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 Herring Gull at MidAmerican Energy Ponds near Council Bluffs, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-05-24	1985-06-03	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Herring Gull at MidAmerican Energy Ponds near Council Bluffs in Pottawattamie County, IA on May 24, 1985.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Herring Gull	MidAmerican Energy Ponds	IPL Settling Ponds, Council Bluffs, Iowa		The documentation form by Barb L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Similar to most of the other large immature gulls of the world. Mantle too light for Black-backed group. Wingtips, even in their folded condition, too dark for Glaucous, Glaucous-winged, etc. that leaves a whole mess of light-mouthed large gulls with dark wing tips. Description seems to match young Herring Gull (second summer ?) well enough. Eye color would probably be becoming pale in a Herring of this plumage, but perhaps not, + it might not show at the distance. I have trouble eliminating California Gull, but it is even harder to support that species.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	34
Rare bird documentation form for Osprey at Montrose, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-12-27	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Osprey at Montrose in Lee County, IA on December 27, 1992.	Roberts, Barb	Osprey	Montrose	Mississippi River - near Montrose, IA (south of Montrose)	near patch of open water - on ice near water	The documentation form by Barb Roberts is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Zelma Williams, Kathy Dehn, and Ruth Iutzi. \| Elimination of similar species: Im. bald eagles were in area, not adjacent. This bird's head marking were very distinctive. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:00:00/14:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	19
Rare bird documentation form for Ruddy Duck at Willow Slough, 1980	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1980-04-12	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Ruddy Duck at Willow Slough in Mills County, IA on April 12, 1980.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Ruddy Duck	Willow Slough State Game Management Area	Willow Slough, Mills County, Iowa		The documentation form by Barb Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Resembles a ruddy in size, shape, color of sides, + color of belly. However, it lacked any light color on the cheeks. I don't know a duck that normally has this pattern. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 17:07:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	18
Rare bird documentation form for Snowy Egret at Fremont County, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-08-12	1984-11-28	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation for eight Snowy Egrets at Fremont County, IA on August 12, 1984.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Snowy Egret	Fremont County	Missouri River floodplain just south of the Bridge to Nebraska City; Fremont County		The documentation form by Barb Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The black bill eliminates Great Egret & Cattle Egret. Immature Little Blue Herons have uniformly colored legs. Both Great Egrets & Little Blues were present & they were not feeding actively like the Snowys - not running around, that is.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	19
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Willow Slough, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-11-23	1984-11-28	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Willow Slough in Mills County, IA on November 23, 1984.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Golden Eagle	Willow Slough State Game Management Area	Mills County, Iowa, near Willow Slough		The documentation form by Barb Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Young Bald Eagles are similar but usually mottled with light feathers. They have white on the under wing coverts, not the bases of the flight feathers, & they do not have the neat tail pattern. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:30:00/15:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Red-necked Grebe at Lake Manawa, 1988	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1988-04-14	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for Red-necked Grebe at Lake Manawa in Pottawattamie County, IA on April 14, 1988.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Red-necked Grebe	Lake Manawa	Lake Manawa, Pottawattamie County, Iowa		The documentation form by Barb Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Mark Hartman, Joe Cassidy, Mary Johnson, Don McDonnel, Babs Padelford, and Bruce Wetteroth. \| Elimination of similar species: Good size grebe, much larger than neon(?) by Pied-billed. Swimming, the body was a little shorter than that of a Common Merganser. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:45:00/08:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	13
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Falcon at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, 1981	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-12-20	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Falcon at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge in Harrison County, IA on December 20, 1981.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Prairie Falcon	DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge	DeSoto	Farmyard in cropland	The documentation form by Barb Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Rick Wright and Dave Menke. \| Elimination of similar species: Pigeon size or bigger. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:10:00/08:25:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	35
Rare bird documentation form for King Rail at Forney's Lake, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-06-13	1986-07-09	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a King Rail at Forney's Lake in Fremont County, IA on June 13, 1986.	Wilson, Barbara L.	King Rail	Forneys Lake	Forney's Lake, Fremont County	Habitat was cultivated fields, 2 large road ditches, & rail road tracks, between Forney's & Crystal lakes.	The documentation form by Barb Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tanya Bray and Babs Padelford. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:15:00/07:17:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	41
