-RBA
*Iowa
*Iowa Statewide
*17 March 2007
*IAST07.03.17
-Transcript
-RARE Species Mentioned (documentation required)
ACCIDENTAL:
**HARLEQUIN DUCK**
CASUAL:
**ICELAND GULL**
**GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL**
-Additional Species Mentioned
Ross's Goose
Cackling Goose
Trumpeter Swan
Mute Swan (origin uncertain)
American Black Duck
Blue-winged Teal
Long-tailed Duck
Rough-legged Hawk
**FERRUGINOUS HAWK**
Golden Eagle
Prairie Falcon
Greater Yellowlegs
Pectoral Sandpiper
American Woodcock
Long-eared Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Franklin's Gull
Bonaparte's Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous Gull
Eastern Phoebe (2nd earliest, 3rd earliest))
Loggerhead Shrike
Tree Swallow (record early, 2nd earliest, 3rd earliest)
Winter Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (record early)
American Pipit
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Eastern Towhee
**NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW** (record early)
Brewer's Blackbird
Common Redpoll
Coverage: Iowa Statewide
Date: 17 March 2007
Compiler and Transcriber: Danny Akers
Email: BirdManDan1231@hotmail.com
***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.
-Weekly Summary for Saturday, March 17th, 2007:
One of the largest, if not the largest, reports of the year thus far. The
Accidental HARLEQUIN DUCKS continue, albeit irregularly, at Lock and Dam 14
in Scott County. An adult ICELAND GULL was also observed here, as was a 1st
winter GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL, both Casual. A light juvenile FERRUGINOUS
HAWK made an appearance at a residence in southeastern O'Brien County
earlier this week and an incredibly early NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW was
reported from Taylor County in the south. If accepted, the latter would be
roughly 6 weeks before the current record early date of 24 Apr. Waterfowl
are definitely back into at least the southern half of the state, with much
of the northern half still winter locked. A surge of 70 degree temperatures,
and in some case 80 degree temps, treated Iowans to a preview of spring.
Obviously this threw several species of birds off guard and may have
deposited them in Iowa a little early. TREE SWALLOWS completely reset the
top 3 early dates for Iowa on the 10th (3 locations), 13th, and 14th.
EASTERN PHOEBES came close as well, setting 2nd and 3rd earliest dates on
the 10th and 14th (at least 5 locations). A record early RUBY-CROWNED
KINGLET was also found on the 14th. Other first of the season reports
included shorebirds (GREATER YELLOWLEGS with 2 reports, PECTORAL SANDPIPER,
and AMERICAN WOODCOCKS nearly statewide) and the first YELLOW-RUMPED
WARBLERS as well. It is weeks like these that certainly make Midwest birding
an exciting time!
-Here is the Iowa Rare Bird Alert from Friday, March 9th to Saturday, March
17th, 2007:
SOUTHWEST:
FREMONT COUNTY: A 2nd earliest EASTERN PHOEBE was of note from the Riverton
Area on the 10th.
A PRAIRIE FALCON was observed north of the Riverton Area on the 14th.
POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY: Two FRANKLIN'S GULLS were of note at Lake Manawa on
the 12th.
PAGE COUNTY: The season's first GREATER YELLOWLEGS was observed in a flooded
field north of Shenandoah on the 13th.
TAYLOR COUNTY: A most interesting find was of an extremely early NELSON'S
SHARP-TAILED SPARROW at the Lake of Three Fires Dredging Basin Area on the
14th. If accepted, this would be record early for this species by 6 weeks.
At the Lake of Three Fires State Park were TREE SWALLOWS (3rd earliest
date), a record early RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, and the first reported
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS of the season (18). An early BONAPARTE'S GULL was at
the Bedford city reservoir as well.
NORTHWEST:
O'BRIEN COUNTY: An immature GOLDEN EAGLE made an appearance near the Prairie
Heritage Nature Center on the 11th.
A light juvenile FERRUGINOUS HAWK was observed at a residence in
southeastern O'Brien County on the 14th.
NORTHEAST:
ALLAMAKEE COUNTY: Highlights from Poole Slough near New Albin on the 13th
included 2 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, and roughly 25 TREE
SWALLOWS (tied for 2nd earliest).
BLACK HAWK COUNTY: The NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL continues at George Wyth State
Park as reported on the 15th.
EAST CENTRAL:
SCOTT COUNTY: The young male HARLEQUIN DUCKS continue, albeit irregularly,
between the Iowa and Illinois sides of Lock and Dam 14. At the very least, a
juvenile GLAUCOUS GULL, an adult THAYER'S GULL, and a 1st year GREAT
BLACK-BACKED GULL have also been around the dam all week.
In addition to the HARLEQUIN DUCKS at Lock 14 on the 9th, other highlights
included a MUTE SWAN and an adult ICELAND GULL.
A record early TREE SWALLOW was heard and observed north of Lock and Dam 14
on the 10th. A flock of 4 SWALLOWS were also seen south of Le Claire, 1 of
which was a confirmed TREE SWALLOW.
A female LONG-TAILED DUCK was observed off Canal Shore Drive in Le Claire on
the 11th.
JOHNSON COUNTY: Sand Point in the Hawkeye Wildlife Area held good numbers of
waterfowl on the 10th, including 8 ROSS'S GEESE, 2 CACKLING GEESE, 9
TRUMPETER SWANS, 3 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, and 2 BLUE-WINGED TEAL.
LINN COUNTY: EASTERN PHOEBES were observed at the Wickiup Hill area near
Palo on the 14th.
BENTON COUNTY: Just inside the Benton County line, a COMMON REDPOLL made an
appearance at a private residence in Walford on the 14th.
SOUTHEAST:
LEE COUNTY: An outing to Green Bay Bottoms on the 10th yielded the 3rd
encounter of a record early TREE SWALLOW for March 10th.
DES MOINES COUNTY: A WINTER WREN and an EASTERN TOWHEE were both observed in
Burlington on the 10th.
LOUISA COUNTY: Four BREWER'S BLACKBIRDS were found west of Cone Marsh on the
16th.
SOUTH CENTRAL:
APPANOOSE COUNTY: Highlights from the Sedan Wetlands area on the 10th
included 2 ROSS'S GEESE, 20 CACKLING GEESE, a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, a
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, and 4 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS.
A singing EASTERN PHOEBE was reported from the Wetlands on the 14th.
MARION COUNTY: At Red Rock Dam on the 10th was a juvenile GLAUCOUS and a 2nd
year THAYER'S GULL. A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was observed at the Runnells W.A. on
the Marion/Warren Co. line.
DECATUR COUNTY: In a late report from the 8th, a PRAIRIE FALCON was observed
taking a duck on a pond near Lamoni.
WARREN COUNTY: Two BREWER'S BLACKBIRDS were in a small feedlot off 140th St.
near the Banner Wetlands on the 17th.
CENTRAL:
STORY COUNTY: A female EASTERN TOWHEE continues to be seen at a residence in
Ames.
POLK COUNTY: At the Runnells Wildlife Area just north of the Des Moines
River on the 10th were 180 CACKLING GEESE, 27 ROSS'S GEESE and 26 TRUMPETER
SWANS.
At least 2 EASTERN PHOEBES were observed around Saylorville Reservoir on the
14th.
BOONE COUNTY: An immature GOLDEN EAGLE and 2 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS passed over
Ledges State Park near Boone on the 11th.
TAMA COUNTY: A total of 8 LONG-EARED OWLS were flushed from two locations in
Hickory Hills Park on the 15th.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next scheduled report of the Iowa Rare Bird Alert will be for Thursday,
March 22nd, 2007 for the weekly report. Should any UNRECORDED or ACCIDENTAL
species be reported, an update will be posted.
