Waterfowl through Shorebirds

There were three reports of Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks, a species that is becoming more regular in Ontario: on 5 Aug in Wasaga Beach, Simcoe Co (Anne Bodaly Guard), 16–29 Aug in Whitby, Durham RM (Christian Friis), and 8 Sep in Courtice, Durham RM (Linda Verhoog). A Pink-footed Goose was seen for several days from 6–10 Nov in Voyaguer Provinicial Park, Prescott and Russell Co (Jacques Bouvier). A single Barnacle Goose record was seen on 19 Oct in Navan, the City of Ottawa (Vincent Fyson). A few records of Mute Swan showed up in the north with a record on 21–25 Sep in Wawa, Algoma Dist (Ken Fulsang) and one on 1 Oct on Anders Lake, Thunder Bay Dist (Bonnie Portelance). An interesting Blue-winged Teal x Northern Shoveler (hybrid) was seen for quite some time from 15 Oct to 8 Nov in the City of Toronto (Makail Johannesson). Two records of Eurasian Wigeon were seen in the fall on 27 Oct in Ingleside, Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry Co (Jon P. Ruddy) and 17 Nov in St. Clair National Wildlife Area, Chatham-Kent Co (Allen Woodliffe). A “Eurasian” Green-winged Teal also stuck around for several days from 18–20 Nov in Vaughan, York RM (fide iNaturalist). A Canvasback was found outside of its regular migration route on 15–17 Sep in Cochrane, Cochrane Dist (Rhonda Donley). A Harlequin Duck was seen on 20 Oct in Thunder Cape, Thunder Bay Dist (m. ob.) and another one lingered from 15 Nov+  in Sault Ste. Marie, Algoma Dist (Euan Aitken). Rounding out the ducks are two records of Barrow’s Goldeneye, both which continued into Dec, with one seen on 3 Nov in Owen Sound, Grey Co (William Gray) and the other seen on 13 Nov in Whitby, Durham RM (m. ob).

Several Eared Grebes were discovered throughout the province, with records on 27 Oct–2 Nov in Belwood, Wellington Co (Dan J. MacNeal, Desmond J. MacNeal), 29 Oct in Rondeau Provincial Park, Chatham-Kent Co (Luke Raso, Keith J. Burk), 31 Oct in Port Franks, Lambton Co (James M. Holdsworth), 11 Nov lingering into Dec in Ipperwash, Lambton Co (Paul Pratt, Paula O’Rourke), and 24–27 Nov in Presqu’ile Provincial Park, Northumberland Co (Jon P. Ruddy). A Western Grebe was also seen for one day on 20 Oct in Orillia, Simcoe Co (Patrick Jackson). Moving away from waterfowl, a Eurasian Collared-Dove was found on 19 Aug in Simcoe, Norfolk Co (Mike Hallett). A White-winged Dove stayed for over two weeks from 5–21 Sep in Cavers, Thunder Bay Dist (Rob Swainson). The only notable hummingbird seen this fall was a Rufous/Allen’s Hummingbird that continued from 1 Oct until 18 Nov in Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay Dist (Nancy M. Harding). A late American Coot was discovered up north and seen on 13 Sep in Moosonee, Cochrane Dist (m. ob.). Two Purple Gallinule were recorded this fall, with one 3 Nov in Sarnia, Lambton Co (Deryl Nethercott) and an incredibly cooperative bird on 6–11 Nov in Oshawa, Durham RM (Tim Logan, Jeremy Logan). There was also a lone Yellow Rail seen on 19 Oct in the City of Toronto (Riley Walsh).

