Sep 30, 2012: September Collage

September photos from the blog by Kevin Kane, Wolf Oesterreich, Erv Klaas, and Kelly Poole.

Sep 29, 2012: Long Shadows

The long shadows of autumn are upon us, 8/16/12 (Kevin Kane)

Sep 28, 2012: Big Bluestem

Big Bluestem lit by a flash in the north prairie, 9/18/12 (Kevin Kane)

Sep 27, 2012: Cloud Reflections

Clouds are reflected off the serene surface of the north lake near the north shore, 9/19/12 (Kevin Kane)

Sep 26, 2012: Shore at Sunset

Low water levels have revealed more of the rocky shore of the lakes - here the north shore of the north lake at sunset, 9/18/12 (Kevin Kane)

Sep 25, 2012: Silhouetted Sunflowers

Sunflowers taken against a glowing sunset in the north prairie, 9/19/12 (Kevin Kane)

Sep 24, 2012: Sumac

Sumac plants full of fruit on the upper trail near Jensen Pond, 9/1/12 (Kevin Kane)

Sept 23, 2012: Woods, Wildlife and Wanderings

Todd Burras of the Ames Tribune has started a really nice new blog that features his forays into central Iowa wild areas called "Woods, Wildlife and Wanderings."  Todd has already featured stories related to Ada Hayden Park.  Give it a read!

Sep 22, 2012: Blues, Greens, and Yellows

Sunflowers are the dominate flower in the prairies during september and they stand out beautifully against the green of the trees and the blues of the lake and sky, 9/1/12 (Kevin Kane)

Sep 21, 2012: Sunflower After Dark

Sunflower in the north prairie lit by a flash after sunset, 9/18/12 (Kevin Kane)

Sep 20, 2012: Rowing on the Lake

A four person rowing shell out on the north lake, looking southwest from the north shore 9/18/12 (Kevin Kane)

Sep 19, 2012: Gone Trollin'

Angler slowly trolls across the north lake at sunset, 9/18/2012 (Kevin Kane)

Sep 18, 2012: Salmon Sky

The sun slips under the cloud cover illuminating the underside of the western sky, 9/18/2012 (Kevin Kane)

Sep 17, 2012: Sunflowers at Sunset

Sunflowers lit against the darkening sky, north parking area prairie, 9/18/12 (Kevin Kane)

Sep 16, 2012: Osprey

An Osprey floats above the park (Wolf Oesterreich)

Watch above for migrating Ospreys.  If you are fortunate enough, you might even observe one diving into the water to retrieve a fish and then carry it off in its talons.

Wolf Oesterreich
Ames

Sep 15, 2012: Erv's Field Notes #43

Early morning mist and reflecting sunrise, looking west over the south lake, 9/15/12 (Kelly Poole)

Saturday, September 15, 2012, 1-3:30 pm, Temperature, 79 degrees F., slight southerly breeze, sunny. Beautiful day.

I parked on Harrison Street and scanned the middle ponds for birds and dragonflies. I saw a female mallard sitting near shore and a Great Blue Heron was wading in the middle pond. I then walked the fisherman's trail along the south shore of the south lake. I saw a female Common Green Darner flying over the Stonebrooke Prairie. Damselflies (all bluets) were perched on dead twigs scattered along the shoreline. I took a lot of photos and identified the species on the computer after I got home. I found male Familiar Bluets, Stream Bluets (both sexes), Double-striped Bluets, Orange Bluets, Tule Bluets and several Eastern Forktails.

If you have not looked at Kevin Kane's blog and photos that he posts almost daily you are missing a real treat. In addition to photos, Kevin also passes along my field notes and Wolf Oesterreich's photos and notes. The address is: http://adahaydenpark.blogspot.com.

