Iowa RBA birds reported from Saturday, May 15, through Friday, May 21, 2010:
-RARE Species Mentioned (documentation required) ACCIDENTAL: **ROCK WREN** **NEOTROPIC CORMORANT** CASUAL: *PRAIRIE WARBLER* *BEWICKS WREN* -Additional Species Mentioned Eared Grebe Red-necked Grebe Western Grebe Least Bittern Cattle Egret SNOWY EGRET LITTLE BLUE HERON Black-crowned Night-Heron Sandhill Crane Black-bellied Plover Piping Plover Hudsonian Godwit Ruddy Turnstone WHITE-WINGED DOVE Western Kingbird White-eyed Vireo Tufted Titmouse (NW) Veery Northern Mockingbird Golden-winged Warbler Bay-breasted Warbler BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER Cape May Warbler Cerulean Warbler Yellow-throated Warbler (NW) Mourning Warbler Kentucky Warbler Worm-eating Warbler Louisiana Waterthrush Connecticut Warbler Spotted Towhee Blue Grosbeak PURPLE FINCH (Record late) ***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. NORTH CENTRAL: HARDIN COUNTY: A WHITE-EYED VIREO was seen at Sand Springs on the 15th. HANCOCK COUNTY: 2 RED-NECKED GREBES were seen at Eagle Lake on the 18th. At least one was seen again on the 19th. A MOURNING WARBLER was seen at Eagle Lake on the 19th. A MOURNING WARBLER was seen at Pilot Knob on the 19th. WINNEBAGO COUNTY: A RED-NECKED GREBE was seen at Harmon Lake on the 18th. CERRO GORDO COUNTY: A MOURNING WARBLER was seen at Mallard Marsh on the 19th. A RUDDY TURNSTONE was seen at McIntosh Woods SP on the 21st. It was at the swimming beach. EAST: LINN COUNTY: Highlights from Squaw Creek Park on the 15th included a female BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER, 4 MOURNING WARBLERS, and a WHITE-EYED VIREO. A CONNECTICUT WARBLER was seen at Squaw Creek Park on the 17th. The bird was in the ravine, toward the upper end, where the trail crosses the creek. There is a sinkhole in the trail at this location. JONES COUNTY: Highlights from a preserve near Stone City on the 15th included GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER, BAY-BREASTED WARBLER, WHITE-EYED VIREO, LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH and a VEERY. JOHNSON COUNTY: A CAPE MAY WARBLER and a LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH were seen in a Solon backyard on the 15th. 6 RUDDY TURNSTONES were seen at Sand Point on the 16th. A WORM-EATING WARBLER was seen at the Oakland Cemetery entrance “triangle” of Hickory Hills Park on the 18th. It was last seen on the 19th. A CONNECTICUT WARBLER was seen singing between the triangle and the Bloomington St. entrance at Hickory Hills Park on the 19th. A late PURPLE FINCH was seen in a Solon yard on the 20th. It was last seen on the 21st. Highlights from Hickory Hills Park on the 21st included a WORM-EATING WARBLER at the east end of the south canyon and a CONNECTICUT WARBLER mid way down the south canyon. CLINTON COUNTY: Highlights from Sherman Park on the 16th included CAPE MAY WARBLER, KENTUCKY WARBLER, and VEERY. SCOTT COUNTY: A pair of WESTERN KINGBIRDS were seen at the Duck Creek Golf Course on the 18th. NORTHEAST: BREMER COUNTY: The ROCK WREN is still being seen at the Aaron Anhalt farm, and was last seen on the 15th. Directions to his home can be found on Iowabirds.org. 2 HUDSONIAN GODWITS were seen were seen in a flooded field east of Sweet Marsh on 165th St on the 15th. BLACK HAWK COUNTY: A CATTLE EGRET was seen at the marshes by the intersection of Wagner Rd and Dunkerton Rd on the 15th. FAYETTE COUNTY: Highlights from Brush Creek Canyon State Preserve on the 20th included VEERY, CERULEAN WARBLER, LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH, and MOURNING WARBLER. A MOURNING WARBLER was seen at Grannis Creek WA on the 20th. SOUTHEAST: LOUISA COUNTY: A WESTERN KINGBIRD continues to be seen northwest of Morning Sun on the 15th. Directions: go west from Morning Sun on Highway 78, turn Right / North on "O" road, where the sign says Virginia Grove. Just before reddish log cabin style house. The Kingbird was on the fence on the Right / East side. Fly catching by the small group of cattle. JEFFERSON COUNTY: A NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was seen along the loop trail about 300 yards east of Pleasant Plain Rd on the 17th. LEE COUNTY: Highlights from the Croton Unit of Shimek