Berry Springs Preserve Herps of Texas report, 23Aug2022

In spite of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there was a small group outing to Berry Springs Park and Preserve again this month.
Five amphibian species were observed in and along the edge of Berry Creek: Rio Grande Leopard Frog (CI = 1), Blanchard's Cricket Frog (CI = 2), Gulf Coast Toad (CI = 2), Western Narrowmouth Toad (CI = 1), and Green Treefrog (CI = 2). Audio recordings were obtained for two species (Gulf Coast Toad and Green Treefrog), and Gulf Coast Toad was also documented with photos. Another participant also obtained at least one audio recording of Blanchard's Cricket Frog.
After several months of no rainfall, according to the USGS gauge station at Berry Creek at Airport Road near Georgetown, TX (https://waterdata.usgs.gov/tx/nwis/uv/?site_no=08105095&PARAmeter_cd=00045), there had been 1.95 inches of rain the day before monitoring, and a total of 4.23 inches of rain within the previous five days before monitoring. Ponds and sloughs were dry, but Berry Creek was flowing with muddy runoff water.
The monitoring period was 20:10 - 21:10.
Participants were Kathy and Amy.
Environmental conditions at the main ponds 20 minutes after sunset:
Air temperature = 82.0 deg F
Water temperature = N/A
Sky = mostly cloudy
Water level = much below average
Relative humidity = 62 %

Posted on August 28, 2022 09:03 PM by k_mccormack