The 2015-2016 CBC included 30 counts from Iowa. Saylorville bested their own record for Iowa CBCs with 100 species. Also outstanding was Davenport with 96. Keokuk and Burlington (84), Green Island (81), and Clinton (80) were other high counts. Spirit Lake (61) led the northern counts and Shenandoah (74) the southern. The species count this season was 146, which tied the Iowa record. December was unusually mild and wet. Typical temperatures and heavy snow didn’t arrive until after Christmas.
There were many truly outstanding birds on this year’s count. A pair of Harlequin Ducks at Davenport was a new species for the count. A Summer Tanager lingered in Des Moines and a Say’s Phoebe showed up at Westfield. Neither of those birds had been on the CBC for over 20 years. A Black-legged Kittiwake was also in Des Moines. Saylorville had an Iceland Gull and the Iowa count’s only Snowy Owl. Also unusual, Blue-winged Teal were at Green Island and Cedar Rapids. A Common Loon was at Red Rock. A Horned Grebe was at Spirit Lake. A Turkey Vulture and American Pipits were at Keokuk. A record four Prairie Falcons were reported, two each from DeSoto N.W.R. and Shenandoah. A Yellow-headed Blackbird and Red Crossbills were found at Sioux City. White-winged Crossbills were found at Sioux City and Davenport. And Westfield produced two Black-billed Magpies.
Even on a record count there are some notable misses. Both Loggerhead Shrike and Brown Thrasher had been on the count for over 30 years, but not this year. Ruffed Grouse was missed for a fourth straight year. Northern Goshawk, Gray Catbird, Surf Scoter, and Townsend’s Solitaire were also missed. A count week Marsh Wren failed to show at Boone County.
Trumpeter Swans were tallied again in record numbers and over 1100 Tundra Swans were on the Mississippi at Yellow River and Clinton. Greater White-fronted Geese and Snow Geese were widespread. All the dabbling ducks were found in good numbers and the divers were even better. Canvasbacks, Redheads, and Greater Scaup set records. The 20 Long-tailed Ducks at Clinton were also a record. American White Pelicans were in numbers twice their previous high.
Gulls were present in good numbers with record numbers of Ring-billed Gulls. Lesser Black-backed Gulls were at Spirit Lake and Saylorville. A Glaucous Gull was also at Saylorville. Northern Bobwhite and Gray Partridge had one of their best years. Red-shouldered Hawks were found in record numbers. Golden Eagles were at Princeton and Boone County. Merlins were also widespread in exceptional numbers. Three Peregrine Falcons were reported.
Long-eared Owls were found in good numbers thanks to an amazing 36 at Green Island. Northern Saw-whet Owls were on three counts. Northern Shrikes were down somewhat. Perhaps predictable given the mild season, feeder birds were all down compared to recent seasons. Red-breasted Nuthatches neared their low-water mark. Winter Wren and Golden-crowned Kinglet both had good counts. Ruby-crowned Kinglets were in near-record numbers. American Robin, Eastern Bluebird, and Hermit Thrush all had exceptional counts. Perhaps surprising then, Cedar Waxwings and Yellow-rumped Warblers were scarce.
Lapland Longspurs were at an eight-year low, but Snow Buntings were nearly the average. Two Spotted Towhees were at both Sioux City and De Soto N.W.R. Dark-eyed Juncos had their worst count in 11 seasons. Meadowlarks were in record numbers. Good numbers of Red-winged Blackbirds were reported, but Rusty Blackbirds equaled a ten-year low. Brewer’s Blackbirds were at Sioux City and Shenandoah. Common Redpolls were on five counts. Pine Siskins and American Goldfinch numbers were very low. Eurasian Tree Sparrows were north to Green Island and west to Cedar Rapids, and Iowa City.