Ontario Rare Bird Alert for the week starting March 5, 2021 Species mentioned (all caps indicate species on the OBRC review list): Eurasian Wigeon (Lambton) GREEN-WINGED TEAL (EURASIAN) (York) King Eider (Hamilton, Toronto) Harlequin Duck (Bruce, Durham, Middlesex, Toronto) Barrow's Goldeneye (Algoma, Durham, Grey, Lambton, Leeds and Grenvill, Ottawa, Peterborough) Purple Sandpiper (Durham) Black Vulture (Hamilton, NIagara, Prince Edward) Gyrfalcon (Greater Sudbury) Townsend's Solitaire (Leeds and Grenville, Muskoka) Lark Sparrow (Ottawa) Harris's Sparrow (Kawartha Lakes, Norfolk) SPOTTED TOWHEE (Middlesex) Western Meadowlark (Thunder Bay)
Eurasian Wigeon (Lambton): A male was photographed in Sarnia on March 6. GREEN-WINGED TEAL (EURASIAN) (York): What is likely the Toronto bird was still at Pomona Mills Park in Markham at least until March 7. King Eider (Hamilton/Halton): A young male continued at the Burlington Ship Canal. Up to five birds were present off Stoney Creek. King Eider (Toronto): The female at Tommy Thompson Park continued this week. Harlequin Duck (Bruce): The male was back at Lions Head again this week, March 6. Harlequin Duck (Durham): The male that has been seen off and on this winter was off Thickson's Point again most of this week. Harlequin Duck (Middlesex): The young male continued near the North London Athletic fields. Harlequin Duck (Toronto): A female was at Tommy Thompson Park March 6-9. Barrow's Goldeneye (Algoma): A female was reported off Sault Ste. Marie March 10. Barrow's Goldeneye (Durham): A male was off Thickson's Point March 7-9. Barrow's Goldeneye (Grey): The continuing male was seen again this week off Owen Sound. Barrow's Goldeneye (Lambton): A male was reported off Sarnia March 5. Barrow's Goldeneye (Leeds and Grenville): A female was photographed off Prescott March 7. Barrow's Goldeneye (Ottawa): A male continued on the Rideau River in the vicinity of Strathcona Park. Barrow's Goldeneye (Peterborough): The female found last week was in Peterborough March 6-9. Purple Sandpiper (Durham): One bird was at Thickson's Point again this week. Black Vulture (Hamilton): One bird was seen in Stoney Creek March 10. Black Vulture (Niagara): Up to five birds were reported this week from Queenston. Black Vulture (Prince Edward): One bird continued in Picton this week. Gyrfalcon (Greater Sudbury): One bird was reported near Sudbury March 6. Townsend's Solitaire (Leeds and Grenville): The bird reported two weeks ago near Escott was seen again near 1243 County Rd 2 on March 10. Townsend's Solitaire (Muskoka): The Huntsville bird was reported regularly this week along the Hunter's Bay Trail to at least March 11. 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. Harris's Sparrow (Kawartha Lakes): The Charlore Park Drive bird was seen again this week. Harris's Sparrow (Norfolk): The Port Dover bird was reported again this week. SPOTTED TOWHEE (Middlesex): The London bird was seen regularly to at least March 8. 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. Western Meadowlark (Thunder Bay): The Manitouwadge bird continued this week. 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.
