Now that the Autumnal Equinox has passed we are now facing 6 months of longer and colder nights, which have already started, but at least the reservoirs will start to fill up again once the Atlantic starts to throw its weather fronts at us. Despite this scenario, many volunteers have been enjoying the last of the ‘Summer Wine’ when it comes to butterfly recording and transects and indeed during the last week there have been 18 species recorded in the County with only the Holly Blue failing to show itself since the last Update.
The current mystery of the Wall Brown shows no sign of letting up in the County with a further 9 individuals noted at 5 sites in the Peak/Peak Fringe areas this last week, some worn but others mint, with the latest sighting of a pristine female noted on the 24th of September 2022 at Alport Heights by India Milward.(see attached photo). This is highly unusual as in previous years any third brood individuals have nearly always been males so let’s hope that she finds one of those males very soon!
As expected there has been fewer sightings of the Speckled Wood this week across the County with just over 250 seen but they came from a similar number of sites (82 against 90 last week) with the highest counts in double figures coming from Belper Parks (12 no – Adrian & Rebecca Rochford), Whitwell Wood (11 no – Jess Bailey) and Drakelow NR (10 no- Andy Large & Nigel Cowl)
Other recent sightings of interest include :-
Brimstone :- A late sighting of this species on the 23rd of September 2022 at Carr Vale NR (Mike Beck)
Small Copper :- Slightly fewer seen during this last week but a total of 112 individuals seen at 35 sites is still good for the time of the year with the highest counts coming from Clough Wood (15 no – Chris & Sheila Ragg), Dene Quarry, Cromford (11 no – Martin Cobham) and at The Dene, Middleton (10 no – Dave & Sue Evans).
Brown Argus Migrating :- The latest sighting that I have received for this species is from Drakelow NR on the 17th of September 2022 where 2 were noted by Andy Large & Nigel Cowl)
Brown Argus Peak District Race :- The latest sighting for this species was on the 21st of September 2022 in Millers Dale Quarry where 2 were seen by Nicky Loveday.
Common Blue :- Still hanging on at 17 sites across the County with the latest seen on the 23rd of September 2022 at Millers Dale Quarry (Peter Faulkner), Avenue Country Park, Wingerworth ( Phil Gilbert) and in Salter Wood, Denby where Jane Rogers managed to photo a mint male (see attached) which suggests a partial third brood there. Recent highest counts on the 17th of September 2022 have come from Markham Pit South (7 no – Sid Morris) and at Woodside NR, Shipley (6 no – Jim Steele).
Red Admiral :- A similar number of this species were seen during this week (113 no against 115 no) but they were seen at 46 sites instead of 62 with flowering ivy being the most favoured source of nectar – highest gatherings were seen along a hedgerow in Sinfin
on the 18th of September 2022 ( 10 no – Mark Sherwood) followed by 10 noted at Creswell Crags on the 23rd of September 2022 (Peter Ham) and 9 noted at the National Stone Centre, Wirksworth on the 23rd of September 2022 (Jonathan Page).
Painted Lady :- Surprisingly 11 individuals were noted at 10 sites in the County during this last week up to and including the 24th of September 2022 when Jane Rogers saw 2 no feeding on Michaelmas Daisies in the Churchyard at Denby – interestingly Jane managed a close up photo of one of them which shows spotting within their eyes (see the attached amazing photo)
Small Tortoiseshell :- It is somewhat distressing that only 24 individuals have been seen in just ones and twos at 17 sites across the County this last week – this species should be enjoying late sunshine and feeding on fallen fruit and late flowering shrubs and plants but it looks like the intense spells of heat during July and August 2022 must have killed of many caterpillars which were trying to feed up on the withered plants of stinging nettles.
Peacock :- An even worse scenario exists with this species as only 8 individuals have been noted at 8 sites in the County this week with the last sighting being in Hoe Grange Quarry NR on the 23rd of September 2022 (Max & Christine Maughan). It looks like all those caterpillar ‘nests’ have also fallen victim to the withered remains of stinging nettles as well.
Comma :- Another species that relies on stinging nettle for its survival, although it also uses hops and elm, so we are fortunately still seeing a decent number of them in the County now with 90 no noted at 35 locations with the highest counts coming from hedgerows containing ripe blackberries at Haddon Hall Medieval Park (16 no – Steve & Lin Orridge) and in Denby Village (11 no – Jane Rogers)
Gatekeeper :- There were 4 late individuals seen on the 16th of September 2022 at Carr Vale NR (Lin Parkin) although the latest date for the species in the County is the 27th of September (2016).
Meadow Brown :- At least 10 late individuals of this species were also noted on the 16th of September 2022 at Carr Vale NR (Lin Parkin) although the latest date for this species in the County is the 10th of October (2017).
Small Heath :- 3 late individuals have been seen in the Peak/Peak Fringe areas of the County during this last week with singletons noted at Hay Dale (Ian & Joy White), Lightwood, Buxton (Shirley Johnson) and on the 23rd of September 2022 at Rose End Meadows NR (Martin Cobham).
Despite the change in the weather I have received sightings of the migrant Humming Bird Hawk moth virtually every day this last week or so with records of singletons from 12 locations across the County up to and including the 25th of September 2022 when Stuart Slack saw an individual in his Two Dales garden – interesting that on the 21st of September 2022, Richard Lowe saw one at rest in his Crich garden (see the attached unusual photo); also this week’s photos include a striking photo of a Pale Tussock moth caterpillar (who said that moths were drab?) that was taken by Dave Treacher on the lid of his green dustbin in his Bamford garden.
With this week being the last week of the transect season it does look as though there will be some spells of sunshine which will enable volunteers to carry out Week 26 with a positive result but according to the latest forecast, Friday the 30th of September 2022 looks to be positively wet and windy – they have however been known to be wrong occasionally!
