Ontario Rare Bird Alert for the week starting October 6, 2023 Species mentioned (all caps indicate species on the OBRC review list): Harlequin Duck (Manitoulin) Eared Grebe (Lanark) Western Grebe (Parry Sound) Eurasian Collared-Dove (Thunder Bay) LIMPKIN (Lanark) American Avocet (Middlesex) Red Phalarope (Cochrane, Prince Edward) Long-tailed Jaeger (Lambton) Sabine's Gull (Lambton, Niagara, Norfolk) Franklin's Gull (Essex, Norfolk) Pacific Loon (Durham, Halton, Simcoe) Neotropic Cormorant (Frontenac) LITTLE BLUE HERON (Hamilton) YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Simcoe, Toronto) Black Vulture (Niagara) Cave Swallow (Elgin) Lark Sparrow (Norfolk) Harris's Sparrow (Algoma, Bruce) 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. Harlequin Duck (Manitoulin): Jarmo Jalava reported one at Birch Point on October 9 and 11. Eared Grebe (Lanark): Bob Kennedy found one at Almonte Lagoons on October 9 that was seen by many to at least October 12. Western Grebe (Parry Sound): Stu Mackenzie found one at Lake Bernard on October 7 that was seen by several others later the same day. Eurasian Collared-Dove (Thunder Bay): Donna Brown photographed one this week in their backyard. LIMPKIN (Lanark): The Mississippi River bird was reported this week by Alvan Buckley on October 6. American Avocet (Middlesex): Paul Nicholson found one at Komoka Provincial Park on October 6 that was seen by several others the same day. Red Phalarope (Cochrane): Pierre Noel found one at Porcupine Lake on October 11 that was seen again later the same day by other observers. Red Phalarope (Prince Edward): Joanne Dewey photographed one off Georges Rd near Solmesville on October 11. Long-tailed Jaeger (Lambton): Several observers reported up to two individuals off Ipperwash Beach on October 8. Sabine's Gull (Lambton): Deryl Nethercot reported one from Canatara Park in Sarnia on October 8 and the same day up to two were reported by several observers off Grand Bend and Ipperwash. Sabine's Gull (Niagara): Diana Werezak found one off Fort Erie on October 9 that was seen by several others the same day. Sabine's Gull (Norfolk): Andrew Jacobs reported one off the tip of Long Point on October 9. Franklin's Gull (Essex): Several observers had a first year bird off the tip of Point Pelee on October 7. Franklin's Gull (Norfolk): Bill Lamond photographed one off Port Ryerse on October 9. Pacific Loon (Durham): David Britton reported one off Thicksons Point on October 12 and the same day Sam Cameron reported one off Lakefront Park West in Oshawa. Pacific Loon (Halton): Markus Legzdins reported one off Arkendo Park on October 12. Pacific Loon (Simcoe): Adam Capparelli found one off the Barrie waterfront on October 7 and at least one bird was seen by several observers the rest of the week in the general vicinity. Neotropic Cormorant (Frontenac): The bird Phil Harvey found at Cataraqui Bay on August 17 continued to at least October 11. LITTLE BLUE HERON (Hamilton): Dave Donn and Rob Dobos found one at the west pond of the Royal Botanical Gardens on October 8 that was seen by many to at least October 12. YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Simcoe): The one found by Nancye Lance at Penetanguishene Bay on October 5 was seen by many to at least October 12. YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Toronto): One bird continued at Colonel Sam Smith Park this week. Black Vulture (Niagara): Up to two birds were reported this week from Queenston. Cave Swallow (Elgin): Chris Burris and Dave Brown reported one at Hawk Cliff on October 12. Lark Sparrow (Norfolk): LPBO volunteers had one at the tip of Long Point October 11 and 12. Harris's Sparrow (Algoma): Ron and Linda (Tozer) Johnston reported from the Fort Creek area of Sioux Ste Marie on October 6. Harris's Sparrow (Bruce): Eric Sickle et al found one at MacGregor Point PP on October 10 that was seen by several others to at least October 11. 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