Hello Everyone, Yet another week of dismal weather conditions in the County with very few opportunities to carry out transects but…

the stoic and committed group of volunteers here in Derbyshire still carried on regardless with the moto ‘we shall not be beaten’. This week’s Update is therefore possible thanks to the efforts of this great team of recorders, so much so that further second brood Wall Browns have been seen but not all from their usual locations – carrying on from what happened last year, the species is trying to regain its former ground at some Peak Fringe areas, particularly in the Amber Valley District. Sightings have come from Ridgeway above Ambergate (Matt & Lara Oakley), the track up to Wyver Farm, Belper (Dave Evans & Richard Taylor) and on Firestone Hill, Farnah Green (Steve & Andrea Plant). It will be interesting to know if this phenomena is occurring elsewhere in the County – only your records will confirm this of course! Meanwhile further north in Derbyshire the Wall Brown has appeared at Alton Lane, Littlemoor (John & Sandra Kydd) and interestingly at Swineshaw Reservoir above Glossop in the far N W part of the County.

Thankfully the wave of Peacock emergences has finally reached us here in Derbyshire with sightings from 95 locations this last week, mainly up to about 3 individuals but counts in double figures have come from 10 sites with the highest counts coming from Markham Vale North ( 52 no – Sid Morris), Draycott ( 21 no – Roger Martin) and Willington Gravel Pit (21 no – Chris Perry).

One advantage of the wet weather has been the appearance of the summer hairstreaks either in recorders gardens taking nectar from plants, or in my case, seeing Purple Hairstreaks taking moisture from grasses on the ground (in fact there were 3 doing just that in Kedleston Park on the 29th of July 2023 – the first time that I have witnessed this, so you are never too old to witness new facts).Interestingly, the same thing occurred in Beggarswell Wood on the 26th of July 2023 as witnessed by David Kershaw- Wright. The White Letter Hairstreak continues to appear in recorders gardens on plants with recent sightings in Whaley Bridge (Alan & Angie Seymour) and in Hope (Helen Perkins). Another species that is doing really well in gardens including the general countryside is the Holly Blue with sightings from 54 locations, mainly up to 5 but the highest counts have come from Long Close Wood, Linton (10 no on the 2nd of August 2023 – Chris Leverington) and at Creswell Crags (13 no on the 3rd of August 2023 – Jason Lowe) .

Other recent sightings of interest include :-

Essex Skipper :- Still no confirmed sightings from the Buxton area but records from new sites in the Peak District include at Haddon Hall Medieval Park (Derek Whiteley) and at White Rake, above Longstone Edge on the 29th of July 2023 (Aline & John Roberts)

Brimstone :- Still not common in the County although there have been recent sightings from 25 locations with up to 3 individuals seen, but on the 3rd of August 2023, Jim Russell saw 10 no at Hollinhill Hill/Markland Grips near Clowne

Small Copper :- As previously mentioned, numbers of this species usually pick up as we head towards late Summer and into the Autumn and recently there have been sightings at 44 locations in Derbyshire with counts in double figures coming from Coton Park, Linton (15 no – Sally Hinton), Clover Close Meadows, Elvaston ( 15 no – Joan Breakwell & Christine Carrier) and in Tansley Dale (12 no – Gordon & Alison Rooke)

Brown Argus Migrating :-  Finally numbers are starting to build for this species in Lowland Derbyshire with the highest count of 22 coming from Drakelow NR on the 29th of July 2023 (Tom Cockburn) followed by 10 seen in Coton Park, Linton on the 28th of July 2023(Chris Leverington). Interestingly a singleton of this species was seen and photographed by Peter Walley the Vicar at All Saints Church in Mickleover – Peter had asked that the flowers in the churchyard were left uncut by the graveside team this year and the small amount of ragwort that flowered was visited by this butterfly species – proof how important churchyards are in providing shelter and nectar for insects if managed correctly and not mown to billiard table regulations and specifications!

Red Admiral :- One of the few nyphalid group of butterflies that is doing well at the moment – no doubt that numbers have been boosted by migrants from the Continent, hence counts of 27 no at Broomfield College (Mike & Julie Ireland) and 43 no at Willington Gravel Pit (Chris Perry) support this theory.

Comma :- This species has had a good new summer brood during the last 6 weeks despite the poor weather and a massive count of 51 individuals on the 3rd of August 2023 at Creswell Crags (Jason Lowe) would support this situation, so a new brood later this month and into September certainly bodes well for the future of the species in the area.

Dark Green Fritillary :- Still going strong in the Peak District with sightings from 16 locations with the highest count of 34 no coming on the 28th of July 2023 (Andrew Woodhouse) and a similar number there the next day (Angela Brooks)

Silver Washed Fritillary :- Again appearing at 10 sites across the County with the highest count of 8 coming from Lathkill Dale NNR on the 1st of August 2023 (Chris & Sheila Ragg) – the species must be breeding in the wooded section of the lower parts of the dale.

Speckled Wood :- Another species that performs better later in the butterfly season – this week 35 no were noted on the transect in Goseley Cutting, Woodville on the 29th of July 2023 (Ruth Frudd & Kate Allies)

On the migrant scene, there have been sightings of 16 no Painted Lady butterflies at 15 locations in the County with 2 no seen at Rowland on the 30th of July 2023 (Karen Mort), but the lack of sunshine has probably prevented many records of the Humming Bird Hawk moth this week – sightings of individuals have occurred at only Overseal (Ruth Moore), Allestree (Felicity Jackson) and on a buddleia at Cawdor Quarry, Matlock on the 4th of August 2023 (Dan Martin).

This weekend sees the final days of the Big Butterfly Count for 2023 – and despite the weather for the last 3 weeks there have been

 99,899 counts submitted by 70,605 citizen scientists! The Red Admiral is currently in pole position with 196,881 seen to date, and in total 1.2 million butterflies (and day-flying moths) have been recorded. Needless to say Butterfly Conservation is very pleased with the apparent success of this year’s count.

Taking part is as easy as 1-2-3…it only takes 15 minutes of your time but that can help to make a huge difference for our wildlife.

1. Download the mobile app or sign up to the website

2. Spend 15 minutes spotting butterflies & moths

3. Record how many & what species you see

The Big Butterfly Count website can be found here www.bigbutterflycount.org

Tomorrow might be somewhat of a challenge with Storm Anthony on the way but it does look like Sunday the 6th of August 2023 will be much better for your count with some sunshine forecast – it has been around 7 weeks since we had a High Pressure system centred over the UK but by the time that we get to Thursday the 10th of August 2023 this could change with sun and 23c forecast for our Region – however, one heatwave does not make a summer (we had 6 heatwaves in Summer 2022!)