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APPENDIX: Details of Purple Emperor Sightings in the UTB area during 2008

DATE	OBSERVER	LOCATION^a ^grid reference	MICRO-LOCATION^b ^grid reference	NUMBER SEEN AND SEX^c	TIME^d	WEATHER CONDITIONS	BEHAVIOUR^eand comments
29.6	Mick & Wendy Campbell	Little Wood SP624157	Territory: Oaks and Ashes at high point south-eastern edge	1		good	Flying around and settling on sheltered Ash next to Oak; still on territory one hour later
29.6	R Hewitt	Whitecross Green Wood		2			Entered into visitor’s book; no more information
30.6	Mick & Wendy Campbell	Waterperry Wood SP605095	Spaced out along main N-S track through middle of wood	3M, 1F	From 1.15, 4 hrs altogether	good	3 males in different territories; one male flew low, as did the female, which also settled briefly on small Sallow. Walked this main track twice and got repeat sightings
1.7	Mick & Wendy Campbell	Moor End Common SU803905	Oak tree territory, viewed from Common	1 M	3pm, 90 minutes spent here	good	Perching on Oak; large Sallow below this Oak.
1.7	Mick & Wendy Campbell	Bernwood Forest SP6111	Main track running NW to SE through middle of wood [‘Piccadilly’]	2, one definite M	Ist seen at 12 midday, 2nd at 12.15	good	1^st flying above trees at ‘Piccadilly Circus, 2^nd flying low along track towards the Circus from the direction of the M40 compensation area.
1.7	Dave Wilton	Little Wood SP624157	Territory: Oaks and Ashes at high point south-eastern edge	2M	3.35 to 3.50	good	Flying and skirmishing around the big Ash; then, one disappeared and the other perched on Ash in sheltered position. Stayed there in full sun.
1.7	David Dennis	Finemere Wood SP718218	1^st over blackthorn in transect section B; 2^nd about 200m into section C	2 [1 definite male]	2.30 to 3 pm	Very good	1^st flew rapidly above blackthorn [ca 8m]. 2^nd found resting on grass stem on ground [probably newly emerged]; took onto finger where it imbibed sweat; placed onto thistle flower where it stayed for more than 30 mins before flying up into the trees
1.7	Dennis Dell	Waterperry Wood SP605095	Spaced out along main N-S track through middle of wood	4 [1 definite M and 1 F]	From 11.20	Very good	All seen skimming low and landing briefly on main ride; female settled briefly on a Sallow; seen at: [SP] 607097, 607094, and at northern entrance, flying low out of wood and then returning
3.7	Mick & Wendy Campbell	Rushbeds Wood	Ashes at northern edge SP664157	1[2]	12pm to 23 pm	Poor; short spells of sun	One, possibly two, seen at Ash territory near northern edge. Flying above the trees.
4.7	Owners of the wood	Private wood in Bucks		1M			They were driving down the ride and ran over a male, which was on fox droppings! First time iris has been seen in this wood [see also 11.7]
4.7	Dave Wilton	Little Wood SP624157	Territory: Oaks and Ashes at high point south-eastern edge	4M	2.20 to 2.35		2 males fighting around big Ash for about 30 seconds before spiralling upwards and out of sight; about 1 min. later they descended to different parts of the Ash, where one landed on the same branch as during the previous visit. Three trees are used , on either side of the ride leading down into the wood from the public footpath; the big Ash is on the left, and there is a middle and right Oak. Two more seen fighting behind the right Oak; seen for 15 seconds before they disappeared behind the tree.
4.7	David White	Windsor Forest	High Standinghill [HSH]	2	11.00 to 13.30	good	Visited the ‘master tree ridge’ at HSH and Sallow stands. One seen at 11.20 high in the canopy at SU936742, about 250m south of the original master tree. The second seen at 12.15 in Forbe’s Fields [SU936742] about 1km west of above area, around the top of an Oak and landing briefly on young Ash about 20’ up. Not an obvious territory.
4.7	Ashley Whitlock	Lower Earley	Asda car park !! SU743701	1F	11 am	good	While loading the shopping in the car park, Mr and Mrs Whitlock were ‘buzzed’ by a female which then disappeard into a thicket. The nearest woods are about 1 km distant.
4.7	Dennis Dell	Finemere Wood SP718218	Northern end high point territory SP716222	2	12.57 to 13.32	good	12 short flights during this 30 min period [never more than about 5 seconds each] between Ash sprigs across short canopy gaps. Large Oak at corner ignored.
