Thursday, June 30, 2016

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

June 29, 2016: Butterfly Milkweed


A favorite blooming time in the park happening now featuring the varying tones of oranges in the Butterfly Milkweed. 6/26/16 (Kevin Kane)

June 28, 2016: Silvery Checkerspot


At first I thought that this butterfly was just another Pearl Crescent, but upon closer examination, I have determined that this is actually a Silvery Checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis). 6/21/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

June 27, 2016: Willow, Rocks, and Waves


Sunset on the north lake. 6/26/16 (Kevin Kane)

June 26, 2016: Goose Family Swim

Two families of geese, with goslings of different ages, cross the north lake in their separate lines Sunday evening. 6/26/16 (Kevin Kane)

June 25, 2016: Ruby-throated Hummingbird


A female Ruby-throated Hummingbird searching for insects among the branches of this dead plant. 6/26/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Monday, June 27, 2016

June 24, 2016: North Lake


Looking southward from a north slope (directly north of the maintenance building). 6/26/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

June 23, 2016: Eastern Kingbird


One of 3 Eastern Kingbird nestlings found in this nest.  One parent was perched nearby, ready to drop down and feed them something.  Note the man-made material (streamers) in the nest construction. 6/22/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

June 22, 2016: Summer Azure


Summer Azures (Celastrina neglecta) are fluttering around the Park.  Some consider this species to be a Summer form (second brood) of the Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon). 
Wingspan = 2.5 - 3.3 cm
Flight Season = early June through mid-September

6/13/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

June 21, 2016: Big Sky on Upland Trail


Looking due west from Jensen Pond. 6/4/16 (Kevin Kane)

Sunday, June 26, 2016

June 20, 2016: Herons


Many times we only see a bird as it is flying away.  Here are two examples: a Great Blue Heron on the left and a Green Heron on the right. 6/12/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

June 19, 2016: Azure Bluet


This male Azure Bluet (Enallagma aspersum) was only my second record for the Park.  Erv Klaas first found a specimen in 2008 and my first sighting was in 2014.  A few males were flying around the shoreline of a small pond. 6/12/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
 
Flight Season = May - September
Total Length = 27-34 mm
Hindwing Length = 15-20 mm

June 18, 2016: Red-spotted Purple


The Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) is a locally found form of the White Admiral.  The upperside is on the left, with the underside on the right. 6/10/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Thursday, June 23, 2016

June 17, 2016: Daisy Fleabane


Daisy Fleabane, a member of the sunflower (Asteraceae) family, can be found throughout the Park. 6/9/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Saturday, June 18, 2016

June 16, 2016: Eastern Forktail


This female Eastern Forktail has just caught a fly. 6/9/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Flight Season = May - October
Total Length = 20-33 mm
Hindwing Length = 11-19 mm

June 15, 2016: Cabbage White


This European immigrant (first found in North America, in western Canada, in 1860s), a Cabbage White, can be found throughout the Park.  This individual is nectaring on Bird's Foot Trefoil, another immigrant. 6/9/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Friday, June 17, 2016

June 14, 2016: Martin House


A Purple Martin housing complex reflected in the waters of the small SW cove (of the north lake), with the last of this afternoon's (31st) storm clouds in the background. 5/31/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

June 13, 2016: Dickcissel


Dickcissels were slow to show up at the Park.  However, by the end of May, I heard and/or observed at least 6 males singing along the Upland Trail.  This male was found down the east slope (east of Jensen Pond). 5/31/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

June 12, 2016: Pollinators


Ants make their way across the north prairie. 6/4/16 (Kevin Kane)

Thursday, June 16, 2016

June 11, 2016: Anemone


A plant found by wetlands, the Canada Anemone (Family Ranunuculaceae) is a herbaceous perennial that spreads by underground rhizomes. 5/28/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

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


A male Wilson's Warbler, one of several warbler species that pass through Iowa on their way to their breeding grounds.  We'll see them again in the Fall, on their return trip. 5/15/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)


A total of 139 avian species (+ 1 sp.) was recorded this month, ranking this month as the 4th highest May (& tied May 2015) among 19 years of records.  May 2006, 2008, and 2011, with 152 species, remain as the highest Mays, while May 1998 with only 70 species is the lowest.  This total is 24 species more than last month and the same as May 2015.

