Sep 30, 2013: September 2013 Collage

September 2013 photos from the blog by Kevin Kane, Wolf. Oesterreich, Kelly Poole, Erv Klaas, Robin Ubben Kennedy, and Rex Heer.

Sep 29, 2013: Pelicans

Pelicans fill the sky on a beautiful sunny day at the park. 9/29/13 (Rex Heer)

Sep 28, 2013: Milkweed Seed

Milkweed seed is beginning to float through the park finding a home for the spring. 9/22/13 (Kevin Kane)

Sept 27, 2013: Last of the Golden Flowers

Stiff Glodenrod in the prairie north of the shelter. 9/22/13 (Kevin Kane)

Sep 26, 2013: White-lined Sphinx Caterpillar

Markings of the White-lined Sphinx caterpillar can differ considerably, depending on the climate.  All the ones I have seen at the Park appear like this one.  In late Summer and early Fall they are often seen migrating along the ground on their way to finding the perfect soil in which to stage their next metamorphosis. 9/24/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Sep 25, 2013: Foggy Sunrise

Thick fog covered the lake this morning at sunrise.  9/25/13 (Kevin Kane)

Sep 24, 2013: Fishing

This Great Blue Heron was 'fishing' Saturday morning. Two Pied-billed Grebes can be seen above the point. 9/21/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Sep 23, 2013: Great Day in the Park!

The first day of fall turned out to be a beautiful one whether you were hiking, biking, or in the case of these boaters, on the water! 9/22/13 (Kevin Kane)

Sep 22, 2013: Sunset on the Autumnal Equinox

People congregate on the fishing pier as the sun sets on the autumnal equinox.  9/22/13 (Kevin Kane)

Sep 21, 2013: Fall Grasses

Prairie grasses are turning brown in the park and ready for seed harvesting. 9/22/13 (Kevin Kane)

Sep 20, 2013: Fall Geese

Some of the first geese of fall take to the skies above the south lake outlet. 9/18/13 (Kevin Kane)

Sep 19, 2013: Geese and Kayaks

Kayakers and geese share the south lake's west inlet at sundown. 9/18/13 (Kevin Kane)

Sep 18, 2013: Sunset

Sunset on the south lake. 9/18/13 (Kevin Kane)

Sep 17, 2013: Cloudy Day

Cloudy day on the south lake looking north along the east shore to the bridge. 9/18/13 (Kevin Kane)

Sep 16, 2013: Dragonflies

Familiar Bluet pair, female laying eggs; Eastern Forktail female laying eggs. 9/18/13 (Erv Klaas)

Sep 15, 2013: Blue-headed Vireo

The Blue-headed Vireo was once part of the Solitary Vireo complex.  A few years ago this complex was split into 3 species (Blue-headed, Cassin's, & Plumbeous).  This species is usually found during Spring and Fall migration.  This individual was found at the bluff woods, along with several warbler species on 9/16. (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Sep 14, 2013: Swamp Milkweed

A Monarch caterpillar climbs a Swamp Milkweed near the north lake. 8/6/13 (Kelly Poole)

Sep 13, 2013: Thunderhead

A large storm forms southeast of the park, looking from the north lake boat dock.  This storm was over Newton at the time. 9/10/13 (Kevin Kane)

Sep 12, 2013: Blanchard's Cricket Frog

This Blanchard's Cricket Frog, a subspecies of the Northern Cricket Frog, was found amongst the rip-rap adjacent to the spillway (SE corner of the south lake).  They are small (0.6-1.5 inches), with distinct warts on the back, white belly, and a faint reddish line down the middle of the back (faintly visible on this specimen).  They are quite vocal in Spring and sound like marbles being tapped together. 9/10/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Sep 11, 2013: Thursday, 9/12 Event - Prairie Words

View of the prairie along the northern hills looking, north east. 8/20/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Hayden Park News 9

Friendly reminder:

September 12, 2013. Thursday, 6:00-8:00 pm. Prairie Words: Shared Readings Related to Prairies. Bring your favorite readings or poems about prairies and join with others to celebrate our prairie heritage. Enter the main entrance to the park off Highway 69 and meet at the shelter next to the parking lot north of the lake. Find Ada Hayden’s Heritage Rock next to the shelter. We will walk to a nearby prairie. Bring along a folding chair or blanket to sit on, and a picnic basket if you wish. The weather forecast is for good weather and mild temperatures.

