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

Rare bird documentation form for Carolina Wren at Hickory Hill Park, 1975	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1975-11-01	1975-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Carolina Wrens at Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on November 1, 1975.	Newlon, Michael C.	Carolina Wren	Hickory Hill Park	Hickory Hill Park, Iowa City IA	brushy ravines on gullies in Hickory Hill Park - park contains woods, open pastures, brushy grown-up old fields	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Nicholas Halmi and Marilyn Smith Glasson. \| Elimination of similar species: eye stripes, rusty color, large size, voice elim. House, winter wrens voice, lack of white in tail, short tail rule out Bewick's (v. rare if not extinct in Iowa City area)<-(fide FW Kent). \| The original documentation form event occurred in the morning.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	88
Rare bird documentation form for Black Duck at Forneys Lake, 1975	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1975-11-16	1975-12-05	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Black Duck at Forneys Lake in Fremont County, IA on November 16, 1975.	Silcock, W. Ross	American Black Duck	Forneys Lake	Forney Lake, Fremont Co., Iowa	Forney Lake is a wetland area and small lake of about 5 acres which attracts numerous waterfowl in spring and fall.	The documentation form by W. Ross Silcock is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The only similarly - appearing species remotely possible here would be the Mottled Duck, which I have seen in Louisiana. The Mottled Duck has a much cleaner) cut appearance than the Black Duck and if at all to be expected, would be more likely in the spring. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:15:00/10:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	4
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Kent Park, 1975	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1975-12-06	1975-12-08	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Kent Park in Johnson County, IA on December 6, 1975.	Newlon, Michael C.	Golden Eagle	F W Kent County Park	Kent Park, ~10 miles west of Iowa City IA	soaring over area of stubble fields, old fields growing up to brush, farms	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: 'ringed' tail, proportion of head, neck, bill; lack of any white in wing-lining on body plumage: all eliminate imm. bald eagle. great size, lack of white in primaries eliminate black rough-leg. \| The original documentation form event occurred between 13:30:00/14:35:00 (seen twice) (total ~ 20 minutes).	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Tundra Swan at Sand Point at Coralville Reservoir, 1975	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1975-12-13	1975-12-14	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Tundra Swan at Sand Point at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on December 13, 1975.	Newlon, Michael C.	Tundra Swan	Sand Point	Sand Pt, Coralville Reservoir, nw of Iowa City IA	edge of reservoir: grassy flats now submerged by an increase in water level. area has large 'marshy' areas of flooded grass, extensive areas of open water, some harvested corn fields, some fields of winter rye (Planted for geese), some seasonal-growth woods.	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include: Nick Halmi. \| Elimination of similar species: mute swan: eliminated by all-dark bill, vertical posture of neck. Trumpeter Swan: eliminated by range. Snow Goose: eliminated by large size, lack of black in wingtips. White pelican: eliminated by proportions of neck & bill, lack of black in wingtips. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:00:00/14:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	1
Rare bird documentation form for Brown Thrasher at Kent Park in Johnson County, 1975	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1975-12-20	1976-01-04	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Brown Thrasher at Kent Park in Johnson County, IA on December 20, 1975.	Newlon, Michael C.	Brown Thrasher	F W Kent County Park	Kent Park, Johnson Co. IA, ~ 7 mi. west of Iowa City	General: Kent Park contains old fields, some growing up to brush, second-growth woods. It is situated in farming country. Specific: Bird was in an area of dense thickets of small, dense, scrubby trees interspersed with weedy clearings	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Roger Milkman, Marianne Milkman, Paul Milkman, and Carol Newlon. \| Elimination of similar species: Brown Thrushes eliminated by large size, bold streaking rather than spotting on breast. Finches (siskin, Female r-b. grosbeak) elim. by bill shape, size, rufous color. Sage, long-billed thrashers eliminated by rufous color, range. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 11:00:00/11:02:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	14
Rare bird documentation form for Bohemian Waxwing at MacLean Hall at University of Iowa, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1976-02-01	1976-02-10	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Bohemian Waxwing at MacLean Hall at University of Iowa in Johnson County, IA on February 1, 1976.	DeCoster, R. J. (Richard Joseph)	Bohemian Waxwing	MacLean Hall	near the southwest corner of the Physics Building on the University of Iowa Campus.		The documentation form by Richard DeCoster is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Its large size and large crest made the bird stand out. \| The original documentation form event lasted around three minutes.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	16
