egosnell2002

Bluebirds look like Western, and looks like a House Finch to me. Agreed with the rest.

First winter White-crowned Sparrows. Note the yellow bill and white dotting on the wings.

I think it's just a ruffled up second or third year bird, looks a little damp as well.

Yep!

Herring are seemingly endlessly variable, lighter and darker heads and varying mantle shades, among other things. I'd call this a Herring.

Facial pattern is diagnostic, Thick-billed don't show the white behind the eye in any plumage. Structure isn't too helpful here, I think the bird is either feeding or just hunkered down, so it looks like it has a chunkier head.

What points away from a Herring? I think I'd need more photos to really be sure. Considering it's winter on Georgian Bay Herring is more likely, but not definitive at all.

I think those must have been some distant flybys over the ocean or something. You get a super good handle on peeps up there, after you look at many thousands of each! What code is SHCR? Do you mean SACR? Or STGR? And yep, the train still takes passengers. The people in Moosonee need to get back and forth somehow. They did take out the"observation car" a few years ago, which might be what you're thinking of. It was a shame too, best way to see STGR and NHOW flushing in front of the train.

You got it! Bottom bird in the second picture is kind of tough to tell though, but shape and size seems like a Brown-headed to me.

I know exactly where you're taking about, Otter Rapids I think? Or is it Abitibi Canyon, the one South of that. Never actually been, just rode through on the Polar Bear express. Never posted an update about that, but it was amazing being so remote, the scenery was beautiful and the birds were awesome. These are some of my favourite eBird lists from up there: https://ebird.org/canada/checklist/S50620818 https://ebird.org/canada/checklist/S50620757 I might go back this summer, but I'll have to see what else I'm doing first! Saskatchewan breeding bird atlas starts this year, and I was considering applying to some of that.

Agreed, I have seen some pretty amazing head shape transformation in lesser scaup while feeding, they can round their head right out. I'm pretty reluctant to ID greaters from single distant photos now.

I think you got everything in the photo, at least from this distance/angle. I can't say for certain that some of those more obscured birds aren't something else, but looks like mixed HERGs, adult GBBGs and an adult GLGU. I've heard nearby Lake Simcoe also had a recent huge influx of GBBGs, cooling weather likely is something to do with it.

Not to mention the bill is all yellow.

Yes! Pretty good bird down there I think?

Agreed. Nice bird for Ohio! Pale nape, more rounded head and smaller bill, and you can even see a hint of a chin strap in the first pic!

If your interested, the OFO (Ontario Field Ornithologists) has an annual gull "convention" in Niagara. It's a good time to go cause there's so many people looking for gulls, something good usually gets found, and it's a good place to learn because lots of experts lead it! 8 species minimum, and good chances of Kittiwake, and lower chances of Black-headed and Franklin's, and anything else is possible! And I agree with Glaucous ?

I'd say Great, very dark mantle, unstreaked head. Size is kinda hard to judge in these photos I think.

Both are correct. First is an adult, second is a first cycle.

Song sparrow. Prominent central streaking.

Red-winged Blackbird is correct.

Why is one eastern? Tail barring, yellow malar, spotted/white flanks, all look very good for Western to me. Personally I wouldn't be super comfortable calling the last one though, I've actually never seen Western...

I thought western referred to calurus/alascensis? Or are those two the same? Not really sure how that whole western complex works.

Haven't posted on this section of the forum in a while, but here I am! I felt inspired to share my own poor photo from today ? Bonus points if you can ID it without looking at the list it's from: https://ebird.org/checklist/S60947130 Not everyday you find two first and one second county records (Tern and Sabine's Gull, and Pacific Loon)! The tern is also a sixth provincial record, so extremely good! It had been seen the previous day one county over, and we coincidentally refound it while lakewatching! Talk about luck! Somewhat unrelated, but the results of the eBird October big day were compiled, and eBird mentioned me and my mom because we got first for Canada! Seems I've hit a little birding hot streak! Keep an eye out in the coming days/week as tropical storm Olga comes through the eastern states up to Ontario, it's going to bring some good birds!

1. I have no experience with this species, but it strikes me as Swainson's. Odd looking though (might be a weird angle BLPW). 2. Tennessee 3. Yep 4. Hooded as well.

All are Least Sandpipers. Yellow legs, warm brown back, sparse streaking.