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 Pacific Loon at Hallett's Quarry in Ames, 1999	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-05-08	1999-05-13	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Pacific Loon at Hallett's Quarry in Ames in Story County, IA on May 8, 1999.	Overton, Michael D.	Pacific Loon	Ada Hayden Heritage Park	Iowa, Story co., Ames, Hallett's Quarry	Lake in old quarry at edge of urban residential area	The documentation form by Michael D. Overton is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Dixie Overton, Michael Freiberg, Kevin Healy, and Hank Zaletel. \| Elimination of similar species: Red-throated Loon by parallel sided bill, horizontal bill and head position, no white areas above or in front of the eye, distinct straight demarcation between light and dark areas on head and sides of neck, lack of white spots on back. Arctic Loon by presence of "chinstrap", lack of white flank patches, realistic attitude. Common Loon by smaller size, smaller parallel sided bill, rounded crown, no white areas in front of or above eye, nape lighter than back, white auricular area, distinct straight demarcation between light and dark areas on head and sides of neck. Yellow-billed Loon by smaller size, smaller parallel sided bill, rounded crown, no white areas in front of or above eye, white auricular area, distinct straight demarcation between light and dark areas on head and side of neck.\| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:30:00/17:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	9
Dennis Rogers postcard to Vernon Kleen regarding a Red-Necked Grebe sighting, November 26, 1979	Correspondence Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1979-11-26	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Postcard from Dennis Rogers to Vernon Kleen regarding a sighting of a Red-Necked Grebe in Le Mars, Iowa on September 21, 1976.	Rogers, Dennis	Red-necked Grebe	Le Mars				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	13
Request for more information regarding a Horned Grebe sighting at Terra Lake	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1995-08-13	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Request for more information form regarding a sighting of a Horned Grebe at Terra Lake, August 13, 1995 by Bery Engebretsen.	Engebretsen, Bery	Horned Grebe	Terra Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	12
Rare bird documentation form for Horned Grebe at Oakland, 1987	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1987-08-16	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Horned Grebe at Oakland in Pottawattamie County, IA on August 16, 1987.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Horned Grebe	Oakland	lagoons at Oakland, Pottawattamie Co.	swimming and feeding on small lagoon	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Andy Fix. \| Elimination of similar species: Eared Grebe eliminated by the thicker bill, flatter crown, and entirely white throat and breast. \| The original documentation form event occurred in the late afternoon.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	12
Rare bird documentation form for Red-necked Grebe at Little Wall Lake in 1984	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds Wildlife conservation	1984-05-17	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Red-necked Grebe at Little Wall Lake in Hamilton County, IA on April 14, 1984.	Bendorf, Carl J.	Red-necked Grebe	Little Wall Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	13
Rare bird documentation form for Horned Grebe at Tama, 1986	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-03-19	1986-03-28	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Horned Grebe at Tama in Tama County, IA on March 19, 1986.	Kubik, Nicholas A.	Horned Grebe	Tama	TAMA, IOWA. The surfaced road as it turns west from the airport.	flooded roadside ditch	The documentation form by Nick A. Kubik is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The Eared Grebe should have a gray neck in winter or a black neck in summer, but not white. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:30:00/15:50:00 (est.).	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	12
Rare bird documentation form for Pied-billed Grebe at City Park, 1983	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-12-17	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Pied-billed Grebe at City Park in Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on December 17, 1983.	Williams, Ruth	Pied-billed Grebe	Iowa City City Park	Iowa River at City Park, Ia City	open water river	The documentation form by Ruth Williams is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Robert Lechner. \| Elimination of similar species: Horned or Eared Grebe smaller size bill shape - shorter or pied [illegible] white only under chin. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/14:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	11
