July 2019 - part 1
3rd July 2019 - (Wednesday, Szerda )
This afternoon I arrived to discover that the Coffee Pool was dry, but when I started to explore the adjacent area I found that there were still some small pools amongst the rushes, complete with live tadpoles. So, I firstly went on my planned exploratory walk of the site, cutting back overgrowing vegetation from the pathways as I did so. This included the area just inside the main gates as this is usually a sunny basking area for butterflies, but has recently become very overgrown. After that work, I commenced my tadpole rescue programme. Firstly, I used a pair of shears to cut the the rush stems down to near water level. Clearing those cut stems away enabled me to gain access to the tadpole-filled pools. I used the tablespoon to collect tadpoles, and drained the water through my fingers so that not too much water was removed from the area. Along with the tadpoles, I found several small newtpoles of the Smooth Newt, and also two of the Great Crested Newt. One was quite large, at around 5 cms. Whilst walking through this area I found 8 or 9 young Green Tree Frogs clinging to rush stems. They are obviously this year's young, so our irrigation work for 2019 has met with some success. Several of the rescued tadpoles were 'giants', meaning that they are Common Spadefoot Toads. Too busy today for serious butterfly recording, but those noticed were: Silver-studded Blue, Small Heath, Marbled White, Grizzled Skipper, and Weaver's Fritillary. The rescued amphibian young were released into the garden pond at Mátrafüred where, at least, they have a better chance of survival.
5th July 2019 - (Friday, Péntek)
8th July 2019 - (Monday, Hétfő)
I arrived, parked in my usual place at the top, opened the back, changed into my boots, and then ate a small packet of biscuits. While all this happening, a delightful female Green Lizard was obviously basking on the 'roadblock pile, and was not at all scared by the arrival of the car, or myself ! Close-up examination of the photos reveal that she has at least one Tick in the left ear. Today was very challenging for photography as, despite the sunshine, there were almost gale-force gusts of wind. A walk to the reedbed showed that the water level is now becoming quite critical, with lots of tadpoles coming up to gasp for air. Unfortunately, I don't think that any more of them can be rescued. The task is too difficult and the garden pond at Mátrafüred cannot take many more. At least our efforts have resulted in some breeding success. I found two baby Green Tree Frogs among the rush stems, and it seems that our little creche of babies have moved closer to the wetter reedbed section. Butterflies recorded were: Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow, Common Blue, Silver-studded Blue, Small Heath, Meadow Brown, Grizzled Skipper, Small Skipper, Sloe Hairstreak, Marbled White, Spotted Fritillary (2 males), Heath Fritillary, and the first few Dryads of the year= 12 species. As I was walking between the two ex-military buildings at the far end, I heard a loud rustling sound. I looked to my left in time to see an adult Fox jump up and run towards the boundary hedge. It was a lovely red-brown colour, but I had no time to raise the camera before the Fox disappeared from view.