Rare bird documentation form for Dark-eyed Junco at Iowa City, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1976-03-30	1976-04-11	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for six Dark-eyed Juncos at Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on March 30, 1976.	Newlon, Michael C.	Dark-eyed Junco	Iowa City	Iowa City IA	feeding on lawn in flock of slate-colored's. , in residential neighborhood.	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] head + 'bib' lighter grey than slate-colored's \| The original documentation form event lasted for around a half an hour.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	65
Rare bird documentation form for Harris' Sparrow at Coralville Reservoir, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1976-04-10	1976-04-11	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Harris' Sparrows at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on April 10, 1976.	Newlon, Michael C.	Harris' Sparrow	Coralville Lake	Coralville Reservoir Iowa City, Iowa 52240	woodlot with tall trees, weed patches, brush pile, in an area of fields and second-growth woods.	The documentation form by Michael C Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers are unidentified in the documentation form. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] large sparrow, built like a white-crown but larger, longer-tailed, posture less erect.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	64
Rare bird documentation form for White-faced Ibis at Lake View, 1975	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1975-05-09	1976-04-19	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two White-faced Ibises at Lake View in Sac County, IA on May 9, 1975.	Jones, Glenn E.	White-faced Ibis	Lake View	3 mi. S of west edge of Lake View, Sac Co. Iowa	marshy, a grazed out pasture -wel at this time - usually grazed in June & July	The documentation form by Glenn E. Jones is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Mark Bohemayer and Ed Weiner. \| Elimination of similar species: Little green heron. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/16:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	24
Rare bird documentation form for Hooded Warbler near Coralville Reservoir, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1976-05-27	1976-05-31	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Hooded Warbler near Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on May 27, 1976.	Newlon, Michael C.	Hooded Warbler	Coralville Lake	wooded hillside n. of Co. Rd 'F', just w of highway 218	Specific: a wooded hillside, with mature oaks + shagbark hickories and a dense understory of 6'-10'- high shrubs, and forbs. General: above is part of a large tract of woodland that borders the n. shore of the Coralville Reservoir, separated from the resevoir [sic] by a road and a belt of second-growth woods. to the w. is an old farm, brushy grown-up pastures; to the n. is farmland.	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Song, black 'hood' eliminate Kentucky, Canada Warblers - Canada has necklace of streaks, not solid black on throat; Kentucky has no black on throat \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 08:00:00/08:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	41
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Swan Lake, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1976-09-16	1976-09-17	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Swan Lake in Johnson County, IA on September 16, 1976.	Halmi, Nicholas S.	Merlin	Swan Lake	Swan Lake, Johnson Co., Iowa	Swan L. is 1 mile south from the Coralville Reservoir. The bird was flying over the lake, the bordering mudflats and disappeared within seconds over an adjoining cornfield, continuing its rectilinear, unswerving flight.	The documentation form by Nicholas Halmi is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: In spite of the first subconscious "gestalt" impression of a Mourning Dove approaching, the square tail, lacking white, falcon wings and greater size rule this one out. The bird seen was definitely too small to be a Peregrine, and had no mustache. It did not have the distinctive facial pattern of the familiar Kestrel either, nor the rufous back and/or wings and tail; it was a dusky bird, not the way Kestrels look to me; nor have I ever seen a Kestrel flying with such blinding speed and so "purposefully". \| The original documentation form event occurred around 15:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Sharp-tailed Sparrow at Sand Point in Coralville Reservoir, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1976-09-26	1976-09-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Sharp-tailed Sparrows at Sand Point in Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on September 26, 1976.	Newlon, Michael C.	Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow	Sand Point	Sand Point on Coralville Resevoir [sic], n. of Iowa City IA	extensive weedy flats - waist to head-high on shore of resevoir. [sic]	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Carol S. Newlon, Cal Knight, and Bernie Knight. \| Elimination of similar species: Crown-pattern rules out Henslows (lacks grey crown stripe) LeContes (has narrow white stripe), Grasshopper, Baird's. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:20:00/16:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	59
