All lakes remain almost completely covered with ice, and despite very extensive areas of bare ground on south-facing slopes, travel in shaded woods still requires snow shoes to navigate the knee-deep snow. Winter is being beaten back, but slowly.
Many new migrants arrived with the dramatically warmer weather this week. The tendency for arrivals to be later than normal is waning now, as is usually the case when warmer temperatures finally prevail. There was a mix of earlier than average, average, and later than average arrivals this week. Below, the first date seen this week is followed by the average first date in brackets. Later than average first date: American Black Duck: April 5 (March 28) Common Goldeneye: April 9 (April 7) American Kestrel: April 9 (April 8) Killdeer: April 9 (April 2) American Woodcock: April 5 (April 2) Golden-crowned Kinglet: April 5 (April 2) American Tree Sparrow: April 8 (March 31) Dark-eyed Junco: April 5 (March 28) Eastern Meadowlark: April 9 (April 6) Purple Finch: April 9 (April 6) Same as average first date: Red-shouldered Hawk: April 10 (April 10) Tree Swallow: April 9 (April 9) Fox Sparrow: April 8 (April 8) Rusty Blackbird: April 8 (April 8) Earlier than average first date: Canada Goose (Interior race): April 8 (April 10) Wilson's Snipe: April 9 (April 15) Belted Kingfisher: April 8 (April 9) Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: April 8 (April 11) Northern Flicker: April 7 (April 10) Eastern Phoebe: April 4 (April 7) Winter Wren: April 6 (April 7) Lapland Longspur: April 7 (April 24) FINCHES: Pine Grosbeak: They appear to have all gone back north. Purple Finch: Two seen on April 9 at the Visitor Centre were the first in Algonquin since 13 November 2007. Common Redpoll: Up to 35 were at the West Gate feeder this week, and about 20 at the Visitor Centre. Daily changes suggested birds moving through. Hoary Redpoll: No reports. Evening Grosbeak: A male continued to frequent the Visitor Centre feeder irregularly this week. BOREAL RESIDENTS: Spruce Grouse: Two were reported on Spruce Bog Boardwalk on the weekend, and one was near the Opeongo Road gate on April 5. Black-backed Woodpecker: A female was seen in the Costello Creek Bog, east of Opeongo Road on April 8. Gray Jay: They were observed at Spruce Bog Boardwalk, and Opeongo Road. Boreal Chickadee: Try Spruce Bog and Opeongo Road, and listen for the musical call which they should be uttering now. OTHER NOTEWORTHY SPECIES: Short-eared Owl: One was flushed from the bog north of Spruce Bog Boardwalk on April 8, but could not be relocated afterward. Bohemian Waxwing: Two flew over at the Visitor Centre on April 4, and one was heard in flight, west of Opeongo Road, on April 5. These are birds returning to the north, and obviously very low numbers compared with sightings in southern Ontario where there is fruit to consume. Migrant Bohemian Waxwings are forced to eat tree buds here. Northern Cardinal: A wandering male was at the Visitor Centre feeder on April 7 and 8, for our earliest spring sighting here ever (previous earliest: May 22). This very rare bird in Algonquin has most often appeared in November. Nearly all cardinals here wander off after only one or two days, and this one was no exception. Lapland Longspur: One in breeding plumage was on Opeongo Road, 100 m north of the Costello Creek culvert (which is beyond the locked gate) on April 7 and 8. House Finch: After the surprising female at the Visitor Centre on April 3, a male appeared there the next day (April 4). This is a very rare bird in Algonquin now. BIRDERS: Please let us know the date, number and location of birds you observe when you visit Algonquin Park. This information is stored in the Algonquin Visitor Centre database, and will help us to assist other birders here. Arowhon Road is officially closed to public travel until further notice. Do not use this road. Good birding. Ron Tozer Algonquin Park Naturalist (retired) Dwight, Ontario Directions: Algonquin 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 the East Gate (km 56). The park gates will not be staffed until later in April, but you can still get your permit there (by machine), and the park tabloid (with a map of birding locations mentioned here) is available there too. The Visitor Centre has recent bird sightings and information, plus feeders. Birders visiting during the week are welcome to contact staff for birding information and access to the viewing deck, via the service entrance (right end of the building as you face it from the parking lot). Exhibits and restaurant are open on weekends through April 20, 10 am to 5 pm. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