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Warbler at the Croton Unit in Shimek State Forest, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1986-06-07	1986-07-06	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Warbler at the Croton Unit in Shimek State Forest in Lee County, IA on June 7, 1986.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Prairie Warbler	Shimek State Forest Wildlife Management Area - Croton Unit	Shimek State Forest - Croton Unit? - Lee County, Iowa		The documentation form by Barb Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tanya Bray, Jim Sandrock, Bob Cecil, and many unidentified other observers.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	30
Rare bird documentation form for Vesper Sparrow northwest of Hastings, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-01-05	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Vesper Sparrow northwest of Hastings in Mills County, IA on January 5, 1982.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Vesper Sparrow	Hastings	5 miles north + 1 1/2 miles west of Hastings, Mills County, Iowa		The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: A good size brown sparrow with white outer tail feathers is likely to be a Vesper Sparrow except in winter. I probably wouldn't call this one if I hadn't seen it better before + after. \| The original documentation form event occurred around mid-morning.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	52
Rare bird documentation form for Least Tern at Willow Slough, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-08-02	1978-11-19	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Least Tern at Willow Slough in Mills County, IA on August 2, 1978.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Least Tern	Willow Slough State Game Management Area	Willow Slough in NE Mills County, Iowa	a shallow lake. It was feeding near water plants.	The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: All other White Terns are bigger than Black Terns. The Least Tern differed from the Black Terns in size, color, + most of all behavior - rate of wing beats, the way it done.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	44
Rare bird documentation form for Common Tern at Willow Slough, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-08-06	1979-08-09	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Common Terns at Willow Slough in Mills County, IA on August 6, 1979.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Common Tern	Willow Slough State Game Management Area	Willow Slough, NE Mills Co., Iowa		The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: All the terns I've managed to identify at the Slough before have been Forsters. There was a Forsters at the slough that evening, in fact, with white primaries. It tried to land on a piling by the other two, but then left. The Commons differed from Forster's terns by having dark primaries (adult) and on eye patch that circled the back of the head (other bird).	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	42
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow-crowned Night Heron at Willow Slough, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-07-23	1979-07-26	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow-crowned Night Heron at Willow Slough in Mills County, IA on July 23, 1979.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Yellow-Crowned Night Heron	Willow Slough State Game Management Area	Willow Slough, NE Mills County, Iowa	Twice I flushed the bird from the edge of the cattail patches. Flew away from me with slow, dignified wing beats.	The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Bitterns have black, not gray flight feathers in wings. Immature Black-crowned Night heron has larger spots, a more streaked appearance. Note: both night herons were present at the slough last year. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:00:00/16:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	23
Rare bird documentation form for Greater Scaup at Lake Manawa, 1981	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-04-11	1981-05-24	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Greater Scaup at Lake Manawa in Pottawattamie County, IA on April 11, 1981.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Greater Scaup	Lake Manawa	Lake Manawa, Council Bluffs	Lake -oxbow lake	The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Differs from Lesser Scaup in head shape, size, size of bill. Differs from many Lessers in white flanks. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 18:10:00/18:15:00 or more.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	10
Rare bird documentation form for Snowy Egret at Settling Ponds south of Council Bluffs, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-05-31	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Snowy Egret at Settling Ponds south of Council Bluffs in Pottawattamie County, IA on May 31, 1986.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Snowy Egret	MidAmerican Energy Ponds	Settling Ponds, S. of Council Bluffs, Iowa		The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Great Egret + Cattle Egret have yellow bills. The Little Blue Heron's bill shouldn't look so black & thin, & in any case that species lacks yellow feet. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 20:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	19
Rare bird documentation form for Long-tailed Duck at Willow Slough Public Hunting Area, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-03-22	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for Long-tailed Duck at Willow Slough Public Hunting Area in Mills County, IA on March 22, 1982.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Long-tailed Duck	Willow Slough State Game Management Area	Willow Slough Public Hunting Area, Mills County, Iowa		The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: had a faint resemblance to a Bufflehead while sleeping. Really too odd to be any thing else. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:25:00/15:58:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	14
