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 Townsend's Solitaire southwest of Washta, 1997	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Ornithology--Technique Rare birds	1997-02-23	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Townsend's Solitaire southwest of Washta in Cherokee County, IA on February 23, 1997.	Thelen, Rob	Townsend's Solitaire	Washta	app. 1 3/4 m. SW of Washta in Cherokee Co.	Cedar Tree's, Timber, River Ridge	The documentation form by Rob Thelen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Joe Clark, Marty Thelen, Wes Thelen, and Peter Ernzen. \| Elimination of similar species: came to Solitaire Tape. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/11:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	5
Rare bird documentation form for Black-legged Kittiwake at Centerville City Reservoir, 1988	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1988-11-26	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Black-legged Kittiwake at Centerville City Reservoir in Appanoose County, IA on November 26, 1988.	Cummins, Raymond L.	Black-legged Kittiwake	Upper City Reservoir	Appanoose Co. Centerville City Reservoir	Fairly large open water	The documentation form by Ray Cummins is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Size eliminates little gull, thick black nape everything else. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:05:00/11:11:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	40
Rare bird documentation form for Lark Sparrow south of Mystic, 1981	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-12-22	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Lark Sparrow south of Mystic in Appanoose County, IA on December 22, 1981.	Cummings, William G.	Lark Sparrow	Mystic	Appanoose County - South of Mystic	Shrub - Fence row Brush	The documentation form by William G. Cummings is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Tree & Song Sparrow also English Sparrow because of size & markings \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:15:00/09:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	53
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Burrowing Owl at Rathbun Reservoir, 1986	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1986-12-20	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Burrowing Owl at Rathbun Reservoir in Appanoose County, IA on December 20, 1986. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Strough, Randy D.	Burrowing Owl	Rathbun Lake	Appanoose County, Lake Rathbun, 1.5 miles North on paved road to Southfork Marina off J5T	Open; harvested bean field west side of road, harvested corn field east side of road. The ditches were mowed clean of weeds and lacked trees or shrubs	The documentation form by Randal D. Strough forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Ray Cummins and Steve Dinsmore were submitted. Another observer includes Tom Johnson. \| Elimination of similar species: Screech Owl: a screech owl has ear tufts (except young screech owls may lack conspicuous ear tufts). The belly has vertical barring, and lacks definate [sic] spots on head and back. Legs are not conspicuously long. Saw-whet Owl: has vertical streaked belly, and lacks conspicuously long legs. Habitat: conifer groves, there where [sic] none in the immediate area. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:45:00/17:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	17
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ruff northwest of Bayard, 1991	Administrative records Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1991-05-26	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Ruff northwest of Bayard in Greene County, IA on May 26, 1991. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Myers, Robert K.	Ruff	Bayard	approx 1 1/2 miles northwest of Bayard, Iowa	Flooded field	The documentation form by Robert K. Myers forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Maridel Jackson was submitted. Other observers include Walt Jackson, Eugene Armstrong, and Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] I first noticed this bird as we were scanning a bunch of dunlin and this bird "stuck out." [...] The bird was about the size of a lesser yellowlegs (also present) but was of different proportions. The body was too heavy (chunky) for a yellowlegs - being more dowitcher like. The neck was fairly long - more so than a dowticher but maybe a little shorter than lesser yellowlegs. The head was defnitely small for the size of the bird. The legs were also fairly long (knobby knees) and again probably a little shorter than a lesser yellowlegs. These basic proportions helped at once to eliminate many species. [..] The bird's head and upper neck were very tawny (similar to buff breasted sandpiper) [...] Tail - This is the one feature along with the basic shape that convinced me. [...] If the bird would have had no color at all I still would have called it a ruff from the proportions. Ruff plumage is variable to say the least. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 15:00:00/15:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Whimbrel north of Swan Lake, 1983	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1983-05-24	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Whimbrel north of Swan Lake in Johnson County, IA on May 24, 1983. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, a summary of the review, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Bendorf, Carl J.	Whimbrel	Swan Lake	Approx 3/4 mile north of Swan Lake, Johnson Co., IA	Along muddy shoreline of large flooded area. Some weed stubble.	The documentation form by Carl J. Bendorf is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by James P. Sandrock were submitted later. Other observers include Tom Staudt, James G. Huntington, John L. Cordell, Tom Kent, and Mike Newlon. \| Elimination of similar species: According to Robbins, et al., Bristle-thighed Curlew should have a bright rusty tail. This was not observed. Robbins shows Eskimo Curlew with much more barring on flanks, smaller bill. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:15:00/10:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	23
