Hello All, It was a classic fall birding day at Algonquin Park this morning.
There was a cow MOOSE in a little pond off Arowhon road. Past the locked gate at the Old Railway, BOREAL CHICKADEES were putting on a show, with three individuals feeding in the spruces right beside the trail, along with RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS. DARK-EYED JUNCOS were present, also. About 100 Metres down the trail, A pair of WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS fed on Spruce cones. While I was observing them, a male SPRUCE GROUSE strolled onto the trail, giving awesome views. Just past Wolf Howl Pond, I observed a female BLACK- BACKED WOODPECKER. She was very obliging and provided very close views as well as some photographs. Further along the trail, a pair of RUFFED GROUSE crossed the trail, and further still, a male RUFFED GROUSE was displaying alongside the trail. A RIVER OTTER was observed at West Rose Lake, along with a few WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS and PALM WARBLERS. On the way back, at the locked gate, a pair of GRAY JAYS found us and got treated to some peanuts. At the Old Airfield, things got a bit interesting. 11 AMERICAN PIPITS were observed, as well as a strange SPARROW SP. (pictures below) amongst SAVANNAH SPARROWS, PALM and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS. A total of 30 species were observed. 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. The Old Airfield can be accessed by taking the Mew Lake Campground road and parking at the lot just past the firewood area. Photographs: http://www.flickr.com/photos/levfrid/2876748204/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/levfrid/2876756372/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/levfrid/2875939971/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/levfrid/2875950559/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/levfrid/2876722408/ MYSTERY SPARROW: Any help would be greatly appreciated. The back pattern looks like something of an Ammodramus. http://www.flickr.com/photos/levfrid/2875715243/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/levfrid/2875708487/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/levfrid/2876534256/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/levfrid/2875711921/ Good Birding, Lev Frid, Maple, ON _______________________________________________ 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
