Despite the cold but bright start to the New Year, it was not long before additional outdoor butterfly sightings were made in the County thanks to eagle eyed recorders! The list to date includes the following records :-
Red Admiral :- Paul Beard tells me that he saw this species in his Wingerworth garden at 9.40 am on the 1st of January 2022 – could this be the first butterfly sighting in the UK in the New Year? Then followed another sighting of the Red Admiral on the 5th of January 2022 when Felicity Jackson saw an individual taking nectar from a flowering mahonia shrub outside Allestree Hall.
Small Tortoiseshell :- Dave Evans of Belper saw an individual in his garden on the 1st of January 2022 (equalling the earliest sighting in 2021) and Gordon Shaw noted another individual on the 2nd of January 2022 which again was seen taking nectar from a mahonia plant in his West Hallam garden.
As well as the excellent butterfly photos taken by Derek Brownlee during his tour of the UK in 2021, I have also attached a blank transect rota form for 2022 – this year the transect weeks start on a Friday so hopefully this document will help you in planning your availability during this year.
