Iowa RBA: 10-23-09

[John and Anna Bissell]

Iowa RBA birds reported from Friday, October 16, through Friday,
October 23, 2009:

-RARE Species Mentioned (documentation required)

ACCIDENTAL:
**BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE**





-Additional Species Mentioned
Surf Scoter
Red-throated/Pacific type Loon
Eared Grebe
Western Grebe
Cattle Egret
Plegadis sp
Northern Goshawk
Sandhill Crane
American Avocet
SABINES GULL
Common Tern
BLACK TERN (Record late)
Short-eared Owl
SPOTTED TOWHEE
Nelsons Sparrow
SMITHS LONGSPUR



***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.

NORTHEAST:

BENTON COUNTY:
A CATTLE EGRET was seen east of Vinton on the 21st.

BUCHANAN COUNTY:
2 adult and 1 juvenile SANDHILL CRANES were seen near Ham Marsh on the 21st.

5 SANDHILL CRANES were seen northwest of Independence on the 21st.

BLACK HAWK COUNTY:
4 SANDHILL CRANES were seen east of Dunkerton on the 21st.



SOUTH CENTRAL:

MARION COUNTY:
An adult and a juvenile SABINES GULL were seen from Whitebreast Point
at Red Rock on the 16th. The adult was seen again on the 19th.

A WESTERN GREBE was seen at Red Rock on the 16th. It was seen again in
the Roberts Creek Park area on the 19th.

Highlights from Red Rock on the 18th included the continuing adult and
juvenile SABINES GULLS, a SURF SCOTER, and a RED-THROATED/PACIFIC TYPE
LOON.

A NELSONS SPARROW was seen at Roberts Creek Lake on the 16th.

APPANOOSE COUNTY:
Several NELSONS SPARROWS and a single SMITHS LONGSPUR were seen at
Sedan Bottoms during the IOU meeting.

A WESTERN GREBE was seen at Lake Rathbun from Rolling Cove on the 18th.

A COMMON TERN was seen at Lake Rathbun on the 18th.




CENTRAL:

STORY COUNTY:
A SHORT-EARED OWL was seen at Doolittle Prairie on the 18th.

A SPOTTED TOWHEE was seen at an Ames feeding station on the 23rd.

An adult female SURF SCOTER was seen at Ada Hayden Heritage Park in
the south pit on the 23rd.

POLK COUNTY:
A late BLACK TERN was seen at Saylorville on the 16th.

A NELSON’S SPARROW was seen near Brown’s Woods on the 20th.

Highlights from Saylorville on the 20th included 1 EARED GREBE, 4
AMERICAN AVOCETS, a juvenile COMMON TERN, and a record late juvenile
BLACK TERN.

2 NELSONS SPARROWS were seen at Errington Marsh on the 20th.

A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen at Saylorville between Sandpiper and Oak
Grove on the 16th.

2 CATTLE EGRETS were seen along the shoulder of I-80/35 ½ east of the
Des Moines River on the 21st.




WEST:

POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY:
A BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE was seen at the Hitchcock Hawkwatch on the 19th.




NORTHWEST:

KOSSUTH COUNTY:
A PLEGADIS IBIS was seen at Eagle Lake WA on the 20th.

70 SMITHS LONGSPURS and a SHORT-EARED OWL were seen at the field at
120th Ave. and 270th St on the 21st.

23 SMITHS LONGSPURS were seen at the new planting adjacent to St.
Benedict WA on the 21st.







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The next scheduled report of the Iowa Rare Bird Alert will be for
Friday, October 30, 2009 for the weekly report. Should any UNRECORDED
or ACCIDENTAL species be reported, an update will be posted.


John Bissell
Grimes, Iowa
john.annabissell@...
515-986-9796