Rare bird documentation form for Marbled Godwit at Forney's Lake, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-05-16	1985-06-02	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for four Marbled Godwits at Forney's Lake in Fremont County, IA on May 16, 1985.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Marbled Godwit	Forneys Lake State Wildlife Management Area	Forney's Lake, Fremont County, Iowa		The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Hudsonian Godwit has white wing stripe + rump. Long-billed Curlew has decurved bill + would be most unusual here. most [sic] sandpipers are smaller than dowitchers.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	14
Rare bird documentation form for Marbled Godwit at Willow Slough, 1981	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-05-19	1981-05-24	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Mabled Godwit at Willow Slough in northeast Mills County, IA on May 19, 1981.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Marbled Godwit	Willow Slough State Game Management Area	Willow Slough, N.E. Mills County, Iowa	Standing in shallow water in drying slough.	The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Hudsonian Godwit is similar, but has contrasting rump + wing stripe. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 06:00:00/06:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	14
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Willow Slough, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-09-18	1982-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Willow Slough in Mills County, IA on September 18, 1982.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Merlin	Willow Slough State Game Management Area	Willow Slough, N.E. Mills County, Iowa		The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Kestrel doesn't have a gray barred tail. Uniform grayish grown upper parts would resemble Merlin, not Kestrel. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:45:00/17:45:30.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Grasshopper Sparrow at Willow Slough, 1980	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1980-11-05	1980-12-10	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Grasshopper Sparrow at Willow Slough in Mills County, IA on November 5, 1980.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Grasshopper Sparrow	Willow Slough State Game Management Area	Willow Slough, Iowa	weedy old field, brush nearby but it was in the weedy grass	The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Le Conte's Sparrow - eliminated by lack of orange, + by lack of streaks on side of breast Henslow's - eliminated by nape streaks, but it's hard to be sure. Perhaps the difference in color between a Henslow's face + Grasshopper's face would be hard to tell in a backlit bird. Looked pale, though. \| The original documentation form event occurred in the afternoon for five minutes or more.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	56
Rare bird documentation form for Hooded Merganser at Willow Slough, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-06-04	1978-07-14	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Hooded Merganser at Willow Slough in Mills County, IA on June 4, 1978.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Hooded Merganser	Willow Slough State Game Management Area	Willow Slough, Anderson Twp., Mills Co., Iowa	Lake, out near the middle, where there where tops of drowned weeds sticking out of the water.	The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Only mergansers have thin bills (of the ducks, that is). Only Hooded Mergansers have yellow bills or unpatterned heads. Shape and bill color eliminate the grebes. Size eliminates the loons. I really can't think of anything else it could be.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	15
Rare bird documentation form for Marbled Godwit at northeast Mills County, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-04-24	1984-05-25	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Marbled Godwit at northeast Mills County, IA on April 24, 1984.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Marbled Godwit	Mills County	NE Mills County, Iowa (Former Tom Axtell farm, recently purchased by a Stortenbecker)		The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Other large shorebirds Hudsonian Godwit: White wingstripe + in rump Dowitchers: white rump + back Long-billed Curlew: similar I think the bill was straight but am eliminating this mainly by probability. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:30:00/07:31:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	14
Rare bird documentation form for Connecticut Warbler in Mills County, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-05-26	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Connecticut Warbler in Mills County, IA on May 26, 1983.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Connecticut Warbler	Mills County	Wilson farm, N.E. Mills Co., Iowa		The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Resembles the fall Mourning Warbler plumage. In fact, I must say this is either a female Connecticut Warbler in Spring plumage or a Mourning that retains fall plumage. I did not see if the eye ring is broken or not, nor the extent to which the under tail coverts cover the tail feathers. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 09:00:00/09:01:30.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	39
Rare bird documentation form for Common Tern at Willow Slough, 1980	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1980-05-24	1980-05-26	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for ten Common Terns at Willow Slough in Mills County, IA on May 24, 1980.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Common Tern	Willow Slough State Game Management Area	Willow Slough, Mills County, Iowa		The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: See other documentation \| The original documentation form event lasted from 18:20:00/19:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	42
Rare bird documentation form for White-eyed Vireo at Scott Township in Fremont County, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1983-05-31	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a White-eyed Vireo at Scott Township in Fremont County, IA on May 31, 1983.	Wilson, Barbara L.	White-eyed Vireo	Scott Township	Section 12, Scott Township, Fremont Co., Iowa		The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: similar to many other Vireos + warblers but eye ring, wing bars, + broad bill limit it to White eyed, + of course the pale iris is distinctive. So is the song.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	76