New snow arrived late in the week so that the ground is covered everywhere again! However, it will melt soon. The lakes and ponds remain mainly frozen. More birders in the Park for the OFO trip on April 17 resulted in increased reports this week, for which a big thanks.
Sightings of interest included: Spruce Grouse: A displaying male and two females were on the roadway at the north end of Opeongo Road on April 19. Wild Turkey: Six were reported at km 6 on Highway 60 on April 19. We often see them moving into the Park along the highway in April after apparently wintering outside Algonquin. Bohemian Waxwing: One was at the Visitor Centre on April 17. White-winged Crossbill: Heard calling at Cache Lake Marsh on April 17. New arrivals (with the average date in brackets) included: April 15: Fox Sparrow (April 8) April 16: Bufflehead (April 12) Killdeer (April 2) Vesper Sparrow (April 22) White-throated Sparrow (April 17) April 17: Broad-winged Hawk (April 20) Wilson's Snipe (April 15) Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (April 10) Ruby-crowned Kinglet (April 15) Hermit Thrush (April 16) Chipping Sparrow (April 19) April 18: Northern Harrier (April 5) April 21: Brown Thrasher (May 3) Moose are being seen regularly now at wet areas along Highway 60. Please report your sightings for our 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 and information. The centre and restaurant are open on weekends from 10 am to 5 pm., including Good Friday and Easter Monday. 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/
