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 Black Rail at Cone Marsh, 1990	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-09-15	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black Rail at Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on September 15, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Lowder, Ken	Black Rail	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Dike moving East/West across Cone Marsh, Louisa County	Six inch high grass variable to knee high vegetation	The documentation form by Ken Lowder is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Sora; eliminated by size and color. Yellow rail: absolute lack of white wing patches; My bird was black - with no suggestion of lighter color anywhere. Virginia rail: eliminated by size and color of bird Could possibly have been a rail chick of another species - ruled out because of presence of chicks at this late date + would have been extremely extraordinary; and because chicks would be incapable of flight. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 11:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black Rail at Cone Marsh, 1991	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1991-05-08	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black Rail at Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on May 8, 1991. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Blevins, Brian L.	Black Rail	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Cone Marsh, Conesville, IA, Louisa Co.	Large Marsh in Conjunction with the	The documentation form by Brian Blevins is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Pete Petersen and Don Moeller. \| Elimination of similar species: CALL very distinct. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 05:10:00/05:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black Rail at Hendrickson Marsh, 1982	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1982-04-24	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black Rail at Hendrickson Marsh in Story County, IA on April 24, 1982. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Martsching, Paul	Black Rail	Hendrickson Marsh Lake	Hendrickson's Marsh, Story County, Iowa	General: marsh along shore of large shallow lake Specific: area with much old grass more or less bent down with new growth less than six inches. Was a little water under the grass where it flew up	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Paul Martsching (later time, but same bird) were submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: Sora - bigger,lighter, yellow beak. Virginia - bigger, lighter, long thin beak. Rail chick - too early in year - and was flying \| The original documentation form event occurred around 15:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black Rail at McBreen Marsh Wildlife Area, 1989	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-10-08	1993-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black Rail at McBreen Marsh Wildlife Area in Dickinson County, IA on October 8, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Hansen, James L.	Black Rail	McBreen Marsh	South end of a restored wetland on the north side of the McBreen Marsh Wildlife Area, 4 mi. NW of Spirit Lake, Dickinson Co.	Was in 3 20-30' diam. clumps of river bulrush surrounded by mudflats	The documentation form by James L. Hansen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jeffrey K. Hansen. \| Elimination of similar species: Sora and Virginia Rail - was smaller and different color (black) than these. Yellow rail - wrong color, also \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:15:00/11:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black Rail at State Line Marsh, 1994	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-07-12	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black Rail at State Line Marsh in Kossuth County, IA on July 12, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, Eugene	Black Rail	State Line Marsh State Game Management Area	State Line Marsh	Short grass - water clump of rushes	The documentation form by Eugene and Eloise Armstrong is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: 2 young Virginia rails were close by - they were dark but had fuzzy plumage, light black whereas the Black rail was nearly glossy and fuzzy Both visible at once. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black Rail at Zirbel Slough, 1989	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-05-15	1993-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black Rail at Zirbel Slough in Cerro Gordo County, IA on May 15, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Walter, Janice L.	Black Rail	Zirbel Slough	East-west dike n. side of Zirbel Slough, Cerro Gordo Co., Ia	Open pool of water between dike and dense marsh	The documentation form by Jan L. Walter is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim B. Walter and Edna E. Peters. \| Elimination of similar species: Size; Rail shape, flight, and behavior eliminated near-by Blackbirds. It was too early in the year for a downy Rail chick in North Iowa. Also downy chicks would not be able to fly. Very small size and all black color eliminated other Rail species. Even though we did not see the reddish wash on the back, white speckling on the wings, or barring on the flanks; the black, not reddish, underparts eliminated the possibility of a small Virginia Rail. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 19:13:00/19:13:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black Rail near Dixon, 1987	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1987-05-11	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black Rail near Dixon in Scott County, IA on May 11, 1987. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Petersen, Peter C.	