Purple Emperor

Jason Claxton · #31 (**permalink**) 06-07-2010, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cumbria

How long is the flight season on UK butterfies it indicates peak is mid july and ending early Aug. But flight times can change and I wondered what the view was?

Problem is I am tied up weekends wise until the 24th July which probably only gives two opportunities.

Hi Cumbria

Getting to see them as early as poss,makes for a better,smarter looking butterflies as well.Near me ,they appear to be about a week later than last year.

Cheers Jason.

Trik · #32 (**permalink**) 07-07-2010, 12:14 PM

This week, for the first time, we finally got to see and photograph a male PE resting after emergence in a very convenient position. I managed the attached unconventional shot, plus lots of more usual upper-wing shots, so I am well-pleased.

Our thanks again to the photographer who first spotted the butterfly for making room so that we (and at least eight others) could get the shots we wanted. With non-photographing partners, we were quite a crowd!

Trik

Jason Claxton · #33 (**permalink**) 07-07-2010, 12:34 PM

A nice shot!Result!Trik

The nearest I got was to one about 10ft up.Did you get this at Bentley?

Gill Catton · #34 (**permalink**) 07-07-2010, 12:47 PM

Oh that's a lovely shot, I have a similar one of a white admiral - here it is for for compare and contrast purposes!

Trik · #35 (**permalink**) 07-07-2010, 12:59 PM

`lo Jason,
Yes - Bentley on Monday. We got there before 9 am (to be sure of a parking spot), and it was cold, windy, and very overcast. Then the sun broke through in places and the day gradually warmed up. We saw two or three PEs flying high, but the perched one wasn`t until about 2 pm, but he stayed there for at least 2+ hours and was still there when we walked back to the carpark. Apparently he did fly a short while after we left, but only across the path and back into the sun.

Trik

PS : thanks Gill, and back at you for the White Admiral

Susie · #36 (**permalink**) 07-07-2010, 01:03 PM

That's a cracking shot, Trik, I've never seen his Majesty at that angle before with wings open.

Trik · #37 (**permalink**) 07-07-2010, 04:47 PM

Thanks, Susie. We think he may have still been weak after the stress of emergence and a gust of wind blew him off his perch into the grasses below. I grabbed a shot while I could, and then someone helped him back up on to a more secure footing. Of course, the fact that the new perch was better for us photographers had nothing to do with it.

Trik

cwpbirder · #38 (**permalink**) 14-07-2010, 10:42 PM

Oakley car park area and track going to the S, in Bernwood Forest just E of Oxford is a reliable place - I took these shots of a male PE around 12 noon on 10 July. Need good weather though......