April 2018 - part 3
21st April 2018 - (Saturday, Szombat)
Although I carried the tadpole rescue equipment into the site, I didn't actually attempt any rescue. For one thing, the temperature was at least 24 degs., and several butterflies were evident. In addition, the water level in the Coffee Pool continues to drop, making the rescues more difficult. I'll try to do better next time! Regarding those butterflies, I saw Wood White, Dingy Skipper, Grizzled Skipper, Scarce Swallowtail, and the first examples for 2018 of the Short-tailed Blue and Southern Festoon. As I walked through the wetter areas, I found several Fire-bellied Toads, but no Green Toads. No Grass Snakes were found today, but the young Edible Frog jumped into the Pool and frantically tried to hide amongst the rocks ... but not very well! The Green-winged Orchid had started to open its flowers.
22nd April 2018 - (Sunday, Vasárnap)
I left my visit until after 1700 as it had been another very warm day. In fact, a male Green Lizard was still out on its rock, even though that rock was now in the shade. I brought the collection equipment to Coffee Pool for another tadpole rescue attempt, and noticed a young Grass Snake making its way through the shallow water. Only one rather poor photo could be taken of the smake. Before starting the rescue, I walked through the wet middle section of The Bowl on a hunt for drinking butterflies. As it was late afternoon my shadow was very long so I had to be careful that it didn't sweep across any resting butterflies. I was rewarded with a Southern Festoon near the reedbed (west side), A Scarce Swallowtail, and my first Green-veined White of the year. A Wood White was also seen, along with a few Common Heath moths. As I returned from RB1 I found a pair of courting Grizzled Skipper. A White Wagtail was investigating the shallow water near the reedbed ... probably searching for the tapoles I deposited last time. Today's catch of about 50 tads went into RB1. I found a Leech in the Coffee Pool, amd a Blackbird egg shell.
27th April 2018 - (Friday, Péntek)
This was my first visit since Sunday as I have been mostly bedridden with flu. Although not fully recovered, I could stay away from the SQ no longer! Since my last visit, the 'powers that be' (maybe the Flying Club) have carried out repairs to even more of the airfield road. I made an inspection of their work and it looks very good. I was checking to see if the repairs will divert water from the SQ, but it looks like the opposite: it may result in a more efficient irrigation stream. We can only tell for sure when the heavy rain comes. Inside the site, all of the water in the Coffee Pool has gone, along with any remaining life. It is almost possible to walk from one side to the other in shoes. As I inspected, a young Grass Snake sped away towards the wet reedbed area. At least my rescued tadpoles are safe there ... for the moment. The level in RB1 has also dropped, and the left side, from where I pulled the moss clumps, the water looks rather stagnant. Oh, for more rain, quickly. On the butterfly front, I photographed Grizzled Skipper and Dingy Skipper, along with first-timers for 2018: Eastern Baton Blue (male), Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow, Sooty Copper (2 males), Chequered Blue (male), Painted Lady, and Weaver's Fritillary. Those I missed with the camera were: Wood White and Scarce Swallowtail, making it a total of 10 species for the day. Among the moths were: Common Heath, Speckled Yellow, and Burnet Companion. I'm sorry to say that I disturbed a courting pair of Green Lizard. Of all places, they were on a flat rock in the now dry Coffee Pool ... so far from safety! The girl was the one who decided to leave, whilst the boy looked at me in disgust! He had superb coloration, but a miserable expression! Up above, I heard quite a large group of Bee-eater, but as usual, they couldn't be seen. A Cuckoo was also heard.
30th April 2018 - (Monday, Hétfő)
I didn't quite know what to expect on my afternoon visit. Although very warm (around 24 degs), some cloud started to obscure the Sun, and a few rain spots fell on me. But just as I thought I could leave the sun hat in the car, the clouds cleared and a sunny afternoon was mine, after all. It was a worthwhile visit, with several butterflies in evidence: Wall Brown, Southern Festoon (on the top rim, enjoying Hawthorn flowers), a few Scarce Swallowtail (not stopping for photos), Wood White (incl. a courting pair), Clouded Yellow, Dingy Skipper, Grizzled Skipper, Short-tailed Blue (female egg-laying), male Chequered Blue, male Sooty Copper, and a female Orange Tip (there were several males, but none would sit for photos) = 11 species. Birds heard or seen were: Cuckoo, Golden Oriole, Great Tit, Starling, and those elusive, overhead Bee-eaters! Many insects were seen, including the impressive beetle, Capnodis tenebrionis. For the 2nd visit in succession I disturbed a courting pair of Green Lizards ... this time on the top track on the HQ side. I turned and retreated in the hope that they would get together again.