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 Common Eider at Jester Park, 1995	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-03-26	2000-11-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Common Eider at Jester Park, Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on March 26, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Johnson, Ann	Common Eider	Jester Park	off Jester Park boat ramp, Saylorville Reservoir, Polk County, IA	open water	The documentation form by Ann Johnson is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: ID based solely on head profile whichwas [sic] identical to the Red Rock bird studied at length earlier in the year. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:55:00/17:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ruff at Riverton Area, 1995	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-04-01	2000-11-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Ruff at Riverton Area in Fremont County, IA on April 1, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Ruff	Riverton Wildlife Management Area	Riverton Area (Fremont County)		The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Ross Silcock, and Thomas H. Kent were submitted later. Other observers include Tim Schantz, James Scheib, Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, Pam Allen, and Reid Allen. \| Elimination of similar species: Differences from Pectoral pointed out in description. Yellowlegs have different leg color, breast pattern is more spotted, and the bill is longer and thinner. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:35:00/08:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of South Polar Skua at Credit Island, 1995	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-04-02	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a South Polar Skua at Credit Island in Scott County, IA on April 2, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes, three different copies of a photograph, an article in American Birds, an article in Birds of Missouri, correspondence about the sighting, a documentation form, and an audiotape transcription submitted to the committee.	Hodges, Herbert James	South Polar Skua	Credit Island	Credit Island, Davenport, IA.	frozen harbor off Miss. River	The documentation form by Jim Hodges is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: No Jaeger or Gull has a comparable white streak down the primary bases into the secondaries. Lack of a dorsal view made species id. impossible. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	14
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Chestnut-collared Longspur north of Larchwood, 1995	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-04-12	2000-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Chestnut-collared Longspur north of Larchwood in Lyon County, IA on April 12, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Chestnut-collared Longspur	Larchwood	2 miles north of Larchwood, Lyon Co., Iowa	farmland, fields snow-covered, blacktop road clear.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The black belly and yellow throat, among other things, made this bird easy to separate from the Lapland Longspurs that were present in great numbers. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:11:00/13:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	43
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Chestnut-collared Longspur at northwest Sioux County, 1995	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-04-12	2000-11-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Chestnut-collared Longspur at northwest Sioux County, IA on April 12, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes, a photograph, an article in Iowa Bird Life, an article in Field Notes, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Chestnut-collared Longspur	Sioux County	A545 at 290th St., NW Sioux Co., Iowa	farmland	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The behavior was typical for a longspur and the field marks are distinctive. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:15:00/10:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	43
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mountain Bluebird east of Sutherland, 1995	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-04-12	2000-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Mountain Bluebird east of Sutherland in O'Brien County, IA on April 12, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation letter submitted to the committee.	Koenig, Darwin	Mountain Bluebird	Sutherland	3 miles east of Sutherland, O'Brien County, Iowa		The documentation form by Darwin Koenig is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] with 8-10 Eastern Bluebirds; [...] Size of Eastern Bluebird; \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:05:00/11:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Fish Crow at Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge, 1995	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-04-21	2000-11-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for four Fish Crows at Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge in Louisa County, IA on April 21, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Fish Crow	Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge - Louisa Division	Louisa Refuge, Mark Twain NWR, Louisa Co., IA	Mississippi River bottoms	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Ann Johnson and Jim Fuller were submitted later. Other observers include Dick Tetrault, Chuck Fuller, and Tim Schantz. \| Elimination of similar species: The Records Committee has not accepted two previous records of Fish Crow along the Mississippi River in Louisa County because of the difficulty in substantiating the identification. I was well aware of this, and like other committee members, I believed that they were likely present in this area. I can only say that I was watching the birds when I heard them, which eliminates the possibility that they were young American Crows. I would not want to rely on the morphologic features. I was impressed that this group stayed together in the flooded woods, which was unlike the behavior of the American Crows. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:40:00/09:30:00 and 10:25:00/10:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	46
