Here are some sightings from the past week: Merlin: One at Mew Lake on March 15.
Wild Turkey: still two birds in Two Rivers area this week. This is the first known case of this species spending the winter in Algonquin. Spruce Grouse: Spruce Bog Boardwalk near register box, and Opeongo Road near and north of locked gate. American Three-toed Woodpecker: Female in black spruce area near north end of straight stretch of Opeongo Road on March 14, and a male along Spruce Bog Boardwalk on March 15, as reported earlier. No additional reports received. Black-backed Woodpecker: one near West Gate parking lot on March 15. Gray Jay: Opeongo Road, and Spruce Bog. Boreal Chickadee: Fairly reliable at Spruce Bog parking lot this week, and also observed on Opeongo Road north of Costello Creek culvert. Becoming vocal, and hence more conspicuous. Pine Grosbeak: last report was of one at the West Gate feeder on March 17. I would appreciate any later reports; they are nearly all gone north. Red Crossbill: one at Spruce Bog parking lot on March 16 White-winged Crossbill: no reports. Common Redpoll: still a few at Visitor Centre and West Gate feeders this week. Likely the same Greater Common Redpoll (rostrata) that was at the West Gate feeder on March 7 was photographed there on March 16. Hoary Redpoll: 1 at Visitor Centre feeder on March 14, and 2 at West Gate feeder on March 16. Pine Siskin: a few still around, including Visitor Centre feeder. Evening Grosbeak: 10+ at Visitor Centre feeders. Notes: New arrivals this week included: Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Red-tailed Hawk, Herring Gull, Snow Bunting, Brown-headed Cowbird, and Common Grackle, 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. This week the centre is open daily for spring break. When closed to the public, access to watch the birds 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/
