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

Rare bird documentation form for Thayer's Gull at Island View at Rathbun Reservoir, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-12-20	1986-12-23	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for three Thayer's Gulls at Island View Park at Rathbun Reservoir in Appanoose County, IA on December 20, 1986.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Thayer's Gull	Island View Park	Rathbun Reservoir, Appanoose Co. (Island View East and West Areas)	sitting on ice and feeding on open water with other gulls	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ray Cummins. \| Elimination of similar species: The first-year birds were separated from first-year Iceland Gull by the distinct tail band and the darker primaries and from first-year Herring Gull by head shape, bill size, more uniform body color, and the silvery-white underwing. The adult bird was separated from an adult Iceland Gull by size, bill shape, and more black (still not too much, though) in the wingtips and from an adult Herring Gull by head shape, bill size, and paler wingtips. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:05:00/10:30:00 and 13:30:00/13:54:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	35
Rare bird documentation form for Thayer's Gull at Lock and Dam 14, 1995	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1995-01-03	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Thayer's Gull at Lock and Dam 14 in Scott County, IA on January 3, 1995.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Thayer's Gull	Lock and Dam 14	Lock and Dam 14, Scott Co., IA	Mississippi River dam	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: I looked at many variable first-winter Herring Gulls today. All had more dark on wing tip and darker tail band. This bird was easy to pick out over and over again. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:00:00/12:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	35
Rare bird documentation form for Thayer's Gull at Cone Marsh, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-02-27	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Thayer's Gull at Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on February 27, 1983.	Newlon, Michael C.	Thayer's Gull	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	NE side Cone Marsh Louisa Co IA	freshwater marsh with considerable open water	The documentation form by Michael Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Carol S. Newlon. \| Elimination of similar species: proportions, uniformly pale primaries would rule out herring; size/build rules out imm. glaucous. Bill much less heavy than imm. glaucous-winged. Remaining question is whether this bird is (over) a Thayer's Gull or a Kumlien's gull, presently considered separate species but widely suspected of being conspecific. Thayer's is extremely variable, and the limits of its variability are not well known, especially for imm. plumages. [Dwight says of his series of ad. thayeri, 'no two are alike'. It seems probable that there is clinal variation from west to east (thayeri - kumliesi [sic] - nominate glaucoides) and even possible that thayeri interbreeds with argenlatus at the western end of its range.] In addition several plumage descriptions in the literature may be assigned to birds of [illegible] age. Be that as it may: L. glaucoides glaucoides is supposed to have pale warm-brown primaries as a 1-W & paler, nearly whitish areas as a 2-W (though photos in grant's [sic] book show one 2-W with pale-brown primaries concolor with coverts). L. glaucoides kumlieni (in Dwight's plates) is assigned v. pale primaries as a 1-W, with slightly darker outer webs; would look uniform pale grey at any distance. His 2-W has darker primaries, again with slightly darker outer webs [I suspect these assignments should be reversed.] L. thayeri in published description is supposed to have darker primaries still, though not so dark as those of imm. Herring gulls, and lacking contrast with mantle. However some west coast thayeri-type gulls are very pale - though their back color is grey-brown rather than the warmer pale tan of L. glaucoides. (It is possible that these are really kumlieni but little data exists.) It is the similarity of the Cone Marsh Bird to one I photographed in Cal. that convinced me to classify it as thayeri - though kumleni cannot be unequivocally ruled out \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:10:00/12:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	35
Rare bird documentation form for Thayer's Gull at Red Rock Dam, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1993-12-24	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Thayer's Gull at Red Rock Dam in Marion County, IA on December 24, 1993.	Johnson, Ann	Thayer's Gull	Red Rock Dam	Below Red Rock Dam, Marion County, Iowa	Open river with gravel bars	The documentation form by Ann Johnson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Raymond Cummins. \| Elimination of similar species: Dark eye and head/bill structure eliminated Herring Gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:20:00/11:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	35
