Date: 5/24/19 12:04 pm From: Ann Johnson <aj...> Subject: [ia-bird] Connecticut Warbler - L. Ahquabi SP (Warren)
To add to the many reports of this species lately, I made a quick run through Lake Ahquabi late this morning and immediately heard a Connecticut Warbler loudly singing just across the road from the boat ramp. I tried to creep up on it and only got a very brief look at a nice male singing his heart out. Most of the time he stayed hidden although I felt like I should be able to just reach out and grab him. And then it was quiet although I never saw it leave. They sure are skulkers! Interestingly, after not seeing any thrushes yesterday, there were still several Swainson's moving through the woods.
Date: 5/24/19 5:25 am From: Jim Durbin <bugmugger187...> Subject: [ia-bird] Squaw Creek Park
I was at the park yesterday morning and found 3 Mourning, 3 Canadas and 2 Goldenwinged Warblers along with a few other species. I was in the south ravine. The overall numbers were down but still a lot of migrants. No Connecticuts. Around 7PM last night, We had a Canada and Blackpoll (female) show up in our yard in Marion.
Jim Durbin 1460 Douglas Court Marion Ia 52302 319-721-1593
Went out to the marsh today to see if the sandhill nest I found made it through last week's heavy rain...all is well, Mom still sitting on the nest with Dad keeping watch. Also found lots of goldfinches and redwing blackbirds(of course), at least two nesting trumpeters on the largest pond, and 3 common yellowthroats.
Ryan Shackleton
Alta Vista,IA
Chickasaw County
Date: 5/23/19 4:47 pm From: 'Betty Lucas' via IA-BIRD <ia-bird...> Subject: [ia-bird] Cerro Gordo Co. Birding-Clear Lake
With weather finally improving, Rita and I headed out to do some birding in the Clear Lake area. First we found 36 SANDERLING in a flooded farm field (shorebirds have been very scarce around here), then an AMERICAN BITTERN over at Zirbel Slough. McIntosh State Park was a bonanza of warblers and other migrants, with the highlight being a beautiful YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER high in the oak trees along the lake. Ventura Marsh contained several late species of ducks, including Ruddy, Ring-necked, Scaup, and Redhead. Finally, another fallout of warblers and other migrants at a marsh on 170th St. in Union Hills, with a surprise PROTHONOTARY WARBLER found along the marsh edge, Cape May Warblers, Blackpolls, Scarlet Tanagers buzzing by in every direction, even a few late Palm Warblers and Yellow-rumped Warblers. Also seen in this area were a couple of UPLAND SANDPIPERS, a species that seems to be becoming very hard to find in North Iowa.
Betty LucasRita Goranson
Mason City, IA
I finally saw the Worm-eating Warbler at the Croton unit of Shimek 3 miles west of Argyle in Lee county. From the parking lot, take the logging trail back to the first creek crossing, but instead of crossing the creek, veer right and go along the secondary creek back to the first ravine. That is where I found the bird. there were actually a pair and very active and I think they are on their nesting area. Also, in the area of the creek crossing, was a silent Black-billed Cuckoo. Chuck Fuller Burlington
Date: 5/23/19 2:17 pm From: Jim Forde <jimforde...> Subject: [ia-bird] Snowy Egret at Hawkeye WMA
Around 2 p.m. a SNOWY EGRET was along the waters on the east side of Babcock Access. It was alone and not near the road. Last seen at the farthest water straight east.
Also, in the vicinity of closer sheetwater to the east was a BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER with several Red-winged Blackbirds.
Date: 5/23/19 11:40 am From: Diane Dentlinger <dianedentlinger...> Subject: [ia-bird] Strasser Woods St. Preserve, Des Moines
I'd never birded Strasser Woods in Des Moines before. This morning I got there at 9:30. Some of species I saw: Mourning warbler American redstart Magnolia warbler Canada warbler Barred owl Blue-gray gnatcatcher Great-crested flycatcher 2 empidomax sp.
Date: 5/23/19 10:50 am From: Brandon Caswell <brandon.caswell83...> Subject: [ia-bird] Linn Co. birding
Birders,
I ran into Gerald Teig, a Linn Co. expat, at Wickiup Hill and we spent a few hours birding together. Wickiup's warbler diversity and numbers were way down since last weekend, but we did see a lot of flycatchers. We had a couple Olive-sided and Yellow-bellied. This continues to be the most amazing spring for Yellow-bellied Flycatcher in my six years of birding in Iowa. Most springs I get 1-2 and every time I've been out lately I see at least 2-3.
On the west side of Lents Bottoms Rd in the fluddle, just north of Power Plant Rd we had a Yellow-headed Blackbird, a county first for me. A male Redhead, male Ring-necked Duck and a Lesser Scaup pair rounded out the waterfowl. At Pleasant Creek a Common Tern was briefly accompanied by three Caspians. We got really solid looks at the Common Tern as is eventually sat on a buoy for a long time at the beach.
At the marsh south of Center Point, we were unable to detect Common Gallinule or Least Bittern. A Sandhill Crane was there and we heard an Alder Flycatcher.
Date: 5/23/19 10:02 am From: Osness <ravenbuddhanow...> Subject: [ia-bird] Summer Tanager in Story County
At McFarland Park north of Ames this morning I saw a Summer Tanager along the Clark Trail. Also saw a Scarlet Tanager near the trail head. Warblers were in great abundance; I saw 15 species. These included several Blackburnian, a couple of Blackpoll, a Mourning Warbler that provided me with a great look and also sang which was quite nice, and great looks at 4 Canada Warblers. Chestnut-sided Warblers, Least Flycatchers, Red-eyed Vireos, and Yellow-throated Vireos were plentiful.. Nick Osness Ames
Date: 5/23/19 9:41 am From: Mark Madsen <mark-madsen...> Subject: [ia-bird] Hickory Hill Warbler Walk
Just a super beautiful morning for the Warbler Walk at Hickory Hill Park with clear blue skies, temperature in the 50s, very few gnats and lots of birds, starting with a singing Connecticut Warbler in the woods just south of the parking area. We had 18 species of warblers and 6 species of Flycatchers.
Date: 5/22/19 8:20 pm From: Doug & Nina Harr <dnharr...> Subject: [ia-bird] Polk Co. bird diversity
Before a mid-afternoon meeting in Ames today, I birded for about 6 hours, from Ogden down to Saylorville Lake, Ashworth Park, and Chichaqua Green Belt, mostly all in Polk Co. I ended up with 70 species, but warblers were just barren at most locations--I only ended up with 4 species (*Wilson's* was best). But there was a great variety of other species. Some of my best for the day were:
*Caspian Terns* (FOY) at Saylorville Lake *Acadian Flycatcher* along Bill Riley Trail at Ashworth Park (photo attached) singing its heart out trying to order "*PI*-zza" *Western Kingbird *(FOY) at usual place in Ankeny--perched on chain link fence across from Dewey Ford *Black-crowned Night Heron* (FOY) 1st year plumage seen as one flew away with its back to me (small chance it may have been a 1st year Yellow-crowned, but unlikley)
The Warbler Walk today was pretty exciting. The group was at least a dozen, with four of the five regular walk leaders present. No singing bird was going to go undetected. ;)
We had two different Connecticut Warblers than the previously reported bird a few days ago. At the Magic Corner Elliot Stalter pointed out a small, yellowish bird that briefly perched up and flew off. I was lucky enough to get a diagnostic photo, female CT Warbler. We then got a call from Mark Madsen, saying that he had heard a CT Warbler on his walk out. When we arrived at the spot, we didn't hear the bird immediately. Then it started singing about 10 feet off the ground in a tree, about 75 feet from the trail. Someone in the group got on it and then we stood there for at least 20 minutes watching it sing, recording it singing and taking photos. It was amazing.
I later continued birding with Dean Hester and Jayden Bowen. We briefly hit up Waterworks Prairie Park for rails, but the water was too high. We then hit up Squire Point Trail and it was still fairly active.
Date: 5/22/19 5:47 pm From: Neil Bernstein <tornataornata...> Subject: [ia-bird] Neotropical migrants at Iowa Lakeside Lab
The migrants continue to descend on Iowa Lakeside Laboratory. In 2.5 hours with 96 feet of mist net, we caught 37 birds including the following warblers: Canada, Blackpoll, Magnolia, A. Redstarts, Chestnut-sided, N. Parula, Nashvilile, Golden-winged, C. Yellowthroat, Yellow, and Tennessee. Also Scarlet Tanagers, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Acadian Flycatcher, and a R-eyed Vireo. Swainson's Thrushes are still here, but they are less numerous than this weekend. We had to roll up the nets because we could not keep up. An Ovenbird is also singing on campus.
Date: 5/22/19 4:59 pm From: Stuart Sparkman <jacamar29...> Subject: [ia-bird] PRAIRIE WARBLER, Des Moines area
Hey IBirders,
My bird luck was activated today- this is my second post of the day. Harney and I walked the trail along the Des Moines River in NW Des Moines between 5 and 6 this afternoon, and had a very unexpected encounter. There was quite a bit of bird activity despite still breezy conditions. I had already seen about a dozen LEAST FLYCATCHERS, averaging about one every 100 feet, when a YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER appeared, and gave me fantastic looks. There is a strip of trees between the trail and the river which is frequented by excitable AMERICAN REDSTARTS this time of year, but other warblers are seen in migration. Such a bird appeared and caught my eye- clearly a warbler in size, shape, and behavior. It was foraging in the shade of some branches and at first was partially hidden by leaves. I first got a look at its middle third in profile. Yellow belly, blackish lengthwise stripes just below the wing, darkish upperparts. I kept on it and it flitted around, offering me more partial glimpses of itself. The light wasn't great at first, and I almost wrote it off as a Magnolia, but something wasn't right. The upperparts were greenish, and I was looking for gray, black, or white on wings or head, but I didn't see any. I looked for a necklace across the throat, but there was none- stripes were confined to the sides of the breast. I eventually had accumulated a composite look of the entire bird and knew it clearly wasn't a Magnolia, but the truth was so far off my radar that I didn't even consider PRAIRIE WARBLER until the bird finally revealed its entire self in decent light and the "football-shaped" mark on the side of its face appeared and I knew I had an astonishing sighting. This was a state bird for me. I only had one brief look after realizing what it was, then it buried itself in a leafy cluster at the back of the tree. It must have sneaked out, as we waited about 5 minutes for more looks but no luck. Unfortunately, the bird was not vocalizing and conditions were poor and the bird too distant for an iPhone photo, so no official documentation. But cumulatively a very nice look for me. This was the type of moment that makes us love birding.
Date: 5/22/19 4:39 pm From: Stuart Sparkman <jacamar29...> Subject: [ia-bird] Cascade of warblers, Brookside Park, Ames
Hey IBirders,
I spent a delightful hour at Brookside Park in Ames this morning and was rewarded with some wonderful encounters with warblers. A CANADA WARBLER near the tennis courts was a good indicator that more good sightings were to follow. It was pretty breezy, and perhaps for this reason some of the warblers were foraging at midstory or lower, notably CHESTNUT-SIDED, WILSON'S and MAGNOLIA WARBLERS. I spent about 20 minutes on just a 100 foot section of the dirt trail along the west side of the creek, which somehow seemed in the lee of the wind. The action was abundant and the birds seemed to ignore me, passing nearly within arm's reach at times. I saw at least three MOURNING WARBLERS (none vocalizing), and a fantastic BAY-BREASTED WARBLER at eye level gave me a thrill. A PHILADELPHIA VIREO twittering under its breath gave a pleasant close encounter. Beating the bushes below the tennis courts, I got a nice view of OVENBIRD, and I was excited and surprised to hear a VEERY sound off twice not too far off, but in an inaccessible area, so no views available. In total I saw 12 warbler species and heard an additional three, including BLUE-WINGED and BLACK-THROATED GREEN. Needless to say, I went off to work in a very good mood. Hope y'all are having some nice sightings as well.
Date: 5/22/19 3:56 pm From: James Mccoy <mccoyfam...> Subject: [ia-bird] Connecticut Warbler at Big Grove Johnson County
Does it seem like thereAre more Connecticut warblers this year than usual? I just saw one that allowed good photo opportunities at big grove, of the Burr Oak land trust, in Johnson County
Date: 5/22/19 12:10 pm From: Ed Lins <snilde11...> Subject: [ia-bird] Lake Darling birds
I walked many wet trails at Lake Darling this morning. In spite of the winds birds were plentiful but hard to hear. Flycatchers were everywhere and included Olive Sided and yellow-bellied. 2 Scarlet Tanagers, 3 eastern Towhees,Orchard Oriole, a territorial Coopers Hawk, warblers including Magnolia, Chestnut-sided, Canada,Tennessee,Bay Breasted and Redstarts too many to count. Many Red-eyed and a single Philadelphia Verio called incessantly. Also Pileated Woodpecker. Still looking for my nemesis, Prothonatary Warbler. Ed Lins. Washington
Date: 5/22/19 11:08 am From: Linda Rudolph <lgrudolph...> Subject: [ia-bird] Bay-breasted Warbler, Black Terns and Acadian Flycatcher- Amana Nature Trail and Lilly Pond in Iowa County
Donna Warner, Linda Quinn and I braved the wind this morning. The Amana Nature Trail is quite wet and muddy, so you need boots if you venture there. Despite the wind we had a good morning and managed really good looks at a male Bay-breasted Warbler and a Canada Warbler. We also heard 3 Wood Thrushes and an Acadian Flycatcher. All in all we had 11 species of Warbler.
Then we went to Amana Lilly Pond. The wind was really blowing hard across the water. There were 17 Black Terns and one Caspian Tern trying to find food above the white-caps.
Date: 5/22/19 11:06 am From: Eliza Willis <trueiowanative...> Subject: [ia-bird] Worm-Eating Warbler Hickory Hill Johnson County
It was a good day for warblers at Hickory Hill today. While looking for (but failing to see) the Connecticut Warbler, we had prolonged and clear looks at a Worm-Eating Warbler. First saw it foraging on the ground and then on a small tree directly above our heads. It was located along the stream in the South Canyon right before the west side of the collapsed bridge. We also had good looks at a male Canada Warbler and a couple of Chestnut-sided Warblers in the same area. We saw a couple of Mourning Warblers a bit further up the trail when heading back to the entrance.
We also had good looks at a Black and White and a Magnolia. The Redstarts were plentiful.
Date: 5/22/19 9:32 am From: Osness <ravenbuddhanow...> Subject: [ia-bird] McFarland Park May 22
On this beautiful but windy day, I saw 10 species of warblers at McFarland Park north of Ames. Many of them were out of the wind in the stream valley along the Clark trail. Most birds were foraging close to the ground; even a pair of Great Crested Flycatchers which are usually high in the tree tops. The most interesting warblers were FOY for me, Mourning and Canada. Also heard an Acadian Flycatcher. Nick Osness Ames
I went early to the park because the winds are atrocious. All warblers were at ground level or a bit above except for the Tennessee that stayed up with the winds. There were thirteen species including: Canada, Mourning, Black-poll, Golden-winged, Wilson's, Magnolia and more. Swainson's Thrushes are still around and I am pretty sure I heard a towhee.
I saw TWO Connecticut Warblers today at the south ravine at Squaw Creek in
Marion. The first was a brief glimpse at a female type. I spent 20 minutes
trying to relocate with no luck. Further on down the trail a bird popped up
and I had an eye level look from 20 yards of a male. This was the best look
I’ve ever had! As I raised my camera it bolted and I completely lost where
it went. I was happy to see it but slightly discouraged I would maybe have
to wait another year at a photo opportunity. I decided to vacate the area
in hopes that it would come back out. So I did that and it paid off! After
a 20 minute absence I revisited the general spot and found the male in a
small bush. It stayed up just long enough for me to get a few doc shots
off.
I’d like to thank Paul Morf for asking me how to get there this morning.
His report of the trail being active inspired me to later wake up and give
it a try. Very awesome and memorable moment!
Date: 5/21/19 7:30 am From: Tyler M. Harms <tyharms...> Subject: [ia-bird] Ames migrants
Hi Birders,
A quick walk through the Iowa State University Arboretum this morning produced a Mourning Warbler along with 11 additional warbler species and my FOY Philadelphia Vireo. The birding was great but the wind and cold was not!
Well, I absolutely can’t talk myself out of it. I’ve had a Yellow-Throated
Warbler (not a Common Yellow Throat) hanging around picking up suet crumbs
under my feeders the last few days.
Date: 5/20/19 5:17 pm From: Pip Fisher <pip...> Subject: [ia-bird] Friendly Redstart- Cottonwood, Polk Co
Howdy Folks!
Over the past several days Carol and I have had great success finding warblers. This past Saturday afternoon we found a blackburnian warbler at the group camping area at Jester, and several warblers at the Clive Greenbelt trail off of 100th, just south of Hickman, including Chestnut sided, Wilson’s, many yellow warblers and redstarts.
This afternoon I decided to spend some time at Cottonwood and saw little of interest, with the exception of a juvenile male redstart that lit on my windshield wiper. It was amazing! Of course he flew off before I could get a picture. Regardless, it was really cool.
Date: 5/20/19 3:38 pm From: 'Reid Allen' via IA-BIRD <ia-bird...> Subject: [ia-bird] Snowy Egrets - Adair County
A call from Danny Akers got us to Lake Orient in southern Adair County where there were 2 SNEG. As we turned around in the park entrance, the birds flew to the north.
iPhone Mail Pam & Reid Allen West Des Moines, Iowa
Following the recent spate of CONW sightings around the state, I can add Dubuque to the list. I flushed one this morning at Mines of Spain quite unexpectedly. Saw it for only 4-5 seconds, but it was unmistakable: large, chunky warbler with complete gray hood and bold, complete white eye ring. Very long legged with posture reminiscent of LOWA. On the Eagle Scout trail just as you enter for forest in the descent toward Cattese Hollow.
Date: 5/20/19 12:03 pm From: Tom Dougherty <tom.dougherty.sr...> Subject: [ia-bird] Connecticut Warbler at Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt Trail
RJ Thompson found a CT warbler today at Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt Cardinal Flower trail. The bird was still there around 12:20p when I arrived. It was flitting around very actively and regularly perching, often so close you could see its eyering with your naked eye. So much for being a skulker!
Date: 5/20/19 11:00 am From: Dennis Thompson <cndthomps...> Subject: [ia-bird] Saylorville this morning
Ray Cummins, Diane Dentlinger, Lynn Marsh and I had a fairly birdy morning at Oak Grove and Cherry Glen. Highlights at Oak Grove beach were RUDDY TURNSTONE, six SANDERLINGS, four DUNLIN and two COMMON TERNS. Fifteen species of warblers included an eye-level view of a stunning male CAPE MAY along with two females.
Date: 5/20/19 9:22 am From: Ed <pfalcons...> Subject: Re: [ia-bird] Dickinson County birds - Sunday, May 19
Hello,
Birded Hogsback at Marble Lake this am for a couple hours - found 14 species warblers including a blue-winged warbler.
Good Birdin’,
Ed Thelen
Spirit Lake
I spent the entire morning birding Kettleson Hogsback WMA in the vicinity of Marble Lake. There were 20 species of Warblers highlighted by a singing male Prothonotary at the Marble Lake entrance road, just off of 240th Ave/M49. Also a Western Kingbird was seen on a telephone wire along 125th St, just west of its intersection with 225th Ave.
Date: 5/20/19 4:11 am From: Rita Goranson <ritag...> Subject: [ia-bird] warblers and such
Yesterday twenty-one species of warblers were seen, most at Parker's Woods, including Golden-winged, Blue-winged, Connecticut, Mourning, and Curt Nelson saw a female Black-throated Blue. I saw that Mary Hodak saw a Prothonotary Warbler so we did indeed have a fallout of warblers. Duck numbers are totally down, gulls and terns are around and we have too much water and no shorebirds to speak of.
This would be a great topic for an article in Iowa Bird Life. Is anyone interested in writing one? Please contact me if you are. Thank you.
Karen Viste-Sparkman
On Sat, May 18, 2019 at 5:42 PM 'Chris Edwards' via IA-BIRD < <ia-bird...> wrote:
> I've seen more Red-breasted Nuthatches in the last two weeks than in any > other spring migration in memory -- not at my feeders but from 1-3 > individuals in nearly every wooded location where I've birded in Johnson > and Jones counties. > > Chris Edwards > Solon, IA > > -----Original Message----- > From: <ia-bird...> <ia-bird...> On Behalf Of > Carl Kurtz > Sent: Saturday, May 18, 2019 10:20 AM > To: Iowa Bird <ia-bird...> > Subject: [ia-bird] Red-breasted Nuthatches > > How any of you are still seeing Red-breasted Nuthatches. They have always > been just an occasional winter bird, but not every winter. This year have > been here most of the winter and are still here. I observed one working > the bark of old willows seeking insects. We have two peanut feeders which > are their favorites. They being visited by orioles as well. > > Carl Kurtz > Marshall County > Central Iowa. > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "IA-BIRD" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to ia-bird+<unsubscribe...> > To post to this group, send email to <ia-bird...> > Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/ia-bird. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ia-bird/<334897C0-B652-4DDB-BC4B-289010CE9F05...> > . > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "IA-BIRD" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to ia-bird+<unsubscribe...> > To post to this group, send email to <ia-bird...> > Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/ia-bird. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ia-bird/006e01d50dca%24eac3e800%24c04bb800%<24...> > . > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >
Date: 5/19/19 7:17 pm From: <mkenne...> Subject: Re: [ia-bird] Warbler fallout and more
I was helping paint at my sister-in-law's Saturday at Arnold's Park, and
it was obvious that good stuff was happening outside all day. Yards were
twitching with thrushes wherever and whenever I looked, and many
warblers were identifiable at eyeball-distance. I'm sure you had a
special day!
Matthew Kenne
Algona, Iowa
On 2019-05-20 01:56, Lee Schoenewe wrote:
> As I told Joe on Saturday, in over 40 years of birding I can count on one hand the number of spring days in northwest Iowa I have had more than 20 warbler species. I think Saturday at 22 species was #4. We also racked up a respectable 13 shorebirds at two locations. Three male Scarlet Tanagers in one locust tree was memorable as was Joe recording a Philadelphia Vireo singing above the car as we got out at Thunder Bridge area. A Pine Siskin at Riverside Cemetery was late and interesting but Nancy then had one today not only at the feeder but pulling nesting material from the wad of horsehair she had presented to the peak oriole horde of over 20 individuals.
>
> Speaking of today, I braved the cold damp day and visited Trumbull Lake this afternoon. With the warbler fallout and woodland walking we did yesterday there was not even time to visit a marsh. If I combine yesterday morning with this afternoon the total was 141 species and all in Clay County. Not a bad half day combined Big Day! I finally found two Western Grebes and one Red-necked Grebe at Trumbull today. There was also ten Caspian Terns and one Common Tern along with several Forster's and Black Terns in abundance at the north end.
>
> May the birds be with us all as an early Memorial Day weekend approaches!!
>
> Lee A Schoenewe
>
> Spencer
>
> -------------------------
>
> [1]
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Date: 5/19/19 7:03 pm From: Tommy Stone <tomtazzstone...> Subject: [ia-bird] Connecticut Warbler - George Wyth SP
This morning, I found a very cooperative CONNECTICUT WARBLER right by the boat ramp parking lot in the canfield area. It even allowed me to go back to my car for the camera, and I was able to get a couple of decent photos. While observing this bird, a MOURNING W. came and perched only a couple feet from the C. Warbler. At home in the yard, I saw a CLAY-COLORED SP. , ALDER F.,12 flyover GOLDEN PLOVERS, and 5 sp. of Warblers.
