Jan 31, 2013: January 2013 Collage

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

Jan 30, 2013: Jensen Pond

Jensen Pond after today's snowfall.  Part of Wolf's monthly photo series.  1/30/13 (Wolf Oesterreich)

Jan 29, 2013: Wolf's 1997-2012 Bird List

Swans and geese on the south lake's open water area. 1/27/13 (Kevin Kane)

Attached is the bird list for Ada Hayden Heritage Park for the years 1997-2012. 
Wolf. Oesterreich

Jan 28, 2013: Ice Rink

Some enterprising skaters formed their own ice rink on the north shore of the north lake.  1/21/13 (Kevin Kane)

Jan 27, 2013: Erv's Field Notes #52

Panorama of south lake looking west to north from southeast shore. I counted 11 swans on the lake tonight.  1/27/13 (Kevin Kane)

Saturday, January 26, 2013. 2:00 pm. Sunny, brisk wind from the southwest, Temperature 26 degrees F.
I parked in the lot on Harrison Street and walked east on the path around the south lake. Along the way I checked the cedar trees where I have found owl pellets on previous walks but there were none there today. Perhaps the owl has moved on. The area of open water is smaller today; we have had several nights of single-digit temperatures. The large flock of Canada Geese is still here along with a few dozen Cackling Geese and Mallards. A couple of Common Mergansers were swimming in the open water and the lone Redhead, the one that has been here since November, was seen but it no longer seems to be associated with the Mallards.

I met up with Wolf Oesterreich and asked him about the ten Trumpeter Swans that he has been seeing the last several days. He said they don’t show up until about 4 pm.

A lone swan that has been on the lake for nearly a month turned out to be a Tundra Swan. After the Trumpeters came, the Tundra Swan began coming and going with them every day. Where do they go? We have no clue; probably somewhere there is food. Tundra Swans nest in northwest Canada and Alaska and most of them winter on the East Coast from Maryland to the Carolinas. They are migratory through Minnesota and Wisconsin and northern Iowa and large numbers can be seen on the Mississippi River around LaCrosse, WI in the fall. This one has strayed from the usual migratory path of this species and it seems it has decided to stay the winter in Iowa.

I finished my walk around the lake about 3:30 and decided to go to the grocery store before returning to the park about 4:10 to see the swans. There they were, four adults, one with a red neckband. After a few minutes four more flew in from the west, two adults and two juveniles. All eight were Trumpeters. I did not stick around to see if the Tundra returned later. You early morning walkers might want to look for it.

Erv Klaas

Jan 26, 2013: Tundra Swan

Tundra Swan among the geese. 1/25/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

This Tundra Swan has been present on-and-off on the south lake since 23 Dec. It was the only swan present for most of this period. However, up to 10 Trumpeter Swans have been showing up lately, including the female "7K4" and her two youngsters (this year's brood). This Tundra Swan is one of the 10% of Tundra Swans that do not show the yellow spot in front of the eyes. Compared to a Trumpeter, the Tundra is a bit smaller and the eye is more prominent. For the past three nights 11 swans have flown in after 4pm. The Tundra tends to drift off towards the Canada Geese.

This is a digiscoped photograph (point-and-shoot camera shooting through the eyepiece of a spotting scope).

Wolf. Oesterreich

Jan 25, 2013: North Wetlands

North wetland area looking east-southeast from the northwest upland. 1/25/13
Compare with the same area from 1/25/11 below. (Wolf. Oesterreich)

We are adding another feature to the blog starting today!  Wolf as you know is on constant patrol through the park (at least it seems that way).  Over the last several years he has been taken photography of the landscape of the park from the same spots on different days of the month.  I'll be posting some of those photos as he sends them to me and also bringing some out of the archives.  I'll post a map of where he takes his photos and on what days for reference.  Hope you enjoy! - Kevin

Jan 24, 2013: Swans, Geese, & Ducks

Swans, geese, and ducks all mingle near the edge of the open water on a foggy, cold morning on the east shore of the south lake. 1/21/13 (Kevin Kane)

Jan 23, 2013: Trumpeter Swans

A pair of Trumpeter Swans that showed up on the 18th and have been present every day since then. 1/21/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Jan 22, 2013: Snow Dunes

Snow "dunes" on the south lake ice. 1/21/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Jan 21, 2013: Frigid!

