Despite the fact that the Autumnal Equinox will soon be upon us, the weather during the last week has been quite benign with most days having a decent amount of sunshine on offer, although the last few days have had a somewhat cool N W airflow which didn’t help our butterflies very much, unless they could find a sheltered spot such as a stone rock to sunbathe (see the attached photos from Ian White and Peter Walker). However this change of wind direction did not prevent a total of 19 species being recorded in the County which is good for the time of the year with all 3 whites being seen up to and including the 17th of September 2022 – namely the Large White, Small White and Green Veined White.
Other recent records include :-
Brimstone :- Sightings of 2 individuals on the 13th of September 2022 at Tansley Dale (Gordon & Alison Rooke)
Small Copper :- As expected a large increase in the numbers seen this week with 140 individuals noted from 45 sites across the County with the highest counts coming Woo Dale (16 no – Ian & Joy White), Bradford Dale (13 no – Brian Cuttell) and Clough Wood
(12 no – Rod Dunn).
Brown Argus Migrating :- A total of 5 individuals have been noted this week with the latest coming on the 16th of September 2022 from Rose End Meadows (Gary Atkins).
Brown Argus Peak District Race :- A total of 7 individuals were seen this week from 4 sites with the latest sightings on the 14th of September 2022 coming from both Lathkill Dale (Chris & Sheila Ragg) and Coombs Dale (Andrew Woodhouse).
Common Blue :- A total of 53 individuals have been seen at 15 sites this week with the highest count of 9 coming from both Salter Wood, Denby (Jane Rogers) and at Markham Pit South ( Sid Morris).
Holly Blue :- Unexpectedly there have been 3 sightings of this species this week with individuals noted at the National Stone Centre, Wirksworth on the 11th of September 2022 (Peter Calvert), in Lathkill Dale on the 14th of September 2022 (Chris & Sheila Ragg) and in the Allestree garden of Ken & Pat Orpe on the 16thj of September 2022 – it is likely that these are third brood butterflies.
Red Admiral :- Pleasingly this species has been slightly more common this week with ripe fruit and flowering ivy plants being their main attraction – sightings of 115 butterflies from 62 sites were received from across the County with the highest counts coming from Godfreyhole on the 17th of September 2022 (7 no – Jean Hurdle) and 6 no from the Bradwell garden of Sally Pereira and Steve Byers on the 13th of September 2022. Interestingly, Nigel Davidson saw 50 Red Admirals recently in the gardens at the Castle of Mey, near John O’ Groats – now they have got a long way to return to Continental Europe as I doubt that many will over-winter in the North Of Scotland!
Painted Lady :- Surprisingly 13 individuals have been seen in the County this week up to and including the 17th of September 2022 with 2 noted on flowering thistle heads in Tissington village on the 14th of September 2022 (Derek Brownlee – see photo) With the wind in the cool N W direction it is ideal conditions for this species to get assistance in heading back to North Africa where many will spend the winter months.
Small Tortoiseshell :- Slightly more individuals were seen during this last week with sightings of 73 individuals from 29 sites across the County with the highest counts of just 5 coming from Pleasley Pit (Willy Lane), Ryder Point Quarry ( Badger Walker & Ken Orpe) and on the 17th of September 2022 at Godfreyhole (Jean Hurdle)
Peacock :- Another disappointing week with just 8 individuals seen at 6 locations and even a recent trip to the Calke Tramway Tunnel by John & Sylvia Green only produced sightings of 3 Peacocks and 20 Herald moths in deep hibernation there.
Comma :- A good week for this species with flowering Ivy and ripe blackberries being the main attraction for 127 individuals seen at 46 locations in Derbyshire – highest counts have come from Drakelow NR (11 no – Andy Large & Nigel Cowl), Allestree Park (9 no – Bill Grange) and Craft Wood, Wessington (7 no – Eric & Fiona Easom)
Speckled Wood :- Again the star of the show this week with even more butterflies ( total of 460 no) from 90 sites across the County with the highest count of 36 coming from Pleasley Pit (Willy Lane), 26 from Manor Farm, Long Eaton (Marion Bryce), 25 seen in Lathkill Dale lower reaches ( Chris & Sheila Ragg) and 23 seen in Sunart Fields, Whaley Bridge (Chris Bowen)
Wall Brown :- The latest sighting that I have received in the County for this species came on the 14th of September 2022 from high on Tideslow Rake (Andrew Woodhouse) and with only 10 others seen (a mixture of mint and worn individuals) at 5 sites before then, it looks like the flight period of the species could have come to an end in Derbyshire as the cool N W wind would not have helped at its sites high in the Peak District. Conversely, David Chandler of B C Essex informs me that 4 third brood individuals were seen in Essex on the 18th of September 2022, two of which were in a pairing flight (see the attached photo of a female)
Gatekeeper :- A late individual was seen on the 7th of September 2022 in Allestree Park (Bill Grange & Steve Plant).
Meadow Brown :- A dozen late individuals have been noted at 4 sites this week up to and including the 14th of September 2022 when Andrew Woodhouse saw one in Coombs Dale.
Small Heath :- Just 7 individuals seen in the Peak District this week with one at Lightwood, Buxton on the 12th of September 2022 by Steve Orridge and 6 seen in Tansley Dale on the 13th of September 2022 (Gordon & Alison Rooke).
Many observers have been delighted to see the migrant Humming Bird Hawk moth in their gardens this year with red valerian being the main attraction and indeed Sally Pereira has regularly dead headed her plants so that they are now having a second flush of colour and amazingly she saw 4 individuals in her Bradwell garden on the 13th of September 2022 and Barbara Wager saw 3 on the 17th of September 2022 in her Thorpe garden – so there is a message there for you to continue with dead heading of the plants!
