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

Sept 1, 2016: Baltimore Oriole

At first I thought that this immature male Baltimore Oriole was injured.  You usually don't find an oriole perched on a trail.  However, he did fly off after his picture was taken.  (Wolf. Oesterreich, 8/26/16)