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 of Gyrfalcon in Hanover Township in Crawford County, 1993	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-10-17	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Gyrfalcon at Hanover Township in Crawford County, IA on October 17, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes, a letter about reporting the sighting from Jim Fuller to Dan Eiten on October 29, 1993, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Eiten, Dan	Gyrfalcon	Hanover Township	Hanover Twp Crawford County IA 6 1/2 NW Denison	Near Bean field on Field Fencepost	The documentation form by Dan Eiten is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Arlan Gierstorf. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 14:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	4
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Sabine's Gull near Whitebreast Park at Red Rock Reservoir, 1993	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-10-23	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Sabine's Gull near Whitebreast Park at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on October 23, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Proescholdt, Mark	Sabine's Gull	Whitebreast Recreation Area	Red Rock Reservoir - (Marion Co.)	Large lake - near Whitebreast Area on South side	The documentation form by Mark Proescholdt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Beth Proescholdt, Ann Johnson, Tim Schantz, Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, Pam Allen, and Reid Allen. \| Elimination of similar species: A Black-legged Kittiwake 1st winter bird is vaguely similar, but it does not have the three-triangle look on its wing and does not have a brownish back and neck \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 09:45:00/09:50:00 and 10:15:00/10:18:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	9
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon at Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1993-10-29	1993-10-31	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon at Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge in Kossuth County, IA on October 29, 1993.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Prairie Falcon	Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge	Union Slough N.W.R., Kossuth Co., IA	long narrow slough	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The underwing markings and apparent light coloration argue against Peregrine Falcon. The date and location are appropriate for Prairie Falcon in Iowa. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:50:00/17:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ross's Gull in Red Rock Dam, 1993	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-10-31	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Ross's Gull in Red Rock Dam in Marion County, IA on October 31, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes, six photographs, an article in Iowa Bird Life, an article in American Birds, and eight documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Ross's Gull	Red Rock Dam	Below the Red Rock Reservoir Dam (Marion County).		The documentation form by Jim Fuller forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Ann Johnson, Thomas H. Kent, Mark Proescholdt, Randy Pinkston, Peter C. Petersen, Pam Allen, and Raymond Cummins were submitted. Other observers include Pete Wickham, Dick Tetrault, Beth Brown, Tom Johnson, Jim Sinclair, Jim Durbin, Joyce Durbin, Gladys Black, Russ Widner, Ken Lowder, Brian Blevins, Kelly McKay, Reid Allen, Beth Proescholdt, Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, and many unidentified observers. \| Elimination of similar species: No other small gull has the combination of a pink wash on underparts and head, orange-red legs, very small black bill, nape line, and wedge-shaped tail. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:35:00/11:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	11
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-bellied Whistling-Duck at Big Marsh, 1993	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-11-01	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black-bellied Whistling-Duck at Big Marsh in Butler County, IA on November 1, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence about the bird sighting, two photographs, an article in The Southwestern Naturalist, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, James J.	Black-bellied Whistling-Duck	Big Marsh Wildlife Area	Big Marsh	freshwater marsh	The documentation form by Jim Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Rodney Steere. \| Elimination of similar species: Nothing it could be confused with	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	3
Big Bluestem Flyer, Volume 29, Number 3, November 1993	Newsletters	Bird surveys Birds--Counting Birds--Nests Nature photography Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-11-01	1993-11-30	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	The newsletter of the Big Bluestem Audubon Society (Ames, Iowa), Volume 29, Number 3, November 1993. Highlights of the newsletter include details on the upcoming meeting featuring a presentation by Hank Zaletel, a report of a Des Moines Register article featuring society member Dick Trump's innovative photography techniques, an update on the research of nesting Red-shouldered Hawks, and information on upcoming Christmas Bird Counts.	Edwards, David C. Dragula, Sherry Big Bluestem Audubon Society (Ames, Iowa)	Red-shouldered Hawk	Ames				Big Bluestem Audubon Society \| MS 592	3	5
