Hi all, My wife (Kathy), son (William), and I spent all day March 15th (Tuesday) and the morning of March 16th (Wednesday) birding in Algonquin P.P. If you plan on going off trail, snowshoes are still pretty helpful!
Here is a summary of our observations: TOWN OF WHITNEY (Just outside the East Gate) Common Redpoll - Several small flocks were heard flying around. White-winged Crossbill - A single bird was heard flying past SPRUCE BOG BOARDWALK (we spent the majority of time here) Spruce Grouse (male) - One observed on the 15th, about 100 m north of the suet feeder. Another (the same bird?) was observed immediately behind the suet feeder on the 16th. We followed it around a little and observed it do some territorial displays, fanning out its tail feather and strutting around. Boreal Chickadee - One at the suet feeder on the 15th and 4 (all together) on the 16th. Gray Jays - Several (3 or 4) were very active on the 15th (sunny). Only one observed on the 16th (cloudy and wet). Blue Jay - A few seen and heard both days. Black-backed Woodpecker - A male and female were seen just before the suet feeder on the 16th. The male was quite vocal and chased away a Hairy Woodpecker at one point. Both Black-backed Woodpeckers were even seen on the same snag directly opposite one another briefly. Hairy Woodpecker - A male and a female observed separately. Brown Creeper - One observed both days (and singing on the 16th) Black-capped Chickadee - Lots. Bring sunflower seeds if you want to feed them by hand Common Redpoll - One observed taking black-oil sunflower seeds; others heard flying overhead Pine Grosbeak - One possibly heard overhead. I was making too much racket to be sure unfortunately. Red Crossbill - One possibly heard calling overhead on the 15th White-winged Crossbill - One or two heard overhead on the 15th Purple Finch - Heard doing call not overhead on the 15th Pileated Woodpecker - One heard closer to the highway, later flying in the direction of the V.C. (16th) Red-breasted Nuthatch - At least two coming to the suet feeder and eating out of you hands American Robin - One heard chucking from some tree top on the 16th Horned Lark - One heard heard calling overhead on the 15th Pine Marten - Not observed by us, but it is apparently fairly regular at the suet feeder VISITOR CENTRE Common Redpoll - Lots coming to the feeders there Hoary Redpoll - Apparently a few have been seen infrequently at the feeders (not by us) Evening Grosbeak - None Downy Woodpecker - One Hairy Woodpecker - One Common Raven - A few going to the remains of the Moose carcass on the 15th and one by the newly deposited White-tailed Deer carcass on the 16th Ruffed Grouse - One on the roadway to the Visitor Centre Red Crossbill - 3 on the road to the Visitor Centre on the 16th, picking grit Eastern Red Wolf - We did not see any wolves, although it is possible they were there (Sunday Creek Bog) overnight as the deer carcass had been moved a short distance away from the Moose carcass. OPEONGO ROAD Common Redpoll - Coming to sunflower seeds placed at the gate (a few km in, which is open) where a snowman had been built Gray Jay - At least one in the area Blue Jay - A few Pine Marten - One observed at the gate. It has been coming fairly regularly. LEAF LAKE SKI TRAIL Gray Jay - One drinking from a puddle in the parking lot on the 15th Ruffed Grouse - One observed running into the forest while skiing along the Jack Rabbit trail (south) SMOKE CREEK @ HWY 60 Canada Goose - One in the open water. Cheers, Karl Konze Guelph, Ontario _______________________________________________ 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/