Rare bird documentation form for Thayer's Gull at Redrock Dam, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1993-12-24	1994-01-14	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Thayer's Gull at Redrock Dam in Marion County, IA on December 24, 1993.	Cummins, Raymond L.	Thayer's Gull	Red Rock Dam	Lake Redrock below dam, Marion Co.	Open water below spillway.	The documentation form by Ray Cummins is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ann Johnson. \| Elimination of similar species: see above. [...] I picked this bird out because of it's small size compared to the other Herring Gulls present (40). It was smaller than any of the Herring gulls present, but still much larger than any of the numerous Ring-billed gulls. The head appeared more rounded than the Herring gulls and the heavy brown streaking on the nape and neck was more extensive and darker than any Herring present. The bill w/a red gonys mark on the lower mandible was shorter and thinner w/less gonys than the Herrings. They eye iris was dark not yellowish as in all the Herrings present. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	35
Rare bird documentation form for Thayer's Gull southeast of Jolly Roger Marina at Coralville Reservoir, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1993-12-19	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Thayer's Gull southeast of Jolly Roger Marina at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on December 19, 1993.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Thayer's Gull	Jolly Rogers Campground	Coralville Reservoir (1/4 - 1/2 mile southeast of Jolly Roger Marina), Johnson County, Iowa		The documentation form by Randall Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Contrasted with first-winter Herring Gull above. First-winter Iceland typically much paler, especially the uppersurface of the primaries which are paler than the rest of the mantle, and Iceland should show mottling in the tertials and tail band. I suppose I cannot exclude a heavily-pigmented 'Kumlien's' Gull or an Iceland-Thayer's intergrade as described in Kevin Zimmer's Birding article. Both species are apparently highly variable. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:45:00/11:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	35
Rare bird documentation form for Thayer's Gull at Red Rock Dam, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1993-11-13	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Thayer's Gull at Red Rock Dam in Marion County, IA on November 13, 1993.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Thayer's Gull	Red Rock Dam	Lake Red Rock dam, Marion County, Iowa		The documentation form by Randall Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim Fuller. \| Elimination of similar species: Compared with first-winter Herring Gull above. Pale Thayer's may be confused with same-aged Iceland Gull, but Iceland typically much paler than this individual. Iceland should also show pale, mottled tertials and tail which are concolor with the upperparts. This bird's tertials and tail were unpatterned (except at the edges of the tertials) and darker than the remainder of the upperparts. Iceland's folded primaries are paler than the remainder of the mantle, not darker as in this bird. Slaty-backed, Glaucous-winged, and Glaucous-winged X Western hybrid Gulls all larger, have more massive bills, less likely in Iowa. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:15:00/10:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	35
Documentation of an extraordinary bird sighting, Thayer's Gull, November 13, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1993-11-13	1993-11-27	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Documentation supporting the sighting of a Thayer's Gull at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA contributed by Thomas H. Kent on November 13, 1993.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Thayer's Gull	Lake Red Rock				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	35
Rare bird documentation form for Thayer's Gull at Red Rock Reservoir, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1993-11-13	1993-11-16	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Thayer's Gull at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on November 13, 1993.	Cecil, Robert I.	Thayer's Gull	Lake Red Rock	Tailwaters, Red Rock Res.	Tailwaters/River	The documentation form by Bob Cecil is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tom Kent and Dick Tetrault. \| Elimination of similar species: 1st winter Herring Gull has a very dark secondary bar, often has lighter head, and generally has a much more 'contrastry' appearance involving darker and lighter shades of brown. Overall, the 1st winter Herring is darker brown. \| The original documentation form event occurred in the afternoon.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	35
Rare bird documentation form for Thayer's Gull at Iowa City, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1993-01-19	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Thayer's Gull at Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on January 19, 1993.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Thayer's Gull	Iowa City	Iowa City, Johnson Co., Iowa.	partially open Iowa River	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim Fuller. \| Elimination of similar species: I distinguished this bird from Herring Gull based on smaller body size, smaller head and bill, shorter wing span, uniform light tan coloration, medium brown (not black) outer primaries, translucent primaries from below, and medium brown tail band. I distinguished it from Iceland Gull by the brown outer primaries, relatively more tan coloration, and medium brown tail band. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:40:00/11:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	35
