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APPENDIX: Details of Purple Emperor Sightings in the UTB area during 2006

 

 

DATE

OBSERVER

 

LOCATION

MICRO-LOCATION

 

 

NUMBER SEEN AND SEX

TIME

WEATHER CONDITIONS

BEHAVIOUR

25/6/06

Duncan Stubbs

Black Park

TQ010840

1 m

11.30

 

On path

25/6/06

Wendy & Mick Campbell

Piddington Wood

Territory SP 629161

1 probable sighting high up

 

 

High up over the central Ash tree of the "vista" . It must have been 100' up and looked too big to be a Red Admiral. The shape of the wings and flight pattern looked right for PE

29/6/06

?

Whitecross Green Wood

 

1

 

 

 

29/6/06

Dave Wilton

Finemere Wood

Southern edge in Finemere Meadows

1 m

 

 

On the ground close to the wood edge in an area where there is a lot of bare earth.  It was disturbed by my passage, took off and did three or four large lazy circles around me at grass-top height and then shot off up into the wood canopy. 

29/6/ 06

John Ward-Smith

Little Hazes, private

Edge of wood, with scattered mature oaks. The site is south facing, close to M4 and lake at Felix Farm Trout Fishery

1 m

fleeting but clear sighting at 11.45 am. Total episode lasted approx 30 secs

Fine and sunny temp 22C

Single specimen flew out briefly from one side of an oak tree, flew round the back and then reappeared on the other side of the tree, at a height of between 4 and 5 metres (12 to 15 ft) from the ground. I was about 8 to 10 metres (25 to 30 feet) from tree.

30/6/06

Wendy & Mick Campbell

Oakley Wood

 

SP611117; tree tops near the gate in the Oakley Car Park

1

13.30, for 20 minutes

 

One definite sighting of a PE high up in the trees. It flew down from the Oak tree and disappeared.

30/6/06

Wendy & Mick Campbell

Piddington Wood & Little Wood (private)

 

1

11.15 to 13.30.

45 mins at Piddington territory

 

Spent 45 minutes at the "PE Vista". After 15 minutes Mick saw a male PE flying towards us. It was about 20' above our heads and close enough to see the purple sheen. We watched it complete a circuit of the "vista" and then it headed back to the footpath and disappeared.

30/6/06

Dennis Dell

Finemere Wood

Narrow ride SP718220

1

12.00

 

Flying swiftly at low trajectory southwards along ride leading  northwards from turning circle

30/.6/.06

G.Elcombe

Bernwood

SP 612 103  Hell Coppice

1 m

11.00

Sunny

Perched on shrub, c 1 mtr above ground then skimming at low level up and down ride for c. 5 minutes

1/7/06

?

Whitecross Green Wood

 

1

 

 

 

1/7/06

Graham Taylor

Wytham Woods (Singing Way) (permit required)

SP467075

1 m

Observed for at least 10 mins around 11:00, and for around 1 min at 14:30.

Hot with unbroken sunshine.

Male alighting repeatedly on track, possibly for salts, and skimming fast up and down ride in sunny clearing. Opening wings occasionally on the ground. Perched once on the lower boughs of a beech with wings open. Woodland in the immediate vicinity is mainly beech with ash, sycamore, oak and wych elm mixed in.

1/7/06

Christopher Prideaux

Doddershall Wood, private

Main north-south ride;

2

 

 

Down at  muddy puddle

1/7/06

Graham Taylor

Wytham Woods

SP466088

SP467075

2

Fleeting glimpse at 13:45.

Hot with unbroken sunshine, but flying in shade.

Flying fast and direct through shady woodland at about head height. Woodland in the immediate vicinity is mainly sycamore with some mature ash and oak mixed in.

2/7/06

?

Whitecross Green Wood

 

1

 

 

 

2/7/06

Giles Alder

Warburg reserve

SU72028782

1

12.30

30 degrees

Flying fast around wildlife garden and around roof top

2/7/06

Dave Wilton

Rushbeds Wood

SP666158; ash canopy gap at edge of wood

1 m

1.75 hrs; seen for 20 minutes from 15.55

33 degrees

Patrolling gap and perching

3/7/06

Dave Wilton

Finemere Wood

SP721216

1 m

15.00 to 17.30

 

After walking through the gate at the entrance to the wood this was the first butterfly I saw.  It was orbiting the ride cross-roads by the sign board and then landed on the sallow on the SW corner of the junction, at about 10ft up, and proceeded to sun itself for about five minutes. .  When it took off it headed north up the main ride and I lost it from sight.

3/7/06

A Parker

Black Park

TQ010840

1

 

 

 

3/7/06

Dennis Dell

Greatsea Wood, private

 highest point in wood

2

 

 

Two flying together leisurely over tops of Oaks

3/7/06

Andy Reynolds

Yorks Wood

SP61205

1m

11.00

 

Flying down, up and down the ride before I lost him. Landed on the ride two or three times, settling for no more than a minute or so.

3/7/06

H & T Hall

Rushbeds Wood

SP666158

1m

11.00 am

 

At around 11.00am we came upon a butterfly sunning itself on the ground. On studying the photo when we arrived home, it was a male Purple Emperor.

3/7/06

Dennis Dell

Finemere Wood

SP719218

1

11 to 12

 

Flying across intermediate territory [widely spaced mature Oaks]

3/7/06

Dick Lister

Amersham Field Centre, Mop End

SU929969

Around the centre building particularly the dustbins and adjacent area

1,

Sex uncertain

About 9.45 am.

Observed for about 7 or 8 minutes

Very hot and sunny

Noticed from window and went out to investigate. It rather lazily flew around, settled on a plank by the dustbins and then on a plastic bag containing dog poo. It then settled on a nearby wooden gate.  Observed for several minutes and time to get an insect book from the centre and make a very skimpy sketch of the underside of the wing.  It then flew away – not seen during the rest of the day.

3/7/06

D Ferguson

Finemere Wood

main ride (SP720217)

1m

 

Sunny

Flew NW low across ride

 

 

 

Circle (SP718219)

1m

 

 

Flew low S across W side of circle

 

 

 

main track outside wood

(SP721216)

1m

 

 

Resting on track. Flew off W.

 

4/7/06

Niall Lusby

Warburg reserve

Bottom Track SU717879

1

 

31 degrees

Flying at head height along track in valley bottom

4/7/06

Dennis Dell

Finemere Wood

SP718218

3

4.15 to 6.30

30 degrees

Flying and perching fairly low on Oaks just south of turning circle; observed for 15 minutes

4/7/06

Alan Showler

Downley

SU842946; grassy bank, above road, backed by trees

1 f

3 pm

Very hot

Coming down and landing on grass in the shade, probably seeking moisture; not flying strongly: affected by the heat?

4/7/06

Mick Campbell

Hell Coppice and Oakley Wood

Oak trees lining field edge at SP612106.

SP611117; tree tops near the gate in the Oakley Car Park

2m, 1f

5 to 6 pm

Hot & sunny

200 yards north of Hell coppice old car park along the track to the location where big Oak trees line the edge of a field. One large female Iris seen there. It landed briefly quite low down in an oak tree, about 30' up 

Oakley car park:  2 male Iris in the usual oak trees near the gate. A brief period of combat, then they glided about 25' above the edge of the track & then across it & disappeared.

4/7/06

D Ferguson

Wendover Woods

wide dry ride bounded by mature beech

(SP883076)

1m

11.40 for 10 mins. In the wood for 2.5 hrs

Sunny

Flew low SW along track landing 3 times, resting for c1-3 mins each time. Disappeared E into garden of Picket Piece.

5/7/06

O.T.Lewis

Wytham Woods

(permit required)

Singing Way/ The Plantation. Wide gravel ride SP466074

1 m

10.30 for 15 minutes

Sunny intervals, calm ~20C

Settling on moist gravel ride and probing with proboscis

6/7/06

Dennis Dell

Finemere Woods

At turning circle [SP718219] and at northern edge [SP715222]

3

3.45 to 5.45

24 degrees, cloud and sun no wind

Turning circle; over oaks and around big Sallow, opposite the oaks. Northern edge: flying in Ash canopy gap, one seen between 4.45 and 5.25

6/7/06

Wendy & Mick Campbell

Piddington Wood

Territory SP 629161; open area ringed by Ash and Oak

2 m

4 pm to

4.45 pm

Hot and sunny

Male Iris gliding around Territory 1 air space! This is the area immediately to the left of the big Oak tree (the Oak tree on the far right of the Vista). After 5-10 minutes of perching & gliding between the good quality Ash tree and the poor quality Ash tree, a second male Iris appeared and several combats occurred. The second male must have been chased off (along with a couple of pigeons!!) as we didn't see it again after that. The first male continued to glide & perch around the 2 ash trees for about 40 minutes until the sun went behind a big cloud. 

