Diario de k_mccormack

Two frog species were seen at Berry Springs Park and Preserve during the first monthly amphibian monitoring of 2020. Four Blanchard's Cricket Frogs (Call Index = 0) were photographed - two at the middle slough springhead, one where the middle slough crosses the trail, and one at the main ponds. At least two American Bullfrogs (CI = 0) were seen in the ditch in the pecan orchard, and Mike got a photo of one of them. It was a cool but clear night, and there had been about half an inch of rain during the previous week.
After the monitoring hour was complete, we got to watch the International Space Station rise in the southwest, go overhead, and then disappear into the earth's shadow in the northeast. Cool !
There was no flow to the pond from the middle slough springhead, but there was more water there than last month. The water level in the main ponds was average.
The monitoring period was 17:55 - 18:55.
Participants were Kathy, Christie, Mike, Diane, Krystal & Mark (welcome !), and Tracy & Mark.
Environmental conditions at the middle slough springhead at sunset:

• Air temperature = 53.6 deg F
• Water temperature = 64 deg F
• Sky = No/few clouds
• Water level = Below Average
• Relative humidity = 41 %

On January 24, 2020, three people did a random shoreline freshwater mussel search along Inks Lake, one of the Highland Lakes in Burnet County, Texas. Water levels were approximately eight feet below normal due to an intentional drawdown by the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) for continued dock maintenance and cleanup after historic flooding in the fall of 2018. The weather was warm and sunny.
The monitoring period was 2:00 – 3:00 PM, and we walked approximately 900 feet east of the fishing pier in the Day Use Area of Inks Lake State Park (at approximately 30.74431, -98.36480). The substrate was mostly sand. Non-native Asian Clams were observed, but no non-native Zebra Mussels were observed. Five native freshwater mussel species were observed:

• Giant Floater – 5 shells;
• Southern Mapleleaf – 1 shell, 2 valves;
• Tampico Pearlymussel – 1 shell, 1 valve;
• Paper Pondshell – 2 shells; and,

• Threeridge – 2 shells.
  We then spent half an hour surveying a stretch of beach at the western end of the park, but no new species were observed. Survey participants were Kathy, April, and Mike. Many thanks to Marsha May for again providing remote assistance with identification (via texting photos) that afternoon.