Drew Monkman

We had our first Monarch in the garden today. Location: Maple Crescent, Peterborough Observer: Drew Monkman

Margo Huges observed an Eight-spotted Forester (black with two white or yellow spots on the forewing and two white spots on the hind wing) in her garden. They are often mistaken for a butterfly because they fly during the day and visit nectar flowers. The host plants for the caterpillars Read more…

I saw my first Monarch Butterfly of the year today. Location: Marina Boulevard, Peterborough Observer: Drew Monkman

I am not sure if this would be new for Peterborough County but I found a Hooded Warbler nest right on the southern edge of the County this afternoon. It is in the Ganaraska Forest. As it is a Species at Risk and it has a nest with young I Read more…

Did you notice that it “rained” little toads on Friday night? That was around the MNR building on Water street. You could not even walk accross the parking lots without stepping on the poor little guys. (Note: According to Don Sutherland of M.N.R., this was due to a mass emergence Read more…

On Listowell Line in Ennismore today, I had an Upland Sandpiper ( always there ) and a Common Sipe sitting on the Hydro wires. Strange place for the snipe Location: Ennismore Observer: Randy Smith

During a midmorning walk through Quackenbush Provincial Park today, we saw/heard a good mix of resident birds including Red-shouldered Hawk, Wood Thrush, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Yellow-throated Vireo (2 singing) and Cerulean Warbler (4 singing). Most of the common warblers were present, as well. We also found a Least Flycatcher Read more…

This morning, both a Blackpoll Warbler and a Swainson

A Common Nighthawk circled over my house in the west end of Peterborough at 6:30 p.m. today. It’s the first I’ve seen/heard in Peterborough this spring. Location: Maple Crescent, Peterborough Observer: Drew Monkman

A bike ride to and through a woodlot at Mt. Julian turned up a few interesting birds, among them: Red-headed Woodpecker (1), Eastern Wood Pewee (1), Yellow-throated Vireo (5+), Red-eyed Vireo (many), Black-and-white Warbler (2), Ovenbird (many), Northern Waterthrush (1), Common Yellow-throat (3), Yellow Warbler (2), Yellow-rumped Warbler (3), Pine Read more…

Today I saw and heard a male Blue-winged Warbler on Co. Rd. 44, about 1.2 km east of the Cty Rd. 6 junction (near the south-east corner of Stony Lake), very close to the large wooden Douro-Dummer Township sign. Tony Bigg and Anne Anthony found a Blue-winged Warbler on June Read more…

Warblers in our yard yesterday included a male Chestnut-sided, drinking water from the birdbath, and male Nashville, preening itself in our blossom-laden Juneberry tree. Quite a beautiful sight! Today, a female Blackburnian was singing and came in quite close in response to pishing.. Location: Maple Crescent, Peterborough Observer: Drew Monkman

This morning, while alking along the trail bordering the west side of the canal, just south of Nassau Mills Road, oriole song was everywhere. Also calling were a Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbirds, Warbling Vireos and Northern Waterthrushes. There are some nice stands of wildflowers in the woods along this Read more…

Working in the garden today, migrant birdsong was dominated by White-crowned Sparrows. Ruby-crowned Kinglets were also singing. A Grey Catbird was in the yard, too, as well as a Baltimore Oriole. Our two Pin Cherry’s are at their peak blossom as is our Juneberry. Dandelion is also at or close Read more…

New migrants were evident in small numbers on each of the last two mornings. All sightings were around our home at Mt. Julian. May 8: Least Flycatcher (2), Blue-headed Vireo (1), Ovenbird (3), Nashville Warbler (3), Chestnut-sided Warbler (1), Palm Warbler (1), Yellow Warbler (1), Black-throated Green Warbler (4),Yellow-rumped Warbler Read more…

Today the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds returned. There are also many Baltimore Orioles being sighted in Youngstown subdivision in Ennismore. Our feeders are very busy at this moment. Location: Ennismore Observer: Marilyn Emery

We have had a Harris’ Sparrow at our feeder for the past three days. My field guides indicate that this sparrow winters in the central U.S. then migrates north to Manitoba/Saskatchewant. So, it would appear to be far east of its normal range. (Note: This is an extremely rare bird Read more…

An osprey.was found today – dead with a broken wing. Apparently, just before I got there, another osprey swooped down and flipped the carcass over. Aggresion? Affection? There were no overhead wires present. I also saw 4 eagles this week. They were quite high, circling and drifting north. Location: Stony Read more…

As cool, damp weather continues, Amelanchier is at flowering peak throughout the city right now. I saw my first Chimney Swift flying over the Otonabee with numerous swallows early this evening. Location: Peterborough Observer: Drew Monkman

My first Ruby-throated Hummingbird arrived back today. Location: Cavan Observer: Cheryl Covert

The PFN Sunday outing traveled this morning to the south-east of the county. On Blezard Line we were able to watch a Solitary Sandpiper from up close in a large flooded field to the west of the road. Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs were feeding together making the ID easy for Read more…

Today, a culvert near the hamlet of Douro still contained large numbers of Canadian Worms (Aporrectodea tuberculata) swimming under the water. The worms average about 4″ to 6″ long. On April 21st, the mass was about 6′ by 4′ by 6″ and probably included many thousands of individual worms. In Read more…

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were singing on Maple Cresecent this morning and on Gilmour Street. Location: Peterborough Observer: Drew Monkman, Erica Nol

Today, I flushed two separate Song Sparrows from their nests next to trails. One had 4 eggs, the other 5. Location: Cavan Creek Observer: Scott McKinlay