Out!

Welcome to the 2025 Purple Emperor season! It could be a cracker...

The first male was seen on territory today at Bookham Common, Surrey, by Colin Kemp, an experienced observer. Fifty years ago, the first of the Great 1975 Emperor season was seen at Bookham, by ace Emperophile Ken Willmott.

Strangely, none was seen yesterday or today down the road at Knepp, though it was windy there today. I'm heading Kneppwards first thing tomorrow, staying for a few days to help with the Purple Experience... We're expecting a large emergence there, and in that whole region - fingers crossed.

Early, 'pioneer', males are great wanderers, casing out their empire, moving from territory to territory, exploring - but keeping out of the wind, keeping ever leeward. These explorers are capable of doing anything, repeat anything...

There should be a massive emergence very soon in the 'early' part of the Empire - Sussex, Surrey, East Hampshire, Kent, the London area and Oxon, but note that males probably wont be feeding from the tracks before midweek at the earliest.

Look up, in awe and wonder!   

I'll try to update this Blog daily, but do post your own musings...