Sept 30, 2016: September 2016 Photo Collage

September 2016 photos from the blog by Wolf. Oesterreich, Kevin Kane, and Rex Heer.

Sept 29, 2016: Painted Lady

A Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) on New England Aster. (Wolf. Oesterreich, 9/26/16)

Sept 28, 2016: Sachems

Sachems (Atalopedes campestris), a small skipper in the Family Hesperiidae, have been feeding on thistles and asters.  The male is on the left, with the female on the right. (Wolf. Oesterreich, 9/24/16)

Sept 27, 2016: Serene Lake

Just some more typical clips from Iowa. This almost has a painted effect. (Al Risden, 9/17/16)

Shared from Ada Hayden Park Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ada-Hayden-Park/162929847065007

Sept 26, 2016: Silver-spotted Skipper

A Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus) seeks nectar from a thistle. (Wolf. Oesterreich, 9/23/16)

Sept 25, 2016: Gray Hairstreak

Gray Hairstreak butterfly in the garden next to the north parking lot of Ada Hayden Heritage Park. (Rex Heer, 9/24/16)

Sept 24, 2016: Great Egret

A Great Egret looks over the Pool F area. (Wolf. Oesterreich, 9/23/16)

Sept 23, 2016: Wet Feet

You might get your feet wet sitting at this bench (along the north lake's north shore).  The lake's water level increased 1.65 feet overnight. (Wolf. Oesterreich, 9/23/16)

Sept 22, 2016: Seeds for Spring

These thistle seeds are ready to ride the next burst of wind to start again in spring. (Kevin Kane 9/17/16)

Sept 21, 2016: Turning Bluff

The bluff is one of the first areas in the park to start welcoming  fall's colors. (Kevin Kane, 9/17/16)

Sept 20, 2016: Monarchs on the Move

Over 77 Monarchs were found soaring through through the Park on Tuesday (20th), with at least 18 at the amphitheater and 25+ at Jensen Pond (both areas along the Upland Trail).  Fewer numbers were encountered on the following days. (Wolf. Oesterreich, 9/20/16)

Sept 19, 2016: Distant Storm

As the sun starts to set in the west, this lone kayaker paddles eastward on the north lake, while storm system tries to establish itself to the south. (Wolf. Oesterreich, 9/19/16)

Sept 18, 2016: Flower in the Sun

Sunflower on the north shore of the south lake. (Kevin Kane, 9/17/16)

Sept 17, 2016: Autumn Grass

Indian Grass sways in the evening breeze in the western prairie area. (Kevin Kane, 9/17/16)

Sept 16, 2016: Thistle & Hoppers

Kevin Kane, 9/17/16

Sept 15, 2016: Golden Willow

Willow silhouetted against the golden sun on the western prairies hillside. (Kevin Kane, 9/17/16)

Sept. 14, 2016: Great Egret

A Great Egret stalks its prey in the western inlet of the south lake. (Kevin Kane, 9/17/16)

Sept 13, 2016: Grasses and Bugs in the Sun

Kevin Kane, 9/17/16

Sept 12, 2016: Rushing Water

Water churns out of the west wetland and into the south lake at the west culvert. (Kevin Kane, 8/17/16)

Sept 11, 2016: Corner Post

This fence post marks the property line between the park and the new Hayden's Crossing development on the northwest corner of the park.  Two horse-shoe nails point in the direction of the boundary. (Kevin Kane, 9/17/16)

Sept 10, 2016: Bullfrog

Kevin Kane, 9/3/16

Sept 9, 2016: Clouds

Cloud formations over the western side of the Park, minutes before the downpour.  (Northward view across the south lake's west bay.) (Wolf. Oesterreich, 9/1/16)

Sept 8, 2016: Wetland Interpretive Talk

Dr. Timothy Stewart, ISU Associate Professor in the Dept. of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, gave a presentation on aquatic invertebrates and vertebrates.  Organisms from Pond J were collected and shown to the attendees.  An ISU NREM class aided Dr. Stewart in the collection.  The photo at right, shows Dr. Stewart holding a Gizzard Shad, a fish that shouldn't be in the wetlands. (Wolf. Oesterreich, 9/8/16)

Sept 7, 2016: Refuge

A family of deer moving through the tall vegetation in the western wetland as seen from the northern hills. (Kevin Kane, 8/13/16)

