IOWA & MISSOURI 
This stunning adult Black-legged Kittlwake, a plumage rarely seen in fowa, accempa- 
nied a juyenile in the Saylorville Reservoir tailwaters in Polk County 31 October 2008. 
Photograph by Jay Gilliam. 
was at Hawkeye W.M.A., Johnson 3 Sep 
(tBSc). Black-necked Stilts occurred farther 
n. than in the past in Missouri. An ad. with 
young was at Columbia Bottom C.A., St. 
Louis, MO 20 Aug (BRu), and the high count 
was 16 at C.C.R. 26 Aug (DR). Record-late 
American Avocets were found in both states, 
singles in Lee, lA 15 Nov (JWR) and at Swan 
Lake N.W.R., Chariton, MO 24 Nov (SK, MC, 
DF). There were many Hudsonian Godwits 
in Missouri. The earliest were 3 Sep: 5-6 at the 
Hayford Road Duck Club, St. Charles (CM; 
acc.) and 2 at R.M.B.S. (TB; acc., CM, DR, 
m.ob.). A single was at Otter Slough C.A., 
Stoddard 4 Sep (CB; acc.), and 3 were at 
C.C.R. 7 Sep OPU; acc.). A Ruddy Turnstone 
at B.K.L. 19 Oct was the 2nd latest on record 
(DR). A high of 700 Least Sandpipers was 
counted at Sandy Slough C.A., Lincoln, MO 2 
Nov — a late date for so many (DR). The only 
species occurring in concentrations over a 
few hundred birds in Iowa were Pectoral 
Sandpipers, which peaked at 3147 at Say- 
lorville 28 Aug (SJD, AB). Impressive num- 
bers of Pectoral Sandpipers were also tallied 
this fall at C.C.R., including 800 on 17 Aug, 
500 on 23 Aug, and 1500 on 30 Aug (DR). A 
Short-billed Dowitcher was record late in Sto- 
ry, lA 25 Sep (SJD). This was a banner year 
for Red-necked Phalaropes in Missouri, with 
four reports, the latest at C.C.R. 19 Oct (DR). 
Two Red Phalaropes were found in Iowa this 
fall: one at Saylorville 26 Sep (tSJD), the oth- 
er at Red Rock Res., Marion, lA 25 Oct (tJG). 
Single Sabine’s Gulls included one at Table 
Rock L., Taney, MO 6 Sep QWE, GS) and an 
imm. at S.R. 13 Sep (DW). Two Laughing 
Gulls were found in Iowa, one along the Mis- 
sissippi R. in Lee 14 Aug (tJWR) and another 
at Red Rock Res., Marion 18 Oct (TAB). There 
were 2 California Gulls in Iowa: an ad. at 
Saylorville 2 Aug (tSJD), and another ad. at L. 
Manawa, Pottawattamie 23 Oct (tKD). A sin- 
gle Glaucous Gull was found at W. Okoboji 
L., Dickinson, lA 21 Nov 
(ET). A California Gull 
was at Little Platte Mari- 
na, S.R. 14 Sep (RF; acc.). 
The annual Dickinson, lA 
Black-headed Gull, first 
noticed in late summer, 
was last seen at the n. end 
of Spirit L. 25 Oct (KVS). 
There were 3 Black- 
legged Kittiwakes this 
fall in Iowa: an ad. and a 
juv. at Saylorville 30 
Oct-5 Nov (TAB, tJB, 
tJM, tPR) and a juv. at 
Red Rock Res., Marion, 
lA 8 Nov (tJG). 
D0¥iS THROUGH PiPITS 
A White-winged Dove was at Springfield, 
Greene, MO 21 Nov (CN, BN). A Yellow- 
billed Cuckoo was in Decatur, lA 1 Nov QoL), 
the state’s 2nd latest. Six Snowy Owls were 
the most in fall since 1993 in Iowa, the earli- 
est in Plymouth 24 Oct (PR, TL, GV). A 2nd 
latest Common Nighthawk was in Pottawat- 
tamie, lA 30 Oct (MO). The highlight of the 
season for Missouri was a definitive state 
record Allen’s Humming- 
bird. The imm. male ap- 
peared at a feeder Fenton, 
St. Louis, MO 27 Nov, was 
captured, banded, and iden- 
tified as an Allen’s (LC; acc., 
m.ob.). A record 880 Red- 
headed Woodpeckers were 
migrating past Hitchcock 26 
Sep (MO). 
