Frenzy
Algonquin Park November.3.2020
Frenzy..
What is a frenzy?
The best way I can describe this is.
We don’t get to spend much time with our grandchildren. Three of my grandchildren live a couple of hours away. When we are able to see the grandchildren they are ecstatic to see us and sometimes I don’t get to visit with my son and his wife because my grandchildren just want all the attention. And of course because of this pandemic we don’t get to see our other five grandchildren as much as we would like. Whenever I have an opportunity to visit them the first few minutes are very hectic.
Only a grandparent can understand this.
This week Maureen and I had a few hours where we were able to drive three hours (More like 4) to our favourite Provincial Park.
(Now before I get into this story I don’t advocate feeding wild animals. In fact I really don’t like the practice and probably would confront someone baiting wild animals. That said like you I set out bird feeders at home to enjoy our backyard birds. I would never bait an Owl or Pine Martin or and especially a Fox)
Now onto the story.
Maureen and I love feeding the Canada Jays and Chickadees out of our hand.
As Soon As I pulled into the Opeongo Parking lot and before I could even get out of the car chickadees were everywhere.
When we did get out of the car the chickadees were all over me; Maureen and even inside the car.
What a frenzy.
I also noticed a compilation of Canada Jays had gathered . Last year we maybe saw a total of three Jays the many times we were in the park.
The park staff we talked to claimed that 2019 was such a great year for tree seeds in the forest that the Canada Jays never came down from the north, so they were not around.
And as a result their numbers were down. Well from what I saw this past week I would believe the numbers are back up. I saw at least ten if not more at Opeongo. And again down at Arowhon Road there were a few more.
That was great to see.
Canada Jays can be found all throughout the Boreal Forest in Canada, and are quite common in Algonquin Park.
Voted in 2018, the Official name is now Canada Jay. Even though the Canada Jay is referred often by its older names the Gray Jay, and the Whiskey Jack. ( the more common name in western Canada)
More information can be found at
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Canada_Jay/overview https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/canada-jay
Now add a friendly Raven. I didn’t realize just how big these birds are until I layed on the ground and he walked towards me.
When we arrived at a hiking location this Raven came out and greeted us. I am talking about within three feet. Close enough that my camera could not focous. Obviously he has associated cars with people, and people means handouts. This crazy Raven actually followed us along our hike. And get this. Now his mate has joined him on these adventures.
The highlight of this trip was finding a Black–backed Woodpecker. I first heard about this elusive bird about five or so years ago. And until now I have never seen one. Until this whirlwind twelve hour trip to Algonquin Park.
These little woodpeckers differ from the Hairy and the Downey as it basically stays in one spot hunting for beetles. Maureen and I witnessed this and we were able to get quite close.
More information on these Black–backed Woodpeckers can be found at
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-backed_Woodpecker/overview
and Now For the Rest of the Story
Maureen and I were on the road on Tuesday at 4:30am. With a packed lunch and two coffee mugs full of java there was no need to stop except for fuel in Huntsville.
We drove 228 kilometers and the cost was $32 in fuel. I am glad we took the Kia and not the Silverado.
On the drive up we discussed what we wanted to accomplish on this photo shoot. Realizing there was no leaves on the trees obviously fall colour was out.
#1 priority is we wanted to see a Moose. There was a Wolf reported to be seen however we never came across her.
#2 on the drive up Maureen had told me about this friendly Raven, but no one had said where it was so when we found him we were ecstatic.
#3 was we were hoping to see Canada Jays, and of course our Chickadees.
Not knowing that we were about to have one of our greatest trip. (And I say that because we not only photographed a healthy accumulation of Canada Jays and Chickadees but I actually was able to photograph a Black–backed Woodpecker. The Raven was a bonus).
At 22 Kilometers into the park we found our one and only Moose. Right there we decided the trip was a success.
Could this trip get any better?
Sunset @ Peninsula Lake
Peninsula Lake in the District Municipality of Muskoka, and is one of the Muskoka Lakes. Peninsula Lake is a mid-sized cold-water lake located just east of Huntsville, Ontario.
Making our way home the sky was getting redder and redder. The colours were fantastic. Maureen asked me to find an advantage point however I was way ahead of her. At the first chance I turned toward the Lake on the very first sideroad. We were not disappointed. These sunset photos were taken with my iPhone11pro. And I am very satisfied with how they turned out. In fact there is very little editing on these photos.
Thanks you for reading my tripper journal to Algonquin Park on Nov.3.2020
All photos and written material are property of Randy O’Hara and ROHphotos and may not be copied or used without my consent.
Please check out Frenzy in my Gallery section.
Frenzy