Algonquin Visit: No Shortage of Rain!

 Sunday, I headed up to Algonquin Park for my annual visit.  I took the usual route and arrived after a 5.5h drive.  The weather was nice on Sunday, but it went downhill from there.  My usual bad luck followed me.....again!

As always, it was just nice to be in Algonquin.  I fought rain and drizzle from Monday to Wednesday, but made the best of it.  Birds were not plentiful and I only got one of the specialties despite a valiant effort.  I added some year birds, and a some new birds for my Algonquin list.

For some reason, the Black-backed Woodpeckers disappeared and have been virtually absent since mid summer.  Where do they go?  Canada Jays are getting scarcer, and Boreal Chickadees are virtually absent from the Highway 60 corridor anymore.  Crossbills are not around this fall.

I did not carry the camera much of the time since it was either rain or drizzle under gloomy skies.

As always, my first walk was on the old railway bed off Arowhon Road.  Certainly a popular spot, as many people come here.  It was certainly a bit quiet for birds compared to last year.

Trees are turning colours

I did add a flyover Evening Grosbeak, which I was quite pleased about.

I met Mike Runtz at one point, and he indicated that a Spruce Grouse was in the area less than a half hour earlier.  I never saw it though!

Some insects included odes.

Canada Darner (lots!)

Autumn Meadowhawks

spreadwing sp.  (probably identifiable, but camera would not focus)

Another  things such as the common Eastern Calligrapher.

To kill some time before heading to Mew Lake, I stopped by the Cache Lake boat launch.  Here, as described in past posts, is where the famous Highland Inn and Park Headquarters were along the railroad.  Always interesting.

remnants--the steps to nowhere

After another walk was on Two Rivers trail. There is a nice cliff view.

I then headed into the Mew Lake campground across the road.  I checked out the old airfield first thing since I knew the weather was going to go into the toilet the rest of the trip.

Good thing, as insects were flying which would be absent the rest of the trip.

I found some American Coppers (at least six).

Other butterflies included a single Monarch (high-flying!) and some Clouded Sulphurs.

(photo from the past)

At the outlet of Two Rivers, there are always American Black Ducks.

But there was an American Wigeon as well, quite uncommon in the park.  It was a new bird for my Algonquin list.  Not close, but I attempted a photo.

Sunday evening, the clouds rolled in and thunder could be heard. We had a very heavy rain during the night which kept me awake.

Monday morning, I walked the old airfield again, not turning up much.  There were oodles of Yellow-rumped Warblers, as was the case the whole trip.  Certainly more plentiful than in past trips.  

Some other warblers were mixed in during the trip including, Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, Black-throated Green, Tennessee and even an Orange-crowned.  Lots of Palm Warblers and a few Pine as well.

I then headed to Spruce Bog Boardwalk in hopes of seeing Spruce Grouse.  I was not disappointed!  However, lighting was horrible due to the doom and gloom weather.  ISO had to be set at maximum, hence photo quality poor.

These tame creatures are not too bothered by your presence.

Since I was in that direction, I headed over to the Logging Museum trail.  Nothing really of note, except Tennessee Warbler had turned "rare" on the eBird list!

one of the displays

With a break in the rain, although there was mostly drizzle when not raining, I walked Bat Lake Trail. 

 It is an excellent birding trail (usually!).  In the past, I have had good luck with all the specialties on this trail.  Unfortunately, Boreal Chickadee (for example) is almost a thing of the past along the highway 60 corridor.

The out-of-place boulder I always photograph!

I did add another new species for my park list in the form of a Green-winged Teal.

I saw a "year bird" which was a Ruffed Grouse.

(there is a grouse in this cellphone photo!)

Near the end of the trail, I found a good pocket of warblers, including a Blackpoll and Bay-breasted which were now "rare" on eBird.  (I think their filter should be adjusted!).

