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 Lesser Black-backed at Red Rock Lake, 1994	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-10-29	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Red Rock Lake in Marion County, IA on October 29, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Armstrong, Eugene	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Lake Red Rock	Red Rock Lake	Lake	The documentation form by Eugene Armstrong is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Eloise Armstrong, Cal Knight, Bernie Knight, Maridel Jackson, and Barb Bettis. \| Elimination of similar species: Ringbills never have a scaly pattern over the back or an all black bill. Smaller than a herring gull. Herrings only have a black bill when they are in brown juvenile plumage. 1st summer herring has a 2/3rds pink bill. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:15:00/11:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	5
Rare bird documentation form for Glaucous Gull at Roberts Creek Beach at Lake Red Rock, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-03-05	1983-03-26	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Glaucous Gull at Roberts Creek Beach at Lake Red Rock in Marion County, IA on March 5, 1983.	Armstrong, Eugene	Glaucous Gull	Roberts Creek Park	Roberts Creek beach, North side of Lake Red Rock	lake area sand beach	The documentation form by Eugene Armstrong is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Dennis Thompson and Eloise Armstrong. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:00:00/11:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	37
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail at Doolittle Prairie State Preserve, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-05-08	1983-05-18	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail at Doolittle Prairie State Preserve in Story County, IA on May 8, 1983.	Armstrong, Eugene	Yellow Rail	Doolittle Prairie State Preserve	Doolittle Prairie north of Ames, Iowa	prairie marsh	The documentation form by Eugene Armstrong is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Eloise Armstrong and Dennis Thompson. \| Elimination of similar species: Sora. smaller, yellow, white wing patches. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 17:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Goshawk at Madison County, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-10-31	1983-11-01	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Goshawk at Madison County, IA on October 31, 1983.	Armstrong, Eugene	Northern Goshawk	Madison County	N.E. Madison County	Brushy fence row Open farmland	The documentation form by Eugene Armstrong is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: Cooper's - Large than a Cooper's Grey bellied. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 14:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	25
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Jefferson Township, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-03-15	1983-03-20	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Jefferson Township in Madison County, IA on March 15, 1983.	Armstrong, Eugene	Merlin	Jefferson Township	Iowa, Madison County, Jefferson 11	Grass, cropland, waste land, tree covered creek. Tree top, cottonwood along small ditch	The documentation form by Eugene Armstrong is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: Kestrel, this bird larger, no face pattern, no red on any part of back not large enough for Peregrine. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:30:00/14:32:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Jaeger species at Oak Grove Recreation Area at Saylorville Lake, 1994	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-09-22	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Jaeger species bird at Oak Grove Recreation Area at Saylorville Lake in Polk County, IA on September 22, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Armstrong, Eugene	Jaegers	Oak Grove Recreation Area	Saylorville Lake- off Oak Grove Beach	Beach and Lake	The documentation form by Eugene Armstrong is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: Not a pomarine because it was not large enough Bill too long for a Longtail Bird much smaller and lighter bodied than a Pom. * Had a light weight body - small fairly long bill with a sharp hook on the end with little going angle. All brown - central tail feathers not visible. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	13
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Gray Jay at Mason City, 1976	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1976-11-01	1994-02-04	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Gray Jay at Mason City in Cerro Gordo County, IA in early November 1976. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life as well as a letter and documentation form submitted to the committee.	Tanner, Fern L.	Gray Jay	Mason City	415 N. Jeff Mason City Iowa	spotted in Spruce tree several times - also once on small bush.	The documentation form by Fern L. Tanner is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Marvin Tanner, Luella Olsen, and Albert Ewers. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] Looked larger than Blue Jay that was 18 in. away at time. Little shorter beak than Blue Jay. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:00:00/15:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	12	41
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Thayer's Gull at Lock and Dam 19 in Keokuk, 1987	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1987-01-03	1993-09-07	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Thayer's Gull at Lock and Dam 19 in Keokuk in Lee County, IA on January 3, 1987. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Moore, Francis L.	Thayer's Gull	Lock Number 19	Below lock and dam 19, Keokuk, Lee Co., Iowa	Open water below lock and dam 19	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Steve Dinsmore was submitted. Another observer includes Robert Cecil. \| Elimination of similar species: Herring Gull has more black in the primaries with a grayer mantle, a larger bill and heavier and bigger head. The under surface of the primaries of a Herring is also darker and has the darkness well into the primaries from the tips. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/10:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	3
