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 Least Tern at Cone Marsh, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-08-24	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Least Tern at Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on August 24, 1978.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Least Tern	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Cone Marsh - N. of bridge	open marshy lake with mud flats	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: See above. Two Forster's terns were seen earlier in the morning - larger, slower, overall and white wing with white areas in primaries were distinctly different from the least tern. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:30:00/08:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	44
Rare bird documentation form for Least Tern at Marshalltown, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1993-08-19	1993-08-27	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Least Tern at Marshalltown in Marshall County, IA on August 19, 1993.	Stegmann, Mike	Least Tern	Marshalltown	18th Ave. and East Main Street, Marshalltown, Marshall County, Iowa.	Partially flooded bean field with exposed mud flats.	The documentation form by Mike Stegmann is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Gary Brandenburg. \| Elimination of similar species: Distinguished from Common and Foresters terns by size, bill color, and the presents [sic] of a white forehead. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:30:00/17:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	44
Rare bird documentation form for Least Tern at Sandy Beach, 1991	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1991-08-20	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Least Tern at Sandy Beach in Johnson County, IA on August 20, 1991.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Least Tern	Sandy Beach Public Use Area	Sandy Beach, Johnson Co, IA	reservoir, flats	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim Scheib and Jim Fuller. \| Elimination of similar species: Size, shape, and features diagnostic. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:10:00/15:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	44
Rare bird documentation form for Least Tern at Saylorville Marina, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-08-21	1986-08-23	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Least Tern at Saylorville Marina in Polk County, IA on August 21, 1986.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Least Tern	Saylorville Marina	Saylorville Reservoir-near marina	resting on sandy beach	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: No other tern shows the combination of yellow bill and legs, small size, white forehead, and dark outer primaries. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:10:00/15:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	44
Rare bird documentation form for Least Tern at Willow Slough, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-08-02	1978-11-19	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Least Tern at Willow Slough in Mills County, IA on August 2, 1978.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Least Tern	Willow Slough State Game Management Area	Willow Slough in NE Mills County, Iowa	a shallow lake. It was feeding near water plants.	The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: All other White Terns are bigger than Black Terns. The Least Tern differed from the Black Terns in size, color, + most of all behavior - rate of wing beats, the way it done.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	44
Rare bird documentation form for Least Tern at Willow Slough, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-08-02	1979-08-09	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Least Tern at Willow Slough in Mills County, IA on August 2, 1979.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Least Tern	Willow Slough State Game Management Area	Willow Slough, NE Mills Co., Iowa		The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: There aren't any other birds this small, white with narrow wings + swooping tern - like flight, I think. Too small for Black Tern + differs from even winter - plumage ones in head pattern, wing pattern, rump + tail color, + behavior. Too small + wrong pattern for Forster's Tern + relatives. Not acting or patterned like a gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from around 11:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	44
Rare bird documentation form for LeConte's Sparrow at Sand Point in Coralville Reservoir, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1976-09-26	1976-09-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for ten to twenty minimum LeConte's Sparrows at Sand Point in Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on September 26, 1976.	Newlon, Michael C.	Le Conte's Sparrow	Sand Point	Sand Point, on Coralville Resevoir [sic] n. of Iowa City IA.	V. extensive weedy flats (waist to head-high) on shore of resevoir [sic]	The documentation form by Michael C. Newlon is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Cal Knight, Bernie Knight, and Carol Newlon. \| Elimination of similar species: grey face patch on yellow face, yellow-orange breast, narrow white crown stripe rule out Henslow's, sharp-tail, grasshopper, Baird's sparrows. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:15:00/16:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	58
Rare bird documentation form for Lesser Black-backed Gull at Cedar Lake, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-01-05	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Cedar Lake in Linn County, IA on January 5, 1992.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Cedar Lake	Cedar Lake, Linn Co., Iowa	backwater lake and cooling pond with some ice	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The leg color and size eliminate other dark mantled gulls. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:50:00/10:00:00 and 10:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	36
