Ontario Rare Bird Alert for the week starting March 4, 2022 Species mentioned (all caps indicate species on the OBRC review list): BARNACLE GOOSE (Peterborough) King Eider (Hamilton, Toronto) Harlequin Duck (Algoma, Toronto) Barrow's Goldeneye (Durham, Lanark, Ottawa) Eared Grebe (Grey) Eurasian Collared-Dove (Chatham-Kent) Long-billed Dowitcher (Toronto) Black Vulture (Niagara) Townsend's Solitaire (Simcoe) GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (Toronto, Waterloo) Harris's Sparrow (Hamilton, Prescott and Russell)
Details: I have tried to indicate the finder, where known. My apologies to those who I have left out. BARNACLE GOOSE (Peterborough): Bev Long-Welch found and photographed one bird on the Otonabee River near Auburn Reach Park around 2 pm on March 10. King Eider (Hamilton): Rich Poort reported six birds off Sayer's Park in Stoney Creek on March 10. King Eider (Toronto): The young male found previously by Nancy Barrett at Humber Bay Park east was seen regularly all week to at least March 9. Harlequin Duck (Algoma): Alexander and Stan Phippen reported the Sault Ste. Marie Harlequin Duck from the area around the Delta Hotel on March 5. Harlequin Duck (Toronto): The continuing bird around Ontario Place/Marilyn Bell Park was reported to at least March 9 and the same or a different individual was at Humber Bay Park east March 4-6. A young male was also off Ashbridge's Bay Park March 6-10. Barrow's Goldeneye (Durham): William Konze photographed a male off Lynde Creek in Whitby on March 5, presumably the same bird that has been reported sporadically all winter. Barrow's Goldeneye (Lanark): The male found previously by Iain Wilkes at Centennial Park in Carleton Place was reported to at least March 9. A female was also reported from this location on March 9 by David Britton. Barrow's Goldeneye (Ottawa): One bird was reported this week along the Rideau River near Strathcona Park and two were reported from Remic Rapids Lookout on March 5 by Jon Ruddy. Eared Grebe (Grey): The bird found last month by Peter Baker just north of Owen Sound was reported again this week on March 4 and 5. Eurasian Collared-Dove (Chatham-Kent): The bird found last week by Steve Charbonneau in Shrewsbury was reported on March 6 by Jeremy Hatt. Long-billed Dowitcher (Toronto): Mitsuru Sasaki photographed an incredibly early individual in Toronto on March 5. Black Vulture (Niagara): Up to two birds were reported this week from Queenston. Townsend's Solitaire (Simcoe): The bird found by John Challis in his backyard along Green River Drive in Washago was seen by many observers again this week to at least March 9. GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (Toronto): The Scarborough Golden-crowned Sparrowfound by Karl Konze continued this week. GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (Waterloo): Georg Hentsch's bird at his feeders on Bannister Lake was enjoyed by many happy birders again this week. Harris's Sparrow (Hamilton): The Inksetter Rd bird continued this week. Harris's Sparrow (Prescott and Russell): The bird at 1696 Vankleek Hill Rd remained all week. The owner reports that "Birders welcome btwn 9am-noon in the front yard. The bird is very skittish and often hides in the spruce tree or birch before feeding on the ground with the juncos, etc. The feeder is visible from the street and front yard beside the driveway. High traffic county road, be safe." Report compiled by Mike Burrell from a variety of sources, primarily eBird; 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.
