Hello Everyone, With the continuation of the very mild but blustery weather conditions prevailing for yet another week here in the UK, the days where we had sunshine certainly helped to prolong the life of some species and prevented others from entering into their hibernation as so far this Autumn we have yet to have a proper frost in this part of England – this situation also occurred in 5 of the last 8 years here so climate change is certainly having an effect on our seasons although no late record dates for butterfly species have yet been broken…there is yet still time though! This week there have been sightings of 10 species in the County with just the Brimstone and Common Blue not being seen since the last Update – details as follows:-
Large White :- Just 1 individual noted on the 22nd of October 2022 at Barlborough by Neil & Lorraine Jones.(the latest date for the species is the 1st November (2015))
Small White :- 11 individuals have been seen recently up to and including the 29th of October 2022 when Chris Perry saw one on the Derbyshire side of the County boundary near to Bennerley Viaduct. (latest date for this species is the 15th of November (2021))
Small Copper :- Undoubtedly the current hot spot for this species is Woo Dale where Ian & Joy White saw 20 individuals there on the 25th of October 2022 – there were also singletons noted at 4 other locations in the County this week as well.
Holly Blue :- Just 2 more third brood individuals were noted this last week – one at Barlborough on the 22nd of October 2022 (Neil & Lorraine Jones) and another in Arboretum Park, Derby on the 26th of October 2022 (Colin Bowler) – this last location is the first public park in the UK when it opened in 1840 and is thought to be the inspiration for the design of Central Park in New York City! The latest date for this species seen in Derbyshire is the 31st of October (2014))
Red Admiral :- Again the most common butterfly that can still be seen on the wing with sightings of 36 individuals noted in the County up to and including the 29th of October 2022 from 29 locations with the highest counts of 3 coming from Erewash Meadows NR, Ironville (Stephen Bacon) and also in Allestree Park (Felicity Jackson), both on the 28th of October 2022.
Painted Lady :- Surprisingly 2 individuals have been seen during this last week with one on the 22nd of October 2022 at Markham Vale North (Kev Nadin per Sid Morris) and another seen on flowering ivy from the 23rd to the 28th of October 2022 at Erewash Meadows NR, Ironville (Stephen Bacon).
Small Tortoiseshell :- Just 4 individuals were seen enjoying the mild conditions during the last week with the last sighting on the 26th of October 2022 at Hudson’s Garden Centre, Duffield (Ken & Pat Orpe).
Peacock :- Just one of this scarce autumnal 2022 species was seen this week which was sunning itself on a limestone wall in the town of Tideswell on the 22nd of October 2022 (Patrick Anderson)
Comma :- Just a couple of sightings this last week with records from Kedleston Park on the 22nd of October 2022 (Dave Armitt) and another seen on a hedgerow in Shirley on the 25th of October 2022 (Penny Northall)
Speckled Wood :- A total of 7 individuals were noted at 6 locations in the County this week with the last sightings on the 26th of October 2022 at both Wyver Lane, Belper (Dave Evans) and in Arboretum Park, Derby where Colin Bowler saw 2 individuals.
Finally Bryan Barnacle was treated to 10 minutes of entertainment in his Froggatt garden on the 29th of October 2022 when he saw a Humming Bird Hawk moth sheltering under an awning over his front window, despite the damp and dreary conditions. With a new month starting tomorrow, it is often the case for a change in weather conditions and it does look like the current spell of mild weather will finally be coming to an end so perhaps our reservoirs will soon be starting to fill up at last (see the attached photo of Carsington Water taken this last week which it is only 39% full)