October 2016 - Part 3
22nd October 2016 - (Saturday, Szombat)
A surprisingly sunny day as we'd had low cloud, cool temperatures, and almost constant rain for the previous 24 hours. The result was that we had some water in the Coffee Pool, and the reedbed channel was also quite full. In addition, all three rock baths had water in them, especially RB1, which was three-quarters full of milky water, which had presumably seeped through the crevices in the andesite. As I approached RB1 there was some movement in the water, which I believe was a Fire-bellied Toad. A few days ago, I announced that we'd seen the last of the butterflies for this year. The result? Soon after arrival I found a rather worn, but lively, Common Blue male, and then had a Red Admiral flutter past. Unfortunately, the latter flew out of the site towards the house gardens before I could photograph it. Apart from those, it was shield bug and ladybird day again, and I saw a fine female Green Lizard basking on the pile of dumped concrete, just outside the SQ itself. It scuttled inside the heap as I approached, so no photo obtained. The large Swallowtail cat was feeding at the top of a stem, and we found 6 of the small cats on their plants. It was difficult to locate them as the wind was blowing the plants about very strongly.
Teréz's photos from the same day (22nd October 2016):
23rd October 2016 - (Sunday, Vasárnap)
Photos from Teréz's solo visit:
24th October 2016 - (Monday, Hétfő)
Photos from Teréz's solo visit, during which she obtained the first ever record of the Great Spotted Woodpecker at the SQ.
26th October 2016 - (Wednesday, Szerda)
A real Autumnal afternoon for our visit, with low cloud partially obscuring the neighbouring Sár-hegy mountain. There had been some rain earlier, and RB1 had an even higher water level. I made a slight error of judgement by only wearing shoes, as the path-side vegetation held much moisture ! Most of the Swallowtail caterpillars were still on their usual perches, and several bug species were photographed. Judging by the 'droppings evidence', the SQ had recently been visited by Roe Deer, Wild Boar, and a Fox. A few wild flowers were still in bloom, and ripe berries were plentiful. A flock of about 12 Tree Sparrows were exploring the bushes, and we heard, and saw, a few Bullfinches as they overflew the site.
Here are Teréz's pix from the same day (26th October 2016):
27th October 2016 - (Thursday, Csütörtök)
A surprise discovery today was a tiny (7 mm) caterpillar of the Spurge Hawkmoth. Although it couldn't replace the almost mature specimen that I clumsily stood on a few weeks ago, it was, nevertheless, very welcome. In addition, I found 2 Praying Mantis, and Teréz found a pink Cypress Spurge bud gall. It was a day packed with 'tiny things', including a new gall species for the site. As I examined the Sessile Oaks on the rim, I was joined by a small flock of Long-tailed Tit, among which was a single Marsh Tit, and a Great Tit. The Long-tailed were quite friendly and co-operative, although I had to work quickly with the camera as they never sit still for long! Again, a flock of 12 Bullfinches overflew the site.
As well as Teréz being on-site with me in the early afternoon (27th October 2016), she also returned later with our young naturalist, Robika. Here are the pix from both of those visits:
28th October 2016 - (Friday, Péntek)
A clear blue sky and sunshine for our visit, but it was only warm in sheltered places, as a stiff cold breeze whipped across the site. Shortly after arrival, we found an Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow basking in a sheltered part of the airfield road, and we 'may have seen' 1 or 2 more inside the site - unless it was the same this individual. In addition, we found a Comma, and a Queen of Spain Fritillary. It seems that the butterflies have not given up the year 2016 yet ! The large Swallowtail caterpillar had actually descended from its foodplant and was clambering about on stem near the ground. We weren't sure if it was looking for a pupation site, or another foodplant, so I transferred it to a fresh Mountain Hog's Fennel plant nearby. It showed no interest in the fresh flower heads, and again, started to descend. When we left the site, the caterpillar was climbing about on low vegetation, so it looks like pupation is on its mind. Two new, small caterpillars were found, and these need to be identified - maybe both are Knot Grass moth. Bullfinches were flying over the site again, and I had a wonderful view of a rosy-pink male. A bird of prey circled high over the site, but could not be photographed or identified.
Here are Teréz's pix from the same visit (28th October 2016):
29th October 2016 - (Saturday, Szombat)
Teréz visited the SQ with Robika, plus Eszter and her grandson (who was a bit of a climber !).
31st October 2016 - (Monday, Hétfő)
The last day of October, but a few plant species continue to flower, and a few insects are still active at the site. I recorded 1 shieldbug, 1 ladybird, 1 damselfly, and 1 butterfly. Every time we think that we've seen the last of the butterflies for this year, another one appears! This time, it was a Brown Argus, and was in such good condition that it looked 'fresh from the box'. The sun was warm, but a light and chilly wind blew across the site. As Teréz reported yesterday, we now have only 3 small Swallowtail caterpillars left on the plant. The large caterpillar seems to have disappeared to pupate. I was briefly joined by two large, bounding dogs, and wondered if they'd be aggressive when they spotted me. But no, they just looked, turned, bounded off, and exited the main gate the SQ. Just outside the site, someone has made an artificial drinking/wallowing place for Wild Boar and deer. No doubt the culprits will secrete themselves inside one of the nearby ruined buildings, armed with shotguns.