Oct 5, 2019: Wolf's September 2019 Wildlife Report

On the 11^th , while checking out Pool F and Pond P, I spotted a brown mammal swimming back-and-forth at the south end of Pond P.  At first I thought the animal was a Common Muskrat, but soon came to realize that I was watching a Northern River Otter.  After a couple of minutes the otter exited the water onto the eastern shore with a carp in its mouth.  The otter started to consume the carp, beginning with the tail.  Half of the fish had been eaten when I believe that the otter finally noticed my presence.  The otter reentered the water, submerged, and swam off.  I've never been this close to a Northern River Otter and was quite thrilled by this experience.  I found an otter at this same location on the 18th, possibly the same individual. (Wolf. Oesterreich, 9/11/19)

A total of 99 (+ 3 sp.) avian species was recorded this month, ranking this month as the 6^th highest September (tied with 2012 & 2014) among 22 years of records.  September 2007 with 126 species remains as the highest September, while September 1998 and 2002 are the lowest with only 61 species.  This total is 3 species more than last month and 16 less than September 2018.

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 60^th Supplement (2019) to the American Ornithologists’ Union Check-list of North American Birds and the 19^th Supplement to the 7^th Edition (1998).

There are no records for the 10^th (poll worker) and the 25^th through the end of the month (in Montana).

AVIAN

     CANADA GOOSE: 1-9, 12-24

     WOOD DUCK: 1 (11), 2-3 (7), 4 (8), 5 (7), 6 (13), 7 (6), 8 (2), 9 (18), 11 (9), 12-13 (8),

          14 (10), 15 (8), 16-17 (16), 18 (5), 19 (7), 20-21 (12), 23 (2), 24 (21+)

     BLUE-WINGED TEAL: 14 (12), 21 (9), 22 (15), 23 (15+), 24 (2)

     NORTHERN SHOVELER: 13 (4), 15 (2), 20 (2)

     MALLARD: 1-9, 11-21, 23-24

     RING-NECKED PHEASANT: 3 (1), 6-8 (1), 12-13 (1), 16 (1), 18 (1), 21 (1), 23 (2), 24 (1)

     PIED-BILLED GREBE: 4 (1), 13 (1), 15 (1)

     ROCK PIGEON: 1 (4)

     EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE: 1 (2), 2-7 (1), 17-19 (1)

     MOURNING DOVE: 1 (12), 2 (4), 3 (6), 6-7 (1), 8 (3), 9 (1), 12 (1), 13 (4), 14 (1), 15 (9),

          16 (3), 18 (6), 20 (6), 21 (5), 23 (1), 24 (3)

     YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO: 3 (1), 4 (2)

     COMMON NIGHTHAWK: 1 (1), 4 (6)

     CHIMNEY SWIFT: 1-4, 8, 15

     RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD: 1 (1), 2 (2), 3 (1), 6 (2), 7 (1), 12 (2), 15 (1), 17 (1),

          20 (1)

     KILLDEER: 1 (8), 2 (2), 3 (4), 4 (8), 6 (3), 7 (5), 8 (4), 9 (1), 14 (2), 15 (3), 17-18 (1),

          21 (1), 23 (2), 24 (3)

     LEAST SANDPIPER: 3 (1)

     AMERICAN WOODCOCK: 8 (1)

     SOLITARY SANDPIPER: 1 (1), 3-5 (1)

     FRANKLIN’S GULL: 23 (7), 24 (1)

     RING-BILLED GULL: 4 (1), 22 (3), 23 (8)

     CASPIAN TERN: 2 (4)

     BLACK TERN: 5 (1)

     FORSTER’S TERN: 14 (1)

     DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT: 22 (4), 24 (3)

     AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN: 19-20 (1)

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

          13-14 (2), 15 (1), 16 (2), 17 (1), 18 (3), 19 (4), 20 (2), 21 (4), 23 (4), 24 (7)

     GREAT EGRET: 1-3 (1), 9 (2), 11-16 (1), 19-20 (1)

     GREEN HERON: 1-2 (1), 4 (1), 6 (1), 9 (1), 11 (1), 12 (2), 14-15 (1), 22 (1)

     TURKEY VULTURE: 1-2 (3), 3 (11), 4 (9), 5 (2), 6 (10), 7 (8), 8 (9), 11 (13), 12 (2),

          13 (15+), 15 (1), 16 (2), 17 (4), 18 (3), 19 (1), 21 (7), 22-23 (1), 24 (5)

