Oct 27, 2015: Common Buckeye

The first and, perhaps, the last Common Buckeye to be found at the Park this month. 10/26/15 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Oct 26, 2015: Foggy Morning

The ducks congregate on the calm, foggy water on the south lake at sunrise. 10/26/15 (Kevin Kane)

Oct 25, 2015: Quarry Estates Development Information

More information about the Friedrich Quarry Estates development directly north of the park where the Jensen Farm was demolished (from http://friedrichlanddevelopment.com/quarry-estates/) via their website.

Oct 24, 2015: Vanished View - Two Years Ago Today

Oct 24, 2013: Jensen Farm 

(The Jensen Farm has since been demolished to make way for the Quarry Estates subdivision north of the park) 

A NE view across the prairie (north wetland complex) towards the old Jensen farmstead. 10/24/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Oct 23, 2015: Three Years Ago Today

Oct 23, 2012: Mussels

Mussels by the scores have been revealed along the shoreline as water has been pumped out of the lake over the last month.  This photo was taken in the southwest corner of the south lake where a shallow portion of the lake is now dry land, 10/21/12 (Kevin Kane)

Oct 22, 2015: Northern Hills

An eastward view along the Upland Trail's north slope. 10/20/15 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Oct 21, 2015: Last of the Summer Flowers

As the leaves take their turn for brilliant color, summer's flowers like these Brown-eyed Susans are harder and harder to find. 10/11/15 (Kevin Kane)

Oct 20, 2015: Night Kayakers

A group of 6 kayakers on the south lake after sunset.  10/20/15 (Kevin Kane)

Oct 19, 2015: Fall at Jensen Pond

Fall colors reflected in Jensen Pond (Upland Trail). 10/20/15 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Oct 18, 2015: Canada Wild Rye

10/11/15 (Kevin Kane)

Oct 17, 2015: Redosier Dogwood

10/11/15 (Kevin Kane)

Oct 16, 2015: Peaceful Blues

A still south lake reflects a nearly cloudless sky. 10/10/15 (Kevin Kane)

Oct 15, 2015: I See You

Heron fishing on the south lake. 10/10/15 (Kevin Kane)

Oct. 14, 2015: Autumn Reflection

A reflection of a sumac stand onto the waters of the south lake's west bay. 10/14/15 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Oct 13, 2015: Layers of Color

As the vegetation changes during autumn, the central wetlands have a wonderful separation into colorful layers. 10/10/15 (Kevin Kane)

Oct 12, 2015: The Colors of Fall

A beautiful time of year.  The sumac are especially colorful right now! 10/10/15 (Kevin Kane)

Oct 11, 2015: Takeoff!

This heron takes off from the the central wetlands area of the park. 10/10/15 (Kevin Kane)

Oct 10, 2015: My Morning with the Heron

I spent 45 minutes Saturday morning photographing this Heron, while she fished, preened, and relaxed in the southwest cove of the south lake.  These are only a few of the many, many photos she let me take that morning. 10/10/15 (Kevin Kane)

Oct 9, 2015: Eastern Comma

A few butterflies area still present at the Park.  One Red Admiral and two Eastern Commas (one shown here) were found at the bluff area. 10/10/15 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Oct 8, 2015: Enjoying the Warm Weather

This fish was spotted swimming along the rocks near the southwest boat ramp. 10/10/15 (Kevin Kane)

Oct 7, 2015: Beautiful Start to Fall

A view looking northeast across the Runkel inlet to the bluff and bridge.  Fall is here! 10/10/15 (Kevin Kane)

Oct 6, 2015: Great Egret

A Great Egret hunting at Pond J.  Up to 7 individuals have been found at the Park in the past two weeks. 10/6/15 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Oct 5, 2015: Cloud Reflections

Cloud reflections on the calm south lake.  A slight breeze arose only a couple of minutes later, destroying the stillness. 10/6/15 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Oct 4, 2015: New England Aster

 

New England Aster (Aster novae-angliae) plants can be found in many areas of the Park.  However, they are not as common as they were a few years ago. 10/5/15 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Oct 3, 2015: Wolf's September 2015 Wildlife Report

This lone immature Franklin's Gull was floating at the NW corner of the north lake's west bay on the 27th. 

A total of 111 (+ 1 sp.) avian species was recorded this month, ranking this month as the 4^th highest September (& tied with 2010) among 18 years of records.

