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

Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Little Gull south of Council Bluffs, 1992	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1992-04-23	1999-10-15	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Little Gull south of Council Bluffs in Pottawattamie County, IA on April 23, 1992. Includes a record review document with votes, three photographs, articles in Iowa Bird Life and American Birds, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Rose, B.J.	Little Gull	Council Bluffs	Approximately 2 miles south of Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County, Iowa. It was about 1/2 mile north of the turn-off to the North Settling Pond of Iowa Power Plant, on the west side of highway L-31 (gravel).	Flooded fields.	The documentation form by B.J. Rose forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Babs Padelford was submitted. \| Elimination of similar species: Bonaparte's Gull is larger with longer, black-tipped primaries; has a shorter hood on back of head and neck and has white underside of wings. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:15:00/14:50:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	20
Photograph of a Robin gathering nest materials	Photographs	Nest building	1928-04-23	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	A Robin gathering mud and nest materials, April 23, 1928. Photograph originally titled "Robin gathering mud and nest material." Rosene provides details on back of photograph.	Rosene, Walter, 1880-1941	American Robin					Walter M. Rosene, Sr. Papers \| MS 589	10	2
Photograph of a Mockingbird nest in a grape vine	Photographs	Birds--Nests	1929-06-25	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	The first Mockingbird nest ever found in Polk County, June 25, 1929. The nest was built in a wild grape vine on the Ed R. Fiske farm, located southwest of Des Moines. Photograph originally titled "Nest of Mockingbirds." Rosene provides details on back of photograph.	Rosene, Walter, 1880-1941	Northern Mockingbird	Polk County				Walter M. Rosene, Sr. Papers \| MS 589	10	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Long-tailed Jaeger near Lone Tree in 1907	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Birds--Identification Rare birds Zoological specimens	1908-04-01	1994-02-04	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Long-tailed Jaeger near Lone Tree in Johnson County, IA on June 15, 1907. Includes a record review document with votes, a photograph of the specimen, the original sighting record found in the publication An addition to the birds of Iowa in Auk 25:215 by R.M. Anderson seen by Charles Prizler, Homer R. Dill, and C.C. Nutting, and referenced by two other publications.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Long-tailed Jaeger	Lone Tree				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	17
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Parasitic Jaeger near Keokuk in 1896	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Birds--Identification Rare birds Zoological specimens	1907-03-01	1994-02-04	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Parasitic Jaeger near Keokuk in Lee County on October 6, 1896. Includes a record review document with votes, three photographs of the specimen, the original sighting record found in the publication Birds of Iowa by Rudolph Martin Anderson and seen by William E. Praeger and Edmonde S. Currier, and referenced by three other publications.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Parasitic Jaeger	Keokuk				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	16
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Ruff at Cone Marsh in 1940	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Birds--Identification Rare birds Zoological specimens	1941-04-01	1994-02-04	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Ruff at Cone Marsh in Louisa County, IA on May 10, 1940.Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication Ruff in Iowa in spring in Auk 58:257 by H.R. Dill and seen by W.C. Thietje, and a photograph of the specimen.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Ruff	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	9
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Red Knot at Goose Lake in 1937	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Birds--Identification Rare birds Zoological specimens	1938-04-01	1994-02-04	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Records Committee review for a Red Knot at Goose Lake in Hamilton County, IA on September 6, 1937. Includes a record review document with votes, the original sighting record found in the publication American Knot in Iowa in Auk 55:275-276 by T.G. Scott also identified by George O. Hendrickson and collected by R.L. Roudabush, and referenced by another publication.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union Records Committee	Red Knot	Anderson Goose Lake				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	1
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-headed Gull at Spirit Lake, 1999	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1999-10-01	2000-11-28	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Gull at Spirit Lake in Dickinson County, IA on October 1, 1999. Includes a record review document with votes, two photographs, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Schoenewe, Lee A.	Black-headed Gull	Spirit Lake	North Shore Spirit Lake, Dickinson Co.	Rock jetty, fishing pier + shallow bay + marsh	The documentation form by Lee A. Schoenewe forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Jim Fuller was submitted. Other observers include many unidentified observers. \| Elimination of similar species: Bonaparte's - Bill color and underwing smudging \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:20:00/13:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	21