The breeding Black-necked Stilts continued from May and were last seen on 9 Aug in Strathroy, Middlesex Co (m. ob.). Several American Avocets were seen during their fall migration, with records on 4 Aug in the City of Hamilton (Barry Coombs), 9–11 Aug in Essex, Essex Co (Leon Barlow), 2–13 Sep in Blenheim, Chatham-Kent Co (Blake A. Mann), 4–17 Sep in Essex, Essex Co (Jeremy L. Hatt), 22 Sep in Erieau, Chatham-Kent Co (Stephen R. Charbonneau), and 6 Oct in Rondeau Provincial Park, Chatham-Kent Co (Stephen R. Charbonneau). Piping Plovers continued from Apr–9 Aug in Wasaga Beach, Simcoe Co (Jean-Sébastien Guénette), from Jun–6 Sep in the City of Toronto (m. ob.), and a migrating bird seen from 22 Sep–6 Oct in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Jason Fan). An early Hudsonian Godwit was seen on 2 Aug in Ingleside, Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry Co (Hans van der Zweep). Two Ruff were recorded in the fall period—21 Aug in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara RM (Ryan Griffiths), and another from 24–28 Sep in Pickering, Durham RM (Carolyn Sebestyen). A very late Sanderling was spotted on 26 Nov in Turkey Point, Norfolk Co (Mike Hallett). Another late shorebird, a Baird’s Sandpiper was seen on 14 Nov in Blenheim, Chatham-Kent Co (Stephen R. Charbonneau). A few Western Sandpipers were seen with records on 19 Aug in Port Colborne, Niagara RM (fide eBird), 19 Aug in Exeter, Huron Co (Kiah R. Jasper, Erik Van Den Kieboom), 17 Oct in Turkey Point, Norfolk Co (Ron Ridout), and a lingering bird seen from 26 Nov into Dec at Erieau, Chatham-Kent Co (Stephen R. Charbonneau, Blake A. Mann). A multitude of Red Phalaropes were noted throughout the province: 25 Sep in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (m. ob.), 26 Sep in Fort Erie, Niagara RM (m. ob.), 8 Oct in Port Bruce, Elgin Co (George Prieksaitis), 9 Oct in Inverhuron, Bruce Co (Bob Taylor, Anne-Marie Taylor), 23 Oct in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Michael McAllister, Steve McAllister), 23–25 Oct in the City of Hamilton (Rob Dobos), 31 Oct at Netitishi Point, Cochrane Dist (m. ob.), 15 Nov at Charwell Point, Prince Edward Co (Paul Jones), and 19–20 Nov in Oshawa, Durham RM (Jeremy Logan, Tim Logan). A notable Solitary Sandpiper (cinnamomea) was discovered on 12–13 Aug in Blenheim, Chatham-Kent Co (Brandon R. Holden). Finally, there were widespread reports of Willet through the fall, with reports from Lambton, Chatham-Kent, Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, and Elgin Cos, Thunder Bay and Cochrane Dists, Niagara RM, and the City of Hamilton.

Jaegers through Pelicans

Two more northerly Pomarine Jaegers were seen in the province this fall with one on 6 Nov in Red Bay, Bruce Co (Jarmo Jalava) and another on 12–13 Nov at Netitishi Point, Cochrane Dist (m. ob.). Razorbills were also seen, but not in the large numbers that appeared last year with records on 24 Oct in the City of Ottawa (m. ob.) and 30 Oct in Voyaguer Provincial Park, Prescott and Russell Co (Jacques Bouvier). Another alcid sp. was also seen on 15 Nov in Cobden, Renfrew Co (Jeff H. Skevington). A Black Guillemot was recorded on 31 Oct at Netitishi Point Cochrane Dist (m. ob.). Rounding out the alcids, was two reports of Atlantic Puffin from the City of Ottawa—24 Oct (m. ob.), and 9 Nov (Jacob Stasso). The species is extremely rare inland, with three other Ontario records pre-2000, all from eastern Ontario.

