Beautiful sunny days and well-above-freezing temperatures this week made it feel like more early migrants should be arriving despite the deep snow and little open water. They didn't appear but it will happen soon.
The Gray Jay researchers had found fifteen nests by today. The first female incubating was observed on March 10, and now there are three of them. For the first time since the moose carcass was placed in the Sunday Creek valley off the Visitor Centre deck four weeks ago, something finally visited it! Two ravens fed on it occasionally during the morning of both yesterday and today. Surely more will come; perhaps during March Break. The Visitor Centre and restaurant will be open daily (9 am to 5 pm) from March 14 to 22. Two Ruffed Grouse were fairly regular visitors below the Visitor Centre feeders this week, and one was in the Spruce Bog Boardwalk parking lot on March 7 and 8. One or two American martens visited the suet feeder on Spruce Bog Boardwalk regularly. One was briefly at the Visitor Centre yesterday also. It did not make a dent in the eleven red squirrels present. This squirrel concentration at the feeders likely reflects the scarcity of cones here this winter. BOREAL SPECIALTIES: Spruce Grouse: No reports this week. However, one was seen at Spruce Bog Boardwalk on March 3, so it is worth checking there. Black-backed Woodpecker: One heard drumming was reported south and west of the km 52 highway marker on March 7. Gray Jay: Still being seen at Spruce Bog Boardwalk and Opeongo Road (such as at the closed gate at Cameron Lake Road). As more females start incubating, there will be fewer Gray Jays around to see, however. Boreal Chickadee: Up to three continued to visit the suet feeder on Spruce Bog Boardwalk. WINTER FINCHES: Common Redpoll: Numbers increased, peaking at 60 birds at the Visitor Centre feeders on March 10. A few were also seen getting seed put out by birders at Spruce Bog Boardwalk and on Opeongo Road near the closed gate. Hoary Redpoll: Two and sometimes three (recognizable by plumage features as continuing birds) were seen at the Visitor Centre feeders daily this week. Pine Siskin: One was along Opeongo Road on March 8 and another showed up at the Visitor Centre feeders today. They were likely on the move. Two sightings of single birds in mid February are the only other 2015 records for this finch here. 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). The Visitor Centre exhibits and restaurant at km 43 are open on weekends from 9 am to 5 pm. There is access with limited services on weekdays from 9 am to 4 pm. 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 _______________________________________________ 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
