Drew Monkman

From the vantage of Old Young’s Point Rd at Miller Creek, an adult (presumably the female) Bald Eagle could be seen sitting low in the nest. The other adult was observed in flight N over the open lead immediately east of the mouth of Miller Creek. Location: Young’s Point Road Read more

At least three Northern Cardinals were singing lustfully at 8:00 a.m. this morning – all more or less at the same time – in our neighbourhood. This is the most cardinal song I’ve heard this “pre-spring.” Location: Maple Cres., Peterborough Observer: Drew Monkman

On a fairly mild Saturday, sixteen sharp-eyed participants enjoyed a couple of hours looking for wintering birds and signs of spring along on the Otonabee River on the annual Peterbrough Field Naturalists’ Heritage Week field trip offering. The river has very few open areas from Lakefield to below Lock 19 Read more

On the Friday of the Great Backyard Bird Count, February 15, I was fascinated to witness around noon, a Northern Shrike chase a common house sparrow right into the window I was observing from! The Northern Shrike then dropped to the veranda holding the sparrow down with its claws. It Read more

Since November we have had a flock of up to 27 Evening Grosbeaks. 10 years ago we saw them regularly on their migration path but this is the first time since then. And surprisingly enough, they have stayed all winter. Far fewer Blue Jays than usual, however. Location: north shore Read more

Three Evening Grosbeaks flew over the parking lot at the Kawartha Nordic Ski Club at about 2 p.m. today. Location: Haultain Observer: Drew Monkman

A dozen Pine Grosbeaks were feeding in the trees in the Lakefield Campsite beside the marsh this lunchtime. The number of Common Goldeneyes in and south of Lakefield has steadily climbed this last week as they gradually inch northwards. A Sharp-shinned Hawk was hunting around Clementi Rd. Location: Lakefield Observer: Read more

I have had a female Pine Grosbeak at my bird feeder at the Peterborough West Animal Hospital twice in the last week. I don’t know if I have ever seen one up close before, but I am certain that this is what it is as it looks exactly like the Read more

1 male Hooded Merganser with 3 male Common Goldeneye on Otonabee river in stretch of open water, seen by walking down path at the end of Carolyn street; follow the ATV tracks to the rivers edge where you can see open water. Location: Johnston Drive, Peterborough Observer: Matthew Tobey

I was amazed to see a Brown-headed Cowbird at my feeder. They are usually just here in the spring & summer. It was eating my songbird mix. Location: Bailieboro Observer: Sandy Kirkland

Recently, I found mice in my garage and set some traps. The next morning I looked and two traps were full. I was going to take care of them later in the afternoon except they were gone when I got back – the mice and the traps. I suspect a Read more

Today, I saw a Red-breasted Merganser (female-type) on the Otonabee River beside the Little Lake Cemetery. Location: SE corner of Little Lake Cemetery under old railway bridge Observer: Mike Burrell

Today, I saw a male Long-tailed Duck on the Otonabee River, just south of Trent University. Location: Otonabee River at Trent University Observer: Brendan Boyd

Since retiring I have developed some new habits and one is standing at the back window watching activity in the yard. After a recent light snowfall my wife, Lynn , threw some bread pieces on the deck. I was not surprised at all to see a large American Crow swoop Read more

We feed the birds regularly in our yard and have an abundance of all the “usual” visitors to the feeders. Over the past few weeks, we have had regular visits from a Cooper’s Hawk. He/she is very large and is also predatory on the songbirds. We have had a few Read more

I was skiing with my wife along the York River in the south township of Algonquin Park today. We were bush-wacking through untracked snow and saw male and female Fisher tracks. The male seemed attentive to the female. Last year about the same time I saw similar tracks in the Read more

Today at 2 pm, a mature Bald Eagle flew into a tree on my driveway. We’re on a farm just south of Norwood, ON. The bird stayed there for over an hour and I got some good photos. It’s the first Bald Eagle I’ve seen in Ontario Location: Norwood Observer: Read more

Since November, we have had two Gray Jays coming to our feeder. They were here again today, and I was able to get pictures of them. We also have a number of Coyotes in the area which have also been photographed. Location: 2167, County Road 507, just south of Mississauga Read more

Just as we arrived home from Peterborough this afternoon, my husband saw a Barred Owl swoop down onto a branch not far from our kitchen. After sitting there for a while, it flew a short way, closer to another bird feeder. It then flew down and then back up to Read more

Today at around 3 p.m. Dave and I came across a gaggle of Wild Turkeys north of Sharpe Line just west of Winslow Road where the hydro line crosses Sharpe Line. I counted over 180 birds and there may have been more. It is the largest group of wild turkeys Read more

Last evening (Jan 30th) a lone Spring Peeper called repeatedly (and bravely) from the wetland behind our house near Janetville (south of Lindsay). Location: Janetville, south of LIndsay Observer: Meryl McGrath

The high today hit a record 12.6 C in Peterborough, snapping the previous Jan. 30 record for Peterborough of 8.5 C set in 1988, according to Environment Canada. Location: Peterborough Observer: Environment Canada

Today at 2 p.m. I saw a Great Blue Heron flying over Millbrook. Location: Millbrook Observer: Ken Rumble

I found a large flock of Common Redpolls on Lynch’s Rock Road this afternoon that contained at least one Hoary Redpoll. At Petroglyphs PP I found a Barred Owl being mobbed by Black-capped Chickadees and Red-breasted Nuthatches. I also finally saw one of the Black-backed Woodpeckers that have been sighted Read more

Today, at about 2:00 p.m. there were Pine Siskin 1, Common Redpoll 10 at my feeder. A flock of three Red Crossbills stopped briefly in the cedar trees outside my house and a flock of about 4 Pine Grosbeaks flew over. Also one of the female House Finches coming to Read more