August 2017 - part 1
1st August 2017 - (Tuesday, Kedd)
I arrived at the SQ just before 1930, and my mobile told me that the temperature in Gyöngyös was 32 degs. This meant that it was at least 34 degs inside The Bowl of the SQ. The Sun was beginning to go down, meaning that the light was rather poor for photography. My apologies for the unsharp images. I only saw Silver-studded Blues tonight, plus 3 moth species, and 2 spider species. It's a pity but it really is too hot to visit the site during the heat of the day. Looking at the original indicator rock, one can see how much the water level has dropped in just one day. There is a 'damp zone' above the water surface. My 100 litres took the level almost to the top of the damp zone, but to do any more would involve about 3 trips with water per day ... which obviously is beyond me. It may be a case of managed retreat until the remaining amphibian young leave the water. 4 or 5 days of steady rain, or a massive storm would solve the problem, but, at the moment, it's blue skies all the way !
2nd August 2017 - (Wednesday, Szerda)
Today I visited the site earlier, as yesterday I 'lost' the light for photography, and lost most of the wildlife, too! I arrived at 1600 and performed my water-carrying duties before having a very hot nature walk. My phone said that the temperature in the town of Gyöngyös was 32 degs., so it must have been about 37 degs inside the SQ. I'm still fighting a losing battle with the water in RB1. More of the indicator rock was exposed, but at least today's 100 litres took the level back to what it was this morning. Butterflies seen were: Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow, Dryad, Meadow Brown, Short-tailed Blue, Silver-studded Blue, Common Blue, Grizzled Skipper, Lesser Spotted Fritillary, False Grayling (several), and I also recorded second brood specimens of Chestnut Heath and Eastern Baton Blue. This made it 11 species for the day. It looks like some human has puilled the nest of the Paper Wasps out of the redundant doorbell housing at the SQHQ. Presumably it was a child ..... but why ?? It couldn't be another animal, as the metal flap needs to be lifted up. The wasps were busily getting on with business ... no doubt constructing a replacement nest.
3rd August 2017 - (Thursday, Csütörtök)
As I arrived with the water at 1820 I was greeted by heat to the value of 36 degs., and about 25 Swallows resting on the old electricity cables inside the site. Some of these, no doubt, have fledged from the nest inside the SQHQ. Once I'd delivered the water, I gained a new and meaningful friendship with a False Grayling. It started by settling on my discarded hat, before transferring to the inside of my camera bag. After that, it settled on various parts of my sweaty anatomy as I walked around the site, species recording. At times it was on my shirt, then on my arms, then my neck, and sometimes my face. I persuaded it to transfer to my hand for photos. As for Rock Bath 1, the water delivering really is 'mission impossible'. I cannot compete with this heat each day. Each delivery has disappeared by the next day, but it's far too draining physically for me to make additional trips. I just hope that the remaining amphibian young will sense the danger and transfer themselves to the deeper sections of RB1, and that some heavy rain will come soon. This heat must break soon. So, butterflies seen were: Dryad, Meadow Brown, False Grayling, Common Blue, Silver-studded Blue, and a Hungarian Skipper that was resting after a hard, hot day: 6 species. Several Swallows flew into the HQ, and out again, using the many 'open plan' windows.
4th August 2017 - (Friday, Péntek)
I delivered the water at 1840, and the temperature was about 38 degs. I'm still fighting my losing battle with the Sun ... but I'm determined to keep those young amphs alive. My star creature of the day was a female Chalkhill Blue, 'fresh from the box' and egg-laying. There were about 5 Chestnut Heath, so the 2nd brood has arrived. Other butterflies seen were: Silver-studded Blue, Common Blue, Dryad, Meadow Brown, and False Grayling, making it 7 species. The Yellow Blue-stem Grass will soon need cutting as it'is covering the 'lawn' next to the HQ, and some is already at waist height !
5th August 2017 - (Saturday, Szombat)
A rather late visit as it has been so hot again today, but when I checked the temperature at 1945 it was STILL 34 degs ! As you see, after delivering the water I sarted to lose the light, but still manged to capture 2 butterfly species (Reverdin's Blue female, and Chestnut Heath) and 1 moth (Spotted Sulphur). I also discovered two more spider nests that look very much like those of the Yellow Sac Spider that I found several days ago. Just how many of these spiders are there in The Bowl, I wonder. As can be seen by the 'before and after photos', the water level in RB1 continues to drop, even with my daily offerings. In tonight's dim light I could see the movement of tadpoles gulping air on the surface, but I have no idea how many are left in there. I will have to stop bringing water soon, and, as always, I'm hoping for a heavy storm to bring a large quantity of water, and to break this draining run of heat.
