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 Clark's Grebe at Trumbull Lake, 1994	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-05-13	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Clark's Grebe at Trumbull Lake in Clay County, IA on May 13, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes, an Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Brewer, Marion M.	Clark's Grebe	Trumbull Lake	Trumble Lake	Lake	The documentation form by Marion W. Brewer is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Western, White in front, over & behind eye. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:30:00/12:50:00 and 13:15:00/13:48:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	9
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 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 for Pine Warbler at Hancher Auditorium at Iowa City, 1992	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1992-12-20	1994-10-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two Pine Warblers at Hancher Auditorium at Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on December 20, 1992. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, three photographs, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Pine Warbler	Hancher Auditorium	Under white and scotch pines at edge of Hancher Auditorium parking lot, University of Iowa, Iowa City (Johnson County).		The documentation form by Jim Fuller forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Thomas H. Kent and Randall Pinkston were submitted. Other observers include Carl Bendorf, Dick Teterault, Jim Scheib, Matt Prather, and many unidentified observers. \| Elimination of similar species: The combination of light eye ring, whitish wingbars, unstreaked back, and light belly and vent should separate this species from any other warbler. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:55:00/09:20:00 and 12:55:00/13:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	20
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 of Red Knot at Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge, 1996	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-08-25	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two Red Knots at Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge in Kossuth County, IA on August 25, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes, an Iowa Bird Life article, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kenne, Matthew C.	Red Knot	Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge	USNWR 1 mile N. of Headquarters, N. of road on mudflats	mudflats from receded large pool	The documentation form by Matthew Kenne is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The reddish underside of one bird was reminiscent of Dowitchers, but the back pattern in flight and bill differences are way off. Sanderling's feeding habits are different from the simple pecking these birds did and the gray one didn't have the 'black shoulder' or big wingstripe. Curlew Sandpiper's bill is curved. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:00:00/09:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Black-headed Grosbeak at Cedar Rapids, 1978	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1978-12-01	1993-08-19	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Grosbeak at Cedar Rapids in Linn County, IA on December 1, 1978. Includes a record review document with votes, a photograph, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Millikin, Sara L.	Black-headed Grosbeak	Cedar Rapids	Usually on the ground where I had thrown seed	along railway right of way near my home and on ground near house and feeders	The documentation form by Sara L. Millikin is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Pete Wickham, Lillian Serbousek, Roberta Appedahl, Fred Nissen, Weir Nelson, Karl Goellner, and Lucile Liljedahl. \| The original documentation form event lasted from at daylight to 16:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Coralville Reservoir, 1990	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-10-14	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on October 14, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes, two articles in Iowa Bird Life, and five documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Sharp-tailed Sandpiper	Coralville Lake	w. of Greencastle corner, Coralville Res., Johnson Co., Iowa	wet marshy area with low vegetation and mud flats.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Ann Johnson, Jim Fuller, Carol Thompson, and Randy Pinkston were submitted. Other observers include Jane Huntington, James Huntington, Jim Sandrock, John Cordell, John Daniel, Mary Noble, Ken Lowder, and Tim Schantz. \| Elimination of similar species: The only other species worthy of consideration is Pectoral Sandpiper. The most distinctive feature is the plain, cinnamon-buff breast without bib line or streaking centrally. The soft breast color shaded off evenly to the lower belly and throat. Some pectorals had very week [sic] breast markings, but on close inspection all had streaks and a sharp bib line. The solid rusty cap differed from any pectorals; some pectorals appeared a bit rusty on the cap, but some streaking was seen on such individuals. The eye line appeared white, and it dropped and widened posteriorly. Some pectorals had light eye lines but they were off-white, less distinct, and straighter. The juvenile feathers of the upper parts were edged with rufous; this was especially prominent on the tertials. Some pectorals appeared to have rusty edging on the tertials, but this was dependent on lighting and at least one rufous appearing pectoral had the color more in the center of the feathers with grayer edging. The gray smudging on the undertail coverts I saw once and only had a glance at a nearby pectoral for comparison, so I am not very confident of this mark. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:20:00/09:25:00, 09:55:00/10:00:00, and intermittently 16:15:00/17:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	4
