Good evening. This morning Ian Cannell and I birded Algonquin Provincial Park and though we missed a Spruce Grouse that was reported wandering along Opeongo Road we did okay anyway.
At approximately 6;30 am we spotted a Great Gray Owl on a hydro wire along Hwy 60 at KM 10.5 and we then headed for the Spruce Bog area where we had the first of 4 Black-backed Woodpeckers and the first of 3 Boreal Chickadees. We also had several Common Redpolls and a Sharp-shinned Hawk there and on the boardwalk Ian spotted a tiny moth, our first of the season. It was then off to Opeongo Road where we found another Black-backed Woodpecker and 2 more Boreal Chickadees along with a few more Common Redpolls. We then headed to the East Gate so Ian could buy a park pass and on the way we stopped at KM 53 where Black-backed Woodpeckers had been seen earlier in the week and we lucked into a pair of them along with a Pileated Woodpecker. Our last stop before heading down to the Carden Alvar was the park Visitor Centre. At the centre feeders behind the building were about 35 more Common Redpolls and as I stood there looking at them a very noisy Common Raven flew over heading south and it rose up and joined what I thought was another Raven that turned out to be a juvenile Golden Eagle that slowly circled as it drifted north overhead giving us nice views of the Golden Head as the sun shone on it. Now it was time to head south, see my next posting. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada _______________________________________________ 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/
