Colour Coded Rarity Index

Black denotes a noteworthy sighting/sighting of interest.

Amber denotes a somewhat rare sighting (beyond threshold of “uncommon;” more in line with “scarce.”)

Red denotes a rare sighting.

Plum denotes a very rare sighting.

Observations List (2025)

Ring-necked Duck: A single adult drake with other ducks along shore at Lamoureux Park, in Cornwall. Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry County. 22 January 2025.

Barrow’s Goldeneye: A single adult drake with Common Goldeneye. Lamoureux Park, in Cornwall. Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry County. 22 January 2025.

Snow Goose: A single formative plumage white morph with Canada Geese, in flight. Wolfe Island in Frontenac County. 23 January 2025.

Rusty Blackbird: 2 individuals, first observed by my client, Nishard Abdeen. Wolfe Island in Frontenac County. 23 January 2025.

“Black-billed” Swans (Trumpeter/Tundra): A total of 81 black-billed swans roosting on the USA side of the St. Lawrence River, at Johnstown. Leeds & Grenville County. 24 January 2025.

Gadwall: 1 individual (male), first observed by my client, Isabel. Carleton Place Riverview Trail. Lanark County. 19 February 2025.

Red-breasted Merganser: 140 individuals from Prescott’s Kelly Park to Battle of the Windmill Historic site (slightly west of CAN/USA bridge, in Johnstown, Ontario). Leeds & Grenville County. 19 February 2025.

Ruddy Duck: Two individuals roosting with other ducks in Kingston’s Inner Harbour. Observed from McLean Park. ** Rare for season (early March) at this location. Frontenac County. 5 March 2025.

Barrow’s Goldeneye: A drake off South Shore Road, on Amherst Island. **Somewhat rare to rare in the Kingston region, from fall to early Spring. Lennox & Addington County. 8 March 2025.

Eurasian Teal x Green-winged Teal intergrade: A drake observed off Owen Point at Presqu’ile Provincial Park. Appears to be the first record for Presqu’ile Provincial Park. Northumberland County. 11 March 2025.

Redhead x Ring-necked Duck: A hybrid drake at Calf Pasture, Presqu’ile Provincial Park. Appears to be the first record for eastern Ontario. Northumberland County. 11 March 2025.

Golden Eagle: An immature bird observed from Blue Mountain, at Charleston Lake Provincial Park. Leeds & Grenville County. 14 March 2025.

American Goshawk: An adult and a juvenile (juvenile plumage is held into the second calendar year) observed from Blue Mountain, at Charleston Lake Provincial Park. Leeds & Grenville County. 14 March 2025.

Ring-necked Duck x Lesser Scaup: A hybrid drake seen from Lilla Burke Park in Kingston, Ontario. There are two other records of this hybrid pairing from eastern Ontario; this is the third. Frontenac County. 15 March 2025.

Greater White-fronted Goose: Observed with other geese on Wolfe Island. Frontenac County. 15 March 2025.

Ross’s Goose: Observed flying with Snow Geese over Place St. Thomas, in Embrun. Prescott & Russell County. 18 March 2025.

Golden Eagle: Observed flying at Blue Mountain hiking trail, at Charleston Lake Provincial Park. Leeds & Grenville County. 19 March 2025.

Golden Eagle: Observed flying over Russell Road Wetland Complex, north of Gananoque. Leeds & Grenville County. 19 March 2025.

Eurasian Teal: A drake observed at Russell Road Wetland Complex, north of Gananoque. Leeds & Grenville County. 19 March 2025.

Eurasian Teal x Green-winged Teal intergrade: A drake observed at Farran Park on the St. Lawrence River. Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry County. 31 March 2025.

Barrow’s Goldeneye: A first winter female Barrow’s Goldeneye at Ingleside, Ontario (St. Lawrence River). Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry County. 31 March 2025.

Mute Swan: A flyby bird on the Ottawa River, seen from Voyageur pathway in Orleans. Ottawa County. 4 April 2025.

Tufted Duck x Lesser Scaup: A drake with other Aythya ducks, on the St. Lawrence River, in Long Sault, Ontario. This is the first record for eastern Ontario of this hybrid pairing, and the second record of a Tufted Duck x scaup species. Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry County. 6 April 2025.

Tufted Titmouse: A transient bird found along a Concession road, near Alfred, Ontario. Prescott-Russell County. 12 April 2025.

