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 Purple Gallinule near Promise City in 1975	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Identification Birds--Migration Rare birds	1975-09-01	1994-11-04	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Purple Gallinule near Promise City in Wayne County, IA on May 10, 1975. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication Field reports in Iowa Bird Life 45:55-59 by Woodward H. Brown seen by Charlotte Scott, and referenced by two other publications.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Purple Gallinule	Promise City				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	14
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Purple Gallinule in Wapello County in 1974	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1974-12-01	1994-11-04	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Purple Gallinule in Wapello County, IA during the Summer of 1974. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication Six county area including Ottumwa and Rathbun Lake in Iowa Bird Life 75:82-86 by B.C. Heusinkveld, C. Scott, Pearl Evans, C. Ayres, and D. Ayres, and referenced by another publication.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Purple Gallinule	Ottumwa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	14
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Ferruginous Hawk at Marshall or Grundy Counties in 1954	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1955-03-01	1994-11-04	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Ferruginous Hawk at Marshall or Grundy Counties, IA on December 31, 1954. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication The 1954 Christmas bird census in Iowa in Iowa Bird Life 25:5-12 by F.J. Pierce seen by Mrs. Harold Brown and Helen King, and referenced by two other publications.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Ferruginous Hawk	Grundy County Marshall County				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Ferruginous Hawk at Iowa County in 1936	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds Zoological specimens	1988-12-01	1994-11-04	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Ferruginous Hawk at Iowa County, IA on August 21, 1936. Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the publication Records of Ferruginous Hawk in Iowa in Iowa Bird Life 58:95-100 by Barbara L. Wilson.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Ferruginous Hawk	Iowa County				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Curve-billed Thrasher at Badger Lake in 1988	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1988-05-13	1994-11-04	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Curve-billed Thrasher at Badger Lake in Monona County, IA on May 13, 1988. Includes a record review document with votes, two photographs, and the original sighting record found in the publication Curve-billed Thrasher in Manona County in Iowa Bird Life 58(4):116 by Steve Dinsmore, Tom Sorenson, and Dan Gifford.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Curve-billed Thrasher	Badger Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	11
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-necked Stilt at Carter Lake in 1928	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Newsletters	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1928-07-01	1995-02-22	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Black-necked Stilt at Carter Lake in Pottawattamie County, IA on May 9, 1928. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication Letter of Information of the Nebraska Ornithological Union No. 32 seen by Robert Overing, and referenced by another publication.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Black-necked Stilt	Carter Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	20
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Band-tailed Pigeon west of Fort Dodge, 1970	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1970-09-05	1995-02-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Band-tailed Pigeon west of Fort Dodge in Webster County, IA on September 5, 1970. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence relevant to bird sighting and review, and a documentation article submitted to the committee.	Crawford, John	Band-tailed Pigeon	Fort Dodge	[...] seven miles West of Fort Dodge, Webster County, Iowa on the farm of Joseph R. Crawford.		The documentation article by John A. Crawford is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Joseph R. Crawford. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] This bird first caught my attention by the fact that it lacked the typical white rump of a Rock Dove.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	7
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Eurasian Wigeon at Solon in 1961	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1961-09-01	1995-02-23	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Eurasian Wigeon at Solon in Johnson County, IA during the Spring of 1961. Includes a record review document with votes, letters between Tom Kent and G. Edgar Folk about the sighting, the original sighting record found in the publication Audubon Field Notes 15:414 seen by G. Edgar Folk as reported by F.W. Kent seen by Marion Huit as well, and referenced by two other publications.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Eurasian Wigeon	Solon				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	14
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 for Nashville Warbler at Hancher Auditorium in Iowa City, 1993	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-12-19	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Nashville Warbler at Hancher Auditorium in Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on December 19, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Nashville Warbler	Hancher Auditorium	Hancher Auditorium Parking Lot, University of Iowa Campus, Iowa City (Johnson City).		The documentation form by Jim Fuller forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by James Scheib was submitted. Other observers include John McClure, Tom Kent, and Dick Tetrault. \| Elimination of similar species: The three warblers with which this species might be confused are Mourning, Connecticut, and MacGillivray's. All three have much more extensive gray on the head and upper breast, including the throat. All three also have light colored legs. No one disagreed with the identification. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:15:00/09:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	15
