Sep 1, 2019: Wolf's August 2019 Wildlife Report

A juvenile Peregrine Falcon visited the Park from the 12th through the 14th, hanging out at the north wetlands complex (mostly by Pool F).  On the 13th, I was watching 3 Wood Duck ducklings waddle across the mudflat at Pool F.  Then I saw a dark shadow appear.  The falcon dropped down, grabbed one of the ducklings, and then flew to the opposite side of the mudflat, where it started to consume the duckling. (Wolf. Oesterreich, 8/14/19)

A total of 95 avian species (plus 2 sp.) was recorded this month, ranking this month as the 5^th highest (tied with 2017) August among 22 years of records.  August 2007 with 107 species remains as the highest August while August 2001 with only 46 species remains as the lowest.  This total is 23 species more than last month and 4 less than August 2018.

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 Peregrine Falcon on the 12^th through the 14^th may represent a new extreme early Fall record for Story County (former record set on 15 Sep 1984 at McFarland Park). 

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, FY=front yard).  The order follows the 59^th Supplement (2018) to the American Ornithologists’ Union Check-list of North American Birds and the 18^th Supplement to the 7^th Edition (1998).

There are no records for the 24th; I wasn't at the Park that day.

AVIAN

     CANADA GOOSE: 1-23, 25-28, 30-31

     WOOD DUCK: 1 (67+), 2 (82+), 3 (70+), 4 (75+), 5 (80+), 6, 7 (63+), 8 (52+), 9 (54+),

          10-12, 13 (67+), 14 (45+), 15 (51+), 16 (54+), 17 (59+), 18 (54+), 19 (31+), 20 (35+),

          21 (20+), 22 (25+), 23 (20+), 25 (28+), 26 (38), 27 (27+), 28 (16+), 29 (10+), 30 (5),

          31 (9)

     BLUE-WINGED TEAL: 1 (3), 2 (5), 4 (6), 5 (3), 6 (5), 7 (2), 11 (1), 16 (20+), 19 (1), 21 (4),

          23 (1), 27 (18+), 28 (30+), 29 (2), 30 (11)

     MALLARD: 1-23, 25-31

     RING-NECKED PHEASANT: 2 (1), 7-8 (1), 9 (2), 11 (1), 17 (1), 19 (1), 21 (2), 22 (1),

          25 (1), 27 (1), 30 (1)

     PIED-BILLED GREBE: 6 (1), 28 (1 ju), 30 (1 ju)

     ROCK PIGEON: 30 (~30)

     EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE: 1-3 (1), 4 (2), 5 (1), 8 (1), 10-13 (1), 14 (2), 19 (1), 21 (1),

          26 (1), 29 (1), 30 (2)

     MOURNING DOVE: 1 (7), 2 (4), 3 (2), 4-5 (5), 6 (25+), 7 (8), 8-10 (5), 11 (10), 12-13 (9),

          14 (7), 15 (6), 16-19 (5), 20 (3), 21 (5), 22-23 (1), 25 (3), 26 (9), 27 (3), 28 (7), 30 (7),

          31 (5)

     YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO: 1 (2), 4-7 (1), 10 (1), 12-13 (1), 15 (1), 22-23 (1), 26 (1),

          29 (1)

     CHIMNEY SWIFT: 1 (4), 2-6, 9-10, 13, 15-16, 19-23, 25-26, 29-31

     RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD: 7 (2), 11 (1), 12 (2), 13 (1), 14 (3), 15 (1), 16 (2),

          17 (1), 19 (1), 20 (2), 23 (1), 26-27 (1), 28-29 (3), 30 (2)

     SEMIPALMATED PLOVER: 6 (1), 10-11 (2)

     KILLDEER: 1 (14), 2 (36), 3 (61+), 4 (90+), 5 (95+), 6 (155+), 7 (267+), 8 (222+),

          9 (147+), 10 (50+), 11 (74+), 12, 13 (36+), 14 (35+), 15 (54+), 16 (28+), 17 (17+),

          18 (5+), 19 (15+), 20 (24+), 21 (7+), 22 (10+), 23 (15+), 25 (15+), 25 (4+), 26-27 (3),

