In late July 2013, I read a report from the Great Fen Project web site concerning the existence at Woodwalton Fen of a "small population of Purple Emperor Butterflies" - and I suspect I was not alone in raising an eyebrow in surprise at this information.It certainly did not fit in with my belief in the type of habitat I expected to visit in order to see this insect.
Come forward three years, to mid-July 2016, when Nigel and I have finished with our Fermyn patrols, and have travelled to Weerribben-Wieden National Park in the province Overijssel - the largest freshwater wetlands of North-west Europe. Discarding the cloak of
Imperial Purple, we have come to see the Prince of Orange, a.k.a. batavus in his watery stronghold. However, within an hour of arriving, we are enjoying the company of an Empress, who then flies to a nearby birch tree to dine on a sap run. Local enthusiasts inform us this is not a common sight here, but during our week-long stay, we achieve plenty of sightings, including a count of six females on a damaged oak tree, which was also popular with atalanta. This spot proved to be very reliable for sightings during our stay, and we often made a detour on our bikes to view Herself dining on the sap runs.
I can recommend this place to anyone who wishes to see batavus, although don't expect to achieve many sightings, as it is uncommon even here and many hours need to be put in searching the likely areas. It was also great to see Iris in numbers here too, and this insect appears to thrive at this time in the fen and broadland habitat so reminiscent of the wetlands of East Anglia. Perhaps both batavus and iris will thrive in our own country, once the Great Fen Project matures in the years to come, and I welcome the opportunity to see them in such circumstances...
Imperial Purple, we have come to see the Prince of Orange, a.k.a. batavus in his watery stronghold. However, within an hour of arriving, we are enjoying the company of an Empress, who then flies to a nearby birch tree to dine on a sap run. Local enthusiasts inform us this is not a common sight here, but during our week-long stay, we achieve plenty of sightings, including a count of six females on a damaged oak tree, which was also popular with atalanta. This spot proved to be very reliable for sightings during our stay, and we often made a detour on our bikes to view Herself dining on the sap runs.
I can recommend this place to anyone who wishes to see batavus, although don't expect to achieve many sightings, as it is uncommon even here and many hours need to be put in searching the likely areas. It was also great to see Iris in numbers here too, and this insect appears to thrive at this time in the fen and broadland habitat so reminiscent of the wetlands of East Anglia. Perhaps both batavus and iris will thrive in our own country, once the Great Fen Project matures in the years to come, and I welcome the opportunity to see them in such circumstances...
5 comments:
That's a really interesting post. What time of day did you see the sap run feeding? If you haven't been to Woodwalton Fen recently, the numbers of Emperor seen each year are now quite amazing. Mostly around the oaks at Rothschild's bungalow - the oaks appear to be the 'highpoint' in the landscape. Also regular 'groundings' on the actual bungalow itself. Well worth a visit! Liz
Liz, the feeding we saw on the oak was in the late afternoon, from 3pm (European time!) We saw them on at least three occasions, the sun was in the wrong position to get good pictures, the tree being almost in silhouette.There were also sightings of feeding on Birch trees, where the branches were broken, before midday, and once around two pm on what looked like a distressed tree. As soon as we stopped to view the Emperors, a crowd gathered! Most people got about on bikes, but some were in cars, parking as soon as they saw a gathering of people.
There were a few sallows around, much like Woodwalton I suspect, enough then to support a good population. Woodwalton is not far from me, but neither is Fermyn! Now I have retired I should be able to fit in more visits to both.
Bill
Bill, this is important: Did His Imperial Majesty beat the hell out of batavus?
Matthew, batavus is a furtive skulker, and we never saw him above the reeds or indeed, above the ditch level. He reminded me of another Royal personage who carried on in the same manner in similar terrain at Athelney? Batavus may even have decided to emulate him, thus keeping well clear of the true challenger; and it was uninspiring to seek a flash of orange on the sides of the road, whilst heart-lifting to look up into the trees and true joy to then see Iris in full and majestic flight in and out of the oak and birch crowns...
Bill
As I suspected, cowardice - a detestable vice in a butterfly...
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