Ontario: Fall 2024

Waterfowl through Rails

Several exceptional waterfowl were seen throughout the province during the fall of 2024, some of which lingered for plenty of time. Barnacle Geese were recorded five different times, several of which could have been the same bird. These were 5–7 Aug in West Lake, Prince Edward Co (fide Rick Szabo), 6 Aug in Presqu’ile Provincial Park, Northumberland Co (David Puglia, Sarah McAllister), 11–15 Sep in Presqu’ile Provincial Park, Northumberland Co (David Bree), 1–9 Oct in Whitby, Durham RM (Dave Worthington), and 12 Oct in Markham, York RM (Denise Potter). A long-staying Mute Swan finally moved on, staying from Apr–20 Oct in Wawa, Algoma Dist (m. ob.). A Cinnamon Teal lingered for over a week from 15–27 Sep in Grimsby, Niagara RM (Kathy Johnson). Several records of the more common vagrant Eurasian Wigeon were observed on 22 Sep–3 Oct in the City of Toronto (Ciara Kelly), 6–15 Oct in Port Elgin, Bruce Co (Marilyn Ohler), 8 Oct–Dec in Brockville, Leeds and Grenville Co (Mark Patry), 15–29 Oct in Long Sault, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Co (Jon P. Ruddy), and 18–30 on Ault Island, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Co (Jon P. Ruddy). Two different American Wigeon hybrids were identified; a Gadwall x American Wigeon seen from 25–28 Oct in Ajax, Durham RM (Jax Nasimok, Ted Nasimok); and a Eurasian x American Wigeon seen on 27 Oct in Ingleside, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Co (Kenneth G. D. Burrell, Mike V. A. Burrell). A group of four Common Eider was seen for several days, lingering from 17–21 Sep in the City of Hamilton (m. ob.). Two northern Harlequin Duck records occurred in the fall with one on 1 Nov at Netitishi Point, Cochrane Dist (Jeremy L. Hatt, Jacob Stasso, Michael McAllister, Harrison Priebe) and another from 10–16 Nov in Sault Ste. Marie, Algoma Dist (Willis Derry). Rounding out the fall duck rarities were several different records of Barrow’s Goldeneye; 8 Nov–Dec+ in Owen Sound, Grey Co (William Gray), 11 Nov in Stoney Creek, the City of Hamilton (Richard Poort), 12 Nov–Dec+ in Kingston, Frontenac Co (Phil Harvey), 14 Nov–Dec+ in Whitby, Durham RM (Andy Nguyen, Jason Smyrlis, Jordyn Woodhouse), 17 Nov on Big Island, Prince Edward Co (Paul Jones), 20–21 Nov in Bailieboro, Peterborough Co (Donald A. Sutherland), and 23–25 Nov in Amherstview, Lennox and Addington Co (Chris Ellingwood).

Vagrant grebes showed up in several different locations across the province, allowing many opportunities for viewing this fall. Eared Grebes were recorded on 10–11 Aug in Aylmer, Elgin Co (m. ob.), 31 Aug in Aylmer, Elgin Co (Michele Carniere), 25 Sep–3 Oct in Presqu’ile Provincial Park, Northumberland Co (Gerard Phillips), 19 Oct in Blackwell, Lambton Co (Matt Parsons), 2 Nov in Pinery Provincial Park, Lambton Co (m. ob.), 17–27 Nov in Kemble, Grey Co (Erik Van Den Kieboom), and 28 Nov in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Andrew Wiebe, Kara Wiebe). Western Grebes were seen on 1 Aug in Mississauga, Peel RM (Christian Friis), 3–11 Aug in the City of Toronto (Ernesto Carbonelli), 12–17 Oct in the City of Toronto (Marsha Duggan), 19 Oct in Long Point, Norfolk Co (Stuart A. Mackenzie), 24 Oct in Moose Factory, Cochrane Dist (Jacob Stasso), and 3–8 Nov in the City of Toronto (Erik Sein).

