Ontario Rare Bird Alert for the week starting January 6, 2023 Species mentioned (all caps indicate species on the OBRC review list): Blue-winged Teal (Simcoe) King Eider (Niagara/Hamilton) Harlequin Duck (Hamilton, Ottawa, Toronto, Niagara, Durham, Bruce) Barrow's Goldeneye (Grey, Ottawa, Durham, Algoma) Purple Sandpiper (Toronto) Black-legged Kittiwake (Lambton) GREAT CORMORANT (Hamilton) Black Vulture (Niagara) Boreal Chickadee (Essex) Townsend's Solitaire (Durham) Harris's Sparrow (Lambton) LeConte's Sparrow (Peel) SPOTTED TOWHEE (Algoma)
Details: I have tried to indicate the finder, where known. My apologies tothose who I have left out. You can help me by giving the finder's name(s), if known, in your eBird checklists. Blue-winged Teal (Simcoe): The long-staying bird at Collingwood Harbour remained to at least January 10. King Eider (Hamilton/Niagara): The female type bird found by Cody Bassindale and Liam Thorne on January 1 continued this week to at leastJanuary 10. Harlequin Duck (many): There were at least seven different birds reported this week across the province, from Hamilton, Ottawa, Toronto, Niagara, Durham, and Bruce. Barrow's Goldeneye (Algoma): Alexander and Stan Phippen photographed a female at Whitefish Island on January 8. Barrow's Goldeneye (Durham): The bird off Whitby was seen again this week from various locations around Lynde Creek to at least January 10. Barrow's Goldeneye (Grey): Presumably the same male found November 3 by William Gray remained to at least January 112 around Owen Sound. Barrow's Goldeneye (Ottawa): The continuing two from the Rideau River near Strathcona Park/the Rideau Tennis Club remained this week. Purple Sandpiper (Toronto): The bird found by Owen Strickland at Peninsula B of Tommy Thompson Park on January 3 remained to at least January 9. Black-legged Kittiwake (Lambton): James Holdsworth photographed an adult and also reported a young bird past Ipperwash Beach on January 7. GREAT CORMORANT (Hamilton): The bird found by Alvan Buckley on December 20 was reported again this week from Van Wagner's Beach pretty much daily, plus one report from Bayfront Park on January 8. Black Vulture (Niagara): Up to five birds were reported this week from Queenston. Boreal Chickadee (Essex): The bird found by Cameron Chevalier and Michael and Steve McAllister at Holiday Beach on December 27 continued to be seen this week, to at least January 11. Townsend's Solitaire (Durham): The bird found by Charmaine Anderson on Brock Road north of Wilfrid on December 8 continued this week, seen by many to at least January 11. 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 January 12. LeConte's Sparrow (Peel): The bird found by Peter L in Mississauga near Wood Creek Park on December 5 continued to be seen by many to at least January 8. SPOTTED TOWHEE (Algoma): The bird found by Tony Ward visiting their property in Thessalon on November 18 remained to at least January 12. 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.
