Summer 2024: 1 Jun–31 Jul

Adam Capparelli
adam.capparelli@alumni.utoronto.ca

Aaron Rusak
afrusak@gmail.com

Recommended citation:

Capparelli, A., and A. Rusak. 2026. Summer 2024: Ontario. <https://wp.me/p8iY2g-lJU> North American Birds.

Summer 2024 was a season of variable temperatures. June began cooler than normal but by mid-month much of southern Ontario was blanketed by heat with humidex values climbing into the low 40s. July followed a similar pattern with the beginning of the month recording below- or near-seasonal temperatures across the province switching to above-seasonal for the middle and latter portions of the month. In terms of precipitation, this summer was a wet one, especially in the south, with several large storms causing flooding. Especially notable was the remnants of Hurricane Beryl which dropped a record-breaking 46.1 millimetres of rain on Toronto on July 10 causing extreme flooding and power outages across the city.

Although a few exciting rarities were recorded, this summer was extremely slow for notable bird records. The province’s birders were kept busy searching for breeding evidence during this penultimate year of the third Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas. Although southern and central Ontario get excellent coverage due to most of the province’s population (and birders) living there, the far north of the province is difficult to visit despite the excellent birding the Hudson’s Bay lowland region offers. As a result, the Atlas has regularly sponsored dedicated trips to many areas in northern Ontario that would otherwise not be visited. This summer, several intrepid birders spent time in and around Polar Bear Provincial Park on the Hudson’s Bay coast, recording breeding evidence for several species rarely seen nesting in Ontario such as Willow Ptarmigan, Pacific Loon, Stilt Sandpiper, Smith’s Longspur and more. To offset the lack of interesting rarities, most of the photos included alongside this report showcase some of these lesser-known Ontario breeding birds.

Notable rarities included Common Eider, Ruff, Thick-billed/Common Murre, Brown Booby, and Western Tanager.

Special thanks:

We would like to extend our gratitude to Blake A. Mann for regional reporting and Andrew Keaveney for assistance in data logistics.

Waterfowl through Shorebirds

A Brant photographed on 21 Jun in Oakville, Halton RM was an unusual summer find on the Great Lakes (Markus Legzdins). The regular Mute Swans first reported in April at Wawa, Algoma Dist continued throughout the summer (m. ob.). The hybrid Tufted Duck x scaup sp. first seen in February was present in the City of Toronto until 30 Jun (m. ob.). A group of three female Common Eider seen on 27 Jun in Polar Bear Provincial Park, Kenora Dist was an exciting find, although this species is likely fairly regular on Ontario’s Hudson’s Bay coast (Mark Peck). A Western Grebe decided to summer on western Lake Ontario; it was seen from 27 Jun–1 Jul in the City of Toronto (Bruce Wilkinson), 16 Jul in Mississauga, Peel RM (Jonathan Collins), and 27 Jul in the City of Toronto (Tristan Ducharme). White-winged Doves were seen on 5 Jun in Longlac, Thunder Bay Dist (Fred J. Jennings), 5–7 Jun on Long Point, Norfolk Co (Caillie Monrad), and 25 Jun northwest of Cochrane, Cochrane Dist (Tricia Bird).

Common Gallinules recorded on 1 Jun near Temiskaming Shores, Timiskaming Dist (fide iNaturalist) and 13 Jun near Horwood Lake, Sudbury Dist (Jeff H. Skevington) were good records for northern Ontario where this species is rare. American Avocets were reported on 3 Jun in Sault Ste. Marie, Algoma Dist (Ken McIlwrick), 4 Jul in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Cameron Chevalier), and 29 Jul in Wasaga Beach, Simcoe Co (Colby Gillies). The nesting Piping Plovers in Wasaga Beach, Simcoe Co were seen up to at least 31 Jul (m. ob.), while those in Oshawa, Durham RM and Presqu’ile Provincial Park, Northumberland Co were still being seen into August (m. ob.). Additional records of Piping Plover were: 2 Jun (Samuel Perfect) and 10 Jun (Samuel Perfect, Caillie Monrad) on Long Point, Norfolk Co, 9 Jul on the South Limestone Islands, Parry Sound Dist (Hannah Dodington), and 29 Jul in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Fred Grenier). Willets were seen on 4 Jun in Pinery Provincial Park, Lambton Co (Max Segler) and Haileybury, Timiskaming Dist (Chris Pritchard), 3 Jul in Pinery Provincial Park, Lambton Co (Sarah Gardner), 11 Jul in Fort Erie, Niagara RM (Brandon R. Holden), 12 Jul in Oshawa, Durham RM (John Galea), 13 Jul in Pinery Provincial Park, Lambton Co (Sarah Gardner), and 21 Jul in Presqu’ile Provincial Park, Northumberland Co (Isabel J. Apkarian, Doug McRae). A Ruff seen from 25–26 Jul in Blenheim, Chatham-Kent Co was well-seen by many during its two-day stay (Stephen Taylor). A Western Sandpiper initially discovered on 31 Jul continued into August in Fort Erie, Niagara RM (Brian Moosie).

Jaegers through Ibis

A Long-tailed Jaeger seen on 22 Jun in Polar Bear Provincial Park, Kenora Dist was an excellent summer record for Ontario’s Hudson’s Bay coast (Jeff H. Skevington, Gis Segler). A bizarre summer record of Thick-billed/Common Murre was reported on 9 Jul in Oakville, Halton RM (Markus Legzdins). The only Laughing Gull of the summer was a bird present from 5–6 Jun in Erieau, Chatham-Kent Co (Stephen R. Charbonneau). Notable Franklin’s Gulls were reported from the City of Ottawa on 11 Jun (Colin Gaskell, Martha Burchat) and 11–12 Jun (Dan Simpson); although this species is regularly reported in the Rainy River District in Ontario’s northwest, it is rare elsewhere in the province. A California Gull was a good find in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co on 29 Jun (Jeremy L. Hatt). Continuing the trend from the spring, there were several more records of Arctic Tern this summer in Southern Ontario than usual: 1 Jun in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Cameron Chevalier), 4–5 Jun in the City of Ottawa (m. ob.), 14 Jun on Long Point, Norfolk Co (Samuel Perfect), 19 Jun in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Cameron Chevalier), 25 Jun at Kettle Point, Lambton Co (James M. Holdsworth), and an extremely unusual record of a juvenile bird on 11 Jul in Whitby, Durham RM (Patricia Schleiffer).

On 9 Jul, a researcher aboard the CCGS Limnos photographed a Brown Booby on the ship’s mast offshore of Haldimand Co on Lake Erie (Ainsley Kraut). As the ship’s route is visible online, several birders were able to use this information to track the ship and were rewarded with distant albeit identifiable views of the Brown Booby from 10–11 Jul while the ship was offshore of Norfolk Co (m. ob.). A Neotropic Cormorant was present from 25 Jul into August in Vaughan, York RM, at the same location this species was present last summer (Lev Frid). American White Pelicans were widespread with reports from Bruce, Norfolk, Renfrew, Prince Edward, Lambton, and Haldimand Cos, the Cities of Toronto, Hamilton, and Greater Sudbury, and Niagara RM. A Least Bittern reported on 2 Jun in Sutton Bay, Timiskaming Dist was a good find for northern Ontario (Andrew Davis). A Tricolored Heron was photographed on Long Point, Norfolk Co on 8 Jun (Samuel Perfect). Snowy Egrets were seen from 3–4 Jun in Brantford, Brant Co (William G. Lamond, Vicki Easton) and 9–13 Jun in Southampton, Bruce Co (Pat Gillies). A Great Egret photographed on 7 Jun near Hornepayne, Algoma Dist was an unusual sighting so far north (Georgia Clifford). A Glossy Ibis was seen on 3 Jun in Elmvale, Simcoe Co (Karen Presser, Harry Presser).

Raptors through Mockingbird

A single Black Vulture was seen away from its expected breeding grounds, with one being seen on 8 Jun over Rondeau, Chatham-Kent Co (Jeff Tunstall). A Turkey Vulture was also seen much farther north than the regular summering grounds, being seen on 11–12 Jun in Albany River, Kenora Dist (m. ob.). Two other notable raptors were seen in the summer season, with a Golden Eagle being seen on 5 Jun in the City of Ottawa (Bernie Ladouceur) and a Mississippi Kite being seen on 1 Jun at Prince Edward Point, Prince Edward Co (Madison Grenier, Alycia Selman). A presumed breeding Acadian Flycatcher was seen far from the expected breeding grounds from 10 Jun–20 Jul in Murphys Point Provincial Park, Lanark Co (Mark D. Read). A Say’s Phoebe stayed for several days up north from 19–21 Jun in Polar Bear Provincial Park, Kenora Dist (m. ob.). Rounding out our flycatchers was a one-day wonder Western Kingbird seen on 10 Jun in Neebing, Thunder Bay Dist (Allan Gilbert).

The presumed and very rarely documented Yellow-throated x Blue-headed Vireo (hybrid) continued at its nest site from May–9 Jun in Bradford West Gwillimbury, Simcoe Co (m. ob.). This bird originally caused quite the controversy over its identification, as many thought it was a Cassin’s Vireo. However, further photos and investigations determined it to be a hybrid adult currently paired with a Yellow-throated Vireo and attending eggs at a nest. Several Loggerhead Shrike were seen throughout the province outside of their traditional breeding grounds at the Carden Alvar and Napanee Plain with records on 5 Jun in Dyer’s Bay, Bruce Co (Matt Parsons), 10 Jun at Monument Corners, Bruce Co (Patricia Sein), 17–18 Jun in Kincardine, Bruce Co (Marshall Byle), and 3 Jul in Manitowaning, Manitoulin Dist (Stan Kozak). The species continues its small foothold in southern Ontario. Black-billed Magpies were also spotted around the province with a long-staying record from Mar–19 Jul in Shrewsbury, Chatham-Kent Co (m. ob.), 2 Jun in Moosonee, Cochrane Dist (Karen Carpenter), and 15 Jun in Leamington, Essex Co (fide Steve Pike). Notable Fish Crows were also observed in several locations: Kingston, Frontenac Co (m. ob.); another long-staying from Mar–22 Jun in Sarnia, Lambton Co (m. ob.); and 9–19 Jun in Brockville, Leeds and Grenville Co (Barbara O’Neill). A Marsh Wren was recorded as presumed breeding from 10 Jun–5 Jul in Cochenour, Kenora Dist (Merle Nisly). A long-staying Carolina Wren, well north of any breeding population, has been around from Fall 2023–Aug in Haileybury, Timiskaming Dist (Chris Pritchard). Finally, two northern records of Northern Mockingbird were observed on 28 Jun in Moosonee, Cochrane Dist (Kyle Wong) and 20 Jun in Polar Bear Provincial Park, Kenora Dist (m. ob.).

