This morning, during an Earth Day nature hike at Lakefield Marsh that Jerry Ball and I led, we watched a pair of very noisy and pugnacious Merlins. Their nest is easily visible in a tree opposite house #51 near the Marshland centre. Tony Bigg had found the birds and nest earlier this morning. Other birds of special interest on the walk included a Spotted Sandpiper, an American Bittern, a Caspian Tern, a displaying male Northern Harrier, and a flock of six blue morph Snow Geese flying north. The eagles could also be seen sitting on their nest. At least one Green Darner dragonfly was observed flying along the edge of the marsh. This dragonfly was likely a migrant returning from the southern United States. The Green Darner is our only migratory dragonfly, although only part of the population migrates. The rest overwinter in the nymph stage. Forsythia appears to be in full bloom now in Peterborough. Today’s temperature was about 24C.
Location: Hague’s Point in Lakefield
Observer: Drew Monkman
