The period from the start of February 2008 until 16th April 2008
The photographs for this period were on a single DVD, and there was only one copy. At some point, the disc suffered some problem: at first, the right 1/3 of each image appeared on the left side of the frame, and now, possibly after a disc-cleaning attempt, using the recommended spray, the disc appears to have nothing on it. An investigation attempt was made on Friday 27th February 2015 at a small business located within Tesco at Gyöngyös, and the technician there noticed that the disc has many fine scratches on its surface. Maybe they occurred during the cleaning process, although care was taken !
I will retain the disc and investigate further, as it would be a great pity to lose these records. The disc held over 2000 images, not all from the Small Quarry, but my label mentions 'many visits to the SQ, Fire-bellied Toads, Great Crested Newts, Smooth Snake, etc'. Images numbered: 2385-4799.
What makes this 'probable loss' even more annoying is that this was the first 'amphibian Spring' after we'd constructed the top channel to bring water into the site, and I don't think many written notes were taken to document which species arrived and when.
I am currently checking to see if some of the photos from this period have been used elsewhere. I HAVE found one .... and a very important one: a shot of a juvenile Smooth Snake - our first record of this species at the Small Quarry (taken during this period, but precise date unknown).
I will retain the disc and investigate further, as it would be a great pity to lose these records. The disc held over 2000 images, not all from the Small Quarry, but my label mentions 'many visits to the SQ, Fire-bellied Toads, Great Crested Newts, Smooth Snake, etc'. Images numbered: 2385-4799.
What makes this 'probable loss' even more annoying is that this was the first 'amphibian Spring' after we'd constructed the top channel to bring water into the site, and I don't think many written notes were taken to document which species arrived and when.
I am currently checking to see if some of the photos from this period have been used elsewhere. I HAVE found one .... and a very important one: a shot of a juvenile Smooth Snake - our first record of this species at the Small Quarry (taken during this period, but precise date unknown).
31st March 2008 - (a brief report of our visit)
Warm and sunny, but with a cold wind. Throughout our visit, we enjoyed a chorus from the Fire-bellied Toads and the Agile frogs.
Birds: Serin
Butterflies: Queen of Spain Fritillary, Peacock
Bugs: Pond Skater, Water Boatman
Diptera: Bee-fly
Araneae: Jumping Spider
Amphibians: Fire-bellied Toad, Agile Frog, Smooth Newt (2 males + 2 females in ’rock bath’)
In flower: Coltsfoot
Birds: Serin
Butterflies: Queen of Spain Fritillary, Peacock
Bugs: Pond Skater, Water Boatman
Diptera: Bee-fly
Araneae: Jumping Spider
Amphibians: Fire-bellied Toad, Agile Frog, Smooth Newt (2 males + 2 females in ’rock bath’)
In flower: Coltsfoot