Erv Klaas

Sep 14, 2012: Last of Summer Flowers

Butterfly Milkweed struggles to produce the last flowers of the summer season, 9/1/12 (Kevin Kane)

Sep 13, 2012: Eyes like a Hawk

Eyes like (Red-tailed) Hawk atop a light post in the north parking lot, 9/7/12 (Kevin Kane)

Sep 12, 2012: Morning Sun

Low morning sun shines underneath dark cloud cover to give the north lake an eerie AM glow, 9/12/12 (Kevin Kane)

Sep 11, 2012: Black Swallowtail Caterpillar

Black Swallowtail caterpillar (Papilio polyxenes) found on 9 Sep 12.

Wolf Oesterreich
Ames

Sep 10, 2012: Deer on the Water

Deer gazes over the wetland, 9/9/12, (Erv Klaas)

Sep 9, 2012: Misty Kayak Race

Kayakers racing through the mist on the north lake Sunday morning, 9/9/12 (Wolf Oesterreich). 

They were part of the first heat in the Great Ames Adventure Race (GAAR).  The water race was followed by biking and running events.

Wolf Oesterreich
Ames

Sep 8, 2012: Prairie Observer

Red-tailed Hawk surveys the prairie area in and around the north parking lot from the top of the parking lot lamps at dusk, 9/7/12 (Kevin Kane)

Sep 7, 2012: Silhouette at Dusk

Lone tree at top of northwest hill silhouetted against the sky at sun down, 9/7/12 (Kevin Kane)

Sep 6, 2012: Wolf's August Species List

Red-tailed Hawk, 8/6/12 (Kevin Kane)

A total of 87 avian species (plus 1 sp.) was recorded this month. The single Least Tern was #259 for the Yard/Park List.

Listed below, following the species’ names, are the date(s) of sighting(s), plus the occasional miscellaneous information regarding numbers, gender (♂=male, ♀=female), age (im=immature, ju=juvenile, abp=adult breeding plumage, ad=adult, anb=adult non-breeding), color phase (b=blue, w=white), and location (BY=back yard). The order follows the 52nd Supplement (2011) to the American Ornithologists’ Union Check-list of North American Birds and the 11th Supplement to the 7th Edition (1998).

