www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Mountain Ringlet - Favourite Photo of 2015

Week 11

So continues sequence of posts giving one and all the opportunity to showcase their favourite shots of 2015!

Please could I ask that everyone waits until a topic has been opened by me for a particular species before posting photos? Of course our overseas members are very welcome to fill in the obvious gaps relating to rare UK migrants. As like last year 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

Wurzel

Hi Folks,
Here is a Mountain Ringlet (I think), but from the mountains of Cantal in central France on the 16th of July. A photo probably just as difficult to obtain as in the UK. Cheers, Chris

As i mentioned before i took a trip to the Lake District in early July and Mountain Ringlet was top of my hit list.
I decided on one of the easier sites and after a bit of research i decided to go for Irton Fell and followed the excellent directions on
http://www.cumbria-butterflies.org.uk/s ... n_fell.pdf
I had waited for the perfect weather forecast which fortunately turned out to be 100 percent accurate and I trekked up the fairly steep fell following the directions until i saw the small old mine trial pit mentioned in the directions and sure enough two or three Mountain Ringlet dutifully appeared and obliging posed for photos when the sun went in.
A great day in truly astounding scenery.
Best Wishes
Mark

Irton Fell is one of the delights of UK butterflying, Mark. Glad you enjoyed it (and had fine weather).

I only saw this species in the Alps in 2015, but on one of the very few occasions when the clouds obscured the sun, this specimen decided to offer an irresistible opportunity to take an image unencumbered by grasses:
I also managed to find a mating pair:

Having spent 4 days in the Scottish Highlands and a considerable amount of time at Ben Lawers NNR, studying ssp. scotica, then the photo below, of a rather-beautiful aberration, pretty much sums up a superb week, spent in good company.
Cheers,

- Pete

Wow! That's more like a Blind Ringlet than epiphron. What a find.