YELLOW RAIL NELSON'S SPARROW NORTHERN PINTAIL Hello Folks,
It has been an exciting week for birding in Algonquin Park, with many good birds around and still moving through the park. Although not from this week, a Townsend's Solitaire was seen and photographed on September 30th, making it the 280th bird species recorded in Algonquin Park. A trip to the Lake Travers Marsh on the East Side on Oct 2 produced the expected Nelson's Sparrow but also a Yellow Rail as it fleed on foot. Originally I posted this as the first sight record, but the first record, discovered in the Grand Lake Marsh on May 23, 2993 as a singing bird was later seen(!) as it came in to clicking stones on May 29, 1993 by several park staff. The marsh may hold several of these tiny, secretive rails so birders coming here to look for sparrows should also watch their feet. Also on the East Side on Oct 2, a female Northern Pintail was present in Forbes Lake along the Lake Travers road. SPRUCE GROUSE: Birds were seen on the Spruce Bog Boardwalk and Opeongo Road this week. Males have been displaying. GRAY JAY: Birds were reported from the north end of the Mizzy Lake Trail, the Opeongo Road, the Big Pines Trail and the Logging Museum. They are now readily approaching people. BOREAL CHICKADEE: The most reliable location for these this week was the north end of the Mizzy Lake Trail. Yesterday (Oct 8), there were 8+ birds up there. They are quite vocal in the mixed flocks now. BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER: A bird was seen yesterday (Oct 8) at the north end of the Mizzy Lake Trail at Wolf Howl Pond and and Oct 6 a bird was seen in the bog on the Big Pines Trail. PINE SISKIN: On Oct 5, there seemed to be a flood of siskins into the park, and flocks are being seen in several locations this week. Algonquin Provincial Park is located 3 hours north of Toronto via Hw 400, 11 and 60. It's also about three hours from Ottawa via Hw 60. Directions to each individual location mentioned above can be found in the park tabloid available at either gate, and also on www.algonquinpark.on.ca where recent birding, mammal viewing and fall colour updates will be posted. Please send your observations to Ron Tozer or myself, and share your ebird observations with Algonquin Park Bird Records account (APPbirds). Cheers and Good Birding!! Lev Frid Park Naturalist Algonquin Provincial Park _______________________________________________ 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 Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