Erv Klaas

Sep 10, 2013: Storm Front at Sunset

Edge of storm front slides over the north lake at 7:45 Tuesday evening (looking west). 9/11/13 (Kevin Kane)

Sep 9, 2013: Northern Spiny Softshell Turtle

This Northern Spiny Softshell Turtle was found at the southwest corner of the north lake's west bay, on the trail.  [Prior to 2011 it was known as the Western Spiny Softshell Turtle (Apalone spinifera hartwegi).  It is now synonymized to A. s. spinifera.]  Although not visible on this specimen, this turtle gets its name from the spiny, cone-like projections on the leading edge of the carapace.  Another characteristic for this species is the ridge in each nostril, which was present on this turtle.  After obtaining some photographs I picked up the turtle and released it into the north lake. 9/5/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Sep 8, 2013: The Great Ames Adventure Race (GAAR) 2013

The Great Ames Adventure Race (GAAR) was held this morning (Sunday) under an overcast sky.  The 2.7 mile canoe/kayak race around the main lakes led off the event.  This was followed by a 15 mile bike race and ended with a 5K running event around the Park. 9/7/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Sep 7, 2013: Wolf's Species List, August 2013

This fledgling Northern Cardinal was found on the ground and it hopped across the trail before I was able to catch it.  I placed it on a branch in the tree where its parents were calling incessantly. 8/29/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
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A total of 76 avian species (plus 2 sp.) was recorded this month, ranking this month as the 9th lowest and 8th highest August among 16 years of records.

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 53rd Supplement (2012) to the American Ornithologists’ Union Check-list of North American Birds and the 12th Supplement to the 7th Edition (1998).

