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

Field reports of Iowa birds contributed by Thomas H. Kent, November 26, 1988	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Identification Birds--Migration Birdsongs Birds--Infancy	1988-11-26	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	List of birds and locations contributed by Thomas H. Kent with observers Francis L. Moore, James L. Fuller and Carl J. Bendorf. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists Union Quarterly field report of fall 1988.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Magnificent Frigatebird Blue Jay Rusty Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Trumpeter Swan Dunlin Red Phalarope Common Loon Black-bellied Plover Hermit Thrush Orange-crowned Warbler Tennessee Warbler Bonaparte's Gull Tundra Swan Northern Shrike Least Sandpiper	Big Creek Lake Black Hawk County Clear Lake Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area Coralville Lake Iowa City Saylorville Lake Trumbull Lake Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge West Okoboji Lake Ingham Lake Rush Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	23	7
W. Ross Silcock letter to Carl J. Bendorf regarding bird sightings, November 25, 1988	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Identification Birds--Infancy	1988-11-25	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Field notes contributed by W. Ross Silcock in a letter to Carl J. Bendorf. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists Union Quarterly field report of fall 1988.	Silcock, W. Ross	Bald Eagle Common Moorhen White-winged Scoter Hooded Merganser	Forneys Lake Fremont County MidAmerican Energy Ponds				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	23	7
Iowa Birdline update, November 21, 1988	Field notes	Bird watching Waterfowl Dial-a-message telephone calls	1988-11-21	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Notes for the Iowa Birdline update for November 21, 1988. Highlights of the update include the many bird species that were observed on an Iowa Ornithologists' Union field trip to Saylorville Lake and Big Creek State Park. Also included were other interesting sightings were from around the state, including a Tundra Swan, Golden Eagles, a Red-shouldered Hawk, a Carolina Wren, and two immature female White-winged Scoters.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Fuller, James L	Bald Eagle Red-shouldered Hawk Ring-billed Gull Red-throated Loon Snow Bunting Carolina Wren Dunlin Lesser Black-backed Gull Rock Wren White-winged Scoter Golden Eagle Black-bellied Plover Lesser Yellowlegs Long-eared Owl Bonaparte's Gull Tundra Swan Northern Shrike	Big Creek State Park Iowa City Jester Park New Albin Saylorville Lake West Okoboji Lake Pool 9 Cherry Glen Recreation Area Sugar Bottom Recreation Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	41	1
Iowa Birdline update, November 21-28, 1988	Field notes	Bird watching Water birds Dial-a-message telephone calls	1988-11-21	1988-11-28	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Notes for the Iowa Birdline update for November 21-28, 1988. Highlights of the update include a variety of water bird sightings due to the fact the lakes and ponds remain unfrozen. Other interesting observations include a Rock Wren, a Black-legged Kittiwake, a Trumpeter Swan, a Tundra Swan, and several species of Owls.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Fuller, James L	Short-eared Owl Franklin's Gull Long-tailed Duck Trumpeter Swan Lesser Black-backed Gull Black-legged Kittiwake Rock Wren White-winged Scoter Hooded Merganser Lesser Yellowlegs Long-eared Owl Northern Saw-whet Owl Canada Goose Great Blue Heron Tundra Swan Sandhill Crane	Lake Ahquabi Big Creek State Park Cedar Rapids Hickory Hill Park Lake Red Rock Red Rock Dam Saylorville Lake Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge West Okoboji Lake Ingham Lake Lake MacBride Cedar Hills Sand Prairie Cherry Glen Recreation Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	41	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Trumpeter Swan at Ingham Lake, 1988	Administrative records Field notes Forms (documents)	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1988-11-21	1993-08-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Trumpeter Swan at Ingham Lake in Emmet County, IA on November 21, 1988. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Trumpeter Swan	Ingham Lake	Ingham L., Emmet Co., IA	Frozen glacial lake	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Francis Moore. \| Elimination of similar species: About two hours later we found a Tundra Swan at Union Slough at closer range. The neck was straight at the base and the black did not come as sharply to the edge. It was seen head on and the black came across the forehead without a pronounced V and the upper mandible was not straight. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:30:00/15:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Jaeger species at Saylorville Lake, 1988	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1988-11-19	1993-08-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Jaeger species at Saylorville Lake in Polk County, IA on November 19, 1988. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation letter submitted to the committee.	Fix, Andrew S.	Jaegers	Saylorville Lake	Saylorville Lake		The documentation form by Andrew S. Fix is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] I ruled out other gulls, especially A [sic] young Herring Gull (1st yr) because of the location of the white (belly & wings) as well as the deep rowing flight. In addition, I had the opportunity to observe the Pomarine Jaegers earlier this fall at the same location and the markings were similar, except this bird was darker with a white belly. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:40:00/14:40:25.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	13
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Red-throated Loon at Saylorville Reservoir, 1988	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1988-11-16	1993-08-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Red-throated Loon at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on November 16, 1988. Includes a record review document and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Red-throated Loon	Jester Park	Jester Park area of Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co.	swimming and diving on large reservoir	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, and Mark Proescholdt were submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: The body shape, posture, and black-and-white coloration identified the bird as loon. Although some Common Loons may be quite small. I think this bird was too small for even a very small Common Loon. Otherwise, the slender, upturned bill, the head posture, the contrast between the back and the neck, and the gray neck and white throat eliminated Pacific and Common Loons. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:46:00/15:43:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Lesser Black-backed Gull near Jester Park at Saylorville Reservoir, 1988	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1988-11-15	1993-08-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Lesser Black-backed Gull near Jester Park at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on November 15, 1988. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Jester Park	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co.-near Jester Park	resting on mud bar with thousands of other gulls	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bery Engebretsen. \| Elimination of similar species: The size (larger than Ring-billed Gull, smaller than Herring Gull) eliminates all Gulls except Herring, California, and Lesser Black-backed gulls. The mantle was much too dark for a Herring Gull. Separation from California Gull is much more difficult. Obviously, the mantle color of this bird was much too dark for a California Gull, and the legs were more yellow than the legs of a California Gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:44:00/16:38:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	5
Iowa Birdline update, November 14, 1988	Field notes	Bird watching Anseriformes \| Ducks, Geese, and Swans Waterfowl Dial-a-message telephone calls	1988-11-14	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Notes for the Iowa Birdline update for November 14, 1988. Highlights of the update include several excellent sightings from around the state, including a Pine Grosbeak, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, Greater Scaup, two Golden Eagles, and as many as 1000 Tundra Swans. Also of note was the continued presence of a Rock Wren as well as the first Snowy Owl sighting of the season.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Fuller, James L	Bald Eagle Red-shouldered Hawk Ring-billed Gull Yellow-billed Loon Snow Bunting Pine Grosbeak Snowy Owl Herring Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Rock Wren Greater Scaup White-winged Scoter Golden Eagle Bufflehead Lesser Scaup Tundra Swan Northern Shrike	Clear Lake Lake Manawa State Park Laurens Saylorville Lake Ventura Marsh Wildlife Management Area Pickerel Lake Carlisle Glendale Cemetery Pool 19 Pool 9 Cherry Glen Recreation Area Clarion				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	41	1
Record Committee review for rare bird sighting of Yellow-billed Loon at Clear Lake, 1988	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1988-11-13	1993-08-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Yellow-billed Loon at Clear Lake in Cerro Gordo County, IA on November 13, 1988. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Walter, Janice L.	Yellow-billed Loon	Clear Lake	West end of Clear Lake, Cerro Gordo Co. Ia off Harbor Inn parking lot	Sheltered, shallow end of large lake	The documentation form by Jan L. Walter is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim Walter and Curt Nelson. \| Elimination of similar species: Large bill, thicker at the base, and painted, not hooked at the tip eliminated immature Double-crested Cormorant. Larger size, bill shape and absence of white crescent from white chin to behind eye eliminated winter plumage Red-necked Grebe. Larger size and bill size, shape, and color eliminated winter plumage Pacific and Red-throated Loons. Heavy yellow bill, head paler than back, narrow area of crown and nape color, and brown appearance eliminated Common Loon. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:15:00/16:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	8
