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 Merlin at Rolling Cove Area, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-10-15	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Rolling Cove Area at Rathbun Lake in Appanoose County, IA on October 15, 1983.	Cummins, Raymond L.	Merlin	Rolling Cove Park	Rolling Cove Area Rathbun Lake Appanoose Co., Iowa	Lakeside - Brushy ravine - open brush with some conifers mixed in.	The documentation form by Raymond L. Cummins is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Wallace Jardine. \| Elimination of similar species: Small, only slightly larger than a Sparrow Hawk. True falcon in f[l]ight point wings. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:30:00/15:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Turkey Vulture at Rolling Cove, 1988	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1988-01-31	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Turkey Vulture at Rolling Cove at Lake Rathbun in Appanoose County, IA on January 31, 1988.	Cornett, Dorothy M.	Turkey Vulture	Rolling Cove Park	Rolling Cove at Lake Rathbun	Grassland with trees and fields.	The documentation form by Dorothy M. Cornett is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Mary M. Montgomery. \| Elimination of similar species: Too big for most hawks and flew differently. Had just seen two immature and one mature eagle and couldn't be confused with those. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:55:00/12:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	26
Rare bird documentation form for Tundra Swan at Rathbun Lake, 1988	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1988-11-18	1988-11-23	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for five Tundra Swans at Rathbun Lake in Appanoose County, IA on November 18, 1988.	Cornett, Dorothy M.	Tundra Swan	Rolling Cove Park	Rolling Cove Rathbun Lake	Water Birds with R.B. Gulls at Edge of Lake Shore.	The documentation form by Dorothy M. Cornett is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Marge Heusinkveld and Richard Boedy. \| Elimination of similar species: Mute Swan: Smaller: Knob on bill; neck held differently. Trumpeter Swan: Black base at tip of bill, flatter head. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:30:00/15:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	1
Rare bird documentation form for Summer Tanager at northwest Rush Lake in Palo Alto County, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-05-13	1983-05-15	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Summer Tanagers at northwest Rush Lake in Palo Alto County, IA on May 13, 1983.	Harms, Ronald	Summer Tanager	Rush Lake	Ron Reese farm, Palo Alto Co., NW corner of Rush Lake	Pine + apple trees	The documentation form by Ronald Harms is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ron Reese and Pat Reese. \| Elimination of similar species: No dark wings No wing bars \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:00:00/20:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	44
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon in Cass County east of Walnut, 1990	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1990-10-25	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon in Cass County east of Walnut, IA on October 25, 1990.	Petersen, Marietta	Prairie Falcon	Walnut	RR #1, Walnut, Iowa 51577	The area is Upland Prairie Land-pasture, hayfields, corn a soybean fields- and hilly. Little Timber along creek bottoms. We live on a farm in Northwestern Cass County. The bird was sitting on top of a semi-dead Ash tree in our old orchard.	The documentation form by Marietta Petersen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The Red Tailed would not have those kind of face markings. But it was about the size of a Red Tailed. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:00:00/09:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Rare bird documentation form for Trumpeter Swan at Runnells Area, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-02-29	1992-03-01	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form two Trumpeter Swans at Runnells Area in Marion County, IA on February 29, 1992.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Trumpeter Swan	Red Rock Wildlife Area	Runnells A.; Marion Co., IA	Refuge area at upper end of Red Rock Res.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bob Cecil, Ann Johnson, and another man. \| Elimination of similar species: The appearance of the adult's bill eliminates Mute Swan. The lack of a yellow bill spot on the adult argues against Tundra Swan, but I understand that this is not an absolute criteria. The straightness of the culmen and shape of the feather extension along the forehead are difficult to judge, especially at a distance. Perhaps most convincing was the amount of darkness on the immature. Tundra Swans are said to be quite white on the back and wings by spring. The size of the bill on the immature was also quite impressive. The date is a bit early for Tundra Swan, but fine for Trumpeter. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:30:00/14:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	30
Rare bird documentation form for Peregrine Falcon at Runnells Game Area, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-09-30	1984-11-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Peregrine Falcon at Runnells Game Area in Warren County, IA on September 30, 1984.	Sinclair, Jim	Peregrine Falcon	Runnells Overlook	Runnells Game Area - Warren Co.	Open floodplain	The documentation form by Jim Sinclair is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include David Youngblut. \| Elimination of similar species: Coloration, size and most importantly head pattern confirmed bird as Peregrine Falcon. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:45:00/07:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	34
Rare bird documentation form for Peregrine Falcon at Runnells Wildlife Area, 1991	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1991-09-14	1991-12-01	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Peregrine Falcons at Runnells Wildlife Area in Warren County, IA on September 14, 1991.	Porter, Diane C.	Peregrine Falcon	Runnells Overlook	Runnells Wildlife Area	Mud flats	The documentation form by Diane Porter is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim Sinclair, Jim Fuller, Peter Petersen, and others. \| Elimination of similar species: Birds were too big and grey for kestrels; too big and too much face pattern for merlins; no black axillaries and too dark for prairie falcons; too small, slim, and dark for gyrfalcons. \| The original documentation form event occurred in the mid morning.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	34
