What's New

It's over now, and as promised, a collection of our observations and photographs to download and keep. If I've missed a credit, or miscredited you, please let me know.

I was told of The Purple Empire, this summer, by Peter Farrant (a regular to Chiddingfold Forest) from Eastbourne and then met Neil Hulme over Tugley Wood and both have been inspiring with their passion for wildlife (like many others including Don Tagg pictured with Neil). That day at Tugley, 24th July there were no PE's seen and it felt like the end of a fairly good year unlike last year - only fairly good because both the Pearl-bordered Fritillaries were no more in this area and the Wood Whites were drastically down in numbers (through conservation habitat loss - I call it - with the consequential loss of semi shaded vetches). I was not aware of the remarkable luck I had in seeing the mating Purple Emperors (re.Neil's notes) on the 1st July although it was a revelation in itself happening on my way home. There's a flashback to pre digital days of a female PE on Travellers Joy at the edge of a field below Denbies, Ranmore near Dorking, 1983 and a male PE in Kingspark Wood, 1981 (attached) and also some of Neil on the 24th July (I was commisioned by the PE's personal secretary to take these).

I can report a sighting of an Empress at about 4pm this afternoon (6th August) beside the Basingstoke Canal at Odiham. She flew close to me at eye level as she circled a sallow at the side of the water. After about 20 seconds she flew behind the tree and I lost track of her. Can't be sure whether she deposited an egg or not but she looked in good condition considering how late in the season we are.

Despite the advent of another dismal summer season, with low pressure sitting over the United Kingdom, the county of Hampshire managed to enjoy one of the best Purple Emperor years for more than a decade. Not due to the fact of the numbers of Purple Emperors seen, but due to the fact the best counts actually coming from the numbers of sites they were recorded from. There have been 23 sites so far this year which is one of the all time best. I have compiled these notes from all my records gathered over the past 6 weeks but Ive no doubt there are some more to be analysed.

The Emperor in Hampshire was recorded at a very early date of 23 June with a single specimen coming from the Bishops Waltham area. Good numbers built up in the Alice Holt Complex by the end of June and (5) were seen on territory at Goose Green Inclosure, and (2) at Alice Holt Forest (1) on the 25 June.

There were records from many sites where it has not been recorded for many years and never been recorded at all. It was good to know it was recorded in the New Forest again after such a long absence on the 10 July, its presence seems to be going westwards now for several years, as the Emperor had been seen in and around the Southampton area over the last decade. Some of the sites where it was recorded for the first time were The Vine, and Hawley Wood, in the north of the county. Sites where it had not been recorded for several years were Ampfield Wood, Pamber Forest, Micheldever Wood, Odiham Common, and Swanwick Nature Reserve., and Queen Elizabeth Country Park.

It was for ever present at Bentley Wood but probably not in such good numbers as on previous years, and in the Alice Holt Complex the numbers remained stable with Goose Green with a max of (7) and Alice Holt Forest (1) with a max count of (2). Matthew Oates noted in Abbotts Wood Inclosure (6) Emperors ‘Oak Edging’ on the 4 July and in several other territories in Alice Holt there were just singletons to be seen. In the Straits Inclosure it was in reasonable numbers, and when the BBC film unit were filming for the ‘One Show’ there were (3) mineral sapping on the ground within a very short distance.

Other territories have been identified, amongst these being near Burghfield Common on the Hants/Berks border, where (6) were seen regularly throughout the season, and one possible area being near Odiham Common.

Other possibly good territory areas have been identified several of these being in the Wickham/Fareham area and other possible sites have been identified which will need checking out in the 2009 season.

I'd like to thank all the recorders with a Purple Disposition and we can only hope for better Emperor weather in 2009.

The candelabra saga: Matthew's maternal grandfather was part of a network of chaps who helped rescue Jewish families out of certain parts of continental Europe during the late 1930s. He helped a family of silversmiths, who gave him the candelabra.

Brothers Goddard and Oates spent five hours intensely searching for ova / larvae of A. iris in Northamptonshire yesterday and found just two ova, both on boughs overhanging narrow rides. This is way short of the tallies of comparable searches in previous years and significantly less than the half dozen or so they had anticipated finding. Again, it points to a poor year in Northants. it will be interesting to compare this meagre total with search results elsewhere.

The last record of an adult in Northants was a female in Fermyn Woods on Sun July 27th.

The following incident has somewhat belatedly come to our notice. In the glorious summer of 1942 the maths master of Cheam School, a Mr Malden, woke boys from slumbering in a bed of simultaneous equations by producing a pill box containing a male iris he had netted the previous day at Greenham Common. To the best of our knowledge this is the only appearance iris has made in double maths. Comparable incidents will, of course, be reported through the usual channels - this website. Iris still occurs around the fringes of Greenham Common.

Dan Hoare reports "An unexpected sighting on the Oxenbourne Down transect today was a pristine Dingy Skipper, the first of the 2nd brood I've seen this year. 2007 was the best on record for 2nd brood Dingy Skipper in Hampshire, with the first ones seen on 29th July, so this one was 'on schedule'. Other sightings included about 80 Chalkhill Blues, 4 Silver-washed Fritillary, 1 Dark Green Fritillary and a Comma landing on my head. Although Peacocks and the odd Red Admiral are appearing now, I've not seen a Small Tortoiseshell on transect so far (2004 figures gave a transect count of 70 for mid July!). I also saw a Purple Emperor in the woods at QE Country Park on 15th July, and rangers have had others reported here this year.

Two relatively benign pix of Oates in season, the first with the
blushful belachan, the second in a rare moment of near-sanity.

written by Peter Marren.

Would someone be kind enough to scan a copy in for me please, someone. Over here the best we can manage is on-line copies of the Grauniad (although Jonathan Steele went up in my estimation recently when he castigated a Times columnist for writing casi belli for the plural of casus belli, pointing out that casus is fourth declension, not second, and that therefore the plural is casus belli, the only difference being a lengthened final vowel in casus. Heslop would have been delighted.) Derek

I'm afraid I must shoulder some responsibility for the publication of Keith Capon's stunning photo of mating iris, thereby making the rest of us feel woefully inadequate and deeply shamed that we overlooked to be there at the precise moment it 'rained' copulating Emperors! I met Keith at Botany Bay and we had a good long natter (nice to meet you Keith). I could hardly believe my own ears as he recounted the tale and I suddenly began to feel light-headed. This must surely be much rarer than a 'once in a lifetime' experience. Although clearly very knowledgeable, I got the impression that Keith might be unaware of exactly HOW rare his shot is, so encouraged him to send it in. It is even better than I anticipated and he must qualify for the 'Purple Cross and Oak Leaves'. Alas, Botany Bay is not (officially) in Sussex, although I'm fairly sure the maps are wrong and that it is, for this is where I first became 'purpled', when a male alighted on my forefinger, having previously spent some considerable time on an attractive, female buttock. While sitting on an oil rig I was once shown a rather strange book, which contained a photograph illustrating how parish boundaries were once delineated by dragging a small boy around by his feet, without the benefit of protective headgear. Encumbered by Health and Safety issues, I believe the practice has become extinct within the Ordnance Survey. However, when my young nephew (a very keen natural historian) next visits from abroad, I have a small job for him, and Botany Bay will be in Sussex. The Wood White can still be found in the more widely accepted areas of the county, such as Ashpark and Kingspark (strictly no access) Woods. While at Botany Bay I did manage to get a shot of this male Wood White 'puddling'. Close examination shows a drop of water appearing from the rear end, as it processes the mineral salts it's collecting.

Blessed are the feet'. Miss Camilla Oates's feet, with purple toenails, Savernake Forest, 26:7:2008. Of course, in the New Forest, the spiritual home of British lepidopterists, she is known by her 'old' name, Sibylla.

Ashley Whitlock reports "A last visit to woodland areas in and around my patch (Hants) to look at areas I will be concentrating on in the 2009 season. Creech Wood a very flat woodland very similar to Straits Inclosure, but more open as there is huge swath of woodalnd open to wayleaves for electricity pylons, which gives chance for huge amounts of Sallow to grow. There is a lot of woodland in and around the Fareham / Wickham area in the Meon Valley which is very good for the Purple Emperor, and this is the specie will be concentrating on in this area next year.

These literally fell at my feet on the first day of July at 14.15 this year. A pair of Purple Emperors fell fluttering out of a tree in Botany Bay, (about a hundred yards from the gate) into some long grass, fluttering a few inches then finally resting allowing me to clear the surrounding foreground and take several photo's. I moved them to some bracken away from the adjacent path but they immediately flew up into the nearest tree where they rested. I have seen females egg laying here on two other occasions and seen males on the ground in late June 2007 & 2006. Many male PE's have been seen this year on the ground. A late visit on 24th July to this area - from Botany Bay - up to Oaken Wood produced no Apatura iris but some Wood Whites, Silver Washed Fritillaries, White Admirals with Brimstones and a few other commoner species are present. Years ago (70's -'80's), when Kingspark Wood was a conservation area, the season for PE's was much later running into August when a few 'tatty' PE's could be seen.

More than anything else, what's struck me this season is the quality of photography that we've been seeing. iris is not an easy beast to observe, let alone photograph, and we've seen so many great shots, pin-sharp, and professional quality. I know digital technology and great macro lenses have made it easier, but compared to photographs of iris from publications of thirty or forty years ago, we've made amazing progress.

