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 Red-throated Loon at Red Rock Reservoir, 1996	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-11-27	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Red-throated Loon at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on November 27, 1996. Includes a record review document and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Red-throated Loon	Lake Red Rock	Red Rock Reservoir, Marion Co., IA	large lake	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The size and shape were clearly those of a loon. The combination of small size, thin, upturned bill, paler head, and speckled mantle eliminates other species. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:23:00/16:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	5
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Lesser Black-backed Gull at Red Rock Dam, 1996	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-11-27	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Red Rock Dam in Marion County, IA on November 27, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Red Rock Dam	below Red Rock dam, Marion Co., IA	dam tailwaters	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The most similar-appearing species is first-basic Herring Gull. The combination of slightly smaller size, longer wings, whiter rump, more speckled mantle, contrast between the darker mantle and lighter head, and darker upperwings lacking a pale "window" eliminated Herring Gull in first-basic plumage. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:22:00/15:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	5
Rare bird documentation form for Spotted Sandpiper at Little River Recreation Area, 1996	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1996-11-27	1996-11-28	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Spotted Sandpiper at Little River Recreation Area in Decatur County, IA on November 27, 1996.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Spotted Sandpiper	Little River Recreation Area	Little River Rec. Area, Decatur Co., IA	lakeshore	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The size, call note, stiff-winged flight, and body bobbing eliminated other shorebirds. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:45:00/11:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	11
Rare bird documentation form for Black-legged Kittiwake at Coralville Reservoir, 1996	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1996-11-25	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Black-legged Kittiwake at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on November 25, 1996.	Edwards, Chris	Black-legged Kittiwake	Coralville Lake	Coralville Reservoir, Johnson Co.	Spillway below dam	The documentation form by Chris Edwards is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ken Lowder and Tom Kent. \| Elimination of similar species: The pattern of the upperparts is very distinctive. The black 'collar' eliminates similar species. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:35:00/12:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	40
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Jaeger species at Spirit Lake, 1996	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-11-17	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Jaeger species bird at Spirit Lake in Dickinson County, IA on November 17, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Jaegers	Spirit Lake	Spirit L., Dickinson Co., IA	large lake	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include James J. Dinsmore. \| Elimination of similar species: The combination of size, dark coloration, and white in the primary shafts eliminated the possibility of a juvenile gull. Despite the great distance and lack of a good view of the wing pattern, I believe the bird was a Pomarine Jaeger. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:45:00/14:43:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	13
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Pomarine Jaeger at Red Rock Reservoir, 1996	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-11-16	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for one to two Pomarine Jaegers at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on November 16, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes, an article of Iowa Bird Life, and five documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Pomarine Jaeger	Lake Red Rock	Red Rock Res., Marion Co., IA	large lake	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Jim Fuller, Thomas H. Kent, Chris Edwards, and Ray Cummins were submitted. Other observers include Tom Johnson, Dennis Henrickson, Jim Sinclair, and many unidentified other observers. \| Elimination of similar species: The size, shape, and white in the primaries ruled out all gull species. The combination of size, the large bill, large amount of white on the upperwing, white color in the underpirimary coverts, and blunt-tipped central rectrices rule out juvenile Long-tailed and Parasitic jaegers. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:12:00/13:55:00 on November 16, 1996 and 15:40:00/16:30:00 on November 27, 1996.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	15
Rare bird documentation form for Swainson's Thrush at Des Moines, 1996	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1996-11-14	1996-11-15	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Swainson's Thrush at Des Moines in Polk County, IA on November 14, 1996.	Cecil, Robert I.	Swainson's Thrush	Des Moines	1315 41st St. Des Moines, IA	Urban Residential	The documentation form by Robert Cecil is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The uniformity of color on the bird's upper parts in conjunction with the conspicuous eyering [sic] eliminates all other thrushes. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:15:00/08:18:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	8
Rare bird documentation form for Thayer's Gull at Lock and Dam 15 in Davenport, 1996	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1996-11-14	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Thayer's Gull at Lock and Dam 15 in Davenport in Scott County, IA on November 14, 1996.	Fuller, James L	Thayer's Gull	Lock and Dam 15	Lock & Dam #15 of Mississippi River, Davenport (Scott County)		The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The amount of black and white in the outer primary tips (both upper and underwing) is much less than would be expected in Ring-billed or Herring. Ring-billed is smaller with a dark ring on bill of adult. Although a few Herrings have somewhat bright pink legs, most are a dull pink. An Iceland adult should have a lighter mantle and upperwing, and less gray (not black) on the outer primary tips. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:50:00/14:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	35
