Iowa RBA birds reported from Monday, April 16th to Sunday, April 29, 2007:
-RARE Species Mentioned (documentation required)
CASUAL:
**WHIMBREL** (Not seen since the 18th)
-Additional Species Mentioned
Cinnamon Teal
Long-tailed Duck
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Snowy Egret
White-faced Ibis
Merlin (nesting?)
Common Moorhen (2nd earliest)
Black-bellied Plover (3rd earliest)
Piping Plover
Willet (68 in one spot)
American Avocet
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (2nd earliest tie)
Alder Flycatcher (Record early)
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Bewick's Wren
Sedge Wren (2nd earliest tie)
Golden-winged Warbler (Record early)
Blackpoll Warbler (3rd earliest tie)
Pine Warbler (3rd earliest)
Kentucky Warbler (Record early tie)
Worm-eating Warbler (3rd earliest tie)
Smith's Longspur
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (3rd earliest tie)
Indigo Bunting (2nd earliest)
Orchard Oriole (2nd earliest tie)
Baltimore Oriole (2nd earliest)
***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.
A Whimbrel in eastern Iowa, several Cinnamon Teals, a couple Pine Warblers, and a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher along with several early arrivals highlight this installment of the Iowa RBA.
NORTH CENTRAL:
WINNEBAGO COUNTY:
A CINNAMON TEAL was found on 4-19 at Myre Slough
CERRO GORDO COUNTY:
A ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK was seen in a yard in Ventura.
KOSSUTH COUNTY:
On the 24th a SEDGE WREN was observed across the road from the St. Benedict WA.
EAST CENTRAL:
JOHNSON COUNTY:
A COMMON MOORHEN was observed at Hawkeye WA on the 16th on the east side of Greencastle Ave, and north of the Swan Lake Rd.
The WHIMBREL at the Twin View Heights area of Hawkeye WA was last seen on the 18th.
On the 23rd A PIPING PLOVER and 3 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS were found on the north side of Hawkeye WA between the DNR headquarters and Highway 965.
On the 24th a WESTERN GREBE was found at Lake McBride, and was probably best viewed from the Jolly Roger campground access. This bird was still being seen as of the 26th.
On the 26th an adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen at Sandy Beach.
NORTHEAST:
ALAMAKEE COUNTY:
A COMMON MOORHEN was seen from the "Army Road" about 1/3 mile east of New
Albin, in Allamakee Co. in the Mississippi River floodplain.
CLAYTON COUNTY:
On the 27th a PINE WARBLER was seen at Pike's Peak State Park.
EAST:
SCOTT COUNTY:
A LONG-TAILED DUCK was seen on the 16th at lock and dam 14 on the Illinois side.
CLINTON COUNTY:
A GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER was seen well along the Willow Island causeway on
the Clinton Riverfront.
SOUTHEAST:
LEE COUNTY:
Several early arrivals were tallied at the following locations:
Shimek State Forest-Croton Unit: KENTUCKY WARBLER, WORM-EATING WARBLER
Belfast Rd: ORCHARD ORIOLE
Argyle Junkyard: BEWICK'S WREN
Lacey-Keosaqua: BALTIMORE ORIOLE
SOUTH CENTRAL:
WAYNE COUNTY:
On the 22nd, an INDIGO BUNTING was found at Coffey Marsh.
WARREN COUNTY:
On the 27th a BLACKPOLL WARBLER was seen at Lake Aquhabi.
APPANOOSE COUNTY:
On the 28th a SNOWY EGRET was found at Sedan Bottoms.
CENTRAL:
POLK COUNTY:
On the 16th 2 drakes and 1 hen CINNAMON TEAL were located at Jester Park near the Osprey platform. These birds were last seen on the 21st.
On the 24th a RED-NECKED GREBE was found at Polk City WA
On the 19th, there was an intriguing report of a territorial pair of MERLINS at the Glendale Cemetary.
On the 24th another CINNAMON TEAL was seen at Chichaqua WA.
On the 16th A PINE WARBLER was seen near the entrance kiosk at Jester Park.
STORY COUNTY:
On the 19th, an ALDER FLYCATCHER was heard on Meadowlane, just past Clapp
Pool (North River Valley Park, Ames).
