Hello Everyone, Despite a slight frost in many parts of the County on the 13th of September 2024, the following week has certainly been a big improvement in weather conditions so much so that the 20 butterfly species seen in Week 24 of the transect season were still evident on week 25, much to the delight of the transect walkers whose week it was on their site rota. Despite the poor results of the Big Butterfly Count for 2024 (see below) it is some compensation to see the current butterfly activity and we should enjoy the sightings before the Autumn Equinox begins this Sunday the 22nd of September 2024 and the dreaded dark evenings finally arrive!

Below is a list of the butterfly records of interest together with some idea of the overall totals of the species seen in Week 25 :-

Small Skipper :- A late sighting of this species on the 14th of September 2024 at Sheepwash site at Carsington Water (Gary Atkins) – it is not the latest ever sighting though which is the 23rd of September 2021

Brimstone :- A total of 12 individuals were noted up to and including the 19th of September 2024 including 4 no seen on the 14th of September 2024 at Coombs Dale (Andrew Woodhouse)

Small Copper :- There were sightings of 45 individuals at 18 locations in the County up to the 18th of September 2024 including 10 no seen in Woo Dale on the 16th of September 2024 (Ian & Joy White).

Brown Argus Peak District  version :-  Individuals noted at 5 locations up to the 18th of September 2024 when 1 no was seen in  Tansley/Cressbrookdale (Gordon & Alison Rooke)

Brown Argus Migrating :- No records received from Lowland Derbyshire for this species recently.

Common Blue :- A total of 60 individuals were noted at 20 locations, mainly in the Peak District, up to and including the 19th of September 2024 with a maximum count of 12 seen on the 16th of September 2024 at Moss Rake (Andrew Woodhouse)

Holly Blue :- Just 3 sightings of this species with individuals noted at Hollin Hill (Paul Townsend), Langley Common (Nick Brown) and at Darley Park, Derby on the 18th of September 2024 (Ken Orpe)

Red Admiral :- At last this species is now appearing in reasonable numbers with sightings of just over 100 individuals at 52 sites in the County up to and including the 19th of September 2024 although maximum gatherings have been restricted to 6 no at Creswell Crags (Jason Lowe), Darley Park, Derby (Fran Vause) and on a late flowering buddleia at the Evergreen Club, Allestree (Ken Orpe)

Painted Lady :- Just 2 sightings of this migrant butterfly recently with records from Crowden (Matthew Ross) on the 13th September 2024 and another on the 14th of September 2024 at Wirksworth ( Suzanne Clark) – are the remainder heading south to Africa soon?

Humming Bird Haw Moth :- A late sighting of this migrant moth was made first thing on the morning of the  20th of September 2024 in Wirksworth by Jonathan Page – due to climate change this moth can now over – winter here in Derbyshire!

Small Tortoiseshell :- Sightings of just 24 specimens of this once common butterfly recently from 20 locations up to and including the 18th of September 2024 – this does not bode well for many to successfully hibernate over the forth coming winter.

Peacock :- Fared better than the last species recently with sightings of approximately 100 butterflies from 40 locations up to and including the 18th of September 2024 with double figure counts of 10 in the Peak District at Hoe Grange Quarry NR (Badger Walker)

Moss Rake (Andrew Woodhouse) and at Grin Low, Buxton ( Ian & Joy White).

Comma :- Most of the 70 sightings have been on ripe fruit and berries, including flowering ivy, at 36 sites across the County up to and including the 19th of September 2024 with 6 seen at Hilton Gravel Pit NR (Jean McMahon) and 8 noted around the Toyota Pond site in Burnaston (Brian & Jean Hallam)

Dark Green Fritillary :- A late sighting on the 14th of September 2024 of an individual in Coombs Dale (Andrew Woodhouse)  – not the latest sighting in the County which is the 22nd of September in 2021.

Silver Washed Fritillary – Late records are there to be broken and a couple of recent sightings broke the previous late sighting for the species that was only announced on the last Update! First of all Matthew Ross saw an individual on the 9th of September 2024 in his Grindleford garden then on the 16th of September 2024 Joanna Mackey saw an individual at Thornhill NR, Bamford – was this the same one noted there on the 6th of September 2024?

Speckled Wood :- As is normal with this multi brooded species, it usually becomes widespread in the County at this time of the year and recently, with approximately 525 individuals noted at over 100 sites, it is currently the most common butterfly seen around with records up to the 19th of September 2024 including 41 no seen at Pleasley Pit (Willy Lane), 23 no noted at Whitwell Wood (Paul Townsend) and 22 no seen in the rewilding area of Allestree Park (Jane Lamin)

Meadow Brown :- Sightings of 10 individuals recently from 6 sites in Derbyshire up to and including the 16th of September 2024 when Jonathan Page saw one on the transect around the perimeter of Dene Quarry in Cromford.

Small Heath :- Again sightings of 10 individuals from just 4 sites in the County up to and including the 17th of September 2024 when 6 were noted at Lightwood above Buxton by Shirley Johnson.

Wall Brown :- As previously mentioned there have been partial third broods of this species in Derbyshire during the last 7 out of 10 years – there is usually a distinct break in the flight periods but this year, probably due to the recent spell of sunny weather, it appears that fresh individuals have been noted whilst flying amongst older worn individuals. Derek Brownlee noticed fresh individuals on the 14th of September 2024 amongst 5 no seen at Minninglow Quarry on the High Peak Trail, Derek Whiteley noticed fresh individuals amongst 8 no seen in the area of Chrome/Parkhouse Hills on the 17th of September 2024 and Ian & Joy White saw fresh butterflies in Chee Dale on the same day as well, so there appears to be an overlap in the broods this year – let’s hope that they have sufficient time to mate and lay their eggs before the weather finally breaks and changes for the worse. Since the last Update a total of 30 Wall Browns  from 10 sites have been seen up to and including the 18th of September 2024 including 4 seen on Moss Rake on the 16th of September 2024 (Andrew Woodhouse).

Finally the results of this year’s Big Butterfly Count have been announced and they appear to be the lowest ever in the schemes 14 year existence. Bearing in mind what has been happening with the transect results here in Derbyshire so far this year (down 50% approx.), it comes as no real surprise to me – here in the East Midlands our counts under the Big Butterfly Count scheme were down 45% on 2023 whereas the average for the UK was down 33.33% against last year. Between June and August 2024 we had twice as many cloudy days in the East Midlands when compared to 2023 whereas further south there were far more sunny days than in these parts. Not only that but the previous Government gave the green light for the use of neonics on certain crops and plants – these kill everything off including pollinators such as bees and butterflies…so this is where you can now help! Butterfly Conservation has launched a scheme to implement an immediate and permanent ban on butterfly-harming neonicotinoid pesticides, without any exceptions. Hopefully, if you agree, could you please sign their letter and add your voice to those of leading conservation figures calling on the Government to take action now.

https://butterfly-conservation.org/emergency