Report of the Records Committee for 2002

Ann M. Johnson

The Records Committee reviewed 39 records from 2002; of these, 31 were accepted and 8 were not.  One old record from 2001 was reviewed for the first time and was not accepted, and one of two previously accepted records of Sprague's Pipit was accepted upon re-review.  Crested Caracara was added to the state list (#406; Painted Bunting seen in 2001 was #405).

Committee members for 2002 with years in which their terms expire were: Matthew C. Kenne (2002), Paul Hertzel (2003), Jim Sinclair  (2004), Thomas H. Kent (2005), Lee Schoenewe (2006), James J. Dinsmore (2007) and Ann M. Johnson (secretary, appointed by the committee).  Aaron Brees was nominated by the Committee and appointed by the Board of Directors to fill a regular term beginning in 2003.

The availability of the Internet-based reporting form has produced a few documentations from people less likely to report to the committee in the traditional manner.  The committee expects the use of this medium to continue to grow.

The four-digit number (year and sequence number) assigned to each record reviewed by the Records Committee is included for future reference. 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.

2002 RECORDS ACCEPTED

Clark’s Grebe: 5 to 8 May at Mt. Pleasant in Henry Co. (02-12, IBL 72:158).

White-faced Ibis: 6 Sep at Maskunky Marsh in Mahaska Co. (02-36, IBL 73:6).

Brant: 6 Mar at Clear Lake in Cerro Gordo Co. (02-07, IBL 72:159) and 19 Oct at Union Grove S. P. in Tama Co. (02-26, P-1013, IBL 73:7).

Eurasian Wigeon: 25 to 27 Feb at Swan Lake in Johnson Co. (02-05, IBL 72:103).

Barrow’s Goldeneye: 9 to 25 Feb at Port Neal in Woodbury Co. (02-04, IBL 72:105; relocated on 15 Mar not 27 Apr as erroneously reported in IBL 72:160) and 17 to 21 Dec also at Port Neal (02-39, IBL 73:33).

Black Vulture: 22 Sep at Hitchcock N. A. in Pottawattamie Co. (02-24, IBL 73:6).

Ferruginous Hawk: 31 Oct at Hitchcock N. A. in Pottawattamie Co. (02-27, IBL 73:9); 13 Nov near Cumming in Warren Co.(02-28, P-1014, IBL 73:9); and 23 Nov at Big Marsh in Butler Co. (02-29, IBL 73:9).

Crested Caracara: 28 Sep at Storm Lake. in Buena Vista Co. (02-30, P-1015, IBL 73:9, Lampe 2003).

Whimbrel: 23 May at Riverton A. in Fremont Co. (02-19, IBL 72:162) and 27 May at Port Neal in Woodbury Co. (02-20, IBL 72:162)

Red Knot: 23 May at Riverton A. in Fremont Co. (02-18, *Richard Trieff, IBL 72:162).

Curlew Sandpiper: 6 to 7 May near Red Rock Res. in Marion Co. (02-13, P-1011, IBL 72:162, Brees 2003).

Ruff: 28 Jul at Red Rock Res. in Marion Co. (02-23, IBL 72:213, Sinclair 2003).

California Gull: 13 Oct at Spirit Lake. in Dickinson Co. (02-32, IBL 73:12).

Glaucous Gull: 7 Apr at Big Creek S. P. in Polk Co. (02-09, IBL 72:163).

Iceland Gull: 10 Feb at L&D 14 in Scott Co. (02-03, *Steve Freed, IBL 72:108).

Black-headed Gull: 14 Sep at Spirit Lake. in Dickinson Co. (02-31, IBL 73:12).

White-winged Dove: 27 to 29 Jun at Clear Lake in Cerro Gordo Co. (02-22, P-1012, IBL 72:214).

Selasphorus Hummingbird:  23 Oct at Ames in Story Co. (02-33, P-1016, IBL 73:13).

American Pipit: 27 May at Cardinal Marsh in Winneshiek Co. (02-21, IBL 72:166)

Bohemian Waxwing: 2 Feb at Waterman Township in O’Brien Co.  (02-02, IBL 72:111).

Veery: 3 Oct at Mason City in Cerro Gordo Co. (02-37, IBL 73:15).

Pine Warbler: 31 Jan at Fort Madison in Lee Co. (02-01, IBL 72:111).

Chestnut-collared Longspur: 9 Oct at Union Hills WMA in Cerro Gordo Co. (02-35, *Paul Hertzel, *Rita Goranson, IBL 73:18).

Lazuli Bunting: 11 May near Sand Creek WMA in Decatur Co. (02-15, IBL 72:170); 17 May at Kettelson Hogsback in Dickinson Co. (02-16, IBL 72:170); and 18 to 28 May at Ames in Story Co. (02-17, IBL 72:170).

2002 RECORDS NOT ACCEPTED

Bar-headed Goose: A commonly held bird in captivity, even free-flying birds are considered to be escapes (02-08, IBL 72:157).

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck: The committee had various opinions on what these birds might have been but felt that there was not enough detail to fully describe this species (02-25).  Photos obtained later showed these birds to be Egyptian Geese.

Clark’s Grebe: Different impressions from three different observers had several members feeling that this was perhaps a hybrid Western/Clark’s (02-11, P-1010, IBL 72:158).

Black-billed Magpie: A second-hand report of a fly-by was suggestive but too brief to be conclusive (02-06, IBL 72:110).  Original observers are strongly encouraged to submit their own sightings.

Williamson’s Sapsucker: The committee felt that based on the description this was most likely a juvenile Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, a bird that one member observed at this location on the following day (02-34).

Say’s Phoebe: On a split vote, the description left a few nagging doubts with some members (02-10, IBL 72:164).

Swainson’s Warbler: A brief look and lack of some critical details proved inconclusive (02-14, IBL 72:168).

Mourning Warbler: Sketchy details of a record late fall warbler did not address other and perhaps more likely possibilities (02-38, IBL 73:17).

OLD RECORDS REVIEWED FOR THE FIRST TIME

Brambling: The brief view and description of an unexpected bird made evaluation difficult.  The committee felt that no mention of the white rump, probably the most obvious characteristic of a flying bird, left this one as inconclusive (02-AA).

OLD RECORDS RE-REVIEWED

Sprague’s Pipit:  This species has been an enigma for past committees and is currently on the Iowa list based on two accepted records from 1998 (98-07 and 98-19).  New evidence and arguments were presented to the committee and the two records were re-evaluated at the meeting on 27 Oct 2002.  The acceptance of 98-07 was unanimously overturned, but the initial decision on 98-19 was reconfirmed so the species remains on the Iowa list.  Future observers should be especially cognizant of potential confusion with juvenile Horned Larks.

LITERATURE CITED

Brees, A. 2003. Curlew Sandpiper in Marion County, Iowa Bird Life 73:25-27.

Lampe, R. 2003. Crested Caracara in Buena Vista County, Iowa, Iowa Bird Life 73:58-59.

Sinclair, J. 2003. Ruff in Marion County, Iowa Bird Life 73:27.

© Iowa Ornithologists’ Union