Iowa (Statewide) RBA
May 2, 2008
Date: Fri, 2 May 2008 20:35:01 -0500
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From: John and Anna Bissell <jabissell@MCHSI.COM>
Subject: Iowa RBA: Week of 5-2-08
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Iowa RBA birds reported from Saturday, April 26 through Friday, May 2, 2008:
-RARE Species Mentioned (documentation required)
ACCIDENTAL:
**BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER** (Possible)
**FISH CROW** (belated-22nd)
CASUAL:
*WHITE-WINGED DOVE*
*BEWICK'S WREN*
-Additional Species Mentioned
Ross's Goose
Blue-winged Teal X Cinnamon Teal
Cinnamon Teal
Surf Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
RED-THROATED LOON (possible)
Western Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Snowy Egret
Cattle Egret
White-faced Ibis
MISSISSIPPI KITE (Record early, 2 locations)
Common Moorhen
Sandhill Crane
Piping Plover
American Avocet (#)
Hudsonian Godwit
Marbled Godwit
RUDDY TURNSTONE (Record early)
White-rumped Sandpiper (2nd earliest tie)
Common Tern
Whip-poor-will
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (3rd earliest tie)
ALDER FLYCATCHER (Record early tie)
Least Flycatcher (3rd earliest)
Western Kingbird (2nd earliest)
White-eyed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo (3rd earliest)
Gray-cheeked Thrush (3rd earliest tie)
Northern Mockingbird
Cerulean Warbler
BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER (Record early)
PINE WARBLER
American Redstart (2nd earliest tie)
MOURNING WARBLER (Record early tie)
CANADA WARBLER (Record early)
Hooded Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Louisiana Waterthrush
Blue Grosbeak (2nd earliest)
BOBOLINK (Record early tie)
Great-tailed Grackle
Rusty Blackbird
***NEW!****************
For more up to date information on rarities in the state of Iowa, visit the
Iowa Birds and Birding website at www.iowabirds.org. A list of rare birds is
placed on the home page with the location of the rarity and most recent date
of observation. This is updated several times per day. This is a handy tool
for anyone making a birding trip or otherwise into the state of Iowa.
************************
Species in ALL CAPS can be classified into three categories in the state of
Iowa: 1) UNRECORDED, ACCIDENTAL or Casual; 2) A RARE but regular species; or
3) record early or late date or unusual for time of year. Any species with
three asterisks (***species***) would represent a first record for Iowa
(UNRECORDED) and should be observed and documented very carefully. Species
with two asterisks (**species**) are species that are either ACCIDENTAL,
CASUAL, or a rare regular species, and should also be documented. Species
with one asterisk (*species) should have some details of the observation
provided.
The wild weather swings continued this week with a powerful cold front
slicing the state last weekend. This front brought sharply colder
temperatures, and grounded a lot of shorebirds, most notably American
Avocets and Willets. The weather moderated mid-week, only to become cool and
rainy again late week. The remarkable incursion of White-faced Ibis
continues, and now Snowy Egrets are showing up in larger than normal
numbers. Despite the cool spring we're experiencing, its interesting how
many new early dates are being set.
Highlights from this week include a possible BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER in
Polk County and a belated report of a FISH CROW in Jefferson County. Other
notable reports include a WHITE-WINGED DOVE in Marshall County and a BEWICK'S
WREN in Lee County.
NORTH CENTRAL:
CERRO GORDO COUNTY:
3 MARBLED GODWITS were seen in a pond just west of Ventura on Highway 18 on
the 27th.
A RUSTY BLACKBIRD was seen at Mallard Marsh on the 27th.
HANCOCK COUNTY:
3 MARBLED GODWITS were seen in a flooded field on the 27th. They were
relocated on the 28th.
MITCHELL COUNTY:
A flyover SANDHILL CRANE was seen on the 27th.
EAST:
JOHNSON COUNTY:
An early WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER was seen at the McBride Lake backwater on
200th St. on the 26th.
An early GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH was seen at Lake McBride on the 26th.