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of three Red-throated Loons at Little Wall Lake, 1995.	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-04-22	2000-11-19	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Red-throated Loon at Little Wall Lake in Hamilton County, IA on April 22, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes, an Iowa Bird Life article, and four documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Proescholdt, Mark	Red-throated Loon	Little Wall Lake	Little Wall Lake - (Hamilton County)	small lake with trees along edges	The documentation form by Mark Proescholdt is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Beth Proescholdt, John Paulin, and Thomas Kent were submitted later. Other observers include Russ Widner, Caryn Hurd, Chris Paulin, Andy Hurd, Stacy Smithson, and Dawn Schwebach. \| Elimination of similar species: A Basic-Plumaged Pacific Loon has no white or pale area above or in front of the eye. It also has a sharp vertical division between dark and light on its neck. A Common Loon is bulkier and bigger and has a large thick bill whose mandibles are straight. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:00:00/16:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ruff west of Mount Ayr, 1995	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-04-22	2000-11-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Ruff west of Mount Ayr in Ringgold County, IA on April 22, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Sinclair, Jim	Ruff	Mount Ayr	Two miles west of Mt. Ayr on Rt 2, Ringgold Co.	Bean stubble	The documentation form by Jim Sinclair is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Richard Trieff. \| Elimination of similar species: Looked like no other shorebird I have ever seen. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of White-faced Ibis at Blue Lake, 1995	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-04-25	2000-11-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of nine White-faced Ibis at Blue Lake in Monona County, IA on April 25, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes, two photos, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	White-faced Ibis	Blue Lake	Blue L., Monona Co., IA	Missouri River bottoms oxbow -- shallow, open	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Pete Ernzen. \| Elimination of similar species: The white facial feathers, red eyes, and all carmine legs eliminate Glossy Ibis, the only contender. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:10:00/09:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	24
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Golden-crowned Sparrow east of Little Wall Lake, 1995	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-05-04	2000-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for at least three Golden-crowned Sparrows east of Little Wall Lake in Hamilton County, IA on May 4, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes, two photographs, an article in Iowa Bird Life, correspondence about the sighting and documentation, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Wilcox, Dorothy	Golden-crowned Sparrow	Little Wall Lake	At platform feeder and on the ground	Lg. oak trees, shrubs (Rural)	The documentation form by Dorothy Wilcox is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include family and friends. \| Elimination of similar species: white crowned and white throat, definite difference in eye line and crown. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 11:00:00/17:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	40
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Laughing Gull at Saylorville Dam, 1995	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-05-11	2000-11-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Laughing Gull at Saylorville Dam in Polk County, IA on May 11, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes, three photographs, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Allen, Pam	Laughing Gull	Saylorville Dam	Polk Co., below Saylorville Dam Spillway		The documentation form by Pam Allen forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Thomas H. Kent was submitted. Other observers include Gordon Brown and Reid Allen. \| Elimination of similar species: Franklin's Gull is smaller and has white edges to its wing tips. The black cap does not extend as far down the back of the neck like the Laughing Gull. The call is much different. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:15:00/07:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mississippi Kite at Windsor Heights, 1995	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-05-13	2000-11-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of two Mississippi Kites at Windsor Heights in Polk County, IA on May 13, 1995. Includes one record review document with votes, a photograph, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Allen, Pam	Mississippi Kite	Windsor Heights	Polk Co., Windsor Heights, 73rd Street north of University Ave., behind Olivet Church.		The documentation form by Pam Allen is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Chris Edwards was submitted later. Other observers include Jim Fuller, Tom Kent, Dick Tetrault, Reid Allen, and Jane Clark. \| Elimination of similar species: White-tailed Kite has a white tail and black shoulder patches. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:15:00/13:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	26
