The following summary outlines reports received during the last ten days for birds often sought by visiting birders here.
FINCHES: Pine Grosbeak: widespread in small numbers; regular at Visitor Centre feeder. Purple Finch: no reports; all may have departed. Red Crossbill: no reports from Highway 60; one sighting from Lake Travers on the East Side, where the pine-type is regular. White-winged Crossbill: no reports. Common Redpoll: widespread in small numbers; regular at the Visitor Centre feeder. Pine Siskin: most appear to have departed; one or two irregularly at the Visitor Centre feeder. American Goldfinch: same status as Pine Siskin. Evening Grosbeak: a few regularly at the Visitor Centre feeder; occasional flyovers elsewhere. BOREAL SPECIES: Spruce Grouse: seen at Spruce Bog Boardwalk, Opeongo Road (near winter gate and 1 km north of there), and Wolf Howl Pond. Black-backed Woodpecker: one reported at Western Uplands Backpacking Trail entrance (km 3 on Highway 60). Gray Jay: reported at Spruce Bog Boardwalk, Opeongo Road, and Visitor Centre feeders. Boreal Chickadee: no reports; best locations to try are Spruce Bog Boardwalk, Opeongo Road, and Wolf Howl Pond. Usually detected by hearing vocalizations. OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: Bohemian Waxwing: occasional small flocks noted, but less frequently in last few days. Northern Cardinal: a male flying south across Highway 60 at km 25.3 on November 5, and another male that visited a feeder at Site 26 in Mew Lake Campground for about two weeks during late October/early November (but went unreported until after it had disappeared), were typical of dispersing birds of this species that occasionally show up in Algonquin during the period from late October to late November. BIRDERS: Please let us know the date, number and location of birds you observe when you visit Algonquin Park. This information is stored in the Algonquin Visitor Centre database, and will help us to assist other birders here. Thanks. Good birding. Ron Tozer Algonquin Park Naturalist (retired) Dwight, Ontario Directions: Algonquin Park is three hours north of Toronto, via Highways 400, 11 and 60. Follow the signs, which start in Toronto on Highway 400. From Ottawa, take Highway 17 to Renfrew, then follow Highway 60 to the park. Kilometre markers along Highway 60 in the Park go from the West Gate (km 0) to the East Gate (km 56). Permits and information are available daily at both gates throughout the winter, including the Algonquin Information Guide showing locations discussed here. The Visitor Centre (km 43) is open on weekends (10 to 4) through the winter. Recent bird sightings and information, plus feeders, can be found there. Birders visiting during the week are welcome to contact staff for birding information via the service entrance (right end of the building as you face it from the parking lot). _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
