June 23rd: After the Thunderstorm...

Heavy thunderstorms in the western parts of the Empire yesterday evening. That meant wet rides and a steamy forest today, and the descent of hungry Emperors...

I saw three pristine males coming down to feed in one of the Braydon Forest woods, NW of Swindon, notably this beauty - 

This is a newish site, with a building population. The male territories have yet to be discovered.

So we looked for a male territory in a classic sheltered wooded hilltop with oaks and small-leaved limes (which PE love). Nothing. They're not there, though they must be assembling somewhere close by. I'm cross with them. 

Instead, Herself appeared and laid two eggs right in front of me. Now I've got to look up my earliest ever egg (which I shall do after the football) -

Elsewhere, PE started in Dorset and Glos (Sapperton) on Sun 21st, and has now been seen in Norfolk (in the Yare valley again) and Notts.  4 seen at Sapperton today.

No reports of astronomical numbers yet, and it doesn't (yet) appear to be a particularly great year for them, but the weather this week isn't easy to work in.

Advise: in extreme heat, work the evening flight, between 6pm and 7.30.   

Right, football.