Grasslands in Plymouth 21 Apr (TLu, POR), 
the only regular Regional location for this 
species. Fish Crows appeared in Newton, MO 
9 Mar (EW) but did not show evidence of any 
major range expansions this year. None was 
detected in Iowa, although perhaps this is due 
to a lack of concerted searches in Apr and May. 
A Violet-green Swallow near Hawarden, Sioivc 
14 May (tKen Hollinga, tDan Reinking, ph.) 
was the first for Iowa. The bird was found for- 
aging low over water with other swallows on a 
cold morning, conditions that appear to be 
ideal for detecting this species. Carolina 
Chickadee continued its slow spread north- 
ward in Missouri with 3 in Callaway 15 Apr 
(EW); observers should be aware of the possi- 
bility of hybrids near the zone of contact with 
Black-capped Chickadee. Red-breasted 
Nuthatches were scarce this spring, although 
they lingered late in both states, with 2 at 
Watkins Mill S.P., Clay, MO 2 May (KM) and 
one in Des Moines, Polk, lA 17 May QG, SJD). 
Bewick’s Wrens remain a scarce breeding bird 
in the Region with just three reports of singles: 
at the usual Lee, lA locale after 14 Apr 
(Charles Fuller), in Jasper, MO 15-22 Apr 
(LH), and in Decatur, lA 5 May (Ben Baldwin). 
A Mountain Bluebird near Camp Mitigwa, 
Boone, lA 3-4 Apr (tjorgen Johansen, ph.) was 
Iowa’s first since 2004. A late Townsend’s Soli- 
taire at Pioneer Park, Mitchell, lA 11 May 
(RIA, PHA, ph.) may have wintered nearby. 
Thrush movements in cen. Iowa on 6 & 13 
May included large numbers of Swainson’s 
and a few Gray-cheekeds (SSP). Hermit 
Thrush is an earlier migrant in the Region, as 
hinted by the excellent count of 140 in Boone, 
lA 8 Apr (LGD). American Pipits were plenti- 
ful, with above-average counts of 150 in Han- 
cock, lA 30 Mar (PH) and 60 at O.S.C.A. 4 Apr 
QPU, Scott Schuette). Four reports of 
Sprague’s Pipit were above normal for the Re- 
gion; 2 at Taberville Prairie, St. Clair, MO 22 
Mar OWE), 2 at Wah’ Kon-Tah Prairie, St. 
Clair, MO 22 Mar QWE), 2 n. of El Dorado 
Springs, St. Clair, MO 8 Apr (BJ), and one in 
Fremont, lA 16 May (tKaren Viste-Sparkman). 
WARBLERS THROUGH TANAGERS 
The warbler migration was close to average in 
terms of timing, numbers, and diversity. Most 
seemed to trickle through the Region slowly, 
although there was an exceptional fallout 17 
May across e. Iowa. Many species were either 
absent or sporadically reported from the w. 
third of Iowa, a pattern that is typical of most 
springs. The 7 Blue-winged Warblers at 
Stephens S.E, Lucas, lA 22 May (AMJ) and 5 
Golden-winged Warblers at W.B.S.P. 9 May 
(MBR et al.) were notable totals. Cape May 
Warblers were most numerous in Iowa, with 
reports from 15 counties 6-22 May; reports at 
Hawarden, Sioux 8 May (POR) and in Sac 10 
May (Stan Buman) were w. of their normal mi- 
gration routes. Cape May reports in cen. Mis- 
souri, where the species is notable, included 
one at E.B.C.A. 16 May (JPo, EW) and 2 in 
Livingston 16 May (SK, LL). The five reports of 
Black-throated Blue Warbler made an excel- 
lent spring total and included one at Wildcat 
Park, Newton, MO 15 May (Bob Dyer) and 4 
in Iowa: a male at Union Grove S.E, Tama 6 
May (MPr), a male at Algona, Kossuth 11-12 
May (Sharon Arndorfer), a female at Indi- 
anola, Warren 13 May Qatnes Sinclair), and a 
male at Ames, Story 16 May (SJD). Yellow- 
throated Warbler has a local distribution in 
the Region; a bird after mid-Apr at St. Joseph, 
Buchanan, MO Qack Hilsabeck) and 2 at 
Blackhawk L., Sac, lA 13 May (Pete Ernzen) 
were at unexpected locales. Pine Warbler is a 
rare migrant in Iowa, where singles were not- 
ed at Grammar Grove Park, Marshall 6 May 
(MPr), at Matsell Bridge W.A., Linn 14 May 
(BSc, PH), and at Shimek S.E, Lee 18 May near 
a previous nesting locale O^R)- Different 
Prairie Warblers in St. Charles, MO on 16 
(MT) & 21 May (PKe) were notable for that 
state. Cerulean Warblers were well reported in 
Iowa, with a peak of 11 at Mines of Spain, 
Dubuque 29 May (CRE) and a lost individual 
at Bacon Creek Park, Woodbury 21-22 May 
(GLV et al.). An early Prothonotary Warbler in 
Des Moines, Polk, lA 23 Apr (AMJ) presaged a 
good showing across the se. half of Iowa. Out- 
of-range Worm-eating Warblers included sin- 
gles at Elk Rock S.E, Marion, lA on 10 May 
QG, SJD), at Cardinal Marsh, Winneshiek, lA 
22 May (EB), and at W.B.S.P. 25 May (Helen 
Hewins, Nancy Leo). A pair of Louisiana Wa- 
terthrushes nested in Sioux City, Woodbury 
(POR), far from their normal e. Iowa haunts. 
