April 16, 2012

Following everyone else I saw many Red Admirals today, some nectaring on Coltsfoot and some on Willow blooms. First for the year for me, I also saw several Spring Azures (Trent Wildlife Sanctuary and Charlie Allen Rd), a Mustard White (Charlie Allen Rd), and an Eastern Pine Elfin (Charlie Allen Read more…

April 16, 2012

This afternoon with the wind came beautiful “Red Admiral” butterflies everywhere and still tonight [7:16], they are continuing to entertain us. Never have seen this, so many in one place. Lynne – Location: Springbrooke Drive, Peterborough Observer: Lynne Kemp

April 16, 2012

Further afield, this morning while birding in the Stratford/Mitchell area there were Red Admirals everywhere, quite literally — so presumably the phenomenon involved a huge area and huge numbers… I’ve never seen anything like it. Location: Stratford/Mitchell area Observer: Jarmo Jalava

April 16, 2012

My wife counted 1 Question Mark and 20 Red Admirals in our yard in the space of five minutes! It would appear that they are being blown in on the strong, south-westerly winds. I was still seeing admirals in downtown Peterborough at 6:00 p.m., flying about in shaded areas.The admirals Read more…

April 16, 2012

When I arrived home at noon I noticed a butterly in our front garden so I got my camera to take a pic. When I returned outside there was a profusion of butterlies – mostly Red Admirals, with at least one Question Mark in the garden . In all the Read more…

April 13, 2012

There are currently three pairs of Wood Ducks at the pond on the north side of County Road 16 beside the Gannon’s Narrows Conservation Area. At least one pair is known to be nesting in the nearby trees. The others may use the boxes that have been set up for Read more…

April 12, 2012

Today I had my first Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (male) of the year. It was quietly excavating its typical small, shallow holes in an Austrian pine. It spent most of the day in the same tree. Location: Maple Crescent, Peterborough Observer: Drew Monkman

April 12, 2012

Trumpeter Swans J81 and J88 were photographed this morning on Chemong Lake, north of Fowler’s Corners. The same birds (along with J84) were seen on Rice Lake on March 30. Location: Chemong Lake Observer: Sandy Brack

April 11, 2012

Our backyard feeder is still busy with goldfinches (12+), juncoes (6), Pine Siskins (2) and the odd Purple Finch. At least one of the male goldfinches is almost in breeding plumage. Pine Siskins are present in large flocks at at least one feeder in Warsaw, too. Location: Maple Crescent, Peterborough Read more…

April 11, 2012

For the past six years, I’ve had the same Black-capped Chickadee with a white head coming to my cottage feeder. I have to assume that it’s the same bird. Now that seems old for a chickadee! Location: Chemong Lake Observer: Janet Flinn

April 10, 2012

I live on Cameron Street in Peterborough on the Otonabee River. Today at around 5 p.m. I looked out the window to see a Trumpeter Swan at the waters edge. He has two yellow tags with the identification J82. He is not shy and came right up to me as Read more…

April 9, 2012

On an Easter Weekend hike through Petroglyphs Provincial Park, I did the loop around Nannabush Lake and came across an Eastern Hog-nosed Snake. I think it may have been a young one. I also saw a lot of Wild Turkeys and Great Blue Herons. Location: Petroglyphs Provincial Park Observer: Andrew Read more…

April 8, 2012

My wife & I saw a Bald Eagle on Pigeon Lake this morning. We saw it from our cottage on Grenadier Island just south of the Narrows. We have an Osprey nesting on our property but the eagle was distinctive by its size, white head & wing tips. Location: Pigeon Read more…

April 7, 2012

While kayaking today in Lower Buckhorn Lake near Wolf Island Provincial Park, I saw the breeding pair of Bald Eagles. The female was sitting on the nest (eggs?) and the male was in a tree nearby. Today, at the Lakefield sewage lagoons, I saw the male Ruddy Duck, along with Read more…

April 6, 2012

At 4:15pm today Abby MacNaughton and I found a male Ruddy Duck at the Lakefield Sewage Lagoons. There were also lots of Bufflehead, good numbers of Ring-necked Ducks and Lesser Scaup as well as 4 Gadwall, 2 Wood Duck and 2 Green-winged Teal. Brendan Location: Lakefield Sewage Lagoons Observer: Brendan Read more…

April 6, 2012

The Bloodroot and Hepatica are in full bloom today in my garden. Dandelions are in flower on a number of lawns along the street. Two Eastern Comma butterflies were flying about the neighbourhood today, as well. Location: Maple Cres., Peterborough Observer: Drew Monkman

April 6, 2012

There were about 10 Tree Swallows around the nest boxes on the drumlin at the Trent Wildlife Sanctuary today. Location: Trent University Wildlife Sanctuary, University Drive Observer: Jim Cashmore

April 4, 2012

I saw a Short-eared Owl at 7:31 p.m. today over the brushy open area SW of the corner of Johnson Drive and Major Bennett Drive in the industrial park off Fisher Drive in Peterborough. The owl was first seen in the air being harassed by a crow. It then flew Read more…

April 3, 2012

Today at McLaren Marsh, adjacent to the Ken Reid Conservation Area, just north of Lindsay, there were 24 Tree Swallows, 2 Trumpeter Swans (the same nesting pair as last year), 20 Bufflehead, 4 Common Mergansers, 8 Wood Ducks, 1 Green-winged Teal, 1 American Wigeon, 1 Common Loon, 1 Swamp Sparrow Read more…

April 1, 2012

Lynn Smith and I spent the day birding in the snow and drizzle from Cavan to Ashphodel 3rd line and a bit near the airport. We totalled 47 species. Besides the Barrow’s Goldeneye, which was still among the Common Goldeneye at 3rd line, other highlights included 5 great blue herons, Read more…