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-headed Gull at Crandalls Beach at Spirit Lake, 1998	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1998-10-11	2000-11-24	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Black-headed Gull at Crandalls Beach at Spirit Lake in Dickinson County, IA on October 11, 1998. Includes a record review document with votes, a photograph, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Schoenewe, Lee A.	Black-headed Gull	Crandalls Beach	Crandall's Beach on Spirit Lake, Dickinson Co.	lake shore		Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	21
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-headed Gull at Jemmerson Slough, 1996	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-06-23	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Gull at Jemmerson Slough in Dickinson County, IA on June 23, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes, a photograph, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Schoenewe, Lee A.	Black-headed Gull	Jemmerson Slough Wildlife Management Area	Jemerson [sic] Slough, Dickinson County	Newly restored wetland with mudflats and raised island	The documentation form by Lee Schoenewe is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Jim Fuller and Mark Proescholdt were submitted later. Other observers include Harold White, Ed Thelen, and Tom Stone. \| Elimination of similar species: Franklin's Gulls by close comparison; Bonaparte's by head color + dark underwing \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:15:00/17:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	21
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Black-headed Gull at Spirit Lake and Kettleson Hogsback Wildlife Management Area, 1994	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-08-02	1998-06-09	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Black-headed Gull at Spirit Lake and Kettleson Hogsback Wildlife Management Area in Dickinson County, IA on August 2, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, a photograph, and thirteen documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Black-headed Gull	Kettleson Hogsback Wildlife Management Area Spirit Lake	n. end of Spirit L., Dickinson Co., IA	large lake	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore for the 11:25 AM sighting forms the basis of this record. A second form by Stephen J. Dinsmore for the 12:12 PM and 5:40PM sighting was submitted as well. Other documentation forms by Lee A. Schoenewe, Pete Ernzen, Jim Fuller, Thomas H. Kent, Peter C. Petersen, Ed Thelen, Babs Padelford, Loren Padelford, Pam Allen, Reid Allen, Beth Proescholdt, and Mark Proescholdt (two separate forms) were submitted later. Other observers include LaVonne Foote, Nancy Schoenewe, Beth Brown, Tim Schantz, Brian Blevins, Corey Blevins, Bob Livermore, Roland Barth, Kim Eckert, Russ Widner, Phil McFadden, Bill Huser, Eugene Armstrong, and Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: The combination of red bill and legs, brown hood, size, very pale gray mantle and upperwings, and black undersides to the inner primaries eliminates several similar species, including Franklin's, Laughing, Little, Bonaparte's, and Ross' gulls. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:25:00/11:42:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	21
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Common Black-headed Gull at Cherry Glen Recreation Area at Saylorville Reservoir, 1989	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-11-02	1993-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Common Black-headed Gull at Cherry Glen Recreation Area at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on November 2, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, photocopies of four photographs, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Black-headed Gull	Cherry Glen Recreation Area	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co.-off Cherry Glen Rec. Area	large reservoir	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by B.J. Rose was submitted later. Other observers include Doug Rose, Roger Rose, and Ken Lowder. \| Elimination of similar species: Because of the fairly small size and conspicuous dark spot behind each eye, the bird must have been a Bonaparte's, Little, Common Black-headed, or Ross' gull, or a kittiwake. Separation from Bonaparte's Gull is discussed above. Little Gull eliminated by its smaller size, dark bill, lack of any black color on the upperwing, and uniformly dark underside to the flight feathers. Ross' Gull eliminated by tail shape, bill size and color, and darker underwing. Both kittiwakes eliminated by bill color, lighter mantle color, and differences in wing pattern. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:17:00/16:42:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	21