The fall saw widespread reports of Black-legged Kittiwake with Renfrew, Norfolk, Lambton, Prince Edward, Elgin, Huron, Simcoe, and Bruce Cos, Niagara and Waterloo RMs, the Cities of Toronto, Ottawa, and Hamilton, and Cochrane Dist all included. Two Sabine’s Gulls were also seen this fall in locations outside their usual range with one staying for longer than a week from 14–27 Sep in Lake Dore, Renfrew Co (Bruce M. Di Labio) and the other a one-day wonder 28 Sep in Barrie, Simcoe Co (Anthony Glenesk). A single Laughing Gull was observed on 7 Oct in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Michael McAllister). Rivaling the kittiwake encounters were many Franklin’s Gull reports throughout the fall, with records on 20–22 Aug in Kingsville, Essex Co (Jeremy L. Hatt), 27 Aug at Kettle Point, Lambton Co (James M. Holdsworth), 22 Sep in Ipperwash, Lambton Co (Bill Lindley), 21 Oct at Kettle Point, Lambton Co (James M. Holdsworth), 23–28 Oct at Port Stanley, Elgin Co (Nate Badger), 3 Nov at Pinery Provincial Park, Lambton Co (James M. Holdsworth), 4–6 Nov in Blenheim, Chatham-Kent Co (Blake A. Mann), 5 Nov in Exeter, Huron Co (Gis Segler), 6–7 Nov in Southampton, Bruce Co (Patricia Sein), and 19 Nov in Exeter, Huron Co (fide eBird). A Lesser Black-backed Gull made its way quite far north, being seen on 30 Oct at Netitishi Point, Cochrane Dist (m. ob.). An interesting Herring x Glaucous-winged Gull was seen on 8 Oct in Sault Ste. Marie, Algoma Dist (Kirk Zufelt). A number of tern species were found out of their normal fall ranges with a Least Tern being seen on 30 Aug at Kettle Point, Lambton Co (James M. Holdsworth). Several Arctic Terns made their way south, being seen on 9 Aug at West Mount Island, Manitoulin Dist (Peter Baker), 2 Sep at Rene Brunelle Provincial Park, Cochrane Dist (Tyler L. Hoar), and 4 Sept at Martin Lake, Manitoulin Dist (Nate Badger). Finally, a northerly Forster’s Tern was also seen on 30 Oct at Netitishi Point, Cochrane Dist (m. ob.).

Pacific Loons were again observed in the numbers expected in fall this past decade. The species was removed from the Ontario Bird Records Committee (OBRC) review list in 2015 for good reason, as this species is becoming more regular at specific locations. This seasons records were from 28 Sep–23 Nov in Barrie, Simcoe Co (Dave Szmyr), 7 Oct in Sarnia, Lambton Co (Joshua Bouman, Blake A. Mann), 18 Oct in South Lake Huron, Lambton Co (Brandon R. Holden), 28 Oct in the City of Hamilton (Kiah R. Jasper), 11–14 Nov in Rondeau Provincial Park, Chatham-Kent Co (Blake A. Mann, Stephen R. Charbonneau), 12–13 Nov in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Michael McAllister, Cameron Chevalier), 18 Nov in Inverhuron, Bruce Co (Bob Taylor, Anne-Marie Taylor), and 30 Nov in Ipperwash, Lambton Co (James M. Holdsworth). Two separate records of Wood Storks were found on the same day, with one record on 31 Aug at Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (m. ob.) and the other in Stratford, Perth Co (Martin Webster). A Magnificent Frigatebird was seen for two days on 8–9 Oct in Lighthouse Cove, Chatham-Kent Co/Essex Co (Shawn McLaughlin). Another rare bird with a couple unusual sightings was Northern Gannet which was seen on 23 Sep in the City of Hamilton (Mourad Jabra) and 6–8 Nov in Grimsby, Niagara RM and the City of Hamilton (m. ob.). A single Great Cormorant was seen on 23 Oct in Ajax, Durham RM (Simon Lu, Edmond Cheng, Elza Cheng). Neotropic Cormorants are becoming a more regular visitor to the province, with records continuing from July until 14 Sep in Kingston, Frontenac Co (m. ob.), 20 Aug–1 Oct in the City of Toronto (Patrick Scanlon), 19–22 Sep in the City of Hamilton (Richard Poort), and 7–11 Oct in Port Alma, Chatham-Kent Co (Brandon R. Holden). Finally, American White Pelicans were seen in several different counties outside their regular fall range, with records on 2 Aug in Guelph, Wellington Co (Randy Husson), 3 Aug–13 Sep in the City of Hamilton (Sarah Richer), 6 Sep in Tomiko Lake, Nipissing Dist (Corinne Fillion), 14 Sep in Wasi Lake, Nipissing Dist (fide iNaturalist), 23–24 Oct in Southampton, Bruce Co (Doug Pedwell), and 27 Oct in Port Alma, Chatham-Kent Co (Joshua Bouman, Brandon R. Holden).