Sept 6, 2016: Skippers

Two of the more common skippers (Family Hesperiidae) are the Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus), at left, and the Peck's Skipper (Polites peckius).  Both are rather small and easily overlooked. (Wolf. Oesterreich, 9/1/16)

Sept 5, 2016: Orange Sundown

Kevin Kane, 8/13/16

Sept 4, 2016: Mallards

Preening Mallards at the SE corner of the south lake.  Most of the individuals are males, just starting to come out of eclipse plumage. (Wolf. Oesterreich, 8/22/16)

Sept 3, 2016: American Rubyspots

American Rubyspots (Hetaerina americana), a beautiful damselfly, have been unusually common the last few weeks.  There are two locations where I have found them: by the spillway and the NW corner of the north lake's west bay.  These photos are of a male. (Wolf. Oesterreich, 9/1/16)

Total Length = 38-46 mm

Hindwing Length = 26-30 mm

Flight Season = May-October

Sept 2, 2016: Wolf's August 2016 Wildlife Report

Sedge Wrens come through in Spring and then again in late Summer / early Fall.  During this period, they are commonly found along the Upland Trail, especially along the southern stretch.  Usually they are heard first, then you have to search for a small bird perched near the top of the vegetation. (Wolf. Oesterreich, 8/14/16)

A total of 85 avian species (plus 2 sp.) was recorded this month, ranking this month as the 7^th highest (tied with 2011 & 2014) August among 19 years of records.  August 2007 with 107 species remains as the highest August while August 2001 with 46 is the lowest.

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 single Osprey on the 1^st may represent a new extreme early Fall record for Story County (former record set on 3 Aug 2008 & 2011 at Ada Hayden Heritage Park).  The single Ring-billed Gull on the 2^nd ties with the record from 2007 as the extreme early Fall record.

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 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).

AVIAN

     CANADA GOOSE: 1-18, 20-24, 27-28, 31

     WOOD DUCK: 1-31

     MALLARD: 1-25, 26 (74+), 27-31

     BLUE-WINGED TEAL: 3 (2)

     RING-NECKED PHEASANT: 4, 6, 8, 16, 18-20, 23-25, 27, 29

     PIED-BILLED GREBE: 1 (1), 7-8 (1), 11 (1), 20 (19), 25 (5)

     HORNED GREBE: 20 (1)

     DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT: 25 (1), 31 (2)

     AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN: 24 (35 + 70+), 30 (75+)

     GREAT BLUE HERON: 1 (2), 2-3 (12), 4 (13), 5 (8), 6 (12), 7 (7), 8 (8), 9 (11),

          10-11 (12), 12 (3), 13 (7), 14-15 (9), 16 (5), 17-18 (4), 19 (7), 20 (5), 21 (4),

          22 (3), 23 (5), 24 (4), 25 (2), 26 (3), 28 (3), 29-30 (4), 31 (9)

     GREAT EGRET: 2 (3), 3 (5), 4 (4), 5 (3), 6 (5), 7-8 (1), 10-11 (1), 13-14 (1),

          15 (3), 16-19 (1), 22-23 (1), 24 (2), 28 (1), 30-31 (1)

     GREEN HERON: 1-2 (1), 5 (2), 6-7 (1), 8-9 (2), 10-13 (1), 14-16 (2), 18 (1),

         19 (2), 20-21 (1), 24-26 (2), 27 (4), 27-31 (1)

     TURKEY VULTURE: 1 (13), 2 (2), 3 (3), 4 (7), 5 (2), 6 (1), 7 (2), 8 (1), 9 (2),

          10 (1), 11-12 (2), 13-14 (3), 16 (3), 18 (1), 20 (1), 22 (3), 23 (1), 24 (2), 25 (1),

          26 (4), 27 (3), 28 (2), 29 (5), 30 (4), 31 (1)

     OSPREY: 1 (1), 4-5 (1), 10 (1), 20 (1), 30-31 (1)

     BALD EAGLE: 12 (1 ad), 15 (1 ad), 18 (1 ad + 1 im)

     COOPER’S HAWK: 7 (1), 12-13 (1), 31 (1)

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

          13-17 (1), 22-24 (1), 27 (1)

     AMERICAN COOT: 26 (2)

     SEMIPALMATED PLOVER: 9-10 (1)

