.25pm, yesterday - Liz Anderson

Rammey Marsh, Middx: large skipper and red admiral this morning (08.35) - Martin Shepherd

I also saw several Painted Ladies on The Lizard last week so they are certainly "on the way". One Large Skipper at Horsenden Hill on Sunday 6th June allowed close approach and a quick photograph - Andy Culshaw

It may be that a migration has arrived in Britain. Can you please keep a look out for this and other butterflies, not forgetting to record direction of flight (as exactly as possible rather than just North), numbers seen in a given time, where you saw them, and the date and time. It would also be very useful if you can make records of the speed of flight, by using a stop watch or digital watch to time the passage of the butterfly between two points, such as one side of your garden to the other. These records are very rarely made but are of extreme interest - John Murray

8 o'clock this morning Painted Lady in my garden N.W. Bishop Stortford - Jim Fish

Tues 8th June - Just to let you know that I found a Mother Shipton moth when walking along the public footpath through the fields of Harrow School on Sunday 6 June - Michael Robinson

Barnet area, 1 Painted Lady at National Institute for Medical Research in the grounds at 10.40 am 2nd June - Frank Johnson

Mon 7th June - Frogmore Quarry - just 2 Grizzled Skippers found this lunchtime. Had almost given up searching. Also 7 Small Copper, 8 Common Blue (all males). On what is left of the lake there were 2 Emperor Dragonflies, 5 Broad-bodied Chasers and plenty of Azure damselflies. News from 6th June - Wheathampstead LNR (nr. Development Centre) - Small Heath on the up this year with ten plus in the grassland area. Common Blues also doing well. Caterpillars of burnet moths getting very large now. Also first Mother Shipton moth from this site - Trevor Chapman

King's Langley Garden Transect, yesterday, we saw our first Painted Lady of 2004 in my mother's garden in King's Langley - David Chandler

Sun 6th June - Today walking the disused Allotments Rye Street Bishops Stortford and in the vicinity of Wickham Hall. Speckled Wood 3, Holly Blue 1, Common Blue 3, Orange Tip 1xM, 1xF, Red Admiral 1, Small White 5, Small Copper 1, Mother Shipton 2, Yellow Shell 2,and numerous colonies of Small Tortoiseshell caterpillars - Jim Fish


Grizzled Skipper pyrgus malvae Waterford Heath 2004 photo: Nick Sampford	Green Hairstreak callophrys rubi Scotland photo: Nick Sampford	Green Hairstreak callophrys rubi Scotland photo: Nick Sampford	Brimstone gonepteryx rhamni Bentley Wood photo: Nick Sampford

Dingy Skipper erynnis tages East Grinstead photo: Nick Sampford	Green Hairstreak callophrys rubi Scotland photo: Nick Sampford	Chequered Skipper carterocephalus palaemon Scotland 2004 photo: Nick Sampford	Chequered Skipper carterocephalus palaemon Scotland 2004 photo: Nick Sampford

Had small copper and common blue at Grovelands today - Andrew Middleton, Robert Callf and Bill Cutts

Last year, on 2 June 2003, I counted a record single visit total of 164 Common Blues on my Bunkers Park transect; yesterday, 2 June 2004, I saw just 3 !!! - Mike Pearson

Tues 1st June - 2 Red Admirals yesterday in Potters Crouch Plantation, near St Albans - Malcolm Hull

Mon 31st May - Trent Park, c75 small heath, plus small coppers today, and mating Brown Argus yesterday - Robert Callf and Robin White

Saw a red admiral steaming north through Tring (Herts.) today. Presumably a migrant from warmer shores - Nick Bowles

Therfield Heath, late afternoon (17:45 for about 50 minutes), with alternating cloud and sunny spells. Obviously still a little cool for evening sunning by butterflies! Church Hill, Small Heath, 1 at western end of hill. Many undistinguished silvery "micro" moths. Treble-bar moth species (Common or Lesser), 1-2 on lower slopes at eastern end of hill - Guy Manners

News from Sunday, a Red Admiral, Hoggates Wood, Bishop Stortford - Jim Fish

Some sightings from the weekend. Friday 28th, Digswell railway cutting, Welwyn North Station - Good amount of wild strawberry no Grizzled Skipper's unfortunately. 3 burnet companion, 1 large white, 1 common blue. Also numerous Speckled Woods in Hamergreen Wood. Sat 29th, Aldbury Nower's - 5 Common Blue, 2 Large White, 6 Burnet Companion, 1 Small Copper. Sun 30th, Tring Park - 3 Grizzled Skipper (hurah) 2 Dingy Skipper, 2 Common Blue, 1 Orange Tip, 3 Large White, 3 Brimstone, 5 Mother Shipton, 10 Burnet Companion - Jez Perkins

Green Hairstreak, Dingy Skippers and Small Heath have been active at Telegraph Hill. Grizzled Skippers reported but not found by me. Common Blue flying at Pegsdon Hills last week, also Brown Argus at Telegraph Hill - Nigel Agar

I thought you might be interested in some photos I took last year of Variations, I think the silver washed is called an Valezina (we saw it at Bentley Wood and the Skipper in the woods at Hertford Heath - Sandra Standbridge see below

Some photo's taken last week. The Grizzled Skipper, at Waterford, and the Common Blue, near Hertford. The mating Privet Hawk moths were on an old post in my garden and were 'busy' all Friday morning. They parted around mid-day and spent all afternoon and evening till dark recovering - Richard Bigg


mating Privet Hawk moths phinx ligustri Hertford photo: Richard Bigg	post mating Privet Hawk moths phinx ligustri Hertford photo: Richard Bigg	Grizzled Skipper pyrgus malvae Waterford Heath 2004 photo: Richard Bigg	Grizzled Skipper pyrgus malvae Frogmore Quarry photo: Trevor Chapman

mating Buff-Tips halera bucephala Cornmill Meadows photo: Sandra Standbridge	Silver-washed Fritillary form valezina Bentley Wood argynnis paphia photo: Sandra Standbridge	Large Skipper ochlodes venatus Cornmill Meadows photo: Sandra Standbridge	Small Copper lycaena phlaeas Frogmore photo: Trevor Chapman

Variant/Aberant Large Skipper ochlodes venatus Hertford Heath 2003 photo: Sandra Standbridge	Variant/Aberant Large Skipper ochlodes venatus Hertford Heath 2003 photo: Sandra Standbridge	Common Blue polyommatus icarus nr Hertford photo: Richard Bigg	Green-veined White Frogmore pieris napi photo: Trevor Chapman