Based on citations in the 3^rd Edition of “The Birds of Story County, Iowa,” by Stephen J. Dinsmore and Hank Zaletel (2001), plus my personal updates to the records, the single male Ring-necked Duck on the 30^th may be a new extreme early Fall record for Story County (former record set on 1 Oct 2010 at AHHP).  The Hooded Merganser on the 24^th may also represent a new extreme early Fall record (former record set on 21 Oct 2008 & 2010, both at AHHP).  New peak numbers may have been set for Franklin’s Gulls (350+ on the 30^th, former peak of 161 on 5 Nov 1995 at Hallett’s Quarry) and Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers (13 on 29^th, former peak of 11 on 13 Apr 1987 at Brookside Park).

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 55^th Supplement (2014) to the American Ornithologists’ Union Check-list of North American Birds and the 14^th Supplement to the 7^th Edition (1998).

AVIAN

     CANADA GOOSE: 5, 7, 9-30

     TRUMPETER SWAN: 30 (2)

     WOOD DUCK: 1-4, 6-14, 15 (3), 16-17, 19-30

     AMERICAN WIGEON: 27 (3), 28, 30 (1)

     MALLARD: 2-17, 19-30

     BLUE-WINGED TEAL: 1 (5), 2 (1), 3 (2), 7-13, 15-17, 19 (4), 20-21, 23-30

     NORTHERN SHOVELER: 12 (40, 17 (6), 20 (10), 21, 22 (6), 24 (6+), 25 (11), 26 (12), 28,

          30 (4)

     NORTHERN PINTAIL: 22 (3), 23 (15), 24 (13), 25 (1), 27 (7), 30 (2)

     REDHEAD: 29 (1♂ + 2♀)

     RING-NECKED DUCK: 30 (1♂)

     HOODED MERGANSER: 24 (1), 27 (1)

     RING-NECKED PHEASANT: 1, 5, 7, 9-10, 12-13, 17, 20-27, 30

     PIED-BILLED GREBE: 2 (3), 5 (2), 7 (37), 8 (3), 9 (41), 10 (16), 11 (11), 19 (7), 20 (1),

          22 (5), 23 (4), 26 (3), 27 (1), 29 (198), 30 (1)

     DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT: 3 (1), 6 (2), 10 (2), 11 (1), 12 (5), 13 (7), 19 (2), 20 (5), 

          21 (3), 22 (5), 23 (1), 24 (33), 26 (2), 28 (49), 29 (1)

     AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN: 3 (12), 8 (73+), 10 (1 juv + 40), 18 (~50), 20 (1)

     GREAT BLUE HERON: 1 (7), 2 (4), 3-4 (5), 5 (4), 6 (3), 7 (6), 8-10 (4), 11 (3), 12 (4), 13 (2),

          14 (5), 15-17 (4), 18 (7), 19-20 (6), 21 (5), 22-23 (6), 24 (5), 25 (4), 26 (7), 27 (6), 28 (7),

          29 (1), 30 (4)

     GREAT EGRET: 11-15 (1), 17 (1), 19 (1), 20-21 (2), 22 (1), 23 (2), 24 (6), 25 (4), 26 (5),

          27-28 (6), 29 (7), 30 (4)

     GREEN HERON: 1 (1), 3-4 (1), 7 (1), 8 (3), 10 (1), 11 (2), 20 (1), 26-27 (1)

     BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON: 1 (1), 17 (1 ad), 19-20 (1 ad), 22 (1 im + 1 ad), 24 (1),

          26 (1 im + 1 ad), 27 (1 ad), 28 (1 im + 1 ad), 29-30 (1 im)

     TURKEY VULTURE: 1 (5), 2 (17), 3 (6), 5 (2), 7 (2), 8 (5), 9 (2), 10-11 (5), 12 (1), 14 (5),

          15 (2), 19 (3), 21 (6), 24-25 (2), 27 (4), 28-29 (2), 30 (4)

     OSPREY: 3-4 (1), 7-8 (1), 9-10 (2), 12 (1), 13 (2), 19 (1), 24 (1), 29-30 (1)

     BALD EAGLE: 14 (1 ad), 16-17 (1 ad), 20 (1 im)

     SHARP-SHINNED HAWK: 25 (1), 27 (1)

     COOPER’S HAWK: 13 (1), 22 (1), 24 (2), 26-27 (1)

     BROAD-WINGED HAWK: 26 (4)

     RED-TAILED HAWK: 1-2 (1), 3 (2), 7 (1), 19 (1), 21 (1), 25 (1), 28 (1)

     VIRGINIA RAIL: 17 (1)

     SORA: 22 (1)

     AMERICAN COOT: 3 (1), 7 (4), 11 (1), 15 (9), 16 (2), 17 (4), 19 (9), 21 (13), 22 (6), 24 (5+),

          25 (6+), 26 (7+), 29 (63+), 30 (3)

     KILLDEER: 2-3 (1), 8 (3), 12-13 (1), 21 (6), 22 (5), 23, 24 (8), 25 (1), 26 (5), 27 (16), 28 (6)

     GREATER YELLOWLEGS: 27-28 (1)

     WILSON’S SNIPE: 30 (3)

     RING-BILLED GULL: 8 (1), 10 (1), 11 (7), 19, 27 (5+)

     FRANKLIN’S GULL: 11 (3), 26 (20+), 27 (1), 30 (350+)

     CASPIAN TERN: 3 (1), 7 (5), 9 (1), 10 (6)

     FORSTER’S TERN: 1 (1)

     ROCK PIGEON: 25 (1)

     EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE: 1 (1), 4 (1), 7 (2), 11-12 (2), 13 (1), 22 (1), 27 (1)

     MOURNING DOVE: 2-14, 17-18, 22, 24, 26, 28-30

     BARRED OWL: 8-9 (1), 14 (1), 17-18 (1), 20 (1), 22-23 (1), 28 (1)

     COMMON NIGHTHAWK: 3 (1), 7 (3), 17 (1), 22 (1), 23 (14+)

     CHIMNEY SWIFT: 1-3, 7, 10, 13-15, 17, 21

     RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD: 5 (1), 7 (1), 12-14 (1), 19 (1)

     BELTED KINGFISHER: 1-3 (1), 7 (3), 11 (1), 13-14 (1), 16-17 (1), 19 (1), 20 (2), 21-23 (1),

          27 (1), 28 (2), 29 (3), 30 (2)

     RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER: 13, 17, 20

     YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER: 29 (13), 30 (3)

     DOWNY WOODPECKER: 3-5, 8, 12-13, 17, 19-22, 25-26, 28, 30

     HAIRY WOODPECKER: 1, 14, 17, 20-21, 24-26, 28

     NORTHERN FLICKER (Yellow-shafted): 9 (1), 12-13 (2), 14 (3), 17 (4), 19 (7+), 20-21 (3),

          22 (4), 23 (3), 24-25 (2), 26 (3), 27-28 (1), 29 (3), 30 (2)

     AMERICAN KESTREL: 3 (1♀), 24 (1)

     OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER: 3 (1), 5 (1)

     EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE: 1 (1), 3-5 (1), 13 (1)

     LEAST FLYCATCHER: 7 (1), 8 (3), 12 (1)

     Empidonax sp.: 3-4 (1), 8 (3)

     EASTERN PHOEBE: 12 (1), 19 (1), 27 (1), 29 (3), 30 (2)

     GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER: 8 (1)

     EASTERN KINGBIRD: 1 (5), 2 (2), 3 (3), 4 (4), 5 (1), 8-9 (2), 11 (3), 13-14 (2), 17 (1)

     BLUE-HEADED VIREO: 8-9 (1), 29 (1)

     WARBLING VIREO: 2, 4 (4), 5 (2), 7 (3), 8

     PHILADELPHIA VIREO: 12 (2)

     RED-EYED VIREO: 7 (1), 8 (3), 11 (3)

     BLUE JAY: 2-9, 11-14, 17-30

     AMERICAN CROW: 1-3, 5, 7-14, 17, 20, 22-27, 30

     PURPLE MARTIN: 4 (4), 7 (1)

     TREE SWALLOW: 12-13, 17, 21

     BANK SWALLOW: 12

     CLIFF SWALLOW: 2, 7, 12, 17

     BARN SWALLOW: 1, 5, 7-8, 10-13, 15-17, 21, 29

     BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE: 1, 3-5, 7, 9-10, 12-13, 17, 19-26, 28-30

     WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 1, 4-5, 7-9, 11, 13, 19-20, 22

     HOUSE WREN: 1-2, 8 (1), 9 (3), 11, 12-14 (1), 17 (1), 20 (1), 23-25 (1), 29 (2)

     WINTER WREN: 30 (1)

     MARSH WREN: 27 (1)

     RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET: 19 (3), 23-24 (1), 29 (5), 30 (1)

     EASTERN BLUEBIRD: 2 (9), 5 (1), 17 (10+), 20 (3), 24 (14), 25, 30 (2)