AVIAN
CANADA GOOSE: 1-12, 13 (~100), 14-24, 26-31
WOOD DUCK: 1 (6), 2 (5)
MALLARD: 1-24, 27-31
BLUE-WINGED TEAL: 26 (5), 27 (34)
RING-NECKED PHEASANT: 1, 4, 6, 8, 11-14, 16-21, 23, 26-27, 30-31
PIED-BILLED GREBE: 16 (13), 17 (14), 27 (20), 31 (28)
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT: 20 (1), 27 (4)
GREAT BLUE HERON: 1 (2), 2-4 (1), 5 (2), 7-9 (1), 10-11 (2), 12 (1), 13 (2), 14-18 (1), 19 (3),
20-23 (2), 24 (3), 26 (3), 27-29 (2), 30-31 (1)
GREEN HERON: 6-8 (1), 12 (1), 14-16 (1), 17 (2), 18-19 (1), 20 (2), 22-23 (2), 24 (1), 26-28 (1),
29 (2), 30-31 (1)
TURKEY VULTURE: 1 (7+), 2-12, 14-17, 19 (16+), 20, 21 (10+), 22-23, 26, 27 (17+), 28, 29 (19+),
30 (17+), 31
OSPREY: 12 (1), 18 (1), 20 (2), 22-24 (1), 28-29 (1)
COOPER’S HAWK: 6 (1), 19 (1 im)
RED-TAILED HAWK: 1-3 (1), 5 (2), 6-7 (1), 8-9 (2), 10 (1 im), 11 (2), 12-13 (1), 28 (1), 29 (2), 30 (1),
31 (2)
KILLDEER: 1-3, 5-7, 11 (1), 13-15, 16 (9+), 17-24, 26-31
SPOTTED SANDPIPER: 6 (1), 17 (1), 19 (1), 26 (1), 31 (2)
SOLITARY SANDPIPER: 24 (1)
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER: 24 (1), 30 (1)
LEAST SANDPIPER: 3 (1), 17 (1), 18 (2), 24 (14)
RING-BILLED GULL: 22 (1)
LEAST TERN: 24 (1)
FORSTER’S TERN: 16 (1)
ROCK PIGEON: 7 (1)
MOURNING DOVE: 1-7, 9-13, 15-22, 24, 26-27, 29-31
YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO: 4 (1)
BARRED OWL: 10, 18
COMMON NIGHTHAWK: 20 (5), 26 (3)
CHIMNEY SWIFT: 1, 3, 11, 13, 18-19, 23, 29-31
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD: 2 (3), 14 (1♀), 18-19 (1♀), 24 (1♀), 30 (1 im)
BELTED KINGFISHER: 1-2 (1), 4-6 (1), 7 (2), 10-12 (2), 13-14, 17 (1), 18 (2), 20-21, 26, 29, 31
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER: 20, 28, 30
DOWNY WOODPECKER: 2, 4-5, 7, 11-12, 15-17, 20, 24, 26-31
HAIRY WOODPECKER: 9, 14, 16
NORTHERN FLICKER (Yellow-shafted): 4, 8 (2), 16
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER: 13 (1), 16-17 (1), 21 (1)
EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE: 5 (1), 17 (1)
YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER: 31 (1)
ALDER FLYCATCHER: 7-9 (1)
Empidonax sp.: 3 (1), 8 (1), 17 (1), 19 (1), 20 (2), 21 (1), 27-30 (1)
EASTERN PHOEBE: 2 (1), 9, 15, 19-21 (1), 24 (1), 30 (1)
GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER: 24 (1), 27 (1)
EASTERN KINGBIRD: 1-12, 14-18, 24, 28-29
YELLOW-THROATED VIREO: 12 (1)
WARBLING VIREO: 1-2 (1), 19 (2), 21 (2), 26-27 (1), 30 (2)
PHILADELPHIA VIREO: 17 (1)
RED-EYED VIREO: 20, 30
BLUE JAY: 2, 7-8, 10-12, 14-16, 18-19, 21, 24, 31
AMERICAN CROW: 1-14, 16-24, 26-31
PURPLE MARTIN: 6 (1), 11 (4)
TREE SWALLOW: 3 (1), 9
BANK SWALLOW: 24 (1), 29 (1)
CLIFF SWALLOW: 3 (1), 7-8, 10-13, 17, 20, 22-24, 26-27, 29-30
BARN SWALLOW: 1-11, 12 (1), 13-24, 26-31
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE: 2-4, 6, 8-12, 14-22, 24, 26-31
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 8, 11-12, 14, 16-20, 22, 26, 28-31
HOUSE WREN: 1, 3-4, 10-11, 13-14, 17, 21, 27, 29-31
SEDGE WREN: 11 (1), 21 (1 im)
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER: 19 (2)
EASTERN BLUEBIRD: 5-6, 10-12, 16 (1), 18 (4), 19 (1), 20 (2), 21 (7), 29-30 (2)
AMERICAN ROBIN: 1-21, 24, 26, 29-31
GRAY CATBIRD: 1-5, 7-8, 10-21, 23, 26-28, 30-31
EUROPEAN STARLING: 18, 26
CEDAR WAXWING: 2 (4), 4 (2), 5 (1), 7 (2), 9 (3), 10 (6), 11-12, 13 (6), 14 (1), 16, 17 (4), 20 (2)
OVENBIRD: 28-29 (1)
NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH: 17 (1), 20 (1), 24 (1)
GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER: 13 (1)
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER: 13-14 (1), 19 (1), 21-22 (1), 24 (1), 29 (3), 30 (1)
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER: 17 (1)
MOURNING WARBLER: 17 (1)
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: 2-4, 6-8, 11-12, 19-20
AMERICAN REDSTART: 17 (1♀), 24 (1♀)
MAGNOLIA WARBLER: 30 (1)
YELLOW WARBLER: 15 (1st Fall ♀), 24 (1♂)
CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER: 24 (1), 28 (1)
CANADA WARBLER: 24 (1)
WILSON’S WARBLER: 17 (1♂), 24 (1♂), 26 (1♂), 27 (2♂), 28 (1♂), 31 (2♂)
CHIPPING SPARROW: 3-4, 10, 13, 18, 20, 23
SONG SPARROW: 1-16, 18-22, 24, 26-27, 30-31
NORTHERN CARDINAL: 1-19, 21, 26-31
ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK: 17 (1)
INDIGO BUNTING: 1 (1♂ im), 2-4, 7, 9, 11-12, 18, 21 (1 im), 27 (1♂ im), 31 (1♀)
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD: 1-5, 7, 9, 12 (1), 17 (1)
COMMON GRACKLE: 18
BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD: 3, 9-10, 16
ORCHARD ORIOLE: 3
BALTIMORE ORIOLE: 13 (2♂), 20 (2♂ + 1♀)
HOUSE FINCH: 4-5, 7-9, 13, 16-19, 22-24, 26, 28, 30-31
AMERICAN GOLDFINCH: 1-24, 26-31
HOUSE SPARROW: 1-3, 5-13, 16-19, 22-24, 26-28, 30-31