     KILLDEER: 2 (6), 3 (11), 4 (15+), 6 (7), 8 (26+), 9 (17+), 10 (15+), 11 (20+),

          15 (2), 26 (3)

     SPOTTED SANDPIPER: 2 (1), 5 (3), 8 (1), 9 (2), 10-12 (1), 24 (1)

     SOLITARY SANDPIPER: 3 (11+), 4 (7+), 5 (8+), 9 (2), 10 (1)

     LESSER YELLOWLEGS: 10 (2)

     PECTORAL SANDPIPER: 3 (5+), 9 (8)

     SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER: 4 (1), 6 (1), 9 (8), 10 (2), 11 (1)

     sandpiper sp.: 8 (1)

     RING-BILLED GULL: 2 (1)

     CASPIAN TERN: 11 (1), 17 (3), 19 (3), 30 (15+)

     FORSTER’S TERN: 10 (2)

     EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE: 5 (4), 7 (1), 27 (1)

     MOURNING DOVE: 1-31

     YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO: 4 (1), 7 (1), 17 (1), 19-20 (1), 25 (1)

     COMMON NIGHTHAWK: 24 (1)

     CHIMNEY SWIFT: 9, 11, 17 (2), 18, 22, 27

     RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD: 5 (1), 10 (1), 14 (2), 21 (1), 24 (1)

     BELTED KINGFISHER: 1 (2), 2 (1), 3 (2), 4-5 (1), 12 (1), 13 (1♂ + 1♀), 14 (1),

          20 (1), 22 (1), 24 (1)

     DOWNY WOODPECKER: 4, 6-8, 10, 15, 17, 19, 21-24, 27, 30-31

     HAIRY WOODPECKER: 5

     NORTHERN FLICKER (Yellow-shafted): 8 (2), 10 (3), 15 (1), 18-19 (1)

     OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER: 14-15 (1), 26 (1), 28 (1)

     EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE: 15 (1), 21 (1), 27-28 (1), 30 (1)

     LEAST FLYCATCHER: 7 (1)

     Empidonax sp.: 14 (1), 27 (1)

     EASTERN PHOEBE: 21 (1), 26 (1), 30 (3), 31 (1)

     EASTERN KINGBIRD: 1 (2), 2-3 (1), 5 (2), 6 (1), 7-8 (3), 9 (2), 10 (3), 11 (1),

          12 (3), 15 (2), 16-17 (1), 19 (3), 21 (1), 23 (3), 24 (1), 25 (4), 26 (1), 27 (2),

           28 (1), 30-31 (2)

     WARBLING VIREO: 1 (1), 14 (1), 15 (2), 17 (1), 19 (1), 24 (1), 27 (1),  28-29, 31

     PHILADELPHIA VIREO: 28 (1)

     RED-EYED VIREO: 17 (1), 19 (2), 27 (4+), 28-29

     BLUE JAY: 2, 4-11, 14-15, 17-19, 21-22, 24-30

     AMERICAN CROW: 1-2, 4-11, 13-18, 20-31

     PURPLE MARTIN: 1-8, 10, 13, 28 (1)

     TREE SWALLOW: 4 (1)

     NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW: 24

     CLIFF SWALLOW: 1-4, 6, 9-13, 15-19, 21-25, 27-28, 30

     BARN SWALLOW: 1-31

     BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE: 1, 3-4, 6-7, 9-15, 17, 20-29, 31

     WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 1, 5-7, 9, 11, 15-18, 22, 24, 26, 31

     HOUSE WREN: 1-2, 4, 6-8, 10-11, 13-15, 21, 24-25, 27

     SEDGE WREN: 1 (2), 2 (1), 3 (3), 4 (4), 5 (2), 6 (1), 7 (3), 8 (2), 9 (4), 10-11 (2),

          12 (1), 13 (5), 14-15 (3), 16 (1), 17 (3), 18 (1), 19 (3), 20-22 (1), 24 (1), 28 (1),

          30 (1)

     EASTERN BLUEBIRD: 2 (2), 5-6, 8 (4), 11 (1), 15 (6), 25 (1), 26 (7), 30 (1)

     AMERICAN ROBIN: 1-27, 29-30

     GRAY CATBIRD: 1-4, 6-7, 9-10, 12-13, 15, 18-19, 21, 24-31

     BROWN THRASHER: 11 (1)

