April 2016 photos from the blog by Wolf. Oesterreich and Kevin Kane.
Saturday, April 30, 2016
April 30, 2016: April 2016 Photo Collage
April 2016 photos from the blog by Wolf. Oesterreich and Kevin Kane.
Friday, April 29, 2016
April 29, 2016: Northern Mockingbird
Only the 4th record for the Park (last seen in 2010), this Northern
Mockingbird was first found in the grassy area just to the north of the
main parking lot. It soon flew up into a tree in the same general
area. Mockingbirds are quite melodious, but this one remained rather
silent. 4/27/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
April 28, 2016: Red-eared Sliders
A favorite of the pet trade, Red-eared Sliders are not native to
this part of Iowa. Released pets are now breeding, with Red-eared
Sliders now being found in most areas of the Park. 4/28/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
April 27, 2016: The History of AHHP Presentation
Thursday, April 28, 2016
April 26, 2016: American Toads
Singing American Toads have replaced the Boreal Chorus Frog as
being the most vocal. Watch for them in any of the ponds and pools.
(An American Bullfrog is also present at the far left.) 4/24/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
April 25, 2016: Goslings
Found the first set of Canada Goose goslings this morning at Pond
M. The first time I rode past, the female was still brooding on the
nest. The second time, one gosling had joined its parents on the
water. I watched the family until all 7 goslings made the jump. The
photo on the left shows 4 goslings on the water, with the remaining 3
still thinking about it. The photo on the right shows the entire
family. 4/24/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Apr 24, 2016: American White Pelicans
A flock of 17 American White Pelicans circled several times over
the Park this morning before continuing on. The photo shows 7 of them.
Note the "horn" on the upper mandible, near the tip. These are found
on adults during the breeding season and will fall off afterwards. 4/24/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
April 23, 2016: Eastern Chipmunk
An Eastern Chipmunk munching on some fresh green vegetation (at east side of Jensen Pond). 4/24/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
April 22, 2016: Spring in the Wetlands
A composite photo showing a NW and N view across Pool F, towards the highlands in the rear. 4/14/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
April 21, 2016: Stormy Wetland
From the Upland Trail, looking to the SE across Pool A as this afternoon's rain clouds move on. 4/21/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
April 20, 2016: Dutchman's Breeches
April 19, 2016: Virginia Bluebells
Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) have begun to bloom in the savannah woods (south side of the Park). 4/20/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
Sunday, April 24, 2016
April 17, 2016: Inuksuk
The rising sun shines through the Inuksuk, located NW of the bridge. 4/14/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
April 16, 2016: Star Trails Over AHHP
Shared from the Ada Hayden Park Facebook page. 4/11/16 (Photograph by Thomas Kearney)
Photo at:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10208837833880167&set=a.1147553766043.23258.1143536152&type=3&theater
April 15, 2016: Ring-necked Pheasant
A male Ring-necked Pheasant had been visiting the backyard
off-and-on for some time. Usually he would be under the bird feeders,
but today he was up close, just below the living room picture window. 4/10/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
April 14, 2016: Bloodroot
Bloodroot flower buds had been present for several days. Today was the first time that the flowers were open. 4/10/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
April 13, 2016: Sunrise
Before heading over to Reiman Gardens for the annual "Day of
Insects", I decided to complete one lap (actually a figure-8) around the
main lakes. Upon arrival I caught this sunrise over the south lake.
It's been many days since the waters were this calm. 4/9/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
April 12, 2016: Dark-eyed Junco
Our wintering Dark-eyed Juncos (Slate-colored form) will soon be leaving us for their nesting grounds up north. 4/7/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
Tuesday, April 12, 2016
April 11, 2016: Tree Swallow
This Tree Swallow was checking out the nesting box, located
adjacent to the Purple Martin housing complex (located west of the
bridge). Since Tree Swallows are more aggressive in protecting their
nesting area, they may add some more protection to the martins.
