April 2016 - part 1
1st April 2016 - (Friday, Péntek)
Although we saw several Fire-bellied Toads, not as many were calling as yesterday, and Spadefoots were heard but not seen. No Green Tree Frogs were heard or seen. A Peacock butterfly was photographed, but the swift Green-veined White escaped the cameras again. A Blue Carpenter Bee was seen, but not photographed. Bird species included 2 Long-tailed Tit, Blackbirds, and a Black Redstart. Teréz discovered a small, but old, example of a NEW SPECIES: Silver Birch - Betula pendula - Közönséges nyír. We must have walked past this small tree hundreds of times ! As it is so stunted (about 1 metre high), it looks like a giant bonsai tree !
Teréz's photos from the same day (1st April 2016). Close examination of the Backswimmer (Water Boatman) photo revealed that it is a new species: Sigara striata.
2nd April 2016 - (Saturday, Szombat)
A solo visit by Teréz resulted in the following photo album. The first Nettle-tree butterfly of the year was photographed just outside the main gates of the SQ.
3rd April 2016 - (Sunday, Vasárnap)
Here are the photos from Teréz's solo visit, including the first Queen of Spain Frillary - Issoria lathonia - Közönséges gyöngyházlepke.
4th April 2016 - (Monday, Hétfő)
Another collection of Teréz's photos ... this time from her Monday solo visit.
5th April 2016 - (Tuesday, Kedd)
Teréz's photos:
6th April 2016 - (Wednesday, Szerda)
Our 1015-1315 visit took place on an amazingly warm and sunny day. It seems that Spring has been by-passed by Summer ... not good news for our amphibians. Butterflies seen today were: Peacock, Wood White, Orange Tip (males), a 'probable' Green-veined White, Grizzled Skipper, and a 'mystery' Fritillary, which was probably a Queen of Spain. As you will have guessed, most were lively and uncooperative. Among the highlights was a new species of dung beetle (I deserved a medal for staying with the heap of smelly dog poo as long as I did !), a newly-emerged male Emperor Moth, and 2 other new species: a small Pear tree, complete with a new leaf-roller Aphid ... 2 new species in one !
Teréz's photos from the same day (6th April):
7th April 2016 - (Thursday, Csütörtök)
Teréz's photos:
8th April 2016 - (Friday, Péntek)
The visit this afternoon was rather strange. Why? Well .... last night the sky was lit up by a thunder storm, but little or no rain fell in our area. Today has been overcast, but without rain, although the temperature has been rather mild. We found one Green Lizard on the scree bank, near the Black Poplar tree, but saw no butterflies at all. Several male Fire-bellied Toads were piping, but we heard no Common Spadefoot Toads. As you see, plants make up most of the photographic record. The two Mallard departed from the reedbed again. They still think that nesting in a lake that loses its water is a good idea ! Rain is forecast for the weekend, so we, and our irrigation channel, wait in hope !
Teréz's photos from the same day (8th April):
9th April 2016 - (Saturday, Szombat)
Photos from Teréz's visit:
11th April 2016 - (Monday, Hétfő)
Photos from Teréz's visit:
12th April 2016 - (Tuesday, Kedd)
Although sunny, this was quite a windy day, which made plant and insect photography rather challenging. In addition, the butterflies were 'fully charged' by the warmer temperature, so they tended to keep moving. As I entered The Bowl area, a Scarce Swallowtail whizzed past, and later, a stunning male Brimstone also made a fast fly-past. The small metallic longhorn moths, Adela reamurella, were swarming on the Sessile Oaks on the top rim of the SQ. Unfortunately, Canon cameras were not up to the job, so I will revert to Nikon for the next visit. In the Coffee Pool area, there was much Smooth Newt activity, but again, my images are of poor quality. We saw a few Green Lizards sunbathing , and heard a few Fire-bellied Toads piping, but the Common Spadefoot Toads were not heard, so, presumably, their breeding period has ended. Nice to see the place 'greening-up', but we're also watching the water level dropping, day-by-day.
Teréz's photos from the same day (12th April):
13th April 2016 - (Wednesday, Szerda)
Photos from Teréz's visit:
14th April 2016 - (Csütörtök, Thursday)
Photos from Teréz (14th April):
15th April 2016 - (Friday, Péntek)
Photos from Teréz (15th April):