Friday, February 27, 2015

Feb 17, 2015: Thinking of Summer

Too much cold! Had to post a view to look forward to. 8/2/2012 (Kevin Kane)

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Feb 16, 2015: Frozen Wetland


A composite photograph showing a NW and N view across Pool F, towards the highlands, on another overcast day. 2/15/15 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Feb 15, 2015: Angling Success



 By Todd Burras, Ames Tribune

They came by the truck- and carload – scores of eager anglers ready to get their lines and feet wet for the chance at catching a few hatchery-raised rainbow trout.

“It’s really hard to tell how many people there are,” said Andy Long, of JAX Outdoor Gear, a jam-packed parking lot at Ada Hayden Heritage Park behind him. “I’d say there’s got to be 400 or 500.”

The majority of those anglers crammed close to the boat ramp where shortly after noon Saturday the Iowa Department of Natural Resources dumped some 2,300 rainbow trout into the lake’s north basin. Anglers of all ages stood, sat on buckets or hid away inside portable ice shacks.
- See more at: http://amestrib.com/blog/woods-wildlife-and-wanderings/angling-success.html#sthash.QT7BCPYC.dpuf

Feb 14, 2015: Alone on the Ice



From the Ames Tribune:
Chris Jensen prepares to go ice fishing at Ada Hayden Heritage Park Lake on Tuesday afternoon. While yesterday’s warmer weather may have been welcome following the weekend’s snow storm, temperatures had a high of 23 degrees and a low of 12 degrees. Ames is expected to see similar weather today, with warmer temperatures coming later in the week. Photo by Julie Ferrell/Ames Tribune - See more at: http://amestrib.com/news/alone-ice#sthash.xkgWyLPn.dpuf

Feb 13, 2015: South Lake



A northwest view across the south lake and towards the bluff area.  A few waterfowl are present, especially around the hole (open water).  More waterfowl began to trickle back in later in the afternoon. 2/10/15 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Feb 12, 2015: This time last year...

With the sun settling down behind them, these fishermen were just starting to get situated by the fishing pier (north lake). 2/12/14 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Feb 11, 2015: Northeast Woods


The recent snowfall still covers the trees located in the northeast corner of the Park. 2/3/25 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Feb 10, 2015: South Lake


From the east side of the south lake looking towards the bluff area.  Only a sliver of open water remained along the east edge of the former "hole" in the ice.  The waterfowl were concentrated along this sliver. 2/2/15 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Feb 9, 2015: Swans on the Ice at Sunset


2/7/15 (LaDan Omidvar)

Feb 8, 2015: Northern Hills


Sunshine and wispy clouds over the northern hills on Sunday.  These are the hilltops that will be developed in the spring. 2/8/15 (Kevin Kane)

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Feb 7, 2015: Family Fishing Event


The annual Family Fishing Event was held today.  This event was sponsored by the Iowa DNR, Story County Conservation, City of Ames, Hy-Vee, JAX, and ISU.  Twenty-three tents had set set up on the north lake, near the boat ramp.  Participants were still awaiting the arrival of the 2000+ Rainbow Trout when this photograph was taken. 2/7/15 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Saturday, February 7, 2015

Feb 6, 2015: Snowy Road


The inviting entrance to the southeast corner of the park along Dawes Drive. 2/2/15 (Kevin Kane)

Feb 5, 2015: Snow and Sun

The late afternoon sun is veiled by some thin clouds.  Snow drapes the landscape. 2/3/15 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Feb 4, 2015: The Bluff


Trees on the bluff loaded with the weekend's snow, looking northwest across the south lake. 2/2/15 (Kevin Kane)

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Feb 2, 2015: Silver Lake


Ducks, geese, and swans rest at the water/ice edge after the weekend's snow left a sparkling blanket of silver across the lakes. Looking NW across the south lake towards Jensen Pond and the northern hills.  2/2/15 (Kevin Kane)

Monday, February 2, 2015

Feb 1, 2015: Wolf's January 2015 Wildlife Report


We don't usually find Swamp Sparrows in January, but I found 1 to 3 early in the month. 1/9/15 (Wolf. Oesterreich)


A total of 34 avian species was recorded this month, ranking this month as the 4th highest January (tied with 2014) among 18 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, FY=front yard).  The order follows the 55th Supplement (2014) to the American Ornithologists’ Union Check-list of North American Birds and the 14th Supplement to the 7th Edition (1998).

