Wednesday 21st July 2010 - Oversley Wood

Today myself and TS went butterflying at Oversley Wood (near Alcester) in Warwickshire. This wood is well known by butterfly enthusiasts as a programme to re-introduce the Purple Emperor butterfly was undertaken at this and two other sites in the county approx 6 years ago. I had never seen one before so I was keeping everything crossed!

The walk around this woodland was very productive with 19 species of butterfly recorded. We counted 22 Silver-washed Fritillaries, 1 Dark Green Fritilary, 9 White Admirals, 1 White-letter Hairstreak, 5 Purple Hairstreaks, 10+ Common Blues, 2 Holly Blues, 6 Peacocks, 3 Red Admirals, 3 Commas, 2 Large Skippers and a ♂ Brimstone. The following species were too numerous to count - Gatekeeper, Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Small Skipper, Large White and Small White. Also seen were a Silver Y moth and 7 Brown Hawker dragonflies.

Did I say 19 species of butterfly were seen, but I've only mentioned 18.....oh yes...on the walk back along a ride we had already been down something caught my eye gliding across the ride onto an Oak leaf. On getting my bins on it I was speechless..in front of me was a very good looking ♀ Purple Emperor with her wings open in the sunlight. I was not only struck by its beauty but its sheer size...the Silver-washed Fritillaries, large butterflies in there own right, are dwarfed by these stunners!

All in all a good day was had...if only I could get a Purple Emperor at Shenstone! ah well wake up Jase!

Male Brimstone - Oversley Woods, 21st July 2010:

Male Common Blue - Oversley Woods, 21st July 2010:

Red Admiral - Oversley Woods, 21st July 2010:

(a rather worse for wear) male Silver-washed Fritillary - Oversley Wood: