Ontario Rare Bird Alert for the week starting January 8, 2021 Species mentioned (all caps indicate species on the OBRC review list): Ross's Goose (Chatham-Kent, Frontenac, Hamilton, Prince Edward) Greater White-fronted Goose (Durham, Northumberland) GREEN-WINGED TEAL (EURASIAN) (Toronto) King Eider (Halton, Hamilton) Harlequin Duck (Algoma, Bruce, Middlesex, Peel) Barrow's Goldeneye (Durham, Ottawa) White-winged Dove (Simcoe) Purple Sandpiper (Essex) SLATY-BACKED GULL (Peterborough) Pacific Loon (Hamilton) American White Pelican (Norfolk) Great Egret (Chatham-Kent, Lambton) Black Vulture (Niagara, Prince Edward) Gyrfalcon (Algoma, Bruce) Black-billed Magpie (ALGOMA) Townsend's Solitaire (Muskoka) Swainson's Thrush (Toronto) Harris's Sparrow (Kawartha Lakes, Thunder Bay) Yellow-headed Blackbird (Algoma) Western Meadowlark (Thunder Bay) Ovenbird (Ottawa) Summer Tanager (York) BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (Algoma) Ross's Goose (Chatham-Kent): One bird continued at Ridgetown Sewage Lagoons to at least January 11. Ross's Goose (Frontenac): One bird was on Howe Island January 10. Ross's Goose (Hamilton): The pair of juveniles continued at Bayfront Park. Ross's Goose (Prince Edward): One bird was near Cressy January 9. Greater White-fronted Goose (Durham): One bird was seen again this week at Whitby harbour January 10 and one bird was reported near Claremont January 13. Greater White-fronted Goose (Northumberland): The five birds continued at Cobourg harbour to at least January 8. GREEN-WINGED TEAL (EURASIAN) (Toronto): The adult male continued to be seen at G. Ross Lord Park. King Eider (Halton): A female was off the Suncor Pier in Oakville January 10. King Eider (Hamilton): A female continued at the Burlington Ship Canal and up to eight were off the Stoney Creek waterfront. Harlequin Duck (Algoma): Two females remained off Whitefish Island this week. Harlequin Duck (Bruce): The adult male continued off Lions Head January 8. Harlequin Duck (Middlesex): A young male was present January 12-14 near the North London Athletic fields. Harlequin Duck (Peel): The adult male and female continued in Mississauga. Barrow's Goldeneye (Durham): An adult male continued off Whitby. Barrow's Goldeneye (Ottawa): A male continued on the Rideau River in the vicinity of Strathcona Park. Barrow's Goldeneye (Toronto): White-winged Dove (Simcoe): The bird continued in Coldwater around 10 Harriet Street. Purple Sandpiper (Essex): The two birds at the east side of Hillman Marsh continued to at least January 12. SLATY-BACKED GULL (Peterborough): An adult was present on Little Lake January 9. Pacific Loon (Hamilton): The Hamilton Harbour bird was reported to at least January 10. American White Pelican (Norfolk): The single bird continued around Long Point, seen off the causeway January 9. Great Egret (Chatham-Kent): Up to two birds remained around Lighthouse Cove to at least January 10. Great Egret (Lambton): A single bird was at Cathcart Park in Sombra January 12 and 13. Black Vulture (Niagara): Up to two birds were reported this week from Queenston. Black Vulture (Prince Edward): What was likely the Bloomfield bird was seen at Sandbanks Provincial Park January 8. Gyrfalcon (Algoma): One bird was seen in Sault Ste Marie January 13. Gyrfalcon (Bruce): One bird was seen near Tiverton and another near Ferndale this week. Black-billed Magpie (ALGOMA): The Echo Lake bird, now into its sixth year, was reported again this week. Townsend's Solitaire (Muskoka): What was likely the same bird as seen briefly in the fall was seen in Huntsville on January 9. Swainson's Thrush (Toronto): The Humber Bay Park East bird was reported again this week. Harris's Sparrow (Kawartha Lakes): The bird on Charlore Park Drive on Pigeon Lake was reported again this week. Harris's Sparrow (Thunder Bay): One bird continues at feeders near Sistonens Corners. Yellow-headed Blackbird (Algoma): The male between Iron Bridge and Thessalon continued this week.. Western Meadowlark (Thunder Bay): The Manitouwadge bird continued this week. . Ovenbird (Ottawa): A single bird was seen several times this week at Britannia Conservation Area. Summer Tanager (York): The Newmarket bird continued this week. Note: the homeowners have asked that people do not post the location of this bird publicly. BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (Algoma): The Sawpit Bay bird continued this week. However, the homeowners have made the difficult decision, for public health reasons to limit access to local birders only. Please respect these wishes. Report compiled by Mike Burrell from a variety of sources, most of which are listed here: http://ofo.ca/site/content/ontario-hotlines-and-news