The first outdoor sightings of butterflies have already been made this year with a sighting of a Red Admiral in a Walton, Chesterfield garden on the 1st of January 2022 by David Lunn (per Sid Morris), the earliest sighting of the species in the County, whilst another sighting was made on the 2nd of January 2022  when Marilyn Horner saw a Red Admiral flying between houses in Thulston village.  The last 2021 outdoor butterfly sighting was on the 31st of December when Dave & Sue Evans saw a Peacock flying along a roadside verge at Gilkin near Wirksworth (this equals the latest sighting for this species which is the same day in 2020)

Speaking of Peacocks, this species has a bizarre method of warning away potential predators when disturbed from their hibernation by not only flashing their wings to expose its ‘eyes’ but  also by making a distinct hissing noise by rubbing its wings together as well – have a look at the video sent to me by Nick Brown.

JAN