GREAT ACTION AT THE FEEDERS....

Lots of activity at the feeders today,
White-throat ed Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow and a few American Robins,
20+ Dark eyed Junco's as well as 20+ Purple Finches
in the large grass field area Northern Flickers,Red winged Blackbirds,
10+ Evening Grosbeaks,10+ Goldfinches on the silo feeders.
lots of people came by this weekend for a lifer on the Evening Grosbeak.


Female Evening Grosbeak


Goldfinch

Purple Finch Female and Male

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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

Photography Series: Spring Wildflower Walk Workshop In Algonquin

Capturing the Essence of Algonquin Photography Series
Enjoy a day of photography capturing the natural beauty of Algonquin Park, beginning with an indoor instructional session and review, followed by an afternoon field excursion for practice.

This workshop features a look at the beautiful spring wildflowers that carpet Algonquin Park's hardwood slopes. A Park Naturalist will accompany the group for plant identification and to explain the natural history of the plants we find along the trail. This workshop is suitable for point & shoot digital /advanced compact, digital SLR, and film cameras. Basic camera settings will be covered with an emphasis on how to best capture wildflower images. Participants may also be interested in the ‘Edible Treasure Hunt’ plant workshop offered on May 7, which focuses on edible and useful plants found in Algonquin Park.

Cost: $60 (includes vehicle permit, an instructional booklet, and expert instruction) for FOAP(Friends of Algonquin Park) members. Individual membership is $12/yr.

To register:
Contact Sophie Mazowita at 613-637-2828 ext 227 or e-mail groupeducation@algonquinpark.on.ca. Limited enrollment- register early to guarantee your spot!

This workshop is part of the Experience Algonquin series presented by The Friends of Algonquin Park. All proceeds will go towards enhancing the educational and interpretive programs in Algonquin Park.

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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)

Hummingbirds on there way to Algonquin Inn

With the early Spring conditions i was not sure as to when we can expect to see the Humming birds back to Algonquin Inn,and Algonquin Park so i have just checked the Humming bird tracking site.
The site tracks the return migration all across America into Canada, and it already shows their
arrival on the shores of Lake Ontario.......

you can daily check the progress at http://www.hummingbirds.net/map.html

you can see they started their journey arrival in the U.S.A. Feb 25th

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ICE OUT ON OXTONGUE LAKE

Wow, What Great Weather we had this past weekend!
A record high was set of Saturday of 27c to keep that in perspective the norm of this time of year is 7c. This combined with light winds broke up the remaining ice, result being Oxtounge Lake was ice free by Saturday. This is a good two to three weeks ahead of normal.
Even Opeongo Lake the largest lake in Algonquin Park, is now ice free, on Saturday the 3rd of April. This has beaten the previous best of April the 14Th set in 1953....
All of the other lakes along Hwy 60 through Algonquin Park like Mew, Canoe, Cache Lake etc have been ice free for a while.
It looks like we are in for a Long HOT Summer!

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stay@algonquininn.com

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

Subject: Algonquin Park Birding Update: 25 March 2010
From: Ron Tozer
Date: Thu, 25 Mar 2010 22:09:57 -0400

The extent of snow melt is now suggestive of
conditions typically two or three weeks later.
Some birds have responded to the earlier appearance
of bare ground. Ruffed Grouse usually start drumming
when their display logs become free of snow, with the
average date in Algonquin Park being April 9 (30 years).
The first drumming was detected on March 24 this year,
tying the earliest date on record.

Arrivals this week included: American Black Duck,
Common Merganser, Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Saw-whet
Owl, Dark-eyed Junco and Purple Finch.


Spruce Grouse usually begin flutter flight displays in April
here, but the first was noted on March 24 this year. Try
Spruce Bog Boardwalk.

A Black-backed Woodpecker was photographed at Wolf Howl
Pond on March 20.

Gray Jays are being seen regularly on Opeongo Road and
Spruce Bog Boardwalk.

Boreal Chickadees are calling more often now, making
them easier to locate. Try Opeongo Road and Spruce Bog
Boardwalk.


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

Ron Tozer
Algonquin Park Naturalist (retired)

EVENING GROSBEAKS AT ALGONQUIN INN

Winter Finches have been few and far between both in Algonquin Park or the Algonquin Inn. We have had from time to time a flock of Evening Grosebeaks but since we have had the last heavy snow fallm they have been regular visitors to the bird feeders. Unfortunately, they have been very flighty, and I have not been successful in getting any close ups. So, last week I set up a blind, left it there for a few days so that they would get accustomed to it. The result after a few hours are a few close ups, full frame and not cropped.

female evening grosbeak


male evening grosbeck


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WOOD DUCKS ALGONQUIN PARK

Wood Ducks have to be one of my favourite birds,both the Male and Female are very striking birds,Unlike most other ducks, the wood duck has sharp claws for perching in trees and normally nests in tree cavities.
Nests in preformed tree cavities made by tree diseases, fire scars, lightning, and cavity-making birds like pileated woodpeckers for nest sites and also use artificial nest boxes.
the photo i would like to get most is of a wood duck looking out of it's hole in a tree.
Algonquin Park has many wood ducks in the summer but now with temps as low as -32c last week open water is very hard to find and so all he ducks have headed south a long time ago.
i know of a lake that has a very small open area of water, just south of Algonquin Park which usually has some wintering mallard ducks on it, but this year it has a pair of wood ducks that have stayed for the winter so far.



male wood duck


female duck



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