Algonquin Park bird report

Three new Birding reports out today for Algonquin Park today, also of note i did spot yesterday a Red Tailed Hawk and a Snow Bunting first one this year just along from the West Gate.

Snow Bunting

A single Bohemian Waxwing was seen at the top of a tree at the West Gate on
Saturday (October 16) by Brete Griffin and his group. Two Bohemian Waxwings
were observed by Doug and Ron Tozer on Sunday (October 17) between posts 14
and 15 on the Mew Lake extension of the Track and Tower Trail. These two
waxwings were feeding on winterberry holly (Ilex) berries, along with
several robins. Some of these berries are present along the Two Rivers
Campground (now closed) side of the Airfield Marsh and could be a good place
to look for other Bohemian Waxwings.

Ron Tozer
Algonquin Park Naturalist (retired)

My wife and I spent the day in Algonquin Park, birding at the old airfield and along Mizzy Lake Trail. Activity at the airfield was low, but we did see a single male EVENING GROSBEAK near the parking area. Mizzy Lake Trail had a little more to offer, with about five GRAY JAYS near the gate off of Arowhon Road. Just south of West Rose Lake we had excellent views of a male BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER, and on the return leg near Wolf Hollow Pond was a nearly tame male PURPLE FINCH which almost ate from our hands, and did actually land on my jacket for a few seconds. As we left, at the gate were two BOREAL CHICKADEES within a group of several BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES. A single full-grown bull MOOSE also crossed the Mizzy Lake Trail, sporting a large rack of antlers.
pat.

Yesterday, October 17th, spent the day birding various sites along Hwy. 60 in Algonquin Park. Overall, somewhat quiet, but a few interesting birds. At Wolf Howl Pond area along Mizzy Lake Trail we had 2 Bohemian Waxwing fly over calling and 1 female Black-backed Woodpecker near West Rose Lake. Finches were scarce, we had 3 Evening Grosbeak and 7 Purple Finch at the Visitor Centre along with distant views of 2 Moose. At the Spruce Bog Boardwalk, 1 Boreal Chickadee was heard calling. Gray Jays were easy to find at Spruce Bog Boardwalk parking lot, Opeongo Lake Road and Wolf Howl Pond.
Good Birding, Bruce
Di Labio Birding Website
Courses and Field Trips
http://www.dilabiobirding.ca
http://www.brucedilabio.blogspot.com

Algonquin Park Area bird report

SELECTED SITES AND SOME SPECIES REPORTED THIS WEEK:

Wolf Howl Pond area on Mizzy Lake Trail (accessible via Arowhon Road at km
15.4): Spruce Grouse, Black-backed Woodpecker (three seen one day), Boreal
Chickadee

Old Airfield (south from km 30.6): Merlin, Horned Lark, American Pipit,
American Tree Sparrow (first of fall on October 3), Rusty Blackbird

Spruce Bog Boardwalk (km 42.5): Spruce Grouse, Black-backed Woodpecker, Gray
Jay

Visitor Centre (km 43): Horned Lark, American Pipit, Purple Finch

Opeongo Road: (km 46.3) Spruce Grouse, Gray Jay, Orange-crowned Warbler
(October 3)


FINCHES:

Purple Finch: a few being seen at Visitor Centre feeders and flying over.

Pine Siskin: a flock of 25 was at Odenback on Radiant Lake (not accessible
by public road) on October 5.

Red Crossbill: Very small numbers are being heard calling in flight
occasionally, perhaps passing through to areas with a better cone crop.

American Goldfinch: a few heard calling in flight.

Evening Grosbeak: Six were reported at the feeder of the Algonquin Lakeside
Inn at Oxtongue Lake (on Highway 60 west of Algonquin Park) on October 1,
and may still be around.


SPARROWS:

Despite several searches, there have been no reports to date of Le Conte's
Sparrow from the Old Airfield or Nelson's Sparrow from favoured marsh and
beaver meadow sites, including the Lake Travers Marsh (end of Barron Canyon
Road on the East Side). This is the peak migration period in Algonquin for
both of these rarely observed species.




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 recent bird sightings, feeders, and
information. The centre is open daily from 9 am to 6 pm until October 11,
and daily from 9 am to 5 pm for the rest of the month.

WWW.ALGONQUININN.COM
E-MAIL STAY@ALGONQUININN.COM

Algonquin Park Bird report

Subject: OFO Algonquin Park Trip
From: Ron Tozer
Date: Sun, 18 Apr 2010 21:28:32 -0400

The 21st annual OFO Algonquin Park trip today had
spectacular sunny conditions throughout. About 45 people
in 21 vehicles explored the Highway 60 Corridor from
9 am to 6:30 pm., observing 57 species of birds.

All the northern species we sought were found:

Spruce Grouse: male and female at Spruce Bog Boardwalk,
north from trail register box.

Black-backed Woodpecker: Male excavating nest cavity in
third utility pole west of road into Leaf Lake Ski Trail parking
lot at km 53.9.

Gray Jay: single along Highway 60 between Lookout Trail and
Eucalia Lake; pair near chain gate along old railway east of
Arowhon Road; pair along old railway at West Rose Lake.

Boreal Chickadee: At least three vocalizing birds allowing
brief but good views along old railway near West Rose Lake.


Other highlights included:

American Bittern: first of the spring, at Cache Lake marsh.

Osprey: one over Tea Lake Dam road.

Merlin: pair at Harkness Fish Lab on Lake Opeongo

Blue-headed Vireo: singing male across from Cache Lake
Marsh. This was a new early date for Algonquin; previous
earliest was April 20.

Pine Warbler: two singing males near site 22 in Lake of Two
Rivers Campground. (No Yellow-rumped Warblers were
observed today.)


We would like to thank everyone who came on today's trip.
We walked a long way, but it was a fun day.

Good birding. Hope to see you next year.

Ron and Laura Tozer
Dwight

Algonquin Park bird report

Following the flurry of new arrivals and birders during
last week's Easter Weekend, things slowed down significantly
this week in typical mid April fashion in Algonquin.

New arrival reports were limited to Sandhill Crane on April 11
and Hermit Thrush on April 12. Sandhill Cranes are rare but
apparently increasing in Algonquin Park, and were observed
at four different locations here this week.

Common Loons were still not widespread by the end of the week,
even though all lakes have been open since April 7.

The first of the three Highway 60 Owl Surveys produced Barred
Owls at km 4, km 10 and km 12 on April 14. No Northern
Saw-whet Owls were heard, as expected given the low small
mammal numbers.

A few Wild Turkeys were observed along Highway 60, apparently
part of the April move back into the Park noted in recent years.

Boreal Species:

Spruce Grouse: A displaying male was observed in the black
spruce bog along the north end of Opeongo Road on April 12.

Gray Jay: Birds were noted at the Logging Museum parking
lot, and at the chain gate along the old railway west of Wolf Howl
Pond this week.


We would appreciate receiving your bird observations
for our Visitor Centre records. Weekend visitors are
encouraged to add their observations of newly arrived
migrants to the sheets posted in the Visitor Centre lobby.


Ron Tozer
Algonquin Park Naturalist (retired)
www. algonquininn.com
e-mail stay@algonquininn.com

Algonquin Park Birding Update: 8 April 2010

Interestingly, many lakes opened up before Common Loons
returned. There had been loon reports from only two
lakes as of April 7. Loons typically arrive in Algonquin
when the first small areas of open water appear.

Most migrants are arriving early, and three all-time
early records were set this week: Canada Goose
(interior subspecies), Common Loon and Osprey. A
female Giant Canada Goose incubating eggs along
Costello Creek on April 4 was the earliest ever found
here.

New migrants reported this week included:

April 1: Canada Goose (interior subspecies), Bufflehead,
Northern Harrier, Eastern Phoebe

April 2: Turkey Vulture, American Woodcock,
Ring-billed Gull, Winter Wren, Fox Sparrow,
Eastern Meadowlark

April 3: Common Loon, Killdeer, Mourning Dove,
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Northern Flicker, Tree Swallow

April 4: American Kestrel, Wilson's Snipe, Savannah
Sparrow

April 5: Osprey, Rusty Blackbird

April 6: Yellow-rumped Warbler


Other Species of Interest:

Bald Eagle: Two were over the Old Airfield on April 4,
and one was at Jake Lake on April 5.

