Hello Everyone, After another changeable week but with a hot and settled spell of weather with us now, have our butterfly numbers and species already peaked for 2025? It appears so as most Skippers, Hairstreaks and Ringlets are on a very steep decline but pleasingly the Common Blue has staged a recovery this year…indeed numbers are increasing at Hoe Grange Quarry which suggests a second brood there. Also at Hoe Grange Quarry last week, the Wall Brown was showing itself to the many visitors who love to experience the tranquillity and excellent habitat there – not just butterflies but dragonflies and birds abound at the moment.
Pleasingly around 100 no Wall Browns have been noted at 60 locations in the County last week with the highest count of 8 being seen at Bradwell on the 8th of August 2025 (Peter Mackey) with sightings away from its usual locations at Wessington (Eric Easom) and in Ashbourne ( Jonathan Proud).
With a southerly air flow and temperatures rising fast it is ideal conditions for migrant butterflies at appear and so it looks to be happening in the County with the Clouded Yellow showing at 8 locations over last weekend including sightings at Overseal (Dot & Barry Morson), Northwood, Darley Dale (Chris & Sheila Ragg) Hoe Grange Quarry (Jonathan Pitt & Ray Walker), Mercaston (Chris Perry), Rosliston F C (Peter Brewster), Matlock (Alison Rayns), the Forge Ironville (Marlene Eglinton & Stephen Bacon) and finally 2 at Shipley Park Lake on the 10th of August 2025 (Colin Penny), one of which was paler and was probably an Helice form – so keep those eyes peeled for a fast moving bright yellow butterfly about the size of a Small White, which is usually on a mission! Hardly surprising was the number of Painted Lady butterflies also seen recently with 52 individuals noted at 43 locations , mainly ones and twos, but 5 were noted at Loscoe Fields on the 6th of August 2025 (Lucy Benniston) However, not so common were records for the migrant Humming Bird Hawk moth with just 6 noted at 6 locations in the County during the last week.
Additional recent sightings of interest include :-
Brimstone :- A large count of 16 was noted in Tansley/Cressbrookdale on the 8th of August 2025 (Gordon & Alison Rooke)
Dingy Skipper :- Further second brood individuals have been seen at Rowland and Longstone Edge ( Stuart Webster) together with a singleton at Bradwell Moor (Peter Mackey), 2 noted in Hoe Grange Quarry on the 6th of August 2025 (Oli Harrison) and 4 seen in Hay Dale on the 6th of August 2025 (Ian & Joy White) and lastly a worn individual noted by Steve & Lin Orridge on the 11th of August 2025 at Waterswallows, Buxton
Common Blue :- New broods have now appeared and 41 were noted at Witches Oak Water, Shardlow on the 6th of August 2025 (Rob Shaw) and 38 on the Blackwell Trail on the 2nd of August 2025 (Helen Naylor)
Holly Blue:- Second brood specimens are still being seen with 7 noted along the Cromford Canal near Ambergate on the 6th of August 2025 (Don & Sue Zmartzy)
Brown Argus (Peak District version) Still being seen in the dales and in old quarries with 5 seen on Longstone Edge on the 10th of August 2025 (Aline & John Roberts) together with a singleton in Hoe Grange Quarry on the same day (Ray Walker)
Brown Argus Migrating :- Still being seen in Lowland Derbyshire with sightings up to and including the 10th of August 2025 at Hilton Valley Park (Wayne Cooper & Ken Orpe) – interesting that Rupert Adams (Cheshire Butterfly Recorder) informed me of the first sighting of the species yesterday in Cheshire (VC58) in a garden in Macclesfield – has the species moved north through Staffs?
Purple Hairstreak :- Noted at 2 locations only this last week with sightings on the 6th of August 2025 at both Wyver Lane NR, Belper
(Dave Evans) and at Calke Park explore (Max & Christine Maughan)
White Letter Hairstreak :- A late sighting on the 8th of August 2025 in the Buxton garden of Ian & Joy White
Peacock :- Numbers remaining fairly high in the Peak District with 32 seen in Ferneydale (Jon Mortin) and a similar number seen in Hoe Grange Quarry (Ray Walker) – all on the 10th of August 2025. However the largest count came from Waterswallows, Buxton with a massive 110 seen there on the 11th of August 2025 (Steve & Lin Orridge)
Silver Washed Fritillary : Still on the wing up to the 9th of August 2025 at Coombs Dale (Jon Mortin) including a sighting on the 3rd of August 2025 in Graves Park, Sheffield by Ian Rotherham.
Dark Green Fritillary :- Again hanging on with the last sighting received being the 9th of August 2025 at Thornhill NR, Bamford (Pete Feetham)
Gatekeeper :- Possibly the most common ‘brown’ butterfly on the wing at the moment including 44 noted on the Rowland transect by Stuart Webster.
Meadow Brown :- Mint examples of this species are being seen in Lowland parts of the County with 38 noted in Allestree Park Rewilding area on the 6th of August 2025 (Chris Perry) – the Meadow Brown has the ability to have a prolonged emergence which results in fresh individuals seen in both August but usually in September – this is evident by the number of black spots on the underside of the wings which are as a result of genes – hence some caterpillars reach maturity quickly have a large number of dots whereas later Meadow Browns have fewer black dots or can be spotless! – so check those dot patterns! (see attached photos)
Small Heath :- Still present mainly at both Peak District sites and ‘brownfield’ sites in Lowland Derbyshire with 43 noted on the 8th of August 2025 at Markham Pit South (Debbie Giles)
We all have problems with the I D of ‘White’ butterflies and now we have yet another White to check out – the Southern Small White – have a look at the link below and check out those photos just in case!
Species Information: Focus on: Southern Small White – BirdGuides
Finally Nick Brown has already started putting rotting fruit out for butterflies to enjoy (see the attached photo of Red Admirals on plums) – what is surprising is that he normally starts this in the Autumn but with another ‘heatwave’ this week, maybe he is a little premature, or possibly not!
Regards,
Ken Orpe
