Female Egg Laying in Bentley Wood

Very hot for my annual visit to Bentley Wood today. I arrived around 10.40 and the car park was nearly full. As I walked up the ride people were already returning with tales of Purple Emperors buzzing them or distant views above the trees, none had been seen down though. I did not hold out too much hope because of the heat, but I was going to give it a try. It was around 11.50 that I noticed a large Emperor in the Donkey Copse area around a large sallow. I looked again and could not believe that my first Purple Emperor at Bentley Wood was an egg laying female. By far the earliest female I had ever recorded. She was diligently moving around the sallow choosing various leaves to settle and lay an egg on. I managed one photo before she powered off at 12.04. I made my way back towards the carpark stopping at the cross tracks to find I had missed a male down on a gate post for a short time (very fresh from the photos I have seen online). That was it, a good but not prolific day.
From what I gathered speaking to people, there were 4 males seen yesterday by one lady, one down briefly. Others may well have been seen but were not in the book. I would guess around 6 were recorded today, but this is just an estimate. Still early days here, next week may be easier to see more.

Female Purple Emperor circling after egg laying