Waterfowl through Rails

Barnacle Goose is a species with a complicated history in Ontario with several records rejected by the records committee due to uncertain provenance. Prior to 2018, there were only two accepted records, both from Eastern Ontario. An individual present from 13–25 Mar in Schomberg on the border of York RM and Simcoe Co was accepted by the records committee as the third record of this species in the province (Donald Gorham). Eurasian Wigeons were widespread this spring with reports from Chatham-Kent, Norfolk, Wellington, Simcoe, Peterborough, and Prince Edward Cos, Niagara and Durham RMs, the City of Ottawa, and Thunder Bay Dist. Hybrids between Eurasian and American Wigeons were noted on 25 Apr in Port Rowan, Norfolk Co (Brett Fried) and 2 May near Mariposa Beach, Simcoe Co (Rick Lauzon). A Eurasian Green-winged Teal was an excellent find near Leamington, Essex Co and was present from 22 Mar–8 Apr (Jeremy M. Bensette, Kate Derbyshire). Canvasback is a rare species in Northeastern Ontario, where two were observed this spring: 17 May in Matachewan, Timiskaming Dist (Frank Gardell) and 24–25 May in Ramore, Cochrane Dist (Adam Capparelli). A Redhead x scaup sp. hybrid was reported on 10 Mar in Mississauga, Peel RM (Reuven Martin) and a Tufted Duck x scaup sp. hybrid was present from 3–10 Apr in the City of Toronto (Amanda C. Guercio). A Harlequin Duck present from 26–27 Apr in Kapuskasing, Cochrane Dist was a great find for Northern Ontario (Kyle Blaney). The continuing Barrow’s Goldeneye from the winter in Sault Ste. Marie, Algoma Dist was last reported on 18 Mar (m. ob.), other notable birds were seen from 9–13 Apr in Bracebridge, Muskoka DM (David Goodyear, Regan Goodyear) and 24 Apr in Owen Sound, Grey Co (A. Nicholson). The Common x Barrow’s Goldeneye hybrid found in November in the City of Hamilton was last seen on 10 Mar (m. ob.).

Several Eared Grebes were seen this spring: 19 Mar–8 Apr in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Paul Pratt), 16 Apr on Long Point, Norfolk Co (Kyle Cameron), 21–26 Apr in Whitby and Oshawa, Durham RM (Mike Ferguson, Tyler Hoar), 28 Apr in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (David McNorton), 30 Apr in Sarnia, Lambton Co (fide eBird), and 1 May in Dunnville, Haldimand Co (Adam Liposcak). A Western Grebe was present in Port Credit, Peel RM on 7 Apr, a now annual spring occurrence on western Lake Ontario (Blake A. Mann).

Eurasian Collared-Doves were seen from 18 Apr–5 May in Dutton, Elgin Co (Nikki Benjamin), 6 May in Almonte, Lanark Co (Mark Gawn), 16–25 May on Long Point, Norfolk Co (m. ob.), and 31 May in Rainy River, Rainy River Dist (Bob Saunders). It was a good spring for White-winged Dove; the returning bird in Rondeau Provincial Park, Chatham-Kent Co was back for another year—first found on 7 Apr, it remained into the summer (James T. Burk, Stephen R. Charbonneau). Other records of this species were: 25 Apr in Windsor, Essex Co (Kit McCann), 28 Apr–3 May on Long Point, Norfolk Co (Kyle Cameron, Emily Emptage, Samreen Munim, Tobias Lilja), 3–6 May at Sandhurst Shores, Lennox and Addington Co (David Edwards, John Hall), 26 May into June in the City of Ottawa (Charles M. Francis), and 29 May into June in Selim, Thunder Bay Dist (Catherine A. Smith, Joe Kutcher). The returning Chuck-will’s-widow was back from another year in South Bay, Prince Edward Co—first heard on 18 May, it continued into the summer (Peter Hogenbirk). The only Yellow Rail reported this spring was on 23 May in Kirkfield, City of Kawartha Lakes (Scott Watson).

