Algonquin Park Trip (part four: birds)

Gray Jay at Algonquin

(scroll down three postings to get introduction to this trip!)

Birding was somewhat slow at Algonquin Park, but I did find some of the specialties. The best birding spot is the old railway section of Mizzy Lake Trail. Rather than taking the whole 11 km trail, one can take a shortcut by travelling up Arrowhon Road (~5 km) to the old railway bed. You can walk into this section and find lots of birds and other wildlife.
Tim Snieder and I checked out that spot Monday morning. We found lots of Boreal Chickadees, and about four Gray Jays.

The Boreal Chickadees were very vocal and active that morning. We found several groups, for a total of about 8 birds. It was the most I had seen or heard in one outing! They were almost impossible to photograph.

The Elusive Boreal Chickadee!

Along this trail we also saw two Olive-sided Flycatchers, as well as an Eastern Phoebe. The Phoebe was hanging around a small bridge--a usual nesting spot for them.

There were several groups of warblers, obviously working their way south.

The first day of my visit, I managed to get a Black-backed Woodpecker right away on Spruce Bog Boardwalk.

Black-backed Woodpecker working spruce tree

There were not many other birds to speak of as the season was waning. Many birds had left, or were quiet after their breeding season. I noticed lots of noisy Blue Jays though. A large group was hanging around the Old Airfield. One individual was completely bald!

Boreal Chickadees were also on Bat Lake Trail. On this trail, I heard Pileated Woodpecker calling in the hardwood forest below the lookout.

At the old Airfield, a pair of Merlins was hanging around--a decent bird to see there in summer.