On Sunday 30th June, on a day that was more like a winter than summer day with cold temperatures and stiff breeze, a group of 4 Members visited Fermyn Woods near Kettering under the guidance of Ken Rasmussen on a quest for the Purple Emperor.
Mike, Jane and Ann arrived early and walked along the track to keep the circulation going only to return to the meeting point at 10am and find that Ken had been busy photographing a Purple emperor on the path near the parked cars. Unperturbed we walked to Lady Wood where there should have been a good population of this spectacular butterfly but failed to find one though there were Nursery Web and other spiders and plenty of crickets to keep our cameras clicking.
After lunch at the excellent visitor centre, we returned to the wood and photographed a large number of Ringlets and skippers. The highlight was a Purple Hairstreak photographed both on the gravel path and on a Hazel bush where it took refuge.
Many thanks Ken for leading our trip - very enjoyable as always despite the weather and the elusiveness of the Emperor.
For more events to attend go to Nature (rps.org)