Ontario Rare Bird Alert for the week starting October 29, 2021 Species mentioned (all caps indicate species on the OBRC review list): BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK (Niagara) King Eider (Bruce) Harlequin Duck (Niagara, Prince Edward, THUNDER BAY, Toronto) Barrow's Goldeneye (Hamilton, Ottawa) Hudsonian Godwit (Norfolk) Pomarine Jaeger (Hamilton, Northumberland, Toronto) RAZORBILL (Durham, Halton, Hamilton, Niagara, Ottawa, Peel, Toronto) Black-legged Kittiwake (Bruce, Chatham-Kent, Essex, Halton, Hamilton, Huron, Nipissing, Norfolk) Sabine's Gull (Durham, Essex) ROSS'S GULL (Durham) SLATY-BACKED GULL (Ottawa) Pacific Loon (Chatham-Kent, Durham, Lambton, Simcoe) Cattle Egret (Brant, Essex, Lambton, Niagara, Norfolk) LeConte's Sparrow (Renfrew) Yellow-headed Blackbird (Middlesex) Blue-winged Warbler (THUNDER BAY)
BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK (Niagara): The long-staying bird continued at Dufferin Islands this week. King Eider (Bruce): A female bird was again seen off Kincardine, November 3 and 4. Harlequin Duck (Niagara): A female-type bird was at Port Weller east pier November 2. Harlequin Duck (Prince Edward): Two birds were off Charwell Point November 1. Harlequin Duck (THUNDER BAY): An adult male was in Terrace Bay at least October 29-November 4. Harlequin Duck (Toronto): A female was near Ontario Place October 30-November 4. Barrow's Goldeneye (Hamilton): An adult male was off the Sayer's Park/Grays Rd area of Stoney Creek November 3-4. Barrow's Goldeneye (Ottawa): Up to two males were reported near Bate Island October 29-November 3. Hudsonian Godwit (Norfolk): One bird remains at Turkey Point to at least October 31. One bird was seen at Birds Canada's headquarters November 1. Pomarine Jaeger (Hamilton): Up to two birds were reported off Van Wagners Beach October 29. Pomarine Jaeger (Northumberland): One bird was photographed off Chub Point October 31. Pomarine Jaeger (Toronto): One bird was reported off Colonel Sam Smith Park October 29. It was a wild couple of days around the west end of Lake Ontario for Razorbills. There were a number of distance large alcids also reported and I'm summarizing them all together here under Razorbill as so far that's what the majority of reports have been identified to (and no other species have been claimed...yet). RAZORBILL (Durham): At least two birds were off the Durham waterfront October 29 with reports from Rotary Park (Ajax) and Thickson's Point and Hall's Rd (Whitby). At least four birds were seen October 30, with reports from Whitby Harbour, Thickson Point, and Halls Rd. RAZORBILL (Halton): Two or three birds were reported off Burloak Park October 30. RAZORBILL (Hamilton): Two birds were seen flying by Van Wagners Beach October 29. Six or more were off Van Wagners October 30. RAZORBILL (Ottawa): At least one bird continued along the Ottawa River this week, to at least November 2. RAZORBILL (Niagara): Two birds were reported off the Niagara side of Fifty Point October 30. RAZORBILL (Peel): One bird was reported off Lakefront Promenade Park in Mississauga October 30. RAZORBILL (Toronto): One bird was photographed off Tommy Thompson Park October 29. Black-legged Kittiwake (Bruce): One bird was reported off Kincardine November 2. Black-legged Kittiwake (Chatham-Kent): One bird was reported on the lake between Rondeau and Morpeth October 29. Black-legged Kittiwake (Essex): Two birds were reported off Point Pelee October 30 and another there October 31. Black-legged Kittiwake (Halton): Two birds were reported off the foot of Brant Street October 29 and one was reported off Burloak Park October 30. Black-legged Kittiwake (Hamilton): At least four birds were reported off Van Wagners Beach October 29 and two there on October 30. Black-legged Kittiwake (Huron): One bird was reported north of Grand Bend October 31. Black-legged Kittiwake (Nipissing): A different bird from last week was photographed on Opeongo Lake October 30. Black-legged Kittiwake (Norfolk): One bird was reported off Turkey Point October 29. Sabine's Gull (Durham): One bird was reported off Bonniebrae Point October 29. Sabine's Gull (Essex): Two birds were reported off the tip of Point Pelee October 30. ROSS'S GULL (Durham): An adult was reported off Thicksons Point October 29. SLATY-BACKED GULL (Ottawa): The long-staying bird remained in the vicinity of the Moodie Drive Quarry pond to at least November 4. Pacific Loon (Chatham-Kent): One bird was reported off Zion Rd, east of Wheatley November 3. Pacific Loon (Durham): Two birds were reported off Bonniebrae Point October 30 and Darlington Provincial Park October 31. One was photographed off Thickson's Point October 31. Pacific Loon (Lambton): One bird was reported off Kettle Point October 31. Pacific Loon (Simcoe): Up to two birds were off the Barrie waterfront October 29-November 1. Cattle Egret (Brant): One bird continued in West Dumfries township to at least November 2. Cattle Egret (Essex): One bird was at the Sandwich West Park retention pond in Windsor October 31. As many as eight birds have were in a field south of Malden Centre November 2-4. Possibly some of the same group of eight, four birds were seen fling over HOliday Beach November 2. A single bird was just north of Point Pelee on November 2. Cattle Egret (Lambton): One bird was at the Hiawatha Horse Park October 31 after being found earlier in a nearby field. Cattle Egret (Niagara): One bird was seen by many in Chippawa November 2-3. Cattle Egret (Norfolk): Up to three birds were just outside of St. Williams October 29-November 1. One bird was reported at Old Cut and around the Provincial Park October 31-November 1. One bird was at the Long Point town site November 3-4. LeConte's Sparrow (Renfrew): One bird was reported from Lake Dore November 2. Yellow-headed Blackbird (Middlesex): One bird was reported from the Strathroy Sewage Lagoons October 31. Blue-winged Warbler (THUNDER BAY): One bird was banded at McKellar Island Bird Observatory October 30. Report compiled by Mike Burrell from a variety of sources, primarily eBird and the Ontario Birds Discord server (https://discord.gg/EXJ5S9e); most other sources are listed here: http://ofo.ca/site/content/ontario-hotlines-and-news Mike Burrell -- 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]. 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