Ontario: Spring 2021

Waterfowl through Rails

Exceedingly rare for Ontario, a Pink-footed Goose was seen in the eastern part of the province for the third straight year, this time 27–30 Mar at Navan, Ottawa Co (Paul Lagassi). A Barnacle Goose was extraordinary for southwestern Ontario at Aylmer, Elgin Co from 17–21 Mar (Jim Burrell, Carol Gregory) and another was seen at the more expected location of Ottawa, Ottawa Co,  22–25 Mar (Marc Savard); there are about 10 historical records with uncertain origin and only three accepted, all rather recent. Four Mute Swans were very unusual for Gittins Lake, Kenora Co, seen 29 May (Ezra J. Campanelli, Allison Forde)—one of the most northerly sightings of this species on the continent. A surprise flyby Garganey was reported 17 May at Shirley’s Bay, Ottawa Co (Mark Gawn)—attempts to find the bird later were unsuccessful. There were scattered reports of Eurasian Wigeon: 6 Mar at Sarnia, Lambton Co (Gloria Dawe), 8 Mar at Niagara Falls, Niagara Co (Irene Almas), 23–25 Mar at Kingston, Frontenac Co (Kevin Bleeks, Lisa Blais), 24 Mar–27 Apr at Port Rowan, Norfolk Co (Stuart A. Mackenzie), likely the same bird (but possibly two), 30 Mar–16 Apr at Long Point, Norfolk Co (Ryan Leys), 30 Mar–4 Apr at Everett, Simcoe Co (Henrique Pacheco), 3–14 Apr at East Lake, Prince Edward Co (Cao Hui), 8 Apr at Isaac Lake, Bruce Co (Deane Atherton), 12 Apr at Port Weller, Niagara Co (Tim Culp), 2 May at Hullett Marsh, Huron Co (Dana Latour), and 9 May at Ottawa, Ottawa Co (Michelle Martin). The less common Eurasian x American Wigeon hybrid was seen 25 Mar–27 Apr at Long Point, Norfolk Co (Ryan Leys), 20–21 Apr at Coldwater, Simcoe Co (Patrick Jackson) and 26 Apr at Erieau, Chatham-Kent Co (Steve Charbonneau). Still very rare in the province was a Eurasian Green-winged Teal that appeared 4–19 Mar at Markham, York Co (Christine Mason), and 8–23 Apr at Toronto, Toronto Co (George Cook). An unusual Northern Pintail x Green-winged Teal hybrid was seen 2 Apr at Angus, Simcoe Co (Henrique Pacheco, Deborah Pacheco). Two reports of Canvasback were notable for Cochrane Co; two 13 May at Porcupine (Adam Liposcak), and another 26 May at Smooth Rock Falls (Ethan Gosnell). Yet another irregular hybrid seen was the Tufted Duck x Greater Scaup from 12 Mar–26 Apr at Toronto, Toronto Co (Don Graham). Two King Eiders were reported at Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co—one from Feb–21 Mar (Jeremy M. Bensette, Kory J. Renaud), and another from 9–11 May (William G. Lamond et al).  Another bird was seen 24 May at Rondeau Provincial Park, Chatham-Kent Co (Craig Anderson). A Harlequin Duck seen 10 Apr–9 May was rare for Terrace Bay, Thunder Bay Co (Pegg L. Campbell, Mark Campbell). Several Barrow’s Goldeneye were reported away from eastern Ontario where they’re scarce, but more expected:  Nov–18 Mar at Owen Sound, Grey Co (m. obs.), Feb–9 Mar at Peterborough, Peterborough Co (m. obs.), 7–17 Mar at Whitby, Durham Co (Martha Miller, Jean Iron, Dave Worthington), 10–16 Mar at Sault Ste. Marie, Algoma Co (Stan Phippen), 21–24 Mar at Rice Lake, Peterborough Co (Michael V. A. Burrell), 16 May at Charwell Point, Prince Edward Co (Paul Jones), and the same bird 22 May at North Port, Prince Edward Co (Rick Szabo).

