Until today, the continuing knee-deep snow, cold temperatures, very little bare ground and even less open water had combined to limit new arrivals this week to American Tree Sparrow on March 27. But today's balmy 13 degrees and southwest winds opened the migration floodgates with first observations of Wood Duck, Common Merganser, Turkey Vulture, Cooper's Hawk, Killdeer, American Woodcock, Eastern Phoebe and American Robin. This was about normal timing for most of these species but the two robins were ten days later than the average arrival.
The Visitor Centre is open again following completion of maintenance work. Mammals made a good showing at the feeders, including irregular visits by a fox, two martens and a fisher. Two Ruffed Grouse are still coming daily. BOREAL SPECIALTIES: Spruce Grouse: Search Spruce Bog Boardwalk. Males should be doing some flutter flight displays soon. Black-backed Woodpecker: Try Spruce Bog Boardwalk and Opeongo Road in the black spruce section north of the locked gate. Gray Jay: Observed at Spruce Bog Boardwalk and on Opeongo Road at Cameron Lake Road. Boreal Chickadee: Two or three continued at and near the suet feeder on Spruce Bog Boardwalk. WINTER FINCHES: Common Redpoll: Up to 80 were at the Visitor Centre feeders. Small flocks continued at the entrance of Spruce Bog Boardwalk and on Opeongo Road near the locked gate, where seed was provided by birders. Hoary Redpoll: Three were seen daily at the Visitor Centre feeders. Pine Siskin: One or two visited the Visitor Centre feeders during most of the week. Evening Grosbeak: Three were at the Visitor Centre on March 31. Perhaps these were birds moving back north. The species was last reported in the Park on November 27. Birders reporting records through eBird are encouraged to share their lists with the Algonquin Park Bird Records account (APPbirds). Good Birding! Ron Tozer Algonquin Park Naturalist (retired) Dwight, ON DIRECTIONS: Algonquin Provincial 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). The Visitor Centre exhibits and restaurant at km 43 are open on weekends from 9 am to 5 pm. There is access with limited services on weekdays from 9 am to 4 pm. Get your park permit and Information Guide (with a map of birding locations mentioned here) at the East Gate or the West Gate. Locations are also described at: www.algonquinpark.on.ca _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
