May 31, 2016: May 2016 Photo Collage

May 2016 photos from the blog by Wolf. Oesterreich and Kevin Kane.

May 30, 2016: Go Fly A Kite

It was a beautiful Memorial Day at the park celebrated by those walking, biking, fishing, boating, picnicking, and flying kites.  There were at least four large kites flying over the lake as I hiked through on Monday's breezy afternoon before the rain arrived. 5/30/16 (Kevin Kane)

May 29, 2016: Spiderwort

Long-bracted Spiderwort (Family Commelinaceae) are in bloom in many areas of the Park, especially in the prairies by Stone Brooke community. 5/28/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

May 28, 2016: Prairie & Clouds

From the Upland Trail (before heading up the west slope) looking across the north wetlands complex prairie to the NE.  This view will be marred in the future with the building of homes along the Park's north boundary. 5/28/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

May 27, 2016: Cedar-Apple Rust

Many of the Eastern Red Cedars (Juniperus virginiana) along the Upland Trail are infected with Cedar-Apple Rust (Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae).  This fungus has two hosts: cedars/junipers and apples/crabapples.  In late Spring, brown galls that have been hanging on cedar limbs all Winter begin to become more gelatinous and grow orange tentacles.  Spores are released by these tentacles and when they land on apple trees, they start the next phase of their complicated life cycle.  These spores can travel 2 to 3 miles on the wind.  On the apple trees the spores will grow into rust-colored spots on the leaves or apples.  These spots are actually cup-shaped structures full of new spores.  These spores stick to insects that will transport them to new cedars, where they will grow into a hard, brown ball, starting the process all over again. 5/27/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

May 26, 2016: Purple Martin

Purple Martins seem to have settled into the 3 martin houses located by Stone Brooke community, completely ignoring the new condominium complex west of the bridge.  This adult was flying around the house set out by a former mayor of Ames. 5/27/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

May 25, 2016: Common Carp

If you have been walking around the main lakes recently, you may have noticed the splashing, especially along the shorelines.  It's breeding time for the Common Carp.  This photo shows one trying to jump over Weir N, into Pond N.  I observed at least 2 that made it.  The presence of carp is the main reason the waters of Pond N are so muddy. 5/27/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

May 24, 2016: Goose Family

This Canada Goose family was found on the north lake.  Few goose families have been observed this year at the Park, this family being only the third one. 5/26/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

May 23, 2016: Sedge Wren

This small wren, Sedge Wren, breeds in Iowa northward, but I have to find it breeding at the Park.  I usually find this species in Spring and then again in late Summer or Fall.  The song begins with a few single notes followed by a weak staccato trill.  They tend to be more common along the west side of the Park. 5/25/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

May 22, 2016: White-tailed Deer

A White-tailed Deer doe running through the shallow waters of Pool F.  [In background are Canada Geese, a Snowy Egret (left white bird), and a Great Egret.] 5/19/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

May 21, 2016: Sunset

Every once in a while, we like to share photos in the public domain from the community of nature lovers enjoying Ada Hayden Park.  This photo comes from the Ada Hayden Park Facebook page, by Mark Lyon, 5/20/2016. Thanks for sharing Mark!

May 20, 2016: Three Years Ago Today

A severe storm passed quickly over the lake leaving a double rainbow in its wake. 5/20/13 (Kevin Kane)

May 19, 2016: Pelicans

A group of Pelicans flew into, and out of, the lake this morning giving us just a small amount of time to enjoy their beauty. 5/19/16 (Kevin Kane)

May 18, 2016: Northern Hills Development

Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

Joni Mitchell - Big Yellow Taxi 

Photo 5/19/16 (Kevin Kane)

May 17, 2016: American Bullfrog

An American Bullfrog partially hidden in the duckweed at Jensen Pond. 5/17/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

May 16, 2016: Spring Reflections

Spring is slowly turning to summer and the billowy cloud formations that remind us that warm, humid weather is on its way. 5/10/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

May 15, 2016: Eared Grebes

Fourteen of 16 Eared Grebes found on the south lake, all in breeding plumage.  [Digiscoped photo.] 5/12/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

