Ontario Rare Bird Alert for the week starting October 13, 2023 Species mentioned (all caps indicate species on the OBRC review list): Harlequin Duck (Simcoe, Toronto) Eared Grebe (Elgin, Essex, Lanark) LIMPKIN (Lanark) Western Sandpiper (Niagara) Red Phalarope (Lambton) Sabine's Gull (Lambton) Franklin's Gull (Brant) Arctic Tern (Essex) Pacific Loon (Durham, Simcoe) Snowy Egret (Northumberland) LITTLE BLUE HERON (Hamilton) Black Vulture (Niagara) Black-billed Magpie (ELGIN) Harris's Sparrow (Wellington) Dickcissel (Peterborough) 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 (Simcoe): Mark Jennings photographed a male at Collingwood Harbour on October 19. Harlequin Duck (Toronto): Patrick Scanlon reported one from Sunnyside Beach on October 19. Eared Grebe (Elgin): The one at Aylmer Sewage Lagoons on October 1 by Michele Carnerie remained to at least October 15. Eared Grebe (Essex): Cameron Chevalier and Jeremy Hatt reported one at Point Pelee on October 15. Eared Grebe (Lanark): The bird found by Bob Kennedy at Almonte Lagoons on October 9 remained to at least October 14. LIMPKIN (Lanark): The Mississippi River bird was reported this week on October 14 and 17. Western Sandpiper (Niagara): Jean Farnan found one at Morgan's Point on October 14 that was seen by many others the same day only. Red Phalarope (Lambton): Josh Bouman reported one off Point Edward on October 16. Sabine's Gull (Lambton): A group of several birders had at least one off Point Edward on October 14. Franklin's Gull (Brant): Bill Lamond photographed one from the Grand River in Brantford on October 19. Arctic Tern (Essex): Jeremy Bensette and Kate Derbyshire reported one off Marentette Beach on October 19. Pacific Loon (Durham): Christine Andrews and Janet Lafond reported one off Lakefront Park West in Oshawa on October 13. Pacific Loon (Simcoe): At least one bird was seen by many birders this week from the Barrie waterfront. Snowy Egret (Northumberland): Gerard Phillips reported one off Calf Pasture at Presqu'ile PP on October 17. LITTLE BLUE HERON (Hamilton): The bird found by Dave Donn and Rob Dobos at the west pond of the Royal Botanical Gardens on October 8 continued again this week, often being seen in the Dejardins Canal viewed from Olympic Drive. Black Vulture (Niagara): Up to four birds were reported this week from the Queenston area. Black-billed Magpie (ELGIN): At least one of the birds from earlier in the fall west of St. Thomas was reported again this week. Harris's Sparrow (Wellington): Mike Cadman found one at the Powerline Trail in Guelph on October 16 that was seen by many to at least October 19. Dickcissel (Peterborough): Iain Rayner reported one over Lakefield on October 17. 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