Jan 31, 2017: January 2017 Photo Collage

January 2017 photos from the blog by Wolf. Oesterreich, Kevin Kane, Maia Hartwigsen, and Paul Domoto.

Jan 29, 2017: Frozen Wetland

A west-to-north view across Pool F, from a new location (just to the NE of the original spot).  A bush had grown too much and was blocking much of the original view. (Wolf. Oesterreich, 1/17/17)

Jan 27, 2017: Trumpeter Swans

One adult Trumpeter Swan is having issues with two others.  A total of 55 swans were observed today. (Wolf. Oesterreich, 1/26/17)

Jan 25, 2017: Snow on the Wetlands

A SE to S view across the north wetlands complex, as observed from the NW corner of the Upland Trail.  Light snow was falling. (Wolf. Oesterreich, 1/25/17)

Jan 23, 2017: Bald Eagle

There's no nutritional value for a Bald Eagle (immature) in a plastic water bottle... (Wolf. Oesterreich, 1/21/17)

Jan 21, 2017: Foggy Upland

On a foggy day, an eastward view along the north slope, as seen from the NW corner of the Upland Trail. (Wolf. Oesterreich, 1/20/17)

Jan 19, 2017: Ice Fisherman

A lone ice-fisherman on the north lake, as the sun sets behind him. (Wolf. Oesterreich, 1/10/17)

Jan 18, 2017: Geese in Flight

A common scene over the lake during the past month. (Maia Hartwigsen, 12/24/16)

Jan 17, 2017: Incoming Geese

Waves of returning Canada Geese aim for the only open water on the south lake just before sunset. (Wolf. Oesterreich, 1/9/17)

Jan 16, 2017: Clear for Landing

Trumpeter Swan landing on the south lake. (Kevin Kane, 12/30/16)

Jan 15, 2017: White-tailed Deer

White-tailed Deer bucks running off into the trees (near Pool F). (Wolf. Oesterreich, 1/8/17)

Jan 14, 2017: Winter Sunset

The sun sets behind bare trees on the west edge of the park. (Kevin Kane, 12/30/16)

Jan 13, 2017: Trumpeter Swans

Four adult Trumpeter Swans heading out to feed this morning.  A total of 48 swans were present. (Wolf. Oesterreich, 1/1/17)

Jan 12, 2017: Canada Geese

"Sugar frosted" Canada Geese on the south lake ice. (Wolf. Oesterreich, 1/8/17)

Jan 11, 2017: Winter Visitor

Paul Domoto, 1/4/17

Jan 10, 2017: After Sunrise

A SE view across the south lake and its west bay shortly after sunrise. (Wolf. Oesterreich, 12/30/16)

Jan 9, 2017: Three Cygnets Swimming

Four Trumpeter Swans glide across the south lake. (Kevin Kane, 12/30/16)

Jan 8, 2017: Handsome Buck

One of two bucks encountered on my hike on the western edge of the park. (Kevin Kane, 12/30/16)

Jan 7, 2017: Ring-necked Duck

This male Ring-necked Duck was present on the south lake during the last half of December.  He is another "specialty" duck that remained on the open water in the south lake ice. (Wolf. Oesterreich, 12/22/16)

Jan 6, 2017: American Kestrel

A male American Kestrel was found several times in late December near the maintenance building.  I found him hovering over the area, looking for prey below. (Wolf. Oesterreich, 12/27/16)

Jan 5, 2017: Lone Goose

(Maia Hartwigsen, 12/24/16)

Jan 4, 2017: Goose Tracks

Canada Goose tracks in the south lake ice. (Wolf. Oesterreich, 12/29/16)

Jan 3, 2017: Over the Trees and Into the Lake

A group of Trumpeter Swans come in to land on the south lake from the northwest. (Kevin Kane, 12/30/16)

Jan 2, 2017: Hooded Merganser

This female Hooded Merganser has been present since at least the 5th of December.  She is one of the few "specialty" ducks remaining on the open water in the south lake ice. (Wolf. Oesterreich, 12/22/16)

Jan 1, 2017: Wolf's December 2016 Wildlife Report

A male Eurasian Tree Sparrow visited my feeders twice this month.  This bird is on the left, with a House Sparrow on the right.  Note the rusty-brown crown and white cheeks containing a black spot.  The House Sparrow's crown is gray, as are the cheeks.  I have seen one other Eurasian Tree Sparrow in Story County.  That was in 2010, in Gilbert.  This species, normally found across Europe ad Asian, was introduced to St. Louis, Missouri, in 1870.  They slowly increased their range from the St. Louis area to west-central Illinois and up the Mississippi River drainage.  The first Iowa record occurred on 14 March 1987, at West Branch in Cedar County.  They can now be regularly found in 6 southeastern Iowa Counties, with single records in several other counties. (Wolf. Oesterreich, 12/22/16)
 

A total of 67avian species (plus 1 sp.) was recorded this month, ranking this month as the highest December among 20 years of records.  This total is the same number of species as last month and 10 more than December 2015.

The Eurasian Tree Sparrow is also #271 for the Park-Yard List and my first December record for Iowa.

