weathergaltx's Journal

We have had rain yet again. The weather has been wet and cold for a week, so I opted for a shortened monitoring period and then a nice long year-end celebration at B B Rovers.
Three of us met at the dam and spent just 15 minutes looking there for amphibs and reptiles. We moved to the limestone wall for just another 15 minutes of monitoring. Total monitoring time this month was 30 minutes.
Thanks Bill and Chuck for joining me.

Environmental Conditions (at 17:30):
Air Temp: 5.9C
Water Temp: 7.1C
Sky: 2 (cloudy)
Water Level: MAA++ (Much Above Average - Total Edge Overflowing) - all of of the dam was still in overflow at a depth of 1 to 3 inches. The noise level was moderate, but enough to cover up any but the loudest other sounds.
Relative Humidity: 57% on the meter.

General Observations:
The pond above the dam was still completely clear of any algal mats. Overflow water was pooled bank to bank below the dam, looking more like another little lake yet again. It has been the wettest monitoring year, especially the fall months, that I can remember.

Amphibian/Herp Watch Report:
We did not hear or see any amphibians or reptiles at the dam. We saw one Gulf Coast Toad down deep in the limestone wall. All three of us saw it, and Chuck took pictures with his phone. It was too far away and too hard to light up the area to get a good image, but we know we saw it and have an attempted image.
In all, one amphibian species was detected for this month. December can be so variable. So much depends on temperatures and this cold day we were surprised to observe anything out.

This Saturday I had tickets to an evening guitar concert, so I decided to complete a short visit to Lake Creek Dam that still gave me time to get to downtown Austin.
Thank you Bill Dodd for coming out to help me complete an abbreviated monitoring session this month. We spent just 30 minutes taking environmental measures and doing a bit of listening.

Environmental Conditions (at 17:30):
Air Temp: 9.5C
Water Temp: 13.9C
Sky: 2 (coudy)
Water Level: MAA++ (Overflow)
Relative Humidity: 45%
Yet again, we had a rain event in the previous week, so a thin layer of water was running over the top of about 80% of the dam.

General Observations:
It was cold enough that we did not even see the usual water snakes hunting at the bottom of the dam. The whole area had very little movement or activity, just water flow noise.

Amphibian Watch Report:
We listened at the dam area for 15 minutes and then checked the limestone wall for 15 minutes.

We did not detect any amphibians at the dam and did not see any of the usual amphibians or even reptiles in the wall cracks.

We have had rain again for the last three weeks. I was concerned that there would be too much flow over the dam to be able to hear amphibians calling. It is fun to watch the snakes fishing in the flow, but the noise hampers our ability to monitor as scheduled.

And the temperature! It has still been in the 80's. Big shock though, as I am writing this (Oct 13) the promised cold front is passing through and it is a relatively frigid 41F. In one day - 80F to 40F.
Seven of us met at the dam and could hear well enough to complete the first 40 minutes of monitoring as usual. We moved to the limestone wall, as is our habit, for the last segment of monitoring.
Thanks Kathy, Myra, Carolyn, RuthAnn, Mary Kay, and Mikael for joining me.

Environmental Conditions (at 19:05):
Air Temp: 27.2C
Water Temp: 26.9C
Sky: 2 (cloudy)
Water Level: MAA+ (Much Above Average - Overflowing) - central half of the dam was still in overflow at a depth of 0.5 to 1.0 inch.
Relative Humidity: 84% on the meter.

General Observations:
The pond above the dam was still completely clear of any algal mats. Overflow water was pooled bank to bank below the dam, looking more like another little lake. We have not see this before.

Amphibian/Herp Watch Report:
This was a very quiet night at Lake Creek in terms of amphibian calling. Our visit to the limestone wall yielded the expected fat and happy Gulf Coast Toads including two youngsters each about 2 inches long. We also got recordings and photos of several Chirping Frogs. We are at the point of naming all of them Rio Grande Chirping Frogs rather than Cliff. The limestome wall borders a large suburban development and we think that the increase in chirping frog observations is due to their importation in landscape pot plants and in the favorable environment that housing , irrigation, and watering of pots and planters provides.
We did take pix of a small Nerodia spp. that RuthAnn caught for our enjoyment.
In all, one herp species and two amphibian species were documented for this month.