May 14, 2016: Mallard Pair

This Mallard pair was found at the north end of Pond P. 5/9/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

May 13, 2016: Clouds

Passing clouds: looking NE from the SW corner of the south lake's west bay. 5/11/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

May 12, 2016: Black-and-white Warbler

A female Black-and-white Warbler found at the bluff. 5/10/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

May 11, 2016: Buck

White-tailed Deer are somewhat common at the Park.  This buck (note the new antler growth) was found on the trail to the Adams property (SE corner of the Park & behind the restroom facility). 5/10/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

May 10, 2016: Wolf's April 2016 Wildlife Report

Many of the kinglets passed through earlier in the month, especially the Golden-crowned Kinglet (left).  The Ruby-crowned Kinglet (right) can still be found in May.  The "ruby crown" is just barely visible on this bird.  Usually the "ruby crown" is more visible when the bird is agitated.  Both species are constantly on the move. 4/11/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

A total of 115 avian species was recorded this month, ranking this month as the 3^rd highest April among 19 years of records.  April 2013 with 122 species remains as the highest April, while April 1998 with 61 species is the lowest.  So far, a total of 126 species have been recorded this year (9 species more than in 2015).

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 Warbling Vireo on the 24^th may represent a new early extreme Spring record for Story County (old record set on 25 April 1990 at Brookside Park).  The Cliff Swallows on the 22^nd may also set a new extreme early Spring record (old record set on 25 April 1982 at Hendrickson Marsh).

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 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).

[I left for California on the 14^th and returned on the 18^th.]

AVIAN

     GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE: 1 (14), 8 (39), 9 (11), 10 (35), 11-12 (72), 13 (55),

          19 (21), 20 (23), 21 (17), 22 (21)

     CANADA GOOSE: 1-14, 18-30

     TRUMPETER SWAN: 3 (2 ad)

     WOOD DUCK: 2 (1♂), 3 (1♂ + 1♀), 4 (6), 5 (1♂ + 1♀), 6 (7), 7 (1), 9 (18), 10 (2), 12,

          13 (3), 19 (5), 20 (6), 21 (2), 22 (2♂ + 1♀), 26 (1♂), 27 (3♂ + 2♀), 29 (5♂),

          30 (2♂ + 1♀)

     GADWALL: 1 (11+), 2 (3), 3 (4), 4 (17), 6 (47), 7 (26+), 9 (26+), 10 (4), 11-12 (6), 13 (4),

          14 (13), 19 (9), 21 (1), 22 (3), 24 (9), 25 (12), 27 (8), 28 (3), 29 (6), 30 (9)

     AMERICAN WIGEON: 6 (1♂ + 2♀), 10 (6), 24 (7)

     MALLARD: 1-14, 19-30

     BLUE-WINGED TEAL: 1 (6+), 2 (10+), 4-5 (9+), 6 (26+), 7 (9+), 8 (2), 9 (13), 10 (31+),

          11 (17+), 12 (7+), 13 (20+), 14 (4), 19 (50+), 20 (20+), 21-22 (25+), 23 (27+), 24 (33+),

          25 (12+), 26 (15+), 27 (7), 28 (15+), 29 (21+), 30 (5+)

     NORTHERN SHOVELER: 1 (33+), 2 (36+), 3 (10), 4 (30+), 5 (26+), 6 (127+), 7 (136+),

          8 (114+), 9 (30), 10 (59+), 11 (51+), 12 (56+), 13 (25+), 14 (38), 19 (47), 20 (12+),

          21 (23+), 22 (32+), 23 (34+), 24 (36+), 25 (38+), 26 (16+), 28 (29), 29 (16+),  30 (3)

     GREEN-WINGED TEAL: 1 (11+), 2 (16+), 3 (3), 4 (14+), 5 (2), 6 (83+), 7 (33+), 8 (47+),

          9 (89+), 10 (14+), 11 (18+), 12 (15+), 13 (4), 14 (8), 19 (6), 20 (5)

     CANVASBACK: 4 (1♂)

     REDHEAD: 6 (2♂), 8 (14)

