Tuesday, August 30, 2016
August 30, 2016: Serenity Now
Monday, August 29, 2016
August 29, 2016: West Slope
From the Upland Trail, looking NW across the north prairie to the west slope. 8/7/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
August 27, 2016: Giant Swallowtail
Of the three swallowtail species found at the Park, the Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes) is the least common. This individual is nectaring on an ironweed, found at the SE corner of Pool F. 8/10/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
August 26, 2016: Perched
Sunday, August 28, 2016
August 24, 2016: Milkweed Tussock Caterpillar
The Milkweed Tussock Caterpillar is a moth (Milkweed Tussock Moth)
in the Erebidae Family (Subfamily Arctiinae). It feeds on milkweeds and
dogbanes (both found at the Park) and can be found from southern Canada
down to Texas and southeast to Florida. Like most species in this
family, it acquires a chemical defense (cardiac glycosides) from its
host plants. 8/12/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
August 25, 2016: Pollinators Interpretive Talk
Donald Lewis, ISU Extension Entomologist, gave a presentation on
the common pollinators in Iowa. Afterwards, we searched the nearest
flower bed for insects. Two Monarch caterpillars were found on the
Common Milkweeds. 8/25/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
Saturday, August 27, 2016
August 23, 2016: A Letter to Friends of AHHP
The new path connecting the northern development with AHHP in the far northwest area of the park along the upland trail. 8/13/16 (Kevin Kane)
I write with a couple questions regarding the recent changes in AH along the upland trail.
I was away for several weeks and only yesterday noticed the new paved lane connecting the upland trail near the Circle with the development at Hayden's Crossing. The new paved lane extends south from private land to the park's existing dirt trail.
(There has been) great concern about the potential erosion at the site and the impact rainwater would have on the trail. It was also not clear ... if the park's dirt trail was going to be paved and if so, concern was expressed that if that were to happen, the consequent increase in speed biking would negatively affect hikers, people with disabilities, and leisure bikers and walkers.
(We) looked at the paved path and how it merges with the existing trail and agreed ... that it did not look very good with regard to potential run-off and erosion. Even though a completely paved upland trail would be welcomed by many, the change would be substantial and completely change the current feeling of being in a truly natural setting.
Thanks so much for all you do.
-----
Response from Keith Abraham, Dir. of Parks and Recreation
City of Ames
Thank you for passing on your concerns and comments!
In response to your comments and questions:
We do not have any intention of paving the Upland Trail. There are many walkers, hikers, runners, etc. who have expressed their desire to keep this trail as is. In conversation with the developers of Hayden's Crossing, and Quarry Estates, any trail connection within the park is to have the new material match the existing material. Joshua and I visited the site today and are sure they used asphalt millings which is what the Upland Trail is made of. The difference is these new millings appear to be smaller and have been compressed which makes the trail look like it has been paved. At the start of the path in Hayden's Crossing, the millings are 8+ inches thick yet they are very thin on the Upland Trail. As people use this section of the trail, the millings will get broken up and blend in with the current material. I was able to break up the millings on the trail fairly easily.
As for the erosion issues. It does appear there are erosion issues currently and this is causing sediment to deposit on the trail. We will be contacting Hunziker to get the sides of the path back filled, graded, and seeded to prevent further erosion.
The weeds in the middle of the path were sprayed as mowing and foot traffic wasn't controlling them very well.
I also want to echo Erv's comments regarding the Friends Group and the City working closely together in the best interest of the park. Erv and Jim Pease developed a management plan for Ada Hayden and has been a wonderful resource for us. We refer to it often as we determine what is needed at the park. We have had requests for multiple things (i.e. playgrounds, athletic fields, etc.) to be placed at Ada Hayden and continue to say no as that is not the intent of this park. We agree it will be an increasing challenge to keep it this way as more and more homes are developed and demands continue to come forth. Currently, City Council is very cognizant of the importance of Ada Hayden and the water shed area. This was evident listening to Council Member comments recently regarding the proposed Rose Prairie development in which Council did not approve the developer's request to build 700+ homes. We need to continue to work together to make sure Ada Hayden stays as it was intended.
If you have any further questions, please contact me. Have a great day!
August 22, 2016: Black Swallowtail Life Stages
Black Swallowtails (Papilio polyxenes), a member of the Papilionidae Family, are a common species at the Park. Here are three life stages:
1) caterpillar (top)7/31/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
August 20, 2016: Whorled Milkweed
Of the four milkweed species found at the Park, the Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata) is the daintiest and has the smallest distribution. 7/30/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
Saturday, August 20, 2016
Thursday, August 18, 2016
August 18, 2016: Ada Hayden Fishery Talk
Tonight,
Jeff Kopaska, DNR Fisheries, gave a talk on the "Ada Hayden Fishery".
