Beautiful sunny weather and great conditions out on the trails this week. Finch numbers are low but the variety is good. The Visitor Centre feeders continue to provide good viewing. BOREAL SPECIES: Spruce Grouse: one on Spruce Bog Boardwalk (November 6).
Black-backed Woodpecker: female at Wolf Howl Pond (November 6) Gray Jay: regular on Opeongo Road, at the Visitor Centre suet, Spruce Bog Boardwalk and Leaf Lake Ski Trail entrance. Boreal Chickadee: Several at Wolf Howl Pond (November 7); one between F and B (see winter brochure map) on Fen Lake Ski Trail (November 11). FIRST OF FALL: Bufflehead: six on Lake of Two Rivers (November 4) Pine Grosbeak: see below FINCHES: Pine Grosbeak: one at Spruce Bog Boardwalk (November 10). Purple Finch: still one coming to the Visitor Centre feeders (November 11). White-winged Crossbill: five over Centennial Ridges Trail; groups of four and three near Gateway Creek on Fen Lake Ski Trail (November 11). Red Crossbill: singles flying over Highway 60 (November 10 and 11). Common Redpoll: Groups of 10 and two over Centennial Ridges Trail; and groups of four, three, six and five over Fen Lake Ski Trail (November 11). Pine Siskin: a few at the Visitor Centre feeders all week. American Goldfinch: up to 15 at the Visitor Centre feeders. Evening Grosbeak: 12 at Lake of Two Rivers (October 31) and up to 12 daily at the Visitor Centre feeders this week. OTHER NOTEWORTHY SIGHTINGS: Red-breasted Merganser: female on Costello Lake (November 7). Double-crested Cormorant: juvenile at Opeongo Access Point (November 7). Late. Golden Eagle: juvenile over Cache Lake Dam (November 7) Bohemian Waxwing: 19 (November 7) and 12 (November 10) at the Visitor Centre. MAMMALS: River Otter: two or three have been regular at the Opeongo Access Point this week. Pine Marten: one is visiting the Visitor Centre feeders daily, but at irregular times. Eastern Wolf: a pack was heard howling near the East Gate at night this week. We would appreciate receiving your bird observations for our Visitor Centre records. Ron Tozer Algonquin Park Naturalist (retired) Dwight, ON 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 near 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, feeders, and information. The centre and restaurant are open 9 am to 4 pm on weekends only from November 6 to December 19. Birders visiting during the week may be able to enter via the service entrance (right end of building) to view the feeders; check in with staff first. Algonquin Park birding updates and information are available at: www.algonquinpark.on.ca _______________________________________________ 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/
