Iowa RBA: 7-31-26
John and Anna Bissell
Iowa RBA birds reported from Saturday, July 25, to Friday, July 31, 2026
RARE Species Mentioned (documentation required)
NONE
Additional species mentioned
Yellow-crowned Night Heron
Ruddy Turnstone
Least Tern
Mississippi Kite
Red Crossbill
***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
***********************
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
NORTHEAST
DUBUQUE COUNTY
A YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON was seen at Deere Dike Park and Riverside Road on the 30th.
EAST
JONES COUNTY
A RED CROSSBILL was seen At Wapsipinicon SP on the 24th.
JOHNSON COUNTY
A RUDDY TURNSTONE was seen at Hawkeye WMA on the 29th.
SOUTHEAST
WAPELLO COUNTY
MISSISSIPPI KITES were seen at Memorial Park on the 30th.
CENTRAL
POLK COUNTY
RED CROSSBILLS were seen at the Jester Park Discovery Pond on the 30th.
STORY COUNTY
A MISSISSIPPI KITE continues over Ames on the 29th.
SOUTH CENTRAL
RINGGOLD COUNTY
A YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON was seen at Ringgold WMA on the 27th.
NORTHWEST
PLYMOUTH COUNTY
2 LEAST TERNS were seen at Rivers Bend WA on the 29th.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next scheduled report of the Iowa Rare Bird Alert will be for Friday, August 7, 2026 for the weekly report. Should any UNRECORDED or ACCIDENTAL species be reported, an update will be posted.
John Bissell
Grimes, Iowa