Report of the Records Committee for 1997

Thomas H. Kent

The Records Committee reviewed 66 records from 1997. Of these, 56 were accepted and 8 were not. Eurasian Collared-Dove and White-winged Dove were added to the state list. In addition, 1 old record was evaluated for the first time, 4 old records were re-evaluated, and 1 old record from 1996 was completed.

Committee members for 1996 with years in which their terms expire were: Francis L. Moore (1998), Ann M. Johnson (1999), W. Ross Silcock (2000), Chris Edwards (2001), James L. Fuller (2002), Matthew C. Kenne (2003), and Thomas H. Kent (secretary, appointed by the committee). Robert I. Cecil was nominated by the Committee and Appointed by the Board of Directors to fill a regular term beginning in 1998.

The committee met on 20 September 1997. Most of the business was transacted by mail. The category A-O (origin uncertain) was eliminated because the committee was unable to clearly define the criteria for placing bird records in this category. Birds of uncertain origin will be classified "NA". The committee felt that comments were adequate to indicate that the identification was acceptable and the origin in doubt.

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) 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.

1997 RECORDS ACCEPTED

Red-throated Loon: 13 Apr at Pleasant Creek L. in Linn Co. (97-06, IBL 67:85); 29 Oct at Clear L. in Cero Gordo Co. (97-34, IBL 68:10).

Pacific Loon: 15 Apr at West Okoboji in Dickinson Co. (97-07, IBL 67:85, Thelen 1998); 2 Aug at Spirit L. in Dickinson Co. (97:35, P-0568, IBL 68:10); and 22 Nov at Saylorville Res. (97-36, IBL 687:10).

Clark’s Grebe: 13-14 Dec at Diamond L. in Poweshiek Co. (97-50, IBL 68(2) cover, 68:56, P-0573, P-0578).

Black-crowned Night-Heron: 21 Dec at Polk City W.A. in Polk Co. (97-52, IBL 68:53, 56)

White-faced Ibis: 15 Aug at Harrier M. in Boone Co. (97-37, IBL 68:10). The identification was based on the red eyes.

Roseate Spoonbill: 4 Aug at Waubonsie W.A. in Fremont Co. (97-38, P-0567, IBL 68(1) cover; 68:10).

Ferruginous Hawk: 12 Feb in Cerro Gordo Co. (97-01, P-0558, Fischer 1998, Kent 1998a).

Snowy Plover: 14 Jun at Black Hawk L. in Sac Co. (97-25, P-0564, IBL 67:123).

Black-necked Stilt: 26 Mar at Mark Twain N.W.R. in Louisa Co. (97-02, IBL 67:87).

Whimbrel: 10 May in Fremont Co. (97-53, IBL 68:3, 7, *B. J., Doug, and Roger Rose)

Laughing Gull: 16 Jun at Black Hawk L. in Sac Co. (97-26, IBL 67:124).

Black-headed Gull: 16 Jul at Jemmerson Sl. in Dickinson Co. (97-27, IBL 67:124, Proescholdt 1998a).

Mew Gull: 20 Dec at Red Rock Res. in Marion Co. (97-54, IBL 68:53, 60).

California Gull: 7 Sep at West Okoboji in Dickinson Co. (97-40, IBL 68:13); 9 Dec at Saylorville Res. in Polk Co. (97-55, IBL 68:60).

Iceland Gull: 19 Mar at Red Rock Res. in Marion Co. (97-09, P-0545, IBL 67:88); 17 Dec at Red Rock Res. (97-56, IBL 68:60, Brees 1998); and 21 Dec at Red Rock Res. (97-57, IBL 68:60).

Lesser Black-backed: a second-year bird on 8 Oct at Coralville Res. in Johnson Co. (97-41, IBL 68:13).

Black-legged Kittiwake: an adult on 17 Dec at Red Rock Res. in Marion Co. (97-58, IBL 68:60) and another adult on 21 Dec at Waterloo in Black Hawk Co. (97-59, IBL 68:53, 60).

Ross’s Gull: 13 Dec at Red Rock Res. in Marion Co. (97-60, P-0579, P-0580, IBL 68:54, 61) and 27 Dec at L. Manawa in Pottawattamie Co. (97-61, IBL 68:61).

