This week saw the ice disappear from all the smaller Highway 60 lakes (although it is still in the bigger ones such as Opeongo, Two Rivers and Smoke). Only small patches of snow remain now, and they are in very shaded conifer stands. The first spring ephemerals (Spring Beauty) are coming into bloom, as is Trailing Arbutus.
New migrants this week included Lesser Scaup, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, American Bittern, Sandhill Crane, Blue-headed Vireo, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and Pine Warbler. FINCHES: Common Redpoll: One or two were at the Visitor Centre feeder early in the week, but appear to be gone now. Evening Grosbeak: About six were at the Visitor Centre feeder this week, and a few others were reported in other parts of the Park. BOREAL RESIDENTS: Spruce Grouse: Females responding to playback and males doing flutter flights were seen in the bog bordering Opeongo Road north on April 23. Black-backed Woodpecker: Males excavating holes in utility poles were seen at km 53.5 and km 23 on Highway 60 on April 23. Gray Jay: Opeongo Road north of the Costello Creek culvert is still the best area to check. Boreal Chickadee: Try Spruce Bog and Opeongo Road. NOTEWORTHY THIS WEEK: House Sparrow: A male was at the Visitor Centre feeder on April 19. Algonquin Park is one of the few places where this species is appreciated in southern Ontario, due to its rarity here. 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. 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). Get your park permit and the park tabloid (with a map of birding locations mentioned here) at the gates. The Visitor Centre at km 43 has recent bird sightings and information. Exhibits and restaurant are open daily, 10 am to 5 pm, starting on April 26. _______________________________________________ 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 _______________________________________________ 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
