September 2018 - Part 2
11th September 2018 - (Tuesday, Kedd)
An afternoon visit under rather cloudy skies. As soon as I walked inisde the top entrance I was greeted by a female Large Copper ... an unexpected sighting! Unfortunately she didn't stay long enough for me to photograph the underside. My butterfly summary: Large Copper (female), Reverdin's Blue (both sexes), Meadow Brown, Adonis Blue (male), Common Blue (both sexes), Green-veined White, Small Heath, Brown Argus, Short-tailed Blue (egg-laying female), Chalkhill Blue (female), Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow, and Sooty Copper (female) = 12 species.
12th September 2018 - (Wednesday, Szerda)
Very warm and sunny again, but with some wind. Butterflies seen: Common Blue, Small Heath, Sooty Copper (both sexes), Short-tailed Blue, Adonis Blue (2 males), Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow, Silver-studded Blue (mating pair), Reverdin's Blue, Lesser Fiery Copper, Meadow Brown, Queen of Spain Fritillary, Chalkhill Blue (female), Small White (several), Silver-spotted Skipper, and Swallowtail (which would not stop !) = 15 species. In addition, I found one Swallowtail caterpillar on Hog's Fennel on the overflow area, and 3 smaller ones on the Hog's Fennel on the lip of the SQ (usual place). Three Praying Mantis were seen.
13th September 2018 - (Thursday, Csütörtök)
A short visit from 1630 until 1740. Butterflies seen: Sooty Copper (female), Small White, Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow, Reverdin's Blue (male), Chalkhill Blue (female), Common Blue (both sexes), Small Heath, and Chestnut Heath = 8 species. Two Praying Mantis were found on different paths, and both were lucky that I didn't step on them. I photographed a male Long-winged Conehead .... usually the females are more regularly seen and photographed. All three Swallowtail caterpillers in the SQ itself were alive and well, but I didn't have time to check the fourth, which is outside the SQ boundary. A short call of a Green Tree Frog was heard from near the entrance to The Bowl !
14th September 2018 - (Friday, Péntek)
Butterflies recorded: Reverdin's Blue (old and new), Large Copper (female), Small White, Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow, Small Heath, Common Blue, and Great Banded Grayling = 7 species. There are not many flowering heads on the Purple Loosestrife plants now. As usual, we desperately need rain. The Swallowtail caterpillar near the red-roofed buildings had disappeared, but the 3 inside the SQ itself remain in situ. A Wild Boar had left its 'calling card' in The Bowl.
17th September 2018 - (Monday, Hétfő)
After missing 2 days (Sat. and Sun.) I managed a short visit this afternoon. There are now very few flowers left on the Purple Loosestrife, but some rainfall could liven things up again ... IF it comes ! Butterflies recorded: Queen of Spain Fritillary, Small Heath, Sooty Copper (2 females), Common Blue (incl. a courting couple - not a success !), Adonis Blue (male), Meadow Brown, Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow (6 seen), Wall Brown, Great Banded Grayling (3 seen), Reverdin's Blue (male), and Small White (several seen) = 11 species. As for the Swallowtail caterpillars: No. 1 was still there, as was the larger No. 3. However, the small No. 2 had vanished from its Hog's Fennel stem. So, we now have only 2 survivors from the original 4 caterpillars. Both of the Praying Mantis seen today were eating freshly-caught grasshopper prey.
20th September 2018 - (Thursday, Csütörtök)
Another hot afternoon, at about 27 degs. Hardly any Purple Loosestrife flowers left now, and this has caused the number of butterflies in The Bowl to drop. Those seen: Adonis Blue (male), Common Blue, Green-veined White, Reverdin's Blue (male), Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow, Small Heath, and Wall Brown = 7 Species. Sadly, all 4 of the Swallowtail caterpillars have disappeared. The stem that supported the largest caterpillar was broken down, so maybe a bird perched on it whilst capturing its prey. Even more garden rubbish has been dumped into the site from the house side. In addition, the 'house of the old man' has started to be stripped-out. I hope none of this material finds its way into the site.