Ontario Rare Bird Alert for the week starting December 24, 2021 Species mentioned (all caps indicate species on the OBRC review list): BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK (Niagara) King Eider (Lambton, Niagara, Northumberland) Harlequin Duck (Durham, Halton, Lambton, Lennox and Addington, Simcoe, Toronto) Barrow's Goldeneye (Durham, Grey, Ottawa) Purple Sandpiper (Lambton, Northumberland, Peel) RAZORBILL (Niagara) Black-legged Kittiwake (Niagara) Pacific Loon (Grey) ARCTIC LOON (Algoma) Black Vulture (Niagara) PRAIRIE FALCON (Durham) Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Chatham-Kent) MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD (Wellington) Townsend's Solitaire (Bruce, Thunder Bay) Varied Thrush (Algoma, Timiskaming) Veery (Simcoe) GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (Toronto) Harris's Sparrow (Hamilton) Nelson's Sparrow (Chatham-Kent) Yellow-headed Blackbird (Lambton) 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 at least December 30. King Eider (Lambton): A female was found off Point Edward by Matt Parsons December 24 and remained until at least December 29. King Eider (Niagara): The second-year male remained off Niagara-on-the-Lake (mostly from Nelson Park and Queens Royal Park) to at least December 30. King Eider (Northumberland): A young male was found by Fred Helleiner off the Presqu'ile PP lighthouse December 25 and was seen by several observers to at least September 28. Harlequin Duck (Durham): The male was again off Thickson's Point, reported December 27-30. Harlequin Duck (Halton): A female was found by Mark Jennings December 30 at Burloak Park. Harlequin Duck (Lambton): The female-type bird continued off the Point Edward area to December 30. Harlequin Duck (Lennox and Addington): Bruce Ripley found a female off the south shore of Amherst Island (west of the Martin Edwards Reserve) December 24 and it was reported again December 25 and 26. Harlequin Duck (Simcoe): Robin Hood found and photographed a female-type bird at Collingwood Harbour on December 24 and the same bird was reported there again December 30. Harlequin Duck (Toronto): A male continued in the vicinity of Ontairo Place to at least December 29 and a female-type bird continued off the area near Ashbridges Bay/Tommy Thompson Park to at least December 28. Barrow's Goldeneye (Durham): A male continued off Whitby to at least December 30. Barrow's Goldeneye (Grey): The Owen Sound Harbour bird continued. Barrow's Goldeneye (Ottawa): Up to two males continued from the Strathcona Park area this week. Purple Sandpiper (Lambton): James Holdsworth found one bird at Ipperwash Beach on December 25. Purple Sandpiper (Northumberland): Derek and Karen Anderson found one bird at Owen Point, Presqu'ile PP December 26 and one was reported there again December 28 and 30. Purple Sandpiper (Peel): One bird was at Lakefront Promenade Park in Mississauga December 24-25. RAZORBILL (Niagara): Up to two birds were seen at once this week, off Niagara-on-the-Lake Black-legged Kittiwake (Niagara): Jean Farnham found a juvenile at the Whirlpool December 27. Pacific Loon (Grey): David Turner reported one bird at Chistie Beach December 28. ARCTIC LOON (Algoma): A potential first provincial record was found by Barry Lyons off St. Joseph's Island December 26 and then refound by Kirk Zufelt December 28. Unfortunately the bird has not been seen since and the area where it was found has now iced over. Black Vulture (Niagara): Up to 4 birds were reported from Queenston this week. PRAIRIE FALCON (Durham): Dave and Mary Beth Worthington found and photographed one bird near Clarington December 28; it was seen again late in the day by several observers and then reported again the next morning but has not been seen since. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Chatham-Kent): The Rondeau PP bird was reported again this week on December 25 and 28. MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD (Wellington): The bird found last week during the Guelph CBC was seen again December 26 at the Ignatius Jesuit Centre and then relocated on the Powerline Trail December 29 where it was seen by many later that day and again on December 30. Townsend's Solitaire (Bruce): The Tobermory bird was seen again this week, with a report on December 28. Townsend's Solitaire (Thunder Bay): One bird continued at Mountain Rd, Thunder Bay and another was found by Lisa Loiselle on December 27 near Neebing. Varied Thrush (Algoma): One bird is visiting a feeder in Michipicoten River. Varied Thrush (Timiskaming): One bird (possibly tow?) is visiting a feeder in Elk Lake. Veery (Simcoe): Toby Rowland photographed one bird on the Uhthoff Trail in Waubashene on December 27. GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (Toronto): The Scarborough Golden-crowned Sparrow found by Karl Konze continued this week. Harris's Sparrow (Hamilton): The Inksetter Rd bird continued this week. Nelson's Sparrow (Chatham-Kent): The Keith McLean CA bird was seen again December 26 and 28. Yellow-headed Blackbird (Lambton): Jim Burk and Hemmo Luimes found an adult male on Walpole Island during the Wallaceburg CBC December 27. 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