February 2013

I was quite surprised this morning to see three Eastern Bluebirds, two male and one female, in the grassy area under my neighbour

Starlings fighting over nest holes in light poles along east side of Ashburnham, below Lift Lock. Location: see email Observer: Sean Smith

I had an Eastern Screech Owl, today, taking a snooze on a ledge outside my shed. “Early this morning my dog Earl, sitting on his couch in front of the HD window, as we call it, let out ear piercing barks that made his body bounce at an intruder in Read more…

From the vantage of Old Young’s Point Rd at Miller Creek, an adult (presumably the female) Bald Eagle could be seen sitting low in the nest. The other adult was observed in flight N over the open lead immediately east of the mouth of Miller Creek. Location: Young’s Point Road Read more…

At least three Northern Cardinals were singing lustfully at 8:00 a.m. this morning – all more or less at the same time – in our neighbourhood. This is the most cardinal song I’ve heard this “pre-spring.” Location: Maple Cres., Peterborough Observer: Drew Monkman

On the Friday of the Great Backyard Bird Count, February 15, I was fascinated to witness around noon, a Northern Shrike chase a common house sparrow right into the window I was observing from! The Northern Shrike then dropped to the veranda holding the sparrow down with its claws. It Read more…

On a fairly mild Saturday, sixteen sharp-eyed participants enjoyed a couple of hours looking for wintering birds and signs of spring along on the Otonabee River on the annual Peterbrough Field Naturalists’ Heritage Week field trip offering. The river has very few open areas from Lakefield to below Lock 19 Read more…

A dozen Pine Grosbeaks were feeding in the trees in the Lakefield Campsite beside the marsh this lunchtime. The number of Common Goldeneyes in and south of Lakefield has steadily climbed this last week as they gradually inch northwards. A Sharp-shinned Hawk was hunting around Clementi Rd. Location: Lakefield Observer: Read more…

Three Evening Grosbeaks flew over the parking lot at the Kawartha Nordic Ski Club at about 2 p.m. today. Location: Haultain Observer: Drew Monkman

Since November we have had a flock of up to 27 Evening Grosbeaks. 10 years ago we saw them regularly on their migration path but this is the first time since then. And surprisingly enough, they have stayed all winter. Far fewer Blue Jays than usual, however. Location: north shore Read more…

I have had a female Pine Grosbeak at my bird feeder at the Peterborough West Animal Hospital twice in the last week. I don’t know if I have ever seen one up close before, but I am certain that this is what it is as it looks exactly like the Read more…

I was amazed to see a Brown-headed Cowbird at my feeder. They are usually just here in the spring & summer. It was eating my songbird mix. Location: Bailieboro Observer: Sandy Kirkland

1 male Hooded Merganser with 3 male Common Goldeneye on Otonabee river in stretch of open water, seen by walking down path at the end of Carolyn street; follow the ATV tracks to the rivers edge where you can see open water. Location: Johnston Drive, Peterborough Observer: Matthew Tobey

Recently, I found mice in my garage and set some traps. The next morning I looked and two traps were full. I was going to take care of them later in the afternoon except they were gone when I got back – the mice and the traps. I suspect a Read more…

Today, I saw a Red-breasted Merganser (female-type) on the Otonabee River beside the Little Lake Cemetery. Location: SE corner of Little Lake Cemetery under old railway bridge Observer: Mike Burrell

Today, I saw a male Long-tailed Duck on the Otonabee River, just south of Trent University. Location: Otonabee River at Trent University Observer: Brendan Boyd

Since retiring I have developed some new habits and one is standing at the back window watching activity in the yard. After a recent light snowfall my wife, Lynn , threw some bread pieces on the deck. I was not surprised at all to see a large American Crow swoop Read more…

We feed the birds regularly in our yard and have an abundance of all the “usual” visitors to the feeders. Over the past few weeks, we have had regular visits from a Cooper’s Hawk. He/she is very large and is also predatory on the songbirds. We have had a few Read more…

I was skiing with my wife along the York River in the south township of Algonquin Park today. We were bush-wacking through untracked snow and saw male and female Fisher tracks. The male seemed attentive to the female. Last year about the same time I saw similar tracks in the Read more…

Today at 2 pm, a mature Bald Eagle flew into a tree on my driveway. We’re on a farm just south of Norwood, ON. The bird stayed there for over an hour and I got some good photos. It’s the first Bald Eagle I’ve seen in Ontario Location: Norwood Observer: Read more…

Since November, we have had two Gray Jays coming to our feeder. They were here again today, and I was able to get pictures of them. We also have a number of Coyotes in the area which have also been photographed. Location: 2167, County Road 507, just south of Mississauga Read more…