Ottawa Area Birding: Algonquin Park with JC Birding

February 23-24, 2022

Birding Report by Jane Burgess

Day 1

I met Bill and Barbara at 6 a.m. and off we went. The 417 wasn't in the best driving conditions due to the freezing rain overnight. Bill said we have a problem, the windshield keeps fogging up - it's a really good idea to have the driver see the road. We pulled off at March Road and Bill made some adjustments and the visibility improved.

We met Anne at the Walmart shopping centre in Renfrew. On the way to Algonquin park, we did not see a lot of birds but some American Crows and a couple of Blue Jays. Bill says “that’s a big bird” on the road. Just an American Crow, I say, Bill responds no, no, a juvenile Bald Eagle. Good, good, maybe it’s a sign we will have good birding on this trip.

We stopped at the East Gate Motel at 9:15 and luck was with us, we were able to get the keys to our rooms at the Dream Catcher Motel. First stop was at the gate to put on warm clothes and more importantly our warm boots. No need to get our pass since Bill had purchased them online. Regular daily price $21.00. Our rate, $16.75, pays to be a senior.

The next stop was at the Loggers Museum, it was cold but we did manage to see some birds — Red and White breasted Nuthatches, Black-capped Chickadees, Blue Jays and at the end of the trail 8 Canada Jays. Did I mention it was cold.

We stopped at Spruce Boardwalk and I was so surprised that there were no Canada Jays around but there were 2 Purple Finches. We walked the trail to the suet feeder and there was a beautiful Common Raven waiting for us, but it was bashful and flew away once we got a little close, calling as it flew. We walked into the forest off the main trail looking for Spruce Grouse,nope we didn’t find any. Barbara and Anne walked to the forest edge, I just turned around and walked back to the parking lot. We did check out the other end of the trail going as far as the bridge, other than Red Squirrels and a few Black-capped Chickadees it was pretty quiet.

Next was the Visitors Centre. As we drove up there were so many birds at the feeder in the parking lot. We all took so many photos - Evening Grosbeaks, Pine Grosbeaks, Blue Jays, Black-capped Chickadees, American Goldfinch, Common Redpolls - all at eye level. Once we parked, we loaded up with our lunches and cameras and walked into the Visitors Centre. Well we got a surprise - not a good surprise - the Centre was not allowing food consumption, what a bummer. Only thing in the way of 'food' that they were selling was hot chocolate. Before leaving, we went out to see what was at the feeders behind the Centre - the only new species was Pine Siskins and plenty of them.

Well getting the key for our room turned out to be a really good idea. I wanted to get the key early because last year it took so long to warm up the room. My thinking was to warm the room while we had our evening meal. Well guess where we had lunch, in our motel rooms even though we were supposed to get into the room at 4:00 p.m..

Back to birding, we checked out the Opeongo Road and I was hoping for Canada Jays in the parking lot, none. Just Blue Jays and Black-capped Chickadees. Bill suggested we walk the road, mm maybe we can drive it, the gate was open. No, says Bill, not interested in getting a fine. Actually one sees more birds walking. Well we got to see more Canada Jays and they were hungry, but not hungry enough to eat out of your hand.

We then drove to Mew Lake Campground hoping we would see Crossbills and of course Pine Marten. We drove around and of course Blue Jays and Black-capped Chickadees. We stopped and spoke to a Jeff S like guy, who had a pair of binoculars on. Oh I just came back from the trail leading off from the garbage area and I heard at least three flocks of White-wing Crossbills. Pine Martens are found around where the garbage is dropped off. Good intel, we walked the path, nothing, met two guys and asked about birds, they said lots of Chickadees. We walked some more and then turned around. There was ice still on the trees from the freezing rain the night before. Well we saw no Crossbill or Martens.

Time to call it a day and go back to the motel rooms. We had dinner at the Mad Musher in Whitney. Gee we all forgot about the requirement of the vaccine passport, but who doesn't carry a cell phone with that information. The meal and the conversation were great. Some of the discussion was the strategy for tomorrow, we had got most of the birds we were after. Perhaps we could try birding the Cobden area, particularly Snake River Line. As we were leaving we stopped to look at a photo of a bird - Bill what is this bird?, oh Broadwing Hawk juvenile his reply. Anne, checked it out on a birding app - came back Red-tailed Hawk. We all agreed that was wrong. Our server, maybe owner of the Mad Musher, came out and we asked him. He took the photo, just outside the restaurant and yes Bill was correct. All of the photos on display are taken by him. Quite the naturalist. He suggested we might try Old Highway 127, something to think about.

