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Ringlet - Favourite Photo of 2020

Week 14

Not long to go now – the first wave of emergences seems to kick off in mid-February – so fingers crossed and eyes peeled!

Please could I ask that everyone waits until a topic has been opened by me for a particular species before posting photos as then it will be easier to keep track of things? Of course our overseas members are very welcome to fill in the obvious gaps relating to rare UK migrants. As in previous years details of locations, dates, times and circumstances would be welcome as would any accompanying stories and anecdotes or other observations of behaviour and interesting other points.

Just a reminder - it might be a good idea to start selecting your Overall Favourite Butterfly Photo of 2020 now as we’re starting to draw to the grand finale.


Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

I managed to photograph quite a few Ringlet in 2020. With the restrictions in place I only managed to visit 2 sites; Cambus o may on Deeside and a local field near my home in Aberdeen. I seen the first on 26th June and the last on 4th July.

My favourite Ringlet photograph is of this mating pair in one of my local East Sussex woods.


http://eastsussexwanderer.blogspot.co.uk

Couldn't choose a favourite between these two.

Firstly a lovely fresh individual photographed at Chambers Farm Wood on 5th July: Secondly, in what turned out to be a great year for aberrations, an ab.marpurgensis photographed on 20th July a couple of miles from home along a field edge:

Very low numbers for this species this year on my local patch in Wiltshire

https://jamesgibbs6929.zenfolio.com
Seen at the old Somerset and Dorset Railway track Shapwick NNR
For the railway enthusiasts a memory of times past can be seen here, BRANCH LINE - 2 - Sir John Betjeman,Somerset and Dorset Railway .https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPsIIZlH0Rw

My first Ringlet of the year was at West Wood, Winchester, on 13th June, and my last, in Dorset, on 19th July. I had two peak counts of 30; one at West Wood, Winchester on 5th July, and the other at Basing Wood, Basingstoke on 10th July.

This individual was at West Wood on 11th July.

As with the Meadow Browns, I spent more time than usual inspecting these for aberrations, finding significant amounts of marpurgensis like Pete's above but I've plumped for this one which goes in the opposite direction, having less ocelli than is considered normal, ab. sexoculatus

I didn't take many shots of the Ringlet last year, I never seemed to get one that settled for very long and when I did finally get one with opened wings it was missing a piece of wing Goldie

Another species that had a fairly short flight period around my local area in 2020 although they seemed to be numerous enough. I must admit that I struggle with counting these when there are swarms of them and Meadow Browns all flying together.

A couple of females that show the variation that can be found in the numbers of spots on the forewings.
Cheers,

Neil.

Had to wait a while to see these in 2020, 19th June to be precise, in Bernwood Forest:

Ringlet – Favourite Photo 2020

I had a good year for the Ringlet aberration ‘arete’ this year with sightings of this style of variation at 5 or 6 different sites. However this shot from Alners Gorse came out top in my favoruites as it’s the only time that I’ve gotten a shot of the ‘topside’. I’d assumed that this form would lack any form of spotting on their uppers but I was pleased to see the pin pricks of white where the spots would usually be. This shot also helps remind me of a fantastic day in the field with Purple Hairstreaks, Valesinas, aberrant Gatekeepers and very pleasant (socially distanced) company.
Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel