By all accounts, iris has appeared in relatively poor numbers in Fermyn this year - 'relatively' is the operative word here, for everywhere else bar Knepp would be delighted by such numbers. 2015 is the poorest year I've known for the butterfly there, in 12 years of diligence. My guess is that had I visited during the main pulse of emergence - Big Bang Weekend, as we call it - on the 10th-12th July, I would probably have managed to count 50-60 apparent individuals, only.
It's hard to pinpoint why, though this is only a modest Purple Emperor year - but seemingly better than last year. There has been no major habitat change in Fermyn, though many of the ride vistas are narrowing as the young woodland develops. Perhaps Northants was hit by inclement weather at a sensitive time (or two) in the insect's development?
Even the people who live in the cottages and regularly drive through the woods have seen little of the butterfly. One daily driver only saw her first grounded male on the 20th.
I did hear a report of Iris Rage, when fisticuffs nearly occurred among photographers - Gentlemen, we can do better than this...
And of course, there's the superb ab. lugenda, photographed in Lady Wood by Dave Holden on the 16th and by Bill Seager on the 17th. This was the first iris I saw when I entered the woods on the 20th, flying among Scots pines just past Poplar Corner. So Fermyn's still producing Quality (I don't know of any other aberrations this year, anywhere). Here's Dave's photo, which qualifies him for the Iole Fellowship badge (Bill and I think Nige also qualify) -
4 comments:
Matthew, Nige and I did not get a picture of the aberration on Friday 17th July, just a sighting. The picture I uploaded was from Dave Holden, who sent it to me in order that I should be able to publish it on the blog.
Regards, Bill
That's a shame, I was going to wing you two the Iole Fellowship badge... Actually, your honesty is so moving that I'll send you one to share between the two of you - address please.
That's a shame, I was going to wing you two the Iole Fellowship badge... Actually, your honesty is so moving that I'll send you one to share between the two of you - address please.
Hi Matthew, My address is 20 Railway Road Downham Market Norfolk PE38 9EB.If you do not mind sending me a contact address in the post, I have a nice piece on the Emperor written by a follower in the 1950s you may be interested in. Also, I can then send you Dave Holden's contact Email if you wish to award him a badge for his pictures? Thanks, Bill Seager
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