 Report of the Records Committee for 2006
Ann M. Johnson
2006 continued a recent trend of adding new species to the state checklist.
For the second year in a row, three new species were added: Brambling (#414),
Mottled Duck (#415), and Red-breasted Sapsucker (#416). With the proliferation
of digital cameras, it has been gratifying to have diagnostic photos of these
new species as well as many other photos to supplement written documentations.
A full half of the records reviewed in 2006 were accompanied by photos. A total
of 66 new reports, many which included multiple documentations, as well as five
old reports 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 2006 with years in which their terms expire
were: Lee Schoenewe (2006), Mike Overton (2007), Aaron Brees (2008),
Matt Kenne (2009), Paul Hertzel (2010), Stephen J. Dinsmore (2011),
and Ann M. Johnson (secretary, appointed by the committee). Rita
Goranson was nominated by the Committee at its annual meeting and
subsequently appointed by the Board of Directors to fill a regular
term beginning in 2007.
The following status changes were approved by the committee at
its annual meeting on 5 November 2006: Ferruginous Hawk
– casual to regular; Black-headed Gull – casual to
regular; Little Gull – accidental to casual;
Rufous Hummingbird – casual to accidental;
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher – casual to regular;
Sprague’s Pipit – accidental to casual; and
Bewick’s Wren – regular to casual. It should be noted
that, although Ferruginous Hawk and Black-headed Gull have become
regular in the state, this status is 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. While it is generally accepted that Rufous Hummingbird
passes through the state each year, the details available to prove
an actual identity beyond the Selasphorus genus level are lacking.
Photos, especially of the spread tail, will help us determine the
actual status of this species in the state.
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. 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.
2006 RECORDS ACCEPTED
Brant: 14 Jan at Pool 19, Mississippi R. in Lee
(2006-14, IBL 76:88) and 10 to 14 Oct at Dickens Pit in Clay
(2006-48, P-1099, IBL 77:10).
Mottled Duck: 7 to 11 Jul at Jester P. in Polk
(2006-31, P-1085, IBL 76:194 [Dinsmore and Brees 2007]).
Garganey: 7 Apr at New Lake in Woodbury (2006-13,
P-1076, IBL 76:136).
Red-throated Loon: 16 Jun at Port Neal in Woodbury
(2006-30, P-1084, IBL 76:195).
Anhinga: 6 Nov at Hitchcock NC in Pottawattamie
(2006-53, IBL 77:13).
Ferruginous Hawk: 17 Oct at Hitchcock NC in
Pottawattamie (2006-50, IBL 77:15).
King Rail: 18 Aug at Polk City WA in Polk (2006-62,
IBL 77:15).
Snowy Plover: 10 to 11 May at Rathbun R. in
Appanoose (2006-25, IBL 76:139).
Whimbrel: 9 May at Rathbun R. in Appanoose
(2006-24, P-1082, IBL 76:140).
Red Knot: 10 Aug at Pinchey Bottoms in Marion
(2006-34, P-1088, IBL 77:17).
Curlew Sandpiper: 12 May at Big Wall L. in Wright
(2006-26, P-1083, IBL 76:141).
Ruff: 31 Jul to 2 Aug at Pinchey Bottoms in Marion
(2006-33, P-1087, IBL 76:199, 77:18).
Red Phalarope: 13 to 16 Sep at Union Slough NWR in
Kossuth (2006-44, P-1096, IBL 77:18) and 14 Oct at Rathbun R. in
Appanoose (2006-52, IBL 77:18).
Laughing Gull: 25 Jul at Red Rock R. in Marion
(2006-35, P-1089, IBL 76:199); 22 Aug at Saylorville R. in Polk
(2006-39, P-1092, IBL 77:18); and 8 to 27 Sep at Red Rock R. in
Marion (2006-41, P-1094, IBL 77:18).
Little Gull: 11 Oct at Rathbun R. in Appanoose
(2006-51, IBL 77:18).
Black-headed Gull: 1 April at Pool 9, Mississippi
R. in Allamakee (2006-10, IBL 76:142) and 4 Aug to 13 Oct at Spirit
L. in Dickinson (2006-46, P-1097, IBL 77:18).
Mew Gull: 24 Sep to 2 Oct at Red Rock R. in Marion
(2006-47, P-1098, IBL 77:18).