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-necked Stilt south of Ainsworth, 1996	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-05-18	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of three Black-necked Stilts south of Ainsworth in Washington County, IA on May 18, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes, two photos, an article in Iowa Bird Life, an article in Field Notes, and five documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Proescholdt, Mark	Black-necked Stilt	Ainsworth	Washington County - south of #92 about 1/2 mile on #218	Wet areas in field after flooded creek spilled out into fields	The documentation form by Mark Proescholdt is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Jim Fuller, Thomas H. Kent, Jim Dinsmore, and Chris Edwards were submitted later. Other observers include Cal Knight, Bernie Knight, Chuck Fuller, Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, Richard Tetrault, Peter Petersen, Francis Moore, Ann Johnson, Hank Zalatel, Beth Proescholdt, and Russ Widner. \| Elimination of similar species: There are no similar species that come to mind. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:00:00/14:10:00 on May 18, 1996 and 15:00:00/15:10:00 on May 19th, 1996.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	20
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Northern Hawk Owl at Waterloo, 1981	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1981-12-25	1993-08-16	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Northern Hawk Owl at Waterloo in Black Hawk County, IA on December 25, 1981. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, an article in American Birds, summary of the review, and four documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Myers, Robert K.	Northern Hawk Owl	Waterloo	Waterloo, Iowa - Black Hawk County	River bottom Timber along Black Hawk Creek	The documentation form by Robert K. Myers forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Francis Moore, Peter C. Petersen, and Thomas H. Kent were submitted. Other observers include Mary Lou Petersen, Lewis Blevins, Corey Blevins, Brian Blevins, and Fred Lesher. \| Elimination of similar species: The long tail, horizontal barring of breast, yellow eyes, facial pattern and behavior eliminated all other possible owls. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:00:00/16:50:00 and around 17:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	16
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Roseate Spoonbill at Waubonsie Wildlife Area, 1997	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-08-05	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Roseate Spoonbill at Waubonsie Wildlife Area in Fremont County, IA on August 4, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes, two photos, an article from Iowa Bird Life, an article from North American Birds, and five documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Roseate Spoonbill	Waubonsie State Park	Waubonsie W.A., Fremont Co., IA	roosting in willows in flooded bottomland	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Mark Proescholdt, Thomas H. Kent, Jim Fuller, and Michael D. Overton were submitted later. Other observers include Dixie Overton, Ann Johnson, James Scheib, Pam Allen, Reid Allen, Peter Ernzen, Dick Tetrault, Beth Proescholdt, Dennis Henrickson, John Sullivan, Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, B.J. Rose, Ross Silcock, James Dinsmore, Babs Padelford, and Loren Padelford. \| Elimination of similar species: The heron shape, pink body color, and bill shape are unique to this species. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 19:13:00/19:51:00 on August 4, 05:53:00/06:15:00 on August 5, and 18:44:00/19:47:00 on 13 August.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	25
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Rufous Hummingbird at McClelland Beach at Spirit Lake, 1996	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-08-21	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Rufous Hummingbird at McClelland Beach at Spirit Lake in Dickinson County, IA on August 21, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, a photograph, and four documentations submitted to the committee.	Winebrinner, Ruth L. Winebrinner, Edward Calvin	Rufous Hummingbird	McClelland Beach	We are on the north shore of Spirit Lake, Ia.		The documentation by Ed and Ruth Winebrinner forms the basis of this record. Other documentations by Ed Thelen, Lee A. Schoenewe, and Jim Fuller were submitted. Another observer is LaVonne Foote. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] Brown? Imature [sic] ruby-throats aren't brown, are they? About then a hummer flew by. It was brown!! \| The original documentation form event occurred in the morning and afternoon of August 21, 1996 until 10:00:00 on August 23, 1996.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	24
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ross' Goose at Coralville Reservoir, 1990	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-03-02	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Ross' Goose at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on March 2, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes, an Iowa Bird Life article, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Ross' Goose	Coralville Lake	West overlook, Coralville Res., Johnson Co., Iowa	reservoir above dam	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Size, bill shape and size, head shape used to separate from Snow Goose. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:15:00/16:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	8
