January 2013

Today at around 3 p.m. Dave and I came across a gaggle of Wild Turkeys north of Sharpe Line just west of Winslow Road where the hydro line crosses Sharpe Line. I counted over 180 birds and there may have been more. It is the largest group of wild turkeys Read more…

Just as we arrived home from Peterborough this afternoon, my husband saw a Barred Owl swoop down onto a branch not far from our kitchen. After sitting there for a while, it flew a short way, closer to another bird feeder. It then flew down and then back up to Read more…

The high today hit a record 12.6 C in Peterborough, snapping the previous Jan. 30 record for Peterborough of 8.5 C set in 1988, according to Environment Canada. Location: Peterborough Observer: Environment Canada

Last evening (Jan 30th) a lone Spring Peeper called repeatedly (and bravely) from the wetland behind our house near Janetville (south of Lindsay). Location: Janetville, south of LIndsay Observer: Meryl McGrath

Today at 2 p.m. I saw a Great Blue Heron flying over Millbrook. Location: Millbrook Observer: Ken Rumble

I found a large flock of Common Redpolls on Lynch’s Rock Road this afternoon that contained at least one Hoary Redpoll. At Petroglyphs PP I found a Barred Owl being mobbed by Black-capped Chickadees and Red-breasted Nuthatches. I also finally saw one of the Black-backed Woodpeckers that have been sighted Read more…

I picked up the carcass of an unfortunate Eastern Screech-Owl in Ecology Park today. It was likely killed by a larger owl. Location: Ecology Park, Peterborough Observer: Sean Smith

I was just outside getting some wood and noticed a fairly large bird across the lake near the open water on Upper Buckhorn Lake. I went inside and got the binoculars and sure enough it was a Bald Eagle feasting on a very large fish. What a majestic looking bird. Read more…

Today, at about 2:00 p.m. there were Pine Siskin 1, Common Redpoll 10 at my feeder. A flock of three Red Crossbills stopped briefly in the cedar trees outside my house and a flock of about 4 Pine Grosbeaks flew over. Also one of the female House Finches coming to Read more…

Around midnight tonight, checked outside in my backyard near Keene just before turning in for the day and upon looking up at the Moon, what did I see but a beautiful and complete Lunar Halo or ring around the Moon. This one was bright enough that I could see the Read more…

I had never seen a Red-bellied Woodpecker at our feeder before today. He feasted on the suet for about 10 minutes. Location: 43 Crestwood Avenue, Peterborough Observer: Penny Lewis

I live in Ennismore and 2 weeks ago for 3 straight days (JAN 21, 22, 23) I witnessed just one Red-winged Blackbird hanging out in my backyard around my bird feeders. I was rather astonished as the arrival of the Red-winged Blackbird is usually a sure sign of spring, but Read more…

We’ve been enjoying a family of Otters that we see from time to time. This year there were five of them who came by fairly often. We’ve seen them swimming, catching fish, diving off the ice into open patches of water, sliding across the ice. Recently I saw one by Read more…

I saw a beautiful bird on my dogwood tree. First thing I saw was a bright yellow patch on it above the tail feathers, and another smaller patch on the side of the breast. It was sideways on to me. Its feathers were all puffed up, since it was really Read more…

I live in the west end on Kawartha Heights Blvd. Behind our backyard is Kawartha Heights Park.We have our feeders out all the time.We`ve had an abundance of birds this fall: white & red breasted nuthatches, blue jays, cardinals, chickadees, finches, downy woodpeckers, etc. However, since the New Year, the Read more…

My friend, Sandy Brack and i watched Otters (rather large) diving into the small streams that are forming through the ice at Gannons Narrows today. When they got out, they shook their heads to get rid of the water, then started munching on the fresh fish just caught. Now, I’m Read more…

Today, I saw roughly 20-25 Common Redpolls and 5 Northern Cardinals 3 males 2 females 3-5 Blue Jays and of course the chicadees come to my feeders today. Location: Bridgenorth Observer: Jeff Keller

On Christmas morning, I saw a Pileated Woodpecker on Manning Ave. We have a little family joke going on about these birds. Before my mother died she had arranged her funeral, and got everything else organized and then sent me a letter saying “now I’m ready to die – on Read more…

Today, after two days of near 10 C temps. there was a Wooly Bear Caterpillar, Pyrrharctia isabella, commuting in my back yard. (The band indicated there would be a mid-January thaw 🙂 That same day an Eastern Chipmunk, not seen since mid-November, was very active in same back yard – Read more…

While out enjoying the mild temps we heard the shrill call of a Belted Kingfisher and then saw him/her flying up and down the wide creek at the edge of our backyard, as they do daily in the summer months. We

Today, a female Northern Cardinal repeatedly attacked her reflection in the window of my truck. She perched on the passenger side mirror then kept flying at her reflection in the mirror. This is something we

Today, I saw a 2nd year Bald Eagle at the Bensfort Road landfill at about 1 p.m. It was perched in a tree to the west of the dumpsters where residents drop off garbage. Location: Bensfort Road landfill Observer: Drew Monkman

On our way to our cottage on Lower Buckhorn Lake on Thursday, just before dark, we were driving on the 401 near Progress Road around Scarborough and a Great Blue Heron flew over the 401. We have never seen one fly over the highway before! Location: the 401 near Progress Read more…

Today, I had a female Red-bellied Woodpecker dining at the feeder. Location: Bailieboro, near Rice Lake Observer: Marie Adamcryck

We had about about 15 American Robins here this morning feeding on the ground under our Austrian Pines. Location: Tindle Bay Road, near Chemong Lake Observer: Dorothy Mulders- Langlois

Common Redpolls have taken over our feeder. We have never had them before and now there is a virtual swarm of them numbering over a hundred most days. The other birds are virtualy crowded out, except if they can get to the feeders when the redpolls are away. Location: Adeline Read more…