It was an irruption year for Willow Ptarmigan, giving a few Ontario birders the rare opportunity to observe these stunning birds in winter plumage.  The four birds seen in Feb continued until 3 Mar at Detour Lake, Cochrane Co (Jeff H. Skevington, Vincent Fyson). Two other birds were found 9 Mar on Translimit Road, Cochrane Co (Adam Liposcak). A single bird was seen 25 Apr at Sarsfield, Ottawa Co (Devon Fyson et al). Several Eared Grebe were reported: 18 Apr at Dyer’s Bay, Bruce Co (Olivia Wilson), 23 Apr at Sarnia, Lambton Co (Sean Jenniskens, Jenny Andrews), 9–18 May at Blenheim, Chatham-Kent Co (Steve Charbonneau), 10–12 May at Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Andrew Wiebe, Kara Wiebe), and 30 May at Ear Falls, Kenora Co (Tim Neidenbach). Western Grebes occasionally make their way to the western shores of Lake Ontario, and one was seen 7–10 Apr at Oakville, Halton Co (Mark Jennings). There were four reports of Eurasian Collared-Dove: 5 May at Shirley’s Bay, Ottawa Co (Gerard Phillips) was a long-awaited county first, 16 Mar–Jun at Staples, Essex Co (Michael Hudak), 26 May at Enterprise, Lennox and Addington Co (Luke Berg), and 27 May–Jun at Shrewsbury, Chatham-Kent Co (Ian Richards).

White-winged Doves are making consistent appearances in recent years. Reports from this spring include 6 May at Wallaceburg, Chatham-Kent Co (Craig Anderson), 23 May–Jun at Windsor, Essex Co (John Baker), and an outstanding record  in the far north of the province on 22 May at Smooth Rock Falls, Cochrane Co (Angie Williams). One, Chuck-will’s-widow was heard from 15 May–Jun at South Bay, Prince Edward Co (Paul Jones). There were three records of early Ruby-throated Hummingbirds: 21 Mar at Aurora, York Co (Siegmar Bodach), 22 Mar at Ottawa, Ottawa Co (Shannon McCormick), and 11–14 Apr at Mount Brydges, Middlesex Co (fide eBird). Virginia Rails were very good for Smooth Rock Falls, Cochrane Co, 16–20 May (Angie Williams, Ken Williams), and Balmertown, Kenora Co, 19 May (Reuven Martin, Todd Hagedorn). An American Coot was excellent for the shores of James Bay, seen 17–18 May at Attawapiskat, Kenora Co (Keith Gregoire). Yellow Rail reports included 13–25 May at the Carden Alvar, Kawartha Lakes Co (Martha Miller), 16 May at Richmond Fen, Ottawa Co (Mark Patry), and 31 May at the Sable Islands Provincial Nature Reserve, Rainy River Co (Jeff H. Skevington, Vincent Fyson).

Shorebirds through Ibis

Black-necked Stilts were particularly good for Holland Landing, York Co, seen 9 May (Peter Hawrylyshyn); two other reports came from the southwest of the province—15 May at Leamington, Essex Co (Blake A. Mann), and 22–23 May at Brigden, Lambton Co (Allanah Vokes). American Avocets were reported on 17 Apr at London, Middlesex Co (Eduardo Pulgar), 24 Apr at Callander, Parry Sound Co (Oriana Pokorny, Sarah Wheelan), 27–29 Apr at Leamington, Essex Co (m. obs), 15 May at Mission Island, Thunder Bay Co (Christine Johnson), and 23 May at Newcastle, Durham Co (BD Murphy). Piping Plovers were reported in several counties—Simcoe, Northumberland, Durham, Lambton, Chatham-Kent, Essex, Bruce, and Norfolk. A Ruff was observed 10–13 May at Richmond, Ottawa Co (Richard Vandebeek, Sheryl-Elaine Brazeau). Rare in spring, a Purple Sandpiper was found 28 May at Toronto, Toronto Co (Owen Strickland). Baird’s Sandpipers were seen 24–29 May at Beamsville, Niagara Co (Joshua D. Vandermeulen), and 25 May at Cochenour, Kenora Co (Merle Nisly). A Western Sandpiper was seen 6–7 May at Leamington, Essex Co (Nicole Richardson, James Kennerly). Reports of Willets were widespread this spring coming from: Essex, Chatham-Kent, Norfolk, Lambton, Perth, Niagara, Hamilton, Halton, Toronto, and Durham counties, with an exceptional record coming from Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay Co, seen 14–19 May (James Barber, Nicholas Escott).

