Date: 5/1/26 7:14 am From: John and Anna Bissell <john.annabissell...> Subject: [ia-bird] Iowa RBA: 5-1-26
Iowa RBA birds reported from Friday, April 25, to Friday, May 1, 2026
RARE Species Mentioned (documentation required)
NONE
Additional species mentioned
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Black-necked Stilt
Whimbrel
Western Sandpiper
Snowy Egret
White-faced Ibis
Little Blue Heron
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
Hooded Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
PRAIRIE WARBLER (Record early)
American Redstart (2nd earliest tie)
Cape May Warbler (2nd earliest tie)
Pine Warbler
CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER (Record early)
***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 <http://www.iowabirds.org>
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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.
Please note this is an UNOFFICIAL compilation of rare bird sightings from both eBird and the IOU listserve. Data for field reports and early/late dates should not be taken from this weekly report.
NORTH CENTRAL
BUTLER COUNTY
A WESTERN GREBE was seen along the Highway 14 bridge on the 29th.
NORTHEAST
BREMER COUNTY
A BLACK-NECKED STILT was seen at Sweet Marsh on the 26th.
ALLAMAKEE COUNTY
A BLACK-NECKED STILT was seen at New Albin, Army Rd on the 26th.
A BLACK-NECKED STILT was seen along Red Oak Rd on the 27th.
FAYETTE COUNTY
An early CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER was seen at Adams Fen on the 26th.
An early CAPE MAY WARBLER was seen at Gouldsburg County Park on the 28th.
EAST
JOHNSON COUNTY
6 BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCKS were seen at a pond on 1395 Jordan St in North Liberty on the 27th.
An early AMERICAN REDSTART was seen at Hawkeye WA on the 26th.
3 BLACK-NECKED STILTS were seen at Hawkeye WA on the 29th.
MUSCATINE COUNTY
An early PRAIRIE WARBLER was seen at Big Sand Mound Preserve on the 25th.
A YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was seen at Saulsbury Bridge RA on the 30th.
JACKSON COUNTY
A LITTLE BLUE HERON was seen at Green Island WMA on the 26th.
LINN COUNTY
2 RED-NECKED GREBES were seen at Pleasant Creek SRA on the 28th.
JONES COUNTY
A PINE WARBLER was seen at Wapsinicon SP on the 30th.
SOUTHEAST
LEE COUNTY
A WORM-EATING WARBLER was seen at the Croton Unit of Shimek SF on the 25th.
MAHASKA COUNTY
11 WHITE-FACED IBIS were seen at Maskunky Marsh on the 28th.
CENTRAL
POLK COUNTY
A HOODED WARBLER was seen at Ashworth and Greenwood Park on the 30th.
A RED-NECKED GREBE was seen at Maffitt Reservoir on the 28th.
A PINE WARBLER was seen at Ashworth and Greenwood Park on the 29th.
STORY COUNTY
A WHIMBREL was seen at Hendrickson Marsh on the 25th.
A WORM-EATING WARBLER was seen on the Iowa State University campus on the 30th.
GREENE COUNTY
13 WHITE-FACED IBIS were seen at Dunbar Slough on the 28th.
SOUTHWEST
MADISON COUNTY
2 BLACK-NECKED STILTS were seen at Jensen Marsh on the 30th.
NORTHWEST
SAC COUNTY
A WESTERN SANDPIPER was seen at Kiowa Marsh on the 26th.
CLAY COUNTY
22 WHITE-FACED IBIS were seen at Trumbull Lake on the 28th.
BUENA VISTA COUNTY
28 WHITE-FACED IBIS were seen at Little Storm Lake on the 29th.
The next scheduled report of the Iowa Rare Bird Alert will be for Friday, May 8, 2026 for the weekly report. Should any UNRECORDED or ACCIDENTAL species be reported, an update will be posted.
