May 2017 - part 3
21st May 2017 - (Sunday, Vasárnap)
In addition to the 'usual' butterflies in this period: Reverdin's Blue, Silver-studded Blue, Common Blue, Small Heath, Glanville Fritillary, Lesser Fiery Copper, and Grizzled Skipper, two other species apppeared for the first time this year: a Heath Fritillary, and a dazzling male Adonis Blue. I also recorded a male Sooty Copper ... but this had been killed by a second Thomisus Crab Spider. Representing the Odonata were: Broad-bodied Chaser (2 or 3 males, and one female laying eggs at the Coffee Pool area), Common Winter Damsel, Azure Damsel, and some blue-tails that didn't come close enough for photos. The Nightingale was singing, and I saw a Red-backed Shrike flying near the waterfall when I arrived. The Shrike is not a very welcome guest as it will probably try to hunt our Green Lizard population. Several Fire-bellied Toads were piping in The Bowl, and a Grass Snake was heard moving under the large Dog Rose bush near to RB2.
22nd May 2017 - (Monday, Hétfő)
I caught up with Teréz on-site, but after about 30 minutes some rain clouds drifted in and cut short my foray. I didn't see the male Adonis Blue from yesterday, but Teréz had already got some nice shots of it in her camera. Some species I did record were: Silver-studded Blue, Reverdin's Blue, Knapweed Fritillary, Common Blue, and Grizzled Skipper. The female Crab Spider had claimed yet another victim, this time, a Mother Shipton moth. A certain English butterfly-loving friend of mine would have knocked the spider off its plant by now! I'm exhibiting tolerance, tinged with a feeling of sadness. A few Fire-bellied Toads were piping, and the Nightingale was still serenading us. The rain proved to be irritating, but not enough to be helpful to the waterfall. The water level in Rock Bath 1 is starting to become a cause for concern. RB1 relies on direct rainfall and seepage through the rocks ... so I may have to start transporting water again ..... unless we have more monsoons.
Here are Teréz's photos from the same day (22nd May 2017), which include a rather spectacular Assassin Bug ..... a new species for the Small Quarry: Peirates hybridus.
23rd May 2017 - (Tuesday, Kedd)
There was much activity at the site during my visit. A pair of Barn Swallows were collecting nesting material from the rock face and flying into the HQ through the 'open windows', obviously looking to nest there. A pair of Yellowhammer suddenly arrived next to the reedbed channel for a drink. The Nightingale was still calling, as were several Fire-bellied Toads. Another good day for butterflies: Silver-studded Blue, Reverdin's Blue, Common Blue, Small Heath, Pearly Heath, Chestnut Heath, Adonis Blue (male), Sooty Copper (female), Lesser Fiery Copper (male), Grizzled Skipper, Brown Argus, Glanville Fritillary, Wall Brown, and Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow: 14 species. Lots of Odonata activity, too, with many Azure Damsels (mating pairs), 3 Broad-bodied Chaser males, and a single male Emperor.
24th May 2017 - (Wednesday, Szerda)
My afternoon visit lasted 1.5 hours, but photography was difficult due to a strong wind, and the sun soon disappeared behind cloud layers. Ten butterfly species were seen: Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow, Small Heath, Chestnut Heath, Pearly Heath, Glanville Fritillary, Common Blue, Silver-studded Blue, Wall Brown, Grizzled Skipper, and Large Skipper. Perhaps the most stunning was the female Common Blue, with her orange and blue markings. Sound effects were provided by Fire-bellied Toads, and the Nightingale. Before leaving, I collected some more of the loose road material and desposited it in one of the potholes where I usually park.
25th May 2017 - (Thursday, Csütörtök)
As I arrived this morning, there was much commotion near the waterfall/HQ area. Eventually, a Jay emerged from the bushes, along with 2 Red-backed Shrike. Maybe the pair had nested and the Jay was investigating. We're not too keen on either species, really, as they could soon wipe out our colony of Green Lizards. I saw one young female Green Lizard today, close to the bank of the Bowl water. Among the butterfly species seen today were singles of the Chequered Blue and Scarce Swallowtail. Others seen: Silver-studded Blue (the place is awash with them!), Reverdin's Blue, Common Blue (a dazzling male), Small Heath, Chestnut Heath, Pearly Heath, Brown Argus, Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow, Lesser Fiery Copper (male), Glanville Fritillary, Wall Brown, Wood White, Large Skipper (male), and Grizzled Skipper ... a total of 16 species. In addition, a new species of Mirid Bug was recorded, and the first Striped Lychnis caterpillar was on its foodplant, the Purple Mullein.