     EUROPEAN STARLING: 8, 12, 19, 23-25, 27-29, 31

     CEDAR WAXWING: 5 (1), 6 (4), 8 (2), 9-10 (1), 15 (2), 16 (1), 19 (2), 24 (2),

          30-31 (3)

     BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER: 21 (2), 27 (1), 31 (1)

     TENNESSEE WARBLER: 26 (2)

     NASHVILLE WARBLER: 31 (1)

     COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: 1-12, 14, 16-17, 19, 21, 24

     AMERICAN REDSTART: 27 (2), 31 (1)

     YELLOW WARBLER: 24-25 (1)

     CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER: 22 (1), 27 (1), 31 (1)

     CANADA WARBLER: 27 (2)

     WILSON’S WARBLER: 19 (1♂), 24 (1), 27 (1)

     CHIPPING SPARROW: 1, 12, 24

     FIELD SPARROW: 1 (1), 4 (1), 8 (1), 10-11 (1)

     VESPER SPARROW: 7 (1)

     LARK SPARROW: 11 (1)

     SONG SPARROW: 1-31

     NORTHERN CARDINAL: 1-31

     INDIGO BUNTING: 3-11, 15, 17 (1♂), 18, 19-21 (1♂)

     RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD: 1-6, 7-17, 19

     BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD: 1-2, 9-10, 12, 24, 30

     BALTIMORE ORIOLE: 1, 8 (1♂ + 2♀), 11 (3), 15 (1), 18 (1), 19 (4), 24 (2), 26 (1)

     HOUSE FINCH: 1, 3-12, 14-20, 22-27

     AMERICAN GOLDFINCH: 1-31

     HOUSE SPARROW: 1-31

MAMMALIAN

     bat sp.: 13

     AMERICAN MINK: 2 (1), 5 (1), 7-9 (1), 18 (1), 24 (1)

     WHITE-TAILED DEER: 1 (1♀ w/1 fawn), 2-3 (1), 5 (1♀ w/1 fawn), 11 (2 fawns),

          13 (1), 15 (1), 17 (1), 24 (1), 27 (2)

     FOX SQUIRREL: 1-3, 7, 15, 18-19, 22, 27-28, 31

     EASTERN CHIPMUNK: 2

     THIRTEEN-LINED GROUND SQUIRREL: 9 (2), 12 (1), 15-16

     MUSKRAT: 15 (1)

     EASTERN COTTONTAIL: 1-13, 15-18, 20, 23-27, 29-31

REPTILIAN

     NORTHERN PAINTED TURTLE: 1-31

     RED-EARED SLIDER: 14 (1), 17-18 (1), 20-21 (1), 24-25 (1), 28 (1)

     SPINY SOFTSHELL TURTLE: 9 (1), 18-19 (1), 21 (1)

AMPHIBIAN

     AMERICAN TOAD: 3, 7, 15, 18-19, 22, 31

     EASTERN GRAY TREE FROG: 3, 11, 28-29

     AMERICAN BULLFROG: 1-31

     NORTHERN LEOPARD FROG: 1, 3, 12 (1)

LEPIDOPTERA

     BLACK SWALLOWTAIL: 1-8, 10-25, 27-31

     GIANT SWALLOWTAIL: 2 (1), 10 (1)

     EASTERN TIGER SWALLOWTAIL: 1 (3), 2-5 (2), 9 (2), 10-12 (3), 14-15 (1),

          18 (2), 21 (1), 28-29 (1), 31 (1)

     CABBAGE WHITE: 1-15, 17-22, 24-31

     CLOUDED SULPHUR: 1, 3-4, 9, 17

     ORANGE SULPHUR: 1-25, 27-31

     LITTLE YELLOW: 1-3, 6-8, 10-11, 13-22, 24-25, 27-31

     EASTERN TAILED BLUE: 1-22, 24-31

     SILVERY CHECKERSPOT: 4 (1)

     PEARL CRESCENT: 1-21, 23-25, 27-31

     MOURNING CLOAK: 4 (1)

     PAINTED LADY: 6-7, 18, 21-22

     RED ADMIRAL: 1, 4, 7, 9, 11, 14, 29

     COMMON BUCKEYE: 1-5, 9-16, 18-21, 25, 27-31

     RED-SPOTTED PURPLE: 2, 4

     VICEROY: 1-7, 9, 11, 13-15, 17, 19, 21-31

     HACKBERRY EMPEROR: 11 (1)

