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.

August 6, 2016: Diving for Dinner

Ducks looking for food under the surface of the SW inlet on the south lake. 7/30/16 (Kevin Kane)

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)

August 4, 2016: Side Oats Grama

Side Oats Grama along the upper trail. 7/30/16 (Ruthann Hadish)

August 3, 2016: Great Blue Heron

A Great Blue Heron perched in a snag, overlooking Pool F. 7/30/16 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

August 2, 2016: Summer Clouds

A perfect summer day at the Park is reflected in the south lake. 7/30/16 (Kevin Kane)

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 6^th 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 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 sightings of 2 Short-billed Dowitchers on the 2^nd and 3^rd 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 4^th are additional Summer records, while the 1 on 28^th 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 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: 1-11, 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