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 Common Tern at Willow Slough, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-08-06	1979-08-09	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Common Terns at Willow Slough in Mills County, IA on August 6, 1979.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Common 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: All the terns I've managed to identify at the Slough before have been Forsters. There was a Forsters at the slough that evening, in fact, with white primaries. It tried to land on a piling by the other two, but then left. The Commons differed from Forster's terns by having dark primaries (adult) and on eye patch that circled the back of the head (other bird).	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	42
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow-crowned Night Heron at Willow Slough, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-07-23	1979-07-26	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow-crowned Night Heron at Willow Slough in Mills County, IA on July 23, 1979.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Yellow-Crowned Night Heron	Willow Slough State Game Management Area	Willow Slough, NE Mills County, Iowa	Twice I flushed the bird from the edge of the cattail patches. Flew away from me with slow, dignified wing beats.	The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Bitterns have black, not gray flight feathers in wings. Immature Black-crowned Night heron has larger spots, a more streaked appearance. Note: both night herons were present at the slough last year. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:00:00/16:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	23
Rare bird documentation form for Greater Scaup at Lake Manawa, 1981	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-04-11	1981-05-24	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Greater Scaup at Lake Manawa in Pottawattamie County, IA on April 11, 1981.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Greater Scaup	Lake Manawa	Lake Manawa, Council Bluffs	Lake -oxbow lake	The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Differs from Lesser Scaup in head shape, size, size of bill. Differs from many Lessers in white flanks. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 18:10:00/18:15:00 or more.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	10
Rare bird documentation form for Snowy Egret at Settling Ponds south of Council Bluffs, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-05-31	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Snowy Egret at Settling Ponds south of Council Bluffs in Pottawattamie County, IA on May 31, 1986.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Snowy Egret	MidAmerican Energy Ponds	Settling Ponds, S. of Council Bluffs, Iowa		The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Great Egret + Cattle Egret have yellow bills. The Little Blue Heron's bill shouldn't look so black & thin, & in any case that species lacks yellow feet. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 20:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	19
Rare bird documentation form for Long-tailed Duck at Willow Slough Public Hunting Area, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-03-22	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for Long-tailed Duck at Willow Slough Public Hunting Area in Mills County, IA on March 22, 1982.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Long-tailed Duck	Willow Slough State Game Management Area	Willow Slough Public Hunting Area, Mills County, Iowa		The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: had a faint resemblance to a Bufflehead while sleeping. Really too odd to be any thing else. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:25:00/15:58:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	14
Rare bird documentation form for Marbled Godwit at Forney's Lake, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-05-16	1985-06-02	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for four Marbled Godwits at Forney's Lake in Fremont County, IA on May 16, 1985.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Marbled Godwit	Forneys Lake State Wildlife Management Area	Forney's Lake, Fremont County, Iowa		The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Hudsonian Godwit has white wing stripe + rump. Long-billed Curlew has decurved bill + would be most unusual here. most [sic] sandpipers are smaller than dowitchers.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	14
Rare bird documentation form for Marbled Godwit at Willow Slough, 1981	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-05-19	1981-05-24	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Mabled Godwit at Willow Slough in northeast Mills County, IA on May 19, 1981.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Marbled Godwit	Willow Slough State Game Management Area	Willow Slough, N.E. Mills County, Iowa	Standing in shallow water in drying slough.	The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Hudsonian Godwit is similar, but has contrasting rump + wing stripe. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 06:00:00/06:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	14
Rare bird documentation form for Merlin at Willow Slough, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-09-18	1982-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Merlin at Willow Slough in Mills County, IA on September 18, 1982.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Merlin	Willow Slough State Game Management Area	Willow Slough, N.E. Mills County, Iowa		The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Kestrel doesn't have a gray barred tail. Uniform grayish grown upper parts would resemble Merlin, not Kestrel. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:45:00/17:45:30.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	32
Rare bird documentation form for Grasshopper Sparrow at Willow Slough, 1980	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1980-11-05	1980-12-10	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Grasshopper Sparrow at Willow Slough in Mills County, IA on November 5, 1980.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Grasshopper Sparrow	Willow Slough State Game Management Area	Willow Slough, Iowa	weedy old field, brush nearby but it was in the weedy grass	The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Le Conte's Sparrow - eliminated by lack of orange, + by lack of streaks on side of breast Henslow's - eliminated by nape streaks, but it's hard to be sure. Perhaps the difference in color between a Henslow's face + Grasshopper's face would be hard to tell in a backlit bird. Looked pale, though. \| The original documentation form event occurred in the afternoon for five minutes or more.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	56
Rare bird documentation form for Hooded Merganser at Willow Slough, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-06-04	1978-07-14	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Hooded Merganser at Willow Slough in Mills County, IA on June 4, 1978.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Hooded Merganser	Willow Slough State Game Management Area	Willow Slough, Anderson Twp., Mills Co., Iowa	Lake, out near the middle, where there where tops of drowned weeds sticking out of the water.	The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Only mergansers have thin bills (of the ducks, that is). Only Hooded Mergansers have yellow bills or unpatterned heads. Shape and bill color eliminate the grebes. Size eliminates the loons. I really can't think of anything else it could be.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	15
Rare bird documentation form for Marbled Godwit at northeast Mills County, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-04-24	1984-05-25	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Marbled Godwit at northeast Mills County, IA on April 24, 1984.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Marbled Godwit	Mills County	NE Mills County, Iowa (Former Tom Axtell farm, recently purchased by a Stortenbecker)		The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Other large shorebirds Hudsonian Godwit: White wingstripe + in rump Dowitchers: white rump + back Long-billed Curlew: similar I think the bill was straight but am eliminating this mainly by probability. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:30:00/07:31:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	14
Rare bird documentation form for Connecticut Warbler in Mills County, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-05-26	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Connecticut Warbler in Mills County, IA on May 26, 1983.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Connecticut Warbler	Mills County	Wilson farm, N.E. 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: Resembles the fall Mourning Warbler plumage. In fact, I must say this is either a female Connecticut Warbler in Spring plumage or a Mourning that retains fall plumage. I did not see if the eye ring is broken or not, nor the extent to which the under tail coverts cover the tail feathers. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 09:00:00/09:01:30.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	39
Rare bird documentation form for Common Tern at Willow Slough, 1980	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1980-05-24	1980-05-26	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for ten Common Terns at Willow Slough in Mills County, IA on May 24, 1980.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Common Tern	Willow Slough State Game Management Area	Willow Slough, Mills County, Iowa		The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: See other documentation \| The original documentation form event lasted from 18:20:00/19:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	42
Rare bird documentation form for White-eyed Vireo at Scott Township in Fremont County, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1983-05-31	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a White-eyed Vireo at Scott Township in Fremont County, IA on May 31, 1983.	Wilson, Barbara L.	White-eyed Vireo	Scott Township	Section 12, Scott Township, Fremont 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: similar to many other Vireos + warblers but eye ring, wing bars, + broad bill limit it to White eyed, + of course the pale iris is distinctive. So is the song.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	76
Rare bird documentation form for Whimbrel at Willow Slough, 1981	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-05-19	1981-05-24	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Whimbrel at Willow Slough in Mills County, IA on May 19, 1981.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Whimbrel	Willow Slough State Game Management Area	Willow Slough, N.E. Mills County, Iowa	Edge of water. Mudflat in drying slough	The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Size + beak indicate a curlew. Long-billed eliminated by shorter bill + head pattern. Eskimo Curlew eliminated by wing linings. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 18:00:00/18:05:00 approximately.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	12
Rare bird documentation form for Ross' Goose at Willow Slough, 1981	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-03-26	1981-05-24	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two or more Ross' Goose at Willow Slough in Mills County, IA on March 26, 1981.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Ross's Gull	Willow Slough State Game Management Area	Park Farm, NE Mills County, near Willow Slough	unplowed cornfield	The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Snow Goose is larger, with a longer bill (not lavender), and head not rounded. Snow Geese have a black 'grin' on bill, which I could see in the telescope on the larger geese as I looked at Ross's. \| The original documentation form event occurred around a half an hour near sunset.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	28
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Goshawk at Hastings, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-11-26	1983-11-29	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Goshawk at the John Wilson farm in Hastings in Mills County, IA on November 26, 1983.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Northern Goshawk	Hastings	John Wilson farm, NE Mills County, Ia.		The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Tail too long + flight too quick + direct for a Red-tail. Wings rounded - not a falcon. Young accipiter (+ many buteos) would be streaked below. Adult accipiters of other kinds would be barred below, but reddish or brown, not gravy. Marsh Hawk would fly with a more leisurely pace + have longer wings. As I saw it, identifications went clicking through my brains one after another. Red tail? No.. Marsh Hawk! - No ... Coopers Hawk! Yes - no - its gray! I certainly did not expect a Goshawk.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	25