2 RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS were reported in Ames on the 22nd.
GREENE COUNTY:
On the 22nd, a CINNAMON TEAL and AMERICAN AVOCET were seen at Dunbar Slough.
STORY COUNTY:
The LONG-TAILED DUCK which had been seen at both the Roland Sewage Ponds and Little Wall Lake was last seen on the 20th.
SOUTHWEST:
FREMONT COUNTY:
A SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER was seen and photographed south of the Riverton area. Directions are as follows: Directions from Riverton; south on 330 avenue (black top road on east side of Riverton.) Turn east on 300th street and go approximately 7/10 of a mile to 3335 300th street. The bird was along the fence line on the driveway leading to a yellow house on the north side of the road.
PAGE COUNTY:
On the 29th a SNOWY EGRET was seen at a farm pond at junction of Hwy 2 and M63.
An incredible 68 WILLETS were seen together at the Shennandoah sand pits on the 29th.
WEST CENTRAL:
CARROLL COUNTY:
On the 26th 10 AMERICAN AVOCETS were seen at Swan Lake State Park.
POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY:
On the 28th A WESTERN GREBE was seen at Carter Lake, though it is uncertain whether it was on the Nebraska or Iowa side.
NORTHWEST:
WOODBURY COUNTY:
5 WHITE-FACED IBIS were seen on the 16th at 220th on the paved part just south and east of Sergeant Bluff. Look for the house number (green post along the road) 1389. Look north and you will see a pond/marsh/field. They were located at the west end of this pond.
On the 16th a PIPING PLOVER was seen at Port Neal.
Also on the 16th, 4 AMERICAN AVOCETS were seen in the county.
PALO ALTO COUNTY:
On the 28th several SMITH'S LONGSPURS were observed in a newly restored wetland complex that is on the north side of the Dewey's Pasture wetland complex.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next scheduled report of the Iowa Rare Bird Alert will be for Sunday, May 6, 2007 for the weekly report. Should any UNRECORDED or ACCIDENTAL species be reported, an update will be posted.
John Bissell
Grimes, Iowa
jabissell@mchsi.com
-RARE Species Mentioned (documentation required)
CASUAL:
**WHIMBREL** (Not seen since the 18th)
-Additional Species Mentioned
Cinnamon Teal
Long-tailed Duck
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Snowy Egret
White-faced Ibis
Merlin (nesting?)
Common Moorhen (2nd earliest)
Black-bellied Plover (3rd earliest)
Piping Plover
Willet (68 in one spot)
American Avocet
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (2nd earliest tie)
Alder Flycatcher (Record early)
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Bewick's Wren
Sedge Wren (2nd earliest tie)
Golden-winged Warbler (Record early)
Blackpoll Warbler (3rd earliest tie)
Pine Warbler (3rd earliest)
Kentucky Warbler (Record early tie)
Worm-eating Warbler (3rd earliest tie)
Smith's Longspur
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (3rd earliest tie)
Indigo Bunting (2nd earliest)
Orchard Oriole (2nd earliest tie)
Baltimore Oriole (2nd earliest)
***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.
A Whimbrel in eastern Iowa, several Cinnamon Teals, a couple Pine Warblers, and a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher along with several early arrivals highlight this installment of the Iowa RBA.
NORTH CENTRAL:
WINNEBAGO COUNTY:
A CINNAMON TEAL was found on 4-19 at Myre Slough
CERRO GORDO COUNTY:
A ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK was seen in a yard in Ventura.
KOSSUTH COUNTY:
On the 24th a SEDGE WREN was observed across the road from the St. Benedict WA.
EAST CENTRAL:
JOHNSON COUNTY:
A COMMON MOORHEN was observed at Hawkeye WA on the 16th on the east side of Greencastle Ave, and north of the Swan Lake Rd.
The WHIMBREL at the Twin View Heights area of Hawkeye WA was last seen on the 18th.
On the 23rd A PIPING PLOVER and 3 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS were found on the north side of Hawkeye WA between the DNR headquarters and Highway 965.
On the 24th a WESTERN GREBE was found at Lake McBride, and was probably best viewed from the Jolly Roger campground access. This bird was still being seen as of the 26th.
