Field Trip Reports 2024

The weather was sunny but there was a brisk, cool, northerly wind keeping the temperature to about 14 degrees C. This did not put off 23 people from turning up.

We saw a few individuals of a range of species (Peacock, Red Admiral, Brimstone, Common Blue, Brown Argus) as well as a few more individuals of Orange-tips, Small Whites, Green-veined Whites and Large Whites. Speckled Woods were common for most of the transect.

We kept our eyes peeled for the elusive Grizzled Skipper and saw one briefly on the way back. The previous day there had been significant numbers of Silver Y Moths - just one seen on this walk.

Unfortunately, the walk was cancelled due to very poor weather conditions.

It must be said that the weather for this trip was far from ideal, being grey and rather windy so it was no surprise that butterflies were keeping their heads down. We did manage to find a single male Common Blue clinging on tightly to a flower-head and a Common Carpet moth also showed briefly, ensuring the day wasn’t a complete blank.

We did try the Orange-tailed Clearwing lure on the guelder rose bushes in The Valley but to no avail as the season was so late this year. We did manage to find larval evidence of this clearwing on a stem of guelder rose where there was a distinct swelling surrounding the larval exit hole. This has really helped the author’s understanding of larval requirements for this moth. Given how cloudy it was, we were not surprised that the Liquorice-piercer micro-moth didn’t perform for us either.

The day began with a promise of bright sunshine; the leader arrived early to walk the site before the trip officially began and saw both target species early on: a Brown Argus flitted across the path at the bottom of the slope below the car park and a distant Cistus Forester moth could be seen through binoculars, taking nectar from one of very few knapweed flowers on a steep slope by the path.

But right on cue and as soon as the last of the participants arrived, the clouds rolled in so that by mid-morning, we had to shelter from the pouring rain under one of the access bridges. Eventually, the sun returned but the only butterfly to show itself was a Small Heath. Most of the knapweeds were still in bud due to the lateness of the spring and the nectar might have been washed out of those which were in flower so despite a good search we didn’t see any Cistus Foresters. A Yellow-shell moth made a break from cover on our return to the car park.

Both this trip and the earlier one were symptomatic of the wet winter with very few butterflies or moths being recorded in the spring of 2024; favouring viruses and parasites and accelerated grass growth shading out larval food plants. It is sincerely to be hoped that things pick up in 2025.

Two people attended plus the leaders. The weather was overcast and rained on the journey there, the temperature was 17ºC.

However, we counted 11 Meadow Browns, 85 Ringlets, 94 Marbled Whites 2 Large Skippers, 4 Small Skippers and 1 Red Admiral, but the icing on the cake were 2 Scarlet Tiger moths. We also saw Cinnabar moth larvae.

It was great to be able to meet friends old and new at our first Butterfly NR here in Derbyshire. Despite a wet morning the weather soon brightened up and the sun was out most of the afternoon. It did not prevent around 200 visitors making the effort to attend the 6th Open Day at Hoe Grange Quarry - yet again Longcliffe Quarries and their staff put on a great effort with free food, drinks and ice cream available – this was ably supported by Committee members of Butterfly Conservation East Midlands and the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust.

The butterflies then appeared and we had sightings of 10 species including Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Small Heath, Speckled Wood, Red Admiral, Small Copper, Common Blue, Small Skipper, Large Skipper and a well worn Dingy Skipper.

Most visitors were amazed at the show of wild flowers which included many of the 200 species recorded on site as well as a massive display of ox-eye daisies which carpeted the quarry floor.

As well as visitors from across the East Midlands, others came from Cornwall, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Surrey,

Effectively a joint venture between Longcliffe Quarries, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and Butterfly Conservation’s East Midlands branch, the Hoe Grange Quarry reserve is overseen by an EMBC warden and the site of one of Derbyshire’s numerous butterfly transects, recording more and more species as the habitat developed and matured. Over the past eight years, 17,500 butterflies of 32 species have been counted, including three BAP species: Wall Brown, Dingy Skipper and Small Heath. Two Peak District specialities – Dark Green Fritillary and local variant of Brown Argus – have been sighted there.

Number of attendees: 12

As is becoming the new 'normal' these days, I had spent the previous few days transfixed by the weather forecast; mostly for the wrong reasons. Persistent grey skies and scattered heavy showers refused to go away and the probability of a wet field trip was quite high. I decided that it was worth taking the risk and gave everyone the option to attend or stay at home.

Although the clouds refused to disperse, a gentle southerly breeze and a temperature of 20 degrees increased our chances of spotting a few butterflies. It turned out that I need not have worried. Within minutes of entering the reserve we encountered our first butterfly; a Speckled Wood. This turned out to be our only sighting of this species. The most abundant species on the day was the summer stalwart, the Gatekeeper (which is having a better summer than most species) being seen regularly in most sections of our walk, and in total we recorded 38 individuals.

