Ontbirders, My last winter list update was at the end of December detailed the 207 bird species that had been recorded in Ontario this winter. In the past month an additional 9 species were added, and 1 removed, to bring the total to 215 species. This is easily the highest total we have had since the winter list has been compiled. Among the major highlights were: A total of 4 Gray-crowned Rosy-finches have been seen in Ontario in the last few months including 3 since the start of the winter birding period. One of the Hepburn's race at Geraldton from January 4 to January 5, one at Rocky Bay (east of Lake Nipigon) January 10 to present, and one at Rossport (north Lake Superior coast) January 24 to 25. Two female Mountain Bluebirds have been seen in Ontario this winter. The first was found south of Guelph on January 1 and the second was found January 16 north of Thamesville. The other major highlight has been Fish Crow, the first winter record for Ontario. A probable bird was seen January 1 along the Niagara River and another probable bird was photographed in Hamilton on January 4. A single bird was found and its call recorded on January 15 and since then up to 5 birds have been seen daily in Fort Erie before continuing over the Niagara River to roost in Buffalo. The other new birds are: Pectoral Sandpiper (January 1): Wheatley harbour Black-headed Gull (January 15): Fort Erie. This bird has been present along the Niagara River since December but first found in Ontario waters on January 15. Ovenbird (December 26): Peterborough Vesper Sparrow (January 5): Beachville, southwest of Woodstock Lincoln's Sparrow (January 9): Perth Indigo Bunting (January 8): Cambridge I have send the list to Blake Maybank and hopefully he will post the results on the website soon. A link to the webpage: http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/maybank/other/onwinter.htm Out of the missing species to the winter list, the most likely to be added include: Eurasian Wigeon, Gyrfalcon (reported to me but I'm just waiting on details), Virginia Rail, and Yellow-headed Blackbird. If anyone has heard of sightings of the missing species, just shoot me an email. ----------------------------------------------- Josh Vandermeulen Guelph, Ontario [email protected] 519-222-5420 (cell) joshvandermeulen.blogspot.com (blog) _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