MAMMALIAN
AMERICAN MINK: 1 (1)
WHITE-TAILED DEER: 1 (1), 2 (1♀ w/3 fawns), 3 (1 + 1♀ w/2 fawns + 1 fawn), 6 (1), 8 (1♀ w/2
fawns), 11 (1), 12 (1 fawn), 13 (1♀ w/1 fawn + 1♀ w/2 fawns), 15 (2 fawns + 1),
17 (1♀ w/1 fawn + 1 fawn), 19 (1), 21 (1 fawn), 26 (1 fawn)
FOX SQUIRREL: 5, 9, 13, 18, 26, 28, 31
EASTERN CHIPMUNK: 11, 13-14, 18-21, 24, 26-27
THIRTEEN-LINED GROUND SQUIRREL: 1, 3-12, 14, 17-18, 20-24, 26-28
EASTERN COTTONTAIL: 1, 3-21, 23-31

REPTILIAN
NORTHERN PAINTED TURTLE: 1-12, 14-24, 26-31
EASTERN SPINY SOFTSHELL: 24 (1)

AMPHIBIAN
AMERICAN TOAD: 4, 10, 19, 26, 30
BULLFROG: 1-3, 5-24, 26-31

LEPIDOPTERA
BLACK SWALLOWTAIL: 1, 10-11, 14-15, 21-22, 24, 26-27, 29-30
EASTERN TIGER SWALLOWTAIL: 31
CABBAGE WHITE: 2, 4-11, 14-15, 17, 19-22, 24, 26-31
ORANGE SULPHUR: 2-11, 14, 17, 19, 22, 26-31
EASTERN TAILED BLUE: 1-6, 8-11, 14-15, 17, 20-23, 26-31
PEARL CRESCENT: 4, 26
QUESTION MARK: 7
MOURNING CLOAK: 10 (2), 11, 17-20, 22-24
PAINTED LADY: 1, 9-11, 16, 20, 22, 24
RED ADMIRAL: 3, 7, 9-10, 15, 17, 20, 30
COMMON BUCKEYE: 4, 6-7, 11, 23-24, 30
VICEROY: 1-2, 6, 11, 17, 20-21, 26-27
MONARCH: 1-12, 14-24, 26-31
COMMON SOOTYWING: 3

