March 2022
23rd March 2022 - (Wednesday, Szerda)
My first visit in March 2022, and I wasn't very optimistic as I already knew that the St. Anna Lake was completely dry ..... in the height of the amphibian breeding season. The temperature was up around 20 degrees. As I entered the site I could see the remains of some of this year's flowering plants, already dry and shrivelled. Biting Stonecrop, with its water-retention system, was making the best of it, as was the Black Spleenwort on its rocky hiding place. The Bowl seemed lifeless, although I thought I heard a baby Green Lizard scampering away among the dry leaves. I was very surprised to find that Rock Bath 1 was almost half full of water. This water was really clear, not its usual 'milky' colour. It looked almost as if someone had brought tap water .... but only we are mad enough to do that! No sign of amphibians though. I wonder what becomes of our local amphibian population in these drought years. It must be especially difficult, or even impossible, for the Newt Species to breed. Such a pity as we'd built up a fine breeding place, and had recorded 9 amphibian species during our stewardship. Two butterflies were seen inside the site, a rather worn, over-wintered Peacock, and a Queen of Spain Fritillary. A second Q of S was found outside the site. The only birds seen were a male Blackbird, and a Great Tit.