Despite the mixed weather and football results we’re glad to see a number of you still got out and about and shared your wildlife sightings with us.

We’ll begin our round up of your sightings with two of our larger bird species in the UK both with wingspans reaching 1.8m, a Grey Heron spotted at our Wyver Lane reserve and a Red Kite sighted near Cromford. Close by a much smaller Snipe, with a wingspan of 46 cm who’s males make a drumming sound by vibrating their tail feathers during arial courtship displays, was also seen.

Even smaller wings again were seen at our Miller’s Dale reserve in the form of several of our butterfly species including the Common Blue, named for the striking blue topside of its wings and the Dark Green Fritillary named after the colour of the undersides of its hingwings rather that the black and bight orange topsides. Also spotted were the Ringlet, named after the rings on the undersides of its wings, and the similarly marked Small Heath. Two day flying moth species were also seen at the reserve, the Five Spot Burnet, which uses its striking red and back markings to warn predators that it is poisonous, and a sooty-black species aptly named the Chimney sweeper. If you want to know how you can encourage butterflies and moths to visit your garden see the links below.

A few orchids were spotted in southern Derbyshire including the less conspicuous Frog Orchid and the Broad-leaved helleborine, a taller species with purple and green flowers reaching a height of up to 75cm.

As we continue through July we are looking forward to hearing about more of the awesome wildlife and plants you’ve spotted across Derbyshire. To submit your own sighting and be featured in a future blog go to www.derbyshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/wildlife/record-sighting.

How to attract butterflies to your garden: https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions/how-attract-butterflies-your-garden

How to attract moths and bats to your garden: https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions/how-attract-moths-and-bats-your-garden

Thank you to Rachael Clark, Paul Bennett, Mick Philbin, Jean Bennett, Pamela Simpson, Brenda Shore and Charles Green for submitting their sightings.