          28 (10), 29 (5), 30 (8), 31 (2)

     STILT SANDPIPER: 11-12 (1)

     LEAST SANDPIPER: 4 (4), 5 (2), 6 (4), 7 (3), 8 (4), 9 (7+), 10 (1), 30 (3), 31 (1)

     PECTORAL SANDPIPER: 3 (2), 5 (3), 6 (11), 7 (32+), 8 (43+), 9 (37+), 10 (16+),

          11 (70+), 12, 15 (4), 26 (1), 31 (1)

     SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER: 3 (1), 5 (2), 6 (1), 8 (9+), 9 (10+), 10 (5+), 11 (20+), 12,

          13 (11), 16 (3)

     WILSON’S SNIPE: 28 (1)

     SPOTTED SANDPIPER: 2 (5), 3 (8), 4 (13+), 5 (10), 6 (6), 7 (3), 8 (9+), 9 (17+),

          10-11 (3+), 12 (2+), 15-16 (1), 18 (2), 20-21 (1), 26 (1)

     SOLITARY SANDPIPER: 1 (5), 2 (9), 3 (13), 4 (11), 5 (7), 6 (14), 7 (15+), 8 (10+),

          9 (26+), 10 (10+), 11 (8+), 12 (3+), 13 (4), 16 (1), 20-21 (1), 30 (1)

     Sandpiper sp.: 19 (5), 31 (1)

     LESSER YELLOWLEGS: 1 (1), 2 (2), 3 (4), 4 (2), 5 (3), 6 (13), 7 (3), 8 (2), 9 (9+),

          10 (5+), 11 (10+), 12, 30 (1)

     GREATER YELLOWLEGS: 6-8 (1), 10 (2), 11-12 (1)

     RING-BILLED GULL: 5 (1), 21 (3), 22 (1)

     CASPIAN TERN: 19 (2), 20 (1), 21 (5), 22 (7), 30 (24+)

     BLACK TERN: 27 (1)

     FORSTER’S TERN: 5 (12), 17 (1), 27 (18)

     DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT: 1 (3), 3 (1), 19 (2), 21 (3), 29 (1), 30 (2)

     GREAT BLUE HERON: 1 (4), 2 (7), 3 (5), 4 (7), 5 (5), 6 (9), 7 (7), 8 (6), 9 (9), 10 (5),

          11 (8), 12 (10), 13 (2), 14-16 (4), 17 (5), 18 (3), 19 (8), 20 (3), 21-22 (3), 23 (10),

          25 (1), 26-27 (6), 28 (4), 29 (5), 30 (7), 31 (4)

     GREEN HERON: 2 (1), 4 (1), 9-10 (1), 13-18 (1), 21-23 (1), 25 (1), 26 (2), 27 (1), 28 (2),

          29-31 (1)

     TURKEY VULTURE: 1 (1), 2 (3), 3 (1), 4 (2), 5-6 (1), 7 (3), 8 (4), 9 (7), 10 (1), 12-13 (3),

          14-15 (4), 16 (3), 17 (2), 18 (1), 20 (3), 21 (2), 22 (3), 23 (2), 25 (2), 26 (1), 27 (3),

          28 (10), 29 (8), 30-31 (1)

     OSPREY: 1-2 (1), 5-6 (1), 12 (1), 15-16 (1), 18 (1), 20 (1), 26 (1), 27 (2), 28-30 (1)

     COOPER’S HAWK: 7 (1), 11 (1), 15 (1 ju), 22 (1 ju), 31 (1)

     BALD EAGLE: 1 (1 ad), 6 (1 ad), 11 (1 ad), 18 (1 ad), 20-22 (1 ad), 25-26 (1 ad)

     BROAD-WINGED HAWK: 25 (1), 27 (1)

     RED-TAILED HAWK: 2 (2), 5 (1), 7-8 (1), 14 (1), 16-17 (1), 19-20 (1), 22 (1), 26-27 (1)

