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 Surf Scoter at Ventura Marsh, 1988	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1988-05-21	1988-05-26	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Surf Scoter at Ventura Marsh in Cerro Gordo County, IA on May 21, 1988.	Probst, Jerry	Surf Scoter	Ventura Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Ventura Marsh part of Clear Lake	Shallow lake	The documentation form by Jerry Probst is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bob Livermore and Wayne Livermore. \| Elimination of similar species: Obviously a mature female Surf Scoter. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 06:45:00/07:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	11
Rare bird documentation form for Surf Scoter at Ventura Marsh in 1988	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1988-05-21	1988-05-24	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Surf Scoter at Ventura Marsh in Cerro Gordo County, IA on May 21 and 22, 1988.	Hollis, Richard Jule	Surf Scoter	Ventura Marsh Wildlife Management Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	11
Rare bird documentation form for Surf Scoter at Mills County, 1988	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1988-11-26	1988-11-27	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Surf Scoter at Mills County, IA on November 26, 1988.	Toll, Jerry	Surf Scoter	Mills County	south settling pond of the Iowa Public Power Plant in Mills County Iowa		The documentation form by Gerald W. Toll is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: It was smaller than a mallard and between the sizes of male and female common goldeneye present on the pond. The lack of a white speculum present when it should have been observable, and the shape of the forespot indicated it was an adult female surf scoter. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:00:00/15:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	11
Rare bird documentation form for Surf Scoter at West Overlook at Coralville Reservoir, 1988	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1988-11-29	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Surf Scoter at West Overlook at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on November 29, 1988.	Fuller, James L	Surf Scoter	Coralville Lake	West overlook - Coralville Reservoir - Johnson Co.	Reservoir	The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: White-winged Scoter - No white wing patch either on water or flying. Black Scoter does not have white head spots. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:45:00/07:55:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	11
Rare bird documentation form for Surf Scoter at West Okoboji Lake, 1988	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1988-12-03	1988-12-05	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Surf Scoter at West Okoboji Lake in Dickinson County, IA on December 3-5, 1988.	Thelen, Ed	Surf Scoter	West Okoboji Lake	South shore of West Okoboji Lake at Terrace Park, Dickinson County	Natural Lake	The documentation form by Ed Thelen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Linda Thelen. \| Elimination of similar species: White-wing Scoter - white on wings, concave head. Black Scoter - Rounder head, dark legs, pale cheeks cover larger area on angle of beak, side of head. Ruddy duck - smaller size. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 08:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	11
Rare bird documentation form for Surf Scoter at Badger Creek State Park, 1990	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1990-04-19	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Surf Scoter at Badger Creek State Park in Madison County, IA on April 19, 1990.	Fuller, James L	Surf Scoter	Badger Creek State Recreation Area	Badger Creek State Park - Madison County	Man-made Lake	The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Eugene Armstrong, and Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: Male White Winged Scoter has white eye comma and different bill markings + forehead slope, and no large white areas on head and male Black Scoter has different bill, a dark eye and no white markings on head. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:38:00/12:51:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	11
Rare bird documentation form for Surf Scoter at Jester Park, 1990	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1990-11-10	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Surf Scoter at Jester Park in Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on November 10, 1990.	Johnson, Ann	Surf Scoter	Jester Park	Jester Park, Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co., IA	Open water	The documentation form by Ann Johnson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bery Engrebretsen, Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, Pam Allen, Reid Allen, and others from the Des Moines Audubon. \| Elimination of similar species: Most ducks were eliminated by the angle/slope of the head and bill and the size of the bill. Although there was a similarity of head profile to the Common Eider, the facial spots eliminated any eider. Black Scoter would have a more rounded head with a uniform lighter cheek area as opposed to the spots on this bird. White-winged Scoter should have shown more rounded angle form the top of the head to the bill, generally would have less distinct facial spots, and definitely would have had white wing patches when the bird raised its wings. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:50:00/10:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	11
Rare bird documentation form for Surf Scoter west of Burr Oak in 1991	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1991-09-23	1991-09-30	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for two Surf Scoters west of Burr Oak in Winneshiek County, IA on September 23, 1991.	Carter, Dennis L.	Surf Scoter	Burr Oak				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	11