California Gull: 2 Mar at Saylorville R. in Polk,
(2006-12, IBL 76:142).
Iceland Gull: 26 Feb to 3 Mar at Davenport in Scott
(2006-04, P-1072, IBL 76:92, 142); 2 to 3 Mar at Davenport in Scott
(2006-07, P-1073, IBL 76:92, 142); and 8 Mar at L&D 15 in Scott
(2006-15, P-1077, IBL 76:92, 142).
Slaty-backed Gull: 16 to 25 Dec at L. Manawa in
Pottawattamie (2006-63, P-1101, IBL 77:68 [Padelford, Padelford and
Sonderman 2007]).
Great Black-backed Gull: 1 Jan at Davenport in
Scott (2006-01, IBL 76:92); 3 Mar at Davenport in Scott (2006-05,
IBL 76:142); 3 Mar at L&D 15 in Scott (2006-11, IBL 76:142); and 8
Mar at L&D 15 in Scott (2006-16, P-1078, IBL 76:142).
White-winged Dove: 1 to 10 Jun at Swaledale in
Cerro Gordo (2006-38, P-1091, IBL 76:200).
Burrowing Owl: 7 Sep to 9 Oct at Seven Cities Sod
Farm in Scott (2006-40, P-1093, IBL 77:19 [Zuurdeeg 2007]).
Green Violet-ear: 14 to 19 Sep at Sioux City in
Woodbury (2006-43, P-1095, IBL 77:20 [Huser and Probst 2007]).
Red-breasted Sapsucker: 6 Dec at Council Bluffs in
Pottawattamie (2006-60, P-1100, IBL 77:69).
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher: 29 Jul at Chichaqua
Wetlands in Polk (2006-32, P-1086, IBL 76:201), 13 Sep at Smith L.
Co. Pk. In Kossuth (2006-45, IBL 77:21) and 2 Oct at Owego Wetlands
in Woodbury (2006-55, IBL 77:21).
Sprague’s Pipit: 22 Apr near Percival in Fremont
(2006-17, P-1079, IBL 76:146 [Dinsmore, Brees and Gilliam 2006]), 14
Oct at Larry Wilson WPA in Clay (2006-49, IBL 77:23) and 3 Oct at
Kellerton WA in Ringgold (2006-58, IBL 77:23).
Yellow-rumped [Audubon’s] Warbler: 15 May at Nine
Eagles SP in Decatur (2006-27, IBL 76:146).
Prairie Warbler: 20 May to 11 Jul at Pleasant Creek
RA in Benton (2006-36, P-1090, IBL 76:147, 203) and 7 Jun at Shimek
SF in Lee (2006-37, IBL 76:203).
Painted Bunting: 7 May to 31 Jul at Ames in Story
(2006-22, P-1081, IBL 76:150,205 [Patterson 2006]).
Brambling: 1 to 21 Jan near Cedar Rapids in Linn
(2006-09, P-1075, IBL 76:95 [Scheible 2006]).
Hoary Redpoll: 16 Dec to 19 Feb 2007 at Brenton
Arboretum in Dallas (2006-64, P-1102, IBL 77:72 [Lawson 2007]).
2006 RECORDS NOT ACCEPTED
Brant: A report by a waterfowl hunter of a large
number of individuals was quite possibly correct but scant details
precluded acceptance (IBL 77:10).
Sharp-tailed Grouse: The brief description was not
conclusive for some members; others believed it was probably escaped
from a game farm since it was observed far from Sharp-tailed
habitat.
Yellow-billed Loon: The descriptions of a bird seen
at a distance were determined to be inconclusive. Distant Common
Loons, especially when seen in less than optimal lighting
conditions, can appear to have light-colored bills. Red-throated
Loon, subsequently seen in the same general area, was ruled out
based on size which is very difficult to judge at a distance.
Black Vulture: A brief view which did not allow
observation of a few key details left this one as probable only.
White-tailed Kite: A few inconsistencies in the
description led the committee to a conservative approach to this
potential state record. One of these days we will get a photo of
this species which has been reported but never accepted in Iowa.
Ferruginous Hawk: A few details conflicted with any
age of Ferruginous Hawk and members felt the bird may well have been
a Krider’s Red-tailed Hawk.