Hopefully Purple Martins will nest this year in the white structure. 4/3/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
April 10, 2016: Song Sparrow
Song Sparrows can be found throughout the Park, with the males singing at every opportunity. This species does nest here. 4/3/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
April 9, 2016: Storm Clouds
A NE view across the south lake showing the passing storm clouds (in between the intermittent showers) on Thursday afternoon. 4/8/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
April 8, 2016: Red-tailed Hawk
This Red-tailed Hawk, found at the entrance to the bluff spur, is
probably in its second year. Note that the tail is not yet red. 4/5/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
Thursday, April 7, 2016
April 7, 2016: Red Admiral
One of three Red Admirals found at the bluff on the 4th. 4/4/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
April 6, 2016: Pied-billed Grebes
Pied-billed Grebes have been common on the main lakes and also on a few of the pools and ponds in the wetland complexes. 4/5/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
April 5, 2016: Blue-winged Teal
This drake Blue-winged Teal as found in Pool F's outflow channel.
Being camera shy, he and his mate took flight immediately after this
shot. 4/4/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
April 4, 2016: Wolf's March 2016 Wildlife Report
Mallards are one of the more common waterfowl species found almost year-round at the Park. This drake was observed on the north lake. 3/21/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
A total of 75 avian species (plus 2 sp.) was recorded this month, ranking this month as the 4th highest March among 19 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, all of the following tie for the extreme early Spring record for Story
County: American Woodcock (7 Mar 1983 at Ames), Eastern Phoebe (18 Mar 2012 at
AHHP), and Tree Swallow (17 Mar 2012 at AHHP).
The single Yellow-rumped Warbler found on the 25th may set a
new extreme early record for Story County (former record set on 31 Mar 2012 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, 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: 2 (70+), 4 (80+), 6 (22+), 9 (~100), 11 (14), 12,
14
(~200), 24
(~100)
SNOW
GOOSE: 6 (2 w), 8 (1 w), 24 (2 w)
ROSS’S
GOOSE: 13 (1)
CACKLING
GOOSE: 8 (2)
CANADA
GOOSE: 1-31
TRUMPETER
SWAN: 2 (2 ad)
WOOD
DUCK: 1 (12♂ + 7♀), 2 (5♂ + 2♀), 5 (2♂ + 1♀), 8 (2♂ + 2♀), 12 (1♂ + 1♀),
