Well the Met Office informs us that Spring 2024 was the warmest on record, as well as being dull and wet, and surprisingly my weather notes from our garden in Derby supports that as we had only 3 frosts during March to May 2024 against 11 in the same period during 2023, 12 in Spring 2022 and 22 in Spring 2021. Mind you the lack of sunshine didn’t help with 25 days of sun for the 2 months of April and May 2024 against 30 days for the same period in 2023, 31 days in 2022 and 31 days in 2021. As you would expect, rainy days occurred on 21 days in April and May 2024 against 16 days in the same period in 2023, 15 days in 2022 and 20 days in 2021.
Pleasingly the 2nd of June 2024 was one of those days that most transect walkers were waiting for and they certainly did take full advantage of the conditions to complete their surveys – my Inbox the next day was working overtime to keep up with your emails!
The appearance of the first Large Skippers took place on that day, certainly across some Lowland sites, with sightings from 12 no locations, the highest count of 8 coming from the Forge site in Ironville (Sally Fisher and Deb & Mick Bliss) whilst individuals were seen on the 6th of June 2024 in the Peak District at Rowland (Tracey Sharkey), in Chee Dale (Robert & Margaret Davies) and in Lathkill Dale (Aline & John Roberts) A few more Meadow Browns have made an appearance with recent records from Hartshorne Wood (Paul Fletcher), Findern (per Roger Nash), Drakelow NR (Andy Large), Kedleston Park (Ken Orpe), Coton Park (Sally Hinton), Salter Wood, Street Lane (Jane Rogers) and slightly further north at the Vinery, South Wingfield (Alesandro Congio)
Meanwhile, a number of Painted Lady butterflies have been seen in the County recently with sightings of Allestree ( Mike Daykin), Stoney Wood, Wirksworth (Jane Flint), Hartington (Dave & Sue Evans), Horseshoe Quarry (Andrew Woodhouse), Litton ( Gordon & Alison Rooke), Hogshaw, Buxton (John & Gill Boardman), Chee Dale (Robert & Margaret Davies) and Hardwick Park (Steve Navin).
Other interesting sightings include 50 Wall Browns seen at 18 sites in the Peak District with the highest counts of 9 coming from the upper part of Cressbrookdale on the 2nd of June 2024 (Rod Dunn) and 14 seen at Longstone Edge on the same day (Andrew Woodhouse) . Just a few sites still showing Green Hairstreaks on the 2nd of June 2024 with records coming from Dene Quarry, Cromford (Martin Cobham), on Matlock Moor (Sue Quick), on Longstone Edge (Andrew Woodhouse) and in Tansley Dale (Gordon & Alison Rooke) and on the 6th of June 2024 in Chee Dale (Robert & Margaret Davies) – Tansley Dale had the highest number of butterflies on transects this week with 72 no seen in 14 species on the 2nd of June 2024 (Gordon & Alison Rooke) and Dene Quarry, Cromford also had 6 no Small Coppers present on the 2nd of June 2024 (Martin Cobham).
Finally, if you live in South Derbyshire and would like to attend a moth watch, run by Steve Thorpe, then why not go to Croft Orchard site in Overseal on Saturday the 8th of June 2024, with parking available in Daisy Lane DE12 6JH. The lights will go on at 9.30pm till late but do take a torch and something to sit on and also wear warm clothing!
