Drew Monkman

On this cold, winter day, thought I would mention that yesterday, Feb.11, we had the first Horned Lark of the year on the farm, picking around among the cattle. Location: Douro/Dummer; County Rd. 8 Observer: Bruce Kidd

A House Finch was in full song at noon today in a tree in front of our house. First House Finch song of the new year for me. Location: Maple Crescent Observer: Drew Monkman

Opossum – “this little guy sure looked cold and was not moving very fast when I saw him” Location: Harrington Lane, Ennismore Observer: Randy Smith

First smell of Skunk for 2008 – at 6 a.m. this morning – foggy and mild (4 C) Location: Maple Crescent Observer: Drew Monkman

Two Pileated Woodpeckers observed excavating dead maples on Milburn Street in Edmison Heights. One hole over two feet long and six inches or more wide. Large chips all over the snow. Location: Milburn Street Observer: Ron Fuller

12 Cedar Waxwings in yard, feeding on European Buckthorn berries Location: Maple Crescent, Peterborough Observer: Drew Monkman

Barred Owl seen in Ennismore Location: Ennis Road Observer: Randy Smith

Mature Bald Eagle seen at 1:30 p.m. flying south Location: Cty Rd 6 and 8th Line of Dummer Observer: Horst & Elke Vauth

On Jan 30 a 1st or 2nd year Bald Eagle was seen near Lakefield on River Road feeding on a carp laying on the ice. Location: River Road Observer: Randy Smith

I heard my first Northern Cardinal of the year singing this morning. Location: Marina Blvd, Peterborough Observer: Drew Monkman

With extremely mild temperatures of 12 C, a Woolly Bear caterpillar was found out on the lawn and active! These insects overwinter as caterpillars, spin a coccoon in the spring, and emerge from the coccoon in early summer as an Isabella Moth. Location: Peterborough Observer: Mrs. Cain

On the Petroglyphs Christmas Bird Count, 31 species were recorded, a little below the average of 35. Birds and numbers of interest included 9 Bald Eagles, 1 Golden Eagle, 2 Black-backed Woodpeckers, 5 Gray Jays, 403 Blue Jays, 87 Pine Grosbeaks, 393 Common Redpolls, and 113 Evening Grosbeaks. Location: Stoney Read more…

A flock of 40 Eastern Bluebirds was a nice addition to Christmas Day. Location: Stevenson Road, betweeen Gore’s Landing & Harwood Observer: Marilyn Taylor

Just a little report of the Wild Turkeys that walk my back deck with caution but also bravado. The largest count so far is 19 at one time, but we regularly have 12 to 16. These include 3 males and 13 females. One of the females pecks away at the Read more…

On the Peterborough Christmas Bird Count, 33 species (plus 7 count period species) and 3264 individuals were recorded by 21 field observers. Due to the blizzard-like conditions, both of these totals are well below the averages for the last ten years of 53 species and 9328 individuals, and the lowest Read more…

100+ Bohemian Waxwings Location: Schneider Place, Peterborough Observer: Shirley Gillespie

An opossum was observed this evening eating chicken skins on the back deck of a house in Omemee. Location: Omemee Observer: John Sadler

Just before sunset today, an immature Bald Eagle traveled the length of Lower Stony, from west to east. That is the usual direction, based on past years. Location: Lower Stony Lake Observer: Rob Welsh.

Please take a look at this youtube video on climate change. It is the most compelling argument I’ve heard yet that the only logical and morally defensible decision is to take serious action now to address climate change. Location: Observer:

The Northern Flicker that has wintered for 6 or 7 years in the Avenues has returned a feeder on Gilmour Street, just west of downtown Peterborough. As well a Pileated Woodpecker has been seen twice on Homewood Avenue. in the past week. Singles or twos of Pine Grosbeak have also Read more…

Environment Canada is predicting the coldest winter in 15 years, due mostly to the influence of La Nina (lower-than-normal water temperatures in the Pacific Ocean) which permits Arctic air to dominate the weather over Canada. Location: Observer:

Great Horned Owl seen at dusk, sitting in one of the dead trees in the large wetland on University Road Location: University Rd wetland, just north of County Rd 4 Observer: Ben Walters