Algonquin Park in Autumn (part 2)
October 23rd, 2016
There were two birdy high points on an otherwise not-very-birdy vacation. Number two was this fellow:
This Ruffed Grouse was right on the trail, and surprisingly reluctant to flush or even sneak away. Not a rare bird by any means, but seldom giving so lengthy and satisfying a view! (Frequently the only indication that you've stumbled upon a grouse is the sound of it flying away.) Its head bobbed up and down as it pecked at something unseen. When we walked by where it had been, we saw a large half-eaten mushroom.
The number one high point was, alas, unphotographed. That was when I spotted a young Bald Eagle perched on the rocks across a small pond. It was the single best, closest view of a juvenile eagle that I've ever had, and Mike got a great view of it too. It soon flew off, whereupon a collection of ravens and vultures flew in, congregating in and around a clump of tall vegetation to the left of the rocks. We realized there must be carrion in there--sizable carrion, given that all of these birds were feeding peacably on it! It may originally have been prey to the eagle, but it's at least as likely that the eagle, too, was a scavenger. (Unlike their cousins Golden Eagles, Bald Eagles don't often prey on live mammals. They prefer fish and carrion.) At one point something spooked them, and four ravens and one vulture all emerged, all previously unseen save for one raven's tail, from that one little clump.
It was also neat to see two of the vultures doing their best cormorant imitation (perching on the rocks and spreading their wings to dry.)
Migrating kinglets were everywhere, and migrating White-Crowned Sparrows were likewise everywhere. One of the latter paused just long enough in an opening for me to photograph it. Like most of the ones we saw, it was a juvenile. (See this post from back in May to compare and contrast with a mature adult.)
This odd little plant is called Indian Cucumber Root. Its design put me in mind of Painted Trillium, but it's actually part of the lily family. There were lots of them along the Hardwood Lookout Trail, some holding single blue berries on top. The berries are not edible, but the roots are and they really do taste like cucumber.
Beaver at sunset along Mizzy Lake Trail.
October 23rd, 2016
There were two birdy high points on an otherwise not-very-birdy vacation. Number two was this fellow:
This Ruffed Grouse was right on the trail, and surprisingly reluctant to flush or even sneak away. Not a rare bird by any means, but seldom giving so lengthy and satisfying a view! (Frequently the only indication that you've stumbled upon a grouse is the sound of it flying away.) Its head bobbed up and down as it pecked at something unseen. When we walked by where it had been, we saw a large half-eaten mushroom.
The number one high point was, alas, unphotographed. That was when I spotted a young Bald Eagle perched on the rocks across a small pond. It was the single best, closest view of a juvenile eagle that I've ever had, and Mike got a great view of it too. It soon flew off, whereupon a collection of ravens and vultures flew in, congregating in and around a clump of tall vegetation to the left of the rocks. We realized there must be carrion in there--sizable carrion, given that all of these birds were feeding peacably on it! It may originally have been prey to the eagle, but it's at least as likely that the eagle, too, was a scavenger. (Unlike their cousins Golden Eagles, Bald Eagles don't often prey on live mammals. They prefer fish and carrion.) At one point something spooked them, and four ravens and one vulture all emerged, all previously unseen save for one raven's tail, from that one little clump.
It was also neat to see two of the vultures doing their best cormorant imitation (perching on the rocks and spreading their wings to dry.)
Migrating kinglets were everywhere, and migrating White-Crowned Sparrows were likewise everywhere. One of the latter paused just long enough in an opening for me to photograph it. Like most of the ones we saw, it was a juvenile. (See this post from back in May to compare and contrast with a mature adult.)
This odd little plant is called Indian Cucumber Root. Its design put me in mind of Painted Trillium, but it's actually part of the lily family. There were lots of them along the Hardwood Lookout Trail, some holding single blue berries on top. The berries are not edible, but the roots are and they really do taste like cucumber.
Beaver at sunset along Mizzy Lake Trail.
| ← | → |
Mike
October 23rd, 2016 at 3:04 pm
Nice shots... glad we managed to find one of the ICR's in good light!
mustangsallie
October 23rd, 2016 at 10:55 pm
Did you actually take a taste of that Indian Cucumber root?
Suzanne
October 24th, 2016 at 1:05 am
No, harvesting of plants/berries is generally not allowed in provincial or national parks. Besides, they are considered uncommon wildflowers so I don't think I'd dig one up unless it was a survival situation!