Report of the Records Committee for 1996

Thomas H. Kent

The Records Committee reviewed 76 records from 1996. Of these, 58 were accepted and 18 were not. Neotropic Cormorant was added to the state list. In addition two records from previous years were evaluated

Committee members for 1996 with years in which their terms expire were: Raymond L. Cummins (1997), Francis L. Moore (1998), Ann M. Johnson (1999), W. Ross Silcock (2000), Chris Edwards (2001), James L. Fuller (2002), and Thomas H. Kent (secretary, appointed by the committee). Matthew C. Kenne was nominated to fill a regular term beginning in 1997.

All committee business was transacted by mail. In addition to reviewing all records of casual and accidental species, the committee reviewed more documentations of unusually early or late or out-of-season birds than in past years.

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.

1996 RECORDS ACCEPTED

Red-throated Loon: 19 Apr south of Sioux Center in Sioux Co. (96 09, IBL 66:100, Van Dyk 1997); 27 Nov at Red Rock Res. in Marion Co. (96-39, IBL 67:19).

Pacific Loon: 11 Oct at Rathbun Res. (96-19, IBL 67:19); 8, 7, and 18 Nov at Red Rock Res. (96:42, IBL 67:19); and 5 Nov at Saylorville Res. (9641, IBL 67:19).

Brown Pelican: 4 Nov at Lock and Dam 18 in Des Moines Co. (9643, IBL 67:19, Fuller 1997, Kleen 1997).

Neotropic Cormorant: 4 May at Little River R.A. in Decatur Co. (96-10, P-0505, IBL 66:100).

White-faced lbis: 5 to 13 May at Snake Creek M. in Greene Co. (96-28, P-0508, IBL 66:101); 20 May at Blue L in Monona Co. (96-11, IBL 66:101); 25 May at Errington M. in Polk Co. (96-12, IBL 66:101); 3 June at DU Marsh in Clay Co. (96-32, IBL 66:131); and 27 Jun at Sheldon Basin in Fremont Co. (96-33, IBL 66:131).

Brant: 29 Nov at Swan L. in Carroll Co. (96-69, *Russ Behrens

Rough-legged Hawk 31 May south of Liscomb in Marshall Co. (96-13, IBL 66:102).

Snowy Plover: 3 May at Saylorville Res. (96-14, P-0504, IBL 66:102, Dinsmore 1997a).

Black-necked Stilt: 18 and 19 May south of Ainsworth in Washington Co. (96-15, P-0501, IBL 66:103, Proescholdt 1997).

Whimbrel: 17 May at Riverton A. in Fremont Co. (96-29, IBL 68:103).

Red Knot: 25 Aug at Union Slough N.W. R. in Kossuth Co. (96:48, IBL 67:21, Kenne 1997).

Buff-breasted Sandpiper: 29 Mar at Cone M. in Louisa Co. (96-66, IBL 66:103).

Ruff: 10 May south of Grimes in Polk Co. (96-17, IBL 66:103, Engebretsen 1997).

Red Phalarope: 6 Sep at Union Slough N.W.R. in Kossuth Co. (96-50, IBL 67:22); 13 and 14 Oct at Saylorville Res. (96-51, P-0521, IBL 67:22); and 8 Nov at Spirit L in Dickinson co. (96-52, P-0518, IBL 67:22).

Jaeger species 17 Nov at Spirit L. in Dickinson Co. (96-53, IBL 67:22).

Pomarine Jaeger: 10 to 22 Nov at Saylorville Res. in Polk Co. (96-54, P-0526, IBL 67.22, Dinsmore 1997b) and 16 to 30 Nov at Red Rock Res. (96-55, IBL 6722, Dinsmore 1997b). At least 3 birds were present at each site and may have been the same birds.

Laughing Gull: 17 Aug at Runnells A. and 5 Sep at Red Rock Res. in Marion Co. (96-56, P-0525, IBL 67:22).

