The Elusive Emperor

Magical Marks Hall

Eight years ago I became part of a group dedicated to the recolonisation of butterflies in the Marks Hall Woodland complex.  The first success was with the Silver washed Fritillary which was first reintroduced about ten years ago.  The numbers of paphia have grown year on year and now it can almost be guaranteed in all suitable habitat around the wood.  The Purple Emperor was the next target species to introduce do we started to rear and release A.iris adults about 9 years ago. After 4 years of introduction it was decided to wait and see if any home bred individuals would be seen. We were not disappointed. The number of Purple Emperor sightings has consistently been into double figures every year. This year iris was seen earlier than ever and after one week over 3 males and a female had already been seen. 

Having never actually seen A.iris at Marks Hall other than when actually releasing them I decided to make the trip today.  I met with Jonathan Jukes at the visitors Centre and after a quick walk over the proposed Dingy Skipper release site, we headed for the wood store where an iris had been seen recently. No luck. We did see an ovipositing comma and a make silver washed Fritillary.   After twenty minutes we gave up and headed for the keeper's cottage;  another popular spot for A.iris.  A fleeting glimpse of a large nymphalid was later decided to have been a purple Emperor but after another half an hour, we moved on again. This time we headed for a damp ride. Recent hot, dry weather meant fewer places for emperors to feed so we worked out way through the woods observing good numbers of silver washed Fritillary and a single white admiral.  Eventually we came across the flooded scrape which Jonathan was guiding us to and immediately I spotted a male purple Emperor drinking from the surrounding wet mud. Bingo! My first wild iris at Marks Hall. 

Fermyn Woods, 2.7.2014

In search of an Emperor

Purely by chance, I offered to lend one of my Facebook buddies a moth trap. I suggested that meet at one of the butterfly sites up near where he lives in Peterborough.  He told me that a group of butterfly enthusiasts were heading to Fermyn Woods To look for the Purple Emperor butterfly.  It was too good an opportunity to miss so we arranged to meet at 9.30 the following morning. 

Unfortunately I was a few minutes late and I was greeted with the news that a male purple Emperor had been showing well in the car park just minutes before I arrived.  Unperturbed, we set of in search of another. ..

A short way along the track, White letter hairstreaks were being watched by a small group but they were way out of range for me and my camera.  Onwards again and we spotted a lone photographer looking intently at the ground ahead.  Excitement grew as we slowly and carefully approached, not wanting to disturb the insect. We need not have worried. Within a few minutes it became clear that the wonderful male Purple Emperor was almost completely oblivious to the 12 strong group of photographers lining up to get their shots. 

This wonderful male delighted the group for over an hour. Despite the eagerness of everyone to get the best shots possible, everyone took turns to approach it causing as little disturbance as possible. We were all able to spend some quality time and most of us got closer than we ever dreamed pound be possible!

At one point, the Emperor took flight giving us a fantastic flying display literally between our legs and eventually alighted on David's shoe!

The butterfly treated us to several displays of aerobatics before coming to rest on a low branch and yet another photo opportunity.