Jan 31, 2014: January 2014 Photo Collage

January 2014 photos from the blog by Kevin Kane, Wolf. Oesterreich, Michael Martin, JF Sabl, and Twyla Anderson.

Jan 30, 2014: Here Come the Mallards

A group of mallards prepare to land near the south lake outflow structure. 1/25/14 (Kevin Kane)

Jan 29, 2014: Shadows Shortening

Although it may seem imperceptable, shadows are slowly shortening as the days lengthen.  1/25/14 (Kevin Kane)

Jan 28, 2014: Sticks and Stones

Snow, ice, sticks, and stones come together to form a piece of mother nature's sculpture on the south shore of the south lake. 1/25/14 (Kevin Kane)

Jan 27, 2014: Wind Chill

Canada Geese (and a few non-conforming Mallards) hunker down against the strong wind and cold at the edge of the open water on the south lake. 1/25/14 (Kevin Kane)

Jan 26, 2014: Ice and Open Water

Even with the frigid temperatures we've been having, there is more open water now than there has been in the last month.  Looking north/northwest from the south shore of the south lake. 1/25/14 (Kevin Kane)

Jan 25, 2014: North Wetlands

Snow is absent from this composite view of the north wetland complex.  However, that could change with the system that's projected to move through early Sunday morning. 1/25/14 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Jan 24, 2014: Cracks on Icy Shoreline

The lake ice on the south shore of the south lake cracks as lake levels slowly drop over the winter months.  1/25/14 (Kevin Kane)

Jan 23, 2014: Tree over Shoreline

Leafless tree over icy south shore of south lake bides its time for spring's arrival. 1/25/14 (Kevin Kane)

Jan 22, 2014: Feeding Time

Mallards land near the south lake outlet after feed has been left for those lucky enough to find it. 1/25/14 (Kevin Kane)

Jan 21, 2014: Bird Nest

Last year's nest, so strategically hidden, now open to winter's wrath.  1/25/14 (Kevin Kane)

Jan 20, 2014: North Slope

An eastward view along the north slope, from the NW corner of the Upland Trail.  The clouds had already settled in. 1/20/14 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Jan 19, 2014: Landing

Coming in for a landing on the open water in the south lake. 1/15/14 (Kevin Kane)

Jan 18, 2014: Roots

The snow helps highlight the root systems of trees along the south side of the bluff.  12/26/13 (Kevin Kane)

Jan 17, 2014: Guarding the Shack

Man's best friend makes sure today's catch is safe.  12/26/13 (Kevin Kane)

Jan 16, 2014: The Bluff

The bluff on the north side of the south lake, looking east. 12/26/13 (Kevin Kane)

Jan 15, 2014: Pool F & Northwest Uplands

A northwest and north view across Pool F towards the highlands (and Jensen Pond area).  A dreary overcast day. 1/15/14 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Jan 14, 2014: Ice on Ice

Ice crystals on lake ice. 12/7/13 (JF Sabl)

Jan 13, 2014: Winter Biking

Winter weather does not keep our intrepid citizens from enjoying the park. 12/27/13 (Michael Martin)

Michael says:
"In certain places the slick tires on my bike were quite inappropriate, but no significant crashes."

Jan 12, 2014: Sunset

A view of the setting sun over the the south lake, with the Canada Geese and Mallards at the only remaining open water at the Park. 1/13/14 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Jan 11, 2014: Wolf's December 2013 Wildlife List

This male Northern Pintail has been present for most of December and now into January. 12/1/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

A total of 46 avian species was recorded this month, ranking this month as the 6th highest December (tied with December 2009) among 17 years of records.  There are no records for the 24th through the end of the month (I was in California) and minimal records for the 15th (participating in the Saylorville Christmas Bird Count).

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 last Fox Sparrow on the 22nd may represent a new extreme late Fall record for Story County (former record set on 29 November 2008 at AHHP).