Rain, rain and more rain! What an odd summer. We fried with 40 days over 100 F, were declared in drought conditions, yet we have had long periods of rain (or least spotty regional showers) every month. Texas. What can you say?

This month we delayed the amphibian monitoring a week because of heavy rains before the weekend of the 8th, and the water rushing over the dam made it impossible to hear any calling.

Three of us worked together at the dam for monitoring - thanks Reggie and Linda for joining me.

Environmental Conditions (at 19:40):
Air Temp: 25.8C
Water Temp: 26.5C
Sky: 2 (cloudy)
Water Level: MAA+ (Much Above Average - Overflowing) - central half of the dam was still in overflow at a depth of 0.5 to 1.0 inch.
Relative Humidity: 95% up to "Hi" on the meter.

General Observations:
There was no stranded algal matting on the dam, or any debris. It must have all been cleared and washed well down the creek due to earlier flooding. The pond above the dam was completely clear of any algal mats.
The water flow over the dam provided perfect 'fishing' opportunities for the water snakes. On the previous weekend Sue observed and recorded up to eight individuals in the fast-flowing churn at the bottom of the backside of the dam. This Saturday there were several snakes again actively fishing, working the flow areas for stranded minnows and fish fry.

Amphibian/Herp Watch Report:
This was a very quiet night at Lake Creek in terms of amphibian calling. However, the Blanchard's Cricket Frogs must have been busy in previous months because we saw many tiny (about 0.5 cm) individuals hopping around. This was a first, perhaps because the grass and even the sidewalk were both still wet from the continuous rains. Our visit to the limestone wall yielded the expected fat and happy Gulf Coast Toads, and we also got recordings of several Chirping Frogs.
We did take pix of the Nerodia spp. on the dam and Reggie caught a young Texas Brown Snake on the sidewalk for more pix.

The most prominent sightings this month were the very small Blanchard's Cricket Frogs hopping in the grass and all over the sidewalk close to the dam.

In all, two herp species and four amphibian species were documented for this month.

We looked at weather apps, looked at dark clouds, made a leap of faith, and were rewarded with a wonderful hour at Lake Creek.
Six of us braved the uncertainty, actually enjoyed a few intermittent drizzle periods, ignored the humidity and observed more that the expected numbers of amphibians. Thank you Mikael, Carolyn, Beth, Meghan, and Paula for joining me this month.

Environmental Conditions (at 20:15):
Air Temp: 24.2C
Water Temp: 28.1C
Sky: 5 (drizzle to showers)
Water Level: Average
Relative Humidity: 85% to near 100%
After a month of upper 90’sF to 108F, Austin was parched and standing water was getting scarce. Luckily for local wildlife, fish, shorebirds and aquatic reptiles, the area above the Lake Creek dam was still holding plenty of water. It was totally clear of floating algal mats. The dam was quite clean. We wondered if someone had washed it down, since there was no overflow debris like in July, and the creek bed below the dam had a few small pools of water which should have been dried up with the heat.

General Observations:
We saw just two very young Nerodia in the water, one Blotched ("Plain-bellied") and one Diamondback. Again, different from last month when we were constantly noting yet another snake swimming, or gobbling up hapless trapped minnows.

Amphibian Watch Report:
We detected four species this month.
The Blanchard's Cricket Frogs called intermittently the entire time we were at the monitoring site. There were several groups, first calling at a far distance (C2 to C3). We could hear them much better (C3) later at the limestone wall and have satisfactory recordings.
We heard groups of Green Tree Frogs calling from both sides of the lake area even as we approached the site to begin monitoring. They called on and off all during the hour and finally could be recorded at full chorus (C3) when we were at the limestone wall.
We took photos of a very large, fat Gulf Coast Toad (C0) at the wall, and saw several more, all out hunting in the rainy conditions.
To round out the ‘catch’ we have both recordings and photos of Cliff Chirping Frogs. The rain was really to their benefit, and they were happily calling from the limestone wall cracks. We often have photos, but only have one other recording, ever.

