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ONTBIRDS for Thursday, March 20, 2008
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Ottawa: Bohemian Waxwings, Gray Partridge
From: "Bruce Di Labio" <bruce.dilabio(AT)sympatico.ca>
Date: 20 Mar 2008 11:28am
Hello Ontbirders
Spent the morning birding along the Ottawa River from Shirley's Bay to Remic
Rapids. The highlight of the morning was 2000+ Bohemian Waxwings in flocks
of 100-300 at various locations including Britannia Conservation Area, Bate
Island, along the Ottawa River Parkway, Shirley's Bay and in the Arboretum
area. Also, noted 150+ Cedar Waxwings mixed in the flocks. There were 100's
of Ring-billed Gulls at Deschenes Rapids along with 6 Glaucous and 1 Iceland
Gull. Observed 2 adult Bald Eagle between Deschenes and Remic Rapids.
I made a quick stop along Maple Grove Road off Terry Fox Drive in Kanata
south and had 8 Gray Partridge at 1655 Maple Grove Road, they were walking
around the base of some of the spruce trees just west of the buildings. Best
to check the area from the Sensplex parking lot to 1655 Maple Grove Road. If
you require additional information, please email me privately.
good birding, Bruce
Directions: Gray Partridge: Take Hwy. 417 west from Ottawa to Terry Fox
Drive exit #140. Turn left(south) and follow to Maple Grove Road. Turn right
and watch for
Bell Sensplex on your right at the corner of Silver Seven Road. The Maple
Grove Depot is at 1655 Maple Grove Road.
Bruce Di Labio
400 Donald B. Munro Drive
P.O.Box 538
Carp,Ontario,K0A 1L0
(613)839-4395 Home (613)715-2571 Cell
Di Labio Birding Website
Courses and Field Trips
http://www3.sympatico.ca/bruce.dilabio/
_______________________________________________
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Turkey vulture at Lora Bay, outside Thornbury ON
From: Sarah Richer <sarah_richer(AT)yahoo.com>
Date: 20 Mar 2008 9:45am
I understand large numbers have already been noted for the Niagara
peninsula/beamer area, but I aw my first Turkey Vulture for the season today at
10:00am, soaring along the lakeshore at the end of Lora Bay Road.
Lora Bay Road is a north turn off of Hwy 26, 2 minutes west of Thornbury.
Lots of construction going up in the area, road is not paved.
Thornbury is a small town halfway between Collingwood and Meaford.
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Turkey Vulture - Prescott
From: "David Morin" <foxheadraven(AT)gmail.com>
Date: 20 Mar 2008 2:12pm
Had the day off today, so we took a drive. Wasn't actually birdwatching, but
as a birdwatcher, you never really turn it off. In the Casselman area, I
noticed many flocks of Horned Larks and Snow Buntings flying about. In the
Prescott area, Canada Geese were beginning to stage on the Canadian side of
the St. Lawrence. Also saw 3 Turkey Vultures in Prescott, with another
visible on the Ogdensburg side.
David Morin
_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Presqu'ile Birding Report for Week Ending March
20, 2008.
From: Fred Helleiner <fhelleiner(AT)trentu.ca>
Date: 20 Mar 2008 5:32pm
At Presqu'ile Provincial Park, as is the case throughout southern
Ontario, the date of arrival of early spring migrant birds is highly
variable from year to year and is largely dependent on weather
conditions. This year, at least up until the vernal equinox, the
arrival of most species has been delayed by a few days. Despite that,
about two dozen species have already returned to the Park. Within the
next week, another dozen can be expected.
All three species of swans were present on March 20, including three
Trumpeter Swans dueling with a Mute Swan beside the causeway leading
into the Park (where a pair consisting of those two species apparently
nested last year). The largest group of Tundra Swans this week, also on
March 20, was a flock of eight in Presqu'ile Bay. Wood Ducks were seen
on three consecutive days, Northern Pintails on five of the last seven
days, and Green-winged Teal (a pair) on March 16. Among the dabbling
ducks that have yet to return are Eurasian Wigeon, which appear almost
annually at this time of year, Blue-winged Teal, and Northern Shoveler.
Two Ruddy Ducks were around Salt Point on March 15 and 16.
