My first Purple Emperor (2 Viewers)

[RobinD]

You will have a local butterfly recorder, check out your local naturalists society. Please send it to them. Keep up the good finds. The publicising sites debate is one Harry and I have already got into a bit. I personally feel that the threat from publicising sites in minimal and the benefits of letting people know where they can see 'exotic' wildlife is real and reduces accusations of elitism. Certainly in ten years of working in conservation I never heard anyone even mention collectors as a threat to butterflies.

Steve

I have been put in touch with the local branch of Butterfly Conservation who are delighted with the record. Apparently there is one previous record from Black Park from July 2000. I met two people I know and trust looking for the PE following my report. They weren't sure where I meant so my directions were vague enough to confuse!
I will of course submit any subsequent sightings, they do not have many recorders in this part of the county apparently. I had a brief view of three large butterflies having a disagreement in the canopy yesterday but couldn't id them. I'm hooked now...

Robin

 

[mothman]

Thanks Booder,

So how would I go about looking for the master tree? What type of tree is it likely to be. If I remember correctly, the foodplant is Willow species. The woodland is 'very' mixed beech, oak and pine. I understand the usual sightings of PE are gliding high in the canopy.
Any advice gratefully received.

Robin

Our "Master tree" in the Savernake Forest is a big beech,your tree will sit a little higher than the surounding trees and often have sallow growing underneath, as a result most masters are found on ride or clearing edges,the Purple emperor is most often seen by using binoculars or scopes and scanning the canopy ,only rarely does it come down to ground level(early in the morn for both sexes and between noon and 2pm for ovipositing females).

Colin.

 

[RobinD]

Our "Master tree" in the Savernake Forest is a big beech,your tree will sit a little higher than the surounding trees and often have sallow growing underneath, as a result most masters are found on ride or clearing edges,the Purple emperor is most often seen by using binoculars or scopes and scanning the canopy ,only rarely does it come down to ground level(early in the morn for both sexes and between noon and 2pm for ovipositing females).

Colin.

Thanks Colin,

It has been too windy for successful searching. Today all I managed was one Meadow Brown and one Speckled Wood!

Robin