Glad we took the chance of getting soaked, and instead had a nice night out with lots of amphibians taking advantage of the first rain in a month.

Our central Texas region had been a lucky recipient of scattered showers during the first two week of this month. In fact, July 4 festivities were 'rained out' for many folks. The rains however were very spotty, with some of us getting 3-4 inches and others only a trace.

Six of us gathered at the dam for monitoring - thanks Kathy, Carolyn, Jennifer, Paula and RuthAnn for joining me.

Environmental Conditions (at 20:35):
Air Temp: 30.1C
Water Temp: 34.3C
Sky: 0 (clear)
Water Level: MAA++ (Much Above Average - Overflowing) - several narrow streams were still overflowing the dam.

Relative Humidity: 60%

General Observations:
There was plenty of stranded algal matting on the dam, left over from earlier flooding. There were massive debris piles along the banks up to 3 feet higher than the current normal water level. During the rains, a huge amount of water roared over that dam and carried a lot of brush and reeds downstream.
Some of us had arrived early hoping to spot the juvenile Roseate Spoonbill that had been photographed at the dam earlier in the week. No spoonbill. Again this month we saw swarms of insects out over the water for the swallows and bats. When is became completely dark, the Giant Walkingstick pairs again started to appear on the sidewalks and in the grass, always below overhanging trees. We are seeing more walkingsticks, more months in a row every year; most interesting.

Amphibian/Herp Watch Report:
This was a fairly quiet night at Lake Creek. The B. Cricket Frogs called in small groups intermittently, just often enough to to get faint documentation recordings (Weak C3). The Green Tree Frogs started calling late, finally getting up to overlapping (C2) in trees between the lake and the neighborhood sidewalk. Our visit to the limestone wall yielded the expected fat and happy Gulf Coast Toads, and we also got photos of several Chirping Frogs.
The most prominent sightings this month were water snakes. We saw six or eight individuals during the hour. The activity seemed unusually high, with constant swimming and constant high-speed 'fishing'. They are clearly masters at finding shallows and potholes full of stranded fish. All took pix of several Diamondbackeds as well as Blotched for the record.
In all, two herp species and four amphibian species documented for this month.

Welcome back to Texas for me! Nice to see how Lake Creek is doing after being half-way across the world. It certainly warmed up in the last month (a cruel understatement).

Five of us gathered at the dam for monitoring - thanks Kathy, Myra, Carolyn and Jennifer Whaley for joining me.

Environmental Conditions (at 20:30):
Air Temp: 27.7C
Water Temp: 31.5C
Sky: 0 (clear)
Water Level: AA (Above Average)
Relative Humidity: 65%

General Observations:
Plenty of insects out over the water for the swallows and bats. When is became completely dark, the Giant Walkingstick pairs started to appear on the sidewalks, always below overhanging trees.

Amphibian/Herp Watch Report:
This was Green Tree Frog night. It is pretty rare for this species to dominate the soundscape at Lake Creek. Normally at this time of year the B. Cricket Frogs drown out everything with a continuous racket. Not so this time, with no calls detected at all!! The Green Tree Frogs were calling up to overlapping (C2) in trees between the lake and the neighborhood sidewalk. We also heard one of those darned Bullfrogs calling again, so rarely that we could not get a recording.
We noticed several large water snakes fishing on the shallow face of the dam, and all took pix of one Diamondbacked Watersnake for the record.
The limestone wall did not disappoint. It was dry and most cracks were full of cobwebs and leaf/grass clipping litter. Saw no chirping frogs for the first time in months. However, there was a bonus.
We found a large Gulf Coast Toad on a block ledge that sat a pose for pix. I tried a little "pet" with one finger and (s)he reared up, but stayed in place. We spent at least 10 minutes running index fingers down (her) back and taking photos. Never seen anything like it. See a series of funny shots here.