AVIAN
     CANADA GOOSE: 1-12, 14-15, 27, 29, 30 (1), 31
     WOOD DUCK: 1-17, 19-25, 29 (2)
     MALLARD: 1-31
     RING-NECKED PHEASANT: 1-6, 9, 11-14, 22-24, 26-31
     PIED-BILLED GREBE: 20 (1), 31 (1)
     DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT: 28 (20), 31 (4)
     GREAT BLUE HERON: 1-2 (4), 3-5 (5), 6 (4), 7 (6), 8-10 (5), 11 (10), 12 (5), 13 (6), 14 (7), 15 (6),
                                    16 (2), 17 (5), 18 (3), 19 (4), 20 (3), 21 (5), 22 (4), 23 (2), 24 (5), 25 (1), 27 (1),
                                    28-29 (2), 30-31 (4)
     GREAT EGRET: 2 91), 8-11 (1)
     GREEN HERON: 1 (3), 2 (2), 3 (4), 4 (2), 5 (1), 6-7 (2), 8 (1), 9 (2), 10 (4), 11 (3), 12 (3), 13 (1), 14 (2),
                                    15 (4), 16-17 (2), 19-20 (1), 22 (3), 23 (2), 25 (1), 26 (4), 30 (1)
     TURKEY VULTURE: 2-4 (1), 5 (2), 6 (11+), 7 (4), 8-9 (3), 11 (11), 12 (10), 13 (4), 15 (8), 19 (3),
                                    20 (5), 21 (15+), 22 (14+), 23 (6+), 24 (3), 25 (1), 26 (4), 27 (6+), 28 (2), 29 (5),
                                    30 (9)
     OSPREY: 12 (1), 22 (1), 25 (1)
     BALD EAGLE: 20 (1 ad), 23 (1 ad), 31 (1 ad)
     NORTHERN HARRIER: 22 (1♂)
     COOPER’S HAWK: 24 (1 im BY), 26 (1 im BY)
     RED-TAILED HAWK: 1 (2), 2 (1), 3 (4), 4-5 (3), 7 (2), 8-10 (1), 11-12 (2), 13-14 (1), 16-18 (2), 19 (1),
                                    20 (1 im), 21 (3), 22-23 (2), 24 (2 ad + 1 im), 25-27 (1)
     KILLDEER: 1-19, 23-31
     SPOTTED SANDPIPER: 2 (1), 3 (2), 5 (1), 7 (1), 8-9 (2), 11 (1)
     SOLITARY SANDPIPER: 1 (1), 2 (2), 3 (1), 7 (1)
     SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER: 1 (3), 2 (1), 6 (1)
     LEAST SANDPIPER: 3 (4), 7 (3), 12 (1)
     Sandpiper sp.: 17 (2)
     RING-BILLED GULL: 23 (1)
     CASPIAN TERN: 11 (1), 23 (1)
     FORSTER’S TERN: 7 (4), 20 (2)
     ROCK PIGEON: 9 (1)
     MOURNING DOVE: 1-11, 13-26, 28-31
     BARRED OWL: 23 (1)
     COMMON NIGHTHAWK: 31
     CHIMNEY SWIFT: 2, 7-8 (2), 21, 25, 28
     RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD: 3 (1), 9 (1), 11-12 (1), 14 (1), 16 (1), 20-21 (1), 23-24 (1), 27 (1),
                                    31 (1)
     BELTED KINGFISHER: 2 (1♂), 3-4 (1), 6-7 (1), 10 (1♂, 1♀), 11 (5), 13 (1♀), 14 (1), 16-17 (1),
                                    29-30 (1♂)
     RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER: 6
     DOWNY WOODPECKER: 1-6, 8, 10-11, 13, 17, 21-24, 31
     NORTHERN FLICKER (Yellow-shafted): 5, 9, 11, 14, 18, 28 (1), 31
     OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER: 23 (1)
     EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE: 21 (1), 27-28 (1)
     LEAST FLYCATCHER: 27 (1), 31 (1)
     Empidonax sp.: 23 (1), 26 (1), 27-28 (3), 29 (2), 30-31 (4)
     EASTERN PHOEBE: 6 (1), 23 (1)
     EASTERN KINGBIRD: 1 (2), 2 (6), 3 (5), 4 (4), 5 (6+), 6 (7+), 7 (4), 8 (2), 9 (3), 10 (1), 11 (9), 12,
                                    13 (1), 14 (3), 16 (4), 17 (1), 19 (3), 22 1), 24 (3), 25-26 (2), 27-28 (1), 29 (2),
                                    30 (4), 31 (2)
     WARBLING VIREO: 1-2, 22 (4), 23 (1), 27 (1), 30-31
     PHILADELPHIA VIREO: 27 (1)
     BLUE JAY: 2-5, 9, 11-14, 18, 21, 24, 30-31
     AMERICAN CROW: 1-18, 20-31
     PURPLE MARTIN: 1-4, 7 (1), 9 (1), 11 (2), 24 (1), 26 (2), 31 (1)
     NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW: 5-6, 8-9, 22, 31
     BANK SWALLOW: 7, 9, 21, 23
     CLIFF SWALLOW: 2, 7, 9, 14-15, 17, 19-28, 30-31
     BARN SWALLOW: 1-3, 4-31
     BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE: 2-12, 15, 18, 22-27, 29-31
     WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 6, 11, 14, 24, 30-31
     HOUSE WREN: 2-9, 11, 14, 17, 21-23, 28-31
     SEDGE WREN: 2 (1), 4-5 (1), 7 (3), 8-9 (2), 10-11 (4), 12-15 (1), 16 (2), 17-18 (1)
     EASTERN BLUEBIRD: 3 (1), 6 (2), 7 (1♂, 1♀), 8, 11-12, 16, 19 (1), 30
     SWAINSON’S THRUSH: 23 (1)
     AMERICAN ROBIN: 1-31
     GRAY CATBIRD: 1-3, 5, 7-8, 10-11, 13-15, 18, 20-24, 26, 28-31
     BROWN THRASHER: 3 (1)
     EUROPEAN STARLING: 9, 14-19, 23, 25, 27, 29-31
     CEDAR WAXWING: 4-5 (1), 7-8 (1), 9 (5), 11 (1), 12 (3), 15 (3), 22 (1), 26 (3), 28 (1), 29-30 (4), 31 (3)
     BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER: 23 (1)
     COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: 1-6, 8-19, 21-26, 30-31
     AMERICAN REDSTART: 28 (1♀), 31 (1)
     YELLOW WARBLER: 22 (1♂), 27 (1), 28 (1♂), 31 (1)
     CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER: 31 (1)
     CANADA WARBLER: 23 (1)
     CHIPPING SPARROW: 2, 9-12, 14, 16-19
     SONG SPARROW: 1-27, 29, 31
     NORTHERN CARDINAL: 1-26, 28-31
     ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK: 22 (1♂), 28 (1), 30 (1♂)
     INDIGO BUNTING: 1-8, 10-11, 16-17 (1♂)
     DICKCISSEL: 1
     RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD: 1-14, 16-18, 20, 26, 29-30
     BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD: 1, 30-31 (1 im)
     BALTIMORE ORIOLE: 2 (1), 4 (1), 9 (1), 13 91), 14 91♂), 17 (1), 19 (1♂), 21 (3♂), 22 (2♂), 28 (1♂),
                                    30 (1♂, 1♀), 31 (2)
     HOUSE FINCH: 1-4, 6-9, 11, 15, 18, 22, 24, 30-31
     AMERICAN GOLDFINCH: 1-31
     HOUSE SPARROW: 1-25, 27, 29-31

