Junior Master Naturalist class field trip to Berry Springs Park
It was a great evening at Berry Springs Park. Nine JMN trainees, 12 parents, 1 grandparent, and 2 sibling allies, as well as, 5 members of Good Water Master Naturalists spent two hours observing wildlife at Berry Springs Park and Preserve.
Dividing into three "citizen scientist" teams, the group walked the creek and pond banks, examined a wet-weather pond, and found a number of creature familiar and unfamiliar.
Amphibians: Two Gulf Coast Toads were found in the grassy areas near the pond. A third (LARGE) GCT was discovered near the upper parking lot on a grassy hill. Call Index 0
One Rio Grande Leopard Frog was seen at the wet weather pond, but we were unable to photograph or catch it. We also had reports of cricket frogs calling briefly in the distance (perhaps at a location along Dry Berry's Creek or pond off the park property) and an American Bullfrog call once at the pond. We were unable to record these brief calls.
Birds: A Great Blue Heron flew over the group as we began our observations. It flew low and slowly so that we all got a good view of it. We also saw and heard a "bickering" Scissor-tailed flycatcher at the pond. Three Pied-billed Grebes were also observed on the pond.
Arachnids: Orb weavers had been busy with webs in the Redbud trees along the pond path. One "spider" was observed at the pavilion .
Wildflowers and plants: A number of wildflowers were observed including Turkey-tangle Frogfruit, Straggler Daisy, Upright Prairie Coneflowers, Silverleaf Nightshade, Goldenrod, Frost Weed and Buffalo Gourd.
Insects: A water scorpion and two other "water bugs" were caught in the pond area. A mud dauber and three palmetto bugs were discovered at the pavilion. Prior to the start of the formal watch, Honey bees, Queen butterflies, and Monarch butterflies were observed at the flowerbed near the entrance as were insects on the cactus we believe to be Hesperolabops gelastops. A bluet was seen in the wildflower field and a number of unidentified dragonflies were present at the pond throughout the evening.
No bats were observed although two had been seen during a pre-watch park-check the previous night.
A future field trip (during spring frog/toad mating seasons) is under consideration.
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