Hello Everyone, After a changeable week with some decent sunny days followed by a mixture of sun, showers and some heavy rain, it is hardly surprising that Week 8 of the transect season has been a challenge – not helped by the early start of the annual ‘June Dip’ which is when the Spring species start to disappear before the main arrival of the Summer species – this was particularly evident at many sites in Lowland Derbyshire where total butterfly numbers were below double figures……however at some sites in the Peak District butterfly numbers remained relatively high with 107 no seen (in 15 species) on the 20th of May 2025 in Tansley/Cressbrookdale by Gordon & Alison Rooke and a massive 160 no seen (in 16 species) on the 23rd of May 2025 in Lathkill Dale NNR (Debbie Worland & Liz Wheeldon)
The appearance of 2 Dark Green Fritillaries seen on the 13th of May 2025 in Cunningdale by Nicki & Carl Witham was unexpected as they were 4 days earlier than the previous County record (17th May (2018)) but it is a sign of the sunny and dry Spring of 2025 as there has been 3 other County earliest sightings made already this year (Green Hairstreak; Large Skipper; Brown Argus – Peak Race) Further sightings of the Dark Green Fritillary have come from Tansley/Cressbrookdale (2 no on the 20th of May 2025 Gordon & Alison Rooke) and at Priestcliffe Lees (1 no on the 23rd of May 2025 – Fiona Hewers & Rob Acker)
Records of the new brood Small Tortoiseshell have been sporadic with sightings of ones and twos coming from 25 sites across the County but at least it is a start as to whether this once common butterfly regains some of its former status here in Derbyshire. At least the Wall Brown is still being seen in the Peak/Peak Fringe areas with sightings of 30 individuals at 20 sites up to and including the 23rd of May 2025 with one noted on Crich Chase Meadows, above Ambergate on the 21st of May 2025 ( Pauline Hodson). Additional sightings of the Painted Lady butterfly have come from 37 sites, mainly singletons, but 4 were seen at both Haddon Hall Estate by Karen Mort and at High Wheeldon Hill (Liz Wheeldon) all on the 23rd of May 2025.
Whilst many sites are not seeing butterflies in decent numbers, at least day flying moths keep the interest alive and there have been some interesting sightings recently …none more than the rare Argent & Sable moth which was seen by David Kershaw-Wright at a birch woodland in Central Derbyshire – possibly the last stronghold for this species in the County…unless you know different? Also a Humming Bird Hawk moth was seen zooming round the gardens at Chatsworth House on the 23rd of May 2025 by Esther Weir whilst she was doing the transect there. Also in the Peak District the colourful Wood Tiger moth has been seen at a few sites plus some Speckled Yellow moths. Meanwhile further south a Red Tipped Clearwing moth was noted by Marion Bryce at Forbes Hole, Long Eaton and in Lowland Derbyshire the Mother Shipton moth, which is named after a famous witch that lived in Knaresborough, Yorkshire, can be seen quite regularly on some grasslands.
If you would like more information about the Moths Of Derbyshire then why not visit the dedicated moth website that has been set up by Tony Davison at :- www.derbyshiremoths.org All species that have been recorded now have their own page with status maps, records, charts etc. everything to do with the County’s moths is now covered and is updated regularly and it offers advice on how to submit your moth records as well.