Field notes contributed by Kathy Bayer, November 11, 1988	Field notes	Bird banding Bird watching Birds--Infancy	1988-11-11	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	List of birds and locations contributed by Kathy Bayer. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists Union Quarterly field report of fall 1988.	Bayer, Kathy	Double-crested Cormorant Golden Eagle Peregrine Falcon	Pickerel Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	23	7
Iowa Ornithologists Union letter to Ken Thimmesch regarding Warbler photograph, November 10, 1988	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Photography of birds Parulidae \| Warblers	1988-11-10	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	The letter identifies a photographed Warbler as a Cape May Warbler. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists Union Quarterly field report of Fall 1985.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union	Cape May Warbler	Cedar Rapids				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	22	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Rock Wren at Cherry Glen Recreation Area at Saylorville Reservoir, 1988	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1988-11-08	1993-08-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Rock Wren at Cherry Glen Recreation Area at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on November 8, 1988. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and seven documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Rock Wren	Cherry Glen Recreation Area	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co.-Cherry Glen Rec. Area	hopping around in rock rip-rap along lakeshore	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Michael and Diane Porter, Ray Cummins, Robert Cecil, Jim Fuller, Ann Johnson, and Mark Proescholdt were submitted. Other observers include Thomas Kent, John Cecil, Tom Johnson, Beth Proescholdt, Francis Moore, Beth Brown, Cal or Bernie Knight, Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, and many unidentified other observers. \| Elimination of similar species: The size, behavior, gray upperparts and buffy tail, light eyeline, and call eliminate other wrens. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:08:00/15:20:00 on November 8, 1988.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	1
Iowa Birdline update, November 7, 1988	Field notes	Bird watching Laridae \| Gulls and Terns Rare birds Dial-a-message telephone calls	1988-11-07	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Notes for the Iowa Birdline update for November 7, 1988. Highlights of the update include two flybys in central Iowa, one of which, a Yellow Billed Loon, would be a first state record. Also of note were sightings of a Prairie Falcon, White-winged Scoters, Horned Grebes, Hooded Mergansers, Snow Buntings, and Common Loons. Another interesting observation was of an albino Red-winged Blackbird.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Fuller, James L	Bald Eagle Rough-legged Hawk Prairie Falcon Yellow-billed Loon Horned Grebe Snow Bunting Canvasback Common Loon White-winged Scoter Hooded Merganser Red-breasted Nuthatch Red-winged Blackbird	Burlington Coralville Lake Marshalltown Pleasant Creek State Park Saylorville Lake Mississippi River, Iowa Bays Branch State Wildlife Area Lake MacBride F W Kent County Park Sandy Beach Public Use Area Pool 19 Geode Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	41	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Prairie Falcon north of Marshalltown, 1988	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1988-11-06	1993-08-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Prairie Falcon north of Marshalltown in Marshall County, IA on November 6, 1988. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Proescholdt, Beth	Prairie Falcon	Marshalltown	one-half mile north of Marshalltown	open farmland, approaching Iowa River	The documentation form by Beth Proescholdt is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Mark Proescholdt were submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: Kestrel & Merlin - this bird much too large for that. Peregrine - this bird was too light colored to be a Peregrine & it had no helmet \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:05:00/10:06:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	6