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 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
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
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Laughing Gull south of Saylorville, 1993	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-04-24	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Laughing Gull south of Saylorville in Polk County, IA on April 24, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Passenger Pigeon, an article in Illinois Audubon Bulletin, correspondence about the bird sighting, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Engebretsen, Bery	Laughing Gull	Saylorville	South of Saylorville	Flooded bean field (Des Moines River bottom land)	The documentation form by Bery Engebretsen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Eugene Armstrong and Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: Bird flew & sat on ground next to Franklin's Gulls, and Bonaparte's gulls. Did not have white wedge of Bonapartes, Blackheaded or Sabine's Gull's. The other black-headed gull, the Little Gull, has no black at all on wing tips. See above for comparison to Franklin's. [...] Larger bill, compared to adjacent Franklin's, was not pure red, partially black. Eye ring smaller, less conspicuous, again, than adjacent Franklins. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:20:00/09:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Laughing Gull at Red Rock Reservoir, 1991	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1991-08-06	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two Laughing Gulls at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on August 6, 1991. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Laughing Gull	Lake Red Rock	Red Rock Reservoir, Marion Co.	large mudflat along lakeshore	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bob Myers and many unidentified observers. \| Elimination of similar species: The only species similar to a Laughing Gull is Franklin's Gull. This species was eliminated on the basis of size, bill size and shape, leg length, and wing and tail pattern. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:21:00/13:56:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Laughing Gull at Red Rock Reservoir, 1991	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1991-07-17	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Laughing Gull at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on July 17, 1991. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, a photocopy of a photograph, and six documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Proescholdt, Mark	Laughing Gull	Lake Red Rock	Red Rock Reservoir - (Marion Co.)	Mudflats near retreating water	The documentation form by Mark Proescholdt forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Ann Johnson, Jim Fuller, Tanya E. Bray, Barbara L. Wilson, and Randall Pinkston were submitted. Other observers include Ross Silcock, Tim Schantz, Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, and many unidentified other observers. \| Elimination of similar species: A Franklin's Gull juvenile or first-winter bird has a clear-cut blackish half-hood, a smaller bill, smaller size, and a white forehead. A juvenile Mew gull is much darker, has a thin bill, and light grayish legs. Juvenile Herring and California Gulls are much larger - larger than Ring-Billed Gulls - and lack the bright white at the base of the tail. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 09:00:00/09:15:00 and 11:00:00/12:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-necked Stilt at Amana Lake, 1993	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-05-20	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of two Black-necked Stilts at Amana Lake in Iowa County, IA on May 20, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes, a photo, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Black-necked Stilt	Lily Pond	Amana Lake, Iowa County, Iowa	artificial, shallow lake with low water and extensive mud flats	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Thomas Staudt and Randall Pinkston were submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: none. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:15:00/12:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	20
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Gyrfalcon at Kettleson Hogsback, 1993	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-09-25	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Gyrfalcon at Kettleson Hogsback in Dickinson County, IA on September 25, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and five documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Schantz, Tim	Gyrfalcon	Kettleson Hogsback Wildlife Management Area	East of Kettleson Hogback entrance, Dickenson [sic] Co., Iowa		The documentation form by Tim Schantz is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Maridel Jackson, Ross Silcock, Jane R. Clark, and Jim Sinclair were submitted later. Other observers include John Cecil, Eugene Armstrong, and Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: Northern Goshawk- Although Goshawks have been known to show pointed wings, they are never as pointed as a Falcon's. I have seen many Northern Goshawks and jizz alone would rule this one out. I saw no barring on the tail. One of the prime field marks on a Goshawk are the bright white undertail coverts which this bird did not have. The bird in question also lacked a dark crown. Peregrine Falcon- Size. No dark helmet. Jizz (mentioned above). The bird lacked overall contrast of a Peregrine Falcon. Juveniles would be brown. Prairie Falcon- Color. Prairies are a brown bird in all plumages. The underwing was uniform with no black axillaries. Habitat. Prairies feed almost exclusively on small mammals. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 15:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	4
