Hi Ontbirders, Today I visited Lake Travers on the East side of Algonquin Provincial Park. This site is typically most productive during groundings in inclement weather so it was a decent day overall. Highlights were: 30 Brant, 12 Northern Pintail (rare in the park), 4 Surf Scoters, 6 Long-tailed Ducks, 5 Bald Eagles, 4 Peregrine Falcons, 2 European Starlings (unusual here), 1 LeConte's Sparrow and a remarkable 29 Nelson's Sparrows. The latter were abundant in the wetland on the south shore of the lake and were only outnumbered there by Swamp Sparrows (64 counted!). I have never seen more than a dozen Nelson's at this site so it was pretty crazy to see. They are most abundant nearest the creek that flows through the wetland. The LeConte's was in the more sparse sedges closest to the lake edge. Seeing 4 Peregrine's in a day in Algonquin is also quite special. I have only seen this once before, also in early October at Lake Travers on an east wind with rain.
Lake Travers is the last access point (~km 77) on the Sand Lake Road. Closest access is via Highway 17 near Petawawa. Access to the lake is best by canoe, but you can walk the shoreline from the Lake Travers parking lot. The wetland is midway along the south shore. Boots are recommended. A short cut to the centre of the south shore is from the orange flashing light at the intersection to the observatory (the only such light on the road). Walk north at the light (do not block the gate) until you get to a house. Follow the road to the right of the house down to the lake, turn right and you are at the wetland. My day's observations are summarized on ebird: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S15338072. If you eBird, park staff will apprecaite you sharing your Algonquin ebird observations with APPbirds. Good birding, Jeff -- Jeff Skevington, Research Scientist Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada 960 Carling Avenue, K.W. Neatby Building Ottawa, ON, K1A 0C6, Canada Phone: 613-759-1647 FAX: 613-759-1927 E-mail: [email protected] _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup
