Documents • Iowa State University • Avian Archives of Iowa Online

Title	Genres	Topics	Date (Start)	Date (End)	Type	Description	Creator/Author	Birds	Locations	Locality	Habitat	Remarks

Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Smith's Longspur west of Essex, 1984	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1984-03-29	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two to ten Smith's Longspurs west of Essex in Page County, IA on March 29, 1984. Includes a record review document with votes, summary of the review and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Myers, Robert K.	Smith's Longspur	Essex	4 mi. North of Red Oak, Ia. and 2 mi. West of Essex, Iowa	General: Open - rolling terrain Specific: usually in ankle	The documentation form by Robert K. Myers is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Francis Moore. \| Elimination of similar species: Lapland does not have buffy breast or white patches on shoulders or head. \| The original documentation form event occurred at various times on March 29, 30, and 31, 1984.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	42
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Smith's Longspur west of Essex, 1984	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1984-03-29	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two to ten Smith's Longspurs west of Essex in Page County, IA on March 29, 1984. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Myers, Robert K.	Smith's Longspur	Essex	4 mi. North of Red Oak, Ia. and 2 mi. West of Essex, Iowa	General: Open - rolling terrain Specific: usually in ankle	The documentation form by Robert K. Myers is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Francis Moore. \| Elimination of similar species: Lapland does not have buffy breast or white patches on shoulders or head. \| The original documentation form event lasted occurred at various times on March 29, 30, and 31, 1984.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	42
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Great Black-backed Gull at Saylorville Reservoir, 1987	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1987-04-30	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Great Black-backed Gull at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on April 30, 1987. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Myers, Robert K.	Great Black-backed Gull	Saylorville Lake	Saylorville Reservoir - Polk Co.	Large, man-made lake - sandy beaches	The documentation form by Robert K. Myers is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Eugene Armstrong and Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: The gull was too big and had too large of a bill for herring gull. The checkered back + very contrasty head + upper breast with lower are not consistent with herring. Basically size of bird + its bill eliminated most everything. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 18:30:00/18:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	21
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Yellow Rail at Sweet Marsh, 1980	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1980-05-11	1993-08-16	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Yellow Rail at Sweet Marsh in Bremer County, IA on May 11, 1980. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Myers, Robert K.	Yellow Rail	Sweet Marsh	East side of Sweet Marsh - Bremer Co. Iowa	The bird flushed in exactly the same place as one did May 26, 1979 for Francis Moore and me. The area has short grass (less than a foot high) and the water under the grass is about 4" or 5" deep. Francis flushed the bird again May 18, 1980.	The documentation form by Robert K. Myers is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Francis Moore. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	11
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Bullock's Oriole at Cedar Falls, 1981	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1981-12-20	2000-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Bullock's Oriole at Cedar Falls in Black Hawk County, IA on December 20, 1981. Includes a record review document with votes, photographs, e-mail correspondence between Jon Dunn, Jim Fuller, James Rising, David Sibley, and Paul Lehman, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Myers, Robert K.	Bullock's Oriole	Cedar Falls	Cedar Falls, Iowa - Black Hawk County	coming to feeder in residential area	The documentation form by Robert K. Myers is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers includes Don Irwin and Paulina Irwin. \| Elimination of similar species: The 'Baltimore' subspecies has the yellow-orange on breast going down the breast thru belly and has a more yellowish back. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:00:00/15:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	11
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-necked Stilt at Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge, 1984	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1984-06-02	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of two Black-necked Stilts at Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge in Kossuth County, IA on June 2, 1984. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, a photocopy of a photo, an article of Iowa Bird Life, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Myers, Robert K.	Black-necked Stilt	Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge	Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge - Kossuth County, Iowa	General: Large cattail marsh. Specific: Shallow muddy pool on north edge of Refuge.	The documentation form by Robert Myers forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Francis L. Moore was submitted. Other observers include Russell Hays and several unidentified observers. \| Elimination of similar species: Nothing really is similar. American Avocet has upturned bill and shows much white in wings. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:58:00/08:00:00 and 08:30:00/08:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	20