A lone Eurasian Collared-Dove was seen in the fall on 10 Sep in Walsingham, Norfolk Co (Matthew Timpf) and a White-winged Dove was seen on 2 Nov in Williamstown, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Co (Martin Bowman). There were several seasonally late birds also seen with a Yellow-billed Cuckoo seen on 3 Nov in Woodstock, Oxford Co (Scott Gillingwater), an Eastern Whip-poor-will seen on 19 Nov in Oakville, Halton RM (Ken Maberly), a Chimney Swift on 2 Nov in Ajax, Durham RM (Brian Chan), and a Common Gallinule seen from 1 Aug–8 Sep in New Liskeard, Timiskaming Dist (Dany Benoit).

Shorebirds through Pelicans

This was an absolutely excellent year for rare shorebirds in the fall, with several rarities and late birds showing up throughout the province. Starting with several observations of American Avocets on 18–22 Aug in the City of Hamilton (Lazar Cvijanovic), 24 Aug in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Cameron Chevalier), 28 Aug at Kettle Point, Lambton Co (James M. Holdsworth), and 21 Sep in Grand Bend, Lambton Co (Maggie Kudirka). A Semipalmated Plover was seen late enough that it almost made the winter list, being observed on 28 Nov in the City of Toronto (Owen Strickland). Piping Plovers were seen across the province, with some of the individuals continuing from the breeding season and others being true vagrants. Birds were seen May–21 Aug in Oshawa, Durham RM (m. ob.), 9 Aug in Port Franks, Lambton Co (Sasha Smith), May–18 Aug in Presqu’ile Provincial Park, Northumberland Co (m. ob.), and 15–16 Sep on Long Point, Norfolk Co (Samuel Perfect). A northerly Long-billed Dowitcher represented a notable record on 7 Oct in Pass Lake, Thunder Bay Dist (Nathan Hood). Red Phalaropes popped up in several locations, with one individual staying into the winter: 8 Sep in Englehart, Timiskaming Dist (Henrique Pacheco), 26 Sep in Warren, Nipissing Dist (Chris Wood, Jessie Barry), 15 Oct in Bright’s Grove, Lambton Co (Brandon R. Holden), 28 Oct in the City of Hamilton (Richard Poort, Keith Dieroff), 22 Nov in Sarnia, Lambton Co (m. ob.), and 30 Nov–Dec+ in the City of Hamilton (Liam Thorne). Willets were widespread across the entire province with records from Lambton, Chatham-Kent, Elgin, Essex, Haldimand, Simcoe, and Norfolk Cos, and Halton and Niagara RMs, and the City of Hamilton. A male Ruff was also spotted for a very short period of time, being observed on 4 Aug in Brock, Durham RM (Mike Ferguson). The final shorebird that made the list were four different observations of Western Sandpipers, with records in Jul–3 Aug in Fort Erie, Niagara RM (m. ob.), 24 Aug in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (m. ob.), 11–13 Sep in London, Middlesex Co (Dave Jolly, Harrison McCormick), and 15–17 Nov in Rock Point Provincial Park, Haldimand Co (Michael Kirchin).

Two Long-tailed Jaegers showed up away from the usual funnel points for the species with one being seen on 18 Aug in Netitishi Point, Cochrane Dist (m. ob.) and another on 14 Sep in Simcoeside, Simcoe Co (Garth V. Riley, Nancy E. McPherson, Andrew Riley). Three Black Guillemot were recorded from trips to Netitishi Point, Cochrane Dist with sightings on 19 Aug (Markus Legzdins, m. ob.), 21 Aug (m. ob.), and 3 Nov (Jeremy L. Hatt, Jacob Stasso, Michael McAllister, Harrison Priebe). Razorbill showed up again along the Ottawa River, with records on 11 Nov in the City of Ottawa (Daniel Simpson) and 18 Nov in the City of Ottawa (Mark Gawn).

