On Tuesday 13th en route to Bracebridge to visit some friends, I did some
"hurry up" birding in Algonquin Park. My first significant sighting was a
flock of 8 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS in someones frontyard just north of Bancroft which
gave me my 400th ABA species for the year. In the town of Whitney I located 3
PINE GROSBEAKS at a feeder and a PINE SISKIN and AMERICAN GOLDFINCH. At the
Visitor Centre in Algonquin Park there were 2 more BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS as well as
a flock of 15 COMMON REDPOLLS and another AMERICAN GOLDFINCH. On the Spruce
Bog Boardwalk I came across a male SPRUCE GROUSE courting a female SPRUCE
GROUSE in the middle of the path just before the boardwalk. I have seen this
event before but never in November. They must have thought it was April. I
slowly approached to within four metres and watched the courtship ritual for
about five minutes. As I backed away the male flew just over my head and
landed on a branch about two metres away. I almost always bring my camera
along, but as this wasn't really a birding trip, I left my camera at home. How
unfortunate!
At Wolf Howl Pond I came across 4 GRAY JAYS which landed right beside me
for another perfect photo opportunity. I noticed some peanut shells on the
ground from a previous birder which is probably why they came so close. At
this same location I heard then observed 2 BOREAL CHICKADEES. I also saw a
GREAT BLUE HERON in the park. Although it wasn't overly birdy in the park,
Algonquin always has something good to see. In Bracebridge there were 3 PINE
GROSBEAKS and 20 COMMON REDPOLLS along Curling Road.
Cheers
Bruce Ripley
Amherstview
613-384-6392
Algonquin Park is located on Hwy. 60, east of Huntsville. Hunstville can be
reached from Toronto by taking Highways 400 and 11, north.
Km. 43 Visitor Centre feeders. There are two feeders; one below the
observation deck and one north of the main building.
Km. 42.5 Spruce Bog Boardwalk
Km. 15.4 Arowhon Road
Take Arowhon road north off of Hwy 60 for about 5 km. Where the
road branches in three (old rail line) at the large Arowhon Resort sign, take
the right
branch and drive about 100m along the old rail bed until you reach the chain
across the road and park there. The rail bed can then be walked. After
about 15 minutes it joins up with the upper part of the Mizzy Lake trail
and passes by Wolf Howl Pond and West Rose Lake. Return on same route
from West Rose Lake.
Bracebridge is about 30 minutes south of Huntsville. Curling Road is located
beside the South Muskoka Golf Course.
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