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Western Tanager at Hope Martin Memorial Park, 1981	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1981-10-08	1993-08-16	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Western Tanager at Hope Martin Memorial Park in Black Hawk County, IA on October 8, 1981. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, a letter from Bruce Peterjohn to Tom Kent, a letter from Bob Myers to Tom Kent, a letter from Francis Moore to Tom Kent, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Myers, Robert K.	Western Tanager	Hope Martin Memorial Park	Hope Martin Park, Waterloo, Ia. (Part of Waterloo Greenbelt)	Riverbottom Timber on edge of park - brushy area First seen in top of willow thicket, then flew to top of oak in the park.	The documentation form by Robert Myers is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Francis L. Moore was submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: Fall scarlet tanager is possible - see attached page. My first thought was that this was late for a scarlet Tanager and when I looked closer I saw the wing bars. My second thought was that someone told me that one of a hunderd [sic] ♀ scarlets have wing bars. I also knew the Peterson Guide says some scarlets have two wing bars. When I went home that night I was anything but convinced the bird was a western tanager even though most literature states wing bars = western tanager. When I got home I phoned Fancis Moore and he went to the park and was able to relocate the bird. Even though he had never seen western tanagers before, Francis thought this was one. His enthusiasm prompted me to research further. I am now also convinced that this bird was indeed a western tanager no matter how unlikely it seems. Ironically, my first western tanager, a male seen April 26, 1980 at Forney Lake, was also with a mixed flock of yellow-rump + palm warblers. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:00:00/16:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	29
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Yellow-throated Warbler at Wildcat Den State Park, 1980	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1980-05-09	1993-08-16	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Yellow-throated Warbler at Wildcat Den State Park in Muscatine County, IA on May 9, 1980. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Thornburg, Robert E.	Yellow-throated Warbler	Wildcat Den State Park	Wildcat Den State Park	uppermost pine branches often to the very tips of the branches	The documentation form by Robert Thornburg is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Yellow-throated Vireo, Northern Parula Warbler Magnolia Warbler. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:30:00/07:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	19
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ferruginous Hawk west of Ogden, 1998	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1998-08-09	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Ferruginous Hawk west of Ogden in Boone County, IA on August 9, 1998. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Junck, Rodger	Ferruginous Hawk	Ogden	1/4 mi. West of Ogden Iowa main street on gravel road at 'T' intersection by railroad tracks	Grassy rail road right of way bordered by corn/soybean fields	The documentation form by Rodger Junck is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include unnamed sister. \| Elimination of similar species: Most familiar with red-tails. I have had more than a dozen of them at a time circling my combine during harvest. Have seen them 'displaying' against each other over a rabbit as well. In fact, I see them most days - but they are considerably too small and, except for the Krider's, would be wrong color. I have no info on if Kriders have a white head and white feathery legs \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00 - -09:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of White-winged Dove at Waukee, 1999	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1999-05-20	2000-11-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a White-winged Dove at Waukee in Dallas County, IA on May 20, 1999. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Schlaefer, Roger U.	White-winged Dove	Waukee	Waukee, Iowa 50263 - Songbird Park behind 1070 1st Pl.	Open grassy mowed park - several acres of tall grasses. Narrow wooded gully - beside tree lined pond - varied plated fruit trees and bushes. By Cottonwood tree & flowing stream.	The documentation form by Roger Schlaefer is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Marjorie Schlaefer. \| Elimination of similar species: Morning Dove: This one hoots more in sequence, deeper sound. White on wings and tail not like Local Doves. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 06:00:00/19:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	10
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Burrowing Owl south of Archer, 1982	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1982-04-13	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Burrowing Owl south of Archer in O'Brien County, IA on April 13, 1982. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Harms, Ronald	Burrowing Owl	Archer	O'Brien County, Ia. 1.75 South of Archer	Flat land	The documentation form by Ronald Harms is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: it's just a burrowing owl \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 09:00:00/09:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	17
