Sightings
Snowy Owl in Omemee in late December
In late December, we had a Snowy Owl visit our Mitchell Drive neighborhood near Emily Park, northeast of Omemee. The owl was sitting on the boat enjoying the sun. What a beautiful bird. Betty Vanbeek
Sightings
WANTED by OMNR – owl pellets
Researchers at the Ministry of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Research and Monitoring Section in Peterborough are initiating a study on Short-eared and Snowy Owl diet and are hoping to collect pellets throughout the winter. Essentially, we are looking for changes in the owl’s diets over time and linking that to cyclical Read more…
Sightings
Snowy Owl between Lindsay and Little Britain
I just finished reading your column and wanted to let you know that on January 11 we saw a Snowy Owl in a field on Elm Tree Road between Lindsay and Little Britain. It was at 4:00 p.m. and it was a female by the way you described them. We Read more…
Sightings
Snowy Owl near the London Street Footbridge
I live very close to the London Street Footbridge and my dog, Andy, and I often walk across the bridge to wander through Turtle Island in Rotary Park. Less than a week ago, we were approaching the bridge when I heard some crows calling and racing to an area northeast Read more…
Sightings
Snowy Owl near Lakefield
Here is a picture of a Snowy Owl perched on our house. The photo was taken two nights ago (January 14) at around 5 pm. The bird was around for a few days but has not been back Our bird feeders are an attraction for sure! We have a few Read more…
Sightings
Clear Lake Snowy Owl
This Snowy Owl was spotted on Clear Lake (808 Birchview Road) on Dec. 12, 2013. John McGregor
Sightings
A Snowy Owl report from the Niagara region
I had a friend of mine send me your article in the Peterbrough Examiner about the Snowy Owls. I am located in the Niagara Region. Last year we had one of these birds appear at the new hospital is St Catherines. It made headlines as people flocked to see it. Read more…
Sightings
Snowy Owl on 4th Line of South Monaghan
On December 11 or 12, 2013, I saw a Snowy Owl on the 4th Line of South Monaghan just east of Smithson Road in the Squirrel Creek area. I came over a hill and the bird was sitting right in the middle of the road. As I got closer, it flew Read more…
Columns
Our winter of owls: Unprecedented Snowy Owl invasion is underway
On December 9th, I received an email from Nan Campbell concerning a white owl she had seen by the roadside near Hamilton Bay on Stony Lake. As she slowed her car down, the bird flew off low to the ground and landed on a big rock. I knew immediately Read more…
Sightings
Surprise visitors – a pair of American Robins
We had a surprise on Monday, January 13, when we looked out the window and saw two beautiful American Robins on the roof drinking water from the eavestrough. We do have several trees that produce a small berry and we suspect that they are feeding on these. One year, we Read more…
Sightings
Great shots of a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk in flight
A couple of pictures of a juvenile (1st-year) Red-tailed Hawk in flight. Kevin Diamond
Sightings
“Duetting” Great Horned Owls
Last night between 10:05pm and 10:15pm I listened to a pair of Great Horned Owls calling back and forth (duetting) behind my house. I could not see them in the woods. There was almost a full moon and the birds stopped calling as the clouds covered it. Tony Bigg, Lakefield
Sightings
Early “fall Peregrine” – from the North Kawartha nest?
