Hello Everyone, The first week of November 2025 produced sightings of 6 butterfly species in the County but since then the much needed rains have arrived and consequently nothing has been seen flying outside.
There have been sightings of 20 Red Admirals so far this month with the last being 3 noted on the 6th of November 2025 at Nether Heage (Patricia Sharp) where they were taking nectar from both mahonia and late flowering yellow buddleia. Then followed sightings of 8 Peacocks with 3 noted at Markham Vale South on the 5th of November 2025 (Sid Morris) with the latest seen on the 6th of November 2025 in the Goyt Valley (Les Gradwell). This was followed by 2 sightings of the Small Tortoiseshell – one seen at Hartshorne on the 1st of November 2025 (John Schofield) and another noted on the 6th of November 2025 in Rowland (Catherine Chapman). There were then singletons of the following species seen outside in the County – a Comma was noted on the 5th of November 2025 at Markham Vale South (Sid Morris); a Speckled Wood was seen at Willington Wetlands (Rob Shaw) and finally a Small Copper was seen on the 2nd of November 2025 at Markham Vale North (Mark Radford)
Finally don’t forget the Members Day and local AGM of Butterfly Conservation East Midlands which will take place on Sunday the 23rd of November 2025 at the Allestree Club, Derby – full details as per Update no 40. As well as giving a Report on the butterflies seen in Derbyshire in 2025, I will be giving a 30 minute Presentation on 50 years of transect walking and UKBMS in the UK – fasten your seatbelts!