Extremely cold morning (-28 wind chill) on lake made from some great photos (thanks Kelly!), although the camera froze twice and date/time reset to 2005! Here one of the 7 swans mixed in with the geese and ducks raises up out of the water, partially clouded from the lake effect fog. 1/21/13 (Kevin Kane)

Jan 20, 2013: Snow and Cold

Light snow falls over the upland trail, looking northeast. 1/20/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Jan 19, 2013: Sunset in Ice

Sunset reflection in the puddles on the south lake's west bay ice. 1/18/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Jan 18, 2013: Banded

Canada Goose with yellow neckband, Code JE52.  Wolf says it was banded
in the Twin Cities area. 1/18/13 (Erv Klaas)

Jan 17, 2013: Wolf's 2012 Annual Species Summary

Wolf Oesterreich tirelessly patrols the park, documenting the wildlife and weather daily - a true Friend of Ada Hayden Heritage Park! 12/19/12 (Kevin Kane)

I recorded a total of 189 species (plus 8 sp.) at Ada Hayden Heritage Park in 2012, ranking this year as the 8th highest among 16 years of records.  The mean of all the years is 167.1 species, with a range of 51 (1997) to 206 (2011).  Of course, if one were to remove the 1st year which only represents one month, the 15-year mean is 174.8 species, with a range of 128 (1998) to 206 (2011).  Three species (Wild Turkey, Least Tern, & Tufted Titmouse) were added to the List, which now totals 260 species.  Fall migration was pitiful, with no Greater White-fronted Geese, scoters, and loons.  Even waterfowl numbers were down.  Drought and heat conditions were probably a factor in fewer shorebirds, warblers, and blackbirds.  Notably absent from the List this year include the following: Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Eared Grebe, American Bittern, Cattle Egret, Rough-legged Hawk, Hudsonian Godwit, Marble Godwit, Stilt Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Long-billed Dowitcher, Black Tern, Red-headed Woodpecker, Bell’s Vireo, Blackburnian Warbler, Western Meadowlark, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, and Purple Finch. 

Wolf. Oesterreich

Jan 16, 2013: A Haven for Geese

Thousands of geese continue to come and go into the open water of the south lake.  1/13/13 (Wolf Oesterreich)

Variable temperatures and winds continue to reshape the open water area that the geese crowd into.  At dusk, hundreds at a time take off for the fields around the park to feed.  It's an awesome sight if you can get out to see it.  - Kevin

Jan 15, 2013: Hockey

These hockey players are getting in a little practice as the sun sets behind them. 1/15/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Jan 14, 2012: Geese at Water's Edge

Two geese contemplate a dip in the cold water next to the ice shelf on the south lake at sunset. 1/13/13 (Kevin Kane)

Jan 13, 2013: Bald Eagles

These two adult Bald Eagles were on the south lake ice, near the trail along the east side.  The larger one was feeding on the remains of a Canada Goose carcass.  Eventually it took off with the carcass in its talons.  1/13/13 (Wolf Oesterreich)
Winter is a good time to see lots of Bald Eagles, especially along open rivers (below the dams at Saylorville & Red Rock). You might want to consider attending a "Bald Eagle Day" event. I believe that the one at Lake Red Rock (+ activities in Pella) is on 26 January, while the one at Saylorville Lake is on 26 February (Visitor Center).

Wolf. Oesterreich

Jan 12, 2013: Dark-eyed Junco

Dark-eyed Junco. 1/10/13 (Wolf Oesterrreich)

The Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored race) is a common Winter visitor to our area and feeders. Many times you'll find them beneath the feeders picking at the fallen seed. The females are more brownish-gray. They breed in the coniferous or mixed woodlands to the north.

Wolf. Oesterreich

Jan 11, 2013: Fog

Record high temperatures produced heavy fog over the park on Friday morning which allowed me to get a little closer to the geese than usual. 1/11/13 (Kevin Kane)

Jan 10, 2013: Cooper's Hawk

Cooper's Hawk. 1/10/13 (Wolf Oesterreich)

Watch for Cooper's Hawks visiting your backyards. This one is an immature. An adult visited later in the day. Cooper's Hawks prey on song birds and small mammals. Their cousin, the Sharp-shinned Hawk is smaller (although a female Sharpie may overlap with a male Cooper's). Cooper's have a rounded tail while the Sharpie has a squared tail.

Wolf. Oesterreich

Jan 9, 2013: Flight

Geese take flight from south lake. 1/4/13 (Erv Klaas)

 

Jan 8, 2013: Melting...

Warmer temperatures have the snow and top layers of lake ice melting.  South lake looking southwest. 12/24/12 (Kevin Kane)

Jan 7, 2013: Open Water

The geese on the south lake are still winning the battle to keep the ice at bay.  1/4/13 (Erv Klaas)

Jan 6, 2013: Black-capp​ed Chickadee

Black-capped Chickadees are abundant permanent residents in Iowa.  They certainly are a delight to watch as they come in and grab a seed from the feeders. Weighing only 0.39 oz, they aren't easily intimidated. 1/3/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Jan 5, 2013: Erv's Field Notes #51

Ice still thin in some spots on south lake despite the cold temperatures.  12/31/12 (Kelly Poole)

Friday, January 4, 2013, 3 pm. Cloudless blue sky, Southwest breeze, Temperature 27 degrees F.

