September 2016 - Part 3
21st September 2016 - (Wednesday, Szerda)
Although the day was a mixture of sunshine and cloud, I found more at the SQ than I'd expected. The list of butterflies was rather impressive, with a surprise or two thrown in: Reverdin's Blue (male), Common Blue (male and female), Small Heath, Small Copper, Small White, Painted Lady (fresh condition), Grayling, Oberthur's Grizzled Skipper, Sooty Copper (male), Adonis Blue (male), Silver-Studded Blue (female), and an Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow. That's 12 species recorded, and there was also another mystery butterfly that would stop .... possibly a Fritillary, or a Wall Brown. A very nicely-marked female Green Lizard happily posed for my camera.
Here are Teréz's pix from the same day (21st September 2016):
23rd September 2016 - (Friday, Péntek)
I arrived at about 1130 with the plan to clear-up my cuttings from the top irrigation channel area. As I started raking the cut grass, I noticed a Praying Mantis on a pile of stems. I photographed her, and then ushered her into a small bushy area so that I could continue the work without causing her 'bodily harm'. This sighting was quickly followed by three groups of over-flying Fieldfare, totalling about 50 birds. At the time, I was in full 'rake mode', and some distance from my camera bag, so no photos, unfortunately. It took about 30 minutes to rake-up the cut grass and carry it to our perimeter vegetation dump. After that, it was study time, and I was soon being dazzled by a stunning male Adonis Blue. Other butterflies photographed were: Silver-studded Blue male, Small Copper, Wall Brown, Small White, Brown Argus, and Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow, making it a total of 7 species. There was also a very nice female Long-winged Conehead bush-cricket, with an ovipositor as long as her body !
Teréz's photos from the same day (23rd September 2016):
24th September 2016 - (Saturday, Szombat)
Teréz was the only SQ visitor today .... here are her photos:
25th September 2016 - (Sunday, Vasárnap)
I was on-site from 1430 until 1600, but as I arrived, the sun disappeared behind quite thick cloud, and there didn't seem to be much activity at the SQ. But then, as I walked a regular route, I suddenly discovered a beautiful little caterpillar of the Swallowtail butterfly. Later, I discovered 2 more inside the SQ, and then another one just outside the SQ fence. I hope that the birds don't find them, and that they can complete their development. Three different species of Ladybird were recorded, and not one of them was Harlequin ! Not too many butterflies in evidence, but I photographed: Small Heath, Common Blue, and Brown Argus, and a Great Banded Grayling escaped the camera as it flew from the top rim and into The Bowl.
27th September 2016 - (Tuesday, Kedd)
Great news from the Small Quarry: all 4 Swallowtail caterpillars (discovered on 25th September) are still alive, and .... I found another small one ! Adult butterflies photographed were: Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow, Small Heath, Small Copper (several seen, including a courting pair, but the date was unsuccessful !), Common Blue male, Brown Argus, Sooty Copper male, Small White, Reverdin's Blue female, and a Grayling (very worn). These, plus the Queen of Spain Fritillary that escaped the camera bring the total recorded to: 10. At the start of my afternoon visit, I discovered the grisly 'empty shells' of two grasshoppers. These had obviously been parasitised and were still clinging to the top of the plant stems.
28th September 2016 - (Wednesday, Szerda)
On my afternoon visit I was pleased to see that all of our 5 Swallowtail butterfly caterpillars (hernyók) were still in place. However, upon closer examination, No.2 looked to be somewhat unwell. The front half of the body was hanging downwards, and as I moved the stem, that front half wobbled as if broken from the back half. I wonder if this caterpillar had been parasitised. Its mouthparts were moving, however. Also, during this study visit, I discovered the final instar nymphs of the Striped Shield Bug - Graphosoma lineatum ssp. italicum .... after 10 years ! I don't understand how we haven't seen them before ! The only butterfly to escape my camera today was the Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow.
29th September - (Thursday, Csütörtök)
I arrived at 1030 with the intention of mowing the grass on the bank beside the SQHQ, and also that next to the large Acid Tree on the top section. After that, I intended raking up all the cut grass and transferring it to the boundary fence dump. Well, after 3 hours of work, I achieved all of my aims, but I was also very sad. Why? Well, as these two areas are on slopes. or adjacent to slopes, I decided to use garden shears instead of the brushcutter equipment. This wasn't a problem in itself, but, as I was 'tidying' some grass I'd missed a few days ago, I decapitated a female Praying Mantis. I only saw her at the precise moment I closed the shears. After removing my grass cuttings from the first site, I transferred my operation to the area next to the Acid Tree. After taking a look at the work site, I just happened to look down and was amazed to see the only Spurge Hawkmoth caterpillar of this year. I thought: how lucky that I didn't stand on it. But ... when I got down to photograph it, I found that I'd already stood on it. What a bad day ! This is the only problem with conservation work. We do it for the good of the site as a whole, but sometimes, there are a few innocent victims. It was amazing about the caterpillar, as it was on one of the smallest Cypress Spurge plants I'd ever seen at the SQ. Why there, and not on a bigger, juicier plant, in the safety of thicker undergrowth? With regard to the 'sick' Swallowtail caterpillar from yesterday, the poor little thing had disappeared from its plant. Maybe a bird noticed it due to its drooping posture. The other 3 were still healthy in their traditional locations, but I forgot to check on the 5th caterpillar (up the road), mainly due to being very tired after working for 3 hours under the hot sun. There were several other Praying Mantis, with most of them hunting on the pathways ..... but at least I didn't stand on any of those !