Of course, most of the stills have been of males, displaying purple. Now the challenge is for a top female shot. (I'm going to assume that Keith's picture above of a couple discovered in flagrante is not of a socially progressive non C of E sanctioned liaison, so there's one for a start!)

In days of yore, 26th July was peak season day, when the females were well out and the males starting to age. Nowadays the season always tales off long before then, and sometimes it has effectively ended. That is the case this year, with just the odd female around at most sites.

Savernake is rather the exception. Today I went there for 1 hour, accompanied, incredibly, by Miss Lucina Oates and Miss Camilla Oates. They had a great time upsetting funnel trap spiders. Miss Camilla was appropriately dressed in purple, and also had purple toenails.
She was duly visited. Now, when it comes to indignation - no, I'm not going to finish that sentence......
All told we saw 3 males, all of which were intact and looked black. 2 around the favoured dead beech glade. Ian Prior saw another over the summit beeches.
I reckon there's a week left in the season at Savernake.

Matthew's intested in anyone else's obserations about banana skins. As these seem to have become de rigeur at most of the well-known iris spots, has anyone actually seen iris attracted to banana skins? Or are they merely discarded remnants of many a packed lunch?

One shabby female still at Botany Bay this afternoon. No males left here and probably 'done' at Southwater. Enter stage left, Hatty Jacques.

Almost exactly one month after the first male PE perched on the 'master' oak, the Bookham Common territories were still active yesterday (the hottest day of the year so far) with two males at least constantly disputing in both. For the first time this year, a female appeared on the scene, flying low, just above our heads, to avoid being seen by a perched male. A 'classic' text book sighting. There was also a male on duty at the Mark Oak territory. Numbers are fewer, but activity still fervent.

I have had a third territory on Bookham Common reported to me by a former member of the Bookham 'team' (who now spends most of July looking after a baby whilst his wife works) who spotted a pair of males perching and clashing near the adjoining Banks Common - formerly a good place for grounded males.

I briefly investigated yesterday, but saw no males around the Oaks, but did spot an Emperor (unsure of sex, but possibly a female) flying along the wood edge - perhaps the 'wood-edging' that Matthew talks about, not often seen on Bookham.

Too many other tasks to search seriously for Emperor eggs, but I think we should be thinking in the future of finding and preserving breeding areas as well as Territory location. I have never been one for captive rearing, preferring to 'mark out' the early stages and follow them through where possible - the gathering of wild data in my opinion being more valuable.

On 14 July I had perhaps my most unusual PE observation this year, of a male (I think) flying low over the chalk grassland slopes of Boxhill Zig-Zag, heading for the high ground, appx. 11.30 am. What was most interesting was that I have seen this once before, just a couple of years ago whilst Tutoring a Course for the Field Studies Council on Chalk Grassland butterflies - and it was taking almost the exact same route (within a few metres either side).

Its been a difficult year for me - Red Admirals behaving like Purple Emperors and Purple Emperors behaving like Dark Green Fritillaries !

Met the well-known Philip Cribb in the Hill farm Territory yesterday. He works at Kew Gardens, specialising in Orchids and is one of the leading authorities on the subject having produced a multitude of important scientific papers. I knew his father Peter Cribb, former President of the AES and one of the 'Great' butterfly personalities, who died about twelve years ago. Peter knew Bookham Common and the Emperor very well and was perhaps most well-known for his skills in breeding many generations of butterflies (especially Marsh Fritillary).

At least two males at the Column area in Savernake Forest yesterday. The one I saw looked in good condition at the top of a tall beech tree and occasionally launched into brief flight activity before returning to the topmost leaf-spray. Sadly, no White-letter Hairstreak seen but several dying Wych Elms.

Neil's been back to Botany. Am I right, this is the only place in Sussex to see Wood White's?

Indeed, it is not over 'until the fat lady sings' , and there was no sign of Hatty Jacques at Botany Bay yesterday (one female laying). I think an earlier visit tomorrow might be in order, as the second brood Wood Whites I saw are well worth a return match anyway. Ken, I spent quite some while tracking early stage iris in the wild this year. Observations to be 'set down' at a later, less frenetic time.

Although the season is winding down seriously now I managed 4-5 males in Savernake Forest, N Wilts, today, in warm cloud conditions. This seems to be a 'late' site for iris, where the males linger on into August. They fly around beech trees in the 60-70' height range, and so look horribly small. Several clashes and chases were seen and 2 males looked black and intact.

2 were over the Dead Beech Glade, 1 further up and 1 on the summit.

I had my first ever sightings of Purple Emperors at Fermyn Woods on July 5th. It was pretty special as I think I arrived at the best time for males coming down to drink. I saw about 10 different specimens and got a few photos and a couple of videos. Some of the close-ups have come out quite nice.

Chris is being modest - some excellent stills below, and more if you follow his link:

This morning I met up with three other enthusiasts at Southwater Woods. The Emperor season is sadly nearly over for another year and numbers are tailing off sharply. One male was present at the Madgelands Master Tree, but it was the almost constant action from two females (one still in good condition) at 'Butterfly Corner' that kept us entertained. For a whole hour the first female either sat low in sallows or gracefully wheeled in tight circles, often only a few metres above our heads, periodically visiting a hazel sap run at low level. The second female appeared about an hour later, providing us with equally good views as she eagerly feasted. Both butterflies 'nodded' rhythmically as they pushed their proboscises deep into crevices in the bark. The effect of imbibing the sap was quite amazing. The butterflies, which had entered the hazel full of power and grace, came out fumbling, stumbling and barely capable of flight! They got caught up in branches, fell off leaves, hung upside down by only a couple of legs and generally cavorted around like a couple of inhebriated Bournemouth 'hens'! Purple Emperors are clearly incapable of counting 'their units'. (Neil Hulme)

1227 The Naked PE Photographer: Neil Hulme over-excited in Madgeland Wood, W Sussex, 1:7:08.

1249 His Imperial Majesty is attracted to anything vile, even the word itself... Alice Holt Forest, Hampshire, 3:7:08

1264 An Emperor's eye view of The People of Purple Persuasion, Alice Holt Forest, Hants, 3:7:08. The lady on the left is Jane Murray (nee Heslop).

1330 His Imperial Majesty inspecting Oates's tax disc. Fermyn Woods, Northants. 11:7:08.

1303 The National Puddle Photographing Competition 2008. Fermyn Wood main entrance, 10:7:08

1375 PE male on urine-soaked sawdust (Oates's, not the sawdust). This bait works well. Fermyn Woods, 14:7:08.

All these pix suggest it was a much nicer season than it was - there were hours of dull cloud and much howling wind.

Today I spent an hour observing my 10th Purple Emperor aberration, a worn and very faded male ab iolata (semi-iole). The underside seemed very red-brown when seen from below; the white bands were present, though weak and did not show at all in flight. the upperside only held the forewing spots. He spent a long time basking about 20' up on an oak, and twice visited a nearby sap run, which was also favoured by a frayed female. I seem to have entered Nirvana, which is no bad thing as this iris season is winding down.

In Fermyn Woods again, where females have at last appeared properly and I saw my first eggs being laid.

The males are worn, faded and torn now, but still nicely active in places well sheltered from a fresh NW wind. Some nice oak-edging along a sheltered east-facing edge.

There seems to have been quite a gap here this year between the main pulse of emergence of males and that of the females.

The day's highlight was a male on a blob of belachan stuck on my bicycle handlebars..........

Ashley Whitlock writes: "Today I visited one of my local woods Whiteley Pastures which is situated by the now huge expanse of concrete known as Whiteley Village.In fact this is the only wood I know where you can walk down a ride and within a few seconds buy a Pizza, or get your nails manicured! The area of woodland is unsurpassed for many Flora and Fauna, and now has been designated a NNR and there has been a lot of coppicing, and 'Sallow' bashing, although this is unavoidable, the woodland looks a lot better for it and the oak tree lines on the main ride can now been seen in all there glory, making it much easier to see Emperors flying. There is still and awful lot of Sallow in the woods so it should not hamper the Emperors status within the woods. Unfortuanetly I was too late to see the White-Letter Hairstreak on a very mature Wych Elm which has survived the ravages of Dutch Elm Disease. The species I did see were as follows Speckled Wood (3) Gatekeeper (25) Meadow Brown (70) Ringlet (60) Silver-Washed Fritillary (20) White Admiral (1) now very hard to find! A Purple Emperor which must have been on the main ride as it flew up as a cyclist came along, and disappeared into a tall Oak stand. Small Tortoiseshell (1) what a treat to see these again! Peacock (2) Brimstone (1) Large White (2) Green-Veined White (6) Purple Hairstreak (10) Small Skipper (15) Large Skipper (1) Essex Skipper (2). I then ventured over to Tapnage/ Botley Wood area, and I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of Sallow growing along the wayleaves area of the huge Electricity Pylons. Some of this was very mature Sallow, and this is the area many of the Emperor sightings come from over the years. Also seen were Speckled Wood (1) Gatekeeper (15) Meadow Brown (50) Ringlet (50) Silver-Washed Fritillary (15) Peacock (3) Brimstone (3) Large White (2) Small White (5) Small Skipper (25) Large Skipper (3)."

