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 Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Sandpiper Beach at Saylorville Reservoir, 1990	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1990-10-16	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Sandpiper Beach at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on October 16, 1990.	Johnson, Ann	Buff-breasted Sandpiper	Sandpiper Recreation Area	Sandpiper Beach, Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co., IA	sandy beach with short greasy area nearby	The documentation form by Ann Johnson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The larger size and lack of facial pattern and tail pattern in flight eliminated the Baird's Sandpiper. A juvenile Reeve would have been nearer the size of the nearby Killdeer; a Ruff even larger. Both would have a thicker bill than this bird. Upland Sandpiper would have been larger and not had the buffy color. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:35:00/16:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	25
Rare bird documentation form for Thayer's Gull at Red Rock Dam, 1995	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1995-01-01	1995-03-01	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Thayer's Gull at Red Rock Dam in Marion County, IA on January 1, 1995.	Johnson, Ann	Thayer's Gull	Red Rock Dam	Red Rock Dam, Marion Co., IA	gravel bar below dam	The documentation form by Ann Johnson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Structure, darker mantle, dark eye, and gray primaries eliminate Herring Gull. Other gulls of intermediate size - Lesser Black-backed eliminated by relative gray of mantle, leg color, and primary color. California eliminated by leg color, primary color, and lack of black marking on bill. Iceland eliminated by dark mantle color \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:15:00/10:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	35
Rare bird documentation form for Black-legged Kittiwake at Red Rock Dam, 1990	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1990-12-24	1990-12-26	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Black-legged Kittiwake at Red Rock Dam in Marion County, IA on December 24, 1990.	Johnson, Ann	Black-legged Kittiwake	Red Rock Dam	below dam, Red Rock Reservoir, Marion Co., IA	Open water	The documentation form by Ann Johnson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Red-legged Kittiwake would be the only other gull with a semblance of collar at this time of year. It is eliminated by the black bar on the wings and back and the black tailband. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:00:00/15:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	40
Rare bird documentation form for Palm Warbler in Greenfield Township in Warren County, 1991	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1991-08-17	1991-08-18	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Palm Warbler in Greenfield Township in Warren County, IA on August 17, 1991.	Johnson, Ann	Palm Warbler	Greenfield Township	My yard in northern Warren County, Iowa	Open riparian edge	The documentation form by Ann Johnson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Other yellow rumped warblers were eliminated by the bright yellow undertail coverts contrasting with the buffy breast and belly. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:20:00/11:25:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	31
Rare bird documentation form for Red-necked Grebe at Jester Park, 1990	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1990-10-28	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Red-necked Grebe at Jester Park at Saylorville Lake in Polk County, IA on October 28, 1990.	Johnson, Ann	Red-necked Grebe	Jester Park	Jester Park, Saylorville Lake, Polk Co., Iowa	Open water	The documentation form by Ann Johnson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Loons were eliminated on the basis of thin neck and posture. Cormorants were eliminated because of straight posture, lack of throat patch, and basic plumage configurations. The bird was obviously larger than a Pied-billed Grebe which would, in addition to the yellow bill, eliminate all but Western Grebe. Western Grebe would have looked much larger than the various waterfowl nearby and would not have shown any rust color on the neck. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:45:00/13:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	13
Rare bird documentation form for Red-necked Grebe at Dale Maffitt Reservoir, 1990	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1990-03-11	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Red-necked Grebe at Dale Maffit Reservoir in Dallas County, IA on March 11, 1990.	Johnson, Ann	Red-necked Grebe	Dale Maffitt Reservoir	Dale Maffitt Reservoir, Dallas Co., IA	Open water on man-made reservoir; near weedy shoreline	The documentation form by Ann Johnson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Loon were eliminated because, although the neck was somewhat thick, it was longer than a loon. The head was also a bit flatter and it rode higher in the water, just giving a different posture than a loon. Plumage details did not fit any loon. Western Grebe- Thicker neck, some color on neck and white cheek eliminated this one Pied-billed Grebe - Size, bill shape, and other features wrong. Horned/Eared Grebes - Although it gave much the same appearance as a horned grebe, size and bill eliminated both. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:34:00/16:42:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	13