5.7	Reported to Dave Wilton	Greatsea/Romer Wood	Along main public track, near big ride between Greatsea and Romer SP714230	1	Mid-afternoon
5.7	Matthew May, Park Ranger, Black Park	Black Park	TQ006829. Front garden of house by visitor’s centre	1M	11-12	good	On pile of wood chips used for urination by his dog; was there for 3 minutes before taking off and disappearing over trees
5.7	Dennis Dell	Bernwood forest, field meeting, 4 people present	Oakley car park; along Piccadilly ride to the Circus; along ride through York’s Wood to Hell coppice	6	4 hours, from 10 am until 2 pm	18 degrees, partially sunny, strong westerly breeze	1 in car park, one at beginning of visit. One in Hell Coppice at SP61151027, 12.20 to 12.25, gliding around small Oaks at side of ride, and another a few hundred nmetres further north along that ride [York’s Wood]. David Redhead returned alone to the Oakley car park: Just as I got level with the car park entrance off the main ride there was a short flight out from the top of the triangle of trees, out over the main ride and back in - time 13:18 - scanned the top of the trees with binocs but could not see anything settled up there. Went into car park and there was another similar flight out over the car park - time 13:21 - again could not see anything settled in the top of the trees. Started to get into the car when I became aware of a male rapidly flying around the cars in the car park. It did this for about two minutes before disappearing - time 13:25 - 13:27. You and rest of party arrived back a couple of minutes later. I could have seen 3 separate individuals or they could all have been one and the same.
8.7	David White	Windsor Forest	High Standinghill [HSH]	3 or 4 [2M, 2F]	13.00 to 14.30	18 degrees, blustery NW wind	A ridge has become more exposed as a result of some conifer felling, which may have resulted in a movement away from for mer ‘master trees’. Sightings today seemed to have confirmed this. Female around a Sallow, and male not far away around the top of a sheltered beech. He remained on this beech, somewhat wind buffeted. Sightings at [SU] 93627414, 93647411[M&F], 93557412
8.7	Dave Wilton	Finemere Wood	Along main ride through middle, exclusively the 100mstretch south of the turning circle.	2	pm	18 degrees, partially sunny, strong westerly breeze	Between 2 and 2.30; a series of short flights [longest was 60 seconds], mainly on and around sallows. A second appeared from an Oak on the opposite side of the ride and had a brief skirmish with the first, before disappearing back over the Oak. The first returned to its Sallow leaf. No activity at high point Ashes or in Greatsea Wood. Another female seen near here.
8.7	Mick & Wendy Campbell	Little Wood SP624157	Territory: Oaks and Ashes at high point south-eastern edge	3	3.20, observed for 40 mins	Weather as above	Aerial battles on sheltered sides. As well as oak & ash, they perched in central birch and in a short nut tree to the right and the rear.
8.7	Stuart Hodges	Private wood in Grendon area.	Possible master oak.	3	30 minutes		Six brief flight sessions, 2 individuals chasing on sheltered side of oak; very high [ca 60 ft]; did not see any settling. Another in section F of transect, close by, also did not settle
10.7	Mick & Wendy Campbell	Sydlings Copse SP559096	Ash tree territory viewed from meadow	3	11.50, 12.00, and 12.15	Moderate, sunny spells	1^st flying across meadow and into ashes; other two were brief flights out from ashes and back.
10.7	Wilton, George, and Dell	Rushbeds Wood	Ash territory SP668158	1M	12.30 to 12.45	moderate	Several short flights in canopy gap [not more than 30 secs] followed by long period of perching high up in Ash
10.7	Dave Wilton	Private wood in Grendon area.	No definite territory established, but the middle area of the wood seems to be most frequented	3	15.30 to 16.00	moderate	Two at southern end of main ride around Oaks: at 15.30, one about 200 yards from southern end of main ride, flying north at high level. Five minutes later, another at southern end of main ride, low down then climbing northwards over Oaks. Five minutes later, third at ride crossroads above Oak. Short flights at canopy level, and then worked its way eastwards along ride H of transect
11.7	Dave Wilton	Private wood in Bucks	Oaks to east of ride by cleared area	1	13.05	Moderate; brief spells of sunshine between showers	Flying in canopy gap between Oaks for about 20 seconds before disappearing from view. Confirmation of 1^st ever sighting in these woods [see 4.7]
11.7	Becky Woodell and Tony Croft	Whitecross Green Wood	Central clearing SP601146	1	16.00	poor	Just as a substantial rainfall started, one flew out of the trees and across the clearing
11.7	David Redhead	Hell Coppice	SP612105; edge of large clearing; large Oaks here	1M	13.20	poor	Seen just before rain; flying around them, crawled on ground and then flew into large Ashes.