     BELTED KINGFISHER: 5 (1), 7-11 (1), 13-14 (1), 18-19 (1), 20-21 (2), 23 (1), 25 (1),

          26 (2), 28 (1), 29 (2), 30 (1), 31 (2)

     RED-HEADED WOODPECKER: 1 (1 ad), 9-10 (1 ad), 13 (1 ad + 1 ju), 15 (1 ad),

          16 (1 ad + 1 ju), 17 (1), 19 (1 ad + 1 ju), 21 (1), 25 (1 ad + 1 ju), 26 (1 ad + 1 ju),

          27-28 (1 ad)

     RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER: 1-2 (1), 6 (1), 9 (1), 11 (1), 15 (2), 17 (1), 21 (1), 23 (1),

          25 (1), 29 (1), 30 (2), 31 (1)

     DOWNY WOODPECKER: 1-3, 5-10, 13, 15-23, 26-31

     HAIRY WOODPECKER: 7-8 (1), 21-22 (1), 28 (1)

     NORTHERN FLICKER (Yellow-shafted): 1 (3), 3-4 (2), 5-6 (1), 8 (1), 10-11 (1), 12-13 (2),

         15 (1), 18-19 (2), 26 (1)

     PEREGRINE FALCON: 12-14 (1 ju)

     GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER: 12 (3), 13 (1), 25-26 (1), 29 (1)

     EASTERN KINGBIRD: 1 (6), 2 (7), 3 (5), 6-7 (6), 8-10 (5), 11 (4), 12 (7), 13-15 (3),

          16-17 (5), 18-19 (3), 20 (2), 21 (4), 22 (3), 26 (2), 28 (2), 29 (3), 30 (1)

     OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER: 16 (1), 28 (1)

     EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE: 2-3 (1), 5-7 (1), 9 (1), 11 (1), 13 (1), 16 (1), 19 (1), 21 (1),

          25-27 (1), 29 (2), 30 (1), 31 (2)

     YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER: 29 (1)

     ALDER FLYCATCHER: 18 (2)

     LEAST FLYCATCHER: 13 (1)

     Empidonax sp.: 18 (1), 20 (2), 22 (1), 25-26 (1), 27 (2), 28 (3), 30 (2)

     EASTERN PHOEBE: 1 (1 im), 4-5 (1), 8 (1), 9 (2), 10 (4), 19 (2), 22 (2 im), 23 (2), 25 (1),

             27 (2), 28 (1)

     WARBLING VIREO: 1-10, 12-23, 26 (1), 27-28 (2), 29 (1), 30 (3), 31 (1)

     RED-EYED VIREO: 20 (2), 22 (1), 25-27 (2), 28 (1), 29-30 (3), 31 (5)

     BLUE JAY: 1-14, 16-20, 22-23, 25-31

     AMERICAN CROW: 1-19, 21-23, 26-30

     PURPLE MARTIN: 1-20, 23 (1), 26-27 (1)

     TREE SWALLOW: 1, 30-31

     NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW: 2, 4, 10, 12, 29 (2)

     BANK SWALLOW: 29-30 (1)

     CLIFF SWALLOW: 1-7, 9, 12-13, 20, 27, 28 (100+), 29 (75+)

     BARN SWALLOW: 1-23, 25-31

     BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE: 1, 3-7, 9-20, 22-23, 25-31

     WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 1 (3), 2 (1), 4 (1), 5 (2), 6 (1), 8 (1), 9 (2), 10 (1), 11 (2),

          12-13 (1), 15 (1), 16 (2), 17-18 (1), 19 (3), 20 (2), 21 (1), 22 (2), 23 (3), 25 (3), 26 (1),

          27 (2), 28 (1), 29 (2), 30 (1), 31 (2)

     HOUSE WREN: 1-23, 25-31

     SEDGE WREN: 1-2 (1), 3 (3), 5 (1), 7-10 (1), 11 (3), 12 (1), 13 (2), 14 (1), 15 (5), 16 (3),

          17 (6), 18 (4), 19 (2), 20 (1), 21 (5), 22 (3)

     BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER: 9 (1), 20 (2)

     EASTERN BLUEBIRD: 13 (1)

