Purple Emperor at Fermyn Woods, 22/07/12

Apatura iris

At Fermyn Woods, Northamptonshire. Feels like ages since I did any UK wildlife shots!

I guess that may be weather related. But this one shot should make the wait worthwhile

Alan

Partly weather, partly generally being busy in other areas. But a glorious morning yesterday - plenty of inverts out in the sun (including huge numbers of White Admiral and a White-letter Hairstreak but they didn't want to pose for photos!) and a wonderful view of a Yellowhammer singing at the top of its tree.

And then an afternoon at Woburn. Good times.

So you are a member of the 'Purple Empire' are you?

I saw one in Bentley Wood(Hampshire) last Thursday but it didn't come down low. The weather was not as good as it has been this weekend but I guess on Sunday all the PE sites were crawling with spotters.

Fermyn was very busy - the PEs we photo'd were quite a way in where the people had thinned out a bit but there were also individuals posing quite nicely in the car park with a crowd around them!

I have a feeling that may be due to the much warmer weather- there were none coming down to the ground at Bentley on Thursday but numbers seen were small. There were quite a few PE spotters there even on a weekday. I'll bet it was busy on Sunday!. I believe its thought this may be a 'late' season for them because of the weather, and the main emergence in some places(they vary) may have been delayed until now because of that.

What time of day were you there? Mornings seem to be much better for catching them on the ground - by the afternoon they've mostly warmed up and headed up to the treetops.

And yes, I get the feeling many populations of 'midsummer' species are running 2-3 weeks late this year following the weather chaos!

I was there from 10 a.m. onwards till lunchtime. But it got very cloudy soon after I arrived. The one I saw had a regular territory and he flew a 'patrol' everytime the sun came out and then settled high up when it went in. He had been seen in the same place several days previously.

There were plenty of other species around too(White Admiral, SW Fritillary,Ringlet,MB, etc etc) but in my local woods which are normally alive with Butterflies at this time, there is very little.

Returned early to the same woods last Thursday and in the morning saw two male 'Purps' on the ground closeup-feeding on dog excreta etc, and one treated me to twenty minutes of low-level flight and posing on the ground. Also females searching Sallow brakes to lay eggs. It was very hot and activity ceased around lunchtime. Other butterflies seemed less numerous than the previous week-probably too hot.

Apparently the 'purp' season hasn't been as bad as feared and numbers are pretty much normal, though emergence was late. In fact the 7 day recent spell of hot weather has allowed a good 'window' for the egglaying females and despite the terrible weather beforehand this is the best weather at the peak egglaying time that they have had for some years, so it bodes well for next year's hatch.

Good news indeed!