A cool week with limited sunshine and still no rain (April 2022 has had only 50% of normal rainfall in our part of the UK) meant that butterflies were relatively few and far between and consequently transect recorders and their results suffered accordingly.

Just a couple of Dingy Skipper records last weekend before the weather turned cool and gloomy with a singleton seen and photographed at the Forge site in Ironville on the 23rd of April 2022 (Steve Bacon) whilst Paul Townsend noted 6 at Shirebrook Tip on the 24th of April 2022 – then on a sunny afternoon on the 29th of April 2022 Dave & Sue Evans saw the first Dingy Skipper in the Peak District when an individual was noted at Intake Quarry alongside the High Peak Trail and Gordon Rooke saw 6 individuals in Tansley Dale on the same day – this was followed by a singleton in Millers Dale Quarry on the 30th of April 2022 (Nicky Loveday). The highlight of the last week has been the large numbers of Holly Blues being seen on the wing with another 105 individuals noted at 38 sites across mainly Lowland Derbyshire but one was seen recently in Thornhill Carrs NR near Bamford (Joanna Mackey) and others in the Peak District were seen at the National Stone Centre, Wirksworth (Alan Walker), in Parwich village (Saskia Tallis) and in Coombs Dale (Al & John Roberts) all on the 29th of April 2022 but the highest count was when a massive 30 individuals were noted flying around Draycott village on the 24th of April 2022 (Roger Martin). Similarly about 120 Speckled Woods appeared at around 47 sites throughout Derbyshire with the highest recent counts coming from Belper Parks ( 11 no – Adrian & Rebecca Rochford) and from Swadlincote Woodlands (9 no – Alexandra Hunt). Not so common now is the Red Admiral with just 2 recent sightings – individuals noted at Calke Park (Angela Goley) and in Foxley Wood, Linton (Chris Leverington) but pleasingly the Brimstone is still relatively common and widespread with the highest count of 9 coming from Findern Footpaths on the 24th of April 2022 (Joan Tidy & Jan Ashford).

The Spring arrivals have been keeping a low profile although the Orange Tip is quite common once the sun appears for any length of time – 31 were noted in Toyota Meadows on the 24th of April 2022 (Martin & Sue Hubbard) and 30 were seen in Brierley Wood by Paul Townsend on the 21st of April 2022. The other notable species include the Small Copper which was seen at just 4 sites recently – 2 locations in Buxworth (Vicki Leng & Angie Seymour), Hilton Gravel Pit NR (Sue Stubbs) with 3 individuals seen in Clough Wood on the 24th of April 2022 (Rod Dunn). The Green Hairstreak has not  yet managed to become widespread in the Peak District but encouraging sightings have come from Grattan Dale (Doug Aston), Tansley Dale (Gordon Rooke) Curbar Edge (Jane Taylor), the top end of Padley Gorge (Chris Love) and at Ramsley Reservoir, Greaves’s Piece, Owler Bar with 21 seen at Curbar Gap (all Andrew Woodhouse).

 

Update no 17 as at the 30th of April 2022