Spruce Grouse: A male was along the Opeongo Road
on April 3.

Black-backed Woodpecker: Look in the km 8 area and
try Barred Owl calls to get them to respond.

Gray Jay: One was at Wolf Howl Pond on April 4, and two
were at the Visitor Centre feeders on April 7. The first nestlings
were banded by Dan Strickland this week, again a record
early date.

Boreal Chickadee: Try Opeongo Road and the old railway
from Arowhon Road to Wolf Howl Pond. Listen for the
distinctive calls.

Bohemian Waxwing: Five were feeding on common juniper
berries at the lookout on Barron Canyon Trail (accessible
from Pembroke area via Barron Canyon Road) on April 2.

Pine Siskin: Three (including a singing male) were at the
Visitor Centre on April 7.

Evening Grosbeak: A few have been fairly regular at the
Visitor Centre.


We would appreciate receiving your bird observations
for our Visitor Centre records. Weekend visitors are
encouraged to add their observations of newly arrived
migrants to the sheets posted in the Visitor Centre lobby.


Ron Tozer
Algonquin Park Naturalist (retired)

Algonquin Park Area bird report

Great weather this week has brought more activity to all of our bird feeders around the Inn,daily we have seen Evening Grosbeaks and Dark Eyed Juncos, as well as house finches,blue jays, red winged black birds ,crackle,..

The very warm temperatures by week's end resulted
in some small lakes (Long, Mew, Eos) along Highway
60 becoming ice-free on April 1. Snow cover is now
mainly in deeply shaded north-facing areas.

An influx of migrants was dominated by waterbirds.
Arrivals this week included: Wood Duck, Mallard,
Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Bufflehead,
Common Goldeneye, Great Blue Heron, Northern
Harrier, Merlin (at the East Gate), Eastern Phoebe,
Golden-crowned Kinglet and Song Sparrow.

The next six weeks will be prime time to see the
boreal species that many birders come to Algonquin
Park to find.

A male Spruce Grouse was right on the trail along
Spruce Bog Boardwalk beyond the long boardwalk
across the bog on April 1.

A female Black-backed Woodpecker responded to a
Barred Owl imitation at Heron Creek, which is about
a kilometre inside the West Gate on Highway 60, and
a male was drumming on the first utility pole east of
the Tea Lake Dam road, on April 1.

Gray Jays were seen on the Opeongo Road this week.

There were about 10 Evening Grosbeaks at the Visitor
Centre feeders on April 1, and a Pine Siskin was among
the American Goldfinches there on March 31.


We would appreciate receiving your bird observations
for our Visitor Centre records. Weekend visitors are
encouraged to add their observations of newly arrived
migrants to the sheets posted in the Visitor Centre lobby.

THE VISITOR CENTRE IS OPEN DAILY ON APRIL
2 TO 5, FROM 10 A.M. TO 5 P.M.

Ron Tozer
Algonquin Park Naturalist (retired)

Algonquin Park Bird report

Reports this week included:

Spruce Grouse: One along Spruce Bog Boardwalk on January 9.

Black-backed Woodpecker: One along Spruce Bog Boardwalk on January 9.
Another was 300 m north of the bridge on Opeongo Road on January 12.

Gray Jay: present at Visitor Centre feeder, Opeongo Road at the gate and at
the bridge, and Spruce Bog Boardwalk, ALSO FOUR BIRDS AT MEW LAKE CAMPGROUND.

Boreal Chickadee: three along Spruce Bog Boardwalk on January 9.

White-throated Sparrow: one still at the Visitor Centre feeder.

Pine Grosbeak: female last seen at the Visitor Centre feeder on January 11.

Pine Siskin: last seen at Visitor Centre feeders with goldfinches on January
11.

American Goldfinch: Numbers at Visitor Centre feeders still growing, with
100 plus on January 12.