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Little Gull at Big Creek Lake, 1994	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-11-14	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Little Gull at Big Creek Lake in Polk County, IA on November 14, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes, two photographs, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and nine documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Little Gull	Big Creek Lake	Big Creek Lake	large reservoir	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Jim Dinsmore, Thomas H. Kent, Ann Johnson, Jim Fuller, Mark Proescholdt, Beth Proescholdt, Ray Cummins, and Chris Edwards were submitted later. Other observers include Bob Myers, Chris Caster, Carol Thompson, Jim Sandrock, Tim Schantz, Pam Allen, Reid Allen, Fred Brink, Phil Walsh, Dick Tetrault, Hank Zaletel, Dennis Thompson, Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, Jane Clark, and many unidentified other observers. \| Elimination of similar species: gulls. The black underwings eliminated all other gulls except Ross', which has a smaller bill and an obvious wedge-shaped tail. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:52:00/13:08:00 and 16:20:00/16:44:00 on November 14, 1994.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	20
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Laughing Gull at North Overlook Beach at Red Rock Dam, 1989	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-08-19	1993-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Laughing Gull at North Overlook Beach at Red Rock Dam in Marion County, IA on August 19, 1989. Includes one record review document with votes, four photographs of the bird, analysis of the photographs, an Iowa Bird Life article, and eight documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Huser, Bill F.	Laughing Gull	North Overlook Park	L. Red Rock, Dam Site Swim Beach, Marion County, IA	Sand beach bordering open water	The documentation form by Bill Huser is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Ann Johnson, Eugene Armstrong and Eloise Armstrong, Jim Fuller, Peter C. Petersen, Thomas H. Kent, Robert Cecil, Jim Sinclair were submitted later. Other observers include Carol Thompson, Art Huser, and many unidentified other observers. \| Elimination of similar species: Heerman's gen'l coloration wrong, two-toned bill juv. too dark ventrally. Mew short bill, yellow or two-tone bill juv. two-tone bill, mottled or barred breast + flanks Mew (L.c. brachyrhynchus) bill short + two-toned 1st win. - tertials lack pale fringes Sabine's small size, distinct wing pattern, including white secondaries. Ivory all plumages generally white Black-headed Bill quite slender + two toned Bonapartes small size, bill small + slender Franklin short bill, juv underparts whitish Ring-Billed 2-tone bill in all plumages, juv spotted breast, larger \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:30:00/08:30:00 and 09:45:00/10:15:00 on August 19, 1989 and 07:15:00/07:45:00 and 08:45:00/09:45:00 on August 20, 1989.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Little Gull at Sandpiper Beach at Saylorville Reservoir, 1989	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-10-08	1996-01-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Little Gull at Sandpiper Beach at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on October 8, 1989. Includes a record review document with votes, correspondence about the request for reevaluation of record, a photograph, photocopy of two photographs, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Little Gull	Sandpiper Recreation Area	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co.-seen off Sandpiper Beach Recreation Area	seen flying over large reservoir with several Ring-billed Gulls	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Pam Allen and Reid Allen were submitted later. \| Elimination of similar species: The bird was obviously too small to be one of the larger gulls, like a Ring-billed or a Herring gull. The very pale mantle, dark spot behind each eye, and lack of black on the top of the primaries eliminates Franklin's and Laughing gulls. The black underside of the flight feathers, pale gray mantle and wings, white wingtips, and rounded wings eliminates Bonaparte's and Sabine's gulls and kittiwakes. The square tail and wing pattern eliminates Ross' Gull. The smaller size, black underside of the flight feathers, lack of a white "wedge" on the upper surface of the outer primaries, rounder wings, and lack of black on the upper surface of the primaries eliminates Common Black-headed Gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:34:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	20
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Laughing Gull at Runnells Area, 1996	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-08-17	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Laughing Gull at Runnells Wildlife Area in Marion County, IA on August 17, 1996. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, a photograph, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Laughing Gull	Red Rock Wildlife Area	Runnells W.A., Marion Co., IA	large lake	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Ray Cummins was submitted later. Other observers include Jim Sinclair. \| Elimination of similar species: The combination of size, brown coloration, and bill and leg color eliminated other gull species. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:00:00/10:35:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Laughing Gull at Sandpiper Beach at Saylorville Reservoir, 1996	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1996-05-10	2000-11-22	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Laughing Gull at Sandpiper Beach at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on May 10, 1996. Includes one record review document with votes, a photograph, correspondence about bird sighting, an Iowa Bird Life Article, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Laughing Gull	Sandpiper Recreation Area	Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co., IA	resting on beach with other gulls	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 clearly one of the "hooded" gulls. The combination of size, mantle color, and upperwing pattern eliminates all of the hooded gulls except for Franklin's Gull. The larger size, less obvious white eye crescents, larger and longer bill, and extensively dark tips to the underwings eliminated Franklin's Gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 12:45:00/13:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Laughing Gull at Runnells Wildlife Area, 1995	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-09-03	2000-11-20	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Laughing Gull at Runnells Wildlife Area in Marion County, IA on September 3, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes, a photograph, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and three documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Laughing Gull	Red Rock Wildlife Area	1 mi e. of Swan, Marion Co. (Runnells W.A.)	shallow pool of water	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Jim Sinclair and Thomas H. Kent were submitted. Other observers include Jim Fuller. \| Elimination of similar species: The only species this bird could be confused with was Franklin's Gull. The larger size, bill size, and head and wing patterns all eliminated Franklin's Gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:00:00/12:24:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Laughing Gull at Saylorville Dam, 1995	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1995-05-11	2000-11-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Laughing Gull at Saylorville Dam in Polk County, IA on May 11, 1995. Includes a record review document with votes, three photographs, an article in Iowa Bird Life, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Allen, Pam	Laughing Gull	Saylorville Dam	Polk Co., below Saylorville Dam Spillway		The documentation form by Pam Allen forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Thomas H. Kent was submitted. Other observers include Gordon Brown and Reid Allen. \| Elimination of similar species: Franklin's Gull is smaller and has white edges to its wing tips. The black cap does not extend as far down the back of the neck like the Laughing Gull. The call is much different. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:15:00/07:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Laughing Gull at Rathbun Reservoir, 1994	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1994-08-06	1996-04-25	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Laughing Gull at Rathbun Reservoir in Appanoose County, IA on August 6, 1994. Includes a record review document with votes, a photocopy of a photograph, and two documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Johnson, Thomas N.	Laughing Gull	Rathbun Lake	Lake Rathbun	Sandbar	The documentation form by Tom Johnson is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Another documentation form by Jim Fuller was submitted later. Other observers include Dot Cornett, Chuck Fuller, and Mary Montgomery. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] Bill was slimmer than ring bill gull. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:30:00/14:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Laughing Gull at Saylorville Dam, 1993	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1993-09-18	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Laughing Gull at Saylorville Dam in Polk County, IA on September 18, 1993. Includes a record review document with votes, a photograph, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Johnson, Ann	Laughing Gull	Saylorville Dam	Below Saylorville Dam, Polk County, IA	Fast moving river with many small fish	The documentation form by Ann Johnson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The body and bill structure eliminated all but hooded gulls and the brown plumage indicated a first year bird. Size close to Ring-billed, in addition to plumage already described, eliminated some of the smaller hooded gulls. The most likely candidate for confusion would be the Franklin's Gull. Juvenile Franklin's shows a hooded pattern early in development rather than a brown wash on the head. Franklin's tail band would also be incomplete with white feathers showing on the outer edge. It would also show fewer dark primaries, with the inner flight feathers more approximating the mantle and inner wing color. No other small gull has this characteristic. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:45:00/12:10:00 and 15:30:00/14:00:00 [sic].	