Hello Kin
Petroglyph P.P. is home to probably the closest population of Gray Jays to Toronto. However it is a trek/snowshoe/x country ski into the park office are (2km from gate along park road) where the birds are usually seen. Bring food and they usually come to visit when you are approaching the park office(not gate house) I have been hearing 2nd hand reports of Great Grays on the edge of the shield east between Peterborough and Tweed just north of Hwy 7. Doesn't surprise me about these sightings Great Grays show up in this area most winters in small numbers and during irruption years in large numbers. There are a few hundred KMs of prime GGOW wintering habitat here. So it is usually a hit and miss area while driving the roads.
The resident Eagles (mostly balds) are scattered around the area looking for roadkill and wolf kills. They are primarily seen thermalling high above the park on sunny days, while they look for carrion. I have seen them also perched in trees beside any open water.
I was just north of the park a few weeks ago and it is QUIET in the woods. Just nuthatches, black-capped chickadees, Ravens and Wild turkeys being seen away from feeders. There are several feeders at cottages along Stony lake (Northey's Bay Road) in the petroglyph area. They are being visited by Common redpolls, Pine and Evening Grosbeaks. The Grosbeaks are behaving in the typical grosbeak manner. i.e erratical visiting various feeders with not set pattern. I have not heard of any crossbills in the area.
Check out the Otonabee river between Peterborough and Lakefield (River Road). It is open below each dam and Barrow's Goldeneyes have wintered here before.
Be quite alert when driving the roads near the Petroglyphs. There are hundreds of Deer in the area and it can be dangerous at dusk.
