Shortly before 4pm today at Piddington Wood, Oxfordshire a paired couple of iris came spinning out of the canopy quickly pursued by a Sparrow. They landed on the path just in front of me with the Sparrow still trying to grab an easy meal. I shooed the sparrow away as quickly as I could and the iris pair appeared unharmed. They were rather exposed and in danger where they were so I carefully picked her up with him in tow and placed them in the under growth. She immediately started licking salts off my finger so appeared undisturbed by the experience. Fortunately they were still together when I left them to it.

Noticeably her wings still appeared to be quite soft so I assume she had only emerged today.

Chiddingfold Forest produced many Emperor sightings this morning.
It is thought that the multiple groundings, we saw, were of two males
making return visits to their favourite delicacy.
There were flybys on several occasions, whilst the two on the ground
indulged.
Yesterday the weather was probably too hot for any groundings,
but today the air felt a little fresher, on the walk from the car, filling
me with optimism, and this was rewarded with some great sightings.

Trevor.

Good Morning at Abbots Wood

Having drawn a blank on Sunday I decided to have another go this morning. A lot of activity along the lower part of the main rides late AM with 2 groundings. They didn't settle long enough for decent pictures but were in pristine condition. Myself and another gentleman managed to get close to one perched on a beech sprig, picture to follow later. Nothing at Goose Green on Sunday and I have to wonder if the fairly drastic clearance of the hedgerow bordering the road will have an impact.

Hot Stuff At Knepp

It is still too early to judge how well Knepp will perform this season, not least because it's too damned hot. The intense heat is really supressing activity (and the counts) and areas known to be well-populated can appear to be bereft of emperors for long periods, only to burst into life when a wisp of cloud takes the sting out of the sun, or as the evening cools.


Yesterday (18 June) I made a count of 32, including a respectable 20 on the green lane transect. One came down briefly to a fox scat. A remarkably early egg-laying female was also seen at close range.


I was absent this morning, but Andy Wilson photographed a pristine male on the deck, and saw several more perching low in the sallows. By the time I arrived, mid afternoon, things were very quiet. It was after 6pm before I finished the green lane transect, having seen just 11, plus 6 elsewhere. However, things started to liven up and as I searched different areas the total rose to an encouraging 36. They were still active at 7.30pm and attacking Purple Hairstreaks with typical enthusiasm. Just a single empress seen today.


Purple Hairstreak numbers have been low until today, but by 7pm they were forming bundles of up to half-a-dozen. In all, about 40 seen.


As the sun threw its magical evening light low across the oaks, and with the place to myself, I experienced Knepp at its best, to the soundtrack of Cuckoo, Turtle Dove and distant Longhorns. But it took a lot of patience today. Can we have a little light cloud please?

Coming Out Strongly

Browsing through the BC branch websites, and via Twitter, it's clear that iris is coming out well at most southern sites now. Several counties kicked off yesterday and today (e.g. Oxon, Middx), or over the weekend (e.g. Hants).  Many counties have clocked their earliest ever record, or at least since 1893.  

He wasn't out in Savernake today, and I don't think Fermyn's kicked off yet.

It's too early to judge numbers, but they seem to be up on last year. Activity is being suppressed by heat - advise: don't look for them in the heat of the afternoon, try again in the early evening (5.30-7.30)

'To the woods, without breakfast!' (Heslop, diary).

(I'm having a rotten time counting High Brown Fritillary on Exmoor - iris and adippe used to occur in the same woods together, and roost in the same oaks...).  Back Emperoring on Friday.  

Knepp looking good

Visited Knepp yesterday (Sunday 18th June) with my better half Kate. We patrolled the site from about midday until 4.30pm in sweltering conditions. We wilted.

Even in these early days, we saw at least 32 emperors, including a trio of battling males and a couple of fighting twosomes. Caveat: I’m not knowledgeable enough to know whether we saw the same individuals repeatedly! (The info board in the Go-Down showed that we weren’t the first people to make a count of 32 yesterday...) 

We witnessed the usual thuggish behaviour, watching an aggressive male stake his claim to a lofty oak perch and chase off anything that came by, including an outclassed red admiral that got a shoeing when it strayed too close. 

We also met an inquisitive deer fawn that approached us to within two metres, our first white admiral of the year - and Neil Hulme, who kindly pointed out a purple hairstreak or two for us!

We were so exhausted from the heat when we got home that I told myself I won’t need to return to Knepp for a couple of weeks. One sleep later and I’m already wishing I was back there. 

Good hunting all. 

My earliest grounding.

I visited Straits Enclosure at Alice Holt, Hants today without success, one chap I had spoken to had already given up, thinking it was too early. I decided to give nearby Abbotts Wood a go. With cyclists zooming up the track I didn't hold out much hope. After searching along the track I decided to walk back to the car. Then suddenly I put a large butterfly up. Looked like a White Admiral, but then the shimmer of Purple. Wow yes, it was my earliest ever grounded Purple Emperor.
It was behaving in a rather strange manner, possibly due to just emerging. It kept drifting into the vegetation and landing on either side of the path before eventually landing to imbibe on the track for no more than 30 seconds or less. It stayed low flying and landing along the track. As it was very hot, it did not stay in one place for long. Eventually it doubled back towards where I first found it and effortlessly drifted up and away. This was the only iris I saw all day, but I did see it rather well so I am pleased my visit proved fruitful.