15 (3♂
+ 1♀), 18
(1♂ + 1♀), 19, 20 (1♂), 22 (2♂ + 2♀), 23 (2♂), 24 (2♂ + 1♀),
25 (1), 28 (1), 29
(2♂ + 2♀), 30 (9♂ + 4♀)
GADWALL:
5 (1♂), 8 (1♂ + 1♀), 9 (1♂), 10 (1♂ + 1♀), 14 (1♂ + 1♀), 17 (3♂ + 2♀),
18 (12), 19
(2♂ + 2♀), 20 (6♂ + 6♀), 21 (6♂ + 5♀), 22 (8♂ + 5♀), 23 (12+),
24 (41+), 25
(4), 26 (6+), 27 (28+), 28 (4), 30 (7), 31 917)
AMERICAN
WIGEON: 5 (3♂ + 2♀), 18 (1♂ + 1♀), 20 (7♂ + 3♀), 22 (5♂ + 4♀), 24 (4),
27 (5)
AMERICAN
BLACK DUCK: 2 (1♂)
MALLARD:
1-31
BLUE-WINGED
TEAL: 22 (1♂), 25 (4), 27 (6), 28 (7), 29 (9), 30 (18+), 31 (3)
NORTHERN
SHOVELER: 1 (1♂ + 1♀), 7 (1♂ + 1♀), 10 (1♂ + 1♀), 15 (11♂ + 4♀),
16 (2♂ + 2♀), 18
(1♂), 19 (1♂ + 1♀), 20 (3♂ + 2♀), 22 (3♂ + 1♀), 24 (15♂ + 12♀),
25 (15+), 26
(6), 27 (13), 28 (6), 29 (4), 30 (13+), 31 (8)
NORTHERN
PINTAIL: 2 (1♂), 5 (63 + 2♂ + 1♀), 6 (7), 8 (1♂), 15 (2♂ + 2♀),
18 (1♂ + 1♀), 20
(2♂ + 2♀), 27 (1♂)
GREEN-WINGED
TEAL: 10 (2♂), 2 (2♂ + 2♀), 5 (1♂), 8 (2♂ + 1♀), 11 (3+),
18 (4♂ + 1♀), 20
(3♂ + 3♀), 21 (1), 22 (13+), 23 (10+), 24 (20+), 25 (14), 26 (5),
27 (14), 28-29
(4), 30 (15+), 31 (8)
CANVASBACK:
1-2 (1♂ + 1♀), 3 (1♂ + 2♀), 4 (23♂ + 14♀), 5 (2♂), 20 (1♂ + 1♀)
REDHEAD:
1 (1♂ + 2♀), 2 (1♂ + 1♀), 3 (7♂ + 4♀), 8 (15), 11 (4♂ + 5♀), 20 (3♂ + 2♀),
22
(1♂ + 1♀), 25
(2♂), 27 (5)
RING-NECKED
DUCK: 1 (1♀), 2 (12♂), 3 (28♂ + 6♀), 5 (1♂), 6 (14♂ + 1♀),
7 (17♂ + 13♀), 8
(49+), 9
(63+), 11 (50+), 14 (11♂ + 5♀), 15 (162+), 17 (16♂ + 5♀),
18 (12), 20
(34+♂ + 30+♀), 21 (56+), 22 (13+♂ + 12+♀), 23 (19+), 25 (65+),
26 (42+), 27
(32+), 28 (97+), 29, 30 (11+), 31 (9)
LESSER
SCAUP: 7 (2♂), 8 (73+), 10 (6♂ + 3♀), 15 (13♂ + 5♀), 18 (5♂ + 1♀),
19 (1♂), 20
(6+), 21
(8+), 22 (12+), 23 (27+), 24 (69), 25 (85+), 26 (38+), 27 (98+),
28 (84+), 31
(122)
BUFFLEHEAD:
8 (1♂), 20 (3♂ + 2♀), 22 (1♂ + 1♀), 24 (3♂ + 3♀), 25 (3♂ + 2♀)
COMMON
GOLDENEYE: 7 (1♀)
HOODED
MERGANSER: 1 (1♂ + 1♀), 2 (1♂), 3 (1♂ + 1♀), 4 (6♂ + 2♀), 8 (1♂ + 1♀),
9 (1♂), 18
(3♂ + 3♀), 19 (2♂ + 1♀), 20-21 (1♂ + 1♀), 23 (1♂ + 1♀), 24 (8♂ + 5♀),
31
(1♀)
RED-BREASTED
MERGANSER: 13 (2♂), 15 (7♂)
RUDDY
DUCK: 6 (2), 7 (1), 8 (1♀), 10-14 (1♀), 18 (1♀), 19 (5), 26 (2), 27 (48+), 28
(3),
29 (1♂), 30
(2)
RING-NECKED
PHEASANT: 1 (2♂), 2-3, 4 (1♂ BY), 5 (5), 9-11, 12 (1♂ BY),
13 (1♂ BY + 1), 14, 15
(1 + 1♂ BY), 18, 19 (1♂ BY + 2), 21-22, 24, 26 (1♂ BY +),
27 (1♂ BY + 3), 29,
30 (+ 1♂ BY), 31
COMMON
LOON: 21-22 (1 abp), 23-24 (4 abp), 25 (3 abp + 1 in transition to bp [t]),
26
(4 abp + 1 t), 27-28
(3 abp + 1 t)
PIED-BILLED
GREBE: 8-10 (2), 11-15 (3), 16 (1), 18-23 (2), 24-25 (3), 26-27 (1),