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
     SNOW GOOSE: 17-19 (1), 23 (1)
     ROSS’S GOOSE: 4-7 (1), 9 (1)
     CACKLING GOOSE: 1 (50+), 2-7, 9-10, 12 (2), 13, 14 (1), 16 (1), 18 (1), 19 (2)
     CANADA GOOSE: 1-23
     TRUMPETER SWAN: 2 (3 ad + 3 im), 4 (6 ad + 3 im), 6 (12 ad + 7 im), 7 (6 ad + 2 im), 8 (1 ad)
     GADWALL: 5 (1♂)
     MALLARD: 1-7, 9-14, 16-23
     NORTHERN SHOVELER: 1-5 (1♂ + 3♀), 7 (1♂ + 3♀), 10 (1♂), 12 (1♂)
     NORTHERN PINTAIL: 1-6 (1♂), 13-14 (1♂), 16 (1♂), 18-19 (1♂)
     GREATER SCAUP: 1-4 (1♀)
     COMMON GOLDENEYE: 3 (1♀), 5 (4♂), 6-7 (1♂), 9 (1♀)
     COMMON MERGANSER: 5 (1♂), 6 (3♂)
     RUDDY DUCK: 6 (4♀)
     RING-NECKED PHEASANT: 2, 3 (1♂ BY +), 4-7, 9-11, 12 (1♂ BY + 6), 13 (12 + 1♂ BY), 14, 17, 19,
                                    20 (1♂ BY), 23 (1♂ BY)
     PIED-BILLED GREBE: 1-7 (1)
     BALD EAGLE: 4 (1), 5 (2 ad), 10 (1 ad), 14 (2 ad), 19 (2 ad + 1 im)
     SHARP-SHINNED HAWK: 9 (1 ad), 13 (1 ad BY), 16 (1 ad BY), 23 (1 ad BY)
     COOPER’S HAWK: 3 (1 ad BY), 5 (1 ad), 10-11 (1 ad BY), 16 (1 ad BY), 21 (1 ad), 22 (1 im)
     RED-TAILED HAWK: 2 (2), 3 (1), 7 (2), 9-10 (1), 12-13 (2), 14 (1), 16 (3), 21 (1), 22 (2)
     AMERICAN COOT: 1 (5), 2 (2), 3 (5), 4-6 (3), 7 (6)
     MOURNING DOVE: 5, 8-14, 16-17, 19-21
     GREAT HORNED OWL: 7 (1)
     BELTED KINGFISHER: 1 (1), 5 (1)
     RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER: 1, 3, 11-12, 16, 19, 22
     DOWNY WOODPECKER: 1-5, 7-22
     HAIRY WOODPECKER: 5, 8-14, 16-19, 21
     NORTHERN FLICKER (Yellow-shafted): 1 (1)
     NORTHERN SHRIKE: 19 (1)
     BLUE JAY: 1-2, 4-5, 7-10, 12-13, 16-19, 21-23
     AMERICAN CROW: 1-7, 9-14, 16-23
     BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE: 1-23
     WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 1-2, 14, 16, 18-19
     EASTERN BLUEBIRD: 1 (3), 5 (5), 9 (6), 13 (4), 18 (4)
     AMERICAN ROBIN: 1, 3, 5, 8-10, 12-14, 19 (3 BY), 20-21
     EUROPEAN STARLING: 1-5, 7-10, 12-14, 16-21, 23
     CEDAR WAXWING: 3 (9), 5 (7 BY), 7 (5 BY), 9 (14 (BY), 10 (2 BY), 11 (1 BY)
     AMERICAN TREE SPARROW: 1-7, 9-14, 16-19
     FOX SPARROW: 8 (1 BY), 10-11 (1 BY), 20 (1 BY), 22 (1 BY)
     SONG SPARROW: 5, 12 (1), 16, 18, 19 (1)
     HARRIS’S SPARROW: 8 (1 BY), 9 (1 BY + 2), 11 (1 BY), 18 (1)
     DARK-EYED JUNCO (Slate-colored): 1-23
     DARK-EYED JUNCO (Oregon): 18 (1 BY), 20 (1 BY)
     NORTHERN CARDINAL: 1-5, 7-23
     RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD: 7 (1♂)
     HOUSE FINCH: 1-23
     AMERICAN GOLDFINCH: 1-2, 4-5, 11-14, 18-20, 22-23
     HOUSE SPARROW: 1-23

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

MAMMALIAN
     WHITE-TAILED DEER: 1 (1), 2 (1 + 5♂), 3 (8), 4 (3), 5 (2 + 1 BY), 6 (3 BY + 13 + 1♂), 7 (1♂),
                                    10 (5 BY), 11 (3 BY), 12 (5), 16 (4 BY), 19 (1), 22 (4 BY)
     FOX SQUIRREL: 1, 4-5, 7-14, 16-23
     EASTERN COTTONTAIL: 1, 3-4, 6-8, 11-23

Wolf. Oesterreich

Jan 10, 2014: South Lake

A NW view across the south lake (from the spillway), taken a day later than the usual day (10th) because of the ice.  Overcast conditions prevailed. 1/11/14 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

See Wolf's entire time series of the south lake here.

Jan 9, 2014: Snow Goose

Snow Goose.  1/9/14 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Apparently this adult Snow Goose has been around for a while (since mid-December).  It was found feeding along the lakes trail, at the SE corner, near the spillway.  I was surprised to see that there was still a hole open in the south lake ice.  I had been in California for 2 weeks and after noting the sub-zero temps, had expected no open water.

Best wishes for 2014.....

Wolf. Oesterreich

Jan 8, 2014: Snowy Silhouette

From the Ames Tribune
http://amestrib.com/news/ames-and-story-county/snowy-silhouette

Jeremiah Kuemmen, of Nevada, pulls his fishing gear after ice fishing at Ada Haiden Park on Wednesday in Ames. Photo by Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune. 1/8/14

Jan 7, 2014: Northern Wetlands and Uplands

A northward view from the lakes trail, between the bluff spur and bridge spur. 1/7/14 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Jan 6, 2014: One year ago...

The open water area from one year ago.  Looks very similar to this year where it is located just a little further east.

http://adahaydenpark.blogspot.com/2013/01/jan-7-2012-open-water.html

Jan 5, 2014: Bald Eagle

One of the eagles hunting overhead this afternoon. 12/28/14 (Twyla Anderson)

Jan 4, 2014: Skating

Skater on the north lake. From J F Sabl, 1/2/14.

Pieter skates only on long-track speed skates, which can't be used at any indoor rink we know of. So this is a big treat, when the weather cooperates so gloriously.

Jan 3, 2014: "Iowa Country"

And now for something a little different. A video showcasing the park accompanied by Russell Nollen on guitar. Russell Nollen says, "Hi! I wanted to share this with you. You might enjoy this - You are welcome to post this and share it!"

Thanks Russell!

Jan 2, 2014: Trout Coming to Ada Hayden Park

From the Ames Tribunehttp://amestrib.com/blog/woods-wildlife-and-wanderings/trout-coming-ada-hayden.html

Jan 1, 2014: Happy New Year!

The 2013 yearly collage made up of the year's monthly collages -- more than 340 photos.

Thanks to everyone who continue to contribute to the blog!  We have had more than 45,000 pageviews  since we started at the very end of 2011 and many more at our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/FriendsOfAdaHaydenHeritagePark

Kevin