Berry Springs Preserve Herps of Texas report, 21Jul2018

It was a hot night at Berry Springs Preserve - the daytime highs had been above average for over a week, and they had been over 100 deg F for the last five days. The sloughs were dry and the water level in the main pond was noticeably lower than last month. In addition, the ponds had been dredged for aquatic vegetation three days before monitoring. However, one small benefit of a dry slough was that Mike was able to show us a beaver's tail trail across the mud.
Before sunset, we saw two Diamond-backed Water Snakes and one Blotched Water Snake hunting in the water. We also saw Yellow-crowned Night Herons and a Green Heron, and heard a Great Blue Heron. The predators are making the most of the shrinking ponds.
In addition, we saw and heard lots of bats before and after sunset.
One Rio Grande Leopard Frog eluded capture, but another was recorded calling (Call Index = 1) below the dam. One American Bullfrog was recorded calling (CI = 1) from the main pond near the water well and Mike took some photos. A number of Blanchard's Cricket Frogs were recorded calling (CI = 2) from around the ponds, and Green Tree Frogs were recorded calling (CI = 3) from the creek.
The monitoring period was 20:30 - 21:45.
Participants were Kathy, Amy & Mike, Diane, Mike, Christie, Nancy, and Jim.
Environmental conditions at the main pond at sunset:

• Air temperature = 85.8 deg F
• Water temperature = 72.5 deg F
• Sky = No/few clouds
• Water level = Below average
• Relative humidity at sunset = 38 %

Posted on July 23, 2018 01:12 AM by k_mccormack