Doings' for Sussex (Saturday 19th July): While 'on duty' at a 'Save Our Butterflies Week' BC event in Sheffield Park Gardens, Dave Mitchell and I decided to have a look at a promising area, earmarked as a potential PE territory in 2006. This is a classic Master Tree situation, with tall oak and ash at the very summit of a 'pimple', beyond the boundary of the formal gardens (not usually open to the public). We were delighted to spot a male within ten minutes of arriving! According to 'official' records the species is all but absent from East Sussex, something I've always believed is merely a function of under-recording. I was all but convinced that there was only one male here (no clashes seen), when I realised that the specimen I photographed had such a large chunk missing, that it couldn't possibly be the same as the 'complete' specimen seen earlier. Another peg on the map!

The Emperor has breakfasted! I am pleased to report that His Imperial Majesty put on a top notch performance today in Fermyn Woods (by kind permission of the FC, whom God preserve), despite much gloom and the absence of sunshine - and in stark contrast to the paltry effort made by the swallowtail in Norfolk last month (Papilio machaon britannicus has subsequently been reclassified as a moth).

Viewers of BBC1's One Show will therefore be treated to the wonders of Britain's Premier Butterfly alighting on a 6' table bedecked with candleabra and a selection of luxurious food items, including fox scat and the blessed belachan, which were both visited along with a decent Argentinian shiraz.

The piece will be presented by Miranda Krestovnikoff, who is currently in recovery.

Transmission will be the last Thurs or Fri in August at 7pm - unless the Powers that Be in the Beeb decide it is unsuitable for transmission, which it probably is. The final date will be announced thru the usual channels - the Purple Empire website.

I remain, then, determined to finish the aforementioned shiraz, and look forward to being sectioned under Section 116 of the Mental Health Act.

Fantastic! I just love it when 'an idea too far' comes off! I presume you had to re-invest in belachan, as that tub you passed under my nose was clearly an impostor! I had a male down to 'Thai Boy Brand Siam' at the downland site on Weds (first male 'down' here). Tonight the Purple Community will celebrate. In fact I shall RUN to my 'local'!

Richard Sergeant reports from Old Goose Green Car Park, Blacknest (41) Purple Emperor (2) Silver Washed Fritillary (3) Large White (2) Small White (1) Speckled Wood (1) Ringlet (1) Meadow Brown (many). "1 worn male Purple Emperor and 1 pristine female high in Oak tree at 1300hrs." And also from Bentley Station (SU792432) (41, 38) Small Skipper (1) Essex Skipper (1) Large White (many) Small White (1) Holly Blue (2) White Admiral (1) Red Admiral (2) Comma (1) Silver-washed Fritillary (5) Speckled Wood (1) Marbled White (1) Gatekeeper (3) Meadow Brown (many) Ringlet (many).

II once saw Leyton Orient play Crewe Alexander. My father made me go. It was another 20 years before I went to watch another live football match! Forget Madame Tussauds, this is a 'proper' London Attraction!

Amazing, Steven! I already knew about A. iris in Ruislip Woods from Ched George.

So, A. iris on the central line ? Being a cockney born and bred [Leyton E.10, and, yes, I do support Leyton Orient], I am so proud that iris is on my line...the central line. If only I knew about iris in those days [1940s and fifties], I could have travelled from Leyton on the tube to Ruislip for an iris day out; how long has iris been known to be in Ruislip woods? How far back do the records go?

So, by definition, if you live near a tube, you are in London [Amersham in London, I hear you ask ?]; QED: we have iris and the Heath Frit in London.

Angela Brewerton wonders if anyone has discovered iris at this locality before. I don't know the area:

Whilst walking in the woods at the Vine National Trust house in Hampshire my sister and I were suddenly aware of a large butterfly fluttering around us. We sat down in an old wood store, and realised as it came nearer and landed on the ground by us, that it was the purple emperor. It stayed around us for about 30mins, landing on our trousers and shoes. The old wood store was situated under a group of old oaks. I managed to take several photo's on my mobile phone but unfortunately didn't have my camera with me. Are purple emperors becoming more common and is this a known site for them. We did report our sighting to the staff at the Vine who seemed unaware they were present in their woods,

Here is an update from our two counties despite Andrew and myself not getting out.

Reports have come from Ruislip in Middlesex at last and a first, a male was photographed on a front door in Potten End, Berkhamsted. This is between the Ashridge Estate/Tring sites and Hemel Hempstead. On the A41/Grand Union Canal corridor.

However, this is the best, see sightings page and click on the link to pictures 1,2 and 3. What pure joy on the face on this youngster. Posted on the branch website with the permission of Dad

Richard Symonds writes: "Today I visited Straits Inclosure at Alice Holt Forest (SU800402) arriving at 10:20 and leaving at 12:40. Despite the warm conditions there were a lot less numbers than on Sunday. The main track has been levelled during Monday and Tuesday to allow Forestry Research vehicles to access the area more easily. This has however removed the patches of turf in the middle of the track which the Purple Emperors could be found feeding on excrement. In addition the flowery area at the inclosure entrance has also been levelled and cleared of vegetation where skippers could usually be seen nectaring on birdsfoot trefoil. It just seems a shame that this work was carried out at this time of the year. On this levelled area I did see my first second generation Holly Blue, a male which already had a small piece of wing missing but otherwise fresh (see photo). I did not see the Purple Emperor but saw several Purple Hairstreaks including one which flew across the track at a low level enough for me to see the grey underside and iridescent purple on the upper wings. My count was: Large White (8), Small White (10), Ringlet (51), Meadow Brown (17), Gatekeeper (2), Speckled Wood (1), White Admiral (1), Silver Washed Fritillary (5F 17M), Red Admiral (3), Comma (2) and Holly Blue (2M). After lunch I visited Goose Green Inclosure (SU805415). Arriving at the main Emperor observation post, I saw two male Purple Emperors chasing each other around the top of the Sweet Chestnut tree (at 12:50). Activity continued with a different pair of males with three in the air at one point with most chases being no higher than the tree tops. One Emperor sat on an isolated branch of the smaller tree closet to the observation post in a position where all of its upper wings could be seen. It sat there for around five minutes and with the aid of the 800X zoom on my camcorder was able to get some good views albeit with poor resolution. Later activity stopped, one of my last sights being an Emperor chasing off a straying Large White! My count was: Small White (5), Large White (4), Green Veined White (1M), Ringlet (18), Meadow Brown (14), Gatekeeper (6), Marbled White (4), Speckled Wood (1), Silver Washed Fritillary (4F 4M), Purple Emperor (4M), Large Skipper (3M) and Small Skipper (3F 4M). Finally I made a brief visit to Broxhead Common (SU802373). The number of female Silver Studded Blues outnumbered the males based on the limited number that I saw. The females consisted of either worn and torn or fresh examples. Both males that I saw we still fresh, perhaps late emergences. Silver Studded Blue (5F 2M).

Mervyn Grist reports from Combe Wood (SU354595) (43) Small Skipper 6 Essex Skipper 2 Red Admiral 2 Purple Emperor 1 Peacock 1 Comma 6 Silver washed Fritillary 11 Marbled White 12 Gatekeeper 8 Meadow Brown 25 Ringlet 30 "This site is in Vice County 12 although now just across the Berks border. A male Purple Emperor flew up from the track and circled around Mike Wldlish and myself until it decided we were not of interest and flew away. One was seen near here last year. An hour later we found two more across the Wilts border in Buttermere Wood. Quite a rewarding day - making up for fruitless searches for PEs in the Faccombe area in early July.

Dennis Dell and I visited Fermyn today. Between 10.45 and 11.45 in Harry's Park Wood, in good weather, there was no activity at all around the Turkey oak or across the gap.

In Stephen Oak riding, at 12.30, there was a flurry of activity, with males searching the oaks and sallows round the old loading bay. This was followed by a male picking up a female around the top spray of an oak. It looked as though they were about to settle and mate when two other males homed in, making four butterflies in the air together. However, the female dropped to the ground into the grass, lost from view, and the males dispersed.

A further half dozen iris were seen in a walk round Lady Wood and Souther Wood, mostly males round oak and sallow, but also a female around sallow.

When we returned to the old loading bay, a male circled round the sallows, settling on three different bushes, before feeding on the ground on dog faeces at 4.10 - 4.20 p.m.

Dear Matthew, I read with interest your article in British Wildlife about Purple Emperors. I wanted to share a historic location of a 'master tree' site.

The site is from the environs of Bentley Wood, very near where I grew up and right in the middle of what became, for a time, my 'beat' when I was a gamekeeper. The map reference is SU 268 316. It is about 300 meteres south west of Tanglewood House, up a gravelly track called Gravel Shoot (more likely this would have been spelled, SHUTE, but no matter).

This is an area of woodlands variously called Hedgemoor, Tanglewood and Noad's Copse. The area in question is also referred to as North Lane Bank. Anyway, this was the area where, as a kid, I would go to see Purple Emperor and hardly a summer went by when I did not see one, in the summer of 1976 I remember standing with my arms outstretched and having them land on my arms, I watched their proboscis taste the salt on my skin. I used to see them on horse manure, but myxie was rife in those years and rabbits were squashed by the tractors on all the tracks. As the corpses started to liquify they became irresistible to the insects, the Emperors looked magnificent amongst the blowflies and dor beetles.