     OSPREY: 1-2 (1), 4-5 (1), 8 (1), 9 (2), 11-12 (2), 13 (2), 15 (2), 17-18 (2), 19-23 (1), 24 (2)

     SHARP-SHINNED HAWK: 23 (1 BY)

     COOPER’S HAWK: 4 (2), 13 (1), 17 (1), 22 (1), 23 (1 ad), 24 (1)

     BALD EAGLE: 1 (2 ad), 5 (1 ad), 6 (1 im), 11 (1 ad), 13 (1 ad), 18 (1 ad), 20-21 (1 ad)

     BROAD-WINGED HAWK: 14 (1 ju), 22-23 (1)

     RED-TAILED HAWK: 3 (1), 12 (1), 17 (1)

     BARRED OWL: 16 (1)

     BELTED KINGFISHER: 1 (2), 2-3 (1), 5 (1), 7 (1), 8-9 (2), 11 (2), 12 (3), 13 (4), 14 (1♀),

          15-16 (2), 17 (1), 19 (1), 20-21 (2), 23 (2), 24 (1)

     RED-HEADED WOODPECKER: 1-2 (1 ad), 13 (1)

     RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER: 1-2 (2), 4 (1), 11-12 (1), 16-17 (1), 20 (2), 21 (1),

          23-24 (2)

     YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER: 7 (1)

     DOWNY WOODPECKER: 1-4, 7, 9, 11-16, 18, 20-21, 23-24

     HAIRY WOODPECKER: 2 (1), 4 (1), 7 (1), 24 (1)

     NORTHERN FLICKER (Yellow-shafted): 4 (1), 7 (1), 12 (1), 14 (2), 16-17 (2), 19 (3),

          20-21 (2), 23 (3), 24 (2)

     Falcon sp.: 24 (1)

     GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER: 12 (1)

     EASTERN KINGBIRD: 4 (1)

     OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER: 2 (1), 12 (1), 14 (2), 20 (1)

     EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE: 1 (2), 3 (2), 7 (1), 8-9 (2), 11-12 (1), 14 (1), 20 (1)

     LEAST FLYCATCHER: 1 (1)

     Empidonax sp.: 1 92), 2 (1), 4 (1), 6 (1), 8 (2), 15 (1), 19 (2)

     EASTERN PHOEBE: 3 (1), 4 (2), 6 (1), 12 (2), 17 (1), 23 (2)

     YELLOW-THROATED VIREO: 8 (1)

     BLUE-HEADED VIREO: 8 (1)

     PHILADELPHIA VIREO: 2 (1)

     WARBLING VIREO: 1 (1), 2 (5), 3 (1), 4 (4), 6 (1), 7-8 (3), 9 (1), 11 (1), 14-15 (2)

     RED-EYED VIREO: 1 (4), 2 (1), 3 (3), 6-7 (1), 8-9 (4), 12 (2), 13 (1), 16 (1), 19-20 (1),

          22 (1)

     BLUE JAY: 1-4, 6-9, 11-24

     AMERICAN CROW: 1-6, 8-9, 12-13, 15, 17, 19-23

     TREE SWALLOW: 6-9, 11, 15-18, 24

     NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW: 2-3, 18

     CLIFF SWALLOW: 2-3, 16-18

     BARN SWALLOW: 1-9, 12-18, 20, 24

     BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE: 1-9, 11-24

     WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 1-4 (2), 8-9 (1), 11 (1), 12 (4), 13 (2), 14 (1), 15-16 (2),

          17-18 (1), 20 (3), 21-22 (1), 23 (2)

     HOUSE WREN: 1-4, 6-7, 8-9 (2), 11-12 (2), 14 (5), 15-19 (1), 21 (1)

     EASTERN BLUEBIRD: 11 (2), 15 (4), 23 (2+), 24 (4)

     SWAINSON’S THRUSH: 8 (1), 9 (2), 11 (1), 22 (1)

     AMERICAN ROBIN: 1-9, 11-18, 20, 23-24

     GRAY CATBIRD: 1-9, 11-24

     BROWN THRASHER: 16 (1), 24 (1)

     EUROPEAN STARLING: 1-4, 6, 8-9, 11-21, 23-24

     CEDAR WAXWING: 1 (15+), 2 (4), 4 (27+), 5 (1), 13 (1), 22 (4)