Golden Eagle: An immature bird flying near Russell Road Wetland Complex, near Gananoque. Leeds & Grenville County. 14 April 2025.

Little Gull: Two adult LIGU with BOGU at Amherst Island. Lennox & Addington County. 25 April 2025.

Eurasian x Green-winged Teal intergrade: A drake with other waterbirds along the K&P Trail in Kingston. Frontenac County. 26 April 2025.

Pacific Loon: A basic plumage (non-breeding plumage) bird near the tip of Point Pelee National Park. Essex County. 7 May 2025.

Neotropic Cormorant: Unknown age (bird in flight at a distance) flying offshore at Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area. Prince Edward County. 17 May 2025.

Lesser Black-backed Gull: 45 individuals at Oulet Beach, Sandbanks Provincial Park. A noteworthy number for the date and location. Prince Edward County. 19 May 2025.

“Kumlien’s” Iceland Gull: A first summer bird roosting with other gulls on Outlet Beach, at Sandbanks Provincial Park. Prince Edward County. 23 May 2025.

Arctic Tern: A Prince Edward County first record; an adult bird offshore Point Petre Wildlife Area. Prince Edward County. 23 May 2025.

Franklin’s Gull: An adult bird roosting on Outlet Beach, at Sandbanks Provincial Park. Prince Edward County. 23 May 2025.

Whimbrel: A flock of 110 birds far offshore Point Petre Wildlife Area, flying west. Prince Edward County. 23 May 2025.

Neotropic Cormorant: A presumed adult bird in flight with Double-crested Cormorants, offshore Outlet Beach, at Sandbanks Provincial Park. Prince Edward County. 24 May 2025.

Forster’s Tern: Two adults roosting at the tip of Owen Point, at Presqu’ile Provincial Park. Northumberland County. 25 May 2025.

Lesser Black-backed Gull: A count of 152 birds on Outlet Beach, at Sandbanks Provincial Park. Prince Edward County. 1 June 2025.

“Kumlien’s” Iceland Gull: A first summer bird at Cobourg Harbour. Northumberland County. 1 June 2025.

“Thayer’s” Iceland Gull: A first summer bird at Cobourg Harbour. Thank you to Brandon Holden for assisting, live-time, with this ID. The bird was robust, so much so that I wondered about Slaty-backed Gull as a possibility. I reached out to Brandon and he helped with working the idea out, as we traded thoughts and observations about the bird. Northumberland County. 1 June 2025.

Plegadis Ibis: A flyover over Highway 401, north of the Ivy Lea region. Leeds and Grenville County. 31 July 2025.

Sabine’s Gull: A juvenile bird offshore Avonmore Beach, in the Upper Canada Region of the St. Lawrence River. The first sighting of a Sabine’s in this county since 1993. Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry County. 28 August 2025.

Red-necked Phalarope: A flock of 8 birds swimming together at Alfred Sewage Lagoons. Prescott-Russell County. 29 August 2025.

Small white heron species: An undetermined small white heron species in flight on the Rideau River, across from Baxter C.A. Observed while I was driving. Ottawa County. 2 September 2025.

Pacific Loon: A basic plumage (non-breeding) bird on Lake Ontario, viewed from Point Petre Wildlife Area. Prince Edward County. 27 September 2025.

Parasitic Jaeger: A light morph juvenile off Point Petre Wildlife Area. Prince Edward County. 3 October 2025.

Yellow-headed Blackbird: A female/immature (first basic..?) individual in fight at Point Petre Wildlife Area. Prince Edward County. 9 October 2025.

“Cassiar” Dark-eyed Junco: A male Cassiar with Slate-coloured Dark-eyed Juncos along Kiwanis Pathway, in Pembroke. First record for Renfrew County. Renfrew County. 14 October 2025.

“Kumlien’s” Iceland Gull: A juvenile (right on schedule, in terms of migration timing) offshore Andrew Haydon Park. Ottawa County. 18 October 2025.

Jaeger species: An adult jaeger of an unidentified species (Parasitic/Pomarine) offshore Point Petre Wildlife Conservation Area. Prince Edward County. 19 October 2025.

Sterna tern species: An unidentified to species-level Sterna tern offshore Point Petre Wildlife Conservation Area. Prince Edward County. 19 October 2025.

Loon species: A loon which was promising for Pacific Loon, flying offshore at Point Petre Wildlife Conservation Area. Prince Edward County. 19 October 2025.