He discussed current and future management practices, what "Master
Fishes" have been caught at the park, and which species can be found
here, along with their habits and requirements. 8/18/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
August 16, 2016: Gizzard Shad
Hundreds of Gizzard Shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) have been observed
along the shore of the south lake and below Weir N. This shad is a
member of the herring family (Clupeidae) and are a source of food for
some of the other fish species at the Park. 8/9/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
August 14, 2016: Little Yellow
Those small yellow butterflies that flutter low along the edge of
the trails never seem to stop. I was finally able to obtain a
photograph of this Little Yellow (Pyrisitia [Eurema] lisa), one of the sulphurs found at the Park. 7/30/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
Saturday, August 13, 2016
August 12, 2016: Joe Pye Weed
Many Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium maculatum) plants, a member of
the sunflower family (Asteraceae), can be found along the west side of
Pond M. The leaves are lanceolate, have toothed margins, and are
arranged in whorls of 5 to 6. This plant may grow over 6-feet tall. 7/27/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
Friday, August 12, 2016
August 11, 2006: Sphex pennsylvanicus
Two Great Black Wasps survey a Swamp Milkweed plan on the west shore of the north lake. 7/30/16 (Kevin Kane)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphex_pensylvanicus
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asclepias_incarnata
Labels:
field notes,
flowers,
insects,
plants,
prairie
Thursday, August 11, 2016
August 10, 2016: Mink
While standing on Weir N and looking for Odonates, I spotted an American Mink (Mustela vison)
hunting below. I was on the south end and the mink came from the north, swimming along the bottom of the weir, catching small fish when
possible. When it reached the south end it happened to look up and spot
me. The mink ran up the bank and into the vegetation. I watched as it
scurried around the culvert (outlet to the south lake) and then end up
back at the north end. Once again, the mink swam along the edge of the
weir, looked up at me to see if I was still there, and ran around. The
American Mink did this again for a third time. However, when it reached
the north end, it ran off into the vegetation, probably tired of this
"game". 8/9/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
August 8, 2016: Viceroy
I've observed more Viceroys (Limenitis archippus) at the Park than Monarchs, which they closely resemble. This individual was perched on a milkweed. 7/30/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
August 7, 2016: Queen Anne's Lace
Queen Anne's Lace in the central wetland complex. 7/30/16 (Kevin Kane)
Queen Anne's lace
D. carota was introduced and naturalized in North America, where it is often known as "Queen Anne's lace". Both Anne, Queen of Great Britain, and her great grandmother Anne of Denmark are taken to be the Queen Anne for which the plant is named.[11] It is so called because the flower resembles lace; the red flower in the center is thought to represent a blood droplet where Queen Anne pricked herself with a needle when she was making the lace.
Monday, August 8, 2016
August 5, 2016: North Lake & Clouds
Looking SE across the north lake towards the clouds of a rain
system that slid south of Ames (from the NW corner of the north lake's
west bay). 7/27/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
Thursday, August 4, 2016
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
Aug 1, 2016: Wolf's July 2016 Wildlife Report
Spot-winged Glider (Pantala hymenaea): My first individual was found on the 2nd, along the Upland Trail. (Erv had recorded one in 2009.) 7/2/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
Total Length = 45-50 mm; Hind Wing Length = 40-45 mm
Flight Season = June - September
A total of 68 avian species was recorded this month, ranking this month as 6th highest July total among 19 years of records. July 2007 with 84 species remains as the highest July, while July 1998, with only 45 species, remains as the lowest.
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 sightings of 2 Short-billed Dowitchers on the 2nd and 3rd
may represent extreme early Fall records for Story County (former record set on
5 July 1982 at Colo Bogs). The 2 Caspian
Terns on the 4th are additional Summer records, while the 1 on 28th
may represent another extreme early Fall record (former set on 29 July 1994 at
Hallett’s Quarry).
