Ontario Rare Bird Alert for the week starting February 26, 2021 Species mentioned (all caps indicate species on the OBRC review list): Ross's Goose (Hamilton, Norfolk) Greater White-fronted Goose (Essex, Norfolk) GREEN-WINGED TEAL (EURASIAN) (Toronto, York) King Eider (Bruce, Essex, Halton,Hamiton, Toronto) Harlequin Duck (Bruce, Durham, Middlesex, Toronto) Barrow's Goldeneye (Hastings, Leeds and Grenville, Ottawa, Peterborough) WILLOW PTARMIGAN (Cochrane) Purple Sandpiper (Durham) Black Vulture (Niagara, Prince Edward) Townsend's Solitaire (Muskoka) Lark Sparrow (Ottawa) Harris's Sparrow (Kawartha Lakes, Norfolk) SPOTTED TOWHEE (Middlesex) Yellow-headed Blackbird (Algoma) Western Meadowlark (Thunder Bay) Ross's Goose (Hamilton): The pair of juveniles continued at Bayfront Park. Ross's Goose (Norfolk): One bird was at Silver Lake in Port Dover on March 3. Greater White-fronted Goose (Essex): Two were at Hillman Marsh on February 27. Greater White-fronted Goose (Norfolk): Up to five birds were near Port Rowan February 26. GREEN-WINGED TEAL (EURASIAN): After not being reported for a month, the male was back at G. Ross Lord Park, Toronto February 28. GREEN-WINGED TEAL (EURASIAN): What is likely the Toronto bird was at Pomona Mills Park in Markham March 3 and 4. King Eider (Bruce): A female was at Baie du Dore February 28. King Eider (Essex): A female was seen at Point Pelee February 28. King Eider (Hamilton/Halton): A young male continued at the Burlington Ship Canal. Up to five birds were present off Stoney Creek. King Eider (Toronto): The female at Tommy Thompson Park continued this week. Harlequin Duck (Bruce): The male was back at Lions Head again this week, February 28. Harlequin Duck (Durham): The male that has been seen off and on this winter was off Thickson's Point February 28-March 3. Harlequin Duck (Middlesex): The young male continued near the North London Athletic fields. Harlequin Duck (Toronto): A female was photographed near Ontario Place February 26. Barrow's Goldeneye (Hastings): A non-breeding plumaged male was photographed at Weller's Bay February 28. Barrow's Goldeneye (Leeds and Grenville): Up to three birds were found near Prescott March 1. Barrow's Goldeneye (Ottawa): A male continued on the Rideau River in the vicinity of Strathcona Park. Barrow's Goldeneye (Peterborough): A female was seen and photographed by many observers south of Lakefield February 28 and March 1. WILLOW PTARMIGAN (Cochrane): Four birds were found near the end of the Detour Lake Mine Road, northeast of Cochrane (see https://ebird.org/checklist/S82400085) on February 26 and seen again later in the week. Note there is a mass irruption of this species in Quebec (see eBird map: https://ebird.org/canada/map/wilpta?neg=true&env.minX=-79.48422964978072&env.minY=43.775805989217645&env.maxX=-79.41281851696822&env.maxY=43.80114808819261&zh=true&gp=true&ev=Z&mr=1-12&bmo=1&emo=12&yr=cur&byr=2021&eyr=2021 ) Purple Sandpiper (Durham): One bird was at Thickson's Point February 28-March 4. Black Vulture (Niagara): Up to two birds were reported this week from Queenston. Black Vulture (Prince Edward): One bird continued in Picton this week. Townsend's Solitaire (Muskoka): The Huntsville bird was reported regularly this week along the Hunter's Bay Trail to at least March 4. Lark Sparrow (Ottawa): One bird is visiting feeders at 8735 McCaffrey Trail near Ashton. The homeowner (Brian Jeffery) is happy to share it with birders: park on the road and walk into his driveway. It comes with American Tree Sparrows to the wooden ramp at the back corner of the house where they put seed on the ground. Harris's Sparrow (Kawartha Lakes): The Charlore Park Drive bird was seen again this week. Harris's Sparrow (Norfolk): The Port Dover bird was reported again this week. SPOTTED TOWHEE (Middlesex): The London bird was seen regularly all week. The feeders are located on private property but can be viewed from a public path located at the end of Killarney Road East, past the roundabout. Walking south on the path, the feeders are between the second and third row of condos visible from the path. When not on the desk feeding, it goes under the spruce trees close to the feeders. Yellow-headed Blackbird (Algoma): The male between Iron Bridge and Thessalon continued this week.. Western Meadowlark (Thunder Bay): The Manitouwadge bird continued this week. Looks like we should get our first good push of early spring migrants this coming week! 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