Good places to check this week were the feeders at the West Gate and the Visitor Centre, and Opeongo Road at the winter gate. Reports received included:
Spruce Grouse: A male at Spruce Bog Boardwalk. Wild Turkey: 1 west of Lake of Two Rivers on the 20th. Black-backed Woodpecker: A male at Post 6 on Mizzy Lake Trail on the 22nd. Gray Jays: seen at Spruce Bog Boardwalk, the Visitor Centre and Opeongo Road at the gate. Boreal Chickadee: seen near the entrance of Spruce Bog Boardwalk. White-throated Sparrow: one still coming to the Visitor Centre feeder. Pine Grosbeak: 10 at Wolf Howl Pond on the 22nd, and two at the East Gate on the 24th. American Goldfinch: the large flock continues to come to the Visitor Centre feeders. Evening Grosbeak: 20 reported in Whitney, east of Algonquin. American Marten: seen irregularly at the Visitor Centre feeders and Mew Lake Campground. We would appreciate receiving your bird observations for our Visitor Centre records. Ron Tozer Algonquin Park Naturalist (retired) Dwight, ON 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 near the East Gate (km 56). Get your park permit and the park tabloid (with a map of birding locations mentioned here) at the gates. The Visitor Centre at km 43 has details on recent sightings, feeders, and park information. It is open to the public on weekends from 10 am to 5 pm. Hot and cold drinks and snacks are available in the restaurant this winter on weekends, but not full meal service. Birder access to the Visitor Centre through the service entrance to observe the feeders is usually possible on weekdays. Algonquin Park birding updates and information are also available at: www.algonquinpark.on.ca _______________________________________________ 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/