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 male Wood Duck on the 19^th may represent a new extreme late Fall record for Story County (former record set on 18 December 2012 at AHHP).  The single Bonaparte’s Gull may also be a new extreme late Fall record (former record set on 7 Dec 2009 at AHHP).

I ended the year with 193 avian species for the Park, the 7th highest total in 20 years of records.  Two species (Townsend's Solitaire & Eurasian Tree Sparrow) were added to the List in 2016, which is now at 271 species.

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

     SNOW GOOSE: 27 (2), 28 (1)

     ROSS’S GOOSE: 13 (1 w), 28 (1 w)

     CACKLING GOOSE: 5 (10), 7 (25+), 8 (50+), 9-17, 19, 21-30

     CANADA GOOSE: 1-17, 19, 21-30

     TRUMPETER SWAN: 7 (10), 9 (7), 10 (5 ad + 1 ju), 11 (9 ad), 12 (22 ad + 4 ju),

          13 (1 ad + 2 ju), 14 (6 ad + 2 ju), 15 (19 ad + 14 ju), 16 (26 ad + 13 ju), 17 (31),

          19 (34 ad + 15 ju), 21 (34 ad + 13 ju), 22 (32 ad + 18 ju), 23, 24 (42), 25 (36 ad + 20 ju),

          26 (30), 27 (62), 28 (57), 29 (41), 30 (47)

     TUNDRA SWAN: 10 (1 ad)

     WOOD DUCK: 1 (2♂ + 2♀), 2 (3), 4 (1♂), 13 (1♂), 19 (1♂)

     GADWALL: 5 (1♂), 7 (5), 8 (3), 9 (4), 10 (3♂), 11 (3♂ + 1♀), 12+17 (3♂ + 2♀), 19 (2),

          27-28 (2)

     AMERICAN WIGEON: 1 (2♂ + 1♀), 2 (1♀), 3-6 (2♂ + 1♀), 7 (1♀), 9 (1♀), 12 (1♀), 19 (1♀)

     AMERICAN BLACK DUCK: 1 (1♂), 5 (1♂), 7 (1♂), 9-12 (1♂), 23 (1♂), 26-29 (1♂)

     MALLARD: 1-6, 7 (400+), 8-17, 19, 21-30

     NORTHERN SHOVELER: 2 (5), 3 (4), 4-6 (8), 7 (4), 8-9 (2), 10 (1♂), 11 (4♂ + 2♀),

          12 (2♂ + 1♀), 13-17 (1♀)

     NORTHERN PINTAIL: 1 (1♂), 4 (1♂ + 1♀), 12-13 (1♂), 27 (1♂), 29 (1♂)

     GREEN-WINGED TEAL: 1 (2), 3 (3), 4 (1♂), 5 (12), 6 (2), 7 (1♂), 8 (1)

     CANVASBACK: 9-10 (1♂)

     REDHEAD: 7 (34+), 8 (1♀), 9 (4), 10-17 (1♀), 19 (1♀), 21-24 (1♀), 26-30 (1♀)

     RING-NECKED DUCK: 3 (1♀), 8 (1♂), 9 (5♂ + 1♀), 10 (5♂ + 2♀), 11 (4♂ + 1♀),

          12 (2♂ + 1♀), 13 (3♂), 14-17 (1♂), 19 (1♂), 21-23 (1♂)

     GREATER SCAUP: 13-17 (1♂), 19 (1♂), 21-30 (1♂)

     LESSER SCAUP: 3 (31), 6 (1♀), 7 (9), 8 (3), 9-11 (1♂ + 1♀)

     BUFFLEHEAD: 3 (3♂ + 6♀), 6 (1♂ + 1♀), 8 (1♀), 9 (1♂ + 1♀), 10-11 (1♂ + 2♀),

          12-17 (1♀), 19 (1♀), 21-30 (1♀)

     COMMON GOLDENEYE: 3 (2♀), 5 (2♂ + 3♀), 8 (5♂ + 6♀), 9 (1♂ + 7♀), 10 (1♀),

          11 (2♂ + 2♀), 12 (4♂ + 4♀), 13 (1♂), 14 (2♂ + 2♀), 15 (3♂), 16 (5♂), 17 (3♂), 19 (2♀),

          21 (2♂ + 1♀), 22 (1♀), 23 (2♂ + 2♀)

     HOODED MERGANSER: 3 (3♀), 4 (1♀ + 3♀), 5 (1♀), 6-7 (1♂), 9-16 (1♀), 19 (1♀),

          21-22 (1♀)

     COMMON MERGANSER: 6 (1♂ + 1♀), 8-9 (1♀), 10 (3♂ + 5♀), 11 (5♀), 12 (4♂ + 6♀),

          13 (5♀), 14 (6♀), 15 (4♀), 16 (5♂ + 4♀), 17 (1♂ + 5♀), 19 (4♀)

     RED-BREASTED MERGANSER: 11-14 (1♀), 16-17 (1♀)

     RUDDY DUCK: 6-7 (1♂), 8 (4♂ + 2♀), 10-17 (1♀), 19 (1♀), 21-24 (1♀)