Rare bird documentation form for Prairie Warbler at Lake Ahquabi State Park, 1999	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1999-05-20	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Prairie Warbler at Lake Ahquabi State Park in Warren County, IA on May 20, 1999.	Bangma, Jim Johnson, Ann	Prairie Warbler	Lake Ahquabi State Park	Lake Ahquabi State Park, Warren County		The documentation form by Ann Johnson and Jim Bangma is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers Jim Sinclair. \| Elimination of similar species: No other warbler has the combination of black outlining the cheek and black flank streaking. The song is unmistakable and we watched this bird sing. While watching the bird we remarked on how it had overshot suitable habitat across the road and that is exactly where Jim Sinclair found this bird the following day. As we watched it forage in the treetops, it was constantly moving to the south and toward better habitat for this species. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 14:30:00/14:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	30
Rare bird documentation form for Lincoln's Sparrow north of the IA 17 bridge near Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, 1988	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1988-12-18	1988-12-21	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for four Lincoln's Sparrows north of the IA 17 bridge near Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on December 18, 1988.	Fix, Andrew S.	Lincoln's Sparrow	High Bridge	Des Moines River Bottom north of Rt. #17 Bridge	scrubby fields with variable brush, weeds, thistle, bramble	The documentation form by Andrew S. Fix is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Mark Proescholdt. \| Elimination of similar species: -> Song sparrow: These birds (Lincoln's Sparrows) were smaller and had shorter tails than Song Sparrow's [sic], 1 sided central spot, and had buffy breasts, also flight was not the characteristic pumping flight of Song Sparrow -> Savannah Sparrow: These birds lacked yellow lores and were in entirely wrong habitat for Savannah's and had A buffy, fine streaked breast \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:00:00/12:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	61
Rare bird documentation form for White-winged Scoter at DeSoto Bend National Wildlife Refuge, 1987	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1987-03-14	1987-05-20	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form with additional notes for a White-winged Scoter at DeSoto Bend National Wildlife Refuge in Harrison County, IA on March 14, 1987.	Fix, Andrew S.	White-winged Scoter	DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge	Iowa part of DeSoto Bend National Wildlife Refuge	water, along shore until alerted, then swam further out and finally flew off	The documentation form by Andrew S. Fix is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Craig Harms. \| Elimination of similar species: By general shape, bill characteristic, and color this bird was identified as a scoter. The white/creamish spot between the cere and eye and lack of pale cheeks and throat ruled out the Black Scoter; the bill was Also too extended up the forward part of head for a Black Scoter. I did not feel comfortable differentiating Surf from White-winged based on the morphology of the head. No white wing patch was evident while this bird was on the water. In my experience (see #14), the white patches on the heads of female and immature scoters are very unreliable and highly variable. Fortunately the two key characteristics were plainly visible when the bird flew; paddling along the water for a short distance (confirmed scoter), and prominent white secondaries (confirmed white-winger scoter) \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:00:00/14:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	12
Rare bird documentation form for Black Scoter at Jester Park at Saylorville Lake, 1989	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1989-04-09	1989-04-23	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Black Scoter at Jester Park at Saylorville Lake in Polk County, IA on April 9, 1989.	Fix, Andrew S.	Black Scoter	Jester Park	50 ft. off Jester State park South end - Saylorville Reservoir	water	The documentation form by Andrew S. Fix is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ann Johnson, Bery Engebretsen, and Steve Dinsmore. \| Elimination of similar species: Other breeding plumage male scoters have characteristic white markings on head, coots have a white bill, moorhens have white along the side. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:30:00/17:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	13
Rare bird documentation form for Brewer's Blackbird at Clinton Township in Linn County, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-12-20	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for thirty-five Brewer's Blackbirds at Section 8 of Clinton Township in Linn County, IA on December 20, 1986.	Zobac, Aldrich	Brewer's Blackbird	Clinton Township	Section 8, Clinton Township Farm on Young Rd. in S. part of Section 8	Farmyard + corn fields adjacent to farm. Large grove of evergreens. Grove of trees.	The documentation form by Aldrich Zobac is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Gladys Zobac. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] Relative size of bird: Smaller than grackle Slightly larger than Cowbird. [...] Birds were feeding + flying around with huge flock of starlings + sparrows (house sparrows). At first glance - when birds were first sighted - thought we were spotting a cowbird. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:15:00/16:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	76