Details for Accipiters during a Christmas Bird Count at Burlington, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-12-19	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Details for sightings of two Cooper's Hawks, Thayer's Gull and a Sharp-shinned Hawk at the Burlington area in Des Moines County, IA on December 19, 1992 by an unknown author.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union	Cooper's Hawk Thayer's Gull Sharp-shinned Hawk	Burlington Sacred Heart Cemetery Burlington Municipal Airport				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	35
Details for unusual bird sighting, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-11-08	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird sighting for a Thayer's Gull by Jim Fuller at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on November 8, 1992.	Fuller, James L	Thayer's Gull	Red Rock Dam				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	35
Documentation form for extraordinary bird sightings in Iowa, Thayer's Gull, February 7, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-02-07	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Documentation form supporting the sighting of a Thayer's Gull at Lock and Dam 14 contributed by Bob Cecil on February 7, 1992.	Cecil, Robert I.	Thayer's Gull	Lock and Dam 14				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	35
Rare bird documentation form for Thayer's Gull at Lock and Dam 15 in Davenport, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-01-17	1992-01-19	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Thayer's Gull at Lock and Dam 15 in Davenport in Scott County, IA on January 17, 1992.	Cecil, Robert I.	Thayer's Gull	Lock and Dam 15	Lock and Dam 15, Davenport, Iowa. Rusty Pelican Restaurant	River	The documentation form by Bob Cecil is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: See above discussion. [...] The wingtip pattern is what caught my attention. There was much less darkening to the outer primaries than on accompanying gulls. [...] When viewed fro [sic] underneath, the wingtips of the subject bird were white to the tips, with the exception of very narrow black tips at the tips of the primaries. This was very different from the adult Herring/Ring-bills which had substantial black towards the end of the underwings. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/10:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	35
Rare bird documentation form for Thayer's Gull at Lock + Dam 15, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-01-17	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Thayer's Gull at Lock and Dam 15 in Davenport in Scott County, IA on January 17, 1992.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Thayer's Gull	Lock and Dam 15	Lock + Dam #15, Davenport, IA	Mississippi River	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim Fuller and others. \| Elimination of similar species: Herring Gull-see above. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:30:00/15:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	35
Details for unusual bird sighting, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-01-09	1992-01-17	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird sighting for a Thayer's Gull by Jim Fuller at Lock and Dam 15 near Davenport in Scott County, IA on January 9, 13, and 17, 1992.	Fuller, James L	Thayer's Gull	Lock and Dam 15				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	35
Rare bird documentation form for Thayer's Gull at Lock and Dam 19, 1990	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1990-11-06	1990-11-09	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Thayer's Gull at Lock and Dam 19 in Keokuk in Lee County, IA on November 6, 1990.	Cecil, Robert I.	Thayer's Gull	Lock Number 19	Behind Lock and Dam 19 at Keokuk, Lee County, Iowa	River	The documentation form by Robert Cecil is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Too small, to [sic] uniform in color for Herring. Slight darkening at wingtips eliminates Iceland. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:45:00/08:00:00 and 13:30:00/13:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	35
Daily field checking list, Walter Rosene, May 14, 1932	Checklists Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Nests Congresses and conventions Ornithology--Societies, etc	1932-05-14	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Bird checklist dated May 14, 1932. This checklist was used by Walter Rosene to record birds sighted around Des Moines during the field trip at the tenth annual meeting of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Rosene, Walter, 1880-1941	Least Flycatcher Loggerhead Shrike Sora Stilt Sandpiper Philadelphia Vireo Swainson's Thrush Black-throated Green Warbler Wilson's Warbler Yellow-throated Vireo	Des Moines				Walter M. Rosene, Sr. Papers \| MS 589	12	1
Mark Widrlechner letter to Boone County Bird Count Participants regarding the 1999 Christmas Bird Count results, January 9, 1999	Correspondence Field notes	Bird surveys Bird watching Birds--Counting Ornithology--Methodology	1999-01-09	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from Mark Widrlechner to Boone County Bird Count Participants regarding the 1999 Christmas Bird Count results, January 9, 1999. The letter thanks the participants for their efforts in assisting in the count during inclement weather and provides count numbers on the 58 species of birds that were seen on count day as well as three others seen during count week. Of special note were the observations of two species reported for the first time that year: Hooded Merganser and Merlin. Also included are the results from the first twelve Boone County Christmas Bird Counts, January 1, 1986 through January 1, 1998.	Widrlechner, Mark	Merlin Hooded Merganser	Ames Boone County				Big Bluestem Audubon Society \| MS 592	1	5