A Black-legged Kittiwake was observed 13 May at Oshawa, Durham Co (Dave Worthington). Not annual, Laughing Gulls were seen 4–8 May at Barrie, Simcoe Co (Dave Szmyr), 19 May at Whitby, Durham Co (George Koppel), 21 May at Ottawa, Ottawa Co (Tony Beck), and 22 May at Presqu’ile Provincial Park, Northumberland Co (Ian Shanahan). Franklin’s Gull reports included 7 May at Pelee Island, Essex Co (David I. Pryor, Richard Poort), 7 May at Erieau, Chatham-Kent Co (Steve Charbonneau), and 8 May at Long Point, Norfolk Co (Jeff H. Skevington, Richard Skevington, Paul Camp). A California Gull was a surprise from 22–24 Apr at Brantford, Brant Co (William G. Lamond). Four Arctic Terns were observed 24 May at Ottawa, Ottawa Co (Mark Gawn), and three others were unlikely visitors on 31 May at Black Bay, Thunder Bay Co (Aarre Ertolahti). The second provincial record of Royal Tern was a remarkable surprise as far north as Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co, on 25 May (Keith Burk); the first provincial record from 1974 was found at nearby Cedar Beach by none other than the great Alan Wormington—both of these records were brief, near single-observer records so most Ontario twitchers are still on the lookout. Pacific Loons were reported 5–6 May at Toronto, Toronto Co (Kris Ito, Owen Strickland), and 8 May at Rock Point Provincial Park, Haldimand Co (Joshua D. Vandermeulen). Neotropic Cormorant reports included: 25 Mar at Toronto, Toronto Co (Riley Walsh, Viktor Moroz), 21 Apr–12 May at Ottawa, Ottawa Co (Marcel Gahbauer), 26 Apr at Oshawa, Durham Co (Mike Ferguson), and 8 May–Jun at Leamington, Essex Co (Jeremy L. Hatt).

Reports of American White Pelicans were widespread away from usual locations, including Norfolk, Huron, Hamilton, Frontenac, Nipissing, Northumberland, Peterborough, Parry Sound, and Halton counties. Several Snowy Egrets were seen: 24 Apr at Long Point, Norfolk Co (Richard Skevington), 9–10 May at Cayuga, Haldimand Co (Marnie Gibson, Karen Petrie, Derek Ludkin), 13–19 May at Port Rowan, Norfolk Co (Sean Jenniskens, Jenny Andrews, Erik Van Den Kieboom), 17 May at Charwell Point, Prince Edward Co (Paul Jones), 17 May at Burlington, Halton Co (Barbara Canney), 17–20 May at Burlington, Halton Co (Andrew Mactavish), and 27 May at Presqu’ile Provincial Park, Northumberland Co (Doug McRae, Ian Shanahan). A Little Blue Heron was seen 15–16 Apr at Fort Erie, Niagara Co (Matthew Klassen), and another on 31 May at Port Rowan, Norfolk Co (Stuart A. Mackenzie). Two Cattle Egrets were seen: one on 17 Apr at Toronto, Toronto Co (Rosanne Martin), and another on 30 May at Port Colborne, Niagara Co (Dave Woodhouse). The Green Heron is very rare north of Lake Superior, but one appeared on 27 May at Pass Lake, Thunder Bay Co (Jeff H. Skevington, Vincent Fyson). A Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was seen in Toronto, Toronto Co from 21–26 May (m.obs), and again on 30 May (Bob Tyler).

