Ontario Rare Bird Alert for the weeks starting January 19 and 26, 2024 Species mentioned (all caps indicate species on the OBRC review list): Willow Ptarmigan (COCHRANE) Eared Grebe (Toronto) Black-legged Kittiwake (Lambton) SLATY-BACKED GULL (Toronto) Pacific Loon (Halton) Great Egret (Norfolk) Black Vulture (Niagara) Black-billed Magpie (ALGOMA, MIDDLESEX) Townsend's Solitaire (Simcoe) Wood Thrush (Ottawa) EURASIAN TREE SPARROW (Algoma, Prescott and Russell) GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH (Kenora) Lark Sparrow (Frontenac, York) Harris's Sparrow (Thunder Bay, Waterloo) 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. Willow Ptarmigan (COCHRANE): Ken and Angie WIlliams photographed one in Smooth Rock Falls on January 24. Angie Williams and Isabel Apkarian photographed one at KM 170 of the Detour Lake Mine Rd on January 25. Eared Grebe (Toronto): After going unreported for nearly three weeks, one was back at Colonel Sam Smith Park January 25 to at least January 29. Black-legged Kittiwake (Lambton): Up to five (Jan 19) were reported off Sarnia during the period, with at least one remaining to at least January 28. SLATY-BACKED GULL (Toronto): An adult was found by Gis and Max Segler and Steven McClellan late on January 21 in the vicinity of Humber Bay Park east and Sunnyside Beach that was seen by several other observers the same day. Pacific Loon (Halton/Hamilton): The one found by Keith Dieroff at Yacht Club harbour on December 4 was reported January 26 off LaSalle Park on January 26. Great Egret (Norfolk): Denis Lepage reported one off Port Rowan on January 21. Black Vulture (Niagara): Up to four birds were reported this week from the Queenston area. Black-billed Magpie (ALGOMA): The long-staying bird at Echo Lake (since at least 2015!) was reported to at least January 23. Black-billed Magpie (MIDDLESEX): The bird found by Quinten Wiegersma at the Westminister landfill site on December 21 continued to at least January 27. Townsend's Solitaire (Simcoe): Will Short photographed one at Earl Rowe PP on January 31. Wood Thrush (Ottawa): The bird found by Francine Mercier at Champlain Park Woods on December 7 continued to at least January 19. EURASIAN TREE SPARROW (Algoma): The birds, first found by Trent Massey on Nov 9, 2023 in Thessalon but not reported since late November were refound by Rob Routledge on January 27 and at least four birds were there January 28 and three on January 29. 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 January 30. For more details see https://ontbirds.ca/empathy/thread/VUIGEQTMROMPJJB2E4EOHEVDBAOOO6H5 GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH (Kenora): Cory Jenkins and Steph Davis photographed one near Dryden on January 20. 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 1. Lark Sparrow (York): Lev Frid reported one at Kortright Conservation Centre property on January 31. Harris's Sparrow (Thunder Bay): Rob Swainson reported one continuing from the fall in Terrace Bay on January 27. Harris's Sparrow (Waterloo): One bird was found by Marion Mills Maier at their Reidsville property on January 19 and has been seen by many to at least 26. WESTERN TANAGER (Ottawa): One bird was found November 27th but has become more reliable of late near Gillespie Park to at least February 1. 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