Hello Birders,
I had a great day of summer birding at Algonquin Park this morning. First off, near the locked gate on the old railway off Arowhon Road at the locked gate I had a BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO (this species seems to haunt me wherever I bird) and several individuals of MAGNOLIA WARBLERS and AMERICAN REDSTARTS as well as individual BLACKBURNIAN and MOURNING WARBLERS. Further down to Wolf Howl Pond and West Rose Lake, I was approached by a trio of GRAY JAYS, a pair and their fledgling. Along the road I also saw several more WARBLERS of the above species, also adding YELLOW-RUMPED and NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH to the list. There were several WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS singing. Also of note were a trio of RIVER OTTERS in Wolf Howl Pond. RAVENS patrolled the boggy areas. SWAMP SPARROWS and a YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER were also noted. On the way back, at the locked gate once again, I located a mixed-flock of BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES. I managed to locate a single BOREAL CHICKADEE amongst the group because the bird was calling several times. At the Spruce Bog Boardwalk there was little of note until the part when the boardwalk enters the actual Black Spruce forest after Sunday Creek Bog near the bench, when a single immature male SPRUCE GROUSE was seen eating berries. He was very tame (like most individuals of this species) and allowed for close views. The most surprising part about this sighting was that it took place when the trail was quite crowded, at mid-day! Also on the Spruce Bog Boardwalk were COMMON YELLOWTHROATS, making this the seventh warbler species today. Not bad for Late July. Photographs: http://www.flickr.com/photos/levfrid/2682818015/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/levfrid/2682751317/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/levfrid/2683596412/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/levfrid/2682740831/ 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. The West Rose Lake and Wolf Howl Pond section of the Mizzy Lake trail can be accessed by driving down Arowhon Road and turning right onto an abandoned railway bed. Park your car without blocking access to the locked gate and continue to Wolf Howl Pond and West Rose Lake. Good Birding, Lev Frid. _______________________________________________ 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