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-headed Grosbeak at Rush Lake, 1982	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1982-05-20	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Grosbeak at Rush Lake in Palo Alto County, IA on May 20, 1982. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, a letter from Ann Sernett to Thomas Kent, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Harms, Ronald	Black-headed Grosbeak	Rush Lake	South side Rush Lake, Palo Alto Co. and Mable [sic] Grous grove, Pocahontas Co.	Open woods	The documentation form by Ronald Harms is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers were Ann Luther, Mabel Grous, Ken Sernett and Ann Sernett. \| Elimination of similar species: there were many [female symbol] Rose-brested [sic] around to compare.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Great-tailed Grackle at Riverton Area, 1983	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1983-07-01	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for three to four Great-tailed Grackles at Riverton Area in Fremont County, IA on July 1, 1983. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and five documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Silcock, W. Ross	Great-tailed Grackle	Riverton Wildlife Management Area	Riverton GMA		The documentation form by Ross Silcock is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Francis L. Moore, Barbara L. Wilson, Peter Petersen, and Mike Newlon were submitted later. Other observers include Tayce Pederson, Homer Pederson, Jean Pederson, Mary Lou Petersen, Corey Blevins, Joe Schaufenbuel, Steve Dinsmore, Gordon Jones, Carl Bendorf, and Thomas Staudt. \| Elimination of similar species: During most sightings, chucking sounds typical of grackles were heard, but on the initial sighting, squealing sounds apparently characteristic of this species were heard.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Barrow's Goldeneye at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, 1989	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1988-01-02	1993-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Barrow's Goldeneye at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge in Harrison County, IA on January 2, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes, photographs of the bird, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and four documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Silcock, W. Ross	Barrow's Goldeneye	DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge	DeSoto NWR	Oxbow Lake, Partly open	The documentation form by Ross Silcock is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Steve Dinsmore and Jim Fuller were submitted later. Other observers include Ann Johnson, Ruth Green, and Tanya Bray. \| Elimination of similar species: See above - all features eliminate Common Goldeneye. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/12:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	21
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 of Thayer's Gull at Lake Manawa, 1981	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1981-03-19	1993-08-26	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two Thayer's Gulls at Lake Manawa in Pottawattamie County, IA on March 19, 1981. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence and comments about the sighting, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and four documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Silcock, W. Ross	Thayer's Gull	Lake Manawa	Lake Manawa, Pottawattamie County, Iowa.		The documentation form by Ross Silcock is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Thomas H. Kent, Peter C. Petersen, and Robert K. Myers were submitted later. Other observers include Tom Shires, James Kovanda, Sandra Kovanda, Tanya Bray, Babs Padelford, Loren Padelford, B.J. Rose, and four unidentified other observers. \| Elimination of similar species: The above description separates by direct comparison first-year Thayer's and Herring Gulls, the most similar species present. Thayer's may be confused in first year plumage with Kumlien's form of Iceland Gull, but the Thayer's had primaries slightly darker than the mantle (from above), whereas the opposite occurs in Iceland Gull (Lehman). Lehman also notes that some first-year Western Gulls may show translucent primaries from below in certain light, but these observations took place in excellent light at fairly close range. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 09:30:00/11:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Laughing Gull at Midwest Power Pond, 1994	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-10-19	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Laughing Gull at Midwest Power (South) Pond in Pottawattamie County, IA on October 19, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes, a documentation letter from Paul Lehman to Ross Silcock, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Silcock, W. Ross	Laughing Gull	MidAmerican Energy Ponds	Midwest Power (South) Pond, Pottawattamie Co., IA		The documentation form by Ross Silcock is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentations by Babs and Loren Padelford as well as Paul Lehman were submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] Later it was seen at rest with Ring-billed and Franklin's Gulls, the latter group including a few individuals of the same age as the Laughing Gull, allowing careful comparison. [...] The wings were long and pointed, the overall jizz of the bird more attenuated than a Franklin's. [...] There was a grayish-black wash over the crown and nape, slightly intensified in the upper nuchal area, and a paler grayish wash on the flanks in the area below the bend of the wing, imparting a "dirtier" look to the underparts than on same-age Franklin's Gulls (seen when at rest). At rest, the black primaries extended well past the tail, a feature compared easily with nearby Franklin's, and there were no small white crescents in the primaries of the Laughing Gull, a feature easily seen in same-age Franklin's nearby. The Laughing Gull was almost as big as the Ringbills near it, while it appeared significantly larger than the adjacent Franklin's. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:30:00/11:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Pacific Loon at IPL Ponds, 1989	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-11-05	1993-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Pacific Loon at the IPL Ponds in Pottawattamie County, IA on November 5, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Silcock, W. Ross	Pacific Loon	Pottawattamie County	IPL South Pond, Pottawattamie County, IA	Artificial impoundment	The documentation form by Ross Silcock is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include B.J. Rose, Doug Rose, Roger Rose, and Pete Wickham. \| Elimination of similar species: Common Loon- Cleancut black-white demarcation and eye surrounded by dark feathering; chinstrap. Red-throated Loon - Dark feathering (not greyish as in most red-throats). Bill held level-symmetrical dagger-like bill chinstrap. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:45:00/12:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	7
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ferruginous Hawk at Benton Township in Fremont County, 1989	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-01-17	1993-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Ferruginous Hawk at Benton Township in Fremont County, IA on January 17, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes, field notes of the sighting, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Silcock, W. Ross	Ferruginous Hawk	Benton Township	Benton TWP, Fremont Co., IA.	Open Missouri riverbottom; soybean stubble fields	The documentation form by Ross Silcock is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: See attached discussion. (After writing my field notes at the site of observation and returning home later I found the stnadard field guides most unhelpful. Dunne et al's discussion of Ferruginous was tremendous, indicating variation in Ferruginous Hawks, and especially in discussion of flight characteristics, 'jizz', and behavior [...] The only possibility which is realistic to consider is Redtailed [sic] Hawk, or possibly Rough-legged Hawk. While similar in 'jizz' to a rough-leg (long tail, flight with 'crooked' (=osprey-like) wings, darker mottling underneath, longish wings), Roughleg can be eliminated by the following characters - absence of characteristic underwing pattern, including significant wrist mark (Ferruginous should show this to some extent according to Dunne et al, but I did not see it; remember I did not see the underparts well), and method of hunting-I have never seen a roughleg fly this low over the ground for this long (about a mile) - much lower and more consistently so than a harrier. Regarding elimination of Red-tail - I really think it is easier to eliminate Red-tail than rough-leg based on 'jizz'. The tail was too long, was never spread, and wings were long than Red-tail's. Tail pattern and 'three points of light' combination also is never seen on a Redtail [sic], especially when viewed from above. (The similarity to Roughleg [sic] in pattern can be seen in the front end paper in Dunne et al). Habitat and behavior also are important - while Redtails [sic] are very common in Fremont County, they are definitely not common on the open Missouri bottomlands. Redtail [sic] is a bird of edge habitat. I always look closely at any buteo seen from October to April on the open bottomlands. I have never seen any other buteo fly as low to the ground for as long as this bird - when i say low, I mean 1-2 ft above the ground. At no time was the bird higher than 6', and that was when perched on possibly the lowest post for some distance. Even a Harrier will rise and fall while hunting. This bird stayed low, in the manner of a hunting Golden Eagle (which I have seen in Western Kansas) - a point also mentioned by Dunne et al. Another point noted by Dunne et al and also shown in my sketch (purposely!) and, mentioned in my field notes was the osprey-like crook in the wings-while flying low over the ground. Dunne et al note that this is characteristic of a hunting Ferruginous. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:30:00/15:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Riverton Wildlife Management Area, 1994	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-05-15	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Riverton Wildlife Management Area in Fremont County, IA on May 15, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence about the bird sighting, seven photographs and photocopies of them, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Silcock, W. Ross	Sharp-tailed Sandpiper	Riverton Wildlife Management Area	Riverton GMA, Fremont County		The documentation form by Ross Silcock is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include B.J. Rose, Roger Rose, and Doug Rose. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] It resembled a Pectoral Sandpiper, but differed in the following ways: the crown was streaked, and showed noticeable rufous coloration in the feathering; the off-white superciliary stripe was lengthy and broadened towards the rear; the breast markings were dense as in a Pectoral but did not show a clearcut ending at the whitish belly, but instead ended indeterminately by gradually fading out. [...] Once ready to record, we flushed the bird and it gave a soft series of notes, somewhat like a Lesser Yellowlegs, but rather flat and unmelodious. This call was most unlike the harsh, grating call of a Pectoral Sandpiper. [...] Plumage, time of year, call upon flushing, and key plumage differences from Pectoral Sandpiper, cited above, led us to identify this bird as an adult Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 10:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	4
