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 26, 2016: Goose Family Swim
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
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)
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)
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)
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♂)
Labels:
birds,
education,
field notes,
report,
wildlife
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 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)
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