SF on the 19th included the continuing BEWICKS WREN, LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH, MOURNING WARBLER, and CERULEAN WARBLER. DAVIS COUNTY: Highlights from Lake Wapello SP on the 21st included WHITE-EYED VIREO, LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH, KENTUCKY WARBLER, and MOURNING WARBLER. A KENTUCKY WARBLER was seen at Soap Creek WA on the 21st. SOUTH CENTRAL: WARREN COUNTY: A SNOWY EGRET was seen in flood water on the east side of Highway 28 south of the North River south of Norwalk on the 15th. CENTRAL: GREENE COUNTY: A PIPING PLOVER was seen in sheetwater 6 miles east of Jefferson on the 15th. Directions: take P33 north off of HWY 30 (this is about 6 miles east of Jefferson). The bird was seen on the south edge of some sheet water, about .1 mi west of P33 and .15 mi. north of the hwy, or less than .1 mi. south of 218th, which is where I found the bird from (it's a closed road, so it's perfect for getting out of the car and scoping - no traffic). A HUDSONIAN GODWIT was seen in sheetwater off Highway 30 between Oakland and Pioneer Ave on the 15th. A LEAST BITTERN and 6 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS were seen at Snake Creek Marsh on the 15th. 3 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS were seen at Dunbar Slough on the 16th. BOONE COUNTY: A LITTLE BLUE HERON continues to be seen in a wetland along 252nd lane on the 15th. An EARED GREBE continues at Harrier Marsh on the 15th. A LEAST BITTERN was seen at Harrier Marsh on the 15th. STORY COUNTY: A CAPE MAY WARBLER and a VEERY were seen at McFarland Park on the 15th. The VEERY was still present on the 18th. A MOURNING WARBLER was seen at the Nevada Municipal Cemetery on the 16th. POLK COUNTY: A CAPE MAY WARBLER was seen at Waterworks Park on the 18th. 2 SANDHILL CRANES were seen in a flooded field to the north of Interstate 80 about a mile east of the Des Moines River crossing on the 18th. 2 SANDHILL CRANES were seen at Chichaqua WA on the 19th. SOUTHWEST: MILLS COUNTY: A pair of BLUE GROSBEAKS were seen on the 16th. ADAIR COUNTY: A female CAPE MAY WARBLER was seen at Nodaway Lake on the 15th. PAGE COUNTY: The long staying NEOTROPIC CORMORANT was last seen at Rapp Park on the 18th. A WHITE-WINGED DOVE continues in Shenandoah, and was last seen on the 19th. A CAPE MAY WARBLER was seen at Pierce Creek RA on the 19th. WEST: POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY: A BLUE GROSBEAK was seen on the 16th. 16 CATTLE EGRETS were seen in some sheetwater just east of Interstate 29 southeast of Council Bluffs on the 16th. Highlights from a Hitcock Nature Center Big Day on the 18th included SPOTTED TOWHEE on the boardwalk as well as Page Lane, BAY-BREASTED WARBLER, and a WESTERN KINGBIRD. NORTHWEST: DICKINSON COUNTY: Highlights from a county Big Day on the 15th included CAPE MAY WARBLER, RED-NECKED GREBE at Cristopherson Slough, and 5 RED-NECKED GREBES at Grovers Lake, WESTERN GREBE at Silver Lake, and a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON at Dugout Creek. SAC COUNTY: An EARED GREBE was seen near Wall Lake on the 15th. 2 EARED GREBES were seen at Black Hawk Lake on the 15th. IDA COUNTY: A PRAIRIE WARBLER was seen at Moorhead Park on the 17th. CHEROKEE COUNTY: An EARED GREBE was seen at Cherokee Slough on the 17th. A WHITE-EYED VIREO was seen at Silver Sioux Park on the 17th. A TUFTED TITMOUSE and a YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER were seen at Martin Access on the 17th. LYON COUNTY: A KENTUCKY WARBLER was seen in the southwest part of the county on the 18th. A GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER was seen at Oak Grove Park on the 18th. 2 BLUE GROSBEAKS were seen on the 18th. CALHOUN COUNTY: 3 CAPE MAY WARBLERS were seen at Twin Lakes on the 19th. KOSSUTH COUNTY: A CONNECTICUT and a CERULEAN WARBLER were seen at Smith WA on the 18th. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The next scheduled report of the Iowa Rare Bird Alert will be for Friday, May 28, 2010 for the weekly report. Should any UNRECORDED or ACCIDENTAL species be reported, an update will be posted. John Bissell Grimes, Iowa [email protected] 515-986-9796 --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: [email protected]