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 Snowy Egret sighted on the 15th may represent only the 5th record for Story County.

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
     CANADA GOOSE: 1-6, 8-31
     TRUMPETER SWAN: 3 (1 ad)
     WOOD DUCK: 1-2 (4), 10 (4♂ + 3♀), 11 (2♂), 13 (5), 14-15, 16 (1♂), 17 (1♂ + 1♀),
          18 (2♂ + 1♀), 20 (5), 22 (2), 24 (6), 28 (8), 30 (4), 31 (1♀)
     GADWALL: 2 (5), 3-5 (2)
     MALLARD: 1-6, 8-31
     BLUE-WINGED TEAL: 1 (6+), 2 (7+), 3 (5), 4 (15+), 5 (4), 6 (7), 8 (6), 10 (4),
          11 (11), 12 (4), 13 (1), 14 (2), 15 (3), 16 (2), 19 (4), 20-21 (2), 23 (3), 24-26 (9),
          27 (11), 28 (9)
     NORTHERN SHOVELER: 1 (6+), 2 (4), 3 (9), 9 (1♂), 18-20 (1♂), 26 (1♂ + 1♀),
          28 (1♂)
     HOODED MERGANSER: 6 (1♀), 8 (1♀), 26 (1♀), 27 (2 im), 28 (3 im)
     RED-BREASTED MERGANSER: 1-2 (1♂ + 2♀), 9-10 (3♀)
     RUDDY DUCK: 2 (4)
     RING-NECKED PHEASANT: 1 (1♂ BY +), 2-6, 8-31
     COMMON LOON: 2-6 (1 anb), 8 (1 anb), 9 (2 anb), 10-17 (1 anb)
     PIED-BILLED GREBE: 1 (8), 2 (7), 4 (2), 5 (3), 8-9 (2), 11 (2), 13 (3), 15 (1), 16 (3),
          31 (1)
     EARED GREBE: 10 (1 abp), 12 (16)
     DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT: 2-3 (1), 6 (1), 10 (4), 14 (1), 31 (1)
     AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN: 2 (7), 10 (~60)
     GREAT BLUE HERON: 1 (2), 2-3 (3), 4 (1), 5 (2), 6 (3), 8 (3), 9 (4), 10 (1), 11 (3),
          13 (1), 15 (2), 16 (1), 17-19 (3), 20-21 (2), 22-23 (1), 24-25 (3), 26-27 (4),
          28-29 (3), 31 (4)
     GREAT EGRET: 1 (3), 2 (2), 9-11 (1), 18 (1), 19 (2), 20 (3), 22 (1), 23 (3), 25 (2),
          26 (1), 27 (2), 28 (3)
     SNOWY EGRET: 19 (1)
     GREEN HERON: 1 (1), 6 (1), 13-15 (2), 26 (1), 30-31 (1)
     TURKEY VULTURE: 1 (1), 2 (7), 3 (1), 4 (6), 5 (5), 6 (6), 8-9 (7), 10-12 (4), 13 (7),
          14, 15 (3), 16 (6), 17 (11), 19 (4), 20-21 (1), 22 (3), 23 (2), 24 (1), 25 (4), 26 (3),
          27 (1), 28 (2), 29-30 (5), 31 (2)
     OSPREY: 1 (2), 3-5 (1), 13-14 (1)
     BALD EAGLE: 4 (1 ad), 9 (1 ad), 30 (1 sub-ad)
     COOPER’S HAWK: 1 (1), 14 (1)
     BROAD-WINGED HAWK: 2 (3), 4 (1), 15 (1)
     RED-TAILED HAWK: 1 (1), 2-3 (2), 4 (1), 5 (2), 6 (1), 8 (1), 9-10 (2), 12 (1), 13 (2),
          14-15, 16-17 (1), 18 (3), 19 (1), 20-23, 24 (1), 25 (2), 26, 27-28 (1), 29-30 (2), 31
     SORA: 3 (1), 14-16 (1)
     AMERICAN COOT: 2 (3), 4 (7), 5 (5), 6 (1), 10 (1), 11 (3), 12 (2), 13-14 (1), 17 (1),
          20 (1)
     AMERICAN AVOCET: 11 (4)
     SEMIPALMATED PLOVER: 24 (1), 27 (2)
     KILLDEER: 1 (2 ad w/3 chicks), 2 (2 ad w/4 chicks), 3 (2 ad w/3 chicks), 4 (1 ad
          w/2 chicks), 5 (2), 8, 14-15 (1), 17 (1), 20 (4), 21 (5), 22 (3), 23 (6), 24 (9),
          25 (7), 26 (5), 27 (3), 28 (2), 29-30 (1)
     SPOTTED SANDPIPER: 1 (5), 2 (2), 3 (1), 6 (1), 9-10 (1), 11 (2), 12 (1), 15 (2),
          18 (1), 24-27 (5), 28 (1)
     SOLITARY SANDPIPER: 3-4 (1)
     LESSER YELLOWLEGS: 4 (31), 15 (~13), 16 (2), 25 (1)
     DUNLIN: 4 (1)
     BAIRD’S SANDPIPER: 23-25, 27 (1)
     LEAST SANDPIPER: 17 (2), 24
     WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER: 23-25
     PECTORAL SANDPIPER: 24 (1), 26-27 (1)
     SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER: 23-26, 27 (~30)
     WILSON’S SNIPE: 4 (1)
     WILSON’S PHALAROPE: 24 (1)
     FRANKLIN’S GULL: 4 (25)
     CASPIAN TERN: 14 (1)
     FORSTER’S TERN: 1 (3), 6 (2), 17 (1), 22 (1)
     EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE: 1-2 (1), 8-9 (1), 11 (1), 15-17 (1), 19 (1), 22 (1),
          24 (1), 26 (1), 28-31 (1)
     MOURNING DOVE: 1-6, 8-31
     YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO: 18 (1), 22 (1), 24-26 (1), 27-28 (2), 29-31 (1)
     BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO: 27 (1)
     COMMON NIGHTHAWK: 10 (16+), 14 (1), 15
     CHIMNEY SWIFT: 9, 12, 14-15
     BELTED KINGFISHER: 1 (1), 5-6 (1), 9-10 (1), 12 (1), 14 (1), 16 (1), 27 (1)
     RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER: 1, 5, 8-11, 13-16, 18-21, 24-25, 27, 29, 31
     DOWNY WOODPECKER: 1, 3, 5-6, 10, 14-16, 19-20, 28-31
     HAIRY WOODPECKER: 2, 25
     NORTHERN FLICKER (Yellow-shafted): 1 (1), 4 (1), 11-14 (1), 17-18 (1), 30 (1)
     AMERICAN KESTREL: 4 (1♀)
     MERLIN: 2 (1♀)
     PEREGRINE FALCON: 14 (1)
     OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER: 8 (1), 19 (1), 22 (1), 27 (1)
     EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE: 31 (1)
     YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER: 30 (1)
     WILLOW FLYACTCHER: 28 (1), 31 (1)
     LEAST FLYCATCHER: 6 (1), 8 (2), 9-12 (1), 14-15, 16 (2), 23 (2), 26 (1)
     Empidonax sp.: 24 (1)
     EASTERN PHOEBE: 1-2 (1), 9 (1), 14 (1), 27 (1), 29 (1)
     GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER: 19 (1), 27 (1)
     EASTERN KINGBIRD: 3 (1), 8-18 (1), 19 (2), 20 (1), 21-22 (2), 23-24 (1), 26 (1),
          27 (4), 30 (1), 31 (2)
     YELLOW-THROATED VIREO: 25 (1)
     BLUE-HEADED VIREO: 11 (1), 14 (1)
     WARBLING VIREO: 1 (1), 4-5 (1), 6 (3), 8 (4), 9-12, 13 (1), 14-17, 18 (4), 19-31
     PHILADELPHIA VIREO: 11 (1)
     RED-EYED VIREO: 21 (1), 25-26 (1), 28-29
     BLUE JAY: 1-3, 5, 8-12, 14-15, 17-18, 22-23, 26-28, 30
     AMERICAN CROW: 1-6, 8-24, 27-29, 31
     PURPLE MARTIN: 1-6, 8-11, 14-15, 17-31
     TREE SWALLOW: 1-6, 8-31
     NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLLOW: 12-15, 21
     BANK SWALLOW: 2 (1), 9, 12-14, 17
     CLIFF SWALLOW: 2, 6, 9, 11, 14, 21-22
     BARN SWALLOW: 1-6, 8-31
     BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE: 1-6, 8-9, 11-21, 23-24, 27-28, 30-31
     WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 2-4, 11, 30
     HOUSE WREN: 1-2, 4-6, 8-31
     SEDGE WREN: 1 (2), 14-15, 16 (2), 21 (1), 22 (2), 23 (1), 25 (1), 26 (2), 27 (1),
          29-30 (1)
     MARSH WREN: 17-18 (1), 20 (1)
     CAROLINA WREN: 15 (1)
     BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER: 11 (1), 15 (1)
     RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET: 1 (4), 4-5 (2), 6 (1), 8 (1 BY + 2), 9 (1), 11 (1),
          12-13 (2), 14
     EASTERN BLUEBIRD: 1 (2♂ + 2♀), 2 (1♀), 4 (1♂), 5 (2♂ + 2♀), 8 (1♂ + 1♀),
          14 (2♂ + 1♀), 15-16 (1♂ + 1♀), 18-19 (1♂), 21-22 (1♀), 24-25 (1♂ + 1♀),
          27 (1♂ + 1♀), 28 (1♂), 29 (1♀), 30 (2)
     GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH: 16 (1)
