Berry Springs Preserve Herps of Texas report, 20May2021

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there was no group outing to Berry Springs Park and Preserve during this extra amphibian monitoring visit this month. However, two people checked on the amphibians.
Six amphibian species were observed in the middle slough springhead, the slough by the playground, the main ponds, and the ditch in the pecan orchard: Rio Grande Leopard Frog (CI = 2), Blanchard's Cricket Frog (CI = 3), Gulf Coast Toad (CI = 2), Western Narrow-mouthed Toad (CI = 2), Green Tree Frog (CI = 3), and American Bullfrog (CI = 1). Photos and/or recordings were obtained for all species except the Gulf Coast Toad and American Bullfrog. As was seen earlier this month, Green Tree Frogs were calling from the water surface in the ditch in the pecan orchard (in addition to calling from trees).
The puddle at the middle slough springhead was larger than earlier this month (but there still wasn't any flow to the main ponds), and the water level was average in the slough by the playground and main ponds. According to the USGS gauge station at Berry Creek at Airport Rd near Georgetown, TX (https://waterdata.usgs.gov/tx/nwis/uv/?site_no=08105095&PARAmeter_cd=00045), there had been 1.18 inches of rain during the previous four days before our monitoring.
The monitoring period was 20:15 - 21:45.
Participants were Kathy and Amy.
Environmental conditions at the middle slough springhead at sunset:
Air temperature = 71.2 deg F
Water temperature = 69.5 deg F
Sky = no/few clouds
Water level = below average at springhead, average at main ponds
Relative humidity = 62 %

Posted on 21 de maio de 2021, 10:41 PM by k_mccormack