Hi Goldie
Thanks for your comments. This photo was taken early in the morning before that Small Heath had woken up. They are quite easy to locate when roosting and you have all the time in the world to get your shot
Saturday 11.7.2015 Botley Wood - Part 1 'Emperor Watching By A Novice'
It dawned on me last Saturday that I had not seen any of the classic summer woodland butterflies this year, something I needed to put right immediately. So I headed off for my local site, Botley Wood. To be honest I have avoided this site for the last couple of years, great though it is, because it has been by far the worst site for Ticks I have experienced. I was hoping primarily for Silver Washed Fritillary and White Admiral. I saw my first ever Purple Emperors last year at Straits Enclosure, they are seen a lot less frequently at Botley Wood, but there was always a chance
![P1060314.JPG (828.68 KiB) Viewed 555 times This Marbled White was conveniently roosting on a head high Thistle in deep shade. A couple of metres away they were already flying in the sunshine 11.7.2015 Botley Wood](./files/thumb_11661_595c52ba44ac4e2f23542b30f8fe8eb5)
- This Marbled White was conveniently roosting on a head high Thistle in deep shade. A couple of metres away they were already flying in the sunshine 11.7.2015 Botley Wood
I started early and arrived at 7am and headed straight to a known good spot for the expected species, I appeared to have the wood to myself. After 10 minutes my first butterfly appeared a Red Admiral basking In the sunshine which, spooked by my clumsy approach, immediately flew up into the Surrounding Oak trees and was not seen again. Shortly afterwards the first of several male Silver Washed Fritillaries (my first of the year) gently flew down from the trees to nectar on the brambles for a while before returning to the Oaks. I then walked on to a couple of other areas close by to see what was about. In the first open grassy area things were just coming to life. Marbled White, Small Skipper, Ringlet and Meadow Brown were becoming active in the early sunshine but large areas were still in shade with roosting butterflies. However this was not what I had come for and with limited time I returned to my original spot, I am glad I did.
![P1060329.JPG (700.78 KiB) Viewed 555 times Male Silver Washed Fritillary 11.7.2015 Botley Wood](./files/thumb_11661_694289cf5f1d400a9955a027b087bc7a)
- Male Silver Washed Fritillary 11.7.2015 Botley Wood
As I stood watching, what was now several male Silver Washed Fritilaries nectaring, I looked up at the large Oak Tree just in time to see a much larger butterfly majestically gliding in out of the upper branches of this Oak Tree. I could not really believe it but I knew instantly this was a Purple Emperor
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Then shortly after there were two Emperors flying. This was 8.30am and not the time that I normally see reported for Purple Emperors. There was also no aerial combat here, in fact as far as I could tell there was little or no interaction between them just gentle gliding in and out of the upper branches, settling for periods (mostly in positions I could not see from the ground). They were occasionally in the air together sometimes in close proximity momentarily playing follow the leader, perhaps just the butterfly equivalent of a 'good morning'. A Silver Washed Fritillary briefly flew into their airspace and again there appeared to be no reaction from the Emperors. Eventually one of these Emperors settled in a position where I could see it quite clearly, albeit high up in the tree, and I was able to reel off some long range shots.
![P1060360.JPG (597.74 KiB) Viewed 555 times This Purple Emperor eventually settled in a position that was clearly visible allowing me a few shots. I am surprised my camera can pick up as much detail at such a distance, even its tongue is clearly visible. 11.7.2015 Botley Wood](./files/thumb_11661_23a2b5642142460da99d81a2a3116036)
- This Purple Emperor eventually settled in a position that was clearly visible allowing me a few shots. I am surprised my camera can pick up as much detail at such a distance, even its tongue is clearly visible. 11.7.2015 Botley Wood
By just after 9am the sun had disappeared completely and there was now complete cloud cover, my battery expired and it was time for me to leave, but I think I was now hooked. I rushed home to check my photos to double check what I had seen.
Saturday 18.7.2015 Botley Wood - Part 2 'Emperor Watching by not quite such a novice'
I was so enthralled over my Emperor sighting from the previous weekend that I just had to head for Botley Wood again. I headed straight for the same spot. I arrived a bit later at 7.25, it was sunnier but perhaps not quite so warm as the previous weekend. There was already just a Ringlet dancing around the Large Bramble clump, but as I glanced up at the Oak Tree to my disbelief there were already two Purple Emperors doing exactly the same act in the same spot as last week (is that possible?). So by 7.30am my tally for the day was one Ringlet and two Purple Emperors
![Cool 8)](./images/smilies/icon_cool.gif)
that does not happen very often. After 7.30 they stayed out of sight until just before 8am when they took to the air, one circled away from the tree toward me and then back and the other disappeared into an adjoining tree. After a period of Emperor inactivity I decided to go and have a look at the Whiteley Pastures site next door, after an hour there was not much occurring there so I returned to my original spot. By now there appeared to be just the one Emperor which made short gliding flights close to the tree settling in various positions where I could just about see its position but not really in a position where I could get a picture. Just after 9.30 this particular butterfly all of a sudden made a much more purposeful direct flight away from this tree and disappeared over the tops of the trees, that was the last I saw.
![P1060456.JPG (472.57 KiB) Viewed 555 times This was the best of my Purple Emperor photos from 18.7.2015. It is highly cropped and I only post it because to me it confirms this one as a male (as it seems to have a hint of purple)](./files/thumb_11661_972030989ee0bf004303a79e064f487d)
- This was the best of my Purple Emperor photos from 18.7.2015. It is highly cropped and I only post it because to me it confirms this one as a male (as it seems to have a hint of purple)
![P1060480.JPG (674.82 KiB) Viewed 555 times Female Silver Washed Fritillary 18.7.2015 Botley Wood](./files/thumb_11661_3ade8ea7fd3fe2018704836d4a83404c)
- Female Silver Washed Fritillary 18.7.2015 Botley Wood
I wondered if I had found a tree where this species return to roost each evening. Could this in fact be the 2 same butterflies as last week? I decided to return later that same evening to see if there was any additional activity at this particular tree. Sadly by 4.30 pm it had clouded over and become much cooler with a threat of rain. I did return but the conditions were not right and I saw no more Emperor activity. There did however seem to be some Purple Hairstreak activity in the tree which was not apparent earlier in the day. I know some people devote their lives to the Purple Emperor, maybe somebody more experienced than me could explain what was going on here
All in all an excellent return to Botley Wood for me. I also saw my first female Silver Washed Fritillaries, White Admirals and summer Peacock of the year at this visit. I can not wait till next week to see if there is still any Emperor activity in that tree. I am well and truly hooked
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)