June 2017 - part 3
21st June 2017 - (Wednesday, Szerda)
The heat was again rather uncomfortable, but I stuck to my tasks of delivering water and recording species. After patrolling the site itself, I had another wander around the areas just outside our perimeter, picking up a few more species for our list. Butterflies included: Brown Argus, Common Blue, Blue-spot Hairstreak, Meadow Brown, Small Skipper, Essex Skipper, Adonis Blue (2males, 2 females), Small Heath, Weaver's Fritillary, Sloe Hairstreak, Marbled White (at least 20), Large White, Great Banded Grayling, and Heath Fritillary : 14 species. At least 3 large clumps of dark cloud rolled-up, complete with thunder, but they all passed to the south of the Mátra mountains, dropping no water on the SQ.
22nd June 2017 - (Thursday, Csütörtök)
Today I was only on-site for about an hour as it was incredibly hot inside The Bowl area. In fact, the only waterfall was the stream of perspiration cascading down my nose as I poured the water into RB1 ! I had only 30 minutes to observe and record, but there were a few interesting species. I was surprised to see a fairly small Flat-headed Root-borer - Capnodes tenebrionis - Fekete díszbogár. This was followed by a male Ruddy Darter, and a few butterflies: Marbled White, Meadow Brown, Small Heath, and a male Adonis Blue. I am almost certain that I saw that spectacular yellow and black insect, the Eastern Owlfly - Libelloides macaronius - Keleti rablópille, but it flew up from a clump of tall grass very quickly, and disappeared over the top of the reedbed. The amount of water in The Bowl is becoming critical, but my efforts with RB1 are keeping things stable.
23rd June 2017 - (Friday, Péntek)
This afternoon's visit was much like any other (water delivery, species-recording walk), until I examined the reedbed closer, and saw that there was very little open water, and that there was lots of surface movement caused by tapoles coming up for air. It was then I decided to act and put into action 'Last Gasp Rescue of June 2017'. I only had one ice cream container with me, but luckily, I also had the garden shears. I quickly cut an opening in the reedbed and started work: using the lid of the container to catch tadpoles (and newtpoles). I strained my catch through my fingers, and dropped them into the ice cream box. My operation took 3 hours, and I rescued 9 batches of amph young and moved them to Rock Bath 1. Teréz joined me on-site later, and brought a small bucket with her. Any Smooth or Great Crested Newts caught from that time were placed in the bucket, before being taken to the garden pond at Mátrafured. Provided there is still some water in that reedbed section, I will continue the rescue operation in the morning.
24th June 2017 - (Saturday, Szombat)
Today was unusual because I paid two visits to the SQ. I brought 2 loads of water, as I really couldn't waste my second visit. Therefore, 200 litres was delivered to RB1 today. When I checked my 'rescue patch', (and disturbing an adult female Green Lizard, which made its way into the reedbed) I found that the water was quite low, which meant I could really only use the dessert spoon for 'fishing' for amphibian young. Today I had the plastic aquarium with me (for the robust tadpoles), and a smaller tank for the more delicate newtpoles. As can be seen, my first 'round' produced lots of tadpoles (mostly Common Spadefoot Toad), and there were also several young Smooth Newts and Great Crested Newts. The second 'round', just before I left the site for lunch, and a break from the hot sun, produced a lot less tadpoles, which hopefully meant that I'd already caught most of them.
When I returned after my extended lunch/rest break, I brought with me the second consignment of 100 litres of water. I couldn't possibly return empty-handed. Firstly, I emptied the water into RB1, returned the 'empties' to the car and then carried my collecting equipment to the rescue area. As I walked, I thought: strange that no Grass Snakes have been here to hunt for tadpoles in the shallows. As I reached the area, I immediately saw a young Grass Snake as it slid from the small watery pool and into the reeds. I was too clumsy, as I hadn't expected to see a snake. Both hands were full and the camera was still in the bag. The snake was about 40 cms long, and a rather darker green than we usually see. When I commenced my rescue work, I caught several newts of both species, but NO tadpoles at all. Obviously, the Grass Snake had tidied things up nicely, as it had its lunch! After several minutes of not catching anything, I decided to end this project, and I carried the last of the newtpoles to RB1. After that, I had a brief walk around the site to record a few other species. It had been a successful day, but also a sad one as I know that tomorrow, all of the water in The Bowl will be gone. I hate to think how many aquatic creatures have died in this heatwave, but at least we have saved a good number. Now, we need to ensure that RB1 does not dry up. Despite the disappearing water, I saw several Lestes bararus damselflies .... perhaps they hatched from the site before the water disappeared?
25th June 2017 - (Sunday, Vasárnap)
As I suspected that all of the water would have gone from my 'rescue patch', I took no collection equipment with me. I took the usual 100 litres of water, and was greeted at Rock Bath 1 with the happy sight of several Common Spadefoot Toad tadpoles and Great Crested Newt young. I didn't see any of the Smooth Newt young, but maybe they are keeping close to the underwater vegetation. It was wonderful to see them all swimming in the clear water, without the fear of impending doom from the drought. Obviously, several will become food for other creatures, especially if the Grass Snakes find them, but for now, all is peaceful. After that task, I made some species-recording walks. Butterflies seen were: Scarce Swallowtail (a single, plus a mating pair), Great Banded Grayling, Meadow Brown, Sloe Hairsteak, Wood White, Sooty Copper (female), Brown Argus, Adonis Blue (male, very worn), Small Heath, Small Copper, and Marbled White : 11 species. It was nice to see more Orthopteran species in evidence. At the end of the visit I found a dead male Stag Beetle on the top rim path, with no obvious signs of damage to explain its death.
26th June 2017 - (Monday, Hétfő)
Today was another 2-visit, 2 x 100 litre day. Actually, it was probably a 220 litre day as, for the last few days, I've been filling each container beyond the 10-litre mark, right to capacity. As in many previous visits, I felt rather like a beekeeper as, when I arrived at RB1 with water, I was surrounded by a cloud of Honey Bees (Apis mellifera - Házi méh), as they flew up from the damp areas. All the time I'm emptying the ten containers into RB1 they are flying around me, but with no aggressive intent. It's as if they know that I'm trying to help them, and the other species. Again, I saw several 'toadpoles', and 'newtpoles', but only Great Crested. No Smooth Newts were evident, but I'm sure they're in there somewhere. Butterflies seen: Great Banded Grayling, Marbled White, Meadow Brown, Small Heath, Blue-spot Hairstreak (very worn), Adonis Blue male (very worn), Peacock, Holly Blue (egg-laying on Purple Loosestrife at RB1), and Large White : 9 species.
27th June 2017 - (Tuesday, Kedd)
Another day ... another 100 litres. Before coming to the site I bought a 3rd bag to hold the empties after delivering the water. The black plastic bag has 'passed its sell-by date'. It was a day of small creatures, with Orthoptera, bugs, beetles, and diptera all wanting their share of the limelight. Butterflies seen: Green Underside Blue (feeding on Purple Loosestrife at RB1), Great Banded Grayling, Marbled White, Pearly Heath, Meadow Brown, Essex Skipper, Wood White, and Heath Fritillary : 8 species. A Barn Swallow perched on the old cables, and heard close by were: Golden Oriole and Black Woodpecker. Despite all my water deliveries, the level in RB1 is only just remaining stable. I need 9 more strong men to each bring 100 litres each day ... then we'll make progress !
28th June 2017 - (Wednesday, Szerda)
When I arrived at Rock Bath 1 with the first two containers of water, the usual 'hive of honey bees' was flying all around me, but there didn't seem to be many tadpoles basking on the surface. As I looked towards the rear part of RB1 I saw the reason for no 'openly basking' tadpoles: the young Grass Snake I'd seen a few days ago was sliding out of the water onto dry land at the back. After completing my 'water mission' I ate lunch, and then prepared the 300 mm lens for action. After a few minutes the snake was back in the water and hunting tadpoles. After another few minutes, it came out of the water, right in front of me, with a big juicy Spadefoot tadpole in its mouth. The photos below detail the swallowing of the sizeable tadpole. After waiting in the hot sun for over 20 minutes to capture this activity I had to seek shade and consume some water. The temperature in The Bowl of the SQ must have been up around 36 degrees, and I felt very drained. Even so, I pressed on to record as many species as possible. Butterflies: Marbled White (many, but most would not settle), Wood White, Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow, Meadow Brown, Small Skipper, Adonis Blue male (very worn), Brown Argus, Small Copper, Sloe Hairstreak, and Small Heath : 10 species.
29th June 2017 - (Thursday, Csütörtök)
A rather strange day as we started off with thunderstorms and quite heavy rain, but, as is usual, none of this had any effect on the SQ., apart from watering the plants a little. I brought my usual 100 litres with me, as I never trust these storms. Soon after my arrival, Teréz arrived with Robika as he wished to check the amphibian life in RB1. Even though the temperature was about 10 degrees lower than that of yesterday when I arrived, the clouds soon rolled back to expose the relentless sun, which beat down upon us again. After returning the empty containers to the car, I started a short study walk, and soon found a rather spectacular new species. It is from the same family as our usual Blister Beetles (Mylabris/Hycleus), and has just been confirmed as: Mylabris crocata. Despite the heat, gale-force winds were sweeping across the site, making camera work 'challenging'. In fact, to get my photo record of the new beetle I had to hold its plant in my left hand, while using the camera with the right!