6 WHITE-FACED IBIS and 3 CATTLE EGRETS were seen on the west side of the Big
Bend Public Access road at the Hawkeye WA on the 28th. This access road runs
north from Grabin Road, between Cemetery Rd. and Alpine Rd. Grabin runs
along the south side of the Hawkeye WA and also goes by Williams Prairie. 4
WHITE-FACED IBIS and 4 CATTLE EGRETS were in the same area on the 29th. The
same birds were seen again on the 1st.
5 CATTLE EGRETS were seen at the west end of the county along Grabin Road on
the 30th.
LINN COUNTY:
Highlights from a trip to Squaw Creek Park on the 26th included 4 PINE
WARBLERS and 2 LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH.
IOWA COUNTY:
4 WHITE-FACED IBIS were seen in a flooded field one mile south of Amana on
the west side of Highway 151 on the 27th.
The SNOWY EGRET at Amana Lily Lake was last seen on the 27th.
NORTHEAST:
BLACK HAWK COUNTY:
A record early BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER was seen at George Wyth Park on the
25th.
2 MARBLED GODWITS were seen in a flooded field off of Miller Creek Rd. on
the 26th. Take left on to Washburn Rd off of 218, then turn right on Girsch
Rd to the end of Girsch Rd is Miller Creek Rd. After you turn left on the
farside of the flooded field to your right are the shorebirds. They were
relocated on the 27th.
A HOODED WARBLER was seen at the Hartman Reserve on the 26th. Specifically,
this bird was along the route of the area between Park Rd to North Hackett
on the bike trail.
2 SNOWY EGRETS were seen along Beaver Rd. east of Butler Rd. on the 1st.
This is northwest of Cedar Falls.
SOUTHEAST:
LEE COUNTY:
An early WESTERN KINGBIRD was seen just east of the Argyle junkyard on the
26th.
Highlights from a trip to the Donnelson Unit of Shimek SF on the 30th
included a HOODED WARBLER at the usual location, and WHITE-EYED VIREO. The
HOODED WARBLER was seen again on the 1st.
A WORM-EATING WARBLER was seen in the Croton Unit of Shimek SF on the 1st.
The Argyle junkyard BEWICK'S WREN was last seen on the 29th.
LOUISA COUNTY:
An early BLUE GROSBEAK was seen on the road north of Port Louisa NWR on the
26th.
DES MOINES COUNTY:
A WHITE-FACED IBIS was seen in the flood waters along Tama Rd. off of County
Road 99 on the 28th.
VAN BUREN COUNTY:
A HUDSONIAN GODWIT was seen at Lake Sugema on the 29th.
JEFFERSON COUNTY:
A belated report of a FISH CROW was heard at Whitmam Woods on the 22nd.
SOUTH CENTRAL:
WARREN COUNTY:
A COMMON MOORHEN was seen at Diehl Pond on the 24th.
An early RED-EYED VIREO was seen at Lake Aquhabi on the 26th.
A GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE was seen at a farm pond a mile north of Lake Aquhabi
on the 26th.
CLARKE COUNTY:
An early BOBOLINK was seen along Highway 69 ½ mile south of the Warren
County border on the 23rd.
A GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE was seen on the 26th.
LUCAS COUNTY:
A BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was seen on a pond at the intersection of Hwys.
65 and 34 on the 26th.
A SNOWY EGRET was seen at Pin Oak Marsh on the 27th. It was seen on the east
side of Highway 14.
APPANOOSE COUNTY:
A SANDHILL CRANE was seen in a corn field by the Dean Area of Sedan Bottoms
on the 26th.
A MUTE SWAN was seen in a borrow pit north of Unionville and south of
Blakesburg on Highway T61 on the 26th.
The WHITE-FACED IBIS continue to be seen at the Dean Wetlands section of
Sedan WA on the 27th. However, one must walk the dike in pool 7 to see them.
DAVIS COUNTY:
Highlights from a trip to Eldon WA on the 29th included PINE WARBLER and
LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH.
A WHITE-EYED VIREO was seen at Lake Wapello State Park on the 29th.
MAHASKA COUNTY:
3 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS were seen at Maskunky Marsh on the 28th.
