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 Black-headed Gull at Big Creek State Park, 1994	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-11-17	1998-06-09	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Gull at Big Creek State Park in Polk County, IA on November 17, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Cummins, Raymond L.	Black-headed Gull	Big Creek Lake	Big Creek State Park Polk Co.	Open water	The documentation form by Ray Cummins forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Stephen J. Dinsmore and Jim Dinsmore were submitted. Other observers include Dennis Thompson and Susan B. Grove. \| Elimination of similar species: see above [...] The setting gull in direct comparison to the two Bonaparte's was lighter mantled, larger, whiter headed, the bill was longer and heavier, and the bill was reddish black not pure black like the Bonaparte's. In flight the gull had the same upper wing pattern as the Bonaparte's. [...] The underwing was not totally black like the Little Gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/10:36:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	21
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for American Pipit at Island View Park at Rathbun Reservoir, 1987	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1987-12-19	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for an American Pipit at Island View Park at Rathbun Reservoir in Appanoose County, IA on December 19, 1987. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Cummins, Raymond L.	American Pipit	Island View Park	Islandview East Lake Rathbun CBC	Mowed grass point with a limestone rock road	The documentation form by Ray Cummins forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Bill Heusinkveld and Marjorie Heusinkveld were submitted. Other observers include Bob Bergstrom, Sr., Mark Hoffman, and Bob Bergstrom, Jr. \| Elimination of similar species: Sprague's Pipit was begrudgingly eliminated for the following reasons: 1) Bold white eyebrow line. 2) Dark gray back pattern, there was no tan or brown in the back 3) Thin black malar stripe 4) Bird was in short grass and not particularly wary. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:05:00/14:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mississippi Kite at Cedar Rapids, 1983	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1983-04-23	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Mississippi Kite at Cedar Rapids in Linn County, IA on April 23, 1983. Includes a record review document with votes, summary of review, correspondence about bird sightings, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Walton, Robert	Mississippi Kite	Cedar Rapids	2.3 miles west of junction 218 on hiway 30 ( approx. 24 miles west of Cedar Rapids)	wet cropland (corn stubble field with water puddles)	The documentation form by Randy Walton is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Sandy Walton. \| Elimination of similar species: Shape and size of bird was similar to prairie and peregrine falcons. The lack of any facial markings, the grayish coloration and presence of the black dorsal wing tips eliminate the falcons. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:15:00/17:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	26
Rare bird documentation form for Black Scoter at Pleasant Creek Lake, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-10-25	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Black Scoter at Pleasant Creek Lake in Linn County, IA on October 25, 1992.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Black Scoter	Pleasant Creek State Park	Pleasant Creek Lake, Linn Co., Iowa		The documentation form by Randy Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bill and Daniel Pinkston. \| Elimination of similar species: Among ducks, only scoters are so thoroughly black. Only Black Scoter shows uniformly pale face and foreneck. No white in wing. American Coot smaller, has white chicken-like bill. \| The original documentation form event occurred around midday.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	13
Rare bird documentation form for Mississippi Kite at Clive, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1993-06-20	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Mississippi Kites at Clive in Polk County, IA on June 20, 1993.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Mississippi Kite	Clive	Clive (7600 Harbach), Polk County, Iowa		The documentation form by Randy Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/10:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	20
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Lesser Black-backed Gull at Coralville Dam, 1993	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-12-11	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Coralville Dam in Johnson County, IA on December 11, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Coralville Dam	Coralville Reservoir dam, Johnson County, Iowa		The documentation form by Randy Pinkston is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Carl Bendorf and Jim Fuller were submitted later. Other observers include John McLure, Chris Edwards, Jonnie Ellsworth, Lanny Haldy, Randy Graesser, Dan Ray, Angela Ray, Kathleen Kuenstling, Tom Kent, and many unidentified other observers. \| Elimination of similar species: Size and appearance rule out all other regular and vagrant North American gulls. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:30:00/16:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	5
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
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 Great-tailed Grackle south of Council Bluffs, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1992-05-23	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Great-tailed Grackle south of Council Bluffs in Pottawattamie County, IA on May 23, 1992.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Great-tailed Grackle	Council Bluffs	Off I-29 at south Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie Co., Iowa.		The documentation form by Randall Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Thomas Kent and Jim Fuller. \| Elimination of similar species: Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major) with more rounded crown, characteristic call notes, much less likely to occur in Iowa. Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) much smaller, different call notes, female lacks rich brown foreparts and superciliary stripe. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:00:00/09:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	77
