Iowa RBA birds reported from Saturday, October 13, through Friday, October 19, 2012:
-RARE Species Mentioned (documentation required) CASUAL: *SPRAGUES PIPIT* -Additional Species Mentioned Surf Scoter Red-throated Loon Western Grebe Prairie Falcon Golden Eagle THAYERS GULL (Record early) Lesser Black-backed Gull Spotted Towhee Nelsons Sparrow ***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: CERRO GORDO COUNTY: 5 SURF SCOTERS were seen at Clear Lake on the 14th. SOUTH CENTRAL: APPANOOSE COUNTY: A SPOTTED TOWHEE was seen at Sedan Bottoms on the 14th. MARION COUNTY: Highlights from Red Rock on the 15th included a RED-THROATED LOON, WESTERN GREBE, and an early THAYERS GULL. The RED-THROATED LOON and WESTERN GREBE were last seen on the 16th. CENTRAL: POLK COUNTY: At least 1 SPRAGUES PIPIT was still being seen at Errington Marsh as recently as the 14th. GRUNDY COUNTY: A SURF SCOTER was seen at Grundy Lake on the 13th. It was seen again on the 14th. WEST: POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY: A GOLDEN EAGLE was seen in Council Bluffs on the 16th. 2 WESTERN GREBES and 2 NELSONS SPARROWS were seen at Lake Manawa on the 14th. A GOLDEN EAGLE and a PRAIRIE FALCON were seen at the Hitchcock Hawkwatch on the 16th. A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL and a WESTERN GREBE were seen at Lake Manawa on the 18th.Both birds were relocated on the 19th. NORTHWEST: DICKINSON COUNTY: 2 SURF SCOTERS were seen at East Okoboji Lake on the 14th. 2 SPOTTED TOWHEES were seen in the town of Spirit Lake on the 14th. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The next scheduled report of the Iowa Rare Bird Alert will be for Friday, October 26, 2012 for the weekly report. Should any UNRECORDED or ACCIDENTAL species be reported, an update will be posted. John Bissell Grimes, Iowa [email protected] 515-423-6108 --- 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/PayDues.aspx. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: [email protected]