Iowa Birdline update, October 31, 1988	Field notes	Bird watching Dial-a-message telephone calls	1988-10-31	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Notes for the Iowa Birdline update for October 31, 1988. Highlights of the update include the sighting of a first winter Little Gull and the continued presence of a Red-shouldered Hawk. Also of note were sightings of White-winged Scoters, Common Loons, Bonaparte's Gulls, and Hooded Mergansers. In addition, a Pileated Woodpecker was observed at its usual location on Credit Island.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Fuller, James L	Red-shouldered Hawk Red-throated Loon Horned Grebe Franklin's Gull Black Scoter Common Loon White-winged Scoter Hooded Merganser Lesser Yellowlegs Pileated Woodpecker Bonaparte's Gull Little Gull Northern Shrike	Bellevue Burlington Coralville Lake Credit Island Jester Park Lock and Dam Number 18 Saylorville Lake Union				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	41	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Little Gull near Jester Park in Saylorville Reservoir, 1988	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1988-10-27	1997-10-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Little Gull near Jester Park in Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on October 27, 1988. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, correspondence requesting reevaluation of record, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Little Gull	Jester Park	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co.-near Jester Park	flying and feeding over reservoir with other gulls	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Ann Johnson was submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: The small size, black "W" across the back of the wings, lack of a lighter "window" on the inner primaries, and slightly blunter wingtips eliminates all other gulls. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:22:00/18:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	20
Iowa Birdline update, October 24, 1988	Field notes	Bird watching Anseriformes \| Ducks, Geese, and Swans Laridae \| Gulls and Terns Dial-a-message telephone calls	1988-10-24	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Notes for the Iowa Birdline update for October 24, 1988. Highlights of the update include sightings of a Pacific Loon, a Red-shouldered Hawk, a Red-tailed Hawk, Purple Finches, and several species of Gulls. Also of note were the large numbers of waterfowl observed, including ten species of Ducks, Canada Geese, and Tundra Swans. In addition, a first winter Little Gull was spotted at Saylorville Lake.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Fuller, James L	Red-shouldered Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Horned Grebe Pacific Loon Purple Finch Common Loon Black-bellied Plover Canada Goose Tundra Swan Little Gull Northern Shrike	Bellevue Big Creek State Park Iowa City Jester Park Lake Manawa Saylorville Lake Union Pool 9				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	41	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Pacific Loon at Lake Manawa, 1988	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1988-10-23	1993-08-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Pacific Loon at Lake Manawa in Pottawattamie County, IA on October 23, 1988. Includes a record review document with votes, an Iowa Bird Life article, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Padelford, Babs Padelford, Loren	Pacific Loon	Lake Manawa State Park	Lake Manawa State Park, Pottawattamie Co. Southwest corner of lake, in a cove east of Boy Scout Island.		The documentation form by Babs and Loren Padelford is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Alan G. Grenon and Tanya Bray were submitted later. Other observers include Mark Brogie, Ed Brogie, Elizabeth Grenon, Ruth Green, Dave Starr, Jim, Kovanda, Sandra Kovanda, Clyde Johnson, Emma Johnson, and Bruce Wetteroth. \| Elimination of similar species: Was smaller and overall not as massive as Common Loon. Bill was smaller and thinner, and head more rounded than Common Loon. The straight bill and lack of white spotting on back rule out Red-throated Loon. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:15:00/12:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	7
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-bellied Whistling-Duck at Ingham Lake, 1988	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1988-10-23	1996-04-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black-bellied Whistling-Duck at Ingham Lake in Emmet County on October 23, 1988. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Hartwig, Thomas P.	Black-bellied Whistling-Duck	Ingham Lake State Game Management Area	Ingham lake, Emmet County - on Refuge	Duck was seen standing on a rock and then it went into the water for a little while, then back on the rock	The documentation form by Tom Hartwig is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Doug Lemke. \| Elimination of similar species: Left unmolested.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Sabine's Gull near Jester Park at Saylorville Reservoir, 1988	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1988-10-20	1993-08-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Sabine's Gull near Jester Park at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on October 20, 1988. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Sabine's Gull	Jester Park	near the Jester Park area of Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co.	resting on large mud bar on reservoir	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Robert Myers was submitted. \| Elimination of similar species: The size, grayish upperparts, and striking wing pattern eliminate all other gulls. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:05:00/17:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	9