Date: 5/19/19 6:56 pm From: Lee Schoenewe <lschoe...> Subject: [ia-bird] Warbler fallout and more
As I told Joe on Saturday, in over 40 years of birding I can count on one hand the number of spring days in northwest Iowa I have had more than 20 warbler species. I think Saturday at 22 species was #4. We also racked up a respectable 13 shorebirds at two locations. Three male Scarlet Tanagers in one locust tree was memorable as was Joe recording a Philadelphia Vireo singing above the car as we got out at Thunder Bridge area. A Pine Siskin at Riverside Cemetery was late and interesting but Nancy then had one today not only at the feeder but pulling nesting material from the wad of horsehair she had presented to the peak oriole horde of over 20 individuals.
Speaking of today, I braved the cold damp day and visited Trumbull Lake this afternoon. With the warbler fallout and woodland walking we did yesterday there was not even time to visit a marsh. If I combine yesterday morning with this afternoon the total was 141 species and all in Clay County. Not a bad half day combined Big Day! I finally found two Western Grebes and one Red-necked Grebe at Trumbull today. There was also ten Caspian Terns and one Common Tern along with several Forster's and Black Terns in abundance at the north end.
May the birds be with us all as an early Memorial Day weekend approaches!!
Date: 5/19/19 5:30 pm From: Jim Forde <jimforde...> Subject: [ia-bird] Connecticut Warbler in Linn Co.
Today I entered the rugged and untamed wilderness of Palisades-Dows and the wet conditions required even more careful stepping than usual. Crossing the flowing
creeks were particularly challenging as some banks were real steep and deer trails like mud-slides.
After crossing one creek I spotted at eye-level a male CONNECTICUT WARBLER on downed timber. The bird offered me a good look but was silent. 40 yards later, I assume
the same warbler was again at eye-level but more distant. This time he was singing a short version of his song before dropping down. Usually I find these warblers on
the ground but the vegetation was shorter than normal and it was late morning which might explain its behavior.
Also today at Dows I encountered 2 KENTUCKY WARBLERS, singing on territory, and I had good looks at two MOURNING WARBLERS. A bonus surprise was 4 jumbo morels which
are probably the last of the last.
Date: 5/19/19 12:55 pm From: Ann Johnson <aj...> Subject: RE: [ia-bird] Still present - White-tailed kite Madison county
Just got home after spending about three hours looking for the kite. No positive sightings in that time. That said, it probably showed up as soon as I left!
Ann Johnson
Norwalk (Warren County)
From: <ia-bird...> <ia-bird...> On Behalf Of Dinsmore, Stephen J [NREM]
Sent: Sunday, May 19, 2019 10:36 AM
To: Travis Saveraid <tsaveraid...>; <ia-bird...>
Subject: Re: [ia-bird] Still present - White-tailed kite Madison county
Kite still present at 10:30 a.m. Thanks to Travis for posting this morning!
I just saw this bird perched on a fence post at 6:45am. I can see from the road with binoculars although a spotting scope would be better. The lighting is a little better today and the black wing/shoulder patch is better defined. I have included a map with location marker from today. Also phone photo from yesterday.
Date: 5/19/19 11:54 am From: Mark Brown <markb249...> Subject: [ia-bird] Dickinson County birds - Sunday, May 19
I spent the entire morning birding Kettleson Hogsback WMA in the vicinity of Marble Lake. There were 20 species of Warblers highlighted by a singing male Prothonotary at the Marble Lake entrance road, just off of 240th Ave/M49. Also a Western Kingbird was seen on a telephone wire along 125th St, just west of its intersection with 225th Ave.
Tim will be writing a summary of the spring count. Do you want any other articles from a
team member?
Jo Ann
Sent from my iPhone
> On May 18, 2019, at 1:21 PM, Cathy White <White.Family...> wrote:
>
> I am so sorry to hear of your loss.
>
>
>
>> On May 14, 2019, at 9:19 PM, Claudia Scharf <CScharf...> wrote:
>>
>> Hello,
>>
>> Anyone that was on the May 4 Spring Bird count write a blurb for the group you were in, including the names in your group, perhaps final species count you had for the day, and any photos that you took, and area covered. Please send it to me at your earliest convenience.
>>
>> Just an fyi – My Dad died today. He was not sick. He had vertigo for a couple of weeks and was put on iron pills. Well, today he used his emergency button early morning and the ambulance took him to the hospital. He needed special surgery with top notch surgeons and was airlifted to Gainesville, FL. He made it there, however surgery was long and he did not make it through surgery. The surgeons did their best. My Dad, Charlie had an aorta stent put in around 12 years ago, however, just above the stent he was bleeding. I talked with him for 2 hours (normal length) Friday night and he was doing fine. He was 91.5 years old. He is the one that got my family into birding and nature all at early ages. I hope you had someone in your family that did the same. I will be going to Florida in a few days to meet up with my brother and sister-in-law.
>>
>> Stay well.
>>
>>
>> Claudia Scharf OSB
>> Rock Island, IL
>>
>> Happy Birding…
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> From: <waltzuurdeeg...> <waltzuurdeeg...>
>> Sent: Sunday, May 12, 2019 10:14 PM
>> To: Bowles, Bernie <bowles6042...>; Carlson, Pat <p.carlson...>; Hartley, Judy <judy.hartley...>; ia-bird <ia-bird...>; Konrad, Cathy <cjkonrad27...>; LaFrenz, Bill <blafrenz...>; Millar, Jody <jmillar...>; Murphy, Timothy <molmurphy53...>; Petersen, Mary Lou <maryp470...>; QuinnKristin <QuinnKristin...>; Ragheb, Sherif & Teri <sragheb...>; Robinson, Don <robinsondonaldg...>; Rogers, Carol <Carolrogers62...>; Claudia Scharf <CScharf...>; Swanberg, Janelle <jswanberg...>; White, Cathy <white.family...>; Whitmore, JoAnn <jwhitmore3603...>
>> Subject: Davenport feeder variety
>>
>> Lots of activity at my feeders this weekend, in addition to the usual suspects.
>>
>> Summer Tanager - 2
>> Scarlet Tanager - 1
>> Baltimore Oriole - 9
>> Orchard Oriole - 2
>> Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 7
>> Red-headed Woodpecker - 3
>> Yellow-throated Warbler - 1
>> Red-breasted Nuthatch - 1
>> Indigo Bunting - 1
>>
>> Walt Zuurdeeg
>> Davenport
>
Date: 5/19/19 10:13 am From: Ed <pfalcons...> Subject: [ia-bird] Mockingbird in Dickinson County
Hello,
I just spotted a Mockingbird at the south end of the Center Lake complex in Dickinson County – specifically a quarter-mile east of the junction of 165th St. and 220th Ave.
It was on a fenceline by some cedar trees at the top of the hill on the north side of the road.
Good Birdin’,
Ed Thelen
Spirit Lake
712-320-2440
Date: 5/19/19 10:09 am From: John and Anna Bissell <john.annabissell...> Subject: [ia-bird] Ruddy Turnstone at Saylorville
This morning, I hiked down past the locked gate at Oak Grove and checked
the half exposed Oak Grove beach. There was one fully decked out Ruddy
Turnstone along with several Caspian Terns, Forster’s Tern, and Franklin’s
Gulls.
Along the road heading down were a nice group of low foraging Warblers
including Blackpoll, Mourning, and Magnolia.
At the Cherry Glen picnic area, I had probably as good of a look at a
Bay-breasted Warbler as I’ve ever seen. Also there was a Wilson’s Warbler.
I have a beautiful adult male Mourning Warbler working his way through the perennial garden in my Ankeny backyard, along with Wilson’s Warbler, Redstart, Yellow Warbler, Nashville and Tennessee warblers and a Swainson’s thrush.
At the end of my hike through McFarland Park north of Ames this morning in
which I saw 13 species of warblers, I saw 2 Bay-breasted Warblers at close
range in a oak tree at the west end of the lake. The best views I have ever
had of this species. Usually I see them high in the tree tops.
Nick Osness
Ames
Back to top
Red-breasted Nuthatches <http://groups.google.com/group/ia-bird/t/454c2e754d37d573?utm_source=digest&utm_medium=email> Carl Kurtz <cpkurtz...><mailto:<cpkurtz...>>: May 18 10:19AM -0500
How any of you are still seeing Red-breasted Nuthatches. They have always been just an occasional winter bird, but not every winter. This year have been here most of the winter and are still here. I observed one working the bark of old willows seeking insects. We have two peanut feeders which are their favorites. They being visited by orioles as well.
Carl Kurtz
Marshall County
Central Iowa.
"Chris Edwards" <credwards...><mailto:<credwards...>>: May 18 05:42PM -0500
I've seen more Red-breasted Nuthatches in the last two weeks than in any other spring migration in memory -- not at my feeders but from 1-3 individuals in nearly every wooded location where I've birded in Johnson and Jones counties.
Chris Edwards
Solon, IA
-----Original Message-----
From: <ia-bird...><mailto:<ia-bird...> <ia-bird...><mailto:<ia-bird...>> On Behalf Of Carl Kurtz
Sent: Saturday, May 18, 2019 10:20 AM
To: Iowa Bird <ia-bird...><mailto:<ia-bird...>> Subject: [ia-bird] Red-breasted Nuthatches
How any of you are still seeing Red-breasted Nuthatches. They have always been just an occasional winter bird, but not every winter. This year have been here most of the winter and are still here. I observed one working the bark of old willows seeking insects. We have two peanut feeders which are their favorites. They being visited by orioles as well.
I had about an hour to kill today (about 2PM) while my daughter was in
dance, so went over to Clear Creek Trail on the west side of Camp Cardinal
Rd. and had a couple good views of a nice looking male Connecticut Warbler
off of the dirt bike path that's near IHOP. I park either behind IHOP or
in the Hawkeye parking and then walk over to the trail. I walk on the
cement trail until I see the dirt bike path on the west side and go in
there. The warbler was on the north side of the trail (closer to IHOP),
never higher than about 5' off the ground, near a small pond. There were a
few more common warblers and many resident summer birds, but I had limited
time to explore. The trail is muddy and/or submerged in many
spots........I like the dirt bike trail better, less traffic + more birds.
Had a pretty good spread of warblers at Gotch Park this morning.
Chestnut-sided, Bay-breasted, Magnolia, Blackpoll, Tennessee, Wilson's,
Yellow, American Redstart, Common Yellowthroat, Northern Waterthrush. Also
had Eastern Peewee. There are still some peeps lingering on the few
flooded fields that are around. Lots of Empids were also flying, presuming
that they are still largely Leasts.
Jacob
Humboldt County.
Kathy Gretter <quilterkag...><mailto:<quilterkag...>>: May 18 04:00PM -0500
I had a male yellow-breasted chat this afternoon at Chichaqua Bottoms
Greenbelt Trail, just across the bridge near the "Jack Pine Trail" sign. I
also saw a Mourning Warbler between the parking area and the bridge for
good measure.
Hello -
First time posting so hope I do this correctly. While birding our family farm in southern Madison county I found a perched raptor on the edge of a pasture/hayfield - at approximately 1:45pm today. I immediately thought "kite". Sizewise, similar to Cooper's hawk. I got as close as I could, but only had my phone with me so photos slightly blurred. When perched the plumage markings were most consistent with a white-tailed kite. When it flew, there were definite solid black shoulder markings on top and looks identical to the Sibley guide. I know they are not supposed to be here, but it is what I saw. The bird landed in top of an bur oak still on the property. I did not have cell reception at that location so walked back to the house to post.
The property is directly north of Clanton Creek Recreation area, specifically at the the corner of Millstream Ave and 305th St.
I am not sure how to submit a photo. Thanks
Back to top
Ruddy Turnstones - Sweet Marsh <http://groups.google.com/group/ia-bird/t/4e63c61d5d9517b4?utm_source=digest&utm_medium=email> Tommy Stone <tomtazzstone...><mailto:<tomtazzstone...>>: May 18 12:33PM -0700
Today there were 3 RUDDY TURNSTONES at the southeast section of the marsh.
This morning Mark Madsen, Jerry Denning and I took up the Challenge by The
Nature Conservancy in Iowa to count as many bird species as we could find on
their wonderful property in Muscatine County. We arrived at the gate into
the property at about 7:50 and were soon greeted by Hannah Howard, Community
Coordinator for TNC, and she gave us information about where we might go in
the area and what we might see or hear. As far as we knew, no other birders
showed up for the challenge, so it was just the birds challenging us to find
them.
It was a rich morning, but when a nasty line of severe thunderstorms began
to blow in less than a half hour after we started, we headed back to the car
to wait it out. After about 20 minutes Hannah came and told us that the
storms didn't seem likely to ease up much, and she was calling the Challenge
off for the day. We were only about a mile down the road on the way home
when the rain stopped and it looked like there was more of a break than we
had thought, so we turned around and went back. We're glad we did. On our
second foray we had the treat of the day, a fully visible, singing, garish
male Prothonotary Warbler. We also chalked up a Northern Waterthrush,
American Pelican, Sandhill Crane (heard), Warbling Vireo, and Mourning
Warbler (heard) before the second round of thunderstorms moved in. Full
species list is below.
The Preserve, along the Cedar River, is well worth the trip. It is part of
300,000 acres of richly diverse floodplain oak savanna that, as the TNC web
site claims, "is home to the greatest biodiversity in the state." Hannah
emphasized that the TNC welcomes visitors to the Preserve at any time.
There is a live cattle wire along the right side of the road through the
savannah which can be stepped on to allow passing to the other side (the
Prothonotary was in a swampy area on the right just inside the gate).
I hiked Lost Lake Trail at Ledges State Park as soon as this morning's rain
stopped, hoping for some new warblers but was mostly skunked by very low
numbers. Found only a Yellow Warbler, a couple of Common Yellowthroats,
several American Redstarts, and 2 male Chestnut-sided Warblers (both
singing loudly). A couple of other warblers disappeared into heavy cover
before ID was possible. But the woods were stuffed full of orioles,
grosbeaks, Least Flycatchers, 3 species of vireos and many other birds.
Best of morning was my FOY *Yellow-billed Cuckoo,* frequently singing and
seen flying about 3 times near the high ridge portion of the trail.
Karen and Harney and I birded Cherry Glen and Oak Grove sites on the
east side of Saylorville Lake (Polk Co.) this morning. Some days the birds
make it easy, but today was not like that. We had to work to get some
warblers, but ended up with a respectable list. A SCARLET TANAGER was the
first bird we heard and subsequently saw as we left the car. The best
sightings of the morning were single BLACKBURNIAN and CAPE MAY WARBLERS,
both FOY birds we had mentioned hoping to see today. A pair of
RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS cruised overhead and were seen several times.
Flycatchers were active, with a well-heard ALDER FLYCATCHER, a few LEASTS,
and numerous conspicuous and vociferous GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHERS. I was
happy to see several ORCHARD ORIOLES as well, another FOY for me. A
DICKCISSEL sang for us as we departed the Oak Grove area. Hope you are
enjoying quality time with our visiting migrants.
On the bike trail, before the railroad tracks, there is a straight downhill
stretch, before the path turns and crosses the RR tracks. The Connecticut
Warbler was about 1/2 or 2/3 the way down the path on the left. I was on
the dirt trail above the paved trail, playing some warbler audio to try to
figure out what warblers were in the canopy, when it popped up 20 ft away,
between me and the paved path, and sung. I didn't recognize the song, but
saw the bold eyering when I got bins on it, and got excited (!).
It was funny to watch it walk along the forest floor. It was difficult to
flush. I followed it for awhile, trying to get a picture, and it just
walked along ahead of me, and wouldn't fly unless I was almost on top it.
I'll put some photos and a recording on eBird:
https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S56449433.
Exciting to get an unexpected lifer!
The Hooded Warbler was nowhere to be seen. FOY Philadelphia Vireo. Later
at Jester Park Ray Cummins pointed me to the Summer Tanagers (FOY). Also
had FOY Scarlet Tanager and a singing FOY Alder Flycatcher.
At 7:15 the Mississippi Kite was perched in a dead tee top at the usual
park location in Ottumwa (Wapello County). It left as it was beginning to
rain (storm).
Chuck Fuller
Burlington
Sharon Somers <sosomers49...><mailto:<sosomers49...>>: May 18 10:20AM -0700
Hi Chuck,
What is the name of the park? It looks like there are several in Ottumwa.
I had a Connecticut Warbler singing in my yard between Pella and Knoxville for a couple hours this morning. I got a recording of it - does anyone still have the email from the person asking for recordings of this species? Thanks, Russ.
________________________________
From: <ia-bird...> <ia-bird...> on behalf of Travis Saveraid <tsaveraid...>
Sent: Sunday, May 19, 2019 6:58:40 AM
To: <ia-bird...>
Subject: [ia-bird] Still present - White-tailed kite Madison county
Hello -
I just saw this bird perched on a fence post at 6:45am. I can see from the road with binoculars although a spotting scope would be better. The lighting is a little better today and the black wing/shoulder patch is better defined. I have included a map with location marker from today. Also phone photo from yesterday.
Date: 5/19/19 8:28 am From: Stuart Sparkman <jacamar29...> Subject: [ia-bird] Good Morning for Mourning
Hey I-Birders,
Karen and Harney and I walked a loop including the Neal Smith Trail and Cottonwood RA along the Des Moines River below Saylorville Dam (Polk Co.) this morning. It was cool, sometimes chilly, drippy, sometimes breezy, and generally wet, but our physical discomfort was rewarded with some noteworthy sightings. We had three good looks at MOURNING WARBLERS, including a female, which I couldn't recall having seen before. CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLERS were still around, and could be occasionally heard over the din of a thousand AMERICAN REDSTARTS jockeying for territories. We had two nice looks at BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS and our first-of-the-year PHILADELPHIA VIREO. We noted a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH sounding off in the forest, which would seem curious perhaps any other year.
Date: 5/19/19 7:21 am From: William Scheible <thiolase...> Subject: [ia-bird] 5 5MR vireos
Whilst standing at my back door earlier this morning, I observed 5 species of vireos (Blue-headed, Red-eyed, Philadelphia, Warbling and Yellow-throated) cavorting in the trees. Oddly, they outnumbered the warblers during this episode.
No fossil fuels were consumed during the making of this observation.
Date: 5/19/19 5:48 am From: Mark Madsen <mark-madsen...> Subject: [ia-bird] Prairie Warbler Clear Creek Trail Iowa City
This morning at 7:00 I found a singing Prairie Warbler along the Clear Creek bike trail right where it intersects with the Mormon Handcart trail. From either Melrose Ave or Mormon Trek Rd, turn onto Hawkeye Park Road and go the far northeast end of the University Parking lot. You can park there and walk north along the Clear Creek bike trail. The Prairie Warbler was moving in the trees along both sides of the trail near the intersection with the Mormon Handcart Park trail.
Date: 5/19/19 5:40 am From: Travis Saveraid <tsaveraid...> Subject: [ia-bird] Still present - White-tailed kite Madison county
Hello - I just saw this bird perched on a fence post at 6:45am. I can see from the road with binoculars although a spotting scope would be better. The lighting is a little better today and the black wing/shoulder patch is better defined. I have included a map with location marker from today. Also phone photo from yesterday.
Date: 5/19/19 5:07 am From: Neil Bernstein <tornataornata...> Subject: [ia-bird] Iowa Lakeside Laboratory birds
I have been coming to Iowa Lakeside Lab since 1986, but there has never been this intensity of migrants. When I first got here on 12 May, there were 3 Caspian Terns in Little Miller's Bay. They left, but the warblers and other migrants descended. In the last week, we have seen or banded: Harris' Sparrow, Wilson Warbler, lots of Tennessee and Chestnut-sided warblers, Prothonotary Warblers, Bay-breasted Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Least Flycatchers, Willow Flycatchers, and they are still coming. My class also saw two American Bitterns confront a mink, and we have now heard them in several wetlands. They are predictable at Three Corner Pond, a little over one mile east of the Freda Hafner Kettlehole Preserve.
Date: 5/19/19 5:00 am From: Neil Bernstein <tornataornata...> Subject: [ia-bird] Sandhill Cranes in Dickinson County
Last night, Matt Fairchild, Steve Main, and I (Iowa Lakeside Laboratory) investigated a sighting of Sandhill Cranes. We saw two adults at a DNR property near 130 Ave and 170 Street. One adult mainly stayed near the edge of a wetland, and the other walked up and down the esker and back to the more stationary bird. From a distance, we could not discern a nest, and I may not be in the area at a time when young would hatch. It would be nice if someone followed up later in the year.
Date: 5/19/19 4:42 am From: 'Chris Edwards' via IA-BIRD <ia-bird...> Subject: [ia-bird] Connecticut Warbler
I just enjoyed a great look at a singing male CONNECTICUT WARBLER in my yard. I hear this species most years (usually at Hickory Hill Park) but this is the first one I've actually seen in several years.
Date: 5/18/19 7:56 pm From: Brandon Caswell <brandon.caswell83...> Subject: Re: [ia-bird] Warbler fallout and Western Tanager for dessert
A Western Tanager in far NW and SE IA, seen on the same day? Now what’s in
between????? :)
Good birding,
Brandon Caswell
Marion
On Sat, May 18, 2019 at 21:16 Joe Jungers <lotusjungers...> wrote:
> Lee and I birded a couple areas around Spencer this morning. At
> Stolley park we did not relocate the Hooded Warbler that was seen there
> earlier this week. The second area was the Thunder Bridge Road area which
> follows the Little Sioux River. There was an incredible warbler fallout
> with the storm that moved through during the night and both areas held
> large numbers of birds, not only species but numbers. We ended the morning
> with 22 species of warblers with Golden-winged being the only miss for
> expected warblers. After checking a few local sheet water areas we ended
> the morning with 104 species.
> Coming home from such an amazing experience I didn’t think my birding
> day could get any better but when I arrived home Karla came to tell me that
> she had just spotted a Western Tanager in our front yard. She said it was
> very skittish and she was right, it came around periodically throughout the
> afternoon but it didn’t sit for long.
>
> Joe Jungers
> Sioux County
>
>
> --
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> To view this discussion on the web visit
> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ia-bird/<7A092737-8CAB-415A-930D-7D8D74EA7C73...> > .
> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
>
>
> --
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>
Date: 5/18/19 7:16 pm From: Joe Jungers <lotusjungers...> Subject: [ia-bird] Warbler fallout and Western Tanager for dessert
Lee and I birded a couple areas around Spencer this morning. At Stolley park we did not relocate the Hooded Warbler that was seen there earlier this week. The second area was the Thunder Bridge Road area which follows the Little Sioux River. There was an incredible warbler fallout with the storm that moved through during the night and both areas held large numbers of birds, not only species but numbers. We ended the morning with 22 species of warblers with Golden-winged being the only miss for expected warblers. After checking a few local sheet water areas we ended the morning with 104 species.
Coming home from such an amazing experience I didn’t think my birding day could get any better but when I arrived home Karla came to tell me that she had just spotted a Western Tanager in our front yard. She said it was very skittish and she was right, it came around periodically throughout the afternoon but it didn’t sit for long.
At the end of my hike through McFarland Park north of Ames this morning in which I saw 13 species of warblers, I saw 2 Bay-breasted Warblers at close range in a oak tree at the west end of the lake. The best views I have ever had of this species. Usually I see them high in the tree tops. Nick Osness Ames
I've seen more Red-breasted Nuthatches in the last two weeks than in any other spring migration in memory -- not at my feeders but from 1-3 individuals in nearly every wooded location where I've birded in Johnson and Jones counties.
