50 Ontario Bird Records Committee Report for 1995 by Robert Z. Dobos Introduction Listing ofRecords This is the 14th annual report of the The format of this report follows that Ontario Bird Records Committee used in previous annual reports .. (OBRC). The merrlbers of the Com­ Accepted records are listed by their mittee in 1995 were Margaret Bain, English and scientific names following Robert Curry (Chairperson), Robert the ADD Check-list (1983) and its Dobos (Secretary), Ross James, Kevin supplements to date, except Ross's McLaughlin, Dennis Rupert,- Donald Goose and Ross's Gull. Following the SutherlandandAlanWormington. Ross names, a binomial numbering system James also serves as Museum Liaison appears.. ThefIrst numberindicates the to the OBRC. total number of accepted records (by Approximately 160 records were the OBRC) prior to 1January 1982 (the reviewed during 1995. Of these, 124 formation ofthe OBRC); the second is wereaccepted, for an acceptancerate of the total number of accepted records about 78 percent. Four species were from 1982 to 1995 (including those accepted and added to the Ontario bird listed in this report). An asterisk in checklist: White-faced Ibis, Prairie place of the first number indicates that Falcon, Black-tailedGodwitand Varied documentation was notrequired for the Bunting. Another species, Spotted occurrence of these species prior to Towhee, is retroactively added to the 1982. list as a result of taxonomic changes Date(s) of occurrence, number of made by the American Ornithologists' birds, sex, plumage, age and location(s) Union (AOU) (see below). Theofficial are provided when known. Counties, Ontario list now stands at 465 species. Districts and Regional Municipalities Added to the list for northern Ontario are shown in italics. All contributors of are Brown Pelican, Garganey, Tufted documentation are listed. Contributors Duck, Lewis'sWoodpecker and Painted who were known to be the finders ofthe Bunting. No new provincial breeding bird are underlined. Finders who did species were added in 1995. not submit a report are also listed when OBRC records are archived at the known. Royal Ontario Museum (ROM). Re­ Everyefforthas been madeto verify searchers and other interested persons information published regarding a may examine filed reports and record; however, it is inevitable that Committee decisions at the ROM by some inaccuracies may still exist. We appointment. Please contact Brad would welcome any corrections or Millen, Centre for Biodiversity and updates to make these records more Conservation Biology, Royal Ontario exact. Where dates or other details Museum, 100 Queen's Park, Toronto, listed here differ from those quoted in Ontario, M5S 2C6, or call 416-586­ other published sources (for example, 5519. ONTARIO BIRDS AUGUST 1996 51 Birders Journal or Audubon Field from northern Ontario. These accepted Notes), we have used the most accurate records are: one female, 10-17 available information. November 1990, Silver Islet, Thunder All records that were not accepted Bay (Curry 1991); and, one male, 27 because of uncertain identification or October- 3 November 1984, Atikokan, origin are listed separately. Submitters RainyRiver(Wormington 1986). Thus, ofall "not accepted" reports receive a Spotted Towhee can be added to the letter from the Chairperson explaining Ontario checklist on this basis. The the reasons for the decision, along with OBRC would liketo continueto receive copies of the comments of the voting reports of Spotted Towhee from both members. These reports are also kept southern and northern Ontario for on permanent file at the ROM. A "not review. accepted" record can be reconsidered Bicknell's Thrush (Catharus by the OBRC only if new evidence is bicknelli) has been elevated to the rank submitted to the Committee for review. of species distinct from Gray-cheeked Thrush (C. minimus). Therearereported AOU Changes to besightings and specimens attributed As a result of taxonomic and nomen­ to this species for Ontario (Pittaway clatural changes published in the 1996); however, these will require "Fortieth Supplement to the American review and acceptance by the OBRC Ornithologists' Union Check-list of before this species can be added to the NorthAmericanBirds" (AOU 1995), a Ontario list. The Committeeexpects to number ofchanges to the bird checklist review some of these reports during for Ontario have occurred. Changes to 1996. the English names are: American Northern Oriole has been splitinto Swallow-tailed Kite becomes Swallow­ Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula), tailed Kite (Elanoidesforficatus); and, common through much of the south of Common Black-headed Gull becomes Ontario, and Bullock's Oriole (I. Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus). bullockii). There are reported to be Scientific name changes include: Great records ofBullock's Oriole for Ontario Egret, to Ardea alba; and, American (James 1991); however, these will also Golden-Plover, to Pluvialis dominicus. require review and acceptance by the As the result of a taxonomic revision, OBRebeforebeingadded totheofficial the subspecies ofSharp-tailed Sparrow checklist. Weencouragethesubmission which occur in Ontario are now in the ofdocumentation for any pastandfuture species Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow sightings of this species to the OBRe (Alnlnodramus nelsoni). for review. Rufous-sided Towhee has been split into Eastern Towhee (Pipilo Acknowledgements erythrophthalmus), common through The OBRC would like to thank the much of southern Ontario, and the many observers who submittedreports, western Spotted Towhee (P. photographs and sketches in 1995. The maculatus). TheOBRC has previously following peoplearealsothankedeither accepted records of Spotted Towhee for soliciting and forwarding reports VOLUME 14 NUMBER 2 52 from others or assisting the Committee Dedication in other ways: Pamela Burns, Allen This report is dedicated to the Chartier, Glenn Coady, EdCzerwinski, memory of Dennis Rupert who, sadly, Willie D'Anna, DaveElder, NickEscott, passed away on 8 August 1996. Dennis Dave Fidler, Jean Griffin, Leo Heyens, had served three terms on the OBRC, Tom Hince, Karl Konze, E.R. from 1984-86, 1989-91 and 1993-95, MacDonald, Jon McCracken, Sheldon and was Chairperson in 1986. He was McGregor, Ron Pittaway, Paul Pratt, also the Quebec-OntarioChristmas Bird Paul Prior, Jack Reinoehl, Ron Ridout, Count Regional Editor for Audubon Kayo Roy, Doug Sadler, Gerry Shemilt, FieldNotes. A long time birder, he was Roy Smith, and Allen Woodliffe. I the discoverer of many significant would also liketo thankthe 1995 OBRC rarities in southwestern Ontario over members for their assistance and the past several decades (e.g., Lewis's cooperation throughout the past year, Woodpecker, White Ibis, Magnificent and for their helpful comments on Frigatebird, Ross's Gull). Dennis will previous drafts of this report. be sorely missed by the birding community. Accepted Records Pacific Loon Gavia pacifica South Only (3/13) 1995 - one winter adult, II November, Niagara Falls, Niagara (Steve Kelling, also found by Tom Nix, Jeff Wells). Western Grebe AechmophoTuS occidentalis (0/8) 1995 - one, 16 April, Whitby, Durham (Rayfield Pye, Margaret J.C. Bain, Alfred L. Adamo). Northern Gannet MOTUS bassanus (2/13) 1994 - one juvenile, 30 Decelnber, Dundas Marsh, Hamilton-Wentworth (James Heslop). Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidelltalis (OIl) 1994 - one adult, 16 June, Schumacher, Cochrane (Richard Moore, Barbara Riordan, also found by Walter Cheguis). - one adult, 15-18 July, Devil Lake, Frontenac (Peter Griffin) - photo on file. The Schumacher report establishes the first record for northern Ontario. Coincidentally, two American White Pelicans (P. erythrorhynchos) were also present at this site at the same time. The 1994 OBRC annual report lists four separate occurrences of an adult Brown Pelican in 1994, although the possibility of these reports pertaining to a single bird is discussed (Pittaway 1995). An update to one of those occurrences based on recent evidence reviewed by the Committee, is provided later in this report under the "Updates/ Corrections" section. The two occurrences listed above fit into a pattern with the other occurrences resulting in no overlap of dates for those records. Additional sightings of Brown Pelican in Ontario during the summer of ONTARIO BIRDS AUGUST 1996 53 Figurel: Brown Pelican at Devil Lake, Frontenac from 15 to 18 July 1994. Photo by Peter Griffin. 1994 which have not yet been documented for the OBRC are mentioned by Ridout (1994). Also, an adult bird was present at Point Mouillee State Game Area, Michigan, at the west end ofLake Erie on 5-11 June 1994 (Chu 1995), which again fits nicely into this pattern. Given that this large, conspicuous species is capable of covering large distances in a short time, a single bird is presumed to have been responsible for all ofthese sightings, and no evidence has come forward to suggest otherwise. Therefore, although the occurrences in 1994 will be listed separately for convenience of reporting, the Committee will consider these to pertain to a single bird, and thus there is only one accepted record ofBrown Pelican for Ontario up to this date. TheCommittee would appreciate any further documentationon additional sightings to help clarify the picture. Known sightings in 1994 for which documentation has not been received include thoseat Hamilton Harbour (Hamilton­ Wentworth), Grand Bend (LambtonIHuron) , Kamaniskeg Lake (Hastings) and Sharbot Lake (Frontenac). An older photographic record from the