All lakes along Highway 60 are now ice-covered and the snow is knee-deep in places.
BOREAL SPECIES: Spruce Grouse, Black-backed Woodpecker and Boreal Chickadee: no reports. Gray Jay: regular on Opeongo Road, at the Visitor Centre suet, and Spruce Bog Boardwalk. FINCHES: Pine Grosbeak: One at km 24 on Highway 60 on December 12. Red Crossbill: At least two at the Visitor Centre on December 9. Common Redpoll: One at the Visitor Centre feeders on December 9 and 12. Pine Siskin: One at the Visitor Centre feeders from December 9 to 13. OTHER SIGHTINGS: European Starling: One at the Visitor Centre feeders on December 15 established a new latest fall date for Algonquin. Bohemian Waxwing: One at the Visitor Centre on December 12. American Tree Sparrow: One at the Visitor Centre until December 15. 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 on weekends only until December 19 and daily from December 27 to January 2, from 10 am to 4 pm. Birders visiting during the week may be able to enter via the service entrance (right end of building) to view the feeders, after checking 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 [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
