IOWA & MISSOURI 
The results of this weather combination 
were flooding in many areas of Iowa and 
northern Missouri, providing a good habitat 
for shorebirds and some waterfowl but water 
that was too deep in many traditional migra- 
tion areas. Another positive aspect of the 
above-average rainfall in Missouri was abun- 
dant acorns, nuts, berries, and seeds. Mild 
temperatures and few good cold fronts com- 
bined to delay migration this fall, and migra- 
tion did not really begin until mid-September. 
The highlights of this rather unexceptional 
season were a Barrow’s Goldeneye, Glossy 
Ibis, and Bullock’s Oriole in Iowa and a defin- 
itive Allen’s Hummingbird for a first state 
record in Missouri. 
Abbreviations: B.K.L. (B. K. Leach Conserva- 
tion Area, Lincoln, MO); C.C.R. (Clarence 
Cannon N.'W.R., Lincoln, MO);Grammar 
(Grammar Grove, Marshall, lA); Hitchcock 
(Hitchcock W.M.A. hawkwatch, Pottawat- 
tamie, lA); R.M.B.S. (Riverlands Migratory 
Bird Sanctuary, St. Charles, MO); Saylorville 
(Saylorville Res., Polk, lA); S.C.R. (Squaw 
Creek N.'W.R., Holt, MO); S.R. (Smithville 
Res., Clay/Clinton, MO); T.G.P. (Tower Grove 
Park, St. Louis, MO); T.R.W. (Thompson Riv- 
er Wetlands, Livingston, MO). 
WATERFOWL THROUGH STORKS 
Up to 10 Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks were 
at Otter Slough C.A., Stoddard, MO 7-16 Aug 
(BJ, CB, DWh, GM; acc.). The goose flight 
was the best in many years in Iowa. Greater 
White-fronted Geese peaked at 5000 in Fre- 
mont, lA 12 Oct (KD), the highest fall con- 
centration in modern records. Snow Goose 
numbers topped a half-million birds in sever- 
al peaks in Iowa, including a single flight of 
326,500 in Pottawattamie 14 Nov (MO). 
Ross’s Geese arrived near record early in Polk, 
lA 16 Sep QG). A highlight of the season in 
Iowa was 2 juv. Brant (subspecies hrota) in 
Cerro Gordo 20-27 Nov (tPH, tRG, tCE, 
tCF). Cackling Geese arrived in late Sep 
(SJD) and peaked at 2100 14 Nov in Cerro 
Gordo, lA (PH). Trumpeter Swan numbers 
continue to increase; of 54 at Union Slough 
N.W.R. in Kossuth, lA 2 Nov, only 6 wore neck 
collars (PH). Tundra Swans along the Missis- 
sippi R. peaked at 5800 at Pool #9, Allamakee, 
lA 18 Nov (Iowa Department of Natural Re- 
sources). 
Dabbling duck numbers were generally 
low this season, not surprising, given the 
deep water and delayed migration. The first 
major cold front to push diving ducks 
through Iowa occurred 20-21 Oct, bringing 
Black Scoters in the east (BSc) and Surf Scot- 
ers in the cen. part of the state (SJD). Total 
numbers of these two species were good this 
season in Iowa, with at least 23 Surf and 22 
Blacks, but there were fewer sightings in Mis- 
souri: one Surf and 5 Black Scoters. There was 
only one report of White-winged Scoter in 
each state. There were 2 ad. male Barrow’s 
Goldeneyes in Iowa: one in Woodbury 16-22 
Nov (tTL, tGV, TDB, tPR) and one in Polk 30 
Nov (tSJD). A Ruddy Duck continued from a 
nesting at Little Creve Coeur L., St. Louis 
through 20 Aug (Rob 
Meade; acc.). 
Northern Bobwhite were 
reported from only three 
Iowa counties, and Aug 
roadside surveys showed 
numbers were 27% below 
the 10-year average (Iowa 
Department of Natural Re- 
sources). Similarly, Gray 
Partridge counts were 54% 
below the 10-year average. 
