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 Brant at Whitebreast Park, 1987	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1987-10-04	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Brant at near Whitebreast Park in Marion County, IA on October 4, 1987. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, James J.	Brant	Whitebreast Recreation Area	released at Polk City Wildlife Area; bird had been caught on south shore of Red Rock Reservoir, Marion County	freshwater lake	The documentation form by Jim Dinsmore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jennifer Lancaster, Tom Miller, Steve Dinsmore, and Roger Sedlacek. \| Elimination of similar species: Canada Goose-small size eliminates all but the smallest races; the bird lacked a cheek patch. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:00:00/08:00:00 next day when they released the bird.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	9
Field reports form for submitting seasonal observations of Iowa birds and photograph of a Snowy Owl, Jack Jones, fall 1987	Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Forms (documents) Photographs	Bird banding Bird watching Birds--Counting Birds--Habitat	1987-08-01	1987-11-30	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Fall report of birds found in northwest Iowa contributed by Jack Jones. The report also includes a newspaper clipping with a photograph of Snowy Owl. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly field report of fall 1987. This document is related to a letter from Randall D. Williams that describes a Snowy Owl sighting: https://avian.lib.iastate.edu/documents/4032/view	Jones, Jack (John Paul)	White-breasted Nuthatch Purple Martin Chimney Swift Eastern Kingbird Snowy Owl Western Kingbird Gray Partridge Common Nighthawk Golden-crowned Kinglet Black-capped Chickadee Dark-eyed Junco Eastern Screech-Owl	Sioux City O'Brien County Bacon Creek Park East High School				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	23	2
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for King Eider at Clear Lake in 1986	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds Hunting Zoological specimens	1987-06-01	1994-02-03	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for four King Eiders at Clear Lake in Cerro Gordo County, IA on November 17, 1986. Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the publication King Eiders at Clear Lake by James L. Hansen seen by Rick Poole and Ron Glanville with photographs by Thomas Kent.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	King Eider	Clear Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	17
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Eurasian Tree Sparrow at West Branch, 1987	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1987-03-14	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two Eurasian Tree Sparrows at West Branch in Cedar County, IA on March 14, 1987. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, a summary of the review, and eight documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Veal, Sally	Eurasian Tree Sparrow	West Branch	in my backyard in West Branch		The documentation form by Sally Veal is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by James Sandrock, Carl Bendorf, Thomas Kent, James Fuller, Peter Petersen, Thomas Staudt, and Francis Moore were submitted later. Other observers include Cal Knight, Bernie Knight, Walter Zuurdeeg, Ann Barker, Mary Lou Petersen, and Gerry White. \| Elimination of similar species: As I was filling my bird feeders I noticed two birds in the silver maple behind the house that at first glance appeared to be house sparrows. I was struck by the neat appearance and greater activity of these particular birds and by the fact that they were not associating with the flock of house sparrows near the bird feeders. Even without binoculars I was able to see the black spots on the birds faces. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00 through the afternoon.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Pacific Loon at Saylorville Reservoir, 1986	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1986-11-30	1994-02-05	Rare birds documentation form	Record Committee review for a Pacific Loon at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA, on November 30, 1986. Includes a record review document with votes, a request of the reconsideration of sight records, an Iowa Bird Life article, a summary of review, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Pacific Loon	Saylorville Lake	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co. (Cherry Glen Recreation Area)	large reservoir	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation forms by Paul Martsching was submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: Common Loon was eliminated by bill size, more rounded forehead, unspeckled back, and by the neck pattern. Red-throated Loon was eliminated by bill shape, lack of speckling on the back, and three-toned neck pattern. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:43:00/08:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	7
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Pacific Loon at Saylorville Reservoir, 1986	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1986-11-22	1994-02-05	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Pacific Loon at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on November 22, 1986. Includes a record review document with votes, a reconsideration of bird sighting record, summary of review of records, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Pacific Loon	Saylorville Lake	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co.	large reservoir	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Loren Padelford, Babs Padelford, and Bob Myers were submitted later. Other observers include Bob Myers, B.J. Rose, Jim Dinsmore, Gene Armstrong, and Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: Common Loon eliminated by the small bill, rounded forehead, clear separation between the throat and back of neck, smaller size, chin strap, and dark, mostly unmarked back. Red-throated Loon eliminated by thicker, straighter bill, dark back, chin strap, and 3-toned neck pattern. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:15:00 - 11:30:00 and 11:45:00.- 12:30:00 on November 22 and 08:00:00/08:35:00 on November 23.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	7