Reports of Ibis were numerous this spring. Nine Glossy Ibis were seen 5–7 May at Lowbanks, Haldimand Co (Sheri Lewis), and a single bird 17–18 May at Brighton, Northumberland Co (Joyce Jaques, Michael Jaques). A group of eight birds were spotted in three unique locations on 20 May: Bluewater, Huron Co (Dana Latour, Tony Latour, Nathan Hood), Pinery Provincial Park, Lambton Co (fide eBird), and Ipperwash, Lambton Co (Dave Bourne). Other reports include four birds seen 25 May at Mitchell’s Bay, Chatham-Kent Co (Jeff Tunstall), 30 May–Jun at Leamington, Essex Co (Leon Barlow), and two birds 31 May–Jun at Whitby, Durham Co (Phyllis McNally). White-faced Ibis were seen 4–5 May at Michipicoten, Algoma Co (Bob Elliot), 18 May at Pelee Island, Essex Co (Robert Tymstra), 19–31 May at Long Point, Norfolk Co (Brendan Boyd, Alexandra Israel), 22 May at Collingwood, Simcoe Co (fide eBird), and 26–27 May at Nairn Centre, Greater Sudbury Co (Jeff H. Skevington, Vincent Fyson). Other Plegadis sp. sightings include 2 May at Toronto, Toronto Co (Riley Walsh), 21 May at Ottawa, Ottawa Co (Bernie Ladouceur), 22 May at Port Rowan, Norfolk Co (David Thomas), 30 May at Hullett Marsh, Huron Co (Tony Latour), and 31 May at Rondeau, Chatham-Kent Co (Craig Anderson).

Raptors through Sparrows

Reports of Black Vulture were widespread this spring, coming from: Essex, Chatham-Kent, Niagara, Hamilton, Grey, Waterloo, Prince Edward, Simcoe, Bruce, Middlesex, Lambton, and Norfolk counties. The only Swallow-tailed Kite of the spring was seen 23 May at Rondeau Provincial Park, Chatham-Kent Co (Joshua Bouman). Mississippi Kite, on the other hand, had four records: 4–5 May at Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Jeremy M. Bensette, Gord Harrison), 22 May at Long Point, Norfolk Co (Stuart A. Mackenzie), 27 May at Rondeau Provincial Park, Chatham-Kent Co (Joshua Bouman), and 29 May at Long Point, Norfolk Co (Joshua K. Pickering). Most sightings of Swainson’s Hawk in the province are unchaseable migrants, but a young bird present from 29 May into June north of Terrace Bay, Thunder Bay Co was seen by several birders (Pegg L. Campbell, Mark Campbell). A Yellow-bellied x Red-naped Sapsucker hybrid photographed on 11 Apr at Constance Bay, Ottawa Co, was an excellent record of a hybrid rarely seen this far east (Jeff H. Skevington, Angela Skevington). Two Say’s Phoebe were reported this spring; one, a long staying bird present 29 Mar–6 Apr on Amherst Island, Lennox and Addington Co (Michael Arthurs), the other, a one-day-wonder on 26 Apr in Scarborough, Toronto Co (Owen Ridgen). An Ash-throated Flycatcher was reported 2 May at Rondeau Provincial Park, Chatham-Kent Co, but could not be relocated after the initial sighting (Brett Fried, Erika Hentsch). A Western Kingbird was a good find at the airport in Kenora, Kenora Co on 29 May (Scott McAughey, Mike Prepp). A Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was seen briefly on 24 May near Port Rowan, Norfolk Co (Christian Friis). Rounding out the rare flycatchers, a Fork-tailed Flycatcher was photographed south of Wanup in Greater Sudbury Co on 19 May (Michelle Cholette)—with 10 previous provincial records, this is the first for the month of May.

