July 2012

Today, I was delighted to see four Sandhill Cranes – two adults and two young – on Tara Road. They were gliding into a grain field that has been harvested. Beautiful sight! Location: Tara Road, Ennismore Observer: Jim Watt

A pair of Merlins nested in our next door neighbour’s pine tree. They fledged three young and all were flying around the neighborhood for a month. Location: Algonquin Blvd, Peterborough Observer: Mike Barker

On Monday afternoon we had some heavy rain, and the largest hail I have ever seen in my years living here. It was just a bit smaller that golf balls. I live about a mile up from the causeway. There is a hydro pole, at the 4 way stop and Read more…

I saw a Bald Eagle flying here on Colville Island for the first time ever. We have always had an Osprey nest, but this is the first eagle. How wonderful. An absolutely stunning bird. Location: Colville Island, Stoney Lake Observer: Sarah Kline

The first signs of fall are upon us. Yesterday, I could see Tree Swallows flocking (about 30). They were gone today. Biggest surprise sighting of the summer – our first Green Heron. Location: Douro-Dummer Township Observer: Bruce Kidd

I saw a Virginia Opossum on the side of the road near the medical centre on the Bridgenorth highway this morning. Unfortunately it had been hit (gently but fatally) by a vehicle but was still easily id’d as a Virginia Opossum. You can’t mistake that face for any other animal. Read more…

I had a very cooperative Carolina Wren on the sunflower feeder this morning around 8:00 am. I got a very good look at it and was able to clearly see all its field markings. Location: Tudor Crescent Observer: Sue Paradisis

Today I saw a Pandorus Sphinx moth (Eumorpha pandorus). It is nearly all green and quite beautiful. (Note: Its host plants are grape and Virginia creeper. It is listed as fairly common in northeastern North America and is closely related to the Hummingbird Clearwing which nectars at flowers like hummingbirds Read more…

Today I saw two Moose swimming together across a bay on Anstruther Lake. Location: Anstruther Lake, Apsley Observer: Cathy Niergarth

Today, at Cedar cross road near Warsaw between 4pm and 5pm, I spotted a pair of Sandhill Cranes in a freshly cut field. On Fri. June 22nd I saw a Black Bear in a field while driving on County Rd 4 near 1st line about 9:00 PM. All spring I Read more…

Today, I had a Hummingbird Clearwing moth coming to my flower garden. I didn’t recognize it as an insect at first but thought rather that it was a small hummingbird. Location: Allum Road, Peterborough Observer: Eric Munro

My sister and I were at my campsite today (Woodland campsite on Upper Buckhorn Lake). My site faces a marshy part of the lake with logs and grasses growing in abundance. About 4:30 PM a crow-sized bird flew in to the shoreline that looked heron-like. We observed it closely for Read more…

At 8:15 pm, two Common Nighthawks flew over Gilcrest Bay on Stony Lake. Location: Gilcrest Bay on Stony Lake Observer: Rob Welsh

At 6:30 p.m. today, the Peregrine Falcon was seen sitting on the railing on the roof of the Quaker building. I viewed it from Hunter Street Bridge. It stayed perched the whole time. Location: Quaker building, Hunter Street Observer: Brendan Boyd

We have recently noticed a trio of Merlins in our backyard, feasting on local birds on the neighbor’s roof, in East City. I was able to get some great photos yesterday. Location: East City (east side of Peterborough) Observer: Marlene Stamler

A Peregrine Falcon was observed sitting on the top of Robinson Place (provincial gov’t building) from 11 am into the afternoon on July 13 and could be seen from Water Street. It was not banded. Many MNR workers in the building got to see it sitting on the Ontario trillium Read more…

A pair of Chimney Swifts has nested this spring/summer in a tall chimney behind the Peterborough Pet Hospital on Lansdowne Street. Apparently the nest is visible from the room from which the chimney extends. Location: Lansdowne Street, Peterborough Observer: Betty Hinton

Tonight at dusk, there was an Eastern Screech Owl calling from just below my back yard along Cavan Creek in Cavan. It was mostly doing the whinny call, but responded with a trill when I attempted to call back. Location: Cavan Observer: Scott McKinlay

Last Saturday evening around 8 p.m. while walking the dog around the pond in the industrial park in south Peterborough, we spotted a Coyote just to the east of the big dirt pile to the north of Fisher Drive. It had come from the south and was heading north. I Read more…

Today, I had a new butterfly species in the garden – a Silver-spotted Skipper. This large, fast-flying skipper is easy to identify, given the prominent silver patch on the underside of the hindwing. It was nectaring at my Joe-Pye Weed. Monarchs continue to come everyday, as well. Yesterday, I saw Read more…

Here are a couple of interesting butterfly and moth notes from June 16 and 18 from Blair Hamilton. “I have fenced off two small patches of my front lawn where I have a lot of American Lady larva on some Pussy Toes and might forget and cut them when I Read more…

We are so excited to have a nest of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers in a cavity of one of our aspen trees. Perfectly round hole and situated just right so I can see the feeding ritual. The young have been calling for days now and our forest is never quiet. These little Read more…

Today I watched a female Monarch butterfly depositing eggs on the underside of milkweed leaves in our garden. Each egg looks like a tiny, white cylinder, smaller than the head of a pin. Both a small, young plant and a 5′ high mature plant were selected for egg-laying. Location: Maple Read more…

Nancy Harrison, who lives near Indian River, reports thousands of bees coming in the evening to the maple and elm trees near her house. According to local bee expert Glen McMullen, elms can attract bees by emitting sugar and alcohol compounds when the trees are stressed. According to WalterReeves.com, elms Read more…

The albino Common Grackle has been seen in our yard in the north end of Peterborough in recent days. I was able to get a number of good pictures of it. (Note: this bird has also been seen by many people on Montcalm Drive – D.M.) Location: 222 Farrier Cres., Read more…

This morning I heard my first cicada of the summer. It was calling in our backyard. Location: Maple Crescent, Peterborough Observer: Drew Monkman