The first Horned Grebe appeared on March 15, the first Pied-billed Grebe
on March 17, and the first Red-necked Grebe on March 18, all three seen
from the government dock. The first Great Blue Heron of the season flew
over on March 14 and the first Turkey Vulture on March 17.
Raptors have created a good deal of excitement at Presqu'ile this week.
Bald Eagles, an adult and an immature, gave good views to visitors in
the Park for the waterfowl festival. One of them disappointed a number
of birders who had just watched a large falcon catch a duck, by chasing
the falcon off its prey before the captor could be conclusively
identified. What was presumably the same falcon did a brief fly-by
later in the day, again eluding positive identification. The consensus
was that it was likely a Gyrfalcon. Other raptors seen in the past week
were Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Northern
Goshawk, Merlin, and Barred Owl, a respectable list for a park not noted
for raptor migration.
Three American Coots were in Presqu'ile Bay on March 16 and one was
still there three days later. Five Killdeer on March 18 were the first
of the year at Presqu'ile. The first American Woodcock of the year
should appear any day now. An Iceland Gull flew past Gull Island on
March 20.
A Belted Kingfisher flew past the lighthouse on March 15. On the
following day one observer heard a Red-bellied Woodpecker near the
government dock, but no one has been able to locate it since then. A
Northern Shrike, the first since mid-January, flew across Presqu'ile Bay
on March 18. A Carolina Wren was singing near the government dock on
several recent mornings. Both Brown Creeper and Golden-crowned Kinglet
have been seen in the past week, as have both Bohemian Waxwings and
Cedar Waxwings in separate flocks. A Song Sparrow and a White-throated
Sparrow seem to have survived the winter at feeders on Bayshore Road.
Pine Grosbeaks were found on two different days. Hoary Redpolls are
daily visitors to the feeders at 186 Bayshore Road, as many as three at
one time.
To reach Presqu'ile Provincial Park, follow the signs from Brighton.
Locations within the Park are shown on a map at the back of a tabloid
that is available at the Park gate. Access to the offshore islands is
restricted at this time of year to prevent disturbance to the colonial
nesting birds there.
Questions and comments about bird sightings at Presqu'ile may be
directed to: FHELLEINER(AT)TRENTU.CA.
--
--
Fred Helleiner
186 Bayshore Road,
Brighton, Ontario, Canada, K0K 1H0
VOICE: (613) 475 5309
If visiting, access via Presqu'ile Provincial Park.
_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Sandhill Cranes, Point Pelee National Park
From: Rhonda.Donley(AT)pc.gc.ca
Date: 20 Mar 2008 6:12pm
Hi everyone:
This morning I heard a welcome spring sound - Sandhill Cranes calling from
the Point Pelee marsh. Another staff member reported seeing a few in the
cornfields on Concession E (the east-west road immediately north of the
park) this afternoon.
I also observed two Brown Creepers just a bit south of the white cottage
in the park, small flocks of Common Grackles, and a few Turkey Vultures
floating northwards.
The Wild Turkeys are putting on great displays wherever you find them in
the park. A visitor reported having to wait for a very large, displaying
tom to move off the trail so he could finish his walk! Turkeys are
frequently observed on the shoulder of the park road and ON the road. They
are very slow to move away even when they are not displaying, so keep your
eyes open for them as you drive through the park.
Rhonda Donley
Directions from the Friends of Point Pelee:
Visitors to Point Pelee National Park should note that the bridge over the
Sturgeon Creek from the Bevel Line Road to
Point Pelee Drive is closed for repair until April 18, 2008. To access the
Park go east on Seacliff Drive East from Erie Street South in Leamington.
Continue east on Seacliff Drive past the Bevel Line turn-off to Concession
Road 12. Turn Right on Concession 12 and join up with Point Pelee Drive at
Paula's Restaurant.
To get to Leamington, take Hwy 77 south from the 401 (between Chatham and
Windsor) and follow the signs. Seacliff Drive is the last traffic light.
_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Guelph - Cowbirds, grackles, starling megaflocks
From: carol parafenko <cmparafenko(AT)hotmail.com>
Date: 20 Mar 2008 1:06pm
Hello birders.
Spring officially arrived at 2 p.m. today with the first megaflocks of
cowbirds, starlings, boat-tailed grackles and red-wing blackbirds. The location
is in the south end of Guelph at South Creek Trail and Somerset Glen, small
sidestreets immediately adjacent to Hanlon Creek Park and several water
retention ponds.
