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 Merlin at Coralville Reservoir, 1975	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1975-09-12	1975-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on September 12, 1975.	Newlon, Michael C.	Merlin	Coralville Lake	Coralville Res.	reservoir, bordered by wide grassy flats	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: dark tail, lack of face pattern elim. sparrow hawk. Small size + falcon build (long pointed wings, long squared-off tail) rule out other hawks. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 12:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Coralville Reservoir, 1975	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1975-10-28	1975-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on October 28, 1975.	Newlon, Michael C.	Golden Eagle	Coralville Lake	Coralville Reservoir, NW of Iowa City, IA	Coralville Res. - wooded ridge to N., extensive water and bare grassy flats in Res. area, then farmland to S.	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: imm. Bald Eagle; proportions of head, neck and tail, no white in wing-linings black r-l hawk: lack of any white in primaries and secondaries, large size. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 11:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Carolina Wren at Hickory Hill Park, 1975	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1975-11-01	1975-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Carolina Wrens at Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on November 1, 1975.	Newlon, Michael C.	Carolina Wren	Hickory Hill Park	Hickory Hill Park, Iowa City IA	brushy ravines on gullies in Hickory Hill Park - park contains woods, open pastures, brushy grown-up old fields	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Nicholas Halmi and Marilyn Smith Glasson. \| Elimination of similar species: eye stripes, rusty color, large size, voice elim. House, winter wrens voice, lack of white in tail, short tail rule out Bewick's (v. rare if not extinct in Iowa City area)<-(fide FW Kent). \| The original documentation form event occurred in the morning.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	88
Rare bird documentation form for Common Flicker hybrid at Iowa City, 1975	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1975-11-01	1975-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Common Flicker hybrid at Iowa CIty in Johnson County, IA on November 1, 1975.	Newlon, Michael C.	Northern Flicker	Iowa City	Iowa City IA	lawn with many large hickory trees, in Hickory Hill Park, Iowa City - park contains second growth woods, pastures, brush old fields surrounded on 3 sides by residential areas, farmland on the other side.	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: local 'yellow-shafted' has (1) yellow linings to wing + tail, (2) yellow shafts to primaries -> rectrices, (3) black mustache-mark, (4) brown face + grey crown. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 10:00:00/10:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	61
Rare bird documentation form for Black Duck at Forneys Lake, 1975	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1975-11-16	1975-12-05	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Black Duck at Forneys Lake in Fremont County, IA on November 16, 1975.	Silcock, W. Ross	American Black Duck	Forneys Lake	Forney Lake, Fremont Co., Iowa	Forney Lake is a wetland area and small lake of about 5 acres which attracts numerous waterfowl in spring and fall.	The documentation form by W. Ross Silcock is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The only similarly - appearing species remotely possible here would be the Mottled Duck, which I have seen in Louisiana. The Mottled Duck has a much cleaner) cut appearance than the Black Duck and if at all to be expected, would be more likely in the spring. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:15:00/10:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	4
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Kent Park, 1975	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1975-12-06	1975-12-08	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Kent Park in Johnson County, IA on December 6, 1975.	Newlon, Michael C.	Golden Eagle	F W Kent County Park	Kent Park, ~10 miles west of Iowa City IA	soaring over area of stubble fields, old fields growing up to brush, farms	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: 'ringed' tail, proportion of head, neck, bill; lack of any white in wing-lining on body plumage: all eliminate imm. bald eagle. great size, lack of white in primaries eliminate black rough-leg. \| The original documentation form event occurred between 13:30:00/14:35:00 (seen twice) (total ~ 20 minutes).	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Tundra Swan at Sand Point at Coralville Reservoir, 1975	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1975-12-13	1975-12-14	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Tundra Swan at Sand Point at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on December 13, 1975.	Newlon, Michael C.	Tundra Swan	Sand Point	Sand Pt, Coralville Reservoir, nw of Iowa City IA	edge of reservoir: grassy flats now submerged by an increase in water level. area has large 'marshy' areas of flooded grass, extensive areas of open water, some harvested corn fields, some fields of winter rye (Planted for geese), some seasonal-growth woods.	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include: Nick Halmi. \| Elimination of similar species: mute swan: eliminated by all-dark bill, vertical posture of neck. Trumpeter Swan: eliminated by range. Snow Goose: eliminated by large size, lack of black in wingtips. White pelican: eliminated by proportions of neck & bill, lack of black in wingtips. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:00:00/14:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	1
