The elusive Emperor

This year, unlike the last few, I've found it quite difficult to get any decent views of Purple Emperors in our local South Northants woods. It's certainly not been a massively bumper year for them, however I've also been really unlucky with the weather. Whenever I've been free, it's been super cloudy or raining and whenever I've been busy, it's felt like the suns popped straight out - typical!

Having said that, I have had a few fleeting sightings in Bucknell Wood and eventually persistence paid off - albeit from an unlikely source!

On what was a really mild, but cloudy day, I decided to take a walk around Whistley Wood, near Brackley on Saturday 13/07, by way of a change - plus a far easier place to get to than Bucknell, while the Silverstone Grand Prix was on.

Whistley is still very much worth a visit and holds most of what Bucknell can offer, just in much smaller numbers, as well as the odd surprise. On this occasion, I was surprised to accidentally flush a male Purple Emperor up from the path in the middle of the wood! It sat up on a nearby branch for a good 20 minutes, having a bit of a bask before zipping off.






Another, presumed female (based on it's size) flew around some nearby oaks before the male returned briefly to the path about 15 minutes later. It didn't however stick around  long before returning to the treetops. Another pair were seen chasing each other a little while later - perhaps two more? These were my first Emperors in here - an encouraging sign!

In addition to the Emperors, an impressive supporting cast consisted of a nectaring Scarlet Tiger moth, basking Common Lizard and Grass Snake, as well as lots of Purple Hairstreaks and several calling Spotted Flycatchers. An epic visit!





When the sun has been out, the local sites, as usual have delivered their great array of butterflies. A few from July below...