Rare bird documentation form for Surf Scoter at Davenport, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1992-12-20	1993-01-10	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Surf Scoter at Davenport in Scott County, IA on December 20, 1992.	Sowl, LeRoy W.	Surf Scoter	Davenport	I-280 Bridge, Davenport, IA	Miss. River	The documentation form by LeRoy W. Sowl is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Bob Bryant and Dan Dorrance. \| Elimination of similar species: other scoters No white wing patch, front white facial patch had a vertical orientation and more bare bill was showing than on a white-wing. It did not have the facial pattern of a Black Scoter. Bill did not have the bump. Head not round like Black Scoter. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/11:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	11
Field notes contributed by Randall Pinkston, May 9, 1994	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1994-05-09	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	List of birds contributed by Randall Pinkston. Highlights include the sighting of a Surf Scoter at Cone Marsh.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Semipalmated Sandpiper White-eyed Vireo Surf Scoter Tennessee Warbler	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	11
Rare bird documentation form for Surf Scoter at Big Spirit Lake, 1995	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1995-10-06	1995-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for four Surf Scoters at Big Spirit Lake in Dickinson County, IA on October 6, 1995.	Thelen, Ed	Surf Scoter	Spirit Lake	West side of Big Spirit Lake in Dickinson County	Glacial Lake	The documentation form by Ed Thelen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: White-winged Scoter - how white-wing patch. Surf Scoter - white on side of head - these birds has 2 patches. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:15:00/16:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	11
Rare bird documentation form for Surf Scoter at Green Island Wildlife Area, 1996	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1996-05-13	1996-05-14	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Surf Scoter at Green Island Wildlife Area in Jackson County, IA on May 13, 1996.	Petersen, Peter C.	Surf Scoter	Green Island Wildlife Management Area	Green Island W.A. - Jackson Co.	Marsh- pond area diked from river	The documentation form by Peter C. Petersen is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Brian Blevins and Don Moeller. \| Elimination of similar species: No whit [sic] on wing, eliminating wh-wg. Scoter. White much to limited for Black Scoter, also wings uniformly dark. Too large for Harlequin Duck. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 06:15:00/06:16:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	11
Rare bird documentation form for Surf Scoter at Winterfeld Park, 1998	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1998-12-02	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Surf Scoter at Winterfeld Park in Sioux County, IA on December 2, 1998.	Van Dyk, John, 1936-	Surf Scoter	Winterfeld Boat and Fish Area	Winterfeld Park along the north side of Rock Valley in Sioux County		The documentation form by John Van Dyk is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: I rule out any possible confusions, as follows: - White-winged Scoter has white in the wing and lacks sharp contrast between crown and face - Black Scoter has rounded forehead and lacks pale head patches - Ruddy Duck is smaller, has differently shaped bill and dark line across cheek - Female Scaups have white in the wing, differently shaped white patch at base of bill, and little contrast between crown and face. \| The original documentation form event occurred for around 20 minutes.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	11
Rare bird documentation form for White-winged Scoter at Coralville Reservoir, 1977	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1977-03-23	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two White-winged Scoters at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on March 23, 1977.	Halmi, Nicholas S.	White-winged Scoter	Coralville Lake	Coralville Reservoir about 0.5 mile up from dam	reservoir lake - Coralville Reservoir, deep portion	The documentation form by Nicholas S. Halmi is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tom Shires, Robert Osmundson, Helen Osmundson, and Rich DeCoster. \| Elimination of similar species: Other Scoters: prominent white speculum. Gadwall: different shape, black coloration of most of plumage. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:25:00/16:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	12
Rare bird documentation form for White-winged Scoter near the University Theater in Iowa City in 1977	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1977-03-26	1977-03-27	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for four White-winged Scoters near the University Theater in Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on March 26 and 27, 1977.	Halmi, Nicholas S.	White-winged Scoter	Theatre Building				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	12
Rare bird documentation form for White-winged Scoter at Coralville Reservoir, 1977	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1977-10-22	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for three White-winged Scoters at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on October 22, 1977.	Halmi, Nicholas S.	White-winged Scoter	Coralville Lake	Near sandy beach area of Coralville Reservoir, Johnson Co.	deep area of reservoir - water level fairly high	The documentation form by Nicholas S. Halmi is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Thomas H. Kent. \| Elimination of similar species: Other scoters eliminated by white on speculum; no other duck is usually black all over; many coots nearby - white bill obvious, also trailing edge of white on flapping wings and small size. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:30:00/14:40:00 and 15:20:00-15:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	12
