Birders planning to attend the OFO trip to Algonquin Park on April 19 (meet at West Gate at 9 a.m.) should note that there is still extensive snow in the bush, requiring high waterproof boots. The snow is not very deep, but many places have too much for shoes or hiking boots.
Spruce Grouse have been observed recently on Spruce Bog Boardwalk (km 42.4 from West Gate), north of the main trail in the area between the trail register box and the pond; and on the Opeongo Road (km 46.3), 200 m north of the winter gate (likely closed until just before the weekend of April 26-27, but road can be walked). Black-backed Woodpecker has been seen on utility poles near km 8 (Tea Lake Dam area); and along the Opeongo Road, at the winter gate and at the north end near the lake. Gray Jays have been most reliably observed near the winter gate on the Opeongo Road. Boreal Chickadees have been reported from the Black Spruce/Tamarack areas along the northern section of Opeongo Road; and along Spruce Bog Boardwalk beyond the long boardwalk across the bog. White-winged Crossbills were reported as "plentiful" along Opeongo Road, but numbers appear to be diminishing in the Highway 60 Corridor. Some males are still singing and doing flight displays, but seem more active earlier in the day. Despite the late winter presence of hundreds of apparently breeding pairs, there have been only two reports of young birds. Red Crossbills were observed at four locations along the Basin Depot Road on the East Side of Algonquin Park on Sunday. These birds are likely part of the population that normally inhabits the pine forests of the Park's East Side. Basin Depot Road can be reached by turning west off Highway 58 onto Turner's Road, at a point 7.3 km north of Round Lake Centre, and proceeding more than 15 kilometres to Algonquin Park. There have been no Red Crossbill observations in the Highway 60 Corridor. A few Evening Grosbeaks are still coming to the Algonquin Visitor Centre (km 43) feeders, but are more reliably found earlier in the day. Purple Finch, Pine Siskin, and American Goldfinch continue to be reported, in small numbers. Birders are asked to report their Algonquin Park sightings to me ([EMAIL PROTECTED]), including spring arrival dates for migrants, in order that we may add your observations to the Algonquin Visitor Centre database. Thanks. Directions: Algonquin Provincial Park is three hours north of Toronto, via Highways 400 and 11 to Huntsville, and then east on Highway 60. Get a tabloid at the gate when you purchase your permit (required if you are going to use trails, parking lots and roads off Highway 60, or go to the Visitor Centre). The tabloid has a map for locating sites mentioned above. Please consult an Ontario road map for access to the East Side of Algonquin Park, from the Pembroke area. Ron Tozer Dwight, Ontario [EMAIL PROTECTED] Ron Tozer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
