August 2019 - part 1
2nd August 2019 - (Friday, Péntek)
On-site 1130-1220. I made a speedy departure as a thunderstorm started dropping some 'serious' rain on me ! I was pleased to see that yesterday's rain had not only added much water to Rock Bath 1, but had also replenished the reedbed area. I was delighted to see some tadpoles swimming about in the 'new' water. Some must have survived in damp pockets deep inside the reedbed during the recent drought. This is amazing as the site had looked completely dry for several days. I also saw a baby Green Tree Frog leaping from stem to stem in this area. Some butterfly species were proving difficult to photograph due to the gusty wind and also their reluctance to settle. Butterfly species noted were: Swallowtail, False Grayling, Wood White, Large Skipper, Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow, Small White (several), Dryad (at least 20), Small Heath, Silver-studded Blue (several), Painted Lady, and Chalkhill Blue (a single male) = 11 species.
4th August 2019 - (Sunday, Vasárnap)
A mostly sunny and warm day for my morning visit. After the heavy rain storms of yesterday I'd hoped for an increase in water levels at the site. However, I was disappointed as the levels, both in RB1 and the reedbed, seemed the same as on my previous visit. The top irrigation channel had certainly carried water, though, judging by the amount of loose road material that had accumulated within it and the flattened vegetation. Clearance work will be undertaken next week. Butterflies noted: Meadow Brown, Small White (several), Dryad (at least 20), Chalkhill Blue (1 male), Common Blue (2 or 3 males), False Grayling (about 6), Weaver's Fritillary (2), Silver-studded Blue (several), Green-veined White, Wood White, Great Banded Grayling (2), and Sooty Copper (female) = 12 species. I managed to get some in-flight shots of a Darter species that was egg-laying, accompanied by her partner. They were linked in tandem at first, before he let go and just hovered over her, acting as a guard. The face makes me think of the Moustached, but I can't really see yellow patches on the legs. Expert opinion will be sought.
6th August 2019 - (Tuesday, Kedd)
A mixture of sunshine and cloud, but still very warm. One constant was the gusty wind that came into play every time a target was found to photograph ! Butterflies recorded were: False Grayling (30 +), Dryad (30 +), Silver-studded Blue (30 +), Small White (several), Green-veined White, Common Blue, Short-tailed Blue (male and female), Meadow Brown, Great Banded Grayling (5 seen), Grizzled Skipper, Small Heath, Chalkhill Blue (2 males), Painted Lady, Sooty Copper (female), Silver-washed Fritillary (female), Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow, Chestnut Heath (2), Wood White, and Silver-spotted Skipper (2 seen) = 19 species. I also recorded a new species of Bee-fly for the site... Exoprosopa minos. Water was still in RB1 and also the reedbed area. In the latter, in addition to the swimming tadpoles, I photographed a baby Fire-bellied Toad ... about 2 cms in length. So, the recent rainfall has allowed some of the more advanced tadpoles to complete their development !
8th August 2019 - (Thursday, Csütörtök)
My hour-long late afternoon visit provided many 'weird and wonderful' creatures, such as an Ant Lion and a wonderfully marked Wasp. I also had a Blue-winged Grasshopper with a bright orange colouration. There was still plenty of water in RB1 and also the reedbed, where tadpoles of various sizes were swimming about, hoping to complete their development before the water disappears again. Butterflies recorded were: Dryad (15-20, including one mating pair), False Grayling (at least 50), Short-tailed Blue (1 mating pair plus a very worn female), Small Heath (5), Common Blue, Small White (6), Silver-studded Blue (several), Sooty Copper (female), Dingy Skipper, and a Wood White (photo-bomber !) = 10 species.
9th August 2019 - (Friday, Péntek)
Teréz had gathered some old lumps of concrete in a bid to build another barrier to replace the large pile of dry brash that had been set fire to by persons unknown. More material will be added in due course. As I entered the site I found some young Red-backed Shrike being fed by parent(s). Although it was rather hot, I extended my visit as there were many species to record. Butterflies noted: Small Heath, Painted Lady, Queen of Spain Fritillary, Chalkhill Blue ( 3 males), False Grayling (40-50), Dryad (30), Short-tailed Blue, Woodland Grayling, Chestnut Heath, and Silver-spotted Skipper = 10 species. I also photographed a mating pair of the Pointed Froghopper (Dictyophara europaea).