Hello Everyone,
Another fairly changeable week has certainly affected butterfly numbers and species especially in the Lowland parts of Derbyshire whereas further north in the Peak District, numbers have remained fairly comparable to the previous week with the highest counts coming from Chatsworth Gardens on the 31st of July 2025 (191 no in 10 species – Fred & Gill Dyson), Coombs Dale on the 31st of July 2025 ( 188 no in 16 species – Al & John Roberts), Dene Quarry, Cromford Hill on the same day (130 no in 17 species – Martin Cobham) and in Chee Dale on the 2nd of August 2025 (125 no in 16 species – John & Anne Coupland) With Storm ‘Floris’ bringing some welcome rain but strong winds to most parts of the UK, it is likely that most butterfly species will now be in a slow early decline but at least the second brood Wall Brown numbers are on the increase – at least 94 individuals were noted in the County recently at 40 locations including sightings in North East Derbyshire from Hundall (Judy Heap), Ashover (John and Sandra Kidd), Wessington ( Sarah McCrow) and further south on the Cromford Canal at Ambergate (Alison Pritchard) The highest counts were 16 in Smalldale on the 31st of July 2025 (Cate Beck & Sue Mitchell) and 5 at both Mouselow Hill Glossop (Colin Ashcroft) and at Northwood, Darley Dale (Christine Gregory).
Other interesting recent sightings include :-
Dingy Skipper :- A few more second brood individuals were noted in the County recently, this time in Hay Dale on the 28th of July 2025 (Ian & Joy White), Millers Dale Quarry on the 29th of July 2025 (Rachel Purvis), in Calver Quarry on the 31st of July 2025 (Larry Harfoot) and in Hoe Grange Quarry on the 2nd of August 2025 (Ray Badger Walker)
White Letter Hairstreak :- 1 sighting this week on hemp agrimony in Lathkill Dale NNR (Liz Wheeldon) on the 28th of July 2025 together with another in the Buxton garden of Ian & Joy White on the 2nd of August 2025
Purple Hairstreak :- Just 8 sightings mainly on oaks this week with the last being on the 31st of July 2025 on phlox flowers in Chatsworth Gardens (Fred & Gill Dyson)
Common Blue :- A few sites are managing to maintain high numbers including Sunnydale Park in Derby (34 no – Jen Stratford) on the 25th of July 2025 and 70 on the Forge site in Ironville on the 30th of July 2025 (Sally Fisher et al)
Small Copper :- Highest recent count was on the 28th of July 2025 at Shiningford, Carsington Water (17 no – Penny Northall)
Peacock :- Highest counts are still coming from the Peak District with 37 seen on the 28th of July 2025 in Lathkill Dale NNR (Liz Wheeldon) and 34 seen on the 24th of July 2025 in Bradwell (Sally Pereira), in Chatsworth Gardens on the 31st of July 2025 (Fred & Gill Dyson) and at Markham Vale North on the 2nd of August 2025 (Colin Morris)
Red Admiral :- Still fairly common on late flowering buddleias in gardens with the recent highest count of 32 coming from Lathkill Dale NNR on the 28th of July 2025 (Liz Wheeldon)
Silver Washed Fritillary :- This species has spread north in the County in recent years and the highest count last week of 16 no came from Thornhill NR, Bamford on the 31st of July 2025 (Helen & Chris Perkins)
Marbled White :- A late sighting of this spreading species came on the 28th of July 2025 at the Forge site in Ironville – (Sally Fisher et al) – could it be that this site contains a naturally breeding colony – let’s hope so!
Speckled Wood :- Numbers now starting to increase especially in Lowland areas of the County with the maximum recent count of 32 coming from Goseley Cutting, Woodville on the 24th of July 2025 (Ruth Woods)
It has been an interesting week for Migrant butterflies and moths with the rare Clouded Yellow being seen at four locations in the County – one in Calke Park on the 28th of July 2025 (Michael Williams), another in Hoe Grange Quarry on the 2nd of August 2025 (Ray Badger Walker & Jenny Harris), a third at Brierley Wood, Sheepbridge on the 3rd of August 2025 (Paul Townsend) and a fourth at Salter Wood Denby on the 3rd of August 2025 (Jane & Michael Rogers)
Meanwhile the Painted Lady has been noted at 36 sites, mainly ones and twos, but 3 were seen on the 2nd of August 2025 at South Wingfield by Alesandro Congiu. However the Humming Bird Hawk moth has been rather scarce with just 4 individuals seen together with 2 noted at the Lubrizol site in Hazelwood on the 28th of July 2025 (Dave Adams)
We are all now aware as to the movement into Derbyshire this year of the iconic Purple Emperor and numbers of this species have reached record levels at some sites in Southern England including the Knepp Estate in Sussex – see the link below :-
Knepp breaks Purple Emperor record in super butterfly summer – BirdGuides
The flight period of Iris is just about over for this year but there might be a late burst of activity in the County during the next 10 days so keep those eyes peeled!
You have still got a few days left to help with this year’s Big Butterfly Count which ends on the 10th of August 2025 so please keep sending in your records to https://bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org
Finally, It is with great sadness that I have just heard that Tom Cockburn died in hospital on the 3rd of August 2025 – he was one of the best wildlife recorders in Derbyshire with extensive knowledge and experience of recording birds, butterflies and wildflowers. My recollections of him go back to the 1970’s when Tom was the Hon Warden at Drakelow Power Station Nature site which subsequently became Drakelow NR – I can remember clearly the time when he contacted me to say that he thought that he had seen an Essex Skipper on site…sure enough, the next day I confirmed the first ever sighting of the species in Derbyshire in 1999. Then in the year 2000 Tom saw the first ever Migrating Brown Argus in the County which I was pleased to confirm that his I D was correct again….what a truly inspirational person to know.
I just hope that one day I will aspire to achieve the same great respect and knowledge of such a true gentleman.
RIP Tom