Birds Noted Day One

American Crow -- on the way to Algonquin Park
Blue Jay
Bald Eagle
European Starling
Canada Jay -- Loggers Museum
Blue Jay
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Black-capped Chickadee
Purple Finch -- Spruce Bog
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Black-capped Chickadee
Common Raven
Blue Jay
Downy Woodpecker
Pine Grosbeak -- Visitors Centre
Evening Grosbeak
Blue Jay
Black-capped Chickadee
Common Redpolls
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
Common Raven
Black-capped Chickadee -- Mew Lake Campsite
Blue Jay
Common Raven

Day 2

Anne asked me if I knew what day it was, of course it's Thursday. It was Anne's birthday, we were all complimented that she spent her special day with us. Happy Birthday Anne.

Left the motel at 8:00 and drove back to the East Gate to drop off the keys and headed for the Spruce Bog. There were absolutely no birds on or around the parking lot. Okay let's throw some seed out and see if something comes, nothing. We walked back to the suet feeder to see a Downy Woodpecker, Common Raven and Black-capped Chickadees. We checked the woods on either side of the feeder for Spruce Grouse, zip. On our return Blue Jays were busily eating the seeds along with a Red-breasted Nuthatch.

We thought we should go back to the Visitors Centre for birds / animals seen in the last two days. What surprised me was that Turkeys were listed, I did not know they were seen in the park. Basically the Visitors Centre had the same birds as yesterday, with one exception Hairy Woodpecker. I asked Barbara and Anne if they had visited downstairs dioramas, they had not. Okay let's do it but we have to be quick about it. We all agreed the displays were excellent and very realistic, definitely more time was needed but we were at the park to bird.

We decided Mew Lake Campsites would be the next stop, we wanted the Pine Marten and the White-wing Crossbill. On the way, we stopped quite suddenly because a Spruce Grouse was on the road, turned around to see it was a Ruffed Grouse, male and female. Good find. There was also a single American Tree Sparrow eating some seeds from a plant. As we drove to the Campsite, two Ravens decided to take the lead for a while, but then flew off towards the trees.

Once at the Campsite we drove directly to the garbage area. A garbage truck was there. You know when I saw those 'small containers' for garbage and recycled stuff I always thought they were so small for the campground. Well, the garbage truck was emptying one of the "small containers", out it came, I am sure the container was 20 feet long (see photos). Who knew! The strategy today was to divide and conquer. Bill and I took the trail, Barbara and Anne would watch the area for Pine Marten, if we saw either, we would text each other. I received a text from Anne "Pine Marten''. Our pursuit of White-wing Crossbills had yielded nothing and it was now over as we walked quickly back to where the car was parked. They had seen the marten twice and the Pine Marten was quick to go and come. So we just waited patiently and we all got to see the little fellow.

We drove down to the Loggers Museum and got Black-cpped Chickadees, American Tree Sparrow and Red-breasted Nuthatches. We were hoping to see a Black-backed Woodpecker, but that was not to be. Back in the car, Bill says that lady is feeding Canada Jays, we drove over and Barbara got the good bird seed out. Barbara did get one Canada Jay to come and eat out of her hand. Back to the Algonquin Gate, we ate our lunch and then left the park.

We decided that going to Cobden was the plan, but first we would try Old Highway 127. There were about 4 fishing huts on the lake, but we did not see any birds. Bill made a small deviation from the route to see if there was open water on Pikwakanagan reserve at Golden Lake. Barbara noticed something with a long neck -- Canada Geese and there were also Common Goldeneye.

We had Wild Turkeys and American Crows at Micksburg. Finally found Snake River Line and lucked into a rather cooperative Cooper's Hawk. We were being super watchful for Snowy Owls. I was talking to Bill and out of the blue I said STOP. He did and I said over there on the hydro post, Snowy Owl. It was far, Bill said "do you think we could drive down the laneway". Sure why not. Then the owl flew toward us but ahead of us. As we drove past the laneway, we all agreed it would not be a good idea to go down the laneway, it had not been ploughed. We saw that the Snowy Owl had perched somewhere on one of two coniferous trees. We slowly drove by it and we could not see it. I looked again and said Stupid me, the bird was perched on the top of the conferious tree, I was looking at the lower branches. We parked and took lots of photos, Two locals came by and of course she had a big camera. We asked the guy about a Great Gray owl and not unexpectedly he was not forthcoming (oh 3 negatives in one sentence!!) . A bit further down the road we spotted a Red-tailed Hawk, it was far away. Then we made our way to the Osceola dump, where we saw one full adult Bald Eagle, lots of Common Ravens, lots of European Starlings and a lot of Wild Turkeys -- I don't believe I have ever seen Turkeys at a dump before.

Dropped Anne off in Renfrew and we were back at Bill and Barbara's place at 5:45. While driving home on Greenbank Road I saw 5 Coyotes crossing the open field to the west. Haven't seen any there this winter.

All in all a good two days of birding.

Thank you Bill for driving, Thank you Bill & Barbara and Anne for the photos. By the number of photos of the Canada Jay I think it ranked #1 followed by the Pine Grosbeak, then Evening Grosbeak and the Pine Siskin ranks an honourable mention. Thank you for the gift.

Species noted on Day 2