12.7	Ted Green	Windsor Forest	High Standinghill SU93657430	1			Around top of a wild pear tree
12.7	Jim Asher	Finemere	Established territory just south of turning circle, SP 718218	1F		poor	On track; two BBOWT members lifted it onto a flower head to avoid it being trampled by 3 approaching Labradors!
13.7	Mick & Wendy Campbell	Stanton Great Wood	Ash trees along south-western edge [SP587090]	1	11.45 to 13.15	ideal	Flying over tall ashes at 1 pm; several brief sightings. Probably perching on the side of the trees facing into the wood.
13.7	Mick & Wendy Campbell	Holton Wood	Along public footpath thru’ wood [sightings by the Campbells here in previous years]	1 [2], probably F from size	14.45 to 16.00	ideal	Two sightings; flew out of tall sallow along main ride into next sallow; 5 minutes later it flew out again disappearing over trees.
14.7	Dave Ferguson	Finemere Wood	Near to southern end of main ride about 100m up from wood entrance	1			Flying around top of Sallow at side of track
14.7	Mick & Wendy Campbell	Boarstall Wood	Ashes behind cottage at SP627125	1	1.05 to 1.30	Cloudy but warm [23]	3 sightings in 10 minutes: short flights at top of ashes.
15.7	Mick & Wendy Campbell	Bernwood Forest	Piccadilly Circus SP616112	1	16.00		2 sightings, flying above head height and along track
16.7	Dennis Dell	Private wood in Grendon area.	Central area, around Oaks and Ashes	3	12.55 to 13.05	Cloudy, 19 degrees	1^st above Oak, 2^nd on and around big Ash, 3^rd just a little further north than 2^nd, flying around corner of ride junction
18.7	Dave Wilton	Little Wood	South-eastern edge territory [see 8.7]	2 [probably M]	1.20 to 1.50 pm		One definite male flying around sheltered side of the big Ash, before perching. In the air for more than 1 minute: unusual. The second, 2 minutes later, seen for about 15 seconds flying around back of the northern of the 2 big Oaks: quite worn.
21.7	David White	Windsor Forest	High Standinghill [see 8.7]	1M	12.00 to 15.00		New master tree at top did not yield a sighting this time. Went to bottom of slope on leeward side [20m lower than crest of ridge] where it is more sheltered; here, 3 sightings between 13.00 and 13.30 high in the canopy of a large Oak at the edge of a small glade [SU93787431]
21.7	Dave Wilton & Stuart Hodges	Arncott Wood	Small clearing in centre of wood SP615170; Oaks, Ashes, Sallows	1F	12.12	Sunny, 19 degrees, northerly breeze	Flew around clearing for 1 minute and settled on Sallow for about 30 seconds before taking off and disappearing over the trees. This is a new locality
21.7	David Redhead	Grounds of Westwood Country Hotel at northern end of Bagley Wood (private)	High point of wood, SP505027. Trees surrounding the hotel grounds	1M	12.30		Flying high from tree to tree
21.7	David Redhead	Watlington Hill	SU704935	1F	15.30		Southern slope, flying leisurely along tops of trees before disappearing over the top.
21.7	Dennis Dell,	Finemere Wood	Northern Ash high point territory [see 4.7];	1	15.10 to 15.23	Sunny, 20 degrees, breezy	Three very brief flights across the northern Ash canopy gap in this 13 minute period; stayed till 15.35: no further activity.
23.7	Andrew Bolton	Combe Wood	SU359596		12.53		Seen flying overhead near Sallows
23.7	Dennis Dell, Mark Vallance and Giles Strother	Finemere Wood	Southern end of main ride, about 200m from wood entrance; SP718217 [southern edge]; Established territory just south of turning circle, SP 718218	3	11.05-12.27	23 degrees, muggy, no sun or wind	Flying above trees. Met BBOWT workers; they also had a sighting at southern edge along the meadow, and then one near to the turning circle
25.7	Richard Soulsby	Finemere Wood	Established territory just south of turning circle, SP 718218	3 [2F and 1M]	15.20 to 15.40	23 degrees, sunny intervals, light wind	Male and female on branch of Oak, about 15’ up, close to one another. Observed for about 15 mins; F sometimes opened wings, and the M responded by rapid beating of his wings. A second F appeared, flew around and landed on a sprig of Oak leaves a few ft away from the pair and stayed for 5 min. Then flew back into canopy. Eventually the 1^st F flew across the ride to settle on a birch. Richard then saw that the M was taking sap from a split in the bark. After another 5 mins, the M flew off.
27.7	Dave Maunder	Ashridge	Near monument at SP972131	1F			Flying over parked cars along the main driveway, towards the monument. First confirmed sighting at Ashridge by a member

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