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Rock Wren at Saylorville Dam, 1986	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1986-11-22	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Rock Wren at Saylorville Dam in Polk County, IA on November 22, 1986. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, a summary of the review, and nine documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Padelford, Babs Padelford, Loren	Rock Wren	Saylorville Dam	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co. East parking area on dam.	Rocky south wall of the dam.	The documentation form by Babs and Loren Padelford forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Steve Dinsmore, Peter C. Petersen, Jim Dinsmore, Robert K. Myers, Paul Martsching, Francis L. Moore, and Mark Proescholdt were submitted. Other observers include Tim Schantz, Pat Kelly, Jane Fuller, Tom Stone, Bery Engebretsen, Chuck Fuller, B.J. Rose, Pete Wickham, Mark Brogie, Brian Blevins, Corey Blevins, Mary Lou Petersen, Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, and many unidentified other observers. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] Tail in proportion to body was shorter than that of water pipit, and longer than a house wren. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:20:00/13:25:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Pacific Loon at Saylorville Reservoir, 1986	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc Wildlife conservation	1986-11-01	1996-04-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Pacific Loon at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on November 1, 1986. Includes a record review document with votes, revotes on sighting, correspondence regarding sighting from Ronald E. Goetz to Thomas H. Kent, article from Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Pacific Loon	Saylorville Lake	Prairie Flower Recreation Area, Saylorville Reservoir	large body of water	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Common Loon eliminated by the more rounded forehead, the smaller, darker bill, the paler nape and crown, the gray necklace on the throat, and by the overall smaller size(a small Common Loon should still show the features of a normal Common Loon). Red-throated Loon was separated by the straight (not upturned) bill, the dark, unspeckled [sic] back, and the gray necklace. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:00:00/15:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	7
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Rock Wren near C Street Roller Dam in Cedar Rapids, 1986	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1986-10-30	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Rock Wren near C Street Roller Dam in Cedar Rapids in Linn County, IA on October 30, 1986. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, a summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Fye, Dale Fye, Helen	Rock Wren	C Street Roller Dam	Southeast Cedar Rapids, Near Roller Dam, near Rocky Rail Road right of way with some dried weeds and short brush		The documentation form by Dale and Helen Fye is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Carolina Wren is browner and has a sharper eyeline. House wren is smaller. Bewicks has unstreaked breast and specific tail movement, + is predominately brown, also has a more distinct eyeline. Canyon has unstreaked breast and dark belly \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:00:00/17:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Lesser Black-backed Gull at Lock and Dam 19 in Keokuk, 1986	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1986-10-20	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Lock and Dam 19 in Keokuk in Lee County, IA on October 20, 1986. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, summary of the review, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Cecil, Robert I.	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Lock Number 19	Behind dam, Lock and Dam 19, Keokuk, Iowa	River rapids	The documentation form by Robert Cecil forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Jim Fuller was submitted. Other observers include Chris Pilliod, Jim Sandrock, Cal Knight, Jane Fuller, Charles Fuller, and James Huntington. \| Elimination of similar species: The only species I could not eliminate on the basis of field marks observed was Yellow-footed, which according to Tom Kent (telephone conversation) is not a known vagrant. More objectively, the Yellow-footed is supposed to be larger than a Herring Gull. As stated above, this bird was about the size of a Herring Gull, or perhaps a little smaller. I don't feel it was larger than a Herring Gull. Seabirds (Harrison) warns of possible confusion with dark race Herring Gull. I have not heard of this race occuring [sic] in Iowa. In any event, the foot coloring was incorrect for Herring Gull, which has pink legs in contrast to this bird's yellow legs. \| The original documentation form event occurred at various times.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Chestnut-collared Longspur north of Smithland in 1986	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds Birds--Collection and preservation Zoological specimens	1986-09-01	1994-02-04	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Chestnut-collared Longspur north of Smithland in Woodbury County, IA on April 15 and 16, 1986. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication Chestnut-collared Longspur in Woodbury County in Iowa Bird Life 56(3):95 by Dick Bierman, and referenced by another publication.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Chestnut-collared Longspur	Smithland				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	43
