With temperatures during the last week remaining higher than normal it is no surprise that a few butterflies have been tempted out of hibernation recently. Vic Pearson was walking near Hindlow on the 400 metre contour on the 15th of February 2023, and with a temperature of around only 5c, he noticed a Small Tortoiseshell fly out from the crevices of a dry stone wall at around lunch time on the day. Also much further south in the County, Stephen Bacon saw a Red Admiral at Erewash Meadows near Ironville on the same day. Then on the 18th of February 2023 Max & Christine Maughan saw both a Red Admiral and a Brimstone flying in their Mickleover garden during a sunny spell with the temperature around 13c. Then on Sunday the 19th of February, Marion Bryce saw a Red Admiral in Trent Meadows, Long Eaton.
Elsewhere hibernating moths and butterflies have kept some recorders busy on their travels with Sid Morris visiting the tunnels near Barrow Hill where he saw 3 Herald Moths and 2 Peacock butterflies hibernating there on the 12th of February 2023 and Dave Gilbert visited the tunnels at Calke Park on the 14th of February 2023 where he saw a similar number of species settled there (see some of the attached photos)
Further afield, Robert Wardell has emailed me from Grenoble in S E France to say that despite temperatures there of around 13c there have been a number of butterflies seen on the wing including the hibernators that you would expect to see here in March in the UK together with Wall Brown, Speckled Wood and Large Tortoiseshell!
With the new transect season being about 6 weeks away, it is not too early to make contact with your local co-ordinator to confirm your willingness to paricipate with the sterling work in carrying out transects across the Region. Last year we had virtually 500 volunteers carrying out this important survey work and to help you with the dates, I have attached a blank rota form for your use – please let your co-ordinator know which weeks that should be kept clear for your holidays this year. There are still a few places left for the Butterfly Transect Training and Butterfly I D session that Pat and I are doing on Sunday the 19th of March 2023 from Noon till 2.30pm at the Evergreen Club in Allestree – send me an email if you are interested in this free event. If you are unable to make this date then Willy Lane is presenting a Butterfly I D session at Pleasley Pit on Sunday the 26th of March 2023 at 11 am.