There are some large oaks along that track and a stand of ash in Tanglewood. The sallows are mostly on the other side of the road in a copse around a private house, but they may have been taken out to create a garden. There are aslo some more sallows along the bank to the east, towards West Tytherley. I have not been to Gravel Shoot for nearly 20 years, but they were there in 1989: the last time I saw one. I expect you know of this site, but if not, I hope it helps.

Gravel Shoot is not a public right of way, the woodlands form part of Norman Court Farm and are strictly private, so unannounced visitors may not be welcome and claims of " I'm just looking at the butterflies, Guv" probably not believed!

David is webmaster of a very tidy site (well, tidier than this one) that features wildlife of Wessex. He'd be interested to hear from others with an interest in the natural history of southern England :

At the end of a long day back on my turf in Southwater Woods, I was pleasantly surprised to still (just!) make double figures, including a laying female. However, they are well past peak here. A visit to my best White-letter Hairstreak site (Littlehampton) earlier in the day, confirmed the damage done by the very strong winds and torrential rain of 6/7 July. Double figures reduced to 2 tired and weather-beaten individuals.

Hope you've booked that nice blue sports car in for a well-deserved service at the end of the flight season, Neil.

Not much doing in Fermyn in the canopy yesterday apart from some sallow searching and one brief territorial foray. Good numbers, though now worn specimens, were on the ground, worshipped by many visitors who gathered round them and stopped Matthew from driving his car through the wood. Had a good view of several males "oak edging" and managed to get a couple of shots of this to add to the collection, attached.

Nick Ballard, Ian Kirkton and Jack Harrison with some wonderful macro shots of iris in Fermyn. Thanks to Peter Eeles for flagging these:

A note from Annie Murray (granddaughter of the great IRPH) which I'm sure she won't mind me posting.

Just a quick note to say thanks for putting me in touch with Jenny Craddock from the BBC. Mum and I spent the most wonderful day in Alice Holt Forest with Matthew, Jenny and two cameramen.

The thing is, now I've been "bitten", all I can think about is going back there. I don't think I can wait until next summer. I've even gone as far as checking train times between Burnham and Bentley Station (just south of Farnham) - needless to say the timings are terrible and would allow approximately four minutes of searching in return for the eight hour round trip. Maybe it's the fact I haven't had breakfast yet and I'm slightly light-headed, but I actually found myself wondering whether the trip was viable...

How did IRPH manage in the old Jowett, I wonder? I guess he was made of sterner stuff! Thank goodness for mum's newish car on the day of filming!

Jenny Craddock was very interested to hear about IRPH and the great book. Matthew and I were filmed sat in deck chairs looking at the book and some photos of IRPH while discussing various aspects of his work and legacy.

Incidentally, you may be interested to know that my boyfriend has declared me to be the spit of IRPH - on seeing for the first time a photo of him in master's gown he asked me to pose in the same way and squint as if I was looking into the sun. I'd never seem the resemblance myself (being less endowed with facial hair and all) but apparently it's there!

Ashley Whitlock writes from Straits Inclosure: "Weather: Sunny intervals, very warm, nil wind Temperature: 65f-70f It was a pleasure walking into the Straits Inclosure probably for the last time this year, and the weather being what it should be, high fair weather cloud, and very warm sunshine. However with everyday this summer so far it did not last, it did cloud over with the usual blanket of cloud, and this really sends the temperature down a few degrees. The Silver-Washed Fritillaries were still very evident, and mostly still in very good condition. The White Admiral now is fading fast and was very hard to spot, with the ones being seen looking very sorry for themselves. What the weather does and the Bramble, has a lot to answer for! The Purple Hairstreak was also seen in reasonable numbers, which are very evident as I was looking up at the tall oaks for most of the time of being there. His imperial majesty turned up at quite a late time, at 10:50 today, flying over a ride near the Forestry Commissions green truck in the dip on the main ride. This is the main are the males are normally seen, and he did a quick circuit over the ride, and then disappeared over the crown of a tall oak. There isn’t a lot of male activity in the woods now the mating has probably all been done, so they do not come down to extract mineral salts from gravel paths so much, and with the weather being what is has been, I don’t so suppose they have been that keen anyhow. The next Emperor was seen at 11:05 near the entrance of the wood, it was a female, and she looked magnificent, as we saw her weaving in and out of the large Sallow bushes, alighting at times, and we could see her on a branch, and then she would flitter in and out, in typical fashion, selecting ‘plump; sallow leaves to lay an egg. She disappeared for a time and I wondered if she had disappeared on the shady side, and then she would re-appear again, settle down on a branch, and then flitter off, her enormous wings, carrying her away like a Vulcan bomber, with her large white patches catching the sunlight, the rusty brown wings looking in pristine condition." Ashley also visited Goose Green of which he writes: "Weather: Sunny Intervals, very cloudy at times, nil wind Temperature: 65-70f Arrived at Goose Green 13:30 very cloudy conditions, but very little wind, (1) male Emperor was seen on a Sweet Chestnut tree, when the sun shone it was very warm in deed, and then this is when the activity started. One male was seen on his beech sprig, and broken wing, was then seen cruising in and around the Sweet Chestnut Tree... He settled down turned to the south-east, with wings outstretched. He stopped here for good lengths of time. The cloud was soon over the area again a complete blanket, but one Emperor was seen again the Sweet Chestnut Tree, at 14:05 not doing a lot. Two males seemed to be on random patrols at the moment, one came very close to the other, but there wasn’t any chasing …yet! Then all hell let loose, two males were seen chasing, they spiralled around each other, and around over the wayleaves area, over the road and back again, a very long chase indeed. The speed of these little insects is a wonder to behold. Then (3) males were seen one idly just patrolling around his oak stand and (2) off on a familiar chase, these seemed to be lasting well over a minute now. They were very high up, and did not look like butterflies now, then one was seen breaking away these intense chases must be very exhausting, and I reckon now they are just doing it for pleasure, the sheer hell of it! At 14:26 one of the most intense chases I have ever seen took place, there was (4) chasing, then (2) sets of (2) males seem to split up; the sky seemed to be full of Emperors, like a flying display. When (3) males took flight, the leading male was chased for a 20 second odd period, and then he would drop back and then another one was chased, by two side by side, and then he would drop back, and they would swap around, this is how I do know that they were just enjoying flying around at great speed. At 14:45 one male was seen in the car-park vista, now making (5) in the area. The males were again all seen separately as the sun came back again, and then more intense chasing at break neck speed. When they reach a certain height they seem to speed up and the leader is flying from side to side, obviously trying to shake off his pursuer and the chaser is keeping a very straight flight.

Richard Symonds writes: "On Sunday I visited Straits Inclosure, Alice Holt Forest (SU800402), arriving at 08:35 and leaving at 12:15. A lot of the undergrowth was still very wet with dew but Skippers, Meadow Browns, Ringlets and Silver Washed Fritillary's we already flying. After some time walking the main track there was no signs of any Purple Emperor activity and no White Admirals. I saw several Purple Hairstreaks flying around a few oaks and located an oak with damaged bark which was oozing sap which would be good bait for an Emperor. A walk along a side path leading to "Camilla Corner" produced many Ringlets. Walking back the first White Admiral flew along the path followed by another on the main path which took quick short flights at ground level. Finally at around midday several of us saw a single female Purple Emperor flying around the tops of the taller sallows. Totals: Large White (2F 4M), Small White (2M), Meadow Brown (34), Gatekeeper (1M 2F), Ringlet (68), Silver Washed Fritillary (12F 45M), Red Admiral (2), White Admiral (2), Purple Emperor (1F), Purple Hairstreak (9), Small Skipper (3M), Large Skipper (1M) and Brimstone Moth (1). After lunch I visited Goose Green Inclosure (SU805415) with Ashley Whitlock for two hours where I spent most time watching displays by Purple Emperors, hence the low counts of other species. The weather had become overcast but still warm and with no females about male Emperors were chasing and playing in the air in pairs mostly but sometimes three were flying at once. The displays were very acrobatic including a kind of ascending spiral pattern. At one point a pair had reached a very high height and with the naked eye appeared as two specks in the sky. On one occasion four males were in flight simultaneously including one male which had a large part of the hind wing missing. Totals: Meadow Brown (3), Ringlet (9), Marbled White (1M 1F), Comma (1), Red Admiral (2), White Admiral (2), Purple Emperor (4M), Silver Washed Fritillary (3F 4M), Purple Hairstreak (2), and Small Skipper (2F 4M).

Ashley Whitlock writes: "After I arrived back from the field, (Oxenbourne Down) I got a phone Call from Andrew Brookes who does a lot of recording on the Southwick Estate, a large area of wood land and meadows to the north of Portsdown Hill. Here there are reasonable sightings of the Purple Emperor in many of the woodlands scattered around the estate. Andrew said he was in a private wood when he had stumbled upon a very sad looking female Emperor on the ground of which had half a wing missing and could not fly. He said he had put her in a box and would I like to see her did I have any advice on what to do with her. Well I'm no Dr Dolittle, after I had seen her and taken this photo we got some advice from you know who, and hopefully she may oviposit still on some sallow, Andrew had brought along with him. Such a sad way to end up, such a magnificent insect that cannot fly, but hopefully can still produce her off spring so we can enjoy more magnificent Purple Emperors in a better summer in 2009!