Chris Edwards
Solon, IA
-----Original Message-----
From: <ia-bird...> <ia-bird...> On Behalf Of Carl Kurtz
Sent: Saturday, May 18, 2019 10:20 AM
To: Iowa Bird <ia-bird...>
Subject: [ia-bird] Red-breasted Nuthatches
How any of you are still seeing Red-breasted Nuthatches. They have always been just an occasional winter bird, but not every winter. This year have been here most of the winter and are still here. I observed one working the bark of old willows seeking insects. We have two peanut feeders which are their favorites. They being visited by orioles as well.
I had about an hour to kill today (about 2PM) while my daughter was in dance, so went over to Clear Creek Trail on the west side of Camp Cardinal Rd. and had a couple good views of a nice looking male Connecticut Warbler off of the dirt bike path that's near IHOP. I park either behind IHOP or in the Hawkeye parking and then walk over to the trail. I walk on the cement trail until I see the dirt bike path on the west side and go in there. The warbler was on the north side of the trail (closer to IHOP), never higher than about 5' off the ground, near a small pond. There were a few more common warblers and many resident summer birds, but I had limited time to explore. The trail is muddy and/or submerged in many spots........I like the dirt bike trail better, less traffic + more birds.
> On May 18, 2019, at 1:01 PM, newtja84 <newtja84...> wrote:
>
> Had a pretty good spread of warblers at Gotch Park this morning. Chestnut-sided, Bay-breasted, Magnolia, Blackpoll, Tennessee, Wilson's, Yellow, American Redstart, Common Yellowthroat, Northern Waterthrush. Also had Eastern Peewee. There are still some peeps lingering on the few flooded fields that are around. Lots of Empids were also flying, presuming that they are still largely Leasts.
>
> Jacob
> Humboldt County.
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "IA-BIRD" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to ia-bird+<unsubscribe...>
> To post to this group, send email to <ia-bird...>
> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/ia-bird.
> To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ia-bird/<e177c565-fb7c-494c-b00d-a9fe0cee91e1...> > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
Date: 5/18/19 1:34 pm From: Tom Dougherty <tom.dougherty.sr...> Subject: [ia-bird] Yellow-breasted chat Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt Trail- Polk Co.
I had a male yellow-breasted chat this afternoon at Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt Trail, just across the bridge near the "Jack Pine Trail" sign. I also saw a Mourning Warbler between the parking area and the bridge for good measure.
Date: 5/18/19 1:18 pm From: Travis Saveraid <tsaveraid...> Subject: [ia-bird] White-tailed kite sighting Madison County
Hello -
First time posting so hope I do this correctly. While birding our family farm in southern Madison county I found a perched raptor on the edge of a pasture/hayfield - at approximately 1:45pm today. I immediately thought "kite". Sizewise, similar to Cooper's hawk. I got as close as I could, but only had my phone with me so photos slightly blurred. When perched the plumage markings were most consistent with a white-tailed kite. When it flew, there were definite solid black shoulder markings on top and looks identical to the Sibley guide. I know they are not supposed to be here, but it is what I saw. The bird landed in top of an bur oak still on the property. I did not have cell reception at that location so walked back to the house to post.
The property is directly north of Clanton Creek Recreation area, specifically at the the corner of Millstream Ave and 305th St.
I am not sure how to submit a photo. Thanks
Date: 5/18/19 12:14 pm From: EA <eaubrey...> Subject: [ia-bird] Land of the Swamp White Oak Preserve - Muscatine County
Birders,
This morning Mark Madsen, Jerry Denning and I took up the Challenge by The Nature Conservancy in Iowa to count as many bird species as we could find on their wonderful property in Muscatine County. We arrived at the gate into the property at about 7:50 and were soon greeted by Hannah Howard, Community Coordinator for TNC, and she gave us information about where we might go in the area and what we might see or hear. As far as we knew, no other birders showed up for the challenge, so it was just the birds challenging us to find them.
It was a rich morning, but when a nasty line of severe thunderstorms began to blow in less than a half hour after we started, we headed back to the car to wait it out. After about 20 minutes Hannah came and told us that the storms didn't seem likely to ease up much, and she was calling the Challenge off for the day. We were only about a mile down the road on the way home when the rain stopped and it looked like there was more of a break than we had thought, so we turned around and went back. We're glad we did. On our second foray we had the treat of the day, a fully visible, singing, garish male Prothonotary Warbler. We also chalked up a Northern Waterthrush, American Pelican, Sandhill Crane (heard), Warbling Vireo, and Mourning Warbler (heard) before the second round of thunderstorms moved in. Full species list is below.
The Preserve, along the Cedar River, is well worth the trip. It is part of 300,000 acres of richly diverse floodplain oak savanna that, as the TNC web site claims, "is home to the greatest biodiversity in the state." Hannah emphasized that the TNC welcomes visitors to the Preserve at any time. There is a live cattle wire along the right side of the road through the savannah which can be stepped on to allow passing to the other side (the Prothonotary was in a swampy area on the right just inside the gate).
Date: 5/18/19 11:25 am From: Cathy White <White.Family...> Subject: [ia-bird] Re: Newsletter ideas...and fyi
I am so sorry to hear of your loss.
> On May 14, 2019, at 9:19 PM, Claudia Scharf <CScharf...> wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> Anyone that was on the May 4 Spring Bird count write a blurb for the group you were in, including the names in your group, perhaps final species count you had for the day, and any photos that you took, and area covered. Please send it to me at your earliest convenience.
>
> Just an fyi – My Dad died today. He was not sick. He had vertigo for a couple of weeks and was put on iron pills. Well, today he used his emergency button early morning and the ambulance took him to the hospital. He needed special surgery with top notch surgeons and was airlifted to Gainesville, FL. He made it there, however surgery was long and he did not make it through surgery. The surgeons did their best. My Dad, Charlie had an aorta stent put in around 12 years ago, however, just above the stent he was bleeding. I talked with him for 2 hours (normal length) Friday night and he was doing fine. He was 91.5 years old. He is the one that got my family into birding and nature all at early ages. I hope you had someone in your family that did the same. I will be going to Florida in a few days to meet up with my brother and sister-in-law.
>
> Stay well.
>
>
> Claudia Scharf OSB
> Rock Island, IL
>
> Happy Birding…
>
>
>
>
>
> From: <waltzuurdeeg...> <mailto:<waltzuurdeeg...> <waltzuurdeeg...> <mailto:<waltzuurdeeg...>> > Sent: Sunday, May 12, 2019 10:14 PM
> To: Bowles, Bernie <bowles6042...> <mailto:<bowles6042...>>; Carlson, Pat <p.carlson...> <mailto:<p.carlson...>>; Hartley, Judy <judy.hartley...> <mailto:<judy.hartley...>>; ia-bird <ia-bird...> <mailto:<ia-bird...>>; Konrad, Cathy <cjkonrad27...> <mailto:<cjkonrad27...>>; LaFrenz, Bill <blafrenz...> <mailto:<blafrenz...>>; Millar, Jody <jmillar...> <mailto:<jmillar...>>; Murphy, Timothy <molmurphy53...> <mailto:<molmurphy53...>>; Petersen, Mary Lou <maryp470...> <mailto:<maryp470...>>; QuinnKristin <QuinnKristin...> <mailto:<QuinnKristin...>>; Ragheb, Sherif & Teri <sragheb...> <mailto:<sragheb...>>; Robinson, Don <robinsondonaldg...> <mailto:<robinsondonaldg...>>; Rogers, Carol <Carolrogers62...> <mailto:<Carolrogers62...>>; Claudia Scharf <CScharf...> <mailto:<CScharf...>>; Swanberg, Janelle <jswanberg...> <mailto:<jswanberg...>>; White, Cathy <white.family...> <mailto:<white.family...>>; Whitmore, JoAnn <jwhitmore3603...> <mailto:<jwhitmore3603...>> > Subject: Davenport feeder variety
>
> Lots of activity at my feeders this weekend, in addition to the usual suspects.
>
> Summer Tanager - 2
> Scarlet Tanager - 1
> Baltimore Oriole - 9
> Orchard Oriole - 2
> Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 7
> Red-headed Woodpecker - 3
> Yellow-throated Warbler - 1
> Red-breasted Nuthatch - 1
> Indigo Bunting - 1
>
> Walt Zuurdeeg
> Davenport
Date: 5/18/19 11:10 am From: Doug & Nina Harr <dnharr...> Subject: [ia-bird] Ledges SP cuckoo report
I hiked Lost Lake Trail at Ledges State Park as soon as this morning's rain stopped, hoping for some new warblers but was mostly skunked by very low numbers. Found only a Yellow Warbler, a couple of Common Yellowthroats, several American Redstarts, and 2 male Chestnut-sided Warblers (both singing loudly). A couple of other warblers disappeared into heavy cover before ID was possible. But the woods were stuffed full of orioles, grosbeaks, Least Flycatchers, 3 species of vireos and many other birds. Best of morning was my FOY *Yellow-billed Cuckoo,* frequently singing and seen flying about 3 times near the high ridge portion of the trail.
Date: 5/18/19 11:01 am From: newtja84 <newtja84...> Subject: [ia-bird] Reasonable fallout Gotch Park
Had a pretty good spread of warblers at Gotch Park this morning. Chestnut-sided, Bay-breasted, Magnolia, Blackpoll, Tennessee, Wilson's, Yellow, American Redstart, Common Yellowthroat, Northern Waterthrush. Also had Eastern Peewee. There are still some peeps lingering on the few flooded fields that are around. Lots of Empids were also flying, presuming that they are still largely Leasts.
Date: 5/18/19 10:59 am From: Stuart Sparkman <jacamar29...> Subject: [ia-bird] Saylorville Lake: Cape May, Blackburnian
Hey I-Birders,
Karen and Harney and I birded Cherry Glen and Oak Grove sites on the east side of Saylorville Lake (Polk Co.) this morning. Some days the birds make it easy, but today was not like that. We had to work to get some warblers, but ended up with a respectable list. A SCARLET TANAGER was the first bird we heard and subsequently saw as we left the car. The best sightings of the morning were single BLACKBURNIAN and CAPE MAY WARBLERS, both FOY birds we had mentioned hoping to see today. A pair of RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS cruised overhead and were seen several times. Flycatchers were active, with a well-heard ALDER FLYCATCHER, a few LEASTS, and numerous conspicuous and vociferous GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHERS. I was happy to see several ORCHARD ORIOLES as well, another FOY for me. A DICKCISSEL sang for us as we departed the Oak Grove area. Hope you are enjoying quality time with our visiting migrants.
Date: 5/18/19 10:41 am From: Tyler Grant <tgrant77...> Subject: [ia-bird] Connecticut Warbler - Ashwork Park, Polk Co
On the bike trail, before the railroad tracks, there is a straight downhill stretch, before the path turns and crosses the RR tracks. The Connecticut Warbler was about 1/2 or 2/3 the way down the path on the left. I was on the dirt trail above the paved trail, playing some warbler audio to try to figure out what warblers were in the canopy, when it popped up 20 ft away, between me and the paved path, and sung. I didn't recognize the song, but saw the bold eyering when I got bins on it, and got excited (!).
It was funny to watch it walk along the forest floor. It was difficult to flush. I followed it for awhile, trying to get a picture, and it just walked along ahead of me, and wouldn't fly unless I was almost on top it. I'll put some photos and a recording on eBird: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S56449433.
Exciting to get an unexpected lifer!
The Hooded Warbler was nowhere to be seen. FOY Philadelphia Vireo. Later at Jester Park Ray Cummins pointed me to the Summer Tanagers (FOY). Also had FOY Scarlet Tanager and a singing FOY Alder Flycatcher.
Date: 5/18/19 10:35 am From: 'Diana Pesek' via IA-BIRD <ia-bird...> Subject: Re: [ia-bird] Linn County sightings from Jim Forde
Sorry for auto-correct. We all know that is Jim Forde!
Diana
> On May 18, 2019, at 12:32 PM, 'Diana Pesek' via IA-BIRD <ia-bird...> wrote: > >> Jim Fords asked me to post a couple of his sightings today. All are in Linn County. >> >> A male HOODED WARBLER was singing this morning along the upper loop of the Savanna trail at Wickiup Hill Nature Center north of Cedar Rapids. >> >> At Pleasant Creek lake, there are two RED-THROATED LOONS. >> >> Diana Pesek >> Cedar Rapids > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "IA-BIRD" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to ia-bird+<unsubscribe...> > To post to this group, send email to <ia-bird...> > Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/ia-bird. > To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ia-bird/<9EDF01C8-209D-4F30-A728-4CB041AEC3AA...> > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
Date: 5/18/19 10:32 am From: 'Diana Pesek' via IA-BIRD <ia-bird...> Subject: [ia-bird] Linn County sightings from Jim Fords
> Jim Fords asked me to post a couple of his sightings today. All are in Linn County. > > A male HOODED WARBLER was singing this morning along the upper loop of the Savanna trail at Wickiup Hill Nature Center north of Cedar Rapids. > > At Pleasant Creek lake, there are two RED-THROATED LOONS. > > Diana Pesek > Cedar Rapids
What is the name of the park? It looks like there are several in Ottumwa.
Thanks for posting! - Sharon Somers, Johnson Co.
On Saturday, May 18, 2019 at 10:31:30 AM UTC-5, cfuller989 wrote: > > At 7:15 the Mississippi Kite was perched in a dead tee top at the usual > park location in Ottumwa (Wapello County). It left as it was beginning to > rain (storm). > Chuck Fuller > Burlington >
Date: 5/18/19 8:31 am From: Ellen Fuller <cfuller989...> Subject: [ia-bird] Mississippi Kite
At 7:15 the Mississippi Kite was perched in a dead tee top at the usual park location in Ottumwa (Wapello County). It left as it was beginning to rain (storm). Chuck Fuller Burlington
Date: 5/18/19 8:19 am From: Carl Kurtz <cpkurtz...> Subject: [ia-bird] Red-breasted Nuthatches
How any of you are still seeing Red-breasted Nuthatches. They have always been just an occasional winter bird, but not every winter. This year have been here most of the winter and are still here. I observed one working the bark of old willows seeking insects. We have two peanut feeders which are their favorites. They being visited by orioles as well.
I had a Connecticut Warbler singing in my yard between Pella and Knoxville for a couple hours this morning. I got a recording of it - does anyone still have the email from the person asking for recordings of this species? Thanks, Russ.
Russ Benedict
Professor of Biology
Director of Prairies For Agriculture Project
Department of Biology, Central College
812 University Street | Campus Box 09 | Pella, Iowa 50219 Office: 641-628-5173
Date: 5/17/19 4:27 pm From: Ulrike G <ulrikedg...> Subject: [ia-bird] Brewster's Warbler in Johnston
Around 12:30 this afternoon, I had a Brewster's Warbler in my backyard. It was rather wet and bedraggled. It had a yellow crown; heavy black eye line; clean white throat, chest, and belly; and bold yellow wing bars.
Date: 5/17/19 4:02 pm From: John and Anna Bissell <john.annabissell...> Subject: [ia-bird] Iowa RBA: 5-17-19
Iowa RBA birds reported from Saturday, May 11, through Friday, May 17, 2019:
-RARE Species Mentioned (documentation required)
ACCIDENTAL:
**FISH CROW**
CASUAL:
*PRAIRIE WARBLER*
-Additional Species Mentioned
Mississippi Kite
American Avocet
Ruddy Turnstone
Western Kingbird (Central)
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Pine Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
***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. ************************
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:*
MITCHELL COUNTY:
A BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER was seen at the New Haven Potholes north of Highway 9 east of Osage on the 11th.
HARDIN COUNTY:
2 AMERICAN AVOCETS were seen at Legacy WA on the 11th.
2 RUDDY TURNSTONES were seen at Legacy WA on the 12th.
*EAST:*
JOHNSON COUNTY:
A PINE WARBLER was seen on the University of Iowa Research Campus on the 11 th.
*SOUTHEAST:*
LEE COUNTY:
3 PRAIRIE WARBLERS were seen at the southeast section of the Croton Unit of Shimek SF on the 14th. Directions to the spots is difficult and I even had trouble finding the opening I visited last spring. Luckily, ticks were amazingly few today, maybe because of the heavy dew and recent wetness. From the 130th Ave. dead end I walked straight south, crossing the creek then taking the east trail uphill until I came to the large round open area. The first Prairie Warbler was on the east edge of this opening and moved around its perimeter, singing.
The other two warblers were straight south of this opening in a long rectangular unit section which is centered by a long grassy area with many cedars bordered by trees. One of The warblers was not far into this area (almost same spot as last spring's Prairie Warbler) and the other all the way to the south end and I assume near the south most boundary. The key to finding this field is following tire ruts in the grass until you come to the fence corner which has the huge pasture on the other side. If you miss this corner you could be following a trail into the west side of the unit. Actually, I think this fence corner is almost inline with the uphill trail entrance if one continued south instead of exploring the large open area as I did. The best thing to do is check a map of this unit first.
*CENTRAL:*
GREENE COUNTY:
A RUDDY TURNSTONE was seen at Dunbar Slough on the 10th. One was still present on the far north end of shorebird habitat on 270th St on the 14th.
POLK COUNTY:
A possible FISH CROW was seen below the dam at Saylorville on the 11th.
A HOODED WARBLER was seen at Ashworth Park on the 13th. It was observed again on the 16th.
A WESTERN KINGBIRD was seen on the east side of the Saylorville spillway on the 14th.
A MISSISSIPPI KITE was seen along 73rd St in Widsor Heights on the 17th.
STORY COUNTY:
A WORM-EATING WARBLER was seen at Emma McCarthy Lee Park on the 14th. Directions: go down the hill and park in the first dirt/gravel parking area at the bottom. Take the trail to the west past the small grove of pine trees until the trail splits. That's the general area I saw it in, along the smaller creek that leads into the bigger creek.
Coordinates: 42.03038, -93.66716
*NORTHWEST:*
SIOUX COUNTY:
A BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER was seen in a yard on the 15th.
The next scheduled report of the Iowa Rare Bird Alert will be for Friday, May 24, 2019 for the weekly report. Should any UNRECORDED or ACCIDENTAL species be reported, an update will be posted.
Date: 5/17/19 9:29 am From: 'Jill Armentrout' via IA-BIRD <ia-bird...> Subject: [ia-bird] Amazing Lifetime Bird at Thomas Mitchell Park
Wednesday I went to Thomas Mitchell park to shoot wildflowers and instead found great birding instead. Of course, I didn’t have my bird lens but I found LIFETIME bird Scarlet Tanager (see photo below) I’m positive it’s a scarlet. Also found.
FOY - Indigo Bunting
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red headed Woodpeckers
FOY-Yellow Warbler/Nashville Warbler - I’m not sure if I am correct photos below HELP
FOY-Gray Catbird
FOY-Rose Breasted Grosbeak
Date: 5/16/19 6:11 pm From: Stuart Sparkman <jacamar29...> Subject: [ia-bird] Mourning Warbler, Ames High Prairie
Hey I-Birders,
While leading a short bird walk for a biology class at Ames High Prairie this morning (Story Co,), I stumbled across a couple of MOURNING WARBLERS. Got a great look at one of them as it foraged in a low bush. They were about the only migrants I spotted this morning, I think. Plenty of birds moved on last night, I suspect.
My neighbors have an adult Summer Tanager male at jelly feeder. Had an adult and 1st year male last year about this time. Could be either one of those coming back. Boone County, Sparks Cemetery area.Larry DauSent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
Date: 5/16/19 4:36 pm From: Dennis Thompson <cndthomps...> Subject: [ia-bird] Summer Tanagers in Johnston
I'm happy to report that a pair of SUMMER TANAGERS has returned to our neighborhood after a two-year absence. Both are feeding on suet and the male is busy establishing his territory. They've also returned to the main campground at Jester Park.
Date: 5/16/19 10:43 am From: Ulrike G <ulrikedg...> Subject: [ia-bird] OSFL at Terra Park
I visited Terra Park in Johnston before 11am and found a FOY Olive-sided Flycatcher just beyond the gate along the gravel. Only found two warblers: one Common Yellowthroat and one Yellow. Warbling Vireo was singing, as was a Field Sparrow. A Red-winged Blackbird singled handedly chased off a Red-tailed Hawk.
Date: 5/16/19 10:35 am From: John Bissell <John.N.Bissell...> Subject: [ia-bird] Ashworth Park birds this morning
I checked Ashworth Park in Des Moines over my lunch this morning. The previously reported Hooded Warbler is still around and singing as if its on territory. Other FOY's for me included Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Philadelphia Vireo, and Eastern Wood-Pewee. Overall migrant numbers were rather low.
Good birding,
John Bissell
Grimes
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Date: 5/16/19 9:28 am From: William Scheible <thiolase...> Subject: [ia-bird] Bay-breasted Warbler
Like Stuart Sparkman, I was bedazzled this morning by a stunning male BB Warbler. The unique combination of pattern and color makes this a particularly handsome species in my opinion.
Date: 5/16/19 5:43 am From: 'RICHARD SAYLES' via IA-BIRD <ia-bird...> Subject: [ia-bird] Serviceberries and Cedar Waxwings
Birds and Oatmeal on the deck Highlights Wood Thrush Cedar Waxwings....will devour many serviceberries and nest in the yard! Yellow billed Cuckoo Orchard Oriole Towhees Many more
I saw this duck at Round Pond in the Hawkeye Wildlife Refuge in Johnson County today. Any suggestions on ID for the one on the right? It was hanging out with Blue-winged Teal.
There was a nice selection of shorebirds including Dunlin, Semipalmated Plover, White-rumped, semipalmated, Least and Spotted sandpipers and Yellow legs. The activity was mostly in the southwest corner of the pond with nothing happening in the northern half.
Date: 5/15/19 7:34 pm From: Stuart Sparkman <jacamar29...> Subject: [ia-bird] Bay-breasted and more, Ames
Hey I-birders,
I spent a delightful hour at Brookside Park in Ames this morning (Wednesday) and was rewarded with 15 species of warblers. The stars of the show were two stunning BAY-BREASTED WARBLERS that leisurely foraged rather low in a tree, allowing crippling views in full sun. I had to walk away from them after 10 minutes to get on the other things I was hearing. CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLERS had arrived the night before, and several gave excellent views. Honorable mentions go to GOLDEN-WINGED, BLUE-WINGED, MAGNOLIA, and BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS, as well as the lone CANADA WARBLER that provided nice views as well. I thought I would leave for work with a mere 13 warblers, but a vocal YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER led me to a sycamore on the way out, and provided me with a BLACKPOLL WARBLER there as a bonus. Hope you all had similar luck on this fine spring morning.
Date: 5/15/19 5:52 pm From: Linda Rudolph <lgrudolph...> Subject: [ia-bird] Black-billed Cuckoo, 15 warblers and Red-breasted Nuthatches- Jones County
Bill Scheible and I visited Central Park and Muskrat Slough in Jones County this morning.
We had never been to Central Park before and we both thought it was a little hidden jewel. There were two stands of well maintained Purple Martin gourds that had nesting martins. With lots of Pine trees we found 5 Red-breasted Nuthatches. The naturalist told us that they normally have a few Red-breasted Nuthatches all Summer and this leads us to believe they might nest in this park. We had 4 Common Nighthawks circling overhead while we were craning our necks looking for warblers. Even with this distraction we managed to see 15 species of warblers, including a male Blackpoll and a Canada Warbler.