I parked in the Harrison Street lot and walked around the south lake. I talked to a fisherman who was loading up his ice fishing equipment into his car. He said he drilled two holes in the ice on the south lake and it was only four inches thick. He said that four inches wasn’t safe for an old fat guy, so, he was moving to the north lake where the ice was nine inches thick. I saw several ice fishing groups on the north lake, including two tent shelters.

There is still a large area of open water in the south lake and I estimated 2000 geese and several hundred ducks were spread out around the open water sleeping on the snow covered ice. Most of the ducks were in the water and most of the geese were on the ice. I met up with Wolf Oesterreich and we exchanged notes. He said that the Trumpeter Swan that had been here for the past two weeks was not present today. Besides the Mallards and Canada Geese, other waterfowl present were a couple of dozen Cackling Geese, two Widgeon, and one male Redhead Duck. (We believe this is the same Redhead that showed up with a group of Mallards in November.) Other species observed were Tree Sparrows, Song Sparrows, and American Crows. Wolf reported seeing a Northern Shrike near the north lake as he was making his rounds.

At about 3:30 pm ducks began leaving the lake and flying northwest. A few minutes later, geese began leaving also. Some went northwest and others flew westward. This is the time of day when the flocks go out to find food in the harvested crop fields. A couple of days ago, I saw a large flock feeding in a corn-stubble field north of the park along Hwy 69. I guess enough snow had blown off to expose the corn.

In a previous field note, I mentioned picking up about 20 owl pellets under a cedar tree near the south lake. I have now completed dissecting the pellets. This process is like opening a Pandora’s box because you never know what you are going to find. Owls swallow their prey whole, digest the flesh from the animal and then regurgitate the leftover hair and bones in a large compact wad. The stomach muscles must rotate the pellet for several hours fusing the hair and bones together. Dissection involves teasing apart the hair and bones with a fine forceps. The larger bones of all mammals, including humans, have a distinctive shape. Thus, I was able to sort them out into piles; leg bones in one pile, pelvic and pectoral girdles (scapulae) into one pile, and so on. Smaller bones such as ribs, foot bones and vertebrae are not well represented in the pellets because they are probably broken up into small fragments and digested in the stomach of the owl. The skull is the most important of the skeletal remains because it can be used to identify the species.

In this collection, most of the larger pellets had one or two skulls along with the leg bones and other skeletal parts. The cranium and zygomatic arches around the eye sockets were usually missing because of the grinding action in the owl’s stomach. However, the anterior nostrum, maxilla, and teeth were intact, as were the separate left and right lower jaws. I have not yet counted the number of animals represented in this collection but all were mice except for one small and one large shrew. Species identification will have to wait until I can take the skulls to ISU and examine them more closely under a microscope and compare them with skeletal material in the museum collection. The mice are probably deer mice and harvest mice; the larger of the shrews is probably the short-tailed shrew, Blarina brevicauda and the smaller one is probably the masked shrew, Sorex cinereus. The latter is the second smallest shrew in North America.

Erv Klaas

Jan 4, 2013: Goldfinch

This male American Goldfinch adds a splash of color, even in its drab Winter plumage, to the bleakness of the Winter months.  Goldfinches are present year-round and is one of the later nesters (early July to late September).  The goldfinch is also the state bird of Iowa (although with its old name - Eastern Goldfinch). 1/4/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Jan 3, 2013: Inuksuit in the Snow

The Inuksuit sculpture stands out against the fozen land and water that surrounds it. 12/31/12 (Kelly Poole)

Jan 2, 2013: Wolf's December Species List

Geese lost open water to the ice as the temperatures dropped during December.  South lake looking south from bridge, 12/31/12 (Kelly Poole).

A total of 57 avian species (plus 1 sp.) was recorded this month at Ada Hayden Heritage Park (and my backyard).


Based on citations in the 3rd Edition of “The Birds of Story County, Iowa,” by Stephen J. Dinsmore and Hank Zaletel (2001), plus my personal updates to the records, the male Wood Duck on the 18th, the female Gadwall on the 31st, and the male Redhead on the 31stall tie the extreme late Fall records for Story County (1999 on Ames CBC, 2006 at AHHP, & 2004 at AHHP, respectively).

