MTem
Well-known member
Not a Fluttery expert by any means. I can ID the more common/obvious ones, and am trying to get on better terms with them to add them to my BTO Garden Birdwatch listings - so with that intro....
I have a large (2 acre) garden/wood that is adjacent to Surrey Weald clay farmland near the Surrey/Sussex border, and my garden list to date is composed to date of the common/expected species given the Collins Butterfly Guidebook I have.
So was a little surprised to see a male Purple Emperor flitting about in the garden - just time to get the one underwing photo below before it took off over the roof. I did see the blue upper wing to confirm a male. Is this unusual - the small distribution map in Collins does seem to show an area north from Southampton, and perhaps something along the south coast, but nothing that near where I am.
Did have a Camberwell beauty in the early 90's just after we moved in!
Any thoughts?
Mick
I have a large (2 acre) garden/wood that is adjacent to Surrey Weald clay farmland near the Surrey/Sussex border, and my garden list to date is composed to date of the common/expected species given the Collins Butterfly Guidebook I have.
So was a little surprised to see a male Purple Emperor flitting about in the garden - just time to get the one underwing photo below before it took off over the roof. I did see the blue upper wing to confirm a male. Is this unusual - the small distribution map in Collins does seem to show an area north from Southampton, and perhaps something along the south coast, but nothing that near where I am.
Did have a Camberwell beauty in the early 90's just after we moved in!
Any thoughts?
Mick