Well no one really envisaged what the first part of this month would really be like with the exceptionally warm and sunny conditions, including 23c recorded here in Derby, which lasted up to and including the 10th of October 2023. The overriding item that remains in the memory is the fantastic numbers of Red Admirals being seen in the area, mainly on flowering ivy, sedum and also michaelmas daisy plants Reports from the East Coast up to and including the 9th of October 2023 confirmed that good numbers of this insect were still being seen flying in to the UK from the Continent – this will bolster the already huge numbers that are being seen in the Region, which could mean many will over – winter in our part of the UK – something unheard of until relatively recently. To give you some idea, I have received sightings of 685 individuals from 152 sites during October 2023, in Derbyshire, with at least 20 sites in double figures and almost all in mint condition. By comparison, there have been 85 sightings of the Comma from 48 sites across the County so far this month – let’s hope that most of these will successfully hibernate over the coming winter.
Other migrants noted in the County recently include 7 no individual Painted Lady butterflies up to and including the 10th of October 2023 when 2 no were seen on dahlias outside Haddon Hall (Cate Beck) and a couple of Humming Bird Hawk moths were seen in Derbyshire with one on the 3rd of October 2023 at Stretton near Handley (Nikki Mahadevan) and another in the Staveley garden of Sid Morris on the 12th of October 2023.
The total species for the month of October 2023 now comes to 14 butterfly species – the 12 that were mentioned on Update no 43 together with the Brimstone butterfly which has now been seen at 7 locations up to and including the 10th of October 2023. The best gathering of species this week was at, or near, Tideswell Dale/Litton on the 10th of the month where Ian & Joy White saw 22 no Commas, 71 no Red Admirals, 3 no Speckled Woods, 1 no Brimstone and 1 no Painted Lady – many on ivy clad cliffs including from the great named Water – Cum – Jolly Dale! (Anyone know how this dale got its name?)
Although there have been no more Common Blue or surprisingly Holly Blue sightings this week, there have been 9 no additional records received of singletons of the Small Copper up to and including the 10th of October 2023 with individuals at Poolsbrook C P (Sid Morris), Bradford Dale (Maggie Campbell), at Wyver Lane, Belper (Dave Evans) and in Calke Park (Chris Calverley).
Despite searches at the National Stone Centre and Hoe Grange Quarry on the 7th of October 2023 I found no evidence of any Wall Browns on the wing, which to be honest is probably a good thing as a partial third brood in these parts is often referred to as a ‘kamikaze brood’ as there is usually insufficient time and good weather for any individual males to find a mate and secure the next generation – best for them to appear next May and then let nature takes its course, as we will be ready to record them then!. However Andrew Woodhouse visited a further 4 sites in the Peak District during the recent warm and sunny spell of weather and on the 9th of October 2023 a single lonesome male Wall Brown was seen by him on Longstone Edge, but nothing was noted on Tidewell Rake, Coombs Dale or Cressbrookdale. I think that the species should be able to cope okay with just 1 third brood sighting this year!!
With the rain falling heavy today and the first frost forecast for this weekend, is this the end of the butterfly season for 2023? Only your sightings will prove that – good luck.
