As January 2022 comes to a close we can reflect on the variable weather conditions that the month had in store for us and which culminated in 2 named storms over the last weekend. Prior to that, a huge High Pressure system remained stationery over the southern half of the UK and which resulted in some fine but cold days which allowed some butterflies to come out of hibernation to soak up the rays of the sun around lunch time.
The total number of butterflies seen in Derbyshire outside during January 2022 were as follows :- Red Admiral – 8 no (0 no in January 2021); Small Tortoiseshell – 4 no (3 no); Peacock– 3 no (4 no) ; Comma – 1 no (1 no); Brimstone – 0 no (1 no) making a total of 16 butterflies seen in 4 species against 9 butterflies seen in January 2021 in 5 species. The Comma was seen on the 13th of January 2022 at Furness Vale, near New Mills (Nick Rowsley per Steve Orridge) and the latest butterfly sighting for this month came on the 26th of January 2022 when Marilyn Horner saw a Red Admiral feeding on mahonia in Thulston village.
Eric & Fiona Easom decided to seek out some warmer weather in mid-January 2022 when they visited the Island of Madeira for a week of sunshine and with a temperature of around 18c and 19c they were pleased to see a number of butterfly species on the wing there including the local Speckled Wood which appears orange compared to ours. Also noted were Clouded Yellows and Monarchs (see the attached photo montage)
As we enter February 2022 it will be interesting to see whether climate change brings any more surprises in not only the weather but also the appearance of other butterfly species in this part of the UK.
