A windy day today, again - some Emperors are getting shredded, already, but they are numpties, roosting in treetop sprays...
Good to see six probable males in my local parish today, notably this thug on territory at Sapperton Broad Ride (near Daneway Banks on the butterflying map) -
Six doesn't sound much, and isn't compared to Knepp's incredible numbers, but it is the highest number recorded in modern Gloucestershire, and may even be the all-time record for the county...
Emperors favour limes. The tree has dense-foliage, and so provides shelter from wind; and both sexes also feed on the honeydew (aphid secretion) which can proliferate on lime leaves. Here's one of the lime tree territories at Knepp (light green leafage), it's on the Purple Emperor route -
It's along an east-facing wood edge, and is especially good in a west wind.
I'm heading back to Knepp tomorrow, for peak season. DO VISIT, it's incredible this year... This weekend will see peak numbers there.
Good to hear of NINE being seen in a vista in Fermyn Woods today. That's the most I've ever heard of being seen there (my best was a couple of sevens), and brings back memories of Fermyn's glory days, back in the 2009-2013 era.
Also great to learn that iris has reappeared in Derbyshire this year, in the Ticknall area (National Forest), where I said it would be.
Finally, a warning about 'groundings' (males feeding on the ground). Do not expect to see males coming to the ground after the start of July, anywhere. They only do it during the early days of their lives, and this year's emergence is coming out fast. I doubt any will be seen feeding on tracks during the weekend of July 5th and 6th, at least in the southern parts of the Empire.
Do Not Miss Out On This Weeekend...
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