May 2012

Tonight, at about 7 p.m., we were out feeding the stock and saw an adult Cattle Egret hanging out in one of the pastures with the horses . I didn’t have a camera or even my phone on me so unfortunately I didn’t get a photo. We watched (stalked) it Read more…

This morning I heard a Willow Flycatcher calling in the marsh on the west side of Fairbairn Street, north of County Road 19. This has been a very productive marsh this spring with Sora, Virginia Rail, Pied-billed Grebe, Common Gallinule and Northern Shoveler all being reported. Later in the morning Read more…

Here is an interesting trip report from OFO (Ontario Field Ornithologists) to the Carden Alvar, just north of Kirkfield. It is well worth a trip! “The OFO group had excellent and lengthy views of a Loggerhead Shrike near bluebird box 10 on Wylie Road, which was the highlight of the Read more…

Two Giant Swallowtail butterflies have been reported: one from Crowe’s Landing on Stony Lake and one today from Warsaw. A picture was taken of the Crowe’s Landing butterfly. This is quite a rare butterfly in the Kawarthas. However, a number turned up last summer, as well, but later in the Read more…

I drove Douro 3rd Line this morning at 7 a.m. and heard Sandhill Cranes calling repeatedly from both sides of the road. Two birds eventually flew over. Click this link to hear the call: http://bit.ly/KjpkKs Location: 3rd line of Douro, south of Cedar Cross Road in area with open field Read more…

Today I had 2 Alder Flycatchers on Douro 4th Line, just north of Douro village on Meade Creek. There is also a colony of Bank Swallows on Division Road, east of the 4th Line, at the Drain Bro’s Sand Pit. I also saw a Canadian Tiger Swallowtail and several Black Read more…

I’ve been walking to and from work as part of ‘Peterborough Moves’, but mostly because it is May. Warbler migration continues to trickle through the Otonabee R. valley in Ptbo. Along the trail on the east side of the river I had a singing m. Canada Warbler today in Meadowvale Read more…

More butterflies are emerging, In the last week I have seen Tawny-edged Skipper, Meadow Fritillary, Common Ringlet, and Black Swallowtail (May 18, Cameron-Cty Rd 39 rail trail), Northern Cloudywing (May 20, PFN walk in Trent Wildlife Sanctuary), Hobomok Skipper, Arctic Skipper (May 21, Hubble Rd & Devil

Today, I had a Luna Moth at my cottage on Jack Lake. It’s only the third time I’ve seen one in this area. Location: Jack Lake, Apsley Observer: Sheelagh Hysenaj

I had a Brewster’s Warbler at 1:00pm today on Nichol’s Cove Road at the north end of the Lattanzio Farm. It was foraging along the south side of the road. I also saw a Black-billed Cuckoo in the same general area. On Friday morning there was also a singing Philadelphia Read more…

Today, I saw White-winged Scoter at Jack Lake at about 6:50 p.m. It was likely just stopping by on its migration route north. I have never seen one at the lake before. Location: Jack Lake, Apsley Observer: Sheelagh Hysenaj

This morning I saw a Blanding’s Turtle basking on the shoulder of the Jack Lake Road (about 100 metres south of Jack Lake Landscaping business) . I have seen other several other Blanding’s Turtles basking or crossing the road and found one dead at this same location. Location: Jack Lake Read more…

I had my first Monarch of the year this afternoon. It was flitting about in my garden, landing from time to time on the two inch milkweed plants that are emerging from the ground. This is my earliest Monarch by at least two and a half weeks. A Question Mark, Read more…

I spent a couple of hours birding around Mount Pleasant this morning. At the end of of Wilson Line, I had 2 Red-eyed Vireos, 2 Scarlet Tanagers and 1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak. On Stewart Line, in the swamp west of County Road 10, there were large numbers of very vocal Northern Read more…

Had a great weekend in our yard, saw 2 male orioles ,2 male rose breasted grosbeaks , 1 brown thrasher ,1 great crested flycatcher and 1 male ruby-throated hummingbird. We were glad that these neo-tropical birds have come home for the summer. I put all this activity down to two Read more…

On the PFN-sponsored Jane’s walk at Fleming College this morning, I counted 50+ Red Admirals over a distance of 100 metres through an open area. They were nectaring on Dandelions. Location: Fleming College Observer: Drew Monkman

Despite a slightly later start (8ish), I had a productive morning at Hubble Road – managed 2 Golden-winged warblers (observed singing), 1 blue-winged warbler (observed singing), 8 Eastern Towhee, rose-breasted grosbeak, blue-headed vireo, red-eyed vireo, great-crested flycatcher, and others. Then on my way home on Centre Dummer Road near 7th Read more…

On the rail trail to the Orange Corners Trestle this morning we saw Bobolinks, Eastern Meadowlarks and White-crowned Sparrows. Location: Orange Corners Trestle on Trans-Canada Trail Observer: Gord and Enid Mallory

Just wanted to report that after doing our 6th annual Adopt-A-Road clean-up on the full length (9.5 km) of Cty. Rd. #35 (Old Keene Road), from Hwy #7 to Cty. Rd. #2 this morning, I had crews reporting large numbers (dozens in various spots) of dead butterflies (Red Admirals) on Read more…

Today, we had seven Red-breasted Grosbeaks at our feeder. Location: McCrea Drive, Peterborough Observer: Liliana Perez and Mitch Brownstein

I spotted two male Rose-breasted Grosbeaks at a feeder outside of 2nd storey bedroom window. (feeder on a pully system) Not a usual visitor at one of our feeders (have 5 set up) – 1st time that I recall in some time. Location: 994 County Rd 19, Peterborough Observer: David Read more…

There has been another big flight of Red Admiral butterflies into Ontario these last few days (including today). We had at least 20 admirals in the yard this afternoon. With all of the bird migrants that arrived last night, you have to think that the winds have been favorable to Read more…

I walked around Ecology Park and Beavermead Park this morning (9 a.m.) and recorded nine species of warblers including Northern Parula, American Redstart, Blackburnian, Palm, Ovenbird and Black-throated Green. In all, I probably saw 80 to 100 warblers, most of which were Yellow-rumped. Other birds of interest included Least Flycatcher Read more…

Bryan and I got an excellent look at a Palm Warbler up our road close to Airport Road. We also heard our first Common Yellowthroat warbler calling. Location: Johnson Drive Observer: Mary Beth Aspinall

Today, there were 4 f. and one m. Rose-breasted Grosbeak eating apple blossoms at Ecology Park proper, as opposed to adjacent Beavermead. Also there were 2 shimmering m. Scarlet Tanagers and a m. American Redstart. My FOS empid, likely Least Flycatcher, was sallying in a cedar, plus at least a Read more…

This morning, Sue and I heard an Ovenbird, Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Black-throated Green Warbler singing in our backyard. Location: (Park Street North, between Parkhill & Wolesly). Observer: Andrew Jobes, Sue Prentice