Hello Everyone,
We actually had our first heatwave of the year earlier this week when the temperature reached at least 26c on 3 consecutive days here in Derbyshire – will this be enough sun and heat to enable our local butterflies to have a mini resurgence in August 2024?
With the Small Tortoiseshell almost none existent, at least the Peacock finally managed to show itself at 50 locations recently, mainly in Lowland part of the County with the highest gathering of 23 on the 30th of July 2024 at Drakelow NR (Andy Large) together with 16 seen on the 1st of August 2024 at the Toyota Meadows (Angie Smith), although individuals were seen further north at Bonsall (Sue Quick), in Lathkill Dale NNR on the 29th of July 2024 (Debbie Worland) and Hoe Grange Quarry (Badger Walker) and Coombs Dale (Jay Amin) both on the 31st of July 2024. Similarly the Silver Washed Fritillary is now being seen at a number of sites across Derbyshire including Hilton GP NR (Kelvin Lawrence), Codnor Castle (Stephen Bacon), Wakebridge (Fred & Gill Dyson), in Eyam (John Hall), Thornhill NR (Peter Mackey) and in Lathkill Dale NNR, Cales Dale and Litton Mill (all Peter Faulkner). Meanwhile numbers of the Dark Green Fritillary are now dwindling with sightings in single figures from just 11 locations in the Peak District, although 12 were seen on the 31st of July 2024 in Coombs Dale (Jay Amin). However new brood Brimstones were noted at 18 locations mainly in single figures, with 3 seen on his NR in Belper on the 28th of July 2024 (Nigel Davidson)
There have been very few records of the ‘summer hairstreaks’ this year with just 3 recent sightings of the White Letter Hairstreak with a singleton noted on the 28th of July 2024 at Hilton GP NR (Kelvin Lawrence) and another noted at Rosliston Forestry Centre on the 31st of July 2024 (Tony Slater) together with a third seen on hemp agrimony alongside the Cromford Canal at Whatstandwell on the 31st of July 2024 (Alison Pritchard). Meanwhile there have been just 7 recent locations for the Purple Hairstreak including 2 no seen on oak at the Fisherman’s Car Park at Ogston Reservoir ( Nikki Mahadevan), 3 noted in Graves Park, Sheffield (Denis Dell), 5 noted at Biggin by Hulland (Ray Badger Walker) and 27 seen on the 30th of July 2024 on oaks in Chatsworth Park (Derek Whiteley).
Pleasingly there has been an increase recently in the numbers of Holly Blues noted with sightings from 16 locations in the County, mainly in the South, together with individuals along the Cromford Canal at Ambergate (Alison Pritchard), at Wingerworth (Martin Kaye & Carole Nelson), and in Glapwell on the 31st of July 2024 (David Elliott). The other members of the ‘blue family’ have had a poor year although a few more Small Coppers have appeared with the highest counts of 4 no coming from Longstone Edge (Derek Brownlee) together with 12 no seen on heather around Ladybower Reservoir (Maggie Campbell), all on the 30th of July 2024.At last a new brood of the Migrating Brown Argus finally appeared with a singleton seen at Drakelow NR on the 30th of July 2024 (Andy Large). The continuously brooded Peak District version of the Brown Argus is still being seen in the dales with sightings from 4 locations up to the 31st of July 2024 when 2 individuals were noted in Coombs Dale (Jay Amin), whilst the Common Blue is still being noted in the Peak District but less so in Lowland Derbyshire where the second brood has yet to get well established at all – this year has been a disaster for the species at some sites in the Lowland areas of Derbyshire.
On the positive side, most sites have seen an improvement of the status of Meadow Browns, Ringlets and Gatekeepers, and true to form the multi brooded Speckled Wood is now appearing in reasonable numbers at some sites including 33 seen at Holmebrook Valley Park (Tony Hudson) and 28 noted in Kings Newton (Roger Martin) during the last week of July 2024.However, not so good news regarding the appearance of more Wall Browns in the County with no additional sightings during this last week, and despite searches in the South of County there has not been any further sightings of the Purple Emperor (His Imperial Majesty) – also only 1 sighting this week of the migrant Painted Lady when an individual was noted on the 29th of July 2024 in Midway (Michael Williams)
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/