We birded the road along the north side of Muskrat Slough. This was quite a busy place even though it was closer to noon. We found a resting Common Nighthawk, another Canada Warbler, a lone Green-winged Teal, heard a Sandhill Crane, and best of all Bill spotted a Cuckoo flying across the road. He perched up briefly, just long enough for me to see a completely black bill and no rufous on its wings before it ducked back into the brush.
Date: 5/15/19 4:24 pm From: Eric Ollie <uphawkeye...> Subject: Re: [ia-bird] Northern mockingbird at East River Valley Park, Ames
At around 5:15 PM this afternoon I relocated the NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD that was originally found by Timothy Stewart a few days ago at River Valley Park (Carr Woods) in Ames. It was vociferously singing on and on at the same location Tim found it, and where I found a NOMO last spring. I would think that there would be an excellent chance for others to find it if they tried.
Coordinates: 42.04858, Lon: -93.60372
Eric Ollie Ames
On Sun, May 12, 2019, 9:03 PM Timothy Stewart <twstewar...> wrote:
Date: 5/15/19 11:47 am From: Joe Jungers <lotusjungers...> Subject: [ia-bird] Black-throated Blue Warbler
Spring is finally making its way to NW Iowa. A nice group of warblers arrived during the night and with them I found a female Black-throated Blue Warbler. I checked again right before I came in for lunch and she was still in the same general area. That’s a new bird for our yard and a new county bird for me.
Date: 5/15/19 9:00 am From: Doug & Nina Harr <dnharr...> Subject: [ia-bird] (not an observation) Birding help needed for Des Moines event
Polk County Conservation Board is planning a grand reopening at Easter Lake on Sunday, June 23rd. They have asked if Iowa Audubon or *any* birders might be willing to talk about bird watching, the type of birds that may be found using the lake area, and having spotting scopes available for the public to use. The event is from 1-5 PM and will take place on the north shoreline. Easter Lake is in the southeast part of Des Moines.
If you might be willing to help out with the request above (sent to me a couple of times), please contact Patti Petersen Keys directly at the following email: *<Patrice.Petersen-Keys...> <Patrice.Petersen-Keys...>*.
I will be on a Pacific Northwest bird photography trip for much of June and am not sure I'll be back by the 23rd. If I am, I will try to help out with this event, but Patti would really like to have some better assurance of birding volunteers.
Date: 5/15/19 8:59 am From: Russell Benedict <BenedictR...> Subject: [ia-bird] Gray-cheeked Thrush, Eastern Wood Pewee
Had a couple nice birds on the campus of Central College in Pella this morning. The most exciting was a singing Gray-cheeked Thrush - I had not heard them sing before, and I have only confidently identified them a couple of times in the past. The thrush stuck to some mature conifers present on campus, and sat side-by-side with a Swainson's Thrush for nearly a minute. Also had beautiful looks at one of my favorite warblers, Chestnut-sided, and heard my first Eastern Wood Pewee of the year. We have a starling on campus who is a good imitator of pewees, so it was nice to hear the real thing. Russ, Pella / Knoxville.
Date: 5/15/19 8:33 am From: Osness <ravenbuddhanow...> Subject: [ia-bird] McFarland Park warblers
This morning, May 15, I saw 15 species of warblers at McFarland Park north of Ames. These included Blackpoll and Black-throated Green. Also heard Hermit and Wood Thrushes singing. It certainly is a beautiful day in the neighborhood. Nick Osness Ames, IA
Finally we are getting some warblers up this way. Between yesterday and today there were twenty species of warblers at Parker's Woods. Only one or two of each but a good variety which included Cape May, Blackburnian, Canada, Black poll, Golden-winged, Mourning (at my house), etc, etc. We hadn't had much for Red-eyed Vireos and suddenly they are everywhere.
Date: 5/14/19 7:23 pm From: Doug & Nina Harr <dnharr...> Subject: [ia-bird] Colo Bog (Story Co.) shorebirds
Bruce Erhresman and I were returning from a meeting in Tama County this afternoon, and we stopped at Colo Bog. We were actually a bit surprised to find a mixed species flock of at least 200 shorebirds at the edge of a small pond on the south side of Co. Hwy E41. There also were about 5 *Black Terns* circling over the marsh.
Shorebirds seen were: *Lesser Yellowlegs* *Dunlins* *Least Sandpipers* *Semi-palmated Sandpipers* *Pectoral Sandpipers* *White-rumped Sandpipers* *Spotted Sandpipers* *Sanderings* Because the flock was moving around rapidly, we might have missed one or two more species.
Earlier in the day, while birding in rain at Otter Creek Lake County Park, NE of Tama, we found a mixed warbler flock of 6 species, all seen in about 30 minutes before our noon meeting began.
Date: 5/14/19 5:49 pm From: Jim Forde <jimforde...> Subject: [ia-bird] Hudsonian Godwit at Hawkeye Wildlife Area
This p.m. I scoped a female HUDSONIAN GODWIT from Amana Road, just west of the Blain Cemetery Rd. intersection. At first it looked like a Marbled Godwit from a distance and was rather plump, too. It payed off to give that pale godwit a second and prolonged scoping.
Shorebird habitat at the main pool is minimal now and into the foreseeable future but Round Pond had many peeps today and a few other shorebirds.
Date: 5/14/19 2:06 pm From: Eric Ollie <uphawkeye...> Subject: [ia-bird] Story County - Worm-eating Warbler
Around 3:40 PM today at Emma McCarthy Lee Park in Ames I found a Worm-eating Warbler. I viewed it for a minute or two and was able to get some pictures. I have yet to relocate it, but I doubt it is far.
If you come to look for it, go down the hill and park in the first dirt/gravel parking area at the bottom. Take the trail to the west past the small grove of pine trees until the trail splits. That's the general area I saw it in, along the smaller creek that leads into the bigger creek.
Another cold, overcast day, but not quite so windy. What is it with this year? Went to fill the feeders at Lake Hendrick’s Park, Riceville in Howard Co. Thought I might as well check out the woods for warblers. Had 13 species again with a Blackburnian , Canada, Blue-winged, Chestnut-sided, and Northern Parula giving really good looks.
Only the 2nd time in 50 years for the male, Bay-breasted. The other time it was in our farm grove. Really couldn’t believe I was seeing it and so well.
Back of the Butterfy Garden there was a Veery and along the road to the dock a Grey-cheeked Thrush. Scads of Yellow-rumped and several Palm warblers still. A few White-throated Sparrows and a White-crowned showed up.
Had 5 male Rose Breasted Grosbeaks at one time on or near the feeders.
It was perfection. This is just going to ruin it for future birding.
Date: 5/14/19 11:36 am From: John Bissell <John.N.Bissell...> Subject: [ia-bird] Ashworth Park birds this morning
I went out once the showers let up, and while there were a few small flocks of migrants around, diversity was pretty limited. Best birds seen at Ashworth Park in Des Moines this morning included a Golden-winged Warbler and 2 sharp looking Bay-breasted Warblers. I was unable to relocate the Hooded Warbler from yesterday, but it was acting territorial yesterday and could still be around.
Tennessee and Blackpoll Warblers are still remarkably absent around here....at least where Ive been birding.
Good birding,
John Bissell
Grimes
NOTICE: This message (including any attachments) is intended for a specific individual and may contain information that is either confidential or legally protected. If you believe that it has been sent to you in error, please reply to the sender that you have received the message in error, then delete it. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any retention, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. Thank you. EMC071856
Date: 5/14/19 9:24 am From: Ulrike G <ulrikedg...> Subject: [ia-bird] Lots of warblers in Johnston
I made a quick run to Lew Clarkson park in Johnston this morning, arriving just as the rain stopped and staying about 20 minutes. It was a Warbler Palooza. Tiny birds were crossing the power line clearing at a rate of at least 12 per minute.
Unfortunately, they weren't landing where I could see them (deeper in, rather than just on the edge), and the only birds I could identify were the ones in the bushes: Common Yellowthroat, Yellow, and my FOY Wilson's. There were also some larger song birds and flycatchers.
Date: 5/14/19 8:18 am From: 'Reid I. Allen' via IA-BIRD <ia-bird...> Subject: [ia-bird] RE: ebird Report: Common Tern
Due to some error, mine, computer, internet, Chinese Satellite, my
report of a Common Tern on May 11 at Oak Grove beach on Saylorville
didn't get out. Very sorry about that!
Date: 5/13/19 5:59 pm From: Jim Forde <jimforde...> Subject: [ia-bird] Prairie Warblers at Croton Unit in Lee Co.
This morning I did a search of the southeast section of the Croton Unit at the end of 130th Ave. for PRAIRIE WARBLERS and found at least three.
They were far enough apart (and in one case, had a different song) that I could rule out possible repeats. In the south most habitat I had singing
on opposite sides but not simultaneously so I wasn't sure how many. If there were two, each had its own forest edge which seems to be what they
favor but if they require large territories then two wouldn't seem as likely.
Directions to the spots is difficult and I even had trouble finding the opening I visited last spring. Luckily, ticks were amazingly few today, maybe
because of the heavy dew and recent wetness. From the 130th Ave. dead end I walked straight south, crossing the creek then taking the east trail uphill
until I came to the large round open area. The first Prairie Warbler was on the east edge of this opening and moved around its perimeter, singing.
The other two warblers were straight south of this opening in a long rectangular unit section which is centered by a long grassy area with many cedars
bordered by trees. One of The warblers was not far into this area (almost same spot as last spring's Prairie Warbler) and the other all the way to the south end and I assume near the south most boundary. The key to finding this field is following tire ruts in the grass until you come to the fence
corner which has the huge pasture on the other side. If you miss this corner you could be following a trail into the west side of the unit. Actually,
I think this fence corner is almost inline with the uphill trail entrance if one continued south instead of exploring the large open area as I did.
The best thing to do is check a map of this unit first.
Other birds of note were 12 WHITE-EYED VIREO and maybe 5 YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS (not many for this unit!). A big thrill for me was my first Prairie
Ringneck Snake.
Date: 5/13/19 4:40 pm From: Ryan Shackleton <shack357...> Subject: [ia-bird] Sandhills nesting at Cardinal Marsh
Went looking for sandhills again today, only found two at Cardinal Marsh instead of the 15+ I usually see there, but the two I did find have a nest. Also saw numerous bobolinks(another first of year for me) and a pileated woodpecker gave me a great flyby. Ducks were very sparse this time(a few teals and mallards), one pair of trumpeters(also nesting) and the usual many Canada geese. Photo attached of the crane nest, heavy crop.
Also found what appears to be a badger den across the pond from the cranes. Happily they were either absent or sleeping. I'd rather not stumble into a badger.
Date: 5/13/19 11:00 am From: John Bissell <John.N.Bissell...> Subject: [ia-bird] Hooded Warbler - Polk County
Today, at Ashworth Park in Des Moines, I found a Hooded Warbler hanging around the creek near the entrance of the bike trail. This is probably the same bird originally found by RJ Thompson a week or so ago.
Good birding,
John Bissell
Grimes
NOTICE: This message (including any attachments) is intended for a specific individual and may contain information that is either confidential or legally protected. If you believe that it has been sent to you in error, please reply to the sender that you have received the message in error, then delete it. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any retention, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. Thank you. EMC071856
Date: 5/12/19 7:03 pm From: Timothy Stewart <twstewar...> Subject: [ia-bird] Northern mockingbird at East River Valley Park, Ames
Hello:
At 6:30 pm this evening, I observed a northern mockingbird singing at East River Valley Park in Ames. The bird was found at the northeast end of the park, within a thin line of trees (windbreak) that separates a fairly extensive grassy area from the large agricultural fields. The grassy area and tree line are immediately east of the freshly widened dirt trail, and the tree line is located almost directly underneath the power lines.
Date: 5/12/19 6:09 pm From: Stuart Sparkman <jacamar29...> Subject: [ia-bird] Canada and more
Hey I-Birders,
Karen, Harney, and I got our miles in today as we birded Cottonwood Rec Area below Saylorville Dam this morning and in the late afternoon along the Des Moines River near our home. We've been finding NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH to be almost abundant this weekend, and saw several today. At Cottonwood it was chilly and drippy, but a BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER showed nicely, and several WILSON'S and PALM WARBLERS put in an appearance, and a GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER was heard. A PROTHONOTARY WARBLER was at the flooded slough along the Neal Smith Trail (and we had close encounters with at least three yesterday at Bob Shetler RA below the dam, as reported by other birders). Along the river this afternoon we had a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, more WILSON'S WARBLERS, as well as several BLACK AND WHITE and a MAGNOLIA WARBLER, but the star of the walk was a cooperative CANADA WARBLER that we observed for nearly 10 minutes at a rather close distance. It was a glorious encounter. So, a twenty-two warbler tally is pretty good for a cold, wet, and sometimes windy weekend. Now where are the Blackburnian and Chestnut-sideds that have eluded us thus far? Let's hope for more birds and better weather this week.
This afternoon at ~4 pm there were 2 Ruddy Turnstones at Legacy Wildilfe Area. From the east side (where the observation platform is) they were at the tip of the north spit that extends into the middle of wetland and almost meets the spit coming north from the south.
Yesterday I walked the south side of the wetland and found the two previously reported American Avocets, along with 2 Stilt Sandpipers, 3 Dunlin, and other shorbs.
If you haven't been to the wetland before, there aren't really any established trails (yet?) so you have to wade through a lot of grass to get to the observation platform. It's also a very large wetland, it looks like it would be 3+ miles to walk around the entire thing. But not all parts of the wetland are visible unless you walk around it. I walked along the south side yesterday, and north side today.
Date: 5/12/19 9:47 am From: Diane Dentlinger <dianedentlinger...> Subject: [ia-bird] Chimney swifts - Des Moines
This morning there were a couple hundred chimney swifts flying around and in and out of the old chimney on the Jefferson Apts. at 1519 Grand Av. Des Moines.
Date: 5/12/19 7:30 am From: Steve Harvey <saharv23...> Subject: [ia-bird] Scarlet Tanager Clarke Co.,
Yesterday there was a Scarlet Tanager feeding on and under the BOSS
feeder. Not sure if he was eating seeds or gleaning bugs in the duff.
I've seen SCTA in the surrounding woods, but never in the yard.
Date: 5/12/19 6:43 am From: Ryan Shackleton <shack357...> Subject: [ia-bird] Great morning- 5 FOY species
Coming to work this morning I spotted a great egret at the Ackerson Easterly wildlife area east of Colwell. Getting closer to Mason City there was one red-headed woodpecker at the pasture just west of the big marsh on 280th St. Sadly there was also a mallard on the pond with a badly broken wing.
At the pond on the intersection of 290th and Poplar there was a yellow warbler and the first scarlet tanager I've ever seen. Common but I always seem to miss them.
Finally, there were two sandpipers(least, I think) on the road along the west edge of Curries parking lot.
Date: 5/11/19 5:12 pm From: Dennis Thompson <cndthomps...> Subject: RE: [ia-bird] Possible fish crow at Saylorville
Here’s some more information on the possible (actually, probable) FISH CROW from this morning –
While leading the monthly Des Moines Audubon field trip below Saylorville Dam this morning, I heard the distinctive two-note “AH-AH” call of a Fish Crow. It was calling frequently and we soon located it as it moved around.. It finally settled down at the top of a snag in a swampy area. There it started its other nasal “begging crow” call, though not as frequently. Unfortunately, out of sixteen people all we had were cell phones for photos. We had great looks through optics, but couldn’t get a good picture. Likewise, attempts at capturing audio weren’t very successful. All agreed the bird was smaller than a typical crow, but I know that’s subjective without a direct comparison between the two. Ray Cummins and others familiar with the species agreed that the calls matched a Fish Crow. The bird was still perched when we left. While there’s no definitive proof, it’s probably worth a look and listen if you’re below the dam sometime.
Denny Thompson
Johnston
From: <ia-bird...> [mailto:<ia-bird...>] On Behalf Of Diane Dentlinger
Sent: Saturday, May 11, 2019 10:59 AM
To: IA-BIRD <ia-bird...>
Subject: [ia-bird] Possible fish crow at Saylorville
Des Moines Audubon is now viewing and listening to a possible fish crow below the Saylorville dam at Shelter 2.
Date: 5/11/19 1:45 pm From: Linda Rudolph <lgrudolph...> Subject: [ia-bird] Pine warbler, Johnson County
Donna Warner and I are looking at a Pine Warbler. It's on the UI Research Campus, by the trail that had the Worm-eating Warbler, right by the row of Pine Trees.
Date: 5/11/19 1:15 pm From: Tommy Stone <tomtazzstone...> Subject: [ia-bird] Eared Grebe and Avocets at Legacy W.A..
This morning there was an EARED GREBE and 2 AM. AVOCETS at Legacy Wildlife Area in Hardin co. Other notable birds were, a BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER,an AM. BLACK DUCK and 3 YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS. The Hardin co. DNR has placed a mobile observation blind on the east side of the area. It has couple benches and is equipped with scope mounts , which is pretty nice!
Date: 5/11/19 11:04 am From: <jmjhrtgh...> <jmjhrtgh...> Subject: [ia-bird] Black-throated Blue Warbler
Spent 3 hrs. this cold, windy, overcast morning at the New Haven Potholes north of Hwy 9 east of Osage in the Mitchell Co.Conservation’s Park.
Hardly a warbler-type day, but I wanted to see the Bluebells. You can stand in one spot along the south trail to the Little Cedar River and turn 360 degrees and see bluebells solid for as far as you can see. The pink ones are outstanding and I did find one pure white one.
Took the north trail toward the large pothole and just beyond the observation deck I ran into the BTBW. Great looks. Every time he flew, he flashed his rectangular white “hanky” sticking out of his blue-black pocket on his wings. On the way back he was cavorting around the observation deck and must have gotten 6 or 7 more good looks.
Now if you’ve talked birding with me, one of my favorite expressions is - “ Only once in 50 years” ! Well this was the second time. About 25 years ago I got it in the fall migration at Lake Hendricks, Howard Co. Does that mean I must get a new expression?
There were numerous Yellow-rumped Warblers and Palm Warblers. Dozens of White-throated Sparrows and Ruby-crowned Kinglets. Kind of unusual to have them still here when the other warblers are coming through. Anyway I got 13 species, including Northern Parula, Cape May, and Blackpoll. Surprisingly no Tennessee or Nashville.
Date: 5/11/19 7:15 am From: Pip Fisher <pip...> Subject: [ia-bird] Warblers round Saylorville - Polk Co.
Yesterday afternoon Carol and I checked out the area near the outlet of Saylorville in the Bob Shetler area. In a mucky, smelly area where the floodwater was receding, the ground and trees were alive with warblers, albeit mostly yellow rumped (MANY) and palm warblers (a dozen or more). There were also a couple yellow warblers, a prothonotary and several northern waterthrushes. I think we also had a hooded warbler, but we only got a very brief look. Earlier in the day in the same area, I also found a black and white warbler.
We then went to the Cottonwood area (near the pond) where we found more palm, yellow rumped, yellow and prothonotary warblers.
Date: 5/11/19 2:04 am From: Paul Roisen <roisenp1950...> Subject: [ia-bird] Woodbury Co--May 10
Got out about noon today. Stunningly beautiful weather with little wind for the first day of the Loess Hills Audubon Bird-A-Thon.. Birds were hard to come by with most of the waterfowl numbers down and many of the species we had here Tues and wed were "out of here"! Warblers were had been great were down to 5 species and only 13 total. Total for the day 84 species
First of the Year species, American Bittern 3, Marbled 1 and Hudsonian 3 Godwit, FOY Dicksissel 1, Least Sandpiper (5), Black Tern (3), Red-headed
Date: 5/10/19 6:45 pm From: newtja84 <newtja84...> Subject: [ia-bird] Re: Humboldt County Big Day
Forget it, I think I've been scrutinizing these photos to long, because I can almost see it either way now...So The initial photo suggests it is rounded like a Long-billed, but the second photo seems to suggest a flatter profile like that of a short-billed. I'm not sure if I'm actually seeing a minor kink in the bill (as would show up in a short-billed) or if I've just been looking at these photos too long.....in general....)
Date: 5/10/19 6:01 pm From: newtja84 <newtja84...> Subject: [ia-bird] Re: Humboldt County Big Day
Correction, short-billed dowitcher (we vacillated on this for a bit, but reviewing the photos, the back of the bird looks pretty flat and even rather than the 'humped' or 'football' look of Long-billed).
On Friday, May 10, 2019 at 7:48:53 PM UTC-5, newtja84 wrote: > > Paul Skrade and I conducted a Big Day today in Humboldt County. We ended > up with 101 species during our survey period (I would later find four more > after we had split our separate ways). Most interesting things included > what we think were two Peregrine Falcons (one near Florida Ave, and one at > Ottosen Potholes [the one at the potholes had caught a prey item]). > Migrants in north central Iowa are still running their first phase waves. > The warblers we had were largely Yellow-rumped, Palms, Nashville, > Orange-crowned; though we did end up pulling both waterthrush species from > Gotch Park (as well as some later migrants like American Redstart, Wilson's > and Black-and-white Warblers). We got a Yellow Warbler at Willow Access, > and a profusion of thrushes (Gray-cheeked, Swainson's and Hermit). > Shorebirds were lackluster, with a Long-billed Dowitcher being the best of > the group. We were also able to snag a Northern Harrier late in the day as > well. We had more waterfowl than the last couple of week's would've > suggested including some Ruddy Ducks at the potholes, along with a group of > Lesser Scaup and some Gadwalls. Rails were active at the potholes, and we > did see an American Bittern, and a Great Egret there. We had a good swath > of sparrows, Clay-colored, Vesper, Lark, White-crowned, White-throated, > Harris', Lincoln, Swamp, Savannah, Grasshopper, Song, Chipping, Field were > all seen. Similarly Icterids were on display, as we got both meadowlarks, > both orioles and all the blackbirds save Great-tailed Grackle (which would > be surprising), Rusty and Brewer's. We got both nuthatches at Gotch as > well. We did get an Eastern Screech Owl, and very vocal Barred Owls but > missed Great Horned (that was a scheduling issue on my part....they are > very much present in the county). > > We had some noticeable misses, American Kestrel, Eastern Kingbird, > Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Northern Shoveler were gotten by me alone (but > they don't count in the Big Day figuring). We also dipped on Great Blue > Heron which seems a ridiculous miss considering we found what would be > considered 'more difficult' heron species. We didn't find any pelicans, > and we didn't find any Indigo Buntings...We also didn't find any > Dickcissels or Eastern Towhees... > > Jacob Newton > Humboldt County >
Date: 5/10/19 5:48 pm From: newtja84 <newtja84...> Subject: [ia-bird] Humboldt County Big Day
Paul Skrade and I conducted a Big Day today in Humboldt County. We ended up with 101 species during our survey period (I would later find four more after we had split our separate ways). Most interesting things included what we think were two Peregrine Falcons (one near Florida Ave, and one at Ottosen Potholes [the one at the potholes had caught a prey item]). Migrants in north central Iowa are still running their first phase waves. The warblers we had were largely Yellow-rumped, Palms, Nashville, Orange-crowned; though we did end up pulling both waterthrush species from Gotch Park (as well as some later migrants like American Redstart, Wilson's and Black-and-white Warblers). We got a Yellow Warbler at Willow Access, and a profusion of thrushes (Gray-cheeked, Swainson's and Hermit). Shorebirds were lackluster, with a Long-billed Dowitcher being the best of the group. We were also able to snag a Northern Harrier late in the day as well. We had more waterfowl than the last couple of week's would've suggested including some Ruddy Ducks at the potholes, along with a group of Lesser Scaup and some Gadwalls. Rails were active at the potholes, and we did see an American Bittern, and a Great Egret there. We had a good swath of sparrows, Clay-colored, Vesper, Lark, White-crowned, White-throated, Harris', Lincoln, Swamp, Savannah, Grasshopper, Song, Chipping, Field were all seen. Similarly Icterids were on display, as we got both meadowlarks, both orioles and all the blackbirds save Great-tailed Grackle (which would be surprising), Rusty and Brewer's. We got both nuthatches at Gotch as well. We did get an Eastern Screech Owl, and very vocal Barred Owls but missed Great Horned (that was a scheduling issue on my part....they are very much present in the county).
