Berry Springs Preserve Herps of Texas report, 16Aug2021

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 texting a local fellow frogger upon arrival and departure (for safety) - the county was in the Red Phase of COVID-19 transmission due to the highly contagious Delta variant.
Four 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 = 1), Blanchard's Cricket Frog (CI = 2), Green Tree Frog (CI = 2), and American Bullfrog (CI = 1). Photos and/or recordings were obtained for all species except the American Bullfrog.
The puddle at the middle slough springhead seemed to be slightly larger than last month (but still 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 1.24 inches of rain two weeks before monitoring.
The monitoring period was 20:15 - 21:15.
The author of this journal post was the only participant.
Environmental conditions at the middle slough springhead at sunset:
Air temperature = 79.9 deg F
Water temperature = 71.7 deg F
Sky = no/few clouds
Water level = below average at springhead, average at main ponds
Relative humidity = 57 %

Posted on Αύγουστος 17, 2021 0910 ΜΜ by k_mccormack