Rare bird documentation form for Brown Thrasher at Kent Park in Johnson County, 1975	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1975-12-20	1976-01-04	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Brown Thrasher at Kent Park in Johnson County, IA on December 20, 1975.	Newlon, Michael C.	Brown Thrasher	F W Kent County Park	Kent Park, Johnson Co. IA, ~ 7 mi. west of Iowa City	General: Kent Park contains old fields, some growing up to brush, second-growth woods. It is situated in farming country. Specific: Bird was in an area of dense thickets of small, dense, scrubby trees interspersed with weedy clearings	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Roger Milkman, Marianne Milkman, Paul Milkman, and Carol Newlon. \| Elimination of similar species: Brown Thrushes eliminated by large size, bold streaking rather than spotting on breast. Finches (siskin, Female r-b. grosbeak) elim. by bill shape, size, rufous color. Sage, long-billed thrashers eliminated by rufous color, range. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 11:00:00/11:02:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	14
Rare bird documentation form for Bohemian Waxwing at MacLean Hall at University of Iowa, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1976-02-01	1976-02-10	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Bohemian Waxwing at MacLean Hall at University of Iowa in Johnson County, IA on February 1, 1976.	DeCoster, R. J. (Richard Joseph)	Bohemian Waxwing	MacLean Hall	near the southwest corner of the Physics Building on the University of Iowa Campus.		The documentation form by Richard DeCoster is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Its large size and large crest made the bird stand out. \| The original documentation form event lasted around three minutes.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	16
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Three-toed Woodpecker at Bettendorf in 1975	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1976-03-01	1996-04-24	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Three-toed Woodpecker at Bettendorf in Scott County, IA on May 28 to 31, 1975. Includes a record review document with votes, a request for reconsideration of the record, the original sighting record found in the publication Northern Three-toed Woodpecker in Iowa in Iowa Bird Life 46:27-28 by Mark Fredericksen, and referenced by three additional publications.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Three-toed Woodpecker	Bettendorf				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	29
Rare bird documentation form for Greater Scaup at Coralville Reservoir, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1976-03-20	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Greater Scaup at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on March 20, 1976.	Halmi, Nicholas S.	Greater Scaup	Coralville Lake	Coralville Reservoir, Johnson Co., Iowa, just NE of Mehaffey Bridge (rd F28)	swimming in water of reservoir, near the shore, in shallow water, then flew off into deeper central water	The documentation form by Nicholas Halmi is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Lesser Scaup - several pairs nearby; Female in same scope field as gr. scaup: differences evident - L. Scaup showed purplish, not green, head gloss, slightly peaked head, daintier proportions, finer bill. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:50:00/16:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	10
Rare bird documentation form for Dark-eyed Junco at Iowa City, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1976-03-30	1976-04-11	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for six Dark-eyed Juncos at Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on March 30, 1976.	Newlon, Michael C.	Dark-eyed Junco	Iowa City	Iowa City IA	feeding on lawn in flock of slate-colored's. , in residential neighborhood.	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] head + 'bib' lighter grey than slate-colored's \| The original documentation form event lasted for around a half an hour.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	65
Rare bird documentation form for Harris' Sparrow at Coralville Reservoir, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1976-04-10	1976-04-11	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Harris' Sparrows at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on April 10, 1976.	Newlon, Michael C.	Harris' Sparrow	Coralville Lake	Coralville Reservoir Iowa City, Iowa 52240	woodlot with tall trees, weed patches, brush pile, in an area of fields and second-growth woods.	The documentation form by Michael C Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers are unidentified in the documentation form. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] large sparrow, built like a white-crown but larger, longer-tailed, posture less erect.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	64
