Berry Springs Preserve Herps of Texas report, 17Aug2019
For a hot August night after two dry months, the frogs and toads at Berry Springs Preserve were surprisingly active - several Gulf Coast Toads were seen (Call Index = 0), about a dozen Rio Grande Leopard Frogs (CI = 2) were seen on the banks of the main pond and the slough by the playground, Green Tree Frogs and Blanchard's Cricket Frogs were heard at max CI = 3, and an American Bullfrog (CI = 0) was seen in the ditch in the pecan orchard (Mike got a photo of the latter).
We started the evening down at the middle slough springhead where several Plain-bellied Water Snakes were hunting minnows and cricket frogs in the tiny, shrinking pool that was left (the slough itself was dry). However, the slough by the playground and the main ponds still had a decent amount of water.
The monitoring period was 20:00 - 21:45.
Participants were Kathy, Mike & Ryan (welcome !), Rowin, and Keri.
Environmental conditions at the middle slough springhead at sunset:
- Air temperature = 84.6 deg F
- Water temperature = 77 deg F
- Sky = No/few clouds
- Water level = Much below average (the main ponds were below average)
- Relative humidity = 40 %