     RING-NECKED DUCK: 1 (13+), 2-3 (1♂), 4 (2♂ + 1♀), 5 (10), 6 (4♂ + 1♀), 7 (4), 8 (14+),

          9 (9+), 10 (13+), 11 (5+), 12 (10+), 13 (9), 14 (1♂), 19-20 (1♂), 24 (2♂ + 1♀)

     LESSER SCAUP: 1 (12+), 2 (11), 4 (20), 5 (48), 6 (112+), 7 (84+), 8 (19), 9 (2), 13 (32),

          22 (1♂ + 1♀), 24 (3♂ + 3♀)

     BUFFLEHEAD: 3 (1♂ + 1♀), 5 (4♂ + 1♀), 6 (3♂ + 3♀), 7-8 (1♂ + 1♀), 12 (1♂ + 2♀),

          13 (2♂)

     HOODED MEGANSER: 2 (1♂ + 1♀), 4-5 (1♀), 6 (4♂ + 13♀), 8 (6), 9 (2♂ + 3♀),

          10 (3♂ + 3♀), 11 (1♂ + 3♀), 13-14 (1♂ + 1♀), 19 (1♀), 22 (1♀)

     RED-BREASTED MERGANSER: 5 (1♂ + 3♀), 8 (2♀), 21 (2♀), 27-28 (1♂ + 1♀),

          29 (1♂ + 2♀)

     RUDDY DUCK: 1 (2), 4 (6), 6 (12), 7 (8), 8 (1), 9-10 (2), 11 (1♀)

     RING-NECKED PHEASANT: 1, 2 (1♂ BY), 4 (+ 1♂ BY), 5, 6-7 (+ 1♂ BY), 8-9,

          10-11 (+ 1♂ BY), 12-13, 14 (+ 1♂ BY), 19-22, 23 (1♂ BY +), 24-25, 26 (1♂ BY +),

          27-29, 30 (1♂ BY +)

     COMMON LOON: 4 (2 abp), 5 (1 im), 7-8 (1 abp), 10 (1 abp), 11 (2 abp), 12 (1 abp),

          23 (1 abp), 27 (2 abp + 1 im)

     PIED-BILLED GREBE: 1 (8), 2-3 (2), 4 (8), 5 (13), 6 (37), 7 (101+), 8 (32+), 9 (31+),

          10 (18), 11 (26), 12 (7), 13 (3), 14 (1), 19 (16), 20 (5), 22 (8), 23 (2), 24 (7), 26 (22),

           27 (3), 28 (6), 29 (9), 30 (2)

     HORNED GREBE: 8-9 (1 abp), 19 (4 abp)

     EARED GREBE: 14 (1)

     DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT: 3 (31+), 4 (9), 12 (1), 20 (3), 29 (1)

     AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN: 24 (17)

     GREAT BLUE HERON: 2-3 (1), 4-5 (2), 7 (1), 9 (2), 10 (3), 11 (2), 12-13 (1), 19-20 (2),

          23 (1), 25 (1), 26 (2), 27-29 (1), 30 (2)

     GREAT EGRET: 19 (1), 20 (3), 21-22 (1), 23 (2), 24 (1), 25 (2), 26 (4), 27 (6), 28 (2),

          29 (4), 30 (1)

     GREEN HERON: 22 (1), 30 (1)

     TURKEY VULTURE: 1 (9+), 2 (20+), 3 (2), 4 (1), 5 (12+), 6 (10+), 7 (3), 8 (6), 9 (3),

          10-11 (10), 12 (1), 13 (4), 19 (1), 20 (3), 22 (2), 23 (1), 24 (2), 25 (1), 26 (5), 27 (7),

          28 (6), 29 (7), 30 (2)

     OSPREY: 3 (1), 5 (1), 8-10 (1), 12-13 (1), 23 (1), 27-28 (1), 29 (2), 30 (3)

     BALD EAGLE: 6 (1 ad), 10 (2 ad), 29 (1 im)

     SHARP-SHINNED HAWK: 8 (1)

     COOPER’S HAWK: 10 (1), 21 (1), 28 (1)

     BROAD-WINGED HAWK: 24 (4), 26 (1), 28 (2)

