Saturday, November 30, 2013

Nov 30, 2013: November 2013 Photo Collage


November 2013 photos from the blog by Kevin Kane, Wolf. Oesterreich, Kelly Poole, and Shannon Kane, Maggie Hamilton, and Tana Clark Tesdall.

Nov 29, 2013: Sunset on November


Colorful sunset through the bare trees, 11/27/13. (Kevin Kane)

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Nov 28, 2013: The Freeze



The Sun reflects off the thin layer of ice starting to form on the north lake. 11/27/13 (Shannon Kane)


Nov 27, 2013: Flight Pattern


Geese come in over the northern hills, preparing to land on the south lake. 11/27/13 (Kevin Kane)


Nov 26, 2013: Big Bluestem


Big Bluestem silhouetted against the setting sun, central wetland complex.  11/24/13 (Kevin Kane)


Nov 25, 2013: Sunglow


Monday night's sunset afterglow over the north lake. 11/25/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)


Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Nov 24, 2013: Serenity


Sunday afternoon hike around the wetlands brought us to Pond E where a thin layer of ice created nature's perfect mirror on its surface - looking northwest from the outlet.  11/14/13 (Kevin Kane)

Monday, November 25, 2013

Nov 23, 2013: Greater White-fronted Goose


Greater White-fronted Goose.  11/14/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

This immature (lack of speckling on belly & little white behind bill) Greater White-fronted Goose was found amongst some Canada Geese by the mini-shelter at the NE corner of the north lake.

The numbers of Canada Geese on the south lake have finally increased.  At least 500 were present today, along with over 1000 Mallards, a handful of Cackling Geese, 1♂ Northern Pintail, 1♀ Ring-necked Duck, 1♂ Common Goldeneye, 2♀ Common Mergansers, and 2♀ Ruddy Ducks.  The season's first Northern Shrike was found just west of the main shelter.

Wolf. Oesterreich

Nov 22, 2013: Autumn Sunset


10/21/13 (Maggie Hamilton)

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Nov 20, 2013: Prairie Color


Last splash of color on the prairie. 11/9/13 (Kevin Kane)

Nov 19, 2013: Mallards


These Mallards were found by the rip-rap along the south lake's east shoreline.  11/19/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Nov 18, 2013: Sunset Silhouettes


Bare trees at sunset along the central east/west flow, looking southwest. 11/9/13 (Kevin Kane)

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Nov 17, 2013: Prairie Glow


The low sun gives an extra amber glow to the southwest prairie/wetland complex. 11/9/13 (Kevin Kane)

Nov 16, 2013: November Sunset


Sunset to the west of the south lake. 11/15/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Nov 15, 2013: Colors of Autumn at Dusk


The many colors of autumn are highlighted as the sun sets from the southwest park entry looking east, northeast.  11/9/13 (Kevin Kane)

Nov 14, 2013: Snow and Grasses


11/12/13 (Kelly Poole)

Nov 13, 2013: Red-throated Loon









Red-throated Loon. 11/8/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Late Friday afternoon (after 1600) I spotted two whitish birds north of the waterfowl raft on the south lake. I set up my scope and observed 1 Common Loon (in Winter plumage) and 1 Red-throated Loon (adult in Winter plumage). The Red-throated was obviously smaller than the Common. It had a white face and throat and held its head at a slight tilt upward (typical for this species). White spots dotted the back and the whitish flanks were quite evident. The bill was much smaller and thinner than the Common's. This Red-throated Loon is #264 for my Park List and is the first Story County record. [Poor lighting and distance resulted in a not-so-perfect digiscoped photograph.] 

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Nov 12, 2013: Frosty Foggy Morning

Fog over the lake with snow on the ground on a chilly morning, looking south at the boat dock. 11/12/13 (Kelly Poole)

Nov 11, 2013: Wolf's October Species Report


Plains Garter Snake. 11/3/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

I had assumed that the garter snakes I had been seeing at the Park had all been Easterns.  After rechecking my photographs I discovered that more than half of them were actually Plains Garter Snakes.  This photo shows one that was found along the Stone Brooke spur this month (3 Nov).  The best way to tell the two species apart is by noting where the light lateral line is located.  On the Plains, the lateral line is found on the 3rd and 4th scale rows, counting up from the ventral (belly) scales.  On the Eastern, the lateral line is found on the 2nd and 3rd scale rows.


October 2013 - Ada Hayden Heritage Park
A total of 98 (plus 3 sp.) avian species was recorded this month, ranking this month as the 3rd highest October (tied with October 2006) among 16 years of records.

