k_mccormack's Journal

In spite of the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, there was a small group outing to Berry Springs Park and Preserve again this month.
One amphibian species was observed next to the dry main pond: Blanchard's Cricket Frog (CI = 0). The sloughs were also dry, and there were only isolated pools in the creek.
According to the USGS gauge station at Berry Creek at Airport Road near Georgetown, TX (https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/08105095/#parameterCode=00065&period=P7D), there had been 1.35 inches of rain over the previous two days after no rain for 3.75 months.
We heard a Common Nighthawk and saw several White-tailed Deer and a large Nine-banded Armadillo at sunset, and saw a small mammal (Nutria ?) after sunset.
The monitoring period was 19:35 - 20:35.
Participants were Kathy, Carolyn, and Amy.
Environmental conditions at the main ponds at sunset:
Air temperature = 78.4 deg F
Water temperature = N/A
Sky = mostly cloudy
Water level = much below average
Relative humidity = 59 %

In spite of the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, there was a small group outing to Berry Springs Park and Preserve again this month.
No amphibian species were observed in the sloughs, main ponds, or creek.
According to the USGS gauge station at Berry Creek at Airport Road near Georgetown, TX (https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/08105095/#parameterCode=00065&period=P7D), there had been no rain since the last monitoring event on July 15, 2023 - the last significant rain was 0.4 inches on May 24, 2023. The sloughs and ponds were dry with only a few isolated pools in the creek. We saw White-tailed Deer and three Yellow-crowned Night Herons at sunset.
The monitoring period was 19:55 - 20:40.
Participants were Kathy, Christie, and Carolyn.
Environmental conditions at the main ponds at sunset:
Air temperature = 86.2 deg F
Water temperature = N/A
Sky = no/few clouds
Water level = much below average
Relative humidity = 32 %

In spite of the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, there was a small group outing to Berry Springs Park and Preserve again this month.
Five amphibian species were observed in the main ponds: Rio Grande Leopard Frog (CI = 2), Blanchard's Cricket Frog (CI = 3), American Bullfrog (CI = 0), Gulf Coast Toad (CI = 0), and Green Treefrog (CI = 2). Photos were obtained for the two species that weren't calling, and recordings were obtained for the three species that were.
According to the USGS gauge station at Berry Creek at Airport Road near Georgetown, TX (https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/08105095/#parameterCode=00065&period=P7D), there had been no rain since the last monitoring event on June 17, 2023 - the last significant rain was 0.4 inches on May 24, 2023. The sloughs were dry, the water level in the main ponds was down substantially, and no water was running over the main dam. We saw White-tailed Deer, Chimney Swifts, a Yellow-crowned Night Heron, and bats at sunset, and we saw a Virginia Opossum after sunset.
The monitoring period was 20:35 - 21:35.
Participants were Kathy, Christie, Carolyn, and Amy.
Environmental conditions at the main ponds at sunset:
Air temperature = 85.6 deg F
Water temperature = 76.0 deg F
Sky = no/few clouds
Water level = much below average
Relative humidity = 39 %

In spite of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there was a small group outing to Berry Springs Park and Preserve again this month.
Four amphibian species were observed in the main ponds and sloughs: Rio Grande Leopard Frog (CI = 3), Blanchard's Cricket Frog (CI = 3), American Bullfrog (CI = 2), and Green Treefrog (CI = 3). Photos were obtained for two species, and recordings were obtained for all four species.
According to the USGS gauge station at Berry Creek at Airport Road near Georgetown, TX (https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/08105095/#parameterCode=00065&period=P7D), there had been 0.4 inches of rain 24 days before monitoring. The ponds and sloughs were full, and water was running over the main dam. We saw a White-tailed Deer drinking from the pond at sunset, and saw two young Nutria eating at the edge of the pond after sunset.
The monitoring period was 20:35 - 21:50.
Participants were Kathy, Christie, and Amy.
Environmental conditions at the main ponds at sunset:
Air temperature = 85.5 deg F
Water temperature = 80.4 deg F
Sky = mostly cloudy
Water level = average
Relative humidity = 56 %

In spite of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there was a small group outing to Berry Springs Park and Preserve again this month.
Six amphibian species were observed in the main ponds, sloughs, and ditch in the pecan orchard: Western Narrow-mouthed Toad (CI = 3), Rio Grande Leopard Frog (CI = 2), Blanchard's Cricket Frog (CI = 3), Gulf Coast Toad (CI = 2), American Bullfrog (CI = 2), and Green Treefrog (CI = 3). Photos were obtained for three species, and recordings were obtained for all six species.
According to the USGS gauge station at Berry Creek at Airport Road near Georgetown, TX (https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/08105095/#parameterCode=00065&period=P7D), there had been 1.0 inch of rain two days before monitoring. The ponds and sloughs were full, and water was running over the main dam. We saw Common Nighthawk, Green Heron, Pied-billed Grebe, Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Franklin's Gull, and bats at sunset, heard Eastern Screech-Owl at sunset, and heard Barred Owl after sunset.
The monitoring period was 20:15 - 21:45.
Participants were Kathy and Christie.
Environmental conditions at the main ponds at sunset:
Air temperature = 72.3 deg F
Water temperature = 74.0 deg F
Sky = mostly cloudy
Water level = above average
Relative humidity = 67 %