Sun 30th May - Today, Westbrook Hay, Boxmoor, Large White, small copper, common blue & painted lady (and lots of those micro moths with the huge antennae). I will keep you informed in future of any other notable sightings in Hemel - Dave Hutchinson (we met Dave at the Herts County Show)

Went for a walk this afternoon around the set aside fields along the River Rib between Ware Park and Bengeo and before the rain saw 1 Brown Argus, 3 Peacocks, 2 Orange Tips, several unidentified whites and these moths: 1 Mother Shipton moth, 1 Lime Speck Pug actively feeding and 1 Garden Pebble - Andrew Wood

Sat 29th May - Went to the Cornmill Meadow today and saw mating buff-tip, 1 large skipper, cinnabar moth, small copper, 2 Burnet caterpillars, getting ready to cocoon at the top of grasses - Sandra Standbridge

Fri 28th May - At work, Stevenage. 8 Small Heath with 7 Cinnabar and I Burnet Companion moth, and 4 Azure Damselflies. Frogmore Quarry lunchtime - only 2 Grizzled Skippers but not that warm, 3 Small Coppers, 1 Large White and 2 GV White. 3 Azure and 1 Large Red Damselfly. Then on to Astonbury Golf Club lily pond to see 3 Red-eyed and 50 Azure Damselflies. Also a nice Little Owl - Trevor Chapman (more Dragonfly news)

One of my 'local moth-ers' in Ealing finally managed to buy his own trap. On its second outing in the back garden, it turned up a rather nice record- Buttoned Snout. There is a reasonable sized patch of hops growing on Horsenden West, where the old cottages were. So this could well be a resident species for the site. His garden is not that far away from the area in question. Moth was taken by David Howdon, but the pictures mine - Rachel Terry

Thurs 27th May - Decided to try and visit two more tetrads today, but unfortunately forgot my binoculars! Visited TL3610 between Hertford Heath and the A10 and after over 40 minutes saw my first Orange Tip, also seen, were Green-veined White, a Peacock, Large White and Speckled Wood. Then drove to Dobbs Weir and had a lovely walk by the river but saw only a pair of mating Green-veined White. Then walked towards the railway line and found an amazing field of moths mostly Burnet Companion and Mother Shipton. The lack of "bins" was very frustrating! Eventually after spending 40 minutes again in the same tetrad saw 2 Orange Tip (they are like buses you don't see any for ages and then 2 come along!) Nice to see a Brown Argus and Common Blue as well plus a fox - Liz Goodyear


Brown Argus aricia agestis Bedfordshire photo: Sandra Standbridge	Common Blue polyommatus icarus Cornmill Meadow photo: Sandra Standbridge	Brown Argus mating aricia agestis Bedfordshire photo: Sandra Standbridge

Dingy Skipper erynnis tages Ivinghoe Beacon photo: Sandra Standbridge	Female Orange Tip anthocaris cardamines Langley photo: Steven Penn	Duke of Burgundy hamearis lucina photo: Sandra Standbridge	The Lackey malacosoma neustria Cornmill Meadow photo: Sandra Standbridge

Apologies to both Kevin and Sandra and Steven for not putting their news up! LG
We went into Bedfordshire on Saturday and saw in excess of 3 Dukes, mating Brown Argus, 2 pairs we think!, 6 Grizzled Skipper, 3 Brimstone, 3 Orange Tip. Then went to Ivinghoe Beacon and saw our first Dingy Skippers at least 8. 25th May - Over the Cornmill meadow I saw a tree full of I think Lackey caterpillars ( Photo attached). I also saw 2 common blue and 2 small coppers and hairy dragonfly - Kevin and Sandra Standbridge

I was in Langley on Tuesday lunch time. I saw 3 Orange Tips (2 male, 1 female), 1 Large White and 1 Small Tortoiseshell. I have attached a photo of the female Orange Tip - Steven Penn

Wed 26th May - Are you going on holiday to Europe this year? If so visit this website which has been set up by Butterfly Conservation - LG

Its at this time of the year I apologise to those that have sent photos in and don't see them for a few days - all photos sent in will be displayed as soon as time permits but please don't stop sending them in - LG

Visited Aldbury Nowers after work yesterday about 6 o'clock and had 4 Brimstones, 1 Large White and numerous Common Blues. It clouded over as I got there so it wasn't hugely productive - Jez Perkins

Mon 24th May - Small Copper, 1 at Amwell this pm. My first here for a number of years - Toby Austin

Thurs 20th May - Some pictures including moths to look for during the day including:- I found a small group of Small Yellow Underwings near
Ware Park Quarry on Tuesday, went back with the camera yesterday and found only one. Here is a picture - Andrew Wood

Wed 19th May -Stevenage (lunchtime walk at work) - 4 Small Heath, 1 Common Blue, 5 Burnet Companion, 6 Cinnabar and 5 Blue Damselflies (one confirmed Common) - Trevor Chapman

" Dukes" I've put some of the pictures on the web page - link below. I think they're mostly males, but the variation within the colony seemed quite dramatic - especially the darkest one. Not that I've ever seen so many in one place that I could make the comparison! Note that they're nearly all sitting on very low bramble leaves click here - Roger Gibbons

Telegraph Hill yesterday on my transect - 4 Brown Argus. Also heard reports of Dingy Skipper, Grizzled Skipper and Green Hairstreak been seen, also yesterday on the same site and Pegsdon Hills where I noticed another 2 Brown Argus and 3 Small Heath - Valerie Fullforth

Tues 18th May - Lunchtime today Frogmore Quarry, after 70min searching found 6 Grizzled Skippers. Plenty of Tormentil and a single patch of Wild Strawberry down from the NE corner. Also 4 Small Copper, 1 male Common Blue, 2 GV White, 4 Orange-tip, 1 Red Admiral. Plenty of Pyrausta moths flying too. And the constant sound of Cuckoo, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, Goldfinch and Yellowhammer - Trevor Chapman

Aldbury Nowers - 10.30-1.30pm, c.8 Grizzled Skipper (west meadow near Pitstone Hill only) including one egg laid under leaf of agrimony, 7 dingy skipper total spread through all meadows, 2 green hairstreak, c16 small copper also egg laid under edge of sorrel leaf, brimstones, orange tips, holly blue, 6 Brown Argus, Small Tortoiseshell, comma, speckled wood, various whites, cinnabar, mother shipton, burnet companion, small yellow underwing, pyrausta sp. Pitstone Hill pm - c.15 green hairstreak, 5 dingy skipper, 1 small heath - Andrew Middleton & Liz Goodyear

