After the joint warmest September here in the UK (along with 2006), the warm weather continues this weekend and into next week with the introduction of hot air from North Africa so this Brief Summary will give you an idea as to which species that you might see here in Derbyshire as the following 12 butterfly species have already been seen in the County so far this month :-
Large White
Small White
Green Veined White
Small Copper :- An individual seen on the 2nd of October 2023 on the sloping bank of Carsington Reservoir Dam (John Coupland)
Common Blue :- An individual was seen on the 5th of October 2023 at Oxcoft Pit, Stanfree (Melissa Rose)
Holly Blue – A fresh individual seen in the Hartshorne garden of John Schofield on the 4th of October 2023
Red Admiral – Still extremely common with many sightings in double figures, especially on ivy flowers
Painted Lady : – 4 individuals seen this week from Great Longstone ( Chris Thirtle), Findern ( 2 no – Brian & Jean Hallam) and Darley Park (Alf Bousie)
Small Tortoiseshell
Peacock
Comma
Speckled Wood
Also on the 27th of September 2023 a possible (skittish) new brood Wall Brown was disturbed in the Thorpe Garden of Barbara Wager – is this the start of a kamikaze third brood of the species here in Derbyshire. Dave Chandler tells me that the third brood Wall Brown is still doing well in Essex on the coast so if the fine weather continues, expect the unexpected!
Enjoy the current spell of warm weather and let’s see if you can add to the above 12 species already seen this month – yes you can!!