28-29 (2),
30 (10), 31
(11)
GREAT
BLUE HERON: 10-12 (1), 15 (1), 17 (1), 19-20 (1), 22 (3), 23 (6), 24 (4),
25-26
(2), 27 (1), 28
(2), 29 (1)
TURKEY
VULTURE: 20 (5), 22 (1), 24 (2), 26-27 (1), 28 (2), 29 (9), 30 (6), 31 (17+)
BALD
EAGLE: 2 (1 ad), 3 (1 ad + 1 im), 5 (1 ad), 6 (1 ad + 1 im), 7 (1 ad), 23 (1
ad),
25 (1 ad), 27
(1 ad), 31 (1 ad)
NORTHERN
HARRIER: 24 (1♀)
SHARP-SHINNED
HAWK: 15 (1 im BY)
COOPER’S
HAWK: 3 (1), 5 (1 BY), 11 (1 ad), 24 (1), 27 (1), 31 (1)
Accipiter sp.: 6 (1 BY)
RED-TAILED
HAWK: 1-2 (2), 3-4 (1), 5 (2), 6 (1), 8 (1), 10 (1), 11 (2), 15 (1), 18 (2),
19-20 (1), 21 (5), 22
(2), 23 (1), 24 (4), 25 (2), 26 (3), 27-29 (1), 30 (2), 31 (1)
AMERICAN
COOT: 7 (2), 8 (4), 9 (2), 10 (5), 11 (3+), 14 (2), 15 (3), 16 (2), 18 (2),
20
(8+), 22 (14+), 23
(8+), 24 (23+), 25 (9), 26 (10), 27 (3), 28 (4), 30 (30+), 31 (106)
KILLDEER:
1 (2), 6 (1), 7 (3+), 8 (1), 9 (3), 10 (4), 11 (2), 15 (2), 26 (1), 30 (1)
AMERICAN
WOODCOCK: 7 (1), 15 (1)
RING-BILLED
GULL: 5 (1), 6 (16), 7 (3), 9 (1), 10 (3), 19 (27), 22 (1), 23 (4), 24 (3),
27
(1), 30 (1)
EURASIAN
COLLARED-DOVE: 27 (1), 30 (1)
MOURNING
DOVE: 1 (1 BY), 2 (2), 3 (1), 5, 6 (2 BY), 7, 9-20, 22, 24-31
BELTED
KINGFISHER: 1 (1♂), 3 (1), 12 (1♀), 15 (1), 17 (2), 18 (1), 19 (1♀), 23 (1),
25-27 (1)
RED-BELLIED
WOODPECKER: 2, 5, 9, 13, 17, 25-28
YELLOW-BELLIED
SAPSUCKER: 31 (1 BY)
DOWNY
WOODPECKER: 1-2, 6-7, 10-16, 18, 20-22, 25-27, 29-31
HAIRY
WOODPECKER: 3, 6, 13-14, 22
NORTHERN
FLICKER (Yellow-shafted): 14 (1), 18 (1), 20 (1), 24 (1), 26-28 (2), 30 (2),
31
(1)
NORTHERN
FLICKER (Red-shafted): 26 (1)
AMERICAN
KESTREL: 1-2 (1♂), 10 (1♂), 12 (1♂), 14 (1♂), 20 (1♂), 23 (1♀),
24-25 (1♂)
MERLIN:
24 (1♀)
EASTERN
PHOEBE: 18 (1), 29 (1)
BLUE
JAY: 2, 5-7, 10-11, 13-15, 17-19, 24-27, 30
AMERICAN
CROW: 1-20, 22-27, 29-31
TREE
SWALLOW: 17 (3), 26 (6), 28 (5), 30 (6), 31 (5)
BLACK-CAPPED
CHICKADEE: 1-31
WHITE-BREASTED
NUTHATCH: 6, 10-11, 13-15, 18-20, 22, 25-26, 28-29
BROWN
CREEPER: 26 (1)
GOLDEN-CROWNED
KINGLET: 26 (3)
RUBY-CROWNED
KINGLET: 15 (1)
EASTERN
BLUEBIRD: 11 (2♂ + 2♀), 12 (3♂ + 1♀), 13, 14 (1♂ + 1♀), 16 (1♂ + 1♀),
17 (1♂),
22 (1♀), 25
(1♂ + 2♀), 26 (1), 28 (1♂)
AMERICAN
ROBIN: 3 (1), 7-31
EUROPEAN
STARLING: 1-5, 7-10, 12-19, 21, 26-27, 30-31
YELLOW-RUMPED
WARBLER (Myrtle): 25 (1)
AMERICAN
TREE SPARROW: 1 (7), 2 (15+), 3 (7), 4 (1), 5-6 (2), 10 (1 BY), 11 (1),
12 (1
BY), 13
(6+), 14 (1 BY), 16-17 (2), 18 (2 BY + 1), 20-21 (1 BY), 23 (4), 24 (3),
26
(1 BY), 28 (1 BY), 30 (1 BY)
FOX
