Ontbirders, After the first half of December, 179 species have been reported in Ontario. This is similar to recent winters, with 178 and 189 species reported at this point in 2012 and 2011 respectively. I have sent the list to Blake Maybank and he will post it to his website, found at http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/maybank/other/onwinter.htm. I have created a new table that uses the updated AOU taxonomy among other minor changes. Highlights so far this winter include Ontario's second Anna's Hummingbird and first for the winter birding period. This bird was coming to a feeder in Thunder Bay from September 10 to December 7. Other highlights include a Thick-billed Murre in Kingston (Ontario's third since 1953), an American White Pelican in Belleville, a Common Eider in Stoney Creek, a Laughing Gull at Presqu'ile Provincial Park, and a Clay-colored Sparrow in Ottawa. Some notable misses so far include Brant, Osprey, Virginia Rail, Black-headed Gull, Boreal Owl, American Three-toed Woodpecker, House Wren, Townsend's Solitaire, Harris's Sparrow, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and Hoary Redpoll. The website will likely be updated in the next couple of days. If you know of any sightings of missing species, send me an email. Thanks,Josh Vandermeulen
----------------------------------------------- Josh Vandermeulen Schomberg, Ontario [email protected] 289-221-4695 (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 including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup
