Ontario Rare Bird Alert for the week of November 20, 2020 Species mentioned (all caps indicates species on the OBRC review list): BEAN-GOOSE sp. (Ottawa) BARNACLE GOOSE (Ottawa, Prescott and Russell) King Eider (Toronto) Harlequin Duck (Algoma, Durham, Peel, Simcoe) Barrow's Goldeneye (Ottawa, Prince Edward, Toronto) White-winged Dove (Lambton) Purple Sandpiper (Durham, Northumberland, Toronto) Red Phalarope (Grey) Black-legged Kittiwake (Niagara) MEW GULL (Brant, Hamilton, Niagara) SLATY-BACKED GULL (Toronto) Pacific Loon (Simcoe) Black Vulture (Niagara) Gyrfalcon (Bruce) White-eyed Vireo (Toronto) Warbling Vireo (Toronto) Varied Thrush (Thunder Bay) Swainson's Thrush (Toronto) GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH (Thunder Bay) Yellow-headed Blackbird (Algoma) Western Meadowlark (Thunder Bay) BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER (Toronto) Summer Tanager (Middlesex, Oxford) BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (Algoma) BEAN-GOOSE sp. (Ottawa): The Bean-goose became very unreliable after November 19, possibly having shifted it's water-roosting location to the Navan Quarry where it was seen on November 20 but which is off limits to birders. It was seen again on November 22 feeding off of Trim Rd. The covering of snow may have caused some of the geese in the area to move on but it could still be present. BARNACLE GOOSE (Prescott and Russell): One bird continued at the Nolan Quarry November 20-22. BARNACLE GOOSE (Ottawa): A different bird than above was at the Moodie Drive Quarry November 22. King Eider (Toronto): The female continued off Tommy Thompson Park November 20-21 and there were two females off Scarborough Heights Park on November 25. Harlequin Duck (Algoma): Two birds continued off Whitefish Island, reported NOvember 22 and 25. Harlequin Duck (Durham): A male continued off Thickson's Point November 21-23 and possibly the same bird was off Ajax Rotary Park November 24. Harlequin Duck (Peel): A pair were variously off RK MicMillan and Lakefront Promenade Parks in Mississauga November 20-26. Harlequin Duck (Simcoe): A female was at the City of Barrie Marina November 24-26. Barrow's Goldeneye (Ottawa): An adult male continued on the Rideau River in the vicinity of Strathcona Park November 20-24. Barrow's Goldeneye (Prince Edward): The adult male reported last week was again with a large flock of Common Goldeneye off the north side of Big Island November 25. Barrow's Goldeneye (Toronto): The male off Tommy Thompson Park was last reported November 20. White-winged Dove (Lambton): A bird was found November 23 along Shiloh Line east of Alvinston and seen again in the same general area November 26. Purple Sandpiper (Durham): There were two at Thickson's Point November 20 and then up to seven at Oshawa Second Marsh November 25-26. Purple Sandpiper (Northumberland): Presqu;'ile had at least one bird November 22 and at least four birds November 24. Purple Sandpiper (Toronto): One bird was reported at Colonel Sam Smith Park November 24 and another was reported at Tommy Thompson Park November 26. Red Phalarope (Grey): One bird was photographed at Wiarton Sewage Lagoons November 26. Black-legged Kittiwake (Niagara): One juvenile was seen at the Whirlpool November 24. MEW GULL (Brant): One adult was at Mowhawk Lake November 24-26, seen primarily in the afternoons. MEW GULL (Hamilton): One adult was photographed just before dusk at the Hamilton Yacht Club harbour November 26. MEW GULL (Niagara): An adult was photographed below the falls November 23 and 24. It's possible some of the different sightings within the province this week represent the same individual. SLATY-BACKED GULL (Toronto): The off again, on again adult bird was seen NOvember 22-23 at Sunnyside Beach. Pacific Loon (Simcoe): Up to two birds were off the Barrie waterfront November 20-26. Black Vulture (Niagara): Up to three birds were seen near Queenston November 20-21. Gyrfalcon (Bruce): A gray morph was seen November 24-26. White-eyed Vireo (Toronto): Presumably the same bird seen earlier this fall was seen again at Colonel Sam Smith Park NOvember 23-26. Warbling Vireo (Toronto): A very late bird was at Woodbine Park November 20-24. Varied Thrush (Thunder Bay): One bird in Dorion was seen November 21 and 24. Swainson's Thrush (Toronto): A very late bird was at Humber Bay Park East November 23-25. GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH (Thunder Bay): The bird in Marathon was last seen November 20. Yellow-headed Blackbird (Algoma): A male visited a feeder between Iron Bridge and Thessalon November 22-25. Western Meadowlark (Thunder Bay): One bird was reported in Manitouwadge November 26 but has apparently been present for some time. BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER (Toronto): This bird continued all week at Woodbine Park, seen daily November 20-26. Summer Tanager (Middlesex): One bird was photographed at a feeder in London November 22 and 23. Summer Tanager (Oxford): One bird was photographed at a feeder in Woodstock November 23. BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (Algoma): The Sawpit Bay bird continued this week, reported at least to November 22. 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