Ontario Rare Bird Alert for the week of December 11, 2020 Species mentioned (all caps indicate species on the OBRC review list): Ross's Goose (Hamilton) Greater White-fronted Goose (Prince Edward, Toronto) Canvasback x Redhead (hybrid) (Hamilton) King Eider (Hamilton, Niagara, Toronto) Harlequin Duck (Algoma, Bruce, Peel, Simcoe) Barrow's Goldeneye (Durham, Grey, Ottawa, Renfrew, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry) Common Goldeneye x Hooded Merganser (hybrid) (Grey, Hamilton, Simcoe) White-winged Dove (Simcoe) Purple Sandpiper (Toronto) Black-legged Kittiwake (Niagara) SLATY-BACKED GULL (Toronto) Pacific Loon (Hamilton) Least Bittern (Norfolk) Great Egret (Durham, Lambton) Black Vulture (Niagara) White-eyed Vireo (Toronto) Varied Thrush (Kenora) Swainson's Thrush (Toronto) Harris's Sparrow (Thunder Bay) SPOTTED TOWHEE (Algoma) Yellow-headed Blackbird (Algoma) Western Meadowlark (Thunder Bay) Northern Waterthrush (Chatham-Kent) Yellow Warbler (Grey) Black-throated Green Warbler (Bruce) Summer Tanager (York) BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (Algoma) Ross's Goose (Hamilton): The continuing pair of young birds remained at Bayfront Park December 11-17. Greater White-fronted Goose (Prince Edward): A single adult was photographed near Waupoos on December 14. Greater White-fronted Goose (Toronto): A single adult was photographed at Rouge Beach Park December 13. Canvasback x Redhead (hybrid) (Halton): An adult male was photographed off LaSalle Park December 15-17. King Eider (Hamilton): A female and a young male were reported together off Fruitland Rd in Stoney Creek December 11. King Eider (Niagara): A young male was off Fort Erie December 13. King Eider (Toronto): Two females were off Pipit Point, Tommy Thompson Park December 11 and a single was there December 13. Harlequin Duck (Algoma): At least one female remained off Whitefish Island December 13. Harlequin Duck (Bruce): The adult male was still of Lions Head December 17. Harlequin Duck (Peel): An adult male and female continued in Mississauga December 12-13, reported from Hiawatha Park (December 12) and RK McMillan Park (December 13). Harlequin Duck (Simcoe): The female continued around the City of Barrie marina December 11-14. Barrow's Goldeneye (Durham): An adult male was around Cranberry Marsh/Lynde Creek December 11-15. Barrow's Goldeneye (Grey): An adult male was at the Owen Sound waterfront December 11-16. Barrow's Goldeneye (Ottawa): Up to two birds continued on the Rideau River in the vicinity of Strathcona Park December 11-17. Barrow's Goldeneye (Renfrew): An adult male was at Lake Dore December 12. Barrow's Goldeneye (Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry): At least one male was seen near Long Sault December 13-16. Common Goldeneye x Hooded Merganser (hybrid) (Grey): A male was photographed at the Owen Sound waterfront December 11-15. Common Goldeneye x Hooded Merganser (hybrid) (Hamilton): A female was photographed at the Hamilton Yacht Club harbour December 15-16. Common Goldeneye x Hooded Merganser (hybrid) (Simcoe): A male was off Barrie at least December 14. White-winged Dove (Simcoe): The bird continued in Coldwater around 10 Harriet Street December 13-17. Purple Sandpiper (Toronto): One bird was at Colonel Sam Smith Park December 11. Black-legged Kittiwake (Niagara): One juvenile was photographed above Niagara Falls December 11. SLATY-BACKED GULL (Toronto): The long-staying bird was photographed December 11 at Sunnyside Beach. Pacific Loon (Hamilton): One bird remained off Bayfront Park December 11-13. Least Bittern (Norfolk): At least one bird was flushed during work in Big Creek Marsh December 16 and 17. Great Egret (Durham): One bird was photographed flying over Hall's Rd December 11. Great Egret (Lambton): One bird was photographed near Sombra December 16. Black Vulture (Niagara): Up to seven birds were reported from Queenston December 11-14. White-eyed Vireo (Toronto): The long-staying bird at Colonel Sam Smith Park was reported December 14. Varied Thrush (Kenora): One bird was reported December 17 at a feeder on Gullrock Lake and has reportedly been present for at least a week. Swainson's Thrush (Toronto): The Humber Bay Park east bird continued December 12-17. Harris's Sparrow (Thunder Bay): One bird continues at feeders near Sistonens Corners at least to December 13. SPOTTED TOWHEE (Algoma): A possible bird was reported in Sault Ste Marie December 12. Yellow-headed Blackbird (Algoma): The male between Iron Bridge and Thessalon continued December 11-15. Western Meadowlark (Thunder Bay): The Manitouwadge bird continued this week December 11-17. Northern Waterthrush (Chatham-Kent): One bird was found at McGeachy Pond CA December 13 and 15. Yellow Warbler (Grey): One bird was at the Owen Sound waterfront December 13-15. Black-throated Green Warbler (Bruce): One bird was photographed at a feeder in Kincardine December 15. Summer Tanager (York): The Newmarket bird continued this week, reported to at least December 16. BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (Algoma): The Sawpit Bay bird continued this week, reported at least to December 15. 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