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-legged Kittiwake at Lock and Dam 11 in Dubuque, 1981	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1981-12-06	1993-08-16	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-legged Kittiwake in Lock and Dam 11 in Dubuque in Dubuque County, IA on December 6, 1981. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, a summary of the review, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Moore, Francis L.	Black-legged Kittiwake	Lock and Dam 11	Lock and Dam No. 11; N.E. part of Dubuque along Mississippi River	Mostly flying below Lock and Dam No. 11 on the Mississippi R.	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Robert K. Myers and Thomas H. Kent were submitted. Another observer was Russell Hays. \| Elimination of similar species: Bonaparte's does not have a dark stripe across the nape, its tail is not forked and it has a black trailing edge to the wing, not white as as this bird did. Bonaparte's would have shown more white in the primaries also. Coloration was not the same as a Red-legged Kittiwake or Sabine's Gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:05:00/13:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	10
Records Committee review for rare bird sightings of Sage Thrasher at Cedar River Park in Waterloo, 1985	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1985-09-23	1993-09-03	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Sage Thrasher at Cedar River Park in Waterloo in Black Hawk County, IA on September 23, 1985. Includes one record review document with votes, an Iowa Bird Life article and cover page, and nine documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Moore, Francis L.	Sage Thrasher	Cedar River Park	East end of Cedar River Park, at The Boating Center, Waterloo, IA	Spends most of its time in a Hawthorne tree and near the building at The Boating Center	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Robert K. Myers, Beth Proescholdt, Mark Proescholdt, Carl J. Bendorf, Steve Dinsmore, Jim Fuller, Thomas J. Staudt, and Thomas H. Kent were submitted later. Other observers include Russell Hays, Tom Stone, Jr., Tom Stone, Sr., Cal Knight, Bernie Knight, Hank Zaletel, John Hoogerheide, Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, and many unidentified observers. \| Elimination of similar species: No other species is of this size and coloration to confuse with this species. \| The original documentation form sighting is from 17:25:00 to 18:05:00	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	10
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Mississippi Kite at Cardinal Marsh, 1978	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Forms (documents)	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1978-05-29	1993-08-27	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Mississippi Kite at Cardinal Marsh in Winneshiek County, IA on May 29, 1978. Includes two record review documents with votes, two documentation forms, an Iowa Bird Life article, additional notes on the bird, and internal correspondence submitted to the committee.	Moore, Francis L.	Mississippi Kite	Cardinal Marsh State Wildlife Area	Cardinal Marsh	Edge of woods near open cattail marsh	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Tom Stone, Jr. and Sr. were submitted later. Other observers include Russell Hays. \| Elimination of similar species: White-tailed Kite does not have as dark a back as this bird ha and is also too light below. This bird definately [sic] did not have a deeply forked tail as a Swallow-tailed Kite would have had. \| The original event lasted from 11:15:00 to 11:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	8	26
Rare bird documentation form for Common Moorhen at Sweet Marsh, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-08-11	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for thirteen Common Moorhens at Sweet Marsh in Bremer County, IA on August 11, 1985.	Moore, Francis L.	Common Moorhen	Sweet Marsh	East side of Sweet Marsh, Bremer Co., Iowa	Mixed marsh, Cattail and Indian Grass and Smart Weed and others	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: American Coot is slate gray on the body with a white bill and does not have the white longitudinal line below the wing. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:40:00/14:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	44
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at George Wyth State Park, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-09-28	1986-09-29	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at George Wyth State Park in Black Hawk County, IA on September 28, 1986.	Moore, Francis L.	Merlin	George Wyth Memorial State Park	George Wyth S.P.	Second growth mixed hardwood	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: American Kestrel is smaller and reddish above, Peregrine Falcon is larger with black or dark brown wedge on cheek. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:47:00/09:49:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Warbler near George Wyth State Park, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-09-28	1986-09-29	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Pine Warblers near George Wyth State Park in Black Hawk County, IA on September 28, 1986.	Moore, Francis L.	Pine Warbler	George Wyth Memorial State Park	Sand pit area adjacent to George Wyth S.P., Black Hawk Co.	Mixed hardwood edge along old logging road.	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Blackpoll and Bay-breasted has streaking on back and not as dark brownish olive on the back as the Pine. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	29
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Warbler at Sweet Marsh, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-09-15	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Pine Warbler at Sweet Marsh in Bremer County, IA on September 15, 1985.	Moore, Francis L.	Pine Warbler	Sweet Marsh	South side of Sweet Marsh, Bremer Co., IA	In a group of mixed pines along the south entrance into the marsh	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Blackpoll and Bay-breasted Warblers can be similar colored but have some extent of streaking in the feathers of the back. This bird did not. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:46:00/08:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	29
Rare bird documentation form for Snowy Egret at New Albin, 1982	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-05-30	1982-05-31	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Snowy Egret at New Albin in Allamakee County, IA on May 30, 1982.	Moore, Francis L.	Snowy Egret	Pool Slough	Along road going to wildlife area and boat ramp near (E of) New Albin, Allamakee Co.	Flooded river bottom	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Cattle Egret has yellow legs and feet and is squattier looking. Great Egret is larger and lacks the yellow feet and has a yellow bill. Immature Little Blue Heron lacks the yellow feet. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:25:00/13:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	19
