Documents • Iowa State University • Avian Archives of Iowa Online

Title	Genres	Topics	Date (Start)	Date (End)	Type	Description	Creator/Author	Birds	Locations	Locality	Habitat	Remarks

Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Burrowing Owl at Rathbun Reservoir, 1986	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1986-12-20	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Burrowing Owl at Rathbun Reservoir in Appanoose County, IA on December 20, 1986. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Strough, Randy D.	Burrowing Owl	Rathbun Lake	Appanoose County, Lake Rathbun, 1.5 miles North on paved road to Southfork Marina off J5T	Open; harvested bean field west side of road, harvested corn field east side of road. The ditches were mowed clean of weeds and lacked trees or shrubs	The documentation form by Randal D. Strough forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Ray Cummins and Steve Dinsmore were submitted. Another observer includes Tom Johnson. \| Elimination of similar species: Screech Owl: a screech owl has ear tufts (except young screech owls may lack conspicuous ear tufts). The belly has vertical barring, and lacks definate [sic] spots on head and back. Legs are not conspicuously long. Saw-whet Owl: has vertical streaked belly, and lacks conspicuously long legs. Habitat: conifer groves, there where [sic] none in the immediate area. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:45:00/17:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	17
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Sprague's Pipit at Waterman Creek Area, 1998	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1998-02-22	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Sprague's Pipit at Waterman Creek Area in O'Brien County, IA on February 22, 1998. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Schoenewe, Lee A.	Sprague's Pipit	Waterman Creek	Waterman Creek Area O'Brien Co	Open, weedy field with old corn stubble	The documentation form by Lee A. Schoenewe is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Nancy P. Schoenewe. \| Elimination of similar species: Smith's Longspur - song in flight [...]s rattle call Water Pipit and Vesper Sparrow - call note and song in high, circling flight light underwings with buffy body \| The original documentation form event occurred around 14:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	13
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Ancient Murrelet at Crystal Lake, 1987	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1987-10-28	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for an Ancient Murrelet at Crystal Lake in Hancock County, IA on October 28, 1987. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Hansen, James L.	Ancient Murrelet	Crystal Lake	Crystal Lake (1/2 mi. N of town of Crystal Lake, Hancock Co.)	open, shallow lake	The documentation form by James L. Hansen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Other murrelets and similar water birds were ruled out by the head pattern and the pink bill. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:00:00/13:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	6
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Greater Prairie-Chicken at Cherokee, 1994	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-01-06	1999-10-15	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Greater Prairie-Chicken at Cherokee in Cherokee County, IA on January 6, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes, three photos of the bird, an article in Iowa Bird Life, an article in Field Notes, and six documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Bierman, Dick	Greater Prairie-Chicken	Cherokee Municipal Airport	Cherokee Airport	open, grassy, few weed patches	The documentation form by Dick Bierman is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Marion Brewer, Dennis Henrickson, Don Poggensee, Jim Fuller, and Thomas H. Kent were submitted later. Other observers include Dick Tetrault, Jeff Brown, and Jerry Fifield. \| Elimination of similar species: Hen Pheasant, sharptailed grouse. They have longer pointed tails. Gray partridge has a redish [sic] tail and is smaller. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:30:00/14:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Prairie Falcon southwest of Calumet, 1985	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-03-08	1993-09-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Prairie Falcon southwest of Calumet in O'Brien County, IA on March 8, 1985. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Bierman, Dick	Prairie Falcon	Calumet	1 mile southwest of Calumet in O'Brien County	open, agricultural land	The documentation form by Dick Bierman is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Peregrine Falcon - Band on head not wide enough. Merlin, this bird was bigger. I guessed about a 30" wingspan. An immature Peregrine's back is much darker. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:00:00/15:01:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	6
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for House Finch at Liscomb, 1983	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1983-04-15	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a House Finch at Liscomb in Hardin County, IA on April 15, 1983. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Proescholdt, Beth	House Finch	Liscomb	our feeders at Liscomb	open yard, locust tree (& many others), large shrubs	The documentation form by Beth Proescholdt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Phyllis Harris and Ramona Sommerlot. \| Elimination of similar species: Purple finch - it was reddish, orange, not raspberry colored - it had streaked flanks & belly - & it had brown back with no red coloration. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/11:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	15
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Western Tanager at Decorah, 1986	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1986-04-22	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Western Tanager at Decorah in Winneshiek County, IA on April 22, 1986. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Hovde, Harriet Hovde, Oivind M.	Western Tanager	Decorah	603 North St. Decorah Winneshiek County	Open yard with (deciduous + conifers) trees and shrubs near feeding station	The documentation form by Harriet and Oivind Hovde is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Orene Docken, Ardith Koenig, and Dorothy Peterson. \| Elimination of similar species: Scarlet Tanager - Eliminated because of color and wing bars \| The original documentation form event occurred around 16:30:00 on April 22, 1986 and 10:00:00 on April 24, 1986.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	29