MAMMALIAN
     AMERICAN MINK: 10 (1)
     WHITE-TAILED DEER: 2 (1♀ w/1 fawn), 3 (1♀ w/2 fawns), 4-5 (1♀ w/1 fawn), 11 (2 fawns),
                                    16 (1 fawn), 22 (1♀ + 1♀ w/1 fawn), 27 (1 fawn)
     FOX SQUIRREL: 2-4, 6, 10, 23, 31
     EASTERN CHIPMUNK: 11, 23
     THIRTEEN-LINED GROUND SQUIRREL: 1, 5, 8, 10-11, 13, 16, 22
     EASTERN COTTONTAIL: 1-5, 7-18, 20-23, 26, 28, 30-31

REPTILIAN
     NORTHERN PAINTED TURTLE: 1-31
     RED-EARED SLIDER: 2-3 (1), 19 (1), 21 (1)

AMPHIBIAN
     AMERICAN TOAD: 15, 20, 24, 27, 30-31
     EASTERN GRAY TREE FROG: 25 (1)
     NORTHERN LEOPARD FROG: 9, 11-12, 16, 18, 25, 30
     BULLFROG: 1-31

LEPIDOPTERA
     BLACK SWALLOWTAIL: 1-31
     EASTERN TIGER SWALLOWTAIL: 2-4, 10, 16, 18, 20-23, 26, 28-29
     CHECKERED WHITE: 13 (1)
     CABBAGE WHITE: 1-24, 26-28, 30-31
     ORANGE SULPHUR: 24-25, 27, 30
     DAINTY SULPHUR: 22-24, 27-31
     Sulphur sp.: 1-11, 16-18, 21
     EASTERN TAILED BLUE: 1-7, 10-12, 14, 16-24, 27-31
     GREAT SPANGLED FRITILLARY: 2 (1)
     PEARL CRESCENT: 3-4, 6, 11-12, 16-31
     QUESTION MARK:
     MOURNING CLOAK: 4 (1), 6-7 (1), 26 (1)
     PAINTED LADY: 26 (1)
     RED ADMIRAL: 9, 11
     COMMON BUCKEYE: 1-6, 11, 18, 24, 26, 28-31
     RED-SPOTTED PURPLE: 10 (1), 12 (1), 21, 24-27
     VICEROY: 1-12, 15-24, 26-31
     MONARCH: 1-13, 15-24, 26-31
     COMMON CHECKERED SKIPPER: 16 (1)
     LEAST SKIPPER: 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 16, 19
     Skipper sp.: 18
     FORAGE LOOPER: 18, 28

