Day 7. (14 May)

The rain continued over night but was clearing as we drove over to PP and made our way to the tip, finding a Yellow-billed Cuckoo, the first of three we found that morning. 

We headed over to the east beach to twitch a Buff-bellied Pipit. Rather incongruously the pipit, followed by an ever changing gaggle of around 40-50 birders and photographers, wandered up the beach closer and closer to a couple making out on the beach. We never did find out if they noticed the array of optics and camera’s pointing in their direction!

We then joined the crowd trying to relocate a Connecticut Warbler that had showed itself briefly. Despite the presence of some 60+ birders staring intently into the undergrowth, this skulker refused to show. We heard later that it did show really well, albeit for a short period, in the afternoon. Phil did however score with brief views of a Blue-winged Warbler, but none of the others got anywhere where near.

While there had not been a major fall overnight, there had been a significant arrival of Blackpoll Warblers with several seen that morning as we birder our way back towards the centre. The highlights of the walk back, however, were a fly over Raven – apparently quite a rarity at PP –, Broad-winged Hawk and a female Purple Finch, whilst Rob found a second Nighthawk. 

Not long afterwards, the heavens opened and we got soaked walking back to the centre. We headed back to the cottage to dry out and change clothes. Returning home, we discovered that the field behind the cottage had turned into a bit of a lake, covered in gulls. It was a bit incongruous to see Forster’s and Caspian Terns hunting over what the day before was a ploughed field! Whilst there, Phil checked out the new “lagoon”. It didn’t take him to locate the Laughing Gull amongst the 100’s of Bonaparte’s, Ring-billed and American Herring Gulls. Further scanning revealed several Grey Plovers and Short billed Dowitchers, as well as two Great Black Backed Gulls.

We decided to drive up to Mitchell’s Bay, on the shore of Lake St Claire’s to pick up the Yellow-headed Blackbirds that had taken up residence.  The rain was easing by the time we arrived, and the Blackbirds were showing well in the small reed bed area next to the road. 

The rain has stopped by this time so we explored the trail further along that took us out towards Mitchell’s Bay where there was a jetty into Lake St Claire. 2 adult Night Herons, in flight, and a pair of Peregrines over where the only new birds for the trip. Several Green Herons showed well in both the ditch and the lakeside marsh. The ditch also provided, eventually, good views of our first Muskrat, and typically once the first is seen we were to get good views of several more over the next few days.

We stopped at Paula’s on the way home for our evening meal, although a bit posh for us, it was full of birders so we didn’t look to out of place in our birding garb.

Back at the cottage, MJB picked up 2 Willets coming in to land next to a Franklin’s Gull out in the flooded field.

Day 8 (15 May)

It was back to a clear sky today, with only the occasional shower to dampen our spirits. Arriving at the tip it became clear that there was little in the way of a fall overnight. MB chose to stake out the Connecticut Warbler, while the rest birded the tip area. MB drew a blank while MJB and Rob had a Weasel run across their path. 

A pair of House Fiches in the visitor centre car park were next to be ticked – How had we missed these in the number of times we crossed that area, before we said out goodbye’s to Michael and his wife Sue. 

After lunch we headed over to Wheatley Provincial Park where the best birds were a Black-billed Cuckoo and Belted Kingfisher.

Day 9 (16 May)

Our last day in the PP area. It was very much a case of going over old ground, with next to nothing new reported, while we still delighted in the spectacle of the gaudy American warblers, the day was hard work with the only new species being an Arcadian Flycatcher near the Marsh Boardwalk. 

It was the same old... at Hillman Marsh, but the drive down the lane behind the cottage did produce our only views of Sandhill Cranes on the deck – a pair stalking the drying out flooded fields.

Back at the cottage, both Martins set up for a last scan of the flood/scrape. MB managed to forget about the steel post he was stood next to and when he went to return to the cottage he went down face first, much to the amusement of Phil who had just joined them.

After eating, it was make sure the cottage was clean, the bedding washed and the car parked for the long overnight drive to Algonquin.

Day 10 (17 May)

After a long overnight drive we pulled into the West gate at Algonquin just after 6 am. Pulling into the virtually empty car park, Phil spotted several Evening Grosbeaks. We found at least 7 of these beauties around the parking lot. After sorting out our day permit we made our way to the Peck Lake trail.

It was a short and pleasant walk round the lake, and with a Great Northern Diver singing it was very atmospheric. Several Hermit Thrushes could be heard but none showed, and Pileated Woodpeckers were just as unco-operative. 3 Black Ducks were found and a ring-tailed Northern Harrier flew past with a large snake in its talons.

