My wife and I spent the day in Algonquin Park, birding at the old airfield and
along Mizzy Lake Trail. Activity at the airfield was low, but we did see a
single male EVENING GROSBEAK near the parking area. Mizzy Lake Trail had a
little more to offer, with about five GRAY JAYS near the gate off of Arowhon
Road. Just south of West Rose Lake we had excellent views of a male
BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER, and on the return leg near Wolf Hollow Pond was a
nearly tame male PURPLE FINCH which almost ate from our hands, and did actually
land on my jacket for a few seconds. As we left, at the gate were two BOREAL
CHICKADEES within a group of several BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES. A single
full-grown bull MOOSE also crossed the Mizzy Lake Trail, sporting a large rack
of antlers.
Pat
DIRECTIONS: Algonquin 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.
OLD AIRFIELD: located along the Mew Lake Campground access road, park at a
small parking lot on the left at the beginning of the Old Railway Bike Trail
and walk around the airfield.
MIZZY LAKE TRAIL: Turn onto Arowhon Road off of Highway 60 in the western side
of Algonquin. Follow Arowhon for 4.8 kilometers, turning right onto an
unmarked dirt road. There is a gate with a small parking area approximately
half a kilometer down the dirt road.
_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org
For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
