One of the effects of a prolonged hot spell is the ability of some species to produce a second brood and this has occurred recently here in Derbyshire with the sighting of 8 Dingy Skippers at 2 sites on the Markham Pit South complex on the 8th of August 2022 (Debbie Giles). This occurrence has been noted in 6 of the last 7 years in the County (both Lowland and in the Peak District) so it has almost become expected due to climate change – prior to that, second brood individuals were noted in just 6 years out of the previous 20 years, going back to 1995, with nothing seen prior to that date. Another factor involved with hot weather is that some butterflies appear to be either aberrations or dwarf individuals – indeed Alan Jones noted a dwarf specimen of a Gatekeeper at Darley/Nutwood N R in Derby recently whilst Tony Pioli saw a dwarf aberration of a Wall Brown in the Goyt Valley, and Badger Walker and I saw a dwarf Wall Brown at Ryder Point Quarry on the 18th of August 2022 and Ian & Joy White saw an aberration of a Valezina in Monsal Dale on the 18th of August 2022. Very soon fresh individuals of the Meadow Brown could be seen in the County – this species manages to have a delayed emergence until late August/early September due to the very varied length of time taken by the larvae to reach maturity. These late individuals often lack black dots on the underside (see the attached photos for the difference with earlier individuals).
Now that we have reached the end of Week 20 of the 2022 transect season, it is possible to look at this year’s data so far and unfortunately the initial results are not looking good for some sites eg Hoe Grange Quarry NR which is 20% down in butterfly numbers compared to 2021, Tansley Dale which is down by 10% compared to 2021despite19 species being recorded by Gordon Rooke in Week 20, and even Lathkill Dale NNR is only just holding its own. One of our transects at West Hallam Ash Tip has managed an increase of 13% which is very pleasing and is mainly due to the efforts of the Owner of the site carrying out some important conservation work during last winter, including putting cattle in from October to March, and no longer!. Early results from this year’s Big Butterfly Count put the most commonest butterfly recorded under this scheme as being the Large White, followed by the Gatekeeper; Small White; Meadow Brown; and then the Red Admiral – good to see this latter species doing better after a poor 2021.
Meanwhile, back here in Derbyshire other important sightings noted during the last week include:-
Speckled Wood :- New brood specimens are being seen with 35 noted at Pleasley Pit on the 16th of August 2022 (Willy Lane), 29 noted at Manor Farm LNR, Long Eaton on the 13th of August 2022 (Brenda & Mick Meakin) and 23 noted in Hardwick Wood near Wingerworth on the 14th of August 2022 (Peter Kidd).
Wall Brown :- At least 94 individuals have been noted during the last week from 42 sites across the County with the highest count of 10 coming from Ryder Point Quarry (Badger Walker & Ken Orpe) on the 18th of August 2022 followed by 9 noted at Dene Quarry, Cromford ( Gary Atkins) and 6 seen at both Ashover Rock (Steve Plant) and Little Bumper Piece, Rowsley (Robert & Margaret Davies) . Other sightings from new sites include the New Whittington garden of Peter Walker, the Whaley Bridge garden of Angie & Alan Seymour, the Wakebridge garden of Fred & Gill Dyson, the Ogston garden of Caroline Wakefield, the Hathersage garden of Robert & Margaret Davies, the Bradwell garden of Sally Pereira & Steve Byers, Belper Lane Ends (Emma Bungay), and the Belper garden of Nigel Davidson. It looks like the species is also visiting new areas in Cheshire with one seen along the Macclesfield Canal at Higher Poynton (John Cutter) whilst in Derbyshire the species was noted at 5 new sites across the Eastern Moors (including the Longshaw Estate) by Andrew Woodhouse during the last week.
Red Admiral :- Highest counts this week have come from the garden of Shane Bates in Peak Forest who saw 30 individuals on his patch of hemp agrimony in his garden on the 16th of August 2022 followed by 20 noted on buddleias at Ryder Point Quarry on the 18th of August 2022 (Badger Walker & Ken Orpe)
Small Tortoiseshell :- Fresh individuals were noted at a number of sites recently with 25 seen at Ryder Point Quarry on the 18th of August 2022 (Badger Walker & Ken Orpe) and 20 seen in the Peak Forest garden of Shane Bates on the 16th of August 2022.
Peacock :- Most buddleias seem devoid of this species now although Shane Bates recorded 20 on hemp agrimony in his Peak Forest garden on the 16th of August 2022.
Silver Washed Fritillary :- Still being seen up to and including the 19th of August 2022 with records from 9 sites including gardens at Fenny Bentley (Derek Brownlee) and Wakebridge near Crich (Fred & Gill Dyson)
Common Blue :- A large count of 160 was noted on the 13th of August 2022 at Staveley Works by Andrew Woodhouse, and again Salter Wood Denby maintains a hot spot for this species with 119 noted there on the 15th of August 2022 seen by Jane Rogers, who managed to get the Organisers of the Music & Beer Festival to agree to reduce the amount of grass cutting for car parking there later in the month – if you don’t ask, you don’t get….
Holly Blue :- Still being recorded mainly in gardens in ones and twos with sightings from 24 locations this week in the County.
Small Copper :- Sightings from 26 locations this week with the maximum count of 6 coming from Tansley Dale on the 16th of August 2022 (Gordon & Alison Rooke)
Brown Argus Migrating :- Only sightings from just 7 sites in Lowland Derbyshire, mainly ones and twos, but 3 were seen at Pleasley Pit LNR on the 16th of August 2022 (Willy Lane) and 3 at Staveley Works (Andrew Woodhouse) on the 13th of August 2022
The summer hairstreaks are just holding on with sightings of both the White Letter Hairstreak and the Purple Hairstreak being made up to and including the 14th of August 2022 – the latter species was noted at both Jim Mart NR (Nikki Mahadevan) and also in Kedleston Park (John Barker), whilst the former species was seen in his Darley Dale garden (Simon Roddis) and also at Clough Wood (again Simon Roddis).
Sightings of migrant butterflies and moths have continued up to the 19th of August 2022 with records received from 18 sites for the Painted Lady butterfly, mainly ones and twos, but 8 were seen on the buddleias at Ryder Point Quarry on the 18th of August 2022
(Badger Walker & Ken Orpe) Also the Humming Bird Hawk moth continues to be noted with records up to and including the 19th of August 2022 coming from 15 sites – mainly gardens with either buddleias or red valerian still in flower.
Finally some recorders have noted yet more Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells entering houses and outbuildings ready for hibernation – see the attached photo of one of the latter species seen by Terry Burke in his Sheffield house – do they know something that we don’t know?