Rare bird documentation form for Baird's Sparrow at DeSoto Bend National Wildlife Refuge, 1976	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1976-04-27	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Baird's Sparrow at DeSoto Bend National Wildlife Refuge in Harrison County, IA on April 27, 1976.	Bray, Tanya	Baird's Sparrow	DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge	DeSoto Bend N. Wildlife Refuge, Missouri Valley, Iowa	River Bottom Land - Nat. Wildlife Refuge Plowed strip with road on one side, small trees and underbrush bordering it on the other.	The documentation form by Tanya Bray is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Marian Meier.\| Elimination of similar species: This bird had no yellow above eye as in Savannah. Also the breast stripes were confined to necklace. No noticable [sic] white on tail as in Vesper. No buff on breast as in Lincolns, LeContes, or Henslows. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:50:00/12:55:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	7
Rare bird documentation form for Hooded Warbler near Coralville Reservoir, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1976-05-27	1976-05-31	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Hooded Warbler near Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on May 27, 1976.	Newlon, Michael C.	Hooded Warbler	Coralville Lake	wooded hillside n. of Co. Rd 'F', just w of highway 218	Specific: a wooded hillside, with mature oaks + shagbark hickories and a dense understory of 6'-10'- high shrubs, and forbs. General: above is part of a large tract of woodland that borders the n. shore of the Coralville Reservoir, separated from the resevoir [sic] by a road and a belt of second-growth woods. to the w. is an old farm, brushy grown-up pastures; to the n. is farmland.	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Song, black 'hood' eliminate Kentucky, Canada Warblers - Canada has necklace of streaks, not solid black on throat; Kentucky has no black on throat \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 08:00:00/08:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	41
Rare bird documentation form for White-eyed Vireo at Hickory Hill Park in 1976	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds Wildlife conservation	1976-05-31	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a White-eyed Vireo at Hickory Hill Park in Johnson County, IA from May 2 to May 5, 1976.	Newlon, Michael C.	White-eyed Vireo	Hickory Hill Park				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	76
Southwest Iowa field notes, August-November, 1976	Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Identification Migratory birds	1976-08-01	1976-11-30	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Field notes for Southwest Iowa contributed by Ruth Phipps. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union Quarterly field report of Fall 1976.	Phipps, Ruth O.	Northern Flicker Brewer's Blackbird Henslow's Sparrow Goldeneye White-crowned Sparrow Spotted Towhee Hairy Woodpecker	Riverton Wildlife Management Area Shenandoah Viking Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	17	18
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Warbler at Grandview Cemetery in Fremont County, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1976-09-04	1976-12-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Pine Warbler at Grandview Cemetery in Fremont County, IA on September 4, 1976.	Silcock, W. Ross	Pine Warbler	Grandview Cemetery	Grandview Cemetery, Fremont Co, Iowa	Oak-hickory woods surrounding cemetery atop Loess Bluffs at Missouri River Bottoms.	The documentation form by Ross Silcock is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Yellow-throated Vireo prob. most similar in general appearance, but no spectacles; also warbler bill (feature implied above when bird described as 'large warbler'. [note] Why not Bay-br. or Blackpoll. [end note] \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:30:00/13:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	29
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Swan Lake, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1976-09-16	1976-09-17	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Swan Lake in Johnson County, IA on September 16, 1976.	Halmi, Nicholas S.	Merlin	Swan Lake	Swan Lake, Johnson Co., Iowa	Swan L. is 1 mile south from the Coralville Reservoir. The bird was flying over the lake, the bordering mudflats and disappeared within seconds over an adjoining cornfield, continuing its rectilinear, unswerving flight.	The documentation form by Nicholas Halmi is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: In spite of the first subconscious "gestalt" impression of a Mourning Dove approaching, the square tail, lacking white, falcon wings and greater size rule this one out. The bird seen was definitely too small to be a Peregrine, and had no mustache. It did not have the distinctive facial pattern of the familiar Kestrel either, nor the rufous back and/or wings and tail; it was a dusky bird, not the way Kestrels look to me; nor have I ever seen a Kestrel flying with such blinding speed and so "purposefully". \| The original documentation form event occurred around 15:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Peregrine Falcon at Sand Point at Coralville Reservoir, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1976-09-26	1976-09-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Peregrine Falcon at Sand Point at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on September 26, 1976.	Newlon, Michael C.	Peregrine Falcon	Sand Point	Sand Point, on Coralville Reservoir N. of Iowa City, IA	Reservoir & many dead trees emerging from water - bordered by wide weedy flats. Surrounded by cropland to S, a wooded ridge to N.	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Cal Knight, Bernie Knight, and Carol S. Newlon. \| Elimination of similar species: Build rules out all raptors except falcons. Large size, prominent 'side burn' transverse barring on lower parts rule out Prairie Falcon (not expected in IA), Kestrel, Merlin. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:30:00/16:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	34
