Ontario Rare Bird Alert for the week of December 25, 2020 Species mentioned (all caps indicate species on the OBRC review list): Ross's Goose (Hamilton) Greater White-fronted Goose (Durham, Essex, Northumberland, Toronto) King Eider (Halton, Hamilton, Niagara, Toronto) Harlequin Duck (Algoma, Bruce, Peel, Simcoe) Barrow's Goldeneye (Grey, Ottawa) White-winged Dove (Simcoe) Purple Sandpiper (Essex, Toronto) SLATY-BACKED GULL (Simcoe, Toronto) Pacific Loon (Hamilton) Black Vulture (Niagara, Prince Edward) Gyrfalcon (Greater Sudbury) Grasshopper Sparrow (Norfolk) Harris's Sparrow (Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, Thunder Bay) Yellow-headed Blackbird (Algoma, Essex, Cochrane) Western Meadowlark (Thunder Bay) Ovenbird (Muskoka) Northern Parula (Halton) Summer Tanager (York) BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (Algoma) Ross's Goose (Hamilton): The continuing pair of young birds remained at Bayfront Park December 26-31. Greater White-fronted Goose (Durham): One bird was at Frenchman's Bay December 27-31. Greater White-fronted Goose (Essex): Up to five birds were in Kingsville (mostly Jack Miner's) December 27-31. Greater White-fronted Goose (Northumberland): Up to six birds were in Cobourg Harbour December 25-31. Greater White-fronted Goose (Toronto): One bird (quite likely the Frenchman's Bay bird) was at Rouge Beach Park December 29. King Eider (Halton/Hamilton): The female continued at the Burlington Ship Canal December 26-31. Another female continued in the Stoney Creek area around Sayer's Park and Grays Rd December 27-30. Another (or perhaps the same) female was at Fifty Point December 27. King Eider (Niagara): One female (possible the Fifty Point bird) was seen in Grimsby December 29. King Eider (Toronto): One female continued at Pipit Point, Tommy Thompson Park December 26. Harlequin Duck (Algoma): Two females remained off Whitefish Island December 26-31. Harlequin Duck (Bruce): An adult male was in Barrow's Bay December 29. Harlequin Duck (Peel): An adult male and female continued in Mississauga December 25-31. Harlequin Duck (Simcoe): The female continued around the City of Barrie marina December 25-31. Barrow's Goldeneye (Grey): An adult male continued off the Owen Sound waterfront December 25-30. Barrow's Goldeneye (Ottawa): Up to two birds were reported on the Rideau River in the vicinity of Strathcona Park December 27-31. White-winged Dove (Simcoe): The bird continued in Coldwater around 10 Harriet Street December 25-31. Purple Sandpiper (Essex): Up to two birds were at the east side of Hillman Marsh December 26-29. Purple Sandpiper (Toronto): Up to two birds were at Tommy Thompson Park December 26-31. SLATY-BACKED GULL (Simcoe): One bird was seen again in Oriollia December 28 and 31. SLATY-BACKED GULL (Toronto): The long-staying bird was seen several times this week (December 25-28), mostly at Sunnyside Beach. Pacific Loon (Hamilton): One bird was again reported from Hamilton Harbour, this time on December 27. Black Vulture (Niagara): Two birds were reported in Queenston December 27. Black Vulture (Prince Edward): The Bloomfield bird continued at the vulture roost there this week, reported December 27-31. Gyrfalcon (Greater Sudbury): One bird was reported in Sudbury December 26. Grasshopper Sparrow (Norfolk): One bird was photographed near Walsingham December 27. Harris's Sparrow (Kawartha Lakes): One bird is visiting feeders along Charlore Park Drive on Pigeon Lake with reports December 27-31. Harris's Sparrow (Northumberland): At least one bird remained from the Cobourg Christmas Bird Count and was reported December 28. Harris's Sparrow (Thunder Bay): One bird continues at feeders near Sistonens Corners. Yellow-headed Blackbird (Algoma): The male between Iron Bridge and Thessalon was photographed December 28. Yellow-headed Blackbird (Essex): At least one male is present in large mixed blackbird flocks near Hillman Marsh, with reports December 26 and 30. Western Meadowlark (Thunder Bay): The Manitouwadge bird continued this week December. Ovenbird (Muskoka): One bird was reported at Six Mile Lake December 26. Northern Parula (Halton): Up to two birds were again reported from Sedgewick Forest December 26-31. Summer Tanager (York): The Newmarket bird continued this week. 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