?

Allen Beechey

BBOWT Warburg reserve

SU720881

1 f

 

 

However, this time a female iris did one graceful circuit of me before disappearing.  The sighting was made at 17:05 on a small path that links the two rifle ranges (now strips of chalk grassland) about halfway along their length.

8/7/06

Dennis Dell [field meeting, 20 people present]

Oakley Wood

Car park SP612117

6 estimated

10.00 to 16.00

20 to 22 degrees, cloud and sun

Most sightings on and around oaks near car park entrance from road, gliding and perching [12 sightings between 11.30 and 12.45]. One male low down, observed for 30 minutes between 10 and 10.30, landing on car bonnets and tyres.

One female on main ride a couple of hundred yards south of car park, low down on Sallow and Birch; observed for 30 minutes [3 to 3.30]

9/7/06

Dennis Dell [field meeting, 8 people present]

Oakley Wood

Car park SP612117

6 estimated

11.00 to 14.00

20 degrees, windy, overcast and damp to start with, clearing up and getter warmer, but windy, later

Activity above and on the car park entrance oaks between 12.45 and 14.00. About 22 ‘flight events’ noted, with 3 in the air at one time at one point: eve3n in strong wind. At 2 pm, one male came down and settled on oak trunk.

8/7/06

Nick Bowles and Christopher Prideaux

Doddershall Wood, private

Main north-south ride

2

12.45 to 13.00

22 degrees, strong wind

One sighting entirely treetops and the other 300m away about 2-3m above ground. Both along the longest ride (section E of transects). The first sailed out from a gap between oaks on N side of ride at about 3 m above ground and made an unhurried circuit of the block of scrub.

The second was high above the solitary tree in the centre (roughly) of the end of ride. It was about 5m up when saw it and it simply sailed off over the tallest canopy (again to north of ride ).

8/7/06

Wendy & Mick Campbell, Paul Bowyer

Sydlings Copse, BBOWT reserve

Low fen area grazed with ponies and surrounded by Oak & Ash trees; good quality sallow bushes in fen. SP559096

2

 

some cloud but quite warm and sunny, rather windy though.

 We walked through the meadow almost to the far end where we stopped and watched the tree tops. These trees (lots of Ash, Oak) line the ridge bordering the fen area where the sallows grow. We saw a PE patrol along the top of the treeline, turn and go all the way back again to the far corner.

We walked down through the wood, catching glimpses of PE gliding between the trees overhead.

We walked back up and through the meadow again and a much larger PE (we believe it was a female) flew low down along the edge of the meadow and then up over the Elm trees.

8/7/06

Mike Mobbs

Hazlemere golf course bordering Penn Wood, private

 

1 m

11 am

 

Dying male Purple Emperor (bird attack?) about ten yards from fence. I have never seen one in the Penn Wood complex before, although I have walked it for some years, and do not know of any previous records for this area. The wood is mainly beech but there are stands of oak, some of which contain Purple Hairstreaks.

9.7.06

Becky Woodell

Whitecross Green Wood

 

1m

 

 

Flew along 1st section of central ride and then into oak trees

9.7.06

G.Lincoln

Buckland Common

Window sill outside of house. South-west facing. Detached house surrounded by lawn, shrubs and flowers. Mixed copse of ash, oak, holly, rowan, hazel 25 meters to south-east. Holly trees 10 m to north-west.

1m

12.30pm. Seen for about 2 minutes resting, before it flew off.

Warm and sunny.

Fluttered outside window briefly, then settled on window sill. Open wings gently waving and never closed.