Rare bird documentation form for LeConte's Sparrow at Sand Point in Coralville Reservoir, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1976-09-26	1976-09-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for ten to twenty minimum LeConte's Sparrows at Sand Point in Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on September 26, 1976.	Newlon, Michael C.	Le Conte's Sparrow	Sand Point	Sand Point, on Coralville Resevoir [sic] n. of Iowa City IA.	V. extensive weedy flats (waist to head-high) on shore of resevoir [sic]	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Cal Knight, Bernie Knight, and Carol Newlon. \| Elimination of similar species: grey face patch on yellow face, yellow-orange breast, narrow white crown stripe rule out Henslow's, sharp-tail, grasshopper, Baird's sparrows. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:15:00/16:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	58
Rare bird documentation form for Sharp-tailed Sparrow at Sand Point in Coralville Reservoir, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1976-09-26	1976-09-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Sharp-tailed Sparrows at Sand Point in Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on September 26, 1976.	Newlon, Michael C.	Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow	Sand Point	Sand Point on Coralville Resevoir [sic], n. of Iowa City IA	extensive weedy flats - waist to head-high on shore of resevoir. [sic]	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Carol S. Newlon, Cal Knight, and Bernie Knight. \| Elimination of similar species: Crown-pattern rules out Henslows (lacks grey crown stripe) LeContes (has narrow white stripe), Grasshopper, Baird's. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:20:00/16:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	59
Rare bird documentation form for Black-legged Kittiwake at Coralville Reservoir, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1976-10-27	1976-10-28	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Black-legged Kittiwake at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on October 27, 1976.	Halmi, Nicholas S.	Black-legged Kittiwake	Coralville Lake	Coralville Reservoir, Johnson Co. Iowa	Over water. in a small inlet formed by the scalloped SW shore of the reservoir	The documentation form by Nicholas S. Halmi is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Mike Newlon, Carol Newlon, Rich DeCoster, Allan Mueller, Lillian Serbousek, and Weir Nelson. \| Elimination of similar species: Bonaparte's has no nuchal crescent, more white on wings, square on rounded tail; Black-headed - ditto, with even more white on wings; Sabine's: no nuchal spot, wing pattern of black-gray-white triangles, head gray in back; Ross's - no nuchal crescent, wedge-shaped tail, no spot behind eye; Little - much smaller, nuchal crescent (if present) merely an extension of the dark gray back, not demarcated in white, black cap. Of these only the imm. Bonaparte's is more common than the Kittiwake in Iowa. This is the third record for the state (last seen in Davenport Dec. 1967). \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:20:00/16:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	40
Black-legged Kittiwake on the Coralville Reservoir	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds Wildlife conservation	1976-10-27	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Field notes by N. S. Halmi for a Black-legged Kittiwake at Coralville Reservoir on October 27, 1976.	Halmi, Nicholas S.	Black-legged Kittiwake	Coralville Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	40
Rare bird documentation form for Black-legged Kittiwake at Coralville Reservoir, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1976-10-28	1976-10-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Black-legged Kittiwake at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on October 28, 1976.	DeCoster, R. J. (Richard Joseph)	Black-legged Kittiwake	Coralville Lake	Coralville Docks, Coralville Reservoir, Johnson Co., Iowa	Large open water area of Coralville Reservoir. There was a flock of adult Bonaparte's gulls about a mile south on the same area of the reservoir.	The documentation form by Richard J. DeCoster is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Lillian Serbousek, Nicholas Halmi, and Michael Newlon. \| Elimination of similar species: Immature Bonaparte's gull lacks transverse mark across nape and has lighter wing coverts. The immature little gull is shown by Robbins et al. to have a dark hood and scaly back. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:45:00/12:55:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	40