News functions10 May - Knebworth week 6. Despite ideal weather, only 11 butterflies recorded on the 2 transects (20c, 99% sun, SE 2) - Small White 4, Green-veined White 2, Peacock 2, Orange-tip, Holly Blue & Speckled Wood
9 May - Astonbury Wood. 1050-1115 hrs (18c, 100% sun, SE 2) - Orange-tip 2 (1 male & 1 female) & Speckled Wood
8 May - WCBS Aston. 1110-1205 hrs (15c, 100% sun, E 2) - 2 butterflies (Small White & Speckled Wood)
7 May - Stevenage week 6. Transect 1050-1210 hrs (15c, 90% sun, NE 3) - 12 butterflies (Green-veined White 4, Orange-tip 4, Holly Blue 2, Small White & only 2nd Speckled Wood of year here). 2 Holly Blue & Peacock in garden
5 May - Large White. First Large White of the year on eastern side of Knebworth Park
1 May - Stevenage week 5. Transect walked again 1215-1325 hrs (17c, 16% sun, NE 3) - 6 butterflies (Peacock 4, Green-veined White, Holly Blue). First garden Brimstone (male) of the year
30 Apr - Knebworth week 5. Transects not walked since week 2. Walked between 1035 and 1255 hrs (14-16c, 80% sun, S 4) - 18 butterflies (Orange-tip 5, Brimstone 3, Green-veined White 3, Small White 3, Peacock 2, Speckled Wood 2) - average total for week, In garden, male Orange-tip (first for year here) on 'Bowles Mauve'
29 Apr - Stevenage week 5. Transect walked 1030-1150 hrs (13c, 82% sun, S 4-5) - 2 Peacocks. Stiff breeze did not help. Will probably walk transect again for this week
12 Apr - Knebworth week 2. Mixed bag for the 2 transects. The Park walked 1250-1400 hrs (17c) - 4 butterflies (Peacock 2, Brimstone 2). Woods 1415-1500 hrs (19c) - 16 butterflies (Peacock 10, Orange-tip 4, Brimstone 2) 2nd best year for week since survey started in 2017
8 Apr - 4 Firsts of the year. Stevenage transect 1250-1405 hrs (16c, 37% sun, SE4) - 10 butterflies (Brimstone 4, Peacock 3 plus 3 firsts - Orange-tip, Green-veined White & Holly Blue). Also first Speckled Wood off Whittington Lane, Stevenage
6 Apr - Fairlands Valley Park. South end - 5 Peacock, 2 Brimstone & Red Admiral. Andy Day reports 6 Peacock, Comma & Holly Blue in northern section north of the Environment Lake
5 Apr - Species accounts updated - UKBMS. UKBMS 2023 abundance data added
4 Apr - Small White. First of the year - male in Whittington Lane, Stevenage (TL243236)
1 Apr - Orange-tip Knebworth Park. At TL228214 reported by Tom Speller. Walked Stevenage transect week 1 (1240-1355 hrs, 14c, 83% sun, SE 4) : 6 butterflies (Brimstone 3, Peacock 2 & Comma)
30 Mar - Langley & Norton Green. Brimstone in Langley - not reported in TL2022 since 2004. 1st Small Tortoiseshells of the year at Norton Green: 1 near pond and 1 in Burleigh Meadow. Several Peacock and Brimstone plus 2 Comma