This week the weather has returned to a more usual format for June with sunny periods interspersed with some rain so it will be interesting to see if this has an effect on the numbers of butterflies seen later in the Summer as at the moment numbers are well down on what they should be for this time of the year. In fact the highest count in week 12 in the Peak District was at Tansley Dale where Gordon Rooke saw 120 butterflies in 8 species on the 21st of June 2023 – this was followed by 318 butterflies in 9 species on the 22nd of June 2023 at Haddon Hall Parkland ( Steve & Lin Orridge), whilst further south in the County Jane Rogers saw a massive 371 butterflies in 7 species at Salter Wood, Street Lane on the 21st of June 2023 – these counts being this week’s exceptions of course. The recent thunderstorms certainly brought the moths out at night and Steve Plant had a variety of hawk moths in his trap on the morning of the 13th of June 2023 (see attached photo of Lime Hawk, Small Elephant Hawk, and Elephant Hawk moths). Surprising for Pat and I, we were treated to a Currant Clearwing moth on our kitchen window on the 16th of June 2023 but the real recent surprise was that of a Rannoch Looper moth which was trapped overnight on the 15th/16th of June 2023 at Fenny Bentley ( Sam Goddard) – a first moth record for the County (see attached photo). In addition John Aldridge was walking in Monk’s Dale on the 17th of June 2023 when he came across another specimen of the moth on a footpath there. Just three recent sightings of the migrant Humming Bird Hawk moth on red valerian from Parwich on the 16th of June 2023 (Saskia Tallis), another noted at Palterton on the 21st of June 2023 (Mike Beck) and 2 seen in the Bradwell garden of Sally Pereira on the same day. There has also been a couple of worn migrant Painted Lady butterflies seen recently with sightings on the 17th of June 2023 at Ashover Rock (Peter Kidd) and another seen at Bradbury’s Bank, Dovedale on the 18th of June 2023 (Wendy Astill &Tim Thomas).
Other recent butterfly sightings of note include :-
Large Skipper :- Becoming quite widespread on grassland sites with a maximum count of 37 coming from Ridgeway, Ambergate on the 19th of June 2023 (Matt Oakley) together with 21 seen on the 21st of June 2023 at Salter Wood, Street Lane ( Jane Rogers)
Marbled White :- John Harris informs me that he saw the first of this species in North Warwickshire on the 16th of June 2023 and this was followed by the first Derbyshire sighting of the year on the 21st of June 2023 at the Forge, Ironville (Sally Fisher) and then on the 22nd of June 2023 at Toton Sidings (Brian Parkes) .
Wall Brown :- There are a few of the first brood specimens still around with sightings this week of 18 no seen at 9 locations in the County up to and including the 18th of June 2023 with the highest count of 5 no coming from Howarth, near Glossop on the 16th of June 2023 (Peter Fulcher)
White Letter Hairstreak :- Some years ago now Andy Shervill of Derby City Council, together with Butterfly Conservation, were instrumental in the planting of Disease Resistant Elms around the City and this week Andy checked out 3 sites in the Duffield Road area of Derby and pleasingly all 3 areas had this rare butterfly species flying around the tops of the trees.
Dark Green Fritillary :- Just four locations of recent sightings of this species – 2 on the 16th of June 2023 from Lathkill Dale NNR and from Longstone Edge (Aline & John Roberts) where a maximum of 7 were seen there, together with 5 seen in Tansley Dale on the 21st of June 2023 (Gordon Rooke) and 9 seen on the 22nd of June 2023 at Wormhill Slopes (Nicky Loveday).
Silver Washed Fritillary :- Just a couple of sightings with one seen in South Wood, Calke (Iain McGowan) and another on the transect in Lathkill Dale NNR on the 19th of June 2023 (Peter Faulkner)
Meadow Brown :- The highest recent counts have come from Clover Close Meadows, Elvaston Country Park where Hannah Dobson saw 188 no on the 17th of June 2023 together with 243 no seen on the 21st of June 2023 (Jane Rogers) at Salter Wood, Street Lane, where Jane also saw 77 Ringlets there on the same day.
As numbers of both the Meadow Brown and the Ringlet are now on the increase I thought that I would mention a few tips for their I D in the field. The Ringlet look velvety black when they first appear and have a white fringe to the edges of their wings – they also have a relative floppy flight. The Meadow Brown has a more direct flight and you definitely see some brown in flight – the females also have more orange markings on their upper wings compared to the males.(see the attached photos).
The 21st of June is an important day in the life cycle of the Comma butterfly, as now that we have past the longest day, the first appearance of the Hutchinsoni summer version of the Comma should be seen as the caterpillars develop during lengthening days of more than 18 hours of daylight but those that develop with less than 18 hours of daylight are likely to be ‘normal’ Commas. (Our friends Rick & Maureen in Connecticut, USA cannot believe how much daylight that we get in the UK at this time of the year!) This phenomenon was discovered by Emma Hutchinson who lived in Leominster during the 19th Century (which was a hot spot for the species in those days). Any offspring of the Hutchinsoni will be the usual dark Commas which will hibernate over next winter. And right on cue, Chris Leverington saw the first Hutchinsoni version of the Comma on the 21st of June 2023 on his transect in a wood at Linton in South Derbyshire, followed by 2 at Hilton Gravel Pit NR on the 22nd of June 2023 (Steve Birkinshaw). Then on the same day Dave Evans saw 2 new ‘normal’ Commas in Wyver Lane, Belper so both versions are emerging just now.
Finally the Annual Open Day at Derbyshire’s very own Butterfly N R will take place in Hoe Grange Quarry, Longcliffe on Sunday the 2nd of July 2023 from 11 am till 4 pm – this event is an ideal opportunity to meet up with fellow wildlife enthusiasts together with some Committee members of Butterfly Conservation East Midlands. Derbyshire Wildlife Trust will be carrying out pond dipping sessions in the big pond and B C members will be providing guided walks looking at butterflies, moths and the great floral display which will be a fantastic experience. Longcliffe Quarries will again be providing drinks and food including free ice creams as well as toilet facilities!
If you require any more information then please send me an email and I will send you a leaflet about the event.
