2nd July Update

Briefly, another good hatch of (mostly males) today at Knepp. A lot of sallow searching observed there, which included males on their maiden flights, still hardening off their wings. I also saw two definite females, one of which attracted a male at a primary territory at 4.45 and led him off over tall sallow bushes. 

Apparently, males were seen yesterday in one of the Fermyn Woods woods but not in Fermyn Wood proper and Lady Wood / Souther Wood. Males have also been seen in Bucks and Oxon, including a bundle of five together over a territory near Bicester.

Numbers are still very low everywhere apart from around the M25 corridor and at Knepp, which is almost on a different planet anyway. So, it's still early days except around London and at Knepp, and it hasn't been reported yet in Wiltshire.  

Here's a male pausing during sallow searching, at Knepp today - 

And here are several members of The Wildlife Trust's Exec Team suitably prostrate, at Knepp this morning (plus a baronet and Milo the Knepp Castle hound) -

Knepp Blasts Off!

Five days into the flight season and at last a good hatch of Emperors here today, including the first female of the year. I saw 56, and didn't go out until 1.30. My tally included a tussle of six and a couple each of four. 

I also saw them sallow searching for the first time this year. At least three were seen feeding on the ground today, favouring (organic) cow pat. 

Prior to today Emperors been thinly distributed and surprisingly inactive. It's unusual for numbers to build up so slowly, usually they come out with a bang here after a couple of starter days.

Here's Vicious Thug of the Day, a particularly malevolent male who had taken over a territory called The Bay of Assassins. He saw off a brace of carrion crows and several males - 

Sun June 30th

Purple Emperor activity was suppressed today by variable amounts of cloud and by a moderate to fresh afternoon wind, coming from the west.  

Only 26 were seen at Knepp Wildland today, which is way below par for the site. They seem to be emerging unusually slowly this year, so it's hard to tell exactly where we are in the season. No females have been seen yet, which suggests it's still early days.

If you're visiting Knepp, the best activity is being seen in the middle section of Green Lane, especially around the pond.  

Elsewhere, the first were seen today in Botany Bay, Chiddingfold Forest, on the Surrey / Sussex border.  

Odiham Starts

Very slow generally in Odiham (N Hampshire) with SWF just on the wing and the first White Admiral today (Sat). But surprise, surprise, a male Emperor briefly sighted in the usually reliable Basingstoke Canal assembly area at around 4pm. It's a start.....

Sat June 29th News

Briefly, as I'm heat struck and shattered....

Alice Holt Forest and Havant Thicket (both Hants) kicked off today, but none was seen in Chiddingfold Forest and Fermyn Woods.  

There was a modest emergence at Knepp Wildland today, but not the numbers I'd expected. I struggled to see 21 - which is rubbish for Day 6 at Knepp. None was seen there before 11.20 today.

The emergence pattern is odd this year, slow and stuttery: they should be coming out with a bang in this heat, but they're not.

As an aside, I saw a freshly emerged Peacock this evening - June 29th. This is the first time I've seen a fresh Peacock in June. 

Fri June 28th News

None seen today in Alice Holt Forest, Bentley Wood and Botany Bay (Chiddingfold).  

Neil and I struggled to see 16 males at Knepp, mostly along the Green Lane. 

PE seems to be coming out very slowly indeed this year, despite the weather picking up well. It's an odd year...

Tomorrow could see the first decent emergence of the year at Knepp, and a start elsewhere.  

Coming Out at KneppS

Seven males seen today at Knepp, including a pair battling away. Tomorrow should see the first reasonable emergence of the year there, and there should be a major emergence on Saturday. 

See previous post re access arrangements. 

Good that there's a lot of feisty immigrant male Painted Ladies about - these guys can really mix it with the Emperors.

Good to learn of a sighting of a freshly emerged male in Richmond Park on Wed June 19th.  

Here's one of today's rivals, 'high on his leafy throne' - 

  

Please note, in this moderate to fresh NE wind Emperors drift downwind to establish afternoon territories along south-facing or west-facing wood edges (downwind of sallows).  GO LEEWARD!