A belated Merry Christmas and Good Birding in 2015! The female Mallard first noted at the Park Lake outlet on December 9 has persisted all this week as well, being seen at open water both north and south of the highway. Winter records of this duck are very rare in Algonquin.
THE VISITOR CENTRE WILL BE CLOSED FROM DECEMBER 24 TO 26 BUT OPEN DAILY FROM DECEMBER 27 TO JANUARY 4 from 9 am to 5 pm. . BOREAL SPECIALTIES: Spruce Grouse: Two males and a female were high in a balsam fir about 15 metres down the trail from the entrance at Spruce Bog Boardwalk on December 22. Black-backed Woodpecker: Try Spruce Bog Boardwalk. Gray Jay: Seen at the Visitor Centre, Spruce Bog Boardwalk and Opeongo Road again this week. Boreal Chickadee: Look and listen for them around the suet feeder near the register box on Spruce Bog Boardwalk. WINTER FINCHES: Common Redpoll: Up to seven were reported at the Visitor Centre feeders this week. Birders reporting records through eBird are encouraged to share their lists with the Algonquin Park Bird Records account (APPbirds). Good Birding! Ron Tozer Algonquin Park Naturalist (retired) 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 Information Guide (with a map of birding locations mentioned here) at the East Gate or the West Gate. Locations are also described at: www.algonquinpark.on.ca For more information see the 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 including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
