Iowa RBA: 5-15-26
John and Anna Bissell
Iowa RBA birds reported from Friday, May 9, to Friday, May 15, 2026
RARE Species Mentioned (documentation required)
ACCIDENTAL
**ANHINGA**
Additional species mentioned
Black-bellied Whistling Duck
Ruffed Grouse
Piping Plover
Black-necked Stilt
Ruddy Turnstone
Marbled Godwit
Hudsonian Whimbrel
White-faced Ibis
Snowy Egret
Fish Crow
Hooded Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Pine Warbler
Connecticut Warbler
***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
HARDIN COUNTY
A RUDDY TURNSTONE was seen at Legacy WA on the 10th.
NORTHEAST
DUBUQUE COUNTY
A PINE WARBLER was seen at Eagle Point Park on the 10th.
4 RUDDY TURNSTONES were seen at Deere Dike Park and Riverside Road on the 14th.
ALLAMAKEE COUNTY
A RUFFED GROUSE was seen at Effigy Mounds NM on the 11th.
A HOODED WARBLER was seen at Effigy Mounds NM on the 11th.
JONES COUNTY
A PINE WARBLER was seen at Wapsipinicon SP on the 12th.
EAST
JOHNSON COUNTY
6 BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCKS were seen in the SE corner of a corn field north of Forevergreen Rd in the 9th. This is near the UIHC North Liberty pond.
A PINE WARBLER was seen at Squire Point Trail on the 11th.
A CONNECTICUT WARBLER was seen at the north arm of Lake McBride on the 11th.
4 BLACK-NECKED STILTS were seen from the headquarters area of Hawkeye WA on the 13th.
SOUTHEAST
DES MOINES COUNTY
A FISH CROW was observed at Blackhawk Bottoms on the 10th.
A FISH CROW was seen at Crapo Park on the 13th.
CENTRAL
MARSHALL COUNTY
AN ANHINGA was seen at Arney Bend WA on the 9th.
POLK COUNTY
A HOODED WARBLER was seen at Ashworth and Greenwood Park on the 13th.
4 RUDDY TURNSTONES were seen at Saylorville on the 13th.
3 RUDDY TURNSTONES were seen at Runnells Overlook on the 10th.
A SNOWY EGRET was seen at Runnells Overlook on the 10th.
A WORM-EATING WARBLER was seen at Ashworth and Greenwood Park on the 10th.
A HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL was seen 200 yards of the intersection of 64th St and 110th Ave on the 13th.
A SNOWY EGRET was seen at Saylorville on the 12th.
A PIPING PLOVER was seen at Saylorville on the 14th.
SOUTH CENTRAL
AAPPANOOSE COUNTY
2 BLACK-NECKED STILTS were seen at Dean Wetlands on the 9th.
SOUTHWEST
UNION COUNTY
6 MARBLED GODWITS were seen at Twelve Mile Lake on the 9th.
NORTHWEST
SAC COUNTY
8 RUDDY TURNSTONES were seen at Kiowa Marsh on the 10th.
36 WHITE-FACED IBIS were seen at Kiowa Marsh on the 9th.
WOODBURY COUNTY
A RUDDY TURNSTONE was seen at Snyder Bend Park on the 11th.
A PIPING PLOVER was seen at Snyder Bend Park on the 11th.
CLAY COUNTY
A RUDDY TURNSTONE was seen at Trumbull Lake on the 11th.
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The next scheduled report of the Iowa Rare Bird Alert will be for Friday, May 22, 2026 for the weekly report. Should any UNRECORDED or ACCIDENTAL species be reported, an update will be posted.
John Bissell
Grimes, Iowa