Lake Creek Brisk, Moist and Historic January Amphibian Watch [Sunday, Jan 15, 2017]
We had an interesting start to the new year and the monitoring evening. The day had been rainy on and off, and Mikael and I stood in a short downpour right at the beginning of the monitoring hour. Thank goodness for weather apps. We could see how short and local it would be. “Just wait it out.”
Everyone else joined us in a few minutes to make the total of eight on this Sunday evening. Thank you Mikael, Kathy, Myra, Tonja, Randy, Hunter and Sandra for coming out on a Sunday night with me.
Environmental Conditions (at 17:50):
Air Temp: 19.7C
Water Temp: 16.0C
Sky: 5 (drizzle/rain)
Water Level: MAA++ Much Above Average: slightly over spillway center
Relative Humidity: 100%
General Observations:
January weather conditions have been somewhat extreme. We have had several very “hard” freezes (20F) for nights in a row and then daytime temps in the upper 70s. Several storms and fronts have blown through already. The drizzly light rain on this day was typical. There was enough wind to carry traffic noise from Anderson Mill Rd which made it harder to hear, and affected my ability to get a good recording of faint Rio Grande Leopard calls. However, the drizzle may have made it ideal to see two other species.
Amphibian Watch Report:
Several of us heard a Rio Grande Leopard Frog (or several) call from one bank or the other a few times during the hour. I have one adequate recording of this C1 observation.
http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/4990730
One Gulf Coast Toad was picked up on the sidewalk near the limestone wall (C0), and we have a picture.
http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/4990287
Mikael spotted a tiny Cliff Chirping Frog (mostly likely ‘Cliff’) on the limestone wall (C0). Have a picture of that teensy-weensy amphibian as well.
http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/4990301
Historic Aspect:
Most interesting of all, this is the first year that I had any amphibian observations, ever, in January. I have eight previous years of monitoring activity, and this is my first January to detect any species, let alone three.