Rare bird documentation form for Common Loon at Cardinal Marsh, 1979	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-06-23	1979-08-10	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Common Loon at Cardinal Marsh in Winneshiek County, IA on June 23, 1979.	Koenig, Darwin	Common Loon	Cardinal Marsh State Wildlife Area	Cardinal Marsh, Winneshiek County, Iowa	Flat to gently rolling farmland with wooded stream valley. 200 acre marsh; good interspersion of cattails and open water.	The documentation form by Darwin Koenig is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Yellow-billed Loon: bill was black not yellow. Other loons: observed bird was larger, big straight bill, green head and checkered back. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:10:00/12:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	10
Rare bird documentation form for Common Loon at Rock Creek, 1991	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1991-10-12	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Common Loon at Rock Creek in Jasper County, IA on October 12, 1991.	Brand, Gordon James	Common Loon	Rock Creek Lake	Rock Creek	reservoir	The documentation form by Gordon Brand is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Double-crested Cormorant. These were also present. These birds have a "hook" at end of beak and hold head and beak at an upward angle. \| The original documentation form event lasted around ten minutes.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	10
Rare bird documentation form for Pacific Loon at Red Rock Reservoir, 1999	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-11-06	1999-11-10	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Pacific Loon at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on November 6, 1999.	Proescholdt, Mark	Pacific Loon	Whitebreast Recreation Area	Red Rock Reservoir - (Marion County) - Whitebreast Area	Large reservoir	The documentation form by Mark Proescholdt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Beth Proescholdt and reported on the Birdline. \| Elimination of similar species: Common Loons have massive bills, are much larger, and have a jagged look to their sides of the neck between dark and light colors. Red-throated Loons are paler in color and do not have that sharp dividing line on its neck but a more gradual merging of colors. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:00:00/14:30:00 approximately.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	9
Rare bird documentation form for Pacific Loon at Red Rock Reservoir, 1999	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-11-03	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Pacific Loon at Red Rock Reservoir Off Whitebreast Boat Ramp in Marion County, IA on November 3, 1999.	Fuller, James L	Pacific Loon	Whitebreast Recreation Area	Red Rock Reservoir (Marion County) Off Whitebreast Boat Ramp		The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tom Kent. \| Elimination of similar species: Common Loon is larger with a much larger bill, lacks a chin strap, has some flatness on the top of the head, and an uneven dark-white line on the side of the neck. The crown and hindneck are also darker than the back. The Red-throated Loon has a smaller bill that is usually keeps tipped up from the horizontal. It shows much more white than dark on the neck, lacks a chin strap, and normally shows light flecking on the back. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:30:00/13:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	9
Rare bird documentation form for Pacific Loon at Hallett's Quarry at Ames, 1999	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-05-14	1999-05-16	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Pacific Loon at Hallett's Quarry at Ames in Story County, IA on May 14, 1999.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Pacific Loon	Ada Hayden Heritage Park	Hallett's Quarry, Story Co., Iowa	large quarry pond	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Russ Widner and the Birdline. \| Elimination of similar species: see above. The bird was not small enough for a Red-throated and did not hold the bill pointing up. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:20:00/16:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	9
Rare bird documentation form for Pacific Loon at Hallett's Quarry at Ames, 1999	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-05-12	1999-05-31	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Pacific Loon at Hallett's Quarry at Ames in Story County, IA on May 12, 1999.	Proescholdt, Mark	Pacific Loon	Ada Hayden Heritage Park	Hallett's Quarry - north of Ames - (Story County)	Large gravel pit filled with water	The documentation form by Mark Proescholdt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Beth Proescholdt, Hank Zaletel, Jim Dinsmore ,Tom Kent, Russ Widners, etc. \| Elimination of similar species: The chin strap, small size and small bill, and the sharp demarcation line on the side of the neck eliminate Common, Red-throated, and Yellow-billed Loons. No white flank marks eliminate Arctic Loon. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:50:00/14:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	9