Black Rail	Dixon	1/2 mi. S. High Rock Bridge near Dixon, Scott Co.	grassy ditch along county road	The documentation form by Peter C. Petersen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Don Moeller and Walter Zuurdeeg. \| Elimination of similar species: Yellow Rail-no white wing patch. Sora & Virginia Rail-bird much too small, flight weaker than either. I had seen Soras several times in the preceeding [sic] two days. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 20:40:00/20:41:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black Scoter at Colfax, 1983	Administrative records Field notes Forms (documents)	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1983-11-11	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black Scoter at Colfax in Jasper County, IA on November 11, 1983. Includes a record review document with votes and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Black Scoter	Colfax	Colfax sand pits, Jasper Co., Iowa	Sand/gravel pits along Interstate 80 north of Colfax. River bottom land area.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Thomas J. Staudt and Carl Bendorf were submitted later. Other observers include Peter C. Petersen. \| Elimination of similar species: Ruddy Duck not as brown/black, face patch less distinct, and head and bill shape different. Female Surf and White-winged scoters have divided and less extense face patch and straighter forehead; White-winged has white wing patch. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/10:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	20
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black Scoter at Le Claire, 1984	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Forms (documents)	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1984-10-26	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of six Black Scoters at Le Claire in Scott County, IA on October 26, 1984. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and four documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Bendorf, Carl J.	Black Scoter	Le Claire	1 mi. N. of LeClaire	In Mississippi River. Few other live birds in area, but many decoys set out by hunters.	The documentation form by Carl J. Bendorf is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Robert K. Myers, Francis L. Moore, and Gerald White were submitted later. Other observers include Peter C. Petersen and Jim Fuller. \| Elimination of similar species: Surf Scoter is another all dark bird, but it would have a much larger bill that extends on the same angle as a flattened forehead. The definite gray cheek and throat are not present on Surf Scoter. Female Ruddy ducks should be much browner and again have a flattened forehead in line with a larger bill. Black wings eliminate White-winged Scoter. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:15:00/10:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	20
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-bellied Whistling-Duck at Big Marsh, 1993	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-11-01	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black-bellied Whistling-Duck at Big Marsh in Butler County, IA on November 1, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence about the bird sighting, two photographs, an article in The Southwestern Naturalist, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, James J.	Black-bellied Whistling-Duck	Big Marsh Wildlife Area	Big Marsh	freshwater marsh	The documentation form by Jim Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Rodney Steere. \| Elimination of similar species: Nothing it could be confused with	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-bellied Whistling-Duck at Boone, 1987	Administrative records Field notes Maps (documents)	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1987-05-29	1996-04-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black-bellied Whistling-Duck near Boone in Boone County, IA on May 29, 1987. Includes a record review document with votes, a map of the sighting, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Espeland, Steven R.	Black-bellied Whistling-Duck	Boone	County: Boone Location in detail: Observed standing in shallows of ~0.25 A. farm pond located on Eilene Glover acreage NW of Boon, Iowa (see map)	Farm pond w/ random stands of cattails, sedges etc.	The documentation form by Steven R. Espeland is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Fulvous Whistling Duck - Lacks distinctive wing patches and pink bill, legs and feet. \| The original documentation form event occurred at 18:00:00 and from 19:00:00/20:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-bellied Whistling-Duck at Columbus Junction, 1999	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1999-04-25	2000-11-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black-bellied Whistling-Duck at Columbus Junction in Louisa County, IA on April 25, 1999. Includes a record review document with votes, an e-mail about the bird sighting, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Black-bellied Whistling-Duck	Columbus Junction	2 miles north of Columbus Junction, Louisa Co., Iowa	A backwater slough adjacent to highway 70 and close to the Iowa River	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ted Allen, Bill Ohde, and Jim Dinsmore. \| Elimination of similar species: Fulvous Whistling-Duck lacks the gray face, orange bill, and white wing patch.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-bellied Whistling-Duck at Ingham Lake, 1988	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1988-10-23	1996-04-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black-bellied Whistling-Duck at Ingham Lake in Emmet County on October 23, 1988. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Hartwig, Thomas P.	