Trevor

[trevor]

Thanks Wurzel. I can sympathise with you about being in the wrong place when one descends.

On Sunday afternoon I had a phone call from Mark Colvin to say that he had found
a sap run in an Oak near the triangle at Chiddingfold, and it was attracting much
Emperor attention.
I was intending to go on Monday anyway, but the phone call added impetus to my
anticipation for the day.
As I neared the triangle on the walk from the car, I saw, in the distance, what looked
like a fresh pile of Emperors delight, but it turned out to be a large Slow Worm coiled
up on the track, why it chose to rest in such an exposed location is a mystery, but it
seemed to be healthy and unharmed. After several shots I continued to the triangle............

[trevor]

When Mark Colvin arrived he proceeded to show me the Oak with the sap run.
It was a tall, spindly, Ivy clad tree, exposed by the felling of dying Ash trees.
Unfortunately the tree was too distant for my camera, even on full zoom.
It was not possible to get a closer shot because the sap run was then obscured
by Ivy leaves. My only successful, heavily cropped, image ( below ) shows an
Empress enjoying the sap. At one time there was a male and female Emperor
on the sap together.

Many thanks for the tip off, Mark, and very well spotted in the first place!.

[Pauline]

Hi Trevor - I saw this sap run on Saturday (not sure who found it initially) but I'm told that at one time there were 3 PE on it together!

[trevor]

Thanks Pauline, I saw two on it at one time, and it was revisited regularly.
I believe a Red Admiral and a Peacock were also seen taking the sap.
With our cameras they were a bit too far away, but I was pleased to get something.

Stay well,
Trevor.

PS. I was told on Monday am, by a chap who walks his dog there daily,
that a PE landed at the triangle for about an hour on Saturday, and had a group around it.

[Katrina]

Ah that’s where they all are. I went this morning from about 9 - 1 and didn’t see any PEs.

[bugboy]

Your pic does actually have a second Emperor in it, about 7 o'clock to the female partially obscured by ivy leaves.

[millerd]

At least you got to see that bit of sap-run behaviour, Trevor. Worth a certainly.

I'm rather glad we did have that grounded sighting last week, or hearing about Saturday would have been a trifle annoying! Still, from what Pauline says, we wouldn't have been allowed near the insect anyway... It's been good to see you over the last couple of weeks and exchange war stories - a bit of an annual festival, though one for which the actual date is very hard to predict... I wouldn't be surprised to see you again somewhere nearer your home turf before the summer is out, though - the season lasts longer in Sussex!

Cheers,

Dave

[trevor]

I'm not surprised you didn't see any PE's Katrina, they don't like this heat,
and they have been tricky this year at Chiddingfold.

Cheers Paul. You are quite right, there is a second PE, i can just about
make out a leg and the underside of a thorax. It was one of those few
occasions when I've envied people with those heavy DSLR's, and their
luxury length lenses.

Thanks Dave. Yes it looks as though the Chiddingfold social club is almost
over for another year. Lets hope the Sallows remain in good condition for
next year's brood. We're owed a good year.

What will probably be my last PE of 2021. And one I accidentally sent up earlier.
I had only just got off my little seat and taken about six steps when a PE flew up
by my right foot. To be fair to myself, no one else in the group had seen it land either,
although it was very close to all of us!.
When He later returned to the exact same spot, the group of photographers had
grown in number and it proved impossible to get a decent shot.

Trevor.

[bugboy]

Cheers Paul. You are quite right, there is a second PE, i can just about
make out a leg and the underside of a thorax. It was one of those few
occasions when I've envied people with those heavy DSLR's, and their
luxury length lenses.

Trevor.

Don't know who you're referring to there....

[Wurzel]

Hopefully 2022 will be better for Purple Emperors (although to be fair the midland colonies seemed to go great guns this year ) as I've just about given up on Bentley for this species - true I see them there every year but groundings are luck of the draw I'd love to get some of the shots you managed Trevor

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[David M]

..Lets hope the Sallows remain in good condition for
next year's brood. We're owed a good year.

Yes, it's been another strange Emperor year, Trevor, with some of the traditionally reliable sites performing poorly and some of the lesser renowned ones doing quite well.

I hope that the venerable Mr Hulme will offer his summary in due course...

[trevor]

Thanks Folks. Maybe next year for the Emperor.

This morning I arrived home from Wiltshire at 7.45 after a pleasant stress free drive.
I still felt fresh enough for a quick visit to Herstmonceux Castle later in the morning.
One species beginning to dominate the gardens was the Gatekeeper. There were many
males present, and I only saw one female among them.
There were also many Whites Large and Small, and several Commas, Peacocks and
Red Admirals, plus a single Painted Lady. No Small Coppers or Common Blues yet though.

Trevor.

[Wurzel]

That is a mighty fine female Hedge Brown/Gatekeeper Trevor (I'm trying to wean myself over to calling them 'Gatekeepers' hence using both the names ) Soon be time for some flying visits to Shipton and those dates look good - hopefully by then the females will be out and about. I saw my first male at Alners Gorse last Thursday but they are very early at that site

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[trevor]

I used the term Hedge Brown once on facebook Wurzel, and was asked by several
people what was I talking about, they are Gate Keepers!.
They are lovely when fresh but I find them irksome later on when they
start to impersonate the female Brown Hairstreak.

All we need for Shipton B is a decent weather forecast.

Stay safe,
Trevor.

[trevor]

One species that seemed to have a bumper year at Chiddingfold in 2021 was
the Silver Washed Fritillary. And for once I was able to obtain some close up
shots of very fresh females nectaring.

[Maximus]

Great shots of the female and male SW Frits at Chiddingfold, Trevor Reading between the lines it didn't seem to be the best year for PE's in Surrey.

I hope that things are better in 2022

[Wurzel]

Lovely set of Silver-washed shots Trevor
"They are lovely when fresh but I find them irksome later on when they start to impersonate the female Brown Hairstreak." This is when they're give their other name "False Streak"

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[trevor]

Early this morning I drove over to Horseshoe Plantation for the Chalkhill Blue
This made a change from my usual evening visit and I was well rewarded for the early start.
Fresh specimens were not hard to find, though many others were showing signs of wear.

Another visitor who turned up later on was kind enough to show me a White Letter Hairstreak he had found.
For many years people have told me that WLH are breeding there, but this was a first for me.
The one this morning was found just below some healthy looking Elms.

Trevor.

[Wurzel]

Lovely Chalkhills Trevor and a bonus Whitter There were 5 male Brostreaks at Shipton today so hopefully by next week there will be bucket loads and the ladies will be arriving on the scene

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[millerd]

Congrats on finding the WLH, Trevor, not easy unless you know where to look. That looks a great spot to visit.

Dave