Hello Everyone,
After the third heatwave in as many weeks (ie 26c & over for 3 consecutive days here in Derbyshire), it is of no surprise that this has worked well for both the distribution and numbers of butterflies that have been noted recently – indeed most species have recovered well after the disappointing results in 2024.Now we are beginning to see second brood individuals of the Wall Brown with sightings at Holloway on the 8th of July 2025 ( Alison Pritchard) and in New Mills on both the 9th & 12th of July 2025 (Lucy Pink). Also at the same time fresh second brood individuals of the Dingy Skipper have started to appear with records from the Blackwell Trail on the 8th of July 2025 (Maggie Campbell), at Longstone Edge on the 10th of July 2025 (Mark Searle & Pauline Hodson), at Coombs Dale on the 11th of July 2025 (Angela Brooks) and at Loscoe Fields on the 13th of July 2025 (Lucy Benniston) – in these days of changing climate it is becoming the ‘norm’ to get second brood Dingy Skippers in the County with sightings in 7 of the last 10 years!
What is really pleasing is the upturn in the fortunes of the ‘blue’ family with the Small Copper being noted at 95 sites in the County including 16 seen in Coombs Dale on the 8th of July 2025 ( Tony & Jon Hudson) – similarly the Common Blue has appeared at 48 sites in Derbyshire with the highest count of 39 coming on the 10th of July 2025 at Doe Lea (Willy Lane). The Holly Blue has also manged to take advantage of the weather with sightings in ones and twos at 40 sites in the County including 4 noted on the 13th of July 2025 at West Park, Spondon (Mick Sharp) – even the Migrating Brown Argus has staged a recovery with sightings from just 6 locations in Lowland Derbyshire. Mention must be made of the continuing success story of the summer hairstreaks with both the White Letter Hairstreak and the Purple Hairstreak being seen at a number of locations in the County with the former species noted at 24 sites, mainly ones and twos, but 4 were seen at Hundall on the 9th of July 2025 (Judy Heap) whilst the latter species was seen at a similar number of locations with 26 noted on oaks in Chatsworth Park (Derek Whiteley) and 40 seen on the 11th of July 2025 in Kedleston Park (Kevin Morris)
Strangely there have been no further sightings of the Purple Emperor recently in Southern Derbyshire despite searches in the Calke and Ticknall areas by many volunteers, although one seen in Pleasley Park on the 9th of July 2025 by Robin Elliott was probably another interloper from nearby Notts. However there have been 12 recent sightings of the Humming Bird Hawkmoth in the County with 2 seen on valerian in the Bradwell garden of Sally Pereira on the 12th of July 2025 – also the Painted Lady butterfly has been noted at 18 sites in Derbyshire with 3 seen on the 9th of July 2025 at Witches Oak Water NR (Rob Shaw)
With buddleia bushes in full bloom now there have been some great sightings of the nymphalid butterflies taking nectar from them – especially Peacocks with counts up to 60 coming from Long Eaton (Jamie Estrada-Torres), Abbey Fields, Darley Dale (Rod Dunn) Witches Oak Water NR ( Rob Shaw) and along the Cromford Canal near Whatstandwell ( Don & Sue Zmartzy) whilst in the general countryside the Silver Washed Fritillary is continuing on its northern traverse of the County with recent sightings from 20 locations including 9 seen in Lathkill Dale NNR on the 8th of July 2025 (Al & John Roberts).
There have been some huge numbers of ‘whites’ seen recently, especially Large Whites, with up to 100 no seen at Gresley Wood,(Alan Bates), Sunart Fields, Whaley Bridge (Angela & Alastair Walker), Chatsworth Gardens (Esther Weir) and in Abbey Fields, Darley Dale (Rod Dunn) and due to the lack of rain there have been some gatherings of ‘white’ butterflies seeking moisture which I have witnessed in the past, but during this last week the ‘blue’ family have been seen seeking extra minerals amongst dampness on the ground – see the attached photos of a Common Blue at Woodside NR (Rob Waldron) together with a Holly Blue in a garden at Darley (Alf Bousie) – strangely in all the recent heat there have been very few aberrations seen in the County other than the odd Meadow Brown.
]The Annual Big Butterfly count is nearly upon us with this year’s dates being from the 18th of July 2025 to the 10th of August 2025 – full details can be seen by logging on to the Big Butterfly Count website at the following link :-
https://bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org
This is your chance to get involved with this important Citizen Science project – it looks like our local butterflies have managed a dramatic comeback after last year’s Emergency? Let’s put Derbyshire on the map again!
