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 Lesser Black-backed Gull on the Mississippi River near Bettendorf, 1990	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-02-17	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Lesser Black-backed Gull on the Mississippi River near Bettendorf in Scott County, IA on February 17, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Petersen, Peter C.	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Bettendorf	2/17- on ice over, Miss. River Channel between Moline, IL. + Bettendorf Ia. obs. in Il. 2/19 at Lock + Dam 15 from Ia. side - again in center of river.	Miss. River ice.	The documentation form by Peter C. Petersen forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Jim Fuller was submitted. Other observers include Jim Scheib, Ann Barker, and Walter Zuurdeeg. \| Elimination of similar species: Slaty-backed Gull - legs not pink, size Great Black-backed Gull- legs not pink, size, back not dark enough Western Gull - legs not pink, size Yellow footed Gull - size \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:25:00/09:40:00 on February 17, 1990 and 09:40:00/09:45:00 on February 19, 1990.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ross' Goose at Coralville Reservoir, 1990	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-03-02	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Ross' Goose at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on March 2, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes, an Iowa Bird Life article, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Ross' Goose	Coralville Lake	West overlook, Coralville Res., Johnson Co., Iowa	reservoir above dam	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Size, bill shape and size, head shape used to separate from Snow Goose. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:15:00/16:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	8
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Iceland Gull at Lock and Dam 15 near Davenport, 1990	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-03-09	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for an Iceland Gull at Lock and Dam 15 near Davenport in Scott County, IA on March 9, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Petersen, Peter C.	Iceland Gull	Lock and Dam 15	Lock 15 - just upstream - R.I. Co. Il. + Scott Co. IA.	Ice cake floating on Miss. R. - along shore just upstream from lock - urban area around River.	The documentation form by Peter C. Petersen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Glaucous Gull - bird was too small, bill entirely black. Thayer's Gull - uniform color on entire wing. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:00:00/11:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	4
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ross' Goose at Cone Marsh, 1990	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-03-11	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of two Ross' Goose at Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on March 11, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Ross' Goose	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Cone M., Louisa Co., IA	Marsh	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Snow Goose - see above. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:15:00/14:33:00	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	8
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Laughing Gull at Oak Grove Beach at Saylorville Reservoir, 1990	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-04-13	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Laughing Gull at Oak Grove Beach at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on April 13, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes, a photocopy of a photo, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Laughing Gull	Oak Grove Recreation Area	Oak Grove Beach, Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co., IA		The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Eugene Armstrong and Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: On the basis of the dark hood, size, and dark gray mantle, all gulls except for Laughing and Franklin's gulls can be removed from consideration. I will admit that I was skeptical that a Laughing Gull could show up in Iowa on such an early spring date; most interior records are from May-June. But, given the evidence, I am convinced that this bird was indeed a Laughing Gull. The size of this bird, nearly that of a ring-billed gull, favors Laughing Gull. The bill shape and size, length of the legs, wing pattern, and extent of the eye crescents also favor Laughing Gull. An adult Franklin's Gull can be eliminated by the lack of a white bar separating the gray inner wing from the black wingtip. One year-old Franklin's Gulls, however, may show a wing pattern like that of this bird. But, according to Kaufman (1990), such a Franklin's Gull should show some white flecks on the hood, and would be most likely encountered in late spring and summer. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:48:00/11:34:00 and 12:26:00/13:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Smew at Pool #13 in Clinton County, 1990	Administrative records Field notes Forms (documents)	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-04-22	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Smew at Pool #13 in Clinton County, IA and Carrol County, IL on April 22, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Blevins, Brian L.	Smew	Pool 13	Pool 13 on Mississippi River (Gomer's Lake, Potter's Marsh) Clinton County, Ia Carrol County, Ill.	The bird was in a big river pool situation with hundreds of other divers mostly comprising of Redheads, Scaup, Buffleheads, and Goldeneyes. This particular area offers large extensive flats adjacent to both sides of the channel.	The documentation form by Brian Blevins is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Corey Blevins. \| Elimination of similar species: About the only thing that is close is the Bufflehead and they were feeding with this bird, thus contrasting them was easy. The head difference was unmistakable with the buffs having an all dark head with a white spot, where as the smew had a white head with a black patch. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:13:00/15:36:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	22