Highlights from a trip to Lake Keomah State Park on the 29th included
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD and an early AMERICAN REDSTART.
A WHITE-FACED IBIS was seen at Maskunky Marsh on the 30th. 2 were seen there
on the 2nd.
DECATUR COUNTY:
A WHITE-FACED IBIS was seen at a pond at the southwest corner of Highway 69
and County Road J66 on the 30th.
MARION COUNTY:
COMMON TERNS were seen below the Red Rock dam on the 30th.
WAPELLO COUNTY:
A PINE WARBLER was seen at Eldon WA on the 29th. To get to this place, from
Eldon, take J12 about 1.5 miles SW; turn left onto J15 and follow it SW
about 1.25 miles; turn left on Tulip Ave. and drive S about 1.25 miles; turn
left on Venus Tr. and drive SE about 1 mile.
CENTRAL:
POLK COUNTY:
A COMMON TERN was seen from the top of the dam at Saylorville on the 25th.
129 AMERICAN AVOCETS were seen at the Lincoln Access section of Saylorville
on the 26th.
A PINE WARBLER was seen at Walnut Woods SP on the 26th.
A LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH was seen singing near the footbridge of Brown's
Woods on the 26th.
A CATTLE EGRET was seen just south of Norwalk on Highway 28 on the 26th.
A CERULEAN WARBLER was seen in the area of the oxbow lake south of Sycamore
Access and to the east of Neal Smith Trail on the 26th.
2 GREAT-TAILED GRACKLES were seen at Chichaqua Bottoms on the 26th.
A possible BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER was seen at a Johnston residence on
the 27th.
A WHIP-POOR-WILL was seen at Walnut Woods on the 27th.
6 CATTLE EGRETS were seen at the corner of South 35th Street and Army Post
Road on the 27th.
An incredible 41 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS were seen at Errington Marsh on
the 27th. Other notables from Errington Marsh included the continuing
WHITE-FACED IBIS. The WHITE-FACED IBIS was seen again on the 29th.
A SANDHILL CRANE was seen in the mowed prairie of Chichaqua WA on the 27th.
A record early MISSISSIPPI KITE was seen at Waterworks Park on the 1st.
A SNOWY EGRET was seen at the small pond at Sandpiper RA at Saylorville on
the 2nd.
A WORM-EATING WARBLER was seen at Yellow Banks County Park on the 2nd. Also
seen was a flyover SANDHILL CRANE.
2 SNOWY EGRETS were seen in flight as they crossed the Highway 5 by-pass
near the Southwest Connector on the 2nd.
An early BLUE GROSBEAK was seen on a rock road just north of where Hwy 65
meets the road into Milo (south of Indianola) on the 2nd.
STORY COUNTY:
Highlights from a trip to Ada Hayden Heritage Park on the 26th included a
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON and 6 AMERICAN AVOCETS.
A HOODED WARBLER was seen at Robison Wildlife Acres south of Nevada on the
26th.
Highlights from a trip to Colo Ponds on the 26th included a BLUE-WINGED TEAL
X CINNAMON TEAL hybrid and a MARBLED GODWIT.
A possible RED-THROATED LOON was seen at Ada Hayden Heritage Park on the
28th.
4 LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSHES were seen at Brookside Park on the 29th.
A record early MOURNING WARBLER was seen at Brookside Park on the 2nd. It
was seen along Squaw Creek just below sign post 4, which is upstream from
the bridge.
BOONE COUNTY:
Highlights from a trip to Harrier Marsh on the 27th included a WHITE-FACED
IBIS and several GREAT-TAILED GRACKLES. The WHITE-FACED IBIS was seen about
50 yards straight east of the parking lot just off US 169 (just south of the
overpass at Ogden). It could be seen easily from the car.
A WHITE-FACED IBIS was seen at the S Ave. pond just south of Bjorkboda Marsh
on the 28th.
A LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH was seen at Camp Hentesa on the 29th.
A WHITE-EYED VIREO was seen at Ledges SP on the 29th. It was located in the
prairie area of upper Ledges.
GREENE COUNTY:
2 GREAT-TAILED GRACKLES were seen at Fen Pond just west of Jefferson on
Highway 30 on the 27th.