6th August 2017 - (Sunday, Vasárnap)
I delivered today's 100 litres at 1845, as a storm was approaching. I kept to my daily routine as I have little or no faith in these supposed 'violent storms'. The RB1 situation is getting ever more critical. The temperature was about 8 degs less than yesterday, but even so, its effect was the same. I wonder if the remaining tads have sufficient common sense to transfer their activities to the deeper, right-side of RB1. After loading the empty containers in the car I drive around to the airfield road parking place to check on the water flow. After 15 minutes of rain there was still no waterfall. It seems that the heaviest rain fell on the town again, but later, after my departure at 1930, it looked like heavier rain was falling over the SQ area. This, I will check tomorrow. Observations? There WERE none !
7th August 2017 - (Monday, Hétfő)
Quite a lot of rain fell last night as a few thunderstorms moved over the Mátra mountains from the westerly (Budapest) direction. I was intrigued to see what the effect was at the SQ, but I couldn't get there until 1730. By then, the temperature was a 'mere' 22 degs., about 16 degs cooler than yesterday. I found that the water level in RB 1 had increased - one could see what the 'high tide' was on the indicator rock. After today's 100 litres, the level had returned to where it was after last night's rain. However, by the time I left the site an hour later, the level had started to drop again! I found another baby Fire-bellied Toad resting at the indicator rock. He or she is now capable of leaving the water. Butterflies seen were: Chalkhill Blue (male), Common Blue (male), Silver-studded Blue, Reverdin's Blue, Small Heath, Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow, Dryad, False Grayling, and Chestnut Heath: 9 species. Some interesting clouds kept passing over .... but NOT interesting enough for me !
8th August 2017 - (Tuesday, Kedd)
I arrived at 1530 with the water, with the SQ temperature around 27 degs. It proved to be a very good afternoon for observations, with a Crab Spider having late lunch, a dominant male Common Blue determined to displace an already mated male, a female Great Spotted Woodpecker, and a Great Tit feeding on the seeds of the Golden Rain Tree. In addition, a large 'bush' of the Field Eryngo supported a wealth of 'waspy' species. Other butterflies seen were: False Grayling (at least 6), Large White (at least 6), Silver-studded Blue, Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow, Dryad, Meadow Brown, Chestnut Heath, Chalkhill Blue (5 males), and a male Silver-washed Fritillary. However, my star butterfly of the day has to be the cute little Silver-spotted Fritillary. This species is not often seen at the SQ, and this specimen was in perfect condition. This made it 11 butterfly species for the day.
9th August 2017 - (Wednesday, Szerda)
I arrived at 1545, and although the mobile said that the temperature was 'only' 31 degs (probably 33 degs in the SQ), the heat felt overwhelming. Therefore, I left the site at 1615, after a very short and basic nature walk. All of the butterflies were far too lively for me, and I simply lacked the energy to go chasing them. I noticed: False Grayling, Meadow Brown, Chestnut Heath, Silver-studded Blue, Chalkhill Blue, Common Blue, and Large White : 7 species. Whilst emptying the water containers into RB1 I enjoyed the company of a baby Fire-bellied Toad (1.5 cm). It wasn't at all worried about the large ripples caused by my poured water. It simply 'rode' them, like an expert surfer! Many plants are going yellow and shrivelling due to the intense heat. The rushes in The Bowl have an additional problem: Wild Boar and Deer rolling on them at bedtime!
10th August 2017 - (Thursday, Csütörtök)
A brief visit - arriving at 2020 - departing at 2040. Even at that time the heat really 'hit me' when I stepped from the air-conditioned car. My mobile said it was 31 degs., so probably about 33 degs inside the SQ itself. The sun had long gone down, so no chance of any nature photos. Perhaps the young amphibians had 'given up on me' today, but I didn't let them down, even if I was later than usual. The water battle continues, but I realise that I will lose in the end, unless we have more heavy falls of rain.