All week off and on Evening Grosebecks at the Algonquin Inn feeders.



Mammals:
Two martens continue to come to the Visitor Centre feeders, but with no
predictable timing. They eat suet and black sunflower seed. AND TWO AT MEW LAKE CAMPGROUND.

Moose are being observed regularly along Highway 60, especially near dawn
and dusk. Some bulls have not shed their antlers yet.


We would appreciate receiving your bird observations for our Visitor
Centre records.

Ron Tozer
Algonquin Park Naturalist (retired)
Dwight, ON

algonquin park bird report

The results of the Algonquin Park Christmas Bird Count on January 2 were
posted to Ontbirds on January 4, and give a good overview of the birds
present here now.

Additional information:

Spruce Grouse: no reports. Try Spruce Bog Boardwalk and Opeongo Road in
black spruce areas.

Wild Turkey: one at Lake of Two Rivers on December 31.

Black-backed Woodpecker: one was calling from the black spruce bog east of
the bridge on Opeongo Road on January 7.

Gray Jay: present at Visitor Centre feeder and Opeongo Road at gate.

Boreal Chickadee: three along Spruce Bog Boardwalk on January 3.

White-throated Sparrow: one still at Visitor Centre feeder today.

Pine Grosbeak: female still coming fairly regularly to the Visitor Centre
feeder. Nine on Highway 60 between West Gate and west boundary on December
31.

Pine Siskin: two at Visitor Centre feeders with goldfinches on January 7.

American Goldfinch: flock of 85 plus coming daily to Visitor Centre feeder.

Evening Grosbeak: Group of three flying over old railway at East Boundary on
January 2. Birders looking for this species should check feeders in Whitney
(on Highway 60 east of Algonquin Park) and Oxtongue Lake (on Highway 60 west
of Algonquin Park).

Mammals:
Marten (at least two) and a Fisher continue to come to the Visitor Centre
feeders, but with no predictable timing. Moose are being observed regularly
along Highway 60, especially near dawn and dusk.

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 recent bird sightings, feeders, and
information. The centre is open to the public on weekends only from 10 am to
4 pm until January 31. Birder access to the building through the service
entrance to observe the feeders is usually possible on weekdays. Hot and
cold drinks and snacks are available in the restaurant this winter on
weekends, but not full meal service.

Algonquin Park birding updates and information are available at:
www.algonquinpark.on.ca

ALGONQUIN PARK BIRD REPORT

Here at the Algonquin Inn we have had today at our feeders Starlings and dark eyed Juncos, as well as the blue jays and red and white nuthatches,and a whole host of various sparrows....

Several "first of the fall" migrants have been observed recently, about on
schedule. Examples (with the average first fall date in brackets) include:

-Horned Grebe: October 10, Lake of Two Rives (October 4)

-Northern Shrike: October 14, Lake Travers (October 14)

-American Tree Sparrow: October 10 (October 8)

-Fox Sparrow: October 10 (October 5)

-Snow Bunting: October 14, Lake Travers (October 15)


Sparrows of note recently include:

-Clay-colored Sparrow: two (photos), October 10, Old Airfield

-Field Sparrow: one, October 7, Old Airfield

-Vesper Sparrow: one, October 8, Opeongo Road

-Le Conte's Sparrow: one or two, October 5 to 11, Old Airfield in long grass
at east end near Lake of Two Rivers; and one at Lake Travers marsh, on
October 14.

-Nelson's Sparrow: one, October 5, Old Airfield Marsh; and two at Lake
Travers marsh, October 8.


Winter Finch news:

-no recent reports of Red Crossbill, White-winged Crossbill, Pine Siskin

-American Goldfinch and Purple Finch: a few still present.

-Evening Grosbeak: 20 at Visitor Centre feeder on October 15.


Boreal Species recent reports:

-Spruce Grouse: two at Spruce Bog Boardwalk (October 14).

-Black-backed Woodpecker: one at Lake Travers (October 14); pair on a
utility pole opposite Leaf Lake Ski Trail, between km 54 and 55 (October
14); and a female near the parking lot at the junction of Opeongo Road and
Cameron Lake logging road (October 14).