     SWAINSON’S THRUSH: 17 (1), 19 (1)

     HERMIT THRUSH: 29 (3)

     AMERICAN ROBIN: 1, 10, 12-13, 15, 17, 20-23, 26-27, 29-30

     GRAY CATBIRD: 1, 5, 7, 12-14, 19, 22-25, 28

     EUROPEAN STARLING: 3, 9, 13, 16-17, 20, 23, 27, 29-30

     CEDAR WAXWING: 1 (2), 4 (15), 11 (1), 13 (6), 25 (~20)

     OVENBIRD: 8 (1)

     NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH: 14 (1), 20 (1)

     GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER: 2 (1)

     BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER: 1-2 (2), 4 (2), 8 (1)

     ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER: 20 (1), 26 (1), 29 (1)

     NASHVILLE WARBLER: 8 (3), 19 (1), 24-25 (10, 29 (1)

     MOURNING WARBLER: 29 (1)

     COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: 1-2, 7 (1), 9, 13, 17 (3), 19-20, 23 (1), 26 (2), 27 (1), 29-30

     AMERICAN REDSTART: 1-2 (1), 7 (1♂), 8 (4), 17 (2), 30 (1)

     MAGNOLIA WARBLER: 8 (2), 11 (1), 13 (1), 16 (1)

     YELLOW WARBLER: 8 (1)

     CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER: 8 (3), 13 (1)

     PALM WARBLER: 30 (2)

     YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (Myrtle): 8 (2), 13 (1), 19 (10+), 23 (1), 24 (3+), 25 (3),

          26 (4), 29 (100+), 30 (20+)

     BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER: 30 (1)

     WILSON’S WARBLER: 3 (1♂), 5 (1♂), 7 (2♂), 8 (1♂), 13 (1♀)

     CHIPPING SPARROW: 2 (1), 17, 20

     SONG SPARROW: 1, 3, 9-10, 13, 17, 23, 27 (1)

     LINCOLN’S SPARROW: 20 (2), 23 (4), 24 (2), 26-27 (3), 29-30 (3)

     SWAMP SPARROW: 20 (1), 23 (1), 27 (1), 29-30 (4)

     WHITE-THROATED SPARROW: 22 (3), 29 (10+), 30

     DARK-EYED JUNCO (Slate-colored): 29 (3)

     NORTHERN CARDINAL: 3-5, 7-10, 12, 18-20, 23-24, 28-29

     ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK: 8 (1)

     INDIGO BUNTING: 2 (1 im), 4 (1), 11 (2), 15 (1), 16 (~5)

     RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD: 2, 9, 14 (~15), 15, 21-22, 24-30

     COMMON GRACKLE: 26 (20+), 27, 29-30

     BALTIMORE ORIOLE: 7 (1♂), 8 (1)

     HOUSE FINCH: 1, 10-12, 26-27

     AMERICAN GOLDFINCH: 1-17, 19-30

     HOUSE SPARROW: 1-5, 8, 13-17, 19-27, 29-30

MAMMALIAN

     WHITE-TAILED DEER: 24 (1)

     FOX SQUIRREL: 1, 3-5, 10-13, 15-16, 19, 22-24, 26-30

     THIRTEEN-LINED GROUND SQUIRREL: 2 (1)

     EASTERN CHIPMUNK: 6, 21

     MEADOW VOLE: 20 (1)

     EASTERN COTTONTAIL: 1-3, 5, 7-14, 17-21, 24-28

REPTILIAN

     PLAINS GARTER SNAKE: 1 (1)

     Garter Snake sp.: 19 (1), 25 (1)

     NORTHERN PAINTED TURTLE: 1-5, 7-17, 19-23, 25-26, 28-30

     RED-EARED SLIDER: 12 (1), 14 (1), 16 (1), 25 (1)

     EASTERN SPINY SOFTSHELL: 1 (1)