Rare bird documentation form for Goose species at West Overlook at Coralville Lake, 1990	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1990-03-04	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Goose species at West Overlook at Coralville Lake in Johnson County, IA on March 4, 1990.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Ducks, Geese, Swans	Coralville Dam	opposite W. Overlook campground, Coralville Lake Johnson Co., IA		The documentation form by Randall Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim Fuller. \| Elimination of similar species: The unidentified goose was the size of the white-fronteds, dwarfing the Ross'...Underparts plain medium brown except or a line of indistinct pale crescents over the shoulder and elongate tertiaries [sic] each with a white streak suggestive of a blue phase Snow Goose. The extensive dark on the hindcrown, cheek, and through the eye on this bird is unique in my experience. \| The original documentation form event occurred around noon.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	27
Rare bird documentation form for Thayer's Gull at Red Rock Dam, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1993-11-13	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Thayer's Gull at Red Rock Dam in Marion County, IA on November 13, 1993.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Thayer's Gull	Red Rock Dam	Lake Red Rock dam, Marion County, Iowa		The documentation form by Randall Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim Fuller. \| Elimination of similar species: Compared with first-winter Herring Gull above. Pale Thayer's may be confused with same-aged Iceland Gull, but Iceland typically much paler than this individual. Iceland should also show pale, mottled tertials and tail which are concolor with the upperparts. This bird's tertials and tail were unpatterned (except at the edges of the tertials) and darker than the remainder of the upperparts. Iceland's folded primaries are paler than the remainder of the mantle, not darker as in this bird. Slaty-backed, Glaucous-winged, and Glaucous-winged X Western hybrid Gulls all larger, have more massive bills, less likely in Iowa. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:15:00/10:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	35
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Warbler at the Croton Unit in Shimek State Forest, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1993-06-23	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Warbler at the Croton Unit in Shimek State Forest in Lee County, IA on June 23, 1993.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Prairie Warbler	Shimek State Forest Wildlife Management Area - Croton Unit	Croton Unit, Shimek State Forest, Lee County, Iowa	Clearing in mature mixed woodland with second growth consisting of many small pines.	The documentation form by Randall Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Chuck Fuller. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] Distinct reddish-brown streaks on green back. [...] Sang characteristic song repeatedly during my observation, from small pines or the clearing's edge. [...] With a good look such as this, and watching the bird give the characteristic song, the adult male is unmistakeable. [sic] \| The original documentation form event lasted from 18:55:00/19:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	30
Rare bird documentation form for Bewick's Wren at Lacey-Keosauqua State Park, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1992-05-28	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Bewick's Wren at Lacey-Keosauqua State Park in Van Buren County, IA on May 28, 1992.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Bewick's Wren	Lacey-Keosauqua State Park	Lacey-Keosauqua St. Pk. campground, Van Buren Co., Iowa.		The documentation form by Randall Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bill Pinkston. \| Elimination of similar species: Song and tail alone rule out House and Carolina Wrens. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:30:00/14:30:59.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	1
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Warbler at the Croton Unit in Shimek State Forest, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1992-05-28	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Warbler at the Croton Unit in Shimek State Forest in Lee County, IA on May 28, 1992.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Prairie Warbler	Shimek State Forest Wildlife Management Area - Croton Unit	Croton Unit, Shimek St. For., Lee Co., Iowa. Same bird reported by others.		The documentation form by Randall Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bill Pinkston. \| Elimination of similar species: Combination of habitat, song and facial pattern are diagnostic. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:00:00/09:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	30
Rare bird documentation form for Bald Eagle at Coralville Reservoir, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-05-30	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Bald Eagles at Babcock Access Rd. at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on May 30, 1992.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Bald Eagle	Coralville Lake	Coralville Reservoir from Babcock Access Rd., Johnson Co., Iowa		The documentation form by Randall Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bill Pinkston and Tom Kent. \| Elimination of similar species: Adult unmistakeable. Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) the only other raptor of comparable size, immature with white restricted to base of primaries and base of tail, not usually expected in aquatic habitats. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:10:00/11:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	21
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Parula at Lake MacBride State Park, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1992-05-30	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Northern Parulas at Lake MacBride State Park in Johnson County, IA on May 30, 1992.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Northern Parula	Lake Macbride State Park	Lake MacBride St. Pk., Johnson Co., Iowa		The documentation form by Randall Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bill Pinkston and Thomas Kent. \| Elimination of similar species: Song is diagnostic. Only similar species is Tropical Parula (Parula pitiayumi) which has black mask, lacks eye-ring and blue-gray breast band. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 07:30:00 and 09:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	21
Rare bird documentation form for Great-tailed Grackle at MidAmerican Energy Ponds, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1993-06-20	1993-06-26	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for at least five Great-tailed Grackles at MidAmerican Energy Ponds at Pottawattamie County, IA on June 20, 1993. There are details of another sighting of another Great-tailed Grackle near Osceola in Clark County, IA on June 26, 1993 on the documentation form.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Great-tailed Grackle	MidAmerican Energy Ponds	South IPL pond, Pottawattamie County, Iowa (4+ males, 1 female); along Hwy. 2 in Nebraska City bridge area, Fremont County, Iowa (1 male)	[...] Observed in cattails at edge of IPL pond in Pottawattamie County [...]	The documentation form by Randall Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| The original documentation form event occurred in the afternoon.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	77