Old World Sparrows through Buntings

Many of the unusual summer records for this report are individuals that were recorded as extralimital to their regular breeding grounds. House Sparrows exhibited this with records on 23–24 Jun in Fort Albany, Kenora Dist (m. ob.) and 29 Jun in Moosonee, Cochrane DIst (Mark Peck). Other notable sparrows were two southerly summer records of Nelson’s Sparrow with an individual being seen on 4 Jun in Dunsford, City of Kawartha Lakes (Donald A. Sutherland) and another on 11 Jun in Sarnia, Lambton Co (Brandon R. Holden). A Henslow’s Sparrow was also spotted near historic breeding grounds on 3 Jul in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Cameron Chevalier).

Probable breeding Yellow-breasted Chats were seen from 22 Jun–3 Jul on Pelee Island, Essex Co (Olivia Maillet, Elisha Miller). A notable Yellow-headed Blackbird was seen from 19–22 Jun in Wiarton, Bruce Co (Joanne Brooks Taylor). The notable Western Meadowlark continued from the spring, being seen from May–15 Jun in Sombra, Lambton Co (m. ob.). Two northerly Orchard Orioles were recorded on 2 Jun at Thunder Cape, Thunder Bay Dist (David Grinevitch, Michael Dayton) and 29 Jul in Mountain Bay, Thunder Bay Dist (Rob Swainson). The lone notable warbler record from this summer was a Kirtland’s Warbler, a species that continues as a scarce breeder in Ontario, seen on 15 Jun in Espanola, Sudbury Dist (Erik Van Den Kieboom, Baylana Hiebert). Several late migrant Summer Tanagers were seen with records on 7 Jun in the City of Toronto (Zeny A. Lloyd, John Mills), 8 Jun in Ajax, Durham RM (Glenn Coady), and 11 Jun in Wheatley, Essex Co (Cathy Bondy). A Western Tanager was reported on 6 Jun in Thunder Cape, Thunder Bay Dist (David Grinevitch, Michael Dayton, Destiny Flores). A number of Blue Grosbeaks were recorded throughout the province, some staying well into breeding season, with records on 2–12 Jun in London, Middlesex Co (Laure Wilson Neish), 5 Jun in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Cameron Chevalier), 7 Jun in Renwick, Chatham-Kent Co (Brandon R. Holden), 7 Jun in Leamington, Essex Co (Brandon R. Holden), 13–14 Jun in Barretville, Essex Co (Andrew Wiebe, Kara Wiebe), and 23 Jun–Aug in Windsor, Essex Co (Paul Pratt). Finally, Dickcissels were widespread throughout the province with reports from Bruce, Middlesex, Norfolk, Essex, Chatham-Kent, Elgin, and Lambton Cos, Halton RM, and Nipissing Dist.

Report edited by Andrew Keaveney, 20 Aug 2026.

Photos–Ontario: Summer 2024

Most Ontario birders see Willow Ptarmigan in winter plumage, however this species nests along the Hudson’s Bay coast in far northern Ontario. The photo of this bird was taken on 23 June in Polar Bear Provincial Park, Kenora Dist during an atlassing trip for the third Ontario breeding bird atlas. Photo © Jeff Skevington.

Although Smith’s Longspur is extremely rare in Southern Ontario, there is a sizable breeding population on Ontario’s Hudson’s Bay coast. This bird, photographed on 20 June in Polar Bear Provincial Park, Kenora Dist, was one of eleven birds nesting in the area. Photo © Kenneth G. D. Burrell.

This Ruff was a highlight during a bit of a slow summer for rarities. Photographed here on 25 July in Blenheim, Chatham-Kent Co, the bird was also present on the 26th. Photo © Jack Belleghem; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library.

Most shorebirds are thought of as high arctic breeders but there are several species that nest in far northern Ontario. This Dunlin, photographed here on 26 June in Polar Bear Provincial Park, Kenora Dist, was one of several displaying birds. Other nesting shorebirds at this location included Whimbrel, Hudsonian Godwit, Stilt Sandpiper and Least Sandpiper. Photo © Kenneth G. D. Burrell.