The jet stream has jumped south and is running right over the Empire, bringing wind, cloud and rain. Curse and crush it! This is an old-fashioned July...
On Wednesday, I managed to see a male in my local wood back home in Glos, then two males sparring at what is at present the only known reliable male territory in the county (near Daneway Banks, of large blue fame).
Back at Knepp on Thursday, in variable weather, I managed to see 58 Purple Emperors including 15 females. They were desperate to get going, and made the most of any sunny break.
They were also very hungry and were sapping like mad, like these two females -
and this torn female -
They were getting pushed off the sap bleeds by Red Ads and Hornets. A good way to spot sap bleeds is to watch for Red Ads flying under the oak canopy, and Hornets. The Red Ad is making a big stab at winning Butterfly of the Year...
I managed to cobble together the PE transect, for Week 4 of the season. This totalled 30, but I would have got >36 had the weather allowed. 30 is excellent for Week 4.
They are ageing fast. No good specimens were seen, though some of the females were in reasonable condition.
The gale forecast for Saturday 15th (St Swithun's Day...) is likely to reduce Emperor numbers considerably. My guess is that the season at Knepp will end around July 25th, though it may persist a little longer at some of the 'later' sites.
Males have stopped coming down to feed on the rides, nationally, and are now stopping flying during the mornings.
Finally, great to hear Knepp's Purple Emperor safaris being lauded by Martha Kearney on Radio 4's Today programme this morning (6.55, 14th July). Knepp's been running them for ten glorious years...
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