Ontario Rare Bird Alert for the week starting October 27, 2023 Species mentioned (all caps indicate species on the OBRC review list): BARNACLE x Cackling Goose (hybrid) (York) Eurasian Wigeon (Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry) King Eider (Toronto) Harlequin Duck (Halton, Ottawa, Simcoe, Toronto) Barrow's Goldeneye (Ottawa) PURPLE GALLINULE (Northumberland, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry) LIMPKIN (Lanark) Red Phalarope (Hamilton) Purple Sandpiper (Chatham-Kent, Cochrane, Durham, Northumberland, Toronto) Long-tailed Jaeger (Norfolk) Pomarine Jaeger (Cochrane, Hamilton, Niagara) Franklin's Gull (Niagara) SHORT-BILLED GULL (Renfrew) Pacific Loon (Lambton) LITTLE BLUE HERON (Halton/Hamilton) Cattle Egret (Chatham-Kent) Black Vulture (Elgin, Niagara, Peel) Townsend's Solitaire (Thunder Bay) Varied Thrush (Kenora, Rainy River) 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. BARNACLE x Cackling Goose (hybrid) (York): The bird found by Jax Nasimok at Reesor Pond in Markham on October 25 continued this week to at least November 2. Eurasian Wigeon (Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry): At least one male was seen by several observers at different locations between Ingleside and the Long Sault Parkway this week from October 28 to at least November 2. King Eider (Toronto): A female type bird was seen by many observers off Tommy Thompson Park October 27 to at least November 2. It was also reported off Cherry Beach on October 30. Harlequin Duck (Halton): Mark Jennings reported a female type bird off Burloak Park on October 27 and 29. Harlequin Duck (Ottawa): Stéphane Martineau found a female type bird off Bate Island on October 29 that was seen by many to at least November 2. Harlequin Duck (Simcoe): The bird found by Mark Jennings at Collingwood Harbour on October 19 remained to at least October 31. Harlequin Duck (Toronto): Makail Johannesson found a female type bird off Tommy Thompson Park on October 28 that remained to at least October 29. Barrow's Goldeneye (Ottawa): Up to two birds were reported off Remic Rapids on the Ottawa River this week and at least one from the Rideau River near Strathcona Park. PURPLE GALLINULE (Northumberland): Doug McRae found an immature off the Presqu'ile Causeway on October 27 which has not been refound. PURPLE GALLINULE (Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry): An immature was found Farran Park in Ingleside on October 29 that was seen by several observers again on October 31. LIMPKIN (Lanark): The Mississippi River bird was reported again this week on October 27 and November 1. Red Phalarope (Hamilton): Rich Poort reported three off Sayer's Park on November 1. Purple Sandpiper (Chatham-Kent): Steve Charbonneau found three at Erieau on October 30; one was also there on November 1. Purple Sandpiper (Cochrane): Observers at Netitishi Point reported 4 on October 27 and 2 on October 30 Purple Sandpiper (Durham): Tim Logan reported two at Oshawa Second Marsh on October 28. Purple Sandpiper (Northumberland): Several observers reported one at Presqu'ile PP on October 29. Purple Sandpiper (Toronto): Up to two birds were reported between October 27 and 30 at Tommy Thompson Park and a single was seen by many at Colonel Sam Smith Park October 30-November 1. Long-tailed Jaeger (Norfolk): Andrew Jacobs reported one off the tip of Long Point on October 27. Pomarine Jaeger (Cochrane): The group at Netitishi Point photographed one on October 30. Pomarine Jaeger (Hamilton): Liam Thorne and Sterling Sztricsko reported one off Van Wagners Beach on October 29. Pomarine Jaeger (Niagara): Several observers reported one off Niagara-on-the-Lake on October 28. Franklin's Gull (Niagara): Jean Farnan reported one off Fort Erie on October 27. SHORT-BILLED GULL (Renfrew): The bird found by Jon Ruddy at Cobden on October 26 was seen by many observers to at least November 2. Pacific Loon (Lambton): Blake Mann reported one off Point Edward on October 28. LITTLE BLUE HERON (Halton/Hamilton): The bird found by Dave Donn and Rob Dobos on October 8 continued again this weekaround Valley Inn to at least October 29. Cattle Egret (Chatham-Kent): Several observers photographed one at Keith McLean CA on October 28 and then Steve Charbonneau found one October 31 west of Blenheim Sewage Lagoons that was seen by many to at least November 2. Black Vulture (Elgin): Ron Allensen reported one over Port Burwell on November 1. Black Vulture (Niagara): Up to four were reported this week from the Queenston area. Black Vulture (Peel): Tom Cosburn reported one near Claireville CA on November 1. Townsend's Solitaire (Thunder Bay): Brian Ratcliff and Al Harris reported one at Silver Islet on October 31. Varied Thrush (Kenora): One was photographed in Sioux Lookout on November 1. Varied Thrush (Rainy River): Bob Saunders reported one at his feeders north of Devlin on October 30. 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