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 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: 1-11, 13-31
WOOD
DUCK: 1-6, 8-25, 27-31
MALLARD:
1-19, 21-31
BLUE-WINGED
TEAL: 4 (1♂ + 1♀)
RUDDY
DUCK: 18 (1♂ + 1♀)
RING-NECKED
PHEASANT: 1-3, 7, 15 (3♂), 19, 27, 30-31
AMERICAN
WHITE PELICAN: 29 (46)
GREAT
BLUE HERON: 1 (9), 2 (11), 3 (14), 4 (15), 5 (13), 6 (10), 7 (12),
8 (11), 9
(5), 10 (4), 11 (2), 12
(4), 13 (5), 14 (3), 15 (9), 16 (6), 17 (7),
18 (8), 19 (11), 20 (6), 21 (8),
22 (11), 23
(10), 24-25 (8), 26-27 (6),
28-29 (7), 30 (12), 31 (10)
GREAT
EGRET: 1-7 (1), 9 (1)
GREEN
HERON: 2 (1), 4 (1), 7 (1), 12 (1), 17 (1), 19-21 (1), 23 (1), 24 (2),
25 (1),
28 (1), 30-31 (1)
TURKEY
VULTURE: 1 (5), 2 (3), 3 (4), 5 (3), 6 (2), 7 (6), 8 (8), 9 (1), 10 (2),
11
(4), 12 (1), 13-15 (3), 16
(4), 17 (6), 18 (3), 19 (5), 20-21 (3), 22 (1),
24-25 (2), 26 (4), 28 (7), 29
(3), 30
(1)
BALD
EAGLE: 10 (1 ad), 16-19 (1 ad), 20 (2 ad), 24 (1 im)
COOPER’S
HAWK: 3 (1 ad), 8 (1 ad), 29 (1)
RED-TAILED
HAWK: 1 (2), 2-6 (1), 7 (2), 8 (3), 9-10 (2), 12-13 (3), 15 (3),
16 (1), 18-19
(1), 21-22 (1), 25
(1), 26 (2), 27 (3), 28-29 (2), 30 (1), 31 (2)
KILLDEER:
1 (28+), 2 (23+), 3 (18+), 4 (22+), 5 (25+), 6 (38+), 7 (34+),
8 (15+), 9
(19+), 10 (7), 11
(19+), 12 (6+), 13 (7), 14 (9), 15 (4), 16 (5),
17 (2), 18 (1), 20 (1), 22 (1), 24-26
(1), 27 (3), 28-29 (2), 30 (1), 31 (3)
SPOTTED
SANDPIPER: 2 (1), 5 (1), 6 (2), 11 (1), 17 (2)
SOLITARY
SANDPIPER: 9 (1), 15 (1)
GREATER
YELLOWLEGS: 30 (1)
SEMIPALMATED
SANDPIPER: 12 (1)
SHORT-BILLED
DOWITCHER: 2-3 (2)
CASPIAN
TERN: 4 (2), 28 (1)
FORSTER’S
TERN: 14 (9)
EURASIAN
COLLARED-DOVE: 1-4 (1), 10-12 (1), 17-18 (1), 26-27 (1),
29-30 (1)
MOURNING
DOVE: 1-24, 26-31
YELLOW-BILLED
CUCKOO: 2 (1), 4 (2), 5 (1), 6 (2), 9 (1), 11-12 (2), 13 (1),
15 (2), 16-19
(1), 26-27
(1), 30 (1)
CHIMNEY
SWIFT: 4 (1), 22 (1), 28-29 (1)
RUBY-THROATED
HUMMINGBIRD: 6 (2), 13 (1), 22-23 (1), 27 (1), 30 (1)
BELTED
KINGFISHER: 11 (1♂), 12 (1), 19 (1), 21 (1), 25 (1♂), 30 (1)
RED-HEADED
WOODPECKER: 31 (1 ad)
RED-BELLIED
WOODPECKER: 9-10, 23, 25, 29
DOWNY
WOODPECKER: 2-4, 16-17, 19-21, 23, 27, 29
HAIRY
WOODPECKER: 28 (1)
NORTHERN
FLICKER (Yellow-shafted): 1 (1), 3 (1), 6 (1), 8 (1), 15 (1), 16 (4),
17 (1),
19 (1), 31 (1)
WILLOW
FLYCATCHER: 13 (1), 17 (1)
EASTERN
KINGBIRD: 1 (6), 2 (1), 3 (4), 4 (5), 5 (2), 6 (4), 7 (2), 8 (4),
9-10 (2), 11
(3), 12 (1), 13 (2), 14
(3), 15 (1), 17 (3), 18-19 (4), 21 (2),
