Autumn in Algonquin Park!

I haven't visited Algonquin Park during peak Fall Colours since I was a kid. Our timing on the changing of the leaves and the weather couldn't have been better. Source Lake is in the photo.

We started our morning following the old rail bed at the North end of Mizzy Lake Trail. A Spruce Grouse was busy foraging on the ground. They eat the needles of conifers including some pine and spruce species. They can eat from high in the trees where newer needles are found, but also feed on the ground in search of small invertebrates, plants and mushrooms. They are known to be fairly tame which this bird demonstrated by feasting on the path and ignoring the hikers and photographers! Cornell Lab, All About Birds.

A little further down the trail, a local Common Raven patiently watched some hikers as they rested with a snack. This bird is obviously used to people! He certainly had a lot of personality, making many different sounds as he "talked to" the passersby!

A few dragonflies were airborne in the warmer afternoon weather as we toured the Spruce Bog Trail. This Shadow Darner would not land, but I managed an inflight photo!

Fall colours are reflected in the bog.

One of our target birds for the trip was a Canada Jay. We finally found one late in the afternoon at the east end of the park. This bird landed in my outstretched hand but didn't stick around when all I had to offer was sunflower seeds. He went in pursuit of people with peanuts.