Starting out the gull section is a fantastic lakewatch on Lake Huron pulling a Ross’s Gull on 15 Oct in Bright’s Cove, Lambton Co (Brandon R. Holden). There were widespread reports of Black-legged Kittiwake with records from Essex, Lambton, Bruce, and Simcoe Cos, the Cities of Hamilton and Toronto, Halton RM, and Algoma Dist. There were several Sabine’s Gulls seen in the province, but only one outside of the usual locations, being seen in Barrie, Simcoe Co (Paul Forde). A number of Franklin’s Gulls were seen this fall: 15 Aug in Blenheim, Chatham-Kent Co (Stephen R. Charbonneau), 19 Aug in the City of Toronto (Theresa Dobko), 24 Aug in Oakville, Halton RM (Gregory Ball, Julia Pascutto), 25 Aug in Milton, Halton RM (Mark Jennings), 28 Aug in Tobermory, Bruce Co (Matt Parsons), 24 Sep in Port Stanley, Elgin Co (Steve Proud), 2 Oct in Sandbanks Provincial Park, Prince Edward Co (Paul Jones, Chris Davidson), 21 Nov in Echo Bay, Algoma Dist (Jane Smith), and 24 Nov in Wheatley, Essex Co (Cherise Charron). One of the highlights of the fall was Ontario’s second Black-tailed Gull which was seen at two locations in Elgin Co for a few days: 19–23 Oct in Port Glasgow (Rayfield Pye, Donald Pye) and 30 Oct in Port Stanley (Rebecca Seeley). A Short-billed Gull was a great find on 15 Nov in Casselman, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Co (Mark Gawn, Michelle Martin).

Three Lesser Black-backed Gulls seen on 11 Sep on Ship Sands Island, Cochrane Dist were notable for the lowlands region (m. ob.). Slaty-backed Gulls were reported from 13 Oct–15 Nov in Bonfield, Nipissing Dist (Garry Waldram), 9–15 Nov in East Ferris, Nipissing Dist (Stephen O’Donnell, Cynthia McAllister), 10 Nov in Bourget, Prescott and Russell Co (Vincent Fyson), and 13 Nov in Tomiko, Nipissing Dist (Renee Levesque). Southbound Arctic Terns were seen from 1–2 Oct in the City of Ottawa (Mark Gawn) and on 14 Oct in Bright’s Grove, Lambton Co (Brandon R. Holden). Pacific Loons were widespread with reports from Bruce, Grey, Renfrew, Norfolk, Simcoe, Essex, Chatham-Kent, and Lambton Cos, the City of Hamilton, and Cochrane Dist. A Northern Fulmar was seen near James Bay in Moose Factory, Cochrane Dist on 21 Nov (Jacob Stasso). Ontario has a previous record of Sooty/Short-tailed Shearwater from November 2010 on James Bay, where one would conceivably expect such a bird to show up. However, birders were stunned when a Short-tailed Shearwater was reported on 16 Nov in Wasaga Beach, Simcoe Co, giving amazingly close views and sticking around for much of the day (Henrique Pacheco). The continuing Neotropic Cormorant from the summer was last seen on 8 Sep in Vaughan, York RM (m. ob.); others were present on 13 Aug in the City of Toronto (Patrick Scanlon), and 29 Sep on Long Point, Norfolk Co (Levi Sheridan). The only notable American White Pelican report of the fall came from Courtright, Lambton Co on 30 Aug (Jan Klooster).

