September 2016 - part 1
1st September 2016 - (Thursday, Csütörtök)
It's alright 'one man going to mow', but the next day 'one man' has to clear up his mess ! As we say in the world of conservation, cutting is quick and easy ... but it's the clearing up afterwards that takes the time. Today I bought a new rake and a small tarpaulin, and under the blazing sun I set about raking-up and carrying-off my mowings from yesterday. The cutting took about 10 minutes, but the clearing-up took almost an hour. After that, I went on a species recording session, but not a very long one as I felt quite shattered ! Butterflies seen were: Reverdin's Blue female, Common Blue, Chalkhill Blue male, Meadow Brown, Short-tailed Blue (including at least one egg-laying female), Great Banded Grayling, several Clouded Yellow (species to be confirmed), Sooty Copper male, and, for the 2nd successive day, the male Adonis Blue. A nice little Praying Mantis also went through a few poses for me. Our Peach tree has at least 16 fruit on it. Maybe I'll try one next time !
5th September 2016 - (Monday, Hétfő)
Steady rain came to our area in the early hours of this morning, and continued until after 1400. Therefore, I went to the SQ to see how big the waterfall was. Well, I should have known really. Water had been running in, and was still doing so, but there was not the torrent I'd hoped for. Again, it had, at least, watered the plants, and that's good for extending the butterfly season. I'm thinking of mowing the other areas where the Yellow Blue-stem Grass has invaded, partially because I got wet legs above my wellies due to the very tall stems ! On departure, I found a small dead Common Toad on the road outside the SQ. Yes, it had been run over, but only 'lightly', it seemed. I hope I didn't step on it as I walked down to the entrance ! Other than that, no wildlife sightings to report today.
7th September 2016 - (Wednesday, Szerda)
It was sunny and hot for my lunchtime visit, but the area was also subjected to strong winds, and this made nature photography very difficult. The butterflies were very lively, and so was the vegetation ! Today could be described as 'Mantis and Grayling Day', as I saw 3 Mantis (one with its lunch), and photographed 3 species of Grayling: Great Banded, False, and .... the new SQ butterfly species, the Grayling. This is species No. 86 on our list, which we started in June 2006. As soon as I saw it, I knew it was something new, as its movements were quite different from other Grayling types. Other butterflies photographed were: Short-tailed Blue, Common Blue, Clouded Yellow (of sorts), Small Heath, Meadow Brown, Reverdin's Blue, Silver-studded Blue, Sooty Copper, Brown Argus, and Lesser Fiery Copper. A Peacock couldn't be photographed, which makes it 14 species for the day. There was 'some sort of Fritillary' seen, but it didn't settle to be identified.
8th September 2016 - (Thursday, Csütörtök)
I decided to take the brushcutter equipment to the SQ to cut the invasive Yellow Blue-stem Grass. Why I did this on such a hot day remains a mystery ! By the time I left the site, I had mown the area around the top irrigation channel, and most of the top section inside the top entrance. I left some of the grass at the entrance, as I don't wish to make the site too inviting to 'persons unknown'. After mowing the first area, the machine decided that it was lunchtime, for it, and myself. So, I topped it up with fuel, and myself with 2 cakes. Then I had a walk around the site to see what I could find for our records. After that, the machine decided to start, and I completed my work. I must admit, I went home quite exhausted ! Butterflies photographed were: Small Copper, Common Blue, Short-tailed Blue, Small White, Great Banded Grayling, Small Heath, Clouded Yellow (of sorts), and Lesser Fiery Copper. Escaping the camera: Wood White. 9 species. Despite the lack of water at the site, there are still a few damselflies at the site, including one mating pair.
9th September 2016 - (Friday, Péntek)
My mid-afternoon visit provided me with many notable sightings. Firstly, a Great Banded Grayling flew up and settled 2 metres up in a tall Dog Rose bush. This was unusual as they usually hide on the ground. Then, a short walk down the road gave me the green Valesina female form of the Silver-washed Fritillary. We've recorded this variant at the SQ about 4 times over the years. Then a female Chalkhill Blue, a Black Redstart family, a juvenile Green Lizard, a new plant species (the Hop) which also gives a new plant family, three Copper butterfly species (Large, Small, and Lesser Fiery), and a caterpillar of the Knot Grass moth emerging from its cocoon, but with (seemingly) parasitic wasp larvae emerging from its body. Quite a day, but it was only a 1 hour 15 minute visit !