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Goshawk at Waterloo, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-01-11	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Goshawk at Waterloo in Black Hawk County, IA on January 11, 1982.	Moore, Francis L.	Northern Goshawk	Waterloo	2945 Airport Blvd. Waterloo, Black Hawk Co., Iowa	Open fields w/ fence was just N. of George Wyth S.P.	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 doesn't have light colored breast as this bird did and Cooper's does not have the large white stripe above the eye. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:38:00/07:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	25
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 Northern Goshawk west of Corydon, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-11-27	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Goshawk at the Wendell Tuttle Farm west of Corydon in Wayne County, IA on November 27, 1982.	Moore, Francis L.	Northern Goshawk	Corydon	Wendell Tuttle Farm 2 mi West of Corydon, Wayne County, Iowa	Brushy creek surrounded by Corn and Soybean fields	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Coopers Hawk does not have a white eye strip or white fluffy white under tail coverts. Coopers also has a reddish banding to the breast in the adult plumage and is browner above not gray. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:10:00/11:13:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	25
Rare bird documentation form for Marbled Godwit north of Waterloo, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-05-02	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Marbled Godwit north of Waterloo in Black Hawk County, IA on May 2, 1984.	Moore, Francis L.	Marbled Godwit	Waterloo	4 mi. North of Waterloo (U.S. Hwy 20) at ponds along Wagner Rd. Black Hawk Co., IA	Flooded field, farmland	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Hudsonian Godwit usually darker on sides and breast with a white rump patch. The Hudsonian does not have cinnamon wing linings. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 18:00:00/18:02:00 approximately.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	14
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Smith's Longspur northwest of Red Oak, 1982	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1982-03-28	1993-09-01	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for seven Smith's Longspurs northwest of Red Oak in Montgomery County, IA on March 28, 1982. Includes a record review document with votes, a summary of the review, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Moore, Francis L.	Smith's Longspur	Red Oak	2 1/2 mi W. of Red Oak, U.S. 34, then 2 mi North on gravel road near stream Montgomery Co.	wet short grass field	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Lapland Longspur does not have buffy breast or buffy colored collar around side of throat on to nape. Lapland Longspur does not have as much white in tail (outer tail feathers) as these birds did. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:55:00/15:58:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	13	42
Rare bird documentation form for Sharp-tailed Sparrow at Cardinal Marsh, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-05-29	1984-03-29	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Sharp-tailed Sparrow at Cardinal Marsh in Winnesheik County, IA on May 29, 1978.	Moore, Francis L.	Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow	Cardinal Marsh State Wildlife Area	North side of lake near dam at Cardinal Marsh,	Edging between grass 6" to 10" tall and cattail marsh	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: LeConte's Sparrow does not have a dark stripe down the top of its head. It had a light colored head stripe (crown stripe). The orange colored eye stripe eliminates all other species except LeConte's which is eliminated by the dark crown stripe on this bird. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:25:00/09:27:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	59
Rare bird documentation form for Greater Scaup south of Council Bluffs, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-03-28	1982-03-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Greater Scaup south of Council Bluffs in Mills County, IA on March 28, 1982.	Moore, Francis L.	Greater Scaup	Council Bluffs	Borrow pit along I-29 South of Council Bluffs (Northbound Lane) Mills Co.	Deep water pond	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Lesser Scaup has a definite pointed shaped head, and appears smaller than this bird did, also does not have as long a white wing stripe into the primaries. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:20:00/12:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	10
Rare bird documentation form for Greater Scaup at Volga River Recreation Area, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-11-25	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for three Greater Scaups at Volga River Recreation Area in Fayette County, IA on November 25, 1983.	Moore, Francis L.	Greater Scaup	Volga River State Recreation Area	Volga River Recreation Area just N. of Dam near boat ramp, Fayette Co.	Open water	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Lesser Scaup has a purple sheen to the head at close range under the viewing conditions present when these birds were seen. Lesser Scaup also has a more pointed look to the top of the head and does not show the white in the primaries in flight. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:35:00/15:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	10
Rare bird documentation form for Peregrine Falcon at George Wyth State Park, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-09-28	1986-09-29	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Peregrine Falcon at George Wyth State Park in Black Hawk County, IA on September 28, 1986.	Moore, Francis L.	Peregrine Falcon	George Wyth Memorial State Park	George Wyth S.P., Black Hawk Co.	Flying down river over Cedar River on boundry [sic] of G.W.S.P.	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Merlin would be darker on breast and lacks helmeted look this bird had. Prairie Falcon would be sandy brown overall, this bird was not. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/10:31:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	34