Despite the changeable weather conditions this last week, there has been some interesting sightings across the County with the Brown Argus appearing in both the Lowlands (Migrating) and in the Higher parts ( Peak District race) of Derbyshire. Also new brood specimens of the Red Admiral have appeared with sightings from the 8th of May 2022 coming from Langley Mill and Aldercar (Lucy Benniston), Windley (John Coupland), and from Ticknall Limeyards and Hilton Gravel Pit NR (both Chris Perry). Similarly new brood specimens of the Small Tortoiseshell have appeared with sightings from the 5th of May 2022 at the Staveley Trans Pennine Trail (Sid Morris) and from Biggin by Hulland (Janet Grindy). However, a mint Painted Lady seen on the 6th of May 2022 in the Mickleover garden of Max & Christine Maughan could have been bred and released locally whereas a worn individual noted on the Eastern Moors at Curbar by David Bottomley on the 9th of May 2022 is likely to have been a true migrant butterfly from the Continent or even further south from Africa. Brimstones are still evident with 20 seen at Killamarsh on the 8th of May 2022 (Neil & Lorraine Jones) and also 20 seen at Findern Footpaths (Liz Lenton & Janet Macdonald).
Moving on to the blue family, the Common Blue remains in low numbers with just ones and twos being recorded from just 8 sites in Lowland Derbyshire with no sightings yet from the Peak District, but the Small Copper has just started to be more plentiful with sightings from 18 locations in the County including 14 seen in a field containing sheep’s sorrel at Weston upon Trent on the 7th of May 2022 (Roger & Christine Martin). The Holly Blue continues to have an amazing Spring brood with another 125 individuals noted from 48 sites in mainly Southern Derbyshire with the Long Eaton area being a hot spot including 20 seen in the Field Farms Estate of the Town on the 8th of May 2022 (Roger & Christine Martin). The Migrating Brown Argus first appeared on the 7th of May 2022 at Allestree Park (Felicity Jackson) which was then followed by another individual noted at Stanton Lagoons NR on the 10th of May 2022 (Jim Steele) – not to be outdone, the Peak District race of the Brown Argus appeared on the 9th of May 2022 at both Coombs Dale (Paul Goodwin) and in Tansley Dale (Gordon & Alison Rooke) followed by 2 seen in Coombs Dale on the 10th of May 2022 (Andrew Woodhouse).
Meanwhile the Spring emerging butterflies continue to do well with the Orange Tip still in good numbers especially in the Peak District with 33 seen in Chee Dale on the 9th of May 2022 (Cate Beck & Sue Mitchell) and 25 seen at Thornhill Carr NR on the 10th May 2022 (Allan Bernau). The Dingy Skipper is also now doing well with sightings of just over 500 individuals from 55 sites in the County split 50 :50 between the Peak District and Brownfield sites in Lowland Derbyshire including 54 butterflies seen at 3 sites in the Chesterfield area on the 8th of May 2022 (Paul Townsend & Norman Jones) and 41 seen at the Forge site in Ironville on the same day (Sally Fisher & Deb Bliss) where the species is colonising new areas of this huge brownfield site. The other Spring butterfly which is doing really well in the Peak District is the Green Hairstreak whose distribution is quite remarkable here in Derbyshire – the higher and more exposed the site is, the better the species thrives with bilberry on the moors being the main larval foodplant – Tony Pioli recorded a minimum of 150 in the Goyt Valley on the 7th of May 2022 and the species is now common on Bleaklow (Dave Mallon) and at Heyden Clough close to the border with West Yorkshire ( Derek Whiteley). Further south, Gordon & Alison Rooke recorded 26 in Tansley Dale and Simon Roddis recorded 19 in Deep Dale Sheldon, both on the 9th of May 2022 – the larval foodplant at these calcareous grasslands being mainly birds foot trefoil. Meanwhile in Lowland Derbyshire the species is really scarce but pleasingly the Green Hairstreak has been seen recently at Aldercar (Lucy Benniston) and on the border with Notts at Toton Sidings (Marion Bryce) but the small colony at Stanton Ironworks looks as though it has been lost.
The Small Heath has begun to increase but in low numbers with sightings from 10 locations in mainly ones and twos on brownfield sites in Lowland Derbyshire and just showing at the Peak Fringe area of Dene Quarry/Gang Mine (Martin Cobham) and higher up on Longstone Edge (Frank Gallagher) where 2 individuals were seen on the 7th of May 2022.Pleasingly the iconic Wall Brown butterfly is now appearing more frequent with 17 individual noted from 11 sites in the Peak/ Peak Fringe areas of the County with 3 seen on Longstone Edge on the 5th of May 2022 (Paul Goodwin) and 2 seen at Ashover Rock (Peter Kidd), 2 seen in the Haddon Hall Estate (Ray Walker & Janet Grindy) and also 2 in Hoe Grange Quarry (Ray Walker & John Coupland) on the 8th of May 2022, just 1 day later than its first appearance there in 2021. Also individuals have appeared in gardens at Northwood, Darley Dale (Chris & Sheila Ragg and Christine Gregory) Two Dales (Peter Faulkner) and in Ashover (Mike & Jane Steel) which augers well for the future of this Endangered Butterfly species.
Finally, thanks to all the recorders who have sent me their great photos this last week – I have attached some of them including a Holly Blue that sought water from a plant in the garden of Alf Bousie and a female Emperor moth that was seen on the transect at Northwood, Darley Dale by Christine Gregory – I bet there are not many transects carried out in the UK where this species is seen!