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-throated Gray Warbler near Cedar Bluff, 1997	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-05-10	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-throated Gray Warbler near Cedar Bluff in Cedar County, IA on May 10, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Huntington, James	Black-throated Gray Warbler	Cedar Bluff		Open woods near field or sedge meadow	The documentation form by James Huntington is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Carol Thompson and John Cordell. \| Elimination of similar species: Blackpoll - This bird was first called a Blackpoll, but then discrepancies were noted. Color of top of head was gray not black, white above and below black on cheek. Blackpoll has no loral spot. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	17
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-headed Grosbeak at Rush Lake, 1982	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1982-05-20	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Grosbeak at Rush Lake in Palo Alto County, IA on May 20, 1982. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, a letter from Ann Sernett to Thomas Kent, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Harms, Ronald	Black-headed Grosbeak	Rush Lake	South side Rush Lake, Palo Alto Co. and Mable [sic] Grous grove, Pocahontas Co.	Open woods	The documentation form by Ronald Harms is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers were Ann Luther, Mabel Grous, Ken Sernett and Ann Sernett. \| Elimination of similar species: there were many [female symbol] Rose-brested [sic] around to compare.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Thayer's Gull at Saylorville Dam, 1981	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1981-12-10	1993-08-26	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Thayer's Gull at Saylorville Dam in Polk County, IA on December 10, 1981 recorded incorrectly as 1982 on the documentation form. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence and commentary about the sighting, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	Thayer's Gull	Saylorville Dam	Above and below Saylorville Dam	Open water, rocky shore and ice covered pond.	The documentation form by Joe Schaufenbuel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] Nearly the same size as an immature Herring Gull, but neck seemed thinner, head smaller. Bill was same length as a Herring Gull's but was blunter, not as strongly hooked. [...] The primaries were not nearly as dark as immature (1st year) or 2nd year Herring Gulls and was of a much different color than the black color of that species. Primaries and tail were nearly the same color. [...] In flight this bird could be easily picked out from the immature Herring Gulls at considerable distances. Using 7x35 binoculars the beige color of the upper surface of wings and translucent underwing could be detected as far as three-quarters of a mile. There were also three other birds that resembled this particular bird though they appeared darker on the upperparts. However I was unable to get close observations of these birds. The bird I observed closely and documented had one primary feather missing and aided in tracking the bird from day to day.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Great-tailed Grackle at IPL Ponds, 1984	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1984-06-21	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two Great-tailed Grackle at IPL Ponds in Pottawattamie County, IA on June 21, 1984. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Moore, Francis L.	Great-tailed Grackle	MidAmerican Energy Ponds	Iowa Power & Light Cooling Ponds, just South of Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie Co., Ia.	Open water ponds, small areas of cattails near edge.	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Ross Silcock. \| Elimination of similar species: Female Common Grackle is not as brown as the female Great-tailed that was seen Flat-headed male separates it from Boat-tailed. No other female blackbird has this brown a coloration. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:35:00/15:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	9
Rare bird documentation form for White-winged Scoter at Little Wall Lake, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1979-11-10	1979-11-12	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for three White-winged Scoters at Little Wall lake in Hamilton County, IA on November 10, 1979.	Dinsmore, James J.	White-winged Scoter	Little Wall Lake	Little Wall Lake, Hamilton Co., IA	open water of freshwater lake	The documentation form by James Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Mark and Steve Dinsmore. \| Elimination of similar species: Black Scoter- these birds had white wing patches Surf Scoter- no evidence of white patch on back of head, also wing patches Double-crested Cormorant-wing patches, didn't hold bill up like cormorants do, coloration on head not like cormorant. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/10:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Pacific Loon at Rathbun Reservoir, 1995	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-10-29	2000-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Pacific Loon at Rathbun Reservoir in Appanoose County, IA on October 29, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Cummins, Raymond L.	Pacific Loon	Rathbun Lake	Lake Rathbun Appanoose Co.	Open water near shore. The Loon was first noticed as it swam side by side with a Common Loon.	The documentation form by Ray Cummins is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The Loon was slightly smaller, with a gray crown and nape compared to it's darker back. The Common Loon nape was the same color as its back. The eye was in the dark crown area unlike the Common Loon which showed white over the eye. [...] The bill was smaller than the Common's and straight. [...] Red-throated Loon would hold it's bill upturned not straight. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	7
