Berry Springs Preserve Herps of Texas report, 27Sep2021
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 was still in the Red Phase of COVID-19 transmission due to the highly contagious Delta variant.
Three amphibian species were observed in the slough by the playground, the main ponds, and the ditch in the pecan orchard: Rio Grande Leopard Frog (CI = 2), Gulf Coast Toad (CI = 0), and American Bullfrog (CI = 0). Photos and/or recordings were obtained for all species except the American Bullfrog.
Coyotes were heard calling at sunset, and an armadillo was seen after sunset.
The puddle at the middle slough springhead was smaller than last month, and the water level was below 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 during the three weeks before monitoring.
The monitoring period was 19:30 - 20:45.
The author of this journal post was the only participant.
Environmental conditions at the middle slough springhead at sunset:
Air temperature = 77.7 deg F
Water temperature = 75.1 deg F
Sky = no/few clouds
Water level = below average at springhead and main ponds
Relative humidity = 39 %