Herons through Swallows

The only Little Blue Heron report of the fall was of three birds seen from 10–19 Aug on Pelee Island, Essex Co (Sumiko Onishi). As is typical for fall in Ontario, Cattle Egrets were widespread with reports from Chatham-Kent, Essex, Frontenac, Perth, Elgin, Norfolk, Northumberland, Oxford, Brant, Leeds and Grenville, and Lanark Cos, Thunder Bay, Algoma, Nipissing, Kenora, Manitoulin, and Cochrane Dists, the Cities of Hamilton and Toronto, and Niagara, Peel, and Durham RMs. A Black-crowned Night-Heron seen on 2 Sep in Wawa, Algoma Dist was unusually far north (Ken Fulsang). The continuing adult Yellow-crowned Night-Heron from July in the City of Hamilton was last reported on 12 Aug (m. ob.) while a long-staying juvenile was present 1 Sep–6 Oct in the City of Toronto (Marsha Duggan). There were some scattered reports of Glossy Ibis this fall: 27 Aug–2 Sep near Dryden’s Corner, Manitoulin Dist (Paul Frost), 15 Sep in St. Catharines, Niagara RM (Diana Werezak, Rick Werezak), 25 Sep at Shallow Lake, Grey Co (William Gray), and 25–30 Sep in Ajax, Durham RM (m. ob.). Additionally, unidentified Glossy/White-faced Ibises were seen on 29 Sep at Kettle Point, Lambton Co (James M. Holdsworth) and 10 Oct in the City of Toronto (Gavin Platt).

Black Vultures were widespread this fall with reports from Huron, Northumberland, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Elgin, Prince Edward, and Simcoe Cos, Muskoka DM, Halton and Niagara RMs, and the Cities of Toronto and Hamilton. Early Golden Eagles were reported 9 Aug in Whitby, Durham RM (Steve LaForest), 13 Aug in Scugog, Durham RM (Dave Worthington, Mary Beth Worthington), and 27 Aug in Bedford Mills, Frontenac Co (Linda Nuttall). A Mississippi Kite seen on 20 Aug near Bigwood, Sudbury Dist was an excellent find for northern Ontario (Rob Routledge). Several Swainson’s Hawks were seen on migration, but not unusually, none were present for more than a single day: 22 Sep in Presqu’ile Provincial Park, Northumberland Co (Jon P. Ruddy), 28 Sep in the City of Hamilton (m. ob.), 28 Sep in the City of Toronto (Kai Sheffield), 29 Sep near Port Stanley, Elgin Co (m. ob.), 27 Oct in Whitby, Durham RM (Glenn Coady), and 29 Oct near Port Stanley, Elgin Co (Tom Bolohan). A hybrid Red-shouldered x Red-tailed Hawk, possibly a returning bird, was photographed on 13 Nov in the City of Ottawa (fide eBird). A few American Three-toed Woodpeckers moved into the City of Ottawa, with one or two birds being seen on and off from 16 Oct into December (Gillian Wright) and another seen at a different location on 15 Nov (Erika Nissen).

Two Gray Flycatchers were reported, one on 29 Oct near Bowmanville, Durham RM (Jean Iron, Ron Pittaway) and another well-photographed bird on 24 Oct near Paris, Brant Co (Chris Sawyer); both these records have not yet been reviewed by the provincial records committee and are pending acceptance. A Say’s Phoebe was photographed on 4 Oct at an undisclosed location in Thunder Bay Dist (Steve Nash). It was an excellent fall for Tropical Kingbirds with three birds reported: 2 Oct in Richmond, City of Ottawa (Chris Allen), a very long staying bird from 10 Oct–17 Nov in Windsor, Essex Co (Eddie Beaubien), and 18–30 Oct in Pays Plat, Thunder Bay Dist (Allan Harris, Gord Smith, Jake O’Flaherty, and Brian Ratcliff). A Cassin’s Kingbird was photographed on 23 Oct in Rossport, Thunder Bay Dist (Gordon Smith), but was unfortunately never seen again. Several Western Kingbirds were reported this fall, primarily from Ontario’s northwest: 1 Sep in Rondeau Provincial Park, Chatham-Kent Co (Stephen R. Charbonneau, Reuven Martin), 3 Sep in Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay Dist (Allan Harris), 6 Oct at Thunder Cape, Thunder Bay Dist (m. ob.), 11 Oct at Long Point, Norfolk Co (Stuart A. Mackenzie), 12 Oct near Devlin, Rainy River Dist (Michael Dawber), and 14 Oct near Mt. Hope, City of Hamilton (George Naylor).