     RING-NECKED PHEASANT: 1-2, 4, 5 (4), 6 (1♀), 9, 11-12, 13 (3), 21, 23 (3), 24, 28

     DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT: 3 (1), 5 (1), 8 (1)

     GREAT BLUE HERON: 1-2 (2), 3-5 (1), 7 (1)

     BALD EAGLE: 3 (1 im + 1 ad), 5 (1 ad), 7-8 (1 ad + 1 im), 9 (1 ad + 3 im), 10 (4 im),

           11 (2 ad + 1 im), 12 (3 im + 1 ad), 13 (1 ad), 14 (2 ad + 3 im), 16 (2 ad + 1 im),

          17 (1 ad), 27 (2 ad), 29 (1 ad)

     NORTHERN HARRIER: 12 (1♂), 14 (2 ♀/im), 15-16 (1 ♀/im)

     SHARP-SHINNED HAWK: 12 (1 im BY)

     COOPER’S HAWK: 3-5 (1 im), 9 (1 ad), 14 (1 im), 16 (1 ad BY), 19 (1 ad BY), 21 (1), 29 (1)

     Accipiter sp.: 4 (1 BY)

     RED-TAILED HAWK: 1-2 (1), 3 (3), 4 (1), 5 (2), 7-8 (1), 9 (2), 12-13 (1), 15 (2), 19 (2)

     ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK: 14 (1)

     AMERICAN COOT: 7 (3), 8 (8), 9 (10), 10 (15), 11-12 (13), 13 (12), 14 (13), 15 (11), 16 (12),

          17 (9), 19 (3), 21 (2), 22 (1) 24 (2), 26-30 (2)

     KILLDEER: 1 (2), 3 (5), 4 (4), 5 (2)

     BONAPARTE’S GULL: 9 (1)

     RING-BILLED GULL: 1 (1), 3 (1), 7 (3), 9 (2), 10 (3)

     MOURNING DOVE: 11-13 (1), 16 (1)

     BELTED KINGFISHER: 2 (1), 5 (1), 6 (1♂), 9-11 (1), 14-15 (1)

     RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER: 2 (1), 5 (2), 9 (1 BY), 13 (1), 16 (2), 22-23 (1), 25 (1),

          27 (1), 30 (1)

     DOWNY WOODPECKER: 1-6, 8-17, 19, 21-24, 27-30

     HAIRY WOODPECKER: 5 (1), 17, 26, 29

     AMERICAN KESTREL: 5 (1), 9 (1♂), 12 (1♂), 13 (1♂ + 1♀), 15 (1♂), 17 (1♂), 27 (1♂),

          30 (1♂)

     BLUE JAY: 3, 5, 9, 11-12, 15-16, 19, 21, 23-24, 26-30

     AMERICAN CROW: 2-17, 19, 21-30

     BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE: 1-17, 19, 21-30

     WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 3-5, 7-12, 14-16, 21-23, 25-30

     BROWN CREEPER: 9 (1), 11 (1)

     GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET: 11 (1)

     EASTERN BLUEBIRD: 8 (3)

     AMERICAN ROBIN: 5 (1), 11 (1), 21 (4 BY)

     EUROPEAN STARLING: 3, 5, 9, 13, 19, 21, 23, 27, 29-30

     CEDAR WAXWING: 16 (12 BY)

     AMERICAN TREE SPARROW: 1-10, 12-16, 19, 21-24, 26-30

     FOX SPARROW: 1-2 (1)

     SONG SPARROW: 1 (1), 14 (1), 16 (2), 19 (1)

     SWAMP SPARROW: 2 (1), 4 (1), 11 (1)

     WHITE-THROATED SPARROW: 3 (1 BY), 17 (1 BY)

     DARK-EYED JUNCO (Slate-colored): 1-17, 19, 21-30

     NORTHERN CARDINAL: 1-2, 4-17, 19, 21-30

     RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD: 2 (10), 24 (1♂ + 1♀)

     COMMON GRACKLE: 7 (1), 27 (1 BY)

     HOUSE FINCH: 2, 4-17, 19, 21-30

     AMERICAN GOLDFINCH: 3, 5 (8+), 6, 7 (6), 9, 11 (1 BY), 12 (2), 13 (1), 15 (4), 16 (1), 17,

          19 (10), 22-23, 27 (5), 28 (2), 29 (3)

     HOUSE SPARROW: 1-17, 19, 21-30

     EURASIAN TREE SPARROW: 5 (1♂ BY), 22 (1♂ BY)

Unless indicated otherwise, the White-tailed Deer were antlerless.  The yearlings were just about the same size as the adults.

MAMMALIAN

     WHITE-TAILED DEER: 1 (3), 2 (4), 3 (5 + 2♂), 6 (2), 13 (2), 15 (2), 16 (5 by), 19 (3 BY),

          24 (3), 26 (2), 28 (4 BY), 29 (2), 30 (3)

     FOX SQUIRREL: 1-17, 19, 21-30

     MUSKRAT: 2 (2), 16 (1), 24-25 (1), 27 (1)

     EASTERN COTTONTAIL: 1, 4-5, 13, 16, 18, 22, 24, 30

Wolf. Oesterreich