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Least Flycatcher at Whitebreast Recreation Area in Red Rock Reservoir, 1990	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-12-16	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Least Flycatcher at Whitebreast Recreation Area in Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on December 16, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Johnson, Ann	Least Flycatcher	Whitebreast Recreation Area	Whitebreast Recreation Area, Red Rock Reservoir, Marion Co., IA	Primarily open edge and grassy area with pine tree plantings	The documentation form by Ann Johnson forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Tim Schantz was submitted. Other observers include Roy Godwin and Jim Sinclair. \| Elimination of similar species: Body and bill shape and behavior identified this bird as a flycatcher. The size, eye-ring and wing bars eliminated all but Empidonax flycatchers. Because of the late date on this bird, it is difficult to get an understanding of molt sequences which may or may not be helpful. From what I can find on molts, however, the following is based on best available information. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:40:00/11:55:00 and approximately 13:30:00/14:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	34
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mew Gull at Whitebreast Recreation Area at Red Rock Reservoir, 1993	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-12-19	1995-07-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Mew Gull at Whitebreast Recreation Area at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on December 19, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and three documentations submitted to the committee.	Johnson, Ann	Mew Gull	Whitebreast Recreation Area	Whitebreast Recreation Area, Red Rock Reservoir, Marion Co., IA	Sandy area at edge of open water	The documentation form by Ann Johnson forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Russ Widner and Jim Fuller were submitted. Other observers include Dick Tetrault and Roy Godwin. \| Elimination of similar species: Size eliminated any gull larger than a Ring-billed. Although structurally the bird more closely represented one of the larger hooded gulls, they were eliminated by the lack of any hood or auricular spot. Furthermore, most hooded gulls with a tail band would also show a strong carpal bar. Laughing Gull could be eliminated by the more diminuative [sic] bill and leg color. Although some individuals seem to carry a vestige of their more motley juvenile plumage into first winter, Ring-billed Gull was eliminated by size, head and bill structure, and clear-cut as opposed to more diffuse tail band. I originally identified this bird as a Mew Gull based on my experience studying structural differences between Ring-billed and Mew gulls on the west coast. I have never seen a first-year Mew Gull, however. In researching the Mew on my return home, I concluded that the bird in question was not dark enough, nor brown enough, to be of the west coast sub-species. By virtue of its strong similarity to a Ring-billed Gull, this bird was most likely the European sub-species known as the Common Gull. Although according to Grant the bill description comes closer to L.c. brachyrhynchus, I assume that this bird's bill coloration was still changing from juvenile plumage. Apparently the Common Gull appears on occasion on the east coast and is therefore probably as likely a vagrant to Iowa as is the western form. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/10:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	23
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for an Eurasian Collared-Dove at Willow Creek Park, 1989	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-08-20	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for an Eurasian Collared-Dove at Willow Creek Park in Osceola County, IA on August 20, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes, two photographs, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Padelford, Babs Padelford, Loren	Eurasian Collared Dove	Willow Creek Fen - Wetlands Area	Willow Creek Park, Osceola County		The documentation form by Babs and Loren Padelford is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Ed Thelen was submitted later. Other observers include Linda Thelen and unidentified Thelen observers. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] A dove larger than Mourning Dove. [...] It was a series of "hoo's" - "hoo - hoo - hoo" without any bubbling notes associated with the song of the Ringed Turtle-Dove. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:30:00/12:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Vermilion Flycatcher at Rice Lake, 1988	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1988-05-13	1993-08-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Vermilion Flycatcher at Rice Lake in Worth County, IA on May 13, 1988. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Anderson, Gerald	Vermilion Flycatcher	Rice Lake	Worth County North Shore Rice Lake	Edge of Timber and marsh	The documentation form by Gerald Anderson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Curt Rector. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] Smaller than cardinal \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/10:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	38