Ontario Rare Bird Alert for the week of January 1, 2021 Species mentioned (all caps indicate species on the OBRC review list): Ross's Goose (Chatham-Kent, Frontenac, Hamilton, Niagara) Greater White-fronted Goose (Chatham-Kent, Durham, Essex, Northumberland) GREEN-WINGED TEAL (EURASIAN) (Toronto) King Eider (Halton, Hamilton, Niagara) Harlequin Duck (Algoma, Bruce, Durham, Peel, Simcoe) Barrow's Goldeneye (Durham, Grey, Ottawa) White-winged Dove (Simcoe) Purple Sandpiper (Essex, Toronto) CALIFORNIA GULL (Lambton) Pacific Loon (Hamilton) American White Pelican (Norfolk) Great Egret (Chatham-Kent, Essex) Black Vulture (Niagara, Prince Edward) Gyrfalcon (Bruce, Frontenac) Black-billed Magpie (ALGOMA) Swainson's Thrush (Toronto) Lark Sparrow (Algoma) GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (Kenora) Harris's Sparrow (Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, Thunder Bay) Yellow-breasted Chat (Toronto) Yellow-headed Blackbird (Algoma, Essex) Western Meadowlark (Thunder Bay) Northern Parula (Halton) Summer Tanager (York) BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (Algoma) Ross's Goose (Chatham-Kent): One bird was near Tilbury on January 1 and another was at Ridgetown Sewage Lagoons January 2-7. Ross's Goose (Frontenac): One bird was on Wolfe Island at least January 1-3. Ross's Goose (Hamilton): The pair of juveniles continued at Bayfront Park. Ross's Goose (Niagara): One bird was near Port Colborne on January 2. Greater White-fronted Goose (Chatham-Kent): One bird was at Mitchell's Bay January 7. Greater White-fronted Goose (Durham): One bird was at Whitby harbour January 7. Greater White-fronted Goose (Essex): Up to five birds were at Jack Miner's January 1-5. Greater White-fronted Goose (Northumberland): Up to five birds were at Cobourg Harbour January 1-5. GREEN-WINGED TEAL (EURASIAN) (Toronto): An adult male was found in December and reported this week from G. Ross Lord Park January 4-7. King Eider (Halton): A female was off the Suncor Pier in Oakville January 4. King Eider (Hamilton): A female was at the Burlington Ship Canal January 1, with up to four off Stoney Creek this week. King Eider (Niagara): A young male was in Grimsby January 3-5. Harlequin Duck (Algoma): Two females remained off Whitefish Island this week. Harlequin Duck (Bruce): The adult male continued off Lions Head January 5-6. Harlequin Duck (Durham): An adult male was off Whitby January 5. Harlequin Duck (Peel): The adult male and female continued in Mississauga. Harlequin Duck (Simcoe): The female remained at the City of Barrie marina at least to January 2. Barrow's Goldeneye (Durham): An adult male was off Whitby January 4-7. Barrow's Goldeneye (Grey): An adult male continued off the Owen Sound waterfront January 2. Barrow's Goldeneye (Ottawa): A male continued on the Rideau River in the vicinity of Strathcona Park. White-winged Dove (Simcoe): The bird continued in Coldwater around 10 Harriet Street. Purple Sandpiper (Essex): The two birds at the east side of Hillman Marsh continued to at least January 3. Purple Sandpiper (Toronto): One bird was at Tommy Thompson Park January 1-6. CALIFORNIA GULL (Lambton): One bird was reported from Corunna January 2. Pacific Loon (Hamilton): The Hamilton Harbour bird was reported daily this week. American White Pelican (Norfolk): The bird found on the Christmas Bird Count was reported off St. Williams January 1 and 2. Great Egret (Chatham-Kent.Essex): Up to three birds were reported this week around Lighthouse Cove January 2-7. Black Vulture (Niagara): Up to three birds were reported this week from Queenston. Black Vulture (Prince Edward): The Bloomfield bird remained at the Bloomfield vulture roost January 2. Gyrfalcon (Bruce): One bird was photographed near Tiverston January 4. Gyrfalcon (Frontenac): One bird was seen on Wolfe Island January 2 and 4. Black-billed Magpie (ALGOMA): The Echo Lake bird, now into its sixth year, was reported January 1 and 7. Swainson's Thrush (Toronto): The Humber Bay Park East bird was reported again this week, on January 2. Lark Sparrow (Algoma): A bird is visiting a private residence in the Goulasi River area and photographed January 7. GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (Kenora): A young bird is visiting a feeder in Sioux Lookout. Apparently it has been there since the fall. Harris's Sparrow (Kawartha Lakes): The bird reported last week from Charlore Park Drive on Pigeon Lake was reported this week on January 1. Harris's Sparrow (Northumberland): The bird near Cobourg remained this week but is not available to be visited. Harris's Sparrow (Thunder Bay): One bird continues at feeders near Sistonens Corners. Yellow-breasted Chat (Toronto): One bird was photographed in a backyard in the Beaches area. Yellow-headed Blackbird (Algoma): The male between Iron Bridge and Thessalon was reported January 1. Yellow-headed Blackbird (Essex): At least one male is present in large mixed blackbird flocks near Hillman Marsh, with reports January 1 and 4. Western Meadowlark (Thunder Bay): The Manitouwadge bird continued this week. . Northern Parula (Halton): Up to two birds were again reported from Sedgewick Forest January 1-6. Summer Tanager (York): The Newmarket bird continued this week. Note: the homeowners have asked that people do not post the location of this bird publicly. BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (Algoma): The Sawpit Bay bird continued this week. However, the homeowners have made the difficult decision, for public health reasons to limit access to local birders only. Please respect these wishes. Report compiled by Mike Burrell from a variety of sources, most of which are listed here: http://ofo.ca/site/content/ontario-hotlines-and-news