Black-bellied Whistling-Duck	Ingham Lake State Game Management Area	Ingham lake, Emmet County - on Refuge	Duck was seen standing on a rock and then it went into the water for a little while, then back on the rock	The documentation form by Tom Hartwig is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Doug Lemke. \| Elimination of similar species: Left unmolested.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-bellied Whistling-Duck at Tomahawk Marsh, 1998	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Maps (documents) Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1998-04-10	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black-bellied Whistling-Duck at Tomahawk Marsh in Sac County on April 10, 1998. Includes a record review document with votes, a photograph, an article in Iowa Bird Life, a map of one of the sightings, and seven documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Reisz, Russell	Black-bellied Whistling-Duck	Tomahawk Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Tomahawk Marsh, Sac County, Iowa	marsh, wetland	The documentation form by Russell Reisz is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Peter Ernzen, Thomas H. Kent, Jim Fuller, Dick Tetrault, Chris Edwards, and Mark Proescholdt were submitted later. Other observers include Beth Proescholdt. \| Elimination of similar species: Fulvous Whistling-duck is the most similar species. This species was eliminated because it has a different bill color and a different leg color than the Black-bellied Whistling-duck. The Fulvous Whistling-duck also lacks the white wing patch and the dark belly of the Black-bellied Whistling-duck. These were all points of identification for the species seen at Tomahawk Marsh. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 19:58:00/19:58:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-crowned Night-Heron at Cedar Lake, 1998	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1998-01-02	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-crowned Night-Heron at Cedar Lake in Linn County, IA on January 2, 1998. Includes one record review document with votes and a documentation form.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Black-crowned Night Heron	Cedar Lake	Cedar Lake, Cedar Rapis, Linn Co., IA	Large round backwater lake kept open by output from Quaker Oats Plant. The lake was half frozen two days ago, but two warm days made it ice free.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The short legs and large rounded head with thick neck are the main features that distinguish immature Black-crowned from Yellow-crowned Night-Herons. The round white dots on the upper wing are supposed to be more prominent on the Black-crowned, but this is difficult for me to judge. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:05:00/13:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	20
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-crowned Night-Heron at Polk City, 1997	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-12-21	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-crowned Night-Heron at Polk City Wildlife Area in Polk County, IA on December 21, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes, a photo and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Johnson, Ann	Black-crowned Night Heron	Polk City Wildlife Area	Polk City Wildlife Area, Polk Co., IA		The documentation form by Ann Johnson is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore was submitted later. Other observers include Aaron Brees and Phil Walsh. \| Elimination of similar species: Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was eliminated by the boldness of the markings on both the upper and underparts of the body and by the leg extension in flight. \| The documentation form event occurred at approximately 09:30:00	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	20
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-headed Gull at Big Creek State Park, 1994	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-11-17	1998-06-09	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Gull at Big Creek State Park in Polk County, IA on November 17, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Cummins, Raymond L.	Black-headed Gull	Big Creek Lake	Big Creek State Park Polk Co.	Open water	The documentation form by Ray Cummins forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Stephen J. Dinsmore and Jim Dinsmore were submitted. Other observers include Dennis Thompson and Susan B. Grove. \| Elimination of similar species: see above [...] The setting gull in direct comparison to the two Bonaparte's was lighter mantled, larger, whiter headed, the bill was longer and heavier, and the bill was reddish black not pure black like the Bonaparte's. In flight the gull had the same upper wing pattern as the Bonaparte's. [...] The underwing was not totally black like the Little Gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/10:36:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	21
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-headed Gull at Crandalls Beach at Spirit Lake, 1998	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1998-10-11	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black-headed Gull at Crandalls Beach at Spirit Lake in Dickinson County, IA on October 11, 1998. Includes a record review document with votes, a photograph, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Schoenewe, Lee A.	Black-headed Gull	Crandalls Beach	Crandall's Beach on Spirit Lake, Dickinson Co.	lake shore		Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	21
