Berry Springs Preserve Herps of Texas report, 24Nov2021

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there was no group outing to Berry Springs Park and Preserve this month. However, one person checked on the amphibians while texting a local fellow frogger upon arrival and departure (for safety) - the county had at least shifted from the Red Phase to the Orange Phase of COVID-19 transmission.
Three amphibian species were observed in the middle slough springhead, slough by the playground, the main ponds, the ditch in the pecan orchard, and the park road near the pay station: Rio Grande Leopard Frog (CI = 0), American Bullfrog (CI = 0), and Gulf Coast Toad (CI = 0). Photos were obtained for all three species.
A Nutria was seen in the main pond after sunset.
The puddle at the middle slough springhead was larger than last month but not flowing to the main pond, 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 not been any rain for three weeks.
The monitoring period was 17:30 - 18:45.
The author of this journal post was the only participant.
Environmental conditions at the middle slough springhead at sunset:
Air temperature = 72.5 deg F
Water temperature = 68.2 deg F
Sky = mostly cloudy
Water level = below average at springhead and average at main ponds
Relative humidity = 55 %

Posted on 26 de novembro de 2021, 12:42 AM by