On the 26th an adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen at Sandy Beach.
NORTHEAST:
ALAMAKEE COUNTY:
A COMMON MOORHEN was seen from the "Army Road" about 1/3 mile east of New
Albin, in Allamakee Co. in the Mississippi River floodplain.
CLAYTON COUNTY:
On the 27th a PINE WARBLER was seen at Pike's Peak State Park.
EAST:
SCOTT COUNTY:
A LONG-TAILED DUCK was seen on the 16th at lock and dam 14 on the Illinois side.
CLINTON COUNTY:
A GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER was seen well along the Willow Island causeway on
the Clinton Riverfront.
SOUTHEAST:
LEE COUNTY:
Several early arrivals were tallied at the following locations:
Shimek State Forest-Croton Unit: KENTUCKY WARBLER, WORM-EATING WARBLER
Belfast Rd: ORCHARD ORIOLE
Argyle Junkyard: BEWICK'S WREN
Lacey-Keosaqua: BALTIMORE ORIOLE
SOUTH CENTRAL:
WAYNE COUNTY:
On the 22nd, an INDIGO BUNTING was found at Coffey Marsh.
WARREN COUNTY:
On the 27th a BLACKPOLL WARBLER was seen at Lake Aquhabi.
APPANOOSE COUNTY:
On the 28th a SNOWY EGRET was found at Sedan Bottoms.
CENTRAL:
POLK COUNTY:
On the 16th 2 drakes and 1 hen CINNAMON TEAL were located at Jester Park near the Osprey platform. These birds were last seen on the 21st.
On the 24th a RED-NECKED GREBE was found at Polk City WA
On the 19th, there was an intriguing report of a territorial pair of MERLINS at the Glendale Cemetary.
On the 24th another CINNAMON TEAL was seen at Chichaqua WA.
On the 16th A PINE WARBLER was seen near the entrance kiosk at Jester Park.
STORY COUNTY:
On the 19th, an ALDER FLYCATCHER was heard on Meadowlane, just past Clapp
Pool (North River Valley Park, Ames).
2 RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS were reported in Ames on the 22nd.
GREENE COUNTY:
On the 22nd, a CINNAMON TEAL and AMERICAN AVOCET were seen at Dunbar Slough.
STORY COUNTY:
The LONG-TAILED DUCK which had been seen at both the Roland Sewage Ponds and Little Wall Lake was last seen on the 20th.
SOUTHWEST:
FREMONT COUNTY:
A SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER was seen and photographed south of the Riverton area. Directions are as follows: Directions from Riverton; south on 330 avenue (black top road on east side of Riverton.) Turn east on 300th street and go approximately 7/10 of a mile to 3335 300th street. The bird was along the fence line on the driveway leading to a yellow house on the north side of the road.
PAGE COUNTY:
On the 29th a SNOWY EGRET was seen at a farm pond at junction of Hwy 2 and M63.
An incredible 68 WILLETS were seen together at the Shennandoah sand pits on the 29th.
WEST CENTRAL:
CARROLL COUNTY:
On the 26th 10 AMERICAN AVOCETS were seen at Swan Lake State Park.
POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY:
On the 28th A WESTERN GREBE was seen at Carter Lake, though it is uncertain whether it was on the Nebraska or Iowa side.
NORTHWEST:
WOODBURY COUNTY:
5 WHITE-FACED IBIS were seen on the 16th at 220th on the paved part just south and east of Sergeant Bluff. Look for the house number (green post along the road) 1389. Look north and you will see a pond/marsh/field. They were located at the west end of this pond.
On the 16th a PIPING PLOVER was seen at Port Neal.
Also on the 16th, 4 AMERICAN AVOCETS were seen in the county.
PALO ALTO COUNTY:
On the 28th several SMITH'S LONGSPURS were observed in a newly restored wetland complex that is on the north side of the Dewey's Pasture wetland complex.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next scheduled report of the Iowa Rare Bird Alert will be for Sunday, May 6, 2007 for the weekly report. Should any UNRECORDED or ACCIDENTAL species be reported, an update will be posted.
John Bissell
Grimes, Iowa
jabissell@mchsi.com