     HOUSE SPARROW: 1-9, 11-21, 23-24

     HOUSE FINCH: 1-4, 6-7, 13-21, 23-24

     AMERICAN GOLDFINCH: 1-9, 11-24

     EASTERN TOWHEE: 8 (2)

     CHIPPING SPARROW: 1

     SONG SPARROW: 1-9, 11-17, 19, 23-24 (1)

     Meadowlark sp.: 23 (2)

     BALTIMORE ORIOLE: 1 (2), 2 (3), 4 (1), 8 (1)

     RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD: 20 (9+), 24 (5)

     BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD: 2 (2), 7 (2), 9 (1), 12 (1), 17 (1), 18 (20+)

     COMMON GRACKLE: 14 (5), 20 (14+), 23 (3), 24 (5)

     GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER: 5 (1), 8 (2), 11 (5), 12 (1)

     BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER: 1 (1), 3 (1), 7-9 (1), 11 (2), 12 (1)

     TENNESSEE WARBLER: 4 (1)

     ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER: 24 (1)

     NASHVILLE WARBLER: 12 (1), 15 (1), 24 (1)

     MOURNING WARBLER: 3 (1)

     COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: 1-2 (1), 4 (1), 7 (3), 9 (1), 11-12 (1), 13-14 (2), 15 (1),

          16 (3), 18 (1), 20 (3), 23-24 (3)

     AMERICAN REDSTART: 1 (2), 3 (2), 4 (1), 8 (2), 9 (1), 11 (1), 12 (2), 20 (1)

     NORTHERN PARULA: 8 (1)

     MAGNOLIA WARBLER: 8 (2), 9 (1), 21 (1)

     BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER: 1 (1), 4 (1), 8 (1)

     CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER: 8 (3), 9 (1), 11 (1), 12 (2)

     BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER: 11 (1)

     CANADA WARBLER: 1 (3), 8-9 (1), 11 (1)

     WILSON’S WARBLER: 1 (1♂), 7 (2), 8-9 (1)

     NORTHERN CARDINAL: 1-9, 11-17, 19-24

     ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK: 1 (2), 4-6 (1), 20 (1), 22 (1), 24 (1)

     INDIGO BUNTING: 2 (1 ju), 9 (1), 14 (1), 21 (1)

     DICKCISSEL: 1 (1), 2 (2), 4 (1), 21 (4)

MAMMALIAN

     EASTERN COTTONTAIL: 2-9, 11-15, 19, 21-24

     EASTERN CHIPMUNK: 3, 5, 7, 16, 18, 23-24

     EASTERN FOX SQUIRREL: 1-4, 6-9, 11-17, 19-24

     COMMON MUSKRAT: 11 (1)

     AMERICAN MINK: 1 (1), 4 (1)

     NORTHERN RIVER OTTER: 11 (1), 18 (1)

     WHITE-TAILED DEER: 2-3 (1), 4 (1♀ w/1), 5 (2), 6 (3), 8-9 (1), 11 (1), 13 (6 + 1♂),

          14 (1♀ w/2 BY), 16 (2), 17-18 (1), 19 (3), 20 (1), 22 (1♀ w/1 + 1♀ w/1 BY), 23 (3)

REPTILIAN

     PLAINS GARTER SNAKE: 4 (1), 7 (1), 11 (1)

     WESTERN PAINTED TURTLE: 1, 3-7, 11-12, 17, 19-20, 23-24

     RED-EARED SLIDER: 5 (1), 15 (1)

AMPHIBIAN

     AMERICAN TOAD: 3-4, 9, 11-12, 14, 17, 21

     BLANCHARD’S CRICKET FROG: 9 (1), 12 (1)

     AMERICAN BULLFROG: 1-9, 11-21, 24

     NORTHERN LEOPARD FROG: 1-7, 9, 11-12, 15-16, 19

LEPIDOPTERA

     BLACK SWALLOWTAIL: 24 (1)

     EASTERN TIGER SWALLOWTAIL: 5 (2)

     CABBAGE WHITE: 1-2 (1), 4 (1), 5 (3), 6 (1), 7 (6), 11 (1), 12 (3), 13 (2), 15 (7), 16 (2),

          19-20 (3), 23-24 (1)

     CLOUDED SULPHUR: 7 (1)

     ORANGE SULPHUR: 1 (2), 4 (1), 5 (6), 6 (1), 7 (3), 11 (5+), 12 (4), 13 (2), 15 (7), 16 (2),

          17 (6), 18 (13), 19 (9+), 20 (7), 23 (5), 24 (4)