Rare bird documentation form for Lesser Black-backed Gull at Coralville Reservoir, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1993-12-18	1993-12-19	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on December 18, 1993.	Bendorf, Carl J.	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Coralville Lake	Coralville Reservoir, Johnson County, Iowa	upper reaches of the Coralville Reservoir	The documentation form by Carl Bendorf is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Lanny Haldy, Randy Graesser, Dan Ray, Angela Ray, Kathleen Kuenstling, Randall Pinkston, Thomas Kent, Jim Fuller, and others. \| Elimination of similar species: Of about 500 gulls total, nearly 90% were adult Ring-Billed Gulls and the rest were mostly winter adult and a few subadult Herring Gulls. [...] An adult gull in between the size of adjacent Ring-billed and Herring Gulls. It was noticeable larger than the Ring-bills; not too much smaller than the Herrings. It differed from the Herrings in being a little less barrel chested and a little slimmer, more horizontal in posture. \| The original documentation form event occurred for 45 minutes during two sessions.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	36
Rare bird documentation form for Lesser Black-backed Gull at Greencastle Road at Coralville Reservoir, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1993-12-19	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Greencastle Road at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on December 19, 1993.	Fuller, James L	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Coralville Lake	East of the north end of the Greencastle Road at the Coralville Reservoir (Johnson County).	Shallow water and mudflats.	The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include John McClure, Chris Edwards, and Jonnie Ellsworth. \| Elimination of similar species: All other dark mantled gulls have a larger size. They also have pink legs, with the exception of Yellow-footed Gull, which has never been known to wander from Baja and Southern California. Yellow-footed gull is also considerably larger. No one disagreed with identification. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:55:00/13:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	36
Rare bird documentation form for Lesser Black-backed Gull at Iowa in 1998	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1998-11-08	1998-11-22	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Iowa on November 8, 1998.	Thelen, Ed	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Iowa				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	36
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 Lesser Black-backed Gull at Lindsay Park Harbor in 1995	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1995-02-03	1995-02-16	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Lindsay Park Harbor in Scott County, IA on February 3 and 16, 1995.	Petersen, Peter C.	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Lindsay Park				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	36
Rare bird documentation form for Lesser Black-backed Gull at Lock and Dam 14, 1995	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1995-12-24	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for Lesser Black-backed Gull at Lock and Dam 14 in Scott County, IA on December 24, 1995.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Lock and Dam 14	Lock + Dam 14, Scott Co.	Mississippi R., on ice in backwater near dam	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Size, yellow legs, not pure black eliminates other dark-mantled gulls. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:40:00/08:50:00 approximately.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	36
Rare bird documentation form for Lesser Black-backed Gull at Lock and Dam 15, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-01-17	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Lock and Dam 15 in Davenport in Scott County, IA on January 17, 1992.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Lock and Dam 15	Above Lock + Dam 15, Davenport, IA	Frozen river	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: Size and leg color eliminate other dark mantled gulls. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:30:00/14:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	36
Rare bird documentation form for Lesser Black-backed Gull at Lock and Dam 15, 1995	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1995-02-04	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Lock and Dam 15 in Scott County, IA on February 4, 1995.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Lock and Dam 15	Above Lock and Dam 15, Davenport, Scott Co., IA	Mississippi River, river open.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include several unnamed people. \| Elimination of similar species: The size and mantle color exclude Great Black-backed Gull. The mantle was too dark for a California Gull. Slaty-backed Gull would likely appear larger, have a darker mantle, and more white in tertials. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:30:00/13:00:00 estimated.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	36
Rare bird documentation form for Lesser Black-backed Gull at Lock and Dam 15, 1995	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1995-02-05	1995-02-21	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Lock and Dam 15 in Scott County, IA on February 5, 1995 and February 12, 1995.	Fuller, James L	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Lock and Dam 15	Mississippi River above Lock & Dam #15 (Scott County)		The documentation form by James Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim Scheib, Thomas Kent, Dan Dorrance, Barker, Peter C. Petersen, Eloise Armstrong, and Eugene Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: The only other dark mantled gull with yellow legs is the Yellow-footed Gull. That bird has never been seen away from the extreme southwest portion of the country, and it should be much larger. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:30:00/09:00:00 on February 5, 1995 and 11:40:00/11:55:00 on February 12, 1995.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	36
Rare bird documentation form for Lesser Black-backed Gull at Manhattan Point at West Okoboji Lake, 1999	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-11-21	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Manhattan Point at West Okoboji Lake in Dickinson County, IA on November 21, 1999.	Kenne, Matthew C.	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Manhattan Point	West Okoboji Lake, Dickinson Co., 21 Nov 1999		The documentation form by Matthew Kenne is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Lee Schoenewe. \| Elimination of similar species: The bird was standing on Manhattan Point with several Herring Gulls of various ages and many more Ring-billed Gulls, facing quarter-on towards Lee Schoenewe and I. It was a dark 1st year gull, similar to, but slightly smaller than, other 1st year Herring Gulls present. It had an all black bill that was smaller than the other Herrings. [...] Lee and I waited for about 10 minutes for the bird to turn to the side, showing us blackish wingtips and dark tertials, eliminating the Thayer's Gull possbility we had been considering. The wing tips extended farther beyond the body than on the Herring Gulls. [...] There was no pale 'window' in the inner primaries as in a Herring Gull. \| The original documentation form event occurred in the early afternoon for approximately 10 minutes.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	36
