Report of the Records Committee for 1995

Thomas H. Kent

The Records Committee reviewed 75 records from 1995. Of these, 65 were accepted and 10 were not. Species added to the state list were White Ibis, Fish Crow MacGillivray's Warbler, Spotted Towhee, and Bullock's Oriole. In addition to the1995 records, two previous Fish Crow records were re-evaluated and accepted. Rufous-sided Towhee was split into Eastern and Spotted towhees, both of which are regular in Iowa. Northern Oriole was split into Baltimore and Bullock's orioles. One 1995 record and one old record of Bullock's Oriole were accepted.

Old records reviewed included one Red-naped Sapsucker and four Bullock's Orioles. Only one of the Bullock's Oriole records was accepted. A previously-reviewed Swallow-tailed Kite record was accepted based on confirmation of a specimen.

At its meeting of 22 October 1995, status changes for the next edition of the state list were considered.

Committee members for 1995 with years in which their terms expire were: Tanya E. Bray (1996), Raymond L. Cummins (1997), Francis L. Moore (1998), Ann M. Johnson (1999), W. Ross Silcock (2000), Tim Schantz (2001), and Thomas H. Kent (secretary, appointed by the committee). Tim Schantz moved from the state and resigned from the committee during the year. Bob Cecil served as a substitute for Schantz. Chris Edwards was nominated to fill Schantz's term, and Jim Fuller was nominated to fill a regular term beginning in 1996.

The four-digit number (year and sequence number) assigned to each record reviewed by the Records Committee is included for future reference. For old records not previously reviewed, the year is the year of first review and the sequence number is two letters. Records are classified as follows: A = Accepted (-S = specimen, -P = photograph, -R = recording, -D = documentation, -O = origin uncertain) and NA = Not Accepted. In order to be Accepted, a record must receive 7 votes on the initial review or 6 votes on a subsequent review. The subcategories A-S, A-P, and A-R indicate that physical evidence supports the identification, and records are subclassified based on a majority vote. References to IBL are the page of the Field Reports in Iowa Bird Life where the record is cited. P- numbers refer to the IOU Photo File entry number. Published notes and previous citations may contain more details. An * indicates a previously uncited documentation.

1995 RECORDS ACCEPTED

Red-throated Loon: 22 Apr at Little Wall L. in Hamilton Co. (95-03, IBL 65:60, Proescholdt 1996); 29 Oct at Saylorville Res. in Polk Co. (95-27, IBL 66:17); 11 Nov at Pleasant Creek L. in Linn Co. (95 28, IBL 66:17); and 16,17 Nov at Saylorville Res. (95-29, IBL 66:17).

Pacific Loon: 26 Oct at Twelve Mile L. in Union Co. (95-30, IBL 66:17), 28 Oct at Little Wall L. in Hamilton Co. (95-31, IBL 66:17); 29 Oct at Rathbun Res. in Appanoose Co. (95-32, IBL 66:17); 31 Oct at Pleasant Creek L. (95-33, IBL 66:17); and 21 Nov at L Icaria in Adams Co. (95-34, IBL 66:17).

Clark's Grebe: 12 Nov at Pleasant Creek L. in Linn Co. (95-35, IBL 66:17).

White Ibis: Iowas' first record of this species was a cooperative immature bird at Coralville Res. In Johnson Co. from 5 to 16 Sep (95-61, P-0464, IBL 66:18, 66(1) cover).

Glossy Ibis: 2 adults with 2 White-faced Ibis at Riverton A. in Fremont Co from 18 to 22 May were photographed (95-05, P-0452, IBL 65:70, Kent et al 1995).

White-faced Ibis: 25 Apr at Blue L. in Monona Co. (96-06, P-0448, IBL 65:70), 14 May in Warren Co.(95-07, IBL 65:70), and 18 May at Riverton A. in Fremont Co. (95-08, P-0451, IBL 65:70). Eurasian Wigeon: 27 Oct at De Soto N.W.R. in Harrison Co. (95-86, IBL 66:18).

Common Eider: A female of the Pacific race, Somateria mollissema v-nigra, at Red Rock Res. In Marion Co. from 27 Jan to March or April provides only the second accepted record for lowa (95-01, IBL 65:47, 71).