The birds roost in many of the trees at the park's perimeter for several days
and swarm bird feeders in dark clouds. This phenomena regularly occurred every
spring and fall the last three years, right after heavy residential construction
ended.
It's quite a sight. There are literally thousands of birds passing through,
the noise is deafening at times. Many people stop in the street, mouths gaping.
At the same time, two fortuitous Cooper's Hawks are having a feast on the
stragglers. Discovered bloody remnants on my back porch this morning.
Carol Parafenko
Guelph
_________________________________________________________________
Sympatico/MSN Autos wants to put YOU in a 2008 Eclipse! Click here to enter!
http://g.msn.ca/ca55/212_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending March 20th
From: "Terry Sprague" <tsprague(AT)kos.net>
Date: 20 Mar 2008 7:15pm
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE WEEK
ENDING
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Except for warmer temperatures - and that's about to change - there's not a
whole to suggest that today is the first day of Spring. Birds, however, are
celebrating its arrival with wild abandon, as AMERICAN ROBINS (60 at Ridge
Road), RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and COMMON GRACKLES continue to increase in
numbers. The first COMMON GRACKLE turned up in Belleville on the 14th. The first
KILLDEER of the season passed noisily over No Frills in Picton on March 14th,
and another was spotted near Prince Edward Point the following day, with reports
of these so-called harbingers flooding in Tuesday and Wednesday. SONG SPARROWS,
likely spring migrants rather than wintering individuals, have also shown up
across the region, and a very early, overly optimistic TREE SWALLOW passed over
2800 County Road 1 on March 19th. GREAT BLUE HERONS have also shown up, and four
were puzzling over the hardness of the water along the shore of the Bay of
Quinte off George's Road, east of Northport on Wednesday. Along that same road,
20 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS turned up together, foraging in a roadside bush,
presumably migrants, but a week early for this species to be normally arriving
in such numbers. Single TURKEY VULTURES were seen during the week over Picton
and at Lake on the Mountain, and 10 were seen late this afternoon along a
stretch of County Road 1 known locally as Sandy Hook Road, near Picton. AMERICAN
CROWS are also increasing and 40 in west Trenton drew the attention of a
resident there. A flock of over 70 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS at 23 Sprague Road
today contained one female bird.
Birders are eagerly awaiting favourite nooks and crannies in the county to open
to improve viewing conditions for waterfowl. Kaiser Crossroad was examined today
by a resident down that way, but it will be a few days yet before any actions
begins, although 100 hopeful CANADA GEESE were standing at the ready.
Meanwhile at feeders, COMMON REDPOLLS are hanging in there and 25 are coming to
a South Bay feeder, and 40 to a feeder in the Melville area of Consecon Lake,
and an incredible 75 at a feeder in Bloomfield. PILEATED WOODPECKERS were seen
visiting feeders in both the Stanley Park area of Trenton and along County Road
1 in Prince Edward County. Elsewhere, most feeder regulars are maintaining their
winter numbers despite the snow gradually disappearing, although AMERICAN TREE
SPARROWS have decreased in population at many feeding stations in the area.
BARRED OWLS haven't quite given up their role as the star attraction this
winter. One was spotted in a backyard tree in downtown Belleville on March 13th,
and another was quite obvious as it perched in a large tree yesterday on the
west side of Highway 49, about two kilometres south of Fish Lake Road. A grey
morph EASTERN SCREECH OWL was photographed on Saturday, peering out of a wood
duck nesting box along Kelly Road in the East Lake area.
In the Consecon area, the attention of one resident there was drawn to a ruckus
in the backyard where a RED-TAILED HAWK had a COMMON CROW pinned to the ground.
Meanwhile, the crow's mate was going crazy above where the pair is believed to
have a nest. The hawk eventually released its hold with the crow's mate in hot
pursuit of the hawk. The downed injured crow was able to get airborne and
ignominiously flew off in a different direction.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our
thanks to Gerry Fraiberg, Eve Ticknor, Bill Hill, Heather Heron, Patrick Davies,
Pamela Stagg, Judy Kent, Rosemary Kent, John Charlton, Nancy Fox, Glenn Helm,
Mike Burge & Kathy Felkar, Joanne Dewey, Donn Legate, Paul Kenny, Kathleen
Rankine, Frank Artes & Carolyn Barnes, Bill Leet and Nancy Smitts for their
contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday,
March 27th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the 6:00 p.m Thursday
deadline. Featured photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report
include Two CANADA GEESE at Barcovan, one of which putting on a peculiar
performance, taken by Susan Shipman and an EASTERN SCREECH OWL peering out of a
nest box, photographed by Paul Kenny. Photo on the Main Birding Page of the
NatureStuff website is of a single CANADA GOOSE performing for photographer
Susan Shipman of Wellington.