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of White-faced Ibis at Northwest Warren County, 1995	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-05-14	2000-11-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a White-faced Ibis at Northwest Warren County, IA on May 14, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Sinclair, Jim	White-faced Ibis	Warren County	north-west Warren Co.	wet spot in corn stubble adjacent to North	The documentation form by Jim Sinclair is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Taylor Sinclair. \| Elimination of similar species: It was definitely an ibis. Glossy eliminated by the bill and leg coloration and the white facial border. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:30:00/13:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	24
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Whimbrel north of Bartlett in 1995	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1995-05-16	2000-11-18	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for Whimbrels north of Bartlett in Mills County, IA on May 16, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the Spring 1995 Field Report by Babs and Loren Padelford transcribed by Thomas Kent.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Whimbrel	Bartlett				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	23
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Anhinga at Little Sioux River, 1995	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-05-16	2000-11-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of an Anhinga at the old channel of the Little Sioux River in Monona County, IA, northwest of Turin, on May 16, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Kelly, Liesl	Anhinga	Turin	084N044W 08	closed channel of Little SIoux, surrounded by 10m wide area of trees; water with snags	The documentation form by Liesl Kelly is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Laura M. Myers was submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: Other colored heron species were possible but the bird sighted had \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:30:00/14:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	14
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Glossy Ibis at Riverton Area, 1995	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-05-18	2000-11-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of two Glossy Ibis at Riverton Area in Fremont County, IA on May 18, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes, two photos, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and four documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	White Ibis	Riverton Wildlife Management Area	Riverton A., Fremont Co., IA	Controlled water area long Nishnabotna River and flooded fields.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Jim Fuller, Babs Padelford, Loren Padelford, and Ross Silcock were submitted later. Other observers include Dick Tetrault, B.J. Rose, and Doug Rose. \| Elimination of similar species: An immature White-faced Ibis could lack the red eye, red legs, and white facial feathering of an adult and be confused with a Glossy Ibis. An immature white-faced would lack the blue facial skin and would likely show some brownish feathers. The color differences were clear-cut and observed under identical viewing condition. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:30:00/13:40:00, 14:20:00/15:25:00, and, on May 19 from 08:40:00/08:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	23
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for White-faced Ibis at Riverton Area in 1995	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Birds--Identification Photography of birds Rare birds	1995-05-18	2000-11-18	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a White-faced Ibis at the Riverton Wildlife Management Area in Fremont County, IA on May 18, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes and a photograph by Thomas H. Kent.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	White-faced Ibis	Riverton Wildlife Management Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	24
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Anhinga at Oto, 1995	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-05-21	2000-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for an Anhinga at Oto in Woodbury County, IA on May 21, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Petersen, Peter C.	Anhinga	Oto	1/2 mi. S.E. Oto, IA - Woodbury,Co.	small pond along river floodplain	The documentation form by Peter C. Petersen is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Mary Lou Petersen and Jim Sinclair. \| Elimination of similar species: Cormorant - smaller, shorter neck, hooked bill, shorter tail, plumage either brownish or black, no neck upper chest brown only pattern in any plumage. African Darter shows brown in wing in all plumages. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:05:00/12:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	14
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Long-billed Curlew south of Black Hawk Lake, 1995	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-05-22	2000-11-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Long-billed Curlew south of Black Hawk Lake in Sac County, IA on May 22, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Ernzen, Peter	Long-billed Curlew	Black Hawk Lake	dredge pond area southeast of Blackhawk Lake in Sac Co.		The documentation form by Peter Ernzen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Joshua Ernzen. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] Whimbrel was eliminated by size, color and bill size. The whimbrel should have been slightly smaller to about the same size as the marbled godwits. The brown body and cinnamon wing linings did not fit whimbrel either. The bill size is variable with shorebirds, however the great length of the bill was more suggestive of the long billed curlew. The call heard does not fit the description for whimbrel in my National Geographics [sic] Field guide to Birds of North America. Three outside possibilities the far Eastern curlew, Eurasian curlew, and bristle thighed curlew were eliminated as well. The far Eastern curlew size is about the same as that of the marbled godwit. The bird also has white wing linings with dark barring. The barring would be hard to see, however the lighter color would be distinguishable. The Eurasion [sic] curlew was eliminated because this bird would have a white rump, and white wing linings. The bird I saw in flight turned and twisted. I did not notice any white markings on the rump. The bristle thighed curlew is much more similar to the smaller whimbrel and would be eliminated by small size, shorter bill and call - "chu-a-wut". \| The original documentation form event lasted from 19:50:00/20:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	24