White-eyed Vireos were widespread with reports from Essex, Chatham-Kent, Norfolk, Wellington, and Bruce Cos, Muskoka DM, and the City of Toronto. A Yellow-throated Vireo photographed 3 Nov near Devlin, Rainy River Dist was exceptionally late for northern Ontario (Michael Dawber). A very late Warbling Vireo was seen from 29 Nov into December in the City of Toronto (Ana Santo, Julie Bowen). A Loggerhead Shrike seen on 1 Aug in Uxbridge was a notable find for Durham RM (Geoff Carpentier). The long-staying (spanning several years now) Black-billed Magpie was still present this fall in Echo Lake, Algoma Dist. The Fish Crows first seen in May in Kingston, Frontenac Co continued throughout the fall (m. ob.). A small irruption of Boreal Chickadees occurred this fall with a few birds seen well south of their typical range: 10 Oct in Barrie, Simcoe Co (Dave Szmyr), 27 Oct near Black Lake, Lanark Co (Anita Payne), 29–30 Oct in Barrie, Simcoe Co (Paula Sheppard), 1 Nov in Barrie, Simcoe Co (Toby Rowland), 1 Nov in Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park, Peterborough Co (Tim Arthur), and 2 Nov near Peterborough, Peterborough Co (Luke Berg). Strong southwest winds in the beginning of November brought several groups of Cave Swallows to Ontario: 5 Nov at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara RM (Daniel Gornall, Jennifer Evans), 5–6 Nov in Grimsby, on the border of the City of Hamilton and Niagara RM (Kiah R. Jasper, m. ob.), 7 Nov in Port Alma, Chatham-Kent Co (Joshua Bouman, Stephen R. Charbonneau), 7 Nov at Long Point, Norfolk Co (Sophie Jaquier), and 13–15 Nov in Erieau, Chatham-Kent Co (James T. Burk, Keith J. Burk).

Nuthatches through Buntings

A White-breasted Nuthatch coming to a feeder in Moosonee, Cochrane Dist on 14 Nov was an excellent record for the lowlands region (m. ob.). A Blue-gray Gnatcatcher seen on 22 Sep on McKellar Island, Thunder Bay Dist was rare for northern Ontario (McKellar Island Bird Observatory). A Mountain Bluebird found on 25 Nov near Baillieboro, Peterborough Co continued into December (Luke Berg). Reports of Townsend’s Solitaires were scattered throughout the province: 6 Oct near Red Lake, Kenora Dist (Brian Ratcliff), 10 Oct near Ipperwash, Lambton Co (Matt Parsons, Blake A. Mann), 12 Oct in Tobermory, Bruce Co (Stephane Menu), 29 Oct in Pinery Provincial Park, Lambton Co (m. ob.), 30–31 Oct in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Steve Pike), a window strike victim on 9 Nov in the City of Ottawa (Dahlia Ippolito), and 17 Nov near Barry’s Bay, Renfrew Co (Mike MacLeod). There were two Varied Thrushes seen this fall:  18–19 Nov at Panache Lake, Sudbury Dist (m. ob.) and 22–27 Nov in Lindsay, City of Kawartha Lakes (Shaun Rath). Individuals from the localised population of House Finches in Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay Dist were reported 29–30 Oct (Douglas Tate).