Shorebirds through Raptors

The only Black-necked Stilts of the spring were two birds present on 25 May in Blenheim, Chatham-Kent Co (Stephen R. Charbonneau). American Avocets were widespread with reports from Essex, Chatham-Kent, Norfolk, Elgin, and Prescott and Russell Cos, Durham, and Halton RMs, the Cities of Hamilton and Toronto and Thunder Bay Dist. Piping Plovers were numerous this spring with reports from Essex, Norfolk, Bruce, Simcoe, and Northumberland Cos, Durham RM, the City of Toronto, and Thunder Bay Dist. Willets were also widespread with reports from Essex, Chatham-Kent, Lambton, Elgin, Norfolk, and Simcoe Cos, Niagara, Halton, and Durham RMs, the City of Toronto, and Thunder Bay Dist. It was an exceptional spring for Ruff in the province with an unprecedented six records: 25–27 Apr in Antrim, City of Ottawa (Robert J. Cermak), 6 May in Whitby, Durham RM (Brandon McWalters, Sam Collins), 12–15 May (Larry Durkee), 15–16 May (Logan Baldwin), and 17–18 May (m. ob.) in Angus, Simcoe Co, and 21 May in Embrun, Prescott and Russell Co (m. ob.). Baird’s Sandpipers, rare in spring, were reported on 2 May (Gavin Platt) and 21 May (Gavin Platt, Paul Prior, Noam Markus) in the City of Toronto. A Western Sandpiper was seen on 20 May in Mitchell, Perth Co (fide eBird). A Laughing Gull seen on 31 May in Leamington, Essex Co was the only one reported this spring (Brandon R. Holden). Franklin’s Gulls were present on 13 May in Erieau, Chatham-Kent Co (Stephen R. Charbonneau) and 23–26 May in Leamington, Essex Co (Mike Austin). Pacific Loons were reported on 29 Apr in the City of Toronto (Gavin Platt) and 31 May on Long Point, Norfolk Co (Ron Ridout). A Neotropic Cormorant present on 4 May in Oshawa, Durham RM was the only report of the species this spring (Mike Ferguson, Tyler Hoar).

American White Pelicans were widespread away from northern and extreme southwestern Ontario with reports from Bruce, Norfolk, Chatham-Kent, and Lambton Cos, Niagara RM and the Cities of Ottawa and Hamilton. A Least Bittern present from 29 May into June in Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay Dist was a good record for Northern Ontario (Glenn C. Stronks). A Tricolored Heron was briefly present on 31 May in the City of Toronto (Ruth Danella). Snowy Egrets were widespread with reports from Essex, Bruce, and Prince Edward Cos, Durham RM, the Cities of Ottawa and Hamilton, and Kenora Dist. Western Cattle Egrets were also well-represented this spring with reports from Essex, Chatham-Kent, Norfolk, Brant, Bruce, Simcoe, Prince Edward, and Northumberland Cos, and Niagara RM. A number of Great Egrets showed up in Northwestern Ontario: 25–28 Apr in Pringle, Thunder Bay Dist (Mary-Jane Baumgartz), 25–26 Apr in Cochenour, Kenora Dist (Merle Nisly), and 26–28 Apr in Kenora, Kenora Dist (m. ob.). Glossy Ibises were seen on 22 May in Sombra, Lambton Co (Mike Bouman) and Thedford, Lambton Co (Deryl Nethercott), and 29–31 May in Inverhuron, Bruce Co (Steve Groves, Barb Groves). A White-faced Ibis was present on 23 May in Presqu’ile Provincial Park, Northumberland Co (Julie Belliveau). Black Vultures were widespread with reports from Leeds and Grenville, Prince Edward, and Haldimand Cos, Niagara RM, and the City of Hamilton. A Swallow-tailed Kite reported on 5 May at Prince Edward Point, Prince Edward Co was the only one this spring (m. ob.). All records of Mississippi Kite this season were from Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co: 11 May (Scott F. Gibson), 16 May (Amanda C. Guercio), and 31 May (Brandon R. Holden).