Rare bird documentation form for Black-throated Blue Warbler at Hickory Hill Park and Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-09-07	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Black-throated Blue Warbler at Hickory Hill Park and Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on September 7, 1992.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Black-throated Blue Warbler	Hickory Hill Park Oakland Cemetery	[map]		The documentation form by Randall Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:30:00/09:30:03.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	25
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Warbler west of Coralville Reservoir, 1991	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1991-08-04	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Pine Warbler west of Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on August 4, 1991.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Pine Warbler	Coralville Lake	Swan Lake Road west of Coralville Reservoir, Johnson Co., Iowa	Tall poplars at the edge of second-growth mixed hardwoods forest near the reservoir. Surrounded by cornfields. Groves of cultivated pines within 1/2 mile of the area. The bird was first spotted in the top-most branches of a bare (poplar?) snag.	The documentation form by Randall Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Yellow-throated Vireo has thick, less pointed bill and distinct yellow spectacles. Immature or female Northern (Baltimore) Oriole much larger. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 11:00:00/11:01:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	29
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Goshawk at Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-10-03	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Goshawk at Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on October 3, 1992.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Northern Goshawk	Oakland Cemetery	Oakland Cemetery, Iowa City, Johnson Co., Iowa		The documentation form by Randall Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Wings proportionately longer and narrower than either Cooper's or Sharp-shinned Hawks', distinctly broad at secondaries, narrowing at primaries. Tail too long for any Buteo, proportionately shorter than other accipiters or N. Harrier. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:25:00/10:25:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	25
Rare bird documentation form for White-winged Scoter at Pleasant Creek Lake, 1989	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1989-11-19	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a White-winged Scoter at Pleasant Creek Lake in Linn County, IA on November 19, 1989.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	White-winged Scoter	Pleasant Creek State Park	Pleasant Creek Lake north of Palo, Linn Co., Iowa		The documentation form by Randall Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: White wing patches and typical facial pattern of young White-winged rule out other scoters. Large size, large bill, dual facial patches eliminate female Bufflehead. White wing patches and large bill eliminate female Harlequin Duck. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:00:00/17:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	12
Rare bird documentation form for Long-tailed Duck at Pleasant Creek Lake, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-05-03	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Long-tailed Duck at Pleasant Creek Lake in Linn County, IA on May 3, 1992.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Long-tailed Duck	Pleasant Creek State Park	west end of Pleasant Creek Lake, Linn Co., Iowa	open water in middle of lake	The documentation form by Randall Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Unmistakable. \| The original documentation form event occurred around five minutes.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	14
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Warbler at Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area, 1994	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1994-04-24	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Pine Warbler at Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area in Johnson County, IA on April 24, 1994.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Pine Warbler	Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area	DuPont bridge road, Johnson County, Iowa		The documentation form by Randall Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Observed with Yellow-rumped and Palm Warblers. Really there was nothing else it could be. I considered an immature Palm Warbler but by late April the diagnostic marks should be apparent. The lack of a superciliary line and brownish cap, coupled with feeding behavior higher in the canopy and lack of tail-wagging, rule out Palm Warbler. Extensive white in the outer rectrix supports Pine Warbler.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	29
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Sugarbottom Recreation Area at Coralville Reservoir, 1991	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1991-09-22	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Sugarbottom Recreation Area at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on September 22, 1991.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Yellow Rail	Sugar Bottom Recreation Area	Coralville Reservoir (Sugarbottom recreation area..see map on back), Johnson Co., Iowa		The documentation form by Randall Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Large white wing patches are diagnostic. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 12:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Marbled Godwit at Amana Lily Lake, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1993-05-20	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Marbled Godwit at Amana Lily Lake in Iowa County, IA on May 20, 1993.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Marbled Godwit	Lily Pond	Amana Lily Lake, Iowa Co., Iowa	The bird foraged in shallow water against the lakeshore mudflat	The documentation form by Randall Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Initially spotted by it's large size, dwarfing nearby Black-bellied Plovers. Heavy-bodied and long-billed, at first I thought it might be a Willet except, even at great distance, the bill appeared gently upcurved. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:00:00/14:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	14