Ontario Rare Bird Alert for the week of November 13, 2020 Species mentioned (all caps indicates species on the OBRC review list): BEAN-GOOSE sp. (Ottawa, Prescott and Russell) BARNACLE GOOSE ( Ottawa, Prescott and Russell) King Eider (Hamilton, Toronto) Harlequin Duck (Algoma, Durham, Peel) Barrow's Goldeneye (Ottawa, Prince Edward, Toronto) Eared Grebe (Toronto) WESTERN GREBE (Lambton) Purple Sandpiper (Durham, Essex, Lambton, Niagara, Northumberland, Toronto) Red Phalarope (Durham) Pacific Loon (Nipissing, Simcoe) Cattle Egret (Durham) VARIEGATED FLYCATCHER (Durham) White-eyed Vireo (Toronto) GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH (Thunder Bay) SMITH'S LONGSPUR (Cochrane) GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE (Middlesex) SPOTTED TOWHEE (Simcoe) BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER (Toronto) BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (Algoma) BEAN-GOOSE sp. (Ottawa, Prescott and Russell): The Bean-goose continued east of Ottawa all week, becoming more predictable. It has been seen daily roosting on the Nolan Quarry pond in Clarence-Rockland but leaves to feed for part of the morning and afternoon. It has been seen feeding along Dunning Road and Birchgrove Road both to the northwest of the quarry. The identification to species is still being debated and anyone with good photos is urged to send them to the OBRC (obrcsecretary@gmail.com) which will be systematically contacting experts. Public opinion seems to have shifted towards Tundra Bean-Goose and those records (along with Tundra/Taiga) in eBird are being confirmed for now as a preliminary measure, but a final decision will not be made until the OBRC comes to a decision on how to treat this exciting record. Please feel free to submit to eBird however you see fit (Tundra, Taiga, or Tundra/Taiga) and records will be sorted out in due time. BARNACLE GOOSE (Ottawa, Prescott and Russell): Somewhat overshadowed by the Bean-goose, to add to the goose madness this week the Barnacle Goose was seen daily in the same locations as the Bean-goose. King Eider (Hamilton): Up to three King Eiders were reported off Stoney Creek November 14 from Fruitland and Dewitt Rds King Eider (Toronto): A female was off Tommy Thompson Park November 13-19. Harlequin Duck (Algoma): At least one bird continued off Whitefish Island in Sault Ste. Marie November 14. Harlequin Duck (Durham): An adult male was off Thickson Point November 19. Harlequin Duck (Peel): An adult male was in Mississauga off RK McMillan and Lakefront Promenade Parks November 14-17. Barrow's Goldeneye (Ottawa): An adult male continued on the Rideau River in the vicinity of Strathcona Park November 15-19. Barrow's Goldeneye (Prince Edward): An adult male was with a large flock of Common Goldeneye off the north side of Big Island November 14. Barrow's Goldeneye (Toronto): An adult male continued at Tommy Thompson Park November 13-19. Eared Grebe (Toronto): One bird was at Colonel Sam Smith Park November 16-18. WESTERN GREBE (Lambton): One bird was in the vicinity of Kettle Point November 14-18. Purple Sandpiper (Durham): Up to three birds were at Thickson's Point November 13-19. Purple Sandpiper (Essex): Two birds were at the tip of Point Pelee November 14. Purple Sandpiper (Lambton): One bird was at Kettle Point November 16. Purple Sandpiper (Niagara): One bird was at Morgan's Point November 13. Purple Sandpiper (Northumberland): Two birds were reported from Presqu'ile November 15 and a single was there November 19. Purple Sandpiper (Toronto): Up to two birds were at Tommy Thompson Park November 14-18 and two were reported at Colonel Sam Smith Park November 15. Red Phalarope (Durham): One bird was seen by many at Thickson's Point November 17; the same or a different individual was seen off Thickson's Woods briefly on November 19. Pacific Loon (Nipissing): One bird, the first for the park, was seen on Opeongo Lake, Algonquin Park on November 14. Pacific Loon (Simcoe): At least one bird continued off the Barrie waterfront November 14-19. Cattle Egret (Durham): Up to three birds were along County Road 12 north of Myrtle Station November 13-18 VARIEGATED FLYCATCHER (Durham): What will be just the second record for Ontario and the ninth for North America, if accepted was found November 13 in Brooklin, then subsequently seen by many (223 eBird reports) on November 16 and 17. Many observers searched for it on November 18 and 19 but it has not been refound. White-eyed Vireo (Toronto): The single bird continued at Colonel Sam Smith Park this week, with reports from November 13-15. GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH (Thunder Bay): One bird is coming to a feeder in Marathon November 16-19. SMITH'S LONGSPUR (Cochrane): One bird was reported at the Timmins Landfill on November 13 but has not been relocated. GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE (Middlesex): One bird was reported at Fanshawe Conservation Area but has not been relocated despite subsequent searches. SPOTTED TOWHEE (Simcoe): One bird was photographed at a Shortreed Court backyard in Barrie November 17. BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER (Toronto): A young male was seen at Woodbine Park by many observers November 19; there are reports that it may have been first found a day or two earlier. On November 19 it was sticking to a large willow in the southeast corner of the park. 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