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-headed Gull at Dickinson County Landfill, 1999	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1999-07-10	2000-11-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black-headed Gull at Dickinson County Landfill in Dickinson County, IA on July 10, 1999. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Schoenewe, Lee A.	Black-headed Gull	Dickinson County Landfill	Dickinson County Landfill	Open field	The documentation form by Lee A. Schoenewe is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bill Huser and five unidentified members of the Loess Hills Audubon Society. \| Elimination of similar species: Franklin's Gull and Bonaparte's Gull - Dark brown head and wing pattern w/ dark underneath. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:45:00/12:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	21
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-headed Gull at Jemmerson Slough Wildlife Management Area, 1997	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1997-07-16	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black-headed Gull at Jemmerson Slough Wildlife Management Area in Dickinson County, IA on July 16, 1997. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Proescholdt, Mark	Black-headed Gull	Jemmerson Slough Wildlife Management Area	Jemmerson Slough area - Dickinson County	Small water area with land for gulls to roost on	The documentation form by Mark Proescholdt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer is Ed Thelen. \| Elimination of similar species: No other gull quite like this one. A Bonaparte's Gull is smaller, has a black bill, and lacks the dark smudge on the underwings. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 10:20:00/11:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	21
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-headed Gull at Jemmerson Slough, 1996	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-06-23	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Gull at Jemmerson Slough in Dickinson County, IA on June 23, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes, a photograph, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Schoenewe, Lee A.	Black-headed Gull	Jemmerson Slough Wildlife Management Area	Jemerson [sic] Slough, Dickinson County	Newly restored wetland with mudflats and raised island	The documentation form by Lee Schoenewe is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Jim Fuller and Mark Proescholdt were submitted later. Other observers include Harold White, Ed Thelen, and Tom Stone. \| Elimination of similar species: Franklin's Gulls by close comparison; Bonaparte's by head color + dark underwing \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:15:00/17:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	21
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-headed Gull at Kettleson Hogsback Area, 1998	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1998-05-17	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Gull at Kettleson Hogsback Area in Dickinson County, IA on May 17, 1998. Includes a record review document with votes, a field report, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Thelen, Ed	Black-headed Gull	Kettleson Hogsback Wildlife Management Area	Swan Pen - Dickinson County	Wetland - open water not many emergents 2 islands	The documentation form by Ed Thelen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Bonapartes Gull - size and color of hood Franklins - color of hood, wing markings (upper and lower) \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:00:00/20:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	21
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-headed Gull at Red Rock Reservoir, 1996	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-11-03	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Gull at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on November 3, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Johnson, Ann	Black-headed Gull	Lake Red Rock	Red Rock Reservoir, Marion Co., IA	Large lake	The documentation form by Ann Johnson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Only one other North American gull has a leading white edge to the upperwing- Bonaparte's. Size and jizz helped differentiate this bird from the Bonaparte's, but the dark underwing eliminated the smaller species. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:30:00/12:33:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	21
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 Black-headed Gull at Spirit Lake and Kettleson Hogsback Wildlife Management Area, 1994	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-08-02	1998-06-09	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Gull at Spirit Lake and Kettleson Hogsback Wildlife Management Area in Dickinson County, IA on August 2, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, a photograph, and thirteen documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Black-headed Gull	Kettleson Hogsback Wildlife Management Area Spirit Lake	n. end of Spirit L., Dickinson Co., IA	large lake	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore for the 11:25 AM sighting forms the basis of this record. A second form by Stephen J. Dinsmore for the 12:12 PM and 5:40PM sighting was submitted as well. Other documentation forms by Lee A. Schoenewe, Pete Ernzen, Jim Fuller, Thomas H. Kent, Peter C. Petersen, Ed Thelen, Babs Padelford, Loren Padelford, Pam Allen, Reid Allen, Beth Proescholdt, and Mark Proescholdt (two separate forms) were submitted later. Other observers include LaVonne Foote, Nancy Schoenewe, Beth Brown, Tim Schantz, Brian Blevins, Corey Blevins, Bob Livermore, Roland Barth, Kim Eckert, Russ Widner, Phil McFadden, Bill Huser, Eugene Armstrong, and Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: The combination of red bill and legs, brown hood, size, very pale gray mantle and upperwings, and black undersides to the inner primaries eliminates several similar species, including Franklin's, Laughing, Little, Bonaparte's, and Ross' gulls. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:25:00/11:42:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	21