Our main target species for the day proved a little more elusive and we began to doubt whether we see any at all. Fortunately, the skies brightened at little and one eagle-eyed individual spotted a large butterfly flying in and out of a substantial Sallow. Views through binoculars and cameras revealed a female Purple Emperor (target species number one), and we were privileged to witness Her Imperial Majesty egg laying on numerous branches on and about the tree. Whilst watching H.I.M we were treated to a brief fly-past by a solitary Silver-washed Fritillary, our second target species. Unfortunately, it disappeared just as quickly as it appeared, and no more were seen.

In Cloud Wood there are two key spots where our final target species, the White-letter Hairstreak, are recorded each year so I knew exactly where to look. Lofty Oak and Ash trees provide suitable look out posts for this species and, as the sky brightened briefly, we witnessed two individuals engaged in aerial combat. Sadly they refused to come down to a lower level to allow us the opportunity to get a photograph. On returning to the site of our Purple Emperor sighting as our visit drew to a close, a few of us stayed behind as some headed home. Our patience, and optimism, was rewarded when two more Emperors (or Empresses) were seen flying high around an Oak tree. It's good to know that this butterfly has well and truly established a permanent (hopefully) territory here. Fingers crossed we get to see them again next year.

Our total butterfly count was as follows:

• Speckled Wood 1
• Ringlet 38
• Green-veined White 6
• Meadow Brown 2
• Purple Emperor 3
• Silver-washed Fritillary 1
• White-letter Hairstreak 2

We saw no day-flying moths at all on this visit.

Twelve members gathered in the car park at the playing field anxiously looking at the sky to try to fathom what the weather would be like for the walk. We all knew how bad the season had been but the signs seemed to be in our favour as we set off up the dale and we soon saw our first butterflies of the day. Unfortunately, as we advanced the clouds came over and sightings dropped off. As we approached the meadow, we met a group of botanists who led some of the group into the meadow to search for orchids while the rest of us walked to the cave. Thankfully the weather had improved and the sun appeared and we had good views of Dark Green Fritillary and Brown Argus, two of our target species.

In addition, we saw Meadow Browns, Ringlet, Gatekeeper, Comma, Red Admiral, Small, Large and Green-veined Whites, Small and Large Skipper, Speckled Wood, Common Blue and Small Heath; 15 species in all. Shaded Broad Bar, Orange Underwing, Speckled Yellow and 5 Spot Burnet moths were also seen.

All had looked bleak meteorologically just a week before this inaugural field trip and it was with great relief that the Sunday of the visit saw glorious sunshine. Eleven enthusiastic Butterfly fanatics arrived with experience levels varying from novice to expert. Everyone was prepared to share their knowledge and over the noise of stridulating grasshoppers and buzzing invertebrates was a steady background hum of good-natured nature-based conversation.

A review of the irecord submission shows that there were 96 butterflies of 13 species spotted during the day with counts as follows:

• Brimstone 3
• Comma 1
• Gatekeeper 30
• Holly Blue 1
• Large White 1
• Meadow Brown 10
• Peacock 10
• Red Admiral 1
• Ringlet 13
• Small Skipper 13
• Small Tortoiseshell 2
• Small White 1
• Speckled Wood 10

In addition, there were a number of day-flying moths of four species spotted including 2 Silver Y, 3 Six-spot burnet, 1 Yellow Underwing, 1 Pale Pearl Straw.

A ruby tiger caterpillar was observed along with an interesting Meadow Cranesbill Weevil.

Everyone agreed that they had enjoyed themselves and thanks go to Dawn, Alison and Lucy who furnished a thirsty and hungry bunch of lepidopterists with a magnificent selection of home-made comestibles and refreshments afterwards.

The weather once again proved to be the determining factor for our walk. The day started dull and overcast and did not improve at any stage, in fact we experienced rain at one stage.

Twelve optimistic people turned up with hopes of seeing at least one or two Butterflies. I believe a number of people came along with the expectation they might see Small Blue and Brown Hairstreak. The Small Blue did oblige, albeit not in high numbers; in fact of the eleven species seen, all were in very low counts.

Two Brown Hairstreak were reportedly seen though neither offered a chance of a full identification or a photographic opportunity.

Species seen were:

• Ringlet
• Meadow Brown
• Speckled Wood
• Small Skipper
• Small Blue
• Peacock
• Green-veined White
• Gatekeeper
• Essex Skipper
• Red Admiral
• Brown Hairstreak

The feedback from those who attended was that despite the weather the walk was thoroughly enjoyed, I’m inclined to think that was because, following the walk a number of people tucked into a Sunday roast at the Pit café.