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 Ovenbird sighting on the 2nd ties the late Fall record set in 1983 (Brookside Park) for Story County.  The Mourning Warbler on the 4th and the Blackpoll Warbler on the 7th may set new late Fall records (30 Sep 86 at Brookside Park and 2 Oct 09 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).  ).  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: 1-16, 18-20, 22-31
     WOOD DUCK: 7 (1), 15 (2), 17 (1), 18 (2), 19 (1), 26 (1)
     GADWALL: 15 (1♂ + 1♀), 16 (4), 18 (7), 19 (27), 24 (2♂ + 1♀), 25 (2♀), 26 (4), 31 (38)
     AMERICAN WIGEON: 14 (1♂), 16 (1♂), 20 (1♀)
     MALLARD: 1-31
     BLUE-WINGED TEAL: 1 (12), 2 (300+), 3 (50), 5 (6), 6 (~25), 7 (~200), 8 (19), 10 (6), 12 (~115),
                                    13 (~100), 16, 18 (10), 19 (20+), 21 (2), 24 (1♂), 26 (1♀)
     NORTHERN SHOVELER: 14 (2♂ + 5♀), 16 (22), 18 (1♀), 24 (6), 30 (1♂ + 8♀), 31 (19)
     NORTHERN PINTAIL: 19 (1♀), 23 (1♀)
     GREEN-WINGED TEAL: 7 (5), 12 (8), 13-14 (6), 16, 18 (2), 19 (30+), 22 (28+), 24 (18+), 25 (3),
                                    26 (1♂), 31 (22)
     REDHEAD: 14-15 (1♂), 19 (1♂), 30 (2♂)
     RING-NECKED DUCK: 19 (8), 22 (51+), 25 (8), 27 (10), 28 (3)
     LESSER SCAUP: 28 (3), 31 (45)
     BUFFLEHEAD: 29 (1♀)
     RUDDY DUCK: 13 (2), 15 (2), 19 (1♂), 20 (2♂ + 4♀), 22 (5), 24-25 (1), 26 (10), 28 (3), 29 (1♀),
                                    30 (1♂)
     RING-NECKED PHEASANT: 2-4, 6-7, 15-18, 20-23, 25, 28, 31
     COMMON LOON: 12 (1), 22 (4)
     PIED-BILLED GREBE: 1 (4), 2 (76), 3 (66), 4 (10), 5 (1), 6 (18+), 7 (8), 13 (71+), 14 (10), 15-16 (8),
                                    17 (1), 18 (6), 19 (2), 20 (28), 21 (7), 22 (31+), 23 (5), 24 (8), 25-26 (3), 28 (7),
                                    29 (3), 30 (2), 31 (6)
     HORNED GREBE: 7 (2), 15 (1), 16 (5)
     DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT: 7 (~40), 14 (1), 19 (3), 21 (2), 22 (1), 23 (3)
     AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN: 4 (~70), 5 (1), 8 (~100), 13 (168+)
     GREAT BLUE HERON: 1 (2), 2-4 (3), 5 (2), 7-9 (1), 10 (3), 11 (2), 12 (1), 15 (2), 17-19 (2), 20-24 (1)
     GREEN HERON: 1 (1)
     BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON: 4 (1 im), 22 (2 im)
     TURKEY VULTURE: 2 (1), 3 (3), 4 (12+), 5 (4), 6 (3), 7-8 (1), 9 (3), 10 (1), 11-13 (3), 14-15 (2), 20 (1)
     OSPREY: 2-6 (1), 7 (2), 8-11 (1), 13-16 (1), 20 (1), 22 (1), 26 (1), 30-31 (1)
     BALD EAGLE: 8 (1 im), 10 (1 ad), 12 (1 im), 15-16 (1 im), 20 (1 im), 23 (1 im)
     NORTHERN HARRIER: 23 (1 ♀/im), 27-28 (1 ♀/im)
     SHARP-SHINNED HAWK: 6 ( 1 im), 7 (1), 9 (1), 22 (1), 26 (1 ad)
     COOPER’S HAWK: 3 (1 im), 7 (1), 10 (2), 12 (1), 14 (2), 22 (1), 28 (1 ad), 29 (2), 30-31 (1)
     RED-TAILED HAWK: 1 (1), 5 (1), 7-11 (1), 14-17 (1), 21-23 (1), 28 (1), 30 (2)
     AMERICAN COOT: 1 (3), 2 (24), 3 (5), 6 (16+), 7 (9), 12 (12), 13 (~200), 14 (56), 15 (38+), 17 (7),
                                    18 (8), 20 (34), 22 (94+), 24 (2), 25 (28+), 26 (~40), 27 (35+), 28 (22), 29 (4),
                                    30 (3)
     KILLDEER: 3 (2), 4 (1), 6 (1), 7 (2), 9 (1), 14 (1), 21 (2), 23 (2), 24 (3), 27 (1)
     AMERICAN AVOCET: 1 (5)
     GREATER YELLOWLEGS: 18 (1), 30 (1)
     Sandpiper sp.: 15 (3)
     RING-BILLED GULL: 3-4 (1), 5 (4), 6 (1), 7, 8 (1), 12 (1), 13 (4), 14 (1), 15 (4), 22 (1), 28 (1)
     FRANKLIN’S GULL: 7 (~150), 13 (31), 14 (1), 17 (8), 18 (10), 26 (9)
     BONAPARTE’S GULL: 25 (9)
     FORSTER’S TERN: 19 (3)
     MOURNING DOVE: 1, 3-4, 6-8, 10-11, 13-16, 20-22, 26
     GREAT HORNED OWL: 23 (1)
     BELTED KINGFISHER: 2 (1), 3 (2), 4 (1), 6 (2), 7-9 (1), 10 (2), 11 (1), 13 (1), 14-16 (2), 17-18 (1),
                                    20-24 (1)
     RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER: 2-3, 7-9, 13-14, 16-18, 20, 23, 25, 30-31
     YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER: 2-6 (1), 9 (1), 11 (1)
     DOWNY WOODPECKER: 1-3, 5-9, 11-12, 15-16, 18, 20-21, 24, 31
     HAIRY WOODPECKER: 3, 6-7, 13, 16, 23
     NORTHERN FLICKER (Yellow-shafted): 1-13, 15, 17, 19-20, 22, 29 (1)
     Empidonax sp.: 8 (1)
     EASTERN PHOEBE: 2 (2), 3 (6), 4 (2), 5 (6), 6 (3), 7-8 (1), 10 (3), 15-17 (1), 20 (1)
     BLUE-HEADED VIREO: 2 (1)
     BLUE JAY: 1-31
     AMERICAN CROW: 1-24, 26-31
     TREE SWALLOW: 7 (6+)
     BARN SWALLOW: 5 (25+), 7-8
     BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE: 1-17, 19-24, 26-31
     WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 1, 6-8, 13, 18, 20, 27
     BROWN CREEPER: 8 (1)
     HOUSE WREN: 6 (3), 8 (1), 17 (1)
     WINTER WREN: 8 (1), 11 (1 BY), 12 (1), 19 (1)
     SEDGE WREN: 24 (1)
     MARSH WREN: 5 (1), 8 (1), 16-17 (1)
     GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET: 7-8 (1), 11 (1), 14 (1), 15 (2), 21 (1), 28 (1), 29 (2)
     RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET: 2 (2), 3 (5), 5 (1), 6-7 (2), 8 (6), 9 (1), 10 (7), 11 (6), 12 (2), 13 (1),
                                    14-15 (3), 16 (11), 17 (7), 18 (3), 19 (1 BY + 1), 24 (1), 28 (2), 29-30 (1)
     EASTERN BLUEBIRD: 3, 6 (6+), 8-9, 12, 15 (4+), 16, 18 (2), 20 (12+), 21 (4+)
     SWAINSON’S THRUSH: 7 (2), 8-9 (1)
     HERMIT THRUSH: 12 (2), 13 (1), 17 (1), 19 (1), 29 (1)
     AMERICAN ROBIN: 1-31
     GRAY CATBIRD: 1-3, 5 (1), 6 (2), 13 (1 BY), 18 (1 BY), 28 (1 BY)
     BROWN THRASHER: 3 (1)
     EUROPEAN STARLING: 2-8, 10-13, 15, 18-20, 22-23, 26-27, 29, 31
     CEDAR WAXWING: 1 (3), 3 (36+), 5 (7+), 6 (3), 16 (2), 17 (~15 BY), 19 (7), 22 (2)
     OVENBIRD: 2 (1)
     TENNESSEE WARBLER: 7-8 (1)
     ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER: 2-3 (2), 5 (1), 8 (1), 12-13 (1), 15 (2), 17 (1), 19 91), 20 (1 BY),
                                    22 (1)
     NASHVILLE WARBLER: 3 (1), 14 (1♂), 16 (1 BY)
     MOURNING WARBLER: 4 (1♀ or 1st year ♂)
     COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: 2 (1 im ♂), 3, 4-5 (1♀), 6 (1♂ + 1♀), 13 (1 BY)
     BLACKPOLL WARBLER: 7 (1)
     YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (Myrtle): 1 (5), 2 (2), 3 (5), 5 (6), 6 (14+), 7, 8 (4), 9 (3), 10 (8), 12 (2),
                                    16 (8), 17 (1), 18 (3), 19 (1), 20 (5), 21 (3), 22 (2), 24 (2), 30 (1)
     SPOTTED TOWHEE: 18 (1♂ BY), 20 (1♂ BY)
     EASTERN TOWHEE: 21 (1♂)
     AMERICAN TREE SPARROW: 29 (2), 31
     CHIPPING SPARROW: 3, 15 (15+), 20 (1), 24 (2), 29 (1)
     CLAY-COLORED SPARROW: 12 (1)
     LE CONTE’S SPARROW: 16 (1)
     FOX SPARROW: 10 (1), 20 (2), 25 (1 BY), 26 (1 BY + 1), 27 (1 BY), 28 (1 BY + 2), 29 (2),
                                    30 (5 + 1 BY), 31 (1 BY)
     SONG SPARROW: 3-21, 22 (20+), 23-26, 28-29, 31
     LINCOLN’S SPARROW: 2 (2), 3 (4), 4 (2), 5-7 (1), 8 (4), 9 (1), 12 (1), 13 (3), 15-16 (2), 17 (6), 20 (1),
                                    22 (1)
     SWAMP SPARROW: 3 (5+), 4-24, 28, 30-31
     WHITE-THROATED SPARROW: 7 (2), 8-21, 24-30
     HARRIS’S SPARROW: 13-14 (1), 16 (1), 20 (1), 24 (2), 25 (1)
     WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW: 1 (2), 9 (3), 10 (1 BY), 11 (2), 12 (5), 13-14 (1), 15 (9), 16 (6), 17 (5),
                                    18 (1), 19 (2), 20 (1), 24-25 (2)
     DARK-EYED JUNCO (Slate-colored): 7 (1), 10 (1), 12 (1), 13 (5 + 1 BY), 14 (1), 15 (2), 17 (2 BY),
                                    18 (13+), 19 (5 BY + 1), 20 (10 BY +), 21-22, 24-31
     NORTHERN CARDINAL: 2-5, 7-10, 13-21, 24-29
     ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK: 2 (1♂)
     RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD: 12, 21 (~75), 26, 28
     Meadowlark sp.: 14 (1)
     COMMON GRACKLE: 3, 5-8, 10, 12-14, 18, 21 (1), 28
     HOUSE FINCH: 3-9, 12, 14-15, 17, 19-21, 23-27, 29
     AMERICAN GOLDFINCH: 1-24, 27-29, 31
     HOUSE SPARROW: 1, 3-17, 19-31

