About 75 people in 31 cars participated in a successful Algonquin Park birding trip today, the 20th year for this OFO outing. Occasional rain did not significantly hinder our efforts. The combined observer list totaled 67 species.
Highlights for many were the male and female Spruce Grouse north of the register box on Spruce Bog Boardwalk, the two Boreal Chickadees that Maris Apse spotted for us at Spruce Bog Boardwalk parking lot and which provided excellent views, and the male Black-backed Woodpecker excavating a nest cavity in the second utility pole west of Leaf Lake Ski Trail (km 53.8). A record was set when Gray Jay was not seen all day, for the first time in the 20 years of these outings. Unfortunately, the decline of the Gray Jay in Algonquin Park due to climate warming has now reached the point where it is quite easy to miss this species in late April, when the birds are focused on feeding young in the nest. Other noteworthy sightings included: American Wigeon: pair on Lake of Two Rivers after heavy rain Blue-winged Teal: pair on Costello Creek Green-winged Teal: pair on Sunday Creek at Spruce Bog Boardwalk Red-necked Grebe: one on Lake of Two Rivers after heavy rain Merlin: pair at a nest in white pine at east end of West Gate parking lot Eastern Towhee: singing male along Tea Lake Dam road I would like to thank all the participants today, and especially Kevin Clute who assisted ably with finding the birds. Ron Tozer _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