I went walking the dogs in balls wood Hertford Heath today, saw 4 male brimstones and a comma. Also went to Fishers Green today and just outside Pinders car park, I saw my first Puss Moth - - Sandra Standbridge

Mon 17th May - Green-Veined White feeding on Forget-me-nots in my Brooksman Park garden today - Rupert Pyrah

During a Dragonfly Atlas recce in TQ09 on Sunday 16th May, 2 Orange Tip, 2 Peacock, 1 Small Tortoiseshell and 3 Small White at Piper's Farm - Alan Reynolds

Some butterfly news for last weekend: 16th May, Aldbury Nowers, Herts, Grizzled Skipper (3+ in the paddock to the right of the path as you walk up the hill from the road), Brimstone (10+), Orange-tip (5), Comma (1), Peacock (4), Small Tortoiseshell (1), Small Copper (6), Holly Blue (1). Also Cinnabar (6) and Garden Carpet (1). 15th May Horsenden Hill, Middx, Common Blue (1), Small Copper (1), Large White (1), Small White (11), Green-veined White (12), Small/Green-veined White (9), Orange-tip (8), Peacock (6), Holly Blue (1), Small Tortoiseshell (1), Comma (1). David Howdon and I ran a light in Perivale Wood on Friday evening (14th May) - confirmed identifications were Brimstone moth 2, Sandy Carpet 3 (in trap) + 4 (on the wing about the site), Ruby Tiger 1, Sallow Kitten 1, Lychnis 1, Oak Hook tip 1, Pale Tussock 1, Chinese Character 1, Tinea Trinotella 1, Brindled Pug 3, Twenty-Plume moth 1, White Shouldered House Moth 1, Least Black Arches 1. One unidentified micro is with Rachel Terry to see if she can work it out! Andy Culshaw

News from Sat 15 May and Sun 16 May - Whipsnade Downs: generally warm 20-22 C but mostly cloudy pm - "dukes" recently emerged and looking very fresh - counted 20 total (on each day) in about five separate locations over several hundred metres - very active in the brief spells of sunshine - met someone who had just come from Ivinghoe Beacon and counted 31 - also 2-3 grizzled skippers and 2-3 green hairstreaks although the master tree seems more dead than alive - lots of brimstones and orange tips and the odd green-veined white - Roger Gibbons (visit the Beds & Northants website for more news)

Aldbury Nowers, arriving just before 10 a.m. I quickly saw Brimstone 2, Orange Tip 5, Green Veined White 1, Small Copper 3, Holly Blue 1, Brown Argus 1, Peacock 1 and several Pyraustra micros (aurata and purpularis - I believe) plus 2 Mother Shipton but no Grizzled Skipper in 30 minutes - Nick Bowles

Many tetrads were visited over the weekend - please check the updated map when done (it will take a little while) - The main area now is central/north Middlesex. These tetrads are more random, with many having little potential habitat or places to park . If you can visit any of these please let myself and John know. Thank you to everyone that went out and filled the map so superbly

Sun 16th May - Went over to Ivinghoe Beacon on Sunday to photograph Dukes : Mainly below bend in road saw 10 Duke of Burgundy mainly, 2 Dingy Skippers, 1 Green Hairstreak, 5 Brimstones, 2 Orange tips, 1 Small Tort, 1 Mother Shipton, 2 Burnet Companion, Cinnabar and a Tree Pipit. Last week no sign of Grizzled Skipper at Frogmore Quarry but I bet they have emerged now - Trevor Chapman (Visit the UTB website for more news)

Weekend Field Trips Roundup
Sunday - Waterford Heath - 6 people attended and went home very happy! In total 13 Grizzled Skipper were seen, 11 on the south pit and 2 on the north pit. Everyone found one for them self! Total species seen in addition to Grizzleds were 2 Cinnabar moths, 2 Brimstone, 1 Green-veined White, 2 Latticed Heath (so everyone was able to see the difference), 4 Orange Tip, 7 Burnet Companions, 1 Small Copper, 1 Small Heath, 2 Holly Blue, 1 Peacock, 1 Comma, 1 Speckled Wood, 1 Large and 1 Small White, and 2 Roman Snails - Alan Downie
Saturday - Aldbury Nowers, after the 2 previous years events were dogged by bad weather, Saturday, was a lovely sunny day. Unfortunately no Grizzled or Dingy Skippers were seen, but 9 people attended and were rewarded with sightings of WHITES: Brimstone 11, Large White 5, Small White 4, Green Veined White 11, Orange Tip 14. BLUES & COPPERS: Green Hairstreak 4, Holly Blue 1, Small Copper 5. ARISTOCRATS: Small Tortoiseshell 1, Peacock 3. BROWNS: Speckled Wood 1 and several species of moth - Dave Chandler (Thanks to everyone who came along and in particular the field trip leaders - next week is National Moth Night and 23rd May - Bedfont Lakes)

Sat 15th May - North Herts, nice to see Green hairstreak and dingy skipper hanging on there today (Sat 15 May) My last records for Dingy Skipper on this private site were back in 1997!! - Stuart Pittman

A walk around the Ashridge Estate in the afternoon was notable chiefly for the fact that I saw only one Speckled Wood in this apparently prime location. Earlier Malcolm Hull and I found a Silver Y in a gully on Ivinghoe Beacon in Bucks - Colin Everett

Aldbury Nowers, visited today after the branch field trip & saw Green Hairstreak 2, Grizzled Skipper 5, Comma 4, Speckled Wood 1, Orange Tip 9, Green-Veined White 15, Peacock 3, Holly Blue 3 Large White 1, Brimstone 19, Small Copper 1, Mother Shipton & Burnett Companion Moths, Over the border in Bucks at Inchcombe Hole I saw 4 Small Heaths & at Ivinghoe Beacon a Duke of Burgundy & Silver Y moth - Malcolm Hull (sorry forgot to credit this earlier)

Trent Park, 4 small copper, 3 small heath, 3 mother shipton, 2 burnet companion - Robert Callf

Thundridge garden - 12 orange tips, small copper, green veined and small white in garden today - Nick Sampford

Friday 14th May - Waterford Heath, had 3 grizzled skippers by the bench at Waterford late yesterday afternoon plus 20+ orange tips large, green veined and small white, female brimstone and holly blue - Nick Sampford (Nick has a new macro lens!)

