Ontario Rare Bird Alert for the week of December 4, 2020 Species mentioned (all caps indicate species on the OBRC review list): Ross's Goose (Chatham-Kent, Hamilton) King Eider (Hamilton, Toronto) Harlequin Duck (Algoma, Bruce, Durham, Peel, Simcoe) Barrow's Goldeneye (Durham, Grey, Ottawa, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry) Eared Grebe (Lennox and Addington) White-winged Dove (Simcoe) Purple Sandpiper (Toronto) Laughing Gull (Toronto) SLATY-BACKED GULL (Muskoka, Peel, Simcoe) Pacific Loon (Hamilton) Least Bittern (Norfolk) Black Vulture (Niagara) Gyrfalcon (Ottawa) White-eyed Vireo (Toronto) Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Chatham-Kent) Swainson's Thrush (Toronto) Harris's Sparrow (Norfolk, Thunder Bay) Yellow-breasted Chat (Toronto) Yellow-headed Blackbird (Algoma, Essex) Western Meadowlark (Thunder Bay) Northern Parula (Halton) Bay-breasted Warbler (Peel) Wilson's Warbler (Halton) Summer Tanager (York) Indigo Bunting (Bruce) Ross's Goose (Chatham-Kent): The adult continued at the Ridgetown Sewage Lagoons December 5-8. A juvenile was just south of Blenheim December 9. Ross's Goose (Hamilton): The continuing pair of young birds remained at Bayfront Park December 4-10. King Eider (Hamilton): A female and a young male were off Stoney Creek at Fruitland Rd December 4-6. King Eider (Toronto): Two females remained off Pipit Point, Tommy Thompson Park December 5-6. One bird was reported at Tommy Thompson Park December 9. Harlequin Duck (Algoma): Two females continued off Whitefish Island December 4-7. Harlequin Duck (Bruce): An adult male was off Lions Head December 4-10. Harlequin Duck (Durham): An adult male was off Waterfront Lakeside Park, Ajax December 10. Harlequin Duck (Peel): An adult male and a female continued together in Mississauga December 4-8, mostly off RK McMillan Park. Harlequin Duck (Simcoe): The female continued around the City of Barrie marina December 5-10. Barrow's Goldeneye (Durham): An adult male was off Ajax December 8 and 10. Barrow's Goldeneye (Grey): An adult male was in Owen Sound harbour December 6-10. Barrow's Goldeneye (Ottawa): An adult male continued on the Rideau River in the vicinity of Strathcona Park December 5-8. Barrow's Goldeneye (Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry): Three males were between Ingleside and Long Sault on December 8. Eared Grebe (Lennox and Addington): One bird was off Amherst Island December 6. White-winged Dove (Simcoe): One bird was present in Coldwater around 10 Harriet Street December 4-10. Purple Sandpiper (Toronto): One bird was at Tommy Thompson Park December 5. Laughing Gull (Toronto): A young bird was photographed at Sunnyside Beach December 5. SLATY-BACKED GULL (Muskoka): One adult, at an undisclosed location and present since at least the week prior was last reported December 4. SLATY-BACKED GULL (Peel): The long-staying adult was reported December 6 in Port Credit SLATY-BACKED GULL (Simcoe): An adult was photographed in Barrie on December 5. This appears likely to be the same individual from Muskoka. Pacific Loon (Hamilton): At least one bird was reported in Hamilton Harbour December 5. Least Bittern (Norfolk): What was likely a different bird from the one reported last week was seen nearby in a closed area near Long Point Provincial Park December 8. Black Vulture (Niagara): Up to three birds were reported from Queenston December 5-10. Gyrfalcon (Ottawa): A gray morph was seen north of Richmond December 10. White-eyed Vireo (Toronto): The continuing bird at Colonel Sam Smith Park was reported December 5-9. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Chatham-Kent): One bird was photographed at Rondeau Provincial Park December 4. Swainson's Thrush (Toronto): The Humber Bay East bird was reported December 4-8. Harris's Sparrow (Norfolk): One bird was photographed at a Port Dover area feeder December 4. There is no access available for birders at this time. Harris's Sparrow (Thunder Bay): One bird continues at feeders near Sistonens Corners. Yellow-breasted Chat (Toronto): One bird was reported in the Don Valley south of Lawrence December 8. Yellow-headed Blackbird (Algoma): The male between Iron Bridge and Thessalon continued December 5-10. Yellow-headed Blackbird (Essex): A female type bird was in a large blackbird flock in the Onion Fields December 5. Western Meadowlark (Thunder Bay): The Manitouwadge bird continued December 7-8. Northern Parula (Halton): Two birds continued at Sedgewick Forest, at least to December 8 with one reported there December 10. Bay-breasted Warbler (Peel): The Mississauga bird continued at least to December 5. Wilson's Warbler (Halton): One bird was at Shell Park December 4. Summer Tanager (York): One bird continued at feeders in Newmarket, reported at least to December 6. Indigo Bunting (Bruce): One bird was photographed at Miller Lake December 6. 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