Rare bird documentation form for Red-throated Loon at Lock and Dam 18, 1998	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1998-12-18	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Red-throated Loon at Lock and Dam 18 in Des Moines County, IA on December 18, 1998. Incorrectly recorded as Lack and Dam 18 on the documentation form.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Red-throated Loon	Lock and Dam Number 18	Lack [sic] and Dam 18, Des Moines Co., IA	Mississippi River above dam, swimming on Iowa side	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim Fuller. \| Elimination of similar species: Smaller and slimmer than Common, smaller bill. I could not see whether the eye was in the dark or light part of the face. The size and upturned bill argue against Pacific Loon. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:15:00/09:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	8
Rare bird documentation form for Horned Grebe at New Lake, 1987	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1987-03-27	1987-08-29	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Horned Grebe at New Lake in Woodbury County, IA on March 27, 1987.	Livermore, Bob	Horned Grebe	New Lake	New Lake, Woodbury County, Iowa	small Mo. River oxbow with marshy borders	The documentation form by Bob Livermore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bill Huser and Jerry Probst. \| Elimination of similar species: Eared Grebe: The tuft was starting on a line from the eye and above. Also since the bird was mostly in winter plummage [sic] it still had a very light neck down to water line. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:00:00/08:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	12
Rare bird documentation form for Pacific Loon at Hallett's Quarry at Ames, 1999	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-05-08	1999-05-17	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Pacific Loon at Hallett's Quarry at Ames in Story County, IA on May 8, 1999.	Dinsmore, James J.	Pacific Loon	Ada Hayden Heritage Park	Hallett's Quarry, n. edge of Ames, Story County	gravel pit	The documentation form by James Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Kevin Healy, Roseanne Healy, Wolf Oesterreich, Hank Zaletel, Pam Allen, and Reid Allen. \| Elimination of similar species: Common Loon seen next to it with side-by-side comparison. 1. No chin stripe on this bird. 2. Back of head and neck uniformly dark colored 3. White on side of head extended further forward and included the eye. Also there was a white 'bump' that extended back into dark color of side of neck. 4. Bill seemed darker than other bird and was all light colored. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:15:00/13:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	9
Rare bird documentation form for Pacific Loon at Red Rock Reservoir, 1998	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1998-10-31	1998-11-01	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Red-throated Loon at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on October 31, 1998.	Proescholdt, Mark	Pacific Loon	Red Rock Dam	Red Rock Reservoir - Marion County	Big reservoir just above the dam on north side	The documentation form by Mark Proescholdt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Chuck Fuller. \| Elimination of similar species: A Common Loon is bigger with a big bill, has light areas above and in front of eye, and a jagged heavily patterned side of the neck. Red-throated Loon has upturned bill mandibles and the division between dark and light on the neck is not nearly as defined as in a Pacific Loon. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:45:00/15:16:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	9
Rare bird documentation form for Red-throated Loon at Saylorville Lake, 1999	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-11-06	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Red-throated Loon at Clear Lake in Polk County, IA on November 6, 1999.	Engebretsen, Bery	Red-throated Loon	Saylorville Lake	Saylorville Lake	above dam	The documentation form by Bery Engebretsen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Dennis Thompson and Jim Dinsmore. \| Elimination of similar species: Small loon, small head slightly upturned beak and head. White visible on flanks. Faint fleck on dark back at tips of feathers. No chin strap, but from front had faint inverted V. Head, neck brownish/gray. Darker on back of neck, top of hood, much lighter chin, front of neck, sides of neck. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:30:00/08:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	8
Rare bird documentation form for Red-throated Loon at Saylorville Reservoir, 1999	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-11-07	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Red-throated Loons at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on November 7, 1999.	Dinsmore, James J.	