MAMMALIAN
     WHITE-TAILED DEER: 2 (1 yearling), 8 (1), 14 (♀ with 2 yearlings), 18 (5), 21 (4), 22 (♀ with 2
                                    yearlings + 3 + 1♂), 23 (7), 24 (2), 27 (1)
     FOX SQUIRREL: 1-3, 7, 9-11, 16, 19-23, 26-31
     THIRTEEN-LINED GROUND SQUIRREL: 7 (1), 13, 19 (1)
     EASTERN CHIPMUNK: 1-4, 7, 9, 13, 30
     EASTERN COTTONTAIL: 1-2, 5, 7-9, 11-14, 18-19, 24, 27, 30-31

REPTILIAN
     EASTERN GARTER SNAKE: 2 (1), 5 (1), 9 (1), 14 (1), 26 (1)
     COMMON SNAPPING TURTLE: 13 (1)
     NORTHERN PAINTED TURTLE: 1-5, 7-14, 17, 19 (3), 27 96), 30 (7)
     RED-EARED SLIDER: 2-3 (1), 8-9 (1), 13 (1)

AMPHIBIAN
     AMERICAN TOAD: 2-4
     BLANCHARD’S CRICKET FROG: 1
     AMERICAN BULLFROG: 1-5, 8-12, 14, 15 (1), 17, 19-20 (1), 29 (1), 30 (5+)
     NORTHERN LEOPARD FROG: 9 (1), 15 (1)