Andrew Brookes surveyed Huntbourn Wood late Saturday afternoon, finding numerous Ringlets, half a dozen Silver-washed Fritillaries, but no White Admirals. Highlight of the day was the discovery of a female Purple Emperor on the track, minus most of its right wings. Taken in to protective custody, it relished a weak honey solution and is now ensconced in a cage full of sallow twigs in the hope it will lay before expiring.

A visit to Fermyn had long been overdue and having spent three days there with Matthew Oates, Doug Goddard (thanks chaps!) and various others of Purple Persuasion, I began to feel withdrawal symptoms en route home. Irrespective of how many iris you see, you simply need more! If these woods are 'under-performing' this year, then my anticipation of a return will inevitably become difficult to control.

On the first morning my intoxicating belachan mix of 'Thai Boy Brand Siam' paste and 'Double Dragon' cake soon did the job. As the fumes pervaded the woods, the pitch of the birdsong changed, then it fell silent as they dropped, choking from their perches. But high in the canopy something Purple stirred. It was only 9.45 on Day 1 and already I was witnessing that heart-stopping moment as a male swoops and glides, quartering ever lower, royal purple flashing on and off. The pristine male alighted and allowed me the shot I had taken during the previous night's sleep - the tone was set.

The action both on the ground and in the air was sublime. 'Oak edging', 'sallow searching', dogfighting, competitive courtship, rejection, copulation, we saw the lot! The quite violent tussle between a pretender and a male that had just settled down for his nuptials was something I had witnessed only the week before, in Southwater Woods. The total number of witnessed 'joinings' is still quite low and I suspect that these orgiastic battles are commonplace.

As the action built I had Purple Emperors on my trousers, my feet, the car boot and in my hair. During the quieter spells we watched, with schoolboy glee, as passers-by trod in our belachan baits - a sole-destroying business! On Friday I was joined by my parents and an Emperor nearly became roadkill as my mother's wheelchair sped towards the Lady Wood hotspot. His Highness at times seemed omnipresent; even when I returned to my car for lunch, as I reached for my sandwich box I realised that a male was sitting on my car boot, clearly attempting to snaffle a 'tuna and cucumber'.

Could things get any better? Well, my mother did find me a signed copy of 'Notes & Views' in a local second-hand bookshop. In the words of that eminent natural historian Arnie, 'I'll be back'.

Mrs Hulme spots another 'oak edging' male from the window of the 'Purple Tours' taxi.

This 'puddler' had previously attempted to snaffle a tuna sandwich from my lunchbox.

Newsflash for Saturday 12th July; En route home following three days of quite astonishing action on the hallowed turf of Fermyn Woods, I received the following from Matthew. '15:15 mating pair in sallow top. Female flushed out by sallow-searching male, instantly joined, but separated by second male after 4 mins. Female then chased off by the 2 males. Business occurred deep in young sallow jungle, sheltered from wind'. Some rather pretty pictures will follow shortly. (Neil Hulme, Matthew Oates)

The rain and wind of Sunday and Monday did indeed, as Matthew suggested, impact on the Emperors activities (and numbers?), but with the last email from Douglas, all seems well again.

My Rain Guage records 1-9 July are almost identical to those of the grim July 2007. The Field Studies Council Course 'Chasing the Emperor' which I Tutor was abandoned at midday on the Sunday with two of the older participants showing signs of exposure in the cold winds and driving rain in Chiddingfold Forest.We had some good sightings in the Bookham territories the previous day, so I think they went home satisfied that we had successfully 'chased' the Emperor. One of the registered students was travelling down to Surrey from Cumbria for the Course, but on hearing the week-end weather forecast, cancelled his place, leaving me with ten sodden students on Sunday. He was wise.

My return to Bookham on 8 July after the deluge suggested that Matthew was right. The primary territory was occupied only by a singleton, perched at the top of the south facing main activity (2008) 'master' Oak. Most of the activity had transferred to the secondary territory (only seperated by a large Hornbeam and Ash) which is mostly used during periods of poor weather (particularly wind) and late afternoon, evening (where the sun remains longest).

On Bookham, numbers of White Admiral have dwindled sharply (I found a few eggs) and Silver-washed Fritillary numbers have been much reduced from 2007 throughout the season and their range has contracted somewhat. There have unusually (in recent years) been no aberrants of camilla (one very slight semi-nigrina) or paphia seen - signs of a population crash ? although White Admirals have been in fair numbers.

I may be able to visit Bookham this afternoon, depending on what the weather does, frequent or infrequent showers. It seems the best way forward is the Fermyn way - getting together a team of observers, the more eyes the better. When does the transfer market close ? Neil Hulme would seem like a good buy. What fee would the Northants. team accept? Surrey team would be looking for those with sharp eyesight, strong muscular neck, expensive binoculars and able to tell the difference between Red Admirals and Purple Emperors in flight.

At 11.30 inst. His Imperial Majesty decided to inspect my vehicle. After flying thru an open window and inspecting the glorious mess that is the car's interior, he exited thru the other window and proceeded to take a keen interest in the tax disc, which is of course below a keen likeness of Himself on the windscreen. A brief sojourn on a nearby sallow allowed me to place a dab of the blushful belachan on the windscreen. Sure enough, His Majesty returned to imbibe from this patch, placed alongside the tax disc. The resultant picture will be placed on this website in due course.

if nothing else, I must surely deserve some kind of reward for the immense sacrifice I made yesterday; having arranged to join you lot in Fermyn, I realised that I had a 'duty appointment' in my diary with Network Rail inspecting a cutting they are managing on that day, which I honoured.

When you are 70, you start to ask how yourself many 'golden' iris days you have left to enjoy; well, it is one less after yesterday missed in Fermyn.

Ken: White Admiral: what was the conclusion from the research you were carrying out a few years ago, concerning the use of shaded honeysuckle, with non [or less] - shaded for ovipositing?

re transfer fees: Ashley Whitlock's price has also gone up, mainly because of his sighting of a female [iris, I mean] in an Asda car park in Lower Earley, Berks, recently.

So what has happened to Matthew's research projects, chaps? We seem to be just going out and enjoying ourselves these days: do we think we now know everything there is to know about territories/master trees etc?

The following is an extract from a post from Kevin Tolhurst, which I lifted from UKLeps, as it intersects with some of the reports on this site. Dated 10th July

As the sun was shining, I stopped off at Fermyn
Woods (Northamptonshire) on my way home to Kent to see if I could
catch a glimpse of a Purple Emperor. I had the good fortune to meet
Neil Hulme of the Sussex BCS and author/butterfly specialist Matthew
Oates at a muddy pool where a male Purple Emperor was drinking and
posing for pictures.

I also bumped into Jack Harrison shortly after and sent him off in the right direction for the PE.
Later I met up with Neil and Matthew again and Matthew led me to a
MATING PAIR of Purple Emperors he had seen earlier, in neighbouring
Souther Wood!

Despite them being high up in an oak I did manage a poor but
discernible photograph (Colin?) of the pair using my trusty 70-300mm
lens at highest magnification and with maximum cropping on the
computer. Apparently this is very rare sight and I'm so glad I was
given the opportunity to witness it. I was then treated to a
sightseeing drive around Fermyn/Lady/Souther Woods by Matthew as we
looked for likely PE sites.

WARNING TO PARENTS - the following report from Doug Goddard containes graphic descriptions of acts of gross sexual debauchery out of doors. And in Northamptonshire, too.

After some early season running from the south of England, Fermyn today made its bid for the leadership of the Iris Premiership, witness by myself, Matthew Oates, Neil Hulme et al.

After some successful baiting of males to ground in the morning with belachin (an amusing pastime during periods of cloud was watching other visitors tread through it!), things really took off in the trees between 12.20 and 1.50 p.m.

Three males were seen "oak edging" briefly before we came to the end of the ride where there are some large conifers. I was aware of a male circling around the top of one of these before we realised it was trying to mate with a female. After a few minutes, it was forced to give up as the female, presumably having previously mated, suddenly dropped from view. It then flew around before perching on a prominent bough of the conifer, before again disappearing from view. As the sun reappeared shortly after, it was seen again chasing a female (was it the same one or another?) and the two of them dropped behind the same conifer not to be seen again.

Matthew had walked fifty yards further along when he shouted that another female was flying over a sallow towards us. As it came over, a male gave chase towards some oaks, and another two males also appeared in the air. A pair were seen to drop down in the top of an oak and immediately go into cop. Another male tried to muscle in and settled about a foot below them with wings open then closed. It remained there until we left to move on to the poplar territory. As reached this, another pair was seen flying over the canopy in a nuptial chase. The party pursued them for about a hundred yards or so before they were lost from view.

We returned to the car park where Neil had found a male on the ground by a puddle. Mudpuddling humans gathered round!

In all this excitement, Neil only removed his shirt very briefly. Some record shots attached.

Following another inch of rain today throughout the Purple Empire, July 2008 has been excommunicated - full works: bell, book, candle and pope - and consequently no longer exists. Gentlemen, ladies: we are in limbo for the next 22 days.

The Red Admiral issue is certainly interesting. In October 2006 thought I'd spotted a couple of 2nd brood Emperor's sparring high up at Goose Green but a couple of minutes later a Red Admiral descended from the canopy and I simply couldn't be sure what I'd seen. The odds were that they were Admirals but there's no doubt that they can look very similar indeed up in the tree tops.

