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