Barrow's Goldeneye: 9 Dec at Red Rock Res. in Marion Co. (95-73, IBL 66:55) and 18 Dec at Montrose in Lee Co. (95:70, IBL 66:55).

Mississippi Kite: Documentations for the birds at Clive in Polk Co. were from 13, 18 May (95-10, IBL 65:71) and 22 Aug (95-37, IBL 66:19). The status of this species was charged to Regular, which means that in the future the committee will only review unusual records; however, birds away from the regular location in Polk County should be documented for review by Field Reports editors.

Ferruginous Hawk: A most unusual dark morph bird was seen well and described in detail at Mark Twain N.W.R in Louisa Co. on 22 Mar (95 11, *James R. Mattson, IBL 65:72). .

Whimbrel: 16 May north of Bartlett in Mills Co. (95-12 IBL 65:73); 24 May in Hamilton Co. (95-13, IBL 65:73, Kent and Fuller 1996); 27 Aug at Saylorviille Res. in Polk Co. (95-38, IBL 66:20); and 1 Oct at Bjorkboda M. in Hamilton Co. (95-39, IBL 66:20).

Long-billed Curlew: 22 May at Black Hawk L. in Sac Co. (95-14, IBL 65:73).

Red Knot: Two were adults, one in alternate plumage at Rathbun Res. in Appanoose Co. on 22 Jul (95-40, IBL 65:98, 66:20) and one in basic plumage at Saylorville Res. in Polk Co. on 1 Sep (95-41, IBL 66:20, Dinsmore 1996a). Two were juveniles, one at Rathbun Res. on 14 Aug (95-62, P-0462, IBL 66:20) and one at Saylorville Res. from 29 Sep to 3 Oct (9542, IBL 66:20, Dinsmore 1996a).

Ruff: All three were females: 1 Apr at Riverton A. in Fremont Co. (95-15, IBL 65:73); 22 Apr in Ringgold Co. (95-16, IBL 65:73, Sinclair 1996); and from 21 to 26 Aug at Coralville Res. in Johnson Co. (95-63, P-0463, IBL 66:21, Kent 1996a).

Red Phalarope: Records were from Saylorville Res. in Polk Co. on 19 Sep (95-44, IBL 66:21, Dinsmore 1996b) and from 22 to 26 Oct (95-45, IBL 66:21, Dinsmore 1996b).

Jaeger species: An immature jaeger was seen briefly at L. Manawa in Pottawattamie Co. on 24 Sep (95-46, IBL 66:21).

Laughing Gull: an adult on 11 May at Saylorville Res. in Polk Co. (95-17, P-0449, IBL 65:73, Kent 1995); a first-alternate/second-basic bird at Saylorville Res. on 13 Aug (95-47, IBL 66:21 ); a basic adult at Runnells W.A. from 3 to 6 Sep (95-64, P 0478, IBL 66:21, Dinsmore 1996c); a first-basic bird in Scott Co. on 30 Sep (9548, IBL 66:21 ); and a basic adult at Saylorville Res. on 19, 20 Oct (9549, IBL 66:21, Dinsmore 1996c).

California Gull: A first-basic bird was at Runnells W.A. and Red Rock Res. in Marion Co. from 3 to 6 Sep (95 65, P-0477, IBL 66:21, Dinsmore and Sinclair 1996).

Iceland Gull: A first-basic bird was at Saylorville Res. in Polk Co. from 17 to 30 Nov (95-66, P-0473, P-0479, IBL 66:21, Dinsmore 1996d).

Black-legged Kittiwake: A first-alternate/second-basic bird at L. Manawa in Pottawattamie Co. from 24 to 28 Sep (9547, P-0466, P-0467, P-0472, IBL 66:21-22, Padelford and Padelford 1996) was the oldest bird and earliest fall record for Iowa. First-basic birds were at Saylorville Res. in Polk Co. on 19 Nov (95-53, IBL 66:22) and at Montrose in Lee Co. on 18 Dec (95-71, IBL 66:57). This species is now Regular. Only birds not in first-basic plumage or not from fall/winter will be reviewed, but details of all sighting should still be provided to Field Reports editors.