Rickneys area, Hertford this afternoon, 4 Small Copper, 2 Burnet Companion & 1 Latticed Heath moth. Tetrad bashing in East Herts again didn't produce anything spectacular apart from a Small Yellow Underwing moth in a field at High Wych! - Liz Goodyear

Thurs 13th May - Ware, along the old Lea this morning 3 male Orange tip, 1 female Orange tip, peacock - Ian Edwards

Lunch time walk near Norton Green today. I saw 2 small whites and 1 orange tip - Steven Penn

Tetrad bashing in East Herts before the cloud took hold didn't produce anything extra ordinary, although Orange Tip seemed to be in good numbers. Did see a Cinnabar moth near Wareside and on my return there was a fox in my garden, watching the guinea pigs! - Liz Goodyear

Mon 10th May - A couple of casual sightings from the Tube in blank Spring tetrads on the way home this evening: - East Acton Tube station - Large White and Orange Tip and near Park Royal Road, North Acton - Orange Tip. Hardly counts as 'covering' the tetrads, but it's better than nothing - John Eborall (these tetrads were not just blank spring tetrads but had no records at all - help like this is continually welcome; thanks John - LG)

Graham White and myself have produced a King's Mead Bird Report for 2002, which not only covers that year, but also breeding records back to 1994 and beyond. Copies of the report can be down-loaded from the King's Mead website at: www.geocities.com/kingsmead2 - The website (and future reports) also covers butterflies - Alan Reynolds

Late news from the 7th May - visited Kensal Green Cemetery this morning and saw 3 Orange Tips, 1 Holly Blue, 2 Speckled Woods, 1 Peacock, 2 Green Veined Whites, 1 Small White and a number of unidentifiable whites - Andrew Wood

Now had orange tip in all three tetrads if you are marking them on the map. Found this white-letter larva today on elm flowers near Cuffley (Soper's Viaduct). Picture's a bit poor but may be of interest - Andrew Middleton

Ware garden, the sun came out and almost immediately 2 female Orange Tips checking out my garlic mustard - later 1 male - Liz Goodyear

Sun 9th May - Waterford Heath this afternoon (3.30 - 4.30) in 100% cloud and rain, 3 roosting Grizzled Skipper - Liz Goodyear

Fri 7th May - South Norfolk, in really quite dull conditions, 4 Grizzled Skipper seen, in flight and roosting before the "rain" - news via Sharon Hearle (BC Anglia RO)

Thursday, Ware, along the old Lea I saw my first definite sighting of a Green-veined White, also each day this week there have been 3+ Orange tips about, as well as this years first Grass snakes - Ian Edwards

Fir and Pond Woods Nature Reserve (HMWT) 10.00 to 13.00, Orange tips (several), Green veined white 1, speckled woods 2, brimstone 1 male, peacocks 2 - David Gompertz

Wed 5th May - First speckled wood seen in the garden this year in Barnet - Nigel Taylor

Ware garden, in a brief moment of sunshine, one male Orange Tip seen near the honesty this morning - Liz Goodyear

Tues 4th May - Sewardstone, Essex, 2 small coppers on the roadside verge on Sunday 2nd May Sewardstone Road - Simon Rawlinson

Mon 3rd May - On May 2nd I was walking along the Chelsea Embankment towards the Tate gallery when I was passed by a Holly Blue which was flying westwards. I had previously seen several Small/Green-Veined Whites in the Chelsea Physic Garden. Still haven't recorded Holly Blue in my own garden - Malcolm Newland

Sun 2nd May - 21 Orange Tips on the Bricket Wood Transect today. Highest total recorded for any week since it began in 1997 - most years I havent recorded that number at the site all season. Todays other highlight - two Ruby Tiger Moths in my back garden (St Albans). Never seen one there before - Malcolm Hull

Tues 27th April - I spent four hours at Waterford yesterday and despite excellent weather didn't see a grizzled skipper. I did have 10 orange tips, 4 peacocks, 3 small tortoiseshells and a small white - Jez Perkins (Branch Grizzled Skipper co-ordinator - in addition to the 2004 challenge, we do need everyone out looking for Grizzled Skipper when they emerge as well, at new and old sites - LG)

Mon 26th April - More Grizzled Skipper sightings in the Upper Thames Branch region today - news via Tom Dunbar (UTB Grizzled Skipper species champion)

Ware - I took a walk along the river, and over Widbury Hill after work today and saw the following: 5 Orange Tip, 1 Speckled Wood, 1 Comma, 1 Peacock, 5 Small Tortoiseshell, 2 Small White. Yesterday on the track from Widbury farm to Priors Wood I saw 8 Small Tortoiseshell and 1 Brimstone - Ian Edwards

Thank you to everyone who has visited the blank squares in our mapping challenge. I am trying to update the map as quickly as possible but it's also possible a few mistakes might creep in. Do tell me if I have filled in the wrong square (as I just found out I did in one case). If anyone lives near anyone of these empty boxes please visit them whilst the sun keeps shining. The Ordnance Survey Get a map website is brilliant for working out which square is which - Liz Goodyear

We were at Waterford on 23rd April, but did not find any Grizzled Skipper. Denis and I saw our first Orange Tip (male) at Bullens Green on 16 April, but then saw no more of them until 23rd April when there was a male over the grassland at Hertford Heath. Also on 23 April Denis spotted his first Holly Blue at Essendon. On the 24 April we saw a Speckled Wood at Smallford Pit and yesterday a Small White at Berrygrove Wood near Aldenham plus lots of Green-veined Whites and an abundance of Small Tortoiseshells (37 in all) along the River Colne near Otterspool, mostly basking on sunny clumps of nettle. The same afternoon Denis saw his first Large White at King George playing fields in Welwyn Garden City - Christine Shepperson

Sun 25th April - Wendover Bucks yesterday Nick Bowles saw on his transect his first Grizzled skipper of the year - news via UKleps

Went on to Waterford Heath - spent about an hour there but no Grizzled Skipper for me. Robert Callf told me that Jeremy Gaskell saw a Humming-bird hawkmoth at Vicarage Farm on Saturday. I saw orange tip lay eggs on garlic mustard at Fairlop, Essex, with Alan Bell, and a Holly Blue there was his first site record in 26 years - Andrew Middleton

Maple Cross, in my garden in the last few days I have seen both Holly Blue and Orange Tip. My first of the season. Both seem to be patrolling through my area. Also visited by Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell - Ann.Piper

Group Visit to Oughton Head Common, Hitchin starting at Ref. TL178308 and walking to TL162300 (just under 2 km). Time: 10.30 - 12 30. Temp: 19 deg - 10 Yellow Brimstones, 10 Orange Tips, 1 Small White, 5 Holly Blue, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Peacock, 8 Speckled Wood - Val Fullforth