Little Gull: a juv. from 21 to 22 Apr at Black Hawk L in Sac Co. (96-18, IBL 66:104).

Black-headed Gull: an ad. in alt plumage from 23 Jun to 20 Jul at Jemmerson Sl. in Dickinson Co. (96-34, P-0515, IBL 66:133).

Mew Gull: an ad. on 29 Nov at Saylorville Res. (96-58, IBL 67:22, Dinsmore 1997c).

California Gull: 1 molting to 2nd winter plumage on 6 Sep at Spirit L in Dickinson Co. (96-59, IBL 67:22).

Iceland Gull: 1 in 1st winter (basic) plumage on 5 Jan at Davenport in Scott Co. (96-01, IBL 66:57).

Lesser Black-backed Gull: 1 in 1st winter (basic) plumage on 27 Nov at Red Rock Res. in Marion Co. (96-61, IBL 67:22).

Sabine's Gull: 1 juv. on 2 O Oct at Spirit L. in Dickinson Co. (96-62, P-0518, IBL 67:23);1 juv. on 6 Oct at Black Hawk L. in Sac Co. 96-63, IBL 67:23); and 1 ad. on 24 Oct at Red Rock Res. (96-64, IBL 67-23).

Great Gray Owl: 11 to 26 Feb at Big M. in Butler Co. (96-02, P-0480, IBL 66(2) cover, IBL 66:57); 17 Feb east of Wellsburg in Grundy Co. (road-kill, 96-37, IBL 66:57); 1 Mar at Des Moines in Polk Co.(96-26, Iowa State Univ. specimen #2643, P 0503, IBL 66:107); and 10 Mar south of Lucas in Fayette Co. (96-38, P-0517, IBL 66:104).

Rufous Hummingbird: 21 to 23 Aug at Spirit L. in Dickinson Co. (96-65, P-0520, IBL 67:23).

Plnyon Jay: 30 Oct 1996 to 22 Mar 1997 north of Boone in Boone Co. (96-66, P-0529, P-0543, IBL 67:23, Crim and Crim 1997).

Clark's Nutcracker: 20 Dec near Pony Creek P. in Mills Co. (96-71, P-0532, IBL 67:61, IBL 67(2) cover).

Mountain Bluebird: 12 Mar at Hidden Bridge W.A. in Lyon Co. (96-22, IBL 66:105).

Cape May Warbler: 15 Dec at Indianola in Warren Co. (96-72, P-0540, IBL 67:62).

Palm Warbler: 9 Dec near Boone in Boone Co. (96-73, IBL 67 62).

Western Tanager: 23 May east of Spirit L. in Dickinson Co. (96-23, IBL 66:107).

Lazuli Bunting: 16 May at Shenandoah in Page Co. (96-31, IBL 66:107), and 1 and 2 Jun at Little Sioux W.A. in Clay Co. (96-35, IBL 66:136).

Lark Sparrow: 20 Dec north of Newell in Buena Vista Co. (96-74, *Ed Thelen, IBL 67:62).

Savannah Sparrow: 29 Dec at Trautman Res. in Marshall Co. (96-75, IBL 67:62).

White-crowned Sparrow: 23 Jun at Cedar Rapids in Linn Co. (96 36, IBL 66:136).

Pine Grosbeak: 22 Dec at Saylorville Res. in Polk Co. (96-76, IBL 67:55, 56).

Hoary Redpoll: 3 to 12 Feb near Norwalk in Warren Co. (96-04, P-0496, IBL 66:60); 4 Feb north of Iowa City in Johnson Co. (96-06, IBL 66:60), and 28 Feb at Ames in Story Co. (96 08, IBL 66:60).

1996 RECORDS NOT ACCEPTED

Great Cormorant: A brief view was not enough to identify an extremely unlikely vagrant (96-44).

