Ontbirders,
Since my last update on February 4, two species have been added to the
2013-2014 Ontario winter bird list, bringing the total up to 194. In the seven
years in which the Ontario winter list has been calculated, the average has
been 203 species. New since the last update was a single male Hoary Redpoll
seen with a flock of Common Redpolls near Gowganda, Timiskaming District on
February 8, and Willow Ptarmigan seen near Moosonee (no exact date).
Some of the highlights from the past winter are as follows. My apologies if I
have forgotten any of the more notable finds.
"Borealis" Common Eider - first record for Ontario of this northern subspecies,
seen for a few weeks in early December at Fifty Point CA in Winona/Grimsby.
Thick-billed Murre - the third provincial record (second for the winter) since
the 1960s. This bird was seen by many over two days along the waterfront in
Kingston. Anna's Hummingbird - second provincial record, and first winter
record; a remarkable bird which managed to survive for nearly three months in
Thunder Bay, succumbing on December 7th. Clark's Nutcracker - only four
previous accepted Ontario records, including one winter record. This bird was a
one day wonder in Essex, ON on December 26, 2013. "Ipswich" Savannah Sparrow -
there is only one previous accepted record for Ontario of this east coast
subspecies. This bird was found in Toronto on December 15, 2013.
A few other notable rarities included Eared Grebe, American White Pelican, Red
Phalarope, Laughing Gull, Franklin's Gull, Blue-headed Vireo, Fish Crow, Tree
Swallow, Nashville Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Lark Sparrow, and Gray-crowned
Rosy-finch. I have created a Google Docs spreadsheet containing the list, and
it can be found at http://tinyurl.com/mqqpc2r. With only two days of winter
listing remaining, we will likely not add any new species to the list. As
always, please send me an email if you know of a sighting of one of the missing
species observed between December 1, 2013 and February 28, 2014. Additionally,
please let me know if you see any errors in the species list of the
spreadsheet, which is supposed to only contain species that have been reported
during the winter birding period (Dec 1 to Feb 28/29) in Ontario. I will be
without email service from February 27 until March 17 but will make any changes
to the list upon my return.
Good birding,Josh Vandermeulen
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Josh Vandermeulen
Schomberg, Ontario
joshvandermeu...@live.ca
289-221-4695 (cell)
joshvandermeulen.blogspot.com (blog)
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