Documents • Iowa State University • Avian Archives of Iowa Online

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

Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Iceland Gull at Lock and Dam 14, 1993	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-01-31	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for an Iceland Gull at Lock and Dam 14 in Scott County, IA on January 31, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Iceland Gull	Lock and Dam 14	Lock & Dam #14, Mississippi River, Scott County.	The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] It was smaller than any of the Herring Gulls, almost totally off white (grayish-brown flecking), dark bill, gray-pink legs. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:55:00/10:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	4
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Lesser Black-backed Gull at Coralville Dam, 1997	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-10-08	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Coralville Dam in Johnson County, IA on October 8, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Coralville Dam	Beach at West Overlook Area just above the Coralville Reservoir Dam (Johnson County)	The documentation form by Jim Fuller forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Thomas H. Kent and Chris Edwards were submitted. Other observers include James Huntington, Jim Huntington, and Chuck Fuller. \| Elimination of similar species: All other dark mantled gulls in this plumage that are possible are larger and should show pinkish legs. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:00:00/17:30:00 on October 8, 1997, 07:05:00/07:15:00 and 16:20:00/16:30:00 on October 9, 1997, and 07:01:00/07:14:00 on October 10, 1997.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Lesser Black-backed Full at Lock 13, 1995	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-10-22	2000-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Lock 13 in Clinton County, IA on October 22, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation letter with field notes submitted to the committee.	Petersen, Peter C.	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Lock and Dam 13	Lock 13	The documentation letter and field notes by Peter C. Petersen forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Dan Dorrance, Kelly McKay, Mary Lou Petersen, and Dennis Carter. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 10:00:00/10:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	5
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 Lesser Black-backed Gull at Lake MacBride Beach, 1993	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-04-16	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Lake MacBride Beach in Johnson County, IA on April 16, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Lake MacBride Beach	Swim Beach of Lake MacBride State Park (Johnson County).	The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: All of the other larger gulls that are dark-mantled are larger than Lesser Black-backed. In addition, all those adult birds have pink legs, except Yellow-footed Gull, which has never been seen away from southern California and is larger than Herring Gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:59:00/16:03:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Lesser Black-backed Gull at Elk Rock State Park, 1986	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1986-12-03	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Elk Rock State Park in Marion County, IA on December 3, 1986. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Petersen, Peter C.	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Elk Rock State Park	[...] resting on mud bar just w. of old Hwy 14 a long north edge of reservoir.	The documentation form by Peter C. Petersen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Gil Sandvick was another observer. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] Bird slightly smaller than nearby adult Herring Gull, larger than Ring-billed Gulls surrounding it. head white with tan flecking back + mantle slaty grey, much darker than Herring Gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:45:00/14:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Lesser Black-backed Gull at IPL Ponds, 1985	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-05-17	1993-09-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at IPL Ponds in Pottawattamie County, IA on May 17, 1985. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence about the bird sighting, a summary of review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Wright, Rick	Lesser Black-backed Gull	MidAmerican Energy Ponds	IPPD Settling Ponds, Pottawatamie [sic] Co., Iowa	The documentation form by Rick Wright is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ken Strom and Marie Strom. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] The different mantle colorations of the herring and ring-billed gulls were distinguishable. [...] The presence of other gull species convinced me that I had accurately judged the mantle color of this bird; I was able to compare it with 3 other species, as well as Caspian terns. The size and bill size rule out great Black-backed, the only dark-backed gull with which I am familiar. Although western gull would show a similar upper-wing pattern, I suspect that it too would appear heavy-billed (and would not have yellow feet). Yellow-footed gull is also large and deep-billed, and is probably less likely than lesser black-backed in Iowa. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 13:30:00/13:30:30.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Iceland Gull south of Muscatine, 1996	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-12-28	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for an Iceland Gull south of Muscatine in Muscatine County, IA on December 28, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation submitted to the committee.	White, Gerald	Iceland Gull	Muscatine	On the Mississippi River approximately three miles south of Lock 16.	The documentation by Gerald White is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Betty Wood and Keith Blunt. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] The bill appeared smaller than the bills of near-by Herring Gulls. The bird size was near the same size or smaller than the Herring Gulls. [...] I eliminated Glaucous Gull because it would have been larger and heavier looking and the bill would not have been all dark. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:50:00/11:52:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	4