Red-throated Loon	Saylorville Dam	Saylorville Reservoir, off of west end of dam	freshwater lake	The documentation form by Jim Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bery Engebretsen and Dennis Thompson. \| Elimination of similar species: I spent a long time puzzling over these birds, both in the field and later when I had several references to consult. None of the guides I looked at showed a bird that looked like these. Common (a small one): removed on the basis of size (birds too small for Common Loon), the thinner and bicolored bill, and the color pattern on the neck. At this time of year, all of the Common Loons I have seen (and saw on Saylorville that day) were distinctly white on the front of the neck with some partial bands of brown extending back in to the white. Pacific Loon: Eliminated on behavior (head posture), lack of a distinct dark/white line along the side of the neck, lack of chin straps across neck, and presence of brown on front of neck. Also the gray/brown contrast between neck and back would point away from Pacific but not eliminate it. Red-throated Loon: This is what I first thought the birds were but as I viewed them, I convinced myself several times that they were Pacific Loons. However, the combination of characters listed above seem to eliminate the other two possible species and also are positive characters for the Red-throated Loon. One character that puzzled me was the size of the bill. At least some of the guides (Advanced Birding esp) show the Red-throated Loon as having a tiny bill, much smaller than on this bird but those illustrations do not match those in other guides which emphasize more the shape of the bill than the size. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:45:00/08:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	8
Rare bird documentation form for Red-necked Grebe at Little Wall Lake in 1984	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1984-04-14	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Red-necked Grebe at Little Wall Lake in Hamilton County, IA on April 14, 1984. This is one of two forms for this bird sighting.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Red-necked Grebe	Little Wall Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	13
Rare bird documentation form for Red-throated Loon at Red Rock Reservoir, 1999	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-11-03	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Red-throated Loon at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on November 3, 1999.	Fuller, James L	Red-throated Loon	Whitebreast Recreation Area	Red Rock Reservoir (Marion County) Off Whitebreast Point.		The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observer includes Tom Kent. \| Elimination of similar species: Pacific Loon is generally darker, shows less white on the side of the neck and face, and usually exhibits a chin strap. Winter adult Pacific does not show light flecking on the back. Common Loon is larger with a larger bill, and shows an angular head outline. The dark-white line on the side of the neck is irregular and indistinct, compared to the Red-throated. Both other loons hold their bills horizonatally [sic]. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:00:00/14:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	8
Rare bird documentation form for Red-throated Loon at Spirit Lake, 1999	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-06-28	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Red-throated Loon at Spirit Lake in Dickinson County, IA on June 28, 1999.	Schoenewe, Lee A.	Red-throated Loon	Spirit Lake	Spirit Lake, Dickinson County	open water	The documentation form by Lee A. Schoenewe is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Common Loon + Pacific Loon - size, upturned bill & brownish, speckled neck. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:35:00/16:55:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	8
Rare bird documentation form for Red-throated Loon at Clear Lake, 1999	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-04-21	1999-05-27	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Red-throated Loons at Clear Lake in Cerro Gordo County, IA on April 21, 1999.	Fischer, Carolyn J.	Red-throated Loon	Clear Lake	Clear Lake, Clear Lake Ia	Large lake, northside	The documentation form by Rita Goranson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Curt Nelson, Jan Walter, and Carolyn Fischer. \| Elimination of similar species: Common Loon - was also present, could see larger loon, heavy bill, Pacific Loon - straight bill, black cap extends to eye -	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	8
Rare bird documentation form for Red-throated Loon at Clear Lake, 1999	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-04-20	1999-08-22	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Red-throated Loon at Clear Lake in Cerro Gordo County, IA on April 20, 1999.	Goranson, Rita	Red-throated Loon	Clear Lake	Clear Lake, Iowa - on lake north side	water	The documentation form by Rita Goranson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jan Walter and Carolyn Fischer. \| Elimination of similar species: Common loons were out further but darker with dark around face and around neck, bill larger & darker. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:00:00/17:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	8
Details for birds seen on Burlington CBC 12/19/98	Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1998-12-19	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Details of birds seen during the Burlington Christmas Bird Count, December 19, 1998 reported by Jim Fuller. Notable sighting includes a Red-Throated Loon.	Fuller, James L	Red-throated Loon Brewer's Blackbird Eastern Phoebe Common Loon Sharp-shinned Hawk	Burlington Lock and Dam Number 18 Crapo Park				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	8