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Goshawk at George Wyth State Park, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-11-21	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Goshawk at George Wyth State Park in Black Hawk County, IA on November 21, 1985.	Moore, Francis L.	Northern Goshawk	George Wyth Memorial State Park	approx. .1 mi. E. of entrance to George Wyth State Park along U.S. 20, Black Hawk Co., IA	Open cropland near woods of George Wyth State Park	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Cooper's Hawk is not this large and does not have as wide and bold a supercilliary line as this bird had, Cooper's also does not have long fluffy undertail coverts as this bird had. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:43:00/13:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	25
Rare bird documentation form for Scissor-tailed Flycatcher south of Pleasant Creek State Park, 1995	Correspondence Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1995-07-31	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher south of Pleasant Creek State Park in Linn County, IA on July 31, 1995. It was submitted with a letter from Jim Dinsmore to Thomas Kent on an unknown date.	Dankert, David L.	Scissor-tailed Flycatcher	Pleasant Creek State Park	Approx. 2 miles s Pleasant Creek S.P. NW Linn Co	cut hayfield	The documentation form by David L. Dankert is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Observing the bird when perched length was approximately three times the size of the A. Goldfinch that was perched close by. Body mass was about the size of an A. Robin. [...] Some field guides suggest confusion can be made between juvenile Scissor-tailed Flycatcher and Western Kingbird juvenile but the head of the bird I observed was whiter. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:40:00/13:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	73
Rare bird documentation form for Snowy Egret at Sweet Marsh, 1980	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1980-08-30	1980-09-13	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Snowy Egret at Sweet Marsh in Bremer County, IA on August 30, 1980.	Myers, Robert K.	Snowy Egret	Sweet Marsh	approx. 3 mi. south of Sweet Marsh, Iowa	cow pasture with marshy areas, water for marsh comes from natural artesian wells.	The documentation form by Robert K. Myers is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Russell Hays, Tom Stone, and Francis Moore. \| Elimination of similar species: An immature little blue was also present & next day a cattle egret was with the snowy and separating all three was easy \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:30:00/14:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	19
Rare bird documentation form for Loggerhead Shrike at west southwest of Low Moor, 1998	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1998-12-21	1999-01-04	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Loggerhead Shrike at west southwest of Low Moor in Clinton County, IA on December 21, 1998.	Konig, Ulf	Loggerhead Shrike	Low Moor	Approx. 5 miles WSW of Low Moor, Iowa Clinton County, IA	Open farmland with small creek & marshy area nearby 1/4 mile	The documentation form by Ulf Konig is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Gary Ostrom. \| Elimination of similar species: Mockingbird - The bird I saw had the definite dark mask of a Shrike. Northern Shrike - The bird I saw was smaller in size darker in appearance and had a mask which extended above & below eye. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:10:00/09:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	74
Rare bird documentation form for Burrowing Owl south of Roland, 1981	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-09-07	1981-09-14	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Burrowing Owl south of Roland in Story County, IA on September 7, 1981.	Moore, Francis L.	Burrowing Owl	Roland	Approximately 1 1/2 mi South of Roland along county road R77, Story County	Roadside ditch, grown-over along a bean field separated by 3 or 4 strand barbed wire fence.	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Russell Hays, Bob Myers, and Hank Zalatel. \| Elimination of similar species: The above bird had a completely different shape as compared to the Common Screech Owl and the Saw-whet Owl; see above. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:40:00/13:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	51
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Chestnut-collared Longspur south of Percival, 1992	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1992-04-23	1999-10-15	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for twenty-five Chestnut-collared Longspurs south of Percival in Fremont County, IA on April 23, 1992. Includes a record review document with votes, five photographs, an article in American Birds, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Rose, B.J.	Chestnut-collared Longspur	Percival	Approximately 2 1/2 miles south of Percival, Fremont County, Iowa on Hwy L31 (about 1 mile north of Hwy 2).	Roadside and stubble.	The documentation form by B.J. Rose is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was Babs Padelford. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:30:00/12:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	43
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Little Gull south of Council Bluffs, 1992	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1992-04-23	1999-10-15	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Little Gull south of Council Bluffs in Pottawattamie County, IA on April 23, 1992. Includes a record review document with votes, three photographs, articles in Iowa Bird Life and American Birds, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Rose, B.J.	Little Gull	Council Bluffs	Approximately 2 miles south of Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County, Iowa. It was about 1/2 mile north of the turn-off to the North Settling Pond of Iowa Power Plant, on the west side of highway L-31 (gravel).	Flooded fields.	The documentation form by B.J. Rose forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Babs Padelford was submitted. \| Elimination of similar species: Bonaparte's Gull is larger with longer, black-tipped primaries; has a shorter hood on back of head and neck and has white underside of wings. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:15:00/14:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	20