Whooping Crane: One report lacked enough details to
be certain of the species while two others were not accepted because
they were being tracked as a part of the reintroduced population
from Wisconsin. The fact that Whooping Cranes are once again being
seen in Iowa, however, is very exciting news (IBL 76:139, IBL 77:16,
P-1080).
American Woodcock: A more likely Wilson’s Snipe was
not considered and the description was too brief to eliminate that
as a contender for this winter report (IBL 76:92).
Yellow-legged Gull: For a species that is
relatively new to North America and not an easy identification, more
details as well as photos are probably necessary for acceptance.
Iceland Gull: On a split vote, committee members
felt that there were not enough details in the photographs to
separate this bird from a worn and faded Thayer’s Gull (IBL 76:92,
P-1071).
Barn Owl: While some of the description was very
suggestive of this species, it was felt that the more likely
Short-eared Owl could not be completely ruled out.
Northern Waterthrush: The extremely early date as
well as probable territorial behavior indicates that this was more
likely a Louisiana Waterthrush.
Lazuli Bunting: The light conditions and brief
details generated too much doubt about this being a pure Lazuli and
not a hybrid.
Evening Grosbeak: A record late date of a species
that has almost disappeared from the state led members to want more
detail. One member felt that the description better matched
Hawfinch, a European bird which has been found wandering the Midwest
[see European Goldfinch below].
Lark Sparrow: On a split vote, this late bird seen
on a CBC was lacking some detail for acceptance.
Lark Bunting: Although parts of the description
were suggestive, some of the details did not match a wintering bird
of this species (IBL 76:94).
Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow: A report of an
extremely late fall migrant was felt by some to have more likely
been a LeConte’s Sparrow.
European Goldfinch: This bird was photographed but
determined to most likely be from an escaped collection of caged
birds wandering the Midwest in recent years (P-1074).
OLD RECORDS REVIEWED FOR THE FIRST TIME AND ACCEPTED
Whooping Crane: A specimen found at the Ohio
State Museum of Biological Diversity was labeled as taken from near
Algona in Kossuth on 7 Sep 1888 by T.C. Fox (2006-AA, P-1103).
Swallow-tailed Kite: A partial female skeleton
(skin had been destroyed) in the Smithsonian Institution was
collected by Captain John Feilner near Sioux City in Woodbury on 5
May 1864 for the earliest recorded date in Iowa (2006-AC).
Hudsonian Godwit: A male specimen in the
Smithsonian Institution was collected by Captain John Feilner near
Sioux City in Woodbury on 17 May 1864 for the earliest recorded date
in Iowa (2006-AE).
Cerulean Warbler: A male specimen in the
Smithsonian Institution was collected by Captain John Feilner near
Sioux City in Woodbury on 1 May 1864 for the earliest recorded date
in Iowa (2006-AF).
OLD RECORDS REVIEWED FOR THE FIRST TIME AND NOT ACCEPTED
Gyrfalcon: A photo found by the original observer
of Iowa’s first Gyrfalcon record would have created a new first
record date, but the committee was split on whether the grainy photo
ruled out Prairie Falcon (2006-AB, P-1104).LITERATURE CITED
Dinsmore, S.J., A. Brees and J. Gilliam. 2006. Sprague’s Pipit in
Fremont County. Iowa Bird Life 76:211-212.
Dinsmore, S.J. and A. Brees. 2007. Mottled Duck at Saylorville
Reservoir: First Iowa Record. Iowa Bird Life 77:32-34.
Huser, W.F. and J. Probst. 2007. Green Violet-ear in Sioux City:
Second Iowa Record. Iowa Bird Life 77:34-36.
Lawson, T. 2007. Dallas County Hoary Redpoll. Iowa Bird Life
77:80.
Padelford, L., B. Padelford and C. Sonderman. 2007. Slaty-backed
Gull at Lake Manawa, Second Iowa Record. Iowa Bird Life
77:78-79.
Patterson, S. 2006. Painted Bunting in Story County: Second Iowa
Record. Iowa Bird Life 76:185-186.
Scheible, W. 2006. Brambling in Linn County: First Iowa Record.
Iowa Bird Life 76:183-184.
Zuurdeeg, W. 2007. Burrowing Owl in Scott County. Iowa Bird Life
77:36-37.
I thank Paul Hertzel for painstakingly checking all of the inclusive
dates against field reports data so that this report is an accurate
representation of rare bird sightings in Iowa.
© Iowa Ornithologists’ Union
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