Hello Everyone, After a great period of early Spring weather during the last week, it comes as no surprise that a cold spell of weather is now upon us as we enter a new month. Thanks to the many recorders who managed to get out and about into the Derbyshire countryside, as well as their gardens and parks, to record over 700 butterflies during this period, including 4 new species this year!

First of all the Holly Blue appeared on the 23rd of March 2022 in the Mickleover garden of Max & Christine Maughan –  further sightings of this species have since come from Chesterfield (Jim Alder), Creswell Railway Station (Neil Jones), Aston on Trent (Rob Waldron), Swarkestone (Roger Martin) and Willington (Andy Large). Then on the 25th of March 2022 the first confirmed sighting of the Green Veined White was recorded in the County at Pleasley Pit (Ian Hurst) which was then followed by other sightings at Linton

(Chris Leverington) and at Lady Lane, Denby (Jane Rogers). The real surprise was the appearance of a couple of Wall Browns in Derbyshire on the high ground above Matlock in the Starkholmes/Riber area – these being the earliest sightings of the species ever which was on the 25th of March 2022 and noted by Dave & Sue Evans. It is in complete contrast to the situation a mere 10 years ago when the first Wall Brown was seen on the 22nd of May 2012, a difference of virtually 2 months. What is concerning is that now that the weather has changed for the worst, it is highly unlikely that these butterflies will find a mate before they perish – we already have a ‘kamikaze brood’ noted sometimes in October so a ‘reconnaissance brood’ in March is not what we really want . Just to finish off the new arrivals this week, a Green Hairstreak was seen on bilberry on Bray Clough near Glossop on the 27th of March 2022 (per Dave Mallon), this being 1 day earlier than the previous record of the 28th of March (2012).

Species that have been reported earlier in March such as the Orange Tip have been seen now at a dozen sites across the County in mainly ones and twos but Paul Townsend saw 3 individuals on Hassop Common on the 28th of March 2022 so the species has now appeared in the Peak District as well as Lowland Derbyshire. Sightings of the Small White are certainly becoming far more widespread but the only additional sighting of the Large White came from the Elvaston garden of Mike Tong on the 25th of March 2022. The previously recorded Speckled Wood has now been noted at 6 new sites including Glapwell (David Elliott), Staveley (Mark Radford), Loundsley Green, Chesterfield ( Andrew Woodhouse), Linton ( Chris Leverington), Swadlincote (Ron Lane) and in Allestree Park (Steve Plant).

Moving on to the winter hibernators, there has been an increase of sightings recently in the order of 321 Small Tortoiseshells seen at 103 locations in the County with the highest count of 37 coming from Holme Brook, Loundsley Green in Chesterfield on the 24th of March 2022 (Andrew Woodhouse). This was followed by 141 Peacocks noted at 80 locations in Derbyshire with the highest count being 11 on the 26th of March 2022 at Linton ( Chris Leverington). Then there were120 sightings of the Brimstone from a total of 72 sites with the highest count being 15 seen on the 22nd of March 2022 at Creswell Crags (Jim Anderson). The Comma was seen at 52 sites with a total of 93 butterflies seen with the highest count of 8 seen on the 26th of March 2022 by Andrew Woodhouse at Holme Brook in Loundsley Green, Chesterfield. Only 2 recent sightings of the Red Admiral in the County with records on the 20th of March 2022 from both Swadlincote (Ron Lane) and at Forbes Hole, Long Eaton (Marion Bryce).

In a bid to cut down the amount of time that I spend on my computer, I will not be acknowledging receipt of butterfly casual  and/or transect records this year but you can get an automatic acknowledgement from me if you carry out the following simple task –  when you go into Outllook, go to Options on the top line, click on 2 boxes (Request a Delivery Receipt and Request a Read Receipt) This will then automatically confirm my receipt of your email as soon as I open it – simples! Naturally I will respond to any of your queries, especially to I D, in the usual way or if I have any queries on your recording forms.

Finally if you are still wanting to get involved in butterfly surveys this year there are vacancies for the Wider Countryside Butterfly Scheme at both Abney in the Peak District and at Radbourne in South Derbyshire – the commitment is to walk a set route once a month during the period May to August inclusive. Alternatively, you might want to join a team of volunteers on a rota – vacancies exist in the Hope Woodlands in the High Peak and in the nearby Upper Derwent Valley –  please let me know if you are interested.

Good Luck with this year’s season – let’s hope that it is much better than 2021

Update no 13 as at the 31st of March 2022 - including sightings of 4 new species in the County this week