I drove up to Algonquin yesterday to find one of the many reported Great Gray Owls. I tried the Great Pine Trail first but didn't see it. Of course that doesn't mean it wasn't there. Eventually I gave up and headed to Opeongo Road. Initially it was a no show and when the weather rolled in I was going to head home. I briefly saw the Northern Hawk Owl @1KM south of the store but it was way, way far away and was gone in less than five minutes. I then met a Park Ranger who told me some people had spotted a Great Gray south of the gates on Opeongo. So, instead of heading home as I had planned, I spent the next 2.5 hours watching and waiting for the bird come close. The photos can be found on my website at the following link.
http://www.paulreeves.ca/html/nature/birds/great_gray_owl.html I also photographed a Common Raven in the Spruce Bog parking lot and the shot can be found here. http://www.paulreeves.ca/html/nature/birds/common_raven.html To get to Algonquin Provincial Park, drive north from Toronto on highways 400 and 11 to Huntsville then east on highway 60. From Ottawa, take Highways 417 west to Amprior then highway 17 to Renfrew. From there take highway 60 west to the park. Both routes are about 2.5 hours. It's $16.00 per car for the day and there are automated pay stations at both gates. Starting from the west gate, Opeongo Road is located near the 46KM marker. Paul ReevesPhotography www.paulreeves.ca(416) 792 2931 _______________________________________________ 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/