Anhinga: A bird circling high overhead (9645, IBL 67:19) appeared to be this species. Three records of soaring birds in Minnesota from the 1980s that had been accepted as Anhingas were later rejected when soaring Double-crested Cormorants were observed to fan their tails, hold their necks extended, and to appear small-headed and long-tailed (Eckert 1989).

Gyrfalcon: A brief view and differing opinions was not enough to be conclusive on this difficult-to identify species (94-46, IBL 67:21).

Greater Prairie-Chicken: 6 birds flushed from a grassy area in late summer at a location where this species has not been reported to be nesting were not accepted on a split vote (96-47, IBL 67:21).

Laughing Gull: Committee members were not able to identify a gull conclusively from a photograph alone (96-30, P-0513, IBL 66:104).

Black-headed Gull: A brief view of a gull flying away was not considered conclusive (96-57, IBL 67:22).

California Gull: The description of a gull was not considered conclusive (96-60, IBL 67:22).

Iceland Gull: Two reports were not accepted (96-19, IBL 66:104 and 96-70, IBL 67:60). These records may be correct, but, for this species, the committee tends to be conservative and require good views and complete description.

Fish Crow: Two reports were not accepted (96-20, IBL 66:105 and 96-21, IBL 66:105). One was reported by only one of several persons present, and the other was a very brief encounter. The committee would like to have recordings, a specimen, or repeated encounters at one location in order to confirm this species' presence in lowa.

Bridled Titmouse: A drawing of a bird at a feeder depicted this species (96-03, IBL 66:57). Although the bird was said to be present for two weeks, it was not seen by active birders and the information about it was secondhand. This species is not a vagrant north of its range, which in the United States is limited to Arizona and New Mexico. The committee would like information on bird traffic from Mexico.

Black-headed Grosbeak: Two reports of females (96-24, 96-25, IBL 66:107) were not accepted. Female grosbeaks are extremely hard to identify.

Le Conte's Sparrow: A winter report was plausible (96-27, IBL 66:58), but not accepted on a split vote.

Smith's Longspur: Both the date and plumage relative to the date were inconsistent with this species (96-67, IBL 67:26).

Brewer's Blackbird: An early fall report (96-68, IBL 67:26) of a species that is difficult to identify was not convincing to all members of the committee.

Hoary Redpoll: Two reports were likely correct (96-05,96-07, IBL 66:60) but lacked essential details present in the accepted reports.

OLD RECORDS REVIEWED FOR FIRST TIME

Black-necked Stilt: 1 bird north of Round L. in Harrison Co. was photographed by 'Joel Jorgensen on 25 May 1991 (96-AA, P-0524). Although the image is small, the bird is easily identified.

Skua species: A photograph from 1995 (96-AB) remains under review.

LITERATURE CITED

Crim, L., and G. Crim.1997. Pinyon Jay in Boone County. Iowa Bird Life 67:64

Dinsmore, S. J. 1997a. Snowy Plover at Saylorville Reservoir. Iowa Bird Life 67:64.

Dinsmore, S. J. 1997b. A late fall influx of Pomarine Jaegers in Iowa. Iowa Bird Life 67:94-96.

Dinsmore, S. J. 1997c. Another Mew Gull at Saylorville Reservoir. Iowa Bird Life 67:66.

Eckert, K. 1989. Proceedings of the Minnesota Ornithological Records Committee. Loon 61:10-13.

Engebretsen, B. 1997. Ruff in Polk County. Iowa Bird Life 67:96.

Fuller, J. 1997. Brown Pelican in Des Moines County. Iowa Bird Life 67:99.

Kenne, M. C. 1997. Red Knots at Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge. Iowa Bird Life 67:97-98.

Kleen, V. M. 1997. WOW! What a day! Meadowlark 6:45-46.

Proescholdt, M. 1997. Black-necked Stilts in Washington County. Iowa Bird Life 67:98.

Van Dyk, J. 1997. Red-throated Loon in northwestern Iowa. Iowa Bird Life 67:97.

© Iowa Ornithologists’ Union