IOWA & MISSOURI 
This female Mottled Duck found near Otter Slough Conservation Area in Stoddard 
County represented Missouri's first record. Found on 2 June 2009 by Paul McKenzie, 
Brad Jacobs, and Mark Robbins, it remained through 16 July (here 5 June) and was 
seen by numerous birders. Photograph by Joshua P. Uffman. 
Iowa included 7 in Dickinson 26 Jun (SD) and 
a pair with a downy young in Hancock (PH, 
MP). In Iowa, one or 2 Western Grebes were 
found in Cenv Gordo, Hamilton, and Dickin- 
son (m.ob.), and a pair was seen building a 
nest in Hancock U Jun (SD). 
A juv. Brown Pelican continued from 1 1 
May through 18 Jul at R.M.B.S. (tJU, C. Mal- 
one). For a 3rd year, American White Pelicans 
nested in Clinton, lA, with about 400 young 
fledged (RE). By late Jul, migrants were evi- 
dent in both states: 1828 were at Red Rock 25 
Jul (SD), and 500 were at Swan Lake N.W.R., 
MO 28 Jul (SK). In Missouri, 2 ad. and 5 
imm. Neotropic Cormorants were at ER.C.A. 
12 Jul, with one imm. staying through 26 Jul 
(ph. DW). Iowa’s 5th Neotropic Cormorant 
and 2nd summer record came from Elm E., 
Wright 5 Jul (ph., tSD), Iowa Double-crested 
Cormorant colonies were at Coralville (CE) 
and in Clinton, where about 1 100 nests were 
found (RE). Missouri's only colony at ER.C.A, 
had 19 nests (DW). Missouri’s Anhingas in- 
cluded 5 near O.S.C.A. 2 Jun (tR. Meade) and 
one at ER.C.A. 26 Jul (DW). 
American Bittern broods were found in 
Hamilton and Story, lA (SD, H. Zaletel). One 
or 2 Least Bitterns were seen in three Missouri 
and 13 Iowa counties (m.ob.). High counts of 
post-breeding Great Egrets were 1000 at 
ER.C.A. 20 Jul (DW) and 248 at Red Rock 25 
Jul (SD). Southern wading birds were scarce 
in both states. Missouri’s most diverse count 
was 52 Great Egrets, 8 Little Blue Herons, 4 
Snowy Egrets, and 3 Cattle Egrets at Colum- 
bia Bottom C.A., St. Louis 14 Jun (BR). A Lit- 
tle Blue Heron in Livingston, MO 29 Jun (SK) 
was a bit far north. Iowa reports, all of singles, 
included Little Blue Herons in three counties 
(W. Oesterreich, T. Schilke, DP) and Cattle 
Egrets in two (MP, SD), a big 
drop from last summer. Few 
night-herons were reported. 
Missouri had reports of one 
and 3 Black-crowned Night- 
Herons (MT, BR) and Iowa 
one report of 3 (PH, MP). 
Each state had two reports 
of single Yellow-crowned 
Night-Herons. The Region’s 
only ibis was a Glossy/ 
White-faced in Hardin, lA 5 
Jun (MP). 
VULTURE THROUGH 
PHALAROPES 
A Black Vulture in St. Louis 
6 May (PL) was n. of the 
species’ usual range. Twelve 
of 13 Osprey nests in Iowa 
were successful, the most 
since the reintroduction program started (BE, 
PS). In Missouri, single Ospreys were at 
O.S.C.A. 2 Jun (tPM, BJ, MR) and in Clay 20 
Jul (DW). Mississippi Kites were found in 
both states: one or 2 mid-Jun-Jul in or near 
Des Moines, Polk (m.ob.), 3 at Joplin (LH), 
up to 4 in St. Louis (MT), and 2 at ER.C.A. (P. 
St, John, C. Kline). Bald Eagles continued to 
do well in Iowa, with about 210 active nests. 
Two more counties were occupied this year, 
bringing the total to 86 of Iowa’s 
99 counties (BE). Northern Har- 
rier nesting activity was noted in 
five Iowa counties (m.ob.), more 
than most years. The Region's 
only Swainson's Hawks were sin- 
gles in Greene and Vernon in sw. 
