September 2019 - part 1
2nd September 2019 - (Monday, Hétfő )
Another very hot day ... up around 34 degs. This meant a late afternoon visit .... 1740-1830. Not too much to see ... I think most creatures are hiding from the relentless sun. Butterflies recorded: Great Banded Grayling (2), Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow (2), Small Heath, False Grayling (8), Small White (2), Reverdin's Blue (1 female), Silver-studded Blue (6), Chalkhill Blue (2, on one flower head!), and Wall Brown = 9 species. Some more garden rubbish had been thrown into the site near the land of the 'funny family' ... no prizes for guessing the prime suspects! The continuing hot and dry weather is causing severe stress to several of the plant species on the site. Several shrubs, including Dogwood and Dog Rose, are starting to look very 'thin' as they drop their dry leaves in a bid to conserve energy.
NOTE: 3rd September 2019: We had rain for quite a lot of today, accompanied by much cooler temperatures - 17 degs. Obviously, much more rain would be welcome, but at least this rainfall will, hopefully, give the Purple Loosestrife another lease of life.
4th September 2019 - (Wednesday, Szerda)
NOTE: On 9th September 2019 the area was subjected to thunder storms and heavy rain, some of it torrential. This went on for several hours.
10th September 2019 - (Tuesday, Kedd)
Teréz and I visited the site to check the water situation following yesterday's extreme rainfall. We were pleased to find that the Coffee Pool had re-formed (although not too deep), and that standing water extended from it to the reedbed. Rockbath 1 was about 3/4 full of the usual cloudy water, and some water was also present in RB2. The reedbed 'rescue centre' also had quite deep water, and we were amazed to see some tadpoles swimming about, even though this area had seemed quite dry for several days. We can only assume that these survivors found some damp niches, deep down among the reeds, in which they could survive the drought. As we watched, we heard a single male Fire-bellied Toad piping from the new open water of The Bowl. Several Green Lizards, of all sizes/ages, were observed as they searched for food under these more tolerable conditions. As I walked towards the Coffee Pool from the reedbed direction, one of this year's Grass Snake babies slid away in front of me, its fresh olive-coloured body shining in the sunlight. No photo of this reptile as it quickly disappeared into the vegetation and rocks. Dragonflies and Damselflies were egg-laying in the fresh water. Butterflies recorded were: Small Heath, False Grayling, Wall Brown, Small Copper, Sooty Copper (male and female), and Brown Argus: 6 species. The Coppers and Argus all looked to be quite fresh, so probably from a third brood. Unfortunately the Purple Loosestrife has almost finished flowering for this year so this will make the site less attractive to butterflies. A family of four Common Buzzard circled overhead.
11th September 2019 - (Wednesday, Szerda)
The water levels had dropped by a few centimetres since yesterday as we've had a high of about 28 degs today. However, I saw one large tadpole (Common Spadefoot Toad) and a water beetle species close by for company. Today I had TWO Fire-bellied Toads calling in the open part of The Bowl, but the biggest surprise came when I moved on from the 'rescue centre' of the reedbed. As I looked to my left I saw something green and shiny on a Bramble leaf on the left side. At first glance it looked like a very large green shield bug, but I soon realised that it was a Green Tree Frog, just over 1 metre above the ground. This specimen was about 1/3 to 1/2 grown, so it was probably one of last year's young. Not too many butterflies were seen today: Small Heath, Small White (4), Common Blue (5 males), False Grayling, and a Weaver's Fritillary = 5 species. There were several male darters flying about over the 'new' water, and at least two linked pairs were egg-laying. Again. Green Lizards of various sizes were scampering about in the vegetation.
12th September 2019 - (Thursday, Csütörtök)
With blue skies and unbroken sunshine continuing, the water level had dropped a little more. Even so, there was still standing water across quite a lot of The Bowl. No Tree Frog was seen today, and no Fire-bellied Toads were calling. Green Lizards were still active though, and tadpoles were again seen in the 'rescue centre' of the reedbed. Butterflies recorded were: Silver-washed Fritillary, Painted Lady, Small Copper (2), Short-tailed Blue (1 female), Reverdin's Blue (2 males), Common Blue (male), False Grayling (20 ... most of them badly worn and looking 'tired'), Small Heath (5), Small White (6), Green-veined White, and Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow (5) = 11 species. Several Autumn Crocus were found in the adjacent area.
13th September 2019 - (Friday, Péntek)
Brown Argus, Common Blue, Small Copper (male and female), Small Heath, Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow, and Small White = 6 species. One bee was lucky as it landed on a flower head that had a yellow Thomisus Crab Spider under it .... but the spider was already feeding on another bee ! The water levels continue to drop, but darters continue to lay eggs in the patches of open water, and tadpoles continue to survive in the reedbed area.