Today, we walked the Blue Trail at the Trent Nature Area on University Drive. Although it was cool and there was very little bird song, I did manage to see/hear Great Crested Flycatcher, Common Raven, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Black-and-white Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler and a beautiful male Northern Parula. White Read more…
This morning I walked my dogs at the Haroldtown Conservation Area on Old Norwood Rd. Highlights: Possible Red-eyed Vireo, Gray Catbird, Baltimore Oriole, Purple Finch, Scarlet Tanager, Black-throated Blue Warbler and Bobolink. Observer: Luke Berg
This evening we enjoyed a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak and two female Purple Finches at our Maple Crescent feeder in Peterborough. Observer: Drew Monkman
I live on the south end of the City of Kawartha-Lakes, adjacent to the Ganaraska Forest. We have lots of birds in our gardens but Wednesday evening this yellow Hairy Woodpecker came to one of our feeders. He looks to me like the typical male Hairy Woodpecker except for the Read more…
Today, on the Hastings rail-trail , I spotted some movement to my left in the swampy area just off the trail. Having purposefully taken my new point and shoot Canon sx50 in case I saw a new butterfly , I quickly flipped it on and began to focus ( no Read more…
I have two days worth of sightings to report. The first is from May 2. We were on University Road, at a marsh on both sides of the road, south of the Wildlife Sanctuary. We saw Chris Risley (lol) who helped us to identify a small group of Ring-necked Ducks, Read more…
On our walk this morning near Bailieboro, we frightened a large, blackish bird from a pile of shrubbery, so I investigated why it had been there. Low and behold, she was sitting on eggs ! Through a little research, I determined them to be the eggs of a Wild Turkey. Read more…
Our latest squatter is an American Toad. We’ve never had one in the yard before – just in the hood, but this one was visible (and audible). I know they aren’t rare but I always get a kick out of seeing what makes the noise. Here is his YouTube Read more…
For the past five days or so, the Sugar Maples throughout the Kawarthas have been covered in a garb of pale lemon, with countless thousands of tassel-like flowers hanging from the twigs. As many as two dozen individual flowers – all male, all female or a mixture of both – Read more…
For the last two days, we have had a female Eastern Towhee in our yard on Stockdale Road. We are also getting lots of White-crowned Sparrows. Observer: Tom Bell
Both Sora and Virginia Rails were calling at 10:30 a.m. this morning from the swamp/marsh in the south-east corner of the intersection of the Trans-Canada Trail and David Fife Line near Keene. Observer: Tony Bigg
We had a Wild Turkey visit our lawn today at about 3 pm. We’re on Armour Road, about 1 km north of Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School. I’ve never seen one up here before. As you can see, it had no fear of traffic or me and let me get Read more…
Sightings from ebird-alert@cornell.edu Ruby-throated Hummingbird seen on Rock Rd in village of Warsaw between Douglas Rd and South St – “visiting feeder at residence on N side Rock Rd (#898)” Observer: Don Sutherland
Robert DiFruscia found Eastern Pine Elfin, Hoary Elfin and Henry’s Elfin yesterday on Sandy Lake Road (off of County Road 46, south of Lasswade). Today he and I checked the area again, seeing the same three elfins plus we added Brown Elfin, Chryxus Arctic, and Olympia Marble. First of year Read more…
Yesterday morning (Sunday, May 5) I was sure I heard a Baltimore Oriole in the trees above our house. This morning, May 6, I saw him at the top of our oak tree, with the morning sun intensifying his bright orange breast. I don’t know if they are very territorial, Read more…
Sightings from ebird-alert@cornell.edu Upland Sandpiper – 3rd Line of Douro – “calling near the old foundation” Observer: Brendan Boyd Cliff Swallow – Footbridge Rotary Trail, Peterborough – “nesting” Observer: Iain Raymer Northern Mockingbird – 621 Carveth Drive, Millbrook – “Heard first flying overhead near house (distinctive aerial flight song), large Read more…
While doing the Parkway Trail Jane’s Walk this afternoon between 2 and 4 pm, I heard my first Gray Treefrog of the season. It was calling from the south side of the trail, just east of Hilliard Street. Toads were still trilling at the second retention pond (the one furthest Read more…
This morning Warbling Vireos were singing throughout the park at the Lakefield Marsh. A Green Heron flew in and landed on the tallest tree by the viewing tower, and an American Bittern was calling regularly from the back of the marsh. I had an e-mail last night with a photo Read more…
While scanning for birds at the wetland on University Road today I had my first Green Darner of the year. It was ~1pm but there were still birds around including a Great Crested Flycatcher and an Eastern Kingbird. Observer: Greg
Today I had 26 Common Map Turtles basking on logs along the shore of Rice Lake. There were also a few Midland Painted Turtles. (Visit Don’s blog by going to the Links section of this website – D.M.) Observer: Don McLeod
Sightings from ebird-alert@cornell.edu Sora at Fairbairn Marsh (Fairbairn and 3rd Line) seen by Glenn Desy Wood Thrush singing on north side of trail at end of Fairbairn Street (dead end). Seen by Chris Risley.
This morning, my first Rose-breasted Grosbeak of the year was seen in my backyard in Cavan visiting the feeder. Observer: Scott McKinlay
I saw my first Spring Azure butterfly this morning. It was feeding on the Trout Lilies that grow in our back bush. We have lots of dogwood that they lay their eggs on. Also, the tiger beetles are out on the logs looking for prey. They say that tiger beetles Read more…
On Elmhirst Road this morning, I saw an Eastern Kingbird and two Sandhill Cranes (flying and calling). Trout Lily was in bloom, as well. Observer: Drew Monkman
Spring weather returns to normal after warm years … or is warm the new normal? Click here to view column
Local sightings from ebird-alert@cornell.edu 1. Peregrine Falcon: “Sitting atop the MNR Building in Peterborough, eating a black bird, possibly a crow. Another crow was circling around, obviously distressed.” Observer: Sue Wurtele 2. Purple Martin: Tamarac Golf Club, Ennis Rd. (Ennismore) Observer: Kim Clark 3. Orchard Oriole: “Seen in top of Read more…
Today I walked my dogs from about 6 – 7:30 p.m. at a friends farm in Douro. Highlights were: Eastern Kingbird, FOY (first of the year) Yellow Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, FOY American Bittern, Wilson’s Snipe, FOY Green Heron, and FOY adult male Eastern Towhee. Observer: Luke Berg
In the past week at Beavermead and Ecology Park, I have seen the Worm-eating Warbler (seen by many) , Buffleheads, an unidentified grebe, an Osprey, a Northern Leopard Frog, an Eastern Phoebe, a Hairy Woodpecker, Song Sparrows, Northern Cardinals, Red-Winged Blackbirds, White-breasted Nuthatches, a courting pair of Northern Flickers, Red-eared Read more…
This morning I walked my dogs at the Pencier trail at the Trent Nature Area. Highlights: 7 Northern Waterthrush, 1 singing Palm Warbler, a flock of 5 adult male Yellow-rumped Warblers, and 1 singing Black-and-white Warbler. Observer: Luke Berg