Terry Sprague
Prince Edward County
tsprague(AT)kos.net
www.naturestuff.net
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Subject: [Ontbirds]WNY Dial-a-Bird 20 Mar 2008
From: dfsuggs(AT)localnet.com
Date: 20 Mar 2008 9:03pm
- RBA
* New York
* Buffalo
* 03/20/2008
* NYBU0803.20
- Birds mentioned
---------------------------------------------------------- Please
phone in rare sightings for update
Submit email to dfsuggs localnet com
Thank you, David
----------------------------------------------------------
[Wednesday, March 26, 7 PM, BOS meeting at the BMS. Jerry
Farrell will discuss "Bird banding at the Lewiston
Station: Spring and Fall 2007". Visitors are always welcome
to attend BOS meetings.]
BOHEMIAN WAXWING
GR. WHITE-FR. GOOSE
CACKLING GOOSE
AMERICAN PIPIT
COMMON RAVEN
NORTHERN GOSHAWK
Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Great Blue Heron
Tundra Swan
Snow Goose
Wood Duck
Green-winged Teal
Northern Pintail
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Hooded Merganser
Red-br. Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Red-shouldered Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Peregrine Falcon
Wild Turkey
American Coot
Killdeer
Bonaparte's Gull
Horned Lark
Eastern Bluebird
Northern Shrike
Snow Bunting
Eastern Meadowlark
Common Redpoll
- Transcript
Hotline: Dial-a-Bird at the Buffalo Museum of Science
Date: 03/20/2008
Number: 716-896-1271
To Report: Same
Compiler: David F. Suggs (dfsuggs at localnet com)
Coverage: Western New York and adjacent Ontario
Website: www.BOSBirding.org
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Dial-a-Bird is a service provided by your Buffalo Museum of Science
and this answering system was donated by the Buffalo Ornithological
Society. Press (2) to leave a message, (3) for updates, meeting and
field trip information and (4) for instructions on how to report
sightings and use this system. To contact the Science Museum, call
896-5200.
Highlights of reports received March 13 through March 20 from the
Niagara Frontier Region include BOHEMIAN WAXWING, GR. WHITE-FR. GOOSE,
CACKLING GOOSE, AMERICAN PIPIT, COMMON RAVEN and NORTHERN GOSHAWK.
March 15, on the Lake Ontario shore in Niagara County at
Wilson-Tuscaurora State Park, 22 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS in a flock of CEDAR
WAXWINGS. Also, 4 GR. WHITE-FR. GEESE. March 17, an increase to 8 GR.
WHITE-FR. GEESE at the park, on the west branch of 12 Mile Creek. The
geese flushed from the creek and were re-located on the lake with
CANADA GEESE. A count of 8 GR. WHITE-FR. GEESE is the second highest
for the species in the BOS archives.
Other reports from the Lake Ontario Plains - 2 CACKLING GEESE on
Marshall Road south of Lower Lake Road in the Town of Yates. At
Shadigee in Yates, 42 HORNED GREBES and 2 RED-
NECKED GREBES. 2 WOOD DUCKS on 12 Mile Creek, and 2 NORTHERN SHRIKES
in Orleans County.
On Oak Orchard Ridge Road in the Iroquois Refuge, AMERICAN PIPIT on
March 15, along with HORNED LARKS and SNOW BUNTINGS. On the 16th, 4
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS over the ridge. North of the refuge in the Town of
Shelby, more roadside HORNED LARKS and SNOW BUNTINGS, plus 20 COMMON
REDPOLLS.
Of note this week - COMMON RAVEN, a rare find for Erie County, on
Hunter's Creek Road in the Town of Wales. Immature NORTHERN GOSHAWK on
Route 18 near Transit Road in the Town of Newfane. PEREGRINE FALCON in
a yard on Vorhees Avenue in North Buffalo. And BALD EAGLE on nest at
Cayuga Pool in the Iroquois Refuge.