Sabine's Gull: All juveniles: 1 at Terra L. in Polk Co. from 6 to 8 Sep (95-54, IBL 66:22); 1 to 2 at Saylorville Res. in Polk Co. from 14 Sep to 8 Oct (95-55, IBL 66:22, Dinsmore 1996e); 1 to 2 at Black Hawk L. in Sac Co. from 27 Sep to 14 Oct (95-56, IBL 66:22); and 1 at Pool 13 in Clinton Co. on 22 Oct (95 57, IBL 66:22).

Ruby-throated Hummingbird: An immature male was at a feeder in Cedar Rapids in Linn Co. on 16 Nov (95-68, P-0475, IBL 66:22).

Selasphorus sp.: An immature bird was at a feeder in Cedar Rapids in Linn Co. until 25 Nov (95-69, P-0474, P-0475, IBL 66:22). It was captured and taken to a greenhouse, but died on 22 Dec. The specimen is still under review.

Fish Crow: From 1 to 4 birds were at Mark Twain N.W.R. in Louisa Co. from 21 to 26 Apr (95-18, *Thomas H. Kent, *Ann Johnson, *Jim Fuller, IBL 65:74). These birds, along with two previous records (see below), were accepted based on the descriptions of their calls.

Black-billed Magpie: One documented in western Plymouth Co. on 19 Nov (95-72, IBL 66:23) was seen by landowners before and several weeks after that.

Mountain Bluebird: Two males were near Spirit L. in Dickinson Co. on 24 Mar (95-19, IBL 65:75, Thelen 1996), and another was in O'Brien Co. on 12 Apr (95-58, IBL 65:99).

MacGillivray's Warbler: A bird seen briefly at Eagle City County Park in Hardin Co. on 2 Jun had bold white eye crescents, black around the eye, and black on the upper breast (95-25, *Mark Proescholdt, IBL 65:100). Although these are the features of an adult male MacGillivray's Warbler, Mourning Warblers occasionally show some of these features, and two expert consultants disagreed as to whether extralimital MacGillivray's Warblers should be accepted without the diagnostic wing minus tail measurements. Those interpreting the state list should realize that this species is included on the basis of a sight record.

Lazuli Bunting: One was at a rural homestead near Spencer in Clay Co. on 29 May (95-20, IBL 65:77)

Golden-crowned Sparrow: Three were at a rural feeder in Hamilton Co. for about two weeks in early May (95-24, P-0459, IBL 65:77).

Chestnut-collared Longspur: 12 Apr in Sioux Co. (95-21, P-0447, IBL 65:77, Field Notes 49:260, Kent 1996b) and 12 Apr in Lyon Co. (95-22, IBL 65:77, Kent 1996b).

Bullock's Oriole: A male on 3 Sep at Red Rock Res. in Marion Co. (95-59, IBL 66:25).

Pine Grosbeak: 27 Feb to 2 Mar at Spencer in Clay Co. (95-23, P-0446, IBL 65:78).

Hoary Redpoll: 23 Dec near Spirit L. in Dickinson Co. (95-75, IBL 66:60).

1995 RECORDS NOT ACCEPTED

Anhinga: There were two reports that were likely immature Double-crested Cormorants (95-04, 9526).

Common Eider: A brief and incomplete look at a female duck at Saylorville Res. on 26 Mar could have been the bird that was at Red Rock Res., but the identification was considered inconclusive (95-09, IBL 65:71).

Gyrfalcon: A bird seen briefly at a great distance was considered inconclusive (95-02, IBL 65:48).

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper: The field marks seen at a great distance were judged to be inconclusive (95-43, IBL 66:21).

Mew Gull: An apparent adult at a very early date was seen briefly by one observer (95-50. IBL 66:21). The description of a first-year bird was not conclusive (95-51, IBL 66:21).

Lesser Black-backed Gull: The committee took a conservative view of an apparent adult dark-mantled gull seen at 1.5 miles (95-52, IBL 66-21).

Eastern Meadowlark: The identification of a winter meadowlark was based on lack of yellow cheek color (95-74). This field mark may be absent in mid-winter when birds are in fresh plumage, and becomes apparent later as feathers wear.

Pine Grosbeak: A secondhand documentation gave the features of this species (95-60, IBL 66:25). The committee decided, as a matter of principle, that there was no way to judge bias and prompting when a documentation is written in the hand of second person. Birders should make every effort to encourage observers to write notes or documentations and not to prompt or bias their efforts.