Rare bird documentation form for Lesser Black-backed Gull at Mississippi River between Bettendorf, IA and Moline, IL, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-01-11	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Mississippi River between Bettendorf in Scott County, IA and Moline in Rock Island County, IL on January 11, 1992.	Petersen, Peter C.	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Bettendorf Moline	Miss. R. between Bettendorf + Moline, Scott + R.I. Cos.	river channel	The documentation form by Peter C. Petersen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Great Black-backed - back not black, too small. Slaty-backed - a bit small, trailing edge of wing with narrow, not wide, white edge. Western - a bit small bill not larger + heavier than the several nearby Herrings. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:50:00/09:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	36
Rare bird documentation form for Lesser Black-backed Gull at Mississippi River between Bettendorf, IA and Moline, IL, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-01-31	1992-02-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Mississippi River between Bettendorf in Scott County, IA and Moline in Rock Island County, IL on January 31, 1992 and February 1, 1992.	Fuller, James L	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Bettendorf Moline	Mississippi River between Moline, Illinois and Bettendorf, Iowa.		The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Charles Fuller and Jane Fuller. \| Elimination of similar species: The only other dark mantled gull with yellow legs is Yellow-footed Gull, which has never been seen outside of the extreme southwestern part of the country. Yellow-footed gull is also larger than the Herring gull, but this bird was smaller in general size. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:35:00/14:45:00 on January 31, 1992 and 09:50:00/10:00:00 on February 1, 1992.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	36
Rare bird documentation form for Lesser Black-backed Gull at Ottumwa, 1997	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1997-01-06	1997-01-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Ottumwa in Wapello County, IA on January 6, 1997.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Ottumwa	Ottumwa, Wapello Co., IA	river	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The bird was in the company of Ring-billed and Herring gulls which were easily eliminated on the basis of mantle color. California Gull is slightly smaller, is lighter-mantled, and shows more white in the primaries. Great-black-backed, Slaty-backed, and Western gulls are all larger and have heavier bills. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:10:00/15:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	36
Rare bird documentation form for Lesser Black-backed Gull at Red Rock Dam, 1997	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1997-12-27	1997-12-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Red Rock Dam in Marion County, IA on December 27, 1997.	Proescholdt, Mark	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Red Rock Dam	Below dam at Red Rock - (Marion County)	Gravel Bar below dam and churning water	The documentation form by Mark Proescholdt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Dale Fye, Helen Fye, Pat Miller, and many others. \| Elimination of similar species: The other black mantled gulls (Great Black-backed, Slaty-backed, Western, and Yellow-footed) are all much larger than this gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 10:20:00/11:10:00 and 13:30:00/14:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	36
Rare bird documentation form for Lesser Black-backed Gull at Red Rock Reservoir, 1997	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1997-12-26	1998-01-06	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on December 26, 1997 and December 30, 1997.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Lake Red Rock	Red Rock Reservoir, Marion Co., IA (below dam)	river below dam	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, Kay Niyo, and many other observers. \| Elimination of similar species: The combination of size, dark gray mantle, yellow legs and bill pattern eliminates other gulls, especially Great Black-backed, California, and Slaty-backed. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:05:00/16:55:00 on December 26, 1997 and 13:40:00/16:05:00 on December 30, 1997.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	36
Rare bird documentation form for Lesser Black-backed Gull at Saylorville Dam in 1998	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1998-11-04	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Saylorville Dam in Polk County, IA on November 4, 1998.	Schoenewe, Lee A.	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Saylorville Dam				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	36
Rare bird documentation form for Lesser Black-backed Gull at Saylorville Reservoir, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-11-29	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on November 29, 1986.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Saylorville Lake	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co.	sitting on ice above dam	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Peter Wickham, Mark Brogie, Barb Wilson, Tanya Bray, and Bery Engebretsen. \| Elimination of similar species: Great Black-backed Gull was eliminated by the smaller size, contrast between the wingtips and the rest of the wing, and by the heavy streaking on the head (head should be mostly white on a Great Black-backed Gull). California Gull was eliminated by the darker mantle, darker underwing and dark carpal bar, lack of a dark spot on the bill, and by the dark smudge at the base of the bill (this is characteristic of 3rd summer Lesser Black-backed Gulls and is never present on California Gulls). \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:08:00/12:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	36