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 Great Black-backed Gull at Lock and Dam 15, 1995	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1995-02-12	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Great Black-backed Gull at Lock and Dam 15 in Scott County, IA on February 12, 1995.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Great Black-backed Gull	Lock and Dam 15	Lock and Dam 15, Davenport, Scott Co., IA	Mississippi River, mostly frozen above dam.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tim Schantz and Jim Fuller. \| Elimination of similar species: The size and pattern do not fit any other species or plumage. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:30:00/12:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	38
Rare bird documentation form for Black-legged Kittiwake at Saylorville Reservoir, 1987	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1987-10-25	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Black-legged Kittiwake at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on October 25, 1987.	Martsching, Paul	Black-legged Kittiwake	Saylorville Lake	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co, Iowa		The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Steve Dinsmore. \| Elimination of similar species: Was much larger than immature Little Gull. Sabine's doesn't have black bar on inner half of wings \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	40
Rare bird documentation form for Black-legged Kittiwake at Cone Marsh, 1987	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1987-03-12	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Black-legged Kittiwake at Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on March 12, 1987.	Fuller, James L	Black-legged Kittiwake	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Cone Marsh	Marsh	The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Ring Billed Gull - leg color + tail shape Sabines - size, leg color, + wing pattern \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:15:00/14:16:30.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	40
Rare bird documentation form for Black-legged Kittiwake at George Wyth State Park, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-11-23	1978-12-03	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Black-legged Kittiwake at George Wyth State Park in Black Hawk County, IA on November 23, 1978.	Stone, Tom, Jr.	Black-legged Kittiwake	George Wyth Memorial State Park	Waterloo, Iowa George Wyth State Park G.W.S.P.	Deciduous woodland with manmade lake with island in middle, woodland is thick all around lake. Cedar River 1 qtr. mile away from lake. It is a very good migration route for gulls.	The documentation form by Tom Stone, Jr. is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The Ring-billed Gull and Herring Gull have much larger wingspread. The Franklin Gull does not have black feet and the Franklins feet extend almost to the tip of the tail. The Kittiwakes feet extended only to the underwing. Bonaparte's Gull does not have gray nape in winter. Both Franklin and Bonapartes have dark gray backs in winter. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:15:00/09:25:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	40
Rare bird documentation form for Black-legged Kittiwake at Coralville Reservoir, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1976-10-28	1976-10-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Black-legged Kittiwake at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on October 28, 1976.	DeCoster, R. J. (Richard Joseph)	Black-legged Kittiwake	Coralville Lake	Coralville Docks, Coralville Reservoir, Johnson Co., Iowa	Large open water area of Coralville Reservoir. There was a flock of adult Bonaparte's gulls about a mile south on the same area of the reservoir.	The documentation form by Richard J. DeCoster is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Lillian Serbousek, Nicholas Halmi, and Michael Newlon. \| Elimination of similar species: Immature Bonaparte's gull lacks transverse mark across nape and has lighter wing coverts. The immature little gull is shown by Robbins et al. to have a dark hood and scaly back. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:45:00/12:55:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	40
Rare bird documentation form for Black-legged Kittiwake at Coralville Reservoir, 1976	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1976-10-27	1976-10-28	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Black-legged Kittiwake at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on October 27, 1976.	Halmi, Nicholas S.	Black-legged Kittiwake	Coralville Lake	Coralville Reservoir, Johnson Co. Iowa	Over water. in a small inlet formed by the scalloped SW shore of the reservoir	The documentation form by Nicholas S. Halmi is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Mike Newlon, Carol Newlon, Rich DeCoster, Allan Mueller, Lillian Serbousek, and Weir Nelson. \| Elimination of similar species: Bonaparte's has no nuchal crescent, more white on wings, square on rounded tail; Black-headed - ditto, with even more white on wings; Sabine's: no nuchal spot, wing pattern of black-gray-white triangles, head gray in back; Ross's - no nuchal crescent, wedge-shaped tail, no spot behind eye; Little - much smaller, nuchal crescent (if present) merely an extension of the dark gray back, not demarcated in white, black cap. Of these only the imm. Bonaparte's is more common than the Kittiwake in Iowa. This is the third record for the state (last seen in Davenport Dec. 1967). \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:20:00/16:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	40