Rare bird documentation form for Peregrine Falcon at Sand Point at Coralville Reservoir, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1976-09-26	1976-09-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Peregrine Falcon at Sand Point at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on September 26, 1976.	Newlon, Michael C.	Peregrine Falcon	Sand Point	Sand Point, on Coralville Reservoir N. of Iowa City, IA	Reservoir & many dead trees emerging from water - bordered by wide weedy flats. Surrounded by cropland to S, a wooded ridge to N.	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Cal Knight, Bernie Knight, and Carol S. Newlon. \| Elimination of similar species: Build rules out all raptors except falcons. Large size, prominent 'side burn' transverse barring on lower parts rule out Prairie Falcon (not expected in IA), Kestrel, Merlin. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:30:00/16:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	34
Rare bird documentation form for LeConte's Sparrow at Sand Point in Coralville Reservoir, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1976-09-26	1976-09-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for ten to twenty minimum LeConte's Sparrows at Sand Point in Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on September 26, 1976.	Newlon, Michael C.	Le Conte's Sparrow	Sand Point	Sand Point, on Coralville Resevoir [sic] n. of Iowa City IA.	V. extensive weedy flats (waist to head-high) on shore of resevoir [sic]	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Cal Knight, Bernie Knight, and Carol Newlon. \| Elimination of similar species: grey face patch on yellow face, yellow-orange breast, narrow white crown stripe rule out Henslow's, sharp-tail, grasshopper, Baird's sparrows. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:15:00/16:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	58
Rare bird documentation form for Black-legged Kittiwake at Coralville Reservoir, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1976-10-27	1976-10-28	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Black-legged Kittiwake at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on October 27, 1976.	Halmi, Nicholas S.	Black-legged Kittiwake	Coralville Lake	Coralville Reservoir, Johnson Co. Iowa	Over water. in a small inlet formed by the scalloped SW shore of the reservoir	The documentation form by Nicholas S. Halmi is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Mike Newlon, Carol Newlon, Rich DeCoster, Allan Mueller, Lillian Serbousek, and Weir Nelson. \| Elimination of similar species: Bonaparte's has no nuchal crescent, more white on wings, square on rounded tail; Black-headed - ditto, with even more white on wings; Sabine's: no nuchal spot, wing pattern of black-gray-white triangles, head gray in back; Ross's - no nuchal crescent, wedge-shaped tail, no spot behind eye; Little - much smaller, nuchal crescent (if present) merely an extension of the dark gray back, not demarcated in white, black cap. Of these only the imm. Bonaparte's is more common than the Kittiwake in Iowa. This is the third record for the state (last seen in Davenport Dec. 1967). \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:20:00/16:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	40
Rare bird documentation form for Black-legged Kittiwake at Coralville Reservoir, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1976-10-28	1976-10-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Black-legged Kittiwake at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on October 28, 1976.	DeCoster, R. J. (Richard Joseph)	Black-legged Kittiwake	Coralville Lake	Coralville Docks, Coralville Reservoir, Johnson Co., Iowa	Large open water area of Coralville Reservoir. There was a flock of adult Bonaparte's gulls about a mile south on the same area of the reservoir.	The documentation form by Richard J. DeCoster is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Lillian Serbousek, Nicholas Halmi, and Michael Newlon. \| Elimination of similar species: Immature Bonaparte's gull lacks transverse mark across nape and has lighter wing coverts. The immature little gull is shown by Robbins et al. to have a dark hood and scaly back. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:45:00/12:55:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	40
Southwest Iowa field notes, August-November, 1976	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Identification Migratory birds	1976-08-01	1976-11-30	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Field notes for Southwest Iowa contributed by Ruth Phipps. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union Quarterly field report of Fall 1976.	Phipps, Ruth O.	Northern Flicker Brewer's Blackbird Henslow's Sparrow Goldeneye White-crowned Sparrow Spotted Towhee Hairy Woodpecker	Riverton Wildlife Management Area Shenandoah Viking Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	17	18
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Shrike at Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1976-11-06	1976-12-01	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Shrike at Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on November 6, 1976.	DeCoster, R. J. (Richard Joseph)	Northern Shrike	Hickory Hill Park	Hickory Hill park, Iowa City, Iowa	General: grassy-bushy hillside at edge of Iowa City, in city park. Specific: perched in small tree. Bushes on hillside mostly Hawthorns of some type, with several locust trees higher up the slope.	The documentation form by Richard J. DeCoster II is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Mike Newlon and Roger Milkman. \| Elimination of similar species: Loggerhead shrike lacks breast scaling, light base of lower mandible, is a smaller bird, darker above, with mask spreading out in front of the eye so as to meet above the bill. On this bird the mask tapered from the eye so as not to meet over the bill. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	75
