www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Week 12.

Here is the opportunity to post your favourite photo(s) of a particular species taken in 2013 (or the last time you saw one!).

This is part of a series of topics which will grow over 20 weeks throughout the winter, eventually covering all 59 species which are regularly found in the British Isles. The intention is to showcase three species per week (in alphabetical order), so please wait until a topic has been opened by me for a particular species before posting photos. Our overseas members are very welcome to fill in the obvious gaps relating to rare UK migrants.

Details of locations, dates, times and circumstances would be welcome and please feel free to contribute observations of behaviour, stories of personal encounters, anecdotes or other interesting points.

Vince

Haven't seen this species in the UK for 2 years now, although I always get my 'fix' when I visit the continent. This year was no exception, as there were decent numbers of Mountain Ringlets flying around the Austrian Alps. This one was photographed on Sonnwendjochbahn on 23rd July:

I photographed this one with a compact camera during my first butterfly season in 2011. It was in the Savoie region of the Alps so for this reason I presume retrospectively that it must be Erebia epiphron mackeri. I photographed a second butterfly no more than 1 minute later in exactly the same place and at the time, as a complete and utter novice, presumed it was the same one, but am now wondering what it is - any ideas ?
Chris

Lesser Mountain Ringlet (E. melampus) looks a strong favourite to me.

Thank you Roger for your ever-welcome analysis.
Chris

From Praded, Jeseniky Mts., alt. 1400.