Birders, Today marks the first day of winter listing, the period of time running from December 1 until February 28/29. I will be compiling the winter bird list in Ontario again this year. Approximately 346 species of birds have been recorded in Ontario during the winter period, with usually between 200 and 220 species recorded in a given winter. Last winter 216 species were recorded, representing the third highest total ever, after the 224 species in 2011-2012 and the 220 species in 2015-2016. Some of the highlights from last winter included two new species for the all-time Ontario winter list in Red-necked Phalarope and Crested Caracara. Other rarities and unusual winter species included American Bittern, Sora, Western Sandpiper, Slaty-backed Gull, White-winged Dove, Cave Swallow, Smith's Longspur, Bay-breasted, Chestnut-sided and Black-throated Gray Warblers, Nelson's Sparrow and Brambling.
Just post your sightings to Ontbirds (if sufficiently rare), ebird.org or send me an email, and I will update the list accordingly and provide an update to Ontbirds every couple of weeks. That way you can check the list and inform me of any species that have been seen but are not present on the list. The list can be viewed at http://tinyurl.com/myyulvs . I have also provided a link on my blog, located at http://joshvandermeulen.blogspot.ca/p/ontario-winter-bird-list.html . I try to update the spreadsheet every couple of days or whenever I hear of a new addition. Please let me know if you hear of a new addition or any other correction to the spreadsheet. Good (winter) birding, Josh Vandermeulen joshvandermeulen.blogspot.com _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
