www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Ringlet - Favourite Photo of 2021

Week 14

As I post this some people might have already photographed their ‘Favourite Red Admiral 2022’ – and we could be only about 6 weeks away from the proper start to the season!

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

Didn’t see too many ringlets in 2021. Photographed some on my local patch in Aberdeen on 1st July and then on a trip to Callander on 18th July.

I only saw a few Ringlet's to get shots of last year and these were taken at Brockholes CP Preston on the 1st of July, in all three

So I've posted all three Goldie

Seen near Dorchester, Dorset 9 7 21
Rings over the top as well as on underside

A lanceolata ab at Bookham and this one capturing intense iridescence at Epping (shame about the annoying grass shadow!)

This cute aberration was one of many oddities that I stumbled across in my butterfly garden during 2021. I call it the Black Tip Ringlet.

Lots of Ringlets around my local patch in 2021 although not as many as in their better years. They were also later emerging than has been the case in recent years and had a rather short flight period.
Cheers,

Neil.

Ringlet

I had a clear choice for my favourite Ringlet this year…for about three weeks. The first one was taken at Garston Wood, Dorset during a dull day in one of the few spells of brightness. It was my favourite as even in the dim light (overcast and overshadowed by the tall Oaks) it shone out like no L.B.J. should do. It was a gorgeous honeyed brown colour and just looked resplendent and but for a cracking Hedgie it would have been the butterfly of the day. The second was taken at The Devenish and despite it not being exactly the best shot in the world it shows the closest that I’ve come to finding an ab. Lancelotata. Have a goodun

Wurzel

Didn't bother too much with this species in 2021. They emerged late and I only took a handful of images, such as this one on 30 June whilst watching White Letter Hairstreaks in the elm canopy near Cardiff:

Ringlets always seem to do well in the grassland surrounding Epping Forest. It’s difficult to refuse a posing ringlet

A common species mysteriously almost absent on my otherwise productive local patch. I have plenty of opportunities to see them at other sites, notably when waiting for the Emperors to grace us with their presence down at Chiddingfold. Here is a female from that location seen on 14th July......plus a male from Bookham on the 11th.The latter is completely devoid of upperside markings, and rather unusually I didn't get a glimpse of its underside to see if there was anything unusual about it.

Cheers,

Dave