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Iceland Gull at Lock and Dam 15 near Davenport, 1996	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-01-05	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for an Iceland Gull at Lock and Dam 15 near Davenport in Scott County, IA on January 5, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Iceland Gull	Lock and Dam 15	Lock & Dam #15, Davenport (Scott County)	The documentation form by Jim Fuller forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Chris Edwards was submitted. Other observers include Kurt Nelson, Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, Pam Allen, and Reid Allen. \| Elimination of similar species: Comparisons to Thayer's Gull have been made in the description. First-year Glaucous Gull is larger, and has a two-tone black-tipped bill. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:45:00/09:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	4
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Iceland Gull at lake near Des Moines River, 1993	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-04-17	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for an Iceland Gull at lake near Des Moines River in unknown county, IA on April 17, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Sinclair, Jim	Iceland Gull	Des Moines River	small lake adjacent to D.M. River	The documentation form by Jim Sinclair is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Appeared much paler than second year Herring Gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:45:00/11:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	4
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Iceland Gull at Lake MacBride, 1993	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-04-16	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of an Iceland Gull at Lake MacBride in Johnson County, IA on April 16, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Iceland Gull	Lake MacBride	Short rock jetty from south shore of south arm of Lake MacBride (Johnson County).	The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: First year Thayer's Gull is generally darker, with noticably [sic] darker tail and primaries. First year Glaucous Gull is larger with a two-toned bill. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:39:00/16:42:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	4
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Iceland Gull at Centennial Bridge at Davenport, 1993	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-02-07	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for an Iceland Gull at Centennial Bridge at Davenport in Scott County, IA on February 7, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Iceland Gull	Centennial Bridge	Below Centennial Bridge, Mississippi River, Scott County.	The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer includes Jim Scheib. \| Elimination of similar species: This bird was much too small for a Glaucous Gull, and the generally whiter cast and two-toned bill would suggest a second-winter, compared to first-winter Iceland. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:55:00/15:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	4
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Iceland Gull at Lock and Dam 14, 1993	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-01-31	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for an Iceland Gull at Lock and Dam 14 in Scott County, IA on January 31, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Iceland Gull	Lock and Dam 14	Lock & Dam #14, Mississippi River, Scott County.	The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Adult Kumlien's Gull is larger than Ring-billed, and smaller than Herring Gull, both of which have black areas at the end of both upper and underwing. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:55:00/10:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	4
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-headed Gull at Riverton State Wildlife Management Area, 1981	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1981-04-26	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Gull at Riverton State Wildlife Management Area in Fremont County, IA on April 26, 1981. Includes a record review document with votes, summary of the review, correspondence from Barb Wilson to Tom Kent about the sighting, and four documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Bray, Tanya	Black-headed Gull	Riverton Wildlife Management Area	Riverton State Wildlife Management Area Fremont County, Iowa	The documentation form by Tanya Bray forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Babs Padelford, Loren Padelford, Rick Wright, and W. Ross Silcock were submitted. \| Elimination of similar species: Bonoparte's [sic] Gull; The main differences noted were the size and shape of the bill(much longer and heavier than Bonoparte's [sic]) and the style of flight.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	21