OLD RECORDS REVIEWED FOR FIRST TIME

Red-naped Sapsucker: A previously unreviewed published report (Youngworth 1966) was based on a red nape, which is not a totally diagnostic field mark (95-AA). Observers of "red-naped" birds should record the pattern of white on the back and the distribution of red on the throat and its relation the black malar stripe (Kaufman 1990).

Bullock's Oriole: There are no old records and only a few recent records of this one-time species that was lumped with Baltimore Oriole (as Northern Oriole) from 1973 to 1995 (American Ornithologists' Union 1973,1975). Four documentations that were on file were reviewed. A male on 12 May 1993 at Clemens in Marshall Co. (95-AD, 'Holly Humpal, IBL 63:80) was Accepted (see also 1995 record). Females at Cedar Falls on 20 Dec 1981 (95-AB, P-0038, IBL 52:28) and at Maysville in Scott Co. on 21 Nov 1987 (95-AE, IBL 58:23) were Not Accepted, but may be reconsidered as more information becomes available on identification of winter females of these two previously lumped species. Another oriole that could have been an immature male, a hybrid, or even a completely different species was Not Accepted (95-AC, IBL 63:52).

OLD RECORDS RECONSIDERED

Swallow-tailed Kite: The existence of a specimen at the Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology (#201,642) taken on 25 Aug 1872 at Creston in Union Co. was confirmed (94-AE, letter from Raymond A. Paynter Jr. to Thomas H. Kent, IBL 65:82).

Fish Crow: Two previous records were changed to Accepted: 8 May 1991 at Big Sand Mound Preserve in Muscatine Co. (91-23, *Tim Brush, IBL 61:94,62:71) and 25 Apr 1994 at Big Timber in Louisa Co. (94-14, *Kelly McKay, IBL 64:77, 65:82). The problem with Fish Crow records is that the committee must rely on the observers description of calls. With records from three years in the same county by observers experienced with this species, the committee voted, with one dissenting vote, to accept these records.

LITERATURE CITED

American Ornithologists' Union. 1973. Fortieth supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union check-list of North American birds. Auk 90:411-419.

American Ornithologists' Union. 1995. Thirty-second supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union check-list of North American birds. Auk 112:819-830.

Dinsmore, S. J. 1996a. Red Knots at Saylorville Reservoir. Iowa Bird Life 66:114-115.

Dinsmore, S. J. 1996b. Red Phalaropes at Saylorville Reservoir. Iowa Bird Life 66:113-114.

Dinsmore, S. J. 1996c. Two Laughing Gulls in central Iowa. Iowa Bird Life 66:111.

Dinsmore, S. J. 1996d. Iceland Gull at Saylorville Reservoir Iowa Bird Life 66:66-67.

Dinsmore, S. J. 1996e. Sabine's Gulls at Saylorville Reservoir. Iowa Bird Life 66:112.

Dinsmore, S. J., and J. Sinclair. 1996. California Gull at Runnells Wildlife Area. Iowa Bird Life 66:110.

Kaufman, K. 1990. Advanced Birding. Houghton Mifflin, Boston.

Kent, T. H. 1995. Laughing Gull at Saylorville Reservoir. Iowa Bird Life 65:102.

Kent, T. H. 1996a. Ruff at Coralville Reservoir. Iowa Bird Life 66:112-113.

Kent, T. H. 1996b. Chestnut-collared Longspurs in Sioux and Lyon counties. Iowa Bird Life 66:61-63.

Kent, T. H., and J. L. Fuller. 1996. Whimbrel in Hamilton County. Iowa Bird Life 66:29.

Kent, T. H., J. L. Fuller, and A. R. Tetrault. 1995. Glossy Ibis in Fremont County. Iowa Bird Life 65:87-88.

Padelford, B., and L. Padelford. 1996. Black-legged Kittiwake in Pottawattamie County. Iowa Bird Life 66:115.

Proescholdt, M. 1996. Red-throated Loon at Little Wall Lake. Iowa Bird Life 66:64-65.

Sinclair, J. 1996. Ruff in Ringgold County. Iowa Bird Life 66:65-66.

Thelen, E. 1996. Mountain Bluebirds in Dickinson County. Iowa Bird Life 66:67-68.

Youngworth, W. 1966. The Red-naped Sapsucker ? at Sioux City. Iowa Bird Life 36:52.

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