Record Committee review for rare bird sighting of Pacific Loon at Saylorville Reservoir, 1986	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1986-12-06	1994-02-05	Rare birds documentation form	Record Committee review for a Pacific Loon at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on December 6, 1986. Includes a record review document with votes, a request of the reconsideration of sight records, and a documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Moore, Francis L.	Pacific Loon	Saylorville Lake	Near Rock rip-rap off shore from Cherry Glen, Saylorville Res., Polk Co. Open water near cove.	Open water near cove	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Red-throated and Common Loon does not have tri-toned neck pattern as this bird had. Red-throated also has slightly upturned bill, this bird did not. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:45:00/12:05:00	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	7
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Thayer's Gull at Lock and Dam 19 in Keokuk, 1987	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1987-01-03	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Thayer's Gull at Lock and Dam 19 in Keokuk in Lee County, IA on January 3, 1987. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Moore, Francis L.	Thayer's Gull	Lock Number 19	Below lock and dam 19, Keokuk, Lee Co., Iowa	Open water below lock and dam 19	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Steve Dinsmore was submitted. Another observer includes Robert Cecil. \| Elimination of similar species: Herring Gull has more black in the primaries with a grayer mantle, a larger bill and heavier and bigger head. The under surface of the primaries of a Herring is also darker and has the darkness well into the primaries from the tips. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/10:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-headed Gull at Big Creek State Park, 1994	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-11-17	1998-06-09	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Gull at Big Creek State Park in Polk County, IA on November 17, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Cummins, Raymond L.	Black-headed Gull	Big Creek Lake	Big Creek State Park Polk Co.	Open water	The documentation form by Ray Cummins forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Stephen J. Dinsmore and Jim Dinsmore were submitted. Other observers include Dennis Thompson and Susan B. Grove. \| Elimination of similar species: see above [...] The setting gull in direct comparison to the two Bonaparte's was lighter mantled, larger, whiter headed, the bill was longer and heavier, and the bill was reddish black not pure black like the Bonaparte's. In flight the gull had the same upper wing pattern as the Bonaparte's. [...] The underwing was not totally black like the Little Gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/10:36:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	21
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Common Eider at Jester Park, 1995	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-03-26	2000-11-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Common Eider at Jester Park, Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on March 26, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Johnson, Ann	Common Eider	Jester Park	off Jester Park boat ramp, Saylorville Reservoir, Polk County, IA	open water	The documentation form by Ann Johnson is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: ID based solely on head profile whichwas [sic] identical to the Red Rock bird studied at length earlier in the year. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:55:00/17:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	18
Records Committee review for bird sighting of Brown Pelican at Rathbun Reservoir, 1993	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-05-30	1999-10-15	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Brown Pelican at Lake Rathbun in Appanoose County, IA on May 30, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes, two photographs, an American Birds article, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Cummins, Raymond L.	Brown Pelican	Rathbun Lake	Lake Rathbun Island West Boat Ramp	Open water	The documentation form by Raymond L. Cummins is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bill Heusinkveld, Marj Heusinkveld, Tom Johnson, and Mary Montog. \| Elimination of similar species: Nothing I know of. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 20:00:00/20:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	11
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Clark's Grebe at Lost Island Lake, 1998	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1998-11-22	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Clark's Grebe at Lost Island Lake in Palo Alto County, IA on November 22, 1998. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Schoenewe, Lee A.	Clark's Grebe	Lost Island Lake	Lost Island Lake, Palo Alto County	Open water	The documentation form by Lee A. Schoenewe is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. another observer was Nancy P. Schoenewe. \| Elimination of similar species: Western Grebe - Face pattern with white behind and over the eye; overall light gray body color with white splotching on sides and back. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:15:00/16:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Pacific Loon at Saylorville Reservoir, 1990	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-11-10	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Pacific Loon at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on November 10, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Johnson, Ann	Pacific Loon	Jester Park	Jester Park, Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co., IA	Open water	The documentation form by Ann Johnson is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Reid Allen, Pam Allen, Eugene Armstrong, and Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: Red-throated and Yellow-billed Loons could both be eliminated by the horizontal head and bill. This bird also showed a more rounded head and definite black/white contrast which was lacking in the Red-throated Loon I had observed six days earlier. Common Loon was eliminated by combination of size, smaller bill, distinct line separating white and black feathers, and ultimately by the chinstrap. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:10:00/12:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	7