ODONATA
AMERICAN RUBYSPOT: 3 (1♂, 1♀), 4 (1♂), 5 (1♂, 1♀), 7-10 (1♂), 15-16 (1♂), 17 (2♂), 22 (1♂),
23 (2♂, 1♀), 24 (1♂), 26-28 (2♂), 29 (1♂)
Spreadwing sp.: 20 (tandem pair), 26
BLUE-FRONTED DANCER: 1-11, 14-15, 20, 22-24, 26-31
POWDERED DANCER: 1-11, 14-17, 20-24, 26-31
BLUE-TIPPED DANCER: 3, 9, 22-24, 26, 29-30
RAINBOW BLUET: 6-7, 9-10, 17, 23-24, 27-28
DOUBLE-STRIPED BLUET: 1-2, 4, 9, 15, 17, 21-22, 24, 26-27, 30-31
TULE BLUET: 1-4, 6-7, 9-10, 15, 17, 20-24, 27-28, 31
FAMILIAR BLUET: 1-4, 6-7, 9, 11, 14, 17, 20-24, 26-31
SKIMMING BLUET: 7, 14-15, 17, 21, 23-24
ORANGE BLUET: 2-3, 6, 10, 14, 17, 21, 23, 28-30
EASTERN FORKTAIL: 1, 6, 9, 11, 14-15, 17, 20, 22, 26-28, 30-31
COMMON GREEN DARNER: 1-7, 10-11, 14, 21-24, 26-28, 30
FLAG-TAILED SPINYLEG: 1-4, 6 (2), 10, 28, 31
PRINCE BASKETTAIL: 4-7, 9-11, 16, 21, 24, 27
HALLOWEEN PENNANT: 2-4, 6, 10
EASTERN PONDHAWK: 2-4, 6-7, 9-10, 14-15, 17, 26-28, 31
WIDOW SKIMMER: 1-7, 9-11, 14-16, 20-22, 24, 26-31
COMMON WHITETAIL: 1-2, 5-7, 9-10, 15, 17-18, 20-24, 26-28, 30-31
TWELVE-SPOTTED SKIMMER: 1-11, 14-15, 17, 20-24, 26-28, 31
BLUE DASHER: 1-3, 5-7, 9, 11, 14-15, 21-24, 26-31
WANDERING GLIDER: 1-2, 7, 21, 27
EASTERN AMBERWING: 1-3, 6, 9-10, 15-17, 20-24, 27, 29-31
VARIEGATED MEADOWHAWK: 2-3, 28
WHITE-FACED MEADOWHAWK: 20
RUBY MEADOWHAWK: 26
BAND-WINGED MEADOWHAWK: 3 (1), 6
Meadowhawk sp.: 4, 11
BLACK SADDLEBAGS: 1-6, 9, 11, 14-15, 17, 21, 24, 27
RED SADDLEBAGS: 3 (1), 11, 24

Wolf Oesterreich
Ames

Sep 5, 2012: Lower Water Level

Kayaker floats southward on east shore of south lake, 9/1/12 (Kevin Kane)

Since the city has been pumping water from the lake to the Skunk River to recharge the Ames aquifer, there has been a noticeable change in the water level of the lakes as more and more shoreline is revealed.

Sep 4, 2012: Sumac Turning

Sumac on upland trail near Jensen pond starting to turn color, 9/1/12 (Kevin Kane)

More info on Sumac

 

 

Sep 3, 2012: Common Green Darners

Common Green Darners, 9/1/12 (Wolf Oesterreich)

This tandem pair of Common Green Darners was found at what was Pond G.  The male was holding onto the female while she was depositing eggs deep inside the crack where there was suitable moisture.

Wolf

Sep 2, 2012: Ruby-throated Hummingbird

 Ruby-throated Hummingbird, 9/1/12 (Wolf Oesterreich)

This juvenile Ruby-throated Hummingbird was found in the bluff woods. Note the shortness to the bill length and the overall whiteness underneath.

Wolf

Sep 1, 2012: Harvest Time

Two bees collect pollen from a Field Thistle on the southwest prairie area, 9/1/2012 (Kevin Kane)