ONTARIO 
This male Townsend's Warbler was a one-day wonder on 8 May 2009 at Rondeau 
Provincial Park, Chatham-Kent, providing a fourth local record and thirteenth for 
Ontario. Photograph by Gary A. Houghton. 
while singles were found dead 3 Mar in Man- 
itoulin at Honora (GF) and Little Current 
(CT). An ad. Northern Saw-whet Owl with 3 
owlets 17 Apr QPi. DPi) was an unexpected 
nesting record for Fort Erie, Niagara. A 
singing male Chuck-will’s-widow at Old Cut, 
Long Point 28 Apr (YSA, SIM) was a record- 
early spring migrant for Ontario and the only 
report this season. A singing male Whip- 
poor-will 30 Apr-14 May at Pelee Island 
(MVAB, KGB et al.) was thought to be on ter- 
ritory, which is exceptional for Essex. 
SWIFTS THROUGH WAXWINGS 
Quite remarkable was a male Black Swift at 
Point Pelee on 17-18 May, which repeatedly 
flew low over the Visitor Centre where it was 
photographed (EWH, BRH, SKH, LER et al). 
Another large, dark swift 12 May at the Tip of 
Long Point was also reported as a Black Swift 
(and also photographed), but the observers ac- 
knowledged that similar tropical or Palearctic 
species could not be eliminated (RWW, PT, JJ, 
JBE). There is only one prior record of Black 
Swift for Ontario — at the Tip of Long Point 21 
May 2006 (see Ontario Birds 26: 199-202, 
2008). The chimney at the Sault Ste. Marie 
Courthouse hosted a signihcant 1500-2000 
Chimney Swifts during mid- to late May Okal 
et al), and many were regularly predated by 
local Herring Gulls; but not far away a single 
bird at South Baymouth 13 May (CTB, RT, DR) 
was the first Manitoulin record since 2005. A 
Red-headed Woodpecker at Bracebridge 13-14 
May (TG et al) was a locally rare sighting for 
Muskoka. A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at Silver 
Islet 28 Mar (WSC) was very early for Thunder 
Bay. A male American Three-toed Woodpeck- 
er at Thunder Cape 20 May (ARS, JMW, MEW, 
SLS) was presumably a late spring migrant, as 
suitable breeding habitat is not present at this 
site. A Pileated Woodpecker at Long Point PR 
and Courtright Ridge 28 Apr (RR, KGB et al.) 
was only the 4th record ever for the Long Point 
peninsula. An Eastern Wood- 
Pewee at Rondeau RP. 26 Apr 
(BAM) was early, as was an 
Acadian Elycatcher at Point 
Pelee 29 Apr (BRH, LER); an- 
other Acadian at Toronto Is- 
lands 29 May (DDB) was rare 
for Toronto. On 10 May, a Says 
Phoebe was at Squaw Bay (Pass 
Lake), Thunder Bay (JB), about 
the 9th record for n. Ontario. A 
Western Kingbird at Thunder 
Cape 14 May QMW, MEW, SLS, 
ARS) was the only one report- 
ed. An Eastern Kingbird at 
Cornwall in far e. Ontario 3 
Apr (BLM) was record early for 
the province and was undoubtedly related to 
the fallout of exceptional early migrants in the 
Maritime Provinces and Northeast starting 4 
Apr, which also included this species. A very 
early Scissor-tailed Elycatcher delighted ob- 
servers 30 Apr-3 May at Long Sault Parkway, 
Stonnont, Dundas and Glengany (JK et al), and 
another was found at Tehkummah, Manitoulin 
20-22 May (AJA et al). The nesting Logger- 
head Shrikes at Newburgh, Lennox and Adding- 
ton numbered five pairs 27 Mar+ (KH). On 15 
May, a Bell’s Vireo was at Point Pelee (GJDP et 
al), a first local record since 2004 of this very 
rare visitor to the province. East of the perma- 
nent populations in western Rainy River, single 
Black-billed Magpies were found along L. Su- 
perior at Thunder Bay mid-Apr-2 May (m.ob.) 
and w. of Nipigon in mid-May (EJJ). 
