[Ontbirds] 2018-2019 Ontario winter bird list: update #1

[Josh Vandermeulen via ONTBIRDS]

After the first sixteen days of December the 2018-2019 Ontario winter bird list 
stands at 189 species, which is slightly above average for the date. As far as 
I can discern three species have been added to the all-time Ontario winter list 
so far, including the Great Kiskadee at Rondeau Provincial Park (last reported 
on Dec 9), a Western Kingbird found on the Long Point CBC on December 15, and a 
Yellow-billed Cuckoo that was discovered at Tommy Thompson Park in Toronto on 
December 15. If anyone knows of previous winter records for Yellow-billed 
Cuckoo, please let me know.


Other highlights so far include two Slaty-backed Gulls in Brantford as well as 
one in North Bay, a White-eyed Vireo at Rondeau Provincial Park, 13 species of 
warblers including a Hooded Warbler at Sedgewick Park in Oakville, a Summer 
Tanager at Sault Ste. Marie, and a Western Grebe in Sarnia.


There are a number of species that are typically recorded in a given winter 
that are still missing from this winter's list. They include Eurasian Wigeon, 
Gray Partridge, Osprey, Virginia Rail, Purple Sandpiper, Black-legged 
Kittiwake, Great Gray Owl, Boreal Owl, Harris's Sparrow, Eastern Meadowlark and 
Brewer's Blackbird.

The list can be viewed at http://tinyurl.com/myyulvs . I have also provided a 
link on my blog, located at 
http://joshvandermeulen.blogspot.ca/p/ontario-winter-bird-list.html . I try to 
update the spreadsheet every couple of days or whenever I hear of a new 
addition. Please let me know if you hear of a new addition or any other 
correction to the spreadsheet.


Good (winter) birding,

Josh Vandermeulen


___
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provincial birding organization.
Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca
For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit 
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Posting guidelines can be found at 
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[Ontbirds] 2018-2019 Ontario winter bird list

[Josh Vandermeulen via ONTBIRDS]

Birders,

December 1 marked the first day of winter listing,  the period of time running 
until February 28. I will be compiling the winter bird list in Ontario again 
this year. Approximately 348 species of birds have been recorded in Ontario 
during the winter period, with 200 to 220 species typically recorded in a given 
winter. Last winter 200 species were recorded which represented the second 
lowest total out of the last eight winters. Despite the relatively low total 
there were many highlights, including the first Townsend’s Warbler for the 
all-time winter list, as well as Black-throated Gray Warbler, Northern Gannet, 
Nelson’s Sparrow, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, American Bittern and early migrant 
Lesser Yellowlegs.

We are already off to a good start this winter with the Great Kiskadee 
miraculously appearing again, representing the first winter record for Ontario.

Just post your sightings to Ontbirds (if sufficiently rare), 
ebird.org or send me an email, and I will update the list 
accordingly and provide an update to Ontbirds every couple of weeks. That way 
you can check the list and inform me of any species that have been seen but are 
not present on the list.

The list can be viewed at http://tinyurl.com/myyulvs . I have also provided a 
link on my blog, located at 
http://joshvandermeulen.blogspot.ca/p/ontario-winter-bird-list.html . I try to 
update the spreadsheet every couple of days or whenever I hear of a new 
addition. Please let me know if you hear of a new addition or any other 
correction to the spreadsheet.

Good (winter) birding,
Josh Vandermeulen
joshvandermeulen.blogspot.com
___
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the 
provincial birding organization.
Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca
For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit 
http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup
Posting guidelines can be found at 
http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists