Report of the Records Committee for 2004

Ann M. Johnson

The Records Committee had a very busy year as 70 reports, including one old report from 1874,  were reviewed.  Of the 69 reports for 2004, 51 were accepted and 18 were not. Action by the AOU in splitting Canada Goose added Cackling Goose to the state list (#408).  Other additions in 2004 were Baird’s Sparrow (#409) and Boreal Owl (#410).

Committee members for 2004 with years in which their terms expire were: Jim Sinclair  (2004), Thomas H. Kent (2005), Lee Schoenewe (2006), James J. Dinsmore (2007), Aaron Brees (2008), Matt Kenne (2009) and Ann M. Johnson (secretary, appointed by the committee).  Paul Hertzel was nominated by the Committee and appointed by the Board of Directors to fill a regular term beginning in 2005.  Thomas H. Kent resigned at the conclusion of 2004 and Mike Overton was nominated and appointed to fill the final year of Kent’s term.

The majority of reports were submitted on-line through the IOU website.  The ease of doing this no doubt contributed to the increase in reports and the committee is gratified to have more people reporting.  Even reports which are not accepted on review become a permanent part of the archives of Iowa birds and could be important to future researchers.

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.

2004 RECORDS ACCEPTED

Harlequin Duck: 12 to 13 Jan at Saylorville Res. in Polk Co. (04-03, IBL74:40, 42 [see also IBL 75:44]) and 29 Feb to 6 Mar at Pool 15 in Scott Co. (04-10, P-1024, IBL74:40, 42).

Red-necked Grebe: 24 Nov at L. Manawa in Pottawattamie Co. (04-49, IBL75:9).

Neotropic Cormorant: 19 to 20 Nov at Saylorville Res. in Polk Co. (04-47, P-1035, IBL75:7, 10).

Swallow-tailed Kite: 3 to 4 Jun at Iowa City in Johnson Co. (04-31, P-1033, IBL 74:137, 140, 183, cover [see also IBL 74:183]).

Ferruginous Hawk: 19 Sep and 23 Nov at Hitchcock N.A. in Pottawatamie Co. (04-40, IBL75:7, 11 *Jerry Toll and 04-48, IBL 75:7, 11 *Mark Orsag).

Black Rail: 4 May at Davis City in Decatur Co. (04-18, IBL74:93, 97 *Jeff Livingston).

King Rail:  11 to 16 May at Hawkeye W.A. in Johnson Co. (04-21, P-1027, IBL74:93, 97 [see also IBL 75:47]).

Snowy Plover: 8 May at Hawkeye W.A. in Johnson Co. (04-20, IBL74:93, 97 [see also IBL 75:46]).

Whimbrel: 17 May at Jester Park in Polk Co. (04-22, IBL74:93, 98) and 28 May in Hancock Co. (04-35, IBL74:93, 98).

Red Knot: 1 Aug at Coralville Res. in Johnson Co. (04-37, IBL75:7, 13) and 26 Aug at Hawkeye W.A. in Johnson Co. (04-65, IBL75:7, 13 *Chris Edwards).

Laughing Gull: 5 May at Credit Island in Scott Co. (04-19, IBL74:99 *Dan Dorrance).

California Gull: 12 Dec at Saylorville Res. in Polk Co. (04-61, P-1036.  IBL75:61, 65, 70 *).

Iceland Gull: 8 to 12 Feb at Davenport in Scott Co. (04-66, P-1038, IBL75:61, 65); 10 Feb at Davenport in Scott Co. (04-67, IBL75:61, 65); 29 Feb at Davenport in Scott Co. (04-68, IBL75:61, 65); and 28 Mar at Jester Park in Polk Co. (04-12, IBL74:93, 100).

Great Black-backed Gull: 22 Feb at Lock & Dam 14 in Scott Co. (04-07, IBL74:40, 45) and 29 Dec at Pool 15 in Scott Co (04-69, IBL 75:65).

