Ontario Rare Bird Alert for the weeks starting March 1, 2024 Species mentioned (all caps indicate species on the OBRC review list): Eurasian Wigeon (Chatham-Kent, Essex, Norfolk) Green-winged Teal (EURASIAN) (Hamilton) TUFTED DUCK x scaup sp. (hybrid) (Toronto) Eared Grebe (Grey) Sanderling (Northumberland) Purple Sandpiper (Northumberland) Pacific Loon (Hamilton) American White Pelican (Essex) Black Vulture (Niagara, Ottawa) Townsend's Solitaire (Frontenac, Prince Edward) EURASIAN TREE SPARROW (Algoma) Yellow-headed Blackbird (Peterborough) BULLOCK'S ORIOLE (Toronto) WESTERN TANAGER (Ottawa) 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. Eurasian Wigeon (Chatham-Kent): The male found by Jim Burk off Erieau on February 25 continued with a male in Rondeau Bay (viewed from Rondeau PP) to at least March 7. Eurasian Wigeon (Essex): Leon Barlow found a male at Hillman Marsh on March 3 that was seen by several others to at least March 5. Eurasian Wigeon (Norfolk): A male was off LPBO's Old Cut Field station March 2-4. Green-winged Teal (EURASIAN) (Hamilton): The male found by David Moffatt at Windermere Basin on February 5 continued to at least March 6. TUFTED DUCK x scaup sp. (hybrid) (Toronto): The male bird found February 9 off Tommy Thompson Park continued to at least March 6. Eared Grebe (Grey): The bird found by Alvan Buckley January 5 in Meaford (and possibly the same bird found by William Gray in Gravelly Bay north of Owen Sound on February 4) continued to at least March 2. Sanderling (Northumberland): The bird that Jo Li found at Owen Point in Presqu'ile PP on February 10 continued to at least March 7. Purple Sandpiper (Northumberland): The bird that Jo Li found at Owen Point in Presqu'ile PP on February 10 continued to at least March 7. Pacific Loon (Halton/Hamilton): The one found by Keith Dieroff at Yacht Club harbour on December 4 was photographed there on March 4. American White Pelican (Essex): The large flock around Holiday Beach continued again this week. Black Vulture (Niagara): Up to three birds were reported this period in the Queenston area. Black Vulture (Ottawa): Aidan Hamilton photographed one over Greenland Rd, north of Dunrobin on March 4. Townsend's Solitaire (Prince Edward): The bird found by Paul Jones at Sandbanks PP on December 24 continued to be seen by many observers to at least March 5. EURASIAN TREE SPARROW (Algoma): The birds, first found by Trent Massey on Nov 9, 2023 in Thessalon but not reported since late November and then refound by Rob Routledge on January 27 continued this week with reports of up to five birds to March 5. Yellow-headed Blackbird (Peterborough): Jax Nasimok reported one at Trent University on March 7. BULLOCK'S ORIOLE (Toronto): One bird, which has apparently been present since January 7 and identified the week of February 23 around the SW end of High Park continued to at least March 7. WESTERN TANAGER (Ottawa): The male bird found November 27th continues in Ottawa at the temporary OFO feeders in McCarthy's Woods. Food donations are welcome. Avoid searching for the bird near local homes and please use the eBird stakeout hotspot. Park on Gillespie and follow the trails to the feeders located at https://goo.gl/maps/KUZyXAJxgLJRX3uy8 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