I see someone else also had a Common Blue on Sat 24th April, in North Herts. I saw one at Ickleford and can't recall them ever being out earlier there. Good pieridae numbers, 16 0range tips, 10 brimstones and some G-V Whites, although some were Orange Tip females I'm sure but couldn't get on them long enough to be dead certain - Stuart Pittman

King's Langley Garden Transect, transect week 4 - Today we saw our first Holly Blue in my mother's garden in King's Langley. On Friday 23rd, we saw a male Peacock & Large White. The only other species seen this year at this site in King's Langley were Small Tortoiseshells recorded in transect week 3 - Dave Chandler

Ware garden, hard to believe but I have just seen the first butterfly in my garden since the 31st March, a Holly Blue (okay I have been out on some of the better days but even when at home "on good days" I have seen nothing!) - Liz Goodyear

Sat 24th April - Bramfield, 2 Holly Blues, 1 Orange Tip, at the Horns Bull Green 1 Brimstone, at Bramfield Wood 1 Brimstone and 1 Orange Tip. Recent news, on 19th April a Red Admiral in Ware Park and 23rd April at Balls Wood, 1 Green-veined White, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 12 Peacocks, 2 Commas and 8 Speckled Woods. On 23rd April, 2 Holly Blues and an Orange Tip in Bengeo (Jane Wood) - Andrew Wood

Ware, walking along Musley Lane this morning I saw a female Small White. During the past week I have had daily sightings of Orange Tip along the old Lea - Ian Edwards

I have a few sightings to send you later but I thought you would be interested in one in particular. I saw a male Common Blue near Hexton today - Steven Penn

Orange tip, holly blue and green-veined white in my garden today in Barnet. Orange tip first seen about four days ago - Nigel Taylor

Enfield garden adjacent to Enfield Playing Fields - Orange-tip, Speckled Wood, and Holly Blue now on the wing - Phil Rhodes

During a beautiful sunny and hot day at King's Mead, I saw 11 Small Tortoiseshell, 7 White sp, 4 Peacock, 5 Orange Tip, 3 Brimstone and 2 Holly Blue. In the afternoon at Maple Lodge Nature Reserve, 2 Brimstone, 4 Holly Blue, 6 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Speckled Wood and 4 Peacock - Alan Reynolds

Fri 23rd April - I saw a couple of Peacocks opposite the pub in Norton Green today - Steven Penn

Barnet, this Orange Tip photo was taken at my home address on the 16th April. Have also had my first Large White on 22nd April, with a nice fresh peacock - Rachel Terry (this record of an Orange Tip means there is now one less square on the "map" to visit between now and the end of May click here for more details of the 2004 Mapping Challenge - LG)

I had a look for Green Hairstreaks on the Pegsdon Hills today but could not find any. None on the usual master hedge. Brimstone and Peacock were flying. Small Tortoiseshell at Old Hale Way allotments in Hitchin. Orange Tip at Silvermead, Broxbourne yesterday - Nigel Agar

Shepreth L Moor NR (S Cambs) 1-2 males Brimstone, 2 (1 poss. female brimstone) White sp(p)., 3 Speckled Wood. Church Hill (Fox Covert NR,) 2 males Brimstone, 2-4 Peacock, 1 Comma, + 2-5 strong-flying nymphalids, (maybe overlap with Peacock count) + 1 Seven-spot Ladybird - Guy Manners

Thurs 22nd April - Therfield Heath NR: 1 Speckled Wood, Church Hill: 2-4 Peacock, 1 Comma, Church Hill-Fox Covert border: 1 Peacock, Fox Covert NR: 1 Peacock. I was well displeased with the weather: glorious sunshine in Melbourn all morning... Then it clouded over literally as I was donning my trainers at the edge of the reserve complex! Nearly missed the Speckled Wood, as it flew across the path and landed about 4-5 m up a tree. Peacock at E side of Church Hill was very jumpy. Sometimes interacting with Comma, could not tell if the same insect was following me or I had 2 or 3. Definite 2nd at W end of the Hill. Plenty of Pasque Flowers, along with "violets" and Cowslips. Still precious little offering nectar to our beautiful friends. Guess what? It's now sunny again! Guy Manners (there is "a law" to describe this type of weather - LG)

Wed 21st April - News from 17 April - male Holly Blue at Commonswood Reserve, Welwyn Garden City - Roger Gibbons

Tues 20th April - Orange Tip, nice to get the "lady of the hedgerow " at Ickleford today a few weeks later than 2003 though, along with my first Cuckoo - Stuart Pittman

One Holly Blue and one Small White this morning (20th April) in the front garden of my house in Pinner - Graham Elcombe

Sat 17th April - Visited Tetrad TQ0472 this afternoon. It is largely filled by Staines Reservoir. Stanwell Burial Ground and Staines Cemetery had seemed likely butterfly areas but produced nothing, too breezy perhaps. Having said that I did get 1 Small Tortoiseshell on the reservoir bank. So this square is up and running (limping?) - Dick Middleton (This area is in desperate need of visits so any offers of help is really appreciated - LG)

Nice female Holly Blue in Tring today, my first and I have seen Green Hairstreak already but 5 miles over our border in Bucks - Nick Bowles

Today, during an excursion into TQ09 for the Dragonfly Atlas, saw my first Orange Tip at Croxley Green, and 13 Small Torts and 2 Peacock at The Grove Golf Course, Watford - Alan Reynolds

Rammey Marsh: speckled wood at 11.34 on the edge of Turkey Brook - Martin Shepherd

Fri 16th April - Hemel Hempstead, was working on my allotment this morning when I saw a Comma fluttering around my gooseberry bushes. It stopped several times and I was able to approach it closely enough to see that it was a female ovipositing. I am not aware that this is a recognised larval food plant and the choice is even more strange with a large clump of lush nettles only a couple of metres away - Malcolm Newland

I had a walk at lunch time today and I saw 4 Peacocks near Norton Green and also saw a Peacock in Stevenage on the 14th - Steven Penn

Ware, along the Old Lea this morning one Peacock. In my garden late morning my first Orange Tip of the year a male - Ian Edwards

Cheshunt Park, 1 male Orange Tip, Holly Blue & Peacocks. Tetrad bashing in the Theobalds area, 1 female Brimstone, pair of mating Green-veined Whites, plus Small Tortoiseshell, Comma, Small White and Peacock. Cuffley area near Sopers Viaduct, Peacocks, Comma, Small Tortoiseshell and a white. Apart from the first Orange Tip and Holly Blue, no more although it did get cloudy and no Speckled Wood - Andrew Middleton