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, FY=front 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
     SNOW GOOSE: 1 (3 ad w, 2 im w, 2 ad b), 5 (2 ad w, 1 ad b), 6 (1 ad w), 10 (6 ad w, 4 ad b),
                                    11 (1 ad w), 12 (4 ad w), 13 (4 ad w), 14 (3 ad w), 15 (4 ad w)
     ROSS’S GOOSE: 1 (1 ad w), 4 (1 ad w), 10 (1 ad w)
     CACKLING GOOSE: 1, 4-6, 8-15, 17 (19+), 18-19, 21-28, 30-31
     CANADA GOOSE: 1-15, 17-28, 30-31
     TRUMPETER SWAN: 13 (9 ad), 20 (6 ad), 23 (1 ad), 25-28 (1 ad), 30-31 (1 ad)
     WOOD DUCK: 18 (1♂)
     GADWALL: 28 (1♀), 30-31 (1♀)
     AMERICAN WIGEON: 2 (1♀), 3 (1♂ + 1♀), 8 (1♂ + 1♀), 10-14 (1♂ + 1♀), 22 (1♂ + 3♀),
                                    23-24 (1♂ + 1♀), 28 (1♂ + 2♀), 30 (1♀), 31 (1♂ + 1♀)
     AMERICAN BLACK DUCK: 11-14 (1♂), 23 (1♂), 27 (1♂), 31 (1♂)
     MALLARD: 1-15, 17-28, 30-31
     NORTHERN SHOVELER: 11 (1♀), 14 (1♀)
     NORTHERN PINTAIL: 11-12 (1♂)
     CANVASBACK: 19 (2♂)
     REDHEAD: 1 (1♂), 3 (1), 5-6 (1♂), 8 (1♂), 10 (1♂), 21-24 (1♂), 27 (1♂), 30-31 (1♂)
     LESSER SCAUP: 5 (1♀), 8 (6♂ + 2♀), 10 (28♂ + 18♀), 11 (3♂), 12 (1♂)
     BUFFLEHEAD: 3 (1♂), 10 (2♂)
     COMMON GOLDENEYE: 11 (2♂ + 2♀), 12 (1♂), 14 (1♂)
     HOODED MERGANSER: 7 (1♀), 14 (5♀), 15 (4♀), 17 (1♀), 21-23 (2♀)
     COMMON MERGANSER: 14 (1♂), 19 (2♂), 22 (1♂ + 4♀)
     RUDDY DUCK: 11 (1♀)
     RING-NECKED PHEASANT: 2-3, 4 (1♂ BY), 6-7, 9 (1♂ BY), 11, 13 (1♂ BY), 15 (1♂ BY), 19,
                                    20 (1♂ BY), 21, 25 (1♂ BY), 26, 27 (1♂ BY), 28 (20+), 31 (1♂ BY + 2)
     BALD EAGLE: 3 (1 im), 9-10 (1 im), 12 (1 ad + 1 im), 14-15 (1 ad), 18 (1 im), 19 (1 ad), 21-22 (1 ad),
                                    24 (1 ad + 1 im), 25-26 (1 ad), 27 (1 im + 1 ad)
     COOPER’S HAWK: 2 (1 BY), 3 (1 ad BY), 5 (1 ad BY), 7 (1 ad BY + 1 im BY), 8-9 (1 ad BY),
                                    11 (1 ad BY), 13-14 (1 ad BY), 15 (1 ad + 1 im + 1 ad BY), 19 (1 ad),
                                    21 (1 im BY), 22 (1), 27-28 (1)
     RED-TAILED HAWK: 1 (1), 2 (2), 3-7 (1), 8 (2), 9 (1), 10-11 (3), 12-13 (2), 14-15 (1), 18 (2), 19 (3),
                                    21 (1 im), 22-23 (1), 24 (1 BY), 26 (1), 27 (1 + 1 dark), 28 (2), 30 (2), 31 (3)
     MERLIN: 17 (1♀ prairie)
     AMERICAN COOT: 1-5 (4), 6 (5), 7 (6), 8 (7), 9-10 (6), 11-15 (5), 17-19 (4), 21 (3), 22 (2), 24 (1),
                                    27 (1)
     RING-BILLED GULL: 1 (1), 5 (7), 6 (1), 10 (3), 13 (1)
     HERRING GULL: 4 (1)
     ROCK PIGEON: 19 (4)
     MOURNING DOVE: 4 (1), 20 (1 BY), 28 (1 BY + 2), 31 (1 + 1 BY)
     GREAT HORNED OWL: 8 (1), 10 (1), 12 (1)
     BARRED OWL: 19 (1)
     Owl sp.: 9 (1)
     BELTED KINGFISHER: 14 (1), 17-18 (1♂), 19 (1), 21 (1♂)
     RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER: 1-5, 7-8, 10-12, 14, 17-19, 22, 24, 28
     DOWNY WOODPECKER: 1-15, 17-28, 30-31
     HAIRY WOODPECKER: 2, 4-6, 12, 22
     NORTHERN FLICKER (Yellow-shafted): 11 (1♀ BY)
     NORTHERN SHRIKE: 3 (1), 13 (1), 14 (2), 15 (1), 17-19 (1), 27 (1)
     BLUE JAY: 1-12, 14-15, 17-19, 21-28, 30-31
     AMERICAN CROW: 1-15, 17-28, 30-31
     BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE: 1-15, 17-28, 30-31
     WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 1-6, 8, 10-15, 17-24, 27-28, 30
     AMERICAN ROBIN: 22 (1)
     EUROPEAN STARLING: 1-8, 10, 12-15, 17-28, 30-31
     CEDAR WAXWING: 1 (2 BY), 2 (31 BY), 6 (1 BY), 8 (10 BY), 11 (16 BY), 17 (12 BY), 19 (17 BY),
                                    21 (5 BY), 22 (12), 24 (1 BY), 25 (4 BY)
     AMERICAN TREE SPARROW: 1-15, 17-28, 30-31
     SONG SPARROW: 3 (1), 6 (2), 10 (1), 15 (1), 21 (3), 22-23 (2), 24 (3), 27-28 (4), 30 (3), 31 (5)
     SWAMP SPARROW: 6 (1)
     HARRIS’S SPARROW: 19 (1 BY)
     WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW: 2 (4), 6 (2), 9 (2), 12 (1), 15 (2)
     DARK-EYED JUNCO (Slate-colored): 1-15, 17-28, 30-31
     DARK-EYED JUNCO (Oregon): 5 (1 BY), 17 (1 BY), 22 (1 BY)
     NORTHERN CARDINAL: 1-15, 17-28, 30-31
     RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD: 8 (17+), 13 (5)
     COMMON GRACKLE: 8 (3 BY)
     HOUSE FINCH: 1-15, 17-28, 30-31
     AMERICAN GOLDFINCH: 1-3, 5-15, 17-18, 20, 22-25, 27-28, 30-31
     HOUSE SPARROW: 1-15, 17-28, 30-31