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon at Sioux Center, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-02-06	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon at Sioux Center in Sioux County, IA on February 6, 1982.	Van Dyk, John, 1936-	Prairie Falcon	Sioux Center	approximately three miles south-west of Sioux Center (Sioux Co.)		The documentation form by John Van Dyk is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include John Kevin. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Rare bird documentation form for Bewick's Wren north of Burlington, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-04-16	1986-04-23	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Bewick's Wren north of Burlington in Des Moines County, IA on April 16, 1986.	Cecil, Robert I.	Bewick's Wren	Burlington	appx. 2 miles north of Burlington (Des Moines County) Iowa	Brush pile near pasture and woodlot, Near farmstead.	The documentation form by Robert Cecil is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Elizabeth Christiansen, Dana Christiansen, James Fuller, Charles Fuller, Cal Knight, Bernie Knight, and others. \| Elimination of similar species: Carolina Wren has heavier body, does not have white outer tail feathers, and has a comparatively shorter tail. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:15:00/12:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	1
Record Committee review for rare bird sighting of Prairie Falcon east of Sioux City, 1981	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1981-12-19	1993-08-16	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Prairie Falcon east of Sioux City in Woodbury County, IA on December 19, 1981. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee. The documentation form is related to field notes detailing other sightings https://avian.lib.iastate.edu/documents/8756/view	Duecker, Steve	Prairie Falcon	Sioux City	Aprox [sic] 6 miles east of Sioux City, HY. 141	Bluffs on North Flat Land on South of HY.	The documentation form by Steve Duecker is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Documentation form was completed by Robert Nicholson. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 07:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	6
Rare bird documentation form for Bewick's Wren at Aspen Grove Cemetery in Burlington, 1991	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1991-04-27	1991-05-03	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Bewick's Wren at Aspen Grove Cemetery in Burlington in Des Moines County, IA on April 27, 1991.	Fuller, James L	Bewick's Wren	Aspen Grove Cemetery	Apsen [sic] Grove Cemetery, Burlington, Des Moines County		The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Chuck Fuller. \| Elimination of similar species: The completely white underparts eliminate all other wrens except rock wren. although that bird has a blush of brown along the rear sides and under the tail and it has streaking on the upper breast. No other wren has the white tail pattern, nor wags its tail side to side. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:03:00/15:14:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	1
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Argyle, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-04-06	1985-04-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Argyle in Lee County, IA on April 6, 1985.	Cecil, Robert I.	Golden Eagle	Argyle	Argyle, Iowa, s.w. Lee County	Open country, 2 miles from Des Moines River	The documentation form by Robert I. Cecil is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Imm. Bald Eagles splotchy white underneath--have seen this many times. Tail pattern similar to Rough-leg, but size, overall profile wrong, as was body coloration (although I've not seen dark phase Rough-leg.) Proportionately small head wrong for all Buteos. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:15:00/11:20:00	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Varied Thrush at Spencer, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-12-17	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Varied Thrush at Spencer in Clay County, IA on December 17, 1983.	Bierman, Dick	Varied Thrush	Spencer	At a feeder in Spencer Iowa.	In town of Spencer, a few pines in vacinity. [sic]	The documentation form by Dick Bierman is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Marion Brewer, Wallace Jardine, Jim Quinn, Vernon Bierman, and Eldon Kanago. \| Elimination of similar species: Robin, Curve bill thrasher. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:15:00/11:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	11
Rare bird documentation form for Summer Tanager at Algona, 1999	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-11-05	1999-11-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Summer Tanager at Algona in Kossuth County, IA on November 5, 1999.	Kenne, Matthew C.	Summer Tanager	Algona	at birdbath in my backyard [...] 709 N. Phillips, Algona, Iowa 50511		The documentation form by Matthew Kenne is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include his family. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] The thick, blunt bill shape and larger bill size eliminates warblers and vireos, and it was a larger bird than those by comparison with the Cardinal. Female Scarlet Tanager is eliminated by the lack of olive tones to the plumage, especially in the wing, which was the same color as the back and not darker. The reddish tinge to the yellow on parts of the bird is consistent with some female Summer Tanagers, but not Scarlet Tanager. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:05:00/17:06:00 on November 5, 1999 and around 07:50:00 on November 7, 1999.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	44