Missouri (D. Rising, DW). A 
Sharp-shinned Hawk in Cerro 
Gordo 15 Jun (PH) provided a 
rare summer record for Iowa. 
Nine of Iowa’s 13 Peregrine Eal- 
con eyries were successful and 
produced 26 young, the most 
since the reintroduction pro- 
gram started (BE, PS). Soras 
were found in seven Iowa coun- 
ties s. to Wapello (AB, m.ob.). 
The only Missouri report was of 
one heard in Linn/Livingston 
(SK). Sandhill Cranes continued 
to do well in Iowa, with most nesting activity 
in e. Iowa (BE, PS). A pair with a colt in Fre- 
mont 24 Jun (KVS) furnished the first recent 
nesting report in sw. Iowa. Two at E.B.C.A. 
mid-Jun+ (BJ, EW) add to the few summer 
records for Missouri. 
One or 2 Black-bellied Plovers at Coralville 
14-15 Jun OE DP) and single American Gold- 
en-Plovers at Saylorville 18 Jul (RA, PA) and 
29 Jul at Red Rock (SD) were the only reports. 
Eight ad. and 4 young Piping Plovers at Mi- 
dAmerican (MP) provided the Region’s only 
nesting report; Missouri’s only report was of 
one at ER.C.A. 25 Jul (DW). An amazing 295 
Black-necked Stilts were counted 2-3 Jun in 
rice fields and wetlands in six se. Missouri 
counties (PM, MR, BJ). One in Clay 13-14 Jun 
(ES, T. Lutter) was Iowa’s only report. Each 
state had an American Avocet: 17 Jul in Clay, 
MO (DW) and 26 Jul at Coralville (B. 
Scheible). Late shorebirds in Iowa included a 
Hudsonian Godwit in Polk 5 Jun (S. Stilwell) 
and 2 in Clay 7 Jun (LS); a Ruddy Turnstone 
at Saylorville 6 Jun (AB); 50 Dunlins and 10 
White-rumped Sandpipers at Coralville 13 
Jun (DP); and 59 White-rumped Sandpipers 
in Clay 13 Jun (LS). In Missouri, a Whimbrel 
was at ER.C.A. 12 Jun (A. Eorbes). Counts of 
southbound sandpipers were generally low. 
The six reports of Willets were more than 
usual. Early arrivals were one 28 Jun in Fre- 
mont, lA QF) and 2 on 6 Jul at Thompson Riv- 
er Wetlands, Livingston, MO (SK). In Mis- 
souri, high counts included 125 Solitary 
Sandpipers 27 Jul, 150 Least Sandpipers 25 
Jul, and 600 Pectoral Sandpipers and 85 Stilt 
Sandpipers 26 Jul, all at ER.C.A, (DW). In 
Iowa, peaks included 66 Solitary Sandpipers 
at Bays Branch, Guthrie 26 Jul, 830 Least 
Sandpipers at Saylorville 24 Jul, and 295 Less- 
er Yellowlegs and 1876 Pectoral Sandpipers at 
Red Rock 29 Jul (SD). Upland Sandpipers 
found in 14 Iowa counties were likely breed- 
ing (m.ob.); both Missouri reports were of 
late Jul migrants (SK, DW). Other south- 
bound shorebirds included 3 Baird’s Sand- 
pipers and a Wilson’s Phalarope 25 Jul and a 
Western Sandpiper 26 Jul, all at ER.C.A. 
(DW), a Ruddy Turnstone at Saylorville 24 & 
Marking Iowa's second summer record and fifth record overall, this subadult 
Neotropic Cormorant at Elm Lake in Wright County was found on 5 July 2009 by 
the photographer and not seen after that date. Compared to the Double- 
crested Cormorant (at right), the smaller size, shorter bill, and relatively longer 
tail are all evident in this photograph. Photograph by Stephen J. Dinsmore. 
VOLUME 63 (2009) 
NUMBER 4 
603 
