Another Ditchling Empress

Another Ditchling Common Empress photographed by pruni-finder general Dave Cook today, along with several sightings of presumed males. A male also photographed on Bracken by Vincent Oates (no relation to HIM). Ditchling looks like an underrated/under-visited site. I noted extensive top quality breeding habitat last year while surveying Black Hairstreak.

Knepp Kicks Off!

A brief sighting of a male Emperor yesterday at Knepp, by me. Today, two were seen, one of them by Neil and me, the other by reliable recorders.

They should be quite well out by the weekend.

White Admiral, Comma, Small Skipper, Marbled White and Purple Hairstreak are all coming out nicely there now, though Silver-washed Fritillary (scarce at Knepp) hasn't been seen yet.

Please see my earlier post re visiting arrangements.  

First Empress

Sussex pruni-finder general Dave Cook found a freshly emerged Empress at Ditchling Common yesterday evening (25 June), being beaten only by a few hours by Matthew's glimpse of a male at Knepp. 

The BC Hants & IOW Branch reports a single Emperor at North Baddesley on 24 June. 

Little Happening Still...

The Purple Emperor season still hasn't got going properly. For example, none seen yet at Alice Holt Forest, Hants.  However, another sighting from Bookham Common today, and at last a sighting at Knepp (albeit all too brief). 

The season should erupt very soon...

But, I dont think numbers are going to be anything like as good as last year, not least because of the bad June (there's heavy mortality in the pupal stage: the longer they stay as pupae, the fewer fly).  

Also, the males may be unusually lethargic, unless there are rival males around, to wind them up. There may be a lot of hanging about waiting for something to happen this year.  

Not out at Knepp, but starting around London

No Purple Emperors seen yesterday or today at Knepp Wildland, in excellent weather. Last night was very cold, which could well have delayed an emergence. No White Admirals, Silver-washed Fritillary or White-letter Hairstreak out locally, and only just the odd Purple Hairstreak. Summer Comma brood just starting. Knepp's PE's maybe two or three days off. 

However, males were seen yesterday or today near Slough, in Epping Forest and at Northaw in Middx. So it seems that the outer London area sites are kicking off first this year.

Interestingly, there have been no further sightings at Bookham Common.  


Postscript (Sunday 23rd). Again no PEs at Knepp today, but the first White Admiral and Purple Hairstreak is kicking off. Suspect Knepp's PEs will start tomorrow, but numbers will be way down on last year's level.  

Watch this space...

We're Off!!!

First Purple Emperor of 2019 seen today at the Hill Farm territory at Bookham Common, Surrey, by Rob Hill. 100% kosher. A male that flew through the territory around 12.45pm.  

However, no others were seen, by Rob at Bookham, by Neil Hulme and Andy Wilson at Knepp, or by Mark Tutton in Alice Holt - and no White Admirals or Silver-washed Fritillaries either (but Purple Hairstreak at Bookham and Knepp). 

This suggests it's very early days. The weather in the Empire looks a bit dodgy for the next two days, but Thursday and Friday are looking good. 

I'm off to monitor HBF in Heddon Valley. Please text any further sightings through to me (07771 971488) and I'll put them on this blog.  

Also, a reminder that people of extreme Purple persuasion are welcome to join the People of Purple Pursuasion WhatsApp group. Text me if you want in.   

Delayed Start...

This last week has been fairly disastrous for Purple Emperors. Like the White Admiral, their numbers are greatly reduced by poor weather during the pupal stage. 

They are unlikely to emerge during this cool, showery / wet and windy weather. It may be that the season will start on Wednesday or, more likely, Thursday this week.  

The season could be quite a long one, nationally, as some larvae pupated early, before the weather collapsed, whilst some late ones are still pupating. The photos below are of a pupating larva (female) taken today in Savernake Forest -

She was pupating 4m up on the lower branch of a storm-damaged veteran sallow (100 years +). I found her as a late L2 larva on Sept 10th, as Alastair Cook reached his final century, against India at The Oval. She is unlikely to emerge before July 7th.  

In all honesty, I don't think this is going to be a great iris season, but so much depends on the weather over the next few weeks.