Yesterday morning (Sunday, May 5) I was sure I heard a Baltimore Oriole in the trees above our house. This morning, May 6, I saw him at the top of our oak tree, with the morning sun intensifying his bright orange breast. I don’t know if they are very territorial, Read more…
Sightings from ebird-alert@cornell.edu Upland Sandpiper – 3rd Line of Douro – “calling near the old foundation” Observer: Brendan Boyd Cliff Swallow – Footbridge Rotary Trail, Peterborough – “nesting” Observer: Iain Raymer Northern Mockingbird – 621 Carveth Drive, Millbrook – “Heard first flying overhead near house (distinctive aerial flight song), large Read more…
While doing the Parkway Trail Jane’s Walk this afternoon between 2 and 4 pm, I heard my first Gray Treefrog of the season. It was calling from the south side of the trail, just east of Hilliard Street. Toads were still trilling at the second retention pond (the one furthest Read more…
This morning Warbling Vireos were singing throughout the park at the Lakefield Marsh. A Green Heron flew in and landed on the tallest tree by the viewing tower, and an American Bittern was calling regularly from the back of the marsh. I had an e-mail last night with a photo Read more…
While scanning for birds at the wetland on University Road today I had my first Green Darner of the year. It was ~1pm but there were still birds around including a Great Crested Flycatcher and an Eastern Kingbird. Observer: Greg
Today I had 26 Common Map Turtles basking on logs along the shore of Rice Lake. There were also a few Midland Painted Turtles. (Visit Don’s blog by going to the Links section of this website – D.M.) Observer: Don McLeod
Sightings from ebird-alert@cornell.edu Sora at Fairbairn Marsh (Fairbairn and 3rd Line) seen by Glenn Desy Wood Thrush singing on north side of trail at end of Fairbairn Street (dead end). Seen by Chris Risley.
This morning, my first Rose-breasted Grosbeak of the year was seen in my backyard in Cavan visiting the feeder. Observer: Scott McKinlay
I saw my first Spring Azure butterfly this morning. It was feeding on the Trout Lilies that grow in our back bush. We have lots of dogwood that they lay their eggs on. Also, the tiger beetles are out on the logs looking for prey. They say that tiger beetles Read more…
On Elmhirst Road this morning, I saw an Eastern Kingbird and two Sandhill Cranes (flying and calling). Trout Lily was in bloom, as well. Observer: Drew Monkman
Spring weather returns to normal after warm years … or is warm the new normal? Click here to view column
Local sightings from ebird-alert@cornell.edu 1. Peregrine Falcon: “Sitting atop the MNR Building in Peterborough, eating a black bird, possibly a crow. Another crow was circling around, obviously distressed.” Observer: Sue Wurtele 2. Purple Martin: Tamarac Golf Club, Ennis Rd. (Ennismore) Observer: Kim Clark 3. Orchard Oriole: “Seen in top of Read more…
Today I walked my dogs from about 6 – 7:30 p.m. at a friends farm in Douro. Highlights were: Eastern Kingbird, FOY (first of the year) Yellow Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, FOY American Bittern, Wilson’s Snipe, FOY Green Heron, and FOY adult male Eastern Towhee. Observer: Luke Berg
In the past week at Beavermead and Ecology Park, I have seen the Worm-eating Warbler (seen by many) , Buffleheads, an unidentified grebe, an Osprey, a Northern Leopard Frog, an Eastern Phoebe, a Hairy Woodpecker, Song Sparrows, Northern Cardinals, Red-Winged Blackbirds, White-breasted Nuthatches, a courting pair of Northern Flickers, Red-eared Read more…
This morning I walked my dogs at the Pencier trail at the Trent Nature Area. Highlights: 7 Northern Waterthrush, 1 singing Palm Warbler, a flock of 5 adult male Yellow-rumped Warblers, and 1 singing Black-and-white Warbler. Observer: Luke Berg
I heard my first American Toad of the spring this morning. It was “trilling” from the second catchment basin northeast of Chemong Road along the Parkway Trail. Northern Leopard Frogs were making their snoring call in the first basin. Other species along the Trail this morning included Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Yellow-rumped Read more…
Today I was photographing some tulips in Peterborough when a bee-fly, probably Bombylius major, came to nectar on the flowers. I managed to get some pictures. (Note: Bee-flies are amazing creatures. Although they are actually flies (i.e. only have two wings) they have evolved to mimic bees. This allows them Read more…
Today at about 5 p.m. there was a single Chimney Swift flying over my house on Benson Avenue in Peterborough. Observer: Luke Berg
This afternoon an immature Peregrine put up a small ball of clinking starlings as it passed quickly overhead at treetop height near where the Crowe River enters the north end of Belmont Lake n/e of Havelock. Glad I looked when I heard the starlings, as it is usually one of the Read more…
About 25 participants enjoyed the beautiful weather today and overall found 65 species. The highlight stops were the wetland on Douro 9th Line just south of Cty Rd 4 where we saw/heard half a dozen Wilson’s Snipe. Going east along Division Rd we heard several Northern Waterthrush, all of which Read more…
This evening, a Moose was seen on a cottage property near Hillcrest Road which runs south from Northey’s Bay Road on the north shore of Stony Lake. Reported by: Anke Blaiklock
Today I watched an adult Bald Eagle catch a fish right in front of my house on Mallard Bay on Pigeon Lake. It was very exciting! Observer: Bob Speerman
This morning I walked my dogs on the Pensier trail at the Trent Nature Area. Highlights were: White-throated Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Northern Waterthrush (1), Winter Wren, Ruffed Grouse drumming, Yellow-rumped Warbler (10), Wood Duck, Caspian Tern, Swamp Sparrow, Common Loon, American Wigeon (pair on canal), Common Merganser, Pileated Woodpecker, and Read more…
For the last couple of nights I have been hearing the display sounds of Wilson’s Snipe at the end of my street in the Meade Creek wetland near Tudor Crescent in Peterborough. I hear them every spring and sometimes have seen one fly over my house. Observer: Sue Paradisis
April 18 – Rusty Blackbirds, two flocks on the Bridgenorth Trail April 19 – Beaver in pond on Douro 8th Line. Spring Peepers, Wood Frogs, Leopard Frogs, and Chorus Frogs calling in the south of the county. April 20 – A small flock of Cedar Waxwings on Hannah Rd south Read more…
The choices for the Parkway Corridor: an (arguably) slightly faster drive or nature-rich community Click here to view column
Redheads (3 males only in south lagoon) and 3 pairs of Gadwall (in north lagoon) were still at Lakefield Sewage Lagoons at 5 p.m. today. In addition, there were 2 pairs of Northern Shoveler in the north lagoon, approximately 150 Bufflehead, 5 pairs Ring-necked Ducks, 4 pairs Greater/Lesser Scaup plus Read more…
A group of us (Don Sutherland, Simon Dodsworth, Cathy Darevic and I) found a Worm-eating Warbler this afternoon in Beavermead Park in the row of cedars directly behind (sw) the gatehouse. Location: Beavermead Park Observer: Mike Burrell
Today I saw my first Mourning Cloak Butterfly cruising around , stopping to sun her self. Also some of the native bees are out , carpenter and sweat bees, getting what ever food they can. I have put up some bee houses around the yard made from old hollow cup Read more…
This morning at 7 a.m. I had a singing male Black-throated Green Warbler outside my house. Location: Benson Ave., Peterborough Observer: Luke Berg