Archivos de Diario para septiembre 2017

17 de septiembre de 2017

Berry Springs Preserve Herps of Texas report, 16Sep2017

We had a tremendous turnout of folks a week before the fall equinox and we saw and heard all kinds of interesting things at Berry Springs Preserve during our monthly amphibian monitoring.
A Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was observed from the parking lot before we walked down to the main pond. Before sunset, several Great Blue Herons and Yellow-crowned Night Herons were seen at the main pond, and a number of Chimney Swifts and two Common Nighthawks were seen flying over the main pond. There was also a large swarm of Common Green Darner dragonflies above the fishing deck at the main pond - several were caught with our nets, and Mike helped us out with the ID. Amy checked with some Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) who thought that this was a migratory event; another SME that Mike knew thought that it was actually a feeding swarm because the dragonflies were moving in different directions; whatever it was, it was pretty cool ! After dark, we heard bats on the bat detector, coyotes aroused by a passing fire engine siren, and a Barred Owl. We saw lightning bugs around the pond, and Marek brought us a mama wolf spider with babies on her back.
Although no amphibians were calling, we did observe four species: Blanchard's Cricket Frog (no photos), American Bullfrog (no photos), Rio Grande Leopard Frog, and Gulf Coast Toad. Blanchard's Cricket Frogs were seen along the slough shore as we walked down to the main pond. The monster American Bullfrog hanging out near the end of the main pond with the water well eluded capture - twice. Two separate teams caught Rio Grande Leopard Frog specimens for us to look at. After monitoring was complete, the Gulf Coast Toad was found on the sidewalk next to the restroom.
A young Blotched Water Snake (no photos) was also seen in the water at the edge of the main pond, and Randy caught us a young Western Rat Snake (which used to be called Texas Rat Snake, Elaphe obsoleta lindheimeri) on the shore near the water well. The rat snake showed off its tree-climbing abilities when we let it go in a Texas Redbud.
Many eyes, ears, and hands make light the work...... Thank you, everyone !
The monitoring period was 19:35 - 21:05.
Participants were Kathy, Mike & Amy, Mike, Tonja, Diane & Donna, Larry & Marek, Heike, Jim, Randy & Sandra, and Sondra.
Environmental Conditions at the main pond at sunset:

  • Air temperature = 81.7 deg F
  • Water temperature = 80.0 deg F
  • Sky = No/few clouds
  • Water level = Average
  • Relative humidity at sunset = 51 %
Publicado el 17 de septiembre de 2017 a las 10:36 PM por k_mccormack k_mccormack | 3 observaciones | 2 comentarios | Deja un comentario

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