White-eyed Vireo reports were numerous this spring coming from Essex, Chatham-Kent, Elgin, Norfolk, Perth, Brant, Bruce, Halton, Niagara, and Toronto counties. There were a few reports of Loggerhead Shrike away from their strongholds on the Carden Alvar and Napanee Plain: 6 Apr on Amherst Island, Lennox and Addington Co (Hans van der Zweep), 14 May at Little Pigeon Bay, Thunder Bay Co (Alan G. Harris), 16 May at Toronto, Toronto Co (Noam Markus), and 30–31 May near Goderich, Huron Co (Deb Johnston). The long-resident Black-billed Magpie at Echo Lake, Algoma Co continued throughout the spring reporting period (Valerie Walker, Christopher Zayachkowski). Away from the lakefront of the Golden Horseshoe, Fish Crow sightings were reported from: Guelph, Wellington Co on 7 Apr (Ben Oldfield), Mountsberg, Halton Co on 7 Apr (Foster Scott), Wheatley, Chatham-Kent Co on 30 Apr (Brandon R. Holden), Brampton, Peel Co, from 4–5 May (Annette Lambert), Parrott’s Bay Conservation Area, Lennox and Addington Co on 7 May (Nick Bartok), Bath, Lennox and Addington Co on 10 May (Kurt Hennige), and Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co from 10–12 May (Jeff H. Skevington, Richard Skevington, Paul Camp). Another rarely observed hybrid was a possible Carolina x Black-capped Chickadee photographed on 28 Apr at Long Point, Norfolk Co (Timothy B. Lucas). The clear winner for rarity of the spring was a Yellow-browed Warbler discovered the morning of 24 Apr (with an unconfirmed sighting on 25 Apr) in Mississauga, Peel Co. It was found by local birder Pat Hare on her morning walk and identified (correctly!) using the Merlin birding tool. Fine views were rewarded to what likely amounted to hundreds of visiting birders by day’s end, and everyone was careful to wear masks and keep their distance. The Rock Wren first reported in the winter at Glen Robertson, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Co, was killed by a domestic cat on 13 Mar (Carmelle Hagen, William Hagen). Many birders were able to make the trip in pre-arranged groups thanks to the home owners and the hard work of Ottawa birder Jeff Skevington. A Marsh Wren singing on Hostess Island, Rainy River Co on 25 May was a good record for the north-west of the province (Christopher Martin).

 A Sage Thrasher photographed 31 May near Rainy River, Rainy River Co was a one-day-wonder like many previous records of this species (Michael Dawber). A Northern Mockingbird seen 25–28 Apr on St. Joseph Island, Algoma Co was notable for the location and date (Barry Lyons). The only Mountain Bluebird of the spring was a male photographed on 12 Apr in Marathon, Thunder Bay Co (Christine Drake).  The Townsend’s Solitaire first reported in the winter in Mallorytown, Leeds and Grenville Co, was last seen 12 Mar (Gerard Phillips, Stew Hamill), while the bird from Huntsville, Muskoka Co (also first reported in the winter), was present until 17 Mar (m. obs.). There was a spate of Eurasian Tree Sparrow reports this spring: 19–23 Apr from Terrace Bay, Thunder Bay Co (Kevin W. Van Huygevoort), 24 Apr from Port Franks, Lambton Co (James Holdsworth), a bird photographed sometime in late April/early May in Kenora, Kenora Co (Laureen Parsons), 2 May in Long Point Provincial Park, Norfolk Co (Brendan Boyd, Alexandra Israel), 4–11 May from Terrace Bay, Thunder Bay Co (Duncan McKay), 9–12 May from Kaministiquia, Thunder Bay Co (Jeff N. Robinson), 13 May from Kenora, Kenora Co (Bill Kerr), 16 May from Longlac, Thunder Bay Co (Fred J. Jennings), and 27 May from Pass Lake, Thunder Bay Co (Lindy T. Wagenaar). The House Finches first reported in the winter from Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay Co, were last seen 20 Apr (m. obs.). Another group was present 8 Mar–29 May in Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay Co (Troy Balec et al.), while a single bird was reported on 4 May in Fort Frances, Rainy River Co (Andy Chepil). A late Common Redpoll was present at a feeder in Aurora, York Co from 9 Apr into June (Siegmar Bodach). 