While having an expensive lunch at Two Rivers Store, some Wild Turkeys were foraging across the road.  They are becoming more regular in Algonquin.  I think this was a new bird for my list as well.

Not wanting to go anywhere else while it threatened rain, I walked the old airfield again.  Out on the lake, I found the Horned Grebe which had previously been reported.  Rather uncommon in the park, and a first for my park list.  I have seen Red-necked Grebe before though!

Tuesday morning, I met up with Kevin Gevaert who works in the park.  I have known Kevin for some time since he used to work at Rondeau Park.  We checked out the old airfield.

Nothing of note, but lots of American Pipits were circling around.

I then decided to walk the old railway bed off Arowhon Road again.  I found it rather quiet.  I did see another Green-winged Teal though!

Before lunch, I checked out the trailer sanitation station area.  A portage trail is here, which I had not been to in many years.  I always used to check this place out and it seemed good for birds.  (had Boreal Chickadee there once).  However, it was quiet this time.

Then I walked Big Pines trail, which was almost birdless.  No doubt weather was a factor!

Saw this plant along the way which seemed to stick out.

Bluebead Lily

After lunch, it was to the old airfield again, then after supper yet another walk on the airfield.  Just the usuals.

Wednesday morning was quite rainy (nothing new there) as I packed things up for the drive home.  I walked the old airfield before leaving Mew Lake in the rain (no choice!).  The only thing new was a second American Wigeon.  Both were seen together.

Heading west, I stopped by Tea Lake Dam picnic area for a look.

Here is where the artist Tom Thompson camped at one point.  There is an interpretive sign giving the information.

The drive home was uneventful without rain of course, and the weather got better the closer I got to home......naturally.

The evening was spent trying to get things dried out....

Algonquin-Griffith-OFO In Peterborough

 I was gone a full week!  My first destination was Algonquin Park, certainly one of my favourite places to visit.  I left early Sunday morning, and minus a couple of stops, I made it to the park in 5.5h from Wallaceburg.

As per usual, I first checked out the old railway bed that is part of Mizzy Lake trail off Arowhon Road.  Under cloudy skies, I lucked out fairly well from the start.  Red Crossbills were flying over (they were everywhere this trip!), a Black-backed Woodpecker made an appearance, and I found a large pocket of warblers/passerines.

I could not look at all of them, as they were moving quickly.  I tallied 13 species of warblers, some of which are flagged rare on eBird at this time, including two Orange-crowned, 7 Tennessee, 12 Nashville, two Bay-breasted, 3 Northern Parula and a Cape May.

Magnolia Warbler (the next day)

However, as I moved along, rain came. I pondered, are we going to go through this again for the third year in a row?  I stood under a tree for some time, but it never let up much, so I booked it back to the car.

With rain continuing off and on, I decided to check out Spruce Bog Boardwalk, where I bumped into Henrique, so we chatted a bit.  The trail was very quiet, but at least the rain let up for a while.

Visitor Centre is just across the road, so I went in there for a bit as it rained.....again.

Mid afternoon, it stopped enough to walk the old airfield.  Quiet!  Later I walked it again, but it was still quiet for birds.

(photo the next day)

It was rain or drizzle all night, and all the next day!  Never quit for 36 hours!  However, I was not there to sit in the car, so walked some trails.  

"Out-of-place" boulder on Bat Lake Trail

Later in the morning, I sat at Two Rivers picnic area where some Red Crossbills were feeding. It was raining here under dreary skies, so photos not the best.

With several "types" of crossbills, I am not sure what ones these are.  They are large-billed in any case.

Rest of the day, I checked out the old airfield a couple of times.  I added another Black-backed Woodpecker here.  Some warblers were at the east end.  There were lots of Bay-breasted Warblers on this trip, even though they are flagged "rare" on eBird.

Bay-breasted Warbler

Ovenbird

Eastern Phoebe

The rain finally stopped around 02:00 that night!  The morning dawned very clear, and I decided to walk the old airfield first thing.  I had just started out, and Henrique Pacheco, Kevin Gevaert and Peter Simons came along before work.  We joined forces to see what was around.

