For the first part of my walk today, up through the Coire Choille Chuilc pinewood, I had these little butterflies flying all around me. I must have seen 60-80 in total.
The Mountain Ringlet is our only true montane species and is found on mountains above 350m in the Scottish Highlands and the English Lake District.
The adults are highly active only in bright sunshine but can be disturbed from the ground even in quite dull weather. They keep low to the ground in short flights, pausing regularly to bask amongst grass tussocks or feed on the yellow flowers of Tormentil.
The butterfly's status is difficult to assess due to the remoteness and unpredictable weather of its mountain habitats, but its range appears stable.
Conservation status
UK BAP status: Priority Species
Butterfly Conservation priority: high
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