AMPHIBIAN

     AMERICAN TOAD: 2-3, 17-18. 23

     BLANCHARD’S CRICKET FROG: 11-12, 17, 19

     EASTERN GRAY TREE FROG: 16

     AMERICAN BULLFROG: 1-4, 7-10, 12-30

     NORTHERN LEOPARD FROG: 1-3, 5, 7-12, 14, 16, 19, 22, 25-28

LEPIDOPTERA

     BLACK SWALLOWTAIL: 1-5, 8-11, 17, 20-21, 28

     EASTERN TIGER SWALLOWTAIL: 1, 9

     CABBAGE WHITE: 1-5, 7-12, 14-17, 19-29

     ORANGE SULPHUR: 1-5, 7-12, 14-17, 19-30

     Sulphur sp.: 1-5, 7-9, 14, 19-20, 22, 29

     EASTERN TAILED-BLUE: 1-5, 7, 9, 11, 20

     PEARL CRESCENT: 1-5, 9, 11-12, 14, 16, 19-23, 25-30

     QUESTION MARK: 4, 29

     EASTERN COMMA: 28

     RED ADMIRAL: 9-10, 13, 20-21

     COMMON BUCKEYE: 3, 5, 10, 21

     VICEROY: 1-4, 7, 9-14, 16-17, 19-25

     MONARCH: 1 (19), 2 (10), 3 (22), 4 (32), 5 (10), 7 (19), 8 (29), 9 (26), 10 (22), 11 (11),

          12 (9), 13 (6), 14 (15), 15 (9), 16 (11), 17 (18), 18 (1), 19 (3), 20-22 (5), 23-24 (8), 25 (6),

          27 (2), 28 (3), 29 (2)

     LEAST SKIPPER: 7

     PECK’S SKIPPER: 11

     Skipper sp.: 28

     CHICKWEED GEOMETER: 3, 8, 24, 27

     WOOLLY BEAR (ISABELLA TIGER MOTH): 4, 13, 19, 25, 27, 30

ODONATE

     GREAT SPREADWING: 21 (1), 26 (1)

     Spreadwing sp.: 21 (2)

     BLUE-FRONTED DANCER: 1-3, 8-10, 14-16, 21, 23

     DOUBLE-STRIPED BLUET: 2, 4, 15, 21, 24

     TULE BLUET: 15

     FAMILIAR BLUET: 1-4, 8-17, 19-25, 28-29

     STREAM BLUET: 2-3, 5, 9, 12, 15

     ORANGE BLUET: 9-10, 15, 17, 26

     Bluet sp.: 1-2, 4-5, 9-10, 15, 22, 26

     EASTERN FORKTAIL: 1-5, 8-10, 12, 15-17, 19, 25, 28

     SHADOW DARNER: 12 (2), 21 (1), 30 (1)

     COMMON GREEN DARNER: 1-7, 9, 11-17, 20-22, 24-25, 27, 29-30

     “Blue Mosaic” Darner sp.: 5 (1), 10 (1), 12 (2), 13 (3), 14 (2), 19, 20 (2), 21-22 (1), 23 (4+)

     FLAG-TAILED SPINYLEG: 2-3 (1), 10 (1), 21 (1)

     PRINCE BASKETTAIL: 1, 8-9, 17, 21

     EASTERN PONDHAWK: 1, 5, 11-12, 16, 21

     WIDOW SKIMMER: 1-5, 7-14, 16-17, 19-20, 22, 26, 29

     COMMON WHITETAIL: 9, 11, 27

     TWELVE-SPOTTED SKIMMER: 2-4, 9

     BLUE DASHER: 1, 4, 9-10, 17

     WANDERING GLIDER: 4-5, 14 ,21, 24, 30

     EASTERN AMBERWING: 1-4, 9-10, 14-15

     VARIEGATED MEADOWHAWK: 4, 7-8, 10-11

     SAFFRON-WINGED MEADODWHAWK: 3 (1)

     CHERRY-FACED MEADOWHAWK: 16

     WHITE-FACED MEADOWHAWK: 3, 7, 12, 15, 17, 19-22, 24-27

     RUBY MEADOWHAWK: 8

     BAND-WINGED MEADOWHAWK: 17, 21, 25

     AUTUMN MEADOWHAWK: 19

     Meadowhawk sp.: 2-5, 9-12, 14, 17, 24, 28-29

     BLACK SADDLEBAGS: 2-5, 7-10, 14-17, 20-21

ORTHOPTERA

     CAROLINA GRASSHOPPER: 1-5, 7-12, 14-17, 19-22, 25-28, 30

     NORTHWESTERN RED-WINGED GRASSHOPPER: 3

     AUTUMN YELLOW-WINGED GRASSHOPPER: 17, 20, 28

Wolf. Oesterreich

Oct 2, 2015: Bridge Over Calm Water

The bridge and its reflection on the calm waters of the south lake, looking NW from the east lakes trail. 5/10/15 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Oct 1, 2015: Bullfrog

An American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) sitting on an exposed rip-rap rock (NW corner of the north lake's west bay). 10/5/15 (Wolf. Oesterreich)