     RED-TAILED HAWK: 1 (2), 2 (1), 3 (3), 4 (2), 5 (3), 6-7 (1), 8 (2), 9 (1), 10 (3), 11 (2),

          12-13 (1), 14 (2), 19 (2), 20 (3), 21 (2), 22 (3), 23 (2), 24-25 (1), 26-30 (2)

     SORA: 19 (1)

     AMERICAN COOT: 1 (46+), 2 (14+), 3 (10), 4 (26+), 5 (9+), 6 (172+), 7 (61+), 8 (73+),

          9 (64+), 10 (61+), 11 (43+), 12 (54+), 13 (42+), 14 (14), 19 (34), 20 (11), 21 (2),

          22 (15), 23 (7), 24 (9), 25 (5), 26 (11), 27-28 (3), 29 (4)

     KILLDEER: 10 (1), 13 (3), 19 (3), 20-23 (1), 25-29 (1)

     SPOTTED SANDPIPER: 19 (1), 27 (6), 28 (1), 29 (3), 30 (1)

     SOLITARY SANDPIPER: 19 (1), 20 (2), 26-27 (1), 29 (1)

     GREATER YELLOWLEGS: 10 (2), 22 (2), 25 (5), 26 (6), 27 (3)

     WILLET: 27 (18)

     LESSER YELLOWLEGS: 10 (5), 21 (1), 25 (3), 26 (1), 27 (6), 28 (9), 29 (14)

     MARBLED GODWIT: 27 (1)

     LEAST SANDPIPER: 19 (4), 27 (2)

     PECTORAL SANDPIPER: 19 (7), 20-21 (1), 24 (1), 25 (8)

     LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER: 21 (1), 27 (2)

     WILSON’S SNIPE: 4 (2), 10 (6), 13 (5), 19 (2)

     RING-BILLED GULL: 3 (52+), 6 (10), 7 (36), 8 (10), 13 (1), 21 (1), 29 (3)

     BONAPARTE’S GULL: 13 (1)

     FORSTER’S TERN: 27 (6), 29 (2)

     EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE: 9 (1), 14 (1), 18-20 (1), 22-23 (1), 24 (2), 25 (1), 27 (1),

          29-30 (1)

     MOURNING DOVE: 1-5, 7, 9-14, 19-25, 27-30

     BARRED OWL: 27 (1)

     CHIMNEY SWIFT: 28 (1), 29 (6)

     BELTED KINGFISHER: 7 (2), 22 (1), 24 (1)

     RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER: 3-4, 9-10, 12, 14, 19-20, 22, 24, 28

     YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER: 10 (1 BY)

     DOWNY WOODPECKER: 1, 3, 5-7, 9-12, 14, 22-24

     HAIRY WOODPECKER: 1, 11, 14, 25, 27

     NORTHERN FLICKER (Yellow-shafted): 2 (2), 3 (3), 4 (2), 5 (3), 7 (2), 8 (6), 9 (5),

          10-11 (3), 12-13 (1), 19, 21 (2), 22 (3), 24 (1), 26 (2), 27 (1), 29 (2), 30 (1)

     NORTHERN FLICKER (Red-shafted): 6 (1)

     AMERICAN KESTREL: 2 (1♂), 8 (1♀)

     PEREGRINE FALCON: 29-30 (1)

     EASTERN PHOEBE: 6-7 (1), 9 (2), 10-11 (4), 14 (1), 21 (1), 27 (1)

     WARBLING VIREO: 24 (1), 25 (2), 26 (1), 28 (2), 29 (1)

     BLUE JAY: 6-7, 9-10, 14, 19-27, 29-30

     AMERICAN CROW: 1, 3-4, 6, 8-14, 19-28, 30

     PURPLE MARTIN: 10 (2), 11 (1♂ + 1♀), 12 (1), 13-14 (3), 19-30

     TREE SWALLOW: 1 (1), 3 (6), 4 (5), 5 (1), 6-7 (3), 9 (2), 10 (4), 11 (5), 12 (12), 13 (15+),

          14, 19-30

     NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW: 19 (1), 27, 29

     BANK SWALLOW: 22 (1), 29 (1)