We had some noticeable misses, American Kestrel, Eastern Kingbird, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Northern Shoveler were gotten by me alone (but they don't count in the Big Day figuring). We also dipped on Great Blue Heron which seems a ridiculous miss considering we found what would be considered 'more difficult' heron species. We didn't find any pelicans, and we didn't find any Indigo Buntings...We also didn't find any Dickcissels or Eastern Towhees...
Date: 5/10/19 2:39 pm From: John and Anna Bissell <john.annabissell...> Subject: [ia-bird] Iowa RBA: 5-10-19
Iowa RBA birds reported from Friday, May 3, through Friday, May 10, 2019:
-RARE Species Mentioned (documentation required)
CASUAL:
*KING RAIL*
*GLOSSY IBIS*
-Additional Species Mentioned
Common Gallinule
Snowy Egret
Golden Eagle
American Avocet
Western Kingbird (Central)
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Pine Warbler
Hooded Warbler
***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. ************************
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:
A SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER was seen at Lime Creek Nature Center on the 9th.
*NORTHEAST:*
BLACK HAWK COUNTY:
A KING RAIL was heard at Prairie Ridge Wetland (Privately owned) on the 2nd.
MITCHELL COUNTY:
A PINE WARBLER was seen at a feeder at Lake Hendricks in Riceville on the 7 th.
*EAST:*
JOHNSON COUNTY:
2 SNOWY EGRETS were seen along Highway 965 just north of Wright Brothers Blvd on the west side of the road on the 6th.
*SOUTHEAST:*
LOUISA COUNTY:
A GLOSSY IBIS was seen along the east side of 220th St at Cone Marsh on the 8th.
DES MOINES COUNTY:
A HOODED WARBLER was seen at the sewer walkway at Dankwardt Park in Burlington on the 9th.
*CENTRAL:*
POLK COUNTY:
A WESTERN KINGBIRD was seen in Ankeny by Mills Fleet Farm on the 5th.
A GLOSSY IBIS was seen at Errington Marsh on the 5th. This bird was last seen on the 6th.
STORY COUNTY:
A GOLDEN EAGLE was seen 50 yards from the entrance road at West Peterson Park north of Ames on the 9th.
*SOUTHWEST:*
FREMONT COUNTY:
4 COMMON GALLINULES and an AMERICAN AVOCET were seen at Forney Lake on the 7 th.
The next scheduled report of the Iowa Rare Bird Alert will be for Friday, May 17, 2019 for the weekly report. Should any UNRECORDED or ACCIDENTAL species be reported, an update will be posted.
A beautiful Cerulean Warbler was singing at Starr's Cave (Des Moines County) this AM. Also saw a Mourning Warbler and a singing Bell's Vireo (my first at Starr's Cave). The female Hooded Warbler from yesterday was seen again this afternoon at the same location. Chuck Fuller Burlington
Date: 5/10/19 8:52 am From: Fawn Bowden <fawnda10...> Subject: [ia-bird] Shorebirds at Cone Marsh- Louisa County
There are some nice shorebirds at Cone Marsh the last couple days.......present this morning, a Hudsonian Godwit, Dunlin, Short and Long-billed Dowitchers and many others. They're in that corner between 220th and V Ave, probably best scoped from V Ave, but if they're in the right spot you can see them from 220th, but lots of vegetation in the way. The pair of Sandhill Cranes that were nesting in that area were leading around a tiny, single colt this morning! Quite adorable :)
Date: 5/9/19 5:52 pm From: David Griffin <birdingnm...> Subject: [ia-bird] Kossuth County - Migrants
Working in Kossuth County this week and despite the nasty weather (24hr rain and 40 degrees, 35 degrees and north winds, etc) I had my FOS calling Upland sandpipers(!) at several territories and:
Forster's terns Least flycatcher (Smith Lake SP) Blue-headed vireo Red-breasted nuthatch Swainson's thrush Black-and-white warbler, Common yellowthroat, Palm warbler, Yellow-rumped warbler, and Wilson's warbler.
Date: 5/9/19 5:04 pm From: Kevin Murphy <kevin.murphy39...> Subject: Re: [ia-bird] Scissor-tailed Flycatcher-Mason City
Bird still present from 6 to 7 PM (still being seen) working the parking area, driveway, and gravel lot behind the maintenance shed. Spending most it's time close to the ground and actively feeding.
Kevin Murphy, Ames
On Thu, May 9, 2019, 3:33 PM Rita Goranson <ritag...> wrote:
Date: 5/9/19 3:16 pm From: Eric Ollie <uphawkeye...> Subject: [ia-bird] Golden Eagle - Story County
At around 5:05 PM I had a GOLDEN EAGLE perched 50 from the entrance road at West Peterson Park in Story County, just north of Ames. Classic golden head and nape and white at the base of the tail, with no mottling. It sat in the tree for a good 5 minutes before taking of and flying just above tree level to the north. It may possibly have perched again, but I have yet to relocate it.
At the sewer walkway this AM, I had a female Hooded Warbler. This is in Dankwardt Park in Burlington (Des Moines County. Also, I was finally able to get back far enough into Blackhawk Bottoms to see and hear the Prothonotary Warbler(s).
Mike Webb of the Nature Center found the bird and let us all know about it.
Thanks, Mike, a county bird for all of us birders up here is the chilly north.
Rita G.
From: <ia-bird...> [mailto:<ia-bird...>] On Behalf Of Paul D. B. Skrade
Sent: Thursday, May 9, 2019 3:02 PM
To: terry proescholdt <tproesch...>
Cc: Carolyn Fischer <cjfischer11...>; <ia-bird...>
Subject: Re: [ia-bird] Scissor-tailed Flycatcher-Mason City
Still present at 3pm.
Thanks to Carolyn for the post and Terry for the update. New Iowa bird for me too!
Paul Skrade
Decorah, Winneshiek Co.
On May 9, 2019, at 12:20 PM, terry proescholdt <tproesch...> <mailto:<tproesch...> > wrote:
Still here at noon, looking a bit cold. A state bird for me. Thanks, Carolyn.
Terry Proescholdt, Ames
On Thu, May 9, 2019, 10:07 AM Carolyn Fischer <cjfischer11...> <mailto:<cjfischer11...> > wrote:
At 9:00 this morning a SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER was found by Mike Webb at the Lime Creek Nature Center, north of Mason City, and was still present at 10:00.
Near the front of the building under the Oak Trees.
Carolyn Fischer
Mason City
Cerro Gordo County
Sent from my iPhone
Date: 5/9/19 1:01 pm From: Paul D. B. Skrade <skradepa...> Subject: Re: [ia-bird] Scissor-tailed Flycatcher-Mason City
Still present at 3pm.
Thanks to Carolyn for the post and Terry for the update. New Iowa bird for me too!
Paul Skrade Decorah, Winneshiek Co.
> On May 9, 2019, at 12:20 PM, terry proescholdt <tproesch...> wrote: > > Still here at noon, looking a bit cold. A state bird for me. Thanks, Carolyn. > Terry Proescholdt, Ames > >> On Thu, May 9, 2019, 10:07 AM Carolyn Fischer <cjfischer11...> wrote: >> >> At 9:00 this morning a SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER was found by Mike Webb at the Lime Creek Nature Center, north of Mason City, and was still present at 10:00. >> Near the front of the building under the Oak Trees. >> >> Carolyn Fischer >> Mason City >> Cerro Gordo County >> Sent from my iPhone >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "IA-BIRD" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to ia-bird+<unsubscribe...> >> To post to this group, send email to <ia-bird...> >> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/ia-bird. >> To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ia-bird/<14A2371D-1ED8-4927-B36C-7D3A41FEB485...> >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "IA-BIRD" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to ia-bird+<unsubscribe...> > To post to this group, send email to <ia-bird...> > Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/ia-bird. > To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ia-bird/CAG6XBHJUAnnKB9B%2Bq8%3DRpXwQXokTRnkX%3DOpJ%2BQ%3Dijfi_T%<2BoZtQ...> > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
Date: 5/9/19 10:23 am From: John Bissell <John.N.Bissell...> Subject: [ia-bird] Ashworth Park Migrants - Polk County
It was definitely cold out, but there were a few migrants around at Des Moines Ashworth Park including:
Swainson's, Gray-cheeked Thrushes and Veery
Golden-winged, Wilson's, Blue-winged, Black-and-White, Black-throated Green, Ovenbird, and Nashville Warblers
Acadian Flycatcher
Still a lot of Ruby-crowned Kinglets around.
Good birding,
John Bissell
Grimes
NOTICE: This message (including any attachments) is intended for a specific individual and may contain information that is either confidential or legally protected. If you believe that it has been sent to you in error, please reply to the sender that you have received the message in error, then delete it. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any retention, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. Thank you. EMC071856
Date: 5/9/19 10:20 am From: terry proescholdt <tproesch...> Subject: Re: [ia-bird] Scissor-tailed Flycatcher-Mason City
Still here at noon, looking a bit cold. A state bird for me. Thanks, Carolyn. Terry Proescholdt, Ames
On Thu, May 9, 2019, 10:07 AM Carolyn Fischer <cjfischer11...> wrote:
> > At 9:00 this morning a SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER was found by Mike Webb at > the Lime Creek Nature Center, north of Mason City, and was still present at > 10:00. > Near the front of the building under the Oak Trees. > > Carolyn Fischer > Mason City > Cerro Gordo County > Sent from my iPhone > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "IA-BIRD" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to ia-bird+<unsubscribe...> > To post to this group, send email to <ia-bird...> > Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/ia-bird. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ia-bird/<14A2371D-1ED8-4927-B36C-7D3A41FEB485...> > . > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >
This morning a PEREGRINE FALCON buzzed over the prairie at Neal Smith NWR heading north. I noticed the Red-winged Blackbirds change their call note when it appeared. Those who attended the IOU meeting will understand this. Karen Viste-Sparkman Des Moines
I did not see the Ibis on my run through the Marsh this morning, however, the boat ramp area held a plethora of Warblers around 7AM! I think 14 different Warbler species, including Golden Winged and Blue Winged..........
Fawn in Riverside
On Wednesday, May 8, 2019 at 8:17:29 AM UTC-5, Fawn Bowden wrote: > > I am currently watching a single Glossy Ibis along east side of 220th at > Cone Marsh (Louisa Cty). It's only about 75' from road. I had flushed it > from same area yesterday. > Fawn in Riverside
Date: 5/9/19 8:07 am From: Carolyn Fischer <cjfischer11...> Subject: [ia-bird] Scissor-tailed Flycatcher-Mason City
At 9:00 this morning a SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER was found by Mike Webb at the Lime Creek Nature Center, north of Mason City, and was still present at 10:00. Near the front of the building under the Oak Trees.
Carolyn Fischer Mason City Cerro Gordo County Sent from my iPhone
Date: 5/9/19 7:29 am From: 'akorr%<cfu.net...>' via IA-BIRD <ia-bird...> Subject: [ia-bird] Re: Golden-winged Warbler
On Thursday, May 9, 2019 at 9:25:03 AM UTC-5, akorr%<......> wrote: > > Golden-winged Warbler well observed at Harman Nature Reserve (North end), > Cedar Falls, Black hawk CO. Observed NE of bike trail shelter in area > between the shelter Lake Manet. Moving with Palm Warblers. >
Date: 5/9/19 7:25 am From: 'akorr%<cfu.net...>' via IA-BIRD <ia-bird...> Subject: [ia-bird] Golden-winged Warbler
Golden-winged Warbler well observed at Harman Nature Reserve (North end), Cedar Falls, Black hawk CO. Observed NE of bike trail shelter in area between the shelter Lake Manet. Moving with Palm Warblers.
Date: 5/8/19 5:41 pm From: Stuart Sparkman <jacamar29...> Subject: [ia-bird] Des Moines highlights, OSFL
Hey I-Birders,
Karen, Harney, and I had a nice late afternoon walk along the Des Moines River. YELLOW WARBLERS and AMERICAN REDSTARTS are back in their regular areas now. Noteworthy finds were OVENBIRD, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (2+), GREEN HERON, and an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER. Enjoyed seeing so many of you at IOU last weekend.
Some clarification as to where the Ibis was.......I guess it would be NORTH of 220th, not east. Granted, if it was in the same place, it probably could have been spotted despite my poor directions. Sorry for any confusion.
[image: Ibis map.jpg]
On Wednesday, May 8, 2019 at 8:17:29 AM UTC-5, Fawn Bowden wrote: > > I am currently watching a single Glossy Ibis along east side of 220th at > Cone Marsh (Louisa Cty). It's only about 75' from road. I had flushed it > from same area yesterday. > Fawn in Riverside
Date: 5/8/19 2:56 pm From: james fuller <jnkfuller...> Subject: [ia-bird] Birding Fremont County
Hi All,
One day in the rain in Fremont County on May 7 produced 106 species.
The highlight location was Forney Lake and the sheet water south of the
road there and included:
8 Soras and 1 Virginia Rail
4 Common Gallinules
1 American Avocet
1 American Bittern
4 Franklin’s Gulls and 3 Bonapartes Gulls
1 Forsters Tern and 3 Black Terns
In floodwaters sw of Percival and sw of Forney Lake:
12 Godwits at two separate sites with 8 Hudsonian and 4 Marbled
Numerous Wilson’s Phalaropes plus more shorebirds
4 Cattle Egrets with 3 in the town of Bartlett and 1 in the town of Thurman
Numerous Harris and Clay-colored Sparrows
Swainson’s Hawk along highway 2 between Sydney and Shenandoah
1 Western Kingbird in the Eaton Co.parking lot in West Shenandoah
Enroute in Ringgold Co. At the Kellerton lek were 2 Prairie Chickens
And 3 Upland Sandpipers
Good birding,
Jim Fuller, Iowa City
Chuck Fuller, Burlington
Date: 5/8/19 1:49 pm From: Dennis Thompson <cndthomps...> Subject: [ia-bird] White-eyed Vireo below Saylorvile Dam
I had a WHITE-EYED VIREO singing below Saylorville Dam. It was just past where the road turns east (the grassy area is on the north side). I also had a PROTHONOTARY WARBLER in the flooded woods on the south end of the west pond.
Date: 5/8/19 10:37 am From: Jane Clark <jrclark...> Subject: [ia-bird] Northern Parula
Yesterday, in the backyard along with heavy traffic of White-throated
Sparrows, I was pleased to spot White-crowned and Harris’s, and a Lincoln’s
Sparrows. Saw a Blue-headed Vireo, 8 orioles in one spot on the other side
of the creek, 8 species of warblers with Yellow-throated, Wilson’s, Magnolia
the best and the actual orange crown of an Orange-crowned Warbler.
This morning, in between showers, I saw a Northern Parula at eye-level (our
house is a little higher than the floor of the Clive Greenbelt behind us.)
It has been 10 years since I have seen a Northern Parula here at home.
After yesterday's Yellow-throated Warbler and today's Northern Parula, what
will tomorrow bring?
The warblers and sparrows are feeding mostly in elms and hackberries. Our
backyard borders the Clive Geenbelt along Walnut Creek.
Date: 5/8/19 9:28 am From: kenwiggers <ken.wiggers...> Subject: [ia-bird] Sightings
May 6th: Harris and White-crowned sparrows, Ruby-throated hummingbird male, a one-day Red-breasted nuthatch, Eastern Towhee, a single persistent Red-winged blackbird, Baltimore orioles, Rose-breasted grosbeaks, male Brown-headed cowbird -- under and on a black sunflower feeder and sugar water feeder. 5 miles south of Ames in Story county. The usual doves and woodpeckers. May 8th there was a bobbing Northern Waterthrush pecking in the mud in front of the house in a yet unseeded landscaping project. Plus 6+ of the neighbor's Muscovy ducks. The Screech owl return that I had waited for perhaps 25 years to return was apparently killed by the frequently seen mink -- there was mink scat in the Wood duck box with the remains of the owl. The WD box is on a post assembled in a tee-fashion with about 4 feet of sheet metal wrap -- the mink apparently got through the gap made by the 2x6 tee -- the gap has been filled. Wood ducks are using 3 boxes that I can see from over my desk.
On Wednesday, May 8, 2019 at 8:17:29 AM UTC-5, Fawn Bowden wrote: > > I am currently watching a single Glossy Ibis along east side of 220th at > Cone Marsh (Louisa Cty). It's only about 75' from road. I had flushed it > from same area yesterday. > Fawn in Riverside
I am currently watching a single Glossy Ibis along east side of 220th at Cone Marsh (Louisa Cty). It's only about 75' from road. I had flushed it from same area yesterday. Fawn in Riverside
Date: 5/8/19 5:46 am From: Billy Reiter-Marolf <wreiterm...> Subject: Re: [ia-bird] Young Pine Siskin
According to the Iowa Breeding Bird Atlas data, Pine Siskin nesting was confirmed at 2 spots during BBA1 and 4 spots during BBAII You can see the maps here: http://bba.iowabirds.org/SpeciesAccounts.aspx
Great observation!
Billy Reiter-Marolf New Albin, IA
On Wed, May 8, 2019 at 7:19 AM Jim Durbin <bugmugger187...> wrote:
Date: 5/8/19 5:30 am From: Jim Durbin <bugmugger187...> Subject: [ia-bird] pine siskin
Just as I was finishing up the previous email, my wife called me into the TV room and I observed an adult feeding another young bird. The other young bird was on the ground picking at things. Jim Durbin 1460 Douglas Court Marion Ia 52302 319-721-1593
Date: 5/8/19 5:19 am From: Jim Durbin <bugmugger187...> Subject: [ia-bird] Young Pine Siskin
I have attached a photo of what I think is a young Pine Siskin. I saw this bird yesterday and thought it looked different. This morning it was setting on the feeder begging. I took a few pictures. Does anyone know if Pine Siskins have nested in Iowa?
Jim Durbin 1460 Douglas Court Marion Ia 52302 319-721-1593
Date: 5/7/19 8:40 pm From: Brandon Caswell <brandon.caswell83...> Subject: [ia-bird] Johnson-Linn County great birding
I went not once, but twice to Hickory Hill Park today. This morning at the Warbler Walk there was good activity between 6:30-7:00am. Activity waned off as the temp decreased and it got windy. Eventually the winds calmed a little and it got warmer. Warbler activity really spiked again after that and seemed steady headed into the afternoon. I got the impression that migrants didn't really leave after the frenzy yesterday, but stayed and were more spread out. I finished the day with 19 species of warblers (7 FOYs).
Highlights:
Hickory Hill Park #1: -Blackburnian, Blue-winged, Golden-winged, Blue-headed Vireo (I believe the walked finished with around 15 warbler species)
Squire Point: -Mark Brown's two Black-crowned Night-Herons in the hardwood forest canopy!!! -Pileated Woodpecker -Veery -Yellow-throated Warbler (at least 13 warbler species still lingering here), had one bins view with seven warbler species in close association
Hickory Hill Park #2: -Thanks to James Huntington and Diana Pesek for calling me back. Dean Hester was in another part of the park and I was able to get him over to the eye-level feeding Blackburnians (3 males) and one lifer male Cape May Warbler for him. BTW, his pictures about made me fall over backwards! We had 13 warbler species this time. -Hermit Thrush -Eastern Wood-Pewee
Cedar Lake: -Wilson's Warbler (11 warbler species on this stop, all along the paved trail at the migrant trap, north end of the lake) -Veery -two Clay-colored Sparrows (along paved trail along east side, on east side of trail where there are some short pines along a small lawn, they were feeding in the grass and going to the fence to perch)
Sleep is overrated during peak migration. :)
Good birding, Brandon Caswell Marion
P.S. - Doug, thanks for the title idea...and thanks for finding that perched Henslow's at the meeting!!
...all within 20-30' of the edge of the road right at the creek. Having so much fun watching the above that we didn't count/ID the other shorebirds that were present nor look beyond the dam. There's also a resident ring-necked pheasant that hangs around just east of the creek and he was squawking at regular intervals most of the time we were there.
Date: 5/7/19 5:13 pm From: Ryan Shackleton <shack357...> Subject: [ia-bird] Alta Vista chimney swifts returning
Grilling supper this evening I noticed several chimney swifts flying around the neighborhood. Not a lot of them yet but they're here. Ryan Shackleton Alta Vista,IA Chickasaw County
Date: 5/7/19 5:01 pm From: Doug & Nina Harr <dnharr...> Subject: [ia-bird] Boone-Greene County great birding
This morning I birded Ledges State Park and Harrier Marsh in Boone County. After lunch I went to Dunbar Slough, the Raccoon River and Snake Creek and Wildlife Area in Greene County. Ended up with 89 species for the day, including 11 warbler species and 11 sparrow species.
Some of the best are these listed by site:
*Least Bittern* (FOY)--heard making the "chuckling" call at Snake Creek Marsh *Semi-palmated Plover*--flock of about 7 at Dunbar Slough *Yellow-bellied Flycatcher* (FOY)--in drying flood mud flats at lower Ledges SP *Marsh Wren* (FOY)--*lots* at Harrier Marsh and Snake Creek Marsh. *Veery*--at Lost Lake Trail parking area, Ledges SP *Louisiana Waterthrush*--Ledges SP *Northern Waterthrush*--Ledges SP *Kentucky Warbler*--Ledges State Park, near Lost Lake *Magnolia Warbler* (FOY)--Ledges SP *Palm Warbler*--6 hopping down gravel road through Sbnake Creek Marsh *Clay-colored Sparrow* (FOY)--4 at Dunbar Slough and 2 at Snake Creek Marsh *Lark Sparrow *(FOY)--on a stick at flood-mud flats in lower Ledges SP *Bobolink* (FOY)--at least 7at Dunbar Slough
Date: 5/7/19 2:47 pm From: Fawn Bowden <fawnda10...> Subject: [ia-bird] Caspian Terns & Ibis at Cone Marsh- Louisa County
On a quick run through Cone March early afternoon, there were a small groups of Caspian Terns in the shorebird-type habitat between V Ave and 220th St. As I was looking at the many Yellowlegs and Terns, an Ibis flushed from nearby and flew south a bit, but I could not find where it landed.
Date: 5/7/19 2:44 pm From: Larry Dau <lgdau9...> Subject: [ia-bird] Boone County-my yard
I still have a Red-breasted Nuthatch and a female Purple Finch coming into my feeders.
Orioles are back in increasing numbers with a couple of Orchards. Also, RB Grosbeaks, Indigo Buntings, Great-crested Flycatcher, Lincoln's and many White-throated Sparrows. At least 3 Eastern Towhees. One female might be a hybrid with a fair amount of spotting. Seeing just common warblers and Ruby-crowned Kinglets. Larry Dau Boone County
Missed it at the IOU Meeting only to see it at the feeders in Lake Hendricks, Riceville this morning. Best look ever at a Pine. Thought it was a Blue-winged at first, but checked out the striations under its wings, the yellow on the throat and upper belly, and the white on the under belly. The wing bars almost qualified for a Blue-winged, probably the light from the filtered sunlight. What was remarkable was that it hopped on the Prince (pink bag) finch feeder first. (Always bragging that everything likes that best.). Then it hopped to the suet, and finally on the oil sunflower feeder.