*Iowa
*Iowa Statewide
*17 March 2007
*IAST07.03.17
-Transcript
-RARE Species Mentioned (documentation required)
ACCIDENTAL:
**HARLEQUIN DUCK**
CASUAL:
**ICELAND GULL**
**GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL**
-Additional Species Mentioned
Ross's Goose
Cackling Goose
Trumpeter Swan
Mute Swan (origin uncertain)
American Black Duck
Blue-winged Teal
Long-tailed Duck
Rough-legged Hawk
**FERRUGINOUS HAWK**
Golden Eagle
Prairie Falcon
Greater Yellowlegs
Pectoral Sandpiper
American Woodcock
Long-eared Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Franklin's Gull
Bonaparte's Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous Gull
Eastern Phoebe (2nd earliest, 3rd earliest))
Loggerhead Shrike
Tree Swallow (record early, 2nd earliest, 3rd earliest)
Winter Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (record early)
American Pipit
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Eastern Towhee
**NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW** (record early)
Brewer's Blackbird
Common Redpoll
Coverage: Iowa Statewide
Date: 17 March 2007
Compiler and Transcriber: Danny Akers
Email: BirdManDan1231@hotmail.com
***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.
-Weekly Summary for Saturday, March 17th, 2007:
One of the largest, if not the largest, reports of the year thus far. The
Accidental HARLEQUIN DUCKS continue, albeit irregularly, at Lock and Dam 14
in Scott County. An adult ICELAND GULL was also observed here, as was a 1st
winter GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL, both Casual. A light juvenile FERRUGINOUS
HAWK made an appearance at a residence in southeastern O'Brien County
earlier this week and an incredibly early NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW was
reported from Taylor County in the south. If accepted, the latter would be
roughly 6 weeks before the current record early date of 24 Apr. Waterfowl
are definitely back into at least the southern half of the state, with much
of the northern half still winter locked. A surge of 70 degree temperatures,
and in some case 80 degree temps, treated Iowans to a preview of spring.
Obviously this threw several species of birds off guard and may have
deposited them in Iowa a little early. TREE SWALLOWS completely reset the
top 3 early dates for Iowa on the 10th (3 locations), 13th, and 14th.
EASTERN PHOEBES came close as well, setting 2nd and 3rd earliest dates on
the 10th and 14th (at least 5 locations). A record early RUBY-CROWNED
KINGLET was also found on the 14th. Other first of the season reports
included shorebirds (GREATER YELLOWLEGS with 2 reports, PECTORAL SANDPIPER,
and AMERICAN WOODCOCKS nearly statewide) and the first YELLOW-RUMPED
WARBLERS as well. It is weeks like these that certainly make Midwest birding
an exciting time!
-Here is the Iowa Rare Bird Alert from Friday, March 9th to Saturday, March
17th, 2007:
SOUTHWEST:
FREMONT COUNTY: A 2nd earliest EASTERN PHOEBE was of note from the Riverton
Area on the 10th.
A PRAIRIE FALCON was observed north of the Riverton Area on the 14th.
POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY: Two FRANKLIN'S GULLS were of note at Lake Manawa on
the 12th.
PAGE COUNTY: The season's first GREATER YELLOWLEGS was observed in a flooded
field north of Shenandoah on the 13th.
TAYLOR COUNTY: A most interesting find was of an extremely early NELSON'S
SHARP-TAILED SPARROW at the Lake of Three Fires Dredging Basin Area on the
14th. If accepted, this would be record early for this species by 6 weeks.
At the Lake of Three Fires State Park were TREE SWALLOWS (3rd earliest
date), a record early RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, and the first reported
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS of the season (18). An early BONAPARTE'S GULL was at
the Bedford city reservoir as well.
NORTHWEST:
O'BRIEN COUNTY: An immature GOLDEN EAGLE made an appearance near the Prairie
Heritage Nature Center on the 11th.