     CLIFF SWALLOW: 22, 27, 29-30

     BARN SWALLOW: 24 (1), 27-30

     BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE: 1-14, 19, 21-26, 28-29

     WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 9-10, 13, 22-23, 25

     BROWN CREEPER: 10 (1)

     HOUSE WREN: 24 (1 BY), 25 (1), 27-28

     WINTER WREN: 27 (1)

     BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER: 27 (1)

     GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET: 9 (1), 10 (2), 11 (1)

     RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET: 4 (2), 9-10 (2), 11-12 (4), 21 (1), 25 (4), 27 (3), 28 (2)

     EASTERN BLUEBIRD: 2-3 (1♂ + 1♀), 5-6 (1♂ + 1♀), 9 (1), 13 (1), 14, 20, 21 (1♂),

          22 (1♂ + 1♀), 29-30 (1♂ + 1♀)

     HERMIT THRUSH: 4 (1), 13-14 (1), 21 (1)

     AMERICAN ROBIN: 1-14, 18-30

     BROWN THRASHER: 19-20 (1), 21 (3), 22-24 (1), 26 (2), 27 (1), 29 (1)

     NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD: 27 (1), 29 (1)

     EUROPEAN STARLING: 1, 3-6, 8-10, 13, 19, 21-25, 27-30

     LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH: 28 (1)

     NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH: 29 (1)

     BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER: 25 (1)

     ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER: 24-25 (1)

     COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: 28 (1♂)

     PALM WARBLER: 22 (6), 25 (2)

     YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (Myrtle): 3 (1), 4 (2), 9-10 (1), 11 (4), 12 (2), 19 (1),

          20 (2), 21 (9), 22 (4), 23 (2), 24 (3), 28 (1), 29 (3)

     AMERICAN TREE SPARROW: 3 (1)

     CHIPPING SPARROW: 19 (1), 20-30

     CLAY-COLORED SPARROW: 30 (1)

     FIELD SPARROW: 10 (4), 11 (1), 12 (3), 19 (3), 20 (1), 21 (2), 23 (2), 25 (1), 27-28 (1),

          30 (1)

     LARK SPARROW: 21 (1)

     SAVANNAH SPARROW: 28 (1), 30 (1)

     FOX SPARROW: 1 (1 BY), 6 (1 BY), 7 (2 BY + 3), 8 (1 BY), 10 (1 BY), 11 (2 BY)

     SONG SPARROW: 1-14, 19-30

     LINCOLN’S SPARROW: 20 (1), 28 (1)

     SWAMP SPARROW: 1 (1), 4 (1), 13 (1), 20 (2), 21 (1), 22 (5), 24 (1), 29-30 (1)

     WHITE-THROATED SPARROW: 21 (6), 24 (14+), 27 (9+), 28 (4+), 29 (2)

     DARK-EYED JUNCO (Slate-colored): 1 (4 BY + 14), 2 (2 BY + 4), 3 (7 BY + 1),

          4 (4 BY + 4), 5 (2 BY + 5), 6 (9 BY + 7), 8 (1 BY + 27), 9 (3 + 4 BY), 10 (7 + 3 BY),

          11 (1 BY + 8), 12 (4 BY + 10), 13 (3 + 1 BY)

     NORTHERN CARDINAL: 1-14, 18-30

     RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD: 1-14, 18-30

     EASTERN MEADOWLARK: 4-5, 14, 22 (2), 26 (1)

     RUSTY BLACKBIRD: 8 (1♂), 19 (14), 11 (1)

     COMMON GRACKLE: 1-14, 18-30

     BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD: 1 (9♂), 3 (4♂ + 1♀), 6 (5♂), 9 (4♂ + 1♀), 10 (8♂),

          14 (14), 19 (5), 20-24, 27-29

     HOUSE FINCH: 1-14, 19-30

     AMERICAN GOLDFINCH: 9-10, 14, 19-30

     HOUSE SPARROW: 1-14, 19-30

MAMMALIAN

     AMERICAN MINK: 4 (1), 11 (2), 22 (1)

