Having at last lost that nagging cold N E wind with a maximum temperature of around 20c here in Derby, last weekend saw a dramatic change in both wind direction and a sudden increase in temperatures so much so that 29c in Derby meant that what few butterflies were still on the wing, they made a quick dash for cover in the middle of the day. It is the sudden contrast in temperatures that they (and us) can’t cope with, 20c on Friday and then 29c over the weekend into this week (50% increase). The max temp the UK butterflies can comfortably cope with is 23c/24c other than whites which reflect the heat of course. The recent rain is welcome and will hopefully help nettles thistles and wildflowers recover as the thunderstorms on Monday afternoon (12th) was the first rain that we have had in Derby for a whole month. Whether or not it was too much in a short period of time remains to be seen but we can only hope that the ‘June Gap’ is over very soon as well. Despite many sites struggling to reach double figures in Week 11 of the transect season, a few sites especially in the Peak District have managed to come up with counts of around 100 butterflies – eg 119 no seen on Longstone Edge in 12 species (Sue Walker) on the 10th of June 2023, 98 no seen in Deep Dale, Sheldon in 12 species (Steve & Lin Orridge) on the 11th of June 2023, 85 no seen in Lathkill Dale NNR in 13 species (Aline & John Roberts) on the 13th of June 2023, and 101 no seen in Tansley Dale in 12 species (Gordon & Alison Rooke) on the 15th of June 2023
There has however been some migrant butterfly activity recently with the Painted Lady noted at Coton Park on the 8th of June 2023 (Alison Hall), 3 worn individuals seen nearby at Top Wood, Linton on the 11th of June 2023 (Dot & Barry Morson), and individuals noted on the 13th of June 2023 at both Rowsley Peak Village (Rod Dunn) and on Alsop Moor (Viv Evans & Michael Glendenning), together with one seen at Creswell Crags on the 15th of June 2023 (Jim Anderson). Pleasingly a couple of Clouded Yellows were seen on the 10th of June 2023, one in Baslow Village ( Roger Martin) and another in Boythorpe, Chesterfield (per Robin Elliott) which is great news bearing in mind there were just 12 individuals noted at 12 sites in Derbyshire during the whole of 2022. Just one sighting of the migrant Humming Bird Hawk moth this last week on the 13th of June 2023 at Hartington Meadows (Viv Evans & Michael Glendenning).
Both the Large Skippers and the Small Skippers have now appeared at some 48 sites across the County recently with the highest count of the former species being 20 no at Salter Wood, Street Lane on the 13th of June 2023 (Jane Rogers). First sightings of the Essex Skipper occurred on the 14th of June 2023 at the Forge site in Ironville ( Sally Fisher & Deb Bliss) whilst the first sighting of the Ringlet took place on the 5th of June 2023 at the same site (Sally Fisher) and since then there have been sightings from a further 14 sites in the County, including parts of the Peak District, but numbers have only just reached double figures. What is normally the most common species on transects, namely the Meadow Brown, has now appeared at 60 sites across Derbyshire with the highest count of a massive 143 coming from Clover Close Meadows, Elvaston on the 14th of June 2023 (Robin & Sally Bryce).
Pleasingly the Wall Brown has managed to survive in its first brood with another 45 individuals being noted at 20 sites up to and including the 14th of June 2023 with the highest counts of 4 coming from both Longstone Edge (Sue Walker) and in New Lane, Greendale, Bradwell (Peter & Joanna Mackey). So to date this year there have been approximately 225 individuals seen in the first brood compared to approximately 190 seen in the first brood during 2022, which is an 18% increase in numbers – if only other species will match this in the whole of the butterfly season in 2023!
The stop/go start to the Summer of 2023 is typified by spasmodic sightings of some species with the Dark Green Fritillary being sighted this week only on Alsop Moor on the 13th of June 2023 where Viv Evans & Michael Glendenning saw just 2 individuals and in Tansley Dale on the 15th of June 2023 where Gordon & Alison Rooke saw just 1 individual butterfly there.. Yet the very first appearance of the rare White Letter Hairstreak occurred on the 15th of June 2023 (Pat & Ken Orpe) which is exactly the very same day and place as in 2022 – namely on the Disease Resistant Elms on the Inner Ring Road embankment near Derby City Centre.
With some recorders informing me that they are seeing more day flying moths rather than butterflies on their transects at the moment, I thought that it might be useful to attach some photos of day flying moths to help with their I D – in late Spring 2022 there were a few sightings of the rare Argent & Sable moth at a few woodland sites in the Derwent Valley – this beautiful black and white moth was thought to be extinct in the County so please look out for this rare moth during the remainder of this month (see attached photo).
If you are interested in joining an existing team that carry out a butterfly transect around the Medieval Park at Haddon Hall, then please let me know as a couple of vacancies have occurred there. Lord and Lady Manners are in the process of re-wilding their site so it is an opportunity to see how the site is developing whilst carrying out a very useful butterfly survey at the same time.
Finally thanks to all those recorders who are both inputting their site data direct on to UKBMS whilst also emailing their record sheets to me, without which these Updates would not be possible! However for maintenance reasons the UKBMS webpage will be down on Monday the 19th of June 2023 – you have been warned!!