     AMERICAN ROBIN: 1-23, 25-31

     GRAY CATBIRD: 1-8, 10-23, 25-31

     EUROPEAN STARLING: 1-7, 9-23, 25-31

     CEDAR WAXWING: 2 (2), 6 (2), 7 (3), 9 (2), 12 (1), 15 (5), 16 (4), 18 (6 + 1 BY), 19 (1),

          20 (7), 21 (11), 23 (2), 26 (2), 27 (6), 28 (10), 29 (1), 30 (16), 31 (11)

     HOUSE SPARROW: 1-23, 25-31

     HOUSE FINCH: 1-6, 8-16, 19-21, 25-31

     AMERICAN GOLDFINCH: 1-23, 25-31

     CHIPPING SPARROW: 4-6, 28, 30

     LARK SPARROW: 27 (1)

     SONG SPARROW: 1-23, 25-31

     ORCHARD ORIOLE: 10 (1)

     BALTIMORE ORIOLE: 1-3 (1), 6 (1), 7 (2), 9-10 (3), 11 (1), 13 (2), 14 (1), 16 (3), 17 (1),

          18 (5), 19 (3), 20 (4), 21 (3), 22 (7), 23 (4), 25 (1), 26 (2), 27 (3), 28 (2), 29 (3),

          30-31 (1)

     RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD: 1-16, 18, 20-23, 25-27

     BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD: 1-5, 7-8, 12-23, 27, 29, 30 (1)

     COMMON GRACKLE: 15 (1), 19 (1)

     BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER: 21 (1), 23 (1), 25 (2), 26 (1)

     MOURNING WARBLER: 16 (1^st Fall ♂)

     COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: 1-6, 8-16, 18-19, 21-23, 26-27, 28 (2), 29 (1), 30 (2)

     AMERICAN REDSTART: 20 (1), 21-22 (2), 25 (2), 26 (1), 30 (3), 31 (1)

     BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER: 21 (1), 31 (2)

     YELLOW WARBLER: 4 (1), 28 (1♀), 30 (1)

     CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER: 22 (1), 29 (1), 31 (1)

     CANADA WARBLER: 22 (2), 26 (1), 31 (3)

     WILSON’S WARBLER: 31 (1♂)

     NORTHERN CARDINAL: 1-23, 25-31

     ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK: 2 (1), 6 (1), 12 (1), 22 (2), 27 (1), 29 (2), 30-31 (1)

     INDIGO BUNTING: 1-2 (2), 4 (1), 5 (2), 6 (1), 8-9 (2), 10 (1), 11-12 (2), 13 (1), 14 (3),

          15-16 (2), 19-20 (1), 26 (1 ju), 30 (1♂)

     DICKCISSEL: 1 (3), 2 (5), 3 (3), 4 (5), 5-10 (2), 11 (1), 12 (2), 22 (1), 25 (1), 29 (1)

MAMMALIAN

     EASTERN COTTONTAIL: 1-23, 25-31

     EASTERN CHIPMUNK: 4-6, 18, 23

     WOODCHUCK: 26 (1)

     THIRTEEN-LINED GROUND SQUIRREL:

     EASTERN FOX SQUIRREL: 1, 3-5, 8, 11, 14, 18-19, 21, 25-31

     COMMON MUSKRAT: 2 (1), 5 (1), 10 (1), 18 (1), 21 (2), 29 (1)

     AMERICAN MINK: 3 (1), 25 (1), 27 (1)

     WHITE-TAILED DEER: 4 (5 + 1♀ w/2 fawns + 1♀ w/1 fawn), 5 (1 + 1 fawn),

          6 (1♂ + 1♀ w/1 fawn), 7 (1), 8 (1♀ w/2 fawns), 9 (1 + 1♀ w/1 fawn), 10 (2 + 1 fawn),

          11 (1), 12 (1 fawn), 15 (1 + 1♀ w/1 fawn), 17 (2), 20 (1), 28-29 (1),

          30 (1 + 1♀ w/2 fawns), 31 (1♀ w/1 fawn)

