I have seen my first Purple Emperor today in Black Park in Buckinghamshire!
It was male, feeding on salts on a path. As I turned down the track I noticed a White Admiral flying away from me down the path. I followed this with my binoculars and it flew over another butterfly resting on the path and veered into some brambles to feed. I returned to the other butterfly on the path, which on first glance had appeared to be a White Admiral. (It was about 30 metres away at this point). Surprised to see one on the ground, I made my way towards it and it then flew towards me and landed just behind me. The flight was very different from the WA, with much longer glides. It also looked larger with a different wing shape. I watched it for the next five minutes, down to about two metres distance and saw the dazzling purple sheen, orange circles and beautiful under-wing. It then flew off into the wood. (Time of sighting was about 1:15pm).
Can anyone tell me if there have been previous sightings in the area? I have looked on the Butterfly Conservation site but can’t find anything. Can any members help me out?
It was male, feeding on salts on a path. As I turned down the track I noticed a White Admiral flying away from me down the path. I followed this with my binoculars and it flew over another butterfly resting on the path and veered into some brambles to feed. I returned to the other butterfly on the path, which on first glance had appeared to be a White Admiral. (It was about 30 metres away at this point). Surprised to see one on the ground, I made my way towards it and it then flew towards me and landed just behind me. The flight was very different from the WA, with much longer glides. It also looked larger with a different wing shape. I watched it for the next five minutes, down to about two metres distance and saw the dazzling purple sheen, orange circles and beautiful under-wing. It then flew off into the wood. (Time of sighting was about 1:15pm).
Can anyone tell me if there have been previous sightings in the area? I have looked on the Butterfly Conservation site but can’t find anything. Can any members help me out?
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