Rare bird documentation form for Great Crested Flycatcher at Effigy Mounds National Monument, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1993-11-08	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Great Crested Flycatcher at Effigy Mounds National Monument in Allamakee County on November 8, 1993.	Carter, Dennis L.	Great Crested Flycatcher	Effigy Mounds National Monument	Effigy Mounds National Monument, Allamakee County, Iowa	railroad tracks at base of river bluff (wooded) and ajacent [sic] to Mississippi River " right-of-way bordered by brushy growth	The documentation form by Dennis Carter is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: I considered the possibility that this might be an Ash-throated Flycatcher, a species that was recorded in Minnesota in Nov., 1990. The bird I saw lacked the pale coloration and slim appearance of Ash-throated. I feel that the bright yellow belly, contrasting with the dark gray chest eliminates Ash-throated. At no time during my observation, did I feel that this bird might be an Ash-throated Flycatcher. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/11:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	71
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Goshawk at Lost Island Lake in Huston Park, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1993-11-11	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Goshawk at Lost Island Lake in Huston Park in Palo Alto County, IA on November 11, 1993.	Schoenewe, Lee A.	Northern Goshawk	Lost Island Huston Park	Huston Park, Lost Island Lake, Palo Alto Co.	Woods at lakeside	The documentation form by Lee A. Schoenewe is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Cooper's Hawk - size and eyebrow stripe. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:45:00/15:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	25
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Shrike at Trumbull Lake, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1993-11-11	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Shrike at Trumbull Lake in Clay County, IA on November 11, 1993.	Schoenewe, Lee A.	Northern Shrike	Trumbull Lake	Trumbull Lake, Clay County	Top of dead tree in open cattail marsh	The documentation form by Lee A. Schoenewe is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Loggerhead Shrike - Thinner mask and larger bill \| The original documentation form event occurred around 14:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	75
Rare bird documentation form for Thayer's Gull at Red Rock Dam, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1993-11-13	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Thayer's Gull at Red Rock Dam in Marion County, IA on November 13, 1993.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Thayer's Gull	Red Rock Dam	Lake Red Rock dam, Marion County, Iowa		The documentation form by Randall Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim Fuller. \| Elimination of similar species: Compared with first-winter Herring Gull above. Pale Thayer's may be confused with same-aged Iceland Gull, but Iceland typically much paler than this individual. Iceland should also show pale, mottled tertials and tail which are concolor with the upperparts. This bird's tertials and tail were unpatterned (except at the edges of the tertials) and darker than the remainder of the upperparts. Iceland's folded primaries are paler than the remainder of the mantle, not darker as in this bird. Slaty-backed, Glaucous-winged, and Glaucous-winged X Western hybrid Gulls all larger, have more massive bills, less likely in Iowa. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:15:00/10:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	35
Documentation of an extraordinary bird sighting, Thayer's Gull, November 13, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1993-11-13	1993-11-27	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Documentation supporting the sighting of a Thayer's Gull at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA contributed by Thomas H. Kent on November 13, 1993.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Thayer's Gull	Lake Red Rock				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	35
Rare bird documentation form for Thayer's Gull at Red Rock Reservoir, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1993-11-13	1993-11-16	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Thayer's Gull at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on November 13, 1993.	Cecil, Robert I.	Thayer's Gull	Lake Red Rock	Tailwaters, Red Rock Res.	Tailwaters/River	The documentation form by Bob Cecil is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tom Kent and Dick Tetrault. \| Elimination of similar species: 1st winter Herring Gull has a very dark secondary bar, often has lighter head, and generally has a much more 'contrastry' appearance involving darker and lighter shades of brown. Overall, the 1st winter Herring is darker brown. \| The original documentation form event occurred in the afternoon.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	35
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of California Gull at Carter Lake, 1993	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-11-21	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a California Gull at Carter Lake in Pottawattamie County, IA on November 21, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes, a photograph, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Bray, Tanya	California Gull	Carter Lake	Carter Lake, Pottawattamie County		The documentation form by Tanya Bray forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Loren and Babs Padelford, and Ross Silcock were submitted. Other observers include Jerry Toll and B.J. Rose. \| Elimination of similar species: Both Ring-billed and Herring Gulls are eliminated by bill coloration, size, slightly darker mantle, and eye color. Western, Lesser-black backed would be darker mantled, different bill coloration. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/10:58:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	1
