Algonquin: Opeongo Road

We walked down Opeongo Road twice during our recent visit to Algonquin Park. During the winter, a gate blocks the road half way to Opeongo Lake so we enjoyed the scenery on foot.

One of our target birds was a Black-backed Woodpecker. In Ontario, Algonquin Park is close to the southern boundary where this species can regularly be found. They are often found in recently burned forests where they live off the bounty of insects found under tree bark. In areas with fewer fires, they can also live where there are bark beetle infestations.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-backed_Woodpecker/overview

Bald Eagle cruising through the area.

A pair of Canada Geese were on the frozen lake. The pair must have been leading the spring migration as they weren't expected that far north yet.

Black-capped Chickadees followed us down the road, hoping for a hand out.

A Black-capped Chickadee landed on the beak of the Black-capped Chickadee hat that my daughter was wearing.

White-winged Crossbills were more difficult to find than their cousins. We saw a few perched high in the Spruce Trees. Individual White-winged Crossbills can eat up to 3,000 conifer seeds each and every day!

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-winged_Crossbill/overview