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Prairie Warbler at Lee County in 1886	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds Birds--Collection and preservation Zoological specimens	1935-09-01	1995-07-18	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for Prairie Warbler specimens collected at Lee County, IA on June 5, 1886. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication Additional Iowa Species of Birds Substantiated by Specimens in Wilson Bulletin 47(3):205-208 by Philip A. DuMont seen by Ed S. Currier, and referenced by two other publications.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Prairie Warbler	Lee County				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	22
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
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for MacGillivray's Warbler at Atchison County, MO in 1974	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird banding Birds--Identification Rare birds	1975-09-01	1995-11-06	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee for a MacGillivray's Warbler in Atchison County, MO on May 1, 1974. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication Specials in our 1974 Banding Activity in Iowa Bird Life 45(3):86-88 by Fitzhugh and Hazel Diggs, and referenced by another publication.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	MacGillivray's Warbler	Atchison County				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	26
Records Committee review for Black-necked Stilt in Iowa before 1870	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1870-01-01	1996-01-24	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for Black-necked Stilts in Iowa before 1870. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication A Catalogue of the Birds of Iowa by J.A. Allen in White's Geological Survey in 1870, and is referenced by another publication.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Black-necked Stilt	Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	20
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-necked Stilt at Riverton Area, 1992	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1992-05-12	1996-01-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black-necked Stilt at Riverton Area in Fremont County, IA on May 12, 1992. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, a photo, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Johnson, Ann	Black-necked Stilt	Riverton Wildlife Management Area	Riverton Wildlife Area, Fremont Co., IOWA	Broad expanse of mud flats	The documentation form by Ann Johnson is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Pam Allen and Thomas H. Kent were submitted later. Other observers include Reid Allen, W. Ross Silcock, and Dick Tetrault. \| Elimination of similar species: Identification of a Black-necked Stilt is straight forward. The only other bird in North America which is even remotely similar is the American Avocet. It can be eliminated by the black feathering on the head and neck, straight bill, and pink legs. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:55:00/16:55:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	20
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Little Gull at Sandpiper Beach at Saylorville Reservoir, 1989	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-10-08	1996-01-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Little Gull at Sandpiper Beach at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on October 8, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence about the request for reevaluation of record, a photograph, photocopy of two photographs, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Little Gull	Sandpiper Recreation Area	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co.-seen off Sandpiper Beach Recreation Area	seen flying over large reservoir with several Ring-billed Gulls	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Pam Allen and Reid Allen were submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: The bird was obviously too small to be one of the larger gulls, like a Ring-billed or a Herring gull. The very pale mantle, dark spot behind each eye, and lack of black on the top of the primaries eliminates Franklin's and Laughing gulls. The black underside of the flight feathers, pale gray mantle and wings, white wingtips, and rounded wings eliminates Bonaparte's and Sabine's gulls and kittiwakes. The square tail and wing pattern eliminates Ross' Gull. The smaller size, black underside of the flight feathers, lack of a white "wedge" on the upper surface of the outer primaries, rounder wings, and lack of black on the upper surface of the primaries eliminates Common Black-headed Gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:34:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	20
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Red Phalarope at Saylorville Reservoir Dam, 1991	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1991-08-04	1996-01-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Red Phalarope at Saylorville Reservoir Dam in Polk County, IA on August 4, 1991. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, correspondence from Stephen J. Dinsmore to the IOU committee, two photographs with two photocopies of them, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Red Phalarope	Saylorville Dam	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co., IA-above dam	swimming on lake near rocky dam face	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The general body shape and swimming behavior identified the bird as a phalarope. The unstreaked, gray mantle, thicker, bicolored bill, and buffy wash on the underparts eliminates Red-necked and Wilson's phalaropes. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:38:00/10:52:00 and 10:59:00/11:14:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	12