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Warbler at Grandview Cemetery in Fremont County, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1976-09-04	1976-12-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Pine Warbler at Grandview Cemetery in Fremont County, IA on September 4, 1976.	Silcock, W. Ross	Pine Warbler	Grandview Cemetery	Grandview Cemetery, Fremont Co, Iowa	Oak-hickory woods surrounding cemetery atop Loess Bluffs at Missouri River Bottoms.	The documentation form by Ross Silcock is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Yellow-throated Vireo prob. most similar in general appearance, but no spectacles; also warbler bill (feature implied above when bird described as 'large warbler'. [note] Why not Bay-br. or Blackpoll. [end note] \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:30:00/13:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	29
Rare bird documentation form for Varied Thrush at Ingham Lake, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1976-11-28	1977-01-24	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Varied Thrush at the northeast shore of Ingham Lake in Emmet County, IA on November 28, 1976.	Moats, Robert	Varied Thrush	Ingham Lake	NE shore of Ingham Lake, Emmet County, Iowa	General: Wooded area on North Shore of Lake Specific: Bur oak timber, somewhat open with ground cover of brome grass and goose berry bushes	The documentation form by Bob Moats is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Larry Knopf. \| Elimination of similar species: No other bird marked in such manner. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:00:00/11:15:00 and 11:20:00/11:27:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	11
Bird sighting of Ospreys at Lake Red Rock contributed by Jon Stravers, winter, 1976-1977	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Binoculars	1976-12-01	1977-02-28	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Bird sighting of Ospreys was contributed by Jon Stravers. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union Quarterly field report of winter 1976-1977.	Stravers, Jon	Bald Eagle Osprey Mallard	Lake Red Rock				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	17	19
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at County Road W48 in Johnson County, 1977	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1977-03-20	1977-03-21	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at County Road W48 in Johnson County, IA on March 20, 1977.	Halmi, Nicholas S.	Merlin	Johnson County	Co. Rd W48, Johnson Co., Iowa, N of Iowa River	tall-grass fields with scattered dead or live trees. Flood plain of Coralville Reservoir (west end)	The documentation form by Nicholas S. Halmi is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Am. Kestrel: no rufous on back; facial pattern of Kestrel clearly not present; chunkier bird. Sharp-shinned Hawk: head proportionately large, tail shorter, wings pointed and cuffed, not rounded. Peregrine: too small; lack of heavy black mustache. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:55:00/14:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for White-winged Scoter near the University Theater in Iowa City in 1977	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1977-03-26	1977-03-27	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for four White-winged Scoters near the University Theater in Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on March 26 and 27, 1977.	Halmi, Nicholas S.	White-winged Scoter	Theatre Building				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	12
Rare bird documentation form for Townsend's Solitaire northeast of Corydon in 1977	Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1977-03-17	1977-03-28	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Townsend's Solitaire northeast of Corydon in Wayne County, IA on March 17, 18, and 27, 1977.	Milner, Kay	Townsend's Solitaire	Corydon				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	5
Rare bird documentation form for White-rumped Sandpiper at Coralville Reservoir, 1977	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1977-04-10	1977-04-11	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two White-rumped Sandpipers at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on April 10, 1977.	Halmi, Nicholas S.	White-rumped Sandpiper	Coralville Lake	south shore of Coralville Reservoir, Johnson Co., IOWA	mudflats S of Sandy Beach area, Coralville Reservoir	The documentation form by Nicholas S. Halmi is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Pectoral: smaller - direct comparison possible. No bib. Dark, not yellowish legs. Voice not 'krip'. Baird's: same size, but lack of scaly back, no buffy wash on breast, wings, not as long as Baird's, [illegible] not so slim, body position not horizontal. Semipalmated - Western: about 1 inch bigger than the small [illegible], one present in flock (Western?) \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:20:00/16:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	21