Rare bird documentation form for Red-necked Grebe at Saylorville Reservoir, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1993-11-22	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Red-necked Grebe at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on November 22, 1993.	Johnson, Ann	Red-necked Grebe	Saylorville Lake	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk County, IA	Open deep water	The documentation form by Ann Johnson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bery Engebretsen, Eugene Armstrong, and Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: The long, thin neck eliminated ducks and loons and convinced me that the shape of the bird was most certainly a grebe. Western/Clark's shows white rather than gray on the chin, neck, and breast and is larger. Horned Grebes are smaller and also are white on the underparts. Pied-billed could be eliminated by the size and shape of the bill alone. Although fall Eared Grebes are fairly gray, the size equaling Hooded Mergansers and the large bill allowed me to eliminate that species. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:30:00/16:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	13
Big Bluestem Flyer, Volume 29, Number 4, December 1993	Newsletters	Bird surveys Bird watching Birds--Counting Ornithology--Societies, etc Ornithology--Study and teaching	1993-12-01	1993-12-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	The newsletter of the Big Bluestem Audubon Society (Ames, Iowa), Volume 29, Number 4, December 1993. Highlights of the newsletter include details on the upcoming Christmas Bird Counts for Ames, Saylorville, and Boone County, the results from the 1992 Ames Christmas Bird Count, and an announcement of a beginning birding course with a listing of subject areas that will be covered.	Edwards, David C. Dragula, Sherry Big Bluestem Audubon Society (Ames, Iowa)		Ames Saylorville Lake Boone County				Big Bluestem Audubon Society \| MS 592	3	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of California Gull at Saylorville Dam, 1993	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-12-06	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a California Gull at Saylorville Dam in Polk County, IA on December 6, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	California Gull	Saylorville Dam	Saylorville Reservoir dam, Polk County, Iowa		The documentation form by Randy Pinkston is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore was submitted later. Another observer includes Susan Grove. \| Elimination of similar species: I am uncomfortable committing to California Gull given the brief and distant view I had, and my limited past experience with the species. My fear is that this was just a small Herring Gull. Herring can be quite variable in overall size, bill size, and in terms of color and shade of the first-winter plumage. Supposedly 10-15% of first-winter Herrings' can have a "dipped-in-ink" bill in the fall (Harrison 1983 or Grant 1986?). \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:30:00/15:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Lesser Black-backed Gull at Coralville Dam, 1993	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-12-11	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Coralville Dam in Johnson County, IA on December 11, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Coralville Dam	Coralville Reservoir dam, Johnson County, Iowa		The documentation form by Randy Pinkston is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Carl Bendorf and Jim Fuller were submitted later. Other observers include John McLure, Chris Edwards, Jonnie Ellsworth, Lanny Haldy, Randy Graesser, Dan Ray, Angela Ray, Kathleen Kuenstling, Tom Kent, and many unidentified other observers. \| Elimination of similar species: Size and appearance rule out all other regular and vagrant North American gulls. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:30:00/16:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	5
Field reports, Iowa, fall 1993, December 12, 1993	Field notes Reports	Bird watching Birds--Counting Anseriformes \| Ducks, Geese, and Swans Podicipediformes \| Grebes Laridae \| Gulls and Terns Falconiformes \| Hawks, Eagles, Falcons, Osprey, and Vultures Ornithology--Methodology Parulidae \| Warblers Strigiformes \| Owls Emberizidae \| Sparrows	1993-12-12	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	An annotated list of bird sightings organized by species, December 12, 1993. The list also contains the number of birds seen, date of sighting, location, and observer of each species. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union Quarterly field report of fall 1993.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union		Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	25	6
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Trumpeter Swan at Lake Manawa, 1993	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-12-13	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Trumpeter Swan at Lake Manawa in Pottawattamie County, IA on December 13, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Bray, Tanya	Trumpeter Swan	Lake Manawa	Lake Manawa, Pottawattamie County		The documentation form by Tanya Bray is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Babs Padelford and Loren Padelford. \| Elimination of similar species: Black bill without knob and neck posture eliminates Mute Swan. Tundra Swan eliminated by neck posture and lack of yellow on bill: darker plumage of juvenile. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	12
Rare bird documentation form for Black Scoter at West Okoboji, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1993-12-13	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Black Scoter at West Okoboji Lake in Dickinson County, IA on December 13, 1993.	Harr, Douglas C.	Black Scoter	West Okoboji Lake	West Okoboji Lake, Dickinson County	Open Lake	The documentation form by Douglas C. Harr is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Lee A. Schoenewe. \| Elimination of similar species: Other Scoters -- other species all have swollen base of bill; other female scoters lack prominent off-white on neck, cheeks, throat & chin. Female Redhead--browner in overall color, light colors on throat ,etc. not prominent. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:45:00/15:55:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	13