Rare bird documentation form for Turkey Vulture at Palo, 1988	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1988-12-17	1988-12-21	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Turkey Vulture at Palo in Linn County, IA on December 17, 1988.	Zobac, Aldrich Zobac, Gladys	Turkey Vulture	Palo	Over fields, 2 or 3 miles SE of Palo, Iowa	Open country, near Cedar River, some woodlots.	The documentation form by Aldrich Zobac and Gladys Zobac is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Not a bald eagle, because tail was long and head was small flight not that of a hawk or eagle; much larger than a crow. \| The original documentation form event lasted occurred around 13:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	26
Rare bird documentation form for Long-tailed Duck at Lake Manawa, 1988	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1988-10-24	1988-10-27	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Long-tailed Duck at Lake Manawa in Pottawattamie County, IA on October 24, 1988.	Grenon, Alan G.	Long-tailed Duck	Lake Manawa	west-central part of Lake Manawa, Pottawattamie County, Iowa	open water and the air over open water	The documentation form by Alan Grenon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Babs Padelford, Loren Padelford, Ruth Green, Betty Grenon, and Bruce Wetteroth. \| Elimination of similar species: This duck was similar in size or slightly larger than nearby Lesser Scaup; most of the bird was a brown slightly lighter than female Lesser Scaup, and without mottling patters. Among ducks that have considerable white on the face, few have white around the eye and extending back to the nape. This eliminates the scoters (also, the bill did not seem large or deep enough for most scoters), Harlequin Duck, Bufflehead, goldeneyes, Smew, scaup, and Northern Pintail (which might have a similar plumage, but with white lower on the neck and side of neck, patterning on the body, speculum, and more differences). Unmarked bill and wing eliminate aberrant Ring-necked Duck and scaup, respectively, and also other divers with contrasting wing markings (including Bufflehead, goldeneyes). The possibility of an aberrant Harlequin Duck exists, but that seems less likely than a young Long-tailed Duck at this location. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:15:00/11:15:00 and 17:00:00/18:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	14
Rare bird documentation form for Lesser Black-backed Gull at Jester Park, 1999	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-12-06	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Jester Park in Polk County, IA on December 6, 1999.	Brees, Aaron	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Jester Park	Jester Park, Campground 4		The documentation form by Aaron Brees is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Herring Gull was eliminated by structure, wing pattern, and tail pattern. California Gull was eliminated by bill coloration and tail pattern. Thayers Gull was eliminated by wing pattern, structure, and over all color.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	36
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow Rail south of Emerson, 1988	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1988-04-29	1988-05-02	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow Rail south of Emerson in Mills County, IA on April 29, 1988.	McGrew, David E.	Yellow Rail		3 miles South of Emerson, Mills County, Iowa	In foxtail stubble in government set aside acres. The grass had been clipped about knee high + the machinery passing through had smashed much of it, leaving rows of standing stubble, some leaning into it, + flat rows. Dave said the bird was hard to see in it. This was next to end rows planted to a sparse stand of alfalfa, halfway to Knee high.	The documentation form based upon notes and observations by Dave McGrew is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. The documentation form was written by Barb L. Wilson. \| Elimination of similar species: Upland Sandpiper (which he had seen in the same field same day), quail, partridge. I showed Dave rail pictures in Peterson's Eastern guide + the Audubon Master guide. He didn't think much of the yellow rail picture objecting particularly to the white feather edging on the back, + the dull color of legs + bill (which may vary seasonally). After looking through the book he felt rails were the best match, though the bill was a bit too acute but the tail matched. He felt some other species in the Yellow Rail/juvenile Sora area might be it. Except of course there is no other rail like that, at least here. \| The original documentation form event occurred at 19:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	39
