July 2020 - part 1
8th July 2020 - (Wednesday, Szerda)
A fairly short afternoon visit ... my first of this month. Butterflies recorded: Marbled White (30+), Silver-studded Blue, Meadow Brown, Small Heath, Sooty Copper (male), Reverdin's Blue (male), Lesser Spotted Fritillary, and Lesser Fiery Copper (male) = 8 species. There is still a little water in Rock Bath 1, but the reedbed area looks to have dried out. I feel guilty that I didn't rescue any tadpoles, but hope that some may survive deep down in the mud until the next rains come. Maybe 4 new species today .... I await identification on 2 insects.
13th July 2020 - (Monday, Hétfő)
As usual, a mixture of sun and cloud for my visit. Butterflies recorded: Silver-studded Blue (10+), Marbled White (10+), Meadow Brown, Reverdin's Blue, Small Heath, Common Blue, and Grizzled Skipper = 7 species. On the evening of Saturday 11th July we had some very fierce thunderstorms accompanied by lots of heavy rain. Although the reedbed area has water again, it was nowhere the amount expected. The higher ground surrounding the SQ must just soak up the rainwater like a sponge. I couldn't see any live tadpoles, but it was very difficult to see anything in those shadowy areas. Maybe the gap between the last lot of water and the new batch was too long for their survival. On the concrete support to the electricity pole (where we regularly see the Violet Carpenter Bees), I noticed something poking out of the gap between cement and wood. Only when I used the big lens could I see that it was the head of a female Green Lizard. Unfortunately my movement was noticed be 'the lady', and she disappeared from view. No photo !
15th July 2020 - (Wednesday, Szerda)
Just a very short visit, primarily to cut the Bramble growth back from the pathways. It was nice to see the first 4 Dryads of this year. Other butterflies seen were: Marbled White, Large White, Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow, and Small Heath = 5 species.
21st July 2020 - (Tuesday, Kedd)
29th July 2020 - (Wednesday, Szerda)
Another hot day for my afternoon visit. The recent 'steady' rain had ensured that the reedbed was still full of water, and Rock Bath 1 was at least half-full. I could see no movement at the 'rescue zone', but, maybe, a few tadpoles are still surviving in the deepest parts. Butterflies recorded were: Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow, Silver-studded Blue, Reverdin's Blue, Small Heath, False Grayling (4), and Dryad (30) = 6 species. The False Graylings and Dryads played their usual game of flying around me and even landing on me. I must have smelt 'ripe'. The problem is that they are still difficult to photograph ..... a change to the small lens is required. There was a Darter dragonfly flying around the reedbed, but unfortunately, I couldn't get a shot for identification purposes.