A light juvenile FERRUGINOUS HAWK was observed at a residence in
southeastern O'Brien County on the 14th.
NORTHEAST:
ALLAMAKEE COUNTY: Highlights from Poole Slough near New Albin on the 13th
included 2 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, and roughly 25 TREE
SWALLOWS (tied for 2nd earliest).
BLACK HAWK COUNTY: The NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL continues at George Wyth State
Park as reported on the 15th.
EAST CENTRAL:
SCOTT COUNTY: The young male HARLEQUIN DUCKS continue, albeit irregularly,
between the Iowa and Illinois sides of Lock and Dam 14. At the very least, a
juvenile GLAUCOUS GULL, an adult THAYER'S GULL, and a 1st year GREAT
BLACK-BACKED GULL have also been around the dam all week.
In addition to the HARLEQUIN DUCKS at Lock 14 on the 9th, other highlights
included a MUTE SWAN and an adult ICELAND GULL.
A record early TREE SWALLOW was heard and observed north of Lock and Dam 14
on the 10th. A flock of 4 SWALLOWS were also seen south of Le Claire, 1 of
which was a confirmed TREE SWALLOW.
A female LONG-TAILED DUCK was observed off Canal Shore Drive in Le Claire on
the 11th.
JOHNSON COUNTY: Sand Point in the Hawkeye Wildlife Area held good numbers of
waterfowl on the 10th, including 8 ROSS'S GEESE, 2 CACKLING GEESE, 9
TRUMPETER SWANS, 3 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, and 2 BLUE-WINGED TEAL.
LINN COUNTY: EASTERN PHOEBES were observed at the Wickiup Hill area near
Palo on the 14th.
BENTON COUNTY: Just inside the Benton County line, a COMMON REDPOLL made an
appearance at a private residence in Walford on the 14th.
SOUTHEAST:
LEE COUNTY: An outing to Green Bay Bottoms on the 10th yielded the 3rd
encounter of a record early TREE SWALLOW for March 10th.
DES MOINES COUNTY: A WINTER WREN and an EASTERN TOWHEE were both observed in
Burlington on the 10th.
LOUISA COUNTY: Four BREWER'S BLACKBIRDS were found west of Cone Marsh on the
16th.
SOUTH CENTRAL:
APPANOOSE COUNTY: Highlights from the Sedan Wetlands area on the 10th
included 2 ROSS'S GEESE, 20 CACKLING GEESE, a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, a
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, and 4 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS.
A singing EASTERN PHOEBE was reported from the Wetlands on the 14th.
MARION COUNTY: At Red Rock Dam on the 10th was a juvenile GLAUCOUS and a 2nd
year THAYER'S GULL. A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was observed at the Runnells W.A. on
the Marion/Warren Co. line.
DECATUR COUNTY: In a late report from the 8th, a PRAIRIE FALCON was observed
taking a duck on a pond near Lamoni.
WARREN COUNTY: Two BREWER'S BLACKBIRDS were in a small feedlot off 140th St.
near the Banner Wetlands on the 17th.
CENTRAL:
STORY COUNTY: A female EASTERN TOWHEE continues to be seen at a residence in
Ames.
POLK COUNTY: At the Runnells Wildlife Area just north of the Des Moines
River on the 10th were 180 CACKLING GEESE, 27 ROSS'S GEESE and 26 TRUMPETER
SWANS.
At least 2 EASTERN PHOEBES were observed around Saylorville Reservoir on the
14th.
BOONE COUNTY: An immature GOLDEN EAGLE and 2 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS passed over
Ledges State Park near Boone on the 11th.
TAMA COUNTY: A total of 8 LONG-EARED OWLS were flushed from two locations in
Hickory Hills Park on the 15th.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next scheduled report of the Iowa Rare Bird Alert will be for Thursday,
March 22nd, 2007 for the weekly report. Should any UNRECORDED or ACCIDENTAL
species be reported, an update will be posted.