Iowa Birdline update, October 17, 1988	Field notes	Bird watching Dial-a-message telephone calls	1988-10-17	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Notes for the Iowa Birdline update for October 17, 1988. Highlights of the update include sightings of a Long-eared Owl, Cattle Egrets, a Barn Owl, and a late Mourning Warbler. Also of note was the large number of shorebirds still present, mostly Pectoral Sandpipers and Killdeer. An interesting observation of 50 Common Starlings soaring in tandem with a Red-tailed Hawk was also reported.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Fuller, James L	Killdeer Red-tailed Hawk Ring-billed Gull Barn Owl Cattle Egret Osprey Pectoral Sandpiper Long-eared Owl Mourning Warbler Water Pipit Bonaparte's Gull Common Starling	Coralville Lake Hickory Hill Park Johnson County Smiths Slough Sandy Beach Public Use Area Twin View Heights				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	41	1
Iowa Birdline update, October 10, 1988	Field notes	Bird watching Threskiornithidae \| Ibises Dial-a-message telephone calls	1988-10-10	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Notes for the Iowa Birdline update for October 10, 1988. Highlights of the update include sightings of a Red-shouldered Hawk, a Red-breasted Nuthatch, Horned Grebes, Eared Grebes, Franklin's Gulls, Bonaparte's Gulls, and several species of Sparrows.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Fuller, James L	Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-shouldered Hawk Horned Grebe Eared Grebe Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow Harris' Sparrow Franklin's Gull Le Conte's Sparrow Black-crowned Night Heron Sanderling Orange-crowned Warbler Fox Sparrow Red-breasted Nuthatch Water Pipit Bonaparte's Gull Brown Creeper	Big Creek Lake Dan Green Slough Wildlife Management Area Grammer Grove County Wildlife Area Hendrickson Marsh Lake Iowa City Saylorville Lake Jacob Krumm Nature Preserve Union				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	41	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Western Sandpiper at Big Creek Lake, 1988	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1988-10-09	1993-08-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Western Sandpiper at Big Creek Lake in Polk County, IA on October 9, 1988. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence about the sighting by Guy McCaskie, Kim Eckert, and Bruce Peterjohn, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Johnson, Ann	Western Sandpiper	Big Creek Lake	Big Creek Wildlife Area, Polk Co., IA	Mudflats from low water on freshwater lake	The documentation form by Ann Johnson is only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Mike Thomas. \| Elimination of similar species: Although I understand the difficulty in identification of fall western sandpipers, the Baird's and white-rumped were eliminated because of wing length. The least sandpiper was eliminated by leg color and bill shape/size. The most difficult elimination was that of the semipalmateds, especially since other semipals were present in the area. After careful observation and comparison, however, the prototypical western sandpiper bill was too obvious to make the bird into a semipalmated. The bill was enough longer and had an obvious droop. The others in the area had varying bill sizes but none had the general shape of this bird. Consequently, I believe this was a late date western sandpiper. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 15:00:00/15:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Western Sandpiper at Saylorville Reservoir, 1988	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1988-10-08	1993-08-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Western Sandpiper at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on October 8, 1988. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence about the bird sighting, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Western Sandpiper	Saylorville Lake	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co.-north end of reservoir	feeding in shallow water adjacent to mudflat with other shorebirds	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Andy Fix. \| Elimination of similar species: see above [...] The bird was roughly 25% smaller than a Pectoral Sandpiper. [...] Note that we saw a single Semipalmated Sandpiper in the same flock of shorebirds. The Semipalmated Sandpiper had a shorter, thicker bill, more of a brown wash on the breast, and frequented the edge of the mudflat rather than wading in the water. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:30:00/16:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	3