Here are some sightings from the past week: Spruce Grouse: Male at Spruce Bog Boardwalk north of the register box; and 2 males in black spruce at north end of Opeongo Road (east side).
Northern Saw-whet Owl: Singles calling at km 4, km 8 and km 19 on April 15. Black-backed Woodpecker: Male excavating nest cavity in second utility pole west of Leaf Lake Ski Trail entrance on April 11. One at km 8 on the weekend. Gray Jay: Opeongo Road, and Spruce Bog Boardwalk. Boreal Chickadee: One in black spruce at north end of Opeongo Road, and one at Spruce Bog Boardwalk. Common Redpoll: flocks of 50 to 100 flying north early in the week. Few to none at Visitor Centre feeder now. Hoary Redpoll: One at Visitor Centre feeder on April 10 and 11. Pine Siskin: 30+ at Visitor Centre feeders. Evening Grosbeak: 20 at Visitor Centre feeders all week. Notes: First sightings of spring this week included: Ring-necked Duck, Common Loon, Rough-legged Hawk, Northern Harrier, American Kestrel, Ring-billed Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow (April 15; ties earliest ever), Winter Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Eastern Meadowlark . Whiskey Rapids Trail, Mizzy Lake Trail, and both backpacking trails are closed due to flooding. 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. When closed to the public, access to watch the birds 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/
