2 Frogs, 2 Toads, No Snakes - No This is Not in Code

Sunsets in this park are already the best.

We almost didn't go.

This is a 3 to 4 hour event for us. We have to be "up for it" to attend. And DH was just a little curt when I mentioned we needed to start getting ready.

Why does it take so long? We have gear to secure and the right clothing to locate and wear or stow in the car. The drive to the park takes an hour (on the dreaded I35 and through strange construction that never seems to end). We spend an hour or so "hunting/observing." We try to leave early in case traffic is bad and we often stay late to check just one more spot.

But it is always worth it. We see something new or experience a moment with our wild friends that is special. And tonight, well, tonight we experienced a first.

We arrived early at Devine Lake Park.  Z-girl was along as we didn't get the "word" until it was too late to make other plans for her. Zelda usually behaves well, but it puts one of us out of serious frog hunting. One hand must always be on the leash. She was great tonight and cause no issues other than distracting a few folks (okay - she cannot help it -  this dog is adorable). In any event, I wandered around taking photos of different plants and caught a Great Egret landing across the lake.

The Great Egret lands.

DH waiting for the rest of our team in the parking lot and carried one of our recently purchased nets. This would be a test of our newest tools (bucket, 3 nets, water thermometer) purchased for an amphibian watch field trip we have scheduled with young people next week.

The ducks swam around and made noise. Many of us thought we heard Rio Grande Leopard Frogs, but it was hard to tell and we got no audio recordings.

We did see a tiny Blanchard's Cricket Frog, two Gulf Coast Toads, and one American Bullfrog. We also observed a couple of Mediterranean House Geckos and a Striped Bark Scorpion at the park restrooms.

The spiders' glowing green eyes were all around. I almost wish I hadn't been told to watch for these. They are everywhere.

A pond hawk landed on a few of us while we were trying to document the bullfrog. There are no photos, but I can still feel it's scratch wings and see the amazing detail of this giant dragonfly.

Our last catch gave us the best "story." Young V saw and quickly caught the bullfrog in the ditch near the park entrance. Before she could secure it, the frog jumped out of her net. DH was right there with a net and thought he re-caught the frog. But try as we might, we couldn't find it anywhere. We searched the bank and the shallow water.

Suddenly he exclaimed, "Wait. It's still in the net!" 

Apparently the frog was so small, DH didn't realize he was still caught in the bottom of the dip net. Score a success for teamwork and for the new net! We are giving DH an "assist."

Here is our documentation:

The oak woods.

Maximilian Sunflower

These sunflowers were growing out a a junk pile.

These enormous orange fungi were in a field near the woods.

Marsh Fleabane

I was watching for the sunset.

The resident ducks kept swimming back and forth.

It was medium sized and cooperated - hanging around until everyone got to see it.

Here again, in regular light.

On a different side of the building a couple of Mediterranean House Geckos hung out.

This was a big Gulf Coast Toad - female, we are told. No black on the throat.

DH has just discovered the bullfrog is still in the net.

Young V shows off the small bullfrog.

Final Note: Should I mention that we giggled about our romantic evening as we drove home - the stunning sunset at the lake and the lovely harvest moon rising in the sky?

The harvest moon