     MONARCH: 1 (3), 3 (4), 4 (5), 5-6 (6), 7 (8), 8 (4), 9 (8), 10 (6), 11 (5), 12 (12),

          13 (6), 14 (15), 15 (10+), 16 (7), 17 (17), 18 (14), 19 (15), 20 (7), 21 (10),

          22 (4), 23 (2), 24 (12), 25 (4), 26 (1), 27 (7), 28 (3), 29 (6), 30 (5), 31 (4)

     COMMON SOOTYWING: 6 (1)

     LEAST SKIPPER: 1-9, 11-14, 17-18, 22, 24, 28-29, 31

     FIERY SKIPPER: 1, 6

     PECK’S SKIPPER: 13-14, 21

     SACHEM: 6-7

     skipper sp.: 11, 18

     CHICKWEED GEOMETER: 2, 4, 24, 27

     WHITE-LINED SPHINX: 25 (1 caterpillar)

     ORANGE HOLOMELINA: 19 (1)

     YELLOW BEAR caterpillar (VIRGINIAN TIGER MOTH): 29 (1)

     DELICATE CYCNIA: 29 (1 caterpillar)

     OLIVE-SHADED BIRD-DROPPING MOTH: 20 (1)

    

ODONATA

     AMERICAN RUBYSPOT: 3 (2), 4 (1), 5 (2♂ + 1♀), 6 (1♂ + 2♀), 7 (2♂), 8 (3♂),

          9 (2♂), 10 (1♀), 12 (1♀), 16-17 (1♂), 18 (1♀), 21-22 (1♀), 24 (1♂),

          29 (2♂ + 1♀), 30 (3♂), 31 (1♂ + 2♀)

     SLENDER SPREADWING: 21 (1♀), 23 (1♀)

     GREAT SPREADWING: 15 (1♀), 22 (1♀), 26-27, 29, 31 (3)

     BLUE-FRONTED DANCER: 1-8, 10-31

     POWDERED DANCER: 1-3, 5-6, 9, 16-19, 22-23, 25, 29-31

     RAINBOW BLUET: 11-21, 18

     AZURE BLUET: 27 (1♀)

     DOUBLE-STRIPED BLUET: 3, 6, 8, 10, 15-16, 18, 21, 23, 25, 27, 30

     TULE BLUET: 1, 3, 15-16, 18, 31

     FAMILIAR BLUET: 1-22, 24-25, 27-31

     STREAM BLUET: 1-2, 5-7, 9-11, 13-17, 19-26, 28-31

     ORANGE BLUET: 2-6, 9, 11-12, 15-16, 18-19, 21-25, 27, 31

     EASTERN FORKTAIL: 1-25, 27-31

     COMMON GREEN DARNER: 1-7, 9-25, 27-31

     JADE CLUBTAIL: 1 (1)

     FLAG-TAILED SPINYLEG: 2 (1), 11 (1), 23 (1), 31 (1)

     PRINCE BASKETTAIL: 6-7, 12, 25

     HALLOWEEN PENNANT: 15 (1)

     EASTERN PONDHAWK: 1, 3, 5, 13-22, 24, 30-31

     WIDOW SKIMMER: 1-25, 28-31

     COMMON WHITETAIL: 1-27, 29-31

     TWELVE-SPOTTED SKIMMER: 1-22, 24, 27, 29, 31

     BLUE DASHER: 1-6, 8-17, 19-25, 27-31

     WANDERING GLIDER: 1-17, 19, 21-22, 24-25, 28, 30-31

     EASTERN AMBERWING: 1-6, 9, 11-18, 21-25, 28, 30-31

     VARIEGATED MEADOWHAWK: 5, 7-8, 15, 19-20

     RUBY MEADOWHAWK: 7

     meadowhawk sp.: 4, 6, 18, 21, 24-25, 31

     BLACK SADDLEBAGS: 1-6, 8-9, 11-18, 20-22, 24-25, 28-30

     RED SADDLEBAGS: 8 (1), 15-16 (1), 21, 24

ORTHOPTERA

     CAROLINA GRASSHOPPER: 1-31

     NORTHWESTERN RED-WINGED GRASSHOPPER: 28, 31