In spite of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there was a small group outing to Berry Springs Park and Preserve again this month.
Five amphibian species were observed in the main ponds, sloughs, and ditch in the pecan orchard: Rio Grande Leopard Frog (CI = 2), Blanchard's Cricket Frog (CI = 3), Gulf Coast Toad (CI = 3), American Bullfrog (CI = 1), and Green Treefrog (CI = 2).
According to the USGS gauge station at Berry Creek at Airport Road near Georgetown, TX (https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/08105095/#parameterCode=00065&period=P7D), there had been 1.9 inches of rain in the last 10 days. The ponds and sloughs were full, and water was running over the main dam. We heard a Barred Owl after sunset.
The monitoring period was 20:00 - 21:15.
Participants were Kathy, Christie, Carolyn, and Amy.
Environmental conditions at the main ponds at sunset:
Air temperature = 69.3 deg F
Water temperature = 71.0 deg F
Sky = no/few clouds
Water level = average
Relative humidity = 32 %

In spite of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there was a small group outing to Berry Springs Park and Preserve again this month.
Three amphibian species were observed in the main ponds, sloughs, and ditch in the pecan orchard (Rio Grande Leopard Frog at CI = 2, Blanchard's Cricket Frog at CI = 3, and Gulf Coast Toad at CI = 1). Amy got a recording of the latter, and I heard it, but I didn't get a recording.
According to the USGS gauge station at Berry Creek at Airport Road near Georgetown, TX (https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/08105095/#parameterCode=00065&period=P7D), there had been 1.25 inches of rain since the last monitoring event, but only 0.16 inches in the last four days. The ponds and sloughs were full, and water was running over the main dam.
The monitoring period was 19:45 - 21:00.
There were about 60 Redhead on the main ponds, we saw two Yellow-crowned Night Herons, a Great Egret, and bats flying over the ponds at sunset, and heard a Barred Owl after sunset. Numerous large, chubby tadpoles were also seen in the ponds and sloughs - hopefully, they'll all turn into Rio Grande Leopard Frogs and not American Bullfrogs.
Participants were Kathy, Christie, Carolyn, and Amy.
Environmental conditions at the main ponds at sunset:
Air temperature = 61.0 deg F
Water temperature = 67.9 deg F
Sky = no/few clouds
Water level = average
Relative humidity = 41 %

In spite of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there was a small group outing to Berry Springs Park and Preserve again this month.
Two amphibian species were observed in the main ponds, sloughs, and ditch in the pecan orchard (Rio Grande Leopard Frog at CI = 2 and Blanchard's Cricket Frog at CI = 3). All of the Rio Grande Leopard Frogs in the ditch were extremely wary - well before we could get within net range, they squeaked once and then disappeared under the water. This was interesting behavior that we had never seen before. The recorded Rio Grande Leopard Frogs were in the main ponds.
According to the USGS gauge station at Berry Creek at Airport Road near Georgetown, TX (https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/08105095/#parameterCode=00065&period=P7D), there had been one inch of rain/ice since the last monitoring event. The ponds and sloughs were full, and water was running over the main dam.
The monitoring period was 18:20 - 19:20.
Participants were Kathy, Christie, and Amy.
Environmental conditions at the main ponds at sunset:
Air temperature = 73.0 deg F
Water temperature = 71.4 deg F
Sky = no/few clouds
Water level = average
Relative humidity = 47 %

In spite of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there was a small group outing to Berry Springs Park and Preserve again this month.
One amphibian species was observed in the main ponds and the ditch in the pecan orchard (Rio Grande Leopard Frog at CI = 1).
According to the USGS gauge station at Berry Creek at Airport Road near Georgetown, TX (https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/08105095/#parameterCode=00065&period=P7D), there had been 0.23 inches of rain since the last monitoring event. The sloughs and ponds were mostly full, but water was not running over the main dam.
The monitoring period was 17:55 - 18:55.
Participants were Kathy, Carolyn, Christie, and Amy.
Environmental conditions at the main ponds at sunset:
Air temperature = 51.1 deg F
Water temperature = 58.5 deg F
Sky = no/few clouds
Water level = average
Relative humidity = 21 %

In spite of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there was a small group outing to Berry Springs Park and Preserve again this month.
One amphibian species was observed in the main ponds and the ditch in the pecan orchard (Rio Grande Leopard Frog at CI = 1) - several recordings were collected, but no photos were obtained. We also heard a Great Horned Owl call a couple of times at sunset.
According to the USGS gauge station at Berry Creek at Airport Road near Georgetown, TX (https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/08105095/#parameterCode=00065&period=P7D), there had been 0.13 inches of rain three days before monitoring. It was nice to see the sloughs and ponds full of clear water.
The monitoring period was 17:30 - 18:30.
Participants were Kathy, Carolyn, and Christie.
Environmental conditions at the main ponds at sunset:
Air temperature = 44.1 deg F
Water temperature = 58.5 deg F
Sky = no/few clouds
Water level = average
Relative humidity = 36 %