SPARROW: 8 (3 BY), 14 (1), 21 (3), 23 (3), 25-26 (1 BY), 27 (1 BY + 2), 30 (1)
SONG
SPARROW: 9-10 (4), 11 (6), 12 (2), 13 (7), 14, 15 (10+), 16, 17 (8), 18 (9),
19
(11+), 20 (1), 21
(3), 22 (8), 23 (10), 24 (13+), 25 (10+), 26-31
DARK-EYED
JUNCO (Slate-colored): 1-3, 5, 6-7 (1), 8 (1 BY + 4), 9 (2 BY), 10 (1 BY),
11
(4), 12
(4 BY + 1), 13 (6 BY + 2), 14 (4 BY + 2), 15 (6 BY), 16 (7 BY + 4),
18
(6 BY + 14), 19 (5 BY), 20 (2 BY), 21 (7 BY + 1), 22 (3 BY), 23 (6 BY + 1),
24
(4 BY + 5), 25 (4 BY + 2), 26 (2 + 5 BY), 27 (4 BY + 5), 28 (8 BY + 2),
29
(2 BY + 2), 30 (3 BY + 21), 31 (2 BY + 2)
NORTHERN
CARDINAL: 1-31
RED-WINGED
BLACKBIRD: 1-22, 24-31
EASTERN
MEADOWLARK: 26 (3)
RUSTY
BLACKBIRD: 9 (1)
COMMON
GRACKLE: 6 (2 BY), 7 (6+), 8-31
BROWN-HEADED
COWBIRD: 1 (5♂), 17 (25+ ♂), 19 (1♂), 27 (11♂)
blackbird
sp.:4, 9
HOUSE
FINCH: 1-31
PURPLE
FINCH: 29 (1♂ BY)
AMERICAN
GOLDFINCH: 6-7 (1 BY), 10-11 (1 BY), 12-13 (2 BY), 14, 15 (1 BY), 16
HOUSE
SPARROW: 1-31
MAMMALIAN
AMERICAN
MINK: 6-7 (1)
WHITE-TAILED
DEER: 3 (6 BY), 9 (9 BY + 7), 13 (1), 15 (9), 18 (3 BY + 4),
19 (10 BY + 7), 22
(1), 23 (9), 27 (1 BY), 31 (2)
FOX
SQUIRREL: 3-5, 7-19, 21-22, 25-31
EASTERN
CHIPMUNK: 16 (1), 20 (1)
MUSKRAT:
9 (1), 22 (1)
EASTERN
COTTONTAIL: 1, 3-6, 9-10, 12-24, 26-28, 30-31
REPTILIAN
PLAINS
GARTER SNAKE: 26 (1)
garter
snake sp.: 17 (1)
NORTHERN
PAINTED TURTLE: 7 (4+), 8 (11+), 9 (4), 10 (17), 11 (35+), 12, 14-17,
21-22, 25
(3), 28-31
RED-EARED
SLIDER: 10 (3), 11 (4)
AMPHIBIAN
BOREAL
CHORUS FROG: 7-18, 20-31
AMERICAN
BULLFROG: 22 (6), 30
NORTHERN
LEOPARD FROG: 6 (1), 15 (1)
LEPIDOPTERA
PEARL
CRESCENT: 31 (1)
EASTERN
COMMA: 28-29 (1)
MOURNING
CLOAK: 8 (1), 16-17 (1), 21-22 (1), 25 (1), 28-30 (1)
RED
ADMIRAL: 25 (1)
WOOLLY
BEAR (Isabella Tiger Moth): 6 (1)
ODONATA
VARIEGATED
MEADOWHAWK: 29 (1)
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
April 3, 2016: Jensen Pond
An eastward across view across Jensen Pond. These two Canada Geese may be nesting in the immediate area. 3/30/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
April 2, 2016: Turkey Vulture
Turkey Vultures have been streaming northward over the Park since
20 March. This one was caught over Pool C, checking for an easy meal. 4/1/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
April 1, 2016: West Slope
Looking northward along the west slope & the Upland Trail, towards the north slope (on the right). 3/31/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
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