Into the North Country (Days 3 and 4)

This is the second installment of my late October trip to the realms of northern Ontario with Ezra Campanelli and our hosts Ken and Angie Williams. Days 1 and 2 can be found below:

Into the North Country (Days 1 and 2)

Day 3 (October 26, 2019)

We had a later start Saturday, enjoying some breakfast at the local Smoothy's and watching overhead flocks of Siskin's and Crossbill's including our only Evening Grosbeak of the trip. It's always refreshing to indulge in northern Ontario's bird diversity (yumm!).

As more of an aside I find it amazing how easily it is to trip the eBird filter (meaning higher than expected quantities of birds/"rare" birds) this far north. I think the most comical "filter trip" on this venture was seeing more than 11 Ring-billed Gulls in Timmins. Shows the lack of birding coverage this area receives!

Over breakfast it was decided Ezra, myself, Angie and Ken would do the complete northern (semi)loop from Smooth Rock Falls to Kapaskasing (about a 200km trip). After driving the paved 634 to Fraserdale, the highway transitions into a gravel road as you drive northwest. I wouldn't be surprised if you can drive to Moosonnee via logging roads someday, these roads appeared to be poppin' up everywhere branching off from the main route.

Saturday's intriguing loop

The drive itself is a fantastic way to fall in love with the northern scenery, however it was apparent we were a little late for any interesting rarities that may have recently wandered these roads.

Typical view from gravel highway

Nonetheless it was an excellent opportunity to scope out potential vagrant traps for future trips of this nature. The Little Long Dam (marked on map above) includes a 5km berm and can be found at the most northern section of this (semi)loop. I won't hype things too much here, but I like the way this place looks! Interestingly, Ken mentioned that a hunter had told him he had 15 Ptarmigans (!!!) along this stretch earlier this fall.

Fragment of Little Long Dam (feat. The Jeep)

After Little long things were rather quiet in the bird department. Once back along the highway 11 corridor, we stopped at the Moonbeam Sewage Lagoons where we were greeted to a Pectoral Sandpiper, Northern Pintail and a funky looking Ring-necked Duck.

Moonbeam Sewage Lagoons featuring some lovely exposed mudflats

Day 4 (October 27, 2019) 

It was time to head back south. After giving our goodbye's and thanks to Ken and Angie, we were back on the road. On our way, we made a quick pitstop in Timmins hoping to catch up to a Laughing Gull that had taken up residence at Porcupine Lake. Laughing Gulls are commonly found along the Atlantic/Gulf coast. Having one this far north and east was certainly rare, but not unprecedented. For us, it was not to be, despite a thorough investigation.

The last stop for birding we had planned for, was a patch of forest that had burned this past summer (I believe...) near the town of Gogama, approximately an hour south of Timmins. In short, forest burns provide a very unique habitat, supplying ample beetles and in turn attracting countless Black-backed Woodpeckers and sometimes the more uncommon American Three-toed Woodpecker. Outside of forest burns, Black-backed Woodpeckers can often be difficult/unpredictable to locate due to its nomadic behaviour.

Ezra on road surrounded by burn

Scenes from the burn

Almost immediately, a Black-backed Woodpecker began giving its distinct 'pik' call. It didn't take long to find several more. There was something incredible about crunching through the burnt ground of a barren forest, while woodpecker's danced from tree to tree. They seemed almost as thrilled as we were.

Male Black-backed Woodpecker #1

We counted at least 10 Black-backed Woodpeckers scattered across the burn. A few Pileated Woodpeckers were also taking advantage of this unique location.

A dapper and damp Pileated Woodpecker

These photogenic beauties didn't seem to mind our presence, here's a few more below...

Black-backed Woodpecker #2

Black-backed Woodpecker #3

The birds were suuuper tame. Just how tame....

Ezra within tree-length of a Black-backed Woodpecker

After 2500 km of driving, we were ready to pack in a superb experience in the north country. All in all, we managed to locate almost all our boreal specialties, enjoy some fantastic grouse and wonderful company, all without the car breaking down! It seems quite easy driving north as if there's this magnetic pull and mystical draw, but it's always a struggle to gravitate back southwards. Ahhh...the wonders of the north!