Hello Everyone, With the temperature remaining relatively mild at around 15c here in Lowland Derbyshire, it comes as no surprise that there have been 10 species of butterflies seen during the last week in the County with yet more third brood specimens of the Holly Blue seen with sightings from Littleover, Derby on the 19^th of October 2024 (Alan Walker) and a further record from Walton, Chesterfield on the 22^nd of October 2024 (Phil Gilbert).

Other species noted in the County this week include :-

Brimstone :- No sightings in Derbyshire this week but Dave Gilbert saw and photographed one in his Wollaton, Nottingham garden on the 27^th of October 2024, which was a fine and sunny day.

Large White :- Just 1 sighting of this species on the 22^nd of October 2024 from Carsington Water (John Coupland)

Small White :- 4 sightings of this species recently with the latest records coming on the 27^th of October 2024 from both Robin Wood, Leashaw (John Coupland) and at Creswell Greenway (Jim Russell)

Small Copper :- A late sighting on the 17^th of October from Ogston Reservoir (Andrew Woodhouse)

Red Admiral :- Still the most common butterfly being seen with records of 40 individuals from 30 locations in the County up to and including the 28^th of October 2024 when Sid Morris saw an individual in Staveley, with the highest count of 4 coming from the Glapwell garden of David Elliott on the 27^th of October 2024

Painted Lady :- A really late sighting of this migrant species on the 26^th of October 2024 when Mick Gamble saw an individual in the woodyard at Pleasley Pit which was resting before flying off (latest County sighting for the species is the 12^th of November (2009))

Small Tortoiseshell :- A dozen individuals of this scarce species have been seen in the County this last week up to and including the 27^th of October 2024 with 2 noted in the Glapwell garden of David Elliott on the 26^th of October 2024.

Peacock :- Just 2 sightings of this species recently with individuals noted at Belper Cemetery on the 19^th of October 2024 (Dave Evans) and also at Woodville on the 25^th of October 2024 ( Kate Allies)

Comma :- A total of 20 individuals were noted at 15 locations in the County up to and including the 27^th of October 2024 with the highest count of 5 coming from Pleasley Pit on the 22^nd of October 2024 (Brian Cuttell)

Speckled Wood :- A total of 10 individuals were noted at 7 locations recently up to and including the 27^th of October 2024 with 4 seen on the 19^th of October 2024 at Littleover (Alan Walker)

On Update no 40 I advised recorders that if they were planning to visit the Cota Del Sol in the near future then why not visit a special area in Benalmadena near Malaga to look for the Monarch butterflies – well that is exactly what Peter Cawdell of Lincolnshire did on the 12^th of October 2024 whilst he was visiting his holiday home near Almeria – a distance of some 200 km away which took Peter  3.5 hours travel time each way, and which in his own words were ‘my expectations were exceeded and it turned out to be the butterfly highlight of the entire trip’ Peter ended up seeing about 20 Monarchs and he has shared some of his photos with us (see the attached) so you don’t have to go to the Canary Isles or even Mexico to see this splendid butterfly after all!

Finally the 2024 AGM and Members Day of Butterfly Conservation East Midlands will be held on Sunday the 24^th November 2024 at the Allestree Club, 39 Cornhill, Allestree, Derby DE22 2FS, where there is ample car parking on site – please arrive by 10 am for a 10.15 am start. This year’s illustrated talks will include Gareth Jones, Countryside Manager at Clumber Park on the future of the Park including the possible reintroduction of the Silver Studded Blue there and Ian Patterson of B C Lincs regarding work on habitats for rare species such as the Duke of Burgundy Fritillary. Members are invited to bring along a maximum of 10 slides for the final part of the day before the meeting closes at around 3.30pm. There will be a Tombola and Sales Table together with a free buffet lunch and tea/coffee – non-members welcome but they will be invited to donate towards the cost of the buffet. We look forward to seeing many of you there on the day.