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Mountain Ringlet - Favourite Photo of 2021

Week 11

Hopefully you all had a great Christmas Day with full stockings, full bellies and plenty of merriment!

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.

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

I too visited Irton Fell, a few days earlier than Lee, on 12th June.

Conditions were rather cloudy that day but I still saw low double figure numbers of Mountain Ringlets, with these two females being the best:

Lovely pictures, I'm hoping to visit cumbria this June for Mountain Ringlet and Northern Brown Argus, can I ask how accessible from the car the sites you guys mention are?

There's climbing to be done to get up onto Irton Fell, Owen, but it's not too strenuous and you can take a few breaks on your way up the track to the open moorland.

Once you get through the gate, there isn't much of an incline (and indeed the best spot for epiphron is down in the sheltered dip near the dry-stone wall).

Thanks. Is that the easiest site for them? Are there northern brown Argus nearby?

It probably IS the easiest for epiphron, Owen. It's only about 400m in altitude to get to where they fly. Practically all other colonies are found much higher.

As for NBA, your best chance is at Arnside Knott. They are fairly common there.

OwenE said
Thanks. Is that the easiest site for them? Are there northern brown Argus nearby?


Another reliable site for NBA is Latterbarrow, a Cumbria Wildlife Trust Reserve at Witherslack. There is parking close to the entrance.

Good Luck,

Sarah.

SarahM wrote: ↑Thu Feb 10, 2022 8:37 amAnother reliable site for NBA is Latterbarrow, a Cumbria Wildlife Trust Reserve at Witherslack. There is parking close to the entrance.

Thanks for that, Sarah. Useful to know for when I'm next up that way.

SarahM wrote: ↑Thu Feb 10, 2022 8:37 am OwenE said
Thanks. Is that the easiest site for them? Are there northern brown Argus nearby?


Another reliable site for NBA is Latterbarrow, a Cumbria Wildlife Trust Reserve at Witherslack. There is parking close to the entrance.

Good Luck,

Sarah.

Thank you both. I’ll give that a go too

As others have suggested, Irton Fell is your best bet, but keep an eye on sightings, given the short flight period.

I find Irton quite relaxing, personally; if you don't find MR in the first area you can just keep walking higher up, where they emerge later! A hotspot is Greathall Gill but, if you've left it too late there, just keep walking up to Whin Rigg and you can even keep going to Illigil Head!

Cheers,

- Pete