May 2008
2nd May 2008
4th May 2008
5th May 2008
6th May 2008
7th May 2008
8th May 2008
9th May 2008
10th May 2008
11th May 2008
12th May 2008
13th May 2008
15th May 2008
16th May 2008
18th May 2008
19th May 2008
20th May 2008
21st May 2008
22nd May 2008
23rd May 2008
This really was a day of extremes, as the first half was hot and sunny, but around 1645, a few spots of rain started to fall. These were followed by a large thunderstorm and over an hour of heavy rain. Luckily, Teréz and I had remained at the small quarry after the departure of our friends Toni and Mariann, and we were able to ensure that the maximum amount of 'torrent water' went into the quarry. By the time we left, at about 1915, big pools had formed in the base of the quarry, and the water level in the 'rock bath' had risen by about 20 cms. The pictures below show our waterfall in full flow ! Prior to the deluge, we'd seen the 'usual cast' of butterflies, along with the first Spotted Sulphur moth (Emmelia trabealis) of the year.
24th May 2008
We returned to the small quarry to see the effects of yesterday's large influx of water, and were delighted to see that about half of the quarry base was flooded.
As we entered the site, we heard the piping calls of about 15 Fire-bellied Toads Bombina bombina, and these were joined by occasional bursts from Green Tree Frogs Hyla arborea and a lone Edible Frog Rana esculenta. The Broad-bodied Chasers Libellula depressa had soon located the new expanses of open water, and hurtled to and fro at amazing speed. On the top dry section, we found a Longhorn Beetlewith two thin white lines down its back, and is either Dorcadion pedestre or Dorcadion lineatocolle.
A walk around the lip of the quarry gave us a large Buprestid Beetle Capnodis tenebrionis (below), which is associated with Blackthorn and other Prunus species, and whose larvae develop in mature stems.
As we entered the site, we heard the piping calls of about 15 Fire-bellied Toads Bombina bombina, and these were joined by occasional bursts from Green Tree Frogs Hyla arborea and a lone Edible Frog Rana esculenta. The Broad-bodied Chasers Libellula depressa had soon located the new expanses of open water, and hurtled to and fro at amazing speed. On the top dry section, we found a Longhorn Beetlewith two thin white lines down its back, and is either Dorcadion pedestre or Dorcadion lineatocolle.
A walk around the lip of the quarry gave us a large Buprestid Beetle Capnodis tenebrionis (below), which is associated with Blackthorn and other Prunus species, and whose larvae develop in mature stems.
26th May 2008
A hot and sunny day at the small quarry, although a quite strong wind made life difficult for insect photography. The recent large top-up of water coaxed a Spadefoot Toad Pelobates fuscus out of its muddy hiding place. The remaining Spadefoot tadpoles are becoming quite large, although they haven't reached giant size yet. They can reach 18 cms in length !
Although not positively identified, I believe that the butterfly illustrated below is a Berger's Clouded Yellow Colias australis. It had white 'uppers', but they were impossible to photograph as the insect only 'put down' for a couple of seconds at a time.
Although not positively identified, I believe that the butterfly illustrated below is a Berger's Clouded Yellow Colias australis. It had white 'uppers', but they were impossible to photograph as the insect only 'put down' for a couple of seconds at a time.
27th May 2008
We saw several Emperor Dragonflies Anax imperator flying over the flooded quarry base, but all were too fast to photograph. Eventually, I spotted a mating pair landing in a grassy patch. Photography was very difficult due to the strong wind, but I managed to get some shots of the male (blue, to the left) and female (brown and blue) in mating posture.