In pretty much the exact spot (north end of Belmont Lake) where I had seen and reported a Peregrine on April 29th 2013, I saw another, (immature also), on August 28th 2013, fly through the same farm. But this time, instead of putting up the local starlings, pigeons were the Read more…
Sightings
Tim Dyson’s Golden Eagle sightings for 2013
1. On March 12, 2013, circling fairly low about 2kms west of Cordova Mines, north of Marmora, was a first winter Golden Eagle. Joined shortly by two Bald Eagles, (one first, and one second winter bird), the trio ascended and left the area. I suspect they all may have been Read more…
Sightings
Exceptionally late sighting of Clouded Sulphur butterfly
On November 15, 2013, in a field west of the Crowe River north of Belmont Lake, in Havelock-Belmon-Methuen Township, there was a very fresh Clouded Sulphur butterfly. I do believe it is the latest in the year that I have seen one. Tim Dyson
Sightings
Chemong Road Snowy Owl still present – Jan. 13
This afternoon at about 4:30, I saw the Chemong Road Snowy Owl perched on a hay bale in the field behind McLeod’s Water Treatment. McLeod’s is located on the west side of Chemong Road, just north of the lights at Line 3/County Road 19. The bird was seen in the Read more…
Sightings
eBird: Red-necked Grebe – a very rare bird in winter – still on Otonabee River
Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) (1) – Reported Jan 11, 2014 08:56 by Donald Sutherland – Otonabee River–between Lock 21 and 22, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=44.3576102,-78.2895184&ll=44.3576102,-78.2895184 – Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S16327854 – Comments: “continuing bird, along W ice edge around 20 m N of Faryon Bridge”
Sightings
Update on Snowy Owl invasion
Snowy Owls are staging an incredible “invasion” this year across eastern North America. The numbers of owls reported are higher than ever before. Owl sightings have been coming in from Atlantic Canada (301 seen in one weekend near Cape Race, Newfoundland), Quebec, the Northeast U.S., the Great Lakes area, and Read more…
Sightings
Snowy Owl west of Lindsay
On January 9th at about 4:30 p.m, we spotted this Snowy Owl sitting on a hydro pole and keeping its eye on the Highway 7 traffic. We were driving east of Oakwood before Lindsay. What a magnificent sight!! Wendy and Peter Marrs, Peterborough Note: This is at least the sixth Read more…
Sightings
Cooper’s Hawk dines in Chamberlain Street yard
I took this photo through my window of a Cooper’s Hawk eating a Rock Pigeon that it had caught. I had never seen a bird this big in my yard before. Marg Byer, Chamberlain Street
Sightings
Long-tailed Duck and a Great Horned Owl
Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) (1) – Reported Jan 09, 2014 12:00 by Chris Risley – Peterborough–Millennium Park, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=44.3028834,-78.31688&ll=44.3028834,-78.31688 – Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S16314149 – Comments: “Winter plumage bird swimming along ice edge near Silver Bean cafe” Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) (1) – Reported Jan 10, 2014 07:25 Read more…
Sightings
Cooper’s Hawk feasting on a sparrow
On January 8 at about 3 p.m., there was a Cooper’s Hawk eating a sparrow behind 305 Mason Street in the Chemong/Reid area. The hawk stayed for about 45 minutes as it feasted. Marilyn Freeman
Sightings
Snowy Owl south of Millbrook
This past weekend, we had a Snowy Owl in one of our trees. It was there on and off for three days. I am still watching for it to come back. We live five kilometres south of Millbrook. Elaine Flewelling, Deyell Line Note: The owl was seen again on Read more…
Sightings
Uncommon Gray Jay drops in at Douro/Dummer feeder
Had a Gray Jay at my feeders today. Dropped in, then took off after a few minutes. Seems to happen once or twice a year here. Bruce Kidd, Douro/Dummer, County Road 8
Columns
Census looks to the skies: Local birders take part in annual bird count
Between mid-December and early January, birders from across North, Central and South America take a break from the holiday season excess to spend a day in the fresh air, identifying and counting birds. Dating all the way back to 1900, Christmas bird counts represent the biggest organized birding event Read more…
Sightings
Three Moose sighted near Apsley
On December 25, 2013, my sister, Jackie Lean and her family saw 3 Moose on McCoy Bay Road. The road is east of Apsley and extends south from County Road 504 to Jack Lake. One male (with antlers) and two females (no antlers) were seen – see photo. Sheelagh Hysenaj Read more…
Sightings
Struggles of life and death at the backyard feeder
Today, January 7th, with the extreme cold, the birds were coming to the feeders even though a Cooper’s Hawk was spotted 3 times. The third time, it had gone deep into one of the spruce trees looking for birds. When I was trying to find it, a Northern Shrike landed Read more…
Sightings
eBird: Hooded Merganser, American Coot and Lesser Black-backed Gull reported
Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) (1) – Reported Jan 02, 2014 by Tore Buchanan – Otonabee River – Trent U to lakefield, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=44.3828884,-78.272438&ll=44.3828884,-78.272438 – Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S16270357 Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) (1) – Reported Jan 05, 2014 11:46 by Luke Berg – Peterborough–Little Lake Cemetery, Peterborough, Read more…
Sightings
Chemong Road Snowy Owl still present on January 5
Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) (1) – Reported Jan 05, 2014 16:20 by Scott Gibson – Chemong/Line Rd 3, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=44.3361275,-78.3485699&ll=44.3361275,-78.3485699 – Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S16243537 – Comments: “top of silo; thanks Risley!” Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) (1) – Reported Jan 05, 2014 13:44 by Donald Sutherland – Peterborough–Chemong Rd Read more…
Sightings
Merganser and goldeneyes at Lakefield
Common Merganser and Common Goldeneyes photographed January 5, 2014 on the Otonabee River at Lakefield. Jeff Keller