Iowa RBA: 11-21-25
John and Anna Bissell
Iowa RBA birds reported from Saturday, November 15, to Friday, November 21, 2025:
RARE Species Mentioned (documentation required)
NONE
Additional Species Mentioned
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Pacific Loon
Western Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Glossy/White-faced Ibis (3rd latest)
Semipalmated Plover (2nd latest)
Iceland Gull
Snowy Owl
Golden Eagle
Red Crossbill
Redpoll
***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.
EAST
LINN COUNTY
A WESTERN GREBE was seen at Cedar Lake on the 20th.
JOHNSON COUNTY
A REDPOLL was seen in Iowa City on the 18th.
A SNOWY OWL was seen at Sycamore Bottoms on the 18th.
NORTHEAST
BLACK HAWK COUNTY
A REDPOLL was seen at Hartman Reserve on the 15th.
DUBUQUE COUNTY
3 RED CROSSBILLS was seen at Deere Dike Park and Riverside Road on the 18th.
An ICELAND GULL was seen at AY McDonald Park on the 20th.
ALLAMAKEE COUNTY
A REDPOLL was observed at Lock and Dam 9 on the 16th.
CENTRAL
DALLAS COUNTY
A GOLDEN EAGLE was seen at Kuehn Conservation Area on the 15th.
POLK COUNTY
A late SEMIPALMATED PLOVER was seen at Saylorville on the 18th.
A WHITE-WINGED SCOTER was seen at Saylorville on the 16th.
A PACIFIC LOON was seen at Saylorville on the 19th.
2 late GLOSSY/WHITE-FACED IBIS were seen at the Highway 141 Polk City Southbound Exit Ponds on the 19th.
SOUTH CENTRAL
MARION COUNTY
A PACIFIC LOON was seen at Red Rock on the 15th.
A WESTERN GREBE was seen at Red Rock on the 16th.
A RED-NECKED GREBE was seen at Red Rock on the 15th.
NORTHWEST
BUENA VISTA COUNTY
A BLACK SCOTER was seen at Storm Lake on the 20th.
A LONG-TAILED DUCK was seen at Storm Lake on the 20th.
A WHITE-WINGED SCOTER was seen at Storm Lake on the 20th.
A WESTERN GREBE was seen at Storm Lake on the 20th.
DICKINSON COUNTY
A WESTERN GREBE was seen at Spirit Lake on the 17th.
A SURF SCOTER was seen at Spirit Lake on the 17th.
EMMETT COUNTY
13 LONG-TAILED DUCKS were seen at Ingham Lake on the 17th.
SAC COUNTY
2 BLACK SCOTERS were seen at Black Hawk Lake on the 20th.
SOUTHWEST
UNION COUNTY
A WESTERN GREBE was seen at Twelve Mile Lake on the 20th.
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The next scheduled report of the Iowa Rare Bird Alert will be for Friday, November 28, 2025 for the weekly report. Should any UNRECORDED or ACCIDENTAL species be reported, an update will be posted.
John Bissell
Grimes, Iowa