I had the most beautiful Ring-necked Pheasant cock stroll through my backyard and have lunch at my neighbour’s bird feeder. What a magificent bird! My neighbour, Gail, says he has been coming for about two weeks. And no apparent fear – just a majestic strut across the grass and eventually Read more…
I observed a pair of Sandhill Cranes heading for the spot they nested in last year near Gannon’s Narrows. Hope it is a repeat. Location: Gannon’s Narrows Observer: Jim Watt
We have a leucistic (partially white) Common Grackle that has visited our yard quite a bit for the last week. I’ve attached a picture of it. It is lacking of pigment on its head. A couple years ago we had an albino bird in the neighbourhood – it was completely Read more…
A Merlin just drilled a crow in front of our Parks Canada office on Little Lake – almost half a clik away from nest. Our office smokers (3 left) were impressed, or amused by me, I couldn’t tell which! In addition, on Little Lake, last week I saw: Great Black-backed Read more…
This evening there were over 200 Northern Leopard Frogs on University Road. Along Birchview Rd just north of Lakefield there where: Blue-spotted Salamander – 76, Yellow-spotted Salamander – 14, Wood Frog – 5, Spring Peeper – 30, Northern Leopard Frog – 2 Location: University Road and Birchview Road Observer: Luke Read more…
Walking the Rotary Trail on Sunday I had the privilege to see a Pileated woodpecker at a very close range. I was taken by its beautiful red crown and black and white eye markings. This large bird was feeling his oats and acted very comically bouncing around on an old Read more…
Eight intrepid folks, not intimidated by the ominous forecast, were rewarded by reasonable weather and a vanguard of early bird migrants for PFN’s 2013 inaugural edition of the Sunday morning wildlife walks. It being early spring, we stuck mostly with the birds. Flybys at the zoo meeting area included Wood Read more…
In the woods NE of Cavan were two fox sparrows. Nearby fields had lots of mallards, several wood ducks, a couple of black ducks, and one pintail. I heard a kingfisher over the creek and watched a male pileated excavating a nest hole. Location: Cavan Observer: Scott McKinley
On today’s Ontario Field Ornithologists trip the group saw a total of 61 species. We birded the Otonabee River, Lakefield Sewage Lagoons, the Nephton and Petroglyphs area, Burleigh Falls, Young’s Point Road, Orange Corners and Morton Line. Highlights included 15 species of waterfowl, 2 Bald Eagles at the nest on Read more…
This morning there were at least 2 sandhill cranes heard calling along the section of the 9th line of Douro north of Parkhill Rd in the ploughed field. There where also 6 Blue-spotted Salamanders in a flooded ditch on Camp Line Rd and Osprey at Trent fixing the nest. Today Read more…
A nice day to go for a drive! Recent arrivals that I saw include: 3 Eastern Meadowlarks on David Fife Line between Hope Mill Rd and Nelson Rd 1 Eastern Bluebird at the intersection of the Trans Canada Trail (TCT) and Settlers Line (I also had one yesterday at Flynn’s Read more…
I heard a Common Loon in the wee hours of April 1 (no fooling!) and again this morning. Location: Buckhorn Lake Observer: Toni Sinclair
This morning there was a Pied-billed Grebe and 12 Wood ducks in the bay at lock 23. There are also at least 8 Great Blue Herons at the University road wetland. Location: Otonabee River and University Road Wetland Observer: Luke Berg
Plight of butterflies one of several stories Drew Monkman is keeping an eye on Click here to view column
Bob and I were visiting the Arboretum at The Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton, taking advantage of some fantastic warm spring weather. In a muddy patch at the edge of the Marsh Trail, we spotted Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) plants…lots of them, in fact.poking up through the dead and decaying Read more…
Gannon Narrows north of Ennismore had many ducks over the 2013 Easter weekend. In the late afternoon on 31 March, I checked the Narrows from two locations – the bridge (not recommended if significant traffic) and from the southernmost shore of Oak Orchard Estates. The strong current through the Narrows Read more…
I birded from Trent U. to Lakefield today along the Otonabee River. Many ducks. Saw all 3 merganser species, large flocks of Bufflehead and Ring-necked Ducks, Scaup (Greater ?), Common Goldeneyes, Redhead, Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, Black Duck, Mallard, Pied-billed Grebe, Great Blue Heron, Grackles, and Turkey Vultures. Location: Otonabee River Read more…