Of birds and bees

What fantastic weather. Just great for butterflies after a run of really bad ones. Yesterday I had one of those real wildlife thrills, finding a male Purple Emperor along the track in Old Park Wood. I have seen them before in other known woods and have trekked specifically to see them but to find one myself not far from our piece of woodland was amazing. Last summer we went on safari to the Knepp estate in Sussex and saw lots there but none as well as this individual who just sat on the path for me. They are just on the wing for a few weeks and this is peak time.

With the Purp were also White Admirals and Silver-washed Fritillaries, such an amazing group of woodland specialists and the epitome of summer for me.

Silver-washed Fritillary, a woodland specialist

White Admiral collecting minerals on the path

The Emperor himself