Thurs 15th April - One of the volunteers working in Pond Wood said they had an Orange Tip & a Brimstone in their Potters Bar garden yesterday (13th). Today in the North Mymms Park area my first two Commas of the year (also several Peacocks in the vicinity). Also my second Small white - Brookmans Park - Rupert Pyrah

Wed 14th April - Still no Orange Tip report in our branch area but they are flying in other areas - LG

Today at Pond Wood, Potters Bar - 6 Peacocks, plus my first Brimstone. And in my garden (Brookmans Park), a Peacock and my first Holly Blue - Rupert Pyrah

Walked the Icknield Way from Pirton to Lilley & saw Brimstone 31, Peacock 27, Small Tortoiseshell 16, Comma 5, A good deal of work on track widening has taken place recently, which should improve this section of the path as a butterfly habitat over time - Malcolm Hull

Garston (near Watford): Holly Blue flying strongly in the sunshine and news from Mon 12th April, Radlett area: one unidentified (small) white species; one male Brimstone; Peacock & Comma well represented; Small Tortoiseshell the commonest species. A Stoat (not a frequent sight in this part of Herts) flushed a Little Owl near Field House Farm - C M Everett

Tues 13th April - Even more butterflies in Folly Lane today, including Comma, which was absent yesterday. Also had a Comma in my St. Albans garden (quite a rare event) which appeared to be nectaring on Clemitis Almondi - Malcolm Hull

On a short walk along a farm footpath in Maple Cross today around 4.30pm I saw 12 tortoiseshells mostly basking in late sunshine and 2 commas. Ann Piper

Hummingbird Hawkmoth feeding on Aubretia this morning 11.30am in Julian's garden in Bishop Stortford - Jim Fish

Yesterday had a brimstone at Amwell flying north along the canal by the watchpoint at about 3.30pm - Nigel Taylor

Mon 12th April - I was in Walkern today and I saw 2 Brimstones, 2 Peacocks, 1 Comma and 1 Small Tortoiseshell - Steven Penn

Had a few more today - 4 peacocks in the Potwells area (North Mymms), 2 at Tyttenhanger Farm, plus my 1st Small White there also - Rupert Pyrah

At Folly Lane, St Albans this morning 24 Small Tortoiseshells - 10 sunning themselves on a single patch of nettles, other nectaring on damson & dandelions, 4 Peacocks, 1 Small White, 1 Brimstone - male patrolling up & down a hedge, 1 Speckled Wood - my first of the year. At Bricket Wood this afternoon 11 Peacocks, 8 Brimstones (7 of them male), 6 Comma, 1 Small Tortoiseshell. Both Peacocks & Commas nectaring on Blackthorn - Malcolm Hull

Small Tortoiseshell sunning itself at Tyttenhanger GP on April 9th - my 1st (and only) sighting of the year. Looking back at last year's records, they're very late this year. I've been birding for 3+ hours for the last 4 days, and not a sausage otherwise - Rupert Pyrah

Sat 10th April - Yesterday I visited the two blank squares in the NE Uxbridge area, Small Tortoiseshell (1) in Swakelys Park, Ickenham. Small Tortoiseshell (6), Comma (1) and Brimstone (1) along the River Pinn, adjacent to Ruislip Golf Course at West Ruislip - Dick Middleton (Thanks Dick - if everyone watching this website could do this, if would really help our challenge! If you watch outside our branch area, all other BC branches need help as well, just contact your local branch organiser)

Yesterday, 9 April Sewardstone Marsh: small tortoiseshell. Cheshunt Marsh: small tortoiseshell. Rammey Marsh: four small tortoiseshells. Late news from 31 March - small white, near Lytton Way, Stevenage. - Martin Shepherd

Tues 6th April - If you are feeling short of butterflies at the moment try Wormley Wood. On Friday 2/4/04 there were 12 peacocks and 20 commas plus probable small tortoiseshell fighting over territory in the open glades in the middle of the wood. These are minimum numbers as I did not note them all as I was trying to catch Eriocrania at the time and ignoring things over a couple of mm in size! Mark Cooper (Mark is a moth person!)

Sun 4th April - Rye Meads, 1 butterfly seen on a sheltered warmer bank, could have been Small Tortoiseshell but not able to get close, otherwise too cold - Liz Goodyear

Sat 3rd April - Whilst helping at Capel Manor Gardening Show today, we were told on two occasions by local people that they had seen Holly Blue last week - LG

Sightings news from Nick Sampford - 2nd April; Small tortoiseshell at Ware & Brimstone at Colliers End. 31st March: Peacocks at Much Hadham, Thundridge & Ashwell. Small tortoiseshell at Much Hadham & Ashwell [4]. Comma at Much Hadham [2], Thundridge, Buntingford & Ashwell. Brimstone at Puckeridge [f], Buntingford, Sandon [2], Ashwell.

Fri 2nd April - First Small White of year for me, today 2nd April in front garden in Melbourn (Cambs), feeding on Common Dandelion (15:28 onwards) - Guy Manners

News from the 31st March, saw a Small White in central London (close to Waterloo Station) this lunchtime - Paul Johnson (Paul has confirmed that the butterfly was south of the Thames!)

This is to remind you that as of the day after tomorrow [now yesterday], butterflies will be dusting off their wings and sallying forth in their millions to
grace fields, woods and derelict urban wastelands, just so that you can have the pleasure of counting them...Transect weeks begin on a Thursday this year. If you are planning to start a transect, please read through the transect instructions (click here) on the website thoroughly before doing so. If you need recording sheets or transect instructions, these are also downloadable from the website. And if you would like to just help out on a transect now and again, please Email me and I will put you in contact with a transect near you.
Finally, 2004 is the last year of our second "Butterflies for the new Millennium" project, so butterfly mapping is a priority this year, and there are dozens of blank and poorly-recorded areas waiting for a visit. The Branch Annual Report is going to be late this year, so if you would like more information on where to record, please Email me. Wishing you a sunny and butterfly-filled summer - John Murray

Thurs 1st April -
Ponders End garden, 1 Red Admiral this lunchtime, in poor sunshine - Andrew Middleton

Therfield Heath-Fox Covert NR complex news from 30th March, 2-3 male Brimstone, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1-2 Comma, 2 Peacock, also Therfield Heath NR, 1 male Brimstone - Guy Manners

To the records already sent in yesterday on such a beautiful spring day, I can add from the lane by Norton Green 10 Brimstone, 1 Comma, 8 Small Tortoiseshell and 6 Peacock - Alan Reynolds