A breeding-plumaged Smith’s Longspur was photographed in a large group of Lapland Longspurs on 20 Apr in Brantford, Brant Co (Brett Fried). There were a few reports of Lark Sparrow this spring: the continuing bird from the winter in Ashton, Ottawa Co, was last reported on 21 Apr (m.obs.); new records were: 27 Apr in Toronto, Toronto Co (Jesse Hughes), 27 Apr in Rondeau Provincial Park, Chatham-Kent Co (Ian Richards, Sandra Bateman), and 28 Apr–2 May in Tiverton, Bruce Co (Marshall Byle). A Lark Bunting was seen by several birders from 27–29 May near Pass Lake, Thunder Bay Co (Lindy T. Wagenaar). The Golden-crowned Sparrow first reported last fall in Sioux Lookout, Kenora Co, was last seen on 22 Apr (Laurel Wood). Both reports of Harris’s Sparrow were continuing birds from the winter: the Omemee, Kawartha Lakes Co, bird was last seen 6 May (Ron Baker), while the Port Dover, Norfolk Co, bird was last seen 7 May (Peter Stewart). There were two reports of White-crowned x White-throated Sparrow hybrids: 4 May in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Lev Frid, Amanda C. Guercio), and 19 May in Toronto, Toronto Co (Andrea Geboers). A Henslow’s Sparrow was seen by a few birders from 7–8 May in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Vicki McKay). The Spotted Towhee first reported in the winter from a feeder in London, Middlesex Co, was last seen at that location on 24 Mar (m. obs.), and what is likely the same bird was reported on 8 May nearby (fide eBird). 

Chat through Buntings

There were several reports of Yellow-breasted Chat this spring, especially in the south-west of the province. Counties with records were: Essex, Chatham-Kent, Lambton, Elgin, Norfolk, and Halton. Yellow-headed Blackbird reports were also numerous away from their known breeding locations in the north-west and south-west of the province; Algoma, Timiskaming, Thunder Bay, Haliburton, Simcoe, Toronto, Wellington, Bruce, Perth, Huron, Lambton, Niagara, Norfolk, Northumberland, Chatham-Kent, and Essex counties all had records of this species. The Western Meadowlark first reported last fall at a backyard feeder in Manitouwadge, Thunder Bay Co, was last reported on 17 Mar (Tammie Hache). Another Western Meadowlark was found 10 Apr near Glencoe, Middlesex Co, and persisted into the summer (Donald Pye). Records of Bullock’s Oriole came from Sault Ste. Marie, Algoma Co from 12–19 Apr (fide Carter Dorscht) and Campbellville, Halton Co from 27–29 Apr (Cliff Dominy). The Baltimore Oriole overwintering in Mimico, Toronto Co was last seen 3 Mar (Stella Bastone). A number of overshoot migrant Worm-eating Warblers were reported: 1 May (Anthony Vanderheyden), 4 May (William G. Lamond, Sarah Lamond), and 6–10 May (Kate Derbyshire, Hannah Stockford) all from Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co, 9 May from Sarnia, Lambton Co, (Deryl Nethercott, Sharon Nethercott), 14 May from Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Michael Runtz, Britta Herrmann), 19 May from Sarnia, Lambton Co (Stephen Hunt), 21 May from Long Point, Norfolk Co (Henry James), and 23 May from Spooky Hollow, Norfolk Co (Rob Crawford). A very early Louisiana Waterthrush was photographed on 23 Mar in Chatham, Chatham-Kent Co (Will Heikoop). 

