A pretty equal mix of sun and clouds, weak to moderate winds and temperatures already being close to 20°C (18°C at 10:40 AM to be exact), the 26th marked the last day of this month's observation period, as I already was able to spot the first storm clouds developing to the south. The remaining days of thi month are expected to bring nothing but overcast and thunderstorms.
Because of the rain during the previous days, Zone III once again had to be skipped and it was nearly impossible to walk across Zone I, as well. Tall, slippery grasses and soil nearly made me slide down the hill (which may have looked quite funny but is not and should not be part of this study similar to me later walking through a hidden stinging nettle in Zone II that burnt my left leg).
+-------------------------+---------------------------------+--------+ | Species | Location | Status | +-------------------------+---------------------------------|--------+ | Anthocharis cardamines | Zone II | Adult | |-------------------------|---------------------------------|--------| | Coenonympha arcania | Zone I / II | Adult | |-------------------------|---------------------------------|--------| | Coenonympha pamphilus | Zone I / II | Adult | |-------------------------|---------------------------------|--------| | Cupido minimus | Zone II | Adult | |-------------------------|---------------------------------|--------| | Pieris napi | Zone II | Adult | |-------------------------|---------------------------------|--------| | Plebejus argus | Zone II | Adult | |-------------------------|---------------------------------|--------| | Polyommatus icarus | Zone II | Adult | |-------------------------|---------------------------------|--------| | Pyrgus malvae | Zone II | Adult | |-------------------------|---------------------------------|--------| | Vanessa cardui | Zone II | Adult | |-------------------------|---------------------------------|--------| |-------------------------|---------------------------------|--------| | Calopteryx virgo | Zone II | Adult | |-------------------------|---------------------------------|--------| | Coenagrion mercuriale | Zone II | Adult | |-------------------------|---------------------------------|--------| | Pyrrhosoma nymphula | Zone II | Adult | +-------------------------+---------------------------------+--------+
Obviously, Zone I only managed to attract C. arcania and C. pamphilus in and around the accessible areas. Zone II, on the other hand, is where nearly all observations were recored, especially in a tiny area between the two bridges.
Not only did I manage to observe the first individual of V. cardui since 2019, the damselfly C. virgo is a species last recored in Zone III in 2022, making it a new addition to Zone II. The missing P. bellargus, P. rapae and P. brassicae likely are undergoing a generational break.
Overall a very satifying way to end May.
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Addendum: This log initially included E. tages, which, in fact, was not observed. I messed the photos in my folder up and accidentally included an older observation. Additionally, I falsely claimed to have just made my first observation of C. virgo. Digging through my gallery, I discovered a single (poor) shot from 2022 depicting this species. This log and the complete lists have been updated.