Reports from Dunkirk Harbor, on Lake Erie in Chautauqua County, were
highlighted by a CACKLING GOOSE on the lawn, plus SURF SCOTER,
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, HOODED MERGANSER, RED-BR. MERGANSER, RUDDY DUCK,
RED-THROATED LOON, COMMON LOON, PIED-BILLED GREBE, HORNED GREBE,
RED-NECKED GREBE, 3 BALD EAGLES, abundant AMERICAN COOTS and small
numbers of BONAPARTE'S GULLS. Elsewhere in Chautauqua County, at the
Van Buren Ponds in Pomfret, 12 NORTHERN PINTAILS and 3 GREEN-WINGED
TEAL. At the Dunkirk Airport, 4 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS.
Other reports this week - 7 SNOW GEESE over Bailey and William
Street in Buffalo, and 8 SNOW GEESE among thousands of CANADA GEESE on
South Woods Road in Shelby. Small numbers of TUNDRA SWANS at several
locations including a single immature TUNDRA SWAN on the Erie Canal in
Tonawanda. Over 60 GREAT BLUE HERONS at the nests and on the ice at
Motor Island in the upper Niagara River. Migrating TURKEY VULTURES
across the region. RED-SHOULDERED HAWK along the Lake Erie shore.
KILLDEER at multiple locations. And in the Town of Alabama,
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, 11 WILD TURKEYS and an EASTERN MEADOWLARK on Route
77 at Basom.
Dial-a-Bird will be updated Thursday evening, March 27. Please call
in your sightings by noon Thursday. You may report sightings after the
tone. Thank you for calling and reporting to Dial-a-Bird.
- End Transcript
_______________________________________________
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Great Blue Heron - Ottawa area spring migrant
From: "Michael Tate" <michaeltate(AT)caregard.ca>
Date: 20 Mar 2008 8:23pm
Ontbirders,
This morning at 8.45 am I saw a Great Blue Heron flying west over Richmond Rd
near Rushmore Rd. This is the first Ottawa area spring migrant that I am aware
of, and the bird is going to find it difficult to find open water in the area as
we are still very much frozen over with overnight lows at -10C.
At 3.05 pm this afternoon I was able to find the Gray Partridges reported
earlier by Bruce DiLabio at 1655 Maple Grove Rd in Kanata. The birds were under
the spruces at the west entrance into this address.
See Bruces earlier post of today for specific directions to the Partridge.
Patiently waiting for spring to arrive in the Ottawa area, and some new
birds!!!!!
Michael Tate
Michael Tate
1-613-863-8455
michaeltate(AT)caregard.ca
_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
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Subject: [Ontbirds]HSR: Beamer Conservation Area (20 Mar 2008) 23
Raptors
From: reports(AT)hawkcount.org
Date: 20 Mar 2008 10:03pm
Beamer Conservation Area
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 20, 2008
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 8 105 105
Osprey 0 0 0
Bald Eagle 0 17 17
Northern Harrier 1 4 4
Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 13 13
Cooper's Hawk 1 15 16
Northern Goshawk 0 1 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 26 26
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 10 293 294
Rough-legged Hawk 1 9 9
Golden Eagle 0 2 2
American Kestrel 0 5 5
Merlin 0 0 0
Peregrine Falcon 0 1 1
Unknown Accipiter 0 2 2
Unknown Buteo 0 2 2
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 4 4
Total: 23 499 501
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 7.5 hours
Official Counter: Sandy Darling
Observers: Mike Street
Visitors:
Brian Hawthorne, Graham Jones and John Millman
Weather:
Temperatures above freezing (1 to 4) with fairly strong winds fromwest to
north-west. Mainly overcast with sunny periods.
Raptor Observations:
1 adult Bald Eagle seen west of Beamer at 10:00 a.m., but not from
observation tower
Non-raptor Observations:
Red-bellied Woodpecker north of tower. Passerines flying through west: 57
American Robins, 9 Grackles and 5 Red-winged Blackbirds.
========================================================================
Report submitted by ()
Beamer Conservation Area, Grimsby, ON information may be found at:
http://www.hwcn.org/link/niaghawk/
Site Description:
Beamer Conservation Area is located on top of the Niagara Escarpment above
the town of Grimsby, Ontario. The site is 1km south of the south shore of
Lake Ontario, 20km east of Hamilton, 40km west of Niagara Falls.