     LITTLE YELLOW: 11-12 (2), 19 (1)

     DAINTY SULPHUR: 5-6 (1)

     EASTERN TAILED-BLUE: 1 (1), 3 (1), 5 (3), 7 (2), 8-9 (1), 13 (2), 19 (3), 23 (1)

     PEARL CRESCENT: 3 (2), 5 (3), 7 (1), 11 (3), 17 (1), 19 (2), 24 (1)

     PAINTED LADY: 1 (2), 3-4 (2), 5 (3), 6 (2), 7 (1), 13 (1), 16 (2), 17-19 (3), 20 (2), 24 (5)

     COMMON BUCKEYE: 1 (1), 3 (3), 4 (1), 5 (5), 6 (1), 7 (2), 11 (2), 12 (4), 13 (2), 15 (1),

          18 (2), 19 (5)

     VICEROY: 1-3 (1), 5 (5), 6 (2), 7 (3), 11-12 (3), 18-21 (1)

     HACKBERRY EMPEROR: 4 (1)

     MONARCH: 1 (16+), 2 (6), 3 (16), 4 (30+), 5 (52+), 6 (37+), 7 (130+), 8 (28+), 9 (23+),

          11 (109+), 12 (132+), 13 (160+), 14 (11+), 15 (50+), 16 (73+), 17 (16+), 18 (28+),

          19 (113+), 20 (90+), 21 (47+), 22 (7), 23 (255+), 24 (79+)

     SILVER-SPOTTED SKIPPER: 1 (1), 12 (1)

     COMMON SOOTYWING: 19 (1), 23 (1)

     FIERY SKIPPER: 18-19 (2), 20 (1), 23 (2), 24 (1)

     LUCERNE MOTH: 3 (1)

     SNOWY UROLA: 3 (1), 5 (1)

     CHICKWEED GEOMETER: 3 (1), 20 (2), 23 (1)

     WOOLLY BEAR (ISABELLA TIGER MOTH): 18 (1), 20 (1)

     BLACK-BANDED OWLET MOTH: 8 (5+), 9, 11

ODONATE

     AMERICAN RUBYSPOT: 7 (1♂), 11-12 (1♂), 19 (1♂)

     SLENDER SPREADWING: 12 (1♀)

     Spreadwing sp.: 1 (1)

     BLUE-FRONTED DANCER: 1-2, 3 (2), 5 (2), 6 (1), 7 (2), 11 (1)

     POWDERED DANCER: 5 (3)

     RAINBOW BLUET: 5 (1)

     FAMILIAR BLUET: 23 (1)

     STREAM BLUET: 4 (1)

     ORANGE BLUET: 13 (1)

     FRAGILE FORKTAIL: 1 (1)

     EASTERN FORKTAIL: 1, 3 (1), 5 (5)

     COMMON GREEN DARNER: 1-6, 9 (2), 11-15, 17-24

     “Blue Mosaic” Darner sp.: 7 (1), 11 (1), 16 (1)

     EASTERN PONDHAWK: 4-5 (1♂), 20 (1♀)

     WIDOW SKIMMER: 3 (2), 5, 6-7 (2), 11 (3), 13 (3), 17 (1), 24 (1)

     COMMON WHITETAIL: 2 (1), 5 (1)

     BLUE DASHER: 5 (2)

     WANDERING GLIDER: 4 (1), 6 (1), 18 (1), 23-24 (1)

     VARIEGATED MEADOWHAWK: 5 (2), 7 (1), 11-12 (1), 24 (1)

     CHERRY-FACED MEADOWHAWK: 17 (1♂)

     WHITE-FACED MEADOWHAWK: 11 (5+), 12 (2), 13 (1), 18 (1), 24 (3)

     BAND-WINGED MEADOWHAWK: 4 (1♀), 5 (1♂), 20 (1♀)

     Meadowhawk sp.: 1 (2), 5 (2), 7 (2♀), 11 (4+), 17 (1), 19 (2), 20 (1), 24 (4)

     BLACK SADDLEBAGS: 5 (1), 11 (1), 13 (3), 15 (1), 17-19 (1), 23 (3)

     RED SADDLEBAGS: 17 (1)

ORTHOPTERA

     CAROLINA GRASSHOPPER: 1-7, 11-13, 15-21, 23-24

     NORTHWESTERN RED-WINGED GRASSHOPPER: 11 (1)

     AUTUMN YELLOW-WINGED GRASSHOPPER: 11 (1)

Wolf. Oesterreich