AVIAN
     GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE: 26-27 (7)
     CACKLING GOOSE: 1-2, 6, 26 (5+), 27-28, 30-31
     CANADA GOOSE: 1-16, 18-31
     TRUMPETER SWAN: 1 (36+), 2 (59), 4 (12+), 5 (61), 6 (45), 7 (16+), 8 (13), 9 (14),
                                    10-12 (13), 15 (2), 19 (2), 22 (7), 31 (7)
     AMERICAN BLACK DUCK: 19-20 (1♂), 22 (1♂)
     MALLARD: 1-2, 4-16, 19-31
     NORTHERN PINTAIL: 27 (1♂ + 1♀)
     COMMON MERGANSER: 22 (2♂), 25 (1♂)
     RING-NECKED PHEASANT: 10 (8), 16, 21-22, 31
     BALD EAGLE: 1 (1 ad), 2 (1 ad + 1 4-year old), 5-8 (1 ad), 11-12 (1 im), 27 (1 ad)
     SHARP-SHINNED HAWK: 9 (1)
     COOPER’S HAWK: 1 (1 BY), 2 (1 im BY + 1 ad), 5 (1 im BY), 6 (1 ad BY), 29 (1 im)
     RED-TAILED HAWK: 1 (1), 2 (3), 5 (3), 6 (2), 9 (1), 13-15 (2), 19-21 (1), 22 (3), 23 (1),
                                    25 (2), 26 (1), 28 (1), 31 (1)
     MOURNING DOVE: 1 (2 BY), 2 (1), 4 (1 BY), 5 (2 BY), 6 (2 BY + 1), 10-11 (1 BY), 16,
                                    22 (2), 25 (1 BY)
     GREAT HORNED OWL: 1 (2)
     RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER: 31 (1)
     DOWNY WOODPECKER: 1-2, 4-11, 13-16, 19-21, 23-25, 27-28, 30-31
     HAIRY WOODPECKER: 7-8, 12, 27
     NORTHERN SHRIKE: 2 (1), 9 (1)
     BLUE JAY: 1-2, 5-7, 10, 19, 25, 28, 31
     AMERICAN CROW: 1-2, 4-11, 13-16, 19-20, 23, 25-26, 29, 31
     BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE: 1-2, 4-16, 19-23, 25-28, 30-31
     WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 1-2, 5, 11, 13, 31
     AMERICAN ROBIN: 27 (1 BY), 31 (2)
     EUROPEAN STARLING: 1-2, 4-8, 10-13, 16, 19, 21-22, 24-25, 31
     CEDAR WAXWING: 25 (~30), 31 (50+)
     AMERICAN TREE SPARROW: 1-2, 5-9, 11-16, 19-23, 25-31
     SONG SPARROW: 5 (1), 9-10 (1), 11 (2), 12-13 (1), 14 (2), 19 (1), 23 (1)
     SWAMP SPARROW: 9 (3), 10 (2), 12 (1), 13 (2), 14 (1)
     DARK-EYED JUNCO (Slate-colored): 1-2, 4-16, 19-21, 23, 25-28, 30-31
     NORTHERN CARDINAL: 1-2, 4-16, 19, 21-25, 28-31
     HOUSE FINCH: 1-2, 4-11, 13-16, 19-21, 23, 25-28, 30-31
     AMERICAN GOLDFINCH: 1, 11, 19, 28, 31
     HOUSE SPARROW: 1-2, 4-16, 19-31

Unless indicated otherwise, the White-tailed Deer were antlerless. 

MAMMALIAN
     WHITE-TAILED DEER: 1 (1 + 3 BY), 2 (3), 4 (3 BY), 7 (1 BY), 10-11 (2 BY), 13 (2 BY),
                                    14 (7), 15 (5), 16 (3 BY), 20 (3), 21 (1 + 3 BY), 23 (2), 27 (3),
                                     30 (7)
     FOX SQUIRREL: 1-2, 4-8, 10-12, 15-16, 19-21, 25, 27-31
     EASTERN COTTONTAIL: 1, 5-9, 11-15, 19, 24-25, 28, 30-31

LEPIDOPTERA
     WOOLLY BEAR (Isabella Tiger Moth): 27 (1)

Wolf. Oesterreich