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Red Knot at Oak Grove Beach at Saylorville Reservoir, 1986	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1986-08-05	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two Red Knots at Oak Grove Beach at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on August 5, 1986. Includes a record review document with votes, summary of the review, an article of Iowa Bird Life, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Red Knot	Oak Grove Recreation Area	Oak Grove Beach, Saylorville Reservoir	sandy beach along lake	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Steve Dinsmore (later sighting) and Bob Myers were submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: Only two other sandpipers have reddish underparts-Curlew Sandpiper and Sanderling. Bill shape eliminates Curlew Sandpiper. The larger size, extent of reddish underparts, leg color, white rump, and wing stripe confined to the secondaries eliminates Sanderling. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:31:00/07:57:00 and 08:17:00/08:26:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	1
J. Donald Gillaspey letter to Carl J. Bendorf regarding Broad-winged Hawk sighting, fall 1986	Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Behavior Birds--Habitat Birds--Migration	1986-08-01	1986-11-30	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Gillaspey writes about a report of Broad-winged Hawks at Little River Lake. He includes a clipping of the report printed in the Lamoni Chronicle on October 16, 1986. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly Report of fall 1986.	Gillaspey, J. Donald	Broad-winged Hawk	Little River Recreation Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	22	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Rufous Hummingbird at St. Olaf, 1986	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1986-07-10	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Rufous Hummingbird at St. Olaf in Clayton County, IA on July 10, 1986. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, a summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Stone, Larry	Rufous Hummingbird	Saint Olaf	sugar-water feeder near the kitchen window of our home in St. Olaf		The documentation form by Larry Stone is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tom Kent, Jim Dinsmore, and Francis Moore. \| Elimination of similar species: We did not see any ruby-throats for a comparison while the rufous was present. But when we saw a female or immature ruby-throat later in the day, we remarked that it looked smaller, slimmer and greener than the rufous. [...] The distinct, rusty color, especially on the back, fits no other species. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 18:30:00/21:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	24
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mountain Plover at Colo Ponds, 1986	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1986-07-09	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Mountain Plover at Colo Ponds in Story County, IA on July 9, 1986. Includes a record review document with votes, numerous correspondence about the bird sighting, an outside review of the sighting from Don Roberson, a summary of the review, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and nine documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Zaletel, Hank	Mountain Plover	Colo Bogs Wildlife Management Area	3 miles east of Colo, County Road E-41, 1/2 mile north, section 1 T83N R21W, Story County.	General: Recently plowed field with several pothole ponds Specific: The bird stayed in the waterways that led to the ponds. These areas were wet and contained no vegetation.	The documentation form by Hank Zalatel is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Jim Dinsmore, Mark Proescholdt, Thomas H. Kent, Jim Fuller, Robert K. Myers, Francis L. Moore, Tom Staudt, and Paul Martsching were submitted later. Other observers include Cal Knight, Bernie Knight, Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, Steve Dinsmore, and unidentified other observers. \| Elimination of similar species: Golden and Black-bellied plovershave [sic] gray-white and brown-gold scaly backs, this bird's back was brown and was unmarked. These two plovers have streaked throats which this bird did not have. These two plovers have streaked breasts which this bird did not have. The white above the eye of this bird was clear and contained no streaking as does the Black-bellied Plover. The bird associated with Golden Plovers in breeding plumage and one that was not so that comparison could be made on the spot for the two plumages. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 18:30:00/18:55:00 July 9, 1986 and 18:45:00 - 19:15:00 on July 10, 1986.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	19
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Lazuli Bunting at Martin-Little Sioux Recreation Area, 1986	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1986-05-16	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Lazuli Bunting at Martin-Little Sioux Recreation Area in Cherokee County, IA on May 16, 1986. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, a summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Brewer, Marion M.	Lazuli Bunting	Martin Area County Park	4 east of Larrabee	edge of hardwood forest	The documentation form by Marion Brewer is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Blue bird (white wing bars). \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:32:00/15:36:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	4
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ferruginous Hawk at Rathbun Reservoir, 1986	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1986-02-01	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Ferruginous Hawk at Rathbun Reservoir in Appanoose County, IA on February 1, 1986. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, a summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Heusinkveld, Bill	Ferruginous Hawk	Rolling Cove Park	Rolling Cove Area, Rathbun Lake, Appanoose County	Perched in Large Tree in Grove next to Lake Rathbun	The documentation form by Bill Heusinkveld is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Marjorie Heusinkveld \| Elimination of similar species: Red tail eliminated by complete lack of belly band, no red tail. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:04:00/09:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-backed Woodpecker at Camp Arrowhead near Ottumwa, 1985	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-12-28	1993-09-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-backed Woodpecker at Camp Arrowhead near Ottumwa in Wapello County, IA on December 28, 1985. Includes a record review document with votes and an article submitted to the committee.	Hoskins, Nelson R.	Black-backed Woodpecker	Camp Arrowhead	[...] former YMCA Camp Arrowhead, 3 miles east and 1 mile south of Ottumwa, Wapello County		The documentation form by Nelson R. Hoskins is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bill Heusinkveld, Margorie Heusinkveld, Charles Ayres, and Darleen Ayres. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 12:00:00	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	30