Rare bird documentation form for Surf Scoter at Jester Park, 1990	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1990-11-10	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Surf Scoter at Jester Park in Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on November 10, 1990.	Johnson, Ann	Surf Scoter	Jester Park	Jester Park, Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co., IA	Open water	The documentation form by Ann Johnson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bery Engrebretsen, Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, Pam Allen, Reid Allen, and others from the Des Moines Audubon. \| Elimination of similar species: Most ducks were eliminated by the angle/slope of the head and bill and the size of the bill. Although there was a similarity of head profile to the Common Eider, the facial spots eliminated any eider. Black Scoter would have a more rounded head with a uniform lighter cheek area as opposed to the spots on this bird. White-winged Scoter should have shown more rounded angle form the top of the head to the bill, generally would have less distinct facial spots, and definitely would have had white wing patches when the bird raised its wings. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:50:00/10:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	11
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Red-throated Loon at Lake Manawa State Park, 1990	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-11-12	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Red-throated Loon at Lake Manawa State Park in Pottawattamie County, IA on November 12, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Johnson, Ann	Red-throated Loon	Lake Manawa State Park	Lake Manawa State Park, Pottawattamie County, Iowa	Open water	The documentation form by Ann Johnson is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Tanya E. Bray was submitted later. Other observers include Babs Padelford, BJ Rose, Ross Silcock, and Tim Schantz. \| Elimination of similar species: Cormorants could be eliminated by bill shape, among other characteristics. The bird had some similarities to a Western Grebe, but the grebe would hold its head parallel to the water, has a longer neck, and does not show the contrast between head/nape and back. Common Loon was eliminated by posture, size and shape of bill, contrast of lighter head and darker back, and more diffuse separation of upper and underparts. Pacific Loon was eliminated by the grayer underparts, diffuse separation of upper and underparts, posture, and sharp upward angle on lower mandible. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:50:00/12:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Thayer's Gull at Coralville Dam, 1981	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1981-11-08	1993-08-26	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for three Thayer's Gulls at Coralville Dam in Johnson County, IA on November 8, 1981. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence and commentary about the sighting, summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Moore, Francis L.	Thayer's Gull	Coralville Dam	Coralville Reservoir	Open wate [sic] near small sandy beach near the Dam area, Johnson County	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Russell Hays, Tom Kent, Tom Shires, Tom Staudt, and many unidentified other observers. \| Elimination of similar species: Ring-billed Gull and Herring Gull, see above. The Ring-billed Gulls were seen in direct contrast to these three birds and were definitely much smaller birds. The Herring Gulls (first year birds) that I have seen have more of a contrast between the rump and back and upper wing surfaces and none that I remember showed the whitish trailing edge on the tail. [...] The three birds seen were about the size of Herring Gulls in typical first year plumage. They were obviously large gulls of the genus Larus with a noticeably larger size than the Ring-billed Gulls and one Bonaparte's Gull that were next to the three larger birds. [...] There were no Herring Gulls nearby with which to make a comparison of size and coloration. The bills of all three gulls were black did not seem as heavy or bulky as the bill of a Herring Gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:10:00/09:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-headed Grosbeak at Riverton Wildlife Area, 1997	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-08-09	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Grosbeak at Riverton Wildlife Area in Fremont County, IA on August 9, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Overton, Michael D.	Black-headed Grosbeak	Riverton Wildlife Management Area	Fremont Co., Riverton Wildlife Area, .25 miles N. of jct. check station road & Fremont co. Rd. J46	Open tallgrass ditch with scattered small trees and shrubs along road between mixed hardwood bottomland forest and agricultural cropland	The documentation form by Michael Overton is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Dixie Overton. \| Elimination of similar species: Rose-breasted Grosbeak. The bird observed showed no fine black streaking on the breast and only limited fine black streaking on the lower flanks. The chin, throat, breast, upper belly, and flanks were a strong ochre color. The lesser underwing coverts showed as a yellow edge on the folded wing. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Common Eider at Red Rock Reservoir, 1995	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Forms (documents) Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-01-27	2000-11-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Common Eider at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on January 27, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence over the sighting, photos, drawings of the bird sighting, articles in Iowa Bird Life, Field Notes, and other publications, and twelve documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Common Eider	Red Rock Dam	Des Moines River below Red Rock dam - Marion Co., Iowa	open stretch of river	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Jim Dinsmore, Thomas H. Kent, Jim Fuller, Reid Allen, Ann Johnson, Mark Proescholdt, Chris Edwards, Peter C. Petersen, Ray Cummins, Robert Cecil, and Diane Porter were submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: See above discussion (Description). Steller's Eider eliminated by size. Female and immature King Eider eliminated by pattern of barring on flanks, size of bill, position of eye, faint white supercilium, and pattern of feathering on bill. Spectacled Eider eliminated by facial pattern and bill shape. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:45:00/15:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	18