REPTILIAN

     PLAINS GARTER SNAKE: 22 (1), 28 (1), 30 (1)

     WESTERN PAINTED TURTLE: 2-4, 7, 9-10, 12-13, 17-18, 20, 22-23, 26, 28-30

     WESTERN SPINY SOFTSHELL: 29 (1)

AMPHIBIAN

     AMERICAN TOAD: 3, 5, 12-13, 18, 20, 22, 27, 29

     AMERICAN BULLFROG: 1-23, 25-31

     NORTHERN LEOPARD FROG: 2-3, 5, 7, 10, 13-14, 17-18, 20-21, 23, 25, 27-29

LEPIDOPTERA

     BLACK SWALLOWTAIL: 2 (1), 4 (1), 12-13 (1), 17 (1), 22 (2), 27-28 (1)

     GIANT SWALLOWTAIL: 15 (1), 18 (1)

     EASTERN TIGER SWALLOWTAIL: 2-5 (1), 7 (2), 9 (2), 12-13 (2), 15 (2), 16 (1), 18 (1),

          20 (2 + 2♀ black form), 21 (1 + 1♀ black form), 23 (2), 28-29 (1)

     CHECKERED WHITE:

     CABBAGE WHITE: 2 (5), 3 (2), 4 (3), 5, 7 (3), 10-11 (1), 13-14, 16-17, 18 (1), 20 (5),

          22 (10), 27 (2), 28 (1), 29 (6)

     CLOUDED SULPHUR: 2 (2), 4 (1), 27 (1)

     ORANGE SULPHUR: 1 (3), 2 (5), 3 (9), 4 (7+), 5 (2), 6-7, 8 (1), 9-10, 12-17, 18 (2),

          19 (3), 22 (5+), 23 (1), 25 (2), 27-29 (3), 30 (2)

     DAINTY YELLOW: 3-4 (1), 5 (2)

     EASTERN TAILED BLUE: 1 (3), 2 (5+), 4 (2), 5 (1), 7 (1), 12 (2), 18 (1), 23 (1), 28 (1)

     PEARL CRESCENT: 10 (1), 12 (3), 13 (4), 15-16 (1), 20 (4), 22 (5), 25 (1), 30 (1)

     QUESTION MARK: 1 (1)

     PAINTED LADY: 1 (130+), 2 (300+), 3-4 (500+), 5 (300+), 6-7 (100+), 8-10 (50+),

          11 (25+), 12 (12+), 13 (25+), 14 (75+), 15 (50+), 15 (15+), 17-18 (10+), 19 (8+),

           20 (20+), 21 (5+), 22 (10+), 23 (4), 26 (1), 27-28 (2), 29 (4), 30-31 (1)

     RED ADMIRAL: 7 (1), 14 (1)

     COMMON BUCKEYE: 1 (1), 2 (2), 3-4 (3), 5 (4), 9-10 (1), 12 (2), 17 (1), 20 (4), 22 (2),

          27 (4), 29 (1)

     RED-SPOTTED PURPLE: 4 (1), 10 (1), 14 (1), 17-18 (2), 19-20 (1), 22 (1), 25 (2), 28 (2),

           29 (1)

     VICEROY: 1 (3), 2 (6+), 3 (3+), 4 (5), 7 (1), 10 (1), 12-13 (1), 14 (2), 16 (2), 17 (1), 20 (3),

          22 (1), 25 (3), 27 (1), 28-29 (2)

     HACKBERRY EMPEROR: 4-5 (1), 7 (1), 25 (1), 27-28 (1)

     MONARCH: 1 (2), 2 (10+), 3 (8+), 4 (14+), 5 (4), 6 (2), 7 (9), 8 (4), 9 (5), 10 (3), 11 (1),

          12 (4), 13 (7), 14 (6), 15 (5), 16 (2), 17 (10+), 18 (8+), 19 (3), 20 (11+), 21 (3), 22 (8+),

           23 (9+), 26 (2), 27 (5), 28 (1), 29 (10+), 30 (4)

     SILVER-SPOTTED SKIPPER: 1 (1), 3-5 (2), 20 (1)

