Algonquin in the Summer, back into the bugs on the Mizzy lake Trail

This past weekend I took a hike along the Mizzy Lake trail in Algonquin Park to look for some wildlife and landscape images. After the bad experience with the mosquitoes on my last outing, I made sure to pack a long sleeve shirt, and was more carful to evenly apply the deet spray all over my arms, neck and back. The mosquitos were still horrendous, but I managed to escape the trail with way fewer bites this time around. Overall the trail was pretty nice, with a good mix of forrest, lake, wetland and beaver ponds and I saw several different animals at different points on the trail. The highlight of the hike was a female moose grazing on aquatic vegetation. The animal either wasn't aware of my presence up in the forest, or it didn't give a damn and happily spent over an hour working its way through the wetland munching on the lily pads as it went. There were beaver dams in several of the lakes, and the beavers were most active on Dizzy lake trying (foolishly) to make a lodge underneath the boardwalk at the edge of the lake. I can't imagine the park wardens will allow the beavers to continue their construction project.

Along the trail I also spotted a garter snake, several loons, and family of river otters (I wasn't quick enough to get a picture of them before they disappeared into the lakeside grasses). The orchids and bushberries were blooming along the trail as well. Overall, I was very impressed by this moderate level trail for both the wildlife opportunities and the beautiful landscape.