The Yellow-rumped warblers were feeding on the suet feeders. ( I have 4, but the woodpeckers were still interrupting them.)
Too bad we’re slated for a possible 2 inches of rain in the next day or so. Means that our all 5th graders in Howard Co.
Bird Program will have to be indoors.
Date: 5/7/19 11:41 am From: 'Peter Hansen' via IA-BIRD <ia-bird...> Subject: [ia-bird] Leucistic White-throated Sparrow
This morning (Tuesday, 5/7) I observed a leucistic White-throated Sparrow in Willow Creek Park in Iowa City. Unfortunately neither photo I obtained was sharply focused although the better of the two is attached.
Peter Hansen
Date: 5/7/19 9:18 am From: Marion Pruitt-Jefferson <mpruitt.jefferson58...> Subject: [ia-bird] Cape May at jelly feeder
For two years now I've had male Cape May Warblers regularly visit my Oriole feeder. They just showed up again this morning. They seem to really like the grape jelly. Has anyone else experienced this? Marion - Decorah, IA
On Tue, May 7, 2019 at 08:15 Mark Brown <markb249...><mailto:<markb249...>> wrote:
At the Squire Point trail, Coralville Reservoir this morning, over 80 Warblers were present and 17 species identified. Biggest surprise was a Black-Crowned Night-Heron perched high in a tree. Hard to explain location but at the main fork, take a right where there will be a large wood pile on the south side of the trail. The bird is about 20 yards south of this spot. You can walk further on the trail to the Green Vault Bar where you can still view the bird looking Southwest.
On Tue, May 7, 2019 at 08:15 Mark Brown <markb249...><mailto:<markb249...>> wrote:
At the Squire Point trail, Coralville Reservoir this morning, over 80 Warblers were present and 17 species identified. Biggest surprise was a Black-Crowned Night-Heron perched high in a tree. Hard to explain location but at the main fork, take a right where there will be a large wood pile on the south side of the trail. The bird is about 20 yards south of this spot. You can walk further on the trail to the Green Vault Bar where you can still view the bird looking Southwest.
Date: 5/7/19 6:15 am From: Mark Brown <markb249...> Subject: [ia-bird] BC Night-Heron and Warblers - Johnson county
At the Squire Point trail, Coralville Reservoir this morning, over 80 Warblers were present and 17 species identified. Biggest surprise was a Black-Crowned Night-Heron perched high in a tree. Hard to explain location but at the main fork, take a right where there will be a large wood pile on the south side of the trail. The bird is about 20 yards south of this spot. You can walk further on the trail to the Green Vault Bar where you can still view the bird looking Southwest.
Date: 5/6/19 4:32 pm From: 'Chris Edwards' via IA-BIRD <ia-bird...> Subject: [ia-bird] Iowa City Warbler Walks through May 24
The Iowa City Bird Club is offering daily Warbler Walks in Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City, every weekday through May 24 from 6:30-8:00 a.m. We meet in the north parking lot at the end of Conklin Lane, which is accessed from Dodge Street. Everyone is welcome!
Last week was very slow, with a high of 5 warbler species on Friday, but today 18 warbler species were seen including Cape May, Golden-winged, Blue-winged, Magnolia, Blackburnian, and Blackpoll.
Date: 5/6/19 2:45 pm From: Paul Roisen <roisenp1950...> Subject: [ia-bird] Woodbury County-Bacon Creek 5/6/19
My Subaru took an unexpected turn towards Bacon Creek nearly throwing me into the back seat. Being forced to go along for the ride I was please when it stopped at the far end parking lot. Binocular in hand, but no camera as it was beginning to sprinkle, I wandered down into the picnic area. Start time was 12:27 end time 1:27pm. When I first arrived it was pretty dead. About 12:55 picked up and I had 35 species just in the picnic area below the last parking lot how about 1:25 it just quit. Crossing back and forth there was a continued change over of species. Interesting that there was only one sparrow species (Chipping).
First of Year Species (9) ** Warbler Species (9) That is a good number for Woodbury this early in May. Best Birds: Blackpoll Warbler and Gray-cheecked Thrush.
Cannot imagine how good it might have been early this AM. Sure glad my Subaru made such a good decision for me but it should have taken me there earlier (LOL)!
God Bless and great birding to you all.
*Paul O. Roisen* *Woodbury County, IA* *Mobile 712-301-2817*
Date: 5/6/19 2:33 pm From: Jim Forde <jimforde...> Subject: [ia-bird] Snowy Egrets Breifly at Cedar Rapids
Early this morning a pair of SNOWY EGRETS and 3 Great Egrets were along Hwy. 965 just north of Wright Bros. Blvd. On the west side of the road is a grassy basin of rain water where the birds were resting. The Great Egrets where first to leave and the Snowys followed them.
Date: 5/6/19 12:16 pm From: John Bissell <John.N.Bissell...> Subject: [ia-bird] Acadian Flycatcher - Polk County
While I didn't quite have the success of Brandon or Chris, I found a few migrants and a returning resident to Ashworth Park in Des Moines:
Just 8 spp of Warblers with Blue-winged and Golden-winged being the highlight
Acadian Flycatcher
Numerous Least Flycatchers (Seemingly a major influx)
Scarlet Tanager
Blue-headed Vireo
Good birding,
John Bissell
Grimes
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Date: 5/6/19 12:01 pm From: John Cecil <jcecil01...> Subject: [ia-bird] Re: Browns Woods Polk Co 5-6 W-E Vireo
Correction. You want to take the East Most trail from the parking lot.
On Mon, May 6, 2019, 1:59 PM John Cecil <jcecil01...> wrote:
> Just did a quick walk there on my lunch break. > > Around 1:35 there was a singing White-eyed Vireo. Good bird for Polk Co. > If you want to see it, take the West most trail from Parking lot. Take > right fork the follows the highway. The trail follows the road pretty > closely, then there is a 45 degree turn to the left (west). Then another 45 > degree turn to the right (South). The bird was calling and visible at that > point. > > There are a lot of migrant there at this time. I only stopped for about 30 > minutes. > > John Cecil > Polk County >
Date: 5/6/19 11:59 am From: John Cecil <jcecil01...> Subject: [ia-bird] Browns Woods Polk Co 5-6 W-E Vireo
Just did a quick walk there on my lunch break.
Around 1:35 there was a singing White-eyed Vireo. Good bird for Polk Co. If you want to see it, take the West most trail from Parking lot. Take right fork the follows the highway. The trail follows the road pretty closely, then there is a 45 degree turn to the left (west). Then another 45 degree turn to the right (South). The bird was calling and visible at that point.
There are a lot of migrant there at this time. I only stopped for about 30 minutes.
Date: 5/6/19 11:55 am From: Dennis Thompson <cndthomps...> Subject: [ia-bird] greetings from the new IOU President
Greetings from your new Iowa Ornithologists' Union president. I'm excited to get started. Many thanks to Francis Moore for all the work he did as president of this organization the past four years. Here are a few of my initial thoughts.
* As others have noted, this past weekend's IOU meeting was a great success. Many thanks to IOU VP Pip Fisher, Karen Disbrow and the rest of the Iowa City Bird Club for a really fun weekend. The weather was great (finally!) and so were the birds. A full write-up of the weekend will soon be published, but here's my two cents worth. While migrants were scarce, the SE Iowa specialties more than made up for it. White-eyed Vireo, Louisiana Waterthrush, Blue-winged Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, Northern Parula, Pine Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler and Yellow-breasted Chat put on quite a show. I personally have never encountered the number of Kentucky Warblers my group had on the Lacey-Keosauqua walk on Saturday. I heard that a Henslow's Sparrow put on quite a show for one group on Sunday. The speakers were top-notch. Greg Hoch's talk on American Woodcock elicited a lot of feedback from the crowd. Likewise, Rick Hollis provided a pile of useful information on birding applications available today.
Nathan Pieplow was our keynote speaker. As advertised, Nathan's one of the foremost experts on bird sounds and both of his presentations were educational and a lot of fun. The attendees have a whole new appreciation for the ubiquitous Red-winged Blackbird.
* We could use some help for the Fall Meeting, We have a couple of possible sites, but if you know of a location that would like to host us or a possible keynote speaker, please contact Pip Fisher or me.
* We're looking for additional folks for various committees, e.g. Membership, Communications, Publications and Projects.. We'll be publishing more information on the responsibilities for the committees, but if you have an interest in participating on any of them, please let me know.
* Mark Carson has agreed to audit our 2017-18 books, It's not a tough job but a necessary one. That's an example of the many ways folks can help with this organization.
I welcome any suggestions or comments you have about IOU.
Date: 5/6/19 11:47 am From: Brandon Caswell <brandon.caswell83...> Subject: [ia-bird] Linn-sanity, Squaw Creek highlights
Birders,
I birded from about 8am to noon today at Squaw Creek.
Highlights:
-expected thrush slam (ie no Hermit)
-16 species of warblers
-several Red-breasted Nuthatch
-Winter Wren
-at a recent prairie burn, Clay-colored, Lark, Savannah and Chipping
Sparrows feeding together
Between the meeting and today I’m at 202 species for the year in Iowa.
Linn-sane! Easily the best morning of birding I’ve ever had in the county.
Date: 5/6/19 7:54 am From: 'Chris Edwards' via IA-BIRD <ia-bird...> Subject: [ia-bird] Backyard Fallout
When I stepped outside at 6:30 this morning the yard was full of birdsong. I had a vacation day scheduled so I decided to take a page from the Dick Sayles playbook. I spent an hour on the deck before breakfast, then after breakfast I spent another hour on the deck and poked around the backyard a little bit. (Full disclosure: the backyard includes a small grass lawn, a couple acres of woods, and a small pond.) In two hours I had 61 species! They included LEAST FLYCATCHER, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, SWAINSON'S THRUSH, 10 warbler species including BLUE-WINGED, GOLDEN-WINGED, many NASHVILLES and TENNESSEES, AMERICAN REDSTART, NORTHERN PARULA, CHESTNUT-SIDED, and BLACK-THROATED GREEN, LINCOLN'S SPARROW, SCARLET TANAGER, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, INDIGO BUNTING, BOBOLINK (singing flyover!), ORCHARD ORIOLE, PURPLE FINCH, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, PILEATED WOODPECKER, and SOLITARY SANDPIPER (pond). Hmmm, do I really need to do all those chores I had planned for today?
Date: 5/6/19 7:34 am From: Julie <jg441157j5x...> Subject: [ia-bird] Scarlet Tanager Jefferson County
Wow! First time I have seen one of these in years, and to have it come into my yard is very special. He was sitting so prettily in a tree, then flew to where I couldn’t see him, but proceeded to sing for a while. I was so shocked that even had I had my camera in hand, I don’t think I could have focused on it.
Julie Johnston, Packwood
Date: 5/6/19 7:03 am From: <jmjhrtgh...> <jmjhrtgh...> Subject: [ia-bird] The Spring IOU Meeting-May 3,4,5
Special thanks to the great job everyone did to make the IOU weekend a huge success - the Iowa City Bird Club for hosting it. The Field Trip leaders were indefatigable in their efforts to make sure everyone got to see the targeted species. Even to the point of arriving days ahead to scout the most likely spots.
Best sighting was the Summer Tanager on the edge of the trees at eye level singing its heart out.
Back home we seem to have more Goldfinches than usual and they brought 2 Pine Siskins with bright gold wing bars with them to the feeders. Two wonderful male Baltimore Orioles on the nectar and grape jelly feeders. So coming home was not the downer I expected after all the wonderful woodland warblers, vireos, etc. of the weekend.
Date: 5/6/19 5:42 am From: Tyler M. Harms <tyharms...> Subject: [ia-bird] Central Iowa migrants
Hi Birders,
I was drawn to the trees in our backyard for 20 minutes this morning before work after hearing my FOY Backpoll Warbler singing from our oak. Present with him was a couple Nashville, Yellow-rumped, Yellow, and Black-and-White Warblers as well as an American Redstart and Blue-headed Vireo. I also saw the first Ruby-throated Hummingbird in the yard. And I added a new yard bird to top it off...oddly, a Red-headed Woodpecker was calling and working the linden in our neighbor's yard.
Lastly, the Northern Parula has returned to the usual spot near my office in Ledges State Park.
A fun way to finish off a great weekend of birding with friends in SE Iowa. Many thanks to all those who assisted with organizing a fantastic IOU Spring Meeting!
Date: 5/5/19 8:09 pm From: <waltzuurdeeg...> <waltzuurdeeg...> Subject: [ia-bird] Quad City Audubon Society program - Going bats for Bats
The Quad City Audubon Society will hold its membership program this Thursday , May 9 .
Our speaker is Jill Schmidt, a Naturalist with the Clinton County Conservation Board. The title of her presentation is Going bats for Bats.
QCAS monthly meetings are open to the public and begin at 7:00 p.m. Our meetings are held at the Butterworth Center located at 1105 8th Street, Moline, Illinois. Walt Zuurdeeg Quad City Audubon Society
Date: 5/5/19 6:53 pm From: Tyler Grant <tgrant77...> Subject: [ia-bird] Dunbar Slough - Greene Co
270th Str - White-rumped Sandpiper (4), Wilson's Phalarope (3), Least, Semipalmated, and Pectoral Sandpipers, a single Semipalmated Plover. Two Forster's Terns flew over. Bank swallows singing as flying around. Two pipits were there for some reason. A strange-sounding red-winged blackbird at the north end near the water control structure turned out to be a Bobolink. A single white-crowned sparrow with a group of white-throated sparrows. Flushed 2 small stocky sparrows that re-entered the grass never to be seen again. Grasshopper, Le Conte's? I'll never know. Altogether I got more FOYs than I expected.
250th Str - A Black-crowned Night-Heron was in full view when I drove up. It flew as a got up. After a few moments another flew, off to the north. Marsh wrens singing. A male Great-tailed Grackle squeaking. Saw some Soras.
Date: 5/5/19 6:23 pm From: Todd Burkhardt <todd.burkhardt.tb...> Subject: [ia-bird] Blackburnian in Jefferson County- Joyce and Todd Burkhardt
First of all, Joyce and I want to thank the IOU organizers for a wonderful meeting this weekend. Special thanks to Brandon and James for their great insights on our trip to Croton unit on Sat. and to Candace for not losing anyone.
We could not make the Sunday field trip so Joyce did a local morning trip to Whitham Woods in Fairfield where she saw (among other birds) 2 Scarlet Tanagers, several Baltimore Orioles and 2 Orchard Orioles, and a beautiful Green Heron.
Sunday night was a beautiful night so we went back out around 7 PM to the Jefferson County Park and went up the hill to the playground/picnic area north the pond. We decided to work the big oak grove there. It was quite active and we quickly saw a Yellow-Throated Vireo, many Yellow-Rumps, several Baltimore Orioles, and a Rose-breasted Grosbeak (M and F). We heard a Summer Tanager and while looking for him a small flock of warblers came through. Joyce immediately picked up the bright orange throat of a Blackburnian. I didn't see him then so we stayed with the flock for a bit and before long the Blackburnian gave us a beautiful shot at the top of the tree in the descending sunlight. He was lit up beautifully! That is Joyce and my first Blackburnian sighting in Jefferson County and FOY. More great days ahead!
Date: 5/5/19 10:25 am From: Paul Roisen <roisenp1950...> Subject: Re: [ia-bird] IOU spring meeting -Saturday field trip Van Buren County
Julie,
Thanks for the update. Those of us who were not able to attend
appreciate the info.
God Bless,
*Paul O. Roisen*
*Woodbury County, IA*
*Mobile 712-301-2817*
On Sun, May 5, 2019 at 11:28 AM Julie <jg441157j5x...> wrote:
> I was unable to attend today’s activities, but yesterday was a beautiful
> day in Van Buren County. The field trip I took with about 20 others was one
> of the easier walking ones in Lacy Keosauqua Park and Sugema area. I
> believe the group total was 74species of birds, all of which I am not going
> to name. However, I think it worth noting that among our finds was a Bell’s
> Vireo, which Chuck Fuller said was NOT there on Thursday, 4 (at least)
> Bobolinks, 2Henslow’s Sparrows, (acutally it was a very good sparrow day
> with Lincoln’s, Swamp, White-Throated, Chipping, Song, Field, Grasshopper)
> Yellow-breasted Chat, and some warblers, which amazed everyone by sitting
> still long enough for some good looks. Those were Yellow-throated,
> Kentucky, and Northern Parula, if I recall. I did not see the Kentucky or
> Yellow-throated, as I stayed behind to photograph a pair of Summer
> Tanagers.
>
> All in all it was a great day for birding and other groups had much
> success as well.
>
> No news yet on where the fall meeting will be held.
>
>
>
> Julie Johnston
> 319-695-3037
> http://www.wildwingcreations.com > http://www.juliejohnstonphotography.com >
>
>
> --
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> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
>
Date: 5/5/19 9:28 am From: Julie <jg441157j5x...> Subject: [ia-bird] IOU spring meeting -Saturday field trip Van Buren County
I was unable to attend today’s activities, but yesterday was a beautiful day in Van Buren County. The field trip I took with about 20 others was one of the easier walking ones in Lacy Keosauqua Park and Sugema area. I believe the group total was 74species of birds, all of which I am not going to name. However, I think it worth noting that among our finds was a Bell’s Vireo, which Chuck Fuller said was NOT there on Thursday, 4 (at least) Bobolinks, 2Henslow’s Sparrows, (acutally it was a very good sparrow day with Lincoln’s, Swamp, White-Throated, Chipping, Song, Field, Grasshopper) Yellow-breasted Chat, and some warblers, which amazed everyone by sitting still long enough for some good looks. Those were Yellow-throated, Kentucky, and Northern Parula, if I recall. I did not see the Kentucky or Yellow-throated, as I stayed behind to photograph a pair of Summer Tanagers.
All in all it was a great day for birding and other groups had much success as well.
No news yet on where the fall meeting will be held.
Date: 5/4/19 8:52 pm From: Tyler Grant <tgrant77...> Subject: [ia-bird] Prothonotary Warblers - Chichaqua, Polk Co.
One to three singing Prothonotary Warblers were back at Chichaqua Bottoms today. I think there were 3 singing, but they made some confusing movements.
Other FOYs today:
Ledges SP, Story Co: American Redstart, Swainson's Thrush, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Gray Catbird, Nashville Warbler, Indigo Bunting. Not large numbers, however, only one of each except 3 Grosbeaks. Also got overdue Barred Owl and Pileated Woodpecker.
Red Feather Prairie: Baltimore Oriole, Eastern Kingbird. Couldn't find any Henslow's Sparrows yet.
Friday at Ada Hayden had FOY Palm Warbler and Clay-colored Sparrow.
Date: 5/4/19 2:50 pm From: Candace H <candace69001...> Subject: [ia-bird] Open house for Avian Archives- Thur, May 16th 6-8 pm, Octagon Center, Ames IA
Hello everyone,
The Iowa State University Library Digital Initiatives unit is excited to
invite you to a reception celebrating the completion and launch of the
Avian Archives of Iowa Online (avIAn),
a two-year digitization project funded by the Council on Library and
Information Resources (CLIR).
The Avian Archives of Iowa Online is a web portal for digital Iowa
ornithological primary sources dating from 1895-2012. Eight archival
collections provide robust documentation
of over one hundred years of bird study in Iowa and encompass some of the
Midwest’s most influential conservationists.
The reception will be held Thursday, May 16 from 6:00pm-8:00pm at the
Octagon Center for the Arts Community Gallery in Ames, IA.
*If you plan to attend, please RSVP to me at <ema......>
<ema......> by Friday, May 10.* The web portal will be available
for viewing at the reception, and I will send out the web
address after the reception for anyone unable to attend to view the site.
Thank you, and we look forward to celebrating with you!
Date: 5/4/19 5:12 am From: kenwiggers <ken.wiggers...> Subject: [ia-bird] Spring migrants
Red-breasted nuthatch May 2nd, was a regular several months ago. May 3rd, two male Rose-breasted grosbeaks + Red-headed woodpecker. Story county five miles south of Ames.
Date: 5/3/19 7:25 pm From: Pip Fisher <pip...> Subject: [ia-bird] No Sighting - Spring Meeting 5/3-5
Hello Bird Lovers!
Would you like to meet the author of Peterson Field Guide to Bird Sounds? Both Eastern AND Western editions? (Currently available at Amazon.com and most other book sellers.) Well, buy your copies and head on down to Keosauqua and join us for the IOU Spring Meeting! Not only will you be able to meet Nathan Pieplow, he'll even autograph the books for you!
So you say that books bore you but you want to do some birding in world class habitat during what looks to be an excellent weekend of migration? I'd suggest you come to Keosauqua for the Saturday and Sunday morning field trips at the IOU Spring Meeting!
Oh, I understand, you'd rather learn something about woodcocks, birding apps, and how to better identify bird sounds? Well, this is your lucky day chum! I happen to know of a place where you can do all 3 in one afternoon in the scenic and historic setting of Keosauqua, IA! The afternoon sessions at the IOU Spring Meeting will cover exactly those topics!
What would you pay now? - DON'T ANSWER YET!!! As if all the above wasn't enough, there will be social time with some of the leading birders in the state, wandering around the peaceful and lush forests of southeastern Iowa, and I personally guarantee excellent weather.*
Oh, you just want to sit and have a great dinner with some friends, listen to an interesting speaker and sit around and chat afterward? I can give you that too.
You don't have to be an IOU Member to join us on this adventure. To sign up and get more information about finding lodging in the area and the meals that are going to be available at a reasonable price, head to https://iowabirds.org/IOU/NextMeeting.aspx
See you in Keosauqua!
Pip Fisher
Vice President
Iowa Ornithologists Union
(*Note that Pip Fisher has no actual way to guarantee weather of any kind, excellent or otherwise and any such guarantee is simply a ploy to lure you to the IOU Spring Meeting, May 3-5, in Keosauqua, IA. Oh, you'd like to give him a piece of your mind about this cheesy trick? I know where and when you can find him and he'd love to hear it straight from you.:))
Date: 5/3/19 1:19 pm From: Fawn Bowden <fawnda10...> Subject: [ia-bird] Re: American Bittern at Terry Trueblood
I missed the Bittern and did not have time to check around the rest of the lake, but thanks for posting. There is a Common Loon on the lake and the flooded field just south of TT still has 2 LB Dowitchers and L/G Yellowlegs on the south side of the muddy puddle.
Fawn Bowden Riverside
On Friday, May 3, 2019 at 10:42:40 AM UTC-5, Dean Hester wrote: > > Found an AMERICAN BITTERN on the east side of Terry trueblood rec area. > Its hanging out in willows south of the southmost parking lot. > > Dean Hester, North English >
Date: 5/3/19 11:44 am From: Pip Fisher <pip...> Subject: Re: [ia-bird] Spring meeting site info
Great question. Guess we’ll find out...
Pip
Sent from my iPhone
> On May 2, 2019, at 10:08 PM, Tommy Stone <tomtazzstone...> wrote:
>
> I was just wondering how the gravel roads are considering this area has received substantial rain the past couple of days? I have a low clearance vehicle.