     COMMON CHECKERED-SKIPPER: 2 (1)

     COMMON SOOTYWING: 4 (1), 18 (1), 31 (1)

     LEAST SKIPPER: 1 (2), 2 (3), 3-4 (1), 5 (4), 8-9 (1), 12 (2), 30 (1)

     FIERY SKIPPER: 10 (1), 28-29 (1)

     TAWNY-EDGED SKIPPER: 13 (1)

     SACHEM: 4 (1)

     Skipper sp.: 29 (1)

     GARDEN WEBWORM: 20 (1)

     ELEGANT GRASS-VENEER: 1 (1), 3 (1)

     BIRCH ANGLE: 12 (1)

     CHICKWEED GEOMETER: 5 (1), 7 (1), 13 (2), 16 (1)

     WOOLLY BEAR (Isabella Tiger Moth): 2 (3), 3 (1), 7 (1), 28 (1)

     MILKWEED TUSSOCK MOTH: 5 (1 caterpillar)

ODONATA

     EBONY JEWELWING: 5 (3)

     AMERICAN RUBYSPOT: 2 (1♀)

     SLENDER SPREADWING: 2, 3-4 (2)

     LYRE-TIPPED SPREADWING: 1-2 (2), 7 (1), 8 (2), 9 (1), 19 (3), 20 (2), 23 (2)

     Spreadwing sp.: 1, 3, 8, 12, 22 (1), 27 (5), 28 (3), 29 (1)

     BLUE-FRONTED DANCER: 1-7, 9-10, 12-13, 17, 20, 22, 23 (2), 25 (2), 28 (2), 29 (3)

     POWDERED DANCER: 2, 20 (2), 23 (1), 27 (3)

     SPRINGWATER DANCER: 27 (1♂)

     FAMILIAR BLUET: 2 (3), 5 (1), 29 (2)

     STREAM BLUET: 2 (1), 13 (1), 22 (1), 29 (2)

     FRAGILE FORKTAIL: 2 (1♀), 18 (1♂)

     EASTERN FORKTAIL: 1-7, 9, 12-14, 20 (1), 22-23, 29 (5)

     COMMON GREEN DARNER: 1-3, 5-7, 9, 12, 14-28, 20-23, 27-31

     “Blue Mosaic” DARNER: 28 (1), 30 (1)

     PLAINS CLUBTAIL: 3 (1♂)

     FLAG-TAILED SPINYLEG: 2 (1)

     COMMON BASKETTAIL: 20 (1)

     PRINCE BASKETTAIL: 5 (2), 7 (1), 22 (1)

     HALLOWEEN PENNANT: 5 (1)

     EASTERN PONDHAWK: 1-3, 5, 12-14, 17, 19 (1), 20 (2), 22 (3), 23 (1)

     WIDOW SKIMMER: 1-7, 9-10, 12-13, 17, 20-23, 27 (4), 28 (3), 30 (1)

     COMMON WHITETAIL: 1-2, 10, 12, 14-18, 27 (1♀)

     TWELVE-SPOTTED SKIMMER: 2-3, 5 (2), 7, 9, 12-13, 17

     BLUE DASHER: 2-4, 7, 22 (1♀), 23 (1)

     WANDERING GLIDER: 4 (1), 5 (2), 10 (2), 11 (1), 13 (1), 18 (1), 27 (1), 30 (1)

     EASTERN AMBERWING: 2 (1), 5 (1), 20 (1)

     VARIEGATED MEADOWHAWK: 10 (1), 23 (1)

     RUBY MEADOWHAWK: 13 (1)

     BAND-WINGED MEADOWHAWK: 1 (1), 2 (3), 4-5 (1), 19 (1), 23 (1), 27 (4)

     BLACK SADDLEBAGS: 2-5, 18 (1), 20 (1), 23 (1), 27-29 (1)

ORTHOPTERA

     CAROLINA GRASSHOPPER: 1-10, 13-14, 16-23, 25, 27-30

DECAPODA

     DEVIL CRAYFISH: 4 (2), 5 (6), 6 (49), 7 (4), 8 (2)

Wolf. Oesterreich