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ibis Species at Cone Marsh, 1990	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-04-23	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a bird (Ibis species) at Cone Marsh in Louisa Co, IA on April 23, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Petersen, Peter C.	Glossy Ibises	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	N.E. Corner of Cone Marsh, Louisa Co., IA	Marsh & Mud Flat, shore areas	The documentation form by Peter C. Petersen is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Carl J. Bendorf and Jim Fuller were submitted later. Other observers include Ken Lowder, Ann Barker, John Daniels, Jim Sieh, Cal Knight, Bernie Knight, Brian Blevins, and Rick Hollis. \| Elimination of similar species: White-faced Ibis, which was present for direct comparison, had a wide white facial border around a reddish-brown facial patch, eye seemed red but distance was a bit far to be positive, legs were uniformly reddish brown, bill darker and more reddish & bird seemed a bit smaller. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:30:00/09:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	21
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Snowy Plover north of Burlington, 1990	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-04-28	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Snowy Plover north of Burlington in Des Moines County, IA on April 28, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Fuller, Charles R.	Snowy Plover	Burlington	Highway 99 2 miles north of Burlington, Water Treatment Plant Pond	Water edge of settling pond	The documentation form by Chuck Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Piping Plover--See above description Bill-size and color Legs--color Smudge behind eye Absence of a white rump. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:45:00/19:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Lark Bunting at De Soto Bend National Wildlife Refuge, 1990	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-04-28	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Lark Bunting at De Soto Bend National Wildlife Refuge in Harrison County, IA on April 28, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Babcock, Mary Cook	Lark Bunting	De Soto Lake	De Soto Bend NWR	Bare tree by a pond in flock of mixed swallows	The documentation form by Mary Cock Babcock is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Smaller + different shape from red winged black bird. No yellow head as yellow headed black bird. Too small for mockingbird or shrike - also different color. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:00:00/11:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	34
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ferruginous Hawk at Princeton Marsh, 1990	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-05-08	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Ferruginous Hawk at Princeton Marsh in Scott County, IA on May 8, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Petersen, Peter C.	Ferruginous Hawk	Princeton State Wildlife Management Area	Princeton Marsh, Scott Co., IA.	bird flying of marsh & agricultural area	The documentation form by Peter C. Petersen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Brian Blevins and Don Moeller. \| Elimination of similar species: Red-tailed Hawk no windows from above, legs white, has breast band, tail uniform rusty red. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:30:00/13:32:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mississippi Kite at Ledges State Park, 1990	Administrative records Field notes Forms (documents)	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-05-13	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Mississippi Kite at Ledges State Park in Boone County, IA on May 13, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Sinclair, Jim	Mississippi Kite	Ledges State Park	Ledges St. Pk. - Pea's Creek	wooded valley	The documentation form by Jim Sinclair is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include David Youngblut. \| Elimination of similar species: Too large and uniform in color for a kestrel or merlin. Wings and tail too broad for one of the larger falcons. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:15:00/09:17:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	26
