On March 23 at about 5 pm, I used a hooting call to lure in this fabulous Barred Owl. To our surprise, a female also showed up. They quickly mated, and then hung around for a bit before going their separate ways. We were in the vicinity of Sandy Lake Read more
April 2 – I heard a Wilson’s Snipe quietly calling in the marshy area on the Parkway trail, east of Chemong, directly underneath the WalMart parking lot. Also, 3 Northern Leopard Frogs hopping along the new not-yet-opened road that skirts east of the airport as well as 3 Killdeer in Read more
I had the pleasure of wading around in a vernal pool at Harper Park in Peterborough this afternoon and found 100’s of fairy shrimp (Eubranchipus sp.). They are an indicator species for vernal pools. Wood Frogs breed in this same pool. The pool has lots of ice in it still, Read more
As we turn the corner into spring, let’s pause a moment to reflect back on the winter that’s been. For many people, the temperate weather was a blessing, with only moderate snowfall and temperatures well above average. Yes, the abnormally mild winter did make life easier for most of us. Read more
On March 20, there were 27 Tundra Swans on Lake Chemong across from my house which is located on Frankhill Rd. Paul Ruth, 668 Frank Hill Rd. Tundra Swan (Whistling) (Cygnus columbianus columbianus) (10) – Reported Mar 20, 2017 12:11 by Luke Berg – Keene–McGregor Bay Rd south of Hwy Read more
It was a good first day of spring for river sightings on our stretch of the Indian River. The pair of Canada Geese, first seen on February 26, came up onto the back area to check out the availability of grass. Conclusion – not much there! The geese tend to Read more
Check out great photos of tracks from Don McLeod’s Nature Blog. Some are from a Peterborough Field Naturalist outing in early February of this year. Click here
Today ( 10 March 2017) at noon I observed a Merlin in a cedar at the Little Lake Cemetery. Of course, I did not have my camera. He was quite content to sit and let me wander around the base of the tree to get a closer look. On Sunday, Read more
Turkey Vulture (Northern) (Cathartes aura aura/septentrionalis) (1) – Reported Mar 08, 2017 14:56 by Matthew Tobey – Downtown Bus Terminal, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “flying northeast over the terminal” Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) (1) – Reported Mar 09, 2017 10:10 by Iain Rayner – Peterborough–Millennium Park, Read more
I saw first saw this fabulous red phase Eastern Screech-owl on the 9th Line of Selwyn at about 8:30 this morning, March 11. I was bringing home hay and went by it three times over the course of two and a half hours. It was still there and cute as Read more
Stretching from Georgian Bay to Kingston, along the interface of the St. Lawrence Lowlands and the Canadian Shield, is a unique ecoregion, now known as The Land Between. It is home to loons, bears, moose, deer and more hummingbirds, at risk reptiles and habitat types than anywhere in the province. At Read more
Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) (1) CONFIRMED – Reported Mar 07, 2017 08:30 by Chris Risley – 510 Gilmour Street, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Media: 1 Photo – Comments: “chickadees giving strange mobbing call and on inspection saw this saw-whet owl; raining” Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) (1) Read more
There may be a nesting pair of Bald Eagles between Bobcaygeon and Dunsford, Ontario. We have seen them on a nest to the north and east of the bridge over Emily Creek on County Road 36. We drive past this location almost 5 days a week, twice a day. Over Read more
Loggerhead Marsh is a Provincially Significant Wetland found on the west end of Peterborough. It is an important natural feature in our city due to its ecological and social value. The City of Peterborough has committed to protect the marsh but new development proposals now threaten its sensitive ecological state. Read more
On March 4, we saw a flock of 60 Red-winged Blackbirds in a tree near our home on Algonquin Blvd. On March 3, we awoke during the night to hear a Great Horned Owl calling. Mike and Sonja Barker
We’re relatively less worried than we were in 2007 and our beliefs split sharply along political lines. By Robson Fletcher, CBC News – Posted: Mar 05, 2017 According to the latest evidence, Earth is hotter now than it has been in any of our lifetimes but Canadians are less concerned Read more
On the morning of March 3, my son witnessed two Bald Eagles attacking a Canada Goose in flight. The goose landed in the Crowe River and while landing, swatted the eagle off his side. The second eagle stayed above and did not attack the goose. My son grabbed the binoculars Read more
On March 3, a Northern Flicker paid a visit along with 9 Red-winged Blackbirds. Poor dears were in for a shock weather wise! We live across from the Harold Towne Conservation Area, just south of the Old Norwood Road. Sandy Reid
Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens) (1) – Reported Mar 05, 2017 14:14 by Brian Bailey – Peterborough–Little Lake Cemetery, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=44.2939092,-78.3085044&ll=44.2939092,-78.3085044 – Checklist: – Media: 4 Photos – Comments: “Blue phase with Canada Geese, initially on the lake. Later, feeding in the cemetery with Canada Geese.” Cackling Goose Read more
I just got back from Florida and was getting some wood from the wood pile where I found the carcass of a Long-eared Owl. Looking at the condition of the carcass, it appears the bird may have starved to death. Derry Fairweather, Buckhorn Lake
On March 5, we saw 16 Tundra Swans on Pigeon Lake from our home on Fothergill Isle. Our house faces Jacob’s Island, alongside of which the birds were resting. One of the birds pulled away from the resting area and swam by our home. Rick and Marge Decher
This beautiful Great Gray Owl was sighted on March 4 on the Trans Canada Trail where it crosses County Road 38. If you walk to right at the trail parking lot, the bird was few hundred metres down on the left, sitting at the trail edge. We approached to within Read more
I was lucky to come across this Red-headed Woodpecker on May 21, 2016, at my home on Northey’s Bay Road on the north shore of Stoney Lake. I had never seen one and haven’t seen one since. In August 9, 2016, we also had a Hummingbird Clearwing Moth feeding at Read more
Warm weather that arrives too soon can harm birds, trees — and people By Nicole Mortillaro, CBC News Posted: Mar 03, 2017 LINK TO ARTICLE HERE Mounting evidence suggests spring is occurring earlier as a result of climate change. While that may sound like good news, the truth is, it can Read more
When you drive up County Road 23 into Buckhorn, you have probably noticed the abrupt transition in the bedrock. As you approach the town from the south, layers of limestone line both sides of the road. However, as you exit on the north side, the rock changes abruptly to expanses Read more
Sitting here a little before midnight on the last evening of February, I am watching the second thunderstorm of the past one hundred hours happening outside right now. Last Friday evening (the 24th of the month), we had what I believe was the first storm of this kind of 2017, Read more
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) (1) CONFIRMED – Reported Feb 28, 2017 13:14 by Donald A. Sutherland – Peterborough–King St at Reid St, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S34869369 – Comments: “in flight NNE over downtown” Tundra Swan (Whistling) (Cygnus columbianus columbianus) (2) – Reported Feb 27, 2017 12:28 by Read more
Our pair of Canada Geese arrived today, along with a single male Bufflehead. The geese do not nest nearby as far as we know, but they regularly patrol our stretch of the Indian River in the spring to see off any rivals, using our old dock as a base. The Read more
We live on Young’s Point Road on the west shore of Lake Katchewanooka. Our High-bush Cranberry was loaded with fruit. However, a big flock of Bohemian Waxwings came in and cleaned it out completely. I thought you might enjoy these photos. Roy Bowles
I haven’t submitted a sighting in a while but thought of it today when a lovely pair of Trumpeter Swans appeared on the Pigeon River, just north of Omemee, among the usual Canada Geese. They don’t appear to have bands or yellow tabs on their wings so I’m assuming they are Read more