Wed 31st March - I'm sure you'll get loads of emails after today's glorious weather. For what it's worth, I saw the following in Ally Pally [Alexandra Palace] this lunchtime (12-2):- 5 Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Brimstone, 2 Comma, 2 Small White, 1 Peacock. Good to see so many reports of Small Tortoiseshell. Maybe its troubles of the last few years in the southeast are over - Keir Mottram

Took an hour's walk from Ware down the river to Amwell Pit and back over Widbury Hill and saw in total 2 Commas, 3 Peacocks, 2 Brimstones and 23 Small Tortoiseshells - Andrew Wood

Be ready for Small White (Norfolk & London, Waterloo) and Orange Tip (Warwickshire) News via UK-Leps - LG

Ware garden, now seen three butterflies this year, a male Brimstone flew through the garden and I found a Comma nectaring on Grape Hyacinth when putting out the washing. Incidently, a white towel is now covered in "black bug like things." - Liz Goodyear

Tues 30th March - Brimstone male by Thundridge Hall news via Tom - he was really pleased to tell me he'd seen a brimstone - Nick Sampford

Essex, Bedfords Park, (Metropolitan Essex) ~ 2 brimstone, 1 red admiral, 33 small tortoiseshells, 28 peacocks, 22 comma - Colin Jupp

I have been out and about in Hertfordshire and have also seen my first butterflies of the year today. I saw two Brimstones on the outskirts of Harpenden and two in Stevenage. I then saw two Small Tortoiseshells in my parent's garden in Stevenage. I saw 4 Brimstones as I drove between Hitchin and Hexton this afternoon. Over the road from Hexton (part of the circular walk) I saw 4 Brimstones, 4 Peacocks, 3 Small Tortoiseshells and 1 Comma - Steven Penn

Went for a walk west of Ware at lunchtime and saw at various different locations a total of 3 Small Tortoiseshells, 1 Peacock, 3 Brimstone and 4 Commas - Andrew Wood

Peacock here this afternoon, at Berkhamsted. Also here a Brimstone on Tuesday, 16 March. Sorry this one is late. Also a Brimstone this morning near Tringsford Reservoir - Michael Anderson

Brilliant day drove from Bishops Stortford to Harlow via Allen's Green then Harlow to Ware via Roydon around 12 - 2 and had Brimstone (7 including 2 female), Comma (4 including 2 together), Small Tortoiseshell (1). Brimstone also Park Road, Ware [Angela's sighting]. Off now to do school run might see a few more - Nick Sampford

Wormley and Broxbourne Wood. Counted ten Comma, four Peacock, one Small Tortoiseshell and one male Brimstone - first butterflies I've seen on the wing this year! Phil Rhodes

I saw my first butterfly of the season at 1pm today - a washed out Small Tortoiseshell in Finsbury Circus, central London - Dave Chandler

Ware garden, at last I have just seen my first butterfly of the year, 1 Peacock - Liz Goodyear

Tues 23rd March - Here are two pictures from my archives; the first moth (pearl-like wings) came to fluorescent lighting one evening in eastern India. The second is a Blue Pansy I saw one spring morning in NE India. The Glyphodes bivitralis was about an inch and a half to two across from wing tip to tip. By the way, I saw my first butterfly of the year today (22nd March) in Ireland. I'm in Waterford and saw a Small Tortoiseshell fly by - Bob Hasra (Thanks to the ukmoths email group and Martin Honey for help with identification)


Blue Pansy junonia orithya North east India photo: Bob Hazra	Glyphodes bivitralis Came to fluorescent lighting one evening Eastern India photo: Bob Hazra	Grey Pansy junonia atlites India photo: Bob Hazra

Some late news, reported to me by a friend 1 Yellow Brimstone and 1 Small Tortoiseshell flying over gardens of cottages along Chalkdell Path, Lucas Lane, Hitchin - Val Fullforth

Sun 21st March - At Garston this morning a female Small White found on a garden pavement, presumably having emerged from a shed or other warm environment. She is unlikely to survive the weather which is forecast for the coming week - Colin Everett

Thurs 18th March - I saw, rather surprisingly given the cloud and breeze, one Small Tortoiseshell today flying around flowering blackcurrant in Buryfield Way in Ware - Andrew Wood

Few more butterflies from yesterday, Brimstone at Sawbridgeworth by train station and Brimstone Ware in Croft Road in Dad's garden. Thundridge, Tom saw a Peacock on the way to lunch yesterday [he described it as the brown one with big eyes]. Don't look like there be any about today - Nick Sampford

Wed 17th March - Cobbins Brook, Essex, 4, Peacock, Comma, Small Tortoiseshell, Ponders End, White Species (smaller) - Andrew Middleton

2 Orange Underwing species (moth) Williams Wood, Trent Park - Robert Callf

Ware ( Old Lea Widbury Hill ) I sat by the river for half an hour this morning, and watched a Small Tortoiseshell sunning its self. Also three times a Brimstone flew past me, not sure if it was three separate butterflies or one on a circuit - Ian Edwards

One Brimstone near Sele Mill, Hertford @ approx. 09.45hrs. Small tortoiseshell outside Herts at the Bittern watchpoint this morning - Les Borg

2 Small Tortoiseshell yesterday(16/3/04) at Brunel University, Uxbridge - Steve Pash

I was passing my local launderette in Muswell Hill, North London last night (16th March) when I noticed the inmates pointing at something on the door frame inside - it turned out to be a fresh Lime Hawk-moth Mimas tiliae, months early - Brian Price

10am, phone call from Nick Sampford to say he had just seen his first Brimstone of the year, flying around the Rush Green Roundabout near Hertford

Had a Red Admiral yesterday (15/3/04), in the Turnford Brook area - Jez Perkins

Tues 16th March - Peacock at 12.05 in St James' Churchyard, Enfield Highway - Martin Shepherd

It felt like Spring for the first time today, and I saw my first butterfly of the year - a Red Admiral, which flew past my office window in Welwyn Garden City, just after lunch. It seems rather early for a migrant to have arrived, so I assume it is probably one which managed to overwinter somewhere - Ian Small

Went up to Balls Wood for half an hour at lunch time and saw 5 Brimstones, 6 Commas and Peacock, but no Orange Underwing Moths - Andrew Wood

London N18 (Edmonton area), 2 Small Tortoiseshells in the yard this morning - Gavin Vicary

Ponders End garden, 1pm, brief sighting of an orange butterfly, possible Comma but not definite - Andrew Middleton

Mon 15th March - My cousin was down Saturday and had a Peacock at Thundridge along the river - Nick Sampford

