Ontario Rare Bird Alert for the week starting February 2, 2024 Species mentioned (all caps indicate species on the OBRC review list): Green-winged Teal (EURASIAN) (Hamilton) Willow Ptarmigan (COCHRANE) Eared Grebe (Grey, Toronto) Western Grebe (Halton) SLATY-BACKED GULL (Niagara) Pacific Loon (Halton) Townsend's Solitaire (Essex, Prince Edward) EURASIAN TREE SPARROW (Algoma, Prescott and Russell) Lark Sparrow (Frontenac) Western Meadowlark (Thunder Bay) WESTERN TANAGER (Ottawa) 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. Green-winged Teal (EURASIAN) (Hamilton): David Moffatt found a male at Windermere Basin on February 5 tha was seen by many to at least February 8. Willow Ptarmigan (COCHRANE): There were at least three birds reported at KM 170 of the Detour Lake Mine Rd on February 3, where Angie Williams and Isabel Apkarian found one on January 25. Eared Grebe (Grey): WIlliam Gray photographed one in Gravelly Bay north of Owen Sound on February 4 that continued to at least February 8, possibly the same bird found by Alvan Buckley January 5 in Meaford. Eared Grebe (Toronto): The bird at Colonel Sam Smith Park continued to at least February 4. Western Grebe (Hamilton/Halton): The bird found by Joanne Redwood off LaSalle Park on November 27 was reported again this week to at least February 3. SLATY-BACKED GULL (Niagara): Ryan Griffiths found an adult at Lock 7 in Thorold on February 4 that has been seen daily by many observers to at least February 8. Pacific Loon (Halton/Hamilton): The one found by Keith Dieroff at Yacht Club harbour on December 4 was reported JFebruary 5 and 7 off LaSalle Park. Townsend's Solitaire (Essex): Jim Burk photographed one on Shuster Trail in Point Pelee on February 3, possibly the bird found by Jeremy Bensette and Kate Derbyshire at DeLaurier in Point Pelee on November 19 Townsend's Solitaire (Prince Edward): The bird found by Paul Jones at Sandbanks PP on December 24 continued to be seen by many observers to at least February 8. EURASIAN TREE SPARROW (Algoma): The birds, first found by Trent Massey on Nov 9, 2023 in Thessalon but not reported since late November and then refound by Rob Routledge on January 27 continued this week with up to five individuals to at least February 2. EURASIAN TREE SPARROW (Prescott and Russell): One bird was found at feeders at 3267 Bouvier Rd near Bourget and is being seen regularly to at least February 4. For more details see https://ontbirds.ca/empathy/thread/VUIGEQTMROMPJJB2E4EOHEVDBAOOO6H5 Lark Sparrow (Frontenac): The bird was found near Lemoine Point in Kingston by Sharon David on January 15 continued and was seen by many to at least February 8. Western Meadowlark (Thunder Bay): One bird was present at Chippewa Lagoons February 4-6, presumably the bird Ted Armstrong and Allan Gilbert found nearby on the Thunder Bay CBC. WESTERN TANAGER (Ottawa): One bird was found November 27th but has become more reliable of late near Gillespie Park to at least February 8. Updated details are at: https://ontbirds.ca/empathy/thread/TWOIDOPFVSJQXRC6KD27UPOAIBWYH2OS 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