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Whimbrel at the MidAmerican Energy Ponds, 1989	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-08-27	1993-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Whimbrel at the MidAmerican Energy Ponds in Pottawattamie County, IA on August 27, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Silcock, W. Ross	Whimbrel	MidAmerican Energy Ponds	IPL Ponds, Pott Co., IA		The documentation form by Ross Silcock is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Loren Padelford, Babs Padelford, Doug Rose, B.J. Rose, Roger Rose, and Tanya Bray. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] Notable however was call - a rather mellow series of piping notes. (Somewhat like a musical Lesser Yellowlegs). The only other possibilities, Marbled Godwit & Longbilled Curlew, have very different calls. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 13:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	23
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Red Phalarope at IPL Ponds, 1989	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-08-27	1993-07-21	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Red Phalarope at IPL Ponds in Pottawattamie County, IA on August 27, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Silcock, W. Ross	Red Phalarope	MidAmerican Energy Ponds	IPL Ponds, Pott Co., IA		The documentation form by Ross Silcock is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Loren Padelford, Babs Padelford, Tanya Bray, BJ Rose, Doug Rose, and Roger Rose. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] Loren remarked on a pale one which we passed off as a Sanderling, even though it was feeding methodically and appeared to have some markings not characteristic of a Sanderling (we were still looking for a Laughing Gull!). [...] We re-examined the bird and I noted the following - a shorebird about Pectoral SDP. size but a little more elongated + less plump. [...] Bill similar to Pectoral SDP but straighter + a little heavier. [...] Also noticeable was dark coloration at bend of wing, when bird feeding. Latter was deliberate, rather like Dowitcher, head often under water. [...] (2) Difficulty of eliminating Red-necked Phalarope - I believe this is achieved due to the following (a) Red has much thicker bill (b) Red is significantly larger } Size comparison with Lesser Yellowlegs at IPL indicated this bird was not a small Phalarope. Bill was very heavy - as heavy or more so as a Pectoral's bill. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 12:15:00/13:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-bellied Whistling-Duck at Tomahawk Marsh, 1998	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Maps (documents) Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1998-04-10	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black-bellied Whistling-Duck at Tomahawk Marsh in Sac County on April 10, 1998. Includes a record review document with votes, a photograph, an article in Iowa Bird Life, a map of one of the sightings, and seven documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Reisz, Russell	Black-bellied Whistling-Duck	Tomahawk Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Tomahawk Marsh, Sac County, Iowa	marsh, wetland	The documentation form by Russell Reisz is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Peter Ernzen, Thomas H. Kent, Jim Fuller, Dick Tetrault, Chris Edwards, and Mark Proescholdt were submitted later. Other observers include Beth Proescholdt. \| Elimination of similar species: Fulvous Whistling-duck is the most similar species. This species was eliminated because it has a different bill color and a different leg color than the Black-bellied Whistling-duck. The Fulvous Whistling-duck also lacks the white wing patch and the dark belly of the Black-bellied Whistling-duck. These were all points of identification for the species seen at Tomahawk Marsh. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 19:58:00/19:58:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Sprague's Pipit north of Missouri Valley, 1978	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1978-04-11	1994-01-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Sprauge's Pipit north of Missouri Valley in Harrison County, IA on April 11, 1978. Includes a record review document with votes, a request for reconsideration of record, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Gochenour, Ruth A.	Sprague's Pipit	Missouri Valley	Two miles north of Missouri Valley, Iowa	Plowed field - corn stubble - Soil wet from rain - deep grassy ditches on both sides of rd.	The documentation form by Ruth Gochenour is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Naomi Svenningsen. \| Elimination of similar species: American Pipit, Vesper Sparrow - Legs-flesh colored - not clark - Lacked cinnamon shoulder patches - and streaking on back as described in #6. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:00:00/11:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	13
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Great Black-backed Gull at Lake Manawa, 1978	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1978-12-06	1993-08-19	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Great Black-backed Gull at Lake Manawa in Pottawattamie County, IA on December 6, 1978. Includes a record review document with votes, articles in Nebraska Bird Review, Iowa Bird Life, and American Birds, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Green, Ruth	Great Black-backed Gull	Lake Manawa	Lake Manawa, Council Bluffs, Iowa	Most of Lake Manawa was frozen over at this time but there were small patches of open water. The bird was standing on the ice at the edge of one of these patches.	The documentation form by Ruth Green forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Sandra S. Kovanda and James Kovanda, Jr. was submitted. \| Elimination of similar species: There were only two gulls at this time there--this bird and the glaucous. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 16:30:00/17:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	8