Algonquin Park

[JTF]

Have never been to Algonquin Park before and would like to know what birding would be like this time of the year. Saturday looks like a sunny day so this may be an ideal time to drive up from kingston. How long is the drive from kingston approx, are snowshoes needed for generally trail walking. I have yet to see a crossbill so this may be the spot to photograph some? Is the gate manned to purchase a pass or is it just one of the machines you use a credit card in to buy one.Thanks for any info.

Paul
Kingston

[algonquin fan]

yes the park is a great location for birding,just last night i saw a great gray owl on the east side !!!!!
from toronto airport about 2 and half hours
the west gate entrance is open as well as the visitors center
snow shoes required if you go off the trails but other wise you should be ok
the west gate has feeders but the best ones are at the visitors center well worth the visit
you will see
both species of nuthatchers
brown creeper
pine grosbeaks,evening grosbeaks,common redpoll,pine siskin,hoary redpoll,whit-winged crossbill,
black-backed woodpecker,etc,
a local inn by the park has a web site with the latest reports (plug) http://algonquininn.com/special-activit ... tching.php
with the sighting locations
enjoy

[Anonymous]

If arriving early you must buy a day pass useing a credit card as the gate is not manned / personed until at least 9am.

Be careful along the highway if you stop to view birds or other wildlife as it becomes a busy road later in the day and the shoulders are not too wide, especially at this time of year.

[Ron Luft]

One stop shopping...you can buy your day pass there, see the birds at their feeder and see a board listing all the most recent sightings of birds and wildlife.  From there decide what your most productive venture might be. Spruce Bog is sometimes a good bet but check it out when there.  Consider revisiting sights and feeders throughout the day if you can.  The visitor ctr also has food and plenty to see on it's own.  Park staff at the centre can also direct you to sites and where snowshoes may be useful and where to rent them.  West/East  gates may also be 'open' on weekends. They were last year. A drive up and down Opeongo Rd. as far as you can is not out of order. Hope this helps and good luck.

[JTF]

Awesome info, helps alot. Thankyou.

[Anonymous]

Hope you have a great time!  Can't wait to see your pictures!

[mike]

Watch for Deer. I almost hit two standing in the middle of the highway last fall. That was just outside the park.

[JTF]

Good point Mark, thanks for the tip.

[JTF]

Between Hwy 62 North of Belleville or Hwy 41 North of Napanee, which route is better as far as time driving going goes from kingston? Thanks again.

[Tyler]

Take Hwy 62

It runs straight north from Belleville to Maynooth,  then you turn left and grab  Hwy 127.  It ends up at hwy 60 a few km east of the park gate at whitney. This route is sooo much faster than taking the 41.

Things to look for:

If you are going through the Madoc- lake st peter section in the before 9am or after 4pm keep an eye out for Great Grays. There are apparently are a few in the area but they are only visible at dusk and dawn and are moving around alot so they are a hit or miss bird.

There is a restaurant in Lake St Peter that has a unbanded Gray Jay coming to their feeders.

Between Maynooth and Whitney is a good area for wintering Golden Eagles.  Other than keeping an eye on the road glance skyward a few times. The power line cut on hwy 127 just south of whitney has given me Golden Eagles several times in the winter.

Any dump in cottage country first thing in the morning can have either or both species of eagles present. If you are not the first one into these dumps you usually miss the eagles. Also lots of Ravens and the occasional Owl is present

Bohemian Waxwings When travelling through Bancroft, Lake St Peter, Madoc and Whitney checked the fruiting shrubs and trees in town.

In the Park itself

I always visit the following locations in Winter.

Opeongo road: Hike at least 1km past the gate to where the road cuts through a black spruce/tamarack bog. This is past the culvert (Good spot for Otters in the winter). This Hike almost always turns up Gray Jays, Boreal chickadees, Crossbills and sometimes Spruce Grouse and Black-backed Woodpeckers.

Visitor center. One of the few reliable spots for Evening Grosbeaks every winter in central Ontario.

Spruce bog trail same species as opeongo road.

Mew lake campground bird feeders. a good feeder for suprises. Also Merlins nest in this campground so one may be present. I have seen them ther in the dead of winter.

Minesing lake Ski trail parking lot. there is a feeder there that is usually stocked.

KM 8 area almost always gives up a black-backed woodpecker to me from november to may. You may have to wander around listening for them.

west gate feeder. Have got both grosbeaks there and both redpolls there before.

Hope this helps. I am going up there in a few weeks for some snowshoeing and will report how it is.

[David Shilman]

If arriving early you must buy a day pass useing a credit card as the gate is not manned / personed until at least 9am.

How about "attended"?.  :lol:

[algonquin fan]

here is the most up to-date birding report from Ron Tozer  Algonquin Park Naturalist (retired)
for Jan 23rd

Conditions and birds present are similar to those reported
for early January. A summary of reported sightings this
week follows:

Spruce Grouse: no reports this week; try Spruce Bog
Boardwalk and Opeongo Road.

Wild Turkey: two still visiting feeders at campsites in
Mew Lake Campground.

Black-backed Woodpecker: two along the Summer
HQ/WRS road opposite Mew Lake Campground
(road accessible on foot only).

Gray Jay - Opeongo Road, and Spruce Bog
Boardwalk parking lot.

Boreal Chickadee: One noted 700 m north of culvert
(beyond locked gate) on Opeongo Road on January 20.

American Tree Sparrow and Dark-eyed Junco:
single birds at Visitor Centre feeders.

Pine Grosbeak: 25 at Visitor Centre feeders.

Red Crossbill: no recent reports.

White-winged Crossbill: common along Highway 60
and on trails.

Common Redpoll: small flocks along Highway 60,
and heard calling in flight.

Pine Siskin: 15 at Visitor Centre feeders, and along
Highway 60.

American Goldfinch: 6 at Visitor Centre feeders.

Evening Grosbeak: 2 at Visitor Centre feeders.

Note: Arowhon Road is closed to public travel this
winter as log hauling is underway.


Please report your Algonquin sightings to me
(including date, number and location) for our
park records. Thanks.

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). Get your park permit and the park tabloid (with a map
of birding locations mentioned here) at the gates.

The Visitor Centre at km 43 has recent bird sightings and
information. The centre is open on weekends during the
winter, from 10 am to 4 pm. Access to watch the birds during
the week is possible by entering at the service entrance
and contacting the staff.