Rare bird documentation form for Lesser Black-backed Gull at Coralville Reservoir, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1993-12-18	1993-12-19	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on December 18, 1993.	Bendorf, Carl J.	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Coralville Lake	Coralville Reservoir, Johnson County, Iowa	upper reaches of the Coralville Reservoir	The documentation form by Carl Bendorf is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Lanny Haldy, Randy Graesser, Dan Ray, Angela Ray, Kathleen Kuenstling, Randall Pinkston, Thomas Kent, Jim Fuller, and others. \| Elimination of similar species: Of about 500 gulls total, nearly 90% were adult Ring-Billed Gulls and the rest were mostly winter adult and a few subadult Herring Gulls. [...] An adult gull in between the size of adjacent Ring-billed and Herring Gulls. It was noticeable larger than the Ring-bills; not too much smaller than the Herrings. It differed from the Herrings in being a little less barrel chested and a little slimmer, more horizontal in posture. \| The original documentation form event occurred for 45 minutes during two sessions.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	36
Rare bird documentation form for Lesser Black-backed Gull in the Cedar River at Cedar Rapids, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1993-12-18	1994-01-06	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Lesser Black-backed Gull in the Cedar River at Cedar Rapids in Linn County, IA on December 18, 1993.	Wickham, Peter P.	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Cedar Rapids	Cedar River, on sandbar across from Cargill plant, Cedar Rapids, IA	Standing, walking around on sandbar	The documentation form by Peter Wickham is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The dark mantle, yet whitish head, neck, and underparts identified it as an adult gull, and immediately eliminated Herring, Ring-billed and other gray or whitish-backed gulls. It was too small for Great Black-backed Gull, which has flesh-colored legs anyway, or Slaty-backed Gull, which has pinkish legs. The mantle wasn't truly black, as a Great Black-backed mantle would be. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:15:00/14:25:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	36
Rare bird documentation form for Black Scoter at West Okoboji Lake, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1993-12-18	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Black Scoter at West Okoboji Lake in Dickinson County, IA on December 18, 1993.	Harr, Douglas C.	Black Scoter	West Okoboji Lake	NW side of West Okoboji Lake, Dickinson County, Iowa	Open lake	The documentation form by Douglas C. Harr is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Lee Schoenewe. \| Elimination of similar species: larger than nearby Lesser Scaup. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:45:00/15:55:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	13
Rare bird documentation form for Black Scoter at West Lake Okoboji, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1993-12-18	1993-12-19	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Black Scoter at West Lake Okoboji in Dickinson County, IA on December 18, 1993.	Schoenewe, Lee A.	Black Scoter	West Okoboji Lake	West Lake Okoboji, Dickinson Co.	open water	The documentation form by Lee A. Schoenewe is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Douglas C. Harr. \| Elimination of similar species: Ruddy Duck - carriage of head, bill shape and longer body. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:45:00/15:55:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	13
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mew Gull at Whitebreast Recreation Area at Red Rock Reservoir, 1993	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-12-19	1995-07-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Mew Gull at Whitebreast Recreation Area at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on December 19, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and three documentations submitted to the committee.	Johnson, Ann	Mew Gull	Whitebreast Recreation Area	Whitebreast Recreation Area, Red Rock Reservoir, Marion Co., IA	Sandy area at edge of open water	The documentation form by Ann Johnson forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Russ Widner and Jim Fuller were submitted. Other observers include Dick Tetrault and Roy Godwin. \| Elimination of similar species: Size eliminated any gull larger than a Ring-billed. Although structurally the bird more closely represented one of the larger hooded gulls, they were eliminated by the lack of any hood or auricular spot. Furthermore, most hooded gulls with a tail band would also show a strong carpal bar. Laughing Gull could be eliminated by the more diminuative [sic] bill and leg color. Although some individuals seem to carry a vestige of their more motley juvenile plumage into first winter, Ring-billed Gull was eliminated by size, head and bill structure, and clear-cut as opposed to more diffuse tail band. I originally identified this bird as a Mew Gull based on my experience studying structural differences between Ring-billed and Mew gulls on the west coast. I have never seen a first-year Mew Gull, however. In researching the Mew on my return home, I concluded that the bird in question was not dark enough, nor brown enough, to be of the west coast sub-species. By virtue of its strong similarity to a Ring-billed Gull, this bird was most likely the European sub-species known as the Common Gull. Although according to Grant the bill description comes closer to L.c. brachyrhynchus, I assume that this bird's bill coloration was still changing from juvenile plumage. Apparently the Common Gull appears on occasion on the east coast and is therefore probably as likely a vagrant to Iowa as is the western form. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/10:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	23