     SWAINSON’S THRUSH: 3 (1), 8 (1 by + 2), 9-10 (1), 16 (2), 20 (2)
     AMERICAN ROBIN: 1-31
     GRAY CATBIRD: 8 (1), 9-21, 23-25, 27-28, 30-31
     BROWN THRASHER: 1 (1), 4-5 (2), 10 (3)
     NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD: 1 (1)
     EUROPEAN STARLING: 1-3, 6, 9-14, 16-22, 24-31
     CEDAR WAXWING: 20 (2), 29 (4)
     OVENBIRD: 6 (1), 8 (1), 11 (2)
     NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH: 3 (1), 11 (1), 14 (1), 15 (3), 16 (1)
     GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER: 9 (1), 10 (2), 11 (3), 13 (1), 14
     BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER: 8 (2), 9 (1), 10-11 (4), 13 (2), 14, 15 (2), 19 (1)
     TENNESSEE WARBLER: 9 (2), 10 (3), 11 (4), 12 (1), 15-17
     ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER: 1 (1), 6 (1), 8 (3), 9 (5), 10 (2), 11 (4), 12 (3),
           14 (1), 15 (2)
     NASHVILLE WARBLER: 6 (5), 8 (1), 9 (3), 10 (2), 11 (3), 12 (1), 14, 15 (3)
     COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: 6 (1), 8-31
     AMERICAN REDSTART: 8 (2♂), 9 (1♂), 10 (5), 11-12 (6), 13 (7), 14, 15 (6+),
           16 (2), 18 (1), 27 (1♀), 29 (1♀)
     MAGNOLIA WARBLER: 10 (2), 11 (1), 12 (2), 13 (4), 14, 15 (2)
     YELLOW WARBLER: 8 (4), 9 (6), 10 (3), 11 (4), 14, 15 (3), 16 (2), 18 (1), 19 (2),
           20 (1), 26 (2)
     CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER: 10 (3), 11 (4), 12 (1), 13 (1 BY + 4), 14
     BLACKPOLL WARBLER: 11 (2), 14
     PALM WARBLER: 1 (1), 10 (2), 11 (1), 12 (2), 13-14 (1)
     YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (Myrtle): 1 (2), 3 (4), 6 (2), 8 (3), 11 (5), 14-15,
          16 (1)
     CANADA WARBLER: 15 (1)
     WILSON’S WARBLER: 9-11 (1♂), 13 (2♂), 14, 15 (3♂), 17 (1♂), 22 (1♂), 29 (1♂)
     EASTERN TOWHEE: 10 (1), 15 (1)
     CHIPPING SPARROW: 1, 3-6, 8-21, 23-24. 27-28, 31
     CLAY-COLORED SPARROW: 8 (5), 9 (1), 10, 11 (2), 13, 15 (2)
     FIELD SPARROW: 1 (3), 2-5 (1), 9-10 (1), 13-14 (1), 17 (1), 26-30 (1)
     LARK SPARROW: 14 (2)
     SAVANNAH SPARROW: 8 (1), 11 (2)
     SONG SPARROW: 1-6, 8-31
     LINCOLN’S SPARROW: 1 (1), 5 (1), 8-9 (2), 10 (1), 11 (2), 15 (1), 22 (1)
     SWAMP SPARROW: 1 (2), 5 (1), 10 (1)
     WHITE-THROATED SPARROW: 1 (4), 2 (2), 3-4 (1), 5 (3), 6 (12+), 8 (12+), 9-11,
          14, 15 (9+)
     HARRIS’S SPARROW: 3 (1), 6 (1), 8-9 (2), 10, 11 (1), 14
     WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW: 8 (2), 11 (4), 14 (3)
     NORTHERN CARDINAL: 1-6, 8-31
     ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK: 9 (1♂ BY), 11 (3♂)
     INDIGO BUNTING: 10-11 (1♂), 13-14 (1), 15, 16 (1), 18 (2♂ + 1♀), 19 (1♂), 20 (2),
          21-22 (2♂), 23 (1♂), 24 (1♀), 25 (1), 27-30, 31 (2)
     DICKCISSEL: 26 (1♂), 27 (3♂), 28 (2♂), 29, 30 (3), 31 (6)
     RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD: 1-6, 8-31
     EASTERN MEADOWLARK: 1 (1), 11 (1), 15-16 (2), 24 (1), 27 (1)
     COMMON GRACKLE: 1-6, 8-31
     BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD: 1-4, 8-31
     ORCHARD ORIOLE: 10 (1), 17 (1♀), 18 (1 im ♂), 21 (1)
     BALTIMORE ORIOLE: 3 (1♂), 4-5 (2♂), 6 (5♂ + 1♀), 8-31
     HOUSE FINCH: 1-6, 8-31
     AMERICAN GOLDFINCH: 1-6, 8-31
     HOUSE SPARROW: 1-6, 8-31

