Ontario Rare Bird Alert for the week starting February 12, 2021 Species mentioned (all caps indicate species on the OBRC review list): Ross's Goose (Hamilton) Greater White-fronted Goose (Durham, Norfolk) King Eider (Durham, Hamilton/Halton, Toronto) Harlequin Duck (Bruce, Durham, Middlesex) Barrow's Goldeneye (Grey, Ottawa) Great Egret (Essex) Black Vulture (Niagara) Gyrfalcon (Durham) BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE (Algoma) Townsend's Solitaire (Muskoka) Swainson's Thrush (Toronto) Lark Sparrow (Ottawa) GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (Kenora) Harris's Sparrow (Elgin, Kawartha Lakes) SPOTTED TOWHEE (Middlesex) Yellow-headed Blackbird (Algoma) Western Meadowlark (Thunder Bay) Cape May Warbler (Peel) Summer Tanager (York) BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (Algoma)
Ross's Goose (Hamilton): The pair of juveniles continued at Bayfront Park. Greater White-fronted Goose (Durham): A single bird was reported February 12 at Cranberry Marsh and another or the same was in the north end of Whitby along Taunton Rd February 15. Greater White-fronted Goose (Norfolk): Four birds were near Port Royal February 14. King Eider (Durham): A young male was reported at Frenchman's Bay February 17. King Eider (Hamilton/Halton): A young male was reported at the Burlington Ship Canal February 14. King Eider (Toronto): A female remained at Humber Bay Park East until at least February 15. The same or a different female was at Tommy Thompson Park February 17. Harlequin Duck (Bruce): The adult male was back at Lions Head this week. Harlequin Duck (Durham): An adult male was seen again this week off Thickson's Point. Harlequin Duck (Middlesex): The young male continued near the North London Athletic fields. Barrow's Goldeneye (Grey): The male in Owen Sound was seen again this week. Barrow's Goldeneye (Ottawa): A male continued on the Rideau River in the vicinity of Strathcona Park. Great Egret (Essex): One bird was reported at Point Pelee February 12. . Black Vulture (Niagara): Up to five birds were reported this week from Queenston. Gyrfalcon (Durham): A gray morph was reported in Ajax this week. BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE (Algoma): The long-staying Echo Lake bird was reported this week. Townsend's Solitaire (Muskoka): The Huntsville bird was reported regularly this week along the Hunter's Bay Trail. Swainson's Thrush (Toronto): The Humber Bay Park East bird was reported again this week. Lark Sparrow (Ottawa): One bird is visiting feeders at 8735 McCaffrey Trail near Ashton. The homeowner (Brian Jeffery) is happy to share it with birders: park on the road and walk into his driveway. It comes with American Tree Sparrows to the wooden ramp at the back corner of the house where they put seed on the ground. GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (Kenora): The Sioux Lookout bird continues this week. Harris's Sparrow (Elgin): The bird reported previously in a hemp field at the east corner of Hawk Cliff Rd and Dexter Line (east of Port Stanley) continued this week. Harris's Sparrow (Kawartha Lakes): The Charlore Park Drive bird was seen again this week. SPOTTED TOWHEE (Middlesex): One bird was reported on February 12 in London and is being seen regularly. The feeders are located on private property but can be viewed from a public path located at the end of Killarney Road East, past the roundabout. Walking south on the path, the feeders are between the second and third row of condos visible from the path. When not on the desk feeding, it goes under the spruce trees close to the feeders. Yellow-headed Blackbird (Algoma): The male between Iron Bridge and Thessalon continued this week.. Western Meadowlark (Thunder Bay): The Manitouwadge bird continued this week. Cape May Warbler (Peel): One bird continued coming to a private backyard feeder in Port Credit. Summer Tanager (York): One bird continued in Newmarket. Note, the homeowners request that birders don't visit or post sightings to eBird of this bird as it is a busy neighbourhood. BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (Algoma): The Sawpit Bay bird continued this week. However, the homeowners have made the difficult decision, for public health reasons to limit access to local birders only. Please respect these wishes. Report compiled by Mike Burrell from a variety of sources, most of which 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 To edit your membership settings visit the Birdnews setup page at: http://ontbirds.ca/mailman/listinfo/birdnews_ontbirds.ca. 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.