Seventeen Western Grebes 
at Union Slough N.W.R. , 
Kossuth, lA 13 Aug (MCK) 
was unusual and presum- 
ably comprised of several 
family groups; there was an- 
other group of 10 at Spirit L. 
in Dickinson, lA 16 Oct 
(ET). Single late Western Grebes were at Fel- 
lows L, Greene, MO 20 Nov (GS) and S.C.R. 
28 Nov (DW). 
HERONS THROUGH CRANES 
Great Egrets were abundant in the floodwa- 
ters at several Missouri sites this fall, includ- 
ing 3000 at C.C.R. 24 Aug (BR), 1000+ at 
C.C.R. 30 Aug (BR), and 55 remaining at 
Swan Lake N.W.R,, Chariton 21 Oct (SK). A 
Snowy Egret at Christopherson Slough, Dick- 
inson 11 Oct (PH) was late for n. Iowa. The 
220 Snovs^ Egrets at Columbia Bottom C.A., 
St. Louis, MO 7 Sep was a high count for this 
species (BR). A juv. Little Blue Heron was one 
day from record late at B.K.L. 4 Oct (tMT). A 
late Cattle Egret lingered at Otter Slough 
C.A., Stoddard, MO 8 Nov (CB). The only re- 
port of White Ibis was a juv. at Pool 26, Otter 
Slough C.A., Stoddard, MO 9 Aug (CB; acc.). 
A Glossy Ibis was at Forney L. in Fremont, lA 
7-10 Aug (KD), after having been document- 
ed there during the summer. White-faced Ibis 
also nested there during summer, and as 
many as 91 were counted 15 Aug (KD), a 
spectacular number for Iowa. Roseate Spoon- 
bill reports included one over Otter L., Otter 
Slough C.A., Stoddard, MO 1 Sep (CB; acc.), 
and up to 4 on Grand Tower I., Perry, MO 7- 
28 Sep (PM, JSm, TR, RR; acc.) 
An ad. Swallow-tailed Kite was on the Mis- 
sissippi R. in Mississippi, MO 5 Sep (ph. BPB, 
EH, acc.). Both of Iowa’s hawkwatches had 
uneventful seasons — no casual or accidental 
species, and many low counts. The season to- 
tal of 164 Swainson’s Hawks at Hitchcock was 
the lowest ever (MO). On the other hand, 
Hitchcock did have record season totals of 
Merlin (54) and Peregrine Falcon (56) (MO). 
At Grammar, hawkwatchers also tied their 
record for Peregrines (MP) and had 2nd best 
flights of Golden Eagles and Turkey Vultures. 
Migrating Yellow Rails were reported from 
six Iowa locations 28 Sep-19 Oct, including 4 
flushed in Decatur 5 Oct ORL. NM). Single 
Yellow Rails were at Swan Lake N.W.R., 
Chariton, MO 24 Sep (fide TR) and at B.K.L. 
24 Sep OP)’ The only King Rail report was of 
one at Heron Pond, R.M.B.S. 9 Sep (CA). 
Family groups of Common Moorhens were at 
Errington Marsh, Polk, lA 9 Aug (DT) and at 
Snake Creek Marsh, Greene, lA 24 Aug (LD). 
American Coots peaked at 110,575 at Spirit 
L., Dickinson, lA 16 Oct (ET). Sandhill Cranes 
were reported from nine Iowa locations, with 
the most being 14 in Allamakee 28 Nov (ph. 
JG). Three Sandhill Cranes were 3 km w. of 
Advance, Stoddard, MO 28 Nov, unusual for 
this late (fide Mike Kahle). 
SHOREBIRDS THROUGH TERNS 
High water left from the summer flooding was 
a problem in many traditional shorebird ar- 
eas, and good habitat was hard to find. Most 
shorebird peaks were far below traditional 
levels, although shorebird migration was 
spectacular in the St. Louis area. Diamond L. 
in Dickinson, lA underwent an intentional 
draining of the primary lakebed, producing 
statewide high counts of 45 American Gold- 
en-Plovers 11 Oct (PH) and 38 Red-necked 
Phalaropes 27 Aug (LAS). A Snowy Plover 
These cooperative juvenile Brant lingered in Mason City, Cerro Gordo County in late 
(here 20) November 2008; the species is a casual migrant in Iowa. Photograph by 
Paul Hertzel. 
VOLUME 63 (2009) • NUMBER 1 
89 