Unless indicated otherwise, the White-tailed Deer were antlerless.  The yearlings were just about the same size as the adults.

MAMMALIAN
     COYOTE: 13 (yipping at night)
     WHITE-TAILED DEER: 1 (1), 4 (5), 6 (7), 7 (5), 8 (1♂ + 3), 15 (4♂ + 3), 19 (2), 20 (4 BY),
                                    21 (1♂ + 2 + 4 BY), 22 (3 BY + 4), 23 (7), 24 (4 BY), 25 (3 BY), 26 (4 BY),
                                    27 (2 BY), 28 (2 BY + 1), 30 (3 BY), 31 (9 + 5 BY)
     FOX SQUIRREL: 1-15, 17-28, 30-31
     MUSKRAT: 7 (1)
     EASTERN COTTONTAIL: 2-4, 9, 12, 18, 20-21, 23-28, 30

REPTILIAN
     NORTHERN PAINTED TURTLE: 4 (2)

AMPHIBIAN
            BULLFROG: 3 (1)

Wolf. Oesterreich
Ames

Jan 1, 2013: Happy New Year! Erv's Field Notes #50

The sun rises and welcomes the new year over Ada Hayden Park. Taken from the northwest corner of the park looking east over the north lake (-6 degrees!) - 1/1/13 (Kevin Kane)

New Years Day, 2013. Clear and cold.

I wish all of you a Happy New Year in 2013. And, on behalf of myself and the Board of Directors, thanks to everyone who renewed their membership with Friends of Ada Hayden Heritage Park at the end of the year. Your support will help us accomplish our goals for the coming year. A special thanks to Jon Hunstock for keeping our financial records in order, and to Wolf Oesterreich and Kevin Kane for their frequent contributions of photos and stories on the blogspot. If you haven’t looked at the blogspot, here is the address:
http://adahaydenpark.blogspot.com/2012/12/dec-31-2012-december-photo-collage.html

By the way, the lake is almost completely frozen over. A large flock of Canada Geese, Mallards and one Trumpeter Swan are still hanging out in and around a small area of open water on the south lake. Ice fishing has started on the north lake. If the extreme cold weather persists, the open water will probably disappear and the birds will have to move somewhere else.

Erv Klaas