August 2017 - part 1
11th August 2017 - (Friday, Péntek)
Arrival 1815 ... departure at 1920. The temeperature was about 31 degs., but I was determined to have a nature walk, despite the heat. Butterflies seen were: Meadow Brown, Chestnut Heath, Reverdin's Blue, False Grayling, Small Heath, Lesser Fiery Copper, and 3 Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow: 7 species. I also saw a few small birds, which I believe were juvenile Greenfinch, but it's difficult to say, even from the photographs. At least 4 moth species were seen.
12th August 2017 - (Saturday, Szombat)
My visit was late tonight, 2015 - 2035. My only mission was to deliver the 100 litres of water to Rock Bath 1. I have no wildlife sightings to report as I couldn't see any wildlife ! However, the air was filled with the 'calls' of hundreds of Field Crickets ... the music of the night.
13th August 2017 - (Sunday, Vasárnap)
Last night, and early this morning, we had quite heavy rainfall. Arriving at RB1 at lunchtime I could see that the level had increased quite a lot. In fact, the level seemed to have risen by about 200 to 300 litres. There was also water in RB2 so I decided that, after adding my 100 litres, I would bring the buckets from the car and transfer as much water as possible. I moved 7 buckets of milky water from RB2. Afterwards, some water was still in RB2 but it was too difficult to collect as the level became lower. After the transfer, the level in RB1 had come up to where it was after the heavy rainfall of last night. The Spadefoot tadpoles were enjoying the new milky water, but their development still seems painfully slow. From what I could see, they only have tiny back legs, despite the large size of some of them (5 cms long). A single Fritillary flew out of RB2 as I arrived, but couldn 't be photographed. It may have been a Heath Fritillary.
14th August 2017 - (Monday, Hétfő)
A rather late delivery - arrival time 2000 - and too late in the day to record species.
15th August 2017 - (Tuesday, Kedd)
An afternoon delivery of 100 litres, but I had no time for a study walk today.
16th August 2017 - (Wednesday, Szerda)
I arrived at the SQ just before 1830, and the temperature was about 28 degs. It seemed hotter than that, as evidenced by my 'two-tone' shirt after carrying the 100 litres. The water level seems to be 'holding its own' in RB1 .. just ! Not too many species seen, but 4 butterfly species were observed: Small Heath, Wood White, Silver-studded Blue (several males), and a few False Grayling. A small selection of moth species were also noted. The species records are suffering a little these days as its still too hot to visit during the daytime, and the water-carrying certainly saps the strength.
17th August 2017 - (Thursday, Csütörtök)
32 degs in the SQ as I arrived with the 100 litres of water. My latest offering brought the level almost back to where it was yesterday. The only butterfly seen was a female Reverdin's Blue. We desperately need some prolonged rain, not just for Rock Bath 1, but also to water the flowering plants. If these cannot be saved, the butterflies will go elsewhere to feed, although some may lay eggs if passing through the site. A Black Redstart was photographed on the top lip, and a group of brownish Bunting-like birds were keen to drink at RB1. They had white 'outers' to their tail feathers. I'll try for a positive identification next time.
18th August 2017 - (Friday, Péntek)
Arrived at 1900, departed at 1945. The temperature was about 30 degs. I was investigated by a large Horsefly, but it didn't attack! One butterfly was found: a Lesser Fiery Copper. It seems that only mature Field Eryngo plants go into flower ... many other smaller plants seem to make little progress. A Sickle-bearing Bush-cricket - Phanoptera falcata - Zöld repülőszöcske was seen but couldn't be photographed as I was carrying 2 containers of water at the time !
19th August 2017 - (Saturday, Szombat)
A very short visit to deliver water commenced at 1930, with the temperature up around 30 degs. Things were starting to look a little desperate in RB1 as my daily top-ups are no longer keeping pace with the level of water loss.
20th August 2017 - (Sunday, Vasárnap)
I arrived just before 1730, and after last night's quite heavy rainfall the temperature at the SQ was only 20 degs. The cooler air was very welcome, and the rainfall had done quite a good job of keeping RB1 stable as regards the water level. Not many butterflies in evidence, but I saw a male Silver-studded Blue and two or three False Grayling. None of these stopped to be photographed, and it was the same story with the Hummingbird Hawkmoth. I was surprised to see some Large Milkwort still in flower, this small clump growing on the lip edge. Lots of dramatic dark clouds kept rolling up during my visit, but all passed well to the north of the site, so no chance of extra rain.