Ontario Rare Bird Alert for the week starting January 7, 2022 Species mentioned (all caps indicate species on the OBRC review list): BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK (Niagara) Blue-winged Teal (Lambton) TUFTED DUCK (Durham) King Eider (Toronto) Harlequin Duck (Durham, Halton, Lambton, THUNDER BAY, Toronto) Barrow's Goldeneye (Durham, Grey, Leeds and Grenville, Niagara, Ottawa) RAZORBILL (Niagara) GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL (Brant, Hamilton) Black Vulture (Niagara) Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Halton) Carolina Wren (Thunder Bay) MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD (Wellington) Varied Thrush (Timiskaming) Gray-cheeked Thrush (Toronto) GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (Toronto, Waterloo) Harris's Sparrow (Hamilton, Prescott and Russell) Nelson's Sparrow (Chatham-Kent) Baltimore Oriole (Toronto) BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER (Durham) Details: I have tried to indicate the finder, where known. My apologies to those who I have left out. BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK (Niagara): The long-staying bird remained at Dufferin Islands to at least January 13. Blue-winged Teal (Lambton): Mike Bouman photographed a female at Stoke's Point on January 13. TUFTED DUCK (Durham): A male was discovered January 6 at Frenchman's Bay was seen again on January 7. King Eider (Toronto): Eric Baldo photographed two young males off Pipit Point in Tommy Thompson Park January 12. Harlequin Duck (Durham): The male was again off Thickson's Point, reported to at least January 8. Harlequin Duck (Halton): The male found last week by Mark Jennings off Suncor Pier in Oakville continued to January 13. Harlequin Duck (Lambton): The female-type bird continued off the Point Edward area to at least January 8. Harlequin Duck (THUNDER BAY): Two males were found in the river mouth at Terrace Bay January 8 and 9, found by Pegg and Mark Campbell. Harlequin Duck (Toronto): A male continued at Marilyn Bell Park to at least January 7, a female-type bird continued off Ashbridges Bay to at least January 12. Barrow's Goldeneye (Durham): A male continued off Whitby, mostly around Lynde Creek/Lynde Shores CA and the Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences. Barrow's Goldeneye (Grey): The Owen Sound Harbour bird continued. Barrow's Goldeneye (Leeds and Grenville): Bruce Di Labio found two males around the Johnstown waterfront January 10 and they were both reported there again January 13. Barrow's Goldeneye (Ottawa): Up to two males continued from the Strathcona Park area this week. RAZORBILL (Niagara): Up to three birds were seen at once again this week, off Niagara-on-the-Lake. GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL (Brant): The Barrie bird appears to have taken up residence in Brantford; it was first found on January 7 by Sarah Lamond and Kathleen Gardiner at the Grand River from Scarfe Ave and has been reported there again most days since. GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL (Hamilton): Bob Curry reported the Barrie bird at Bayfront Park at the end of the day on January 7. Black Vulture (Niagara): Up to 4 birds were reported from Queenston this week. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Halton): One bird remained at Sedgewick Forest Park to at least January 13. Carolina Wren (Thunder Bay): One bird is coming to a feeder in Shuniah (has been present since the fall). MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD (Wellington): The bird found two weeks ago remained at the Powerline Trail to January 13. Varied Thrush (Timiskaming): One bird is visiting a feeder in Elk Lake. Gray-cheeked Thrush (Toronto): One bird was found earlier in the winter but just identified this week. It is present at Ashbridges Bay Park and was seen and photographed by many to January 13. GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (Toronto): The Scarborough Golden-crowned Sparrow found by Karl Konze continued this week. GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (Waterloo): Georg Hentsch found one bird at his feeders on Bannister Lake January 7 and it continued all week and enjoyed by many. Harris's Sparrow (Hamilton): The Inksetter Rd bird continued this week. Harris's Sparrow (Prescott and Russell): One bird was found by the homeowner at 1696 Vankleek Hill Rd on January 7 and 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." Nelson's Sparrow (Chatham-Kent): The Keith McLean CA bird was seen again January 7 and 9. Baltimore Oriole (Toronto): A female is visiting a feeder at a private residence in Etobicoke and photographed January 11. BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER (Durham): On January 4, Jason Milson rediscovered the bird originaly found November 30 at Frenchman's Bay. It remained to at least January 9. 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