Towards Closing Time...

The Emperor season is now quite well into its second half. The bulk of the butterflies could burn out quite quickly in this hot weather. Be warned.

Also, quite a few of them may well disperse.  This something we've rather overlooked hitherto. I've been amazed by the extent to which the males have been wandering at Knepp this year. Relatively few have been setting up territories, most sightings have been of males exploring extensively.

Two ab. lugendas have been photographed: a pristine female in Fermyn Woods, Northants, and a splendid male in the Notts site. Also, I saw a lugenda-type male at Knepp, in flight, from beneath - they look very red from below. But it got beaten up by a typical male and wandered off.

This coming weekend will be the final good one for this season. Make the most of it.   

Here's Herself cleaning her tongue in a bush - 

Apologies for my lack of postings but my laptop system doesn't like the new Knepp wifi or vice versa...

Cotgrave Wood update

Cotgrave Wood in Notts is probably the most northerly location for Iris. We do not know for sure but it is possible the colony was started by an unauthorised release, 5 years ago. Nevertheless, Iris has survived and we have enjoyed Emperors here every year since. This year, the first three males were seen on June 24th and this emergence was disrupted by pretty much four days of non-stop rain. I arrived this morning to photograph my first grounded Iris at 10.15a.m., which was disturbed as a bulldog charged into his puddle for a drink. It was then that I noticed a much darker specimen grounded nearby. I took a few photographs, and would very much like anyone to verify, but I believe it is the aberration lugenda.

He was very flighty and it was quite dull, however, on and off he was taking salts for four hours and most visitors had the pleasure of both the sighting and photographs. Overall, a fantastic day and, together with a newly emerged Sister Quercus, yesterday, I have enjoyed a fabulous two days at Cotgrave.

Never the same Knepp twice

A Saturday Knepp session outside of peak hours, timed purely for convenience, allowed me to introduce my old pal Jim to 30+ emperors. The presence of empresses meant the party was in and around the sallows; we saw plenty of amorous behaviour obligingly low down, including a rejection dive that, memorably, brought a pair to within a metre of us and ended with them flitting about our faces. Stoat, grass snake and turtle doves also said hello. More heady stuff for the memory bank.

Battered in Bentley

A trip to Bentley Woods in Wiltshire was planned for today as the day looked a good sunny one.
I arrived at 9.30 and by 9.45 had a battered tatty male Purple Emperor down on a silver Volkswagon in the famous car park. Indeed it did seem to approve of this car brand as it moved from bonnet to registration number, eventually settling on the badge. Very interesting, perhaps there is a Golf in our knowledge of HIM's preferred car brands!
As I was about to leave the car park another drifted over. I set off on the main ride and had only walked a short distance before I put up a male in much better condition. This male settled at my feet for a short time before flying up for a rest 10 ft up on a hazel leaf.
Another was seen at Donkey Copse resting at the top of a tree. I made my way back to the car park and drove off down the track on my way out only to see another out the car window low down on an oak, but it did not stay for photos. A grand total of 5 was very pleasing as I had not seen my usual quota of His Imperial Majesty for 2017 as I've been spoilt at Fermyn in recent years.

Chiddingfold forest was subject to much
tree top action today.
The most exciting event happened on the
way back to the car, when a magnificent
female surprised us. After much high speed
zig zaging flight she landed close by.
She now gave my camera the biggest treat

it's ever had !.

Fantastic Morning at Savernake

Had been planning a visit to Savernake all week so despite not the best of weather forecasts I got up and made the short journey to Marlborough. The sun was just breaking through the cloud as I arrived at about 9.30 and made my way into the clearing by the column, as I walked to the far side there was instant success as Himself was sat on the base enjoying the mineral salts. After my first 30 or so photos I finally looked up to see two more Emporers further up the column. One flew down and alighted itself on the ground near the entrance to the clearing so I moved over and followed it out across the road and down the track opposite where it kindly posed on some dung before flying off over the pond. Back to the column and there was still three (not sure if there was a fourth or the one I had been following did a U turn back). Over the course of the next few hours I was joined by a few other enthusiasts and we were treated to two more ground excursions, one around the base of the column just outside the railings and another on some rotten dung. Through the cloudier patches they flew up to the tops of the trees to sit it out but as soon as the sun returned they became more active and came back to the column. It was interesting to note that they did not seem bothered by each other and I did not see any aggressive behaviour (unlike on my visit to Knepp!) - guessing this was because there was no sign of any females yet. All in all a fantastic morning with the most activity I have seen in that area in a number of years and most definitely the best views of them grounded. One kindly decided to check out my hand just as I was leaving and posed on my finger for a few minutes - which just about makes it one of my best butterflying days ever!

Apatura iris in the Bath

After a successful day's Emperoring with a Knepp Wildlands Safari group (which saw 56 Emperors, including a close encounter with Herself, the Empress of Knepp) I took to the outdoor bathroom at the Knepp glampsite, where I'm staying, for a long and relaxing soak. The bathroom looks like this -

Brother Quercus, the Purple Hairstreak, was batting about in the oaks above, as usual. Here's the view from a prostrate position within the bath -

Then, at 6.22, a male Emperor, Himself, swooped down from on high, circled round me, inspected the soap, and then shot off eastwards towards the village of Dial Post. 

This may be the first ever recorded encounter with Apatura iris by someone in the bath, and shows that when it comes to eccentricity Britain still has what it takes...

Here's Herself, cleaning her tongue after imbibing something vile -