Hello Everyone, A few short bursts of hot air from southern climes recently has certainly increased the number of sightings of the migrant Painted Lady in the County with records this week of individuals from 18 locations, although 2 no were seen at both Hoe Grange Quarry (Max & Christine Maughan and Maggie Campbell) and at Allestree Park (Pete Clark).
Pleasingly the Wall Brown is becoming more evident now in it’s second brood with sightings of 32 individuals from 16 locations including 8 no seen on the 14th of August 2024 at Cressbrookdale East Cliff (Andrew Woodhouse), 6 no seen on Longstone Edge on the 13th of August 2024 (Pauline Harrison et al), 3 no seen at Ashover Rock on the 12th of August 2024 (Peter Kidd) together with an individual noted at Belper Lane Ends on the 13th of August 2024 (Emma Bungay)
Interestingly, there have been more sightings of the Silver Washed Fritillary in the County recently rather than the Dark Green Fritillary, with 14 no of the former species seen against 12 no of the latter species – highlights being 5 no Silver Washed Fritillaries noted at Thornhill NR, Bamford on the 13th of August 2024 (Peter Feetham) and 6 no Dark Green Fritillaries seen at Coombs Dale on the 12th of August 2024 ( Angela Brooks)
The summer hairstreaks continue to disappoint with the Purple Hairstreak noted at just 1 site in the County recently at Holmebrook Valley Park (20 no seen on the 11th of August 2024 – Andrew Woodhouse) with the White Letter Hairstreak noted at 3 sites all in the Peak District, at Milldale (Derek Brownlee), the Buxton garden of Ian & Joy White and in Tansley/Cressbrookdale on the 12th of August 2024 (Gordon & Alison Rooke).
Yet another butterfly family that has struggled this year, the ‘blue’ family, has shown some second brood individuals recently with the Holly Blue noted at 14 locations including 5 no seen on the 11th of August 2024 at Elvaston Country Park (Mike Tong) , the Small Copper being common along High Rake, Bradwell, where Paul Townsend saw 18 no on the 11th of August 2024 and the Migrating Brown Argus being seen at 3 locations including Markham Vale ( Al & John Roberts) Drakelow NR (Andy Large) and at Toyota UK Pond site in Burnaston (Brian & Jean Hallam) – all on the 11th of August 2024. The big disappointment is the (no so) Common Blue which remains scarce – for example the 3 transects that Pat and I do weekly in South Derbyshire failed to produce a single sighting in the first brood and only 1 second brood sighting of an individual at West Hallam Ash Tip this week is a sign of the problems this species has suffered during 2024 – back in 1989 I recorded a massive 410 Common Blues at the site on one day yet the birds foot trefoil is just as prevalent now as it was then thanks to the continuing management of the site by the Owner with whom we work with closely and continually.
The mainly single brooded Peak District version of the Brown Argus is still on the wing up to and including the 14th of August 2024 with recent sightings from Dovedale (Sean Clough), Wardlow Hay (Andrew Woodhouse), Tansley/Cressbrookdale (Gordon & Alison Rooke) and on Longstone Edge (Karen Mort).
Thankfully buddleia bushes are experiencing an increase in butterfly activity before their fronds fade away with some good numbers of the Vanessids recently including Red Admirals, Commas (8 no seen on the 9th of August 2024 at Eyes Meadow, Duffield – Claire Bungay), Peacocks ( 60 no seen in Chatsworth Gardens on the 9th of August 2024 (Esther Weir) and 60 no seen in Hoe Grange Quarry on the 13th of August 2024 (Maggie Campbell)) Meanwhile in the general countryside, especially in the Peak District, the Brimstone was seen regularly with sightings of 7 no coming from Coombs Dale (Angela Brooks) and in Tansley/Cressbrookdale (Gordon & Alison Rooke) both on the 12th of August 2024 whilst further south 7 no Brimstones were seen at both Belper (Nigel Davidson) and at Foremarke Reservoir (Michael Williams).
The multi brooded Speckled Wood usually comes good during late Summer into Autumn and this year seems to be no exception with sightings of 22 no at Norbriggs Flash on the 9th of August 2024 (Sid Morris) and 20 no seen at Pleasley Pit on the 11th of August 2024 (Willy Lane).
Although there have been no confirmed sightings of the Essex Skipper from the Buxton area yet this year, the species is certainly moving up the Dove Valley with records on the 9th of August 2024 coming from Biggin Dale and the Tissington Trail near Hartington (both Peter Kidd)
Finally the transect results for Week 20 from Lowland parts of the County indicate a fall off in both butterfly numbers and species whereas further north in the Peak District it is a different story with some sites, especially in the dales, showing quite a contrast – for instance on the 12th of August 2024 Gordon & Alison Rooke recorded 145 butterflies in 19 species in Tansley/Cressbrookdale and long may it continue!