Rare bird documentation form for American Pipit at Runnells Wildlife Area, 1991	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1991-08-10	1991-08-11	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two American Pipits at Runnells Wildlife Area in Polk County, IA on August 10, 1991.	Johnson, Ann	American Pipit	Red Rock Wildlife Area	Runnells Wildlife Area, Polk County, IA	Mudflats of Des Moines River floodplain	The documentation form by Ann Johnson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim Sinclair, Beth Brown, and Wyman Borts. \| Elimination of similar species: Sparrows and longspurs were eliminated by bill shape and posture. The rarer Sprague's Pipit was eliminated based on the relatively plain back and darker face. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:30:00/11:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	15
Rare bird documentation form for Semipalmated Plover at Red Rock Dam, 1989	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1989-11-28	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Semipalmated Plover at Red Rock Dam in Marion County, IA on November 28, 1989.	Brown, Beth	Semipalmated Plover	Red Rock Dam	running along the sandy shoreline below the Red Rock Dam in the tailwaters.		The documentation form by Beth Brown is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: There was a white ring above the breastband. The mantle, crown dark-brownish, too dark for a Piping Plover. The color was similar to the color of a Killdeer, but had no rust color on the rump. I did not note leg color. I saw it fly but took note of nothing except the white underparts, because I was surprised that another like bird was with it. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:45:00/15:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	4
Rare bird documentation form for American Pipit at Pocahontas, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-02-27	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for an American Pipit at Pocahontas in Pocahontas County, IA on February 27, 1982.	Jardine, Wallace E.	American Pipit	Pocahontas	Rural Pocahontas, IA	General: Rural back yard (about 1 acre). Young trees, shrubs, bounded on three sides by 100+ acre fields. Specific: Base of stone fireplace with feeder on top. Fireplace is 6' from concrete patio in back yard.	The documentation form by Wallace E. Jardine is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Vesper Sparrow. Breast not streaked as heavily as Vesper Sparrow + white outer tail feathers more prominent than on Vesper Sparrow. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:00:00/16:01:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	15
Rare bird documentation form for Western Grebe at Rush Lake, 1981	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-06-29	1981-07-03	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for six Western Grebes at Rush Lake in Osceola County, IA on June 29, 1981.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Western Grebe	Rush Lake	Rush L., Osceola Co, IA	Lake with extensive marshy edge N. side of lake	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Douglas Harr. \| Elimination of similar species: None similar. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:10:00/08:25:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	15
Rare bird documentation form for Cooper's Hawk at Rush Lake, 1980	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1980-05-02	1980-06-02	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Cooper's Hawk at Rush Lake in Palo Alto County, IA on May 2, 1980.	Jardine, Wallace E.	Cooper's Hawk	Rush Lake	Rush Lake, Laurens, Iowa	Woods bordering farm field + lake. Tree on slope. 30' high in a 40' tree.	The documentation form by Wallace E. Jardine is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ray Cummins. \| Elimination of similar species: Sharp-shinned. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:00:00/07:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	24
Rare bird documentation form for Ibis species at Ely, 1986	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-09-25	1986-09-26	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for an Ibis species at Ely in Linn County, IA on September 25, 1986.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Glossy Ibises	Ely	S. of Ely, IA	Marshy roadside pond	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim Fuller. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:00:00/13:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	24
Rare bird documentation form for Peregrine Falcon south of Sheldahl, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-09-19	1985-09-20	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Peregrine Falcon south of Sheldahl in Story County, IA on September 19, 1985.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Peregrine Falcon	Sheldahl	S. of Sheldahl, Story County	open country near town	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The large size, long pointed wings, dark back contrasting with light underparts, and the black hood eliminate all other raptors. \| The original documentation form event occurred at 18:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	34
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon at Booth Township in Palo Alto County, 1988	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1988-02-03	1988-02-04	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon at Booth Township in Palo Alto County, IA on February 3, 1988.	Knight, Calvin A.	Prairie Falcon	Booth Township	S.E. Cor. Section 33, Booth Township (T94-N,R34-W) Palo Alto Co., Iowa	open farms land; snow covered	The documentation form by Calvin Knight is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ron Reese, Jim Fuller, M. Stewart, Bernie Knight, and Ron Harms. \| Elimination of similar species: Peregrine Falcon: lighter color + underwing pattern eliminated the Peregrine \| The original documentation form event occurred at 07:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Rare bird documentation form for Say's Phoebe southeast of Missouri Valley, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-08-25	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Say's Phoebes southeast of Missouri Valley in Harrison County, IA on August 25, 1978.	Gochenour, Ruth A.	Say's Phoebe	Missouri Valley	S.E. of Missouri Valley, Iowa. Boyer River bridge on County Road F66. Harrison County.	General--river. Specific--small willow and other small trees and rather high grasses along the river dike. The bird was first observed in this habitat from the river bridge.	The documentation form by Ruth Gochenour is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ardyth Newberry. \| Elimination of similar species: The female Vernillion [sic] flycatcher--streaking was absent. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/11:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	70