26th May 2017 - (Friday, Péntek)
Hot sun one minute, with clouds covering it the next. That was the story of my afternoon visit. Constantly changing camera settings to compensate for the changing light conditions. Butterflies seen: Small Heath, Grizzled Skipper, Hungarian Skipper, Glanville Fritillary, Knapweed Fritillary, Silver-studded Blue, Pearly Heath, Common Blue, Wall Brown, and the first Large Wall Brown of the year: 10 species. A pair of Red-backed Shrike flew across the site, and a Golden Oriole was heard nearby. Along with some juveniles, an adult male Green Lizard put in an appearance. A few Fire-bellied Toads piped occasionally, but their lack of enthusiasm seemed to match the water shrinkage in The Bowl.
27th May 2017 - (Saturday, Szombat)
A fairly short visit produced many things of interest, although the gusty wind, again, made photography difficult. A male Red-backed Shrike was seen, and the Barn Swallows were still showing interest in the SQ, and the SQHQ ... as a breeding place. The water levels in The Bowl and RB1 are still dropping, but there is a healthy population of tadpoles in the water of The Bowl. Butterflies seen: Common Blue, Brown Argus, Reverdin's Blue, Chestnut Heath, Silver-studded Blue, Small Heath, Glanville Fritillary, Grizzled Skipper, Hungarian Skipper, and Lesser Fiery Copper (male).
28th May 2017 - (Sunday, Vasárnap)
A Sunday morning visit with Lajos Nyilas, on yet another sunny, but windy day. The water in the Coffee Pool area is dropping quite dramatically, but it is now crystal clear. The clarity enabled me to see: a male Smooth Newt, a female Great Crested Newt, and many tadpoles of the Common Spadefoot Toad and the Agile Frog. The were several diving beetles (of various sizes) plus their larvae, and maybe two species of Great Diving Beetle. My star find was a young Grass Snake, hunting in the western end of the Coffee Pool. At only 30 cms it was obviously one of the 2016 babies. Barn Swallows were sweeping across The Bowl, diving to scoop-up water as they did so. Damselfly photography was exceedingly difficult as the wind gusts sent the vegetation in all directions.
29th May 2017 - (Monday, Hétfő)
Sunny and windy ... the familiar recipe for my short, afternoon visit. I spent most of my time beside the Coffee Pool, seeking to record as much aquatic life as possible ... while we still have water! My efforts were not too successful as I only had the plastic tank with me, and no net. I'll try to be better equipped tomorrow. Even so, I caught a Common Spadefoot Toad tadpole, and a Water Mite, for photographs. Not too many butterflies were seen due to my aquatic activities, but I saw: Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow, Wood White, Lesser Spotted Fritillary (female), Reverdin's Blue, Silver-studded Blue, Common Blue, Brown Argus, Glanville Fritillary, and Small Heath. In addition, I photographed mating pairs of Chestnut Heath, and Pearly Heath, making it 11 species seen.
30th May 2017 - (Tuesday, Kedd)
There were three main aims to my SQ visit today: 1) to bring 100 litres of water to Rock Bath 1 ... 2) to attempt to photograph some of the aquatic life .... and 3) to test the 'new' second-hand Nikon 300 mm lens I purchased yesterday. The water delivery was a success as the level rose 'a little'. As can be seen in these photos, I caught a Common Spadefoot Toad tadpole and photographed it in a nice new Ferrero Rochet box. Every naturalist should have a FR box ! The second 'model' was a large Diving Beetle ... unidentified. For most of the distance shots of creatures I used the new lens exclusively, as I can now capture subjects previously out of reach, and without getting too close. Butterflies seen were: Glanville Fritillary, Lesser Spotted Fritillary, Small Heath, Chestnut Heath, Pearly Heath, Common Blue (male), Adonis Blue (male), Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow, Large Skipper, and Wood White. A White Wagtail was making the most of the Coffee Pool while it's still there, Barn Swallows were whizzing around The Bowl, and the Nightingale performed its repertoire. A new dragonfly for the year was a Four-spotted Chaser.
31st May 2017 - (Wednesday, Szerda)
This morning I arrived with 100 litres of water for Rock Bath 1, and armed with a collection of nets and containers, hoping to catch some aquatic species in order to take close-up photos. Unfortunately, the sky was overcast during the whole time I was on-site, and I really needed sunshine for such photography. The day has been almost unbearably hot and 'muggy', and when the greyer clouds started arriving, I thought that my wish for a thunderstorm would be fulfilled. Sadly, the sun has now broken through, and it looks like no rain will be forthcoming. Today, there were 2 male Adonis Blue at the SQ .... both of them at the usual raised plateau above Coffee Pool. Other butterflies seen: Glanville Fritillary, Silver-studded Blue, Common Blue (male), Large Skipper (male), Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow, Chestnut Heath, Pearly Heath, Small Heath, and Wood White : 10 species.