Ontario Rare Bird Alert for the week starting December 1, 2023 Species mentioned (all caps indicate species on the OBRC review list): King Eider (Chatham-Kent) King Eider (Essex) Barrow's Goldeneye (Grey, Ottawa, Prince Edward) Western Grebe (Halton/Hamilton, Huron) Red Phalarope (Simcoe, Toronto) Purple Sandpiper (Hamilton, Northumberland, Toronto) Black-legged Kittiwake (Essex, Hamilton, Niagara) Pacific Loon (Hamilton, Simcoe) Black Vulture (Niagara) Black-billed Magpie (MIDDLESEX) Townsend's Solitaire (Essex) Wood Thrush (Ottawa) FIELDFARE (Nipissing) Black-and-white Warbler (Toronto) Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) (Chatham-Kent) Dickcissel (Toronto)
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. King Eider (Chatham-Kent): Blake Mann found an adult male off Rondeau PP on December 5 that was seen by a few others later the same day. This is possibly the same bird seen the day prior in Chatham-Kent. King Eider (Essex): Cameron Chevalier photographed an adult male off Point Pelee on December 4. Barrow's Goldeneye (Grey): THe male continued this week at Owen Sound to at least December 6. Barow's Goldeneye (Ottawa): At least two males continue, one near the Hurdman Bridge and another off Dick Bell Park. Barrow's Goldeneye (Prince Edward): The male found November 26 off Big Island by Paul Jones continued this week to at least December 6. Western Grebe (Halton/Hamilton): The bird found by Joanne Redwood off LaSalle Park on November 27 continued again this wek to at least December 5. Western Grebe (Huron): James Lees photographed two birds together of the pier in Bayfield on December 3, with at least one bird remaining to at least December 4. Red Phalarope (Simcoe): One bird was seen by many at Minet's Point in Barrie December 2 and 3. Red Phalarope (Toronto): One bird was at Colonel Sam Smith Park December 1-3. Purple Sandpiper (Hamilton): Up to two birds were off Van Wagner's Beach December 2-3. Purple Sandpiper (Northumberland): Up to three birds were seen by many at Cobourg Harbour December 1-4. Purple Sandpiper (Toronto): Up to two birds were seen thsi week at Tommy Thompson Park December 5-7 and one was at Colonel Sam Smith Park on December 1. Black-legged Kittiwake (Essex): Vicki McKay and Brett Groves reported a juvenal from Hillman Marsh December 2. Black-legged Kittiwake (Hamilton): Rich Poort reported one off Confederation Park on December 2 and Liam Thorne and Markus Legzdins reported two off Van Wagner's Beach December 3. Black-legged Kittiwake (Niagara): At least one was seen by many off Niagara-on-the-Lake December 3-5. Another was reported from Port Weller pier on December 3. Pacific Loon (Hamilton): Keith Dieroff found one at Yacht Club harbour on December 4 that was seen by many to at least December 7. Pacific Loon (Simcoe): Up to two birds were reported this week from the Barrie waterfront. Black Vulture (Niagara): Up to 12 birds were reported this week from the Queenston area. Black-billed Magpie (MIDDLESEX): Harrison McCormick photographed one at the Dingman Constructed Wetladn on December 2 that was seen by many to at least December 4. Townsend's Solitaire (Essex): The bird found by Jeremy Bensette and Kate Derbyshire at DeLaurier in Point Pelee on November 19 continued again this week to at least December 7. Wood Thrush (Ottawa): Francine Mercier photographed one at Champlain Park Woods on December 7. FIELDFARE (Nipissing): The bird found by Julie Belliveau Sturgeon Falls on November 29 was seen by many daily to at least December 7 (but not seen some days this week). For more details including guidelines and instructions for visiting see: https://ontbirds.ca/empathy/thread/VQACO2HLKSAQPLNNIS54CHKT52PZFW2N Black-and-white Warbler (Toronto): Gordon Fitch found one at Sunnyside Beach on December 3 that was seen by several observers to at least December 7. Yellow-rumped Warbler (AUDUBON'S) (Chatham-Kent): The bird found by Blake Mann at Rondeau PP on November 30 was seen again this week on December 1. Dickcissel (Toronto): The bird found by Will Heikoop at Don Valley Brick Works Park on November 19 was seen by many to at least December 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.