-Gray Jay: two at locked gate on Old Railway off Arowhon Road (October 10);
five at Spruce Bog Boardwalk (October 14); and two at the junction of
Opeongo Road and Cameron Lake logging road (October 14).

-Boreal Chickadee: two at West Rose Lake on Mizzy Lake Trail (October 10).


Winter Preview:

-In response to the lack of food here, and as predicted in Ron Pittaway's
winter finch forecast, Blue Jays and Red-breasted Nuthatches are becoming
very scarce.



Good birding. As always, we would appreciate receiving your observations for
our Visitor Centre records.

Ron Tozer
Algonquin Park Naturalist (retired)
Dwight, Ontario

www.algonquininn.com
e-mail stay@algonquininn.com

birding report in algonquin park

Birding Algonquin Park this morning proved to be very productive. There were
two BOREAL CHICKADEES and two GRAY JAYS on the Old Railway near West Rose
Lake on the Mizzy Trail. Also present were AMERICAN PIPIT, PALM +
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW and some more common species.

On the eastern end of the Airfield, I located, in a mixed sparrow flock, two
CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS. Also present were SWAMP, SAVANNAH, WHITE-CROWNED,
AMERICAN TREE and CHIPPING SPARROWS, plus D.E JUNCOS.

The two LECONTE'S SPARROWS previously reported by Mike Burrell were
re-located in the alders near Lake of Two Rivers on the east side of the
airfield (Thanks Ron!). There was also a PINE WARBLER amongst numerous
yellow-rumps. Flocks of HORNED LARKS and AMERICAN PIPITS were prominent on
the Airfield.

Photographs -

http://www.flickr.com/photos/levfrid/3999482606/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/levfrid/3999479874/

Directions -

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.

The Old Airfield is located along the Mew Lake Campground access road, park at
a small parking lot on the left at the beginning of the Old Railway Bike Trail
and walk around the airfield.

The Wolf Howl Pond & West Rose Lake area can be accessed by driving 4.8km up
Arowhon Rd and then turning right onto an abandoned railway and follow 0.6km to
chain gate, park well to the side and walk in 1.5km to Wolf Howl and another
1km to West Rose.


Good Birding,

Lev Frid,

Maple, ON

Algonquin Park Birds and Moose report

Algonquin Park June 15th - Birds and Moose
Posted on June 17, 2009 at 09:50:59 AM by Ontbirds

*This report was originally posted by Norm Murr on ONTBIRDS (June 17, 2009) and is provided here with the kind permission of the Ontario Field Ornithologists.


Good Day Eh !

Yesterday Ian and I birded the Opeongo and Arowhon Roads ( to and at Wolf Howl Pond and West Rose Lake ) with a couple of stops in between and along with us was a 14 year old son of a friend of Ian and his wife Carol. The teenager wanted to see animals and we hopefully made that wish came true for him.

On the way along Hwy 60 east of Huntsville Muskoka was a juvenile Bald Eagle flying past just east of Hidden Valley.

Here are some of the birds we did find in Algonquin - Common Loons, Ring-necked Ducks, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Pileated Woodpecker ( Visitor Centre ), Olive-sided Flycatcher, Alder Flycatcher, Gray Jay, Common Raven, Boreal Chickadee, Winter Wren, Hermit Thrush, Philadelphia Vireo, many Red-eyed Vireos, 16 Warbler species including Chestnut-sided, Blackburnian, Pine, Blackpoll ( male at West Rose Lake ), Wilson's and Canada, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Marsh and White-throated Sparrows ( many ) Pine Siskin ( Visitor Centre ), and Purple Finch plus lots of the usual birds.

This was a great day ( not only the perfect weather ) but for Mammal and Herp sightings. WE got to see 5 moose ( 2 bulls, 2 cows and a calf ), 2 Bears, 3 Deer, Beavers, Painted and Snapping Turtles, Bull, Green and Mink Frogs.

Ian decided to head for home going south along Hwy 35 and on the way down just north of Minden we spotted a Black-backed Woodpecker A nice sighting as we missed it in Algonquin.