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Pomarine Jaeger at Saylorville Reservoir, 1996	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-11-10	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of three Pomarine Jaegers at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on November 10, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes, five photographs, an article in Iowa Bird life, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Pomarine Jaeger	Saylorville Lake	Saylorville Res. Polk Co., IA	large reservoir	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by James J. Dinsmore was submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: The dark coloration, gull-like shape, and white color in the primary shafts identified both birds as jaegers. Initially, I thought the bird I saw on the 10th was a Parasitic, mainly because of the size and seemingly bright, rust-colored underparts. However, better viewing conditions later showed that the underparts were instead a pale brown color and lacked any hint of rusty color. Long-tailed Jaeger was easily eliminated by size, shape of the central rectrices, and the greater amount of white in the wing. Parasitic Jaeger was more difficult to rule out. The combination of size, wing shape, amount of white in the wing, shape of the central rectrices, and bill size was used to rule out juvenile Parasitic Jaeger. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:35:00/12:33:00 on November 10, 1996 and 10:55:00/16:05:00 on November 11, 1996.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	15
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Pacific Loon at Saylorville Reservoir, 1996	Administrative records Field notes Tables (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Technique Rare birds	1996-11-05	2000-11-22	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Pacific Loon at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on November 5, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes and the original sighting record found in the Iowa Field Reports by Stephen J. Dinsmore.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Pacific Loon	Saylorville Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	7
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Brown Pelican at Lock and Dam 18, 1996	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-11-04	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Brown Pelican at Lock and Dam #18 in Des Moines County on November 4, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, an article in an Illinois bird magazine, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Brown Pelican	Lock and Dam Number 18	Lock and Dam #18 Mississippi River (Des Moines County)		The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim Scheib, John Rutenbeck, Myrna Deaton, Bernie Knight, Cal Knight, and Chuck Fuller. \| Elimination of similar species: The White Pelican is white with yellow-orange or orange bill. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 06:42:00/07:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	11
Records Committee review for rare bird Sighting of Pacific Loon at Red Rock Reservoir, 1996	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-11-03	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Pacific Loon at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on November 3, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes and four documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Johnson, Ann	Pacific Loon	Lake Red Rock	Whitebreast Boat Ramp, Red Rock Reservoir, Marion Co., IA	Open lake	The documentation form by Ann Johnson is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Thomas H. Kent, Jim Fuller, and Chris Edwards were submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: The apparent size differential, bill size and clean line to the neck eliminated Common and Yellow-billed Loon. Red-throated is approximately the same size but the bill appears upturned because of the angular shape of the lower edge. Red-throated also has a head lighter than the body. A chinstrap would not be seen on any other species. Grebes were eliminated by thickness of neck and general jizz. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:30:00/13:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	7
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Red Phalarope at Spirit Lake, 1996	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-11-03	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Red Phalarope at Spirit Lake in Dickinson County, IA on November 3, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes, three photos (one is a photocopy), and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Schoenewe, Lee A.	Red Phalarope	Spirit Lake	SE corner of Big Spirit Lake, Dickinson Co.	Lakeshore	The documentation form by Lee A. Schoenewe forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Ed Thelen was submitted. Other observers include Nancy Schoenewe, Harold White, Doug Harr, and Tim Waltz. \| Elimination of similar species: Red-necked Phalarope - Bill shape and solid gray back. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:30:00/16:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-headed Gull at Red Rock Reservoir, 1996	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-11-03	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Gull at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on November 3, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Johnson, Ann	Black-headed Gull	Lake Red Rock	Red Rock Reservoir, Marion Co., IA	Large lake	The documentation form by Ann Johnson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Only one other North American gull has a leading white edge to the upperwing- Bonaparte's. Size and jizz helped differentiate this bird from the Bonaparte's, but the dark underwing eliminated the smaller species. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:30:00/12:33:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	21
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of California Gull at Lost Island Lake, 1996	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-11-03	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a California Gull at Lost Island Lake in Palo Alto County, IA on November 3, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Schoenewe, Lee A.	California Gull	Lost Island Lake	N. Shore of Lost Island Lake, Palo Alto, Co.	Shoreline	The documentation form by Lee A. Schoenewe is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Herring Gull - bill, eye and leg color Ring-billed Gull - Bill size, tail + wingtips in flight \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:35:00/10:55:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	1
Big Bluestem Flyer, Volume 32, Number 2, November/ December 1996	Newsletters	Bird surveys Bird watching Birds--Counting Local government and environmental policy Ornithology--Societies, etc Books--Reviews	1996-11-01	1996-12-31	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	The newsletter of the Big Bluestem Audubon Society (Ames, Iowa), Volume 32, Number 2, November/ December 1996. Highlights of the newsletter include reports for several September and October field trips, a Birder of the Month column profiling past (1992-1993) society president Maridel Jackson, and an article on the history and purpose of Christmas Bird Counts and its beginning in Iowa and Ames. Also included are the Big Bluestem Audubon revised events calendar for the fall of 1996 and the spring of 1997.	Big Bluestem Audubon Society (Ames, Iowa) Shivvers, Rebecca A.		Ames				Big Bluestem Audubon Society \| MS 592	3	6
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Gyrfalcon at Grammer Grove Wildlife Area, 1996	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-10-27	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Gyrfalcon at Grammer Grove Wildlife Area in Marshall County, IA on October 27, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Proescholdt, Beth	Gyrfalcon	Grammer Grove County Wildlife Area	Grammer Grove, Marshall County	bluff paralleling Iowa River, wooded along river	The documentation form by Beth Proescholdt is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Mark Proescholdt were submitted later. Other observers include Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, Russ Widner, and Jackie Stolzman. \| Elimination of similar species: Goshawk, Harrier, other hawks (see in description). \| The original documentation form event occurred between 13:00:00/14:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	9	4
