GREAT GRAY OWL BOHEMIAN WAXWING "GREATER" COMMON REDPOLL HOARY REDPOLL
Birders planning to visit Algonquin Park this weekend should bring their winter clothing and high waterproof boots. Significant snow cover and deep melt water puddles are widespread in shaded areas, and forecasted temperatures are near freezing. Great Gray Owl reports this week were: -April 11: one dead (killed by a vehicle) just beyond of the East Gate -April 13: one just east of the Visitor Centre (km 43) This is the second road-killed Great Gray Owl found here this winter. Of the "thousands" of these owls reported in Ontario during the 2004-2005 irruption, 414 were found dead along roadsides; see Ontario Birds 23(3). A Bohemian Waxwing was seen at the Visitor Centre on April 16. BOREAL SPECIALTIES: Spruce Grouse: Best place to look now is Spruce Bog Boardwalk. Black-backed Woodpecker: Try black spruce areas along Opeongo Road. Gray Jay: Hard to find now that most are feeding young in the nest. Try Spruce Bog Boardwalk and Opeongo Road. Boreal Chickadee: One or two continue to be seen near the suet feeder at Spruce Bog Boardwalk, where they take seed from the hand. Others were noted along Opeongo Road. WINTER FINCHES: Common Redpoll: About 10 are at the Visitor Centre regularly. A "Greater" Common Redpoll (rostrata) was there on April 17. Hoary Redpoll: Four were at the Visitor Centre seed on April 17. SPRING ARRIVALS Reports this week are listed below. Most were up to a week later than the average arrival over the last 25 years. -Green-winged Teal (April 16): off Old Airfield Marsh -Ring-necked Duck (April 16): Smoke Creek and Old Airfield Marsh -Bufflehead (April 16): Old Airfield Marsh -Common Goldeneye (April 11): Lake Travers on the East Side -American Kestrel (April 16): Park Lake -Sandhill Crane (April 17): Opeongo Access Point -Belted Kingfisher (April 15): Opeongo Access Point -Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (April 17): Cache Lake -Eastern Phoebe (April 16): Visitor Centre -Tree Swallow (April 17): Opeongo Access Point -Golden-crowned Kinglet (April 14): Spruce Bog Boardwalk -Chipping Sparrow (April 16): Visitor Centre -Fox Sparrow (April 15): Visitor Centre -White-throated Sparrow (April 16): Visitor Centre -Eastern Meadowlark (April 16): Old Airfield -Purple Finch (April 15): Visitor Centre Birders reporting records through eBird can now share their lists with the Algonquin Park Bird Records account (APPbirds). We encourage you to do so. Good Birding! Ron Tozer Dwight, ON DIRECTIONS: Algonquin Provincial 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. Locations are also described at: www. algonquinpark.on.ca The Visitor Centre and restaurant at km 43 are open on weekends from 9 am to 5 pm. The Visitor Centre has recent bird sightings and information. It is usually possible to access the building on weekdays as well. Visitors are welcome to bring a packed lunch and use the restaurant seating area. Hot and cold beverages, and light snacks are available to purchase, as well as the use of a microwave. For more information see Algonquin Park events calendar at: http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/involved/calendar/ _______________________________________________ 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/