Rare bird documentation form for Sabine's Gull at Babcock Access at Coralville Reservoir, 1999	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-08-18	1999-08-20	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Sabine's Gull at Babcock Access at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on August 18, 1999.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Sabine's Gull	Babcock Access	Babcock Access, Coralville Reservoir, Johnson Co., IA	upper parts of reservoir with shallow pools and mud flats.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim Fuller and James Huntington. \| Elimination of similar species: Immature Black-legged Kittiwake and Little Gull may present a W pattern, but not a dark back. The lighter color of the interior triangle on the upper wing was the only field mark that did not seem to fit. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:30:00/17:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	39
Rare bird documentation form for Sabine's Gull at Saylorville Reservoir, 1998	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1998-10-25	1998-10-26	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Sabine's Gull at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on October 25, 1998.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Sabine's Gull	Saylorville Lake	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk 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 Bery Engebretsen. \| Elimination of similar species: The combination of small size, forked tail, and upperwing pattern eliminates other small gulls, especially Little Gull and Black-legged Kittiwake in first-basic plumage. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:28:00/08:55:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	39
Rare bird documentation form for Great Black-backed Gull at Lock and Dam 15, 1999	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-02-06	1999-02-24	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Great Black-backed Gull at Lock and Dam 15 in Scott County, IA on February 6, 1999.	Proescholdt, Mark	Great Black-backed Gull	Lock and Dam 15	above Lock and Dam #15 - Davenport - (Scott Co.)	on ice in Mississippi River with other gulls	The documentation form by Mark Proescholdt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Beth Proescholdt. \| Elimination of similar species: A 1st winter Lesser Black-backed Gull is much smaller - about the size of a Ring-billed Gull. This is a really big gull - bigger than other possibilities. Also, much different from 1st winter Herring Gulls. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:00:00/16:48:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	38
Rare bird documentation form for Great Black-backed Gull at Lock and Dam 16, 1998	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1998-12-27	1999-01-02	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Great Black-backed Gull at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine County, IA on December 27, 1998.	Blevins, Brian L.	Great Black-backed Gull	Mississippi River Lock Dam Number Sixteen	Below Lock + Dam #16 in Muscatine County, Muscatine, Iowa	Below Lock + Dam #16 on the shoreline of Muscatine, Iowa. Mississippi River plus boat harbor that is iced over where the gulls like to roost.	The documentation form by Brian Blevins is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Corey T. Blevins. \| Elimination of similar species: Pink feet eliminates - Yellow footed Lesser Black-backed Size + Jet Black mantle eliminates - Western Slaty-Backed \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:52:00/09:02:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	38
Rare bird documentation form for Great Black-backed Gull at Gull Point at West Lake Okoboji, 1997	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1997-11-08	1997-11-09	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Great Black-backed Gull at Gull Point at West Lake Okoboji in Dickinson County, IA on November 8, 1997.	Schoenewe, Lee A.	Great Black-backed Gull	Gull Point	Gull Point - West Lake Okoboji, Dickinson Co.	Sand and rocky point on natural lake	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 by size and close comparison; Glaucous Gull by dark primaries and tail band \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:40:00/16:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	38
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
Rare bird documentation form for Great Black-backed Gull at Lock and Dam 14, 1996	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1996-01-02	1996-02-26	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Great Black-backed Gull at Lock and Dam 14 in Scott County, IA on January 2, 1996.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Great Black-backed Gull	Lock and Dam 14	below Lock and Dam 14, Davenport, Scott Co., IA	resting on large river	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim Dinsmore and Kelly McKay. \| Elimination of similar species: The combination of large size, coal black mantle and upperwings, and massive bill eliminates all other larids. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:50:00/16:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	38