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mississippi Kite at Coralville Reservoir, 1990	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-05-19	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Mississippi Kite at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on May 19, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Mississippi Kite	Babcock Access	Coraville Reservoir, Babcock Access, Johnson Co., IA	wide part of reservoir with open mud flats	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The pointed wings indicate a kite or falcon. The gliding flight was that of a kite not a falcon. The white body and head also eliminates all falcons. The lack of white rump as well as the flight pattern eliminate Northern Harrier. Swallow-tailed Kite would have a forked tail and different flight pattern. Black-shouldered Kite has a white and black shoulder. The lack of white patches in the secondaries and brownish tail indicate a subadult (first year bird). I looked for bands in the tail, but could not appreciate them. Failure to see bands could be due to the lighting and distance or, as noted by Clark and Wheeler, to the fact that "A few immatures have solid, unbanded dark brown tails." The prominent light and dark underwing puzzled me, but Dunne says that "Immature has body and underwing coverts buffy, with dark streaking and spotting of variable density; may be lighter or darker than illustrated." The underwing coverts and body appeared about the same shade to me. The lighting and distance may have precluded my appreciating any streaking. This bird appeared lighter than the bird I saw at Dudgeon Lake last year, especially the underwing coverts. The profile and flight characteristics allowed me to immediately recognize the bird as a Mississippi Kite. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:35:00/13:36:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	26
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-headed Grosbeak at Nevada, 1990	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-05-21	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Grosbeak at Nevada in Story County, IA on May 21, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes, a photo and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Abbott, Bill	Black-headed Grosbeak	Nevada	1031 H. Ave. Nevada, Iowa 50201		The documentation form by Bill Abbott is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The fact this bird was sighted on May 21 and 22 makes it very unlikely an immature Rose breasted grosbeak. The red patch shown on the shoulder of an immature grosbeak was not observed. The breast on the bird observed was not as spotted or steaked [sic] as shown on the female rose breasted grosbeak. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 18:00:00 on May 21 and 07:00:00 on May 22.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Green-tailed Towhee at West Des Moines, 1990	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-05-22	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Green-tailed Towhee at West Des Moines in Polk County, IA around May 22, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes, an article and cover page from Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form with an attachment submitted to the committee.	Quinn, Christine A.	Green-tailed Towhee	West Des Moines	605-5th West Des Moines Iowa (residential city)	Open backyard wildlife habitat- under/around quince bushes	The documentation form by Christine A. Quinn is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Robert J. Naisbitt. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] This cap was quite noticeable & large (much larger than a catbird's cap). The bird seemed to be a little larger than a catbird (I have a pair nesting in my yard to [sic] I seem them a lot) and not as large as a robin. [...] He put me in mind very much of a catbird in size and contours. \| The original documentation form event lasted around "evenings and 1 morning" from around May 22 to the first week of June 1990.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	30
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Merlin in southwest Chickasaw, 1990	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-06-03	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Merlin in southwest Chickasaw County, IA on June 3, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Cecil, Robert I.	Merlin	Chickasaw County	S.W. Chickasaw Co.	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	9	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mississippi Kite at Hickory Hill Park, 1990	Administrative records Field notes Forms (documents)	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-06-24	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Mississippi Kite at Hickory Hill Park in Johnson County, IA on June 24, 1990. Includes one record review document with votes and a documentation form.	Schulein, Thomas M., 1945-	Mississippi Kite	Hickory Hill Park	Hickory Hill Park, Iowa City	Woodland edge, on a dead branch at the top of a tree next to a trail	The documentation form by Thomas M. Schulein is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: 1. Cooper's Hawk, but this bird has a barred breast and no eye patches and a dark and light head pattern. 2. White-tailed Kite, but this bird has dark wing patches. 3. Osprey, but this bird is larger and is brown and white, even though it has dark eye patches. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:45:00/08:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	26
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Long-billed Curlew at MidAmerican Energy Ponds, 1990	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-07-04	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Long-billed Curlew at MidAmerican Energy Ponds in Pottawattamie County, IA on July 4, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, notes about the sighting, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Silcock, W. Ross	Long-billed Curlew	MidAmerican Energy Ponds	IPL Ponds, Pottawattamie Co.	Cooling ponds for power plant; gravel banks.	The documentation form by Ross Silcock is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Tanya Bray were submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: Possibilities are Whimbrel, eliminated by absence of head striping and presence of cinnamon wing linings and distinctive call; Marbled Godwit, eliminated by strongly decurved bill and call; and other rarer curlews, all eliminated by the combination of field characters noted above (Bristle-Thighed eliminated by absence of rufous rump). \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:30:00/17:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	24