Bobolink: A very late migrant/lingering bird at a stormwater pond in Carleton Place; it appears to be the third latest fall record in eastern Ontario, for example. Lanark County. 29 October 2025.

“Thayer’s” Iceland Gull: A juvenile Thayer’s Iceland Gull at a landfill near Pembroke, Ontario. Renfrew County. 30 October 2025.

Red-throated Loon: At least seven birds migrating off the coast of Point Petre Wildlife Conservation Area. Prince Edward County. 1 November 2025.

Eurasian Wigeon: A female/female-type at Ault Island causeway, near Ingleside. Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry County. 5 November 2025.

Hudsonian Godwit: A juvenile/formative bird at Ault Island causeway. I’m unclear whether this is a continuing individual (last HUGO report at Ault Island/Farran Park was on 27 October 2025) or, a new migrant. Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry. 5 November 2025.

Red-throated Loon: At least 14 birds (most in definitive basic plumage) off the coast of Point Petre Wildlife C.A. Prince Edward County. 7 November 2025.

Kumlien’s Iceland Gull: A juvenile/first cycle bird off the coast of Point Petre Wildlife C.A. Prince Edward County. 7 November 2025.

Lesser Black-backed Gull: A second cycle bird off the coast of Point Petre Wildlife C.A. Prince Edward County. 7 November 2025.

Snow Goose: An adult white morph Snow Goose resting with Canada Geese at Outlet Beach at Sandbanks Provincial Park. Prince Edward County. 7 November 2025.

Long-eared Owl: A roosting individual in a tree. Ottawa County. 11 November 2025.

Red-throated Loon: A movement of just over 120 birds (all definitive basic plumage, that I could tell) over the Ottawa River at Dick Bell Park. The rarity value here is applied to the scale of the movement, vs. the species itself (this species would best be tabulated as “uncommon but expected” in fall, in Ottawa). Ottawa County. 11 November 2025.

Brant (Pale-bellied): A formative bird resting on the bank at Embrun Sewage Lagoons. Prescott-Russell County. 14 November 2025.

Ross’s Goose: Two adult birds among other geese, in a corn field in Embrun. Prescott-Russell County. 14 November 2025.

Greater White-fronted Goose: A formative bird among other geese in a corn field in Embrun. Prescott-Russell County. 14 November 2025.

Ross’s Goose: Two adults and one formative bird among Snow Geese in Embrun. Prescott-Russell County. 15 November 2025.

Canvasback: A female with other ducks in Kingston’s Inner Harbour. Frontenac County. 26 November 2025.

“Kumlien’s” Iceland Gull: A juvenile with other gulls at Kingston Mills. Frontenac County. 26 November 2025.

Eurasian Wigeon: A formative drake in transitional plumage at Amherstview Sewage Lagoons (KFN members-only site). Lennox & Addington County. 26 November 2025.

American Pipit: A single bird flushed from the grasses on Gull Island, at Presqu’ile Provincial Park. Northumberland County. 4 December 2025.

Purple Sandpiper: 3 individuals on Gull Island, at Presqu’ile Provincial Park. Northumberland County. 4 December 2025.

“Thayer’s” Iceland Gull: A second winter (second cycle) bird off the lighthouse at Port Weller east pier. Niagara County. 5 December 2025.

Purple Sandpiper: A first winter (first cycle) bird at the lighthouse at Port Weller east pier. Niagara County. 5 December 2025.

“Thayer’s” Iceland Gull: A first cycle bird at Hamilton Harbour. Hamilton County. 7 December 2025.

Cape May Warbler: A female/female-type individual at Sedgewick Park in Oakville. Halton County. 7 December 2025.

“Audubon’s” Yellow-rumped Warbler: A female/female-type individual at Sedgewick Park in Oakville. Halton County. 7 December 2025.

American Pipit: A lone pipit on the icy rocks at Heritage Point in Bath, Ontario. Lennox & Addington County. 13 December 2025.

“Myrtle” Yellow-rumped Warbler: A single bird at Heritage Point Park in Bath, Ontario. This is a known late fall/early winter site for this species. Lennox & Addington County. 13 December 2025.

Northern Saw-whet Owl: A roosting bird found in a cedar tree. Lennox & Addington County. 13 December 2025.

American Wigeon: A drake found in Cornwall, Ontario. Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry County. 29 December 2025.