Hello Everyone, Despite the fact that both the day time and night time temperatures are finally beginning to fall, any short periods of sunshine and heat are sufficient to entice our local butterflies out to take advantage of any late flowering buddleias and other nectar providing plants. This week for instance 4 species of butterflies have appeared in the County which are summarised as below:-
Brimstone :- A late October 2023 sighting was made on the 30th of the month at Aston Brickyards (Marilyn Horner) followed by another seen on the 3rd of November 2023 at Netherthorpe, Staveley (Stag Harrington per Sid Morris)
Small Tortoiseshell :- A singleton was seen on the 3rd of November 2023 in the Godfreyhole garden of Jean Hurdle.
Speckled Wood – A couple were seen flying around Forbes Hole, Long Eaton on the 6th of November 2023 (Marion Bryce)
Red Admiral :- Yet again this species has excelled this year with a further 18 individuals seen at 14 locations in the County since the last Update with the latest sighting on the 9th of November 2023 at Hudson’s Garden Centre, Duffield (Heather Taylor)
Do you remember the fantastic Wall Brown aberration that Ian & Joy White saw and photographed in Woo Dale on the 31st of August 2023? No one that I know was able to identify it but Ian sent the photo off to a contact of his at the Natural History Museum in London and the contact came back with a photo of the aberration ‘Lugens’ which was last seen in Dover in 1901! So it turns out that Ian & Joy experienced a 1 in a 120 year chance of seeing this amazing aberration! ( see the attached photos for comparison)
Finally just a quick reminder that the AGM and Members Day of Butterfly Conservation East Midlands will take place on Sunday the 26th of November 2023 in the Allestree Club, Cornhill, Allestree, Derby DE22 2FS from 10 am till 3.30pm – a Sales Stall will be set up to enable you to purchase some butterfly themed Christmas presents as well as other butterfly items of interest. After the formal proceedings, Melanie Penson will give a short presentation on the Clearwing Moth Project in the Region. After the lunch break, I will give an illustrated talk on ‘The Effect of Climate Change on the Distribution of Butterflies in the Region’ including distribution maps and photos of butterfly aberrations. The event is open to non-members of B C but a donation towards the lunch time buffet will be required. Pat and I hope to see many of you there – please bring along a memory stick with some of your own photos to show the attendees later during the afternoon.