Can report reasonable success this year at Odiham Common near Basingstoke where we probably have a rather thin and spread out Purple Empire (maybe the Rotherham of your footballing analogy). Males have been seen at a recently discovered high point assembly area on at least three days, and on two of those there were at least two of them, probably more. Last Saturday 5th July at least one male braved high winds to traverse the area with regular flights before appearing to fly down the slope and away from observation at 3.40pm. No further sightings were made that afternoon.

It's just good to know that they are around here as they hadn't been seen for a few years now.

Tuesday 8th July

It looks as though the weekend's autumnal gale and Monday's pluvial stair rods have seriously decimated (in sensu hodie - in the modern sense) iris numbers.

Exactly that happened in 2004, when we had a similar gale on 7th July which was followed by deluges - and iris was written off for the year.

Brother Neil struggled to see 3 in Southwater Woods today, and I fared only little better in the mighty Fermyn. However, there should be a good number still to emerge at Fermyn, though I fear for my beloved Alice Holt where females were just starting to lay before the jet stream jumped.

Gentlemen, Ladies: now is the time to petition the Almighty in no uncertain terms re the weather.........

Pete Eeles popped into Straits Inclosure at Alice Holt Forest at 1400 for an hour and, despite an initial downpour, managed to see 2 Purple Emperor, 1 male high in the oaks, and a female ovipositing on a sallow about 50 yards from the entrance to the inclosure! He also saw 8 Purple Hairstreak flying at the tops of the oaks, and 1 Silver-washed Fritillary.

Angela Brewerton reports from National Trust The Vine, nr Basingstoke (43) seeing Purple Emperor [1]. "Purple Emperor was seen at the woodstore near oak trees in the woods at the Vine. It was circling in the sun, came down to the ground and incredibly even landed on my shoe. It stayed around us for about 30mins before going up to the canopy".

Mark Swann reports "A trip to Bentley Wood this morning produced hours of rain with just a short sunny break about 11am. I went looking for White-letter Hairstreak and found 6, with 3 in really good condition - all showing well until a male Purple Emperor came and dislodged them all and took charge of the top of the elm. The White-letter Hairstreak did try to get back the high ground but he was too happy and not for moving. A very unusual sighting which lasted about 20 minutes. The final count including all of the elms in less than an hour was: 1 (male) Purple Emperor, 3 White Admirals, 20 + Silver-washed Fritillary, 2 Purple Hairstreak, 6 White-letter Hairstreak, Small and Large Skippers, and lots of Ringlets".

Sightings from in Herts absolutely dismal, field trip on Sunday was a near washout apart from a very co-operative male that flew onto a sallow just above us in a moment of semi brightness about an hour into the ‘trip’ and perched there despite, wind and gales in full view of everyone present until we gave up and went home! Also had a pristine silver-washed perch up on brambles early in morning which for Herts is still a rarity

For those of you who've been searching for a picture of the Emperor sitting next to a dead urine-soaked amphibian, unfortunately I can't help you. However, Mike Williams has kindly supplied a picture of Limenitis populi, our camilla's big brother, engaged in just such an enterprise.

A lovely specimen, Mike, and not an easy insect to find, even in Hungary. Gratulálok!

A different aspect on His Imperial Majesty, from Paul Brock. Nice purple on both wings.

Now that July has collapsed again, I can find a moment to let my fellow enthusiasts know what is happening in Surrey !

I got off to a very confusing start on 23 June. Between 1-2pm on that day I confidently recorded three 'iris' sightings on Bookham Common. At 4pm I reluctantly dismissed them as sightings of high altitude Red Admirals flying at 'full throttle' after witnessing a pair of disputing males take off from waist level. At high speed and altitude they are easy to mistake as Emperors as both Red Ad. and Emperor wing markings become a blur at such height and speed. Does anyone else have this problem of Red Admiral 'sharing' Emperor territory ? Holly Blue and Speckled Wood also share the territory at lower levels.

The following day, I searched for an even rarer and difficult to see butterfly than the Emperor - the Small Tortoiseshell. I have now seen two this year, and one batch of larvae !

So my first definite sightings of Bookham Emperors was on 25 June when both Hill Farm and Mark Oak territories were occupied. They may well have been there the previous day when I wasn't, and I also based my dismissal of 23 June that there was no Emperors seen at Mark Oak and no perching at all at Hill Farm. On the 25th perching was frequent.

By the 30 June I estimated seeing 8-10 at the two territories and made observations at the 1970's, 1980's Turkey Oak territorial site of which the view has now been restored, of two males flying around, but not perching on these large trees at the highest point on the common.

1st July probably my 'best' day so far - a morning male on a black wheely bin lid outside a cottage on the common and whilst talking to other enthusiasts at Mark Oak (seem to spend more time talking these days than looking!) we were 'buzzed' by an inquisitive Emperor (or Empress). On the same day there was a 'string' of four males in flight at Hill Farm territory (only saw two in single vista at Hill farm last year). The most I saw in a single vista last year (and very late in the season) was three at the Mark Oak territory.

On 3 July I estimated 8-10 different individuals again at the two territories (combined), saw a male (first?) arrive at the Hill Farm territory at 12.10 hrs (never before midday !!?) and the first female egglaying at 13.50 hrs near the NT Wardens House on an encouragingly 'young' Sallow. I saw no females egglaying last year.

On 4 July I re-visited one of the finest Oak trees I know at a high point on the North Downs which used to be a territory but became smothered all around by Forestry Commission Conifers. These have now been thinned, leading to a better view of the 'massive' Oak but sadly there was no sign of Emperor activity despite reasonable weather conditions.

Finally my 'Chasing the Emperor' Field Studies Council Course 4-6 July was abandoned on the Sunday due to the awful weather, but the Emperor performed well for the ten students on Saturday. I think they went away pleased, but sodden after the relentless rain of Sunday.

The forecast is gloomy, but we have just experienced a ten minute sunny spell here ...... I have seen the Empress taking advantage and egglaying in such conditions ! It seems to be a good year for the Emperor, despite the wettest July for 200 years 2007 ?

Bookham [Manchester United] just about keeps its nose in front of Fermyn [Chelsea], and Alice Holt [Arsenal], but it's a tight run thing isn't it?

Southwater Woods are Liverpool: they would have been challenging the big three, but they've had some points deducted because of Neil's activities on the weekend involving the rendering young ladies' observers clothes transparent!

Bernwood Forest and 'my' other woods up here in the frozen north are struggling to avoid relegation.

re Red Admiral confusion: for me, I am confident I'm seeing iris and not atalanta if the butterfly is more or less remaining in a confined area around the tree tops. In my experience, atalanta although also flying very high sometimes, does not remain in one area of the tree tops; what do others think ?

Bob and Joan Bonnell report from Hawley wood, near Camberley (43) seeing a Purple emperor. "Butterfly landed almost at our feet and stayed for a few minutes, long enough for us to enjoy the beautiful colouring".

Colin Baker reports: "A walk through Straits Inclosure at 8-30 a.m. this morning soon had me scampering back to my car for some warmth. It was so cold and windy that I thought seeing any butterflies was going to be a bonus. As the temperature improved I went to �Camilla corner� to see the female Silver-washed Fritillaries and White Admirals. Later stopping at my favourite Purple Emperor spot I noticed one lift off the wood floor into a nearby oak. I then had the pleasure to meet Mike Gibbons, Pier Vigus and partner. What followed was another of those heart stopping moments, when the Purple Emperor left the oak, traversed a line of Sallow before settling on the path for a massive 30 minute session. Both Mike and I were frightened to move and later we were joined by a well known Japanese gentleman. Having gone to see Purple Emperor I didn�t count the other butterflies and only saw the one PE in 3 1/2 hours but believe me, I couldn�t have been happier when I left."

IDoings' in Sussex (5 July 2008): Today at Southwater Woods a total of 14 Purple Emperor continued to entertain and delight the visitors. The number of males over the Marlpost car park has increased to 4 and they were active here until 18:00, by which point the treetops had become a swirling mass of Purple Hairstreaks. Alice Parfitt and I watched one chase a Wood Pigeon, adding to the list of Purple Emperor 'targets' for 2008 (Great Spotted Woodpecker, Chaffinch and Long-tailed Tit). But the stars of today's show were the females. At 14:15, after a spell of ovipositing, a fairly worn and battered female landed to probe for moisture near the Madgelands stream. Having lazed around in the sallows at 'Butterfly Corner' for some time, a second female went into 'sap-searching' mode, before locating a 'run' deep within the shade of a hazel. She gorged herself between 15:25 and 15:30, flicking her huge wings to deter a Comma from sharing her feast.

Pete Eeles reports "I spent a couple of hours in Pamber Forest this afternoon, where I met Steve Shepherd. We both met a chap who had managed to not only see a Purple Emperor in the wood, but also get a photo - quite a feat since Pamber is not exactly "iris-central" and I've never seen one myself in Pamber Forest. While watching several White Admiral and Silver-washed Fritillary, I was muttering under my breath that I'd never even seen a Purple Emperor in Pamber Forest, let alone photographed one, when a male Purple Emperor sailed past our heads and up into a nearby oak! My first Purple Emperor in Pamber Forest - they do exist here!!! Another notable observation is that many of the White Admiral are already quite worn - just a few days after I last visited". Total sightings: 1 Purple Emperor (male), 14 White Admiral, 22 Silver-washed Fritillary (5 female, 17 male), 1 Green-veined White, 2 Large Skipper, 1 Brimstone, 3 Comma (all fresh), plus good numbers of Ringlet and Meadow Brown.