11/7/06

David Redhead

Oakley Wood

SP 6115 1165. Car Park

1m

9.30 to 9.50

17 degrees, sunny, slight breeze

Proceeded down main drag in car but decided to stop to check out car park - as I got out of car opposite path back into car park a Purple Emperor flew majestically out from over the top of the hazels on the opposite side of the ride to the car park, circled round over my head and disappeared whence it had come.

11/7/06

Dave Wilton

Piddington Wood

Territory SP 629161; open area ringed by Ash and Oak

1st visit:two: 1 f, probably, and one m

2nd visit: 2 males

20 minutes for each ‘visit’

sunny

Female lazily following White Admiral around me twice, about a foot behind it and about 18 inches above ground level, then shot off along the track.  No sign of purple on the wings but I might not have seen it anyway because I was standing in the shade.   Up in the canopy there was a single male active, mostly using the ashes at about 10 o'clock (taking the enormous ash in the centre of the semi-circle as being 12 o'clock).

 Back at Piddington Wood I spent another 20 minutes at "the spot" and this time there were two males active, one on the 10 o'clock ash and another on an ash at 1 o'clock (a big one but rather spindly).  Unfortunately they didn't get together at all so no aerial battles were witnessed.

12/7/06

Robin Dryden

Black Park

at TQ013844 ( this is where my sightings were last year).

1

13.00-14.00

Hot and sunny

Gliding across the ride and then sunning itself at in full view at the top of an oak tree (at TQ013844 this is where my sightings were last year).

12/7/ 06

A E D Hickman

Sole Common

Map ref: approx SU 413 708

About 15m down a ‘ride’ leading into a young conifer plantation adjacent to Sole Common BBOWT reserve. Plenty of Sallows and Oaks nearby including alongside the first part of the ride.

1 m

Present for 30-35 mins

(c10.45-11.20hrs)

Hot and sunny with light breeze

Feeding on presumed mineral deposits off fly-tipped rubbish-including discarded DIY materials, plastic bags etc. I didn’t notice it until I flushed it by accident from where it had obviously been feeding. It then made a convoluted series of circuits around me, often very close to my legs, landing for a while on a nearby Sallow before continuing its low level erratic flight. It seemed highly intent on getting back to feeding on the rubbish, which it soon did. After a good half hour it finally took exception to me being within about 2 feet of it and flew out of view behind some Sallows. I checked the site just before I left at about 2pm but it did not reappear. Visited the site again on 19 July (admittedly spending only about 10-15 mins looking) and saw no sign of it.

12/07/06

Phil Tizzard

Finemere Wood SP71652226

Canopy gap in mature ashes about 10-15m wide at edge of wood --north facing.

Up to 3.

Sex not determined.

Four events over a half hour period  between 14.00 and 17.00

Hot; sunny; scattered clouds.

Two singles flying at canopy height;

Three chasing briefly around top of ash tree then flew off at canopy height (8-10m).

One landed on top of ash in middle of the canopy gap where it sat for 3 minutes before flying off.

All sightings made with 8.5x42 binoculars.

12/7/06

Dennis Dell

Finemere Wood SP715222

Canopy gap in mature ashes about 10-15m wide at edge of wood --north facing.; this gap is about 200m west of the territory described by Tizzard above

3-4

12.30 to 12.45 and 13.20 to 13.30

23 degrees, sunny, light breeze

First period: two gliding and perching in canopy gap ..

Second period: two circling in combat, descending together almost to ground before parting and flying back up. Shortly after, 100m east of this spot, another sighting flying eastwards.

At 13.47, one seen just south of turning circle, gliding around Oak and across ride

12/7/06

Wendy & Mick Campbell

Woodland near Frieth; Moor Common

(OS ref SU803-905)

4

Total time looking was 1hr 30mins, 12.30 to 2.00pm, although all 4 were seen within 15 mins.

Hot & sunny.

The quantity and quality of the Sallow there is OUTSTANDING!  There's loads of it below a whole bank of big Oak trees. Within minutes of arriving, as the footpath enters the wood we saw 2 PE chasing in one direction and then back again in the opposite direction. Impossible to say if they were male or female. We then saw another two, larger PE, lower down near the ground. They flew off quickly into the Oaks. We stayed for quite a while after that but it all went quiet (afternoon siesta time?).