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Purple Finch at Iowa City, 1990	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-07-10	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Purple Finch at Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on July 10, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Spieker, Susan J.	Purple Finch	Iowa City	830 Hudson, Iowa City, Iowa	Back yard, with fruit trees, walnut trees, shrubs and bushes and garden.	The documentation form by Sue Spieker is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Female House Finch has more overall brown coloring and the streaks on breast and belly are wider and bolder. Also House Finch does not have the light area, eyebrow stripe, above and below eye. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:05:00/15:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	14
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Northern Shrike near Battle Creek, 1990	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-07-15	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Northern Shrike near Battle Creek in Ida County, IA on July 15, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	DeVore, Dawn L.	Northern Shrike	Battle Creek	Block 376 Ida County, 2.3 miles South on county pavement, South of Battle Creek, turn 1/2 mile East, turn North into field-lane, Ida County, Iowa.	Open farm land, a hay field on one side, and a corn field on the other side. The bird was along a fence row.	The documentation form by Dawn L. De Vore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Don Poggensee and Pam Poggensee. \| Elimination of similar species: Loggerhead Shrike: On the bird that was seen the top of the bill was dark black and the bottom was a lighter in color. A Loggerhead has a completely black bill. The bird that was seen was a light gray, much lighter than a Loggerhead adult. The bird was not a juv. Loggerhead because the black patch on the head is very different than that of a Loggerhead. On a Loggerhead the black area or patch is very wide and runs along both over and under the eye, it also continues back toward the back of the head meeting up with the gray on the back of the birds head. On the bird that was seen the black area or patch did not run both over and under the eye, it only ran under the eye. Also the patch did not meet up with the gray on the back of the birds head, the black area was surrounded on three sides by white, never letting the black meet up with the gray. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 15:00:00/15:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	39
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Parasitic Jaeger at the Cherry Glen Recreation Area at Saylorville Reservoir, 1990	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-09-03	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Parasitic Jaeger at Cherry Glen Recreation Area at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on September 3, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Parasitic Jaeger	Cherry Glen Recreation Area	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co.-off Cherry Glen Recreation Area		The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Scott Rolfes. \| Elimination of similar species: The color and wing crescent eliminates all larids except skuas and Pomarine and Long-tailed jaegers. Skuas are easily eliminated by their larger size, heavier bill, and more prominent white patches on the wings. Long-tailed Jaeger is eliminated by the presence of a white crescent on the upper surface of the wing. Pomarine Jaeger can be eliminated by its larger, heavier body size, more prominent white crescent on the wing, presence of white greater underprimary coverts, larger-headed appearance, heavier bill, and general lack of rufous color on the body. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:22:00/16:51:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	16
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Red Knot west of Huxley, 1990	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-09-03	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two Red Knots west of Huxley in Story County, IA on September 3, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and six documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Red Knot	Huxley	flooded field 1.2 mi. west of Huxley, Story Co.		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, Jim Dinsmore (2x), Mark Proescholdt, Beth Proescholdt, and Tim Schantz were submitted later. Other observers include Jim Fuller, Ann Johnson, Reid Allen, and unidentified other observers. \| Elimination of similar species: The fairly large size and gray and white plumage eliminates all shorebirds except Sanderling and winter-plumaged Dunlin. Sanderling is eliminated by smaller size and different bill shape. Winter-plumaged Dunlin is eliminated by different bill shape, slightly smaller size, and different tail pattern. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:20:00/18:48:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of California Gull at Oak Grove Beach at Saylorville Reservoir, 1990	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-09-08	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a California Gull at Oak Grove Beach at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on September 8, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and the article California Gull at Saylorville Reservoir in Iowa Bird Life 61:20 by Stephen Dinsmore reviewed by the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	California Gull	Oak Grove Recreation Area	[...] Oak Grove Beach Recreation Area at Saylorville Reservoir, Polk County.		The article by Stephen J. Dinsmore forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...]The bird was similar in size to the largest Ring-billed Gulls, but slightly larger than others. I approached closer and noted that, when compared to a Ring-billed Gull, the bird had duller yellow legs, a stouter bill with black and red spots near the tip of the lower mandible, and a darker gray mantle. [...] The bird was slightly larger than most of the Ring-billed Gulls, although one or two of the biggest Ring-billed Gulls were as large as the bird I was studying. Proportionately, the bird was heavier and larger-headed than a Ring-billed Gull. [...] I estimated the mantle color to be about midway between those of Ring-billed Gull and a Lesser Black-backed Gull. [...] The bill was heavier than the bill of a Ring-billed Gull and had a distinct gonys. The legs were pale gray-green, unlike the bright yellow legs of a Ring-billed Gull. Leg length appeared similar to a Ring-billed Gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:45:00/09:27:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Laughing Gull at Lake Manawa, 1990	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-09-09	1994-11-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Laughing Gull at Lake Manawa in Pottawattamie County in September 9, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Bray, Tanya	Laughing Gull	Lake Manawa	Lake Manawa, Pottawattamie County		The documentation form by Tanya Bray forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Ross Silcock was submitted. Other observers include Babs and Loren Padelford. \| Elimination of similar species: This bird differed from Franklin's Gull in the following ways: 1. Less extensive black on head. Eye coverts were not immediately noticable [sic] due to white cheek area. 2. Longer legs, more upright posture, and generally a very long, slender bird. 3. In flight, the bird had long slender wings with completely dark primaries; no white dividing the tips of the outer primaries from the rest of wing, and no white tips to outer primaries. Underside of primaries as described above. 4. Bill was long, curved and slightly swollen and hooked at tip. \| The original documentation form event lasted from around 07:35:00/07:36:00, 08:45:00, 12:15:00, and 18:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black Rail at Cone Marsh, 1990	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-09-15	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black Rail at Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on September 15, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Lowder, Ken	Black Rail	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Dike moving East/West across Cone Marsh, Louisa County	Six inch high grass variable to knee high vegetation	The documentation form by Ken Lowder is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Sora; eliminated by size and color. Yellow rail: absolute lack of white wing patches; My bird was black - with no suggestion of lighter color anywhere. Virginia rail: eliminated by size and color of bird Could possibly have been a rail chick of another species - ruled out because of presence of chicks at this late date + would have been extremely extraordinary; and because chicks would be incapable of flight. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 11:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Western Sandpiper at Babcock Access at Coralville Reservoir, 1990	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-10-13	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Western Sandpiper at Babcock Access at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on October 13, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Western Sandpiper	Babcock Access	Babcock Access, Coralville Res., Johnson Co. Iowa.	mud flats with shallow pools	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Dick Tetrault. \| Elimination of similar species: The size and shape in comparison with Baird's Sandpiper establish this bird as a peep. The black legs, gray color, and lack of bib exclude Least Sandpiper (several of which were seen earlier). The distinction from Semipalmated Sandpiper is based on the bill and apparent molt to basic plumage. Five minutes earlier I had seen two Semipalmated Sandpipers running on the other side of the area; they had short straight bills and had all feathers of the upper parts edged with buff (juvenile plumage). I had seen a number of Semipalmated Sandpipers with longer and slightly drooped bills this fall, but none approached the length, thinness, and droop seen on the current bird. According to Kenn Kaufman's Advanced Birding, Semipalmated Sandpipers wear their juvenile plumage until they reach wintering grounds, and juvenile Western Sandpipers gradually molt from juvenile to basic plumage from August to October with some retaining rusty scapulars. I assume, based on date, that this bird was probably a first-year bird, and that it had either completely molted to basic plumage or had some rusty scapulars that I did not see. I did not consider any of the Eurasian stints, which would be exceeding unlikely and have bills more like a semipalmated or have yellow legs. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:15:00/10:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	3