MAMMALIAN
     AMERICAN MINK:
     WHITE-TAILED DEER: 1 (1), 2 (6 + 3 BY), 5 (2), 9 (1), 10 (2 + 1♂), 11 (2), 13 (1),
          15 (2), 17 (1), 19 (1), 20 (1 + 1♂), 21 (1), 22 (3), 23 (2 + 2♂), 24 (1), 28-30 (1)
     FOX SQUIRREL: 1-2, 9-10, 16, 28-30
     EASTERN CHIPMUNK: 5 (1), 10 (1), 14 (1), 19-20 (1), 27-28
     EASTERN COTTONTAIL: 1-5, 8-11, 13, 15, 17-21, 23-31

REPTILIAN
     PLAINS GARTER SNAKE: 8 (1), 14 (1)
     EASTERN GARTER SNAKE: 22 (1)
     COMMON SNAPPING TURTLE: 3 (1)
     NORTHERN PAINTED TURTLE: 2-6, 8, 10, 12, 16-25, 27-31
     RED-EARED SLIDER: 3 (3), 4-5 (1), 6 (2), 10 (1), 12 (1), 14-15 (1), 17-19 (1),
          20 (3), 21-22 (1), 24-25 (1), 27 (2)
     SPINY SOFTSHELL TURTLE: 8 (1), 10 (1), 15 (1), 17-18 (1), 20 (1), 21 (2)

