I am forwarding some photos I took today, June 23, at about suppertime. I heard the ducks on Fife Bay making a huge ruckus and looked up to see this Snowy Owl swooping across Chemong Lake. It landed on our seawall and sat patiently for some time while I snapped Read more…
This Gray Catbird stayed at my hummingbird feeder for about two weeks, drinking at least a dozen times each day. Although Baltimore Orioles are common each day at this feeder, I have never seen a catbird. Colum Diamond Note: I have never seen one, either. That being said, we have Read more…
Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) (1) – Reported Jun 20, 2014 07:00 by Iain Rayner – Ptbo – Bellmere Winds GC, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “Was sent an email yesterday indicating one had been reported here. Seen low down, In tree on golf course near blue porta Read more…
Today, I saw and photographed two young Peregrines in a nest on a lakeside cliff in North Kawartha Township. I did not see either of the adults, since they must have been away hunting for food. Last year, the Peregrines nested in the same location and raised two young. This Read more…
For anyone with an interest in wildflowers, June is synonymous with orchids. At least a dozen species of this fascinating plant family bloom this month in the Kawarthas, and the spectacle is not to be missed. In addition to their exquisite colours and designs, orchids are a wonderful testament to Read more…
Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis) (1) – Reported Jun 16, 2014 21:10 by Luke Berg – Peterborough – Fairbairn St Marsh, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “Calling from the marsh.” Sora (Porzana carolina) (1) – Reported Jun 16, 2014 21:10 by Luke Berg – Peterborough – Fairbairn St Read more…
Just a quick note. I saw a Monarch butterfly flitting around our front hay field on Sunday, June 15. It was amazing to see it as they seemed so few last year. I just saw your article tonight and it reminded me to let you know. Scott Sargent, Omemee
I was at the cottage on Horseshoe Island on Stony Lake Friday afternoon. I went to look at a crop of Ox-eye Daisies and found, to my delight, several tiny native bees! Before the talk on native bees by Susan Chan at the Peterborough Field Naturalists, I would have overlooked Read more…
Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida) (1) – Reported Jun 15, 2014 10:32 by Travis Cameron – Rail Trail – Between Cameron Line and Regional Road 38, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “Giving two and three parted buzzy song. North of trail in sparse tamarack/alder/birch/spruce wet area, just east Read more…
Sora (Porzana carolina) (1) – Reported Jun 14, 2014 19:01 by Paul Frost – Peterborough–Loggerhead Marsh, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) (1) – Reported Jun 14, 2014 19:30 by Luke Berg – Peterborough–Cameron Line b/w CR-2 and Elmhirst Rd, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: Read more…
I just wanted to let you know that Skunk Cabbage is now present in the City of Kawartha Lakes in Somerville Township. It is growing in a low floodplain that floods every year. The earliest I have seen the flowers is the last week of March, but this year, with Read more…
Dunlin (Calidris alpina) (1) CONFIRMED – Reported Jun 13, 2014 10:45 by Luke Berg – Peterborough–Loggerhead Marsh, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “Continuing bird in the first pond on the left (as you are entering the marsh). <a href=”https://www.flickr.com/photos/95310945@N06/14410368371″ title=”DSCN3789 by Lukeb001, on Flickr”><img src=”https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3887/14410368371_26b7f1fd97_z.jpg” alt=”DSCN3789″ /></a>” Read more…
I saw and heard a Northern Mockingbird this afternoon around 1:00pm at the Kawartha Golf and Country Club on the fairway just in front of the seventh green. This is the backyard of Springbrook Drive. The bird headed into the woods on the golf course. Drew Hollingsworth
Just had a White Admiral butterfly cruising around, and it is now resting about 5 ft. from me! Blair Hamilton, Pigeon Lake
Dunlin (Calidris alpina) (1) CONFIRMED – Reported Jun 11, 2014 20:10 by Paul Frost – Peterborough–Loggerhead Marsh, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “continuing bird with big black belly patch”
Over the past couple of weeks, the milkweed plants in my perennial garden have literally bolted out of the ground. The Common Milkweeds already have flower buds, and the patch of Butterfly Milkweed is much larger than it was last year. However, as I admire these remarkable plants, I Read more…
This morning, a group of four of us (Luke Berg, Chris Risley, Ian Attridge and Drew Monkman) visited the Bruce Falls Property (recently donated to the Kawartha Land Trust) north of Chandos Lake near Glen Alda. We found 34 species of birds, including a number of Canada Warblers, thanks to Read more…
Click here to check out where Ontario’s political parties stand on key environmental issues such as pollinators, species at risk and nature’s benefits. Progressive Conservatives didn’t even bother responding to the questions. Sad to think that they could form the next government.
A couple of weeks back I had just left my campsite in Lakehurst and walked along the shore of Buckhorn Lake. I had stopped to chat with another camper when I noticed a very large eagle soar into my site. It was very large, all brown (the sun was shining Read more…
We have a pair of Red-bellied Woodpeckers that regularly visit our feeder. Bluebirds are a common sight at the birdbath and are nesting in nearby boxes. Earlier this spring, two Indigo Buntings came to the feeder for a couple of days, gorging themselves on the seed. Nancy Salonius, Blezard Line
I found this on my door frame recently. We saw several last year on the windows but we don’t know what it is. It looks like twigs and appears to be stuck to the surface by the tip. M. Haddlesey From what I can see in the picture, I believe Read more…
Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) (1) – Reported Jun 08, 2014 07:21 by Luke Berg – Peterborough–Birdsall BBS Stop 25, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “Very tattered looking (missing several primary feathers) female/juvenile type bird being mobbed by an AMCR. Large accipiter with powerful flight.” Dunlin (Calidris alpina) Read more…
My website has been updated. Lots of new pictures of Eastern Cottontail, House Finches, juvenile Gray Squirrels and Mute Swans. Click here Don McLeod
Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea) (1) – Reported Jun 04, 2014 05:57 by Travis Cameron – Deer Bay Reach S, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “Male heard and seen from road at driveway #111 and 108”
Regular readers of this column probably know that I consider climate change to be the biggest threat facing the natural world and civilization as we know it. Despite repeated warnings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that Earth is barreling straight into climate disaster – just a month Read more…
Brian and I spent 6 days at Long Point in Prince Edward County in May and were rewarded with lots of spring migrants even though we were a little early. Just thought I would share with you pics of the birds that I was able to get this spring for Read more…
On May 19, we had a record day of birds at our farm in Bailieboro. Thirty different birds put in an appearance including at least six Baltimore Orioles, an Indigo Bunting, a Pine Siskin (too quick for pics), a Pileated Woodpecker, a Brown Thrasher’s nest with an egg, and a Read more…
I was working in a friend’s garden at his farm on Settlers Line near Keene this afternoon, June 4. I moved a plastic bag of manure I’d laid over another bag last fall and found a snake I’d never seen before, under the top bag. I’ve looked it up and Read more…
Dunlin (Calidris alpina) (6) – Reported May 28, 2014 10:40 by Peterborough County Birds Database – Peterborough–3.8 km SSE on Bensfort Rd, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=44.24314,-78.29213&ll=44.24314,-78.29213 – Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S18635556 – Comments: “in shallow stormwater pool on E side Bensfort Rd” Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi) (1) – Reported May 31, Read more…
I had a Little Wood Satyr in our yard today, June 1. We leave a lot of areas wild and the grasses attract these types of butterflies. More host plants = more butterflies. Blair Hamilton, Pigeon Lake