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Common Yellowthroat at Montrose Cemetery, 1993	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-12-26	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Common Yellowthroat at Montrose Cemetery in Lee County, IA on December 26, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Moore, Francis L.	Common Yellowthroat	Montrose Cemetery	At edge of Cemetery on North side of Montrose, Lee County, Iowa	Natural spring wetland that empties into Missisippi at Montrose	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Another observer was John Cecil. \| Elimination of similar species: Nashville Warbler has grayish head with bold white eyering. Pine Warbler has dark streaks on the sides and white belly and undertail coverts. Female Yellow Warbler is paler on upper surfaces. All of these also have black legs unlike this bird. Wilson's Warbler auricular area is yellowish. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:20:00/15:25:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	27
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Golden-crowned Sparrow east of Little Wall Lake, 1995	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-05-04	2000-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for at least three Golden-crowned Sparrows east of Little Wall Lake in Hamilton County, IA on May 4, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes, two photographs, an article in Iowa Bird Life, correspondence about the sighting and documentation, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Wilcox, Dorothy	Golden-crowned Sparrow	Little Wall Lake	At platform feeder and on the ground	Lg. oak trees, shrubs (Rural)	The documentation form by Dorothy Wilcox is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include family and friends. \| Elimination of similar species: white crowned and white throat, definite difference in eye line and crown. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 11:00:00/17:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	40
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Ferruginous Hawk at Ames, 1992	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1992-04-05	1994-10-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Ferruginous Hawk at Ames in Story County, IA on April 5, 1992. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Arbour, David	Ferruginous Hawk	Ames	At the intersection of I-35 and E29 () just N.E. of Ames:	Flat Farmland/Roadside	The documentation form by David Arbour is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Matt Humann, Harold Harbert, and Yumann Lee. \| Elimination of similar species: Red-tailed Hawk lacks the white crescent near the base of primaries and is smaller and shorter winged. Rough-legged Hawk has a dark belly band and a subterminal band on tail. \| The original documentation form event lasted for approximately 10 minutes during mid-morning.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Rose-breasted Grosbeak at Atlantic, 1992	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1992-11-28	1994-10-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Rose-breasted Grosbeak at Atlantic in Cass County, IA on November 28, 1992. Includes a record review document with votes, a photograph, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Rose-breasted Grosbeak	Atlantic	Atlantic, Cass Co., Iowa	Urban yard with feeders.	The documentation form by Thomas Kent forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Jim Fuller was submitted. Other observers include Donna Rourick, Ann Johnson, and Sharron Steffens. \| Elimination of similar species: The red on the breast and axillaries [sic] and the degree of streaking led us to identifying this bird as a first-year male Rose-breasted Grosbeak. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:20:00/13:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	14	2
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Western Sandpiper at Babcock Access at Coralville Reservoir, 1990	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-10-13	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Western Sandpiper at Babcock Access at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on October 13, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Western Sandpiper	Babcock Access	Babcock Access, Coralville Res., Johnson Co. Iowa.	mud flats with shallow pools	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Dick Tetrault. \| Elimination of similar species: The size and shape in comparison with Baird's Sandpiper establish this bird as a peep. The black legs, gray color, and lack of bib exclude Least Sandpiper (several of which were seen earlier). The distinction from Semipalmated Sandpiper is based on the bill and apparent molt to basic plumage. Five minutes earlier I had seen two Semipalmated Sandpipers running on the other side of the area; they had short straight bills and had all feathers of the upper parts edged with buff (juvenile plumage). I had seen a number of Semipalmated Sandpipers with longer and slightly drooped bills this fall, but none approached the length, thinness, and droop seen on the current bird. According to Kenn Kaufman's Advanced Birding, Semipalmated Sandpipers wear their juvenile plumage until they reach wintering grounds, and juvenile Western Sandpipers gradually molt from juvenile to basic plumage from August to October with some retaining rusty scapulars. I assume, based on date, that this bird was probably a first-year bird, and that it had either completely molted to basic plumage or had some rusty scapulars that I did not see. I did not consider any of the Eurasian stints, which would be exceeding unlikely and have bills more like a semipalmated or have yellow legs. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:15:00/10:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	3