Search Results for: Purple Emperor

A brown butterfly with black, white and orange markings resting on the ground

Purple Emperor. Photo: Tracy Whincup

A dark brown/blackish and purple/blue butterfly with white markings resting on some green vegetation

Purple Emperor. Photo: Tracy Whincup

Our first Purple Emperor for the Gallery this year – photos sent in by Tracy telling us:

We spent the morning at Garston Wood today, 26/06/2026 and the highlight of the morning was my husband Gary spotting this Purple Emperor that was seen sitting on the main path. It was very obliging only gliding a short distance each time it moved landing in various locations. It was lovely to see one there this year as we failed last year.

Two brown, orange and white butterflies with black markings, both resting on the ground

White Admiral and Purple Emperor. Photo: Caroline Stringer

Caroline sent us this photo montage she made of two separate butterfly pictures showing the undersides of both a White Admiral and a Purple Emperor. The photos were both taken on the same day in July this year at Garston Wood. Very interesting to be able to compare these two species side by side.

A blackish buterfly with white and some orange markings resting on the ground

Purple Emperor. Photo: Mark Larcombe

Mark sent us this photo with the following comments:

My first ever Purple Emperor sighting and photographs at Garston Woods on 02/07/2023.  It was on the track, taking in minerals for around half an hour while 3 of us took photographs. My thanks to Nick and Sarah – without them, I may have never seen it.

A blackish buterfly with white and some orange markings resting on the ground

Purple Emperor. Photo: John Woodruff

A blackish buterfly with white and some orange markings resting on a green leaf

Purple Emperor. Photo: John Woodruff

Two photos from John of the magnificent Purple Emperor sent in with the following comments:

After a lengthy 4 hour wait for a break in the cloud I was rewarded by being buzzed by this individual who then settled in the vegetation before grounding for a spell to take up salts in Garston Wood this morning, 02/07/2023.

A dark brown and blue butterfly with white and orange markings resting on the ground

Purple Emperor. Photo: Sue Law

A brown and greyish butterfly with black, white and orange markings resting on the ground

Purple Emperor. Photo: Sue Law

Two photos to remind us of a warm summer day last year – both were taken by Sue on 06/07/2022 who sent them in telling us:

Just as I was getting into my car in the car park at Garston Wood this afternoon (it was the only one there), I looked up to see a Purple Emperor flitting around and couldn’t quite believe my luck!  Just wonderful to see and watch it flying from and around the muddy/damp pothole near the entrance landing to take salts I assume.

A greyish and brown butterfly with black, white and orange markings

Purple Emperor. Photo: Tracy Whincup

Tracy sent in this photo taken on 05/07/2022 at Garston Wood of a Purple Emperor.  She told us she took several few photos of them but sent us this one which shows a small, undeveloped front leg and that this particular butterfly landed twice on her husband’s van.

A greyish brown butterfly with white, black and orange markings on some green vegetation

Purple Emperor. Photo: Dave Law

A blackish butterfly with white and orange markings on a green leaf

Purple Emperor. Photo: Dave Law

Two photos of this superb butterfly sent in by Dave telling us:

After a  frustrating few days of weather, I was finally rewarded at Garston Wood today, 05/07/2022 with a female Purple Emperor that crashed to the ground while rejecting the advances of a male. After climbing out of the undergrowth it drank the remaining moisture which hadn’t been burnt off.  This female was seen deep into the wood as I decided to search away from the car park as its getting quite busy there at the moment.

A blackish butterfly with white and some orange markings on the windscreen of a van

Purple Emperor. Photo: Tom Whittingham

A brown and orange butterfly with white and black markings on the windscreen of a van

Purple Emperor. Photo: Tom Whittingham

Tom sent in these two photos of a male Purple Emperor he saw in the car park at Garston Wood yesterday morning, 03/07/2022 adding that this particular individual seemed quite interested in a van windscreen!

A black butterfly with white markings and a purple sheen resting on the ground

Purple Emperor. Photo: David Law

David sent in this photo telling us:

Perseverance was the name of the game today, 28/06/2022 at Garston Wood . After an initial viewing of a Purple Emperor in the oak tops within half an hour of arriving, it was just dozens of Silver Washed Frits and White Admirals after that for the next 2 hours . When we decided it was too windy for Emperor activity we returned to the car park to find another male circling and it eventually settled to take minerals then decided the car tasted better, but after a few minutes it was off.

A view of a green butterfly larva on a green leaf

Purple Emperor Larva. Photo: Dave Law

View of a brown butterfly egg on a green leaf

Purple Emperor Egg. Photo: Dave Law

Two remarkable finds this week by Dave who sent in these photos telling us:

Had a search of the sallows at Garston Wood yesterday, 23/08/2021 and today, 24/08/2021 and was rewarded with a Purple Emperor egg and a second stage larva.  The eggs had darkened indicating it is only a day or so from hatching whereas the larva is about a fortnight old. Bring on 2022!