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Iceland Gull near Lock and Dam 15 near Davenport, 1985	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Tables (documents)	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-12-22	1993-09-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Iceland Gull near Lock and Dam 15 near Davenport in Scott County, IA on December 22, 1985. Includes record review documents with votes, articles in Illinois Birds and Birding as well as American Birds, correspondence about the bird sighting, and four documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Petersen, Peter C.	Iceland Gull	Lock and Dam 15	Location: Davenport. County: Scott	General: Chanel [sic] of Miss. R., near middle of river when standing. Specific: 1/2 - 3/4 mi. above Lock + Dam 15.	The documentation form by Peter C. Petersen forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Ann Barker, Mary Lou Petersen, and Bill Barker were submitted. Other observers include Steve Dinsmore, Paul Martsching, Pete Wickham, Mark Brogie, Lewis Blevins, Corey Blevins, Brett Ashford, and Dale Dickinson. \| Elimination of similar species: Glaucous Gull eliminated by size, wing extention [sic] well beyond tail. Flight, headshape, all emphasized by direct comparison with Glaucous Gulls. The next afternoon Bill Barker compared this bird to two different sized Glaucous Gulls and it was smaller than the smaller Glaucous Gull. Plumage lighter than Glaucous also. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:40:00/12:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	4
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of a Thayer's Gull at Red Rock Reservoir Dam, 1985	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-12-10	1993-09-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Thayer's Gull at Red Rock Reservoir Dam in Marion County, IA on December 10, 1985. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and six documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Bendorf, Carl J.	Thayer's Gull	Red Rock Dam	Red Rock Res. Tailwater		The documentation form by Carl J. Bendorf forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Thomas H. Kent, Francis L. Moore, Bob Myers, Beth Proescholdt and Mark Proescholdt, and Dennis Thompson were submitted. Other observers include Joe Schaufenbuel, Darwin Koenig, Steve Dinsmore, Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, and many unidentified observers. \| Elimination of similar species: Thayer's Gull is a difficult bird to identify. In researching this problem, I have found several helpful sources in addition to the standard field guides and I have tried to understand what it takes to know a Thayer's Gull when you see one. Nearly every reference makes it clear that Thayer's cannot be identified on the basis of one or two positive field marks. It takes a combination of characters to come to a conclusion of any certainty. In discussing this particular observation, I will examine each of the fieldmarks and compare and contrast to similar species with liberal reference to the literature, especially Lehman (1980). The most likely similar gulls in this case are 1st winter Herring and 1st winter Iceland (Kumlien's). The Kumlien's form is the darker form of the Iceland Gull and is the form that breeds in the Baffin Island area and winters mainly on the Atlantic coast. Lehman's article deals mainly with Kumlien's. Several similarly sized and possible but unlikely candidates can be eliminated rather quickly. A 1st winter California should not have an all dark bill and would show much darkening in the primaries in flight. Lesser Black-backed Gull could be about the right size, but in flight a 1st winter bird should show darker primary and secondary coverts, more extensively dark primaries, even compared to Herring Gull. A 1st summer Slaty-backed Gull is also light uniform brown with an all dark bill, but it should exhibit extensive darkening in the primaries on the upper wing. A 1st winter Glaucous-winged Gull would be very similar to Thayer's but should be larger, with a larger bill, and less mottling to the body color. Except for the first two, one would probably not consider the likelihood of their occurrence in Iowa to be very great. One hybrid, Glaucous-winged X Western, might be similar but should have a quite heavy bill. [...] Summary: Of the most likely similar species, 1st winter Herring Gull and 1st winter Kumlien's Iceland Gull, each is eliminated by one or more of the features discussed above. The wing pattern is especially damaging to the possibility of Herring, along with the bill shape and size. Iceland is ruled out by the presence of the noticeable tail band and by the darker secondaries on the upper wing. To identify a Thayer's Gull, one must see a combination of field marks. I feel that the bird I saw at Red Rock is consistent on every point.\| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:15:00/14:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of a Red-throated Loon at Saylorville Reservoir, 1985	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-11-30	1996-08-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Red-throated Loon at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on November 30, 1985. Includes a record review document with votes, an Iowa Bird Life article, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Red-throated Loon	Saylorville Lake	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co.	open patch of water on large, frozen reservoir	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation form by Robert K. "Bob" Myers were submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: Common Loon eliminated by overall size, bill shape and size, and white spots on back. Arctic Loon eliminated by bill shape and black of crown not reaching eye. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:00:00/13:00:00 and 13:45:00/14:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of King Eider at De Soto National Wildlife Refuge, 1985	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Forms (documents)	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-11-10	1993-09-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a King Eider at De Soto National Wildlife Refuge in Harrison County on November 10, 1985. Includes a record review document with votes, diagrams and drawings, an article in Iowa Bird Life, correspondence over the sighting and identification, and nine documentation forms submitted to the committee. Within the documentation forms, sightings of both King Eider and Common Eider are reported.	Bray, Tanya	King Eider	DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge	DeSoto NWR, Washington County, Ne.--Harrison County, Ia.		The documentation form by Tanya Bray is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Jim Dinsmore, Stephen Dinsmore, Robert K. Myers, Jim Fuller, Francis L. Moore, Beth & Mark Proescholdt, W. Ross Silcock, Tom Kent, Peter C. Petersen, and Babs Padelford were submitted later. Other observers include Mark Dixon, Scott Patton, B.J. Rose, Loren Padelford, and Emil K. Nattalle. Elimination of similar species: Larger than White-winged Scoter in direct comparison. This bird also seemed "heavier" and more massive than the scoter. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:00:00/16:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	17
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Parasitic Jaeger at Saylorville Reservoir, 1985	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-10-14	1993-09-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Parasitic Jaeger at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on October 14, 1985. Includes a record review document with votes, an article of Iowa Bird Life, and six documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Myers, Robert K.	Parasitic Jaeger	Saylorville Lake	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co., Iowa	General: Saylorville Reservoir- large impoundment on DesMoines [sic] River. Specific: Always out in main deeper part of lake.	The documentation form by Robert K. Myers is the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Stephen Dinsmore, Francis L. Moore, Carl J. Bendorf, Thomas H. Kent, and Bery Engebretsen were submitted. Other observers include Dennis Thompson, Eloise Armstrong, Eugene Armstrong, Tom Staudt, and many unidentified observers. \| Elimination of similar species: Pomarine Jaeger and Long-tailed Jaeger are possible. See explanation on back as to why I believe this was Parasitic Jaeger. [...] A juvenile dark phase Pomarine would also show much white in the base of primaries (top and bottom) and the tail wouldn't have any long streamers. The Pomarine should however be a larger bird (Herring Gull size). The Pomarine's flight should be slower and more labored than this bird was. A juvenile dark phase Long-tailed Jaeger would not show as much white on dorsal side of primaries as this bird did and the flight pattern should be almost tern-like which it was not. Long-tailed Jaegers should also appear to be more grayish than the bird in question- even in dark phase. Further note on size-- As the jaeger rested on the water, double-crested cormorants would sometimes swim into the field of view and they appeared to be at least one-third larger than the jaeger. A pied-billed grebe also swam near once and the jaeger was probably 1/4 again longer than the grebe. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:15:00/09:40:00 and seen several times after that for a total of sixty minutes.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	16
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-billed Magpie near Larchwood, 1985	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-10-06	1993-09-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-billed Magpie near Larchwood in Lyon County, IA on October 6, 1985. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Harr, Douglas C.	Black-billed Magpie	Larchwood	6 mi. W, 2 mi. S of Larchwood, Lyon County, Iowa	General: Hills bordering Big Sioux River Specific: Prairie hills, with some riverbottom & hillside timber, cropfields on tops of hills nearby.	The documentation form by Douglas Harr is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bill Fribley and Paul Hagen. \| Elimination of similar species: Only similar groups would be crows, jays and blackbirds. Size, tail shape and unique color pattern dictate nothing else except Black-billed Magpie. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:04:00/14:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	45
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ferruginous Hawk in Story County, 1985	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-09-29	1993-09-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Ferruginous Hawk at Tiegs Marsh in Story County, IA on September 29, 1985. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence about bird sightings, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Ferruginous Hawk	Story County	Tiegs Marsh, Story County	in open cropland near a small marsh	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Fred J. Alsop were submitted later. Other observers include Dr. George Brown and Paul Martsching. \| Elimination of similar species: Red-tailed hawk eliminated by lack of dark bar on leading edge of underwing, position of white wing patches, white tail with rusty tip, lack of belly band, and rust color on back and wings. Rough-legged hawk eliminated by lack of wrist marks, rust color on back and wings, all white legs, unbanded tail and lack of belly band. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:35:00 and 10:10:00 to 10:15:00 estimated.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	1