April
The newspapers report that the air temperature in the last ten months has always been significantly above the expected. Vegetation is at least 1 month ahead. After exceptionally warm April days of up to 28° C, there are repeated drops in temperature, then it suddenly returns to 0°C at night. The butterfly season starts slowly: After several observations of Aglais urticae, Gonepteryx rhamni, Anthocharis cardamines and the first Lycaenidae are flying. As soon as the sun shines, there is a strikingly large variety of wild bees and hoverflies. Spiders and beetles are also easy to spot. Many thanks to all of you who can help with IDs!
Observations
Photos / Sounds
What
Eurasian Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)Observer
spyrDescription
The falcon is terribly busy, these days. The male bird behaves very secretively: he hides in trees, often the large fir tree, or bushes, then unexpectedly shoots out briefly to grab a lizard and immediately disappears again. We suspect that the male is already in the process of feeding the female before or during breeding.
Photos / Sounds
What
European Toad (Bufo bufo)Observer
spyrDescription
This unpromising, shallow concrete basin has been a spawning ground for a pair of toads for many years. This is all the more important because the even older amphibian spawning waters in the shallow wells (dating from the 19th century) in the Wangensbach forest have been repeatedly disturbed during the spawning season in recent years.
Photos / Sounds
What
Genus RhizotrogusObserver
spyrDescription
This was a very early observation, but it has been way too warm recently, and the vegetation is at least 1 month ahead. It would be great to know which subspecies it is. Thanks for your suggestions!
Photos / Sounds
What
Honeysuckle Sawflies and Allies (Genus Abia)Observer
spyrDescription
Yesterday, again, the sky had been dark with large clouds of Sahara dust, all day long. This morning, this bee (I guess it is one) was clinging to a potted plant, trying to protect itself from the wind. It was then "rescued" and brought to a hopefully safer place.
Photos / Sounds
What
Genus EuceraObserver
spyrDescription
5 or 6 of them. We saw them a few days ago, by the big beech tree by the avenue, in the upper meadow.
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