Everyone, After a week of decent weather conditions, it comes as no surprise that there has been a mini invasion along the East Coast (from Suffolk to Yorkshire) of both migrant Painted Lady and Red Admiral butterflies together with the rare Humming Bird Hawk Moth with sightings of the latter species coming from 8 locations in Derbyshire including the Hope Valley (Helen Perkins, Cate Beck & Sally Pereira) Edale (Joe Margetts), Northwood, Darley Dale (Christine Gregory), Thorpe (Barbara Wager), Ednaston
(Maggie Percival), Middleton by Youlgrave (Doug Aston) and Allestree ( Chris Perry)
New species to appear this week in the County include the Purple Hairstreak that was seen in Kedleston Park on the 20th of June 2022 (Mike Redfern) together with the Essex Skipper which was recorded on the 20th of June 2022 at both Drakelow NR (Andy Large) and at Poulter Country Park (Wily Lane) and also sightings of the summer version of the Comma which were noted at Drakelow NR on the 20th of June 2022 (Andy Large) and at Derwent Mouth in Sawley on the 20th of June 2022 (Roger Martin), who also saw 2 Marbled Whites on the Derbyshire side of Toton Sidings on the same day.
Butterfly numbers on some transects have naturally increased in number during Weeks 11 & 12 with the Meadow Brown now becoming common at some sites – highest counts have come from Salter Wood, Denby ( 394 no in10 species on the 20th of June 2022 – Jane Rogers), Tansley Dale (191 no in 17 species on the 29th of June 2022 – Gordon & Alison Rooke), Clover Close, Elvaston ( 144 no in 7 species on the 15th of June 2022 – Robin & Sally Bryce), Pleasley Pit ( 127 no in 14 species on the 17th of June 2022 – Willy Lane), Markham Pit South ( 116 no in 9 species on the 15th of June 2022 –Sid Morris), Forge Site 2, Ironville (114 no in 6 species on the 16th of June 2022 – Sally Fisher), Lathkill Dale NNR ( 111 no in 16 species on the 18th of June 2022 – Al & John Roberts), Forge Site 1 Ironville (109 no in 13 species – Sally Fisher), and in Chee Dale (101 no in 14 species on the 17th of June 2022 – Cate Beck et al)