Ontario Rare Bird Alert for the week starting November 25, 2022 Species mentioned (all caps indicate species on the OBRC review list): Harlequin Duck (Algoma, Durham, Grey, Ottawa, Toronto) Barrow's Goldeneye (Durham, Grey, Niagara, Ottawa) Eared Grebe (Lambton, Northumberland) Purple Sandpiper (Durham, Northumberland, Toronto) Semipalmated Sandpiper (Chatham-Kent) Black-legged Kittiwake (Huron, Lambton, Niagara, Prince Edward) Pacific Loon (Lambton) Black Vulture (Niagara, Simcoe) Warbling Vireo (Toronto) MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD (Peterborough) Townsend's Solitaire (Peel) Varied Thrush (Kawartha Lakes) Harris's Sparrow (Lambton, Waterloo) LeConte's Sparrow (Lambton) SPOTTED TOWHEE (Algoma) Yellow-headed Blackbird (Essex) BULLOCK'S ORIOLE (Kenora) Dickcissel (Norfolk)
Details: I have tried to indicate the finder, where known. My apologies to those who I have left out. You can help me by giving the finder's name(s), if known, in your eBird checklists. Harlequin Duck (Algoma): The two birds at Whitefish Island/Sault Locks found November 15 continued to at least November 27. Harlequin Duck (Durham): The female-type bird found by Jim Mountjoy off Darlington PP on November 24 remained to at least November 26. Harlequin Duck (Grey): Lynne Richardson found a male off Thornbury November 26. Harlequin Duck (Ottawa): Clifford Rostek found a female-type bird by Island Park Drive on December 1 that was seen by many. Harlequin Duck (Toronto): The adult male continued around Ashbridge's Bay Park until at least November 29. Barrow's Goldeneye (Durham): The male off Whitby in the vicinity of Lynde Shores found November 13 continued to at least November 29. Barrow's Goldeneye (Grey): Presumably the same male found November 3 by William Gray remained to at least December 1 around Owen Sound. Barrow's Goldeneye (Niagara): Don Docherty reported a male at the control gates on November 27. Barrow's Goldeneye (Ottawa): The one near Strathcona Park/the Rideau Tennis Club found in early November continued to at least November 28. Eared Grebe (Lambton): The one found by James Holdsworth on October 31 off Port Franks was present again this week, to at least November 28. Eared Grebe (Northumberland): The bird found by Jon Ruddy off Gull Island on November 24 was reported again on November 27. Purple Sandpiper (Durham): Jakob Monroe found one at McLaughlin Bay on December 1 that was seen by several observers. Purple Sandpiper (Northumberland): Gordon Sheard photographed one on the south side of Gull Island on December 1. Purple Sandpiper (Toronto): Perhaps the bird Lowell Goudge photographed at Colonel Sam Smith Park on November 23, one was seen by many observers there November 25 and 26. Semipalmated Sandpiper (Chatham-Kent): Steve Charbonneau reported one from the Erieau Marsh Trail on December 1. Black-legged Kittiwake (Huron): The bird found November 23 at Goderich Harbour remained to at least November 25. Black-legged Kittiwake (Lambton): Singles were photographed at Point Edward on November 26 (Matt Parsons), November 30 (Deryl Nethercott), and December 1 (several observers). Black-legged Kittiwake (Niagara): A juvenal was seen by several observers this week around the falls, November 26-28. Black-legged Kittiwake (Prince Edward): Paul Jones photographed one off Prince Edward Point on November 27. Pacific Loon (Lambton): James Holdsworth reported one past Ipperwash Beach on November 30. Black Vulture (Niagara): Up to six birds were reported this week from Queenston. Black Vulture (Simcoe): Josiah Vandenberg reported one in Orillia on November 30. Warbling Vireo (Toronto): Laura Murray reported one at Ashbridge's Bay Park on December 1. MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD (Peterborough): Luke Berg found one north of Rice Lake on November 25 that has been seen by many, to at least December 1. Townsend's Solitaire (Peel): Freda Ann Tonya Looker reported one from THe Riverwood Conservancy in Mississauga on November 27. Varied Thrush (Kawartha Lakes): The bird found last week at Sir Sandford Fleming College in Lindsay on November 22 continued to be seen by many to at least November 27. Harris's Sparrow (Lambton): The bird found by James Holdsworth at the Willsie Pit on Bog Line between Thedford and Port Franks on November 18 has been seen by many to at least November 29. Harris's Sparrow (Waterloo): The bird found by Tim Kuntz on November 12 at the rare property in Cambridge, near the start of the Maple Lane/Grand Allee Trail by Whistle Bare Road remained to at least November 28. LeConte's Sparrow (Lambton): Deryl and Sharon Nethercott photographed one at Canatara Park on December 1. SPOTTED TOWHEE (Algoma): The bird found by Tony Ward visiting their property in Thessalon on November 18 remained to at least December 1. Yellow-headed Blackbird (Chatham-Kent): Geordie Ray photographed one in a mixed blackbird flock on Deer Run Rd north of Hillman Marsh on November 30. BULLOCK'S ORIOLE (Kenora): The bird found at a private residence in Dryden on November 24 continued to at least November 26. Dickcissel (Norfolk): One bird was at LPBO's Old Cut Field Station on November 26 and 27. 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 -- 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.
