Summary of reported sightings this week: Spruce Grouse: One near Opeongo Road Gate on February 21; and a male near register box on Spruce Bog Boardwalk, February 22.
Wild Turkey: Two along the highway between Two Rivers and Centennial Ridges, last seen February 18. Black-backed Woodpecker: 2 at Opeongo Road Gate on February 18 and 21, and 1 on Algonquin Logging Museum trail (post 13) on February 20. Gray Jay: two on Opeongo Road at locked gate, and 4 farther up the road. Two at Spruce Bog February 22. Boreal Chickadee: at least 5 at Spruce Bog Boardwalk entrance and near register box on February 26, vocalizing and easily seen. Pine Grosbeak: 20 at Visitor Centre feeders; 10 at West Gate feeder; and along highway. Red Crossbill: 2 at Spruce Bog on February 22. Two at Visitor Centre parking lot, February 24. White-winged Crossbill: smaller numbers, at several locations. Getting scarcer. Common Redpoll: 50+ at Visitor Centre feeders, and elsewhere. Hoary Redpoll: 2 reported at Opeongo Road Gate on February 21, and 1 at Visitor Centre feeder on February 22. Pine Siskin: 30 at Visitor Centre feeders, and along Highway 60. Evening Grosbeak: 20 at Visitor Centre feeders, 15 at Spruce Bog on February 22. Notes: A road-killed moose carcass placed in the Sunday Creek Bog, 700 m off the Visitor Centre Viewing Deck, attracted wolves, fisher, marten and Common Ravens this week, but not every day or regularly. For the latest information contact the Algonquin Visitor Centre (613-637-2828). Watch from the Viewing Deck only; enter by service entrance during the week. Nothing comes if people go into the bog. Pine Marten: 1 eating sunflower seed at Opeongo Raod Gate on February 24, and one at Visitor Centre feeder eating seeds on February 26. Arowhon Road is closed to public travel this winter as log hauling is underway. Please report your Algonquin sightings to me (including date, number and location) for our park records. Thanks. Good birding. Ron Tozer Algonquin Park Naturalist (retired) Dwight, Ontario 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. Kilometre markers along Highway 60 in the Park go from the West Gate (km 0) to the East Gate (km 56). Get your park permit and the park tabloid (with a map of birding locations mentioned here) at the gates. The Visitor Centre at km 43 has recent bird sightings and information. The centre is open on weekends from 10 am to 5 pm. Access to watch the birds during the week is possible by entering at the service entrance and contacting the staff. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