12/7/06

Dennis Dell

Greatsea Wood, private

Highest point

2 [1 f]

12.55 to 13.10

23 degrees, sunny, light breeze

Female floated down eastern edge southwards, landing briefly on Blackthorn; one seen just inside wood from track around oak then over track and away. At outside again, seen flying across ashes

13/7/06

Dennis Dell & Christopher Prideaux

Doddershall Wood, private

main north-south ride

1 f

16.50 to117.00

 

On Sallow for 5 minutes, then flew off down ride and disappeared.

14/7/06

Mike Mobbs

Penn Wood

SP913955.

1m

p.m.

 

We decided to go to Common Wood to see if we could see where the PE I found on Hazlemere Golf Course might have come from. But first I walked a bit further up the hill. A large butterfly flew towards me at head height. There was a flash of brown and white, then purple. It was another Purple Emperor, this time in Penn Wood itself!

14/7/06

Wendy & Mick Campbell

Waterperry Wood

 

4 f

between 3 and 5 pm

 

1) 3.45pm 1 x PE - At the Southern end of the main track, it bends sharp right. Walk along there a bit further to a bank of Oak trees on your left. You'll see a nice Sallow(s) which is where we spotted Iris flying around the Sallow but we didn't see it settle. SP604-088.

2) 4.15pm 1 x PE - We were heading North, back down the main ride (concentrating on the Sallows). Big female gliding very low down just above the track and then settled on vegetation sunning itself before flying off. Excellent views, close up!!  SP605-090.

3) 4.40pm 1 x PE - Still on the main ride. It flew 6 feet above ground up the face of the trees and disappeared over the tree tops. SP606-096.

4) 4.50pm 1 x PE - Still on the main ride. Saw it land on Sallow and sun itself, then glided across to another sallow & we watched it fly into the middle of the Sallow and was seen bending its abdomen round to lay eggs. It was on the twigs, though, not on leaves. It was too high up (20-25') to see an egg through binoculars, so we can't be sure it actually laid an egg on the twigs. SP606-098.

14.07.06

David Dennis

Braziers End, Nr Cholesbury, Bucks

Garden, bordering farmland and woodland

1f

1.00pm

Hot and sunny

Flew around pond, settled on shirt for 10 seconds, flew off over hedge

15/7/06

Tim Watts

Piddington Wood

SP629161

1

 

 

 

15/7/06

Wendy & Mick Campbell

Chinkwell Wood

SP667141

1

2.30 to 4.45 pm

Hot & sunny, breezy

We approached from the Dorton end, walking across the open fields and keeping an eye out for WLH on the flowering bramble along the hedges. As we were approaching the style going into the wood we caught a distant glimpse of a big butterfly gliding amongst the trees ... could have been a White Admiral ... but then it shot out of the wood a few feet over our heads (now easy to see it was a Purple Emperor!) and started heading off across the open field! It had almost gone out of binocular range when it turned round and headed back again, flying back into the wood and disappearing. Most unusual! Most probably a female from its size and odd behaviour. Lots of sallow all around that edge of the wood.

15/7/06

Dennis Dell

Finemere Wood

100m north of turning circle

1

12.50

Hot and sunny

Around big Sallow along transect section F

16/7/06

Allen Beechey

Warburg Reserve BBOWT

SU720881

1f

 

 

A female iris did one graceful circuit of me before disappearing.  The sighting was made at 17:05 on a small path that links the two rifle ranges (now strips of chalk grassland) about halfway along their length

16/7/06

Becky Woodell

Whitecross Green Wood

 

1

 

 

On second section of central ride

16/7/06

Tom Dunbar

Hodgemoor Wood, private

Car park

1f

 

 

In reverse to depart from carpark a male alighted to the left of the car and proceeded to entertain for the next 20 minutes feeding from leaf litter in total shade!

16/7/06

Tim Watts

Finemere Wood

SP718219

1

 

 

 

16/7/06

Danny Howard

Oakley Wood

 

1f

 

 

A female sat on some sallow next to the main ride at about head height. It fluttered from leaf to leaf and it wasn't until it had flown back to the tree tops that I realised it may well have been egg laying (although a very brief search didn't yield any).