Black-legged Kittiwake: 27 Oct at Saylorville Res. in Polk Co. (04-56, IBL75:7, 15); 20 Dec at Keokuk in Lee Co. (04-62, IBL75:61, 65, 78, 90 *Mike Overton); 26 to 27 Dec at Red Rock Res. in Marion Co. (04-63, P-1037, IBL 75:61, 65); and 30 Dec at Lock & Dam 14 in Scott Co. (04-64, IBL 75:61, 65).

White-winged Dove: 28 Jun at Ottosen in Humboldt Co. (04-33,IBL 74:137, 144) and 29 Jun at Liscomb in Marshall Co. (04-30, IBL74:137, 144).

Groove-billed Ani: 20 to 24 Oct near Ottumwa in Wapello Co. (04-45, IBL75:7, 16).

Burrowing Owl: 26 to 31 Mar in Kossuth Co. (04-29, P-1032,IBL 74:93, 100).

Boreal Owl: 12 Nov at George Wyth S.P. in Black Hawk Co. (04-52, P-1039, IBL75:7, 16; 76:93, 94, cover [see also IBL 75:93]).

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher: 4 Apr north of Fayette in Fayette Co. (04-44).

Mountain Bluebird: 28 Feb at Black Hawk Co. Park in Black Hawk Co. (04-09, IBL74:40, 46).

Townsend's Solitaire: 10 Sep at Hitchcock N.A. in Pottawattamie Co. (04-53, IBL75:7, 18); 12 Sep at Little Sioux Access in Clay Co. (04-54, IBL 75:7, 18); and 24 Oct at Trumbull L. in Clay Co. (04-55, IBL 75:7, 18).

Swainson's Thrush: 18 Apr at Coralville in Johnson Co. (04-15, P-1025, IBL74:103).

Sprague's Pipit: 5 May at Eagle L. in Hancock Co. (04-25, IBL74:93, 103 *Rita Goranson [see also IBL 75:48]).

Bohemian Waxwing: 6 to 7 Jan at Lime Creek N.C. in Cerro Gordo Co. (04-01, IBL74:40, 46); 13 Nov at Sheldon in O’Brien Co. (04-57, IBL75:19); 21 Nov at Marble Beach S.P. in Dickinson Co. (04-58, IBL 75:19); 26 to 28 Nov at Milford in Dickinson Co. (04-59, IBL 75:19); and 6 Dec at Spirit Lake in Dickinson Co. (04-60, IBL 75:61, 67).

Pine Warbler: 5 to 10 Jul at Shimek S.F. in Lee Co. (04-34, IBL74:137, 146).

Western Tanager: 29 Apr to 1 May at Algona in Kossuth Co. (04-16, P-1026, IBL74: 93).

Baird's Sparrow: 4 Jun in Cherokee Co. (04-32, IBL74:137, 142).

Golden-crowned Sparrow: 24 Jan to 15 Feb at Lake Meyer N.C. in Winneshiek Co. (04-05, P-1023, IBL74:40, 47).

Black-headed Grosbeak: 1 May at Iowa City in Johnson Co. (04-17, IBL74:93, 106 *John Bollenbacher [see also IBL 75:48]).

Lazuli Bunting: 18 May at Westfield in Plymouth Co. (04-24, P-1028, IBL74:93, 106); 19 to 26 May at Spirit Lake in Dickinson Co. (04-27, P-1030, IBL74:93, 106); and 28 to 29 May at Spirit Lake in Dickinson Co. (04-28, P-1031, IBL74:93, 106).

2004 RECORDS NOT ACCEPTED

Whooper Swan: Since swans have a long life, another Midwestern record of this species was presumed one of the escapes from Illinois several years ago (04-04, IBL74:40, 41).

Eurasian Wigeon: This was a difficult report for the committee.  Although multiple observers saw the bird, only one provided a brief description.  Members felt that the identification was no doubt correct but the brevity of the description with no corroborating descriptions could not stand the test of time (04-11, IBL74:93, 94).

Sharp-tailed Grouse: A report accompanied by a photo was not in doubt as to species but was certainly a part of the reintroduction in western Iowa.  More reports of this bird will be helpful to determine if a population becomes established (04-02, P-1029, IBL74:95).

