Thanks Bill, yes, lots of happy times to jog my age addled memory in future years
Taking a well earned day off from butterflying today (mainly because of the weather!) allowing me to catch up on reports a bit.
Bookham Common, 10th July
So my quest for the Great Purple One continues, he’s proved particularly illusive to me, with just two fleeting glances so far. This is my third proper attempt at seeing one this year.
I got there a little later than intended, after 9, but the weather seemed perfect, warm but not too hot and clear blue skies. The Silver washed Fritillaries were out in force already, both males and females feeding on sunlit brambles and unlike my previous visits, they were much more approachable today. There were also several Commas mixed in with them, doing their best Fritillary impressions, but I’m an expert and can’t be fooled by such shenanigans!
- SWF female
- SWF male
- SWF male
- SWF male & female
It was interesting that the males left the females alone for the most part. When interest was shown the males were quickly given the brush off and they went back to feeding. I actually spent a fair bit of time with these, forgetting I was supposed to be after something else
Whilst chasing these, a beautifully fresh Peacock joined the party, looking resplendant in the morning light
.
I’d been told the best place to see Emperors was the top car park, but I wasn’t too sure where this was though (note to self,
research 
!), but I took to wandering along the open bridleways which are littered with nice tasty morsels of horse dung. White Admirals were commonplace, dithering low over the ground and flying up as I stealthily approached
and so was the occasional Comma
- "look at me, I'm a Purple Emperor now"
No you’re not, go away Comma!
I got very excited at one point as a large dark butterfly with flashes of white flew powerfully around me, but hopes were dashed when I also noticed flashes of red. Nevertheless when she settled I couldn’t resist a few pictures. You can’t turn your nose up when a Red Admiral as fresh as this one lands at your feet!
As I was getting a few pics I noticed a couple of guys walking carefully but purposefully towards me. The RA flew up and one of the guys pointed at it and looked at me, eye’s wide with hopefulness, “Nah, just a Red Admiral” I said, his face dropping immediately. A quick chat revealed they had seen nothing with a purple sheen either. As we chatted a lovely White Admiral flew around us and when they left it settled in front of me, at last I was able to get a few close-up shots
I moved on to explore some secluded paths that were still new to me. I kept coming across glades inhabited by SWF and WA and every time I couldn’t resist taking pictures.
A few Odonata to add a bit of variety were also sunning themselves, a female Beautiful Demoiselle
and I’m pretty sure this is a female Common Darter based on the yellow on the legs just about visible.
I stumbled across a pair of Ringlets having some private time, so I took their picture!
I’m pretty sure I did find the ‘Top car park’ but there was nothing showing and by now it was getting quite late, probably too late. It was looking like my quest for purple things was drawing a blank for a third time. Nevertheless I continued browsing the quieter rides since they were so full of butterflies willing to sit in front of me.
Always keeping one eye on the canopy I noticed a few silvery glints. Binoculars confirmed I was watching Purple Hairstreak, shortly after which, whilst watching some SWF for the umpteenth time a little silvery thing fluttered down and landed on a leaf right in front of me. As happened with my first WA a week before, momentary panic set in, it was sat in partial shade with breeze blowing it in and out of the sun. I risked autofocus (for once it didn’t get lost trying to focus on a gnat’s eyelash) and I was able to quickly take a few snaps before it fluttered off back into the canopy, something Purple at least.....well grey!
A few more SWF and I decided to make an early start home.
I reckon I'd seen around 50 SWF by now!
Distracting my journey were a couple of female WA, obviously on the lookout for some nice Honeysuckle. This one settled low down in the undergrowth but I couldn’t get anything decent without the use of flash.
- Tweeked in PP to within an inch of its life!
Unfortunately my ‘odd’ behaviour (crouching down by the side of the path peering into the undergrowth) had spooked a couple of horses and I figured using flash could end in a bit of a disaster. I stood up and allowed them to pass, both horses giving me the evil eye as they passed with their riders saying thank you whilst I watched as the horses tails swished the WA off into the undergrowth.
Definitely time to go and come back another time
. Nothing left to do but go for another little wander. Luckily there's enough open spaces around to keep me occupied and I ended up watching 3 Small Tortoiseshell playing in the early evening sun and flirting with each other by the River mole 
If not you've got to see them, Goldie