Alan Thornbury and Geoff Jones visited Bentley Wood this morning, meeting up with Paul Brock and sister Helen, with the main target of their visit being Purple Emperor. The morning began very quietly in cool, and at times rather cloudy conditions, producing only a couple of possible glimpses of PE activity high in the oaks around the car park and along the switchback. In the much warmer and brighter conditions of late morning however, that all changed when the return walk down the switchback produced an Emperor down on the track. It spent at least 45 minutes in the locality, taking minerals from the track, feeding on dung or sometimes perched in a nearby hazel tree, making several flights around its 4 observers during the period. At first it was thought to be a female as the purple sheen was not evident (or in retrospect just a hint), however it became clear it was a male as the differing light conditions and angles began to produce glimpses of its full purple glory. Two White Admirals and several Silver-washed Fritillaries were also seen whilst on the lookout for the initially reclusive, but eventually fearless Emperor".

Much patience is needed in Bucks: Matthew discovered a territory for us a few years ago; it's 'classical': the wood [Finemere] is on a slope from south to north, rising from 80m in the south to 120 metres at the northern edge. The north-western corner edge is dominated by tall Ashes, interspersed with some large Oaks. There are some nice, welcoming, canopy gaps between the Ashes. In one of these gaps a few years ago Matthew saw activity, and this northern edge has not disappointed since, although we are not, of course, seeing the kind of numbers you encounter in Sussex, Surrey and Hants.

Today, I arrived at this spot at 12.52 in quite nice weather. This visit was characterised by extremely short flights [iris, not me] lasting never more than 3 to 5 seconds !! I believe I was watching two specimens. They would take off, and, with a single flick of the wings, would glide a few yards to an Ash sprig on the other side of the canopy gap. There were no long gliding flights as I've seen with Ken at Bookham. I made a note of this [in my experience] extraordinary behaviour: I stayed there from 12.52 to 13.30, and there were 11 separate short duration flights during this 38 minute period. In only one of the other several excellent looking canopy gaps here did I see activity.

I don't know why, but I get more satisfaction watching these canopy flights than seeing iris close up down on the ground.

I feel the need to forward this text re. the Apaturas in Theberton Woods. I was told (by someone there when I visited in 2006 and took the photo) that it had been introduced there in the "late 90s" (exact quote), and did not think to follow it up, so remained unaware that it was due to an unofficial series of releases by a private individual until I received this.

Alan and Geoff left at lunchtime, I went back to the area (my first visit to Bentley Wood) and found a Red Admiral alongside the now returned Purple Emperor male....unfortunately the Admiral flew off but soon returned at the other end of the dung [photo attached]. The Emperor stayed for another 20 minutes but kept its wings closed. A photo I took in the morning is also attached in case it is of use....lucky I brought along a macro lens and managed to get up to a few inches from the Emperor!

Again in Alice Holt, where females were noted for the first time this year, and we were visited by Mr Murata.

2-3 fresh males came down to fox dung and the blessed belechan mid morning, and Mr Murata had one down on his bait ca 9am - it was so pungent that 747s were being diverted. Again, a good showing of sallow-searching males in late nmorning.

I then went to another part of the forest where I saw a few males patrolling a tall east-facing oak edge above a massive sallow jungle last year, a new discovery. There were at least 6 males there today, but I got there a but late. This is 'oak-edging' as described in my BW paper.

IIwould move down to Sussex, but the house prices compared to Bucks are ridiculously inflated !
I suppose the abundance of Apatura iris forces the house prices up down there?
It must surely be a good selling point?

Doings in Sussex (Friday 4th July 2008): Southwater Woods still producing well today, despite more subdued weather. Males very active at Marlpost car park, Dogbarking MT, Madgelands MT, lane adjacent to 'Sleepy Warren',Crookhorn Lane, 'Butterfly Corner' (Tom Ottley photographed head-height,perched male). At least 3 males spent the morning 'sallow searching' along the slope down to the stream in Madgelands (total for woods 16).

The highlight was a pair 'in cop' at the Madgelands assembly area. A female was pursued up the adjacent North Ride at 10:15 and copulation was immediately initiated as she alighted in the upper reaches of the ash. At 11:08 a determined effort to usurp the copulating male was made by one of the other3 butterflies 'on station'. A violent beating of wings continued for a full two minutes, before the pretender accepted defeat. Although other males often alighted for a closer look, no other interventions were observed. They were still joined at 13:10, at which point I had to leave to lead a school party at Cissbury Ring. Valezina was again spotted early in the morning, but continues to be camera-shy. (Neil Hulme and Tom Ottley)

n Northants today, I, along with Andy Wyldes, saw eight males in Fermyn East. Most of these were on the ground and feeding among stones for upto an hour, with some perching on the middle canopy. Little or no territorial behaviour was seen. Highlight was this iolata on the ground and perching. I was privileged to have it land on my trouser leg and camera bag, on my back at the time, most frustrating when you are trying to photograph. Andy took some pictures of this, for which he is threatening to provide suitable captions.

Andrew also had territorial at Northaw on Monday but we are both concentrating on white-letter at this moment/this year/working etc so there were probably a little less news from us.

Let's visit the "best time of day" theme again, please: is the accepted truth [Ken has proved it in Bookham common over many many years of careful observation, and I've even seen the phenomenum with him myself there] that, where a wood has very clear territories , the males move up to these places from about midday onwards, and sightings peak during the early afternoon ?
What about 'flat woods' where there are no clearly established territories?
My impression is, that unless it is very hot, you still see more in the afternoon.

When, as has been the case in the last few days, the day starts poor and the weather improves in late afternoon [e.g. Matthew yesterday?] you can see a lot from about 4 or 5 pm.
There are personal domestic reasons for re-visiting this question: my wife always wants to know [early in the day] when she should make lunch [i.e., when will I be at home ?!!!!]

Today His Imperial Majesty put on an emporial flight for the cameras of BBC's Insight Out programme in Alice Holt.

Beginning in Straits Inclosure, nothing happened until 10.30, when males started to descend. Highlights included 2 males down 1m apart, 4 in a vista in flight, and a male on the blessed belachan (only after I'd placed a health & safety notice by the bait).

We then ascended the Goose Green Old Car Park master trees, literally - in a 34m reach cherry picker, where half a dozen pristine males were chasing each other around and doing what no other butterfly does better. They were probably flying too fast for the camera but the Beeb must have got lots of excellent footage of them landing, taking off and basking.

An 8 minute piece will be transmitted in Sept, to be announced via the Purple website......

Doings from Sussex: By close of play 13 iris today, including 2 females 'in and out' of sallows, one confirmed ovipositing. At least 2 males in previously unsurveyed oak/ash stand. Mint condition valezina on ground and later nectaring on bramble - avoided all but record shots (until early tomorrow!).

After yesterday's truly stupendous weather today dawned dull and then became wet before clearing suddenly and spectacularly at 4pm.

His Imperial Majesty duly took to the air to attain levels of sublimity never experienced by people of non purple disposition. The highlight came at 5.05 when two males simultaneously pursued and dispatched separate wood pigeons. A few minutes later a male circle-danced with a knot of 3 purple hairstreak, before turning on them and beating them up. Nemo id melior efficit........

(Matthew's Latin always surprises me. I thought the two of us used to wag off together to Marlpost Woods chasing iris et al. He obviously did his homework after he got back.

BTW - I think it's "no-one does it better", but I'm happy to stand corrected. Derek)

I have just had Hertfordshire's first report, this morning 10.30 at Broxbourne Wood NR in flight

This morning (July 1st 2008) I met up with Matthew Oates and a small team of seasoned campaigners and hopefuls, many of whom eagerly anticipated their first sight of this wonderful butterfly - and they were not to be disappointed! If the sightings elsewhere in the woods, made either by those with 'Experience' or a camera, are added into the equation, a total of about 20 iris were observed! Jim and Judith had one male down briefly and we later saw a rather worn female 'on the deck'. But the highlight was a pristine male, which we tracked through the woods between 15:45 and 16:05. It landed repeatedly, probing for mineral salts and occasionally entering the woodland, searching for sap runs. As it performed tight turns around us it flashed the brilliant shades of vivid purple befitting butterfly royalty. There was no option - I had to take my clothes off. This was done both in consideration of the proven attractiveness of my perspiration, and because such magical events are best celebrated by random acts of nudity. For those that entered the woods that morning as 'Purple virgins', life will never be the same again. A truly memorable day.

Neil's great iris photo, which prompted a spontaneous display of his own. See above.

Greetings from a balmy evening at the George and Dragon, after a perfect day in the old woods - 40 years on and still climbing. Ca 14 males and 1 female today incl pristine male down for 30 mins in Madgeland main ride.

Note from Andy Brazil, Norfolk recorder, re iris in Norfolk. Heslop's map suggests Norfolk as a locality.