Gyrfalcon: This species is always difficult to evaluate because the best description has few concrete identifying details.  Because the bird was seen for such a brief time as a fly-by at the hawk watch, the committee took a conservative view on a split vote (04-51, IBL75:7, 12, 39).

Black Rail: On a split vote, the committee was reluctant to accept a report of a bird where the observer was not totally confident in his identification (04-42).

Red Knot: In an unusual twist, a photograph did not support the written description and was felt to be a Stilt Sandpiper (04-43, P-1034, IBL75:7, 13).

Ruff: On a split vote, this report was problematic because of the self-doubt of the reporter and lack of a description by the second observer.  Multiple reports give the committee better information to evaluate (04-38).

Parasitic Jaeger: Less than optimal viewing conditions left the committee with a sketchy description that was hard to evaluate.  Most felt that jaeger sp. was correct but could not be sure beyond that (04-46, IBL75:7, 14).

Iceland Gull: The description was suggestive but a few critical pieces of information were missing to be certain that this was not a washed out Thayer’s Gull (04-26, IBL74:93, 100).

Black-legged Kittiwake: Viewing conditions and a few missing details made the committee reluctant to accept a sighting of an adult bird.  Records from the interior of the country are primarily juveniles (04-41, IBL75:7, 15).

Gray Flycatcher: Behavioral description was very suggestive of this species but several morphological characteristics were missing in the documentation.  A silent Empidonax flycatcher without other compelling evidence created too much doubt to add this one to the state list (04-39, IBL75:7, 17).

Common Raven: A flying bird observed by a person in a moving vehicle was suggestive but could not convince the committee that it had moved beyond reasonable doubt.  Large crows in the wind can be problematic unless one sees a combination of characters (04-08, IBL74:40, 45).

Dark-eyed Junco: Two reports submitted as the “Pink-sided” sub-species generated some interesting discussion with the conclusion that sight reports of this difficult-to-identify form warranted not accepted classifications at this time (04-13 and 04-36, IBL74:106).

McKay’s Bunting: An interesting video was provided of a bird with black and white patterns.  While there were superficial similarities to this species, some characteristics did not match up correctly.  Since it was feeding with House Sparrows, the best guess was that it was a very abnormally colored House Sparrow (04-50, P-1040, IBL75:7, 22).

Black-headed Grosbeak: Because there was no description of the bill, the committee felt that Spotted Towhee could not be eliminated by the description (04-23, IBL74:106).

Lazuli Bunting: While parts of the description were suggestive of this species, some details were not consistent and left the committee with reasonable doubt (04-14, IBL74:93, 106).

Hoary Redpoll: This report received a split vote but several members felt that since the best identifying characteristic, the undertail coverts, were not seen it was best to be conservative. (04-06, IBL74:40, 48).

OLD RECORDS REVIEWED FOR THE FIRST TIME AND NOT ACCEPTED

Eskimo Curlew: An 1874 newspaper clipping from Omaha described a hunt in Pottawattamie Co. where this species was taken but no description of the bird made evaluation of the identification impossible (04-AA). 

LITERATURE CITED

Brees, A. 2005. Harlequin Duck at Saylorville Reservoir, Iowa Bird Life 75:44.

Bollenbacher, J. 2005. Black-headed Grosbeak in Iowa City, Iowa Bird Life 75:48.

Dick, B. and J. Huntington. 2005. King Rail in Johnson County, Iowa Bird Life 75:47.

Fuller, J.L. and T.H. Kent, 2005. Snowy Plover at Hawkeye Wildlife Area, Iowa Bird Life 75:46.

Garrett, S. 2005.  Boreal Owl in Black Hawk County, First Iowa Record, Iowa Bird Life 75:93.

Goranson, R. 2005. Sprague’s Pipit in Hancock County, Iowa Bird Life 75:48.

Scheib, J.E.  2004.  Swallow-tailed Kite over Iowa City, Iowa Bird Life 74:183.

© Iowa Ornithologists’ Union