Summary of reported sightings this week: Spruce Grouse: no reports.
Wild Turkey: Two along the highway between Mew Lake and Centennial Ridges road this week. Black-backed Woodpecker: female on Opeongo Road on February 14. Gray Jay: two on Opeongo Road at locked gate, and 4 farther up the road. Boreal Chickadee: one on Opeongo Road on February 14. Pine Grosbeak: 20 at Visitor Centre feeders; 11 at West Gate feeder; and along highway. Red Crossbill: four on Opeongo Road on February 14. White-winged Crossbill: seen at several locations along Highway 60 and on trails. Common Redpoll: several at Visitor Centre feeders, and elsewhere. Hoary Redpoll: 2 at Visitor Centre feeder on February 18. Pine Siskin: 30 at Visitor Centre feeders, and along Highway 60. American Goldfinch: a few at Visitor Centre feeders. Evening Grosbeak: 10+ at Visitor Centre feeders. Notes: Pine Marten: 2 or 3 were coming to the Visitor Centre feeders to eat black sunflower seeds at times this week. Opeongo Road is plowed all the way to the lake, so walking beyond the locked gate is easier now. Arowhon Road is closed to public travel this winter as log hauling is underway. Please report your Algonquin sightings to me (including date, number and location) for our park records. 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). 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. The centre is open on weekends from 10 am to 5 pm. Access to watch the birds during the week is possible by entering at the service entrance and contacting the staff. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
