Iowa RBA: 4-17-26
John and Anna Bissell
Iowa RBA birds reported from Friday, April 11, to Friday, April 17, 2026
RARE Species Mentioned (documentation required)
NONE
Additional species mentioned
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
Cinnamon Teal
Surf Scoter
Red-necked Grebe
Caspian Tern (2nd earliest tie)
Common Tern (2nd earliest)
Black-necked Stilt
Whooping Crane
Glossy/White-faced Ibis
White-faced Ibis
Snowy Egret
White-eyed Vireo (3rd earliest)
Ovenbird (2nd earliest)
Palm Warbler (3rd earliest)
Pine Warbler
BLUE-WINGED WARBLER (Record early)
Hooded Warbler (3rd earliest)
KENTUCKY WARBLER (Record early)
BALTIMORE ORIOLE (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
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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.
Please note this is an UNOFFICIAL compilation of rare bird sightings from both eBird and the IOU listserve. Data for field reports and early/late dates should not be taken from this weekly report.
NORTH CENTRAL
CERRO GORDO COUNTY
A RED-NECKED GREBE was seen at Clear Lake on the 11th.
An early WHITE-EYED VIREO was seen at Haugen WA on the 12th.
NORTHEAST
DUBUQUE COUNTY
2 BLACK-NECKED STILTS were seen at Deere Dike Park and Riverside Road on the 16th.
A PINE WARBLER was seen at Mt Carmel on the 14th.
EAST
LINN COUNTY
A WHOOPING CRANE continues north of Cedar Rapids on C Ave on the 15th.
JOHNSON COUNTY
A PINE WARBLER was seen around the UIHC Services Center on the 13th.
6 BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCKS were seen at the Gun Club Ponds at Hawkeye WA on the 17th.
JACKSON COUNTY
A BLACK-NECKED STILT was seen at Green Island WMA on the 14th.
A PINE WARBLER was seen at the McBride Bird Blind on the 15th.
SCOTT COUNTY
An early HOODED WARBLER was seen at the Archery Range Area of Princeton WMA on the 16th.
SOUTHEAST
LEE COUNTY
An early OVENBIRD was seen at the Farmington Unit of Shimek SF on the 16th.
An early KENTUCKY WARBLER was seen at the Lick Creek Unit of Shimek SF on the 17th.
CENTRAL
STORY COUNTY
A CINNAMON TEAL was seen at Prairie Valley Preserve on the 16th.
An early BALTIMORE ORIOLE was seen at Ada Hayden Park on the 15th.
An early BLUE-WINGED WARBLER was seen at North River Valley Park on the 15th.
POLK COUNTY
2 CASPIAN TERNS were seen at Raccoon River Park on the 11th.
SOUTH CENTRAL
LUCAS COUNTY
A BLACK-NECKED STILT was seen at Colyn WMA on the 12th.
WEST
SHELBY COUNTY
A SNOWY EGRET was seen at Nishna Bend RA on the 16th.
SOUTHWEST
UNION COUNTY
A SURF SCOTER was seen at Twelve Mile Lake on the 11th.
An early PALM WARBLER was seen around Ellston on the 13th.
NORTHWEST
SAC COUNTY
A CINNAMON TEAL was seen at Kiowa Marsh on the 11th.
A BLACK-NECKED STILT was seen at Kiowa Marsh on the 15th.
BUENA VISTA COUNTY
14 GLOSSY/WHITE-FACED IBIS were seen at Little Storm Lake on the 12th.
10 WHITE-FACED IBIS were seen at Little Storm Lake on the 12th.
DICKINSON COUNTY
4 RED-NECKED GREBES were seen at Jemmerson Slough on the 12th.
An early COMMON TERN was seen at Spirit Lake on the 16th.
WOODBURY COUNTY
A CINNAMON TEAL was seen in Luton on the 15th.
A BLUE-WINGED TEAL x CINNAMON TEAL hybrid was seen at the Dairy Ponds on the 13th.
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The next scheduled report of the Iowa Rare Bird Alert will be for Friday, April 24, 2026 for the weekly report. Should any UNRECORDED or ACCIDENTAL species be reported, an update will be posted.
John Bissell
Grimes, Iowa