The bird of the week was a Northern Hawk Owl photographed at km 28 on Highway 60 during the morning on January 5. The owl was not seen again that day or since and has probably moved on. Low small mammal numbers this winter make it unlikely it will remain in the area.
BOREAL RESIDENTS: Spruce Grouse: one on Bat Lake Trail and three in black spruce along Highway 60 opposite the Logging Museum on December 30. Black-backed Woodpecker: the 14 tallied on the CBC of December 30 showed that normal numbers are present. Check de-barked trees in bog areas. Boreal Chickadee: 18 were recorded on December 30. One was at Spruce Bog Boardwalk on December 31 and January 1. Gray Jay: regular on Opeongo Road, at the Visitor Centre suet, Spruce Bog Boardwalk and Mew Lake Campground. FINCHES: Pine Grosbeak: numbers remain very low; only six tallied on December 30. Red Crossbill: numbers are very low; just 15 noted on December 30. White-winged Crossbill: more numerous than expected, with 244 on the December 30 count, but not easily found on any given day. Common Redpoll: Small flocks continue to be seen. A Greater Common Redpoll (rostrata) was photographed at bird seed on Opeongo Road north of the bridge on December 31. Hoary Redpoll: two were photographed at the Opeongo Road bird seed on December 31. OTHER OBSERVATIONS: Bald Eagle: Single adults near the East Gate and the Visitor Centre on December 30. Wild Turkey: three near Lake of Two Rivers and one on Rock Lake Road on December 30. Bohemian Waxwing: three were tallied on December 30; a few may still be around. We would appreciate receiving your bird observations for our Visitor Centre records. 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 recent bird sightings, feeders, and information. The centre and restaurant are open weekends from 10 am to 4 pm. Algonquin Park birding updates and information are available at: www.algonquinpark.on.ca _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