Flycatchers through Chat

A Say’s Phoebe was present in Rossport, Thunder Bay Dist from 30 Apr–4 May (Nicholas Escott, Allan Gilbert). A Vermilion Flycatcher, the eighth record for Ontario, was seen on Long Point, Norfolk Co on 27 Apr (Kyle Cameron, Emily Emptage, Samreen Munim, Tobias Lilja). The only Western Kingbird of the spring was present in Sault Ste. Marie, Algoma Dist from 11–13 May (Elijah J. Rodgers). White-eyed Vireos were widespread with reports from Essex, Chatham-Kent, Norfolk, Elgin, Middlesex, Prince Edward, and Bruce Cos, Waterloo and Halton RMs, and the City of Toronto. Two Bell’s Vireos showed up this spring, both on 10 May: Port Weller, Niagara RM (Joshua D. Vandermeulen) and Pelee Island, Essex Co (Nathan G. Miller). Away from their two breeding strongholds, Loggerhead Shrikes were reported on 20 Apr in Beachville, Oxford Co (James M. Holdsworth), 27 Apr–9 May on St. Joseph Island, Algoma Dist (Andrew Kwon), and 1–3 May in Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay Dist (Zachary Oleksak).

The long-staying Black-billed Magpie in Echo Lake, Algoma Dist continued throughout the spring; an additional record was 16–23 May in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (m. ob.). Away from western Lake Ontario, Fish Crows were reported on 21 Apr in Port Perry, Durham RM (Connor Hawey), 1–3 May in Algonquin Provincial Park, Nipissing Dist (Lev Frid), 8 May in Port Colborne, Niagara RM (Joshua D. Vandermeulen), 13–14 May on Long Point, Norfolk Co (m. ob.), and 16 May in Leamington, Essex Co (Geoff Carpentier). A Blue-gray Gnatcatcher seen on 7 May in Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay Dist was a good find for Northwestern Ontario (James Barber). A Mountain Bluebird was present on 23 Apr in Dorion, Thunder Bay Dist (Nicholas Escott, Norma Maurice). Townsend’s Solitaires were seen on 2 Mar in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Leon Barlow, Natasha Barlow), 23 Apr in Rondeau Provincial Park, Chatham-Kent Co (fide Stephen R. Charbonneau), 28 Apr–3 May in Port Hope, Northumberland Co (m. ob.), and 29 Apr in Miller Lake, Bruce Co (Zane Shantz). A Varied Thrush was reported on 3 May near Lakehurst, Peterborough Co (Iain Rayner).

The Eurasian Tree Sparrow first reported in October in Wawa, Algoma Dist continued until 7 Apr (m. ob.); other records of this species were: 9–12 May in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (m. ob.), 13 May in Ignace, Kenora Dist (David J. Penney, Catherine A. Penney), 14–15 May in Presqu’ile Provincial Park, Northumberland Co (Frederick M. Helleiner), 17 May in the City of Toronto (Glenn Coady), 22 May in Schreiber, Thunder Bay Dist (Candace R. Campbell), and 23–28 May on Long Point, Norfolk Co (William von Herff). A Grasshopper Sparrow, rare in Northwestern Ontario, was seen on 13 May in Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay Dist (Douglas Tate). Lark Sparrows were reported from 3–6 May in Dorcas Bay, Bruce Co (Michael Butler) and 8 May in Rondeau Provincial Park, Chatham-Kent Co (Reuven Martin, Todd Hagedorn). A Lark Bunting was present on 17 May at Gravelly Bay, Prince Edward Co (Tina Sawicki). In the southwest of the province, Harris’s Sparrows were seen on 8 May in Rondeau Provincial Park, Chatham-Kent Co (Michael Johnson, Carolyn Bonta) and 15–16 May on Pelee Island, Essex Co (Rob Tymstra). Yellow-breasted Chats were widespread with reports from Essex, Chatham-Kent, Norfolk, Elgin, and Middlesex Cos, Niagara and Halton RMs, and the City of Toronto.

