Hello Everyone,
After periods of changing weather conditions, which we all suffer from these days, it is worth mentioning that this may cause changes in the ‘soup’ within a butterflies’ pupa – last year Ian & Joy White found a startling aberration of the Wall Brown (see my Update no 38 dated the 1st of September 2023). Well this last week in Holloway, Alison Pritchard found and photographed an aberration of the Gatekeeper (see attached photo) – would anyone like to put a name to this beautiful insect?
Numbers of some butterfly species are starting to decline at some sites in the Lowland parts of Derbyshire after what has already been a very poor Summer for them – hence important plants for insects such as Ragwort can come to their aid (see the attached photo of Ringlets taking advantage of the plant)
Other recent sightings of interest include :-
Brimstone :- Records received of the new brood from 12 locations in the County including 6 no individuals seen at Aston Brickyards on the 22nd of July 2024 (Pat & Ken Orpe)
Purple Hairstreak :- Still only a few sightings on oak of this summer butterfly with records received from Allestree Park (Graham Pollock) and Calke Park (David & Heather Bird)
White Letter Hairstreak :- Unfortunately no further sightings in the County of this species during the last week.
Holly Blue :- Sightings from only 5 sites in the County recently with records from Thulston & Aston Brickyards (both Pat & Ken Orpe)
Littleover (Alan Bryan), Holmewood Valley Park, Chesterfield (Tony Hudson) and 3 noted at Manor Farm, Long Eaton on the 24th of July 2024 (Brenda & Mick Meakin)
Peacock :- The new brood has now appeared at just 8 locations in Lowland Derbyshire with 6 no seen on the 22nd of July 2024 at Aston Brickyards (Pat & Ken Orpe) – new brood butterflies have yet to appear in the Peak District.
Dark Green Fritillary :- Recorded from 12 dales in the Peak District but only in single numbers together with interesting sightings from Lawrence Field, Longshaw ( Jeanne & Tony Clark) and at Umberley Brook on East Moors (Maggie Campbell)
Silver Washed Fritillary :- This species has spread through the County in recent years including sightings this week from Monsal Dale (Ian & Joy White), Lathkill Dale (Chris & Sheila Ragg) and 2 were seen in a recently constructed wildflower meadow in Repton on the 25th of July 2024 (Julie Groom)
Wall Brown :- Just 1 additional second brood specimen noted this week with a sighting at Woo Dale on the 23rd of July 2024 (Ian & Joy White)
On the migrant scene, there have been a couple of Painted Lady sightings in the area with an individual seen on the 23rd of July 2024 just over the County boundary in Sheffield (Martin Timms) followed by another individual seen on the 25th of July 2024 at Norbriggs Flash (Sid Morris). Whilst on a walk with friends in the Peak District, Dave Gilbert spotted a Humming Bird Hawk moth on the 23rd of July 2024 in High Dale, literally miles from anywhere!
Many of you are familiar and are involved with some of the 140 butterfly transects in the County and at the same time there are about 15 Wider Countryside Butterfly Surveys (WCBS) being carried out once a month from May to August each year – one of the most isolated sites is at Roundhill Moss on the 500 metre contour in the far North West of Derbyshire where it takes Tom Aspinall half a day to get there and half a day to get back to civilisation! Imagine Tom’s despair in 2022 when he saw the devastation of a wild fire following the extreme temperatures that we endured then! Well last week adventurer Tom visited the site again and he was delighted to see the transformation of the moors this year – members of the ‘Moors for the Future’ team had worked hard to install some peat dams to rewet the moors and Mother Nature has done the rest! Best of all Tom was able to record new species for the site – a Dark Green Fritillary together with a Red-Eyed Damselfly – have a look at the attached contrasting photos of the site – a credit to the fantastic work there by everyone involved!
Finally you still have time to be involved with the Big Butterfly Count as it is up and running until the 4th of August 2024 – all you need to do is spend 15 minutes in a sunny spot. For details of the project please have a look at the following link:-
https://bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org/
