We are about 70% of the way through the winter birding season in Ontario. Six new additions to the winter bird list have been brought to my attention since my last update on January 5, bringing the list up to 218 species, the second highest total in the 9 winters that I have data for. Only the winter of 2011-2012, with 224 species reported, remains on top.
The six additions since my last update include Eurasian Tree Sparrow (private residence in Bruce County), Boreal Owl (several in the north), Swainson's Thrush (two birds: Port Bruce and Waterloo), Yellow-breasted Chat (private residence near Kingston), Brewer's Blackbird (several) and Lincoln's Sparrow (two birds: Dundas and Rondeau). It will be very difficult to catch the total of 224 from 2011-2012, as there are no more "likely" species to add. Some possibilities, as rare as they may be, include Blue-winged Teal, Common Eider, Northern Bobwhite, Franklin's Gull, Slaty-backed Gull, Barn Owl, and Spotted Towhee. 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 will be out of the country without internet access for the rest of February but will update the list upon my return. Good birding, Josh Vandermeulen _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] 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