Blackbirds through Buntings

Yellow-headed Blackbirds were widespread away from Northwestern Ontario with reports from Essex, Chatham-Kent, Norfolk, Lambton, Haldimand, Peterborough, and Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry Cos, Durham RM, the City of Toronto, and Algoma and Cochrane Dists. Away from the northwest of the province, Western Meadowlarks were seen on 2 May in Algonquin Provincial Park, Nipissing Dist (Jeff H. Skevington) and 20 May in the City of Toronto (m. ob.). An Orchard Oriole present from 7–13 May in Sistonens Corners, Thunder Bay Dist was a good record for Northwestern Ontario (Kristen M. Melo). A Bullock’s Oriole was seen from 20–21 May in Red Lake, Kenora Dist (Merle Nisly). A Baltimore Oriole reported on 28 May in Moosonee, Cochrane Dist was an unusual find for the Hudson’s Bay lowlands (William M. Solomon).

Several Worm-eating Warblers were reported from Ontario’s southwest: 2 May (m. ob.), 5–6 May (Kenneth G. D. Burrell, Mike V. A. Burrell, Tony Straus), and 8 May (m. ob.) in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co, 10 May in Rondeau Provincial Park, Chatham-Kent Co (Peter Hogenbirk), 14 May in Walsingham, Norfolk Co (James Lees, Jody Allair), and 14–15 May in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Tom Hince). Kentucky Warblers were seen from 2–9 May in Rondeau Provincial Park, Chatham-Kent Co (m. ob.), 4–14 May in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (m. ob.), 8–13 May in the City of Toronto (Owen Ridgen, David Ridgen), 12 May in Rondeau Provincial Park, Chatham-Kent Co (m. ob.), and 26 May in Barrie, Simcoe Co (Alex Mills). A Hooded Warbler was a good find for Northwestern Ontario on 5 May in Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay Dist (fide iNaturalist). It was a good spring for migrant Kirtland’s Warblers with several individuals seen: 9 May (Dale Wenger) and 15 May (m. ob.) in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co, 15 May in Brantford, Brant Co (Andy Nguyen), 16 May on Long Point, Norfolk Co (Audrey Heagy), and 17 May (m. ob.) and 19 May (Kate Derbyshire) in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co. Yellow-throated Warblers were reported on 2 May in Windsor, Essex Co (Brad Hamel), 9–10 May on Long Point, Norfolk Co (Brandon R. Holden, Stuart A. Mackenzie), 20 May in Erieau, Chatham-Kent Co (Taylor Brown), and 21 May in Presqu’ile Provincial Park, Northumberland Co (Travis Cameron).

Summer Tanagers were widespread with reports from Essex, Chatham-Kent, Lambton, Norfolk, Haldimand, and Northumberland Cos, Niagara and Peel RMs, the City of Toronto, and Cochrane, Thunder Bay, and Kenora Dists. A few Western Tanagers showed up this season: 4–7 May in Port Hope, Northumberland Co (Bill Cassells), 22–23 May in Jelly, Thunder Bay Dist (Kelly Sutton), and 27 May on Long Point, Norfolk Co (m. ob.). Blue Grosbeak reports were scattered across the province: 30 Apr–2 May in Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay Dist (Betsy J. Henderson), 10–12 May in Wanup, Sudbury Dist (Daniela Stuewer), 12 May in Presqu’ile Provincial Park, Northumberland Co (Ian Shanahan, Doug McRae), and 17 May (Henrique Pacheco) and 25 May (Brandon R. Holden) in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co. A Lazuli Bunting was present at a feeder in Rossport, Thunder Bay Dist from 27–28 May (Gordon Smith, Joan Smith). Two Painted Buntings were present this spring: 1–5 May in Tobermory, Bruce Co (Amanda Andino) and 9–11 May in Porcupine, Cochrane Dist (Andrew H. Warren). Dickcissels were widespread with reports from Essex, Chatham-Kent, Lambton, Middlesex, Norfolk, Haldimand, and Bruce Cos.

Report processed by Andrew Keaveney, 06 Mar 2025.