Hello Everyone, A cloudy and cooler week did not prevent most volunteers from carrying out their transects but as expected numbers were generally down on the previous couple of weeks although a couple of new sites in the Region for the Green Hairstreak proved interesting. In Derbyshire an individual was seen at Forbes Hole, Long Eaton next to the Erewash Valley Railway line by Marion Bryce – had this individual spread down the line from the known colony at Toton Sidings? Then in N W Leicestershire an individual was seen in Minorca Wood, which is a newly planted woodland in the National Forest, by Marion Farrell – the nearest colony to this site is on the high ground of Charnwood Forest! Meanwhile, back in the Peak District of Derbyshire, sightings of the Green Hairstreak occurred at the usual locations of Chee Dale (Ian & Joy White), Lathkill Dale NNR (Debbie Worland & Liz Evans), Coombs Dale ( Andrew Woodhouse) Longstone Edge ( John Coupland & Andrew Wilson), Intake Quarry (Dave & Sue Evans) and Dene Quarry, Cromford (Martin Cobham) with the highest counts of 15 coming from Tansley/Cressbrookdale on the 17th of April 2025 (Gordon & Alison Rooke) together with 18 noted on the same day at Longstone Edge (Tracy Mann).
Interestingly a Wall Brown was seen on the 17th of April 2025 at the highest point in Leicestershire, Bardon Hill, by Richard Jeffery so there was great expectation that the first Wall Brown of the season would emerge in Derbyshire – and so it did with a fresh male seen in Bradwell on the 20th of April 2025 (Joanna Mackey)
As a reflection of the poor year that the Small Copper had in 2024, there have been just 3 more sightings of the species recently with an individual noted on the 11th of April 2025 at Stanton Moor (Felicity Jackson), another seen on the transect in Lathkill Dale NNR on the 17th of April 2025 (Debbie Worland) together with an individual seen at Markham Pit on the same day (Colin Morris)
Other recent records of interest include :-
Brimstone :- Highest counts of 11 individuals seen on the 11th of April 2025 in Chee Dale (John & Anne Coupland) together with 9 seen on the 17th of April 2025 at Pleasley Pit (Willy Lane)
Green Veined White :- A total of 20 individuals were noted at Wyver Lane NR, Belper on the 17th of April 2025 by Dave Evans who also saw 2 Holly Blues at the site as well.
Dingy Skipper :- Recent records have come from mainly the Peak District with sightings at Tansley/Cressbrookdale (Gordon and Alison Rooke), Lathkill Dale NNR (Debbie Worland), Deep Dale, Sheldon (Huw Williams) and Longstone Edge (26 no on the 17th of April 2025 – Tracy Mann) with just 1 fresh individual noted along the Blackwell Trail, South Normanton on the 15th of April 2025 (Nikki Mahadevan) together with another individual seen in Holloway ( Alison Pritchard) on the 20th of April 2025.
Orange Tip :- One of the few species that is becoming widespread in the County with the highest counts coming from the Peak District at Chatsworth Gardens (28 no on the 10th of April 2025 – Fred & Gill Dyson) and at Haddon Hall Park (34 no on the 17th of April 2025 – Ray Badger Walker).
Peacock :- Still fairly widespread with the recent highest count of 30 coming on the 17th of April 2025 from Pleasley Pit (Willy Lane)
Speckled Wood :- Not particularly widespread yet but highest recent counts of 20 at Pleasley Pit on the 17th of April 2025 (Willy Lane), 25 at Swadlincote Woodlands on the 20th of April 2005 (Peter Brewster) and 28 at Goseley Cutting, Woodville (Ruth Woods) on the 17th of April 2025 were the exceptions!
So what new butterfly species are likely to appear in the County before the month of April finishes? It is possible that the Small Heath will appear on short sward grassland – both in the Peak District and on ‘brownfield’ sites of Lowland Derbyshire, these being typical locations for the species – meanwhile in South Notts, Nick Sparrow saw 2 fresh male Common Blues at Cotgrave on the 20th of April 2025 – this date being the earliest that they have been seen in Derbyshire ( 20th April 2011)
Only your sightings will confirm the arrival of these species, and others, in the County very soon!
