Berry Springs Preserve Herps of Texas report, 22Jun2021

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there was no group outing to Berry Springs Park and Preserve 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, the ditch in the pecan orchard, and somewhere to the north and east of the main restrooms: Rio Grande Leopard Frog (CI = 1), Blanchard's Cricket Frog (CI = 2), Gulf Coast Toad (CI = 2), Western Narrow-mouthed Toad (CI = 2), Green Tree Frog (CI = 2), and American Bullfrog (CI = 0). Photos and/or recordings were obtained for all species except the Gulf Coast Toad and American Bullfrog. We watched as a Green Tree Frog that had been calling from a 30-foot high pecan branch leaped out into thin air and landed safely in the grass at our feet - he was on his way to join the fun in the ditch. Amazing !
The puddle at the middle slough springhead about the same size as last month (no 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 2.71 inches of rain the night before our monitoring.
A cute little armadillo was seen near the park entrance about half an hour before sunset. The monitoring period was 20:30 - 21:30.
Participants were Kathy and Christie.
Environmental conditions at the middle slough springhead at sunset:
Air temperature = 76.1 deg F
Water temperature = 68.4 deg F
Sky = no/few clouds
Water level = below average at springhead, average at main ponds
Relative humidity = 69 %

Posted on Ιούνιος 23, 2021 0805 ΜΜ by k_mccormack