ODONATA
     GREAT SPREADWING: 9 (1♀)
     SLENDER SPREADWING: 25 (1♀)
     BLUE-FRONTED DANCER: 1-12, 14-19, 21-31
     POWDERED DANCER: 7-9, 11-12, 14-16, 18-19, 25, 27-30
     RAINBOW BLUET: 1, 31
     DOUBLE-STRIPED BLUET: 3-4, 6, 8-9, 17, 20-21, 23-24, 27, 29, 31
     TULE BLUET: 1, 4-5, 7-9, 12, 14-17, 20-27, 29, 31
     FAMILIAR BLUET: 1-5, 7-9, 12-14, 16-31
     STREAM BLUET: 31 (2)
     SKIMMING BLUET: 12, 27, 30
     ORANGE BLUET: 2, 6-7, 9-16, 19-20, 22-23, 25-29, 31
     EASTERN FORKTAIL: 1-14, 16-31
     COMMON GREEN DARNER: 1-6, 8-9, 11, 13-25, 27-28, 30-31
     Blue Mosaic Darner sp.: 5 (1), 11 (1)
     FLAG-TAILED SPINYLEG: 2, 8, 18 (2), 25, 26 (2), 28 (5), 29 (2), 30 (5), 31 (3)
     PLAINS CLUBTAIL: 18 (2)
     PRINCE BASKETTAIL: 1-4, 7-10, 12, 14-17, 19-23, 25, 28-31
     HALLOWEEN PENNANT: 1-31
     EASTERN PONDHAWK: 1-22, 24, 26-27, 29-31
     WIDOW SKIMMER: 1-31
     COMMON WHITETAIL: 1, 3-19, 23, 29-30
     TWELVE-SPOTTED SKIMMER: 1-14, 16-18, 20-22, 25-26, 28-31
     BLUE DASHER: 1-31
     WANDERING GLIDER: 2-3, 6, 8-9, 11-12, 15-16, 23-27, 29, 31
     EASTERN AMBERWING: 1-31
     CHERRY-FACED MEADOWHAWK: 10 (1)
     WHITE-FACED MEADOWHAWK: 30 (1)
     BAND-WINGED MEADOWHAWK: 6 (2♂, 1♀), 7 (1♀), 10 (1♂)
     Meadowhawk sp.: 21, 31 (2)
     BLACK SADDLEBAGS: 1-2, 14, 16-17, 19, 21-24, 29-30

ORTHOPTERA
     CAROLINA GRASSHOPPER: 1-31

Wolf. Oesterreich

Sep 6, 2013: Sunrise

The sun rises through the leaves of a prairie plant, its edges sparkling with dew. 6/8/13 (Kelly Poole)

Sep 5, 2013: Bee on Thistle

A bee climbs a thistle at the edge of the lake. 8/17/13 (Robin Ubben Kennedy)

Sep 4, 2013: Sketching

ISU Landscape Architecture students make sketches of the park enduring 100 degree temps last Friday.

"We survived a PechaKucha review today in The armory and a visit to Ada Hayden! LA 301 students rock! Thank you and Have a Great Labor Day Weekend!" 8/30/13 (Bambi Yost)

Sep 3, 2013: Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtails have become more common in the past few weeks.  This somewhat worn individual was found along the Upland Trail, near the south trailhead. 8/23/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Sep 2, 2013: Jensen Pond

Eastward view across Jensen Pond. 8/30/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Sep 1, 2013: Runner at Sunset

A runner takes a final lap around the north lake at sunset.  8/31/13 (Kevin Kane)