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Iceland Gull near Hancher Auditorium in Iowa City, 1993	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-01-16	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for an Iceland Gull near Hancher Auditorium in Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on January 16, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes, a photograph, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Iceland Gull	Hancher Auditorium	Iowa River near Hancher Auditorium, Iowa City (Johnson County).	The documentation form by Jim Fuller forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Randall Pinkston and Thomas H. Kent were submitted. Other observers include Carl Bendorf, Jane Fuller, and many unidentified other observers. \| Elimination of similar species: First year Thayer's Gull is overall darker, with darker primaries and a well defined dark tail band. Glaucous Gull is larger, and the first year bird has a two-toned bill. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:35:00/09:45:00 and 12:25:00/12:30:00 on January 16, 1993 and 11:45:00/11:50:00 on January 19, 1993.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	4
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Iceland Gull at Red Rock Reservoir Dam, 1991	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1991-03-13	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for an Iceland Gull at Red Rock Reservoir Dam in Marion County, IA on March 13, 1991. Includes a record review document with votes, seven photographs, an article in Iowa Bird Life, correspondence about bird sighting and review, and eleven documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Schantz, Tim	Iceland Gull	Red Rock Dam	Below Red Rock Dam, Marion County, Iowa	The documentation form by Tim Schantz is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Jim Fuller, Ann Johnson, Thomas H. Kent, Diane Porter, Jim Sinclair, Stephen Dinsmore, James Dinsmore, Beth Proescholdt, and Mark Proescholdt were submitted later. Other observers include Dawn DeVore, Dick Tetrault, Jim Scheib, Beth Brown, Michael Porter, Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, and many unidentified observers. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] Iowa Birds mentions that there is a problem separating Iceland with Thayers. If there was any problem with this bird being anything it was a Glaucous Gull of the same age. However the bird was smaller than the Herring Gulls that were on the roost. Long wings will rule out the rare small race of Glaucous Gull. There are not to [sic] many birds that have primaries lighter than the mantle in the sitting bird.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	4
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Iceland Gull near Le Claire, 1985	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-12-27	1993-09-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Iceland Gull near Le Claire in Scott County, IA on December 27, 1985. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentations submitted to the committee.	Brogie, Mark A. Wickham, Peter P.	Iceland Gull	Le Claire	[...] along the Mississippi River approximately one-half mile north of the Interstate 80 bridge in Scott County, Iowa.	The documentation form by Mark Brogie and Peter P. Wickham forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Paul Martsching was submitted. Another observer includes Steve Dinsmore. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] The bird was in the company of several Herring Gulls (Larus argentatus) and three subadult Glaucous Gulls (Larus hyperboreus). Two of the Glaucous Gulls were light plumaged birds lacking a gray mantle and, since eye color was not noted, may have been either first or early second winter birds. The third Glaucous was quite buffy and was undoubtably [sic] a first winter bird. The Iceland Gull was first observed being chased by a light-phased Glaucous and was distinctly smaller and lighter colored. It also flew with a faster wingbeat and had a more buoyant flight than that of the larger bird. Glaucous Gulls were also observed chasing Herring Gulls but at no time was intraspecific chasing observed. During several instances two Glaucous Gulls were observed resting on the water or sitting on the ice together, but the Iceland always remained isolated from these birds. At one point the Iceland Gull circled overhead at a distance of approximately 40 yards in the company of a light-phased Glaucous and an immature Herring Gull, and characteristics between the species were well noted. The plumage of the Iceland was wholly white with a faint buffy tinge, yet distinctly whiter than the Glaucous Gull. The size difference between the Glaucous and the other two species was apparent as the Iceland and Herring were of approximately equal size. The head and bill of the Iceland Gull appeared less robust in shape than the Glaucous although both species had a bicolored bill with a flesh colored base and dark tip. [...] The brown barring of the undertail coverts of the Iceland appeared heavier and more noticable [sic] than in its white-winged congeneric counterpart, and contrasted particularly with the whitish tail. \| The original documentation form event lasted for approximately twenty minutes.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	4
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Thayer's Gull at IPL Ponds in Pottawattamie County, 1989	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-10-29	1993-08-06	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Thayer's Gull at IPL Ponds in Pottawattamie County, IA on October 29, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Grenon, Alan G.	Thayer's Gull	MidAmerican Energy Ponds	Iowa, Pottawattamie County, south of Council Bluffs, the north pond of the Iowa Power and Light plant's ponds, two miles north of the county line (three miles north of the Bellevue exit on I-29), just east of Interstate highway 29.	The documentation form by Alan G. Grenon forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Babs Padelford and Ross Silcock were submitted. Other observers include B.J. Rose, Doug Rose, Loren Padelford as well as four unidentified observers. \| Elimination of similar species: The most likely similar species are Iceland and Herring Gulls. Iceland Gull (first winter) is eliminated by the combination of the following characters: wing-tip darker than body at rest; wing-tip and secondaries darker above than remainder of wing; tail marked above by a darker band covering most of the distal portion; a possible darker area around the eye. Herring Gull (first winter) is eliminated by the combination of the following characters: wing-tip at rest brown-tan, not black; wing-tip and secondary bar tan in flight, not black; primaries with thin, pale tips; tail bar tan, not black; bill all dark; bill and head delicate; bill thin. Glaucous Gull would have been larger relative to Ring-billed Gulls, with a massive bill light with a dark tip, large head, and wing-tips and secondaries would not have been darker than other upper parts. California Gull (first winter) would have black or near-black primaries, secondaries, tail, and a mostly pale bill with a black tip. Glaucous-winged Gull and hybrids thereof eliminated by bill and head structure and body size all smaller/finer in this bird, tail and wing pattern. AG. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:30:00 on October 29, 1989, from 11:30:00/12:15:00 and around 14:00:00 on the October 30, 1989.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Thayer's Gull at Cottonwood Recreation Area near Saylorville Dam, 1986	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1986-12-03	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Thayer's Gull at Cottonwood Recreation Area near Saylorville Dam in Polk County, IA on December 3, 1986. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Petersen, Peter C.	Thayer's Gull	Cottonwood Recreation Area	Cottonwood Rec. Area below Saylorville Dam. Polk Co	The documentation form by Peter C. Petersen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Beth Proescholdt, Mark Proescholdt, Steve Dinsmore, Gil Sandvick, and unidentified other observers. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] Birds call not distinguishable from Ring-billed Gulls feeding with it. [...] Herring Gull eliminated by lack of sharp contrast between primaries + remainder of mantle + back and whitish undersides of primaries. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:02:00/10:03:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	3
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 Thayer's Gull at Lake Manawa, 1981	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1981-12-05	1993-08-26	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Thayer's Gull at Lake Manawa in Pottawattamie County, IA on December 5, 1981. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence and commentary about the sighting, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Silcock, W. Ross	Thayer's Gull	Lake Manawa	Lake Manawa	The documentation form by W. Ross Silcock is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] Smaller than adult Herring Gull (winter plumage, red spot end of lower mandible) beside it, legs a little pinker. Larger than Ring-billed Gulls- flock of 14 adjacent. [...] Headmuch [sic] smaller relative to body than in the Herring Gull- also flatter-appearing. [...] 1. Bill was black (or very dark); this , combined with the rather pale underparts relative to the rest of the (also rather pale) plumage tends to rule out a first year Herring Gull. 2. Bill and head size and shape were not as heavy-appearing as in Herring Gull. Direct comparison with adjacent adult Herring Gull was very useful in deciding this. [...] 5. Size and pinker legs than Herring Gull are not sure characters, but lend support to identification as Thayer's Gull.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	3
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 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
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of California Gull at Carter Lake, 1993	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-11-21	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a California Gull at Carter Lake in Pottawattamie County, IA on November 21, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes, a photograph, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Bray, Tanya	California Gull	Carter Lake	Carter Lake, Pottawattamie County	The documentation form by Tanya Bray forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Loren and Babs Padelford, and Ross Silcock were submitted. Other observers include Jerry Toll and B.J. Rose. \| Elimination of similar species: Both Ring-billed and Herring Gulls are eliminated by bill coloration, size, slightly darker mantle, and eye color. Western, Lesser-black backed would be darker mantled, different bill coloration. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/10:58:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of California Gull at Oak Grove Beach at Saylorville Reservoir, 1990	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-09-08	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a California Gull at Oak Grove Beach at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on September 8, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and the article California Gull at Saylorville Reservoir in Iowa Bird Life 61:20 by Stephen Dinsmore reviewed by the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	California Gull	Oak Grove Recreation Area	[...] Oak Grove Beach Recreation Area at Saylorville Reservoir, Polk County.	The article by Stephen J. Dinsmore forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...]The bird was similar in size to the largest Ring-billed Gulls, but slightly larger than others. I approached closer and noted that, when compared to a Ring-billed Gull, the bird had duller yellow legs, a stouter bill with black and red spots near the tip of the lower mandible, and a darker gray mantle. [...] The bird was slightly larger than most of the Ring-billed Gulls, although one or two of the biggest Ring-billed Gulls were as large as the bird I was studying. Proportionately, the bird was heavier and larger-headed than a Ring-billed Gull. [...] I estimated the mantle color to be about midway between those of Ring-billed Gull and a Lesser Black-backed Gull. [...] The bill was heavier than the bill of a Ring-billed Gull and had a distinct gonys. The legs were pale gray-green, unlike the bright yellow legs of a Ring-billed Gull. Leg length appeared similar to a Ring-billed Gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:45:00/09:27:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	1