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Laughing Gull at Red Rock Dam, 1992	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1992-07-21	1994-10-18	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Laughing Gull at Red Rock Dam in Marion County, IA on July 21, 1992. Includes a record review document with votes, two photographs, and five documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Laughing Gull	Red Rock Dam	Red Rock Reservoir, Marion Co., IA	spillway and river below dam	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the earliest and the one that forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Ann Johnson, Jim Fuller, Pam Allen, and Mark Proescholdt were submitted later. Other observers include Russ Widner, David Arbour, Reid Allen, Tim Schantz, Jane Fuller, and many unidentified other observers. \| Elimination of similar species: The bird was smaller and more brown than the ring-bills of the year. The other features noted above make the juvenile Laughing Gull an easy identification. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 07:45:00/08:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Laughing Gull at Red Rock Reservoir, 1991	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1991-07-17	1995-07-08	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for a Laughing Gull at Red Rock Reservoir in Marion County, IA on July 17, 1991. Includes a record review document with votes, an article in Iowa Bird Life, a photocopy of a photograph, and six documentation forms submitted to the committee.	Proescholdt, Mark	Laughing Gull	Lake Red Rock	Red Rock Reservoir - (Marion Co.)	Mudflats near retreating water	The documentation form by Mark Proescholdt forms the basis of this record. Other documentation forms by Ann Johnson, Jim Fuller, Tanya E. Bray, Barbara L. Wilson, and Randall Pinkston were submitted. Other observers include Ross Silcock, Tim Schantz, Eugene Armstrong, Eloise Armstrong, and many unidentified other observers. \| Elimination of similar species: A Franklin's Gull juvenile or first-winter bird has a clear-cut blackish half-hood, a smaller bill, smaller size, and a white forehead. A juvenile Mew gull is much darker, has a thin bill, and light grayish legs. Juvenile Herring and California Gulls are much larger - larger than Ring-Billed Gulls - and lack the bright white at the base of the tail. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 09:00:00/09:15:00 and 11:00:00/12:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting of Laughing Gull at Oak Grove Beach at Saylorville Reservoir, 1990	Administrative records Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1990-04-13	1993-07-17	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review of a Laughing Gull at Oak Grove Beach at Saylorville Reservoir in Polk County, IA on April 13, 1990. Includes a record review document with votes, a photocopy of a photo, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Laughing Gull	Oak Grove Recreation Area	Oak Grove Beach, Saylorville Reservoir, Polk Co., IA		The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Eugene Armstrong and Eloise Armstrong. \| Elimination of similar species: On the basis of the dark hood, size, and dark gray mantle, all gulls except for Laughing and Franklin's gulls can be removed from consideration. I will admit that I was skeptical that a Laughing Gull could show up in Iowa on such an early spring date; most interior records are from May-June. But, given the evidence, I am convinced that this bird was indeed a Laughing Gull. The size of this bird, nearly that of a ring-billed gull, favors Laughing Gull. The bill shape and size, length of the legs, wing pattern, and extent of the eye crescents also favor Laughing Gull. An adult Franklin's Gull can be eliminated by the lack of a white bar separating the gray inner wing from the black wingtip. One year-old Franklin's Gulls, however, may show a wing pattern like that of this bird. But, according to Kaufman (1990), such a Franklin's Gull should show some white flecks on the hood, and would be most likely encountered in late spring and summer. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:48:00/11:34:00 and 12:26:00/13:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18
Records Committee review for rare bird sighting for Laughing Gull at Mississippi River Pool 18 in Des Moines County, 1989	Administrative records Clippings (information artifacts) Field notes Photographs	Bird watching Ornithology Ornithology--Societies, etc	1989-09-09	1993-08-05	Rare birds documentation form	Records Committee review for two Laughing Gulls at Mississippi River Pool 18 in Des Moines County, IA on September 9, 1989. Includes one record review document with votes, two photographs, analysis of the photograph, an Iowa Bird Life article, and a documentation form submitted to the committee.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Laughing Gull	Pool 18	Mississippi River, 2 south and 5 east of Kingston, Des Moines Co., Iowa.	Mississippi River several miles above dam.	The documentation form by Thomas H. Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Louise Augustine and Dick Tetrault. \| Elimination of similar species: The juvenile bird is distinctive and I was able to pick it out quickly. When we first saw the second-year bird, we considered both Franklin's and Laughing gulls. A juvenile or first-winter Franklin's would not have uniform gray in the wing coverts. A second-summer or second-winter Franklin's Gull would not have a full tail band. The bill shape also favors Laughing Gull. The bird appears to be in second-winter plumage, except for the tail band which fits better with first-summer plumage. I was impressed with the soft grayness of the bird and its similarity the birds I photographed recently in North Carolina. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/11:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	10	18