Again, His Gloriousity didn't rouse until after midday. But was very active from 1.30 to 4.30, then paused for an hour before indulging in an impressive evening flight (in calm conditions), from 6.15 to 8pm.
I took a group of ecology students to a part of Knepp I don't frequent much - but will more now. Young sallows are developing well there and it's becoming a major breeding ground.
I set the students the challenge of electing the worst behaved Emperor as our next Prime Minister. They were spoilt for choice, with 12-15 males behaving so abominably we elected an entire Cabinet, plus Chief Whips Office with men-in-tights...
Here's our new Prime Minister. He's an ageing rock star who has thrown innumerable TV sets out of hotel windows and knows how to party all night, and day, and is thoroughly disreputable, but at least he wasn't in the Bullingdon Club -
He's the first really worn and battered Emperor I've seen this year, but was battling away manically and was last seen chasing off a Blackbird. Conversely, we saw a fresh male sallow searching - on Day 31 of the flight season. Most males, though, are now middle aged. They will age rapidly in the forecast heat.
We saw seven females, including one performing the best tumbledown I've ever seen, rejecting an I-wont-take-no-for-an-answer male after considerable effort; another feeding on sap, one shading, and another sulking in a sallow.
Tomorrow, I'm heading home for an overdue break.
Advice to people wanting to work Emperors in the coming heatwave: If it's calm, work the evening flight (6.15-7.30), in sheltered west-facing oak foliage bowls, and enjoy. If it's windy, work male territories from 1-2.30pm only.
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