Ontario Rare Bird Alert for the week starting December 2, 2022 Species mentioned (all caps indicate species on the OBRC review list): Harlequin Duck (Algoma, Hamilton, Niagara, Northumberland, Ottawa, Toronto) Barrow's Goldeneye (Grey, Ottawa) Eared Grebe (Lambton) Purple Sandpiper (Durham, Halton, Northumberland, Toronto) Pectoral Sandpiper (Durham) Western Sandpiper (Chatham-Kent) RAZORBILL (Niagara) Black-legged Kittiwake (Essex, Lambton, Niagara) CALIFORNIA GULL (Lambton) Pacific Loon (Simcoe) NORTHERN GANNET (Hamilton) Black Vulture (Niagara) Warbling Vireo (Toronto) MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD (Peterborough) Townsend's Solitaire (Durham) Swainson's Thrush (Lambton) Wood Thrush (Norfolk) Harris's Sparrow (Lambton) LeConte's Sparrow (Peel) SPOTTED TOWHEE (Algoma) Baltimore Oriole (Frontenac) BULLOCK'S ORIOLE (Kenora) Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Frontenac) Dickcissel (Norfolk)
Details: I have tried to indicate the finder, where known. My apologies to those who I have left out. You can help me by giving the finder's name(s), if known, in your eBird checklists. Harlequin Duck (Algoma): The two birds at Whitefish Island/Sault Locks found November 15 continued to at least December 5. Harlequin Duck (Hamilton/Niagara): Jennifer Evans photographed a female-type bird at Fifty Point CA on December 4 that was still there December 8. Harlequin Duck (Niagara): Gina Turone found two at Port Weller east pier on December 6 that remained to at least December 8. Harlequin Duck (Northumberland): The female type bird first reported November 21 from Cobourg Harbour reamined to at least December 8. Harlequin Duck (Ottawa): The female-type bird found by Clifford Rostek on December 1 by Island Park Drive was seen by many again this week, to at least December 8. Harlequin Duck (Toronto): The adult male continued around Ashbridge's Bay Park until at least December 8. Barrow's Goldeneye (Grey): Presumably the same male found November 3 by William Gray remained to at least December 5 around Owen Sound. Barrow's Goldeneye (Ottawa): The one near Strathcona Park/the Rideau Tennis Club found in early November continued to at least December 8. Eared Grebe (Lambton): The one found by James Holdsworth on October 31 off Port Franks was present again this week, to at least December 5. Purple Sandpiper (Durham): The bird found by Jakob Monroe at McLaughlin Bay on December 1 was seen by several observers again this week, to at least December 5. Purple Sandpiper (Halton): George Prieksaitis reported one from Beachway Park in Burlington on December 3. Purple Sandpiper (Northumberland): One bird was seen by many on December 4 at Gull Island, Presqu'ile PP. Purple Sandpiper (Toronto): John Nishikawa photographed one at Toronto Islands on December 5. Pectoral Sandpiper (Durham): One bird was photographed at Simcoe Point in Ajax on December 2. Western Sandpiper (Chatham-Kent): The bird reported last week as a Semipalmated Sandiper has been re-identified as a Western Sandpiper and was present all week off the Erieau Marsh Trail, to at least December 7. RAZORBILL (Niagara): Two birds were seen by many observers off Niagara-on-the-Lake December 4 and continued to at least December 7. Black-legged Kittiwake (Essex): A bird found last week was seen by many this week at Reaume Park in Windsor to at least December 6. Black-legged Kittiwake (Lambton): At least one bird was reported several times around the Sarnia waterfront this week to at least December 8. Black-legged Kittiwake (Niagara): A juvenal was photographed at the flyby at Niagara-on-the-Lake on December 5 by Jay Solanki and then reported from the same place on December 7 by David and Regan Goodyear. CALIFORNIA GULL (Lambton): James Holdsworth photographed a 3rd cycle bird at Port Franks on December 7. Pacific Loon (Simcoe): Robin Craig reported one off Minet's Point in Barrie on December 5. NORTHERN GANNET (Hamilton): David Turner reported an adult off Van Wagner's Beach on December 4. Black Vulture (Niagara): Up to six birds were reported this week from Queenston. Warbling Vireo (Toronto): The bird found by Laura Murray at Ashbridge's Bay Park on December 1 continued to at least December 8. MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD (Peterborough): The bird found by Luke Berg north of Rice Lake on November 25 continued to be seen by many this week, to at least December 5. Townsend's Solitaire (Durham): Charmaine Anderson found one on Brock Road north of Wilfrid on December 8 that was subsequently seen by several other observers the same day. Swainson's Thrush (Lambton): James Holdsworth photographed one near Port Franks on December 6. Wood Thrush (Norfolk): Matt Timpf reported one from private property near Walsingham on December 4-8. Harris's Sparrow (Lambton): The bird found by James Holdsworth at the Willsie Pit on Bog Line between Thedford and Port Franks on November 18 has been seen by many to at least December 8. LeConte's Sparrow (Peel): Peter L found one in Mississauga near Wood Creek Park on December 5 that was seen by many to at least December 8. SPOTTED TOWHEE (Algoma): The bird found by Tony Ward visiting their property in Thessalon on November 18 remained to at least December 8. Baltimore Oriole (Frontenac): Cameron Eckert found and photographed one at Wartman-Patterson Park in Kingston on December 4. BULLOCK'S ORIOLE (Kenora): The bird found at a private residence in Dryden by Penny Rutushniak on November 24 continued to at least December 3. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Frontenac): A female bird continued at a feeder in a private yard near Collins Bay, Kingston to at least December 8. Dickcissel (Norfolk): One bird continued at LPBO's Old Cut Field Station to at least December 4. 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.