Rare bird documentation form for White-winged Scoter at Little Wall Lake, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1979-11-10	1979-11-12	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for three White-winged Scoters at Little Wall lake in Hamilton County, IA on November 10, 1979.	Dinsmore, James J.	White-winged Scoter	Little Wall Lake	Little Wall Lake, Hamilton Co., IA	open water of freshwater lake	The documentation form by James Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Mark and Steve Dinsmore. \| Elimination of similar species: Black Scoter- these birds had white wing patches Surf Scoter- no evidence of white patch on back of head, also wing patches Double-crested Cormorant-wing patches, didn't hold bill up like cormorants do, coloration on head not like cormorant. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/10:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	12
Rare bird documentation form for White-winged Scoter north of Fort Madison in 1981	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-10-25	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for four White-winged Scoters north of Fort Madison on the Mississippi River in Lee County, IA on October 25, 1981.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	White-winged Scoter	Fort Madison				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	12
Rare bird documentation form for White-winged Scoter at Lake Anita State Park in 1981	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1981-11-06	1981-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for four White-winged Scoters at Lake Anita State Park in Cass County, IA on November 6, 1981.	Hensley, R. Craig	White-winged Scoter	Lake Anita State Park	Lake Anita State Park, one mile south of Anita, Iowa	Large, open lake	The documentation form by R. Craig Hensley is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The surf scoter and black scoter are similar. However, the specimans [sic] that I observed had the white wing patch that these two species do not have. In addition, two of the birds seen had white about their eyes, as neither of the other two have. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:20:00/08:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	12
Rare bird documentation form for White-winged Scoter at Saylorville Reservoir Dam, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1982-04-08	1982-04-12	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a White-winged Scoter at Saylorville Reservoir Dam in Polk County, IA on April 8, 1982.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	White-winged Scoter	Saylorville Dam	By Saylorville Reservoir Dam, Polk Co., Iowa	Open Reservoir above dam.	The documentation form by Joe Schaufenbuel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: No other large species of Duck female is so uniformly brown with a white speculum. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:00:00/16:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	12
Rare bird documentation form for White-winged Scoter at Booneville in 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-04-22	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a White-winged Scoter at Booneville in Dallas County, IA on April 22, 1982.	Mooney, Richard D., 1905-1997	White-winged Scoter	Booneville				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	12
Rare bird documentation form for White-winged Scoter at Saylorville Dam, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology--Societies, etc Rare birds	1982-11-15	1982-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two White-winged Scoters at Saylorville Dam in Polk County, IA on November 15, 1982.	Schaufenbuel, Joseph P.	White-winged Scoter	Saylorville Dam	Saylorville Dam, Polk Co., Iowa	Larger Reservoir, surrounded by wooded hills.	The documentation form by Joseph P. Schaufenbuel is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The uniform dark brown, with white eye and orange bill separates the birds from other two scoters. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:00:00/13:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	12
Rare bird documentation form for White-winged Scoter at Little Wall Lake, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-04-10	1983-04-11	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a White-winged Scoter at Little Wall Lake in Hamilton County, IA on April 10, 1983.	Brown, George	White-winged Scoter	Little Wall Lake	Little Wall Lake (near Jewell in S. Hamilton Co.) South end of lake near a jetty cutcrop	Dregged out open lake, approximately 1 mile long; 1/2 - 1 mile wide, 3-6' deep	The documentation form by George Brown is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Although similar in size + shape to canvasback and redhead, the bill and head were bulkier and the white wing patch was present. No obvious white marks on head and the presence of the white winged patch eliminated the surf + common scoters. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:00:00/15:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	12
Rare bird documentation form for White-winged Scoter at Coralville Reservoir, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-10-23	1983-11-29	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a White-winged Scoter at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on October 23, 1983.	Wilson, Barbara L.	White-winged Scoter	Coralville Lake	Coralville Reservoir, Iowa		The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Tanya Bray and Ross Silcock. \| Elimination of similar species: Differs from most ducks by black color, + from the other scoters by white in wings + around eye. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 14:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	12
Rare bird documentation form for White-winged Scoter at Coralville Reservoir, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-10-23	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a White-winged Scoter at Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County, IA on October 23, 1983.	Staudt, Thomas J.	White-winged Scoter	Coralville Lake	Coralville Reservoir Johnson Co.		The documentation form by Tom Staudt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: No other water fowl has the combination of white facial spot, white speculum and otherwise complete black appearance. \| The original documentation form lasted from 14:30:00 and 15:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	12