Ontario Rare Bird Report

Ontario Rare Bird Alert for the week starting December 30, 2022

Species mentioned (all caps indicate species on the OBRC review list):
King Eider (Hamilton, Niagara)
Harlequin Duck (Durham, Grey, Halton, Hamilton, Niagara, Ottawa, Toronto)
Barrow’s Goldeneye (Durham, Frontenac, Grey, Ottawa)
Purple Sandpiper (Toronto)
RAZORBILL (Niagara)
Black-legged Kittiwake (Hamilton, Huron)
Laughing Gull (Ottawa)
GREAT CORMORANT (Hamilton)
Black Vulture (Niagara)
Boreal Chickadee (Essex)
MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD (Grey)
Townsend’s Solitaire (Durham, Kenora)
Harris’s Sparrow (Lambton)
LeConte’s Sparrow (Peel)
SPOTTED TOWHEE (Algoma)

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.

King Eider (Hamilton/Niagara): Cody Bassindale and Liam Thorne found a
female type bird at Fifty Point on January 1 that was present to at least
January 5.

Harlequin Duck (many): There were at least seven different birds reported
this week across the province, from Durham, Grey, Halton, Hamilton,
Niagara, Ottawa, and Toronto.

Barrow’s Goldeneye (Durham): The bird off Whitby was seen again this week
from various location around Lynde Creek to at least January 5.
Barrow’s Goldeneye (Frontenac): A female was reported from Cataraqui Bay on
January 4 by Mikaela Naumann
Barrow’s Goldeneye (Grey): Presumably the same male found November 3 by
William Gray remained to at least January 1 around Owen Sound.
Barrow’s Goldeneye (Ottawa): There were four birds reported this week, one
from Deschenes Rapids, one from Bate Island and the continuing two from the
Rideau River near Strathcona Park/the Rideau Tennis Club.

Purple Sandpiper (Toronto): Owen Strickland found one at Peninsula B of
Tommy Thompson Park on January 3 that remained to at least January 5.

RAZORBILL (Niagara): At least two of the birds found in early December off
Niagara-on-the-lake remained to at least December 30.

Black-legged Kittiwake (Hamilton): Markus Legzdins photographed one off Van
Wagner’s Beach on January 3.
Black-legged Kittiwake (Huron): The bird found by James and Simon Turland
on December 17 remained at Goderich harbour to at least January 4.

Laughing Gull (Ottawa): Mark Gawn found a young bird at Moodie Drive Quarry
on January 1 that was seen by many the same day but which has not been
subsequently refound.

GREAT CORMORANT (Hamilton): The bird found by Alvan Buckley on December 20
was reported again this week from Van Wagner’s Beach on December 31 and
January 5.

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 5.

MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD (Grey): The bird found by William Gray near Benallen on
December 12 was seen by many to at least January 1.

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 5.
Townsend’s Solitaire (Kenora): Merle Nisly photographed one in Red Lake on
January 2 that has apparently been present for at least a week.

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 5.

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 3.

SPOTTED TOWHEE (Algoma): The bird found by Tony Ward visiting their
property in Thessalon on November 18 remained to at least January 5.

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
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