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Whimbrel at north central Hamilton County, 1995	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-05-24	2000-11-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Whimbrel at north central Hamilton County, IA on May 24, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Whimbrel	Hamilton County	north central Hamilton Co. (U.S. 69 and D20), Iowa.	flooded area of plowed field (farmland)	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Jim Fuller were submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: Long-billed Curlew is much larger, rustier, and lacks eye line and crown stripe. Eskimo Curlew is much smaller and thinner-billed. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:40:00/10:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	23
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Lazuli Bunting at Spencer, 1995	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-05-29	2000-11-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Lazuli Bunting at Spencer in Clay County, IA on May 29, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Schoenewe, Lee A.	Lazuli Bunting	Spencer	Russ Heine Acreage 2110 370th St. Spencer, Clay Co.	Backyard garden w/ locust tree and pine windbreak	The documentation form by Lee A. Schoenewe is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Harold White was submitted later. Other observers include Nancy Schoenewe and Alice Kehoe. \| Elimination of similar species: Indigo bunting - color of blue, wing bars, rufous wash on breast. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 18:25:00/18:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	4
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for MacGillivray's Warbler at Eagle City County Park, 1995	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-06-02	2000-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a MacGillivray's Warbler at Eagle City County Park in northern Hardin County, IA on June 2, 1995. Includes two record review documents with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, an article in Illinois Birds, an article in Birds of Missouri, two articles from The Auk, an article in Meadowlark, correspondence relevant to bird sighting and review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Proescholdt, Mark	MacGillivray's Warbler	Eagle City Park	Eagle City Co. Park - (North Hardin County)	Brushy tangle along park's edge up the hill from Iowa River Greenbelt	The documentation form by Mark Proescholdt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: In "Spring" this should not be mistaken for any other warbler. A ♂ Mourning Warbler lacks the vivid eye crescents. A Connecticut Warbler has a complete white eyering and no black smudge on the upper breast and the gray head is a lighter gray color. In "fall" the female and immature Mourning Warblers may show a thin, nearly complete eyering (which I have seen on Mournings in the fall), but this could not be mistaken for the vivid white eye crescents of this breeding-plumaged male MacGillivray's Warbler along with its very noticeable black smudge on its upper breast below its gray hood. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 11:15:00/11:15:05.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	26
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Red Knot at Rathbun Reservoir, 1995	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-07-22	2000-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Red Knot at Rathbun Reservoir in Appanoose County, IA on July 22, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Johnson, Thomas N.	Red Knot	Rathbun Lake	County: Appanoose Lake Rathbun Location in Detail: Boat Ramp - East Island View - Island		The documentation form by Tom Johnson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] I noticed a bird the same size as a killdeer next to it but chunkier. I knew it was unusual and also knew it was a Red Knot from the breast and the bill size which I estimated as twice as long as the Killdeers bill and Dowitcher - bill was shorter than dowitcher and dark back. I tried to think of other shorebirds it could have been and the dowitcher species was what I could imagine, but its bill was too short. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 19:30:00/19:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Laughing Gull at Saylorville Reservoir, 1995	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-08-13	2000-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Laughing Gull at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on August 13, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes and two copies of a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Thompson, Dennis	Laughing Gull	Saylorville Lake	Saylorville Res., Polk Co.	Beaches at Oak Grove & Sandpiper	The documentation form by Dennis Thompson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Larger than a Franklin's Gull. In direct comparison with Ring-billed, only slightly smaller. No white in the primaries. Bill probably longer. Do Franklin's ever have a broken tail band? \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:30:00/08:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18