Tony Bigg, Doug Sadler and myself birded Algonquin Park today. We arrived at the gate across the Opeongo Rd, immediately past the junction with the Cameron Lake Rd (logging in progress, no vehicle access) shortly after 10:00 am. This is approxiately half way down Opeongo Rd.. Here we met another birder (Peter ? ) and while talking a woodpecker flew from the east side of the road to the west. Peter assured us it had yellow on the head. Tony and I, needing Black-backed Woodpecker for our winter list, waited patiently as the snow was waist deep in the ditch between the snow bank and edge of trees, frustrated because we could hear it tapping. Eventually, it reappearred directly across (on the west side of the Opeongo Rd.) from the Cameron Lake Rd.and all four of us got great looks at a THREE-TOED WOODPECKER. The unexpected rewards of birding. Other birds at this point were 3 Gray Jays, Black-capped Chickadees, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Hairy Woodpecker and small flock of White-winged Crossbill (flypast).
Visitors Centre -Pine Grosbeaks, Common Redpolls, Gray Jays (2) Downy Woodpecker, B-C Chickadees. One of the MNR staff told us that the marten was at the back feeders yesterday and a fisher today earlier in the morning. (I had gone in to tell someone about the three-toed.) Spruce Bog Trail - 3 or 4 Gray Jays and lots of Black-capped Chickadee and Red-breasted Nuthatches eating out of our hands -bring food. (The Gray Jays preferred Peter's plump raisins over our bread and the bread over seed.) Lots of fresh grouse tracks on both sides of the bog but we could only find Ruffed Grouse. White-winged Crossbills on the side closest to the road. No Boreal Chickadees, Spruce Grouse or Black-backed Woodpeckers were seen by us today, and we tried hard. We were told there have been Hoary Redpolls at the feeder but we could only find one frostier looking one with a few bars on its flanks but it had a streaked rump, so I'm not going to call it. Algonquin Park is east of Huntsville on Hwy 60. Park entrance fee is $12.00 per vehicle. Opeongo Rd, the Visitors Centre and the Spruce Bog Trail are accessed off Hwy 60 and are closer to the east gate than the west gate on Hwy 60. The Visitors Centre is only open on weekends in the winter and the back feeder can only be viewed from the deck which is only accessible when the centre is open. Just north of Maynooth, we had a Common Raven carrying nesting material. Atlassing season will soon be upon us. Anne Anthony Peterborough "Anne Anthony" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm for information on leaving and joining the list. As well as general information and content guidelines.