AMPHIBIAN
     AMERICAN TOAD: 2-8, 10-13, 15, 19-28, 31
     BLANCHARD’S CRICKET FROG: 24-31
     EASTERN GRAY TREEFROG: 3, 5, 9-10, 25, 27, 31
     BOREAL CHORUS FROG: 1-6, 8-9, 11, 15, 27-31
     AMERICAN BULLFROG: 1-5, 8-12, 15-17, 19-26, 28-31
     NORTHERN LEOPARD FROG: 30 (1)

LEPIDOPTERA
     BLACK SWALLOWTAIL: 5-6 (2), 15 (1), 17 (1), 27 (1), 29 (1)
     EASTERM TIGER SWALLOWTAIL: 18 (1), 22 (1)
     CABBAGE WHITE: 3-6, 8, 10, 14, 18-19, 22, 30
     CLOUDED SULPHUR: 2-6, 8, 10, 17-18, 20, 22
     ORANGE SULPHUR: 4-6, 10, 17-27, 29-30
     PEARL CRESCENT: 10, 19, 22, 30
     MOURNING CLOAK: 26 (1)
     PAINTED LADY: 4-6, 12, 17
     RED ADMIRAL: 2-6, 8, 10, 12, 14-15, 17-19, 24, 26, 29-31
     VICEROY: 19 (1), 21 (2), 24 (1), 25 (3), 27 (2), 28-30 (1)
     MONARCH: 19 (1), 20 (2), 21 (1), 26-27 (1), 29-30 (3), 31 (2)

ODONATE
     FAMILIAR BLUET: 30 (1♂)
     EASTERN FORKTAIL: 4 (1 im ♀), 6 (1♂ + 2♀), 10, 22, 26, 28-30
     COMMON GREEN DARNER: 2 (1), 4 (1), 5 (2), 6 (1), 8, 10, 15 (2), 17 (2), 18-24,
          26-30
     COMMON BASKETTAIL: 30 (2)
     EASTERN PONDHAWK: 30 (1♀)
     WIDOW SKIMMER: 30 (1)
     COMMON WHITETAIL: 20 (1♀), 26 (1♂), 27, 29-30
     TWELVE-SPOTTED SKIMMER: 30 (1♀)
     BLACK SADDLEBAGS: 30 (2♂)


Wolf. Oesterreich

Sunday, June 12, 2016

June 9, 2016: Jack-in-the-pulpit


A few Jack-in-the-pulpit plants were found still blooming in late May / early June but most were past their prime blooming time. 5/30/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Saturday, June 11, 2016

June 8, 2016: Eastern Kingbird


This Eastern Kingbird is nesting along the Upland Trail, just beyond the start of the west slope.  Man-made streamers have been incorporated into the nest, making the nest easily seen. 6/4/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

June 7, 2016: Upland View


A view from the ridgeline on the northwest hills where some of the new homes are being built. 6/4/16 (Kevin Kane)

June 6, 2016: Iris


Blue Flag Iris (Family Iridaceae) is a  common plant around the ponds of the south wetland complex (by Stone Brooke community). 5/28/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Monday, June 6, 2016

June 5, 2016: Milkweed


Flowers from the milkweed plants around the park are almost ready to bloom. 6/4/16 (Kevin Kane)

June 4, 2016: Goose Families


All three Canada Goose families (that I know of) were together on the north lake's west bay.  Based on the size of the goslings, one set is much younger that the other two. 5/29/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Saturday, June 4, 2016

Friday, June 3, 2016

June 1, 2016: Yarrow


Western Yarrow (Family Asteraceae) is being found in the prairie areas of the Park. 5/28/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)