Common Ravens at the extreme s. edge of 
their range were seen at Pinery PR, Lainbton 
28 Mar (RDT) and at Waterloo, Waterloo 5 
Apr (KRK), a 9th local record. A nesting at 
Woodlands Park, Toronto (m.ob.) was unsuc- 
cessful but was tbe first attempt within the 
city boundaries since about the 1840s (fide 
RBHS). On 8 & 25 May, a pair of Northern 
Rough-winged Swallows was at a nest cavity 
along Hwy. 60 (28 km marker) in Algonquin 
RR QP). a first nesting attempt for the park, 
where the species has been very rare since 
1995 (fide RGT). Single Tufted Titmouse ob- 
servations at or beyond the species’ range in s. 
Ontario included one at Wasaga Beach, Sim- 
coe 19 Mar-6 May (SAMr) and another along 
Lake Opinicon Rd., Frontenac 20 May (JM, 
BMc). “Hundreds” of Red-breasted Nuthatch- 
es picking up gravel (salt?) along Hwy. 593 in 
extreme sw. Thunder Bay 14 Mar OHA, ERA) 
must have made an impressive sight. A win- 
tering Carolina Wren noted since Jan well n. 
at South Goulais R., Algoma was last reported 
27 Apr (fide KAM). A very late Golden- 
crowned Kinglet was at Point Pelee 19 May 
(DM, KM). A Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at South 
Baymouth, Manitoulin 28 Apr (RT, CTB) was 
both rare and early for that location; another 
north-of-range individual was present at Sault 
Ste. Marie 18-19 May (DMB), a local first. A 
male Mountain Bluebird was at Eton-Rugby, 
Kenora 23-24 May (BGra); this rare species 
seems to be appearing less frequently in the 
province. The 2 Townsend’s Solitaires winter- 
ing at Parry Sound, Pariy Sound continued 
into the spring season, with both noted on 13 
Mar and one remaining through 23 Mar (fide 
BT). Another was seen at Kagawong, Mani- 
toulin 5-24 Mar (RT et al). The 17 Gray- 
cheeked Thrushes counted at Point Pelee 26 
Apr (STP, DHL et al.) was exceptional for the 
early date. A wintering Varied Thrush noted 
since 17 Dec at Watsons Corners, Lanark (KD 
et al.) was last seen 18 Mar, while another 
since 2 Eeb at Napanee, Lennox and Addington 
(SP et al.) was last seen 15 Mar. One was ob- 
served at Bowmanville, Durhatn 18 Mar only 
(OP), presumably a migrant. A Northern 
Mockingbird at Pukaskwa N.R (Oiseau Bay), 
Thunder Bay 28 May (JWH, MLA) was a bit 
unusual for L. Superior. Late concentrations 
of Bohemian Waxwings were 200 birds at 
Westport, Leeds and Grenville 8 Apr (N.L.B.) 
Q A It appears that Fish Crow is destined to colonize the lower Great Lakes. The first Ontario occurrence was in 1978 at 
D #4 Point Pelee, but now 16 records have accumulated and all are restricted to the n. shore of L. Erie from Point Peiee to 
Long Point. All have been spring migrants, but 2 birds in 1999 at Point Pelee remained into summer, and breeding was sus- 
pected. It has always been assumed that Ontario Fish Crows originate from the Mississippi R. drainage, but occurrences in 
nearby states have been slow to materialize. For example, Indiana did not record its first Fish Crow until 1991, and occurrences 
there have been limited to just five counties (Kenneth J. Brock, pers. comm.). Michigan recorded its first Fish Crow just this 
spring in Berrien (2009) along the Indiana border, and throughout the summer, multiple birds were present and presumably 
nested (Allen T. Chartier, pers. comm.). What is most peculiar, however, is that Ohio still lacks any record (William D. Whan, 
pers. comm.), even though one could expect the species to occasionally occur in that state along L. Erie or the Ohio River. The 
saga continues. Fora detailed account of this species arriving from the Atlantic Seaboard to colonize the Finger Lakes Region 
of New York State — where Fish Crow was first recorded in 1974 — one is referred to the excellent paper by Wells and Mc- 
Gowan (1991) in The Kingbird A]:73-iL 
Ontario occurrences this spring included a single at the Tip of Long Point 21 Apr (SAM, RWW et al.), 2 together at Point 
Pelee 26 Apr (STP, DHL et al.), and one at Rondeau P.P. 30 Apr (JL). 
VOLUME 63 (2009) 
NUMBER 3 
421 