Herons through Wrens

Yellow-crowned Night Herons were reported on 2 Aug in Windsor, Essex Co (fide iNaturalist) and from mid August to 30 Aug on De Rottenburg Island, Leeds and Grenville Co (Gord Eamer). A Black-crowned Night Heron seen on 9 Sep in Wawa, Algoma Dist was a good record for Northern Ontario (Clay Bliznick). Little Blue Herons were seen on 15 Aug in Mallorytown Landing, Leeds and Grenville Co (Glen Joel Senecal) and on an undisclosed date in Mitchell’s Bay, Chatham-Kent Co (fide Blake Mann). Western Cattle Egrets were widespread with reports from Chatham-Kent, Essex, Peterborough, Prince Edward, Norfolk, Haldimand, Northumberland, Dufferin, Frontenac, and Bruce Cos, Niagara and Durham RMs, the Cities of Greater Sudbury and Hamilton, and Cochrane, Algoma, Kenora, and Thunder Bay Dists. In Northern Ontario, Great Egrets were recorded on 21 Sep near Kenora, Kenora Dist (Rob Palin) and 2 Nov at Netitishi Point, Cochrane Dist (Jeremy L. Hatt, Jacob Stasso, Michael McAllister, Harrison Priebe). A White Ibis was an excellent find on 21 Sep in Port Hope, Northumberland Co, unfortunately it was only present for a single day (Alicia Anstey). It was a good fall for Glossy Ibis in Ontario with reports from Elgin, Essex, Lanark, Norfolk, and Bruce Cos, Waterloo, Durham, and Halton RMs, and the City of Hamilton. Additional Plegadis ibis records that could not be identified to species were: 19 Aug in the City of Ottawa (Daniel Simpson), 8 Sep in Port Stanley, Elgin Co (Tom Bolohan), 15 Sep on Wolfe Island, Frontenac Co (Stuart Watson), 20–22 Sep on Snake Island, Frontenac Co (Dianne Croteau, Richard Brault), 29 Sep on Salmon Island, Frontenac Co (Phil Harvey), 4 Oct in the City of Toronto (Gray Carlin), 7 Oct in the City of Ottawa (fide Derek Dunnett), and 13 Nov in Rondeau, Chatham-Kent Co (Bill Chan).

Away from Niagara, Black Vultures were reported on 11 Aug in the City of Hamilton (William G. Lamond), 30 Aug in Oshawa, Durham RM (Markus Legzdins), 22 Sep in Port Burwell, Elgin Co (Walter Parker), 26 Sept (Cyril Crocker) and 2 Oct (Dave Brown, Chris Burris) in Port Stanley, Elgin Co, and 12 Oct in Alliston, Simcoe Co (Willem Span). The only Swallow-tailed Kite of the fall was photographed on 2 Aug in Neebing, Thunder Bay Dist (Theresa Schiller, Pat Schiller). An early Golden Eagle was seen on 29 Aug in Bala, Muskoka DM (J Fraser). Mississippi Kite is extremely rare during fall migration, so one photographed during a hawkwatch on 1 Sep at Holiday Beach, Essex Co (Kiah R. Jasper) made some waves. Swainson’s Hawks were reported on 28 Sep in Sturgeon Bay Provincial Park, Parry Sound Dist (Kory J. Renaud), 30 Sep at Holiday Beach, Essex Co (Kiah R. Jasper), 14 Oct at Hawk Cliff, Elgin Co (Chris Burris), and 15 Oct at Holiday Beach, Essex Co (Paul Gosselin) with the last two records pertaining to the same individual. A Harlan’s Red-tailed Hawk was observed on 26 Oct in Port Alma, Chatham-Kent Co (Brandon R. Holden, Stephen R. Charbonneau, Joshua Bouman). A hybrid Red-tailed x Red-shouldered Hawk was seen on 13 Nov in Vaughan, York RM (Lev Frid). The only Say’s Phoebe of the fall was present on 20 Aug in Pass Lake, Thunder Bay Dist (Alba Tropea). Vermilion Flycatcher is less than annual in the province, so three separate birds occurring this fall was quite notable: 24 Oct on Long Point, Norfolk Co (Gaelen Schnare), 27 Oct in Guelph, Wellington Co (Robert Linfield), and 30 Nov in Dunsford, City of Kawartha Lakes (Nicole Barker).