Purple Emperor was recorded during Victorian times, but was always "very local". There was a colony during the 60's - though this was believed to be being artificially sustained by releases. There hasn't been a confirmed sighting since the 1970's. A whole host of species went extinct in Norfolk in the 70's (Nearly all our fritillaries went at this point for example) and unsympathetic management of woodland and particularly the actions of the Forestry Commission can be blamed.

I note from the Suffolk Millennium Atlas that they had no records for Suffolk, leading presumably to the conclusion that the Theberton site is a re-introduction. The atlas doesn't give an extinction date for the emperor, just a range 1950-1999, but I suspect it went the same time as the Norfolk insects. Specific causes are difficult to assign, but I suspect forestry management is the underlying cause, possibly excerbated by early climate change.

Having read Matthew Oates article in "British Wildlife" I don't entirely agree that watching iris in the treetops is necessarily superior to low level encounters. In Strait's enclosure, Alice Holt Forest, at around 10am on June 30th I was "checked-out" by a magnificent male Purple Emperor who circled me, fairly closely, before deciding that I was not a threat, dropped to a muddy pool where he spent several minute imbibing before returning to the tree tops. I was able to approach quite closely and attempt (and fail) to get the incident light at the correct angle to bring out the best of the colour. I can safely add that having an Emperor flying at waist level is even more exhilarating than in the canopy.

Robert Bryant reports from Micheldever Wood (83) seeing Silver-washed Fritillary 2, Purple Emperor. "Bright sunshine, early afternoon on Long Avenue(hoggin,recently resurfaced).Met a large black and white butterfly on ground probing with pale yellow proboscis. Pointed forewings, conspicuous eyespots on hind wings. It took off and circled me - its upper wings flashing a vibrant blue in the sunshine - my first close encounter with a male purple emperor!".

Richard Symonds reports "Yesterday I visited four separate sites. In a quest to observe the Purple Emperor during its "morning flight" I arrived at Alice Holt Forest Straits Inclosure (SU800402) at 08:40. A little way down the track I met Dave Records and a male Emperor which was on the path feeding on dog excrement (08:45). It remained feeding for around three minutes enabling me to get some shots, although it did not open its wings before a fly hit its leg and it took flight. At 09:27 another male Emperor was flying around an oak. Later I met Matthew Oates, Ashley Whitlock and Colin Baker all also looking for Emperor activity. While talking to Colin a male landed again on dog excrement near a recently opened clearing with large muddy pools nearby. Colin managed a few shots and this time it briefly flashed its wings open. I saw a futher two sightings at 11:27 and 11:40 around the oak canopies. A missed opportunity for a photo was seeing a Purple Hairstreak fly off bramble blossom and retreat to an oak. Many Meadow Browns and Ringlets were flying in the grassy areas while White Admirals were always flying around trees and not settling. I left Straits at 12:15. Meadow Brown (50+), Ringlet (41), Speckled Wood (10), White Admiral (19), Purple Emperor (at least 3 individuals), Red Admiral (3), Silver Washed Fritillary (2F 3M), Purple Hairstreak (2), Large Skipper (8) and Small Skipper (3).

After lunch I visited Goose Green Inclosure (SU805415) from 13:30 to 14:45. Shortly after arrival I saw two male Emperors in battle around the top of an Oak in the car park vista. I joined Matthew Oates and watched a Sweet Chestnut tree and Oak nearby for activity. At 13:45 three males were in the air together followed by two at 13:48, further sightings of Emperors were at 13:59, 14:01, 14:05, 14:10, 14:15, 14:20, 14:22 and 14:28. At one point an Emperor flew straight overhead and continued flying east. From the quick view I had I did not seem to notice any white markings (confirmed by my father who was with me), although it was silhouetted against the sky. Matthew however was certain that we had just witnessed a fly-past of ab.iole Schiff we all were obviously very excited about - Matthew went in pursuit but it got away. I left at 14:45 by which time grey clouds had arrived and I felt a few spots of rain. Meadow Brown (15), Ringlet (9), Speckled Wood (3), Marbled White (2), White Admiral (2), Purple Emperor (at least 4 individuals)and Large Skipper (1F 2M).

At 2.15 this afternoon Apatura iris ab iole (there or thereabouts) was seen well at Goose Green Old Carpark, Alice Holt. A fresh male. He did not seek to establish a territory there but flew through the assembly area, from W-E before vanishing. He flew over the heads of 3 folk, incl myself, and was filmed by one of us - hopefully website material. Inspiring stuff, but odd to see a var so early in the season.

I think what was the first Purple Emperor, this year for Bentley Wood, was seen this morning in and around the Oak tree, that is in the main carpark, seen on and of between 08:30 and 09:30.

Tonight the high citadels of proud Machaon, the Swallowtail, lie smouldering in ruin, sacked and utterly ravaged by armies loyal to the true Monarch of all the Butterflies. It was not the easiest of victories though, for half the BBC Natural History Unit was slain, including their two top wildlife cameramen who were driven insane by demonisation and drowned themselves in the Broad, and Brother Ken was taken off to hospital wounded.

It was Sister Elizabeth who turned the day: she cleverely revealed the weak point in Machaon's defences - a penchant for graveside flowers in Horning cemetery.

Armed with this knowledge and several pots of Belechan, we stormed the cemetery of St Cuthbert the Bigot, swept an ongoing funeral conducted by the Rev Dougal Maguire into the River Ant, replaced the flowers with plastic ones laced with the blessed Belechan - and the entire might of Machaon humbly succumbed!

The results will be shown on BBC 1 at the end of August. It was the closest-run battle since Waterloo.

Here in Hertfordshire we have had no sightings - probably because we haven't actually looked yet!

My brother has just reported his best ever year for Swallowtails, one swooped him in Horning Church today. Saw two myself at the beginning of the month up the river at Horning whilst sailing. Most of those sailing don't notice such things - I do!

Sussex is currently 'leading the pack' for the mighty Purple Emperor this year. Seven of us had fantastic views this morning, as they fought almost constantly over two of the four locations I eventually saw them in. Activity (2 males) was slow over the usually-favoured Dogbarking Master Trees. But I was delighted when Malcolm and Barbara (who I know have put a great deal of effort into seeing the species over the past few years) had to delay their departure, after discovering a further pair beating the daylights out of each other over the car park. Congratulations! This pair fought almost constantly for an hour and a half. Tom Ottley and I then went round to the Madgelands Master Trees and the action here was instantaneous. I later saw three in hot pursuit, each within inches of each other. A solitary male over 'Butterfly Corner' made a total of 8, double my best tally for the woods last year (it looks like the species is set to do well in 2008). But the grande finale was yet to come! I returned to the Marlpost car park and at precisely 15:15hrs, a Purple Emperor launched itself at a Greater-spotted Woodpecker which came low over the canopy! It chased it across the canopy clearing and down the ride to the east. Having spent the most-part of the day fighting, showing off, sunbathing and 'cleansing' the area of woodpeckers, they finally 'turned in' at 15:30hrs. A day to remember!

We are in purpuratum! Brother Neil saw 3 males today at the aptly-named Dogbarking Wood, south of Horsham. He will be known for the duration of the Season as The Blessed Hulme.

Jenny Craddock from Inside Out plans to visit Alice Holt next week to film PE obsessives and his imperial highness.

Saturday 17th - Matthew, Neil and Derek converge from around the globe on a small field near Arundel. Why? Because they can.

Matthew Oates (l) and Neil Hulme discover that what they thought was a grid reference is in fact Paris Hilton's phone number.

Finally, up close and personal with his imperial highness, in final instar. Two larva discovered, then off to an excellent lunch to celebrate.

Sample tray from I R P Heslop's collection, photographed at Bristol Museum, 2002 . (MO)

Reputed to have set every speciment he ever caught. Vaguely unsettling and distasteful - the digital camera allows one PE to be caught by one hundred collectors on the same afternoon. The benefits of technological innovation are rarely so clear cut.

Purple Emperor fan club meeting in the Bentley Wood car park on a week day (MO)

it is far busier at a weekend. Note banana skins etc draped over the interpretation board cover. The ridiculous thing is that they are all facing the wrong way! Purple Emperor males gather over the stand of tall oaks in the opposite direction. In 1969 IRP Heslop caught a male ab. Iole about 80m from this spot.’

Sample page of Heslop’s diary, written in skool ink. (MO)

This is one of the more legible pages, many are incredibly hard to decipher. Parts are in Latin.’

Anyone keen to try a transcript?

The Great Man, the Great Net!

I have just found your wonderful website dedicated to the Purple Emperor. I am Ian Heslop's granddaughter (his younger daughter Jane is my mother) and I thought you might be interested to know that the photograph taken of him with the high-net was not taken at his house in Burnham, Belfield (spelt as such) but more probably at Whiteparish. I believe the garden at Belfield was not so lush, being mainly sand dunes. Coincidentally I now live two buildings away from the site of Belfield (long since demolished and ugly flats built in its place, though pleasingly called "Belfield Court").

A couple of years ago Matthew Oates took me on a tour of Bentley Woods, where I saw my first (and so far only) Purple Emperor - a female, flying high between the tree-tops. It was, quite simply, a magical moment. My mother visits there at least once a year - she has lots of memories of turning up there in the back of my grandfather's converted Jowett Bradford van which he had brought back from Nigeria.