February 2015
5th February 2015
Today we gave one of Hungary's youngest conservationists his first experience of practical conservation work. Young Robika swept the steps near the SQHQ, and also trimmed back the Dog Rose bushes. He survived without cuts, bruises, or a visit to the hospital, despite walking on difficult terrain, and using secateurs for the first time ! He is now looking forward to seeing the SQ frogs and toads in the next few weeks. Catch them while they're young ! (The children, that is ... NOT the frogs and toads !!).
11th February 2015
What should I do? Stay in to process and upload photos from the past, or visit the SQ to take even more photos ? Well, as you see, the second option was the winner ! Must come out for fresh air sometimes ! Despite no rain, the +8 deg temperature ensured that melt water was still running into the SQ, although (judging by the cracking ice edges) the water level had dropped by about 20 cms overall. When we left, we took away with us a carrier bag of small litter - nothing too serious - but we noticed that more garden debris has been deposited at the usual site, near to the houses. (1150-1258)
13th February 2015
An afternoon visit, as we were tempted out by the blue sky ! The Bowl was still ice-covered, but the Wood Ants were not worried about the cold. They were very active with their nest on the top level ... bad news for the 2015 insect species. I find it hard to love Wood Ants when I see them carrying off so many insects (especially caterpillars) during the year. The only other form of wildlife we saw were the Springtails, several of which were leaping about on the ice. Photographing them was almost impossible with only a 'standard' lens as they really are tiny !
18th February 2015
A short afternoon visit to check that all was well at the site ..... and it was ! Not much in the way of wildlife: a Great Tit pair flitting noisily around the Dog Rose bushes, a pair of Ravens 'dancing' overhead, and the ever-industrious Wood Ant colony continuing its work. Ice still covered The Bowl, with a few patches of clear water here and there that were 'rippled' by the strong, cold breeze.
20th February 2015
A short visit on my way home from Gyöngyös revealed that The Bowl had 50% ice cover. No real 'sign of life', although the occasional cracking sound of the perimeter ice gave the feeling that the place hosted some fearsome beastie.
27th February 2015
Although the temperature was around 6 degs the air certainly had quite a 'nip' to it. We visited the SQ as we'd had a reasonable amount of rain yesterday and last night, and we wondered if the amphibians had arrived. Well, we soon found that they HAD ! We heard Common Spadefoot Toads clucking underwater (Pelobates fuscus - Barna ásóbéka), and saw some Agile Frogs (Rana dalmatina – Erdei béka) and male Smooth Newts (Triturus vulgaris – Pettyes gőte). Teréz believes she saw a Fire-bellied Toad (Bombina bombina – Vöröshasú unka), but it couldn't be photographed, and I photographed, what 'could' be the first record of a Common Frog (Rana temporaria - Gyepi béka) at the site, but the camera angle wasn't particularly good for identification. If it IS, it would be the 10th amphibian species to be recorded at the SQ. A few Agile Frog spawn clumps were noticed, one of them in RB 1.