With a population of 3,000 moose, Canada’s Algonquin Park was calling to us. After not seeing a moose for a few years, we had high hopes for our first trip to Southern Ontario and Ottawa.
We crossed the St. Lawrence River and headed to Ottawa, making our first stop at the Wild Bird Care Centre trails. As soon as we stepped onto the path, Black-capped Chickadees flew right in. When Mike held out his hand, one immediately landed on him. We soon realized a few hikers were carrying birdseed, which solved the mystery of why the chickadees seemed to follow us. On our hike, we also saw large black squirrels, which we later learned are a common subgroup of the Gray Squirrel. A huge flock of Wild Turkeys grazed peacefully in a meadow, and a White-breasted Nuthatch came over for seed. Our final bird at this stop was an Ovenbird near the parking lot.
Our next stop was the popular Andrew Haydon Park on the Ottawa River. On a beautiful fall day, the park was buzzing with hikers, photographers, and bird watchers. We saw common birds like Canada Geese, Mallards, Black-capped Chickadees, American Goldfinches, and Song Sparrows.
We chose the Albert Bay Suites for our stay in downtown Ottawa. The city’s beauty lies in how the historical architecture of Parliament Hill blends with modern buildings. We loved exploring the Byward Market Square, a foodie’s paradise with every type of cuisine imaginable. Our best find was the 25-cent oysters at The Vineyards Bistro, a cool basement wine bar. For dessert, we had to try the classic Canadian treat: maple BeaverTails.
Early the next morning, we hit the Trans-Canada highway for a three-hour drive to Algonquin Park. The park is nearly 3,000 square miles, so our chances of seeing a moose were pretty good. With only one day to explore, our first stop was the visitor center to get the latest scoop on moose sightings. Park staff recommended Cache Lake, where several had been seen the day before.
On the way, we hiked the Spruce Bog trail, a beautiful loop through forests and across bogs. We spotted a Pileated Woodpecker, a Golden-crowned Kinglet, and a White-throated Sparrow. At Cache Lake, we met two photographers who had been searching for moose without success. The moose had moved on, and it wasn’t our day.
With our main target missed, we set our sights on another: the Canada Jay, formerly known as the Gray Jay. Driving slowly down Lake Opeongo road, a cold rain began to fall. Suddenly, a small bird hopped along the roadside. It was our first Canada Jay in Canada! Finding it in Canada was a perfect ending to our day. We promised ourselves we’d be back to find that moose, but next time, we’d definitely plan an overnight stay.
On our way home, we crossed the Thousand Islands Bridge, bringing back childhood memories of Stony Point, New York. We’re already looking forward to birding in Ottawa again, especially during warbler migration.
Trip Birds: 23 Life Birds: 0
Next up: Gainesville Birding & Football
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