Ontario Rare Bird Alert for the week starting April 2, 2021 Species mentioned (all caps indicate species on the OBRC review list): Eurasian Wigeon (Bruce, Norfolk, Simcoe) GREEN-WINGED TEAL (EURASIAN) (Toronto) King Eider (Hamilton) Harlequin Duck (Durham, Middlesex) Barrow's Goldeneye (Ottawa) WESTERN GREBE (Halton) Eurasian Collared-Dove (Essex) Purple Sandpiper (Durham) American White Pelican (Essex) Black Vulture (Essex, Niagara) SAY'S PHOEBE (Lennox and Addington) Harris's Sparrow (Kawartha Lakes, Norfolk) SPOTTED TOWHEE (Middlesex) Yellow-headed Blackbird (Algoma, Huron) Palm Warbler (Yellow) (Waterloo)
Eurasian Wigeon (Bruce): One male was at Isaac Lake April 8. Eurasian Wigeon (Norfolk): At least one male (and an apparent American Wigeon hybrid) continued off Old Cut/Long Point Provincial Park to at least April 7. Eurasian Wigeon (Simcoe): The male continued at Everett Gravel Pit to April 4. GREEN-WINGED TEAL (EURASIAN) (Toronto): Presumably the same male that was present earlier in the winter/spring was back at G. Ross Lord Park April 8. King Eider (Hamilton): Up to 11 birds were off Stoney Creek (mostly from Sayer's Park) to at least April 6. Harlequin Duck (Durham): The male continued off Thickson's Point to at least April 7. Harlequin Duck (Middlesex): The young male continued near the North London Athletic fields at least until April 5. Barrow's Goldeneye (Ottawa): A male continued on the Rideau River in the vicinity of Strathcona Park to at least April 8. WESTERN GREBE (Halton): One bird was off Oakville (Bronte Beach Park/Bronte Harbour) April 7 and 8. Eurasian Collared-Dove (Essex): One bird continued from Albuna Townline between Mersea Rd 6 and 7. This is the same area where up to two birds were present for much of last year. Purple Sandpiper (Durham): One bird continued at Thickson's Point to at least April 7. American White Pelican (Essex): Up to 30 were off Amherstburg/Holiday Beach this week. Black Vulture (Essex): One bird was at Point Pelee April 3 and 4. Black Vulture (Niagara): Up to four birds were reported this week from Queenston SAY'S PHOEBE (Lennox and Addington): One bird was again seen by many on Amherst Island along Stella 40 Ft Rd (mostly near the emergency services building) to at least April 6. Harris's Sparrow (Kawartha Lakes): The Charlore Park Drive bird was seen this week on April 5 and 6. Harris's Sparrow (Norfolk): The Port Dover bird was seen again this week, on April 2. SPOTTED TOWHEE (Middlesex): The London bird was last seen April 4. Yellow-headed Blackbird (Algoma): The male between Iron Bridge and Thessalon continued this week. Yellow-headed Blackbird (Huron): One bird was seen on April 8 flying up the Lake Huron shoreline north of Grand Bend. Palm Warbler (Yellow) (Waterloo): One bird was photographed at Bechtel Park April 6. Report compiled by Mike Burrell from a variety of sources, primarily eBird; most other sources are listed here: http://ofo.ca/site/content/ontario-hotlines-and-news -- Ontbirds and Birdnews are moderated email Listservs provided by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) as a service to all birders in Ontario. Birdnews is reserved for announcements, location summaries, first of year reports, etc. To post a message on Birdnews, send an email to: [email protected]. If you have any questions or concerns, contact the Birdnews Moderators by email at [email protected]. Please review posting rules and guidelines at http://ofo.ca/site/content/listserv-guidelines During the COVID-19 pandemic, all Ontario birders should be taking extra precautions and following local, provincial, and federal regulations regarding physical distancing and non-essential travel. To find out more about OFO, please visit our website at ofo.ca or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists.
