Report of the Records Committee for 2007

Ann M. Johnson

2007 looked as if it was about to break the trend of adding new species to the state checklist and then came late fall.  For the third year in a row, three new species were added.  While scouting for the fall IOU meeting in late October, Steve Dinsmore picked out a Cave Swallow (#417) in the flocks of migrating swallows at Saylorville Reservoir.  Three weeks later Steve added Black-tailed Gull (#418), again at Saylorville Reservoir, which caused quite a rush to the lake by birders from all over the Midwest.  While the chase for the gull continued, Mary Ann Gregory happened upon Iowa’s first record of a wandering Fork-tailed Flycatcher (#419) and the path between Polk and Tama Counties became very busy.  The last two species were well photographed by many.  A total of 66 new reports as well as twelve old reports, many of newly discovered museum specimens, were reviewed during the year.  Many other documentations were reviewed by the seasonal field reports editors for supporting evidence of reported observations.  The committee thanks everyone for timely submission of reports so that our publications offer the most current information available on Iowa avian populations.

Committee members for 2007 with years in which their terms expire were: Mike Overton (2007), Aaron Brees (2008), Matt Kenne (2009), Paul Hertzel (2010), Stephen J. Dinsmore (2011), Rita Goranson (2012) and Ann Johnson (secretary, appointed by the committee).  Ross Silcock was nominated by the committee and subsequently appointed by the Board of Directors to fill a regular term beginning in 2008.

The following status changes were approved by the committee at its annual meeting on 28 October 2007: Black-bellied Whistling-Duck – accidental to casual; Red Knot – casual to regular; and Evening Grosbeak – casual to accidental.  While the first two species have been recorded more regularly in the past few years, Evening Grosbeak has not been recorded in Iowa since 1998.  Although the status of Ferruginous Hawk and Black-headed Gull remains regular by the number of reports over the past ten years, this status continues based on regular and specific locations.  Reports of the gull seen away from the Spirit Lake area and all Ferruginous Hawk records should still include documentation or detailed notes to be considered for inclusion in the published literature.

Each record reviewed by the Records Committee is assigned a six-digit number (year and sequence number) which is included in this report 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 sub-classified based on a majority vote. References to IBL are the page of the Field Reports or a special note in Iowa Bird Life where the record is cited. Published notes and previous citations may contain more details. An * indicates a previously uncited documentation.

In the past, a separate photo file was maintained by the Records Committee.  With the proliferation of digital images being submitted, as well as documentations having unique identification numbers, these photos are now being archived as a part of the documentation and are not assigned a separate number.  The classification in the entries below will indicate the presence of an identifiable photo with the record.

A number of significant records that would add to our knowledge of Iowa birds are unfortunately missed each year.  Good photos should at least have some minimal details entered to identify who, what, when and where.  As can be seen below in the summary for 2007, photographic evidence is much easier to evaluate.  Written documentations are more difficult and, as a lower level of evidence, require more detail and logic to be accepted for use by future researchers.  The committee relies on the observer to paint a picture with words of what was seen and how it was identified.  This is seldom available from listserv posts or brief details submitted with seasonal field reports.  A few documented details on size and structure, along with a description of what was seen and consideration of any similar species, can make all the difference between an accepted and not accepted report.  The committee can only evaluate the evidence that is submitted.

2007 RECORDS ACCEPTED

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck: 6 May at L. Manawa in Pottawattamie (2007-32, A-P, IBL 77:110) and 27 May to 4 Jun near Mt. Pleasant in Henry (2007-30, A-P, IBL 77:110).

Harlequin Duck: 10 Feb to 5 Apr at L&D 14 in Scott (2007-03, A-P, IBL 77:65,74,77(3)cover, [Robinson 2007]).

Barrow's Goldeneye: 11 Jan near Lamoni in Decatur (2007-05, A-D, IBL 77:65, [Livingston 2007]).

Greater Prairie-Chicken: 19 May near Akron in Plymouth (2007-20, A-D, IBL 77:112).

