Ontario Rare Bird Alert for the week starting December 29, 2023 Species mentioned (all caps indicate species on the OBRC review list): King Eider (Niagara, Toronto) Eared Grebe (Toronto) Western Grebe (Halton) Purple Sandpiper (Chatham-Kent, Durham) Franklin's Gull (Brant, Halton, Waterloo) SLATY-BACKED GULL (Middlesex) Pacific Loon (Halton, Hamilton, Simcoe) Black Vulture (Niagara) Black-billed Magpie (ALGOMA) Black-billed Magpie (MIDDLESEX) Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Chatham-Kent) Townsend's Solitaire (Essex, Prince Edward) Wood Thrush (Ottawa) Ovenbird (Peel) Black-and-white Warbler (Elgin) Nashville Warbler (Toronto) Cape May Warbler (Simcoe, Thunder Bay) Yellow-rumped Warbler (AUDUBON'S) (Chatham-Kent) Summer Tanager (Halton) WESTERN TANAGER (Ottawa) Dickcissel (Toronto) Details: I have tried to indicate the finder, where known. My apologies to those who I have left out. You can help me by giving the finder's name(s), if known, in your eBird checklists. King Eider (Niagara): One bird was reported again this week (on December 29) off Fifty Point. King Eider (Toronto): Paul Prior found a young male of Pipit Point in Tommy Thompson Park on December 30. A female was seen by many observers at Colonel Sam Smith Park January 2-3. Eared Grebe (Toronto): Marsha Duggan found one at Colonel Sam Smith Park on December 15 that was seen by many to at least January 2. Western Grebe (Halton/Hamilton): The bird found by Joanne Redwood off LaSalle Park on November 27 continued again this week to at least January 4. Purple Sandpiper (Chatham-Kent): Morgan O'Brien found one at Erieau on December 31. Purple Sandpiper (Durham): Amy Arkeveld reported one from Beaton Point in Oshawa on January 2. Franklin's Gull (Brant): One bird (possibly the same bird seen previous days in Waterloo and Halton) was found by Bill Lamond seen at a few locations around Brantford on December 31. Franklin's Gull (Halton): Jackson Hudecki found one at LaSalle Park on December 29 that was seen by several observers the same day. Franklin's Gull (Waterloo): The bird found by William Konze at Hespeler Mill Pond in Cambridge on December 27 was reported December 29 by Nancy Douglas. SLATY-BACKED GULL (Middlesex): The adult found by Reuven Martin found at Westminister landfill site on December 22 was seen again by several observers to at least January 3. Pacific Loon (Halton/Hamilton): The one found by Keith Dieroff at Yacht Club harbour on December 4 was seen again several times this week from various locations around Hamilton Harbour. Black Vulture (Niagara): Up to two birds were reported this week from the Queenston area. Black-billed Magpie (ALGOMA): The long-staying bird at Echo Lake (since at least 2015!) was photographed January 1 by Carter Dorscht. Black-billed Magpie (MIDDLESEX): The bird found by Quinten Wiegersma at the Westminister landfill site on December 21 continued to at least January 3. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Chatham-Kent): One bird continued in the Rondeau PP campground to at least December 30. Townsend's Solitaire (Essex): The bird found by Jeremy Bensette and Kate Derbyshire at DeLaurier in Point Pelee on November 19 continued again this week to at least January 4. Townsend's Solitaire (Prince Edward): Paul Jones found one at Sandbanks PP on December 24 that was seen by many to at least December 30. Wood Thrush (Ottawa): The bird found by Francine Mercier at Champlain Park Woods on December 7 continued to at least January 4. Ovenbird (Peel): D. Cairns photographed one in their Brampton backyard January 1-4. Black-and-white Warbler (Elgin): The one found by Pete Matthews at Lake Margaret in St. Thomas on December 10 was seen again January 1. Nashville Warbler (Toronto): Emily-Kate Hunter and Annette Lambert photographed one at Etienne Brule Park on January 1. Cape May Warbler (Simcoe): Angie Gibson photographed one in Wasaga Beach January 2-3. Cape May Warbler (Thunder Bay): Karen Shirley photographed one at their feeder in Shuniah on January 3. Yellow-rumped Warbler (AUDUBON'S) (Chatham-Kent): The bird found by Blake Mann at Rondeau PP on November 30 was seen again this week to at least January 4. Summer Tanager (Halton): Michael Hayes photographed one in a Burlington backyard on December 31. WESTERN TANAGER (Ottawa): One bird was found November 27th but has become more reliable of late near Gillespie Park to at least January 1. Updated details are at: https://ontbirds.ca/empathy/thread/TWOIDOPFVSJQXRC6KD27UPOAIBWYH2OS Dickcissel (Toronto): The bird found by Will Heikoop at Don Valley Brick Works Park on November 19 was seen by many to at least January 4. Report compiled by Mike Burrell from a variety of sources, primarily eBird; most other sources are listed here: http://ofo.ca/site/content/ontario-hotlines-and-news Mike Burrell (he/him) mike.burrell.on@gmail.com