April 2018 - part 1
1st April 2018 - (Sunday, Vasárnap)
We'd had quite a lot of rain over the first part of the Easter weekend, so I went to check the SQ at 1700 on Easter Sunday. As I drove up the hill I noticed a big white van parked outside the house of 'Achim the Terrible', and noticed that quite a lot of water was running odwn the airfield road. As suspected, Achim had been at work, cutting four channels off our top irrigation channel. Armed with my small, blue shovel, I blocked his cuttings and cleared our channel. Water had already been going into the site, but now, almost all of it was flowing in. The work took no more than five minutes. I remained on-site for an hour, just in case he paid another visit, but when I left, I saw that his van had gone. Rock Bath 1 was almost full, and RB2 and RB3 also had a substantial amount. There were several puddles on the site, so some heavy rain had fallen. I saw no signs of amphibian life, but I'm sure some amphibians were present. Some plants were showing new growth, with Lesser Celandine's in-bud.
2nd April 2018 - (Monday, Hétfő)
A nice sunny afternoon, despite the strong, cold wind. The airfield road was now bone-dry, but I was pleased to find that 'Achim the Terrible' had not altered our top irrigation channel, which meant that all of the water from last night flowed into the SQ. I tried to walk across The Bowl but had to turn back as the water level was getting close to the tops of my wellies. Three or four Common Spadefoot Toads were 'clucking' underwater near to the toilet area of the reedbed, and I also found four Fire-bellied Toads moving about among the vegetation in the same area. I was able to photograph a Peacock butterfly as it basked on the side walls. Some of the Lesser Celandine flowers were open completely today. Some of the fresh shoots of Cypress Spurge were already showing signs of the pathogenic fungus Uromyces pisi-sativi.
5th April 2018 - (Thursday, Csütörtök)
Today, the temperature must have been approaching 20 degrees and an afternoon visit was very productive. As can be seen in the first picture, there'd been some overnight rain as some water was flowing into our top channel. The main interest today was amphibian and reptile related. On arrival I was greeted by a chorus of about 15-20 Fire-bellied Toad males. and then I heard the calls of about 6 Common Spadefoot Toads that remained hidden underwater. I was able to take several photos of the FBTs, plus a short video. In Rock Bath 1 I saw four male Smooth Newts, one of which was displaying to a hidden female. The only butterfly seen was a Peacock. Among the rocks under the False Acacia trees I found the first two Green Lizards of the year. I think that both were female. An unusual sight was a pair of Water Boatman (Backswimmers) mating on the water surface. At one point I ventured a little too far in my wellies, receiving a wet foot in the process. A little later, Teréz joined me on-site to enjoy the latest natural delights.
8th April 2018 - (Sunday, Vasárnap)
This Sunday afternoon visit was on a hot, 20 deg day. The road was bone-dry and the top channel could do with some maintenance work. I spotted a Hummingbird Hawkmoth inspecting some rocks before setting down. The Fire-bellied Toads and Common Spadefoot Toads were in fine voice, and later, I heard the loud 'kak kak kak' of a single Green Tree Frog. The later could not be found, though. A pair of Ravens performed an aerial ballet above the site. Whilst in the water, and getting wet feet by being too adventurous, I spotted a Water Scorpion emerging. An adult Green Lizard was seen basking close to the bottom irrigation channel No. 1.
9th April 2018 - (Monday, Hétfő)
Another day with the temperature up around the 20 deg mark. Again, another chorus of Fire-bellied Toads, accompanied by a few notes from Common Spadefoot Toads. I had another walk through the water but today I didn't get wet feet! Either I was being more careful, or the water level had dropped slightly. Unfortunately, I think it was the latter. I left the water near the Acacia end, and as I did so I noticed a young Grass Snake in the moist vegetation. I'm not sure who was more surprised, but the snake was 'frozen' in a head-up posture, which made for some interesting images. It made its escape as I checked my images. The only Green Lizard of the day was found between the reedbed and Rock Bath 2. The only butterfly seen was a male Brimstone. I spent the final 20 minutes clearing our top irrigation channel and blocking evil Achim's 'unofficial' channels as thoroughly as possible. I don't wish to make his life too easy!