As the disappointing summer of 2023 comes to an end, here in Derbyshire we have a County that is not only divided by the high ground in the Peak District but also currently has a divided population of butterflies as numbers have drastically declined in Lowland Derbyshire recently with some sites not even recording a single butterfly on transects! However move into the northern part of the Peaks and buddleias are in full flower and butterfly populations remain high – the transect in Tansley Dale on the 21st of August 2023 for example produced sightings of 100 butterflies in 15 species for Gordon & Alison Rooke! What a contrast!
Pleasingly the Wall Brown has had a reasonable second brood with recent sightings of 60 individuals noted at 35 sites across the County with a noticeable movement away from its usual sites in the Peak District – let’s hope that this situation does not result in the species being thinly spread over a larger area to the detriment of the main ‘hot spots’ of Longstone Edge and Hoe Grange Quarry in the future. I have printed off a Provisional Distribution Map for the Wall Brown in 2023 and to date the species has been noted at 100 squares of which 60 locations were singletons (60% of the total). Also attached is a Distribution Map for the species for 2021 where the Wall Brown was seen at 122 squares of which 63 were singletons (52% of the total). It can be seen that there is a thinning out of sightings away from the Peak District towards the Peak Fringe and N E parts of Derbyshire – this begs the question – is the species on a kamikaze route with regards to its population within the County?. Interestingly, Alison Pritchard noted a female laying eggs on grasses within a vertical crevice at the bottom of a silver birch tree at Alderwasley on the 26th of August 2023 – is this a new habitat for the species away from the rocky outcrops in the Peak District? The maximum counts for the Wall Brown this week have been 6 in Fern Dale, Monyash on the 21st of August 2023 (Steve & Andrea Plant) and 5 on the High Peak Trail at Minninglow on the 23rd of August 2023 (Kevin Marriott & Mark O’Rafferty).
As expected the Speckled Wood has now produced another brood with most sites having the species present with the recent highest counts being 36 no at Drakelow NR on the 23rd of August 2023 (Tom Cockburn) and 33 no at Manor Farm, Long Eaton (Jen Smith & Joan Breakwell). Also, interestingly some sites are now showing fresh individuals of the Meadow Brown as this butterfly manages to have a delayed emergence until late August/early September due to the very varied length of time taken by the larvae to reach maturity. These late individuals often lack black dots on the underside when compared to earlier individuals of the species. For example a total of 56 no were seen on the 17th of August 2023 at Norbriggs in N E Derbyshire by Sid Morris.
Species which are coming to the end of their flight periods include the summer Skippers, the Hairstreaks, the Ringlet and also the Fritillaries with just 2 Dark Green Fritillaries seen on the 17th of August 2023 at Slaley (Dave & Sue Evans) together with just 6 no Silver Washed Fritillaries noted at 5 sites including well-worn individuals at New Whittington on the 22nd of August 2023 (Peter Walker) and at Kedleston Park on the 23rd of August 2023 (Kevin Morris).
Other recent interesting records include :-
Brimstone :- Sightings from just 7 locations including 9 seen on the 21st of August 2023 in Tansley Dale (Gordon & Alison Rooke) together with 7 no seen at Pleasley Pit on the same day ( Willy Lane)
Purple Hairstreak :- Sightings from 5 locations up to and including the 22nd of August 2023 with records being received from new sites at the north end of the Haddon Hall Estate ( Derek Whiteley) and on oak at the west bank of Ogston Reservoir (Tim Sexey and
Steve Mann)
White letter Hairstreak :- No sightings received this week.
Small Copper :- Sightings from 36 locations this week with the highest counts coming from the Peak District including 16 seen in Woo Dale on the 23rd of August 2023 (Ian & Joy White) together with 13 seen in Tansley Dale on the 21st of August 2023 ( Gordon & Alison Rooke)
Brown Argus Migrating : – Records received from 7 sites including 12 no seen on the 23rd of August 2023 at Drakelow NR (Tom Cockburn)
Brown Argus Peak District Race :- Sightings from 7 locations up to and including the 25th of August 2023 with the highest count of 14 coming from Fern Dale, Monyash on the 21st of August 2023 (Steve & Andrea Plant)
Common Blue :- Still being seen at 51 locations in the County with the highest count of 59 no coming from Salter Wood, Street Lane on the 22nd of August 2023 (Jane Rogers)
Holly Blue :- Similarly distributed across the County as last week with sightings from 44 locations including 7 seen along the banks of the Cromford Canal near Whatstandwell on the 22nd of August 2023 (Fred & Gill Dyson) and 5 seen on the Broomfield College Estate on the same day (Mike & Julie Ireland).
Red Admiral :- Recent highest counts have come from the Peak District with 13 seen in Millers Dale Quarry on the 23rd of August 2023 (Nicky Loveday) and 11 seen in the Bradwell garden of Sally Pereira on the 22nd of August 2023
Peacock ;- Sightings from 37 locations in Derbyshire this week with no counts in double figures but 9 were seen on the transect in Tansley Dale on the 22nd of August 2023 (Gordon & Alison Rooke) and 7 were seen in Woo Dale on the 23rd of August 2023 ( Ian & Joy White)
Comma :- Just 1 count in double figures this week with 13 seen in Chee Dale on the 20th of August 2023 (Robert and Margaret Davies)
Following on from the second brood Dingy Skipper seen in the Peak District on the 16th of August 2023, another fresh individual was noted at Woodside NR on the 21st of August 2023 (Mark Searle). There was also a surprise for Peter Faulkner on the 26th of August 2023 when a fresh Large Skipper landed on his buddleia – this species can have a prolonged emergence and indeed the County record is the 2nd of September (2012).
On the migrant scene there have been recent sightings of 7 individual Painted Lady butterflies with 2 seen in the Woodville garden of Paul & Jean Fletcher on the 20th of August 2023 whilst Humming Bird Hawk moth sightings have been limited to 2 locations at Langley Common (Nick Brown & Kath Patrick) and at Bamford on the 23rd of August 2023 (Sue Mitchell).