Wed 3rd March - Yesterday I saw a Red admiral on the western edge of Ladywalk Wood, Maple Cross. It was basking in the early afternoon (13.10) sun on the footbridge over the M25. I know this record is close to the county boundary but I think it just falls into Hertfordshire - Steve Pash

Mon 1st March - Ware (Widbury Hill ) Thursday 26/2/04. I found a Peacock at work, it was on a pallet outside in the frost. I took it into the warmth of my office and gave it some sugar water on a saucer, it fed from this and flew about the office. Its still OK today (1.03.04 ) I will release it tomorrow once the frost has cleared - Ian Edwards

Sun 29th February - Winter Meeting, a big thank you to everyone for coming despite the forecast of bad weather (which didn't happen). We hope you all enjoyed it, despite the technical hitches and it was nice to see so many new faces! - Liz Goodyear

Sun 15th February - While the generally cloudy days may have temporarily dampened hopes for the appearance of further overwintering butterflies, a MV moth-trap operated in a back garden at Garston (Watford) overnight from the 14th produced a single Common Quaker. The first adults of this common spring species typically appear in the 2nd or 3rd week of March (occasionally in late February in advanced years). If the moths are making an earlier start to this year, I suggest the moth-trappers do so as well! - Colin Everett

Thurs 12th February - Put the trap out in Stanmore Country Park, last night. Two points: had an early Double-striped Pug and three Dotted Borders. The last look very much like Scarce Umbers. About 60 macros in total. Small and Pale brindled Beauty, March Moth, Spring Usher, one Early Moth, Chestnut and Satellite were the the other species. I'm still sorting out the micros - John Hollingdale

Wed 11th February - Hitchin, today at 13.25 a Red Admiral flew up against conservatory window, fluttered and then disappeared in garden vegetation. Believe the squirrel who was scurrying around in the beech hedge, may have disturbed it - Val Fullforth

On Monday (9th Feb), Tony Bliss and 9 others in a walking group watched a Painted Lady sunning itself on the south side of Flamstead church at 1pm that day - news via Charles Baker (Beds & Northants Branch)

Sun 8th February - First Butterfly of the year yesterday in Hyde Park, Westminster - a Red Admiral, fairly pecked - Malcolm Hull

Sat 7th February - 11.25, Painted Lady at Harold Hill, Essex - Colin Jupp news via Andrew Middleton

We saw a very fresh looking Red Admiral at Fishers Green today. It was sunning itself on a path - Kevin and Sandra Standbridge

Thurs 5th February - Watford, I thought I would send this record to you. It was of Small Tortoiseshell in my front garden today, approx 12:00. It was either in or on a lavender plant when I disturbed it. It flew up, settled on the wall, then moved off - Bob Cripps

Wed 4th February - Vicarage Farm, Trent Park area 11.15am, Peacock in good condition, fluttered along field-edge and settled briefly - Robert Callf and Robin White (any other sightings today, please let me know LG)

2 o'clock, just saw a Small Tortoiseshell in The Hyde at Ware flitting around a sheltered bit of the A10 embankment - Andrew Wood

Tues 3rd February - I knew if I put some more photos up someone would have a butterfly sighting!

Fri 23rd January - North Harrow, I tried the Heath trap in a different part of the garden last night and lo and behold not one but two moths were in it this morning; the Chestnut and Dark Chestnut - John Hollingdale

Wed 21st January - Here are some news images to start with from Clive Burrows (in no particular order) - congratulations to Clive for being a runner up in the BC photographer of the year! If you have sent me pictures over the last few months please be patient I have a backlog, there are more new photos in Photo House, they just haven't been posted on this page yet - LG

Sat 17th January - Late news from the 11th January - Diana Furley on a local BNA walk was surprised to see a Red Admiral flying in Graffridge Wood, Knebworth last Sunday

Mon 12th January - (news via John Murray - In view of the weather yesterday, the observation below doesn't surprise me. I expected to see butterflies yesterday too. Did anyone else see anything?) Wheathampstead area, You might be interested that I saw a butterfly this morning (11th January) at the top of Marshall's Heath Lane, where it joins The Slype! I tried, but failed, to get a really close view of it when it landed briefly. From its size and what I could see of its appearance I am sure it was a Peacock, though I did not get a clear view of the "eyes" - Peter Wilkinson

Thurs 1st January - Harrow, at 7.30 this evening Margaret spotted a Large White flying around the kitchen. Is this a record? We think it came from a tray of plants brought to the Ruislip Barn in September by Alan Downie. Under one pot was a pupa and I put it in a flower pot full of compost took it home and forgot it. I've put it in the garage now but I don't think it will survive - John Hollingdale


	White Admiral limenitis camilla Brickett Wood photo: Malcolm Hull	White Admiral limenitis camilla Brickett Wood photo: Malcolm Hull	Large Skipper ochlodes venatus Brickett Wood photo: Malcolm Hull

Archips podana Balls Wood photo: Sandra Standbridge	Ringlet aphantopus hyperantus Balls Wood photo: Sandra Standbridge	White Admiral limenitis camilla Balls Wood photo: Sandra Standbridge	Small Skipper thymelicus sylvestris Balls Wood photo: Sandra Standbridge


Small Magpie eurrhypara hortulata Surrey photo: Steven Penn	The Drinker euthrix potatoria Surrey photo: Steven Penn	Painted Lady cynthia cardui photo: Frank Johnson	Painted Lady cynthia cardui photo: Frank Johnson

Grizzled Skipper pyrgus malvae Waterford Heath 2004 photo: Nick Sampford	Grizzled Skipper pyrgus malvae Waterford Heath 2004 photo: Nick Sampford	Small Copper lycaena phlaeas Waterford Heath 2004 photo: Nick Sampford	Small Copper lycaena phlaeas Waterford Heath 2004 photo: Nick Sampford

Pearl-bordered Fritillary clossiana euphrosyne Bentley Wood photo: Nick Sampford	Small Heath coenonympha pamphilus East Grinstead photo: Nick Sampford

A selection of images taken in Singapore in February and March 2004 by Richard Bigg

Chocolate Pansy junonia iphita	Common Caerulean	Common Hedge Blue actyolepis puspa	Lexias dirtea merguia


Mother Shipton callistege mi Cornmill Meadow photo: Sandra Standbridge	Buttoned Snouttaken at light in Ealing by David Howdon - May 2004 hypena rostralis photo: Rachel Terry


The plant stall at our branch AGM photo: John Murray	Our retiring Chairman is presented with a Richard Lewington print of Small Copper photo: John Murray