Yellow-billed Loon: 28 to 30 Nov at Saylorville R. in Polk (2007-58, A-P, IBL 78:22, [Dinsmore 2008]).

Brown Pelican: 18 to 19 Dec at Fort Madison in Lee (2007-65, A-P, IBL 78:68,78(2)back cover).

Neotropic Cormorant: 6 Jun to 1 Jul at Sedan Bottoms in Appanoose (2007-34, A-D, IBL 77:163, [Cummins and Johnson 2007]).

Magnificent Frigatebird: 2 to 3 Sep at Spirit L. in Dickinson (2007-41, A-P, IBL 78:22, [Dinsmore and Gilliam 2008]).

Tricolored Heron: 2 to 5 Aug at Rapp Park in Page (2007-37, A-P, IBL 78:23, [Dyche 2008]).

Glossy Ibis: 7 to 8 May at Moeckley Prairie in Polk (2007-15, A-P, IBL 77:113, [Brees 2007]) and 12 to 16 May at Hawkeye WA in Johnson (2007-17, A-P, IBL 77:113).

Wood Stork: 3 to 7 Oct at Jester P. in Polk (2007-45, A-P, IBL 78:23, [Brees 2008]).

Black Vulture: 3 to 4 Oct at Jester P. in Polk (2007-46, A-P, IBL 78:23, [Allen 2008]).

Ferruginous Hawk: 9 Dec at Hitchcock NA in Pottawattamie (2007-62, A-D, *Mark Orsag).

Gyrfalcon: 28 Jan to 5 Feb near Luther in Boone (2007-02, A-P, IBL 77:67, 74).

King Rail: 8 May at Blue Flag Wetlands in Warren (2007-25, A-D, IBL 77:115).

Whimbrel: 15 to 17 Apr at Coralville R. in Johnson (2007-23, A-D, IBL 77:116) and 8 Aug at Spirit L. in Dickinson (2007-39, A-P, IBL 78:25).

Red Knot: 4 Aug at Pinchey Bottoms in Marion (2007-38, A-P, IBL 78:25) and 2 to 4 Sep at Diamond Lake in Dickinson (2007-53, A-P, IBL 78:25).

Red Phalarope: 18 to 19 Sep at Saylorville R. in Polk (2007-44, A-P, IBL 78:27,37) and 20 Oct at Saylorville R. in Polk (2007-55, A-D, IBL 78:27).

Laughing Gull: 18 Aug at Spirit L. in Dickinson (2007-59, A-P, IBL 78:27) and 6 Oct at Red Rock R. in Marion (2007-47, A-P, IBL 78:27,38).

Little Gull: 2 to 6 Sep at Welch L. in Dickinson, A-P, (2007-40, IBL 78:27).

Mew Gull: 18 Nov to 2 Dec at Red Rock R. in Marion (2007-57, A-P, IBL 78:27,70,39).

Black-tailed Gull: 17 Nov to 6 Dec at Saylorville R. in Polk (2007-50, A-P, IBL 78:27,70, 78(1)cover, [Dinsmore 2008]).

California Gull: 20 Jun at Meinking Marsh in Dickinson, (2007-35, A-P, IBL 77:166).

Iceland Gull: 16 Jan to 27 Feb at L&D 15 in Scott (2007-06, A-P, IBL 77:68); 2 to 4 Mar at L&D 14 in Scott (2007-09, A-D, IBL 77:118); 6 Dec Des Moines in Polk (2007-60, A-P, IBL 78:70,76);and 15 Dec at Red Rock R. in Marion (2007-64, A-P, IBL 78:70).

Great Black-backed Gull: 10 to 17 Mar at L&D 14 in Scott (2007-10, A-P, IBL 77:118); 11 to 13 Mar at Pool 15 in Scott (2007-11, A-D, IBL 77:118); and 23 Mar in Scott (2007-12, A-D, IBL 76:142).

Black-legged Kittiwake: 1 to 14 Jan at Saylorville R. in Polk (2007-01, A-P, IBL 77:68,75); 17 to 21 Oct at L. Manawa in Pottawattamie (2007-48, A-P, IBL 78:28); and 8 Dec at Red Rock R. in Marion (2007-61, A-P, IBL 78:70).

Long-tailed Jaeger: 11 Sep at Saylorville R. in Polk (2007-54, A-D,, IBL 78:28, [Dinsmore 2008]).

Jaeger sp: 19 Nov near Iowa Falls in Hardin (2007-51, A-P, IBL 78:28, *Tom Schilke).

White-winged Dove: 19 Apr to 14 May at Johnston in Polk (2007-14, A-P, IBL 77:118, 136) and 26 Jun at Ida Grove in Ida (2007-33, A-P, IBL 77:167).

Rufous Hummingbird: 27 to 28 Jul near Ledges SP in Boone (2007-36, A-P, IBL 77:167, 175).

Fork-tailed Flycatcher: 20 to 23 Nov near Clutier in Tama (2007-52, A-P, IBL 78:29, 78(1), back cover, [Gregory and Johnson 2008]).

Clark’s Nutcracker: 16 Sep near Jefferson in Greene (2007-43, A-D, IBL 78:30 [Zaletel 2008]).

Raven sp.:  9 Nov at Hitchcock NA in Pottawattamie (2007-49, A-D, IBL 78:30, *Eliot Bedows).

Cave Swallow: 26 Oct at Saylorville R. in Polk (2007-56, A-D, IBL 78:30 [Dinsmore 2008]).

Rock Wren: 1 May near Red Oak in Montgomery (2007-08, A-D, IBL 77:121).

Bewick’s Wren: 9 to 14 May near Booneville in Madison (2007-22, A-P, IBL 77:121, 136).

Prairie Warbler: 7 May to 20 Jun at Pleasant Creek RA in Linn (2007-16, A-P, IBL 77:124, 169), 14 May at Geode SP in Henry (2007-18, A-P, IBL 77:124) and 4 May at Mason City in Cerro Gordo (2007-31, A-P, IBL 77:124).

Western Tanager: 20 May at Oak Grove Park in Sioux (2007-21, A-D, IBL 77:126) and 16 May near Ruthven in Palo Alto (2007-27, A-P, IBL 77:126).

Painted Bunting: 8 May to 21 Jul at Ames in Story (2007-19, A-P, IBL 77:127,171).

2007 RECORDS NOT ACCEPTED

White-tailed Kite: An unlikely winter date with some conflicting details resulted in the committee feeling that Krider’s Red-tail or even a male Northern Harrier had not been adequately eliminated (2007-04).

Black Phoebe: A bird seen from a slowly moving vehicle without aid of optics was described well but the situation was problematic for a first record and left room for reasonable doubt (2007-42).

Glossy Ibis: While some features were suggestive of this species, there was a not enough detail to eliminate a basic plumaged White-faced Ibis or even a hybrid (2007-24).

Ferruginous Hawk: This is a species that is difficult to evaluate from a written documentation without clear descriptions of various characteristics as well as aging of the bird.  The committee struggled with one report of a bird described with some suggestion of this species but not enough detail to absolutely eliminate a Red-Tailed Hawk (2007-29).  Another report described a bird that may have been a more likely Krider’s Red-tail (2007-06). 

Prairie Falcon: On a split vote, it was determined that a few inconsistencies and lack of critical detail did not overcome the salient characteristics described (2007-28).

Snowy Plover:  Although this species has been reported more frequently in recent years, it is still a very rare migrant in Iowa and requires a more detailed description than was provided to stand alone as evidence (2007-26).

Whimbrel:  A Whimbrel seen in the middle of the Mississippi River was finally determined to be barely into Illinois (2007-13).

