The very warm temperatures by week's end resulted in some small lakes (Long, Mew, Eos) along Highway 60 becoming ice-free on April 1. Snow cover is now mainly in deeply shaded north-facing areas.
An influx of migrants was dominated by waterbirds. Arrivals this week included: Wood Duck, Mallard, Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Great Blue Heron, Northern Harrier, Merlin (at the East Gate), Eastern Phoebe, Golden-crowned Kinglet and Song Sparrow. The next six weeks will be prime time to see the boreal species that many birders come to Algonquin Park to find. A male Spruce Grouse was right on the trail along Spruce Bog Boardwalk beyond the long boardwalk across the bog on April 1. A female Black-backed Woodpecker responded to a Barred Owl imitation at Heron Creek, which is about a kilometre inside the West Gate on Highway 60, and a male was drumming on the first utility pole east of the Tea Lake Dam road, on April 1. Gray Jays were seen on the Opeongo Road this week. There were about 10 Evening Grosbeaks at the Visitor Centre feeders on April 1, and a Pine Siskin was among the American Goldfinches there on March 31. We would appreciate receiving your bird observations for our Visitor Centre records. Weekend visitors are encouraged to add their observations of newly arrived migrants to the sheets posted in the Visitor Centre lobby. THE VISITOR CENTRE IS OPEN DAILY ON APRIL 2 TO 5, FROM 10 A.M. TO 5 P.M. Ron Tozer Algonquin Park Naturalist (retired) Dwight, ON 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 near 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 details on recent sightings, feeders, and park information, and is open this weekend from 10 am to 5 pm. Hot and cold drinks and snacks are available in the restaurant this winter, but not full meal service. Birder access to the Visitor Centre through the service entrance to observe the feeders is usually possible on weekdays. Algonquin Park birding updates and information are also available at: www.algonquinpark.on.ca _______________________________________________ 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/
