About 80 participants enjoyed a beautiful spring day in Algonquin Park today, with the entire group encountering a total of 52 species. Our main goal was to see the boreal species plus as many other birds as we could find. Widespread knee-deep snow limited where we could go but we lucked out in the accessible places available.
A displaying male Spruce Grouse near an "indifferent" female north of the register box on Spruce Bog Boardwalk was a life species for a number of people and a highlight for everyone. A male and a female Black-backed Woodpecker were observed excavating a nest cavity in the first telephone pole west of Spruce Bog Boardwalk. Vocalizing Boreal Chickadees were noted in the black spruce section of Opeongo Road, on Spruce Bog Boardwalk, and along Highway 60 just west of Spruce Bog Boardwalk. Gray Jays were seen near the northern bridge over Costello Creek and farther north in the black spruce section of Opeongo Road. First sightings for this spring in Algonquin Park included: -Wood Duck: five at the Little Madawaska -Red-breasted Merganser: male at Smoke Creek with Common Mergansers -Merlin: male at Harkness Lab on Opeongo Lake -Belted Kingfisher: female along Costello Creek -Bohemian Waxwing: four perched in a dead tree a little east of the West Gate -American Tree Sparrow: Opeongo Road As usual, it was great fun to spend the day birding with such an enthusiastic group. I would like to thank everyone who helped find and identify birds today, and in particular Kevin Clute and Justin Peter for their assistance on the trip. Ron Tozer Dwight, ON DIRECTIONS: Algonquin Provincial 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). _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup
