Hello Everyone, Well the promised short spell of summer duly arrived towards the end of last week with the temperature reaching 27c on Thursday the 10th of August 2023 in Derby – in fact that proved to be too much heat for some species with our buddleias completely devoid of butterflies at 3 pm on that day!
However another Clouded Yellow made an appearance in the County with an individual seen on the 12th of August 2023 in the Peak District at Cressbrookdale by Sheila Stubbs, whilst there were also sightings of 8 no Painted Lady butterflies recently in the County including 2 no seen in the Coombs Dale/Black Harry area on the 6th of August 2023 (Sid Morris). There has also been 10 no sightings of the migrant Humming Bird Hawk moth across the County with 2 no seen on buddleias on the 9th of August 2023 in the Mickleover garden of Colin Bowler. It is however the number of Red Admirals that has been the real success of this so far brief Summer with most garden buddleias having been visited by this species and also it has been seen in the general countryside with the highest recent count of 25 coming from Lathkill Dale on the 9th of August 2023 ( Al & John Roberts) and 24 coming from Aston Brickyards on the 7th of August 2023 ( Pat & Ken Orpe).
Other recent sightings of note include ;-
Essex Skipper :- Although not yet confirmed in the Buxton area, recent records of the species in the Peak District include sightings from Coombs Dale and Lathkill Dale NNR (both Al & John Roberts) and from Minninglow on the High Peak Trail (Peter Kidd)
Brimstone :- Not a common butterfly in Derbyshire but recent sightings of around 150 individuals from 50 locations is very promising for the future of this species with the highest counts coming from Hollin Hill/ Markland Grips NR 19 no on the 9th of August 2023 (Dave Fenton) and 10 no seen in Lathkill Dale NNR on the same day (Al & John Roberts).
Purple Hairstreak :- Still being seen in the County with recent records coming from 10 locations including the Coombs Dale/ Black Harry area in the Peak District (Sid Morris) and also at Carr Vale NR in the N E of Derbyshire (Mark Beevers).
White Letter Hairstreak :- Sightings of this species have come from just 4 locations in the County including Wakebridge (Fred & Gill Dyson), Stoney Middleton (Sid Morris), Monsal Dale (Ian & Joy White) and a new site at Lubrizol, Hazelwood (Dave Adams)
Small Copper :- Still maintaining its increased numbers at the moment with sightings of 120 individuals noted at 50 locations with the highest counts of 11no coming from both Carsington Water (Saskia Tallis) and at Clover Close Meadows, Elvaston (Mike Tong) Brown Argus Migrating :- This species has been noted at 12 locations in Lowland Derbyshire including 22 no seen on the 10th of August 2023 at Drakelow NR (Andy Large) and at a new site in Holmgate, Clay Cross on the 13th of August 2023 (Peter Kidd).
Brown Argus Peak District Race :- Some new specimens have emerged suggesting a second brood and sightings of the species have come from 14 locations with a maximum of 5 no coming from Longstone Edge on the 9th of August 2023 (Derek Brownlee) and also 5 no in Lathkill Dale NNR on the same day (Al & John Roberts)
Common Blue :- Overall this species has had a poor 2023 so far but recent sightings of over 200 no individuals seen in Lowland Derbyshire together with an additional 50 no individuals seen in the Peak District gives us some optimism for its future in the County.
Highest counts have come from The Forge, Ironville (Sally Fisher & Deb Bliss – 36 no on the 10th of August 2023) and from Drakelow NR (Andy Large – 28 no on the 10th of August 2023)
Holly Blue :- Pleasingly this species continues to have a good year in 2023 with recent sightings coming from 66 locations in the County with the highest counts of 15 no coming on the WCBS survey at Caldwell on the 9th of August 2023 (Lesley & Phil Gretton), 11 no coming on the 10th of August 2023 from Long Close Wood, Linton (Chris Leverington) and 9 no seen on the 9th of August 2023 along the Whatstandwell section of the Cromford Canal (Patricia Sharp)
Red Admiral :- As mentioned above, another species that is still doing well in the Region – in fact early results from the Big Butterfly Count 2023 indicate that the butterfly has been the commonest recorded in the UK with around 16% of the overall totals seen – in these parts the figure rises to 18% of the overall total of butterflies seen in the East Midlands.
Small Tortoiseshell :- This species is certainly in the recovery position as far as numbers are concerned but with the likelihood of a further brood later this month and into early September the overall situation might finally improve? Recent highest totals have come from the Peak District with 15 no seen at Minninglow on the 9th of August 2023 (Peter Kidd), 12 no seen at Hartington NR on the 4th of August 2023 (Barbara Wager) and 11 no seen in Hoe Grange Quarry on the 10th of August 2023 (Alan Walker)
Peacock :- At last the species have finally become more widespread with sightings of over 640 individuals coming from 106 sites in the County but with only 18 sites having counts in double figures – the highest gatherings came from the Whatstandwell section of the Cromford Canal on the 9th of August 2023 (Patricia Sharp – 28 no seen on hemp agrimony and buddleia) and from Hoe Grange Quarry on the 10th of August 2023 ( Alan Walker – 26 no seen on the fantastic floral display within the site, thanks to a wet July!)
Comma :- After a successful summer brood, it is understandable that the species is diminishing now but let’s hope for a successful second brood in late August/early September when the new individuals will be of the dark form that will eventually go into hibernation
Recent highest counts have come from Wessington ( 9 no on the 3rd of August 2023 – Ron Fullelove), Lathkill Dale NNR (9 no on the 9th of August 2023 – Al & John Roberts) and from Aston Brickyards LNR ( 8 no on the 7th of August 2023 – Pat & Ken Orpe)
Dark Green Fritillary :- Still being seen in the Peak District with sightings from 14 locations with the highest counts coming from Coombs Dale ( 38 no on the 6th of August 2023 – Sid Morris and a similar number there the next day – Al & John Roberts) I have seen a recent article which suggests that the fall in numbers of summer birds, such as the Spotted Flycatcher, in the dale might be the reason why Dark Green Fritillary numbers are doing good there?
Silver Washed Fritillary :- This species is being seen from a similar number of sites in the County but its distribution is far more widespread than the previous species – the highest recent count has come from Lathkill Dale NNR where Al & John Roberts saw 12 no on the 9th August 2023 whilst the dark variety Valezina was seen at Thornhill NR on the 7th of August 2023 ( Joanna Mackey).
Speckled Wood :- Still reasonably widespread with the highest count of 30 no coming from Swadlincote Woodlands on the 5th of August 2023 ( Janet & Arthur Jackson) – expect numbers across the County to rise in the Autumn.
Finally the changing distribution of the Wall Brown is becoming yet more noticeable during the past week with sightings in Lowland Derbyshire coming from Hasland Park (Roy Riggott), New Tupton (Gary Hobson), Wadshelf, Chesterfield (Jim Alder) and at Hundall
(Judy Heap). Sightings from the Peak Fringe areas include Alport Heights (Peter Kidd), above Cromford (Alison Pritchard), Ogston Hall (Caroline Wakefield) and Hulland Churchyard (Penny Northall). The species has also occurred in low numbers in the Peak District at Middleton Moor (Dave & Sue Evans),Litton Edge (Andrew Woodhouse), Monsal Head (Steve Tompkins), Bradwell (Sally Pereira), Hoe Grange Quarry (Alan Walker & Dave Gilbert), on Longstone Edge (Derek Brownlee) and above Longstone Edge where Martin Timms saw 5 on the 11th of August 2023 – so overall fairly widespread but only in low numbers so far this month – only your sightings will indicate the true situation in the County in relation to this Endangered Butterfly species.