A Least Flycatcher was at 
Columbia Bottom C.A., St. 
Louis, MO 17 Aug (BR), and 
a very late individual was 
banded at Missouri Western 
State University, Buchanan, 
MO 6 Oct OH). All indica- 
tions were that this year was 
going to be another Northern Shrike invasion 
year in Missouri. There were six reports of 
single birds from n. Missouri, where the 
species is rare but expected. In addition, 4 
were found s. of the “normal” winter range in 
Missouri: one near Thomas Hill Res., Macon 
27 Oct (AD; acc.); an ad. near Thomas Hill 
Res., Randolph 8 Nov (JWE; acc.); an imm. at 
Columbia Bottom C.A., St. Louis, MO 12-23 
Nov (PL; BR, acc.); and one in Dade 29 Nov 
(CBu; LB, acc.). 
Relatively few vireos were banded at Mis- 
souri Western State University, Buchanan, MO 
this fall OH). A Warbling Vireo was Iowa’s 
2nd latest in Polk 29 Sep (DA). A high count 
of 2265 Blue Jays was tallied at Hitchcock 29 |' 
Sep (MO). A late Fish Crow was at Montrose, f' 
Henry, MO 12 Nov (MR). An estimated [' 
12,000 Tree Swallows were staging at Say- j 
lorville 40ct(SJD), and a straggler was just s. ■ 
of there along the Des Moines R. 28 Nov QS), i 
the state’s 2nd latest. Two Townsend’s Soli- ' 
taires were together near the Hitchcock lodge 
31 Oct (MO). A single Sprague’s Pipit was in 
Decatur, lA 28 Oct (tBB). 
WARBLERS THROUGH FINCHES 
Warbler numbers seemed delayed and low this I' 
season in both states, but diversity was good, t 
with 30 species in Iowa. Fallouts of migrants, !■ 
including warblers, were reported at T.G.E 25 [ 
Sep (CA) and 3 Oct (DS). Four species were 
record late in Iowa — a Nashville Warbler 30 
Nov (PR), a Black-and-white Warbler 25 Nov 
(MW), an Ovenbird 15 Nov (ph. PH), and a 
Prothonotary Warblers 8 Oct in Des Moines 
(tBN), the 2nd of 2 this season. Six Tennessee 
Warblers were late at Big Spring, Carter, MO 
18 Oct (MR). The banding total for Orange- 
crowned Warbler at Missouri Western State I 
University, Buchanan, MO was 49 (JH). Two at 
Otter Slough C.A., Stoddard, MO 8 Nov were 
on the late side (CB). A total 113 Nashville 
Warblers was banded at Missouri Western 
State University, Buchanan, MO QH). A Yellow 
Warbler was at Columbia Bottom C.A., St. 
Louis, MO 2 Nov (BR; acc.), the 2nd latest on 
record. The abundant berry crop over much of 
the state likely resulted in numerous Yellow- 
rumped Warblers remaining through fall in 
Missouri (LF, BE). A Prairie Warbler was in 
Webster, lA 6 Sep (ph., tSJD). One of the few 
high banding totals at the station at Missouri 
Western State University, Buchanan, MO this 
fall was 12 Ovenbirds OH). 
An American Tree Sparrow was record ear- 
ly in Warren, lA 4 Oct QS)- Fewer sparrows 
than usual were banded at Missouri Western 
Prairie Warbler is casual in Iowa, and there are very few autumn records of the 
species in the state. This individual was thus notable in Webster County on 6 Sep- 
tember 2008. Photograph by Stephen J. Dimmore. 
90 
NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS 