22 (3), 23 (1), 24 (6), 25 (3), 26 (1), 28-29
(4), 30 (6), 31 (5)
WARBLING
VIREO: 1-4, 6, 9-12, 15, 17
BLUE
JAY: 1-5, 9-10, 12, 14-19, 22-29, 31
AMERICAN
CROW: 1-5, 7-19, 21-30
PURPLE
MARTIN: 1-31
TREE
SWALLOW: 1-14, 19, 22, 25
NORTHERN
ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW: 2, 4
BANK
SWALLOW: 17 (1), 19
CLIFF
SWALLOW: 1-11, 14, 16-19, 21-22, 27-29, 31
BARN
SWALLOW: 1-17, 19-31
BLACK-CAPPED
CHICKADEE: 1-2, 4-5, 7, 9-10, 12-13, 17, 19, 25-27, 29-30
WHITE-BREASTED
NUTHATCH: 2, 4, 7, 9, 26-27, 30-31
HOUSE
WREN: 1-27, 29-31
SEDGE
WREN: 3 (1), 26 (1), 29-30 (3), 31 (1)
EASTERN
BLUEBIRD: 1 (1), 4 (1), 11 (1), 12 (2), 13 (1), 15 (1), 17-18 (1),
19 (2), 21 (1),
22 (3), 23
(1), 24 (2), 28-29 (1)
AMERICAN
ROBIN: 1-31
GRAY
CATBIRD: 1-19, 21-24, 26-31
EUROPEAN
STARLING: 6, 8, 12, 20
CEDAR
WAXWING: 3 (1), 5 (1), 6-7 (1), 12 (1), 13 (3), 21 (3), 28 (6), 30 (1)
COMMON
YELLOWTHROAT: 1-31
CHIPPING
SPARROW: 1, 3-4, 6-7, 9-11, 13, 15, 17-20, 22-23, 25-30
FIELD
SPARROW: 23 (1), 25-26 (1)
SONG
SPARROW: 1-31
NORTHERN
CARDINAL: 1-31
INDIGO
BUNTING: 1-7, 9-14, 16-23, 26-29
DICKCISSEL:
1-23, 25-31
RED-WINGED
BLACKBIRD: 1-31
COMMON
GRACKLE: 1-15
BROWN-HEADED
COWBIRD: 1-4, 6-10, 13, 15-16, 18-19, 21, 25, 27, 30
ORCHARD
ORIOLE: 21 (1♂)
BALTIMORE
ORIOLE: 1-6, 8-10, 17 (3)
HOUSE
FINCH: 1-12, 14-31
AMERICAN
GOLDFINCH: 1-31
HOUSE
SPARROW: 1-31
MAMMALIAN
AMERICAN
MINK: 24 (1)
WHITE-TAILED
DEER: 1 (1 + 1♀ w/1 fawn), 16 (1♀ w/2 fawns), 18 (2 + 1♀
w/2 fawns), 20
(1 + 1♀ w/2 fawns), 23 (1♀ w/2 fawns), 25 (1♀ w/1 fawn),
28 (2 fawns), 29
(1 + 1♀ w/2 fawns), 30 (2), 31 (1 fawn)
FOX
SQUIRREL: 1, 4, 6, 8-9, 12, 25-26, 30
EASTERN
CHIPMUNK: 1-2, 4, 10, 30
THIRTEEN-LINED
GROUND SQUIRREL: 1, 4, 12, 18, 20
MUSKRAT:
24 (1), 28 (1)
EASTERN
COTTONTAIL: 1-10, 12-31
REPTILIAN
Garter
Snake sp: 8 (1), 22 (1)
COMMON
SNAPPING TURTLE: 1 (1), 4 (1)
NORTHERN
PAINTED TURTLE: 1-22, 24-31
RED-EARED
SLIDER: 1 (1), 3 (1), 13 (1), 16 (1), 20 (1)
WESTERN
SPINY SOFTSHELL: 5-6 (1), 8-9 (1), 11 (2), 14 (2), 15 (1), 17 (1)
AMPHIBIAN
AMERICAN
TOAD: 1, 5, 10-13, 19, 21, 24, 26-27
BLANCHARD’S
CRICKET FROG: 18-20, 22-24, 26-27
EASTERN
GRAY TREE FROG: 17
BOREAL
CHORUS FROG: 19
AMERICAN
BULLFROG: 1-31
NORTHERN
LEOPARD FROG: 3-4, 10, 13, 23
LEPIDOPTERA
BLACK
SWALLOWTAIL: 1-7, 9-16, 18, 20, 22-28, 30-31
GIANT
SWALLOWTAIL: 23 (1)
EASTERN
TIGER SWALLOWTAIL: 6 (1), 9-11 (1), 17 (1 caterpillar), 21 (1),
22 (3), 24 (1),
26 (3), 28,
30 (2), 31 (1)
CABBAGE