Sabine’s Gull: 1 ad. on 8 Jul at Kettleson Hogsback A. in Dickinson Co. (97-28, IBL 67:124, Schoenewe 1998); 1 juv. on 7 Sep at Saylorville Res. in Polk Co. (97-42, IBL 68:13), and 1 juv. on 9 Oct at Coralville Res. in Johnson Co. (97-43, IBL 68:13).

Eurasian Collared-Dove: Iowa’s first record of this species involved several birds at Grinnell in Poweshiek Co. from 30 Aug through the end of the year (97-44, P-0571, IBL 68:14) and one that was found dead and preserved (97-62, P-0577).

White-winged Dove: Iowa’s first records involve four widely separated birds: 8 Apr at Ottumwa in Wapello Co. (97-10, P-0547, IBL 67:88); 28 Apr at Le Grand in Marshall Co. (97-11, P-0549, P-0563, IBL 67:88, Proescholdt 1998b); 30 Aug at Riverton A. in Fremont Co. (97-48, *Michael D. Overton); and 21 Sep at Fort Dodge in Webster Co. (97-45, IBL 68:14, Hultine 1998, P-0569).

Great Gray Owl: 8 Feb at Clay Banks F. in Cerro Gordo Co. (97-04, P-0537, P-0538, IBL 67:60-61).

Vermilion Flycatcher: a male on 24 May at Holstein in Ida Co. (97-12, IBL 67:89, Rector 1998a).

Pinyon Jay: The bird in Boone Co. in 1996 (96-66) remained until 22 Mar 1997 (Crim and Crim 1997), but was not reviewed as a 1997 record.

Black-billed Magpie: 8 May south of Westfield in Plymouth Co. (97-13, IBL 67:89).

Marsh Wren: 21 Dec at Brenton Sl. in Dallas Co. (97-64, IBL 68:62) and 27 Dec at New L. in Woodbury Co. (97-65, IBL 68:62).

Black-throated Gray Warbler: Iowa’s second record was found on 10 May near Cedar Bluff in Cedar County (97-14, IBL 67:91).

Yellow-throated Warbler/Northern Parula (Sutton’s Warbler): This very rare hybrid was well described on 3 May at L. Ahquabi in Warren Co. (97-15, IBL 67:91).

Western Tanager: 2 May at Des Moines in Polk Co. (97-29, *Pauline Rowe); 3 May at Lacey-Keosauqua S.P. in Van Buren Co. (97-16, IBL 67:91, Fuller 1998); 8 May at Ames (97-17, P-0560, IBL 67:91, Healy 1998); and a female on 3 Jun at Swan L. in Carroll Co. (97-30, IBL 67:127).

Black-headed Grosbeak: An immature male was seen on 9 Aug at Riverton A. (97-49, *Michael D. Overton).

Lazuli Bunting: 18 May south of Westfield in Plymouth Co. (97-19, IBL 67:91, Sinclair 1998); 18 May at Stone P. in Woodbury Co. (97-20, IBL 67:91); 18 May at Mason City in Cerro Gordo Co. (97-21, IBL 67:91); and 27 May north of Glenwood in Mills Co. (97-22, P-0550, P-0559, IBL 67:91, Kent 1998b).

Le Conte’s Sparrow: 21 Dec at Brenton’s Sl. in Dallas Co. (97-66, IBL 68:53, 63).

Chestnut-collared Longspur: 10 Apr south of Sutherland in O’Brien Co. (97-23, IBL 67:92); 11 Apr northwest of Larchwood in Lyon Co. (97-31, IBL 67:92, Henrickson 1997); 12 Apr at Grover’s L. in Dickinson Co. (97-24, P-0555, IBL 67:92); 12 Apr in Woodbury Co. (97-32, IBL 67:92); and 12 Apr southwest of Percival in Fremont Co. (97-33, IBL 67:92, Padelford and Padelford 1998).

Pine Grosbeak: 5 Nov at Holstein in Ida Co. (97-47, IBL 68:17, Rector 1998b).

1997 RECORDS NOT ACCEPTED

Neotropic Cormorant: An identification based on small size was not considered definitive (97-51).

Barnacle Goose: 5 Mar at Green Castle R.A. in Marshall Co. (97-08, IBL 67:86). The identification was accepted but the origin of the bird uncertain.

Greater Prairie-Chicken: Members expressed some uncertainty about the description of summer birds in northern Iowa. (97-39, IBL 68:12).

American Woodcock: A winter bird was not seen well (97-03, IBL 67:55, 60).