Rare bird documentation form for White-faced Ibis at Willow Slough, 1981	Field notes Forms (documents)	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-05-19	1981-05-24	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two White-faced Ibises at Willow Slough in Mills County, IA on May 19, 1981.	Wilson, Barbara L.	White-faced Ibis	Willow Slough State Game Management Area	Willow Slough, NE Mills County, Iowa	Wading in pool behind beaver dam in marshy slough, No large vegetation on there; Eleocharis at edges.	The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: That large, dark with decurved bill it must be a Glossy or White-faced Ibis. Complete, wide white stripe around the face indicates White-faced. Perhaps soft-parts color tells too but I don't know. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 06:30:00/07:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	25
Rare bird documentation form for Common Tern at Willow Slough, 1980	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1980-05-19	1980-05-26	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for three Common Terns at Willow Slough in Mills County, IA on May 19, 1980.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Common Tern	Willow Slough State Game Management Area	Willow Slough, Mills County, Iowa		The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The more common Forster's Tern has wings all one color or paler on the primaries. One was present at the slough this day. However, young Forsters, I've been told, can have dark primaries. If this is so + they return those feathers in the spring, the possibility of Forster's Tern is not entirely eliminated.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	42
Rare bird documentation form for Red-necked Phalarope at Willow Slough, 1980	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1980-05-24	1980-05-25	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for seven Red-necked Phalaropes at Willow Slough in Mills County, IA on May 24, 1980.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Red-necked Phalarope	Willow Slough State Game Management Area	Willow Slough, Mills County, Iowa.		The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The more common Wilson's Phalarope is eliminated by hood pattern, wing stripe, + dark rump. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 18:20:00/19:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	30
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 an unidentified Grosbeak at Anderson Township in Mills County, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1979-09-08	1979-11-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for an unidentified Grosbeak at Anderson Township in Mills County, IA on September 8, 1979.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Cardinal-Grosbeaks	Anderson Township	Wilson farm: T73-N, R-41W, Sec 26, NE Mills County, Ia.		The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: these are Rose-breasted Grosbeaks or Blackheaded Grosbeaks. Or hybrids. Unfortunately, the identification depends on things I do not know. Ruth Green informs me that some Rose-breasted Grosbeaks in early September are so orange on the breast one would think them Black-headeds. Are these young Rose-breasted? What about the call? Do Rose-breasted Grosbeaks make a lower-pitched call, more mellow than the distinctive high-pitched call that is the only one I know for them? If you know, please tell me. These were odd-looking grosbeaks but I can't really identify them. \| The original documentation form events occurred around 08:45:00 and in the afternoon.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	69
Rare bird documentation form for Little Blue Heron at Willow Slough, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1979-08-01	1979-08-10	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Little Blue Heron at Willow Slough in Mills County, IA on August 1, 1979 and several other dates.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Little Blue Heron	Willow Slough State Game Management Area	Willow Slough, NE Mills County, Iowa	Shallow lake + marsh that is Willow Slough	The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: This heron resembles every other White Heron or egret. Albino Heron: this is what I thought it was at first, but it turned out to have color in bill & legs. "Great White Heron" can be eliminated by size and range. Snowy Egret: has black legs and bill. Great Egret: has yellow bill w/out black tip, & dark legs. Cattle Egret: has yellow to orange bill without black tip, has yellow to dark (not green legs) & is sociable, & wouldn't spend over a week in a marsh. Reddish egret: has a similar bill, but with base flesh-colored rather than gray. Has bluish, not green, legs, has a shaggy neck, and is unlikely to be found in Iowa. The white primaries eliminate other white large birds. The only thing left is immature Little Blue Heron.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	32	20
Rare bird documentation form for Red-breasted Merganser at Willow Slough, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-06-04	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Red-breasted Merganser at Willow Slough in Mills County, IA on June 4, 1978.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Red-breasted Merganser	Willow Slough State Game Management Area	Willow Slough, Anderson Township., Mills Co., Iowa.	open water on a lake, near shore	The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: This was no Common Merganser. This bird's throat color was light and so unsharp in its border that the color really started fading at the crown to get to the light of the throat.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	17
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Siskin at Anderson Township in Mills County, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-05-15	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Pine Siskin at Anderson Township in Mills County, IA on May 15, 1982.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Pine Siskin	Anderson Township	Ben Wilson's farm: T-73N, R-40W, Sec. 30, Mills Co., Ia.		The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Uniform brown streaks on face eliminate Purple Finch, as does the thin bill. Sparrows are similar, usually have stouter bill + are less uniformly streaked - they have dark streaks on light underparts, + this one is just streaked all over. \| The original documentation form event occurred in the afternoon for at most a minute.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	85