As the warm and sunny weather continues, with just the odd day of rain, and with no frost as yet, it does mean that both butterflies and humans alike have taken advantage of the balmy conditions. Despite no further sightings of  the Wall Brown this week, there were a couple of further sightings of the third brood Holly Blues, this time in the Hartshorne garden of John Scofield on the 14th of October 2022, together with another on the same day in the Mickleover garden of Max & Christine Maughan thus making a total of 12 species that have been seen in the County recently, other details being as below:-

Brimstone :- Surprisingly a total of 8 individuals at 8 sites across the County have been tempted out of hibernation recently up to and including the 13th of October 2022

Large White :- Individuals still being seen at 10 sites in the County with 3 noted on the 13th of October 2022 at Godfreyhole (Jean Hurdle) and 2 seen at Barlborough C P on the same day (Neil & Lorraine Jones).

Small White :- Still fairly common across Derbyshire with 32 individuals seen at 28 sites up to and including the 16th of October 2022

Small Copper :- As expected this small aggressive butterfly has done well this Autumn with yet another 58 individuals noted at 23 sites in Derbyshire with Woo Dale being the current hotspot where Ian & Joy White noted 28 butterflies there on the 14th of October 2022.

Common Blue :- A total of 5 individuals were clinging on to life at 3 sites up to and including the 13th of October 2022 including sightings at Pleasley Pit (Anita Aked & Ian Hurst), Markham Vale South (Sid Morris) and at Barrowhill, Staveley (Paul Townsend)

Red Admiral :-  This species is the current most common butterfly around with flowering ivy plants being their main source of nectar – this has enabled recorders to see 113 individuals at 57 sites up to and including the 16th of October 2022 including 10 noted along the Monsal Trail in Chee Dale on the 11th of October 2022 (Ian & Joy White)

Painted Lady :- A late sighting was received from Marilyn Horner of an individual in her Aston on Trent garden on the 8th of October 2022 – let’s hope that the butterfly finds her way to North Africa where she will spend the winter.

Small Tortoiseshell :- Surprisingly 10 individuals have been seen at 9 locations across the County with 2 being noted in Buxworth on the 13th of October 2022 (Vicki Leng)

Peacock ;- This species has been a big disappointment this Summer and Autumn so it is hardly surprising that just a singleton was seen recently when Sid Morris saw one at Markham Vale South on the 13th of October 2022

Comma :- The fine weather is still bringing more individuals out of hibernation with 38 butterflies seen at 22 locations recently with again flowering ivy being the main attraction as well as sedums and michaelmas daisies. The recent highest count of 6 was on the 11th of October 2022 along the Monsal Trail in Chee Dale (Ian & Joy White).

Speckled Wood :- Yet more individuals seen recently with 23 no seen at 13 locations across the County up to and including the 13th of October 2022 with the highest count of 6 coming from Tideswell Dale (Ian & Joy White) and 5 along the Clowne Greenway (Neil &

Lorraine Jones)

It certainly has been the year of the migrant Humming Bird Hawk moth with another 6 individuals noted in gardens across the County  up to and including the 14th of October 2022 when John Coupland saw one in his Allestree garden on that date. Attached is a photo of an individual seen in the Crich garden of Richard Lowe on the 11th of October 2022 – enjoy!

Finally Sid Morris and his daughter decided to take a look for hibernating butterflies and moths in the tunnel system along the Monsal Trail on the 10th of October 2022 – both Headstone and Cressbrook tunnels produced results with many Herald moths seen but far fewer Small Tortoiseshells and Peacocks as was to be expected given their lack of numbers this year.