Ontario Rare Bird Alert for the week starting January 21, 2022 Species mentioned (all caps indicate species on the OBRC review list): BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK (Niagara) Harlequin Duck (Algoma) Harlequin Duck (Bruce) Harlequin Duck (Lambton) Harlequin Duck (Toronto) Barrow's Goldeneye (Grey) Barrow's Goldeneye (Lanark) Barrow's Goldeneye (Ottawa) RAZORBILL (Niagara) Black-legged Kittiwake (Niagara) SLATY-BACKED GULL (Niagara) Black Vulture (Niagara) Townsend's Solitaire (Thunder Bay) Varied Thrush (Thunder Bay) GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (Toronto) GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (Waterloo) Harris's Sparrow (Durham) Harris's Sparrow (Hamilton) Harris's Sparrow (Prescott and Russell) Yellow-headed Blackbird (Lambton) Western Meadowlark (Lennox and Addington) Indigo Bunting (Bruce) 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 January 26 when it was captured for treatment of some kind. Harlequin Duck (Algoma): The female off Whitefish Island, Sault Ste. Marie was reported January 21 by Barry Lyons and on January 23 by Stan and Alexander Phippen. Harlequin Duck (Bruce): Erik and Doug Van Den Kieboom found an adult male at Lions Head on January 23. Harlequin Duck (Lambton): Carshenan Lai reported a bird from Sarnia harbour on January 22, presumably the same bird seen at various places the last couple of weeks along the river. Harlequin Duck (Toronto): The continuing bird around Ontario Place/Marilyn Bell Park continued to at least January 26. Barrow's Goldeneye (Grey): The Owen Sound Harbour bird continued. Barrow's Goldeneye (Lanark): Iain Wilkes found a male at Centennial Park in Carleton Place on January 25 and it remained to at least January 27. Barrow's Goldeneye (Ottawa): One male continued from the Rideau River but was reported south of Hwy 417 this week from Brantwood Park. RAZORBILL (Niagara): Up to three birds were seen at once again this week, off Niagara-on-the-Lake. Black-legged Kittiwake (Niagara): Jake Nafziger photographed one bird from Fort George Park in Niagara-on-the-Lake on January 21. SLATY-BACKED GULL (Niagara): Ryan Grifiths found an adult on January 27 on the Welland Canal north of the Glendale Avenue bridge. Black Vulture (Niagara): Up to 13 birds were reported from Queenston this week. Townsend's Solitaire (Thunder Bay): One bird was reported again this week from Mountain Rd area of Thunder Bay. Varied Thrush (Thunder Bay): Brian Ratcliff reported that one bird is coming to a Thunder Bay area feeder, apparently since January 3 GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (Toronto): The Scarborough Golden-crowned Sparrow found by Karl Konze continued this week. GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (Waterloo): Georg Hentsch's bird at his feeders on Bannister Lake was enjoyed by many happy birders again this week. Harris's Sparrow (Durham): The bird in Uxbridge, first reported late last year was reported again this week. Harris's Sparrow (Hamilton): The Inksetter Rd bird continued this week. Harris's Sparrow (Prescott and Russell): The bird at 1696 Vankleek Hill Rd 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." Yellow-headed Blackbird (Lambton): Blake Mann photographed a male on January 21 at the Moore Wildlife Habitat Management Area. Western Meadowlark (Lennox and Addington): Bruce Ripley photographed one bird near Hay Bay on County Rd 9 south of Cuthill Rd on January 24 and it was subsequently seen by several people to at least January 26. Indigo Bunting (Bruce): The bird visiting feeders in Kincardine was reported again this week. 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