Rare bird documentation form for Glaucous Gull at Saylorville Dam, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-11-26	1986-11-27	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Glaucous Gull at Saylorville Dam in Polk County, IA on November 26, 1986.	Moore, Francis L.	Glaucous Gull	Saylorville Dam	Along Des Moines River below Saylorville dam, Polk Co.	Above open flowing river	The documentation form by Francis L. Moore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tom Kent, Robert Cecil, Steve Dinsmore, Jim Fuller, and many other observers. \| Elimination of similar species: This bird too large for Iceland and Thayer's Gulls. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/11:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	37
Rare bird documentation form for Great Black-backed Gull at Lock and Dam 15, 1995	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1995-01-02	1995-02-12	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Great Black-backed Gull at Lock and Dam 15 in Scott County, IA on January 2, 1995.	Fuller, James L	Great Black-backed Gull	Lock and Dam 15	Mississippi River above Lock & Dam #15 (Scott County)		The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim Scheib. \| Elimination of similar species: No other first-winter gull has the large size, the large all-black bill, and in particular the black and white checkered pattern of the mantle. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:45:00/09:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	38
Rare bird documentation form for Great Black-backed Gull at Keokuk Wasterwater Plant, 1993	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1993-12-25	1993-12-29	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Great Black-backed Gull at Keokuk Wastewater Plant in Lee County, IA on December 25, 1993.	Cecil, Robert I.	Great Black-backed Gull	Keokuk Wastewater Plant	Near Sewage treatment plant, Mississippi River, Keokuk, Lee Co. IA	River	The documentation form by Bob Cecil is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include John Cecil. \| Elimination of similar species: All other gulls eliminated based upon size alone. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:00:00/14:30:00 and 16:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	38
Rare bird documentation form for Greater Black-backed Gull between Lock and Dam 15 and Lock and Dam 14, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-02-08	1992-02-15	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for four Greater Black-backed Gulls between Lock and Dam 15 and Lock and Dam 14 in Scott County, IA on February 8, 1992.	Cummins, Raymond L.	Great Black-backed Gull	Lock and Dam 14 Lock and Dam 15	Mississippi River between lock 15 & 14	I saw a total of four adult Greater Black-backed gulls between lock 15 & 14. Two were seen briefly and in rather poor light setting with Herring Gulls above lock 15. This was around 9AM and they flew off to the north. The fourth was just above the e. Moline bridge on the Iowa side at 12AM. The third was seen across the river from Campbells Island around 10AM. This bird I saw standing, spreading it's wings, and flying. It is the bird described below.	The documentation form by Ray Cummins is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Peter C. Petersen and Tim Schantz. \| Elimination of similar species: The very large size eliminates the others possible Black-backed Gulls. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	38
Rare bird documentation form for Great Black-backed Gull at Bettendorf, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-02-03	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Great Black-backed Gull at Bettendorf in Scott County, IA on February 3, 1992.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Great Black-backed Gull	Bettendorf	Bettendorf, IA	Mississippi River	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Dick Tetrault. \| Elimination of similar species: Size. All black back and wing. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:00:00/15:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	38
Rare bird documentation form for Great Black-backed Gull at Mississippi River between Moline, IL and Bettendorf, IA, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-02-01	1992-02-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Great Black-backed Gull at Mississippi River between Moline in Rock Island County, IL and Bettendorf in Scott County, IA on February 1, 1992.	Fuller, James L	Great 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, Jane Fuller, Jim Scheib, Randy Pinkston, John Daniel, and Ann Johnson. \| Elimination of similar species: Size alone should eliminate all other dark mantled gulls. In addition, all of the other adult dark grey mantled gulls have a wing tip that is black, and darker than the rest of the upperwing and back, while this bird had a uniformly black upperwing and back. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:15:00/10:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	38
