After the wettest March since 1981, it was a very pleasant surprise to get 3 days of almost continuous sunshine at the beginning of April 2023 which pleasingly coincided with the start of the butterfly transect season. Most recorders managed to get their surveys done in this period although 20 sites failed to produce a single sighting despite the vigilance of the transect walker. In this situation, could I ask that the surveyor still fills in a record sheet and emails it to everyone as it all goes into the final data at the end of the year.

New species to emerge in the County at the beginning of April 2023 include:-

Holly Blue :- 4 individuals were first seen on the 4th of April 2023 in gardens at Long Eaton (Joan Breakwell), Sawley (Bryan and Jennifer Sewell), Belper (David Goldstraw) and at Langley Common (Kath Patrick). This small pale blue butterfly is often seen busily flying along hedgerows in parks and gardens at this time of the year looking to find a female especially where holly bushes are near.

Orange Tip :- Just 9 individuals have been noted this week at 4 locations with sightings at Darley Dale (Rod Dunn) on the 3rd of April 2023 and at Wingerworth (Robin Elliott) on the same day – followed by sightings on the 4th of April 2023 at Sawley (Bryan & Jennifer Sewell) and Denby Village (Jane Rogers)

Other species noted this last week include :-

Small White :- Individuals have been noted at the following locations during the last week :- Shirland (Nikki Mahadevan), Allestree (Jenny Emerson), the Forge, Ironville (Sally Fisher), Two Dales (Peter Faulkner) and Darley Dale (Rod Dunn).

Speckled Wood :- Just 2 individuals were noted on the transect at Weleda, Shipley on the 3rd of April 2023 (Kerry Riley)

The remainder of the butterfly species seen either on transects or as casual sightings in the County were the 4 hibernators :-

Brimstone :- A total of 123 individuals were seen at 65 locations in the County with the highest count of 11 number coming on the 1st of April 2023 from Cunningdale (Sheila Stubbs)

Comma :- A total of 90 individuals were seen at 52 locations in the County with the highest count of 7 coming on the 3rd of April 2023 from Mickleover Meadows (Colin Bowler)

Small Tortoiseshell :- A total of 83 individuals were seen at 44 locations in the County with the highest counts of 5 coming from both the Blackwell Trail (Dave Clay) and at Buxworth (Vicki Leng)

Peacock :- A total of 64 individuals were seen at 39 locations in the County with the highest count of 5 on the 4th of April 2023 at Tansley Dale (Gordon  and Alison Rooke)

What is surprising is the fact that not a single Red Admiral has been reported to me so far this month! In fact the real surprise was that yet another Humming Bird Hawk Moth has been seen in the County – this time in the Duffield garden of Celia & Robert Reid on the 2nd of April (my birthday!)

Some late March 2023 sightings have now been included in the overall total of butterflies seen during the first 3 months of this year (see the attached revised excel sheet) but the percentage seen compared to 2022 is still only 10% of last year’s total – this means that it was the worst start to any year since 2013.

Pleasingly many Derbyshire recorders are getting to grips with on line entering of their transect data on to UKBMS but like every system they do need updating from time to time so please note that UKBMS will be unavailable on the 12th of April 2023 for one day only due to some general maintenance.

Finally many of you know how late Spring comes to Hoe Grange Quarry near Longcliffe but this week whilst Max and Christine Maughan were carrying out their transect on site they were very pleased to see a Barn Owl staring at them from above – another new bird species for this gem of a site. Meanwhile down below the toads were busy enjoying themselves with not a care in the world.