We returned to the West Gate to seek directions to the old railroad trail that bisects the Mizzy Lake trail, which wasn’t marked on the parks maps. This was reputed to be an excellent site for Grey Jay and Boreal Chickadee. Whilst a pleasant walks, we failed to score with either target species.

A walk round the Spruce Bog boardwalk failed to provide anything new – though Rob did manage to upset one of the local Red Squirrels! We’re not sure how, but he did require the rest of us to act as bodyguards / a screen to get past it. It was over to the Visitor Centre for lunch where a pair of Evening Grosbeaks were found as we pulled into the car park. 

We then drove over to Whitney to find accommodation for the night. Michael had recommended the Mad Musher, where we were able to get a dorm for 4.

Back into the Park, we birded the Opeongo Road, with no luck before revisiting the Spruce Board Walk. The trail was much quieter than early and we stopped to watch a pair of Beaver, one of which swam quite close.  It was one of those magical moments, a clear blue sky, no wind, pleasant temperature, the sky reflected in the slow moving stream, and two Beavers going about their daily business, quite unconcerned by our presence.  

Carrying on, we came across a bit of avian activity. Both Martins got onto a pair of Golden Crowned Kinglets, whilst Phil and Rob were working through a small party of chickadees. Unfortunately they were all Black-capped. Nice, but not the hoped for Boreal.  As we approached the end of the trial MJB and Rob (sticking close to Martin’s side in case he was mugged by a passing squirrel) found a Pileated Woodpecker feeding at the base of a tree. The pecker saw them and flew of, directly over Phil and MB’s heads.

Day 11 (18 May)

Up and out very early, scrapping the frost of the car, we headed back into the park just after first light, again heading for the Spruce Board Walk. 

Although no one was around, the bird life was as quiet as it had been the previous day. The two Martin’s were in front searching for Spruce Grouse. Suddenly, there one was, sat at eye level, in a tree next to the boardwalk, no more than 3m from them. MJB quietly made his way back to collect Rob and Phil whilst MB just stood and watched, almost to scared to move in case he flushed it. As Phil and Rob joined the two Martins, the grouse flew down onto the boardwalk where it stated to display for a couple of minutes before flying back into the trees. As we approached the area were it flew into, it, and a second, was seen briefly before they both disappeared further into the wood.

Boyed by this success, we crossed the open area and as we were going back into the wooded area MB spotted a distant Grey Jay. 

From there we crossed to the Visitor Centre for some breakfast. Unlike the previous day, there were a number of raptors seen soaring from the balcony. A pair of Broad-winged Hawks, several Red-tailed Hawks, a Northern Harrier and a female Merlin that flew almost over our heads. 

After our refuel we made our way to the Big Pines trail.  As we drove down to the trail MB noticed a Ruffed Grouse by the road side. On stopping it flew up into the trees but, fortunately, it could still be seen, before it slunk away. Further along, an impromptu gathering of cars at the road side heralded the presence of a Moose. Pulling in, we wandered over to see, what turned out to be a rather moth-eaten looking Moose.

The Big Pine trail provided a very pleasant couple of hours. The highlights being excellent views of a pair of Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, good views of Hermit Thrush and a confiding Grey Jay. From there we tried the Opeongo trail again were a pair of American Bitterns were seen well, as well as was a very confiding Grey Jay.  It was then time to head south towards the Carden Plains, but not before stopping to admire a second Moose. This time it was an adult male, with its antlers just starting to grow. Much bigger, and in much better condition, this was altogether a more impressive beast than the female we’d seen earlier.

Arriving in the Carden Alvars area mid afternoon we drove straight to Wylie Road were our first stop pulled in a distant Loggerhead Shrike, and several Bobolinks whilst a couple of Wilson’s Snipes were flushed from a boggy area. The next stop found an American Kestrel, before we stopped just up from the marsh bridge.

We had been informed that a Golden-winged Warbler was around the pull in area but we couldn’t locate it.  Our only new bird was a Sedge Wren that sang from the top of a clump of reeds. The highlight, however, was the Beaver that swam under the bridge in the crystal clear water. 

Rather than carry up along Wylie Road – the potholes were deep and the clearance not that great – we turned round and headed for the Prospect Road area. Even before we exited the car, we could hear the drumming of Wilson’s Snipes. It took a while until we managed to locate one of the two birds drumming overhead. A distant booming Bittern and a displaying Ruffed Grouse (both heard only’s) were the highlight, though a sparrow that gave only the briefest of views was thought to be most probably a Grasshopper Sparrow, but not enough to clinch it.

It was then off to try to find accommodation for the night, eventually finding a motel in Orillia.