Rare bird documentation form for Great Black-backed Gull at Saylorville Reservoir, 1987	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1987-11-07	1987-11-26	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Great Black-backed Gull at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on November 7, 1987.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Great Black-backed Gull	Saylorville Lake	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co.-off Jester Park	feeding with other gulls on large reservoir	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Andrew S. Fix. \| Elimination of similar species: The large size and dark wingtips eliminates all gulls except Western and Yellow-footed. The massive, dark bill, tail pattern, and pale body color eliminates these. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:15:00/10:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	38
Rare bird documentation form for Great Black-backed Gull at Saylorville Reservoir, 1986	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1986-11-30	1986-12-01	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Great Black-backed Gull at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on November 30, 1986 and December 1, 1986.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Great Black-backed Gull	Saylorville Lake	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co. (near visitors center)	large reservoir	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Paul Martsching. \| Elimination of similar species: Second winter Herring Gull eliminated by size, bill size, lack of a gray mantle, lack of streaking on the head and underparts, lack of a window on the upperwing, by the all white tail with a dark band at the tip, and by the very dark underside of the primaries. Second winter Lesser Black-backed Gull eliminated by smaller size, browner uppertail, and heavily streaked head and underparts. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:00:00/16:15:00 on November 30, 1986 and 15:55:00/16:08:00 on December 1, 1986.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	38
Rare bird documentation form for Great Black-backed Gull at Lake Manawa, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-12-06	1979-01-06	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Great Black-backed Gull at Lake Manawa in Pottawattamie County, IA on December 6, 1978.	Green, Ruth	Great Black-backed Gull	Lake Manawa	Lake Manawa, Council Bluffs, Iowa	Most of Lake Manawa was frozen over at this time but there were small patches of open water. The bird was standing on the ice at the edge of one of these patches.	The documentation form by Ruth Green is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Sandra and James Kovanda. \| Elimination of similar species: There were only two gulls at this time there--this bird and the glaucous. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:30:00/17:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	38
Rare bird documentation form for Glaucous Gull at Black Hawk Lake, 1995	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1995-11-18	1996-01-15	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Glaucous Gull at Black Hawk Lake in Sac County, IA on November 18, 1995.	Huser, Bill F.	Glaucous Gull	Black Hawk Lake	Blackhawk Lake, Sac County, IA	lake ice/open water	The documentation form by Bill Huser is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jerry Probst, Bob Livermore, Pete Ernzen, and unidentified members of the Loess Hills Audubon Society. \| Elimination of similar species: Relatively few gulls have pale coloration in their immature plumages. Also, few have pale colored primaries. Those fitting this description: Iceland Gull- smaller than a Herring Gull, with a disproportionally [sic] smaller bill. 1st winter with an all dark bill. Thayer's Gull- usually darker colored over-all, with an [sic] smaller, all dark bill in immatures and usually some darker colored primaries. Glaucous-winged Gull- though having a large bill, it is all dark in 1st and 2nd winter plumages \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:00:00/09:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	37
Rare bird documentation form for Glaucous Gull at Red Rock Dam, 1990	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1990-11-21	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Glaucous Gull at Red Rock Dam in Marion County, IA on November 21, 1990.	Fuller, James L	Glaucous Gull	Red Rock Dam	Below the dam - Red Rock Reservoir - Marion County	River	The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Ann Johnson, Chuck Fuller, and Jane Fuller. \| Elimination of similar species: Iceland Gull is smaller; first winter bird has smaller all dark bill. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:34:00/13:15:00 and 14:05:00/14:25:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	37
Rare bird documentation form for Glaucous Gull at Saylorville Reservoir, 1988	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1988-11-30	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Glaucous Gull at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on November 30, 1988.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Glaucous Gull	Saylorville Lake	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk County	open strip of water on large, frozen reservoir	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Iceland Gull eliminated by smaller size (smaller than Herring Gull), smaller, darker bill, and small-headed appearance. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:30:00/12:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	34	37