After the first half of December the 2016-2017 Ontario winter bird list stands at 191 species,which is six species higher than last year's number by this date. Several exceptionally rare species for the winter period have already been discovered, including Western Sandpiper, Red-necked Phalarope, Crested Caracara, Bay-breasted Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Nelson's Sparrow and Brambling. Some of the other notable rarities found so far include Western Grebe, Great Cormorant, Great Egret, Lesser Yellowlegs, Sabine's Gull, Cave Swallow, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Wilson's Warbler and Lark Sparrow. As usual after only two weeks there are several holes to be filled in on this year's winter list - these include Gray Partridge, Northern Hawk Owl, Boreal Owl, American Three-toed Woodpecker, Fish Crow, Varied Thrush, Eastern Meadowlark and Brewer's Blackbird. Other species missing from this winter's list that are more unusual but s till observed most winters include Eared Grebe, Osprey, Virginia Rail, Pomarine Jaeger, California Gull, Blue-headed Vireo, House Wren, Nashville Warbler, Cape May Warbler, Harris's Sparrow and Baltimore Oriole.
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 try to update the spreadsheet every couple of days or whenever I hear of a new addition. Please let me know if you hear of a new addition or any other correction to the spreadsheet. Good (winter) birding, Josh _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - 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 Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