Rare bird documentation form for Hudsonian Godwit at Harrier Marsh, 1996	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1996-10-26	1996-10-28	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Hudsonian Godwit at Harrier Marsh in Boone County, IA on October 26, 1996.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Hudsonian Godwit	Harrier Marsh	Harrier M., Boone Co., IA	shallow pond	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include James J. Dinsmore. \| Elimination of similar species: The large size and slightly upturned, bicolored bill identified the bird as a godwit. In flight, the combination of a white rump and black wing linings ruled out other godwit species (Marbled, Black-tailed, and Bar-tailed). \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:52:00/18:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	13
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Sabine's Gull at Whitebreast Point in Red Rock Reservoir, 1996	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-10-24	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Sabine's Gull at Whitebreast Point in Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on October 24, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Sabine's Gull	Whitebreast Recreation Area	Red Rock Reservoir (Marion County)		The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Rita Goranson, Chuck Fuller, and John Rutenbeck. \| Elimination of similar species: First winter Black-legged Kittiwake, Little Gull, and Bonaparte's Gull have a somewhat three-toned upperwing, even though the pattern is not as clear-cut, but all have a dark tail band, and none has a full dark hood. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:05:00/11:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Wilson's Phalarope at Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge, 1996	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-10-20	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Wilson's Phalarope at Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge in Kossuth County, IA on October 20, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kenne, Matthew C.	Wilson's Phalarope	Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge	USNWR Kossuth Co. South of County Rd. B14	marsh with low water level, muddy cattail flats	The documentation form by Matthew Kenne is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] Approx. the same size as adjacent L. Yellowlegs, [...] It had a pale gray line from the eye backward; joining with the hind neck, a "phalarope mark" but not nearly as dark as on a Red-necked (or Red). The legs were almost as yellow as the yellowlegs'. The bill was black, very thin (needle-like) and longer than on a Red-necked (or Red). It was pot-bellied and small headed compared to yellowlegs. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:10:00/11:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	11
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Red Phalarope at Sandpiper Recreation Area at Saylorville Reservoir, 1996	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-10-13	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Red Phalarope at Sandpiper Recreation Area at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on October 13, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes, two photos, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Fuller, James L	Red Phalarope	Sandpiper Recreation Area	Beach of Sandpiper Recreation Area, Saylorville Reservoir (Polk County)		The documentation form by Jim Fuller forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Stephen J. Dinsmore and Chris Edwards were submitted. Other observers include Dick Tetrault, Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, Jane Clark, and many unidentified observers. \| Elimination of similar species: Both the other phalaropes have long, needle-like bills. In addition, the Wilson's has a dark forehead, and the Red-necked is generally smaller. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:48:00/18:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	12
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Pacific Loon at Rathbun Reservoir, 1996	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-10-11	2000-11-27	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Pacific Loon at Rathbun Dam in Appanoose County, IA on October 11, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Cummins, Raymond L.	Pacific Loon	Rathbun Dam	Rathbun dam, Appanoose Co.	Openwater	The documentation form by Ray Cummins is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bill Cummins. \| Elimination of similar species: Common and Red-throated both have a dark nape than back and have white above the eye. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:30:00/08:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	7	7
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Sabine's Gull at Black Hawk Lake, 1996	Administrative records Field notes	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-10-06	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee for a Sabine's Gull at Black Hawk Lake in Sac County, IA on October 6, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes and a field report submitted to the committee.	Ernzen, Peter	Sabine's Gull	Black Hawk Lake	[...] Northeast corner of Black Hawk Lake in Sac Co.		The documentation field report by Peter Ernzen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| The original documentation form event lasted around 10 minutes in the afternoon.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Sabine's Gull at Orleans Beach at Spirit Lake, 1996	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-10-02	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Sabine's Gull at Orleans Beach at Spirit Lake in Dickinson County, IA on October 2, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes, a photograph, a photocopy of a photograph, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Thelen, Ed	Sabine's Gull	Orleans Beach	South Shore of Big Spirit - Orleans Beach - Dickinson County	Natural Lake - sandy shore	The documentation form by Ed Thelen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Black-legged Kittiwake has bar behind head and also black diagonal bar on inner part of wing \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:00:00/ sunset.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	11	9
Rare bird documentation form for Great Black-backed Gull at Lock and Dam 13, 1996	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1996-09-29	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Great Black-backed Gull at Lock and Dam 13 in Clinton County, IA on September 29, 1996.	Petersen, Peter C.	Great Black-backed Gull	Lock and Dam 13	Lock 13	Miss. River - Circular pier.	The documentation form by Peter C. Petersen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Mark Bollinger, Corey Blevins, and Lewis Blevins. \| Elimination of similar species: Lesser Black-backed- leg color, size, darkness of back. Slaty-backed - size, darkness of back. Western- size, darkness of back. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:00:00/12:15:00 and 14:45:00/15:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	38