Grasshopper Sparrows seen on 26 Oct at Thunder Cape, Thunder Bay Dist (m. ob.) and 27–29 Oct in Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay Dist (Brian Ratcliff) were good finds for northern Ontario. A Field Sparrow present from 8–12 Oct at Thunder Cape, Thunder Bay Dist was also well north of their typical range (m. ob.). Away from northwestern Ontario, Harris’s Sparrows were reported 15–18 Sep in Iron Bridge, Algoma Dist (Conny Poeschl), 16 Oct in Leamington, Essex Co (Blake A. Mann), 12 Nov into December in Cambridge, Waterloo RM (Tim Kuntz), 18 Nov into Dec in Port Franks, Lambton Co (James M. Holdsworth), and 22 Nov in Owen Sound, Grey Co (Peter Baker).

Two hybrid Dark-eyed Junco x White-throated Sparrows were photographed this fall: 10–19 Oct in the City of Toronto (Gray Carlin) and 29 Oct in Pembroke, Renfrew Co (Jon P. Ruddy). A Henslow’s Sparrow was seen on 14 Aug at the known breeding location near Clearville, Chatham-Kent Co (Gis Segler). A Spotted Towhee, first seen on 18 Nov visiting a feeder in Thessalon, Algoma Dist, continued into December (Tony Ward). Reports of Yellow-breasted Chat were restricted to Ontario’s southwest this fall: 27–28 Aug in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Erik Sein, Tetyana Tymchyk), 7 Oct in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (m. ob.), 16 Oct in Rondeau Provincial Park, Chatham-Kent Co (Shane Smits), and 24 Oct at Long Point, Norfolk Co (Daniel Gornall).

Away from Lake St. Clair, Yellow-headed Blackbirds were seen 29 Aug near Mallorytown, Leeds and Grenville Co (James Thompson, Lana Marion), 4–6 Sep in Paris, Brant Co (Ellen Horak, Jerry Horak), 5 Sep in Dwight, Muskoka DM (Paul Madder), 6 Sep in Rydal Bank, Algoma Dist (Ron Johnston, Linda Johnston), 8 Sep in the City of Toronto (Gavin Platt), 9 Sep in Rondeau Provincial Park, Chatham-Kent Co (Ric McArthur), 10 Sep at Long Point, Norfolk Co (Mike Poole), and 30 Nov in Wheatley, Essex Co (Geordie Ray). The continuing Western Meadowlark from July at Carden Alvar, City of Kawartha Lakes was last reported on 1 Aug (Lucas Liu); additional out-of-range birds were seen 19 Oct near Miller Lake, Bruce Co (Zane Shantz) and 30 Oct in Red Lake, Kenora Dist (Merle Nisly). A Bullock’s Oriole was a great find coming to a feeder in Dryden, Kenora Dist from 24 Nov into December (Penny Ratuschniak).

A Prothonotary Warbler seen 20–21 Aug was a good record for the City of Toronto (Noam Markus, Gray Carlin, Makail Johannesson). An “Audubon’s” Yellow-rumped Warbler was seen on 17 Oct in the City of Toronto (Owen Strickland) and a hybrid “Audubon’s” x “Myrtle” Yellow-rumped Warbler was reported on 21 Oct in the City of Hamilton (Sterling Sztricsko). A Yellow-throated Warbler was seen briefly on 16 Oct in the City of Toronto (Sean Hurley). A Prairie Warbler was an excellent find on 29 Oct at Netitishi Point, Cochrane Dist on James Bay (Luke Berg). A Townsend’s Warbler was seen on-and-off from 16–31 Oct in Rondeau Provincial Park, Chatham-Kent Co (Ric McArthur, Anne McArthur) and another was photographed 29 Oct in Grimsby, Niagara RM (Rob Buchanan). All three Summer Tanagers seen this fall were only present a single day: 13 Oct at Holiday Beach, Essex Co (Noel Herdman), 18 Oct in Owen Sound, Grey Co (William Gray), and 4 Nov in Dorion, Thunder Bay Dist (Norma Maurice). Another great find for James Bay, an Indigo Bunting was seen 25–30 Oct at Netitishi Point, Cochrane Dist (m. ob.). Dickcissels were widespread with reports from Essex, Chatham-Kent, Lambton, Norfolk, Peterborough, Frontenac, and Wellington Cos, Peel,  Durham and Halton RMs, the Cities of Toronto and Ottawa, and Muskoka DM.

Report processed by Andrew Keaveney, 03 Apr 2023.