Hello Everyone,
It was not only the veterans that were evident on Armistice Day as the 11th of November 2023 was one of those perfect Autumn days, which, after a slight early frost, developed into a sunny day with light winds – perfect conditions for our local butterflies (and recorders) to enjoy a fly past! Evident on the day were Red Admirals, a Small Tortoiseshell, a Brimstone, a Peacock, a Comma and even a Humming Bird Hawk moth – all of which will either over winter or go into hibernation when General Winter finally arrives. The total number of butterflies seen in the County during the last week includes:-
Brimstone :- A very late individual was noted in Calke Park on the 11th of November 2023 (John & Jessica Barker)
Small Tortoiseshell :- An individual was seen flying in the Darley garden of Alf Bousie on the 11th of November 2023
Peacock :- A surprising sighting of this species on the 11th of November 2023 on the 430m contour above Jacob’s Ladder in Edale was made by Adrian & Rebecca Rochford. Another individual was noted on the 16th of November 2023 flying around Hudson’s Garden Centre in Duffield (Heather Taylor)
Comma :- An individual was seen basking in the sunshine on the 11th of November 2023 in the Grassmoor garden of Brian Cuttell.
Red Admiral :- Still the most abundant butterfly on the wing in the County with sightings this week of 20 individuals across the County, mainly on hebe, yellow buddleias, mahonia, and erysium, of which 12 were seen on the 11th of November 2023, with further sightings on the 13th of November 2023 at Forbes Hole, Long Eaton (Marion Bryce) and at Staveley (Sid Morris) , despite the hooley that was blowing across Derbyshire on the day, courtesy of Storm Debi, and finally another individual was seen and also photographed in the Allestree garden of Ken & Pat Orpe on the 17th of November 2023
Yet another surprise on the 11th of November 2023 was the sighting of an Hummingbird Hawk moth which was seen flying around the aptly named Sunnybank allotments in Whaley Bridge ( Vicki Leng)
Finally it is great to report that the Sallows for the Purple Emperor project has been a great success in the County with over 20 Organisations being involved with a view to plant 575 no Sallow whips along rides in at least 30 local woodlands – the first whip is being planted at Rosliston Forestry Centre by the Chairman of South Derbyshire District Council on the 30th of November 2023 . The attached distribution map shows the 2023 sightings of Iris in both Notts and Leicestershire whilst the Derbyshire dots are the sites where Sallows will be planted next month under this project – let’s hope that it won’t be too long before His Imperial Majesty makes his first appearance in our County