A Tropical Kingbird, Ontario’s eighth, was present from 19–24 Oct in Rossport, Thunder Bay Dist (Gord Smith, Joan Campbell Smith). This record follows the pattern of this species showing up primarily in Northern Ontario. Western Kingbirds were reported on 3 Aug in Comber, Essex Co (Paul Pratt), 25 Aug at Thunder Cape, Thunder Bay Dist (Rinchen Boardman), and 3 Nov in Timmins, Cochrane Dist (Katie Malo). White-eyed Vireos were widespread with reports from Haldimand, Oxford, Middlesex, Lennox and Addington, Wellington, and Elgin Cos, Durham and Waterloo RMs, and the City of Toronto. Away from their regular breeding locations, Loggerhead Shrikes were seen on 30 Aug on Amherst Island, Lennox and Addington Co (David Britton), 1 Sep in Rondeau Provincial Park, Chatham-Kent Co (Jeff Tunstall), and 12 Sep in Alfred, Prescott and Russell Co (Jon P. Ruddy). A Black-billed Magpie was found in the City of Ottawa (Andy LeBlanc) on 6 Oct although provenance is always an issue with records of this species away from Northwestern Ontario. The continuing Fish Crows were present through the fall in Kingston, Frontenac Co (m. ob.); the other notable sighting was on 29 Oct in Frogmore, Norfolk Co (Kathryn Boothby). A significant influx of Cave Swallows occurred this fall with widespread reports across Southern Ontario: Essex, Chatham-Kent, Elgin, Haldimand, Norfolk, Bruce, Grey, Prince Edward, Renfrew, Leeds and Grenville, and Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Cos, Niagara and Durham RMs and the Cities of Toronto and Hamilton. A Rock Wren, the ninth record for the province, was present from 31 Oct–1 Nov in Hurkett, Thunder Bay Dist (Ted Armstrong). The long-staying Carolina Wren in Haileybury, Timiskaming Dist continued this fall (Chris Pritchard).

Thrushes through Buntings

A Mountain Bluebird was seen from 12–13 Nov in Rondeau, Chatham-Kent Co (Stephen R. Charbonneau). Several Townsend’s Solitaire were reported this fall, most from Northwestern Ontario as is typical: 7 Aug in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Fred Grenier), 29 Sep in Shuniah, Thunder Bay Dist (Kevin Dempsey), 22 Oct in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Terry Hastings), 7 Nov in Red Lake, Kenora Dist (Merle Nisly), and 25–26 Nov in Dryden, Kenora Dist (Darlene Salter). Both records of Varied Thrush were from Northwestern Ontario: 28 Nov near Eagle Lake, Kenora Dist (Darlene Salter) and 30 Nov into December near Windy Point, Rainy River Dist (Bob Saunders). A late Gray-cheeked Thrush was seen on 17 Nov in Oshawa, Durham RM (Mark Cranford). A potential Bicknell’s Thrush was banded at Prince Edward Point, Prince Edward Co on 26 Sep (m. ob.). There are only four accepted records of this difficult to identify species, with two from Prince Edward Point; three of the records are specimens. There have been no accepted records in over 40 years. A pair of House Sparrows was reported on 5 Nov in Moosonee, Cochrane Dist, a good record for James Bay (Jeremy L. Hatt, Jacob Stasso, Michael McAllister, Harrison Priebe). Both records of Eurasian Tree Sparrow this fall were from Algoma Dist: 28 Oct–25 Nov in Thessalon (fide Trent Massey) and 2–6 Nov in Desbarats (Marlee Hopkins). A Smith’s Longspur was reported on 28 Sep in Marathon, Thunder Bay Dist (Chris Wood, Jessie Barry).