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle north and west of Hendrickson's Marsh, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-03-19	1983-03-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle north and west of Hendrickson's Marsh in Story County, IA on March 19, 1983.	Proescholdt, Beth	Golden Eagle	Hendrickson Marsh Lake	s.e. Story County, north + west from Hendrickson's Marsh	farmland about 3 miles from Hendrickson's Marsh - open, flat fields, bare with no crops	The documentation form by Beth Proescholdt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Mark Proescholdt and Phyllis Harris. \| Elimination of similar species: Bald Eagle - no white head + tail of adult, + not an immature Bald Eagle as it had dark wing linings, not white in the linings. Buteo - much too big for a buteo. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:30:00/13:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Townsend's Solitaire at southeastern Webster County, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-05-05	1986-05-25	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Townsend's Solitaire at southeastern Webster County, IA on May 5, 1986.	Munson, Erik	Townsend's Solitaire	Webster County	s.e. Webster Co., along Des Moines r.	overgrown pasture with cedars, woody draws meeting cropland	The documentation form by Erik Munson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Steve Dinsmore. \| Elimination of similar species: mockingbird by underlined portions above, posture [...] basic uniform gray all over. [...] bold eye ring; \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:00:00/16:07:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	5
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at southwest Chickasaw County, 1990	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1990-06-03	1990-06-04	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at southwest Chickasaw County, IA on June 3, 1990.	Cecil, Robert I.	Merlin	Chickasaw County	S.W. Chickasaw County	Fence row in row-cropped ag. land	The documentation form by Robert Cecil is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: No other small falcon has uniform dark brown back and upper wing surface. It was much too small to be a female Peregrine. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:45:00/15:45:05.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for White-winged Scoter at Sanborn, 1998	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1998-04-25	1998-06-08	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for eighty-five White-winged Scoters at Sanborn in O'Brien County, IA on April 25, 1998.	Gruenewald, Robert	White-winged Scoter	Sanborn	Sanborn, Iowa	Waste Disposal Ponds	The documentation form by Robert Gruenewald is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: No other scoter species have white wing patches, and do not occur in this area, to my knowledge. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	12
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Warbler near George Wyth State Park, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-09-28	1986-09-29	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Pine Warblers near George Wyth State Park in Black Hawk County, IA on September 28, 1986.	Moore, Francis L.	Pine Warbler	George Wyth Memorial State Park	Sand pit area adjacent to George Wyth S.P., Black Hawk Co.	Mixed hardwood edge along old logging road.	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Blackpoll and Bay-breasted has streaking on back and not as dark brownish olive on the back as the Pine. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	29
Rare bird documentation form for Western Sandpiper at Sand Point in Coralville Reservoir, 1991	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1991-09-01	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for three Western Sandpipers at Sand Point in Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on September 1, 1991.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956- Pinkston, Daniel P.	Western Sandpiper	Sand Point	Sand Point on Coralville Reservoir, Johnson Co., Iowa		The documentation form by Randall Pinkston and Daniel Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Some 30+ Semipalmated Sandpipers observed in same area simultaneously: Less robust and proportionately shorter-legged, bills clearly the shorter in all individuals with less distinct or no droop at tip, cold grayish coloration with no hint of rust in scapulars or crown. Sanderling larger with proportionately shorter bill, always shows dark bend of wing in basic plumage. Basic-plumaged Dunlin comparable in size to Pectoral Sandpiper with more substantial and drooped bill, gray wash across entire breast. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:30:00/16:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	18
Rare bird documentation form for Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Sand Point at Coralville Reservoir, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-05-25	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Sand Point at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on May 25, 1992.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Buff-breasted Sandpiper	Sand Point	Sand Point on Coralville Reservoir, Johnson Co., Iowa		The documentation form by Randall Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tom Kent. \| Elimination of similar species: Really unmistakeable [sic] in spring. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 10:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	25
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