Long-tailed Jaeger: A photo of a bird silhouetted against a bright sky could not be determined to be this species but the record was subsequently accepted as Jaeger sp. (2007-51, IBL 78:28)

OLD RECORDS REVIEWED FOR THE FIRST TIME AND ACCEPTED

The discovery of an egg collection from Iowa that had been transferred to the Peabody Museum at Yale University led to research by Matt Kenne of the following early records for the state based on material in a number of museums around the country.

Western Grebe: 9 Jun 1924 at Eagle Lake in Hancock (2007-AC, A-S, first record, *Ralph Handsaker).

Swallow-tailed Kite: 8 May 1878 in Black Hawk (2007-AG, A-S, nest record, * E. Ricksecker).

Whooping Crane: 10 Jun 1881 at Iowa City in Johnson (2007-AL, A-S, nest record, * A.K. Fairchild).

Ruddy Turnstone: 25 May 1878 at Storm Lake in Buena Vista (2007-AF, A-S, first record, *Bond).

Dunlin: 18 Nov 1885 at Storm Lake in Buena Vista (2007-AH, A-S, first record, *Bond).

Passenger Pigeon: May 1882 at Dubuque in Dubuque (2007-AD, A-S, nest record, * Fred Brown).

Passenger Pigeon: 27 May 1877 at Muscatine in Muscatine (2007-AE, A-S, nest record, * C. N. Page).

White-eyed Vireo: 17 May 1896 in Van Buren (2007-AK, A-S, first specimen, *Savage).

Worm-eating Warbler: 8 May 1897 at Hillsboro in Van Buren (2007-AI, A-S, first specimen, *Savage).

Smith's Longspur: 3 May 1870 at Lake Mills in Winnebago (2007-AJ, A-S, first record, * John Krider).

OLD RECORDS REVIEWED FOR THE FIRST TIME AND NOT ACCEPTED

Black Vulture: A two-year-old report written from memory because the original field notes were unavailable may have possibly been this species but might also have been a juvenile Turkey Vulture. (2007-AB).

OLD RECORDS RE-REVIEWED AND NOT ACCEPTED

Eurasian Wigeon: A previous review of this sighting resulted in a not accepted report because the description was lacking detail.  This second description provided more detail but a hybrid American/Eurasian Wigeon could not be ruled out. (2007-AA).

LITERATURE CITED

Allen, P. 2008. Black Vulture above Jester Park, Polk County. Iowa Bird Life 78:52.

Brees, A.  2007. Glossy Ibis in Polk County. Iowa Bird Life 77:144-145.

Brees, A.  2008. Wood Stork at Saylorville Reservoir. Iowa Bird Life 78:46-47.

Cummins, R. and T. Johnson. 2007. Neotropic Cormorant in Appanoose County. Iowa Bird Life 77:180.

Dinsmore, S.J. 2008. Black-tailed Gull at Saylorville Reservoir: First Iowa Record. Iowa Bird Life 78:40-41.

Dinsmore, S.J. 2008. Cave Swallow at Saylorville Reservoir: First Iowa Record. Iowa Bird Life 78:44.

Dinsmore, S.J. 2008. Yellow-billed Loon at Saylorville Reservoir. Iowa Bird Life 78:45-46.

Dinsmore, S.J. 2008. Long-tailed Jaeger at Saylorville Reservoir. Iowa Bird Life 78:48-49.

Dinsmore, S.J. and J. Gilliam. 2008. Magnificent Frigatebird at Spirit Lake. Iowa Bird Life 78:49-50

Dyche, K. 2008. Tricolored Heron in Page County. Iowa Bird Life 78:51.

Gregory, M.A. and A. Johnson. 2008. Fork-tailed Flycatcher: First Iowa Record. Iowa Bird Life 78:42-43.

Livingston, J.R. 2007. Barrow’s Goldeneye in Decatur County. Iowa Bird Life 77:81.

Robinson, D. 2007. Harlequin Ducks in Scott County. Iowa Bird Life 77:146-148.

Zaletel, H. 2008. Clark’s Nutcracker in Guthrie County. Iowa Bird Life 78:98-99.

© Iowa Ornithologists’ Union