Photos and videos

Part of a large flock of Franklin’s Gulls that “returned” to South Lake multiple times that morning. It’s possible they were travelling back and forth between the park and a nearby farm field (Greg Courtney, 25 October 2026).

This young Whitetail doe has accessorized with a stickseed overcoat. Seen near the Upland Trail 11/6/2026. Mark Hayes

Found along the east path, a thistle teaming with life- moth, beetle, and blur bee (because it was never still). (Kay Meyer, 10/22/26)

Found along the east path, a fragile ground cherry inner frame (Kay Meyer, 10/28/26)

Despite the colder temperatures, a Northern Leopard Frog was spotted on the lakes trail.

Wolf. Oesterreich (11/05/26)

Misty morning views across the West Bay and the bridge (Karen Wickert, 11-7-26)

Misty morning views across the West Bay and the bridge (Karen Wickert, 11-7-26)

After stepping into the frame while I was photographing coots, this White-tailed Deer buck turned and posed for a portrait. Warm autumn light highlights his sleek coat and hardened set of antlers; a classic sign of the fall breeding season in Iowa. Field adjacent to Pond C, (11/07/26, Raji Joseph).

After stepping into the frame while I was photographing coots, this White-tailed Deer buck turned and posed for a portrait. Warm autumn light highlights his sleek coat and hardened set of antlers; a classic sign of the fall breeding season in Iowa. Field adjacent to Pond C, (11/07/26, Raji Joseph).

Autumn leaves are reflected in the stream near the pond F outflow (Tana Tesdall, 11/7/26)

Male Wood Duck moving to a dry perch at Pond J (Greg Courtney, 1 November 2026).

Frosty yellow foxtail is backlit by the rising sun (Karen Wickert, Harrison Road parking spur, 11-7-26)

A Yellow-rumped Warbler plucks a berry from an Eastern Redcedar tree. Unlike most warblers that rely almost strictly on insects, Yellow-rumped Warblers can digest the waxy coating on berries from junipers, bayberries, and wax myrtles. This dietary flexibility allows them to linger late into autumn and occasionally winter in Iowa long after other warblers have migrated south. Woods by the South Lake, (10/25/26, Raji Joseph).

One of two Pied-billed Grebes, in a non-breeding plumage, on a park pond.  In this plumage, the black band around the bill is not present.

Wolf. Oesterreich (11/07/26)

Duckweed-covered Canada Goose leaving Pond C (Greg Courtney, 1 November 2026).

A Pied Billed Grebe had a successful dive, and came up with a fish. (Tana Tesdall, 11/5/26)

An exposed honeybee nest hangs from a tree branch. Known as "open-air nesting," this rare sight occurs when a honeybee swarm builds its combs directly on an exposed branch rather than seeking shelter inside a hollow tree or structure. Open-air nests like this cannot survive harsh Iowa winters, but hopefully, the swarm was able to move on and find a suitable shelter. Upland trail, (11/01/26, Raji Joseph).

Luckily this big guy snorted at me, otherwise I would have walked right past him! (Karen Wickert, The Bluff, 11-7-26)

Sunrise over the west bay of South Lake (Greg Courtney, 1 November 2026).

A dewy spiderweb is seen alongside frosty leaves near the bluff (Tana Tesdall, 11/7/26)

A Brown Creeper foraging in its signature spiral pattern: climbing up one tree trunk in search of insects before dropping down to the base of the next tree to start over. In Iowa, they are primarily fall and spring migrants, pausing in mature woods as they travel between northern breeding forests and southern wintering grounds. Trees by Pond P, (11/01/26, Raji Joseph).

A White-throated Sparrow crushing a red honeysuckle berry in its bill. While sparrows primarily consume seeds during much of the year, they readily take advantage of late-season fruit like honeysuckle berries to bulk up on calories before continuing their migration to wintering grounds in the central and southern United States. Upland trail, (11/01/26, Raji Joseph).