Noted Birding and Wildlife Naturalist
BOB BOWLES at WOODLAND SPRINGS B&B
together with Muskoka B&B Huntsville
Bob Bowles has been studying birds and leading bird tours in Muskoka for over 25 years. He has compiled a "Checklist of Birds of Muskoka" that has been published by the Muskoka Field Naturalists. He was the founding president of the Muskoka Field Naturalists, a group with over 100 members that he organized in 1981. Bob is a life member of both the Muskoka Field Naturalists and the Ontario Field Ornithologists. He leads birding trips not only throughout Muskoka, Algonquin Park, and Point Pelee but to the Amazon River, Galapagos Islands, Cuba, Costa Rica, and several other popular birding locations. Bob was the Regional Coordinator for the Muskoka region for the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas (1981-85) and is now acting as the Regional Coordinator for Simcoe County for the second Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas (2001-5). He has studied the calls, habits, and nesting of all birds species and has a good understanding in bird identification. Participants like Bob's easy manner and extensive knowledge on all nature subjects and the fact that he covers every detail to help novice birders gain a better understanding of their subject. Bob is also an award-winning nature writer and photographer and writes not only on birds but butterflies, dragonflies, plants, and a large variety of natural science subjects that he has studied extensively. Bob has identified over 1000 mushroom species with check list for Muskoka region and is considered an expert in the field.{see mushroom foray}

Birding and Wildlife in Algonquin The Forest Awakens

Friday night nibblers

all day Saturday trip with Bob Bowles
2 nights accommodation
4 meals
boat cruise around the lake

$195.00pp dbl

Algonquin Park Cavalcade of Colour- Birding and Wildlife

Explore Olde Portage 'Train -Steamship' Route

[Sunday -Ride on Portage Flyer Steam Train [optional]

Friday night nibblers

All day Saturday trip with Bob Bowles

4 meals

2 nights accommodation

boat cruise around the lake

$195.00 pp dbl

A DAY IN ALGONQUIN ...comments from the group.....

Hi Gaye ,

Thank you ever so much for letting me join the group today .
Your breakfast was superb and your lunch was filled with many delectable surprises.You really went to a lot of trouble for us.Bob was fantastic .He is a store house of information and delivers it in such an unassuming way . It was a day I will cherish for years to come .

Barb Hutchison May 2004
Just wanted to thank you again for organizing a terrific day. The
meals were outstanding--well done! Is the recipe for Eggs in the Nest going to come up on your Faves of the
Month? Hope so...

Best wishes,
Marguerite


We had a fabulous day yesterday. The breakfast was both a visual and gastronomic delight and kept us going until two o'clock at which time we stopped for lunch. This turned out to be a real treasure trove as we rummaged through bags filled with tasty surprises.

Bob was the perfect leader for this expedition. Many of the birds we had hoped to see were not yet back from their winter grounds, but Bob's encyclopaedic knowledge of trees, wildflowers, grasses, mosses, shrubs, fungi, geology,ecology, animal behaviour and habitat, amphibians, was all put to good use as he shared with us so much information. I wish I could have retained even a tenth of it.

We enjoyed several dry outings but even the frequent showers and the one steady rain as we emerged from the Spruce Bog Trail could not dampen our spirits. Folks came prepared for the weather and were obviously there to add to their knowledge of the natural world. Not a complaint was heard. As for Mike and me, we consider it a training day for the Yorkshire Dales ten days from now.

Thank you so much for organizing this and giving us the opportunity to take part. I hope we can discuss ways to have Bob more often, as he has so much to share.

Carol and Mike

Mike was overheard to say -"Gaye can make me an apple pan dowdy any time she would care to!"

How was the trip?

The day went very well and everyone had a good time. We saw lots of birds, plants, wildlife but the rain did dampen the trip but everyone was so glad to be outside in spring no one complained.Signs of the forest awakening were welcomed.
I do think that I would keep everything the same. If we get very keen birders then we would have to start earlier in the morning but for our group this was fine. We were able to eat our packed lunches in a shelter.
How was breakfast ?
Breakfast was fantastic and I liked your eggs in a nest. I usually just have porridge for breakfast.
How was lunch ?
I really enjoyed my Atlantic salmon with fresh dill . It was a nice mix with salads, fruit for dessert, water to drink is good.
Is this a good locale from which to launch your birding expeditions to Algonquin -pro and con ?
We went up the North Portage Road to Portage Road and then to hwy 60 so that worked very well. I think you have one of the best locations to base trips to Algonquin Park since after breakfast it is only a short drive with no built-up areas before you reach the park.
What/how many animals did you see ?
We had excellent views of a bull and cow moose right on the side of the road and then another young calf in the woods on the way home. We had close views of a Spruce Grouse, a rare bird for Muskoka and one that I do not always find on every Park trip.
Sometimes I have to search for several hours before finding one but this year we found one in the first ten minutes. Also we saw large flocks of Purple Finches.We saw Trailing Arbutus and Dutchman's Breeches in bloom. We saw other interesting wildlife that we were able to talk about and there would have been more if the rain had stopped.
The bird lists are a good idea and we'll remember them next time.We had excellent views of the birds we did see and heard the Yellow-rumped Warblers calling. This was good since Barbara had the dead bird that had hit her window and we had talked about it before breakfast that morning.
Bob Bowles

Hi Gaye
We thoroughly enjoyed the day - the rain actually added to the spirit of the group - the breakfast was excellent and set us off on the right foot - Bob proved to be knowledgeable and interesting - not always the most likely combination - and we would be more than happy to participate again
Thanks including us
Chris, Doug and Megan Beckett

Dear Gaye ,It was a lovely day despite the rain. Really enjoyed the start of it at your cozy home and the excellent breakfast and company. The interesting information shared during that time was one of the highlights. Bob was informative and personable. We learned not just about birds but about many other trees, wildlife and plants and other interesting facts about Algonquin Park.
Thanks for having us.
Kathleen and Wayne Kaye