Several Prothonotary Warblers were reported away from their usual range in the province’s south-west: 15 May in Whitby, Durham Co (Stu Williams), 16 May in Toronto, Toronto Co (Edward O’Connor), 16 May at Presqu’ile Provincial Park, Northumberland Co (fide Roger Frost), 20 May in Kitchener, Waterloo Co (Tara Hurley), 23 May into June in Toronto, Toronto Co (Michael Herel), 29 May in Hamilton, Hamilton Co (Dorlisa Robinson), and 30 May into June in Toronto, Toronto Co (Anne Hartman). Kentucky Warbler records came from: Toronto, Toronto Co, on 15 May (fide eBird) and 17 May (Zeny A. Lloyd, John Mills), Pinery Provincial Park, Lambton Co, on 19 May (Gordon Saunders), Long Point, Norfolk Co, on 20 May (Henry James), Rondeau Provincial Park, Chatham-Kent Co, on 21 May (Blake A. Mann), and London, Middlesex Co, on 25 May (Stephen Taylor). Migrant Kirtland’s Warblers were reported 14 May from Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Dean Ware, Joe McGorman), 14 May from Windsor, Essex Co (Ed McNorton), 15 May from Rondeau Provincial Park, Chatham-Kent Co (Joshua Bouman), 15–16 May from Rondeau Provincial Park, Chatham-Kent Co (m. obs.), and 19 May from Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (m. obs.). A record-early Bay-breasted Warbler was seen 20 Apr in Kincardine, Bruce Co (Bob Taylor, Anne-Marie Taylor). Yellow-throated Warblers were seen 25 Apr in Rondeau Provincial Park, Chatham-Kent Co (Anne McArthur), 30 Apr in Rondeau Provincial Park, Chatham-Kent Co (Peter Hogenbirk, Geoff Carpentier), 2 May at Prince Edward Point, Prince Edward Co (Jeff Bingham), 3 May in Newmarket, York Co (Paula Sheppard), 4 May in Hamilton, Hamilton Co (Joanne Redwood), and 17 May in Tobermory, Bruce Co (Michael Butler). 

Summer Tanager reports were widespread with Essex, Chatham-Kent, Norfolk, Oxford, Perth, Huron, York, Durham, Lambton, and Peel counties all having records. An especially notable Summer Tanager was photographed on 16 May in Rossport, Thunder Bay Co (Joan C. Smith, Gord Smith). Reports of Western Tanager came from Shuniah, Thunder Bay Co, from 7–12 May (Pam MacLean, Jim MacLean), Baden, Waterloo Co, on 12 May (fide Adam Timpf), and Timmins, Cochrane Co, from 16–17 May (David Houston). The Black-headed Grosbeak first reported last fall in Sawpit Bay, Algoma Co, was last seen on 11 May (William Van Atte). A Blue Grosbeak was seen by many from 4–12 May in London, Middlesex Co (Joanne Does). Painted Buntings were seen 2–6 May in Ottawa, Ottawa Co (Gordon Johnston), 15 May in Blind River, Algoma Co (Larry Kirtley), and 21 May in Schreiber, Thunder Bay Co (William H. Campbell). Dickcissel records were focused in the south-west of the province this spring: 8 May in Glencoe, Middlesex Co (Quinten Wiegersma), 18 May in Michipicoten, Algoma Co (Bob Elliott), 21 May in Wheatley, Chatham-Kent Co (Brandon R. Holden), 22 May in Wheatley, Chatham-Kent Co (Brandon R. Holden), 22 May into June in Amherstburg, Essex Co (Michael Hudak), 24 May in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (fide eBird), 27 May in Wheatley, Chatham-Kent Co (Steve Charbonneau), 31 May in Amherstburg, Essex Co (Harrison Priebe), and 31 May in Chatham-Kent, Chatham-Kent Co (Tyler Hoar). 

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