www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

A great day in Northamptonshire today, despite the wind and rain so thought I would try and uplaod a few pics as it's the first time I have managed to upload any photos to this site.
Nigel
http://www.nigelspencer.co.uk

Very nice pics Nigel, and a great website you have as well. The Little Owls Eye is very strange.

Good pics Nigel, yeah that little owls eyes on your website are strange.

Hi Nigel
Great shots you took of the Purple Emperor - I didn't even know they could be seen in Northamptonshire!
Regards
Deano.

Thanks for all the above kind comments.
The Little Owl pictures were taken at Great Easton in Northamptonshire / Leicestershire border and it wasn't until I got home and looked at the image, I realised that the eye looked odd. Perhaps the bird is blind in one eye. But I have been to the site a few times and it's reasonably reliable so the bird is doing ok.
The Purple Emperor's were at Fermyn Woods in Northamptonshire. I saw at least 10 including one individual within 2-3 mins or arriving. I was very pleased with 11 species in the day even though I need to go back again on a warmer less windy day to have a go at some White Admeral photo's.
If anyone is in the area, it is also worth looking at twywell CP as there seems to be good numbers of Marbled Whites around
Cheers Nigel

Nigel - what a great day!

Fortunately for me I couldn't get there till about midday and the Emperors were starting to flock then (slight exageration). I saw a simliar number to you - it was quite special wasn't it?

I love your photos - I got some similar ones of the male on the ground, but I particularly like the shot with him on the leaf. I did get a short video clip that shows how the purple colour changes:

http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/w ... mporer.flv

I also dropped into Twywell on the same day and saw lots of Marbled Whites. Attempted a few photos but it was v windy there.

Chris