Date: 10/23/26 6:17 am From: John and Anna Bissell <john.annabissell...> Subject: [ia-bird] Iowa RBA: 10-23-26
Iowa RBA birds reported from Saturday, October 17, to Friday, October 23,
2026
RARE Species Mentioned (documentation required)
NONE
Additional species mentioned
Glossy/White-faced Ibis
Snowy Egret
Black-billed Cuckoo (3rd latest)
Laughing Gull
California Gull
Townsend’s Solitaire
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Spotted Towhee
Red Crossbill
***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>
***********************
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.
NORTHEAST
FAYETTE COUNTY
RED CROSSBILLS were seen at the UIU campus on the 17th.
WINNESHIEK COUNTY
RED CROSSBILLS were seen at Upper Iowa WMA on the 17th.
A TOWNSENDS SOLITAIRE was seen at Upper Iowa WMA on the 17th.
ALLAMAKEE COUNTY
RED CROSSBILLS were seen at the Paint Rock Unit of Yellow River Forest on
the 18th.
BLACK HAWK COUNTY
RED CROSSBILLS were seen at Cedar Ridge Christian School on the 20th.
DUBUQUE COUNTY
RED CROSSBILLS were seen at the Dubuque Arboretum on the 21st.
EAST
JACKSON COUNTY
A CALIFORNIA GULL was seen at Lock and Dam 12 on the 19th.
JOHNSON COUNTY
2 GLOSSY/WHITE-FACED IBIS were seen at Round Pond on the 22nd.
A SPOTTED TOWHEE was seen at the Gun Club Ponds on the 21st.
CENTRAL
STORY COUNTY
A SPOTTED TOWHEE was seen at Ada Hayden Park on the 17th.
A late BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was seen at Ada Hayden Park on the 21st.
A BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER was seen at Emma McCarthy Lee Park on the
22nd.
GUTHRIE COUNTY
GLOSSY/WHITE-FACED IBIS were seen at Bays Branch on the 17th.
POLK COUNTY
A SNOWY EGRET was seen at the Big Creek Spillway on the 22nd.
SOUTH CENTRAL
MARION COUNTY
A LAUGHING GULL was seen at Red Rock on the 17th.
SOUTHWEST
MADISON COUNTY
A GLOSSY/WHITE-FACED IBIS was seen at Badger Creek SRA on the 20th.
WEST
GUTHRIE COUNTY
GLOSSY/WHITE-FACED IBIS were seen at Bays Branch on the 19th.
The next scheduled report of the Iowa Rare Bird Alert will be for Friday,
October 30, 2026 for the weekly report. Should any UNRECORDED or ACCIDENTAL
species be reported, an update will be posted.