Thanks you so much Kathy for leading the May watch while I was out of the country.
Basics:
The monitoring period was 20:15 - 21:45.
Six species of amphibs detected and two herps!!
Participants were Kathy, Carolyn, Ruthann, and Reggie.
Environmental conditions at the creek at sunset:

• Air temperature = 82.9 deg F
• Water temperature = 80 deg F
• Sky = No/few clouds
• Water level = Average
• Relative humidity at sunset = 41 %

Here is the link to her excellent report with pix and recordings:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/k_mccormack/16518-lake-creek-dam-herps-of-texas-report-12may2018

What is up with our weather this year!! Sheesh. Unseasonably cool, not a cold as February, but definitely a surprise after a nice March outing. Again, like last month, we had a major rain event earlier in the week and rushing water impacted our ability to hear as well as we wanted. Anything calling in the distance would be missed.
Overflow at the dam was extreme, rushing over nearly the entire length of the dam at a depth of 1 to 2 inches Algal mats were gone from the lake above the dam, having washed over the dam top and not even collecting on the cement/limestone stream bed below the dam. That lower creek bed was still flowing bank to bank 3 to 5 inches deep.

This was a special event. We planned for months to have the teams which monitor in south Austin come up to Lake Creek for a visit. The pre-monitoring meal was fabulous. We swapped stories and got reacquainted over Texas comfort food at Kirby Lane North.

We had nine people monitoring - thanks to Kathy and Bill for coming out to co-host our visitors: Jerry Mayfield, Maggie Mayfield, Terrell Moody, Marcia Sims, Josh Henslee, and Jackie Davis.

Environmental Conditions (at 19:55):
Air Temp: 17.7C
Water Temp: 19.1C
Sky: 0 (clear)
Water Level: MAA ++ (Much Above Average - Overflowing)
Relative Humidity: 24%

General Observations:
Since it had rained, we had hopes for seeing water snakes 'fishing' again at the bottom of the dam apron. They have been very clever at waiting in the cracks and riffles for small fish to wash over the dam and helplessly get flushed down the cement. Hmmm, nobody there. Too deep and too fast yet??

Amphibian/Herp Watch Report:
A few Blanchard's Cricket Frogs called occasionally (C1), just often enough for us to get recordings during monitoring period. We heard two different Bullfrogs call, opposite sides of the lake, but did not get recordings. We also heard at least two individual Rio Grande Leopard Frogs call just a few times, again too short and intermittent to get recordings.
We did not visit the limestone wall after the hour monitoring period , since our guests had a long drive ahead to get back home.
Kathy did pick up another Rough Earth Snake beside the sidewalk on the way back to the cars, and we have pictures to share.

It was a fun evening with our guests, but we did not have the customary richness of either amphibs, herps, or other evening sightings that we would normally share on an April night.
Better luch next year when we host another "Invitational".

We got a break in the weather this month. What a huge temperature difference from February!! It was a pleasant night, although rushing water did impact our ability to hear well.
Had several rain events earlier in the week so the the water was overflowing the dam at least 1/2 inch deep. There were still lots of thick algal mats in the lake above the dam and plenty had washed over the top and were collecting on the cement/limestone streambed below the dam.

Five of us monitored this month - thanks to Kathy, Bill, Myra and Carolyn for coming out.

Environmental Conditions (at 18:35):
Air Temp: 27.0C
Water Temp: 24.0C
Sky: 0 (clear)
Water Level: MAA ++ (Much Above Average - Overflowing)
Relative Humidity: 52%

General Observations:
Deer were cruising the lower stream bed as usual. There were a few swifts and bats taking advantage of some early season insects hovering over the water above the dam.

Amphibian Watch Report:
The Blanchard's Cricket Frogs stole the show, dominating the entire monitoring period. We heard and recorded waves of C3 full chorus calling which started intermittently early in the hour and grew to continuous calling by the time we left.
We visited the limestone wall during the last 15 minutes and took pix of Gulf Coast Toads (C0).
After the officialy monitoring hour, Kathy and I walked to the aereated retention pond to record individual Rio Grande Leopard Frogs (C1). They were just so loud that we couldn't resist!