17/7/06

Becky Woodell

Oakley Wood

 

1 f

 

 

Low on Sallow near car park

17/7/06

Ian Kelloway

Road between Whiteleaf/Brush Hill Princes Risborough

 

Gap in beech trees over recently (2 years ago) excavated chalk pit

0308 8201

1

15.00

sunny

Flew 3 times around in a large circle before disappearing.

17/7/06

Martin Kincaid

Finemere Wood

Turning circle SP718219

1 f

12.20

 

Immaculate female in the turning circle. I watched her from 12.20 p.m. when she flew into the circle, made a few quick circuits, and then alighted on one of the tallest sallows. I got very excited for a bit as it looked like she was going to oviposit - crawling around the leaves, seemingly 'tasting' with her front feet.

17/7/06

Ched George

Leygrove’s Wood, private

Southern edge of wood

1 f

12.30 to 15.00

 

1 female found flying briefly near sallows at 2.22pm and followed to next sallow where again it flew in and out briefly before "hiding" somewhere.

Re-appeared around same tree (presumably from within or close by) at 2.42pm and spent a minute or two weaving in and out, presumably laying here and there. Flew through sallow and into mature forest shade behind and lost from view. Re-appeared again very briefly at 2.58pm and flight suddenly quickened and I lost contact.

17/7/06

Don Otter

Wendover Woods

Nr “the” Buddleia bush. On edge of clear felled area but with isolated clump of tall Lime trees.

1 m

Around 19.30

Hot & sunny

Flew around tall lime trees then appeared to land. Not seen again.

18/7/06

Francis Gomme

around Princes Risborough

Whiteleaf Hill, Kop Hill, Seargent’s Wood

3

 

 

 

18/7/06

Ian Walker

Oakley Wood and Hell Coppice

1] SP613115, ride.

2] SP611101, old car park

2

1] 8 am, and  2] between 11.05 and 11.21

Hot and sunny

1] flushed from ground, flew up through Sallow bush, and beyond; open beyond with isolated mature Oaks. Identity not 100%

2] moving in high foliage in Oak; three separate sightings, 7 and 10 minutes apart at same place

19/7/07

Wendy & Mick Campbell

Rushbeds Wood

 

2

30 minutes, 1st seen at 13.15

36 degrees

We had been sitting in the corner of the meadow in the shade of the big Oak tree, facing towards the large Ash tree for about 30 minutes when one flew over our heads and glided through the big Ash tree back into the wood.

On the way back through the wood to the car we had another sighting high up, flying above an Ash tree about 100 yards from the car park

21/7/06

Francis Gomme

Whiteleaf cross, Princes Risborough

Trees below cross

1

 

 

 

21/7/06

Wendy & Mick Campbell

Holton Wood, private

SP599079; public footpath lined with Oaks and Sallows

1 f

14.15; observed for 30 seconds.

Hot and sunny

Flew above and then into big Sallow along ride

25/07/06

Andy Reynolds

Yorks Wood

SP61205

1m

17.00

Hot and sunny

On his last legs and raggedy. Sitting on the parched ride, he remained there as I sat down next to him. I poured a wee puddle of water from which he drank.

25/07/06

J. Tuckey

Murcott

SP585155

1m

12 to 13

 

Settled on hand, proboscis out; remained there for along time

27/7/06

Wendy & Mick Campbell

Piddington Wood &

Little Wood (private)

Little Wood - SP624157; at the top of wood where the first ride meets the public footpath.

Zero in Piddington Wood.

1 in Little Wood.

14.30

Hot and sunny

Gliding above a hazel tree next to the big Oak.

27/7/06

Wendy & Mick Campbell

Widnell Lane

SP634173

Probably f

a.m.

Hot and sunny

Flew low along road and then into wood

28/07/06

Anthony Croft

Whitecross Green Wood SP602146

Wide grassy ride bounded by oak, ash, willow, blackthorn

1. Unsure of gender.

1100

Sunny

First observed perched on oak three metres above ground. After several minutes flew to another oak at a similar height above ground. Remained for a few minutes then flew off into the wood.

mid-August

Frankie Woodgate

Penn Wood

 

1