Ontario Rare Bird Alert for the week starting April 14, 2023 Species mentioned (all caps indicate species on the OBRC review list): CINNAMON TEAL x Northern Shoveler (hybrid) (Huron) Eurasian Wigeon (Thunder Bay, Durham) TUFTED DUCK x scaup sp. (hybrid) (Toronto) Barrow's Goldeneye (Ottawa) Eared Grebe (Middlesex) BLACK-NECKED STILT (Middlesex) American Avocet (Halton, Niagara, Essex, Hamilton) Ruff (Norfolk) Willet (Parry Sound) NEOTROPIC CORMORANT (Frontenac) Snowy Egret (Hamilton) LITTLE BLUE HERON (Bruce) Black Vulture (Simcoe, Niagara) Yellow-bellied x RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER (hybrid) (Middlesex) LEWIS'S WOODPECKER (Manitoulin) Black-billed Magpie (ELGIN, NORFOLK, HAMILTON) VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW (Simcoe) Varied Thrush (Thunder Bay) Smith's Longspur (MIDDLESEX) Worm-eating Warbler (Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry) 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. CINNAMON TEAL x Northern Shoveler (hybrid) (Huron): An OFO field trip found a male at Exeter Sewage Lagoons on April 16 that remained to at least April 20. Eurasian Wigeon (Durham): Eurasian Wigeon (Durham): The bird found by Mark Dorriesfield at Cranberry Marsh on April 4 continued to at least April 19. Eurasian Wigeon (Thunder Bay): Lisa Loiselle found a male off Boundary Road south of Thunder Bay on APril 18 that continued to at least April 20. TUFTED DUCK x scaup (hybrid) (Toronto): The male found by Makail Johannesson at Tommy Thompson Park on January 28 continued to at least April 20. Barrow's Goldeneye (Ottawa): One bird was reported this week from Andrew Haydon Park on April 17. Eared Grebe (Middlesex): The bird found by Estela Quintero-Weldon at Strathroy Sewage Lagoons on April 6 was seen by many to at least April 20. BLACK-NECKED STILT (Middlesex): One bird was found at Strathroy Sewage Lagoons on April 17 and was seen by many to at least April 20. American Avocet (Essex): Kory Renaud found a flock of 44 At Hillman Marsh on April 16. Another flock of 25 was reported there April 19 by Paul Pratt. American Avocet (Halton): Mark Jennings found one at Bronte Harbour on April 17. Another (or possibly the same) bird was at Canada Centre for Inland Waters on April 20. American Avocet (Hamilton): Kathleen Farley found two birds at Bayfront Park on April 18. American Avocet (Niagara): Bob Highcock and Jean Hampson found one at Port Weller east pier on April 18. Dan Pay found two birds at Jones Beach on April 19. Ruff (Norfolk): The bird found by Mike Poole at the Long Point causeway on April 10 continued to at least April 20. A second individual has also been periodically seen at the same location this week. Willet (Parry Sound): Craig Evans photographed one on Hwy 124 near Magnetewan on April 19. NEOTROPIC CORMORANT (Frontenac): Jon Ruddy photographed one at Doug Fluhrer Park in Kingston on April 19. Snowy Egret (Hamilton): Barry Cherriere found one at Windermere Basin that was seen by many on April 19. LITTLE BLUE HERON (Bruce): Evelyn Winter reported one from Isaac Lake on April 19. Black Vulture (Niagara): Up to six birds were reported this week from the Queenston area. Black Vulture (Simcoe): Jessica Brousseau photographed one over Barrie on April 16. Yellow-bellied x RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER (hybrid) (Middlesex): One bird was reported from Gibbon's Park in London. LEWIS'S WOODPECKER (Manitoulin): The bird discovered in early January by the homeowner, Phyllis Caccioti, near Billings continued this week. No public viewing opportunities are currently planned. Black-billed Magpie (ELGIN): Brendan Johnston photographed one on Thomson Line near West Lorne on April 18. Black-billed Magpie (HAMILTON): Paul Riss reported one in Dundas near Dundas Valley CA on APril 14. Black-billed Magpie (NORFOLK): Steve Wilcox found one near Gore Rd and 1st Concession west of Port Rowan on April 14 that was seen by many one day only. VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW (Simcoe): Willem Span photographed one bird over the Boyne St Stormwater Pond in New Tecumseth that was present April 16-17. Varied Thrush (Thunder Bay): Pegg and Mark Campbell photographed one in Terrace Bay on April 17. Smith's Longspur (MIDDLESEX): Estela Quintero-Weldon photographed one in a flock of Lapland Longspurs near Melbourn on April 16 that was seen again by a few others on April 17. Worm-eating Warbler (Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry): Brian Morin reported one in Cornwall on April 16. 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