It was a nice morning, with a few things flying over, including lots of Canada Geese and a Common Loon booking it for Lake Ontario.

After this, I headed over to Mizzy Lake trail, my favourite long hiking trail.  I found it somewhat quiet for birds, and after more than four hours of walking, I was tired!  (I am getting too old for this!).  However, it was a gorgeous day weatherwise.

Mizzy Lake

West Rose Lake

I saw another Black-backed Woodpecker, and a few warblers along the way.

Later in the afternoon, I walked the old airfield. 

 Another Black-backed Woodpecker was working the burned area.  Some sparrows were popping up in the grassy area at the east end.  Not sure what all was there, but I laid eyes on a Grasshopper Sparrow.  I knew it was rather rare, but it may apparently be the first fall record for Algonquin!  I had good looks at it to eliminate other species.

The sparrows dove into a thicket, and I photographed this one.  It may be a LeConte's, if not the Grasshopper Sparrow.  A LeConte's was found here the next morning by Sarah Lamond, though.

That night, I heard Northern Saw-whet Owl calling near the campground.  A first for me in Algonquin!

Next morning was absolutely clear and calm but patched of thick fog. I went to Spruce Bog Boardwalk first, as I find it the best time to find Spruce Grouse.  This day it was in the fog!

I then walked Beaver Pond Trail, just down the road, then the Logging Museum trail towards the east end of the park.  Usually I find Canada Jay at the museum, but no dice this year, although I thought I heard one.

It was another gorgeous day.  I added yet another Black-backed Woodpecker here.

There were not many insects due to the rain, and cold mornings.  I did see a few Clouded Sulphurs in the old airfield, and some odes here and there.

Spotted Spreadwing

Yellow-legged Flowerfly

I was done in Algonquin, so headed to Janet (my aunt) and Herman's cottage east of the village of Griffith on highway 41.

It is a remote place, with no hydro service in that area, and no cell service.  They have power supplied by a large solar panel, and communications by satellite dish.  The property is over 90 acres with a small lake.  This photo was taken Friday morning on one of the nicest days I have ever seen!

There were not many birds here, but Red Crossbills were often calling.  During the second night, I heard Barred Owls, not unexpectedly.

View of swampy area near the cottage

The first day, we took a tour, first stopped at Tooey's Lake picnic area up the road.  Red Crossbills here too!  And, a good-sized flock of Pine Siskins.

We ended up at Bonnechere Caves park at Eganville.  One can view the caves formed by an ancient sea here.  It is quite impressive I am told.  We opted out of the tour as it was a pricey $22 per head!

View of the river:

Friday morning I headed out early down highway 41 towards Peterborough.  Just for the heck of it, I stopped at Bon Echo Provincial Park. It is not a birding park per se, but I had never been there before.

I arrived at Peterborough early afternoon, and stopped by to see the lift lock.  I last saw this in 1976 on  family trip!

I was at Peterborough for the Ontario Field Ornithologist's Convention.  A three-day event with field trips, a get-together Friday evening and the main banquet Saturday evening.

The only field trip I went on was to Petroglyphs Provincial Park, and nearby Nephton Ridge.  I had not been to Petroglyphs since 1997!  Birding was a bit slow Saturday morning.

Nephton Ridge is a well-known spot, mainly for ATV's!  We hiked up to the ridge which gives quite a view in all directions.

We saw a good diversity of birds along the way.  A few butterflies, including this fritillary that I never got close to.  Likely an Aphrodite.

That was it for me after this, as I went back to the motel to gear up for the evening event.

Sunday morning, I headed home early.  The 407 now goes to hwy 115 south of Peterborough, so I took that  to the 401 at Mississauga.  Although it will cost some money, it was pretty slick!  I made it home after 4.5h driving.