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Grosbeak at Larrabee, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-01-02	1978-01-14	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Pine Grosbeaks at Larrabee in Cherokee County, IA on January 2, 1978.	Brewer, Marion M.	Pine Grosbeak	Larrabee	4 E, 1 S of Larrabee, Ia	In large forest, ash, oak + Etc, Snow on Ground + very cold	The documentation form by Marion Brewer is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include one unidentified non-birder observer. \| Elimination of similar species: Larger the purple Finch. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 11:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	80
Breeding Evidence Observations, Bob Cecil, 1985	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Breeding Birds--Identification Rare birds	1985-06-20	1985-07-16	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Field notes about Worm-eating Warbler breeding habits at the Croton Unit in Shimek State Forest in Lee County, IA from June 20 to July 16, 1985. This document is related a letter and field notes by Bob Cecil: https://avian.lib.iastate.edu/documents/3902/view.	Cecil, Robert I.	Worm-eating Warbler	Shimek State Forest Wildlife Management Area - Croton Unit				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	36
John Bath letter to Thomas Kent regarding an Ovenbird sighting and birding in general, unknown date	Correspondence Field notes	Bird feeders Bird watching Birds--Identification Rare birds	N/A	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter from John Bath to Thomas Kent about seeing an Ovenbird in Ames from December 10 to January 10, unknown year. Bath also discusses other birds he'd recently seen.	Bath, John	Red-headed Woodpecker Northern Flicker Northern Cardinal Purple Finch House Finch Ovenbird Red-bellied Woodpecker Mourning Dove Downy Woodpecker	Ames				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	37
Field Notes, Erik S. Munson, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Rare birds	1984-08-30	1984-09-09	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Field notes by Erik S. Munson detailing the sightings of a Connecticut Warbler and two Black-throated Blue Warblers.	Munson, Erik	Black-throated Blue Warbler Connecticut Warbler	Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	39
Rare bird documentation form for Hooded Warbler at Moorehead Park in 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1992-05-04	1992-05-06	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Hooded Warbler at Moorehead Park in Ida County, IA on May 4, 1992.	Ernzen, Peter	Hooded Warbler	Moorehead Pioneer Park				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	41
Documentation form for extraordinary bird sightings in Iowa, White-winged Dove, Mark Proescholdt, July 5, 2002	Field notes Forms (documents)	Bird watching Birds--Identification Ornithology--Methodology Rare birds	2002-07-05	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Documentation of a White-winged Dove sighting in Cerro Gordo County contributed by Mark Proescholdt, July 5, 2002. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly field report of summer 2002.	Proescholdt, Mark	White-winged Dove	Cerro Gordo County				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	39	9
Documentation form for extraordinary bird sighting in Iowa, White-winged Dove, L. Paul Hertzel, July 2, 2002	Field notes Forms (documents)	Bird watching Birds--Identification Ornithology--Methodology Rare birds	2002-07-02	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Documentation of a White-winged Dove sighting in Cerro Gordo County contributed by L. Paul Hertzel, July 2, 2002. This item was used as supporting documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union Quarterly field report of summer 2002.	Hertzel, L. Paul	White-winged Dove	Cerro Gordo County				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	39	9
Field report for Black-and-white Warbler at Clear Lake, Carolyn Fischer, 1995	Correspondence Field notes	Bird watching Birds--Identification Rare birds	1995-11-04	1995-12-13	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Field report for a Black-and-white Warbler at Clear Lake in Cerro Gordo County, IA on November 4, 1995. The report is accompanied by a letter from Carolyn Fischer to Thomas Kent on December 13, 1995, that mentions a flock of Lapland Longspurs.	Fischer, Carolyn J.	Black-and-white Warbler Lapland Longspur	Clear Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	34
Field notes contributed by Carol A. Alexander, winter 1992-1993	Correspondence Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Rare birds Weather	1992-12-01	1993-02-28	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	List of birds and locations contributed by Carol A. Alexander with Richard M. Alexander for the Winter of 1992-1993. It features a Black-and-White Warbler at Lansom Woods in Jefferson County, IA on February 17, 1993, and includes a note from Ross Silcock to Thomas Kent.	Alexander, Carol Ann	Black-and-white Warbler Carolina Wren House Finch American Robin	Fairfield Lamson Woods State Preserve				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	34
Rare bird documentation form for Cerulean Warbler at Saylorville Lake in 1985	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birdsongs Rare birds	1985-06-29	1985-07-13	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for four Cerulean Warblers at Saylorville Lake in Polk County, IA on June 29 and July 13, 1985.	Engebretsen, Bery	Cerulean Warbler	Saylorville Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	33