Good morning ONTBirders: I birded Algonquin Provincial Park over the long weekend. It was overall relatively quiet, but highlights included a displaying male SPRUCE GROUSE at the traditional location on the Spruce Bog boardwalk. A single RUFFED GROUSE was all present for a little while, but was flushed further into the forest. GRAY JAYS were present, usually singly but on Sunday I was followed by a pair along Opeongo Road. One particular jay, tagged with red on one leg, blue on the other, was following me around the park as I located it several times at different locations (when it flew there was a light jingling from the leg tags, hence I gave it the nickname "Tinkerbell"). About five BROWN CREEPERS were vocal and visible along the Spruce Bog boardwalk as well. Opeongo Road yielded a flock of approximately six BOREAL CHICKADEES, which I watched for some time. DARK-EYED JUNCOS and HAIRY WOODPECKERS were also present. Near the Costello Lake picnic area I also found two HORNED LARKS feeded along the roadside. Pat DIRECTIONS (courtesy Bruce Di Labio): Directions:Algonquin Park is three hours north of Toronto, via Highways 400, 11and 60. Follow the signs, which start in Toronto on Highway 400. FromOttawa, take Highway 17 to Renfrew, then follow Highway 60 to thepark. Kilometre markers along Highway 60 in the Park go from the WestGate (km 0) to the East Gate (km 56). Permits and information areavailable daily at both gates. _________________________________________________________________
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