Birds so close, birds so far: Part 1

Here's a fun list... Birds on the Ohio checklist that are NOT on the Ontario list.. This was inspired by a post on the Ohio listerv from Bill Whan, who had just done his own personal update of the Ohio checklist. :

        Sitta pusilla                     Brown-headed Nuthatch

        Campephilus principalis     Ivory-billed Woodpecker

        Picoides borealis              Red-cockaded Woodpecker

        Sphyrapicus nuchalis         Red-naped Sapsucker

        Selasphorus sasin            Allen's Hummingbird

        Stellula calliope               Calliope Hummingbird

        Aeronautes saxatalis        White-throated Swift

        Crotophaga ani                Smooth-billed Ani

       Conuropsis carolinensis      Carolina Parakeet

        Phaetusa simplex             Large-billed Tern

        Scolopax rusticola            Eurasian Woodcock

        Calidris ruficollis              Red-necked Stint

          Vanellus vanellus           Northern Lapwing  

          Parabuteo unicinctus      Harris's Hawk

           Egretta rufescens          Reddish Egret 

15 species total. 2 are extinct (13 left).....

Of the list, there are 5 that I think would be VERY unlikely to occur, or prove, in Ontario.. Those are:

 Harris's Hawk (captive origins would be questioned)

Eurasian Woodcock (hasn't even been recorded in Newfoundland for a LONG time)

Smooth-billed Ani (numbers declining in Florida)

Red-cockaded Woodpecker 

and potentially Brown-headed Nuthatch, which is a very poor flyer, although may be the best on this list of 5 to occur......

Of the last 8, 6 are pretty good candidates (or downright overdue) for Ontario:

Reddish Egret

Red-necked Stint

White-throated Swift

Calliope Hummingbird

Allen's Hummingbird

Red-naped Sapsucker (banders required for this and the Allen's)

The last two species, Northern Lapwing and Large-billed Tern are certainly possible, but would be VERY rare birds indeed... 

imagine seeing this thing in Ontario 

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Plus a feature that has been lacking recently.. Here's some rare bird photos, not taken by me!:




Gray-hooded Gull in NY:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dhitchcox/5996968976/in/pool-437129@N20


and more here: http://www.shorebirder.com/2011/07/gray-hooded-gull-coney-island-ny.html


Little Blue Herons in PA: 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/56087986@N04/5994417079/in/pool-437129@N20/

fresh Juv's !!! This is what I would like to see in Ontario this summer/fall!

Newfoundland's 3rd Pacific Golden Plover


http://www.surfbirds.com/media/gallery_photos/20110801125130.jpg


Pic by Jared Clakre (from surfbirds).

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There have been a few White Ibis moving up the east coast recently, but nothing I'm getting too excited about (yet)... The post-breeding dispersal of young Herons seems to be just starting, which will hopefully increase our odds of getting some in Ontario!

Shorebirding has been pretty dull so far in Ontario this fall (at least south of James Bay).. Thunderstorms really help ground rapid-migrant adults, and we barely had any rain...... Things will keep picking up in August though!