December 31, 2008

A Brown Thrasher is visiting the feeders at our cottage located at 1631 Kinsale Road which is on the west side of Gannon Bay (near Gannon Narrows), Buckhorn Lake. During the past few days we were there (Sunday 27 December to Wednesday 31 December, 2008), the thrasher appeared rather briefly, Read more…

December 29, 2008

A Great Horned Owl was seen today at noon along the gravel path running from the St. Joseph at Fleming parking lot at Brealey and Forster Avenue towards the main Fleming campus. It was perched in a White Pine. Location: Brealey Drive, Peterborough Observer: Irene Rudd

December 27, 2008

A male Yellow-headed Blackbird is coming to a feeder near Bridgenorth. It first showed up four days ago. According to the homeowner, Bob Pettifer, it often arrives in the company of grackles, starlings and two Red-winged Blackbirds. People are welcome to go out to see the bird, but Bob prefers Read more…

December 26, 2008

A Great Gray Owl was found dead north of Lakefield today. It was on County Road 6, 4 to 5 kms east of Hwy 28. Great Grays have started to turn up in eastern Ontario in recent weeks and may foreshadow a major flight southward from the boreal forest. For Read more…

December 25, 2008

Just reporting that 2 very fat and healthy looking American Robins spent all of Christmas Day at my home in Peterborough chowing down small berries on many of my trees. Location: Peterborough Observer: Randy Smith

December 23, 2008

Environment Canada announced that 2008 has been the wettest year on record for Peterborough and area. A snowy winter, followed by a wet summer, produced 1,106 millimetres of precipitation as of December. The average for the year is 840 millimetres. Location: Peterborough Observer: Environment Canada

December 22, 2008

We still have the Eastern Towhee at our feeders; it is very reliable visitor. Also, for several days so far, it has now been joined by a White-throated Sparrow. If you want to see them, feel free to stop by: 46 Anne St., Millbrook. However, a call first would be Read more…

December 21, 2008

While out with my camera, I came across a Pileated Woodpecker that was feeding on insects located in a telephone poll beside the road. The light wasn’t great (in between snow storms), but I managed to capture a few images before it flew into the woods. Location: Johnston Drive, Peterborough Read more…

December 18, 2008

I couldn’t find the swans at mid-day today, but I did see at least three adult Greater Black-backed Gulls and 1 adult Glaucous Gull with all the Herring Gulls on Little Lake, directly north of the cemetery on the edge of the ice. Location: Little Lake, Peterborough Observer: Scott McKinlay

December 17, 2008

A single Red-bellied Woodpecker attended our feeder this afternoon. This is the first one we’ve seen in the Township of North Kawartha. Location: Mt. Julian (Stoney Lake) Observer: Michael Butler

December 13, 2008

A Carolina Wren was in my yard today, seemingly taking dormant insects off the screen door and walls of the house. Location: 1010 Mississauga Road, Curve Lake (tel: 657-1061) Observer: David Johnson

December 11, 2008

I saw two flocks of Snow Buntings, totaling about 150 birds, in the fields of Caza’s Berry Farm, a few km south of Buckhorn, along Berrie Road. Each flock took flight, wheeled and landed at least once and it was evident that there were no Horned Larks or Longspurs present. Read more…

December 10, 2008

At the Marshland Centre in Lakefield, we pished in a Common Redpoll that we heard. A very large flock (~200) of Pine Siskins was also there. At the very south end of the Old Young’s Point Road, there was a flock of about 40 Cedar Waxwings with at least 4 Read more…

December 7, 2008

Upcoming Peterborough Christmas Bird Count, 2008 The 57th Peterborough Christmas Bird Count will be taking place on Sunday December 14, 2008. As usual we are looking for volunteers to participate in the event. The count is for a 24-hour period, but most participants only use the daylight hours. However owl Read more…

December 6, 2008

The feeders were busy during today’s snowfall. A male Evening Grosbeak, the first of the season here, joined American Goldfinches, Dark-eyed Juncos, Blue Jays and American Tree Sparrows. Good numbers of Common Mergansers can be seen from most vantage points along the north shore of Stony Lake. White-winged Crossbills are Read more…