Lark Sparrows were seen on 9 Aug in Armstrong, Thunder Bay Dist (Kate Prince), 5 Sep in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Paul Pratt), and 27 Nov in Kingston, Frontenac Co (Paul Mackenzie). A Lark Bunting was well seen by many from 8–11 Aug in Sault Ste. Marie, Algoma Dist (Robert D. Cohen). Away from Northwestern Ontario, Harris’s Sparrows were recorded on 8 Oct in Dorcas Bay, Bruce Co (Michael Butler), 9 Oct on Long Point, Norfolk Co (Gaelen Schnare), 10 Oct in Inverhuron, Bruce Co (William Gray), 12 Oct in Pinery Provincial Parkn Lambton Co (Dan Birkenbergs), 12–13 Oct in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Elias Joshi), 13–15 Oct in Tobermory, Bruce Co (Lisa Weiler), and 20–24 Oct in Guelph, Wellington Co (Mike Cadman). A Dark-eyed Junco x White-throated Sparrow hybrid was present from 9–12 Oct in Lakefield, Peterborough Co (Buddy Miles). A late LeConte’s Sparrow was seen in Moose Factory, Cochrane Dist on 10 Nov (Jacob Stasso). Migrant Henslow’s Sparrows were reported on 11 Sep in Wesleyville, Northumberland Co (Jacob McLaren) and 12–14 Oct on Long Point, Norfolk Co (Levi Sheridan). Yellow-breasted Chats were present on 29 Aug at Prince Edward Point, Prince Edward Co (m. ob.), 31 Aug in Lakefield, Peterborough Co (Kyle Worman), and 22 Sep in Kingston, Frontenac Co (fide eBird). Notable reports of Yellow-headed Blackbird were from Hilliardton, Timiskaming DIst on 10 Sep (Samuel Payne), 15 Sep in Presqu’ile Provincial Park, Northumberland Co (fide eBird), 18 Oct in Elmvale, Simcoe Co (James Boccia), 8 Nov in Port Alma, Chatham-Kent Co (Kevin Gevaert, Jack Belleghem, Finn O’Brien), and 17 Nov in Leamington, Essex Co (Brett Groves). The only notable Western Meadowlarks reports were: Lewis Corners, Middlesex Co on 23 Nov (Stephen Taylor) and Evansville, Manitoulin Dist on 24 Nov (Margaret Hough).

A Kentucky Warbler was seen on Long Point, Norfolk Co on 22 Aug (Kalvin Chan). A Kirtland’s Warbler was briefly observed on 26 Sep in Oakville, Halton RM (Cheryl Edgecombe). An “Audubon’s” Yellow-rumped Warbler was a good find on 9 Nov in the City of Toronto (Owen Strickland). A few Yellow-throated Warblers showed up this fall: 5 Oct on Flowerpot Island, Bruce Co (Don Wilkes), 19–28 Oct at Prince Edward Point, Prince Edward Co (m. ob.), and 19 Nov in the City of Ottawa (Tony Tran). A Prairie Warbler was a great find in Hurkett, Thunder Bay Dist on 23 Oct (Pegg L. Campbell, Mark Campbell). A Black-throated Gray Warbler found on 30 Nov in St. Catharines, Niagara RM persisted into December (Adam Chambers). There were several reports of Summer Tanager, all but one in the latter half of the fall: 14 Aug near Layton, Durham RM (Douglas Apperson), 25 Oct–2 Nov in Blind River, Algoma Dist (Larry Kirtley), 27–29 Oct in Kenora, Kenora Dist (Laureen Parsons), 6–25 Nov (Jim Ryan, Paul Sullivan) and 7 Nov (Debbie King) in Sault Ste. Marie, Algoma Dist, 9–18 Nov in Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay Dist (Jamie Winters), 21–28 Nov in Peterborough, Peterborough Co (Helena Cymbaluk), and 28 Nov in Sarnia, Lambton Co (Craig Potter). Western Tanagers were seen on 26 Oct in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Cameron Chevalier) and 2 Nov in the City of Ottawa (fide Aaron Hywarren). The continuing Blue Grosbeaks from the summer in Windsor, Essex Co were last reported on 1 Sep (m. ob.). In addition to the pair, a single recently fledged bird was also observed, possibly representing the first confirmed nesting record of this species for Ontario and Canada. A Lazuli Bunting was present at Thunder Cape, Thunder Bay Dist from 11–18 Oct (Michael Dayton, Kai Mills, Rinchen Boardman, Nathan Hood). Dickcissels were widespread with reports from Essex, Chatham-Kent, Norfolk, Elgin, and Peterborough Cos, the City of Kawartha Lakes, and Thunder Bay and Manitoulin Dists.

Report edited by Andrew Keaveney, 23 Jul 2026