Ontario Rare Bird Alert for the week starting November 5, 2021 Species mentioned (all caps indicate species on the OBRC review list): BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK (Niagara) RED-CRESTED POCHARD (Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry) King Eider (Bruce) COMMON EIDER (Toronto) Harlequin Duck (Durham, Toronto) Barrow's Goldeneye (Ottawa) Hudsonian Godwit (York) Red Phalarope (Niagara, Norfolk, Ottawa) Pomarine Jaeger (Hamilton, Northumberland) RAZORBILL (Frontenac, Lennox and Addington, Northumberland) Black-legged Kittiwake (Chatham-Kent, Niagara) SLATY-BACKED GULL (Ottawa) Pacific Loon (Simcoe) NORTHERN GANNET (Halton, Hamilton) Cattle Egret (Brant, Middlesex, Norfolk) Black Vulture (Niagara) BARN OWL (Parry Sound) SAGE THRASHER (Chatham-Kent) Townsend's Solitaire (Thunder Bay) Yellow-headed Blackbird (Chatham-Kent) Summer Tanager (Bruce)
BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK (Niagara): The long-staying bird remained at Dufferin Islands this week. RED-CRESTED POCHARD (Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry): A female was photographed at the Ault Island causeway November 8 and reported again at the same location November 11. Obviously, there are questions about provenance. King Eider (Bruce): The female continued off Kincardine November 9-11. COMMON EIDER (Toronto): A young male was seen briefly at Tommy Thompson Park November 6. Harlequin Duck (Durham): An adult male continued around Thickson's Point November 7-9. Harlequin Duck (Toronto): A female continued near Ontario Place November 5-10. Barrow's Goldeneye (Ottawa): One male continued near Bate Island, with reports November 6-8. Another or the same was off Britannia November 7 and up to two were reported from the Rideau River at Strathcona Park November 8-11. Hudsonian Godwit (York): One bird was along Ravenshoe Road, Keswick November 6-11. Red Phalarope (Niagara): Two birds were off Fort Erie November 7. Red Phalarope (Norfolk): One bird was seen in the Inner Bay November 10. Red Phalarope (Ottawa): One bird was seen by many off Britannia November 6, with a single report the next day. Pomarine Jaeger (Hamilton): Up to four birds were reported off Van Wagners Beach November 11. Pomarine Jaeger (Northumberland): One bird was reported off Chub Point November 11. RAZORBILL (Frontenac): One bird was seen off the Wolfe Island ferry terminal (island side) November 8. A distant alcid was seen off Howe Island November 9 and was likely this species. Many observers got to see a bird off the west Howe Island Ferry dock (mainland side) November 10 and first thing November 11. RAZORBILL (Lennox and Addington): One bird was seen off the Martin Edwards Reserve at the east end of Amherst Island November 6. RAZORBILL (Northumberland): One bird was photographed November 11 flying east past Chub Point. Black-legged Kittiwake (Chatham-Kent): One bird was seen off Erieau November 11. Black-legged Kittiwake (Niagara): One bird was off Fort Erie November 7. SLATY-BACKED GULL (Ottawa): The long-staying bird was seen almost daily this week around the Moodie Drive quarry ponds. Pacific Loon (Simcoe): Almost daily reports came in from the Barrie waterfront this week, with a high of three birds reported November 6. NORTHERN GANNET (Halton/Hamilton): One juv was seen by several observers off Van Wagners Beach November 11 and then was later reported off the Burlington ship canal. Cattle Egret (Brant): One bird continued in West Dumfries township to at least November 10. Cattle Egret (Middlesex): One bird was near the intersection of Manning and Wellington in London November 9-10. Cattle Egret (Norfolk): One bird remained in the Long Point townsite November 6. Black Vulture (Niagara): Up to four birds were reported this week from Queenston. BARN OWL (Parry Sound): One bird was photographed this week in Parry Sound District. SAGE THRASHER (Chatham-Kent): One bird was found November 6 at the Mitchells Bay south lakeshore nature trail and subsequently enjoyed by many to at least November 11. Townsend's Solitaire (Thunder Bay): One bird was photographed in Thunder Bay November 5. Yellow-headed Blackbird (Chatham-Kent): One bird was seen at the same location as the Sage Thrasher November 7. Summer Tanager (Bruce): A young male was enjoyed by many in Tobermory November 7-11. Report compiled by Mike Burrell from a variety of sources, primarily eBird and the Ontario Birds Discord server (https://discord.gg/EXJ5S9e); most other sources are listed here: http://ofo.ca/site/content/ontario-hotlines-and-news Mike Burrell -- 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.
