Hello Ontario Birders, While not necessarily rare birds, there are some avian events occurring here in Algonquin Park that would be valuable to folks further south looking for said birds.
Amanda Guercio and I, in the past week have had an increase of White-winged Crossbill sightings in the park. I had heard a few flying by in the past week, but a flock of 13 and another of five birds were present today on the Mizzy Trail with singles interspersed throughout. As per Ron Pittaway's forecast, the cone crop for spruce is not good in the park, but the cedar crop is quite good. These may be birds commuting to better feeding areas or birds that have arrived to feed on the cedar crop. They seem to be increasing and it may be a good time to keep an ear out for them further south as well. Chickadees, titmice and nuthatches are apparently on the move throughout Southern Ontario! Here we have been detecting increased numbers of Boreal Chickadees, many behaving like migrants. Usually, resident Boreal Chickadees in Algonquin travel in pairs within flocks of Black-capped Chickadees and hang tight to conifers. Today I had a flock of seven Boreal Chickadees traveling together silently through open hardwoods on the Mizzy Lake Trail. On the 21st, two small groups of Boreal Chickadees were doing the same on the Old Railway Bike Trail. Tadoussac is reporting seeing a movement of this species as well. It would be well worth checking any migrating chickadee flocks along the lakes for ones with brown caps. Cheers! Lev Frid & Amanda Guercio Huntsville, ON _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - 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 Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