LEPIDOPTERA
     BLACK SWALLOWTAIL: 2-3 (1), 5 (2), 7 (1)
     CHECKERED WHITE: 7
     CABBAGE WHITE: 1-5, 7-11, 13-14
     CLOUDED SULPHUR: 1-2, 7, 13
     ORANGE SULPHUR: 1-5, 7-14, 20
     LITTLE SULPHUR: 3
     DAINTY SULPHUR: 1-3, 5, 7-13
     EASTERN TAILED-BLUE: 1-3, 7, 10
     PEARL CRESCENT: 2-3, 8, 11, 13
     QUESTION MARK: 30 (1)
     MOURNING CLOAK: 2 (1), 7-8 (1), 14 (1)
     PAINTED LADY: 1-2, 5, 7-9, 12-14, 17, 20, 27 (1)
     RED ADMIRAL: 1-2
     COMMON BUCKEYE: 2, 5, 7-10, 12, 14 (1)
     VICEROY: 2, 7
     MONARCH: 1-5, 7-11, 13, 14 (1)
     FIERY SKIPPER: 2, 10
     SACHEM: 2, 9-11
     Skipper sp.: 1, 4, 8, 13
     BEDSTRAW HAWKMOTH (caterpillar): 11, 17
     WOOLLY BEAR (Isabella Tiger Moth): 7 (1), 8 (4), 10-11 (2), 13 (1), 14 (4), 19 (1), 20 (2), 30 (1)
     CELERY LOOPER: 2-4, 9-10, 17

ODONATA
     FAMILIAR BLUET: 1-2, 5 (1)
     COMMON GREEN DARNER: 1-2, 5 (1), 7 (1), 30 (1)
     PRINCE BASKETTAIL: 1 (1)
     EASTERN PONDHAWK: 1-2, 10 (1♀)
     WIDOW SKIMMER: 1-2
     COMMON WHITETAIL: 3
     TWELVE-SPOTTED SKIMMER: 1
     WANDERING GLIDER: 2
     SAFFRON-WINGED MEADOWHAWK: 1-2, 5, 7-10, 13, 17
     CHERRY-FACED MEADOWHAWK: 1-3, 5, 7-10, 13, 17
     WHITE-FACED MEADOWHAWK: 1, 3, 5, 8, 17
     RUBY MEADOWHAWK: 1-2, 5
     BAND-WINGED MEADOWHAWK: 9 (1♀)
     AUTUMN MEADOWHAWK: 1
     Meadowhawk sp.: 10-13, 17, 19
     RED SADDLEBAGS: 7 (1)

ORTHOPTERA
     CAROLINA GRASSHOPPER: 1-5, 7-10, 12-13
     NORTHWESTERN RED-WINGED GRASSHOPPER: 1-2, 8-9
     AUTUMN YELLOW-WINGED GRASSHOPPER: 1-2, 7, 9, 13

Wolf. Oesterreich


Sunday, November 10, 2013

Nov 10, 2013: Coyote


This Coyote was found (11/10) just past the outflow channel from Pool F (west of the bluff area).  It crossed the trail, urinated on the grass, and then returned to the brush on the other side of the trail.  A few minutes later I spotted it walking along the north shoreline (south lake) and watched it disappear up into the outflow channel area.  The last sighting was at the north end of Pond P.  11/10/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)


Saturday, November 9, 2013

Nov 9, 2013: Pod Explosion


Milkweed plant losing the last of its seeds in the wetland prairie in the center of the park. 11/9/13 (Kevin Kane)


Nov 8, 2013: Sunset with the Moon and Venus


A southwest view across the north lake from the main shelter showing Venus, the crescent Moon, and the last remnants of the sunset. 11/6/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)


Nov 7, 2013: Autumn at Calhoun Park


Calhoun Park looking southeast from the southeast entrance of Ada Hayden Park.  11/1/13 (Kevin Kane)


Nov 6, 2013: The Lakes

A view of both the south and north lakes taken from Calhoun Park, looking towards the bridge, to the fishing pier, to the noorthern uplands. 11/1/13 (Kevin Kane)

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Nov 5, 2013: Sunset




Setting sun with tree reflections on the north lake. 11/4/2013 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Nov 4, 2013: Mushroom


This mushroom is growing out of a cottonwood stump, found along the Upland Trail by Jensen Pond. 11/1/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)


Monday, November 4, 2013

Nov 3, 2013: Rock Sculpture


This rock structure, probably created by a fisherman, is found below the bluff, at the SE corner.  (This one didn't cost the City anything!)  11/2/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)


Sunday, November 3, 2013

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Nov 1, 2013: Feeding Time


Ducks and Geese gather at the southwest ramp at the south lake to feed on the corn left by AHHP's bird whisperer. 11/1/13 (Kevin Kane)

Oct 31, 2013: October 2013 Photo Collage


October 2013 photos from the blog by Kevin Kane, Wolf. Oesterreich, Rex Heer, and Dale Wilson.


Oct 30, 2013: Fall at Jensen's Pond


An eastward view of Jensen Pond, after the morning & early pm rain. 10/30/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)


Oct 29, 2013: Autumn Sunrise


The sun peeks over the trees and onto the north shore of the north lake on a foggy morning. 9/25/13 (Kevin Kane)