Milder and sometimes rainy weather this week caused much melting of the snow but the limited patches of bare ground are mainly on south-facing slopes. The granular snow is knee-deep in many places. All lakes and ponds remain ice-covered right to the shore.
New migrants reported included: Red-tailed Hawk, American Tree Sparrow and Red-winged Blackbird (March 11th); Herring Gull, Merlin and American Robin (12th); Turkey Vulture (15th); and Hooded Merganser (today). Bald Eagles were observed along the highway on three days. There was a Northern Goshawk along the Mizzy Lake Trail on the 12th. A juvenile Golden Eagle was over Spruce Bog Boardwalk on the 11th and an adult was photographed over Mew Lake Campground on the 12th. A calling Northern Saw-whet Owl was heard from Mew Lake Campground on the evening of the 11th. The compacted layer of snow which had accumulated on Arowhon Road has now turned to ice and slush. Birders are advised to avoid these hazardous conditions and not use the road at this time. The siding-replacement work on the Visitor Centre is continuing, but visitors can access the south end of the viewing deck and see birds coming to the suet and sunflower seed from there. The feeder in the Visitor Centre parking lot attracts many birds also. BOREAL SPECIALTIES Spruce Grouse: No reports this week. Black-backed Woodpecker: No reports this week. Gray Jays: They are regularly seen at Spruce Bog Boardwalk, on Opeongo Road and along the Mizzy Lake Trail rail bed. Gray Jay researchers in the Highway 60 Corridor have now located 18 nests, with females incubating eggs in six of them. Boreal Chickadee: Birds were observed on Opeongo Road near the locked gate and along the Mizzy Lake Trail rail bed. One heard on the 15th was giving the "musical trilled call" that typically occurs during winter flock break-up. WINTER FINCHES Pine Grosbeak: As expected with the onset of warmer weather, most appear to have left for the north. There was only one report this week, a single bird seen at West Smith Lake on the 12th. Purple Finch: Numbers were down to about ten at the Visitor Centre feeders by the end of the week. Red Crossbill: One was at the Trailer Sanitation Station road entrance on the 11th, and four were seen at km 41 on the 13th. Common Redpoll: One was at the Visitor Centre feeder on the 12th. Pine Siskin: Up to 100 were estimated at the Visitor Centre this week. The "green morph" bird first spotted there on March 6th was still present on the 15th. Evening Grosbeak: About 40 to 50 were at the Visitor Centre feeders. A few continued to be seen at Spruce Bog Boardwalk and near the locked gate on the Opeongo Road as well. Birders reporting records through eBird are encouraged to share their lists with the Algonquin Park Bird Records account (APPbirds). Ron Tozer Algonquin Park Naturalist (retired) 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). In winter, the Visitor Centre exhibits and restaurant at km 43 on Highway 60 are open on weekends from 9 am to 5 pm., and daily now during March Break from March 12 to 20. On winter weekdays, there is access to the exhibits and limited services (including light snacks, coffee and other drinks) from 9 am to 4 pm. Your park permit and Information Guide (with a map of birding locations mentioned here) are available at the East Gate, West Gate and Visitor Centre. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] 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
