A pair of Sandhill Cranes and their chick can be seen foraging in the field just behind our house. We live a couple of houses down from the Miller Creek trail and this is the second year that we have been fortunate enough to have these lovely birds so close Read more…
For the past two days I have had a young, pure white Common Grackle in my yard. It follows one of its parents around and is being fed. Location: Observer: Paul Corp
For the past two days we have seen an Eastern Towhee on Birchview Rd across from #1641 near McCrackens Landing. We frequently see the Indigo Bunting in this area, too. Location: across from #1641 on Birchview Road near McCrackens Landing on Stony Lake Observer: Lynne Cotton
Today, the Peterborough Field Naturalists (PFN) visited a bog near Chandos Lake. Large numbers of Rose Pogonia (100+) and lesser numbers of Swamp Pink orchids (30?) were in flower. Some other plants of interest included Round-leaved Sundew, Pitcher Plant, Bog Rosemary, Marsh Cinquefoil, Small-leaved Cranberry, Yellow (Whorled) Loosestrife, Bog Laurel, Read more…
Today, I spotted a Black-crowned Night Heron at Beavermead Park at around 8 am. It was in the creek near the other side of the new chip truck. I flushed it from the water’s edge into a tree on the other side of the creek, and could clearly see the Read more…
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Today, when I was at a cottage on Stony lake, I found a Bonaparte’s Gull in with a flock of Ring-billed Gulls. It was still in first winter plumage. Location: Stony Lake Observer: Luke Berg
I walked the Bridgenorth Trail this evening with my daughter, Sophie. We heard a Black-billed Cuckoo calling repeatedly at the Bridgenorth end of the trail. We also tried shaking the branches of the cedar trees and, sure enough, a cloud of 2 mm-long Argyresthia moths filled the air each time. Read more…
So many of us have been noticing the browning and general deterioration of the cedars this spring. I was showing some people who were here at our house tonight that if you shake the branch of a cedar, a swarm of tiny white moths flies out so I guess the Read more…
Today I saw my first White Admiral of the spring. Location: Buckhorn Observer: Drew Monkman
Today I birded the Carden Alvar, north of Kirkfield. I recorded 80 species: Wood Duck, Mallard, Canada Goose, Common Loon, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, American Bittern, Sora, Virginia Rail, Ruffed Grouse, Wild Turkey, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Northern Harrier, Northern Goshawk, Cooper
I just had a wonderful experience. Tonight, at about 9:30 p.m., I decided to walk the Parkway Trail home from Chemong Rd (going east). I walked all the way to Hilliard Street and back because of the most amazing show of fireflies I have ever seen. It was a perfect Read more…
Today around 12:00 pm on County Road 8 at Burn’s Bridge in Douro I spotted a mother Black Bear and her two young cubs. This is the second time this week I have seen them. I got a good view of the cubs this time. They are very small. I Read more…
This morning I checked out the Fairbairn Marsh at 6:30 p.m. Lots of bird activity including Virginia Rail (in response to tape) and Willow Flycatcher, 12 Tree Swallows, 2 Barn Swallows, etc. There is also a Black-billed Cuckoo in the area but I’ve yet to hear it. Further down Fairview Read more…
This morning at 9:15 am I saw a Great Egret in the Lakefield Marsh, and I also heard a Least Bittern calling. Location: Lakefield Marsh Observer: Tony Bigg
This morning, I spotted a Black Bear on County Road 8 where it meets the Indian River in Douro. Also, that evening on 4th line in the town of Douro, I spotted a large bear and two cubs Location: Douro-Dummer Township Observer: Jamie Austin
A bit of good luck recently at the Lakefield marsh… theTrumpeter Swan we saw May 25th was feeding with the geese today. This time he was close enough to see his tag (J84). I checked the Trumpter Swan Society’s website and found out he’s one of the 10 cygnets hatched Read more…
Tonight, at about 7 p.m., we were out feeding the stock and saw an adult Cattle Egret hanging out in one of the pastures with the horses . I didn’t have a camera or even my phone on me so unfortunately I didn’t get a photo. We watched (stalked) it Read more…
Here is an interesting trip report from OFO (Ontario Field Ornithologists) to the Carden Alvar, just north of Kirkfield. It is well worth a trip! “The OFO group had excellent and lengthy views of a Loggerhead Shrike near bluebird box 10 on Wylie Road, which was the highlight of the Read more…
This morning I heard a Willow Flycatcher calling in the marsh on the west side of Fairbairn Street, north of County Road 19. This has been a very productive marsh this spring with Sora, Virginia Rail, Pied-billed Grebe, Common Gallinule and Northern Shoveler all being reported. Later in the morning Read more…
Two Giant Swallowtail butterflies have been reported: one from Crowe’s Landing on Stony Lake and one today from Warsaw. A picture was taken of the Crowe’s Landing butterfly. This is quite a rare butterfly in the Kawarthas. However, a number turned up last summer, as well, but later in the Read more…
I drove Douro 3rd Line this morning at 7 a.m. and heard Sandhill Cranes calling repeatedly from both sides of the road. Two birds eventually flew over. Click this link to hear the call: http://bit.ly/KjpkKs Location: 3rd line of Douro, south of Cedar Cross Road in area with open field Read more…
Today I had 2 Alder Flycatchers on Douro 4th Line, just north of Douro village on Meade Creek. There is also a colony of Bank Swallows on Division Road, east of the 4th Line, at the Drain Bro’s Sand Pit. I also saw a Canadian Tiger Swallowtail and several Black Read more…
I’ve been walking to and from work as part of ‘Peterborough Moves’, but mostly because it is May. Warbler migration continues to trickle through the Otonabee R. valley in Ptbo. Along the trail on the east side of the river I had a singing m. Canada Warbler today in Meadowvale Read more…
More butterflies are emerging, In the last week I have seen Tawny-edged Skipper, Meadow Fritillary, Common Ringlet, and Black Swallowtail (May 18, Cameron-Cty Rd 39 rail trail), Northern Cloudywing (May 20, PFN walk in Trent Wildlife Sanctuary), Hobomok Skipper, Arctic Skipper (May 21, Hubble Rd & Devil
Today, I had a Luna Moth at my cottage on Jack Lake. It’s only the third time I’ve seen one in this area. Location: Jack Lake, Apsley Observer: Sheelagh Hysenaj