Ian Cannell, Margaret Liubavicius and I were at Algonquin Provincial Park yesterday Feb. 23rd and the Boreal Chickadees and Spruce Grouse are still in the west end of the Spruce Bog area (parking lot and just short of the boardwalk).
There are suet feeders in these areas and the Boreal Chickadees come to the Suet Feeder area near the boardwalk and the Spruce Grouse may be found in the area between the parking lot and the boardwalk. We saw 2 Spruce Grouse and 2 Boreal Chickadees along with 9 Gray Jays. The Jays were at the Spruce Bog boardwalk parking lot(3)and along Opeongo Road(6) as well as many Common Redpolls and look in these flocks for Hoary Redpolls. Along Lake Street on the south side of Whitney we found 3 Hoary Redpolls in a large flock of Common Redpolls. Whitney is on the east side of the park. As we were leaving the park in the late afternoon we had great close up views of a large female Moose and her yearling calf at Km 1.5 Norm Murr Directions per Ron Tozer: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 weekends from 10 am to 4 pm. During the week, birders may be able to enter the centre by the service entrance (far right as you face the building) to view the feeders. Contact staff for permission. 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 birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