>
> Tommy Stone
>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "IA-BIRD" group.
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Date: 5/3/19 10:16 am From: 'Chris Edwards' via IA-BIRD <ia-bird...> Subject: [ia-bird] Johnson Co. Warblers & Vireos
A nice wave of warblers (8 species) and vireos (4 species) arrived in Johnson Co. this morning. Birding around Lake Macbride and the Coralville Reservoir I saw the following:
Date: 5/3/19 8:53 am From: Ron Stakland <rons...> Subject: [ia-bird] Sneak Preview Lacey Park - Van Buren Co.
Hi Birders,
Early this morning I went to Lacy State park in Keosauqua for about 1.5 hours. Things are definitely picking up!
Warblers: N. Parula Yellow Throated Yellow Rump Black & White Blue Winged Kentucky Common Yellowthroat
Other Notables: Pileated Woodpeckers Belted Kingfisher Oriole Scarlet Tanager Rose Breasted GB White-eyed Vireo E. Towhees Catbirds Wood Ducks high in trees
Did not see the resident Waterthrushes this time.
Ground is soggy so boots are recommended, though creek has dropped back to manageable depths.
Date: 5/3/19 7:25 am From: Brandon Caswell <brandon.caswell83...> Subject: Re: [ia-bird] Shorebirds update from Jim F
Gerald Denning and I are still observing the avocets, Marbled Godwit and
three Willets, which are straight out and distant and require a scope. The
Willets lifted their wings to reveal the white and black. The godwit dwarfs
them, being a solid tan color. They are currently roosting by a group of
pelicans.
Thanks for the update from Jim through Diana.
Best,
Brandon Caswell
Marion
On Fri, May 3, 2019 at 07:33 'Diana Pesek' via IA-BIRD <
<ia-bird...> wrote:
> Jim Forde asked me to post some info for those of you traveling thru
> Johnson County on your way to the IOU meeting.
>
> Curtis Bridge Rd and Sandy Beach areas have no shorebirds — water has
> risen.
>
> Jim scoped a distant Marbled Godwit, Willets and Avocets from the DNR
> parking lot on Amana Road (north side of Hawkeye Wildlife Area) this
> morning.
>
> Diana Pesek
> Cedar Rapids
>
> --
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> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/ia-bird.
> To view this discussion on the web visit
> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ia-bird/<0652E24D-FB7B-464D-8108-243F320A331B...> > .
> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
>
When I checked the Great Horned owl nest north of Grinnell on 40th this morning I saw 3 owlets. One looked like it was about to branch and the other 2 were still in the nest. The mother owl was perched nearby.
Date: 5/2/19 8:08 pm From: Tommy Stone <tomtazzstone...> Subject: [ia-bird] Spring meeting site info
I was just wondering how the gravel roads are considering this area has received substantial rain the past couple of days? I have a low clearance vehicle.
Date: 5/2/19 7:01 pm From: Tommy Stone <tomtazzstone...> Subject: [ia-bird] King Rail - Blackhawk co.
Shortly after I went to George Wyth, I decided to check out Prairie Ridge Wetland, which is private owned. While listening to several calling Soras I heard the monotone kek kek kek call of a KING RAIL. I waited a couple of minutes to see if it would call again but it didn't. So then I played the recorded call in which it responded right away with some grunting followed by the "kek" call again , which lasted about 10 seconds. After that it didn't respond again. I had my son so I couldn't stay too long.
Also there, was 2 WILSON'S PHALAROPES and a YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD. I'm gonna try again tomorrow morning with my hip waders and hopefully get a visual of the K. Rail.
Date: 5/2/19 6:07 pm From: 'Chris Edwards' via IA-BIRD <ia-bird...> Subject: RE: [ia-bird] IOU Spring Meeting May 3-5
According to Cornell’s BirdCast website (http://birdcast.info/) Friday night and especially Saturday night will provide excellent conditions for migration in SE Iowa – it should be a great weekend!
Below are the five field trips that will be offered Saturday and Sunday mornings:
Croton Unit of Shimek State Forest
Leaders – James Huntington and Brandon Caswell (Saturday), Dan Rose & Eric Ollie (Sunday)
This large forested area is one of the best places in Iowa to find breeding warblers and other Southeast Iowa specialties. If time allows, we may also visit the Lick Creek Unit or other nearby areas. The trip will include extensive walking along gravel roads and primitive trails. Waterproof boots are recommended for stream crossings. Target Species: Migrant warblers and other passerines, Kentucky Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Blue-winged Warbler, Northern Parula, Yellow-breasted Chat, White-eyed Vireo, Summer Tanager, and Red-shouldered Hawk. Worm-eating Warbler and Bewick’s Wren are possible.
Lacey-Keosauqua State Park & Keosauqua Unit of Shimek State Forest
Leaders – Stuart Sparkman & Karen Viste-Sparkman (Saturday), James Huntington & Brandon Caswell (Sunday)
Lacey-Keosauqua State Park offers miles of hiking trails through pristine upland woodlands. This trip will include a longer hike from Ely Ford along the snowmobile trail into the Keosauqua Unit of Shimek State Forest. Waterproof boots are recommended for stream crossings. Target species: Migrant warblers, vireos, thrushes, and other passerines, Yellow-throated Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Northern Parula, Cerulean Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, and Summer Tanager. Hooded Warbler is possible.
Donnellson & Farmington Units of Shimek State Forest
Leaders – Dan Rose & Eric Ollie (Saturday), Mark Brown & Linda Rudolph (Sunday)
These two adjacent forested tracts are the only known Iowa breeding location for Pine Warbler. The trip will include walking along state forest roads and trails at multiple stops. Target species: Migrant warblers and other passerines, Pine Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, Kentucky Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Henslow’s Sparrow, and Broad-winged Hawk. Hooded Warbler is possible but unexpected.
Lacey-Keosauqua State Park
Leaders: Chuck Fuller & Mark Proescholdt
Lacey-Keosauqua State Park offers miles of hiking trails through pristine upland woodlands. This trip will include shorter walks on park roads and trails at multiple stops. Target species: Migrant warblers, vireos, thrushes, and other passerines, Yellow-throated Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Northern Parula, Cerulean Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, and Summer Tanager.
Lake Sugema WMA & Lacey-Keosauqua State Park
Leaders: Chris Edwards & Chris Caster
Lake Sugema is a large man-made lake surrounded by grasslands and shrublands, just south of Lacey-Keosauqua State Park. After visiting several sites around the lake, we'll spend the rest of the morning in Lacey-Keosauqua State Park. This trip will feature short or moderate walks at multiple stops. Target species: migrant waterbirds, sparrows, warblers and other passerines, Yellow-breasted Chat, Bell's Vireo, White-eyed Vireo, Henslow's Sparrow, Summer Tanager, and Yellow-throated Warbler. (NOTE: Fox River WMA and the Mt. Sterling area were removed from this itinerary due to high water and lack of shorebird habitat.)
Hope to see you there!
Chris Edwards
Solon, IA
From: 'Karen Disbrow' via IA-BIRD <ia-bird...>
Sent: Thursday, May 02, 2019 10:36 AM
To: IA-Bird ListServe <ia-bird...>
Subject: [ia-bird] IOU Spring Meeting May 3-5
Hi ALL, Looking forward to seeing you all this weekend.
A couple of things: BRING re-fillable water bottles if you have them. We will have bottles of water and we will collect used ones for recycling.
It has been wet so prepare for muddy walking in some areas. IF it warms up to 70F there will be mosquitoes and ticks, so bring repellant.
The weather looks very good for the weekend ! So the Birding should be great !
Date: 5/2/19 4:51 pm From: Ann Johnson <aj...> Subject: RE: [ia-bird] Dark-eyed Junco in Johnston
I had one this afternoon as well. Was just thinking about what a strange day to have a junco and baby geese.
Ann Johnson
Norwalk (Warren County)
From: <ia-bird...> <ia-bird...> On Behalf Of Dennis Thompson
Sent: Thursday, May 2, 2019 6:46 PM
To: 'Iowabirds' <ia-bird...>
Subject: [ia-bird] Dark-eyed Junco in Johnston
I’m sitting on the porch thinking about all the possibilities for this weekend’s IOU meeting (White-eyed Vireo, Worm-eating/Kentucky/Cerulean Warblers, etc.) and a DARK-EYED JUNCO shows up at my feeders. What’s up with that?
Date: 5/2/19 4:45 pm From: Dennis Thompson <cndthomps...> Subject: [ia-bird] Dark-eyed Junco in Johnston
I'm sitting on the porch thinking about all the possibilities for this weekend's IOU meeting (White-eyed Vireo, Worm-eating/Kentucky/Cerulean Warblers, etc.) and a DARK-EYED JUNCO shows up at my feeders. What's up with that?
Date: 5/2/19 3:01 pm From: John and Anna Bissell <john.annabissell...> Subject: [ia-bird] Iowa RBA: 5-2-19
Iowa RBA birds reported from Saturday, April 27, through Friday, May 3,
2019:
-RARE Species Mentioned (documentation required)
NONE
-Additional Species Mentioned
Western Grebe
Plegadis Ibis
American Avocet
Black-necked Stilt
Marbled Godwit
Pine Warbler
***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.
************************
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:*
BLACK HAWK COUNTY:
A PINE WARBLER was seen at Cedar River Natural Resource Area in the pine
grove near the entrance on the 28th.
A PINE WARBLER was seen at George Wyth SP on the 30th.
WINNESHIEK COUNTY:
A BLACK-NECKED STILT was seen at the 2nd pond segment of Cardinal Marsh on
the 2nd.
*EAST:*
JOHNSON COUNTY:
13 AMERICAN AVOCETS were seen at Sand Point on the 29th. 11 were still
present on the 30th. 18 were present on the 2nd.
3 PLEGADIS IBIS were seen flying over Swan Lake on the 30th.
A BLACK-NECKED STILT was seen at Coralville Lake from Mid-River Marina Rd
off Highway 965 on the 30th. It was last seen on the 1st. 2 AMERICAN
AVOCETS and the BLACK-NECKED STILT were still present on the 2nd.
8 AMERICAN AVOCETS were seen from Amana Rd at the Highway 965 intersection
on the 2nd.
SCOTT COUNTY:
A MARBLED GODWIT was seen at the corner of Y40 and Old Highway 6 near
Walcott on the 30th.
*CENTRAL:*
GREENE COUNTY:
5 MARBLED GODWITS were seen at Dunbar Slough on the 1st.
POLK COUNTY:
A WESTERN GREBE was seen at Gray’s Lake on the 1st.
The next scheduled report of the Iowa Rare Bird Alert will be for Friday,
May 10, 2019 for the weekly report. Should any UNRECORDED or ACCIDENTAL
species be reported, an update will be posted.
Date: 5/2/19 2:52 pm From: Tommy Stone <tomtazzstone...> Subject: [ia-bird] Black-crowned Night-Herons at George Wyth S.P.
There are currently 2 adult BC NIGHT-HERONS foraging on the northeast side of the main lake, in the willows. This is almost directly across from drainage ditch. They could easily be overlooked.
Date: 5/2/19 1:27 pm From: Jim Forde <jimforde...> Subject: [ia-bird] Wading Shorebirds at Hawkeye WMA & Coralville Lake
Water levels are rising and especially noticeable at Coralville Lake where the mud flats at Curtis Bridge were visible at 7 a.m. and inundated by 11 a.m.
The following were practically the only shorebirds around except for some Long-billed Dowitchers and yellowlegs.
1 Black-necked Stilt & 2 Am. Avocets continued at Curtis Bridge.
8 Am. Avocets seen from Amana Road X Hwy. 965 intersection.
The Iowa State University Library Digital Initiatives unit is excited to invite you to a reception celebrating the completion and launch of the Avian Archives of Iowa Online (avIAn), a two-year digitization project funded by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR).
The Avian Archives of Iowa Online is a web portal for digital Iowa ornithological primary sources dating from 1895-2012. Eight archival collections provide robust documentation of over one hundred years of bird study in Iowa and encompass some of the Midwest's most influential conservationists.
The reception will be held Thursday, May 16 from 6:00pm-8:00pm at the Octagon Center for the Arts Community Gallery in Ames, IA. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to me at <emanders...><mailto:<emanders...> by Friday, May 10. The web portal will be available for viewing at the reception, and I will send out the web address after the reception for anyone unable to attend to view the site.
Thank you, and we look forward to celebrating with you!
[cid:<image001.jpg...>]
Erin Anderson avIAn Project Coordinator, Digital Initiatives Iowa State University Parks Library Rm 204 Ames, IA 50011-2140
Date: 5/2/19 1:14 pm From: Larry Reis <naturalist...> Subject: [ia-bird] black-necked stilt
There was a black-necked stilt feeding in the second pond segment at Cardinal Marsh in Winneshiek County earlier this afternoon. This is the first black-necked stilt that I have ever seen there. Additionally, there is a pair of trumpeter swans nesting on the main marsh there. This is the first nesting attempt by trumpeter swans at Cardinal Marsh in the modern era.
Larry Reis
Calmar, IA
Larry Reis, Naturalist/Resource Manager
Winneshiek County Conservation Board
2546 Lake Meyer Road
Fort Atkinson, IA 52144
563-534-7145
<director...><mailto:<director...> www.winneshiekwild.com<http://www.winneshiekwild.com/>
Date: 5/2/19 12:22 pm From: Hannah Howard <hkhoward91...> Subject: [ia-bird] Re: TNC Bird Challenge Saturday May 18th
On Thursday, May 2, 2019 at 2:14:35 PM UTC-5, Hannah Howard wrote:
>
> You are invited to participate in the 2019 TNC Bird Challenge at the Land
> of the Swamp White Oak Preserve on Saturday, May 18th! The event will take
> place from 8 am to 11:30 am at our Swamp White Oak Access (see below for
> driving directions). Please help us spread the word! This is something new
> for The Nature Conservancy in Iowa and we’d love your help to spread the
> word to fellow birders! The goal of the challenge is to count as many
> species of birds as possible in one day on lands and waters The Nature
> Conservancy has protected or helped to protect.
>
> We will be tabulating participants’ sightings from the day and birders of
> all abilities are encouraged to join us! Participants can go off on their
> own or stay together as a group. Please bring binoculars, long pants, your
> favorite birding field guide (some will be available for use), sturdy
> hiking shoes or rubber boots, and water. This should be a great time to
> catch prothonotary warblers out at the preserve!
>
> TO PARTICIPATE:
> 1) Let us know by Thursday, May 16th that you’ll go birding on
> Saturday, May 18th with us at the event
> 2) After you go birding, send us your list
>
> INSTRUCTIONS:
> 3) Please don’t use audio playback or recordings to attract birds.
> 4) Please send all final bird lists to me, Hannah at
> <hannah.howard...>
> 5) Participants are encouraged to enter their data in eBird (
> http://ebird.org/content/ebird/).
> 6) Please share any eBird checklists with eBird user
> “TNCBirdChallenge”.
>
> Driving Directions: From Muscatine on US Hwy 61 South bypass: Go south
> about 5 miles on the US Hwy 61 bypass to County Hwy G28 (Hershey Ave Exit).
> Turn west onto County Hwy G28 and go about 11.5 miles to destination on the
> north side of the road. PLEASE NOTE: You will go past the Cedar River about
> 0.8 miles and the Swamp White Oak Access is immediately before another
> bridge.
>
> Or visit or website to see an interactive map:
>
> https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/the-lower-cedar-valley-region/ >
> Please note: This outing is done at your own risk – this preserve does not
> have hiking trails and there will be uneven terrain.
>
> Thank you, and if you have any questions, please feel free to email or
> call me!
>
> Hannah Howard
> Community Coordinator
> The Nature Conservancy
> Land of the Swamp White Oak Office
> (319) 726-3041 (Phone)
> (563) 299-6509 (Mobile)
> <hannah.howard...>
>
Date: 5/2/19 12:14 pm From: Hannah Howard <hkhoward91...> Subject: [ia-bird] TNC Bird Challenge Saturday May 18th
You are invited to participate in the 2019 TNC Bird Challenge at the Land of the Swamp White Oak Preserve on Saturday, May 18th! The event will take place from 8 am to 11:30 am at our Swamp White Oak Access (see below for driving directions). Please help us spread the word! This is something new for The Nature Conservancy in Iowa and we’d love your help to spread the word to fellow birders! The goal of the challenge is to count as many species of birds as possible in one day on lands and waters The Nature Conservancy has protected or helped to protect.
We will be tabulating participants’ sightings from the day and birders of all abilities are encouraged to join us! Participants can go off on their own or stay together as a group. Please bring binoculars, long pants, your favorite birding field guide (some will be available for use), sturdy hiking shoes or rubber boots, and water. This should be a great time to catch prothonotary warblers out at the preserve!
TO PARTICIPATE:
1) Let us know by Thursday, May 16th that you’ll go birding on Saturday, May 18th with us at the event
2) After you go birding, send us your list
INSTRUCTIONS:
3) Please don’t use audio playback or recordings to attract birds.
4) Please send all final bird lists to me, Hannah at <hannah.howard...>
5) Participants are encouraged to enter their data in eBird (http://ebird.org/content/ebird/).
6) Please share any eBird checklists with eBird user “TNCBirdChallenge”.
Driving Directions: From Muscatine on US Hwy 61 South bypass: Go south about 5 miles on the US Hwy 61 bypass to County Hwy G28 (Hershey Ave Exit). Turn west onto County Hwy G28 and go about 11.5 miles to destination on the north side of the road. PLEASE NOTE: You will go past the Cedar River about 0.8 miles and the Swamp White Oak Access is immediately before another bridge.
Please note: This outing is done at your own risk – this preserve does not have hiking trails and there will be uneven terrain.
Thank you, and if you have any questions, please feel free to email or call me!
Hannah Howard
Community Coordinator
The Nature Conservancy
Land of the Swamp White Oak Office
(319) 726-3041 (Phone)
(563) 299-6509 (Mobile)
<hannah.howard...>
Date: 5/2/19 9:49 am From: Sharon Bauer <sharon.bauer519...> Subject: [ia-bird] Cerulean Warbler- Pammel park. Madison County
Heard what I believe to be a Cerulean Warbler this morning at Pammel Park, Madison County. Light was not great, but did observe wing bars and necklace on bird high in the tree.
I did report in ebird with recording- please let me know if this is not the correct id. The bird was just north of the parking area by the ford at the park, close proximity to rushing water makes a clear recording impossible.
I am a novice— had not seen this bird with black “hood” and red breast until today.
Is this an American redstart or a different bird and not even a warbler??
Date: 5/2/19 8:36 am From: 'Karen Disbrow' via IA-BIRD <ia-bird...> Subject: [ia-bird] IOU Spring Meeting May 3-5
Hi ALL, Looking forward to seeing you all this weekend.
A couple of things: BRING re-fillable water bottles if you have them. We will have bottles of water and we will collect used ones for recycling.
It has been wet so prepare for muddy walking in some areas. IF it warms up to 70F there will be mosquitoes and ticks, so bring repellant.
The weather looks very good for the weekend ! So the Birding should be great !
Good Birding !
Karen DisbrowEvents Coordinator ICBC
Date: 5/1/19 9:48 pm From: <willcfish...> Subject: [ia-bird] Shorebirds at Hwy! 30 pond West of Boone and Des Moines River, South side of HWY.
1 - Wilson's Phalarope spotted in the AM by ISU Ornithologist group 2 - Long-billed Dowitcher 18 - Lesser Yellowlegs 1 - Pectoral Sandpiper 1 - Least Sandpiper 35 - Barn Swallows May 1, 2019 Clayton Will - Madrid Iowa
Earlier post invented a new species of “Rough Legged” swallows. Before you head down for this lifer, be advised that I meant to write “Rough-winged.” Still have raptors on the brain after a long winter.
Ron Stakland
Date: 5/1/19 4:06 pm From: Ron Stakland <rons...> Subject: [ia-bird] Shorebirds in Jefferson Co.
This afternoon I took a break and visited the small wetland south west of Jefferson County Park, by the intersection of Libertyville road and Quarry Road. I counted 70+ Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs in a mixed flock, accompanied by a pair of Wilson’s phalaropes. Also saw many Barn, Tree and Northern Rough Legged Swallows.
On Monday evening my wife and I visited Lake Darling (one Black Throated Green Warbler, several Palms and countless Yellow Rumps) and on the drive home on Hwy. 1, just south of Highway 78 in a flooded farm field, saw 20+ Solitary Sandpipers plus two Lesser Yellowlegs.
Ron Stakland
Fairfield
Date: 5/1/19 3:09 pm From: Eric Ollie <uphawkeye...> Subject: [ia-bird] Story County - Colo Bogs Shorebirds
Currently, at Colo Bogs WMA, just east of Colo on old highway 30, there are at least 29 Wilson's Phalarope's, 7 Long-billed Dowitchers and 2 Willets. They are in the wetland on the north side of the road, just east of the sheep pen.
Also present are Pectoral Sandpipers, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, a Solitary Sandpiper and a Spotted Sandpiper.
Date: 5/1/19 2:10 pm From: Steve Harvey <saharv23...> Subject: [ia-bird] Bald Eagle Clarke Co.
This afternoon there was a Bald Eagle perched high in a roadside oak
tree about 1 mile SE of Osceola. Eagles have been regulars during the
winter months but haven't seen one for well over a month.
Date: 5/1/19 11:17 am From: 'Reid Allen' via IA-BIRD <ia-bird...> Subject: [ia-bird] Dunbar Slough
In addition to 5 Marbled Godwits, there was a Virginia Rail at the boat ramp at the north end of B Ave. at Dunbar (Greene County). The MAGOs were seen from the parking lot on B Ave. just past the S curve.
iPhone Mail Pam & Reid Allen West Des Moines, Iowa
Date: 5/1/19 10:57 am From: Rob Towler <rjtowler3369...> Subject: [ia-bird] Black-crowned Night-Heron @ Bacon Creek - Woodbury County 5/1
There was a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON at Bacon Creek in Sioux City over the lunch hour. This is the first time I've seen this particular species there. Also present: SWAINSON'S THRUSH (FOY), BROWN THRASHER, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW (many), BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, FIELD SPARROWS (vocalizing), EASTERN TOWHEE, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, and many YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS.
Still patiently waiting for warblers and vireos to show up in NW Iowa!!
Date: 5/1/19 10:21 am From: John Bissell <John.N.Bissell...> Subject: [ia-bird] Western Grebe - Polk County
While leading a bird walk at Gray's Lake about an hour ago, we observed a Western Grebe hanging out with 5 Horned Grebes. They were best viewed from the bridge.
Other interesting birds seen included Osprey, FOY Green Heron, Baltimore Oriole, and Warbling Vireo.
Good birding,
John Bissell
Grimes
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Date: 5/1/19 10:16 am From: Jay Pitocchelli <jpitocch...> Subject: [ia-bird] Request for assistance – song recordings of migrating Mourning Warblers
It is year 5 of this project and I am once again writing to request your
help and participate in a Citizens Science Project that involves recording
migrating Mourning Warbler songs. Our lab is trying to determine what role
song can play in understanding migratory connectivity in this species. We
are interested in whether different song populations of the Mourning
Warbler (Western, Eastern, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland) migrate together or
separately to their respective breeding areas. Here is a link to a map
with previous years’ results based on recordings from over 100 birders.
All you need is a smartphone with a voice recording app and some luck. Videos
with recordings are also helpful. The web page link below describes the
project and how to make recordings on your Smartphone in more detail. Please
send song recordings to the Mourning Warbler Sound Lab (jpitocch AT
anselm.edu).
Date: 5/1/19 10:15 am From: Jay Pitocchelli <jpitocch...> Subject: [ia-bird] Request for assistance – song recordings of migrating Mourning Warblers
It is year 5 of this project and I am once again writing to request your
help and participate in a Citizens Science Project that involves recording
migrating Mourning Warbler songs. Our lab is trying to determine what role
song can play in understanding migratory connectivity in this species. We
are interested in whether different song populations of the Mourning
Warbler (Western, Eastern, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland) migrate together or
separately to their respective breeding areas. Here is a link to a map
with previous years’ results based on recordings from over 100 birders.
All you need is a smartphone with a voice recording app and some luck. Videos
with recordings are also helpful. The web page link below describes the
project and how to make recordings on your Smartphone in more detail. Please
send song recordings to the Mourning Warbler Sound Lab (jpitocch AT
anselm.edu).
Date: 5/1/19 8:45 am From: Dennis Thompson <cndthomps...> Subject: [ia-bird] Louisiana Waterthrush at Jester Park
A LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH was singing this morning at the wooden bridge just north of the cabins at Jester. It was quiet otherwise, although I did get my FOY BLACKPOLL WARBLER.
Date: 5/1/19 7:46 am From: Matt Wetrich <go_tweeting...> Subject: [ia-bird] Dunbar Shorbs
Birders,
The past few days at Dunbar Slough in far western Greene County there have been upwards of 15 species of shorebirds. This morning there were 5 Marbled Godwits, Long-billed Dowitchers, Semipalmated Plovers, and a variety of other expected species. Yesterday Willet and Wilson's Phalarope were seen.
Best viewing can be done from 270th, just east of Apple Ave (county line). As well as on B Ave, 1 mile south of 270th from the parking lot on the west side of the road, just north of the S curve.
Bird on!
Matt Wetrich
Jefferson, Greene County
Naturalist, Carroll CCB
Date: 5/1/19 6:52 am From: Jason McCurdy <jasondmccurdy...> Subject: Re: [ia-bird] Black-necked Stilt, Willets at Coralville Lake
The Black-necked Stilt and American Avocets continue at the end of Curtis
Bridge Rd as of 8:30 this morning. Both are quite distant; you may be able
to identify them using binoculars but a scope would be helpful. Look along
the north shore to the NE of the boat ramp.
Jason McCurdy
Iowa City
On Wed, May 1, 2019 at 7:04 AM Brandon Caswell <brandon.caswell83...>
wrote:
> The Black-necked Stilt is now viewable from the end of Curtis Bridge Rd.
> It’s feeding with two American Avocets. Also, from where it was scoped
> yesterday at the marina, very, very far out and upstream, are a suspicious
> group of birds that remind me of a large Willet flock, but I’ll need to
> hike to investigate those.
>
> Best,
> Brandon Caswel
> Marion
>
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Date: 5/1/19 5:04 am From: Brandon Caswell <brandon.caswell83...> Subject: [ia-bird] Black-necked Stilt, Willets at Coralville Lake
The Black-necked Stilt is now viewable from the end of Curtis Bridge Rd. It’s feeding with two American Avocets. Also, from where it was scoped yesterday at the marina, very, very far out and upstream, are a suspicious group of birds that remind me of a large Willet flock, but I’ll need to hike to investigate those.
Date: 4/30/19 7:13 pm From: Tommy Stone <tomtazzstone...> Subject: [ia-bird] Pine Warbler at George Wyth S.P.
I took my son TJ for a ride through the park and showed him his first PINE WARBlER. It couldn't have been any more cooperative, as it was right next to road and less than ten feet from the car at eye level. It was in association with Yellow-rumped Warblers which were everywhere in the park.
Date: 4/30/19 11:27 am From: Jim Forde <jimforde...> Subject: [ia-bird] Black-necked Stilt, Willets at Coralville Lake
At mid morning I scoped a distant BLACK-NECKED STILT from Mid-river Marina Rd. off of Hwy. 965. It was in the company of Blue-winged Teal at the edge of the very large mud flat up reservoir. The stilt definitely has the legs to wade those waters but I was a little surprised to see it there.
Also, I scoped a distant WILLET at Sandy Beach and 3 WILLETS on shoreline mud flats just down reservoir from the Scales Pointe's boat ramp.
Shorebird numbers were modest at Hawkeye but I added a FOY Wilson's Phalarope. I'm building a list of FOYs but no more than one or two per trip.
Date: 4/30/19 10:20 am From: Fawn Bowden <fawnda10...> Subject: [ia-bird] Ibis at Hawkeye WMA- Johnson County
While parked near Swan Lake this morning at Hawkeye WMA, 3 Glossy/White-faced Ibis flew directly overhead, flying from the east in a NW direction. I checked out Sand Point, but only saw 3 juvenile Bald Eagles hunting the area and a lone Goose. Despite nice looking shorebird habitat at Round Pond, I did not see any shorebirds there.
Date: 4/29/19 6:22 pm From: Doug & Nina Harr <dnharr...> Subject: [ia-bird] Hamilton Co. birds
On the way from Ogden to Hampton this morning, I stopped for a 1/2 hour bird hike at Brandrup's Timber (county conservation area), a few miles north of Webster City. Within a 2-minute walk from the parking area into the edge of nearby woods, I started seeing *Blue-gray Gnatcatchers* (FOY) everywhere in the branches, plus almost countless numbers of *Ruby-crowned Kinglets*. Another FOY was a *Black-and-white Warbler. *There were also a couple of *Orange-crowned Warblers*, a *Swainson's Thrush*, several *Wild Turkeys* and some other small birds flitting out of sight. Didn't have time to stay & keep searching for more species, but I'll bet the woods probably had a lot of other things to see.
Date: 4/28/19 7:04 pm From: Ken S. <moosedogs...> Subject: [ia-bird] Peregrine Falcon at Otter Creek Marsh WMA in Tama County
I experienced 5 black-crowned night herons, a peregrine falcon, and several soras among 32 species identified this morning at Otter Creek Marsh Wildlife Management Area in Tama County - see attached photos.
Ken Saunders II Grinnell Poweshiek
[image: BCNH - 19-0428 - 0013E. S 0.5 - SH 0 - HI 15 - 600 x 750.jpg]
[image: BCNH - 19-0428 - 0035E. S 1.0 - SH 50 - HI 10 - 600 x 900.jpg]
[image: PEFA - 19-0428 - 0001E. S 0.5 - SH 25 - HI 15 - 600 x 750.jpg]
[image: PEFA - 19-0428 - 0018E. S 0.5 - SH 20 - HI 10 - 600 x 750.jpg]
[image: PEFA - 19-0428 - 0019E. S 0.5 - SH 10 - HI 10 - 600 x 750.jpg]
[image: SORA - 19-0428 - 0007E. S 0.5 - SH 10 - HI 5 - 600 x 900.jpg]
Date: 4/28/19 5:28 pm From: Tyler M. Harms <tyharms...> Subject: [ia-bird] Hickory Hill Park - Iowa City
Hi Birders,
This morning during an Iowa Young Birders field trip we saw our FOY Great-created Flycatcher, House Wrens, and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers at Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City. We were also treated to a great view of a Broad-winged Hawk perched in the open near the Conklin Lane parking lot. We saw several Yellow-rumped Warblers, but unfortunately missed or were a bit too early for any other warbler species. It was a great morning for a hike!
Date: 4/28/19 10:06 am From: 'RICHARD SAYLES' via IA-BIRD <ia-bird...> Subject: [ia-bird] Common Loon
Good Morning Common Loon John Deere lagoon viewable from I 80 north Davenport. First reported by Jason Koch on Saturday Dick Sayles Buffalo Iowa Scott County
Date: 4/28/19 8:35 am From: carl nollen <nollenca...> Subject: Re: [ia-bird] First House Wren has made it to our yard in Allamakee Co.
Even though house wrens are bluebirds' greatest enemy, I enjoy them too. Their scissory song and their annual use of their bird house, shaped like a giant acorn, right by our front window.
Carl Nollen, s.e. Polk County
________________________________
From: <ia-bird...> <ia-bird...> on behalf of Ric Zarwell <birdingricz...>
Sent: Saturday, April 27, 2019 9:08 PM
To: IA-BIRD
Subject: [ia-bird] First House Wren has made it to our yard in Allamakee Co.
The snow was coming down almost horizontally pushed by a strong wind this afternoon. Despite the snow and chilly temperatures, it was really nice to see the first House Wren for this year in our yard.
We’re hoping a pair of wrens use nest boxes on both sides of our kitchen as they’ve done in recent years. Love the music going back and forth past us while we have our meals! Makes everything taste better….
Date: 4/28/19 7:44 am From: Diane Dentlinger <dianedentlinger...> Subject: [ia-bird] Peregrines falcon Des Moines
If any of you are in downtown Des Moines, a peregrine just took a pigeon. It's ripping pigeon feathers off now at the top of the building at the SE corner of 6th and Park .
Date: 4/28/19 6:09 am From: <willcfish...> Subject: [ia-bird] 4 Sandhill Cranes at Marsh Farm Wetlands, Dallas Co. Clayton Will Madrid 4/27/2019
There were 4 Sandhill Cranes. Two flew off the ground to chase one incoming off the marsh and I caught a 4th in the photo. There also looked to be 3 Godwits and 8 Golden Plover on the NE shoreline.
Date: 4/27/19 7:08 pm From: Ric Zarwell <birdingricz...> Subject: [ia-bird] First House Wren has made it to our yard in Allamakee Co.
The snow was coming down almost horizontally pushed by a strong wind this afternoon. Despite the snow and chilly temperatures, it was really nice to see the first House Wren for this year in our yard.
We’re hoping a pair of wrens use nest boxes on both sides of our kitchen as they’ve done in recent years. Love the music going back and forth past us while we have our meals! Makes everything taste better….
Among other things, there was a Kentucky Warbler at the Croton Unit of Shimek (Lee County) also, a Yellow-throated Vireo. At the Donnellson Unit several singing Ovenbirds and a non-singing Scarlet Tanager. Also, I had a Montezuma Oropendela* FOY However, the Oropendela was seen a month ago in Belize.
Date: 4/27/19 11:28 am From: Neil Bernstein <tornataornata...> Subject: [ia-bird] Re: request likely viewing locations of pileated woodpeckers in NW Ia/Dickinson county
Many years ago, there was a pair on the backside of Anderson Prairie in Emmet County, but I have not had time to go back and look.
On Thursday, April 25, 2019 at 10:02:26 AM UTC-5, Robert Thorbrogger wrote: > > my only sighting was in Washington state and would like to see this > impressive bird again...thanks for any suggested locations >
Date: 4/27/19 9:15 am From: Stuart Sparkman <jacamar29...> Subject: [ia-bird] Des Moines River arrivals, Blue-headed Vireo
Hey I-Birders
Karen, Harney and I strolled along the Des Moines River in north Des Moines near Tai Village late Friday afternoon. A few noteworthy birds appeared, including BROAD-WINGED HAWK, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, LINCOLN'S SPARROW, two ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS and our FOY CHIMNEY SWIFT. A BROWN THRASHER was singing lustily near the large pond. The vegetation along this pond has improved over the years, and we've had marsh wren here a couple of times in migration and the occasional green heron is seen here. On our walk I spotted the rear end of a SORA disappearing into the cattails. We could see its bright triangular bill back in the shadows, then observed it come back out of the reeds and forage in some shorter grass. Later, on our return, the bird was still foraging there and we watched it for a few more minutes. I don't believe we've encountered this species here before. I'm glad the marsh looks acceptable to a migrating sora. As I was writing this on Saturday morning, several small birds appeared in one of our oak trees, including RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, and most exciting, BLUE-HEADED VIREO. Looking forward to seeing many of you next weekend.
Date: 4/27/19 5:46 am From: 'Chris Edwards' via IA-BIRD <ia-bird...> Subject: [ia-bird] Displaying Snipe, Johnson Co.
Last night after sunset at least one Wilson's Snipe was performing its winnowing flight display at Williams Prairie in Johnson County. (The eerie winnowing sound is made by air rushing through the outer two tail feathers as the bird dives.) It displayed continuously for over 20 minutes, and at times it sounded like it flew right over us, but we never spotted it. Several other snipe were present as evidenced by their rasping 'scaip' calls.
Date: 4/26/19 4:22 pm From: 'Chris Edwards' via IA-BIRD <ia-bird...> Subject: [ia-bird] Van Buren Co. Arrivals
I birded around Lake Sugema in Van Buren County today to scout for the IOU meeting next weekend. I saw the following FOYs (some of which have already been reported by others): SPOTTED SANDPIPER, EASTERN KINGBIRD, WHITE-EYED VIREO, WARBLING VIREO, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, YELLOW WARBLER, PALM WARBLER, YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER, HENSLOW'S SPARROW, and NORTHERN ORIOLE. I also saw a loose flock of 50+ YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS feeding on some type of flying insects. A territorial RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was at Fox River WMA. The water level at Fox River WMA and Mt. Sterling is high so there's no shorebird habitat.
Date: 4/26/19 4:20 pm From: John and Anna Bissell <john.annabissell...> Subject: [ia-bird] Iowa RBA: 4-26-19
Iowa RBA birds reported from Saturday, April 20, through Friday, April 26, 2019:
-RARE Species Mentioned (documentation required)
ACCIDENTAL:
**FISH CROW**
-Additional Species Mentioned
American Avocet
White-faced Ibis
Marbled Godwit
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Worm-eating Warbler
Magnoila Warbler (3rd earliest)
INDIGO BUNTING (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. ************************
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.
*EAST:*
JOHNSON COUNTY:
A WORM-EATING WARBLER was seen on the SE side of the University of Iowa Research Park on the 22nd. The last place it was seen was about 20 yards downstream (east) of the cement slab.
5 Marbled Godwits were seen on the south shore of Hawkeye Wildlife Refuge between James Ave and Sand Point on the 24th.
*SOUTHEAST:*
LEE COUNTY:
An early INDIGO BUNTING was seen at the Croton Unit of Shimek SF on the 20th .
DES MOINES COUNTY:
A WHITE-FACED IBIS was seen 7 miles north of Burlington off County Rd 99 on the 21st.
7 AMERICAN AVOCETS were seen at Black Hawk Bottoms on the 21st.
An early MAGNOLIA WARBLER was seen at Blackhawk Bottoms on the 23rd.
A FISH CROW was seen at Blackhawk Bottoms on the 25th.
*SOUTH CENTRAL:*
LUCAS COUNTY:
A SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER was seen at Slab Castle WA on the 21st.
*CENTRAL:*
GREENE COUNTY:
60 AMERICAN AVOCETS and 40 WHITE-FACED IBIS were seen at Dunbar Slough on the 22nd. 7 MARBLED GODWITS were later seen at the 270th St pool on the 22nd .
The next scheduled report of the Iowa Rare Bird Alert will be for Friday, May 3, 2019 for the weekly report. Should any UNRECORDED or ACCIDENTAL species be reported, an update will be posted.
Yesterday over lunch I spotted a male Northern Bobwhite roaming around my yard near downtown Iowa City. It was definitely a shock to see this bird, let alone in the middle of Iowa City.
Date: 4/26/19 11:00 am From: Doug & Nina Harr <dnharr...> Subject: [ia-bird] Sweet spring sounds of Soras
At Bjorkboda Marsh and nearby private wetlands on the Boone-Hamilton Co. line this morning, I heard descending whinnies of at least 4 (possibly 5) *Soras* (FOY) coming from different locations in marsh vegetation.
Date: 4/26/19 7:22 am From: T J <stsparrow47...> Subject: [ia-bird] Hummingbird and Grosbeak
On thurs. we observed our first male Ruby-throated Hummingbird and our first male Rose-breasted Grosbeak at our home in Mystic, Ia.Tom and Becky Johnson
Date: 4/25/19 3:31 pm From: Ric Zarwell <birdingricz...> Subject: [ia-bird] Sandhill Crane nest flooded, and Turkey Vulture love making
IA-BIRDers
Earlier today my wife & I observed a Sandhill Crane on a nest near the observation deck on the west end of the “Army Road” which is at the east edge of New Albin, in Allamakee Co. I believe this is likely the same nest that Bill Ohde originally posted about as the location is approx. 60 degrees from the mounted scope on the deck.
The interesting, and also sad thing is that the Mississippi River has gone up to a very high level again, and many of the crane’s feathers ( including tail and wing feathers ) are in water. Cheers for the parent bird trying to save eggs and/or young from the cold water. But for this particular nest, doing so looks like a lost cause. See photo taken during rain below. In checking with staff at the International Crane Foundation a few years ago, I was told Sandhill Cranes seldom re-nest after an original nest is lost.
Also noted this afternoon ( from our living room couch ) Turkey Vulture copulation from the top of the Black Hawk Bridge which crosses the Mississippi River at Lansing. Respecting their privacy, no photos were attempted ☺️
Date: 4/25/19 2:21 pm From: Doug & Nina Harr <dnharr...> Subject: [ia-bird] (not an observation) Federal Breeding Bird Survey: 6 Iowa routes available
Iowa currently has six federal Breeding Bird Survey routes vacant and needs volunteers to conduct an annual survey. Vacant route names (and general locations) are as follows:
- Williamsburg (just south of I-80 and the Amanas) - Neola (near I-80, about 20 mi. NE of Council Bluffs) - Hudson (about 2 mi. SW of Waterloo) - Dinsdale (about 10 mi. SW of Waterloo and the nearby Hudson route) - Washta (about 15 mi. SW of Cherokee) - Burchinal (about 6 mi. south of Clear Lake-Mason City)
If any knowledgeable Iowa birders are interested, please reply ASAP to this email message for more information on how to apply. Here are some requirements to know before volunteering:
- Volunteers must be familiar with identifying *most* avian species typically found in Iowa, especially those in the area of a selected survey route. - Volunteers should plan to conduct the survey for *at least* 3 years, because data collected cannot become part of long-term population studies unless multiple-year surveys are conducted by the same person, assuring accurateness of data collected. - Before doing a survey route, first-time volunteers must complete a short on-line training session, regarding survey methods and other information. - A volunteer may have someone act as an assistant to drive or enter data on field survey forms; however, the helper may *NOT* assist in identifying a bird by sight or sound. - Surveys are conducted during peak breeding season, from late May to early July. - Surveys start 1/2 hour before sunrise, on a day with low wind speed and no precipitation. - Each route is 25 miles long, with one stop every 1/2 mile, for a total of 50 count points. - Route maps depicting & describing count-stop points will be provided by the BBS office. - During a 3-minute time period at each stop, all birds seen or heard within 1/4 mile are recorded on field data sheets. A typical survey takes 4 to 4.5 hours to complete. - After survey completion, data may be entered online and/or by mailing in field data sheets.
It would be an honor for all of Iowa's routes to have volunteers and we likely would be recognized by the BBS office, at Pautuxent Wildlife Research Center in Maryland. Let's hope we can get closer to achieving that goal this year.
Date: 4/25/19 10:08 am From: 'Kathy M.' via IA-BIRD <ia-bird...> Subject: [ia-bird] New Albin sandhill crane nest update: ok as of Apr-24 @6pm
Yesterday, visited the Pool Slough observation deck from 5pm to 6pm. Immediately saw a crane, and had excellent views (thru deck scope) as kindly reported by Bill Ohde. :)
Both eggs are still there, and while the water is very high, the cranes seem focused on preserving the nest. The other parent arrived, parked on a 2nd tiny clump, then explored a much larger spit immediately beside both tiny clumps, on which a single Canada Goose was parked (nesting?). I'm wondering if he/she was looking for a better spot to move the eggs to? Does anyone know if cranes can/do move eggs? After a while, the first crane flew off, and the 2nd took over the nest.
Catching the changing of the guard was pure dumb timing luck, and quite a thrill for me. :)
I didn't get any good pics (18-year-old 2-megapixel camera), but here's a shot showing both cranes on the two tiny clumps, and the larger spit with the goose (main goal is to aid your speculations as to the possibility of the cranes moving the eggs): http://puffin.net/wildlife/picoweek.php?id=89 Here's the first crane in flight: http://puffin.net/wildlife/picoweek.php?id=90 Both pages are accessible with _ANY_ browser security settings, because most sites now suck at visitor security, but I don't. :)
In addition to Bill's report, there was a Yellow-rumped Warbler by the deck, thousands of tiny bugs (midges?), and a Bald Eagle nest (on what looked to me like an osprey nesting platform - I was suitably disappointed). One eagle did a few fly-bys while I was there, at one point spooking several hundred Coots.
A big thanks to Bill for the original report, and some very helpful direct email replies. I had to drive thru the general area, and couldn't pass up a chance to experience this unusual view. :) - Kathy, Senior Email Security Engineer, IowaHoneypot
Date: 4/25/19 9:10 am From: 'Karen Disbrow' via IA-BIRD <ia-bird...> Subject: [ia-bird] IOU Spring meeting Deadlines
HI All, The food order needs to go in Friday morning, April 26th. You can go ahead register and opt to pay by check or cash when you come to the event Friday May 3rd or Sat May 4th.
We just need numbers for food by Thursday evening.
IF you are coming but not ordering meals you can register on site, but the earlier the better. This allows us to print name-tags and have other items available for the group as a whole.
Thanks !
KarenIowa City bird Club
Date: 4/25/19 9:09 am From: Ellen Fuller <cfuller989...> Subject: [ia-bird] Fish Crow
At Blackhawk Bottoms is the fog at !0:30, I heard the call of a Fish Crow not far away. I had my tape with me and played it and the bird came in and circled and called bfore flying away. Chuck fuller Burlington
Date: 4/25/19 8:02 am From: Robert Thorbrogger <rthorbrogger...> Subject: [ia-bird] request likely viewing locations of pileated woodpeckers in NW Ia/Dickinson county
my only sighting was in Washington state and would like to see this impressive bird again...thanks for any suggested locations
Date: 4/25/19 5:31 am From: <willcfish...> Subject: [ia-bird] 101 Golden Plover's. Also Long-billed Dowitcher's and a few Semi-pal at Dunbar Slough April 24, 2019
41 species - at first there were 76 Golden Plover's and another flock flew in and scared them all up. They circled a couple times and landed back in the same place just North of Hunter Access. Also Long-billed Dowitcher's and a few Semi-Palmated Plover's, Greater Yellowlegs, Pectoral SP and possibly a couple Least at Dunbar Slough April 24, 2019
I heard my first GRASSHOPPER SPARROW of the year singing in the bison
enclosure at Neal Smith NWR this morning. HENSLOW’S SPARROWS continue, with
numbers increasing this week.
Date: 4/24/19 2:28 pm From: James Mccoy <mccoyfam...> Subject: [ia-bird] Marbled Godwits at Hawkeye
5 Marbled Godwits were seen on the south shore of Hawkeye Wildlife Refuge between James Ave and SandPoint this afternoon in Johnson County Jamie Mccoy Iowa City Sent from my iPhone
Date: 4/24/19 12:23 pm From: Roger Rose <admiral.de.ruyter...> Subject: [ia-bird] Northern Mockingbird, Johnson County
Noteworthy to me was a Northern Mockingbird, located .5 miles south of Swan Lake Rd on James Av. It was around the farm on the west side of James Av. I had birded buggy Swan Lake, with Gadwall, Blue-winged Teal, Wood Duck and Hooded Mergansers present. Farther up James Av in the WMA, I had House Wrens, Field Sparrows, White-Throated Sparrows and Juncos. About 200 White Pelicans seen from the north parking area.
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