Directions to site:
To get to Beamer CA, take the QEW to Exit 72, follow Christie St./Mountain
St. to the top of the escarpment, turn right on Ridge Road West, and go
1.6km to Quarry Rd. Turn right on Quarry Rd. and drive 100m to the
conservation area. Parking is normally available inside the park. If
parking at the entrance or on the roads, do NOT leave valuables in your
car.
Please note: Data in this report is not official until reviewed and finalized
after the end of the season. © 2008 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch
_______________________________________________
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Algonquin Park Birding Update: 20 March 2008
From: Ron Tozer <rtozer(AT)vianet.ca>
Date: 20 Mar 2008 10:58pm
Two European Starlings showed up at the Visitor Centre
feeder on March 15, a full eight days later than the average
first date for this species in Algonquin. Deep snow cover
and frequently cold temperatures appear likely to slow the
arrival of additional migrants here for now. The only ice-
free sites are where the water has been open most of the
winter due to the current (e.g., the Oxtongue River).
On March 18, three of the four redpoll subspecies that occur
in southern Ontario were observed at the West Gate feeder:
about 50 Southern Common Redpolls (flammea), one
Greater Common Redpoll (rostrata), and an adult
Southern Hoary Redpoll (exilipes).
FINCHES:
Pine Grosbeak: Only about 10 remain now at the Visitor
Centre feeders. Others were at the West Gate feeder. Most
have started to move back north.
Common Redpoll: There were 50 to 75 at the West Gate
feeder this week, and up to 20 at the Visitor Centre.
Hoary Redpoll: There was at least one adult (exilipes)
at the West Gate feeder, reported from March 15 to 18.
BOREAL RESIDENTS:
Spruce Grouse: One male was on Spruce Bog Boardwalk in the
top of a tall young Black Spruce at the north end of the small
clearing at the trail register on March 16.
Black-backed Woodpecker: One female was on Spruce Bog
Boardwalk, 15 m short of post 9, on March 15. A male was
observed 50 m past the winter gate on Opeongo Road, on
March 15, and a female north of the gate on March 15 and
18.
Gray Jay: They were observed at Spruce Bog Boardwalk, the
Visitor Centre, and Opeongo Road. Dan Strickland has now
located 18 active nests, with at least five females on eggs at
this point.
Boreal Chickadee: Four were conspicuously gleaning (apparently
getting springtails) from the snow surface along Opeongo Road,
beyond the gate, about 0.5 km north of the Costello Creek culverts,
on March 14, and Boreals were there on March 15 and 16, also.
Two Boreals were on Spruce Bog Boardwalk, near Post 5, on
March 14. Three of these chickadees were reported from Mew
Lake Campground on March 15.
OTHER NOTEWORTHY SPECIES:
American Three-toed Woodpecker: A male was reported on
Spruce Bog Boardwalk, opposite the register book, on March 14.
Fisher: A large male has been irregularly visiting the Visitor
Centre suet feeders this week, at unpredictable times. Red
Squirrels dare to feed nearby during his visits.
Marten: At least two have been coming to the Visitor
Centre feeders, at a variety of times that defy prediction. Red
Squirrels vanish when a marten is present, apparently recognizing
the threat. The martens never come when the fisher is present.
One or two martens continue to be seen at Mew Lake Campground,
as well, near the washroom and/or the garbage facility.
BIRDERS:
Please let us know the date, number and location of birds you
observe when you visit Algonquin Park. This information is
stored in the Algonquin Visitor Centre database, and will help
us to assist other birders here.
Arowhon Road is officially closed to public travel until further
notice, as log hauling is underway on it. Do not use this road.
The Visitor Centre will be open daily from March 21 to 24,
and then on weekends to April 20, 10 am to 5 pm.
Good birding.
Ron Tozer
Algonquin Park Naturalist (retired)
Dwight, Ontario
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 the East Gate
(km 56). Permits and information are available daily at both gates
throughout the winter, including the Algonquin Information Guide
showing locations discussed here.
The Visitor Centre has recent bird sightings and information, plus
feeders, Birders visiting during the week are welcome to contact
staff for birding information and access to the viewing deck, via the
service entrance (right end of the building as you face it from the
parking lot).
_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS(AT)hwcn.org
For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit
http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php
ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at
http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
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