WHITE: 1-31
CLOUDED
SULPHUR: 12, 17-18, 23, 25-26
ORANGE
SULPHUR: 1-18, 20-31
LITTLE
YELLOW: 29, 31
GRAY
COPPER: 1
EASTERN
TAILED-BLUE: 3-15, 17-31
VARIEGATED
FRITILLARY: 23 (1)
GREAT
SPANGLED FRITILLARY: 4 (1), 7 (1), 10 (1)
PEARL
CRESCENT: 1-3, 5-7, 9-11, 14-15, 17, 26-28, 30-31
QUESTION
MARK: 27
PAINTED
LADY: 18
RED
ADMIRAL: 1-2, 5, 9, 11, 18, 22, 24-26, 28, 30
COMMON
BUCKEYE: 1, 5, 8, 13, 15-18, 20-28, 30
VICEROY:
1-3, 5, 7-10, 12-15, 17-18, 20, 22-31
HACKBERRY
EMPEROR: 27, 31
MONARCH:
1 (3), 3 (1), 5 (1), 6 (2), 7 (4), 8 (1), 9 (2), 11-12 (2), 13 (4), 14 (5),
15
(1), 17 (1), 18 (2), 20
(2), 21 (4), 22 (2), 23 (3), 24 (1), 25 (2), 26-27 (3),
28-30 (1)
COMMON
CHECKERED-SKIPPER: 6 (1)
COMMON
SOOTYWING: 28
LEAST
SKIPPER: 3, 22, 25-28, 30-31
FIERY
SKIPPER: 3, 25
PECK’S
SKIPPER: 26, 28
CHICKWEED
GEOMETER: 22-23, 26
ODONATA
EBONY
JEWELWING: 3 (1), 12 (1♀)
AMERICAN
RUBYSPOT: 9 (1)
SLENDER
SPREADWING: 4 (1♀)
Spreadwing
sp.: 17 (1), 28 (1)
BLUE-FRONTED
DANCER: 1, 3-28, 30-31
POWDERED
DANCER: 1, 3, 5-9, 11-16, 21-30
RAINBOW
BLUET: 1-3, 6, 9, 13-14, 21
AZURE
BLUET: 1 (2), 3 (1), 6 (1)
DOUBLE-STRIPED
BLUET: 14
TULE
BLUET: 1-2, 5-6, 8-9, 11-15, 18-20, 22, 25-28
FAMILIAR
BLUET: 1, 3, 5-7, 9-10, 12, 14-18, 20-22, 24-28, 30-31
STREAM
BLUET: 1, 3-18, 20-28, 30-31
ORANGE
BLUET: 2, 7, 12, 14-15, 18-20, 26, 29
EASTERN
FORKTAIL: 1-20, 22-31
COMMON
GREEN DARNER: 1. 3, 5-15, 17-18, 20-22, 24-28, 30-31
Blue
Mosaic sp.: 17 (1)
JADE
CLUBTAIL: 5-6 (1), 13 (1), 15 (1), 17 (1)
FLAG-TAILED
SPINYLEG: 22 (1)
PLAINS
CLUBTAIL: 1 (1)
PRINCE
BASKETTAIL: 1, 5-7, 9-10, 12, 14-15, 18, 20, 23
HALLOWEEN
PENNANT: 18 (1), 21 (1)
EASTERN
PONDHAWK: 1, 6, 8-10, 12-16, 18, 20-30
WIDOW
SKIMMER: 1, 3-18, 20-28, 30-31
COMMON
WHITETAIL: 1-9, 11-18, 20-28, 30-31
TWELVE-SPOTTED
SKIMMER: 1, 6-18, 20-28, 30
BLUE
DASHER: 1, 3, 5-14, 16-18, 20-28, 30-31
WANDERING
GLIDER: 1, 3, 5, 7-8, 10, 12-14, 16-18, 20-21, 26-27, 31
SPOT-WINGED
GLIDER: 2 (1)
EASTERN
AMBERWING: 1, 3, 5-9, 11-18, 20-28, 30-31
VARIEGATED
MEADOWHAWK: 18, 20-22, 24-27, 31
CHERRY-FACED
MEADOWHAWK: 15 (1), 17 (1)
WHITE-FACED
MEADOWHAWK: 14 (1♀)
RUBY
MEADOWHAWK: 5 (1♀), 7, 14, 16, 20
BAND-WINGED
MEADOWHAWK: 21 (1), 24
Meadowhawk
sp.: 18, 20-21, 24-25, 27-28
BLACK
SADDLEBAGS: 1, 3, 5-14, 16-18, 20-28, 31
RED
SADDLEBAGS: 1, 5-6, 8, 17-18, 20, 22-23, 25, 27
ORTHOPTERA
CAROLINA
GRASSHOPPER: 1, 3, 5-18, 20-31
Wolf. Oesterreich
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)