A HUDSONIAN GODWIT was seen in a flooded field in Jefferson just south of
Highway 30 on the 27th.
11 MARBLED GODWITS were seen in 2 flooded fields in the southwest part of
the county on the 27th.
9 MARBLED GODWITS were seen at Dunbar Slough on the 27th.
A CATTLE EGRET was seen at Dunbar Slough on the 2nd.
MARSHALL COUNTY:
A WHITE-WINGED DOVE was seen in a backyard in the western part of the county
on the 27th. It has not been seen since.
SOUTHWEST:
FREMONT COUNTY:
Highlights from a trip to Riverton WA on the 26th included a CINNAMON TEAL
in the channel along the west side blacktop, and a flyover SANDHILL CRANE.
Another SANDHILL CRANE or the same bird reported as a flyover was seen later
in the day in a cornfield east of Riverton WA on the same day.
A CINNAMON TEAL was seen 1 mile west of Riverton and north on 342nd Ave. on
the 27th.
PAGE COUNTY:
Early flycatcher highlights from Pierce Creek on the 26th included WESTERN
KINGBIRD and LEAST FLYCATCHER.
Highlights from a trip to Rapp Park on the 25th included 2 AMERICAN AVOCETS
and 7 ROSS'S GEESE.
An early RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD was seen in Shenandoah on the 24th.
A record early MISSISSIPPI KITE was seen in Shenandoah on the 1st.
WEST:
CARROLL COUNTY:
A PIPING PLOVER was seen in the waste area in front of the new Super Wal
Mart in Carroll on the 28th.
The LONG-TAILED DUCK which has been seen at Swan Lake for the past week, was
last seen on the 28th.
A HOODED WARBLER was seen around the swan enclosure at Swan Lake SP on the
1st. It was last seen around noon in the bushes immediately to the south of
the road leading to the swans.
POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY:
An adult male SURF SCOTER was seen at the south end of Lake Manawa on the
30th.
A RED-NECKED GREBE was seen at Lake Manawa on the 1st.
NORTHWEST:
SAC COUNTY:
2 HUDSONIAN GODWITS were seen at Burrow Ponds on the 26th.
34 AMERICAN AVOCETS were seen at the public beach near the miniature golf
course in
Lake View on the 26th.
9 MARBLED GODWITS were seen at a WPA just south of Lake View on the 26th.
3 AMERICAN AVOCETS were seen at Lake View Beach on the 27th.
A HUDSONIAN GODWIT was seen just south of Lytton in a flooded field on the
27th.
DICKINSON COUNTY:
A RED-NECKED GREBE was seen at Grover's Lake on the 26th. A pair was seen on
the 29th. 2 WESTERN GREBES were also present on the 29th.
Highlights from a trip to "The Grade" at the north end of Spirit Lake on the
26th included an AMERICAN AVOCET and a MARBLED GODWIT.
WOODBURY COUNTY:
A WHITE-FACED IBIS and 15 AMERICAN AVOCETS were seen at Sandhill Lake on the
27th. The WHITE-FACED IBIS was seen again on the 28th.
An early ALDER FLYCATCHER was seen in the northwest corner of Graceland
Cemetary in Sioux City on the 27th.
Highlights from the 280th St. Dairy Ponds on the 28th included a record
early RUDDY TURNSTONE, PIPING PLOVER, and AMERICAN AVOCET. The RUDDY
TURNSTONE was relocated on the 30th.
A WORM-EATING WARBLER was seen at Bacon Creek Park on the 2nd.
POCAHONTAS COUNTY:
A GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE was seen at Sunken Grove on the 27th.
3 CATTLE EGRETS were seen at Westmoreland WA on the 27th.
BUENA VISTA COUNTY:
2 WESTERN GREBES were seen at Pickerel Lake on the 29th.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next scheduled report of the Iowa Rare Bird Alert will be for Friday,
May 9, 2008 for the weekly report. Should any UNRECORDED or ACCIDENTAL
species be reported, an update will be posted.
John Bissell
Grimes, Iowa
jabissell@mchsi.com
515-986-9796