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

Hermit Thrush and two White-throated Sparrows at feeder Location: Merino Road, Peterborough Observer: Sue Hill

350 to 400 Bohemian Waxwings near Gannon’s Narrows. Location: The birds were on the tops of large trees along Myers Crescent. Myers Crescent is a short loop road off Kinsale Road which connects with Lakehurst Road about 100 metres south of the Gannon’s Narrows bridge. Observer: Bryan Wyatt, Guelph

An employee of the Peterborough Centennial Museum is quite confident he saw a Great Gray Owl sitting on a lamp post in east city (Peterborough). (This would be the first Great Gray reported in central Ontario this fall that I’m aware of. – D.M.) Location: Ashburnham Road (between the Liftlock Read more…

The finch forecast for this fall/winter is spot-on, judging by the visitors to feeders at Mount Julian this week. They include Pine Grosbeaks, Evening Grosbeaks, and Common Redpolls. Six Bohemian Waxwings foraging in a Red Cedar were present this morning. Pine Siskins and Purple Finches have been ABSENT for two Read more…

Pileated Woodpecker hopping from car to car in a parking lot and pecking at the front windshields (N.B. most likely seeing its reflection in the glass and assuming another Pileated had entered its feeding territory) Location: parking lot (directly adjacent to Jackson Creek) belonging to three-story apartment building between McDonnell Read more…

“Yesterday, I drained our rainwater barrel and suddenly a male Pine Grosbeak and two females landed a foot away from me to drink the running rainwater!” Location: 17 km north of Norwood Observer: Horst Vauth

Many Lilacs, European Buckthorn and Siberian Elm, along with a few Norway Maple and Silver Maple, have not yet shed their leaves. This is a very late date for these trees to still have leaves. Location: Peterborough Observer: Drew Monkman

50 Snow Buntings flying over the Causeway at Bridgenorth today and 23 Wild Turkeys on the Harrington Line ennismore Location: Bridgenorth / Ennismore Observer: Randy Smith

Pine Grosbeaks, both males and females, feeding in crabapple tree. Have been present for at least one week. Location: Cabot Street, Peterborough Observer: Geoffrey Way-Nee