Back at Knepp today, where despite a Fresh SW wind I managed to see exactly100 Purple Emperors (probable individuals), including just three females (all being severely bothered by males). This is the first time I've managed to get the hundred up for several years...
Pleased to share this hungry fellow with 20 or so other people -
So far this season at Knepp, I've managed to show over fifty visitors their very first Emperor - and charged each one of them never to forget it...
The butterfly is by no means fully out at Knepp. My guess is that about half of the emergence is still to come, so this is National Throw a Sickie and Go Emperoring Week...However, it looks likely to be a particularly windy week. Wednesday is likely to be the calmest day, so I'll do the Knepp PE Transect then. That will tell us just how good this year's emergence is... At this stage, 2025 seems to be challenging the Great and Immortal 2018 emergence... ... ...
Fingers crossed, but it looks as though another big anticyclone will be over the Empire for next weekend - in time for Peak Season. You may need to skip next Saturday's wedding too...
Elsewhere, it seems that His Gloriousity is now out in all known Purple counties, apart from Dorset and Norfolk (will Dorset and Norfolk please Come Out)...