GREAT GRAY OWLS ALGONQUIN PARK

Had another opportunity to head on back into Algonquin Park with some Birders and Photographer friends to see if we could re find the Great Gray Owls we had seen feeding before.
We were able to locate them but they kept to the thickest part of the wooded bog area,none of my shots are worth showing here, especially after seeing one of STEVE ROSE'S shots Steve just happened to be at the right place at the right time, this is his photo.
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GREAT GRAY OWLS IN ALGONQUIN PARK

My last post was about Great Gray Owls being sighted on the Mizzy Lake trail in
Algonquin Park,well the good news is that Michael Bertelson was able to locate them again, Michael a professional guide conducts photographic tour groups from Algonquin Inn into Algonquin Park, check out our web site for more details on Michael's tours for Loons and Moose.
the Great Grays where located way back into the bush but Michael was able to get this great shot of the not so small chick that had just been fed by the adult.



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ALGONQUIN PARK & GREAT GRAY OWLS

A Great Gray Owl was observed and photographed in the
Dizzy Lake area (near post 12) of Mizzy Lake Trail on
18 and 19 July. This may be the same individual that was
seen in that area on 13 June. A small population of this
boreal species is believed to breed regularly within
Algonquin Park.

The Dizzy Lake area is most easily accessed by going
backwards on the Mizzy Lake Trail from its beginning
at the junction of Arowhon Road and Highway 60 at
km 15.4. There is a map of the trail in the trail guide,
available at the trail entrance.

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

Ron Tozer
Algonquin Park Naturalist (retired)

ETHAN MELEG VISIT REVIEW

We just had Ethan Meleg stay with us for a few days whilst visiting Algonquin Park, Ethan is not only an excellent photographer but also an outstanding birder.
Ethan has stayed with us many times and has help us to better set up our birding stations so as to get the best backgrounds and perches for photography but also for attracting the most species into to our yards,from this all visitors can benefit.
Ethan has posted to his blogg his visit to the Algonquin inn and Algonquin Park,which is re posted here.......
FROM HIS BLOG which by the way is a great one to follow the link is http://ethanmeleg.blogspot.com/

I'm back from a week on the road including a few days of shooting in the Algonquin Provincial Park area. It was a productive trip with some fantastic photo opportunities! Hope these look ok, I'm processing them in a weary-eyed state.

A highlight of the trip was an unusually tame moose, which walked right up to me within a meter (I was safely tucked in behind my van). At one point, I was able to lie down on the ground to shoot low level perspectives with a group of people standing behind it. What amazed me the most, however, was how foolish some people were - walking right up to it with their point & shoot cameras. The moose wasn't acting aggressively, but passing cars could easily have spooked it causing it to plough into (through? over?) the tourists. Getting run over by a moose can't be good for you. Rest assured that I would have captured the exclusive photos of 'natural selection' in progress!

Photo 1 (above): Young moose and onlookers along Highway 60 in Algonquin Park.
EOS 1Ds mark III; EF 70-200/4 lens; handheld

Photo 2 (above): Highway 60 through Algonquin Provincial Park
EOS 5D mark II; EF 70-200/4 lens; Singh-Ray LB Warming polarizer & 2 stop hard edge ND grad

Photo 3 (above): Sunset clouds over Lake of Two Rivers with Oxeye Dasies in foreground.
EOS 5D mark II; EF 17-40mm lens; Singh-Ray LB Warming Polarizer & 3 stop hard edge ND grad

Photo 4 (above): Common Loon portrait (photographed from a canoe).
EOS 1Ds mark III; 500/4 IS lens & 1.4x TC; Gitzo tripod & Wimberly head sitting on canoe bottom.

For my travels in the Algonquin Park front country, I base out of the Algonquin Lakeside Inn motel just west of the park along Highway 60 at Oxtongue Lake. It's the most convenient place to stay with comfortable amenities and great access to the park. Over the years I've gotten to know the owner Gary Schultz, who is a budding (and pretty damn good) nature photography. The Inn's property is a magnet for birds, so last fall I suggested that Gary put up a photo blind and some strategically located feeders with perches. He's done a fantastic job setting up the yard for bird photography and attracting various bird species throughout the seasons. I shot Purple Finches this week - it's the best shooting I've ever had for them... unfortunately I accidentally erased my best shots because of lack-of-sleep induced stupidity. I'll be back soon to reshoot them!

Here's the best part... stay at the Inn and you have free use of the photo blind. Gary is very obliging and you can fine-tune the perches to your needs. Don't miss out on this - it's a great bird setup with tons of activity!

Photo 5 (above): Male Purple Finch at the Algonquin Lakeside Inn feeders.
EOS 1Ds mark III; 500/4IS lens & 1.4x TC

Photo 6 (above): The blind and one of the feeder setups at the Algonquin Lakeside Inn.
Shot with a Canon G11, which I keep handy to capture the behind-the-scenes photos.

a great post thanks Ethan

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ARE THE MOOSE STILL ABOUT ???

This a question we still get when someone makes a reservation to stay at the Algonquin Lakeside Inn at this time of year, in fact right now is the peak time to view Moose.
Our guests on average have been seeing 4-7 Moose a day, in fact just tonight less than a mile from the Inn on hwy#60 at the entrance to Ragged Falls there is a small pond/lake and swimming across was a young bull Moose, sorry to say i just missed him as he walk off into the bush when I arrived. The good news, members of the Toronto Digital camera club that have been staying with us this weekend were able to see him and get some good pictures...

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HOW HOT IS ALGONQUIN PARK

So how hot these days,in Algonquin Park mid Ontario ?.
Picture of our temperature gauge in the shade at the front door of the Algonquin Lakeside Inn



We just had a great holiday May 2/4 weekend temps are over 30+ and will continue that way for this week as well.
That's great news as the heat kills the Black Flies.....

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NOW THAT'S A FISH

Two of our guests took the morning off to go fishing, and here is the proof of their success,
Kenny and Bob are part of a group that stayed with us for two days. They knew that the Lakes in the Algonquin Park area has a great reputation for quality fresh water Fish, and wanted to give it a try their first time for Northern Pike.
The group is on a cruise across Canada vacation, that started at Salt Spring Island B.C. and finishes in Halifax N.S.

Northern Pike was their target Fish so to help them with a Boat and Guide service they used a local charter service http://www.redlineoutdoors.ca/


If you ever thought of doing an across Canada tour check out their blog @
http://drivecanada.blogspot.com/ also check out their other adventures around the World on 7 other major driving tours. Great guests so glad that they stayed with us and where successful.

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YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER

This visitor was not hard to find,as i stepped out of the door there he was drilling into a pine tree

I was lucky to fire off two quick shots before he took flight, now i know that we have a pair here i will have to set up for a better shot.


evidence of their work

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BACKYARD SETUP FOR ALGONQUIN INN

We get a lot of comments here at Algonquin Inn regarding the abundance of Birds on the property, what helps is
- that we are located on the shores of Oxtongue Lake which is right at the West entrance to Algonquin Park.
- On the grounds we also have a small swamp area in the back as well as a large old growth tree area, and then the large lawns.
- and what really helps is the 30+ and varied types of Bird feeders dotted around.

We have now placed a hide near the main feeders for guests to use.

We have also added a small water feature which helps to draw in the Birds
the a large lawn area leading to the wooded area.

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ANOTHER NEW RETURN TODAY

Along with the daily visits of Evening Grosbeaks, today we had the return of a Rose-Breasted Grosbeak, we had a photography group in and whilst in the restaurant they were
able to enjoy these birds at the feeders.

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