Eastern Phoebe: The description of a winter bird was not judged to be conclusive (97-63).

MacGillivray’s Warbler: A fall sighting of this difficult-to-identify species was not beyond doubt (97-46, IBL 68:16).

Rose-breasted Grosbeak: A flock at a very unusual date and in a very unusual habitat needed more proof to be accepted (97-18).

Lark Sparrow: A winter report was plausible, but not accepted (97-05, IBL 67:62).

OLD RECORDS REVIEWED FOR FIRST TIME

Common Raven: A photograph published in the Cedar Rapids Gazette on 16 Mar 1969 was considered to be a raven, but its behavior suggested a released or escaped bird (97-AA). The committee would like more information on this bird.

OLD RECORDS RE-REVIEWED

Pacific Loon: A specimen taken at Sabula in Jackson Co. on 16 Nov 1895 (93-AA, P-0574) was relocated in the Jackson County Museum in Maquoketa and photographed by Bob Sheets, which changed the category of this record and this species to A-S.

Anhinga: A bird circling over Lake Darling in Washington Co. on 17 Sep 1996 (96-45, *Stephen J. Dinsmore, Dinsmore 1998) was accepted after obtaining opinions from experts in six other states concerning possible confusion of soaring Anhingas with Double-crested Cormorants.

Laughing Gull: A record of an adult from 10 May 1996 at Saylorville Res. (96-30, P-0513, IBL 66:104) was accepted as A-P after a documentation, explanation of the photograph, and request for re-review were received.

Great Gray Owl: Photos of a road kill from 17 Feb 1996 in Grundy Co. (96-37, P-0573, IBL 66:57) changed the category of this record to A-S.

CORRECTIONS AND ADDITIONS TO 1996 REPORT

Wilson’s Phalarope: A record from Union Slough N.W.R. on 20 Oct 1996 (96-49; IBL 67:22) was accepted, but left out of the report.

Skua species: A photograph of an unidentified flying seabird bird at Credit Island in Scott Co. from 2 Apr 1995 (96-AB, *Herbert J. Hodges) was identified by two seabird experts as a skua. Later consults from other experts and one of the first experts left us with an unidentified mystery bird.

Pinyon Jay: The bird was first seen on 30 November, not 30 October as stated in the 1996 report.

LITERATURE CITED

Brees, A. E. 1998. Iceland Gull at Red Rock Reservoir. Iowa Bird Life 68:65.

Crim, L., and G. Crim. 1997. Pinyon Jay in Boone County. Iowa Bird Life 67:64-65.

Dinsmore, S. J. 1998 Anhinga at Lake Darling State Park. Iowa Bird Life 68:65-66.

Edwards, C. 1998. Red-throated Loon at Pleasant Creek. Iowa Bird Life 68:98.

Fischer, C. J. 1998. Ferruginous Hawk in Cerro Gordo County. Iowa Bird Life 68:22-23.

Healy, K. 1998. Western Tanager in Story County. Iowa Bird Life 68:21-22.

Henrickson, D. 1997. Chestnut-collared Longspur in Lyon County. Iowa Bird Life 67:130.

Hultine, D. J. 1998. White-winged Dove in Fort Dodge. Iowa Bird Life 68:108.

Kent, T. H. 1998a. Additional comments on immature Ferruginous Hawk in Cerro Gordo County. Iowa Bird Life 68:23-24.

Kent, T. H. 1998b. Lazuli Bunting in Mills County. Iowa Bird Life 68:66-67.

Padelford, B. and L. Padelford. 1998. Chestnut-collared Longspur in Fremont County. Iowa Bird Life 68:67.

Proescholdt, M. 1998a. Another Black-headed Gull in Dickinson County. Iowa Bird Life 68:103.

Proescholdt, M. 1998b. White-winged Dove at Le Grand in Marshall County. Iowa Bird Life 68:25.

Rector, C. L. 1998a. Vermilion Flycatcher in Ida County. Iowa Bird Life 68:26-27.

Rector, C. L. 1998b. Pine Grosbeak in Ida County. Iowa Bird Life 68:104.

Schoenewe, L. A. 1998. Summer Sabine’s Gull record. Iowa Bird Life 68:103-104.

Sinclair, J. 1998. Lazuli Bunting in Plymouth County. Iowa Bird Life 68:106-107.

Thelen, E. 1998. Pacific Loon in Dickinson County. Iowa Bird Life 68:68.

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