Similar to 2007, the Connecticut Warbler 
flight was excellent in both states. In Missouri, 
there were four reports of singles in Webster 25 
May (Andrew Kinslow), at Columbia Bottoms 
C.A., St. Louis 17 May GPU), at Tower Grove 
Park, St Louis 23 May (MT), and at Grind- 
stone Park, Boone 31 May (BJ). A total of 19 
birds was reported in Iowa 13-31 May; one at 
Bacon Creek Park, Woodbury 22 May (GLV) 
was unusual for nw. Iowa. Hooded Warblers 
are unusual in nw. Missouri, where there were 
4 at W.B.S.P. 22 May (MBR et al.); the nine 
Iowa reports 25 Apr-31 May was an above- 
normal count for recent years. An early Sum- 
mer Tanager was noted at Whiterock Conser- 
vancy, Guthrie, lA 15 Apr (tScott Schmidt). 
Iowa hosted 2 male Western Tanagers this 
spring: at Cherokee, Cherokee 9-10 May 
(tDick Bierman, tPOR, ph.) and in Cerro Gor- 
do 15-17 May (tRita Goranson, tCJF, ph.). 
IOWA & MISSOURI 
This lingering male White-winged Crossbill graced a Kansas 
City, Jackson County, Missouri feeder through 3 April 2009 
(here 20 January). Photograph by Bonnie Gibeson. 
TOWHEES THROUGH SISKINS 
Seven Spotted Towhees in Iowa included a late 
individual at Smith W.A., Kossuth 21 May (PH, 
MCK). Clay-colored Sparrows were well re- 
ported in both states; a record-late bird was at 
Bigelow Marsh, Holt, MO on 22 May (MBR et 
al), and presumed nesting birds were in Iowa 
on 26 May in Winnebago and 28 May in Worth 
(SSP). Henslow’s Sparrows are doing well in 
Iowa, with many reports from se. Iowa and a 
few as far nw. as Clay and Emmet in May 
(SSP). The only Nelson’s Sparrows were in 
Missouri, with 2 at Prairie S.P., Barton 9 May 
(Steve Hilty) and 2 at Jefferson Barracks Park, 
St. Louis 17 May (BRu). In Missouri, lingering 
sparrows included a Lincoln’s at R.M.B.S. 30 
May (BR, JWE) and a Dark-eyed Junco in Liv- 
ingston 9 May (Terry McNeely). Lapland 
Longspurs appeared in large numbers in Iowa 
during the last 10 days of Mar, highlighted by 
a peak of 4000 in Grundy 20 Mar (MPr). Re- 
ports of Smith’s Longspur came from two w. 
Missouri locations and 10 Iowa counties 3 
Mar-22 Apr, about typical for spring. A Chest- 
nut-collared Longspur at Dunn Ranch, Harri- 
son, MO 15 Mar (SK) was an excellent find 
and the first since 2001. Black-headed Gros- 
beaks invaded Iowa this spring, with single 
males recorded at Story City, Stoiy 13-14 May 
(tSue Yeakel), in Woodbury 14 May (tPOR), 
in Boone 17 May (tLGD), at Sioux City, Wood- 
bury 17-18 May (tKim Mounts), and at Sioux 
Center, Sioux 19 May (tjohn Van Dyk). Lazuli 
Buntings appeared in both states, with one at 
Wildcat Park, Newton, MO 3 May (LH), one in 
Des Moines, Polk, lA 5-7 May (tMichael 
VOLUME 63 (2009) • NUMBER 3 
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