Saturday Afternoon in Algonquin Park

[Rob'in'To]

It was a beautiful afternoon in Algonquin Park and we had a great time on a few of the trails and roads (not all were plowed after the storm).

White-winged Crossbill


Pine Grosbeak


Gray Jay


Boreal Chickadee


And I was so happy to see this guy again (saw him almost 1 year ago to the day in the same area).  Part leusistic Black-capped Chickadee.


We couldn't keep up with the feeding frenzy with the Chickadees and Red-breasted Nuthatches.  Shot with my mobile...

[rcflier]

Very nice!  Gray Jay appears to have a band on his left leg.

[Rob'in'To]

All the Gray Jays have color coded banding.  There has been extensive studying of these birds in the park over the years.  Unfortunately they are a dwindling species in Algonquin.  The shorter warmer winters are to blame.

[Molebird]

Beautiful shots.  Where in the park is it possible to walk and bird watch in the winter ?  Do you need snow shoes or skis ?

Only go in the spring and fall.

[Rotarran]

Very nice and unique birds.  Thanks for sharing.  Any chance we could see some of these birds closer to the GTA?  Not sure when I'll be able to make the trek out to Algonquin park.

[Palo]

Excellent set!  I've never seen the first three birds and I have being to Algonquin many times. Congrats

[Rob'in'To]

Thanks for looking and commenting!  

We were stumped the previous two visits with any Gray Jay sightings.  Something we always look forward to; so this time around, it was really awesome to see them again.

As for any of these birds in an area closer to us than Algonquin.  Well...  Pine Grosbeaks passing through Southern Ontario in late fall but I haven't seen a report of one here since, much like the Evening Grosbeaks.  I saw a flock of about 20 White-winged Crossbills in Lambton Woods last winter.  Seems you gotta be in the right place at the right time to catch them.  We chased reports of them a few years ago, and even a day later, they were always gone after they cleaned out an area.  The ones I saw in Lambton, they flew in, landed about 15 feet in front of me, scrounged around and then one let out a call and they all took off.  A Boreal Chickadee was at Halls Road in Whitby before Christmas (no idea if it stuck around).  There are reports of one over Brighton way at Presquille.  And very unlikely, unless a freak occurrence, to see a Gray Jay any further south.

I don't know Algonquin that well.  We have our regular trails we like to hit but should eventually get out of our comfort zone and explore more parts of the park.  But, you can easily see a variety of birds behind the visitor centre at the feeders (Grosbeaks, Crossbills, Redpolls).  Gray Jays usually meet us in the parking lot at the Spruce Bog trail and the Boreal Chickadee was along the path, under a big suet feeder.  The trail there has been walked on enough to make it easier for others to get through the snow.  You can see Gray Jays up Mizzy Lake at the crossroads but we didn't go there since it wasn't plowed.  We did Opeongo Road since its close to the visitor centre and much of it was quiet, except in the first parking area where we had more Gray Jays, tons of Chickadees and Nuthatches, heard a Boreal Chickadee too.

Anyone else care to add to good spots in Algonquin, please do so.

[thouc]

There was a report of White-winged Crossbill on Toronto Islands yesterday and recent reports of Pine Grosbeak at King College in York Region, not sure if they are still there.

[gary yankech]

amazing  set! Look the crossbill and grosbeak!

[lovemypt]

Some nice shots Rob....glad you found your little chickade friend again...think it is the same one as before? I will have to try and get up there sometime before spring