     WHITE-TAILED DEER: 1 (2 BY), 3 (11 BY), 5 (4), 7 (12), 9 (2 BY + 6), 14 (21), 22 (4),

          24 (1), 26 (5), 27 (6), 28 (4), 30 (3)

     FOX SQUIRREL: 1-5, 7-12, 14, 19-24, 27, 29-30

     THIRTEEN-LINED GROUND SQUIRREL: 10-11 (1)

     EASTERN CHIPMUNK: 20 (1)

     MUSKRAT: 2 (1), 5-6 (1), 10 (1), 28 (1)

     EASTERN COTTONTAIL: 1, 3-13, 19-30

AMPHIBIAN

     AMERICAN TOAD: 19-27

     EASTERN GRAY TREE FROG: 24, 28

     BOREAL CHORUS FROG: 1-14, 19-26, 28, 30

     NORTHERN LEOPARD FROG: 11 (1)

     AMERICAN BULLFROG: 13 (9+), 19-26, 29-30

REPTILIAN

     PLAINS GARTER SNAKE: 3 (1), 11-12 (1), 23-24 (1), 26 (1)

     NORTHERN PAINTED TURTLE: 4, 6, 10-12, 19-22, 24-26, 28

     RED-EARED SLIDER: 4 (1), 19-20 (1), 22 (1), 28 (1)

     SPINY SOFTSHELL TURTLE: 26 (2)

LEPIDOPTERA

     BLACK SWALLOWTAIL: 23 (1), 26 (1)

     CABBAGE WHITE: 13 (3), 19 (4), 22-23, 25

     ORANGE SULPHUR: 25-26

     Sulphur sp.: 13 (1), 23-26, 28

     SPRING AZURE: 24 (1)

     MOURNING CLOAK: 3 (1), 10 (1), 12 (3), 13 (1)

     PAINTED LADY: 19 (1)

     RED ADMIRAL: 4 (3), 10 (4), 11 (2), 12 (4), 13 (3), 19-20 (1), 21 (2), 22 (1), 23 (3), 24-26,

          28

     WOOLLY BEAR (Isabella Tiger Moth):

ODONATA

     COMMON GREEN DARNER: 10 (1♂), 13 (3), 19 (2), 21 (1), 23, 25

     VARIEGATED MEADOWHAWK: 13 (3), 25

Wolf. Oesterreich

May 9, 2016: Prairie Burn

Last Friday the parks Department burned a prairie section of the north wetland complex.  Left photo: Looking across the north lake (to the west), one can see the smoke from the burn.  Right photo: Looking easterly from the Upland Trail across the burn area.  The north slope is to the left, with Pool A almost in the center. 5/6/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

May 8, 2016: Great Blue Heron

A Great Blue Heron in all its finery at Pond M. 5/5/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

May 7, 2016: American Goldfinch

A male American Goldfinch has come down for a drink. 5/3/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

May 6, 2016: After the Rain

Shared from the Ada Hayden Park Facebook Page, 5/1/16
Photograph by Sandra Baker Quintero

May 5, 2016: Killdeer Chick

I was a bit surprised to see Killdeer chicks so early in the season.  An adult pair was accompanied by 3 chicks (photo of one of them).  The current cold and wet weather is not good for them. 5/1/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

May 4, 2016: Mallard

A balancing act on one leg.  This drake Mallard has his head tucked into the dorsal feathers.  [A digiscoped photo.] 4/29/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

May 3, 2016: Osprey

An Osprey flies in to land on a perch (in line of trees between Pool F and Pond P).  Ospreys are fish-eating hawks and will carry their prey in their talons, torpedo-like. 4/28/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

May 2, 2016: Spring Rains

This week's rain replenished Pool A and Pond D.  Friday, Pool A consisted of a mudflat dotted with several puddles.  [A southward view from the Upland Trail.] 4/30/15 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

May 1, 2016: Spotted Sandpiper

Several Spotted Sandpipers have been flushed from the rocks lining the south lake.  For the most part, they are migrating through the area, although I have found a nest at the Park and have observed young (not yet able to fly) along the shores of some of the wetland pools.  There are no spots in their Winter plumage . 4/29/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)